Argentina - April 25, 2016

Howdy Y'all!

Hey mom! It is starting to get colder-ish.. ha, if that makes sense. So what happens here is that it rains and it gets cold-ish, not super cold, but it makes it bearable for a bit, then it is sunny and it is back to the heat.. with a little more humidity..  not the funnest. But the days are getting shorter and so. . . who knows. Oh wow, it sounds like the BYU graduation was pretty cool!! Lots of people graduating, ha, that is more people than live in Blanding! A good American BBQ sounds super super yummy right now, so I am a little jealous that you got to eat at one!!! But tell Jordan congrats for me! So what are the plans for him now? How are the wedding plans going? Thank you so much for the pictures, they are great! Everyone looks great! Jordan rockin' the plaid shirt for graduation, that is money, ha! How is the track team doing, and how is McKady doing? So it was pretty windy at the Blanding track meet, sounds like a typical Blanding track meet.. that was how it was for my senior year! That is so  awesome that you almost got a turkey. Here is the thing mom, that it is for the experience, to enjoy the times we have, so don't give up because hunting is the best! It is so relaxing seeing nature and having a great time, and if you don't get anything, well, there is always next year and more great times of fun! That is crazy that Lincoln is already leaving, time is going too fast! Here pretty soon people from my grade are going to be going home.. so crazy! The mission is great but tiene que disfrutar todo! Por que la experiencia, bueno es el mejor! :)  

So we had a pretty great week, it was tranquillio. Tuesday was our reunion de districto so, well, the mission is focusing a lot on references, so I talked about that a little and then we worked a little. We had some great contacts and found some great people that we were able to teach later in the week. There was some rain too, so there was a little water, but I have boots that are good, they are very useful. Then we did divisions with some people in our zone and I was with Elder Moriera, he is from Brazil, and he is a convert of about 1 and a half years. He is super cool a great guy and has a wonderful testimony, he only has 10 weeks in the mission, but he speaks really well, and he speaks really good English too! He has a very strong testimony, it was great to get to know him. We had some more great lessons but tambien next week I will talk more about the Skype, what times would be better for you guys? I've got to go.. times just goes too fast.. but mom, I love you and thank you for you email and the pictures! Have a wonderful week! I hope you get a turkey! Thanks mom for all you do! I love you and all, just keep enjoying the life!:)
Love Elder Grover

Argentina - April 18, 2016

Hello to home

Hey mom, how is it going? Hope all is well on the home front! Branding... I am super jealous of you guys right now! It is ok about the pictures, all that matters is that you guys had lots of fun! That would be super cool to see everyone over there together, helping in the funnest event of the year! Braddock, being a country boy, that is so awesome! Nothing better in the whole world than a country boy!! I don't know what it is with Tamra, she just has some luck out of this world, if you are hunting or fishing, you need to be with Tamra and then you will find something!! But the pictures look super awesome!!! That is a big ole turkey!!! But mom, it is ok you still have some time, and you can get one with your bow! Now wouldn't that be the sweetest thing in the world!! I claim bow hunting! But I hope you get something, and congrats for Tamra. Tell dad he needs to stop scaring them away;) I hope all goes well with the graduation, guess what, my companion's brother is graduating from BYU too, and his mom is going to be up there too!! So I gave him your number, so she might get in contact with you or something, I don't know, but I hope all goes well!!! 

So this week went by super fast!! But it was really good and I got to know some new people.  So what happens at times is that since we are the closest elders to the office and there are always people coming to do transmits to get legal, we have them go and work with us. So this week I got to go on mini divisions with Elder Cami from Peru, he is a cool guy. And then the next day I did divisions with Elder Sabala, he is from Paraguay, very nice and very funny! He knows some very funny words in English, but it was fun. Then we also did some interviews because the sisters in the 2nd ward had 2 baptisms, so that was cool. I interviewed Sandra, she is 9, and I was super impressed with what she knew, the sisters taught them well! So the week has been going great, we've just been teaching and finding people.  We are teaching this family that got baptized 4 years ago and then stopped going to church, but they are great.  The whole family, except the mom and dad, came to church yesterday, I guess the dad doesn't have a leg and the mom stays home and takes care of him. The mom isn't baptized because he doesn't want to marry her because he got married once before and then his wife died, so he thinks if he gets married again then she will die, and he doesn't want to get left alone. So we will see what we can do. We are teaching one of the kids who is 8, but they are a great family, and lots of fun. So this week should be great! We have lots of great things going! This week I have been studying in Mosiah, the part that Elder Ballard was talking about in his talk, it was really great, talking about retaining the remisison of our sins! It also talks about the holy spirit testifiing of truth and cleansing us from our sins and giving peace to our minds and hearts. What a wonderful gift we have, a knowledge that is interesting, as humans we know right from wrong and when we do something wrong we can feel that it is wrong, this gift is available to every person, so when someone does sin they feel bad, they might not know why they feel bad, because they don't have the knowledge that we have. It is very interesting, and King Benjamin explains it very well in the talk that he gives to the people. I know the Lord lives and that He is our Savior and Redeemer! Thanks for the e-mail mom! You are the best, I love you with all my heart! Thanks for all you do! Tell everyone that I love them! Have a wonderful week mom!!! Thanks for everything! 

Love Elder Grover

Argentina - April 11, 2016

¡Feliz Cumple ano! ¡Happy Birthday!

If you have a birthday shout hurrah! Because I (Elder Grover) want to sing to you today! One year younger and wiser too! Happy Birthday to you! :) 

I can't believe you are 19 this year mom! Don't worry, someday you will catch up to me!;) 

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-plea-to-my-sisters?lang=eng
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/behold-thy-mother?lang=eng

These talks are from last conference, but they are still amazing and have the message of what I think of you, mom, you are the best mom in the whole wide world! 

I will love you forever, I will like you for always, forever and for eternity my mommy you will be! 

Words cannot explain how grateful I am to you mom, and all you do. So I hope that you have a wonderful day and that all goes well. Your late birthday present will be in a month when I get to talk to you on Mother's Day! Love you mom! Have a wonderful day! 

¡Te Quiero mama! 

love Elder Grover

It's someone's birthday!?:)

Happy birthday mom! ¡te Amo mucho!

My week has been great, with a lot of meetings no mas, ha:) There is always good gossip in Blanding though? It sounds like Jade has a great project lined out, cleaning out the building! That will be good for him to do! Branding, that does sound super fun right now, I'm kind of jealous. It is the crazy weather ones that you always remember though! Ha, but I am so tired of being hot that the cold sounds great! We did get some rain and that cooled it down a little, so it was good, other than the mud, that is always a little difficult. That is crazy that the boys are finishing up school, you are going to have to send me pictures of it all! That is cool, tell them congrats for me! Tell everyone thank you for the prayers! and Braddock! ha:) 

So this week we had a great little week, on Tuesday we had interviews with President Franco, those where great, his training before was really great. We read in D&C and talked about it and asked questions, he knows the D&C really well! But it was all good! On Wednesday we finally had a meeting with our mission leader, which was well needed! Then on Thursday we had leadership counsel with all the zone leaders, that was really great. We read some parts of Alma 26 together, and it is super amazing. There is a lot we can learn from it and apply to missionary service! Then, on Saturday we had our zone meeting! So there were lots of meetings, but it was great because in there was something to learn in every one. We were able to have some great lessons also. We found a great kid who really wants to learn, so we are super excited to teach him. We were able to talk to Andres, but we still need to help him stop smoking, in this country that is a big obstacle people have, along with the word of wisdom and marriage that keeps them from being baptized. It seems they are always the case, but we are going to beat the bad habits of this country.

