Hellos again!
This week has just been full of service. Missionary service. Painting an orphan’s home service. Planting corn service. Worship service (Stake conference). Wedding service. Military service (wasn’t mine, but I’m sure someone did it). Service, service, service.
This week a recent convert got married to a returned missionary girl in the branch. They’re on their way to chile right now to go get sealed. The wedding was pretty fun. We went and helped set up, then we stayed for the service, food, chatting, but we had to leave when the dancing started. It was good and fun.
The next biggest thing was Stake Conference. There is a new stake president here, so Elder Aidukaitis came. The talks were all very good. Elder Aidukaitis gave four things that every family needs to do. They are: 1. Daily family prayer. 2. Daily family scripture study. 3. Weekly family home evening. 4. Full tithe paying. Good stuff.
Transfers news is in. I’m staying in Rivadavia another transfer with Elder Whiteford. So, I’ll be here for Christmas and New Year’s. It’s starting to get hot. Gack. And everywhere is starting to sell little fake trees and Papá Noels. I don’t know that we’ll do much. The Christmas party this year is supposed to be amazing. We’ll see.
Well, that’s about all I’ve got this week.
Love,
Will
November 23, 2009
November 16, 2009
Myldsmail is down. Dum dum dum...
Hellos.
So, I'm writing from g-mail because myldsmail.net is down. So, I can't
read any of your emails this week. I hope there wasn't anything too
important.
This week we had a baptism! Woohoo! Nico got baptized. I would send
you pictures, but this computer is freakishly slow and doesn't even
have a usb port. The baptism was the best one I've had in Argentina to
date. There were about ten non-members there. Nico was very happy and
felt great.
Last night we went to the Catholic church mass. Neither of us had gone
to a whole one before. It was certainly interesting. There were lots
of people. The priest started talking about the future. The future vs
some thing that I don't know what he called it. Unplanned gifts from
God. He was saying that we all need to plan for the future, but leave
room for God to give us these unplanned gifts. Then he started talking
about Christ, and how Christ's future was the cross. The whole end of
the plan was, apparently, to die on the cross. The ressurrection was
one of those unplanned gifts from God. Forget about how the temple
will be torn down and rebuilt in three days. Forget Christ telling the
Apostles that he will rise the third day. Forget the foreshadowing of
Jonah being in the belly of the fish for three days, then being spit
out. The ressurrection was unplanned. Okay, whatever.
Well, I don't really have much else to say. Transfers are next week,
so I might have that news next time.
Hope all is well with you all.
Love,
Will
Will's house
Baptism Photo
Library
So, I'm writing from g-mail because myldsmail.net is down. So, I can't
read any of your emails this week. I hope there wasn't anything too
important.
This week we had a baptism! Woohoo! Nico got baptized. I would send
you pictures, but this computer is freakishly slow and doesn't even
have a usb port. The baptism was the best one I've had in Argentina to
date. There were about ten non-members there. Nico was very happy and
felt great.
Last night we went to the Catholic church mass. Neither of us had gone
to a whole one before. It was certainly interesting. There were lots
of people. The priest started talking about the future. The future vs
some thing that I don't know what he called it. Unplanned gifts from
God. He was saying that we all need to plan for the future, but leave
room for God to give us these unplanned gifts. Then he started talking
about Christ, and how Christ's future was the cross. The whole end of
the plan was, apparently, to die on the cross. The ressurrection was
one of those unplanned gifts from God. Forget about how the temple
will be torn down and rebuilt in three days. Forget Christ telling the
Apostles that he will rise the third day. Forget the foreshadowing of
Jonah being in the belly of the fish for three days, then being spit
out. The ressurrection was unplanned. Okay, whatever.
Well, I don't really have much else to say. Transfers are next week,
so I might have that news next time.
Hope all is well with you all.
Love,
Will
Will's house
Baptism Photo
Library
November 9, 2009
Another Week
Hellos!
So, not too much went on this week. We did divisions twice. First I went out to 3 Porteñas, a little town in the middle of nothing. I’ve gone out there once before and the stars at night are amazing. Then I went to San Martín. It’s kinda fun going back to my old area on divisions. It’s weird, though, every time I come out here I show the Zone leaders how to get somewhere.
