This Week in the Mission Field

Buen día!

This week was pretty calm in the mission office because Monday and Tuesday were "feriado" or holiday here in Argentina. I couldn't go to immigrations or the police station in the mornings, and it was nice to sleep a little longer. We also played soccer as a district three days in a row which I loved! 

My Desk...

Because of the holiday I had to go to the bus station to buy tickets for all of the zone leaders and sister training leaders. I usually do the order online but the business that I send the order to was closed so I had to do it in person. I went to the bus station with 11 thousand pesos which is a lot of money! We purchased the tickets and I left with 100 pesos. Traveling is expensive here, especially for those coming from the south, Esquel and Bariloche!

Wednesday I went to the police station which is always an adventure. Fabian is a guy that helps us out a lot and he showed me how to make the "mate." I'm going to share our beliefs about the gospel with him because I can tell that he sees something different in us when we are transacting business.

I think the most important thing that happened this week took place yesterday. I felt down so I went off for a little bit and said the most sincere prayer of my life. I told God that if circumstances aren't going to change He had to help me get through the tough times. I said a lot of other things too, and I got off of my knees feeling a lot better. 

Another thing I remembered this week is that the most important relationship in my life is the one I have with God. I think of Chris when I say that because I feel like he emulates that truth. When we strive to please God first, and more than anyone else, everything else will always work out. 

I love everyone!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack

Time is Flying

¡Buenas de Argentina!

This week a hermano that comes to cut the grass at the mission home told us, “paso volando esta semana,” and that was so true for me. This week absolutely flew by! We had a lot of work in the office, and had some great proselyting opportunities too.

I have been thinking about limits, and the fact that we put them on ourselves. If we have a goal, work at it, and ask God for His help we can accomplish anything. We can have more baptisms in our mission. I know it’s possible. So we are working on enlarging our teaching pool. 

I love talking with people, seeing what makes them interested in listening to us, and how we can help them. In a meeting we had the other week Elder Woodbury and Elder Yañez (assistants to the mission president) gave an awesome presentation. They reminded me that the gospel is the solution to all problems, and I’ve been trying to apply that perspective in all contacts and lessons. 

On a personal note, I really miss Amanda, and I thought about her last Sunday when I went to our ward choir practice. There is a little girl in my ward that doesn’t speak and needs help walking. I helped her walk around the sacrament room while her mom practiced. I loved every minute being with her and helping.

I really am enjoying the mission. It’s a lot of fun and it is quite an adventure! I know that Jesus Christ lives. He believes in every single one of us. 

I hope everyone has a great week!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack

Checking In

Dear family and friends,

It was another busy week in the Neuquén Mission office. We legalized three missionaries and one of them was Elder Espinoza who is my friend from UofA. It was cool to see him and we had a lot of time while waiting in immigrations to catch up. He gave up a lot when he was baptized, and even more when he entered the MTC. His family didn't want him to leave, but he came anyway and is doing great things here. I hope we can be companions in the future. We've got to be in the same mission for a reason!

The weather will be cooling off here in a few weeks, something I am looking forward to. I still get confused with the opposite seasons here. I say to members, "fa y ya viene la primavera" (spring), when I should say otoño (autumn). 

I had an interview yesterday with President Lovell and he said exactly what I needed to hear to take away the stress and worries I have working in the office. He asked me what I had learned about myself so far on my mission. I told him that I have learned that I am a good decision maker, that I can trust myself more than I have in the past and that I am willing to ask for help from those around me. I feel that I have learned so much in a very short amount of time. 

I love everyone and wish you all the best!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack

Something Special

Dear family and friends,

The mission office is still very busy! This week I finished buying plane tickets for those missionaries that will return home the 7th of April, the same day I turn 20, which I cannot believe! I’ve really been thinking about how to do things more efficiently here. A few transfers ago we sent a letter to every missionary going home asking them to give us the name of their airport and parents email, information we need to buy the their tickets. Unfortunately we had to wait three weeks to receive all of the information. This week I’ve been praying for a way to complete that process better, and I am confident that the Lord is showing me how.

I’m excited that we had a lot of time to work in our area this week. Every day we had at least two hours to talk to people and look for some old investigators I found with Elder Da Silva. The church has given us cards, or tarjetas, that have preguntas del alma, or “questions of the soul.” I’m amazed at how much people open up to us when we talk about how to be a better person, or about how we can be with our loved ones again after we die. It’s nice to know that people are wondering about these things and that I am trying to find them. 

This week I believe our mission experienced something very special. The assistants told us that there were no baptisms set for this Saturday. So we had a fast as a mission and all zone leaders made a ton of calls asking everyone if there were any possible baptisms. In one day 55 dates were set! Today we will see if they all happen, I believe that they will! As a mission we are focusing on faith and how we can trust more in the fact that God will do his work. We just have to believe and change our perspectives. 

Elder Wessel from Arizona is now in my zone. Yesterday he had to come to immigrations to renew his papers so it was great to see him. He’s one of my best friends in the mission, and I don’t know why, but we always say that. We are thinking we will be companions in the future. 

I’ve thought a lot about faith this last week and the perspective I have of the mission. When I arrived here everyone told me it was hard to teach and baptize in this mission. I want to change that initial perspective. I want to help more people come unto Christ.

I love everyone and hope you all have a great week!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack