Tucuman - September 2nd

Hey fam!

So I kinda got caught trying to upload fotos and it ate a lot of time... I'll have to be fast again.

We had a miracle this week as I started off bouncing from member to member waiting for my new companion to get here, since I always had to be with someone. We found a drunk guy in the street that stopped us and said, "I want to change, and I feel like I need to talk to you guys." From there, after teaching him a little of the plan of salvation, he said, "I already feel better!" Miracles happen!

Speaking of miracles, there was a lady that stopped us in the street and said that she wanted a pamphet. It's always cool when people talk to us instead of us talking to them!

Our new bishop is really cool! I had a meeting with him and we talked about his vision and plans for the ward. I'm pumped!

Elder Lyman. He´s my new comp.

Elder Lyman's my new comp.

I'm trying to send a pic. He's from Tooele Utah, very gringo, and fresh from the MTC! And really tall. Really cool Elder, and I'm excited to be with him. I was a little surprised because I was one of the younger trainers and one of the few that got a missionary that doesn't already have time on the mission waiting for a visa. It's great!

Lucas... I was thinking about dropping him and then this last Sunday he went up and bore his testimony in sacrament meeting. I'm still not sure if he said that he knows the church and the Book of Mormon are true just because everyone else was doing it or if he really believes it, but we'll see!

We got to take a member with us to testify to Flia Jimenez Garnica  about marriage. Thanks for being a great example of that parents! Makes it easier to testify of the blessings.

I hope you all have a great week!

Landon

Elder Brown. Not my comp, but we went to the same school. We graduated together.

Tucuman - August 26th

Hello Dearest Family!

Walmart!

This week was pretty great! We went to Walmart last Monday and printed pictures. There´s another branch of Walmart here called Chango Mas, which is really close to where we live. We can buy just about everything there, but the true Walmart, which is farther away, really does have EVERYTHING. Plus you can print pictures. Speaking of pictures, I forgot to bring my cord today. I´ll send them soon, I promise!

We had a cool miracle this week. The Jimenez-Garnica family that we´ve been teaching for forever (where the dad didn´t want to give permission) had a problem with a neighbor and had to move. We always say, "Whatever you need, call us." Finally someone did! We were able to ask a non-member husband of a less active to lend us his truck, and a former investigator saw us in the street and said he´d come with to help out. Later, the guy with the truck had to go to work, but another member with a mini truck came and we were able to fit it all! The whole family went to Ward Conference this week and had a wonderful experience! For the first time in months of attendance, Brother Jimenez, the dad, went with his family, and Sister Garnica said that she really felt comfortable in church, and like God had really responded! The church is for the family. I´ll keep you updated on them.

We talked to another family this week. They´re members, but going through a divorce. She doesn´t want to go to church because they talk so much about the family and she knows that her family can´t be eternal, and that it hurts to go. I had no clue what to say, but it was amazing to see the Spirit work through me and my companion. We were able to teach about trusting in the Lord and his promises. Although we don´t know everything, we know enough to trust him.

In Ward Conference, lots of great stuff happened! We got a bishop finally, who seems ready to work! We also got a new Ward Mission Leader, that has a ton of desire to work! They also introduced a plan to get the home teaching going. I´m excited!

Birthday cake! A sister made that for me!

My birthday I ate cake. A couple sisters prepared a party for me, but no males could come, so they sent us home with the hot dogs and cake. It was really great of them. I also got to celebrate as dad recommended, inviting people to get baptized. We challenged 2 people that day and they´re preparing for the 21st of September. What a great birthday! Plus I went around showing the picture Caitlin drew of Pres. Monson and told everyone he turned 86 that day. I love prophets!

I studied a lot in the Atonement this week. I love the scriptures! I learned a lot about perseverance and prayer.

On a less spiritual note, we saw a Corvette Z06 and an Audi TT in a super poor part of our area. It was so weird!

Well, that was the week! Oh, and it was transfers today. My companion went to the inner city and I´m staying here... training! I´m leaving for Salta Wednesday to pick up my comp. In the mean time I´ll be hanging around with the zone leaders and members.

I hope you all have a great week!

Landon

Tucuman - August 19th

Hello Family!

Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes! It was so nice to read a letter from every one of you! This week we had a zone training, meaning that the mail came!

The district two translados ago!

I got a letter from Russell Taylor. It was so sweet to get a letter from him! If you see him, tell him thanks!

I got to use Taekwon-Do! It's not what you think. There's a kid that goes to the ward here that's a high-yellow belt. While his mom was cutting my comp's hair we did Do-San together. Ah! It was so great! I'm glad my Heavenly Father gave me a chance to use TKD like that on my mission. It truly is the International TKD federation.

After the zone conference, we were super energized to invite everyone to baptism. I was on divisions with Elder Bench, who doesn't speak a whole bunch of Spanish, but we had a great time!

Elder Bench. He´s pretty new. The district leader was

 in my area for quite a while, so we had some good 

bonding moments. He´s only been here a few months, 

but he´s super cool. Also, grido, half the reason I´m so fat.

Asado! Kidney, fat, filled intestine, etc. The other reason I´m so fat.

We invited everyone to get baptized, even if we only talked to them for ten minutes and it was incredible how many people accepted, and told us who else we could invite. It was a day full of little miracles! For example, in addition to what I've already said, the sister that gave us food DIDN'T cook polenta! I´m not exactly sure how to describe polenta, but everyone hates it. I don't mind it, but Elder Bench was super happy. When we went to cross the busy avenues, cars stopped coming. We didn't have to wait to cross the street all day. It was something I've never seen. It's those little miracles that let us know that God is truly a caring father.

The other day we were making contacts when a lady said that she thought that a member lived around the corner. We went to the house and found out that the Young Women's President lived there. Of course, as missionaries, people know we're mormon, but even when you're just a member, people know, and pay attention, even if you don't know it.

I loved using art this week! I cannibalized a gospel art book to be able to carry the pictures in my little pack, and pulled them out on a few contacts. It's so much easier to understand who the prophets are and who Mormon was and where the Book of Mormon comes from and all that when there are pictures to accompany the words. It's interesting to see how captivated people become when you pull out art.

I had a really cool lesson on temples and family history with an ex-gang boss that got baptized a year ago. Incredible how people can change!

In lunch I got to share Alma 47 and the story of Lehonti because the family asked why the war chapters were included. We applied it to their lives and they were super excited to read more! Applying is the secret to loving the scriptures!

Well, that was my week! I hope yours was equally as awesome! Thanks again for the birthday wishes!

Landon

Tucuman - August 12th

Dear Family,

I doubt that you guys know just how much influence you have on me from so far away. I love you guys so much and pray for you often!

More asado.

We started this week with another asado (BBQ). I'm starting to think that they might be against the word of wisdom... I've never seen so much meat in my life! There was kidney, filled intestine, blood sausage, and the normal stuff, of course. Honestly, it was cooked to perfection and really good. I felt like I was in rodizio grill!

I'm so grateful to be a member of Christ's true church. We passed a church that said, "Cult services, these days" and this terrible sound of someone singing very off tune about something to do with the gospel was coming from the door. Then we met a bunch of people that were ticked off with the Testigos (JWs) because they didn't permit blood transfusions and someone here almost died... something like that. I'm just glad to not believe in the traditions of man.

I read a part from general conference from Elder Bednar. I realized just how great it is to have a body, and how crucial they are in our eternal progression. It's great to have apostles and prophets to clarify doctrine! Plus they make surprise talks in church much easier (you can guess what happened yesterday. I'm learning to love opportunities like that!)

I got to do... divisions... to work with another elder, Elder Bench. He's fairly new and still talks like a gringo. I realized that my Spanish has come a long way, and I think I'd finally consider myself fluent, although far from perfect. It was really cool to be senior comp for a day! We had a ton of fun together. I have fotos, but I'm not sure I'll have the time to send them this week.

Me and Elder Ortega.

This week, I thought of my wonderful siblings. It's cool to see the blessings we have in our family!

We miraculously found a menos activo... less active. We were walking and felt like we should go to another street. So we did. The person we wanted to visit wasn't there, but this little girl said hi to us. So we started to do the street contact and she got her mom. Turns out she's a member who's been thinking about baptizing her kids this past week. Yesterday she ran into another member and got thinking about it more. Then God sent us to her last night. This work is full of miracles, and I love it!

Well, that's my time, but I want you all to know that you're so very wonderful and a great help for me. Until next week!

Landon

Tucuman - August 5th

Hey Fam!

Wow! Are we ever seeing the influence of husbands lately! We had a lesson last Monday with a really cool, really open, really prepared lady. Then her husband told us never to come back ever. We also talked to a lady that was really active until she married a non-member that didn't want much to do with the church. She started focusing more on work and hasn't gone to church in years. I know the stories sound kinda negative, but the spirit was so strong when we were talking to those ladies. It just made me realize how important it is to choose someone to marry that is just as spiritually strong as yourself if not stronger, or else it could have some bad consequences.

On a brighter note that has to do with husbands, we're teaching one that's FINALLY coming around! Remember those two girls whose dad doesn't want to give them permission? Well Friday, after around 2 months of trying to help her, their mom received the answer to her prayer. It was like a night and day difference. She was so full of doubts and reluctant to accept anything, then it just changed. We had a lesson with the kids' primary teacher, and she got talking to the mom and shared her conversion story. The next day, Hna. Jimenez (the mom) was completely different. It was amazing! We starting talking to her husband about marriage and giving permission to get baptized and such. The Spirit is so much stronger with the two of us, his three kids, and his wife all helping to convince him to listen to the promptings of the spirit! Families are designed by God. I know it.

Us and the young men and women, including Lucas in the hoodie.

Lucas passed his classes! We asked him what was different about this time and the past two years that he's tried to pass them. He said that he prayed. How powerful is something simple like that! We're trying to help him to recognize that as an answer to his prayers, and relate it with his question about baptism. He'll come around!

