02.12.2010
I learned a ton this week about myself and about how we need to be submissive to the will of God. Sometimes we face setbacks, but we have to do it with faith. We have to trust that no matter what happens, it is for our good.
This week, for instance, I was really frustrated because we didn't get to go out and teach our investigators much. This was especially frustrating because we need to teach Delia so much before her baptism the 19th. But then last night, when we finally got to talk to her, she was much more receptive than she had been before. She has had a really hard time accepting the need for prophets after the ministry of Christ. Last night we read to her from Ephesians 4 and a light came on in her eyes and she really understood.
My point is this: I have tried to teach the need for prophets to Delia at least 4 times personally, and I know that other missionaries have done the same. She accepted the teaching yesterday because the Lord had prepared her. I am convinced that if we had stopped by when we'd planned she would not have understood, but instead we were trapped in the office while she was being prepared to receive the lesson. I am so grateful that the Lord is in charge of what happens her, and not me.
Know that I'm praying for all of you and that I love you so much.
02/24/2010
Life here in the mission is going well. We are teaching a lot to a boy named Enso and he is progressing really well. I am really excited. It looks like he's going to get baptized soon, but more than that, I really love the kid.
Well, I want to let you guys know that I love you a ton. I also want you to know that the Gospel is true. Thanks to the covenants that we have made, the celestial kingdom is within our reach. We have to improve ourselves every day, and every day we have to repent, but in the end it will all be worth it.
2.24.2010
1.14.2010
12/30/09
Hey guys, it was great to talk to you all for Christmas. And it was even better to get to hear from you all again today. This week was pretty cool. We've been working really hard and having some success. We found a new family Monday night and we set another appointment with them for tonight. Literally within two blocks of their house, two members came up to us on a motorcycle asking if they could accompany us to a lesson this week. I guess you can call that a sign.
I don't know if I've actually mentioned the whole motorcycle-as-a-family-vehicle thing, have I? It is not uncommon to see a family consisting of two adults and two kids riding together on the same bike. Actually, it's not even limited to "motos." Sometimes the dad pedals a bicycle and the mom steers and supports a kid on her lap. Sometimes, they even combine the two, and the bicyclist holds onto the back of the motorcycle to keep up. I have to say that the funniest is when to guys my age share the same pedal bike. I don't care how Argentine I become, I will never do that.
The other day we went by Sister Nuñez' house to see if we could teach her grandson sometime this week. Sister Nuñez is Super-Mormon. She's about to turn 90 years old, but she still tries to give us references and help us to come in our teaching assignments. One time we went to visit one of her friends who is 85 years old, and the poor woman didn't want to talk to us and started making excuses. Sister Nuñez said "I'm five years older than you are and I'm still up and about
walking." It was pretty funny because there really isn't anything you can say to a woman like that.
Anyway, we went by her house to talk about her grandson, and she was about to go out and pick the ripe mangoes from this gigantic mango tree in her front yard. Needless to say, Elder Callaghan and I climbed the tree in no time and gathered up the fruit, which this poor sister promptly put in a bag and gave to us. So much for service.
Interesting fact--did you know that it's actually somewhat common to be allergic to mangoes? Apparently for some people, mango trees are like giant poison ivy plants. There are even people who can get sick from breathing the pollen or eating the fruit. Yeah, I found that out yesterday, when everyone kept asking me why my entire body was red with a rash. Finally someone said "You elders didn't go and climb a mango tree did you?" Yeah. I love my life.
The worst part was that we had a teaching appointment yesterday with the mission president's wife, who happens to be in charge of the health for all of the missionaries. She tried to make me go to the hospital to get the rash looked at. For some reason she wouldn't believe that I had painted my face red. Anyway, when we finally found out about the whole mango thing she let me off the hook and told me to wait until Saturday. What a disaster. Oh well.
We had Christmas Dinner with president and his family and the assistants. Sister del Castillo is an amazing cook. And they gave us all ties, which was nice of them. Actually it was Christmas Eve, which is when Argentines have their big family gatherings. On Christmas day I just talked on the phone and then we went out to go work in the evening. It was pretty low-key, which I
liked.
I don't know if I've actually mentioned the whole motorcycle-as-a-family-vehicle thing, have I? It is not uncommon to see a family consisting of two adults and two kids riding together on the same bike. Actually, it's not even limited to "motos." Sometimes the dad pedals a bicycle and the mom steers and supports a kid on her lap. Sometimes, they even combine the two, and the bicyclist holds onto the back of the motorcycle to keep up. I have to say that the funniest is when to guys my age share the same pedal bike. I don't care how Argentine I become, I will never do that.
