Hey Everyone!
How are you all doing? I hope things are just great back home and that you enjoyed your Christmas. I enjoyed my Christmas even though it didn´t feel like I thought it would. It was very hot and not as many fireworks were lit off like I had hoped. However, we missionaries all got together as a zone and enjoyed Christmas together. We watched some Christmas movies and then played soccer to end the night. It was fun. We also had a chicken and mashed potato lunch before going back to our relative areas. It was fun and it made it hard to get back to work the next day. Ok, it wasn´t hard, just mundane because nobody was outside and we just rode our bikes up and down the streets. Talk about fun huh? On Saturday we had our Branch End-of-the-Year Party. Let´s just say that the brother in charge of it didn´t do his job and Elder Sabey and I had to take control of everything. We made several supermarket trips for dinky little stuff that the members forgot. Come Sunday, there were still pieces of food in the kitchen and several things to clean up. It was less than exciting to say the least. But the good news is that most of them went to church the next day so I won´t complain.
We aren´t going to have any baptisms this transfer because our investigators didn´t go to church yesterday. Bummer. They will likely get baptized next transfer (which is in a week) and become members of the most awesome church in all of the world. Tomorrow I have interviews with President Benton. That will be great! I just love talking to him and getting to know him better. He is quite an awesome guy. He always gets me excited about the mission.
I really enjoyed the phone call!! It was great to hear all of the voices that I´m used to. I had some trouble figuring out who was talking for a while better after a couple of minutes I was back on track. I don´t think I could have asked for a better present than to talk to you all. Sorry for not having too much to say. Things don´t really change in the mission and I didn´t know what to talk about. I could go on and on about the branch and the mission but it eventually ends up being all the same stuff that I´ve already told you. Either way I´m glad you enjoyed it too.
I hope you have a great New Year´s. I hope you guys make some good goals and get them accomplished!! I have several things that I want to change and I´ll do it.
Later,
Elder Page
December 28, 2009
December 22, 2009
December 22, 2009
Dear Everyone,
Things are going pretty well. My comp is awesome and I enjoy working with him a lot. Our branch is doing much better. Elder Sabey and I have activated a part family and an ex-branch president so far. The assistence in the chapel is growing a little bit higher each Sunday and we are finally forming bonds of unity in our branch. If things continue then all will be well here in 9 de Julio.We had our mission Christmas party yesterday in the offices. We had to travel Sunday after church to get there and we got back at about 1:00 am today. I´m still a little tired but it was well worth it. We had a presentation of skits, a Christmas gift exchange, and a barbeque to top it all off. Plus, I got to see all of my good friends. For your information, the only Christmas tradition in Argentina is not to have Christmas traditions. That was kind of a joke but normally the people light off fireworks Christmas Eve after eating a big barbeque dinner. It´s not much but it´s something. It´s better for me because when it´s hot outside and you don´t see anything that makes you think of Christmas you just don´t get that trunky.
So yeah, things are moving right along. I should have another transfer here in the country but I might just get sent back out to Buenos Aires because a ton of missionaries left early in order to make it home for Christmas. We will see what happens.
Well, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Enjoy it!! Remember that Jesus Christ should be our main focus in our lives, especially during this Christmas season. I hope you all feel the Christmas spirit and do some service for someone who just doesn´t have as much as you.
Later,
Elder Page
Things are going pretty well. My comp is awesome and I enjoy working with him a lot. Our branch is doing much better. Elder Sabey and I have activated a part family and an ex-branch president so far. The assistence in the chapel is growing a little bit higher each Sunday and we are finally forming bonds of unity in our branch. If things continue then all will be well here in 9 de Julio.We had our mission Christmas party yesterday in the offices. We had to travel Sunday after church to get there and we got back at about 1:00 am today. I´m still a little tired but it was well worth it. We had a presentation of skits, a Christmas gift exchange, and a barbeque to top it all off. Plus, I got to see all of my good friends. For your information, the only Christmas tradition in Argentina is not to have Christmas traditions. That was kind of a joke but normally the people light off fireworks Christmas Eve after eating a big barbeque dinner. It´s not much but it´s something. It´s better for me because when it´s hot outside and you don´t see anything that makes you think of Christmas you just don´t get that trunky.
So yeah, things are moving right along. I should have another transfer here in the country but I might just get sent back out to Buenos Aires because a ton of missionaries left early in order to make it home for Christmas. We will see what happens.
