Monday, May 23, 2016

WEEK 88 :IT IS SO COLD HERE . . . I'M GOING TO NEED A JACKET!

This week has been super cold! 

We are going into a Bolivian Winter right now. It has been getting down to the Low 40's and it is so cold here because no one has insulation in their house. I wake up every day and I can see my breath in the morning. I love it and at the same time I hate it. 

These next few weeks are going to be critical. 

Here in the Branch we are trying to get the Chapel built.  And we needed more people attending church to get it.  So for two days, President Willard, the Santa Cruz Mission President, sent five more missionaries to help us in the work. The Branch is getting ready for some huge numbers.  We got 161 people coming to church this last Sunday.  And we need to get at least 180. This week is going to be so important.

In other words, everything is going good. 

I hope everyone has a great week!

Scripture of the Week: 
Mosiah 3:5-8

For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.

And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God.



Pictures:


1. Fish. I'm one of the only Missionaries in our mission that can eat fish. It is allowed in Villa Montes.





2.Elder Gil and I when we went and visited on Wednesday.



3. Silvestre Vargas. Coolest guy ever.


4. District Meeting





5. Villa Montes at night

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

Monday, May 16, 2016

WEEK 85: DOWN BY THE RIVER. PANCAKE BREAKFAST!

Dear Friends,

I would like to say Happy Birthday to my Little Brother Connor who turns 18 this week. I love you Connor and I hope you have the best birthday in the Whole World!


This week went by super fast! We have been working super hard! But we only had four people in Church this last Sunday :(. But Elder Del Pozo and I keep the spirit and keep on working!

We went fishing on Monday. We went to the nearby river, Pilcomayo, and we had some fishing line, hooks, and meat. So we went and threw our lines in, and Elder Choque catches a fish in less than 30 seconds. We were all like "Seriously" and he's like " I got me a big one". And it turns out to be a fish that they call Kuchi, which means worthless! lololol He caught a tiny fish and then we didn't get anything else on our lines!  And then we didn' t catch anything. But we lost all of the hooks, so we just went home.

The we had some pretty cold days. Its been getting to down to 45 degrees. It has been pretty cold down here, but today is nice and sunny and we have been having a lot of fun.

The Colque Family have been having some difficulties with getting married. They don't have the "animos" or the spirit to get married. They have been living together for over two decades, but they aren't sure if they want to get married :P.

And that has been our week. 

Note: Now that I have less than three months until I go home, I ask you to NOT SEND ME ANYTHING
We will wait until I get back to give it to me.


Scripture of the Week: 
Alma 7:11-13

And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.


1. Elder Choque throwing in his hook!















2. 30 seconds later...














3. The Pilcomayo River


4. Pilcomayo












5. Elder Del Pozo eating my pancakes!















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

WEEK 87:VISIT FROM ELDER MONTOYA OF THE SEVENTY. SERVICE ON THE FARM. BACK TO MY FIRST AREA!

This week was very long but very rewarding. I have done a lot of things this week that I thought I would never have done on my mission.

Tuesday, we went and had a Service Project on a Cattle Ranch.  We had to roll Hay Bales for a half mile to get them to the feeding pin of the cows. I stepped in cow poop.  Best service ever.  We got to pet and play with the calves. The only bad thing is that one of the mothers got out and almost killed us for touching it's child.  But we got over the fence fast enough. Our Pensionist Elina has a lot of cattle and land so we will be going back this Tuesday to do more service.

Wednesday, we went around and visited some people. It is was kind of raining.  But it was still hot so we went without jackets.  My companion and I like to joke around sometimes, so he jumped into a puddle, which promptly got my WHOLE shirt covered in mud (The mud stain came out). But I was kind of mad for the rest of that day. The good part was that we went with a cool family of members, The Saucedo Family. They have helped us find a lot of new investigators this week. And they go with us whenever we call. They are so cool!

Then we traveled down to Santa Cruz on Thursday night to talk with Elder Hugo Montoya of the 1st Quorum of the Seventy. He taught us about the word "minister".  We as missionaries should minister as Christ ministered to the people in Bountiful.  Person by Person, Soul by Soul.
He also made a bunch of Elders look like retards.  He asked some pretty doctrinal questions and he challenged us to answer them.  Needless to say I kept my mouth shut on the things that I didn't know. 

Sunday I called my family for Mother's Day. It is my last call until I get home. I only have like 2 months left until I get home.





I love being a missionary. It is the most fun thing I have ever done in my life. I have never felt so much satisfaction from anything. For all of you who haven't or aren't thinking about going on a mission, I invite you to make the change AND GO!! People are waiting for you!



Scripture of the Week: 
3 Nephi 7: 15-16, 24-25

And it came to pass that Nephi -- having been visited by angels and also the voice of the Lord, therefore, having seen angels, and being eye witness and having had power given unto him that he might know concerning the ministry of Christ, and also being eye witness to their quick return from righteousness unto their wickedness and abominations;

Therefore being grieved for the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds --  went forth among them in that same year, and began to testify, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now I would have you to remember also, that there were non who were brought unto repentance who were not baptized with water.

Therefore, there were ordained of Nephi, men unto this ministry, that all such as should come unto them should be baptized with water, and this as a witness and a testimony before God, and unto the people, that they had repented and received a remission of their sins.



Pictures go in this order:

1. Me with a hay bale.





2. This is Papa Noel. the cows name is Santa Claus lol.





3.Us after the service.




4. Me with a Members Puppy


Monday, May 9, 2016

WEEK 86: HAVING FUN IN TIERRITA DEL SOL

Sunday, May 1, 2016

WEEK 84:TRAINING. VISIT TO TARIJA AGAIN!

Doing service digging a septic tank.

Well this week was a lot of fun. And I took a lot of pictures so my Mom doesn't get mad at me this week :P 

I traveled a lot this week! We had transfers on Tuesday and I had to go to Santa Cruz.  But there was a riot outside of Villa Montes and we couldn't get through.  So we had to take a 10 HOUR bus ride on one of the most dangerous roads in Bolivia.  It was a sheer cliff drop. So we had a very stressful ride. And then we missed the flight in Tarija. So we had to stay until 4 pm. And I could visit all of the people I had met while I was in Tarija a year ago! 

I saw the Lazo Familia, Dionisio and his familia and the Bishop. Then we flew out to Santa Cruz at 4 pm and I picked up my new companion.  He is a new missionary fresh from the Missionary Training Center and I'm going to be his trainer. His name is Elder Del Pozo, or Elder of the Hole. He is from Tacna, Peru.

Elder Tracy and his new companion.



We then went to the house of the secretaries and then on Thursday we had to fly 3 times!  We flew from Santa Cruz to Cochabamba then to Tarija and finally to Yacuiba.  I was so tired that day. When we went back to Villa Montes there was a blockage and we had to walk with their suitcases on the Highway!  How much fun was that!  I am the new District Leader here in Villa Montes. We have a lot of work here to do!


Scripture of the Week: 
Jacob 6:2-5

And the day that he shall set his hand again the second time to recover his people, is the day, yea, even the last time, that the servants of the Lord shall go forth in his power, to nourish and prune his vineyard; and after that the end soon cometh.

And how blessed are they who have labored diligently in his vineyard; and how cursed are they who shall be cast out into their own place!  And the world shall be burned with fire.

And how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all they daylong; and they are a stiff necked and a gainsaying people; but as many as will not harden their hearts shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you.  And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of they day, harden not your hearts.


Pictures:
1. Juan Orellana and me. I love this dude.



2. The Narvaez Family. My ward Mission leader in Tarija

3. Lazo Family. The best people ever.


4. Chipana Family. They make the best food!

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