1. Me and a member from barrio Jardín. When I was in villa cabello we had a youth activity and we helped them learn what missionary life was like a bit. Don't remember his name but we both remember each other and played soccer together today. He is going to be a stud missionary!
2. Me, Elders Oldner, Daily, Hormazabal, Andrus (or is it Andrews)
3. Me, Elder Cortez and Elder Olson (the big guy)
4. Me and Elder Ortega (mi paraguayo compi)Hey family,
Well, this may or may not be my last email. It looks like I will still have a chance on christmas eve to write. They want us to leave our areas christmas morning and Elder Daily is suppose to reserve tickets today sometime. So an early start and then a bus trip to Buenos Aires as well it seems. Then the late night flight from buenos aires to new york and then to home. Ugh! Honestly my stomach isn’t happy these days and it could be exciting. Hopefully I don’t have parasites or something. That could be ugly. So with that in mind I have been having very mixed emotions in trying to finish the mission strong. But our efforts have finally paid off it seems. Seferino had a baptismal interview on Tuesday and will be baptized on Saturday. An excelent way to end the mission! We are going to visit him tonight to make sure he is still good and all that. We have a christmas ward dinner on Friday night where we will see him again and Saturday is the baptism. Hopefully the family will follow a little later. They want to see him go through the changes first, but he has really already done that.
We finally got our refrigerator yesterday again after I used all my money to pay 650 pesos to get it fixed. The office was suppose to have sent money but they didn’t. We called today and they said they will do it right now, but they don’t know when the money will get to me. Oh well. It is nice to have cold things again anyways.
I did get my package in the zone conference yesterday and opened it to share with everyone. There is still much more to share. We hung the stockings and tree this morning and made the garland. Thanks mom. I don’t know what to do with all the candy now, but I am sure Elder Cortez will figure it out.
I figure I will have one more email after this and I don’t see why I won’t be able to call at some time on christmas day, but it depends on the travel schedule and what all they have us do.
German didn’t make it to church last week. His boss came and looked for him so he had to work. Kind of frustrating. Bosses are horrible here.
Faustino Baez is as crazy as ever. He may get baptized one day, but he is going to take a lot of time. He refuses to understand about the authority. I would probably drop him if I stayed longer, but I will leave that up to Elder Cortez.
What more…well we have a ton of investigators, Juan Carlos is reading a ful the book of mormon and he is really understanding well what he reads. Also Gigliola is reading from the start and got to Lehi’s vision and explained what everything meant to us and everything. Then we talked about chapter 13 quite a bit about the two churches and the plane and precious truths taken out of the bible. It was a long long charla, but now she says that she has more understanding and purpose in praying for an answer. So that is good.
Sunday we have a charla foganera in the stake about the navidad. It is in coordination with the missionary work and we are going to pass by the Acosta family and bring the boys with us. Sweet! We have been telling everyone so hopefully it is good.
We played soccer again for pday which was a blast and it was way fun to get together with everyone for possibly the last time. I got some good pictures out of it all.
Well, if you all have questions or something feel free to ask. I will be here for a bit more.
Love you all and see you soon!
Elder Aaron McDonald
Hola familia,
Bueno I suppose that more than anything you are all wondering about the work and the investigators. We have had amazing success in the last week and it seems that we are finally starting to see some fruits from our labors. Seferino is continuing with his goal and we were able to teach his wife and daughter with him on Sunday. It was a way spiritual lesson! That was the first time we had talked with Roxana in like a month, but we talked about the struggles that she went through and how she feels. She felt pretty sad still, but we talked about all the positive and the situation that Silvio had been in too. Roxana was ready for marriage, but Silvio definitely wasn’t (being only 17). Now we refocused the family’s efforts to read and pray to know what they have learned is true, and to follow the answer when it comes and be baptized. We talked about how they all have individual goals but need to support each other as a family. Everyone is going to come to church on Sunday. Blanca and Roxana are going to read and pray. Also, I just talked with Elder Cook in Nueva Esperanza and found that they found Silvio yesterday and he still has interest in learning about the church and he likes what he learned and thinks it is true. Future missionary! He expressed his desires to serve a mission when he was with us anyways. He is a really bright person and has a religious background so he would be really good. So maybe I won’t be able to see all the fruits my labors have produced, but I know the Lord sent me here for a reason and I am extremely grateful for having know such great people.