Well, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. Enjoy it!! Remember that Jesus Christ should be our main focus in our lives, especially during this Christmas season. I hope you all feel the Christmas spirit and do some service for someone who just doesn´t have as much as you.
Later,
Elder Page
December 14, 2009
Dec. 14, 2009
Hey Everyone!!
The mission is doing just fine. Elder Sabey and I are working hard and are getting a lot of stuff done. Last week we worked on activating a couple of families and all of them came to church on Sunday!!! Finally we have some progress. We also have investigators who are doing well. We have a baptismal date with a girl named Milagros, and one member brought her daughter who is not a member and also a friend who is really interested in the church! Things are looking up for us right now and I plan on keeping it that way. On Saturday we had the first counselor of the mission presidency come and do some activation visits with us. He is a pretty interesting guy. He is very serious and seems almost grumpy but he knows how to commit people to go to church. The visits turned out well and we had a good assistence in church on Sunday. We are slowly moving forward but there are still many obstacles in we have to get over.
This Saturday we have our End of the Year Party in the branch. Seeing how there is no planning commitee, guess who gets to do it? Yep it´s me. I somehow just get stuck with most of the responsibility here. It´s fine because we have things just about organized and ready for the party. I wish I would have paid much more attention to the ward parties at home. Take notes on these things people because they will only help you in some future calling.
Well Christmas is coming up. Next week we are the Christmas P-Day for the mission where we all go to the offices and have a party. It should be fun and I´m excited to see all my buddies in other areas.
Things are great! I´m still excited to be on the mission and I realize that time is still to come up on me and that I need to work harder than ever now. Please pray for me to be able to do that. Hope you are all enjoy Christmas vacations!!
Later,
Elder Page
The mission is doing just fine. Elder Sabey and I are working hard and are getting a lot of stuff done. Last week we worked on activating a couple of families and all of them came to church on Sunday!!! Finally we have some progress. We also have investigators who are doing well. We have a baptismal date with a girl named Milagros, and one member brought her daughter who is not a member and also a friend who is really interested in the church! Things are looking up for us right now and I plan on keeping it that way. On Saturday we had the first counselor of the mission presidency come and do some activation visits with us. He is a pretty interesting guy. He is very serious and seems almost grumpy but he knows how to commit people to go to church. The visits turned out well and we had a good assistence in church on Sunday. We are slowly moving forward but there are still many obstacles in we have to get over.
This Saturday we have our End of the Year Party in the branch. Seeing how there is no planning commitee, guess who gets to do it? Yep it´s me. I somehow just get stuck with most of the responsibility here. It´s fine because we have things just about organized and ready for the party. I wish I would have paid much more attention to the ward parties at home. Take notes on these things people because they will only help you in some future calling.
Well Christmas is coming up. Next week we are the Christmas P-Day for the mission where we all go to the offices and have a party. It should be fun and I´m excited to see all my buddies in other areas.
Things are great! I´m still excited to be on the mission and I realize that time is still to come up on me and that I need to work harder than ever now. Please pray for me to be able to do that. Hope you are all enjoy Christmas vacations!!
Later,
Elder Page
December 7, 2009
Dec. 7, 2009
Hey Everybody!!!
I´m so glad that you had an awesome Fast and Testimony meeting. I wish we could have one of those. During our meeting, everyone had gotten up and said how happy they were in the church. Being the way I am, I got up and said, "I am so glad that we are all happy. I am happy too but I am not content. Look around you and see the empty chairs. What families are not here today? Let us be happy but not content." Then I advised them to call up the families that didn´t show, find out why, and then invite them for the next Sunday. We will see how it works out.
I hope the Christmas Devotional was good. I wasn´t able to see it due to the hour that it was put on...bummer!
I´m glad to hear that the family is doing fine. That always makes me feel better.
Elder Sabey and I are doing well. We just actived a part-member family and hopefully we will get the whole family baptized. We are passing by a lot of old investigators. There seem to be some promising results from those visits. However, not one investigator we taught came to church and our baptismal dates all fell because of that. It´s heartbreaking to watch an investigator not progress like they could. It absolutely tears my soul apart. I want so bad for this branch to progress and become a ward but it´s taking more work than I imagined. It is possible though and I never lose hope! We should never lose hope. It helps drive our faith which leads us to righteous action. I have learned that many times from the mission. Discouragement should only lead us to working harder and rising above the obstacles in order to complete what is important.
