I'm Freezing

 Freezing!

Hey yo what's up?!!!

So I am freezing my butt off here! Seriously it is so humidly cold here, and the worst part about it is that I think it is colder inside our house than out. The houses are all made of cinder block and therefore don't have any insulation. I am just very grateful for my sleeping bag. The worst part of the day is probably studies. Just cause we are sitting there not moving for a couple of hours. Elder Lizaraso just wraps himself in a blanket, I think I'm going to start studying in my sleeping bag. haha it's the worst having to take my hand out of my glove to flip the page. Once the blood starts flowing from walking it's not so bad. I need to take a picture of the house to send to you guys, I'll do that this week. 

But hey sounds like Bo is killing on his new team that's awesome! Summer fun just keeps comin. Send some pics of Rosanna's sister, I want to see her. And when are Dalt and Kenna going to have kids? I want to be an Uncle.

So this week has been a little longer than the others, not sure why. I think it was because it was so cold, and I was really tired this week. Seriously one night we got home and started to plan and while Elder Lizaraso was talking about an investigator I think I fell asleep. This week we haven't had many sit down charlas. Almost all of the charlas we have are in the street with new people. We actually found a lot of new investigators. The problem is trying to get a second lesson. A lot of the time we can't find an address, (probably because they lied to us, or they just aren't home). So we are trying to put a focus on the progression of the investigators that we find. Hey guess what!!! Esteven from my last area got baptised! I was so happy when I found that out. Anyways I hope that we can help all these people here progress. 

Carol is one of those that weren't home. She actually was in Montevideo at her mother's house, so we really haven't had any contact with her this week and she didn't make it to church. We set up a charla for Wednesday so we will see how that goes. Oh get this, so on Saturday night we got out of a lesson and started heading home and someone called us. It was a number that we didn't recognise. Anyways I answered and I was like "Hello your talking with the missionaries", and he asked "Is this Elder England" and I was like "Yeah who am I talking to?" and he said "I'm Jorge and can I ask you guys for something..." and then the call dropped. After waiting a while for him to call, I called him. And we had no idea who this guy was. I thought it was a member but we didnt know any members named Jorge. Anyways we call him and he was like "Hey I want to learn more about your church can you guys come by my house?"  We were like "Ugh yeah!!!" Haha I was a little weirded out that he knew my name, but a lot of the time we put our names and number on cards or pamphlets. But yeah we are going to go by Jorges house today!

Hey so my shoes are getting kind of worn. The streets are horrible here, all dirt roads. I've actually been using my boots like everyday. Anyways I wanted to ask for an early Christmas present of a pair of shoes. I acutally heard that ecco has some missionary warranty but I'm not sure how it works or if we applied for it. Also if you could send some more hair gel with those. The gel Isn't as important but I am running out. Anyways love you soooooooo much!

Have an awesome week er´body! I love you all more than you will ever know! and I miss you a ton! I like looking at pictures a lot, oh You guys should look at page 79 of the photo book you sent me..."While you were serving". Look at the bottom right picture. Tell me if you see something funny? You might need to sensor it ;)

Walking the streets

 Trying to stay warm during studies

(Elder Lizaraso looks pretty good in this pic!)

 We just stopped by the mall and got Subway!  mmm

Filled With Gratitude

Riding the but with this Peruano :)
My new comp...Elder Lizaraso!

Hello from La Costa!

So I'm in my new area with my new comp. I still don't know if it has hit me yet that I am in a new area. It was really weird for me because I was just getting comfortable in Norte. But from what I have seen the past couple of days, I really like Lomas de Solymar. And Elder Lizaraso and I get along great. He is from peru, and is super chill. It's weird living in just a two elder house, but it gives me more time to shower. The house is pretty good, but it is really humid and gets pretty darn cold. Except today and yesterday have been really nice. It is like really nice right when we leave the house but when the sun goes down it gets COLD. So I end up dragging a jacket around all day and it's super annoying... but I do have to say that when it gets cold I am always happy that I carried it all day. (It reminds me a lot of going to Disneyland. Dad would always tell me to bring a jacket but I really hated carrying a jacket around all day. Well I finally learned dad ;)

As far as investigators go, we don't have much... actually I asked my comp the first day I got here about the investigators and he said, "Um we don't really have any." But hey that's not going to stop us from having some. I could tell that Elder Lizaraso was a little down, but he is a really hard worker. After we started working and finding some people to teach he changed. He is pretty funny, and really likes to tell jokes... but his jokes are horrible. Seriously horrible. I told him, "Elder I think that the sense of humor in Peru is a little different than the States" haha But that hasn't stopped him. He is super obedient so that is awesome! I'm really excited for this next change.

