From July 30
I feel like I am really developing as a missionary. This week I discovered a new way of studying the first 3 lessons that we teach, which involves dissecting the lessons into principles and really studying and KNOWING what is in them. Due to this new way of studying, my own ability to teach improved a lot.
I think I mentioned last week that we were planning on having a piano lesson with the children one of our part-member families. Well, right after finishing up our email, we headed over to the chapel to meet them there. We toured the chapel first and talked about the church, then went to the piano. As we were playing, one of the kids in the branch randomly showed up with two of his friends - one of whom was an old investigator of ours, and the other of whom is a very likely potential investigator. We invited them in and introduced them. Then we formed them into a choir and taught them to Sing ´I am a Child of God´, with me playing the piano and Elder Correa directing the music! Then we finished by having a lesson about prayer, and taught them all how (and why) to pray. It was great! The kids liked it and want to come back and do it again. We did it again on Wednesday, and we have another one planned for today.
Starting tomorrow, I´ll be on splits with one of our zone leaders for 3 days. That should be a good opportunity to learn and pick up some specific tips on how to improve.
We´re still in the struggle of looking for those who will hear the voice of the Lord and harden not their hearts. It´s not easy... but they´re here somewhere. At any rate, it is very satisfying to be so involved in the work of the Lord.
I know that this Gospel is true, and that if we follow the gospel that Jesus taught, we will have everything that God has promised us.
From August 6
We had a good week here. We found some cool people who we think might really progress. Last week, President Carter wrote to us and told us that we should change the way we teach in order to put even more emphasis on our purpose for being in their home. He told us to testify of the grand blessings of the Gospel and clearly explain to them what their part is. As Elder Correa and I have been implementing this in our teaching, we´ve seen an immediate increase in the quality of our lessons.
Currently, our big challenge is finding investigators. For a couple weeks now, we´ve been searching for investigators - for the people that really are looking for the blessings of the Gospel. We have had only limited success. It seems like all the people we were finding were content with what they have and weren´t looking for anything else. But as we started to be super bold and up-front with the people about our purpose for teaching them, and even bolder about testifying of the importance of what we share, we started to find MORE people who want to hear our message.
I am enjoying being a missionary.
Being on splits with the zone leaders went fine. The thing was, out of the 3 days we were on divisions, only 1 day was actually spent working in Bragado. Elder Castillo and I had to travel to 25 de Mayo to interview one of their baptismal candidates. (I know 25 de Mayo sounds like a date, but it´s a town.) What a beautiful area! I would like to spend some time serving there. Oh, and another fun thing: In 25 de Mayo we went on splits again (divisions within divisions - woah!) and I spent the day with my old friend Elder Boyce. His Spanish has gotten better, and he really knows the doctrines of the lessons well. It was fun to talk and reminisce a little about our time in Luján. (We wondered what Elder Berglund is up to. My first 2 companions have now finished the mission and gone home.) I can´t believe how much time has passed since Luján. It seems like just a few days ago, really. I´m afraid my mission is going to be over before I can really accomplish anything! Good thing I´ve still got a good chunk left.
The weather has been lovely these last few days. It seems that we have passed the Argentine winter. And although it was pretty cold in some parts, it was nowhere near as bad as what I thought it would be. Ah well! I´m not complaining!
That´s all for this week, I think. I love you so much! I´m looking forward to this week of mission work. I hope you´re all doing well at home and enjoying life. Remember how blessed we are to be where we are, when we are, with the people we´re with.
Being on splits with the zone leaders went fine. The thing was, out of the 3 days we were on divisions, only 1 day was actually spent working in Bragado. Elder Castillo and I had to travel to 25 de Mayo to interview one of their baptismal candidates. (I know 25 de Mayo sounds like a date, but it´s a town.) What a beautiful area! I would like to spend some time serving there. Oh, and another fun thing: In 25 de Mayo we went on splits again (divisions within divisions - woah!) and I spent the day with my old friend Elder Boyce. His Spanish has gotten better, and he really knows the doctrines of the lessons well. It was fun to talk and reminisce a little about our time in Luján. (We wondered what Elder Berglund is up to. My first 2 companions have now finished the mission and gone home.) I can´t believe how much time has passed since Luján. It seems like just a few days ago, really. I´m afraid my mission is going to be over before I can really accomplish anything! Good thing I´ve still got a good chunk left.
The weather has been lovely these last few days. It seems that we have passed the Argentine winter. And although it was pretty cold in some parts, it was nowhere near as bad as what I thought it would be. Ah well! I´m not complaining!
That´s all for this week, I think. I love you so much! I´m looking forward to this week of mission work. I hope you´re all doing well at home and enjoying life. Remember how blessed we are to be where we are, when we are, with the people we´re with.
Elder Andrew Stockton
