The sun never sets on righteous missionaries testifying of the Savior. N.L. Anderson

What’s up family?}

Receiving this email a little late eh¡?

Well I have a lot to explain.  A lot of things are happening.  A lot of changes in my life.  The Lord, through President Avila, called ME, Elder Ostler, to be El Secretario de la Misión Argentina Mendoza!!

I’m the new mission secretary.

But how about we start from Monday . .  last Monday.  We finished an amazing p day, except for hardly conversing with my companion at all that day, and started preaching around 6:30, and it was amazing what happened.  We found an Amazing Amazing AMAZING Familia Maciel. Myseal.  I felt so inspired to sit this family down, the mother, Marcela, and 4 kids, Matias 15, Belen 13, Jesus 10, and the little guy and teach them about family prayer.  The mother cried.  It was so beautiful with this family as we taught them in their humble home.  Imagine the kitchen, living room, and bedroom, all being one room.  We taught them about how to pray and how to receive an answer.  Belen had some excellent questions.

In the follow up visits I individually asked each of the kids if they felt anything when they prayed and asked if these things were true. Belen, Matias, and Jesus all described to me the feeling and burning in the pecho they got!!  It was so beautiful.  Those are the moments most beautiful of the missino.

This week we had 4 people pray about the veracidad del mensaje and 3 receive answers, so amazing.

Well this amazing family, we were about to go buscar them domingo en la mañana, but they were visiting family.  But I have so much hope that those elders who wash Rivadavia, baptize them and bring them in to the True fold of God.

After finding the family Maciel, Elder Cajas and I attended a Católico church.  Notice I said attend.  Not assisted!  It was cool.  A lot smaller, but I really liked the preacher.  A good public speaker.  I Love seeing True Followers of Jesus Christ outside our church.

So on Tuesday, he called President Avila, and on Thursday we traveled to Mendoza.  Then on Saturday night, President calls me to the position of secretario.  That night we didn’t sleep to well.  We had one of the best talks of all time.  He cried.  Ok I really am not trying to have orgullo, but I had the Spirit with me and was inspired speaking to him.  Consoling him.  And counseling him too.  It was interesting.  And I know the Lord does things for a purpose, and I know he put me in that situation for a purpose.  He really opened up to me.  And we talked.

Among other things, we taught an evangelical preacher who is so close.  But he killed me when he was not interested in if Joseph Smith was a prophet.  In that lesson, I realized, or was reminded, that the spirit is So Important when we teach, and we must follow it.

And we realized that we have been working in a Red Zone, aka, don’t go in this area, ever.  Very dangerous.  But we went in that area.  Isn’t that comforting mother?  Good thing angels protect us.  And just have some fun, the gang that runs this villa is called los diablos, a bad group.  Everyone told us how dangerous they are.  Even the people who live there.  I had one experience on a Saturday afternoon where I saw a group of them about 3 blocks down.  And I had the distinct feeling that if I kept walking down that street, I would have gotten hosed.  Good thing i didn’t keep walking down that street.

Also working in the bebida we found Roldoflo, a great hombre.  So family oriented.  So ready for the Gospel.  He accepted everything. But when we went back the second time with a member, he didn’t cumplir con los conpromisos.  But strongly committed to church.  But on Sunday, he didn’t come.  I put him in the area book with stars next to his name, because I really believe that if the elders work with him, he could convert.

This week I really focused my teaching on 2 things.  One was receiving an answer por el poder del espiritu santo.  The other was the Book of Mormon.  O I love in Braden’s letters when he says thats 2 more converts for the Book of Mormon.  He’s such a capo.

And in open the mouths, or door approaches, I was showing the libro to everyone!  Testify.

Then 4th person that prayed about our message was Mariana, she was a reference from a member.  And a really really good one.  2 good lessons with her we had.

I know that the call to be secretary was inspired.  Before it came, I had had 3 real encounters with Presidente Avila.  The first was the first reunion we had with him in San Juan.  And we knelt and I gave the closing prayer.  He came up afterwards and thanked me and hugged me.  The second was the zone conference we had just weeks later, when I gave a talk on obedience.  And the third was just days ago when we came down to Mendoza.  And after Elder Cajas had a long interview with him, President sat me down and we talked.  It was wonderful.  He asked about my family, about me area, and all the problems happening therein.  It was a wonderful 10 minutes.

