New Companion - Elder Gonzalez

Monday, July 6, 2015

Hola! So yes, my new companion is from Chile.  His name is Elder Gonzalez and he's from Viña del Mar. He's 18 but straight up looks like hes 15, haha, But he's a stud. He's super, super excited to be out on the mission and in the field and just wants to work, work, work so I'm pretty stoked to be with him.

I know I'm going to learn a lot from him. His family are all members of the church and he has just one sister who is 16. We got to the mission home and there were 4 Americans and 11 Latinos and out of the 4 Americans only 2 were Elders and I was really hoping I wouldn't get one of them, haha so I was pretty happy to get a Latino.

This week was pretty great. I had some of the best lessons of my mission this past week with him. Just feeling and being led by the Spirit in the lessons. We met an inactive mom and her son and tonight we have a FHE (Family Home Evening) with them. Then we had a lesson with an inactive hermana who doesn't understand the endowment. She doesn't feel the desire or need to go to the temple. For her, in the bible Christ was baptized and so she was baptized and so that's all she needs. After saying that, a hermano from the ward that was with us started going off on her and there started to be some contention and both Elder Gonzalez and I started to worry it would get out of hand and end really bad.  Then we stepped in and were able to listen to her and then Elder Gonzalez and I both felt like we were really led by the Spirit to know what to say to her.  We just expressed our love for her and not judge her doubts about the endowment. Instead we talked about how everyone, at one time or another, has or has had doubts or questions and that it was the question of Joseph Smith about which church was true that led to the restoration of the Gospel. We talked to her and told her she has an opportunity to let this doubt or question help her grow spiritually. That she can pray and ask Heavenly Father to see if it's necessary to go to the temple. For her to be true to what she does believe and know to be true while she works out for herself and finds out for herself the answer. We`ll see what happens with the hermana, but in the end, the Spirit was brought back into the room and it ended on a good note, instead of perhaps really bad, with this hermana.

Also, last night we had a lesson with a woman that was an old investigator. We got to know her and talked about the church and Book of Mormon and in the end it was a really, really good lesson and she accepted an invitation to be baptized July 26th. It's going to be a little hard because she can only meet with us on the weekends.

Jesus and Maria are doing well. Sunday they were confirmed (a member of the Church) and received the gift of the Holy Ghost from the Stake President who lives in our ward. When Jesus was confirmed, he invited me to join, which was special. In the afternoon, we had a lesson with them. I'm hoping Jesus can talk to Bishop by next week and then the week after receive the Priesthood. Also earlier in the week, Jesus brought a friend of his and we talked to him and he said he would come to church and the lesson in the afternoon but he didn't come to either. But hopefully we can talk and teach him again this week.

I didn't celebrate the 4th of July at all, but I was okay.  On Saturday during the game (the men's Copa America finals - Argentina vs Chile) we studied and then left thinking it was over but then found out it was in extra time and then went to penalty kicks.  Then a dude from his house started swearing and going off and it became obvious Argentina lost, haha. It was crazy though during the last part of the game, there was literally no one in the streets and then two minutes after they lost it was like life resumed and the streets were full again, haha. That's good that you guys celebrated the 4th of July and got to go out a little bit (Merrill & Kathy went to Sacramento and spent the night on an old riverboat that is docked and a hotel). Also cool to hear the US Women's soccer team won (the World Cup). Anyways, I  miss you guys lots and love you!

Love
Elder McFarland

Jesus & Marie Get Baptized (P.S. - I'm Staying in Buenos Aires South - And Training)

