Me and Elder Harris found these great people the first day of Elder Harris' mission! I wish I could have been there, but oh well...at least they got baptized! YESSSSS!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Family!
Hi family of mine...this week was a good one. Claudia and her daughter are preparing themselves for baptism this Saturday which is AWESOME! The rama (branch) is super excited. There hasn't been a baptism in a coons age. Pretty crazy how we started teaching Claudia and all of her friends. Elder Ordonez and Pellegrini were given the reference before I got here to find a woman named Claudia. Well, turns out they got lost but clapped a house asking for Claudia. That happened to be this woman's name and by chance she let them in. She's not the type to just let any "fools" in her house, but for some reason, she let them in. As they started talking, they realized it wasn't the reference they had been given by Hermana Norma. Wow, this probably doesn't make any sense. I feel like I can't speak English anymore, but anway, she's getting baptized this weekend! That is, if she doesn't smoke any cigs. We call her every night to make sure she's not giving into temptation. Sadly though, she got robbed the other day. I was hoping that they only took her cigs, but they took her DVD player and other stuff. Stupid people that rob! We were going to do a noche de hogar (family home evening) with her using that DVD player! Punks!
Elder Ordonez is such a stud. We are doing great! We played tennis today. It was tiring but fun. My neck isn't used to seeing the sun though and I got burned. But, it's one of those good feeling burns. But, we have to start working soon because P Day ends early today. We are basically taking off the whole day on Thursday to go hear Elder Bednar speak!!! We're all pretty excited about it, even though he'll probably just bajar la cana (drop the cane) on us.
I went on intercombios (splits) with my district on Tuesday. I went out to Santa Teresita. The Coast rocks! I love it! Even though when we were cruisin' on bikes d (yes they have bikes...we had bikes in our area too at one time but they got stolen and the missionaries never have replaced them), but, anyways, all the streets here are made of sand. In some areas the sand is so deep it's impossible to ride the crappy bikes that we had to able to go through it! I guess I kind of forgot how to ride a bike or something because my wheel got stuck and I ate sand! It was dark though luckily, otherwise the pibes would have given me a hard time. I laughed though. It was pretty funny! So did Elder Gonzalez and he doesn't laugh very often!
Oh, and yesterday we took out a fecha with Alejandro aka Lechuza! He's awesome! He knows everyone here in San Clemente so when he gets baptized he's going to convert this whole dang town! We've got his fecha now, we just need him to cumplir (follow through) and lograr (grow) his testimony super firme (firm). He's super smart. He knows a lot of stuff about a lot of stuff! He's always telling me crazy facts about the states that I have no idea what he's talking about. He thinks I'm crazy that I'm from the States and don't know, so now I just agree with him. (That's what happens when you leave the country for a couple of years)! Well, I best be going. Saludos a la familia...oh boy, when is Thanksgiving? Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I know it's this month, I just don't know when....READ YOUR SCRIPTURES!
Gavin
To Mom:
I feel bad not writing you a personal email but my long emails are basically in response to your emails. I love reading your emails. You fill me in on the deets...which is what I need. Chris wrote me the funniest letter last week. I wanted to write back but I don't have time today. What a stud! Mom, you really are so amazing and do so much for me and our family. And behind the scenes I know you do even more being unnoticed and without credit. And...it doesn't even matter to you. You are truly such a perfect mom! (Wish that were true Gavin, but "thanks")! There's not one thing you do that I don't agree with. You even play golf now and good golf! I love you and dad and thank the Lord every day for having the family that I have. I know now how important the family is and how much we are blessed with the family that we have. You and dad should be super proud to have such a successful family. All of us have entered the Temple. Thanks to your guys example to us. Being raised in the church is the biggest blessing that we take...well at least...I took for granted. Thanks to the mission I know now. I owe a lot to the mission. I don't think my personality has changed, but I think I have matured and have set my priorities straight. Well anyways, I love you mom and I love dad too. Tell him that. I hope you guys are happy and doing as great as it sounds. I love my sobrinos (niece and nephew) and want to play with them so bad. They make me "trunky" and I hardly know them! I want to watch them play and to be able to play with them. I hope I have more when I get back! Or at least some on the way! I'll be the favorite uncle. Even though they still don't know who I am. Everyone else already has a jump start! Que Trucho!!!
Te amo, (I love you too Gavin...so very much!)
amame, (I'm so glad you love me!)
Your son! (Your mom)!
Thanks for the email Pops! It's great to hear from you. I love Joseph Smith and am so grateful for my testimony that I have of him. I love the Book of Mormon and am so grateful to be able to have that in my life. There are so many people that don't even know it exists! How sad! It was even written here...how do they not know about it! Well, it's our job to bring that message to them and I feel so blessed to be able to play my little part in His great work. Moses 1:39. I love that. This isn't even for us as much as it benefits us, but it is for Him and His glory. But like it says in Doctrine and Covenants 4, we're saving ourselves while playing our part. I really know what that means now. I know you don't like the snow, but enjoy it cause it's hot here and I miss snow and want to go snowboarding and...play Churchball!!! Thanks for being such a great dad and great example to me and to the fam.