But for the most part, it is going pretty good here in the mission, just teaching and all the great things that we see. But mom, I want you to have a very happy birthday! I really do hope that it goes really super well! And I hope that everyone has a super great day and week. I want you guys to know that I know that this is the Lord's work, it is very hard at times, but it is the best! Mom, I love you! Have a great birthday! Thanks for all you do! Have a great week!

love Elder Grover

Argentina - April 4, 2016

Hey Mom and Family

 

How is it going?

I am doing great this week! How are you guys doing this wonderful week? You need to remember that yesterday was a memory, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift, that is why it is called the present. Every day there is something that we can all look for that we can take and use, then have a great time and enjoy every second that we have on earth:) Thanks for the pictures!!!! It looks really good, tell her good job for me and that I am proud of her!!! Well, I hope that all is going well in good ole Blanding , Utah! I agree, President Uchtdorf's talk was amazing, the quote you like is so powerful! And the story behind it was so good, that gives me so much hope that someone as imperfect as me can, through the atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, be healed to full and perfect form. Thanks mom for sharing your favorite talk with me! It is great!!! That is so awesome that the family share what they learned from conference with each other in family home evening! What a blessing! I wish I could have been there to see it and to hear their testimonies! 

So this week was pretty traquillo por lo menos:) We were able to have some really amazing experiences finding some really great people to teach. What happens is that when you talk to people, the Lord will always help you find those who are looking. So we contacted this lady and we were talking to her and then it started to rain, so she let us in and we were able to visit with her for awhile. At first she said that she was catholic, and that she was not going to change. We did not have much time, so we shared a quick message on the Book of Mormon and the love God has for us and then she really started to open up. She said that just that morning she had been praying to God and asking Him for help to change to her life, to find a better way to put Him in her life. Through the mercy of our Father, he had guided us to that woman's home to answer her prayer. He does hear our prayers, I know that.  She also said when she took the book that she would read it, and then she asked where she needed to go to follow up. We will see how the lesson goes and see if she uses her agency to chose the right. Then we found 2 younger kids, they are 20 and 18, and are super great. They have lots of questions, so we will see where that leads. Oh, how the Lord blesses us and the lives of his children! It has been a great experience this week, and to top it off, there was conference! 

So my favorite session was the priesthood session, it was so great! Every single talk was so powerful! Elder Nelson's was amazing, and I really like President Monson's talks, they were great! And Elder Arnolds talk was super great too! It was all so spiritual to help those who are lost. Well, all the talks by the Apostles were amazing, it was just all so great with the spirit so strong! I also liked how they talked about the tree of life and the talk of King Benjamin, they were all just super amazing! It was a great conference and I was so glad to hear it! Well, it is kind of sad this is the last conference out in the mission field... but I still really enjoyed it! I know they are all called of God and that they are his representatives to help us know the will of the Lord. Now we need to take the next 6 months and continue to read them and watch them and listen to them with our studies of the scriptures, I know if we do that we will be blessed. Mom, thank you so much for the email, I want you to know I love you so much! And I want to tell everyone else that I love them and that all the prayers and thoughts are amazing! Mom, have a great week! Thank you and have a wonderful week!

Love Elder Grover

Argentina - March 28, 2016

TRANSFERS ¿What happened? Y ¡Conference time!

 

Hello Mother! (the Best Mother) 

So this week was really great, but to answer your question about Easter... I was a little disappointed. So we have been sharing the video that the church made about Easter, and I was super excited to go to church and hear about it a little more. There was not a single talk or lesson that had anything about Easter! I was very disappointed because everything we believe in is that act of the atonement and the fact that Christ was resurrected, and they didn't say anything about it! But, I was able to read about it in my studies after church, so we are good! I did find out some really interesting things about Easter during my study, but I will talk about that a little later.

Snow? Wow, that is crazy, it is almost April?! and it snowed, that is crazy loco, ha. I am glad that you guys went anyway to have a little fun for Easter, sounds like it was great, just the regular great times at Easter. Well maybe McKady would or would not have beaten me;) Tell her that she needs to go to hunter safety so that she can hunt, then we can see how good of a shot she really is;) The Easter dinner sounds like it was really good, I want a good ham, you can't eat red meat here, weird huh? So a little about Easter here in good old Argentina. Pasca, in English that means Passover, or Easter, not really the name that was used in old times but it is used now, but it was originally called the passover. The passover was celebrated when the destroying angel passed over the houses in Egypt, and then it was made a holiday celebration thing. When Christ came to Jerusalem, he rode in at the first of the week, so that is when they start the celebration for Holy Week, people here call it Semana Santa, or holy week. Then, when Christ was resurrected, it was the passover.  There is a lot of symbolism here because we know that each house in Egypt had to sacrifice a animal to be saved. Just a little about what I learned in my studies, I think the bible dictionary is a lot better than google;) Here, during the week of Semana Santa they don't eat red meat, they are supposed to just eat fish, but most people don't care, ha! And they watch a lot of Christ movies that are on the TV, some are good and some others, well I don't know because I haven't seen them. Everyone talks about watching the Passion of Christ, I think it is rated R, but at least they are learning about Christ a little. Then they make chocolate eggs for their eggs and they have their Easter bunny. They also eat this type of cake, I can't remember the name, but it was great. What happened is the owner of our apartments invited us to come and eat the Easter eggs and other things with them, she is very Catholic so she has a lot of different ideas, but she is very nice and she loves the missionaries!)

So we watched Finding Faith in Christ with her and her kids, and we shared some information about the restoration, it was a great!:)

This week was a great one, like  always! We had divisions and I went to La Leonesa with Elder Garcia, he is from Mexico. He is a stud, a very, very hard working missionary (he just got made zone leader) but it was great to go and learn and help him out. So that area is close to my old area, Las Palmas, and we went and ate at a member's house over there. This member is very special because about a year ago she was my investigator and she has since been baptized, her son was baptized as well, and her Daughter, who just turned 8, is going to be baptized. She is also the first counselor in the relief society, miracles! I do testify that they do happen! It was a great moment. 

They were working with the sisters in our district, so I was able to go and do the baptism interview and it was amazing.  They had a little problem with the water (someone stole the water pump), anyway, and it was cool because one of the sisters went home today. 

We have had a few changes because there was transfers. Any guesses? I stayed, ha! But my companion left and is now is a branch president... he was a little nervous. But I am still here and I have a new companion, Elder Swingle, he came the same time as me so I already know him, he is a great guy and I am excited to start and go to work:) 

But conference already? Is that not crazy? It seems like just yesterday that we had one, but I am so excited! A little sad too, this will be my last conference in the mission, I cant believe it. But it is going to be great, and I hope that you guys can find the time to watch it all and enjoy it all! ha:)

I hope this week goes well and that you guys enjoy conference. I want you guys to know that I love you and always will! Mom, you are the best! Thanks for the email! 

Love Elder Grover

Argentina - March 21, 2016

Hey mom!!!

