Dear family,
This week I received a transfer to... the mission office! I'm the new
secretary to the president, so, even though I'm not entirely sure what
I do, I do know that I'll be busy!
Thus, last night I left La Rioja, and upon arriving in Cordoba I was
immediately put to work giving out travel reimbursements! The week in
the Quebrada went well, and we continued having many lessons, etc.
Elder Henry will be staying with a new companion, who doesn't speak
English! Así que, tendrá que aprender más Catellano sí or sí.
I'm in a bit of busy chaos, as I arrive in the office in transfer
time, which is the busiest time of the transfer! Thus, I'll try to
learn well what to do!
Love you all,
Elder Schlachter photos
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Saturday, August 13, 2011
August 8, 2011, La Quebrada, Argentina
Querida Familia,
How are you? I am well—this has been a bit of a busy week! We taught a
total of thirty-seven lessons, and talked to more people than we ever
have before in this area.
I was pleased to see two of our investigators at church. Though more
had committed, the ones that are actually reading the Book of Mormon
were the ones who kept their commitment. Hno. Alvarez and his son
Kevin came to church—the Hermano had read up to about 2 Nephi 9 after
having the Book of Mormon for two days, and is coming to know more and
more that it's true. His comment at church last week was “I lose
three-hundred and fifty pesos for keeping the Sabbath Day holy [coming
to church instead of working], but Jesus Christ kept on prompting me
to come.” This past Sunday, he volunteered the use of his barbeque for
an activity in two months, so I was pleased to see that he considers
that he's come to stay. The branch is working hard to fellowship him,
and our sacrament meeting attendance this week was a bit higher than
average (forty).
Thus, all is well in the Quebrada!—or, in other words, we have even
more work for this coming week!
I enjoyed the photos that you sent me—I’ll try to label more of mine.
They’re mostly from inside the apartment because we're not to be using
cameras while proselyting; hence, there’s an unnatural proportion of
lunches in the photos.
I like being a missionary! I know that it’s a decision with eternal
blessings, and, as Elder Holland says, ‘Every good thing that has ever
happened to me has been a result, in one way or another, of my
mission.’ I think that this will be true for me too. I know that the
gospel of Jesus Christ is really the only way to have lasting peace
and happiness of an eternal nature.
One strange thing this week is that many of our investigators or
contacts have been referring to me as a “tú” instead of a “vos” or
“usted”—the tú is not much used here, but I think that they think that
the usted would be too formal, and the vos too informal, entonces, tú
it is then!
Hope you have a good week, love you all a lot!
Love,
Elder Schlachter
How are you? I am well—this has been a bit of a busy week! We taught a
total of thirty-seven lessons, and talked to more people than we ever
have before in this area.
I was pleased to see two of our investigators at church. Though more
had committed, the ones that are actually reading the Book of Mormon
were the ones who kept their commitment. Hno. Alvarez and his son
Kevin came to church—the Hermano had read up to about 2 Nephi 9 after
having the Book of Mormon for two days, and is coming to know more and
more that it's true. His comment at church last week was “I lose
three-hundred and fifty pesos for keeping the Sabbath Day holy [coming
to church instead of working], but Jesus Christ kept on prompting me
to come.” This past Sunday, he volunteered the use of his barbeque for
an activity in two months, so I was pleased to see that he considers
that he's come to stay. The branch is working hard to fellowship him,
and our sacrament meeting attendance this week was a bit higher than
average (forty).
Thus, all is well in the Quebrada!—or, in other words, we have even
more work for this coming week!
I enjoyed the photos that you sent me—I’ll try to label more of mine.
They’re mostly from inside the apartment because we're not to be using
cameras while proselyting; hence, there’s an unnatural proportion of
lunches in the photos.
I like being a missionary! I know that it’s a decision with eternal
blessings, and, as Elder Holland says, ‘Every good thing that has ever
happened to me has been a result, in one way or another, of my
mission.’ I think that this will be true for me too. I know that the
gospel of Jesus Christ is really the only way to have lasting peace
and happiness of an eternal nature.
One strange thing this week is that many of our investigators or
contacts have been referring to me as a “tú” instead of a “vos” or
“usted”—the tú is not much used here, but I think that they think that
the usted would be too formal, and the vos too informal, entonces, tú
it is then!
Hope you have a good week, love you all a lot!
