March 14, 2016

Hey Hey Hey family!!!

How are you guys doing?? It looks like you guys had tons of fun in California!!! That new Harry Potter world stuff looks really awesome too! That's cool you guys got to take Taylee for her first time! and that is super funny that Kamrie locked her keys in her car in St. George! haha remember when I did that at Kodys house and I had Maren Butler stop by and then bring the spare key to me?? haha good times. :)

So yeah I am pretty happy because I got my SD card fixed! I took it to a cyber and the worker there fixed it for me! I didn't realize that I had taken so many photos on this SD card either! there was like 700 photos saved!

Hey so I have a funny really gross story I forgot to tell you guys about last week (if you don't want to read something gross then don't read this hahah)... So we had Zone Conference as of 2 Wednesday's ago and everything was going good there! Well there was an Elder there that wasn't feeling too good *cough cough Elder Toone. Yeah well everyone could tell that he was not feeling too good but he just stayed at the conference... well we are all eating lunch and he is talking to the mission nurse right across from me at the table and I am sitting by my companion and Elder Christensen and out of no where...... Super explosive throw up all the way across the table all over my food and suit coat all over Elder Christensen too and then he turns and gets it all over Elder Johnson and goes to run out the room but doesn't make it and just keeps throwing up in front of 50+ missionaries... so yeah Hermana Goates told us we could get our suits dry cleaned using the mission money! haha it was funny because we took a photo of all the missionaries afterwards and you can just see 3 of us in the crowd without our suit coats on! haha I thought it was pretty funny, lost my appetite pretty fast after that as well. but hey no hard feelings. :)

Hey sorry we don't have too much time left to write! This week was pretty normal though! I wish I had more time to write but we are going to church to make some stir fry! I have been eating way healthy recently! I think its because I have been also eating a lot of junk food and my body is telling me I need to eat healthy!

But yeah everything is going great here! This usually would be the last week of the transfer but we have 7 weeks in this transfer so yeah! Oh I don't know if this is true but me and Elder Mortensen were emailing today and he said someone told him we have exactly 100 days left... pretty crazy stuff if its true!!!

Well I love you guys TONS! I will try and take some good photos this week! Have a good week just like the last one!

 Love, Elder Lawrence

 PS. yeah I pulled out money for when we went to Aconcagua! but I didn't end up using basically any of it so yeah $200 bucks should be good until the end of my mission with that! Thanks Mommy dear! :)

Good news! I got the Virus removed from my SD card!!! whooo all my photos are back! Here are just a couple more photos from the baptism that I liked!

Aconcagua!

The last time I saw the Masedas before they went home! They are the coolest and I am going to miss them for sure!!!

March 7, 2016

Family!!!! 

I am writing so late but I also have zero time to write!!! We went to Aconcagua today and it was super pretty!!! It was super cold too!!!! You are not going to believe what happened... I went to send you guys photos of the baptism we had on Saturday and I got another fetching virus!!!! That literally happened the last time we had a baptism haha soooo yeah now I have to buy another SD card... it makes me sooooo frustrated when that happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But it's whatever. My comp is going to send me some photos from the baptism and from Aconcagua and I will just forward you guys them. It makes me sad because I had an awesome photo of us walking out of the baptismal font and we are still sorta in the water but it's only on my camera, but yeah, chau photos!!!

Other than that it was an amazing week! I forgot how stressful getting everything ready for a baptism can be! It was crazy because everything was going wrong but at the last minute everything just fell into place!!!! Like we couldn't get the water pump to work and the hot water wasn't working either so we had to wait foreverrrrr but in the end it all ending up working! a member came and fixed the pump and turned the hot water on! It really was an awesome baptism. you guys would have been proud if you were there haha :)

Well you guys are going to have tonsss of fun in California!!! I am a little jealous. You guys should really still try to go to the temple in San Diego.  It would be an awesome experience and it would be super peaceful I can promise you that. :) 

Well like I said I have like zero time, I am sorry!!! I hope you guys have a good trip! you are in my prayers so that you guys will travel safely. :) I love you guys sooo MUCH! 

Love, Elder Lawrence

PS. I am excited to make you guys Argentine food, but we will see if you like it. :)

PSS. Get me a present while you are in California. (only if you want to) ;)

PSSS. Love you guys tons! CTR erryday!

Photos from Aconcagua today!

Here is a photo from Lautaros baptism!!! It was super awesome! He is like the smartest kid I have ever met. Now we just have to work a little more with his dad and his baptism will be right around the corner. :)

20 Months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey Hey cuties...

Wow, 20 months sounds like a super long time haha. and I feel brand new still.... I don't think it will hit me that I am old in the mission until I am already home from it. It was a good week and a sad week. well not like sad sad, but yeah I will explain haha.

