Well..not much happened

Yep, not too much happened this last week. But, from what I can think of right off the top of my head, it wasn’t too bad.

For lessons with investigators and other people, we taught a few people. Lucas, the crazy man has been progressing pretty well. He loves the Gospel and knows that it is true. He’s also going through some kind of tough stuff in his life right now, but he is holding really firm to the Gospel and to us to give him the light that he needs. He can’t wait to be baptized, and that makes me very happy to see. He came with us to church yesterday, and I think he liked it pretty well. He is hilarious and loves to make people laugh. Also, he has gotten a hold of my Facebook and is inviting literally everyone to be friends with him. My mom and brother are already friends with him.  He is a cool guy.  He sent my mom some pictures of me and him over the weekend. 

We also taught Pamela this week, but she isn’t progressing too well right now. She has tough stuff in her life also, and I thought that she was doing really well with her commitments. But she hasn’t been praying or reading the Book of Mormon for a while. We are probably going to have to stop meeting with her because it has been about 2 months that we’ve been teaching her, but she hasn’t been keeping any of her commitments. So that sad and stinks, but we have other people who need visiting too.  We will keep checking on her though.

We also are teaching a kid named Alexander, and he is really cool. He has a desire to learn more about the Gospel and God, but some of the commandments are tough for him. But this week, we also had a lesson with three of his brothers and sisters. So hopefully, if they all work together and be accountable to each other, they can really start progressing. That is what we hope, at least. 

So yeah, other than that, not too much happened. We walked a LOT this week. My shoes are looking really rough, but I’m planning to polish them and get them all nice and pretty before I pick up my brand new (greenie) missionary this next week.

Other things of note, on Sunday, when we went to pick up Lucas from his house to go to Church, a dog started to follow us. I was kind of annoyed at first, but then started to love it. I ended up naming him Benny because I would say "¡Vení Benny!" which is like, "Come here" or "Come on you nasty dog" in Spanish. So he followed us from our pench, to Lucas´s home, to church, waited for us outside the church building for 3 hours, then followed us to a lunch appointment afterwards. He followed us for a little after lunch too, but ended up leaving us. It made me a little sad, because we of course weren’t able to keep him, but I know he is out there living life to the fullest.  It is has finally started to get colder here so I can wear my sweats and hoodie.  I am so happy.  See the picture. Happiness.

Also, I’m getting super excited/nervous/scared/ready/not-ready-at-all for this next transfer. I literally can’t wait, but I could also wait another few months for this. I have been studying Spanish a little more desprately, and praying a lot harder. But I’m also glad to say, that the Spanish has been improving. A lot too. I know it’s going to be tough as a trainer, but with prayer and fasting, and a whole lot of faith, I can do this. Im also very, very, very grateful for all the prayers and blessings coming from back home and where ever else the people reading this are from. Prayer and blessing are absolutely real. 

So yeah. This is the last week of transfer, so hopefully we can go out and flipping get some work done!

Bueno. Ahora, mi testimonio.

Yo se que tenemos un Profeta viviendo en el mundo hoy. Tenemos un profeta porque Dios nos ama mucho y quiere que tenemos una guía por nuestras vidas. Estoy muy agradecido por Presidente Russell M. Nelson y por la oportunidad que tenemos para escuchar le y sus consejeros y otros Apóstoles esta semana. Se que cuando vemos Conferencia General, podemos sentir el Espiritu Santo y tenemos experiencias espirituales. No puedo esperar para ver los discursos de los lideres de la Iglesia. En el nobre de Jesucristo, amen.

Con Amor,

Elder Haley

Lucas sent this picture to my Mom on Facebook.

And this one...

Lucas, Elder Mamani and I at church

SO happy it is colder outside.  Hoodie and sweats!

A train I conquered

Not too bad of a week...

Well it's Pday again and I am pretty glad. This week felt like the longest one in a while. 

