good cop/ bad cop, chinese bicicles, temple, and the best investigators you'll ever meet

August 31, 2015

sooooo........ yep that was pretty much my week right there:D

SUPER FANTASTIC SEMANA!!!!!!!!!:D lets just say that Piriapolis is a wonderful area that is starting to come alive.

 

Best part of the week was obviously the temple. It was absolutely amazing, and I could feel the spirit so strongly. haha it was kind of funny though when after probably half an hour of just sitting in the celestial room praying, I opened my eyes to find that I was the only one in there save one temple worker who was kindly and patiently waiting for me. I love nice people:)

 

The same day we had the opportunity to participate in interviews with one of the wisest men I know; President Cook (our mission president). Honestly, that guy blows my mind with how much he knows, and his ability to really help people, talk to them, inspire them, resolve problems and everything. I was lucky and was able to sit with him for a rather long time and just talk about how to help some struggling missionaries. 

 

good cop/bad cop? Ha ha, Im not sure if this is good or bad, but that is what our companionship has turned into for many menos activos and contacts. My comp LOVES to drop cain (get after people for what they're doing wrong) and quite literally "cry repentance." Then Im on the other end saying that "yes what my comp is saying is true, and you can do it." give animo and hope as much as I can. We've had some.....interesting experiences with that. haha its been fun:)

 

Chinese Bicycle.... haha our bikes are not very high quality and we have to repair them often. Its kind of funny, like the other day, due to a simple lack of communication, our bikes collided (not hard, I didnt even fall off mine) but the wheel of Elder Shurtz's got destroyed. we walked to lunch with everyone we past just asking us if it had been a rough day. Its at the house of a member right now being repaired.

 

Best investigators EVER!!!!!!!! Can I just say that I LOVE teaching Cynthia. She is the best investigator I have had on my mission and it is so cool just to see how much she is changing. We can see her becoming happier, more active, and more involved in everything. Not only that, but at the beginning of this last week she brought one of her friends who's going through a rough time (Candela) to a charla. They have begun to take the lessons together. In the last two charlas we taught, we discussed things cynthia already knew (catching Candela up), allowing her to help teach and testify. Oh my goodness I love this area. 

 

We've also had some interesting contacts this week. There was this one guy who has pretty crazy hair. That we ended up sitting down and talking to him about the gosple and he asked us about the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthood, like he knew the names. We were pretty darn impressed. He wasnt a member, and while he did listen to some sister missionaries at one point, it was a long time ago. 

 

There was another kind of crazy guy who told us we were breaking the second of the 10 commandments (dont worship graven images) because we had a pictures of Jesus on our pamphlets. we assured him that we dont worship the folletos, but learn from them. There are some interesting people in the world.

 

Well Im out of time for this week. I love you all and hope you have a great week!!!

Love, 

Elder Eliason

Thank you Renee for the picture. This is absolutely incredible

Un otro gran día en la misión Uruguay Montevideo

August 24, 2015

(Another great day in the Uruguay Montevideo Mission) haha thats a phrase that we use here every time we have zone conferences with president. He throws it onto every powerpoint and while it's super cheesy, we all love it and it make us laugh. Speaking of which, WE GET TO GO TO THE TEMPLE THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THE TEMPLE! We're all super stoked for this coming week. Ward activity, Interviews with president, and temple. yep Im stoked.

Anyways, this past week! It was a pretty good week, and can I just say that we have an AMAZING! Bishop! these two less active families that we have been visiting both came to church this past week, and our bishop, seeing them, went and grabbed both of them and had interviews with them then and there. Sunday was a good day. 

 

On top of that we have begun to teach Cynthia (yes thats how you spell it. haha I felt really bad: at the end of our first lesson with her, I pulled out a Book of Mormon to give her and wrote Para: Sintia. when I asked her if I had spelled it right, she just started laughing. Lesson learned, ask first, spell later. It has been really great teaching her. her and her husband (well, soon to be husband) being really good friends with a super strong member and him being a less active member have allowed her to have a really strong support system, and have helped her to receive a great deal of excitement for this grand work.

