Week 23 - March 22, 2014

Sat Mar 15. Today was great. super relaxed. We woke up and took Elder Mandujano and Elder Bossa to President so they could drive up to Artigas and then Rivera. We had personal study, and then Elder Woods fell asleep again and didnt get out of bed until after comp study so I studied with E Averett and E Lamb. We went to plaza independencia and then a souveneir store. We drove to the mall to eat Burger King. It was really suprisingly good. We emailed and then lounged for a while. At about 4 Elder Burton, who served here a while ago, came to the offices with his parents. We took them on a bit of a tour of the area and our apartment, and then they took us out for pizza! It was AMAZING pizza! Then we came home and we had our weekly planning!

Sun MAr 16. Today was pretty good. We went to church early to have a meeting with bishop. It went well. After the meeting, we made baptisimal invitations and went to church. I was super depressed because Joaquin and the Priggionis showed up without Ursula. The 2nd hour, I asked Joaquin where Ursula was, but he told me she was at church! A couple seconds later, she came down the stairs. I felt like it was homecoming or prom as the girl was walking down the stairs and then we sang HALLELUJAH! That means we will have a baptism Saturday! Church was alright after that with two very long talks. WE had lunch with Hermana Da Silva. The food was pretty good but she is a bit health crazy so it was all organic and what not. We gave her a blessing after lunch because she asked us. We had language study and then companionship inventory after that. Luckily, we arent clashing TOO much so it wasnt bad ;) Then we went to the mission home to take Audrey to the airport. We sat and talked for a while and then went to the airport with Audrey, Starla, Jerry, and Hermana Smith. On the way, they told us about Elder Arbon being the next AP in place of Elder Gesch. I am pumped to meet him! The airport went well! No problems at all and the Smiths are fun to be around! We went to the offices after that and finished baptisimal records. After we went home, we got invited to go eat with the Binghams, so we happily did!

Mon Mar 17. I did numbers today and it was the best so far! We went to 3Cruces and gave the oros their passports to sign residency. We grabbed lunch at Subway. We went to pick up plaques and then we had to go back to 3C to buy tickets. After hanging out and helping the APs, Elder Arbon and Elder Bossa, we had our comp study. Our lesson with Ursula was about the Law of Chastity. It went very well. We brough Joaquin and her YW president, FLorencia. Then we asked ursula who she wanted to have baptize her! After a couple minutes of thinking and asking, she decided Joaquin! I was super excited about it!!! As much as I would love to do it, I think it is better to have a member do it! Then we had the bolsa run after the lesson. It went very smooth and quick. We then had to take a missionary to Carrasco so we got home late once again.

Tues Mar 18. Today was slow. We had normal studies, then the tower Antel with the financers. We took the APs to their area, and then had lunch. It was a GREAT meal with Hermano Cancela. He cooks really really well. Then we had the district meeting. After the meeting, I did baptisimal records until mutual. We played soccer and volleyball at mutual and it was super fun!

Wed Mar 19. Today was AMAZINGGGG. We had studies, and I have decided to try STRICTLY spanish studies now. Its hard but I am learning a lot! After the studies, we went to Presidents house for a change meeting. At first we had a song and prayer, then President told us we were going to have a 10 min spiritual chat about what we learned from Zone Conferences. It  was an amazing conversation. President said it was one of the most spiritual conversations he has ever been in. It ended up being two hours. A lot of our thoughts were about the Plan of Salvation, repentance, and being better. It really was a GREAT GREAT talk. It ended up about 2 hours instead of 10 minutes. After that, we had taco salad and soup for lunch. It was amazing. We had a huge about of food. Then President asked us to come eat ice cream and sit down in the family room. We talked, laughed, and told jokes for a good hour. I loved it and I wont forget that experience in the mission home today. All of us had a powerful chat, good uplifting correction and evaluations, and then all shared funny stories with President. President Smith is a great guy. I learn a lot from him and really admire him and how he thinks. After that, we ran to the church offices, and then went to our lesson with Ursula. She took out all her ear piercings yesterday. We just went over the baptisimal interview questions and touched a couple points that we could improve. After that, I did registros, went to disco, then bed!