How are you doing? Things are going great here! I hope spring break is going great for you guys, or went great, I guess.  We have transfers next week, so I will write on Tuesday! Mom, you don't have to worry because things are winding down with high school and then you've got me coming home and well, that is going to be a full time job! You may have to like teach me English again and all f those good things, ha. So I decided that I want to take classes in the winter, so I will just wait until then:) And then, I am going to tell them that I want to go the Durango airport! Yay, I made a decision! Those were hard though, maybe I will just stay out in the mission, it is a little easier! :) Wow, sounds like everyone has great plans for the summer! I hope it all goes well! Can you believe it is already Easter? I found this and I really like it so I wanted to share it with you:

The Atonement and the Missionary

Almost everything I have said here has been and is directed toward the missionary process, ultimately toward the investigator. May I close with an extended testimony about how focusing on the Atonement helps full-time and member missionaries and mission leaders.
Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, "Why is this so hard? Why doesn’t it go better? Why can’t our success be more rapid? Why aren’t there more people joining the Church?" It is the truth. We believe in angels. We trust in miracles. Why don’t people just flock to the font? Why isn’t the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking wet all day and all night in the baptismal font?
You will have occasion to ask those questions. I have thought about this a great deal. I offer this as my personal feeling. I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary.
Now, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not talking about anything anywhere near what Christ experienced. That would be presumptuous and sacrilegious. But I believe that missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price.
For that reason I don’t believe missionary work has ever been easy, nor that conversion is, nor that retention is, nor that continued faithfulness is. I believe it is supposed to require some effort, something from the depths of our soul.
If He could come forward in the night, kneel down, fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, “Abba, Father (Papa), if this cup can pass, let it pass,” 16 then little wonder that salvation is not a whimsical or easy thing for us. If you wonder if there isn’t an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn’t an easier way.
The Atonement will carry the missionaries perhaps even more importantly than it will carry the investigators. When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out and made a hiss and a byword, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known, the only pure and perfect life ever lived. You have reason to stand tall and be grateful that the Living Son of the Living God knows all about your sorrows and afflictions. The only way to salvation is through Gethsemane and on to Calvary. The only way to eternity is through Him—the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
I testify that the living God is our Eternal Father and that Jesus Christ is His living and Only Begotten Son in the flesh. I testify that this Jesus, who was slain and hanged on a tree, 17 was the chief Apostle then and is the chief Apostle now, the Great High Priest, the chief cornerstone of His Church in this last and greatest of all dispensations. I testify that He lives, that the whole triumph of the gospel is that He lives, and because He does, so will we.
On that first Resurrection Sunday, Mary Magdalene first thought she saw a gardener. Well, she did—the Gardener who cultivated Eden and who endured Gethsemane. The Gardener who gave us the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley, the cedars of Lebanon, the tree of life.
I declare Him to be the Savior of the world, the Bishop and Shepherd of our souls, the Bright and Morning Star. I know that our garments can be washed white only in the blood of that Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. I know that we are lifted up unto life because He was lifted up unto death, that He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, and with His stripes we are healed. I bear witness that He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, that He was a man of sorrows acquainted with grief because upon Him were laid the transgressions of us all. 18
I bear witness that He came from God as a God to bind up the brokenhearted, to dry the tears from every eye, to proclaim liberty to the captive and open the prison doors to them that are bound. 19 I promise that because of your faithful response to the call to spread the gospel, He will bind up your broken hearts, dry your tears, and set you and your families free. That is my missionary promise to you and your missionary message to the world.

So that is just the end of the talk, but you can apply it not just to missionary work, but to life in general. That talk is called Missionary Work and the Atonement, so if you want to go read the whole talk you can:) It doesn't get crazy here around Easter time, well it didn't last year, they just eat fish. But I know in other countries it is wild. This week was a little slower, but it was super hot for a couple of days and then it started to rain. I left my umbrella in the collectivo... so I am going to have to get another one.  And then yesterday we went to this family that lives forever away, walking, I told you about them last year because I went and saw them when I was on splits, I am going to have to send a picture, they don't have much! Thank you for the pictures!!! Everyone looks great in their green! Oh yeah, we also went and did an interview for some sisters in our zone, and their chapel is so cool, it is like and American chapel, but the lady they baptised was super, super awesome! It is so great to see great people! Mom, I love you and I hope that you guys have a great Easter! I want you to know that I know that our Lord and Savior did in fact pay for our sins!!! I know He lives and because he lives we can find a new life, I know that with all my heart! Love you mom, have a great week!!! 

Love Elder Grover

Argentina - March 14, 2016

Como Estan!!!!!!!!!

Hey mom!:) 

Well.. with the decisions ... how about we talk more about that next week? I need a little more time to think it over.. :) That is awesome that she was able to go and be there for the experience, what she learned was far more valuable than winning! It is all about the experience! And learning! If we are always learning, that is what matters! It is time to enjoy, we just need to have fun and look forward to the new changes with life! So it is great spring break this week, I am excited for you guys! I hope that you guys have lots of fun and enjoy the time, and the work! There is always something to learn and some little miracle that we see every day! When the day is crappy, like legit crappy, just enjoy it and laugh it off and keep going, it is those times we find out that we are not perfect! Sometimes crap happens, haha, sometimes a lot, but you know life, gotta love it:) The baptism went really well! 

The baptism went great, the whole family was there and we had members help and bring cake, so it was really great! But we felt so bad, she kind of got scared when she first she got in the water and didn't want to do it, but then her mom gave her a pep talk and she got the courage and then she was able to be baptized! It was a great experience! Also, there is a friend of that family that we will start teaching, and the girl's dad, who is not a member, came. That was the first time he had ever gone in the church, all the other kids where jealous because he didn't go to their baptisms.  But the mom said he liked it, so I guess we will see what happens there. So all in all it was a great day, I had a great time! So then we were waiting for them to come for her to be confirmed, and they barely made it in time! I guess that the power went out where they live, so when they woke up they didn't know what time it was, but they made it, so it was good ! All is good :)

They week was pretty good, for the most part, we had some people give us food this week so we didn't have to buy any, so that is always nice! We found some new people, and yesterday we were talking to this awesome family that lives in Colonio Benitez, that is a little town about 30 min from Resistencia, so we took a bus out there.  Anyway, we are going to start working with the guy's daughter, who is 12. The mom, Sister Garner, she has been a member for a long time. She lived in the US for a little bit because she was about to marry a missionary, but she didn't. She came back and married a guy that already had a daughter, he got baptized for her, then stopped going to church.  So then she wanted to divorce him, she is a lawyer by the way.  Anyway, before I got here the missionaries helped him out and now he comes to church, so we are going to start helping his daughter. They told us some crazy things about Hitler, that he didn't really die, but came to Argentina, I guess there is like a TV show about it on the history channel, and part of it was in our mission, so maybe you will have to go watch it!  The trip home was interesting. So we've got some great things going for us in our area and in the zone, also the hermanas will have a baptism, well one pair will. That is crazy that Heidi Hiatt is already home, ha! She will probably get married to Cole, or someone else fast. But I hope she had a great mission, that is cool that she did it, and wow, it's just a little weird because I went out before her, and now she is home before me. But anyways, all is well mom:) I want you to know that I love you and I hope that all is well with you and the family. Hope all goes well and that you guys can have a great week!  Tell everyone that I love them, and to have a great week!

love Elder Grover! :)

Argentina - March 7, 2016

Hi mom,
What a long week! But it was great! Things are going great this week! Hmm, which airport do I want to fly into? I will get back with you next week on that, same with your question about school (prayer). But the reason that my return date is a week early is that they are changing the amount of time people who are not learning a language stay in the MTC, now it will be 3 weeks. So yeah, this transfer is only 5 weeks long, but it is all good, ha. I will think about it, ha! Well, there is other things I need to do too, but we will see, ha! This area is awesome!!! We see miracles every day, and there is always a lot to do! 

