-I did some more intercambios. This time out in the countryside of Romero. Picture this, me, riding a half hour on a dirt road to a farm out in the country side. There I was able to put on some big rubber boots, roll up my sleeves with a shovel, and clean up the pig sty. I had heard the expression "your room is a pig sty" for the better portion of 20 years of my life. But I never knew what that really meant until I actually cleaned one. It was an adventure, and I smiled and laughed the entire time as we cleaned the farm. Cows, Pigs, ducks, horses and everything. I love intercambios because it allows me to see a lot more of the mission.

-Wednesday we had interviews with the president. Afterward he decided to accompany Elder Gonzalez and me out to our appointment with Lino and Cintia. We talked about receiving the Priesthood and sharing the gospel. It was a spiritual lesson, even more so with the President there.

-Friday we had intercambios with the assistants. It was a crazy day coming off the other intercambios we were just on, and felt like I was all over the place. We were able to get the baptismal interviews done for Ludmila and Alan.

-Saturday Ludmila and Alan were baptized. It was an incredibly spiritual service. They were both very prepared. The night of the interview Ludmila found one of the tithing slips by the bishop’s office and asked us when she could pay her tithing. Sandra, her mom informed us that they had both been saving up to pay ever since we taught them about tithes and offerings a week ago. It`s good to see them develop positive habits early. We filled up the font a bit before the baptism with only hot water, as it usually has trouble heating up just to luke warm (example, baptism of Damian, cold water) and so we didn`t see the need to turn on the cold water. As Elder Gonzalez tried to step in the font he realized it was scalding hot. Attempting to avoid a baptism boil we spent about 15 minutes putting cold water in the font.

-Analia continues to progress fantastically. She came to church again this weekend (second week in a row since she was baptized). We already have taught her the 10 commandments, word of wisdom, and all the first two lessons. She is on fire, and should make it to her baptismal date. It`s becoming a little complicated as the baptismal service is scheduled for the same day as the adult session of stake conference. So we`re still trying to figure out the best course of action. We`ll probably just move it back a week.

We have a great companionship with fantastic members. I love life right now. Thankfully I`m extremely busy. You can always tell when I`m doing great when I`m in a hurry. The work is amazing. We`ll be looking for some new families this week as Alan and Ludmila just got baptized so it`s back to finding mode.

This week had a lot of running around. It all started right where I left off last email... pizza libre.

I ate a bit too much, and subsequently was fighting stomach issues for the better portion of the week. But nothing that kept me inside. I was able to leave to work every day, and by now, thankfully, I`m back to eating all you can eat Argentine steaks. Something I just finished doing before sitting down to write this email.

On Tuesday, the Elders from Chascomus were up at our Pension in La Plata to get ready to travel to capital with us on Wednesday. We did an Intercambio with them in our area, and were lucky enough to have a very successful night. I was placed with Elder Fillmore, a greenie straight out of Burley Idaho. He is a pretty typical big smile missionary, and it was fun to feel the energy that the new kids bring to the table. It always motivates me to be a better missionary. We were able to contact a reference of a member, Augustina who was very willing to talk with us. Her mom had listened to the discussions a few years back, but had passed away a year ago. The missionaries had subsequently disappeared. A lot had changed since then, but the good news is, she is married not just living with her boyfriend so we have a lot of hope she`ll progress.

Wednesday, we traveled up to Banfield, close to Adroguè, about 2 hours in train to the leadership counsel. We were able to discuss goals for the zone, focuses, etc. The most interesting development is that Elder Foster, second counselor in the area presidency, will be coming to tour the mission and give some zone conferences. We were promised that he would be visiting apartments, examining our agendas, area books, and having personal interviews with a select few. The words "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear" came to mind. Even though the idea of a general authority flipping through my area book and making sure my kitchen is clean still is making my blood run a bit cold. We are definitely doing some cleaning.

Thursday we ended up in intercambios yet again. This time I was shipped out to La Cumbre to work with Elder Arario, the district leader. We had some very spiritual lessons, and I got to ride my bike again. The best part was lunch with a family from Peru, who cooked my favorite, Loma Saltado. French fries, rice, and beef. We had a solid day, taught with members, and were able to find some new investigators in the morning.

Unfortunately, the baptism of Ludmila and Alan is going to be postponed until next week. We had a lot to teach them and very little time to teach it. Additionally the times we did go to teach, the kids were gone, over at their dad`s house. So it`s been a bit tricky to find them.

Lino and Cintia continue progressing as best as they can. They are faithful church members, minus the member part. It was good to see Lino in sacrament meeting. He explained to us that a friend wanted him to go fishing, but he knew that the Lord wanted him to be in church, so that`s where he had to be.

