BULL RIDING IN RODEO

MY FIRST WEEK IN RODEO HAS BEEN A BLAST.

We are working hard out here.  When I first got to the area, Elder Richards told me, "Yeah we're basically starting from scratch here." 

I love to visit the ALL the members whenever I get to a new area.  Richards told me that this was discouraged by his old comp.  We start going by the members and almost all of them tell us, "Elders, it's been years since the missionaries came to our house. "  WHAT?!  We changed that real quick.

Yesterday, during Church, my companion told me that the attitude of the ward has changed 360.  I am super excited and happy that I was called here!  The members are the best, we've already shared a TON of laughs.  I know that God knows my strengths and needed both Elder Richards and me here!

We were talking, and my companion asked me a major thing I want to impress upon my children, religion aside.  I had been thinking about this for the past year or so, so my answer came quick.

There is a part of the New Testament where Jesus teaches two sisters, Mary and Martha.  I won't ruin the story for you, but it left a big impression on me.

Here in the mission I've learned a lot about Priorities.  I explained to my companion about how priorities make all the difference.  How some things are more important, and how they might change.  For example, if you are in class with a teacher, and your friend is poking you and telling you about the latest episode of some TV show, the most important thing for you to do IN THAT MOMENT is to listen to the teacher and learn and show her respect.  Now, if your friend tells you that a loved one just passed away and he´s struggling a lot, the most important thing would be to listen to him and help.

Just last night we were in a poorer part of our area, and the kids we were with mentioned how in their area a lot of people buy new cars, when their house has HOLES in the walls.  This is completely normal to them, they are happy!  Priorities are just different.

This being said, I know that there are things that are more important.  Forgiving is more important than being right.  Loving others is more important than what you look like or what you wear.  

It might be important for you to study right now, or it might be more important for you to visit a friend you haven't seen in years. Priorities might change from year to year (from schooling to marriage to raising kids), or in different situations, and it's important to always pray and call on God to know what is the most important thing to do in that moment.  I have been very blessed as I have asked, "What are God´s priorities?" and "What are God´s priorities for me?"

I challenge you all to do the same.  I have more direction, I am happier, I am a better person, and I honestly feel like I am becoming something I never could've on my own.

If you have ever wanted to go on a mission, please go.  You will learn things that they can't teach you.

LOS AMO A TODOS,

ELDER AMANN

(I have not been riding any bulls, it's just that my new area is called "Rodeo.")

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Pretty flowers

Outside studies

Old friends on the way here♥

A member has a mask collection

The biggest spider I've ever seen was inside my last church building... probably the only thing I won't miss.

LEAVING AN AREA

Leaving an area whomps.

I have been in Albardon, San Juan, Argentina for 6 months now.

Thats half a year.  And although I got to know so many, it still seems like so little time.

On I go to an area called Rodeo de La Cruz, with a good friend, Elder Richards.

This will probably be my last area.

These past few days I've run into a few friends! Elder Mendonca rode the bus next to me, and I saw Elder Starley going to my first area, MAIPU!

Anyway, I have learned a lot in these past six months.  I have learned a lot about being a leader and the organization of the church.

I have also learned a lot about being a friend and a lot about my Savior.

This Past week we had a big meeting with Presidente Teixeira, who is President of the Area Sur America Sur.

He was so fantastic.  I had prayed the week leading up to it so that I would be in sync with what he would talk about in my studies, and everything I had studied the past week HE TALKED ABOUT! 

It was great to have direction and feel the spirit.  His wife talked for a very long time too, she is from Africa, but they live in Portugal, and she doesn't speak Spanish, and speaks some English so she spoke to us in English.  She was so fantastic!  Wow! What an example of our potential.  She and her husband were so cute and the example of the love that exists in a couple striving to follow God´s plan together.

Anyway, she shared something I wanted to share with you all.  4 Ways to Overcome Fear:

1. Increase faith.  Do things that Require faith. It's different for everyone.

2. Love.  When you love someone enough, you overcome fear.

3. Knowledge.  We fear when we don't know.

4. Preparation. When we feel prepared, we don't fear.

I have been terrified of a lot of things lately, my new area, my future, etc... But I know I am constantly being guided.  It takes a lot of faith, but I am so excited for so many things to come.

