tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23545902853335784252024-03-05T22:29:08.037-08:00Adventures in Argentina Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-1833059027633412142014-03-24T20:24:00.002-07:002014-03-24T20:24:43.147-07:00Been Busy.<pre style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px; white-space: normal;">Hey Megs!</pre>
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Thank you so much for writing me! I hope all is well in Hawaii! How´s
classes? The kids? Tell me everything! This week seemed a little bit
better. Or at least my comp didn´t push me to the ground that many
times. I don´t have much time left so I am going to tell you the
miracle that happened this week. Elder Neyra and I were at a bus stop
after a lesson and a lady came up to us and asked if we were from the
last days church. She said that her daughter is a member of the church
and that she would like to know the church a little bit. We set an
appointment for later that day. We found out their names were Cristina
and her daughter´s name is Jennifer. They are from Paraguay.
Jennifer´s dad is actually a bishop in Paraguay and calls every week
to check up on her and see if she is going to church. We taught the
first lesson and took out a date for the 19th of April! So the 19th of
April we will have another baptism! I hope anyway haha. But yeah that
is basically what happened this week. Also, I heard about 50 gun shots
outside of our apartment on Saturday haha so that we pretty exciting.
This country is crazy haha love it.
Love you Megs! I wish I could write more!
Con amor,
Elder Evans</pre>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-61625252665169922212014-03-10T20:21:00.000-07:002014-03-24T20:21:53.548-07:00NINE MONTHS and MY FIRST BAPTISM!<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
Queridos Todos!</div>
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This week marked 9 months I have been on the mission! It has gone by so fast! But I still feel like it´s forever away. But I am enjoying every second that I have. The members in El Faro are super great! All have good hearts. There are a couple people who are gossiping and that´s not good. We don´t want to be like the Nephites by the end of this. But yeah! El Faro is doing great! I guess the only scary thing that happened this week, was that we got gun pointed again. This time, we were at a bus stop and Elder Neyra made a phone call to see if someone could cut his hair. After the call, a guy who was standing behind us grabbed Elder Neyra and pointed a gun to his side and told him to give him the phone. I saw the gun and thought to myself, that is definitely not a real gun. Elder Neyra stands up and says to the guy, in spanish, "You want to rob me with your toy?" The guy´s face was hilarious! He looked like he just got caught with drugs in his pocket. The guy told Elder Neyra that is was just a joke and then he walked away. It´s was pretty sweet. I actually found out this week that the Argentina Buenos Aires South mission is the second most dangerous mission the world. The first is like India or something. But yeah, it´s pretty exciting. Not a dull moment in Argentina. I swear though. This country is so corrupt and the government too. I give this country 20 years until it falls or something happens. But at least the people are super nice, well most are though. The culture here is kinda European, but at the same time it´s Latino.</div>
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I also had my first baptism this weekend! It was actually a scary moment. The first family, Natalia and Marcos, arrived on time, but the other family, Martín and Rosa, weren´t going to come. Martin said that he had to work at 6 and said he couldn´t make it if he wasn´t baptized first. And Rosa said that if Martin wasn´t going, she wasn´t going. Satan was winning the battle, but it wasn´t over. It was super scary until the Savior came to the rescue. Elder Neyra called Martin again and found out that Martin just had to be in work before 8 and the baptism was at 5. They actually showed up an hour late to their baptism. Latin standard time. Once they showed up, we all took pictures and then went into the chapel to listen to the talks and hymns. Elder Neyra baptized Natalia and Marcos and I baptized Martín and Rosa. Rosa came into the font after Elder Neyra baptized those 2. She was like screaming that the water was so cold! This family is a little slow, but they are pretty funny most of the time. Anyways, I had to baptize her 3 times! I felt pretty bad at the end. I just think of her getting clean 3 times. Then Martín came in and I had it all down by that time. Only one time haha. But I can now understand the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants how it says that how great will your joy be if you bring one soul unto me and how great will be your joy if you shall bring many souls unto me. I kinda feel like Ammon and him rejoicing God in Alma 26. I will always remember the Lord my God in all good things that happen in my life and for the joy I feel when I am studying and sharing the Gospel. I know that this is the church of Jesus Christ and that through His Atonement we can be perfected. I sure hope you guys are helping less-actives in your wards and help them feel the Atonement in their lives and forgive others and forgive themselves. I promise that the blessings will be huge! I love you all so much and pray for you every single day. Have the best week ever and open your mouths and share the Gospel. Love you!</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
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Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-81701870907426441262014-03-03T20:25:00.000-08:002014-03-24T20:32:42.088-07:00FIrst Week in the Villa!<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Queridos todos!</span><br />
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This week has been pretty great! We first started to week by going to a conference in Captial o sea Buenos Aires. We had the conference with Elder David F. Evans of the Seventy! It was SUPER long, but super great! Elder Evans talked about establishing the church and bringing the less-actives back. He said there are too many less-actives in Argentina and that we need to bring them back. He also said that the First Presidency and the Apostles are concerned that we are not teaching repentance and that is why there are so many less-actives. He told us that just marriage isn´t repentance and that they need to live the law of Chastity before marriage even occurs. And that they need to confess their sins to God and to be living the law of Chastity before marriage. It made me really think about how I am teaching. The next lesson that we taught, we taught the Law of Chastity and the Word of Wisdom to some investigators that are going to be baptized on Saturday. Afterwords, I invited them to repent of the sins that they broke if they have ever broken the Law of Chastity or Word of Wisdom. Right now, they are super set on being baptized and super excited about it. This family´s name is La Familia Pollini. To be honest, they are kinda slow. But they have great desires to be baptized and to follow God. There are 3 in the family. There is a man named Martín, who is pretty slow mentally, but has the biggest desire out of all them. The wife of Martín is named Rosa and she is pretty smart at remembering what we have taught. She has a daughter named Rosio. She is 14 years old and I am pretty nervous about her. She has desires to be baptized, but it´s kinda like, ehhh sure...maybe it´s because she doesn´t have many friends in the church. So we are starting to get that going. Anyways, I am super excited for this Saturday that it is going to be my first baptism! Woooo! There is going to be another family that is going to be baptized. Natalia and Marcos. Elder Neyra has been working with them for 4 months and now they are finally prepared to be baptized. Natalia had a problem with smoking, but now she is super awesome and will be a great member. Marcos has a habit, where whenever he watches a BOCA game, he drinks one bottle of beer. He says he has a desire of 5 to quit. We told him he needs to stop right now or can´t get baptized. He has a testimony, but is a testimony of a kid. Small, but it is there. So 5 baptisms this weekend! Ahhh! It´s crazy! I´m actually super nervous.</div>
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We also had a wedding this week. One of our investigators named Angel got married to a menos-activo. Weddings in Argentina are kinda lame actually. All they really do is sign a paper, say a couple words and people throw rice on them. Pretty exciting, right? Then we went over to their little house and had mini pizzas and sandwiches. Weddings here are pretty rare because everyone lives together and live with their girlfriends and boyfriends. They live together for like 10 years too without getting married. There´s no price in getting married, people are just too lazy to do it. Kinda lame really.</div>
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We also did service this week with Martín in his house that he owns. Sorry to say, but it was the grossest house ever...It was full of trash on one side and full of trash on the other side. So instead of putting the trash in a dumpster, we put sand over it to cover it up and make it look nicer. I don´t know if that is good or not. But it was pretty easy because we did service with 6 other Elders. At least I got to wear normal clothes again hehe. </div>
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Well...I didn´t get robbed, shot or stabbed this week. I did hear a lot of gun shots this week so that is pretty exciting.</div>
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I started reading Ensigns again and I found a talk by President Monson again. I will send the link to it, but it talks about having compassion on people. After I read it, I just wanted to make cookies for someone and give it to someone that was having a hard day. I invite each and everyone of you to go to a less-active and befriend them. Our job as children of God is to help others return to the iron rod and receive eternal life. I promise that if you guys do this, you will have so much happiness in your life that you won´t even describe it. I love you all so much!</div>
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<a href="https://www.lds.org/liahona/2007/03/the-gift-of-compassion?lang=eng&query=compassion" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.lds.org/liahona/2007/03/the-gift-of-compassion?lang=eng&query=compassion</a></div>
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Besitos,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
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Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-56277391629119626422014-02-24T20:39:00.000-08:002014-03-24T20:39:58.404-07:00EMERGENCY TRANSFERS.<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
Querido todos,</div>
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Well, from you guys now already from my "subject," I am get ET´d. So I got to stay in Gutierrez for 2 weeks. I am now going to Banfield, where President lives, and going to a place called El Faro. It is a Villa o sea, a place where people get robbed, stabbed, and shot. Hopefully, none of that happens here. I´m gonna be praying a lot. We are getting ET´d because there are a ton of sister missionaries in the mission and they need to be in safe areas. And our area is safe so we are getting the boot. My new comp is Peruvian. I can´t remember his name right now. Apparently, he has had a lot of success over there. So maybe I can get my first baptism there! That would be pretty awesome. To be honest, I´m kinda nervous to go over to a Villa. I have heard some crazy stories. I guess this is my test to put my trust in the Lord. Just having some fun in the Buenos Aires South mission. At least Spanish is getting better.</div>
