Saladero Salto Uruguay - June 24th 2013

Hey Everyone,
 
The world wide training was great. I was blown away by how many missionaries were in the choir! So many missionaries! Ironically, a lot of what I felt like I took away from the broadcast was about what I can keep doing to help the work when I get home. This morning I was reflecting a little more on what I learned in the training....and then I realized how easy sharing the gospel as a member really is. And that we've all already done it. It all started with me doing what I love but still sharing the gospel by telling others that I was going to Uruguay as a missionary. I thought about how we invited her to church and to read the Book of Mormon and have family nights with us and spend Sunday nights with us. It was all a natural fun process, which is how it should be. It gave me a lot of hope for when I get home. I know that the Lord will continue to give me opportunities to share the gospel. It's going to be great. Unfortunately, No one from our ward except for the bishop, his wife, mother in law and brother in law came to the world wide broadcast training last night. Yea......there were like 25 people there last night. Maybe. And half of those were missionaries. It was really sad. Other than that it was a really great broadcast. I really enjoyed it.

Gladis is doing really well. She still wants to get baptized very much and is getting some stuff moving in that area. She and her daughter Yessica and her 2 daughters in law all came to church on Sunday. Her husband Nelson and her son Yonathan are working out of town til next Wednesday  and her other son Luis didn't come for some reason. So we're working with them. They love reading the scriptures. We're going to talk about the word of wisdom today because a few of them have a smoking problem. But things are going great. Elder Barlow loves visiting them and so do I.

Fun shot of our district

The ironic thing is, the vast majority of the 12 people that we found last week have begun hiding from us so.....yea. We're still looking for more investigators. It's okay though. Hopefully we'll get some help from members soon. I'm just trying to work effectively and listen to the spirit. We found a guy on sunday named Sebastian. He reminded me a lot of Jake.  I think it helps me to testify with love. They usually listen to us as well which is nice.

Elder Barlow likes talking about college sometimes. I'm trying to see if I can convince him to move up to USU when he gets back. We joke about being roommates but that's only if I'm not yet married hehe!  Today, Elder Barlow taught us some break dance moves. It's super cool and pretty hard but we're going to start break dancing in the mornings upon occasion for exercises. Who knows, maybe I'll learn some cool moves before I get home. I just think it's great because how many elders can say they learned a little bit of break dancing on the mission?? Not too many that I know of. So, I'm super stoke for that.

Other than that, we're just working hard. Just trying our best to find investigators and help them get to church so that they can progress towards baptism. After-all, that's why I'm here.

I'm reading the 4 gospels again, but this time in Spanish. I should finish right before I get home. So....yea. I really enjoy studying the life of the savior. I was reading Matthew 9 today and I was struck by how the savior was constantly serving and teaching. I want to be more like that. I think it's a good goal.

Have a great week
Elder Simpson

Saladero Salto Uruguay - June 17th 2013

Hi All,

I cannot recall where I placed the first half of June but I seem to have lost it....I don't know where it went.  The hot water heater is.....in the process. The important thing is that I have hot water again.

 As for Carlos, the dad, we've not seen him. He gets home really late from working in the orange orchards and they live in a....complicated area. We try to be out of there by about 7 or 7:30 pm at the latest, which is when he gets home so we'll see what we can do this week. If you remember that stupendous family that I'm always saying we're working with, well Gladis went to the government building today to finish their divorce process from her ex.  We're stopping by tonight to have a family home evening. They are so so excited to be able to continue with the process that will lead them to baptism. With all of the paper work that lays ahead, I don't know how long it will take for them to be able to get the divorce finalized so she can get married.  I really hope I can see them get baptized before I go home. If not, then it just wasn't meant to be and I still will work my hardest to make sure that they can be all ready. They talk like members sometimes and I love seeing how much they hunger and thirst after the scriptures. The Gospel truly changes those that let it into their hearts. It's so amazing.

Aside from that, this week was super super hard. The numbers are great. They are almost the highest level that's expected of the missionaries, but we fought and sweat for every single one of those lessons. There were 2 days that were just so hard, Thursday and Saturday, when everything fell through on us. We're in a bit of a transition stage right now in our area where we are letting go of the investigators that just don't progress and focusing on the people that we've been finding lately. This last week we found 12 new people, so we have plenty on our plate. It's just...so stressful sometimes. That must mean that I haven't been relying on the Lord sufficiently and that I have been trusting too much in myself. Humility check! After-all, it's not my work and this work will be done in the way of the Master and in no other way.

