I Ended Up Dropping Some Cane

Christmas jammies!  Thanks Mom!

Hey Crazies!

Wow it was so awesome to talk to you guys on Christmas! Sounds like it was super fun in Hawaii! But I can't talk about Hawaii cause then I start thinking about the beach and hiking and golfing and food and you guys and see what I mean my mind just wonders! haha Bo, Soph and Mags look so old already, it's crazy!!!! Mace, Kenna and Dalt look the same... ugly ;) Wow I felt kind of weird after talking to you guys, but I actually felt more excited to be here. It really helps and motivates me so much to know that Macy is out doing the same things and having the same difficulties as me. It's awesome, she's awesome!!!

Someone is playing that one song from pitch perfect, You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone, right now!!! wow I miss music, but holy cow I can't believe that in a couple of days I will have been gone for 6 months!!!!! I can't believe how fast it has gone! It makes me kind of scared, I don't want to reach the end of my mission and look back and regret not working hard enough. I really just want to put it all out there, so that's what I'm going to do! This is going to be an awesome year!!!!!

So Alejandra was baptized after 4 months of teaching her and she is still doing great! We are trying to help her kids get excited about the church too. Washington on the other hand is not doing so great. We went by yesterday and didn't even really want to talk to us, and told us that he was done with the church and didn't really want anything to do with it. Well I then asked him if we could come in and share one more charla or lesson. I had actually been reading in a conference talk, (darn I can't remember who it was) it was from this last conference and there was a story about a less active lady who told her visiting teachers when they came to her house that she didn't want them to come back ever again, and the visiting teachers asked if they could sing one last hymn and when they sang the lady totally changed and returned to the church. So I was thinking about that, but with Washington it wasn't as pretty. We started the charla and he was really angry and was angry at God because he said he had been praying and reading every day and had been asking for things that hadn't happened. Well we started explaining more about how if we are obedient God has to bless us, and that we need to ask in faith and even then we need to respect the Lord's will and accept it. Well he was still angry and it was getting kind of heated as we were talking about every subject that he had doubts about or didn't agree with. But Elder Cruz and I ended up dropping some cane, or crackin down and just telling him straight up here is what you need to do if you want help... The lesson actually ended really well, and I have hope that he is going to return to come to church and quite smoking and continue strong. 

Mirtha came to the first hour of church yesterday but then bolted out, and we actually saw her leaving and ran up to her and asked why and explained that she could stay more if she wanted, but she did not want to. We have been having some problems with Mirtha. We have had some great lessons and she is always willing to talk with us, or I should say was willing to talk to us. But she hasn't been doing any of the things that we have been inviting her to do. Like I don't think that she has read one of the reading assignments that we have given her and they are only like one or two verses. I am just really hoping and praying that we can help her to read and pray cause I know that it will help her so much. Her husband died like a year ago or so and I can tell that she is still having a lot of trouble with that, so we just really want to help her but we can't do it all ourselves. She has to put in her part and show her desire. Anyways we are going to pass by this week, I'll let you know how she is doing.

Dang I loved Macys invitation to do missionary work! I think it is an awesome idea. I have learned so much about how to share the gospel since I've been here, and it doesn't have to be scary at all! Sharing the gospel can be so easy! Please pray and search for moments and experiences to share the gospel and I know that you will feel a different spirit in your life, because I definitley have!!!!

Well have an awesome week, and a Happy New Year!!!

I love you all more than you will ever know!

Elder Inglatera

Merry Christmas!!! It looks like it's snowing!

Alejandras baptism

Christmas Day 2013

3 way skyping with Mace and Davis!

It worked awesome...they were able to see and

talk with us and each other!

Aloha!

Alooohaaaa!!!

haha I just thought of a moment in one of the films of the district when they have a Luau and one of the Elders says Alooooohaaaaa! Dumb missionary quote! Anyways how is Hawaii bums? Sounds like it is awesome, and that is so sweet that you saw sister Annen. Holy cow I am so dang excited to skype!!!!!! We were going to do it with this awesome family that I love, la familia Oyarzabol but they can't cause they are going to be traveling. But don't worry we found another family. La family Garcia Clavero, the dad Waldemar was our ward mission leader. They are really nice people. But okay sounds like everything is already worked out, I wrote down my username and password just now! soooooo excited!

Hey guess what, you're not going to believe it! Alejandra got baptized this week!!!! I baptized her and actually had to try three times:) but hey third time's the charm! I am so happy that she got baptized and that she is really starting to become a part of the Branch. I know that this is going to help her and her kids soooo much! But it's just like what you said in your email dad, baptism isn't the end but the beginning. I am going to try so hard to help her to be active in the church along with her children. We have been trying so hard to help Washington, and have had some awesome lessons with him where he says that he is going to come to church every Sunday and he says that he is going to stop smoking which is the biggest problem. We have tried to help him so much, but the hard thing to realize is that we as missionaries can only do so much for the people that we teach. They have to make their own choices. It's really frustrating sometimes, but I really believe that Washington is going to return and stop smoking. 