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Another crazy thing that happened this week was that a TORNADO struck our area! It didn´t do much, it just flipped a car and that is basically it. People were starting to freak out though. We went to go do some contacts and nobody was out on the streets! They were so scared to come out. Pretty sad actually. This week kinda blew too. We taught 5 lessons total. We had about 5 lessons set everyday and nobody wanted to talk to us, except for a couple people. But it´s all good. Elder Kilgore and I have missed the states this week. He loves talking about girls, sports and home. So it was a little trunky moments every now and then. And saying stuff about Argentina and how weird it is. Maybe it is just weird in our mission. I heard that northern Argentina is beautiful. Maybe I will go there one day.</div>
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Wow, this letter is really short today. I am continuing reading the Bible and it´s funny see some people and say, ¨Yeah Jesus taught that we can make babies whenever we want" and stuff like that and think to yourself, yeah...He didn´t teach that, sorry. I have been reading True to the Faith and it is super interesting! Pretty inspiring at parts too! Well. That´s all I have for this week! Elder Kilgore is doing great and he is headed to a place called Chascamus. It´s a place where there are more cows than people so he is going to love it. Total Redneck he is. I hope you are all reading your scriptures! We need that "daily bread" in our lives to stay happy! Praying is very important too! I´d love to hear from all the family next time. I feel like I haven´t gotten a letter from some of you in a while. Love to hear from you!</div>
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Besitos,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-28795241773945173552014-02-17T20:34:00.000-08:002014-03-24T20:34:56.814-07:00Transfers!<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
Hola todos! This week was pretty busy. First off, I want to everyone single one of my family and say that letters are 100% true. I am writing honest letters. Argentina is kinda lame with computers and I can´t send pictures every week. Second, I got transferred! I am in the zone of Quilmes. It´s in the capital basically and my area is called Gutierrez A. Finally in an A area. I was always in like Jonesboro 4 or Villa Gesell B. Basically the last area. Not saying that is bad or anything like that.</div>
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We went to the temple this week too. It was a pretty crazy story. So Thursday, La Familia Behotas, gave me and Elder Robison a farewell type thing. We had food and took pictures. The way Mormon Argentines have farewells. We stayed pretty late and we had to take a bus to the temple at 230 in the morning on Friday. So the whole night I just packed until 230 in the morning and we took the bus to the temple. Except there was a problem. There are 18 people in our zone and 19 seats in this bus. We have 10 suitcases with 5 backpacks to add to that. There wasn´t any room to put the suitcases in the trunk. So we put the suitcases in the aisle of the bus. Most uncomfortable 7 hours I have ever been in a bus. I slept on the bus about 1 hour. We finally arrive to the temple and we put our luggage in the visitors center and go do a session in the temple. It was a really good experience. Even though it was in Spanish, I could still understand what was happening. Got some prayers answered and it was great. Afterwards, I went to the distribution center and bought The Restoration DVD for investgators to watch. After that, taxi took Elder Robison, Elder Castillo, and I to Banfield. Elder Castillo and I stayed with some missionaries to work for the weekend. While Elder Robison went with the assistants to go do stuff before he left to Utah. While I was working with the Elders in Banfield, bunch of little things happened. I saw a dead animal in a pile of garbage on the side of the road. I think it was a dead cat. A little mini-flood happened, good thing we were teaching a lesson as it happened, and...a boy pulled a pistol on us! These three boys were playing on the other side of the street while we clapped a house and so the three boys came up to us and one said to the other, "Dale, Dale!" and so the other boy took out a gun and told us to give him our money. Lame thing was, it was a toy gun. It looked so fake that I can´t even explain. So we just kept walking and they left us alone. The next day was church and the Elders that we stayed with, 9 investigators came church and they all have baptismal dates. I have never seen anything like before! Then, after church, we tried to contact some people and as we were walking, the assistants picked us up and told us that Elder Castillo and I were going to stay at their place for the night before transfers. So we went to the offices and Elder Robison and hung out while they were doing numbers for the mission. We had 23 baptisms this week. Wooo! I thought that was pretty good. I hear that the area I am in right now that nothing happens. It´s a bunch of fields and not much city. The bishop here isn´t very nice. A lot of members have been offended by him, but I hear that the members are great.</div>
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I am really bummed that Elder Robison left today. He seriously was my best friend here. Now he has to be lame and go back to Utah and find a wife. I told him tht before I get back, he is going to be married. I can´t write about my feelings for him, but I consider him to be my brother and love him just as much as I love you guys. I know you don´t think I don´t love you very much because I don´t send photos every week and my letters are very short, but I want to make one thing clear. I love you guys. I love you more than you can even imagine. I wish I could write you hand-written letters every week and send pictures, the truth is that I do not have the resources to do all you guys want every week. I appreciate your letters every week and I am super excited that I have the opportunity to read them. Don´t ever think that I don´t love you guys because that is a lie. I love you each and every single one of you with all my heart. Please keep sending letters and your love. I know the church to be true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet.</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-4682787865328655902014-02-10T10:58:00.000-08:002014-02-11T10:59:02.371-08:00Transfers<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
Hola todos! This week was pretty busy. First off, I want to everyone single one of my family and say that letters are 100% true. I am writing honest letters. Argentina is kinda lame with computers and I can´t send pictures every week. Second, I got transferred! I am in the zone of Quilmes. It´s in the capital basically and my area is called Gutierrez A. Finally in an A area. I was always in like Jonesboro 4 or Villa Gesell B. Basically the last area. Not saying that is bad or anything like that.</div>
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We went to the temple this week too. It was a pretty crazy story. So Thursday, La Familia Behotas, gave me and Elder Robison a farewell type thing. We had food and took pictures. The way Mormon Argentines have farewells. We stayed pretty late and we had to take a bus to the temple at 230 in the morning on Friday. So the whole night I just packed until 230 in the morning and we took the bus to the temple. Except there was a problem. There are 18 people in our zone and 19 seats in this bus. We have 10 suitcases with 5 backpacks to add to that. There wasn´t any room to put the suitcases in the trunk. So we put the suitcases in the aisle of the bus. Most uncomfortable 7 hours I have ever been in a bus. I slept on the bus about 1 hour. We finally arrive to the temple and we put our luggage in the visitors center and go do a session in the temple. It was a really good experience. Even though it was in Spanish, I could still understand what was happening. Got some prayers answered and it was great. Afterwards, I went to the distribution center and bought The Restoration DVD for investgators to watch. After that, taxi took Elder Robison, Elder Castillo, and I to Banfield. Elder Castillo and I stayed with some missionaries to work for the weekend. While Elder Robison went with the assistants to go do stuff before he left to Utah. While I was working with the Elders in Banfield, bunch of little things happened. I saw a dead animal in a pile of garbage on the side of the road. I think it was a dead cat. A little mini-flood happened, good thing we were teaching a lesson as it happened, and...a boy pulled a pistol on us! These three boys were playing on the other side of the street while we clapped a house and so the three boys came up to us and one said to the other, "Dale, Dale!" and so the other boy took out a gun and told us to give him our money. Lame thing was, it was a toy gun. It looked so fake that I can´t even explain. So we just kept walking and they left us alone. The next day was church and the Elders that we stayed with, 9 investigators came church and they all have baptismal dates. I have never seen anything like before! Then, after church, we tried to contact some people and as we were walking, the assistants picked us up and told us that Elder Castillo and I were going to stay at their place for the night before transfers. So we went to the offices and Elder Robison and hung out while they were doing numbers for the mission. We had 23 baptisms this week. Wooo! I thought that was pretty good. I hear that the area I am in right now that nothing happens. It´s a bunch of fields and not much city. The bishop here isn´t very nice. A lot of members have been offended by him, but I hear that the members are great.</div>
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I am really bummed that Elder Robison left today. He seriously was my best friend here. Now he has to be lame and go back to Utah and find a wife. I told him tht before I get back, he is going to be married. I can´t write about my feelings for him, but I consider him to be my brother and love him just as much as I love you guys. I know you don´t think I don´t love you very much because I don´t send photos every week and my letters are very short, but I want to make one thing clear. I love you guys. I love you more than you can even imagine. I wish I could write you hand-written letters every week and send pictures, the truth is that I do not have the resources to do all you guys want every week. I appreciate your letters every week and I am super excited that I have the opportunity to read them. Don´t ever think that I don´t love you guys because that is a lie. I love you each and every single one of you with all my heart. Please keep sending letters and your love. I know the church to be true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet.</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-43092535208980863732014-02-03T23:01:00.002-08:002014-02-03T23:01:45.297-08:00EIGHT MONTHS!<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Hola todos!</span><br />
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Well this Wednesday, I will have 8 months in the mission and 4 in Argentina. I am so surprised that I only have 4 months in Argentina and I can speak to people pretty well. So a crazy thing happened this week, well not really. I have lost about 37 pounds on the mission. I am now 213 pounds. I like the way I feel and everything, the problem is just that my clothes don´t fit anymore. Well, I have had my pants tailored and everything, but my suit from Christensen´s does not fit anymore. The one that Mom and I just bought. Maybe if anybody is just looking to lose weight. Just do the Argentine missionary diet. Walk about 3 miles everyday and eat only breakfast, which is 2 eggs and a big lunch and drink lots of water. 100% guarantee with no interest. This week was pretty good. First I was sick, but I am a lot better now. There was another storm that happened here. So I totally got wet again. It´s okay because it is supposed to be wife points right? That´s what they say anyway. So it is kinda weird working in the coast. Everywhere you go, people just don´t wear shirts. Whether you are a guy or a girl. You just don´t wear them. It´s not cool to wear shirts I guess. But it is a whatever thing. Kinda used to it by now. </div>