We had five in church last week. Faustino Baez came on his own even though we passed by his house to bring him (he left before we arrived and beat us to church). Unfortunately he really still doesn’t understand about the restoration because he really doesn’t want to understand. We have been very very direct with him about a lot of things but he still thinks the spirit speaks through him and that God speaks through him. He has a lot of problems about the authority thing.
German Valientes is a kid we have been teaching for a while. He went to church before with the missionaries, but when we found him again this time around he was doing some catholic thing and work and he always has something going on on Sunday morning. This time he said he is going to make some free space and come. We are going to pick him up.
The family Acosta is another family we are working with. The mom was a bit against letting us in and then thought twice and had us teach her boys. Her boys are really bright, though they don’t really stay around. We found out that she spoke with hnas. missionaries like 10 years ago or something and made friends with them. She said it was a shame that we didn’t find her sooner. She wants us to pass by and bring her boys to church since she has to stay and take care of her 90 year old mother. She is going to talk to her boys about it first though (Marcos, José, and Isaías). Cool family and it could get the young men going again.
Anyways, I think it would just be easier to talk on the 28th and get it over with if that is cool with you all. So you can tell bishop I guess. I will just have to invite everyone in advance I suppose. Or you all can. I don’t really have many friends around these days anyways I don’t think. I have lost contact with them all pretty much.
This last week has been hot! It cooled down a bit yesterday afternoon and then rained for a tiny bit. Luckily it is still fairly cool. Anyways, someone was saying it was 43 degrees Celsius on Monday. That would be about 110 Fahrenheit! Ugh. I hate the heat. We are sweating like mad and to top it all off our refrigerator broke on Sunday and we are hoping to get the thing back today in a couple hours. Still when we knew it was broken it was like, “that is a bummer. Oh well.” More than anything it was an annoying extra little thing that had to be taken care of. We have a really awesome member family close by that is willing to help us with keeping things cold and all that though. And we discovered an ice cream place only one block away! That could be dangerous. Really the tough part about working right now is that Presidente del Castillo changed the schedule on the first of December and it has thrown everyone off. We leave at 9:30 in the morning and then again at 3:30 in the afternoon. We can take a half hour for dinner at some point before 6:00 but it isn’t very realistic. We work until 10:00 at night. So we are baking while people are sleeping and hardly have citas before 5:00 in the afternoon. Last year we changed the schedule so we would leave later just for that reason. So we worked from 9:00 to 12:30 and then at 5:00 until 10:00. All our studies were during the siesta. So it is rough to end the mission on. One thing is for sure is that I will not miss the heat. Everyone is just trying to be obedient anyways and it isn’t ruining our success. I am sure that president has his reasoning.
Today for pday we played soccer and it felt good to sweat for a reason. Really good. We played for an hour and a half and I still have my left foot scaring everyone. Ha ha.
Dad, you asked about the travels. Well as far as I know we will travel to the mission home on the 24th which falls on a pday. I have a 5 hour trip by bus to Resistencia and then I know that they have been sending missionaries to and from Buenos Aires by bus these days due to the fact that a certain flight they used before doesn’t exist now or just because that is the way president would rather do it. I am excited about he bus ride though (that is how Elder Cortez got here too, but he was alone his whole trip since he came late). From Buenos Aires I assume we fly to Atlanta or Dallas and then to Utah on a different plane. They haven’t given us our plans yet or anything. I know some people on the way here pass through Chile as well. I know that I have the calling card info some place but it is always easier when you send it to me. Either way you want.
Well love you all and see you soon!
Elder Aaron McDonald
Hey family,
Well, I am back and going to write a few more things, mainly about the work, but I will try to answer all your questions as well.
So really I don’t know what it is with our luck, but we have been finding a lot of people this transfer and then nothing much happens with them. So we have found a lot and taken out a lot. They say in order to baptize double you have to find double and I guess that is true, but it is tough to make ourselves do contacts in the heat. Last week was really hot and frustrating. We set citas all week long and everyone dodged us and so we didn’t have many sit down citas. We walked quite a bit though. For some reason it got a lot colder now for about a week (today is especially nice) and it has been a bit more bearable. I hate heat. But I think I can put up with it a lot easier now.
