July 12, 2010

July 12, 2010

Hey Everyone!
Things are going fine in Mission Paradise. The mission is awesome as always! Elder Montierth and I are doing much better. The work is still slow but we are working with all of our might to get things rolling here. We are having problems with getting investigators to church and teaching with members. That has a direct link to it. We aren't doing so well with referrals either which only hurts us. But, we have great faith and are working hard. I'm still very focused and am working like a horse. I will not go home with any energy. If I do it means I didn't work enough. This week is our "Game Week." If we don't get people to church this week they can't get baptized before I leave. I so want to baptize everyone in this area. The people aren't extremely nice here but they aren't as mean as in other places. I'm happy and I'm just worrying about getting our investigators to church. That is the big goal for this week. We are working with two families right now. We haven't been able to get them all to church which is the problem. We have two baptismal dates for the 24 of July but we want the whole family to get baptized too. They are: Rosauro, Erica, Marinel, Bryan, Jordan, Kevin, and Estela. If we can get everyone going to church that family will be a blessing to everyone. They are from Uruguay and moved to Argentina for work reasons. They are great! Erica is the best and is going to church every week but nobody else is. The other family that we are working with is the Heredia Family. They consist of 7 people, 5 of which can get baptized. We had a wonderful first lesson with them but they didn't go to church and today they weren't able to listen to us. So, those two families are our big focus for the transfer. I want them all to get baptized and receive the blessings that are awaiting them. I think I need to be straight with them by being super bold and telling them all to get baptized and not try and do it the nice way. I don't really know what to do and I need some inspiration that I'm still waiting for. I know it will come and I will be patient. I just hope and pray that those two families will get baptized. That is my only wish right now.
So, that's all I have for this week. I hope you are all doing well. Please pray for us and all of the missionaries in the world!
Love,
Elder Page

July 5, 2010

July 5, 2010

Dear Everybody!
I hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend. Sadly, Argentina wouldn't even think about mentioning nor celebrating the 4th of July. But, they do have a holiday the 9th of July which will suit me just fine. I will sing the Star Spangled Banner all day long.
Well, let's see what's new. My companion is a good kid and he is improving. He's doing things without me telling him and he's talking more. He still doesn't do dishes or clean or anything else like that. I'm just taking it with patience because there is no point in getting frustrated with him. I'm only going to be his companion for a few more weeks and so I'm going to make it good. President said that I need to help him gain more self-confidence and do things for himself so that's what I'm doing now.
The mission is just as great as ever! I don't want to leave. The work here is still tough but in my interview with President he told me that I was there to change it around and get some people ready to baptize. That's what I'm doing!!! We are fighting each week to get people to church and have people listen to us. It's tougher than I thought it would be but we are getting there. We still have Erica and her son getting ready for baptism and tonight we are passing by a referral that we received from the 2nd counselor in the ward. I'm excited for that lesson because I have a feeling that they are golden and will be the answer to my prayers. My mission has never been easy and I'm glad it's been that way. I've learned to be much more patient with myself and with others. I've learned to accept things that I can't change and better the things that I can change.
The fun stuff for this week was that on Saturday we got to watch the Argentina-Germany soccer game in which Germany killed Argentina 4-0. That part wasn't so fun but afterwards everyone asked us if we were Germans and I don't know how many threats people have shouted at us. It's funny to me because only the teenagers and drunk old men ask us. I've had the desire to tell them that I am from Germany and found out what they would do about it but that wouldn't be too smart. So, I'll just keep on thinking about what could have happened. Things are great as always. I'm still working hard and finishing the way I should!
Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Page