It's interesting that we can get so stressed out and in the middle of what can be an irritating and frustrating trial, the Lord grants us a tender mercy. I saw that last night. A guy I recognized for some reason as we were in the street caught my eye so I said hi. He said hi back then stopped and so I did too and walked over. When I asked his name he got really close, slurred it out and asked for 10 pesos to go buy marijuana. I told him I couldn't do that but that I could offer so much more. We started to talk and I could tell right off that he'd been drinking too. He tried to defend the merits of marijuana but in the end I set up a lesson with him on Wednesday. He's a member. It was interesting to see that when I became concerned and started talking to him because I actually cared and not because I was being curious that getting his next fix left his mind.  The Atonement of Jesus Christ heals all wounds. 

Convert retention is a lot harder than it probably should be. The Salto stake is currently in a rocky moment and a lot of the wards are really struggling to function and operate at an efficient level. Convert retention is actually a bit of a world wide concern as of this last October. That was the subject of attention in the conferences that we had with Elder Viñas of the seventy and with Elder Oaks. It's a fight and a lot of times as full time missionaries, we're fighting it alone. Bit frustrating. But. That's okay. It's alright. This is a new kind of war and sometimes it takes a while to train the soldiers.

I think my highlights are the little miracles that we see in lessons or contacts. Another thing that Elder Barlow and I make a point of doing is bearing our testimony to each other each day and sharing the Tender Mercy 'o' the day that we saw. It helps a lot to reflect on the little things and the convictions that we have. The Spirit is always super strong. It helps after long hard days. :)

The ensign of June 2013, has a talk that really helped me like 2 weeks ago. You've probably read it already, but it really helped me with my perspective and the power of the sealing ordinances of the temple. http://www.lds.org/ensign/2013/06/dear-are-the-sheep-that-have-wandered?lang=eng I was rather thankful for this talk.  I know that the sealing that we were all born into protects each of us. I know that thanks to the strict obedience to temple covenants, I was brought back.  I do not doubt these truths.

All in all, I'm one week closer to the end. It scares me sometimes. I don't want to go home. I love being out here. I don't want to go back into the world. I fear that I will be too weak to continue becoming the man that the Lord has made of me out here but we cannot have fear and faith in our hearts. The fires of faith are much more powerful than the choking and acrid smoke of fear.
Many are called and few are chosen, right? I seek to be one of the chosen. I seek to let the Lord guide my future as He has my past. Christ lives. That makes everything worth it. Everything. When we clutch at the straws in this life and it all seems to fall through our fingers, if we have that one eternal truth in our hearts, we can keep going. We can look up to the skies with the tears that streak stress worn features, and know that there is a God that lives and loves. That is enough. If I might steal an appropriate album title from Pelican, The Fire in our Throats will Beckon the Thaw. Let us fan the fires of faith, as urged Elder Holland this last conference. Let us thaw the frozen future and take a step into the black.

 For now,  "....I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down...." Nehemiah 6.3.

There is no time to waste. The moment has come for the headlong flight to the end and every second is a second that God has granted me life and strength to keep fighting.

Elder Simpson

Saladero Salto Uruguay - June 10th 2013

Hi All,

This week in Saladero was good. I struggled a couple of days to not get stressed out and to keep working. It was just a tough couple of days with the baptism. I had to plan and coordinate the entire baptism solo and that just added to the stress that I've already got about the area and the investigators. We've just got a lot of people who aren't progressing and some that are but really slowly and Alinson is thinking she might move to another location....Other than that.

Elder Barlow is one of my favorite companions. Every day is just another adventure with him. We're getting along so well and we're always laughing and then we can turn around and have some really great experiences.  We're both excited to work and we're just looking for the things that we can keep improving.  I can't believe that it's pday again and that it's already june 10. Where has the time gone...?

