April 2, 2012

*There were several pictures Jordan sent, but they won't upload!*

Well. The unthinkeable happened. I`m being transfered. DA DA DAAAAAAAA. NOOOO!!! Wonderful, beautiful, home-away-from-home San Martìn!!! Well, it was bound to come sooner or later, just a little sooner than expected. E. Agazzani was saying goodbye to members all week, having them write in his journal and say their goodbyes, I didn`t. Haha. After Conference on Saturday night, E. Agazzani got the call for transfers. After the call, he asked me... Do you have your bags packed? A deep, sinking feeling shot down through my heart. Nooooo, I thought. I didn`t have ANYTHING prepared. Nothing. I`ve been waiting for those baptisms of Gaspar, Darìo, Miriam... So many others, but I won`t be able to see them. San Martìn, my area, is being whitewashed. It is obviously being done because the Elders coming into my area can and will do things that I could never do. At least that`s what happened with the Whitewash in Esquel with me and E. Sharp. So... Where is E. Cuthbert going? To the wonderful city of Comodoro Rivadavia!!! It`s in the provincia of Santa Cruz, much closer to the bottom of the world. It`s VERY windy there because they`re right on the coast. I heard it`s very cold too, but I don`t care! My new companion will be E. Wagstaff from S.L.C, Ut. This is his 4th month in the mission, he`s still very new. I`m his second comp in the mission. I`m SUPER PUMPED AND EXCITED. Comodoro is known for giving people some of the best life-learning experiences in the entire mission. Bring it on. 

Saturday night was spent writing people, packing and preparing everything for the new Elders. I went to bed at 3am... What a night. I had to rapidly wash all of my clothes and begin throwing everything into suitcases. What an experience! The next morning I kept packing until I had everything ready. Then we went to a final lunch with Alberto and Evelina Di Stefano. They`re my favorites. Alberto has been such a fun friend of mine, and I will miss him and his family dearly. But not as much as I will be missing the converts... 

We got to the Sunday session of Gen. Conf. and I told Ramòn and Mirta that I was leaving. Ramòn started crying. I love him with all my heart. Mom... Mother, if you only knew the happiness I have felt with these people... If you knew the joy I have to serve them... My heart is swollen with joy as I think of all the wonderful people who I have had the priviledge to help. Mirta made me promise something. Mom, I beg you to do everything possible to help me make this promise true. She wants us in her Sealing in the Buenos Aires temple in March. I promised her I would do the best I can to be there for her Sealing with Ramòn for time and all Eternity. They are waiting till March till I finish the mission. I beg you to make whatever preparations or savings possible to be able to come down and pick me up from the mission, so that we can go together to Buenos Aires and watch this GORGEOUS family be sealed together. Don`t send me ANYTHING. I don`t need it. I ask for this now... It`s something huge to ask for, I know. But there would be nothing more beautiful to see, for you and me, than to see them make those sacred covenants. She made me promise. She`ll kill me if I don`t keep my promise ;) Ha. Please. 

Darìo, when I told him that I was leaving, he said: NOO! I wanted you to baptize me! A swell of pride and love for this wonderful, faithful Son of God rushed over me as I looked him in the eye and said it didn`t matter who baptized him, just so long as he got baptized. I love that family. Two converts with another on the way after his wedding on the 13th of this month. What miracles the Lord has blessed us with... Incredible. 

I have loved the people here, with all my heart. My six months here felt like a blink in the eye. I wasn`t able to say goodbye to a lot of people because of shortness of time, but I know that I will always remember them, as I hope they will do the same with me. The mission... It`s an experience that brings tears to my eyes. This area taught me so many things. It`s wonderful. I`m coming back some day. I leave today at 1 o`clock. Me and E. Lee from Junìn are going to be on a bus for about 25 hours!!! WOOOT!!! Hahaha, it`s going to be a long trip. I`ll tell you how it all is, with pictures next Monday. I love you all, and wish the best for you all. I`m doing great. Asado means Grilled meats. I bought a little mp4 player to play music, haha. Well... Have a wonderful week. E. Cuthbert is happy, excited, and ready to bring on a whole new level of what they call: Missionary Work. 

Amor, 

E. Cuthbert 

March 26, 2012

So I have to be quick this week, I´m in Junín de los Andes and we have to get on the bus to San Martín in about a half hour, so I have to be quick. 

