Transfer Day

It´s a very sad missionary that´s writing to you today. I´m being transferred!!

Packing up

The normal thing for a new missionary is that he stays in his first area for 4-6 months. However, there had been rumors circulating lately that the zone leaders were going to be moved to the Luján area (where I am), which is the center of the Luján zone. For the zone leaders to be put in Luján, someone has to leave. And since Elder Kent and Elder Boyce are still in the middle of their 2 transfers of training, and Elder Berglund is going home, it makes sense for me to be the one to leave. The rumors were confirmed when the zone leader called last night and told my companion that we (both) need to be in the offices tomorrow morning, with our suitcases. Rats. 

I love Luján! I love the members, and the area, and our recent converts and our investigators. I was getting to know my way around! But it looks as if the Lord has something else planned for me. It´s time to trust Him, be grateful for my time and experiences in Luján, look forward to the future, and sing hymn no. 270 (I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go) to myself over and over. (Heh heh.) Yes, I´m sad to be leaving, but excited for what´s coming. And it really has been good to work in Luján, with Elder Berglund.

Andrew's thoughts about his first companion, who headed for home this week . . .

He was a good trainer. He helped me in many ways to make the transition to mission life. And he showed me what it´s like to really love the people here. Everyone here loves Elder Berglund, because he loves them.

In need of some comfort this morning, I ate my very last chocolate hug from home. :) They lasted a long time, no? (Awwwwww)


So -- fun stories from the week!

Marcelo and Teresa were baptized on Saturday! It was a fantastic event. They are so, so ready and so prepared. They have decided to close their business on Sunday so that their family can all attend church together. It will be too bad to leave them. And, equally as good, they came to church on Sunday to get confirmed.

The baptism was especially special because 3 members of the Welsh family (who I think I mentioned before -- the family found by Elder Kent and Elder Boyce) were baptized. I´m glad I got to be there for their baptism. They also are ready and prepared to live Latter-day Saint life.

Our grand baptism! 

Marcelo y Teresa, after the baptism.
They´re so ready for life in the Gospel. 

Yamila (Shameela) y Brisa, two of my very favorite little girls.
Elder Berglund baptised them the month before I came.
They are learning the Articles of Faith

More news:

Apparently I am a missionary now.
(I don´t have to wait until I´m old.) 

Apparently I contacted Kingdom Hall (the meetinghouse of the Jehovah´s Witnesses) during a large public meeting. Elder Berglund and I, having a lot of contacts to do and not much time to do it, had split up and were clapping a street, one on each side. I clapped a house, and when a man opened the door I saw inside and realized it was actually a church, cleverly disguised as a house. As I left, I saw the sign on the wall that I had missed walking up, identifying the building as the meetinghouse for the Jehovah´s Witnesses. Heh, whoops. 

Oops!

Spanish mess-ups! I accidentally told a family that the Gospel could help them find more gas in their life -- that is, gozo (joy) mixed with paz (peace). But hey, gas prices are expensive these days, so I still don´t see why they weren´t interested!

And that reminds me of a few months ago, when I asked the members who were giving us lunch if I could please have some more shoe (zapato). They told me no, but at least they gave me some more squash (zapalla).




It´s fantastic to hear from you. I love you all. Thanks for your prayers and your letters and your love.

Until next Monday! Hugs, hugs, hugs!

Elder Stockton



Memories of Luján

One of the local youths let me try on his motorcycle helmet.
He´s a cool kid.

Just after a crazy Argentine storm.
The street was a small river! 

Sailors take warning! 

Andrew's Birthday approaches!

FYI ---

Letters may take 3-4 weeks to arrive, since they are sent first to the mission home, then hand delivered when someone ventures out into Andrew's area.

So .... if you want to send him birthday wishes by April 17th, be sure to send them soon! See the "Mail Central" tab above for mailing information.

Thanks! Your messages mean a lot to Andrew!

Sally

Zone Conference and more

The missionaries in Lujan recently had a Zone Conference, where all the missionaries in their Zone (area) meet together with the Mission President and his wife. They report on their work, they receive instruction, and they enjoy spending time together, sharing stories, experiences and testimonies.

