One crazy week. RAIN and COLD and lots of intercambios (exchanges). I worked with Elder Gardner, Elder Pérez and Elder Bryant this week. Way good, lots of work, lots of fun and four baptisms! We had three that were for sure happening and an hour before we swung the forth. And it is not a competition but our zone had more than any other zone this month.
I'm sorry there is so little being written but we are super rushed this week and I'll see you next week.
Today we celebrated my last p-day with choripan. They are chorizo sandwiches, we did it as a zone and played soccer for my last time. I know next week I'll be in the heat and with all of you but I still feel like I have a lot of time left here. I feel like I got here yesterday and that I'm supposed to be older and more mature by this point of my mission and life. Maybe it'll change when I'm back home I'm just still having a hard time believing it haha.
I hope Dad is willing to take me to the gym, I am in desperate need haha, walking is not sufficient. Have a great week, we'll be seeing each other on Wednesday!
Love,
ELMX
Monday, June 27, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Today is Argentina's Flag Day
¡Feliz 20 de Junio! Today is Argentina's Flag Day. So to celebrate a federal holiday the way it should be celebrated we did a good deep cleaning of our apartment. We also sang some of the ole Argentine patriotic songs and ate facturas (but we do that several times a week anyway haha). And here, like there, we celebrated Father's Day yesterday. All week people were throwing up the excuse of, sorry I can't go to church on Father's Day, I have to visit my dad (whether it be the cemetery or in his house, we got a lot of the cemetery excuse). Yet, through the Lord's help and some hard work, we were able to get 13 investigators and two inactive families to church. Pretty sweet :)
We spent Wednesday outside of our area, helping the Elders of Lamadrid. I was able to work with Elder Cutler, it was a great day. We got lost (he is new to his area), but we found some great people. Thursday we weren't in our area either, we had to go to another part of town for a Zone Conference, combined with the zone that Elder Goodman is in. It was great to see my ole companion's brother. Him and I will be sitting by each other on all three flights, but I'm thinking I'll be nice and trade seats with the other Elder Goodman, seeing how he is on our planes as well. What I do between transfer day (the fourth) and my flight in Buenos Aires, I have no idea, I'll just go with the flow. In the Zone Conference, we talked about a lot of things, but two things that stand out were one, an address given by Elder Jeffrey R Holland from the quorum of the twelve at the MTC in January. It was moving and spectacular. Two, in the last zone conference of every missionary they have to share what is called their "Testimonio Fiel", it translates to "loyal/faithful testimony" but it works better and sounds cooler in Spanish. So Thursday I gave my "fiel". I had been joking with a lot of missionaries that in my personal studies I was preparing my testimony and that I was even trying to produce tears. None of that was true, but the day of Zone Conference I started brainstorming a couple of ideas. As I stood in front of everyone all those ideas went flying from my mind. I still am not sure what I said, but I know it was crazy to think how fast the last 24 months have flown and how I'm not sure I'm ready to face life, but whacha gonna do.
Aiight, story time: We had talked with a woman in the street named Sulma last week. This week, we went by her apartment to teach her and her family. We knock the door and no one answers. A cute, little girl of three/four years, who was playing outside asks who we are looking for. We tell her Sulma. She informs us that Sulma has left. We ask the girl if she knows where she went and she says she doesn't know but that we need to take a taxi. We smile and ask to where. She responds, "I don't know, you have to get in the cab and say take me to Sulma, and that's where she will be." We had a good laugh.
The old stake pres is the one who releases me? Not the new? I have no problem with either one, and I said Fajitas because it is one of our family joints and I need chips and salsa, but I am content with anything, I follow the plans of every else.
Okayy, that's it for now. L. Lamoreaux signing off.
