February 21, 2011
Things are going well in the mission. We’ve been working with quite a few investigators and the Lord has really blessed us. It was a week full of trials and testing as well. But we had a great zone conference with President Da Silva and another zone. We had to get everything ready in terms of food and seating. It was as always a little stressful, but it all worked out, and it was a huge spiritual experience. President talked a lot about opposition and overcoming it. As well, he made reference to Joseph Smith’s first prayer and that when Satan opposed him, he exerted ¨all my power to call upon God...¨ I felt a little like that at times this week. We saw lots of opposition in the zone this week, but we are overcoming with faith. We just have to do our part, and then trust in the Lord that He will fulfill His promises. I know that He never forgets His promises. President also left us with the challenge of reading the Book of Mormon in 6 weeks again. This time, marking all the references to heart. Hard hearts, soft hearts, etc... It has been really eye opening. I love the Book of Mormon. Every time I read it, I find answers to my questions and direction to what I should do and how I can be a better missionary and representative of Christ. I love the story of Nephi. He is such a CAPO!!! He was so faithful, even when it would have been so easy to give up. I have been trying to develop faith like him. It’s no easy task, and I doubt I will even be able to get there anytime soon, but I’m going to try! We’ve been working really well with the members. The ward is doing very well. They recently changed the borders to give another ward more support and a couple of families. But the attendance is already up to 117 again! This ward is very great! They work really hard and are so willing to help us and support our investigators. We just have to work hard and earn their trust.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Working Harder Than Ever
February 14, 2011
This past week was very interesting and full of challenging experiences. I always get a little nervous when my companion leaves and I'm left to run the area by myself for a few days. Elder Luke is really awesome. He’s a big guy from California Los Angeles area. His mom is Samoan and his Dad is from the states. He and I get along really well.
We have been helping this family to make the preparations to get married so they can get baptized. They are Juan, and Nancy, and their family. The marriage process here is a little complicated and expensive for those who don’t make a lot of money. But they are doing fine and continue to progress and read the Book of Mormon. I love that book! It’s so true!
Also, we had a miracle at church yesterday. An investigator named Andrés was going to come. But Sunday morning he sent us a message saying that his son wanted to see him and that he wasn’t going to make it. We kind of got a little discouraged. But as we were waiting at the door, he sent another message telling us he was on his way! When he got there, he received a warm welcome from the members and felt really nice to be there! It was awesome! He has a baptismal date for the 26th of February. We are hoping and praying a lot for him. We lost some contact with a couple of other investigators like Carlos but we still have hope that if we do our part, the Lord will pour out His blessings upon us. He already has so much!
I know I need to be focused on the work and I am, but I can’t help but get really excited about Becky’s wedding! VA A SER UNA BODA MARAVILLOSA!!!!!
I have to admit, these past few weeks I’ve been feeling super tired... probably more tired than I ever have in my life. I was just pondering that I don’t think I have ever sacrificed more time, stress, energy, and love in one thing in my whole life. This work, difficult and challenging as it may be, is the most rewarding and peace bringing thing I have ever done. ¨He who looseth his life for my sake, shall find it.¨ This scripture is so very true. I love you all. Keep the faith, and you are in my prayers!
This past week was very interesting and full of challenging experiences. I always get a little nervous when my companion leaves and I'm left to run the area by myself for a few days. Elder Luke is really awesome. He’s a big guy from California Los Angeles area. His mom is Samoan and his Dad is from the states. He and I get along really well.
We have been helping this family to make the preparations to get married so they can get baptized. They are Juan, and Nancy, and their family. The marriage process here is a little complicated and expensive for those who don’t make a lot of money. But they are doing fine and continue to progress and read the Book of Mormon. I love that book! It’s so true!
Also, we had a miracle at church yesterday. An investigator named Andrés was going to come. But Sunday morning he sent us a message saying that his son wanted to see him and that he wasn’t going to make it. We kind of got a little discouraged. But as we were waiting at the door, he sent another message telling us he was on his way! When he got there, he received a warm welcome from the members and felt really nice to be there! It was awesome! He has a baptismal date for the 26th of February. We are hoping and praying a lot for him. We lost some contact with a couple of other investigators like Carlos but we still have hope that if we do our part, the Lord will pour out His blessings upon us. He already has so much!