June 29, 2015

So, I'm staying in Parque Baron! Elder Ventura got transferred to La Plata Este (East) and will be in the other mission (the new Buenos Aires East Mission) so that kind of sucks. And I'm going to be training! I am no longer a District Leader, just training. I'm pretty excited but also nervous to train. For my Spanish, I hope he's Latino haha. Also right after I found out I was going to be training, I had the feeling or impression that I was going to have a difficult time with him. Not sure if we won't get along, or if he`ll have a hard time adjusting and missing home or what, but I had the feeling that it`ll be hard but we`ll see what happens. I'm excited though because one of the reasons I enjoyed being District Leader was the opportunity to serve the other missionaries and help them. Especially two Elders that I wanted to help. Being the District Leader of those Elders gave me a grand desire to help them reach their potential as missionaries. So now I'm excited to be able to do that but perhaps more fully with my hijo (son - a term used for the one you are training). I'll have a chance to kind of set the stage for the rest of his mission.  I can help him from the start to be obedient and develop good habits. As I'm training him, I really want to be able to search and find the gifts and talents that he has and to help him recognize them so he can develop and use them to be the missionary God wants him to be.  I want to help him realize the potential he has as a missionary and put him on the path to achieve that and be the best missionary he can be. I know Elder Durham helped me a lot when he was training me so I hope I can be of help to the Elder I'm  going to be training. Today I'm with another Elder that is going to train.  He served in Parque Baron a couple months ago. Then tomorrow at 3:30 we have to be in the stake center and then from there we go to the mission home to receive our new companions.

Yes, all went well with Jesus, so Maria and him were baptized yesterday!!

It was raining almost all day but it was really great. Leandro, the friend of Jesus baptized both of them. Maria's Mom came to the baptism so we`ll see if we can start teaching her. But they are great and are going to be great members.

Yeah, officially Elder Pribyl is in Buenos Aires Sur (South) with me so I'm sure one day I`ll see him and maybe even the same zone or district! Pretty Nuts!

We haven't been able to work with the ward much.  We need to start visiting the leaders. We made a goal of perhaps having a FHE (Family Home Evening) with the members once a week, starting with the leaders and having them invite a non-member. Yesterday we did divisiones (splits)with the Bishop and Stake President, who lives in our ward and visited some less actives and it was good. We received a reference from the mission office so we`ll see what happens.

Thank you for everything. I love you lots!!

Love
Elder McFarland

Happy Father's Day

June 22, 2015

Hola!

This week was pretty good. Wednesday we had the pre-interview with Jesus and Maria and to be honest we were pleasantly surprised with Maria.  As we did the pre-interview, we realized that she was ready and that she understands - perhaps not a perfect knowledge, but she has a strong desire and faith and we could see her sincerity. Thursday the zone leaders came and did the interviews. Maria was fine but they told us that Jesus would have to talk to President Thurgood or one of his counselors, so today at 6 he has an interview with President Pittito, one of Presidents counselors. We are hopeful that all will go well today and he will be able to get baptized this next week.  Either way though, Maria wants to get baptized, so she`ll get baptized for sure this Sunday.  Other than Jesus and Maria, we still don’t have too much. We were talking this morning and realized we need to start finding new investigators and working with new people because after 5 weeks it’s really been the same people. So, we talked about what we could do and so this week I think we are going to try to start finding new people and focusing on those that are going to progress.

I don’t really know the details about my Visa, I just know that if I don’t get my identification card by June 2th I will have to go do tramites again.  I really don’t know what that means but I don’t really think it’s a big deal.  I have heard of others that have a year or year and a half or more and still haven’t gotten theirs.

Thanks for everything and for your support and love.  Sorry I didn’t get a Father’s Day email to you Dad, but Happy Father’s Day!!  I hope you had a great day. It was the same here.  This Sunday was Father’s Day so we actually had a hard time having lessons.  I miss you both lots. I love you!

Love
Elder McFarland

The Familia Esquivel

Monday, June 8, 2015

Hola Hola!

This week was alright. So yeah we went back to the capital to the Bolivia consulate Tuesday morning and finished the paperwork (for his companion) there but I think we`ll have to go back to Burzaco one day this week to finish the tramites. Also apparently I haven't gotten my visa or I don't really know exactly but apparently if I don't get something by June 29th I'll have to go do my tramites again.