Chau,
LMX
We spent Wednesday outside of our area, helping the Elders of Lamadrid. I was able to work with Elder Cutler, it was a great day. We got lost (he is new to his area), but we found some great people. Thursday we weren't in our area either, we had to go to another part of town for a Zone Conference, combined with the zone that Elder Goodman is in. It was great to see my ole companion's brother. Him and I will be sitting by each other on all three flights, but I'm thinking I'll be nice and trade seats with the other Elder Goodman, seeing how he is on our planes as well. What I do between transfer day (the fourth) and my flight in Buenos Aires, I have no idea, I'll just go with the flow. In the Zone Conference, we talked about a lot of things, but two things that stand out were one, an address given by Elder Jeffrey R Holland from the quorum of the twelve at the MTC in January. It was moving and spectacular. Two, in the last zone conference of every missionary they have to share what is called their "Testimonio Fiel", it translates to "loyal/faithful testimony" but it works better and sounds cooler in Spanish. So Thursday I gave my "fiel". I had been joking with a lot of missionaries that in my personal studies I was preparing my testimony and that I was even trying to produce tears. None of that was true, but the day of Zone Conference I started brainstorming a couple of ideas. As I stood in front of everyone all those ideas went flying from my mind. I still am not sure what I said, but I know it was crazy to think how fast the last 24 months have flown and how I'm not sure I'm ready to face life, but whacha gonna do.
Aiight, story time: We had talked with a woman in the street named Sulma last week. This week, we went by her apartment to teach her and her family. We knock the door and no one answers. A cute, little girl of three/four years, who was playing outside asks who we are looking for. We tell her Sulma. She informs us that Sulma has left. We ask the girl if she knows where she went and she says she doesn't know but that we need to take a taxi. We smile and ask to where. She responds, "I don't know, you have to get in the cab and say take me to Sulma, and that's where she will be." We had a good laugh.
The old stake pres is the one who releases me? Not the new? I have no problem with either one, and I said Fajitas because it is one of our family joints and I need chips and salsa, but I am content with anything, I follow the plans of every else.
Okayy, that's it for now. L. Lamoreaux signing off.
Chau,
LMX
Monday, June 13, 2011
A Spirit Guided Experience
I feel like I write less and less every week, I apologize there's just so little time and so much that happens, so much of similar events, plus I figure in three weeks I can tell it all in person anyway haha.
Today we are going to start off with a spirit guided experience. Sunday was stake conference. It was a satelite transmission for all of Argentina from SLC. Elder Zivic, Elder Anderson, and President Packer, along with the general primary president spoke. We wanted to get as many people as possible to the stake conference. So we left early in the morning looking for people. We called everyone and passed by everyone's houses trying to get everyone there. No one was home and if they were they were asleep, we ran out of minutes on our phone calling everyone. We were kinda lost, when I thought, hey, let's go by our chapel and see if anyone forgot and is waiting outside. What do you know. Two of our investigators were there waiting. Alone? Nope, with friends they had invited. Miracle! We then escorted them to the stake center. We ended the Sunday with 12 investigators in church and a new family to teach! Way great!! We have a lot of super solid awesome people we are teaching and I'm loving it.
Last week I asked for a souvinours list and I didn't receive it this week, so don't complain when you get a Hannah Montana beach towel or a Virgin Mary fridge magnet.
I finally got my flight plans, weird that you got them first. Also weird that I have to fly to TX and can't go straight from FL to AZ ,but it's all cool.
Aiight, seeing how I write so little, I'll see if I can send a pic or two, seeing how a picture is worth a thousand words.
Besitos,
ELMX
Today we are going to start off with a spirit guided experience. Sunday was stake conference. It was a satelite transmission for all of Argentina from SLC. Elder Zivic, Elder Anderson, and President Packer, along with the general primary president spoke. We wanted to get as many people as possible to the stake conference. So we left early in the morning looking for people. We called everyone and passed by everyone's houses trying to get everyone there. No one was home and if they were they were asleep, we ran out of minutes on our phone calling everyone. We were kinda lost, when I thought, hey, let's go by our chapel and see if anyone forgot and is waiting outside. What do you know. Two of our investigators were there waiting. Alone? Nope, with friends they had invited. Miracle! We then escorted them to the stake center. We ended the Sunday with 12 investigators in church and a new family to teach! Way great!! We have a lot of super solid awesome people we are teaching and I'm loving it.
Last week I asked for a souvinours list and I didn't receive it this week, so don't complain when you get a Hannah Montana beach towel or a Virgin Mary fridge magnet.
I finally got my flight plans, weird that you got them first. Also weird that I have to fly to TX and can't go straight from FL to AZ ,but it's all cool.