From Andrew:


I´ve had another great week, and have recently enjoyed reading your letters. They´re the highlight of my P-day. 

I received a package from Sister Lamoreaux (our ward Primary President ) containing an original Coronado Ward Primary coloring book! It looks so good! I loved looking through it. We have a lot of artistic talent in our ward! Also, with the book were a lot of letters from the Primary kids about their feelings about Jesus and about what things they want for Christmas. (Two primary children wanted the same thing, a ´giant, giant candy cane´. I suspect a conspiracy.) It was fun to read through them and see which names I recognized. 

He also thinks about loved ones from home ...

• I hope Grandma´s doing well! 
• Hey, how is Brother Wheelwright? 
• CONGRATULATIONS DOUGLAS LEE-CHAN!!! Just got accepted into U of A College of Pharmacy!
• How are Brooklyn and Becca? Primary class members
• Dana and Nathan, congrats congrats on your 1-year anniversary! That´s exciting! Does it seem like a year has passed? (It sure doesn´t to me. Cripes. I love you both too! I hope school is going well, and cooking.) 
• Thanks for your letters. I love to read them. I hope that everyone is doing well. 

Some more fun things have happened this week here in Luján.

A few days ago, Elder Berglund and I contacted a lady in the street who was hesitant about talking to us at first, but when we pursued the conversation a little more she talked to us. We found out she had lost the faith in God that she had as a child and now wasn´t sure whether God existed or not. I took this excellent opportunity to share my testimony that God really lives and that he answers the earnest prayers of his children. Afterward, I thought of my promise to bear witness of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places. It´s great to be a witness and bear testimony to those who need it. Who knows if she will go home and pray-- I hope so. I hope the Spirit touched her heart . . . By small and simple things...

I had a unique experience this week. Elder Berglund and I started talking to a lady at a bus stop, and after conversing a little bit, she started speaking English to us! ´And what are you doing?´ she asked. ´Talking about God?´ ´Indeed we are!´ we responded, in English. The rest of our conversation with her was in English. It was so weird! My testimony doesn´t sound quite the same in English as it does in Spanish. I imagine after a while I´m going to start adopting the same odd Spanish way of speaking English that the Pastores (missionaries who are approaching the end of their missions) have -- saying things like ´How many years does she have?´ instead of ´How old is she?´ Or, ´Is that the teaching record of Roberto?´ It might also take a while to remember that we were counting the people attending church, not assisting to it. (Attend is asistir in Spanish.) Anyway, I love it when people speak English to us. (And it happens surprisingly often!) The Argentines have a very peculiar accent that is fun to listen to.

People in Church are starting to be able to say my name! No more am I Elder Stoke-lok / Stoke-tuk / Stok-tok. (Heh - a couple in the church has jokingly taken to calling my companion and I ´Elder Tok-tok´ and ´Elder Blumblumblum´.) I imagine U.S. names are to the Argentines something like what Chinese names are to the North Americans.

Oh hey, guess what! We´ve found a family of 6 to teach! We contacted the mom about a month ago and tried to pass by several times. Finally, we found both the husband and wife at home at the same time. They eagerly let us in, listened to our message, and told us their experiences. They (or at least the dad) have been prepared! He was studying to be a Priest, but left the his church when they wouldn´t let him be a missionary as well as a Priest. After leaving the church, he went to various churches looking for something more, but he never went to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon reading Joseph Smith´s story of his encounter with the angel Moroni, he shared with us that he had had a similar experience as Joseph Smith described, only the angel didn´t speak to him. Wow! His wife told us that this is the first time he´s talked to religious missionaries and not ended butting heads and arguing. This Gospel is exactly what they need. They have 4 kids ranging in age from 3 to 15. It´s the miracle Elder Berglund and I have been working and hoping for!

This is Elder Berglund´s last week! We´ve gotta work hard! :-)

We are so thankful to Elder Berglund! From all we hear, he has been a great teacher, mentor, first missionary companion, and friend to Andrew. We wish him great success and many blessings in his future endeavors!


Love, love, hugs.
Elder Stockton