Hay Esperanza en Esperanza

HOLA!!
Wow another week that has flown by. This week was awesome, mainly because Jessica and Sebastian got married!!!! Wooooooo!!! We went to the civil building and watched them sign the papers, then everyone threw rice all over them haha It was awesome.  They have two little girls, and they would give me rice and told me to throw it, so I would toss it high up into the air and then the guapitas would run away screaming. haha  Anyway.  I hope Jes. y Seb. feel the spirit and see the blessings from marriage.  This is what the gospel is all about. Building and Strengthening our families until we will live together forever:)  Que hermoso no?  I have some other great news.  I bought a big tray of eggs this morning haha I am slowly adjusting.  Mainly so I can make pancakes but I can eat some scrambled eggs with a hot dog every once in awhile. hahaha More good news, Jose godoy is getting in habit of coming to church again.  He is such a good guy, and he knows church is true, he just has problems with getting divorced and marrying his señora he has now.  It´s sad.  But there is hope in the gospel!  Maybe one day he´ll be baptized but I don't think during my time here.  Also we contacted a house one day and it was a girl from Oregon.  She married and argentine and moved to Esperanza for school.  We taught them the Restoration in English!!! haha It was so cool.  It is way different teaching in English.  Spanish words flew out of my mouth anyway, I couldn't help it haha Its gonna be a disaster when I get home in a few years. Such a cool experience though and they really enjoyed it.  The Restoration is just a powerful message.  It is so true.  I have been studying the Apostasy this week and it has been fascinating.  Because of the Apostasy the only way to have the true church of Christ on the Earth is through a Restoration.  There must needs be a Restoration, and this is the message we are sharing with the world.  I am so grateful that God reestablished His church through Joseph Smith.  I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and that it gives me strength and comfort.  I am grateful for the Priesthood and that through it we can be sealed together as families in the Temple, for time and all eternity.  I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  I know the church is true.  Everyone, I LOVE YOU ALL.  Have a great week and stay firm to the faith.  There is no greater joy in the world than the joy we find through our Savior Jesus Christ and his gospel.  Til next week!
Un Abrazo Fuerte,
Elder Maynard

4 months in the Books

HOLA!!!

Wow, time flies out in the mish.  4 months already... Chau! Well another transfer has gone by too and I´m staying in Esperanza with Elder Clayton for at least 6 more weeks! Wooooo! I love Esperanza.  Also we ended my training, so now I´m officially kind of a missionary! whoooo!!  This week was great.  My birthday was a blast.  I had so much food it was ridiculous.  We ate tacos at a member’s house and a huge old cake filled with dulce de leche.  Everyone needs to have dulce de leche in their lives.  The argentines know what they are doing I´ll tell you what.  The week was really good.  Our investigator Nicholas set a date for baptism for the 26th of this month! YES! haha we will see what happens.  He could use the gospel a lot in his life, obvioulsy.  He has had a lot of struggles in his life but the good news is that the merciful arms of Jeses Christ are extended to everyone ALL THE TIME.  No matter what we can run to our Savior and he will accept us with open arms.  Bad news for the week was that we had zero investigators come to church.  The first time in my mission this had happened.  It made me feel really empty haha but we are going to work hard to get them all to come this week!  Also Jessica and Sebastian are getting married this week! WOOOOO!  They are the coolest people.  They have a faith, not a lot right now, but they have it.  Right now we are trying to build their fire.  Build up the fire of faith until it can’t be put out!!!!  I love how Moroni says in the book of alma that nobody can take away your faith.  If you have a testimony and faith in your heart NOBODY can take it away from you! The church is true! Love you all! I hope you have a great week!  Thanks again for all the birthday wishes and the love and support!

Un Abrazo Fuerte,

Elder Maynard

 

Wow My Birthdays Tomorrow, I feel Old

Como andan queridos?!!

This week was different!! It was good because I was starting to feel like I was in the movie Groundhog Day haha.  This week I spent 3 days in the city of Santa Fe for divisiones.  It was fun being in the city.  There are crazy taxi drivers and all you here is them honking their horns.  No patience or mercy with driving in the city.  I went on divisions with my zone leader Elder Johnson. The kid is so funny, I was just dying laughing the whole time.  I showed him a picture of my family and he wants to take Brittney on a date. Uh oh, watch out Britt.  It was fun working in Santa Fe.  There is a lot more poverty and a Little dangerous in this área because of it.  I learned a lot from Elder Johnson.  The Mission lacks priesthood holders.  We need to have quality conversions here.  The misión exploded a few years ago with lots of baptisms, but the problema is that they are all less actives now.  Santa Fe needs more people to lead the área so that they can have progression.  I´m going to focus more in this.  After divisiones Elder Clayton and I visited a less active in the hospital in Santa fe.  I just feel bad for people here.  It was like a really old dirty high school with flies everywhere! Nasty.  They made us wear face masks and vests to go and visit the less active sister.  She has been less active for years, but is starting to rely more on god because she is in bad condition.  I can’t remember which Scripture but in Helaman it says that the Lord gives us afflictions and trials in this life so that we will remember Him.  And He can help us through all trials!  Our investigators are in a slump right now.  Jessica and Sebastian have tons of questions but they haven’t been praying for answers.  You have to pray people!  We had a special conference this week at our stake center where we had a broadcast from Elder Hales and Elder Cook.  Words of prophets are powerful.  The main theme was missionary work!  The greatest work in the world! And the Lord is calling for more troops!  One of our investigators named Nicholas came.  He is a stud! He is 22 and just wants to follow Christ.  He is very strong in another church but I´m glad he got to hear the words of Christ´s Apostles. 

The church is true everyone! I’ll say it every week haha I know Christ lives and that he can raise us up when we fall. He is always with us.

Thanks you all for the birthday wishes! Party on! And thank you grandmas and grandpas for the letters! I love them! Have an amazing week.  Love you all.

un abrazo fuerte,

Elder Maynard