First week in the field, and it has been absolutely crazy!
We got on the plane in Atlanta on Monday and I was convinced that they were speaking chinese or something, because it wasnt Spanish hahaha.
After we arrived following another flight from Buenos Aires to Mendoza, we met President and Sister Goates, who are like the nicest people in the entire world, and then we went to the mission home to have dinner, and it was so stinking good.
The next day, we had a lot of training, and we went to a couple of cool places in Mendoza, one of which is a HUGE lot that the church owns that the Goates were saying they think is probably going to
be the spot of a future temple. That was super inspiring.
be the spot of a future temple. That was super inspiring.
On thursday, we met our trainers. My trainer is Elder Ribeiro, from Manaus, Brazil, where I served last year! And we know a lot of the same people! Small world when youre a member of the church!
Anyways, we went to our areas on Thursday, and settled in. I am serving near the city of mendoza, in a city called Las Heras. When we got to the apartment, I unpacked, and then we went to get food. Suddenly I was overwhelmed. It finally sunk in how different everything was, and I was fighting tears for an hour. When we got back, I lost it. I got on my knees, and prayed harder than I ever have. it was so difficlt, and i felt like my entire world had just collapsed, and its hard since i have no one that i know here.....but after praying, reading, and pleading, i felt somewhat better. We then took our clothes to a member of the ward, we dont have to wash our clothes here hahaha
The past few days have been nutty. The buses are insane, terrfying, but stinking awesome, and all the drivers are crazy, just stay out of the way hahaha. This place is awesome. its totally 100% south america, nothing like europe like everyone was telling me it would be. this is exactly what i wanted haha
Here, they have gutters called sequias, which are like 3 feet deep and they are like cannals that run on both sides of both streets, and all the trash and run off goes there, kinda gross but cool in a way haha.
Anyways, we have been working hard, and we taught a lesson on Friday with a man who was smoking during the lesson hahaha, we have another appointment with him tomorrow.
Saturday was so awesome. I generally understand like 50% of what is going on. Which is better than the 5% when i got here hahaha. Anyways, we were teaching a woman who was super not interested, and I could here them saying ¨oh he doesnt understand¨ which was super lame, haha. Anyways, we were teaching, and asked if I wanted water, and i said sure. The mom then started to fill up a glass in the sink, which i cant drink. I tried to explain that i cant drink that since president goates said so, but it stopped the entire lesson, and destroyed the spirit. i wanted to cry cause i couldnt understand anything after that either. so hard. anyways, we kept teaching, and she started to open up a little, and i felt like i should share some experiences ive had, which is hard, since i dont really speak. anyways, i decidied to open my mouth, and the gift of tongues was super strong, and i was able to talk and the spirit was super strong, and the family told me how good my spanish was for only being in argentina for 4 days. it was awesome
Church was good yesterday, and the spirit was super strong, even if i couldnt understand for a while haha
the members here are awesome, and guess what?????
We have a baptism scheduled for this Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
his name is Facundo, he is 13, and his mom is getting baptized in november, wooooo!
we also are trying to help a man quit smoking, and we have a couple of girls, Abril and Milagros, who are scheduled for baptism in a couple of weeks! so cool.
Funny stuff:
in the mission, there are the ¨5 Maldiciones,¨ or curses of the missionaries, and i got one this week haha.
we were teaching a lesson, and a woman that i didnt know walked in, and gave me the little cheek kiss thing. LITERALLY the most awkard thing that has ever happened to me. I almost died hahaha.
This week has been so hard at times, but also so amazing at others, I have never had to rely on the lord so much, and it is such a blessing. we are working hard and i know that through the strength of the lord we can do all things.
Have a great week all,
Elder Conover
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