Thur Mar 20. Today was pretty great. WE had our own personal studies. I read PME the whole time and it was great. Then we went to the offices to load the CVC stuff for the Hatch couple. After that, Elder Averett and I embarked on our adventure through montevideo together. Neither of us have driven a lot so it was a good learning experience. We did well though. We bought tickets at 3C, went to the bank, got bolsas. Then I waited for changes and worked on registros, new missionary papers, and organized the mail room all day. We had a great lesson with Ursula about enduring to the end. She even cried, for the first time. Then we went to pass around baptisimal invitations to a lot of people. We stopped to talk to Julie, who speaks fluent english. It was really weird to talk to a Uruguayan in English but it was really cool. She lived in South Carolina for 7 years. After talking to her, we went to the Melo and Cal houses and asked them to come to the baptism. We still dont have changes!

Friday Mar 21. Today we got changes! We had studies, then got packages from the aduana and correo Uruguayo. After that, we checked out the changes. We had lunch with a less active family. They gave us chorizo sandwiches. We worked on changes until 7 when we had correlation. We had our baptisimal interview for Ursula. E Moffatt, our District Leader, said she is super prepared and will be a GREAT convert. I really do feel like she is super prepared and ready! We did more changes after that, and went home!  

Week 22 - March 15, 2014

Baptism back in Florencia Sanchez

Wed Mar 5.  Today started off with the normal studies. We had no car and I had nothing to do in the offices until the financers got back after lunch. We ate a fiant torta for lunch. I drove to Carrasco after that. WE dropped off the Mercedes bolsa, and then helped with groceries in the mission home. Hermana Smith gave us some awesome ice cream too. Then I drove to 3 Cruces and got the bolsas. WE got our jerseys too!!! Tghen we headed back to the offices finished preparing the lesson for Ursula, and headed to her house. WE taught prayer and Reading the scriptures as a commandment. It went pretty well. Ursula really wants to get baptized! We visited hermana Pricionni and her sister, who E Woods knew in Artigas.

Thur Mar 6 Today was pretty normal. We had our studies, and then worked in the offices for a while. Then we drove to get plaques, bolsas, and tickets. I did the end of the registros for the deadline tomorrow. Then we came home to do our weekly planning. We made a cake during planning and it was super good!

Friday Mar 7. Today we headed to 3 Cruces to get tickets right after studies. We came back, had lunch with the bishop that went really well. We ate milanesas. Then I prepared a bunch of things that E Lamb and I took to Carrasco. Colonia was having their zone conference, and so I got to say hi to a couple buddies from Colonia. After our trip to Carrasco, I had to do a couple things that Hermana Smith wanted. Then we had the party for Quique who is leaving on his mission next week.

Sat Mar 8. Today we got up at 6 to play soccer. We played with Elders Lamb, Averett, Bossa, Getschwander, Chalí, Huarsaya, Ballif, and Goncalves. It was super fun but we played on like dirt and rocks so my legs were torn apart and we were covered in dirt. After soccer, we cleaned up and had the studies. I finished the Doctrine and Covenants and read about Joseph Smith. WE got stuck about home without a car for the 2nd P-day in a row because Gesch is dying and he thinks he should have our car. We went to Marys house to have a lunch for Elder Lambs birthday, which is Monday. WE had pastel de Carne. Its basically sheperds pie. It was super good. We did email and hung out in the offices until we had to go work. WEhad a lesson with ursula about the 10 commandments and a focus on the sabbath day. We got lost in Prado which is the rich part of our area. Then we came home, had to go pick up the APs, then we picked up a corto plazo and Elder Mandujano from 3 cruces and took the corto plazo home. Elder Mandujano came down from Rivera and will be staying with us a while until he has a doctors appointment next Wednesday. He is from Peru. Super cool guy. We got home around 12.