So other than them, we don't have very many people. We have some investigators but the thing is that I feel like a lot of the time people just listen to us cause they are nice but really don't want anything to do with the church. But we have Mirtha who I think could be our next baptism. I think I explained a little about her before. Anyways she is so nice, but she didn't come to church this week and she hardly ever follows through with the commitments that we extend. But we will see with her, I hope that she can just give this a chance. 

Well I will talk to you guys in two days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I couldnt figure out how to download pictures, this computer is really old sorry, ill send them next week:)

Have an awesome two days nos vemos!

I love you more than you will ever know,

Elder England

Bring It On Florida, This Will Be An Awesome Transfer

Playing some uno last p day!!!

Hola Familia!!!!

Bueno, we have transfers this week that is the reason I am writing today and not yesterday. But I am staying here for another transfer!!! I pretty much already knew that was going to happen because the trainers are usually with their comps for 2 transfers, but there is always a chance for everything. As I thought of what was going to happen, for a minute I kind of wanted to leave Florida. I just felt like I have literally talked with everyone here, and not many want to listen. But I then realized that I was being so dumb and selfish! We have Alejandra who is going to get baptized this Saturday for sure!!!! I really am so glad and grateful that she is going to get baptized. It's been like 4 months that we have been teaching her, and I have seen them struggle with so many challenges. I just know that everything is going to be sooooo much better after she is baptized! So bring it on Florida, this is going to be an awesome transfer! Oh and Elder Canete and Elder Gallacher are staying too.

As for Elder Cruz and I, we are doing awesome right now. We had a few disagreements this week, but now we are all good. It all has to do with the schedule pretty much. I feel like I am always waiting for him when we are leaving to go proselyting, and I've been trying to be patient (okay I think I could definitely be more patient) but we should be leaving on time to go proselyte. Okay we don't fight that much over that, It's more like ¨Vaminos Elder Cruz, ya es tarde!¨ and he usually just says "I'm coming, I'm coming". But then there was Sunday night. So we have to be in the house on Sunday at 8 instead of 9, and we had just found some new people sitting outside their house at like 8:40. So we taught the first lesson pretty quickly, but we didn't leave ourselves much time. So after I was like okay let's go, we need to run to get to the house on time so that we can record our numbers and give them to our district leader. So I started running, but Elder Cruz didn't. After looking back I asked him to run so that we could get back on time, but he said let's just walk fast. Then I said we don't have time, we need to run. And then I started running again, but he didn't. I then lost it, and started yelling! Elder Cruz tenemos que ester en casa a las 8, VAMINOS!!! He started running but just for a second, then stopped again. Okay the thing is I knew that he could run, he said that he played soccer every single day with his friends. So then after that I started saying I thought you played soccer in Peru, but you can't run for two seconds to the house! He just said, you can't tell me what to do. I said I'm not!!! These are the rules, I didn't make them! Well he ended up starting to run and we made it to the house drenched in sweat! After all that I realized that maybe I've been a little hard on Elder Cruz, I remembered how hard it was to be a new missionary, so I apologized and we are all good.

Yesterday was Elder Cruz´s birthday too, I bought him a six pack of alfajores (which are the best things ever you should look it up if you don't know what they are). We had a pretty good day yesterday and actually went to our branch presidents house for a family home evening and food. It was so fun, the presidents son in law, who is the secretary in the bishopric actually taught the family home evening. He talked about the spirit of Christmas and shared what Christmas was like when he was on his mission in Chile, Rancagua. I had a great time, and we also watched the Christmas devotional talk from President Monson last year where he talked about giving our hearts as a gift to the Savior!

I am so excited to have this opportunity to be on the mission for Christmas. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have to give back just a portion of what the Lord has given me. I know that this is what Christmas is all about, it's about helping others to know and feel of Christ's love! And I am striving to really give my heart to the Lord. The only thing that the Lord doesn't have already is our will, is our hearts and our desires. This Christmas I am giving it all! I only hope that he can use me to bless the lives of others in this glorious time of the year! I love my Savior, and I love all of you more than you will ever know!

I am also so excited to skype!!!! So I'm thinking that 6 will work, we just need to find a family that will let us use their computer. But I already have a skype account, so you don't need to worry about that! I hope that the whole three way thing is going to work out. Anyways I love you all - have an awesome week!

Elder England

Our last district pic before transfers

Our branch presidents wife gave us a christmas tree!!!

And yes, I did decorate it :)

All The Single Ladies

Elder Gallacher's sister sent him
these reindeer antlers!

Hey fam!!!

I got my FIVE Christmas packages!!! haha everyone was freaking out cause I got five of them, all I said was, ¨Yeah my mom is crazy for stuff like this¨ But I was soooo stinkin excited to open them! I've already eaten a lot of the food, but we haven't made the pancakes with SYRUP yet! I think we might save that for Christmas. Ugh I wanted to open the presents so bad, but then Elder Gallacher told me that I would regret opening them before Christmas. And I guess I realized he was right, (curse you Elder Gallacher). Anyways super duper excited for Christmas, especially for skype! So you guys need to tell me what time would be best for you and for Macy, and then I can try and find a family with a computer to use. I already asked a family that I'm pretty close to, but they said that they might be traveling and need to know what time. Anyways t´would be nice if you could figure the timing out. 

