I'm glad that I was able to find a way to turn the conversation back to the gospel and invite her

Thanks for the notes and the love, every week I look forward to hearing from my family. :)

 

So my new companion is Elder Kern, he is awesome and we will have a great transfer together. He is from Provo, UT and graduated from Timpview in 2012. He played football for the team and he has 3 months in his mission. He started on Jan. 16th. He was in the MTC 6 weeks and then he was waiting in Houston, TX for 6 weeks and then he was able to come down here. He speaks and understands well enough and we get along well.

 

It's funny to think that I already knew what to expect for him to say of what Argentina is like, haha, seeing that it's the fifth time that I have been with a new elder in a foreign country, including myself :) But luckily we were able to help him adjust good to the new country and we got to work, we had a good week.

 

I have helped him become a River fan and I hope that all that are in the sound of my voice become River fans, because the numbers speak for themselves, we are just better then Boca, ahead of them in the standings and we have the better stadium as well, just a better team overall.

 

So enough about Argentine soccer, more about the week that was up there in the sunny skies of Lehi.

 

Sounds like everyone, well everyone that wrote me a message... had a great week. ;) Thanks for the love and the fun stuff to hear.

 

Rachel, nope this last week we didn't have any baptisms, peoples' agency are getting in the way of their eternal happiness. It's a tough but satisfying work for those that do end up accepting baptism and then seeing them progress in the gospel.

 

Camryn, my mission is tough, but fun, I'm always tired haha, Yes, I felt the influence of the Holy Ghost this last week, it's funny that you have to ask for it daily to be there in every moment, because the Spirit gets offended easily. Great job writing and I'm glad that you had ice cream at school, what a treat! What is your favorite food? (these questions are for both of the girls) what are you learning in school? how many dolls and stuffed animals do you have now? how many times have you given mom a hug and a big kiss this last week? when was the last time that you made your bed all by yourself without being asked to? when was the last time that you served you family? do you know that i love you? have a great week!!

 

Braden, I hope that you can learn Chinese really fast, and then that you have a great week practicing and having fun in show biz. What's your favorite thing to do right now? how many books have you read this year? what is one thing that you are grateful for? have a great week!!

 

Alex, so it sounds like you had a great week as well!! That's awesome that you are going to Prom, looks like you'll have a great time. :) I'm also glad that you won your soccer game, if you serve in South America you would dominate because you are a great soccer player.  How many times have you read the Book of Mormon completely in your life? How does saying your personal prayers morning and night help you throughout your days and to be a better brother? How have you seen the influence of the holy ghost in your life? How have you seen that the Book of Mormon connects to our day? Have a great week and I love you!

 

Tanner, I'm sure that you were super busy preparing for your mission and that you were going to write me and then you just happened to run out of time at the last minute... haha, I love you and I hope that you have a great week! How's the last few weeks of school been and are you excited to finish up school in a couple of weeks? How has daily scripture study helped you be a better brother and a better son to mom and dad? What kind of missionary do you want to be by the end of your mission? What do you need to do to start that process? What's your biggest fear about the mission? well have a great week. :)

 

Jason, almost forgot about you haha, sup. Do you have swimming year round, do you have a break right now, or do you still practice? keep working hard in school!!! love you!!

 

That's neat that Josh was able to speak to Ryan, too bad that I wont be able to go and speak to Tanner for 30 min in GA haha, that's crazy that Lindsey is already leaving, make sure to give her a hug from me (or if mom wants to, that's alright, I know it's more of a girl thing), haha

 

That's an awesome quote from Pres Snow, it's true, we constantly need to be making good decisions, because the more little bad decisions that we make will take light little by little. Thanks for the note, Dad, and I love you so much!! What's one of the things that you regret not doing the last 6 months of your mission? or what is something that you changed and it ended up blessing you for the last bit of your mission? It's weird to think that I'im almost to that stage and that it's coming fast! almost too fast for me, oh well we will cross that bridge when it comes. :)

 