Anyways, we do have several great investigators. One is Juan Carlos Farías. We brought Juan Carlos Ruiz Diaz with us to teach the first charla over again and it was amazing! I asked our member if he would explain the history of Joseph Smith and he did a killer job! If only all the members were like that! He has only been a member for one and a half years, but he is a stud! He is Elders Quorum President as well and really tries to magnify his calling. We need more converts like that. Anyways, Juan Carlos Farías is really liking the teachings and understood the Restoration perfectly and is going to pray about it now as well. Still hasn’t come to church but I hope that he does this week. Unfortunately his wife is still waiting for the baby and it is late so they may go in and take it out surgically. So we may need to have patience is all.
We are also teaching another woman named Gigliola (italian name) Alegre. Her sister Mabel also listens when she has time, but their husbands don’t really have much interest. Everyone listened before like 6 years back, but for some reason never received the Book of Mormon even though they took the charlas for like 6 months. Hard to believe, but something didn’t happen that needed to happen. So now we gave them the Book of Mormon and Gigliola is reading like mad and had lots of questions at first but now is answering a lot of her own. She says she thinks the Book of Mormon is true and wants to come to church as soon as she can. Her sister Mabel has doubts, but I don’t think she has really read the Book of Mormon apart from a glance. She talked about how it isn’t agreeable with the Bible and the Bible is the base, but we testified that if she studied she would find they compliment each other. She is willing to pray and search though so that is good. They know baptism is the ultimate goal or outcome of what they are doing, but they want to be sure that it is what we say it is. So more or less they understand! More than you can say for the large majority of people we teach.
We also have a crazy pastor guy that we are teaching and being pretty direct with. Every time we show up he puts his pastor behavior on and tries to teach us. His name is Faustino Baez and he can’t read. He is a member reference and wants to come to church but the member hasn’t passed by for fear. Faustino is an odd character for sure and I don’t know if he has honest intentions or just wants to correct our “pastor” as he says. The last time he said something to the extent of “don’t be surprised if I blow your pastor away!” I said, “don’t worry I don’t think you will.” So we may not be talking with him much longer, but I would like to get him to church at least so he has the chance to feel the spirit.
We have a nice family the family Acosta that is listening as well. We initially talked with the mom in her gateway and she wanted to reject us. I mentioned the problems that the youth today face and she thought twice and invited us to come back one weekend to teach her children. So we did. The oldest son that we have taught so far, Marcos (14) seems like a stud. He apparently said this last week that he was thinking about coming to our church on Sunday. He didn’t but still the thought was there. We were able to teach the mom and dad alone this last Saturday and we explained the Restoration and clarified some doubts they had about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. So apparently they have heard something about our church before. The mom at the end of the charla seemed set on reading and praying and said that she used to go to the Evangelical church or something. They are practicing Catholicism I think so...yeah. So little by little they are gaining interest. Really the last lesson surprised us because we thought that they weren’t that interested but it seems that maybe they are.
So those are the real hot investigators as for right now. Hopefully we can find more, because we have a lot of looking time and I don’t like that. Clapping clapping and more clapping. Not easy in summer time.
Mom you were wondering about my summary of the Book of Mormon. For the past several months I have been going through chapter by chapter doing a summary of the Book of Mormon and making connections between people and places and events. It was amazing because I gained a lot more insight to the Book of Mormon and I can really see the Lord’s hand in its preparation for our days. It truly is an inspired book. Plus my love for a lot of the Book of Mormon heroes has increased a lot too. The Book of Mormon really came alive a lot better as I carefully studied all the verses like that.
Also, yes we play monopoly. It is something you can do on pday and so we got sick of studying while being sick and took a break. It was in Spanish though and even I had to look up some new words.
The next planned baptism is for the 20th of December. Their are a few people that could be placed there but I really only have hope in Seferino and maybe his daughter Roxana if we get the chance to talk to her. She is kind of avoiding us at this time due to her seperation with Silvio. I miss talking to Silvio too. That kid was a stud. We try to make contact still from time to time through cell phone, but he hasn’t been answering. Either way they are both one step closer to baptism.