I'm pretty sure I tell this to everyone here, but I do not feel like it is almost Christmas at all! First of all the temperature is a thousand degrees, and secondly I just can't believe how fast the time has gone. I am so excited to have the opportunity to be in the mission for Christmas, I know it's going to be unforgettable!

This week has been great, actually I was a little down at the beginning of the week. We had been finding quite a bit of new investigators, but practically every single one of them (even the ones that I really thought were going to progress quickly), told us that they didn't want to learn anything more from us. The problem here is that a lot of the people have been Catholics there whole life, well I shouldn't say Catholics cause most of them actually haven't even ever gone to the Catholic church, but they are really set in their ways and don't want to change. So I was just a little stressed at the beginning of the week because no one was progressing other than Alejandra. Well we had a meeting in Montevideo for all the oros, and we got there a little early so I studied for a little. And I read in Alma 34, I love this chapter! Anyways in like the third verse I think, it talks about having the faith sufficient to allow the spirit to touch hearts of the people! I was thinking a lot about that and about if I really had the faith sufficient to help the spirit touch the hearts of the people that we teach. I also realized that I needed to be more grateful for what I have! I mean we have Alejandra who has progressed and changed so much and is probably going to get baptized soon. I was focusing on the things that I didn't have rather than the things that I did. So I have been trying to be more grateful, and also have more faith that we can touch the hearts of the people that we teach. And guess what, we had three investigators that came to church! Haha I was so happy, but one of the investigators that we had was this old lady from the Evangelical church. And apparently in Relief Society she stood up and started preaching or something, haha I don't know exactly what happened but by the time that we got out of priesthood she had already gone. Also one of the other investigators that we had left after the first hour, we called her and asked her why she left and she said that it was because she did not believe that Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ. Anyways we went by her house after and tried to explain the first lesson to her really clearly, but I don't think that she understood. I think that she has some mental problems, okay that sounded really bad but I think that she might because she does not understand a lot of what we tell her... I know that my Spanish is hard to understand but really it is super hard to help her to understand but we will see how it goes with her. And the last investigator we had was this sweet old lady named Mirtha. (I know three old ladies), all of our investigators are single ladies, oh and Alejandra didn't come:( she said that she slept through her alarm), so we are going to try to talk to her today or tomorrow. Anyways Mirtha is so nice, and came for the third hour and sat with us. The topics that the speakers had weren't very great for the situation, but I still think that she had a good experience. I hope that we can help her to progress.

Anyways there's what's going on in Florida Uruguay, just trying to baptize ¨All the single ladies oh oh oh¨

Okay I've been super bad at taking pics, I promise I'll be better this week!

I LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW!

Elder England

On the first day of Christmas my mother

sent to me....five packages!

I Thought I Was A Pretty Patient Person

I forgot to take pics this week, sorry, so I just took

one right now - hope you like it!

Hello Family!!!

Sounds like Thanksgiving was a blast with the Sister missionaries. I actually didn't say anything last week about Thanksgiving cause I wasn't quite sure if it had already passed or if it was coming up, but sounds like it was a great day. HEY I'm soooooo excited for Christmas! I think that we have to ask one of the members if we can use one of their computers to skype, so I am hoping that we can find a member with a nice computer. But I'll try to figure everything out there.

Wow it is starting to get soooo hot! The humidity here is ridiculous. I don't think that there is a time in the day when my face is not drenched in sweat, but I think that just might be me. Elder Cruz, Gallacher, and Canete say that I sweat an unusual amount on my face. But other than the heat everything is going pretty great.

Elder Cruz and I get along pretty well, he might be right about me getting a little mad haha. I thought I was a pretty patient person, but I don't know - Elder Cruz is so annoying sometimes! He is always TOUCHING me, either poking my zits and asking me if it hurts (which obviously it does, it's like the worst pain ever!) or he is pulling the hair on the back of my neck. Apparently he thinks that having hair on your neck is weird or something. But I really feel like we get a long quite well. I think it might be just because he is new, but I feel like Elder Cruz isn't that excited when we leave our apartment to proselyte. But I have been trying to help him be more excited to go out in the heat and talk to people!

We had an interchange of companions (I don't know how to say that in English) and I think that it helped him to see how another missionary works. I know that I learned a lot from it, I was with Elder Schill my district leader. He is a hardworking missionary and I learned a lot from him this week. But Elder Cruz is a good missionary, I just want to help him be the best missionary he can be. He said he hasn't read The Fourth Missionary yet, so I'm going to try and find a copy in Spanish for him, I think that Elder Canete has one. 

