Monday, December 29, 2014

HEAD BUTTING 2015 IN THE MOUTH

Well, Goodbye 2014.  It was a good year, but 2015 looks like it needs a good Missionary Headbutt from Elder Tracy.  So time to finish off this year with a good blog entry!



This Week: CHRISTMAS, 2014 RECAP

This week was Christmas! I got to talk to Mom, had Christmas Mission Conference and had a good time!  This week, as lessons go, wasn't very good.  But, I felt the Spirit of Christmas and the Joy of being a missionary in the Mission Field.  Funny story.  We were contacting at like 2:00 pm and it is like 100 degrees outside and we bump into a woman who doesn't want to talk to us.  She tells us that she can't see us because she was in the sun.  So I made a human wall of shade and she couldn't avoid us.  Funny day!


2014 RECAP

July:  I entered the Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah.

September:  I left the Mission Training Center and came into Bolivia.  Met Elder Gutierrez, my trainer.  And I had my first Convert Baptism, Sister Hortencia Choque.

October: I started living like a Bolivian (poor) and had my first Mission Conference.

November:  My first rescue ( Familia Alpire)

December:  Talked to Mom and Everyone, completed five months of service in the Mission Field.

2015 is coming fast


Scripture for the Week
1 Timothy 4:12

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou and example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.


This is my Motto.  My Dad showed it to us when it was the youth theme like years ago.  It is so good, and just because we are young doesn't mean we can't be disciples of Christ.  We can be disciples!

HAPPY 2015 EVERYONE!

ELDER TRACY




Elder Butts and Elder Tracy at the Christmas Mission Conference December 2014

Elder Butts and Elder Tracy at the Provo Mission Training Center in July 2014

Monday, December 22, 2014

BECAUSE IT IS CHRISTMAS IN . . . BOLIVIA?

¡Feliz Navidad!     

    
Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope every one's holiday season is good!  This has been my first Christmas where it is hotter than 90 degrees everyday.  Bolivia is in summer right now.  So this is my first Christmas with the Heat Miser if you remember who he is.  He is from those old clay Christmas specials -- The Year Without A Santa Claus.



It has been so hot in Bolivia.  I have a thermometer on my Alarm Clock.  It was over 40 Celsius .  That is pretty hot -- equal to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

This Week in Bolivia:


We sang Christmas carols to menos activos (Less Active Members) and the Sick.  I did more service with the Familia Maco Mendez.   I broke glass bottles into a hole I dug up. Then we walked and talked and got into the Christmas Spirit.
Saturday, we went and did that Service with the Familia Maco Mendez. I used a martillo (hammer) and smashed glass bottles into a hole Elder Sabourin and I dug. And then I played with all seven puppies that they had.  He recibido mi galardon.  They committed to go to Church by themselves. So Elder Benson and I trusted them. Well yesterday they didn't go, so they stopped progressing.  But we are going to work that much harder to get them converted.

Yesterday we went caroling with the Members in our Barrio. It reminded me of our Tracy Family Tradition. Our family goes caroling every year.  I can´t remember not going caroling.  So it felt good to be singing En La Judea, En Tierra de Dios (Far Far Away on Judea's Plain).  We visited Fabio Suarez, and he just started crying.  My heart was full, and in that moment, I understood the Love and Hope that the Christmas Season brings.  Verdaderamente Jesucristo es la Dádiva.  (Truly Jesus Christ is the Gift)!!

Scriptures for the Week

Because its Christmas there are TWO!
Isaiah 9:6 and Luke 2:8-14
Isaiah says: 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:  and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Might God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.


This was 700 years before Christ was Born.  Isaiah knew that Christ was coming.

Luke says: 

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:  and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.



These are the most comforting words mankind has ever received.


Let the words change you!


MERRY CHRISTMAS

Elder Tracy



Monday, December 15, 2014

GOLDEN INVESTIGATORS, LA CLINICA AND TRANSSEXUAL

This week was fun and really gross.

Fun:   
We´re going to baptize five people in January. We met a family during street contacting and they came to Church with us yesterday!  Their name is the Familia Maco Mendez se llama.  We moved tree trunks at their house on Saturday.


Bad
I went to the Hospital with a stomach infection or possibly food poisoning.   A Family of Menos Activos (Less Active Members) gave us some Majadita, that really good rice food, and I ate a whole bowl of it.  Well, I didn't know it, and I don't think they meant to do this, but it was out in the open for like a day, and they just re-heated it. 

