Cardona Uruguay - Aug 28th 2012

Hi all,

What did i do all week?  I would actually submit that this has been a relatively slow week for me. It's been a good one though so I guess that's okay.  I made shepherd pie one day. I'm getting really good at making pancakes really fast and really big :) More than that really was us running around between the owner and the lawyer of the house that the missionary couple is going to rent. We've been doing a ton for the branch this week too, but the majority of that was for the activity on Thursday. Since then it's just been contract stuff and getting keys and checking the house and cross checking prices for furnishings. Now, today, I'm going to talk to the Crawfords again about the furniture prices, how we want to buy them and so and so forth. Makes me feel old. The new branch president Ruiz Dias and his wife get here this Friday, which would be fine but I'm going to be out of town all this afternoon and almost all of tomorrow so we need to get a lot of it done today.  The new Branch President is going to help the area so very much. With them living here in town, we can resolve problems as they arise and not have to call back and forth to get things moving. It will certainly bring a fluidity and a speed to the process of events here that has been lacking. 

I think that the activity on Thursday was a success. We had like 20 people there which isn't too bad in an area as small as this for the first activity in like 3 months. We gotta start small right? We played a scripture search game where the rooms in the church had different city names with papers with scriptures hidden in them. They had to find the paper, find the reference and then go to the city that the verse had in it. It went pretty well. Then we played ping pong and had cake and hot chocolate. They members had a lot of fun and it's what the are needs to see. A good time but the spirit as well.
 

My birthday was....ok. We ate lunch with a member family (which is not common here by any stretch of the imagination.) which was fun. Other than that, it was just another work day. The Crawfords sent me a milk chocolate bar in the mission mail system which was super fun and then elder Velazquez called me in the morning and President called me that night. Yea, 2 missed calls from the mission home and I about had a heart attack when I saw that on the cell phone. WHAT ON EARTH COULD I HAVE POSSIBLY DONE?!?!?! They just wanted to wish me a  happy birthday. That's a lot better than being told you're in trouble, though I couldn't imagine what they would get mad at me for...

Birthday lunch with a member family

The guy who dresses up like Michael Jackson does it all with make up and clothes and a wig. That's it. It's really impressive. It takes him like 30 minutes to do it all. He does his own make up and everything. Really funny guy. I saw him on a talk show the other day in a store. My comp couldn't believe that I'd met him. Pretty awesome right?

Today on the bike ride to our first appointment I pleaded with the Lord the entire way to help me consecrate my life. We got there and I saw my reflection in the door. Right then, the Lord poured His spirit into my heart. I finally saw a missionary in the mirror. It wasn't just me posing as one and llevando (wearing) a nametag. I finally saw a missionary looking back at me. He looks back at me everyday from the mirror now. I don't know what the change was, but the Lord wrought something in my heart. The next morning I mentioned it to Elder Velazquez in his call and he sent me this scripture which taught me even more.

I know I've not said too much about Elder Xavier. He and I get along fairly well. We've had a couple intense discussions, but the spirit was always present. There are a couple minor things that he does that bug me, but none of it really matters. Basically, we get along fine. We have our differences but that really doesn't impede our desire to work the will of the Lord. We've had fun and we laugh and joke and talk. I guess I haven't written because it's all okay. :) That's good too right? Being senior comp seems normal now. The responsibility is mine, the stress is mine, the accountability is mine, but so is the title, the calling, the mantle, the power, the guidance and the comfort. With each new responsibility and challenge that the Lord gives, He always gives a greater portion of blessings and support.

The Crawfords have been a huge help to me. They are always calling and checking and helped me a lot to assume this interesting position. I'm really grateful that they've been here to watch out for me and help me to do what needs to be done. I absolutely learned a list of things as Junior that I'm rectifying, improving or changing as Senior companion, but that's how it should be. Observe, internalize, analyze, prioritize and execute...ize.....  Also, our most promising investigator who has been refusing a baptismal date, finally accepted one. We'll see what happens. It was going to be this Saturday, but with changes, we're losing a ton of our prep time for him so we might push it back one week. We'll see. 

With the Crawfords and Jaun Escobedo, the secretary of the branch

As for changes, Elder Xavier is going to Montevideo, the zone I just got out of and Elder Rosete from mexico will by my new companion. In mission jargon, he's my lil brother. Elder Velazquez trained him in Salto and now he's coming to hang out with his big brother. Look at me go. :) I'm really stoked for this change. 