Okay things with Alejandra are or were really confusing. It is a really long story, but I'll try to explain it. So we had taught everything to her obviously, we had been teaching her for forever. Anyways so the week that Chandler passed away, we were trying to get a baptism set up for that Saturday. Well we got everything set up, just barely in time, (we had a little trouble trying to find clothes that could fit her but we finally found some). Well that Friday night the President of our branch called us and told us that he had heard a lot of things about Alejandra from some of the members about how she has had some problems with the law of chastity, yeah - it turns out she was a prostitute. Her whole situation is so sad. But we have talked to her and the zone leader has talked to her, and she passed the baptismal interview so we are sure that she doesn't have any problems with that anymore. Oh so yeah because the Branch President had heard all of that he decided that he would have an interview with Alejandra before the baptism to be sure that there wasn't a problem. Well I was pretty sure that he couldn't do that, but I didn't say anything. Afterwards I talked with my district and zone leaders and they said that yeah he can't do that because she is not a member in his Branch, (that is why the interview was done by Elder Schill). Anyways we ended up not having the baptism, the whole situation was super awkward. After that Alejandra told us that she wanted to talk to us. We have had like three or four lessons with her since this, but she explained to us how she felt so bad. She had felt like the members were judging her and talking bad about her, which they had. Anyways we have talked with the Branch President about all of this and I think that he was just trying to help obviously, and Alejandra says that she still wants to get baptized but wants to wait a little bit. The whole situation was so uncomfortable and difficult, but I really have faith that she is going to get baptized this month. 

Other than Alejandra we don't really have anyone that is progressing. We have some new investigators! We actually found a bunch of people this week. The week before this week I was a little down with the whole Chandler thing and the Alejandra thing and just the fact that we didn't really have any investigators. I felt that we had knocked on every single door in our area, (which is almost true), but I just felt that we couldn't find anyone to teach. But this week, I don't know why we found a lot of people to teach. However it often happens that we find someone and they seem really interested but the next day they tell us they don't want to learn anymore or we can never find them. I am just hoping that we can help the people we have progress. Also we are trying to work more with the members, which is really difficult. I often feel like we are just a burden, because I feel like the branch just doesn't really want to help us that much. But we are trying, and I feel that we have really gained the trust and love of a lot of the members. So I'll let you know how that is going next week.

Well that is pretty much it, oh haha Elder Cruz says he wants to learn English so I am trying to help him learn some. He often starts mumbling and just saying random jibberish, then asks me what he said after. I'm not quite sure if he thinks that he is saying something or not, but he difinitley isn't. 

Well I hope you all have a great week, I love you more than you will ever know! 

We got a new fridge, and it is the best thing in the world

Chandler Has Been Such An Amazing Example To Me

"I know that I will miss Chandler, but I know

that we are going to see him again"

Family - 

I received a call from President Newsome on Wednesday morning, as I read the caller ID I immediately knew that it was about Chandler. Even though I knew the situation, it was still shocking to hear that he has actually passed. I really thought that he was going to pull through! As I got off the phone I went over to my desk and knelt down. I didn't know what to think, it all seemed just like a dream to me. But as I started to pray, I heard a song come on from Elder Gallachers ipod that had been playing. But right as I started to pray this song started to play, and it said, ¨When you cry be sure to dry your eyes, cause better days are sure to come... and when you smile be sure to smile wide, don't let them know that they have won... and when you walk, walk with pride! Don't show the hurt inside cause the pain will soon be gone. And when you dream, dream big... as big as the ocean blue, cause when you dream it might come true. When you dream, dream big! And when you laugh be sure to laugh out loud cause it will carry all your cares away... and when you see, see the beauty all around and in yourself... It will help you feel okay... and when you pray, pray for strength! To help you carry on when the troubles come your way... So when you dream, dream big!¨

After that until now I haven't felt anything other than peace. I know that Chandler is happy where he is, and I know that he is going to help soooo many people to be happy too! I loved the letter that Grant Amacher wrote, thank you for that. And also for the pictures. I know that I am going to miss Chandler, but I know that we are going to see him again.

I read this the day I found out that Chandler had passed away, and just felt like it explained everything that I wanted to say perfectly... (Colossians 1:2-14, 23-29) 

"To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ (which are my friends in Utah) Grace be unto you and peace, from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (I) give thanks to God and the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. Since (I) heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth."

"As ye also learned of (Chandler our dear friend), who is for you a faithful minister of Christ, who also declared unto me your love in the spirit. For this cause I also, since the day I heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Strengthened with all might, according the his glorious power, unto patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the father which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins."

"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, whereof I (Elder England) am made a (missionary); Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the chuch. Wherefore (I) am made a (missionary), according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints. To whom God would make known is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Whom (I) preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily." (Colossians 1:2-14, 23-29)

To the Webb Family, I just want you to know how much I love you and am praying for you! Chandler has been such an amazing example to me, and tons of others. I know that you will see him again! 

I am praying for all of you at home.  I hope everything else is okay. In a month from today I can skype you guys!!!!!!!!!! Okay I don't have anymore time, have a great week!  I love you all soooooo much, a lot more than you will ever know! 

Elder England

We got some new furniture but it didn't fit up the stairs so

we had to pull it up through the second floor window

Standing As A Witness Of Christ

Even though I'm not living in Utah -

My heart is still in the right place.

Hola Familia!!!