On Sunday after church we packed.  And cleaned up the pench, and got the area book ready for a wash.  And wrote the new elders notes and everything.  And also despediried the elders in the distrito and a few members.

Before I forget, 2 side notes.

1.  Ignacio Cortez, the 9 year old, is getting baptized this Saturday. And he chose me to baptize him.  Hmm, but I won’t be there.  que bendicion por los elders nuevos¡!

2.  The distrito de 3 compañerismos, or my district, had 10 people in church this week!!  With 5 progressing, o sea, 5 of them have a fecha bautismal!!  Wow, we had an amazing district meeting and we put a high goal.  And the other elders saw miracles this week.  It was such a huge improvement.  I was so happy!!

3.  Talking with some elders today, I found out that 1 of the daughters of Rosa Sosa, de Rivadavia San Martin, and a boy friend got baptized!!!!!!  Elder Arrua and I were the first elders to teach the boyfriend, Raul.  He’s 25.  And the daughter is Lucila, taught her many times.  So cool!!!

Ok, so last night we really didn't sleep to much either.  And we woke up bastante temprano to travel to Mendoza.  And I have traveled to and from Mendoza so much recently I’m broke!  And we’re only in the middle of the month.  Good thing I’m in the offices and can turn in some receipts quick!

As missino secretary, my jobs and duties are many.  My companion is Elder Boisados, a great LATIN from Buenos Aries.  My first Argentine!!!  He’s so fun.  I know him decently.  And we are washing an area.  Estansuela.  It will be wonderful.  I will explain things as they happen.  But as an office elder I will only miss 15 hours of proselyting a week, 3 hours in the morning 5 days a week.  Because Monday - Friday we leave the offices at 4pm to start preaching.  And Saturday and Sunday we get full days.

My job is very administrative.  And my secretary trainer is Elder Ivie. Just a CAPO.  He’s the current secretary.  And I got my first taste today, as we dropped elders at the airport, and had to pay 240 pesos for extra baggage.  Then we journeyed through Mendoza and bought 20 kilos of bananas.  Today, Elder Ivie had like 700 pesos on him in cash!!  For 6 weeks I will receive training, then I’m on my own.

I am actually very excited for this opportunity.  I know it is from the Lord and He has wonderful things to teach me here.  I am most excited to work side by side with Presidente Avila.  An x setenta.  He is a man of Love.  A Good Man.

A position in the offices is dreaded by many elders.  But man, the Lord has just given me excitement.  I’m PSYCHED!!

And I get to drive.  I get to drive Presidents car.  The Hilux.

Speaking of cars, Dad, I’ve fallen in love with muscle cars.  O yeah. The Ford Taunus.  Hatch back.  They are abundant here.

Today I spent with Elder Ivey and Hoggard.  They are amazing.  I forgot what it was like to have so much fun while being a missionary. We played rummy cube for p day.  But I’m telling you , it was just so much fun today.  Tomorrow is the Big day.

We send 15 missionaries home and receive 14.  Can you imagine the logistics of that?  And Elder Ivey is in charge of most of that.  We’re going to be at the airport for a long time tomorrow.

I’m ready to learn.  I’m ready to soar.  My goal is to be Efficient.  And I know I will just love and nail this position.

And I am also psyched for Elder Boisados and to wash an area!!!!

This week in Rivadavia, I ate the Liahona, conference addition.  It was amazing.  

Bednar.  Your missino will be a sacred opportunity to bring others to Christ and help prepare for the Second Coming of the Savior.

Ballard.  The future growth of the Church will not happen through just knocking on strangers doors.  It will happen when the MEMBERS, along with our missionaries, filled with the love of God and Christ discern the needs and respond to those needs in the spirit of charitable service.   . .  this cannot be accomplished by missionaries alone, but requires the interest and service of EVERY member.

Monson.  Stay completely away from pornography.  Do not allow yourself to view it, ever.