Jesus and Maria are doing well. They both came to church yesterday.  Jesus fasted and is paying tithing even though he isn't a member yet and yesterday he bore his testimony. Today we had a lesson with them so that we can finish teaching them before June 20th. I think he`ll be ready but Maria may take a little longer. She doesn't say much and she's not really one that is good at expressing her emotions or thoughts and so it's hard to tell if she's having a hard time understanding or if she just can't express it very well. So I'm a little worried about that. We had a couple other baptismal dates but we passed by like three times this week and their family says that they aren't there but we are pretty sure they`re lying.

Pretty cool, we had an intercambio this last week from the Elders from Banfield 4th ward and my companion and another Elder were here in Parque Baron.and they had a lesson with an inactive family.  The parents of a recent convert that just left on his mission before I arrived in the area and was actually the Ward Mission Leader before he left - the familia Esquivel. So my companion and the other Elder went and had a really good lesson with Hermano and Hermana Esquivel and they said they`d come to church and they did! So that was super awesome. Hopefully they can keep coming. Other than that, we have quite a few investigators but none that are progressing. I think we need to work hard on finding new people.

This Friday we have our Zone Conference so I'm pretty stoked for that. Also that's kind of funny that you`re teaching priesthood next week Dad on flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon because this week in the district reunion I'm going to teach about chapter 5 from PMG (Preach My Gospel) that's about the Book of Mormon. A few months ago President gave us 15 minutes extra in personal and companionship study to study a chapter from PMG every month so this month it's chapter 5. So I gave out some assignments to all the Elders to teach parts of the chapter. I'm still not exactly sure what I'm going to do.  I want to do an activity or practice but I'm not sure what yet.

And Mom, the mission used to sell scripture cases but they stopped and apparently there's a hermana that makes them but I haven't been able to get a hold of her and I heard she's really slow. So before I leave my mission I still want to  buy the scripture covers like the photo you sent but I was looking for something I could just use now, but if you can't find any that's okay. Also I was thinking of a couple other things you guys could send if you want :) I lost my tie clip that Scott gave me as a gift so I don't have a tie clip so if you could send me one; the color or details don't matter - black or silver and that's fine with me. Also a book called The  Ultimate Missionary Companion. And finally, if you could find something that would help me study Spanish it would help if it wasn't that big.  I'm not looking for a huge book or textbook but I'm not sure, perhaps something on the smaller side that could help. I know its not very specific but if you found something that could be of help that wouldn't add to much to what I already have. If not don't worry about it. Thank you for everything! I miss and love you!

Love 

Elder McFarland

A Trip to Burzaco & The Capital

Monday, June 1, 2015

Hola!
Sorry I'm emailing so late. It's been a kind of crazy day. So Friday, we went to Burzaco to do tramites for Elder Ventura's visa but then found out we`d have to go to the capital sometime to finish it. On Sunday we found out that today we`d be going to the capital. So in the morning we went to the offices and with two other Hermanas took a remis (a hired driver with his car) to the capital, which was like an hour. When we get to the Bolivian consulate, they tell us that they give out numbers from 8-8:30. So tomorrow we will have to leave from the mission offices at 5 in the morning to get to the consulate at like 6 to get a good ticket. So tonight we are staying with the Elders that are in charge of doing the visas, so that's why we are emailing so late. Today we didn't even have a p-day and actually missed our zone activity because of it. We were pretty bummed and a little annoyed because now we are going to miss the zone meeting tomorrow too... but it’s okay.

This week was pretty good. We got three new investigators and from those 3 we set two baptismal dates. But with all three we still aren't really sure how much they understood and how much they`ll progress. One is a woman that used and sold drugs and was in prison for a couple years and when we were talking with her she kept repeating herself like she has a really bad memory and she can’t sleep either. The other two are a middle aged man and his mom that live together and they are good people but not sure if they understood anything. So we`ll find out more this week.

Jesus and Maria told us that getting married is a goal but that they aren't prepared. When we asked why their main concerns were having a place to live, because right now they live separately, and also they feel young, which they are. So we talked with them about it for a while and it appears like their decision is to keep the law of chastity for now and get baptized June 20th, at least Jesus, Maria might be a little longer and when they are ready, get married.

