cómo están - August 27th

Hey family,

Hope all is going really well, it sounds like a lot of things are happening all at once. A lot and yet nothing much is happening here in Miguel Lanús. Well, we have a ton of work, but it is the same work every day, so nothing really new I suppose. I really feel like we are going to see a few baptisms in the next couple months here so I am excited for all that. So maybe I will start out and take some time to mention some of these really awesome people.

First of all, we had stake conference last Sunday and we passed by an investigator, Carlos, to bring him there, but a neighbor said they had to go to the hospital (he and his sisters). We called the night before and they were all for it, but it was an emergency in the night. What are you going to do. It was kind of a bummer. A 75 year old man, Fulvio Nosalve, showed up on his own and I was really impressed. Every time we teach Fulvio he surprises me. He looks like he would be losing his mind a bit or something by now, but he is really sharp and understands everything we teach him. We asked about Adam and Eve and he said, “if they hadn’t eaten the fruit we wouldn’t be here!” No one ever says that when we ask. At stake conference we talked about tithing (5 talks) and the stake president ended with a talk on gossip. It is what the members here have the biggest problem with that is for sure. Fulvio asked about tithing the next time and was all good with it. He is right on track for baptism on the 4th of october.

Seferino Custodio wasn’t able to make it to stake conference either because he had to help his brother with something. Sylvio (the son-in-law) also had to watch his families kiosko or something. Roxanna and Blanca didn’t want to come by themselves I suppose. They are still awesome though and just need a bit of time. Seferino has a baptismal date for the 6th of September and we are going to see if we can prepare him for that. We talked with Sylvio and Roxanna about the law of chastity and were straightforward with them. They have plans to get married, but in a year or so. We talked about it and asked them to look for the will of God in the matter. I talked about how marriage is really committing to each other that we are going to support them in all the trials as well as the good times (they want to be on their own feet first). The decision is up to them now.

I mentioned Carlos Hendrickon earlier in the letter. He wants to go to church with us, but we need to pass by his house to help him out. He is a really nice guy, but really nervous. He keeps to himself and doesn’t like to be outgoing. I can relate. He was really happy when we offered to pick him up for church. But like I said the last week didn’t work out with the hospital trip and all. It should be easier this week though.

We found a really great family this week, family Galeano, that already talked with missionaries before and knows a member that invites them to church sometimes. They said they know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and are looking to go to church it seems. We are going to try to get the members’ help with that.

Vicky also has a baptismal date for the end of September, but she needs to start coming to church first. We will see what happens there.

Those are all the big investigators as of right now. We have several others that have some real potential and a lot of others that are just there for now. A lot of work and not enough time it seems. Never enough time.

Mom, I am glad that you had a lot of great experiences with the funeral and your class. I am grateful for a mother that is always looking to learn and grow and be a good example. I can relate to the 2000 stripling warriors when they said, “we do not doubt, our mothers knew it.” I have always loved that story because, I do not doubt, for I know that my mother knows it. That has always helped me to stay on the straight and narrow and to look for learning and growth in my own life. Now I can say that I have become someone with whom my Heavenly Father is pleased. I am not perfect that is for sure. I feel quite weak at times. But I know that as Alma taught to his sons that if we keep the commandments and trust in the Lord, he will support us in all our trials and afflictions and we will be raised up in the last day (Alma 37, 38, 39).

Questions and answers:
1. Do you still talk to your companion in Spanish even though you both speak English? (That's is when you do talk)

Well, honestly by this time it is easier to speak in Castellano for me because that is what first comes to mind, but Elder Walker refuses to speak in Castellano unless we are in a lesson or something. That is probably one of the things fomenting the silence. He speaks well enough, he just doesn’t care to speak to me in anything other than English and seems to think I am stupid for speaking in Castellano to him. He told me something to that extent during a nice companionship inventory.

2. Have you ever had any unusual spiritual experiences?

I suppose the life of a missionary is full of spiritual experiences, but I can’t think of anything extra special right now. We have a lot of good lessons all the time lately and the people are really progressing it seems. I am currently trying to find the way to get the help of the members here because they seem to have lost confidence in the missionaries due to some past missionaries that have been here. I think what we need is to make a mission plan as suggested in Preach my Gospel and do a really well planned activity like the talent show we did in Eldorado. I need to talk to the bishop about it all, but he keeps putting ward council off and off. I need more persistence I think.

3. Do you write in you journal every day or just once a week?

I write for every day, but not every day as I should. I have really gotten tired of the journal, but am still diligent in my entries. Don’t worry you will get to read a lot when I get home.

4. Do you take a bus or walk everywhere or both?

In our area we walk. The area is small. For centro and other parts of the city we take buses. The terrain is flat here for once so walking is not so bad. There are a lot of rock embedded streets again though and my foot is starting to hurt again.

5. Are you still taking pictures and why haven't you sent some lately? :) hint, hint

Yes I am taking pictures, we shall see if I can send some hoy. Not much has happened though. All the things we do are repeats of last year in posadas.

Dad, about Weber, I should only need one class to get my associates degree at Weber. That class should be a 17 credit course to test out of Spanish classes for the humanitarian credit. I don’t know if they have changed anything else, but that should be it. As for school for next fall I suppose I want to go for BYU and U of U if you want to start trying to get me in.

One last note on the events this last week. At stake conference it was like having my whole experiences from the mission come together. I got to see Teresa and Ignacio (the older couple that I baptized in Villa Cabello). I saw people from Villa Cabello and many other parts of the city where I have had divisions and lots of experiences with. A lot of people were happy to see me again and I was happy to see a lot of people again. I didn’t get to see Jardín America because they were probably late in arriving and I had to leave (they did two sessions of stake conference because there are too many people). General Conference though. I am going to see if the president allows me to write a message for the Benitez family that was going to be baptized in Jardín America to see if I can get them to General Conference to talk to them. They are good friends with the family Barrios there who are already members. One can hope. I should get to see the converts there that I wasn’t able to see get baptized, but had a lot to do with the teaching they received.

Well family, love you all and hope the week goes well.

Elder Aaron McDonald