Hey Everyone!
This
has been a better week for me. I was pretty sick for a few days, but I think
I'm finally feeling better. Having your health makes everything a whole lot easier! The
weather here has been different almost every day, some days we can go out with
a light jacket, and others I have to put on everything that I have just to stay warm. It was nice
to have a few days when the sun came out!
I
learned a lot of great things this week. We had a zone conference with
President Lovell and the main theme was integrity. I really think I came away with a different perspective on what it means. In one sentence, I would say it
just means being true to you. Thinking about that concept has helped me this
last week when I have felt sad or missed home. I know that this is where I have
wanted to be for a while now, and I’m not going to let little things get me
down.
I
learn a lot when we are teaching, that may not make sense, but it’s true! We
have been visiting a less active member ever since I arrived in Bariloche and
it can be hard to get through to him. He loves to talk, and it can be difficult to
even share a scripture with him because he won’t be quiet. Last night he talked
to us a lot about how he won't go to church because the men don’t know how to
lead. I felt that we needed to be bold with him, and wasn’t quite sure where it
came from when I told him "that if he feels the leadership needs to change, he
needs to come to church so he can be part of that change."
I
don't know if that will work, but I really walked out of there knowing that we
can make a difference in everything we do, not just with church leadership, but
in every aspect of our lives. I hope I can make a difference with that brother
before I leave by opening my mouth a few more times like I did last
night.
As
we teach the restoration here my testimony of it grows, as well as the love
Heavenly Father has for us. The other day we retaught a lesson to a lady in our
area because she still had a lot of questions. While we said that the fact
Heavenly Father has restored Christ´s church means he loves us, I realized more
than ever that that is true. It means a lot to me to know that once again God
has reached out to his children, and in all seriousness that is why I am here,
to tell people that once again there is hope. It feels good to be doing
that.
This
week we started to teach a lady that came to us to ask for the lessons. She
really wants the change that she has seen in her son, who has been a member for
a few years now. Her faith impressed me, and makes me want to REALLY follow the
principles of the Gospel, because she wants to learn them so badly.
I am
trying to improve myself everyday and have been working on following the mission
rules. Not just because they are the rules, but also because I love the Lord!
Please pray for me that I can do what the Lord wants me to do. Sometimes I feel
like we do so many different things like planning, preparing, whatever it may
be, that I'm not sure I am doing all that needs to be done.
I
love everyone and hope to hear from you all!
Elder Kauffman aka Jack
Elder Kauffman aka Jack