And a happy new year!

Everyone,

This week was good. We had to stay in the apartment after 7 on
Wednesday and Thursday but we worked with some good people. We visited
with one man about 30 years old who approached us in the street and
asked us to help him change. He really is interested in hearing us I
think. His dad 60 years old told us he was impressed that we have a
desire to do this for Christ so early in life, but he was less
interested in hearing the message we share.

I absolutely loved talking to my family on Christmas.  That was a lot of fun to see everyone and talk to them.  Everyone looked good.  I miss you guys.  I'll see you again on Mother's day.  

Elder Skouson on Christmas 2014 talking on Skype to us.
It was awesome talking to him. He's skinny, (lost some weight) but looked good! 

We have been working hard and also visited the family of one of the friends of our young converts. We had a good lesson with them and were able to invite them to find out more. They seem interested and we plan on visiting them more.

We had a party friday for our zone and that was fun. We sang, ate and played games. It was good to get to take a break for a few hours from the normal routine. I also got a little sick and we had to stay in our apartment that evening. That was not so fun but I'm fine now.

One lesson I have learned in the past few weeks is to really focus on
improving yourself first. I have studied a little bit the conference
talk by President Uchdorf "Lord, is it I?" and think it is really
interesting. We had a very good district meeting our district leader
talked about focusing on oneself before others. One of the elders told
me afterward. "That was perfect how he was talking straight to Elder
... and Elder ... like that. They really needed to hear that. They are
always focused on others." Of course, this was quite funny but I think
in one way or another we could all improve. You can find the talk by
an apostle of the Lord here:
www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/lord-is-it-i?lang=eng

Elder Dallin Skouson

Elder Skouson looked so happy and we were so happy to see him and talk to him.  He sounded wonderful!!

FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Everyone, 

The trees are green. The mangos and limes are ripening and it is

always hot and humid. So, it does not feel like Christmas, but I am
excited.

This week we got a 3rd companion because his other companion went home

to be home before Christmas. His name is elder Vergara. He is from
Spain, and you can hear his accent in the z and soft c words. It's
more like a th or sh or a mix of the two.

Elders Simmons, Vergara and Skouson.  Merry Christmas!! 

We are also working the 2 areas. Ours and his and that is stressful to be 2 nights away from home then 2 home but there are lots of people to

teach and help to build their relation with Christ.

We have been reviewing the lessons with Elian and Luciana and they were unfortunately unable to come to church this Sunday. Elian's dad has him work construction with him on Sundays. I hope they can stay

firm in the church.

I got to play the piano in sacrament meeting for the primary program.  It didn't go perfect but it was good enough.

Thinking about you guys this Christmas, and hope you all have a very

happy safe Christmas. Remember that this is the time of year that we
celebrate the birth of Christ, the very Son of God, and that there is
¨...no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation
can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of
Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.¨ (Mosiah 3:17) How great of a gift He is

to each one of us. Remember the true meaning of Christmas this year.

Love,

Elder Dallin Skouson

One of the members in our area who went to work in Buenos Aires. 

This is just after we did a musical program for Christmas. 

Baptism!

Everyone,

This week was one of the fastest I've had here. We had p-day Tuesday
then worked hard the rest of the week.

Elder Skouson, Elian and Luciana, Elder Simmons

We didn't find a lot of people but we did visit a lot of the people we already have to visit. We have been talking to a woman named L... She has a little bit of trouble with drinking. We visited her one day and she was a little bit drunk. I don't understand it. She says she drinks because she has some difficulties in her life but she seems happier when she is sober...

We also finished off teaching the last of the lessons to Elian and Luciana and they were able to make it to their baptism, and we only
started 30 minutes late (normal for Argentina). They were super
excited. They also were confirmed members yesterday and we were able
to help them pay tithing last night. They are excited. The sad part is
that their mom showed up really late to their baptism and you could tell she had been drinking a little she tried to hug me. Also, their dad didn't come so that he could drink with his buddies.

We also had some other encounters with drunk people this week.

In the end,  I can say that the word of wisdom is really words of wisdom from God. You will have better health and a clearer mind by living it's principles and you will feel the spirit more in your life.

Elder Dallin Skouson

Happy Day!!

Semana sin mi compañero

Everyone,

This week was really slow but now looking back quite fast. Elder

Simmons went to Cordoba to do some papers for immigration. He left

Tuesday and got back Saturday. I was with Elder Trujillo from Colombia

from Tuesday to Friday and then with Elder Criado and Elder Calderon.

they are all very nice, but it was hard to only work in my area less

than half the days.

