May 21, 2013

Hey familia!!! I want you all to know that I love you so much! Maggie... you poor little girl!!! You were always such an old fart, but now it´s really happening... You´re disentigrating into thin air!!! :( I hope I see you before you die. 

Anyway, right now, I am in Trelew. 5 hours away from Comodoro doing errands to renew my Visa to stay legal in the country. I´m with an E. Johnstun from Mona, Utah (?) Where the heck is Mona?? And E. Reid from Idaho. Two AWESOME Elders. Anyway, we got all my visa stuff done this morning, so now we´re just waiting for my 5 hour bus trip back to Comodoro at 3 o´ clock. What a week it´s been! It was SOOO cold outside! The wind has been... FREEZING!!! But, I´m happy, doing good, everything is good. 

You and E. Wagstaffs mom should get together for an afternoon tea or something! At least... ahem... That´s what all Argentines would do, but seeing that we´re LDS and we don´t drink tea... Maybe you guys could drink milk? Or Sprite? Hahaha! Wagstaff has an awesome family, really crazy. I like his mom, she worries so much about her little munchkin! ;) 

Yes, people were throwing rocks but it´s no big deal. there are about 30 missionaries in Comodoro. It´s a big city, but we´re on the outskirts of everything. It´s a lot more chill where I am, and we don´t have too many problems with anybody. Carla and Gabriel, we went to them on Monday night and they really don´t want to progress. At least Gabriel is fighting with his little Bible in hand, and won´t humble himself enough to read and ask God. What a frustrating man. Anyway, Carla is a little confused about everything, but we will be going by in the next few weeks maybe to see how she´s doing and see if she´s still interested in at least learning more. She hasn´t ever wanted to go to church, just embarassed, probably. Anyway, we´re not going by them as much anymore just because nothing ever happens. They aren´t progressing. 

I have to apologize... I don´t have anything to send pictures with! I left everything in Comodoro, so I can´t send you the pictures of the awesome Sealions that almost killed me! It was such a cool experience! We had to wait till the tide was down, then we walked out to this outcropping of rock way out in the sea, the Bishop was with us, of course. Anyway, we got out there, and got around to the other side of the rocks, and there they were, like... hundreds of sea lions on the rocks! It was SOOO cool to see them so closely! We climbed up the rocks, and i was litterally 5 ft. away from them. I have a picture of one that looks about ready to kill me. It was so awesome, such a good experience... I´m so grateful to my Heavenly Father for sending me to such a beautiful mission. I have been so lucky to be in the Patagonia of South America... What a blessing it is. Anyway, that night I get a call from... E. Slaugh! He and E. Sharp were companions, and E. Sharp was leaving for Gaiman which is pretty close to Trelew, so he called me up and wanted to know if he could chill with me and Wagstaff for the night till his next comp came, I said... GET HERE AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!!

So I had divisions with my Dad. FUN. It was so good to talk with him. He pulled me aside on the bus that night, and said. E. Cuthbert, I want you to know how proud I am of you. I have heard about the things you´ve done on the mission, and I will never stop telling you of how proud I am of you. Mom, it felt SO. Good. to hear my Trainer say that to me. I have a lot to work on, and I have a long way to go before I ever become like him, but to hear him say that was... It was awesome. I respect him more than anyone else. He really was my half brother for that transfer... Hard to think that that was a year ago exactly. How the time flies... 

This week, the work went a lot better. We had more news, and the lessons with member went up as well. It felt good to be back on track with my usual numbers. I love this work!!! 

I didn´t write anything down before I came here, so I can´t really remember a lot of the stuff that happened, but I wanted to relate my story about the talk I gave yesterday in church. Talk about, GOOD! I had been thinking about what I wanted to say for awhile now. And one day, I was reading a very known part in D&C 18 that says the Worth of Souls is great in the sight of God. So I spoke about my own family, how much I miss and love you guys, and how our Heavenly Father feels, having all of us so far away from his presence. I told them that if we could erase all of the religion, work, sports, the things that separate us as people, wouldn´t we realize and see ourselves as how we really are? All of us, sons and daughters of God fighting for the exact same goal? Returning to Him? With that said, I began talking about the importance of sharing the Gospel with all of our Brothers and Sisters. Because that´s what they are. How can we NOT gives our OWN brothers and sisters the tools they need to make it back to their Father in Heaven? Preposterous, to those who think that this Gospel is not something to be shared with EVERYONE. 

