Week 46

Hey gang

Well... without a doubt we just had the funnest zone activity that i have ever don in my entire life. Kickball!! we have a tiny zone, it was only 5 on 5, but we played at the church, and it was finally fun to play a sport again. I did horrible. I probably had 4 errors in the field, but i went 4 for 4, with 3 RBIs, and 3 runs scored, and 3 doubles. we ended up tying 10 to 10 after 2 innings. We were all incredibly unathletic.

Well. this week was super difficult. We focussed last week on contacting a bunch of new people, and we hoping that all would progress and show something cool... but pretty much all of our scheduled things fell through. It was super difficult. we had a ton of citas fall through, and we had a lot of problems with people not wanting to continue, and all that jazz. super depressing. we definitely felt the Spirit in the lessons, and got to know them pretty well, but we left, and they.... didnt do anything. So, of course theyre not just going to all of a sudden think that its true.

But we continue. Were working with the members, were obedient, and we work hard. Plus, ive started doing my worthwhile bodyweight circuits again. So Im sore a lot again. Thus... i am happy.

The other elders here in salto are having a TON of success. Last week, some one got baptized. a young couple that look like they will build the branch here in salto. Plus they found a gfamly who came to the baptism, and asked them ´´what do we need to do to be bapitzded??´´. and they thought that asssisting church and reading the book of mormon was reasonable. and they have followed through. Another young family. AWESOME. PLus, on 2 different occasions, they were walking down the street, and someone called them over. They went. And they were a menos activo woman whos husband wanted to get baptized. They both came to church on sunday. What in the world.... so many miracles. They seem to be stealing all of our miracles haha

well.... ive started studying guarani a lot. I can now pray and form sentences and i understand about as muchh guarani right now as i did spanish 10 months ago. che ndaikatui ñe´´é guaranipe

I heard it was rileys farewell talk yesterday and that she rocked it!! you go girl! I also talked in chruch yesterday. We are SO connected.

I love you all. Sorry i dont have pictures.

Elder Emil

Week 45

Well it was a cool week this week.

Mostly because it was full of divisions. One place, in katuete, we went, and contacted all day. how enjoyable. One of the houses we contacted, a brazillian woman came out and accepted us easily. We talked about her family, and all that fun stuff,a nd then she started totally opening up to us. She has started having alot of problems with her boyfriend and kids, and she said that she had just been really hoping that someone would come and talk to her. she started crying, and we shared just about Christ, and about the importance of families. She said that she was so greatful that we passed by and that she was seriously praying for someone to come along. so well see where that goes. It was cool.

Then we went to Puente Kyjha. There... idont remember what happèned really. But the elders were having some big problems. we just told them to focus on waking up at 630 every morning. We call them to veryfiy if theyve woken up, and then the rest of the day is in their hands. They just barely told us that they had been doing it.

And they have started doing companionship study for the first time in their 8 weeks together. They achieved the normas of exelencia for new investigators, and they said that they dont hate each other anymore. So thats cool. I love obedience. Even the most simplest thing goes a long way.

on sunday, at 11 oclock, we went to take a bus to asuncion. i had to do tramites again. We got there at 12 in the afternoon, and went to the temple. the red eye bus ride is not a fun bus ride, let me tell you. but the temple ROCKS!!! We even saw my first gringoes. They were both from provo. And return missionaries. twas cool. Then we got back at 11 last night. Thus, i couldnt write until today. I took some pictures at the temple, but i was pretty hecho percha, so im not sure if i will send them to you, because i still have a LITTLE pride in my heart, and i really look quite hideous.

I love the gospel. I love you all. I really wish the best for you

Elder Emil

Week 44

Well i love this place.

A while back, we gave a ``read the book of mormon in 90 days`` challenge to a menos activo family living around here. its about 7 pages a day. Weve been trying to do it in all the branch to improve the knowledge of the gospel in the members and also increase their spirituality and desire to share the gospel with others.They said that they were down to do it. So anyway, we came back about 5 days later, and asked them how they had been doing. They had read 50 pages! Way more than they needed to! And they said that they loved it! they even explained to us all that they read and all that  liked. It was awesome. They dont even speak a lot of spanish, but they understood a lot, and then we read some more with them. It was awesome to see. We are actually doing it with the members here, and let me tell you, the Book of Mormon is AWESOME. I have usually just stayed on studying topics, but i started from begining just reading, and my testimony is growing. I know just in the past week i have gained greater knowledge, and i have also grown a greater love for the boook and testimony of its veracidad.

