Sollozo

Hola!!

Wow we had a great week out here!  First, we continued to help a family who is remodeling their back yard.  We spent 6 hours and wheel barrowed 2 big truckloads of dirt for them.  There is no way that they could do this work by themselves.  We have been sharing the book of Mormon with them and the mom of the family, Maria, has been reading!  She has even prayed to know if it is true!  She hasn't gotten an answer yet but she is going to keep on reading and praying.  Her answer will come.  They are really nice people.  It has been fun to help them out and share the gospel with them.  We are going to help them out again this week and teach them some more.  I will let you all know how it goes.  

The Lord has been working miracles this week with our investigator named Leonardo.  This guy is so awesome!  He came to an Elders Quorum activity this week where we showed him the chapel.  He sat in there for a while and then he put his arms on our shoulders and said ``I feel good.  I have peace.  Thanks Brothers. `` Guy is just a stud.  We ate Choripan at the activity, which is like a sausage sandwich. It was a great time.  The following Sunday, Leonardo was just so excited to come to church.  During the whole Sacrament meeting... the WHOLE sacrament meeting, Leonardo just sobbed.  Sobbed and sobbed.  It was amazing.  The testimony meeting was so powerful.  There was a peace and tranquility that just filled my soul.  I began to think why this grown man was just sobbing like a child, and I began to think of one of my favorite scriptures.  3 Nefi 11:19.  Where Nephi kisses the feet of the Savior.  I have thought that when I see my Savior, I will probably cry like a baby and kiss his feet.   This is what I thought about with Leonardo.  He had found his Savior and couldn't hold back his emotions.  He told me that he saw a white light during the Sacrament, his chest was filled with fire, and he couldn't hold back.  He thinks it was the Holy Ghost.  He is excited for his baptism date the 21 of February.

I am so thankful to be a missionary.  I see the miracles of God every day. I testify that He lives and that the gospel is true. Love you all, have a great week.

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful 2 little sisters this week!  Love you Sara and Jessica!!!  I am sending big brother hugs your way!  Miss you tons and have a great birthday!

Con cariño,

Elder Maynard

 The soccer stadium of the enemy.... Union tomàtela

 

VAMOS COLON

 CHillin in the offices after playing soccer.  Im terrible.  

But i got a few jumpshots in too and the mid range game is still nice.

 

 Lunch with awesome family montenegro!

 

Burgers with Eggs. I ate three

 FLAN ES DE LOS CIELOS

ay yall luts muv sum dirt

 Woah man.. thats a lot of dirt we just moved right there

 After moving dirt... lets eat some homemade pizza

 And walking around with normal clothes in the street for 2 minutes and everyone still knows we are the mormons.  Lots of excited comments that people saw us in normal clothes hahah

 Alfahores are irresistible

 Getting that morning jog on and stopping to take fotos because i want to show my family

 We had an activity with elders quorem and lenardo came!! We ate choripan which is heavenly and Leonardo had a great time!

 God paints a picture every night and then sends it over the skies of argentina

 Empanadas me pueden casar

 I have an argentine tree fetish

 and dogs just sleep wherever they want.  Even in the LDS church

 THE CREW

Even leonardo got that selfie game in ahhahahaha

Primero de Febrero

Hola!

Buenas Tardes!  Happy February!  The time flies doesn`t it.  I feel like yesterday was Christmas.  Well, we made it through January.  Everyone says that January is the worst month of the summer, but the truth is that the heat wasn`t too bad.  I was expecting worse.  Sounds like it will be smooth cruising down here in Argentina until spring.  At least I hope.

This week was AWESOME!  We found a guy named Leonardo.  He used to be a boxer but now he is ``Nacho Libre`` according to the words of Elder Clement.  Anyway, Leonardo is a stud.  We taught him the Restoration and right after he asks ``When can I get baptized?``  Wow... If only I heard that question every day.  We kneeled down to pray together about the Restoration and he says to us ``I know it`s true.  I feel it in my heart.  I know God sent you guys.``  The mission is just so cool.  Nothing is more rewarding than that.