I want to leave you with a quote from Elder Bednar at the close of his remarks. He said, "Elders and Sisters, IT IS ALL TRUE." Those words gave me an assurance of what I am doing is the right thing. I know this is where I need to be because it is all true. Never forget that. Never doubt and never ever question. Doubt comes from Satan and is the end result of a lack of faith. Stay strong and steadfast and always keep the faith!
Later,
Elder Page
I´m so glad that you had an awesome Fast and Testimony meeting. I wish we could have one of those. During our meeting, everyone had gotten up and said how happy they were in the church. Being the way I am, I got up and said, "I am so glad that we are all happy. I am happy too but I am not content. Look around you and see the empty chairs. What families are not here today? Let us be happy but not content." Then I advised them to call up the families that didn´t show, find out why, and then invite them for the next Sunday. We will see how it works out.
I hope the Christmas Devotional was good. I wasn´t able to see it due to the hour that it was put on...bummer!
I´m glad to hear that the family is doing fine. That always makes me feel better.
Elder Sabey and I are doing well. We just actived a part-member family and hopefully we will get the whole family baptized. We are passing by a lot of old investigators. There seem to be some promising results from those visits. However, not one investigator we taught came to church and our baptismal dates all fell because of that. It´s heartbreaking to watch an investigator not progress like they could. It absolutely tears my soul apart. I want so bad for this branch to progress and become a ward but it´s taking more work than I imagined. It is possible though and I never lose hope! We should never lose hope. It helps drive our faith which leads us to righteous action. I have learned that many times from the mission. Discouragement should only lead us to working harder and rising above the obstacles in order to complete what is important.
I want to leave you with a quote from Elder Bednar at the close of his remarks. He said, "Elders and Sisters, IT IS ALL TRUE." Those words gave me an assurance of what I am doing is the right thing. I know this is where I need to be because it is all true. Never forget that. Never doubt and never ever question. Doubt comes from Satan and is the end result of a lack of faith. Stay strong and steadfast and always keep the faith!
Later,
Elder Page
December 1, 2009
November 30, 2009
Hey Everybody!
Life is good right now. I´m really enjoying my new companion, Elder Sabey. We get along very well. He´s very cool and fun to be around and we both work well together. He is what I needed to be honest. We have big plans to change things here in the branch. I am extremely excited! I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving. We didn´t have any celebration here and the day was kind of lame because I was thinking about turkey and pie the whole time. What I wouldn´t give for a slice of pie.
The mission is good. Last week we had some pretty big rain storms the whole week. It made it tough to find people and get stuff done. We also had a ton of meetings with the district presidency about how to manage a branch. I have learned a lot from this experience. Yesterday (Sunday) the rain almost stopped our church meetings. The building was flooded and the lights were out. For about an hour we cleaned up the place and got it ready for worship. We only had 19 people there and we started a little late waiting for people. Luckily for me, the speakers showed up so I didn´t have to wing one again. That made it easier for me! I´m having to do much of the branch work for now because my companion is new and doesn´t know everything. In a couple of weeks it won´t be so difficult to get things going. Well I don´t have much more to say. Things are going fine and I´m just absolutely loving the mission! I hope all is well with you all.
Later,
Elder Page
Life is good right now. I´m really enjoying my new companion, Elder Sabey. We get along very well. He´s very cool and fun to be around and we both work well together. He is what I needed to be honest. We have big plans to change things here in the branch. I am extremely excited! I hope you enjoyed Thanksgiving. We didn´t have any celebration here and the day was kind of lame because I was thinking about turkey and pie the whole time. What I wouldn´t give for a slice of pie.
The mission is good. Last week we had some pretty big rain storms the whole week. It made it tough to find people and get stuff done. We also had a ton of meetings with the district presidency about how to manage a branch. I have learned a lot from this experience. Yesterday (Sunday) the rain almost stopped our church meetings. The building was flooded and the lights were out. For about an hour we cleaned up the place and got it ready for worship. We only had 19 people there and we started a little late waiting for people. Luckily for me, the speakers showed up so I didn´t have to wing one again. That made it easier for me! I´m having to do much of the branch work for now because my companion is new and doesn´t know everything. In a couple of weeks it won´t be so difficult to get things going. Well I don´t have much more to say. Things are going fine and I´m just absolutely loving the mission! I hope all is well with you all.
Later,
Elder Page
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