We are teaching a kid named Nico, and he has a firm baptism date for next Saturday! Woohoo! We’re also teaching a bunch of other people, but they’re not progressing as fast. We met an old couple this week, they were amazing. Unfortunately they are going to Merlo, San Luis for two months, so we can’t teach them. But they have (and love reading) the Book of Mormon. So, hopefully they’ll study and want to be baptized when they come back.
One of our Zone Leaders has come up with a new plan. He calls it the “Hakunna Mattatta Plan.” It is basically stressing the importance of relaxing and just doing what you need to without worrying about the outcome. We had a really interesting discussion about it on divisions. He also really likes that you can find the Plan of Salvation and a bunch of other doctrines in Walt Disney movies.
Mom, I’ve found a couple BoM verses good for Christmassy cardies. One is actually from Isaiah:
2 Ne 19:6-7
6 For unto us a achild is born, unto us a son is given; and the bgovernment shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The cMighty God, The dEverlasting Father, The Prince of ePeace.
7 Of the increase of agovernment and peace bthere is no end, upon the throne of cDavid, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.
The other is more BoM specific:
3 Ne 1:13-14
13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the a sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.
14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfill all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.
Hope you like them.
As for BYU Jerusalem Center, I would love to apply. I’d need to ask President if I could get the forms and stuff on the computer on P-day, but I’m sure he’d say yes. Or have me do it at the offices. He just helped a Chilean Elder with his BYU application. I’ll ask him next week. (I already sent off my email to him for this week.)
That’s really all I’ve got for this week. Oh! I bought new shoes today. My last ones were dying. They lasted 6 months, though. A new record. I bought the same brand. They should be my last ones. I also got a nice pair of moccasins. This is what I decided to spen Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen’s Christmas money on. So, I’ll let them know how I spent it in my thank-you letter.
Love,
Will
So, not too much went on this week. We did divisions twice. First I went out to 3 Porteñas, a little town in the middle of nothing. I’ve gone out there once before and the stars at night are amazing. Then I went to San Martín. It’s kinda fun going back to my old area on divisions. It’s weird, though, every time I come out here I show the Zone leaders how to get somewhere.
We are teaching a kid named Nico, and he has a firm baptism date for next Saturday! Woohoo! We’re also teaching a bunch of other people, but they’re not progressing as fast. We met an old couple this week, they were amazing. Unfortunately they are going to Merlo, San Luis for two months, so we can’t teach them. But they have (and love reading) the Book of Mormon. So, hopefully they’ll study and want to be baptized when they come back.
One of our Zone Leaders has come up with a new plan. He calls it the “Hakunna Mattatta Plan.” It is basically stressing the importance of relaxing and just doing what you need to without worrying about the outcome. We had a really interesting discussion about it on divisions. He also really likes that you can find the Plan of Salvation and a bunch of other doctrines in Walt Disney movies.
Mom, I’ve found a couple BoM verses good for Christmassy cardies. One is actually from Isaiah:
2 Ne 19:6-7
6 For unto us a achild is born, unto us a son is given; and the bgovernment shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counselor, The cMighty God, The dEverlasting Father, The Prince of ePeace.
7 Of the increase of agovernment and peace bthere is no end, upon the throne of cDavid, and upon his kingdom to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will perform this.
The other is more BoM specific:
3 Ne 1:13-14
13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the a sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.
14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfill all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.
Hope you like them.
As for BYU Jerusalem Center, I would love to apply. I’d need to ask President if I could get the forms and stuff on the computer on P-day, but I’m sure he’d say yes. Or have me do it at the offices. He just helped a Chilean Elder with his BYU application. I’ll ask him next week. (I already sent off my email to him for this week.)
That’s really all I’ve got for this week. Oh! I bought new shoes today. My last ones were dying. They lasted 6 months, though. A new record. I bought the same brand. They should be my last ones. I also got a nice pair of moccasins. This is what I decided to spen Grandma and Grandpa Sorensen’s Christmas money on. So, I’ll let them know how I spent it in my thank-you letter.
Love,
Will
November 2, 2009
Officially Legal!
Howdys!
Everything here is going pretty well. And... I've forgotten what I was going to say today. Hmmm...
