Helaman 5:12

Helaman 5:12

Monday, April 25, 2016

Keys to the Car - Week 89

We had interviews this week with President Alliaud and we were in charge of lunch for us the APs and President.  We didn't know how far away the place was so President asked us if we wanted the keys....the keys to the car!!!  Hahah I felt like a 15 year old in drivers ed. With the keys in hand we bust out of the church to get into the car,  only problem...it was a stick....Yeah I hadn't driven a stick for 3 years and I may have stalled a few times...7 to be exact!  That was before even leaving the church!!  Hahaha after that I got it and when we had to go back to pick up the order, I was fine!!  Mangum also got a turn on the wheel and we laughed and thought...US missionaries don't know how fun this is for us after not using a car for almost 2 years.  It was scary too, but we were fine!


It has been a fun week here in Villa Allende for Elder Mangum and I

Gabriel that was baptized last week is working
like crazy and wants to baptize the entire world,
and especially his family. It is so incredible to see
how the spirit and the gospel can change people

Yep we got the keys to the car!!!  Took it out for a spin:)

Oh boy it was a stick ... which took us awhile to get :)

Picking up lunch - best time ever

The Package Came!

Scotty thought there might be some kids in Argentina
that would love these little cars as much as the kids in Madagascar!

My Scotty impersonation with sound effects and everything!

My favorite snacks - Thanks Mom and to the Spitales
for bringing them all the way from Salt Lake City!

Monday, April 18, 2016

Take the Blame - Week 88

Well it sure has been a fun week that started with our undefeated basketball team on PDay.  No one could stop us, and it was so fun to just unwind and play an upper body sport for once instead of worrying the entire time about my feet!! (Soccer)
This week I learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes we just need to be humble and in order to forgive others we need to ask them forgiveness first.   I testify that when we humbly say we are sorry and ask forgiveness the spirit can change hearts. I love you all and pray that we can all be humble and love those around us. Then we can continue working and do our best  Love Elder George


Me and Marcos Córdoba, a youth from our ward prepping
for the mission.  Super great kid and he always helps us!! 


Pday in Rio Ceballos, we played basketball and our team went
undefeated the entire time.  In front Elder George, Elder Card, and
Elder Willis, in back Elder Burmeister, Hna McArthur and Hna Vazquez


Pics of Pday in Rio Ceballos and playing soccer.

In front of the action, I later entered in to play when
Elder Hansen got hit in the nose and it started to bleed.

The baptism of Selene

Monday, April 11, 2016

Fire and Rain - Week 87

The Evans boys back home "adventuresome lads," entered into my thoughts several times this week. I better think twice next time.
        Elder Aldas from Ecuador completed a year in the mission so as tradition he decided to burn a shirt. We needed to use alcohol, and I told them that they could light their hands on fire if they wanted.  They wanted to see an example first so I covered my hand with alcohol, rubbing alcohol , and did just as Matt Evans taught me, but maybe not in the lighting of the alcohol.  I shook my hand to take out the fire, however, it didn't come off, I shook more anxiously and it still didn't come off, I frantically went down to the grass and put out the fire, only suffering a few blisters on my poor hand.  Well, I know it was foolish, but what do you expect from a bunch of 20 year old boys....ahaha
         Also we were in Los Polinesias and had taken the bikes on Monday to do a split to cover more ground.  We reached a grass hill to go down and my wiser companion got off his bike and walked down to the muddy ground below.  I, in turn, had a spirit like Brett Evans and said lets go.  Little did I know that there was a gutter like hole at the bottom that when I hit it and hit the front brake my bike, like a bucking horse or bull, threw me from the saddle and I came down on my hands and shoulder.  I cut up my hands a bit and only dirtied my shirt...then laughed as I looked at Mangum and said it cant get any worse. Well on the way back it did get worse as the rains came down.  I followed Mangum down the steep muddy hills traveling slower because I only had the front brake.  We made it to the main road and I looked down and then looked up and Elder Mangum was down!!  MANGUM I yelled.  He had hit a big hole full of water and fallen inside of the hole...hahahah we both returned home wet and hurt that day but kept working with all our hearts for the rest of the week!!

We are starting a plan here in Las Sierras called always wet,
because of the rain and because of the people that have
desires to follow God and be baptized. 

Gabriel was baptized this week and as I entered
into the cold water, cold below and warm above, I felt so happy
to be apart of the Lords work.

So had I remembered back at the neighborhood camp
that things didn't turn out so well for Brett,
I  might have saved myself from the same outcome...

Live and Learn

Monday, April 4, 2016

Bikes, Climbs, and Prophetic Messages - Week 86

Last week I was transferred just outside of the capital to the small hills of Villa Allende. Now I have been in areas that are all flat for over 19 monthes, and without a bike for over a year and a half....well here we have bikes and hills!!  Mangum and I dont really use the bikes that much, but to go to the church and get things done a little faster.  We work in an area named Los Polinesias and it is a poorer neighborhood with SOO many hills, and not little ones either.  After walking on flats for so long, I almost died on those hills and on the bike, but hey I will be okay.
One day we were riding the bikes and a car door opened without checking and almost sent my comp flying...luckily he swerved just in time!  Haha, we sure do have fun!  Elder Mangum, my comp is from Texas, he has 22 monthes in the mission and he loves basketball.  He is also really patient and calm about things which I love!  He doesn't worry just works.  He is a great Elder and we are having a lot of fun here together. More than that I love Villa Allende, I am a lot healthier now and gaining back the weight that I had lost.

Elder Mangum and me General conference with guarana,
the drink we had as a family before and ice cream!!

Around the new apartment...little house.

This is the bedroom with Elder Hunt, he wanted to pose
for the photo but I made him laugh so he couldnt.

Look a big bathroom with the shower separate!!!
How beautiful!!! That made me almost cry I was so happy.
I took a hot shower as soon as I got there.
It was so awesome after 4 monthes of icy showers.

Then the kitchen and our workout station.

This is the armor of God and means put it on!!
It is on our front door to always remind us!

My leather scripture for my quad.  The front
is one of the 2000 stripling warriors with his mom,
my favorite story in the book of Mormon. 
Be the missionary that your mom thinks you are! 

Then captain Moroni on the back, a great example
of someone
that doesn't let Satan triumph! 
Always prepared and ready to fight

 Mom and Dad had dinner with the Endrek’s and Spitale’s on Tuesday night.  It was a lot of fun!  Marcela made chicken and carne empanadas, plus facturas and they had alfajores.  All laughed and visited – they had to translate in both directions for my mom and Marcela’s sister, Maria.  My Good friend Elder Gabe Endrek will return from his mission just the week before I do.