To bring the world His truth

Hello Everyone!

This last week was great. On Monday the two companionships in my district and our zone leaders all came to Chascomús for P-day. It is about and hour and half travel for each of them, so they stayed the night to be here for district meeting the next day. On Monday night we all split up and went out to clap houses in our area. I went with one of my zone leaders, Elder Benavides. It was a great learning experience. He is very good at working around people saying no, and helping them see that actually do want/need to hear our message. He taught me that whether or not they know it or are willing to listen, our job is to bring the world His truth. The important part is that we bring it to them, do everything we can so that they reach out and take it, but in the end, it is their decision. Tracting is receiving rejection for the most part. We just have to remember why we are there so we don't give up before clapping that one house that has people waiting for us. In my mission, I have never really been that good at doing door contacts, so helped me a lot to see my zone leader at work. I have been trying to apply what he showed me since then. We had been struggling to find new people to teach, but thanks to this little "tormenta blanca" or "white storm" that we did, we were able to find 13 new investigators! Now we can barely handle them all! A tormenta blanca is when a large group of missionaries go to one area, and spend 2-3 hours just finding new people for the missionaries in that area. The name comes from our white shirts, and that fact that we are "storming" the area. Dad also had given me a similar idea a while back. This whole week since we did it, people have mentioning all the different missionaries they had seen, and were especially confused by the Sister Missionaries! But they are great, so we welcomed them all the same.

We have two girls getting ready for baptism right now. Their names are Ludmila and Magalí. They are cousins, and both have parents who are less-active but are coming back to church. They are both 9, and are getting baptized on December 3. We are also working a lot with a guy named Agustin, and his Grandma. They are next door neighbors to the second counselor in our branch, and know a lot about the church. They had talked to the missionaries before a few years ago, but never got baptized. They have both told us that they feel like it is time for them to make a decision about which is the correct path in their life. They are willing to read and pray and see if this Church is true. We are praying hard for them that they receive the answer they are looking for. Other than that, most of our investigators are pretty new, and we are doing our best to help them progress in the Gospel. Please pray for us as well as for our investigators.

A few answers to questions:

When I said that I received that many packages each week, I did not mean me personally, though it seemed for a while that I received at least one package every week. I got them from Summer, DeeAnn, Mom/the Family, the Summit Ward, the Highland 12th Ward, and some others I believe. I am very greatful for everyone who has sent packages, letters, postcards, newsletters, etc. I love hearing about what is going on in my two wards. I don't remember the name of the Sister from he Summit Ward who has been sending me letters, but if someone knows who she is and sees her, tell her thank you for me! And to keep 'em coming. I feel bad for not sending letters back. I should be better about that. I feel especially bad about Sister Montes. She used to send me letters and packages, and I don't think I ever sent her even a letter back. She probably thinks I never got them. Mom, are you in contact with her? Could you try to find her and get an address so I can write her and her family. I always remember them as my first connection to Argentina, and I tell people about them all the time. Ellos son la razon que soy de River Plate. I always take pride in telling people that I am a River fan because of some Argentine friends of mine back in the States.

I loved both my Birthday and Halloween packages, Mom. Don`t get mad, but I actually gave that wallet to my companion as a gift, because I already have one, and his had just broken. I did appreciate the Moroni stamp as well. I have enjoyed all the other candies and toys that came in it as well.

As far as what I need for Christmas, nothing. I would like some things. All I can think of right now would be more gum, and teriyaki beef jerky (I suggest sending it in ziploc instead of the original packing to save space/weight). I will think of more stuff and let you know next week.

Well, that is pretty much all for now. I love everyone, and hope you are all doing well. If you are not, follow the three basic steps to happiness. Read the scriptures, say your prayers, and go to church. I guarantee that while doing one of those things, and likely during all three, you will find a way to either fix your problems or be able to make it through them.

Have a wonderful week.