Ever since I got here we have been huntin for some new investigators, and thinking of ways to find people. So on Thursday morning we made a list of a good number of former investigators and started passing by them. And yesterday we had the coolest experience. One of these investigators was a lady named Carol. As we clapped are hands in front of Carol's house she immediately told us to wait a sec and then came and opened her front gate and let us in. As soon as we started talking she said "Yeah you are new because I have seen Elder Lizaraso with another missionary walking past my house a lot." She then went on to tell us that she is Evangelica, but has been having some doubts about her church. She eplained to us that just two weeks ago some neighbors of hers lost a little girl due to cancer. I could tell that she was really worried about this family and about herself and what God wants for her. She then told us that as she had been going through this trial she felt a need to talk to us (the missionaries). She said that it was weird that she didn't feel the need to call her Pastor or go to her church, but an urge to talk to the "Mormons". At that point we really didn't have to say anything, but we plainly testified that what she had felt is the spirit and that this message can fill that need and comfort her in this trial. She then gladly accept a next lesson and a baptismal invitation as well. It was such a miracle.

Yestarday was also a really great day. I introduced myself in sacrament meeting. And the bishop asked me to share something about how my family got to know the church. And I was a little embarrassed to say that I didn't really know how, all I know is that it was a long time ago. I would love it if you could tell me more about how our families came to know the gospel. But I felt very welcomed in the ward. As I sat in sacrament meeting, I pondered on the first Sunday I had in Ferrocarril. And then I thought of the last Sunday I had there just a week ago. I was gladly filled with gratitude for how much the Lord had blessed my last area. I often pray to be an instrument in the Lords hands, or to be the answer to someones prayers. And in Ferrocarril Heavenly Father answered my prayers! My faith in prayer, and in our potential as missionaries has changed dramatically this last change. I've personally come to know that when someone loses themself in the work, the Lord gives blessings. 

Thanks for all the emails. And Mace I almost forgot, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW! I wrote you a letter! I hope you got it!

PS they are playing Lady Antabellum right now, and yes I am singing along!

I love you all more than you will ever know! Have an awesome week!

Elder England

I'm Going To La Costa!

Saying goodbye to the Bergains family

Hey!!!!!!

So we got transfers last night! And... Elder England is leaving!!! I'm going to La Costa. It's crazy, I wasn't expecting that at all. I've only been here for one transfer. I'm super sad that I'll be leaving the Burgains family and Carlos and Mirtha and Gabriel and Steven. A missionary jokingly said today that the mission is horrible, you get to know and love so many people and then leave them. I find this very true. Haha but I am also super excited to go to La Costa. My new comp is Elder Lizaraso. I think he is from Paraguay. I don't know him at all. But I have heard he is a really good missionary. I'll still be a District Leader there in my new area. And Elder Bustamante is staying so he can help all our investigators.

California has come to an end. Hey good progress on the lot! And no I never tried a Bonzai Bowl, but it sounds scrumptous. Scooter is home, that is so crazy how fast time goes. And Max is leaving, he`ll be an awesome missionary. Go get em Elder Schreiner! 

This past week was a pretty great week. In church we saw a lot of miracles! We had 9 investigators in church!!!! Hector, Leticia, and their three kids who are so funny and crazy! Carlos and his spouse Mirtha, who walked to church by themselves! We also had Steven who is the grandchild of a less active member that we found and are helping reactivate. Steven should get baptised on the 27th this month. And also Gabriel was there in church. It was a great day! I was just so happy to have been a tool in the Lords hands to help these people come to know the gospel. I am really sad that I won't be able to see these people progress toward baptism, but I know that they will progress. I'm also going to miss a lot of the members here, they have been a really big help this last transfer. 

Packing makes me stressed out, even more stressed than the normal mission stressed. I think that is why by face is so bad. I'm using the cream, which is almost gone, it would be wonderful if you could send me something cause it's getting bad!! But hey on another note, not sure why it came to my mind, but could you send me a recipe for brownies and other easy desserts. We had an interchange yesterday so I wasn't able to go to a family home evening with the Burgains family. But we made a funfetti cake that a missionary had received in a package it was delicious, but I couldn't sleep cause we ate it right before bed. Do I regret it, no definitely NOT. But I did go to the family home evening last week with them. They are so awesome! 