Aiight, seeing how I write so little, I'll see if I can send a pic or two, seeing how a picture is worth a thousand words.
Besitos,
ELMX
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
One Month Left On My Quest in Argentina
Happy six, six, eleven. I indeed have had a good start to my June. I love all three elders in my bench and we are having fun and success.
Couple little events from the most recent week of my quest. Friday I was on intercambios (exchanges) with Elder Elias Manqueo (Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina). He is a fellow axe slinger (guitar player) and gave me the rundown on all the national Argentine rock bands. Not only was that part cool but did A LOT of work and saw some great miracles all in that day. One of the best parts of that day was the family home evening we had with the Paz and Navarrete families. Milagros and Doro gave the lesson (on prayer) then we played a little game, then I shared dessert, a multi flavored package of Pixy Stix (from my birthday package). Everyone except Miryam was into them, she said they were too sour. I love when other people feel the desire to have family home evenings and put time into preparing a lesson and games, and lets not forget the countless hours I poured into making dessert.
Lucas (who was baptized Mother's Day weekend) turned sixteen on Saturday and is doing great. Zenayda is doing well as well, she turned 84 yesterday.
Your Utah vacation sounds fun. I have such ganas (I don't how to say that in English, look up the word haha) to go to the SLC temple, and Lagoon, we are going to make a return trip soon. Everyone looks so big! How tall are my siblings nowadays? Weird to think a month from today I'll be off the plane seeing all you live in person.
Hope everyone has a good week and that those who travel travel safely. Also, next week is my last souvenir shopping day so if anyone has requests, make them now.
Aiight, love yall, take care,
ELMX
Couple little events from the most recent week of my quest. Friday I was on intercambios (exchanges) with Elder Elias Manqueo (Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina). He is a fellow axe slinger (guitar player) and gave me the rundown on all the national Argentine rock bands. Not only was that part cool but did A LOT of work and saw some great miracles all in that day. One of the best parts of that day was the family home evening we had with the Paz and Navarrete families. Milagros and Doro gave the lesson (on prayer) then we played a little game, then I shared dessert, a multi flavored package of Pixy Stix (from my birthday package). Everyone except Miryam was into them, she said they were too sour. I love when other people feel the desire to have family home evenings and put time into preparing a lesson and games, and lets not forget the countless hours I poured into making dessert.
Lucas (who was baptized Mother's Day weekend) turned sixteen on Saturday and is doing great. Zenayda is doing well as well, she turned 84 yesterday.
Your Utah vacation sounds fun. I have such ganas (I don't how to say that in English, look up the word haha) to go to the SLC temple, and Lagoon, we are going to make a return trip soon. Everyone looks so big! How tall are my siblings nowadays? Weird to think a month from today I'll be off the plane seeing all you live in person.
Hope everyone has a good week and that those who travel travel safely. Also, next week is my last souvenir shopping day so if anyone has requests, make them now.
Aiight, love yall, take care,
ELMX
Monday, May 30, 2011
Interesting / Fun Week
"Amazing still it seems. I'll be 23. I won't always love what I'll never have. I won't always live in my regrets."
Pop quiz: where are these lines from? I want to know who answered the question and if they had to use the internet or not.
Well we had an interesting/fun week. I was able to work with Elder McQueen (SLC, UT) on Tuesday, he is way awesome and we are planning motorcycle rides post-mish. Then Wednesday his kid arrived, Elder Holtby (South Jordan, UT). Between the four of us we had a lot of work, a lot of fun, and a baptism! Zenaida Chanchaya is a 83 (84 this weekend) year old, Peruvian, blind woman who strongly had the desire to get baptized, so we helped her fulfill her wish. After she met us she dreamt she was walking down a wide, dark road. Christ then invited her to follow the narrow, bright path. She took that as a sign and progressed beautifully. The hot water heater is broken in our chapel. Our bishop assigned one of our counselors to call the repairman, he said he called and they came, he didn't call, they didn't come. So we were super concerned we did not want this woman to die or catch a cold or anything, yet all we had was cold water. Elder Holtby got in first to test it out, he said it was cold. We helped Zenaida go down the first couple steps to see how she reacted to the water. She said it was warm, Elder Holtby said she was crazy. She was baptized with no problems. Her baptismal clothing, was even warm afterwards, yet the water was not. Miracle. Super cool baptism and confirmation.
