Week 21 --- Merry Christmas!

Squad! So yesterday was Christmas! It was sick! I skyped my fam, that was also sick! Seriously I hope you all had a great Christmas! To start I just want to tell you about our Christmas Eve... It was dope, we had to go back to the pension early for our safety, but that was ok because our Zone Leaders are our neighbors, so we partied with them all night, and me and Elder Kidd went crazy with food, we dropped a good amount to party hard, and people brought us food too, like our bishop brought empanadas, and coke, it was great! Then next next day we only had Sacrament Meeting, but let me tell you, my Christmas experience was so much different being in the mission. I really thought about the meaning of Christmas, and it made it that much better. It's something different, not thinking about what you're gonna get, or about all the food you're gonna eat, being able to remember Christ. I hope you all remembered to remember Christ during this Christmas.

Anyway now for the rest of the week, we didn't have a whole lot of time to work, because we had to go to Mendoza, and then we had some meetings, and had to return early Saturday, but we still had some bomb lessons with some bomb investigators. Melisa, the sister of Victor, still can't attend church because of problems with her husband, but she continues to read, and listen to us, and she knows these things to be true. We want to meet her husband, but I think she's trying to avoid that, so it kinda feels like we are trying to go behind his back, but we aren't, we just don't want him to feel that way. So we're trying to figure out what we can do there.

To end I wanna share a scripture Alma 5:45-46

45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their surety?

 46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me.

We can receive answers to all our prayers, sometimes we won't receive them right away, sometimes we have to work for it, but God will always answer our prayers. If any of you need an answer, take to heart the counsel of this scripture.

Anyways that's all for today Love you all!

Elder Keaton Jorgensen

Argentina Mendoza Mission

First Christmas in the Mission Field

Skype call with Keaton!!!

Week 20 --- Zone Conference, and other stuff

Squad! First off I just wanna give a shout out to my brother Bronson! It´s his birthday today! He is 21! Que grande! So this week was sick! Literally, and figuratively... So me and Elder Kidd are still goin’ strong, working hard, and most importantly... being obedient! We are still having some sweet success. For example Victor´s sister, Melisa, is doing great, but she can´t attend church, because of problems she´s having with her very Catholic husband. It makes me sad... So we just gotta keep praying for her, and hopefully the spirit will soften the heart of her husband. Also we have another investigator, Eduardo, he is awesome, he wants to be baptized, but he recently had surgery to remove a brain tumor, and now his health prevents him from doing things that he really wants to, like reading the Book of Mormon and attending church. We actually found him a while ago because his daughter, who is a member, asked us if we could go give him a blessing, so these health issues are the reason we started teaching him, but they are also preventing him from progressing. He told us he wants to be baptized, but now it´s looking like he won´t be until these health problems clear up, which is fine, because I know eventually he will be baptized!

Later in the week we had zone conference, and it was lit! It was long, but it was lit! President Goates really emphasized the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy, he explained that everyone knows they shouldn´t kill, or rob, but they don´t recognize the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy, it´s one of the 10 commandments, so it´s just as important as don’t kill or rob! So that was something we really needed to hear, because a lot of baptismal dates are falling because people aren’t attending church. So we are gonna have to be a lot more direct with people when inviting them to church, and really explain that it is a commandment!

To end I want to share this scripture with you... 3 Nephi 14:9-11 

"9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Something that I love so much about our Heavenly Father is that he loves us, and because of that he will give us what we need. If we are obedient, and faithful, he will always answer our prayers. I know this to be true, I have experienced this in my mission. If you ever need anything, don’t forget your Father in Heaven is always willing to help.

That's all for this week! Love you all and I will chat with you all next week!

Elder Keaton Jorgensen
Argentina Mendoza Mission

Me and Elder Kidd, eatin some pizza, and also eatin some panchos with Victor.

Week 19 --- New Companion... and other stuff

Squad!!! So I wanna start by telling you all about my new companion Elder Kidd, he is a swell guy, not gonna lie, we get along great! He always wants to work hard, and always wants to be obedient! It´s awesome! We have quite a bit in common, so it´s pretty great! Bueno, now I´m gonna tell you all about my bomb week! So last Monday wasn´t the best, so my old companion made us return 3 hours early, so I didn´t actually get a P Day, so he could say by to some members, and I didn´t have a problem with that, but at 6:00 pm P Day ends, and work begins, well that didn't happen, from 3 until 10, all we did was visit members and talk, we didn't do any work, at one house we spent 3 hours, just talking, and I felt awful, because we were supposed to be working! I'm really trying to be as obedient as possible! But that's okay because the next day in the morning, I shipped off my companion, and received my new companion, and we had a bomb week! The first day we worked in the afternoon only, because I was waiting for him to arrive in the morning, but that day we actually did pretty great, for our first day together, and I had to do the planning, and stuff, because I'm showing the area, so it was a little difficult, but we have made it safely back to our pension every day so it's okay.