This last week was good. There was Zone Conference, and that was really good. We worked a lot even with that distraction.
It's really annoying to me that people just blow us off in the street. Also that they blow us off at all. But, whatever, they have their agency.
Yeah, that animal thing, it's way too small to be a Capybarra, see the people in the background? Sure looks like one, though. I wonder if it maybe isn't some sort of pygmy. Pygmy. I like that word, no vowels.
So, today we came into Mendoza to look for our Argentine documents. My comp's wasn't here, but mine was! Woohoo! I am now officially, completely legal here. Fun stuff. My thumb's still all black, though. I didn't get a chance to wash it yet.
We ate lunch at an all-you-can-eat place called Las Tinajas. It was really good and pretty cheap, considering. 34 pesos, less than ten dollars.
Now I'm sitting in one of the two Subways in Mendoza. It is really interesting to me that the Subways here are also Cybers. Internet, foot-long sandwiches, together. Wow. But I'm too full to get a sandwich. Oh well.
Something I was going to tell you all a few weeks ago, but forgot. Remember that Mormon girl from Dancing with the Stars? The one who always got the crappy partners, and that's why we thought she stopped? Well, her cousin is in my district. Elder Bodily. He was in High School Musical 2. He told me that the real reason that she stopped was because she got pregnant. He also told me that he met Master P on that visit to Salt Lake he made that was on the show. Fun, huh?
And, to finish on a somewhat spiritual note, ahem...
So, this week there has been lots of talk (testimony meeting) about depression and sadness. It is really just being distracted. If you feel depressed, it is because you are so distracted by the small, not pleasant things that you have lost sight of the good stuff. When you start feeling down, remember D&C 6:36. It should help.
Love,
Will
Everything here is going pretty well. And... I've forgotten what I was going to say today. Hmmm...
This last week was good. There was Zone Conference, and that was really good. We worked a lot even with that distraction.
It's really annoying to me that people just blow us off in the street. Also that they blow us off at all. But, whatever, they have their agency.
Yeah, that animal thing, it's way too small to be a Capybarra, see the people in the background? Sure looks like one, though. I wonder if it maybe isn't some sort of pygmy. Pygmy. I like that word, no vowels.
So, today we came into Mendoza to look for our Argentine documents. My comp's wasn't here, but mine was! Woohoo! I am now officially, completely legal here. Fun stuff. My thumb's still all black, though. I didn't get a chance to wash it yet.
We ate lunch at an all-you-can-eat place called Las Tinajas. It was really good and pretty cheap, considering. 34 pesos, less than ten dollars.
Now I'm sitting in one of the two Subways in Mendoza. It is really interesting to me that the Subways here are also Cybers. Internet, foot-long sandwiches, together. Wow. But I'm too full to get a sandwich. Oh well.
Something I was going to tell you all a few weeks ago, but forgot. Remember that Mormon girl from Dancing with the Stars? The one who always got the crappy partners, and that's why we thought she stopped? Well, her cousin is in my district. Elder Bodily. He was in High School Musical 2. He told me that the real reason that she stopped was because she got pregnant. He also told me that he met Master P on that visit to Salt Lake he made that was on the show. Fun, huh?
And, to finish on a somewhat spiritual note, ahem...
So, this week there has been lots of talk (testimony meeting) about depression and sadness. It is really just being distracted. If you feel depressed, it is because you are so distracted by the small, not pleasant things that you have lost sight of the good stuff. When you start feeling down, remember D&C 6:36. It should help.
Love,
Will
October 26, 2009
Pictures!
Hellos all!
Well, this week has been long, short, fun, a wet blanket, exciting, boring; there’s pretty much been everything in this last week. Lots of learning, lots of working. We’ve gotten a bunch of new investigators, lost a couple, and had one person in Church. The one who came to Church is Nico. He’s really cool. He made us slingshots and we’re going hunting with him this afternoon. Should be really fun.
I sometimes wonder if it wouldn’t be easier being a missionary somewhere where nobody believes in Christ. All the people here think that they’ve found Christ, so why change? Nobody listens. They all throw out the stupidest excuses. “No, I’m catholic.” Of course, what they mean by “I’m catholic” is “I was baptized at two weeks old, and haven’t gone to mass since. But, I’d be glad to lie to you to get you to stop talking to me.” It’s really frustrating. Mom, the only way I have seen people change (most prominently in myself) is the desire to change. Almost nobody here wants to change. If you say you want to change, but don’t, it’s because you don’t really have the desires to change. Change is hard, but if you have the desires, it’ll beat the hardness.