So yeah you know how the devil works hardest the week before the baptism?? yeah totally true!!!! So Lautaro wasn't baptized this past week.  What happened was this HUGE storm hit Tunuyan this past week and everyone was saying it was like the biggest storm in a long time to come here and it ended making some houses roofs fall in. We were fine, we just waited it out in the pench but it basically rained all night. Well this happened while Lautaro and his family were in Godoy Cruz looking for work, and they couldn't find work and they didn't want to go back until they had a little money to help them out, and they had to stay in Godoy Cruz allllllllllllllll week! They were also super super nervous about their house because it doesn't have the best roof on it. and we walked past their house a few times and we could tell the roof was a little beaten up. So we talked with Lautaros mom on the phone and she was crying a lot because she really wanted the baptism to go through and she was scared to go home and see her house and I promised her everything would be ok... and guess what.... everything was ok in the end!!!! Seriously we saw soooooo many blessing this week that it was ok that we had to move the baptism back until this next Saturday. Sooo they got home super early Sunday morning, like 6:30ish and they get to their house, and everything is perfectly fine on the inside! Somehow no water leaked through!  Also some members were super nice and stopped by their house and left them a bunch of eggs and rice and sugar and just things they would need! They ended up all coming to church yesterday and they all just looked dead tired!!! It was so awesome they still came to church and everything. We ended having a way good lesson with them after church as we ate empanadas. I love them. so yeah baptism is this Saturday, so get ready for a picture in a week. :)

We also were blessed with tons of new investigators this week!!! This past Saturday we were kinda sad about the baptism not going through and all that stuff but then God just led us to the people who were ready!!! Literally we had three lessons that day and 2 of the lessons were 2 whole families that never had listened to the missionaries before. It was cool because me and my comp were kinda stopped in between these 4 houses that were close together, and my comp was like, "well which one do you think the people are ready for us" and I was like "ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm this one" and it was the house right to the right of us (because CTR all day erry day haha) and so we clap in front of this house and the daughter answers and we ask if her dad is there. The dad comes up to the door and we basically just introduce ourselves and everything and then he was like super happy to let us in. and we got to teach him and his wife and his 2 kids!!! It went super well. We ended having 6 new investigators that day. We also had 3 investigators go to church this week and 75 members went to church! That was the highest its ever been. When I first got here the assistance was at around 40. This branch is growing tons and I love being a part of it! :)

Well it sounds like you guys had an awesome week!!! That makes me super happy. I loved all the photos and I laughed a ton at some of them! It sounds like you guys ate some good food too! luckyyyy!!! Haha and wow California again??? That will be way fun for you guys. :) Well I hope you know I am doing great and I know I am exactly were I am suppose to be and we work hard and we see blessings!!! So work hard fam! :) I love you guys!

Love, Elder Lawrence

PS. Andrew looks super hipster! haha and Tyson will be at the airport for me so that will be awesome!

PS. You should look at the Masedas blog they said they told me they made a shout out to you on it because I told them you read it sometimes! haha :) Love you guys!

 trying to make our selves look like we are laughing in this photo...this is the best we got.

Somehow my companion snagged this photo that looks like I accidentally walked into a scene from Jurassic park.

February 22, 2016

Hey Hey family!!!

Exactly 4 months to go!!! Its really crazy how the time is flying by!!! Whoever said the second year goes faster than the first year was totally right because yeah it's totally cruising. But I am enjoying every minute of it!!! :)

Everything is going really good with me and Elder Peterson!!! We are working hard and efficiently. I feel like that's a good word to describe the difference between Elder Bustos and Elder Peterson is that we plan better. Before we planned lessons really far away from each other and it was hard because it just felt like we were running all over the place. But now we have it worked down way good and we go to certain groups on certain days of the week! It's working way nice! We got a ton of work done this past week! and yep everything is a go for the baptism this Saturday! We are getting everything ready right now! Keep us and Lautaro in your prayers that everything works out! Someone told me that the devil is working the hardest on the investigators the week before their baptism, so yeah prayers!!!! haha :)

Sounds like you guys are doing great!!! It always makes me happy when you guys have a good week!! and wow Siever is totally home! It looks like he has a goatee in that photo you sent!!!  Also that scripture he shared is the one on my plaque, so that's pretty cool!!! I really do like that scripture a lot!  

So not too much new this week! We have these investigators that are doing awesome and they invited us to make an asado with them this Wednesday! I am super excited for that. My one true love in Argentine food is asado! haha don't worry I will make asado when I get home! Elder Peterson is also pretty skilled at cooking! so He has taught me a couple things!

