11-18-14

So, this week has been a week of traveling!  I went to Chuy (Brazil) for intercambios, then straight to Montevideo. (We had conference with the our mission and the other mission in Malvin! Elder Craig Christianson came and it was AMAZING! He talked about how the mission is a complete experience. You get to feel like a baby, and then you get to grow up and learn to become a seasoned missionary. That really helped me because I have been feeling so guilty for my incapability to be a good missionary! But, I learned that God is excpecting me to fail, and it´s ok because I´m learning! He only excpects my best!)  Then we came back to Lascano, then back to Chuy for an baptism interview (I don´t know If I told you, but Elder Ochoa is our district leader, and he had to conduct the interview!)  then we went back to Lascano, and then now, WE´re BACK in Chuy!   hahaha from Chuy, we´re going to changes in Montevideo!       Hahhahaha so, we´ve been traveling by bus A LOT!

BUT, our main focus right now is on Camilla and Lucas. (They are the kids we found the other day in the street!)  They are REALLY progressing! Camilla told us yesterday  that she KNOWS the book of mormon is true. Straight up, without hesitation, she knows it´s true and is getting baptized! She is golden!  She ´s like another Rudy, who just KNOWS that the church is true.   I know that she is one of the reasons I am in Lascano, we´ve really connected and she resonds to the teachings.  It´s awesome. So both Lucas and Camilla are getting baptized.  

We´re still working on Antony. He is really timid, and we have to gain his trust. we are going to schedule a time to play soccer at the church (The RAMA has a big backyard, and we´ll play there.  But he loves soccer a ton, so we´ll see!)

But I am doing so good, the spanish really exploded this week! I´m alot more confident, and I can participate more fully in the lessons! I know I´m being blessed for my hard work, prayers and patience. Thanks for all your prayers I can feel them!   Tell Aubs congrats on the Musical, it looked way good! And nice Halloween costume! I died!

Mals, I love you a ton, and I hope that you are doing good, you rock!

Mom dad, YOU ROCK! I love you guys so much, and thanks for teaching me correct principles!

Anyway, I got to go, but next week I´ll write on Monday for sure! Love you!

Elder Carroll

11-10-14

"This is a really old Gaucho man in the ward"

Soccer in Chuy, Uruguay

Montevideo Temple

"Brazil! OPA! And we helped a Menos active build a house! [Above] (This is an example of what some people live in here! It´s crazy!)"

