Week of November 12

(Somehow I missed this email when it came in. Sorry for the out-of-order posting.)

So this week was pretty awesome in many ways.

Monday we were up in Asunción as I commented last week, and we ate really good food. The night was pretty tranquilo. On Tuesday, I taught district meeting and the day was really good and we finalized some teaching things for our investigator Hugo. Wednesday was pretty uneventful. But on Thursday, we did the Baptismal interview with Hugo, and it went super well, and he passed. Then, later on Thursday, my comp and I were able to go to the Temple, to see the sealing of one of my comps converts from last year. It was really sweet, because now we can only go once a year, as far as a scheduled time, so I got to sneak a visit in. The temple is the coolest place ever. The sealing session was also really awesome. It was weird because I did not know the people, but it was still a good spiritual experience, and very motivating for me to want to be sealed as well. There really is no other option.

Friday was interesting, because we went to go a interview for some elders in my district, and the people weren't there, so we had to go back on Saturday. But Saturday was absolutely sweet. We don't have a lunch appointment on Saturday, so I decided to do Thanksgiving early. Oh. My. Goodness. I almost died, because the food was so good. It reminded me of how good the food from the states is. The cookies that you send me turned out really well, and all the food in general as well. We ate all the food, and it was a lot, but that's how thanksgiving is supposed to be. I will send photos.

We had the Marriage and Baptism of Hugo Flor, and his now wife, Andrea Pereira. It was a bit stressful getting everything ready, but in the end everything went really well. Hugo asked me to baptise him, and I did of course. It was great and flawless. my comp and I bought a cake as well, and it was really really really good, and not expensive. I will be sending photos. But really I'm really happy that everything went well with the baptism. Hugo and Andrea were very happy, and you will see that reflect in their photos. Hugo was a very golden investigator.

Remember how I said that a guy that tried to commit suicide found us? Well, we haven't been able to find him again. Well he found us, he gave us his address and nothing else. So we went to find him, and we couldn't locate his house so we started asking around, and we found is next door neighbor who was Andrea. We talked to her a little bit, left a pamphlet and set up a return appointment. When we went back, she said that her husband had read the pamphlet, who is Hugo. His Andrea was baptized when she was 10 and had been inactive, but she remembered much about the teachings and had been explaining to Hugo. Anyway, to make the story short, God lead us to Hugo through mysterious means, but that's how he works, and now Hugo got baptized.

Also this next week, Sabrina, who I believe I mentioned a while back, will be getting baptized as well. But sad news is that there are transfers this week and is pretty probable that I will be going. So I got a picture with her, and hopefully I will stay here, but I will find out tonight, and you guys will find out next week.

Anyway, that's the week in a nut shell. love you guys, have a good week.

Love,

Elder Trevino

December 1, 2012

December 1, 2012, a set on Flickr.

Elder Trevino's Thanksgiving, a wedding, and some baptism photos.

Week of November 5

This week was a very nice week, and very much without excitement. There is not too much to explain or to describe, but just so you know, our investigator Hugo will be getting married and baptized this Saturday, and he is very excited, as am I. And another investigator, Sabrina will be baptized the following week. Which I might not be there for as there will be changes in the upcoming week. I've been praying to stay, because we have been working so hard and I would very much like to see the fruits of my labor, but its all up to the will of the Lord. The ward here is just absolutely great and they are very helpful in the work, and the area in general is one that I would like to stay in. And there is the Gym here as well. ;)

I also just went to the office this morning to get the Thanksgiving packages, so I got them, but still they are not opened. So I'm sure that what ever is in there is really nice and I'm happy for it. We also found a very classy restaurant in Asunción that is close to the mission office. They had a ton of different stuff ranging from sandwiches-tacos-pizzas-salads-soups and they had tons of desserts. It reminded me of a Higher class Toojays, that place in Florida that had tons of dessert stuff. I personally had tacos and New York style cheesecake, with a passion fruit smoothie. Very good.

But yeah, things here are going great in the mission and I feel like the more time I have the more that I grow and learn. Teaching now is so fluid, and it's very easy to apply the gospel to almost every situation, which is very helpful for finding new people to work with. Che aikua´a la Guaranime. Which means that I know Guaraní, but that's a lie. Guaraní is hard, and not too many speak it where I'm at so it has not been a focus for me. pero si sé hablar español como un mexicano. no se preocupen.

Also for Christmas- I was thinking that you guys could just call me from skype to my cell phone. That way I don't have to find a cybercafe that will be open on Christmas, and I can just chill in my house. And it would be fairly cheap. Think about it.

love you guys and have a good week

Elder Treviño

June - November 2012

September - November 2012, a set on Flickr.

