What it is all about!

Happy Day! Great News! 

We had our first baptism on Saturday! We baptized a woman named [V]. Two of her children were already baptized -- and, now she is! All I could think of around the time of the baptism was, ´This is eternally significant. This really matters. This is what it's all about!´ And, ´I hope she understands that. I hope she realizes how important this is.´ And, ´I hope that she keeps going to church and endures to the end and builds her family on the foundation of Jesus Christ.´

The service was excellent. Quite a few members came, which was great.

I played a musical number that I prepared beforehand - an arrangement of the ´I Like to Look for Rainbows´ Primary song. She really liked it. I don´t think music has played a big part in the branch here, previously. Maybe I´ll get to play again. I hope so!

And... I performed the baptism! Surprise! It certainly surprised me. On our way out the door to go to the baptism, my companion said to me, ´You´d better bring your baptismal clothes, just in case.´ ´Just in case´, heh heh. 10 minutes before the baptismal service started, the Branch President decided that I should do the baptism. So, I really quickly changed and memorized the baptismal prayer in Spanish (good thing it´s not very long!), and then the service started.

The baptism went great. When Hmna [V] came up out of the water, she was laughing! She was excited.

What a day. 

The same day, we had the best lesson I´ve had so far with a Mom & Dad who really want to strengthen their family. This really is a great work.

Matthew 4:19

And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Cultural Side-notes

Siesta Time!
Andrew tells us that every day from 1:00 to 5:00, everyone in their city takes a long afternoon nap! (Whoa! Why wasn't I born in Argentina?) All the stores close and almost all the people disappear into their houses. Even the dogs that are everywhere in Buenos Aires plop down in the shade and snooze. Not such a great time for missionaries to make contacts on the street, but they have found people are willing to make appointments to be taught during that time. No siestas for the missionaries!

Meal Time!

At first Andrew was a little alarmed by the fact that there seemed to be only one meal per day. He said it was like having Fast Sunday every day of the week! They get one gigantic lunch (I am assuming prepared for them by Church members there) (...and no wonder everyone needs a nap afterwards ...), then something small for dinner, like one hard-boiled egg. He and his companion finally made a trip to the grocery store and bought some plain but filling foods to give themselves some fuel for their busy days. He reports that the apples there are the very best he's ever had, with the perfect crunch and texture, and a delicious taste. I wonder what variety they are! Milk comes in a bag.   

I learned that if you don´t ask for seconds when you´re eating at a member´s home, they´ll get offended. Also, that there is no such thing as ¨just a little bit more.¨  ¨Just a little¨ is the same thing as ¨A heaping plateful.¨ ;-) But it´s okay, because the food is all delicious. I´m just... super full!

His companion made some tortas fritas the other day (pictured above), which he found to be tasty and simple. They  are similar to Native American Fry Bread, but more like a fried biscuit. Here's a link to the recipe if you thought you'd like to give them a try (but don't expect it to fit into your Weight Watchers cookbook ;-D ) southamericanfood.about.com

Manners

If you sneeze in Argentina, they say, ¨Salúd!¨ (Health!) If you sneeze again, they say ¨Plata!¨ (Money!) If you sneeze a third time, they say ¨Amor!¨(Love!) So if you sneeze three times in a row... you win!

Summertime Weather

The weather is really pretty hot. I have a better time with it than my companion, because I´m accustomed to the heat. But the humidity makes it worse! It´s only been really humid two days, but that was enough for me. I´m not looking forward to the winter too much. They tell me the winters are dark, cold and tough.





Church Meetings

His area has a "branch", which is similar to a ward, but much smaller. They meet in a Church building which is close to their apartment. They sit in chairs rather than pews, and there are no printed programs. There are about 40 active members (Yikes! Qué pequeño!) and about 150 members who do not attend. They meet from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The missionaries teach the Gospel Doctrine class, which teaches basic principles of the Gospel. He says things at Church there are pretty much the same as back home.