On Sunday, Elder Saenz went home because he finished his mission.  It was so sad to see the missionaries ending their missions.  They are such great leaders to me.  After 2 years, you start to get better at saying goodbyes.  You start to realize that they will be with you in your heart and thoughts and that you will one day see them again.  But sometimes it's still sad to say goodbye.  Federico found out I was leaving and he suddenly got upset... telling me he´d miss me, and that I had made a positive influence in his life.  He told me never to forget him.  I promise, I never will.  He leaned over to me in sacrament and told me he wanted to go to the temple this year.. I couldn't be happier.  I´ll miss him a lot.  I also met one of my heroes, Victor Castillo, during my time in Albardón.  Although I had zero part in either of their baptisms, I know Heavenly Father worked through me.  I just had to be ready.  Saying goodbye stinks :(     I´ll miss this place a lot . . .

 

Anyway, time to go work some magic with Elder Richards in Rodeo de la Cruz.  I got a phone call from Presidente Panzacchi this morning telling me the area was difficult, but that he trusts me.  I love a little ward that needs a little help ♥ I AM SO EXCITED! 

LOVE YOU ALL,

ELDER AMANN

gosh i miss you all so much.  Thank you for all you have taught me.

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FRIENDS

Elder Richards - my new Comp (from Arizona)

My new area (just kidding - that's San Juan)

My new place

GET HEALED

BRUNCH WITH THE SISTERS

 I love the New Testament.  It changed my life completely, please read it in full.

Located in Mark 2:1-7:

Of course, the New Testament is the story of Christ.

Very early in the NT, Jesus is teaching in a small room.

At the bed of a lame man, Jesus says simply and lovingly, "your sins have been forgiven you."

On hearing this, the people started to get mad.

People started to say that he couldn't do that, that only God could.

He then asked if it was easier to do that, or to heal him of his physical condition.

In spite of disbelief, Jesus then healed his body, and told him to walk.

Everyone was amazed as Jesus healed this man, spiritually and then physically.

♥

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I have zero medical study, but I need to talk about healing today.  Kassie, this is what I have learned here.

This brings me to what I wanted to talk about: Jesus heals. Fully. It is something I have been learning about a lot lately.

The above story is so important because it describes Jesus´ real mission.  Lots of people recognize Jesus for his great miracles of physical healing, but JESUS DID NOT COME HERE TO HEAL PHYSICAL PAINS.   Let me say that again, Jesus healed the sick, gave the blind their sight, he even raised people from the grave.  And He healed them completely.  But He didn't come here to heal people from their physical problems...

He came he to heal them spiritually.

Fully. Completely.  Restored.

This is SO evident from the story in Mark.  The people didn't understand that and they still don't, I have seen  SO many people burdened by pains they think are physical that are actually pains of the soul.  

I have ZERO study of medicine, I have never healed anyone.

But I have seen Jesus do it to people I know time and time again.  He did it with me.

Last week, a friend in Sweden (Trojans 4 life) sent me a great talk called Healing = courage, action and grace. 

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jonathan-g-sandberg_healing-courage-action-grace/

(Thanks Syster Hall!) 

This talk was so fantastic and it talks about the healing process.  Please listen to it! 

Shortly after listening to it, I started to get scared and some old thoughts started coming back after a mistake I made.  So I listened to another talk that happened to come with perfect timing.

It's called Balm of Gilead.  This talk... THIS TALK. 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1987/10/balm-of-gilead?lang=eng

This is one of the greatest talks I have ever heard.

I know it is true.  ALL OF IT. This talk was written from one of God´s very apostles.

My message is an appeal to those who are worried or restless or anxious, a plea to those who are not at peace. If your life is touched with disappointment, grief, or bitterness; if you struggle constantly with worry, frustration, with shame or anxiety, I speak to you.

The Bible records that in ancient times there came from Gilead, beyond the Jordan, a substance used to heal and soothe. It came, perhaps, from a tree or shrub, and was a major commodity of trade in the ancient world. It was known as the Balm of Gilead. That name became symbolic for the power to soothe and heal.

