Tranqueras Uruguay - February 27th 2012

Hey All,

I'm doing well. I'm still living and breathing and nothing is broken so that's great. Right? :) I'm certainly happy and it's certainly an adventure.

Let's see.... Monday was pretty tranquilo (peaceful). We went to go visit an investigator that we'd not been in contact with for almost a month because we could never find them. We got there at 830 am and it's a 20 minute walk home and so we just wanted to set up another day that we could come back and talk to them. Well Justo, her nephew died that morning and I think she was a little surprised to see us, but was okay with us coming back another day so we set up our next appointment. Tuesday, we got up and were very happy to be heading into Rivera. Well turns out Monday and Tuesday are holidays because of carnaval. so the buses don't run. So we got to stay in our area and didn't get any mail this week. Joyful experience really...

That said we've now had 3 lessons with silvana and her family which are the family we found last week. 4 of their 6 children are of baptismal age and the mother and father both listen to us with their family and the last time we went, Hno Suarez's grandson came. Then the next time, the grandson and his brother came and a neighbor came. We taught 11 people the last time we were there and on top of that, the mother, Silvana, has been fighting migranes as of late. We talked to her of the spirit and the priesthood and under the direction of the holy ghost offered a blessing of health. She tells us that every time we come over, her head stops hurting, which I know is not a coincidence. They are such a wonderful family and we are already very attached to them. I hope only the best comes for them in this life and that they can know that what we are teaching them isn't just a good story told by some funny north americans.

The rest of the week was pretty average. We just struggle to find members that are willing to come out and work with us. The Zone Leaders really push that and our branch is shriveling up and dying little by little. Our branch president isn't willing to come out with us to visit menos activos (less actives) and it's really quite frustrating. The stake president told us a couple weeks back that we just have to be patient with the people in our area because the gospel is relatively new. Not only that, but they have their own lives so they're never going to be as focused on the work of salvation as we are. Needless to say, the christ like attribute we selected for this week was charity ;) As such, for the first time in three weeks, we've got them set to do a ward council and come out on divisions with us.

We pray every day that the Lord give us the strength to do his will in this area. I hope I can do what the Lord would have me do and that I'm never so prideful as to impose my will upon this work. Who are we to be so careless as to impede this work through our own short sightedness. We are nothing and we cannot stop this work. We can impede it, slow it and hinder it, but we will never stop it. I pray daily that I can only augment and support this joyful labor. I hope I never lose sight of this.

 We met with guarasilva again this week. She enjoys our lessons but she said that she doesn't really want to commit to any one church because there is only one God and a bajillion churches. Not quite a direct translation but you get the gyst of it. We committed her once more to read and she said she will. She said she'd take it with her to compaña where she works for the next 15 days straight. We'll meet with her when she gets back and see how it goes. We recently met with an old investigator named Cynthia. We like to take members to these lessons. She had her birthday this last week with her daughter and sister in law. She's 18. She really likes to read at night because her husband is only at home on Saturdays and Sundays and so she reads or cleans when her baby girl is sleeping and so she's been reading the Book of Mormon and the folletos (Pamplets). She wasn't able to make it to church this last sunday because her baby is sick and Silvana and her family couldn't make it either because they were sleeping.

Every night this week there were dances that started at about 9 or 10 and ended at about 4 or 5 in the morning. Carnaval kills this place. The streets were so dead everyday until about 7 which is when people are getting up from their extra long siestas because they're extra tired because they've been partying extra. :D