Anyway, I love you guys so much. I know that this is the true church. I had so many people crying after my talk was done... I have that effect on people when I talk, if they cry... That means I reached their hearts... And hopefully they will change. thank you for everything you guys are doing for me. Jared, I just saw Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows on the bus ride from Comodoro to here... It was SICK! I really liked it, really funny, good action. (Just so you know, Mom... The President lets us watch movies on the buses) Anyway, I´m going to go and buy a giant pizza for myself, I´m pretty hungry! I love you so much!!! 

Amor, 

E. Cuthbert 

May 14, 2012

Tell grandpa that I miss him... A lot. He`s been such an example in my life, tell him that I am so proud of him, his son; my father, and all that he has taught the both of us. The same goes for Grandma, Omi and Buppi and all the rest of the family.

 

I totally didn`t want to use Skype until I saw your face. :) Then I was a converted person. I was so happy that I was able to give you that present. I know you loved it, Mom. I love you so much. Once again, Happy Mothers Day. Thank you for everything that you have done for me in my life. For all the sacrifice, all the hard work. I realize now the amount of love and devotion you have dedicated into the lives of your children in such a short year and 2 months. And I know that as I get older, that appreciation will just continue to grow. Anyway, I wanted to ask Jared to send me some of his photography. From what I saw on the cam it was REALLY good! And it`s got awesome views of our view of the mountains. People here have never seen such big mountains, so Jared, send me some good pictures of our gorgeous mountains that you`ve done, and other things around the house. I would love to show more about my own life to them.

 

So the move went smoothly. We moved Monday night, and got everything organized, going to bed at 11:30, exhausted after a good Pday and lots of moving furniture. The new pench is much bigger than the old one, and in a much safer location. Just last week we had people throwing rocks at us right in front of our pench! Glad we moved!! Haha! Anyway, finding new people to teach this week was hard. I`m not understanding why it`s so hard to find people, but I know that they will come, if I Trust in the Lord, like you said, Mom, I know that we will be guided to the people looking for the truth. Wednesday night, we held a little 6 month anniversary for E. Wagstaff. I made him pizzas and chocolate chunk cookies that you sent me, Mom. If you ever send me more of the cookie mixes... I want that one... And nothin` else! Hahaha! SOOO good, and they reminded me of home. I can`t wait to try your brownie dessert pizza or whatever it was you made for dinner for Mothers day!

 

Thursday I had the coldest and most cruel wind and icicle´-like raindrops pound and rip apart my face for what seemed like an eternity. I`ve never been colder. The wind threw the rain into our faces, and it literally felt like someone throwing little daggers one by one into our flesh... Charming, but extremely fun experience! Haha! What we do for the Lord and the people here in Comodoro... We had an incredibly crazy lesson with Carla and Gabriel, the lady who forgot everything about the church. Gabriel pretty much denied himself eternal life. Saying that he was aware of the decisions he was making, and if he were to die tomorrow, he would be fine with going to hell. All I could say was... Sad. So, Sad. We begged them to read the BoM and pray about it, knowing that`s the only way he can get a testimony of everything. He is someone who dedicated himself to the Bible for 15 years, and he knows a lot. But every time he tried to counterargue something with a statement from the Bible, I whipped it back in his face with something from the Book of Mormon, or his own precious Bible. It surprised me at just how much I have learned, and the knowledge I have gained by both books. It has put the promise made by the prophets fulfilled when they said that with the Bible and Book of Mormon, you will be able to confound all men who come against you. I know that is true. And how powerful I felt to be able to testify of that fact to him. What a testimony I`ve gained... I love this church, I love this Gospel, I love my Savior.

