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.)

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

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)

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

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

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

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