The lyrics of a song record:

There is a Balm in Gilead,

To make the wounded whole,

There is a Balm in Gilead,

To heal the sin sick soul.

I recently asked a doctor of family medicine how much of his time was devoted purely to correcting physical disorders. He has a large practice, and after thoughtfully considering, he answered, “Not more than 20 percent. The rest of the time I seem to be working on problems that very much affect the physical well-being of my patients but do not originate in the body.

“These physical disorders,” the doctor concluded, “are merely symptoms of some other kind of trouble.”

In recent generations one after another of the major diseases has yielded to control or cure. Some very major ones still remain, but we now seem able to do something about most of them.

There is another part of us, not so tangible, but quite as real as our physical body. This intangible part of us is described as mind, emotion, intellect, temperament, and many other things. Very seldom is it described as spiritual.

But there is a spirit in man; to ignore it is to ignore reality. There are spiritual disorders, too, and spiritual diseases that can cause intense suffering.

The body and the spirit of man are bound together. Often, very often, when there are disorders, it is very difficult to tell which is which.

There are basic rules of physical health that have to do with rest, nourishment, exercise, and with abstaining from those things which damage the body. Those who violate the rules one day pay for their foolishness.

There are also rules of spiritual health, simple rules that cannot be ignored, for if they are we will reap sorrow by and by.

All of us experience some temporary physical sickness. All of us now and again may be spiritually ill as well. Too many of us, however, are chronically spiritually sick.

We don’t need to stay that way. We can learn to avoid spiritual infections and maintain good spiritual health. Even though we have a serious physical ailment, we can be spiritually healthy.

If you suffer from worry, from grief or shame, from jealousy, disappointment, or envy, I have something to tell you.

He goes on to tell the story of a spiritual giant who suffered a special kind of spiritual Hell early in his life.  He gives his advice which allowed him to overcome it.

I have experienced a taste of this type of healing, not any Balm of Gilead, but the most amazing happiness of my life.  I have seen it in the lives of others.  I know its true.

Please, I think we all have a little spiritual cleaning up to do.  Listen to this talk.

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1987/10/balm-of-gilead?lang=eng

♥

I LOVE YOU ALL,

ELDER AMANN

P.S. Literally, nearly everything I read these days has something to do with Integrity, and I know I'm supposed to learn something about it.. If you want to help me, please send your thoughts on the subject!

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I haven't been to the offices in a very long time, which means no mail since the beginning of March :( But the good news is that I'm going this week, and that we´re going to have a special conference with the Presidente de Area this week!)

Here's a video of knocking doors in Argentina!

 

BRUNCH was WITH MAPLE SYRUP (It's been two years since I have seen this stuff.)

Exchanges with the best of the best, Elder HOBBS

It got cold again

 Language study with Victor

OPENING ANGACO

I want to tell you all a story about a little town called Angaco.

Angaco is a little town very far away from our meeting house.  There are members there, but they can´t come because it is nearly impossible for them to get to the church building Sunday morning.  The mission hasnt been working there, but after lots of prayers and meetings, my companion and I started going.  Our plan was simple: find people to come to church, and find a place to hold meetings, to open the area before the end of the month.

We made a list of all the members we had listed who lived there, there were few, and we spent 3 days there, meeting some people and getting to know the area.  The next time we went, we didnt have any plans, we just had our list of members, and we went walking.  

Now, Last monday, Elder Moon (Lider de Districto) just gave us his district meeting lesson on Those Placed in our Path.  He taught that with prayer and faith we can find those who God will put in our path.  I have a lot of faith in this principle, and with even new faith, I prayed that He would put people in our path.  I know He does this, but we have to look and pray to have the ability to identify them, because not everyone is ready.

So we finished eating lunch and studying in the park and left to go look for members.  We talked to a few people and keep going, as we started to pass a ghost town looking gas station.  During the siesta in Argentina, very few people are outside.  There is a weird man sitting there, and I think for a second, no, I dont have to talk to him... and just then he starts calling us over.  

