8/21/2012

Whats up?

This week was a hard one, with all the studies works prayers and thoughts i have put into these two families that we are teaching... they just don’t want to progress. I don’t understand why. I have never taught a family like these families. I feel that the Lord is sending his spirit and they are learning but they don’t want to progress. It’s hard. We had 3 people that were suppose to get baptized this Saturday but a couple days ago, every single one of them moved out of town due to work. It was tough to say good by and the worst one was the family of ricardo cause they moved to a city were the church is still not there. I begged him to stay but they couldn’t. The Lord is testing us but we continue to work hard. We need to find people that will progress. Well two funny things happened this last week, first we were walking and on the street a taxi comes flying in and skids to a stop nest to us and we hear a WHATS UP GUYS!! haha this guy then continues to swear and make jokes saying how he has been in Paraguay for 17 years and that he is from Chicago and kept saying that he was a gangster so all the people here are afraid of him and then as he pulled away just screamed at the top of his lungs peace out hahaha! Another guy we found let us into his house and we sat down and were going to teach him but he gave us a bunch of food and really quickly turned very feminine. Turns out he was gay and didn’t just want the word of God haha!
This last week i finished the New Testament for the first time, i mean like i have studied it alot doing cross references and read by topics but never completely read it. It was very interesting. I now understand that unless one is based in the true doctrine or has a preknowledge of the doctrine (Mormon goggles) one could support and destroy any church. The bible is amazing and has so many interesting verses that support deep doctrine and help you make connections in the gospel.  It sure strengthened my testimony of why God provided a second testament of him and his doctrine. I decided to start the Book of Mormon in English too. It’s really interesting. The Spanish scriptures are more powerful and spiritual to me but the English scriptures help me can catch more little things and I understand better. I am learning things that i wish i had had my whole mission. Principally how to study for investigators and make lesson plans. I know that God is aware of our situation right now and has something in store for us. I don’t know what it is but i need to exercise my faith and put my trust in God, knowing that whatever does come is for my good. I love this work and love life.
elder shaw

8/12/2012

Whats up!!1!!!!

How’s it going fam? Wow the stake conference sounds awesome! Who was the general authority that went? Did Nicole and Tiffany die?

Well this last week was amazing! We had so much success and miracles. The three families that i have told you about continue to progress but very slowly. They are all very great people and are always saying in their prayers and asking God that we never stop visiting them! I love them so much, but this last week a couple fun things happen. I forgot to tell you but last week we went to an old investigators house and he let us in and as we were walking in his house he was hushing us to be quite. We asking him what he was doing and he told us he was on the radio... so we were a little curious and he showed us how he has a radio station and does it from his house. It’s a pretty popular music station and just plays modern music al day. We went around back and he sat us down pulled his microphone over and switched a flipped and before we knew it we were on the radio. He started saying´´well i am here with the Mormons and started asking us questions about futbol and the English class at the church and talking to me in Guarani. It was really funny. Ya that is my fun story for the week.-

The investigator i told you about the last time, named raul molinas made alot of progress this last week. He has admitted that God is answering his prayer and that he knows that this is the true church of Christ. But his women is a little hard. We are working with her. The lessons with them are always so powerful. It is amazing the work that the spirit does in his house. We all started crying Thursday night when we visited them and we talked about faith to repent and the change of heart.

Also the family of ricardo and carolina is progressing. They both went to church this last week and they both know with a surety that this is the true church. Their only impediment is getting a stable work so that they don’t have to move anywhere. But we are praying alot for that! The other day we were teaching him and we finished up the lesson on the word of wisdom and after the prayer we stood up and i walked over to the 6 year old daughter and bent over to eat her chocolate out of her hand just play with her and as i was doing it she kissed me on the cheek. Haha she is so cute. I really love that family and hope that everything goes well with them.

