#BECAUSEHELIVES

Elder Saldivar and Elder Opfar

The Cipolletti Zone

Monday- PDAY. We had zone pday. Made some pancakes then played soccer and basketball and had a water balloon fight. 

Tuesday- We did a tsunami for some of the elders in Cipo 2. And then in the afternoon we did some service. We took some paint of a roof and repainted it.

Wednesday- We had mission correlation. We were able to visit a less active. and then we went to a few other people but they weren't home. 

Thursday- We contacted and had a little success. We did an activity and we watched The Testaments. There were a few investigators that came. We tried visiting a less active but they weren't there. We talked with Victor but only for a couple minutes. 

Friday- We once again contacted with a little success. We then visited an investigator Axel. We walked a lot today.

Saturday- We did English classes. And we had zone training. That went well. I spoke at it about prayer for about 10 minutes. We tried visting a potenial investigator but he wasn't home. 

Sunday- We had church and had 48 people there. I once again lead the music. We then were able to visit a less active.

http://www.mormon.org/easter 

This is what the church is now doing with Easter. And we are doing it here. We are sharing that our Savior Lives. I invite all of you to talk the couple minutes to watch the video in this link. And remember the real reason for Easter. To remember our Savior and what He did for us. I know He lives. 

con amor

Elder Opfar

1.  What are your plans for General Conference?  Do you know where you will be watching?  

We are going over to the chapel in Cipo 2 to watch the broadcast. I am excited! I  love General Conference.

2.  What Easter celebrations will you be involved in?  Will they have candy and stuff?  An asado?

I have no idea honestly. We will see this week what happens.

3.  Quick 6 weeks...transfers are next Monday.  Do you think that your area will be changed with all the closings coming up?  

I don't know. I think 1 area here in Cipo 1 will be closed. but yeah this transfer went by super fast

4.  What have you been studying this week in  your personal studies?

I have been reading in Doctrine and Covenants. I'm in Section 75. and I have been reading in Jesus the Christ. I am almost done. 

5.  Were you able to serve anyone this week?

Yes. We helped an hermano in the ward take some paint off his roof and repaint it

6.  What has been your most significant tender mercy?

We found an investigator that we have been looking for for the past 4 weeks. We got his number so we can keep in touch about when to visit him

7.  What are you looking forward to this coming week?

general conference!

8.  What scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week?  

I really like in 2 Nephi 4:30-35

9.  What has been your biggest success this week?

teaching some people

10.  What has been the hardest or given you the most concern?

investigators. not being able to find them.

11.  How is the weather?  It looks like it's cooling down.  Are the leaves changing?

it is nice. it feels great outside. yes i have started to see some yellow on the leaves

12.  If you could do one thing over again, what would it be?

uhm I don't know

13.  What is the funniest thing that happened?

well we had a water balloon fight last pday. that was pretty funny

***Here is the scripture Tyler referred to...this section of 2nd Nephi is often called the Psalm of Nephi.

2 Nephi 4

30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

 31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?

 32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!

 33 O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.

 34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

 35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.

At the corner of America and B. O'Higgins

At America Street...

Monday- pday. We went to Cipo 2 and made pizza and played soccer. We started exchanges in the night

Tuesday- I was on exchanges with Elder Hill working in our area. We had a little success contacting. Tried visiting Orlando but he wasn't home. We visited a less active. and when we were walking through the park some guy started yelling us at that we were from the CIA. so that was pretty funny.

Wednesday- We stayed in the pension because Elder Saldivar's back. I studied and listened to some talks. 

Thursday- We went to an appointment but it fell through. We went to the Dr to set up and appointment for my comp.

Friday- We went to the Dr. Elder Saldivar has like a contracted muscle or something like that. We visited a new investigator we have. and tried visiting a recent convert. 

Saturday- English classes in the morning. Stayed in pension.

Sunday- At church we only had 24 people there. I directed the music again so that was fun. We stayed in the pension and I just studied.

In Mathew 14:22-33 it is about when Christ is walking on the water and Peter asks if he can too. The Lord says yes and Peter's faith is showed. But when the storm comes his faith wavers and he starts to fall. This can be like us sometimes in life. We are going towards Christ full of faith and we look around us and see the trials and temptations and our faith starts to fall. 

Con amor

Elder Opfar

1.  You mentioned a couple of weeks ago that you really like your bishop.  Does he help you guys a lot?  Are there any members in your ward that you feel especially close to, or who take really good care of you?

he is just really positive in the struggling ward when a lot of the other people are negative about it. 

