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