Snow in Bariloche

This week was seriously so awesome!

Mon- we had pday! We ate some McDonalds. Nothing like some super expensive burgers here in Bariloche. But it was good. We walked around Centro a little. And My comp and I were able to visit an investigator. 

Tue- We stayed in the pension all day today. My comp didn't feel good at all. So i just studied and rested a little. 

Wed- We went out and contacted. We had some success with that. We moved the rest of the stuff out of the hermanas old pension. Also some elder from El Bolson came and stayed with us for zone training. 

Thur- WE had a lesson but it fell through. We had Zone training and it was so awesome. Seriously it was incredible. We had a few more elders stay with us. So we had a total of 9 elders in our Pension...

Fri- We met our new president. President Casariego is so awesome! I'm excited that he is the new president! He is the missionary from the story in this talk 

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/gene-r-cook_faith-lord-jesus-christ/ 

We also did our weekly planning. We tried to visit a few people but they werent home. 

Sat- Well it SNOWED. We woke up and it had snowed that night. We did some contacts in the street. We then had a ward activity. We ate some Locro. It was pretty good. We went out to Dine Huapi to visit some people but they werent home. 

Sun- WE went to church. WE had 40 people there today. But we also had 3 less actives come to church. We went and tried a few people but they were busy. And we came back to the pension because my comp started feeling really sick. 

And it is snowing right now. 

This week was really great! Hope all y'all have great weeks

Con amor

Elder Opfar

1.  How did interviews go?  Did Both Presidente and Hermana Casariego travel to Bariloche?  Was that the first time you have met them?  I wish I could've gone to the Lovell's homecoming today.

it was good. it was more of get to know president more than interviews. we did get a few minutes to go up and talk with them both. they are super awesome! I really like them. it was the first time i met them. 

we had zone training this week also. and we studied the talk Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, again. President Casariego is the missionary from the story. And we as a zone put a goal and committed ourselves that we will baptize 89 people by the end of the transfer. and elder Maluenda and I will baptize 5 people by the end of the transfer. I don't know how we are going to do it. But I have faith it is possible. We can do it. We have to do our part and the Lord will do the rest. 

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/gene-r-cook_faith-lord-jesus-christ/ 

2.  Did you ever get the Conference Ensign I sent?  I can't remember if you had told me or not.

yeah I did get it! Thanks!

3.  How was Argentina's Independence Day?  What do they do to celebrate?  What did you guys do?

well our lunch got cancelled. but we ended up getting lunch with the zone leaders in their area. The hermana made us some chicken and goat and sausage with potatoes and rice. It was really good. And on Saturday we had a ward activity for 9 de Julio and we ate locro. It is like a traditional stew.

4.  What time does the sun come up in the winter there?  What time does it get dark?  Are you back on the 11p-7a schedule?

wow. here the sun is like up at 9;30ish and goes down about 6:30-7

5.  What are the most common questions you get from people about the church?

are you Jehovah's Witnesses? you have that other bible right? just stuff like that

6.  Are there any parts of your area that you are not allowed to go into?  

in our area no. its fairly safe here

7.  Did you get snow this week?  I am hoping you have it by your birthday!!  It might be the only birthday you ever have with snow!

yeah we got some snow the other day! we woke up saturday with snow! and it is snowing right now! 

8.  What was your most spiritual experience this week?

zone conference and meeting president. Zone conference was seriously so amazing

9.  What has been your biggest challenge?

we need our investigators to come to church

10.  Did you eat any new food this week?  What was your favorite meal?

well locro. my first time trying it. it was good. But probably my favorite was the lunch we had on the 9th. it was seriously so good! 

When missionaries go to an "all you can eat" pizza place...

7/6/2015

Mon- We had pday and we went down to an ´´all you can eat´´ pizza place. We ate like 10 or 11 pizzas in total and the lady was I think getting frustrated... You had to order the pizza then wait for it to come out. but oh well, it was pretty good. We helped some other elders with a Noche de Hogar with some people.

Tue- We had district meeting and then after we did a tsunami in our area to help us find more people. We tried a few people but they weren home, so we were able to visit a member. 

Wed- We visited a guy and had an interesting lesson with him. he was drunk during the lesson and doesnt want to quit... so theres that. We had a Noche de hogar with some members and watched Meet the Mormons!

