Viva la Patria !!

May 30, 2022

Holaaa hola!! 

Una semana espectacular acá en la Patria!! 

Really hard to believe another week has gone by, the weeks are going by way too fast. There were some major events here that were huge succesess so I'll just get right into it!! 

25 de Mayo 

Wednesday was el día de la patria, basically Independence day here in Argentina, and it was almost as great as the 4th of July!! Maybe if it were the middle of the summer here it would be just as great. But really it was so neat to experience and my already immense love for this country grew even more. We had a huge ward activity that was literally all day long. We were on our way to the capilla when we stumbled into a parade in the centro! I especially loved all the Argentina flags hanging all over, outside houses, businesses, and strung over the streets in the centro. The ward activity was a huge success on all leves as well! They had a bunch of games, the primary kids did some traditional dances, everyone was drinking mate, and Obispo and his wife made Locro, a super traditional squash stew/soup with a bunch of different meats. Perfect for the cold afternoon. And of course the best part was we had a great turnout!! Activities like that are absolutely golden for the work and we were able to have some friends come and be with the members. And most exciting of all there was a whole family that came that is now super interested in the gospel!! We were able to give them a little tour of the church and give them a Book of Mormon. Elder Romero and I, and the whole ward, are super anxious about them! 

Matrimonio de Gaston y Sara 

Another huge event this week, the wedding of Gaston and Sara!!! I hadn't ever been to a wedding like this before so it was another new experience. It was a pretty small group with their families and close friends and some other members in the Registro Civil in the center of town. They signed some papers, shared some words, we threw some rice and then they went and had empanadas for lunch.  It lasted about an hour at the most but it was still espectacular!! Their family is amazing and am really hopefully they'll be able to make it eternal family!! We are praying a lot now that they will be living together Gaston is going to be able to take the leap of faith to leave his other church and get baptized. 

Bautismo de Adrian 

The best event for last!! The bautismo de Adrian!! The spirit in the baptisms really is something so special and powerful. This one was especially unique because almost all of the family of Adrian and Nadia came!!! It was the best turn out I've ever been able to have at a baptism as a missionary! Tons of family members who aren't members as well as un montón de the members of the ward came. Again another absolutely golden opportunity and we were able to take advantage and find a handful of people to start teaching. But it really was so special to see Adrian take this step towards their ultimate goal of being sealed. As well, we were able to show the font to Angel and Lucía and set a date with them for June 11th! Angel, pobrecito, was a little timid of the water at first but after he was really excited. 

Amigos !! 

I've already mentioned the biggest events with our amigos this week, expressed our hopes for the handful of promising new people we were able to find, but I'll just explain one more really solid amigo - Ronan! We actually met Ronan about a month ago when we stopped by the chapel and there was a young adult activity going on. He's 19 years old and is from the south of Argentina but moved here study in Córdoba and is living with his aunt who is a really faithful member. His family isn't very active but all are members except for him. Basically, yet again, one of the best situations you could ask for haha. He is a little timid and has been a little hesitant of the church but we have been able to break the ice and he seems really genuinely interested. We were able to give him his own Book of Mormon and he was really excited to read it. High hopes for Ronan!! 

Pensamiento Espirtual 

Christ like attributes are always on my mind, always a focus, and this week the most divine of them all, Charity, really stuck out to me. Preach my gospel is incredible and especially with Christ like attributes and I love what is says here, "Charity, like faith, leads to action. You will develop charity as you look for opportunities to serve others and give of yourself." Charity is action!! It's sacrifice, effort and dedication. More than words or desires but truly doing. I already loved my companion but have been able to feel an even greater sense of appreciation and love for him as I've been trying to find little ways to serve him more this week. I have learned this and seen this numerous times on my mission from several companions and coutnless other members and friends. Set some specific goals this week to act and serve those around you and I know you will be able to feel this gift of pure love in your life. 

4 Nefi 1:15 

Es todo por esta semana. Que tenga un buena Día Conmemorativo aho en los Estados Unidos!! Chau chau !! 

Amor, 

Elder Jackson