Sayago Montevideo Uruguay - July 9th 2012

Hey All,

This week was decently warm here. It poured all day Wednesday but other than that we've had nothing but sun. It's crisp in the mornings and it's getting warm enough again that I really can't rock much more than a sweater which is nice. I'm really not complaining. Everyone says it's usually brutally cold by now so I'm happy with the sunshine. The greatest part of the day was that night when we were walking, out of nowhere my comp asked my to sing in english. Soooooooo I sang the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful. :D God Bless the States... I miss them a lot. Also, that morning, my District Leader called at 6:35 AM and wished me a Happy 4th and talked about the birth of the greatest nation on the planet. Prideful? Naw. Honest.

We're not currently passing by Luna right now. She had a nervous break down and can't handle her struggles with school crossed with the missionaries passing by so frequently. As such, her family has decided to give her some time. I'm actually in agreement with them, because the gospel nor the missionaries should never cause someone to suffer. Granted, there is a marked difference between suffering and change. While both are difficult, and can both be endured, change is better than just simply suffering.

Joel was confirmed yesterday which was great to see. I was happy that the President came to support us. This ward is really struggling and so it's hard sometimes to bring new converts into such a sickly environment. It's okay though, because the ward is really animated to have Joel as a member and a great deal of them are watching out for him already.

We've not really been able to find anyone else for the time being so we're mostly just trying to find. We've got the daughter of a lady who has been inactive for more than 10 years. She stopped us on the street about two weeks ago and asked if it would be alright if she could come back to church. She also asked if we could pass by and help her kids out, so we're currently in that. We've been doing lots of contacting and looking this week. I'm just happy it's not that cold.

I can't believe it's already July. This is the last full week of the change and tomorrow is the last district meeting, which means we'll be taking pictures.  By the way, I made french toast and mint hot chocolate for breakfast yesterday and about had a heart attack! It was stupendous! It was a happy little flash back to my boyhood and Sunday morning family breakfasts!

Last night we were going to look for a contact that we'd made a few days earlier. She's a girl of about 19 who has lost her parents a while ago and is currently providing for her siblings. As we were getting to her house, I realized that we were walking into a potentially hazardous situation at about 7 at night, (which is long since dark down here. It gets dark at like 6...). The Spirit told me quite firmly to pass by the house of a member on the same street so we did. We arranged so that if the contact was home, we could go get him in the moment and have a lesson with her. We went and knocked the house, and she wasn't home. I have no idea why the spirit told me to go talk with the member, I don't know what would have happened if we hadn't. Possibly nothing, I'll never know. I just know that following the spirit is sometimes hard, but it is never a waste of time. Difficult though it may be, we must strive to constantly recognize the voice of the Lord God Almighty, as He guides us in each footstep.

However, the strongest I felt the Spirit this week, was yesterday morning. I got up and got a ton done, (something I've been getting really good at as of late, as in make a great breakfast, work out, shower, get fully ready for the day and either wash some clothes or write the majority of a letter all in an hour and a half. IT'S FANTASTIC!!) anyways, after the a fore mentioned  breakfast of french toast and hot chocolate, we set out to go find Joel. I dunno what it was.... It could have been the sun tipped trees, the brisk wind or the freezing clarity of the air... perhaps even the slight chill that spread across my cheeks and the tips of my nose, but God was all around me. I was so happy to be alive. I saw the Lord in the trees and the cloud brushed sky. I felt His love in the invigorated charge of the purposful step of a missionary. It was one of those mornings, where i would have loved to have started running and never stopped. Or perhaps set out with my father to hike some distant peak. And I know God is in all of nature. He made this world for us to learn and to grow, but also for us to enjoy. Nature is amazing.... It was a moment like unto summiting a peak, or the fluid strian that is placed into the crux of a climb. It was the runners high, invoked by the very forces of nature, without raising my heart rate or increasing my pace. The Lord was with me then, and I felt His love and I knew that this life is good. This life is so good, because I have the gospel.
 
Elder Andy

Sayago Montevideo Uruguay - July 2nd 2012

Hi All,

 I got up today and made french toast for my comp and I. Originally I wasn't going to, but I've really been focusing on being charitable this week and this obnoxiously persistent little voice in the back of my head kept telling me to make him a portion. As soon as I gave in I felt a lot better and it wasn't grudging giving after about 5 minutes. It was really tasty and my new apron works great.