We also had a little meeting in Ciudad del Este. And my old companion, Elder Acevedo was there! I was so excited to see him! it has been i think 6 months since the last time that i had talked to him. And he is still AWESOME. After he trained me, he actually trained Elder Baskin`s trainer, so that makes Paul my nephew.

Earlier this week, we had a district fireside in La Paloma to animate the youth here to serve missions. And instead of animating the youth, i think it animated me. I loved to hear the stories of  the members here who served missions and brought people unto christ. I felt the spirit testify of their testimonies, and i recieved a greater desire to talk to people and help them. I dont really rembmer what exactyly anyone said, but i felt the Spirit, and i really enjoyed it. So that is good.

We have queen beds here.

Last awesome story

We were contacting old menos activos in a far away barrio called Kilometro 5. Im not sure how far away it is from the city, but probably about 3.1 miles, if i could guess. Anyway. We met some pretty cool people out there, including the people that were baptized while Elder Averett was here, ill tell you if they progress, and then we were walking back to the house at about 8 pm. it was really dark, on a really remote road. A policeman pulled over, and i thought``what on earth could they arrest us for??``

Well, we walked VERY quickly past their truck, and they yelled to us ``come here! no dont be afraid! ... where are you going?`` and we said salto. They asked ``do you want a ride?`` uh... yes. so we got in the back of their truck. There were already two big guys with enormous rifles inbetween thier legs, and we squeezed in on either side of them. The driver immediately started talking to us. he asked us where we were from, he asked us a little about the church, then siad that they were the paraguay equivalent of SWAT. And he pretty much talked our ears off for 5 minutes, then we got to town, and invited them to church, and then they left. It was quite funny.

I love you all. I love the church. The gospel is true.

Elder Christesnen

Week 43

I forgot how much i loved Guarani, and Paraguay, and Paraguay. And America. Happy birthday, America, by the way! For the 4th of July, we pledged allegiance to the flag. It was good. And thats it. Actually, then we went to McDonalds and ate a hot fudge sundae.

You heard me. We have Mccy Dees. And a bunch of american malls, and a place called shopping china that pretty much sells any kind of soda or candy that you want. As long as its american. Its the greatest. Theres Burger king, and Chinese food, Its pretty much paradise.

And its paraguay, so the people are way nice to us and everyone accepts us into their house. Last night, even. We were contacting, and we walked up to this young couple, and they were making something over a fire. Cooking. They said ``come over! lets eat dinner!`` and we totally ate dinner with them and then had a lesson with them right after. The people are so great. And i remember more guarani than i thought i did. Its gonna be great to revive it all.

Elder Hutchison is pretty much Nate Evans. But hes from Oregon. Hes probably the nicest person i have ever met in my entire life. And hes way funny too

Well, im happy, im safe. The buses here in salto are nicer than any Le Bus ive ever seen.
It was hard to say goodbye to everyone there in Tacuarì. I met a lot of really awesome people, and  i will miss them. But i was really happy to share the gospel with them and incorperate their lives into my scripture study. I love the scriptures. They are so very useful.

Oh I didn't really do anything for my birthday. No one really knew that it was my birthday mostly because i didnt tell anyone. Im such a fun person!
Elder Emil

Week 42

Yes, im moving areas AGAIN haha

Area number 5. im going to a city in Northern Paraguay called Salto del Guaira. Yes, you heard me. -Northern- Paraguay. Well... almost. But its like a 14 hour bus ride away. Makes Carlos Antonio Lopez sound like a nice sunday drive. Its known as the area most like america. They have mcdonalds. with mcflurries. so i will be spending lots of money on ice cream and getting really fat.

My new companion is Elder Hutchison. Hes from Portland, oregon. Hes cool. He played Lacrosse and i have talked with him a couple times. I even went on divisions with him 3 weeks ago. The dream of the 90s is alive in Portland. Im super stoked hes relatively new in the mission, so were both going to be very new haha. Im so excited to get up there.

Elder Averett is going home tomorrow. He finished the 2 years, and is going back to idaho. I will miss him a lot. I really enjoyed being his companion. I really did.

