2017 is the BEST year YET

So the New Year is coming, so that means its time to make New Years RESOLUTIONS! And these are great because we have an opportunity to think about what we want to change in our lives.  And this is great because we all can be better!  New Years resolutions are kind of a joke, which is unfortunate, so heres a little help!

if youve always wanted to learn a language 2017 is THE BEST YEAR TO LEARN ONE.

If youve always wanted to learn an instrument, 2017 is THE BEST YEAR TO LEARN ONE.  (1836 was also a good year I hear) 

ha! Jokes aside, 2017 is going to be a great year! 

I can help a little on both those things, but for real, learn something new this year, or at least see if you like it! 

As with learning a language... WHAT A BLESSING IT IS.  It is extremely hard to learn a language, but from now on, Spanish will be like half of my life.  Thats HUGE. Communication is huge in this world, and I just like to remember all those who came to America on a dream, having to learn a language.  What courage! 

Review this past year, and make 2017 the best one yet! 

The key is to not only make ideas, for example, read more.  But to actually think of a time when you can read, for example, after dinner, and then just take it day by day!  And if you need help... ASK THE MISSIONARIES FOR ANYTHING!! or the library. Those are sweet too.

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I realized that not everyone knows what a mission is like, especially in Argentina, so I wanted to start writing 2 things in my emails.  A rule of the mission, and something unique about Argentina!

1) We still work on P Days! Just at a little later time.

2) Argentine food is super basic, like just meat and potatoes, but also super delicious!  We have little bread rolls with pretty much every lunch.

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John 15 :14-15 is my favorite scripture of this week! Its basically just Jesus talking about how we are his Friend! how cool is that! 

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Elder Amann

We cooked empanadas, and beat Bobby Flay again!! (s/o Cody Reuschel) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_Bobby_Flay

Merry Christmas!

¡Feliz Navidad!

Stop reading this and go spend time with your family.

Here. Read this with them: 

Luke 2:1-20

Matthew 1 &2.

Go find out why we celebrate His birth every year.

 Go love like Christ loves.

Please, go forgive someone even if you are right.  You owe it to yourself, and I promise, forgiving them will set you free.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I LOVE YOU ALL! ENJOY THE COLD.

(Pics: Celebrating Christmas time with Belgas Waffles!)

ILUMINA EL MUNDO and SKYLINE EAGLES

SO we share this "Ilumina El Mundo" video with EVERYONE.  And about the 5th or 6th time I'm watching it, I realize that the background is STRANGLY familiar.  So familiar, that I am, in fact, positive that it was filmed at my alma matter, Skyline High School. Go EAGLES!! Missionaries ALL OVER THE WORLD are sharing this video, how cool is that?! Take that Olympus.  Just kidding, I actually have to share the love of Christ with everyone, and I'm in college... Still, Go Eagles.

https://youtu.be/nihkcXS9FVE?t=86

:51

1:25

1:38

Anyway, really great week this week! Everything is moving so fast, Ive been here for 3 months already! 

We had our Ward Christmas Party this week, and there was a lot of wonderful things being shared!  

Light the World!!

Love you ALL, Elder Amann

 

 

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ILUMINATIN THE MUNDO

MERRY CHRISTMAS, it was 118 Degrees Yesterday!!

December is a huge excuse to talk about Jesus, so you bet we´re using it to its fulllest!

So this month the Church has an initiative called Ilumina El Mundo, or Illuminate the World.

Its basically just focusing on Service that we can do for each other this month, and there are TONS of great service ideas for every day this month on

mormon.org

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Today I want to talk about how important it is to just love.  Thats one thing that Elder Almeida, my old comp taught me.  We had trouble getting along all the time, and when I finally decided to just LOVE him, he ended up going home the next week.  Our time with each other, with our neighbors, with our friends, even with our enemies, is EXTREMELY short.  It is so short that it does not make sense to treat them with any thing other than love.  It is very hard, but I know if we focus on serving each other, and not worrying about our own selfish needs, we can truly love every one this Christmas.  Thats my hope. ♥ 

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Also, I sharpied out the letter "a" in front of Elder Briones´s Apollo sented deodorant, making it Pollo sented! (pollo is the spanish word for Chicken).  

