July 25, 2016 New area, new progress

July 25, 2016

(We wrote to Jacob about our trip with the Mooneys to St. George, Utah)  Wow, you all had a full week, sounds like! How awesome! I’m so glad that you guys could go with the Mooneys!  And yeah, the Mooney boys are pretty awesome! Glad that Aaron got to have fun with them!

The area is getting better. We really worked this week to try and find new people to teach. The thing is, this area and this ward is one of the most successful wards in the mission, and they are working to try and divide it into two wards. The pressure is on!!...

I got to know the area a little better through divisions (splits) with the leaders of the Zone. I heard that we were going to have divisions and that I was going to stay in the area and I was so nervous. In my study time before we had divisions I studied the area and the people as much as I could, and I know that the lord qualified me to be able to direct the area. I was super nervous but we had some really good leccions (lessons) and we were never lost.

I have seen many times that if we are willing, we are going to receive the help that we need from our Father in Heaven!

We have some new investigators. Cristian Garcia is one and he has some friend that are LDS. He prayed in his prayer that he could one day be part of the Mormons, and well that just about did it for us! So we are working with him right now.

We are working with Rita. Her boyfriend is a member and they have a daughter, Agostina. We love visiting their family and are just waiting for their marriage!

We met a young man who is very evangelical, and knows a lot about the bible, we talked with him about prophets and it went well.  He was a little nervous the first time we met with him but really we just wanted to show how we are here to help.

We are working with a boy named Alexis who plays semi-professional futbol (soccer, to us Americans) and he is super cool, but it’s hard to find him because he trains a lot. 

In the ward, they changed almost all the auxiliaries and we have a new ward mission leader. He is the man that we took a photo with in front of the church! He is really awesome and we are excited to work with him. I know that it was inspired that he was called to work with us, and I know we are going to start to see some miracles from this change in organization.

There are some really poor areas in our area, and it’s hard at times to see how they live. I am always grateful for what I have been given and at times I want to do more and help more than just teach these people. But this week I learned that the Lord is going to bless us both temporally and spiritually if we choose to follow this gospel. So, I learned that the opportunity to teach and to share the gospel is more than just words, more than just a book, and pamphlets, it’s the opportunity to invite our brothers and sisters to receive forgiveness, to receive an eternal family, to receive salvation. This gospel is everything and it will help us in anything that we are lacking.

Sorry I don’t have pictures today. I forgot to bring my camera.

I love you all so much!

Elder Wolf

July 18, 2016 - The new barrio

July 18, 2016

(We asked about whether he got the packages we sent)

I did get the package!!! And I loved it! Well... am loving it! In the pension there is Elder Benitez and he likes to cook for us, and we have plans to make some tacos and I’m sure we will start using more of it also. The packages came just in time for Elder Guzman! He loved his socks and was super excited!!

My companion is awesome! Elder Fereirra! He is from Buenos Aires and he speaks a little fast sometimes but that’s gonna help me a lot. He is district leader, and he is a good example to me.

I absolutely love being in Salta. I feel better. My eyes are actually better here (allergies), and there is less smoke. I love the people and the barrio. Truly. One of my goals was to make better relationships with the people faster, and I feel like it’s working. We had a lot of activities this week. We went to invite people to the open chapel on Wednesday with the youth. The youth are so amazing! 

In the pension we are 4, and we are in the same barrio. The barrio is so big that they split the area, and we share the area with the other elders. Right now we are a little dry. We need to find more people to teach and sometimes that is the hardest, but we plan to involve the ward, and we have some ideas in mind.

We had what’s called an open chapel this Saturday and it was good. It was an opportunity for the public to know what the Mormons are about.

Other than that, I am trying to learn the area quickly but it’s a little bit difficult for me. 

This morning we played soccer with President Chapparo y the assistants. Apparently that happens a lot here! It was fun!

We ate asado (steak) with the bishop. They apparently eat that a lot here because the meat is so cheap. Again, I love the members and am grateful for their help.

