a really good week

I wrote my letter but the computer crashed, I am going to re write it real fast in english.
We had a really good week, numbers wise we were pretty successful.
But here are some of our highlights,
The dad of our converso reciente came to church with two of his kids, le gusto mucho. Our last lesson with him was great, the spirit was strong and their desires to learn more are very high. Fernando, the converso reciente, helps us teach him to prepare him for his mission. Fernando will recieve the socerdocio aaronico next week and then he will baptize his dad and brothers and sisters. He will be a great missionary.
We found an hombre friday, le invitamos a asistir el bautismo sabado de los lideres de zona. He came about a half hour early but liked it a lot, he wanted to share a few words at the end but we ran out of time. He has the strong desires and real intent to find the truth. Tiene muchisimos preguntas pero sabe que Dios puede contestarles. The elders before me taught him 3 or 4 times but was hard to find so they stopped passing by. Right now he is reading in 1 Nefi 17. We are going to bring a few young men his age to help him come to church.
A menos activo, Victor Trinidad and his mama came to church the past 2 weeks after being inactive for a year. They are very excited every time we come over. Victor is living with a woman, they both want to get married and she wants to get baptized. She does understand it very well.
Tiene los deseos y sabe que es el bautismo, pero hasta allí no mas. No estamos muy seguros si debemos bautizarle todovía, pero vamos a continuar enseñandole y invitandole a la iglesia.
Terminé el libro de mormón en mi estudio personal. oré, pregunté al Padre Celestial. yo sé que es verdadero
thanks for everything,
Elder LaFaye

Day after Mother's Day Skype call

We found a family as buenicismo this last week. This family is well prepared to accept the gospel. They are not married yet but she told us she wants to get married in our first visit. They have an 8 year old son and a brother in law, 19. They all have much faith but are not baptized in a church yet because they are waiting to find the true church, (thats where we come in). They understand the restoration perfectly. Last Sunday we fasted to find a prepared family, and Tuesday we find them. The miracles that our Heavenly Father gives us when we exercise our faith is amazing.
I did divisions with elder Wilding here this week, we found another very young family. The guy is 19 and she is 21, have a new baby. He has a lot of faith in Christ. The first visit we taught the restoration and gave the book of Mormon. passed by second time, he read some chapters in 1st Nephi. he asked us the best questions like how do you know God exists? How do you know that this church is true? How do you know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet and that there is a prophet today? How do you know that the Book of Mormon is true? When answering each question, I could feel the Holy Spirit testifying to him. Then we endend ​​a prayer on our knees. I love this feeling. I want that experience every day of my life.
Our recent convert Fernando will receive socerdocio Sunday. We began to teach his brother and father this week. They can see the difference in Fernando and are very curiouso to see if theres actually something more to this church after all. his brother christian seems like a 17 year old rebel kind on the outside, but deep down we can see that has a desire to follow Christ. After we baptize him and the father, he has 5 more children we can baptize.
This change went by way too fast. Time passes very quickly when we are working full time, and its much more fun. Elder White is a very hard working missionary, its been fun working with him. This Wednesday are cambios so he is probably going to leave.
Hey Ben do you have anything of the language learning books from your mission? I want to start reading o livro de mórmon, but i dont have the first clue how to pronounce portuguese. I keep reading it as how you would say it in spanish and I sound rediculous. So if you have anything super basic I`d love it if you could send it down here.
It was awesome seeing you all on Saturday, or at least hearing from you. Reece I think Eric Gibbs only jumped 19`10 and he is doing track at the naval academy. If you get one more foot in the next two years thats a schollarship in the bag to the U of A. Go Cats!
much love,
elder LaFaye