 

It has been a while since I bore my testimony. I was thinking about what I`ve learned over the past year here in Argentina, and I know I am not the same person. Like Grandpa said to you, Mom, I know as well that the mission is changing everything about me. I sure hope that I am not like I was before the mission, and knowing that I`m not, I hope that I will never return. I know who I am now. I know what my purpose as a person is. I am so much happier, I don`t doubt about my life, and what I`m going to do. I know that as long as I trust in the Lord, He will direct my paths. I love this Gospel with all of my heart, and I know that it is a priviledge to suffer whatever it is that I suffer as a misisonary for two years if it means I can pay back even a little part of what The Savior of the World suffered for me. I know that without His example, His suffering, the giving of His life, we would not have the opportunity, the chance, or the blessing to see each other after this life, but because of it, I know that He conquered the death, and that we, as families can live together again after we have parted from this earthly life. I want everyone within the sound of my voice to know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church of God. There was a true church of God when Jesus Christ was on the Earth. And it is back on the earth again because a loving Heavenly Father answered the curious prayer of one who only wanted to know which church to join. Joseph Smith really saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. Of that I bear witness and testimony. And with all the complaints, all the false theories, all the lies, the persecution, the hatred, and the excuses that people will exclaim to me and my family about how Joseph Smith is a liar and a man destined to reign in Hell with Satan himself - To them I say they are wrong. And if they will not take on the promise made by Moroni, an ancient prophet from this American continent who promised that every single soul on this earth, male or female that wanted to know the truth of the Book of Mormon and the reality of the Truth of the Church of Jesus Christ, would only have to get on their knees and pray to their Maker, asking Him if these things are true... If they will not do that, it is because they do not have faith. I admonish, beg and exhort all to read the Book of Mormon and ponder its message. I love that book, and know it is the word of God. The Church is true, it`s important, and it`s NECESSARY to receive life eternal with our families. I love my family. And will fight every day of my life, until I can say at the end of my life as Paul said of old: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course..." I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and I know that any person that will abide His teachings... Will be saved in the Kingdom of God. Of these things I testify, asking God Himself to seal my testimony in heaven as well as here on Earth, and I do it in the name of His Son, the Son of God, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

I love you all, Happy Mother`s Day.

E. Cuthbert 

April 16, 2012

My computer today ha s a really crappy keyboard, so if there are weird spaces in between certain things... I`m sorry!   Anyway, I won`t be able to send pictures this week, because I forgot my camera cord... Darn it!

 

Pday last week was a stinkin` BLAST. We went to a beach in Comodoro called Rada Tilly. There, with a Rugby ball (Because they don`t have american footballs here) we played american football for a good four hours. It was such a blast. Playing right there on the beach..  It was incredible. We were so happy, our group of 10 elders that went. I  have a  ton of pictures to show, but no way t o show them... Just going to have to be patient unt il n ext week! Haha. I also bought a hair buzzer last week. Cool fact for the day. Mom, before I forget...  We `re going to have to plan you coming down here to pick me up very well. I would love t o show you some of my areas, rent a car and go to San Martìn or Esquel, but not much farther down south.. Sorry Comodoro!  This also depends o nthe time and day of when Mirta and Ramon go to the temple. I need to coordinate with them so it will all work out.  But I want to thank you again for doing this for m e. I love you so much. So keep saving up! :)

 

 This week was pretty hard. My hardest week on the mission I think. First time in over a year that I haven`t found at least one new investigator during the week. Dificilìsimo!!!! I have never gone to bed so tired from knocking houses all day, there have b een nights where I literally put my h ead on the pillow and I am out until 6am the next morning. Incredible.  T he mission really knows how to K.O. me, Haha! Ximena isn`t progressing really well, we haven`t been able to see her for a while. We started  up a free English class and we`re getting the word around. Hopefull we get lots of new investigators from the classes.

