tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76860182650503410752024-03-05T15:46:56.753-08:00Elder Wilcox Argentina Buenos Aires West MissionBrendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-70775822358534437552017-06-07T17:53:00.000-07:002017-06-07T17:53:55.150-07:00Moments in the "fleshy tables of the heart"<div class="gj s2" role="list" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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Family and Friends,<div>
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Family. I love you! It was great time to chat yesterday. I guess we`ll wait until mother`s day to talk again. Number 1on the list of most tender feelings is a missionary`s heart as he talks to his family.</div>
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We had a good week getting ready for christmas! The mission is doing so well. Like I said last week, we can really just feel the spirit of consecration and hard work. I am proud to be a missionary in this great mission BAO (Buenos Aires Oeste). More importantly, I am proud to be a member of the church! I am proud to know that God is my loving heavenly father. Like Elder Hallstrom said in the April 2016 conference, that knowing that we are children of a LOVING Heavenly Father ¨instinctively simple that it can seem to be ordinary, when in reality it is among the most extraordinary knowledge we can obtain.¨ I love that quote. Sharing that information is sometimes new for people. It`s one of the most incredible things that a missionary can see when the Gospel REALLY comes into the heart of a person. They immediately want to share it with others. For example:</div>
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Some of our investigators Sonia, Aimara, Alejandro are a small but very nice family. Sonia is the mom. She often feels depressed because Ale has health problems and might have cancer. We were thinking about dropping them because they weren`t doing much at all. But Aimara finally came to church with Ale! The next time we came to visit, Aimara was completely different. She wants to get baptized, and apparently wants to serve a mission! What?? Her heart has been changed. Like PMG says, ¨Commitments are essential steps to repentance.¨ </div>
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Another small moment was yesterday after the phone call home. I was with Elder Jimenez from Mexico. He stopped at a couple on their porch. They were sewing something, most likely to sell later. They wouldn´t look at us. I was about to give them a card and go. Well, new Elder Jimenez wouldn´t take no. He pulled out his hymn book and asked if we could sing a hymn. They didn´t say neither no nor yes. But we (me feeling awkward) sang ¨Venid, Adoremos¨ (Oh come all ye faithful). I don´t know if they felt anything, but from the Gospel fire of Elder Jimenez, I felt the Spirit. That was a marked moment in my heart. And the christmas spirit isn´t something you feel much, because of summer and stuff. I know that he wasn´t a ¨respecter of persons¨ and was gonna preach to whoever. I need to follow that example. The mission is great!</div>
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Gotta go! Have fantastic week people!</div>
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Chao. </div>
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Elder <span class="lG" style="background-color: rgba(251, 246, 167, 0.5); outline: transparent dashed 1px;">Wilcox</span></div>
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-64677841234414836292017-06-07T17:42:00.005-07:002017-06-07T17:42:58.518-07:00Christmas Cockroaches<div class="gj s2" role="list" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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Hello and Merry Christmas my friends and family!<div>
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Let´s see if I can get the lyrics right to this Argentine christmas carol: ¨Old trash burning on an open fire. The bad stench nipping at your nose. Tiny rats, with their eyes all a´glow, will find a lot to eat tonight.¨ </div>
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Haha just kidding, we are having a wonderful time here in the great BAO mission! They have really cracked down on ¨things of this world¨ here. For example, a few months ago they took out meetings of more than six missionaries, besides zone conferences. So pretty much, no more p-day futbol. There is too much traveling involved, and they want the Elders to be ready to work by 6 o clock on mondays. We are just doing the most we can to simply ¨Teach repentance and baptize converts.¨ Last year, as a mission we went to the temple, and afterwards had a big mission gathering thing for the day. This year, temple trips for missionaries have also been banned, and instead of activities and what-not, we are just baptizing. Isn´t that great?? Truly there is a spirit of consecration and hard work. I love it. </div>
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Well, I´d better tell my cockroach story before anything happens.</div>
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So the other night, I slept on the floor because my bed frame is broken and lame and hurts my back sometimes. So I´m just having a wonderful, perfect, rest-filled night. Just sleeping away. When all of a sudden, this huge, ipod nano sized cockroach climbs onto my neck. I was asleep, I had no idea. But that may have been my downfall. In my sleep, I grabbed that cockroach and started rubbing in in my fingers like you might rub a blanket or pillow! Well, that poor cockroach died that night. I was about 98% asleep, and sometime in that murderous rage, I realized what was in my fingers might not be the average booger. So I let it go, woke up immediately and looked with the light of my cell phone. I almost barfed. Needless to say, I didn´t sleep much after that. Partly for guilt of killing that little guy, and partly for fear of killing others. </div>
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Well, sorry for being graphic, but that´s my story today. Need I mention the mosquitoes at night? They come and buzz in my ears! It´s like a soft, angelic whistle. It´s quite beautiful actually. </div>
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We are doing fantastic! Here in Villa Amelia, we will be having two baptisms on friday, and they will be confirmed on christmas day! One is Agustin, a 12 year old boy whose brother is also a member. He was somewhat confused about the word of wisdom at first, but we explained that the physical health always has to do with the spiritual health. He is totally ready now. The other is Miguel. He has been investigating long before I got here. He has had a long hard battle with quitting the drink. But he has stopped and is getting baptized. His convert recent family is so happy and I am so happy for them! They are the Salas family. Just imagine the mom as Grandma Dets. And Miguel as little hermano Manolo in the Timp Meadows ward. That´s what they look like to me haha. </div>
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May we all remember that Christmas is a time to reflect on how we are doing on God´s mandate to serve him. (Mos. 2:17) </div>
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I love this Gospel and my time as a missionary! Jaren, Whitney, Shaylee, I hope this year you were UN-deserving of the potato that you will undoubtedly recieve in your stocking! Look for Santa´s note with that super weird square handwriting!</div>
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Love from Elder <span class="lG" style="background-color: rgba(251, 246, 167, 0.5); outline: transparent dashed 1px;">Wilcox</span></div>
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photo from Luis´s baptism!</div>
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this is the new pench crew. Elders Sales, Newton, and Jimenez.</div>
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-7547414320338239382017-06-07T17:42:00.002-07:002017-06-07T17:42:08.469-07:00Christmas Time<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hola,</span><br />
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Greetings from Villa Amelia! What a crazy week. But aren´t they all?</div>
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My new companion is fantastic. Elder Sales is a great great missionary. I sure have been blessed with some good comps. I am grateful that he is latino! I haven´t had a latino companion for about 9 months now, and it is fun to get back into the groove of things and speak spanish all the time, not withstanding my language weaknesses! I am living in a pench of four. Also haven´t had that in a long time. The other two are Elder Newton from Nevada, and Elder Jimenez from Mexico. Elder Jimenez is just starting his mission, so it is super funny hearing him learning all of the ¨argentine lingo¨ I guess you could say. Argentines and Mexicans sure speak differently. </div>
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This week we were seriously just swamped with business and work and lessons and interviews and on and on. We had a baptism on saturday! His name is Luis. Luis Paniagua. It´s funny because his last name is literally ¨bread and water¨ in english. He sure has a strong testimony of the sacrament. </div>
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Sorry about the shortness! Gotta go.</div>
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Elder <span class="lG" style="background-color: rgba(251, 246, 167, 0.5); outline: transparent dashed 1px;">WIlcox</span></div>