We passed by Daisy's but she was ¨sleeping¨ so we haven't been able to talk with her. The ward council seems to meet irregularly here and they don't invite us anyways. Also right now we don't have a Ward Mission Leader because the last one left on his mission a few weeks ago.

Mom, yeah the ones (shoes) we bought are fine. They are size 10. Also, I was thinking if you guys could send me scripture cases but not like the one I have for my English scriptures with a handle to carry around. I want scripture cases that are for the triple combination and the Bible separately that I can then put in my bag. Not sure if that made sense. Also if you buy some make sure it's the size for Spanish because the Spanish scriptures are bigger. Also maybe if there's a mini Spanish Book of Mormon like the military size Book of Mormon in English. (We have a friend that is going to Argentina & have offered to take a package to Elder McFarland for us, so we asked what he wanted.)

That's cool you got a new job Mom. It sounds pretty good so you`ll have to update me on how you like it. Love you guys and talk to you next week.

Love
Elder McFarland

District Leader

Monday, May 25, 2015

Hola!

So this week was pretty busy. Wednesday was the district meeting. I spent quite a bit of time planning a lesson but then at the last minute, on Wednesday morning, I wasn't finished yet and felt I should do something else so I ended up basing the lesson off of D&C 133:15 and used the first part to talk about doing more contacts; that we need to remember to talk to everyone and not be in a rush to always get to appointments. The second part was about our hearts. Where are our hearts? In the mission or in the past? Also, our investigators have to learn to not look back on the life they are leaving behind but look to their new life of following Christ. It ended up being alright I think. We also set goals as a district. The district meetings are every Tuesday and an hour to an hour and a half long. I can assign stuff, but this week I didn't and I don't think I will for tomorrow. Thursday was a meeting for District Leaders and they talked about various things - like what it means to be a District Leader, our responsibilities and all that. It was really good. Then Friday was a meeting for trainers and new missionaries and we had to go again. That was really good too. Then Saturday, in the morning, I had to do two baptismal interviews in one of the areas in my district - a 14 yr old and 16 yr old. I was nervous but the meeting Thursday helped and I think it went well. Also, as District Leader I have to call my district every Thursday and Sunday night to see how they are doing, how the work is going and all that. So this week was pretty busy. I haven't had any down or free time at all, in the morning or night, but it's good.

The area is pretty big. There used to be 4 Elders here and now it's just us, but I can see why it used to be 4. Saturday and yesterday it started getting colder and a little colder in the pension but not too bad. The area is, not to scare you Mom, haha, the most dangerous of my three areas. Really it's not all that dangerous but we have to return to the pension around 8 if we can. My companion's last companion got robbed twice, haha so maybe I`ll have some new stories. I still haven't met all that many members. I greeted some on Sunday but didn't really get a chance to really talk or get to know any.

We have three baptismal dates. Two of them are Jesus and Maria. They are 20 and 19 years old and have a 8 month old baby. Jesus has been coming to church for a decent amount of time now but it was Maria's first Sunday. They both had a baptismal date for the 31st of May but they aren't living the law of chastity. So this week we taught it and they said they had the desire to get married so hopefully this week we can help them start that process. If they can get married in time, their new date is for June 20th. This morning we had a service project at the house of Jesus to clear his backyard. We have an appointment with the other baptismal date, Daysi, tonight. She's the girlfriend of a less active.

My companion doesn't speak English.  He's the only member of his family. His parents are separated, if I remember right. He was studying three years in geniería de finanzas, finance engineering in English. Not sure if that exists in the states, haha. I think it`d just be finance. He knew the Church from a coworker. She always talked to him about the Gospel and I think by the time he actually decided to meet with the missionaries she had already left for the mission. She's now returned and I think engaged so ya fue that. He's cool though. We've been getting along good and he doesn't seem like a new missionary.

I`ll have to think because right now I cant think of anything really I want or need. Perhaps a pair of shoes. The size kind of always depends on the shoe, but I think 10.5 but other than that I`ll have to think about it. Thanks for everything. I love you and miss you guys!


