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

WEEK 86: HAVING FUN IN TIERRITA DEL SOL

Well everyone. 

I hope you had a great Mother's Day. I'm especially happy for my Mother, Dana Tracy and everything that she has done for me! I love you Mom!

We have been having some fun here in Villamontes. We went to a Museo, or a Museum, however you spell that in English, about a War that they had here in " El Chaco" which is the region where I am serving right now. They walked us around and we saw some old World War One Style Weapons. And then we all took a group picture outside the building. Then we all went and bought some souvenirs. 

 Us last week at the Museum!

On Tuesday we had a pretty normal day. A lot of people are falling through with their appointments. It doesn't help that everyone works until like seven, so we just walk around talking to the people in the street about the gospel. The people here in Villamontes are great people, but they have a terrible memory.

We went and the Elders started playing with my camera. I present to you the Tri-Pod Tracy picture! 

The Tri-Pod Tracy picture

We have been having a lot of fun. Elder Del Pozo and I are going to be working very hard.

My companion and I yesterday on Mothers Day

My companion killed a Snake with a hammer

The Lord's work can not be frustrated!

Scripture of the Week: 

Alma 56:47-48

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.

Have a great week everyone!

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

  Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

              2014-2016

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

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

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

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