2/27/17 Dios nos Ama:)

Hola Todos,

Well, this week was one of the harder ones in the mission. However we managed to have a lot of fun and enjoy the heat as much as you can. My week started with a fun pday in a little city called Gaiman. We went and hung out over there and partied hard. There were a few pretty places with green which is hard to find down here! 

During the week we had a lot of tough times. We had three baptisms planned and all three fall through. We struggled finding, teaching, and just doing missionary work. Everything kinda just started being really hard. To add to the fun we had two missionaries in our pension for the whole week. One of them was finishing his mission and had to do a whole bunch of stuff to finish and lived with us for the week. Watching someone finish isnt always the easiest when things arent going the way you want in the field. 

I think my highlight was going to a little city called Dolavan. The Elder that went home always told us that there was nothing in Dolavan. He never wanted to be there or do anything there. So I went with his companion for a day and we worked hard. We found, taught, and we able to see blessings of faith and prayer. 

This week was just hard. With everything in the area not going the way WE want and watching a friend go home. I wasnt doing well Saturday and Sunday morning. I was just sad. Wanting more, wishing I did more, or just looking for something happy. I went to church kinda just eh. I am in a ward with a lot like a lot of less actives. We only have 25 people at church on average. So being at church just makes me want to work more, or add more stress. So I got more upset, and then I was asked to bless the sacrament. I was sitting watching all the members. They were happy! There wasnt a lot of them BUT they were HAPPY. I thought how our Heavenly Father was happy that they were there. This brought me joy. It made me happy. Thats why we live the gospel my friends. Thats why we sacrafice time, plessure, work, money, and sometimes we have to give up moments with our family, and friends. I was able to feel a little bit of what our Father in Heaven feels. A pure love for His children. He loves you, and He loves me! I know it! I have felt it! 

I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon. I know that we can all know this. Read, Pray, and I know you will find a knowledge of this as well. I know that we can go to the temple to make promises with God. I invite you to go more often. I dont care where you live, how far away it is. Make a plan to go just a little more and you WILL see the blesses in you life!!! Les Quiero!:) 

Elder Saunders del fin del Mundo:)

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See it. Feel it. Trust it.

2/20/17 Vamos a Bautizar!!!

Hola Todos,

This past week was a good one. We were able to get a lot done and have fun doing it. Almost the whole week we had two other missionaries living with us. They are usually in a little city called Dolavan but this week one of them got their wisdom teeth out! So they stayed with us and we partied hard haha!! Their names are Elder Torres and Elder Oviatt. I enjoyed the company but the pension needs a good cleaning now. 

In the beginning of the week we found and taught two investigators that my moms co-worker taught a few years ago. It was crazy to be able to say that he sent me to find them. They have pictures of him in their house and call him their son. He did an awesome job with them. We taught them the restoration, and they said they would try to try again. Haha they have had dozens of missionaries pass through their home! Their names are Cristina and Richard. 

Through-out the week we did divisions or splits with the other two elders, taking turns watching over Elder Torres who took out his wisdom teeth. It was nice to be able to rest a little bit with Elder Torres in the pension. He finishes his mission this week and I enjoyed listening to his wisdom and advice for my next year I have here. Elder Oviatt is a very good missionary. He has less time but knows why and what he is doing here. His desire to work and excitement to share the gospel help me keep the batteries going. 

Everything is looking good for our three baptisms this week. Veronica and Gonzalo are ready apart from one little thing... Tithing! haha they said they would pray and ask God if they need to pay a tenth of their money. I have faith and know that they will recieve their answer! Our other baptism is a straight miracle. A few weeks ago an older lady showed up to church with her family. She isnt baptized but her family was baptized a few years ago. She now wants to be baptized and Saturday is her day!! She even reactivated the dad of the family!! He hasnt gone to church in a long while. Their last name is Roa!! 

Thursday was a wild day! In the morning/afternoon it was very very very hot. We were dying and went to eat lunch in the church because it has air conditioning. After lunch it was still crazy hot. Then it started to rain, like rain rain, like all the rain you have ever seen in like 30 minutes the house of the family Roa was being filled with water. We just so happened to pass by and soaking wet were able to help get all the water out. So you can imagine. Two missionaries still in white shirt and tie throwing buckets out of a house. Haha the whole neighborhood was staring at us through their windows.

Sunday or yesterday we got to church and our bishop informed us that the seventy from our area was going to be attending our sacrament meeting. Then decided that I should be the lovely missionary to give a talk. Yes an hour and half before the meeting. Haha so I said yes and scared out of my pants tried to give a talk from nothing. It went decent. I didnt die but it wasnt my favorite experience. The seventy Elder Fernádez talked about the temple and doing it and not just saying it. So my friends... Just it do it!!!! After church we spent the afternoon with the Antipan family. They are sooo funny and we played cards and ate really yummy foods!! 