Within SECONDS we are walking with him to his house, and identify him as one of the people on our list.  Federico.  He is 30 and lives alone. He is very different and people dont generally like him, he doesnt have many friends, and suffers from some things. But he has a HUGE heart.  He told us he had the book of joseph smith, and it was obvious he wasnt ever an active member.  But he had the biggest heart.  We get to his house, and its a mess, but I feel so at peace.  I see this man, and I see giant potential.  I knew God put him in our path.

We start talking and he offers his home for us to start to have meetings there.  

We had to leave, but we told him we´d be back 2 days later.  We come back two days later, and we were very late to the time we set, so when we got there, he was not.  We left a note saying we´d pass by in 2 more day, on Saturday morning.  I have had SO many people throw away my notes before even reading them, so I had little hope.

Saturday morning, we show up, he is sitting out front of his house on a chair with our note in his hand...!

We talk and I feel so happy again.  I felt the need to invite him to church.  Knowing he had never been, and that it would be almost ridiculous for him, without a way of travel.

But we agreed on a time and place to meet Sunday morning.

A las, sunday morning, we wait for 20 minutes and he does not show. So we go to church.  But my faith was burning.

Almost near the end, I look to my left and in walks Federico.  HE MADE IT!

I know God lives.  I want to testify that God chooses weak ones.  The world would never have chosen Federico, but God Did. and so do I.  

 I love this gospel.   I love when people walk past me and stare and laugh because Im with someone like Federico.  I love when people doubt it... Because I have seen the power of our God above.  I love being with the strangers, the weirdos.  

The Biggest difference between Federico and EVERYONE I HAVE MET IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS IN MY AREA, is that Federico is disposed.  He is as ready as the apostles of Jesus Christ.  He dropped everything when we came.  I have never seen anything like it.

I know those are the true disciples.  Those who are ready, DISPOSED.  

I know there are people who need this, even as much as I need it.  My focus will always be on those people.  Those who need  to call on God.

We must be DISPOSED.  

 

Hugh B. Brown gave a talk about this: 

While I was acting as servicemen's coordinator, I was in London, England. I sent the following telegram to the senior chaplain of a large camp near Liverpool: "I'll be in your camp tomorrow morning at 10:00. Kindly notify all Mormon boys in your camp that we'll hold a meeting."

When I arrived the next morning, I met seventy-five young men, all in uniform. They were delighted to see me, although I knew none of them. They were glad to see someone from home.

There stepped out from the crowd a man who, after shaking hands, said, "I'm the one to whom you sent your telegram. I'm the chaplain of this camp. I didn't get your telegram until this morning [that is, Sunday morning]. Upon receipt of it, I made an inquiry--a careful inquiry. I found there were seventy-six Mormon boys in this camp. Seventy-five of them are here; one is in the hospital." 

He said, "I wish you'd tell me, Mr. Brown, how you do it. I have six hundred men in my church in this camp, and if I gave them six months' notice they couldn't meet that record. Tell me how you do it." 

"Well," I said, "if you come into our meeting, we'll show you how we do it." And so he accompanied me into the quonset hut, and before us sat these seventy-five young men. I had the minister sit next to me. 

I said, "How many of you fellows have been on missions?" Fully 50 percent of them raised their hands. I pointed to six of them and said, "Come here and administer the sacrament."

I pointed to six others and said, "Come here and be prepared to speak." I looked at my friend, the minister, and he had his mouth open. He had never seen such a thing. 

And then I said, "Fellows, what shall we sing this morning?" And with one voice they said, "Come, Come, Ye Saints!" And I said, "Who can lead the music?" and most of them raised their hands. I selected one. "Who can play this portable organ?" And again there was a fine showing, and one was selected. 

We didn't have any books, but the man at the organ sounded a chord, and those young men stood, shoulders back and chins pulled in, and they sang all the verses of "Come, Come, Ye Saints." I have heard that sung all over the Church many times, even by the Tabernacle Choir, to whom I apologize for what I am going to say. I have never heard "Come, Come, Ye Saints" sung with such fervor, such conviction, such power as those young men sang it. When they came to that last verse, "And should we die before our journey's through, happy day, all is well," I tell you it was thrilling. And as I looked at my friend again, I found him weeping.