And More Than Conquerors Through Him That Loved Us, by Johnson. I loved this talk.  Our personal journey through life will provide just the right amount for our needs.  Many trials are just a natural part of our mortal existence, but they play such an important role in our progress.

And also Christoffersons talk about willing to accept and seek correction was wonderful.  The sentence that starts with ‘eventually’ almost at the end.  Yeah... amazing.  You can quote that part here. Eventually all the way to learned.

"Eventually, much of our chastening should come from within—we should become self-correcting. One of the ways that our late beloved colleague Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin became the pure and humble disciple that he was, was by analyzing his performance in every assignment and task. In his desire to please God, he resolved to determine what he could have done better, and then he diligently applied each lesson learned."  Fantastic!!  What genius men.  I love the Brethren.

And one of them has their office 3 inches form mine!!

The Desire talk, Followers of Christ, by González, all were wonderful.  “Through love the Savior was obedient to the will of the Father under any circumstance.  Our Savior was obedient even when it meant great physical and emotional pain, even when it meant . . . . .”  loved that part.  Or, “as Latter-day Saints, ours is the duty to invite millions . . .”

I could go on.  Wow, did you know that conference was so inspired??  Well it inspired me this week.

A pesar de no hablar mucho con mi companero until Saturday this week, I was filled with unusually animo and felicidad.  I spent the hours we weren’t teaching, singing and talking to myself in english to keep sane.  But a lot of singing in the streets.  And it was funny because when we said good bye to the panadería or breadshop lady Sunday, she gave us 6 free delicious facturas!!  That Friday, Saturday and Sunday and even today were just days of incredible mixed feelings.  Life just got turned upside down.  I’m excited!!!  But 6 weeks in Rivadavia was so short, but helped me so much.

O HEY.  Don't forget to remind me to tell you about Cristin Funes next week.  He needs your help!

We are actually in the offices right now emailing, and I’m not sure how long Elder Haggard and Ivie need.  So I’ll keep typing!!

I love you all so much.  I can’t tell you how excited I am.  I can’t tell you all how so special each one of you is to me.  You are my eternal family.

It's in my blood.  I forgot to say that.

You see, for arriba de 7 months, Elder Cabranes was secretario de la misino mendoza.  It’s in my blood.

It’s fun these days because I get to see all the oldies going home. Elder Cabranes, George, Crossa, Elder Quebeman, Martinez . . and just so many others.

My meta is to be Mr. Animo here.  Just always a smile.  Always a kind word.  Always working hard, and not ponching (or being lazy). Always leaving to work at 4pm.  And always focusing on the most important things.  Baptism.  I know I can baptize here in Estanzuela. And I am just so excited.  Pumped.

So Elder Nelson, asistente.

Elder Hare, zone leader.

And I’m the missino secretary.  Good times.

This week I thought about the Sun.  el Sol.  And thought about the wonderful words I am quoting all the time.  Mas brillante que el sol.  In the fist vision.  And I thought of the Glory and Power of God.  I pulled a Brian Regan, and tried to look at the sun.  The first glance I could tolerate it for about 1 second.  Then I went for the 5 seconds, and achieved.  But it was painful... and I thought what it will be like to be in their presence.  Am I ready.  I feel like I will melt like an infeliz.  I also want to purify myself.

I loved the every knee shall bow and tongue shall confess scriptures I studied this week.

Love Elder Ostler

He taught by puro ejemplo!

!!Hola Familia!!

To answer some questions.  Yes, I got the coat.  Graham crackers made it and are well digested by now, and one 9 year old, Ignacio came to church.  Do I want anything?  I can never deny Reece's or a roll of scotch tape.  I already got the outside cutter part.  No, just whatever, you already send me so much love, don´t worry about it.  :)

That’s so great to hear that Casey is a zl.  O, I love reading from my friends, so send some more emails if you want.  About the pesos, one dollar is 4 pesos.  So 30 pesos is like 8 dollars.  We just had an asado and I spent 26 on meat for 800 gramos.  I bought a great cut of meat called vacío.  Yum.  Every time we take a bus, it costs 2 pesos.  Cada uno doing ciber for an hour and a half costs 5 pesos. mas o menos, and printing is 50 centados per oja.  And a girdo ice cream is from 6 to 8 pesos, for 3 scoops.  And a factura from the expensive panaderia abajo de la pench es 1 peso 70 centados.

