¡Felices Pascuas!

I forgot to mention last week that this week is transfers, so I wouldn't be writing on Monday but on Tuesday... woops... sorry. Last night we got the call that Elder Lopez and I are staying together here in Pablo Nogués. We are really excited to stay here and work together more. I know that the Lord is directing this work and if I'm to stay here a 3rd transfer it's because I have unfinished work here. I know that there are people being prepared to receive us and that I have things to learn in Pablo Nogués.

Beto is doing fantastic. He has a real hunger to learn about the Gospel. It's unlike anything I've ever seen. He participates actively in church and asks a lot of questions. He asked for a manual to be able to understand The Book of Mormon better. He had an interview with the Bishop on Sunday to receive the Priesthood and passed it, so he will be a Priest. He's 45, so he gets the Aaronic Priesthood first and then a little while later will get the Melchizedek, and be ordained to the office of Elder. His daughter Candela will be baptized soon, the only problem is that she was enrolled in a Catholic school and has to do some sort of classes there and since she already committed to doing that we just have to wait until she gets done in May. His wife Lili really enjoyed church last week and has been visiting with us when we go to their house, and I have a feeling it won't be long before she joins her husband in the waters of baptism. Last Monday we had an asado with them which was fantastic. I tried morcilla (blood sausage) for the third time and this time it wasn't so good. Maybe I should've stopped after the second time when it tasted alright. We've had a lot of members failing us for lunches lately... but with Beto feeding us dinner practically everyday we've decided that's alright so that we don't get fat. Yesterday we had a really great lesson with Beto and Lili where we read "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." They really liked it and Beto said he is going to buy a big one to put on his wall.

Pizza and Empanadas in the pension

We found some new investigators this week through Sister Reyes, a sister that we reactivated. We had been teaching Clara, a friend of hers who was super great and accepting everything. She understands what we teach really well and was excited to go to church. Unfortunately she went somewhere Saturday night and got home Sunday at 4 in the morning and we were clapping her house for half an hour and she never woke up. It was unfortunate, but we just have to trust in the Lord and keep moving forward. 

This past week was really spiritual for me. I think it was Wednesday night, we were walking home from an appointment, and we live in the boundary of our area, so it was about a 30 minute walk. Elder Lopez was kind of having a hard time and getting discouraged because it was a somewhat difficult day. Then I found that I was talking and talking, and scriptures and General Conference quotes were popping into my head and flowing out of my mouth. After about 15 minutes of that my companion felt a lot better and thanked me. I told him not to, but to thank the Lord. I know that it was a time when the Spirit really was teaching my companion through me. I felt the Spirit so strongly and I felt the love that the Lord has for my companion and for everyone in Pablo Nogués. It was a really awesome experience. Then I was really caught away thinking and tripped on a crack in the "sidewalk"... woops.

In Heaven... surrounded by ice cream

Another great thing about this past week was that it was Semana Santa (Holy Week) leading up to Easter. We had many times when random people in the street would stop us and ask us if we believe in Easter. It was a great opportunity to testify of the Living Christ and the truthfullness of His Resurrection. On Sunday in Sacrament Meeting the Bishop randomly called me up to bear my testimony, so that was a cool opportunity. I know that my Savior lives. I know that He suffered for each and every one of us individually and that He knows how to comfort us and help us better than anyone. He died for us, and on the third day was resurrected. He lives. I know it. I have felt His love more powerfully in this time in the mission field than in any other time in my life. He is my Savior, Redeemer, Brother, and Friend. I love Him.

ClubAtletico Boca Juniors

On Sunday we had the farewells of the missionaries who are going home this week. I was able to see and talk to Olga from Constitución again, and it was so great to see her and see that she and her family are staying firm in the gospel.

Something cool the other day was that I was reading the book Our Legacy and I read a part that says that President John Taylor died in Kaysville, Utah, so I was able to show Elder Lopez that Kaysville really does exist.

I love you all.

Elder John William Garrett