LOVE AND MERRY CHRISTMAS,

Elder Amann

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Pictures from November 28 post:

Re: DO TOILETS SPIN THE OTHER WAY IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE?

Forgot the Schedule! Here it is! 

On Mon, Nov 28, 2016 at 5:31 PM, Grant Amann <grant.amann@myldsmail.net> wrote:

LOTS of big news!  I have a new comp 2 weeks early because Elder Almeida has a hernia and had to go home!  Its ok though, he has a year and half and he was very excited to leave (hahah)...

But so now... Elder Amann and Elder HARRISON are taking over Maipú!! 

Hes great, and we have a lot of big plans for the area.  Seriously, hes the greatest, and although he only has 4 more months than me, we are learning Spanish like crazy and cooking delicious foods! 

Anyway, This was a wild week!  It hailed this Wednesday here and I have reason to believe I made the first Angel de Nieve in Maipu (in recent years at least).  Attached is a basic schedule of what we do everyday! Its not that exciting but like you gotta be here to know its actually the most exciting time.. Especially with Elder Harrison.

So here are some photos.  This includes the last photo that E´ Almeida and I will probably ever take together, and I know thats horribly depressing, but the mission is filled with stuff like that.  And heres a photo with my new comp! 

I hope you all made hand turkeys!! 

oh and YES THEY DO.  FINALLY PROVEN, TOILETS SPIN THE OTHER DIRECTION IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

Love you all and Feliz Navidad!!! CHRISTMAS

Elder Amann

Re: Thanksgiving is an American Holiday. Dang.

Heres my district! Finally an english speaker! We getting ready for christmas, so get ready for December!

On Mon, Nov 21, 2016 at 12:33 PM, Grant Amann <grant.amann@myldsmail.net> wrote:

This letter is about self fulfilling prophecies.  Please excuse any errors, the keyboard im writing on is hoarraible.  

The first step to overcoming a problem is believing you can!  So many things people struggle with can be self fulfilling prophecies, or can be helped by first fighting it directly.  Whether it be being bad with names or being sad the first step to overcoming these things, is telling yourself you are NOT bad with names, or that you CAN BE happy! 

So if you struggle with things, and tell yourself you cant do it, you never will be able to! The first step to being less shy or being better on tests or being happier is believing and telling yourself you CAN DO IT!  

Also, Please read Luke 7:37-50 this week.  It is the story of how much love we can have despite struggling with serious things.  Jesus loves you! and so do I! 

Love, Elder Amann and have a fantastic Thanksgiving! Eat some extra pie for me, its delicious!  

(Fun fact: ´Pie´ in spanish, means ´foot´ hahahah)

Thanksgiving is an American Holiday. Dang.

This letter is about self fulfilling prophecies.  Please excuse any errors, the keyboard im writing on is hoarraible.  

The first step to overcoming a problem is believing you can!  So many things people struggle with can be self fulfilling prophecies, or can be helped by first fighting it directly.  Whether it be being bad with names or being sad the first step to overcoming these things, is telling yourself you are NOT bad with names, or that you CAN BE happy! 

So if you struggle with things, and tell yourself you cant do it, you never will be able to! The first step to being less shy or being better on tests or being happier is believing and telling yourself you CAN DO IT!  

Also, Please read Luke 7:37-50 this week.  It is the story of how much love we can have despite struggling with serious things.  Jesus loves you! and so do I! 

Love, Elder Amann and have a fantastic Thanksgiving! Eat some extra pie for me, its delicious!  

(Fun fact: ´Pie´ in spanish, means ´foot´ hahahah)

PARABLE OF THE COCKROACHES (LA CUCARACHA)

See the Positive in everything.  The media, especially social, has a bad habit of tearing things down, instead of building them up.  

I challenge you all to see what good things come from a situation you can only see negative, even if that good thing is just "I have been given the knowledge that I will do more of my part next time."

but always, ALWAYS love one another!!

