Parties, Dinners, and Baptisms....OH MY!!! - Week 48

First off, one night we went with our investigator Emanuel to eat at a peruvian restaurant with the other two elders in my district Elder Morocho from Peru and Elder Wright from Ohio, who just went home.  I ate something called Cebiche which is raw fish in lemon sauce and boy it was tasty.  So there is another weird thing that I have eaten....I think in the end I liked the cow head better:)  haha we will have to try that in the states sometime:)  We also ate some delicious milk pudding that had been cooked...man I will tell you that John Pettit must be loving the food from Peru because it is amazing!!

Our friend Emanuel took us to a Peruvian restaurant!  

Some of the food that we ate there!  Including fried octopus!!  

Elder Benton looking good.

This plate was mine!!  Looks pretty nasty right?  Well it was actually very tasty!!

With my Peruvian missionary, Elder Moracho!!  He helped me decide what to eat! I got some fish called cebiche covered in lemon and ate it all!!

Then came dessert!!  Fried milk pudding!  It was delicious as well!! 

At the baptism of Marilin and the other two are investigators of Agren and Riquelme

Selfies with the Loza families kids and Elder Benton!

We had a  wonderful church independence day barbeque!...it was delicious and I loved it!!  We got to be with the members and then they started Just Dance 4...I remember playing at home with Steph and Jake and loving it so it was tough to watch and not be able to play, but it was fine!  Fun to watch for a bit :)

They played just dance mom....and I couldn't play!!  

We went bowling!!!  That was the first time in forever!!

Didn't bring my bowling shoes..

Okay end of the transfer and I am lucky enough to stay for one more with my son Elder Benton!!  Super excited about that and also to be with Agren one more to see him die. (Go Home) They are two of my best buds !

The Spirit is our Greatest Ally - Week 47

It was a fantastic week here in Córdoba Chacabuco for Elder Benton and I.  We taught many many lessons and we have many progressing investigators right now. We look forward to baptisms closer to the end of this month.
What I have realized on my mission in the past time is that I am coming to know my Savior and that he really suffered for me personally.  I know that I am not perfect, but I sure am going to try my best to be better so that I can live with Him again because I Love Him.  Thanks to Him I have and can have everything if I choose to be humble and repent of my wrongs.  Remember that it is only upon the conditions of repentance that we may live with Him again.  So watch your thoughts and the things you say because those things will become your character.  Do not permit even the smallest impure thought to enter, kick it out.  I know that our thoughts edify us or destroy us.  Learn to recognize the spirit.  That is the best part of the mission.  Learning to listen and trust and act!  I believe that my life after the mission will be much better because I will have learned to listen and to trust so that I will know that my decisions in school and everything will be right!  I love you all, and I love the Lord.  This is His work I so testify!!  Elder George

Grido Night or night with Ice Cream!!!

We are all just killing it with the creamy delicious ice cream!!! 

Brain Freeze?

This is the cat that Elder Benton threw an orange at!!  

Hahah, he didnt like that very much:)

Birthday, and Baptism - Week 46

   This week was so awesome for me here in Argentina.  Not only did I have a fantastic birthday on the 24th with lots of treats food, and friends but I also got a face treatment with frosting and cake when they threw my head in.  That sure was a surprise but hey it was really funny!!
   The highlight was Amanda's little sister Dayana decided to be baptized as well and I had the opportunity of performing the ordinance.  I was down in the water and she was up above saying, is it cold Elder...I would say no it is warm (which it was...mostly;)  then she asked again..Is it cold, no it is warm 3 times and then finally entered and said... Burr it is cold!!  But it was a beautiful event!

Matching sweaters for my birthday week!!  We sure look good right!

2 new ties that I bought at the mall!! I love the maze looking one, it is crazy!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!  I was singing that all day in the streets to Elder Benton.  Hahah!!

With the other two elders in my district that prepared everything!!  How cool are they.  Elder Wright from Ohio and Elder Morocho from Peru!  The best!

The food!!!  So yummy!!

They threw a party for me at the Loza Families home with pizza empanadas and cake and the family Lamas came and everything!!

With my nice and special birthday cake playing piano how special but little did I know that a suprise was coming quick....

 SURPRISE!!!

 I guess throwing the birthday boy in the cake is a special tradition.

And these guys did nothing to save me....what dedication and love right;)

My Faithful Companion

With the families and the birthday card that they prepared!

Happy Birthday Daniel!

Some special pins from soccer teams and special treats!!

The card they made for me, and the baptism of Dayana, Amandas little sister!!

Elder Agren gave me some pop rocks and when I put them in my mouth I got super happy because of the sounds and everything.  So funny!!

