February 6, 2012      Tartagal   Argentina

Hi!

This week I learned alot but we didn’t have much success as far as how much we were able to get done. On Tuesday we had to go to Oran for our zone conference. We got up and left at 5 am and got back at 10:15 ish... it was a long day but we learned alot. One reason this week was a little difficult is because people are getting ready for the big carnival parties here. It’s called Corso (Corso Tartagal). It’s like a big dance competition/parade. The kids and people make alot of their own masks and outfits following a guideline so they are all very similar. It starts about 10:30 or 11(at night) and we aren’t out at that time. But at 8 or 9 they have the whole street blocked off every night from this last Friday till next Sunday night! If you want to you can look it up to see what it’s like. I guess it goes till 2 or 3 in the morning, sometimes later - one reason why we had only 80 or so in church.

One lady who we have been trying to reactivate, bore her testimony yesterday which was really cool. She now has gone 4 times and is considered active. That’s along with another guy whose wife is the president of the Relief Society. He is now active and he and his wife are hoping to go to the temple in a year. We are now just working with friends and family of alot of these people. We didn’t have a baptism this weekend but for sure on the 11th. All together in the ward there should be about 5 or so! Should be a very good experience for the ward and everyone that comes.

We had a good turnout for the YM activity today. We have been telling them all to bring friends and we invite inactive kids and now there are about 7 inactive kids and a few more that are starting to come. It just feels like God has prepared everyone here to really grow and help each other. It has been such a great blessing to be present here in Tartagal while Heavenly Father has been performing miracles. I will be very sad to leave but I very well could be changing areas the 20th of this month. Time just flies by!

Oh, so after zone conference we were encouraged to talk to everyone we can about the gospel. We were really pumped so two of the missionaries talked the bus driver into turning down the music and they talked to everyone a second and then we talked to all of the people on the bus and got their addresses. We talked to them until we got back to our town. It was a good experience because alot of people were interested to have the missionaries come to their home and visit. It made me think about that being a responsibility as members too and how to talk to everyone possible. It seemed like it would be difficult but I know it’s not impossible. It’s just getting out of our comfort zone like Peter did to walk to Jesus on the water. We have to get out of our comfort zone to learn and progress. 

This keyboard is horrible and I can’t see half of the keys so please excuse the bad spelling and everything. 

I have to get going but I love you all! One thing I noticed in the intro of the Book of Mormon is in the last sentence of the third paragraph. If you are looking for more peace in your life take a look at what it says there. I know it is true and that because of the restored gospel we are able to understand our purpose and what the important things in life are. I know that Heavenly Father loves all of his children equally and wants the best for everyone! If we only exercise a little faith and put the teaching of Christ into practice everyone can know for themselves the blessings and happiness that we are able to receive and that God has prepared for us. He is just waiting for us to do our part. 

I know the church is true through the Book of Mormon and praying to know of its truth. The Book of Mormon testifies of Christ and his sacrifice for us. It is impossible to return to live with him and our families if we don’t exercise faith and follow the teachings of him. He is our savior and redeemer! 

Love,

Alex