No greater joy

A tough week for us. We have very good investigators but our challenge is that we could not find them. We set many appointments and passed by with member a few times, but were never there. We fasted to overcome this, I know that God will help us to find these people.
Maria Martinez came to church yesterday, she liked it a lot. We are teaching her with her friend Clara and her father hmno Lopez. Clara is a good example for Maria, not afraid to share her testimony and her beliefs with Maria. Our last lesson with her was pretty sweet. Maria told us she knows that the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and the Church of Jesus Christ is the only true church.
We were stoked to hear this. She declined the invitation because she has some doubts about baptism because she was baptized into the Catholic church. But that's an easy question to overcome. We will give her the date for May 26 next time.
Edgar is new this week, but we are very excited for him. We gave the foyeto of restoration when we contacted him. When we went to his house he read tolito and had very good questions. He is a man prepared to listen to this message. He has a wife and some children too. We are going to focus on looking for families this week.
Adela and Paula are neighbors of a ward member. We had family home evening with them sometimes throughout the week. Adela told us she would be baptized on Saturday, but Todavia have a challenge with her husband. He does not want to get married, wants to separate. But the house is the problem. The two both have money in the house, so the only solution is to sell the house. The husband wants to sell for a hundred million guarani, something like that. I heard that nobody will pay that much for this house. we will continue to pray because we do not know what else we can do. If I was a skilled real estate person I would go all over the city trying to sell this thing. Now I'm just hoping some guy with more money than brains will move in pronto.
Enrique is a tough guy to find. Lives super far away and has an odd work schedule. But here's the quick story of him, my first week here we went all the way out to his house to bring him to church on Sunday morning, he wasnt there. We didnt pass by again until recently I felt impressed to go try this guy Enrique who i had never met. We get there and have a fantastic lesson. We just sat on the ground because he didnt have anything in his house. He was at a very low point in his life emotionally. After dishing out all the problems he was going through we hugged it out for a few minutes. After hearing how the atonement of Christ can take away all the pain and give him true happiness, tears of joy just came flooding out. We eventually transitioned into baptism, before I could even give him the baptism invitation he looked at me and grabbed me by the hand and asked if I could baptize him. OBVIOUSLY I said yes. He then appologized a dozen times to elder White for not asking him, he just felt that I needed to baptize him for some reason. But he said elder White could baptize his son. He wants him to become a missionary like us. One thing that is key to success as a missionary is to be able to feel the spirit teaching through you. I have experienced no greater joy in the world than helping someone feel the spirit and change their life.

Loving the Mission!
We have some more investigators who told us they want to be baptized, but we have to find them. We will focus on the commitments to attend church. In our last district meeting we practiced making better commitments. No matter if the lesson was buenícimo, we must have a strong commitment to end the lesson. if we do not invite, they will not do anything. Some less active men are helping us to visit some investigators. We hope this will give them more desires to activate and attend church.
I am now studying in 3 Nephi. There is no better teacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ, than Jesus Christ himself. Every word and phrase he says is perfect. I like to think of the question "what would Jesus do". I think sometimes what would Jesus Christ say if he was with me in our lessons. It helps me make better questions, "Go heavenward Elder LaFaye."
We are going to SKYPE Saturday 6pm paraguay time. I think that is 3pm your time. Hope you can all make it, elder White can't do it earlier. Hopefully I won't have all the technical problems like last time, but no promises (third world country down here).
Send some pics of the greer cabin, wish I could be there to help, but at least all the heavy block stuff is done. I could be in this area for around 6 months, but im loving it. The branch is fantastic here. The shoes are sweet, thanks a ton. The Croft and Borrow ones didn't last too long, the Rock Ports are great but the backing is torn up from my heel, blister heaven. we had one week absoluletly freezing, But now its hot again. The giant river here amplifies the weather, if its 50 degrees, feels like 20. If its 85, feels like 110. elder White
is great, super obediant, we get along great. There is a McDonalds, Burger King, and Pizza Hut in Asuncion but they are super expensive. Now I'm eating this stuff called avena for every breakfast and dinner.
I think its like oatmeal, but I just eat it cold and pour in yogurt, tastes fantastic. Randy, Reece, and Robby, if any of you want to send me some peanut butter, I will repay the favor double on your mission.
Randon congrats on receiving the priesthood, to have the same power as Jesucristo, pretty sweet right? gotta go, much love to all.
nos vemos sábado,
Elder LaFaye

Got two packages!

Two packages!

Thanks a bajillion for the packages from you and the relief society. I have no idea what I'm going to do with that pantry full of spices. I was thinking some steak sauce and garlic salt would be sufficient, but when I find something to use chili pepper and cumin powder I will be ready. Thank you so much for finding my patriarchal blessing, I love reading it.

