Ethan's Ten Percent in Argentina: January 2016

Monday, January 25, 2016

"For Behold, are we all not Beggars?" - Pday #4

Hola mis Hermanos,

This is my 4th pday in Argentina. I've been here for four and a half weeks!

So on mondday and tuesday of last week I was on splits with one of the zone leaders. In those two days we got a lot more done than I've done with my other comp since I got here. We invited 5 people to be baptized. 3 said yes, one said maybe and one said yes but his mom wouldn't let him. We got 3 new investigators with return appointments just from knocking on doors. And we walked all day, I think more than ive ever walked in my life, and i was muy consado but it felt good to be working. It was so hot and i sweated so much that it went through my backpack and ruined some papers that i had in there haha. The zone leader would always force me to talk. For example, After we would knock on a door or during a lesson, He would just stop talking and look at me, and all the investigators would be looking at me and i would have no idea what to say in spanish! Completely blank. Sometimes it was bad haha, I would just say something like "¿conoce los mormones? 'Que usted sabe sobre los mormones?" but it always worked out somehow. The more we did it the easier it got.

On wednesday we watched a missionary broadcast with all the apostles, and it started out in english but then a spanish translation started playing over it. It was really sad cause I actually wanted to understand.

That afternoon my companion actually tried. He can walk fine when he actually tries, I see him do it all the time. We set up two appointments and ate dinner in a members home, but not with members. Right when we got there they all rushed out cause they forgot they had to be somewhere, so they left us there for 2 hours and told us to cook our own dinner hahah.

One day i wore that soccer jersey that i bought, when we went to go buy food. That was a mistake. The Jersey is of a team called "River plate" and apparently river plate and boca juniors were playing this weekend. Its like the superbowl in argentina. A bunch of old dudes kept coming up to me and basically telling me i was dumb for picking that team. But i didn't understand most of what they said so i just said "Si" haha.

The miracle of the week was that we got AC in our appartment! Two eldes from the office showed up and installed it. Of course the power went out the whole next day haha.

One day we had an appointment at 7 with investigators. My comp wasn't gonna go, but i forced him. Of course when we get there they aren't home. And suddenly it starts hailing...It was the first time i can remember seeing hail. The pieces were bigger than marbles. I don't know if thats considered big or not! Argentina weather is crazy. one minute it can be 100 degrees, and suddently it will be feezing cold and hailing.

While my comp has been in bed with a hurt leg ive had a lot more time to study again. Im into the book of mosiah now, and King Benjamin is giving his speech. I've always known about king benjamin of course but all i really associated him with was the tower. Now, I consider him an ancient version of Elder Holland. He's not afraid to tell the people how it is. Multiple times during his speech he tells the people that they are less than the dust of the earth, and that they are all (including himself) worthless and unworthy creatures. I think its a sign of how righteous the people were that they didn't get mad when he said that! But his point is that we owe everything to God. In chapter 4, he urges the people to "love one another, to serve one another", and to give of what you have unto the poor..."For behold, are we not all beggars?" We call unto god always for forgiveness of our sins, and we are dependent on him for our lives and for all that we have and are.

I also really like verse 27: "And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order. For it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be dilligent, that thereby he might win the prize."

I know that God doesn't expect us to be perfect all at once. He asks that we try our best, and get a little better each day. Eternal Progression!

I hope that everyone is doing well! And keeping up with their New Years resolutions of course, right?

Love, Elder Christensen

Monday, January 18, 2016

Not Quite DEFCON 1.

Hello, I have a quick story to share before I hook you up with Ethan's letter from today. I was once again blessed to be rummaging around in my email this morning when I see E is on the internet replying to McCauley's letter! YES! I'm talking this was before 9:00am, in the past it has been more like 2:00 in the afternoon.
Anyway, I read the following mini email:

That sounds awesome! Wow i can't believe you are going to skateparks now! Gangsta. I wish i had learned to skate when i was your age. It sounds like you are having a lot of fun! We had a pretty poor week here. My companion isn't excited about teaching anymore. (eyes bulge and brows rise. sirens go off in my head. oh my gosh....and it's happening!!! i get an urgent message off to K - "Blackhawk Down. I repeat, BLACKHAWK DOWN" (Kev's words imitating me) get online now! E is in trouble).