Get this we were talking to Hector about how he was going to propose and we were joking around. But then we had a charla with him in the church to think about ways that he could propose. We came up with the idea of proposing at the temple in Carrasco in the gardens... yeah genious. Anyways the whole family is super awesome and loves when we go to talk with them or when they come to church. I'm going to miss them.

Well have a wonderful week with everything. I don't have my camera chord because I just came from a meeting but I'll send some next week. 

Love you all more than you'll ever know.

Elder England

If I Am Confident

Happy Fourth Of July...

Sporting my American tie!

Hey Beach Bums!!!

Okay so the song "Mirror" by J T is on right now... yeah I miss music. Okay.. focus... can't get truncky. Haha I loved how you used that word dad. But hey what's up ya'll? Sounds like California is a blast. At least I know that you guys won't be able to enjoy the new house without me. However the dolphin adventure sounds super fun, do you guys remember when we swam with dolphins and they pushed our feet with their noses... yeah that was awesome. Oh no... now there is a U2 song on... I just put some headphones on to block the wonderful worldly music. It doesn't really help but that's okay. However, to answer your question dad I would absolutely love to go to Africa. I might not be able to see some of my friends homecomings but I'll be with you guys so I am totally down. 

This last week has been a pretty good week. It went by super fast, and I can't believe that in a week from today I will know what is going to happen this next transfer. The time is flying by. So Hector and Leticia are doing amazing, we actually have a family home evening with them tonight... and they are going to prepare it. Yeah that's right, you heard me! They are going to prepare it. We are working on getting them through the marriage process. Here it usually takes at least a month to get married.. at best. Darn government system. However they told us that they understand the need to get married and they want to do it. 

Carlos... he is doing really good. we went to his house and walked to church with him. He had a stroke like 3 months ago and he is walking to church... so awesome. Not to mention that yesterday was maybe the coldest day that I have experienced here in the past year. But this past week we realized that unfortunately Carlos is not married:( What is this world coming to? NO ONE IS THIS COUNTRY IS MARRIED!!! okay maybe some are, but it is frustrating. But on the bright side, Carlos´ "spouse" did not listen to us before but now that we mentioned marriage and Carlos talked to her a little, she is now investigating the church! She is actually pretty interested, but was sick yesterday and couldn't come to church. (Something that I have realized about Uruguay is that if they get the slightest cold they think they are going to die! Even a lot of the members don't come to church if it is cold outside. Come on people youre not going to die!!!)

I need to be more loving... I feel like a lot of the times I think to myself ..."Come on people it's not that hard, whats more important?"  But this week has helped me to have more patience.

Gabriel is doing great, we haven't had much contact with him because he is on vacation and hasn't been around. We still aren't sure what we are going to do in this situation but we are definitely going to keep teaching and helping him. 

We have found some other people that could progress toward baptism. One of them is a girl named Karla. We found Karla on Saturday on the street. Karla who is about 22 was walking with her daughter named Melanie who is about 6. I don't think I realized at the time, but they were a big answer to a prayer of mine. Being fast Sunday I was at the time fasting to find people to teach and help get baptised this month (seeing that we don't have many people who are able to get baptised soon). Well as we contacted Karla and Melanie in the street I felt an immediate unity or interest from them in what we had to say. As we introduced ourselves I crouched down and started asking Melanie some questions to get to know them. She surprisingly was very personable and reminded me of a certain Guatemalan kid who would talk to random strangers in San Fran and compliment them on their jackets. (shout out to Bo) But Melanie was super funny and after teaching a little to Karla she told us that she would come to church on Sunday. Sadly she did not come, but she did send a message later in the day telling us that she had slept in. 

I have realized that if I am confident in myself and what I am saying the people are more willing or obliged to listen, and it's a lot less awkward. The mission has definitely helped me to have more confidence in myself and my abilities to help others. I saw that that was something key in this contact with Karla, and the charlas that we have had since then. Hopefully we can continue to find pèople to teach.

Have an awesome week in California. I love you more than youll ever know;)

Elder England

Eating some oatmeal in the kitchen!

The Need To Work With Members

HUMP DAY!

The BEST year of my whole life!

Hello crazy vacationers!