 Speaking of my focus on charity, we talked a lot about how we can develope christ-like attributes during district meeting. Our entire purpose as missionaries is to invite others to come to Jesus Christ. Well, invite provides the implication that we are at least near by Him if not at His side. In order to be located in such a position, we have to become more like Him, hence the dire need to develope said attributes. (See Preach My Gospel Chapter 9.) Anyway, I've been setting daily goals and have a 9 week program to follow in order to develope such attributes and check my progress. Eesh I'm a nerd.... Anyway, being like Christ isn't as easy as it sounds!

I'm constantly striving to follow and recognize the promptings of the spirit. You made a hunch comment in your first letter to me in uruguay and it still saves my skin. The Spirit brings so many things to my mind at different times everyday and I know it's because I'm trying to purify this vessel. So many words of advice, so many things that I've read, all in this combative struggle to be a true follower of the Redeemer of Mankind.  

I'm very thankful for my sleeping bag and warm water. It's not too cold yet but i'm starting to see signs of what's in store for me. It does not make me happy. You know how much I loathe winter. That said, the weather was fair until about thursday so i guess fall got more than it's fair share of the year and it's winters turn. 

As for pdays in the big city, I like to clean some, wash clothes by hand, which should answer that question for you, write you guys and maybe do a little shopping in the local super store. Other than that I read things like the ensign, Jesus the Christ and Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage and write letters. I also enjoy long walks on the beach, star gazing and a hot cup of cocoa. :D


I'll explain the baptism in a bit and I'm feeling good. I'm starting to understand the things that I can do to be happy in my situation and what I can do to make sure that we have a stronger measure of the Spirit in our companionship. That's not to say I don't get frustrated anymore but I'm discovering ways to prevent and disperse said frustration without being a total jerk. That tends to kill the spirit.... Anyways, I'm happy a lot and it's going great. My prayers have been improving and I'm focusing a lot on my daily goals for CLA and my scripture studies. It's great. As for the temple, I don't know if I'll have another chance to go while I'm down here.

I gave my first full blessing in spanish this last week. I've always just anointed, deferring the blessing to my companion because I lack confidence in my ability to be a mouthpiece for the Lord in another tongue. Well, the member, Luna's father to be exact, asked me to provide the blessing.... It was hard for me to follow the Spirit, being in spanish and all, but I'm so thankful for the opportunity that I have to act in the Name of God and utilize the Holy Priesthood that I have been authorized to use. 


I must say it's always rather weird to answer the phone in english, tell the caller who I am and then have them speak to me in english....  I was overjoyed to talk to brother Eccles and I hope he makes it back to the states in safety.  I'm freakin stoked over the package that I got and WAS NOT EXPECTING and I was also rather curious about the lack of u.s. postal service markings on said package and then it all came together the next morning with Brother Eccles called. That was a great pick me up. I love the apron and the tea and the chocolates and the lemon heads. I've worn the shirt once and it's now packed in a plastic bag to protect it for the next 14 months.... I just can't bring myself to ruin such a beautiful beautiful article of clothing.....

 FYI, I bought Hungarian made pretzles.... and about had a heart attack. It's just like american salty goodness! BAHAHA it was stupendous! First legit pretzels I've found in 10 months and I about had a fit from all my joy. It was great.

There is a quote from  Elder 'Velazquez ... It goes something like this, "It's not who we are born to be, but who we have in ourselves to become." The Gospel changes lives. You can see it in the eyes of those it has changed. I would know. I see the difference between the sad old man that I found and the man who shined with the Spirit after I brought him out of the waters of baptism. Christ heals all wounds. I know it.

Para que sepa, the baptism went well....right up until I pulled Joel out of the water. We then vamoosed to the bathroom to dry off and change. Well, about 2 minutes later a member stepped in and asked me to throw on my wet shirt and go back to the font. That was weird but I did anyway. They then asked me to drain the font and I was like "ohhhhhh Okay" and then I asked where my comp was and why he hadn't done it...Well turns out, he didn't even have to get in the water, because Luna had a panic attack and DID NOT want to get baptized.... sad day. Anyway, that night we talked to her and it turns out that she hadn't been reading the scriptures. Our fault for not verifying commitments. How can we expect people to take the leap of baptism if they're not taking the little steps that lead up to it? We can't.   We'll keep working with her.

