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!

Week 17 --- Squad

Squad! So this might be a little short, because the internet went out, and my email didn't save and so I have to start over, and I'm almost out of time, but this week was a little rough at first, so last p day we went to play soccer, and it was raining, so the courts were wet, well I had a little accident, I slipped, I fell, I hit my head, and neck and back, so this week I've had some pain and stuff, and the next day I got super sick and was up all night vomiting... so that wasn't pleasant. Oh so we had exchanges right... well I ended up going to an area where only Latinos are supposed to serve because it's violent, so that was a little sketchy, but all went well, and I didn't get mugged or beat up or anything, so that's always good! Oh and yesterday during church Victor, our investigator who just got baptized, received the Aaronic Priesthood! Yeahhhhhh !!!!!!! and he also recieved a calling!!!!!!! Something with  Sunday  School! Anyways I'm so happy for him OMG!! and he's already thinking about serving a mission!!! What the heck?! I'm so proud of him, he would be such a bomb missionary!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so sorry this is gonna be so short, but like I explained it's not my fault, and I don't even have pictures this week... I know I know, what a shame, but next week will be better because exchanges are next week and I will no longer be in training and I'll have a different companion and all that good stuff, soooooooo Love you all bye!!!!!!!!!

Elder Keaton Jorgensen
Argentina Mendoza Mission

Week 16 --- BAPTISM! oh and earthquake

Squad!!! So you all know the investigator Victor that I have spoke a lot about recently, well...  he was baptized this past Saturday!!!!!!! So earlier in the week he was asking me about my baptism, so I told him that it was honestly one of the most special moments in my life, and that it's something I will always remember, and I said it's gonna be the same for you, and after his baptism, he came up to me and said "Tenía razón, fue muy especial" which means you were right, it was very special!! He frickin felt the spirit!! I'm just so darn happy for him. So my comp baptized him, and he asked me to do the confirmation, so yesterday during  Sacrament  Meeting, I confirmed him a member of the church. Let me tell ya I was pretty darn nervous, because I still wasn't too confident in my Spanish abilities, so I prayed hard for some help, so that Victor could feel the spirit during the confirmation, and all went well, I was holding back some sobs during the blessing... he told me after... "due perfect" he told me he understood everything and it was amazing, and my Zone leader said it was an awesome blessing, it was such a great experience! Also he had an interview to receive the Aaronic Priesthood after church!!!!!! I'm so excited for him. It's hard to explain in words how grateful I am to have been apart of this experience, helping him receive the restored gospel is a blessing in itself. Missionary work has blessed my life so much! Never hesitate to serve in this gospel, in whatever form it may be!

Oh and yesterday in the afternoon, we were looking for the sister of Victor, because you know we wanted to teach her, and what not, but we couldn't find her house so we stopped to ask a family for some help, and all of a sudden they started freaking out, and I was like bruh what happened, but then I felt what happened... We had an earthquake, and I guess they don't have a lot of experience with earthquakes, because they were freaking out, and I was kinda just chillin, but I felt super bad, like I wanted to help them or something, but I didn't know how, but we are all good! 

Oh also so this elderly sister in our ward likes to wash our clothes, because we don't have washing machines and stuff, and give us lunch every  Saturday, well last night we stopped by to pick up the laundry, and she also sent us home with frickin empanadas, and they were frickin  delicious!!! People are so nice here, it's crazy!  

Well squad that's all for this week, life is good, lovin the mish, and you all should go share the gospel with someone right now, because why not! It's a blessing!

Love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Keaton Jorgensen

Argentina Mendoza Mission

So here are some pics of the baptism day, and one that our ZL took when I was holding a door, as you can tell I'm happy to serve, and the other, well I kinda fell asleep mid prayer...

