Bishepa mi familia,
We have one investigator (the oldest son in the Reyes family) scheduled for bautismo this week and 2 more for next week. One is a 9 year old sobrino of one of our members, the other, Ever Gonzalez came the last 2 sundays after having an experience with the police. He is a friend of a recent convert who can see the change his friend made in his life after dropping drugs, smoking and drinking. So now he wants to be baptized but is heavily addicted to wine. Once he finds the strength to drop them he will be in the font in no time, we are very excited for him.
Taught a testigo de jehova last week, that was interesting. Started off really chill but when we asked if we could say a prayer he said "yes, but i need to say it, only people in my church can pray. When others pray they are praying to the devil". It went downhill really fast from there. I dont know how you baptize anyone when you tell them they can't pray to their father in heaven. He and his wife are missionaries for that church so he has a really good knoweledge of the bible. It's just amazing how someone can know so much but be so lost. He went to teach one of our members, hmno Talevera, who is ex military and will tell you how it is, straight up kind of guy. When Talevera asked what they believe happens after this life they answered our bodies die and just become part of the earth, and that's the end. He laughed and answered "maybe your bodies will become dirt, I'm going to take mine and live with my heavenly father". He cracks me up. Hermano Talevera is a perfect example of someone who can change completely just by people showing their love towards him. He was inactive for about 5 years because people in the branch and even the missionaries didn't get along with him. After stopping by his house every week to talk to him he has become muy tranquillo.
If there was one person I could baptize in Guarambare right now it would be the husband of our mission mom, hmna Tania. Theres been a lot of problems in the ward caused by missionaries in this area, so hmno Valdez does not like the missionaries at all. When I first got here he told me, I know what your here for, I've heard it all before, I have my own Catholic beliefs, you can continue to talk with my family but dont try to convert me. Over the last 3 months we have very slowly built a relationship with him. We actually got him to join in with us for a family home evening after a few failed attempts. One time we played uno with them but he left when we wanted to share a message. But this time we just carried a conversation about things he was interested in (like cars and military stuff), and perfectly transitioned it into sharing a scripture from the bible without him leaving. He really like it and thanked us for sharing it with him. Then we took a leap of faith and asked him to offer the closing prayer. Miraculously he accepted and said a beautiful prayer. Hmna Tania started crying and later thanked us for all the work we have done with her family. She really wants to be sealed with her 2 kids and husband so we will keep trying. Tomorrow elder Schone is going to give him one of those life strength watches that his dad makes and bear his testimony to try and spark something. So keep familia Valdez in your prayers por favor.
Well, training is just about over, crazy. It went by so fast, Ive learned so much from elder Schone and the other elders in my district. I had intercambios with elder Vasquez this week, it was fun having a latino for a companion. We worked hard and really focused on finding new investigators, especially familias. Before that day we would usually get investigators from contacts and referencias so I had never really clapped on random doors, but it was very successful so im going to do that more often.
Our new Presidente de mission will be Pedro Agazanni from Cordoba Argentina. El tiene 43 años y tiene 5 hijos. El va a empezar 1 de julio 2012.
Back to good health after last week but elder Schone caught whatever i had so now his throat and nose are a mess, nonetheless he's always ready to work. Could you also send some shoe insoles(cant find the question mark button on this keyboard).
Alright so this week I would really like for you all to start reading the book of mormon. If you are reading right now, keep going, but if not, grab a cheap blue copy and read it with a purpose and mark it like crazy. Since I've been here I started reading and focused my reading all on JesuCristo. Every time it made a reference to him I would color it blue. (like lord, son of god, jesus, lamb of god, he, him, his). Then all the attributes of christ in purple. Then all the words of Christ in red. and anything else that is a cool scripture of a true gospel principle in orange. Try this or any other cool ideas you have. Out of time but I will talk more on this next week. Try your best to read one chapter or 30 minutes a day and your testimony with be strenghtened like crazy.
Love ya, Gracias por todo,
Elder LaFaye
Monday, February 20, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Keeping the Word of Wisdom
Hola que tal,
I´ll try to fit in all the stories I can real quick.
Nery and his son Ian were confirmed! So now the Reyes family are officially members of the Church, im so excited for them.
