Elder Trayner, in the field. Week 2... kinda. Haha.

Greetings!

I am doing well! I hope you all are well. So first off so I don´t forget. We only get mail and letters 7 times my whole mission so.... Make sure anyone that wants to keep in contact with me keeps in contact with you?? I dunno. I was super bumbed when my comp told me that. We only get our mail at Zone Conference which is once every 3 months. So I hope these letters are getting posted?? I dunno. Haha. If not that is ok. My poor friends... I hope Pres. Gulbrandsen changes it so we can email friends.... I had like 5 friends writing me in the MTC.. Haha. Oh well...

Anways... My first week was pretty rough. We had a really hard time meeting our goals and it ended up that we had one investigator come to church that we basically dragged there 20 minutes late and then we left the room for like 5 minutes to call a family that didn´t make it and he left!!!! It was horrible. He was the one I challenged to be baptized my first day. So I guess he isn´t progressing anymore. We were hoping to baptize him this week or next because he had attended church a few times before in another area. Oh well. His name is Hector.... Anyways. We have a family that is quite sure. It is an interesting situation. I guess one of the sons is a member?? He is 22 and has a girlfriend... So our hope is that we can baptize the rest of the family and get him ready to serve a mission. Although the father was planning on being baptized earlier (before I was here) he left for work in Bolivia..... We actually found out yesterday that he had cheated on his wife and so now they are separated, which is probably for the best. They are an awesome family. They are the Cordobas. We are waiting for a few weeks for their baptism because one of the children turns 8 in a couple weeks. Awesome.

Ummm.... My comp. Elder Fernandez. He is the man. He is a really good teacher and has tons of experience. He has served in every leadership capacity there is in the mission. I found out that he only has one more transfer here in the mission so I am likely his last companion. Sweet. This week was trying with him though. It gets hard sometimes because we can´t communicate precisely with each other. He also thinks differently and so I told him that is totally fine with me and I think it is cool, but he thinks it isn´t good enough. He thinks we have to have the same opinions in everything?? I dunno. It is weird and sometimes I feel excluded and unimportant, but we talked this morning and so I hope this week is going to be better. We´ll see. Haha. He is the man though.

Um.... other random experiences this week. We had to "cast out a demon" out of a little boy... Haha. Elder Fernandez was mad after because the Catholic uncle insisted that we bless the child because "he had a demon." E. F. was mad because he thought the man was the one with the bad spirit, not the child. Which was actually quite true. Haha. But it was good. We gave the blessing and after the child wasn´t crying or wiggin out anymore. It was good in a way I guess. I thought the child had Pneumonia at the beggining though cuz the word is demonio and that sounds like Pn. when said really fast in a latino accent. Haha. Yeah. Anyways. Interesting. Oh and then there was our solo investigator who left after the first meeting.... Umm.... We unknowingly drank tea with milk at a less active members house and found out after. Haha. It was weird. The food here is of course really good. The serve us spaghetti a lot. I am always really grateful for the food they give us because they don´t have much, but they are really willing to give it to us. Americans are so stingy with their things and money. I like that a lot about here. I guess that is probably all the exciting experiences this week. Other than the annoying rain yesterday and today that magically makes everyone too sick to go to church. Dumb. Haha. Oh well.

How are all of you doing? It sounds like you are doing well. I am doing just fine here. My spanish is coming along. I feel like I´m understanding a lot more and getting worse at speaking. Haha. It´s because my brain is meddled with all this Spanish I´m hearing. It´s good though. Well. I look forward to your emails next week. I love you all ahhh the stupid exclamation point isn´t working. Weird keyboard. OH well. Love you allª Let my friends know that I love them even if I don´t write themªª Haha.... Hasta luego

Elder Zachary Trayner

So I'm in Argentina...Haha,,,

Hola Familia!

So I´m in an internet cafe with my companion Elder Fernandez!!! He is from Uruguay (spelling??). He is a baller. President Gulbrandsen told me he is pretty much the best I could have gotten and so far we´ve got along great (at least from what I can understand from his Spanish and a few words he knows in English... Hahaha). No but really, he is an awesome Elder. I guess he used to be A.P. and he is in one of his last transfers but he won´t tell me how many haha. He has two younger sisters and he is super diligent. I am really lucky I have him.