Mom, hi there :) love you!  ¿cómo está hoy mi maravillosa, guapa, divertida, feliz, obediente y fiel mamá? :) jaja yeah it was the same process as it was for the other two elders that I have picked up. It was fun, this time, while we were waiting to walk out singing, Hma Gulbrandsen walked in with a platter of hot empanadas, it was great because I hadn't eaten lunch. So I ate real quick like 5, and in the middle of an empanada, the assistants walked in like, saying, alright, you guys ready to walk out? So I quickly finished the empanada right before we marched out haha. Then we got our companions, I was feeling just looking at them that Elder Kern would be my comp. Then it was true, he's a capo or a jefe, as he says, and is doing really well. I'm really trying to enjoy this time with him and training him in the stuff that he needs, I think that this might be the last time that I train, so I'm taking full advantage of it. :)

 

Yeah, 51 missionaries are waiting and they have asked that we pray so that they can receive their visas and come down here. It would be crazy if they ended up all coming down. There would be alot of areas opening up again, like Constitución 2 and so that would make our work a little bit easier. Oh well, it's all in the Lord's hands. And yes, my group was the last group to come down without any problems.

 

Yeah I really believe that Elder Carreto just came for that purpose to help L-- get baptized, he really was key in those difficult times. Yes, we did pass by N-- a couple of times and he is doing well. Smoking really is hard for him right now, and he now has the desire to go and take out his time to be able to get married. We did find a couple of people this week and we were able to find the cousins of K-- and J-- on Satureday and T--, the 9yr old, came to church and is preparing for the 28th of April. Her brother A--, also wants to be baptized but he has soccer practice on Sunday right at 10 and so we were trying to help him decide between soccer or church. He´s 10 but really smart, so we invited him to pray about it this week, so we will see. Also we tried with G--, the cousin of L-- and he came to the first hour of church, but then all of the sudden he had the desire to go home, he's a little different and we tried to help him, but he didn't want to stay.

 

Also yesterday, this guy came with his member daughter that lives in another stake and he had been to church before and he liked it, we tried putting the fecha with him right next to the baptismal font, but he wants more time and wouldn't accept a fecha. So we are finding people to work with and that's exciting. We have been really diligent in asking for referrals from everybody and then going and contacting them. I actually am really grateful for the new apartment and we are adjusting to life over here. There is a bus that passes by within 2 blocks of our house that also runs through the main place where we are normally working at the end of the night. Though I have had to call and ask permission from President to get home late, we are far away, like 45 min. walking. haha Oh I'm going to miss this area when I leave, I still want to go back to Savio, but I'm growing to love this area a lot, :) the members are really warming up and it's fun to have people know who you are. haha

 

That's awesome that you were able to make empanadas and salad, though the only difference is that they don't have ranch dressing down here, instead they put oil and salt on their salad. :) But the rest looked like a typical meal, oh and the french bread is another thing that they always serve. Too bad you didn't have the Tang packet to drink Argentina juice, haha That's awesome that the song came on and that you were able to have that tender mercy of the Lord. (note from Mom....while I was preparing an Argentine meal for a youth missionary night the song "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" came on the radio....I couldn't believe it!! I loved it.) :)

 

I knew that Josh would say that, that's how he always used to talk, that's so weird to me that he is already home. When do Tanner and Michael get home? the end of this month?

 

I love that you ramble, it's the only time of the week that we have to ramble with each other. :) It's crazy to think that in 4 weeks we will be talking by skype. Well, I love you so much and thanks for always being the best example to me of how to live this gospel and to reap in the blessing from it. I now have my own testimony that it's the truth and the blessings that it brings to our lives. Have a great week and I love you!!!

 

So a little about my week. We had a good week. So yes, we did go to look for the newbies on Tuesday and we didn't end up getting home until like 5:30pm.