Also, we have had some difficulty with the card to take out money of my

companion. His card just won't work. I hope that mine does because the

mission has transferred all the money to pay the rent to my card. We

will see.

Elder Skouson and Elder Simmons

Our Area is interesting we have a good section of square blocks with

houses like my other area, but we also cover a neighborhood that was

just kinda thrown together. The posts for the power cables are only 12

feet or so tall and all the power lines are thinner than most extension

cords and the houses are made of wood, brick and sheet metal whatever

the people had. (also there is a surprising lack of direct TV)

We found one woman named Erika living in this neighborhood that told

us she had been praying for someone to come to her house to invite her

and help her change. And, another woman named Leaz with problems with

drinking who is desperately looking for peace in her life.

My zone in Clorinda

We also have a Baptism scheduled for this Saturday for two kids.

Luciana 10 and Elian 12. They are very excited especially Elder

Simmons, and we are very excited for them. We are teaching them the

last few things they need to hear and hope that everything goes over

smoothly. We are praying hard.

One lesson in particular this week was very good. We taught about the

Book of Mormon to one of the investigators of Elder Trujillo. We read

the (2 Nephi 29?) chapter about how people would reject the Book of

Mormon because they think the Bible is sufficient. It hit me in the

lesson that the Book of Mormon is not just evidence of our church that

talks about Christ, but it is evidence that Christianity is correct---

That it isn't just a religion made up in the Middle East, but that God 

really did create the World---That we actually have a Savior who loves

us---That every person is important to God.

Elder Dallin Skouson

Me sitting at our desk, and Christmas decorations thanks to Elder Simmon's family who sent a package down with someone coming to visit Argentina. 

Just being missionaries. It's super hot around here. 

God knows our names. We belong in the spirit family of God.

Everyone,

This week was a good week. We worked hard and found quite a few new investigators. We had a multi-zone conference on Wednesday so we went to Formosa for the night Tuesday. We got to sleep in the appartment of Elder Simmons's old companion. It was fun and I learned a lot in the conference even though it was about the same stuff as the time before for me in my other area. We then got home late Wednesday and started to work again Thursday.

Starting Thursday night we did exchanges and I got to ride the bus to the other side of Clorinda and work with Elder Vergara we talked to his investigators and learned a lot. We then switched back for Friday and Saturday.

So, that's basically what happened this week. But some of the better experiences were with some people in our area.

We ran into a woman who lives in a neighborhood called Bario Toba. I think that the people in this neighborhood generally have some native American ancestors. She showed us a book she has in Estonian and asked if we could read it. It was about the neighborhood and had pictures of her in the back. It looked like some Estonian anthropologists had visited and written a book. She also had an album of foreigners from all sorts of countries who had visited her house. It was really cool and we shared the message of the restoration with her. She was paying a little bit of attention until the end we asked her a question about praying and she told us some of her worries. She said she was very worried about going to hell and wasn't sure what God wanted from her. She said she wasn't even sure who she is. We were able to testify that God has a plan for her, that he knows her personally. God has a plan for each one of us and knows every one of our names. This is the testimony that we are able to share with all people. To help give them a sense of belonging in the spirit family of God.

Elder Dallin Skouson

Elder Skouson, Elder Simmons and Simmons old Companion

Boys of a member family.  They go with last weeks pictures, too. 

Left Campo Largo for Clorinda

Everyone,

I had transfers this Wednesday and found out Tuesday night that I was being transferred. I packed my bags and we went to Resistencia then to Clorinda. It was about 6 or 7 hours in a bus all on Wednesday but now I am here. My new companion is Elder Simmons. He has exactly the same amount of time as I do in the mission. We actually were in the same room in a hotel the first night we got here. I didn't know him in the MTC although we were there together. We were in different districts. 

This place is very different from Campo Largo and I am very grateful for my boots. It rains a lot here, and the roads are much worse than in Campo Largo. There is one paved street in my area. We are still only on foot and only live about 3 blocks out side of our area. I am also not in the branch presidency. That is probably one of the nicest parts. I went to church sat by our investigators and didn't have to sit on the stand or give a talk.

I'm in Clorinda in the Province of Formosa.  I'm right by Asuncion, Paraguay.  Cool huh!

Of course, we have a little bit of a hard time with Spanish. I think we can both speak about the same amount but I have felt like we have had to rely on the Lord more and have been blessed. We have found some good new investigators and we have been able to invite the spirit into our lessons.

One of the less active members in our area cleaned up his life and received the priesthood this last Sunday. Oscar told us last night at 7:30 pm that this is when he would usually wake up. Then he would drink and stay up until about 6:30 am and do it again. He now has come to church 5 times in a row and said that one of his favorite parts of our church was how it invited him to change.

