Monday, January 26, 2015

LOOKS LIKE EVERYWHERE -- IT IS GOING TO BE HOT!




Hola Mis Queridos Amigos!!

Hey Friend! 

Elder Tracy here!  This week was a good week.  

Lesson Count: 11 with members, 9 with less actives, and 4 with recent converts. Twenty-four lessons is okay for a week. We are just under the standards of excellence for the mission.

Elder Castro and I are doing work. Every day here the temperature gets to 36 or 37 degrees Celcius. That is almost 100 degrees Farenheit.  So it is getting kind of hot here in the Zona Dulce (Sweet Zone)!

We have a baptism for this Saturday for Hermano Ever Cardinas. He had been taking the Missionary Discussions for FOUR YEARS, and my first lesson with him he told me he wanted to be baptized.  The Lord had been preparing him for FOUR years so that I could meet him once and invite him to be baptized.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.

We have another investigator that is progressing.  Her name is Natividad, and she has come to church twice.  We are working hard to teach the lessons so she can be ready for her baptism on My BIRTHDAY (February 14th). Elder Castro and I are going crazy, walking to all the cool places in Bermejo.


Scripture of the Week: 
2 Nephi 31:18

And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.



We enter the strait and narrow way through baptism.  When we are baptized, we take upon ourselves the name of Christ, and promise to always remember him. This is the first step to exaltation. 


Elder Tracy


(Message from Jon's Mom --  No new pictures today.  The internet wasn't working well.)

Monday, January 19, 2015

TRANSFERS: SANTA CRUZ TO BERMEJO, BOLIVIA

Hello my friends! 

Plaza Principal de Bermejo

This last week was really crazy.  To sum it up in three sentences:  I was transferred to a new area; I got a new companion; and I left Santa Cruz.

I said goodbye to Elder Benson, and to Santa Cruz. 
Elder Benson and Jonathan

Elder Beals and I hopped on a plane for a one hour flight to Tarija, and then after that, took a three hour car ride to my new Area in Bermejo. 

Elder Beals travelled with Jonathan.

 I am now serving in the 15 of April Branch.  I am living with the District President (Stake President).  

Entrance to the residence where Jonathan lives.


Entrance to the kitchen.


The kitchen.


Jonathan's bedroom.  His bed is the one on the left with the pretty rose blanket.  Ha!

The limits to my area are Argentina lol.  My new companion is Elder Castro.  He is from Argentina.


Elder Castro Jonathan's newest companion in Bermejo


Guess what we just did?  We just had a baptism this last Saturday for Hermano Ulises Rodriguez.  He´s super cool. 

Baptism of Hermano Rodriguez


With Elder Castro, we have a rule. We don´t go to lessons without a member.  So we are having a lot of success up here.  It is going to be super awesome.



Bermejo is literally the Jungle.  It is hot and humid, and the people here are really accepting of the gospel.  The River Bermejo splits my area from Argentina.   So I can run away to the South with my Argentinian companion.

Jonathan doesn't get to ride this scooter.


SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK:
ALMA 5:48-49

I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth.  And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on His name.

And now I say unto you that this is the order after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and everyone that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again.


And this is the Email. Have fun this week everyone.

Elder Tracy

Monday, January 12, 2015

AXES and PIZZA

Elder Jonathan Tracy's name tag.  Picture taken at the Provo MTC 8-17-14


This week we helped the First Counselor in the Bishopric cut down a tree.  The biggest problem was that we didn't have an hacha (axe).  I had to make my own axe with a stick and a hatchet.  So I used a machete to cut a stick and I made an axe handle. Then,  I proceeded to cut down a tree with an axe I made with my own hands.  It worked well enough.  I only got about half of it done.  But it was cool none the less.  Then they gave us the Bolivian equivalent of Kentucky Fried Chicken -- Chicken Kingdom.  That was good too!!

We bought pizza.  It cost 180 bolivianos (about $26) for two pizzas as big as a table.  Needless to say, we chowed down. We chose Hawaiian and Meat Lovers.  But it only lasted five minutes between four hungry Elders.  It was the first Pizza I have eaten in four and a half months.

Not much happened this week.  Just a lot of walking. And drinking juice. Everyone offers us juice.


Scripture of the Week
D&C 20:37

And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism --  All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church.

This is the requisitos para bautizarse.


If you are investigating the Church and want to be baptized, ask yourself these questions.


The Mission Goal for Baptisms and Rescues are 2,037.

D & C "20:37"  =   2,037


Have a good week! 

Elder Tracy



ADDING A LITTLE BIT FROM EMAILS TO ME (MOM):

I can't send pictures this week because the Bolivian Internet cafe man says I can't.  People upload virus on cameras and flash drives, and it shuts down a guys business.  So we will just have to wait until next week.

This Tuesday is Cambios (Transfers).   I might leave Quince (his area in Santa Cruz, Bolivia), but we will see.  We find out transfers tomorrow.  And then Wednesday everyone moves to their new areas if they are transferred.

Bolivia is hot and my hands hurt from typing. lol.

BYE MOM: HAVE FUN IN THIS NEXT WEEK:

JONALINA (one of the nicknames we have for Jonathan)

Monday, January 5, 2015

MEMBERS AND RAIN!

So this is how it goes. 

We just got into the New Year and I am feeling good.  And then, it starts raining.  It rained for 12 hours straight.  Hard rain. I'll send some pictures today, lol.  I had water up to my knees.  But I had the rubber boots Elder Gutierrez, my first companion in the field, gave me.  And that is the only really exciting thing. 



Standing Outside A Basketball Court

We have been teaching some people from Sucré.  They said they want to be baptized, so that is always fun.  I'm baptizing Lamanites. We have been talking to a less active 15 year old name Brahim. His parents have been members for over 40 years.  His mom is a returned missionary, and we are in the process of rescuing her. He has had some problems with drugs, but he is ready to change his life.

We ate a lot of food.  We have a member that cooks for us.  So he makes us Fried Chicken, Majadita, Pansa( Cow Stomach), Fried Potatoes and Churrasco (Barbeque)!

I held a mango as big as my head.


Elder Sabourin eating the large mango


Scripture of the week:
Moroni 8:25-26

And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; and the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.


We see here the steps of true conversion. As we take these steps. we can have the spirit of God with us forever.

Que Tenga una semana buena

Elder Tracy
Misíon Santa Cruz Bolivia
2014-2016