The last full week of Elder Fernandez

Hola,

It appears that my second transfer is ending. Haha. So here is what is going down- This weekend is general conference so all of us missionaries in the stake (Congreso) are going to have our baptisms together on Sunday night. We are going to have 3 baptisms. We have Maria and her 10 year old son Jose as well as a young woman (17 almost 18) named Sandy that are going to be baptized. Maria is an amazing woman and we finally settled her doubts about being baptized last week when I was in divisions with Elder Aguirre from La Boca. She told us how she was worried about being baptized because she has a prosthetic leg and how she would have to remove it and also her fear of falling backwards. So we reassured her and told her we could baptize her going forwards and have like 3 people in the font to help. She agreed and is very excited. Her son, Jose is also excited and he is a stud. Because Maria has diabetes, she is losing her vision and so her son has to read for her. He helps her with everything and is just a great kid. Sandy was an amazing blessing. I don't know how much I told about her but she is a friend of Flia. Cordova and she has accepted everything and even came to church alone yesterday with 2 young nephews. It is crazy how well prepared some people are, even before we meet them. My testimony has really been strengthened that there are a lot of people ready to accept the gospel and be baptized on any day. We have just been blessed a lot lately in finding them. Also on Tuesday, Oct. 5th we have the marriage and baptisms of Hugo and Mirian. I unfortunately will have to go pick up my new comp in the morning and so I will miss the wedding, but at least I will be there for their baptisms. Then that night is the farewell of all the missionaries that are leaving so I will have to head back to San Fernando (mission offices, about an hour and a half of travel....) again for the farewell of Elder Fernandez. Although it has been a roughish journey with him (especially last transfer...) I have learned a lot and I bet that I am going to realize all the things I have learned from him throughout the mission. I am excited but nervous about getting a new comp, but I know President is inspired in his decisions and so I am confident that everything will be fine. Anyways, nothing much else this week.... We are going to Puerto Madero today for the last P Day of Elder Fernandez and a nice Parilla (Rodizio ish). Puerto Madero is the nice part of Capital with the tallest buildings. Should be fun. Anyways, I love you all and I hope you are doing well. I am doing just fine and learning a lot here. Keep safe and keep it real!!! Haha. Until next week! Pay attention during Conference and keep notes! Love!

El Bautismo de Nicole y Raúl Povea

Hola todos,

Soy yo, Elder Trayner. Esta semana tengo buenas noticias. Haha. This week I have good news. Not only was Nicole baptized this past week, but her little brother Raúl had a change of heart and told us he wanted to be baptized (he's 9). So we prepared them both and they were both baptized saturday. Then Sunday I was surprised when they announced that I was going to confirm Nicole (13 yrs old) and so I went up to the front and I was so nervous during it that my legs were shaking. Haha. But it went well and I only noticed one time when I messed up the Spanish. Haha. But the service and the meeting Sunday all went really well. Now we are just working with the mother (Milagros) to be baptized, but she keeps saying a couple more months (she said that 2 months ago...) and yeah. We'll see what happens. She is really the only prospect for this week which is really lame because we have baptisms that are certain the following 3 weeks. Oh well. Some people just need more time than other people. Also this week- Zone Conference on Tuesday which I loved, it was really good to see Pres. Gulbrandsen and to learn some new things. We talked a lot about asking inspired questions and listening. I liked it a lot. Also, I just looked and I don't think I sent a picture of the baptism of Nahuel... somebody update me if I did or not and if I didn't I'll send one next week. Haha. Also this week, we're still trying to resolve the doubt of Maria and her son Jose so they can be baptized the 3rd. She is a really special lady and we always feel the Spirit really strong in her home, and so it is hard for her to recognize that those feelings are an answer that our message is true and that the BoM is true. But we are confident she will recognize the answer this week. Also excited for Hugo and Mirian to get married the 5th and baptized and also this week we had another miracle. A friend (Sandy) of one of the daughters of Flia. Cordova decided that she wants to be baptized. We taught her once, but she wasn´t interested because she knew her parents wouldn´t give her permission, but as Yarine Cordova talked to her about what she was doing with the young single adults and her testimony Sandy started to read the BoM this past week and now she tells us she wants to be baptized asap and she came to church on Sunday. It is amazing to see how the Lord is preparing people for us. We are doing our best and it is weird that the investigators that we find from this week on are going to be baptized after Elder Fernandez leaves. But yeah, I´m a little bit nervous about all this change, but everything is going to come out just fine. I love you all and I hope you are doing well. I would also like to extend the challenge that we received from Pres. Gulbrandsen to anyone who reads this, to read the Book of Mormon by Christmas as a present to Christ that we realize the importance of the book. So.... Do it. Haha. I've really had my testimony of the Book of Mormon strengthened while I´ve been here. It really is the key to those that are strong in the church and those that fall away. Anyways I love you all and I hope you are doing well. Oh. Also. Mom, I received the package on Tuesday! Thank you so much! The batteries are 500 percent better than my chinese cheap ones. Haha. The peach rings were also delicious and made me think of Rach. Haha. Love you all! Have a great week!

