Week #23 ~ Dia de gracias!

Hello my family,

I am doing good had a full week in the land down under. I am happy and healthy.  I eat fruits every day, they are so cheap now and I bet I am being transferred next week.  Here is my week in review… 

Monday

We cleaned for most of the morning our apartment.  Then we went out to visit members and less actives. We visited a recent convert whom is studying dance and he tried to teach us hip hop and it was fun, but I am sure we looked way worse then we felt haha but it was really fun.  We talked to his brother that we have never meet before about the pamphlet that we left  there the  last time we visited,  He accidentally took it to work and read it and wanted to know more about it We have another appointment to go back this week!

Tuesday

We were contacting and we went to visit one of our new investigators.   We had her commit to a baptismal date! It was funny, we invited her and she said YES, really fast and we thought maybe she didn't understand that we asked her to be baptized to our church and so we rephrased it. She was like, “I just said yes!” hahah… I was great! So.. that’s all way good.  Then we visited more members and investigators in the night and had a ward meeting for our open chapel.  It is coming up soon, we talked about what needs to be done. We just got pictures of Jesus painting for our church! The looks so great now!

Wednesday 

We only had 9 more contacts we needed to get to our 100 goal so, we decided to contact and not come home until we completed it. One of the doors I was knocking on, I gave the usual schpiel and she was said I believe that God and Jesus are separate people and said that’s amazing! We do to and we started teaching thefirst lesson to her in the door way and after the lesson she then said,”  I was baptized into you church 10 years ago! We were like the our church?  She then said yeah I am Mormon I just moved here.... hahaha so funny!   Also we got flyers for our open chapel and we handed out flyers for the remaining oftheday.

***AHH my key board is sticking and the space bar is beginning not to work, sorry!

Thursday

We passed out invitations for thechapel all day and we tried to visit all of our investigators to give them theinvatations.   They all lived so far away we only got to a little more the half. We had to pack anovernightbag and go to the other elders house becasue we had a collectivo at 3 in the morning . 

Friday

We woke up un tandeal and this is thearea ofthe confrence and it was super great! There were some great talksand meet a lot of other elders  .I meet president and his wife and wetalked for a good while. Then we had a lot of the zone leaders give talks. Then we went home that night and the bus broke down for a little bit, but then we started going forward out of know where soiguess itgot fixed really fast.

***WOW  thatsfastmykeyboardisbroken so itssuperhard to writeanything SORRY!

Saturday 

Today we decided to have a fake dia de gracios cause the other elders were staying with us so we went out at bought a chicken from thebutcher shop and it came with a  heart and a liver then we thenallcooked somehting we knew how to cook. Itwas great , it rained a lot thisday so we weren’t abletogetvery far contacting and inviting othersbutwe stilltried hard! We gave outsome, so thatsgood 

Sunday

We had   a great dia it wasstake conference so wetraveld tothehermanas area and it was great, presidentandwifecame and talked andourbishop, wehadsomeinvestagators come anditwasgreat we atewithalltheotherelders and hermansain theeventcausedalotofelders totravel, likeusand itwasgreat.  Iam sorry my key board itbroken and     its          jus t slowlygetting worse.butthat was really itformmethisweekilove uguys!  

LOVE ELDERVANCE

My Bishop who is always making fun of my fashion choices!  He looks great!

Week #22 ~Count your little Blessings…

Hola Familia como esta

I had another good week and am going to have an eventful week coming up too!

Monday

We had a great lesson with a new investigator and it was amazing! She asked all the right questions that we could have hoped for her to ask! We are going to invite her to be baptized today and I am kind of nervous we met her about a week and a half ago and she just keeps inviting us back. I am super excited. We also meet with some less active members and tried to see if we could help them.  We are trying to share scriptures and the importance of living the gospel with less actives. We are attempting to help them learn why to attend church so I hope that helped them.

Tuesday 

We had a zone meeting and had other elders came to stay at our house so they could  attend this meeting. It was great we learned how to contact in different ways and try how to seem like more normal people.  If that is even possible??? We are going to try to come across as more friendly at first then introduce the gospel.   After we cross the big guard fence that everybody puts up when meeting new people. Then we contacted the rest of the evening. 