Sun Mar 9. Today was a GREAT day at church. We had the last Sunday of Quique. He gave his farewell talk and it was awesome. He had a great testimony. We had lunch with an hermana who I had never met before. WE spent most of the day in the offices because we are momentarily in a trio with Elder Mandujano. They think he has kidney stones, but he has to wait for his appointment to be sure. He cant walk fast or a lot. We went and gave a blessing to this Little kid and then we contacted this jewish man, who was sweeping his front sidewalk. He was super smart and he invited us to talk. He basically talked to us the whole time about DEEP doctrine about like definitions about the Old Testament. Then we had dinner with the Binghams.

Mon Mar 10. Today was the usual crazy Monday. We had normal studies, then we went to the offices so I could do the numbers. I did it well and quick but I had to wait AGAIN for the Oeste ZLs until 1:45 for the numbers. We made lunch and sent the numbers. Then we went to Carrasco to get some signatures and turn some things into the mail. President Smith talked alone with E Woods for about 20 min while Elder Mandujano toured the mission home. Apparently E Woods might end his mission early because of the leg problem he has. WE are probably going to move areas next change too. WE worked on the 24 months list of all the converts after that. Then we had FHE which was awesome. The message was about being a good example and then we had pizza. Then we had the bolsa run, and birthday part with the APs and Binghams for Elder Lamb. We ended up in bed around 11:30.

Tues Mar 11. Today was great. wE didnt get to work at all but it ended amazing. We had our studies, then I worked on the 24 months list until lunch. I ordered 2 hamburguesas completas. WE had our district meeting and Elder Woods and I were chosen to do a practice of thithing and fast offerings. It went alright but I was just greatful to hear feedback from the missionaries. I decided to fix all the blank number sheets, or make more formulas that would make my life easier. Later, we had mutual and we played futbol. Then we had Quiques setting apart as a missionary. It was awesome. There were a ton of people there. He hugged all the girls that came for the last time and then he had the last hug with his girlfriend. It was a precious moment actually. The whole night was super trunky. A lot of people crying. I cried too. It was really cool to think back about my setting apart.

Wed Mar 12. Today was pretty great! We had our studies. I ready Joseph Smith History. Hermana Sandy Natcher from the temple offices came and taught u show to make people legal in the country. Then we ordered lunch. We worked in the offices until our lesson at 4:30 with Ursula. Her dad finally got here. We had a great talk about prophets and ended up turning that into our lesson with the Word of Wisdom. Then we went to Carrasco to drop the bolsa off for Salto.  Then we stopped by the mission home to drop stuff off. We talked with Starla, Audrey and Hermana Smith. Audrey gave me some chocolate cake and it was AMAZING. Then we came back to our house to pack for tomorrow and then drove to the hotel at the temple grounds for our zone conference tomorrow. We got to bed around 1. THE GREAT PART OF THE DAY.... Ursula has a baptisimal date! This March 22 she will get baptized... As long as you help me out with your faith and prayers!

Thursday Mar 13. Today we woke up after getting to the hotel at 12:30. We got ready and headed to the chapel at 8. Sister Smith and then President taught us some pretty mind blowing things about the plan of salvation. At 11:00 we went to the temple!!! I LOVED IT. It was my first time to do a session in Spanish. I was glad too because I could actually understand and speak well! I also loved that we filled the session with missionaries and we had to bring other seats in. After the temple, we wrote in our journals, and then went to lunch. We did a practice after lunch with President and the Assistants. It lasted 4 hours because we would all get to practice too. Then the APs gave a presentation about planning. We drove home at 9 and then the Binghams invited us over to eat!