But serving a mission.  Priceless.

I love being here, and even thought I miss you all so much, what I am doing, and what every worthy Elder and Hermana is doing, you just can’t put a price on it.  Not only are we helping others come unto Christ, we ourselves are leaning timeless lessons.  I will look back on my mission with the biggest smile on my face.  I will use what I am learning in every calling I will ever receive in the Church and in every face of life.  So come.  If you’re sitting on the fence and maybe por ahi don´t want to go or whatever.

Come.

Harrison, your probably what you would call in the preparation stages for the mission.  Yeah?  Mom, you too.  I thought this last night as sleep did not come and I layed in bed reading the conference Ensign. Hope talk, a mission is not something you do, a missionary is something you become.  Mom and Harrison, you can start to become the missionary you want to be today.

Today.

I urge you to share the gospel with your friends.  That is the number one thing you can do to prepare.  Apply what you lean in your study of PMG!  I love you so much Mom and Harrison.  You are both wonderful.

Some commentaries on the letters I read last week.

AMY.  I love your letter with the stories about Grandpa.  Please send more!!   What a powerhouse of a man.  que pedaso de hombre!  Amy, seriously, thanks for always writing me.  You are wonderful.  And the dog news never gets old.  Did I tell you that your house looks wonderful?

Family, aka letters form brothers.  O i laugh out loud.  They are so funny!  I love the lacrosse stories, mowing stories, and just everything.  Harrison, it is so weird to think of you driving!  And it was funny that you mentioned that the song dinamite is old!  I’m just not with the times I guess. How about the song Friday Night.  Is it good? For me it was way catchy yesterday when I heard it.

Harrison, you’re great and I love you.  Please take your mission prep serious.  Never miss a month of home teaching.  SO IMPORTANT: we take that for granted in the states.  But when you’re in a place that well, is struggling with HT, you see the horrible effects.  Also, esfuersese to remain digno.  Do not give heed to satan’s temptations. Enjoy the priceless priest quorum experience.  O looking back, just incredible memories.  Like blessing the sacrament with Jase and his dad, Hermano Ward, for Gary Martindale, and his next door neighbor.

Dad.  Wow, that was so weird to read your letter.  I got the weirdest sensation when you mentioned about coming down to pick me up and eating an asado in a year.  It made me burn so bad for like 5 minutes!!!  O you’re great dad.

And mother, your letters are always so wonderful.  Hey let’s see if i can say this without really saying it.  Please write a letter and email it to me sometime.  Write a letter to a super nervous and stessed out mother who is passing though the opposite of marriage, and has no self esteem because of lies that were fed to her over the past many years.  Baptized a year and a half ago and has received her investiduras, and the ward is not helping at all and actually fighting against us.  Thank you.

I did divisions this week with Elder Menocal, my zone leader.  He is so wonderful.  It was one of the best divisions I’ve ever done.  I went to his pench (which Elder Arrua also lives in, FUN).  He really didn't teach me anything with what he said to me, he taught by puro ejemplo.  I now understand why he has baptized so many people in this area, and will baptize 6 more this Saturday.  Just an animal, and he BLEEDS animo.  And happiness.  Animo and the spirit literally bleed from his being.  It is so contagious.  Walks so fast, works so hard.  We didn´t get back to the pench till 11:15 in the night, and left at 9:15 the next morning.  And the minutes he could have been relaxing or enjoying pench life, he was engrainedMenocal.

Alright, some pictures.

That’s last p day with some smores supplies.

That’s during the D Meeting.  Elder Menocal is the morocho in the back. 

That’s the asado I’m digesting right now.  So wonderful.  I organized the whole p day.  

Pure enjoyment.  I need a haircut.

Jugar a la pelota.  Like my club sportivo deamparado camiseta?  A member gifted it to me! swell.  Actually, an inactive member. 

Can you say roasting some marshmallows!!! Over the brasas!!!  It was delicious.  Actually, I didn’t even eat one today.  No worries, there are still 4 more in the pench.

