Dear Family,
How are you? I am well—this week was generally tranquil. I was able to
work more outside of the office than usual, and continued... planning
how to train my replacement, even though no one has been chosen to
replace me. I suspect that I might be replaced this transfer, so I'm
considering how to make the transition a smooth one. I'm hoping that I
can take him downtown to meet at the people that I work with, and get
to know the places.
We've been working with various families this week who are all trying
to get to church—it's been a bit of struggle for them given the
traditional end-at-10-am parties the last two Saturday nights, but we
hope to keep increasing their faith this week. I was especially
pleased when a less-active family commented to us that they had been
reading the scriptures together as a family, more because it was what
seemed the right thing to do than because of any specific invitation
on our part.
I'll try to send an audio recording sometime soon—it's not difficult
to do. Today I sent a copy of a video that I put together for the
Assistants this week, which features interviews with missionaries who
do or have baptised successively week after week.
I considered the importance of sacrifice in the gospel this week. If
we don't, or are not willing to, sacrifice all things for the gospel's
sake, then we are nothing. This is done in small ways when considered
on a daily basis:
To endure to the end, we need to be eager to please
God and worship Him with fervor and passion. This
means that we maintain faith in Jesus Christ by
praying, studying the scriptures, partaking of the
sacrament each week, and having the Holy Ghost as
our constant companion. We need to actively help
and serve others and share the gospel with them.
We need to be perfectly upright and honest in all
things, never compromising our covenants with God
or our commitments to men, regardless of
circumstances. In our homes we need to talk of,
rejoice in, and preach of Christ so that our children
—and we ourselves—will desire to apply the Atonement
in our lives. We must identify temptations that
easily beset us and put them out of reach—way out of
reach. Finally, we need to frequently biopsy our
mightily changed hearts and reverse any signs of
early rejection. [http://bit.ly/rMRdWW]
I consider that it is also affected by following the whisperings of
the Holy Spirit and obeying the Lord's commandments without compromise
--the real tests of discipleship come as seemingly commonplace
decisions. In these we either commit common-place errors, or sanctify
ourserves by responding to the Holy Ghost's influence, that we may "be
led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient,
full of love and all long-suffering; having faith on the Lord; having
a hope that [we] shall receive eternal life; having the love of God
always in your hearts, that [we] may be lifted up at the last day and
enter into His rest." (Alma 13:28–29)
I hope that you are all well and I love you.
Elder Schlachter
Sunday, January 8, 2012
26 December, 2011, Villa Belgrano, Cordoba, Argentina
Dear Family,
Merry Christmas! How are you? I am well—for the first time in quite
some time, today we had a regular preparation day; often we find
ourselves stuck in the office, or doing essential tasks, but today we
tidied up the apartment in the morning and then went out to dinner
with President and some of his visiting family. The mission in general
is also doing well, as today the news is that we've broken 'the
record' for monthly baptisms—currently the focus in the areas and
zones of the mission is on having a 'workflow' that results in
baptisms weekly. To do so, one needs to constantly be finding people,
and always have a goodly number of people in various states of
progress in the gospel. Thus, we don't find people in week one, and
have baptisms about a month later, but rather we find people every
week, and thus we can be more constant in the results.
President also mentioned today that when he was a missionary in
northern Argentina about thirty years ago, nobody knew anything about
the church, but now, anyone can recognize the missionaries and just
about anybody knows someone or has a family member who is a member of
the church. Thus, much of the focus of our work needs to be with the
help of the members, who are acquainted with people who are being
prepared to receive the gospel, instead of knocking doors of the same
old crowd that has had their door knocked over the last forty years! I
was reading in Doctrine and Covenants about "seek[ing] to bring forth
and establish the cause of Zion" (ESP: 'procura sacar a luz y
establecer la causa de Sión'). I suppose that missionary work is a
combination of the two; of bringing to light and establishing the
Lord's kingdom and work.
Thank you for the Christmas letter!—I like to use it to introduce the
family to my companions. I'm glad that nobody got hurt in the car
accident!
