April 25, 2011, Villa Dolores, Cordoba, Argentina

Dear Family,

How are you? I am well—Easter in Argentina has passed quietly, the
week as well. We had a gigantic weekly planning session that took us
three days to complete (eek!), and our first Branch Council (since
I've been here) this week. We've also been led miraculously to more
hidden, inactive families (hidden because they're not on the
membership list, or, if they are, their address is wildly inaccurate).
I know that God does direct this work, that He really gives guidance
in all things through His Spirit as we work to qualify—being worthy,
and humbly listening.

Thank you for your letters! The talk by Elder Holland is really
good—he also gave one in 2004 in the MTC called "Missionary work and
the Atonement" or "Miracle of a Mission" (or maybe they're different)
that also teaches that salvation just isn't an easy thing to get! It
was never easy for the Saviour, and thus we can hardly expect to have
an easy experience and be disciples of Him.

This week we're teaching a 93-year old woman named Louisa. She listens
very carefully, and wants to do the right thing. We going to put
together some little drawings and cards, etc, to help her to remember
what we're been teaching in more detail! Also, we're trying to teach a
nine year-old named Benjamin, who's been coming to church with his
grandma for some time, and wants to be baptised!

Thank you for writing to me! I'm looking forwards to getting the
packages—I think that the first one has arrived, but I need to wait
until we go on a trip to Rio Cuarto or Cordoba to pick it up!

I love you all!

Elder Schlachter  Photos  

April 18, 2011, Villa Dolores, Cordoba, Argentina

Dear Family,

How are you? I am well. This week I've been feeling like I've been a
Villa Dolores Elder for eternity! I asked Elder Goggins on Tuesday,
"Are we on week two or three of the transfer?" though it was only...
day two! One thing to work on in this week is involving members, and
also looking for references. Also, planning effectively, and in
significant detail!

One focus in our District in this transfer is on developing leadership
skills. I think that this means understanding the principles, and
doctrines of the priesthood; learning what our duty is, and then doing
it. I thought that this was a theme in the last Conference, and in the
previous. The theme is also about learning (consistently) what one
ought to be doing, in relation to their present callings, in order to
progress, to bless others, to be a wise steward—the principle is,
learn what the Lord wants you to, in order to do what He wants you to,
and then He will bless you with more opportunities to be useful, to
learn, and to know Him.

I feel that an important aspect of missionary work is in personally
recognizing and following the guidance of the Holy Ghost, in order to
help others to connect or reconnect with His power and influence.

This week a young man in the branch received his mission call to Lima,
Peru. He's been waiting almost eight months to receive it!, so he was
very happy. Missionary work is the most important work that one can
do, because it consists of inviting others to come unto Christ. You
don't need a plaque to be a missionary!, and the work is best done in
the home, amongst the family.

I love you and enjoy hearing from you! Do let me know how the week has
gone for you.

Love,

Elder Schlachter  photos

April 11, 2011, Villa Dolores, Cordoba, Argentina

Dear Family,

This week transfers came, and Elder Lopez left for the city of
Cordoba. Thus, Elder Goggins and I remain with Elder Castillo, and we
received a new Elder (Lennox) who is finishing his mission this
transfer.

Thank you for writing to me—I do love to hear from you!

This week I thought a bit about how I never want to inactivate myself
from the church—ever! Case study: a family of seven who stopped going
to church ten years ago, and kept on telling themselves that they'd
come back one day. The Elders miraculously found them a few months
ago, and, without the gospel for ten years, but with the parents
feeling the truth of it, their family lacks unity, the children
outright refuse to try praying and some feel that nobody cares about
them, etc. They do want to come back, but they've really missed
blessings that the gospel brings.

Second case study: A family recently divorced, with two children. The
mother was baptized but stopped going to church eight years ago. Her
children feel the truth of the gospel, but are practically practicing
Catholics because of convenience related to attending a religious
school, and a lack of instruction in the home. Yesterday, from a
teenage daughter: "I don't want to come to church because... I'm
catholic, and... I won't pray either to know the truth because, I know
who I am." Eeek!

I know that this gospel is true—I know that Joseph Smith did see
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that Jesus Christ is the
Saviour taught of by the prophets of the Bible, the Book of Mormon,
and in these days. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet!!! The
real authority of God is in this church, and there is no other way
that will lead to real happiness in this life, individually and in the
family, than as is taught by God's prophets on the earth today, and
clearly explained in the Book of Mormon. I am so grateful for the
gospel, and for the love of God which I feel and have felt, and which
motivates me daily to reach out to others to bring them to Him.

Love,

Elder Schlachter  Photos

P.S. Do send me a Photo Booth picture of Alex and Matthew's new
haircuts (and, of the rest of you too?)

April 4, 2011, Rio Cuarto, Cordoba, Argentina

Dear Family,

How are you? Thank you for you letters! I'm glad that you enjoyed
Conference!—the Villa Dolores chapel is equipped with a large
satellite dish, so we watched Conference, and, both Spanish and
English were available. I watched all the sessions in English—they'll
be considered in Spanish in language study!

