Prosolatismo!

So this week was great! Last saturday was definitely the biggest thing that happened. So here at the CCM, every Saturday (starting on your third week) is set aside for prosolatismo (prosoleiting (haha not sure if my english translations helped there)). Pretty much, We all climb on a bus, are driven to a neighborhood in Argentina, then begin walking up to people on the streets and talking about the gosple. It was hard! but wonderful. Haha, until that moment I hadnt realized how little spanish I know. One of the first guys we walked up and talked to, was trying to shovel some grass with two others (probably to make room for something else. Well, after doing landscaping for a couple of months this summer, I convinced myself "Hey, Im not too bad with a shouvel (yah, my spanish is skyrocketing right now, but its not helping my english at all), lets go ask if we can help them. Yah......... Haha we walked up and said (let us help you). Man, it was impressive how fast that guy talked. I have no clue what he was saying, but he kept smiling and shaking our hands while calling us "amigos!" We took it as a good sign, but still had no clue what he was trying to tell us. In the end we got the message that he wasnt interested, and we gave our farewells. thats pretty much how it went the whole day. A bunch of people there were super nice, and loved the pass-along cards that had the picture of Jesus on the front. It was a good saturday.

Some of the other missionaries came away with some pretty incredible stories of miracles when they had reached their low of discouragement (we got rejected a lot). Two of my friends in my district had a pretty great one. They had been out for hours and had only had about 7 contacts. as a result hey sat on a curb to rest for a couple minutes. Discouraged, hot, and unhappy, they felt beet. almost immediately a car pulled up and this elderly couple hopped out and started talking to them. Elder Gomez and Johnson quickly found out that the couple were temple workers. As they talked, the husband pulled out a bunch of bread, agentinian sausage, and a liter of coke. They said it was exactly what they needed. God was watching over them as he is all of us. After they received their gift of conversation and food. Within half an hour, they had 8 more contacts. Both of them attest it to have been a true miracle.

So last week on Tuesday, all the americans and latinos from the last group left for el campo (the mission field). For two days, there were litterally less than 30 missionaries in the CCM. Pretty crazy right. We had an all out district on district (there were only two districts left) fútbol game. It was pretty intense:) Last Thursday all the new Latinos and Americans arrived. Elder Mitchell and I now share a room with 6 new amazing latinos. They are wonderful and hilarious. Oh and Elder Castro (one of the Latinos) taught me to say "Soy un Latino de Chincha Perú" (Im a Latino from Chincha (a place in Peru known for their dark skin (im pretty white)) Peru). We in turn taught him to say (Im from Idaho, and swag, and whats up player (that one is pretty hilarious to hear him say). One of the greatest things about all of them is how much they help me in spanish. Some nights, Ill sit down with Elder Castro and he'll pretend to be an investigator, and just help me out with spanish. Haha, the only problem is that he speaks very little english, so I have no clue what he is saying at times. The gift of tongues is real though. My spanish is getting so much better. I can truly feel the lord magnifying my efforts. For example, I just finished memorizing D&C 4.... In Spanish..... and i did it in just a couple hours. The spirit is here, and its wonderful. Sometimes people in our district get down, and feel like rubbish. However, every time this happens, a different person stands up and brings them back. It is truly amazing to witness this again and again. I know this gospel is true.

Hope you all have an incredible week.

Love,

Elder Eliason

P.S. We had a investigator lesson in english this week. It was a one time thing to help us see where we can be once we gain the language. That was the best lesson Elder Mitchell and I have ever taught. It was so spiritual, and went better than we could ever have planned. How? We stopped worrying about the language and focused on the spirit. The spirit works miracles. Keep it with you, and your life will be infinitely blessed.

2nd week at the CCM

WOW, This week has been both intense and amazing.

First off, thank all those people who wrote to me sooooooooooo much. They really gave me strength and brought me joy. Y´all are amazing (how can I translate yall into spanish..... Vosotros?) 

 

Anyways, first story. This was one of the most powerful and spiritual experiences I have ever taken part of. It took place last Thursday evening. I couldnt say it better than how its recorded in my journal. "wow, thats all I can say. Wow. Over 30 Elders, all servants of the lord Jesus Christ, kneeling together in a room that, without the 8 bunkbeds, is a little smaller than my Utah bedroom, in fervent prayer. One of the Latino´s mother´s was hospitalized today. As his companion discovered this, he called us all together, and said the prayer himself. That was incredible." So yah. The spirit and faith of all the people here are incredible, and there are moments where the spirit is so strong that you feel like you can do anything. I was once told that the MTC is the closest place to heaven and the closest place to hell. Closest place to heaven for those who are ready and worthy, and the closest place to hell for those who aren't. Im not sure about the latter, but I am positive about the first. This place is both trying and rewarding. I have never learned so much spanish in my life.