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I had the opportunity to go on exchanges this week with Elder Robison. We didn´t do very much that day, but we did go to eat some ice cream. The ice cream here is good, it´s just missing something. American ice cream is where it is at. During the exchange, Elder Flores went to go see Carmen Sosa to see how she was doing and it turns out, she knows the Book of Mormon is true and the José Smith was a prophet! She said she is still willing to be baptized, she just wants her husband to participate in the lessons with us. Her date is for the 22 of Februrary. Transfers are on the 10 and I would really like to stay here for one more transfer just to see Carmen´s baptism. </div>
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During my exchange with Elder Riboldi, Elder Robison´s companion, we talked to a lot of people but none of them had a lot of potential that have been prepared. But Elder Flores went over to Fabian and well, Fabian knows that the Book of Mormon is true and that José Smith was a prophet. His date is for the 1st of March. We committed him to come to church, but sadly he didn´t come.</div>
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Church was pretty exciting though. As we were having fast and testimony meeting. We hear some people yelling outside. Turns out, a guy had robbed the restaurant next door and went to the church to hide from the police. Ya know...I´m not even surprised that even happened. Weird stuff happens in Argentina. Super weird that I am calm and happy in the mission. Argentina doesn´t contribute to it at all. It is what I am doing here that makes me happy. The church is definitely true. If you do not have a solid confirmation that this the church of Jesus Christ. I invite you to kneel down and ask God sincerely if this is the church that Jesus Christ established. I love you all and hope this letter was better than my other ones.</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-33248512963098574032014-01-20T11:39:00.002-08:002014-01-20T11:39:54.822-08:00Updates<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Dear Todos,</span><br />
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First off, you know when you are in Argentina in the summer when a lady who is 70 years old comes out of a house that you clapped and is wearing a bikini. Grossest thing I have ever seen in my life I think. This week was a little bit better than last. Our numbers weren´t great, but that just means our numbers will be great this week! It´s still kinda rough with Elder Flores. I can´t even describe how many times he puts his foot in his mouth. I´m praying really hard for the gift of charity towards him, and it´s coming little by little. Just a backround of this week and we will start with Fabian.</div>
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We taught him a great lesson this week about keeping the sabbath day holy and he said he would keep it. We tried to teach him throughout the week and things happened on our side and we weren´t able to teach him after that lesson. It was kind of our fault, we did try to contact him as best as we could, but agency happens and people do stuff. Turns out that actually got a job at "MacDonald´s" (They can´t say their mc´s) And we don´t know what his hours are at the moment. We plan to go over this week to see what we can do in order for him to be baptized on the 8 of Februrary still. Because he got the job at McDonald´s he wasn´t able to come to church. Anyways we are still working on that.</div>
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Gabriel and Marcela:</div>
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I found out this week that Marcela has NOT been reading. She hasn´t read since we gave the family Alma 22 to read which was like 6 weeks ago. I was pretty bummed by that. But it´s all good because they will progress this week. I have faith. That´s all that we did with them this week.</div>
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Spiritual stuff.</div>
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I finished Alma this week! Gotta tell ya, the war is really intense. I just love it! Also, I gave a talk in church this week! It was a little rough, but i think people got the message. I talked about being an example and opening our mouth to spread the Gospel. Basically just my farewell talk. i did some pauses so that people can feel the Spirit, when actually, I was thinking of the word to say. Remember that this gospel is true and that Joseph Smith was a prophet! And that Thomas S. Monson and his counselors and the Quorum of the 12 apostles are prophets, seers and revelators. Les quiero mucho!</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-13566040221051570422014-01-13T11:40:00.000-08:002014-01-20T11:40:54.408-08:00Dead Man Tells No Lies<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Buen Día!</span><br />
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So...basically nothing exciting happened this week. I´m still alive. That´s about it.</div>
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So I´m having a hard time with Elder Flores, he likes to work and everything, but he kinda puts his foot in his mouth...a lot...like more than a lot. The beginning of the week was harder, but now it´s okay. Well, better anyway.</div>
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We got a new fecha for baptism!</div>
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His name is Fabian Saganias. He is the Dad of some antigual investigadores and after the first lesson, we asked him to be baptized. And he said yes! Taking out the fecha is the easiest part. Maintaining it. Now that´s a different story. We will be praying like crazy so we can create this district into a stake! Oh. As for Betty, our other fecha, yeah...she kinda dropped us. She says she doesn´t have time for us right now because of the summer and that she is working like crazy. But! With time, she will be baptized!</div>
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The Familia Vlahos:</div>
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We taught only Gabriel again this week. We read Alma 32 with him this week and asked him to experiment the Book of Mormon and to notice to see if there is a change in his life. He said he wouldn´t promise, but the last time he did that, he read! Haha so he is definitely going to read, I hope anyway. We have an appointment with them on Tuesday and so hopefully, we will be able to talk to Marcela.</div>
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I just wanna talk about the Familia Behotas. They are the biggest kapos in todo del mundo! We have dinner with them every Sunday and she washes our clothes and fixes any clothes problems that we have. And whenever we go over, they just give us food. This family is pretty much the<a href="http://bomb.com/" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit;" target="_blank">bomb.com</a>.</div>
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Well, that´s all that is going right now. Elder Robison is getting ready to go home. He only has about 4 weeks left. I´m going to meet this Elder. Too bad he is going to BYU when he goes home.</div>
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So I have been reading the war chapters in the Book of Mormon right now and I just love how they counseled with the Lord in every single thing they did. Just goes to show that the Lord really does care about every single one of us. And that if we ask for direction we will receive it. Ask and ye shall receive right?</div>
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Love you all! Kind of a lame letter, but that´s all that happened this week.</div>
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Besitos,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-71022944666451980032014-01-06T11:41:00.000-08:002014-01-20T11:43:11.767-08:00Happy New Year!<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Holaaaaa!</span><br />
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How is everyone doing? I hope everyone is just super happy because we are in 2014! How weird is that? A lot happened in 2013 too. Like...I went on a mission... Argentina is doing pretty good. I guess we will start with Elder Flores.</div>
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Elder Flores is from Mexico. He has 11 months in the mission and is a very hard worker. A little weird, but a hard worker. This week. We basically just contacted people. We got 9 new investigators this week. But out of those 9, I think one is solid and has great potential. His name is Andres. He is from Paraguay and has a wife and a kid who is 4. There isn´t much about him, all that he was born Catholic and he is seems a little interested in the Gospel. But there is something about him that I just like. Another person that we found this week is Natalia. Natalia is a cripple. No literally, she is crippled. But she has a great heart. She wants to know the difference between every other church in the world, basically. She is Evangelista and she has a son too who is about 4. She is living with someone, but is trying to move out and find a place to rent. She almost came to church this week, but something happened with her son, that he didn´t want to go or something like that, but maybe this week she will come! We also committed someone on date this week too! Her name is Betty Atocha. She is from Bolivia and she is a cleaning lady at a Hotel. The first lesson that we had was pretty good. She seemed a little tired during the lesson a little bit. We committed her for the 1st of Februrary and I sure hope that this date is for real this time! She said she would read the Book of Mormon and pray about it, so we will find out this week huh?</div>
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My favorite family: La Familia Vlahos!</div>
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We had a lesson with only Gabriel this week. Elder Flores got to know him a little bit. Which may have been bad. So bad, that we almost lost them. Elder Flores said Mosiah 4:9 with him, which says Believe in God and all that stuff. (Gabriel is Atheist) and Gabriel kept telling him that he was not going to believe in God right now. He says he doesn´t see the need of it right now. He got pretty offended actually...We also had a member there named Hermana Piñeyro. And she was like bashing him too that he needs to believe in God. He just kept saying that he doesn´t see the need of believing in God right now. He says he has a great job, a loving family. But! He also said that he would believe in God someday! Yeah! Also! He told me that Marcela (the Catholic teacher) has been reading the Book of Mormon everyday to him before going to bed! Sometimes he will listen and sometimes he will just ignore it. I know that once Marcela gets baptized. Everything will fall right into place.</div>
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Well everyone! I just want to tell all of you that this New Year´s, I invite everyone to read together as a family and to pray. I know that the love that you have for one another will increase like crazy! I have seen it here in Argentina! So will you do that this year?</div>
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Love you all so much and hope for the best of everyone of you! Be happy! Remember who you are! Les Quiero mucho!</div>
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Con amor y besitos,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-54857872083651545592013-12-30T11:43:00.000-08:002014-01-20T11:56:15.670-08:00Still in Villa Gesell!<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">Hola Todos!</span><br />
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Just as my subject says, I am still in the Coast at Villa Gesell! Elder Rivero left to an area called Longchamps. It´s up near the capital, but super chill. So that will be good for him. As for my new comp, his name is Elder Flores...and that´s all I know about him. He won´t arrive in the Coast until 8:30 tonight. We think he is Mexican. Well, if it is him. There are 2 Elder Floreses...I think that is how you spell it.</div>