A super awesome scripture that I found the other day is in 2 corinthians 12,9 and 10.  

 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 The Lord has a lot of challenges for me, and my healthiest and most promising area was the very very first one that I've had. Since then it's been rough and tumble for the past 10 months. But I revel in my weakness for the Lord will make me a conquerer. I am here to love the hell out of the people. Literally. Like love them so much the hell leaves.  Our zone leader told us that the other day. I figured you'd get a kick out of it. 

Elder Ender

Bringing you salvation on the tip of a sword

Cardona Uruguay - Aug 20th 2012

Hey All,





In all honesty, I'm tired, and sick of the rain, and humidity. But happy and a little frustrated with the numbers in this area. Seriously rainy days KILL the work out here. It's okay though, I've been laughing lots and thinking a lot and studying hard and I'm not discouraged. The Lord will provide. We're seeing miracles and that's what's important. I still cannot believe the amount that the Lord is teaching me. This week I'm going to have a housing contract revised and signed by the owner so that the missionary couple can move up here, I'm buying more supplies for the branch and calling the PFR about some stuff and also we're in charge of planning and executing the activity on thursday that we came up with. Did I mention that I feel a little overwhelmed at times? That's okay, this is Gods work, not mine.

I taught seminary for the first time in my life on Saturday. The Crawfords couldn't make it up on Saturday so they asked me on Tuesday to cover for them. I did. It was about genesis 24-37 and the covenants between the Lord and the people. I really enjoyed studying the lesson and I learned a LOT, even when I was teaching it. Maybe I'll be a seminary teacher when I get home.....,na..

I went over to Elder Merrill's place today in celebration of my birthday and his belated one.  We made a pizzookie and bought ice cream too.   Like I said in my last email, I'm just trying to find ways in which I can consecrate my life unto the Lord. There is no other way to live. I don't remember if I sent this talk, but consecrate thy performance has been a huge help as has The fourth missionary. (I don't remember who wrote that one but I'm really trying to become a disciple of Christ and STAY that way.)

Ice Cream and Pizzookie

Elder Merrill and Elder Simpson

.
We taught Luis out of his house this week once. It was a good lesson but he still won't commit to a date, so we're trying to find his doubt. He wasn't home for our lesson on Saturday and they didn't show up to church. At the end of the block the dad  came racing in and told us that the police had his son in a town that was about an hour away.  He was just supposed to be at a friends house for the night. They snuck off to a dance two towns over, and were camping on the side of the freeway when the cops found them. So then the dad raced off. The Crawfords called me that night. They found dad on the route hitch hiking. They picked him up, drove him to the town and then found the son, drove them to the bus station and paid for bus fare. Miracles of the Lords hand, just another day in my life. In all honesty, none of this story surprises me or shocks me. Welcome to the 'guay. We're really just beating the books and brush trying to find people. The Aldacour family is failing miserably on their reading which is heart breaking because they're killing their progress! We have to find their doubt and strangle it.

Zone conference was good. (think the Lord's comments in relation to the creation of ALL existence.) We learned about the nature of God. The world knows John 17.3. But do they KNOW God? No. That's why I'm here. How can people have a personal experience with and receive a testimony from a being that they do not know? They can't. I must help the world come to know God.
 
Elder Simpson

Cardona Uruguay - Aug 13th 2012

Hi All,

In relation to sacrament meeting, we bless the sacrament everytime and the executive secretary that comes in every weekend passes it. We combine priesthood and relief society every week and he teaches one week and then the relief socitey president teaches the next. I'm currently reading the Church Administration Manuals 1 and 2 to find out how we do things around here. Attendance is always shifting which is actually good. It means we're getting people moving and that we've had a spread of about 35 different members pass through the church in the last couple of weeks. Now if we could just get them all active.... We've not yet had any family night nor a branch activity but we're working on it. The branch needs it. Really some days I just feel like I'm holding down the fort until we can get that missionary couple up here full time. That's gonna be great.