 

My  highlight of the week was on Friday when we had the Zone Conference. In Comodoro, they do it a little differently. Caleta Olivia is a zone about an hour away from Comodoro, and so the President doesn`t have to drive all the way down there, they join the two zones together to have the Conferenc e.  And guess who the Zone Leaders are of Caleta Olivia? Elder`s  Slaugh and Sharp, my Dad and other Gringo comp!!!!! We had a  flippin` BLAST.  I had never been so happy in my life. Not even kidding, I was just...  SO happy to see those two guys, t hey were incredibly happy to see me as well. E . Slaugh had missed me, his Son, since we hadn`t seen each other for a full year, the reunion was a good one... E. Sharp t old me that the Flia. Colque in Esquel is doing GREAT. The two boys are passing the  Sacrament always, and Cecilia is in the Young Womens  presidency! Franco, the dad, is the Branch cook, not with the priesthood yet, because he   can`t go to church very often. I was so happy to see them!!!!! Then I saw E. Marriot from the MTC, who was in a trio with me and E. Wiblefor a few days. What a good day... Incredbile day. I was jumping with joy. I have great pictures with all of us t ogether, and they`re coming up today to play football with us at the beach.

 

During the Conference, my district did a musical number of God be with you till we meet again, for President Peterson, because this is his last Zone Conferenc ec before he goes home in J une. Since the mission, I have learned how to sing the bass and the harmony as well as the melody, so we did a quartet during the second verse with E. Lee on the bass, me, harmony, and two others on the m elody... And we KILLED it. It was beautiful. I was very proud of us!

 

Kolt  King, I had empanadas with a family who had a son who served in your mission, and he remembers you.  His n ame is Bryan (Brian) Krebs. He says he was in the city Rosario while you were in Rafael (?) Something like  that. But yeah, great family, small world. Haha!  We`re going to make French toast tomorrow morning, with whipped cream and Maple Syrup!!! WOOT!!

 

Mother, my mission is Gigantic. It`s one of the biggest in the world. When we were on the beach, I pointed across the water and said, THERE`s AFRICA!! And then I pointed farther south and said, THERES ANTARCTICA!!! All within a few hu ndred miles. Haha! Anyways,  I have to go now.  We have a few investigators, but nothing really progressing. This area needs a lot of work.  Pray for us, Pray that we can find some investigators... THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO!!!! I love you so much, Mom. Mothers Day is coming up here pretty quickly, YAYAYAA!!!!ª!!  ;)

 

Amor,

E. Cuthbert

 

E. Wagstaff is from SLC, we get along GREAT, We`re great friends, and we help each other out a lot. Really blessed to have such a great first jr. comp like him. He went  to Olympus high school, and  he was in this area for 3 months before, he started here in Comodoro. 

February 6, 2012

We went to a place today called Via Christi. It`s a Sculpture Park on the mountain in Junìn de los Andes of the entire life of Jesus Christ.. Through sculptures. It was incredible. And I had no camera to take pictures of it! I hope I stay here one more transfer, it would be awesome to go back with my camera... 

So the baptisms.. WERE AWESOME!!! Those two, SWEET GIRLS!! Their mom is less active, hasn`t been inside the church since she was fifteen. But she wanted her two children to know what baptism was, and if they had the desire to be baptized, that they would be baptized as well. Their father is a non member. He also has desires, but was never home when we taught them, which made it more difficult to teach him. But he has interest as well. On Friday we had the baptismal interviews, Zahida (11 years old) She gets very, VERY nervous in front of people she doesn`t know, and during the interview, E. Campos asked her what a prophet was. She began to tremble because she couldn`t remember, she THREW her face into her hands and started yelling, I don`t know, I don`t know!!!! Hahaha, E. Campos calmed her down, and helped her out. Turns out she DID know, she just didn`t remember. But they both passed the intervews. On Saturday morning, we went by their house in the morning to give them the baptismal clothing. We asked them who they wanted to baptize them. They both shouted: "Vos!!" Or "You!" I felt very humbled. That night in the baptism, everything went perfectly. The baptisms went through well, Daniza (9 years old) bent her knees too much and hit the bottom of the font with her butt, haha!!! But it was awesome, I loved it. I love baptisms. With those two girls, they almost didn`t need to be baptized.. . So pure. Children are SO pure. It makes me think of 3 Nephi 9:22 that says we should become as little children. 

