Week 80: Blessed With Fruit, and Bit by a Dog

Hello Everyone!

This week went really well, and we were blessed abundantly in the work.  

Lately, we have been playing soccer monday morning with the young men, which is way fun, and helps us build our relationship with the young men, which is just so awesome, and we got to do that this morning, and our investigator, Eugenio came!  It was so much fun!

First off, this week, Eugenio!  He is doing super well, and we got to teach him a couple of times this week.  He committed to live the Word of Wisdom, and is reading the Book of Mormon.  He also came to church, and seemed to really like it.  He is amazing!  We got to also watch the Restoration video with him, and it was such a wonderful experience.  I am so excited to see his future progression in the gospel!

 This week, we hit our goal of 500 Abrir la Boca contacts.  It was a TON of work, but it brought a lot of fruit.  We counted the contacts, and Eugenio was number 238.  It is such a blessing and so satisfying to know that we were able to work hard, and that it brought such rich fruits.  While knocking doors this week, we found a woman named Sandra, that was really interested, and listened very attently.  I´ve learned here in Tunuyán that the whole principal of ¨putting your shoulder to the wheel¨ is SO true.  When we work hard, the Lord magnifies our efforts.  

Lately, we have been working with a family in which the Father is a returned missionary, and they have four kids, but they went completely inactive, and have never come to church while I have been here.  We had the idea while teaching them last week to do a ¨family prayer and scripture reading¨ plan with them.  

This week, we called every two days to verify with them, and they did family scripture reading and prayers every day.  Then, we got to go pick them up for church, and they came!  It was such a blessing, and the members were so happy to see them!  

Funny

We were walking down the street, and a young (wacho) couple walked past us, and we said ¨hola.¨ The dude just stuck his tongue out, and spit.  It was more ridiculous than offensive, and we were laughing, and Elder Dicou broke out singing ¨you´ll bring honor to us all!¨ 

I fell this week.  We were crossing two rocks, and I fell forward, face about to get wrecked by a rock.  But, some how, I randomly started falling sideways, and fell right on my arm, in between these two huge concrete blocks, and didnt get hurt at all.  Elder Dicou heard something, turned around, and saw me on the ground.  I just layed there, looked up, and said ¨Im not hurt, other than my dignity.¨ 

I got another maldición this week!  I got bit by a dog!  We were walking to a house, and three big dogs came after us.  We stood our ground, and stuck out our hands making a ¨shshshshwshwshw¨ noice (as a missionary you have to learn how to dog whisper).  The biggest one came over, smelled me, and then I petted it.  Then, another dog started barking, making the big one mad, and then the big one bit my thigh (it wasn´t that bad, don´t worry Mom :) )  So, we started yelling, and I picked up a rock and chucked it at the dogs.  

Finally, I am being transferred!  I am leaving Tunuyán, and going to an area called Gutierrez, in the Maipú zone.  I am going to be a Zone Leader, and this will actually probably be my last area!  So crazy!  

I am so grateful for this area, and all the progress that we have made.  I don't think that I have ever worked so hard in my entire life, and the Lord has blessed us with so many fruits.  I love seeing progress, and I know that the Lord lives, and that even though he does allow us to pass through really trying circumstances, in which we feel like everything is working against us, he always extends his loving hand so we can have success, and succeed gloriously.  

Love You All!

Elder Conover

The Familia Moltó

The Soccer Crew this Morning

Me and Eugenio!

I hit 18 months this week

Burning the pants

The Beauty of My Mission.  It is GRAPE SEASON!

Nice Tan Lines

This Is How I Fell

The aftermath of the fall

This is Matias.  I got to interview him for his baptism a few months
ago, and he came and worked with us for a day this week, and 
visited Eugenio with us!

Week 79: They Went to Church!

Hey Everyone!

This week was a good one, with its challenges, as well as its blessings!

First off, on Monday, we got to play soccer in the area of my old companion, Elder Sorenson, and we got to have an Asado there with a member family!  It was super fun!  

This week was pretty eventful, and we got to work really hard.  Me and my companion have put the goal of talking to 500 people by the end of the transfer.  We are at 415 right now, so we are thinking that we will be able to do it.  I don't know if I have ever worked so hard in my entire life haha!