The other day we went by Sister Nuñez' house to see if we could teach her grandson sometime this week. Sister Nuñez is Super-Mormon. She's about to turn 90 years old, but she still tries to give us references and help us to come in our teaching assignments. One time we went to visit one of her friends who is 85 years old, and the poor woman didn't want to talk to us and started making excuses. Sister Nuñez said "I'm five years older than you are and I'm still up and about
walking." It was pretty funny because there really isn't anything you can say to a woman like that.
Anyway, we went by her house to talk about her grandson, and she was about to go out and pick the ripe mangoes from this gigantic mango tree in her front yard. Needless to say, Elder Callaghan and I climbed the tree in no time and gathered up the fruit, which this poor sister promptly put in a bag and gave to us. So much for service.
Interesting fact--did you know that it's actually somewhat common to be allergic to mangoes? Apparently for some people, mango trees are like giant poison ivy plants. There are even people who can get sick from breathing the pollen or eating the fruit. Yeah, I found that out yesterday, when everyone kept asking me why my entire body was red with a rash. Finally someone said "You elders didn't go and climb a mango tree did you?" Yeah. I love my life.
The worst part was that we had a teaching appointment yesterday with the mission president's wife, who happens to be in charge of the health for all of the missionaries. She tried to make me go to the hospital to get the rash looked at. For some reason she wouldn't believe that I had painted my face red. Anyway, when we finally found out about the whole mango thing she let me off the hook and told me to wait until Saturday. What a disaster. Oh well.
We had Christmas Dinner with president and his family and the assistants. Sister del Castillo is an amazing cook. And they gave us all ties, which was nice of them. Actually it was Christmas Eve, which is when Argentines have their big family gatherings. On Christmas day I just talked on the phone and then we went out to go work in the evening. It was pretty low-key, which I
liked.
12.07.2009
Email: November 25, 2009
This is what Paul had to say at the end of November:
Hey guys, it’s me again. Thanks for writing. It was nice to hear from everyone at home.
On Friday Elder Callaghan and I had to help the assistants by taking the new missionaries downtown to do some paperwork. While we were inside it rained a ton, so that by the time the assistants got back to pick us up, the city was completely flooded. Oh yeah, I don’t think I’ve mentioned that Resistencia is like on level with the river here. When it rains a lot, the city streets fill with water up to about a foot and a half, and stay that way for a few hours until it can drain out. But anyway, Elder Eliason, who was driving, tried to go down one of the more flooded streets and sure enough, water gets into the motor of the van he drives and we died right there. We had to jump out and push. Did I mention that the van had four people in it, and in was in about two feet of water? It was really heavy. Elder Callaghan and one of the assistants, Elder Lescano and I ended up pushing the car like five or ten blocks, and then Elder Eliason got the car to start. Hilariously, Elder Lescano didn’t have time to change his clothes before going to zone conference and teaching like fifty missionaries, so he just did it in his soaked suit.
The funniest part of the story is a man named Marcos Coreo. He's a convert of about two or three years who is in the bishopric in our ward. He is a great guy who has a ton of excitement for everything. Sometimes even too much excitement. We never see him unless he’s dressed like a missionary, and he ALWAYS wants to help us. Well anyway, Elder Callaghan and I had taken off our ties to protect them from the rain and were pushing the car, when out of nowhere we hear 'ELDERS!' and out comes Marcos running from behind to help us push. And what was even funnier is that he was dressed exactly like us, and had left his tie behind. I love that guy.
As for investigators, we have a few that are progressing. One of them is a man who teaches catechism (or however you say it in English) for the Catholic Church. It is going to be rather difficult for him to change, but he is reading his Book of Mormon regularly. We get to teach him again today, so I’ll see how it goes.
Sorry that the blog is so behind!
10.24.2009
Sorry I'm a little behind on the blog this week...I was in Barcelona when Paul emailed home. Here's a bit of what he's been up to lately:
"Resistencia is pretty cool. It isn't a very old city, but there are a lot of little quirky things to it. For instance, Resistencia is the self-proclaimed city of sculptors. There are a ridiculous number of sculptures in the city, and no one knows what half of them are supposed to mean. In our area there's one that is almost like a cloud with cow's udders hanging out of it. Like I said, no idea.
"After challenging you guys to talk to me about the service opportunities in your lives, I've come to realize how much more often I am helped by other people than I help them. I've just realized how many people do little things for me every day, while I have to look just to find one opportunity a week."
Overall, he sounds like he's doing very well!
"Resistencia is pretty cool. It isn't a very old city, but there are a lot of little quirky things to it. For instance, Resistencia is the self-proclaimed city of sculptors. There are a ridiculous number of sculptures in the city, and no one knows what half of them are supposed to mean. In our area there's one that is almost like a cloud with cow's udders hanging out of it. Like I said, no idea.
"After challenging you guys to talk to me about the service opportunities in your lives, I've come to realize how much more often I am helped by other people than I help them. I've just realized how many people do little things for me every day, while I have to look just to find one opportunity a week."
Overall, he sounds like he's doing very well!
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