 

Wednesday, I had a good experience of fulfilling my missionary purpose. So we were at N--'s house and a friend of his ´´wife´´ walked in and we invited her to chat with us. She started commenting about some doubts that she has about God. Her mom died a couple of years ago and she doesn't really believe any more. So I wasn't able to share much with her, she was really closed. Then she started asking about my family and I was able to show them the pics of our family and testify that we really are a happy family. Then I was able to explain that we all are members of the church, and even my grandparents, then I was like, hey one of my grandpas was a convert to the church, and she asked about that, and I was able to explain to her what we beleive in with baptism, then I invited her to be baptized right then, she didn't accept but I fulfilled my purpose. I'm glad that I was able to find a way to turn the conversation back to the gospel and invite her. Turns out she lives in the Boca, weird that never happens... haha ;) oh well, we are now called Boca oeste. :)

 

On Thursday we all met in the Boca as a zone and we divided up to do district meeting for an hour and then we all met up again upstairs to watch the last half of the priesthood session in Spanish. It was good, I still understood everything, but I still want to hear it first in English to get the full spirit. It made me appreciate that the Lord really does want all of His children to hear His message in their own language. :)

 

On Friday we finally got a microwave, it's cool, it has a digital clock, and it's not a dial one, so that really cool. :) Oh the things that I have to deal with down here, haha ;) We did eat arroz chaufa, my favorite Peruvian dish, mixed rice and meat and hot dog bits and peppers. Don't worry, it's really good. :)

 

Saturday, we were trying to get A-- and T-- to come out to talk to us in their cousin's house right next door, so we went and bought a soda and mini chocolates to righteously bribe them out of the door. We had their eternal salvation in mind so it's alright. ;)

 

Yesterday, we had 3 people come to church and we have 3 fechas to work with for this week. Also I was learning Lunfardo, a Buenos Aires accent and slang that only the port people know and speak, so now I know how to say dog in Lunfardo, it's basically lots of words written differently. So like perro is dog, in Lunfardo its ropé, so a cool culture difference. It's also influenced from the Italian influence that's here in the city.

 

So now we are back again in the ciber, writing another letter to each other, so the weeks are flying. I hope everything is going great and good luck with everything this week. I'm constantly praying for you all. :)

 

Love,

Elder Ryan Pittard

I'm glad that you all enjoyed conference as much as I did

Hey there, sorry no pics this week.

But I did receive word last night that I am staying and training again here in Constitucion. So that's super exciting and I'm glad for another opportunity. Elder Carreto went one area over, so not too big of a change. But with the changes, I'm having to stay with Elder Dial, from my group who is also training, I'm staying with him for the night and so I'll be in Nueva Pompeya and so we don't have that much time to email. So today will be a little bit shorter, but still with all of my heart :)

So awesome trip and I loved all of the pics, that's a really cool experience and I'm glad that you were able to go.

I'm glad that you all enjoyed conference just as much as I did. I loved all of the talks and I really felt the spirit. I only missed one of them and that was the 2nd half of Elder Perry´s talk because the internet shut down for a bit. Luckily we were able to turn it back on and hear all of President Monson´s talk. We watched it in the Boca, or my church building as well. We were a group of 7 American missionaries and we had fun in that tiny room watching it together. This time around I wasn't able to watch any of the inbetween stuff. On Saturday we ate at a grill close to the church as a district. Then on Sunday, Elder DeFriez was feeling sick so I went with his companion to pick up food and it turns out that we ate with them in the house, so I had two lunches on Sunday haha.

This last week we found a new investigator named N--. He was a previous investigator and he is living with a less active member. So we got to know him and he came to conference and was able to attend 3 sessions including the priesthood and then he watched one at home online. Lots of members do that. So the conference really impacted him and he has decided to take initiative in his life and to change some things. He had already received a answer to his prayers and he knows it's true, but he is fighting with addictions. But we put the date with him for the 27th. They have to be married and he has to stop smoking, so we are going to be working with him on those things.

L-- and R-- are doing really well, we passed by a couple of times and they haven't told us of any problems that they have been having. I'm glad that Elder Carreto came to help me to teach them and to help marry them and baptize him. So poor guy, this is his third straight transfer with a new area.