Okay I'm going to start with an experience of standing as a witness of Christ first so that I don't forget.  It's hard because really all the time we as missionaries are trying to be witnesses of Christ. Sorry I can't really think of an experience in specific, but seriously as I have tried to remember that I am a representative of Jesus Christ every second of every day for these two years it has changed EVERYTHING! Literally everything, or at least the way that I look at everything. I honestly don't feel like the same person I was 3 months ago. I don't really know what happens, but every time I talk to someone on the street I just know what to say. I don't have to think about the Spanish any more, it just flows, I'm sure that the spanish isn't that great or gramatically correct but it just flows out of me. I also feel like the people understand me a lot more, and that is probably the most important. Every time I knock on a door, I'm reminded that I really am a witness of Jesus Christ. Oh we actually knocked on this one door the other day and this older lady came to the door and said that she didn't have any time to talk because her husband is sick and she had to take care of him (I think she expected us to start preaching or teaching her something but I just asked her if we could help her in any way) And after that she opened up and listened to us talk for about 10 minutes. It really opened my eyes and I saw a change in her heart, as we tried to serve first. It reminded me of in one of the Joseph Smith movies, a lady goes up to Joseph and thanks him for all the things that Joseph and the saints had done for her and the town but she then said that she didn't want anything to do with the church. Joseph then said, ¨With all do respect that is our church¨ I have grown to love this opportunity that I have to serve every day! It fills me with such joy when I get back to the apartment exhousted, when I can truly say that I tried my best today. This is what I think about when I think of being a witness of Christ.

Guess what? Alejandra came to church this week! BOOYEAH! It was actually the district conference and was at the other church building here in Florida, but she came! President Newsome came too and gave a talk. He really emphasized the importance of the members working with the missionaries, heck yeah thank you Pres. Elder Cruz and I have been trying to work more with the members, and I feel like my relationship with a lot of the members is growing stronger and stronger. I can understand how Mace must feel right now, but for me I think that I'll be here for another 2 or 3 months because trainers are usually with their oros for 2 transfers. Anyways back to Alejandra, if everything goes to plan; which a lot of the time it doesn't, she will be baptized this Saturday. I really  think that this time is it! Oh haha she said that she saw the movie the best two years on tv on the byu channel, and she said that she did'nt know that the missionaries could baptize people. So after that she told us that she wanted me to baptize her. So that was awesome, I'm a little nervous cause she is well... kind of over weight and I'm not very strong sooooo. haha no it'll all be good... I think.  I guess we'll see this Saturday.

Things with Elder Cruz are going awesome, I really am so surprised at how fast he is learning! He is definitely learning a lot faster than I did. haha but one thing he always says is that I'm always angry. I don't feel like I am always angry but maybe I am. So I've been trying to be a lot nicer. But I can tell that these next couple of months are going to fly by, It's already the 18th of November I literally can't believe that! I looked at a picture of Maggie and me from the day I gave my fairwell talk and I seriously feel like it was yesterday! 

I'm still praying for Chandler every single day, I just know that everything is going to be okay. Marsh sent an email to all of us friends saying that we need to be bold, we can't be afraid to ask God for a miracle we can't be afraid to ask for a few more years with Chandler. I was reading about the Brother of Jared this morning and thought about what Marsh had said. The brother of Jared was'nt afraid to ask God to reach and touch the stones that he had made. He had such faith in God that he specifically asked God to do something for him. I have not just been praying that everyone will be comforted in all of this, but I have specifically been praying and pleading that Chandler will live through this. I know that God can do it, and I know that if we ask we will recieve.

I love you all so much, keep Chandler in your prayers.

I love you more than you will ever know!

Elder England

ps...I think that we get to skype for Christmas!!!!

 ¨Gracias a dios¨ literally everyone says that here and

literally everyone is Catholic. This church reminded me

so much of our trip to Europe!

A dog jumped up on me and got one of my shirts all dirty...

I hate dogs!

We got some ice cream today - it was sooooooo good!

I Am Doing My Part To Preach The Gospel

Elder Cruz and I climbed up on the roof

to look at the sunset! 

Hey fam!!!

So my oro is... Elder Cruz! He is this funny Peruvian. We have gotten along so well over the past couple days, and I am surprised at how much he knows already. I really am praying that I can be a good example for him, and that I can work hard with him. I don't think I told you this, but Elder Canete is training too! He is training Elder Gallacher who is from Cali. So yeah we have two oros in our house. 

I have been praying for Chandler so much, but sometimes I have to try to not think about everything that is going on at home. Thankfully I have felt that all of this hasn't held me back from trying to work hard. But I really have faith that there will be a miracle! I know that whatever happens Chandler is going to be alright. 

Thanks for all the Emails. Mom sounds like you are busy like always, and I'm trying to work hard even if I have a bum comp. Thanks for the inspiration dad, you always make me feel so much better. Mags I wish I could have been there for your lesson. Soph you're not old enough to talk to boys, stop it! Oh hey I got the Game package!  I haven't read any of the letters yet, but we did eat all the food, and the little Bop-it is totally awesome. Thank yoooouuuuu!

This whole week hasn't been the greatest in the aspect of investigators. I felt like Alejandra was progressing and ready to be baptized, but everySunday she tells us that she can't come to church for some reason. This Sunday she sent us a message at like 9 saying that she couldn't make it cause her son was sick the night before and she didn't want to leave him alone for a long time but she said that she was going to come at 11 for sacrament meating. Well 11 oclock came and no Alejandra, she sent a message saying that she wasn't going to be able to make it cause it was raining at the time and some other stuff that I don't remember. Well I was pretty upside and sent a message back saying, We are sorry, but sometimes God gives us trials to see if we are really willing to obey him! .... yeah she didn't respond to that, and we haven't  talked to her since. We decided that we are going to give it a couple of days before we do anything. So with Alejandra I really don't know what is going to happen. And really other than her we don't have anybody.

