WEEK 92: VILLAMONTES -- THE CELESTIAL KINGDOM OF MISSIONARY WORK!

This week was really fun. 

We have been working very hard with our recent converts and a new returned missionary friend Jaime Alejandro Trujillo. We have been doing a lot of divisiones and we were able to teach 18 lessons with members this week! We have been going hard. 

Tuesday was fun because we had our first taste of the New "Brazilian" Returned Missionary. He speaks more Portuguese than Spanish now!  So he has been working with me and we have been teaching lessons with Members left and right. HE is so cool!

We had to do some weird service this week. 

On Wednesday, we went and caught Wild Pigs in the house of our pensionista. So my companion had the privilege to pick up two little disgusting little pigs.

We are pretty sure they are going to be Boars when they get bigger, because they are all hairy and stuff. Then for our reward, they let us eat wild Armadillo. 

It was actually really good. But you have to try it for yourself! It was like roast beef, but with a little bit more fat on the bones!

That's about all we did. Pray for our Investigators, Marcos and Mariela. They have to make the decision to get married to be baptized in two weeks!

Scripture of the Week: 

3 Nephi 11:8-10

And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they saw a Man descending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

-- !

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

  Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

              2014-2016

Pictures go like this:

1.Elder Aguilar in a transfer that we had

2.Us again

3.ELder Del Pozo with the Little Boar

4. Me with a Parrot

5. Parrot again

6. Roasted Armadillo. Yummy

7. Oh Hello There

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

   Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

               2014-2016

WEEK 91: IT IS COLD HERE IN THE HOTTEST PLACE ON EARTH!

It was so cold here this week. You know it is cold when you are in your bed, and can see your breath come out as smoke.  I am freezing to death out here. We have been working so hard. And the Lord is blessing us with success. We have been able to find some new families. Some new families showed up at church without us even inviting them. Lots of lessons with members, and lots of people in the church.

Did splits with the Zone Leaders this week.  Elder Dansie went with my companion to Yacuiba and I got to be with one of MY BEST FRIENDS IN THE WHOLE MISSION.  Elder Wilson is my new Zone Leader.  We had a lot of fun trolling around through Villa Montes.  We were able to find a lot of people that Elder Del Pozo and I couldn't find for a while. We took some time in the morning before lunch to get some Recuerdos.  Elder Wilson and I have the plan to get Panchos. I have a picture for everyone to see.

Then we had a cool Zone Conference where we read about "Eyes of Faith".  We read from Numbers Chapter 13 and 14 from the Old Testament.  We learned a lot about Caleb and Joshua trying to get into the land that "Flows with Milk and Honey".  Which really means that there are good things in every area of the mission!

I have four weeks exactly before I get home . . . getting kind of nervous. 

I hope everyone has a good week!

Scripture of the Week: 

3 Nephi 20:8-9

And he said unto them:  He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled.

Now, when the multitude had all eaten and drunk, behold, they were filled with the Spirit; and they did cry out with one voice, and gave glory to Jesus, whom they both saw and heard.

Pictures go like this

1. Elder Del Pozo and I during Family Home Evening. They drew on our faces!

2. Elder Tracy from "El Chaco". This is the traditional dress of the region where I am right now.

3. Elder Wilson and I. This time we drew on each other.

4. Our Area. This is what most of it looks like. Dirt roads and lots of dogs (haven't been bitten yet)!!

5. The name tag on the church

6. My district on Sunday: Elder Aguilar, Elder Del Pozo, Elder Tracy, and Elder Brown!

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

   Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

              2014-2016

WEEK 90: COW SKINS AND TRANSFERS

This week was a lot of fun. 

First off, we had some transfers. Elder Choque from La Paz left Villa Montes to go to the center of Santa Cruz, the Cañoto Ward.  To be honest, I'm happy and relieved that he has left.  He was constantly looking for fights from my companion Elder Del Pozo and it is going to be a lot quieter in the house!

Then Elder Aguilar had to go pick up his new companion, and he lasted 3 days out of Villa Montes with Elder Dansie our Zone Leader.  Elder Del Pozo and I promptly cleaned everything and then Elder Aguilar came back with his new companion who is......Elder Brown from Salt Lake City, Utah! So we have the three Elders that are going to witness my "death" (completion) in the mission. They are going to be getting a lot of free stuff when I leave! 

My companion and I have done a lot of service this week. We visited a member named Johnny Cruz, and he works with Leather.  He makes wallets, Scripture Cases and just about anything else you can think of.  Well we donated him a cow hide, that is literally my size.  It is so big and it was heavy too. Below is a picture of said hide. Then on Saturday, Elder Del Pozo and I helped move two families into different houses. We helped our Young Men's President move his house. He had three trunk loads of stuff to move. So we used all of our morning to help him. Then in the Afternoon, we got an emergency call to go help Johnny Cruz and his family to move. So I got a little bit dirty. But the feeling of service for these two Brethren has grown! We love the members here in Villa Montes. 

The investigators here are progressing. We have found a new family, The Bravo family. They have a lot of interest in the Church and want to learn more. They attended church! And we are so happy for the progress that they are making! The Book of Mormon changes lives!

Scripture of the Week: 

Alma 34:15-16

And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.

Have a great week everyone!

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

   Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

               2014-2016

Pictures go like this:

1. Elder Aguilar and I with our trophies from a "Chess" tournament we had.

2. The Cow Hide!

3. Elder Brown from Murray, Utah

4. They made me cook a little bit on 

Sunday!

WEEK 89: LAST ZONE CONFERENCE!

This week was an EVENTFUL week in my mission.

Elder Hugo Montoya of the Quorum of the Seventies visited with my Zone!



We had a lot of fun moments here. I was happy to be able to do Divisiones with my last Companion, Elder Dansie. He came back to Villa Montes and we went ham. We taught like seven lessons that day, now that we BOTH know the area! It was a lot of fun being back with someone who I have worked with before. Still feeling the companionship connection as I call it. It was a lot of fun.

Then on Wednesday, we only taught three lessons. We just walked and walked and walked.  At least it wasn't blazing hot as it usually is. It was actually a really nice sunny day.  I went on another division with Elder Choque, a Elder from Bolivia. It was fun to see how he worked.  I just thought that we could have taken better advantage of our time.  I was kind of sick that day, I had a head cold, so I wasn't in my right mind.  But we could make the most of our time and find a new family to teach.

Thursday: The Assistants made a surprise visit to our house. So we basically got wrecked. Our house was dirty and they got there just to see us begin to clean up. Needless to say that it was an INTERESTING conversation that they had with me about the District.

Friday: Had my last Zone Conference with President Willard, and I HAD TO GIVE MY LAST TESTIMONY this conference. President Willard at least heard my testimony before he left! Then we had a super worthless division with Elder Peck, one of the Assistants. We did not teach anyone, just walked around from house to house for three hours. Every single plan that we had fell through. How awesome is that!

Saturday: Baptism for the other Elders: Miguel Molina was baptized.

Sunday: 131 people came to church!

Scripture of the Week: 

1 Nephi 13: 23-24

And he said:  Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew.  And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me:  The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel:  wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles.

And the angel of the Lord said unto me:  Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God.

The Book of Mormon testifies of the Bible!

-- 

Elder Jonathan Thomas Tracy

  Misión Santa Cruz Bolivia

               2014-2016

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

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