Elder Trevino's pictures from Paraguay, June - November 2012

Week of the 29 de octobre

So this week was absolutely fantastic.

Last Monday we played ping-pong, and soccer and I was really tired after. Then we got back to work as usual.

Tuesday was when the fun really started. So remember last week when I said that there was a guy that tried to commit suicide? So on Tuesday we went looking for his house, and we started just talking to his neighbors to see where he was at, and in the process we found the most golden investigators I have ever seen in the mission - his name is Hugo, and his girlfriend is Andrea. She is a less active from another ward, and they have been living together for about 5 years. Lately he has been trying to find purpose in life and knew that he could find it in God. Basically to make it short, he is going to get married and baptized here soon, and we went to church yesterday. I gave him a shirt and tie as a gift, and everybody thought that he was already a member. He loved going to church and has huge desires to go to the temple to go do work for his dad and to get sealed in the temple. Coolest guy ever.

Then the rest of the week went well, and we kept finding really qualified people to teach, which is a gift from God for our hard diligent work. He is blessing us a ton, and in turn we are just carrying out his work.

This morning we found a MMA gym, and one of the elders in my district is a ufc fighter, so we got permission and went and worked out and practiced fighting a bit, and wrestled a bit. then we went to BK. Successful day. So I'm sending pics today, watch out.

Have a good week!

Elder Treviño

Week of October 21

So this past week was really good, with the highlight of course being the visit with Elder Bednar. but I will get to that in a second. On Monday last week, I went and bought a new suit which looks absolutely great on my newly ripped body. I will send pics next week if I can. Also I bought a new belt and some other small souvenir things taking advantage of the loca city which has a lot of things of that sort.

During the week we worked pretty hard and we were having decent success. But I'm definitely noting the help of the Lord in our work. On multiple occasions, we encountered with people that were looking for us. On Wednesday, there is always futbol (soccer) at the church, and we usually go to plan things with ward members and youth and stuff. Anyway, a man showed up who had tried committing suicide the night before, but didn't go through, and decided to go look for help form the lord. He found the right place, now we are teaching him. Then yesterday during church, a young man showed up right before Priesthood started, and wanted to know more about the Book of Mormon. We still haven't been able to teach him, but it's a start. and other situations like that are starting to happen more and more. Definitely the fruits of hard work and trying to submit to will of the Lord.

The conference with Elder Bednar was absolutely one of the most spiritually powerful events that I have experienced before. First, on Saturday morning we got up at 4 in the morning to prepare, and to travel to a city called Fernando De la Mora, which is a two hour bus ride away. Anyway, all 400 missionaries from both the north and south missions were in attendance. As soon as Elder Bednar walked in, we all stood up and you could just feel the power of the spirit that was with him. Also, Elder Arnold, the President of the South America South Area was in attendance. The conference wasn't just him talking but more of a discussion in the which we were allowed to both answer and respond to questions. it was very awesome. He basically taught about being a worthy conduit to let the spirit testify en all moments, and to let the Spirit teach and not us. As well as letting our investigators be agents, and not objects, helping them act for themselves. Very good conference.

And we finally had some investigators in church this Sunday, so hopefully they will keep progressing so they can be baptized in November.

That's about it for this week. Have a good week you guys!

ELder Treviño

Week of October 14

Hi mom, thanks for writing me.

Things are going well here, as my new comp Elder Peterson and I are working really hard to have some success and help out the ward here, and so far things have been going well.

On Monday we got completely soaked from a rain storm that we got caught in but it was fun. Tuesday was a normal day but we were able to find two sweet investigators who seem to be progressing nicely. And Wednesday as well was pretty normal.

On Thursday there was a baptism/birthday party that we went to and we ate some hot dogs and cake, which was nice. Friday, we worked with the zone leaders in a trio and got some good work done, and also found some more people to teach, followed by a church soccer tournament to help support the ward and get funds for EFY for the youth to attend. On Saturday there was a big activity of the seminary students of the stake at our ward where we went out and did some proselyting. It was fun to see how nervous teenagers are, but I was able to help them out some as well.

Then yesterday, we went to go look for investigators in the morning and it was raining super hard, and we got soaked. And unfortunately there was nobody that was willing to go in the rain. So there was very little members in attendance as well.

So now I'm just enjoying p-day and resting up for the week. This Saturday, we have the great opportunity to listen to Elder Bednar who is coming to visit both the North and South Missions. So it will be a very edifying experience, I'm sure. Anyway, that's all that I got for you guys this week, have a good one!

-Elder Treviño