Another thing I leaned this week was Teach Doctrine.  I love teaching about the Atonement.  Just sharing a scripture with a member or whatever.  Elder Menocal did that so well.  He was so thorough.  It sounds like this-thur o.

I was reminded of wonderful things about the atonement this week.  I love the atonement of Jesus Christ, and Know that it is Real.

Comp struggles.  Well, they continue.  There were some pretty feo moments this week.  It’s hard.  We just aren´t friends.  I feel like I do my part, but it takes 2.  But don´t get me wrong.  He really is trying and doing many good things.  I just hold him to a high standard and am looking out for him, and a lot of the time he doesn´t like that.  But I like what you told me about not judging him and loving and serving him.  Yes, I loved what you told me mother about being uplifting, kind and patient.  Serving him and not judging.

And it’s not all bad.  We do have some lindo moments.  There were some days I pushed him pretty hard, like yesterday.  But today I let up and just let him do his things.

The District Meeting we had last week was wonderful.  We talked about the refiners fire and I put the marshmallow over a fire ejemplo, and how the marshmallow changes while it is put over the heat.  And it is much more dulce and sweet as a result, then we ate smores!!  See foto.  Amazing.  The district loved it and the zls were there to enjoy too.  Then I used music and we learned about chapter 6 of PME, and it was wonderful.  Then they all closed their eyes and thought about the Savior as we listened to This Is The Christ by Jenny Oaks, as I read some choice verses.  So spiritual.

We had an achievement this week. .  we had consejo de bario!!  It was wonderful that we had it.  But still A LOT to improve, ahh los lideres. As backwards as this is, they are the road block and the obstaculo as to why the baptism of Ignacio is so difficult.  OOO it kills me.  But we have a team and are working for success, and Ignacio’s mother is passing through a lot of problems right now.  Last night we had a cita with her and the family Quiroga came, Edwardo and Ingrid, and we were on the fone with abogados and everything!  and calling the zls, who called the assistants, who called president, and just doing everything we can to open the gates of Heaven for Ignacio.  He wants it so bad.

To Grow you need resistance.  That thought came to me last night, and then again this morning as I did my pushups.

Hey mom, are you ready for this!  Doubt it, but here we go anyway.

I found the direction to my pench!  Or at least most of it.  Hmm, think of it and there’s no area code or anything, maybe you can do some homework.

San Juan Rivadavia   street is talcahuano 3891 oeste  rivadavia dpt. 1

That’s all I got.  

I will say that p day was wonderful today.  We asadoed and jugared a la pelota.  And now I’m way tired and need something dulce.  Luckily I haven´t hardly touched the dulces from the states!!

Stay clean,

Elder Ostler

I write unto you yet again that ye may know that I am yet alive. Moroni 9:1

Dear Family:

After all those uneasy feelings about me mother, would it make you happy if I told you I’m walking on sunshine.  

o 

o

o

Walking on sunshine.  And it makes me feel good!

Seriously, I’m doing wonderful and had a wonderful week!  A week full of wonders and great adventures and adventures that were great.

Rivadavia has made me a better thinker.  I just think things better now.  And Dad, with respect to your question, yes it’s been a year.  My Spanish is good.  I have come a long way.  LONG WAY.  It’s been a great journey too.  I just can´t even wait for the year to come!  It will be so much better for sure.  I think I’ll take you through my week chronologically.  estamos?¿

We started out Tuesday saliendo with our líder misional, and we found a great family!  Maria and Roberto, an old couple, and their daughter is inactive.  It was a wonderful spirit filled first lesson.  Franciso helped out so much.  Then a few days later, when we went back, we discovered that they kept their commitments and read!  And Maria prayed!  It was a spirit guided lesson, as we followed what we were taught in our district meeting and read the ldm (Amy that means Book of Mormon) juntos con ellos.  The assigned reading we gave them was Mosiah 2, and since they read the folleto, we thought we’d read the book together.  The commitment that I wanted to leave them was to assist on Sunday.  And WOW, as we read Mosiah chapter 2 it was so so so wonderful and tailored to our lesson.  Especially those first 10 verses.  It was amazing watching that lesson unfold.  We were very loving and direct with them, and they mostly committed to come to church.  Argentines are the worst committers, no matter how good you try to follow chapter 10 or 11, shame on me I can’t remember, in pmg.