This last week was super crazy! I will tell you all about it, ha! My new companion is awesome, he has one more transfer than me, and he is from Riverton, Utah and his name is Elder Miles, he is great, it is fun! With all the sisters? Well, we will get to that in a little bit, ha!

So last Tuesday we had leadership counsel, which was really fun. We talked about the video we are going to share for Easter. Then we spent a lot of time talking with the presidente and his wife about the video, and then we talked about all the investigators in our zone. The other leaders talked about their needs and what problems they have getting people to reach baptism, it was good, I learned a lot! And all the missionaries that were there were really great!! After that, we had a meeting with the stake president and some other zone leaders here in Resistencia. It was good, I think that a little more could have been accomplished, but it was good. Then that night we had the two elders that were staying here for transfers come to our pension, and so one of them was Elder Howes, the kid that I trained! So that was super exciting. He went with me in the morning to do divisions the next morning, and that was really fun. After lunch we had a zone meeting where we talked about what president talked about the day before, and then we started divisions with the other district leader in our zone, so that was interesting because I haven't been in my area very long, but it was good. I was with Elder Burk, he has one transfer more than me and he is the mission nurse, so if someone is sick they call him, but it was fun, he is a great guy! Then the next day we went to his area, which is in Las Palmas (my old area last year), it takes an hour and a half in bus. We came back to Resistencia about 5:30, then got some great charlas in after that. Then Friday was crazy too because we went to the pension of the zone leaders of Resi 2, we are the zone leaders of Resi 1, but anyway we went there and had some baptism interviews. My first interview, I interviewed this 8 year old girl named Celeste, it was super fun, she was really smart, but also really little, ha! Then Sunday we went to Colonio Benitez, that is a town like 20 minutes from Resistencia, but it is in our area and that is where the ex-temple president lives, and we went to see him. Then, he went to a lesson with us to some of our investigators and it was great, he is a super smart man. He was a college professor of philosophy, it was a really spiritual lesson, and both of the investigators that were there came to church! Yay! Sunday was great, we had 3 investigators in church, and there was 100 people total, that was cool! And the best part . . . we have a baptism this weekend! Her name is Fiorela, she is 9 year old and part of a less active family that we are reactivating! So that is the week, but this week should be super fun, I am excited. We won't have as many things that we need to do, so we will have a little more time to work, which is going to be nice. Oh yeah, the story about the hermanas, we call them every night to make sure they are in the pension and safe, so we called these hermanas and they didn't answer. We called about 20 more times until like 10:15, so we called the assistants and they were about to go over to their pension to see if they were okay. Then they call us, and they are like, "sorry, our phone was on silent and we didn't hear your calls................ yeah, sisters! I was just super, super glad they were safe and that nothing happened! So that was also interesting, ha! So that is my week, pray so we can follow through with the baptism.  I want you guys to know that I love you guys, mom you are the best! Oh yeah, today I got the calendar and a package from Candice! Tell her thank you so much, and mocho thank you for the calendar, it is awesome! I love you guys, the pictures of your bike trip look great!! Thank you so much! Have a wonderful week! And good luck with Sterling Scholar! Love you guys!

Love Elder Grover

Argentina - February 29, 2016

Rio Negro!!!!:)

Hey MOM!:)

I am doing great! How is everyone there doing? Maybe it will keep me form getting trunky, ha, well that is the plan!!  Wow, Mckale is home? That was fast, sister missionaries go super fast!! I bet McKady did a great job with her talk! You should consider yourself lucky because I have parents here tell me they would give anything to keep their kids home at night because they leave in the evening and are gone all night doing lots of, yeah, we won't go into the detail of all that happens, ha! You are a great mother, don't worry:) And mom, don't worry, Blanding is awesome!!!! super awesome!!!! I like being in the middle of nowhere because I can go bow hunting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, thank you mom!! Well, I hope I get a tag, ha! I might be too skinny, but don't worry, I will still be able to pull it back!!!! Ha:)

This week has been super great!!! And lots of things happened, and well, it was great, and it is always great getting to know a area, it is fun! But this area is big, and I am super excited because there is so much that can be done!

I better type fast so I can try to fit a lot of things in. Oh, and so you know, I just got my trunky papers....... so yeah, you are going to have to decide where you want me to go. I will go home the 2nd of August, that is what it says... enough about that.

So we are working with the family Rameriz, they are a big family, and they are all members but the dad and the younger kids.  So there is a daughter who is 9, her name is Fiorela, and she is going to be baptized on the 12th! She is so cool, well the whole family is super nice. Yesterday her and her 2 older brothers came to church, the mom couldn't because she was sick with one of the other kids. But I am super excited, I love that family so much!! We are also working with this guy named Andres, and he is really cool. His neighbor is a half member, he got baptized, but never got the Holy Ghost, and now he is living with a lady. So get this, the old temple presidente in Buenos Aires is in our ward, he just got released and is back, and he wants to help us with them. This guy is so smart! He teaches the gospel doctrines classes and they are crazy deep, ha, it is really great. There were 73 people in church,  a little more than Vera, but it is great. I am so excited to be here and to help people, but this week we got so much to do!!! Crazy, but it is going to be a great week. I would tell you all we are going to do, but I will tell you next week. The guy who was outside of church... that is a story for another time. But I got to go... but mom, I love you and hope the best for you!! Thanks for all you have done for me, and I hope that you guys have a great week!!! 

love Elder Grover

Argentina - February 23, 2016

Bitter sweet moments of the mission...
 

Hey mom!!!! 

Holy cow!! Jesse is a really old man!!!!;) Un chiste no mas;) But tell him Happy Birthday for me! And little Jed!!! I hope that he can start feeling better!! Hmm, I wouldn't mind a good lasagna right now!! It sounds like Jesse has his hands full, school, work and lots to do with Braddock!! That is awesome!! McKady did tell me that she got accepted to BYU, that is super awesome!!! I know lots of missionaries who put in, but don't get accepted, so that is really, really awesome!!!  And it is great that Jade is working, the construction here is so different though, ha! Good Luck with Sterling Scholar, that should be lots of fun!! Hey, I got the Christmas package:) Thank you so much! All well needed!!! Well, well needed, and jerky, that stuff is so, so yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) Thank you mom, and tell dad thanks for the letter too!!!  I love you guys so mucho! Ha!