On Sunday's in the branch we usually pass the Sacrament and 2 members of the branch presidency bless it or we mix it up a little with the same people. Elder Velazquez and I were the speakers this last week and the branch presidency speaks as well and sometimes one or two of the members do as well. If we have enough people for the gospel principles class elder V teaches it and I run support. If we don't, we go look for people. There is indeed a primary class and i'm not really sure what they do....i think mostly just color pictures and listen to music. There really aren't enough youth for a program. Walter is 18 but he's the 2nd counselor in the presidency and then there are like 3 young woment so I think they just go to relief society. Elder V says they don't have a YW program.
The work.....is slow. It's hard. It's frustrating. Its sad. But I love every minute of it. We see so much potential in this area but we really don't get the support that we need from the members for it to be effective. Elder V describes it as this. Baptism is the gate, the members are the key. All we can do is bring the investigators to the door. If we don't have the key.... all we're doing is knock knock knockin on heavens door. XD We have progressing investigators but they drop off because it's only the missionaries talking to them, we don't have members that come out with us, and they ususally don't make it to church. That said, we're finding out a lot of good ways not to get this all to work. Each day is a learning experience and Elder V and I learn from each expercience what works and what doesn't.

Acts 7:55-56. Will we testify to the point of sealing our demise? Will we shout the triumphant message until our dark and bitter end? Will we raise our voice with that of all the witnesses of Jesus Christ and testify of his divinity? I pray that we all do. Never question your testimony, never doubt your power as a witness of his work.

Chau,

Elder Andy

Tranqueras Uruguay - February 20th 2012

Hi again from Tranqueras,

We did not get a chance to teach Guarasilva again, but we do have water. It ended up coming on at 7 that night, right when we were leaving.  They were redoing the pipes in the road, but they stopped and took siesta! Curse siesta! I hate it! So frustrating. It kills hours of our work.

Well., my week has been rough. We're still really struggling with the branch and it's heart breaking to watch it slowly die before our eyes. I hope that we can do what the Lord wants us to and possibly resurrect this area. Zone Conference was on Thursday so we bused into Rivera on Wednesday night and stayed with two other elders at their house. It was HOT and they only had  two fans which means no one slept. At 4 am we got up and got ready and were out the door by 5:30 am. On the bus by 6:30 am and two hours later arrived in Tacuarembo.

That night at 4 pm we got back on the bus and arrived in Rivera at 6:30 pm. Ate something, caught the 8 pm  bus and made it home at 9 pm. Planned for the next day and crashed for the first time in 48 hours. Sleep!

This week was ZONE CONFERENCE and you know what that means! Lots of sitting and lots of very spiritual enlightenment. The focus of the zone conference was The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Just saying that it was a special zone conference does not suffice. President Heaton gave a wonderful lesson on the importance of the Book of Mormon in conversion, as described in Preach My Gospel chapter 5. He shared with us the importance of sharing the Book of Mormon in every lesson and making sure that our investigators are actually drinking from its pages and praying to know if it is true. President Heaton then shared a powerful testimony of his love for the Book of Mormon and of its importance to all the world as a testament of Jesus the Christ. We then we taught by the Assistants to the President who taught us how we should go about introducing the Book of Mormon.  . Finally we were taught by our zone leaders on the importance of using members when we are teaching lessons and they encouraged us that we should have mebmers at every single lesson that we teach and that we should really learn to bring members that might be able to relate to our investigators, so now we have some nice challenges to complete.

The strongest phrase I pulled from Zone Conference is The Book of Mormon saves lives as it is studied with real intent. We focused on the Book of Mormon for the duration of the conference. I too testify of the divinity of the Book of Mormon! I love reading from it's pages each day and I feel the spirit of the lord envelope me. It is in this time that I learn so very much, very quickly.

This week we received a tender mercy of the Lord while we were tracting. We clapped the door of a family and two small girls one about 9 and the other about 7 went running to find their mom, who soon after seeing us thought she wanted no more. We talked to her about her family and explained that we werent abnormal beings from another planet just gringos from another country, she laughed and invited us to come back when her husband was home on sunday. We did. They loved the message of the restoration and had a lots of questios for us! We answered to the best of our ablilities and language capabilities and we left them with a book of mormon and a baptismal invitation both of which they accepted =). We are coming back soon with a member family to have another lesson and check up on their commitment to read the book of Mormon

I don't have a whole lot else to share this week. Here's a thought. Numbers 23:19. Don't even consider doubting God. It's just not a good idea. Also, Mark 2:4 and 5. Often times we focus on what the scribes said after this miracle and Christ's rebuke to them. I would focus on verse 4. These men had to lift their sick friend and his litter up a 1 story building. Then, they broke apart the roof, most likely with whatever they could find. I'm sure they didn't wake up that morning with the thought of putting in an inpromptu skylight in someones house so I feel safe in the conjecture that they didn't bring power tools with them. After that, they had to go find rope or cloth and lower their friend and his bed, without mechanical advantage nor assistance, through the large whole they'd just made with their bare hands. That's faith.