Jedi Master LaFaye

Short on time today. Here's the run down.
Had interviews with Presidente Callan for the last time. He is the man. We will see him in the 70 for sure.
Elder White is awesome. We have a lot of fun and work hard. That's a great combination.
We fasted as a zone to find the chosen people of God who are ready to be baptized. Found 3 this last week who si o si are getting baptized.
Enrique came to the baptism last week. He said is was too bad he wasn't wearing white or he would've been baptized too. I will have to give you the full story on this guy next time. He is the man. Reminds me a lot of dad for some reason.
Elder Oaks once said that missionaries don't bible bash... but when they do they win. A few wins under the belt, I'm doing pretty good :)
Randy, you look like a stud in your senior pic. Hope you like the semi truck I sent you.

We are going to skype the day before mothers day.

Gotta go, love ya!

Elder LaFaye

Hey, my brother's name is Randon!

Letter to the mission president

(Ryan typed this update letter to the mission president in Spanish. Since he was short on time, he just put the whole letter into a translation site and pasted it in an email. I am copying as is, mistakes and all.)

Baptism of Fernando

Hello President,

Last week was spectacular. Fernando was baptized on Saturday. It was
so buenicimo. He has many friends in the church are very supportive.
His testimony after his baptism was excellent. We are super felizes.
Now he wants to learn everything, has the desire to serve a mission in
the U.S. is practicing English and then read the book of Mormon in
English. Now let's try to teach your family, will be difficult but I
know that they can see the testimony of Fernando and change in your
life.
The assistants Elder Durrant and Love helped us a lot. I learned a lot
of Elder Love. The thing I like most is that he is always using the
Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is everything. Is written with a
purpose. First it starts with a story of a family and slowly builds
into the doctrine of Christ. My desire to study the Book of Mormon are
so strong now. We work with a lot this week and saw some miracles
encourage incredible. Dyed a night home with a family member and
neighbor. We found out that she read the book of Mormon in Guarani,
Guarani learned through reading this book. Quire baptized but now she
is not married to her husband. We set some plans for a wedding next
week. He does not want to talk to us but we will see if this family
member can talk to him about marriage. Then we find a young, is 15. We
teach the restoration, and at every point we talk about baptism. He
offered the final prayer, in his prayer he asked if the Book of Mormon
is true, and if he should be baptized. Then the spirit and the silence
was very strong. He said, "I feel that these things are true. I will
read this book, and I will be baptized on May 12."
My first week we teach a woman, was very good but moved. We find him
again yesterday and she loves foyeto. studied hard. You're welcome to
be baptized on 19 May, she is very happy and feel something when we
are teaching these things. We are very excited for her.
I am studying in the book of mormon, the wars between Captain Moroni
and Amalickiah and Ammoron. I love the wars of the Lord. Has a big
impact for me because after my mission I will be an officer in the
Marines. As a leader I want to get the attributos of Christ and be
like Moroni, that the powers of hell would never have power over me.
Elder White as well. He has so much love Fernando and our
investigators. The love of Christ is central to this work. My trainer
always told me Schone Elder, the two most important things in this
book is a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon, and love for people.

Thanks for everything,

Elder LaFaye

Macanadas

Transfer to Encarnacion

Encarnacion, Paraguay-looking across the river to Argentina

So to save time I'm just sending my letter I write to Prez Callahn to
you guys. Writing in Spanish takes a little longer so I don't have a
ton of time to write. I'm now in Encarnacion! It's the very bottom city
of Paraguay, borders with Argentina. I can see the Argentina city
across the river, pretty cool. My new companion is Elder Devin White
from Logan Utah. This area hasn't had a baptism in a while, but I'm sure
they have been planting seeds like crazy, now its time to harvest and
reap the benefits. Sorry i didn't write much, I will get more in next
week. Hope you all were spiritually and chocolatly edified for Easter
weekend. Love you all a ton.

