Week 055 - The Legendary Move Of Climbing Into The Font From The Viewing Area

Hey! My family!

I am totally psyched right now. One reason, because I loved the story of Katie going out on a walk by herself saying hi to all her acquaintances from school. I am also glad that the Greenes were able to take one for the team and show whose boss for the youth activity. Don’t be surprised if you’re asked to be the last minute teachers to every class, activity, or conference for the future. But I’m also pretty psyched because Sergio and Rosia were successfuly able to be baptized on Saturday.

It was a little crazy because we had been trying to plan this baptism for 10AM, and inviting people to give messages and such, and no one was really able to come to the baptism. But we eventually were able to find a few people to come help out. At the same time, we hadn’t really seen Sergio all week because he was out of town for work, and was supposed to arrive on Friday. He didn’t. But was then expected to make it into town that morning on Saturday. So we changed the time to 5PM, and it turns out there was some kind of stake activity that afternoon, so no one could really come. But it’s alright because the Bishop and Lalo could come. Clutch. So it was us, some family of Rosia and Sergio, Bishop and Lalo. Super neat. It was a great experience. The font was filled, and the church was clean. Everything was all ready.

They had asked me to be the one to baptize them earlier that week, and when it was time for the ordinance, I led the team to the door that leads to the font. But who knew that if you close the door to the font? it automatically locks. No big deal, we just needed to find the key. Nope. No one knows where the key is. We spent like 10 to 15 min looking for this key that we literally just had 20 min earlier. So it was time to make the legendary move of climbing into the font from the viewing area. Because apparently you can open it from that side. And it did.

Now it was time for the baptismal ordinance of Rosia, but for some reason I didn’t really think about what I had to say for the ordinance until I was actually in the font. So I retraced in my head what I said a year ago baptising Donato. And then staring to say "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ…" Bishop stopped me saying, I had to say the name. That’s when I totally lost it, and was thinking, "man.....what name?” I was reminded that I needed to say the full name of the person. It was all good. I did have to repeat the whole thing three times but in the end it was a full and complete cleansing. Plus, it was all practice for the baptism of Sergio.

Sergio was really funny when he got out, he was pretty pumped and excited and couldn’t stop talking about what just happened. He was like "wow, wow, che, I feel so fresh right now. I need to go talk to my new wife about how fresh I feel right now." You better son. Once we were all dried off and ready, we headed back to sit and listen to Lalo’s 15 minute talk about the Holy Ghost. I think he read 5 whole chapters, and explained explicitly the significance of each one of them. I was looking at the bishop as he was trying to get him to stop talking, pulling all sorts of hand signs to cut the speech.

The next day was super awesome when all the members welcomed them to the ward at church. Sergio and Rosia were confirmed by some of the members in the ward and everyone gave a great welcome. Everyone is really excited to have a new younger couple become members of the ward. Surprising… a bunch of less active people showed up as well, because they were all friends with Sergio. Hopefully they stick around.

Man though, I’m really happy about what’s going on with this family. We are going to talk more about temples this week because they’ve been wanting to know a lot more about that.

Today has been awesome, and I’ll let you know why. Because I was casually walking in Santa Fe today, when I came across the stadium of my favorite soccer team, COLON! And it just so happens that the gate to the Colon stadium was wide open. So as a Colon fan, I rightfully took my place in one of the throne seats within the stadium. Hopefully one day I’ll make it for the games.

I love you guys. You are just the best. Thank you for your loving testimonies that you share with me, which always strengthen my testimony. Dad, it’s great to know the mission work has never changed. That it has always been taught and followed by the spirit.

Hope you guys have a great week. Love you

Elder Greene

Week 054 - I’m Pretty Responsible About My Sunscreen Usage

Well Happy Birthday to Claire!

What an exciting week for the Greenes. Shakes, zoos, talks, bonfires, trespassing. I don’t believe it could have been any better. But really, happy birthday Claire! You’re super awesome! Hopefully I’ll get to hear another talk from you in the future. I’ll have to check out the zoo when I get back too. Zoos are pretty sweet, especially if they have churros. Hopefully they sell turkey legs as well.

Well, thanks for the reminder about MLK day, because I was able to go back to the apartment and make the raddest alfajor shake. It was not Chick-fil-a, but it was an Elder Greene special. Man… “Chick-fil-a. I could eat there seven times a day. Where the people laugh and children play. Oh I’m in love with Chick-fil-a. Classic.”