This week we had a good planning session—we're looking forwards to
working hard with the people that we know, and to meet more!
Love,
Elder Schlachter
(P.S. While I was cleaning today... I found my debit card! I'm not
sure if there's a way to cancel a cancellation of a card, but if so,
it would be convenient!)
Merry Christmas! How are you? I am well—for the first time in quite
some time, today we had a regular preparation day; often we find
ourselves stuck in the office, or doing essential tasks, but today we
tidied up the apartment in the morning and then went out to dinner
with President and some of his visiting family. The mission in general
is also doing well, as today the news is that we've broken 'the
record' for monthly baptisms—currently the focus in the areas and
zones of the mission is on having a 'workflow' that results in
baptisms weekly. To do so, one needs to constantly be finding people,
and always have a goodly number of people in various states of
progress in the gospel. Thus, we don't find people in week one, and
have baptisms about a month later, but rather we find people every
week, and thus we can be more constant in the results.
President also mentioned today that when he was a missionary in
northern Argentina about thirty years ago, nobody knew anything about
the church, but now, anyone can recognize the missionaries and just
about anybody knows someone or has a family member who is a member of
the church. Thus, much of the focus of our work needs to be with the
help of the members, who are acquainted with people who are being
prepared to receive the gospel, instead of knocking doors of the same
old crowd that has had their door knocked over the last forty years! I
was reading in Doctrine and Covenants about "seek[ing] to bring forth
and establish the cause of Zion" (ESP: 'procura sacar a luz y
establecer la causa de Sión'). I suppose that missionary work is a
combination of the two; of bringing to light and establishing the
Lord's kingdom and work.
Thank you for the Christmas letter!—I like to use it to introduce the
family to my companions. I'm glad that nobody got hurt in the car
accident!
This week we had a good planning session—we're looking forwards to
working hard with the people that we know, and to meet more!
Love,
Elder Schlachter
(P.S. While I was cleaning today... I found my debit card! I'm not
sure if there's a way to cancel a cancellation of a card, but if so,
it would be convenient!)
19 December, 2011, Villa Belgrano, Cordova, Argentina
Dear Family,
How are you? I am well, but 'cansadÃsimo.'
On Saturday we had our planning meeting for the transfers. How it
works is that at about noon the transfer board is revealed in
President's office, and then it's our job to figure out how everyone
is getting from where they were to where they are to go. Previously
Elder Melerio did almost all of it, but now that he's not here, I took
charge. I was up scribbling out transfer instructions for the Zone
Leaders until about nine, then organizing more last minute things and
controlling the situation at the bus terminal that night, went to bed
at about one, then this morning I was at the terminal again at seven
(I skipped Sunday because I almost don't remember it!—it was also
busy), and ran about as my phone was constantly ringing, two or three
people at at time were talking to me, and I was running between the
missionaries and the ticket booths! Happily, the most chaotic part of
the transfer is over now!
This week we're looking forward to getting back into a regular work
routine—we've been in and not so much out of the office this week!
We're not sure how or exactly when we'll be calling this Sunday, but
it will be after noon EST. I suspect it will be more like 2 PM.
Love,
Elder Schlachter
How are you? I am well, but 'cansadÃsimo.'
On Saturday we had our planning meeting for the transfers. How it
works is that at about noon the transfer board is revealed in
President's office, and then it's our job to figure out how everyone
is getting from where they were to where they are to go. Previously
Elder Melerio did almost all of it, but now that he's not here, I took
charge. I was up scribbling out transfer instructions for the Zone
Leaders until about nine, then organizing more last minute things and
controlling the situation at the bus terminal that night, went to bed
at about one, then this morning I was at the terminal again at seven
(I skipped Sunday because I almost don't remember it!—it was also
busy), and ran about as my phone was constantly ringing, two or three
people at at time were talking to me, and I was running between the
missionaries and the ticket booths! Happily, the most chaotic part of
the transfer is over now!
This week we're looking forward to getting back into a regular work
routine—we've been in and not so much out of the office this week!
We're not sure how or exactly when we'll be calling this Sunday, but
it will be after noon EST. I suspect it will be more like 2 PM.