We had a surprise investigator at church yesterday who we have been working with since before i arrived here, Ever Gonzalez,. He brought his uncle too, even though he was a little drunk it was great to finally see him at church. He has stopped doing drugs but is very addicted to wine. Once he is able to drop it he will be ready for baptism. He wants to be baptized because he can see the change its made in his friends life, David, who dropped every type of drug you can think of.
Another investigator we are working with, Miguel Nunez, has progressed a lot with the word of wisdom, he takes a few smokes at night and is drinking alcohol by the spoon full. He is starting to buy leche, gum, and suckers to help him. He loves the book of mormon but he thinks he needs to have a lot more knowledge and know more doctrine before he commits to a date. He has a very bad knee so he always uses a cane even though hes only like 50 years old. (picture dad using a cane). But recently he is starting to use it less and says he only carries around with him to beat people on the head with it.
I´ll try to fit in all the stories I can real quick.
Nery and his son Ian were confirmed! So now the Reyes family are officially members of the Church, im so excited for them.
We had a surprise investigator at church yesterday who we have been working with since before i arrived here, Ever Gonzalez,. He brought his uncle too, even though he was a little drunk it was great to finally see him at church. He has stopped doing drugs but is very addicted to wine. Once he is able to drop it he will be ready for baptism. He wants to be baptized because he can see the change its made in his friends life, David, who dropped every type of drug you can think of.
Another investigator we are working with, Miguel Nunez, has progressed a lot with the word of wisdom, he takes a few smokes at night and is drinking alcohol by the spoon full. He is starting to buy leche, gum, and suckers to help him. He loves the book of mormon but he thinks he needs to have a lot more knowledge and know more doctrine before he commits to a date. He has a very bad knee so he always uses a cane even though hes only like 50 years old. (picture dad using a cane). But recently he is starting to use it less and says he only carries around with him to beat people on the head with it.
Bruno has been inactive for 14 months now, but after a bad day at work he came home and threw his stuff around his room. Out of his backpack fell a little scripture mastery card with dc 59:9-10. after reading it he deciding to come to church the next day. He was an outstanding missionary about 5 years ago, and he could be a fantastic bishop and do a lot of good here in guarambare now that he is active. BRUNO IS BACK!
We found a great family last week on the street. We were walking by and saw a bunch a drunk guys around these two who were playing the guitar and the harp. Silvio Mora plays the harp like a pro, its pretty awesome. When we stopped by to listen he stopped playing and said to us with a very thick accent "how do you like my country". He used to work in France for 16 years so he picked up a few frases in English. I love working with families so im really excited to teach them.
Just finished studying ch 10 in PMG and am starting on ch 1. My teaching is improving everyday as I apply these points in our lessons. Studying ch1 always gives me more animo para trabajar each time I read it. In the book of Mormon i just read Enos and Jarom. Enos is one of my favorite stories about prayer, forgiveness and the love for others, igual no mas if they want to kill you.
Cant believe my training is almost over, still feels like i just arrived in Guarambare. Elder Schone is doing an outstanding job as always. I've been a little sick this week but nothing to interfere with the work. I had a member make me some awesome scripture cases made of leather. They are pretty ballin. I love the first set so much i had to get a second, so caitlyn if you have scriptures that would fit in the spanish size I've got some legit covers for you. If you are going to send another package heres some ideas that would be greatly appreciated: my addidas sandals, steak seasoning and garlic salt seasoning, maple for my syrup, another set of the frixon erasable pens (red,blue,black), more photos of our family (im going to have the leather guy make me something with them), crunchy peanutbutter is always loved, oh and muy importante, if you didnt find my patriarchal blessing in the envelope in my room can you call and get me a copy and send it to me? Gracias
So I was thinking, and I want to start giving you one thing to do each week to help with family home evening. I know its hard when you are all super busy but ive started implementing FHE with a few families here and it really makes a difference. So this week in FHE I would like you to focus it on prayer. Prayer is a very simple principle that sometimes gets overlooked, but if you really think how great of a blessing it is for us to talk directly with our father in heaven, it gives it a little more meaning. Everything we have in the church and all the blessing we have recieved from the gospel today, are all because one 14 year old boy decided to kneel down and pray. I have prayed more in these last 5 months than i have in these last 5 years it seems like. I pray for you all everyday and I want to thank you for keeping me in your prayers.
les amo,
Elder LaFaye
We found a great family last week on the street. We were walking by and saw a bunch a drunk guys around these two who were playing the guitar and the harp. Silvio Mora plays the harp like a pro, its pretty awesome. When we stopped by to listen he stopped playing and said to us with a very thick accent "how do you like my country". He used to work in France for 16 years so he picked up a few frases in English. I love working with families so im really excited to teach them.
