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

Week of October 7

This will be my main email.

Things this week went really well. My new companion is from North Ogden, and we came together at the same time in the mission, so we are both experienced and our work this week showed that advantage. The district leading goes well. It's nice having someone else take over a bit of the responsibility, so I don't have to deal with everything.

Yesterday, we went to go visit one of our investigators, and we were going to see if she kept some of her commitments that we left her, as she had not been keeping them in the past, and if she had not kept them, we were going to drop her. So we go and it turns out that she wasn't there, but her daughter was, and she invited us to share with her anyway. So we sat out in the yard and started to get to know her and she started opening up a lot and she told us of a recent experience that had affected her greatly. She told us she wants to leave behind her past life and "empezar de nuevo" or to start fresh, and the start clean. So we taught her about baptism and stuff. it was cool to find her because we have been praying lately to find those who are prepared to recieve the gospel, and the Lord definitely heard us.

I like what you told me about what Elder Bednar taught, and it's really true, that most people don't get everything out of conference as they could. That's definitely some good advice.

As far as me coming home, i should be scheduled to leave on the 20 of June, and i will get home the 21 because of the length of travel. So I will get home on a Friday. As far as vacations, any of those sound good. I wouldn't mind going to Disney, either in Florida, or in Cali. But a cruise would be cool, and so would a church history tour. You guys decide, I'm really indifferent. but you could go to your conference thing and then we could go on the vacay, but it's up to you guys. That's basically all that i will say on the matter.

Week of October 1

This week was a normal week outside of conference. We worked a bit more than we did last week, but other than that there was not anything super exciting. On Monday like I said there was a special conference, which was actually really cool. On Tuesday we had a meeting with the entire zone to share about the conference. Wednesday was boring, and Thursday I went on exchanges with another elder in my district, and it went well enough. We actually found two super evangelical people who told us we were going to hell for teaching against the Bible and teaching new doctrine and all that stuff, so that was really annoying. We couldn't even speak really as they just kept throwing stuff. They didn't even want us to pray to bless the house or the family...

Conference was really great, I enjoyed Saturday a ton and was really uplifted and learned quite a bit. D Todd Christofferson's talk in the Priesthood session was great and I loved it. Sunday was really good as well.

Now the announcement from Pres. Monson was absolutely jaw dropping and I'm super excited for all of the youth that will be able to leave on missions. I think I will just wait a year when I come home and I can marry an RM...........anyway really exciting stuff. The temple announcements are also a great addition.

What did you guys think about Conference? Any favorite talks? Inspiring stories? I'm glad that you all enjoyed Maddox and ate some for me.

This past week I have been studying a lot in the Bible, and have been enjoying a lot of the directness from James and the other apostles and epistles. Especially James 1-22 that we need to be doers of the word and not hearers only, which was mentioned in Conference.

Anyway, we found out transfers today, and I'm staying and my comp is going. I'm not going to lie, I'm glad that its happening, I've been struggling a lot in the current situation with my district as well, and my district has quite a bit of changes as well. Anyway, my new comp will be Elder Peterson, who actually came with me from the MTC so I know him already. We will be co-district leaders which is cool as well. Being with two experienced Elders is always super effective.

Today during p-day I was walking around the city, and I found a super sweet suit store, and found one of the best looking suits that I have ever found, and it's not that expensive, so I think I will come back in like 8 months when I'm nice and skinny to go buy it. The suit that I came in is a complete joke, seeing as how I've lost so much weight. It looks like a parachute on me. Kind of embarrassing. Anyway, love you guys and I hope that you have a good week!

Elder Treviño

Week of Sept 24

How it doo folks?

This week was a very interesting and non productive week. On Tuesday and Wednesday we had to move houses again, and I will send you the photos next week as I forgot to bring my camera. Thursday I went to do exchanges with an elder in my district, which actually did go very well. Friday, we didn't really work, and Saturday either. On Saturday, there was an activity, and it was fun to go too, but nothing special happened.

Today, however, was super sweet. We had a big meeting with all the leaders in the mission and Elder DiGiovanni of the Area Seventy and his wife came to talk with us and it was a super good meeting and I learned a ton from it.

I don't have much time to write, but I love you guys and I hope that you enjoy conference and Maddox this weekend.

Love you all!

-Elder Treviño

Week of 10 Sept-16 Sept

So this week was definitely a pretty good week and I hope to tell you about it. And I hope that I remember everything as well. I wrote some of it down so I think I should be good. Also I forgot to mention that I got your package with the mac, and the protein. Thanks for sending it, also if you would be so kind to kind of keep a steady flow of it that would be nice.

Last Monday was a pretty normal Pday. Like I said, we went to a fair thing and bought stuff, and that basically all that we did. We had some visits at night that went well and we had a good noche de hogar.