Fabiana is a miracle. I couldn`t tell you guys of the miracle that happened last week with her. We gave her a chapter to read in the BoM, she read it, but then the idea came into her head... What else does this book say? She began filing through some pages and stopped on a page and read two verses. We came by later that day to talk to her. She then had the question "Why the Book of Mormon?" What`s its purpose? I leafed through some pages of the book of Mormon, stopped ona page... And had her read two verses. She stopped halfway through, and said: "I`ve already read this." Turns out that it was the exact scripture that she had read earlier when we weren`t there. Don`t ask me how I knew I had to go to that scripture, but the Spirit works in mysterious ways, and she took that as an answer to her prayers, amongst other things that have happened. Fabiana in the beginning told us that Religion is BAD. It is meant to DESTROY. Churches do nothing but rip apart families. But she has realized over the past 3 weeks that that is not so. She had the plan to come to church last week, but in the end didn`t come because her little 1 and a half year old daughter didn`t have diapers. But she came this week!!! She liked it, too! We have her baptismal date for the 12th, on Sunday after Sacrament meeting. If everything goes well, you should see the pictures on Monday. If not the 12th, the 18th for sure!!! Miracles, Miracles, Miracles!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THE MISSION!!! Well, I have to go. The time is short! 

I love you guys. 

E. Cuthbert 

December 19, 2011

I GET TO CALL YOU GUYS IN LESS THAN A WEEEEEEK!!!!!!

It sounds like things back home are awesome. People are coming back home from their missions, you´re having parties left and right, and Buppi is... Not doing well... :( Tell him from me to rest it up and not do anything stupid! Since he can´t drive now, he might as well give up the keys to the RS6. It´s only fair. ;) Haha.

 

Haven´t received any Christmas packages yet, we haven´t even received the pouch mail from the mission home for 2 weeks. It´s probably all there in the mission home, they just need to send it! But I´m grateful for anything I get, thank you so much.

 

Well, the situation with the Birth Certificate. It should have been made today and sent by bus from Buenos Aires to get here tomorrow or Wednesday. I am praying so hard, and we have been fasting every single weekend for the past month for that birth certificate to get here and that the wedding and baptism can go through on Friday and Saturday. We REALLY want a White Christmas, and if I can´t have snow... It HAS TO BE  A BAPTISM!!! Gosh Dang it!! It´s been too long without a baptism, and this family deserves and wants it! We were with Mirta and Ramón yesterday night and she said, "Gosh, I just want to get BAPTIZED already! I am willing to do whatever it takes, follow whatever commandment and do... whatever to get baptized!!" We love them, and they´re a family that was always ready. Keep the prayers going, we need them.

 

We had a great time this Saturday with MTC for a Day with all the young men in the Branch. We got up early in the morning to be there at 7: 00 am to study with them and then teach them about being missionaries! After lunch we took them all out to work! It was very fun, they were so tired at the end of it, and it reminded me of my first week in the MTC... Exhausting!

 

Well today was exhausting as well. We got up early and went on an AWESOME hike with a member who works as a guide for rich people here in San Martín. He took us on a hike that was SO STEEP and VERY long. At the end, though... Was a volcano crater with a crystal clear blue lake in the middle... It was gorgeous. The wind was SO strong. Even though it´s summer right now, it was freezing up there. I´ve got some pretty awesome pictures. San Martín really is the most gorgeous place in the Patagonia. I´m so lucky to be spending Christmas and my birthday here... Wow... I love the mission... :) I love you guys so much, Sorry for the short letter, but I have stuff to do! I miss you a ton, and can´t WAIT to talk to you guys at 1:00pm on Sunday, the 25th of December!!! Que tengan una buena semana! Hasta que hablemos!!!

 

E. Cuthbert 

November 14, 2011

I had to include these couple pics, he looks truly happy!  His companion is the guy sitting next to him on his right in the pic taken on the boat.  