So I might be getting a Latin companion that has been waiting for his visa. Today I heard that we are waiting for 50 or so elders to receive their visas and come down here.

Today I was finally able to pick up mail and I got the package from Gma and Gpa, I still haven't had time to open it and the dear elder letters, thanks for the inspiring words and support. I love hearing the experiences from the other missionaries. Say hi to Josh if you get the chance, I miss that guy, so funny.

Tanner, I'm glad that you are doing great in prep for your mission, are you reading daily from the Book of Mormon and Preach MyGospel? Are you saying your morning and evening prayers? Are you spending as much time that you can with your family? Are you striving to be more like the Savior while serving your brothers and sisters and parents? As the next 13 weeks pass, I want you to constantly be checking yourself on these things, those are the best way to prepare for your mission.

Haha I loved all the little notes from the family, especially Camryn's about the bathroom in the RV, haha super funny. I was thinking about her in the conference when Sis Nixom spoke. I also loved Craig A Cardon´s talk about how God wants to forgive us and then Stanley G Ellis´powerful testimony that we are not spiritual orphans. Then I loved Pres Monson´s talk on Sunday and I'm glad that he did his facial expressions again, it had been a while.

Well I hope that you have a great week, I'm glad that Dad was able to see his old mission, I don't know when I'll be able to return here, but we will see. Thanks mom for the wonderful note and I'm glad that you are working hard to earn the salvation of your family, what a wonderful blessing from a wonderful mother.

Have a great week!!!

Love,

Elder Ryan Pittard

The Lord has shown all of His wonderful blessings

How's it going?

 

Well I'm super excited for all of the exciting news that I received and that I'm receiving!

 

First of all, so that you don't have to worry, L-- was married and baptized, confirmed and ordained a priest all this last week. We had two experiences that showed that the devil didn't want them to be married or baptized, but the Lord has shown all of his wonderful blessings.

 

Second... yay!!! congrats Tanner! That's awesome and I'm super excited for you and for all of the wonderful oppurtunities that you are going to experience.

 

So I sent my camara in to a member of the ward to see if he could fix it, I still don't have it, I should get it back this week. So E Carreto is going to pass me some pics of the baptism and of the marriage. So we should be fine. But I loved the pics that you all sent, haha that's some crazy hair!! and you are all so big!! Congrats on the bball awards and accomplishments and you don't have to be bashful for playing hard Alex. ;) That's an awesome story and you both look sharp in your shirts and ties. Also, that's a great camara effect Tanner, even though I do believe that you can jump that high, haha that's awesome that we are so good at bball, it's all thanks to our "baller" dad. :) haha

 

So about your week first...

Thanks for the letters and the notes, you all are so awesome and sweet to send me a thought every week, I know some elders that not all of their family writes them everyweek, I understand with brothers and sisters out of the house, it might be difficult, but Tanner I will try my hardest every week to write you a decently sized letter to make you feel good :) I hope you enjoy these last 15 weeks with your family until you have to spend 104 away from them, but if you are focused it passes by fast.

 

So to describe what happened with Sister Gulbrandsen, so we were sitting there in the middle of weekly planning on Thursday, I was thinking that Tanner should've received his call by then and I honestly was thinking about it when I received a call from Hma Gulbrandsen. She was like how's it going elder? Was one of your brothers expecting a mission call? I was like yah!! but with lots of enthusiasm, haha I was excited. She was like yup, well he received his call, would you like me to tell you right now, or do you want to wait until Monday to find out from your family? She was like I don't want to spoil the surprise but I felt like you would like to know. So I was thinking, should I wait, but then thinking having to wait until Monday was too much for me and I was like, just tell me right now!! So she started to say, well he has been called to... and then she started breaking up, I was like no!! then I heard July 10th,... the phone service down here... then I was like, hma I didn't hear what you said, then I finally heard Macon, Georgia and I was so happy to hear that and I was super proud of Tanner for making this decision to serve the Lord. So then she was like, is there anything that you want to say, and she wrote exactly what I said, so that's what happened. haha Then I was thinking about that the rest of the day and telling everyone that my brother had received his call. Then I was like, dang it, he gets a car and air conditioning, but it's hot and humid in the south like it is here, so then I was pacified, haha, So congrats to Tanner again. So did anyone guess correctly where Tanner would be going? How many people were there? That's great that family could be there for support. I'm glad that he was picked to this specific mission, it's the mission president that he needs and I know that he will learn a lot from him. 