Argentina- So far the only 2 things I have eaten are empanadas, spaghetti, and a bowl of strawberry corn flakes??? Haha. Awesome. The empanadas are quite nice. I like ham and cheese the best. It is huge here. I am serving in Constitucion, you can look up Plaza Constitucion to see. It reminds me a lot of Mexico City in a way. The people here are really hard to understand. They all speak a million miles an hour and they sound like they´re singing. Haha. Old people are the hardest because they have scratchy old voices and they don´t annunciate. Haha. So yeah. Anyways I made my first Baptismal commit on my first day yesterday and they accepted!!! Haha. It was awesome. He is a really cool guy so we are going to try our best to make sure he can be baptized. So much Spanish!!! Haha. But yeah. I´m good. It´s pretty shady and we cross lots of streets, but nobody needs to lose any sleep hahaha. It´s awesome. My companion tells me we are in a historically difficult area. The bishop set a goal for 10 baptisms this whole year. We have 7 people with dates right now so we are hoping to at least double the goal. I am so glad he is such a hard worker and he is pushing us. I am trying my best to learn Spanish. :)

So the first day yesterday- Hahaha. First we arrived and were greeted by President and Sister Gulbrandsen!! Yay! I was really happy it was them. They arrived about 6 days ago. Then we ate and had a couple meetings at their house and then we got our companions and rolled out to our areas! I drove past the famous obelisk and in the huge avenue. It was awesome. The people here drive as crazy as in mexico and the buses are pretty crowded. It is awesome. So anyways, we arrive to our apartment and we are standing outside about to go in when my companion realizes he doesn´t have the keys. Hahaha. So we went through this huge ordeal trying to find some and it took hours and anyways... we ended up at the bishop´s house and then we had 3 appointments so we went to those. The first one was difficult because it is a couple that have a child and they live together, but the wife doesn´t want to get married. We didn´t make much progress last night, but we reissued the challenge to pray. Then we went to our next appt just down the hall. He is a man who lives in a small room with 3 other people and there are 2 bunk beds. An old man was sleeping in one of the beds and he refused to even talk to us. It was lame. Haha. But anyways it went really well with him and he had already been to church a while ago. He is trying to prepare for the 31st of July. Then a youngerish woman walked in and at first she wouldn´t listen but then she agreed and we gave her a summary and we all testified and we said how her friend was going to be baptized and so we challenged her to be baptized and she said she would prepare as well. They have a ways to go, but I know the Lord can provide a way. Oh. By the way, she already had gone to church a couple times and spoke with the missionaries 4 years ago. Turns out she is only 16! Crazy. It is really different here. Then we went to another appt with a member, but the mom (who was the one we wanted to talk to) wasn´t home, but we shared a message with her 3 daughters (I guess one is already a member??) I don´t really understand the situation, but we just shared a message about faith. My companion makes me teach large portions of the lessons and I can never understand their responses to my questions. Haha. It is kinda tough that way. Anways it was a good day and we finally got picked up at the bishop´s apartment by the office missionaries and taken to our appartment. And today has been swell as well. We did all of our morning routine and then we had lunch with the Patriarch and his wife in their home where they gave us spaghetti and some dulce de leche stuff or something. It was all really good. So far the food is quite good.

Anyways I think we have to go soon. I just want you all to know that I know this Gospel is true and I´m so excited to keep sharing it with everyone! The Spanish will come. . . :) I love you all! I´ll email next Monday!

General update... Leaving the country!!!

Hey everybody!

I leave for Argentina on Monday! Huzzah!! Yup. We leave the MTC around 8 AM and don't get to Buenos Aires until 8ish the next day. Haha. Lots of flying. We're going through ATL.

I can't even think what has happened this past week. Everything goes by so fast. Haha. Basically I've just been really working hard on my Spanish and teaching a lot, it is going well. My teacher (who served in McAllen) complimented my Spanish and said even though it isn't perfect the investigator will have no question of what I am trying to explain so that was nice. Lots of work still left to do, and I'm sure i'm not going to understand them for the first at least month. We just learned Vos (the tu form they most commonly use in Argentina) and it was super easy, but it's going to be really hard to understand for a while because that is how mostly everyone is going to address us and we're supposed to address children in vos. Crazy.

What am I most excited for???? Real food! Haha. Argentine food too. Yum. I'm way excited. Uh... a lot of missionaries have been delayed with visa problems going to Argentina, but for some reason us heading to BA North don't need them? I dunno. But I really hope our new president and his wife (Pres. Gulbrandsen) received theirs so that they will be there to greet us. They are amazing people. If not, it will be ok. haha.

Oh yeah. I've lost 10 pounds here so far. Yup. I dunno what else to say. The stupid timer is flashing 1 minute 10 seconds. Um.... I dunno. Oh. Mom and Dad. Your mission sounds a lot like what my teacher described when he was there. He said a lot of people in Corpus Christi would just slack off on their spanish, but I'm sure you will get them excited.

Well i love you all. No time left!