Well that is about all for this week.

All my Best,
Elder Andy

Sayago Montevideo Uruguay - June 25th 2012

Hi All,

Yesterday, we went to look for Joel during the second hour of church... He lives an hour walk away so we took the bus and went and clapped and clapped and threw rocks at his door. Nothing. It was a depressing bus ride back to the church. We talked to him that night. He'd gone to the ferria to gather food, because he'd run out.... My counsel to the world is let us be sure that we are not so busy that we cannot hear the Spirit. He will come and knock, but he will not throw rocks at you nor shout. We must be constantly aware of the Spirit and cautious that we are not neglecting His promptings. If we do, he won't be coming around as much...

However despite that setback, Joel is progressing nicely. We were going to baptise him this saturday the 30th but President has specifically asked our ward to do baptisms on sundays, the reason being that our church is considerably outside of the ward boundaires and our attendance on Sunday as it is are nothing to brag about. Therefore, in order to have people come to baptisms, we do them on Sundays directly after sacrament meeting. That said, it's been close to 6 or 8 months since Sayago has had a baptism so....VAMOS ARRIBA!!! :D I'm more than a little bit stoked about Joel's baptism. He needs the help, and the ward is already coming together to help him.  With the added blessings of the gift of the Holy Ghost, I think he's going to change his situation very very soon. Luna, the 8 soon-to-be 9 year-old, is doing great as well and she will be baptised this coming Sunday as well. Carlos and Iria are....old. :) They are struggling to understand and they are still waiting on the okay from the surgeon for carlos to be out and about. So....We'll see what July brings. Eesh, is it really already july? Fa....crazy.


My companion is  a convert of like 12 years and he's the only active member in his family. His dad is inactive and the rest of his family is anti.... It's tough I know, which adds to the greater need for compassion.


As for BBQ....I'll take some pictures of an asado sometime and perhaps of the local butcher shops. Perhaps not. :) Speaking of food... I made meatloaf with my bare hands yesterday. That was a trip. The family forgot they had lunch with us, even though we CALLED the night before so when we showed up they were like crud! So we asked if we could help and they said sure and I made fruit salad and then I made meatloaf, which they actually used to make homemade hamburgers and we had fried beef stakes and fried potatoes. I didn't even get to eat what i made...Where is the justice in that??   I've been watching my intake lately and I'm doing really well. I've upped my work out routine and I stop eating after a plate or two to see if I'm really full. Usually I am, so I'm eating about a quarter or a third less than I used to. Looks like my metabolism is slowing down. That's okay though, because I'm not getting fat. Most of the members in Montevideo like to do fruit for dessert too which helps a bunch and I'm refusing fried foods whenever I can. Gotta watch those trans fats!! 


Weather wise, it's been pleasant this entire week. Sun, slight breezes, moderate temperatures. I cruised around today for a little while in just a short sleeve shirt. I've only been sporting a sweater and I usually have to take it off after bout 20 minutes of walking. I wish it would stay like this all winter long... we'll see what happens.

On Wednesday and Thursday, we did divisons with the Zone Leaders which was fun. I'm really happy I get along with them. THEY HAVE CARPET!!!! It's insane! I still didn't walk around barefoot but CARPET! It's spectacular!

Anyway, that was pretty much my week. It's been going a lot better, because I'm focusing on charity, patience and looking how I can keep us rolling along without problems and on time.

Chau
Elder Andy

Sayago Montevideo Uruguay - June18th 2012

Hi All,

Obtaining referrals in this area is rather difficult and knocking doors is mostly unproductive so we do a lot of street contacting combined with tracting to find new people. We're also raiding the area book to look for old investigators and good contacts from past missionaries. As for the area, it's really not that big in my opinion. I can walk from one end to the other in about a half hour, that's moving like a missionary though. Ya know, on the wings of the Spirit and all. 

