The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

Hey everyone!

It`s been a dark week.  I haven`t felt sunshine in 11 days.  Only cold sprinkles of rain or cold beating rain.  No one ever told me that Argentina would be like Seattle or the Atlantic Ocean.  This week it has felt like it.  The only cool thing is to see the complete amazement on people`s faces when we knock on the door.  ``The rain doesn`t even stop you guys?`` ``Wow, you guys keep going in the rain?``  Yes, people!!  Because what we share is the truth!  Now repent, and be baptized.

Along with the rain, this week was a rollercoaster.  Francisco didn`t get baptized. For three days we couldn`t find the guy.  He is normally always in his humble home, but it seems like the rain sent him to the house of his friend.  Anyway, eventually we did find him and everything was looking good for his baptism.  But.. Instead of coming to his baptism at 7:00 PM, he came at 7:00 AM.  Oh no!  Poor guy is just pure of heart and innocent haha Anyway, we went to look for him at about 7:30 PM and he had returned to the house of his friend.  But his friend was drunk and kicked us out of his house and wouldn´t let us talk to Francisco.  It was a weird situation, just a mess.  Lots of people showed up for the baptism and made cakes and treats.  My heart just sunk.  Elder Gonzalez and I just felt helpless.  We did everything we could do.  Anyway the baptism turned into a huge family night watching Mormon Messages haha Francisco showed up at church the next day and told us that his friend is crazy.  Francisco still wants to be baptized so we have moved it to this Saturday.  Everything is all good.  Just a bit stressing and lots of new, interesting experiences.  The mission is awesome.  It always throws you a curve ball.  We`ll be swinging for the fences next week. 

The gospel is joy.  Life is hard.  It is hard for everybody, No one can avoid the trials and afflictions of Life.  Only the gospel can allow us to have joy in the midst of our afflictions.  Sufrimos con gozo.  I am not going to lie, it was a week of trials I have never faced before, but I am happy.  Christ walks shoulder to shoulder with us in our difficult times.  He always walks at our side but especially in the moments of trials.  Our Father in Heaven wants us to be happy so He sent His Beloved Son, and through Him, we can find happiness even in the dark times.  I know that Christ lives.  The Spirit of God has made this known unto me and I cannot deny it.  Have a great week everyone! Be happy, we have ourselves a baptism next week! Vamos Israel!

Con mucho amor,

Elder David Maynard

 This guy is Elder Meyers. He gave me goldfish and we made Pepa milkshakes

 11 month alfahor!

 Lesson with the boy Francisco!

 Cleaning the baptismal font! haha 

 We bought cake because Francisco didn't get baptized haha

 Coconut ducle de leche ake is almost as sweet as a baptism....

 Pics on empty sunday streets haha

Conferencia Genial

Hey Everyone!

Wow, how is everyone doing after conference?  I was looking forward to it for a long time and I can´t believe that it has already come and gone.  But it was awesome.  I just want you all to know how much I love my family.  I LOVE YOU GUYS!  All the best buddies, crazy babies, der, britt, mom and dad.  I love you.  I loved how it talked about the family and I have the best family in the world and for all eternity, all thanks to our greatest older brother, Jesus Christ.  I love to hear the testimonies of the Atonement.  Christ loves every single one of us and suffered for each and every one of us individually.  He cares for us and knows us by name.  I am thankful for the Priesthood and the restoration of the everlasting gospel.  I am thankful for the sacred calling that I hold now as a missionary to share this message.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  

Fransisco is one of three men here in Victoria that attended all 5 general conference sessions.  It was him, one brother from the ward, and the stake patriarch.  That is good company.  We didn´t pick him up once, only invited him and he came.  He made the 25 min walk by himself about 8 times, coming and going.  He smiled as he walked around the church and passed out little candies to everyone.  He joked and laughed as he drank mate with the members.  And he always told me that he was feeling good.  He was happy. It looks like he has found a new home.  He has changed a lot since we first met him.  He has a brighter glow in his face, he is no longer depressed and lonely, but rather he is happy and has a new big family.  Most importantly, he has found his Savior, Jesus Christ.  Fransisco passed his baptism interview and will be baptized on Saturday the 9th of April, 2016 at 7:00 pm Argentina time.  I would invite you all to come but I am pretty sure that would be against mission rules.  What a bummer.