11-10-14

Hey guys! Sorry I couldn´t write a group email last week, a lot has happened!  So  these past two weeks have been super crazy! Our pool of investigators was getting thinner and thinner last week! People just didn´t want to talk to us or answer their doors!  The mom of Antony (The one that got angry at us) Still wouldn´t answer our texts or answer the door!   Sebastian, the boy that were teaching, was progessing, but super slowly.  So that was last week, but we continued to talk to everyone, and kept working hard. THIS week has been a week of miracles!!! Holy cow!    All the hard work brought blessings for sure!  So, the begginning of the week started out kind of the same. No one really was progessing, Sebastian Did come to church last Sunday, but we really had to push him to go!  We taught him on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday, and then had to go to a conference in Montevideo on Thursday, and then Zone Conference on Friday!  (Those were awesome by the way! This really is the Best mission in the church, and my zone rocks!  Everyone in so obedient, and it really does bring blessings!) On Wednesday night,  we had a little bit of time to go see Sebastian. So we went, and he was playing soccer with his buddies. We played with them  for a little bit, and we won!    We were pretty proud of ourselves, but Sebastian was pretty upset that we beat him.   He wouldn´t let us talk to him!     Hahaha we even ran to a little Almacen down the street and bought him cookies to bribe him, but he just wouldn´t listen! So we learned that we ALWAYS have to let little kids win soccer games!    So we left to the conferences not really knowing where we stood. (He was supposed to get baptized on that Saturday- Last  Saturday)     So we got back from the conferences, and went to go play another game with him, only this time, we were going to let him win!   We went, and he Beat us!     Hahaha so he was happy again, and we were relieved!    We got all the Charlas in, and he was baptized this past Saturday!     YES!!!! We were so happy to see him make that covenant, but we sure were exhausted. The whole time teaching him has been like a roller coaster, we never know if he´s home, or if he´ll listen! (He´s 8)    But anyway, we baptized and confirmed him this weekend, and everything turned out alright!   So that was miracle number one. Number two, His parents, who didn´t really want anything to do with with the church this whole time, went to his baptism, and loved it. We talked to them afterwords, and they told us that they  really liked the baptism, and were thinking about talking taking the discussions!   HOLY COW! They also aren´t married, and in Uruguay, it takes A TON to get married, and they told us that they would think about it!  I KNOW that the Lord softens hearts, and that the spirit is the real teacher. After so long of being in their house teaching their son, the spirit finally penetrated into their hearts! We are going to see what happens, but that was miracle number two. NUMBER THREE!!!!!!!! We talked to Marianna, the mom of Antony, and it turns out that the WHOLE thing was a giant misunderstanding! (Just to remind you, she had asked us to turn off her light braker after they left to Montevideo on a trip. They had forgotten to do that, and need us to do that. So we did, and a couple days later, we got a text from her saying that the lights were still on, and that we were no longer welcome in her house.)   So what really happened was, that after they left to go to Montevideo, her Ex boyfriend, who is kind of crazy, told her that the lights were still on, and that we didn´t turn them off.  She belived him, and sent of that text. When they got home, she realized that we DID turn it off, and she tried to text us, BUT her phone stopped working, and she couldn´t send messages!  So the whole time, she has been trying to get a hold of us, and couldn´t! She isn´t mad!!! She told us that we could come back, and that she is just dying to get her son Baptized!   So we are going to start teaching Antony again!!!    YES!!!!!!!!   MIRACLE FOUR!!! There is an Hermano in the branch who has two grandkids. We found their neighbors first, and started teaching them, and then these grandkids showed up, and then little by little a bunch of little kids heard that we were teaching them! We have a little pool of investigators on this street, and a lot of them kind of really want to be baptized!    hahaha we are going to see how it goes, but it was definetly the Lord´s hand! We have really been trying to show the Lord that we want to bring people unto Him, by talking with EVERYONE we cross paths with in the street, and inviting as many people as we can to be baptized. Probably 0 of the people we invite to be baptized in the street will get baptized, but by doing this, we show Heavenly Father our desire. Because of that, he blesses us With people who ARE ready and prepared to be baptized, and I truly have a testimony of that now!   

This church is true! The Lord really is hastening his work. People are being prepared, and it is our responsibility to find those people, and invite them to Christ. THAT STARTS WITH THE MEMBERS!   

I hope you all have a wonderful week!   ¡Vamos arriba!

Elder Carroll

10-27-14

¡Hola!

Holy cow this week has been crazy! First of all, there is an Election going on in Uruguay right now, and Elections in Uruguay are always excuses to party!  So that´s been rough trying to find and teach people, because they´re all partying!  So we have been teaching two boys around 9 years old, who are both ready to be baptized. The first boy, Antony was supposed to be baptized this pastSaturday, but there was a misunderstanding with his mom, and now she is mad at us, and wont let us teach him anymore!   AHHHHHH! Here´s the story- So they went on trip as a family to Montevideo, and the mom asked Elder Ochoa and I to turn of the light breaker to their house, because they had forgot to do that. So we went to turn it off, and a couple days later, we got this text from Miriana, the mom, saying how mad at us she was, and that we weren´t welcome to come to their house anymore! Apparently the lights were still on in their house when they got back, which was confusing to us because we went and turned off the lights! So we still aren´t sure what happened exactly, but as of right now, Antony is not getting baptized!   We are so sad, Antony is so golden! Satan is definetly putting in his work to stop our work, but I know Antony will be baptized someday.  One thing you have to know about Lascano, is it is a major small town. Everyone knows everyone, and that causes a LOT of drama! The members get offended really easy, and most of them stop coming to church for minor things that people do or say.  It´s pretty un real, but we are working with them!       The other boy we are teaching is Sebastian, and he is the Grandson of The Branch President. His parents are members, but he wanted to be baptized when he heard that his grandpa was called to be the president of the Rama.   So we´ve been teaching him, and committed him to go to church yesterday. We went by in the morning before church, and he was sitting in his house crying! He was so scared to go to church! He didn´t want to leave his mom!  we finally got him to go to primary, which is before Sacrament meeting here, but he just would not stay for sacrament meeting!  His mom took him home, and it was so sad watching him drive away! He will have to wait to be baptized for another week, but we are really going to work with him!     

