October 26

¡Hola Todos!

Another great week down here in the fields of 25 de Mayo! This week we were able to do a lot of good! Elder Connell and I couldnt get along better! We are working hard, playing hard, and sleeping hard haha. This week we were able to committ three people to baptism! Todavia no tenemos investigadores progresando pero estamos...oh wait thats Spanish...Its pretty hard typing in english haha. Anyways we still dont have progressing investigators but we are working with a couple named Mario and Yacklin, and also a man named Andres who we hope we can help progress towards baptism in November. Not much else to say about this week another than we are improving a lot, finding a lot of new investigators, and hope to see some success in the coming weeks, oh and the weather is starting to get nice and humid and hot...thats fun.

Spiritual Experience of the Week: So this week we were able to finally talk with Andres again. He works a lot and is hard to find a time to teach him. The first time we taught, we were able to quickly teach him the Restauration and give him a Book of Mormon. The next time we talked to him was a week and about a half later. He said that he has been reading the Book of Mormon for 15 minutes every morning! He says that he sees a big difference in his day when he reads. He told us that he know it true and can help him! We were so excited to hear this, because if he has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, he will be able to progress and grow so much more. That lesson we committed him to baptism on the 22 of November!

Scripture of the Week: This next Wedsnday we are going to have interviews with President and he wanted us to study the Atonement and find our favorite scripture or one that has meaning to us about the Atonement. I havent found one specifically yet, but I really like these two--Jacob 4:11 and 2 Nephi 10:24-25. These talk about "reconciling" ourselves to God through the Atonement. I found that reconcilition means restoration of favor. I thought that was very cool and suggest reading it.

Fact of the Week: There are people here called Gauchos, who are pretty much Argentine cowboys or conservatives. They are usually farmers that have an interesting style of clothing and you can pick them out from others, kind of like us missionaries haha. Look it up.

Funny of the Week: So Elder Connell loves to quote movies like Nacho Libre, Napoleon Dynamite, movies like this. haha hes just a funny guy. One thing that I never knew is how in Nacho Libre he says "con permisos" when he is with the old guy that he thought was dead. It means with permision fyi.

Love you all!

All is Well

--

Elder Trent

There is a lagun or small pond/lake thing that we went to.

Our convert Carmen gave us a meal to go.and it was a lot of food. yessssss

Nice little park in Bragado

We have a microwave, a stove/ oven and a fridge. I opened one of the popcorns you sent me in the mtc haha.

Me on my bike out in the countryside of our area

On the bike

We made this awesome delicious meal this week.

Yep we only eat two meals a day. Im used to it now.

 I am really happy and loving it here!

See those sodas? since we cant drink the water here we have to drink a lot of soda which i dont even like but oh well. We have filtered water in our pench though.

doesnt look like it, but it was pouring hard rain this day.

Us doing that service project from last saturday.

Our food (food is so important to a missionary)

Nothing for salad dressing here. Argentines usually do oil and salt with tomatoes and thats it.

This is from our zone conference. Our zone is called Chivilcoy(a city in our zone) and that is what this is supposed to say. Cany you see me? Im on top of the "o"

One thing I forgot to mention is that yesterday they did voting in Argentina so after church we had to stay in our pench aaall day. because for safety precautions for voting. And bad feelings about Americans, of them thinking we are spys or something. I dont know exactly they just told us to stay in.

 its starting to get Hot and humid now. The argentina that I thought I was going to haha. Something changed this week with the weather and its hot now.

October 19

¡Hola Todos!

This week was filled with great miracles. First of all, Elder Connell and I get along so good. We are already great friends. I havent laughed and had so much fun on my mission up to this point! One thing that I have definitely learned from Elder Connell is while missionary work is hard and you should be obedient and diligent, it should also be fun! We are definitely working hard but having fun do it. It makes the work so much better and happier. 

This past week we were focusing on finding new investigators and helping them progress. Right now we do not have any bautismal dates or investigators coming to church and this is our biggest challenge as of now. But this past week we were able to find a lot of new investigators that have the possibility to progress.

