The Dark Knight Rises

Hola familia y amigos.

After 30 hours of traveling I finally made it to Argentina. We didnt use a bus to get to Salta we took another plane. Thank goodness.  I tried to talk to people on the plane to Salta.  I talked with a lady named Sonia about the church. in spanish. It went better than expected! She accepted a pass along card.

President Chaparro and Sister Chaparro are so great, and loving. They made me feel right at home. We had a great Argentine meal at their house after. It was amazing. So much food.

My trainer is Elder Cloud. He is from Bryce Canyon, Utah. He's been in the mission for a year.  He knows his castellano. He's a great guy, humble, and a great leader and teacher. We get along well.

Im kind of the silent companion right now. I dont know how to say or understand much of what people are saying. I can bear testimony and read scriptures. I try to talk though and they understand me I just cant understand them.

My first area is Monteros in the District of Concepcion in the Province of Tucuman. Its 5 hours away from Salta. Monteros is pretty chill and peaceful. Unlike Tucuman, Tucuman is a little crazy and dangerous.

People are so nice here. My dad was right. When Argentines feed you theres no such things as seconds. You are gonna have seconds whether you want to or not. Its only thirds. This is the best food Ive ever had. The meat is so good here. In Argentina theres this thing called siesta. They have a big meal at around 1 and everything closes down until 5 cause they''re all sleeping.

I am apart of a branch. Our church is about the size of half a basketball court. We only have 30 active members. My first sunday the speaker didnt show up and guess who had to speak......Yup. I had to give a 15 minute talk in spanish about bearing burdens. And I did pretty well. I totally screwed up some words but its all good. Our branch president and his family are so kind. President Nieto and his family. We are fed by investigators and members every day at lunch. We only eat like once a day cause the meal is so huge at lunch.

We have bikes in this area. Its been nice. Teaching is awesome. WE have some great investigators. The Sanchez family whos part members and Eva, the mom, isnt a member as well as Lionel, the son. They have been investigating the church for 6 months. They know its true they just dont want to get baptized in fear of what theyre friends and extended family will think. Its been a challenge but were  working with them.

FUNNY THINGS

Woke up to a cockroach next to my bed. (NICE)

People get hammered on Sunday and roam the streets.

A drunk guy saw my name tag and yelled  YO SOY ROBIN.

A guy offered me a 40 oz of beer on sunday I said no and he said we drink this to symbolize the blood shed from christ.

THERES STRAY DOGS EVERYWHERE

Ive had hair in 4 out of the last 7 meals ive had.

People think my name is hilarious and call Elder Cloud Robin.

I have no photos to upload right now. I cant upload through my camera, cause theres not much wifi around. Im working on it.

Please have one of my best friends Elder Luke Dunn in your thoughts and prayers. He was in a tragic car accident in traveling in his mission in South Africa. He's currently in the hospital in not to great of condition. From what I've heard he's still unconcious. It would be greatly appreciated.

I love it hear. Im learning more castellano every day.

Love you all!

Elder Batman

Elder Batman

Tucuman

Isaac was just assigned his first area and companion. He is serving in Monteros Tucuman.

Isaac with President Chaparro and his wife.

Isaac with Elder Cloud. 

Isaac Arrived In Salta

Last Pictures from the MTC

Family

We have came to this world to be tested. To experience happiness, endure trials, make covenants, so we can return to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father and our brother Jesus Christ. As part the plan on earth, we are here to have families and be sealed together for time and all eternity. The Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families. I was heard an amazing quote in my time at the MTC. "I'm leaving my family for two years, so that I can bring other families together for eternity."

Raising a family in the church is so important. It is a moral compass for families in the dark days of the world today. It is a constant reminder to raise your family to liken unto Christ. The Gospel provides the help for the trials our families endure in this life. 
My family has always been the support and has shown me love every day in my life. There was a period in my life where I was quite wayward from the straight and narrow path. My family never gave up on me and never gave in to me. They never doubted there doubts this church was true. They knew that the Gospel blesses families. They never gave up on me and gave me so much love and support and always believed that I would find my way.

 My father has always been an example to me of what it means to be a worthy priesthood holder, and been amazing patriarch of our family. I strive to be a father and always be a worthy priesthood holder as he has been to me. My mother has always shown much kindness, charity, for her family and everyone around her. My mother has worked hard in her life to be in tune with the spirit. She always knows when something wasn't right with me. I hope to find a future spouse that is as in tune with the spirit and has as much of a love for her family like my Mom.

It is comforting to me to know that when my life on earth is over it will never be the end for my family, that I will be sealed with my mother, father, and siblings. It is comforting for me to know that after my mission when I find an amazing loving woman to be married to, that I will be sealed to her and my future children forever.

I testify that families are forever. I testify that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the moral compass and the help we need in these latter-days. I testify that God is our loving Heavenly Father that knows us personally, and has a plan for each and every one of us. I testify that he wants us to have families and raise them in righteousness. I know that he wants our families together forever in his presence. I leave this testimony with you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Last Week In the MTC

Week 5

I'm ready to get out of here. I got my flight itinerary. I leave from Salt Lake to Atlanta at 2pm. I arrive in Atlanta at around 8 pm and stay there for 2 hours. I leave to Buenos Aires at 10pm and don't arrive until 9:30am. That's all the flight info we have. We're really in the dark about it. Some say we get additional flight info when we get there. Others say we're taking a bus to Salta. WHICH IS 13 HOURS.

