Monday, April 18, 2016

WEEK 83: MORE TRAVELING, ZONE CONFERENCE, COLD AND HOT

Well.

We had Zone Conference this week. President Willard, our Mission President, came down here to Villamontes.  The Elders from Yacuiba and Camiri came down too.  We had a GREAT conference.  I haven't had such a good conference since I got into the Mission.  President talked a lot about the desires of our hearts and how we need to be worthy to have those desires be made a reality.  

Alma the Younger had his reality come to pass. In Alma Chapter 29, found in the Book of Mormon, Alma the Younger wanted to be an Angel and preach repentance all of his life.  In Alma Chapter 45, he receives the wish of his heart and is translated and taken up to God.  The spirit was so strong in the Conference.  Afterwords we went and ate lunch with President Willard. We were talking about the Zone. Only two months until President Willard goes home.

I went on exchanges with my District Leader Elder Cummings. He taught me a lot about keeping the investigator focused in on what we teach.  We contacted a couple of referrals and found some new families.  I am so happy with my area.

Elder Dansie, my companion, and I are proud of our Zone. We had 40 people attend Sacrament Meeting.  We are the best Zone in the Mission!



Scripture of the Week: 
Jeremiah 16:16

Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.

 

1. Elder Cummings on Exchanges in my Area









2. Elder Cummings




3. Found this picture in a Church History Book we were    reading. I'm going to have this Mustache Beard combination





4. When we get bored after lessons



-- 
Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy
  Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia
              2014-2016

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

WEEK 82: LOTS OF TRAVELING

Bueno!

Where can I start off for this week ...... We traveled a lot this week.  We came back from Yacuiba, (1 1/2 hours south) and then we went to Camiri (2 1/2 hours north).  I was in a car for like six hours. It was a long time to be in a car. But what can you do.

This week was fun. In Camiri, we did splits with the Elders there. Their area is just a giant Mountain.  Every street you take takes you up the mountain. So I was dying of oxygen deprivation and the others are jogging up the hills like nothing is happening. We taught five lessons and then we ran back into the Trufi to get on the way to Villamontes.

(Explanation from Mom)

Trufi
The trufi (taxi ruta fija or fixed route taxi) is a type of taxi that has a set route (displayed on a card that hangs on the windshield). 



Then we just did a lot of shenanigans. 

We have been sleeping on the roof because it was so hot inside.  And then Elder Cumming fell down and cut his leg. So Elder Dansie and I played Hospital.  Elder Dansie super glued Elder Cummings cut on his leg shut, with Elder Cummings Permission, of course.

We had nine people at church yesterday.  
We are baptizing ten people by the end of this month. 
#Best area in the mission


Scripture of the Week: 
Matthew 22:1-14

And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner:  my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready:  come unto the marriage.

But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth:  and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

Then saith he to his servants.  The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not  having a wedding garment?  And he was speechless.

Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there
shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

For many are called, but few are chosen.


Pictures for this week!
1.  Camiri in splits


2.  Elder Dansie Burning Trash on the Roof


3.  Me with the Trash fire


4.  Villamontes. The Jungle side


5.  Secret Tunnel in Villamontes



6.  Our beds on the Roof


7.  Elder Dansie and Elder Cummings in the Surgery



-- 
Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy
   Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia
                2014-2016

Monday, April 4, 2016

WEEK 81: GENERAL CONFERENCE #4

This week was super fun. 

We have been traveling a lot. Had my first leadership council with all of the other zone leaders. We have been having a lot of success. We get to travel a lot. We have traveled over 16 hours this week. It has been a long and tiring week. But it was all worth it. Because we got to go to Yacuiba and see the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. So much revelation was received. If you aren't a member, I invite you to visit LDS.org. There was a lot of miracles to see. I like being a missionary.

The Colque family went to both sessions of General Conference, so they are on their way to be baptized on the 16th. Pray for Felix, Dora, Edwin, John Hyrum and Ana. They need every one's help to be baptized on the 16th. 

My companion and I are doing really well. I hope that we can keep having success.


Scripture of the Week: 
3 Nephi 16:1-3

And verily, verily, I say unto you that I have other sheep, which are not of this land, neither of the land of Jerusalem, neither in any parts of that land round about whither I have been to minister.

For they of whom I speak are they who have not as yet heard my voice; neither have I at any time manifested myself unto them.  

But I have received a commandment of the Father that I shall be numbered among my sheep, that there may be one fold and one shepherd; therefore, I go to show myself unto them.


-- 
Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy
  Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia
              2014-2016



1. We were waiting for a member. So Elder Dansie went to         stand on the Field







2. We all bought the same Bolivia Team shirt


3. General Conference: Elder Beals and Dansie

4. General Conference


5. Last Session of Conference