Next week from Arg!-

Hola todos

Hola Familia!
Sorry about the lack of spacing of paragraphs and if there are any double periods, the computers here are so dumb. Anyways, this past week was amazing! On Sabado (Saturday) I was able to see Mom and Dad get set apart by Elder Anderson and Elder Costa. It was an amazing experience and the first time that I can remember meeting an Apostle. It was also really good to see Rachel. I love you Rach! I hope you are doing well. As well, it was nice to see the grandparents and Kent and Deanna. I miss you all, but we're all going to be so blessed for all the service we are doing for the Lord. Serving a mission is less of a sacrifice than it is a blessing and an opportunity. I am so privileged that I get to literally put the name of Christ on my chest everyday. I can't wait to get out and share this great message of happiness with everyone I can. Less than 2 weeks! Now if only we could get our main progressive investigator here to commit to baptism.. Haha. Anyways, more about my week. On Sunday Elder Hunt (My companion if you forget) and I were invited weeks in advance to pass the Sacrament in the special Sacrament meeting for the mission presidents. 10 of the 12 were there and the first presidency as well as pretty much every other General authority. It was awesome. President Monson talked about motivating missionaries so it was really interesting and inspiring. Then that night we had a fireside where the head honcho at the missionary department spoke.. It was awesome. He showed us what the new mormon.org

is going to look like in about 5-6 days from today, and it is going to be amazing. You should all check in on it during the next week or so.... And also create a profile, I made one :) He also announced the District 2, just a camera crew following around missssssssiiiioooonnnnaaaarrrriiiieeeessss ((((sssseeeeeeee hhhhoooowwww stupid the computers are? It keeps doing that every minute or so and it logged me out 4x so ffffaaaarrrr.... ssssoooo dddduuuummmmbbbb) it took place in San Diego. It was cool to watch, and I liiiikkkkeeeedddd iiiitttt bbbbeeeetttttttteeeerrrr tttthhhhaaaannnn wwwwaaaattttcccchhhhing the District 1 with Mom and Dad.. haha.. They said we're going to watch more of it out in the field so that should be interesting.. The Church is changing with technology and I think it is awesome! Yup.. AAAAnnnnyyyywwwwaaaayyyyssss lllloooovvvveeeedddd tttthhhhiiiissss ppppaaaasssstttt week.. Only one more pppp ddddaaaayyyy left in the MTC!!!!!!!! :) IIII lllloooovvvveeee yyyyoooouuuu all so very much.. :) Thank you for your words of encouragement.. The Gospel iiiissss ttttrrrruuuueeee.. God loves us more than we know, and so does our Redeemer. I love you all! Talk to you next week!

My general life in the MTC.... :)

Hello friends, family, and acquaintances! Today i am using a ridiculous computer where I cannot use the enter button and when i use the period it always makes 2.. haha.. yup.. anyways.... I am doing well here in the MTC as usual.. This week is pretty crazy with all the mission presidents coming and especially my parents coming.... Things going on this week- 1.. today cleaning the temple for 3..5 hours, should be neat 2.. Going to my parent's setting apart on Saturday 3.. Passing the Sacrament in the special Sacrament for the mission presidents where all the General Authorities except 2 of the 12 will be in attendance.. Should be way awesome.. I am striving to keep working hard here in the MTC and this past week was the 1st week we taught in all Spanish.. It is difficult, but it is possible.... I only have 2 more p days after today til I'll have the next one in Argentina!!!! :))))) Yeah, I'm really excited.. This past week Tyler Coutu came into the MTC! My best bud from school that got called to Provo?? Yeah, he got switched to Provo Spanish speaking just a few days before coming here.. so crazy.. It is good to have another friend here.. I have a few and it is awesome to see them.. For example i see Jared Romney every once in a while.. It's cool.. Oh yeah! This past week me and my companion, Elder Hunt, had a competition with our other 2 roommates (elders smith and allan) to see if my companionship could lose more weight than they could gain.. Yup.. We won.. I lost 3..5ish and my comp lost 2ish.. Haha.. Then one of them gained 3 and the other lost 3 haha.. Oh also.. happy fathers day dad! totally spaced it.. haha time flies.. sorry if i forget to say happy birthday or something in these letters, I don't even know when holidays are.. haha.... Anyways.. I'm learning lots here in the MTC and we've learned all the main concepts of Spanish so now I just have to get them all down pact with a decent vocabulary while we learn the little nuances.. It's fun.. Too bad the gym is closed for the next few days...... pretty sure my ballin skills are improving.. haha.. yup.. well don't know what else to say and the little red timer is blinking like a crazy person.. I love you all! I am so happy I'm out doing exactly what the Lord would have me do! It's been an awesome experience here so far and i know it will only get better as I go out into the field and start help bringing change and peace to people's lives.. This is an amazing work! I'm happy to welcome mom and dad to it.... They already do a great job of living the Gospel and it will be natural for them to be the Mission President.. Awesome.. Love you all.. Love my life.. Life is good.. :)

A Ustedes

Yo what up familia?? It's just a good ole party here in the MTC, kinda like groundhog day, but with basketball every day. Pretty sure my skills are increasing. Haha. Uh... Elder Hunt (my companion) and I have just started a weight competition with our roomies (elder allan and elder smith). The competition is for my companionship to lose more weight than the other companionship can gain. hahaha. Elder hunt and i have been jump roping every night, pretty tiring. yup. fun fun. Haha.