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Anyway, there was a cockroach hanging outside our pench, but it was on its back, so I figured, eh, must be dead, right? wrong.

The cockroach was in a spot where nothing could touch it, but somehow, it disappeared.  And thats how I learned that cockroaches play dead.

And because, as a missionary, I have the ability to relate anything to a Gospel Topic, I have a quick parable about the Cockroach playing dead.

We cannot simple ignore the evil in our lives and hope they go away or are "dead."  We must actively fight against them and get rid of them!  We can find help through prayer or scripture to battle the things we dont want in our lives (or in our homes!)

Anyway, This little guy I found in my backpack one day, and the other is some lizard ha! Just kidding, we went on comp exchanges and Elder Nicol was my comp! Great guy, but having two white kids in the streets down here is a little different! 

GO VOTE

This week's email is gonna be a little less spiritual and be about VOTING!

GO VOTE

GO VOTE

Voting is SO important because its how we THE PEOPLE are in charge of our country.  Remember, you don't choose the president, the president is bound by the people!  So no matter who the president becomes, always fight for what YOU think is right, because America is a nation built upon the word of the people! FIGHT FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE!

But like don't just vote for the president, vote for your local leadership as well! Get involved, learn what you believe and develop opinions, but always be willing to change opinions and look at all sides of an issue!

"Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us. The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressmen and government officials, but the voters of this country." Franklin D. Roosevelt

"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

Abraham Lincoln

And if you don't like how the president turned out, Its summer and warm down here and we have plenty of dulce de leche for more!

Here's me on Halloween

Us getting pastries in the morning,

and a dog on a roof!

HALLOWEEN - October 31, 2016

I LOVE HALLOWEEN

But alas... Argentina does not share my love.

But that's ok because this Halloween, I'm still going door to door with treats!   But this time, I'm the one handing out the sweets, and it's much sweeter than candy! Its Books of Mormon! hahaha! I crack myself up.  I'm gonna be a missionary this year for Halloween!  I'll probably tell that joke next year too, so I'm sorry in advance. Ha!

Anyway, this week was great!

I was reading The Liahona, which is the Spanish equivalent of the Ensign, from July 2016, and I started reading an article.  Little did I know I was reading an article THAT MENTIONED USC.   WAHOO GO TROJANS.  The article is about being in favor of freedom of religion.  I like this a lot, because freedom of religion allowed Mormons to basically survive in the beginning.

But more than that.  Every religion is so important, and I know that they all add to the wonderful colors and cultures of the world.  Religion is important to me because, although different religions have different ideals, every religion at heart has the same purpose: to help people.  I think with the collaboration of religions, the world can understand its neighbors more, and understand that everyone is just trying to figure this world out.

Here's a picture of me celebrating Halloween!! 

Also, for those that know me, I love Tang, and even if they don't love Halloween, the Argentines DO share my love of Tang.

Happy Halloween everyone.  Be spooky and safe tonight!

THE BOOK OF MORMON AND LEGAL KINDER EGGS - October 24, 2016

THE BOOK OF MORMON IS SO AWESOME.

So we teach with the Book of Mormon, even if there are verses in the Bible, because the Book of Mormon is unique, and BECAUSE ITS POWERFUL.

I want it to be noted that my testimony is built upon the Book of Mormon, NOT PEOPLE.

There is not a single person on the planet who is perfect, including, (especially) members of the church.  This will always be true.  People have faults.  INCLUDING PROPHETS. 

Including the people who wrote the Book of Mormon weren't perfect.  Those prophets of old weren't perfect either, and they even write about how they aren't perfect! See Mormon 9:31

Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.

What a verse! THAT YE MAY LEARN TO BE MORE WISE THAN WE HAVE BEEN!  

If my testimony were built on Man, I know it would never last, because no Man will ever be without imperfections.

My testimony is built upon the word of God, and His spirit.  Anything else would be weak.