Keep studying the words of the living prophets, keep praying, keep believing, keep moving forward with faith. Miracles always come, they always do.  I know the church is true.  I know that Christ lives.  I love you all.

Elder Maynard

 a bunch of pics I recently got from my comp

 we ate choripan!!!

 the sister missionaries had a baptism a few weeks ago

 we taught a lesson with a pig behind us

 a cool school in victoria

a district meeting

 a beautiful morning 

with banana pancakes

we ate hamburgers

  the Victoria crew on the bus to a meeting with an area 70

I found this kid who was in my volleyball class at Herriman.  he remembered me because he remembered that i had a little sister named Amanda in the class :/

  Argentina delivers again.

 the crew with fransisco walking home in the rain

 churros with dulce de leche

 my view eating breakfast every morning

 conference group watching it in english haha

 noche de hogar conozca a los mormones

 a good sunset

I made the comp and I tortas fritas with all natural honey 

La Pascua

HOLA!

Happy Easter!!  Argentines don´t do much for Easter... They just sleep.  Pretty much every holiday they just sleep and they get mad when Mormon Missionaries knock on their door in the morning. haha But last week an inactive member gave us chocolate Easter eggs, so that´s how I celebrated Easter.  I also celebrated by testifying of Christ.  When people did answer the door they were really receptive.  It is amazing to see how the minds of people change during special times of the year.  Everyone recognizes the Light of Christ easier.  Christ Lives!

We had a special surprise on Sunday, Fransisco went to church by himself.  We went to pick him up and he wasn´t in his house, he was already waiting for us in the chapel.  What a champ.  This week we taught him the word of wisdom and by the end he could repeat the 5 things that we should avoid.  Also after the lesson on the law of chastity he said ´´Muy Bien.´´ (Very good)  It seems to us that he is progressing!  He has had a hard time understanding that a prayer isn´t something recited, it is an open conversation with God.  His prayers this week were much better.  I love hearing humble and simple prayers.  They are good examples for me.  Fransisco is in the fast lane towards his baptism on April 9th.

This week I am almost 100% sure that I had a sinus infection.  My head felt like it had been hit by a 95 mph fastball, and there were extra-terrestrial things coming out of my nose.  It was pretty amazing.  I prayed and I said, ´´God, if I need to go to the hospital, please make my head hurt worse.  If I am going to be ok, please take my pain away.´´ Since then I have been absolutely fine. How awesome is that?  God answers prayers, even short and simple ones.  Thank you all for your prayers for me and your love and support.  They really work, they really do.

This past week we invited 2 other investigators to be baptized, and they said yes! They are named Ariel and Felix.  We haven´t taught them much, but anyone who says yes to baptism is an awesome person.  They accepted for the 23 of April.  We are going to visit them tonight and I will let you know more about their progress next week.  The Lord is preparing the way.  We just have to follow along.

I am really excited for general conference.  I know that we have a living prophet of God who holds the Priesthood authority.  Authority that is only found en la Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días.  I know that Christ lives.  That He left the tomb, that He broke the bands of Death that He has a glorified body of flesh and bones, that He has all power over all things, and that He directs His church today.  Enjoy conference everyone! I love you all!

Un abrazo,

Elder Maynard

 Big facturas

Members ask me to do jobs that are high, like changing a light bulb 

Empenadas made of Cheese.  I eat everything now

 

 I'm on a roof:)

 VICTORIA

 A nice malta and a newspaper haha

Is this thing on? haha

We did service at an old guys house cleaning up and it was like a museum.  Amazing house with a great view 

 More of the cool house.

 Morning of zone conference!!!

 Too many facturas and Chocolate milk!!!

 COKE WITH PRESIDENTE PEREZ HAHAHA

 Empenadas are the best

 DADS BIRTHDAY CAKE HAHA

 Zona Paraná Sur

 Celebrating Dad´s birthday with a good ole dulce de leche alfahor

 Argentina is amazing

 Slide on through here to get to Fransisco's house

Sunday Argentine street pic