November 19, 2012

Famalia!
 
Glad to hear things are going well! I will apologize in advance
because I wanted to send photos today but the Cyber with the computers
that let us send pictures is closed, so we had to come to the other Cyber
that has lame computers that won’t read our cameras. So the photos will
have to wait until next week! I took photos of the apartment so you
guys are finally going to see that ha-ha. Sorry I know you guys want to
see it and I have been slacking with getting those to you guys.
 
Cool news about Evan! Tell him I said Congratulations and that he is
going to love the mission! The church is strong in Mexico so I am sure
that will be a cool experience for him. Cool about Lauren too!
 
Glad the elders were over for dinner! I always enjoy having lunch with
the members. Here they do things a little different. Everyone has a
small breakfast, a GIGANTIC lunch, and then a small dinner. So instead
of dinner, we have lunches with our members. According to Elder Child
we eat really well here in Ituzaingo ha-ha. I guess the stuff he would
eat in Formosa wasn’t as good as it is here. I don’t really know because
this is my first area. It makes since though because Ituzaingo is
a really nice town and the people here have a little bit more money,
so as a result we eat really well!
 
Crazy about the dog! But I am glad you guys found him ha-ha.
 
Sounds like things are getting a little crazy for Thanksgiving! It is
kind of strange being this intense heat during November ha-ha. It
definitely doesn’t feel like Christmas is right around the corner
because it is so blazing hot and humid. Thanksgiving here isn’t even in
November so we won’t be celebrating it! I believe it is July? Because I
remember it happening a few months back! So while you guys are eating
turkey and a bunch of delicious homemade food, we will be working!
 
This week was good! Nothing too new to share again. We have some
investigators progressing but ran into a few obstacles that we are
working through. We think all will be well to have some more baptisms
before the end of the transfer, so I will keep you guys updated!
 
We had to travel to Corrientes AGAIN this week! The people did
something wrong with my papers and Visa last time so we had to return
to fix it. I was pretty upset about it because it wastes almost an
entire day of work and it costs a ton of money to travel there. So
that was kind of lame.
 
Other than that things are good! I have adjusted pretty well to how
Elder Child does things and he has adjusted pretty well to how I do
things. We work well together and are unified as a companionship,
which is good! Preach My Gospel says that although there are two
people there should be once voice with the same objective, bringing
people unto Christ. He is good missionary and I am glad he is my
companion. I will send some photos of us next week!
 
Other than that things are the same! Just keeping up the good work!
Thanksgiving is this week so I want the entire family to know that I
am grateful to have such a wonderful and loving family! You guys are
all a huge blessing to me and I love you all! Have a wonderful week
and a great thanksgiving. Eats lots of delicious American food for me!
 
Elder Deniston. :)

Famalia!

How is everyone doing? I hope good!

I don´t have too much time this week so I am going to keep this one kind of short!

We heard about the election with Romney and Obama sucks! But I have more important things to talk about right now so we can put that on the back burner ha-ha.

This week was pretty good! We had a conference in Posadas Wednesday with a member of one of the quorums or 70! Elder Vinas spoke along with President Haymen. It was really spiritual! They mainly spoke about the Doctrine of Christ and how we can improve as missionaries through Hope, Faith, and Charity. I don´t have time to explain everything they taught, but it was really good! I also Elder Waldron, my comp from the MTC, there! So that was cool.

Other then that Elder Child and I have just been working a tonnn! We have a lot of people progressing at the moment. It is looking like we are going to have some baptisms before the end of the transfer, so that is always good news! One of the more interesting people we are teaching is Sandra and her family. Sandra is from Africa, lived in Brazil for a while, and moved here a few years ago! She has 3 girls, triplets, and they are the only black family here in Ituzaingo! Pretty cool. I will keep you updated on what happens with them! We also have a few other people progressing that should enter the waters of baptism within the next few weeks. So there should be some exciting news the next few emails.

We also heard about the storms back East. Sounds like it was pretty bad. :/ But it is glad to hear the Church was quick to respond and help out!

I am having trouble thinking of things to tell you guys! Ha-ha. This week was just another week of a lot of walking, sweating, and teaching ha-ha. Not too much going on other than the same things we are always doing ha-ha. Elder Child is cool! I don´t have a photo of him so I will have to send one next week. But is a really funny kid and we getting along well, so that is good.

