Leo's Baptism

July 27, 2015

Hola a todos!

Esta semana pasada fue TAN lindo!!! [This week was sooo good!] Leo was baptized! Saturday was his baptism. Hermana Maya and I made lots of invitations. We kept reminding the members about the baptism because, it happens a lot here, few people go to the baptisms and it´s kind of sad because no one shows support. So we were a little worried. The leaders in our branch really don’t help us out, at all, so Hermana Maya and I spent all day Saturday setting up chairs, getting things ready, buying the torta [cake] and making cookies. We asked the members to bring pizza or empanadas or something to share.

The baptism was scheduled for 6PM and at like 5:45 no one had arrived. We were a little worried but we kept up our faith in the members. But THEN, oh my gosh, people started to flow in; it was nuts! Like investigators, less actives and members were just flowing in. We were rushing to set up more chairs and make room for everyone. They all brought food and like, dude, there was a lot of food. We counted about 65 people that came to the baptism!!! And Leo´s parents came to watch too!! It was amazing!

We had planned that the primary would sing a song, ¨I Love to Look for Rainbows.¨ And I, personally, played the piano. It took a lot of practicing in the week with the children but it turned out so spiritual! We had planned the speakers and everything.

The actual ordinance was so spiritual. It gave me chills to see so many people there supporting Leo and to see Leo´s face. He was so happy! The spirit was so strong and so exciting!

Then we all ate food. The Sociodad de Soccorro [Relief Society] and Hermana Maya and I served the food. There was pizza and empanadas and chipa (a cheese bread here that is really good!) and tons of stuff. 

It was an amazing experience and definitely one that I will never forget! 

On Sunday was the confirmation of Leo. As they were confirming him I again was filled with chills all over, as he was now accepted into the church as a member! He is planning on going to the temple in December to do baptisms with Adriana, his girlfriend! 

It was an amazing experience! 

My Zone and Mission President

Last night was also a lot of fun. We had a Noche de Hogar with a few members, a less active member and her boyfriend, who is not a member, and an investigator, Vanesa. We helped Hermana Menez cook. The food was so good! There isn’t a lot here in Argentina that is like ¨wow” but this was really good!! We made homemade ravioli. We made the dough and filled them with papas y queso [potatoes and cheese] and they were amazing! We also made mbeyu, which is from Paraguay. It´s like a bread but uses madioca flour and cheese; dude that was amazing!!!  

Today for P-day we had a zone activity. It was really fun. We did a scavenger hunt and had to run around Garupá, a city close to Posadas.

My Zone in Garupa

The Pope came to Paraguay about 2 weeks ago and it was nuts here because everyone was crossing the border to go hear and see him! 

There are a lot of pioneers here in Apostoles. The wife of the branch president is a convert. She was baptized when she was young and served a mission in Washington DC North at the same time as Bryce and Aprille! I want to ask a lot of people for their stories! 

That is about everything really exciting that happened this week, but it was so great (:

This coming week will be a lot of tracting again! 

Love you all, 

Hermana Newell

July 20, 2015

Hello! 

Mami and Papi, thank you so much for your photos [of Coke and Cindy's new apartment]; it looks great and like a super nice complex [across the street from the Conference Center: loaded with senior missionaries and Elders] and nice apartment, and when it feels right you know that God is guiding your every step. You’re supposed to be there, and we will see why in just a little while (: You should feed the elders! They will love it!

Wow, your chapel sounds soo amazing; it would be awesome to go to church there. It makes you even more excited to go to church, haha. I’m sorry that it’s a newly wed or nearly dead ward, though-- you will be out of place both ways! Also super cool that there is a Russian ward; random, but cool! 

And I’m sorry about Aubrey’s car [getting stolen, in SLC]; that’s a bummer! But a good excuse to get a new one, eh?

Thank you so much for your prayers, it honestly makes me feel much better to know that you all are praying for me.

I have wanted to send pictures the past couple weeks but the computers here in the ciber are medio trucha [half junk], as we say here in Argentina, and a lot of their USB plugs don’t work so I can’t upload my photos. One of these weeks I’ll send a lot of photos, tho! 

So anyway, this past week wasn’t too exciting. Last Monday we got soaked to the bone and froze, but that is normal here in Argentina in the winter. On Tuesday, Hermana Maya was vomiting, so we didn’t go out. We went out quick but she puked on a tree and all the people were staring at us... that was a little awkward. We both just laughed, haha, but we went back to the pencion. It is honestly super boring when you stay inside all day! 