Elder Bednar gave a talk in the MTC (of which I watched a video
recording of) where he specifically instructed those listening: 'I
don't want you to write down a single thing that I say,' urging
listening for inspiration, mentioning that sometimes one is so busy
writing what was said that they don't listen to the quiet voice of
revelation. I've found this counsel very useful, in helping me to
focus in listening for personal revelation, pondering, and thus I more
or less applied it this weekend.

Conference is very instructive to me as a missionary. I like to apply
teachings about families to the missionary companionship, children to
investigators. Sometimes the comparison doesn't quite work, but it's
often very useful to understand principles. I also noted many things
that I want to study, and the central importance of studying in
learning the gospel, and learning to live and apply it.

I also know that President Monson is a prophet, and that the Twelve
Apostles are, in verity, apostles of Jesus Christ, called and
authorized by Him! I've been carrying around a sticker of a dinosaur
in my daily planner, and using it in some contacts—"Senor, many people
think that prophets, like the men that wrote the Bible, are like
dinosaurs: they existed, but now they don't. I know that…." I know
that the words we heard in Conference are the words of God, as Elder
Holland testified.

Otherwise, the week has been somewhat busy as we've been preparing for
Conference. We had a Zone meeting this morning in Rio Cuarto, and
we're heading back at five in the morning tomorrow by bus (four-hour
ride)! Thus, we'll be working here tonight.

I know that missionary work is God's work. I know that Jesus Christ
lives and loves me, and all people. I want to know Him better. That's
one of my general mission goals, but I know that it is best
accomplished by bringing others to Him with what knowledge and power
He has given me, with the assurance that His support will increase,
conditional on my obedience and service.

Also, this week we have transfers! Thus, on Saturday I'll see if I get
another transfer in Villa Dolores, or if I'm needed elsewhere in the
mission. I would send photos, but forgot the memory card reader!

Thank you for your love and support and prayers—I love you, and hope
you are well this week.

Love you and pray for you,

Elder Schlachter  Photos

March 28, 2011, Villa Dolores, Cordoba, Argentina

Dear Family,

How are you? I am well—I haven't noticed much of a strike here [A general transportation strike was called by the Argentine Transport Confederation for March 21 but was averted when the Federal Government met its demands for an increase in salaries], only
that a few bus companies weren't running for a few days. We didn't
make it to Mina Clavero (only our senior missionaries, with a few
members from here), but we did bus out of town to other families. One
is the Familia Molina, Ivan and Mariela. Their son Francisco was
baptised this week, and Ivan and their daughter Micaela are still
investigating (the mother is a member). We also visited the Familia
Grez—Elders Melerio and Lopez (who were companions before Elder
Castillo and I arrived) found them when the car of the Dos Santos
broke down infront of the Grez house—they were greeted with an
unexpected "Hola Elderes!". We're teaching the three daughters (aged,
roughly, 18, 15 and 10) who are not members, and working to motivate
the parents to come back to church. Also, we're working with a Familia
Ortiz—the mother is a member and was divorced 8 months ago, and we
found the family knocking doors. Their daughter Austina feels that the
church is true and remembers her mother's baptism, but is rather
confused and feels bad because she's practically a practising Catholic
because of her school. We're working especially to help the mother,
and trying to build trust and help them to come to church this week.

We've been thinking a bit extra this week about finding families to
teach, especially part-member families! We feel that these families,
already knowing and having felt the truth of the gospel, can more
easily form a supportive environment for their non-member family
members. Also, families really need, and can really apply, the gospel
of Christ. I am really grateful for the home that we have, and the
correct principles and faith that I have been taught.

I've also been thinking about budgeting this week—we ran out of money,
then received a bit more (waiting for a refund for travel expenses),
then ran out again today! Thus, I'll be eating lots of oatmeal and
we'll be carefully confirming lunches with members this week, until we
receive our monthly alottment on Friday. However, thriftiness is a
key—I've spent a lot on alfahores this month, and silly snacks.
However, I have been keeping track of our expenses, so we'll be able
to more easily determine how to spend money in the coming month.

I hope that Alex is enjoying his new car! Also, I'm really excited
that Levi is working on his mission papers! Be sure to advise him to
set up medical appointments as soon as possible (vaccinations,
examination, dental work), as they seemed to take me forever! Also, I
was thinking this week that, having received a Spanish speaking
mission call, the wise thing to do before for language help wouldn't
have been to take Spanish classes, it would have been to visit a
speech pathologist!—Pronouncing the erre is difficult for me, but
happily it's pronouced more of a "sh" in Villa Dolores (not rolled),
and the elle is more of a "j". I'd be excited to see photos of the new
car, and of how things are around the house generally! They can be
sent to me—I have eight gigabytes of email space and we have a quick
connection from Villa Dolores! (but do keep them a bit on the small
side, e.g. not at the camera's full quality, but a bit smaller as set
on the camera).


Thank you for writing to me! I love you all a lot! Have a great week,

Love,

Elder Schlachter   photos