We have gone by Roberto and Lorena´s house a couple of times but haven't been able to get a hold of them. I was actually a little down in the dumps the past couple of days because Washington has continued smoking too and has stopped coming to church. I feel like we have done so much to help these people but they are the exact same. I feel like they are not listening to us at all!!! Also I have knocked so many doors this week, and really haven't found hardly anyone who is really interested. So I was a little down, and my District Leader Elder Schill I think could tell, cause he calls us every night to verify how our day went. Anyways he told me to flip in Preach My Gospel to the page that says "What is a successful missionary?" This really helped so much. I realized that I can't judge my success on the number of investigators or people to teach, but on how hard I am working and on if I am doing my part to preach the gospel.

So this week I am going out with full force, I know there are people waiting for this, we just have to find them!

Have an awesome week, believe in miracles! and keep on movin on!

I love you more than you will ever know!

Elder England

There is a sweet river in Elder Cantese area

(This is when I was going out with him as my companion)

This is what I get to look at for the next 3 months - haha

I'm Going To Give It My Best Shot

Hey fam!!!

I feel the same way with everything that is going on. I am so grateful for everything that I have, I just wish that I could do more to help. You guys are so awesome to help my friends like this. I really can't do anything other than pray for them, and that is what I have been doing. In a way looking at all of this, It has made all of us realize how much we need the Lord in our lives. I know that whatever happens, EVERYTHING is going to be okay. But that is not going to stop me from praying for a miracle!!!!!!

Sounds like Halloween was fun, me and Elder Canete bought candy to give to the little kids (a little creepy I know, but it was Halloween). The problem was that there weren't that many kids, and we bought it pretty late, so now we have ended up eating all the candy. 

Okay this week was reeeeeaaaally crazy!!! Elder Marroquin and Elder Segura were in the house and didn't leave for proselyting this whole week. Well it's a long story but the thing is that they were angry with the zone leaders for not caring about them or something like that, so there was a big fight. Anyways I had been working with Elder Canete in our areas, for quite a while so we were pretty much companions and Elder Marroquin and Elder Segura weren't really doing anything other than sitting in there beds all day. Well there was this big fight - President was called multiple times, and it turned out that they told Elder Marroquin and Elder Segura to leave and go to Montevideo until the end of this change. So they left on Wednesday last week and It has just been Me and Elder Canete in the house. Actually we had a sleep over at our zone leaders house the past two nights, it's been pretty fun my zone leaders are awesome. Or were awesome, (one of them is leaving this change).

Anyways so there is that story, but the bigger issue right now is changes.... This next change I am going to...... TRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are going to be here in Florida in the same area. Oh gosh, I really didn't believe them when they told me that last night, and I don't know how much I slept last night. I am nervous but excited at the same time! I remember a similar feeling when I got my mission call. But if President and the assistants felt like they could put me as a trainer this change, then I'm going to be a trainer! Inspite of all my fears and doubts, I'm going to give it my best shot. I'm going to doubt my doubts before I doubt my fears! 

So that's all that! I remembered to take pictures but I forgot to bring my camera cord, so I'm so sorry I don't have any pictures this week:( I'll be better next week!

I didn't have time to read Macy's letter this week, I just assume that she is doing awesome. Anyways have an awesome week!

I love you more than you will ever know! Be an example of the believers, and lend a helping hand to all those that need it! 

Elder England


For Chandler and His Family - 

I have made so many memories with Chandler, it's hard to pick just one. From playing monkey in the middle on the Webb's front lawn, to going boating at Utah Lake! He has always been someone with a positive attitude. That is probably the aspect or attribute that I most admire about Chandler - that no matter what happened he was always happy. 

He has always had a way to brighten other peoples spirits. I know that right now, and whatever happens in the future Chandler is going to be happy. I am praying for you Chandler, and I love you! Thank you for the friend that you have been to me over the years.

Start strong, Finish stronger!

Pray For Chandler

Hey Family!!!

I honestly don't even know what to say right now! I wish I could be there to help Chandler and his family and my friends. I don't know what to say other than I will be praying for them. I don't know why things like this happen, but I know that everything happens for a reason. 

Halloween this week!!! Sounds like you guys are great, I hope MORP was fun. Dad I hope your recovering okay. I love you all.

This week has been kind of crazy! Elder Marroquin has been resting his knee in the house almost all this week. And I have had about 5 different companions this week. It has been kind of hard, but I feel like I've done my best to run our area. 

Alejandra is going to be baptized this weekend if everything works out, yay! As for Carmen I went by her house like 5 times this week but never got a chance to talk to her. But when I was out knocking doors with some of my other campanions we found Roberto and Lorena. They are so awesome, they are a young married couple and they have a baby boy. They had talked to the missionaries before, but man they are so awesome I really really hope that I can help them to one day be sealed in the temple. 

Okay so my companion is pressuring me to leave, even though it's only been a half an hour. 