So I was pretty discouraged today because my favorite panaderia is closed until March. So that means, no donuts, no facturas, no churros, or super dank bread until March. So that’s the big downer about my week, but it’s alright, I’ll have to improvise.

This week was pretty slow, we didn’t have a lot of fixed lesson, only with Rosia and Sergio, who by the way are the cat’s pajamas. But we did a lot of knocking and contacting this week.

It’s funny because when you are in an area for a long time, (for example… me) you start to reach a point where you’ve contacted almost all the houses. So what do you do? You knock their door again, but 4 months later. This is how it plays out… They answer and say, "I thought I told you I don’t want anything." I say, "Oh I’m sorry, you must of mistaken us with the Jehovah’s Witness." "Oh really?” "Yeah, it’s a totally different group of people that knock on your door and bug you. We are new and have a special message. Plus I’m from America and have no idea how to make a good steak. And apparently Argentinians makes good steak. Will you teach me?"

Everyone thinks we are Jehovah’s Witness. We’ll be walking in the street and a 10-year-old will walk by with his friend, then punch his friend. The friend who got punched will say, "Don’t do that, Jehovah’s Witness is coming." That happened.

Do you remember Halloween when Elder Andrew and I wore those Halloween ties, and some guy across the street yelled at us saying “wow what a tie eye"? Yeah, so that guy is named Juan. And Juan owns a bar, and he is always trying to get us to go to his bar and hangout with all of his 60 year old friends who hang out at the bar. Bars are pretty funny here because people build bars wherever they want, and there are a ton of them, and everyone picks and chooses their favorites. And so the same old retired guys are sitting in front of their bar each day. Too bad Juan lives in the sister’s area, and they don’t want to make the move and go to Juan’s house.

Lalo invited us over to eat empanadas on Thursday night, but it turned out, he invited us to make empanadas; the tortillas, putting the carne in the tortillas, and then frying them. It was actually a pretty fun time. But you can tell that Lalo has no idea what he is doing, because he wanted to make the salty and sweet kind; but just pumped the saltys with tons of salt, and pumped the sweets with tons of sugar. But who cares… its fried food. And we made enough for dinner and lunches for the next two days. I’ll send you a pic.

The circus came to town and everyone is hyped. Everyone’s asking, "Hey, have you been to the circus yet?" Well huns, what do you think I do all day? I’m serving. It would be cool to go to the circus though. We walked by it last night on our way home, and it’s defiantly a circus, full of trailer vans and hicks. It’s great!

It’s a really great and exciting week, because Rosia and Sergio should be getting baptized this Saturday. We talk to them yesterday, and they are really exciting, and have no doubts that it’s something they want to do. Their car actually wouldn’t start yesterday, and they walked to church by themselves, which is like a 20 min walk for me, and I walk fast, and don’t have to walk with kids. So that proved to me that this is something that they want. Luckily it wasn’t hot that morning because sometimes during the day you just get fried walking around. Don’t worry I’m pretty responsible about my sunscreen usage. Everyone asks why I’m not sunburned, because I’m white of course. So I tell them that I have some dang good blockage running around my body.

Next time I talk to you guys we should have a new family of converts in the church of Jesus Christ. I’m loving it, I really am.

I love you guys and I miss you, and hope you have another fantastic week. Especially with our new president. America should be great.

Elder Greene

Week 053 - Time To Take Down A Pepsi Max And Prepare Them To Get Baptized

Wowzers! It’s MLK Day. Thanks for the reminder. Now I’ll have to go make a shake of my own, because people don’t really know how to make a good milkshake around here. I’m glad you guys get the day, I already kind of get the day off because it’s Monday, so I’ll probably go take a nap or something. Not much to do here in Recreo, but drink Pepsi and nap. But I love that.

Sorry I had to leave you with a cliff hanger last week, but Friday was a total success. Sergio and Rosia had an appointment to be married in the government building here at 9:30 in the morning. So we went, and some of their family members. We were the 2 witnesses. So I had a nice view of everything going on and had to answer questions about the couple. About whether or not they had been married before, or if they were brother or sister. As far as I was concerned, they were not. But it was great. And then we took pictures and everyone was psyched. Super good times.