Now Tuesday was a really good day. I taught a good district meeting talking about diligence and obedience, which I hoped would help correct some of the problems we are having here in the district. Afterwards we had a really good lunch appointment to get us some good energy for work. We began working, which involved a lot of tracting and contacting as there is still not a whole lot to do here in the area, and it was pretty good. We talked with a lot of people and we were able to get a good amount of lessons taught as well. We found an older woman named Alejandra that weighs a good 350 lbs, and she has read the entire Book of Mormon wants to get baptized, but she can't walk, or get to church, so we are trying to figure out something with her. So the day wound on and we were getting toward the end, and my companion just wanted to go back home, but I kept wanting to work as we still had a good amount of time left. We contacted a lady, who wasn't too interested but gave us a reference to a house behind her. So we went and contacted it and I swear man, that the guy we found is pure gold. His wife as well. His wife has been searching for a church and asked God to help her a while back and she prayed before opening the bible and opened straight to James where it says "One lord, one faith, one baptism" or something like that, and she has been looking for the "one fatih" ever since. He is also trying to figure out what's up with his life recently, and we testified that it wasn't coincidence that we came when we did, and that we were guided there. He believed it was true and I'm sure he could feel the Spirit. So we left him a folleto and set up a return appoinment.

Wednesday sucked, and that's all I'm going to write.

Thursday was good but not nearly as good as Tuesday. We did a lot of return visits that we had set up on Tuesday and weeded out a lot of the not potential people and seeing who could really progress. We had another good lunch cita, which makes me happy.

Friday not good tampoco.

Saturday was really good as well and we got to talk to our golden investigator again. We didn't even get a chance to explain anything before he started asking us question on what he needs to do to repent and all that stuff. He is awesome, hopefully he keeps progressing.

On Sunday, we also had a broadcast stake conference for all the stakes in Paraguay and Uruguay. President Monson presided and Elder Walter F Gonzalez of the Presidency conducted. Some other people were there like Elder Neil L Anderson of the Twelve. Everybody spoke in Spanish except President Monson, but for that we went to another room that had the broadcast in English. All the talks were good and many people enjoyed it. I also saw many people from my old area because it's the same stake, so that was cool as well. After going back and doing studies, we left of divisions with Youth from the ward and we had a good time and got a ton of work done in between the 4 of us.

So yeah that was the week. I'm kinda struggling with my comp but I'm trying to work things out and see how I can help the situation. But over all I think all of the difficulties are helping me grow a lot. I feel that recently I have been learning a ton about myself and what i need to do in life personally, in the mission and for the real life. All really good things.

Also, in other news. The Local companion that I was with in Areguá, Ernesto Patiño got his mission call and will be going to the Mission Chile Santiago West, and will be going in November, so I was happy to hear about that. Cool stuff all around. So my week was really good in some aspect and not so hot in others but overall things are going well.

Also, 15 months.

Love you guys, have a good week.

Elder Treviño

Whoo, it was quite a week indeed. On monday, i dont know if i told you, but i went to Burger King and then went to a type of walmart place nearby and they had some cheap shirts that i bought for my morning exercises, one is flourescent yellow. be proud. Then nothing much happen last monday. I went and i bough some souvenir stuff for the fam of some cultural paraguayan stuff. Then nothing much happened.

Then on tuesday we had a zone meeting, instead of a district meeting, so i didnt have to teach, but now that i remember i had to teach a little bit anyway. We talked about a good many things, one of the which is what motivated us to come out on the mission, and what now motivates us to keep working. It was an open discussion within the zone, and ended up being more of a testimony meeting but it was good nonethe less and helped me to analyze and thing of what makes me tic. We then went out to work with a youth from the ward, and he showed us some more of the members and recent converts that we had yet to meet.

Wednesday, the zone leaders came to be with me, and some other elders in the district, and we left in trios to go work. Being in a trio absolutely screws a lot of things up but we got through it alright. nothing special.

Thursday, nothing special either but a good working day. My comp was really tired and said he would be sore the next day. I told him not to worry about it, but then....

Friday morning, my comp couldnt get out of bed and was having some strong back pain so he called the Mission Mom, and she called a doctor who is from the states and doesnt really speak spanish, but he managed to figure stuff out. Its was basically strained muscles, and pain killers would be the solution for the next couple of days. So we didnt work on friday, and on saturday not really either, but we did do a service project.

Then Sunday, was interesting....I dont really get along with the Bishop of the ward, just a difference in personalities i suppose, and when he doesnt agree he get mad and all up in your face. I asked him to print me off a list of members for reference and he didnt think it was expedient that we should have one and was all up in my face, but you know me i dont back down. Reminded me of the time Mr clark yelled and me and i yelled back. There was no yelling though. I try to be patient, and thankfully i am, so no problems. The Mission President also came to our chapel yesterday, and we had a small interview concerning the district, asking about current situations and things like that, and thankfully things are improving, but as always there is a long way to go. But yeah the week has been an improvement from last week, and hopefully things will keep improving.

Today we went to a cultural/city expo which is like the freedom fair in provo, whith booths and people selling stuff, and i bought some recuerdos. cool stuff. We are probably going to go back again because its close, and i want to see if there is anything else that i want to buy.

Anyway, i love you guys and i hope that you all have a good week!

Elder Treviño