Oh so you know Victor, wellllllll... guess what!? We were talking with him the other day, and he told us that one of his sisters wanted to talk to us!!!!! So we went with Victor to teach his sister! She told us that she saw a change in Victor, and that she saw a happiness in Victor after his baptism, and that she wanted that for her, and her family! So we taught her, and she accepted the invitation to baptism! For the 14 of January! We are also teaching Victor's Mom, and another sister, one sister said she didn't really wanna be baptized now, because she likes to party and stuff, but his Mom! I don't know what the problem is! We have taught her quite a bit, she said she knows the Book of Mormon is true, which means that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, which means that the church is true, but she just isn't accepting the invitation to be baptized. I know she has felt the spirit, I think she just doesn't feel ready. But like it explains in Alma 34:31... Now is the time and day of your salvation. So we shouldn't want, to act on our faith. I'm just not sure what we should do to help her, but I know Victor is gonna be a huge help!

Seriously though this week was awesome, we have been making so many appointments, next week we will barely need to plan anything, it's lit! But this week wasn't all good, so yesterday we were riding, just chillin, and well my seat fell off, and I fell with it, into a little ditch. It wasn't pleasant, so I put the seat back on, and I thought all was well, but then in like 3 minutes it fell again, and I fell with it, again.  It was horrible, so now I need to buy a new seat, not fun.

Well to end this here email I want to share a scripture... is that okay? Bueno, Mosiah 16:9 " He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death. " In this time of Christmas, the Church has a initiative for the missionaries. Ilumina el Mundo ( Light the World ) Christ is the light of the world that can never be darkened. Let us all share the light of Christ, through service, and sharing this gospel, and we can bring the light of Christ to all the world! 

Keaton Jorgensen

Argentina Mendoza Mission

Pics of the Christmas Party

Week 18 --- Transfers... Finished my training!

Squad... So I'm no longer a missionary in training, I'm the real deal! Also I think I'm gonna tell you all 'bout transfers, anyways... I'm staying in Albardon, so I guess I have to stay in the heat, and it's getting worse, for example, yesterday there was actually a chance we had to stay in the pension, because of hot winds, like it's hard enough to work in the wind, but when they are hot, it's awful, but it's alright.  I'm receiving Elder Kidd, and I actually know his nephew, he lives in St.George, and he played church ball with our ward, so that's cool. So this last week was recto fuego (straight fire). So you know our new convert, Victor, well he is dope! He left to work with us 4 days this week! We taught 10 lessons with him during this week, and the usual goal for lessons with a member present is like 7 and we had 10 with him alone! He is doing amazing! Now we are teaching his Mom and sisters, we taught the restoration yesterday, and showed a video about Joseph Smith! His mom was hecka close to crying, she felt the spirit, we invited her to be baptized when she knows these things to be true! She said... no, but I'm not discouraged, because I know she wants to, and I know she will know these things to be true, I'm so excited, because Victor could have the chance to baptize his Mom!!!!! That would be legendary! So yesterday was Fast Sunday, as you all know, and Victor actually fasted for a whole 24 hours, and he blessed the Sacrament. He is doing fantastic, it's crazy!

Oh and btw we are having a ton more success here, we started really focusing on following up with investigators, because before, a lot of missionaries were really focused on new investigators, but now we are seeing more progressing investigators, and more baptismal dates! Although we are still having some troubles getting people to attend church. It's just so frustrating sometimes, because I know if they attend church they would feel the spirit so strong, and there would be no choice but for them to know that this is the truth, but something that I've learned a lot is to have patience, and trust in the Lord. I know through hard work and a lot of prayer, we can help these people come unto Christ.

Well squad! That's all for this week... It's been real, I will chat with you next week

-- 

Elder Keaton JorgensenArgentina Mendoza Mission

This is a picture of Elder Morgan, Victor, and me, before going out to work!