Monday, November 14, 2016

Week 17 - Cockroaches, Heat, Elefante Blanco, more Heat

11/7/16
Wow, this week went from hot, to freezing, and then for the last 4 days, SCORCHING!!! But the heat here is soo different. Its a sauna, and you just sweat. And the worst part, Elder Saez told me it'll get about 3 times worse than it already is.... Nooooo, ok I've never slept without any blanket or pillow before because it was too hot!!

Anyways, at least for now the Blondie, white, gringo boy hasnt been sun burnt, haha

So some interesting things that have happened this week. 

One, If you know what the Elefante Blanco is, or looked up what it is, its an abandoned hospital that is Enormous in the middle of our villa. And its been taken over by the people and its like full of bad stuff. Well anyways we started talking with this guy in the street, and all of a sudden all of his buddies (Which was basically the whole part of the villa we were in) came over to talk with us, and then we met "The Mama". The Mama basically is the mom of the villa, everyone knows her, and everyone loves her, and she invited us into the Elefante Blanco!!!! We met so many people!!! But not one of them were even a little interested. At least we now have a lot of good friends in the most dangerous part of the villa haha

Also I had a ten minute fight with a cockroach today. It got into one of my drawers on my desk, and for about five minutes I chased it around the drawer until I finally flicked it out. Then for about another five minutes I chased it around the pension, until finally it stopped, and snuck up behind it and jumped on it and killed it. It was a pretty actionate thing, because I basically wrecked the pension in the act.

Anyways those are my epic stories for the week.

Investigator wise. We passed by for Marcela 3 times every day and we never saw her, and also she didn't go to church on Sunday....

Vanessa, we had a really good lesson. She told us about how she read the Book of Mormon and how one verse stuck out to her, and she felt like it solved all of her problems, and she accepted a baptismal date! But then afterwards, she didn't want  to give us her cell number, also she didn't want to meet with us for another week, and she didn't come to church.

Basically we don't have anyone solid right now. We find a TON of people, but nobody who wants to progress. I have been fasting to find a family, or at least one person who will progress. And God is a God of Miracles, so Me and Saez will work harder to find 'em. 

Thats about all that happened this week.
I love you all and I love hearing from you
In my reading of the Book of Mormon I'm in Moroni 7. And basically what I've read this week is the destruction of the Jaredites, but also of faith. In Ether it talks a lot about faith. And with faith, the brother of Jared moved mountains, and even saw the Lord. He had so much faith, the Lord could not hide himself from him. Faith is power, but faith is also action. Faith leads us to action.

I Love you all, See yall next week
Elder Ryan













 

Monday, November 7, 2016

Week 16 - It's a straight sauna!

10/31/2016
Bueno, First to Answer some of your questions. It is starting to get very hot here. I can't explain it, but its not just the sun, EVERYTHING and EVERYWHERE is just hot, its a straight sauna and they tell me its gonna get worse.. No!!! Here's what Elder Cook told me; " You're gonna sweat through the night, wake up, take a shower, dry off, and once you're done dryingoff you'll   be soaked again with sweat." 
..... Hahaha oh well, another addition to my mission experience haha. I'm jealous of tucker talking about how cold it is way up north!!

Congratulations to Kaden Olsen!!! Ohio, Columbus!!! Hahaha hes gonna kill it there

No they dont celebrate halloween here, I'm very sad. But I'd be going as Captain America if I could, haha. Nobody here calls me Elder Ryan its either...
Soldado Ryan (Because of the movie Saving Private Ryan)
Captain America
Captain Rogers
Steve 
Rubio (Blondie)
Or Flacco (Skinny)

Anyways so as far as investigators go, Jairo is doing great, he will get the preisthood soon!!!! Graciela was confirmed yesterday, and she told her mom that she wants to go on a mission!!!

We found a new investigator, Marcela, and her husband is a member, and she wants to be one too! She came to church yesterday so keep your fingers crossed and I'll work hard to make it happen, haha
We also found another investigator named Vannessa, her sister called us to come over because shes in pretty bad shape, and we were able to help her out, hopefully she continues to listen to us.

This week was a little weird. I ate a really bad pizza, and got sick the next day. I got rejected BAD by some dude. I basically just did my usual routine, and when I asked him his name, he got really mad at me saying that I have no respect to ask someones name and got mad when I mentioned church, it was interesting to say the least. 

Also this week we had interviews with President. It was good, we learned a lot about being organized in all of our stuff and in our Planning sessions.

Thats about it from Argentina...
Just want to tell you all to look for the miracles that happen every day in your life. They Are There!!! I promise you! Your life will be soo  blessed when you see them

Love you all so much!!! Read the Book of Mormon!!!

 

 

Week 15 - Baptism of Graciela

10/24/16
So this week was really good, just kinda want to talk about some stuff. 

So first, like I said, we had our second baptism with Graciela Woo hoo!! Really, with her in the beginning. She didn't want much with the church, but then one day it just all changed, and she asked us when she could get baptized!!

Later I learned that she began to personally start the Book of Mormon, and read about how Nephi wanted to know the things of his father for himself, and after that, she did the same, offered a prayer, and recieved an answer that this church is true.

This week I did a little Mini Divisions with Elder Garcia, and he asked me a question, What has been the greatest part of your mission so far? I didnt realize it up to this point, but I had so many things!! And I realized I have had so many miracles, some small and some big, and really this mission is changing me!!

We also talked about how strange it was that I am in argentina, with a missionary plaque on my chest, speaking with a chilean in spanish haha This week Elder Saez was sick one day so we stayed in most the day, and I read 350 pages in Jesus the Christ and finished it. 
Elder Saez and I have really turned a corner, we never had a problem with each other but we just didn't click, until these past few weeks. I feel like I'm with one of my best friends or brothers now haha, even though he's older than Ronnie haha!!
I want to bear my testimony on this church. We really do live in a time where there are angels and Miracles!! Just like when Christ ministered in Jerusalem. Just a few weeks ago, one of my best friends here, Elder Soto, gave a blessing to a man who hadn't been able to stand in years. In Years!!! and the next day, he was walking!!! This is stuff from the bible, Miracles, and they can happen today. Read your scriptures, pray Every day, and have faith. its sooo simple but we all find reasons not to do them. We have the opportunity to have this church in our lives. Dont waste it.
I love you all
Elder Ryan