WEEK 24: I WAS INVISIBLE FOR TWO WEEKS

Hey!  

This is the Llama beanie I bought, and the Argentina jersey my Companion gave me.

I'm not dead.   For the people that emailed back last week, I was stuck in the house for Carnaval for a week. 

I had a lot of fun, because last week... I TURNED 19. I'm a big kid now. I feel weird for being a little bit older.  And for not having a Birthday in the house for the first time.

This is my Birthday Cake. It was sooooooo goood.  Hermana Lidia brought it.

I saw the biggest cricket ever. I have a picture with my finger next to it for scale. It was so big. 

And I'm teaching Arnoldo, who is going to be baptized this Saturday.  He is so cool!.  In our last lesson, he actually started crying because he said the Gospel has changed his life.  We met this guy drunk in the plaza, and he was a little drunk.  But when he accepted the Gospel, he changed.  And now he is a Disciple of Christ.  It has been a privilege to meet this guy.  He is the coolest. 

Scripture for the Week --  Alma 56:46-48

 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me:  Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.

Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying:  We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

The Stripling warriors learned and believed the words of their mothers and were delivered. They knew the Lord would protect them for being righteous.

Have a good week. 

Elder Tracy

From emails received today.

Here is my Package.

JON:  I got the Christmas Package like 20 minutes ago. Thanks for the floss. I ran out like a week ago.

MOM:  Hey, Jonathan!  How are you doing today?

JON:  Hi Mommy. I'm 19 :D.  Hey. I got the Christmas Package today.  I'm wearing one of the new ties.  I love the little picture book.  Everyone is looking at it right now. But the word Trumpet isn't trumpeta lol.

MOM:  What did you do during Carnival?

JON:  I slept.  

MOM:  Any last words of wisdom for me to share with your family, friends and followers?  Any other requests of things from home

JON:  Nope. I love you Mom. JOOON

WELL, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING FUNNY TO SAY: SO IT IS JUST WEEK 22.

How is it going my friends?!?!?!

Jonathan and a stray dog that followed him for four hours one day.

Elder Jonathan Tracy here with my weekly update from The Mission of Miracles.  

The miracles are real and I see them daily.  This last week I have been really trying to see the miracles everyday.  The members have been giving us more references to work with.  Miracle of the week.  We received a reference for a Hermano (Brother) named Arnoldo.  His friend, Oscar, gave us the reference.  Arnoldo isn't married, he has a child with a less active member, and he literally was searching for us before he called us.  He said he wanted to change his life. He also said he wants to be baptized as soon as possible.  So we are working with him to get him ready. He is super cool and really has the desire to change.

I was driven 3 hours to go to a Mission Conference in Tarija. About 20 minutes into the ride, another missionary, Elder Beals threw up everywhere, and I was sitting next to him. But we got him cleaned up and we made it to the Conference. President talked about not being prideful.  I'm proud to be a missionary.  Then I gave the Closing Prayer, and I talked to my Trainer, Elder Gutierrez that day. 

Seeing Elder Guiterrez, Jonathan's first companion in Bolivia, at Zone Conference.

Then we rode 3 hours back to Bermejo.

And that is what happened this last week.

Scripture for this Week: 

Alma 26: 11-12

But Ammon said unto him:  I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.  

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore, I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

The example of Ammon, and his knowledge of who he really serves, is a testimony builder.  He knew that by himself he could not do a lot.  But with God, he could do all things. It is the exact same with us.  We can do all things in God.

Have a great week everyone.

Love, 

Elder Jonathan Tracy

Misión Bolivia Santa Cruz

2014-2016

Jonathan and Chelo, a friend that left to study in Tarijo.  Picture taken at Chelo's house.

This young man is Chelo, he is a member that had done some visits with us.  He left for Tarija to go study today. And I was in his house when this picture was taken.  lol

From Jonathan's email to me (MOM) today.

MOM:  Did you get any of our Christmas packages yet?

JON:  I haven't got anything.  And Mom, next Monday I can't write you, because I'm going to be stuck in the house for Carnaval.

MOM:  What is happening during Carnaval that you can't be outside for?  Wild women?  