We also have his nephew Elian and his sister Luciana who are super excited to be baptized. They like to be in our lessons and listen to what we have to say and are counting down the days to their baptisms. It's super exciting to see them excited.

The work is progressing here!

Elder Dallin Skouson

Elder Skouson and Elder Simmons eating cheese puffs at a member's home

It is important that we try to be happy.

Everyone,

I found some very interesting English right before I threw away the box to our headphones. "Sound effects, especially in regard to heavy bass feel very shocked," and "even indulge in music a long time will not feel unnatural." It makes me wonder about my spanish. I hope I can speak better than that.

This was the last week of my last transfer of being trained. We had an exchange and I went with Elder Murphy my zone leader, he was so excited almost always. There is one member who had some very bad experiences with the other members and we were walking by and he waved and said, "How are you?" She said, "mal" so he just walked straight to her saying, "sister, why are you bad?" As she explained the problems she has with other members and how she feels that they look at her in the church... she said she was baptized because she wanted to see her grandpa again and live with him after this life. Elder Murphy simply asked her if she wanted to give the other members that power to take away that blessing. It was so powerful and she could not argue back to that. Sadly she did not make it to church this Sunday. But, Elder Murphy was able to still be happy after that chat. I was a little bit surprised. It is important that we try to be happy. Afterwards, we had some great lessons that same day and I'm sure we wouldn't have if we had been angry or sad.

The rest of our exchange was a very good learning experience. I learned a lot about how to bring excitement to a contact or lesson and how to help draw people's attention to the lesson, and how to make my investigators feel that I care about them.

The names in the picuture of the zone are from back to front left to right Hermanas Sihuay, Davis, Gordillo, Riquelme, Elders Flick, Yaicate, Remund, Kisner, Collins, Hammer, Murphy, Skouson

My companion in the bus (there was quite a bit of rain outside and just a little less inside)

We also worked really hard and ended up with lots of new investigators this week! Some days it is really hard to find a new investigator. One day we had one man as we asked if we could leave him a Book of Mormon say "no." He just said, "I don't want the book." I just told him that I know that it's true, and that I know that it has the words of God. He still didn't want a copy but the next time the missionaries come by at least he will know that that one guy that couldn't speak spanish very well knows it's true.

Someone also asked me how we get around. We are in a little city. We cover the entire City and it is about a 30 minute walk from one corner to the other. So, we just walk everywhere. We take a bus to our meetings and everything with other missionaries.

I don't remember if I sent this or not. We had an investigator, Blanca, who went on a trip and returned and had been talking to her pastor and now was less excited about our church.  My companion was not very excited to talk to her.  So, I had to teach almost all of the lesson. We started with the Book of Mormon, and read the last paragraph of the introduction. I then asked, "What does this mean to you?" she said, "I like where it said the second coming of Christ," and then I responded with, "I can tell that you are trying to prepare for the second coming of Christ. I know that this book and the church we represent will prepare you better for the second coming of Christ." I didn't have to think about my words, and I know the spirit was telling me what to say. I am certain that they understood too. She still doesn't come to church or anything but after that it is her choice. We can't force them.

By the way Mom,  I got some boots.  Elder Collins was going home and he gave me his and they'll work out.  

Love, 

Elder Dallin Skouson

Multi-zone conference (Elder Skouson is on the middle row 6th one in from the right--he's still tall)

A letter from Elder Yaicate: 

Hace unas semanas mi compañero y yo fuimos a Resistencia para hacer trámites por su visa, lo triste de este día fue que el bus que nos traería de regreso a nuestra área al medio día nos dejó, así que tuvimos que esperar el próximo bus que salia a las 18:00 horas. De modo que pasamos una tarde entera en la terminal de resistencia.......

De regreso a campo largo, ya por la noche, yo venía apreciando por la ventana del bus,  a las hermosas luciérnagas en medio del campo oscuro de la ruta nacional de chaco. Mientras así lo hacia me di cuenta que las luciérnagas me encantan! por su magnifico ejemplo de irradiar luz en medio tanta oscuridad de la noche con tan solo abrir sus frágiles alitas .

Entonces pensé en lo parecido que somos a esas luciérnagas . El salvador dijo en ocasión: " Vosotros sois la luz del mundo......" Mateo 5:14. 

