June 24, 2013 The Work of Salvation!

This week was pretty sweet. 

Veronica, Genesis, and Valentina are all progressing very well. Their family has had a lot of problems, they fight sometimes, etc. They are imperfect! ha. We had a lesson with them monday, at the end Genesis offered the prayer, asking and praying for her mom, sister, etc. The spirit was really strong. 

It has really been so inspiring to see how everyone has changed in the mission, as well as those around them. The zone, me, my companions, etc. It has been a tremendous blessing to be able to get to know the elders and sisters here through activities, calls, divisiones, everything.  

The broadcast last night was amazing. I loved the LOOK of the church, sharp, sleek, modern, and obviously world wide. It is so inspiring to see how the Lord has allowed all of this technology to be existed, to be inspired by the Holy Ghost, all to preach his gospel and ready the earth! The videos, the music, the scriputres, the stories, all were so so inspiring.

Today as a zone we played futsal in the morning, with shouts of ¨hogwarts¨and victory from all sides. After, we went out to eat chinese food (well, 13 of us) and enjoyed it thouroughly. 

Love ya lots!

Elder Tasso

June 17, 2013 Cerillos !sin mente papi!

¨Twas a dandy! 

Today as a zone we played ultimate frisbee and soccer-futsal. It was really awesome because we could include the Sisters much more. At times I think they feel a wee tad excluded, which is a bummer, but ultimate frisbee was definitely a success, as well as a suggestion by them! I´m actually a lot better at that, than soccer! I think I´ve gotten worse!;) Any sugestions to increase untiy? Service Experiencias? 2 Nephi 1:21

arise from the dust, my sons, and be men, and be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things, that ye may not come down into captivity;

Women, Sisters, and the relief society really are amazing. 

After church yesterday, the relieft society called in all of the men, boys, high priests, etc. and we ate a pretty dandy lunch. We ate these pretty classic fattening chilean sandwiches with pan amasado. We ate a delicious cake, and a ¨queque¨as well, (other type of cake). I was touched by how organized they were in carrying out that grandious idea, and the faith they had to make it happen. 

Alma 32:28. I´ve learned that having an idea is one thing, and making it happen, is definitely another;)

We had a great church tour this past Friday, with 2 investigatores, one from the sisters, and one from our trio (we´re a trio now, Elder Gueto from Colombia, Elder Martinez from Mexico, and I). The spirit in the chapel was so strong, and it was easily the most effective lesson ever! We were able to teach doctrines, using the paintings in the church from lessons 1, 2, and 3, extend a succesful baptismal date at the font, and more than anything, enjoy the powerful spirit throughout. We´re doing an iniciative as a zone with the tours, and although up until now they´ve been few, they have been effective! 

Please keep Belen, Nicolas, Isabel, Cerrillos, Primo de Rivera, Elder Martinez, Elder Gueto, and everyone else in your prayers! 

You make me all happy inside with your smiling faces and golden-red hair! Make God guide your arrows always!

Elder Tasso 

June 10, 2013 My Favorite Family Ever!

Well Howdy!!!!

This week was a real dandy. A real slammer. I´m ¨Stoked¨ (ha) on Cerrillos. Geographically, It´s similar to Clara Estrella. It´s Suburby, but richer, the houses are bigger, etc. There are lots of young people, and LOTS of families, I´m excited about that. The weather has been AWESOME here as of late;), although with some strange fog in the morning. 

Today with the Zone, we had choir practice, we´re going to sing ¨Lord, I Would Follow Thee¨ in a zone conferece the 19th, and played some baby futbol!! The zone is really fun, united, neat-o. Being a zone leader is neat, and in truth, quite similar. Essentially, we plan a lot more, serve the missionaries, etc. 

We had an awesome lesson with our investigator Nico. He came out and told us how he wants to change, be baptized, etc. but has a lot of fear about falling again in smoking or drinking with his friends (he´s 116 minus 100). It was really touching to see how his confidence has grown with us. We taught the Gospel of Jesus Crist, the spirit was super strong. He accepted a date for the 14 of July. 

We´re also teaching Veronica, and her 3 girls. They all came to church (nico as well, and others!) and they loved it. Veronica, me thinks, still has some doubts, some valid ones as well. She seems really analitical, she likes to collect lots of little details. She was very worried about wearing a skirt to church, therefore decided on pants, with the approval of her returning-to-activity neighbor Roxanne. Bbbuuttt she ended up coming in pants! That made me smile inside;) I´m curios about personality types, the 4 that there are. I want to use that information to help diagnose how we can help the investigators better, and address their doubts more effeciently. I´m curious about what type I am, about how God created my brain. Feel free to send me some info. 

We´re teaching someone named Belen, she´s 11 years old. Really smart, really intelligent, understands way more than I ever did about the BoM with 15 years. Something that would prevent her from achieving her Baptismal date could be here Grandma, if she´s going to provide her support or not. If you would, pray that Veronica's doubts can be resolved,    Belen´s grandma can feel the spirit and put her trust in God, and that Nico can pray when he has temptations. 

Thanks! 

The ward here is super dope. Big, lots of activites, ward mission leader, Ward counsel, functions smoothly, etc. It´s a real real blessing to be here! It was a lot of fun to get to know them. I know that togethor we can baptize weekly. 

I went running this morning with Elder Sharrapata from Oakland. I ate some carrots, an orange, an apple, and some not so healthy cereal. 

I uploaded a few photos! I want to send more but I always forget. Forgive me :(((((((;(

Mom thanks for your big smile and for eating healthy. Dad thanks for your encouragement in learning new things, languages, cultures, business, going  door to door. Tyler, I love your hair cut. Last night we taught mario, with a hair cut even crazier than yours, ¨Opo´¨. I want it when I get back. And thanks so much always for the psychology tips.  Anna, your the best french sister I have! And adventurous! Hyrum, the chileans love your hair. Benny (and érbody else) I tell them about your soccer skills. Stevey- You are going to write the next best seller series, co authored with Anna. 

Love you all so much!!!!

Elder Tasso!

June 3, 2013 Lots and lots of love

Well, I had changes. Elder Tait is staying in Clara Estrella, and I´m now in Cerrillos, actually not too far! Elder Martinez and I are the Zone Leaders here, should be a real bundle o´ fun;) He´s from Mexico City, we actually went on exchanges once, in my first 6 weeks in the mission in El Parron. 

I´m so grateful to the lord for the time I had in Clara Estrella. I´ve really grown to love that ward, the people, the leaders... I learned from them to develop patience, and that things WILL happen, but healing, change, callings, require real help real love, and also real time. 

Tracy is progressing... Well enough. She didn´t make it to church this past week, which was a bummer. It seems that she he went out partying! Shoot, eh? She loves the Book of Mormon, to read and to study, which is always nice. She had a great studies of Matt. 3 with 2 Nefi 31, and accepted a baptismal date for the 13 of July. Nifty! 

I¨m grateful for the advice to expect more. To pray for miracles and to expect, work for, and look for them. That´s where Tracy came from, and that is where baptisms for our zone will come from! 

We ate some french fries yesterday with a fancy cheese fondue sauce from the Hna Eva Moena, and rice. It was delicious! 

Love you all, ask me questions, this letter seems a tad bit blandish. 

Elder Tasso!