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This week was pretty tranquilo. Christmas came and it was super great! Christmas Eve, I had the opportunity to talk with Mom and Dad! Woooo! It´s still really weird that they are in Tokyo right now. And that a potato is $6.00. At least the Japanese have good TV shows hehe. We had dinner with La Familia Behotas. They are pretty much the best family that I know of. They have 2 sons serving missions. One is in Lima, Peru and the other is in Adam´s mission! Columbia Bogota South! I got pretty stoked when I heard that. We had dinner with the family and we had chicken and turkey and some salad. They also gave us presents! I got my first Argentine jersey! Well it´s from a team here named BOCA. It´s supposed to be the best team in Argentina. And it´s an original and those are kinda hard to come by. Christmas was pretty slow. We didn´t work. Argentina is full of drunks during the holiday season hehe. So we stayed inside and had pancakes and...yeah..pancakes. Elder Riboldi´s mom sent him pancake mix with Aunt Jemina´s syrup. Best stuff ever! Then, Elder Rivero got to talk with his family. Chileans talk a lot faster than Argentines. It´s like how a Californian talks basically. Go California! Then, I got to talk with Megan and Chad. I was pretty bummed that I couldn´t call the rest of you guys. Hopefully, Mother´s Day will be different. </div>
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We are still teaching Marcela and Gabriel. I can just picture Marcela to be a Gospel Principles teacher or something. She is so cool! We have an appointment with them on Thursday and hopefully I can understand them this week. They tend to talk really fast sometimes.</div>
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But really that is about all that happened. I hope everyone is doing well and that the missionary work that you are doing is going great! I have been reading the war chapters in Alma right now and let´s all just say that Captain Moroni was a kapo! Just like it says in the scriptures. That if every person were to be like Moroni the gates of hell would shake and the devil would have no hold upon the children of men. I don´t know if that´s the exact words, but you get what I mean. Now let us all be like Moroni. Keeping the commandments, going to church, reading, praying. We can do it! I know we can. Jesus Christ made it possible for us to become clean and receive mercy.</div>
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Do your best and forget the rest.</div>
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Besitos y con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans<br />
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Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-30515871459258276942013-12-16T23:28:00.000-08:002013-12-21T23:41:47.035-08:00You Know You Are in Argentina When...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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Hi!</div>
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So this week. I basically know the whole Newsies musical without seeing the musical. We have had Newsies music on in the pench for this week. We workout to it in the morning. It´s pretty legit.</div>
So just a brief overview with what happened this week with my investigators. The only one worth talking is...</div>
Gabriel Vlahos and Marcela Medina:</div>
We just had a lesson with Gabriel this week. Medina read 3 Nephi 11, but she was working at the catholic school when we had the lesson. We read 3 Nephi 11 with Gabriel. And to start with, he doesn´t really believe in God and everything. So we read this chapter and the first thing he notices is the part that says if you don´t believe in me, you will be condemned. So, we tried talking to him the best we could without being like yeah pretty much. But then he asked us randomly, why bad things in the world happen. We read Alma 14 with him and I don´t know how, but he rejected that answer. Anyways, that´s pretty much how that lesson went, but we do have a return appointment with him on Tuesday, so we will be able to talk with Marcela also. We did leave Alma 22 with Gabriel to read, but he said he wouldn´t promise to read. Argentines and their stubborness.</div>
Other stuff:</div>
It´s really hot here in Argentina. Like 90 degrees with 100% humidity. We have the fan going like 24/7. Reminds me of when Kelii and Megan lived on the Point. That´s how hot it is.</div>
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Also, Elder Rivero and I were walking to a potentials house and as we were walking, we saw 3 police pick-up trucks with people on the back with shotguns and masks over their face. About 30 minutes later, we heard gun shots. We just looked over their and were like, "Yeah...let´s not walk over their."</div>
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You know you are in Argentina when you are having a lesson with someone and they just start breastfeeding right in front of you. Without blanket and everything. We kinda call it the one-eyed monster. Yeah...Argentina is weird.</div>
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As for spiritual stuff:</div>
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My favorite scriptures right now are Alma 31:24-35. Maybe for FHE you guys and look up those scriptures. This whole week I have been General Conference talks from 2008. There is one by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin that I am sure that all of you remember. It is called "Come what may, and love it"<br />
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I encourage all to read this talk and look for the goodness in the world and to look at the moments that matter most. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ´s church on the earth today. Always remember that the people in the church and not perfect, but the teachings of Jesus Christ are. Don´t abandon God. He loves you whether you deserve it or not. He wants you to come home. Trust in God. Trust in the word of His holy prophets. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen<br />
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Elder Grant Evans<br />
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Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-9689373898401257322013-12-09T23:38:00.000-08:002013-12-21T23:38:22.630-08:00SIX MONTHS!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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Hola!</div>
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¿Còmo estàn? or I guess as they say in Argentina ¿Còmo andan? Which means, How do you walk? Elder Robison always says, con mis pies, or with my feet. Elder Robison is a stud! Sad that he goes home next transfer *tear*</div>
Anyways! As for this week, number-wise, we did really good! I will talk about the people one by one.</div>
1 new date!</div>
We taught a joven who is 17 years old named Cristian Gutierrez. He is a stud. Came to church 2 times already and is so ready to be baptized. We taught the Restoration with him and another joven named Agustìn, who is 17 also. After the lesson, we asked him to be baptized on the 21st of December and he said yes! Miracle! Elder Rivero and I were so excited to have someone on date that wasn´t going to leave to Buenos Aires, like Cesar. So, we set up an appointment for Saturday at the same time. We asked some more jovens to come join in on the Plan of Salvation. As we were waiting for Cristian to come, we helped some of the members clean the chapel. Turns out, after some time, Cristian didn´t show up...nor did he answer his phone...nor did he come to church the following day...nor go to choir the following night. As I mentioned in my previous letter, his parents are Jehovah´s Witness. Right now, Elder Rivero and I are just hoping nothing bad happened to him and that his okay. We still have yet to contact him. We don´t know his address because of the situation with his parents. But, we are praying and waiting for a miracle.</div>
4 new investigators!</div>
Cristian was one of the investigators. Another is named Melisa, who is a referral from a girl is getting ready to serve a mission, her sister-in-law that is. We shared a scripture and invited her to investigate the church and she said she definitely would. We have an appointment on Wednesday. The other two is a couple named Gabriel and Marcela. We have been trying to get a lesson with Gabriel for about a month. He has always been putting it off, until last week. We gave him the Restoration pamphlet to read and ponder about, turns out he didn´t read it. But! His wife did, or we think they are married, (people usually aren´t married in Argentina.) Marcela, his wife, is a professor for a Catholic church. She had a lot of questions about Joseph Smith and why he is important. Elder Rivero and I just looked at each other and said, "Well...we have a great lesson about this..." So we taught the Restoration, according to their needs and lets just say she was Gospel punched in the face! Right as Elder Rivero said the First Vision, her whole face just changed and her eyes got really big, she definitely could tell something was there and that thing was the Spirit. She is really understanding and wants to understand what the Mormons believe in. As for Gabriel, we found out that he doesn´t believe in a God...so we are kind of in a pickle with this. We have a Catholic professor and guy who doesn´t believe there is a God. But, we did invite them to read the Book of Mormon and to pray and explained that if the Book of Mormon is true, then everything else with José Smith is true.</div>
Favorite Scripture!</div>
Alma 14 is basically my favorite to share right now. Alma and Almulek are just kapos! My favorite verse of this story are these:<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2354590285333578425" name="24" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> </a>24 And the chief judge stood before them, and smote them again, and said unto them: If ye have the <span style="line-height: normal;"><sup style="line-height: 15px;">a</sup></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/14?lang=eng#" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">power</a> of God deliver yourselves from these bands, and then we will believe that the Lord will destroy this people according to your words.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2354590285333578425" name="25" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> </a>25 And it came to pass that they all went forth and smote them, saying the same words, even until the last; and when the last had spoken unto them the <span style="line-height: normal;"><sup style="line-height: 15px;">a</sup></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/14?lang=eng#" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">power</a> of God was upon Alma and Amulek, and they rose and stood upon their feet.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2354590285333578425" name="26" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> </a>26 And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great <span style="line-height: normal;"><sup style="line-height: 15px;">a</sup></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/14?lang=eng#" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">afflictions</a>, O Lord? O Lord, <span style="line-height: normal;"><sup style="line-height: 15px;">b</sup></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/14?lang=eng#" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">give</a> us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto <span style="line-height: normal;"><sup style="line-height: 15px;">c</sup></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/14?lang=eng#" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">deliverance</a>. And they broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon them.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2354590285333578425" name="27" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> </a>27 And it came to pass that so great was their fear that they fell to the earth, and did not obtain the outer door of the <span style="line-height: normal;"><sup style="line-height: 15px;">a</sup></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/14?lang=eng#" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">prison</a>; and the earth shook mightily, and the walls of the prison were rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the chief judge, and the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2354590285333578425" name="28" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> </a>28 And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them <span style="line-height: normal;"><sup style="line-height: 15px;">a</sup></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/14?lang=eng#" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">power</a>, according to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway came forth out of the prison; and they were <span style="line-height: normal;"><sup style="line-height: 15px;">b</sup></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/14?lang=eng#" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">loosed</a> from their<span style="line-height: normal;"><sup style="line-height: 15px;">c</sup></span><a href="http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/14?lang=eng#" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">bands</a>; and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city.</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2354590285333578425" name="29" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> </a>29 Now the people having heard a great noise came running together by multitudes to know the cause of it; and when they saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the prison, and the walls thereof had fallen to the earth, they were struck with great fear, and fled from the presence of Alma and Amulek even as a goat fleeth with her young from two lions; and thus they did flee from the presence of Alma and Amulek.</div>
