Hola - December 10th

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