Love,
Elder Schlachter
Monday, August 1, 2011
August 1, 2011, La Quebrada, Argentina
Dear Family,
How are you? I am well—I'm feel like we're still in winter here! Yesterday, it rained (sprinkled) for almost the whole day (it's the second time that I've seen rain in this city!), and today there was snow on the distant mountains! We woke up a bit cold, and braved the frigid winter winds (about 10º C) this morning. Thus we're wearing our coats around!
One exciting experience happened this week when we finally knocked on a door that we had been feeling that we needed to visit for a few weeks, and someone actually answered! He proceeded to give us a 30-minute, condemnatory speech about how we were illusioned sinners teaching lies! I was a bit glad that Elder Henry couldn't understand him very well, because I've learned that one cannot argue with someone who's quite so set on defamity, so we weathered out the discourse, adding occasional testimony and simple, summarized teaching when possible. Loosely quoting a movie we saw recently about Brigham Young, I don't really know how he felt, or what he thought, but I do know that I know that God Himself descended from Heaven to call Joseph Smith to be a prophet, that the Book of Mormon was translated through the power of God and contains the words of Christ, and that Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world, and He is the only name or means given through which we can be saved. I do know that the authority of Jesus Christ to effect the ordinances of His gospel is in this church, because He organized it! It is through the ordinances of the gospel that the power of godliness is manifest, as Doctrine and Covenants teaches, and I know that this church is guided by prophets of God receiving real revelation. The proof is simply found in learning the doctrine, and living it, and asking God for confirmation. It is by the power of the Holy Ghost that I know these things, and they can only be learnt spiritually, and with prayer and faith and real intent.
Thus, really, our goal as missionaries is to teach people how to receive revelation, or, communication from Heaven. We teach them how to live that they may be capable of feeling the 'still small voice' of the Spirit, and then we help them to recognize it, and act upon it. A life founded upon the principle of receiving and acting on real guidance from God is a happy one, in conformity with the commandments, and of the greatest benefit to all others.
We were doing service this week when we found a young couple shoveling sand to make a foundation for their house. Thus, we threw off our jackets and rolled up our sleeves and did the work for about an hour. The man's brother was there and offered me his rifle to take shots at the pigeons on top of the neighbouring house, but I declined! However, I was grateful for the opportunity to be useful, and, as a member was accompanying us, she explained to them what missionaries are while we did the work!
We had a super branch council yesterday. I was impressed by how young the leadership of our branch is. For example, our two branch president's counsellors are 18 and 22, respectively, and our primary and young womens' presidents have been members for less that six months! However, they are all doing their work very well, with enthusiasm, and I know that the branch will be able to grow quickly with its leadership in place (all have been recently called).
Thank you for sending me the Ensign on prayer, and for writing to me!
Love you all,
Elder Schlachter
July 25, 2011, La Quebrada, Argentina
Dear Family,
How are you? I am well. This week we had more lessons than usual, but, sadly, investigators didn't came to church this week. Thus, we're working extra-hard to help them to do so!
This week I've been studying the centrality of the Saviour in God's plan, and how it is only through him that salvation can come to us. As Jacob says, "If there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost." I think that it's important for us to teach the centrality of the atoning sacrifice of the Saviour, as many people that we meet or teach are confused about His role and importance. I think that Peter and John taught this doctrine clearly enough (Acts 4:11-12), the Book of Mormon is replete with it (Mosiah 3:17, Alma 21:9, 22:14 and 38:9, 2 Nephi 25:20, etc), Moses himself made it clear (Exodus 20:1-5), as did other old testament prophets (Hosea 13:4, Isaiah 43:10-11, 44:13-20), and whatever the prophets might have left unclear, Christ clarified (Matthew 4:10). I know that it is only through Christ that we can come to God and be saved, that 'all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God' (Rom 3:23), and that without the Atonement, we would "return to God, and behold his face, and remain in [our] sins," (2 Nephi 9:38), and that "He hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can [we] be saved except [we] inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, [we] cannot be saved in our sins," (Alma 11:37). It is only through the Atonement, the infinite sacrifice of God's Holy Son, that "mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircle [us] in the arms of safety. ... Therefore, only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption," (Alma 34:16). I am grateful for the Book of Mormon, and for modern revelation and living prophets, that teach us to worship God in God's way, to become disciples of Jesus Christ, and come unto Him and be saved—to have peace in this life, and eternal life in the world to come.