 

Yeah Tanner!! I'm so happy for you and for this accomplishment, it will be weird writing to my brother as a missionary, it'll be fun that we served at the same time. I'm still going to be one hour ahead of you in time, so we will be able to communicate by email ;) haha So I tried looking up your mission limits on LDS maps and the computer shut down, that was one of the reboots, but I'm sure that you'll love it!! I'm kind of jealous that you are in the states and that you are going to live an extra two years in the south than I did. We already spent 10 years of our lives down there, and maybe you are being sent there to baptize someone that is a distant relative, you know the ones that are from Georgia.  I think of all of the times that we drove right next to Macon, Ga on our way to Gma and Gpa Pittard´s house. Oh well, it will be tough with all of the crazy southern baptists, but I did read an article in the Feb. Liahona about a family that was living in a small 5000 person southern baptist town in GA and how they had a great influence on the community, so you just need to be the example.

 

I remember receiving the call from mom on the priest high adventure trip and feeling the butterflies and then having to wait 2 more days, and I don't know how mom did it! haha ;) That's fun that Jeremy received his call as well, but you will be entering the field before he is in the MTC, so crazy!! Yes I was wrong, GA was my 92nd guess ;) haha That's fun that Bro Butler came and he is a capo!! You looked great opening up the letter and it was fun to guess when you read the place out loud, didn't your eyes jump straight to the spot to where you were going? I remember that I was the first one to know out of everybody. I'm glad that so many friends were able to come over and to support you. Keep me updated on all of the mission calls and when people get home, I know that the date is getting close for a couple.

 

Mom!!! hugs and kisses for you :) and for Camryn and Rachel. :)

 

So we had the most intense moment of my mission last Monday night with L-- and R--, so we were in another cita far away from where they live, we had a planned cita with them, but then it started to thunder and rain hard, so we were tempted to just stay in the warmth and dry place, but as soon as I thought that, the rain stopped and so we were like, well it's a sign that we need to go, it didn't rain the whole wait for the bus, the bus ride and the walk to L--'s house. When we were waiting for the bus I called L--, to let him know that we would be passing by a little late, he answered frantically, telling me that there was a problem with his señora. So we got there as soon as possible. They had been fighting and arguing over the littlest things, all of the frustrations were being brought out at each other and they were determined in their mind that they weren't going to be married the next day and that it would be better that they separated. I was freaking out, like no!! What's going on?! So we sat there listening to them, R-- left the room crying, I was prompted to follow her and try and console her. I was so sad for them, they are part of my life down here and I felt like we were the parents for them. So saying a heartfelt prayer as I directed myself to the other room. There she was standing there, L-- stayed sitting down and so separated we were talking to them and listening. I honestly don't know how I did it, but the promise of the Lord, if that we listen we can be able to know what we need to say. So R-- is that type that is hard to get her feelings out, so I felt prompted to just sit, ask a couple of deep questions and then to just listen and then the Spirit would guide me to know what to do. So we started talking and the first thing that I felt prompted to do was to have her realize that the devil was really trying super hard. Then I was prompted to tell her that we need to say a prayer asking for help and to be able to forgive L-- and herself. So we knelt down and she prayed to ask for strength and help. Meanwhile E Carreto was talking with L-- and I really think that I don't believe that I would've been able to help L-- in the way that he needed like R-- was able to learn from me. I've never been married and I've never been in a situation like this, but I feel like I was the best prepared to try and comfort R--, I'm better at listening and trying to reason with people. L-- isn't like that, he just talks and talks just to talk, and E Carreto who is a genious with the scriptures, especially in the bible was able to get to him through the scriptures, L-- really listens to the scriptures. So I was prompted to tell R-- is that she needed to be patient and to help raise this spiritual child in L--, and that the Lord desired that they were married. So then we brought them back together and they were hugging and saying sorry and the marriage was back on. And to add to the intensity, it was thundering and lightening when we first started talking to them. So it was just like the movies. I´m so greatful for the Spirit and its guidance and for touching their hearts that night.