We are working with a couple who needs to get married before they are baptized. They are really good and are progressing well. Gaston is a member, and Rita wants to get baptized and we are just helping them out with their papers for that.

I think that’s about it!  

I love you all. Love seeing pictures!

Love the Mooneys too!  (Since we were with the Mooney family when we wrote our last letter, we included some greetings and pictures from them, too.)

We played soccer with the president today!

This is a picture we a member who is moving.

This is in the back of our pension.

This is some of the young men in the activity open chapel. I love the barrio!

 

July 11, 2016 Transfers

July 11, 2016

Hola Familia!

Thank you for your support! I’m always grateful for you guys! I know I have a family of Gold!

(For context, we wrote to Jacob about our other kids picking up a bird that fell out of a tree, and getting all the kids to wash their hands before they touched their faces, ate anything, etc.)   About the bird and the germs, at times I don’t know how the kids here live because they play in the dirt and they always have their hands in their mouth and they pick up things off the ground and put it in their mouths. Haha.  It’s a different culture, and it makes me realize how clean my home was and I am humbled by the culture.

This week was a rollercoaster. I was really stressed because it was really likely that elder Guzman was going to go and that I was going to stay. I was learning all the streets and I was trying to prepare myself but I knew I was lacking still and I was prayed that the Lord would qualify me because I know he will. Anyway Elder Guzman said by to a lot of families and I didn’t because I was expecting to stay... but no. I got transferred and I am now in Salta Capital. My area is Salta Independencia and my companion is Elder Ferreira de Buenos Aires! 

I was sad that I had to leave, but I am so excited to have this opportunity to work here. We are really close to the mission offices and the Elders say that they play futbol with Presidente, haha. Really different than Tucuman. They say that it’s the Tucuman curse that if you started in Tucuman you are likely to return so I hope I have the chance to return!

We had our last baptism of Ana Reinaga. This was a crazy day. It was a holiday in Argentina for one. Ana’s parents are separated. The mom loves us and wants to come to church and we never saw the dad until this day. Her dad didn’t want her to get baptized because he is evangelical. We talked with him and explained what we had been teaching her, but still no. But in the end he said that she could get baptized if the mom was ok because the mom has custody of her. The mom was ok with it, and as we were walking with Ana she said, “I want to be baptised.” It was a testimony builder for me that she had this testimony. Also she was the little girl that when we first met her she said, “Can you talk to my mom and tell her your message?” The children here are a little crazy at times but they are so faithful. This week I was reading the scripture of how we need to be like children in order to enter in the kingdom of God, and the children always come to church alone. They practically are their own family!

Not much more happened this week. I am trying to remember but I am still a little shocked by the change... haha

Oriel Medrano! The Familia Medrano feeds us each Monday.

 

My last Baptism in Victoria. The baptism of Ana

 

Elder Guzman y yo

 

This is Hermana Pentucci. She fed us every Sunday.  She was one of our mission moms in Victoria.

 

(No caption given.  None needed.)

 

My new companion is the second to the left.

 

This is the family of Kadija and another familia too!

 

July 4, 2016 Tantos Milagros (So Many Miracles)

July 4, 2016 Tantos Milagros (So Many Miracles)

Happy 4th of July!

This week went really well.

 This upcoming week is the last week of this transfer and I will either go to a new place or I will stay here and receive a new companion. I am a little nervous - haha - but am prepared for what’s gonna come. I have enjoyed this time with Elder Guzman and wish that we could have more time but there is never enough time.

This week we had divisions (splits) and I was with Elder Starkey. It went well. I got a little confused in my area but we found our way around. If I stay in my area I have to present my area. I know the names of the big streets and I know the little streets by visual cues. The members have gotten used to me a little more - haha. I say that because the president of the rama (branch) said “hermano lobo” in the pulpit.

