Letter - September 19th

We had divisions yesterday and it was just amazing for me. I was a bit worried because I stayed in my own area and wasn’t entirely sure I could manage. We had some citas that were a bit spread out too. But I managed alright and we found our way around, even dispite the pouring rain in the morning (and when I say pouring, I mean pouring. I used my umbrella and boots and my feet and pants and shirt were still drenched by lunchtime. The streets had rivers running along them, through them, over them, etc. It was quite interesting. Despite all these challenges I was quite happy. I was with Elder Cragun who is an awesome missionary from Riverton, Utah. He has about two transfers more than me is all so we had fun talking and getting to know each other. He is a really hard worker and studies like crazy. Even though I have been with a latin companion for a long time, we conversed almost completely in Castallano. All in all it was a great stress reliever for me this division.

This past week in church we had 3 investigators. Helmuth came again finally because he still wants to reach his baptismal date. We are going to have to change it though. If he continues coming to church every week he will make it for October 13 (a rather good day if you ask me). It would be one week sooner, but we have to wait for general conference also. Also, Teresa Gonzales came this week. She and Ignacio (her husband) have really strong testimonies of the church. Ignacio recently went through surgery due to what to me sounds like a stroke. They had to do a dangerous operation on the brain. Before the operation we had the opportunity to give him a blessing in the hospital and I felt really good after the blessing. After the operation, Ignacio made a fast and miraculous recovery. The doctors said it was a miracle. They expected that he would be at least partially paralyzed and have to have rehabilitation for 6 months at least. None of this happened. He has full function of his body and just needs time to rest up. For this he hasn’t been able to come to church yet, but it sounds like he can this next week. A really amazing older couple. We are just waiting to make the baptismal date with them. They already want to be baptized though.

Zone conference happens every 6 weeks about (depends on if you are transfered or not). The president and his wife and the assistants really spend much of their time traveling all transfer long for zone conferences and interviews with the missionaries. Hermana Shakespear is always with the president. So basically we see the president and his wife two times each transfer—zone conference and interviews. This last zone conference I talked with hermana Shakepear about how dad had seen their son in the airport. She said her son had mentioned something like that. At the conferences it is always nice to talk with the other missionaries. I still haven’t seen anyone from my district in the MTC since I got here. What can you do. I have had the opportunity to hear about them though. Also, this last zone conference I played the piano for the song “Fe en cada paso.” It is the second time I have played that song for conference and I doubt it will be the last. That is about the only time I have the chance to play the piano. It is a good thing I can still site read.

As far as the missionary schedule goes, we get up at 6:30 and prepare for the day, study from 8 to 9 and leave at 9. we have lunch at 1230 and return to the pension by 130 to write in our journal (as of this last conference there is no siesta time anymore, I prefer it that way because I hardly ever used siesta time. It was more like a temptation for me). From 2 to 3 we have companionship study and from 3 to 4 we study the language. At 4 we leave once again to preach. We return to the pension at 9 (before this last conference we returned at 930). The idea is that we have time to eat dinner now at night. It is true that we hardly had time to do much of anything before except plan for the next day, record our days activities in the area book and go to bed by 1030. I feel the changes in the schedule were inspired.

As for general conference coming up, I am extremely excited for this. The only thing is I don’t want to listen to it in Spanish. It sounds like I may not have a choice though. The stake center here in posadas is going to be overflowing it sounds like and I may have to be standing the whole conference. That is what my comp says anyway. He was here for the last conference so it could be possible.

Jonathan driving!!! Oh no! Yep, it is too bad that you don’t have the van still. Just make sure the infinity is still there for me when I get back.

BBQ (asado, algo que los Argentinos encanta muchísimo. Yuck!) I sure appreciate our simple little BBQs now. Here in Argentina they love to cook all the meat they possibly can. We have talked to a lot of people that have problems with their blood pressure and stuff. It is quite common here. Hello! Look at what you are always eating! A bunch of red meat and salt! What can you do? It is a huge part of the culture here and that is not about to change too easily.

Okay, so my letter is unorganized and out of order, but oh well. Live with it.

Love you all and hope you have a great week.

Elder Aaron McDonald