Elder Scoty Stobbe




Latest update

I would like to send a belated happy birthday to Stacia! I feel like I am

missing everyone's birthdays here! I love you, Stacia!

Thanks for the updates. No basketball huh? Perfect timing I might say. I'm

not missing anything. I also hope everyone loses money. I say we pay

everyone 1 million a year, and that's it. That would be perfect, right....?

I will take some pictures of the city. There is not any place called Bolivar

near us, that is just our street name.

I wrote on Thursday because p-day was changed last week. I guess I forgot to mention that in the email. You can expect a letter every Monday from now on though.

About my studies. I think you are absolutely right about the websites. The

fact is, the "art" is only a small part of what I want to learn. The degree

is called Graphic Design, and if I remember correctly emphasizes pretty

heavily in website design. I think there is something you can download that

outlines all the classes necessary for the degree. When I think about what I

want to do for a living, it is almost website design. When I have my own

company, it will most likely be a web design company that offers other

graphic design and print services. I also want to get involved in

designing for mobile devices, both websites and apps. specifically for the

iPhone, but I have heard the there is quite a market in apps for Android as

well. Being in the offices I learned a little bit of the structure and uses

of databases, and I want to be able to incorporate that as well. I want to

be able to create "programs" online. So that's what I'm thinking as far as

what I want to do.

Yes, you can send me audio files and I can listen to them just as easily as

before.

The missionary work is... going. We haven't really been able to find many

new people to teach, and people keep not showing up to church. I am in a

little branch that maybe has 35 people in church each Sunday. We are trying to make it grow. The city I live in is one of those where everyone knows or is related to everyone else. They are all very nice, but aren't really interested in religion or going to church when they could be sleeping in, watching futbol, or drinking their mate. (not mate like friend, but like

mah-teh, it's this little drink made out of a special type of plant that

looks and taste like grass, and hot water. And EVERYONE drinks it. It's like the national past-time drinking this stuff.) So we are doing our best to

help those investigators that we do have, and are praying for those who are waiting to hear our message.

My companion is from Mexico, and is pretty cool. He is way into music, and sports. So pretty much the same as most teenagers. He turned 19 just a few weeks ago. Apparently in Mexico you can go on your mission at 18. I have noticed something different with him than with my other companions. It is not that he is immature in bad way, but he is young. He is about the same age as Matt Freeze, to give perspective. He is strong in the Spirit, and is a great missionary. I am very glad to be working with him. His name is Carlos Lopez. How's that for a mexican? haha. I can't imagine how many people there must be in the world named Carlos Lopez. In fact, the ward mission leader in my last ward was named Carlos Lopez!

Well, times up again. I spent some time writing to the twins for their

Birthday.

I love you all.

Elder Scoty Stobbe

Two weeks in Chascomus

Well, it has already been two weeks since I came to Chascomus. Time is

flying.

Mom, Dad, and Gene, thank you for your advice and love. I will be taking it

all into account in the coming weeks and months. As for bribing, I already

did that one on a suggestion from one of the Sisters in my district. We had

a goal to each challenge two people to be baptized during the week and to

take out a baptismal date. She circumspectly mentioned that a previous

District Leader had offered ice cream as a prize. I told them I would buy

them a Kilo of ice cream if they hit the goal. I focused on the real purpose

of the goal, and they understood that the ice cream was just an added push

to do what they knew was right anyway. It helped, in the end, and they

challenged 4 people between the two companionships.

I have attached a few pictures. The first is of Elder Lopez, and Sister Rios

playing ping pong after District Meeting. The next is a picture of the buses

we take down to Dolores to have District Meeting. It takes about and hour

and fifteen minutes. They are really comfortable. The next is of a family in

our branch. The dad is the first counselor. They are great! The one of the

little girl is of their daughter, Maitena. She is already my little friend.

The other day when we were at her house, she told me "Mañana te voy a

comprar un nuevo ojo para que no te quemes más." "Tomorrow I'm going to buy

you another eye so it's not burned anymore". I just about died. Little kids

are so kind and think of the nicest things to say. The other picture is of

the little Halloween toys I got. I had already eaten all the candy! oops!

