Sunday Spetember 9th the Buenos Aires Temple was rededicated. The day before there was a Cultural Celebration. President Erying, Elder Christofferson, and Elder Ballard were there as a part of the rededication. Some of what Justin is talking about is the events that took place this weekend.
Buenos Dias!
How is everyone? Thank you for all the birthday wishes... I can`t really believe that in 3 days Im going to be 20. It doesn´t make it look any better when you put it on a cake that I can´t eat either :p The good news is that I thought I got fatter while I was here... but I just weighed myself and im 68 kilograms.. if our math is correct that means im 149. Which means I´ve actually lost weight since I´ve been here. Which also means that I can keep drinking coke and Pepsi :). Mom, I still haven´t got my package. On Friday there was a package that came but it didn´t have a name on it. Inside there were some warheads some other candy and some cd´s from like the 17 miracles soundtrack. I don´t think it was mine, but if that was mine let me know in the next email and I will get a hold of the offices. If thats not what you put in then I will just keep waiting for it :).
So this week was pretty crazy. We tried to work hard, but there wasn´t a lot of work to do haha. We have been trying to find new investigators but they are never home when we go to visit them. So we have a few people were trying to find but we just keep checking at the wrong times. But on thursday, we went to the mission offices, which is 30 minutes by subway, then 45 minutes by train, and when we got there we had a short meeting with Pres. Gullbrandsen and then we went another hour and a half or so to the buenos aires west mission office to wait for Pres Eyering Elder Ballard and Elder Christoffersen to arrive. After an hour of reading in the scriptures (without talking to ANYONE...I thought I was going to die.) they finally came in.It was more of a fireside, a lot different than when we met with Elder Ballard in Fresno. It was still good though. Elder Christoffersen spoke first. He served his mission in Cordoba Argentina, and served as a mission President in Mexico. So he spoke to us in spanish. Something really cool that he talked about was that some of us will have 2 mission presidents (for me 3) and that we should take every piece of advice they give us to heart, cuz it will help us for the rest of our lives. Then Elder BAllard got up and spoke. He talked about his grandpa, who was an apostole, who opened up southamerica for missionary work. When he first came here, there were 4 members... and they were all German. The first missionary lesson in south america was in Argentina... in German.... haha. So that`s how it all started. Now, there are 3,400,000 members. He gave an analogy in the sacrament meeting before he left in 1926 and said, "The missionary work in South America will not grow like a sunflower, very quickly and just die, but like an acorn, and grow into a mighty and sturdy oak." It was super cool to think of the missionary work that we are doing here like that. No matter how rough it is or how slow it is goign. We have been promised that it will grow strong and sturdy. Then President Eyering got up, he was all over the place... haha. But something he shared that was super awesome was that a few days ago, his daughter just had a baby. The problem is, she was only 6 months pregnant, and the baby is only 1 pound 9 ounces. They don´t know if it will live, but the story he told, was that his daughter and her husband sent him a picture. They are both standing over the baby in the little box thing, and they have super big smiles on their faces. They we´re smiling, because they know that whatever happens, they will still get to be with her after this life as an eternal family. He then talked about when we really understand what in means to know that God loves us, and that he really is our Heavenly Father. That we will never look into the future with fear. We will have a smile on our face and be excited to bring on the new day, no matter what is happening.
Then on saturday, we went to the stadium of Independiente...(my team, 1. because my dad (elder stocking) and his dad (elder Rose) are from Independiente and its just in the blood, and 2. because they are the devils so it kinda makes me feel like im supporting ASU still haha) but that was super cool to be there. We got there at 4 and the celebration started at 7. We thought we were going to practice, but we just stood on the field for like an hour and did nothing. then they had us sit down in the stands haha so it was kinda lame. But then it started and they did a ton of dnaces from Argentina, and they gave the Apostoles ponchos, and they spoke in them haha, then they showed some videos about missionary work and we marched on the field singing called to serve (which is 4 verses in spanish) Oh yeah, and the whole program was done by the youth. and they had to stages in the middle and the apostles were like in the box seats. So we all marched in singing and lined up all around the stage. then after we sang all the youth stood up and sang I hope they call me on a mission. It was super AWESOMEEE!!!! then we did a mash-up the primary sang I am a child of God and called to serve. It was super cool. I bet its on you tube somewhere (celebracion del Templo de Buenos Aries...maybe?) so after that we didn´t get home until like 11:30.... I know I know... Like 7 months ago that would be super early... BUT I WAS DYING FOR SLEEP. Not only that but we hadn´t eaten since 4 so we stopped and got some food first so we didn´t get to bed until like 12. What a joke!
The temple rededication on sunday was at 9 12 or 3 so we went to the 9 o clock one so we could get some work done after. we woke up at 630 like always, and we went and I could barely stay awake.. It was super difficult. But I managed it for the most part. (except the closing prayer) Elder Ballard spoke in the redidcation and said until the temple was built in sao paulo brazil, all of south america went to Mesa Arizona to go to the temple. I was thinking about how on the corners of the temple it has the pioneers. That is super cool to think about. I don´t know why they did that, more than likely for the pioneers that came to Salt Lake, but I think secretly it was a sign, that the families of south America would do the same so their families could be together forever. It is super cool now to know that Argentina finally has a temple again. Soon they will have 2. It´s a super great blessing to have a temple so close at home and now I know lots of families are going to have great opportunities here in Buenos Aires and all of Argentina.
So thats my week, this sunday is transfer calls, more than likely I´ll be staying here with Elder stocking, but we´ll see. Thanks again for all the birthday wishes. I love you all a ton, can´t wait to hear how soccer and baseball seasons go for the boys! Don´t forget to read your scriptures and say your prayers every night!!!
Love,
Elder Johnson
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