Week 3 in Argentina!

Hola Everyone! 
I hope you all have had a great week! I don't have much time to write today, so this will be a little short. So this week was a lot like last week. The work has been tough and a lot of appointments are falling through, and a lot of members are bailing on us, which makes it hard to find the elegidos, but we have full trust in what we are doing, and in the Lord. I want you all to know of the power of the atonement, and how it is only through faith that we are able to exercise it. Jesus Christ died for every single one of us, and as I have been able to serve Him, and truly come to know the power of this, already my life has changed! And every single day is a day of progression, a day to get better, and a day to rejoice in our Savior. I have been blessed with parents who truly have shown me what my Father in Heaven sees in me, and how much he loves me. I want you all to know I have an unwavering faith and testimony in the Atonement, that my Savior lives, and that it is only through His teachings that we can truly be happy. I love you all! Help the missionaries in your wards. They need it! It is only through the members that we can be successful. Often times members don't understand that it is their work, missionaries are simply here to help. These people are YOUR friends, YOUR family, YOUR neighbors. WE all have to work together to accomplish this great work of Salvation. I challenge you all to step it up, in your studies, in your prayers, in all that you do. ¨There is no greater thing that members of the church can do than share the Gospel.¨ I love you all and thank you for your love and prayers :)

Elder Yeoman

                                       

Semana 2 en Argentina (Week 8)

Hola Everyone!

Man this week was very difficult, but I learned a lot! So, it seemed like every single teaching appointment fell through, nobody was ever home, and we walked 10,000 miles every day haha. Well, it happens sometimes! The best thing to do, I learned, is to keep a good attitude. That is hard to do sometimes, but is something I am really working on! I am starting to get used to how things work here, and finding my way around our area (sorta). Wednesday I went to the "Villa" which is the ghetto!!  I went on an exchange with Elder Bonifacio, from Peru. He is the man, but doesn't know English, so that was fun! But oh my gosh, I can´t even describe that place to you all.  It is like something in a movie, like loud Spanish music, people running around everywhere, people selling stuff, the pathways are super narrow! Gosh, it was really cool! I didn’t even feel unsafe though, which is good! I know I am protected. So another hard thing that happened was we had to drop an investigator who had his baptism date for the 26th!! Gosh, sooo close! That was really hard for me because I am not used to that.  It was the first time that happened. So we only have one progressing investigator now, and we haven't heard from her in a few days, and she didnt go to church. So, not quite sure how that will work out. We are praying hard though! My companion is super super hard on me! Which is good, but hard sometimes too. I know it is what the Lord sees fit for me though, so I can't complain! We work really hard though. From 6:30am-10:30pm we are working!! Overall, I learned a lot this week and my Spanish is improving slowly but surely.  I definitely need to speak more of it! I am so grateful for this opportunity and for the privilege of being a servant of the Lord. There is nothing better that I could be doing right now, and I feel the love and comfort of the Lord in my life every single day! Through Him, and through submitting to His will, we can all reach our full potential. So, pray, study your scriptures, follow the commandments and stay close to the Lord! Oh, and feed the missionaries! They love food ;). Te amo mucho!! Thank you all for the love and support! I feel it more and more every day! 

 Elder Yeoman

 Jace apologized for not having pictures of himself to send this week.  He doesn't have a lot of opportunity to take pictures since they aren't allowed to take their cameras out on the streets with them when they are working (in order to avoid looking like tourists.) He promised to get a picture of himself to send next week.

He wants to assure his mother that he is eating plenty besides the huge lunch that they are fed by the church members everyday! He at least knows how to make Top Ramen! Whatever is on that bread looks really yummy! This is his snack that he usually makes at night after they finish their planning for the next day.

This is a picture of one of his bedroom walls in Buenos Aires. He said that his family is the reason he is where he is, Christ is who made it all possible and the Salt Lake City Temple is where Richard and I were married!

