Lots to write, little time

Hi there,

I have so little time right now but I want to write what I can. We have leadership counsel tonight, we have Elder Uceda coming in one week and transfers are in 2 days. Nevertheless, we are drowning in the work load. The monthly finance report from the zone was due yesterday and my companion started yesterday and so I am having to help him with that. Its okay, I don't blame him for not. He goes home in less than a week. We are also updating the recent converts and rescued lists to make sure everything is in line for when Elder Uceda (de los 70) comes. 

Here are a few things that have happened this week and the last.

1. Carnavales. Not much to write about these days. We found interesting new ways to study the scriptures because we were so bored and we set a lot a new goals. We also cleaned a lot. I'm sorry mom for all the times you asked me to clean and I ``cleaned``. One of the things I have learned on my mission is how to keep a house clean. 

2. Lots of rain. Its starting to rain here. We are entering the rainy season. We Bolivians here get cold and need a jacket if it gets below 80 degrees.

3. Our first Fireside in my ward that I'm in right now. It went really really well! We watched videos and we had everyone participate! About 40 people came! We were very happy. The church is true.

4. Zone Conference. We talked about the doctrine of Christ. How it is different from the Gospel, how does the doctrine of the Priesthood relate to it all. Study it! You'll learn a lot. 2 Nefi 31, DyC 121, 3 Nefi 11-26, Alma, pretty much all of the Book of Mormon.

5. Hard days and good days. Sometimes I have days that end in me by my bed praying that the next will be better. Some days end with me praying and thanking for my day I had. But what I have learned is that if we end each day with fervent prayer, we are comforted. I know He hears me and listens to my prayers. 

I love my God. He is my Father. His Son is my King and my Savior. I testify of Him.

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Elder Gehring

Carnavales

I have good news and bad news.

Good news: I take lots of pictures!

Bad news: I can't figure out how to get them on the computer here! Its not letting me. 

I have more good news and bad news. Well, just bad news.

Bad news: The next monday is 'Carnavales' here in Bolivia. 

 

 

Let me explain. Every year for 3 days Bolivia has Carnavales during which every single person goes insane. No one works, everyone eats tons of chanco, and usually many people drink a little. We as missionaries have strict orders to stay in our house and to not leave for any reason. We have a program of studies and 'homework' that we have to finish during these 3 days in our house. This year these 3 days fall on Sunday,Monday, and Tuesday. The monday that is coming we will not be writing our families due to the fact that we are in our house. 

A lot happened this week so I'll tell a few stories.

1. Politics: Here in Santa Cruz right now there are 2 people running for President of Santa Cruz. Each person has their own way of pushing their campagin forward but they both involve painting ALL the houses in sight the color green. One guy paints with a lime green and the other a dark green. They pay people to be able to paint their houses. We are visiting a family who painted their house dark green. My companion was not paying attention and supported himself on the wall. His sleeve and arm were then coverd in dark green paint due to the fact the it was not yet dry. He tried rubbing it out, made it worse, and then frantically ran to a members house were he bleached the shirt and washed it out by hand. The problem was that it didnt come out. His sleeved is now stained. He and I got a pretty good laugh out of that. 

2. Companionship goal: My companion goes home in 29 days. He is not fat but he would admit that he has gained a few kilos here in the mission. He set the goal of losing weight his last month and I support him 100 percent. We (well sometimes just me) do exersize every morning and night. We run and lift weights in the morning and then at night we jump rope for a long time. We dont drink soda when the members offer us, we are cutting down on the snacks while we are in the house, and we drink a ton of water. We'll see if it works. We had NO energy the first few days of doing it but now we feel great all the time!

3. The Book of Mormon: We are teaching a man named Samuel. He is one of the most humble people I know and really really wants to do what is right. The only thing is sometimes he has a little trouble understanding the Book of Mormon when he reads it. He tries so hard to understand the story AND what it teaches that sometimes he doesnt get either one. Last night we went to go read to him. We read outloud verse by verse explaining after every 4 or so what happened and asking questions about what we can learn. We were in 1 Nefi 3 when Nefi goes back to Jeruselen for the plates of bronce. Samuel got so excited about it all, understood the concept of commandments from God, and learned a lot. The chapter ends with the Angel that appears to Nefi's brothers and without reading chapter 4 you dont find out what happend with the plates (If they end up getting them from Laban). When we finished chapter 3 Samuel asked ''And?? So did they get the plates or not?? What happened with Laban??'' etc. It was so amazing to see the joy he found from reading the scriptures. He commited to reading chapter 4 with his family and is progressing spiritually. 