I know I need to be focused on the work and I am, but I can’t help but get really excited about Becky’s wedding! VA A SER UNA BODA MARAVILLOSA!!!!!
I have to admit, these past few weeks I’ve been feeling super tired... probably more tired than I ever have in my life. I was just pondering that I don’t think I have ever sacrificed more time, stress, energy, and love in one thing in my whole life. This work, difficult and challenging as it may be, is the most rewarding and peace bringing thing I have ever done. ¨He who looseth his life for my sake, shall find it.¨ This scripture is so very true. I love you all. Keep the faith, and you are in my prayers!
An Awesome Baptism
February 7, 2011
We had an AWESOME baptism this past weekend. It was a great way to start off February, and it was one of the most well attended baptismal services I have ever been to! There were about 60 people there! And Brian Medeiro, the guy who was baptized, invited lots of his friends to the service. It was really cool; He even got up in front and shared his testimony in the end. It was a very sweet experience. He is the nephew and grandson of some members in our ward. He was such a miracle. We had been looking very hard for investigators. He came to church with his aunt and grandma and we set a baptismal date with him the same day. Three weeks later he was baptized. He has fit in nicely with the growing Aaronic Priesthood quorum. He is 15. I sent you a few pictures. It was such an amazing experience. That was the biggest news from here in Uruguay. Well, changes have come as well. Elder Carlock is headed off to Florida! My old area of Piedra Alta! I’m so excited for him. The area is going great right now! All the families I left there are doing great, and I hear that they have received their first callings in the Church! He’s going to love it! My new companion is a new zone leader named Elder Luke. Changes are tomorrow, but I already know him. He came to Uruguay with my greenie Elder Delbar, and I was in the same zone with him for a couple of months. He’s a great guy. He’s a big Pacific Islander.
We had an AWESOME baptism this past weekend. It was a great way to start off February, and it was one of the most well attended baptismal services I have ever been to! There were about 60 people there! And Brian Medeiro, the guy who was baptized, invited lots of his friends to the service. It was really cool; He even got up in front and shared his testimony in the end. It was a very sweet experience. He is the nephew and grandson of some members in our ward. He was such a miracle. We had been looking very hard for investigators. He came to church with his aunt and grandma and we set a baptismal date with him the same day. Three weeks later he was baptized. He has fit in nicely with the growing Aaronic Priesthood quorum. He is 15. I sent you a few pictures. It was such an amazing experience. That was the biggest news from here in Uruguay. Well, changes have come as well. Elder Carlock is headed off to Florida! My old area of Piedra Alta! I’m so excited for him. The area is going great right now! All the families I left there are doing great, and I hear that they have received their first callings in the Church! He’s going to love it! My new companion is a new zone leader named Elder Luke. Changes are tomorrow, but I already know him. He came to Uruguay with my greenie Elder Delbar, and I was in the same zone with him for a couple of months. He’s a great guy. He’s a big Pacific Islander.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Growing
¿Cómo están todos? Pa! No puedo creer que el tiempo pasa tan rapido! Seriously it’s hard to believe that January is almost over. Elder Carlock and I are having a great time here and it’s been a super interesting experience having been with a companion for so long. It’s been great during our planning sessions. We put personal and companionship goals on how to improve. Sometimes we get on each other’s nerves, but we get over it fast, and just help each other grow. I really feel like he’s my brother. Anyways, the work has been progressing. This month it only looks like we’ll get to 6 baptisms in the whole zone. It was kind of a humbling experience. We have been working hard to motivate the missionaries. We have been trying to convert ourselves more to the gospel and to the need for baptism. Pres. Da Silva once read to us the scripture in 3 Nephi 11: 33-34. It’s quite powerful, and has helped inspire us to just remember how important baptism is and that we need to help the people to prepare for this saving ordinance. We are really positive of the future! We have two baptisms planned for this next weekend. Not this weekend, but the next, (The 5th of February) They are really cool guys that just showed up in church! Yet again! Well, one of them we invited. His name is Carlos, and he is trying to change his life. The other is a young man who lives in a house where a few other members live. Lots of his relatives are members. He came to church and he accepted a visit from us. We invited him to read the Book of Mormon, and pray, and according to his answer be baptized. He accepted and has felt a calm peace about it. He’s been doing great and came to church again last week. He’s a super stud! Well, that’s all that’s been going on around here. We continue to work hard and the Church here continues to grow ¨unhindered¨ as Pres. Monson stated in the last general conference. We have had our fair share of trials and learning experiences, but its just keeps growing.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Summer.... south of the equator
This week, we had a baptism! Her name is Mariana Gomez. She came to church a few weeks ago and we started to teach her. She is really nice and the members have really extended a hand to her and have helped her feel welcome. She was confirmed yesterday in church
My yummy birthday carrot cake !!