Later Elder Ramos and I prepared kind of a "reception" for them in the afternoon. We had been trying to get members to come all week. I guess they got busy playing soccer or something. I’ll send you some sweet picks. We got balloons, tunes, food. It was all ready. I came away feeling pretty successful. We had two members give a few words about marriage and family. Sergio and Rosia gave a few words to their family. Especially Rosia, because in response to what they were hoping for in the marriage, she responded with "Following Christ to receive unity and happiness in the family." I thought that was cool.

And then we blessed the food and had a jam fest. We had to make a playlist, so I made sure to get some of the greats in there. Of course we had the Argentinian faves such as cumbia. Modern day cumbia such as Rombai and Marama and Toco Para Vos. Look them up if you want some sweet Argentine jams. If you know who Rombai is, you become the coolest person in town… you just pop into somebody’s house and yell “Rombai”, and everyone is down to talk to you.

I made sure to put in some of the greats… Forever - Chris Brown, Will You Still Love Me- Chicago, Yeah 3x - Chris brown, Forever Young - Alphaville, and Sky Full Of Stars - Coldplay. Classic. When Forever came on, everyone was asking who was singing, I told them Chris Brown and almost everyone came with the same reply, "Oh, el negrito." Exactly, the little black guy.

It was pretty great, and we got to know a lot of their family, and they got to know a little about the church and the importance of family. We actually had a few people come up to us and ask us to pass by their house, which was cool.

Yeah, that was our super-duper cool week. We spent most of the time teaching Sergio and Rosia during the week and preparing them for Friday. I got to talk to Sergio at the end of the wedding day, and he was kind of nervous about the whole marriage previously. I asked him how he felt after, and he said that it already happened so what’s there to worry about now. But he said some things that I really appreciated, which was that he and Rosia are always talking about how they feel pretty happy and calm when we come over to teach them, and that is something they would like to feel all the time. So it was a great week.

Now it’s just time take down a Pepsi Max and prepare them to get baptized. I’m lovin it!

I hope you guys have a great week. Killing it. Especially since dad gets to stick around!

Elder Greene

Week 052 - Everyone Loves The Word

Hello My Family,

So this has been a great 2017 here in the Recreo of Argentina! I’m glad all was good on your travels back home! Back to the grind.

This has really been a great week. We have been working a lot with Sergio and Rosia, and they are really awesome, and open to accept all that we teach, because they have formed a testimony that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. They came to church yesterday and it was testimony meeting. And there were some great testimonies shared about the blessings of the true church of Jesus Christ, and more specifically how God helps us through our trials, and about the great knowledge of the plan of salvation. And this couple really found peace; in that if they follow this path they will be happy and receive help in their trials.

So they have accepted all the commitments we have given them, even the word of wisdom. Which is something hard for Sergio, because he plays soccer every day, and after every game they go out and drink. But he has decided that he wants to go play soccer with another team that he knows doesn’t drink after games, but are a better influence for him and his family. So I thought that was cool, because there’s a lot of people we give the word of wisdom speech to, and people accept it and agree not to drink. But Sergio has taken action to do what he can to follow a commandment that the lord has placed before him. They are especially excited for this Friday because they have a date to get married. And so we are helping them get excited and prepared for that. So it’s a pretty exciting week.

The ward is trying to put on a party for them in the church, after the marriage. So we need to figure all that out; food and good times and such.

Recently we were stopped by a man in his car. He was so impressed by the way we preach that he wanted to hire me in the Catholic Church. In a pretty high position. He was disappointed that I live in the U.S. But was excited to hear that I’ll be around for another year. He was screwing around I think. But I thought it was pretty funny. He kept bugging me about writing my name and number down.

We have a new ward mission leader; Lalo. Actually he used to be the mission leader, but he bugged the bishop so much about being mission leader that he got his calling back. So… good times, and chilling with Lalo. Let the festivities begin. So we had a meeting with him at his house and had sweet pig asado this last Saturday. Of course with a Pepsi Max. Whenever I and Elder Ramos get soda, it’s always a Pepsi Max... or a guarana, which is an Argentine cherry soda. But usually a Pepsi Max. When we have to bring the drinks, we bring Pepsi Max of course.

Mom I like your analogy with the cups. I’ll have to use that some time. Analogies are great in missionary work, because about 90% of the time, no one understands what you are talking about, but still love to hear the Word. Everyone loves the Word. If you ask my investigators why I’m here, they’ll say "to hear the Word of God". No Hermano, I’m here to bring you unto Christ. “Oh does that mean I have to leave my house" CLARO! So analogies are great!