Elder Cortez is doing way awesome. He hardly seemed to have problems adapting, but there are still the things that get to him from time to time. He doesn’t like contacting much (I don’t blame him) which puts all that on my shoulders and that is not fun. Still we are trying to keep at it. He is excited that I am staying for three more weeks. We get along pretty well. We have no idea what will happen to him at the 3 week mark though. We’ll see. He is already doing better than a lot of missionaries that are out quite a bit longer so I don’t really feel worried about him.
I was kind of sad to hear that Elder Wirthlin died, but we knew it was coming I think. I don’t think I realized how old he was. He was a stud though! I loved his last gen conf talk too. It was really good.
Anyways, love ya all and hope you all have a great week!
Elder Aaron McDonald
Well...
I can't believe the mission ruined my fun in telling you all about my arrival date. I suppose they just had to do their job. So here are my thoughts and the whole process that happened. So, I had been waiting for interviews to talk with presidente del Castillo about everything. This transfer interviews happened one week later than usual due to the zone conference with Elder Bowen I imagine. Come interviews and I talked to president and he asked about my health, my faith, my obedience, etc. Due to my sick experience and his concern for Elder Cortez, I almost didn't even want to ask about leaving early. I expressed my concern about my school situation anyways and he just kind of looked at me like, "well what do you want me to do then?" So I said I was hoping for more information that afternoon from you all and I was trying to organize everything. He said to call him if something happened. So after last weeks emails, it was clear that starting school two weeks late was not going to work at all. So I was stressing out and trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I almost called president that very night, but couldn't bring myself to do it. I wanted to meditate over night. That night through my tossing and turning it became clear to me that I needed to at least leave one week early if at all possible. But first I needed to call president del Castillo to see how possible that would even be. So I called and asked if it would be at all difficult to leave a bit earlier and he said, "no, it wouldn't be difficult at all. You just need to call Elder Knight and talk to him. He is in charge of things like that. Just tell him like the 5th or so." So that afternoon when the office hours had started and I was in the pensión for afternoon studies I called and talked to him. He said, "Elder McDonald! Hace un tiempo! (I was his zone leader in Eldorado)" Anyways, I talked to him about leaving sometime around the 5th of January. He asked if I had talked to president and I told him that I already had. So he said it was alright and that the lady from Salt Lake that normally deals with things like that wasn't working the rest of the week and so he would probably figure it all out on Monday and give me a call. So I left it at that for a few days, but come Sunday while we did a fast for Seferino with Seferino, I also was fasting about my situation and that all would work out for the best. That night I slept uneasy and had dream thoughts about the 25th and leaving with everyone else. I had been worried about traveling alone and plus still starting school late. It didn't sound very appealing to me and something just wasn't agreeing with me. In my fevered sleep I had taken the decision to leave on the 25th though and it just seemed so right upon waking up that I called Elder Knight later in the morning before people would be working in Salt Lake and told him that if he could get me out on the 25th that would be much better. He said he would do what he could but that he wasn't sure that it was possible or not. I felt fairly confident that it would be possible and as I talked with Elder Cortez we reasoned that the actual flight wouldn't be until the 26th probably and the bus ride down to Buenos Aires would be on the 25th. So that was to my advantage. Anyways, after proselyting and lunch Elder Knight called and talked to me again and said it looked like it would be possible to leave on the 25th and that he was just going to go and talk with president about it in the meeting they had with him in 20 minutes. After studies when we were just going out to work again he called and told me I would be leaving on the 25th. It all seemed right to me. We have a baptismal date with Seferino for the 20th of December and are praying that he makes it there. I worried over transfers a bit after the news, unsure if they were going to move me or not (but pretty sure that they wouldn't) due to the comp change they will have to do mid transfer so that Elder Cortez has a companion. So last night we found that I am staying here anyways for my last three weeks which was a relief. I am not ready to leave all the people of Miguel Lanús quite yet. I feel that I have given my all during my whole mission though and that I have no regrets upon looking back. Now I just have to work double hard to make these last 3 weeks count for double and listo. I am excited for a few days of rest before jumping into school and the chance I will have to see family and friends.