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-60984962896934233072017-06-07T17:41:00.002-07:002017-06-07T17:41:12.315-07:00Who made man's mouth?<div class="gj s2" role="list" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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Hola,<div>
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I´d like to start my message today with some verses I found from the Totally Rad version of the scriptures...</div>
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<b>Ether 1:37</b>--¨And it came to pass that the brother of Jaren did cry unto the Lord, and the Lord had compassion on him and his companion also, that they were not sunburned.¨ </div>
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<b>Genesis 3:19</b>--¨In the sweat of thy face thou shalt teach thy lessons, till thou return unto Utah...¨</div>
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<b>D y C 110:3</b>--¨The sun was as a flame of fire; the watch tanline on his wrist was white like the pure snow, his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun, and he wished he had the rushing of great waters...¨ </div>
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Needless to say, it is very warm here indeed 😨</div>
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Well, I come with announcements this week. Transfers came! I actually found out about them only a few minutes ago. But it appears that I will be leaving the beloved ward of La Tablada! I will be going out to a zone called Castelar, in the area called Villa Amelia! I am so excited to be going there. I will be comps with the Elder Sales from Brasil. They are having great success over there. <span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I have loved my time here in Tablada and wish I could stay a little more, but I am ready for the challenges ahead in Castelar. I will grow a lot I am sure....like in my spanish! Elder Sales will be my first latino comp in about 9 months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">This week was great. Just a hard working classic week. Elder Texiera (Seventy-Area Presidency) has challenged us all to stay focused and baptize every week during december! We have JUMPED forward so high and so much in response to this challenge! It´s incredible how much you can acheive with high goals and an elevated vision. Haha me and my last companion, Elder Ortolano, used to sing a song ¨High goals make you work¨ to the tune of ¨Love is an open door¨. It was awesome and speaks the truth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I had some good learning experiences whiles studying this week. In the church, there has always been, and always will be much learning and much teaching. Both of those happen by the Spirit. There is always a need to ¨train¨, to help others be and teach like the Savior. Positions in the church change all the time to teach us that it is NOT us that teach! ¨If you recieve not the Spirit, ye shall not teach.¨ (DyC 42:14) Might I add we shall not learn if we don´t have the Spirit! All we must do is testify of what we know and invite others to do the same. (DyC 88:121-122) ¨Freely ye have recieved,¨ said the Savior, ¨freely give.....for it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.¨ (Matthew 10:8,20) I think that sometimes we mistake fear and doubt for humility when we turn down assignments or callings to teach. Then not only do we deny our priviledge to teach by the Spirit, but also to learn by the Spirit. (Alma 1:26) Who made man´s mouth? God did! We must trust in him in everything we do. I have loved to see this principle and apply it in the mission and my testimony! Anyone can light the world with their light! </span><span style="color: #545454;">#iluminarelmundo</span></div>
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Well, keep at it everybody. Remember that Elder <span class="lG" style="background-color: rgba(251, 246, 167, 0.5); outline: transparent dashed 1px;">Wilcox</span> keeps you in his prayers! </div>
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Elder <span class="lG" style="background-color: rgba(251, 246, 167, 0.5); outline: transparent dashed 1px;">Wilcox</span></div>
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us with Luciano (investigator) and his dad</div>
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us with Amy (recent convert) and her little cousin Alma</div>
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-19202813284846386612017-06-07T17:39:00.003-07:002017-06-07T17:39:38.909-07:00Russell<div class="b5 xJNT8d" jsan="7.b5,7.xJNT8d" jstcache="3284" style="background-color: white; color: #212121; cursor: text; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: -10px; margin-right: 60px; overflow-x: auto; overflow-y: hidden; padding-left: 10px;">
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My beloved brethren and sisters,<div>
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We worked our tails off this week! Turns out Elder Ortolano is leaving La Tablada! NO, he was such a good comp. He could speak perfect spanish, portugués and english with flippin everyone. I am recieving Elder Dye from Idaho! He will be great, this is his first time being a zone leader!</div>
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I am still getting used to navigating the villas. I still need some time to be an expert villero villa goer guy. The trick?? DON¨T LOOK LOST. If the people see that you look lost, they will ask you if you are lost, and then promptly ask for your watch and your cellphone and your backpack and try to take it from you and then you are toast man.</div>
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Also, hahahah this week we were talking to a family outside. One of them was a member, but he was drunk dang it. Something we might call a ¨wet investigator¨ (someone who was baptized long ago but has forgotten their covenants and vaguely says ¨yeah I think I was baptized in the mormon church...¨ there are too many of those, it´s sad) Well anyway one lady asked to take a picture with us. We accepted, it wasn´t the first time that has happened to us. Next thing I know, she has her creepy arms wrapped around me, making a kissy face to the camera and being weird. Then she did the same thing to E´ Ortolano! Needless to say, ¨he got him out.¨ (Genesis 39:12) Just sooo uncomfortable! #snakes. It´s crazy how being ¨rubio¨ here makes you so different. I either get racism or oddly exaggerated acceptance, like the story I just told! Being a missionary is the best. </div>
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Ok story of a MIRACLE. We have a recent convert in the ward. Azucena. Just the sweetest, nicest lady ever who loves the missionaries. Reminds me of my gma Dets. She owns a tiny little clothing store....</div>
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.....we also found a really nice lady named Gisela. She was great! Has two adorable daughters. We had to go by a few times until she let us in. But we eventually got in and taught her and she understood VERY well! She is golden! She reads the book of mormon, and is doing great. SHE CAME TO CHURCH. She CALLED us and asked to call her to wake her up for church. She only showed up for sacrament, but after said that she wants to go again all three hours. She met Azucena and said hey! i know you! she had bought clothes from Azucena a few weeks earlier. Anyway. After church Gisela called again and THANKED us for church. She loved it. NOBODY does that! Ever. Wow.......</div>
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......well after church Azucena told us about before Gisela came to buy, her little store was not doing well. She needed money pero mal. So she said a prayer, as faithful people do, and Gisela came in and bought like 1500 pesos worth of clothes (a considerable purchase). She was so happy she thanked Gisela and then after said a prayer, asking God to bless Gisela. Which was right around the time that we found her. What a miracle. God knows exactly what he is doing. </div>
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Well. That is it for my time. Today. In Alma 7:26, he tells the people of Gedeon ¨and my soul doth exceedingly rejoice, becuase of the exceeding diligence and heed which ye hath given unto my word.¨ Would God say the same thing of us? </div>
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chao from Elder <span class="lG" style="background-color: rgba(251, 246, 167, 0.5); outline: transparent dashed 1px;">Wilcox</span> and Russell!</div>
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this is my new best friend, Russell. the rain came again this week, and Russell helped me through it all.</div>
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this is Asunción, a convert of an old friend, Elder Healey. He is getting married now wow....</div>
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</section>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-48956955756516144992017-06-07T16:50:00.002-07:002017-06-07T16:50:32.723-07:00Snakes<div class="b5 xJNT8d" jsan="7.b5,7.xJNT8d" jstcache="3473" style="background-color: white; color: #212121; cursor: text; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-left: -10px; margin-right: 60px; overflow-x: auto; overflow-y: hidden; padding-left: 10px;">
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Queridos Amigos,<div>