This week we had the baptism of Belen. She was scared because she knows that baptism is a big commitment and she wanted to be sure she could complete his promise with God. To us this is amazing and this shows that she took this promise seriously. We reminded her that no one is perfect and that after baptism we also make mistakes. This is one thing that I realized this week is that we teach faith and repentance before baptism, and we teach faith and repentance after baptism also. Baptism is a major step and it should be taken seriously but our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ has given us the opportunity to renew our covenants. What an amazing thing.

A scripture that I have been reading a lot this week is in 2 Nephi 2 :11. There is an opposition in all things, good, bad, light, dark etc. There is no in between...

We have been working with an inactive member who has been having trouble with the wrong types of spirits. This actually happens a lot here because they have a lot of saints and other things that they worship. In the 10 commandments it says that we cannot have any other gods or any false images, so when they have these things in their homes they are susceptible to these other spirits that are not of God. Anyway we fasted for multiple things this Sunday but he was one of the things and this Sunday he came to church alone. He bore his testimony about the literal struggle and fight it took for him to return to church but that he felt the strong impression to return. 

My testimony this week is about this opposition. I know that when we have this Gospel in our lives we have the spirit of God and the light of Christ working within us, and no other type of spirit can reside within us. I also have a testimony of the power of the fast. I know that when we avoid the natural man with an intention to edify our spirits we are blessed for this sacrifice. It’s hard to do at times but we are going to receive the help that we need or the help that others need also. This Sunday I felt really happy and I know this joy came from the sacrifice and the service. I know that we have a Father in Heaven that knows us, loves us, and listens to us. He wants to bless us but most of the times he is waiting for us to come to him.

We also had some of our investigators and more less active people at church. It was a rainy day on Sunday and this is another reason why it was such a miracle because the people here hate the rain and they don’t go out when it rains.

Other than Sunday the week was good, we had a service of helping cut down a tree.

This week in our district meeting we talked in English. This actually was hard for me. It’s literally a different way of thinking. It’s also frustrating because I am at the point where my Spanish is a little better and my English is a little worse.

We had some really good steak this week from the familia of Kadija.

Other than that, I’m looking forward to this change coming up and am excited for what’s going to happen.

Hope everything is well with you guys!

Love you all

Elder Wolf

This is a picture of our zone:

 

The baptism of Belen:

A service that we helped with, we cut a tree!

June 27, 2016

June 27, 2016

I am so grateful for the people here. Every day, they are so generous and they treat us so well. It’s hard at times to express how much I appreciate them but I try. I will pass along your message to them!

We have a group of kids right now that are really faithful. It amazes us. They are friends and cousins of Mauro. They show up to church every Sunday, walking from their houses which are about 10 minutes away. The thing is, is that the kids are really faithful, but a little crazy, too. It’s hard to control them because they are never disciplined and usually they only have one parent. But still we are amazed at their faith! 

Tell him (Brother Da Silva) I said hi back! Tell him "Bon dia." Our investigators are good. Some are progressing really well but others don’t have too much time for us.

This week was good! This week was the finale of Copa America! So everyone was updating us on who was advancing. Yesterday a team from Tucuman advanced up a division and it was crazy. It sounded like a war because of all the fireworks and noises! And then the finale of Copa America was yesterday, too. Argentina took 2nd and it’s kind of a sore subject. But yesterday there was no one in the streets! It was like a ghost town.

  

We have a baptism for Belen this week. She has been progressing amazingly well. She always has good questions and she always reads what we give her.

Daniel is doing well. He is being a missionary even before his baptism. He is 50 years old and is waiting on some paperwork before his baptism. He has been taking friends to church and has been talking to his son-in-law who is interested in the gospel. It’s an amazing thing.

Pablo, the brother of Mauro is working a lot right now. It’s hard for him to find time between school and work for us.

We are talking to an older couple! But it’s a couple! We are excited to be talking with them! His name is Oscar and they really felt the spirit when we talked about Eternal Families.