Thur- We did Weekly planning. We walked a lot trying to visit people but they werent home. 

Fri- We went over to the pension of the Hermanas area that was closed last transfer and we started packing all the stuff up. We were able to visit a less active. and also an investigator!

Sat- Happy Fourth of July! #Merica We tried contacting a little Then we had mission correlation. In the afternoon we had to be inside because it was the championship game of the Copa America and it was Argentina vs Chile. We ate some food and watched 17 Mircales. After the game we didnt leave because Chile won. And my comp is from Chile. But the streets were silent. there was NOBODY out on the street. and even during the game there was nobody. 

Sun- WE had church and that was good. Only 47 people came this week. We were able to visit a less active and his wife who isnt a member and we are now teacheing her.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-00-1420-because-of-him?lang=eng 

This is the video of Because of Him. I love this video. I invite all of you to watch it! 

have a great week! 

con amor

Elder Opfar

hey mom! this week was pretty good! we meet the new mission president on Friday! He is coming here for interviews. 

1.  Is the Women's World Cup a big deal in Argentina?  Or not so much since they didn't have a dog in the fight?  PS. USA won, beat Japan 5-2.

i didnt hear anything about it. Yeah dad told me USA won! #Merica

2.  What is the youth program like in your ward?  Do they have a lot of youth?  What do they do for activities?

uhm in our ward we dont have any young men program. there is 1 young man. there are 2 young women. so yeah

3.  What is the ward like?  Are the people super friendly to you, or indifferent?  Are they helpful and welcoming?  Is it big or small, in relation to other wards in Bariloche?

it is good. They are friendly to us missionaries. Yes. I think it is the smallest one here in Bariloche. I think, I don't know. 

4.  What kind of food have you eaten this week?

milanesa, meat, rice, mashed potatoes. For the fourth of july we were in the pension in the afternoon because opf the Copa America. It was the championship game, Chile vs Argentina. So Us and the zone leaders made some food and had a little 4th of July celebration. We made Completos, they are hotdogs with tomato and guacamole on them. Pretty delicious. We also made flan and jello.

5.  Did you see anything unusual this week?

Well during a lesson I was 1 foot away from a guy rolling a blunt...

6.  Do they celebrate Father's Day in Argentina?  Was there a holiday this weekend?  I saw a post on the Rincon de los Sauces city Instagram account that looked like a holiday post.

yes they celebrate Fathers Day, but that was a few weeks ago. This weekend was Argentina vs Chile in the final. (which Chile won) There is a holiday on the 9th though

7.  What kinds of fruits and vegetables do you eat there?  Are there less available now that it is winter?  What fruits and veggies do you miss most?

with lunches we eat mashed potatoes, salads of lettuce, tomato, and oil, and I have been buying bananas and mandarin oranges. I miss mango. They have them here but they are expensive. also strawberries are expensive. and yesterday we have a dessert with blueberries and it was delicious! 

8.  What was the best visit or appointment you had this week?  

We visited an inactive and we talked with him a little. He drinks and smokes but he has a desire to quit so we are helping him. 

9.  What was your biggest challenge this week?  What was your biggest blessing?

We need investigators to come to church and progress. 

10.  Did you meet anyone new this week?

every week. 

here are some pictures... I cut my hair

Peanut Butter...

6/29/2015

I found some peanut butter this week, so I bought some...

Mon- We had a good pday. We played some soccer thats was good. We tried a few people but they werent home. We found a family though and that was really good!

Tue- We had district meeting and that was good! once again the people we went to visit werent home. We had some success while contacting though. We found a guy who has desire to learn! 

Wed- WE were doing exchanges today. I was with Elder Anguiano. He is from Bakersfield California. He is an awesome missionary! We had some good success talking with people in the streets. And we had a good lesson with a less active. 

Thur- We did our weekly planning. The people we went to once again werent home. WE went and were able to visit a member and have a good lesson with them. 

Fri- we were able to have a lesson with a less active. And we are also able to visit an investigator. That was good. Also Argentina was playing in the night in the Copa America. It is hard to work when they are playing because no one wants to open the door...

Sat- We did a tsunami in another area and helped them find some potential investigators. We also had mission correlation meeting. WE went out to Dina Huapi but the people we went to visit werent home... 

Sun- Church was good. We had 57 people at church. We also had a good ward council. We were able to talk about missionary work. We tried to visit and find some less actives. But we couldnt find some of the houses... 