Crazy to think that it is already November! Christmas is coming up! And I am already well over the 6 month mark here in Argentina! It has gone by pretty fast!

Are converts are doing well! Especially Veronica and The Gomez Pereira family, so that is good. The church is growing here in Ituzaingo and the members are happy with us and our work, so we are going to keep it up!

Sorry, I am like drawing blanks on what to talk about this week! Sorry that this letter is so short! :/ I promise that I will have more to write next week and I will get some photos off as well. Glad to hear everything is good and I will hear from you all next week. Love you all!

Elder Deniston. :)

November 5, 2012

Hola!

 

Awesome photos! Stoked for Devin and Nathan and Otto looked legit in his pumpkin costume! Sounded like Halloween was a fun time. They don´t really celebrate Halloween here ha-ha. Some of the stores and what not had fake cobwebs and spiders for decoration but that´s about it. No trick-or-treating or parties or any of that stuff.

 

This week was pretty good, other than the fact that I feel kind of sick right now :/ I am not sure why, but I am sure it will go away soon. It´s nothing serious, just a cold I believe, but it definitely isn´t fun.

We had 3 more baptism’s this last Monday! The family Gomez-Perrea had their baptism and it was probably the coolest baptism I have had yet on the mission. They all good of course, but it was cool to see Hermano Gomez-Perrea baptize his wife and two kids. Definitely a spiritual experience. He bore his testimony this last Sunday about the baptism and his family and what not, was really cool. So that was awesome!

 

Elder McGarry left for his house Wednesday and I am now with Elder Child from Utah and we are still in Ituzaingo! I thought Elder McGarry spoke well but this kid speaks Spanish just as well as he speaks English. So I feel I am going to learn a lot from him. So that will be good. He has a couple more transfers then me and he knows Elder Gallardo, so that is pretty cool. He was in Formosa before coming here and the missionaries in Formosa literally all have baptism´s each week. Mainly because all of Formosa is pretty poor and the people there are just prepared and ready to join the gospel. But I say this because he still has that go get em` attitude to baptize each week, which is good! Corrientes is a little different and there aren´t as many baptisms here, but we are going to work hard and have success here!

Oh also, new rule. No English! Elder McGarry liked to speak English, and although I learned a ton from him, it´s obviously better to just speak Spanish. So for the next year and half only Spanish! In the apartment, on divisions, P-days, everything! Only Spanish.

Elder Child is pretty cool and I get along with him so far, I have a feeling we are only going to be together and here for this next transfer because all the members say that during the middle of December is when the Elders leave and the Sisters come in. Because that is when all the tourists start rolling in to use the beaches!

 

I am kind of wanting to get transferred and see some other parts of the mission ha-ha, because I have been here alonggggg time! But it´s all good, because Ituzaingo is pretty cool. We will see what happens next transfer!

 

Other than this not much going on! Elder McGarry and I kind of got into a routine of how we spent our P-days and it´s probably going to change a little bit now that I am with Elder Child, so I am not too sure when we will be writing each week! I know that Elder Child likes to write earlier in the day and Elder McGarry liked to write later in the day, so just make sure to have your letters out Sunday night still!

I love you all and am going to try to send some photos now! Have e a great week and I will write more next week!. :)

 

Elder Deniston

 

November 5, 2012

You guys need to look this up online! I haven´t really mentioned it in any of my previous emails. But they have a gigantic Dam here in Ituzaingo! I believe it is one of the biggest in the world. We aren´t allowed to visit because it technically isn´t a part of a country. On one end is Argentina and the other Paraguay, so it kind of no-mans land. They have a museum here for it and visited that, pretty cool. Look it up online though, I believe it is called the Yacare Dam. But look around, you will be able to find it.

 

 The Ojeda family! Different Ojedas family, not our other converts! They got married this day and we are now teaching Maria Ojeda and we think that she will be baptized this transfer! I will keep you updated.

 

With the Gomez-Perrea family before their baptism!

 

We had a going away Asado for Elder McGarry and the entire branch came! This is a photo of us with Hermano Godoy!

 

 

 

 

October 22, 2012

Family,

Alright, we have a ton of stuff going on this week! But I will get to that stuff in a minute.