Wednesday

My comp was sick today so in the morning I read and studied and exercised all morning... it was like a little vacation! It was super great!  Then we had food with a RM that just got home and it was really fun then we had una cita with our investigators and the people who just got married and wants to baptize his wife. They are both coming along really great. 

Thursday 

The day a supermarket opened near our house! The best thing ever! It has everything! Except protein powder, but everything! We bought light bulbs for our house now every room has a light bulb now! Haha the little things that bring us joy. We worked in the other elders area on the other side of a city.We set up for a open chapel and it was really good and we had a lot of fun. One of the members brought a tent to put up behind the young men and they didn’t know how to set up a tent . I asked," do you guys need help?" They were like, you yankees don’t know how to set up a tent! Guess who set up the tent! haha 

Friday 

We did service for a family that are recent converts and they wanted us to mow there grass, which was great except that they have a big field and they had one weed waker.  The weed waker maybe had a four foot long cord.  It took a lot longer then it should have, but it was fun we had a good time and they just kept asking us questions about the things they were reading the whole time, so it was really good. Then after the service we went contacting.

Saturday.

The open chapel was today so we spent all day in the other area again and helped get everything finalized. We talked to a lot of members on how they first meet missionaries and it was so awesome hearing all these conversion stories. It made me want to go teach a lesson! Then we had the open chapel, it's when everybody invites other non-members to come and tour.  All the  different auxiliaries & orginazations are there.  It was great there were alot of investagators.   A lot of people came for the first time.  I felt like I was at SUU giving tours again and it was really fun!

Sunday

We had a great sunday like normal!   We had a talks about the importance of missionary work and it was great.   We had the hermanas that are incharge of the open chapel come and talk & train our ward.  They taught us what to do becasue we are having one on December 3 and its going to be christmas themed,  so I am super pumped for that!!! 

I love you be grateful for all you have, because you in the USA are truly blessed.  Food, Clean water stores to shop at, meat to eat.  Enjoy your turkey!!!

~Elder Vance

Chapel open house

 A local band playing at a concert

Week # 21 ~Ostrich eggs & Big trucks!

Hola,

I am having another great week here in Argentina.  I am studying the patterns and principles of revelation in my personal studies and I feel like I am growing so much to love and appreciate the Holy messenger.  

As I learn and understand the many ways he has brought information and edification to the ancient prophets and servants of the Lord.   I notice he does a lot more then just whisper to us.  He can instruct us and even create a stupor of thoughts if we decide incorrectly.  He will guide our hands in craftsmanship that is beyond our own abilities. Like building theTemples, the woodworkers and stonecutters  and of course Nephi of old, a ship that was in no way a design by man. It amazes  to me that with all these signs that sometimes we still even doubt or ignore the promptings given to us. It’s hard to differentiate, was that a thought mixed with “natural man” feelings or a thought given to me from God through a divine messenger. 

I think that the key to decide the difference between these two are in the word edifies. Edify means to bring something to clarity of understanding. God will only give us revelation if it DOES make things clear, enlighten or lift our spiritual lives.  I think this is the way I distinguish inspiration from feelings that I have. I ask does this edify me or perhaps another that I cant see. Gods ways are not my own so I ponder this when I feel like I have inspiration from God.

Monday

Monday was good, I was in charge of our lessons for our zone meeting. It went really great, I had some good practice sessions. We talked about situations that were not easy to teach and how we sometimes make things more confusing then they need to be when explaining a concept to someone with no understanding of our gospel.  Then the rest of the day we contacted the people in a new areasin attempt to reach our goal of a 100 contacts in a week. 

Tuesday 

We had the elders from another area and the zone leader living with us for three days and it was super fun, like a big party every night! The coolest thing was that Elder Pitcher heard I liked eggs a lot, so he brought me two ostrich eggs to make us omelets out of! It was super fun! They are massive and I sent home pics and a video I think!  It was great. They taste a little different but still yummy. 

We had another lesson with an investigator.  He wants to be baptized, but because he is living with a women he has decided to move out and get his own place instead of getting married. He is very committed to getting baptized and is moving along with the lessons well.  

Wednsday 

We devoted all day to contacting and we did just that.  We ate with a member for lunch and we had fish he caught stuffed inside of tomatoes with mayonnaise and it was pretty good and nice to eat some different flavors besides eggs and rice.   They eat mayonnaise on everything in this country it is crazy!