I love you more than you will ever know! Have an awesome week everyone, and remember to pray for Chandler!!!!!

She Didn't Know Which Church To Go To

Hola Familia!!!!!!!!

Wow there was a lot to read this week. But I love reading about home, and what is going on! I am also going to try to write hand written letters this week, so we'll see how that goes. Wow so much is going on at home! I miss you guys so much, but I'm here to stay! Dad had to have surgery, Bo had to get glasses, and eveyone else is running around. Dad I hope you get feeling better, sounds pretty darn painful! Bo you should totally where the sports goggles in your soccer and football games!!!!!!! Mom your awesome, I never understood how you can do so much, be so busy and still function. You are awesome!!!

These weeks really are flying by!!! Elder Marroquin´s knee has been hurting him for quite some time, and this week he said the pain was really bad. So on Wednesday we went to the ER and had a doctor look at it. He said that it wasn't anything really bad, I actually didn't really understand what it was but he said that all he can really do is take some medication and if it hurts rest it. So he has been resting his leg in the house while I have been leaving and preaching with Elder Canete (because Elder Segura´s leg has been hurting him too). I guess all the walking in the mission destroys your legs haha. It's actually really hard for them, especially Elder Marroquin cause he only has two weeks left, and he wants to teach and get out of the house but he can't. I wish there was something that I could do for him. But I have learned a lot this week. Because Elder Canete doesn't know anything about my area, I have had to kind of be the trainer and decide what we are going to do and where we are going to go. I really think that it was good for me.

Also I have been talking a lot more than before, I am so grateful for how much the Lord has helped me with my Spanish. At first when I arrived I was really overwhelmed with living with three people who didn't speak English, but now I can see what a blessing it has been to me.

With our investigators, it's going okay. Alejandra is progressing, she actually came to church yesterday!!! but I'm pretty sure that she fell asleep, because I heard her start snoring. Hahaha it was so funny! But yeah she is doing great and I'm 99% sure that she is going to be  baptized in the near future. We also had another one of our investigators come to church! Elder Canete and I talked to this one lady named Carmen for the first time on Saturday, and talked with her. She was really interested, because she is from a different church and says that she has been going to a lot of churches. But something she said was that in none of the churches she felt the presence of the Lord, that is how she described it. Oh and also she said that before we arrived she was thinking and felt that she needed to go to a church but she didn't know which church to go to. Wow it was crazy how we just happened to go to her house right then, actually I know that it wasn't just something that happened. I may not have realized at the time but the spirit was guiding us. I have been trying to listen to the spirit more, it's hard but I feel like I am learning more and more.

Oh something random, It's always awkward when we are just walking in the street and my hand and Elder Marroquin´s hand touch. I've realized lately that it happens a lot! Everytime it happens I never say anything, because I don't think that he notices. Anyways - weird missionary moments!

I love you all more than you will ever know!!!! Have a great week

Elder England

Washington's Baptism

Washington's baptism!

Hola crazies!!!

I don't have much time today, we got to the computers late. But everything is going great! I got the package with my talk and all of the letters you guys wrote. Thanks so much for those!!! I know that Dalts B day is in October but I don't know what day, so if it already happened I hope you had a great day and if it hasn't then have a great day!

I love reading letters from you guys it really pumps me up! Obviously I miss you guys, like a lot!!!! But you guys really help me to remember why I am here. 

Yesterday was Washingtons baptism!!!! He is so awesome, and I just know that he is going to be an amazing member (hopefully it will turn out better than the whole Juan situation). But the baptism was awesome, Elder Marroquin and I actually sang I Am A Child Of God in front of everyone because we had to fill some time. But other than our singing the baptism was so perfect, his son and wife came, and we are going to try to talk to them a little more. 

My spanish is getting better, I can really feel your prayers and the Lord helping me to speak. I actually bore my testimony in sacrament meeting.

Anyways I have to go I love you more than you will ever know!

We painted one of the rooms in Washington's house

"Doubt Your Doubts Before You Doubt Your Faith"

I spend a lot of time at this desk!

Hola Familia! 

Another week in the bag! These weeks really are flying by! Holy Cow I was so scared to keep reading Macy's email, thinking that something bad was going to happen in the next sentence. But I'm so glad that everything is going to be alright, and that Mace is going to be a trainer!!!!!!!!!! I can honestly say that I could have expected that, because she is so awesome! 

Sounds like everything at home is awesome, or should I say everything in St George. hahahahaha dad I was laughing so hard reading your story, fortunately I have been able to make it to the bathrooms. WOW conference was so awesome!!! I got to listen in English, thank goodness! It seriously was unlike any other conference I have ever seen, just like what president Monson said. I think that is was so spiritually inspiring to me because I actually paid attention the whole time, and tried to take as best of notes as I could. I love the phrases that the prophets use to describe things. A quote that I love from this conference is from Deiter F. Uchtdorf which says, ¨Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith!¨ Seriously this conference had some powerful messages. I noticed two underlining topics that were mentioned quite frequently. The first was the importance of members working alongside missionaries in spreading the gospel, and the other is the importance of relying on the atonement and applying the atonement personally in our lives. My testimony for both of these points is growing tremendously every single day without fail! 