Just finished studying ch 10 in PMG and am starting on ch 1. My teaching is improving everyday as I apply these points in our lessons. Studying ch1 always gives me more animo para trabajar each time I read it. In the book of Mormon i just read Enos and Jarom. Enos is one of my favorite stories about prayer, forgiveness and the love for others, igual no mas if they want to kill you.
Cant believe my training is almost over, still feels like i just arrived in Guarambare. Elder Schone is doing an outstanding job as always. I've been a little sick this week but nothing to interfere with the work. I had a member make me some awesome scripture cases made of leather. They are pretty ballin. I love the first set so much i had to get a second, so caitlyn if you have scriptures that would fit in the spanish size I've got some legit covers for you. If you are going to send another package heres some ideas that would be greatly appreciated: my addidas sandals, steak seasoning and garlic salt seasoning, maple for my syrup, another set of the frixon erasable pens (red,blue,black), more photos of our family (im going to have the leather guy make me something with them), crunchy peanutbutter is always loved, oh and muy importante, if you didnt find my patriarchal blessing in the envelope in my room can you call and get me a copy and send it to me? Gracias
So I was thinking, and I want to start giving you one thing to do each week to help with family home evening. I know its hard when you are all super busy but ive started implementing FHE with a few families here and it really makes a difference. So this week in FHE I would like you to focus it on prayer. Prayer is a very simple principle that sometimes gets overlooked, but if you really think how great of a blessing it is for us to talk directly with our father in heaven, it gives it a little more meaning. Everything we have in the church and all the blessing we have recieved from the gospel today, are all because one 14 year old boy decided to kneel down and pray. I have prayed more in these last 5 months than i have in these last 5 years it seems like. I pray for you all everyday and I want to thank you for keeping me in your prayers.
les amo,
Elder LaFaye
Monday, February 6, 2012
Offer a simple prayer
Bitugo shedaha,
Thanks a ton for all the letters. I`ll try to respond back to them next week cuz some of them were hilarious. Heres a few stories real quick:
So I love talking about Nery Reyes, he switched jobs so he could attend church on Sundays. Friday he was in Asuncion selling stuff to cars who pass by. After a few hours with no success, he and his son remembered our promise that whenever they needed help, offer a simple prayer. So they bowed their heads and prayed. Not too long after, a car passed by and bought about 25 mil worth of stuff (like 6usd). Then another car passed by and bought about 40 mil, then a third car completly bought him out with a wod of cash around 200 mil. The man then asked if he had more, Nery said he will meet him here the same time the next day, and then thanked him a lot and told the man that he will bring him something that will bless his life and give his family more happiness than anything else (the Book of Mormon).
Just ran out of time. Will finish the story next week.
much love!
Elder LaFaye
Thanks a ton for all the letters. I`ll try to respond back to them next week cuz some of them were hilarious. Heres a few stories real quick:
So I love talking about Nery Reyes, he switched jobs so he could attend church on Sundays. Friday he was in Asuncion selling stuff to cars who pass by. After a few hours with no success, he and his son remembered our promise that whenever they needed help, offer a simple prayer. So they bowed their heads and prayed. Not too long after, a car passed by and bought about 25 mil worth of stuff (like 6usd). Then another car passed by and bought about 40 mil, then a third car completly bought him out with a wod of cash around 200 mil. The man then asked if he had more, Nery said he will meet him here the same time the next day, and then thanked him a lot and told the man that he will bring him something that will bless his life and give his family more happiness than anything else (the Book of Mormon).
Just ran out of time. Will finish the story next week.
much love!
Elder LaFaye
Monday, January 30, 2012
He got his mission call
 |
| Edgar Varon just got his mission call to Dominican Repuplic! He leaves in May. |
A wedding and baptisms
Hola!!!
I have a ton of stories but I'll try to make em quick. First off, familia Reyes and Monce got baptized!! It was incredible. Last Thursday we were filling out some papers for their baptism, when I asked the Reyes parents for their marriage date, they said no. I thought they didn't understand me so I repeated the question. Answer, no todavia. Now out of pure panic I tried rephrasing the question again hoping they were married, because they can't be baptized if they werent married. And their baptism was in three days. So for the next 3 days we scrabbled around putting this wedding together. Very stressfull but it all came together at the end. Nery Reyes has such a strong testimony of the book of mormon, he is going to be a great member and leader of this church.