My dear companion, E. Agazzani leaves for home next Monday, and I will probably be stuck in San Martín, solo again. This week was good, we have been a lot better behaved and have had a very good time. The pictures I´ve sent was my lunch... :D Today we roasted a lamb on a cross... We had our own little crucifiction (I don´t speak english, is that how you spell it?) going on!! It was so delicious! We had lamb with Asado meat and salad... I ate probably 3-4 pounds of meat... Someone needs to work out tonight! It was AWESOME! 

Darío is still waiting, but is antsy to get baptized. Lautaro got confirmed this Sunday, it was awesome. Gaspar is working on stopping smoking and drinking. I´m SUPER EXCITED for the conference. It´s hard to think that it was 6 months ago already that I was in Esquel during the Conference. Crazy to think how fast the time is flying by. 

That´s hilarious about the hamster! Pobre madre wants to help prune trees nada más!!! :) I love you, you´re so cute! Haha! 

Pasamos para hablar con ustedes means Can we come in to talk with you? I wish I could send you videos... I have a video that is hilarous that we took with the lamb, it´s to die for. I guess you have to wait till after the mish! ;) My comp is getting very nervous about leaving, I can only imagine how it will be.. I don´t want to think about it, though. My mission is still young. Thank you for always writing, Mom. Melyn and Aubs as well! Thank you guys! Gen. Conf. is going to be awesome, I´m very excited. We´re going to busier than heck this week with everything that E. Agazzani has to do. We´re going to be eating a TON of food, but I´m going to be very happy to get a new companion and begin the normal work routine. We haven´t been able to have real working days for awhile... We´re always doing something somewhere, interviews in Zapala, meetings in Centro, service on the mountain, stuff like that. It´s missionary work, but it´s not work that helps someone get baptized, and that´s what I´m all about. I just want my investigators to progress and get baptized, enter that door to eternity. I love missionary work.

Amor, 

E. Cuthbert 

March 12, 2012

My week went very well. It went kind of slow Monday to Thursday, because Elder Agazzani, Elder Arenas and I were together. I honestly don´t have much time to write today, I feel VERY bad for that. Darío and Viviana are going to be married this week, probably on Thurs. or Friday, then on Sunday after Sacrament meeting, he will be baptized! We´ve had some incredible experiences and spiritual moments with him and his family. They´re a wonderful family. We´re busy finding more families to dunk in water... A little more spiritual than that, but... Well, you know what I mean. Lautaro and Yesica, the son and daughter of Fabiana are preparing to be baptized! Lautaro might get baptized this sunday with Darío, then Yesica on the 31st. It is so weird to think that Gen. Conf. is just around the corner! I know there are many more experiences that I´ve had this week that are worthy of this letter... I learned how to lasso! My jeans ripped down the butt while doing service (I´m not fat, it was a hole that was ripped from barbed wire... ;)) Waking up at 6am i hard, but I do it anyway. E. Agazzani and I are happy together again. 3 weeks left and then he goes home, I get someone else...

I need pictures from you guys!!! We don´t have daylights savings here. Last night? I got home from knocking in the rain without a jacket on... I was soaked. Hahaha! Then I got in my Air Jordan sweats and mocassins and read for a little bit, we planned for tonight´s work. We´re going to have three lessons with a member, put a couple baptism
dates and then go home. Good luck with hamster... No idea what to tell you. I´m starting to think of things I need to buy as my Argentine stuff. I´m going to buy an Asado kit, some cowboy pants, a giant Asado knife, and stuff like that. We had a lot of investigators in church yesterday. I love the work, I love my life here in San Martín. I was telling Melyn that my heart will be staying here in San Martín until the day I die. I love it here. It´s my little Celestial Kingdom.

I need to go, we need to get to our appts!!! I love you so much, SEND ME PICTURES! I want to see the fam.

Amor,
E. Cuthbert

October 3, 2011

Well hello my wonderful family!! :) Man, today has been a good day! And SOOO much has happened!! 

First of all... WE HAD A BAPTISM!!! HAHAHA!!! I bet you weren`t expecting that one! Ha, I feel really bad for leaving it out of my emails, I completely forgot! We had been teaching a 19 yr. old kid named Alfredo for about 3 weeks, and he entered the waters of baptism between Conference sessions on Saturday!! We were so happy!! I got pictures of his face all soaking wet, but there was a huge smile on his face, and we all knew that he felt the Spirit. It was an incredible experience. It is going to help his family a lot, because his mom is 6 years in-active, and seeing her boy get baptized, she began crying, saying to the members that she was so happy for what we had done for him because it´s given him more purpose in life! Great, great day. Oh... And about the pictures... Something´s wrong with my SD card in my camera that has about 4 months of pictures on it, and I´m a little worried that they´ve all been deleted... I´m praying I can save them! So forgive me for not having the pictures of the baptism, or our wonderful Pday adventures... :( 

