Baptism in Roca

Buen dia!

We had a great time celebrating Christmas, but other than that, we worked just like any other week! I think one of the highlights were “intercambios” we did on Wednesday. We didn’t have a lot of time to visit since we started after lunch and finished at 9:30 p.m.

I worked with Elder Wessell, es un genio para trabajar en la obra misional! I love working with him. For some reason I get nervous doing divisions, but I chose faith over fear and I can’t explain why or how, but the Lord made everything work out. He is more than present in missionary work.

We were able to see a previous investigator and teach two or three more lessons, but the numbers are not the important part of the work. What matters is that people are progressing. We also taught two youth that the elders have been working with for a while and one might be baptized this Saturday. 

Things are going great with my companion Elder Moser. He’s the best friend I have out here, and we are pushing each other to work harder!

The Ledesma familiy was baptized and confirmed this weekend and I’m sending some photos of that event. It was a cool experience. 

I love what I’m doing and I love and miss you all!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack

Christmas Call Home

Transfer to Roca

This was a great week! President told us to take P-day today because transfers are on Monday and we will be traveling to Roca. The best part of this move out of the mission office is that I am going to have a really good friend as a companion, Elder Moser. We arrived in the office together about a year ago and spent six months here in Neuquén before I left the first time. 

We are going to be the zone leaders and we have some fantastic missionaries that we'll be working with this transfer. I am pumped to see what we can achieve as a companionship. With the help of the Lord I know that great things are about to happen! (This is an inspired transfer.) 

I was thinking about what I could share about these past six weeks, things that I've learned and that I have been able to improve upon. I feel a greater love for people and I believe that’s something the Lord is continually blessing me with. It has been a big focus in our district this transfer. 

We saw it the other day while we taught Maxi. It seemed like it was going to be impossible to begin teaching him because he was always sitting outside of his house on the curb. Finally I feel like we did what the Savior would do for people he loved, and we just sat down with him right on the curb. The spirit came and we were able to share a good message. He’s now reading the scriptures and keeps coming to church, and he has a baptismal date for December 22nd. 

I have also learned a lot about making mistakes, and that it is okay to make them. Everyday we start over, every day gives us that new chance to make things right. Jesus Christ atoned for a reason. I have also realized that this life is part of one eternal round. It was super weird being here in Neuquén again doing things that I hadn’t done for what I thought was a long time, but after a week or two it was like I had never left. When I finish my mission it will be like I never left home. Someday when we are with God again, I imagine myself saying, “it’s like I never left!” 

I love what I am doing. There’s a fire in me and a lot of excitement for the work and love for the Lord. Pray for Elder Moser and me and all of the missionaries in our zone.

I love you all!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack

Successful Days

Dear family and friends,

This week was great, really busy but we are working hard and getting things done.

We found a new investigator this week! His name is Luis. He was a reference from a member family, and he has asked all of the right questions. His youngest daughter passed away a few years ago and so he says that he is angry with God, but when we passed by the other day he was really interested in talking to us. We are going back today visit with him. 

On Thursday two people from the church in Buenos Aires came to do the periodic “check up” of all of the immigration paperwork we do. In the next two weeks about 60 missionaries will come to Neuquén to finish their paperwork before leaving the mission. There’s a lot to coordinate and I think I will be in the office until then. After that I should be assigned to a new area right before Christmas!

I am really happy here. The more I’m here the more I learn about Jesus Christ and His atonement. It’s easy to think at the beginning of a mission that you can do everything perfectly, but you can’t. I believe that I am helpless without the Lord. I can’t start a new day unless I feel like I can start fresh all over again, and that is what the Savior provides for me. 

Christmas is coming up but it doesn’t feel like Christmas. It must be because it is heating up here. I am really excited to talk to everyone at home on Christmas day. 

I hope that you all have a great week. Something president says a lot that I like is that we shouldn’t just have good days, but we should have SUCCESSFUL days. 

I love everyone!

Elder Kauffman aka Jack