We had an interview with President this week and he informed us a little more about Sister Haymen. She has been learning to re-walk and remember some words, so it sounds like it was fairly big stroke. But, he said she is good condition and is progressing well and should be back to the mission soon! He said she is good spirits and wants to return as soon as possible. So keep her in your prayers.

Crazy about gas prices! Glad I don´t have to worry about those currently ha-ha.

Crazy about Romney! Let me know what happens with that. People down here are even talking about the election. Ha-ha. Is the Church is the spotlight or taking any heat because of him?

Pretty awesome that McKenzie wants to serve a mission! Really awesome.

Alright, well we have a huge week in front of us this week! Veronica was supposed to have her baptism this last Sunday! But, her mother was unable to be here because she had to visit her mother in Corrientes Capital. Veronica didn’t want to have her baptism if her mother was not there so we had to postpone it until tomorrow! So this is the second time we have changed the date ha-ha. We have grown a little impatient about it ha-ha, but everything looks good for tomorrow! So I will have pictures of that the following week.

Also, we might have more baptisms this weekend! We have been working with Valdimar (a member here) and his family, the Gomez-Perrea´s and they are ready to be baptized! The only thing is Valdimar wife doesn´t really feel prepared, but really she is. She knows all of the baptismal questions and has been keeping all of the commitments, she has been attending church and reading and doing everything she needs to be doing! She has already told us that she knows everything is true and has felt her faith grow. So we aren´t really sure what is keeping here from wanting to be baptized. We have been working with them a ton lately and have been teaching about Christ and why he was baptized and The Gift of the Holy Ghost and telling that we sincerely feel that she is ready. Valdimar also feels that she is ready! We have a lesson with them tonight and we think we are going to find out her decision then! If she wants to have the baptism this weekend, of if she wants to wait a little bit longer. So we are praying and hoping everything goes well! I will keep you guys updated.

Right now we are focusing on them, Veronica and the family Gomez Perrea! They are all really amazing and their faith in Christ has been growing tremendously, so we hope to see them enter the waters of baptism this week! This is our last week of the transfer, I feel like it is going to be my last week here, and it is Elder McGarrys last week in the mission, so we are doing everything we can to end this transfer with all of these awesome things!

This is pretty much what we are doing now. Focusing on them. So I will let you guys know what happens! Pray all goes well! Other than that we have been working a ton, we had 7 investigators in church yesterday and 9 the other week! Almost a third of our congregation was investigators ha-ha. Oh also, this week I did transfers with Elder Moore from my district in the MTC! It was cool to spend a couple days with him, especially because he is from California! Good reunion to have.

I love you all and hope everything is going good at home! Sorry I can´t send pictures. It takes a ton of time, so it´s either a good letter or a lot of pictures ha-ha. I felt like the stuff going on this week was more important to tell you about, so the photos will have to wait! But I have a lot to send, so I will get them off to you guys as soon as I can!

Love you and will hear from you all next week! :)

Elder Deniston.

October 15, 2012

Famalia!

 

Anyways, so right now it is pouringggg rain! We took a taxi to the Cyber because we would of just been drenched if we didn´t. I know I have mentioned the storms here quite a bit, but there are seriously insane. Thunder. Lightening. Wind. Rain. Hail. Everything. They are pretty cool, but at the same time they are not, because it makes working difficult.

 

Alright, I have news!

 

We received some new information that Hermana Haymen is doing better. She is still down in Buenos Aires and will at least being staying there for a couple more weeks, possibly longer. Presidente Haymen flew their daughter from the States to stay with her while she is in the hospital. Presidente said she is doing good and feeling fine, but that they are just going to keep her there until she makes a full recovery. Right now, President Haymen is running the mission alone. We actually have interviews with him this week but we have to do them over Skype this time because he currently isn´t able to drive out to Posades. So that will be kind of interesting. I will let you know more about that next week.

 

Currently we are working with Veronica! Her mother is a member but has been in-active for a while so we have been working on getting her re-activated as well as teaching Veronica. We have taught her all of the lessons and she expressed to us that she feels the Spirit when she reads the Book of Mormon and when she prays regarding the things we have been teaching her. She told us last night that she wants to wait a little bit longer before getting baptized because she wants to learn a little bit more. We taught her that they way to know that everything that we have taught her is true is through The Book of Mormon and through prayers. We invited her again to pray and sincerely ask if the message of the restored gospel is true and to ask if the Book of Mormon is true. We taught her that the good feelings she has been feeling is Spirit testifying of truth and that through this form she is going to receive her answer. We have some more lessons with her this week so I will keep updated!