This week was pretty good! I want to invite each of you to look for the Lords hand in everyday. How is the Lord helping you? What are those tender mercies that you are seeing? 

Con amor

Elder Opfar

1.  How is the family history going?  How are your members and investigators?

Family history is good. WE helped a member a little yesterday. And one member LOVES indexing. He has a goal to index 100 names every week. 

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

uhm I don't know. Elder Maluenda and I get along really well. He has helped me this week. And he is awesome! I'm glad that we are comps

3.  How is the weather?  Are you staying warm in your coat and boots?

It is chilly. a few days this week it wasn't super cold. but it is getting colder. Yes my coat is good. I haven't really worn my boots yet... 

4.  Do you have a specific goal set for this coming week?

uhm I don't know. 

5.  What has been your biggest success this week?

we found some good people that can progress. 

6.  What has been your biggest tender mercy?

We found the family: We went to visit M** and he told us he was busy, so we started to leave. and his sons came running out to us and said our mom wants you to come back, she wants to talk with you. so we went back. and we ended up teaching all 4 of them a little. It was great.

Two weeks, one post

6-16-2015

Well I didn't write yesterday because I was in the terminal all day with the zone leaders. Just waiting all day as missionaries came in and out and while waiting for my comp. It was literally all day there. But oh well. My new comp is Elder Maluenda. He is from Chile! 

This week was pretty good! We had a great week as a zone here in Bariloche! We did exchanges with the zone leaders last week and they went really well. We had some success talking to people and really just opening our mouths and talking with people in the street. That has been a real focus for us to help us find new people to teach. And we have been seeing a little success with it. i look forward to more success this week!

WE were also able to help some more families do family history work. We helped them get their accounts reset and helped them get started. With one family we started helping them get themselves all connected together in FamilySearch and get their family trees connected. We are going to continue to keep the excitement up that the members have right now. 

It has been getting pretty cold here. but everyone just tells us that it hasn't been getting cold. that it just gets colder. So that should be fun. Maybe I'll have some snow on my birthday. 

I am looking forward to a good week with our investigators and less actives. And looking forward to working with my new companion! I think we will work well together and have success! 

I hope each of you have a good week. Take a second to think about everything that our Heavenly Father has blessed you with and give Him thanks. We need to be thankful for everything. Even for all of the trials that we might have and might be going through. 

Con amor

Elder Opfar

1.  How is the family history work coming along with that family?  That is so awesome, I hope they are able to get a lot of temple work done.  <3

We have been able to help a few families with their family history. It has been good to see their excitement when we help them.

2.  Transfers are today?  I wish you and Elder Turek could stay together forever, you guys are a good match.  Let me know how they go.

He got trasnfered to Neuquen. Elder Maluenda is now here with me. 

3.  What has been your biggest challenge this week?

We need new people to teach.

4.  What are you looking forward to most this week?

Talking to more people and inviting them to listen and be baptized.

5.  What has been your biggest success?

As a zone this past week we put 20 baptismal dates. We are all super excited and want to invite more people and talk to everyone. i am looking forward to that this week too. 

6.  What has been the best thing you have read?

I read a talk by Alvin Dyer called the challenging and testifying missionary. It was a really good talk! That was kind of what got all of our excitement up in the zone

6-22-2015

Well this was a pretty good week! It is always nice when you get along with your companion. 

Mon- Well I was down at the terminal all day with the zone leaders. My companion arrived at 9 pm. 

Tues- We did our ciber time to email. And we also had district meeting. That was really good. We had a couple appointments but they fell through. We were able to visit a couple members. 

Wed- We went out to contact and had a little success. For lunch we had like a stew that had madongo in it. It is cow stomach. Not the best thing... We went to a couple investigators but they weren't home. We visited a member. 

Thurs-We did our contacting in the morning and found a couple potential investigators. We did our weekly planning and then we tried to visit some old investigators but they weren't home. We did visit a less active though and had a good lesson with him. 

Fri- We once again tried some more old investigators but they weren't home. We had a couple appointments but they fell through.

Sat-We had mission correlation meeting and that was good. WE were able to visit a a couple less actives and had some good lesson with them. On the bus back to Bariloche we talked to an old investigator and she told us that she wants us to visit her. It was awesome!