So that´s the update on  our investigators!     Here´s a couple of super cool things about Uruguay.     First, we have to clap at doors in stead of knock. hahaha That´s super fun!   Second, everyone greets each other with a kiss on the cheek, men and women.  As missionaries we can kiss men, but not women. I can say now that I´ve kissed a man!   Hahaha but there have been times that girls lean in for the kiss, and I have to push my hand out in front of them and say   ¡Perdon, solo la mano!    hahaha that´s been pretty funny!         Third, there are Panaderias everywhere, which are the greatest thing to happen to the world EVER! They are bread stores which sell fresh bread and pastries, for ONE PESO! I don´t know if you understand how amazing that is! You can get so much bready goodness for so cheap!    It´s awesome!    These are some of my favorite things about Uruguay, I´ll be thinking of some more!

Anyway, the Church is true!  The Gospel really is so simple, but it is the most important thing in our lives!   There are so many people here who are just so unhappy, and they don´t know why, and it´s because they don´t have a knowlege of their Heavenly Father and the plan that he has for us. That´s why we are here as missionaries. To bring that good news to these people.  It´s real!

I hope you all have a great week, I love you all! CHAU!

Elder Carroll

10-20-14

Hola!

I'm doing good!    I can't even explain what these past few weeks have been like! They have been so HARD!  I'm so limited in my spanish!!! It's stinks! But I had the rush of love yesterday during church for these people. While I was leading the music, blessing the sacrament, giving a talk, and Elder ochoa was leading the music, I realized how much love comes from serving the people, regardless of my spanish.   I can definetley see my spanish is improving, but it's so frustrating! I'm just Elder Ochoa's quite companion, which is so hard for me!  I love to talk, and I feel so hindered!     I'm realizing how much I have to humble myself!   Before my mission, I was able to talk to anyone, anywhere and about anything!  I loved talking to people, and teaching, but in English!   I can't do harldly any of that now, and I have to rely on the Lord!    It's been such a humbling experience! 

But I've really gotten to get close to the Lord! We have conversations quite often He and I!  It's cold in the mornings, but it's starting to get hot during the day.  Our area is probably the poorest pueblo in Uruguay, but our house is decent.    The people live in huts pretty much. There  are some that are a little bit more well off, but not much. It's so different!  It's been a growing experience for me to just love them despite their difference.  And the church is pretty weak here. There are about 300 members, and only 5 go regularly, if that! The branch president has only been a member like 3 years, and has no idea what to do. We've basically been running the Branch. It's like pulling teeth getting people to come to church!  It's pretty much like the little island on Tonga in the Other Side of Heaven!   But I'm definetly learning to step up!  I know I'm being blessed!

Yeah! Seriously I look at the pìctures I brought with me of our house, and I feel so blessed!     We actually live in a little brick house, and Thank goodness we have hot water, a stove, an oven and a washing machine. We have it pretty good! We live closer to the center of town, which is more well off, but it's still a tiny little house, with lots of bugs in it! Hahahaha It's actually kind of fun!     
And the food is really good! It's a lot of pasta, and meat! We always eat really good at members houses!      It's really is European! 

So, Guess where I'm at right now!  I'm in Brazil!   Well, pretty much. For P day today, we took a bus to Chuy, which is a city that borders Brazil. One side of the street is Uruguay,. and the other is Brazil. Which means that one side is spanish, and the other is Portuguese!   I've already learned some portuguese!     HAhaha it's pretty awesome!  But we're going to do some souviner shopping today, maybe play some soccer with our district, and sight see!   We actually get to come here every week for district meeting, but today we get to play!  It'll be fun!And last Friday we had Intercambios, and I got to come here! We taught a lot of lessons in portuguese! It was cool, the people understand spanish, but speak portuguese!      But I was part of a Drug Bust in Brazil!