Im trying to be an example though!

Love, ethan

..............................................

Ok. Please forgive my over reaction. I am still a new missionary mom. I am sort of always on high alert, I am hopeful this will lesson over time.

So I shoot an email off straight away to Ethan. I try Pumping him up. I say all kinds of obvious stuff. You'll have to be the leader, the strong one, this is just like life, etc. Just try to make small goals with him, remind him of the good times, why he's out there, and so forth.
We are praying for you. Don't let this get you down.

Then,

McCauley comes out, I catch her up, E is kind of struggling, his companion has hurt his leg, he has lost his motivation to teach. She says she is going to find a scripture to send to him. Yes! Great idea. As she gets her scriptures out, she looks up, kinda teary eyed and says, I just feel so bad for his companion, I feel like I want to pray for HIM.

Oh man.
Thank you little daughter.
That is the only answer needed.
The only plan that needs to take place.
His companion is the one in hurting.
His companion is the one struggling and feeling down,
It's time to rally for him.

He has a family worried for him as much as we are for E.

He is a good kid, just like E.

Another great reminder and lesson to learn.

Here is McCauley's email back to E:

its McCauley, i love you very much and i thought i should send you this scripture (please look this up now) D & C 35:22

Ethan i just want you to know that we are praying for You and your Partner

love you bunches, always have always will McCauley

(mom, what does tarry mean? It means to stay with. What does forsake mean? abandon.)

22 And now I say unto you, tarry with him, and he shall journey with you; forsake him not, and surely these things shall be fulfilled.

Eth with his companion Elder Gonzalez

Hello, this is my 3rd pday in Argentina whooooo.

If i miss spell word forgive me. The spell check on these computers is in spanish!

Yesterday was sunday, and i volunteered to play piano in sacrament meeting! Ever since i have been here nobody has played piano in any of the meetings, and i always wondered why. And then somebody told me that they had had the piano for years but nobody ever knew how to play it. So i said that i would try. All my moms dreams are coming true haha. I haven't practiced in forever though and i had to play out of the real hymn book, and it was really hard. So i mostly just played the melody with my right hand haha.

My companion is being a perezoso. He hurt his leg playing soccer with little kids last pday and he uses it as an excuse not to go out. We barely taught at all last week cause he couldn't walk, and its really frustrating for me. I don't want to feel like im wasting my time or Gods time. I Wish i could speak spanish better so i could be a better example. When the people here talk, they barely open their mouths and it sounds like really fast mubling haha. They might as well be speaking Chinese. And then they also use a lot of slang in the city, and those words aren't in any of my books. I think it just takes time to be able to understnad the people. Because I know the words when i see them. I can even read the book of mormon in spanish and understand almost everything.

Ive had a lot of time to study since we've been inside a lot. I read "our search for happiness" in a day, and it was pretty good. My favorite part was when it talked about the apostacy and why the restoration was necessary. The church that jesus set up while he lived on the earth quickly fell away. After the death of the apostles, They started deciding their official doctrine by majority vote, with a lot of opposition and contention. That just doesn't seem right, does it?

I love Jacob chapter 5. It's the longest chapter ever and really confusing at first. It took me forever to read in spanish haha! But its interesting to use the footnote references to figure everything out. Its easy to just skim over this chapter and not get anything out of it, but it really is worth it to figure it out. It has everything in this chapter. My favorite part is in verses 70-72. In summary it says "...the servant went and did as the lord had commanded him (like nephi!), and brought other servants, and they were few..." But, "...The lord of the vineyard labored also with them." We aren't alone. This past week has been really bad but i Know that God is with us when we choose the right. I know that God loves us. This is one of my strongest parts of my testimony, that God loves each one of us. And i also want to have that kind of love for people. I pray for "Caridad". Moroni Chapter 7.

Something funny that happened this week was that me and my companion went to the hospital this week to try and fix his leg. When we got there he had to get a shot in his butt! Hahah it was really funny he was so awkward about it. Hopefully he will be able to walk better now!

1 Cor 15:26

I like this scripture because it reminded me of Harry Potter! But i don't know if anyone else will get it haha.

Today Im going on splits with another unknown elder in some other part of the city. Wish me luck!

