WEEK 73:SIX MONTHS . . . FOR THE FIRST TIME!! :)

Welp!

We have finally made it to six months in one area.  La Cañada is officially my favorite area in the whole mission!  My new companion, Elder Gil, from Argentina and I are ready to  "hit the pavement" and get to work.  My last companion, Elder Peña went to the Offices as a Secretary and now I'm the District Leader of the Sister Missionaries!

We have had four people come to church and we taught fourteen lessons with members present!  I hope we can keep doing this!

We have been teaching the Familias Eguez, Pedraza, and Gil so that they can be rescued or baptized.  And we also said good bye to Jorge Claros and we took some funny pictures there!

Scripture of the Week: 
1 John 4: 11-21

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

No man hath seen God at any time.  If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.  

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:  because as he is, so are we in this world.  

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

We love him, because he first loved us.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:  for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, that he who I loveth God love his brother also..

Pictures:

1. Family Home Evening with the Familia Dantas

2. The Elders with Maria Pedraza and Alejandro Salvatierra

3.The Elders with the Familia Eguez

4. The Elders with Angel and Yenny, with their daughter Lundy!

5. We are "building" the Kingdom with Jorge Claros

6. Elder Gil and I today

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

  Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

              2014-2016

WEEK 72: TRANSFERS THIS WEEK, FUN TIMES IN LA CANADA

Hey everyone! 

This week was super fun! We have had a good time with the Work here in La Cañada.  The only bad thing is that we haven't been able to work so much because my companion is starting to have panic attacks every single time we go and proselyte. SO, we have been having some cool down time while he is taking some daily "breaks" from the work. 

I have been thinking a lot about what we learned on Wednesday.  For those of you who didn't know, we had a World Wide transmission about "Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts,"  We received capacitation from two Apostles and three Seventies.  It was the coolest thing ever. The Lord really is "hastening his work" (Doctrine and Covenants 88:73).  And I know that we are part of this work.

But besides that, nothing too big happened this week. 

Our plans for our baptisms fell through because they didn't come to church this week and we haven't been able to see them for like one week.  But in February we are going to have baptisms!

Scripture of the Week: 
Matthew 6:33-34

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow:  for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.  Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Pictures:

1. The District.

2. Elder Gomez who finishes the mission this week.

3. Elder Brimhall and I.

4. Zona La Villa.

5. Baby Anteater on my back.

6. Anteater on my arm

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

           Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

                      2014-2016

WEEK 71: THE SISTERS THAT STARTED THEIR MISSION WITH ME ARE GOING HOME NEXT WEEK

Well!  We are starting to get into the hottest days of the whole Bolivian year. We have been getting into some crazy heat everyday here. The little weather monitor lies to you!

This week was fun because we have been having a lot people coming with us to the Lessons.  I'm happy that we are getting some work done. 

We have two investigators that are progressing super fast. We have an older Sister and her grandson. They are named Maria Pedraza and Alejandro. They are doing super well and have a baptismal date for the 30th of January.  They have told us that they want to be baptized! So we are going to get them all ready so that they can be baptized. And we have an 11 year old boy from a part member family. His name is Lucas Robles. He is the only one out of his whole 20 member family that isn't baptized. He is going to baptized on the 30th also.  His Dad is super Catholic, but his dad said, " I will support my son in what HE wants to do."  So we just have to help him understand the importance of being baptized.

Scripture of the Week: 
Mormon 9: 11-13

But behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles, even the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob: and it is that same God who created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are.

Behold, he created Adam, and by Adam came the fall of man.  And because of the fall of man came Jesus Christ, even the Father and the Son; and because of Jesus Christ came the redemption of man.

And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound; and they shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death.

Pictures:

1. Elder Brimhall and I have companionship transfer this     week!

2. The Most adorable puppy I have ever seen. This is Niño (Boy)

3. Dalio Vaca. HE was baptized in 1969 when he was a older man. He is 95 years old now.

5.Jorge Claros and I in ward counsel

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

   Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

               2014-2016

WEEK 70:WELP. IT'S JANUARY.

Well this week was super eventful!

On Monday, we did a zone activity and went bowling.  While we were there, The Arlen Tanner family from the Kansas City Stake start strolling in there and come and talk to us.  Both Brother and Sister Tanner served their missions here over 35 years ago and gave me some helpful tips for what I could expect when I am in the field.  Then we went and ate Papa John's Pizza in the Center of Santa Cruz.  It was greasiest thing that I have eaten in a year and a half.  And it was delicious!  Then we went and had a Family Home Evening with our Bishop.  They gave us fried chicken.  Sweet!

