Where Else Can One Do That? - March 26, 2012

Dear Family!!!

 

Wow!! What an exciting week. Thank you for sending the pics of the baby. Definitely fun to see. London Grace is a cute name, she is a real cutie too! Wednesday here in Pilar was a wild day!! Wednesday it rained harder than any other day in my mission. The streets got super flooded!! Elder Shaw and I had a good time cruising flooded Pilarense streets on our bikes. I love the mission!! Where else can one do that?

This past week we have been working super hard and finding lots of incredible people to teach. Our struggle continues to be getting new people in church, but Elder Shaw and I have a lot of faith that this next week we are going to destroy General Conference with lots of investigators in church.

Right now we are in Asunción. This morning we had a leadership conference. We got here early this morning because President Callan had something special planned to do. At 7 o clock bright and early we went out to the Botanical Garden of Paraguay. President Callan told us some of the history of the church in Paraguay and we went to the site in the Botanical Garden where Ezra Taft Benson offered a dedicatory prayer for the preaching of the gospel in Paragay. The prayer was offered the same morning that the first stake in Paraguay was organized. President Callan read the words of the dedicatory prayer and we all reflected on the mission and the church here in Paraguay. It was a really special moment and helped me to remember the purpose of our missionary work and why I am here. I really love missionary work. I want to develop a stronger love for the people of Paraguay. I think that is something that I am lacking and can do better.

After the Botanical Garden we returned to the mission office and had the consejo. We talked a lot about the vision of the mission, how to earn references from members, how the zones are doing. Our zone has been doing really well for the past few changes and we were really happy that every companionship in our zone baptized this past month. The Lord has been blessing us so much and we are grateful for it.

We are excited for this next week and for the opportunity to listen to the Prophet. It´s amazing how much I have grown to love General Conference. What a blessing it is.

I hope you are all doing really well! I am grateful for your support. I want you all to know that I have a testimony of this church. I know that it is the truth. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that God guides us through a prophet today.

Love,

Elder Snow

How Cool is That! - March 19,2012

Dear Family,

It was really neat to hear this week about the baptisms in the stake! Thanks for sharing a couple of those special experiences. I was thinking about the de Ruyter family a few months ago. That is such a blessing that Sister de Ruyter was baptized. I imagine that Brother de Ruyter was pretty content. He is a really great man, I feel bad for giving him a rough time in my Sophomore year of seminary. I`m glad that Melanie is a much better seminary student than I was. What an example of the miracles of missionary work. I know that this is the Lord`s work and that His hand guides and directs it.

This week we have been working a lot to find more new investigators. We have been struggling a little bit with getting the new investigators in church, however. This week we really want to work better with the members so that the investigators can leap that hurdle and make it to church. We found a great family that we have been teaching. The dad´s name is Ipórito. He is an elderly man, he´s probably around 65 years old. His wife passed away and he lives with one of his daughters, Liz, and some of his grandchildren. Ipórito and Liz received us very well and we taught them about the Restoration. It was amazing how they paid very close attention and showed true interest in the message. The Spirit was very strong during the part of the first vision of Joseph Smith. We introduced the Book of Mormon and left a part for them to read. By the next visit, Ipórito had read and was already developing a testimony of its truthfulness. He used to be very active in the Catholic church but has since doubted that the Catholic church is true for deception that he felt from some of its members and leaders. He is a sincere person looking for the truth. Ipórito and his daughters weren´t able to make it to church, however. We will continue working with them.

Yesterday we had the District Conference here in Pilar. President and Sister Callan came and spoke along with several members from the Pilar District. Most of the meeting´s theme was on the family. It was really neat to hear the members´ testimonies about their families and how important their families are to them. President Callan talked a lot on prophets and the blessing of having a living prophet today. He shared experiences of how he has gained a testimony that there is a living prophet today on earth.