Sun- We had church and that was good. We had 47 people there today. We ate a delicious lunch of matambre relleno. We tried a few people then visited a member. 

This week i have focused a lot of my studies on desires. My comp always says ´´El Señor siempre cumple con nuestros deseos¨ Its true. if we have faith and have good desires the Lord will help them be fulfilled. I read this talk and it is great! 

  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/desire?lang=eng

Have a great week

Con amor

Elder Opfar

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

maybe talk with a few more people in the street. There were a few times someone walked by and i should have talked to them but I didn't. 

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

My comp is awesome. he has helped me a lot this week. 

4.  Have you gotten any of my packages this week?

not yet. We should get the bolsa today. 

5.  What has been your biggest challenge?

Investigators that are progressing...

6.  How are your investigators doing?  

We don't have any progressing right now. But we have a couple potential investigators from this week so that's good! 

7.  How has the weather been?  Does the cold and rain impacted your work at all?  Has it snowed yet?

It has been cold. We still just go out and work, it is cold but oh well. It snowed like 2 weeks ago but it didn't stick. There is just snow in the mountains

8.  What has been the coolest thing you have read this week?

I heard a talk by Elder Don R Clarke called Pure Religion! It was GREAT!

Seeing the Lord's Hand in The Work...

Enjoying some basketball...

 Me and Elder Ahumada from Colombia. He got emergency transfered this week because he has been sick. But he was my zone leader! he is an awesome guy!

Well this week was pretty good. It has been raining a lot. It rained everyday this week. But right now it isn't raining, just a little chilly outside! 

But this was a good week. SOme highlights from the week. 

We had zone training this week. And that was realy good. We are focusing more on some on the old investigators and trying to visit them. 

WE went to the terminal this week to pick up a new elder. We would told he would get here at 5:30 am. So we woke up early and went down to the terminal. The bus hadnt showed up. So we talked with a couple guys who were down there waiting for a bus. With on of the guys we had an awesome little lesson with him. He is from El Bolson but he told us that he wants to change his live. He has had some things happen that he wants answers. We were able to answer his questions and he invited him to be baptized. We got the reference to give to the Elders in Bolson. It is great to see that since the bus showed up late we were there for a reason. So awesome to see the hand of the Lord in his work. 

With one of our investigators we are starting to progress more with him. He is starting to accept a little more of our message! So that is really awesome!

We also were able to help some members this week do some family history. and also helped them start to index. The members love our help for them. We have had some really good success with finding their ancestors. It is so cool to help them and see how happy they get! 

I hope all of you have a good week! 

con amor

Elder Opfar

2.  I sent you the weather, looks cold.  And SNOW soon!!!!  Can't wait to see pictures, you haven't lived somewhere snowy for 8 years!!!

Yeah it is starting to get chilly! it rained like all this week and there is now snow all over the mountains! 

3.  What are you looking forward to the most this week?

Seeing more success helping the members do family history!  

4.  What have you studied that has has an impact on you?

Well I am almost done with the Book of Mormon in Spanish. Ill probably be finishing it today! that's awesome!  

5.  Have you had any wonderful or unusual food this week?

We had some pretty some pretty good pizza this week! And a desert called flan. I usually haven't really liked it but this was homemade and it was GOOD! 

6.  Are you still getting lunches every day?

yeah. we have it 5-6 days a week. 

7.  What has been your biggest challenge? 
finding new investigators. and investigators that progress. We are going to ask for more references and try to put 1 baptismal date every day. 1 invitation every day

8.  What has been your biggest success?

Working with the members! They love that we are helping them. We are helping them do family history and do some indexing! 

A Barber and a Baker...

Cutting the hair of the brother of a man in their ward.

Making himself some Snickerdoodles!!

Tyler and Elder Turek

Mon- It was pday and it was the 2nd pday of the transfer so we cleaned. And we didn't do much else. 

Tue- We tried contacting with a little success. We also tried to contact people on the street and invite them to do family history. We went out in front of the church with a sign with a map and asked people where there ancestors are from and told them they can find out! We were then able to visit a couple members.

Wed- We had district meeting today. WE also visited a less active member and had a great lesson with him! 

Thur- We had interviews with President and Sister Lovell. Those were really good! We also did some weekly planning.

Fri- WE had english class today. a few people came! Always fun to teach english. We visited a less active and a member today! WE had good lessons with them!