JON:  For Carnaval.  People throw balloons full of paint, and they drink, and the women walk around naked I heard.  I'm going to be in the house from Sunday until like Wednesday.  I saw my Trainer again. We went to a zone conference in Tarija, so I rode 3 hours in a minivan to get there, and afterwards. 3 hours back.  Elder Gutierrez is serving in Tarija. Theres like 10 Elders serving in Bermejo, so 5 of us got into a minivan. and another 5 in another minivan.  We left at 6 in the Morning to get to the Conference at 9, and we left a 4 pm.  They fed us good food.

MOM:  Teach any interesting lessons this week?

JON:  I just have been teaching the 2 things that Dad wrote me about. The Divinity of Christ and the Restoration.

MOM:  Do people have cars and take themselves to Tarija or do most people ride the buses.

JON:  They have these things called "Micros". Its like a tram system, In my old Area, we always used the 100, the different numbers have different routes.  Last week. Remember how I said I lost like 5 kilograms?  I was feeling sick. 5 Kilos is 11 pounds Mom. I had really bad Diarrhea, but I'm better.

MOM:  Anything you need?

JON:   Just tell people to write me please. :)

PLEASE WRITE JONATHAN via EMAIL:   jonathan.tracy@myldsmail.net

His Birthday is February 14, 2015!  He will be 19 years old!  Let's give him a bunch of email for his birthday!

LOOKS LIKE I AM NOT GOING TO NEED A JACKET!

Elder Tracy in Bermejo, Bolivia -- January 2015  -- "This is what half of my area looks like."

Hola Queridos Amigos!

This week was SOOOOOO good. 

We baptized Ever Cardinas, the guy who had been looking for the Church for four years.

Elder Tracy, Hermano Ever Cardinas, Elder Castro -- at Hermano Cardinas' Baptism.

Baptismal Water Looks Green In Bolivia

But right now, we´re kind of stuck. Usually, the members give us "Referencias" or people who we should go visit.  But we haven't gotten any.  And when we do street contacting, everyone says one of these two things:

1: No tengo tiempo ahora!  (I don't have time right now.) 

2: No conozco a nadie!  (I don't know anyone). 

So we are running out of investigators.  We just keep baptizing like mad.  But we are running out of people to teach.  But we are trying and I'm seeing the blessings.  The Lord is proud of all his missionaries.

Elder Castro and Elder Tracy today - 2/02/15 -- Preparation Day

RIO BERMEJO 

Scripture of the Week: 

Moroni 8:3

I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace, will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end.

You all are in my prayers,  and I hope I can be part of yours!

Élder Jonathan Tracy

Mision Bolivia Santa Cruz
2014 - 2016

City picture of Bermejo, Bolivia -- "The city area of my area."

Picture Taken From Inside An Investigator's House In Bermejo, Bolivia.

SNIPPETS OF EMAIL MESSAGES RECEIVED FROM JONATHAN TODAY!

MOM:  Tell me about Bermejo.

JON:  Half of my area is a city, and the other half is Jungle.

MOM:  Do you have someone to do your laundry like you did in Santa Cruz?

JON:    I do my own laundry in the washing machine and sink in the home where I live.

MOM:  Looking at the pictures that you sent today --  Are there shops on the first floor and apartments on the second floor.  

JON:  Yea. I live in the Shopping area of Bermejo, I call it the Market District. So we go through the Markets every day

MOM:  Do you cook your own food?  How far to the Church Building?

JON:  It takes me like 7 minutes to walk to church. We have a pensionista, a cooker lady.

MOM:  What type of weather can you expect in the next seasonal change?

JON:  They told me it starts getting super cold around April to August.  I'm going to be here at least until May. So I'm going to be getting some Alpaca wool Sweaters lol

 MOM:  Do you like the food?

JON:  I like the food. I'm starting to eat more Argentinian food. 

MOM:  What temperature do they consider super cold?

JON:  Really cold is like 15 degrees, I'm thinking. And it's the Humid cold.  But it is like 90 everyday here right now. 50 percent humidity. Mmmm Hot

MOM:  How are your shoes holding up?

JON:  The soles of the memory foam shoes are starting to rip out. The big Danskos are still going strong. And I have my little church shoes. I can get new ones for cheap if I need to. Shoes go for like 60 bolivianos. Thats 8-9 Dollars

MOM:  How are you feeling? and what are you going to be doing later on Preparation Day?

JON:  I've lost 5 kilos in a week. And I'm playing some volleyball or soccer.

I love you Mom. 

Jon


PS from MOM:  He looks happy and healthy in the pictures!  So glad!