2.  Is there someone who does/helps with some of your laundry in Cipo like there was in Rincon?

we usually can use the washing machine of the other elders. they let us use it

3.  What are your p-day plans?

PDAY de ZONA

4.  How involved are you missionaries in sacrament and church/class services?  You've mentioned that you have lead the music, are there other things that you help with?

we are the teachers of gospel principles class. We also help a lot with sacrament when they are short on priesthood

5.  What scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week?  What have you learned?

I was listening to a talk by I believe Elder Bednar and he talks about the Lords Work and glory in Moses 1:39 and our work in D&C 11:20. I really liked that.

Moses 1:39  

For behold, this is my work and my glory— 

to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

D&C 11:21 Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments,yea, with all your might, 

mind and strength.

6.  What was the most awesome thing that happened this week?

This answers question 8 too.   I was reading from the Ensign from the last conference and I decided to look at the pictures of all the apostles and I just felt the spirit so strong testifying to me that they are called of God and really receive revelation for us.

7.  What was the hardest thing?

the days of just staying in the pension

8.  What has been your most significant tender mercy?

Fall is coming in Cipo..

Monday- Pday. We played some soccer and made tacos over in Cipo 2. We then did some service. We cleared out a lot of weeds and and then burnt them. It was like every boy scouts dream- burning everything

Tuesday- We were in the pension all day because Elder Saldivar hurt his back.

Wednesday- We had interviews with President. so that was good. It went well. Once again we stayed in the pension. The other Elders came by and we gave him a blessing. 

Thursday- We went out to work for a couple hours. We talked with Orlando in the street. Set up an appointment for Tuesday. Tried Victor but he wasn't home. Then we went to try a recent convert but he was leaving. 

Friday- We had mission correlation today. Once again stayed in the pension. 

Saturday- We did English class. That was pretty funny listening to one of the kids pronouncing words. We tried going to the Dr but they were closed. 

Sunday- We had 38 people at church today. And in the night we had ward council so that was good. We stayed in the pension. 

This week I had a lot of time to study. One thing I focused on was the Atonement. And our Savior's sacrifice for us. 

But also I watched this video and I really like it. It is about obedience. Sin will always be sin. It doesn't matter if the world legalizes it. Are we doing everything we can to be completely obedient to the commandments of the Lord?

http://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/obedience-to-the-ten-commandments?cid=HPTU031015743 

Con amor

Elder Opfar

1.  It's almost FALL there...can you tell it is cooling down?  On Friday your high will be 73...I bet that will feel like heaven!  Have the trees started to change color yet?

its been a little cooler but it is still super hot. haha. 73 I can't wait. The trees are all still green

2.  What is the most interesting thing you have learned this week?  

I have been reading a lot in Jesus the Christ. I have like 100 pages left. I just got through the chapter that talks about the trial of Christ. And I just find it interesting that everything they did was illegal according to their law. The whole trial was illegal. It was interesting to read that and learn about that

3.  If you could do one thing over this week, what would it be and why?

I don't know. We didn't work a lot

4.  Were you able to do any service this week?  If yes, for who?

yes on Monday after pday. a less active family in our area. we went with the other elders to some of their property and helped start clearing it all

5.  Who has been your favorite person this week and why?

I don't know

6.  What has been your biggest success?

7.  What are you looking forward to this coming week?

going out and working more than this past week

8.  What scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week?

I like D&C 12:8  (And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall been trusted to his care.)

9.  What was the toughest thing you had to go through this week?

staying in the pension everyday

10.  What was the funniest thing that happened this week?

1 hit my head on a little doorway thing at a members house when we were leaving lunch. cause it is super short. and now the member always tells me to watch my head...

Faith is Power

Monday- Pday. We just relaxed all day. We tried visiting a couple people but they weren't home. So we visited a less active

Tuesday- We contacted with not much success. And then tried visited a less active but they weren't home either. 

Wednesday- We found an investigator from a while back who said we could come by again. We had a little success contacting. We tried a couple investigators then visited a less active. 

Thursday- We had zone training today. Then we tried going to a recent convert but they weren't home. Victor wasn't home either. We were able to talk with Orlando out on the street for a couple minutes.

Friday- Did our weekly planning. We tried visiting a few people but they weren't home. but we have 1 new potential. Started intercambios. I was with Elder Shearer in our area.

Saturday- We had English class in the morning. No one came so we helped clean the church. We found a couple potentials and found a less active in our area. I cut my hair. It's a little shorter than I wanted but oh well.

