Week #31

Hola Familia!

I can´t believe I already got transferred from Necochea. I was there for 5 short weeks and I saw some of the greatest miracles on the mission so far.

We got to see Ruben get baptized, receive the Aaronic Priesthood, and he blessed the Sacrament this past Sunday! He told me that before we taught him, he felt the lowest of lows, but now he feels like he´s in heaven! haha He told me that I´m always welcome in his house because he thinks of me like his son.

We got to see the Laguna Family get baptized! The changes that we´ve seen in their lives are incredible! Martin, the father that isn´t a member that drives them to church every week, told us that he loves the changes he´s seen in his family. They eat dinner every night together with more peace and more love. He loved having us over for dinner and he gave me an Argentina Sports jacket when I left. I´ll miss this family! All of the daughters are selling art to raise money to go to the temple in March! They´re so excited. I bought one that I´ll show in a picture.

We also got to see Kevin Albarengo get baptized and he´s receiving the Aaronic Priesthood next Sunday. He made me a promise that he´ll never miss a day of reading in the Book of Mormon. I made that promise as a 14 year old like he is and I´m eternally grateful for it. The Book of Mormon is incredible.

My new area is Peaujo (I´m not sure how to spell it yet) in Trenque Lauquen. Mom, I don´t have the information yet because I´m not in the area. I had to travel to Mar del Plata from Necochea and then to Trenque Lauquen. BUT the bus to Trenque Lauquen was full so I had to buy a ticket for a day later. So tomorrow I´ll arrive. Which means I´m spending my P-Day in Mar del Plata..... and guess where..... POMPEYA!!!! I´ll tell you the info next week.

I returned to my first home! It felt like I never left it, haha i slept on the ground and it was awesome!

I´m going to visit Cejas, Miguel, and call Martin because he´s in Buenos Aires. I´ve been talking to Elder Jones how things have been going and he told me what happened to Marcela. She was going to get baptized a week after I left, but they couldn´t find her for two weeks and she didn´t want to go.

I´m not sure exactly why. She got really depressed, but they invited her to pray and the next day they told me that she changed night from day. She was happy and she decided to be baptized! And Martin baptized her! It made me so happy!! I can´t even explain it.

The miracles of the mission are incredible. Stay close to the Lord in all that you do and the Lord will make you a tool in His hands. Thanks for all the love and support and I´ll send some pictures. Love you!!

Love Elder Bosco II

Pictures from Necochea

Martin sent this picture of Marcelas baptism

Kevin´s baptism!

With Kevin´s brother and family

1. Ruben blessed the Sacrament on Sunday!

 The Laguna Family. The five year old girl is holding the piece of art that they made me. It´s incredible. Agustina (12 years old. to my right) made it for me

The Albarengo Family with Kevin!

The Gallardo family

Art work by Augustina

Wesley showing off his packing skills as he prepares for his transfer- I am impressed (and taking full credit for this skill!)

Week #30

Hola Familia!

So great to hear that we beat Timpview . Those were always the funnest games to play in. I´m so glad Collin is doing well and having fun. The school always has a better spirit about it when the sports are winning.

But even BETTER than sports. One of Heavenly Father´s children beat Satan this week. The angels in the heavens are cheering and Jesus Christ is smiling. I can just see it! This joy is much greater, I mean MUCH greater, than the joy that was felt after the Timpview game haha (but only a little ;) haha)

I had the humble privilege of baptizing Kevin Albarengo on Saturday. Kevin is 14 years old and was really prepared to receive the gospel. Jose, Kevin´s brother, isn´t a member of the church because he needs to change a few things, but he´s been going to church for over a year now. He has read the Book of Mormon and knows that it is true. He has a testimony of the gospel and shared it this past month in fast and testimony meeting. They have to wait until March to get married because of divorcement paper issues, but hopefully when they receive those and get married, they can become members of the Lord´s church! I hope I´m here in Necochea to see it. Especially to show Elder Isom. 

Elder Isom is really good friends with the Albarengo´s and Jose told me that Russ painted their house. It´s pretty cool to be able to follow in Russell´s footsteps (once more in my life haha). But something great about Kevin, is that he´s a light for Jose. He´s a light of hope and a light of the spirit. With so much time in the church without being members, Jose and Veronica have been struggling with enduring to the end. Think about enduring to the end without the gift of the Holy Ghost and the help of the promising covenants that we make with God. Kevin is bring hope back into their lives to wait a little longer and to make a few changes in their lives. We were able to teach Kevin the lessons and reteach Jose and Veronica many of the lessons. We were able to be in their home with the Spirit of the Lord testifying to them that it´s all worth it. It´s been a testimony to me of the love that the Lord has for all of His children as I´ve gotten to know the Albarengo´s. I remember telling Kevin after his baptism that this was the BEST decision that he´s ever made up until this point in his life. And I felt the Spirit testify to me that that was true.

Thanks for all the love, support, and prayers. I truly appreciate the support that I feel here on the mission. I love you all so much.