Elder McFarland

I Got Transferred - Goodbye Tolosa, Hello Parque Baron

May 18, 2015

Hola!!
So I got transferred today and I'm going to be in the Mission Buenos Aires......South!! I am now in Parque Baron in the Banfield Zone, so I'll be staying in the Buenos Aires South Mission which I'm pretty happy about.  One, because now if Elder Pribyl really is going to be in South too we could end up in the same zone or something and two, because now I'll finish with President Thurgood. I was also assigned to be a District Leader and to finish the training of Elder Ventura, but I'll get back to that later on.

So the last week with Elder Garache was good. President told us that if we had an investigator with us we could attend the transmission of the cultural event (Cordoba Temple Cultural Celebration) Saturday night and earlier last week we met and taught an old investigator, Juana. Her main problem is that she believes all the churches are true and that she's been baptized and doesn't need to be again, but she came with us Saturday night and we watched the cultural event. It was great because she lived in her youth for quite some time in Cordoba so afterwards she said it reminded her of her childhood and she said she really enjoyed it. So hopefully it`ll help her progress. The cultural event was good.  Elder Christensen (who served as a missionary in Cordoba) and President Uchtdorf came for the event and dedication of the temple. The dedication was a really great experience.  Yeah we had to bring a white handkerchief for the Hosanna shout. President Uchtdorf, the temple coordinator or something, and her husband, and then the Temple President, I think, all gave talks and they were really good.  I especially enjoyed President Uchtdorf's. Elder Christensen directed the session and he`s fluent so he didn't need a translator and all the people here praise him for his Spanish.

So my new companion is Elder Ventura and he's from Bolivia. He`s 23, a convert of about a year and a half, I think, and was introduced to the church by a friend. So he only has one transfer here and I`ll finish his training. Although I can already tell I'm not going to be doing much training with him. He appears to already be a very good Elder that came prepared for the mission. Obviously I still don't know him really at all but so far we get along great. He's really cool, really excited and happy to be in the field, really focused on the mission and just wants to work. So really, honestly, it doesn't feel like I'm training or anything, it's just like I have a new companion. To be honest, I still feel young in the mission even though I'm almost at a year and I don't feel like I know all that much. We were in the bus coming back after the cultural event Saturday night when the Assistants called me to tell me I would be finishing his training and I`d be District Leader. I hung up and just thought ¨What am I going to do...¨,ha-ha. I still have no idea what I'm doing. I've been praying a lot since then for help so that I can complete my calling as a Trainer and District Leader. I'm not worried about the leadership position in itself or the responsibility or anything like that. My two biggest worries are my Spanish and teaching every week for the district meeting. My Spanish honestly is not good for someone that has been out a year. It's not where it should be and so that's been something that's continued to frustrate me. So I kind of worry about being a leader and training when my Spanish isn't that good. And then also the teaching because naturally I'm just not a good teacher and I have no idea what or how I'm going to teach every week to my district. Also, like I said, I just don't feel like I know really that much but I suppose it will be a good opportunity to learn to trust in the Lord and the atonement. It's also really humbling and I think it`ll help me be even more humble before the Lord as I learn to rely on Him even more so. My district is 6 Elders, woohoo no Hermanas!! That I know of so far. I don't know anyone in my district but I'm not sure still. Also good news and bad news about my new apartment. The good is that it's big!  It used to be 4 Elders in the area but now it’s just us two. The pension is definitely the biggest I've had, and it's relatively nice but the bad news is that because it's big and a lack of insulation, it gets pretty cold apparently... so I'm kind of worried how that will go in the mornings, ha-ha.

That's great that you guys (Merrill & Kathy) got to go up to Utah to help Grandma and Grandpa and see family members and places. Thanks for the pictures. I miss and love you guys!

Love
Elder McFarland

Tolosa Bishop and family.

Family Dolder, who was the Hermana that arranged our lunches and 

where I Skyped for Mother's Day.

Family Krasnoselsky.  In the photo is Franco, our Ward Mission Leader and

Elder Krasnoselsky, who is the Area Seventy.