MIL MILAGROS!

This week was AMAZING!!!! So many mini miracles that I don't have enough time to share them all, so I`ll tell you all the best of the best!  

We managed to have 11 new investigators, the most I have achieved in my mission in only 1 week. I feel awesome, a true instrument in our Heavenly Father`s hands! And several of them started by listening to a spiritual prompting to contact as we pass by. One of them is named Daniel, who was cutting grass when we stopped to talk to him and invite him to church. I hadn't thought to stop to talk to him, but Elder Gent felt prompted to stop and we presented ourselves. Well, as we were wrapping up church on Sunday, he came in and told us that he had gotten lost but was definitely going to show up on time for next week's services. A member presented himself to Daniel and asked if he had a few minutes to talk, so we went to a room in the church to share the restoration with him. during the lesson he opened about his concerns and even cried, the Spirit was strong! We gave him a blessing afterwards and were able to have nothing short of a miracle!

Another was a young couple, Damian and cicilia, who were drinking mate when we passed by them, but the Spirit told me to go back and we set up a return appointment with them in the contact. We found them a few days later and they asked us what God`s comandmnets are, and how they can follow them and being saved. WOW! I was so happy to hear that come from them, to see how close they paid attention to our words and were willing to start the journey towards baptism and investigation in the church. 

Estella watched a movie with us about the life of the prophet Joseph Smith, and she gained a testimony from it! YAY! She is preparing to be baptized the 7th of December, so keep her in your prayers. 

Diego, who was baptized a few weeks ago went to the temple in Buenos Aires to do baptisms for the dead. He LOVED it!!! And a less active family that we have been working with got sealed as a family as well. Truly an incredible week of miracles and blessings!

One thing that I have been studying this week is the power of faith, as we read in the scriptures and as we live our daily lives. In Helaman we read about how the prophet Nefi had enough faith in the Lord which lead to a complete trust in Him and His divine plan. Consequently, the Lord told Nefi that He trusted him as well, insomuch that he gave Nefi the sealing power, which allowed him to declare anything he wanted, like making mountains crumble and oceans dry up. But the Lord knew that whatsoever thing Nefi would do, would be done according to His plan. As a missionary, I have power to promise blessings for the people we teach, and I feel more prompted to trust more in His plan in order to access more of His power and blessings for the people of Argentina. although I can't necessarily make literal mountains move, I can so spiritually for the people I love and teach here. 

Nuevo Compañero!

This week I got to meet and start training my new companion, Elder Gent! He`s from Lehi, Utah and has 21 brothers and sisters! Hahaha he is still learning spanish so when he told that to someone I looked at him and asked if he had said the wrong number in Spanish, but he said no haha he's a great companion, really humble and a hard worker! We are going to have fun this transfer.

We are still working with Estella. She has told us that her, her son, and her mom have received visions and dreams about two men in all white, all white buildings, and other stories that point to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints being the place she needs to take her family now. We are trying to work with all of them to see them enter the waters of baptism this Christmas season. We also have had great lessons with other new investigators and it is awesome to go out and work hard everyday representing the Lord. 

Diego is doing great! He received the Aaronic Priesthood this past weekend and is planning to go to the temple this weekend to do baptisms for the dead. He didn't have enough money, so the bishop surprised him by offering to pay for his temple trip. I`ll make sure to send you all pictures next week!

This week I was reading in Helaman about he constant struggles the church had back in his day. Pride was a big problem (still is today) and this verse stuck out to me about the people that ended up being bullied by the prideful members of the church

Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their fyielding their hearts unto God.

Because of their afflictions, the humble members of the church grew stronger in their faith, and they were able to be made pure through the Holy Ghost, which presided in them and strengthened them. Some of us have distanced ourselves from the church or from Christ due to the actions of others. But I know that the Lord is always there to heal us, and we can actually come closer unto him and grow stronger in faith and resilience if we stay close to the church, the gospel of Jesus Christ

Diego`s Baptism & TRANSFERS!!

MIS QUERIDOS!!!!