Monday, January 10, 2011
En la lucha!
We’ve been working hard, and we had lots of conferences last week. I’ll admit it, sometimes I really love going, but it sometimes throws me off a bit.
We had a great start last week, and we have been finding lots of awesome people as always. The challenge is just helping them to progress and reaching the waters of baptism. Sometimes I feel like I’m just giving all I have and they just don’t quite reach it. But go on we must. My companion read me a few words of comfort from The Sons of Mosiah. They went through lots and lots of opposition, but they held firm and pushed forward. And as I have seen many times on the mission, the best times are just after the most intense moments of opposition. But really, we are doing great. I can’t complain. The Lord has blessed us immensely with people who are progressing as well. Well, I guess I just need to follow the prophet’s advice and just be more grateful.
We have found this cool family. We have been teaching the husband for a while, but now more and more of their family have started to listen. They even came to church together as a family. They aren’t married, but they have plans to do so. They are even friends of the bishop and a few of the other members!
It’s been interesting. As always, the mission brings its highs and lows, but one constant is that we just gotta do what the Lord wants and follow His Son. The baptisms will come.
I wanted to share an experience that I had this past week. At the beginning of the week, I just decided to trust in the Lord and love the people even more. It had an interesting effect on my work. It became even more of a joy to go out and just talk to everyone. The lessons became more focused and powerful and there was a sweet spirit. I know I’m not perfect. That’s why we REALLY have to rely on the Lord and do our part. I felt so happy. We were able to teach a lot of people. But then with the conferences and such, it kind of threw me off. I don’t know why, but it also renewed my determination to be more consistent and be an agent and not an object. It was interesting, and a testimony that if we decide to just have faith and work, the Lord blesses us with what we need.
I am REALLY looking forward to what’s in store for the coming week. I love this work so very much. It is not our work, it is His work. I testify of this. I love you all so very much. It sounds like all is going well at home. I’m really glad. Even though I look forward to seeing you all again soon, I hope it doesn’t feel like too soon. I still gotta do some things before that day comes.
We had a great start last week, and we have been finding lots of awesome people as always. The challenge is just helping them to progress and reaching the waters of baptism. Sometimes I feel like I’m just giving all I have and they just don’t quite reach it. But go on we must. My companion read me a few words of comfort from The Sons of Mosiah. They went through lots and lots of opposition, but they held firm and pushed forward. And as I have seen many times on the mission, the best times are just after the most intense moments of opposition. But really, we are doing great. I can’t complain. The Lord has blessed us immensely with people who are progressing as well. Well, I guess I just need to follow the prophet’s advice and just be more grateful.
We have found this cool family. We have been teaching the husband for a while, but now more and more of their family have started to listen. They even came to church together as a family. They aren’t married, but they have plans to do so. They are even friends of the bishop and a few of the other members!
It’s been interesting. As always, the mission brings its highs and lows, but one constant is that we just gotta do what the Lord wants and follow His Son. The baptisms will come.
