Muchísimas empanadas

This week was a really great week. On Wednesday we had our zone conference/interviews with Presidente Ayre and it was really great. I really do have the best Mission President in the world, and I'm blessed to be in the best Mission in the world as well... so... sorry to all those who aren't a part of "La Gran Misión Buenos Aires Norte" haha. My Mission President is also really young, so I wouldn't be surprised if we all see him on TV some day during General Conference. One thing we talked about is that a successful missionary: 1- is exactly obedient, 2- is full of energy, 3- loves the people whom he/she serves, and 4- is a Christ-like teacher. My goal is to keep working on developing my teaching skills because I have the firm testimony that it is not only a talent that will serve me well in the mission field, but the rest of my life.

After the interviews, I had the opportunity to go on a companionship exchange and go to José C. Paz with Elder Núñez from Texas, a good friend of mine. We learned a lot together and had a lot of fun. He had a package from home stuffed with American candies, so that was awesome. One of the best parts of the exchange was the power of the Book of Mormon. It was really cool, because usually it takes a while to have chemistry as a companionship while teaching, but Elder Núñez and I in our first day together taught completely united. As we were helping the members in the ward participate in missionary work, it was incredible to feel the Spirit iluminate my mind with scriptures that touched me years ago, and see the affect that the Book of Mormon has on people. It truly is the word of God, and was revealed to a prophet of God.

Something funny on Friday was we ate lunch with a member and she made us empanadas. Your average person eats about 5 or 6. I ate 8... and my companion ate 16. Afterwards we were stuffed, and that night we had set up a Family Home Evening with the Montoya family, and she had prepared some food for us. Being stuffed already, we walk in and what had she made? Empanadas. We could only eat one more each and ended up taking quite a few home for breakfast the next day. It was hilarious.

Saturday night Hermana Montoya gave us 5 referrals. Unfortunately we weren't able to contact them before Sunday, but on Sunday we were able to contact one named Olga, who has had a lot of problems in her life. She accepted everything we taught her and accepted a baptismal date, and said that she felt a lot of peace in the Montoya home. About an hour after the lesson we went back to the Montoya house to go to the bathroom, and Olga was still there! She didn't want to leave because she felt so good!

Things are looking up in Pablo Nogués.

"Que la fuerza les acompañe."

Elder John William Garrett