That was the highlight of the week, we also found a lot of people and had a drunk guy insult me and lie to me and if there weren't an investigator in the street waiting for me I may have insulted him back. Luckily, however, I was with Elder Holtby, so he didn't understand what the guy was saying.
And that was my week. I need two things from you all: 1) Name of the stake 2) name of the ward.
Thank you, happy last week of May, catch ya later, un beso,
ELMX
Pop quiz: where are these lines from? I want to know who answered the question and if they had to use the internet or not.
Well we had an interesting/fun week. I was able to work with Elder McQueen (SLC, UT) on Tuesday, he is way awesome and we are planning motorcycle rides post-mish. Then Wednesday his kid arrived, Elder Holtby (South Jordan, UT). Between the four of us we had a lot of work, a lot of fun, and a baptism! Zenaida Chanchaya is a 83 (84 this weekend) year old, Peruvian, blind woman who strongly had the desire to get baptized, so we helped her fulfill her wish. After she met us she dreamt she was walking down a wide, dark road. Christ then invited her to follow the narrow, bright path. She took that as a sign and progressed beautifully. The hot water heater is broken in our chapel. Our bishop assigned one of our counselors to call the repairman, he said he called and they came, he didn't call, they didn't come. So we were super concerned we did not want this woman to die or catch a cold or anything, yet all we had was cold water. Elder Holtby got in first to test it out, he said it was cold. We helped Zenaida go down the first couple steps to see how she reacted to the water. She said it was warm, Elder Holtby said she was crazy. She was baptized with no problems. Her baptismal clothing, was even warm afterwards, yet the water was not. Miracle. Super cool baptism and confirmation.
That was the highlight of the week, we also found a lot of people and had a drunk guy insult me and lie to me and if there weren't an investigator in the street waiting for me I may have insulted him back. Luckily, however, I was with Elder Holtby, so he didn't understand what the guy was saying.
And that was my week. I need two things from you all: 1) Name of the stake 2) name of the ward.
Thank you, happy last week of May, catch ya later, un beso,
ELMX
Monday, May 23, 2011
My Last Transfer
My last transfer call came, and well, there is some big news...I am going...to...stay in 9 de Julio. Elder López, on the other hand, is going to...stay with Elder Lamoreaux. Jaja (Spanish laugh) tricked you, but there is some cool news. 9 de Julio 2 is now open! We had so much work to do, so many investigators and what not that they sent us two more missionaries to help us out here. Elder McQueen (Utah and sportbike fanatic, sports a CBR600R) will be living with us, along with his greenie. We don't know who he is yet, but Wednesday we will meet him. In the meantime, while we wait for the youngster we will be in a trio tearin 9 de Julio up. Along with transfers some of my favorite missionaries left, Elder Flaherty, Elder Contreras, Elder Lyons, Elder Lerma and Hermana Pond and Hermana López, it's sad, but it's the mission.
So I am loving the work and we are working hard. We have a baptism this weekend, it's an interesting one, her name is Zenayda, she is an 83 year old blind woman, but she has fallen in love with the gospel and is super excited for her baptism. Her grand-daughter is an active member preparing to serve a mission. It's going to be interesting, but it'll be way good, then in June we are going to baptize somewhere near eight people, gotta go out swinging.
Can't believe you are all kickin it in "table", what a silly city name, I tell people my family moved to Mesa and they look at me like I'm crazy, well, I kinda am, so whatcha gonna do.
Every one behave and have fun and take care, catch ya next week :)
Besitos,
ELMX
So I am loving the work and we are working hard. We have a baptism this weekend, it's an interesting one, her name is Zenayda, she is an 83 year old blind woman, but she has fallen in love with the gospel and is super excited for her baptism. Her grand-daughter is an active member preparing to serve a mission. It's going to be interesting, but it'll be way good, then in June we are going to baptize somewhere near eight people, gotta go out swinging.
Can't believe you are all kickin it in "table", what a silly city name, I tell people my family moved to Mesa and they look at me like I'm crazy, well, I kinda am, so whatcha gonna do.