Hope you are well, love you all,
Elder Schlachter photos
P.S. I've been unable to send the fax to the SAAQ to cancel my driver's license so far—I'll continue trying this week, and if I don't succeed, I'll send a photo of the scan home so that it can be send from there!
P.S.S. Thank you Mom for the articles from the Liahona. It would be better if you copied the text and sent them to me, because I'm not to use the internet except to see email! Thank you for the article about pronouncing the "rr"—I'll be running through the exercices this week in my language studies! Right now, I'm also rereading my grammar book; I'll have to revise my plan once I finish it again (this week!).
July 18, 2011, La Quebrada, Argentina
Dear Family,
How are you? I have finally sent pictures this week! The week has gone
quickly. I've started making a little list of things to tell you
(helps me to write quicker!).
I was impressed on Sunday that our Elder's quorum is working very
well. First, our quorum president apologized for not being at church
for two weeks, and outlined what had prevented him from being there,
and his plan to prevent such circumstances from occurring again. This
was followed by, "These brethren [a list is read] haven't been at
church for a few weeks. We need to visit them and rescue them, and see
how we can help them. Brothers such-and-such, will you visit Brother
such-and-such before this Wednesday, and invite him to the family home
evening on Thursday?" Also, our branch has branch family home evenings
two or three times each week in the houses of members, and they are
being enthusiastically attended. We're also planning a super-activity
for Argentina's mother's day in October, three months in advance, with
details, deadlines, and specific assignments! Even though our branch
is small (about 30-40 attend each week), it seems to be functioning
well. New members are getting callings soon after baptism, and last
week a recent convert received the Aaronic Priesthood, and thus
blessed the sacrament on Sunday!
I also wanted to ask for a couple things this week. First, we talked
to our Stake President, and he wants us to teach members and everybody
about prayer. Thus, I'm looking for the January 1976 Ensign, a
'special issue on prayer.' Elder Nelson referenced it in a talk a few
conferences ago, so I would like a copy in Spanish and English, if you
could find a convenient way for to email it to me. Also, I'm focusing
my language study on pronunciation, and thus, could you please send me
an email with various thoughts on Spanish pronunciation? I'm
especially looking for all manner of articles that teach how to
pronounce a trilled 'r' ("rr"). I'm thinking of technical descriptions
of exactly what it is, diagrams, descriptions targeted to English or
French speakers about how to pronounce it, etc, etc, etc! Thank you!
Anyhow, mi tiempo se acabó [my time is over] I hope that you enjoy the photos, do write to me!
I love you all a lot,
Elder Schlachter
How are you? I have finally sent pictures this week! The week has gone
quickly. I've started making a little list of things to tell you
(helps me to write quicker!).
I was impressed on Sunday that our Elder's quorum is working very
well. First, our quorum president apologized for not being at church
for two weeks, and outlined what had prevented him from being there,
and his plan to prevent such circumstances from occurring again. This
was followed by, "These brethren [a list is read] haven't been at
church for a few weeks. We need to visit them and rescue them, and see
how we can help them. Brothers such-and-such, will you visit Brother
such-and-such before this Wednesday, and invite him to the family home
evening on Thursday?" Also, our branch has branch family home evenings
two or three times each week in the houses of members, and they are
being enthusiastically attended. We're also planning a super-activity
for Argentina's mother's day in October, three months in advance, with
details, deadlines, and specific assignments! Even though our branch
is small (about 30-40 attend each week), it seems to be functioning
well. New members are getting callings soon after baptism, and last
week a recent convert received the Aaronic Priesthood, and thus
blessed the sacrament on Sunday!
I also wanted to ask for a couple things this week. First, we talked
to our Stake President, and he wants us to teach members and everybody
about prayer. Thus, I'm looking for the January 1976 Ensign, a
'special issue on prayer.' Elder Nelson referenced it in a talk a few
conferences ago, so I would like a copy in Spanish and English, if you
could find a convenient way for to email it to me. Also, I'm focusing
my language study on pronunciation, and thus, could you please send me
an email with various thoughts on Spanish pronunciation? I'm
especially looking for all manner of articles that teach how to
pronounce a trilled 'r' ("rr"). I'm thinking of technical descriptions
of exactly what it is, diagrams, descriptions targeted to English or
French speakers about how to pronounce it, etc, etc, etc! Thank you!
Anyhow, mi tiempo se acabó [my time is over] I hope that you enjoy the photos, do write to me!
I love you all a lot,
Elder Schlachter
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