Okay onto how things are going in Florida (Uruguay). Washington was unfortunately not baptized this last week, because he has still been smoking. We are trying so hard to help him realize the "why" to the Word of Wisdom. He says that he knows that what we have taught him is true, and that he is really going to try to stop. Elder Marroquin and I fasted for him yesterday, so I am hoping and praying that he can have the strength to stop. Unfortunately he didn't come to any of the conference sessions. I really think that they could have helped him so much, but he didn't end up coming. Neither did Alejandra. We invited both of them, and made an effort to remind them but neither of them came. It is so interesting because I believe that both of them really know that this church is true, but they both struggle to commit. I feel like if we keep working to help them they'll realize what they need to do. But that is the situation with both of them.

Something that was really hard this week, and I still struggle with is that Juan Pablo is completely inactive. Now it seems that he doesn't even want to talk to us. My first and only baptism so far is already less active. We have tried to help him, but he simply doesn't want anything to do with us. We still talk to Agustine and are still trying to strengthen his faith and testimony. I wish that I could just show these people how much better there lives could be! Juan reminds me a lot of Bo, and I wish I could just grab him by the shirt and straight up tell him what I feel! It is really hard to respect peoples agency when I know that this can help them. But all I can do is keep trying.

I love you all more than you will ever know

Elder England

Playing Some B Ball

Elder Sequra made a mustache out of his

own leg hair!

A Downside To All The Good Food

I got another package - Thanks!  I love the

Bugles!  They remind me of Grandpa England

HAAAAAPPY B DAY SOH DOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like it was a pretty busy day, but I hope you enjoyed it! Wow Sophie is 13 I honestly can't believe it! I feel like eveyone has grown up so much already, and I've only been gone for like three months. Mags is dating, still don't like to think about that, Soph is in middle school carazzayy, and Bo is killin it in sports. In a letter from Bo that I opened in the mtc he said that he is gonna kick my butt in soccer when I get back, and from what I hear that might be true. But Uruguay is obsessed with soccer, and I think I'm going to be playing some soccer on P- days. So you better watch out Bo!!! Haha mom you called Macy Maggie in your email, you said okay here is Maggie's email from last week. It made me laugh to hear you mix up their names. I wish I could have met your japanese friend!!!!! Sounds like you guys are all really busy!

Wow sounds like the missionary work is moving forward in the ward!!!! This week seriously went by so fast, I really don't remember much from this week. We got a new Elder in our house named Elder Canete, he is from Paraguay!!! And he can actually speak some english, thank goodness! haha but I really like him, I feel like I can relate to him the most cause he is not as crazy and Elder Marroquin or Elder Segura. But I really love Elder Marroquin and Elder Segura. Elder Marroquin made some mexican tacos for lunch today. Dad your right, I'm not always going to have roomates that are going to cook me food, so I've been trying to learn. But I am seriously the worst cook ever!!! I think I'm just going to end up eating cereal and oatmeal for 2 years. Actually the only day that we ever really cook anything is P-days cause every other day we have lunch with members. It's a pretty awesome set up, but I'm sure it's not going to be the same in other areas. A downside to all the good food is that I've been getting the "tickets" lately. It's a good thing that we have a chapel in like the middle of our area cause we had to make some pit stops. It's actually not that bad, and I'm going to start using the "poop pills" :) Everything is going to be okay cause we have a buh day (I know that's not how you spell it, but I don't know how so I just made it as simple as possible) It's true we do have one but the only person that uses it is Elder Segura. It reminds me of Dalt when we were in Europe. 

This week was kind of hard in reality. We were actually going to have a baptism this last Saturday on Soph's birthday for a man named Washington. Also Alejandra; but Alejandra couldn't come to church on these past couple of Sundays and the investigators need to come to church before they can be baptized. But Washington is awesome!!! He has come to church three times, and all the members love him. He is like 54 years old... I think. He understands everything that we have taught him and wants to get baptized. The only problem is that he smokes, and we taught the word of wisdom and he said that he would try to stop, but a couple days before his baptismal date a member saw him smoking. So we had to push his baptism until this Saturday. But we have had lessons with Washington with members that have had problems with the word of wisdom before and I really think that he has quit for good this time! So we are going to have his baptism this Saturday. 

Alejandra hasn't really been progressing that much, we have continued to return and have lessons with her and she understands but it doesn't seem like she is really excited about getting baptized and we feel like she needs to have a firm belief that this church is true before she gets baptized, so we have a baptismal date for the nineteenth of this month for her and we are going to try to keep talking to her and help her to progress. We actually were pretty frank with her a couple days ago telling her that if she isn't progressing we can't waste this time cause we have other people to help. But I think that she really is going to progress and attain a firm testimony.

Another thing that happened was Juan Pablo and Agustine haven't come to church the past two weeks. It seems like something happened to make Juan not want to come. We have talked to him lately but it just doesn't seem like he wants to talk to us. We don't really know what else to do with him. I guess we will just keep trying. 

In reality I can't remember a whole lot about this past week, I'll try to remember this week a little better.

I love you all more than you will ever know!

Elder England

Elder Marroquin made some mexican tacos for lunch!