Every one behave and have fun and take care, catch ya next week :)
Besitos,
ELMX
Monday, May 16, 2011
Busy, Productive Week - Great Way to Serve
Wow, so much happened this week it's hard to believe it has only been seven days.
I guess we'll start with Monday. First we visited a referral we had received from a member. Although she gave us the name and address of this person very hesitantly saying it wasn't going to work out. We took it as a challenge. We show up and taught Nereida, and she accepted a baptismal date and neither of the two members who know her believed us. We then followed up during the week and found her sister who lives in the same house and she is way awesome as well. That was a great way to start the week. That same night we went by Lucas´ (the boy who was just baptized)house to talk a little and help in the whole priesthood prep thing. We show up and he has a friend over, and started teaching his friend and asked him to say the closing prayer and invited him to seminary and everything. One day as a member and he is already a missionary, it was way cool, reminded me when TK invited his friend over, although ours turned out a little better haha.
Then Tuesday, I went on exchanges with Elder Bryant, we had a blast and saw a couple miracles.
Let's fast forward to Saturday. We start the day off with an outrageously expensive haircut. Elder López and I walked all over trying to find an open barbershop, we were so desperate that by the time we found one open we just walked in and Elder López sat down without asking how much they charge. They put the cape on front and tie it around his neck and he remembers to ask as they start the clippers and start cutting. The woman calmly responds 40 dollars and the eyes of Elder López opened like the Red Sea when the Israelites crossed through. I didn't cut my hair this week haha.
We then went to Elder Flaherty and Elder Bryant's area to teach an investigator and interview another one. It went great, we then returned to our area to eat lunch and to place a baptismal date with an 83 year old blind woman, she will be my record for oldest and my second blind person, just cool to know people can follow Christ regardless of age and physical limitations.
We then went to the area of Alto Alberdi to help with a rough situation they are dealing with, then returned to our area, grabbed to investigators and took them to a baptism in the Rosedal Ward. We then returned to our area to eat choripan and cake to celebrate Milagros´ birthday with the Paz family. It was a fun/busy day.
It was a busy, productive week.
Love you all, have a great week!
ELMX
Shoot Chuck and Raygun a feliz cumplaño!
I guess we'll start with Monday. First we visited a referral we had received from a member. Although she gave us the name and address of this person very hesitantly saying it wasn't going to work out. We took it as a challenge. We show up and taught Nereida, and she accepted a baptismal date and neither of the two members who know her believed us. We then followed up during the week and found her sister who lives in the same house and she is way awesome as well. That was a great way to start the week. That same night we went by Lucas´ (the boy who was just baptized)house to talk a little and help in the whole priesthood prep thing. We show up and he has a friend over, and started teaching his friend and asked him to say the closing prayer and invited him to seminary and everything. One day as a member and he is already a missionary, it was way cool, reminded me when TK invited his friend over, although ours turned out a little better haha.
Then Tuesday, I went on exchanges with Elder Bryant, we had a blast and saw a couple miracles.
Let's fast forward to Saturday. We start the day off with an outrageously expensive haircut. Elder López and I walked all over trying to find an open barbershop, we were so desperate that by the time we found one open we just walked in and Elder López sat down without asking how much they charge. They put the cape on front and tie it around his neck and he remembers to ask as they start the clippers and start cutting. The woman calmly responds 40 dollars and the eyes of Elder López opened like the Red Sea when the Israelites crossed through. I didn't cut my hair this week haha.
We then went to Elder Flaherty and Elder Bryant's area to teach an investigator and interview another one. It went great, we then returned to our area to eat lunch and to place a baptismal date with an 83 year old blind woman, she will be my record for oldest and my second blind person, just cool to know people can follow Christ regardless of age and physical limitations.
We then went to the area of Alto Alberdi to help with a rough situation they are dealing with, then returned to our area, grabbed to investigators and took them to a baptism in the Rosedal Ward. We then returned to our area to eat choripan and cake to celebrate Milagros´ birthday with the Paz family. It was a fun/busy day.
It was a busy, productive week.
Love you all, have a great week!
ELMX
Shoot Chuck and Raygun a feliz cumplaño!
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