The Colque family... I LOVE THEM!!!! What happened with the Sister Missionaries??! They´re so ready! Cecilia is always so excited, and if ever we leave the house without giving her and the family homework, something to read, stuff like that... She teasingly scolds us! Hahaha, we have some incredible blessings here in Argentina, Esquel! On Wednesday, we went to their house that night and Franco, the husband who has always stayed away from us, made us and the family Empanadas from Salta, Arg. (Way up north). They were the most INCREDIBLE things I´d ever eaten!!!! While he was making them, we threw on the Restoration movie, and he almost forgot about the empanadas, he was so focused on watching the Joseph Smith story! I have a picture of him trying to roll out dough while his eyes are plastered to the screen. We had an incredible time with them. On Friday, we invited them to a dance that the two branches were putting on... They came, and had a blast with all the members! We are inviting Cecilia, and the rest of the family to be baptized this next Saturday tonight. I pray that they will have the courage to do what they know they feel is right. It is especially hard for Franco, because his entire family is Catholic, and they would reject him. I´m hoping for one of the miracle stories that happens when missionaries have A LOT of faith that their investigators can receive their answer, and take a leap of faith... Because it would be super hard to be rejected by your entire family!! But, I am so grateful for that family, and I know they will be baptized. 

General Conference was such a spiritual FEAST!!!! I loved it! My favorite talks were by Pres. Uchtdorf about knowing that we ALWAYS have our Dear Heavenly Father with us... That he NEVER abandons us, and even in our darkest hours, He will always be there to be our Light. I have such a testimony of His presence in my life. I know that He loves me, and that He watches over and cares for every one of us. He is our loving Heavenly Father... Our FATHER. My other favorite talk was in the Sunday morning session by Elder Callister about the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I have become the biggest fan of the Book of Mormon in my mission, I know it´s from God, and I know that no one could have made it up. The Book of Mormon has a Spirit about it. It´s words touch the soul in the way a normal man talking could never do. I HAVE A TESTIMONY IN THAT BOOK. I KNOW it´s true. I challenge every one that is reading this email, to try the promise written in Moroni 10:4-5. It is true. Joseph Smith did not write it. He translated it from divine power from Heaven. I encourage all to read that book, meditate and PONDER the message, and pray to Heavenly Father to know if it is true. I know that He answers. Always. 100%. Wow... Look at Jordy... He´s turned into a missionary... ;) HAHA! The mission really changes people. I know it´s going to be the best thing for my entire life. I´m learning things that are invaluable. Jared... Don´t do ANYTHING that will prohibit you from going. As your big brother, I EXHORT you... Be a good boy. I love you, and care for you as the little brother that you are to me. You are my only brother, and I want the best for you. It is through the scriptures, church and a mission. Plan on a mission. You will never regret it. Yes, it´s brutally hard. But through the Refiner´s Fire... We come out as Gold. I´m not saying I´m gold, I never will be... But I do know that Heavenly Father has the power to shape us into the people that He wants us to become. The Sons of God. Through the tribulations... We become stronger. It´s like a muscle. If you want it to grow and become stronger, you need to work it out, and tear it up. Through this process, it repairs itself, and comes back even stronger than before. I love you, Bud. You are such a driving force for me in my mission. Keep up the good work. 

E. Rojas left very urgently for a medical emergency. We as a district have been together, the 5 of us, since Saturday. We have had a ton of fun, including going to Los Alerces, a national park with a lake, and gorgeous views!!! We went there today, it was such a blast. I have a few pictures from it... 

Well, I love you all! The work is INCREDIBLE!!! I LOVE being a missionary!! WOOHOO!! Bring it on! It´s incredible that I´m already past the 6 month mark. The last month has gone by SO FAST!!! I want you all to know that I´m happy, healthy... And I´ve got an incredibly terrible farmers tan on my neck and arms from my white shirts... Oh well... ;) It´s getting hotter every day, but we´re only in Spring! We´ve long since left the suit coats at the apt, and go in just white shirts and ties. Esquel is as gorgeous as ever... And we might go paintballing for Pday next week... ;) ;) ;) 

AMOR PARA TODOS!!!