Should I wait to tell you about transfers or should I do it now? Ha, I will tell you that I am back in Resistencia, and I have been in this zone 2 times before this... anyways, so this last week was really good. We were in Reconquista because we were going to go to a zone conference in Resistencia on Tuesday, and it was really good!!! On Wednesday we came back and got to work! It was a great week! Wow, last week feels like it was forever ago! But it was good, we were working with great people! Mainly this family, they are great, it is the family Guayaré.  Then on Saturday presidente Franco called and said I was going back to Resistencia, the zone Resistencia once again, ha! So I knew I was leaving on Saturday, usually we don't find out until Sunday night, but Sunday was really good too! The family Guayare came to church! But, I've got to tell you, it was very hard to leave, i love that place very much, and I love the people there very much!!!! I am really going to miss it a lot... but the Lord wants me in another place. I am still going to miss it though. So I was able to say goodbye to some familes and get some pictures with them, as you have seen:) I love them! So yesterday we got to Resistencia, but we had to wait in the terminal all day because we had to make sure all the missionaries got on their buses and so forth, so yeah, it was a long day, but it was great. So yeah, I am a zone leader now, and district leader too, and our district is basically just us, well me and my companion and 7 hermanas, so we will see how that goes. One of my last areas, Las Palmas, is in the zone, so I get to go back there, I am so excited!!!! I am excited to be in this area, lots of work and lots of fun:) Oh yeah, so the hermanas that came out with me are going to be going home today..... weird... it makes me feel old. So, you asked about the airports, where do you guys want me to fly in to? I don't have too much time this week, lots of things to do. But I want you to know that I love you guys a lot.  I do hope I finish my mission here in this area, but we will see what the Lord wants.  My companion is Elder Miles, he is cool so it should be really good, ha! I love you guys and I am going to send some pictures!:) Love you mom:)
Love Elder Grover

Argentina - Febrary 15, 2016

Happy Valentines Day!! Ayer...

 

Hey mom!

Wow, that is crazy that it is already, well, that Valentine's Day has already passed! Wow, time flies! I hope it was good! I am glad that you guys where able to have a little party thing! And tell Malyn happy birthday for me! Jed's birthday is coming up too, holy cow, time just flies, he is going to have one year! Holiday! Yeah, but not when you are in the mission because, well, here in Argentina they have a bunch of random holidays that don't really make sense at all, but nothing is open. Well, it is okay, but there was a holiday last week, but this week are free! That would have been cool if you could have gone to watch, but sounds like the wrestling programs is missing a stud... to bad he is on a mission;) It doesn't sounds like Cello did well either, I can't believe that 2 wrestling seasons have came and gone already, but I bet the warm weather is nice! It is still hot here, but the interesting thing is, I think we sweat more than Argentines, like we are always just dripping with sweat! But not to worry, we have things we have to do to keep good and healthy in the heat! So Jade is working in construction? It will be good for him! Dang, he got the dream calling... that would be the best calling! I hope he enjoys it.

Oh, so I got the card! I hope it has the same pin number as my other one, ha! But, I got that, and nothing else as of yet. I got a call from the elder in charge of the letters and mail, and he said that my package is in customs and it will cost money to get it out, but don't worry, I will pay that so I can get it out. We are going to Resistenceia for multi-zone conference tomorrow, so we will see if it is there, and if there is anything else. I will keep you guys updated! 

This last week was really good, we had lots lessons, so that was good, plus it went by really fast! And we were able to find some new people to teach, which was nice!  So far the area is doing good, but the best part was Sunday, we had a record of 32 people in church!!! And we had 2 investigators at church! I was super happy when they came! Victor, who is the father in a part member family, he is not a member, but they need to get married and he has been smoking ever since he was 9 years old, but they are an amazing family, not perfect, but they are great and I love them so much! And Roberto, he is a great guy; he doesn't have an eye, but his faith is so great, he just want to do all the things right. The problem is, well, our chapel is a house and our microphone doesn't work, and we have to have these fans going or you can't stand to be in there, so it is hard to hear or talk because it is so loud.  I gave a talk yesterday, and well, Victor said he really liked it, but he couldn't hear very good because some members right behind him were talking. It's a little frustrating, but next week will be better. Speaking of which, we have transfers again, so next week I will write on Tuesday. I am going to have 4 and a half months here in Vera, but I wouldn't mind staying another transfer, I hope I stay because I like it here! 

Tomorrow we are going to Resistencia, and today we are in Reconquista, so we are going to miss a couple days of work in our area, but we already have lots of plans for the week, so I am excited! 

I hope that you guys have a wonderful week!!!  Mom, I love you! Tell everyone that I love them! Thanks for the prayers, they do give me strength! I feel the love and support too, I have the best family in the whole world! 

Love Elder Grover

Argentina - February 8, 2016

Todo esta Tranquilo no mas!

Hello mom!!! 

My week was good!! I am glad to hear that you guys had a good week!!! Well, I am glad to hear that state drill went good. I am glad that they danced well, I hope McKady feels good about it all. Tell her that I know she did amazing!!!! But don't worry too much mom, soon you will have some grandkids competing, and all will be well with that!! I hear that the new temple in Provo opened up! That is crazy! I bet it is so beautiful!! I really want to go to it!!! I am glad that you guys were able to go to the open house!!! Yeah, Jordan and Ericka, they still have a long time to wait until they get married, but hey, Jordan did send me an email! This is the first one I have gotten from him! Yeah, I am pretty pumped about that!!! I am glad everyone is getting better! The flu, it must be getting close to the end of wrestling season, if so then I better be careful because I always got sick this time of year, but this year it will change! Ha, holy crazy... it was already the super bowl.......... I can't believe that. I hadn't heard a thing about it this year, Jesse must have been too busy watching to ever update me on them. But that is cool that the Broncos won! It sounds like it was a really great week, I am glad that everyone had a good time and that people are getting better!

This week has been pretty chill. We had divisions with the zone leaders and I stayed in our area and Elder Brown came here.  It was fun, we had some good lessons, and that night I made some BBQ chicken sandwhiches, yeah they were really good! Then, the next morning I took him to this bakery and we bought these super good facturas, I don't know what that word is in English, but they were good, they are kind of like doughnuts.  We walked around all of Vera that day... it was alot of walking, then my companion and his companion came, and then they left! The afternoon was good, we talked to Soledad, and that was good to talk to her again. But we, well, it seems like we did a lot of walking this last week... but it is all for the Lord.

This week we were also able to find a really cool person, her name is Gisela and she let us talk to her really easy, and was super nice, and had great questions, and well, we scheduled a lesson, so yeah, it is going well enough to make a missionary happy!!! Then we got back and she had read!!!!! The introduction of the Book of Mormon!!! And she had great questions! It was super awesome! I was really happy! Right now we are teaching a lot of people who are younger, like 20 to 25, which is good. Oscar is 26, and he likes to help us when he is not working, he is a great example of what the atonement of Jesus Christ can do for someone. I felt really bad, Saturday morning he went out with us to work and we walked all over the place, but no one was home.  It was too bad, but he keep going, and then we went to his house and shared a message about the priesthood.

 Later that day we went to talk to Nordali, and she is really cool, she used to be really involved in the Catholic church, but then she got offended. She went to school to be a science teacher. At first she really didn't want to talk to us and didn't want to know anything about God, but she has really opened up, she even told us she has been thinking about God more now, which is really cool!!! 

Church was good, there were 29 people there, but not any investigators, but next week will be better!! The primary teacher had a interview with president, so they asked us to watch the primery....................................................................................................................................................................................................... yeah, let's just say they are not the best behaved kids. Two kids started into a fist fight and, well, the parents had to break it up, ha! My companion was worried that they would all hate us after that, but it was interesting. Then we had a great lesson with Roberto Juayare, he told us he and his family have been so blessed ever since they have stared talking to us, so that was good! He had a lot of great questions, so I was excited after that lesson. Then we had a branch council, but it was good, I think they are going to start working, I hope. at least they talked about it! And then for lunch today we made french toast, that was good too! This last week I started to read in the New Testament, and it is really good, I love learning about our Lord and Savior. Mom, I want you to know that I love you more than anything in the whole world!!! And I want you tell everyone that I love them too, and how grateful I am for all the suport that everyone has given me!!! Tell McKady good job, and thank you so much for the pictures! I have the best family in the whole world!!! I love you!