Sounds like things are pretty crazy back home. Thank goodness the ward is helping you out so much. I'm pumped to see mom and dad for their setting apart. Should be an awesome experience. Elder hunt and i also received news that we are going to be able to pass the Sacrament in the special Sacrament for the mission presidents. :) All or most of the general authorities should be there.

Uh stuff that happened during the past week.... Our oldest District (that had the Zone leaders) left for their missions. It was crazy. Elder To'a and Elder Kleinman are the new Zone leaders. They're cool. Yup yup. I don't know what else has happened. Like i said it is like groundhog day over and over haha. It is good though. I am anxious to get out to the real world though. You can only role play teach so much... Haha. Oh! I know! My buddy Tyler Coutu is coming in today! So is Adam Paulsen and a few others. Should be good. I think Tyler got switched to Spanish cuz I looked at his bag full of stuff and it said Beg - Span. haha. I might be able to see him more if he is going to be speaking spanish. Um... yeah. Not much else going on.

Uh. Nicole! Crazy you are flying to China on Friday. You're gonna love it. Just keep your chin up and remember who you are. :) Rachel, I hope you are ready to turn the house into a party house! Haha. No just kidding. Haha. Nate! Hope your move goes well. I look forward to you picking me up from the airport in a couple. haha. Josh! Mercedes sounds like she is doing great! That's awesome she is a crawling machine. She is going to be a talking machine next time I see her. haha. Cool.

Well I just want you all to know that I know that this Gospel is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet and he did see God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. It is awesome being here and having so much time to get to know my Savior so much better. I am reading Jesus the Christ like a mad man and I love it! It is awesome to learn more. I love reading the Book of Mormon. I hope you are all studying it everyday, because it is so helpful. :) I love you all so much. Thanks for being such great examples.

Time Is Flying By

Hey family! Friends! Acquaintances! (is that right? my english is degrading...) I miss you all dearly. My stay here in the MTC is becoming a blur. Haha. So weird. I've been here 3 weeks now so next week will be pretty much the half way mark.

The Spanish is going well, but I am finally feeling a little bit behind what we are learning. Overall my Spanish is pretty decent though. Yo se que el evangelio es verdadero. Haha. Yup.

Um.... this week.... I really like the devotional last night, it was about trials and prayer from a member of the 2nd quorum of 70. Nothing else really exciting has happened I guess. I think I talked about the Atonement in my last letter a little. I feel like we've been focusing on that a lot lately and I'm learning so much. I've also started reading Jesus the Christ. Everyone should read that book. It is amazing and I love reading it. Maybe it is cuz I am a missionary, but I think everyone should read it. Haha.

My favorite thing about being here is having so much time to read the Book of Mormon. I've never been great at reading it consistently so it is really nice to have time that I can read it for at least 30 minutes every day. So far I've read all of 3rd Nephi and now I started over so I am almost to 2nd Nephi. Love it. I wish I would have focused a lot more on the gospel before my mission, just in general, because it is so good and it makes me so happy. I love being able to go to the temple once a week.

My District is doing pretty decent. We have a couple hooligans, but I think they're slowly getting better. I've learned a lot of patience in dealing with that. Haha. I might get released this week or in a week or two. Depends on if the President thinks we need a total of 3 district leaders or 2. So far I think we're only going to have 2. But I'll have to let you know next week.

Trials do make us stronger. I know they do. I had to go through a lot to get here, but I know it was all to improve my ability as a missionary. It is interesting to look back and see how the Lord has blessed me, so my challenge for myself and for anyone reading this is to recognize how the Lord is blessing us when we receive it, and not wait til later to realize. He really does bless us so much. Also, if you can do one thing for me it would be to read the Book of Mormon. Try to spend 30 minutes a day because it makes so much more sense that way. Do it! Haha. I love it and so will you.

Family, I miss you a lot. Thanks for all you have always done for me. I am sad I don't get to see Owen for 2 years, but it was nice to get that picture of him, and Nate attached pictures in his email so it was nice. I hope you are all doing well, and I want you to know I am doing more than well.

The Gospel is true and my email time is less that one minute!

I love you!!!

Elder Zachary John Trayner