Winter

Hey fam,

Halfway done with the transfer here in Carlos Paz.  Another solid week, nothing too exciting.  We did commit 2 families to come to church, but when Sunday rolled around...nada.  But its all good, the work keeps moving forward.  The life here now seems pretty normal, we are in a good routine.  Waking up in the freezing cold at 6:30, and taking an almost-freezing cold shower, heating up milk and throwing in Nesquik to have some hot chocolate, and then getting on with the day.  There is definitely no sleeping during studies, a little too cold for that!  

Wednesday we had intercambios, and I worked with one of the Zone Leaders, Elder Hardy from Utah.  I always enjoy doing exchanges and being with other missionaries, because I always learn something new and find ways that I can improve.  It seems that every week in the mission is passing faster than the last one. Friday we had a Ward FHE, which a grand total of 20 people showed up to.  All youth and young adults, the only family in the ward that showed up was the family who had the lesson.  But at least it was an activity, the first one here in several months, so progress is progress.  

Sunday was really good.  A couple of solid talks (one of the speakers said "what a shame that we are so few here in sacrament meeting, we really need to work harder and go rescue our brothers and sisters."  Sometimes you just have to say it like it is!)  A solid lesson in priesthood, from the Teaching of Ezra Taft Benson on the importance of listening to the Spirit.  And for Sunday lunch, I had lasagna for the first time in over a year. Delicious!  All in all a good week.

Sounds like y’all had a great Father’s Day!  You all know how much I love Chicken Cordon Bleu, I am sorry I missed out..but good news is that I will probably be home for the next Father’s Day!  I have been studying a lot in D&C, as well as starting the book Jesus the Christ again this week.  Not gonna lie, I don’t have very much in the department of "warm clothes" but I’ll push through it.  This will be the only full winter here in Argentina, it’s not worth sending a package of warm clothes.  I have a couple of scarfs and beanies, as well as gloves, so I’m good!  

The first thing we teach about the gospel is who God is, our Loving Heavenly Father who wants us to be happy here on earth. Simple is good, PMG really breaks things down on a basic level.  We get fed here every day (minus Pday) so as far as lunches go we are eating well.  Glad to hear that everybody is doing well!  Sounds like a rough week of goodbyes with the Grants and Tyler, but the good thing is that with the Gospel, if we all do what we need to do, there really is no such thing as goodbye.  Only Hasta Luego!

Love you all!

Elder Mangum