Semana 1 in Argentina (Week 7)

Wow I don't know where to start haha! Well, I am really unsure what is going on most of the time but it's all good, I will learn! So I got here and we went on a tour in the main part of the City, it was really cool! I will attach some pictures! It has been hard with the language barrier and culture shock but I love the members in my area! They are so nice and loving towards me! I feel like I already have a family here, even though I have no idea what they are saying to me most of the time. I just smile and say ¨Si¨ hahaha! I get a lot of ¨Muy alto"(very tall) haha. So in my area, Parque Patricios, most of the people are from Peru..so basicamente I am not learning much about Argentine culture haha. But, it is okay because I am still learning to understand and talk more, so it comes with time. They do, however, talk like Argentines so they have that weird sh sound for y and ll. It is taking some getting used to and a lot of people laughing at me but its all good! Then I just go off in English and make fun of them and see how they like it..nah, I'm just kidding haha! But it is awesome here, gosh the food is so good! It is weird though because the only meal we actually eat is Almuerzo (lunch), but geez they dont mess around haha. Food to feed an army!! But for some reason, I struggle getting full. It is probably because I am out walking around all day, so I am always hungry. But I am definitely eating a lot. It is cool because here it is like a treat to be able to feed the missionaries haha, I love it! So the first day of actual work (my second day) it was raining like crazy and literally 40 degrees, so that was hard. But, it only gets better from there! haha. The first day we went out I'm not gonna lie, I thought every single person I passed was going to rob me, haha. But now I just put my Jace walk on and no one is messing with me, haha! Just kidding, I know I am protected though. So the big thing here in the mission is working with members, so we always have to have a member present in lessons.It is pretty cool. We go drag people out of their houses to work with us, haha. We walk A TON!!!! But sometimes we take the bus, actually a lot, but mostly walking. Dad, you were right, buses in South America are crazy haha. Those things get packed! So we have 2 investgators progressing for baptism, they are both pretty solid (From what i understand) haha. Oh, another thing in the mission is all our investigators have to go to church 3 times before they are baptized. Which is hard sometimes, but it makes a lot of sense. My companion is a workaholic and works me to death, but I prefer it that way. I am learning so much from him! He has been out a year, and is our district leader. So Saturday, one of the 2 biggest clubs teams in Argentina had a game, and we live like 15 minutes away (Walking distance) from where they were playing. Oh my gosh, that was insane!! And then Sunday, the 2 biggest equipos played. Boca and River! So basically, no one was on the street haha! Boca won and that is the club I have picked as my favorite! Except I can't say that around here because we are closer to River! Well I love you all! Look to the Savior for anything and everything and a way will always be provided! Any problem, trial, difficulty has already been taken care of, just have faith that through Him you will overcome everything! I know that the Savior lives, and loves everyone! Talk to you all next week! Pictures coming shortly! Thank you all for the love and prayers. I can always feel it. Also, everyone tell my mom I love her ;).

P.S I have entered a new country and STILL no one can guard me haha!

Elder Yeoman

Here is an added note from Elder Yeoman;

Oh, and President Ayre is literally the Man!! I love him and he is an awesome mission president. Im so sad I only have him for 10 months. But it was cool talking to him about the Barkers haha! And Sister Ayre makes me feel like I am at home. She is just like Sister Barker! 

Elder Yeoman and his companion Elder Avalos

The Beautiful City of  Buenos Aires

 

The Church Building Elder Yeoman will be attending in Parque Patricios

Elder Yeoman's bedroom in the Parque Patricios Apartment

The Bathroom.... looks a little different than what we are used to!

Week 6 and Elder Yeoman has arrived in Argentina!

This is Alana again:

Elder Yeoman arrived safely in Argentina this morning after nearly 24 hours of total travel time! Sister Ayre (The mission president's wife and also a friend of mine)  snapped a quick picture of him and sent it to me as they were leaving the airport. After staying up and tracking his flight for most of the night, it was such a great moment for me to know that he had arrived and was all smiles! Thank you to everyone who prayed for Elder Yeoman during his travels! Later this afternoon we received another email from President and Sister Ayre along with a couple more pictures! He looks so happy! I don't think I have ever seen him smile any bigger than he is! It sure makes for a happy missionary Mama! We will hear more details from him on his first P-day next Monday, September 14th. 