Seferino is doing great and is really trying hard to quit drinking in order to be baptized the 20th. He has already stopped the majority of his drinking and slipped up a couple times in the last couple of weeks. I don't think he has had anything to drink for a week and actually he told us of how he declined an offer from one of his buddies. Elder Cortez gave him a phrase to say when people offer him a drink, "no voy a tomar porque amo Jesus." In the situation he told us about he declined saying, "¡no, Jesus no quiere que tome!" His friend left him alone. So he is well on his way.
Well I am going to come back later and try to write a little more, but I wanted to let you all know what was going on (bummer that the mission already spoiled the surprise).
love you all,
Elder Aaron McDonald
Hey family,
Turkey day! So sad that it doesn’t exist here. Everyone knows about it of course (probably due to movies and whatnot), but they don’t celebrate. Sad day! Anyways, I don’t think that me and Elder Cortez are going to be eating very much because our stomachs are still normalizing at this point. But I almost feel like a new person now! So over the weekend we got poisoned. Our lunch cita canceled and we had to cook for ourselves. I have become a descent cook if I do say so myself, but saturday I didn’t feel like eating due to a dull pain in my stomach during prosylyting in the morning. We cooked anyways and had enough for leftovers (sunday lunch we were planning). The meat we bought was a bit sketchy, but I have seen a lot of sketchy things in Argentina and figured it would be fine after cooking it. We only ate a little and then I started feeling bloated and uncomfortable and laid down to let my stomach settle. Come four o clock my companion laid down as well and I got up and got ready for prosylyting again. Elder Cortez said he felt like throwing up and so I gave him a few minutes and sat down and read a bit. At 415 I asked again and he said he felt like throwing up. So I jestingly said, “well throw up then!” And he said, “I can’t.” Then I ask, “well are you feeling bad enough to stay inside?” He got up and started getting ready and then went out back to get a little fresh air. Half way out the door he ran back in and to the bathroom and threw up. So I said, “that is reason enough for me to stay inside!” So I let him rest up and studied the afternoon. He continued throwing up and started having really bad diarrhea as well. I felt bad. We went and got juice and gatorade and sprite but he couldn’t hold much down. He didn’t sleep well and then we went to church the next morning and he made it through with a few trips to the bathroom. I slaughtered one of the songs we sang and felt goofy, but oh well. We went home and I had a clasic PBJ sandwhich. Then I laid down feeling uncomfortable myself again and soon enough I was in the bathroom every 15 minutes as well. Lucky not vomiting, but it was rather uncomfortable after awhile. So I could no longer hold down liquids either and we continued like that for the day. I finished my summary of the Book of Mormon though and lost desires to study and thus rested more than anything. We slept alright that night and then on monday morning decided to skip calling the hna. Del Castillo and went straight to calling the mission doctor. He told us to get Pepto Bismal (crema de Besmuto here in Argentina) and drink 120 ml. of that (don’t worry I got video!) That was a lot but seemed to do the trick. We were quite dehydrated by that time so stayed inside the rest of the day and rehydrated and got some food to energize us. Bad experience at the time, but a great journal entry. Anyways, we played a game of monopoly and I still remain undefeated here in Argentina. We studied more and rested. We went to bed early and I felt like a new person the next day. Still a bit weak, but we went to work again. Exciting no!? We fodged a lot of people but have made contact with everyone again pretty much and we are doing good. So of course the news got to pres. del Castillo and he asked about it in interviews today So that was the big events of the week more than anything. I am good now though so don’t worry!
So that is cool that James Hales is back already. I guess that makes sense doesn’t it? Is he planning on going to school this semester? That is cool about China too.
I have got the music CD you guys sent and I am sure the other is on its way to me already. Thanks a bunch! The funnies in the letters too are quite enjoyable. Every once in awhile I get a little note from Josh or Andrew and I send them a little something too, nothing to distract our focus or anything though. Sounds like they are doing way great! How time flies!
Seferino is really animated to get baptized and is making an effort at quiting drinking again. I think he can make it. Some of the Elders Quorum members offered to fast with him this time around too and want him to tell us when he is planning on doing it so they can be a part. It is something that I mentioned that he needs and they are willing to help out. I think that may just do the trick. I really really hope so.