 

So the next day we get up early to travel to the marriage place, the bishop and his wife were there to be the witnesses that lived in the city. It was a short and simple ceremony but it was great to finally see them married.

 

 

That night we passed by their house and we were able to give them a pic of the Buenos Aires temple. The next night was alright with them as well, they were having crazy things going on in the house and so we dedicated the house, I'm glad that we have always dedicated our homes. I've learned some crazy stuff down here. I feel like there are more crazy things that happen down here.

 

Then on Thursday night, we get there and they had been fighting again, it's hard, they are learning on how to live together, they are so prideful sometimes and they can't seem to recognize their own faults before they can forgive the other. Again we separated them and we had them do an activity, again led by the spirit. We brought them back and L-- was still trying to get his point accross and that's when we decided we need to take control of the situation. E Carreto, who is really quiet and not an expressive guy, got all worked up and gave a powerful sermon where the Spirit was present, he talked of forgiveness and repentance and the love and service and listening, then I had my turn to tell them that they had lots to work on and that we were going to fight with them to work it all out. Changing the mood of the conversation got to them this time and they were all good to go for the baptism. I feel like their parent lots of times, I love them so much and I just want them to be happy and it hurts me to see them fighting. I'm starting to realize what being a parent means.

 

So then on Friday, L-- passed the interview and I did two interviews for the Boca, then on Saturday we had a 4 person combined baptism with the Boca. I was able to baptize L-- and he was awesome, saying that he really felt like coming up out of the water that he really felt like a new person. Afterwards the ward had put together a celebration for them and there was food and a wedding cake and it was a great surprise for them. Then L-- sang love songs to R-- and as we were leaving, they all had started to dance, you got to love Latin culture.

 

 

 

Then Sunday he was confirmed by E Carreto and then right afterwards he received the Aaronic Priesthood. So that was an awesome ending to a crazy week and to a crazy 3 months of knowing L-- and helping him come this far.

 

I still haven't been able to find out if I have received a package so we will see if I'll get the chance this next week. This next week are changes, again, I can't believe it. I'm so excited for general conference and to hear the words of God for us in these days. I've never been so excited to watch a general conference as I am right now. As a missionary it's awesome because it's a little different from the normal schedule but you just learn so much!

 

So I basically told you all about my week, it's weird to think that when Tanner leaves I'll have only 4 months to go. It's a weird feeling to think that this is going to end one day, it doesn't feel like it.

 

Oh yah, on Wednesday morning we had a conference with President in Belgrano, and so we left on time to get to the subte (subway) and it turns out that the subte wasn't working in the only two stations that we had to use, and the lines for buses were way to long, and so we walked over to another subte line and then we transfered over to another line, and then we walked 8 blocks to the right line that was working from that point. I'm glad that I have such a great knowledge of this city and how to manuver around. We were able to get there at 9:55 after an hour and a half traveling in the traffic and the heat of the morning. There were others that got there like at 10:30, an hour late, but thanks to my knowledge of how to get around, I cut 30 minutes off of that. Still it's hard depending on the undependable public transport system especially when you have an urgent matter to attend.

Well I hope that you all have a great week and that you are safe and that you enjoy our beautiful country!! Im' proud to be an American!!

 

I love you all!!! so so much!!!

 

Love,

Elder Ryan Pittard