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I can just picture a movie of this! It just gives me chills! The Book of Mormon is the word of God! Joseph Smith was a prophet of God! Stay true to the faith! Look to the funny stuff during the day and smile. Adam fell that men might be that they might have joy! Right? Then, smile :) Just as Elder Wirthlin said, learn to laugh and what President Monson said, you look better with your head up high.</div>
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Con amor a ustedes,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-19324626183559368412013-12-02T23:27:00.000-08:002013-12-21T23:37:15.118-08:00Thanksgiving: ARGENTINE STYLE<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Hola!!!!</span><br />
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¿Còmo estàn? That´s right. I just used an upside down question mark. Well just a little recap of what happened this week. We had a really good lesson from a referral that we received from a member named Noelia. It was a FHE with La Familia Esteche. They talked about covenants and what they mean. Let´s just say, it was really intense. Noelia´s sister is named Idalia and she hasn´t been keeping her baptismal covenants, for example, the Law of Chastity. She is living with someone right now. Oh, the Law of Chasity doesn´t really exist in Argentina. People who are members, just kinda forget about it. Kinda lame. So Noelia´s brother´s name is Cristian wants to be baptized! The bad news...he just went to Buenos Aires to visit his Mom for the summer...but...it´s okay! Because we still have futuros or potentials. This week was probably the slowest week I have ever had on the mission. We would go to peoples houses and either they weren´t there or didn´t have time. We try to set a return appt, but they just say they are always busy. Well so are we. So, instead of teaching investigators, because we weren´t able to, we taught members! Members are pretty great. We did find a menos-activo that we haven´t heard of before. His name is Hermano Cozzi. Let´s just say he is crazy. We went to his house and he was very angry. He told us that it has been 3 years since someone from the church has visited him. He said he isn´t mad with the Elders, he is mad with the branch, because they never do their home teaching. We tried talking to him, but his heart is just filled with some much poison that it is going to be really difficult to change his heart. We will do the best we can. Just like Mom always said right? As for Sunday, we had a futuro investigator come to church named Cristian. We were talking to him for a bit and he said he really likes the church and feels so much better when he comes. Elder Riboldi told me that if we don´t get him baptized, we have really bad luck. That was before we knew that his family is Jehovah´s Witness....oh this is a different Cristian. His last name is Gutierrez. Not the brother of Noelia. Anyways, if Cristian does get baptized in the LDS church, his family has to stop talking to him. I guess it´s a rule in the JW church. That just makes me sad :( We have an appointment this Thursday, so we are going to see what happens and I will let you know.</div>
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As for Thanksgiving, I see letters from people and what they did, like have 4 thanksgiving dinners. I just worked, it really just felt like a normal day in Argentina. I can´t even remember what I had for Thanksgiving. Probably noodles. I think I had an alfrejor. But! The district did have a big bbq on last week´s P-Day. So that was pretty great! Anyways, that was my week! I am out of time right now, but I want to say I am so proud of Mom and Dad to be serving a mission! They are pretty much the best people I know. Stay strong everyone! Know that this is the Chuch of Jesus Christ. The same church that He established. Love you all!</div>
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Besitos,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-49066263692813527702013-11-25T23:25:00.000-08:002013-12-21T23:26:06.266-08:00Que Feo!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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Hola!!!</div>
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Cómo están? This week was kinda slow in the beginning, but then we kicked butt at the end of the week. Okay, Sunday. Im gonna start with a really gross thing I saw this week. So you guys know that Argentina has stray dogs running all around and its like an every day thing. So Elder Rivero and I were walking around trying to find people and I just see in the corner of my eye and I see a dog of course. And the dog was eating something, still seemed normal to me. But as I got closer, the dog was eating a cat! A cat!! That poor cat. Didn´t see it coming...well maybe it did. But that is just a little weird thing about Argentina.</div>
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This week, I was kinda depressed. Elder Rivero and I have been trying to talk to people on the street and none of them have shown a lot of interest. Some interest is a miracle yes, but they would give us bad address and stuff. And that I have not gotten past the first lesson with someone and I am almost 6 months out. When I hear people say, "Oh yeah, I´ve had this many baptisms and yeah yeah yeah..."So that just brings a downer a little bit. But then I was reading D&C 122:7-9 and as Joseph Smith was in Liberty Jail and the part that got me says that this will be for my benefit. So, I just started working harder and try to talk to more people with my basic Castallano and teach them a 1 minute Restoration. Still no luck in the streets. So Sunday came round and by way of a change, a guy came walking in with jeans and a tshirt. We asked for his name and his name is Cesar. He said he was from Buenos Aires and was working here. He lived by the church and said it was close so he came. He stayed for all three hours of church and said that he just loved it! We set an appt with him that night to chat for a bit. So at 7 at night we go over to his apartment building and we have a lesson outside in the street. We taught him the first lesson and he is really big on that Jesus is the Son of God and the Atonement. After this lesson, we asked him to be baptized on the 14 of December. He said he would if he was still here. Apparently, he just working for a little bit and heading back up to Buenos Aires to his family. We have 3 more meetings with him before he heads back up. That is if the job is done. We can only meet with him once a week. It´s gonna be hard, but we know God will help us.We know he will be baptized. It may or may not be on the 14 or in Villa Gesell or Buenos Aires. But, it´s super exciting to have an investigator and to have someone on date!</div>
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So basically that was my week. I have to write President now, but those are my stories for the week!</div>
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Love you all!</div>
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Besitos,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-2151646346351148072013-11-18T23:24:00.000-08:002013-12-21T23:25:09.447-08:001st Transfer in ARGENTINA, GONE!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Hola!</span><br />
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This week was pretty awesome and slow at the same time. Lets start with Elder Holland. Let´s just say that he is a stud! He talked to us about how we should never lose our testimonies after the mission and little bit about obedience and a little bit of the talk I said last week about salvation is not a cheap experience. He has so much love for the missionaries, it´s incredible. I think after just hearing from him about not losing my testimony, I think I am too scared to lose it hehe. It´s amazing the spirit that he has, right as he walks in, the room just silences and you feel peace in your soul. I wonder what his family feels...I have notes from the talk, but I forgot to bring them to the cyber today. Maybe next week I will bring some more. </div>
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As I said in my "subject," the first transfer of Argentina is out of here! I am still in Villa Gesell, which I am so grateful for! 5 and a half months and its my first area I get to stay in! Elder Rivero and I are still companions. We definitely have a weird relationship. Definitely best friends. Even though we can´t talk to each other, we still love each other.</div>
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As for success with investigators this week goes...lets just say it didn´t go very well...But that will change this week right? If you have a bad week that just means you will have a good week right? It´s gotta happen sometime. We didn´t get to talk to any of our investigators this week. We tried setting up an appointment with them, and they say just come by whenever, so we do and they say they are busy. Maybe we just need to teach them right then and there. Like a 10 minute lesson or something.</div>
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It´s been feeling a lot like Christmas here in the summer of Argentina. Elder Robison has Christmas music that he plays everyday. Silent Night is the one that kills me! It´s just so pretty and makes me think of home sometimes. Apparently, he has 24 family christmas stories that he wants to share with us. He is really good at sharing stories, so I am so stoked! As for our apartment, it´s actually really nice! I stayed in an apartment a day before I listened to Elder Holland and it was really gross! It was really old, but still is cleanable. And they could´ve asked the renter to fix it too. But our apartment, has really nice beds and every thing. There is a living room that has the tables that we spend most of our time and 4 bedrooms, the other 3 bedrooms are used as dressing rooms hehe. We have 2 bathrooms, one upstairs and one downstairs. Other than that, its pretty tranquilo.</div>
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I read Alma 1 a couple days ago. Alma 1 was the chapter I really liked this week. I learned that even though that the members of the Church of God were being persecuted by people preaching false doctrine, they were still firm in their faith. I think that stood out a lot to me because Elder Holland was talking about not losing your testimony.</div>
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Love you all so much! Next time I will write a better letter! I will make sure to write in my journal so I know what happens. Love you all!</div>
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Besitos,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-64596555403251639882013-11-11T23:14:00.000-08:002013-12-21T23:18:26.791-08:00HOLA!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">Hola!</span><br />
