Whitewashedup and Zoned Out

Well, Whitewashing was nothing like I expected it to be. It´s a lot harder than I thought. It´s been amazing to see the blessings of the Lord in our area. We´ve been able to find some great people and see the people that have been prepared by the Lord. One family, Franco, Laura, Morena, Oasis, and Isabela are very prepared. They are preparing to be married and baptized as a family the 17th of March. They were being taught by the Elders before but they never accepted a date to be baptized or to be married and weren´t progressing a ton. Now they have accepted it and understand the importance of baptism, repentance, and marriage. They all came to church. We are seeing a lot of progression in them. We were able to help all of their doubts and help them find peace. Franco felt like God couldn´t forgive him for the sins he had committed. We explained repentance and baptism very clearly and it was very spiritual. He almost teared up reading the scripture we shared with him. 

​

DYC

                                                                            58:

42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.

​I know repentance is real and works. Franco found peace in that scripture. I could testify of that truth in that scripture because I have seen repentance work a grand change in my life.​ I know the Lord loves us and wants the best for us. It doesn´t matter the person we were before, but rather the person we want to become.

Being a Zone Leader is also nothing like I expected. We have hardly anytime to work because we are so busy with meetings, and problems in our zone that we get limited time. I have enjoyed being so busy and I really feel dialed in. I love the mission. I love Oran. I love my companion. Elder Wilkes is the best companion. We get along great and we are working hard to help our zone, district, and area to progress.

Thank you all. I love you guys!

Élder Batman

Rama Pizarro

San Ramon de La Nueva Oran, Salta

La Misión Argentina Salta

World Flipped Upside Down

Well,

I got transferred. I went from Solis Pizarro in Salta to Pizarro in Oran. That came as a complete suprise. Sunday Night, we were saying bye to some people because EVERYONE and their mother thought that Elder Parker was going to leave. Then at 8:30 Sunday Night, President calls me to advise me that I´ve been called to serve as a Zone Leader and I was going to Whitewash. And that my area was going to be whitewashed. ALSO WE ARE BOTH DISTRICT LEADERS because there is no other elders in this district so we are the zone leaders and share the responsbility as district leader. My comp is Elder Wilkes and he is a stud we are good friends and this will be a crazy transfer.​​​​​​

Got to go. All is well. Love you.!

Élder Batman

Rama Pizarro

San Ramon de La Nueva Oran, Salta

La Misión Argentina Salta

Twenty One Years Young

Hey guys,

This week was good. I just turned 21 saturday. TURNUP. Just kidding, just kidding.

I am grateful for the muy rico asado that the Lamas family gave us for lunch and the cake that the Guzman family did for me. The people here in Solis Pizarro have a lot of love. I appreciate that they celebrated my birthday with me for some brief moments. Blessings.

This week was satisfying. We put a lot of work in. Sometimes the work we put in didn`t amount to what we had expected but it was rewarding in other ways.

We`ll after finding the Gutierrez Family last week and all of the spiritually present lessons we had with them, we came back for an appointment only to be answered by the door by the mom giving us their books of mormon and pamphlets back. They said ``Our family is Catholic, and we don`t want to hear anymore.``  We asked if by chance missionaries were to come by in the future would you give them another try? And they said they would. We left with that commitment and lost 4 investigators.

It`s sad when investigators drop you. But we are here to find the chosen and the elect. We have to keep looking and keep finding to help others come unto Christ. The Lord has already prepared the hearts of the children of men and we must find them. We work hard and do what we can to share the word of the gospel and testify of it with power, but ultimately it`s their decision and their agency. Elder Parker and I were a little sad to have them drop us but anxious to find new people.

We found some good families, one of which is named the Geronimo Family. WE FOUND THEM ON MY BIRTHDAY. Gift from the Heavens for real. Diego, the father of the family, was super prepared and had a lot of questions. The Geronimo family lost a son when it was a baby. 

To testify of God`s loving plan for us was so powerful. It helped them to find peace and know that they will see their son again. We had a very spiritual meeting and I know they will progress and the Lord will keep helping them to find their way to him.

My interview with President was awesome and helped me to stay focus. He bascially said that I have al the skills as a missionary refined at that I need to stay focused and humble. That I need to remember who gives us the sucess and when the trials come to stay focused on your purpose. It really was a great help and I appreciate the loving guidance of my mission president.

We made our baptismal goal as a zone of 15 last month so President took our whole zone out for a breakfast buffet. It was super good, and THEY HAD BACON. I haven`t ate bacon in so long. I miss American Food lol.

Tomorrow all the leaders of the mission are going to meet with President for a leadership meeting. I am excited for the guidance that President will give us and to see old comps and buds.

It was a good week and a great birthday. I appreciate all of the birthday wishes and your thoughts and prayers.

Love you all.

Élder Batman

Barrio Solis Pizarro

Salta Capital

La Misión Argentina Salta

Attitude Is Everything, Success Is A State Of Mind

Hey guys,

This week has been interesting to say the least and has had it´s up´s and down´s of which I´ve learned a lot.