Elder Grover

Argentina - February 1, 2016

¿Febrero ya?

 

Hola mamá, ¿Cómo estás? solo quiero decir ¡Te Quiero mucho!:)

Well to start, thank you so much for your e-mail, I always love your e-mails! They are the best, and they are always there:) That is crazy that it is snowing again, everyone here tells us that the news is saying that the states are reciveing a lot of snow right now. That is good because that means that we will have a great spring and summer, and it will be good for the mountain (great for my deer tag;) I am sorry to hear that Amber and Ericka are not doing good with their health, it is easy the get down when you have bad health. Tell them I love them and that I hope they can get better soon.  Also, tell them to read Alma 7:11-12, it talks about the atonement and how Christ is their to help us. But I hope that Amber will be able to go to state drill to watch McKady!! (thank you so much for the photos, tell McKady she is awesome and that she my hero, just tearing it up on the drill team court). She must not be sad, but needs to be happy so she can just go out there and have the time of her life and have no regrets. I hope the weekend goes well for all, and that the whole family can travel safe and just have the time of your lives, enjoy it all and take lots of pictures so I can enjoy it all too!!:) But, looking at that picture of the team, I really don't know anyone... ha, weird.

But wow, that makes me super happy to hear that Easton is going to go on a mission! The Atonement is real, and it is open for all of us, and people can change their lives. But wow, about Kamrie and Presley... I am shocked.......... it just doesn't sound right. But don't worry mom, don't worry too much, there are other people who are doing worse things, or have done worse things, or have had worse happen to them, but we won't go there, because yeah. This week we have been able to talk to some people, and I just hope and pray that we can help them find the atonement in their lives. But the atonement is true and it really is open to all people!

I am well and happy!:)

So this week has been good, we have been able to find a lot of new people to teach. So we were able to find this family that talked to the missionaries 2 years ago, we are super excited to start teaching them. The lesson that we did have with them was great, I enjoyed it a lot. This week has been nice in the sense that it rained a little, so it cooled it down a little so we haven't been dying in our sweat.... so we are all good! And we got lunch all but one day this last week, so that makes a happy Elder Grover. 

Sorry this e-mail is a little random and all over the place, but I am trying to type fast and get it all in before time is up. Yesterday we had a great lesson with Ramon about repentance, and Oscar came with us. It was great because he had been smoaking and drinking and doing drugs and living with his girlfriend before he hit rock bottem and changed his life, now he is preparing to go to the temple. His testimony is amazing, and he is a great example for Ramon! They exchanged numbers, so I hope that they will stay in contact and can become friends!

Can you beleive that it is already February? January just flew by, super fast! But that is okay, we've got February to work.  There were a lot of things that happened this last week, it is just a matter of remembering what they were, but it was a good week. What still gets me is how people can lie, but we are not going to talk about that either, it makes me a little mad. And another thing that gets me is when people say all the religions are good because they all lead to God... not true, I think that is what the pope is teaching right now... anyways, enough complaining on my part. Life is good, we had 30 people in church and one was Ramon, so that was great! I want you guys to know that I know the church is true and I know the reason I am out here on a mission. I am grateful to be here and help people to gain a testimony of this wonderful blessing, the gospel. Have a wonderful week!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck at state drill, and have fun! I love you all!

Love Elder Grover

Argentina - January 25, 2016

"no hay opciones"

 

Hola mama, 

That is right, you guys have Region Drill tomorrow! How exciting, I just hope the best for Mckady, she needs to have fun and enjoy the time that she has. And mom, you guys need to be safe in your travels! But the good thing with dance is that she will be able to keep dancing her whole time, or teaching, so it could be just a start to something bigger:) Wow, missionaries coming home, I am not coming home for a long time! I still have lots of time!!! Ha, let's not make it go faster, ha. What I have learned is that the missionary work in the whole world is not easy, there are lots of hard things, but that means more sweet is the joy!  Ha, that is so sweet that Elsie is praying:) but tell her that the future is sometimes a long ways away, not tomorrow! That goodness for that, ha. It is so crazy that Jed is already so grown up, and I have never even seen him! Oh, you know Jesse wants kids, he is just teasing! It is still so weird to me that Jesse is a dad! That is just so crazy! Ha! 

Okay, a little about my week here in good ole little Vera, to be honest it was a little slower week, but there were still some good things that we have seen, just  the little progression that you can see every day. Last Monday we got to know a menos activo and her kids, but here the world can be very rough on kids, with the drinking and smoking, but her kids are great. One of her kids doesn't have legs, but he keeps going, he has a lot of tattoos. She is trying as a single mother to help her kids, but it is hard.  Then we had a lesson with Ramon, and we will see how he goes, so if he doesn't smoke this week we will have a baptism for him:) Just a lot of faith and prayers. 

Wednesday we went to Reconquista to see the trsmision for all the missionaries in the whole world, and it was awesome! It talked a lot about how our purpose as missionaries is to teach repentance and to baptize converts.  It talked about a lot of things that we can do as missionaries to invite people to come unto Christ. Elder Anderson talked, Elder Bednar gave this instructions class, and then Elder Oaks talked, it was really good. So we stayed in Reconquista that night because the next morning we had interviews with President Franco, and those were really good also. He said some things that were very interesting to me. Well, this was during the training we received from him. He was talking about having bad days, and that sometimes the mission is hard, which is true, he said he has had the hardest times in his life here in the mission.  He served in the military here in Argentina, went  to a new country to live, was a bishop, stake president, and Area 70, but the hardest in his whole life has been the mission, it is not easy but it is the time where we will grow the most! Then he said something that I really liked, no hay opciones, that means there are no options. We have been given our own agency, but there isn't options, we have to be keep the commandments, and well, it was good, I liked it! 

This week it seemed like we had a lot of lessons fall through, but you just got to go keep working and keep helping the people. Sunday we had 31 people in church, but not one investigator.  There were more people who stayed for the 3rd hour, which was really nice! Then, in the afternoon we had a great lesson with Ramon, so we will see if he can use the atonement and not smoke, but we will see. That leads us to where we are right now, me typing this email. It is weird sometimes to think that I am really far away.  It rained last night, so that means that there is going to be a lot of humidity today, but don't worry, I am doing good. When I got in to my interview, President was like, "Elder, you have lost weight". Yeah, but not to worry, I am as healthy as a horse. It will be good, this way I can just put on some solid muscle when I get home, not fat, ha! 

Oh yeah, I got an e-mail from Amber!:) That is so exciting!:) I am super excited! It is going to be the same day I get home though, ha! 

I decided that I am to used to life here in Argentina, like, it just feels normal, is that weird? If only I could drink mate, don't worry, I will bring some home and we are all going to drink it. Oh yeah, I got a letter from Sister Kay Jones, and she put some notes from the San Juan record, and it looks like there are lots of people getting married! Besides Amanda, has there been anyone from my grade that has gotten married? That is just weird that people are getting married! But life is good here, I am happy and content. I know that the church is true! I know I am supposed to be here at this time! I know Jesus is the Christ and our Savior, and I am so grateful for that, how wonderful it is to have a Savior! It brings lots of happiness. I hope you guys have a wonderful week. I wish the best of luck to McKady, and I hope it goes well! I love you mom, I will always love you more than you ever know!

