Argentina - Santa Elena Letter #18

From: Amanda Gibbons
Sent: Monday, June 07, 2010 12:36 PM
To: Bonnie Gibbons
Subject: Weekly Goodies for Argentina

HOLA!

Hey everybody! I can´t believe another week has gone by! We have had some really awesome success. Our focus is to get people to enter into the chapel. It´s so important to get people to come to church, to feel the love of the members and to see that this is the true church of Jesus Christ! I love renewing my covenant every week and truely being forgiven of my sins once again. It's crazy how many times we have to repent, but we are definitely not perfect people. Thats why we have this chruch, to help fix us! To make us feel loved and welcomed and to talk with others who are in the same boat. Trying to become better people and follow the example of Christ, our perfect example.

We have been teaching Miguel, our 60 year old Hippie, who was progressing so well! He had a few problems that he completely stopped, but he still had a hard time with smoking. But what a change he went from 30 a day to 5 or less a day for 2 weeks. We went to him Tuesday though, and he dropped us. He said he was getting to used to us coming around and loved what we were teaching him. But he knows we are eventually going to leave, and he said he would get baptized, but would never go to church after that. We were grateful for his honesty and told him to continue to read the Book Of Mormon, but that we only baptize those that are willing to serve God and really want to do all they can for him. It was sad, because he was reading and praying and changing, maybe he'll be ready in a little bit longer, we planted a seed.

Cristina is so awesome, she has 7 kids all with different physical disabilities and she loves what we have to teach. She was really excited to come to church with us this sunday, but her "husband" (they're not really married but they all call each other spouses?) said she wasn´t allowed to go. He doesn´t mind that we come by and teach, so we'll see what we can do. She has a lot of family in our branch, so she might be able to get some help from that .

Also, the kids of Betty and Salustiano, who were baptized last week, finally commited to a date of baptism!!! and came to church this sunday!! Lots of parents here don´t really push their kids to do things, like they don´t make them get up in the morning, they all sleep in til 2 in the afternoon and i don´t, i´m just glad that school, church, and being healthy was always taught in my home! Thanks mom and dad. But this kids are so awesome! Celina and Alexi! Keep them in your prayers, they are set for the 19 of June!

We also taught the most awesome lesson this week! Alberto and Maria are the most amazing couple ever. They sweetly invited us into their home/yard (most of our lessons are outside with chairs, b/c their houses are very small and people don't always want us in their homes) and we taught them about the organization of Christ's chruch and how its important we are baptized like him (immersion, with the correct authority, age of accountability) and Alberto said, I think everyone should have the ability to baptize! We we're like you are right, every worthy male over the oge of 12 can posses the authority to baptize. Then we talked about repentance, and he doesn´t believe that he should have to go to someone else, who is not perfect, and confess his sins (they're catholic). You're right!!! we only need to confess our sins to God! He was like, of all the different religions we have listened to, you are the one we like the best! It was so awesome! The reason he likes our church is because it is the church of Jesus Christ, it is perfectly organized and makes sense!

I love this Gospel! We are still working with Maxi, 20 years old, awesome kid, still doesn´t believe in God and it's really difficult for him to even try and pray to see if he is there. He wants to know something because He keeps coming to all of our citas! Please pray for him, pray that he will pray and know that God loves him! Ha, he invites all his friends to our appointments, we've taught like 6 of his friends now.

There is a lot of work to do here in Santa Elena and it is a tiny town. Its amazing to me how many people are missing this knowledge in their lives! Remember your neighbors, the people you work with and maybe your family memebers. There are so many people that NEED this, this is their salvation! Don't be afraid to share your testimony!

Also, remember, you may be a member, but we need nourishment everyday! How is your scripture study?? Nephi said....

7 And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the ^aunbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the ^bstiffneckedness of men; for they will ^cnot search ^dknowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in ^eplainness, even as plain as word can be.

Ya i still have trouble understanding things, but its amazing what we can learn when we actually study! put some time aside for the Lord everyday, really its for you! And read and pray. I promise you, your days, weeks, years, will be so much happier!

I love you all! Keep the faith!

Love Hermana Gibbons