Hola!
This week was pretty crazy! On Tuesday, a huge storm hit and it rained like CRAZY!!!! There was also a ton of thunder and lightning. It seemed like the end of the world or something. It was nuts. In 12 hours it rained more than it had the past month. On Wednesday, a bunch of the streets in our area were flooded and me and Elder Killian were walking down the streets with water up to our mid thighs!! I felt like a true missionary haha. Unfortunately it affected a lot of people, especially in the villas and their houses were flooded. Natalia's got flooded but none of of other investigators. The weather has been crazy. For the better part of the last 5 days its been raining non stop, but I love it.
This week we taught the Esquivel family which we found two weeks ago. We went with the Bishop and taught them the restoration and have another appointment this week. I think they`ll all get baptized one day but I think the only one that could get baptized while I'm still here is the youngest daughter who's 16.
It was a busy week again but it was worth it because yesterday we had Arminda's baptism, finally!!
Probably the best gift a missionary could receive on his mission, a baptism. And it was made even more special because I had the privilege of baptizing her!! It was really special and I could tell how much it meant to her. The entire time I just felt an overwhelming sense of peace. It wasn't like yay for me, I got a baptism or even that I got a baptism on my birthday because really this mission isn't about me at all. It's about serving my Father in Heaven and my brothers and sisters here in Argentina. You can't do that more than preforming the ordinance of baptism whereby a child of God makes a covenant with our Father in Heaven. To have the opportunity to be a part of such a special moment for Arminda and to serve others on my birthday was really cool. It was also cool because Blaz, Nancy and Mierta all came to church and all stayed for the baptism!!!
Afterwards we had lunch and a cake with the Berrondo family which was fun but really it didn't feel like my birthday.
To be honest, it just felt like a normal day in the mission because yesterday wasn't about me or my birthday at all but it was Arminda`s day. Some people knew it was my birthday and wished me happy birthday. I won't get mail until we have interviews with the president on the 20th or on the 13th because apparently an apostle is coming out to talk to the mission!!! Unfortunately I plugged in my camera and it died so I won't be able to send pictures until next week.
One thing I was thinking of this week was in 1 Nephi 15:26-27 and Nephi says that Lehi`s mind was swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water. In his dream Lehi was aware of the river. He knew it was there and knew of the dangers of it but he didn't give any more attention to it than was needed. Instead he focused on more important parts of the dream, The righteous and the good parts of it. Likewise, we need to be focused on spiritual things that will uplift us and bring us closer to Christ. We need to be aware of the adversary. We need to know that he is real and that temptation is there. But, we shouldn't give more thought and attention to the adversary and the things of the world than is needed. Becoming preoccupied with how filthy the water is or with the things of the world and the adversary is not necessary nor worthwhile. Let our minds be like Lehi; be swallowed up in other things. Things of the Lord. Things worth our time that will uplift us and help us continue on the path back to our Heavenly Father.
I love you all. Thank you for your emails and the birthday wishes. Thank you for everything. I miss you guys a lot! Love you!
Love
Elder McFarland
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