WELCOME HOME ELDER LAWRENCE!!!!

 

That's all she wrote...

Wow... The final email... where did the time go? 

Honestly, its crazy how fast the time went. I feel like I just entered the MTC just the other day! haha Man, These have literally been the best two years. Not the most fun two years, or the happiest, but definitely the best!!! I have learned and grown so much. Hey This might take a little while to read but I wanted to share with you guys the final paper I had to write for my mission... I hope you guys like it!

Carta de Mayordormía

Elder Lawrence

What I have accomplished in my mission:

            I feel like it might be a little hard to fit everything onto only two pages, but I will try! I feel like I have learned more in my mission than I have in my entire life. I have been able to obtain much more Christ-like attributes that I did not have before my mission. All of my mission I have been trying to bring others unto Christ and I feel that at the same time I brought myself closer than ever to Christ. I remember one time a less active member of a few years saw me and my companion walking down the street in the middle of nowhere, and he stopped and asked us where we were going, and we told him that we were looking for a reference. Well he gives us a ride and for the next 30 minutes to an hour we went looking for the reference that we had, but we had no luck. Afterwards we were talking with this less active member and we were apologizing that we weren’t able to find the reference and then he told us, “Elders… You did find the reference. I think the reference was for you to find me and help me get back to church.” He has been to church every week for about the past 3 months. I think as I lost myself in the work, I was actually finding myself. I found who I really wanted to be and what success really was. I have also been able to see success in my mission from being obedient. I have seen many people brought back to church and many brought into the church through baptism. I feel like I have been able to complete with my mission purpose as to invite others to come unto Christ. I know that was the least I could do was invite. I also feel that I have learned how to be patient and love all my companions. I know there were times that were hard with my companions, but I was able to make the best out of the situations and become good friends with all of my companions. I feel like I was really blessed with all amazing companions. I have grown more spiritually in the past two years than I probably did in the 18 years before it. The mission has shaped my life and made me the person that I want to become.

My Testimony:

            I want to share my testimony that I KNOW that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. I know that missionary work is his work, the work of Jesus Christ. I remember that a lot of times throughout my mission I would always ask other missionaries “If you could describe your mission in 1 word, what would that word be…” A lot of times I received answers like: Best, Spiritual, but sometimes I would receive answers like “Hard” or “Tiring”… and I have thought a lot of what my answer would be and I think my answer would have to be “Blessed!” We truly are blessed in the church! I have seen so many blessing in my life and in my mission, and also tons of blessings that my family is receiving as well. God blesses us when we do what he says, I know that. I know that God really does want to bless us, we just have to follow his son. I know that Jesus died on the cross so that we may live again. Something I have come to understand more in my mission is that God literally loves us so much, that he sent his son, to die for us. I cannot imagine how hard that would have been. But because Jesus came here, we can be clean of all of our sins. I know that the atonement is for all of us. We can all start over, through Jesus Christ and the atonement. I know that when we are obedient we will see miracles. Elder Betzold shared a quote with me that went like this “Good things come to those who believe, better things come to those who are patient, but the best things come to those who never give up. There were times in my mission when I really wanted to give up but I didn’t. I feel like that is the best decision I have ever made was never giving up. I know that we have to keep going forward in faith, and then God will bless us. Like the scripture in D&C 58: 4 says “For after much tribulation come the blessings.” I know that through the hardest of times is when we can become the strongest we can be. I know that families are forever and the Book of Mormon is true and the Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know all these things to be true and I say them in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

My Future:

            There is a lot that I hope to accomplish over the next 20 years. After my mission I plan on starting school in August at Dixie State University where I will study medicine so that someday I will become a Nurse Practitioner or a Physician’s assistant. One of my goals is the same as always. I will be married in the temple for time and all eternity. Further down the way I hope to have kids that I will be able to support and help them gain a testimony of this gospel just like I have. I hope to be debt free and be able to donate as much time as possible to the church. In 20 years I hope to have a calling in the church that I can magnify and help others to have strong testimonies. I hope to be an example just like my father was for me. I want my children to serve missions and be leaders in the church. I hope to be able to help the missionaries in the mission work in whatever part of the world I am in. I want to help the church in whatever ways possible, be it through church callings or just by serving others. I hope to have strong relationships with my wife and children, so that they will trust me as their father and will turn to me when they need help. Something that the mission has taught me is how to be a good husband and father. I am grateful for all of the things that I have learned in my mission and I plan to live the things I have learned here in the mission field and live them in my life. My mission has helped me to learn patience and to trust in the Lord and I know that that will help me so much in my life after my mission. The mission has truly been a huge blessing in my life that I will never forget. I will never go in-active because of all the blessing I have seen here in Argentina. We truly are blessed and I know that God will continue to bless me in my future as I strive to be obedient to the commandments and covenants I have made with him in the sacred temples. I would like to share these things with you and end in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