As for the weather, it's been interesting....we've had a 3 or 4 days of rain this week and this last saturday was what I would call a torrential downpour. Granted, I was prepared with my trench coat and umbrella so it really wasn't all that bad. Once I get walking, I'm almost too warm for just my trench coat. It's during studies in the morning that's the coldest because we sit for 2 hours. 

We went to go visit Joel on friday of this last week and thats when things started to go a lot better. We'd talked about fasting with him in district meeting and we got into the lesson with him the next day. I had this impression that we should start fasting right then and there. So, unplanned, I commited the three of us to do so. We had service the next day, breaking old plaster off of the walls of a members home. Well, an hour into it, I was exhausted. Turns out chipping at plaster is really really hard when you've been fasting for about 20 hours. Anyways, we got to his house after service and closed our fast and talked about how he felt and what he'd learned during the fast. He started talking about a couple of things that he thought of that he'd forgotten about that might make it possible for him to get a job. I testified to him that it was the Spirit that had brought those things to his rememberance as a result of the fast. Like I said, he's now on his way to baptism and to work. Fasting without a purpose is just starving yourself. With a purpose, fasting brings about miracles.

The ward priesthood are really stepping up and supporting Joel. He's still looking for work, but what happens is he needs a new ID card because his is expired and he also needs a proof of health. But what happens is that he literally has no money. He has water that he gathered before they cut it and he has no power. He gathers food from the farmers markets that has fallen and that's how he survives. It looks like he's going to be able to get the documentation that he needs and he's on track to be baptized the 30th of this month! 

Also, we've a 9 year old girl of a less active grandma that we're teaching and she's to be baptized the same day! There's also an older couple named carlos and iria that we're working with. Recently Carlos had a tumor removed from his left ear, as a result of skin cancer. They were investigating a while back, but his bed ridden mother was living with them so they really couldn't make it to church. His mother having died 5 months ago, they feel like they're ready to start taking steps in the right direction. They can't come to church til next month because Carlos really can't be outside for too long and the church isn't that warm at all so his ear would possibly be damaged by the continued exposure to the cold. So, the doctor says that he's good to go by the end of this month. Hopefully we can get them baptized by the 15th or so. We'll see what happens 

There's a member in my area that made the michael Jackson thriller knock off leather coats in the '80's and there's also a really good Michael Jackson impersonator in the next ward over. Before I leave this area I'm going to try and get some pictures with him. He's a temple worker and I think the Elders Quorum President in that ward, which I was surprised to hear. Funny guy though. 

Elder Andy

Sayago Montevideo Uruguay - June11th 2012

Hi All,

Elder Salgado is from Chigan, Chile, south of Santiago and north of Concepcion.  As part of weekly planning which we do every friday, we have a thing called companionship inventory and I mentioned to him then that we need to make sure that we are 100  percent obedient. I told him that we're both aware of what the rule book says and that we need to make sure that we are following it. More than that, I'm just trying to lead by example. I just keep trying to focus on what I can learn and on the long run. I realize that these past couple changes have made me a more proactive leader and that I'm getting good at handling situations that I didn't plan for. Once again, a blessing from the Lord. We'll see what happens. Not much more that I can do. You know how little I like conflict, even less in Spanish. Oh and just so you know, turns out my spanish is pretty good. BLESSING

Elder Salgado does not speak a lick of English, though he has great desires to learn it. I've been helping him with that a lot lately. I see no reason not to help him. It's just frustrating sometimes with you're trying to study or do something else and he starts asking you about English. Anyway, ususally we start and then he gets to a word that has three or four vocalizations that simply don't exist in Spanish. At that point I'm prone to laughter and a lot of sympathy, because for a phonetic language speaker, English is a nightmare. That more often than not helps me have more patience and charity. All of this is also fueled by the fact that some Elder's sister's friend is writing Elder Salgado, for what appears to me to be just for fun, but he's sunk his little heart right into her. I hope it doesn't get broken.... Anyway, he very badly wants to write her back and so he's really pushin it with his english. Makes me chuckle.


Elder Salgado has been out for about a year and three months.  He's very very focused on the work, but sometimes just doesn't know what the simplest and fastest way to do things is. Also, he's pretty bad with dates, numbers and the time, so I'm always keeping an eye on the clock. I tend to push things along, call the shots and lead lessons. He teaches well, but sometimes misses the needs of the investigator in his rush to throw out more examples. That's okay though. We're all here to learn. I'm currently learning patience, drive, how to be senior companion and love. It's great right?