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Week 15 --- Glad to be in Argentina

Squaaaaaaad! Okay so I heard about the results of the elections this past week, seriously everyone is talking about it here, and let

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s just say I'm glad to be here right now. Honestly I don't know what to write about this week, it's been pretty chill. Well more news on our investigator Hugo, he actually prefers Victor, well anyways we finished the last lesson with him, and he's getting baptized this coming Saturday!!! I'm so excited, he is so cool, there's just this one thing, when we were teaching the 10 commandments, we explained the second, don't worship graven images, and he wears a cross around his neck.  He understood perfectly that the reason we don't have the cross in our church is because we focus on the resurrection of Christ, not the death. He doesn't have a problem with that, but he said it has a different value for him, something person​al​ that we didn't ask too much about, but we just don't really know how to handle this situation, because really he shouldn't wear it, but I don't know it's just a bit complicated, but that's okay, because he has a very strong testimony and I know he will make the right decision about this situation. Oh so yesterday, I figured out how to ​use ​ Spanish, it was crazy. We started talking to this lady outside, and my comp started, and she said she didn't have time, or an interest to listen to us, and my comp was like "okay" but for some reason I was like "no!" and I just started talking, and I actually understood her too, it was kinda crazy, and by the end, she promised to read The Book of Mormon, and pray about, and attend church when she received her answer. I felt the spirit so strong, I just let it take over, and it was an amazing experience, honestly I know that I had some help in that moment, because I had the courage to step out of my comfort zone, I was blessed. It's amazing how much we can be blessed by showing our faith, and taking action. D&C 100:5-7 read it! That scripture is money, and I believe that scripture explains what happened yesterday when I figured out ​Spanish! Oh and my mom is the GOAT because she found a way to get me a package, with pants, because I've had pants problems, and all the pants here don't fit me, all the legs are super skinny and stuff, it's rough so I'm using pants I found in our pension. Anyways that's all for today. Love you all.

-- 

Elder Keaton Jorgensen

Argentina Mendoza Mission

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So I found Ramen, so that's good because my cooking skills are limited, and then you can see my feelings when I found out Trump really is gonna be president, and then you can see that although preaching is my call... I'm always ready to ball

Week 14 --- Summer in San Juan

Well squad...it’s hot.  While you all are enjoying start of winter, I´m experiencing probably some of the worst heat ever, it´s pretty awful, but que bendicion (what a blessing) I´m gonna be honest, when I go back to the pension during the siesta, I am actually dripping in sweat, but that´s not important, what is important is some things that I wanna share with you about this last week.

So remember how the last few weeks I have mentioned one of our investigators a lot, Hugo, well he still continues to impress. Here are 2 scriptures he has shared with us recently that he liked, 2 Nephi 22:2 and Omni 1:26, and not only does he share them, he explains what they mean, and he gets it.  The other day he called us and said "I just finished 2 Nephi, can I keep reading?" He said he wanted to check with us to see if he was ready to keep reading. So I said you don´t need to ask us, you read the whole book if you want. He has attended church every week since we first extended the invitation. I cannot wait for his baptism, everyone in our ward keeps telling us that they see a future Elder in him!!! Oh and another thing, so the kid that was baptized the other week, Enzo, we went to visit him, to start the retention lessons, and we asked how we was doing, and the only thing he said was "I´m not doing drugs" I´m glad he understands the word of wisdom.

So recently ​I've been thinking a lot about temples, because there was a family in our ward here that was recently sealed, and honestly I miss the temple, I just think about how big of a blessing it is to have temples, I wish I would have taken advantage of that blessing more before I left for my mission. It´s just so amazing how we can be sealed as families in the temple, forever.  Entering the temple should be everyone’s goal, for reals it´s a huge blessing. That had just been on my mind recently so I thought I would share.

So this past week the mission president sent us a talk, about becoming a consecrated missionary, and it talks about how we need to put everything we have on the altar of sacrifice, and it says that there is always something that we can improve, no matter how big or small, there is always something more we can do, and that´s so true. I´m really trying to take that counsel to heart, because honestly, I wanna be the best missionary I can possibly be, because I know that if I honestly put forth all my efforts, I will have no regrets when I return, and that things will be easier, because we are promised blessings through diligent and faithful service. Yes this work is hard, yes I have to do things that maybe are a little uncomfortable for me, but that doesn´t matter, because it´s not about me, it´s about the people who are searching for the truth. My focus is to be a worthy, hard-working missionary, so I can have the spirit to be with me when I teach, so that those who I am teaching can recognize the Holy Ghost testifying that this really is the Church of Jesus Christ, the only church upon the Earth, with the fullness of the gospel. This is his church, this is the truth, and I´m so blessed to be able to wear the name of Christ on my chest.

I love you all, thank you for all you support! I thought I´d end with a scripture Mosiah 24:14 read it, ponder it, and know that the promise in that scripture is true.

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Elder Keaton Jorgensen

Argentina Mendoza Mission