This week we got to keep teaching Eugenio, and he is doing so well!  He is such an amazing kid, and is so excited to learn about the Gospel. and he said ¨This seems to be the church for me.¨ Yes!  We got to teach him more about the Book of Mormon and about the Plan of Salvation, and he pays attention very well.  And, the best of all, he came to church!  He came in a suit, which was just so amazing (no one does that).  We have been so blessed to have found Eugenio!  

Also, this week, we got to teach Maira and Gustavo again.  We taught them the Law of Chastity, and in order for Maira to get baptized, they have to get married, but they committed to do that, so we are excited, and Tunuyán should have a wedding in the coming weeks or months!

And, they came to church as well!  All by themselves, and they seemed to like it again!  Things are going well here in Tunuyán!

As I said, this week also brought its challenges, and what was challenging was that Maria didn't go to church for the 4th time in a row.  That was crushing.  She was sick, but we are super concerned about her not going.  But, the branch is trying to help her, so we are hopeful for the future.  

This week we will be getting the calls for transfers, and considering my situation, it is probably my last week here.  Something that is so incredibly gratifying is being able to see the difference in the area before getting there and after leaving.  I remember getting here the first day and being told that we had absolutely nothing.  However, the Lord has maginified our work, and we are seeing success now!

Funny

There is a new missionary in the district, and he is still learning Spanish.  He had to give a talk last week in Sacrament Meeting, and he wanted to say something about how the president of the branch asked him to give the talk.  He messed up pretty bad, and said instead ¨Me Pedo,¨ which translates to ¨¨I fart.¨ Right there in Sacrament Meeting.  Classy.  

I Love You All!

Elder Conover


Asado!


Soccer with a Bolivian Family



Me and Elder Sorenson


This is pablo pinto…my branch mission leader!

Week 78: The Windows of Heaven Open Because of Hardship and Sacrifice

Hello Everyone!  

This week was a hard, good one!  Satan tried to smash us, but we got to smack him right back.  It was awesome.  

First off, on Pday, we took advantage of the new Pday schedule, and we got to play soccer with all the young men, which was just super fun.  

That night, we got to see the first miracle of the week.  We were about to go to the house of a family that we are teaching, and we had a couple of minutes to work before our appointment.  We started knocking doors, and we met a boy named Eugenio.  He is 17 years old, and just the most polite, intelligent kid you´ll ever meet.  We taught something small, and we set another appointment.  

A few days later, we got to teach him again, and when we went by, he actually was there and let us in again!  (That doesn´t happen that often)

We got to teach him about the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the spirit was strong.  He paid really close attention, and he was asking questions.  At the end of the lesson, we invited him to be baptized, and he sat and thought for a while.  Then, he responded that he will, as he feels the truth of the Book of Mormon and as God answers his prayers.  As he gave the closing prayer, he thanked God for sending us to his house, and for the peace that he felt. asking Heavenly Father to guide him to the truth.  It was one of those ¨Run away from the house dancing in the street¨ kind of lessons.  

This week, I´m not sure why, but I had some really hard feelings that come over me.  I just felt really discouraged, and low on energy; physically, emotionally, spiritually.  What I have found on my mission is that those feelings are quite common, and they really hurt, but they make the wonderful moments even more special, knowing that we have pushed through hardship to get to them.  

Before the mission, I used to think that as a missionary, I´d have some type of ¨Happy-Anti-Satan¨ Power that just would make all the hard feelings go away, but I think that D&C 58:4 explains it best: 

¨For after much tribulation come the blessings.Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.¨ 

That being said, the blessings came.  

On Saturday, we were knocking doors. and after we knocked one door, a man opened the door, probably about  28 years old.  As soon as I saw him, I had a very strong feeling come over me that we were getting into the house, something that had never happened to me before.  And, sure enough, he let us in.  

His name is Augustin, and as we talked, he told us about the hardships that they had this past week, and how he didnt understand why they happend.  We got to teach him for a few minutes, and he told us how much he has always wanted to talk to us, but never had the opportunity, and he offerd to most beautiful prayer at the end.  We have another appointment with him tomorrow, so we are super excited.  