 

On top of that, we're still teaching Malaquias when we can find him. Its been kind of a struggle, but HE CAN DO IT!!!!!!!:D 

 

Well, Im out of time and have got to go, but I love You all! Have an amazing week! If you can, Go to the temple, really it's the best:D

 

Lots of love,

Elder Eliason

I LOVE NICE MEMBERS WHO GIVE US TONS OF FRUIT!!!:D

 

 

MY BRO JUST GOT HITCHED!!!!!!

August 17, 2015

Thats kind of weird to think about, and Im not sure if Ive come to terms with it yet, but....... CONGRATULATIONS TYLER:D

So.......

LUCAS GOT BAPTISED :D 

That was such a great service. Really there were over 40 people there. That was the most I have ever seen for a baptismal service down here. It was so cool to see his father baptise him, then (after breaking his toe and barely being able to walk) come to church the next day and confirm him. That was the coolest. One of the best parts came near the end of the service during the testimonies. He and both his parents bore theirs on eternal families and how grateful and excited they are to be sealed. I really hope I can go to their sealing! That would be so cool!!!!

A TON happened this week, but Im not going to write a ton (I have a migraine right now, but its all good:D). There was one crazy experience that Im not sure If I can tell, but I will say that I am so grateful for a strong, normal, happy, nonpossessed, sane family. Mom and dad, You guys really are the best and I am so glad that I was born into our family. Life without a firm family would be one that is so hard. I have seen that so many times here. People dont like to get married and its a problem. A lot of them have a ton of kids, but are scared of the commitment, but really, that simple commitment changes the world. It makes a family firm and solid. I dont know what I would do without that solid backing that has become an anchor to my life. Man....... Crazy experiences.

Can I also just say that the Delgado Family IS THE BEST!!!!! They brought an investigator to church yesterday (Malaquias) and found us another who we have a charla with tonight! I LOVE THIS WARD!

 

Thats all for this week:D LOVE YOU ALL TONS!

chao

 

Elder Eliason

 

From the land of heat and beach

August 10, 2015

Its been kind of weird this week. ITS BEEN HOT! and its technically still winter? haha the wierd things in life make me smile and laugh sometimes

 

First off HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GREATEST SISTER EVER!!!!!!!!!! LOVE YOU BRITTANY!:D

 

SO todays email is going to be kind of short. This has been an interesting week. Best thing is the Lucas is totally progressing!!!:D His baptism is going to be this saturday and everyone is excited. His mom (both of his parents have recently reactivated after a long time) actually gave a talk in church yesterday about eternal families and how she wants to go to the temple and be sealed. It was a really spiritual talk that had great power. Im really excited for their family!!

 

Something thats interesting about missionary work that I have learned here. Im not sure about many other missions, but here missionary work is most effective through members. It is really hard to find someone to teach by talking to people on the streets. Is it possible? Does it happen? Yes. It happens, but not super often. I love members that help the missionaries. IT is such a blessing to have those people that magnify their calling as a member in the missionary work. There is one member who every thursday in the evening, sets aside time to leave with us, and visit some of his friends, or some menos activos that live far away. Really, he's one of my heroes for doing that. Its a sacrifice, but It means so much to us and to the lord. 

 

One other thing that Ive been thinking about recently is how I have learned something different from each of my comps. Ive had a lot of comps in the mission and each has had a unique personality that is unlike any of the others. honestly, it has been really interesting. I have learned a ton just about people, working with each of them. That and learning how to use the spirit to work in unison with each of them. Really I feel like that's the biggest key to any relationship. Youre going to be different in someway. It doesnt matter who you are, every person is different and unique in some manner. however, The spirit is always the same. It is a constant that can be used to unite and lift people. It does not matter who you are working with; If both of you are striving to feel the spirit, youre going to get along and enjoy the company of the other. I love it. The gospel is the best. Its just super cool. I love having my mind blown every day.

 

I love you all, youre the best! 

 

Lots of love,

Elder Eliason

1) #welcome to a littel extra time in the mission. Im eatting dulce de leche with a bannana, my comps got a big bag of cheerios, and we're watching bible videos

2) I love the members here. That was a really cool family home evening. We ended up bringing over some gravy packets that my comps mom sent him and making biscuts and gravy. That pretty much blew the minds of everyone there (I love that stuff so much!!!!!!!:D)

Bikes? Whats that? Wheels?