The visa extension is a one time deal. We just have to go in and pretty much say that we haven't falsified our documents and that the church is going to have us stay here a little bit longer. Ya know, we don't want to be illegal aliens and all that.

As for the cold, wednesday was the coldest day of my mission. It was WINDY rainy and cold. The last couple of days have been warmer though and I'm back to just cruisin around with short sleeves, a sweater with the sleeves rolled up and a single pair of pants. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, I  had two pair of pants on (my scrub type pants on underneath) my trench coat with the thermal lining, gloves a hat and a scarf. It's really not that cold, it's just the friggin wind that kills me. Plus the fact that I'm skinny. I love how a lot of the sisters are convinced that they're going to fatten me up for the winter. Not happening. If I have to refuse after the first plate because I'm already full of heavy food, I'll do it.  They say it's going to be a short but brutal winter so we'll see what happens in the coming weeks. I hate winter... And  yes, we have heaters for our apartments. I'm sleeping super warm with just a sleeping bag, a sheet and a blanket. I've been waking up nearly sweeting for a couple days so it's still really not that cold.

Elder Salgado kinda just does his own thing. He keeps offering me deep fried food even after I've told him I don't eat it. He gets a little bit offended by this but, I'm keepin my arteries clean.  However, he is so focused on helping people. Everyone we see, he sees as a candidate for baptism. It's kind of cool sometimes, sometimes it's a little absured.  All in all, he's a good guy, we just have our differences is all. Normal people stuff right?

This last district meeting they said our goal for the zone is to make sure that we are spiritually healthy. We made our own standards of liberty and we put them in our agendas. .. I want to bring honor to my family name.

Elder Ender

Still I Rise

when I ran into elder Velazquez coming into deo.
Made my freakin day

My last district

Missionaries are normal people too... or boys will be boys

Elder Dickson and I this last wednesday morning before he left.

Sayago Montevideo Uruguay - June 5th 2012

Buenos Dias,

I can't believe that it's June already. I say good bye to my companion tonight so that should be interesting. My new companion is Elder Salgado, from Chile. Latino compañero number 1. Here we go....

My companion has been doing great. We worked hard all week and the last couple of days have been him saying good bye which is normal. Yesterday, though, I had to go to ciudad vieja (old town) to sign some visa extension papers and get finger printed which took a couple of hours. It's something that every missionary has to do and we sign a form that says we aren't falsifying our documentation and that we're going to obey the laws. I like to read what I sign. Then we verified information that they had copies of and then got finger printed and went home. Pretty routine stuff. I'm glad they didn't notice that I had my finger prints removed when I joined that secret government agency. That could have caused some problems. I would have had to have done a lot of brain wiping... what a messy situation it would have been.

I'm more than warm. I'm just cruising around with the sweater mom sent me and most of the time I have the sleeves rolled up. Everyone freaks out and asks why I'm not wearing more clothes. They all have 2 or 3 sweaters on by now, in their houses. On the streets people are bundled up. I guess I'm just the cold blooded heartless monster I am. It's all good. Para que sepa (Just so you know), I do have hot water for about my shower. Most people cruise around in european cars and on really crappy small engined motos or they go by bus. My bed is pretty normal too. This country is more like europe than the latin america that we picture in the States. I'm more in the suburbs of the city, because ciudad vieja (old town) is more like the centro (center) and downtown portion of town and that's about 30 to 40 minutes away by bus.

They're starting to feed us really high calorie food so that we can "get fatter to stay warm during the winter". Not cool. I've stopped accepting food after the first plate because I'm drinking more water and eating more fruit and fiber crackers. I'm also getting full faster so it looks like my metabolism is slowing down. If i eat more than one plate I feel stuffed and then i just feel gross because we have to go out and work on a bloated stomach.