...

Well yeah now you guys know how I feel and where I stand! I really am so grateful for my mission.  I honestly could not see myself serving anywhere else! Mom, I need to say THANK YOU SOO MUCH for always writing me every week and never missing once! I have seen tons of missionaries where their parents forget to write them, but you never did. I also need to say thank you to everyone else who has wrote me over the past two years. The support and prayers helped me so much. I want to say thanks for all the amazing companions I had. I feel like I am repeating from what I wrote above haha.

Well Cute lil fam, I will see you guys in 9 days! I love you guys soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much and I don't think I could've done the mission without you guys! You guys are the best. Better get ready, a storms a comin. ;) Be safe, do work, have fun, you know the drill!

Love, Elder Lawrence

Zone Valle de Uco!!!

 Elder Richey

  I will miss the garbage filled sunsets!

 Swing sets for life

 Arepas colombianas from Elder Camargo

I really will miss this place.

  

 Lunch yesterday with the Branch President and his family!

June 6, 2016

Hey Hey Family!!! 

Things are going great here and yes it's finally June!!! whooo :) It's pretty crazy how the time is flying and that's way cool how many of us are coming home on the same day!!! That's way exciting!!! It will be way fun to see everyone.

Wow it's sooo weird that Tyson is home.... Like we left together!!! haha and he is home! That's way cool though he looks way good! skinnier though haha!  Yeah it's all good if he goes up north! We will still have the summer to chill! He actually emailed me today! 

So I talked with Austin and he told me he is actually going to go to Dixie for the first semester we are home! I am excited about that. And I heard Andy Perkins is going to go there too so that's good!

Sounds like you guys all had a pretty great week so that makes me happy! That's crazy about Kamrie's pink hair!  That is way sad about Ez! He is in my prayers for sure! 

I am doing good! This week was pretty great! I had my last Zone Conference of my mission and I gave my testimony in front of like 75 missionaries! I was pretty nervous for some reason haha but it turned out good! Well after the Conference all the old missionaries had to talk with the nurse about getting some parasite test and stuff and so the next morning we went and got some parasite test done (blood drawn and pooped in a cup hahaha) but yeah I get the results tomorrow and I have been way nervous about it but yeah just pray that everything goes good! 

Sorry I feel like you wrote a lot but I am not writing a lot! I will write a good big email next week! Last time writing! I love you guys tonssssssss!!!! Have a great week! You guys deserve it! Sounds good about going shopping the next day after getting home because I will literally have no clothes!!!  I will keep working hard I promise!!! Love you guys!!!

Love, Elder Lawrence

La familia Cuello!!!

23 months!!!

Hey Hey Family!!!! 

Everything is going good this week!!! I am doing way good! Wow I also can't believe I hit my 23 month mark this Thursday! Pretty crazy stuff yo! I am glad you had an awesome birthday! Sounds like it was a ton of fun! My feet sure could use a pedicure too! hahaha oh and the cabin looks amazing!!!! Wow it is really coming along so that makes me happy! :)

So school is out! I feel like the school year went way fast! haha maybe its because I wasn't in school! That's awesome that Ethan is practicing tennis a lot! Me and him will have to go play around when I get home!

It really is crazy to me that Tyson is getting home this week! haha like we started our missions together and everything! He told me that today is his last day in the mission field so that is pretty crazy! I told him he has to wait till I am home so we can watch all the movies we missed together haha :) Take a photo with him for me!