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Guess what! This weekend is going to be the <a href="http://bomb.com/" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">bomb.com</a>! You know why? Drumroll please....Jeffery R. Holland is going to speak to all of the 3 Buenos Aires missions on Friday! Ahhhh! I am so going to die! I don´t know if he is going to chastise us or do what he did in last conference and tell us we can do this/inspirational talk. The talk is going to be in Banfield which is basically in Buenos Aires. It´s so crazy!</div>
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As for this week, it was kinda slow. Okay, really slow. This whole week, Elder Rivero and I have been setting up English Classes to get ready so we haven´t had much time to teach people. We still don´t have many investigators, but with English Classes, we should be getting a lot of new people. All the members in the branch have the missionary bug right now and want to help out as much as they can. I just hope that I don´t get transferred after all this much work. But, I guess the new missionaries that would come in wouldn´t have to do much. So yeah, that´s about all that is happening in Argentina. We didn´t find any new investigators this week, so that was a bummer but that´s okay because Alma 26:27 is amazing. </div>
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What I learned this week or I guess re-learned is that Jesus Christ is the son of God and the Redeemer of the world. Elder Rivero and I were teaching a less-active family and for our message we watched a Mormon Message! I seriously think mormon messages are the best! People can feel the Spirit so strong! But, Idalia, one of the menos-activos, has been living with someone named Damian. Damian has been supportive in the church, but has been kinda weird. Like he will want to listen, but when it comes right to it, he won´t want to listen. But, we watched a video called Totalmente Solo, Totally Alone. It was a message with Jeffery R. Holland about how Jesus Christ was all alone with his ministry, he did have the 12 apostles and everything, but realistically, he was all alone. After the video, this Spirit was so strong. I looked over at Damian after the video was over and tears started to form in his eyes. Coolest thing ever! We testified that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that through him we can become clean again. </div>
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Another thing I learned this week and also getting ready for Elder Holland, was a thing he said in a talk. He said that he was thoroughly conviced that salvation does not come easy. I was talking to Elder Rivero (well...the best I could) about this. We were talking about that everybody has to go through the stage of Alma the younger to obtain salvation. Everyone needs a part of repentance in their life that absolutely changes their perspective about life. In the Bible Dictionary, it says that repentance is a change of nature. A chance to obtain salvation. Just like in Avatar it says that once we hit our lowest point, we are open to the greatest possibilities. Jesus Christ bled from every pore in order for us to obtain salvation. We all have to go through a little Gesthamane or Alma the younger in our life! Repentance is the chance to turn around and start over. How beautiful is that!</div>
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I testify that Jesus is the Christ and Redeemer of the world. I pray that missionary work is going well in your wards and branches. This is the church of Jesus Christ. Joesph Smith restored this church.</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-60018863148902730762013-11-04T23:14:00.000-08:002013-12-21T23:23:57.185-08:00FIVE MONTHS!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px;">Querido todos,</span><br />
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This week was kinda slow to be honest. The good news is that we found 4 new investigators this week! Now we just can`t get the 2nd lesson. But it will come. Remember the guy named Omar? Yeah, we weren`t able to see him yesterday. He wasn`t home so now we have to wait til next Sunday. We did meet a lady this week named Estela. Her family lives in Buenos Aires, but she just lives in Villa Gesell. We found out that her esposo just died. We started talking about eternal families and she said that we were really sent to her. Hopefully we can get her baptized! First step is the 2nd lesson though haha. We also met a family that has 8 people in it! We taught them the Plan of Salvation because they were interested in eternal families too. We had an appointment with them, but they didn`t answer the door. Then we went to go see them yesterday and the kids were out playing but the parents had some friends over and they were all drunk. So we are gonna go by another day. It says in the Missionary Handbook that holidays and Sundays are the best days for tracting because that is when families are home. In Argentina, it`s the days of futból and drinking. So Sundays and holidays, not so great here. They also have a thing here called ALB or Abrir La Boca. Open the mouth. And its a point value. For every missionary who contacts 10 people gets 1 point. Well, Elder Rivero and I do something different. It´s called encontrando espiritual. Or spiritual finding. We pray when we are at an intersection of which way we need to go and we get lead to a house. So this week, we had 0 AlB´s but 4 new investigators! That is without the branch`s help too. The branch is starting to like us I think. They still don´t give us refferals. But! We are going to start English classes next Wednesday! Almost every member in our area wants to learn English. We told them they have to bring friends.</div>
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We had a menas-activa become reactivated this week too! Her name is Noelia and she is 18. She has a strong testimony and is a capa. Sadly, her sister, Idalia, isn´t that strong. A month after she was baptized, she started living with her new boyfriend. And she has a 3 year old that when she doesn´t get what she wants, she throws a huge tantrum. I mean that has to be all three year olds right? Anyways, the 3 year old doesn´t like church, so Idalia won´t go because of her. So, we are trying to work at that. But that´s pretty much my week. My day basically goes like this. Wake up, workout, have my daily omelet (yes, I can make an omelet now, and its really good with Argentine meat.) and do personal study for an hour and comp study for an hour, and then walk to a members house to go eat lunch and then go out an teach our investigators or whatever appointments that we might have.</div>
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I have been reading Mosiah lately and can I just say that King Benjamin is that coolest guy ever? He just talked so simple and basically just said all we need to do to prosper in our life. I was also reading about Abinadi talking to King Noah. I love the part where the King says to execute him and then Abinadi goes all out and says, "Touch me not!" Gives me goosebumps every time! I also finished <u style="line-height: 22px;">Our Heritage</u> and my testimony about Joseph Smith has grown so much! There is no way that someone would´ve done all that he did just for a book! This church has changed so many peoples lives and brings happiness to their soul. I know without a doubt in my mind that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he restored the church of Jesus Christ back here on the earth. I also know that this is the church in order to reach salvation and achieve the greatest gift of all of God´s gifts and that is eternal life.</div>
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I love you all so much! I pray that the missionary work in your wards are going very well. Please write me back!</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans<br />
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Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-31307823885320003992013-10-28T23:12:00.000-07:002013-12-21T23:24:21.755-08:00The Youth Here are AMAZING!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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Querido todos,</div>
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I just like to say thank you for all the letters I have gotten on my mission here in Buenos Aires. Villa Gesell is pretty cold most of the time. It`s pretty humid, but not like Hawaii humid. But with the humidity, it goes right through your clothes so it gets cold a little. The best and funniest part of what happened this week, was Tuesday. So in the morning, Elder Riboldi and I went to go do our morning workouts. So we grab the keys and try to the open the door. We TRY...but the door wouldn`t open! So we asked Elder Robison if he could open the door and he couldn`t either. And Tuesdays, we have District meeting and so we had to get out eventually and really soon. So what we do is that we got on the balcony of the upstairs room. We climb up onto the roof and jump down about 7 feet to where our entrance to the door is. So that`s how we got out of our apartment that day. But the problem was, we didn`t know how to get back in...and we had to eat lunch somehow because a member gave us lunch. So us 3 elders hoist up Elder Riboldi on the roof to go onto the balcony and grab plates and forks for us to eat. I have a video of it but I don´t know if its too big to send it. Eventually, the inmobilaria, basically a real estate agency, brings over their mantenence guy to come fix it. He had this cool tool that seperated the lock and the wall. So thankfully, we did get to sleep in our apartment for the night. Crazy adventures in Argentina. The crazy thing is that even though I am in a different country with a different language and all these crazy things happening to our apartment, I am still super happy! I know I´m crazy. But it`s because what I am teaching to here is the truth!</div>
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Getting investigators here is really weird. The seriously just come up out of the ground sometimes. Knocking on doors and contacting in the street is really inefficient. This one time Elder Rivero and I knocked on this door that used to be a former investigator, but they didn`t live there anymore. Instead, it´s this guy named Omar. After we asked him if this person lived here and said no, we simply just gave him a pass-along card and asked him if he has heard of the Book of Mormon before. We just gave a little explanation about it and said he wanted to listen right off the bat. So we had a lesson with him yesterday and he told us he feels like he has no purpose in life. We ended up talking about he Plan of Salvation and he loved it! He had quite a few questions about everything. I couldn´t really get the gist of what he was saying (Argentine accents are weird). But from what my comp was saying, he didn´t really believe in the Fall. So that was kinda interesting. But, while we talked about the Atonement and Alma 7, the Spirit was so strong there! It was almost impossible to be feeling it. I even got goosebumps! We will be meeting again with him on Sunday again and talk about the Restoration. Oh and I don´t know if I said this before, but Jonathan, the one who has a short-term memory loss, doesn´t want to get baptized anymore.</div>
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So about the youth. The youth here are the greatest ever! They are examples to their families like none other. For example, the Pino family. The 5 kids all go to church and have super strong testimonies of the Gospel, but their parents don´t come to church. But! This Sunday the whole family was there and they absolutely love the Gospel now! The next family that is kind of hard is the Familia De La Miar. The kids are super strong and are friends with the Pino family. The problem is that the Dad and super prideful and won´t come to church because he doesn´t like one the leaders because he has a belief that leaders need to be absolutely perfect. And he doesn´t want to listen to the missionaries, so it´s been a tough battle but we are getting there. The members are doing great and are strong as usual. We are really trying to make this branch a ward and eventually this District a Stake.</div>