Our area is picking up. We've got a couple of solid investigators and more than a couple good contacts that could very well become investigators. The ward is okay....Currently with the amount of active members that we have qualifies us for a branch which means we would go down but that doesn't usually happen. We'll see...I don't know exactly what the problem is but some of the members seem to be having a lot of problems. We'll see what this next change shakes up. Our numbers are like 42 active members and something like 10 melkezidek priesthood holders. I don't even know on full tithe payers but I know that it's really low. That's a huge problem here in Montevideo because the cost of living is so high and a lot of the members don't see how they can make it as it is much less giving the Lord %10.

I feel like a lot of funny things happened this week but I really can't remember a lot of them. Today we were getting off of a bus and Elder Tyree my mtc comp, who is with my district leader, got stuck behind an old lady who wasn't getting off. So three of us got off the bus and then the doors closed and the bus kept going. We started laughing really hard and just walked after the bus. He got off on the next stop of course, but we all called him a trucho missionary for trying to escape. We all had a good laugh about it. 

My first zone was also the one with Elder Salgado in it.... and he's an interesting guy. He...doesn't understand a lot of how things are and what is and isn't appropriate or normal. It's not malicious or intentional...but he doesn't walk within the restrictions of regular society. I've talked extensively with one of his past companions and seen him more than a few times. I was very stressed out when I received the call last night because it means that I have to keep an eye on him and on the area. I was rather distraught after the call so I went off by myself, (we were staying with 4 other elders so that we could go to the temple in the morning) and began to meditate. As soon as I relaxed my mind and began some breathing exercises, the Spirit came to me and told me that this change will be what I make of it. I was filled with peace and began to pour out my feelings to the Lord. He told me that it will all be for my good, and with that I went to bed.

Today, we went to the temple and when I sat down in the celestial room, I started sharing the same concerns and investigating it more. I cannot describe what I felt. I know that this change will be trying. There will be many things that I can learn and I will be challenged to the utmost of my ability. But I know, without a shadow of the doubt that this is Gods will and I'll be damned if I give up. Like quite literally damned. I can do this, and the preoccupation has fled. I felt such comfort and peace that I was brought to the verge of tears. How dearly I love the House of the Lord. How truly thankful I am to my Savior for all that He suffered for me.



I will merely close with a quote from Robert Louis Stevenson.
And with a sudden plunge
on the sullen swell
three fathoms deep
on the road to Hell.
I am a tool in the Hands of the Lord God Almighty. I will be His Voice, I will be His Hands, and I will not fear. There they go, into the darkness, with a spark of light in their hearts. They, the Soldiers of Light.

Elder Ender

For I am a Soldier of Light.

Sayago Montevideo Uruguay - May 28th 2012

Hi All,

First off, with Joel, not a lot has changed. He's very ready to be baptized and truly wants to follow Jesus Christ, but his situation is no better. We talked to him about the word of wisdom and he told us to hold on a sec and came back with his tobacco. He handed it over and said I don't smoke anymore. It's always such a blessing to see when people truly are willing to make changes to follow Christ. Unfortunately, He still doesn't have a job and he got sick this last week so he wasn't able to make it to church this Sunday. We had a lesson with him and our elders quorum president who sugguested that he go take one of the church courses about applying for and acquiring a job. We'll see what developes, but until he can change his financial situation and make inner restitution with society, we really can't baptise him. We'll see what our leaders say and what the weeks bring.

We visited an lady who is 80 years old last night. Her name is Olga and she has short term memory loss, so she repeats a lot of the same things every time we visit her and she doesn't remember our names, she just knows that we're missionaries. She's been a member of the church for a long time, but the ward boundaries changed a year or two back and she got lost in the change. She doesn't go to chruch now because she can't make it on her own and we've yet to get someone from the ward to go get her. Yet, through her crushing sadness and lonliness, she is a shining light in my life. Whenever we visit her, she always testifies with acute power of the Savior and the role that He plays in her life. I always leave her house, having been boosted spiritually and with some insight or another in tow. It's great. :)

We'll that's about all for now. Elder Dickson is a bit trunky,...to be expected.  I'm excited to see what changes bring but it's all okay. The work rolls on and God grants me strength each day.

Let me leave you with a quick verse from Romans 13:11-12


11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

 I love verse 12 because of the visualization that it provides. Let us cast off all darkness, arm ourselves and ride forth in the glory of the morning of the first resurrection


Still I Rise

Elder Andy