The biggest development this week was a woman named Analia. She lives between Tolosa and Ensenada. Mostly here in Tolosa, with her aunt who doesn`t want to know anything about the church. So we have to teach outside. Elder Gonzalez was able to find her on his intercambio Tuesday. We went to the follow up appointment and had felt a strong spirit. We talked about baptism, and she agreed for the end of the month. I would be lying if I didn`t say I was skeptical with regards to the validity of that date, but Sunday she showed up for all three hours of church. We`re very excited to see her progress.

Other than that there`s not much to inform. We`ve been doing a lot of finding, a lot of walking, a lot of clapping. Thankfully these haven`t been in vain and we`ve been fortunate enough to be blessed with some very good progressing investigators. Sunday we had a training class to help members share the gospel. We talked about the importance of references and some fears about sharing the gospel. At the end we divided people up and did practices just like a district meeting. It was wonderful to see the ward catching the spirit of missionary work. We already have seen the fruits in the form of several references.

I conclude with my testimony. I know this church is true. I know that Joseph Smith knelt in a grove of trees and saw God and Jesus Christ. I know that the Savior lives, and that He died for us so that we can repent. I guess these are the same things that I said before the mission, but now I really do know.

Big changes in Argentina. If any of you have been watching the news. It all started on Wednesday when the entire country shut down for a nation-wise census. Everyone indoors. We had to wait for the survey people to come and get our info, even though we aren`t technically Argentines. It was a fun experience. Unfortunately, this week, the President Kristina, suffered the death of her husband, the former president Kirshner. There`s a chance we might be seeing a change of president here. A lot of stuff just stayed closed for the weekend as a result of the combined census/presidential situation. Relatively speaking, things are back to normal now. I never have really picked up on the politics here.

My first full week in Tolosa was filled with success.

We have been teaching a lot, and walking a lot less. Something that is good considering how this area is laid out. If we want to get anywhere, it usually has to be on foot considering that the busses take a considerable long time to stop. It makes planning a lot more difficult. Also it`s difficult on my shoes. Throw in 4-6 cheap inserts for my shoes with my Christmas package if you wouldn`t mind Mom.

I`m not sure how they do it in other places in the world, but here in Argentina, cars are basically unheard of. You can go by taxi, but that`s pretty expensive. The best thing you can do is go by bus, train, or on foot.

I love eating here. I really do. I never realized how much I like to eat food. Me and food. Additionally I eat a lot more than I did before the mission. I just got done eating nearly a pizza and a half in my favorite pizza buffet Pizza libre. Those faithful email followers should be able to identify pizza libre with my first two transfers of the mission. All you can eat delicious Argentine pizzas. Featuring such hits toppings as: eggs, fries and catsup, pineapple, hot dogs and mustard, blue cheese, and many more. My personal favorite is the French fry pizza. But I`ve grown to love egg as well. When I get home I`ll make you an egg pizza. My favorite of all time is the Brasileña back in Adrogue. It`s ham and mozzarella cheese with full rings of pineapple on top. But instead of tomato sauce they melt brown sugar on top. I love food. I love food so much.....

Ok, a bit about the area progress.

Lino and his family are still waiting on a divorce. We got a hold of a church lawyer down here that is willing to help. The problem is Lino`s wife Cintia got married in Paraguay. So we have to work things out over there BEFORE we can do anything over here. The family is faithful in the ward. More faithful than some of the most faithful members. They read as a minimum a half hour-hour in the scriptures as a family daily. They asked us recently what their 10 year old can start doing now to prepare for the mission. I love seeing people happy as they live the gospel.

The other family is Sandra and her kids Ludmila and Alan. Both of them were able to come to church on Sunday, so if all goes well we`ll be having the baptism of both kids on Saturday. It has been fun teaching them for the past two weeks. Ludmila gets everything and she loves to read and pray. Alan is a bit more rebellious, but he should still make it for Saturday.

Aside from that we have been working on our finding efforts and have been guided multiple times to people ready to receive the gospel. Last Friday was hands down the best morning of my mission. It was looking like it was going to rain, which is unfortunate because many times rain=no entering in any houses whatsoever. We went to a part of the area that Elders hadn`t been in for a while. Really tranquilo. Lots of field. I could see all the way to Ensenada. Anyways, we were looking for some former investigators when I saw an open door and began doing a contact. It was raining a bit, and after a short conversation the man let us in. He invited his wife to come and participate and we had a brief lesson to find them. They were mostly concerned for their family, as they had lost a son a few years back. We were able to talk a bit about that. They were a very picturesque find. No smoke smell in the house. Married. Golden. We left, and about fifteen minutes later decided to clap a house at the end of the neighborhood. We were again let in. It was a woman who had listened to the missionaries before, and had enjoyed the lessons, but had moved and lost touch with the church. She had two children present who we also found. Another family... also married. THEN about fifteen minutes before lunch I thought we would just go straight to our appointment, but Elder Gonzalez wanted to clap again. So we did. And we found AGAIN. Another woman with her four children. Also married. 9 new investigators + 3 families= Best morning ever...