The weather is HOT. Not even as hot as it´s going to be getting... It´s like 70- 80 here right now, and going to get hotter. It´s very fun in slacks and a shirt and tie! Heh, but it´s fine, I´m fine! I am very happy right now. I love the mission. Yesterday, I finally realized that I´ve adapted completely into the mission, that now, I like doing whatever it is we´re doing. I´m a missionary. :)

 

E. Calvache is a great Elder, and we get along great. He is great with the scriptures, and although is very old, is very easy to work with. He´s got a gfriend at home, and not afraid to say it. He never knew his father, His family is all converts, with his younger brother being baptized just a month ago! It´s a good companionship. 

Here are some pictures of the baptism from last week and this week! I´ll tell you what happened with this miracle story... I have seen so many miracles...

 

Ruth Vivanco is the wife of Manuel Henriquez, a recent convert for a month and completely blind. He was baptized the week before I got to San Martín. His wife never took the step to be baptized, because she has had a very difficult past, and to forgive the people who hurt her as a child was "Impossible", how she put it. We´ve been fighting and fighting to help her understand the importance of baptism, and how it will HELP her to forgive and repent, but she never seemed to understand. So things were at a stand still with her. She knows everything, just won´t get baptized. Until last Monday. Last Monday night after I emailed you guys and went about doing my Pday stuff, we got dressed and got on the bus to visit families in a different part of the city. But halfway there, I said to E. Calvache, We need to go to Miguel and Ruth. He said, I was thinking the same thing. We headed over to their house and found Miguel all calm, ready to talk. Ruth on the other hand was very busy with their 4 yr. old child Sol, getting her bathed, and then she took a shower. But neither E. Calvache or me moved. We were staying there until she came and spoke to us. at 8:45 she came in, FINALLY ready to talk. We spoke about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the miracle of forgiveness, and the help the Holy Ghost gives to those who receive him into their lives to forgive and forget. After only 10 minutes of sharing, we threw the question... "Ruth, when would you like this help?" "As soon as possible," she said. "Will you be baptized this Saturday?" "Yes!" WITH A SMILE!!! In 15 minutes, we helped a daughter of God, realize her worth, and realize that she needed the help of her big brother, Jesus Christ. She was baptized on Saturday!!

 

One more story I want to tell, just because it´s funny... Last night we were knocking doors and found this adult couple. The husband was blabbering all night about how he only believes in God and scriptures, churches and prophets don´t mean a thing. The wife snapped at him and told him to shut up! Then she said, I want to hear this... We testified about Jesus Christ, our faith and testimony in the love He has for us, and how through Him we can live with our families forever. She cut us off... "You two really FEEL what you´re saying... Don´t you?" We said: YES. She asked how old I was, I said 19. She then started flipping out how I´m so young and yet so far away doing something so big and scary as she put it. She said, You´re like my son!!! Hahahaha, it was a very interesting experience, but hey... I guess there´s nothin´ I can do about bein´ such a Cutie!!! ;) JUST KIDDING!!! HAHAHA that was my joke for the week. I love you all, I have to go, But I want you to know that I´m happy, doing well... We´re going on a hike right after this. Thank you for all the support!

 

