Training Week 10

Dear family and friends, 

We had a great week over here in Rivera, Uruguay!! We are working incredible hard every day to achieve success and it has paid off! 

We visited Aurora (an Investigator we found a couple of weeks ago) had an amazing lesson on the Plan of Salvation and invited her and her 13 year old son, Ismael, to come to church. After many questions, answers and clarity, they agreed to come, and yesterday, they CAME! It was a miracle! Aurora had an older son who tragically passed away. She is going through a hard time right now, but has been blessed by her new knowledge of this wonderful plan that God has for us. However it is not what she knows that will convert her. It is what she feels that will convert her. 

We also had a very special lesson with the Garin family. They are less active (the mother and the son) And apparently, there isn´t any reason why. So I asked the mom: "Do you want your children to go to the Celestial Kingdom?"

"Yes"

"Why?"

"Because I know that is the best place to be after this life. And I love them"

"God feels the exact same way about each one of his children here on earth. However, He cannot make us keep His commandments. We use our agency to do what is right. And like that, we will return to His presence, where he anxiously awaits us."

It was a simple, yet powerful message we shared with them and we pray for them, and all the less actives that they may return to the path of Christ. More to come next week!!

Elder Teloma

Chapel that was burned down a year ago in Brazil, only the steeple remained

The Pig

This week was great!! So we got some good, interesting news! So in our area, there is  a mountain that divides Uruguay from Brazil. One side of the mountain is Brazil and the other side is Uruguay. However, on our side of the mountain there is a random street that is actually Brazil!! AND it is now officially part of our area and the Uruguay Montevideo West Mission! It is awesome!!!! So we went there and contacted many people! A few of them spoke Spanish, and others spoke Portuguese. And so did I. Just a little though.
Later we found Luis who is a friend of a member! He requested that we speak to him in Portuñol ( a mixture of Spanish and Portuguese). So we did! We had  a great lesson on the Restoration and as we were teaching, some girl who works in the office inside his sound was very interested and came in to listen. Her name is Karla. She was quiet and attentive the whole time, but when I asked her about how she felt about the lesson, she talked alot!! We resolved tons of doubts!
So we had a great experience yesterday. We went on divisions with two young men in our ward. I left to work with Sebastian, who is 16 and preparing for a mission! We were at the end of our area (close to Brazil) and as we were walking down this large dirt road, I felt that we should contact a house. However it was a bit sketch because we had to enter through a large field to get there. Anyway, in the end, we made it, knocked and the nicest lady answered and invited us to sit outside with her! Her name is Eva Cuña! Super nice and we talked to her about families and taught a little bit about the Plan of Salvation! It was an amazing lesson! After she took us to her backyard (where her husband was working) to show us their farm. There were 10 chickens sleeping, which is normal right? But no. They were sleeping on the high branches of a TREE!!! HAHAH. THEN she showed us their friendly, super tubby 8 month old pig! It was a great experience! I love this country and I love the Lord and His work here!
Elder Teloma

This is Brasil

We had an incredible week!

On Tuesday, we did divisions with Elder Pulsipher and Elder Salgado (from Honduras). I stayed with Salgado in my area the whole day and we had some great experiences. We taught Mirtha (an investigator) the Doctrine of Christ and she gladly accepted it! I had the great opportunity to help this Elder and meanwhile, learn and grow from his example. He only has 2 months in the mission field, but he is tearing it up! To end divisions, I had a rather unpleasant experience. We were walking home and there was a lady turned around and as we walked by I said "Hola!" And she turned around, was smoking and said HOLA. And all smoke went into my FACE, my mouth and my clothes. I smoked...Just kidding, but it was pretty gross.

On Wednesday, we were in our area contacting people and we came upon a street that we had never entered before. We saw a young lady and started talking to her about the gospel. She actually had some interest, when all of a sudden I was inspired to ask her an important question. "Are we in Uruguay?" And she looks at me and says "No. This is Brazil." And so yeah....we left back to our country of service. This is the ONE area in the whole mission where you can actually be confused as to what country you are in. Anyway, we might come back to that street because Im pretty sure the Brazilian missionaries don´t even know it exists. 

On Thursday, we were invited to Hna. Martiniano´s setting apart! She is going to serve a mission in Peru! It was a special experience that brought me back a year and a half in time when President Mackay set me apart as a missionary! Truly an incredible and powerful experience. 

On Friday, I was assigned to do some special divisions with some Elders from my district so that was fun! I went over to Central 2, and we got to WORK. I also had the opportunity to interview Facundo, who was baptized on Saturday! It was a great, unforgettable experience. 

On Saturday, while I was still in the other area, I saw a less active guy (Brother Furtado) from my ward! We talked to him and I was like, Hermano...are you going to church tomorrow? And with hesitation, yet sincerity in his voice he said "Yes. Its been a while since I have been, but I will go with my family tomorrow." And he came! With the family!!!

I know without the slightest doubt that this work is the work of the Lord and we are here on his errand. Love you all!

Elder Teloma