 

Speaking of spanish, no one was joking when they said days 1,2, and 3 of the MTC are spanish 1,2, and 3. The second day we learned all the conjugations for present, preterite, imperfect preterate, and future. Haha, yep. Spanish is flying and I can actually make some conversation with the Latinos now!!!!!!:D

 

Ok, one more less spiritual story. Sorry Brittany, but you may be engaged right now;) Every night before I go to bed, I pull out the pictures of my family and look at all of them. It brings comphort and is always a really good experiance. anyways, a few days ago, one of the latinos (elder Mendoza) saw ther picture of you and ask "¿es su novia?" I responded, "no, ella es nis hermana. Ella es en su misión en Brazil ahora." Anyhow, he ended up looking me in the eye and saying "despues mi mision, somos Cunaydos" translation= after my mission, we will be brother in laws. It was pretty funny. I agreed. Hes one of my favorite latinos;D And yah, your like a supermodel here Brittany:) 

 

Anyways, hope everything is going well back in the states! you guys are amazing. Your prayers are felt. And you all bring me great strength. Please write to me! It really means a lot. It doesnt have to be long. "By small means, great things are brought to pass."

 

Love you all,

Elder Eliason

 

This is Brittany's future husband, Elder Mendoza

​The first day in the CCM was a P-Day. We after we had unpacked, got our name tags, and got setteled in, some of the people who had been here invited us to come play fútbol with them. It was raining, muddy, and wonderfull. I got some pretty great slides. My companion is the one on the far right in the black with his hand on his hip

​The group from the airport that flew dow to the CCM with me. We have gotten to know eachother really well and are all friends. They are amazing and I love them all. THis pic was taken in the Atlanta airport

 

FIRST WEEK AT THE CCM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

!!!!!!This past week has been muy bien, pero my deficíl (check that spelling lil warner). Mi primero compañero is Elder Mitchell: He is this hilarious guy who everyone loves, but he as the weirdest slang terms. Haha, imagine a laid back surfer guy from California, who says things like jankie and dude a ton. Its great.

So about the CCM. Every day, we wake up at 6:30 am, prep for the day, eat breakfast (we have a choice between 4 different kinds of cereal..... haha I´ve never had so much frosted flakes in my life), and normally we have some kind of treat filled with DULCE DE LECHE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THIS STUFF SOOOOO MUCH: Es muy muy muy muy delicioso!!!!! Imagine a caremel filling that isnt as sticky and is 10 times better!!!! It is simply amazing!!!!!! For example, this morning we got doughnuts. No mom, It wasnt "a jelly," but a DULCE DE LECHE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOOOOO GOOD! haha:)

We have classes all day to help learn how to teach, and gain knowledge about the language. It is incredible to see how fast everyone is progressing. Talk about the gift of tongues. I have never spoken so much spanish in my life. There are a ton of latinos here who speak no english, and Im starting to understand them!!!!!!!! Haha, I love those guys! they are amazing (and really good at fútbol).

We also have an hour a day to play sports or work out. I am getting so much better at fútbol! Its a blast:) 

anyways, the best thing here is the spirit. Last sunday, we had a district meeting (oh ya, Im district leader). It was just the members of my amazing district (hermana hall, hermana jarman, hermana mortenson, elder johnsen, elder johnsen (I hope theyre companions later on:)), Elder Gomez, elder, evans, elder mitchell, and me). We talked about the investigators we were working with, and what we could do to help them. We talked about spanish, and made plans and gave suggestions on how to improve, then we had this huge discussion on the plan of salvation (pretty much, gods plan for us here on earth and after). It was incredible. Each companionship had preped questions and stories, and we just sat and had this amazing discussion. The spirit was so strong. It was Amazing.

Another Super spiritual moment was with Elder Gomez. We have a small cold going around here that all the new americans caught (theres about 20 of us). For most of us, we just have sore throats, but It hit elder gomez hard. Yesterday, his throat was so sore he couldnt speak. Because of this, two nights ago, all the elders in our disrict gathered in Elder Gomezs room and gave him a priesthood blessing, asking god to help him get better. That moment was probably my favorite Ive have had yet here at the ccm. All of us afterward commented on how strong the spirit was. We knew god had been present in the blessing and elder gomez is quickly improving.

So yep. Oh being sent off! After arriving at the airport, I quickly found my terminal. As I was walking up to it, I spotted a giant group of about 20 guys in girls in suits and dresses. I walked up, asked if they were missionaries, and, after receiving the affirmative, Introduced my self. We have a ton going to the montevideo mission, and we are all super close now. Haha we have a saying here "the days pass fast, but the weeks pass slow. We all feel like weve been here for months and feel like weve been friends for years. 

Anyways, thanks guys for writing! yall are amazing!

Love, 

Elder Eliason

At the Salt Lake Airport

Mission Call Opening