Thurday 

Today was service day so we went to the store bought garbage bags and went to the park and picked up trash until dinner. Then we went contacting! We visited the family that just got married and they are doing good!   He is getting the priesthood next week so he can baptize his wife so that will be so special & fun! 

Friday

We had to go pick up an elder that was coming to our area at 3am from the bus stop.  Those visits are so early in the morning half the time I remember nothing about them! We had a great lesson with recent converts.  We taught about the importance of school.  He is 16 and having a difficult time in school so we used the duty to God book and it was a really good tool! 

Saturday 

We contact all day and visited the bishopric and we discussed the up coming goals for the ward and baptisms. It was great, the ward really wants to help out with missionary service. It’s such a blessing having people at least trying to share the gospel with others. It makes a huge difference in the lives of elders.

Sunday

We had a great Sunday we taught the Gospel Principles class on obedience.  We had some investigators come, it was great they were participating the whole time.   Other members around their age came and befriend them and attended the classes with them.  It was so cool to see members doing that! Then after church we went out contacting again to get our weekly goal! Contacting is probably one of my favorite things to do.   I really learn a lot and enjoy getting to do it so much in the week.  There is a new member who I just love to see on Sundays.  He asked me weeks ago where I got my suspenders from, then the next week he showed up with suspenders.  Last week he showed up with a short sleeve white shirt, then when he saw me he asked me to roll up his sleeves like mine!  SO fun and flattering!  

-Love Elder Vance

My favorite new member, who loves to dress like me.  I love it!

Week #20 ~Following Promptings!

Hola familia como esta

I am doing great and we are having a lot of fun teaching great lessons down in Olavarria.  We had a full week yet again but thats the life of missionaries.

Monday 

One of our investigators had a wedding and it was held in a civil court.  We walked to it and it was super fun.   We saw some members there and lots of their friends all in the little court room.  The groom, our investigator, came over to me and asked if I could tie his tie for him just prior to the service commencing.  I have never tied a tie so fast because they had literally started the wedding when he asked me!  After the wedding we went to his house for a little reception and it was fun.  Of course, they had mariachi music and it was a way different kind of fiesta.  I really enjoyed it.  Later that day, when we were contacting, we passed a house that we pass a lot yet can’t follow up with a girl we contacted there because she is never home.  About a block away after we passed it I said we need to go back and knock on her door. Just felt like we needed to do it.  So we went back and sure enough it is completely dark with the blinds shut.  We knocked anyway and waited a minute then knocked again and as is typical, no answer.  However, to our surprise just as we were leaving she pulled up in her car.  She was way excited to see us because we forgot to leave our information the last time we were talking to her.  She is a very sweet nice girl and reminds me a lot of Makenzie.  We asked how old she was and she has the same birth day as Makenzie’s and I!  So not only does she reminded me of my sister, she is the exact same age as we are! Crazy!

Tuesday

We were contacting all morning because we have a goal this month to have 100 contacts.   While contacting our bishop calls and says he has a referral for us!  We were so excited we practically ran to this woman’s house and we were able to teach an amazing lesson with her.   We learned she had recently left her church because she didn’t like how the preacher was talking about how not everyone can make it to heaven.  We knew it was going to be a great lessen when she started crying before we even started our lesson.  Of course I took that as a good sign. And yet it was kind of hard because I have no idea what to do when someone cries.  I have zero experience with people crying like that so, I kind of just sat there awkwardly and just kept teaching.  

Wednesday

We contacted a lot this day, surprise right?  While we were out it started to get really hot,  hottest day of the year so far.   Apparently “hot” means every person starts drinking and hanging-out outside.  We had several drunk people try to talk to us.  It was kind of scary.  They would always ask for stuff and one man took my comps sunglasses and said he would return them one day.  Luckily he didn’t ask for mine, just my comp’s so I felt bad.  Luckily we both bought our sunglasses here for about $3 us dollars so not a big loss.  

Thursday 

Spent this day working with the zone leader while my companion was in Bahia Blanca for a meeting.   We of course contacted all day and it was really fun.   We ate a meal at a members house and it was just noodles, plain noodles. haha.  We met lots of people and talked to a lot of people on the streets and it was really fun. I love just talking to the people on the streets. They are always so interested in talking to new people, when you just walk over and ask how’s it going? 