This week I was also studying in Moroni 8. This chapter mainly talks about the baptism of children is an abomination before the Lord but in the end of the chapter I love what it says. In verse 25 and 26 we learn that repentance is such a necessary step in our lives. But once we repent, and recieve the remision of our sins we are given humilty, then we are given the presence of the Holy Spirit and then with that love that the spirit has, we have no need to fear. In verse 16 that ''el amor puro desecha todo temor''. 

I love you all. I have fear sometimes and for that reason I repent to be humble, I am humble to recieve the Spirit, I recieve the Spirit to be filled with love, and I use that love to conquer all fear. 

 Fear not. ''I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.'' Jesucristo

Hurrah for Israel!

Elder Gehring

Letter

I decided to write everyone individually this week. I'll write you all the next week. and I'll send fotos too! 

Love you,

Elder gehring

Intercambios

Family,

I'm not sure whats going on with my memory card but I cant get any fotos to send. Im going to send it with a member in our ward that can hopefully help. 

This week was a long one. Not too much happened but I did get to have an intercambio with one of the District leaders in the zone. He is from Texas too and I went to his area to work. I learned a lot about the way to study. He studies way better than I do and I feel like he learns a lot more than I do. I learned that every morning I need to recieve personal revelation. I learned about the importance of the spirit and only through the spirit can one recieve the confirmation of spiritual things. 

We taught some great lessons, we tried teaching as Christ taught and we finished the day inviting others to come to Christ. He taught me a lot in the short time we had together and I am greatful for the intercambios we have in the mission. 

This week we also had service. I put (with the help of 3 others) about 1000 lbs or more of sand in bags. then we stacked all the bags in storage. I was smart and didnt hurt my back but I sweat a lot and I think I lost a couple pounds doing it. 

Funny story.

This past thursday was a holiday here. I'm not sure why but sometimes Bolivians have holidays for no reason. We went to a home and a man was drunk sitting on his porch. His dog was on his chair next to him. He was very very concerned and started to yell at his dog. Then he calmed down and  began to ask his dog why it was on the chair. 

I love Bolivia. I love when drunk guys talk to their dogs. Its makes me laugh. The Church is true. I know it by the power of the Holy Ghost. I have felt it and I can not deny it. 

Hurrah for Israel!

Love,

Elder Gehring

La vida Boliviana (The Bolivia Life)

Hello.

I am going to write in English so Mom, you can understand :)

My area is called Antofagasta. My limits are the 5to and 4to anillo between the avendia Vallegrande and Doble Via la Guardia. It is small and full of dirt. It is very very hot and I sweat a lot. The chapel is small and simple. The benches are made of a dark red wood that smells like furniture polish. There are 12 industrial fans that line the ceiling and provide an ever so slight breeze in the immense heat of Santa Cruz. There are 15 classrooms, one office for the bishop, one room for the secretaries, and 2 bathrooms. The kitchen, relief society room, and the pila bautismal are all put together. The kitchen is one sink and 2 electric stoves. The baptismal font is filled with cold water and sometimes smells like dead lizards (because sometimes they get in and cant get out).

Houses here are different from my first area and different from the center. There are 2 enclosed neighborhoods in my area that are identical to the US. All the houses have yards, mailboxes, driveways, etc. Ive never gone inside becuase you can only enter upon being invited by someone who lives there but we have passed by many times and seen inside. The rest of the houses are anywhere from 4 wooden walls to a nice brick house with a front door and 2 floors. Its very different here. A lot of houses have several rooms and a different family rents out each room. Each house always has a lavandería to wash clothes by hand.  

Every tuesday and saturday there is a fair in the middle of my area. Blue tarps are tied on the top of 4 poles stuck into the ground. The shade is hardly a refuge from the heat of mid day here. Fruit is the only thing I buy. It is cheap, delicious, and fresh. It all goes bad fast but its okay. I eat it fast. You can get pots and pans, used shoes from the US, clothes of any kind, movies illegally copied, and nick nacks of all sorts (usually little plastic kids toys), and just about anything in the fairs here. I usually stay away from the food stands with fried chicken, fried pig, fried papas, fried everything. 