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You know you are on a mission in a foreign country when, getting onto the computer to write the family, you realize that it was thanksgiving on thursday! Well, even if we forgot the holiday, Elder Dye and I are still super happy to be out here and serving the Lord in this white field of his! Weather update: this week was quite hot, and humid. Summer has arrived and it`s beginning to look a lot like christmas and women that need a lesson on the law of Chastity!</div>
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Speaking of chastity. L, whom I mentioned last week, is quickly on his way to baptism! He has 15 years, and is super excited to be baptized. He has really been reading the book of mormon like crazy. He is quite a shy kid, and loves to draw. We taught him the law of chasity last week and as he learned it all, he asked a question. Some of his drawings were of characters from Guitar Hero. Not awful, but somewhat questionable. We said that, and so to be obedient he tore up his artwork right there in front of us. What a capo. He came to church and is doing awesome. </div>
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I`m sure that everyone already knows about the thing the church is doing for christmas. Light the World, keep going and love the work! Participate in the activities every day! It will be awesome. #iluminaelmundo</div>
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Speaking of women. This email carries the name ¨snakes¨ with it. I shall tell a tale of awkward proportions. While reading this tale, remember not to try this at home, and that I am a good concentrated missionary. In the mission here, the Elders have a term ¨snakes¨, which are creepy girls who prey on the missionaries, if you know what I mean. They are flirt monsters, but if you know what you`re doing, you´ll be okay. Well, our progressing investigator Gisela turned out to be one of those. She is STILL PROGRESSING. So don´t worry about that. She is so completely converted to the restored Gospel. But that`s just it. Sorry I´ll go back to the beginning, a very good place to start.....</div>
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.....G is 27 and has boyfriend and two daughters. Her time as an investigator has been awesome. Her life has changed, and she is more happy. My comp was on the phone the other night with her (on speaker) and all of a sudden she asked about me. (translated) ¨Can I tell you something?¨ ¨Sure.¨ ¨When does your companion go back to the states?¨ ¨In about eight months...why?¨ ¨I am in love with him.¨ I was calmly writing plans for the next day, when I heard that and I got wiiiiiiiiide eyes and looked fearfully at my comp. He just swallowed and chuckled and confirmed the appointment in a few days. He hung up and we were like WHAAAAAA?? What are we gonna do? This the type of thing that gets you out of an area quicker than lightning. So instead of going to the appointment the next day, we didn´t go just passed by and asked if we could come another day. She was giving me creepy snake eyes the whole time. We walked away and were like yep I am going to have to be transfered.</div>
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Well we went back and taught her, and she told us a very humbling story for her and for us. Before we met her, she was in the hardest thing of her life. She wanted to die, she didn`t want to live anymore. She was thinking suicide thoughts. She said the first prayer in years, then we came and met her and gave her the Book of Mormon. Then she had her conversion story and stuff, and her life is so much happier because of that. She was so much happier when we came to teach her about the commandments that make her life better. She already has friends at church, and the ward is a good family for her. So long story short, she´s not in love with ME, she is increasing in her love for GOD. She is just misinterpreting it. We need to have a frank talk with her though if it gets any worse, and tell her NOOOOO, you are not in love with me, or my comp, or any other missionary. Just God. Love the musician, not the instrument. </div>
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So haha, there is your funny story for the week. I know this Gospel is true and I love the changes God is making in my heart and in my life! Trust in the promise of Ammon made in Alma 26:22.</div>
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I gotta go, we have a meeting with President Robertson and our stake president tonight!</div>
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Love Elder <span class="lG" style="background-color: rgba(251, 246, 167, 0.5); outline: transparent dashed 1px;">Wilcox</span></div>
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this is us and G the would-be snake</div>
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empanadas this week! ha thanksgiving??</div>
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</section>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-17284081228695190252017-06-07T10:46:00.001-07:002017-06-07T10:46:44.200-07:00HappyThanksgiving<div dir="ltr"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hola Hola, </span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What a week, what a week😨 there is lots to do, lots to teach. Like Elder Holland says, ¨This is eternal life. This is the salvation of the children of God. Eternity hangs in the balance.¨ I hope to always stay focused on my purpose as a full time servant of the Lord! I know that the more ¨digno¨ I live now, the more of the Spirit I might have with my tomorrow. And the Spirit is EVERYTHING as a missionary. I appreciate letters from the past from Uncle Matt and Aunt Misti, they always tell me, ¨We are praying that you will have the Spirit with you as you teach.¨ Other things, such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Cholula brand hot sauce will come later. But right now they don´t matter. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We have a massive pool of great investigators! The thing is we are finding so many, sometimes it is hard to keep up on every one of them. On divisions with the asistentes, I really learned that I need to trust more in God´s promise that he will put prepared people in our path, and also give us the words to say. Here are some incredible people we are teaching:</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Gisela: </b>She is the one found by way of a miracle. (see ¨Russell¨, Oct 24). She has had some really good experiences as well. She says the perfect things like ¨I feel more happy as I read this book...¨, or ¨I REALLY want to get baptized!¨ We don´t hear that as much as we would like from people. She has a baptism date for the 10 of dic. Pray for her!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Amelia: </b>Also found in a random way. She helped guide us through a muddy road while it was raining one day. Then we thanked her and asked if we could come by one day. She is one of those gma´s that is very nice to missionaries. She knows that God put us in her path for something (says that a lot) but still has trouble coming to church. She lives in a rough neighborhood and could get mugged leaving the house sunday morning. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Others such as <b>Luciano, Uriel, Karina, Marta, Nicole, Azul, Alma, Ernesto, and Maximiliano </b>also have miraculous stories of how they were found. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lucas, Milagros, and Amy (all siblings, and Amy cousin) are doing great. They have all been baptized recently. Lucas and Milagros go to seminary every day, today we are playing ping pong with them at church, and Amy (11 years) is super happy all the time and loves being a member. I know their family is being strengthened. 😁</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last week we did THREE divisions. That is a lot. Divisions are great because they usually reap many miracles and you get to learn from other Elders. I was on one in my area with Elder Porter from AZ. We ran into this guy that totally started speaking fluent english with us. That is WEIRD when people do that. Almost never happens. He took us to his little factory, and introduced us to his yankee wife from michigan! It was so cool to speak english with someone! They actually live in the BA north mission, but we will teach them at work and see if the Spirit will prick their hearts! Ha we were describing to them about our lives as missionaries, and the BOM and stuff, and we were having a ROUGH time thinking of some words in english. Funny.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Better get, today I am cooking myself some pday meat, and playing ping pong! </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Oh happy thanksgiving and happy birthday Pte Wilcox! I love you and hope you had a great bday. Eat a lot and try not to think about your old age ;)</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Que sigan bien,</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Elder Wilcox🍂🦃</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Photo of ¨concilio¨</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">photo of the baptism of Amy! Baptized by her brother Elías</span></div></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="cid:EDF60E70-E37F-480F-A63C-3456B1C14CF9" id="EDF60E70-E37F-480F-A63C-3456B1C14CF9" class="x-apple-edge-to-edge" style="width: calc((100% + 21px) + 21px); margin-left: -21px;"><img src="cid:9796C945-D4A3-4A3A-9B9E-AE374C32C9DF" id="9796C945-D4A3-4A3A-9B9E-AE374C32C9DF" class="x-apple-edge-to-edge" style="width: calc((100% + 21px) + 21px); margin-left: -21px;"></span>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-47127543014787890352017-06-07T10:40:00.001-07:002017-06-07T10:40:33.605-07:00HereamI<div dir="ltr"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hola Amigos,</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today I just want to write some more thoughts that have come to me during the week. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">First thought: <b>It isn´t over till it´s over!</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is what Elder Holland said various times in a talk he gave to BYU students that I have. That we must press forward always with faith! I think that applies to the mission and to life. Word hard till the end! Elder Pietz, my new companion, is fantastic! From Louisiana, ready to work! Ha I´m pretending to be Argentino these days and NOT SPEAK english to practice his spanish. We have to always keep our guard up, to keep ourselves away from the enemy. As Severus Snape poignantly said, ¨The Dard Lord. ISN´T. Resting.¨ As Sean Kelly likewise says, ¨It´s cool to care.¨ Satan will always weaken us if he can. I am about to finish the book of mormon. The nephites learned that lesson over and over and over! Persistence is key.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Second thought is a variation of the first: <b>Don´t give up!</b></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Two areas ago for me (around christmas time) I was in Villa Amelia. Easily one of my favorite areas. We had a fantastic family named the familia Monasterio. Estela, Tatiana, and Mía and others. We were really trying to get them going for baptism, because they were so ready and so prepared! They were just scared for that step. Well, I left and they didn´t get baptized. But this week I got a little package in the mail. Estela sent me a little foto of her baptism with a tie and a two page letter. I was shocked/humbled/grateful and very happy! She thanked me for my persistence in helping her and her family. She thanked me for little things (giving her the book of mormon, inviting her to church, calling her and her family to see how they´re doing, etc.). What a blessing and miracle for me that was. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Third thought: <b>Here am I. </b></span></div><div><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></b></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That phrase, or ones like it, are used many times in chapter 22 of Genesis. That is where the Lord commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. This was an insight given by Elder Pietz this week. Abraham is a great example of obedience. He could´ve taken the attitude of (some of my investigators) and said, ¨Well, God doesn´t need me to KILL my son to know that I have faith and I´m obedient. God knows me.¨ But he didn´t. When he was about to do it, the angel called him and he said ¨Here am I.¨ To me, it´s kind of communicating obedience. Here am I, I´m ready to serve. I will do thy will, Lord. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love my family and my investigators and Elder Pietz! Thanks for everything.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Elder Wheelcon</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">some fotos of a family home evening/birthday cake we had for my golden bday😁</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="cid:BE1E100D-324F-4048-9BB0-D93C0B0BA0A9" id="BE1E100D-324F-4048-9BB0-D93C0B0BA0A9" class="x-apple-edge-to-edge" style="width: calc((100% + 21px) + 21px); margin-left: -21px;"><img src="cid:4FE062EA-912B-4CA9-AD7A-79C65999055E" id="4FE062EA-912B-4CA9-AD7A-79C65999055E" class="x-apple-edge-to-edge" style="width: calc((100% + 21px) + 21px); margin-left: -21px;"><img src="cid:9EF19F73-BDDA-4975-BC0F-F9864F8183B8" id="9EF19F73-BDDA-4975-BC0F-F9864F8183B8" class="x-apple-edge-to-edge" style="width: calc((100% + 21px) + 21px); margin-left: -21px;"></span>Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-9669548464890732212016-11-09T09:45:00.003-08:002016-11-09T09:45:34.271-08:00God loves His Children (from Nov 7)Hola amigos,<br /><br />I saw that many were writing about Halloween and stuff. Well, here in Arg Halloween doesn´t really exist. They know that people in the states are celebrating it all over, but they don´t know why or what or ANYTHING. Haha, an arg holiday would be frying up an asado on the grill and playing the music as LOUD AS YOU CAN. Kind of like Mormons and Hanukkah. Most of us say...what is that again?<br /><br />This week we had a zone conference. We gave a nice presentation about chapter 8 of Preach my Gospel, about using our time wisely! SOO important. How can we use our time wisely?? Remembering. It´s what we promise in the sacrament, and it´s what we should be doing with our lives in every aspect! I love reading from PME because it has so many eternal principles that help us in LIFE and not just from a mission perspective. The part on accountability is so critically important. The usual ¨make you feel guilty about yourself¨ part is quoted from Alma 5. But all these things are so important. We are trying our best to make baptism the biggest part of the missionary mindset, and all in the ¨culture¨ of the mission. President Robertson is such a great leader. I would love to be like him one day. (I think every missionary loves their mission president which is rightfully so. They say that you are called to your MISSION PRES more than to your MISSION.) Anyway, he did a great job of animating us and making us excited to try to baptize as much as possible before the end of the year. <br /><br />My companion, Elder Dye is great! He is from Island Park, ID so he shares a love for mountains and snow and stuff. We are SOO STOKED for this transfer and more miracles we will see here!<br /><br />Does anyone ever wonder about the ¨condescension of God¨ as mentioned in Nefi? An Elder described it to me like this. When a father is teaching or talking to his little child, he will often bend down to show him how it is done. That way they are ¨on the same level¨. Christ ¨condescended¨ to a mortal body and showed us the way. The way that we can live to be happy and successful! And like Nefi, when in times of trouble, all we have to say is ¨I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.¨ <br /><br />I love the mission! Have a wonderful week.<br /><br />Elder WilcoxBrendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-53980175279330479832016-11-05T10:06:00.003-07:002016-11-05T10:06:41.768-07:00Russell (from Oct 24)My beloved brethren and sisters,<br /><br />We worked our tails off this week! Turns out Elder Ortolano is leaving La Tablada! NO, he was such a good comp. He could speak perfect spanish, portugués and english with flippin everyone. I am recieving Elder Dye from Idaho! He will be great, this is his first time being a zone leader!<br /><br />I am still getting used to navigating the villas. I still need some time to be an expert villero villa goer guy. The trick?? DON¨T LOOK LOST. If the people see that you look lost, they will ask you if you are lost, and then promptly ask for your watch and your cellphone and your backpack and try to take it from you and then you are toast man.<br /><br /> Also, hahahah this week we were talking to a family outside. One of them was a member, but he was drunk dang it. Something we might call a ¨wet investigator¨ (someone who was baptized long ago but has forgotten their covenants and vaguely says ¨yeah I think I was baptized in the mormon church...¨ there are too many of those, it´s sad) Well anyway one lady asked to take a picture with us. We accepted, it wasn´t the first time that has happened to us. Next thing I know, she has her creepy arms wrapped around me, making a kissy face to the camera and being weird. Then she did the same thing to E´ Ortolano! Needless to say, ¨he got him out.¨ (Genesis 39:12) Just sooo uncomfortable! #snakes. It´s crazy how being ¨rubio¨ here makes you so different. I either get racism or oddly exaggerated acceptance, like the story I just told! Being a missionary is the best. <br /><br />Ok story of a MIRACLE. We have a recent convert in the ward. Sister A. Just the sweetest, nicest lady ever who loves the missionaries. Reminds me of my gma Dets. She owns a tiny little clothing store....<br />.....we also found a really nice lady named G. She was great! Has two adorable daughters. We had to go by a few times until she let us in. But we eventually got in and taught her and she understood VERY well! She is golden! She reads the book of mormon, and is doing great. SHE CAME TO CHURCH. She CALLED us and asked to call her to wake her up for church. She only showed up for sacrament, but after said that she wants to go again all three hours. She met Sister A and said hey! i know you! she had bought clothes from Sister A a few weeks earlier. Anyway. After church G called again and THANKED us for church. She loved it. NOBODY does that! Ever. Wow.......<br />......well after church Sister A told us about before G came to buy, her little store was not doing well. She needed money pero mal. So she said a prayer, as faithful people do, and G came in and bought like 1500 pesos worth of clothes (a considerable purchase). She was so happy she thanked G and then after said a prayer, asking God to bless G. Which was right around the time that we found her. What a miracle. God knows exactly what he is doing. <br /><br />Well. That is it for my time. Today. In Alma 7:26, he tells the people of Gedeon ¨and my soul doth exceedingly rejoice, becuase of the exceeding diligence and heed which ye hath given unto my word.¨ Would God say the same thing of us? <br /><br />chao from Elder Wilcox and Russell!<br /><br />this is my new best friend, Russell. the rain came again this week, and Russell helped me through it all.<br />this is Asunción, a convert of an old friend, Elder Healey. He is getting married now wow....<br />