Daily Miracles

We received a wonderful email from Andrew detailing several experiences he and his missionary companion have had as they are seeking people who are interested in hearing their message. Much of their day is spent out and about, talking to people, seeking those who might be looking for what they have to offer. They feel blessed as they perform their labors. (Note: in an effort to protect the privacy of others, I have eliminated names or changed the names in [brackets]. )

He says:

It´s amazing to see how people really have been (are being) prepared to hear the Gospel. It´s also amazing how, as a missionary, miracles are so much a part of your day that you almost come to expect them. For example, yesterday [my companion] and I were walking down the street, coming back to our pensión (that´s our apartment). A lady saw us from the other side of the street and crossed the street to come talk to us. She told us that she worked for [Juan], a man my companion had met on the street a few weeks earlier. Last week we tried to go by and visit, but he wasn´t home. But, the lady told us, he really does want to talk with us. So we made an appointment to go by today at 6:00. Now, I guess [Juan] told his worker, this lady, to keep an eye out for us and talk to us if she saw us. But Luján is huge! I don´t think there´s much chance that we would randomly cross paths like that.

He has these types of experiences every day. Most often, they come when they have exhausted all their own resources, and are praying for help to find someone to talk to or teach. And, the miracles usually allow them to help someone in need.

A recent convert ... was recently hit by a car while riding his bike and had to go to the hospital. Now, none of us would have known until maybe a week or two later, because we had just recently gone to visit him. But as we were walking to an appointment in a totally different part of town, his daughter (who we had only met a week ago) happened to see and recognize us while she was driving. She stopped and told us what had happened, we told the Branch President, and people went to visit [him] in the hospital.

He works hard to do his part, and miracles follow.

Things like that do a lot to strengthen my faith that the Lord´s hand is in His work. As we do our part, He does the things we can´t do by ourselves - like having us cross paths with people who are ready to listen to the Gospel.

First Day

We didn't get an immediate report that Andrew had arrived safely. Apparently the high temperatures and heavy rainstorms have taken out part of the power grid, and the Mission home was without power for four days. We were very happy to receive Andrew's first email from Argentina on Thursday, followed the next day by a message from his Mission President.

It sounds like Andrew saw a few areas of the Mission as he traveled with the Mission President on his interviews. Sister Carter (the Mission President's wife) reports:
He went with us on personal interviews and went out with one of the zone leaders for three hours. They were in a torrential downpour and he came back drenched, muddy and seemed to be incredibly happy, but tired after a long flight, of course. He has a wonderful companion and I am sure that he will have a very positive experience with him.

Andrew says:
So, I´m in Argentina now! The flight was great. I slept fine. I met the mission president and his wife and we went to lunch. ... After lunch we went to an area called Catán (it´s been settled) where Pres. Carter was interviewing missionaries. While he was interviewing missionaries, one of the zone leaders found me and said, Okay, Elder Stockton, time to get to work. We went tracting in Catán, in pouring, pouring rain. I got super muddy. I slept that night (after eating some weird, weird pizza!) in the President´s Assistants´ apartment, which was fine.

He has been assigned to 'el campo,' which I understand to be a more rural area. The people in this area definitely aren't rich. He says it is beautiful there -- the trees and flowers are incredible. It hasn't been unbearably hot, and supposedly it doesn't rain too much, despite his first experiences.

The view from Andrew's window!

We think this is his first companion, but he didn't say specifically. He says they're going to work hard and do well.

The food ... well, it's best told in his own words.
Meals are different here. My first lunch was a large meal, a milaneza sammich. Pretty good! Almost more than I could eat. However... they don´t really eat dinner. (Last night we had... 1 egg each for dinner. Ack!) Or, really, breakfast. Breakfast is kind of a donut thing, it seems. I´m still trying to get the hang of things. So, big big lunch, then little tiny meals to tide you over until the next big big lunch.

And another adjustment, no toilet paper here ... just a bidet! Hmmm ...

Of course, as might be expected, he feels a bit homesick, despite the beauty of his surroundings and the excitement of the work he is involved in. He compares it to what anyone experiences as they leave home and loved ones, comfort zones and comforts. But he concludes with these words:
I´m so greatful for your prayers, and I pray for you too. I´m very happy to be here, happy to serve a mission, happy to have a good companion, and happy to hear from my wonderful, wonderful family. I love you all so much. Please take care.

If you're interested ...
Andrew's picture and a brief story about him (the waiter...meaning he was waiting for his visa) appear in Sister Carter's mission blog, January 10th entry. Visit it at buenosaireswest.blogspot.com

And He's Off !!