Fri Mar 14. Today was crazy. I got ready after excercises and then the APs called askimng if three of us could go do splits with them. Elder Mandujano and Elder Bossa went to get a drivers licence for elder bossa. Elder Gesch, Lamb and I went to the mission home to drop off Elder Gesch, who is headed back after over 2 years and two weeks! We had nothing to do so we washed all the dishes, which took us about an hour and a half. Then I played the AWESOME piano in the mission home until we got permission to go back to the offices. We worked in the offices for a Little bit before we turned around to go to lunch at the mission home. It was crazy because we only had about 45 min to eat. We had enchiladas. I kept thinking the whole time about my manners. I kept thinking about how my dearest mother always told me to have the best manners possible if I ever got toe at with the President. I think we either assumed or said it was the President of the United States, but in this case... I WAS eating right next to the President! That was scary enough... However it was a GREAT lunch with great food. The tense mood softened up when Audrey accidently poured Ranch dressing on my shirt trying to help Elder Lamb put ranch on his salad. The Smiths left with Elder Gesch to the airport. We ran to the other offices of the other mission to take some Passports that we had received. After we got back and the Smiths got back, we talked and hung out for a while. We got back to the offices and practiced for our lesson with Ursula. Our actual lesson was AWESOME. We invited bishop so he was good to have there too. It was probably our smoothest lesson and I felt like I was guided to say what our investigator needed to know! It was super awesome! Then after the lesson, Ursula threw us a curve ball telling us that she had cut herself. We talked to her for a bit but her parents were really upset so we tried to get out of there pretty quickly before we endured the wrath of Brazilian mothers. We got the bolsas after that and organized them. Then we picked up a sister who will serve as a corto plazo in Tacuarembó for 2 weeks. We took her to 3 cruces and waited with her until her bus left at 12. Some how I am still not that tired though!!!!

Missionaries are still BOYS

Week 20/21 - March 8, 2014

Sat 22

Today we started the morning out with service. First with the Hatch couple and then we went into an abandoned house and cleaned it out and shoveled a ton of dirt.  Then we went to Presidents house and talked with his family for a while. Then we played basketball over on the court by the temple and chapel. We grabbed a quick lunch on the way back. We emailed and hung out in the offices afterwards. Then Elder Woods and I went to Tres Cruces and bought a bunch of tickets. Then we had a 30 min walk to the far corner of our area. We just had short talks 2with Gustavo and Yosua`s dad.   It was a fun pday and hopefully we can get a lot more work done this week!

 

Sun Feb 23. Today was a good day at church. I was asked to share my testimony as a new missionary in the Ward.  I was also asked to participate in a priesthood blessing for our Ward mission leader. We sang Called to Serve for the relief society. It was super powerfully strong. After church, we had lunch and weekly planning all day. Then we visited Mary and the PErugorria family. They were good fun visits!

 

Mon Feb 24. Today we woke up early and drove to buy tickets because we didnt want to break the sabbath but we had a couple tickets we had to buy before 7:00. Then we came back to the house, studied, and got ready. WE spent most of the day in the offices. I did all the numbers and baptisms for the week. Then we were left with all the bolsa stuff. We had FHE with the Cancela family. We had our bolsa run and Milkshake Monday. WE got home about 11:30.. The fun and exciting parts of my day were driving to and from 3 Cruces, buying tickets, and Elder Geschwantder almost killed someone on a moto because he just decided to do donuts in the middle of the street.

 

Tues Feb 25. Today we had a zone capacitación. We had a suprise phone call at the airport informing us of 3 brazilian missionaries who had come to serve in our mission. The only records we had of them were for them to come a month later, which obviously didnt happen. So we made a couple phone calls and got it all figured out. After the zone conference I did change cards and oro cards until 9 when we had to go get groceries. I also ordered my awesome leather bound scripture cases today!

 

Wed. Feb 26. Today we had a great lesson with Ursula. WE had our normal studies in the morning and we worked in the offices with a lunch break of rice with hot dogs and eggs. I did more change cards today and prep for the new missionaries that just came in.. WE asked hermana Pricioni to come to our lesson with ursula. She is a great member who knows a lot about the góspel. She also speaks fluent portuguese, which helped Ursulas mom,  who speaks just Portuguese. Ursula and her mom loved hermana Pricioni and I hope it sparks something so she will go to church. After our first half of the Plan of Salvation lesson, we gave Ursula a blessing becuase she didnt feel good. It was super cool and I feel like I am finally getting pretty good at them in Spanish! Then for mutual with the YM, we played chair soccer.