I wanted to share an experience that I had this past week. At the beginning of the week, I just decided to trust in the Lord and love the people even more. It had an interesting effect on my work. It became even more of a joy to go out and just talk to everyone. The lessons became more focused and powerful and there was a sweet spirit. I know I’m not perfect. That’s why we REALLY have to rely on the Lord and do our part. I felt so happy. We were able to teach a lot of people. But then with the conferences and such, it kind of threw me off. I don’t know why, but it also renewed my determination to be more consistent and be an agent and not an object. It was interesting, and a testimony that if we decide to just have faith and work, the Lord blesses us with what we need.
I am REALLY looking forward to what’s in store for the coming week. I love this work so very much. It is not our work, it is His work. I testify of this. I love you all so very much. It sounds like all is going well at home. I’m really glad. Even though I look forward to seeing you all again soon, I hope it doesn’t feel like too soon. I still gotta do some things before that day comes.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
WOW!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
Dear Mom, Dad, newly engaged people that I love so much, new parents, and silly people,
Well, I’m sorry to start off. I was a little selfish and wasted a little bit too much of my time reading all of your emails and seeing all of your pictures. Words cannot express the feeling of gratitude I feel in my heart to see how much our Father in Heaven has blessed me in ways that are to numerous to count. I love you all so so so very much. CONGRATULATIONS BUDE!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU BECK!!!!!! And TERRY TOO!!!!!!! I’m so excited for you guys! What a great way to start off the New Year! I was also pleasantly surprised to see in the pictures you took of the party at the Hall’s home how much everyone has just grown with their spouses and families. Everyone just looks so comfortable and well suited. I was surprised by HOW BIG Olivia and Sammie are, and even Abby! I ALWAYS forget that time just keeps marching on, though I’m not there. I’m so happy to have had this extraordinary opportunity to serve the Lord and give Him thanks for His numerous blessings. Pres. Parkinson sent me an email in which it quotes Psalm 100. That pretty much sums up my feelings at the moment. We have been working hard and seeing lots of great experiences. We have started off a little shaky this month, but we look forward to follow the example of Captain Moroni and watch with faith and diligence and prepare ourselves for the coming challenges. I love you all so much! Sorry I once again sent off such a short email. Me and Elder Carlock are closer than ever, and this long time together has built a brotherly companionship.
Take care! KEEP THE FAITH!!!!
Love your son, and missionary, Elder Boyce (K.C.)
P.S. I’ll be home for the 16th of June I believe. Nate, the picture killed me! I was dying of laughter. Eres un bobo! No puedo esperar hast que podamos hacer cadas chistosas juntos! Que cuide muy bien Noecito.
Well, I’m sorry to start off. I was a little selfish and wasted a little bit too much of my time reading all of your emails and seeing all of your pictures. Words cannot express the feeling of gratitude I feel in my heart to see how much our Father in Heaven has blessed me in ways that are to numerous to count. I love you all so so so very much. CONGRATULATIONS BUDE!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU BECK!!!!!! And TERRY TOO!!!!!!! I’m so excited for you guys! What a great way to start off the New Year! I was also pleasantly surprised to see in the pictures you took of the party at the Hall’s home how much everyone has just grown with their spouses and families. Everyone just looks so comfortable and well suited. I was surprised by HOW BIG Olivia and Sammie are, and even Abby! I ALWAYS forget that time just keeps marching on, though I’m not there. I’m so happy to have had this extraordinary opportunity to serve the Lord and give Him thanks for His numerous blessings. Pres. Parkinson sent me an email in which it quotes Psalm 100. That pretty much sums up my feelings at the moment. We have been working hard and seeing lots of great experiences. We have started off a little shaky this month, but we look forward to follow the example of Captain Moroni and watch with faith and diligence and prepare ourselves for the coming challenges. I love you all so much! Sorry I once again sent off such a short email. Me and Elder Carlock are closer than ever, and this long time together has built a brotherly companionship.
Take care! KEEP THE FAITH!!!!
Love your son, and missionary, Elder Boyce (K.C.)
P.S. I’ll be home for the 16th of June I believe. Nate, the picture killed me! I was dying of laughter. Eres un bobo! No puedo esperar hast que podamos hacer cadas chistosas juntos! Que cuide muy bien Noecito.
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