I love being here in Chascomus. The members are great, the city is great

and the other missionaries in my district are great. I am enjoying the work,

even though we don't have very many investigators. The ones that we do have are strong

though, and almost all have baptismal dates.

The other day, we were with a part member family. Both of the parents are less active, and

their daughter Luzmila has not been baptized. She is 9. We were talking to her about being

baptized, and she said she wanted to.

Whenever anyone we talk to agrees to be baptized, I like to ask them why, so that they

have to think in that moment why they are going to get baptized.

She was a little shy, and didn't want to say it out loud, she whispered

first to my companion, and then to me "Por que creo en Dios" "Because I

believe in God". I realized that as a base, that is the only reason she

needs. The first principle of the Gospel is Faith. As long as she has faith,

she will understand the rest and really understand why she should be baptized.

I love you, and everyone!

District Leader

Ok, So there have been some major updates since yesterday. I got a call from

President Stapley this morning and have been assigned to be a District

Leader in the area of Chascomús. I am leaving on Thursday. If you want to

look on Google Maps, you will see that Chascomús is south of the main area of the mission, pretty much on it's own. I will let you know more next

Monday.

I love you and I´ll talk to you on Monday!

-Elder Scoty Stobbe

Today I would like to share with you some things that have happened in my

life in the last few weeks. First, let's talk about prayer, and answers to

prayer. Mom, you often comment that you hope I am having spiritual

experiences while I am here in the offices, even though the majority of what

I do is mundane. (Fun Fact: the word for mundane in Spanish is mundano. This

same word also means worldly. Coincidence? I think not.) The answer to your

question is yes. Allow me to share a few with you. The first happened just

this last weekend. As part of my duties here, I am in charge of entering in

all baptismal records from the mission. I use a system called CDE (Convert

Data Entry) to send the information to the Area Office, where they make it

official in the church records. As I enter them in, I keep of track of how

many I do, to make sure it is the same as the number of baptisms we have

recorded for the month. This month, due to a hectic schedule, I had to enter

the majority of the records in a very short period of time. I had done 7

earlier in the month, and had 95 to do, all on Friday, which was the

deadline so that they would count for the month of September. We have had a

goal of hitting 100 baptisms per month as a mission for quite a while, and

this was the first month we actually met the goal. President Stapley wanted

to be sure that they all got counted (we have had problems in the past)

because he had already told the Area Presidency that we had had 102, and has

a meeting with them in a few weeks. He did not want to have to show up and

say "Oops! We only had 98!" So I was under pressure to make sure that there

were no problems, and all were counted. So after a day of feverish entering,

I emailed my contact in the Area Offices asking him how many baptisms showed

up in his system as being entered for our mission. I got his reply, and my

heart sank. We only had 98! I knew that even though these people had been

baptized and would be counted eventually regardless, this was very important

to my Mission President. I emailed him back saying I was confused, because I

was sure I had entered in 102 in total. After sending the email, I went

downstairs into an empty room, knelt, and said a prayer. I was very worried,

knowing that this meant so much to President Stapley. I asked that

everything would work out, and that somehow the numbers would show up that

we had entered in those records. As I finished the prayer, I felt peace. I

knelt thinking about anything I could have missed, or any other solutions,

but all I could think of is that it would be all right, and I just needed to

wait and see. As it turns out, I didn't have long to wait. As I headed

upstairs, I found my new companion, Elder Fitzpatrick in the hall (more

about him later). He just looked at me and said, "We have 102." I knew that

my prayer had been answered. Even with such a small thing, I know that

Heavenly Father cares about each little problem we have, and wants to help

us. In retrospect, I should have gone and offered a prayer of thanks right

then and there, but instead I waited until my nightly prayer, and expressed

my gratitude to my Heavenly Father, telling him how much I appreciated his

blessings in my life.