Then that afternoon we went out with the jovenes del teaches q to visit some of their less actives, and ended up in an amazing teaching situation with an inactive 25 yr old woman and her non member mother who seeming knows the bible well, but really knows nothing at all. After the opening prayer, I didn´t know what to do.  When the spirit told me to have each member present, a recent RM and 3 teachers and us, share their testimony about Christ and obedience.  It was so cool! I’ve never had a lesson with members from 5 different families!! But this old woman, well lets just not talk about her, denying the need for baptism and all.   And the lesson painfully dragged on and on and I needed OUT, because my bus for Mendoza was leaving.

Finally I got us out, hopped on a bus to the pench, hurried and hurried and got on another bus for the terminal.  The bad was that it was Rush hour.  Rush should be capitalized.  And the bus moved so slow.  My Mendoza bus left at 7 and I painfully watched my reloj....

6:30

6:45

6:50

6:55

6:59

7

7:01

7:02

7:03

During those minutes I had some funny thoughts goin’ through my head.

Just how God knew were I was and that I NEEdEd on that bus, that He knew I had done all in my power to be on time and that it was a prueba de la paciencia.  So I sat content.  Just nervous and excited for the adventure that lay ahead.

At 7:03 I took my comp and empty suitcase and RAN in the terminal. After dodging an old man swearing at me and telling me he was sick of the Mormons in the terminal all the time, I saw me bus.  It was rolling. The bus driver had put it in drive.  I flailed the arms and - IT STOPPED!!!!  And the chofer opened the door and said,

“OSTLER??”

That’s how important I was, he knew my name!

It’s cause me travel buddy, Elder Ealsy was on the bus waiting for me.  But I’m just so glad I made it.  God provided.

And it was cama, which means we paid extra for a seat that lays out FLAT into a bed.  Too bad it’s made for a 6’0 Argentine and I'm an over six foot gringo.

Being in Mendoza was amazing!  I was with so many great elders, Hyer, Huntington etc.  We did the documents and ate some fiambre, and then I had a great desire to visit the Familia Avila in Sarmeinto.  And I’m good friends with all the office elders, who are now over that area.  So I asked permiso del neuestro presidente.  And he put his arm around me and we talked a minute, and he gave me permiso!  So Elder Hoggard and I jumped on a bus and flew to their house.

Family, it was incredible, the visit that we had.  I could actually talk to them!  And Hermano Avila was amazed at my Spanish.  I taught them from 1 Nephi 8 and reminded them of everything that had happened almost a year ago with Elder Hinojosa and I.  Elder Hoggard was amazing too, just such a fun guy.  The whole fam was there, except 18 year old Franco, who still goes to institute.  But other than that they are inactive, but do have desires to return.  Especially the boys.  All in all, AMAZING.

With that empty suit case I had, I filled it with libros de mormon, and foletos and it was SO HEAVY on the way back.  But I rode cama again,  (so dad pay your tithing, because that bolleto was 30 pesos mas caro) AND - get this.  Usually they play movies on the buses or whatever, but this bus they had music videos form the 70s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  While I tried not to watch, I could do noting but let that sweet music sing in my ears.  I heard ‘the flame’ by cheap trick and ‘I cant fight this feeling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’  Wow, a dream come true.  And they served me chicken and noodles and pepsi.  And I’m sure some of that music was moving me into the 60s, just so so so old school.

I also bought 60 pesos of things from the offices like triples and laminas and now our pench is decorated so nicely!

O, I forgot to say in Mendoza, the other offices elders picked up Hoggard and I to take me to the terminal, and we got a flat tire!  So we got all dirty fixing it and everything, fun.  I love Elder Ivey and Hoggard and Duran, so much laughs.