Monday, January 9, 2012

An eventful day!

Andrew left the MTC about 9 a.m., leaving behind many great friends and copious amounts of good food, but taking with him wonderful memories, lots of new skills, and a stronger testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and The Book of Mormon.

He flew to Dallas, Texas, for a rather long layover, and where he eventually met up with companions who would be travelling with him to Argentina, although he was the only one heading for the Buenos Aires West Mission. There were a bunch of missionaries there destined for countries all over the world, so they had plenty of company and lots to talk about.

Best part for us was the chance he had to call home!

We got to talk for an hour before his plane left. It was so good to hear from him and to be able to have a real conversation. He is healthy, happy, and excited to head out!

We put his call on speakerphone, so Ken, Jacob, and I could all join in the conversation. What we didn't expect was that our cat, Margaret, fully participated in the call too. Andrew has always been her favorite person. When she heard his voice, she jumped up on my lap since I was holding the phone, and looked at the receiver curiously. Soon she started pushing it away, since she was pretty sure that underneath it, Andrew must be hiding from her. It was sweet. She misses him too!

He told us about some of his MTC experiences, about the friends he had made, and about the good food, which he enjoyed very much ... to the tune of 15 pounds! He says he isn't fat, just more buff. Good thing he has lots of  walking in his future ;-)

He told us about his first real missionary conversation with a nice man on his airplane. Andrew was a bit nervous, and not sure about how to go about steering the conversation around to the gospel. So instead, he and another out-bound missionary told this gentleman about what they were doing, and where they were going. They learned he was a principal of a school, and interested in traveling. By the end of the flight, he handed them his business card, and told them he'd like to keep in touch. They gave him a pass-along card (which invites people to get a free copy of a Church video or a copy of the Book of Mormon), and it seemed like everyone was comfortable and happy with the encounter.

His plane left Dallas around 7 p.m. our time, so he slept through much of his 11-hour flight, and lost a few hours in the journey (it is 4 hours later in Buenos Aires than it is here).

He was greeted at the airport by his Mission President and his wife, and a few assistants to the President.

It is summer in Argentina, and January happens to be the hottest month. I imagine Andrew experienced a bit of climate shock when he arrived, as they are having record-breaking temperatures there. And, unlike the dry heat of southern Arizona, they are experiencing 94 degree days with 82% humidity.Wow.

The MTC

November 30, 2011 - January 9, 2012

The MTC experience ...

The MTC map ... and yes, that is his pointer finger :D

Hermano Adams -- a great trainer! Recognize the artwork?

Get over yourself ...

Happy New Year!

A general idea of the schedule he kept ...

6:30 - Rise and shine, shower and dress
7:00 - Personal study
7:40 - Breakfast -- plenty of orange juice
8:15 - More study
9:15 - Class
12:15 - Lunch
1:00 - Class
4:00 - Language training
5:30 - Dinner
6:15 - Exercise
7:30 - Daily planning
8:00 - Teaching practice
10:30 - Lights out

Week Six of Three :)

Hah!

Those are Andrew's words in his last email. What a great attitude!

The most exciting news we have to share is that Andrew called home at 5:50 this afternoon -- to bring us some "tidings of joy"! His VISA came through last night, and he is scheduled to fly out on Monday, January 9th! He is very anxious to get out there and get to work.

He has enjoyed the extra time at the MTC. For the next few days he will be experiencing his second set of "lasts" (since they thought he would be leaving 3 weeks ago) . . . last devotional, last workshop, last glass of MTC chocolate milk (and yes, he says he has gained a pound or two), last chance to convert his investigator (who also happens to be his trainer, playing the part of drug-addicted investigator). He has found that missionary work will be more than preaching the gospel; it is about helping people overcome their problems as well.

He is memorizing scriptures in Spanish, and is pleased with how well his language skills are coming back to him. He is trying to adopt the Argentine accent, however. "SHo me SHamo" instead of "Yo me llamo."

It was so good to hear his voice. He is so enthusiastic and excited about the things he is doing, and he can't wait to go out and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who will listen.

Check back again soon. We'll share things as we learn them. And hopefully, we'll get some pictures we can post.

Happy New Year everyone!
Sally