Alright, so Tuesday morning we did exchanges with the Zone leaders and I was in the area of the Zone leaders. It went alright. We didn’t have any lessons, but we talked to a bunch of people and got some appointments set for them. Then we had District meeting and that was good. It’s always fun to be with a group of other missionaries. but then that night, we taught a lesson to both of our Lucas´s (two young men they met last week with the same name). Both were pretty good and I felt like the Spanish was good too. But one thing that is kind of lame and weird is that my Spanish is totally random. It will be really good on some days, but then really bad on others. I guess that will stop in a little bit, I just hope it does before this next transfer.

Wednesday was Zone Conference!! I love Zone Conference a lot. It’s just fun to be with other missionaries, talking about the work, and having a whole bunch of good food. There was SO much food. So yeah, ZC was good. I learned a lot about working together as a companionship, a district, and even as a zone. Plus, like I said, it is always fun. Then afterwards, we went on exchanges with the AP’s (Assistants to the President) and I was with Elder Oldham from Oregon. It was really awesome! It’s always a good opportunity to be with other missionaries and learn different things and different ways to teach or just learn new things in general. But Elder Oldham is a really great guy and it was awesome to work with him. We taught one lesson to a family that we started talking to while we were walking, and then had a lesson with our New Lucas. They were both really good. One of the things that I learned from Elder Oldham is that it is always a good idea to use scriptures to answer questions. Especially because the Spanish of the scriptures is a lot better than my Spanish.

Thursday was a little weird. In the morning, we went with the Hermanas (Sister Missionaries) to a house of a lady they had been meeting with. So about a month and a half ago or so, on Pday, Elder Mamani and I were sitting on the benches in the Plaza when a lady walked up to us and asked if she could sit down and talk with us. So we were really caught off guard, because people usually barely say hello to us, let alone want to sit down and have a conversation. But of course we said yes. As soon as she sat down, she started crying and telling us that just the previous week, her son had committed suicide and she was feeling really lost and scared and sad. She also told us that she is sick with something and that her life is just kind of a wreck now. She also told us that she is a really inactive member of the church and hasn’t been since she was a kid. But, she was on her way to the big Catholic church just outside of the Plaza to look for help from some good Christian people when she saw us. So she told us all of that and asked if we could do anything for her. But the problem was, her home isn’t in our area, but we told her that we would contact the Hermanas and they would be more than willing to help. So fast forward to last Thursday, we went to her home and she told us about how crazy her life is and how lonely she feels. I shared with her John 16:32-33 and that really helped her.

John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Then we blessed her home and gave her a blessing of health. So that was crazy. But afterwards, we had to walk for freaking ever to get back to the pench (apartment). And I mean forEVER. Like, at least 3-4 miles. But it’s alright. Then in the night, I was with Elder Duvol again on exchanges and we didn’t have any lessons again, but we met some really cool people. 

Friday was a whole bunch of nothing. In the morning, we went and taught a guy in the area of the ZL’s because they had another lesson at the same time. It was alright, but it kind of was a smack to the face about how unprepared I am to be the lead in lessons. I don’t know, but it was kind of tough for me. Then the rest of the day was filled with contacting and service. Contacting can be good sometimes, but that day, it wasn’t very effective. It was also really, really, REALLY hot that day. But the service was really interesting too. We had to help a member with his car but he was being a bit of a jerk about things and that was not cool. But that’s okay. 

Then Saturday morning we did the same service. We actually got stuff done that time, but again, he was being a bit of a jerk and I just don’t like it when people act like that. But the afternoon went a little better. We went to the house of one of our investigators, Alexander, and we walked with him to the church building. We were planning to just have a tour and then teach a lesson, but when we got there, the young men of the other Rama (Branch in the area) were playing Futbol (soccer). So we watched and Alexander played with them, which was really cool for him and fun to watch. Sadly, we can’t play Futbol because a lot of people have gotten hurt, and most recently, a guy was sent home with a broken leg. But it was still pretty neat that Alexander could do that, and that the others were so nice and became friends with him. Then we taught him the Plan of Salvation which was cool because afterward, he told us that he had never thought about his purpose in life, but how he knows what it is. Then we ended the night with the Fernandez family which is always good.