One thing that I am very grateful for on the mission is the scriptures. The scriptures have definitely changed my life for the better. Everytime I read, there is something that I could work on that day. Also, I noticed a pattern in the Book of Mormon. And it is to keep the commandments. So many people say it, I think it must be important. And if we keep the commandments, we receive eternal life. I love that it says in Nephi that we can choose either eternal life or captivity with the devil. Pretty obvious choice we need to make.</div>
I love you all so much! I hope that the missionary work in your wards are skyrocketing and that you are being a big help for the missionaries. President Monson said that the members and the missionaries need to work together as one to help find the lost sheep and to help nourish them. My invitation for all my family and friends to either go and visit a less-active and make them cookies or something or to go up to the missionaires and ask when you could go out with them this week and make an appointment.</div>
Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant EvansMegan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-55421611901024345412013-10-21T14:00:00.002-07:002013-10-21T14:22:32.885-07:00Water Is Important!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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Querido Todos,</div>
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Well this week was kinda slow. But it´s all still good because that means this week will be good, right? So just a litte recap of this week. There are 4 elders in our little pensión and for about 3 days. There was no water in the house! This had happened before already, but it was just for a day so we thought it would turn back on. So, for 3 days, I didn´t take a shower or shave. It felt really gross. My companion and I ended up going to the church to shave and finally go to the bathroom. It has been quite the exciting 2 weeks. We are all still in good spirits and love each others company. We also had entervistas, interviews, with Presidente Thurgood. He is so loving! Right as you see him, you feel loved and at home already. I was telling him that Argentina feels like home right now. I feel like its the place where I need to be. The food here is pretty darn good. My favorite things are either Alfajores or empanads con jamón y queso. We eat a lot of pasta here. I don´t understand how people here are so skinny when they eat tons of carbs and then take a nap right after. I wish my body worked liked that hehe. My companion is doing good. He really hates contacting and knocking doors. We try to work with the members, but they don´t really have much for us. We did just get a new branch president, so maybe missionary work will pick up. Branch unity is getting really strong lately. That´s the vision of this mission is to strengthen and establish the church. We still have 1 investigator named Jonathan. Its been getting hard lately to contact him. It´s pretty funny. Every time we walk on his street, his neighbors always say he is gone or if he is home. Everybody knows us. But, that´s about all that happened this week.</div>
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Spiritual stuff: In Elder´s quorum this Sunday, we talked about how we should give service to people. And when we give service, we should do it happily. Not expecting a good thing in return. Just do it out of the goodness of your heart and know that "when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God." Another scripture I have been thinking about lately is Jacob 2:18-19. My last comp was telling me that its a hard scripture to, I guess, translate. Because when we seek for riches, it is for our family which we need to enter into the kingdom of God. Now with the prophets invitation to bring a friend to church before this Christmas and his push for missionary work. Are people putting work before the kingdom of God? Are people putting worldly things in front of them instead of what Joseph Smith said about the greatest and most important thing in this life is to preach the Gospel? What do you guys think about this verse? I´d like to know some insight.</div>
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I love all of you and pray for you everyday. I pray that the missionary work and families in your ward or where ever it may be, be successful. I know that this the Church of Jesus Christ and that we are all sons and daughts or our loving Heavenly Father. I hope to hear from all of you soon.</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans<br />
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Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-11430090208095541622013-10-07T13:57:00.000-07:002013-10-21T13:58:18.650-07:00I Made It to ARGENTINA!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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Well hello my family!</div>
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I guess I would just like to tell everyone that Argentina is pretty ghetto. Well not ghetto, more like 2nd world. I walk in dirt roads everyday! Its pretty great! I will send some pictures. But this is how this week went pretty much. I came down on a 12 hour plane ride and met my mission president. Great President. He was a religion professor at BYU-I and is super smart about the scriptures. So I know if I need any deep doctrine questions answered, I can ask him. But the area I am in se llama La Costa. I am in the Coast. Its kinda like getting banished because it is the farthest District in the mission. There are 2 sets of Elders in this district. And there are 3 sets of Hermanas. Lots of Hermanas because this is the safest part of the mission. President Thurgood said this is one of the most dangerous missions in Argentina. Well, missionaries get robbed a lot anyway. They get guns and knives pointed at them. He said they are kinda like mosquitos. My companions name is Elder Rivero. He is Chilean! Entonces, Yo necessito hablar Castallano cada día. My Castallano is getting a lot better though! Also, I am opening up a new area...again...This would be my third time being white-washed, or opening a new area per se...Elder Rivero es muy capo though. This is his 2nd time being white-washed. The members here are so nice! We have lunch with them everyday! So far I have eaten a lot of chicken and rice. I have had cow tounge already though. It´s actually not that bad. Tastes like a certain meat, but I can´t remember what it is. There are a lot of stray dogs in the street. They don´t bug people though so it´s all good. Really ugly dogs though. The prettiest one I have seen was a mix breed between a rotweiller and a weiner dog. They are so cute! They look like little puppies! ¡Que Linda!</div>
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We have done much in this area since we started to get the members trust first. We also tried to contact some Antiguos Investigadores. Or former investigators, but right as they see us, they start to freak out. Don´t know what happened, but okay. My district leader´s name is Elder Robison. He is from Fillmore, UT! Well, a little town outside of Fillmore. He is the coolest person ever! He and I are basically the only ones that talk to each other. His companion´s name is Elder Riboldi. He is from Saratoga Springs, UT... and he was a visa waiter, just like me, but in Fresno, CA. He had 8 baptisms while he was there. He said he doesn´t like it here because they aren´t super strict with rules. Every mission is different. He preaches about being exactly obedient. But sometimes, it´s more like strictly obedient. I´m getting kinda confused between the difference of exactly obedient and strictly obedient. He does talk about his mission in Fresno a lot. It´s good but sometimes too much. His Dad is Argentine and so he has a pretty good relationship here with Argentinos. He´s kinda got that attitude of an Argentine thinking that he knows everything and if your opinion is different that his, you are an idiot. That´s pretty much an update of what is going on. I will probably not send real letters to anyone because they are expensive and e-mailing is only about 20 pesos. But, if anyone wants to send me a letter, I recommend pouch because it´s safer. Also, if someone sends a package, make sure to wrap it in a brown wrapping, with the Virgen Mary stickers on it, so that people don´t touch it.</div>
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Something I learned this week: Joseph Smith was a stud! There was no way that he did all the things that he did, just for attention. Joseph Smith was called of God and I know it! I know he restored the gospel of Jesus Christ and was the first prophet of this dispensation! I also learned that our main objective of this life is to become as Christ. But, that can be a little daunting because Jesus Christ was the only perfect person that ever came to this Earth. In 2 Nephi 28:30 it says to work little by little, precept upon precept. So, I know that we can become even as Christ. Well, at least strive to. This scripture also helps my confidence with Castallano because I know it will come little by little and not just automatically. I just gotta have patience.</div>
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Love you all! Can´t wait to hear from all of you!</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans </div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-23737402713580840262013-09-30T13:56:00.000-07:002013-10-21T13:58:56.524-07:00This Week I Didn't Get Spit On!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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Hey everybody!</div>
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This week has been a lot better compared to last week! It's almost the end of transfers. Which means, it's closer to getting my visa to Argentina. Everybody keeps telling me not to focus on that and focus on the work. I am focusing on the work. It's just exciting that I am leaving to a different country soon. So this week, Hailey did come to church again. It was pretty great because she was with the youth during a musical number and sang, "I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." I was thinking in my mind, no you aren't but that's awesome. We will try to see if her Dad will let her get baptized. If she gets permission, she might be baptized before the end of the transfer! Our mission president set a goal this month for 101 baptisms this month. Don't know why it's a 101. I think he meant that even one soul matters. I think we are at about 50 something. Not sure, but, we didn't really make our goal. I guess next week we will get a little talking to about how we can be better missionaries and baptize people. We have one progressing investigator named Cathy. She is a super strong baptist and does bible study 3 times a week with her church and goes to church 2 times a week. No se por que pero esta bien. But, she will read the Book of Mormon and say that it is very interesting. She doesn't grasp the concept that this is the true church. She believes that all churches will go to heaven. So we are trying to work with that. The reason she keeps inviting us over is to learn more about God and how to return back to him. Baptist is such a cop-out religion. It's kinda lame, but it's okay because some people who are are pretty nice. They cook good food anyway. Honestly, that was Elder Billings and I's week.</div>
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Spiritual stuff:</div>
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I love reading Alma 7 and Alma 34. I think my new favorite is Amulek. He is such a stud. So hard working and does his best on doing what is right. He is an inspiration to me. I learned that even though we all sin, we can do what Amulek asks and pray to our loving Heavenly Father for help.</div>
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I love you all. Keep sending letters. I want to hear from you. I will probably call home when I am at the airport if I obtained my visa. Hopefully I have it!</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-77154228740269801272013-09-23T13:54:00.000-07:002013-10-21T13:54:52.223-07:00The week I was spit on. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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Querido Todos,</div>