We have dropped quite a few investigators this week because they were not progressing; it is always super sad dropping them, because I feel so close to them, but it is necessary. We have started to work with a lot of less actives and some came to church on Sunday!! That was super exciting (: Leo has his baptism this Saturday, the 25^th; he is super excited and so are the rest of us. Lots of preparations are having to get done: we made like 30 invitations and so we hope that there is a good turnout to support him! We have another noche de hogar tonight with him. Last week we had the baptismal interview prep, and I had to ask him if he had ever participated in a homosexual relationship... and we were happy that he said no! That was a little awkward though.

I haven’t really shared my testimony in a letter yet. I don’t want to be too preachy but I just wanted to say that I know that this church is true, without a doubt in my heart! Having to teach it every day, I have really come to the knowledge that it is the whole truth. It makes so much sense. EVERY question that our investigators have, we have the answer! The gospel is the church of God, and it is truly restored to this earth. I have started reading Jacob now [in the Book of Mormon]. The spirit on a mission is amazing; in like every single verse I read I am marking something new. I have never understood it like I now understand it; everything has a place in my life. It’s an amazing feeling. One of my favorite parts of the day is my personal study in the morning. I just read and learn in the Book of Mormon for an hour. I’ve never felt the spirit so strong! 

As I grow spiritually I see a progress in my teaching as well. I am able to teach to the people’s needs and teach with the spirit. This past week I read in Jacob and wanted to share a scripture that especially touched me: Jacob 3:1 – 2; it gives me strength:

“Mas he aqui que yo, Jacob, quisiera dirigirme a vosotros, los que sois puros de corazon. Confiad en Dios con mentes firmes, y orad a el con suma fe, y el os consolara en vuestras afliciones, y abogara por vuestra causa, y hara que la justicia descienda sobre los que buscan vuestra destruccion. 2) Oh todos vosotros que sois de corazon puro, levantad vuestra cabeza y recibid la placentera palabra de Dios, y deleitaos en su amor! Pues podreis hacer lo para siempre si vuestras mentes son firmes.”

But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction. O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.

Thank you all for all your help and your prayers always. 

I Love you all!!! 

Hermana Newell

July 13, 2015

I´m so happy to hear about baby Jack! I’m so happy he and Josie and the family are all doing well! It´s so exciting to have a new member in the family. It’s gonna be weird not to see him, tho!

So this week here was kinda normal; not much happened and it wasn’t super exciting, but it was good, so that helps!

Leo Sosa is progressing and we had a lesson with him last night and we are having a noche de hogar with him tonight. He is still excited for his baptism on the 25th! Hermana Maya and I are starting on preparing the invitations and getting things ready for the 25^th.

Other than that, at the moment none of our other investigators are progressing. NO ONE wants to come to church! That is the hardest part, getting them to come to church. We dropped Silvia. She at the moment isn't ready to admit that she doesn’t know everything and that there really is a true church. She isn't letting her heart open up to accept the gospel. It was really sad to tell her that we are not going to be passing by anymore. It's weird how when you're on a mission you really care for the people so much even when you hardly know them!

With things that happened in my family this past week I have really had to put in practice the Plan of Salvation in my own life. It's weird when you're teaching it to everyone, like every day, but when you yourself have to trust in it, it becomes more real.

God has a plan. Sometimes our lives have to end before the time we would like but God knows what he is doing. We have to trust in him! 

I’m glad that you are safe, Mom, and that all went well [in Holland], and I’m sure that dad is MUCH better now. I don’t think he would have lasted much longer without you, mom, haha. 

[About Jillian’s wisdom teeth removal]: Ouch, I remember that time all too well. Give Jilly a hug for me, I hope she's doing okay! I wanna see a picture of her with [bags of frozen] peas on her face!(; 

And Happy Birthday Aubrey and Kimee! 

When I read about [cousin] Sarah it was something that I've never felt before... I’ve never lost a loved one before. Death has never really been a part of my life. It's a good thing that I was able to be in the house reading your letter because the tears surely did come. She was an amazing girl with desires to have a better life. I am thinking a lot about Kelly and her family and about Grandma and Grandpa. She will be very missed and I am praying for our family.

I love you both so much and know that God is always with you. Have faith and trust in him always; he knows why you are there in Utah. 

Love, Hermana Newell