Checking In

Dear family and friends,

The work is good. President Lovell was out this past week visiting the mission, so it was my week to really focus on doing work in immigrations and with the police authorities. We got A LOT done. The flights for those leaving the mission in May also arrived, so I had to prepare all the itineraries.

President and Sister Lovell leave the mission on June 30th and the new mission president arrives the same day. I had a meeting with President Lovell the other week to plan his return flights. He told me that I will be training a new secretary next transfer, which makes me excited to get back in the field, and at the same time worried. It will be a short transfer, four weeks instead of six, and I don't want to leave a new secretary in the dust. We'll see what happens. The most important thing is that I like being here–and when they want me to leave, I'll leave!

I continue to do my best, and I do feel good about the way I am serving. I already have more time here in Neuquén than I did in Bariloche. It will be another adjustment when I leave. 

The dust from the volcano eruption in Chile did arrive in Neuquén on Friday. I felt like I was in a horror film. Dust everywhere, almost like a fog. We went to immigrations and they had shut down the offices for the day, and there was no one in the streets. Kind of creepy. It has already passed and was only a two day thing. 

Not much to write today, but I do love everyone!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack

¡Buenas de Argentina!

Dear family and friends, 

I do and don’t believe that it is already Saturday! This week on our way to the office my companion asked if it was Wednesday and I had to remind us both that it was already Friday. Time continues to fly by here.

Wednesday we went to the police station to renew documents for six elders. I always worry when missionaries have to travel to come to Neuquén because sometimes they miss the bus or forget their phones, but everything went well this time. We also finally left a Book of Mormon with Fabian who works there. He helps me a lot and I really like him, and I realized that if I really care about him I need to share the gospel with him.

Thursday we went to immigrations with two sisters from Brazil that are new in the mission. Everything went very smoothly, but by far my favorite day this week was Tuesday. We had zone conference with our zone and the Cipolletti Zone. Elder Candia, my trainer, is in that zone, and it was great to see him. He is always happy and it’s contagious. Seeing him made me miss our time to together.

At zone conference President Lovell talked about developing the habits that we will need after the mission, and it hit me that more than anything that’s what this experience is for–the future. Serving a mission is a unique training ground. I believe that every area I'm assigned, and every calling given to me, is preparing me in a distinct way for the rest of my life.

I am having a blast. I’m not where I thought I’d be (inside the mission office), or doing what I thought I would be doing (dealing with immigrations and spreadsheets), but Heavenly Father knows where I need to be and I thank him for the hard times and the good times in the office. 

Something I am started doing differently is getting up early to go to immigrations at 6:00 a.m. That way we can stand in line early and not have to wait all day like we were doing in the past. It does make me tired during the day, but I’d rather be sleepy than standing in a line!

This week I thought again of the Atonement and how difficult it must have been for the Savior. I imagine a lot of suffering, a lot of crying, and not just asking for the cup to be removed, but begging it to be removed. I am happy that he finished it for us!

Finally, I also feel like I had a glimpse of the plan of salvation this week. A distinct feeling that we knew this life would not be a perfect journey, but that we trusted the Savior and that he would help us not just get along, but thrive. 

I love everyone and wish you all the best!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack

Cooling Off

Dear family and friends,

This past week I enjoyed watching general conference and had a nice birthday too! The Arnaudin’s were super nice and bought empanadas and made an awesome cake for me.

Things are going well in the office and this week two people from Buenos Aires (that work for the church and supervise my work) came here to review the legal status of all the missionaries. It was good to meet them and I feel a lot more comfortable now with everything I do regarding immigrations. They told me that in the past mission secretaries have had to go to Chile so that missionaries from that country can have their legal status extended. So it looks like I may be traveling to the border to do this for our Chilean missionaries. I'll keep you posted.

Winter will be here soon and it’s supposed to drop into the 40’s (Fahrenheit) this week, and I’ll have to bust out the scarf and big coat again to stay warm in the coming months.

I Sure love everyone!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack

Happy Easter

Dear family and friends,

We are here in the office a little early today as we have General Conference. It starts at 1:00 p.m. here so we must write home and then get going. After the first session the zone is going to end a fast we’ve been holding at Subway restaurant. It’s the only one in the mission so we have got to take advantage of the fact we live so close! 

My Neuquén District - April 2015

I always forget about holidays, but this week with Easter its been a little different. Over the past few weeks I've thought a lot more about my testimony of Jesus Christ, about how strong it was when I left for the mission. The night I wrote my farewell talk I prayed for a stronger witness of the Lord, and I felt it really came to me. I realized stronger than ever that God had given His Son because he loves me, and Christ did what he did because he loves me. 

In Bariloche for a conference with President Lovell we were asked to all prepare a talk that centered on one given in conference from this past October (the reason for our hope, I think that’s what it was called). The night before the conference I stayed up with Elder Supelano and we realized together that because of Christ we have hope for a better world. That was a very spiritual night as well and it really strengthened our relationship. The next day I was asked to give the talk and that only gave me a stronger testimony. 

My 20th Birthday!

In this area and with this position I feel like I am doing a little bit of everything. Teaching when I can, serving others from the office, helping President and Sister Lovell and president, the Arnaundin’s, the new people, the people who are leaving, whatever it is. This is where the Lord wants me to be. I could be out in the field, but for now, I’m doing more good here than I could anywhere else. Serving a mission has been a very fulfilling experience so far. When I’m not eating or sleeping I am always on the Lord´s errand. This is an experience I will never have again. 

This week was the busiest week of the transfer. On Monday we had our meeting where all the changes are presented, and after that it was game time for me, buying all of the tickets and preparing spreadsheets for the Zone Leaders so they know who is coming and who is leaving from their areas. 

I thought I might be training a new secretary this transfer and then be heading out to the field, but it looks like I am staying in the office. President Lovell said it might be three to four more transfers. That’s four or six more months in the office. I’m willing to do it, and I think that I finally have an attitude that says I WANT to do it. I am ready for the challenge. I feel like after 4 months Heavenly Father has finally told me that the mission needs me here. I am serving the mission in the best way I can for now as the secretary. 

This coming week a lady from Buenos Aires who works for the church is coming to teach me more about the legalization process and that should be interesting. I email her about four times a week regarding different questions I have so it will be fun to meet her. 

On the teaching front we do have one investigator and his name is Lucas. According to his teaching record missionaries have been visiting with him for almost four years. We are hoping we can be the missionaries that help him set a goal for baptism and then do it! 

Happy Easter! I love everyone!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack