Monday, July 21, 2014 2:04 PM

No Time

That is so weird that Erica got married! I just can’t imagine my cousin having a husband ya! So weird! But being her I’m sure she picked a stud! This week was good; we went fishing with a member and got back late so sorry that I have no time to write to you all, no time. I love you all and will keep you in my prayers!

Love,

Elder Andrew

Monday, July 21, 2014 6:53 AM

There are some fotos of us before Argentina lost :( my companion trying to listen to the final from the balcony haah. An activity of locro (traditional argentine food) that we had on Saturday and we dressed up like gauchos. investigators and recient converts. The sister with the pot is like our mom in the ward, super saintly lady. The intercambio I did with Elder Richards and from their pech you can see the cancha de quilmes!  

Well Mom last week you asked how my shoes were doing and I just wanted you to be at peace knowing that my shoes are doing just fine! Even my flip flops are holding up good

           

Sunday, July 13, 2014
2nd place.....
Brazil decime que se siente! tener en casa tu papa! There is the beginning of a song the argentines loved to sing for the world cup and even though we aren’t world champs this time, we at least finished ahead of Brazil, or at least that is how the people here think haha. On Wednesday they played against the Netherlands (who took second in 2010 and always finishes high) and the country was pumped. The game was at 5 and by 3:30 the streets were empty and no one wanted to talk. Around 5:15 we went to an investigators house but should have just headed back to the pench because they just made us watch the game! Then at 7 we went to a noche de hogar (family home evening) that we had scheduled but the game went into overtime so the noche de hogar was just watching overtime, and penalty kicks! Then, when they won, everyone went crazy! Fireworks were lit off, drums were banged, people running and yelling in the streets, and cars driving by waving flags and honking. When we got to the station in Quilmes there was a HUGE mass of people that was blocking the whole street just dancing and parting! It was like nothing I ever saw and was even better than the 9th of July, Argentina Independence Day! Other futbol (soccer) news, I scored two goals today playing with the zone, some call me the next Messi haha. (Messi is the big Argentina soccer star) but to be honest I am glad the mundial (World Cup) has come to an end because now we can just work like normal and not have so much distraction. It is a bit sad how sacred futbol is here.On Sunday we were ordered by president to stay in the pension all day and my comp went out on our balcony to try and listen to a neighbor who had the game on really loud haha, I don’t blame him poor guy I mean he did play in a professional league before the mission. It must have been difficult to not be able to geek out with this mundial. On Wednesday we had interviews with the president and they were super good! I was the first one to be interviewed because we had to get there early to set everything up and were going to do something different.... practices! Every elder or sister had their interview and then had an hour of practices with us and the assistants. So my interview went well. He really is a really good man and a person can just feel relaxed around him, always smiling. Then the practices were awesome! I got to be with my old friend elder Godoy to do all of them! He goes home in two weeks so it was really special to be able to teach with him. I also could learn from a lot of the Hermanas and Elders in the zone, we really are blessed to have a really good zone with good teachers. Because of that and an intercambio (exchange) and then Sunday in the pench we hardly got to work in our area the whole week, but this week we are all pilas ready to go! Elder Suarez is helping me to have a greater desire to get to really know the scriptures and to read a lot more. Today I finished "Our Heritage" really good book, and started on Jesus the Christ. I read those at night or sometimes while I eat breakfast, sure am learning a lot! I love this work and will try to do it even better, because none of us is perfect and we can always get better! I love all of you very much!
Elder Andrew
p.s. I don’t know if you want me to be trunking or something with all your reminding me that I almost have one year in the mission! I try not to think about it :( I’ll just have to really aprovechar the second one! :)

Monday, July 7, 2014 1:37 PM

Argentina, soon to be world champs!

Thank you all for your letters I love reading them and I loved your scriptural insights Mom! You all are so awesome and help me to keep going. I too have been learning a lot in the scriptures, I am trying to memorize more scriptures, read the New Testament, read the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel. It is a hard task and I usually don’t get to the New Testament, but I just want to learn so much and I feel like I have so little time! I should have read all the standard works before my mission (hint little brothers). But I feel like I am learning a lot and the scriptures help me to think on new things. I loved something I read this morning about Nephi. After hearing about his father’s vision he had the desire to learn more about it. So he sat there and meditated on it. As he meditated, he was carried away in a vision, where he saw the Holy Ghost and talked with him. His understanding was enlightened and he was able to get his desires of gospel knowledge and even saw the life of the Savior. It made me think of the scripture that instructs us that we are to learn by study as well as by faith. Interesting concept! This week we got someone with a new baptismal date! Her name is Martina, and she is the daughter of an inactive family where the dad is trying to become active. I say trying because his body is ridden with cancer so he can’t go to church. It is a really sad situation and we hope that the progress of his daughter can bring him some happiness as these might be his last days. I am learning a lot of patience and feel like the Lord is refining me for something great. We had a meeting with the bishop and it was a small step forward! Then, on Sunday, another meeting with the president of the quorum de elderes (Elders Quorum President), another step! Step by step this will become the best area in the world! If I ever come back discouraged at the end of a day I try to start out the next day new, have a good study and go out fresh and ready to work. This next week I am determined to knock doors, talk to more people in the street or colectivo (bus), whatever because we need some new investigators! I always try to ask for references (the best way to find new investigators) but if you aren't getting them you still need to find new people! I am getting to know the zone better and that helps me out, loving other missionaries and worrying about helping them out, helps me out. This next week we have interviews with president. On Thursday we went to eat lunch with the family Clawson. You might say that is an American last name.... and it is! The hermano is from the United States! It was pretty weird they all spoke English and the hermano made me do the prayer in English. They had a SUPER huge house and were loaded with money. They all had i phone 5 which is super hard to find because they don’t really let apple products into Argentina. It was pretty crazy; this ward is just crazy haha! But don’t you worry I will keep working and I love this work. There are people waiting for us here in Quilmes, we just need to find them!

love y un besito,                                                                             

Elder Andrew

p.s. Some people tell me I talk like an argentine (one mission goal down!)