Diego was baptized this weekend! It was a trial of faith for me, I'll say haha. We got to the church Friday to fill up the baptismal font, and there was no water... ughh haha. We tried to fix the situation to have the baptism Friday (I called people from Rosario to Paranà that are in charge to fix and maintain the meetinghouses with no luck) So, we ended up postponing the baptism for the next day, Saturday. But, we weren't sure if there would be water in the chapel. So, we made plans to have the baptism in another meetinghouse, which was father from where everyone lives. But we decided to wake up early to  check the water Saturday morning to see if we could have the baptism without problems. My prayers were answered, as hot water came out of the pipes to start filling up the font. But, we couldn't stay the whole morning watching the font fill up because we had to clean our apartment to receive transfers, so we left it running with the possibility that when we came back at noon to have the baptism that there wouldn`t be water. While we were cleaning, I was silently praying in my heart to have the baptism with the water and everything in order. When we came back a few hours later, the font was filled with warm water! (Down here, it`s difficult to have warm water for baptism, I don't know why lol) We only had a few people show up because of the mess trying to get everything organized (plus, Colòn played a big soccer game - and lost haha - so everyone was preoccupied with the match) but it was wonderful! Diego was so excited to start his new life in Christ and although there weren't very many people in the service, he had a host of angels cheering him on. I`m so glad to meet so many wonderful people here in Argentina, helping them, knowing them and seeing the same potential that our Heavenly Father has for each and everyone of us. He is planning to go to the temple soon, so that will be great for him!

We also received our TRANSFERS!! Elder Lozano is going to another area, and I`m going to be TRAINING...again! Jajaja I think my companion is named Elder Gent, but I will meet him tomorrow and send yall pics next week. I`m with some other elders in a trio now because all of us are going to be training, so we have been having some fun together. We made green brownies last night that were....well, it's the effort that counts jaja

I`m telling you all, that I don't know if I can think straight in English anymore. It is a struggle to speak and type this email at times. If yall can understand my Spanglish, a gold star for ya. Anyways, thats all I have for this week. Love ya all!

Modo Relámpago

Here in Argentina it is springtime, which the old saying about spring showers bring November flowers (that`s how it goes back in the states, right? lol) is more than just a saying, it is a LIFESTYLE since it rains like crazy everyday. Thunder and lighting and hail a veces. But no tornadoes, which is nice. The biggest downside of being in Springtime is that everytime we plan activities it rains. Today we said we are playing soccer si o si. so, as the downpours made us soaking wet, we managed to score some goals and have lots of fun. I love this country!!!

Diego is planning to get baptized here this Friday, and he is AWESOME! He told us that he had fasted as we normally do in the church every first Sunday of the month. Wow! Not many members down here fast regularly, let alone an investigator. He is so excited to be baptized; when he passed his interview, he came out of the interview with his hands raised in the air, saying "I passed! I passed!" I gave him a big hug because he is so amazing. He is already helping us with missionary work and being a faithful tool in the Lord's hands. 

We continue finding new people here every week that want to improve their lives and come closer unto Christ, and it makes me happy to be a part of something special for these wonderful sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. This week we plan to be in lightning mode trying finish the transfer strong, and have lots of people in Diego`s baptism to support him. I enjoy my Peruvian companion, he is crazy but a good worker. Anytime we can schedule a soccer activity, he`s up at the crack of dawn preparing himself for the match jaja.

This week I was reading in the Book of Mormon in Alma 37, when Alma the prophet is talking to his son, Helaman, and giving him instructions to keep the sacred records of his people safe, which we hold in our hands as the Book of Mormon. Alma speaks to his son about the sacredness and importance of keeping the records safe and adding to the story of their people. What he says in verse 14 is something that caught my attention:

 14 And now remember, my son, that God has entrusted YOU with these things, which are sacred, which he has kept sacred, and also which he will keep and preserve for a wise purpose in him, that he may show forth his power unto future generations.

The word "you" was meant for Helaman, but in reality, it also applies to US as well. As we read the Book of Mormon and come closer to Christ, we are entrusted to keep it sacred; read it, share it, and help the billions of people in the world who haven't read it or have no idea what it is. We have seen the wise purposes of coming forth of the Book of Mormon; incorrect doctrine clarified, confusion resolved, and more. The words we read from Alma to his son were meant for him thousands of years ago, but also to us right now in this dispensation. My testimony of the Book of Mormon has grown so much these past few months studying it daily, I exhort you all to do the same. Read it, share it, keep it sacred, help the Lord show forth His power unto future generations (RIGHT NOW!)