Sunday, we were planning on having 4 investigators attend church, but it ended up raining pretty hard and one of them was sick. SO sadly, no one attended. But for sacrament meeting, Elder Mamani and I gave the talks and that was really good. Afterwards, some of the members told me that they could understand everything I said and that it was a really good talk. So that was a major confidence boost. Then for classes, Elder Mamani and I were the teachers of the primary classes and that was good and fun. It reminded me of my time as a primary teacher before the mission. But then that night, we had a lesson with a guy who lived really, really, really far away. Like, at the complete other side of the city. He was a referral of our District President so we could actually leave our area and do it. But we used the bikes of the ZL’s because it was so far away, but ended up getting lost and we were late. So when we got there, he wasn’t home. But it’s alright. Always looking on the brighter side. Or at least trying to.

But yeah. This week I read a lot of the Book of Mormon, BOM and not Libro de Mormon because I’m in the chapters where Christ visits the Americas and I don’t want to miss out on any of it and I want to understand every detail. That has been really awesome. I also found a English hymn book in the pench of the ZL’s and that was freaking magical. I can actually understand what they are saying!! As cool as Spanish is, I love English so much more. For now anyways.

So that’s the week, thanks again for all the prayers and faith. At times, I don’t think I deserve any of it, but I’m always grateful. 

Ciao,

Elder Haley

Our Zone before our amazing meal

another picture of our Zone

Seriously, look at that food!

ME! Sporting a fresh haircut!

Fellow missionaries

We were well fed, both physically and spiritually

Bueno so I mentioned last week that if all of the meal plans we had for this week went through, it was going to be a miracle. Sadly, they did not, but it was still a really good week. 

Martes

In the morning we did rent because it was closed the day before and then did some finding because we didn’t have any planes. Lunch was with HNO Fernandez, or the Grandpa of Alma, our last baptism. He was super nice and we ate well. Then we had a short district meeting becasue Elder Mamani and I had a lesson with Pamela. For the lesson, Elder Mamani basically let me do it all on my own while he finished a Calendario Bautismal for Pamela. So it was a good opportunity to work on my Spanish.. And it went really well! I taught the Dia de Reposo and la Ley de Castidad. She understood everything I said, and I understood... close to everything she said. After that, we had entercambios with the Zone Leaders and Elder Rivera and I walked almost completely across town to the home of a less active and part member family in the Hermana missionary’s area. They were really nice and we taught them a little about the temple and how we can have peace in our homes through prayer and scripture study as a family. After that, we looked for other people to teach, but ended up ending the night at a really cool and funny member.  There was also this crazy perro that was the size of a small horse.  Thankfully it was friendly and calm.  I was happy to get a picture with it.

Miercoles

In the morning we didn’t do very much. Elder Mamani had to do stuff on the computer so we spent some time doing that. Hopefully he doesn’t have to do anymore this week, because we loose a lot of time that we should be spending teaching and finding people to teach. Lunch was with HNA Palota and her family. They are really awesome and are always willing to do anything for the missionaries. In the afternoon, we were on entercambios again with the Zone Leaders and I was with Elder Duvol. We visited a recent convert family and then taught one of the ZLs investigators. The kids name is Artili and he is super awesome. In the picture with a couple of kids, he is the small one and I think he has his thumb up . He made us write our names in his Libro de Mormon and that was fun. Then we went to visit a family in my branch and that was fun too. In the group picture HNA Palota is the lady in the back with her grandson.

Jueves. 

In the morning, I was with Elder Duvol still and we went looking for people in his area. We found a few really good potencial investigatores, and taught one lesson. The lesson was kinda interesting because when we first started talking to the guys, they were sitting on the ground in front of their house and smoking something that they told us was mariajuana. So that was kinda crazy. They let us talk to them for a little and we taught them the Word of Wisdom. It was super crazy and kinda funny at the same time, but they seemed to love the lesson and what we taught them. We got their names and one of them, Lucas, actually lives in my area. So yeah. We would have had lunch with members, but I wasnt in my area, so I couldn’t eat with the members we had planes with. But that’s okay. In the afternoon, we taught Lucas, a different Lucas than the one the was smoking weed. He was really good and my spanish was good. At the end when we asked him who he would like to say the prayer, he asked me to do it, and in english. He likes when I speak English because he is trying to learn it. So I gave the prayer in English, which felt really weird and was actually hard becasue I couldn’t remember some words and I kept wanting to say words in Spanish. At the very end of the night, we taught a new investigator, Alexander. He is really cool, 14 and has a bunch of potential. When we first met him, we gave him a Libro de Mormon and he told us that that night he opened it up to a random page and just started reading. He read the rest of that night. So that made us really happy when we heard it.

