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.

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 !!

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.

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.

CHRISTMAS IN URUGUAY

Christmas Day was really special. It really inspired me to hear all of your voices. I love you all so very much.
We have been loving the Christmas season, and Elder Carlock and I have gotten really close. I should hope so, especially because we are going to be together another change! Well, 3 changes with the same comp. It will surely be fun and very interesting. I’m grateful for it and count it as a blessing. He’s a great guy, and we work well together.

We had a miracle last Sunday at church! This woman who we had met on the street came to church! She just came in and sat down and enjoyed all of the meetings. My companion talked to her in the chapel after church and invited her to be baptized. She has had some difficulties in her life and accepted the invitation. We are going to visit her tonight. Well see what happens!

Attached are some pictures of the adventures of the past few weeks.The first is that baptism of Alisia. She is the little woman with wet hair and glasses and a tan sweater. The big family is the family that shared the gospel with her and invited her to their house to listen to us. The second picture is the navidad blanca activity. There were 5 baptisms, and two more Saturday. We had 15 baptisms in the zone this month! IT was a MIRACLE! We hope to keep improving. The changes have brought some interesting and excited missionaries to the zone. Well just have to keep positive and have faith!
The third is Miguel, who was baptized at the activity. The fourth, our Christmas Eve dinner. It wasn’t finished before we had to go, but they were able to give us some that was cooked as we headed out. The fourth is a picture of the family’s farm house that is just barely inside our area.
Well, I gotta go!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your support! I know this is where I need to be, and we keep moving forward. Hopefully I’ll be telling you about even more miracles next week. I know the Lord works along side us. KEEP THE FAITH!
Love your son and missionary
Elder Boyce
K.C.

Making room in our hearts

I got the package. I opened it today because our pday is today. Christmas will be just a normal day of work, except the phone calls of course! The phone calls are to last for 40 minutes, so I won’t get to talk as much as in the past. Anyways, since Christmas is a normal day, I opened my packages and stuff. I’m waiting to open my birthday one till my birthday comes. THANK YOU so much for everything. All of the wonderful thoughtful pictures, and the ties and shirts. My companion Elder Carlock was really grateful for the tie you sent him. He’s wearing it now. Needless to say, it’s been pretty busy down here! There were four baptisms in the zone this past weekend, and WE HAD ONE! Alisia was baptized last Saturday. Its amazing how much her life changed and how much her heart opened to the Lord. After the baptism, she had the opportunity to share her testimony. She stood in front, held out her arms and said. ¨I feel like a little baby. I’m a new Alisia.¨ She expressed her love for Heavenly Father, and the wonderful experience she has had in the changes she’s seen in herself. It made me feel so happy and excited to keep moving forward. I love this work! She was confirmed at church yesterday, and just beamed and radiated happiness. The ward was amazed by how much she had changed. Everyone was touched. One of the ward missionaries German, was able to baptize her.

Last week, we had our mission Christmas Conference. The whole mission gathered in the church like last year. We all got there, and President Da Silva talked to us as a whole mission about the things we have been learning about the past months in the council meetings. It was great to have the opportunity to talk to everyone. Afterwards, we talked about the verse in Luke where it says that Christ was born in a manger ¨because there was no room for them in the inn...¨ We talked about making room for Christ in our hearts and souls and letting him enter in. It was a very powerful meeting. We took a giant picture of the whole mission. We also got to meet his son William, who just got back from his mission in the other half of Uruguay. He bore his testimony of the work and how we need to just love the people. His daughter also shared her testimony. The missionaries heading home also shared their testimonies. Two of them are the sisters that came with us. IT’S SO CRAZY! We all came together in the airport. We took a big picture of our group too. I’m going to miss them. It gets harder to say goodby each time a group goes because I got to know them longer. It was a very special meeting.Well, we continue to march forward. We have 7 baptisms planned this seek for the 23rd. We are going to have them all together in one church as a stake activity. We have been getting everything together. It’s going to be sooooooooooo special! I CANT WAIT!!! We have a guy getting baptized. Raul´s nephew Miguel. We’re excited for him.

Trust

Dear Mom, Dad, and the rest of the family, and the NEW PARENTS!!!!! Well, needless to say I was just stunned by the amazing pictures you sent. Dianna and Nate sent me some, and I can just tell that Nate will be photographing every second of his new son’s experiences. They truly are amazing and I felt like I was there and I could reach out to touch him. Congratulations Nathan and Dianna! I’m sooooo happy for you! This is truly as Mom said an answer to lots of prayer. Give him a little hug and kiss from his uncle K.C.! I love the name as well. Noah. It’s a very awesome name! I knew you guys would know just what to name him. I love you guys so much! Thanks for the pictures. I hope all is going well and that you are enjoying the new life as parents.Things are just fine here on the mission front. We had a busy week, lots of lessons, and even the ward Christmas party! It was really fun, but it ended up starting really late and we could only stay for a few minutes. I took some pictures of the members and some of our investigators that came. They all enjoyed themselves. The members made sure to give us a few sandwiches and saved us a couple of pieces of cake! It was GOOD! This ward really takes good care of us, and I really love working here. Of course, when we have more potential for success, el diablo se mete la cola en la puerta, but we are just keeping positive and praying for success. We have a miracle baptism this weekend. This amazing humble woman named Alisia. I told you about her a couple of weeks ago. She is just overcoming smoking, and has begun to make LOTS of changes in her life. We came to her house the other day, and she was busy in her front yard cleaning like crazy and washing everything. She even came to church in the cold rain yesterday, and was one of the first people there! It’s amazing to see the dedication that the people have when they feel the true power of conversion. It’s been a real humbling experience to be able to teach her. Teresa hit a bump and has decided not to listen for a while. Needless to say that left us with a big shock, but we encouraged her to pray and think. I was a little upset, well really upset, but we prayed and asked the Lord if we had done something wrong. We both felt the comforting spirit of the Lord and one night as I was sleeping, this thought just popped into my head. ¨Teresa will be baptized.¨ I don’t know when, but we continue to pray for her and fast for everyone. We have met lots of amazing people, we just have to trust in the Lord and trust in ourselves. I love this work. I love this time of year. I am so happy to be here teaching the gospel. I really am surprised how fast it’s going by, and the wonderful blessings it has brought. I would not trade this time out here for ANYTHING else. I love you. I am so thankful to the Lord for all He has given me. I sometimes feel that this is what keeps me going. I have to share these blessings with others. Have a great Christmas Season and may it be filled with happiness and the spirit of Christ. KEEP THE FAITH! Love your son and missionary, Elder Boyce (K.C.) P.S. That little boy has HUGE cheeks! I just wanna squish them!