A Solid Week

Hello everyone,

This week was a solid week we had divisions again and I went to Paiñu and enjoyed a day with Elder Een and this Saturday we planned out an Open House for the church, that went quite well and we will do that again in a couple of months, exhorting the people to use it as an opportunity to invite their friends to the church in a more relaxed environment.

Derlis and Sandra we talked well with them about baptism and about marriage and about the Word of Wisdom.  On Friday, Derlis committed to quit drinking and smoking in order to marry Sandra because he loves her a ton and it is the only reason that she does not want to marry him. Sunday was the birthday of Derlis and as far as I was informed he did not drink however he did smoke during lunch and surely a bit later.

As for Matias, he is now in France.  He left Thursday in the morning and it will be the last that we hear from him.

We found a new family that is at least listening to us.  The mom is named Miriam and her children Fabian, Claudia and Camila.  The mom became interested in religion when her son did his First Communion in the church Catolica and found an openess in her soul that needed filling up. Her schedule of the day reminds me of the schedule of an American mom driving around all over the place, getting things done, which is the first time that I have run in to that feeling here.

It did not rain this week. TEMPLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are awesome!  So, they are finally making it official.  It brings back memories when it was first announced and everyone went crazy.

Love you all!
Elder Call

Another Week in Paraguay

Hey everyone,

I did receive the birthday package on Tuesday and it was sweet. The highlight I think would have to be the Jensen Family Calendar and all the pics of the family that updated me a little bit.  Please tell Grandma, “thanks” for me.

I have not tried making ice cream and do not know if I will, but it is good to have the recipe, so that by chance I do have a real desire to make some, I can.

Mate Dulce is 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 1 liter of milk; drank in a similar manner as of terere, but in place of the yerba you use coconut. It is quite good.  I think Justin made it for us when he arrived from his mission.

Cream.  Yes, I can get cream in Paraguay, at least heavy cream.  I should take photos of the store we do our shopping in.  It is huge, but yet, it is nice.

This week was Miguel’s birthday. On Thursday to be exact and so I made the cake that you sent me and we celebrated in the church, because it was ward night that night, and I gave him the little toys that you sent as his present.

As for church, this week we had none of the people we are teaching show up, which puts a bummer on the whole week. To talk about Nestor and Diana, the parents of Sharon and Miguel, the sister of Nestor is in the middle of a divorcement and said that there was a way to do it much cheaper and quicker. So they are super excited to do that so that they can marry one another.

Derlis and Sandra.  We really ride roller coasters with them and honestly I am confused as to what to do with them or better said how to help them.

Other than that, we have found several new people this week that could be potential work in progress.

Well, keep it up.

Love you all!
Elder Call

Things I Learned

For the report:

The things I learned. . .

How to make mate dulce
People do not drive well while drunk
If you are not careful you lose your chances
Keep your bag in front of you while on the buses
Paraguayans do not crash often because they drive slow
And a little about Armegedon

This week we had interviews with Presidente Agazzani and divisions with the zone leaders. On divisions with Elder Een, We tried to get permission from two parents of some kids they are teaching. One group we were told went to live with their mother in Ciudad Del Este. The other mom thought that her daughter was too young to make the decision and told us “no” quite firmly.  Also, we went to Tres Bocas to do an interview for the sisters.  Over there, everything went just fine and we got things ready for the baptism on Saturday.  Saturday morning, the sisters called us up and asked if we could baptize the girl.  We said 'yes,' but then she was a no show and her parents started lying a lot to the sisters and they dropped her.  We also came across a guy that had gone off the road and became stuck in a pile of burnt stuff.  He was a funny guy and would swear to his life, that he had only had a little to drink.  It was fun to help him get out.  It was also a good thing that he has some good friends that came to help.

Sandra and Derlis!! What a week with them.  On Wednesday night we taught them about fasting and reviewed the Word of Wisdom and we all planned to do a big ol' group fast with everyone to help Derlis quit drinking and so that Gisella (their 5 yr old daughter) recuperate from some cough.  Everyone was on board until Saturday night when we there to begin it. Derlis had gone to help a family move and Diana and Nestor did not have the faith that they could do it so they did not do it. Sandra wanted to start Sunday afternoon but I am afraid she did not. The whole family came to Church except Derlis and Geraldo (2 yr old son) because he (Derlis) had come home wasted from the moving party.

Alex is good, but he goes back to Argentina sooner than we thought, like this Wednesday, so he will be out of our reach in a short period of time.  We were not able to teach Claudia and she acted as though she would not like to meet with us.