I testify of Jesus Christ. He Lives. He gives me strength when so often I falter along the way. Without Him, I am nothing. In His strength, I am all things. We will not falter. We will not fail. Let the dead bury the dead for I have come to save the living. I invite you to Christ. That is my task. The choice to listen is yours. Come to Christ, with each vibrant breath of your lungs. He is the Way. Remember the blood that spilled so long ago. Count the drops that were spilled for you and kneel in your shame. I will be there beside you, kneeling in absolute supplication to God the Almighty. As you pray, remember the Sacrifice of He Who Loves Perfectly. Then, let him take your shame, sorrow, pain and despair. Rise again a new creature in Christ and go forward in faith.

 Until next week,
Elder Andy

Tranqueras Uruguay - February 13th 2012

Hi All,

We went back today and had a great lesson with  Guarasilva Pina Suarez about the restoration. She's very receptive and we think she's genuinely interested. We're going to see if we can get a member over next time or if she can go to a members house for the next lesson. Also, she has a pet deer. I'll try to get a picture sometime.

The most exciting thing that's happened lately is the watermelon festival that was Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Basically it was just a carnival/concert but it started at 8:00 pm each night and ended at 3:30 am.  As a result the town has been especially dead this last weekend. Also, two recent converts have decided to go inactive until the local leadership is changed out. That put church attendance this last week at 9. As for service, we've yet to be able to find any to do. It's not requisite but we're always asking people if we can come help and telling them that we do service for free.... we'll see what happens.

I've really been very tired this week. We taught something around 30 lessons total this last week. Acceptable, but we really had so much fall through which is so frustrating. The branch shrivels a little more each day. After talking with President Heaton and the Stake President, we know we just have to learn to be patient with the souls of this area. We have to learn charity, and fast. If we are charitable, we will be able to help the branch grow and blossom. As servants of the vineyard, that is our responsibility to the master.

We were sitting in the house on friday and planning for the week. Elder, I says. It sounds like there is someone out front. I went and checked and this is what I saw.

 I'm really struggling to think of anything else that happened this week. We've just really been working with the members trying to keep them going and animated. It's very frustrating yet you just feel sad after someone tells you that they're going to stop coming. I love these people so dearly and I just want for them to be happy. During the lesson we had this morning, i taught about half of the lesson. I remember half way through feeling the Holy Ghost so strongly. It swelled within my chest and reconfirmed for me that I really do know that these things are true. I just want people to have that same happiness. It just makes me sad when they close the door, go to a different church after being baptized or tell us that they got offended and are going to wait until the leadership is changed. There is no reason to deny yourself the renewal of your sacred covenants with God the Eternal Father! Let no man stand in your path to salvation! I do not receive my Eternal Reward through a branch president, or my mission president or even the prophet! They are only servants, humans all the same, relaying the will of the Father. Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ and the fact that some would put that at risk because of the actions of another man is truly heart breaking.

Well, I don't have a lot more to say. Like I said. Tranquilo week.  We cannot do this on our own. Look to the skies and remember your infinite and eternal Redeemer. As a member of the 70 who's name i cannot remember quoted president Monson this last conference said, it is better to look up! And it is! Why would you look at the dirt and mud when you can ponder the endless reaches of creation that the Lord so willingly granted us??,

We focus on a living savior. Two words encompass the scope of our message. He lives. We proclaim the salvation that comes from a resurrected Savior. I find great joy in this knowledge. 2 simple words summarize the truths of the eternal gospel. He lives. Because of that, all things are possible. We can be saved and redeemed and live for eternity with all those that we love because of this. It's one of my favorite things to tell people when we speak of the gospel and testify of it's truths. 