One cool experience from a couple of weeks ago that I had forgotten to mention. Last month when Elder Shaw and I went to Asunción for the leadership council with the zone leaders, when we were waiting in the terminal in Asunción for a bus to come back to Pilar I saw Eduardo Calderón. Eduardo is the convert of Elder Bonilla and I from a while back. I was able to talk to him for a little bit and it was really good to catch up. He is doing very well. The coolest thing though is that just that Saturday he had the opportunity to baptize his older sister. He gave me a picture of the baptism with him and his sister dressed in white. How cool is that! Back when Eduardo got baptized, the rest of his family wasn´t very interested but he was able to help her make it to the waters of baptism. It was a really cool moment that helped me to remember what the mission is all about.

I am grateful for all of you!! Thanks for everything, for all of your support. Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Snow

The Lord is Paying Off Our Efforts Big Time - March 12, 2011

Dear Family!

So great to hear from you this week. It has been a great week. The Lord has been paying our efforts off big time. The past 2 weeks we had struggled a little bit to find new investigators but the Lord is sending many miracles our way to help work among His children here in Pilar.

After the trip to the temple on Tuesday, we did divisions with a district leader from our zone and his companion. Elder Davis came back to Pilar with me and we worked here on Wednesday. We found a couple of great new people and the Lord blessed us greatly. On Wednesday night (for like the third night in a row) we were traveling and then on Thursday I was back with Elder Shaw. After all of the traveling we were a little pooped out but we got out there and worked anyway. The Lord really helped us to continue onward. This past week I have been studying a lot about Christ like attributes and it has helped me to complain less and trust more in the Lord. I have noticed a difference and I know that trying to become more like Christ is such an important goal in our lives.

On Friday we had a pretty cool experience in the morning. We left our pension in the morning and were on our way to where we had planned (it wasn`t a confirmed appointment). On the way we rode past a man that was sitting outside. At first we just cruised by him. Then almost at the same time Elder Shaw and I turned around on the bikes to contact him. It was cool how we both felt the same impression to go back. We sat down to teach him and the lesson went really well. His name is Max and he had shared with missionaries a long time ago in Asunción but has not met with them since. Max was raised Catholic but about 5 years ago at age 50 he converted to an Evangelical Church and really wants to know which church is true. He also noticed how we had kind of passed him then we turned around to go back and talk to him. He said that the Spirit had told us to go back. It`s the truth.

Dad had asked a little bit about Gabriela´s family. She lives alone with her mom. Her mom is also a member that was baptized in another town over 10 years ago. She was inactive when we found them but has attended church every week with Gabriela.

I love this work. I am so grateful for the blessing to be here in the mission. I love you all. have a great week!

Elder Snow

Woo Hoo - March 6, 2012

Dear Family!!!

Sorry this will be another short one. We are here in Asunción again today, this time attending the temple. That is also why you didn`t get an email yesterday, rather today. Woops. Last night we had to travel through the night and we will be getting home in Pilar late tonight. That was interesting to hear about all of the Amazing Race in Paraguay things. To be honest, I haven`t heard of any of those places really, haha. The big fruit market that they went to maybe, is it called Mercado Abasto? I know that one if it is.

Elders Snow & Shaw with Servin Family

Brother & Sister Servin, Elder Snow & Elder Shaw

Anywho, in this letter I am trying to send some long overdue fotos from the Servin baptism as well as some fotos from Gabriela´s baptism this week! Woo hoo. It went really well. She is a great girl and both her and her mom seemed very happy with the baptism.

Gabriela

Gabriela's Baptism

These past few weeks Elder Shaw and I have been working really hard to find new investigators, but haven`t had a whole lot of success. Yesterday we found some really great new investigators that seem like they will progress. It seems to happen like that a lot of times, for weeks we can`t find anyone then all at once we find a lot of great new people. That happened with Elder Curtis in my last area. I think that sometimes the Lord tests us to see how much we are willing to give, how far we can push ourselves. I know that if we do our part, the Lord will fill in the gap.

This past week I finished the Book of Mormon again in Spanish. At the start of the year, I was about half way through and I set a goal to finish the Book of Mormon and read it all the way through again before July. So I just restarted reading this week and am on pace to do it. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I love it.

The temple today was really great. It`s always a real blessing to go to the temple and to feel the special spirit there. It`s amazing the difference that one can feel between being in and outside of the temple. It is the house of the Lord.