Viernes.

In the morning, we taught Ariel about temples because he had been talking with his girlfriend about them and he was kind of confused. So we did that and it was really good. At the end of it, we asked him if he would work to be worthy to attend the temple in a year and he said he would love to. He also awants to do the work for his family. So that’s really awesome!! For the rest of the day, we were preparing for his baptism at the church and then actually doing the baptism. It was really funny because he is a really, really big guy. So it took Elder Mamani a little longer to pull him back up out of the water. And Ariel later said that he was confused when he came back out of the water because his girlfriend, her dad, and Alma, her daughter, were all crying. SO that was funny and we could explain about that they were happy for him.  The Holy Ghost can testify to anyone of the truthfulness of the gospel. I also gave Ariel one of my ties.  It looks good on him!

Sabato

In the morning, we taught Pamela and that was good. She really wants to be baptized, but we just can’t get her to go to church. We then had lunch that a member bought for us. I had Empanadas and they were pretty good. In the afternoon, we taught Alexander again and taught him the Word of Wisdom because he has some problems with smoking. He told us that he started smoking when he was 6!! Crazy. But now he says he doesn’t want to do that at all. So that’s good. The rest of the night, we looked for people but didn’t have much luck. Oh yeah, I also write in my journal every night and when I do, I start it with the date and what day it is in my mission. So the first night of my mission I wrote 29/11/17--Day 1. So on Saturday, it was day 100 of the mission. SO, that is crazy weird and also kind of fantastically surprising. It doesn’t seem like it has been that long.

Domingo

Yesterday morning was full of good meetings and lessons at church. Ariel´s confirmation was really awesome and spiritual. He is a really huge Argenine right, and never would think that he would cry. But when we ended the blessing, he had to wait a few seconds to compose himself and that was really awesome. I feel so happy for him. Then in the afternoon after studies, I was on entercambios with Elder Rivera and we just stayed in my pench because he has to rest for a few days because of some nasty blisters on his feet that got infected. So yeah. At first I was greatful for the time to just chill out and read some Liahona or scriputers, but it quickly became really boring and he kept wanting to talk about life after the mission because he only has 25 days left or something like that. So that wasn’t my favorite. But we also talked about patriarchal blessings which was cool. 

So yeah. Pretty good week. But we can always get better. Thank you to everyone and thier prayers. This week my Spanish has improved soooooo much. And I can really only attribute it to the prayers and faith of everyone back home. So thank you so much.

Con Amor,

Elder Haley

Eating with HNO Fernandez

HNA Palota is in the back with her grandson

This giant perro was awesome

Ariel's baptism

One of my ties I gave to Ariel

creative trash holder

 Elder Rivera on crutches and Elder Mamani

Half and Half

The first two days of the week were kind of lame and tough because we didn’t teach anyone, but the rest of the week was really good. 

Tuesday

We had a bunch of plans to go and meet people, but about all of them fell through. We had one lesson the entire day. That was a short one with Hermano Mario, a recent convert. But I know that if we stay tough through the tough and difficult days, we can find success when the Lord trusts us with those who want to be blessed by the gospel. So I try to say strong, but honestly, missions are a lot harder that everyone makes them out to be in homecoming talks and everything else. But don't worry, I still love it here. 

Wednesday

Otra vez, nada lecciones. But, we did meet with a cool guy that we had contacted a while before. He wasn’t interested in the lessons, but he was a really nice guy. I’ve heard somewhere that it takes about 7 encounters with the missionaries for someone to finally accept the invitation to the lessons. So for every time we are rejected, we just have to think possitively and know that was one less time talking with us before we can teach them. 