The Baptism of Nahuel Aponte!!

Hola!

Hope everyone is doing well this week! Sounds like you're all pretty busy, but doing well. This week we had the baptism of Nahuel Aponte (the really smart 22 year old who is studying law). It went really well and what was even better was that we had 12 investigators in the chapel and a bunch of less actives that we had visited. It was awesome to see. It's always really nice to see that your labors are paying off. Also this past week- Elder Fernandez left from 9 AM until 6 PM Tuesday, W, and Thursday. I was with 2 missionaries that had just started their 3rd week in the mission. Haha. Elder Gardner and Elder Christensen. One of them spake hardly any Spanish and the other.... decent for a new missionary. It was interesting to be in charge for 3 days, and all three days went really well. It was really a test of my Spanish and of my knowledge of the area. Hahaha. We had to use the map and addresses for everything, but it didn't really affect us. What affected us was not knowing the busses. Haha. But I'm going to try to pay attention to the busses we use more often for when Elder Fernandez leaves. This week we have the baptism of two young people. Nicole and Raúl Povea from the family of Amarú Povea. He was an inactive member, but the missionaries have been going to their house for about a year... and finally his 2 children want to be baptized and he is trying to get his life in line. It is nice to see them finally change, but it is hard to see how reluctant the wife is still..... She still wants more time.... Months. But we think when she watches her 2 children be baptized she will want to be baptized soon as well. The problem is just that she studies and works so much. She needs to realize the importance of her family, but they are progressing. Also this week. We found a couple named Hugo and Mirian about 3 weeks ago (a Sunday night) next to where Macario lives and they have come to church 2x now and we went and made a date for them to be married the 5th of October (one day before Elder Fernandez leaves!!!), they really are a miracle family. They have a 7 year old and a 3ish year old daughter. They really have just accepted everything and are reading everything they can get their hands on. Haha. They are really funny.... He also committed to quit smoking and she committed to quit drinking coffee even though she sells it on the street each morning with other drinks and bread stuff. They're amazing. Another amazing investigator this week in the capilla for the first time- Maria! She is 50ish and has diabetes and so she is losing her vision and she lost a leg and so she has a prosthetic. She also has one son who is 10 living with her and a 22 yr old daughter who lives far away. She is such an amazing woman. So strong. Her son (José) has to read for her and he helps her a lot with everything. It is amazing to see. Anyways, they should be baptized just before Elder Fernandez leaves as well. We really are seeing a lot of blessings.

Anyways, I love you all! Sorry this email has no order. Haha. This week remember to read the Book of Mormon! Do it! Keep strong! The gospel is true and it is the only way to be truly happy! Until next week!

¡Un Bautismo màs! - Macario Tapia

Hola!

¿Comò anda? Before I get, I have photos attached from the Baptism that we had this Friday for Macario Tapia (19 from Bolivia, like Flia. Cordova), the friend of Flia. Cordova. Also included- photos of the beloved zone leaders, photos of the single adults in the ward, Elder Fernandez and myself, and an example of some good food here. Haha. This week we had the baptism and it went really well. Other than us forgetting to fill up the pila (font) until just before the meeting was supposed to start, everything went epically well. He is such a good guy. So I just realized that the 12th of this month will mark the 1/6 part of my mission. Que loco. Haha. Time goes by super fast here. I am still struggling to learn Spanish, but it is coming along. This week I am going to be forced to really excercise an effort because Elder Fernandez is going to the 3 day leadership training again and I am going to stay in Constitucion with a new missionary for the day time for all three days....!!!!! Crazy. I don't even understand the people that well! Haha. Oh well... We'll see how it goes. The new missionary only has 3 weeks in the field and he is an American, but who knows, maybe he took spanish before??? Haha. No, it'll be ok though. Interesting, but ok. What else..... This week we have the baptism of Nahuel Aponte, a law student who is 22. He is such a stud and very smart. It is so exciting to see the difference in the barrio here (ward). We've really helped increase the amount of active priesthood members and it really does make a difference... Now if only we could get a ward mission leader..... Haha. It would be so nice. Anyways, we are preparing other families now so they can be baptized at the end of the transfer to celebrate the leaving of Elder Fernandez. We should have a good transfer in the end as far as baptisms.

I don't really know what else to say other than to share my testimony. It has been awesome to see people realize that they need to change and to utilize the atonement of our Savior to do it. I know that if we have desires to change we can do it through Christ. I know that the only way to truly be happy and to have success in life is through Him. I know he suffered for us and that he understands us perfectly. I am so grateful for my family and I want all of you to know that I love you and you're examples and teachings have changed my life and you all are a big reason why I am out serving. Keep strong and never let your faith in Christ fail and you will never fall. I love you all and I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only church with Christ at it's head. I hope everything is going well for all of you and I love hearing from you all. Hasta la proxima semana!