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-2868505113882094322016-10-17T10:14:00.000-07:002016-10-17T10:14:04.824-07:00Good AirHola Hola,<br /><br />Things are still cooking here in ¨Good Air¨. That´s funny that this place´s name translates to that. On my list of words to describe the air here in the mission, ¨good¨ would be pretty much be smack dab on the bottom. Speaking of air, it´s definitely heating up here! Summer, and all of it´s sweatyness, has just about arrived. Pure humidity, my friends. Pure humidity. I sure am blessed to have an apartment that is clean and small and has a good shower! What luck. I know all of you northerners are gearing up for winter, you lucky ducks.<br /><br />This week we finished our divisions, finally! We have been two or more divisions for pretty much the past 5 weeks. We have ONE week to work together! It´s gonna be great. I worked with Elder Udall and Elder Gygi, both from Arizona, this week. They are great Elders. One thing that Elder Gygi helped me realize is to be always looking toward the future, at a bigger perspective. I had some decent plans down for the day. We walked and walked. Talked and talked. With other people, that is. But all of the appointments I had made that day pretty much went through. I guess I might´ve been showing it too much that I was somewhat stressed. Near the end of the day, Elder Gygi reminded me we had given away like 5 book of mormons (books of mormon?) and done much good. We had found other people for other areas, and passed along the reference. His good sense put me at ease, thanks Elder Gygi!<br /><br />I´m out of time, I will see you all next week! Listen to conference, looking for ways to apply it!<br /><br />Elder Wilcox Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-11909534319999484292016-10-15T12:09:00.001-07:002016-10-15T12:09:18.914-07:00Better Late Than NeverYesterday was one of those blessed ¨feriado¨ days here in Arg. They have ¨holidays¨ allll the time, which means no one works and everything shuts down! So we just went to atalaya instead to play futbol! It´s very humbling to be me and play soccer against all Latinos....<br /><br />It´s been a whirlwind of a week! Truly, the Lord is hastening is work. I don´t know where to start ha. We had not one, not two, not three, but FOUR divisions this week! Lots and lots of them. Divisions for me are the best. It is a great opportunity to be able to know the missionary a little better specifically, and also to learn from one another. I went to switch on monday night (which almost NEVER happens) with Elder Smellie from Preston, ID and he is in Castillo. I was BORN there, it was so cool to go back there and be in town for at least a few hours. He is in a different area than I was, but I saw a member family from the ward there and they were super stoked to see me, and me to see them! They have a daughter who just got called to Mexico! Missions are the coolest thing ever! I was there to do a baptism interview and that went well. Tuesday we came back to our area and had divisions with Elder Porter from AZ and Elder Maycock also from AZ. President Robertson has made a new thing with divisions between district leaders and zone leaders. Instead of having one companionship in one area and in another, both companionships are in the area of the zone leaders. I know that is is just boring facts for most of you, but it´s kinda extra pressure for us as we strive to make our area a ¨model¨ area, as recorded in the missionary handbook.<br /><br />Just know that I am so grateful for all that I have learned from other Elder´s this week. Sometimes we have to stop teaching an investigator for their lack of progression. Some may say that we weren´t ready, or not prepared, or not humble enough. While that mayyyy be true, it may also be that WE are not the right missionaries for that person. God knows what he is doing. Something that caught my attention in #LDSconf2016 is that ¨God and his son Jesus are keepers of their promises.¨ I think that Christ´s atonement is sufficient to meet our needs, and more. I understand that the atonement was created for people just like you, and people just like me. we are the mold, and the living water of Christ fits perfectly to fit each one of us. Also, the word REMEMBER (or ¨recordar¨ in spanish) has come to more meaning to me. All that we do is to better remember Christ! May we always remember these things, for the Lord God has declared them. (Mosíah 2:41)<br /><br />Elder Wilcox sending love!<br /><br />Me on divisions with Elder Blosfeld, from Brasil! Capo<br />Me on the bus, or colectivo, this morning. It was empty!<br />
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-68805999837233000852016-10-15T12:06:00.002-07:002016-10-15T12:06:58.304-07:00Moroni 8:26 (sent Sep 26)Hello everyone!<br /><br />This week we finished out strong for september! We had a baptism on saturday, we were soooooo happy about it! Anastacia, she is a little 9 year old. She personifies this scripture in Moroni! I love that little girl and her family! She´ll melt your heart, whether you understand castellano or not. She is the daughter of a less active woman and a non member man! We are working closely now with her dad. They invited TONS of people and it was great! One thing Argentina really knows how to do is throw a party. Any party at all. For birthdays, baptisms, anything. It´s kinda funny. <br /><br />Cumpleaños are a flippin religion here in the Latino world! People give us that excuse alllll the time for being gone or not coming to church! ¨I was at a birthday party!¨ You could say anything at all....¨hey you didn´t show up for your college exam¨ (for example). ¨i was at a birthday party.¨ ¨oh...fair enough.¨ <br /><br />We are now working with many people here in Tablada that are close to being baptized! There are just soooo many that aren´t married. Just about 99% of people don´t get married. It is sad. And really complicated, legally, to get married. That is a barrier that sometimes creates the ¨eternal investigators¨. One person we are working with is Denise. She is the aunt of two recent converts, Lucas and Milagros, who are siblings. She is GREAT, she knows so much about God and his plan for us! But...she hasn´t been to church yet. ¨Come and See¨ said the savior. I know that the Gospel changes lives! <br /><br />No more time. Prepare yourselves for instruction from the great Mediador! General Conference is gonna be great! Cross the fingers that we´ll find it in english somewhere! <br /><br />Elder Wilcox<br />
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-54739779473360190992016-10-03T15:19:00.001-07:002016-10-03T15:19:08.646-07:00Wasn´t Conference the best???Greetings, my friends from the other side.....of the equator!<br /><br />How is it up in the northern hemisphere? Things down here are definitely warming up here down south, just in time for the holidays! It´s that weird spring weather right now. Some days it´s REALLY HOT, like summer. I sweat and my collar gets uncomfortably hot and tight, like unto a dish. And other days it is cold and windy and rains. <br /><br />I haven´t much time, so I will just finish my scoop about conference. It was SOOO good. We watched it in our Bishop´s house, the first session on the porch because he wasn´t home (we couldn´t go in) and then we watched it in the house after that. We had a part member family with us part of the time! We were all drinking maté celestial, something delicious and probably unique to arg! I loved conference so much! Conference in Spanish is a joy and a privilege. I loved all the things I learned and will now go forward to always be better and make my sunday worship more sincere!<br /><br />Gotta go, sorry! Have a great week!<br /><br />Elder Wilcox<br />