Anyway, I`m gonna pass the computer off to Elder Shaw because there aren`t any computers open and we are sharing this one. But I love you all so much!!!

Elder Snow

Miracles Far Outweigh the Tough Moments - February 27,2012

Dear Family,

Sorry, I don`t have very much time to write today. We are in Asunción for a leadership council and we have to catch a bus back to Pilar really soon so this will be a quick one.

We have had an up and down week. This past couple of weeks we have been working very hard but haven`t been seeing many of the fruits from it. Yesterday, however, we did see several really great blessings and things are looking up. This week we have the baptism planned for Gabriela and it seems like everything should go through great this time. Gabriela and her mom made it to church yesterday and we had the mom sign the permission slip so it seems like everything will go as planned.

Last week I had written a little bit about Lorena. She is the girlfriend of a less active member. This past week she started to progress again and we put a new fecha with her for the 10th of March. However, yesterday she didn`t make it to church and we weren`t able to visit her after so we aren`t sure what is going on there.

Yesterday one of the great miracles that we saw was that Hector made it to church. Hector is the boyfriend of a member (luckily they don`t live together). When we first started to share with him he was doing great, progressing very well. But then we weren`t able to find him for a while and he started taking a night class so we couldn`t teach him. All last week we had a goal to get a new person in church (apart from the progressing investigators that I have already written about). We worked hard up until sacrament meeting Sunday, but didn`t have anyone new there. Then just as Sacrament meeting started, Hector showed up with his girlfriend`s brother (who is a returned missionary) and attended church. It was a great tender mercy from the Lord to reward us for the hard work we had put in. Afterwards we had a lesson with Hector and his girlfriend, Nelida, and Nelida´s brother Marcos (the RM). The lesson went really well and Hector recommitted to do his part to find out if it is the truth. He accepted a baptismal date for the 17th if God helps him to know that it is the truth. So we are excited for that.

All in all, there are some rough days, but the miracles we see far outweigh the tough moments. I really love my companion, Elder Shaw. He is very upbeat and can always make me laugh and excited to work hard. He is a great blessing.

Some other great news from today. At the leader´s council I met up with Elder Curtis (I love him). He passed on the good news that Ana María from Costa Bonita was baptized this past week. It was exciting to hear. Also, Elder Curtis´ younger brother is going to the Chile Concepción mission, where Brother and Sister Kimball will be serving. Except Elder Curtis' brother leaves the MTC next week for South America. So him and the Kimballs will see each other in South America!

I really love you all so much and appreciate everything that you do for me.

Mom, you had asked a couple of questions...

My shoes are actually holding up pretty well. I don`t know if I have mentioned, but in Pilar we are on bikes and there is no empedrado so it doesn`t kill my shoes as fast.

I know that this is the true church. I am so blessed to be a member of it. I hope you all do great this week! Love you!

Pilar is a Great Area - February 20, 2012

Dear Family!!

Thanks for a great letter of what happened last week in good ´ole Newbury Park. Sounds like you have been really busy! Running from here to there. But it´s better that way, life is more fulfilling. I know that in the mission I feel so much better when I have been busy working in the Lord`s vineyard.

We have had a busy and great week as well. It`s has also been a tiring week since we have been traveling all over the southern half of Paraguay. On Monday, we went to San Ignacio to have interviews with President Callan. It went very well. He is such a spiritual man, I have grown to really love him. Speaking of which, we received an announcement today about the new mission president of my mission. His name is Pedro Agazanni, he is from Córdoba, Argentina and will take over on July 1.So I will have a new mission president for about a month. If you could send some info on him I would be interested to know a little about him.

Then on Monday afternoon we traveled to Encarnación. Elder Shaw and I did divisions with the zone leaders in Encarn on Monday night and on Tuesay we had zone conference. The zone conference was really great. We focused a lot on how to become better teachers and did lots of practices on teaching the message of the Restoration. It really impresses me over and over again how perfect the doctrine of the church is. It is such a blessing to live in a time when the restored gospel is here in the earth. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and that through him the Gospel was restored.
Then on Tuesday afternoon we did a lot of traveling to get back to Pilar that night. Then Wednesday through Sunday we worked hard to make up for the time we missed and get our investigators excited for church.