Adios,

Elder Christensen

Monday, January 11, 2016

Argentina....Week Dos.

Well, we were excited and really anticipating Eth's letter today.

Wha Wha....

It is pretty short.

Certainly we will survive....but still, we can hope can't we?

...............................

So everything is still crazy here. I can't really understand anyone and it sucks cause im basically useless in lessons. I can only understand my companion because i am used to hearing his spanish all the time. Im improving but slowly! I pray for el don de lenguas all the time, i hope it works.

We had a fun zone conference this week. Our district leader told us the story of how he was walking at night, and two drunk guys were arguing and one of them pulled out a gun and shot. It bounced around and hit our district leader (hes from brazil) but the bullet got lodged in his belt! It was a miracle. I want everyone to know that they don't have to worry because god is protecting us!

They don't give us enough time to write its so frustrating. I spent a lot of time replying to emails from a bunch of different people so i have to make this one quick.

A lot of the members here have super cute cats haha! I will attatch some pictures.

Oh and something that i forgot to write last week was that toilet paper doesn't exist here. They have this weird thing that shoots water up!

I love everyone im sorry it is so short!

Take a look at the back ground.

Well, so we moved on....and then QUITE a while later in the day....in fact during Family Home Evening, I was pulling up his short email to read,

and WHAT TO WE HAVE???

A second letter!! We were super stoked!!

We talked a little after we read it, noting that it is heavy on the description of the sights, and his impressions, and lots of fun facts, which certainly are enjoyable to read.....

but it definitely is a reminder of the stage he is at in his mission.

He is still trying to get up on his feet, I can't imagine how it would feel to be surrounded

by people and not be able to understand more that a fleeting word here and there.

The inability to communicate with others.

He'll get it.

Kev said it took him at least a month or two to get out of this "Twilight Zoneish" stage of

his mission

and be able to contribute and participate in the lessons, etc.

Here it is: Letter dos

Okay i asked my companion if we could come back just for a minute so i could send a better one. I wrote it on paper before hand:

Hello, sorry my last email was so short. We didn't have a lot of time to email and it's really frustrating for me, because i want to reply to all the emails i get but they seriously don't give us enough time. AND we have to write our mission president during this time, and he expects long emails too. If i could change one thing about the mission, I would give missionaries more time to email.

Anyway, the place where we email is right in the middle of the downtown area of the city. The city is a really cool place. There are a million people there walking around, and tons of fountains and cool sculptures and old architecture. But when we walked out of the email place we saw a very large lady laying in one of the fountains. Just laying there in the water. I don't want to say anything mean, so it sufficeth me to say that it was one of the weirdest thing i've ever seen and i never want to see it again.

There is a huge mall in the city center that is really cool but really expensive. Its like the florida mall in orlando. The real place to shop is in the plazas and from people in tens and stuff. They have a million places that sell fake soccer jerseys for really cheap. Like $15-30 bucks. So i bought this sweet argentina one for $160 pesos which is like $16 U.S. At least i thought it was sweet when i bought it. When i got home to the apartment and looked at it, i found that it had a Japanese flag right in the middle of the front of it. I thought it was just a sticker but it wasn't, it was actually printed onto the shirt. I was so mad haha, i guess thats what i get for buying fake soccer jerseys. I have really weird luck with flags. Before i went to the mtc i ordered 3 argentina flags online, but when i opened them, one was a scotland flag!

Everyone made fun of my pink tie on sunday. I told them that real men wear pink but they didn't believe me. Another weird thing, everyone here asks me if i like justin bieber! And i have no idea why!

Baseball doesn't exist here. When im introducing myself, sometimes I talk about baseball and they usually get really confused. Its sad that baseball doesn't exist here cause Im really bad at soccer. We play with little kids sometimes and i get wrecked so hard.

As far as investigators go, we aren't having much success. We have a lot of people cancel appointments and we have a sister with kids who wants to be baptized, but shes not sure yet so its holding them up. our area had the fewest baptisms in the stake last year with 2, so it might be rough here haha.

I like argentina but i miss being able to actually talk to people. I love and miss you all!

