Testimonio

Hey Everyone!

Wow... it was a super crazy week as I started my last transfer of the mission.  I have been feeling really weird because I am now one of the oldest missionaries in the field.  It seems like yesterday that everyone was calling me the youngin.  Now some are calling me the veteran.  Oh boy.  The mission is awesome.

I think that the best part of the week has been the opportunity to share my testimony.  In reality I share my testimony everyday but I had a few special occasions to do it this week. 

 New Missionaries:  I shared my testimony with all of the new missionaries.  I told them that the mission is the best thing that I have ever done.  They are going to love every second of it.  I have been thinking a lot about why I chose to serve a mission.  I chose to serve a mission because I prayed about the Book of Mormon and I was able to know that it is true.  I have also always felt the spirit as I have heard the first vision.  I know for sure that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.  But here in the mission I have gained a testimony of Jesus Christ.  I know that He lives and that He has carried me along the way.

Mission Council:  I shared my testimony in mission council and I was safe to tell everyone that the best convert in my mission was me.  I have been able to come to know for myself that these things are true.  I just hope to be a faithful servant of the Lord my whole life.  My whole life I hope to be worthy to enter the temple and I can do it because the power is within me.

Dorita:  I testified to a nice lady, Dorita, that families can be together forever.  This knowledge has comforted me during my whole mission.  I told her that it is possible through the work that is done in the temples.  She could feel a special spirit and she accepted a baptism date.  :)

Sacrament Meeting:  I gave a talk in sacrament.  I testified of Christ and His atonement.  I testified that His atonement is real because I have been able to be a participant of it.  it is marvelous. Isaiah 1: 18 ´´Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.´´

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  I have been called by Him to declare His word among all people so that they can have eternal life.  It has been a blessing to be able to share my testimony with all.  I will be trying to fuel my testimony as much as I can during these last 5 weeks and during my whole life!

Una vez más, una vez menos, I love you all!  Til next week

Love,

Elder Maynard

Misiòn Argentina Santa Fe
 DyC 128: 22 Hermanos, ¿no hemos de seguir adelante en una causa tan grande? Avanzad, en vez de retroceder. ¡Valor, hermanos; e id adelante, adelante a la victoria! ¡Regocíjense vuestros corazones y llenaos de alegría! ¡Prorrumpa la tierra en canto¡

 More mission council pics

Divisions with Zone leaders 

Easter package photo 2 

 2 days late selfie with dad for his birthday

 Selfie with pres

 Selfie with mission home

 Selfie with Newbies

 I got my Easter package!!! THANKS MOM!!!!

My grandson, Great Grandson, and Great Great Grandson

 Food with the boys

 The only elder from spain

 My great great grandson

President opened his coke and it exploded 

 CHORIPAN

Saying goodbye to all of the friends in mission council 

GOOD BYE ELDER LLANOS!!! 

 The new missionaries' luggage

Taking off in a Argentina cape 

Once again at the mission home 

 The first time that I have laid down on grass in 22 months.  Wow...

The Final Countdown

Hola!

This week was a full week.  We were constantly busy.  Actually the whole mission is really busy.  We finished up a service project this week.  We just moved a bunch of dirt for a guy.  I think that it was the biggest mountain in Santa Fe and we took it down.  There is one lady who lives near by the guy that we helped out.  When we finished the lady came out to talk to us and she said, ``You are true Christians.  For real I tell you.  You guys do all that Christ said... Even more.`` How cool is that?  We taught the restoration to the man that we helped out but he isn`t very interested.  We see that no effort is wasted in missionary work.  The nice neighbor lady saw our efforts and in the end everyone has a softer heart and there will be more missionary opportunities in the future.  Everything is on God`s time and according to His plans. 

We have begun teaching a lady named, Analia.  She has already read the introduction of the Book of Mormon and she is praying to know the truth.  I asked her how she felt while praying and she says that she was full of peace.  She also said that she feels lots of peace in our lessons.  ``You guys transfer a peace in your way of being.``  I just love cool comments like that.  Analia is carrying out her commitments so we will see if she will come to church with us next week!

Almost every morning I have been listening to the song, ``Praise the Man.``  I think that it might be one of the most spiritual parts of my day.  We have a picture of the first vision in our pension and I look at it while the song is playing and I just feel the spirit so strong.  Joseph Smith is a prophet of God.  I knew it before my mission and my mission has just increased that knowledge.  I just wanted to share that testimony with you.  Also watch this video, it`s awesome. (https://history.lds.org/story/first-vision)

We have been visiting an inactive member, Mariana, and her none member family.  Mariana was sick this week so we gave her a blessing.  During the blessing, she fainted.  Right in the middle of the blessing she fainted.  I think that it is the craziest thing that has happened in my mission so far.  Everyone rushed to help her.  I was just in shock.  She came back to consciousness in about 5 minutes.  It was really intense.  I was hoping that she had a vision or something but nothing like that happened.  I still am not sure what to think about it but it was pretty crazy.
Well, today I start the last transfer of my mission.  I cannot believe it.  I am just going to try and soak up these last 6 weeks.  I am just going to try and keep on doing what I know what to do.  I have learned a lot about prayer during the mission.  I have offered up the most heart felt prayers to my God during these last 22 months.  I have learned that prayer is a tool for us to know the will of God.  It is not a petition so that our desires are fulfilled.  If we pray with true intent, then we can know the will of God and we can turn our hearts over to Him. Only by turning our hearts over to Him can we truly be cleansed from our sins.  Helaman 3: 35 ``Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.`` I will do my best to give my whole heart, might, mind, and strength to the All Mighty Creator before my time runs out.  I love you all.  The church is true, God lives.

Love,

Elder Maynard

Misiòn Argentina Santa Fe
 DyC 128: 22 Hermanos, ¿no hemos de seguir adelante en una causa tan grande? Avanzad, en vez de retroceder. ¡Valor, hermanos; e id adelante, adelante a la victoria! ¡Regocíjense vuestros corazones y llenaos de alegría! ¡Prorrumpa la tierra en canto¡

Service time 

 the spider is bigger than it looks 

 We finished the beast

 Mate cocido y alfajor 

PANCHO

 The goodbye lunch with the boy elder llanos!