Love,
Elder Schlachter
12 December, 2011, Villa Belgrano, Cordoba, Argentina
Dear Family,
How are you? I am well—the week has been somewhat busy! It started
with documentation work early in the mornings, combined with Zone
Conferences, and finally we're starting to feel a bit more
‘tranquillos.’
The Conferences were good, but I wasn’t able to hear most of it, as my
role involved accompanying the financial secretary (who was there to
do reimbursements for travel expenses), running errands (including
driving President’s car, since it’s an automatic vehicle), and taking
photos, etc.
A new family came to the chapel this week, the Familia Soria. One of
their struggles right now is finding how to get to the chapel, given
that our ward’s chapel has been changed twice in the last few months!
This week we’ll study the bus maps and see what to do.
The Conferences kept us in the office for a large portion of the week,
so I felt a bit disastrous when we finally got to church on Sunday.
Somehow we hadn’t picked up a lunch during the week, we had a family
that we brought that didn’t have a way home, assignments from the
Bishop, questions about home teaching, etc, all coming at the same
time! I enjoy being here, but sometimes our office work makes our real
work difficult!
Elder Bird and I were also robbed yesterday—as we were walking about
in ‘la villa’ we were asked the classic robber’s question “¿Tiene la
hora?” which actually means “¿Tiene celular o reloj o algo de valor?”
The thief didn’t wait for an answer, and proceeded to personally empty
our pockets at gun point! Elder Bird maintains that his weapon was
plastic, as he was casually grabbing it from him, but either way we
lost our cell phones and a few other items. Happily, a friendly
neighbour, after commenting that it was a pity that he was unable to
start his car quickly enough to run over the thief(!) drove us back
afterwards. We were both fine but a little bothered; a new cell phone
takes a few weeks to replace!
Otherwise we’re waiting for some documents to arrive for a family
that’s been waiting to get married for a year and a half in order to
be baptised. The rumour is that perhaps the needed document is in
Buenos Aires, so the mission is willing to send someone there to pick
it up.
This week we have another zone conference, and then transfers!
Love,
Elder Schlachter
How are you? I am well—the week has been somewhat busy! It started
with documentation work early in the mornings, combined with Zone
Conferences, and finally we're starting to feel a bit more
‘tranquillos.’
The Conferences were good, but I wasn’t able to hear most of it, as my
role involved accompanying the financial secretary (who was there to
do reimbursements for travel expenses), running errands (including
driving President’s car, since it’s an automatic vehicle), and taking
photos, etc.
A new family came to the chapel this week, the Familia Soria. One of
their struggles right now is finding how to get to the chapel, given
that our ward’s chapel has been changed twice in the last few months!
This week we’ll study the bus maps and see what to do.
The Conferences kept us in the office for a large portion of the week,
so I felt a bit disastrous when we finally got to church on Sunday.
Somehow we hadn’t picked up a lunch during the week, we had a family
that we brought that didn’t have a way home, assignments from the
Bishop, questions about home teaching, etc, all coming at the same
time! I enjoy being here, but sometimes our office work makes our real
work difficult!
Elder Bird and I were also robbed yesterday—as we were walking about
in ‘la villa’ we were asked the classic robber’s question “¿Tiene la
hora?” which actually means “¿Tiene celular o reloj o algo de valor?”
The thief didn’t wait for an answer, and proceeded to personally empty
our pockets at gun point! Elder Bird maintains that his weapon was
plastic, as he was casually grabbing it from him, but either way we
lost our cell phones and a few other items. Happily, a friendly
neighbour, after commenting that it was a pity that he was unable to
start his car quickly enough to run over the thief(!) drove us back
afterwards. We were both fine but a little bothered; a new cell phone
takes a few weeks to replace!
Otherwise we’re waiting for some documents to arrive for a family
that’s been waiting to get married for a year and a half in order to
be baptised. The rumour is that perhaps the needed document is in
Buenos Aires, so the mission is willing to send someone there to pick
it up.
This week we have another zone conference, and then transfers!
Love,
Elder Schlachter
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