Something I have struggled with on my mission is working with the members and my companion and I are really focusing on how to make the work more efficient with trying to work with the ward more. I love building trust with the members but I haven´t been one to involve them much in the work. We are focusing on that more and we are seeing a difference. Members have been going out with us to work, meeting us at appointments, family home evenings, etc. It´s helping the work a lot and helping our investigators. It´s helping me a ton with my organization.

I am thankful for this ward.

We had a multi-zone conference and It was awesome to see a lot of missionaries. We talked about the importance of maximizing our studies and being obedient with exactness. It was very spiritual and I have 

put some goals to better improve myself.

 I am new to Solis Pizarro and I keep hearing from other missionaries when they figure out where I am at and they´re like ¨Oh, I heard that´s a hard area.¨ ,´´I heard that area was pretty dead.¨¨ etc. 

It´s a lot like when I was in Monterrico. I always heard bad things about the area and I let it get to me. When the success was lacking, I started to blame the lack of success on the things what others said. Looking back, I wish I wouldn´t have let that get to me. Because In reality, when we are faced with adversity we always have the decision to make the most of the situation or not. I did not work to the most potential or optimism I could have in Monterrico. 

BUT I WILL NOT LET THAT GET IN MY HEAD THIS TIME. 

ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING.

It does not matter what everyone says about the situation you are in. We always can look on the positive and make the most of what you have. We can always have success even when the trials come.

The work is grinding. It´s grinding slowly, but it´s moving along. I love Solis Pizarro and I WILL not let anyone change that state of mind. Success is a state of mind. We have to trust the Lord even in our afflictions. We can always pray to him for the help we need to keep moving forward. I have really come to establish even more a relationship with my Heavenly Father. I know he hears me. I know he strengthens me. He motivates me. When we are troubled with the lack of success or adversity the Lord asks us to go further and he then gives us the success.

Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the (ARGENTNES), and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.

(ALMA 26:27)

*Lamanites changed to Argentines

I know this to be true. I know the Lord gives us the success. Attitude is Everything. Success is a State of Mind.

We found a beautiful family. The Gutierrez Family and we have had a couple lessons with him. Juan Gabriel is very smart guy. He´s 21 and is physically disabled. To testify to him that he will recieve a perfect body after this life was one of the most powerful moments ever. He was so happy to find out that restored gospel truth. I know there is potential there.

I love you guys, and appreciate your prayers.

FOTOS

Elder Parker, Antonio, and Ciro

The District

The Fab Five (shout out to Kevin the Egyptian)

Elder Wolf (WOLFFLOW)

Élder Batman

Barrio Solis Pizarro

Salta Capital

La Misión Argentina Salta

Libre de virus. www.avast.com

Grinding For The Finding

Hey guys,

This week has had some miracles. Ariel, the guy we found last week, came to church. He seemed to like it and had some questions temples. He seems real interested.

Graciela, told us that her and her husband set a date to get married on the February 2nd and she´ll be baptized on February 3rd! MY BIRTHDAY! THAT´S THE BEST GIFT I CAN GET FOR A BIRTHDAY.  She is so excited and she is so prepared. She´s just been waiting and praying for the day that she could be married and be baptized. I arrived to this area and she was already ready. I am glad I could oversee a little over her progress. She´s a blessing.

We´ve been grinding to find new people. We´ve been knocking doors, looking for old investigators, references, looking for part member families, every way possible. We are starting to see more fruits of our labors.

We hope to find some new people so we can prepare to baptize in February and March.

We gotta keep looking. Love yáll!

Élder Batman

Barrio Solis Pizarro

Salta Capital

La Misión Argentina Salta

After The Struggle Comes The Reward

Hey guys,

I´lll share with you what I wrote to my President today: 

(MY PARENTS DIRECTLY TRANSLATED FROM SPANISH TO ENGLISH SO IF IT´S OFF OR A LITTLE WEIRD IN ENGLISH I´M SORRY)

¨This week was a bit difficult in terms of the work, but I am grateful for my companion, the ward, our district, and the potential in our area.
Our teaching group is very little. Elder Parker and I are everywhere searching for new investigators through referrals, contacts, making goods, etc. The truth is that we HAVE HUNGER to find new ones. Despite all our efforts, the results were few in terms of the sum of our key indicators. We were not happy with our low indicators. We contacted a ton this week and the truth is it was a challenge We contacted some days all day because our plans didn´t work out and to little results. We still keep on the grind, but I will tell you one experience that I had this week that really changed it all for me: 

On Sunday, I was half frustrated by the lack of success in finding. We only had one investigator that had arrived at church and she still needs to get married so she won´t be baptized for a bit.