Sunday- We had church and had like 40 people there. We tried visiting a few people but they weren't home. We were able to visit a less active though and that was good.

This week I read a talk called Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by Gene R. Cook. It was GREAT! He talks about faith and gives a couple ways to increase our faith. 1. Be believing 2. commit yourself 3. do your part 4. pray 5. expect trails of your faith 6. expect the Lord to act

I really liked this talk. If you all get a chance to, read it. 

Faith is Power

Con amor

Elder Opfar

1.  There was a huge volcano eruption this last week in Chile, about 7 1/2 hours from you directly west over the Andes.  Has any of the ash made it to Cipo?  Have you heard anything about it?
yeah I heard about it. I don't think there has been any ash come over. I haven't seen anything

2.  What is the most interesting thing you learned this week?

I read a talk called Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by Gene R Cook. And I really liked it. It was really good. And I finished the Book of Mormon again the week! In English. In Spanish I am in Alma.

3.  Who or what helped you the most this week?

The talk by Gene R Cook. It was really good. 

4.  What has been your biggest challenge this week?

Not being able to visit our investigators that we have

5. What has been your biggest concern?

Not finding the investigators. Not being able to teach them

6.  What has been your biggest success?

We visited a less active yesterday and we found out that they have 2 daughters who aren't baptized. So we are going to be working more with them to help reactivate them and so their daughters can get baptized

7.  What has been your most significant tender mercy?

Finding potentials. after a long day of walking we were able to find a few people that actually talked with us for a few minutes and are potentials

8.  What are you looking forward to this coming week?

the few potentials that we have to visit

9.  Do you have a goal for this week?

look for more people that we can teach

10.  Which scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week?  Were you able to use any Scripture Mastery? :)

I really like I don't remember where it is exactly. I believe it is Moroni or Mormon who says it. They say "I am a disciple of Christ." 

(Mom note:  it was Mormon in 3 Nephi 5:13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.)

11.  Were you fed well?  Any especially good food?

We had lunch 5 days. Pretty delicious. 

12.  Have you learned any useful words this week?

yeah a few. just learning vocab

Click here for the talk by Gene R. Cook that Tyler talks about.

Mba'e la porte

Tyler got to see a couple of his old companions at the station in Neuquen when he went to pick up his new companion...he was happy to see them again.  The first two pictures are of his MTC companion, Elder Gallegos and the second is of his trainer in Rincon de los Sauces, Elder Adcock.

He ordered this plaque and thought it was funny that the "O" looks more like a "Q."

One of his favorite fruits in Argentina.  He loves apples and pears...so what could be better than an apple/pear combo!

Tyler's new companion, Elder Saldivar.  He is from Paraguay and has been learning English...it's a great companionship as they can help each other learn.  Tyler says he is learning more and more words every day.

Monday- Pday. I spent the day down in the terminal in Neuquen waiting for elder Saldivar. I got to see a couple of my old comps and other missionaries so that was fun!

Tuesday- We went and visited a less active. We had a good lesson. We visited Victor and had a good lesson with him!

Wednesday- We had a good day contacting. We contacted out in the costas. We have a few potentials and gain a new investigator! We tried visiting a few people after but they werent home. We walked A LOT.

Thursday- Went to the costas again. And had more success. New investigators. We were then able to visit a less active. And We talked with a super drunk guy, He was super drunk. He just kept telling us ¨"te quiero" so that was pretty exciting

Friday- We had district meeting. Elder Saldivar felt sick so he rested most of the day. We went out to a lesson we had with Orlando. We put a baptism date with him! That was awesome! And we gained 1 new investigator.

Saturday- We tried visiting Victor but we were only able to talk to him for a few minutes. In the morning we did an english class so that was fun. We looked for a less active and walked down some super long road but it was getting dark so we turned around to walk back. We plan on going this week to find them.

Sunday- We had church and i think we had 48 people there! We went and visited a couple less actives ad had some really good lessons.

The title isnt spanish. it is Guarani. They speak it in Paraguay. 

This week I have been thinking about how many times and life we make a mistake and get knocked down. When we are knocked down we have 2 options. We can either feel bad about ourselves and stay down or we can remember our Savior Jesus Christ and how because of Him we are able to get back up and keep going along. He is always there for us. He will never leave us alone.

Con Amor

Elder Opfar

1.  What is your mission theme or slogan?

I don't remember all of it. it is in the mission logo. its like Cristo es la razon, el espiritu es la clave, and I don't remember the other parts

(I found this picture of the mission logo on the Lovell's blog.)