Yours Always
Elder Simpson

Tranqueras Uruguay - February 6th 2012

First things first, it's been raining on and off for three days. This would be okay, but it's really humid and it's south american rain...that means there aren't a ton of drops but they're HUGE! Makes for some fun walking. At least it's warm so getting a little wet doesn't suck. It's far too warm for a trench coat so I just rock my umbrella and it's good enough. Yes, there are only about 12 active members. We eath with a recently inactive sister every sunday and sometimes on mondays if we can't think of an excuse fast enough. It's wonderful that she wants to feed us, but she serves really heavy pasta with thin meat sauces and bread and so we come out feeling like we just ate thanksgiving dinner. We usually have to get about two plates down before she's happy with how much we've eaten. Pretty much we eat with the same people every week. We've only had one different person give us food once since I've been here. It's pretty much always the same, guiso of some kind. Basically it's rice, some seasonings, a little meat and maybe some veggies. We got grilled chicken and mashed potatoes this last saturday which was a nice mix up. Today, we bought cereal and had that for lunch with some leftover pizza that we ordered out thursday night. The pizza place knows the missionaries number by heart and exactly where we live. Looks like the North Americans can't ever have too much pizza. Elder V  (Velazquez)  and I think it's kind of expensive so maybe we'll try some of their sandwhiches next time. Vamos a ver. (We shall see).

You don't think I could grow a mustache of that nature if i wanted to?!?! How insulting! Okay yea, elder V's girlfriend sent them in a package. They were also in the same package that had the yo-yos that we totally burned through because we used them that much. We had a lot of fun taking those pictures. He and i have sworn to each other to have as much fun and work as hard as we can while we're together. We're each so grateful to be able to walk the streets of Tranqueras and testify of Jesus Christ with out best friend. I feel like I've know him for years, not just a month. He and I get along really well and have such a good time. At the same time, we shore each other up when the other falters or feels discouragement. I can see the fire of the gospel burning in his eyes each day and I just love working with him and becoming absolutely immersed in the spirit.
 
Our house doesn't smelly like sweaty mold anymore. Granted that's the humidities fault. Now it smells like cinnamon sandal.  Incense is the best.  At least it's not sweaty cinnamon sandal. There's an alliteration for ya. Anyway. We decided to go work an hour before starting P-day today, because we get in some of our best work in the mornings. We went to go contact some of our really good contacts and first lessons because we haven't been able to find two of them which is frustrating. That being said, we couldn't find them again, imagine that, and so we contacted for our fall back plan. It was humid and everyone was shutting us down. Lo and behold, the Lord threw us a bone. We found a new investigator. Her name is Guarasilva and she's not home too much because she works in Compana but we came at the right time. She let us in and then proceeded to tell us about how her nephew had bought a motorcycle against adivsment and crashed it on New Years eve and now he's brain dead. Plan of Salvation anyone? It was a perfect set up and we had a great lesson. We got to know her a little bit, so hopefully she'll be comfortable with us calling and coming over to continue teaching her.

If the Spirit could be placed in a nuclear warhead, we blew it up yesterday. In the dismal deluge of the afternoon, we were illuminated by eternal fire. We left the ground steaming behind us and charbroiled a few malignant spirits. Actually,  we went to visit a sister who had a baby this last week. We walked into the room and got lit up like a few sand ninjas in US marine territory. The spirit was so strong in that room, it was like the hand of God slapped us in the face. As called representatives of Jesus Christ, we will never be able to summon the spiritual power of a pure spirited new born child of our Eternal Father. That spirit was so recently in the heavens and the glory still radiates from the feeble and meager vessle that is a human body. I am truly grateful for childrens. After that, we went and had a lesson with a less active which was pretty normal. Hopefully we can get him to church and comfortable with the ward.