Sat- Well today was 10 MONTHS in the mission! crazy how fast time goes. We tried visiting a couple people but they werent home. We walked A LOT trying to find a reference. But we visited an Investigator. And also a member and helped them do family history stuff!

Sun- We had church and only 37 people came. It is starting to get cold and people dont want to leave their houses... So we have to help them. WE visited a members and helped them do some family history and helped them figure out how to do it. We also visited an investigator and hed a good lesson with her! 

This was a pretty good week. We were able to help some people do some family history and helped them see the importance of why we do it! 

Con amor

Elder Opfar

1.  What did you do last pday?

We didnt do really anything. WE just cleaned and did ciber and did our weekly shopping.  

2.  How was your week?

it wasnt bad. We couldnt visit as many investigators because they werent home or busy. But we were able to help some members do some family history and started them on indexing. So that was good. We had interviews with President and Sister Lovell. that went well.  

3.  Is it pretty cold at nigh?  How is the heater in your pension?  Does the sleeping bag keep you warm?

it is chilly at night. The heater is alright. not the best. but we have another one that is a lot better. I dont really use my sleeping bag. because in our pension we have comforters so i just use that and i have been fine.  

4.  Is it fun to see Sister Larmouth again?  Are any other missionaries from the mtc in your zone?

yeah! no there arent any other people from the mtc in my zone 

5.  What has been your favorite meal in Bariloche?

last Sunday we had matambre relleno. it was like wrapped and stuffed with vegetables and it was delicious. with some creamy potatoes and dessert was a crumbrule  (crème brûlée). and that was all so good! 

6.  Any members who you are really close to?

I like all the members in our area. they are all pretty great! Families, M*, O*, A*, C*. they are awesome 

7.  Do you think you'll stay there through the next transfer?  Since it's an early transfer, are new missionaries coming in?  Or will they come at regular transfer time?

I think I will have at least one more transfer here. I have no idea when they will come in. If they will come at the begining or regular time. no idea.  

8.  What are you looking forward to this week?

we are trying to focus on going through the area book this week and look for old investigators.  

9.  What have you been studying, and have you seen any answers to prayers through your study?

I have been reading in the Book of Mormon in Spanish everyday and reading from Preach my gospel in Spanish. Yeah I have. a few scriptures here and there that could help investigators. or just answers to questions 

Cerro Campanario

Too cloudy to actually see the view...

"Picture from Campanario.... couldn't see ANYTHING. I want to go again before I leave here."

"A giant pine cone, bigger than my hand!"

Mon- It was pday and we went to Cerro Campanario! But you couldnt see anything because it was super cloudy... We did talk to a guy from Scotland and he was pretty cool! We then did a Family Home evening with some members and that was really good!

Tue- We contacting with a little success. We had district meeting. When we Went to visit a few people no one was home. That Wasn't good.

Wed- We didn't have much success contacting and talking to people... We were able to visit an Investigator and a member!

Thur- We tried to contact today but we didn't have success. But we were able to visit a couple members and had some awesome lessons with them!  

Fri- We were able to talk to a few people and had success with that. We visited a less active. And We had English classes. Some people went so that was great! We went to visit a member.

Sat- We tried a few people but they weren't home. We walked around trying to find a reference but they weren't home. WE visited a Less active. 

Sun- We had church which went really good! A few of the people we went to visit weren't home or were busy. We visited an investigator and had a great lesson with him! 

This week I was reading a talk by Elder Jeffery R Holland. I love this talk! I invite all of you to read it or to listen to him talk! This link is here. I know this is true. The Book of Mormon is true! I know that without any doubt.

 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/safety-for-the-soul?lang=eng 

I hope you all have a great week! 

Con amor,

Elder Opfar

1.  What are you looking forward to this week?

We have an investigator that could progress well. so I am looking forward to helping him

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

Well it was a talk that i really liked. Called Learning the Healers Art by Elaine Marshall. On BYU Speeches. It was awesome!

3.  What has been your biggest concern?

We need new investigators. that is our problem

4.  What has been your biggest success?

The one investigator that we have that could progress really well!

5.  Have you been able to serve anyone this week? 

This week no. We didn't have any opportunities...

6.  How is your new district?  Does everyone get along?

Pretty good! The new hermana is from Uruguay! And Hermana Larmouth is in my district again!

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

Uhm I don't know