Elder Neil L Anderson of the 12 spoke on Tuesday. He talked to us about Faith and Miracles. It was very strong and I learned a lot from him. He said faith is like a flame. You don't need a huge flame RIGHT NOW. But you need to keep fueling it always and strive to build it more and more, or it will go out. 

He said as missionaries we are on the lords errands and are entitled to the Lord's blessings. As long as we work hard, are clean and obedient, and have faith. Miracles will come. We will need miracles on our mission. It really made me think. I believe in Miracles, but did I believe Miracles will happen to me and my investigators in my mission? I wasn't so sure. That questioned me and I know I need to keep building my faith and put so much effort in to love and serve the people and the miracles will come.

Elder McGrath and I taught a member that lives in Argentina through skype, she spoke very fast. I only understood probably 25 percent of what she said and I'm sure my conjugation was terrible. We taught about Faith and Trials. It was a good lesson, she understood our message and said she needed to hear that. 

We also taught an investigator that was just trying to throw wrenches into everything he said. He asked why bad things happen to good people. I was explaining that, and then he just said why did God let 911 happen? I said as missionaries we don't have all the answers but God always has a plan and we showed him the story of Alma and Amulek and he just didn't really want to listen. He never really looked us in the eye. I learned from that experience some people aren't ready to hear the Gospel.  But the other person with him was receptive and we invited him to go to church and he said he will. 

Right now in the MTC we're just polishing our craft and are getting ready to depart. I have infield orientation next week. I'm excited. I've came to really love my district and our zone. We're all pretty close. I'll miss it here for sure. The district that came a week before us leaves and I'll miss them. 

I make sure to have fun. So let me tell you about the Legend of The Luchador. Several weeks ago some Elders checked there vent for stuff and found a box. They opened the box and found the a denim mask, jean shorts, a bunch of nerf guns and a note that said El Luchador. Every week the Luchador comes out and shoots Elders in the dorms with the Nerf Guns. It's been passed on district to district. When you sent me the mask I used my Black compression leggings and black longsleeve and put a blanket on, and the Batman was born. We had an epic battle. Thus the legend of the battle of El Luchador and The Batman were born.​​​

Miss you guys,

Elder Batman​

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They found eachother and got a picture. It makes their mom so happy!

Hola familia y amigos,

This week has pretty lax. The MTC has gotten a lot easier. It's all a routine. You can tell who the new guys are in the MTC based on how they walk and look around. Speaking of new guys. The MTC just accepted around 800 new missionaries this wednesday. It's pretty crowded right now.

Highlights of this week:

We asked our investigator Lori to be baptized, and she accepted. Lori said she was baptized in the Catholic church and asked why she needed to be baptized again? I explained to her the importance of baptism by immersion by someone who holds the power and authority of the priesthood. We then extended the invitation and she was excited and said she felt comforted by my words. That lesson made me realize in full the Gift of Tongues is real. Through faith and a lot of work it comes to you. I was saying spanish words I didn't think I knew in great fluidity. Elder McGrath said he was in shock.

I WAS SICK ALL THIS WEEK. I MISSED ONE CLASS ON MONDAY. I WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND I WASTED TEN DOLLARS FOR HIM TO TELL ME I WAS SICK. I have had a sore throat all week, and have been really stuffed up. I threw up on Monday. I'm feeling better now. The doctor told me not to exercise for three days but I still did the next day. I defintiely over did it. There's been a bug spreading throughout or district and the MTC

Every week we have a Spanish vs German futbol match during exercise time on friday. It gets competitive, and it's like 25 people on a team. Everytime we score we yell Viva Espana! I've acquired a liking for futbol. I just play Defender and I've gotten pretty good at defending at stealing the ball. I can boot the ball pretty far as well but that's about it. My nickname is "El Muro de la Argentina" (The Wall of Argentina)

Spanish oops of the week: I meant to say "the gospel has changed my life. Very thankful."

El Evangelio tuve cambio mi vida. Mucho agradicido. But I said gracioso instead of agradicido. Which means I said that gospel has changed my life. Very funny.

Found out that Elder Holland will be giving a devotional our last Sunday in the MTC. That's so awesome. I will have heard from two apostles in my stay in the MTC.

We get our Flight itenary on this coming Friday. It's exciting. They say when you get that it becomes surreal.

My companion is a really good singer. He auditioned and is going to preform singing at a devotional, hopefully it's the one Elder Holland speaks at.

I definitely have gotten used to cold showers. Sometimes we don't get hot water but I've started to enjoy cold showers more.

Nate and Justina came in this week. I see Nate at lunch almost everyday. I see Justina multiple times a day because her class is just down the hall from me. It's refreshing to see familiar faces here.

I'm really loving it here. This is the place I need to be. This place humbles you and has tried my faith but I'm so much stronger of a missionary now. I know that as I keep working and staying in tune with the spirit I will be an effective missionary. The spirit is the teacher, and I am an instrument of the spirit. Without the spirit there is no power and comfort with the words you say.

I've realized that my prayers have been more sincere and more blessings have been recieved when I pray in spanish as opposed to english.

Thankful for you guys, you guys are in my prayers everyday. I miss you guys, hope all is well.

Elder Batman