I’ve started taking a lot more pictures recently, but I’m still not much of a picture taker. I’ll send you a cool picture I took a few weeks ago as we went out into the country to teach someone. We also went to Cerro de la Gloria as a zone, and I have included that picture too. I shrunk the pictures down so that they’d fit in myldsmail.
Sister Stolpe spoke? She must’ve been talking about Cole. I haven’t heard of that kid in a long time. Where’s he serving?
My back is on again, off again with soreness and various aches. Elder Jarvis works on my back from time to time, but not often. It feels great after he works on it, though.
Not much else to say. Hope all is well.
Love,
Will
P.S. My companion is Elder Whiteford from Dewyville, UT.
Well, this week has been long, short, fun, a wet blanket, exciting, boring; there’s pretty much been everything in this last week. Lots of learning, lots of working. We’ve gotten a bunch of new investigators, lost a couple, and had one person in Church. The one who came to Church is Nico. He’s really cool. He made us slingshots and we’re going hunting with him this afternoon. Should be really fun.
I sometimes wonder if it wouldn’t be easier being a missionary somewhere where nobody believes in Christ. All the people here think that they’ve found Christ, so why change? Nobody listens. They all throw out the stupidest excuses. “No, I’m catholic.” Of course, what they mean by “I’m catholic” is “I was baptized at two weeks old, and haven’t gone to mass since. But, I’d be glad to lie to you to get you to stop talking to me.” It’s really frustrating. Mom, the only way I have seen people change (most prominently in myself) is the desire to change. Almost nobody here wants to change. If you say you want to change, but don’t, it’s because you don’t really have the desires to change. Change is hard, but if you have the desires, it’ll beat the hardness.
I’ve started taking a lot more pictures recently, but I’m still not much of a picture taker. I’ll send you a cool picture I took a few weeks ago as we went out into the country to teach someone. We also went to Cerro de la Gloria as a zone, and I have included that picture too. I shrunk the pictures down so that they’d fit in myldsmail.
Sister Stolpe spoke? She must’ve been talking about Cole. I haven’t heard of that kid in a long time. Where’s he serving?
My back is on again, off again with soreness and various aches. Elder Jarvis works on my back from time to time, but not often. It feels great after he works on it, though.
Not much else to say. Hope all is well.
Love,
Will
P.S. My companion is Elder Whiteford from Dewyville, UT.
October 20, 2009
¡Felíz Día Mamá!
Hello.
New comp, new adventures.
We’ve been working a lot this week. Trying to find people to teach. We taught a 17-year old kid (Alvaro) on Wednesday, but haven’t been able to find him since. We’ve been teaching an 11-year old kid, the brother of a member, and he had a baptismal date for this weekend. Then he didn’t come to Church. The non-member father of a member came to Church yesterday. We put a baptismal date with him. We’ll see how that goes. He’s had all of the missionary lessons various times, but just never really had interest or wanted to stop drinking. This is a big problem here. It’s such a large wine-producing area that people think that it’s a sin not to drink.
Sorry for the short letters, there really hasn’t been much going on. Lots of walking, and that’s about it. I also write less when I’m preoccupied about things and don’t want you worrying about me, so sorry. Often I just can’t think of things to write.
Last week I read a talk by a 70, I don’t remember who, but he quoted 2nd Nephi where it says that by grace ye are saved, after all you can do. He said that very often, all you can do is a lot less than what you think you can do. Kind of interesting.
Mom, if you want to mix me a Christmas CD then you had better do it, and decrease the surplus population! Sorry, my old habit of quoting that line from “A Christmas Carol” is coming back. Just a little way for me to stay sane. But really, make me the CD if you want. If making mix CDs were, in fact, illegal, PCs would not come with CD copying software. Now, it is illegal to sell said copy, as is done here. But, feel free to send me one. Frankly, I don’t see how inappropriate Dad’s CD was. Last year’s had Barenaked Ladies on it. My companion listens all the time to Matisyahu, an orthodox Jew who sings reggae. It’s actually really good stuff with all religious themes.