2.  What scripture has had the biggest impact on you this week?

In Spanish I just got done reading those scriptures in Alma 26 and I really like those. It makes me think if those missionaries, who were some of the greatest in the Book of Mormon can struggle I can too. Suffer with patience. Go through everything with patience. Being patient in everything every single day

3.  What has been your biggest challenge this week?

those days of walking A LOT and my body is just exhausted and I'm exhausted but we still have an hour or so left so you just keep pushing. I had a couple days like that this week

4.  What has been your biggest concern this week?

finding new investigators. that was what we have been trying to do for the past 6 weeks

5.  What has been your biggest success?  (You must answer this..think hard...)

We found new investigators. We went out to the costas and contacted and had some success

6.  Who has been your favorite person this week and why?

I don't know

7. What has been your most significant tender mercy and why?

Finding people. we have been trying and contacting for 6 weeks. and this week we got into houses and taught people. We had success. Our hard work of contacting and being persistent has paid off. 

8.  What are you looking forward to this week?

teaching people. going back and teaching those investigators we have now. and finding more new ones

9.  What is the best/worst thing you ate this week?  Did you get fed??

Yes we had 5 lunches this week. I dont know. I like it all. There wasn't a worst thing. I liked everything we ate this week

...I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

Alma 26:11-12

...we can strive to be better each and every day

Monday- pday. We played some soccer. I rolled my ankle so that was fun. Elder Thorum didn't feel good so we stayed in. We started exchanges. 

Tuesday- We had district meeting. I was with Elder Shearer in their area. We visited a couple less actives and had a good day. Elder Thorum just stayed in the pension not feeling good.

Wednesday- We visited a couple less actives in our area. but they weren't home. and also one of our investigators wasn't home. We didn't have much success contacting

Thursday- We did weekly planning today. We visited a less active. And we were able to visit our investigator Orlando. He talks A LOT. about random things. We were able to visit a member family too and talk with them a little. It was all pretty good

Friday- We had mission correlation today. We were able to visit another less active. We went to an investigator and talked with him for a couple minutes. he told us he is good with his religion. doesn't want us coming by anymore. but he told us he learned a lot and his view on us changed- not what he thought it was. We had a little success with contacing. 

Saturday- We did some contacting with not much success. We had transfer calls. I am staying here in Cipolletti and my new comp is I think elder Saldivar. I believe he is from Paraguay! Should be fun! I'm excited for this next transfer. 

Sunday- We went to church. We had 42 people there today. And i once again directed the music is sacrament meeting. We visited a couple members abd Elder Thorum packed. 

This transfer has gone by so fast: I cant believe it. It just makes me think of how fast everything goes around us. And if we are really doing everything we can everyday to become our full potential. To be what our Heavenly Father wants us to be. And how we can strive to be better each and everyday. We can look back on the day and see what we did or didn't do and change the next day to become better. 

Have a great week everyone!

Con amor

Elder Opfar

1.  How has the weather there been?  Is it still pretty hot?  Does it feel hotter in Cipo or in Rincon?  When is it going to start cooling down for fall?  Is it still raining and flooding a lot?

this week was a little colder than normal. it felt great. but now it is starting to heat back up. i think it will start going down in like April or May. no we haven't had rain since like the other day

2.  Did you get more lunches this week?  I've been hoping people are feeding you!

we only had 2 this week. one family who feeds us twice was gone. they were in Chile but they are home now. we should have more this week

3.  When you got to Cipo 6 weeks ago, you said that there had been cockroaches in your pension. Have you seen any?  Are they big?

yeah I have seen some. they are just really small.

4.  Do you have the same dog problems in Cipo that you had in Rincon?  Or are there less dogs on the streets because it's more of a city?

yeah. there are a lot less. like yeah we still see them but it isn't like Rincon and all those ones

5.  What are some of the hardest things for you to say in Spanish?  Like, is there anything that you have a hard time saying so that people understand you?

no. its really just conjugating verbs. because there are different tenses that mean the same thing but are only used for certain things

6.  Have you heard from Elder Mena since he went home?  

yeah a little. i still email him a little bit

7.  Did you experience or see any miracles this week?

we have a few people to go and visit this next week. some potentials

8.  Anything funny happen?

uhm I don't know. I don't remember. I'm sure

9.  Did you learn anything new in your studies this week?

well like i have been reading the Book of Mormon. and I have really been seeing/looking at the missionaries in that. like how they preach boldly. with power and authority. and yeah. I just like it