Elder LaFaye

Elder White, First Counselor Beto, Me

Hola Presidente,
Estoy muy animado para trabajar aqui en encarnación. Elder White es un
bueno misionero y muy obiediente. Vimos mucho milagros este semana
pasado y estoy seguro que vamos a ver mucho exito este cambio. mi
compeñero me dijo que estaba plantando muchos semillas, ahora el campo
blanco está ya para la siega. tenemos fernando, tiene 20 años. vino
los ultimo dos domingos y esta muy animado para bautizarse el 21 de
abril. nos dijo que quire aprender todo ahora para prepararse a servir
un mision. tiene muchos amigos en la iglesia que ayuda mucho. despues,
tenemos fabian, él es demasiado curiouso de todas las iglesias,
siempre tiene preguntas de cada religion. leó el libro de mormon hasta
helaman, va a terminar esta semana. solo problemo ahora es que él no
piensa que tiene que bautizarse otra vez. él no aceptó la invitacion
porque piensa que su bautismo era una ejemplo de fe y no importa si
era verdadero. vamos a hablar mucho de la autoridad para ayudarle.
estamos trabajando con un menos activo quien esta viviendo con una
mujer. estamos ayudandoles para casarse y despues ella puede
bautizarse.
estoy estudiando en el libro de mormon donde alma regocija en su dios,
quiere ser como un angel para predicar la palabra a todos en la
tierra. es interasante que él dijo que este es un pecado. aunque sus
intenciones son muy muy buenos, él tiene que ser contento con lo que
Dios le dio. me gusta este parte porque puede aplicar este principio
en mi mission. a veces quieremos más que tenemos, pero Dios nos ha
dado todo lo que nesecitamos para tener exíto.
Gracias por todo,
Elder LaFaye

General Conference was AWESOME

amigos

A cutting-down-a-tree-in-rain-and-lightning
service project.

Conference was AWESOME. I thought there was no way it could get better than the last one, but I was wrong. I loved how every talk was about families, and especially how the book of mormon can help our families. I was re-reading some of the notes I took, I can't pick a favorite but here's my highlight reel:
Prez Monson's story of the marines in WWII
Bednar's story of the conversion of his father
Eyering's talk about overcoming trials
Anderson's story of the 3 kids who survived Haiti
I can't wait till the conference liahona comes out. In the mission, general conference is like the super bowl and the liahona is sports illustrated, but even better because its twice a year!

There are so many things that happened that i need to tell you, sorry if my letters and been short. I can't write fast enough to tell you all everything. So here's short summaries:
The temple was amazing. b-e-a-u-tiful (jim carey voice). I did endowments and baptisms for the dead. I felt like Alma baptizing thousands in the waters of Mormon. I understood the video pretty well but the talking part was near impossible cuz the guy helping me mumbled with a paraguay accent. I just mumbled confidently so I sounded like I knew what I was saying. God understands mumble, if not, the intentions were just.
Witnessed a pig die, never want to see or hear that again!
Cambios are this Wednesday, I think I might be leaving but I will find out tonight.
We almost missed a conference session after some extraneous events. Collectivos (buses) take super long because they are always stopping and going to pick people up. The only way we could make it to Paraguari in time was to hitch hike. So we threw up the thumb and after much rejection a pickup truck stopped, we hopped in the back and got off at Ita after 20 min. Walk for a little while longer and a semi truck stopped by, hopped up in the cab and he took us to Paraguari for another 20 minutes. It was pretty sketchy at first but we saved 5 mil and gained a sweet Paraguayan experience.

dormiendo en el collectivo

I recieved the notice for my package, so I have to pay a bit and then I will recieve it next week.
Randy Reece and Robby, because I'm rediculously nice I want to buy you guys a soccer jersey. Olimpia (black/white), Cerro (blue/red), or Guarani (black/yellow). cual quiren? Guarani is just another under dog like Cerro. Olimpia is like the Yankees of futból.
An investigator gave me his trompo, a giant spinning top that you throw with a rope. it is the coolest paraguayan toy ever, but super hard to throw. I'm going to master it by the time I'm done here.
Out of time for now, but I love you all, hope your doing great. Dad you really know how to attract people to crash in to you, but I hope your burns feel better pronto. When I get back I will get in line a week in advance for the next hail damage storm and by a sweet civic or something so no worries. Por lo menos we got a free flat screen with the car.

Oh, this week I encourage you all to watch some of the conference talks again on the computer, maybe some of the ones I highlighted. But there's many more about families that are perfect for family home evening.

much love,

Elder LaFaye