As for last minute Christmas package wishes, I would like black socks, they’re all very thin here. I’d also like one of those flags you have, Dad. You know, I think it’s the flag of the Holy Priesthood. The ones you were showing off at my open house.
Thanks for your prayers and support.
Love,
Will
P.S. Happy Argentine Mother’s Day (yesterday)!!!
P.P.S. Can't you just set up the.budges@verizon.net on Mom's outlook? Or is that not a family account anymore?
P.P.P.S. My companion just found that kid we couldn't find, Alvaro, here in the Cyber. He still wants us to come by.
New comp, new adventures.
We’ve been working a lot this week. Trying to find people to teach. We taught a 17-year old kid (Alvaro) on Wednesday, but haven’t been able to find him since. We’ve been teaching an 11-year old kid, the brother of a member, and he had a baptismal date for this weekend. Then he didn’t come to Church. The non-member father of a member came to Church yesterday. We put a baptismal date with him. We’ll see how that goes. He’s had all of the missionary lessons various times, but just never really had interest or wanted to stop drinking. This is a big problem here. It’s such a large wine-producing area that people think that it’s a sin not to drink.
Sorry for the short letters, there really hasn’t been much going on. Lots of walking, and that’s about it. I also write less when I’m preoccupied about things and don’t want you worrying about me, so sorry. Often I just can’t think of things to write.
Last week I read a talk by a 70, I don’t remember who, but he quoted 2nd Nephi where it says that by grace ye are saved, after all you can do. He said that very often, all you can do is a lot less than what you think you can do. Kind of interesting.
Mom, if you want to mix me a Christmas CD then you had better do it, and decrease the surplus population! Sorry, my old habit of quoting that line from “A Christmas Carol” is coming back. Just a little way for me to stay sane. But really, make me the CD if you want. If making mix CDs were, in fact, illegal, PCs would not come with CD copying software. Now, it is illegal to sell said copy, as is done here. But, feel free to send me one. Frankly, I don’t see how inappropriate Dad’s CD was. Last year’s had Barenaked Ladies on it. My companion listens all the time to Matisyahu, an orthodox Jew who sings reggae. It’s actually really good stuff with all religious themes.
As for last minute Christmas package wishes, I would like black socks, they’re all very thin here. I’d also like one of those flags you have, Dad. You know, I think it’s the flag of the Holy Priesthood. The ones you were showing off at my open house.
Thanks for your prayers and support.
Love,
Will
P.S. Happy Argentine Mother’s Day (yesterday)!!!
P.P.S. Can't you just set up the.budges@verizon.net on Mom's outlook? Or is that not a family account anymore?
P.P.P.S. My companion just found that kid we couldn't find, Alvaro, here in the Cyber. He still wants us to come by.
October 12, 2009
Feliz Día de la Raza!
Hellos!
Happy Columbus Day!
Well, not too much happened this week. We had a confirmation, but no baptism. This kid named Oscar Quiroga got baptized the 25th of July, but never came to Church to be confirmed. We got him to come this week though. Good thing, too, because he was about out of time to confirm himself (confirmarse).
It’s transfers on Wednesday. I stay. Elder Ayer goes. Elder Ayer’s trainer comes. Weirdness. It should be fun, though.
Sorry I don’t have much to say. Not much going on. Today’s a holiday, so everything’s closed. We were lucky to find an open cyber. I hope you all keep having fun. Keep working hard. Get your stuff done. Um... What show is Paul in?
Love,
Will
Happy Columbus Day!
Well, not too much happened this week. We had a confirmation, but no baptism. This kid named Oscar Quiroga got baptized the 25th of July, but never came to Church to be confirmed. We got him to come this week though. Good thing, too, because he was about out of time to confirm himself (confirmarse).
It’s transfers on Wednesday. I stay. Elder Ayer goes. Elder Ayer’s trainer comes. Weirdness. It should be fun, though.
Sorry I don’t have much to say. Not much going on. Today’s a holiday, so everything’s closed. We were lucky to find an open cyber. I hope you all keep having fun. Keep working hard. Get your stuff done. Um... What show is Paul in?
Love,
Will
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