So the New York trip looks super fun! I seriously can't believe how old Mags and Soph look. Bo sounds like it's a summer full of soccer. I love the pictures, you guys are goof balls, but I miss ya like crazy. Kenna and Dalt always get double the vacations... not fair. And yeah 1-0 Dalt ;) World cup has kind of lost it's craziness now that Uruguay is out. But they are all mad that they kicked Suarez out for biting. They are also saying that the whole Fifa is wrigged... I think partially just because they lost. But hey the states are still in VAMOS ARRIBA USA! 

So this week was super awesome! The mission has been talking quite a bit about the need to work more with the members, so Elder Bustamante and I at the beginning of the week said that we were going to be better in that aspect. A lot of the times when we plan a lesson and invite members to come either the investigator isn't there or can't or the member can't come... but this week we really saw a lot of miracles as we worked hard to take members to the lessons with us. And guess what?! Hector and his family came to church!!! Hector, Leticia, Iron, Banina, and Maya all came to church and they loved it. Because we had gone by and had charlas with various members they already knew members in the church and the members that we had taken helped so much to help them feel comfortable and welcomed in the church. It was awesome! We have a family home evening tonight with them... so excited.

Gabriel came to church yesterday, he is so awesome and I love talking to him. We also had a meeting with the bishopric and our ward mission leader to talk about Gabriel and what we are going to do in his situation. We didn't really come up with an answer because there are various things that are impeading. For example Gabriel does not live within our ward boundaries but this lady that takes care of him does. Also we don't know if Gabriels family supports him in being baptised. We talked about all these things for a good while. We are all thinking about the situation and we are going to talk more about what we are going to do. But for the mean time we are going to keep talking to him and teaching him the gospel. I think that he is going to get baptised, I just don't know when... hopefully as soon as we can.

We also are teaching a man named Carlos. Carlos has talked to the missionaries before and actually went to church like a year ago but never got baptised because he had problems with the word of wisdom. However, a few months ago he had a stroke. He is recovering really well, and due to his stroke he can't drink or smoke anymore. He also came to church yesterday, and said that he loved it! We put a baptismal date for the 12th, and he accepted it and every time we see him he talks about the 12th and asks us what he needs to do and bring. He is so awesome.

As a zone we didn't do so great this last month in reaching our goal. We only got 5 of 12  :( But we all can see that this last week we worked really well in a lot of aspects of the work and that we are progressing. Hopefully this month we can work harder and be more obedient and more focused on finding, teaching, and baptizing. I can't believe that I have almost been here in this area for a month - it is crazy how fast the time goes. Oh and in a couple of days I will complete a year in the mission! The best year of my whole life!

Have an awesome week with your summer activities. Just know that in a year from now we will be partying it up!

Love ya all more than you'll ever know

Elder England

I Ate Ostrich

Here is a little of the area...

not much to see, it's just city!

Hello family!!!

So the USA is doing pretty good in the World Cup! All the Uruguayans are back at it after beating England, yeah I get some comments on my last name due to that. I'm just glad that Uruguay won, if not, I think the comments would change from a joking manner to a more angry one. But yeah bring it on Dalt! Vamos arriba Uruguay mañana! 

Seems to me that Girls camp was a great success despite the snow. And I hope Kenna had a very Happy B-Day. And yes we definitely would have crushed that par-cor action. I destinctly remember our San Fran trip being full of par-cor... good times. We shall resume in a year from now. I got my Hump Day package!!! yay - you guys are the best!!! I'm very jealous of the car activities, live it up for me.

So Ferrocarril is doing pretty great. We have been seeing success in finding people to teach. And we might have a baptism real soon! His name is Gabriel. Gabriel has Down Syndrome, and has been coming to church for about a month and a half. We were kind of confused as to what we should do in this situation, but he came to know the church because the lady that watches over him is a member in our ward. He is actually really smart, and we had a class in our Gospel Principles class about baptism and he understood really well all that was taught. Still we were not sure what to do so we talked with Mercedes (this lady that watches him), to ask her is Gabriel is capable of discerning between right and wrong and if he should be baptised. She told us that he is very capable and that she would be supportive of him being baptised. We need to talk to our bishop to figure out the whole situation with him, but I believe that Gabriel will be baptised this week or the next:)

We are also teaching a family which consists of a young couple and their three kids. The kids are all younger than 8, and the couple is not married, but they are super awesome!!! We have already taught them about the restoration and about the plan of salvation and the charlas went really well. The dad (Hector) also told us that he had been reading what we marked for him in the Book of Mormon. He is super awesome! They couldn't come to church yesterday because Hector is a police officer but they said that would next week and we have a lesson with a member set up tonight. I'll let you know about their progress, the main thing for them is going to be getting them married. Hopefully we can help them do that quickly. 