We were able to meet some really cool people this week and on Sunday afternoon, so we will see where it all goes.

God lives. He is your Father. He loves you and as such has given His only Son, so that we, unworthy creatures, can be saved from the eternal punishments of God and receive His glory.  It is only possible, if we complete the requirements that Jesus Christ has set for us to do.  God has prepared a way for every one of his children to keep all of His commandments. Try to do it and do not fear.

I love you all!
Have a great week.

Elder Call

A Holy Week

Hello,

What a Holy Week down here in Paraguay!!!  So this week was filled with lots of ups and downs.  To begin on a upside! General Conference!!!  What a blessing it is to listen to our beloved leaders of the Church. They seemed to focus a lot on the Family.  I am thankful to have been raised in a family that has cherished the commandments of God. The Gospel of Jesus Christ really does strengthen the bonds between the family when it is applied to each of our lives. We went to the Stake Center to watch the Conference both days, but Saturday, due to the rain and other electronical problems we were not blessed to watch the first session and about half of the second session, which was sad for us and super sad for the investigators.

Speaking of investigators:

Derlis and Sandra:  So this past week we have been emphasizing a bunch in asking God if the Book of Mormon is true.  Derlis has done it a couple times before and had felt nothing but all the rest of the people have not asked.  But on Wednesday night after telling Derlis to ask once more, he had a dream that started out as a nightmare and freaked him out and then this guy came to him and repeated “Pray and Read,” over and over, to continue reading and praying.  Shortly after he felt peaceful and calm and then woke up!!!!! So cool!!! So we are working with him on that again. With Sandra and everyone else they just keep forgetting to ask. Sandra says that she is kinda scared to ask, but I do not know why!!!!

Alex.  He is good.  We tried teaching him about faith and repentance but then we realized that he does not have a solid understanding of the Godhead and it does not seem like he feels guilt.  So it was kind of hard.  He did not come to General Conference this weekend, because, “he had a cough,” is what his cousin told me. haha.  Bueno .

Claudia contacted us Monday night and is super nice.  We have not shared (taught) with her yet, because when we arrived at her home, there was not a man present.  So we will have to bring one with us next time.  She came to General Conference on Sunday morning all by herself.  She seemed to enjoy it and had several questions.  So we will be working with her this week when we can.

God is your Father.  He loves you.  He has once again called prophets in our days to restore the pure doctrine of the Gospel.  He has provided a path to return home with Him.  This Path is the Gospel and can only be done thanks to the Grace and Atonement of the beloved Savior, Jesus Christ.   I hope that all people will humble themselves to accept this sweet doctrine.  It is Truth!!  You can accept it or not, but that does not change the fact that it is True.

I love you all and hope you have a great week.

Love,
Elder Call

A Solid Week

Hello Everyone,

This week was a solid week!! I had a lot more fun this week than I have in the past little while. On Wednesday, we had changes (transfers) and Elder Davis left the area. My new companion is named Elder Brandon Graves from Saint George, UT. He is super and excited to work which is the opposite attitude of my last comp.  Mission life is a lot more enjoyable when the companionships have the same motives and goals.

This past month we have been working a lot with a less active family with the last name of Aguayo.  On Monday, a cousin named Alex, from Buenos Aires, arrived to visit them for several months.  Alex is not a member and had never attended a church before but was raise with a Bible background.  I find him super awesome because he is actually willing to think.  I love it because not too many people are even willing to think enough to come up with an answer to questions. On Sunday, the whole family came to church !!!! including one of the boys named Jorge that had worked from 8 pm Saturday night to 7 am in the morning.  I was very feliz (happy) that everyone came.

Derlis and Sandra:  We are still working with them. Since that big fall with the alcohol it has been a slow recovery. Derlis, also, had started smoking and now is having a hard time stopping. Sandra now does not want to get married but that will come and not be such a problem.  We are working with them trying to help them understand how to receive a testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the Church and why it is so important that they do that.

Also, it was kind of fun this past week. Elder Graves and I met and taught a witch, which was interesting.  Metaphysics, I do not understand what it is, but there are weird things that happen.
More than ever, I know that God exists, that He loves us and that there is an opposition in all things and the need to rely on Jesus Christ is more important than anything else in the world. It is the only way to win.

I love you all!

Never quit reading your scriptures and pray frequently.