I`m high on life here in Tolosa. It`s beautiful and the people are wonderful. I`m grateful for the spirit. I know we`re led by it every day as missionaries. The work isn`t possible without it. I know the church is true. I love you all. Thank you for your help, prayers, and support.

Green trees. Chirping birds. Lengthy fields.

I`ve come home.

Ok, so the actual city center I work in isn`t as Naturesque as one would hope. But it`s at the very least more quiet. Welcome to Tolosa. Which features the northernmost suburbs of La Plata. If I leave the boundaries of my area and walk through the fields about a mile or so, I`m in Ensenada.

A little bit about La Plata.

La Plata is actually the capital of the Provencia of Buenos Aires. In other words the actually city Buenos Aires serves as the Capital of Argentina, but the capital of the Provence Buenos Aires is La Plata. Go to Google maps and you`ll surely be able to find it. Zoom in on the capital, then scroll southeast for a bit and you should be able to find it.

La Plata is has a distinct lay out as opposed to the layout of the other cities in Argentina. It`s basically a big square. It starts from the center, and has streets expanding outward, each with its own number. There are no street names, only numbers. In order to make transport a bit more efficient, there are four giant diagonals that inscribe the square layout. It`s very different from the other areas I`ve been in, in and of that every one of the streets has a corresponding number instead of street names. It`s a bit harder to understand people when they spit an address out at me and it comes out a series of jumbled numbers, diagonals, and apartments. Very distinct.

Tolosa is... well hermosa. It`s beautiful here. When designing the city, they made a conscious effort to plant trees everywhere so as to subdue the urbanization. So it is a bit easier on the eyes than other places.

I received a warm welcome to a wonderful ward. There are plenty of people here willing to leave with the missionaries, and the excellent missionaries of the past have been working well with the members here. We don`t have a church that actually corresponds with our area, we have to take a bus downtown to where we share with La Plata 1. It makes it a little trickier to commit people to sacrament meeting, but we still have a fairly good attendance.

This week passed by as a blur. With the transfer date in the middle of the week, I`ve just been trying to get my feet on the ground. Even though I`ve only been here 4 days, it feels like a week. I`m grateful for this P-day, and a good chance to settle in a bit. This morning we did a bit of cleaning, a bit of buying, and a bit of resting to prep for the rest of the week.

The investigators here are great. Sandra is a recent convert. She only knew the missionaries for three weeks before she got baptized. She`s about 25 years old and dropped smoking, and got separated from her boyfriend all in that small time to get baptized. She`s got an amazing testimony. Now we`re teaching her kids Ludmila and Matias. 10 and 8. Both very bright. If all goes well they should get baptized next Saturday.

Other investigators include a golden family of dry members. Dry member is the phrase we use here to describe people who are already members of the church that are only missing stepping in the font. Lino, his wife Cintia, and their two children. It`s the picture perfect family. They have been listening to the missionaries for about three months and go to church every week. Their kids are even participating in the upcoming primary program. The bad news is they have a complicated divorce case. We have to communicate with the area lawyer to see if we can work it out so they can be baptized in the coming months. But it is going to be difficult.

My companion Elder Gonzalez is one of the best teachers I`ve worked with on my mission. At first it was a bit hard for me to understand him as it`s been a while since I`ve had a comp from South America. He comes from Uruguay, which is good as his accent mimics that of the typical Buenos Aires citizen. But he talks a bit faster and a bit quieter. The good news is this has been fantastic for my Spanish. After so much time around English speakers in the offices, it`s nice to be out here, isolated with only Spanish speakers. I can feel my language improving daily.

Elder Gonzalez is a hard worker, very diligent. I finished my training in Ensenada with Elder Bushman, and then left. Elder Bushman in turn trained Elder Gonzalez. So I`m about two transfers older than him. You wouldn`t know it. The kid is a prodigy. I learn much more from him than he learns from me. It`s rare to see such a good balance of teaching excellence, humility, and attitude. He does little things to serve me, like shine my shoes, or buy the bread for the day. Little stuff. It`s been an example to me of how I can be a better companion, and in turn motivates me to look for ways to serve him. So much of mission happiness depends on having a good relationship with your companion, so I`m very happy to have this time to work with him.

Well that`s about it for my situation right now. I can only say that I`m happy. This transition to an area is coming a lot easier than the rest. I`ve been through the drill before, so I know that the switch hurts for the first week or so, but things get better. That perspective has helped me a lot when I`m tempted to look back and say "I wish I was still in Adroguè" or "In Adroguè we had this thing or that thing." I know that this is where the Lord wants me to be. And there`s nowhere else I would rather be in the mission right now. I know this church is true. And this work is guided by revelation. Thank you for your letters and support.