It was a good week. We didn't do
anything to celebrate the 4th, unfortunately. Not even a trip to the McDonalds
that is in my area. I didn’t burn a shirt either for hitting my one year mark,
but a couple of other missionaries in my age group did. We had interviews with
President this Wednesday, as well as with the assistants to the
president. It went well, President and I chatted a little bit about the
temple and the Atonement, laws of justice and mercy. We are able to go
the temple once a transfer, on Tuesdays or Thursdays, if we live within the
province of Córdoba. That was pretty good news to get! People had been
saying that maybe we would only be able to go once a year, but once a transfer
is definitely something I will be taking advantage of! Friday we also had
a zone conference, topic being obedience and the power it gives us when we obey
even the simple rules that don’t seem like a big deal.
Saturday there was a home teaching activity,
and we did divisions with some of the members as they did their visits for the
month. My comp went with the Bishop, and I went with 2 members of the
Elder’s Quorum. The person we went to visit wasn’t there, but the message
we were supposed to is from the July Liahona, "Oh esta todo bien"
(All is well in English). After our unsuccessful attempt to do the visit, we
went back to the church and had chori pan. Sausage on a bun. Delicious.
Sunday we had a few of the less actives show
up, but not as many as we would have liked. But in ward council we were
given a list of 15 families to visit throughout the course of the week, which
is awesome. I was asked at 11:28 to teach the Young Men lesson that began
at 11:30. Topic being "How can I make the sacrament more meaningful for others?" I was also asked to share a few
thoughts regarding the importance of serving a mission. I opened up the
lesson reading the scripture D&C 84:20, which puts things into pretty clear
perspective regarding the importance of the ordinance of the sacrament.
We then had a discussion on what the ward was doing well, and what the young
men needed to improve in order to make the sacrament a more spiritual
experience. Then we read 3 Nephi 18:1-11, Jesus instituting the sacrament
in the Americas. We talked about the importance of "being
filled" by the sacrament, even though it is just a little piece of bread
and cup of water that physically isn’t going to fill us, but spiritually it
will. Then I shared my thoughts on the importance of serving a mission,
using Alma 29:8-10, and talking about the Atonement and the love our Father in
Heaven and our Elder Brother have for us. With all that Christ suffered
for us, and we are asked to serve 2 years which in comparison with eternities
and eternities, is nothing. The bishop and the Stake YM President were
crying by the end, so I think the class went well despite the lack of
preparation.
This week is the last week of the
transfer. We have planned to visit the 15 families that the ward council
gave us, of which include several in which not all of the members of the family
are members of the church. Our mission President promised that if we work
"bajo las llaves" of the leadership in the ward, we will find and
baptize along the way. The 9th we have a ward activity, from 10am until
5pm. All day long, food and music and we are going to watch "Conozca
los Mormones." Meet the Mormons, but in Spanish. I am looking
forward to it. The teaching opportunities are progressing, poco a
poco.
The most interesting person I have met in the area would have to be Alberto, a less active who was deep in the gang and drug life back in Rosario, but moved here 2 years ago and is trying to get his life back together. He told me his story the other day of how his life used to be...pretty crazy stuff. He is tatted up and has piercings all over, but really has a good heart, and always offers lunches for us. His wife is a recent convert as well, we work quite a bit with that family.
P-days, with the cold, we don’t do
much. Exercise time, with the temperatures being below 0 and pitch black
at 6:30 in the morning, I settle for a couple of push ups and a couple of sit
ups inside the pension. Thanks for the updates on what is going on in the
world, I had heard that President Packer passed away, like you said, sad but
not unexpected.
Love you all! Have a good birthday week
Mom! And Aunt Jen too!
Elder Mangum
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