In the end, we did not have the baptism on Saturday. We passed by on Wednesday and everything was fine, we had the interview scheduled for Friday. Then on Thursday night Gabriela´s mom said that she wants Gabriela to wait and prepare more. The mom is just getting active again, so she has a couple of doubts on if Gabriela is ready for baptism. So we attacked Gabriela and her mom with member visits in these past few days and put a new baptismal date for the 3rd of March. They both attended church yesterday and seem to be excited.

Yesterday in church we had a really great blessing from the Lord. A couple of weeks ago I wrote about Rita. She is an investigator that attended church two weeks ago and was progressing very well. She has a testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the church and wants to be baptized. Last week she didn`t make it to church because she moved houses and we didn`t know where she was living. We called her a bunch of times and she never answered so we thought she was avoiding us. We couldn`t find her new house and she wouldn`t answer the phone so we thought we were going to have to drop her. Yesterday morning she texted a member and said that she wanted the member to pick her up for church. So Hermana Suarez (The familia Suarez are my heroes) took her to church and everything is fine. It turns out that Rita traveled to her mom`s house and left her phone because she didn`t have service out there. Now we will continue teaching her and she will continue progressing. The problem there is that she lives with her boyfriend and they aren`t married. We have talked with the boyfriend and he is really not interested and doesn`t want to get married. We will have to continue working there and have lots of faith that the Lord will provide a way.

This past week we continued teaching Lorena as well. Lorena is the girlfriend of a less active member (Alex) and they are living together. Lorena also really likes the church and wants to be baptized. But, it`s the same situation as Rita, the man doesn`t want to get married. So right now we are having a couple of challenges with couples not wanting to get married. Lorena is really great. She learns a little bit slower, but is sincere and is progressing well. Her boyfriend`s brother, John, is a really active member who helps us all the time with the work. Lorena didn`t end up making it to church yesterday because apparently her and Alex had a fight and Lorena left to her mom`s house. We will see what happens there.

So there are a lot of great investigators right now. We just have to tie up the loose ends and help people enter into the waters of baptism. I feel very blessed. Pilar is a great area, Elder Shaw is a fantastic companion, the members are very helpful, and the Lord is blessing us. That about wraps it up, I hope you area all well. I love you!!

Love,
Elder Snow

This is the Lord's Work - February 13, 2012

Dear Family,

ELDER SHAW IS THE GREATEST (He typed that, haha).

We are sitting here in an internet cyber in San Ignacio, about 2 hours away from Pilar. We had to travel early this morning to have interviews here with President Callan. Tonight we are heading out to Encarnación (another 3 hours away) for zone conference tomorrow. It turns out in this cyber there aren`t 2 computers next to eachother, so Elder Shaw and I are sharing a computer and that is why he wrote a little message to start things out.

We have had another very exciting week. We have been working very hard to help our investigators progress and to find new investigators at the same time. Last week I talked about Gabriela, the daughter of the less active member. She made it to church again yesterday and is excited for her baptism this Saturday. We are praying that all goes well because since we are traveling, we won`t be in our area until Wednesday. The members are so great though that they do visits when we aren`t there. There is one family (The Suarez family) that is so great and visit all of our investigators on their own.

We had another great miracle this week with a new investigator we found. Her name is Lorena, she is living together with a less active member named Alexander. They are a young couple and Alexander hasn`t been to church in a while. This week we started teaching Lorena and she has progressed a lot. At first, she was kind of slow to understand and didn`t show much interest, but as we taught the basic principles and about Christ she really started to open up. She offered a prayer for the first time and it went really well. Yesterday, Lorena went to church for the first time and really enjoyed it. So we are excited to see how she continues progressing.

Anyway, since we are sharing a computer, I don`t have that much time. So I will just finish saying that I love you all so much! Thanks for always writing and for your support. I know that this is the Lord`s work and I feel so blessed to be a part of it.

Love,
Elder Snow