Thur Feb 27. Today was pretty crazy. WE started out with studies, ran to get our Money for this month, and then went to the Aduana to get packages. Then we went to Carrasco. We ate sloppy joes for lunch, took packages to president, took a phone list to Presidents wife, talked to the APs, set up a powerpoint presentation, talked to missionaries from Rivera, bought stuff from the Distribution Center, gave Money to Elder Arbon to buy us soccer jerseys in Rivera, and got signatures from President. When we got back from Carrasco, we had a lesson with Ursula that went pretty well. We passed by Fernando and Hermana Quartino. Pretty chaotic today, but tomorrow should be better!

Fri Feb 28. Today I started out my day running with E Lamb. We got attacked by a bunch of dogs and I accidently (90% accidently) kicked a dog into a wall. We only ran for about 20 minutes but I almost died. I had a great personal study about the second coming in DyC 77. After, we had biscocho viernes, retrieved the bolsas, and then we had to go downtown to order plaques. Then when we were finally going to start office work, we got a call to help bring some missionaries from Cerro back to their area early for an activity all the way from Carrasco. That took us until about 7 and then we had coorelation with our Ward mission leader.

Sat Mar 1. Today we got up early and played soccer with a bunch of other elders. Then we printed emails, and took the APs to an appointment. We got los ton the way home and drove the wrong way almost to Delta Tigre. We got our hair cut and I got mine super short. Then we went back to the offices, emailed, ordered lunch, and played basketball. Then we came home to change before we went to work. WE went to the rich part of the area but nothing happened. We taught Ursula with Hermana Pricioni and her daughter, Nicole. It was a great lesson but pretty long. It was probably the best lesson we have had with her. She is becoming friends with Nicole so we are hoping that will help her!

Sun Mar 2. Today was great. Ursula ended up spending the night with the Pricionis last night, and then came to church with them. WE had a great fast and testimony meeting and I got to play the piano for the first time in this Ward . We had lunch with the family Maio. He was the bishop not long ago. He and his wife were both super nice. We ate rice with hot dogs. After that, we visited the Ruiz family. We hung there for a while and then we had a planning session. We visited hermana Cortino because she didnt come to church. We went to the Cal house afterwards. They have two boys, Michael (18) and Kelvin (20). They played the guitar together and sang. It was super fun and really really cool. We sang a couple songs too. We shared a scripture and spiritual thought with them before we left. We had dinner with the couple missionaries, the Binghams too.

Mon Mar 3. Today was a great day for being Monday. Mondays are crazy in the offices. I spent the morning doing the numbers and the afternoon I was doing the ZLKI sheets and preparing the bolsas. WE went to Ursulas house lated and asked what she thought about church. She said she loved it and was impressed by how invited and welcomed she felt. We had a really good time with her until her mom busted in and started DROPPING CANE on her. Then we went to the Perugorria home and I got destroyed in ping pong by a bunch of teenagers, and my companion. We came to FHE late and we just had time toe at the snacks... darn. We had the bolsa run and milshake Monday and we got home at 10:45! RECORD!

Tues Mar 4. Today I was doing the ZLKI almost all day. I was adding new formulas and starting a March spreadsheet. I was trying to make my life easier with adding new formulas, but it took a lot of time trying to figure it out. I am loving how much I am learning about Excel though! We had a district meeting in ENGLISH. We have 8 missionaries in our district and 6 of them are gringos. The 2 latinos werent there so we decided to do the meeting in English. It was super weird but super fun. Our opening hymn was God Bless America. I worked on the ZLKI still until we had mutual, which ended up getting cancelled.