Thursday

This is when the day started to take a nice turn and we started having success. We taught both Ariel and Pamela in the morning, each with a member present. Both of the lessons were really good. I can definetly say that when we teach, I feel happier. Then we taught a guy who we have been trying to meet with for a while. His name is Lucas and he is really super funny and kind of goofy. His laugh is super funny because when he does, he laughs with his whole body. He also says that he can understand English and that the next time we meet together, he wants me to speak only English. Well.... Okay I guess I can do that. But its really wierd to talk about the church in English now. I actually sometimes forget words. Like Gospel and Priesthood. But if he is willing to meet with us and wants to be baptized, speaking English is the least I can do. We taught him the first lesson and asked him if he would prepare to be baptized on the 24th of this month. He said yes which is really good, except he works a lot and its going to be tough to get him to church. Its also cool because we actually came into contact with him because he came to us through a member. He says that he has taken the lessons from missionaries before, but that he wasn’t ready to be baptized back then. But he feels like he wants to be baptized now and came to us for the lessons, so really cool. At the end of the night, we met with 4 chicos who are really cool. We were looking for only one of them, but when we found him, he was with his friends. So we taught all of them. They are really nice and I have a feeling that we can baptize all of them. 

Friday

We didn’t have too much to do on Friday, but at the very end of the night, we meet with the chicos from the night before. Their names are Roberto, Alan, and Alexandro. We only could meet with 3 of the 4 because one was gone, but it was still really good. It’s cool and funny because they are at the ages of 17, 16, 15, and 14. I love teaching them because they don’t know anything about who God and Jesus are. I mean they know a little, but for the most part, not too much. So it’s really cool to see, for people like them, that I am on a mission at all. I came on a mission to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with other people, especially those who don’t know who their Savior and Heavenly Father are. They are the people we are looking for. I love teaching people, even if my Spanish isn’t the best and I can’t understand all of what they are saying. 

Saturday morning we didn’t have any lessons but went to Hermana Palota´s home a little early so we could help her make Ñoquis. It’s really good and really Argentine, but takes a bit of work to make the noodles and it goes a lot faster with more people. Also, Hermana Palota is an angel. She does everything she can for the missionaries, including being the one who washed our nasty clothes. But she also showed us her scriptures this week and they are filled with pictures of missionaries and different notes that she has received from the missionaries. I want to be in her scriptures so bad because she is the sweetest, most amazing lady. I will get a picture with her sometime soon so you guys can see her. 

Sunday. 

Ayer fue muy bueno. It was fast and testimonly meeting and I shared my testimony on the temple and how much I miss it. I also expressed how special it is that the members have the opportunity to go to the Cordoba temple this Saturday and be in the house of the Lord. Now I testify to all of you as well, that the temple is the most special place in the entire word. I love it with all my heart and would suggest to all of you to attend the temple as often as you can because it really is an enormus blessing in our lives. Also, in church, members here are really willing to feed us. So we have meals almost all of this week and if all the plans go through, in my next email, I will be able to say that this week was a miracle of the relationships between our members and the missionaries and that I am also very fat from the food

So yeah. Not too bad of a week, but I feel like this coming week will be even better becasue we have plans for Ariel´s baptism on Friday and all sorts of people to teach. So until then, keep being the good people you are and please pray for my Spanish, because I really need it!

My feet are much happier now with the insoles you sent.  Thank you. It was so awesome to receive my packages this week. I know it isn't inexpensive to send stuff here, I love it so much and am so thankful.

Con Amor,

Elder Haley

All of the men and priesthood holders in our branch

Helping make the Noquis

This is ñoquis. I know the pictures of the actual food don't look too wonderful, but its actually the best food (other than Asado) that we have eaten

A spider that was fighting with a moth. Spider beats moth, but Elder Haley beats spider. I killed it later because I don't like the idea of accidentally swallowing it in my sleep.

I received my packages, but still no letters. It's funny because I was actually thinking before I got this that I missed Ramen. I'm going to try and find it in other places because its super cheap, easy, and not too terrible.  Oh, and the peanut butter is a little weird from Argentina, but I'm not going to complain. I love it all. Thank you.  There was a lot more in the box too.