Friday 

Today I was on splits with a return missionary from our ward and we had a ton of fun.  He is native to Argentina so obviously he speaks the language far better than me. haha.  We gave him a flyer for our missionary taught english class and I have never seen someone more excited to learn something.  He had been praying for a way to learn english so he can go to school and I am super excited to help him out with that! 

Saturday 

My companion got home at 2 in the morning so I met him there.  It was really fun to hear the city people because apparently the city never sleeps.  At 2 am it was just as busy as in the middle of the day.  Well, maybe not the middle of the day because that is siesta and nobody is out during that time.  Later we had lessons with some of our investigators.  One is living with his girlfriend.  He said he wants to marry her so they can be baptized and I am super excited for that.  I hope it comes together like the other one did!

Sunday

Sunday was fast-and-testimony sacrament meeting and it was really funny because nearly every member said the exact same thing in about 5 sentences then they sit down.  It is good that they are sharing what they know to be true.  After church we contacted until night fall then visited families at night. 

Thats was all for this week.  I am glad to get everyones emails to see that you are all having a great week! I love you all! 

~Elder Vance

Week #19 ~Tomatoes & Mayonnaise

Feliz dia de brujas

This week has been all sorts of fun.   Today is also a holiday.... kinda!

Monday 

Was the day we had zero transfers so nobody left, so we had a normal p-day.   We hung out with the other elders that were staying with us. We did splits and pretty much tracted trough entire p-day.  It was really fun. We meet a great investigator whom has taught before and wished to continue!

Tuesday

We had a zone meeting and we had a lot of fun doing mock investigator senerios.   We learned more about how we can teach people in different predicaments. We had a apple pie during the meeting because one of the hermanas that stayed has been here for her 10 transfer thats almost a year!! The pie was for her haha I guess she deserved it. The rest of the day we had to stay inside cause it was raining so much and lots of lightning. We got a lot of studying done!

Wednesday 

We had a lunch with a family that lives about 5 miles away from our house so we decided to work through the siesta instead of study. It was so far away and we wanted to be on time so we were walking and talking so much in the morning. When we got to his house all I wanted to do is fall asleep! But we ate eggs and rice soo I was pretty much a happy camper!

Thursday

We have this day devoted to just preforming service.   We cut a field for a man in our ward that just had a knee surgery! He is the one with like 9 kids, so he gave us a weed waker and we were out there cutting all day. We traded off when our arms got to tired! It was really fun.  I found an old yard chair and I would just sit behind him when it was his turn. On the way home we saw a pack... or a herd of horses running down main street about 8 of them.  They had  no riders but with police cars chasing them.  I have no idea what that was!?!?  I think they got loose and the cops were trying to take them somewhere or something but it was crazy.

Friday 

We had a great meeting with one of our investigators, Enrika he is making great progress and he is reading so much of the Book of Mormon. He is kind of crazy and believes in a lot of weird things. He loves listening and learning about the gospel. He asks all the right questions like the pretend investigators in the MTC. It’s great visiting him.

Saturday 

We had an open chapel again in Azul. We had to leave really early so we could get out there in time to help set up. We got there and all the the hermanas were waiting to for our help.   We got right to work. This chapel was just renovated so it was beautiful! We had a great open house!   We gave out a lot of invitations! We talked to a lot of people! We were able to be the ones in the bishops office. My Comp & I were in charge of answering any questions they had as they talked to the different groups.   We also gave out Books of Mormon and reference papers.The best part was we were right next to the refreshment table!!!  We had so many people come ask for books and information, we missed out bus ride home.  Our leader bought us tickets for 6 pm when the house finished at 9 pm, so we got to hang out at the bus terminal until midnight!

Sunday

We had a great Sunday we taught a gospel principal class to our investigators.  We had some come for the first time whom we have been trying to get to come the whole time that  I have been here!  It was great they asked a lot of questions and participated a lot!  Then after church we ate diner with a family and we had chicken and rice! So a little different, but for dessert we have cold tomatoes and mayonnaise on top and apparently its very popular snack in the summer!

I love you, Happy Halloween from Argentina.

Love Elder Vance

Our Halloween Costumes...No they do not celebrate Halloween here. NO CANDY FOR US!

The wedding invitation, I cannot wait to go!