Spiritual Experience(s) of the Week: This week I want to share a day that was full of spiritual experiences and miracles because there are too many not to. Last wednsday we were really motivated and determined to go out and find a lot more new investigators. We had set the goal of finding three. That morning alone after our studies we had two really great separate lessons with two different guys named Agustin and Jonathon. After we had lunch, we went out again to talk to a less active girl, Eliana, around 20 years old. We werent able to teach here but as we were talking to her a women came up on her moto and out of nowhere said to us in English, "Hey Guys, are you from the United States?, I want to talk to you, I will be sitting outside my house on the street over." and then she lefted. We were pretty suprised but latered went over there. Her name is Romina and turns out she is an English teacher here and spoke pretty well. She wanted to talk to us in English. At one point in the conversation we were talking about prayer. She told us how when she was little she always loved to talk to God and tell Him about her day and what she was going through. She has always believed in God but when she got older, she stopped doing it for some reason. She talked a lot about her believes, of how God had played a  role in her life and her desires to be a good person and a better person. We were able to talk to her more about prayer and also about the Book of Mormon. We committed here to start praying again and also to read from the Book of Mormon. At the end she gave a very good prayer, very spiritual. Before she left she told us of a dream she had. She was in her kitchen cleaning, and felt sad like something was missing. She didnt think she believed in God anymore. She heard a knock on the door and saw God with his arms stretched forth and felt an overwhelming peace and love. She then knew that He existed and loved her.

She was definitely prepared to hear our message and was a huge miracle.

Scripture of the Week: 1 Nephi 11 I dont have time to write more about this but I would suggest reading this chapter its very good.)

Funny Experience of the Week: So, Elder Connell and I have starting saying Only In Arg. As an inside joke, because here you see some weird stuff, some strange things haha. I cant remember most of the things but for example the other day, we saw a truck drive by on a dirt road neighborhood with a tire on top of it and a dog just balancing on all fours on the tire on top of the truck. Only in Arg. We also say a older lady walk with a big bag of trash into one of the more busier streets here and chuck the garbage bag into the street and walk away like nothing happened. Only in Arg. 

Names to pray for: Andres, Romina, Mario y Yacklin, Kevin y Lorena, Agustin, and Jonathon.

Love you all

All is Well

--

Elder Trent

Catholic Cathedral

Big Old Tree

last pday. We made what is called a gizo. Very common here

We did a service for a less active member

It poooouuuuuurrredd one day here too. And when it rains here. It rains. Luckily I stayed dry with my jacket that we got. 

service, this is the ward missionary leader. Ramon

October 12

Hola Todos!

A lot of changes this week! I am still in 25 de Mayo but with my new companion, Elder Connell! He is from Seattle, Washington and has 20 months on his mission! He is a cowboy/rancher kind of guy and worked on a farm after high school for a while in Idaho. So he is in love out here in the countryside of 25 de Mayo. He also swam and did water polo in high school! He is a very fun guy and we already are having a lot of fun together and get along great! 

This week we werent able to see a lot of success, but i have noticed a big change in me personally this week. Something clicked this week and I have been doing a lot better with the language and have started to understand the people a lot better. If you know me my sense of direction is horrible and I still didnt know how to get around my area. But this week, I was able to lead Elder Connell around very well. My joy and excitement for missionary work increases each week! Heavenly Fatherd is definitely helping me every day out here.

This week in the work we are looking for new investigators mas que nada(more than anything) and are trying to adjust to a new compaionship and having unity in lessons. it looks like this month is going to be a preparation month and we wont be able to have any baptisms. So that means we are going to work as hard as we can to find new prepared investigators that we can help progress towards baptism.

Fact of the Week: Here instead of knocking on doors, you clap. Its considered unpolite to walk into someones yard and go to their door. So you stand outside their yard or fence and clap your hands a few times. And thats how they answer their door.

Funny of the Week: So this week we contacted and had some lessons on the outskirts of our area where all the fields and farms are. We were walking on a dirt road that had some houses so we decided to clap a few of them. We walked up to one how with a tall gate and there was an ostrich right in front of our faces! We didnt even see it until we came right up to it! It scared us a little and we both jumped back! It was weird to see it just as a pet in the yard of someones house! haha we made sure to get a picture with it.

Scripture of the Week: Mosiah 28:3(We are memorizing and studying this scripture as a zone. I cant remember from who but someone during conference gave the challenge to have a scripture everyweek to ponder and memorize. i have been doing it this week and this is my first one. 

Spiritual Moment of the Week: So this week, we clapped on one door and a women came out. She let us in right away which is rare and we were able to talk with her and her husband. Their names are Marcos and Yacklin. They are married and have one small daughter. Marcos before was a drinker, but when he met Yacklin, She changed his life to stop. More than anything they want to be happy in this life and raise a good family. We taught them the first lesson, and they were both intentively listening. They said that they didnt understand much, but they felt really good. We asked Marcos to pray at the end and he was totally up for it, which never happens. The Spirit was definitely working with him and he gave a very good pray. We asked him how he felt afterwards and he got all happy and started rubbing his arms and shaking a little bit, Saying he just felt an amazing feeling that he couldnt explain. We were able to help him understand that it was the Spirit. These kinds of moments are some of my most favorite on the mission. Seeing people feel the Spirit and feeling it with them. 

Love you all! 