Well the work continues here in Lucerito and i know that we are going to baptize. I absolutely love the Holy Ghost and the power it has to change ones life! THE CHURCH IS TRUE

elder shaw

7/31/2012 & 8/5/2012

You all are traveling partying guru, sounds super fun. I’m sending a couple pictures today, one is the baptism of Nicolas and another in his house.  Mom you would love his house he is obsessed with exotic plants and the other is my child. This last week was dope as soap!! The number of lessons we are teaching a week is dramatically going down cause i am struggling to find people that i don’t know in this area already.  But family and beloved ones know that i have some of the most awesomest coolestest investigadores ever right now!!
We have a family of investigadores called the family Molinas!! This guy is so cool. He calls me every time the US is playing in basketball in the Olympics and tells me the score and gives me updates! He is Argentinean so when Argentina and US played he was giving me updates through the whole game and how the states almost lost to them. We get along very well cause he loves basketball! The other day we went to teach them with a recent convert called Jose and we taught the Sabbath day and it was such a good lesson. They both are reading and praying to know it’s true and they keep telling us how the really feel that they are finding a could path. Sadly they both traveled this last Sunday so they didn’t go to church. That is really our only problem with them is that they travel alot and especially on the weekends so we are working with them so that they don’t! They pay attention so well in the lessons and the lessons are so spiritual. 
Also we are teaching another family called Oscar and Efania. We have been teaching them for 2 weeks now and the dad loves it! He is learning and whenever we teach what he does is listens and then after we are done with the principle he says ´´wait wait wait so if i understand good or what i learned is´´ and then goes on in his own words teaching us! Sadly the wife does not want to participate and is finding it very hard to leave her catholic traditions and is afraid of her neighbors and what they are going to say. But Oscar wakes her up at 4 in the morning so they can share together while the children are asleep and the read the Book of Mormon and go through the pamphlets!!!! They are so great! I love them so much and this guy is so funny. He always talks to me in Guarani and makes fun of my comp and my comp has no idea haha. Like the other night i took my fotos over there and he was saying how hot all my girl friends were and his wife was giving him the eye. Then my comp was like´´ sorry i don’t have good picture yet i will get some and bring them´´ and Oscar said in Guarani, ha i doubt there are any good pictures of you... hahaha. We died laughing and he had no idea why. I have developed a love for these families that i couldn’t explain. I just completely desire their happiness and want them to understand and accept this gospel. I need them both to get baptized and if i leave this area... i don’t know what i will do. I really am coming to love the people here in Paraguay. I don’t ever want to leave... sometimes i will let my thoughts wander to home, music, girls, studies, movies (whatever a young man thinks about) or something and yeah there is a longing or wanting for some of that stuff like i miss it but i realize that none of them in this moment could truly make me happy like the experiences i am having right now as a missionary. In spite of the hard work and schedule, it’s so great and i hope to continue with these families and find even more. I love you all and hope everything is going great. elder shaw

Whats up fam.

Well as for the cold questions.. yes it is very cold and my fingers are freezing so i can't type well. But i really do appreciate the cold because that means that it is not hot... so i don't have to change my clothes as often which means less laundry money!!! Wow your trips sounds wicked fun, hope Braiden enjoyed playing with all the black people.  I remember that was always fun... AND CALEB IS HUGE!!! WHAT THE FREAK HAPPENED TO HIM. Thanks for the pictures. Oh and dad i was totally planning on doing that with the pin drive but an elder here told me about a guy in the city next to ours that was a wizard of computer stuff so i took it to him and paid him 30,000 gauranis...,.. if you're wondering that is only 7 dollars. He managed to transfer all my fotos except for 6. All the music was contaminated or something like that.

This last week was very good. We are teaching alot of families right now. hey are all progressing but sadly it poured yesterday and not one of them went to church! We took the stake president with us to do a couple of visits and they went really well. We have one family, the family molinas, they are a young family with a 6 year daughter and very fancy. They have a nice house and car and a huge tv!! They really love talking to us and they are really interested in being an eternal family. I really love them and i really hope that they come to church next Sunday! This week is not changes, it is the next week. I really hope i do stay with my companion. He is way fun and we get along very well. He has had some problems adapting and doesn't have a very good attitude towards Paraguay and the people... I had to drop the cane a couple times on him for talking poorly in general about the people. I think that is one of my stronger points is a love for the country. I truly do love Paraguay and the traditions and cultures! I don't know how the coming to pick me thing is going to work.  I have no idea how it works, but i will ask around and let you know next week.
Ha dad you will love this! We were at the house of nicolas and he was telling us how he likes earth wind and fire and willy nelson and some other girl named sade or something like that.
I am very thankful for the letters you send and the support you give me. How are the mission experiences going back home. has anyone had any good ones lately? If not repent:)!
That kind of music is fine mom and thanks for sending it. Yes there are sisters in my district and it is always weird around them cause nobody knows to what extent an elder can talk to them or make a joke or whatever. It's the first time in my mission that i have had sisters in my district. 
i love you all
Elder Shaw