The District is doing great. We are really trying to focus on working with the members this week. I don't think there are many members in the church that really understand how much they can help the mission work by just going to a charla or calling and inviting an investigator to come to church... The list goes on. But seriously we need to work together to help everyone we can. Keep looking for opportunities to share the gospel and help the missionaries. 

The food is good, like the same as usual, but oh I ate ostrich the other day and this thing that is called carpincho (I think it is like a giant rodent thing) and they weren't that bad. I actually liked the carpincho better than the ostrich.

Fun fact: So there is this thing called ferria here in Uruguay, I think that it is mostly done in Montevideo and not so much in the interior. But it is kind of like a giant garage sale. Everyone puts up little stands lining the road with all sorts of stuff. A good majority of the stuff is food, like fruits and veggies, but there is a lot of stuff. I'll take some pics this week. But we buy a lot of fruit there cause it's all really cheap. 

Anyways now I have some stamps from the package and can finally send some letters, so keep your eyes open.

Love you all more than youll ever know. Have an awesome week, and a fun trip to New York!

Elder England 

Typical street we walk every day!

This is our house...and, my roomies!

Urgency!

Happy Fathers Day!!!! And Bappy B-Day to a special someone on the 19th!!!!

Sounds like it's crazy town at home now, and dad I totally agree with you when you say that mom goes a little overboard sometimes... but we all know that it is going to be the best girls camp the Stake has ever seen. Macy got transfered too, that's got to be hard to leave a ward that you know so well. Thanks for the emails guys I love reading about what's going on. Good luck in your last dance recital Soph and who is this kid from Chicago Mags? and why are you talking to him? Bo your talk was awesome!!!! Thanks for being such a stud of a brother. You're the best dude. 

Dad I hope you had a wonderful Fathers day, I don't think I can explain how grateful I am for your example and for the love that you have for the gospel, for mom and for us (almost wrote nosotros... thinking to much in spanish). I have always admired the humble way in which you handle all the difficulties that God gives you. Cor... Cor... Cor... Cor...Cor!!!! (I miss the random chants with the fam. Cars 2...2...2...2!) Anyways can I get a big shmolly-olly for all the fathers?

So things are going great here. I am getting to know the area more and the members. And dad yes the Uruguayans are crazy about the World Cup. They played on Saturday and it was an absolute ghost town here. Every one was inside watching the game. But we did know whenever Uruguay scored... which was only once... but we could here them all yelling and cheering in their houses. The whole country was pretty much in a horrible mood on Saturday and Sunday. But hopefully they will cheer up. The thing is that Uruguayans are very prideful about their soccer team, and if you get them talking about soccer they will talk to you for hours about how they won the World Cup in like 1950 and got fourth in the last World Cup. They think that everyone is scared to play them because they are always said to be the underdog. You have to give them some credit for having only about 3 million people in the whole country they do pretty well... except when they play Costa Rica:) 

But back to mission stuff. In our mission we focus a lot on our goals. As a mission this month we have a goal of 135 baptisms. As a zone here in Norte 12 baptisms. As a District we have a goal of 4. And currently halfway through the month it is not looking too great. Every Monday morning we have a leaders meeting with the zone leaders and all the district leaders in our zone to see how the zone is doing and make plans to help us do all reach our goals. As a zone we currently have 2 of the 12 and as a district 0 of the 4. But we can all see that there is a lot of potential in each district to reach the goals we have put. I never thought before that the mission had so much planning and thought put into everything. Planning, studying, proselyting, working with the members.... But as a district leader I have really come to see that our potential is so much greater than what we are actually achieving! 

My comp and I are getting along great. He is kind of weird, and reminds me a lot of my trainer haha but we get along well and he is obedient por suerte. We are trying now to use the relationship that Elder Bustamante has with the members to be able to work more with them and teach them how they can help us and our investigators. Elder Bustamante despite being kind of weird really has a way of creating relationships with members and everyone. It's something that I think I can work on. But I feel a need to work with more urgency here in this district. Urgency to help as many people as we can, as fast as we can, to commit to live the principles of the gospel and make convenants with God. But we are going to have a great week I just know it! 

I'll let you know more about investigators and specifics next week. But keep the emails up. 

I love you guys more than you will ever know!

Elder England