Hoorah por Israel

Queridos familia y amigos,

Just to let you know, I will not be able to put into words how I feel right now.  I have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and joy.  As I look back I cannot believe where the time has gone.  But at the same time I am filled with memories and treasures from the time that I have passed here in Santa Fe, Argentina.  I love this place with all of my heart.  I walk around and I love every detail.  As I pass by I remember people that I have met and memories I have made.  It is sacred ground to me.  It has been the greatest experience of my life.  

I have been praying for strength to stay focused and work hard until the end.  The Lord has blessed me and I have felt completely normal and able to testify and help others until the end.  I have been blessed with charity, happiness, and comfort as I have prayed and fasted the last few weeks.  I feel awesome.  I am happy.

We finished the transfer strong!!  The last few weeks we have had more lessons with members than normal and we are working well with the ward!  We went with a member to teach the Cortez Family about temples and baptisms for the dead.  The spirit was awesome.  The member shared her testimony about when she got baptized in the temple for her grandmother.  The mom, Graciela Cortez, broke down into tears because her mom passed away last year.  We knew that this lesson is what this family needed.  I felt so much love for them.  We have been praying hard for them to know how to help them.  They are progressing fast now.  3 of the girls from this family, Milagros, Dulce, and Guadalupe all accepted a baptism date.  They should get baptized the 20th of May.  We have been inviting them every lesson and finally they accepted!!  Then those 3 girls and another boy from the family, Matias, all went to church with us yesterday.  There is nothing better than taking the sacrament with investigators.  That is what we work for!!  I realized that it was my last sacrament meeting in Argentina and tears came to my eyes as I heard the sacrament prayer.  I then felt an overwhelming feeling of peace.  The gospel is true.  

We have been teaching a very fun family over the last month.  Familia Viozzi.  After a lot of work the oldest daughter, Bárbara, also accepted a baptism date!  They are a great family, but like all families, they have a few problems getting along.  I loved sharing with them some advice that the Lord gives us.  3 Nephi 18: 21 ´´Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.´´  Also a great promise from President Marion G. Romney ´´I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness.´´  What a great promise.  We just have to do the basics.  Pray and read together and the Lord will bless us above measure!  There will be baptisms in Mayoraz in May!!  Let´s go!!

Yo sé que Jesucristo es el Salvador del mundo.  Me ha sostenido y me ha fortalecido durante toda mi misión.  He aprendido confiar en Él y he aprendido depender de Él.  Él me ha santificado y me ha purificado.  Siento que soy un deudor total a mi Rey y Redentor.  No puedo hacer nada sin Él.  Yo sé que es la verdad.  No porque alguien me lo haya dicho, sino porque yo lo he experimentado por mi mismo.  Estoy listo.  Mi tiempo ha llegado.  La obra del Señor no terminará aquí.  Yo seguiré hasta el fin de mi vida.  La misión me ha abierto los ojos.  Ahora puedo ser un instrumento más sabio y más fino en las manos de Dios.  Siempre seré una parte del recogimiento de Israel.  Hoorah por Israel. Hoorah.

I love Elder Bird,  Elder Fillerup, Elder Clayton, Elder De La Rosa, Elder Clement, Elder Gonzalez, Elder Pearson, Elder Llanos, and Elder Gomez.  I love the Provo MTC, I love Esperanza, Parque del Sur, Victoria, Costanera, and Mayoraz.  I love President and Hermana Perez. I love Rodolfo, Familia Perezutti, Jonathan,  Leonardo, Macarena, Fransisco, Felix, Mariana, Alejo, and Liliana.  I love spanish.  I love Argentina.  I love Santa Fe.  I love my mom, my dad, Brittney, Amanda, Jackson, Sara, Jessica, and Luke. I love the Gospel.  I love the Church.  I love my Savior.

Well, I will see you all soon.  It has been a good ride.  I love you all!!

Un abrazo,

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¡