All is Well,

-- 

Elder Trent

This camera you gave me is really nice! We put it on selfie mode and on a timer and took our own photo. haha

Sunset Selfie

Sunset

My companion didnt have his plaque on when we were going to take the timed photo. He left right before and I was there by myself so..

Am I in Hawaii? nope its just a really cool sunset and some cool trees that we found one night. The picture doesnt do the sunset justice but oh well.

Heres a big pig and some sheep.

A farm

Here is a big ol pig. 

So this week we saw a lot of weird animals in our area. I dont know what this is called but its like an ostrich. We did some work in our area by the farms and countryside.

On the bus

My MTC friends reunited! They were able to make it this transfer! Wahoo! it was good to see them there.

Waiting before the transfer meeting to get my companion. These were my awesome zone leaders.

My new companion! Elder Connell! Us waiting in the terminal to take the 5 hour bus ride back to25 de mayo!

October 5

Hola Todos!

So this week on Friday, Elder Lindquist left for the offices and then goes home today. I am so grateful that I was his companion and for all he taught me. I was definitely blessed to be with him and to have him as my trainer. Everyone always told me how great of a missionary he is and I definitely know now. I have been in a trio with the other Elders in 25 de Mayo for these past few days until I get my new companion on Wednesday when we travel to transfers. It has been interesting to see the different styles and personalities of these two. It has made me realize the importance of having faith, diligence, and obedience in order to have and see miracles and have the help of God in missionary work. I have been able to learn from them as well and try an be an example has well. It has been fun working with them, they are a fun, funny companionship. 

However, This week we have been struggling teaching wise. We have not been able to find many new investigators and teach many lessons. We had one investigator that was progressing, named Gustavo. He is really great and is gaining a testimony, but we have not been able to find him these past few days so he didnt come to church this week. It has been a little bit hard, but this week we were able to find an awesome guy named Lautaro. He is 18 yrs old and has a lot of difficulties and trials in his life. He is looking for help to find peace and better his life and he thinks its through Jesus Christ.(It is). We have been able to teach him and help him feel the Spirit and that peace he really wants in his life. He even came to the last session of conference with us which was awesome! He has a baptismal date for the 31 of Octubre and is progressing well.Our new converts Carmen and Beto are continually growing strong in the Gospel and feel such joy from it.

Spritual Thought of the Week: Did you enjoy conference? It was in Spanish for me but I was able to get a lot out of it. I came with questions and all of them were answered. We can get so much out of conference and listening to the profetas. I have learned to love it. One of my favorite talks was from Larry R. Lawrence and how he talked about personal progression. As this transfer is ending and as I having been thinking about what I learned and how much I have grown, progression is so important. As me and Elder Lindquist looked back we decided that that was the theme of our transfer. We were able to help and encourage each other every day. This is what helped us to get along and have success. I dont know who the quote is from but it comes to mind, "I lift you, you lift me and we´ll both ascend together." Recognition and Application is so important in our lives. We need to use the Atonement every day and find out what is the most important or biggest thing that is keeping us from progressing and then apply it. I like how Elder Lawrence gave us the challenge to ask in our personal prayers to our Heavenly Father the specific question of "What Lack I Yet?", or What is keeping me from progressing?. I rechallenge you all to do this. I know that you will get an answer if you have that desire to change whatever it is. This life is all about progression and that comes from constant use of the Atonement, repenting and getting better. I have realized the importance of this these past weeks. I know that Heavenly Father will bless us if we put forth that effort and show our Faith.

Scripture of the Week: Ether 12. I read this this morning and got so much more out of it than I have ever before. it is all about Faith and how important it is. I like in verse 28 how Faith, hope, and Charity are the "Fountain of all righteousness" When we have these Christlike attributes it opens the door to so much more.

Fact of the Week: Argentines talk a lot with their hands. They have different hand signs for different things. One is that when they dont know something they brush the back of their hand outwards under their chins, or shake their hand and clapsed their hands as if they are holding a chip when they motion what the heck. Just a lot of different ones.

Funny of the Week: All of my funny stories seem to do with bikes for some reason haha. But one day we were in a hurry to get out the door. My tires were a little flat but I thought that i would be fine. There is a steep driveway thing that we sometimes go down to get on the street. I was eating bread in one hand and and steering down the hill with the other. And you can probably guess it, I fell. Haha we just laughed it off, even though it was super embarrassing and people were giving us funny looks. I have definitely learned not to care about things like this and what other people think on my mission.

-- 

Love you all!

All is Well,

Elder Trent

After our district meeting last tuesday. We took a photo at the end of course!

I realized I never took a photo of me on my bike. So....

Me in the trio with Elder Sheen and Elder Buchholz since friday.

So there are a ton of these chicken stores around 25 de Mayo and they are all numbered. We have been looking out forever to find the original. Found it!

Here is number 2

Dont know if you can see it but the highest one we found is 11