E. Cuthbert 

September 26, 2011

What a week its been!!! Last Monday, we hard our interviews with President Peterson. We had a very good, spiritual conversation about the Atonement, and our work here in Esquel. He asked me the question, How many are you going to baptize here, Elder? I told him: At least 4... He then told me... Elder Cuthbert, there is someone in Esquel ready to be baptized this Sunday. (WHAT???!!!) Thats what was going on in my head when he told me that. We spoke more about it, and he encouraged me and E. Sharp to take the matter up to fasting and prayer... Later that day, we went on Divisions with the Assistants. Remember E. Smoot? The most STUDLY, spiritual missionary ever. Kind of like an Hmo. Maxwell or Douglas... ;) Ha! Well, we went to a families house of investigators and had a very good chat with Cecilia, the mother. It was a very spiritual conversation, focused on the Atonement and Baptism. We placed a baptismal date for the next Sunday! It was incredible. From that point on, E. Sharp and I have had some extremely crazy blessings... Right now we have 9 baptismal dates... Thats 9 people that have baptisms planned before the 17th of October! We began working more with Cecilia last week, only to find out that the sister missionaries before us... Had never taught her or the family the Law of Chastity, Tithing, or the Word of Wisdom!! Surprise!!! :/ Her husband also left for the mountains with the army for a week, and she didnt want to be baptized without him there to see it. A lot of prayer and fasting over the situation, we decided that she should be put back to the 8th of October so that her two sons could be baptized with her. At church yesterday, we had a Gospel Principles class with her, a recent convert who has been fellowshipping Cecilia, and us two Elders. We spoke about Heavenly Father, who he is, and what he wants for us. It was a good lesson, and at the end, we asked if Cecilia could say the closing prayer. She began the prayer, normal but halfway through, began crying... She choked through tears while she pleaded to her Heavenly Father to bless us, the missionaries, for helping her get to church, to know that this is the true church, and to help her get to a baptism! She poured out her whole soul in that prayer! When she ended it, the Spirit was so strong. The recent convert was in tears, Cecilia was in tears, and I was about ready to jump out the window with all the happiness that a missionary can feel! I then testified about baptism, and that the church was true. We then asked if she would be baptized on the 8th. She said: Sí!!! YES!!! WAHOO!!!! She is an incredible person, and her family will make incredible members of the church. 

General Conference is this weekend!!!! WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED!! Its hard to think that its already been 6 months since the last one in the MTC! WOW! Anyway, I cant wait, and none of you should be able to wait, either! We get to hear the words of God through our Prophet. What a priviledge it is that we have. I was going to make scones and honeybutter for the Sunday session, but everyone here makes scones and gives them to us, so Im sick of them! We are going to make Cinnamon rolls instead... ;) ;) 

I love you all. My testimony is stronger than ever. 

Amor, 
E. Cuthbert  

April 8, 2011

Hola mi familia y amigos!!

 

Man, I'm tired... Fell asleep a couple times at the temple today. Ha, I've been working extremely hard this past week, and we wake up at 5:30 to get to the temple. There's never enough time to sleep. Every day I feel like I'm losing more and more, but I don't want to take a nap, because that mean's I'm losing extra study time! Anyways, had a great time at the temple today, food was as good as always. I got a TON of whipped cream on my waffle, along with omelet, bacon, quiche, chocolate milk, and water. Mmm.

 

Wow, a ton of stuff has happened this week. I'll start off w/ last Pday I guess... Last PDay during my personal time I decided to study leadership. I'm in Mosiah right now, and at the time I was reading Chap. 2 of Mosiah. GREAT chapter. Holy cow, I learned more about leadership in that one chapter than I have almost anywhere... For one... Go and see how many times the word "serve" or "service" is written. I think King Benjamin is trying to tell us something... ;) I spent 1 hour and 45 minutes on that scripture chase and study. It was great.

 

So Gen. Conf. was SOO good!!! Oh my heck, you guys! I loved every talk (although the marriage ones were getting a little boring. There were three of them.) Ha, during the marriage talks, Elder G. and I would just tilt our heads back, shake them and then listen.. as best we could. Ha, marriage is such a good thing to talk about, and it made me think about a lot of things, but I'm here to serve a mission!! Hahaha. So that was interesting. Can I just say the Church is true? Man, I know it. I had been praying for the past 2 weeks on how to know how to receive revelation, feel the Holy Ghost more, and have my teaching guided by the Holy Ghost. Is it just a coincidence that EVERY single one of my questions I prayed about was answered in FULL DETAIL in one or several of the talks?? I think not. I learned so very much this Gen. Conf. It's such a good thing they make us sit in uncomfortable chairs so we stay awake. If I hadn't have stayed awake, I would have missed out on a lot of things pertaining directly to me. One other thing that was mentioned was the fact that we shouldn't discredit all of the little experiences we've had in feeling the Holy Ghost and knowing the church is true. That's something I questioned during the last few weeks here at the MTC, was How strong is my testimony, really? How do i REALLY know that what I'm teaching constantly is true? I was told during Pres. Uchtdorf's talk that I don't need an angel to come down, I don't need some dramatic experience to get me on my feet and proclaim the Gospel is true. Little by little, line upon line, precept upon precept, the feelings of a testimony and the HG will testify to me that what I'm doing is true, and that my testimony does indeed grow through these little experiences. I'm confident in my testimony that I know the Church is true.

