Elder David Maynard

Monday, December 7, 2015

Parque Del Sur

Hola Todos!

Big News!! My new comp is Elder De La Rosa and he is from the Dominican Republic! Yes, I have already talked to him about Sammy Sosa. GO CUBS!!! But Elder De La Rosa is a stud. He is almost 21 so he is very mature. He came to the mission WAY PREPARED! I am way excited that he is my comp. He is a good guy, he´s going to help me out even more with my Spanish!

Well, I am finally out of Esperanza. My birthplace here in Argentina has already come to a close. Parque del Sur is awesome. I like the city feel. There are always tons of people in the streets. Which is perfect for missionaries! Presidente Perez, our mission president, has been focusing on having faith! The Scripture in D&C 33 that if we open our mouths, they will be filled. What a great promise! So I have been trying to exercise my faith and talk to EVERYONE! It´s been funny because many people in the streets here think that I am from Brasil. hahaha But the promise from our Heavenly Father is so true. It is really awkward to begin to talk to people. I don´t know what to say or how to speak very good haha But it is amazing how ideas and words come to your head to share the gospel. We have been dropped here in Parque del Sur with no investigators and no direction, but we have already found great success in these few short days from opening our mouths. God is good! And He ALWAYS prepares the way and ALWAYS fulfills his promises. We already have 6 or 7 appointments set up from just talking to everyone in the street. We shouldn´t doubt or have fear, because the Lord is with us. Open your mouth, and it will be filled!!!

I am so grateful for the mission. I am excited for the adventure ahead of me and all the new things that I am going to learn. I am grateful that the Savior is by my side and the Heavenly Father continues to bless me abundantly. I love you all! Have a great week.

Con amor,

Elder Maynard

Saying goodbye to some people in esperanza. our friend who fixed our bikes all the time and Rogelio a MA

Last pic with RODOLFO!!!! I love the guy

and Lucas a stud who we taught English

Last Sunday morning in esperanza. they are the best

and the best mustache in town Hermano Telmo Vera

Jessica and sebastians awesome little girls

and jes and Seb

THE BOYZZZ

and stud mish leader Hermano Jordan

All the missionaries of Esperanza that are leaving. Team Esperanza!!

and stud MA who has overcome lots of challenges and is back on right track

La Familia SPies. He is Branch President

Hermano NIz! Capo

and Flia Varela they got sealed in temple during my time here!!!

I cant tell you how much I love all these people. THeyve been my family here in argentina

Our two stud investigator families that we have been teaching the last few weeks

Last lunch with Flia spies and their humble home. Im gonna miss it

last pic with flia acost!!!

and romantic murals in esperanza hahahah

Last ice cream in esperanza

and last pic with plaza!!

cChristmas in esperanza.... nah ya fue

NIcholas and Jes y Seb. Investigators I have loved and they all have been so close to baptism. Just not there time yet. Love these guys

I overcame the bike

Last night party with elder clayton

and then all the ice cream we´ve eaten together hahaha

Saying goodbye to my apartment for last 6 months

and hello to elder De la ROsa!!

All new trainers and newbies

Elder Clayton and I with our new kids haha

Elder Maynard is ready for Christmas!!!!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Vamos a La Cuidad

Hola Personas Hermosas,

Well the time has come. Elder Maynard is leaving Esperanza. I am going to the city! My new area is called Parque Del Sur and a big soccer Stadium is there. I´m about to experience Argentina soccer fanaticism haha I don´t know who my new companion is yet. I will meet him tomorrow so you all will have to wait til next week to find out!

This past week was awesome. Through lots of hard work we have found 2 new investigators! One is a family of three. Parents and a 14 year old son. THEY ARE AWESOME! They have completed every single commitment we have left. Every one. The 14 kid has asked us questions how he can help share gospel with his friends and step sister. Que Capo que es! He is going to be a missionary one day, I know it. They committed to come to church next week but Elder Maynard and Elder Clayton won´t be here. It was a tender mercy from the Lord to be able to meet them and to teach them. Through hard work the Lord blesses us! Another Investigator named Palomeque came to church this week. It was so awesome! She is the señora of a less active. She said she loved church, she loves the Book of Mormon, and she wants to keep on coming. What do you all think? A future baptism? YES! It´s just amazing how we have continued to work hard and the Lord has blessed us in our last few weeks here. Miracles come after the trial of faith. It was such a blessing to meet these new people and see the progress in them before I go.
Well Everyone, I cannot explain to you how much I love Esperanza. 5 and a half months here went by real fast. I learned so much. So much. I learned that I am nothing. The Lord is all powerful and I have to depend on him. I learned that missionary work isn´t easy, but the results and the joy that come from it are beyond measure. I learned to love a lot of people! I have come to love the 2 comps that I have had here. I LOVE the members. Some of the most humble, generous, and loving people I have ever met. I have come to know more about my Savior. I have found strength in Him. I have found peace in Him. I have found the power of His atoning Sacrifice. I have found ESPERANZA in Christ. Esperanza, te quiero mucho. I am going to miss it, but I am excited for the many more adventures ahead.

Happy birthday to my super hero of a mom this week! Everyone give her extra love for me. 42 never looked so good:) Love you mom!!!!! Have a good week everyone!

Con mucho Amor,

Elder Maynard

ELder Maynard loves blue skies and pepsi

Esperanza streets... you can't get any better

and called Pringles hahaha

We visited the cemetery oooooooooo

The legendary dog.... TRIPOD

Elder Maynard Likes ice cream and its a miracle he has only gained three pounds in his whole mission up until now.

and the very first panaderia I ever went to. FACTURAS!!!

Dog in the bank. only in Argentina hhahahaç

and last district meeting!!

Crazy familia hang that I love hahah

Elder Maynard working on his soccer game

There are busts all over the city haha

THANKSGIVING!!!

La familia Acosta!! They are awesome

and another park where I got my workout on in the mornings

Monday, November 23, 2015

Feliz Día de Gracias

Hola Familia!!!!

This week was awesome!!! Just like every week haha. Some news before I forget, I won`t be writing until next Tuesday because we have transfers this week. We will see if I am still in Esperanza or not! haha So that will be exciting!

This week we had quite a bit of success. We have visited a lot of new people! We will see if they turn into investigators. This week Elder Clayton and I have really pushed to encourage people to pray. Lots of people don`t like to pray. I have been thinking and I have come up with some reasons why people don´t. 1. The adversary is constantly attacking people so that they don`t want to pray, obviously. 2. People think it´s weird. If they don´t have faith in God, I can see why praying would be weird. But big news for all the unbelievers out there. GOD LIVES! 3. People are afraid of the answer they will receive. And that is why the prophets in the Scriptures constantly say that we have to pray with real intent. With real intent, faith, and humility to pray, we can receive personal revelation! So we just have to overcome all of these obstacles and pray! We talked with a ton of people this week and persisted until they prayed. I cannot explain how humbling it is to hear people pray for the first time. It is probably my favorite thing in the mission. The thanks they give to God for the simplest things is a great example for me. I try to give thanks every night for the little things from the day. And HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! May we all take a little time to personally pray to Heavenly Father on Thanksgiving, offering nothing but our gratitude! This is my challenge for all of you this week! I know that prayer changes lives, because it has changed my life. Through prayer I have come to know that this church is true. Through prayer I have been moved to serve a mission. Through Prayer I have been moved to repent, and receive forgiveness from my almighty God. Though prayer I feel my Heavenly Father´s comfort and love. Have a great week everyone!! Love you all! Happy Thanksgiving.

Un abrazo,

Elder Maynard