Quitilipi---We can make it step by step.

So, I'm in a place that's called Quitilipi. It's a little town that is a little more than half way to Campo Largo going out of Resistencia it reminds me a lot of my first area but here my companion says there is a group and that about 12 members attend on an average week.

My companion's name is Elder Montes from Cordoba Argentina. He is 19 years old and has been out here a little less time than I have.

In Reconquista we were teaching a man named Sebastian and Veronica that sell bread door to door. Sebastian is a very good man and is really interested in the Church. Hopefully they will be able to get married and baptized. It was tough to leave them there.

on the way here I had an interesting thought about goal setting. I was sitting in the Bus and just watching as we stopped at every little town and dirt road that goes off seemingly into the middle of nowhere to pick people up and drop people off. at one of the roads that went way far away with just one building off to the side way out there I saw a rather small woman get off the bus with a rather large and heavy bag. it was heavy enough she had to lean to one side to pick it up.

I felt sorry for her and had the thoughts why is she getting off here and how is she going to carry that bag so far? I might just give up if I were her. I watched a little bit longer and noticed she was making some distance even though it was very little. She was doing it one short step at a time. She was determined and was going to make it step by step.

In the mission I have seen that goals are that way when we have a vision. Maybe the vision is an eternal family. something we don't see quite yet. maybe the church or temple is the building that we have to pass by on our way to go get that. whatever the case may be the important thing is that we never give up because if we do we might end up in a ditch by the side of the road or getting back on a different bus that will never take us where we want to go.

I know that the savior knows us and that on the roads of our lives we are never alone or without his help he can guide us and help us get to eternal life. We just have to accept his help.

I'm really excited for my new area and for my new companion and we are going to do all we can to be able to reach high goals and help lots and lots of people.

Elder Dallin Skouson

Elder Montes and me.  

I think it's amazing, the priesthood.

The weeks go by really fast. And today is the 3 months left mark of my mission. it's crazy how fast the time goes! It's starting to get colder here as well this week.

We have been working with a family that sells bread in the street. The man is named Sebastian and the woman is Veronica they are both interested in the message of the gospel. Sebastian came to church yesterday as well. It was very good. They are living together without being married and have 4 kids. We hope that they will be able to feel the love of the Lord and be able to change their lives.

For church we had a district conference as well. it was interesting because they tried to do it over a skype type of program. it was a little bit low quality because there were 3 chapels involved and ours and the district center both had speakers so when we spoke there was quite a bit of feedback. apart from that the messages were very good and inspired.

I think it's amazing, the priesthood. Through Christ all the world is blessed and we can be a part of the blessing that Christ gives to others as we magnify our callings. 

Love,

Elder Dallin Skouson

pictures:

Me with a member that was about to get his haircut by my companion.

and the room where we are writing right now in the family history center of the church.

The good news is that anyone who is willing to come unto christ can 'shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast'. (2 Nephi 9:45)

This week was good. We found some good people who are interested in learning more or maybe not. We will see.

We met a man who invited us into his house. his house was mostly empty except for a few chairs and a computer. He almost the moment we got in proudly announced to us that he is a professional poker player. He said he plays poker and smokes about 60 cigaretts a day. He explained how he lost everything he has and how his friend bought his house from him and that helped him get enough money to keep going. this month he is going to get back enough to buy the house back though....

Even though he seemed so sure even he knows it is driving him to ruin. He said and if I don't have anything left my other friend owns a supermarket and is going to give me a place in his apartment when I need it and will give me food. It's a deal we have.

I don't think I am ever going to play poker. We gave him a book of mormon and we know that if he reads it and applies what he learns he will be able to change his life. hopefully he does it now while he still might be able to get some of his life back.

We also found a new investigator named Milagros (miracles in english.) She is a neighbor of a member that lives in our area. She made it to church yesterday and said she liked it a lot. We were happy for her.

We also got to talk to a man that has pigs that he grows and sells. they are super fat and weigh about 200 kilos or 400 pounds (or so they say) and apparently they die if they have to walk in the sun because they are so fat and their heart just explodes. They explained to us that 2 of their pigs had died in the heat recently.

I think it's pretty good evidence that we should avoid addictions of all types be it of food or gambling or smoking or whatever they are really the chains that the devil has to cover the entire earth.

The good news is that anyone who is willing to come unto christ can 'shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast'. (2 nephi 9:45)

I am confident that we can escape from those things that bind us fast 

Elder Dallin Skouson

I got new shoes!

and made pizza with eggs and ground beef.

The work keeps going forward.

So this week was about normal. it did go fast as usual.

We worked hard this week. Ivan is still excited and we are working with him to help him prepare to be able to recieve the priesthood. It looks like he will be able to recieve it next week.

I am starting to try to be more diligent even when the people don't seem to respond. At times it is easy to feel that the hard work that we put into the things we do goes to waste. it is for sure something that takes work.

I guess at the end of it all it is worth it. We share a message that will help people to be able to get all the the father has to give to us. That is the biggest blessing that requires a big sacrifice.

other than that, we are teaching Luz (yes her name means light) and she is working on feeling more prepared to get baptized. She is 17 and is studying and working and doing some other things and she is busy but we are hoping we will be able to help her out somehow.

We are also working with a lady named Carla who is catholic and also some other people who are interested in listening to us.

The sisters in our district are trying to help some people get prepared for baptism. They are teaching a man named Hernan that came to church and is really enjoying everything he is learning and is interested in being baptized. The other sisters are also teaching a couple named julio and Lilia that want to get baptized and have been going to church for a long time but need to file some divorce papers and get married. We are excited for all of them.

Anyway the work keeps going forward.

Elder Dallin Skouson