Amor,

E. Cuthbert

November 7, 2011

This week was VERY good here in San Martin. I love this place, and never stop to appreciate its beauty. This last week, we baptized Roberto and Matius Gori, Father and Son. It was such a special experience. I loved it!!! It marked 3 weeks since Matius had met us. I have been so blessed... I don´t understand why my Heavenly Father lets me have all of this success. I could be so much better. My potential is so much more... But more on that later. This week has been very interesting. Every morning is a P90X workout, so I´m always up and sweating, ready to go. Haha. Studying has been very good, too. I decided to read the BoM for the 3rd time so far on the mission, but in Spanish this time. I had tried right when I got to Esquel, but my comprehension was so little that I decided to wait till I understood more. I now understand everything, and it´s incredible!! I need to read the BoM so much more... The lessons, verses, POWER that are in its pages is incredible. I know that book comes from God. On Thursday we traveled on a 4 hour bus ride to Zapala for Zone Conference. The movie Battle: Los Angeles was playing. Our president lets us watch movies on bus trips because it would be impossible to watch us all on bus trips... So we all had a fun time watching it. But I have to admit, I felt guilty inside for watching a movie. Zone Conference was incredible. We spoke mainly on Repentance, and the wonderful gift it is. Focusing mostly on the talk D. Todd Christofferson gave during Gen. Conf., we learned a lot on how to best help our investigators repent. On the return journey Friday night, we watched a different movie, and at the end of the trip, I was sick of it. I said a prayer during Sacrament meeting, repented of watching the movies, and covenanted with my Lord and Savior that I will not watch another movie, no matter the movie, for the rest of my mission. This is not a mission rule, this is MY rule. In the MTC I learned a lot about Sacrifice from my teacher Hmo. Maxwell. Heavenly Father will bless us even more when we sacrifice even more. This is what I want. I have thought of some other things that I can take out of my missionary life that prohibit me from becoming the best I can be. During Zone Conference, E. Smoot and I were talking about it and he said, This is you... (pointing at the bottom of the floor) And this is what you, me, every missionary can be...(Pointed to the ceiling) He wasn´t saying I was dirt, or anything, But a good example of the amount of potential we have as Sons and Daughters of God is incredible... Also a little scary. Am I ready to take on the responsibility and be a real Soldier of my Heavenly Father? I´ve done well so far, but do I have what it takes to take it farther? Go all the way? Become a Dedicated, Sanctified, Consecrated servant of God? Good question... I hope so. I start now. I have been very successful as a missionary so far, but I have also lacked in many, many ways. I need to repent, I need to change. I want to be a scriptorian when I get back. I want to know that Book of Mormon backwards. So many things I want as a missionary... So little time to do them.

Anyway, we had the baptism, and it was AWESOME!!! Roberto was baptized first by E. Calvache. You´ll see in the pictures next week how big Roberto is compared to E. Calvache, he had to baptize him 4 times to get it right!!! I had to come in on the fourth and push Roberto down into the water with Calvache, HA!! Then I baptized Matius, my 15 yr. old STUD!!! I´m getting that boy on his mission!!! Roberto has a girlfriend in the branch, I´m going to get them married in the temple! (If it´s what they want)

I thought you might want to know that while you were sailing on a cruise ship... I too, was sailing on a boat!!! Ha, this Pday, we got permission from Pres. Peterson to get on a ferry on Lake Lacros and go to Quila Quina... The MOST GORGEOUS PLACE ON EARTH!!! I´ll have pictures next week, but MAN! It was incredible... The lake is beautiful, and the views from the beach were incredible. I was sent to paradise. It makes it even better to be able to preach the gospel here.

Well, I have to go. Got some work to do!!! I love you, Mom! Have a great week, and I will talk to you all next week! Oh, THANK YOU AUBREY, GMA, KATHERINE and MELYN for writing me!! It´s been awhile without a letter, Haha! Aubs, he has a Yamaha R6??!! That´s what I wanted!!

I have a testimony that this is the true church. I know it. The Book of Mormon is true, SO TRUE.

E. Cuthbert

October 24, 2011

This week has been very fun and crazy... I will try and see if I can relate everything.

 

So I left Esquel a week ago... It was hard. We spent the day packing, then we got together with the other Elders and bought some icecream. Then it was off to the terminal to wait for the bus! While we were there, we began taking pictures and enjoy the last few moments together. I was JUST about to get onto the bus when the Colque family who we baptized all came RUNNING from the parking lot, trying to get there before I left. They made it! We took pictures, and said our last goodbyes... It was very hard to say goodbye to that family. They´re so special to me... I love them so much. I must return someday. I got on the bus, and Chao Esquel! It was such a strange experience... But right when I left, and was on the road out of Esquel... My entire 6 months of time there flashed before my eyes like lightning. Starting with the day I got there, nervous, not being able to understand Argentine spanish... All of the experiences, the good times with E. Slaugh, the bad times with E. Rojas, the successful times with E. Sharp... It all flashed past so quickly, I all of a sudden felt so... I don´t know how to explain it. The time I have is so short... I felt like I lived 6 months in about 6 seconds... I can just imagine getting on a plane in Buenos Aires for the U.S.A... How I will feel... Leaving home. Being a missionary is a one of a kind experience. And it´s one I will never forget.