Love,
Elder Call

Month of Miracles

Hey Everyone,

Wow, what a month of miracles.  I would like to start off by saying that this week.  In the middle of February, President put as a goal for baptisms of 204 during the month of March. The first two weeks were normal weeks, but the past two have been outstanding and last week we were informed that there were 53 baptisms and that we had broke a record this week when we topped it off with 61 baptisms making the total of 167 baptism so far in March and we have 44 in plans for this Saturday!!!! The work is accelerating and the members are stepping in and up to the call to help out.

With having said that, Elder Davis and I were all over the map with lots things to do.  We had not gone on divisions with the other elders yet, so we did that on Tuesday and Thursday.  Wednesday and Friday evenings were spent doing interviews in Painu and Tres Bocas and Saturday we had to be at two baptisms, one in Tres Bocas and the other here in Leopardi.  Although, it was not our baptism, it was great.

Diana and Nestor remain faithful and devoted to helping their children progress.  I just wish that divorce was not so hard to do in Paraguay so Nestor could to get a divorce so he could marry Diana.  But that is how it is.  Sunday, after already eating a big lunch at one member’s house, Nestor and Diana commanded us to sit down and eat with them as well. Miguel and Sharon are doing very well but Sharon was sick yesterday and did not come to Church, but everyone else did.

Derlis and Sandra, they are on the uphill battle to a better life. Derlis, however traveled to his parents house over the weekend and we will have to see what the conditions were there. Sandra this time did not go with him but rather stayed at home. On Saturday, all of the Primaria (Primary) went to the temple to see it and their kids also went with the kids of Nestor and everyone enjoyed it.

Exchanges (transfers) will be this Wednesday, so we will see what happens.

Love you all
Elder Call

P.S.
I don't have any information about the hernia, but at the end of this month I'm going to call and see what's going to happen.

Matias is going to travel about the 5th or 9th of April.  It doesn't seem like our investigators are going to progress very much.  We've dropped many of them now and we are looking for others who will progress faster.  My companion finishes his mission in 6 weeks, so not yet.

With love,
Elder Call

Best P-day Ever!!

Hello, everyone!

Pitfalls

Sharon and Miguel are doing great and so are Nestor and Diana.  It makes me happy seeing them progress and learn about their Savior and how to make their lives better than in the past.

On the other hand, Sandra and Derlis!!!!! WOW! I am glad that they live with Nestor or else they would be gone!! Derlis dropped hard to the bottom.  We met with him on Tuesday and talked about the whole thing.  He was not going to tell us that he drank but his little girl sure spoke up, saying that he got super drunk.  He felt super uncomfortable and would not meet with us throughout the week.  He would make up random excuses to leave and not share with us. =( This family is one of the only ones that I have really clicked with and become attached to, so it breaks my heart to see them like that.  Sunday, Sandra came to church but Derlis didn`t.  We were able to visit them in the afternoon yesterday and when we arrived Derlis was both drinking and smoking =( =( and then he decided that he needed to leave but we were able to convince him to share with us and we talked about the adulterous woman and repentance and good stuff like that I hope it is going to and has helped him a bit. Please join me in prayer for this family!!!

Other than that, all of the rest of the week’s lecciones (lessons) and work were with one timers and people that were not interested and did not want anything to do with us.  Not a whole lot of people are completing with their compromises (commitments).

On Saturday, a sister in the ward called us up to help her carry a bed that a friend was throwing out about 2 blocks from her house.  Haha, so the 2 blocks ended up being 8 blocks and the bed was nice and heavy. I am not sure what was in it but we tired quickly.  Anyways it was good.

TODAYYYY!!!!!! Yes, best P-day ever. The reason that we are writing so late is that it was our turn to go and clean the Temple.  For not being able to go visit the temple for 7 months now, I thought it was about time to be in the House of the Lord again. Temples are awesome!  I am stoked for the groundbreaking back home and hope it gets built fast!!!

God lives. He loves us! And we can go to His house and dwell in His Spirit. So if you find yourself in a place where you have not gone for a while, pack up the bags and Drink from the waters of Life.

I love you all and exhort you to go to the temples.

Love,
Elder Call

Hernia Update:

As for me and my hernia we had a Zone Conference with President and his wife and I talked to her about the hernia and she asked if the 3 to 4 months had already past which they have not and so she told me to wait and talk to her after 3 months have passed.  Transfers will be next Wednesday, right before my B-day. So we will see what happens.

Elder Call & Elder Davis @ the Asuncion Paraguay Temple