We have been having technical difficulties.
Sorry, not sure what happened exactly but just found this message from last week still in my Draft box.
Hello Family and Friends! I hope and pray that everyone is enjoying the beginning of spring as the winter snow begins to melt away. Down here in Argentina it is beginning to cool down again in the nights, so I have once again pulled out my sleeping bag cacoon.
This past week has truly been incredible, ever grateful for the the opportunity to work here in General Villegas. Maria, a young women Elder Man and I were able to meet in the street last week, has always been a christian, but never really practiced a religon or studied the bible. We taught a brief lesson on the scriptures and invited her to read the chapter 7 from the book of Alma to learn more of her Savior. After setting plans we returned back to her house to find her waiting outside at a small table with the Book of Mormon. She had done as we had asked and with the help of the Spirit gained her first testimony of the Book of Mormon.. verse 25 änd may the lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob¨touched her heart and, following her desires, we were able to teach her the doctrine of baptism and see the manner in which our garments may be cleaned so we may be brought forth before God, cleaned from sin. He lives, and He loves, and He´s given us the oportunity to read his words found in the scriptures. When one reads the Book of Mormon they are allowing our Heavenly Father´s love to touch their hearts, the hearts of all, hearts like Maria.
Yesterday in the church we had the attendance of 32! Our little building was llenito! )really full= Twelve of the the people in the Sacrament mtg werenonmembers investigating more about the church.. It was truly amazing to see the hand of the Lord helping members, less actives, and investigators make it to the Sunday reunions, General Villegas has been prepared by the Lord of the vineyard and it is truly a great blessing to work here. However, something we still fault is the power of the priesthood. President Castilla came down from Cordoba this past Thursday to some visits, upon his arrival he excitedly shared who we were going to.. Christian Avaka and Gerrardo Chichiri.. two future leaders of Villegas who need a little push right now. Unfortunatley, neither of them were home but nonetheless the lesson of Pte. Castilla has stayed with me. ¨Priesthood Power¨is real and is necessary in establishing Zion in all parts of the world. Hoping that ´little by little´the hearts of men here in Villegas will soften and that they may follow they example of their faithful in coming unto Christ each Sunday.. I don´t why we´re so stubborn sometimes.. boys will be boys.
While cleaning the church with Hermana Ojeda this past Tuesday I was flooded with great memories. Over the course of my life I have had the priviledge of cleaning many church buildings from the Seventh ward in South Jordan with my dad, to the Heber Lakecreek building with the Matthews family, to the MTC bathrooms with my Chick'Fil'A Georgian friend Elder Forsyth, to the holy Celestial room of the Provo Temple, to scrubbing the dirty tile of Capitan Bermudez barefoot.... I love these wonderful memories of time spent freshening up the sacred buildings of the Lord. Just like these dedicated grounds, we too need to keep our inner spirit clean and pure, our Savior Jesus Christ provides the supplies, time, work effort, and example.. Our job is to pick up the mop and work alongside him now.
I love what I´m doing and where I´m at.. Thankyou for your prayers and thoughts, I know they are a blessing to my life and the lives of those here in Argentina. Have a good week and keep on cleaning on!
Elder Larsen