Elder Christensen

I'd just like to add this:

The Lord helps those who serve Him and will add His power to their efforts (see D&C 84:88). As President Thomas S. Monson promised, “When we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Remember that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.”³

Monday, January 4, 2016

A Whole New World in ARGENTINA!

Okay so leaving the MTC was a horrible nightmare. Not leaving (i was dying to get out of there) but packing. All my christmas presents wouldn't fit and we also got about 20 pounds of books and stuff while at the mtc and it overloaded my suitcases. They were both already 49 pounds each before all the new stuff. But i refused to leave anything behind...so i decided to just make one bag super heavy so i would only have to pay for one. So i put everything in one suitcase and left the other at exactly 50 pounds. But then i couldn't close the suitcase!! And i had to be at the travel office in 10 mins! It was a really bad situation. I was having a panic attack so i prayed that someone would help me. And as soon as my prayer ended, my companion comes in with this huge hockey bag and told me to just throw my whole open suitcase in there cause we didn't have time to change anything. So we did that but then the problem was that I couldn't carry it alone...it didn't have wheels. So the two of us carried it up to the travel office and dropped it off at the bus and it became their problem haha. I was really stressed out though because i knew i couldn't carry it alone very far. Once we got to the airport the whole group of 20 missionaries walked off without me cause i couldn't carry my bags hahaha. And i felt so alone, so i prayed again that todo estara bien. Once i got my bag to the desk i figured out the problem...it weighed 92 pounds! But the man at the counter was a miracle worker. He found an abandoned suitcase that i could use as a carry on and i put half of my stuff in that and it all worked out with me not having to pay anything. I was 42 pounds over, and i normally would have to pay $300 or more for that, but i didn't have to pay anything. Some other elders had to pay $100 for being 3 pounds over. It was a millagro for me.

But I finally made it! Its a miracle...20 hours of flying on 3 different planes. The flight wasn't as bad as I expected...I was asleep most of the time. When we landed in Buenos Aires, they put all our stuff on a bus and drove us to another airport, which was unexpected. They abandoned us in the airport there for 2 hours, and we couldn't understand anyone so we just stood there waiting, and our guide finally came back. We flew from Buenos Aries to Cordoba. They gave us some really good Argentine food on the plane that got me excited. Once we landed, the mission president and his assistants where there to pick us up. Me and 2 others rode with the assistants in their car. As we drove a long a busy rode the car broke down and we had to get out and push it really far. It was 100 degrees and we were wearing our suits and cars were swerving everywhere...it was loco. Welcome to argentina haha. The drivers here are absolutely crazy.

Another crazy thing about Argentina is the animals. There are cats and dogs absolutely everywhere here. You can't go anywhere without seeing them. They just go where ever they want doing whatever they want. Lots of the people we teach here have kittens or puppies and its fun to play with them during the lessons. I can't understand anything the people say, so i convert their animals. just kidding haha i actually am trying really hard to listen and understand but its kind of discouraging to be so useless. There are also a lot of horses here. People have them in their front yards, and there are a lot of horse pulled carts in the streets. Its cool.

When we were getting our new companions anounced, a bird pooped on me. And i only have one suit jacket, so it was really annoying. But the funny part is that elder smith didn't know and he patted me on the shoulder and it got all over his hands hahaha. ñoño. As i was walking to the computer place today, another bird pooped on me and it landed in the exact same spot (my left shoulder) its getting kind of ridiculous. But Arielle told me it means good luck. In that case, bring it on!

My companion is awesome. Elder Gonazlez, from paraguay and he doesn'te speak english. Spanish is his second language, he grew up with a native american language from paraguay. Its hard for us to understand eachother but he is really cool.

We had to run to church yesterday in the pouring rain (over a mile) and by this time my suit jacket is discusting. It was so muddy and gross, thankfully a sweet lady from the ward does our laundry haha. The members here are so nice, but i can't understand anyone. They give us food and stuff all the time though. I had to give a short talk in spanish on sunday to introduce my self, it was bad haha.

The food here is actually really good! I had fracturas for the first time on saturday night (so good).

We celebrated new years with the bishops family! They are really cool. We shot off fireworks and everything.

Everything is going good i guess. I just need to learn español! I miss america and all you guys a lot too. I love you all and Im going to attatch some pictures now.