Weeks #98 & #99

#98 May 13

Elder Paleka, Elder Killinger, and I. We played some basketball with President. It was super fun

Hola Familia!

I´m happy to see everyone in Disneyland without me again.... hahaha. Just kidding. The mission is even happier than the "happiest place on earth". So I guess you should be jealous. haha. We had a lot to do this week and I wanted to share with you some experiences that I had with an open house in a Church. There are two senior couple missionaries that go around Argentina and do open houses in the Churches. This last weekend we did one in Bahía Blanca and it was an awesome experience. In the morning we got paired up with some members and invited members, less active members, and investigators to the open house. Then Elder Pina trained us on how we should have the stations. It was a great set up. Everyone that came was taught about the Savior and His ministry, the Great Apostasy, the Restoration, the Book of Mormon, Thomas S. Monson, and a few other principles (Pretty much lesson 1 from Preach My Gospel). Then they went to the baptismal font and two Elders dressed in white showed them the font and taught them about baptism. Then they went into a room where we handed our Books of Mormon, pamphlets, and cards to put referrals on. Afterwards they went to rooms where they were taught about the self-reliance program, the Relief Society, Institute/Seminary, Young Mens/Young Womens, Priesthood, etc. I had the privilege of guiding the groups around and listening to the Sister missionaries testify of the Savior and His Church. 

What´s interesting is that Elder Pina told us that the sister missionaries were going to do the teaching because their testimonies reach the other side of the veil. I thought it was very interesting and it didn´t take long to realize that he was right. Guiding the people around and listening to the sister missionaries testify of the Savior was a powerful of experience. Some of the sisters had experience and others were brand new to the mission and brand new to the language. But what I realized is that it doesn´t matter the experience as much as the worthiness and the desire to teach. These sisters would get up there and testify of the Restoration with broken spanish, but there was a Spirit and a power that was felt- or at least I felt it. I felt the Spirit testify to me that it was true what they were saying. The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored in these Latter-Days. Thinking of the power of these Sisters´ testimonies, I realized that this power has always been super strong in my life. Having a mother and three sisters that have borne me their testimonies through words and examples throughout my life has made me who I am today. Just like Elder Pina said, their testimonies have thinned the veil out for me. I know without a doubt that their examples and testimonies have led me towards me Savior Jesus Christ and my Father in Heaven. So I just wanted to thank you all- Mom, Amber, Karissa, and Alexis. Thank you for being a blessing in my life. I will forever be in debt to you four. Love you!

I´m excited to talk to you in a few days. I´ll let you know a little more about what´s going on in the mission! Love you all! Have a great week!

Love, Elder Bosco II

 The open house at Church

 The Menendez Family with Elder Dement

 Then they had transfers and he sent Elder Dement home to Texas and he is now back at the office with Elder Paleka (another previous companion) and doesn't have to travel except to do Zone conferences. He called us on the 15th instead of Mothers Day. He looked great. Here is his testimony that we recorded.

Week #99 May 18

Hola Familia!

It was great speaking to all of you on Sunday. I can´t believe how big Ella has gotten. She´s just the cutest little girl ever. I don´t have much to say to you today because I just talked to you guys, but I wanted to tell you about a family we are teaching. We are teaching a family of 5: Ariel (dad), Laura (mom), Juliana (15), Ariadna (11), Angelina (9). They are getting baptized a few weeks from now. Elder Paleka was teaching them when I got here. I´ve only known them for a week and I´ve already fallen in love with them. We get to their home and they all gather around us. We say a prayer. We take turns reading the Book of Mormon. We teach them, testify to them, invite them, and then we end with a prayer on our knees... Okay.. maybe it´s not THAT perfect, but pretty close. I mean when was the last time you´ve met a 15 year old daughter who leaves her room with a stomach ache to listen to the missionaries because she wants to? Or when was the last time an entire family has testified to you of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon (without being members)? When was the last time that you´ve met a couple with children that decided to get married (5 years ago) just because the Bible says that they should be married? This family impressed me the day I met them. I invited Ariadna to read the entire Book of Mormon (with pictures) with her little sister before their baptisms. We visited them the next day and she had already read half of it. This family has the goal to make it to the temple and I´m so grateful for the chance I´ve gotten to know them.

As great as they sound, Satan is trying even harder to keep them away from making the decisions that will bless them forever. They have experienced a number of trials as a family. The change of government caused a loss of job, Ariel is struggling to stop smoking, and Satan is trying every possible way to keep them from following the Savior. But what I love about this family is that they WANT IT. They truly want what is good. They pray for strength and I´ve seen the faith of their prayers. We talked to Ariel about quitting smoking again yesterday and we all truly believe that he can stop. We are all in this fight as a big family. 

I love the mission and I love teaching families. Having an eternal family has been a goal my entire life and there isn´t anything that makes me happier than being able to help a family accomplish the same. I love my family and I know that we can be together forever and ever.

Have a great week! Love you all!

Love, Elder Bosco II