August 3, 2015

Holy cow this has been a crazy but great week!!!!!!!:D

First off, My new comp: ELDER SHURTZ!!!!

I love this guy! So he's from this little pueblo called Delta Utah and is a total back of the woods farm boy. However, right out of high school he decided to join the national guard (part of the army) and is actually trained in infantry and artillery. He has some pretty cool stories of driving tanks and everything. Oh and he thinks that Tyler must be the coolest guy in the world for being special forces and everything.  On top of that, he's super funny and really fun to work with. Yah, Im having a good time.

WE HAVE BIKES HERE!!!!!!!!!! Piriapolis is one of the two areas in the mission that is permitted to use bikes. haha though my hands are actually covered in grease right now from fixing the chain twice on the way over here;D Holy cow Ive never felt like Ive moved around so fast. It makes a HUGE difference after getting use to walking everywhere for almost 10 months. I love it!!:D 

So back in El Pinar, Wilington is progressing (I still hope I can make it out for his baptism).

Here in Piriapolis, we have the best members ever. I feel like I have been really blessed recently with that, though I feel like here they have been the best.

Right now we have two solid investigators:

1) Lucas: Super cool nine year old kid, who's parents just reactivated and we are helping to teach him. haha Saturday we taught him the ten commandments with the finger examples (my favorite lesson to teach;D). The kid is super smart and remembers everything we teach

2) Malaquias: The Delgado family is actually helping us with him. They are family friends and its going pretty well.

I really like the Family Delgado, The dad the other day pulled us aside and said that he wants to leave with us sometime and visit some references and menos activos. Excitedly we set a time for that. He's a boss

Okay Ive got to go. Love you all!!! hope ya have a great week!

Love, 

Elder Eliason

oh and the Piriapolis challenge is to climb the 3 local hills in one pday. That was super fun;D

 

 

CAMBIOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

July 28, 2015

HOLY COW CAMBIOS!!!!!!!!!this week has been filled with miracles and super cool experiences. Finally we have 6 good investigators!!!!! THIS is the most we've had here and Willy is progressing really well!!!!:D but Im leaving. WEIRD! I know right, Ive only been here in Pinar for one change and now Im heading out to Piriapolis with an Elder Shirtz (I think thats how its spelled). Haha Im excited to be with this guy. My old com Elder Cervantez was with him and described him to me as a redneck that was in the army....... Im not sure if I should, but all I can think about is uncle sai from Duck Dynasty. Man Im going to miss this place and Elder Salas, that guri has become a good friend.

Investigators that are super Amazing!!!:D

 

WILLY!!!!!!:D Man I love that guy. He is, out of all the people I have taught, the most excited and open for the gospel, and is willing to try or complete any assignment we leave with him. He said his first prayer with us the other day and is really beginning to progress! He's accepted a baptism date and is steadily working towards the day. Man I really hope that I will be able to come back for his baptism. That would be so cool. He's become a good friend.

 

Also we met this really cool girl named esthefanie. we were talking to her uncle in the street when she just ran up and began talking to us. we explained a couple principles of the gospel and gave them a Book of Mormon. When we invited them to church. Esthefanie asked what time, and when we told her 9:30, she responded, awww, thats when I have church too..... hmmmm Thats okay, Ill go with you guys this week. She came to church this week, and has a talk in class next week. that was pretty cool.

 

We're also teaching this super cool girl named Jazmin and her mom. This is the girl that we left her the testimony of Joseph smith to read as homework, and when we came back, she had read and remembered all of it!!!!!!!!! She's a boss.

 

Thats it for this week. sorry there arent very many pics, this computer is giving me problems. I love you all a ton!!!!!!

 

Elder Eliason

 

 

Bit by bit all things come to pass

July 20, 2015

So Ive recently been shocked at how fast time passes here. HOLY COW I HAVE OVER 9 MONTHS IN THE MISSION!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

HOLY COW MY BIRTHDAY WAS CRAZY!!!!!!!! 3 cakes! 2 from less actives and one from a ward missionary. MAN I AM GETTING SO FAT HERE IN PINAR!!!!!!!!!!! I love it! the people here are so great!