There's been a change of temperature, and I got a lot of bloody noses this week, but it's okay because the week ended amazingly! We had 13 investigatos in Sacrament meeting, and all the less actives decided to come. Attendance was around double--almost 100 people! Plus I was happy because we got to our investigators in the morning before the evangelist bus that drives around picking up kids to take them to some apostate church where they brainwash kids - but we got there first! Mwahahaha!

We talked to a guy this week who really believed in transsubstantiation with the sacrament. It got me thinking about all the crazy deep doctrines Satan's invented and how grateful I am to be teaching the pure teachings of Jesus, and to be part of His true church where there is never any error in the revelation nor doctrine.

Anyway, I love you guys! I hope you're all as well as you sound!

Landon

Tucuman -July 29th

Hello Family!

This past week was quite wonderful. We didn't have any of the 5 baptisms we were hoping for, but they'll get there eventually, I have no doubt! Sara (with the dentist and the smoking problem) had a brother that she hasn't seen in 15 years come to visit, so wasn't home almost at all. Carlos, a "dry member" that´s been going to church for years and finally decided to get baptized went on a surprise vacation. The father of two girls that want to get baptized was really stubborn, and refused to give permission, despite every effort from us, the district leader, and the zone leaders, too. David, the father of the girl that passed away, is super ready, and as soon as he gets back from visiting family in Buenos Aires, we have his baptism planned! Satan does a lot to stop people from getting baptized, but only because the blessings are so huge. I'm consoled in the fact that God always wins out in the end.

I want you to know that you guys answered my prayers this past week. I always love getting your letters because you're all so wonderful, but when I read one last week about trials and challenges, it really helped me refocus and get a better attitude. That, combined with the president's letter and a talk from Elder Cook that I remembered - "It's better to look up," made this last week great! I also studied a bit about pioneers and how they took their trials as a way to grow closer to God. The mission is great. My leaders have been a huge support for me lately, and we found a really cool 8 year old that was so happy she was on the verge of bursting into laughter every second. Mosiah 3:19 to mind. (For the ^anatural ^bman is an ^cenemy to God, and has been from the ^dfall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he ^eyields to the enticings of the ^fHoly Spirit, and ^gputteth off the ^hnatural man and becometh a ⁱsaint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a ^jchild, ^ksubmissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.) Despite the below freezing temperatures and other stuff going on, it was so cool to remember my Savior and the importance of doing this work with good cheer (D&C 123:17)

Anyway, we had two great asados this week. It´s like... a grill. Lots of meat. Really tasty. I like Argentina!

We had a cool lesson with an investigator that we've been trying to get to the church. Her 10 year old nephew came with us, and wow! His testimony was fantastic! "I love going to church and reading my scriptures because every time I do it, I feel the Spirit and I know it, and even though I sometimes don't go because my mom sleeps in, I know it's true." Kids are awesome! And as a side note, thanks for never sleeping in parents!

We did double divisions this week. I went with the district leader, then with a zone leader. Being away from my companion a bit helped me to realize how much I've learned and applied from his example. I've become much more insistent, much more excited, and my Spanish has gotten TONS better during my time with him. God knows what he's doing, and has this work organized down to every companionship.

Well, that's what I experienced this week. There's always lots of miracles and great things going on, and I know that if we take the time to be happy and notice them, we'll be blessed richly from our loving Father. Hope you all have a great week!

Landon

Tucuman - July 22nd

Hey Fam!

Not much time today, but I'll write what I can.

We helped a couple guys move a wardrobe the other day and we got to teach them! It was a cool lesson. The guy's wife (they're married!) wants to go to a church. Talking to her made me realize just how grateful I am to be raised Mormon instead of Catholic. They do weird stuff. It also made me grateful for marriage in the US. It's much easier to fulfill the law of chastity when it doesn't take a few months to get married and years to get divorced.

Something that really hit me this week is the power of testimony. If we have a testimony, it doesn't matter what challenges or trials we have - we'll keep the commandments. There are some people I've met that don't go to church or keep other commandments because it's cold or because they have disagreements and all kinds of junk, but really if we have a firm testimony of the gospel, we'll keep receiving the blessings no matter what.

There was a mini earthquake here. I didn't feel anything.

I really like the Liahona. Like it's name, the words of modern prophets are such a great guide when we read them with the spirit in today's world.

Lucas, the kid that would have gotten baptized a couple weeks ago had his mom let him, came with us to pick up investigators to go to church. He's kinda immature, but when he gets with the young men and young women, he fits right in. He's really cool like that.

We had lots of service opportunities this week! From cooking to construction with cement to helping install automatic locks in a car. Really fun!

A scripture hit me in church yesterday - Matthew 11:30. The gospel is the easiest way to live. There was a holiday the other day and everyone was drunk. Plus one of our investigators was super high and doing dumb stuff when we went by the other day, and it made me realize just how easy life is when we obey the commandments.

Last cool story - Sara, who's around 30 and getting baptized as soon as she stops smoking got a blessing from God! Her dentist told her that when she stops, she'll get a free tooth cleaning! It's really cool to see the Lord's hand in the little things.

Well, gotta run! Love you all!

Landon