We had a conference with one of the Seventy, Elder Jorge Luis Romeu. We helped organize a minibus to be able to take our investigators and members to the conference. It was a success. We had 7 investigadores (investigators) and about 4 less actives assist with us! Elder Romeu talked a lot about the family. It was really good. He talked about family councils and the important roles of the mother and father.

They eat a lot of panza here. That's stomach haha. And, well, I am getting used to it a little more, but it’s still a little weird.

The weeks are going by so fast and in two more weeks it’s the end of my second transfer, and I believe with Elder Guzman, too. I am a little nervous and am trying to learn how I can be better still. I know I have a lot to learn, and I know that I need the help of my Heavenly Father, and my Savior every day. I’m grateful for your support! I’m grateful that you both served missions, Mom and Dad! :)

Much Love

Elder Wolf 

This is just a picture of one of the beautiful days here. There are two sets of mountain ranges, one is green and one is usually brown because it is rock, but it snowed in the mountains and so the range behind is white.

I found a pole with my name on it today. haha

This is just us in a house of Kadija with her family. Kadija was the most recent baptism we had, and her family is really welcoming.

June 20, 2016

So good to hear from you, family!!! I love all of you so much!!

Happy Father’s Day, Dad!!

This week was good! I felt like I was able to connect with the members a little more, and also with our investigators.  I have been feeling the gift of tongues more also. I know that it’s real and I’m so grateful for the opportunity that I have to use it. Just like any other spiritual gift, we have to cultivate it and make an effort to use it, then Heavenly Father will help us fill in the gaps. I definitely notice a difference in my language for the day when I have a good study session compared to when I don’t. 

This week Elder Guzman baptized Hermana Kadija. The kids right now are very receptive. The women also. But the men want nothing to do with church. It’s hard because there are a lot of families without a father here. I think, “Wow, this family really needs the priesthood in their home”, but it’s hard because the men don’t want anything to do with church. I realize now what a strength the priesthood was in our home. I am grateful to have a father that could be that example to me. I know that families are divine. 

We had the activity of Locro and it was amazing for investigators. We had about 4 to 5 new families there! Everyone in the ward was working like missionaries. The young men, the young women, the relief society and the elders quorum. This is how it should be. Yes we have missionaries, yes we are missionaries but we can’t do it alone. I am grateful for the families in our branch and for their ability to help us. I encourage all of the members to be missionaries. Help new people feel welcome. Just that alone can do a lot. It helps to have a member present in our lecciones (lessons) also! I encourage the members to see what they can do to bare their testimonies to those whom the missionaries are teaching!

We had a visit by Elder Texiera of the 70 and he encouraged us to use our agency more to think creatively and think out of the box! Activities are amazing for investigators! We have classes of piano on Tuesdays and people show up and learn! Also for example we had the Copita America Actividad (“little America Cup” activity) today! People always show up for soccer here, but it was a success also!

I’m grateful for the people in the Stead Ward and for their example and hard work!

Our investigators are good! Hermana Belen is more than ready but she wanted a little more time to prepare. There is one girl that is around 16 years old that came to church on the right Sunday. We had a really good lesson in Gospel Principals and afterwards she literally said that she wanted to be baptized.

I had the opportunity to teach gospel principals this past Sunday and it wasn’t too bad! :)

Anyway, I hope you guys have a good week!!

Much Love for you guys here in Tucuman!

Elder Wolf

June 20, 2016 - Pictures 1

We had a soccer activity and called it Copita America! We played and then had lunch today. We had a good turn out! The boy with us is named Josue and he and his family are faithful members of the church.

Here are some pictures of the elders in the pension! We had interviews with presidente (president) in our pension (apartment) and this is elder Guzman and I before the interviews.

 

We also had a bautismo (baptism) of hermana Kadija this week. Her aunt is a member but her family is not. Interesting story... Before we taught her she had denied the catholic communion. She liked the church and decided to be baptized. Her family is so welcoming but they are not members... yet Haha :)