So some really cool experiences this week.

really good news: WE HAVE SOME SOLID INVESTIGATORS!!!!!! Im not going to lie, thats been a struggle here, but Miracles are real, and once we have shown our faith, they really can come. The best one = we were at a members house the other day teaching a charla to a young wayward lad (he's super cool, but just needs to realize that this is the path that can really help him) when we received a call  (it was just after we had finished teaching) from a lady in Montevideo. My comp answered it to find himself receiving a reference for the son of this lady. Promptly we received a message from the missionaries there (the lady was their investigator) with a name and address. The guy, Willington Wetheral (coolest name ever), only lives three houses down from us. Our area is MASSIVE! the chances of this happening are not big. We stopped by the next day to meet him and see whats up. The guy is a total stud:D We talked for a bit and really became good friends, said a prayer, asked if he had any questions, answered a few, gave him a book of mormon, and as we were leaving, he told us ,oh, I have one other question: What is the wet thing. US"Baptism?" Yeah that. We almost died. Unfortunately It was 9:25 and we had to be in the house in 5 min, but we promised him to explain that the next time. WE have another charla with him tonight. IM STOKED!!!!!!!!!!!

 

We've also had some cool charlas with a joven named Jazmin and her mom (who as it turns out was really good friends with the missionaries 24 years back, and thinks we're the coolest:D). Well Lets just say that Im feeling pretty good this week.

 

Thanks for all the support and love. you guys are so amazing.

PEOPLE DO YOUR HOMETEACHING

July 13, 2015

Ill get to that

 

So First off, some cool things that passed this week, then the more spiritual stuff.

 

INTERCAMBIO WITH ELDER JENSEN!!!!! Oh my goodness that was the best..... We milked 10 alfajores.....I think that took 4 years off my life, but it was so worth it!

 

There's this menos activo family (La familia ventura) (they actually all came to church this week!!!!! That made us pretty stoked) who's mom makes american (MERICA!) style cookies and cupcakes for a living! THEY ARE SOOOO GOOD! we walked in one day to find her making 240 normal sugar cookies in the shape of uruguay for the west mission..... weve got to start talking to our president about her......  she gave us one and it totally made me trunky for 20 seconds.

 

I love it when lunch cancels, we talk to one of our good friends in the ward, and he decides to throw us a big asado! Im in love with churriso!

Okay, more spiritual now. I have gained two new grand heros in my life this week (okay, they were already my heros, but this just made them even better). My dad and BrotherSchetselaar. I have reacently learned the importance of Home teaching and 

Visiting teaching. DO IT!!! Really the church has put these things in order for a reason.

 One of the big problems that I have found here is that many people feel

as if they have been abandoned, others are talking bad about them, or that there is no one there for them in the chapel. Satan latches onto that, magnifies it, and turns it into a "I know the gospel is true, but Why cant I just worship from my house. I feel fine here." A lot of people stop coming. On top of that, it helps combat the destuction of someones name, we found this week a sister who doesnt go to church because she works on sunday, however, as we were talking to some members they began talking about some untrue horrible things that apparently she has been doing. She hasnt. We checked it out, and it was a really bad situation. Part of the problem was that no one has been visiting her but us, and has learned her story. Please do your home teaching and visiting teaching. My dad and brother Schetselaar were my companions and they always kept up on top of it. They are both super amazing.

 

We also had a really interesting charla with a young wayward child this week. She, in this moment, doesnt have a testimony. She did in the past, she said herself that she used to be so certain about the gospel. However on her 18th birthday she began doing things contrary to the standards of the lord. the Spirit left her life and with it her testimony. Really, we learn in moroni 10:4 and 5 (classics) that we gain knowledge through the spirit and if we have the spirit we can really know what is true. That was a fascinating charla that really got me thinking. Haha it was pretty great when my comp began relating an old seminary video to her about light and truth, That made me smile. 

 

Anyways, yall are amazing. Ive got to go. Hope you have a great week! Shout out to austin lopez who enters the MTC this week! YOU GOT THIS BUDDY!!!!!:D

 

Elder Eliason