 

We also have some other investigators progressing but right now Veronica is the closest to getting baptized, so I will update you guys on our other investigators if they continue to progress.

 

I am getting better at speaking! My missionary vocabulary is good and I able to teach all of the lessons confidently, so that is good. I am still studying grammar and just how certain things work. Sometimes is a pain and I have a head about times a week, but I am learning pretty quickly, so that is also good! The language has been a steady learning progress, but I am confident that it will continue to improve and that I will only continue to get better, so I am not too worried about it! Still studying and working hard though!

 

This week a bought a real alligator head! The Cyber we are at today won’t let me send pictures so you guys will have to wait until next week to see it! It is about the size of my palm and they put marbles in for its eyes! I am pretty excited about it ha-ha.

 

Well, other than that nothing to new going on. Have some good people progressing and are looking forward to the next few weeks! I will keep you guys posted on what happens. I love you all and will hear from you next week!

 

Elder Deniston.

October 9, 2012

Famalia!

Yesterday was holiday so we had to work! So, here is my letter now! I don´t have much time so I have to make it quick!

 

Sounds like things are well at home! Loved the photos you sent. Looks like you guys are having fun! Otto is a stud! Sure do love that little kid.

 

We did get to hear general conference. We heard the first session Saturday in Spanish because we couldn´t figure out how to get a second channel of it in English. But I understood a lot of it! We watched the second session in English on the computer and watched Priesthood in Spanish with the brand. The news about the age for missionaries is awesome! Basically it´s finish high school and leave! Which is probably better and I a lot more missionaries and sisters will be the result.

 

We got to watch both sessions Saturday in English. I loved Eyring´s, Bednar´s, and of coarse Hollands. Holland just has a gift for giving talks and speaking. Pretty incredible and impossible to not feel the Spirit. But those 3 where my favorites! I have been doing an in-depths study of Acts and the Primitive Church after the ministry of Christ. So to hear some talks about that perfect for me.

 

Pretty crazy that Dad is still not in work! When is he going to return?

 

Glad to hear that the family is good! How is Tyler doing? Haven´t heard from him at all!

 

Here is a list of things you can send me in the package:

 

Deodorant( Old Spice Denali Scent. Get the dry stick, not the gel stick.) The more the merrier with this haha. I am not a fan of the deodorant here.

Socks( The same black one we first purchased.)

Haircut Clips! Elder McGarry is giving me his clippers when he leaves. Send me the two biggest pieces. I believe they are sizes 7 and 6. But send those!

Candy! Whatever kinds haha.

 

Also, send me some photos from home. I have none and members and investigators always want to see photos! Some of the family, friends, Lake Elsinore, etc. That would be awesome. You can take some off of Facebook, I have a lot up there.

 

So we have some big news this week! First, Hermana Haymen had a stroke this last week. :/ She is currently at a hospital in BA and we received a email today from President Haymen that she is recovering well and rapidly and should be returning to the mission soon. We fasted for her as a mission and are keeping her in our prayers! So pray for her as well. We didn´t receive to much information about it but received news that she is getting a lot better and that there should be no problems with them and there future service in the mission.

 

We are possibly going to have a baptism this weekend! We have been working with a girl named Veronica and she is ready and excited to be baptized. The only thing is she wants her mother to be there for the baptism she might be out of town this weekend. So if her mother is going to be here we are gong to have the service, if not, we are going to have it next week! I will let you know what happens with that!

 

Elder McGarry have 29 days left and is doing well! He is still working so that is good haha. He wants to finish he mission strong and I am encouraging him to keep up the good work. We have a lot of good things set up for the transfer so he is excited and wants to end on a good note!

 

I am thinking I am going to get transferred next transfer but we will have to wait and see! I will let you know. We have a few more weeks here first so I am just staying focused on the work cut out for us here.

 

I love you all and am keeping you guys in my prayers! I will some photos for you guys next week and I am going to try to get some videos off to you guys. For some reason my camera video files are to large to send, but Elder McGarry says he has sent videos from his camera before so I am going to borrow his and send a couple off to you guys.

 

Love you and will hear from you next week!

Elder Deniston.