This is where it gets good. We went to a first lesson that a member had sugguested and she was there. We talked for a bit and then started teaching. She was pretty receptive but elder V and I were working so well together, which actually means we weren't doin a thing. The spirit was calling all of the shots. Then the investigator said all the other missionaries had hammered baptism. This is the part where I told her I was not there to dunk her. I had struggled with that same idea in the CCM (MTC). I only came to invite people to come to Jesus Christ and to feel and know of his love, but that in order for that to happen, we have to enter the waters of baptism. We cannot come closer to our Savior but through the waters of baptism. I told her that the primary purpose of our visit on that day was to invite her to talk to God, read of his word and see if it was true. I love  teaching.

The spanish goes great when I'm with investigators. Outside of lessons, I'm still a gringo. After this, we had a South American rain storm as we went to go see a recently inactive couple. We talked with the husband for a bit and then he said he had a question about something he'd found in the book of revelations. Uh-oh. Bad sign. I can't tell you how many times i've had scriptures from revelations thrown at us saying we're false. Turns out he just thought it was cool and wanted to share it with us. Phew. Then we really got to the heart of it. Like so many others, he too has a problem with the branch president. I guess a lot of bad things went down a few months back and this area tanked. We have to fight against that, plus we have to try and bring others unto to the fold. Makes for interesting work. We constantly pray for this area and for what we can do. The answer: Keep following the Holy Ghost and working with our very best efforts. And so it is.

A couple days back I decided to conduct a study on meekness, the least defined attribute of this gospel. Walk with me in the pages of Moroni 7. Verses 43 and 44 if you wouldn't mind. Looks like we can't have faith or hope without meekness. But what is it? The topic guide sugguests we research contrite heart, humility, poor in spirit, and teachable. That's a good start. Let's dig deeper. Moroni 8:26. Meekness comes with the remission of sins. In the very moment of forgiveness, that feeling, that's the feeling of meekness. We have to be meek for the Holy Ghost to descend upon us and bring the healing power of the Atonement to our heart and soul. Deeper still. D&C 84:106 The strong in spirit must impart of their strength to the weak. By doing so, we will recieve a little something called charity. Oooooo, let's bounce back to Moroni 7. Verses 32-48 detail a reverse engineered recipe for faith and hope, attributes we as members of the church like to focus on. Yet, beneath faith and hope lies meekness. Further on the road, there lies the origin, charity. So, in my half formed opinion, meekness is that feeling between sorrow and joy in the repentance process. It's what allows us to recieve pardon. It is demonstrated by the humble and faithful servant. What was that? What about charity? Glad you asked. We can have NONE of that, without charity. Take a look at Moroni 7:35-37. Take that, rip your chest open, grab your scapel, cut your heart wide like a smile, and gently ever so gently, place those verses in there. Not the raw material though! You have to analyze it first. Observe it, absorbe it, poke it prod it question it. Ponder on it. Talk to God about it. Talk you yourself about it. Live it, learn it, be it. Then you can have it in your heart. When you do this, then maybe, just maybe, you can  have meekness. And maybe, sometime during the eternities, you can become that faithful and hope filled servant. I know it will take me that long to get there.

Well, that's all i've got for now. Except for this awesome scripture about rock climbing that elder v showed me that he got from a talk that richard g scott gave in Nov 2006 (Conference issue ensign, but you already knew that.) entitled "The Atonement Can Secure Your Peace & Happiness." I strongly recommend the talk to anyone that loves to climb. The scripture is Moses 7:53. Climb on.

This is a war, the casualties are real. As medics and front line fighters, it may not be blood that spots our hands and faces, but the work is just as grisly. It may not be bullets that fly past our heads but the firey darts of the adversary are just as deadly. It may not be litteral screaming that fills the air, but I can hear it. I see the fear and the pain in their eyes. We try to make it to some before it's too late. We miss others, because we're human and we can't do this all on our own. But we know how the war will end. The word of the Lord will roll forth and cover the face of the land, and in robes of scarlet The Magnificent Creator will come once again. The world will burn with the rain of fire, but the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ has the power to save all of mankind. Never forget Him. He will never forget you.  Time to grab my rifle, my medical bag and head back into the trenches. Pray always, that you may come off conqueror. I know I do. Pray for sunrise, because we are the harbringers of fate. The end is coming. Let's face it with God at our back.

Elder Simpson