The baptisms went well. Their dad came! He wanted to come to church on Sunday so we'll be working with him this week I think. He couldn't come to the confirmation on Sunday because he'd skipped work on Saturday in order to go to his sons baptisms which was really impressive because until this week he wouldn't talk to us ever. But....I started going to look specifically when we would come over and I made sure to talk to him and invite him because we'd never really done that before. It was super good to see him at the baptism.

We made boiled potatoes and carrots the other day and with it we ate white rice and fried up some ground beef and onions for lunch the other day. We're on a health kick. I've finally found a comp who hates oil just as much as I do. We either make whole wheat pancakes for breakfast or fruit and oatmeal shakes. Super good. They're like protein shakes but we just use oatmeal instead of the protein powder. The other night we also ate boiled squash for dinner. Today we're going to make snicker doodles for district lunch tomorrow and we're going to make whole grain rice for lunch with some meat that a member gave to us. I'm just super stoked to be eating healthy again. It's a lot harder alone....

This morning our calefone (hot water heater) stopped working. Bummer. So we went and took a shower at the zone leaders house like 2 hours ago and a member is going to  come this afternoon to check it out. I hope we can get it fixed today because it's a little....brisk....in the mornings.  But don't you worry. The Lord will provide for His servants. If all else fails we can boil water haha

I had a thought the other day during my personal study. I was reading in second Nephi 21.
This verse impressed me. 
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

I can honestly say I'm so very grateful for a house that was filled with knowledge of the Savior. We had a healthy and safe place for us to grow. That's why latter day saint homes are so special and safe, because they are filled with a knowledge of the Lord and that knowledge brings peace to our hearts. I know that one day, in the not far distant future, I will have the same chance to create such an environment. I know that Christ lives and I know that Christ centered homes are the safest and happiest place to raise a family.

Elder Andy

Saladero Salto Uruguay - June 4th 2013

Hi All,

I'm now entering into my last full change. Yea. Don't want to think about that too much. As for changes, Elder Orellana is going to Paysandù and I'm staying here in Salto. As for my comp....Elder Barlow is coming to be my last companion for the next change and a half and I am EXCITED as all get out!! I love Elder Barlow! I met him in Tacuarmbo and he's from American Fork. He's just super chill and we get along really well. He was in an area here in the down town area and now he's coming out to Saladero to help me finish the mission strong. Super stoked for that. I'm doing great. A lot better than my current comp. He's super tired all the time. Poor guy.

The weather here has been pretty interesting. It gets pretty brisk in the mornings and at night but then you can go the entire day from about 10 and on without a sweater but then 6 or 7 rolls around and it's pretty necessary. Overall, it's fall weather and I can't complain.

So yesterday we went on emergency divisions. That was super fun. It was with an elder that I know really well and who was having a really hard time with stress. He's doing a lot better today. It was interesting being the leader in that situation. Things like that have happened periodically when I've been district leader and it's an interesting experience being on the side where I have to give counsel and comfort. The Spirit helps a lot in those situations I've learned and He gives the necessary words. I was a little surprised at some of the things that I said but I know they were true. 

A lot of times I got up and just started on paper work or planning things out, but that's just the way it is sometimes, right?  We just finished the most successful week of my mission, so I'm rather pleased with that.  Things are going great in our area. We're going to have 2 baptisms on Saturday. They are the 2 sons of Clara, the lady we baptized about a month ago. They're both super excited and it will unite her family a lot. She's been having problems with her husband, so this should really animate her. The Lord works in such precise manners that we cannot possibly question His works. That I do not doubt.

So much of what we do out here is service and it kills now. I don't know why. It's something I've been studying a lot lately, and I just want to be more serviceable to my fellowman. I've been meditating a lot about who I am as well and who I will be when I get home. I hope I can hold on to who I've become out here and not just go back to being who I was before the mission. I think that's part of having faith though and trusting that the atonement can work great and lasting changes in the hearts of men.

We're just working hard and looking for new investigators. That's the most important part sometimes, just working hard. I've been joking for the past couple of weeks that I'm going to kill my last comp before he kills me off at the end. I intend to make good my word. Time is short but the fight is still in me. I will die with the Lords name on my lips. (figuratively speaking of course.)  I testify that Christ lives. That vindicates all other courses of action that bring us closer to Him. His divinity is the reason for positive and faithful action, because it means that we will be resurrected. I have no doubt of that.

Elder Andy