2 then 3 then 2 again

Monday was pday and my birthday. it was a good day. we got ice cream and then worked in the afternoon.

Tuesday we worked again normally and then Wednesday morning my companion got a call from president. He talked to him a little and then asked to talk to me. I answered and he told me that he had talked to the missionary department and that my companion is going to be going home for the problems that were passing in his family. His Grandpa is very sick, his mom and dad got separated, and his little siblings need help. He said if he choses to come back he might get reassigned a new mission. He told us specifically to work all day that day so we did.

We met a man that taught me exactly why it is important to avoid drugs and alcohol yet again. He was acting a little strange but not too bad so we went in when he invited us. he invited us to the room with the air conditioning. we went with him. The room smelled awfully like smoke and then we realized exactly how drunk or high he was. He insisted we eat some 'fruit salad' (with alcohol for sure) with him but we declined more insistently and then we just started working to get out of there. we made it out in one peace. that was one of the scarier moments in the mission.

We also got to go to a transmission for all missionaries and mission presidents. There were some of the apostles that addressed us and told us of the importance of inviting to repent and baptizing. It was very good and I plan on applying and teaching better repentance.

Thursday morning we had interviews with president. they were good and I was able to get questions answered and doubts resolved. President took Elder Leoni straight from there to Resistencia where he went home Friday morning.

I stayed with the zone leaders and we worked hard in their area and did divisions sometimes in our area as well. It was fun and I learned a lot working with them.

Sunday the zone leaders walked with me to the church and I stayed there with an 18 year old member for the meetings then I went back with the Zone leaders afterward.

Sunday afternoon we got a call from the Asistants. they told us I was going to be getting a new companion that night. so now I am with my new companion back to working hard in our area. we are going to be trying hard to be united and to be able to help our investigators. My new companion is Elder Lopez from Peru. he is about as tall as my trainer Elder Yaicate was. He has a little more than a year in the mission as well.

During my time with the zone leaders we were able to have a miracle happen. We had more appointments than we could get to so we felt like we were not going to be able to get to all of them. one of them was at the far side of my area. so we were working and we felt to knock a house where the man was not very interested. we knocked and he talked until he just kinda ran away inside. it's a weird thing some people do. But right then a member walked up to us and said hey Elders can I go out with you today. We said right now maybe not but later for sure. He said alright pass by my house. we did it and we were able to work both areas and it went well. we got to the appointments and we had a very good lesson with some members who had invited their friend to listen.

The Lord does work by small and simple means.

Love,

Elder Dallin Skouson

Me with a carpincho--a great big rodent! haha. 

True spirit of scripture study--learn and apply.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ELDER SKOUSON. WE LOVE YOU!!  We made this cake at home for Dallin's birthday.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAL. 

This week flew by. I got here and then Tuesday was p-day we worked the evening and then my companion was sick Wednesday and Thursday. We got to work again Friday and that's when we had our district meeting. Then Saturday went fast and Sunday was super fast as well.

We are working hard to get the work moving in this area. We don't have many investigators that have gone to church at this point

I also learned a lot about studying the scriptures while my companion was sick. I know that when we study the scriptures they can help us desire to change our hearts and our actions. As I studied, ideas of what I needed to do came to mind and I wanted to apply them. I think that's the true spirit of scripture study. learn and apply.

Elder Dallin Skouson

Following pictures:

sunset.

the apartment where I live

and a cool house. notice they have direct tv

The heat here is impressive.

The heat here is impressive. The other day I was in Corrientes Capital during transfers and there were It was hard to not sweat just sitting there waiting for my bus there was very little wind and it there were those bugs that make the loud buzzing noises were humming loudly. Then I got on the bus at 915 am to go to Resistencia.

I'm now in Reconqista III. it's a city in Santa Fe. this means that I have been to every part of the mission now.

My companion is Elder Leoni from Bolivia he is 21 and is a little bit shorter than me about 185 cm. I'm about 196 cm or around there.

Last week was crazy we went to Resistencia Monday and Tuesday and then I got back to my area for wednesday and then we went to Paso de los Libres thursday through Sunday and then I got transferred straight from there to Reconquista Santa Fe. it was a good long trip but I made it. We started at 1 Am on Monday and I got here at 5 pm so it took a while.

We worked so little in the area and we somehow had our highest attendance of investigators at church. 3 Investigators showed up. That's the most I ever had in that area. And we weren't even in church to see it!

I guess the truth we learn from that is that the spirit does the work not us. If giving them some time to think helped them realize they need to come to church I guess that is God's way to teach them.

We need to all be the instruments that God need and his instructions help form us to become those instruments.

Elder Dallin Skouson

The gospel really simplifies our lives

This week went very fast. we were not able to leave the apartment again for the 31st or the 1st unless we had appointments. sadly my companion and i did not do the best job getting those days full of appointments. I did get to read a lot of the scriptures and we made chocolate chip cookies again.

we have been working hard with some people and there are definitely miracles every day. we have seen hearts change and I have even seen my own heart change sometimes.

We did divisions with Curuzu they are good elders that are working there in in the district. they had a baptism this Saturday and almost had one next Saturday but the father of the investigator is making it hard. pray for Mauricio and his family.

This week that comes looks ominous with a lot of traveling. today we went to the bus station to pick up an elder at 3 am and then I tried to get on the same bus but it was full. so we waited until 4 and then that bus was full to so I finally found a seat on a bus at 4:20 to get me here to Resistencia but it didn't show up until 540. it was a very long night.

I'm here in resistencia for Consejo de Lideres (Leadership Council). the Zone leaders always go but this time they invited the District leaders as well.

the 8th is the day of Gauchito Gil a saint that is not approved by the catholic church. He stole from the rich and gave to the poor supposedly. He was executed by the law supposedly in mercedes where someone made a shrine to him and now a lot of people come all week long to visit his shrine. We are going to be out of the area completely for the 7th 8th and 9th and the 10th is Sunday and 11th is transfers. so we will see how this week goes!

A funny story relating to that happened today. I was waiting to see if the bus that was there was mine in the early morning and an old confused tired lady stepped out and started asking us where is the shrie to gauchito. is this the closest stop. how do I get there. the bus driver was just as confused as she was with what she wanted and one of the people waiting to get on said there is a taxi over there that will take you right to the shine right now if you want it. It was a very funny encounter at 430 in the morning I wouldn't be surprised if she went.

I know that the gospel really simplifies our lives we will avoid a lot of confusion and problems if we seek after the true and living God. He does not require that we visit a shrine to him but that we just offer up a broken heart and contrite spirit and that we come to Christ by accepting his gospel.

Love,

Elder Dallin Skouson

He finally received our Christmas package.  Thank goodness there are some birthday presents there, too.