Then I did divisiónes with Elder Cornejo and we saw a bunny on divisiónes.  Bunny is conejo in Spanish.  I didn´t leave him alone about that.  What are the chances!  We had an amazing time together. Entering an at first hostile casa at my request for water, even thought it was freezing.  Basically walking into the house to return the vaso, then talking to them about what they were cooking and chau.  The spirit taught an amazing restoration, and one of the daughters, 20 yr old is already investigating.  And she told us after the lesson she had already read and by the power of the Holy Ghost, received a respuesta that the libor de mormon is true!!  So so cool!

That day I was in 6 lessons with members, 4 in my area and 2 in his. That’s a lot of lessons with member!!  And just an amazing cold day. A joven in my ward left my big coat in a house in a barrio peligroso, la bebida.  And so that day with Cornejo, I looked through their pench for whatever was going to keep me warm and put on some world cup sweatshirts etc, but topped it off with the drunk mans sweater.  It was fun.  Then both us and Elder Stout and Molen got vianda fideos with tuco.  O sea, the members both gave us spaghetti in tupperware, so we just happened to get home at the same time and had a great great lunch juntos, so fun.

Thanks for writing me Kevin, I loved it.  Yes, these experiences are priceless and here are some fotos, speaking of memories.

Elder Arrua and Elder Ostler

Probably should not give to much detail on this next part. . .  recent convert family, inactive, but what an experience to help this family. To TRY to get the ward to help us, but wow.  Ugh, I just couldn´t not do it so I bought them some food too, which totally goes against pmg ch9, but what are you going to do.  Also probably against the rules was letting a porteñio drug addict into the pench.  But we’ll talk about that later.

What was a MIRACLE was that the father of this family came to church!!!! for the 2nd time after his baptism, wow.  But it was so sad to see the members not really reach out to him.

We were with Hermano Q.  This guy is just a loaded cannon.  I love him so much.  A 30 year old nut who loves la obra del Señor.  We talk about so much stuff you have no idea.  I really want to help this ward out.

Sundays are kind of hard.  You go and it looks great for 3 hours.  But then for the next 7 days, nothing happens.  Ok, things happen, and a lot of good people and good things, but if the head doesn’t work, the body don´t have a great chance.  So I hope to inspire and animar these member and leaders and get us HUMMIN!

When I got here I thought it was wonderful, but now I have seen a little deeper and realized that all is NOT well.  I know I can make a difference.

I hope I have not said to much or spoken bad of others.  But I will call a spade a spade.

I love you family and love working here in Argentina.

Then with Hermano Q. he took us to 2 other inactive members and we had 2 wonderful teaching opportunities, and the next day was Sunday, and we had 3, 9 year old miracles show up to church.  Ignacio, Benjamin and Juan Nunez.  All want to be baptized.  I sat next to Juan and he showed me the articles of faith he is memorizing.  They are all such sweet spirits, and all have a parent that is active and strong.  I know that the Lord has blessed me with them, and I thank Him.

Then after church I helped with the choir, and it was fun, both playing piano and singing.  Great youth.  I love them and they love me.  And they discovered I TAP and that it’s cool, so they are constantly nagging me and pleading with me to tap.  So if you could overnight some tap shoes here, that’d be fun.  But no, I’m not here to tap, I’m here to preach.

I think every day I dar cueanta nuevamenta who I am and what I am doing here.  It is truly amazing.

A missionary.

A servant of God.

Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

So cool and it amazes me EVERY DAY!

That Sunday night, a great joven requested to salir con nosotros.  I didn´t really know where to go, felt good about a barrio and went.  And this 16 yr old capo was with us, German.  After rejection at almost 40 doors, I counted, one let us in.  And for some reason after getting nowhere with lesson 3, I pulled out a palabra de sabidrua folleto and what happened was marvelous!  We taught the word or wisdom, which is just what the 25 year old daughter needed.  And then German so wonderfully tied that in with the restoration and taught them that.  Then I introduced the libro de mormon and wow, just a wonderful miracle God gave us.  The daughters name is Antonella and she has potential.  Before going to that barrio, I hoped for and expected a miracle, and it happened.  I love learning and experiencing faith.

But what was really amazing was la conferencia de zona que tuvimos ayer.  That’s why you are getting this on a martes, because we had zone conference for 10 hours yesterday!  But it was so good.  My 6 week mail drought ended and I received from Elder Moon, my hijo, my ipod cord transformer.  So my month music drought has also ended.  But they didn´t give us a sink, so we still wash dishes in the shower. Really no fun.

