¿Cómo están? - September 17th

Hey family!

Well I am sure you are all anxious to know about my nuevito. I am too! So it turns out there were problems with some visas and they called me last minute to tell me that I wouldn’t be traveling right now. I was all packed and set on going too! So I am a bit sad right now, but I will live. They are still waiting for word on when all the neuvos are going to make it here. Hopefully next week.

So Elder Walker left to Puerto Tirol, Chaco and I am sure you are all wondering about what I have been doing. So for three days we were working in a trio, me Elder Karren and Elder Cook. It was a lot of fun, but I lost contact with a lot of investigators, even though we came over to my area for a little to work as well. So they were looking for a minimissionary to be with me until my nuevito gets here and we couldn’t find anyone. Finally they did find someone and now I am with Roberto Gaúna from Reconquista, Santa Fe. He is a really quiet guy and 18 years old. Honestly it is a bit of a struggle because he doesn’t say much and I can’t get him to participate in the charlas really. The MTC is an amazing place and really prepares people for the mission I decided. So now I am trying to help him learn more about the gospel more than anything to help him out in the future. It is tough and honestly I am waiting for my nuevito. As of right now I am talking a lot to a lot of people though and that is keeping me going.

The Custodio family is doing really great. Seferino is quiting drinking and is progressing a lot from what the family tells us. Sylvio is still stuck on 4 cigarettes each day, but we just talked with them about fasting and prayer and they are going to talk about it and decide on when to do it and then tell me so I can do it with them. We talked about how the apostles were trying to cast out a devil from someone and that Christ came and said, “this kind cometh out only by fasting and prayer.” We read about prayer and how it is procuring blessing that the Lord already has for us. It is changing our will to the will of the Lord and asking for the just things that he already wants for us. So relating it to them I said, “so we can say the same thing about blessings. We receive many blessings upon praying, but THIS kind of blessing (quitting smoking and drinking) one only receives upon fasting and praying.” I think they are going to succeed. Blanca as well is getting geared up to come to church for the first time. I think this next Sunday we have her. She also smokes and is going to have a hard time quitting I think. Little by little. I think we will teach them about the priesthood and blessings in one of the next visits as well. I have complete faith that they are going to succeed.

As far as other investagators are going, I have made contact with about everyone again and things seem to be progressing pretty well. We have hardly found new investigators lately, but I need to start that up again. There are a lot that just aren't going to progress right now as much as I would like to say otherwise. Later on maybe, but there are people more prepared that I need to find. So to do that we are trying to work with the members here. They know all the people that are ready to be baptized. Slowly they are all getting animated to help out. Tonight we are going to train them a bit in missionary work so they can more easily and more readily share the gospel with those they know. We’ll see how that all goes.

Fulvio Nosalve is the closest baptismal candidate at this point, but he is 75 and we are trying to help him recognize that this isn’t just another church (his favorite by the way), but the fulness of the gospel and the only true church of Christ. Little by little. He will make it I think for the 11th of October.

I still don’t have my package. I think it will come next week for sure for the zone conference. And mom, yes I did find the hydrocortisone and the spots are already looking a ton better now. There may be some scarring by now, but oh well. I am sure I can make up some cool mission story for it. Heheh.

I forgot to look for Elder Vega’s address. Bummer. Well, maybe it won’t be too late to give it to you next week. At the very least you could give him a call for me. An awesome Elder!

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The dye has been case. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am uplifted by prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the cause of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me. And when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me.

My banner will be clear.

--By Bob Morehead as quoted by Elder Henry B. Eyring—

Thanks for the quote! Elder Gustafson shared this one from me and I meant to write it down but forgot. Now I have it myself! It is a powerful one.

Anyways, thanks for writing. Sounds like things are going well at home with all the family and all that good stuff. I am excited to be able to see everyone again and talk with everyone, but at the same time I will always be missing the Argentine part of my life. I guess I will always be missing something or other until the next life, until we all meet again! “Don’t cry for me Argentina” Alright, but still have 4 great months left to give!

Love you all,
Elder Aaron McDonald