I learn so much about how the church operates and the things that are done to ensure that God's house is maintained in order. It's pretty impressive I must admit. You know what they say. This must be God's church because if it wasn't the missionaries would have destroyed it a LONG time ago.  We do take the ward tithing money and deposited it in the local bank as one of our duties

 Money in this zone is tight because the prices are high and we travel a lot, but the Lord is providing a way and I've yet to go hungry at all or run out of money so I'd say that I'm doing okay. The winter weather has been....pathetic. We really aren't having any. This last week has been warm, humid and sunny and cloudy. The first half of the week was humid and cloudy and a little bit sunny with a tiny bit of rain here and there. Then, it poured all night Saturday night and was a little chilly Sunday morning and then for the rest of the day yesterday and today we've had nothing but sun and it's been relatively cool but not cold at all. Looks like we're rolling into spring. This is probably the warmest, most pathetic winter I have passed through. I have no complaints.

Alright so the pictures you're going to see are current living conditions in my house. Don't worry. It's really not that bad. I'm going to send you a couple of the same room and it'll show you what I've been doing with my time on p'days. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside to look back on the before photos and the after photos. Also, the red mattress on the right was what i slept on for the first 2 weeks of this change. It didn't do much for me. Rather like I was just sleeping on the bed frame. The new mattress is divine. 

Before

after

Things with the Arruè family are interesting. Luis, the 15 year old is currently the only one with any real interest and we're trying to work with him the best we can. The father tends to impede the teaching with an overbearing desire to control everything. Tonight, we're going to see if we can start having our lessons with other members, outside of his home and away from his father. That should speed things along nicely and give him time to do some thinking of his own, on his own time. I just hope we can convince his dad that this is what's best. Here's to following the Spirit! I thought of Ammon this morning when we were planning it, but i really don't think that smiting his fathers arm so that he can't use it will work in this case.... I'm gonna give it a shot anyways! Okay maybe not.

We haven't been able to find Marcelo nor Tito since our first visit with them which is always frustrating. We're gonna get em, don't you worry. It just takes persistence and a knack at tracking.

our study area

Sister Crawford brought chili yesterday and it was scrumdidlyumptious. (Say that 10 times fast and then spell it right!) Granted, it was nothing like grandmothers chili and it was really rather much like stew because we were eating with the missionary couple from Cerro and they eat everything here absolutely bland. Even then they said it was a bit spicy.... I just can't wait to sit down at a Chinese restaurant and cry myself into nirvana as I eat spicy Asain food. But it reminded me of grandmothers chili and it's actually on a list of things I want to realize when I get home.

Update on Flia. Aldacour (the family of daughters that are inactive.) We met with them last night because they didn't come to church. Turns out they haven't been reading again. SO, we're sending them reminders and assignments every night via text so that they'll buckle down and do it. I don't know why people neglect this part of the gospel! Absolutely everything that we preach and discuss weighs upon the Book of Mormon. If you neglect it, the whole darn thing falls! I love the Book of Mormon. I'm currently in the middle of an in depth study of Jacob  5. I started on the second of this month. The Book of Mormon is true and there is no other book like it on the planet. It cannot be of man for I have read the works of some of the greatest literary minds of humanity and the Book of Mormon surpasses them on all accounts. Disregarding logic and proof, it's what I feel that tells me that it is true. It will always be what we feel that makes the difference.

Elder Ender

Cardona Uruguay - Aug 6th 2012

Hi Everyone,

This week has been trying, but what are a few trials in the life of a servant of God?  Right?

On p-days I love to write letters to my mission buddies and members and menos activos (less actives) and converts of mine that I can send through the mission mail system. I love cleaning, especially in this house, because there are projects I can undertake and I'm finding all kinds of useful things and I feel all accomplished after I finish. It's great. I also wash and mend clothes and I love reading and working on some writing projects that I've undertaken during my time in this nation. Basically productive things that I never would have dreamt of doing before the mission. Today I deposited tithing money, paid the rent, bought a new mattress for me, (pictures next week.) and went out to eat at a nifty little restaurant called "Up the stairs", (almost like being in the states again. It was great. The food was so-so...great for the mission though ) and did WORK in our work-out room. Really it's the spare room we have but I've been cleaning the snot out of it today (not literally that would just be gross....)

Alright, so winter here is a lot more mild than in Montevideo  and in the states. I really feel like I'm in spring. It's been raining for the past couple of days so it's been nippy but really not that cold at all. It was certainly colder in Montevideo because of the ocean effects.