 

So GC was incredibly good. Wow, if you didn't listen to every talk, go to the church website and listen to them... They can all help us out incredibly.

 

So you know how I said Elder G. was leaving like... 3 weeks ago? Well, he actually had to stay because of some health issues. He left Saturday night to go on his mission. He called the ones who he loved most into his room to talk to us. I was very humbled and gratified to be one of those people. He gave us the  most powerful testimony I've ever heard... There are so many things I wish to talk about, if only I had the time to say them... All in all, he said to not waste time. To WORK. That the Savior loves me, to not have any regrets. All my track buddies, if you're reading this will know that this also comes from Coach Wyatt... No regrets. Afterwards, I waited till everyone was out of the room, and then I went up to him, clasped my hands on his shoulders, looked him directly in the eyes and said: We ARE Helaman's Stripling Warriors. We are on the battlefield, side by side. I wouldn't pick anyone else to fight on my side but you, Elder G. Never forget that. We WILL win this battle, this war. Don't you DARE give up. If you do, you'll be leaving me alone which I can't do.    I'm going to miss Elder G. the most. I hope the pictures were put up on the blog by now.. He's the short, stubby, amazing Tongan. Hahaha! Just kidding, he's not stubby, the kid's a stud. Love him to death.

 

Espanol is coming along well now. All lessons are completely spoken in our mission language, and Elder W. and I wouldn't have it any other way. We were supposed to give a lesson in English last week, but when we tried.. It just didn't work - So we went back to Spanish. How's that for over-achieving?? Haha!

 

Want to know how the BOM is true? Look up Acts 7 & 2 Nephi... (1?) The chap. in Nephi about Joseph in Egypt. Anyway, I want you to tell me why it's so significant. Look at Moses, and what he does, particularly when he talks about killing the Egyptian overseer who was beating the Hebrew. If you can't figure it out, write me, and I'll tell you. :) It's incredible. Joseph Smith couldn't made this up, or caught this. It's incredibly significant.

 

So on Wednesday Elder W. and I were at the TRC for our teaching appointment, and we had the opportunity to teach a FAMILY about the first lesson in Spanish. It was SUCH a cool experience! I love teaching families! It's so much easier, I think. Anyway, the Espanol flowed, and we had a lot of fun.  Thank you so much for the package mom!! It meant a lot! And all the mailing supplies... You're an angel! Haha! Oh, regarding the backpack... Ha, you were right... I don't like 'em. I've realized at how extremely picky I am, and it's not good! BUT, I've been seeing a lot of good Dakine (particularly the APEX, I think it's called. It's a lot sportier looking) and Old North Face. Take your time, I just need one before I leave the MTC, which is in 3 weeeeeeeks!!!!! Haha! Fun, Fun, Fun!! I'm so excited to get our of here, but I'm spending my time wisely, I promise! I've learned so much this week about teaching with power and the Spirit. Everything needs to be through the Spirit, w/out him, we can't teach.

 

How is everyone at home? I'm so thankful for the people who send me letters and packages, I feel so much love. :) Thanks to all of you for your continued support and kindness. I wouldn't be able to do this w/out the help you guys give. I feel like I'm forgetting something... Ha, dang it. I hate that. I always feel like I have so much to say, and when I get here... Everything just leaves my mind! It's driving me insane! Oh, had a 30 min. conversation w/ a couple guys in the zone about TopGear... Hahah!!! Dani, Chris... You guys know what I'm talking about! It was very fun to talk about it.

 

I go to bed exhausted, every night. My body, mind and spirit is always so drained... This work is exhausting, but it's worth it, I know that. I love this Gospel, and I continue to strive to become better every day. I love all of you, and pray for you all every single night and morning. I hope you can feel that. Send me a letter - tell me how you're doing. Have a question about something? Ask me, I will do my best to help and answer. I'm here for you all, because I love you.

 

Well I've got thirty seconds on the clock... I hope I haven't forgotten anything!!!

 

Les Amo!!!!!

 

Elder Cuthbert