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-61626476815432357362016-09-19T10:49:00.002-07:002016-09-19T10:49:45.507-07:00Exceedingly Great BlessingsFriends,<br /><br />I am grateful for the hymns. What wonderful sources of wisdom and hope, of energy and of vigor. When in need, sing a hymn. The song of the heart is ¨ a prayer unto me¨ as the Lord says. Yesterday, I was in sacrament meeting and not quite enjoying the presence of the Spirit as I would have liked to. Some things had happened, and me and my comp were feeling kinda down. But God spoke to us through song. We sang ¨Come, come ye Saints.¨ In spanish there is a line that says ¨y paz será el galardón, oh está todo bien.¨ It´s saying that peace will be the prize, all is well, all is well. Well, I am certain that God speaks to us through many different ways. Including the hymns. I will be eternally grateful to my old piano teachers, such as Margaret Schloss, Jan Judd, and Michelle Bowman, for teaching me a sure-proof method of bringing the spirit. It´s a shame the mission doesn´t allow for time to really play much.<br /><br />Well, here I am talking about hymns and stuff and not even about the week! I´ll just go quickly through one of the busiest weeks of my mission:<br /><br />Tuesday: Transfers. Luckily the Ramos Mejía zone all lives pretty close, so we had no problems recieving missionaries new to the zone and shipping them off to their new areas. We also were asked to help the trainers in their new duties and practice with them contacting, especially with the book of mormon. My opinion: have in in your hand! The SWORD OF THE SPIRIT does no good if it´s sheathed up in your backpack. <br /><br />Wednesday: my first ¨concilio¨. Meeting with the zone leaders. It was fantastic! Talked all about the mission and how to help the missionaries, including ourselves, improve. Talked much about challenges and resources, and how many of our challenges are really resources if we just change our mentality. <br /><br />Thursday: one somewhat normal day of work. We did weekly planning. yay!<br /><br />Friday: we had special training with President Robertson. It was great! His wife also rocks. We talked with her about the power of the Spirit in conversión. I love what Elder Bednar says that we are all agents who act,and not objects to be acted upon. We must allow the investigators to ACT, and learn by faith. #inspiredquestions<br /><br />Saturday: there was a stake service meeting and we painted a school! I saw the bishop from my first area there! His daughter just got called to mexico! So great to see old friends! We also had a baptism!!! Lucas, great guy. We are having a baptism every week in september. I arrived just a few weeks ago and am in no way credited for helping them reach baptism, but some incredible people are in this area! <br /><br />Sunday: A day of rest. Alma 37:34.<br /><br />Have a great week! <br /><br />Elder Wilcox<br /><br />Lucas has had some great experiences with the scriptures I will write about later<br />Renzo, he actually is from a recently reactivated family. he was baptized but they lost the records, so he got baptized again. awesome!<br />
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-43728277986270051682016-09-13T20:27:00.002-07:002016-09-13T20:27:31.378-07:00Aumentar (Sep 12)This week was fantastic. I would like to have everyone know that, cuz I ain´t got much time to describe it all!<br /><br />This week was the sixth (and last) week of the transfer. What wise Presidente Robertson has noticed lately is that generally our numbers drop the sixth week for whatever reason. So we, as companions, work hard at making goals and then plans on the fifth week so the sixth week can shine. We worked our tails off and had a great week together! It was awesome!<br /><br />We are hard at work thinking and praying for our zone. We believe it really just takes a step of faith, and a little more confidence in the Lord to make miracles happen! I can´t believe that God thinks that his leaders are better, so why don´t we think like that? We are still waiting for the reply to see if Elder Salas (an area 70!!!) might be able to come and talk to us. We think he will also be able to help a lot. <br /><br />We also did divisions with the assistants this week! They are awesome! I worked with Elder Bullock, from PG, Utah. He is a capo. Probably the best example I have ever seen of actually talking to everybody! He gave me a couple tips here and there to be able to contact better! It was awesome. We were even able to set a couple of baptismal dates! He is inspiring for sure. <br /><br />Well, like I said. Time is short. The field is white. And the laborers are few. BE A LABORER. I wish we could have better ¨inner-faith¨ relationships. We see people out also preaching of God, and many of their mindset seems to be ¨oh you´re mormon? Well that does put a damper on our relationship.¨ sad.<br /><br />I love an email and maybe a picture from anyone at all, if anyone was wondering. <br /><br />Have a fantastic week! <br /><br />Alma 26:22<br /><br />Elder Wilcox<br /><br />also, pictures still are rough coming. I ain´t got no ipad 😁Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-23194447351043470032016-09-13T20:25:00.000-07:002016-09-13T20:25:05.902-07:00La Tablada (Sep 5)Every week I sit down to email and my head is so full of things, it´s quite difficult to condense it all down into a readable email...<br /><br />La Tablada is such a great area! The pench is very ¨cheto¨, it´s clean and small but perfect for the two of us. ¨Itty bitty living space.¨ This is the zone of Ramos Mejía, a very city-ish zone. Lots of people. In our entire area, there are only TWO dirt roads! So cool! And I am now off the bike and back onto the foot, so am pretty excited about that. My companion is a total capo! Elder Ortolano, he is from Brasil but moved to Canada when he was little, and speaks like a North American. He went to BYU Idaho. We are doing awesome together! We are ready to get cooking in this zone, and help everyone else to do the same! One great challenge is that of President Robertson. ¨A good leader has other people´s confidence. A great leader helps others have confidence in themselves.¨ So we are trying to help the missionaries here see their TRUE potential. I was kinda bummed to be gone for Graciela´s baptism in Marcos Paz, but we had one here too, on saturday! <br /><br />Her name is Milagros, which being interpreted, is Miracles. She is a 14 year old girl, very very very impressive for her age. We are also preparing her other siblings for baptism as well. I am so glad for this gospel, and how happy it makes other people! We came to fill up the font, but the water, apparently, was getting old in the tank! We couldn´t do anything about it, so we just had the baptism in pretty yellow water. I couldn´t help but congradulate Milagros after. ¨Congrates, urine the church now!¨ <br /><br />Lots of crazy things happened this week. We were out working and were inside one the area´s ¨villa¨s. A villa is very tight nit, condensed neighborhood I guess you could call it, with everything being made out of wood or concrete. We had a man come up to us and ask, ever so politely, for our cellular phone. Granted, he was pointing a gun at us. But he eventually let us go. Poor guy. He needs the dispensation of the fulness of times. <br /><br />President Uchtdorf said something I love. That the scriptures and words of modern prophets form an ¨effective mirror¨ with which we can compare our lives. It goes well with it´s 80´s pop companion. ¨If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make a change.¨ Not only would Uchtdorf and Michael Jackson have been great mission comps, but these principles are true. It´s about being humble. Let us not be slothful for the easiness of it (Alma 37:46), truly it is a very straight and plain road (2 Nefi 4:32) that leads to eternal bliss (Alma 37:46). <br /><br />Love you all! Have a great week. <br /><br />Elder Wilcox<br /><br />having trouble with fotos, sorryBrendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-5990985155947029182016-08-29T09:53:00.001-07:002016-08-29T09:53:23.646-07:00FLASH! Ahhhhhh...Soooooo. Lots of surprises. I feel like I say that a lot. But that´s the mission, I guess. We worked our tails off this week! There is so much going on in Marcos Paz 1A. SOO happy to be here! I actually won´t be here anymore though....saturday night President Robertson called me informing me of a ¨flash¨(unexpected change). Elder Oscariz Choi is going home early for school, and I will be replacing him as zone leader in Ramos Mejía, the zone I was ¨born¨ in! Should be a fat challenge and learning opportunity!<br /><br />I realized that in recent letters home I have not talked much about my investigators. I hope that doesn´t take away from how I feel about them. They are the Lord´s elected. HE prepared THEM for this time and what they going through right now to be able to learn and accept the truth of the ¨Lord´s kingdom once again established on the earth.¨ Truly merciful and incredible when you think about it. And when I say incredible, I mean ¡completely credible! God deserves the credit. 😉<br /><br />GRACIELA. Is a truly devoted woman. Devoted to God. Her daughter and husband are members, but she has been ¨Catholic¨for years. She is basically an active member of the ward though! She goes to activities and our english class and everything. Well, we´ve had some long talks in these past weeks and she is ready and willing now to accept baptism. She got interviewed and is getting baptized on saturday! She and her family were begging me to beg President to let me come back here on saturday to baptize her. We´ll see......<br /><br />I ain´t got much time, I´ll write about other people later! I am NOT happy to be separated from my mission son, Elder RIGSBY! He is SUCH a capo! He is seriously incredible, and I´m grateful he is the kind and I can work with, AND laugh with. He is a hard worker and willl have a mission of gold.<br /><br />WE are the messengers of GOD. These are His truths, and they will lead to eternal life. You might call us the Proclaimers. *and ay would bike five hundred mayuls, and ay would bike five hundred mo, just to be the mahn who bikes five thooosand mayuls to come and knock yo door*<br /><br />Love you allll. God bless you, every one.<br /><br />Elder Wilcox<br />