Love, Elder Bosco II

Week #29

Hola Familia!

What a week! The Laguna Family was baptized! Brisa, Agustina, Ezequiel, Yasmin, and Lara all made special covenants with Heavenly Father on Saturday and were baptized! Elder Durocher and I had the great opportunity to baptize them and to exercise our Priesthood Authority. It was an incredible tender mercy from the Lord and what of the greatest experiences that I´ve had on the mission so far. I´ll never forget the feeling that I had as we closed the baptismal service after the baptisms with Families Can Be Together Forever. The Spirit was incredible and He testified to me of reality of the promise that God has made to us. Families truly are eternal.

 

I want to share some of the other tender mercies that happened on Saturday and Sunday during their confirmations. On Saturday, the whole Laguna Family was at the baptisms. Debora, the mother of Yasmin and Lara, is a less active member of the church that has been coming to church the last month or so. She has almost stopped smoking completely and she is thinking more and more about marriage! Martin, her spouse, is not a member of the church and doesn´t want to come but is supporting the family and he came to the baptism! He told us that he felt peaceful and calm. Even though he doesn´t want the gospel in this moment, the Spirit is truly touching his heart. Cintia, the mother of Brisa, Agustina, and Ezequiel, is also coming to church and trying to stop smoking. Debora and Cintia are working so that they can receive callings in the branch. Their sister, Mikaela, isn´t a member and she is investigating the church and is working on her own baptism. Her 8 year old daughter is getting baptized in the next few weeks in a different branch. The mom of Debora, Cintia, and Mikaela came to the baptism too! She is less active in the church, but she truly felt the Spirit as well. The baptisms were incredible because it was a mini family reunion for the Lagunas.

 

They each received the gift of the Holy Ghost and were confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Sunday in Sacrament Meeting. And Elder Durocher and I had the opportunity to stand in the circle to complete the ordinance of baptism by fire. In gospel principles, we talked about the Creation and about families and Debora and Cintia had tears in their eyes. They truly felt the Spirit this weekend and the miracle of the Holy Ghost is present in their lives. What an experience.

 

Also, Ruben has his interview with the Branch President this week to receive the Aaronic Priesthood! I´m so excited for him! This branch is truly growing in miraculous ways.

 

Thanks for all the love, support and prayers. Missionaries truly are blessed and protected. And Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Love, Elder Bosco II

 

1. Before the baptism with Martin, Debora, (oldest-youngest) Yasmin, Lara, and Iara

 Baptisms!

 So many people in White!! (With the two sisters Sol and Iara that weren´t baptized)

 With the whole Laguna Family!!

Refreshments!

 I gave them each CTR rings and they love them! They love wearing them too so we took this picture

 

Week #28

Hola Familia!

What a week of MIRACLES. If there is one word to describe missionary work, it would be miracles. More and more I realize how little we do in the work of the Lord and how much the Lord does. And he always blesses us for our efforts. We truly have a loving Heavenly Father!

Necochea is amazing. The people here are great and the people are progressing so much. My companion has been here for 6 months so here knows the area well which is a big help. 

This Saturday, we´re going to see the Lagoona Familia get baptized. Deburah and Cintia are sisters that were baptized when they were little but left the church when their parents separated. We´ve been teaching them the gospel and helping them get reactivated. Deburah has 3 kids and they all love church. They love learning and growing. 2 of them, Yasmin and Lara are old enough to get baptized and are getting baptized this Saturday! Cintia has 4 children who love the church too! Brisa, Augustina, Ezekiel, and Sol. All of them are 8 or older and are going to get baptized too! Maybe not Sol (She´s 8 and she´s scared of water- but I know how she feels because I was a little scared to get baptized too. Remember the orange ear plugs in my ear?? hahaha). This family is incredible!! Deburah has been with her spouse, Martin, for 13 years but they aren´t married. We´re talking a lot about marriage and they´re thinking about getting married so that they can receive more of the blessings of God. Martin doesn´t want much to do with the church, but he drives Deburah and the kids every week to church and he likes when we come over and teach them. He invited us over for lunch today and he went hunting yesterday so I guess we´re going to eat a lot of meat!!!! haha What a miracle it is to see Martin love and support his family in the gospel even though he doesn´t want to follow it himself. It was a testimony to me of the power of the Holy Ghost and the way the Spirit can touch the hearts of people. 

Another miracle is that the sister of Deburah and Cintia is Mikaela. She´s not a member but she came to church this week and her daughter which is 8 is getting baptized in a few weeks!! They live in another branch in Necochea, but what a grand miracle in the work of God.

It´s been a blessing in my life to see the Lagoona Family grow in unity and love as they accept and live the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord is mercifully and wants his children to live in happy families where they can receive his blessings. I know that families are eternal and I know that we can live happily on earth because we have families.

I love my family so much and I´m grateful for the love and support and prayers that I feel from them each and every day.

Love, Elder Bosco II