The baptism of Dayana, Amanda's little sister!!

The Importance of Fathers - Week 45

Well yesterday was fathers day so I would like to dedicate my letter to fathers especially the father figures in my life.  I will never forget the video “Earthly Father, Heavenly Father“ and the quote in the end that says of all the titles given to Diety He has asked that we call Him Father.  What a title and responsibility to be a Father. 

I will never forget going on camp outs and making omelets in a baggy, sometimes with the bad bags and the egg passing through....or mountain man hash browns, hiking in the canyon, going to volleyball and seeing you play in a boot, eating cookies, swimming and dunking the Y/M, Rappelling and seeing you try it for the first time even though shaking brave and strong just so you could do it with your sons, laughing and crying together, playing catch in the front lawn and your patience because you had to go after the ball most of the time...hahah woops!  Going to the temple to do temple work, and serving in the same country.  Working on the house, destroying parts and banging with hammers...going shopping for YUGIOH cards, and seeing you at my ball games, and my performances in music and dance.  Wendys for dinner always you with a bit of chili and spicy nuggets, your stories from the mission and helping me to become strong and have a testimony and serve.  Coming home with spicy peppers and saying alright whose first to try? I see you exhausted in the chair, falling asleep and Kath saying, “Look Dad’s mouth is open… let’s feed him something.”  All these things are priceless memories that mean so much to me. 

The big group of them I remember with my father, and others with YMs leaders, Scout leaders, and Grandparents.  I love you Dad, and my father figures through the years.  I hope that one day I can be an example of faith, testimony and strength to YM as well. 

But may we never forget the Father of us all that truly does exist and wants us to be happy.  I love Him more than anything, and I know...truly I do that He exists and that He loves me and each of us.  I testify that this is His gospel and map to be happy, to be truly happy forever.  I love it and know it is true.  Love Elder George

Thanks Dad for playing catch on the front lawn and your patience
because you had to go after the ball most of the time...hahah woops! 

 I love you Dad

It sure is getting cold here! 

Lets warm up the pension with a lighter!!

Cooking at the Pension

Tasted pretty good actually...

Quitters never win, Winners never Quit!! - Week 44

We received a reference from the church named Emanuel and we called him set up an appointment and we met with him and he is awesome!  He was baptized 25 years ago, but the record we have found nothing so we might have to do it again.  He met with us in the church and said to me, George I am ready to start the road again and to do my best to stay on it.  The church caught my eye again and I want to be part of it.  I cant shake this desire and feeling in my heart so I know I am where I need to be and where Dios or God wants me to be!  Those words touched my heart, and made me think we don't know what we have until we lose it right!  ..

Trabajando en la casa de hermano primo, good thing I had practice from our home

Look Grandpa I'm still working with a hammer and chisel. 

We celebrated with pizza afterward!!

With my compy Elder Benton

EDGE - Week 43

I have my new companion fresh from the MTC named Elder Benton.  He is from Sacramento California and he is awesome!!  He wears the prettiest purple ties I have ever seen, and works hard to learn the language.  When we are contacting he doesn't let the language stop him but contacts with me. He really makes me want to be better and is very encouraging and a light for me:)  I think of the title EDGE which is from "Silver Moccasin."  As a trainer I am to follow this acronym that is Explain, Demonstrate, Guide and Enable.  I, in the end, am to be the companion that helps him to know how the mission works and what he should do so that he can one day do it by himself.

My young son Elder Benton from outside Sacramento California!!  
He is so awesome, and even though he is learning to speak, 
that doesn’t stop him from contacting and doing the work!  
What a champ right!  I call him Campion or champion!!

In 2011 Daniel, Harrison and Dallin attended "Silver Moccasin"
a camp to train future leaders. They look so little :)

These were their Leaders/ Trainers.... Big John Pettit, on the right became one of
Daniel's best friends. John taught him the EDGE method which Dan quotes often
 in his mission emails. EDGE is an acronym - Explain, Demonstrate, Guide and Enable. 

The Trainers goal was to make leaders out of the boys so they could be the ones to  explain, demonstrate, guide and enable the next group... notice John in the back, after teaching, he stood back and let Daniel teach the group. 

Seems just like what the trainers are doing in the mission field. 

Daniel came back with John the next year 2012 to be his assistant patrol guide.

2014 They all headed out on a new adventure to learn and train.... Love Scouting!

A package arrived from Gabe Endreks mom with candies and everything.  I went to the seventy of areas home and they had sent it with them to the country so it was awesome!!!  Also it had meet the mormons so I got to see that finally and it was AMAZING!!