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
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