Mis queridos amigos, ustedes y yo tenemos esa luz, la luz del evangelio en nuestras vidas. Esta luz brilla cuando compartimos con nuestros amigos, parientes, compañeros lo que sabemos que es verdad. Esa luz brilla más cuando defendemos la verdad con nuestras acciones mas que con simplemente palabras. Ustedes y yo podemos ser como aquellas pequeñas luciérnagas que irradian un poco de luz en medio de tanta oscuridad, si tan solo abrimos nuestro corazón y lo llenamos del amor puro de cristo para declarar  y defender lo que sabemos que es verdad por medio de un testimonio puro, acciones sinceras y servicio abnegado......

Compartamos el evangelio con todos!!!!!

Elder Yaicate
Argentina Resistencia Mission

Meaner dogs in the bigger city. I think everyone understood my Spanish. Christ paid for our sins.

Everyone,

This week was interesting. We started with a trip Tuesday afternoon to Villa Angela and we worked there with Elder Remund (yes, my MTC companion) and Elder Kisner.  I was with Elder Kisner all afternoon and felt like it was a little harder to get into houses, the dogs were a little meaner, and I learned a lot in the bigger city.

We then slept there and had a zone conference the next day. We talked about some good stuff on how we can have a vision for the mission for ourselves and our companionship how we can be more obedient to the rules and what we need to improve. I got to conduct the meeting and that was a lot of fun. I think everyone understood my Spanish and we all learned a lot.

We then got back home the next day and got to work just a little bit. We accidentally had 2 dinner appointments (weird because we usually only have lunch) and one of them canceled so we ended up with only one.

Thursday was interesting as well. My companion (trainer) had been acting a little weird for the past while, easily agitated, didn't like to plan as much, acting bored during companionship study, and he told me Thursday he was doing that on purpose to see what I would do. I think it was an interesting idea to try to train me but I am not going to do it if I train.

Friday we followed up with a referral to a less active member from an active member in Las Breñas. He lives behind and owns a building that says "American English Institute" so we were nervous that he just wanted to speak English with us but he had some really good questions about the plan of salvation. We shared with him where his mother in law is now in the spirit world sitting in desks in his Institute. We shared scriptures with him and shared our testimony.

Saturday we taught english to 3 students and one of them and his mom came to church yesterday--that was a success. We also had one other less active sister come to church. We had a better attendance than most weeks.

Yesterday I gave another talk in church about the Book of Mormon. We held a training for visiting teachers in the evening and then had a family home evening with a member. I shared this parable in Mathew 18 that I will paraphrase here:

There was a king with a servant with a debt of a ton of money. The king asked for his money and the servant couldn't pay. The king forgave his servant. The servant then went to his fellow servant grabbed him by the throat and asked for the money he owed him. The fellow servant couldn't pay and was not forgiven but was delivered to be tortured until he could pay. The king then asked the first servant again for the money and did not forgive this time because the servant didn't show mercy.

How great is the debt we have to God?  Christ paid for our sins and all we have to do is plead with him for forgivness. It is so simple but how often do we not forgive others who have sinned against us?

Elder Dallin Skouson

At times he will teach us more than we are trying to learn.

Everyone,

So, this week started out pretty hot. We only have a window style air conditioning unit in our apartment but it does help. We run it all night every night, and we stay comfortable so far. The walls though are made out of brick or concrete so when the sun has been on the wall all day it radiates out heat in the night, but at least it doesn't get hot as fast. It is just behind what it is outside in the apartment.

We then had some rain and a few spots in our apartment leak a little. I was suprised to wake up with some water next to my feet one morning. Then I moved my bed. It isn't too bad and now that we know where it is I think we have moved everything out of the way for now.

We had a not so good attendance at church we had 11 people show up due to some rain in the morning. Singing the hymns was interesting. Especially the sacrament hymn that they didn't know super well, but I felt the spirit and got to conduct the meeting so I bore my testimony first. It was a good meeting and we had a less active member get up and share a testimony. A sad thing is that we are having problems with reporting the spending and donations in the branch again. The district presidency is helping us work things out but it is a slow process.

We had 2 investigators, Belki and Rocio, we were hoping would come to church but they both were not able to make it. I hope it was just the rain and they will be able to come next week. We also had a less active member, Emanuel who I called right before church but couldn't understand over the phone (he doesn't finish his words so he's hard to understand even in person). It was funny a little but he in the end wasn't able to make it.

He did however say he and his wife want to get sealed so that is really exciting. We want to get another appointment with him to explain that living the gospel and coming to church can help him prepare to go the the temple. We are excited for that.

The Lord will teach us what we need to know as we strive to learn. At times he will teach us more than we are trying to learn at the time. We need to just have the patience to keep praying and waiting and then we will learn the lessons we need to and we will become more of the people we want to.