So here is the story--- And this is a true story.   Last Friday, I had exchanges in Brazil (It's halfway in Uruguay and Brazil)    I was working with my temporary comp Elder Oliviera, and we pàssed by a house with a ton of cops. They told my comp to go into the house, and made me wait outside!   I asked one of the cops, who was all dressed up in swat team stuff and had a big rifle, what was happening. He told me that it was a Drug bust and they needed Elder Oliviera, who was Brazilian, to be a witness!   They had just  busted down the door of the house before we got there, and had handcuffed the guys who were trafficking drugs!  It was so crazy, just like a movie!  Crazy Brazilians!   So I got to make some new Brazilian cop friends! That was pretty sweet!

     It was CRAZY! We saw them bust down the door, arrest the guys, take pictures and everything! My comp had to be a witness for the Brazilian Police!    Hahaha it was like the movies!    

So we just had a new family move into Lascano, and they are Super Solid members! We went over to their house to visit with them, and I have NEVER been so grateful for a righteous family in my entire life! They are active and teach their kids correct principles!    That's going to make this Rama so much better!

I am learning so much!!!!!  but     I HAVE TO GO!!!!!    I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!      HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Devin

10-13-14

                                     My cousin, Hermana Dowdle who I found in the MTC!

                                                           MTC in Argentina (CCM)

                                     President and Sister Cook, with my Comp, Elder Ochoa

                                                                Baptismal font!

                                                                   My first baptism

                                                                 Lascano, Uruguay

10-13-14

Holy cow! I am in Uruguay!    I dont even know where to start!!   So we got to the Mission home on Tuesday last week, and met the Cooks. They are the greatest Mission President and Wife EVER! We got to go out and prosylite in Montevideo after some mission training. I had gone prosyliting in Argentina, but it was so much cooler to be with an experienced missionary, and also to be in MY mission!!!!  That was way cool. We stayed the night in the Church Hostel that they have right by the Montevideo Temple. In the morning, after a doctors appointment and breakfast, we all went to the mission home to meet our trainers! they were all sitting on the couch in the house, and they had us sit down next to them. They pulled up a map and starting one by one calling our Areas, the trainer,and the Oro (The new missionaries are called Oros, or Gold in ingles!)    they called my name last, had me come up, and then called my trainers name. Elder Ochoa!        I found out that he is from Thatcher Arizona, I thought he was native when I first saw him!  But he is so great, He works so hard, and it has been awesome working with him!    We have been assigned to the Lascano area, right outside of Treinta y Tres. It is so tiny!  It's like the no name village in Uruguay!  They have a branch, but since we've gotten here, there has been no branch president!  We've had to act as the brach president this week, and collect tithing and stuff! It's been pretty crazy! But they called a Brach President Yesterday, and that will make it easier for us to focus on the work!   But Lascano is like the Promised land! Almost everyone is willing to talk, and hear our message! The culture in Uruguay is just like that, people just sit outside, and drink Mate all day! It is so chill! I love it!    My Spanish is progessing, it's still pretty tough! i've had to rely on Elder Ochoa for everything- He is going home next transfer, he's a really seasoned missionary!  I'm really learning a lot!

So we had a baptism last Saturday! Her name is Maria, and she had had some of the lessons already! We picked up where the other elder's left off, and we baptized her. She is so awesome, it was so great to see her get baptized.   It is so incredible being apart of the work here in Lascano. These people have NO idea what being in a Stake of Zion feels like. Our sacrament meetings would seem like a joke to anyone raised in the church, We meet in a house! But they still have so much faith to get baptized and be faithful! It is wonderful to see!  We have a lot of Menos Activos, simply because the church is so small, so we are working with them.  But I got to baptize and Confirm Maria, In Spanish!!!  Holy cow it was crazy!  And it's been so crazy being brand new and having to run the church here, BUT I can testify that the Lord Qualifies those whom he calls! Elder Ochoa and I have been called to this area to build up Zion, and that's exactly what we are going to do. I have felt to Lord's help.     I don't have much more time, but this church is true!  These are the last days, and we have to bring Everyone we can to Christ before the second coming! It's such a sacred calling!        

I love you, and know that only good is happening here in the best mission in the World!    VIVA URUGUAY!!!!!!

Elder Carroll