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-73556035570152564872016-08-27T11:53:00.002-07:002016-08-27T11:53:56.534-07:00Holiness to the Lord (Aug 22)Okeeeee. If I´ve ever had a crazy week it´s been this one. Let´s go. <br /><br />First, Happy Anniversary to two of the biggest buckwalkin´ weirdos out there! BrenDawg and Travis, happy 25th, may you have many more. *starts the anniversary song from the movie ¨haunted mansion¨* ☝👆<br /><br />MONDAY: we played a bomb game of futbol at our church here in Marcos Paz! We had more investigators than members!! It was so much fun. Pablo, a progressing investigator (but has trouble with José Smith and the restoration) thought it would be the best way to get his sons out to the church, and it was! We shared a scripture, and had a great time! All of my soccer friends from wasatch better watch out.....<br /><br />TUESDAY: we had divisions with the zone leaders in their area called Mariano Acosta. They are AWESOME! Really focused, go get ´em Elders. They switched district leader/zone leader divisions to where all four of us work in their area for the day. I was with Elder Oyola, from Mendoza, Arg. He is a total capo! One thing I learned with him is that we can´t be afraid to invite. Invite, invite, invite. It´s part of our purpose. <br /><br />WEDNESDAY: We got cut somewhat short, we had to go to Marcos Paz 2 and do a baptismal interview. I don´t usually like getting interruptions with the work, but hey, baptismal interviews are definitely worth it! The boy´s name is Lautaro. Poor guy was somewhat nervous, and will be getting baptized soon! All he needs is a good strong knowledge of the restoration and of the Book of Mormon! Those things are KEY. I know that the Book of Mormon will give us pure, un-changing doctrine that we can rely on. ¨A study of the gospel doctrine will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.¨ How profound is that?? <br /><br />THURSDAY: I think I forgot to mention last week of our planned TEMPLE TRIP. WE ACTUALLY WENT. I still am energized by that holy place! Just the thought. I will never take living in Utah for granted. Saints in Utah, you had better GO and serve the Lord and others in the Temple. It was our first trip since christmas, about 8 months. It was fantastic, and really cool in spanish. I have grown I think, didn´t have any trouble with the temple spanish. <br /><br />FRIDAY: We had a sweet movie night at the end of the day. Graciela came, and she is still feeling swell and ready for her baptism date! She has trouble with the thought of leaving the catholic church, but the Spirit of the Lord has taught her well. Line upon line, for years now! She´s ready. Also, Elder Rigsby is a SUPER powerful missionary. He teaches with the spirit, not with his head. He is very focused and impresses all with his scriptural knowledge. <br /><br />Then the weekend ended with us finding the most beautiful family ever! Also another man who could potentially be a great member.....Miracles happen all the time. I love the mission and the changes the Lord has wrought in me, and is wrought-ing in me! My eyes have been eternally opened, and will never close. <br /><br />con cariño,<br /><br />Elder Wilcox<br />
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Elder Rigsby and me - 1st Pres. Photo - haha<br />
Soccer<br />
Me with elder cobb <br />
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-14095213329180943592016-08-27T11:46:00.002-07:002016-08-27T11:46:28.323-07:00Plancentero, Oh what a Joy! (Aug 15)What a wonderful world! I don´t know if everyone knows this, but in the spanish hymns, there is one called ¨Placentero nos es trabajar¨ (no. 88) great hymn! One of the missionaries favorites. The first line roughly translated is ¨Oh it´s a joy for us to work in the vineyard of the great king Jesus!¨ Well I want to raise my voice and let the world know I ain´t quiting any time soon, and truly it is a joy.<br /><br />Something that my good old uncle Boyd sent me once is ¨even though the roots of service are sometimes bitter, the fruits are always sweet¨. We are working hard here, and it´s hard to see sometimes that investigators aren´t quite confident enough in themselves to get baptized. Or they have trouble accepting the restored gospel through Jose Smith. Or they just have so much to fix in their lives that they get discouraged and stop. (all of those are people in our area right now). There is hope and love and good things ahead in the atonement of Jesus Christ. I know and testify of that! If we do all that we can (develop faith, repent, be baptized, follow the spirit, and endure to the end), then there is no reason to worry EVER. We can be happy and buoyant and ready to face the next obstacle. <br /><br />Well I am out of time, and still have foto issues. Sorry BrenDawg!<br /><br />Elder WilcoxBrendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-54601941423374022862016-08-08T18:13:00.001-07:002016-08-08T18:13:36.125-07:00Welcome to ArgWell, I will be somewhat hurried writing this email, I am almost out of time. But, this week we welcomed a brand new Elder into the mission world! 6 pounds, 5 ounces. And just a little more. His name is Elder Rigsby and is from Ohio. He is a capo! Ready to learn and ready to work. In mission lingo, he is my hijo (son) and I am his papi. That lingo has WAY more truth to it than you know. He is doing good adjusting though. Poor guy didn´t expect the cold winter, he had NO jacket whatsoever except for a suit jacket. We had to get him that and some other stuff. This first week is finally over and questions like ¨What´s this?¨--¨That´s a bidet. No toilet paper.¨ aren´t being asked any more. <br /><br />We are loving adjusting though! Arg sure is different, but he is doing awesome. He really wants success and is prepared to work for it! He has a lot to work on as far as spanish goes, but I am learning a lot about the gift of tongues, how iit is a SPIRITUAL gift, even more than suddenly having spanish flowing out of your mouth. <br /><br />For example, just yesterday(!) we practiced a lot in the morning the baptismal information. We later taught a PF family, who the mamá is active in the church but NOT baptized, she almost refuses and claims she is Catholic. BUT, I looked at Elder Rigsby in the moment we had discussed, he invited her to be baptized. She then told us what she has never told anyone! How her family was very catholic and would be offended if she changed. She said she said she goes in and out of having desires to be baptized. We then talked with her towards working toward baptism, and how if she bears testimony to her family, then they would change their minds. In my mind, I was like ¨Capo Elder Rigsby!¨ Good learning moment. <br /><br />Some things surprise him that make me laugh, things I dont think about anymore. Such as lots of dogs, and I was sleep talking in spanish. We had a meeting with our ward mission leader, and I had a flash back to Van Nuys, California where a skinnier new Elder (me) didn´t understand a thing. Elder Rigsby is awesome!<br /><br />Quick MIRACLE. The less active man I wrote about last week came to church ¨for the first time in forever!¨ AND bore his testimony, and talked about the visit we had with him, made him think a lot! First testimony given in 25 years, he said! MIRACLES happen once in a while!<br /><br />Lots of love,<br /><br />Elder WilcoxBrendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-43430328676314673932016-08-01T16:59:00.001-07:002016-08-01T16:59:10.873-07:00Have you ever seen the rain? (Letter from Aug 1, 2016)This week there was some good rain storms. I don´t quote cheesy EFY music much, but really truly when we have the spirit with us ¨It´s like walking in sunlight when the whole world is covered in rainclouds.¨ And Buenos Aires is covered in rainclouds very very often! It´s a good thing that the rain gets into my boots, otherwise my feet would be dry! <br /><br />I also did some reflection. I don´t need an ipad or anything like that. I just need a pair of gloves that are possible to keep on AND clap someone´s door! haha here we clap the doors, and it´s necessary to take my gloves off EVERY TIME. <br /><br />Obviously there were many many miracles this week. During a particularly rainy day I did a division with Elder Wasson. We had some awesome plans in place for lots of success that day! But, as the bikes broke, and the rain set in the lessons also went away. It was rough, we weren´t able to teach anyone that day...until the end of the night. We had a ward movie night, and 7 investigators came! We watched a fantastic movie called ¨The Book of Mormon: How Rare a Possesion¨. I would highly recommend it. I was very happy to see them all there, obviously. But I was also very humbled and grateful after reading Éter 12:6, that no witness will come until AFTER a trial of my faith. <br /><br />Marcos Paz is doing so good! It´s incredible to see the changes that the Spirit works in people´s hearts ¨line upon line, precept upon precept¨. But, it really is that simple. And sometimes that slow. I love the advice from Elder Bednar ¨May I suggest that many of us would commonly expect AN answer or A prompting from God in response to our ernest pleadings and questions. But the answers we get from God are small, incremental, and sometimes hard to recognize individually. It does not come all at once.¨I am glad for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. It is an unmistakeable gift. It is distinct, and powerful. People often wonder why there is so much bad in their lives. We visited a man who is less active yesterday, and he asked us all of those questions. We simply asked him what he thought we were gonna say, or what the solution we might bring up was. He said something like ¨I know, I know Elders. Say my prayers, go to church, read the book. My family doesn´t support me in those things, and I don´t see much difference when I do them.