The second experience took place over a period of about a week. The week

before General Conference, I listed to an audio recording from Dad. He was

telling me about how he had been investigating what I need to do to get

ready for school when I get home. At one point he mentioned what the overall

tuition would be, noting that it was quite high. He asked if I knew it was

that high (I did) and mused a little on how we would deal with that. I got

the impression from his tone of voice that he wanted to make sure that I

really wanted to choose this school, but that if I did, he would support me

in it. (I don't know if he was actually thinking all that, but it's how I

felt.) That got me to thinking, was I certain that I wanted to go to this

school? Was I willing to sacrifice to stick with my choice. I decided 3 or 4

years ago it seems, that I wanted to go there. I felt right from the moment

I made the decision, and moreover, I haven't wavered in that decision since

making it. But, I realized I was lacking something. For all my certainty, I

had never prayed and counseled with my Heavenly Father (Alma 37:37). So

before, answering back to Dad, I wanted to make sure this was the right

thing. I remembered that General Conference was coming up, and that it

suggested that we go into General Conference weekend with something specific

in mind to find an answer. This, I decided, would be my General Conference

question. I had already made the decision, so all I asked of Heavenly Father

was a confirmation that my decision was correct, or at least acceptable to

Him. I pondered and prayed during the week about this subject, focusing my

studies and thoughts on receiving this confirmation. Now, I didn't want to

be thought a sign-seeker, so I made it clear to Heavenly Father that I would

understand if I didn't receive or recognize His answer during Conference. (I

believe that Heavenly Father likes us to be up front with Him!) When

Conference arrived I listened intently to every talk, waiting and praying

for my confirmation. On Saturday I was uplifted and filled with the Spirit,

but received no recognizable confirmation. During Priesthood session I was

hopeful, since last time they talked a lot about post-mission life. (I

watched it online on Sunday morning, by the way.) During the Sunday morning

session, I was again uplifted, and learned some wonderful principles. I

especially enjoyed President Monson's talk, and his story about the $5 bill.

(I was reminded of that again when I had my previous experience.) At the end

of his talk, he told the story about the Frankfurt Germany temple

dedication, and his experience in being prompted to announce Brother Peter

Mourik as the first speaker. I was instantly and completely zoned in on his

talk. I was strange, like I needed to pay more attention to this than just

the fact that it was about my patriarch. As he told the story, it made me

think briefly on my Patriarchal Blessing. It mentions my schooling, but

nothing too specific. It hints at the type of school I would attend, but

nothing more. It didn't seem enough to confirm my choice. As President

Monson finished that story, he concluded with the following: "Following the

session, Brother Mourik and I discussed that which had taken place prior to

his opportunity to speak. I have pondered the inspiration which came that

day not only to me but also to Peter Mourik. That remarkable experience has

provided an undeniable witness to me of the importance of being worthy to

receive such inspiration and then trusting it-and following it-when it

comes. I know without question that the Lord intended for those who were

present at that session of the Frankfurt Temple dedication to hear the

powerful, touching testimony of His servant Brother Peter Mourik." I

remained thinking about what he had said until he closed his talk. I could

feel the Spirit, and knew there was something special about what I had just

heard. In that brief interval between when I closed my eyes, into my mind

came 3 distinct thoughts. Number one, I felt that Peter Mourik was a worthy

servant of God, entitled to, and receptive of revelation. Number two,

(having to do with the first), I received a confirmation that my patriarchal

blessing was indeed direct revelation from my Heavenly Father. And number 3

(seemingly connected by the thinnest of threads to the first two, but just

as clear in my mind) that my decision on where to go to school was

acceptable before the Lord. It was a very soft, very simple thought, but

just as clear as it was soft.

So, with that in mind, Dad, let's go full force in getting everything set up

for Collins College.

I was going to write more about a few other things, but I have to run so

this will have to suffice.

Expect more soon.

--

Elder Scoty Stobbe