 

Monday night, I stayed with... (Drum roll please...!!!) E. ALLSOP!!! Haha! I stayed in his apártment with his companion, it was VERY fun! In the morning, they saw me off to San Martin. I got there at 2 o´ clock and met my companion, E. Calvache. He´s very short, Columbian, 27 yrs. old (The oldest in the mission) and has the most annoying laugh, EVER!! Haha! My first day was AWESOME! San Martin is GORGEOUS!! Pres. Peterson must love me, because I thought Esquel was beautiful! San Martín is THE Spot. It´s got a lake right next to it, there´s trees EVERYWHERE, the people are very nice for the most part, and the city is incredible. I love it.

 

So the first few days were spent in me getting to know the members, the investigators, and basically everyone. Our apartment is incredibly perfect. I love it to death... I´m just a spoiled little missionary... Aren´t I? Haha! I can´t help but laugh to myself, but at the same time, I am very humbled to be this blessed. It is an incredible opportunity to be two years in the Patagonia. But that isn´t even the best part. In the first week I´ve been here, We´ve put about 7 baptismal dates with the other 4 they had before, so we´re already at my record of 11 baptismal dates. We have a kid named Gino, (12yrs) who will hopefully be baptized on the 29th. The only thing that would impede him is his dad. His dad is less active, and doesn'´t want to baptize him. But Gino wants desperately that his dad can baptize him. So they are having a little chat today, and we´ll find out tomorrow if we´re waiting a little longer for his dad to prepare himself, or baptize him anyway on the 29th with someone else doing the ordinance. We´ll see how it goes...

 

Roberto is the boyfriend of a member who was listening to the missionaries before I got here. He if a very tall Chileno, has cancer, and is as stud. He´s probably about 50, but anyway.. We had a date for him for the 19 of November, But then he told us that he has kids... I asked him if he would bring them with him to our lessons, he said ok. We had an AWESOME lesson with Roberto and his two kids, Matius (15) and Mikaela(11) We ended up asking them all to be baptized on the 5th of November. They all said yes!! It´s awesome!!! I´m so happy for them. I´m already seeing incredible blessings here in San Martin. It is an area that is completely ready to explode with baptisms.

 

On Sunday I bore my testimony and presented myself to the branch. It is a lot bigger than the Esquel branches.. About 110 members come every Sunday. We have some incredible members! They´re all very kind and willing to help us. The church building is gorgeous. It´s the only one in the Patagonia with 2 floors and an elevator! Haha. Anyway, as you can see, I´m a very happy boy.

 

Now, I´m pretty tired, this morning we got up and with the first counselor of the Bishopric and another member who is a mountain guide, we went on a hike to the top of the Volcano Colorado. It was a very fun hike, the only problem was the ash... The ash from the volcano that erupted back in June in Chile is still in the air here in San Martin. Sometimes it´s very clear... But days like today, it was terrible. We got to the top, and couldn´t even see the base of the mountain because of all the ash, but it´s all good. It was a fun hike, and at the top, we cooked hamburgers with a little propane burner and skillet! Haha! E. Calvache likes to kid and joke around a lot, it´s a little annoying, but the patience I learned from E. Rojas has helped me to be much more calm about things. It doesn´t bother me like it would have before... Anyway, that´s me for this week! I´m extremely happy, the work is AMAZING, I feel extremely blessed, and I know that my Heavenly Father lives. I have no doubt in my mind that He is always watching out over me. . . Thank you all for the kind and loving support you give me, I will see you next week! 

 

Amor, 

E. Cuthbert