So, at 5:00 in the morning, I go to the bathroom and just empty my stomach.  Throwing up and terrible diarrhea.  It was awful.  I went to the Hospital and received IV in my arm with medicine and fluids. They said the Majadita is killer when its bad.  I only missed one day of work and I am feeling much better now.



Jonathan at the hospital after eating bad food.

Majadita



I also had the "pleasure" of talking to a Man Woman.  We got a reference from the other Elders to go visit a menos activa. When we arrived a Man Woman opened the door.  It is funny, because I have learned ONE thing --  All Drunk people, Gay people, and Drugged people know a little bit of English.  This "guy" was just sitting there giving us the eye, and we literally said to ourselves that we can´t be here.  We then ran out of the house.  When we turned to shake hands and leave, the gay guy said "Ciao Baby"!


So yeah, never going back there again!


But that was this week.


Jonathan with a crow on his finger at an investigators home.

Scripture of The Week
1 Thessalonians 5: 16-21

Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  Quench not the Spirit.  Despise not prophesyings.  Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good.


Que Dios les bendiga.

God Bless You Everyone.


Elder Tracy

Monday, December 8, 2014

NEW COMPANION, SERVICE AND CCM



Elder Gutierrez, Jonathan's Trainer and  A Ward Mission Leader From His Area

This week was dramatic for me. I said goodbye to my Father  (missionary trainer -- companion), Elder Gutierrez and I said hello to my new companion Elder Benson from San Diego, California. He is a gringo!!!!  


Jonathan's new companion, Elder Bennion from San Diego, California.

Elder Benson has been serving for 16 months in the mission.  He only speaks Spanish to me.  I think he is trying to shake my English habit, lol.  We have been companions for almost a week and we have been working super hard.  We are always ready to knock doors if we have to lol. 



We did a service project at the Familia Alanocas house. 


Service Project


They think they know English, and know that there are three gringos serving in Quince, they are going crazy.  We used sand paper to rub yellow paint off some of their walls they needed to repaint.  I stood on a chair, which was on a table to reach the ceiling.  Then they served us fried chicken. Mhm mhm good!
Jonathan in Santa Cruz, Bolivia


So in my area, there is a "CCM" or a Centro de Capacitacion. The MTC (Mission Training Center) in Spanish is " El Centro de Capacitacion Misional" or CCM.  So I have included pictures of me and Elder Benson at the CCM, which isn't the MTC for our Church.  Just another building with the same name.  LOL

Scripture for the week:
Doctrine &Covenants 109:13

And that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord's house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness.



We have been teaching a lot about temples, and this is the scripture which is on my Temple Recommend case my Mom got me. So it makes me happy when I read it.


Que tenga una buena semana.

Elder Tracy



From Jon's Mom:

Another picture from Jonathan!





This is my new Bolivian wallet. Lol.
It is a little money pouch.

Mom:  How are you feeling Jon?

Jon:  I'm feeling great Mom.  I am getting used to Bolivia and all that stuff.  It is just really hot down here right now.

Jon was telling me (Mom) what he was sending home for Christmas for his siblings and Dad.  I told him that he was too sweet to think of us.  He said:  "Well, Tengo que quedarme dulce.  (I have to stay sweet).  I thought that was pretty cute.


Monday, December 1, 2014

WEEK 13: CAMBIOS, PACKAGES AND OTHERS



This is the last week of my training.  It is getting super real. Three months is nothing in the Mission Field.  I still have a lot of time, but I know it will go fast.

This week: I picked up a duck, which immediately pooped in my hands.  Found cool graffiti, and I ate more majadita.

Bolivia Duckling

This duckling pooped all over my hands.  I was chasing it because I wanted to touch it like any other person.  So I held a duckling.  Good day.

Street Art In Santa Cruz, Bolivia

I was walking in my area and I saw some really cool street art.  So I took some time to appreciate it like any other American does. Took some selfies with it.  lol.

We went to the Familia Alpire´s house to have dinner.  I have never eaten more in my life.  I thought I was going to die. I was so full.


Majadita -- The Best Food In The World


Walked, walked, talked, talked . 


The Church has started a new initiative called, "He is the Gift". With Christmas coming up, the missionaries are trying to help put emphasis on Christ this Navidad.  Remember. ¡Él es la Dadivá! (He is the gift)


Scripture for the week: 


Matthew 5:3-11


Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek:  for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart:  for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers:  for they shall be called the children of God.  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.





These are the Beatitudes. These are the things every man needs to do to be exalted. Remember the words of President Gordon B. Hinckley, "Be grateful, be smart, be clean, be true, be humble, be prayerful."



Que Tenga Una Buena Semana


Elder Tracy