Elder Grover

Argentina - January 18, 2016

Hello famillia:)

 

Hey Mom,

    It sounds to me that you guys had an extremely packed week! Oh yeah, just to warn you before hand, I will be trying to type, spell, and use better grammar. ( Don't be too surprised, because I am trying, so it still might not be very good, but it will surprise you how really great I am with typing. I plan on writing books when I get back, ha, I am kidding about the books;) 

    I am really glad to hear that McKady did well this last weekend! Tell her good job for me please, and to keep going strong and being a great example. It is so weird to think that my little sister is all  grown up! Next week is region? Sounds like she is going to be busy, but I hope she has fun. The creeps better stay away or I will have lots of butts to kick when  I get home. Who are the freshmen this year? I feel like I don't remember anything anymore, oh wells. That is good that Jade and Mckady were able to go together, good for both of them. Kelsey went on a mission? That is super cool. Girls are not out for very long because the sisters that came with me are going to be going home in 5 weeks... It is so weird! But I am glad to hear that everyone is doing good. And thank you for the calendar!!!!!! I am excited to get it! 

 

     Wednesday, I know that I spelled that word wrong, it is easier to spell in Spanish, Miércoles, anyways, it was a very successful day. We talked to this girl named Nordali, kind of a little different name, but she is really cool, she is a teacher and is Catholic, but doesn't really believe in God. We will go see her tomorrow so hopefully that goes well. Later we talked to Paula and her family, really there are a lot, of them, but it is kind of crazy because they are a mostly little kids. With her family it shows what living in a certain area does to a family, her son that is 15 is into drugs and smoking and drinking, the other day her son gave his little brother, who is 7, wine, it is super sad, but we will see what we can do to help the family. I tried getting him to throw is wine away, but he wasn't up for that. Later we talked to Juan Villaboa, but his brother that was so awesome wasn't there because he went to the campo to work, he will come back every 3 months. We then talked to Victor and his wife, who is a member, well, they are not married, but that is not an uncommon thing here in this country. They bought a car, so you would think it would a be a litter easier for them to come to church, but they did not.

     Thursday in the morning was good because we were able to go talk to the Family Cordoba, but she said she didn't feel good when she was at church, my heart broke, but I am sure it was just because she was a little nervous and it was different.  So we have another lesson with them on Wednesday and we are taking a member with us, si o si. Then we went to Reconquiesta for our district meeting, our whole district are gringos, and all but one is from UT, oh yeah, but it was great. Before the meeting we were sitting out in front of the church and this guy comes and starts talking to us in English. Long story short, he rides his bike for a living, he is from Brazil and the first time he was introduced to the church was in Las Vegas, then he got baptized in Belgium. He just rides all over the world, and he said when he is finished he is going to write a book about it. A very nice guy with an interesting story.

    Friday was supposed to be an amazing day because we had a lot of lessons scheduled that were supposed to be for sure, for sure, but sometimes that does not happen how you would like it to. In the morning we talked to an investigator that we have, her name is Soledad, she is great.  She came to church last year, but then the sisters stopped going to her house, but we found her while we were contacting. Then later that day we talked to Paula and her family again and that was great. About 6 weeks ago I talked to this kid on the bus and he was nice, so we passed by his house and he was outside with his friends drinking mate. They are in this Catholic group thing, but it was good because we were able to teach them and answer some of their questions. 

    Saturday morning I was thinking we would go visit this drunk guy that we talked to, so we went, but they were not there, so we did some contacting and found this guy named Raul and had a great lesson with him. Then we also had a lesson with this girl, Lucia, who a year ago came to a baptism. In the afternoon we had a lesson with Ramon, it was really good because we were able to make some goals with him to stop smoking.

    Sunday was a great day, Ramon and Juan Villaboa came to church, that was really nice. Then we had to teach Sunday School, we got the topic and then just went with it, but it went well, I thought, we talked about the Godhead. In the afternoon we were just able to talk to a less active family, then we had branch counsel, which was good! Now we just need to put the talk into action. 

    That leads us to today. and we actually got up and ran......... yeah, I am only a little out of shape, ha. Then we had studies as normal, then went and got food for the week! I made BBQ chicken fingers for lunch, oh they are so good!!! Now we are here, sitting in the cyber, writing. How did you like that little rundown of the week!? Oh, my studies have been very interesting this week, I have been studying in 2 Nephi and it is very interesting. It is so good and yet very hard to  understand, I do know that there is a lot of symbolism with the Atonement.  I think it is going to take a lot more studying in my life time to get it better, but it amazes me how much Nephi enjoyed it, and understood it. Also, this week I have been studying a lot about faith, what I learned is that fear and doubt are the opposite of faith, that is very interesting to think about. Also, I found this quote by Heber J Grant al decir prosperidad, no estoy pensando solo en el sentido del dinero.. lo que yo considero la verdadera prosperidad.. es el crecimiento en el conocimiento de dios, en el testimonio y en el poder de vivir el evangelio y de inspirar a nueras familia a hacer lo mismo. esa es la verdadera prosperidad. You are going to have to have someone translate it, because I don't have too much time. But mom, I love you!!!!!!!!!! Have a great week and thank you so much for your letter!

Lover Elder Grover

Argentina - January 12, 2016

Tengo mas tiempo en Vera:)

Hey mom,

My week has been great, and I am doing great:) Yeah, it is super hot here, and I am the farthest south area in the mission.. and it is hot, hot... but good! From the pictures it looks like you guys got lots and lots of snow!! That is crazy!! It looks like we will get a lot of runoff and then there can be some farming done! Hopefully the reservoirs will be able to fill up. The little sledding ramp you guys made is awesome!  It looks like JJ and Tamras kids had lots of fun. The pictures of McKady in the snow look really good, and the one where she is blowing the snow looks super cool! Tell Dad Happy Birthday for me!!! I sent him a letter but I don't know if he got it yet... but tell him Happy Birthday and that I love him so much. Yeah, I bet he went on and on with a lot of stories, but I bet it was super good for the grandkids!!! That is awesome!!! Jade getting there, he will be okay, it is all leading up to what he needs and what he wants to do!!! So Landon is getting married? Crazy.......... that is so weird that all these people are getting married, I mean it is good, but it is just so weird because they just seem so young, or maybe that is just because they are close to my age, and I don't feel that old! But that is good for him that he is getting married. It sounds like has been a great week with lots of fun and with lots of snow!!! 