My area is also in the middle of a lot of tallers. I dont know what 'taller' is in english. Basically its a car repair shop. But here in my area they are repair shops for large trucks. There is an open field in front of these tallers of pure dirt. The width of a football field and as long as 4 or so. The trucks come and come all day. Welding, tire changes, engine repairs. You name it they do it. 

I get a lot of comments still. 2 were pretty funny from this week. They usually come frequently. Ill translate to help you out. 

1. ''Do you walk all day in the sun?'' ''Yes! But its not too bad.'' ''How are you still so white??''

2. ''Heylo mister pancho!!! One, two, three!!'' (this is a pretty standard comment that many people use)

Not too much other crazy stuff happens. I learn a lot here. This week I learned how to mix cement, and lay a cement floor. We went and help a less active member and he taught us. I laugh a lot here. Little things people do make my laugh. For example. We contacted a family and the kids were the first to leave the house. 2 little girls (twins) came running out and gave us hugs. We talked to them, couldn't understand what they said and then asked if they wanted a present. They of course said yes. I then gave them a picture of Jesus (a pass along card) and they lost it because they were so excited. Hugging it, jumping up and down, screaming, and then ran and showed their mom. The whole family is now listening to us.

Miracles happen here. Our baptism was wonderful. His whole family came and supported him and the ward mission leader baptized him. He was so happy and couldn't wait to bear his testimony of the way he felt. 11 years old and already has a firm testimony. 

This week I learned a lot about the work of salvation. I read and studied DyC 50. I asked the zone ''What will happen in our lessons if the Holy Ghost is present?'' we studied and came to the conclusion that many things will happen. They will feel the desire to be baptized. They will have a change of heart etc. But really the only thing that will happen is that they will fulfill the conditions set in DyC 20:37.

I love the Lord. He is my Savior. I have a personal relation with Him and I become more close to Him everyday. 

Hurrah for Israel!

Lots of love,

Elder Gehring

Entrevistas/Interviews

Buen día buen día,

Esta semana tuvimos entrevistas con Presidente. 8 minutos con el vuela y pasa rápido. Hablamos de mis preocupaciones, mis deseos, y las dificultades en la zona. Mientras que otros misioneros tenían sus entrevistas, los asistentes nos dieron una capacitación de como hacer contacto diario con los miembros y los investigadores. Aprendí mucho de como ayudar a los miembros a entender su papel en la obra misional. 

This week we had interviews with the mission president. 8 minutes with him flies by quickly. We talked about my worries, my desires, and the difficulties in the zone. While the other missionaries had their interviews, the assistants gave us training on how to do daily contacts with members and investigators. I learned a lot about how to help the members understand their role in missionary work.

Jueves, enseñé una reunión de distrito. Uno de los elderes en la zona se enfermó, nos llamó jueves por la mañana, y nos pidió que enseñáramos su clase. Lo hice yo y creo que salió bien aunque tuve 10 minutos mas o menos de preparación. Hablamos de la Doctrina de Cristo y como aplicarla a nuestra propósito misional.

Thursday I taught a district meeting. One of the Elders in the zone got sick, he called us on Thursday morning and asked if we could teach the class. I accepted and I think it went well even though I only had roughly 10 minutes to prepare. We talked about the Doctrine of Christ and how to apply it to our missionary efforts.

También di un discurso durante la Reunión Sacramental este Domingo. Hablé de la obra misional. Leí una historia de el Élder Bednar en la Conferencia General de Octubre 2014. Él contó de su hijo que ayudó a su hermano limpiar y sanar una herida pequeña. El hijo que recibió esta ayuda salió de inmediato y quería dar la misma ayuda a sus amigos. Os invito a leerlo. Hay muchas lecciones que uno puede aprender y aplicar en su vida. I also gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting this past Sunday. I spoke on missionary work. I read a story from Elder Bednar's talk from the October 2014 General Conference. He told of his son helping his brother clean and disinfect a small cut. The son that received this help immediately wanted to go and give the same help to his friends. I invite you to read it. There are many lessons that can be learned and applied to your life.