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Not gonna lie, this week was really slow. We met a lot of people that slammed doors in our faces and a little bit of people who were humble enough to even say a prayer with us. This week, we met a guy named Rual. He is from the Philippines. When we first knocked on his door, he had just woken up from coming back from work. We asked him if we could leave the Savior's peace and blessing in the form of a prayer and he said sure. After the prayer, he brightened up and started talking to us. The Spirit was definitely in the room after the prayer. Afterwards, he started talking to us about how he met his wife and everything. We gave him the Restoration pamphlet and asked him to read it. We were about to get a return appt with him, until his son came out with the phone and the guy on the phone was really important so he had to take it. He said come back anytime, so we are gonna try to go see him this week.</div>
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We had one investigator at church this week. Her name is Hailey. I might have mentioned her in my last letter. She is a friend of a recent convert and says she wants to be baptized! She has been coming to church and so by the end of this week, she might be baptized! Nice!</div>
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We also had a dinner with one of the investigators we had named Marleen. She is from New Orleans and a great cook! She has a lot of friends and one of her friends that she invited over was a Pastor. Really nice guy actually. He said he was taught by missionaries for about a month, he wouldn't tell us what happened or what they taught and stuff. It was kinda weird. But, everything that he told us was pretty spot on with what we teach. So, maybe, a seed is growing in him. He had really cool facial hair, so I guess that's how you become a Pastor.</div>
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Yesterday after the linger longer that we had at the church, we talked to some people and after the whole day was over, we started walking home. Our home was about 3 miles away so it takes about an hour or so to walk home. But, as we were walking, this car stops right in the middle of the road all of a sudden. Cars started honking and everything. In the car, you see a guy moving around a lot that looked like he was yelling at his buddies in the car. He then rolls down his window and starts cussing at us. He then spits a big huge loogie (lugie?) at us and it lands right on my shirt sleeve. Good thing it was just the shirt and not my face. I just feel bad for those people that persecute us because they are so lost and will be hold accountable of that when they come before the Father. So it's just a sad sight.</div>
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Elder Billings was telling me yesterday after I got spit on was that we will receive blessings after we are persecuted. That brightened my day and now I know that this week will be amazing because last week was so hard to find people to say a prayer or even a lesson with. I still have yet to teach the Plan of Salvation to anyone. But, that's okay, my time will come. I know this church to be the church of Jesus Christ. The same church that He established in his time. I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. Thomas S. Monson is the true and living prophet on the Earth today. I say these things humbly in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, Amen.</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-49194336951013590782013-09-16T15:20:00.001-07:002013-09-16T15:20:38.922-07:00Niiiice!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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Hey everyone!</div>
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This week was pretty bomb if you ask me. So it all started on Wednesday. I went to the temple with my zone for zone training meeting. It was a wonderful experience. I actually received an answer on where I need to go to school when I get back. And that answer is good ol' BYU-H. I feel like I just signed my next letter of intent over there, nice. I kept thinking of SUU or UVU but BYU-H just kept running through my head and that was my answer. So, Megan, your wish has been fullfilled. Now we can go to Kualoa Ranch! And hopefully I can have you for English because I stink at that. Give me health class anyday. So anyway, after the temple, we had zone training meeting on "master planning." We talked about how we need to get investigators to church and have members be there. He says the adversary is crushing us in that. We try really hard, it's just that people have agency. And people, even though we get a ride for them and everything, don't want to come to church because 10 am is so early. So after that, Elder Billings and I went over to see an investigator that has a baptismal date and he wasn't home, so we went back to the car that the other Elders were in and they were gone! We told them we would come right back. So after that, we called the Elders and said they were halfway to the church. And all of our supplies were in there. Our suit coats, our scriptures, everything. So we decided to go knock on a potential that we had named Devon. Devon is a stud! We talked to him for a little bit about music and everything and so after that, we asked him if he still had the Book of Mormon and Restoration pamphlet we gave him. So he went and brought it out. We read the pamphlet with him and gave him the Restoration lesson right there on the door step. After the lesson, we invited him to be baptized on the 28th of September. He got so excited and ask, "How do I even prepare." In my mind, I'm like, "Yes!" And so we tell him to come to church, read and pray. Sadly, he didn't come to church, but he is ready and so excited to be baptized.</div>
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The next day, Elder Billings and I went on splits with a couple members that are about to go serve missions. Elder Billings was with a guy named Dupond Merlin. And while there were together, they did a new member lesson with a young woman that was just baptized. And the young woman's name is Kennedy. And Kennedy brought over a friend named Hailey. Hailey said she might be a member of the church, but she isn't sure. But, Elder Billings asked her that if she wasn't a member would she be baptized. And she said she would! So we are just waiting for her records to come in and see if she is a member. If not, she could be baptized next week!</div>
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The next day, we chose to tract this street called Rock Creek Dr. Really rich neighborhood. So we were kind of intimidated. The second door we knock on we met this older lady named Merlyn. Merlyn is from New Orleans and lived in Sacramento for a while. She actually still has the good ol' 916 area code. I was pretty excited about that. But she talked to us for about an hour! Just about her life and some church stuff. The thing that got her interested was that we said we have a living prophet on the Earth today. So after she talked to us for an hour, she invited us to dinner sometime! She said she would cook us really Louisiana gumbo! Niiiice! We have an appt with her on Tuesday.</div>
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Then comes Sunday. Sunday, the day started off kind of slow. We didn't see very many people and we are slow walkers so... Anyways, we go over to an apartment complex that we really like named "Cameron Landing." First door we knock on is a lady named Nilsa. Nilsa is going to retire from the army soon. In two weeks to be exact. We asked her if we could say a prayer with her. (That's how we do door approaches) And she said that would be great and we asked her if there was anything or anybody that she wanted to include in the prayer. She said that she would like some guidance in her life. So, we prayed and the Spirit was really strong and it got her to start crying a little. And she was saying that she was just going through a hard time just about 2 seconds ago and then we knocked on her door. She said it's crazy how God works. So we are going to call her on Tuesday and see if everything is okay and when we can come back.</div>
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I have started to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish this week to work on my "native" language. And what I have learned so far is that Nephi really loved his brothers. He did everything he could to make them happy, but his brothers decided to choose evil and that leads on to the rest of Book of Mormon. It has gotten me to realize that people have agency. And that if we plant the seed. Everything will work out. It says in the Book of Mormon that the Lamanites will be lifted up at the last day. And now, Hispanics and most of Georgia are accepting the Gospel. We had 56 baptisms in our mission last month. Our goal for this month is 101. People are accepting the Gospel left and right. It is so great! I love you all and pray for you guys every prayer I have. Write me back! I love you all! Remember that the church is true. And follow the prophet! Read the Ensign.</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2354590285333578425.post-19112182188322027942013-09-09T15:26:00.000-07:002013-09-16T15:26:40.448-07:00Just Keep Swimming.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"></span><br />
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Hi everybody,</div>
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So today, I have even shorter time because I had to do about a 30 minute survey for Elder David Evans of the Seventy that is coming soon. Still waiting for my visa out here. You would think 5 months would be enough time for your visa to come out. Especially, when they said that Buenos Aires missions get their visas faster. This week was really lame. Our investigator that has a baptismal date can't contact us. His phone is broken and he has a job. But the good thing is that we told him that once he starts reading the Book of Mormon he will find a job. And what do you know! He did. Hopefully, he doesn't get prideful and disappear from us. Something I learned this week while reading the Book of Mormon and everything was about pride. I am getting closer to the end of the Book of Mormon and it just struck me that pride is what got the Nephites and the Jaredites killed off. Pride is a scary thing. Sometimes we think we aren't prideful because we are helping people, but we do it grudgingly. It has made me look back of how I treated people in school and others. Sometimes, I would give people stuff and just want a thank you in return. This is pride. I did stuff for someone and expected something in return. This is not Christlike nor is this charity. I am going to go back to my Avatar examples. Uncle Iroh did almost everything for Prince Zuko. He was kind, generous and humble. When he did things for Prince Zuko, he would never get mad at him or punish him for something he didn't get in return. He did it out of love.</div>
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Another thing that hit me this week was in Moroni 7. Where it talks about that charity never faileth and if a man not have charity, he is nothing. It also talks a little bit that you can have faith and hope and everything else, but if you don't have charity, you are nothing.</div>
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Sorry that my letter is so short, but literally, nothing happened. We had a few appointments this week, but they all fell through and people weren't at home nor did they pick up their phones. So, it's kind of frustrating, but that just means that this week will be great, right?</div>
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I love you all so much. Keep reading the scriptures. Please write me. Keep saying your prayers. Also, please tell me if there is something during language study that I can do. I use my Spanish daily, but only if I have to do language study or talk to a Hispanic that lives here.</div>
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Con amor,</div>
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Elder Grant Evans</div>
Megan and Keli'ihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07906280934940368053noreply@blogger.com0