But zone conference was amazing, inspiring.  I gave a short talk on obedience and afterwards, a sweet elder came up to me and told me I should be a motivational speaker.  That made me feel way good. Presidente Avila was amazing.  An inspired man called of God.  And Hermana Packer, a matrimonio couple in the mission gave a great talk on the word of wisdom, and how us as missionaries really aren´t living the word of wisdom.  We just focus on the don’ts, cause that’s all we teach.  It was great, and I have the goal to improve.

The animo I received form the conference was amazing.  I was just contagious with animo yesterday.  Also, seeing friends was incredible! I realize I have so many friends in the mission.  And I got an amazing carta from Lea Maures.  Words can’t explain.

And all your letters!!  2 packages.  One with shorts and a hoodie thing, and the other with smores.  Thanks so much mom and helpers!!!!!  And a fastbreak, O yeah.  Haven't eaten a thing yet.  But I read some savory letters.  Grammie, thank you.  You write me so much.  I know you love me and I love you too.  And the closest temple right now is in Chile.  It’s an 8ish hour trip for the members by bus, and almost no one has cars.  Ok, some do..  but the Buenas Aries temple is closed. But there might be a temple soon in Mendoza.. cool.  I hope your knee gets better.

And Amy.  Loved the pics of your house.  It looks amazing!  You picked a good one.  I’m talking about Cody.  He’s just a worker!  Hi Chase!

And Grandpa, I loved what you said about that stake conference and visiting less actives.  And also about the family Gross.  Dang!

I realized that my baptismal comments the last couple weeks have been immature.  But I’ve matured.  My comps doing ehhh, por ahi, alright.  He’s just struggling with something and not talking about it.  It’s just that second transfer struggle.  And recently we have not been on the same page and it’s been hard.  I try to help him, serve him, and be his friend, but sometimes it doesn´t work, and occasionally we just end up mad at each other.  Ughh.  But we are working through it, and I am seeing much improvement.  Today started out very good.  He’s struggling and I don´t think he really knows what he’s struggling with. He just is getting fat and eating facturas all the time.  The panaderia abajo does kill me sometimes, but I’m controlling myself.

And before I forget, wow Paola.  Way to go.  Marrying a gringo.  Well you’re pretty much a gringa, so that’s awesome.  I AM SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!  You are so wonderful.  And Chelsea getting married to Fernandez!  I remember I took her on a date once.

O, so still wondering about that drug addict.  Well last night we met this totally normal looking guy outside the pench.  I opened the mouth with him, he’s a haircutter, and my comp needed a hair cut.  So after the open the mouth he gave my comp a hair cut.  I don´t think there is a rule, hmmm maybe there is about other people in the pench.  Ok, there probably is.  But I was not going to fight this one with my companion, but all in all it turned out into a crazy experience, because this guy, Vicor was totally high and smelled like marijuana and other crappy San Juan drugs and had tattoos and the whole deal.  But a totally chill dude.  After 2 minutes I started teaching him the gospel.  I taught him the word of wisdom, the restoration, and about baptism. He was so funny, and it was so cool.  I gave him a Book of Mormon as he left, and put a fecha with him.  Hey! if someone comes in my pench on a lunes por la noche, I’m going to teach and put a fecha!  It was totally cool.  He’s the type that calls God the chabon arriba.  I’m going to call him in a few and see if he’s read.

My comp getting a haircut from the drug addict

Well, it’s been a good week and a long email.  There is no written time limit in the white hand book and neither for this mission.  A lot of people say it’s an hour.  But that’s just what they say and yesterday with President Avila, he talked about emailing and didn´t say a word about a time limit.  I love emailing you all and am so glad I can sit here for an hour and a half and tell you all what is going on and include many detail.

I hope you know there are many teaching experiences and such that I have no time to record.  I try to write some of them in my journal.

Have a great week.  Cool you’re in the mountains.

O yeah, it snowed!!!  We had a white Sunday, but I’m staying warm don´t worry.

Love, Elder Ostler