I know that this church is true. Not cause my parents, friends, grandparents, leaders, other missionaries, but I know it cause I have felt, seen, and watched how it was changed peoples lives. I have felt it change mine. Through the Atonement we can be cleansed of our sins. Our mistakes that we all make. I know that you can feel worthy, clean, or just more happy through the Atonement. Through Christ you can be clean to enter the kingdom of God. That should be our goal. That is my goal. I know we can make it. I know that the simple things are sometimes the most powerful. Read your scriptures, Pray, and Go to church. Just do it. Its easy. I know you can do it. I know our Father in Heaven will bless you in ways you cant imagine if you do. Les Quiero! 

Elder Saunders del fin del mundo!:) 

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See it. Feel it. Trust it.

2/13/17 Another Week in Trelew:)

Hola Todos,

Week number four is over and number five is on its way. Trelew is well, Trelew! haha a little hot but not as hot as it was when I got here. We have less wind then Comodoro and there is green. We are working hard down here and we are seeing success. People are listening to us, and the spirit and are trying to change. In other word the Spirit is teaching people how to Repent. We are able to watch them and help them on their journey. 

Veronica is doing well. She is a single mom with three kids. Gonzalo is 14 but looks like he is 18 and plays rugby. I am not suited to teach him how to play Football but I am trying;) Morena is 7 and is a fireball, she loves to dance to music and makes me dance with her! Antonela is 4 and is soo funny. She will repeat anything she hears and she hears a lot of things from music, tv, and well she says some pretty funny stuff. Basically Veronica has her hands full and works a lot. She is really working hard to find a testimony. She reads everynight with her kids and is praying for an answer. Im a happy to be here. Veronica and Gonzalo are getting baptized the 25 of Feburary!!! 

We also have had a miracle and an older lady just randomly showed up to Church. Well her family is less active and she just wanted to go. She has come the last two weeks and we are hoping shell accept a baptismal date for the 25 as well!!! I love seeing people want to change and actually do it.

One fun thing we did this week was Divisiones. I was able to go on splits with another gringo from California and we found a lot of new people. One contact I found interesting was Eter. She opened her door and was telling us no, she wasnt looking well and we asked if we could do anything for her She like everyone said no, then I said, "well can we atleast pray for you?" She answered saying, "okay yes come on in." The power of prayer is we powerful. People want to be close to God, and sometimes they dont know how or are confused in the most correct way to do it. I know we have the way, the true church is Christs church the one He put on the Earth when He was here. I know after He took it off the Earth, that He put it back on the Earth through Joseph Smith. He restored the Church. I know it, and we all can know it. Pray and find out. Go to church and feel it. Read and study and gain a stronger testimony of it. I know you can! I have done and I am trying to do it. Dont get me wrong, I know life is hard. Satan exist and his follows are real as well. The adversary is and will try to break you down. Thats why we need to put me strength in the things we know. Pray and ask our Heavenly Father what that would be for YOU. We are all different. We all have stories, backgrouds, struggles, and no one knows us better than our Father. I know He is our Father and I know that He loves you. Keep Carrying On and I know that all will turn out well. Heavenly Father knows what is happening. Les Quiero!!! 

Elder Saunders del fin del mundo:)

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See it. Feel it. Trust it.

2/6/17 Comodoro y Fun

Hola Todos,

Week three in Trelew was a crazy one. We had a lot of meetings and in la misión Comodoro Rivadavia that means you travel. My companion and I left Wednesday afternoon to Comodoro. Its a five hour bus ride but the buses are nice and it was only five hours. When we got to Comodoro we were sent to a hotel and ate dinner. We ate pasta with a nice red sauce and chicken. Before the mission I hated food like this but we always eat it here so I dont mind it now. 

The next day we had our meeting with President. All of the Zone Leaders and Sitster Training Leaders met and we talked about how we can improve our mission. We are in a tough time right now and everyone is kinda down in energy. Ideas were thrown out and it was a really nice meeting. I never had been to one and it was nice to learn a little more how Zone Leader works. That night we traveled back to Trelew and arrived around midnightl. 

Friday and Saturday were spent planning and having Zone Meeting. We talked about Faith to Find and Teach and Concecration. Everything went as planned and we had a nice good spiritual meeting. I enjoyed being able to speak on faith and sharing a few experiences from my mission and of course my famous See It. Feel it. Trust it.!!! 

Yesterday we had another family come to church. The family from last week were sick. Well the mom was sick. I was thrilled to see more and more progression. Even with few days in our area we were blessed with these miracles. As well a random person showed up and we are going to pass by her this week. Another cool thing was a Dad and Son from Nephi Utah came to our ward. The dad grew up here in the Trelew and met his wife on the mission and moved to Utah when he got married. He takes his kids to Argentina every few years or so and I was able to be part of it. Way cool!!! The son shared his testimony in English it was sweet!!!!!!!! 

Well I know that this is the true church. I know its hard sometimes to feel the spirit, or to know if your feeling it. Just keep pushing and tying to do the best you can. Thats what Im telling my self for this week. I know Christ lives and knows you. I know He loves you. I know He loves me. I know as we strive to do our best we get blessed. Les Quiero.

Elder Saunders del fin del Mundo:) 

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See it. Feel it. Trust it.