Also we went out yesterday after being sick and found a man that just came from Buenos Aires 15 days ago and already listened to the missionaries there. He let us in in the hot and offered some water (which we politely declined). He is a great guy and has a lot of faith. He seems to follow in the Evangelical church but he likes our church and with any luck we can get him to church before other people get hold of him and taint him. A really nice, humble guy. His name is José Rodriguez and he lives alone. Which means no marriage problems! Hope all works out.
Anyways, I really don’t have much time, but thanks for all the school information. I am thinking that coming home one week early would be ideal. I have felt that way from the start. But I am afraid that he would rather I go home 3 weeks early with the rest of the group. That I am not willing to do. Plus if I go one week early he may want to change where I am working and I would be transfered out of the area for sure. Could be good and could be bad. So there are a lot of things going through my mind and I just can’t make up my mind. Lots of pros and cons. I will try and call the mission president and talk real quick. And also the mission office to see about changing flight plans. See my options.
Love you all,
Elder Aaron McDonald
Querida familia,
Well, first off I wanted to say congrats mom on your missionary efforts. Keep it up! I am impressed. It is true that when you are least expecting it the spirit finally gets through to someone. It can catch you by surprise sometimes.
Well, I might as well include my testimony in here for everyone else to hear too....
Anyways, I am so amazed at the perfectness of the gospel. I know that this is the only true church of Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is a book of sacred scriptures that God has specially prepared for our days. It doesn’t matter the number of times that I have read it, I always learn more. I know that upon continually studying of the Book of Mormon one can grow closer and closer to God and our Savior Jesus Christ. I know. It has happened to me. I have gained a greater love and appreciation for what they have done for us. I know the Book of Mormon gives us answers to everyday problems and concerns and has the ability to help us live a happy life. I know Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration of the church of Christ in these days. I know that today we have a watchman on the tower, even Thomas S. Monson. He is a living prophet of God and as such has the keys and authority to direct Christ’s church on the earth. We are receiving revelations from God to guide us in these days. What a blessing! I know that upon following the counsels we receive from God’s servants in these days, we will gain salvation and eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God!
So now for all the exciting missionary work this week. Well, it has been tough because we have been needing to find more promising people and that was getting frustrating especially in this heat. Finally we decided on taking a morning to do what we now call a “manzana burn.” Basically we take a block of viviendas and clap door to door. It is easier in summer because doors are open and people are out. One person will accept you really well, one will try to weasel the way out of listening to you, the next will yell at you, the next will send their children out to lie to you. It is fun! You really get to see the difference between all the people and it is exciting. Anyways, we have been finding tons of promising people between all the rejection we get. We have a ton of future investigators to look forward to now. I guess it goes to show you that when you put your mind to it and put your faith in the Lord, you can see miracles. The majority of the people reluctantly decide to listen, but in there we have found some really promising people. So that has helped our animo a lot.
Also, some exciting news on the Custodio family. Well, Roxana and Silvio decided to separate. Unfortunately not completely for gospel reasons, but that means Roxana can be baptized any time. Silvio lives in another area now so we can’t visit him except on divisions. We passed him on to the other Elders in our district though and we will see what happens. He is only 17 and I think the whole eternal marriage and law of chastity thing started getting to him and he made a good choice. He once said that he would like to go on a mission like us. Now he can, if he still has desires to listen to us and go to church. I hope all works out. Either way, I think it was a positive advancement. I will miss not being able to see Silvio though.
Silvia and Mattias Duarte have been listening for awhile and now the mom is really warming up to us. We have the help of the members on this one and it is going well. We just need to figure out how to get 12 yr. old Mattias to church instead of selling garlic on the other side of the city on Sundays.
I will wait to tell you about anyone else because it is hard to tell who has real promise or not, but I will keep you updated.
The really positive notice of the week came from the hna. Penzkofer who we ate lunch with on Monday. Well, when I was in Villa Cabello it was her sister that I baptized (Teresa). She informed me that Teresa and Ignacio are now getting ready to go to the temple in December to be endowed and sealed. Yeah! I am way happy for them. They seem to be doing way great!
Anyways, I should get going now so I have some time to relax (that was in our plans today.) Sorry I couldn’t write more, I was busy with the school schedule more than anything. Thanks for the help Amy!
Love you all,
Elder Aaron McDonald