After the prayer, one of the boys knelt at the sacrament table and said, "O God, the Eternal Father," and then he paused for what seemed to be a full minute before proceeding. At the close of the meeting, I went and looked him up. I put my arm across his shoulder and said, "What's the matter, lad?"

He said, "Why?" 

"Well, you seemed to have difficulty in asking a blessing on the bread. Has something happened?" 

"Well, sir," he said, "a few hours ago I was over Germany and France on a bombing mission. We had made our run, left our calling cards [meaning the bombs], and when we gained altitude and were about to return across the channel, we ran into heavy flak. My tail assembly was pretty well shot away, one of my engines was out, a number of my crew were wounded, and it looked like a hopeless situation. It seemed like no power in heaven or earth could get us back across the channel to a landing field. But," he said, "Brother Brown, up there I remembered what my mother had said to me. [And this I want to say to this vast audience, both those that are here and those that are listening in.] This is what my mother said, 'If ever you find yourself in a situation where man can't help you, call on God.'

I had been told that same thing in Primary, in the seminaries, in Sunday School: 'If ever you need help and man can't help you, call on God.' Although it seemed hopeless and impossible, I said, 'O God, the Eternal Father, please sustain this ship until we get back into England.' . . . Brother Brown, he did just that.

"When I heard of this meeting I ran all the way to get here, and when I knelt at the table and named his name again, I remembered shamefully that I had not stopped to say 'thank you.' And that's the reason I paused, to express my gratitude for the goodness of God." 

 

 It was a glorious occasion. 

Finally there came an end. We dismissed, and this minister turned to me and said, "Mr. Brown, I have been a minister of the gospel for twenty-one years, but this has been the greatest spiritual experience of my life." 

My best friend asked me what I knew about righteous desires.  I am learning so much.

I know Federico has righteous desires and that they move mountains.  

I know Christ lives.  He is my guide.  He has changed me. I am so glad, I have never been so happy.  tHIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING. 

I know this is a big question ha but like what do you know about the worth of a human being.  Like where do we find worth in people?  like is it in appearance or wealth or intelligence ?  I know none of those things are true worth, but I dont know where to start.

I LOVE YOU ALL,

fall is killing me im so cold it dropped like only 5 degrees so far... BRR

I forgot my flashcard with Federico :( 

Next week youll see him!

Argentina Flag♥

Elder Moon practicing choir.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOPHIE BECK (Cats with Ties)

It is a dear dear friend of mine´s birthday on Wednesday.  Her name is Sophie Beck, and she is my hero and my example, and she is currently serving a mission in Sweden.  I have never known anyone quite like her.  I love you, Sophie Beck. 

Conference was this past weekend and I hope you all saw some of it!

My favorite talk was President Uchtdorfs.  He talked about the most important day in history.  I have thought about this question a lot, and my answer has always been the same as President Uchtdorf´s.  I know the atonement and the resurrection are the most important things, and to be understood changes ones´ life.

I also loved a talk from Taylor G. Godoy.

Godoy said while we do not know how long our lives will be, "we all have a 'today' to live; and the key to making our day successful is to be willing to sacrifice" to bless others.

For example, he told how his mother sold jewelry that her father had given her to help him start a dentistry business. "I learned that the sacrifice our loved ones make for us refresh us like cool water in the middle of the desert. Such sacrifice brings hope and motivation."

Ghandi once said: 

7 Things That Will Destroy Us

Wealth without work

Pleasure without conscience

Knowledge without character

Commerce without morality

Science without humanity

Religion without sacrifice

Politics without principle

I love this, and I especially want to focus on Religion without sacrifice.  I know Heavenly Father has the best things in store for us.  I know he might ask us to sacrifice temporal things, but He really wants us to have the best things.  We wont ever sacrifice the best things, we sacrifice to have the best things!

also, 

Here´s the testimony of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Prayer.:

They started making nasty telephone calls, and it came to the point that some days more than forty telephone calls would come in, threatening my life, the life of my family, the life of my children. I took it for a while in a strong manner.