Elder Dallin Skouson

El photo es Elder Yaicate y Yo en nuestro oficina

Tent with Direct TV, teaching English, and more

Everyone,

I think it was actually last week when I noticed it but there are some people that live in tents along the highway and they have a satellite dish outside their tent. It just is sitting on a box on the ground. kinda funny.

We got called Thursday night and told that we need to go to Resistencia for me to sign a paper and do finger prints Friday. It was an all day experience because the early bus home was sold out. We left early in the morning and came back at 9 at night. We didn't get to work much that day. We tried to have an english class on Saturday. We got 1 student to show up but I taught her how to say I am tall, or I am short, or I am smart or you are handsome or we are.... it was a good time.  I'm thinking about how to do it more fun next time and so they feel less pressure.  I don't know. We are hoping to have more people next time. 

Me and my companion, Elder Yaicate in front of our church building

We are teaching Hermana Belki. She was taught by the other missionaries and she knows a lot about the lessons but she didn't come to church.  We even went and knocked on her door in the morning.  It was sad.  We have also been talking to Rocio and Ramona.  I think Rocio would come to church if Ramona was interested in going, but Ramona isn't very interested in going to church I don't think.

I gave another talk on Sunday about gossip because it is a huge problem here, and I love the words of King Benjamin. "If you do not watch yourselves and your thoughts and your words and your deeds...ye must perish and now Oh man, remember and perish not." it is a scripture of warning---that we need to watch our own thoughts words and deeds to avoid a spiritual death.  I know that if we do that we can improve ourselves way faster than if we only think and talk about other people.

The sad part was that we visited a sister afterwards who said Elder your talk was right on. All the other sisters are always talking and saying ¿How bad is so and so?... maybe she couldn't understand my spanish. I don't know...

Elder Dallin Skouson

Mother's Day

Everyone,
October 20, 2014

It was Mother's day in Argentina yesterday so we celebrated as a branch on Saturday. Elder Yaicate and I cooked a peruvian dish with rice and eggs and hotdog pieces. It was pretty good. The people here didn't eat a ton. We were thinking that they would eat more than they did but they don't eat a lot of rice. We also had some of the members bring empañadas and they are always good. It's like a small hot pocket but the cheese is real and it has hamburger meat or ham. We also had one of the sisters make a cake that was pretty good. It was 3 layers with dulce de leche (is like a carmel stuff) in between the layers. We also had 2 kids do a dance. The funny part is that neither of them are members. One is the brother of a member and the other is his neighbor, but it was really cute.

Yesterday I got to give a talk in sacrament meeting about mothers and I just talked about some lessons that I learned at home. I felt pretty good about it. Remember who you are (recuerda quien eres) and where much is given much is required (I can't remember this in spanish right now). I also got to teach the lesson in priesthood. I think that went okay as well. It's hard to tell when I'm teaching in a different language. I'm not bored at least while I'm teaching.

On account of it being Mother's day I also got to call my family yesterday. It was really cool. It was fun to get to talk with them again. They had lots of questions and things to ask me. It was really fun to hear their voices again.

We found an investigator who I don't remember if I wrote about her before. Her name is Belki she lives pretty far out where there are no names for the roads at all. We kinda stumbled into her house. She said I was talking with the missionaries before and just waiting on a paper to get married and then baptized. So, we started to review the lessons with her and she is planning on getting her papers to get married soon so we are hopeful that she will be able to make the steps to getting baptized.

We are also going to start teaching an English class here on Saturday so I will tell you how that goes, if it goes on Saturday.

Elder Dallin Skouson

P.S. Dallin said it's getting very hot there now.  

The picture is one of me and my companion with the kids that danced for our party, and the other is the members all around our table made out of 3 desks.

Editor's note:  Here's an email we received from Dallin's companion.  We love him and don't even know him.  His parents are not members of our church only his siblings.  We're grateful for the good training he's giving Dallin.

Hay muchas  cosas que yo aprendo de él. Es un misionero  muy positivo!!!.Me gusta cuando él en sus contactos dice: ¿Ustedes sabían que cristo visitó las américas y enseño su evangelio?, tenemos una evidencia de ese acontecimiento! entonces saca de su bolso el libro de mormón, y aunque las personas no nos permiten entrar en sus casas, dejamos un libro de mormón. Tenemos fe de que si esas personas leen el libro de mormón, en el futuro campo largo tendrá personas preparadas para recibir a los misioneros futuros!

Fue un gran placer hablar con su familia ayer. Tiene una familia muy linda!!!!

saludos

               Elder Yaicate

Argentina Resistencia Mission