Everything is going good here! Freezing as ever!  It's been really foggy here in the mornings, it's pretty intense. I remember I use to always want to live in like Seattle or something, but after all this cold rainy weather I think Southern Utah is where its at! haha :) But yeah the time is flying! Sometimes I start thinking about home and everything, but the best way to keep motivated is to honestly just keep working hard. Its helping me stay focused. :)

Today we are planning on making an asado! I am way excited because its been a while since we have had asado. it should be good! Next week we are going to Mendoza Centro for P-day to do some shopping and stuff... it will be way fun!!! :)

Well yeah it was a pretty solid week! I love the mission! I love you guys sooo much! I am glad you had a great B-day mom and Happy B-day again!!! :) I hope you guys have another great week! Thanks for all the support and love and prayers! Tell the family I say hi!

Love, Elder Lawrence

PS... Tell Addi I say sup! haha

PSS... Austin Butler told me his family is moving this month... is it true?!?

PSSS... I feel like there was one last thing I was going to say.... dang it haha... Love you guys! :)

PSSSS....I remembered it!!! Hey so not this next P-day but the P-day after that (13/June/2016)  will be my last time writing a big email home! Because that final P-day I wont be in my area anymore I will be in the offices and stuff and I don't think we will be doing cyber that day... so yeah tell like Kamrie and E that if they want to email me one last time it would have to be one of these next 2 weeks haha. ok that's all! Love you mom! :)

 We made panqueques last night because it's the end of the month and we are broke. They had no egg. Basically just flour and water hahahahaha :'D

Just having our weekly correlación meeting!

May 23, 2016

Hey Hey Family! 

Wow we are now into the less than one month mark! That's super crazy!!! Kinda scary, but super crazy! haha Almost time for the big hug! That's way exciting. :)

I am doing good! My health is doing good mom so yeah don't worry too much. :) Sometimes I get super nervous about coming home and I don't know why. Not really a sickness.  No they don't give us a shot for parasites when we go home but they give us pills. At least that's how it was when I was in the offices.

That's pretty crazy that school is all coming to an end!!! I am glad Kamrie and E ended with good grades! Senior year is the best so yeah Kamrie is in for a treat. Oh also E-dogs hair looks way long. It's awesome!!!

I am jealous you guys went to the temple! I am sooo excited to go with you guys when I get back! It feels like its been soooo long since I went! It will be like going through for the first time all over again!

Mom HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS SATURDAYYYYY!!!! The big 27! haha It sounds like you guys are going to have a way fun weekend!!! You guys better drive safe and stuff!!! and take lots of photos! haha I sound like you guys :)

That's way awesome we got a new Bishopric! I am kinda sad that it won't be Bishop Pearson when I get home! But that's way awesome, Willie Billings will do way good! and mom, I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy you got Sammi Iverson to sing for my homecoming talk! She has the singing talent of angels! So yeah thanks for asking her. :)

This week was pretty solid! Super cold as usual, but we actually did see the sun once this week and it was sooooo nice! I felt like it was the first time in a month that I had seen the sun. Our investigators are doing good too! Javier came to church again. I think this week I am going to kinda get mad at him but with the spirit and invite him to change his life and everything! We also had a ward mission activity planned for this last Saturday but we had to cancel it until this Wednesday because of rain. Me and my companion have to come dressed in our baptismal clothes. I am excited its going to be way awesome. :) There will be photos.

Oh also my camera is barely hanging in there! So sorry if I don't send tons of photos these next few weeks. The lens on the front of my camera is breaking and that's why you will see my finger sometimes in the photos!

Well yeah everything is going great here! I am way happy in this area and everything! Everything is great with me and Elder Quist as well. :) I hope you guys have a great week and I hope you have a great Birthday mom. :) I will get you a birthday present, but it will just be a month late. ;) I love you guys sooo much!!! :)

Love, Elder Lawrence

PS... Yeah I have seen my flight plans and yeah we do have a huge layover in Salt Lake... That would be way awesome if Grandpa Ligtermoet could take us out to lunch! I imagine it would be fine, we would just have to go back through security after in the airport, but I don't see why not! :)

 Last time seeing Elder Peterson in the mission! :( It was kinda sad but it was good to see him one last time! The hair-cutter guy accidentally made me look like Eminem. haha jk its just really short!

 This is what my camera does because its mega broken, but yeah this was me and Jear bear (Elder Cahoon) at the second capacitation meeting for the niños.