So we went on intercambios with other missionaries again. I was with Elder Nelson who has been in the mission for a while but is new to his area. When coming back from Ita to Guarambare we took the wrong collectivo (bus). Ended up going way up north into the Paraguay Asuncion North mission before realizing, haha. Now I can say I served in two missions! It took us 2.5 hours to get back home when it was only a 40 min trip.
Had another mishap in the kitchen, boiling eggs and left the stove on when we left. Pot ruined, ten eggs down the drain, house reaks, low on gas. Got your package last Tuesday, it came really fast. Thanks a ton. I LOOOOOOVE the peanut butter. Paraguayos don't like it so its hard to find. And someone in the ward gave me their white pants tie and belt so i am good on those. My camera broke so I'm only sending ones from my companions camera till I travel to a city and buy one. Ya we have one family who feeds us once a week so its nice to get a break from my pancakes, omelets and pasta/rice.
Thanks for the letters, I love just hearing about whats going on with you guys. My Spanish is good and I can finally understand people haha. Yesterday someone was complimenting me on my spanish saying it was menos peyor haha.
love ya
Elder LaFaye
ps: look up my yearbooks from Bloomington Elementary and find Kimball Chase Nelson. He is one grade above me. He's my zone leader right now.
pps: go giants
I have a ton of stories but I'll try to make em quick. First off, familia Reyes and Monce got baptized!! It was incredible. Last Thursday we were filling out some papers for their baptism, when I asked the Reyes parents for their marriage date, they said no. I thought they didn't understand me so I repeated the question. Answer, no todavia. Now out of pure panic I tried rephrasing the question again hoping they were married, because they can't be baptized if they werent married. And their baptism was in three days. So for the next 3 days we scrabbled around putting this wedding together. Very stressfull but it all came together at the end. Nery Reyes has such a strong testimony of the book of mormon, he is going to be a great member and leader of this church.
 |
| Mr. and Mrs. Reyes, officially getting married. |
 |
| Dressed in white. Ready for the waters of baptism. |
 |
| The Reyes Familia |
 |
| 6 new members |
 |
| Monce gets permission from mom and grandma and chooses baptism |
So we went on intercambios with other missionaries again. I was with Elder Nelson who has been in the mission for a while but is new to his area. When coming back from Ita to Guarambare we took the wrong collectivo (bus). Ended up going way up north into the Paraguay Asuncion North mission before realizing, haha. Now I can say I served in two missions! It took us 2.5 hours to get back home when it was only a 40 min trip.
Had another mishap in the kitchen, boiling eggs and left the stove on when we left. Pot ruined, ten eggs down the drain, house reaks, low on gas. Got your package last Tuesday, it came really fast. Thanks a ton. I LOOOOOOVE the peanut butter. Paraguayos don't like it so its hard to find. And someone in the ward gave me their white pants tie and belt so i am good on those. My camera broke so I'm only sending ones from my companions camera till I travel to a city and buy one. Ya we have one family who feeds us once a week so its nice to get a break from my pancakes, omelets and pasta/rice.
Thanks for the letters, I love just hearing about whats going on with you guys. My Spanish is good and I can finally understand people haha. Yesterday someone was complimenting me on my spanish saying it was menos peyor haha.
love ya
Elder LaFaye
ps: look up my yearbooks from Bloomington Elementary and find Kimball Chase Nelson. He is one grade above me. He's my zone leader right now.
pps: go giants
Monday, January 23, 2012
My testimony has been strengthened
Bilaporte familia cueró,
First off Reece that is the SWEETEST running back photo I've ever seen. I am so excited for you my man, I cant wait to see you play your senior year, stoked!!!! Robby tell Ms Finch hola for me, she's awesome. I'm not sure if we won too many games, but we always had fun. Good job with the eagle project Randy! Having to make up your mind of which scholarship to take is a good problem, keep up the good work and fill out those aplications already!! Oh, if you get a facebook request from Joanna Valdez (not sure how to spell her name), she is awesome. She's one of the strongest youth we have in our ward, I told her you know a little bit of spanish so hopefully you can communicate with her. If not just plug it in to google translate haha. Good job Caitlyn! i bought you something one of my members made a few days ago, hope you like in 2 years! Oh tell Nate Tenney not to mess up in his new stake calling... and congratulations. when he becomes a general authority I expect front row seats w/ a back stage pass at general conference. And tell Rustin that I love him and not to get sick anymore. Ron, we parked the arc around back.