¨ We explained that those things are good, but the core is missing. At the root of EVERYTHING we do is repentance and a sincere love for the Lord. Why do we go to church, or read or anything else? Because we align our thoughts and desires to be more like the Lord´s, and not our own. Then, we will have the promised companionship of the Holy Ghost. <br /><br />Quick story. Yesterday (in the rain) we visited a man named Ariel (investigator, his wife and son are members). His family wasn´t home, because they were apparently with the police, he had done something bad, and they all left. He was bawling histerically, really quite honestly like a toddler. He was so shattered. Long story short.....Elder Cobb did some clutch quick thinking, and we went outside, out of the smoke ridden house. We knelt in a field and offered a prayer. He was very calm after, and told us how he wants to be baptized. <br /><br />I love the work! Keep on smiling everyone. It´s the only way to keep the Spirit in the hard times.<br /><br />Elder WilcoxBrendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-17424804351487580032016-08-01T16:57:00.001-07:002016-08-01T16:57:49.063-07:00I love the mission (letter from July 25, 2016)Weekly culture comment: Here, as a term of endearment, people call their spouse ¨gordo¨ or ¨gorda¨ which is pretty much ¨fatty¨. <br /><br />This coming week will be the last of the transfer! Wow. Time moves so fast when you´re spreading the word. <br /><br />This week was a good one! I really truly believe that people are prepared to hear the word of God. God is a God of preparation. He makes everything happen. I love love love what has been said that ¨there are NO coincedences in missionary work.¨ Yesterday, we were riding along and a guy asked us if we were the police. We stopped to talk, kinda chuckled and told him no we are not the police. We are missionaries. He immediately started speaking quite fluent english to us, it was very surprising! He told us how he lived in New York for about 5 years. He was THERE the day of 9/11. His name is Ignacio. He said it traumatized him a lot. He eventually got sick of all the conflict and war and trouble after a few years and came back down to Arg. He left a lot behind! He almost got married to his girlfriend in NY, but decided to leave. He wanted peace in his life, and found it back in Marcos Paz. He said it´s not as nice as NY, dirt roads, cheap brick houses and whatnot. But it´s better to not have conflict. Great guy! We introduced the Book of Mormon, and he was very interested. Said he had seen it, and knew about it, but had never read it and wants to! He invited us in, where another friend of his Rodrigo was visiting. We were able to teach them about the restored Gospel, and they both accepted the invitation to be baptized! So awesome! I love missionary work. <br /><br />This week we had zone trainings/interviews with President. Man, if I could I would interview with that man every day. He´s just so awesome! I love the help he gives all of us. Our PURPOSE is to help others come unto Christ by accepting the restored Gospel. Some have a realllllly hard time accepting the LDM. But the book (and the prophet, the church, the commandments) is the way established BY HIM to accept Him! ¨There is NO OTHER way.¨ (or something like that) 2 Nefi 31:21. <br /><br />Anyway. Sorry BrenDawg, but the computer is having a rough time loading pictures today. Poor thing. <br /><br />Have a great week! I might write more later, but a story that really helped me this week was Helamán 5:40-43. God helps us out, WHATEVER our cloud of darkness may be! <br /><br />sending love from Elder WilcoxBrendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-44651428963745827722016-08-01T16:56:00.002-07:002016-08-01T16:56:29.515-07:00The Elect (letter from July 18, 2016)Broshkums,<br /><br />I don´t usually do this, but let´s just talk about saturday, since it was the most AMAZING day ever. God really truly does prepare the hearts of the people! There are many of the elect (or we call them ¨elegidos¨) just waiting to be saved!<br /><br />I dont have much time. BUT. Saturday was just so awesome. We had taught a guy/girlfriend Nico y Brenda last week. We went back, and Nico had read and remembered EVERYTHING perfectly. We also taught his brother Franco, who came to church the very next day! It was awesome! They will definitely be baptized sometime soon. <br /><br />We also went to teach one of our progressing investigators, Evelín, who has a boyfriend Esteban that we are also teaching. They are awesome, but they are juntado, and for that they don´t have a baptismal date. Well, we went to see them, but turns out they are separated now. That was unexpected, and obviously a shock for us. They separated for some unfaithfulness and drug problems on Esteban´s part. But Evelín was literally filled with the spirit. She didn´t cry, she was calm. She was SOO shining with some Gospel light, seriously. She told us how she wants to live all the commandments and be baptized. She hasn´t even been to church yet! But she is completely converted to the restored Gospel through the book of Mormon. We explained to her that she could be baptized, if they really are committed to stay apart, and then one day get married and start a family in the Gospel. Next best thing: our district is realllllly focusing on working with members. In fact, besides baptism goals, we just have goals for lessons with members present. Agustín, a CAPO 11 year old recent convert passed by on his bike. We asked if he could sit with us for about 15 minutes and share a thought. We committed Evelín to baptism, and Agustín was able to bear powerful testimony! It was great. Just so many more miracles that day.<br /><br />I gave a talk yesterday in church. Talked about Christ-like examples in my life. One that came to mind was a certain Lincoln Rasband. He died right around the time of my baptism, but a few days after, I recieved a letter from him in the mail, bearing his testimony and cheering my on. I will always have that in my heart. <br /><br />So, I made the mac n cheese mom! It rocked. Sorry I forgot my camera, I´ll send a picture next week.<br /><br />Keep on keeping on! Hurrah for Israel.<br /><br />Elder WilcoxBrendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686018265050341075.post-30948194142133145662016-08-01T16:54:00.004-07:002016-08-01T16:54:53.226-07:00Feliz 9 de Julio (letter from July 11, 2016)This week was 9 de Julio! The good old Argentino independence day. They don´t take it quite as serious as they do in the US of A but it was fun to see it.<br /><br />
This week I want to talk about just some small things. Little things that happened that would seem so not important, it´s a good thing the scriptures teach us to despise not the gifts of God, and of the Spirit.....or they would´ve passed me by! <br /><br />We had a rockin 9 de Julio party in the ward. Ever since I got here a few weeks ago (and before) we had been inviting people to this party. It was a big success! TONS of empanadas were made. They are amazing. It is like a big dumpling or potsticker but filled with carne or chicken and I love them. We had some dancers perform from the ward, and fun argentino gaucho clothing to take pictures with. Anyway. We had some investigators come! Pablo, a great guy that is single, about 55 years old. His son Esteban and his wife Evelín came. I think the person I was most excited to see was a woman named Thamara. We met her just knocking doors the other week. She is a less active member, but like alllllll of her life. Baptized young, and then forgot. She seemed real sad when we met her. But the party brought this peace to her countenance. She smiled the whole time, and chatted with everyone. Afterwards, we set a family home evening with her and another family. She told us she was super content, and happy that she came. She just said something like ¨Interesting, isn´t it? You didn´t even know I was a member when you came to the door.¨ Wow. Miracle. This is the work of the Lord for sure.<br /><br />We taught a lesson with a young couple this week. Brenda y Nicolas. They were very interested. At the very beginning, I read with him 2 Nefi 2:11 in answer to some things he had said. Immediately, he asked where he can get one of these books. The book anwers questions of the soul! Also, at the end Brenda said that we had a wonderful peace with us. A powerful peace. We explained that is the Spirit. And that she needs to follow it. <br /><br />Pablo is a great great investigator but has crazy doubts about Joseph Smith, and the LDM. He always convinces himself they are fake. But we are trying to help him see how much changes there are in his life becuase of the church and it´s teachings of the Gospel. That way, he can bear testimony to his kids. He bore the sweetest little prayer about his kids, and how he doesn´t want them to be in sin. It reminded me of Nephi, ¨Awake my soul! No longer droop in sin!!!!!!¨ <br /><br />It was a wonderful week. Here´s to many more! This week I will hit the year mark. I used to think of that point in time, as a hurtle, like a point to say ¨Half way! Almost done!¨ But now I am realizing that I only have one more year to do this work that God has for me, and that is a very limited period of time. I am not here to maintain the work, I am here to hasten the work!<br /><br />Elder Wilcox<br />
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Brendahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08344025078633884779noreply@blogger.com0