  I talked Elder Quist into buy Starbucks the other week. I'm the worst father. haha jk it was hot chocolate and its literally the only Starbucks I have ever seen in Arg.

  You cant really tell but this banana was tiny.

  That's a lot of agendas yo

umm... yeah.

T-minus 1 month (This Sunday hahaha)

Hey Hey family!!!! how are you guys doing??? I am doing pretty good! I am feeling a decent amount better! and yeah I am trying not to stress as much and I think that is helping! But you should get me like a coupon or something to go get a massage when I get home haha I think that would help. :)

I can't believe that school is out in 8 days!!! Wow the school year went soooo fast! That's pretty crazy stuff! I feel like school just started no joke haha! and yeah that is crazy that Kamrie will be a senior and Ethan a Freshman!!! Wow they are growing up way fast yo.

Glad to hear Bryson and Taylee are doing good too! I am way excited to hang out with them a bunch! and I will still keep thinking about the job! Biolife would be awesome especially if they could train me there!

Well everything is going good here!!! Oh mom I totally forgot to tell you this.... Elder Landt is an office Elder!!!!!!!! I was sooo flipping happy when he called me and told me!!! He is so excited too (I talked the offices up a bunch to him and he wanted to serve there way bad) so yeah he is the new Historiador! and he is serving in my old area of Godoy Cruz Centro!!! I am way excited for my hijo! He will be an awesome office Elder.

We had our 2nd capacitation meeting this past Thursday and that went way good. That was my third time going to that and it's always the same but it was good to see President and Hermana Goates! Me and my hijo went funeral themed (black ties and black suits) it was awesome. I forgot my camera in the pench but I have a couple photos that Elder Bingham sent me so I will forward them to you guys. :)

Yesterday we had lunch with the familia Cuello and Javier (our investigator) invited his dad to lunch and we ate Asado and got to really meet his dad good and afterwards we taught something from the scriptures and his dad was about to cry. He kept telling us how grateful he was to meet us and he wants to meet with us again. He is way solid, only problem is that he lives in Godoy Cruz. So we are going to pass the reference on to the Elders over there! Also we got a reference this past week to go visit a guy that's in jail here in Tunuyan! We have to get permiso from President Goates before we can go but yeah I will let you guys know how that goes. :)

Oh by the way I am not sure if I got any taller haha Sometimes I see Elders that I think I am about the same height as and I ask them how tall they are and they say 5'9 or 5'10 usually.

Well yeah that's about it for this week! We are going to be going to Mendoza again this Thursday because a seventy is coming to visit the mission! His name is Elder Texeira... something like that, he is from Brazil! So that will be pretty cool! I can't believe Tyson goes home in 2 weeks! I told him to not watch any movies without me hahah ;) Well I am working hard and I am trying to be obedient! I will try to not get trunky either! I love you guys sooooooooo much too! Be safe! Make good choices! :) ya saben la rutena

Love, Elder Lawrence

 Just some of us trainers!

May 9, 2016

Hey! Just going to write you guys real quick! Everything is going good!

Yeah I honestly just need to not stress as much about my health than I am doing right now! haha I honestly feel pretty healthy. I just freak out over little stuff...but I will be fine just keep praying :) Thanks for all the prayers by the way!

That's awesome that Taylee graduated! that's way cool! I really hope I do good on the math placement test for sure.

Well, it really was THE BEST skyping with you guys!  You guys are as funny as ever.  I honestly kinda like the idea of starting at Best Buy but I don't know what you guys are thinking. Biolife would be awesome to work at but I will have to do some classes first to get a job there!

Wow Kristine Cram and Logan?? That's intense! When is the wedding? and who is Rachel Nielson engaged to?

Well I love you guys a ton and it was the bomb skyping one last time with you. :) I hope you guys have a great week as usual!!! Take care fam :) Don't eat tacos from that one place for the next 6 weeks so everyone will want them when I get home haha :) 

Love, Elder Lawrence

 Just me and my hijo right after interviews with President. Matching tie unity!

 Tunuyan for life! :)

 On the way back from Manzano!

 Last photo with Elder Moita before he goes home!

 Selfie game weak haha

Last time seeing Willard until he comes to my homecoming talk! haha :)