After that we just did some shenanigans. Get some people to church.  Taught some lessons. The usual.  But the best thing is that now, we are starting to get something moving.  This week we did a Ward Wide Fast for the people that wanted to participate. So we four missionaries, and our new Ward Mission Leader, and four other members joined us in the fast.  I hope something will work out!

Scripture of the Week: 
Helaman 5:10-11

And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins.

And he hath power given unto him from the father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.

1.Picture with the Tanners

2: Bowling with the Zone

3: Jorge Vaca and his mission call to Lima West

4: My picture at Papa John's

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

   Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

               2014-2016

WEEK 69:2016 PUEJ (THEN)

Well, this week was fun. 

We have officially hit the "Golden Years" of the Mission.  I'm so happy for everyone that I have met while I have been here in this beautiful place that is Bolivia.

This week, we have been having some fun doing missionary work.  We have been visiting a family called the Sanchez family.  Iver (the Dad) is interested in the Church, but just doesn't have that desire yet.  His daughters and Niece have gone to church for two Sundays in a row. So we are going to be rescuing his daughters (they are less active members) and baptizing his niece (she is a non-member).

But other that that. We haven't been to busy. Its kind of a shame. But I know this week, with your help and mine, We will get things moving here in La Cañada. We just did a ward wide fasting to get the Mission work moving. I believe in that power!

Scripture of the Week: 

Ether 12:12-21

For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.

Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.

Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.

Ye, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.

And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith.

And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.

And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.

And behold, we have seen in this record that one of these was the brother of Jared; forso great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger he could not hid it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him which word he had obtained by faith

And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the veil.

Photos. 

There is only 1     :(

1. Companionship transfer with Elder Soliz on New Years Eve!

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

           Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

                      2014-2016

WEEK 68: AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH, AIN"T VALLEY LOW

Well my friends, this week was a milestone in my mission for three reasons.

I ate half a chicken.   Then we went and Called our Families for Christmas. That was really eventful for me because it was my 2nd and last Christmas of the Mission. 

 I was able to see my new Nephew (William Beckham) for the "first" time and I talked to my sister Betsy`s husband for the second time in my whole life.  Then I talked with my parents and we had a good chat.  Then we went and did some caroling with my companion to all of the investigators that we had.  So that was fun and I kept with my tradition of caroling every Christmas eve :D

We have been trying to keep the District moving well.  I'm happy to say that we have a lot of prospective baptisms and rescues in January.  So we are going to be working super hard and getting everything done here.  I'm very proud of everything that we have done here in the Year of 2015.  We baptized over 1550 as a mission this year.  And I know that 2016 has a lot more miracles for us to see and find out about.

Scripture of the Week: 

Helaman 14:8

And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall believe on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.

1. Half Chicken Goodness

2. Selfie with my Banquet

3. Christmas Day at the Less Actives House.

4. The Sky is beautiful in Bolivia

5. My Area

--

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

  Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

              2014-2016

WEEK 67: LEADERSHIP ASSIGNMENTS, NEW FRIENDS, CHRISTMAS SHENANIGANS

Dear Friends and Family.

TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY FALALALALA LALALALA

I'm so happy.  Christmas #2 in Bolivia, and now I'm ready and willing to do what all Bolivians do. Like: Eat 2 tons of Fruitcake :( and Shoot fireworks lolol.

This week has been humbling.  We got new assignments, and I have been given the assignment of District Leader again.  I'm more prepared for this time and I'm ready to make things work here in La Cañada.  Elder Peña and I are going to be together for the Christmas time and I know that we are going to make Christmas a blast for everyone.

We did a special musical number in the Christmas conference.  We had a member let me borrow a Trumpet and we played some Christmas songs for the people, but it was like the "Backup" Trumpet that we had in the High School held together by tape and with the valves that are destroyed.  So I did the best I could for not having played in a year and a half and fought my way through to be able to play the Songs.  Then our Zone sang "How Could the Father Show the World"  And I had a mini solo because in Bolivia no one sings right.  But whatever!

Zone Picture for the Christmas COnference. I'm on the Far left.

We have been working a lot here to get some people ready for baptism.  But, we have one grandma and her grandson that are working towards a baptismal date.  They are Maria and Alejandro. So we will be working to get them ready for the 12th of January 2016.

 Scripture of the Week:
 2 Nephi 19:6

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, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Have a Merry Christmas, and I hope my family carols you in 3 days :D

1. Human Flagpole

2. They made me Thor in our Lunch one day

3. Giant Train Tracks

4. Elder Castro ( My companion from Bermejo) and I after the Christmas Conference and Program

5. Christmas Card

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

  Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

             2014-2016