I love you dad,
Geeee
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Helloww from the coast!
Hey Fam,
This last week was awesome! I saw a Sentra just like Frank. It was great! We also had some sweet spiritual lessons with our investigators. We had to break the news to Marta that she couldn't get baptized though because she's living with her man. It was super sad and she was super bummed! We're hoping that he will let her get married...isn't that terrible..."let" her get married to him so that she can be baptized?! What we really want is for HIM to receive the Gospel slash US! But he doesn't seem to want to, at least for now! But, Claudia and her daughter Ashelen came to Church yesterday so they should be set for baptism at the end of this transfer. We're super excited. There hasn't been a baptism here for forever. Only 2 in like the last 2 years. Like forever ago! But, the Lord is blessing us and we're having success. We could have so many more baptisms if people were just married. No one gets married here. You can tell why things are crazy. The kids all get born into this way of life. I feel bad for all the little kids who have to grow up like that. That would be rough. Luckily I was, and still am, really blessed to be born in the Gospel to my family.
We did intercombios with the Zone Leaders so that I could go interview someone for baptism. It turns out that she smoked that day though so we couldn't go through with it, but we still had our intercombio. I went to Mar de Ajo' with Elder Backman. It was sweet! The coast is awesome. I love it! I'm not going to want to leave this joint. I'll send some pics I took of Mar de Ajo' with this email. Things are going well. Our water came back which was nice and it's not too brown now! (Oh my...TMI for your mom Gav). We haven't had pressure this whole time. It just falls down next to the wall, but we now have a sweet mechanism for that. We have a bread sack with a hole attached to the faucet and the water piles up and streams out of the bag away from the wall. It's pretty legit! It's been workin' well for us. Today for P Day we played tennis. It was awesome! The ZL's came down here and played with us. We owned 'em! That was my first time to play on clay. I like it better though. It's cool. 10 more days until Elder Bednar comes. We're all pretty excited that we get to go. It's going to be a long day of traveling, but I don't care. It'll be so worth it.
Congrats on breaking a 100 Veener. That's awesome! You're going to kick my trash when I get back, but it's okay. I think I'll enjoy that. Now that you're winning money and clubs and stuff, you beatin' Big D yet? (not yet Gav, but I'll be thinking of that 43 on the front 9 for awhile)!
I love you all and hope you're doing great.
Elder Gavin
P.S. The Hong Kong house pic is for JP
Also, I think that was a dead rat, I don't know for sure but whatever it was, it was HUGE! The other pics are from Mar de Ajo'
This last week was awesome! I saw a Sentra just like Frank. It was great! We also had some sweet spiritual lessons with our investigators. We had to break the news to Marta that she couldn't get baptized though because she's living with her man. It was super sad and she was super bummed! We're hoping that he will let her get married...isn't that terrible..."let" her get married to him so that she can be baptized?! What we really want is for HIM to receive the Gospel slash US! But he doesn't seem to want to, at least for now! But, Claudia and her daughter Ashelen came to Church yesterday so they should be set for baptism at the end of this transfer. We're super excited. There hasn't been a baptism here for forever. Only 2 in like the last 2 years. Like forever ago! But, the Lord is blessing us and we're having success. We could have so many more baptisms if people were just married. No one gets married here. You can tell why things are crazy. The kids all get born into this way of life. I feel bad for all the little kids who have to grow up like that. That would be rough. Luckily I was, and still am, really blessed to be born in the Gospel to my family.
We did intercombios with the Zone Leaders so that I could go interview someone for baptism. It turns out that she smoked that day though so we couldn't go through with it, but we still had our intercombio. I went to Mar de Ajo' with Elder Backman. It was sweet! The coast is awesome. I love it! I'm not going to want to leave this joint. I'll send some pics I took of Mar de Ajo' with this email. Things are going well. Our water came back which was nice and it's not too brown now! (Oh my...TMI for your mom Gav). We haven't had pressure this whole time. It just falls down next to the wall, but we now have a sweet mechanism for that. We have a bread sack with a hole attached to the faucet and the water piles up and streams out of the bag away from the wall. It's pretty legit! It's been workin' well for us. Today for P Day we played tennis. It was awesome! The ZL's came down here and played with us. We owned 'em! That was my first time to play on clay. I like it better though. It's cool. 10 more days until Elder Bednar comes. We're all pretty excited that we get to go. It's going to be a long day of traveling, but I don't care. It'll be so worth it.
Congrats on breaking a 100 Veener. That's awesome! You're going to kick my trash when I get back, but it's okay. I think I'll enjoy that. Now that you're winning money and clubs and stuff, you beatin' Big D yet? (not yet Gav, but I'll be thinking of that 43 on the front 9 for awhile)!
I love you all and hope you're doing great.
Elder Gavin
P.S. The Hong Kong house pic is for JP
Also, I think that was a dead rat, I don't know for sure but whatever it was, it was HUGE! The other pics are from Mar de Ajo'
Hay Lluvia (It's raining)
Lunch anyone?