But I never will forget one night very late. It was around midnight. And you can have some strange experiences at midnight. (Yes, sir) I had been out meeting with the steering committee all that night. And I came home, and my wife was in the bed and I immediately crawled into bed to get some rest to get up early the next morning to try to keep things going. And immediately the telephone started ringing and I picked it up. On the other end was an ugly voice. That voice said to me, in substance, "*******, we are tired of you and your mess now. And if you aren't out of this town in three days, we're going to blow your brains out and blow up your house." (Lord Jesus)

I'd heard these things before, but for some reason that night it got to me. I turned over and I tried to go to sleep, but I couldn't sleep. (Yes) I was frustrated, bewildered. And then I got up and went back to the kitchen and I started warming some coffee, thinking that coffee would give me a little relief. And then I started thinking about many things. I pulled back on the theology and philosophy that I had just studied in the universities, trying to give philosophical and theological reasons for the existence and the reality of sin and evil, but the answer didn't quite come there. I sat there and thought about a beautiful little daughter who had just been born about a month earlier. We have four children now, but we only had one then. She was the darling of my life. I'd come in night after night and see that little gentle smile. And I sat at that table thinking about that little girl and thinking about the fact that she could be taken away from me any minute. (Go ahead) And I started thinking about a dedicated, devoted, and loyal wife who was over there asleep. (Yes) And she could be taken from me, or I could be taken from her. And I got to the point that I couldn't take it any longer; I was weak. (Yes)

Something said to me, you can't call on Daddy now, he's up in Atlanta a hundred and seventy-five miles away. (Yes) You can't even call on Mama now. (My Lord) You've got to call on that something in that person that your Daddy used to tell you about. (Yes) That power that can make a way out of no way. (Yes) And I discovered then that religion had to become real to me and I had to know God for myself. (Yes, sir) And I bowed down over that cup of coffee—I never will forget it. (Yes, sir) And oh yes, I prayed a prayer and I prayed out loud that night. (Yes) I said, "Lord, I'm down here trying to do what's right. (Yes) I think I'm right; I think the cause that we represent is right. (Yes) But Lord, I must confess that I'm weak now; I'm faltering; I'm losing my courage. (Yes) And I can't let the people see me like this because if they see me weak and losing my courage, they will begin to get weak." (Yes) I wanted tomorrow morning to be able to go before the executive board with a smile on my face.

And it seemed at that moment that I could hear an inner voice saying to me, (Yes) "Martin Luther, (Yes) stand up for righteousness, (Yes) stand up for justice, (Yes) stand up for truth. (Yes) And lo I will be with you, (Yes) even until the end of the world."

And I'll tell you, I've seen the lightning flash. I've heard the thunder roll. I felt sin- breakers dashing, trying to conquer my soul. But I heard the voice of Jesus saying still to fight on. He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone. No, never alone. No, never alone. He promised never to leave me, (Never) never to leave me alone.

And I'm going on in believing in him.

 

 If you believe it and know it, you never need walk in darkness.

Don't be a fool. Recognize your dependence on God. (Yes, sir) As the days become dark and the nights become dreary, realize that there is a God who rules above."

I want to end today by saying that I love the Savior.  This time of year is so wonderful, because we can remember Him.  I have experienced the process of repentence here in the mission and in my life, and I am changed.  I am free.  I have control and I am happy.  I still need to work hard everyday, but I am no longer held.  I know this is available to all.  I know all of us get burdened down, but that we need to overcome.  But I know He suffered so that we could overcome.  I love the Lord Jesus Christ and I testify of Him.  

And I'll tell you, I've seen the lightning flash. I've heard the thunder roll. I felt sin- breakers dashing, trying to conquer my soul. But I heard the voice of Jesus saying still to fight on.

I LOVE YOU ALL,

ELDER AMANN

GETTING CONFERENCE HAIRCUTS FROM MEMBERS WITH SAFETY SCISSORS

ELDER FRETES SAFETY AND STLYE

Elder amann SAFETY (but 0 style)

CATS WITH TIES