Yes, elder Xavier and I balance each other really well. Everyone says so and we agree so it works nicely. And almost this entire zone has bikes. The areas are pretty big and spread out so we all bike around. In actuality, I think ours is the only area that uses bikes. Granted they're already pretty hammered because the other missionaries have NOT taken care of them which is obnoxious. I had to replace one of the tubes already and the brakes are nearly shot. If I have any more problems, we may just give up on them and store them in the house because I don't have the money to put into them. It would suck though because I love being able to get across town in 5 minutes instead of a half hour. I even ride around in my trench coat (it was rainy for a couple of days) I felt so british.

The work is going. The branch is going. We're actually doing pretty well. The attendance these last 3 weeks are some of the highest in a while and we're sitting around a solid 20 to 25 members each time. It's great to see things getting better. It was actually what I fasted about. The Lord told me during sacrament meeting that things were going well and that I just needed to be patient and keep working. It was rather reassuring. My calling is going great. My comp does not really have a calling. He just runs back up and helps me teach everything. His last comp did all of the teaching before, but I said heck no. You're teaching Sunday school with me. We do have a ward clerk but he works in a town that's about 100 km away and so he only comes in for the weekends which means we get as much done during that time as we can. I have no idea how long the Crawfords have been making the drive but something like 2 or 3 months. That should be ending here pretty soon. And yes, the couple is from cerro in Montevideo and they will be moving up here if they get assigned to our mission. That's president Heaton's plan for them.

We've had two notable finds this last week. The first involves the Arruè family....yea...... the dad is an absolute control freak and cuts us off all the time which makes teaching hard. He's a less active member of about 15 years but still thinks he knows more about everything than us. Granted, he's a very loving father and only wants the very best for his children. I think he's a little disappointed with his lot in life because 3 of his 6 children have learning disabilities but I freakin love them all. We're teaching them and trying to get them to understand the importance of what we do. Luis, who is 15, loves to read and is super intelligent but his dad demands a lot of him and you can see that it irritates him. As such, he becomes embarrassed with him. Just family things I guess. They'll work it out.

Anyways, dad was a little surprised when we gave a baptismal date in the first lesson. We've been instructed to do so by my mission president since the day I've been in the mission. As such, I didn't take any crap and just asked him if he believed that the men we work with and receive instruction from are called of God, including the prophet... we'll see what happens.


After that, we have Marcelo and Tito. Marcelo has been in prison once but has great faith in God and has interest in what we have to share. They were a reference from a less active family. Tito, 8, just wants to get baptized already. He's been to church a number of times with the family that gave the reference but the dad works a lot so we're still trying to figure out how to meet with them consistently. There are a lot of things in the works that have the potential to be miracles and I'm just excited to see what we can do with the Lord's time.

I spent three days studying all of Romans 8 and I really enjoyed it. Elder V recommended it in actuality. I just love studying the scriptures!  You should check out Romans 8:38-39 and 2 Nephi 1:15.

We had a great lesson yesterday. We found a family of girls that is completely inactive about my 4th or 5th day here and they really haven't been showing progress....well they showed up to church yesterday with their mom who is from out of town. I bore my testimony yesterday BTW and it rocked. I realized that I'm gonna hit a year soon and it made me sad. I really do love being a missionary and testifying and teaching and seeing the gospel change the lives of people that I've grown to love. Anyway, we passed by later to talk with them and I shared Romans 8:14-17. And we started talking about eternal life and natalia (30 and living with her boyfriend) made some wise crack about her not going to be able to find her family in heaven. and then I asked if she thought she could live with them forever and began to testify of the importance of the temple and the priesthood and it got very quite in the room and I realized that I love them all like my sisters and that one of my tasks in this area is to assure that they all go to the temple to become sealed. I commited them right then and there to do it and the spirit was so strong it was unbelievable. The words are doing this no justice at all beause I'm short on time, but we're gonna do it. I saw it in their eyes and I felt it in my heart. The Lord wants them in the temple and I want them in eternal families. I love this work. I love this gospel. I get trunky and tired sometimes but I'll be damned before I deny my love for this work and for the savior. (NO mom, that was not swearing. I'm a preacher AND I'm talking about salvation here. :D) I hope the spirit can relay to you what I felt because these words have short changed it. I am weak unto words, like unto those who have  gone before me.

Elder Ender Simpson

Leveler, make level the way for the righteous!