December 17, 2012

Hey!  I don't have much time (sorry) but we're going to chat for an hour the 24th, hope that's ok with you all.

This week was awesome! But hard.

Yesterday, with 2 families together, we sang like 6 Christmas songs.  I love to sing now, more than ever I suppose.  But after that, we got a text that one of our investigators tried to kill himself, by cutting his wrists.  Maybe we're not the best missionaries, ha.  No, satan is powerful, as is alcohol.  We brought him to the hospital, and he's a little better now.  The bishop helped us a lot too.  

Dad, I'm not really struggling for answers now, but in the moment, how, or what do you say to someone in that situation?  I know you've been there before.  You told me a story about a call that you received about 3 or 4 years ago, and a lady wanted to do the same.

I tell this story not to freak you out or to scare you.  Claudio's a little better.  I thought you might want a letter a little less boring really.  And I didn't have much time.  

Ha.  Well I love you all.

Jesus is our Savior.  The church is true.  Focus on what is in front of you, in the moment, in your day, and make it the best it can be.

December 10, 2012

Fam!

Well we had a great week! Clara Estrella is really great! We just got a new bishop, Obispo Florés! He´s a freaking boss, ha! The ward is really awesome, and big. There are more members, more records, more young men and women, and the boundrais are like 4 times bigger. Geographically, its jolly, good, and honestly the same. It´s only like 4+- miles away from where I was before. 

I´ve really come to love to study the gospel. PME, LDM, La Biblia, everything. It really is an ongoing, seemingly never ending process of learning. There is sooo soo much to learn in this world, especially the gospel. But I challenge all of you to make a little time to study, take out something, and work on applying it everyday. I remember when I was 14, 15,16, I read the LDM, but not very well. I read to read, and not much more. Which isn´t terrible, but read to come to know Jesus, to feel the spirit, to apply something, to help someone. Read and visulize what you read.

Wednesday, I believe, We were walking, we talked to this old guy, and left. After, We knocked a door close by but as we were doing it the old guy who we had just contacted fainted! Well, he hit his head and had a big goose egg, but he was okay and after a bit his family came and rescued him. But during all of this the lady who's door we knocked before came out and helped us with the old guy, her name is Edith! Well turns out after all this, we´ve now taught her 2 times. She´s super awesome, and actually asked to come to church! She wanted to know what it was like there! She couldn´t come this week, had something, but next week she´ll be there. 

Also we´re working with someone named Johnny, he´s like 21. He hadn´t come to church before, and when we called him saturday about church sunday, he said he couldn´t, for something he had. Elder manzano told him "well ok, but really, ultimatley your going to have to show your faith to the lord." Sunday, he surprised us all and came to church, and actually, at the end, he didn´t want to leave. He plays the piano, and was playing there until it was time to close! 

Hey! Im going to skype the 24th at 10 am your time, 2 pm my time. Think up some funny questions, funny stuff. I´ll do the same. 

Brighton! Thanks for the pic of steve, it was sweet. Send some more! And with the packages, thanks so much.  We eat really well here, but I always appreciate everything you send me. Material things are sometimes better, although they may be random or a few. Like socks, or a pen, or a watch, or a tie, or a photo. 

Tell Sister Dahl and Brother Sparks, and their classes, thanks for the letters! Eventually, ha, Im going to send them a sweet letter! and Dad, tell Grandma and Grandpa Tasso thanks for the letters as well. 

Dear Grandma and Grandpa Ahlborn! I got your package, it was really awesome, thanks so much! We need emergency funds here, (obviously, I suppose) and a lot of that stuff is perfect for that. Also, for eating now. I actually got it like 4 weeks ago, I´ve just forgotten to write sooner. But thanks so much! How are all you? Are you living in your house in utah now?

This week Im going to give thanks, and work on giving thanks. Also, to look for miracles. Do the same, ya??! It´s a challenge!

Andrew and Alivia! Your both awesome!

I know that the mission is so vital to our futures and the futures of our family, and not just when we´re young and limber, but all of our lives! Missionary work is the life blood of the Church.  It is the greatest tool we have to also help the members reach their potential.

I know that Jesus is my savior, that the BOM is the word of God. That we will live with God again, through the plan of salvacion. The church really is true. 

I love you all and merry christmas!

Elder Tasso!

December 3, 2012

Hey everyone! Hope you are all well!

Well first off, I got transferred! That is to say that I bid farewell to El Parron, and embraced my new sector of Ochagavia, Clara Estrella. I must say, it was hard to leave El Parron, and I can´t imagine how hard it will be too come home in 1.5 years. The ward there is really awesome, the people, the members, everything. But also I felt it was time to go, as did the Lord. Bittersweet. But Clara Estrella seems pretty awesome! Physically, it´s like El Parron, and actually not too far. 

My new comp. is Elder Manzano de Mendosa, Argentina. I'm seriously excited to work with him! He´s a great missionary, really wants to work, and seems to really love the people. He likes to repair things, he´s going to weld professionally, and likes to work out and eat healthy! That should be good, I´ve been wanting to do a little better there. 

This week I memorized Mathew 11: 28-30. I feel so blessed to be able to serve in the mission, which could potentially, to an outsider's point of view could sound weird. But of course, we know that not only is the mission a commmandment, but a huge huge blessing, for those we serve and for ourselves, and our families and future families. And to be honest, doing the Lord´s will only brings what you truly want and need, although at the time you may not realize it. I look at how I was when I arrived in the mtc, El parron, etc. , and how I am now, and am so grateful for what the Lord has done for me. Lose yourself in the service of others, do something nice for someone, just act, do it for Jesus. Analyze how you feel, and if it was good in anyway at all, repeat the action. As the scripture says, we´ll find peace, happiness, and eternal life in these things. 

I read about the strippling warriors this week. In Alma 56: 7-8, the parents are about to break a convenant, a promise that they made with God, becuase they needed to fight. But Helaman didn´t let them, and they put their trust in the Lord. They had their afflictions, the same with the people of Ammon in Mosiah 24: 13-15. Every day, we are in some way like these people. We´ve made covenants with God, that actually, we cannot fulfill by ourselves when the affliciones come, and they do come. But in both of these stories, the people persevere with faith. The pray to God to help them, and then go forward. God doesn´t take away our affliciones, but he strengthens us so that we can overcome them. In the case in Alma, the solicione were the 2000 warriors, and ultimately, for their parents choice to trust in God and keep their covenants, they were blessed with the opportunity to do what they did, and how great were their testimonies, their expericnes, and more fully their conversiones because of that chance that they had! God will always help us, and strengthen us through our trials. In all things. This week, When it gets hard for me, when I'm tired or hungry, I'm going to do my best, to concentrate on helping the people. In listening to them, and doing my best to love them as Jesus would. And I know that I will see miracles from this according to my faith and diligence. I guess this is the easy part, to type it. But next week I´ll write about an experience that we had. 

Do the same in your lives. When you have a trial, trust in the lord, act with faith, turn outward in the service of others, and great will be your joy. 

I love you all! Thanks for the letters and such! 

Elder Tasso

Ps, I heard some Beatle´s songs today, they made me happy. Also I put up a bunch of photos, the most recent of which is my companion Elder Manzano.