You can do it!!!
After the rain...streets of mud!
Hi Family,
I totally forgot about Halloween. I just saw the pics from the little fiesta. Thanks for the invite! Man we didn't do anything...it was Saturday night huh? Totally slipped my mind. I guess they don't celebrate it here, if they did, it would be just another excuse to drink. They have so many holidays here it's ridiculous. I feel like the kids have days without classes more than days in class. Argentina is great. This last week we had zone conference. It was awesome. So different from the other ones since it was just with our zone. It was a lot more spiritual and well, just better. I thought I'd like it less but I actually liked it more. Yesterday we had a district conference thing instead of Stake Conference. I guess that's how we do it out here on the coast. It was in Santa Teresita. San Clemente had a big turnout. haha The Branch President showed up with his daughter and two other members. Ha, we almost doubled the attendance of San Clemente. This branch is so tiny. Pres. Salas says that we need new blood in the church here. The other's have kind of checked out I guess. We should have a baptism not this Saturday, but the next because she has to go church first. Once we get some other people married, we should have more. I feel like every time we find someone who seems "golden" the spouse turns against us and ruins everything. We could have a few families get baptized if that wasn't the case. We found a couple people this week. We are excited to work with them so hopefully things will work out and they can progress.
P Days here are kind of lame. There's not much to do. We kind of just sit around the pench and look at old photos and juggle a soccer ball. We should probably just go out and work! Today we got money for the month so we're excited about that! I'm guessing this last Sunday was Fast Sunday for you guys. Next Sunday will be ours. We found out that we get to go hear Elder Bednar after all when he comes Nov. 19th! I thought he was coming on the 29th! Pretty nuts. I am excited!
This week it has rained a ton and the roads are filled with huge puddles. The roads here are made of sand. Makes for very tricky walking. Well, not much new to say. Tell the Deacon's Quorum thanks for the letter. haha I enjoy reading it, especially the part written by their leader.
Well, if you want to pray for investigators, pray for Claudia, Ashelen (her daughter) Marta and Ysabel, oh and Maria. It's kind of funny that instead of teaching 4 separate lessons, we teach one as they all unite together at Claudia's house. Claudia and Ashelen should for sure be getting baptised because she's not "Juntadod" (living with someone).
Thanks for all the love and support,
Love Elder Gavin
I totally forgot about Halloween. I just saw the pics from the little fiesta. Thanks for the invite! Man we didn't do anything...it was Saturday night huh? Totally slipped my mind. I guess they don't celebrate it here, if they did, it would be just another excuse to drink. They have so many holidays here it's ridiculous. I feel like the kids have days without classes more than days in class. Argentina is great. This last week we had zone conference. It was awesome. So different from the other ones since it was just with our zone. It was a lot more spiritual and well, just better. I thought I'd like it less but I actually liked it more. Yesterday we had a district conference thing instead of Stake Conference. I guess that's how we do it out here on the coast. It was in Santa Teresita. San Clemente had a big turnout. haha The Branch President showed up with his daughter and two other members. Ha, we almost doubled the attendance of San Clemente. This branch is so tiny. Pres. Salas says that we need new blood in the church here. The other's have kind of checked out I guess. We should have a baptism not this Saturday, but the next because she has to go church first. Once we get some other people married, we should have more. I feel like every time we find someone who seems "golden" the spouse turns against us and ruins everything. We could have a few families get baptized if that wasn't the case. We found a couple people this week. We are excited to work with them so hopefully things will work out and they can progress.
P Days here are kind of lame. There's not much to do. We kind of just sit around the pench and look at old photos and juggle a soccer ball. We should probably just go out and work! Today we got money for the month so we're excited about that! I'm guessing this last Sunday was Fast Sunday for you guys. Next Sunday will be ours. We found out that we get to go hear Elder Bednar after all when he comes Nov. 19th! I thought he was coming on the 29th! Pretty nuts. I am excited!
This week it has rained a ton and the roads are filled with huge puddles. The roads here are made of sand. Makes for very tricky walking. Well, not much new to say. Tell the Deacon's Quorum thanks for the letter. haha I enjoy reading it, especially the part written by their leader.
Well, if you want to pray for investigators, pray for Claudia, Ashelen (her daughter) Marta and Ysabel, oh and Maria. It's kind of funny that instead of teaching 4 separate lessons, we teach one as they all unite together at Claudia's house. Claudia and Ashelen should for sure be getting baptised because she's not "Juntadod" (living with someone).
Thanks for all the love and support,
Love Elder Gavin
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Modeling
I got to model Donald J. Pliner shoes and designer clothes last week! Donald Pliner was at Dillards in OKC promoting his shoes for this new season and they need a few models and I was lucky enough to get the job! Enjoy the pics and outfits and no I did not get to keep the clothes :)
This is with Mrs. Oklahoma
Annual Halloween Golf Tourny
Porter= Cuddly BearWittwer= John Wittwer
Andu= Construction Worker
Yes...Jon shot a 40 in the costume!
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