 

Oh. Y tuvimos un numero musical en la misma Reunión Sacramental. Toqué el piano y los misioneros de barrio, el líder misional, y los otros misioneros de tiempo completo cantaron ´´Llevaremos Su verdad al mundo''. Fue muy bueno e invitó al Espíritu a la reunión. Oh, and we also had a musical number in Sacrament Meeting. I played the piano and the ward missionaries, the ward mission leader, and the other returned missionaries sang "We'll Bring The World His Truth". It was really good and invited the Spirit to the meeting.

Tendremos un bautismo este Sábado. Os contaré como va.

We will have a baptism this Saturday. I'll let you know how it goes.

Os amo a vosotros. Amo a mi Salvador. 

I love you all. I love my Savior

No temáis, el Señor siempre está con vosotros. 

Do not fear, the Lord is always with us.

!Hurra por Israel!

Hurrah for Israel!

Élder Gehring

Feliz Año Nuevo

Mi querida familia,

Dear family,

Pasamos año nuevo como si fuere un día normal. Nada hubo nada tan especial pero fue una semana de milagros. Les explico. We spent the new year just like a normal day. Nothing was special but it was a week of miracles. I'll explain.

1. Consejo de Líderes. Rendimos cuenta de 2014 y fijamos metas nuevas para 2015. La meta en 2014 fue 1450 conversos y rescatados activos en la Iglesia. Tuvimos 1754 en total pero solo 1422 fueron activos. Hablamos mucho y fijamos la meta de 2037 conversos y rescatados activos en la Iglesia. La inspiración viene de Doctrina y Convenios 20:37. Este versículo explica los requisitos de bautismo. Fijamos esta meta de 2037 como un símbolo de que solo los que cumplan con estos requisitos van a ser activos. Para lograr 2037 como la misión, tengo que ser un discípulo de Jesucristo según 20:37. Les rendiré cuentas de vez en cuando durante este año. Estoy animado por este año que viene. Será el único año en el cual seré misionero por todo el año. 1. Leaders Council. We gave an account of 2014 and set goals for 2015. The goal for 2014 was 1450 active converts in the church. We had 1754 total but only 1422 were active. We talked a lot and decided on the goal of 2037 active converts. The inspiration for this came from Doctrine and Covenants 20:37. This verse explains the requirements for baptism. We set the goal of 2037 as a symbol that only those who fulfill these requirements will stay active. To reach the goal of 2037 as a mission, I have to be a disciple of Jesus Christ as stated in 20:37. I'll keep you updated once in a while though out this year. I'm excited for this coming year. It will be the only year in which I'll be a missionary the whole year. 

2. ¡Empezamos clases de Inglés en nuestro barrio! Cinco personas vinieron y enseñamos el alfabeto y algunos saludos básicos. Cada miércoles a las 7:30pm en la capilla de Antofagasta. Todos están invitados. 2.We started English classes in our area.  Five persons came and we taught the alphabet and some basic greetings.  Each Wednesay aat 7:30 p.m. in the chapel at Antofagasta.  All are invited.

3. Intercambios. Amo intercambios. Uno aprende mucho y te hace humilde también. Tuve uno con un líder de distrito en nuestra zona. Me enseñó mucho de como ser un discípulo verdadero de Jesucristo. Él es muy humilde y obediente. Hablamos y pedimos referencias de todos. Vimos milagros. También tuve un intercambio con uno de los asistentes. Fue muy bueno. Encontramos 3 familias y todos aceptaron una cita esta semana. Por lo menos tendremos 15 o 20 nuevos. Trabajaremos muy fuerte esta semana. 3. Exchanges. I love exchanges. You learn so much and they make you humble too. I had one with one of the district leaders in our zone. He taught me a lot about being a true disciple of Jesus Christ. He is very humble and obedient. We spoke with and asked for references from everyone. We saw miracles. I also went on an exchange with one of the assistants. It was really good. We found three families and all accepted an appointment this week. We will have at least 15 to 20 new investigators. We will work very hard this week.

Aparte de esto, no mucho pasó. Año nuevo lo pasamos en casa pero escuchamos muchos fuegos artificiales. 

Aside from this, nothing much happened. We spent the new year at home but we heard a lot of fireworks.

Tengo 2 metas. 1. Cumplir con DyC 20:37  2. Solo hablar español sorry mom :) 

I have two goals. 1. Follow D&C 20:37. and 2. Only speak Spanish, sorry mom :)

Les amo mucho. Amo a mi Salvador.

I love you a lot. I love my Savior.

¡Hurra por Israel!

Hurrah for Israel!

Élder Gehring