Anyway, Here are some pictures of Gatorade down here, Tacos with Elder Poot, 

AND KINDER EGGS AREN'T ILLEGAL HERE

PEOPLE ARE ALIKE ALL OVER - October 17, 2016

One of my favorite things in this world is how people are alike all over.  People are vastly different, and so amazing, but when it comes down to our core, we are so much the same.

I read Elder Ballard´s words: 

"When it comes right down to it, people are quite similar. We may come from different backgrounds, cultures, and economic circumstances, and our attitudes and perspectives may vary. But in the heart-where it really counts-we're a lot alike."

I think this is very true. We need to remember this, and that we all have wants and needs.  We are all children of God, and we can love each other with the same love because of our faults and difficulties.  

My favorite scripture this week is 1 Nephi 21:14-16. Google it! Its fantastic!

As for photos, 

We finally got a baptism for someone we taught!  He was the grandson of members, though.. Alexis Flores! Que Capo! 

The graffiti translates to " Live and Die in LOS ANGELES!"  Miss you Los Angeles! 

SEEK NOT FOR POWER - October 10, 2016

I made my first joke in Spanish this week!  We were having lunch with my Bishops family, and we were watching Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit... on the TV and there was a scene where there were a bunch of people in the Hobbit house and they just got done eating, and there was a knock at the door! and everyone was startled and looked worried.  So I said "Los Misionaros" and everyone got a big kick out of that.

This week was great!  I shared my testimony in Spanish yesterday during church and it went great!  We had comp exchanges and I got to be with Elder Briones.  The Mountains are beautiful down here.

My favorite scripture this week is Alma 60:36.  It says

 36 Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country. And thus I close mine epistle.

I love that! Seek not for power, but to pull it down.  Often when Im reading the Book of Mormon, I realize so many parts of it align with my beliefs, without even being religious beliefs.  Pull it down!

Yesterday, after I gave my testimony in Church, a Sister came up to us to give us a loaded Bus Pass for our investigator to come to church because she is not as well off! I know that so much love exists in this church for COMPLETE STRANGERS! How cool is that!  LOVE THY NEIGHBOR!

I LOVE YOU ALL ALWAYS,

Elder Amann

Attached is a photo of money here! and it rained this week for the first time!

NEW HOUSE

We got a new house this week!  Anway, I dont have too much spiritual stuff to write this week, because it was all said this week at General Conference! Go listen to it if you can!  I loved Hales, Cornish, Uceda (He came to the MTC and I shook his hand!) and D. Todd Christofferson, who served in Argentina on his mission!

Monday:

Played soccer, and I am glad I can understand their favorite sport.  I even scored.

Tuesday: I had lunch with this old member couple in the ward, family Celoni! They are way cute and remind me that the church is the same everywhere!

Wednesday: Some guy started talking to us, he knew of the Church and said his name was Joseph... But not Joseph Smith! ha! and then he proceeded to say I looked like Joseph Smith! YES!

Thursday:

We got a new House today! We moved it and its super big and we are making it our own! Check the photos of it being new! 

CON CRISTO AMOR ES PARA SIEMPRE

elderamann.blogspot.com

Another week of not understanding anything!  So I use a lot of time for personal thought.

This week I was wondering about love, and how love exists in this world.  I was having some issues because I was sitting in a lesson, and they might be a family that already has so much love for each other.  If people can have love outside of the gospel, why do they need our message?  What is my purpose or what can I do.

So I was wondering what our message contributes to this idea of love.  Why do people need our message if love can and does exist fully outside of the church?  After reading my Scriptures and pondering about it, I came to the conclusion that Love obviously exists outside the gospel, but that the gospel helps love be more complete.  But thats not the main thing that makes our message unique.  Our message is that does not have to end in this life.   Our message is that love is FOREVER. Our message is that, with Jesus, love does not have to end after this life.  YOU CAN LOVE YOUR CLOSEST LOVED ONES FOREVER!

You can tell how different families are who have the gospel here. 

And here´s the scripture that I happened to find that perfectly answered my question:

Moroni 7:47

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Attached is a photo of Elder Briones and my district!