Well this email is a little short! but next weeks will be better after our baptism!!! whoo whooo!! :) I am super excited for that! I hope you guys have a great week! I love you all soooo much! Tell Kamz to get her grades up from me. tell E dog he is a stud from me as well. :) I don't have head phones in this cyber so  will watch the videos you sent of Kamrie and E next week! haha be safe, CTR, you know the drill. :)

Love, Elder Lawrence

 Hermana Azañero bought a selfie stick and we have been having way too much fun with it.

 like I said too much fun. :) haha

 we can't stop using the selfie stick to take group photos

 This little girl is named Chimo. she is a cabbage patch kid. haha Happy Birthday Chimoooo!! :) I would adopt her if allowed. haha

This hammock is the best thing that has ever happened to this pench.

February 15, 2016

Family!!! Hey!!!  Happy Valentines day!!! I totally had no idea! There is no sign of Valentines Day here in Argentina! They love to celebrate tons of holidays here but it seems like they forget about the ones that we celebrate! Sounds like you guys had a fun week with lots of family around! Glad to hear everything is going good there! :)

So yep! Elder Bustos is out of here! Sad stuff! But it's all good because Elder Peterson is a boss! This was a way solid first week with him! We got a ton of work done and we had 5 investigators come to church yesterday!!!! The work is totally picking up here! I will talk all about that in a sec! We don't have a lot of time again today because we have to get to the store before 1:00 because it will close for the siesta but I will try to fit everything in as best as I can! haha

So two of my past comps went home this past Tuesday! Elder Apodaca and Elder Perez both finished their missions!!! I was with both of them when they both had less than a year in the mission! It's crazy how the time flies! I love those guys tons and I was able to talk to them on the phone a little before they went home! Elder Apodaca's parents came and picked him up too which is awesome! I didn't get to meet them but its still cool that they came. :)

So yeah back to Elder Peterson! He is awesome! We have been getting along way well. and yeah I actually asked him to give me singing lessons haha and we practiced the other day. Our goal is the last week of the transfer we are going to do a musical number in church! whoo! haha but yeah he is way cool and he reminds me a lot of Tyson (crazy, spontaneous, way funny) He also bought this way sick hammock here in the mission and it's hung up in our pench and its sooo nice and relaxing!!! (don't be surprised if I come home with one) ;)

Ok back to the work! We had some awesome lessons this week. To start, we taught Lautaro (the kid that is getting baptized on the 27th of this month) the plan of salvacion using this little map thing I have... Well yesterday after they went to church we ate lunch with them. Lautaro taught the plan of Salvacion to his father Javier (who is our other investigator) and it was super awesome and he did a way good job!!!

Well, We are working with this other family that lives super far away from the church! It's like 9 kilometros from the church! I don't know how many miles that is... but they all came to church yesterday for the first time!!! It was sooo awesome to see them walking up to the church! I feel like they really liked it.

Well, I am not sick of the rain because I totally jinxed us or something because it stopped raining completely and hasn't rained for like a week! haha I miss the rain and the cold air that it brings! Our home is a brick oven! haha but its all good we are slowly getting to fall!!!! I can't wait. :)

Well I think I might have missed some of your questions so I am sorry if I did! Just ask me them next week! haha :) I love you guys soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much and I am thankful for all that you guys do for me! Short and simple scripture for you guys D and C 38: 15

15 Therefore, be ye strong from henceforth; fear not, for the kingdom is yours.

Love, Elder Lawrence

PS. I received a card from Gma and Gpa Lawrence but it has your handwriting on the outside and I can tell that at one time there was a 20 in it, but there is no 20 haha just was wondering if you possible took it out or maybe I was robbed in the mail system. Let me know. and Thank you soo much Grandma and Grandpa!!! :) Love you!

PSS... who did Kellen marry??? That's super crazy.

PSSS.... I am totally cool with going with you and getting some pizza bread when I get home! haha :)

 This is how my comp packed his bags. He just threw everything off the second floor. haha I pack a little different.

 Chau Elder Bustos and Hermana Garrido!!!

 We were all in the terminal and this family is from Tunuyan! Also the other 2 Elders in the photo have served in this area!

 Old school Pepsi is the bomb. and super cheap

Elder Peterson chilling in his legit hammock

February 8, 2016

Hey Hey Fam!!!

 I loved all the photos you guys sent! I had no idea it was Superbowl Sunday! haha that information definitely was not passed down here to Argentina but its all good! So I guess you would like to hear about transfers no?? well.... too bad..... ;) hahah no I am just kidding! I totally thought me and my companion would be staying together for one more transfer but nope! Elder Bustos is out of here! He is going to south to Alvear! It's close to San Rafael! He is wayyy sad about leaving. We have a baptism this transfer that is like set in stone! But I am excited to get a new companion and everything! It was great with Elder Bustos, it wasn't always easy, but I learned tons. :) My new companion is..... Elder Petersen!!! (no it's not Justin Petersen hahahha) He is from Washington State! I actually know him a little bit already! He is from my hijos group! He also was in Chimbas with me for a transfer! He seems way cool! I remember he knows how to sing way good so I am going to have him teach me how to sing good :) But I am way excited to work super hard this transfer! Oh and yeah I am still District Leader and I like it a ton! I have to give a baptismal interview this week because the Masedas are having a baptism!!! I am excited to do that!