Finally, a family that we have been teaching for a while. Maira and Gustavo came to church for the first time this past week!  It was so incredible, and the Lord blessed us so much!  

Funny

When our investigators came, of course hardly anyone recognized them, and they got surrounded after sacrament meeting.  One brother from the branch went up and talked to Gustavo, and then came up to me, asking if I could ¨accompany¨ Gustavo.  I was super confused, and the brother explained that we need to start giving him the missionary lessons, as if that wasnt the very reason that they were there hahaha.  

Thank you all so much for the pictures that you sent in for Maria.  It put me in tears when I opened my email, and I know that she will love them.  She wasn´t able to come to church yesterday, but we are trying to get her to the temple, so please keep praying for her!

I Love You All!

Elder Conover


Me and Eugenio!


What Argentines think of Americans:  Money, Hamburgers,
and Halloween…Woo!


Elder Johnson was Sleeping


Yes, the stereotype of mormon missionaries being weird is so true

Week 77: With Shoulder To The Wheel

Hello Everyone!

This week was good, but it was a pretty challenging week as well, however, the Lord always allows us to feel his strength and his support while we pass through trials.  

First off, last Pday, Elder Dicou and I were by ourselves, so we got to do a  little Asado.  It was soooo good.  I love cooking steak now!

Anyways, we started off the week teaching a 23 year old guy that we found named Franco Bordon.  He is a super devout Catholic, and a really good person.  We got to teach him about the Restoration, and the Spirit was really strong, especially as we gave our testimonies, which is always the best way to invite the spirit.  

However, as we handed him the Book of Mormon, he put it back on the table, and slid it back.  Very respectful, but it was quite disappointing.  But, we got to buckle down, and bear testimony of the truth of what we had taught him.  Even though he didn't accept, the Spirit was strong and we were blessed to know and feel the truth for ourselves.  

This week we had a Zone Conference as well, which was awesome, and we got to learn a lot.  During the Conference, I got to see Elder Crist, who I was with in San Juan, my last area.  I was asking him about the area, and he told me that Gabriela, who we baptized, is struggling to stay active.  That was crushing.  It just made me feel super down for a while, just worried about what will happen to her.  However, I now have permission to write her, so I will be doing that this week. 

Finally,  this week we had a couple of challenges in church.  We walked in the morning to get our investigators to come to church, but unfortunately, none of them came, so we will be working with that now!  But, what was difficult was that Maria and Silvia didn't show up.  We called Maria the night before the see how she was doing, and she was doing really well.  However, when she woke up in the morning, she felt bad, and was afraid of getting attacked in church again.  

So, as soon as church was over, we ran over to her house, and we tried to figure our what was going on.  She expressed her concerns and doubts of how she is going to stay active her whole life, which was crushing to hear.  

So, we just listened for a while.  Finally, we asked, ¨Maria, if you stop going to church, what will you do?¨ and she responded that she doesnt know.  So, we decided to teach the parable of the talents.  We invited her to share with us what are her personal talents, and she gave us a list of the talents that God has given her through her conversion process.  Then, the killer question.  ¨Maria, what will happen to your talents if you stop going to church?¨ ¨I will lose them.¨ 

The Spirit was strong, and the tears started coming.  She seems to be doing better, and I know that the Lord always heals hearts.  Everyone please pray for Maria.  

Maria right now needs some help and needs to know that she has people that are supporting her.  I want to ask a favor of everyone that reads this.  If everyone can write ¨Maria, Estamos Orando Por Vos¨ on a piece of paper, and take a picture personally, as a family, etc.  with the paper, and send it to me, I will take them to her house so she can feel the support of everyone that is thinking about her.  She REALLY needs the help!  If there are more people that do it, even better!!!

I Love You All So Much!

Elder Conover

The Soccer Crew!

Comp Asado on the Roof

I took a pick of my comp because he was left out

of the selfie.

It was raining so an investigator gave us really ugly coats to

wear…Elder Dicou…"I feel like the 70's just barfed on me"

Elder Crist and Elder Lybbert from San Juan!

Elder Calder!

Mi Hijo Amado!