The time came to go out and work and the truth is that I did not have much desire to work with the little success we were having and finding. It´s been quite strenous and frustrating. I decided to get on my knees and pray that The Spirit would guide me and that I could go out to work with encouragement. After having prayed, a whisper came to my mind that told me "someone needs you today". I felt better and was excited to get out there and put in work. We went to a new neighborhood to contact a reference and on the way a man called to us from his house, asking for a brochure ( he thought we were the JW´s), we gave him one and we began to explain what Church we represented and the message we shared. He invited us inside. His name is Ariel Jimenez. We got to know him a bit and his religous background and and then we proceeded to share the message of the Restoration. He had many questions, for which we were able to answer clearly. He listened with so much sincerity. We gave him a book of Mormon and we invited him to be baptized on Feb. 3. He accepted the goal we put and told us that the discussion did him good and he wanted to learn more and "try out´´ the Mormon church. I know without a doubt that Ariel was the person who was waiting for us. I know that the Lord prepared him for this exact moment. As I reflect on the week, I feel that the Lord wanted us to make efforts and to continue to be obedient, diligent, and giving all the effort we could even though we were not so successful. He wanted us to show him how willing we are to help his children. I know that was a blessing from the Lord, for the efforts Elder Parker and I had put in.´´

It makes me think, that in life sometimes we have a desire or a goal in our mind that we want to achieve but the way of achieving it becomes difficult and seems at times that our efforts are without reason. I feel the Lord wants to help us but he wants to see how willing are we to work for what we want. He wants to bless but we have to give our part and sometimes we have to try even harder to achieve what we desire. 

Sometimes in life things don´t go the way we planned but we have to perservere and keep moving forward. We have to remain obedient to the Lord and his commandments and trust in him that we will help us to keep moving forward. Sometime it requires a little more faith and trust in him. Sometimes we are going to be frustrated and want to give up. But we just got to give a little more.

MOSIAH 24:14

And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

The Lord loves us and wants to help us. Sometimes we got to struggle. Sometimes we have to give a little more. Sometimes it´s very difficult and we don´t want to keep

Back To Salta La Linda

Hey guys,

I got transferred! It was a bit of a shock as I thought I was going to stay longer in El Colmenar in Tucumán. I really enjoyed my time in El Colmenar. We achieved a lot of success and the Lord really had guided us and blessed us abundantly to harvest the work he had prepared for us. I am going to miss a lot of families, friends, and converts in El Colmenar. I was a bit sad to leave from there, but whatever the Lord needs of me I am willing to do.

I have been transferred to Solis Pizarro in Salta Capital in the Salta West Zone. I am still District Leader, and my new companion is Elder Josh Parker from St. George, Utah. He seems like a stud. He´s 6' 3 so I feel short compared to him. He was a high school quarterback as well so those Mondays you know were gonna be slinging the pigskin. I feel like we are going to get along real well as we have a lot in common.

My new district is 8 missionaries. Elder Parker and I from Solis Pizarro, the Zone Leaders, Elder Baker and Wolf, from Palermo, The sisters from Limache, Hermana Moore and I am not sure yet who´s the other, and the sisters from Olavarria, Hermana Granda y Hermana Unda. It´s the biggest district I´ve had as district leader and the first time I´ve had the zone leaders in my district. I have a feeling this district is going to be real great. I think we are going to work really hard together and achieve great things and also I think we are going to have a lot of fun together while realizing it.

It seems like the great need here is finding new people. There has been a good amount of baptisms here in the past and the ward is strong in attendance with 100 something members. We are going to focus on working with the members to get references and work with part member families to find new investigators. We will try to work smarter not harder, but we are going to work hard to find the people we need to find.

I really feel a great change in me. I feel like I am really becoming even more of the man the Lord needs me to be. I know I have less then 6 months to make the most of this sacred time the Lord gives us. I want to continue this change in me but more importantly the change in others that the Lord will guide me to do.

One miracle of the week is that we found a family of 12 people through a reference. We spoke with the father and he is very intrigued in our message about the eternal families and that we can find peace through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is a taxi driver and a mailman that works a great number of hours a week providing for his family. One of his sons is disabled and he found great peace in knowing that his son is loved of God and that after this life he will have a body but in a perfect and restored form. The Spirit really was strong in that first meeting and the the sequence of events leading us to find them really was a blessing from the Lord.

I know God is among us, that he lives, and that he loves us. I know we wants us to find peace in him and through the path His Son has showed for us. Pure happiness and joy is only obtainable through living His Gospel. The families are eternal through following His Plan. I know these things are true. I know Prophets are really messengers of the Lord and that Thomas S. Monson was a true prophet of God. May he rest in peace with his wife in the eternities. 

I want to share a scripture that really made an impact me recently.

27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe 

know that if we have faith in the Lord even if it be a particle of desire the Lord can grow that within us if we let him and we desire to cultivate that desire until it grows into something more. The same goes in changes that we want to make or things we want to become better. Even if it be a small desire it can grow and work within us.

I testify of these things. I know they are true and that they can change you.

Thanks for everything guys. Love you.

Élder Batman

Barrio Solis Pizarro

Salta Capital

La Misión Argentina Salta