So this has been a great week for me too! We have had great lessons and we also had a zone meeting, and those are great because we always get to learn from presidente, they are always really good!! But I didn't get a package, maybe it will come in a little bit. But I am excited for the calendar because I do need it! Well, I don't need it, but I really do enjoy it a lot! So we were in Reconquista the whole day pretty much, but it was a great day. Thursday and Friday where just great days of work, just having a great time and teaching people. This week we got more lunches from people, so that was really nice because that saves lots of money, and they cook good food, and a lot of it!  Tuesday we had Elder Leoni from Bolivia with us, he is a cool guy. But then Saturday is when it got a little crazy.  So we were sitting, talking to some people and the assistants call and tell us we have to go to Reconquista right after church because my companion was going to be transferred, but his bus was leaving really early from Reconquista. He was nervous because it was his first time being transferred. So he is now in Clorind, but anyway, so we went to the pension of the zone leaders and stayed the night with them, it was nice.  We thought we were going to get a new assitente, becuase the one had 6 transfers in there, but he stayed, it is crazy. And then my companion from the MTC, Elder Bess, is the finacial secretary, and he is going to be in there another one. When he is done there, he will have completed a year in the office... what unfortunate luck.. ha! So anyway, I got a new companion, Elder Rosenvall from Pleasant Grove, he is going on his 4th transfer, but he speaks good and is a nice guy, so we are just going to work the crazy out of Vera, it is going to be great!! So yesterday I was just waiting for him to come, and then we had to come to Vera. But we were able to talk to someone yesterday, so that was super nice. So that is the rundown on the week, nope, not done yet, I have to talk about Sunday at church. So Saturday night the branch presidente called and asked if I could give a talk, so I said yes, like always:) But then in the morning he called and said that he was just getting back from this music thing they did en El Campo, and that he wasn't going to be back for church, so we were in charge. It was good though, we had 4 investigators come:), and one was the family Cordoba, but then everyone left after sacrament meeting. So it was just us and 2 members who stayed and talked to us until like 11, but then we stayed until 12, which is when church is supposed to end. Then we went to Reconquista, so that was a good. And then I went on divisions with a one of the zone leaders, but it was great, ha! But yeah, so that was the week ha:) But I hope you guys have a wonderful week!!! I want you to know that I love you guys with all my heart, mom you are the best!:)

love Elder Grover

PS Tell Dad Happy Birthday, and thanks for the pictures!:)

Argentina - January 4, 2016

¿2016? ya

Hola mama!!!!! 

No puedo creer que ya estamos en 2016, el tiempo paso muy rápido, es muy loco!!!!!!!!!! Pero estoy muy animado para vivirlo. Estaba pensando que pasaría si yo escribí todo me carta en español. Pero no voy a hacerlo, por que quiero que pueda entenderlo:)

It is so crazy that it is 2016! What? I can't believe I have been in Argentina for all of 2015, to me that is just crazy!!! It sounds like you guys have lots of things to do this year, and well, in the start of this year, you have to worry about all of your single kids but Elder Grover:) For now, I think the only thing McKady needs to do is enjoy it all, just have fun so that the memories can be cherished for a long time. 

I am glad you guys had a great New Years Eve party.  I am not going to lie, I am a little jealous about the Chinese food, it has been a long time since I ate Chinese food, wow, it might have been 2014 New Years.... I am hungry for Chinese food. But anyway, it sounds like the games where fun. I love the photos, the TV looks huge in the back ground. The pictures at Arches are great, but yeah, I don't think I have ever been there either. So what is that with a selfi stick thing???? the world, where is it going? JK, there are some missionaries that have them. I guess I could get better at taking photos. But that is good that Jade was able to be home for awhile and get some relaxation.  I have learned that the body needs lots of rest!!! You've always got to treat your body right. I hope you guys had lots of fun and were able to look at the last year, learn from it and remember the good times. And then look at the new year with lots of hope and with goals, goals are great!!! But sweet, I needed the card! Thank you so much mom!! I love you so much!!!

So the week was really good. Monday we had some good lessons with Ramaon, and we made a cover for his Book of Mormon, he was really excited about that! And we talked to Paula and her family, she is really nice. She stopped going to church 6 years ago, but wants to come back because she wants her kids to have the gospel:) That is awesome, but then she didn't come to church on Sunday. 

Tuesday we went to Reconquista for our district meeting, it was good, we talked about goals. I learned in the mission that I should have made better goals before the mission, but there is always time to start, well, the best time was a long time ago, but now is the other best time. But it has been really hot this week... lots of walking in the heat. The 31st and the 1st were a little slower, we didn't have to much time to work because we had to be in the pension a little early, but a member brought us some asado, so that was good. It was chill, we got some rest and slept good, well, I did, ha! Saturday was a killer day with the heat... and we had some lessons fall through, but we made it through. Sunday was good, we had 3 investigators come, but it was so hot in the church. I directed the meeting so I got to share my testimony, so that was nice! And that leads us to today, where I am sitting here writing to you:)  But next week I will not write next Monday, so I will write on Tuesday. We have transfers, I am pretty sure I will be staying here, but my companion thinks that he is going, but I guess we will see. I want you guys to know that I love you very much. Oh yeah, I was able to finish the Book of Mormon for the 2nd time in Spanish on the 1st, what a great way to start off the year, it was really nice. I want you guys to know that I know the Book of Mormon is true!!! Have a great week, I hope all goes well!! Just remember that I love you guys and always will!!!

love Elder Grover

Argentina - December 28, 2015

Merry New Year!!!!!!!

Hey mom, how is it going? I hope it is great! It was so great to skype with you and the family on Christmas! That was the best present ever! Y'all look great!!! I hope that you guys had a great Christmas! And thank you so much for the pictures, they all look really great!!! I hope that you guys were able to do the nativity as a family and spend some time remembering the importance of Christmas.  It has been out in the mission where I have found the real, true meaning of Christmas, and it has a lot to do with the atonement of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas is a great time to reflect on the year that has passed, for me, it has, hands down, been the hardest year of my entire life, but also the most rewarding because I have grown closer to my Lord. I still have a long road to go, but I know that the Lord will be there to help me as I go, and I am excited to start the 2016 year with all of the new experiences that are in store for me! But more than anything, my wish is that all goes well to you, my family, in this new year!!:)

Wow, the TV looks huge!!!! But I think I can probably put it to good use when I get home;) It was so great to talk to everyone! All the kids are getting so big... it was a shock!! But everyone looks great!!!I still think it is crazy that Jesse is a dad, I hope that Braddock does okay for a week away, he seemed like a great little guy. But everyone and their families looked great!!!!  

So not too long after I skyped, we went to the apartment of the other missionaries and just relaxed and talked about the skype calls. Then on Saturday morning and got on a bus at 7:40 and got back to our area around 9:15, then went to work. That morning we had some very interesting experiences. So 2 weeks ago we lost contact with Hernan because their little house was ruined in the rain. During those 2 weeks we went to Resistencia 2 times because my companion had to do some paperwork to get legal here in Argentina, so we were gone a lot. But anyway, we found him, they are staying at the house of his wife's parents, but he didn't want to talk there, so we went walking and talking.  When we got to the cemetery, he asked if we wanted to walk in and see, so we did, it is very different that the ones you would find in the states.  Mostly they just have tombs, they really need to talk better care of it, so that was interesting. Then we are walking back and we see this guy who looks more white and taller than most Argentines, wearing a camo hat. It turns out he is from Colorado, and is wife is from here, and they are here for the holidays. He is not a Mormon, but he knows a lot about the church, so that was pretty interesting! Then church was good yesterday, we had 2 investigators come to church, but it was a great Sunday, except that it was really hot. But if you can remember to see if you can get me a card, that would be really nice:) 

I have been reading in Ether, and it is really great, I have been thinking a lot about the faith those people had! They got in a little boat and trusted the Lord that they would get where they needed to go. At times we need to do the same, we reach a point in our lives when we come to an ocean, and all of the sudden the future doesn't look too bright, but if we put our trust in the Lord, He will lead us to the promised land. We just need to have the faith to get in the boat and let the Lord take us where he wants us to be.

This week should be good, we will have a little more time to work and help the people!:) My cough is getting better, and the skinny, well, I tried the weight thing to get skinny but then I just started putting on lean muscle and getting really big!;) I hope you guys have a wonderful week. Mom, I hope you enjoy your week off from work and that you will be able to do nothing!!:) I just want you guys to know that I love you and hope all goes well!!! Have a wonderful new year!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love you guys!

love Elder Grover