We have been teaching an older man named, Pedro.  He was in a gang when he was younger, and he has been shot 7 times.  The guy tells some crazy stories.  We have had some spiritual lessons with this guy.  I have been touched, he doesn´t have much but he always gives us juice to drink.  The people here are so humble and generous.  I love it.  It`s been a great example for me.  We have taught Pedro the Restoration and the Atonement.  He is praying right now to see if he should be baptized.  He gave us some thankful words last time ``I thank you guys, I thank you guys.  Since you guys have been visiting I have been praying.  I feel a lot better and I have more excitement for life.  Thank you guys.``  The mission is just worth it.  A few kind words like that and it just breaks me down into the depths of humility.  I love these people. 

I know that the church is true, this is the Lord`s work.  There is nothing better than being an instrument in the hands of the Lord.  God is a miracle worker.  The mission has showed me how powerful God is. He is real.  He lives. 

I love you all tons.  I am grateful for my family and friends that I have had throughout my life.  Thank you for the positive influences you have had on me.  Have a great week!

Con amor,

Elder Maynard

 Coke floats!! 

 and alfahores!!!

 Alfahores round 2?

 Alfahores round 3?

 Alfahores round 4?  No! 

 Service project we did.  It was a blast

 The pile of weeds that we chopped down going machete

 And the rewards are all worth it!  And the blessings are better haha

 The sunset

 Santa Fe!!!

 THE CREW

These hamburgers were delicious!

It was a Good Week!

Hola!

Como estàs?  Argentina Santa Fe is a great place.  You all should visit it one day.  Luckily for me, It`s still my home for the next 16 months!  There is a temperature that is rather high and a humidity that causes everyone to sweat.  Everyone is friendly and we all complain about the heat together.  While complaining about heat, we drink hot sugar plant water, it`s called mate.  It`s pretty funny and I love it. My poor new companion has asked me various times this week with a concerned voice ´´Elder, where are we?´´ and I have responded ´´Argentina.´´  That`s just a quick example that I haven`t lost my sarcasm. Good thing or bad thing? I don`t know haha

Jonathan is doing great!  He talks a lot more and is beginning to smile more!  So awesome!  I remember the first week that we went to pick him up for church, and my comp and I told him, ´´If you come to church with us today, it will change your life.´´ It has been amazing to see the Lord fulfill our promise!  We also met a new investigator this week, her name is Vanesa, the first lesson she accepted a baptism invitation!  She gives the most uplifting compliments.  She says that we bring a peace and tranquility that she has never felt.  She says she always has a good day after our visits.  I know it is the Spirit and the Lord providing her with all these blessings but it is nice to have her talk good about us.  I am excited to see the future with her.  She`s a great lady.  Like most Argentines she has to get married, but God is working miracles and it will be done!  We are trying to talk with everyone in the street, especially sharing the message of the Restoration.  We have asked people if we can say a prayer, right on the spot, to know if it`s true.  A few people have invited us in, and we have kneeled in their living room, and we offered a pray to God to know the truth of what we are teaching.  It`s so cool.  Those who have accepted the prayer, have also accepted a time for us to return, and they usually send us off with a smile on their face.  The gospel is true.  I know that God has answered the prayer to these people in that very moment.  We will see if they will choose to act on their answer.  The future is bright in Santa Fe.

Well, I love you all.  People always ask if I miss my family.  I always respond, ´´Sì, les extraño un poco pero sè que las familias son eternas.´´  I am grateful for this gospel and that I get to live with you awesome people forever.  Have a great week, enjoy the snow, enjoy the mountains, enjoy rootbeer, enjoy the gospel.

Con amor,

Elder Maynard

 man i love ice cream haha

 First train i have seen in my mission so i tried to take a selfie

 elder clement was a little tired during studies haha

 CHRISTMAS IN JANUARY!!

 They called in the giants to do service projects cleaning the ceiling.  Great family FLia Montenegro.  They are elders quorum president and relief society president and they always give me chocolate milk so I love them

 BIG MAC!!!!