Juan Luis Romero

Elder Nava, Enrique, Juan, Elder Burke

April 27, 2015 (week 35 in Argentina)

Ladies and Gentlemen!  Boys and Girls of all ages... May I present Juan Luis Romero!  The newest addition to the family of God!  Yes that is right!  On Friday the 24th of April 2015, he was baptized and the 26th was confirmed as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!  We are absolutely happy to have him finally as a member as he can now work on going to the temple in a year!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! And I can’t wait to tell you the story that we had that Friday Night! But, before I get to that story I’ll tell what else happened this week. 

 So I was basically, I was away from Elder Nava for three days as we did divisions.  I stayed here in Mendoza and he left with Elder Trumbo and Elder Stratford stayed with me.  We went about helping our in-actives, our investigators, and also trying to find news.  It was so much fun, Tuesday we had our Noche de Hogar with the ward and no members showed up, but Juan Luis showed up and so did twenty little kids asking to play futbol on the field outside the church. We said no, but invited them to stay for the noche de hogar.  They accepted and we taught them about perspectives and how every one of us should have a positive attitude with everything in life and it will change everything.  Afterwards, we used my socks (not the ones I was using at the time, eww) as a ball to play hot potato (se quema la papa) they had a lot of fun and now lots of little kids in the street say hello to me. ja ja.   Afterwards, we had the baptismal interview of Juan Luis so that he could prepare to be baptized on Friday.  Elder Stratford told me that he was more than ready and that he passed the interview! Que Capismo!!!

Elder Nava, me, Elder Stratford, Elder Trumbo

Afterwards, Elder Stratford and I tore up Mendoza with our President Leo Zarur, who if you haven’t been following past letters, he is blind.  He is the most loving and fun giving guy I have ever met and he doesn’t even know what I look like.  It is crazy to see how he sees the world and life.  He loves everyone that he comes in contact with and surely has a great sense of humor.  After the day had ended on Wednesday, Elder Fiabane (Zone Leader) came and switched places with him.  Elder Fiabane was an office elder and we both met when I could hardly speak English, but now we can talk just fine to one another.  It’s really something different to see here in the mission with your progression.  He helped me with new ways how to teach and we made awesome memories together as companions.  Gonna miss that guy when he goes home.

Then Friday came!  Elder Fiabane and I met up with the rest of the zone to go to Resistencia to listen to Elder Oaks of the Twelve Apostles talk!  It was absolutely amazing to listen to him talk.  He had such a normal way to talking to all of us.  He almost biffed it walking up the stairs and his wife had to steady him so that he didn’t fall.   Later he told us some good jokes in between his talk.  He really helped everyone relax and feel like they were at home.  He talked so powerfully as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and said everything that I needed to hear to become a better missionary, son, brother, and future family man.  He talked about the repetitive interruptions in life that ruin our spiritual progressions or distract us from peace, which for me reminded me how important it is to go to the temple.  In the temple there are no spiritual interruptions and we can find true peace in this world. Also he talked about revelation and how we can come to know the truth of all things in the many different ways that the spirit talks to us; dreams that are crystal clear in their message, promptings, feelings, thoughts, and even events that help us come to know the truth of all things. It’s something that I love about the gospel of Christ is that it helps us come to know truth, the way things really are, and why.  Pray to Heavenly Father with a sincere desire to receive an answer and just wait and see what happens.

Baptism of Juan Luis Romero

The talk from Elder Oaks was super fun because the entire mission was there and I got to see everyone before the meeting.   Everyone knows me, but I don’t know them.  Perks I guess from being the Nurse for the Mission, everyone just call me Doc.  I’m kind of going more for a better nickname like Hawkeye or Bones, ja ja.  But I got to see Elder Allen and Elder Swingle and they are doing alright, along with many other elders.  Elder Nava and I couldn’t stay for long because we needed to get going to the Baptism of Juan Luis!  So Elder Nava just so happened to get the number of one of his recent converts who is a remis (taxi) driver and he took us all the way from Resistencia to Corrientes!  It was such a tender mercy for Elder Nava to see one of his converts who is really awesome and loves His missionary.  It made me think of Natividad and Maria who are in Saenz Pena right now and it made me miss them both.  But I did hear good news from the Elders who are in my old Area.  We were running a little late for the baptism of Juan Luis but got there in time to take pictures, start the ceremony, and watch him get baptized.  It was a great night and there was a lot of support from the members. 

Saturday was awesome as we invited Pedro to be baptized on the 2nd of May and he said YES!!! Another Baptism!!!  We are so happy!!! ja ja!  Sunday he showed up and an investigator who we thought wouldn’t show up, she came as well!  It was a surprise to see her already talking with the members in the ward!  Crazy!!!  So that will hopefully be the next update for you guys for next week, the baptism of Pedro, now we just need a Santiago so that we can have the three main apostles in our branch! ja ja!

         Overall, this week was spiritually uplifting, and life changing for me.  I love the mission, and I love all of you.  Choose the right, and be true followers of Jesus Christ.

Con Amor,  Elder Burke