Things are going well here in Guarambare. Its been a difficult week but the future´s looking great. The Reyes family is getting baptized on saturday as well as a little girl Monce who we finally recieved permission from her mom. After running in to a lot of problems on our part. I'm really glad she will get baptized after all. Nery Reyes and three of his kids will be baptized, his oldest son and his wife need to come to church one more time, so we`re going to try to let Nery baptize them, that would be fantastic. We have had some of the most incredible experiences with this man. I can't write them all but just recently he was in his hammack reading the book of mormon, when he finished the whole thing he knelt down to pray as he had read from Moroni ch 10. That night he had a dream that Jose Smith came and visited him at his house. He didn't recognize him at first but after a while he ripped out the picture of Jose Smith in the Book of Mormon and showed it to him saying "Is this you? are you Jose Smith?"
"Yes I am, I saw Jesus and the father when i was 14" Jose Smith was speaking in english but there was a translater there with him.
"Where are the gold plates? We need them to show everyone proof that this is the truth." - Nery
"You found it, everything is right here in your hands, (the book of mormon). You found the truth" - Jose
Nery has such a strong testimony of Joseph Smith and the book of mormon. Teaching him has strengthend my testimony so much. its amazing what this gospel can do for someone who honestly is seeking for the truth.
I just finished studying lesson 4 the commamdments and am almost finished with 2nd nephi. Spanish is getting better and better each day. I'm confortable giving talks in church and teaching investigators and members, the understanding is getting better the more I can feel the spirit. healthwise im great and ready to keep working.
thanks for everything.
con amor,
Elder LaFaye
First off Reece that is the SWEETEST running back photo I've ever seen. I am so excited for you my man, I cant wait to see you play your senior year, stoked!!!! Robby tell Ms Finch hola for me, she's awesome. I'm not sure if we won too many games, but we always had fun. Good job with the eagle project Randy! Having to make up your mind of which scholarship to take is a good problem, keep up the good work and fill out those aplications already!! Oh, if you get a facebook request from Joanna Valdez (not sure how to spell her name), she is awesome. She's one of the strongest youth we have in our ward, I told her you know a little bit of spanish so hopefully you can communicate with her. If not just plug it in to google translate haha. Good job Caitlyn! i bought you something one of my members made a few days ago, hope you like in 2 years! Oh tell Nate Tenney not to mess up in his new stake calling... and congratulations. when he becomes a general authority I expect front row seats w/ a back stage pass at general conference. And tell Rustin that I love him and not to get sick anymore. Ron, we parked the arc around back.
Things are going well here in Guarambare. Its been a difficult week but the future´s looking great. The Reyes family is getting baptized on saturday as well as a little girl Monce who we finally recieved permission from her mom. After running in to a lot of problems on our part. I'm really glad she will get baptized after all. Nery Reyes and three of his kids will be baptized, his oldest son and his wife need to come to church one more time, so we`re going to try to let Nery baptize them, that would be fantastic. We have had some of the most incredible experiences with this man. I can't write them all but just recently he was in his hammack reading the book of mormon, when he finished the whole thing he knelt down to pray as he had read from Moroni ch 10. That night he had a dream that Jose Smith came and visited him at his house. He didn't recognize him at first but after a while he ripped out the picture of Jose Smith in the Book of Mormon and showed it to him saying "Is this you? are you Jose Smith?"
"Yes I am, I saw Jesus and the father when i was 14" Jose Smith was speaking in english but there was a translater there with him.
"Where are the gold plates? We need them to show everyone proof that this is the truth." - Nery
"You found it, everything is right here in your hands, (the book of mormon). You found the truth" - Jose
Nery has such a strong testimony of Joseph Smith and the book of mormon. Teaching him has strengthend my testimony so much. its amazing what this gospel can do for someone who honestly is seeking for the truth.
I just finished studying lesson 4 the commamdments and am almost finished with 2nd nephi. Spanish is getting better and better each day. I'm confortable giving talks in church and teaching investigators and members, the understanding is getting better the more I can feel the spirit. healthwise im great and ready to keep working.
thanks for everything.
con amor,
Elder LaFaye
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