Sounds like you guys are doing great! That's cool that Ethan was in Broadway Magic!  I always did that too! Ethan is a lot like me when I think about it. Also that's awesome that you fed the missionaries tacos! and you are welcome for the idea to make broccoli cheese casserole ;) Now I am hungry. Yesterday we were doing our fast for the month and for some reason during my fast I couldn't stop thinking of pizza bread with ranch!!! I was craving it hard core haha I will have to wait a little longer til I eat it though. :) I am glad everything went good with your lesson in church! :)

Sorry we don't have a lot of time to write today because we are going to go eat at a members house because my comps leaving! Everything was good this week! It rained a ton again this week!!! It was super awesome because this one day we went to this part of our area that is super far away and it just started pouring and pouring super hard on us and we were just standing by a tree and tons of cars passed and no one stopped to help us and then this giant bus drove pass and kept going and we were kinda sad because we were in the middle of no where and didn't really know what to do with all the rain,and then we see this big bus turn around and the bus driver signals us to come get in! So we go hop in and the bus is empty! He was off duty and he said that he had talked to missionaries like us before and that was the reason why he turned around! He just felt like he needed to turn around! It was super awesome and he gave us his address and everything! He also gave us a ride to super close to our investigators house were we ended up having an amazing lessons and we had 3 new investigators!!! It was a super awesome day in the end.

Like I said we don't have too much time to write, so I will cut this short. :) I love you guys tons! The time really is flying. I am really trying to enjoy it and work super hard! We are seeing tons of progress in our investigators!!!! I hope you guys have a great week! be safe. :)

Love, Elder Lawrence

PS... I will email Bryson but I basically talked all my friends into Dixie... they are talking about living at home at first which I feel like would be a super long drive everyday... but we will see!!! :) Love you so much! 

19 Months!!!

Hey Hey!!!!

How are you guys doing?? :) I am doing way good! and I can't believe I have 19 months in the mission! Wow the time really does fly! and mom don't feel bad if you forget to write me sometime haha you have been doing this for like 4 years so I would understand ;)

 Everything is going great here in Tunuyan! Yes we still are having a good amount of rain! It's super humid after it rains! That is something I have had to get used to! Everything is going good with me and Elder Bustos! This next Sunday is transfers already!!! Elder Bustos thinks he is leaving this transfer but I think we might stay together one more! We will see though!!!

 Sorry this letter might be a little short! We are going to this place called Manzano today for P-day and it's suppose to be this way pretty camping area with a huge river and everything! I will send you photos of it next week! Also sorry if I didn't take much photos this week. :)

 Man it sounds like Dad has been working a ton! hopefully he gets a little break here soon! and I am glad Kamrie had tons of fun at Pine View's Jr. Prom! I loved the photos as well!!! Wow Krushurz is all up and running again! Hopefully they will do good this year! Mom don't worry you will be in my prayers for you lesson this Sunday, but I know you, you will do great. :)

 This was a super spiritual week in my mission! We taught a couple amazing lessons! I think I told you about Monica and Javier? Well they are doing great! Javier's dad is struggling with health and we taught about faith and hope and pray. Man we were all feeling the spirit super strong and we ended with a prayer that I will never forget! we were all kneeling on the concrete ground in their house with all their kids kneeling too and the mom gave an amazing prayer and by the end we were all sobbing! Javier gave us both a big hug and sent us a big text saying thanks for everything. He is awesome, we just have to work slow with him because all of this is really new for him!

Also we had this awesome experience with a new investigator. She just moved here for a few months for work with her sister that is a less active here in Tunuyan and we taught her about the book of Mormon and how she could know its true though prayer. Well she told us she didn't know how to pray, so we wrote it down how we pray and after words I asked if someone could give an example prayer and after she could give the prayer and she said that would be ok... well my companion gives the first prayer and it's just amazing and long with big words and everything in it, and then she goes to give the prayer, and its super simple and super sincere, but I felt the spirit so strong in her prayer! It just goes to show you that you don't need to pray super fancy to receive an answer to your prayers. :) By the small and simple things are great things brought to pass!

 Well yeah like I said I don't have tons of time but I love you guys soooooooooo much! I hope you guys have a great week and stay safe! Drive good and stuff haha :)

 Love, Elder Lawrence

More pictures from our fishing day!