I love you guys so much, keep it up with the great New Year!

Elder Greene

Also I received your letter. Our Christmas card this year is so prime, I love it. I also got some cards from Mel and her family, and from Uncle Tyler, and from the relief society. Let them know that I really appreciate the Christmas cards, it’s nice to receive letters all the way down here in the ole Argentina.

P.S. I have pictures for you guys but I totally left them in the apartment. Lame Elder Greene right.

And thanks for the handwriting compliment, I’ve been working on the little things in the mission like handwriting, and it’s good to be able to read other people’s handwriting.

Week 051 - A Crazy Drug Bust Going On In Recreo

Hello Family,

I’m totally jealous of your sweet trip with the Linfords; to have an entire week on vacation without problems and total enjoyment. I totally miss the good times with the Linfords. Those were also some of the best trips. And what a way to start the new year. 

And if you were wondering, I pretty much experienced the same Christmas I had just 7 days earlier, all over again. It’s literally the exact same thing, but instead of saying Feliz Navidad, everyone says Feliz Fiestas. But it was another spectacular time anyways, with fireworks and people screaming and singing in the streets the entire night. Yeah last week was a pretty great week. 

I have my new companion, and he’s from Peru, and it has reminded me of my first transfer in the mission, because he does so many things that Elder Ricra used to do, because Elder Ricra was Peruvian also. Like the accent, and the words, things he talks about. It’s kind of funny. And check this, he listens to "Page" all the stinking time. It’s the lady that sings church songs, and one of her songs is called "Joy", and it doesn’t sound that happy of a song. So yeah, I’m listening to the Page now all the time, and really feeling the joy of my first weeks of the mission. But he does make way better food. 

We both have had a great week. And we have been focusing on teaching a couple,  Sergio and Rosia. They are really excited about the church because Sergio has had friends who are members, and the members have told him about all the blessings they have had, especially in the family. And Sergio has 2 kids. They agreed to be baptized this week. And right after we explained a bit about marriage, and they agreed to be married and to get a marriage date that next day. She was a little bit more excited because it was something she kind of wanted to do sometime. Sergio was a bit embarrassed though, because he didn’t have a ring or anything in the moment. 

It is all going pretty fast. But they are awsome, and doing whatever they can to get married. They spent the whole weekend getting papers and getting analysis  and stuff. Off topic but interesting subject - by law here, to get married you have to get blood tests and  other things to make sure your not related. But what’s great is that they will be able to to get civilly married on the 13th. Super close, because we thought it would be way later. Anyway, I’m super happy because they are really getting excited and pumped about everything that is going on. 

We have been getting into some storms lately here, So I get to wear my rain boots, like all the cowboys wear around here. Somebody gave them to me. So sweet. I don’t have to get muddy shoes. And... for free. 

There’s been kind of a crazy drug bust going on in Recreo this week and it’s been freaking out everyone. We were building a members roof on Wednesday, and he stopped us to have us watch the neighbors get busted by the cops. The police were walking out of the house with so many marijuana plants. The member, his name is Lalo, he was getting a pretty good kick out of it, because the owner of the drug house was getting pretty frustrated that the police were taking all his marijuana away. 

Later that day we were on the other side of town, and we made it around a corner and we see some older kids booking it down the street at us. So we get out of the way and realize they each have their arms wrapped around big black buckets/planters; planted with huge marijuana plants. And everyone they passed, started getting wild; up and cheering and yelling. It was one of those comical moments where I felt like I was watching a movie, but it was real life. 

Soon the weekend came around and everyone was going nuts getting fireworks and steaks and what not. So we had our own chicken asado at our apartment. Which went pretty well, except for the fact that it tasted a bit like fish. I guess the parilla ( I don’t really know the word for it in english, but it’s the part of the grill that you put the meet on, but it’s not the entire grill) we borrowed, was used to cook fish the day before and we never cleaned it. But it was good chicken anyway, with a nice mashed potato and Pepsi of course. And then we slept on the roof again to watch the fireworks. 

Before I get off I want to say happy birthday to Katie, because it’s your birthday, so thats pretty nutz. But really do have a happy birthday. 

I love all of you and hope you have a great new year. See ya!

Elder Greene