Theyre making Tacuari ward an hermana area, so thats different.

Well, heres an experience for ya, if you want it.

I was doing divisions with the elders in Centro in Posadas. And we went contacting all night. Its an area that is very closed, with not a lot of members. They do not get into a lot of houses. We walked up to a house, and i saw a family sitting around a dinner table... and i did not want to talk to them. So i looked beside the giant window, and there was a staircase up to the upper leveel of the building. And there was a door bell.... so i rung it. And a 20 year old kid came down. We just said ``hey were representatives of Jesus Christ. Can we talk with you?`` and he said ``yeah, come in`` haha what? since when does that happen?? so we went.

it turned out to be this 20 year old couple. The guy was kind of clueless, but the girl was AWESOME. She sid that she was kind of Evangelical, but not really. She had gone to a lot of churches, and didnt really feel right at any one of them, so she stopped going. She had a ton of questions about what we believed, and all that and was very proactive about finding out our beliefs. it was AWESOME.

Then we started talking about the Book of Mormon, and she was astounded. it was great. We invited them to church then they said ``acutally were moving to Buenos Aires tomorrow.`` and so that kind of killed my mood. But then she asked how she could hear more about the church. I said there was a website. She asked me to write down the website. I did. And then we left.

Well... I hope she finds the missionaries in Buenos Aires... Go, my little seed. Go!

And thats it. It is not such a big coincidence that we found them the DAY before they move to Buenos Aires, and she has been looking for the right church. Well it was really cool to be apart of and it made me happy.

Elder Christensen

Week 41

We finally did it.

We went into the Laotian barrio in our area. Pretty much everyone there just pretends not to speak spanish, and rejects us. But they all speak a language that isnt english, spànish, or guarani, so i think its pretty legit that they speak laotian. Plus the two members that live there have and read the book of mormon in Laotian. We are trying to get them to come back to church, and its super weird to be around a different culture. They all came over from Laos in the 70s during the Vietnam war. They still have an Aisian style culture, and i feel even more out of place when i go there.

But the people there are great. Its cool to hear the conversion stories of the two. One of them has a son that moved to utah and is a laotian man from Argentina living in Utah and is very active in the church, so were hoping that he will help us with his mom.

We just had stake conference. Our Stake presidency was switched up, and  two general authorities came. it was cool to hear them talk. They both focussed on self suficciency. Which is what the peopple here really lack. They spoke a lot about education and learning english, and holding a job for your family. They also really stressed going on Recreational activites with your family. Elder Gonzales said that recently, the general authorities talked, and put a huge emphasis on the Day of Rest, and then told us nothing more... just that we would hear more... they have been telling us we would hear more about that for three months now, and its killing me. I think theyre going to crack down on watching tv on sunday, but im not sure. I wasnt there, and they still havent told me anything. But it was awesome to hear two 70s and our mission president talk all in the same conference. Talk about an all star weekend. They pretty much all talked a ton about the family. it was awesome.

Wee are also preparing four recent converts to go to the  temple. And they all ahve serious drive to go. We have had several very spiritual lessons about the temple, and they all ask lots of questions, and all eat all the scriptures up and the pamphlet that is aobut preparing to enter the temple. I love it. I love the temple. I am very happy that i went so many times.

Have a nice day.

Elder Emil

Week 40

I totally wish that we went golfing. But we went the course here in Posadas, and it was closed. Then one thing led to the next and our PDay was pretty much destroyed. Sorry.

But we did play paddleball today and it was great.

We also went to the Cruz de Santa Ana. Just this 500 foot cross in the middle of Misiones, Argentina.

I was sick again this week. I wasnt really bad, but I just had a sore throat that destroyed my voice. I sounded like Uncle Drew. I just walked around saying ´´youngbloods´´ all week, and im 95% sure that no one could understand me.

It feels like every single thing that we sets up falls through. Its really turning into quite a joke. But whatever. Somehow we end up having successful days, even though we follow the plan and nothing ends up how we expect it. That is what has happened the whole transfer. Do you see a segway here? Good. finish it in your mind.

Well.... I love you. Nothing really exciting happened this week. Just a normal week. Studies, divisions with the members, getting rejected by Argentine men drinking mate.

Elder Christensen