Week 23

After 6 weeks in Oberá, I will be going to Montecarlo. Geroge Costanza will be going to Paraguay, and our area will be closed. My new companion will be Elder Piriz. Hes from Cordoba Argentina.

That is all.

Well I will tell you a story about Elder Cross and Elder Thorpe, the other Elders in Oberá... Before i ever came to this city, they were sitting on a bus. And Elder Cross went up to a girl, and sat next to her, and ended up giving her a book of mormon. And was never seen again. Or was she?

Turns out, as they were contacting a couple days ago, some 20ish year old girl came out and shook their hands. Elder Cross asked her if she had talked with missionaries before. She said ´´yes! about 3 months ago I talked with you!´´

Turns out. She actually READ the Book of Mormon, and LIKED it. Her grandma is a member in Buenos Aires, and when she went to visit her last month, her grandma took her to the temple to show her around. And then she asked where the church was. NUTS.

I just got done reading the sermon on the mount a couple days ago. it is outstanding. I would recommend it to anyone. its in Matthew 5, 6, and 7. One of my favorite scriptures is Consider the Lilies. They grow. They dont toil. They dont spin. They just do what theyre supposed to. And God provides.

If anyone can tell me who gives the priesthood to Jethro (he gives the preisthood to Moses) I will email you a smiley face.

That is all

Edler Christesnen

If I could send yoou pictures, I totally would.

Week 22

So... what´s up?

Not a whole ton happened this week. George Costanza is dying. Not really. BUT, something exciting happened. We were going to talk with one of our unpromising investigators, and we were very suprised to see a woman answer our claps, because he is supposedly a single man that lives alone. She popped her head out the door and yelled "the Elders!" We went up and started talking to her. Turns out, in the DAYS that we hadnt met with this guy, he had moved, and she moved in. Her aunt is a member, and about 15 years ago, when she was 10, she lived with her aunt and went to church with her a ton. Met with the missionaries, and loves thme, but never got baptized. We just barely found her, so well see what happens. it seemed like something promising.

A couple days ago, we got a call from the elders in San Vicente. One of them is the Branch president, and called at 11 pm. He told us that one of his members´s brother lives in Oberá and is at the hospital and is in grave need of a blessing. So me and my district leader, Elder Cross suited up, and walked to the hospital, where we met the sister, and went to the room of the man. It was pretty shocking the condition this guy was in. He was just wide eyed, skin and bones, lying on his side, and it seemed like he was on a respirator. He had no control of his body, and was drenched in sweat. They told us he had been like that for a day, but had been sick for a couple weeks. So we gave him a blessing. The blessing pretty much said that "your family will understand." and he died that night. We didnt get home until like 1 in the morning. It was a very spiritual, and shocking experience. His sister is the only member in their family, and It was obvious that she was the most confident about Gods plan for us, and knew that she would be able to see him again. His whole family was in mourning pretty heavy, but she handled it very well. Im happy I have the knowledge of the gospel.

Last story. We have some pretty promising investigators. A mom and her son and daughter. Theyre coming to church, and even though their family heckles them for talking with us, they say they dont care, and they like us. So thats good. As Elder Venegas was using their bathroom, the 16 year old daughter who is LEGIT (reading the book of mormon, and understands what we actually teach) asked us what the church´s most strict rule is. I said chastity. As i explained it to them, she was very suprised and said ´´thats bad?!!´´    ... wow. That explains a lot

Have a nice day

Elder Christensen

Iron Chef Argentina (because I have found that eating Bell Peppers plain is not that bad.)

Cant stand ya!

Week 20

4 Elders live in the house that we live in. Me, Elder Venegas (George), Elder Cross, and Elder Thorpe. 3 Americans and a Chilean. Every day, Elder Cross asks me ´´hows George treatin ya?´´ This transfer is seriously centered around Elder Venegas being extremely similar to Geroge Costanza. In all aspects.

As we were walking to an appointment we had, we crossed a road, and i looked down the road, and i saw a guy standing out side of his gate, staring at us. So i waved to him. And he waved back, then waved us over. So we went. He shook our hands, then told us to come into his yard. I thought he was going to kill us, but it turns out that he was baptized in Brazil about 6 years ago, and is currently inactive. He said that he was Young Men´s president in his ward, and him and his wife and 2 kids were WAY active. He said him and his wife were planing on going to the temple to be sealed, then something happened, and she broke up with him, and moved to Buenos Aires, then he moved to Oberá about 2 years ago with his brother´s family. He now lives with his girlfriend, and said that he went to the church here for the first couple months, then stopped. He said that every time he visits his kids in Buenos Aires, he goes to the temple property and just stares at the temple. Since he was Young Mens president, i could just picture Brett Finklea in that same situation, and it was the saddest thing i have ever heard. As he prayed before we left, he just started bawling. He was still crying as we left. It was so sad. Then he didnt come to church.

So that happened..the first investigators that weve had here that have started to show some promise just came to church!! During testimony meeting! But there was a powerout, and the AC shut off. We talked to them after the church, and the only things they had to say was that they were way tired and almost fell asleep, and they asked us what ´´mormon´´ meant. After we taught them the Book of Mormon, they (mother and 16 year old daughter) accepted baptismal dates. They rock.

After were done proselyting, we just talk about the gospel in the house. Me and Elder Cross were talking about why people ask President doctrinalquestions during the interviews, since its WAY funner to figure it out on your own. then we asked ourselves how Jethro got the preisthood, since he gave it to Moses.and since it was the most obscure doctrinal question we could think of to ask president. The next day, I was reading DYC 84, and it gave the lineage of how Moses got the preisthood. It was pretty hilarious. 

So study your scriptures. Its fun. Doctrine and Covenants rocks.

Have a nice day

Elder Christensen

Week 21

Yup. Felicitaciones. It has been 5 months, tomorrow in my mission. woohoo

So sorry, but this email will be lame. We really didnt have much sucess this week, and none of our investigators or less actives progressed, as none of them came to chruch... Even Brett Finklea, as i will code-name him. That guy is great. Turns out, he was pretty much aboujt to get sealed in the temple to his wife and kids, and then his wife left him without saying anything. he then lived in brazil for 2 more years, alone with his kids, and then moved to  obera with his brother, after his wife took his kids to Buenos Aires. So sad. But once he starts keeping the law of chastity and comes to church, im sure his life will be happy again.

George Costanza (Elder Venegas) is still alive and well. We went on divisions with our zone leaders this week, and Elder Prince was with me. The 6´6´´ Minesotan. Great. Someone taller than me. We were definitely a sight to see for all of these Argentines. Anyway, it was good to finally see a different teaching style, and i learned a lot.

We started reading the book of mormon all over again with one of our less actives. And i completely forgot, that 10 verses in, Lehi sees God. Thats pretty intense. And 5 verses before that, Nefi tells us that he kknows that what he writes in the book is true. Thats what im talking about. I totally agree. >I know my Father lives.

The lady sitting 6 inches away from me has started to breastfeed her baby and its really freaking me out..... huh. And now I cant remember anything else. Thanks.

Have a nice day

Elder Christensen