Elder Mereles and Elder Newman helping a member with their backyard teeter totter.
Hey everybody! Happy
Independence Day! 241 years of being such a blessed and God-protected nation.
This has been a great week, and I have learned that I will be staying in
Toledo, and Elder George will replace Elder Mereles, who is going to Piriapolis
to kill off a valiente! I will truly miss him, for he has taught me so much,
more than anyone else I've been with. Toledo is losing a great missionary.
Some miracles from
this week: Ignacio admitted that he
believed in Christ, was worried about his pareja's (couple’s) belief in reincarnation, and felt the Spirit
and shed a few tears! After having many
charlas with him and seeing little progress, it was refreshing and heartwarming
to see that change. Raúl finally came to a church activity and got to know
church members! And Adrianna's knee - of which the doctors had said would
never walk again - miraculously started to drastically improve, and she and
Agustína came to church! Elder Mereles and I also had a very enlightening study
on the Atonement and a very spiritually-charged charla about the atonement with
one of the recent converts, Martin.
No Saben Lo Que Hacen (They know not what they do): Leonardo, a recent convert and one of the ward missionaries,
had accompanied us to a less active who had just moved into the branch. We were
on our way back to his house when some teenagers from a plaza far off started
yelling truly horrible and blasphemous stuff about Christ and missionary work.
When we got to Leonardo’s house, he admitted that those remarks had truly
rankled him but he felt like not responding had been the right thing to do, and
a thought came through my mind: Early on in the mission, I would have been
super irritated at those remarks for the rest of the day, but the words of the
Savior ran through my mind, this time directed at me rather than our Father in
Heaven: "Forgive them, for they know not what they do." How merciful
and loving is our Savior Jesus Christ; He truly loves all those who mock Him
intentionally, because He suffered for them and sees their potential.
Que Deus Abençoe America
(God Bless America): As I've thought much about this great country of the USA, I'd
like to share with you two quotes from Joseph Smith: "Sacred is the memory
of that blood which bought for us our liberty." "The Constitution of
the United States is a glorious standard; it is founded in the wisdom of
God." (both from Joseph Smith Papers) I also invite you all to read 1
Nephi 13:12-19, 30-32 and 2 Nephi 10:10-17, but I want to leave you my
testimony that I know this great country was prepared and preserved by God just
for us, and that if we are faithful to America and to Him, we will continue to
enjoy the blessings and liberties we now enjoy so fully. May God bless you all,
and may you have a tender and meaningful Independence Day, in the name of Jesus
Christ. Amen.
Callerist, I'm sorry!
Throwing up is my least favorite thing in the world! But Heavenly Father always
knows how we feel and if we ask Him, He can help us be strong in hard moments. Tap
dancing is very fun to watch! That will be so fun to have Mom as your primary teacher
for the day! My fav animal here is... not dogs. The dogs here are so annoying.
Love you!
Emma, ¡disfruta tu
tiempo no despertándote cada mañana a las 6! Aquí, nunca me puedo levantar
después de las 6:30. xD Glad to hear that drill is going so well for you;
I can't wait to see highlights throughout the season. Man, I miss the
reservoirs. ¡Que te vayan bien las cosas! ¡Te quiero! (Enjoy your time by not
waking up every morning at 6! Here, I can never get up after 6:30. Glad to hear
that drill is going so well for you; I cannot wait to see highlights throughout
the season. Man, I miss the reservoirs in Utah. Do things well! I love you!)
Bear, first off, I saw
Dad's video of you playing ball, and you are looking great! I LOVE the way you
play! Tell all the cousins that Elder Newman says hi! Love you!
Dude, I'm so happy the
endowment went so amazing for you. It truly is an indescribable peace and joy
to see your family there waiting for you in the Celestial Room; I imagine the
Spirit World Paradise and the Celestial Kingdom will be a lot like that. And
way to take advantage of the opportunity to do temple work the next day. There
is literally no greater place on Earth. Tell Natalie congratulations on her
mission call and that she will do great! I'll be sure to send you some special
scriptures this coming week. Love you Christian; 23 days until you enter the
best 2 years of your life til now!
Haha at least we know
the yard is soon to be relieved. Mom, thanks for all your support throughout
these first 11 months of my journey (that's right, 11 months already!) Love you!
Pap, how blessed we
are to be a part of the greatest country on Earth. Uruguay surely has its
perks, but I am constantly reminded each day that, despite our problems, we are
truly blessed beyond measure. God Bless America. And as I've grabbed the right
perspective and focused on the people and their happiness, I've seen them come
to know the joy of the gospel. And it makes me excited to do more.
Have a great and safe
4th of July, all of you! I'll tell you all about my new companion this coming
week! ¡Os quiero! (I love you!)
Con amor,
Elder Newman :)
Mom’s Questions:
1. Did Elder Mereles get
transferred? If so, who is your new companion and what do you know about
him?
Yes; my
new companion is Elder George; he is the grandson of my ZL Elder Childs (the
missionary Childs trained, trained E' George), and that's about all I know.
2. Who was the sister that
connected with me on FB this week and sent me pictures of you and Elder Mereles
playing with her kids?
Evelyn Di
Paula; her 8 year old daughter was baptized the first week I was here.
3. How are the
investigators coming along this week? Any come to church?
Very well;
Victor, Adrianna, and Agustína all came! :) We are also going to try and find
some news this week.
4. How was your asado that
you sent pictures of last week? I smoked some delicious spare ribs this week.
Yummy!!
Absolutely
amazing. I was honestly about to do another one today for the 4th of July, but
I ran out of time.
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