Elder Yeoman and Elder Hendricks on the bus ride
from the Buenos Aires Airport

Email and pictures received from President and Sister Ayre this afternoon:

Dear Family,

We are thrilled to report that your son, Elder Yeoman, has finally arrived safely in his mission this morning here in Buenos Aires.  He was picked up at the airport, and after a brief tour of Buenos Aires was brought to the mission home for a luncheon, followed by an interview with the President.  You should expect to hear from your missionary on his next P-day which will be Monday, September 14.  Thank you for your prayers and support.

President and Sister Ayre

Elder Yeoman has arrived at the mission home

Elder Yeoman with President and Sister Ayre
(The mission president and his wife)

Argentina Bound!!

This is a note from Alana:

Elder Yeoman and 13 other missionaries departed for Buenos Aires today (Monday, September 7th)! We were so blessed to be able to talk to him in both the SLC and Atlanta Airports.  We especially enjoyed hearing him share his testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ with us in Spanish.  We were amazed!  He has really enjoyed his six weeks in the MTC and couldn't say enough about how much he has learned and grown from his experiences there. He said, "it went by so fast!!" He also made so many great friends that became like brothers to him.  Elder Yeoman is prepared and ready to get into the mission field and begin his work with the wonderful people in Argentina. He knows without a doubt that he is where he should be and can't wait to teach and serve for the next 22 months. He will arrive in Buenos Aires around 9:10am on Tuesday morning and I will update the blog as soon as I hear from him.  I am so grateful that Elder Farnsworth's sweet mom sent these pictures of Elder Yeoman to me from the SLC Airport this morning. He sure looks happy! We love Elder Yeoman so much and will miss him every single day that he is away, but are so proud of him and so grateful for his desire to teach, love and serve the people of Argentina.

Elder Yeoman's email address and mission office mailing address is listed here on the blog.  He has been overwhelmed with all of the love he has received from soooo many friends and family members during the past 6 weeks.  It means the world to him.  When I find out the address of his first area, I will post it here also.  Meanwhile, feel free to send letters through email or directly to the mission office.

My happy, handsome Elder Yeoman checking in at the SLC Airport

Elder Farnsworth and Elder Yeoman

Elder Yeoman and Elder Ayres

MTC Week 5 Argentina Bound in 5 days!

Hi Everyone! (This is Alana writing)
Jace was super busy today getting everything prepared for his travels to Argentina on Monday.  He is really excited and nervous at the same time about leaving the MTC and beginning his missionary work in Buenos Aires. He departs for the SLC Airport on Monday, September 7th at 9:30 am and will arrive, along with 13 other missionaries, in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Tuesday at 9:00 am.  That is a VERY LONG day of travel! Argentina is only one hour ahead of us! We are so very excited to get to talk to him on the phone on Monday!! Please keep all of these missionaries in your prayers as they travel next week!  Richard and I took up so much of his computer time emailing with him this afternoon that he didn’t have any time left to write a general email update. Jace asked me to send his love to everyone and let you know how grateful he is for the support of letters, emails, packages, and prayers while he has been in the MTC.  He also sent a few pictures! Oh, how I love to get his pictures! If you would like to get any notes to him on Thursday or Friday, please use dearelder.com. Those are printed and delivered (free of charge)  M-F at the Provo MTC at 2:00 EST each day.  He would love to hear from you! It would be great to flood his mailbox with well wishes before he leaves for Argentina too!! He won’t have access to his email again until his first Pday (Monday) after he arrives in Argentina. The information that you will need for dearelder.com is  Departure date: SEP07  Unit# 263  Mission Code: ARG-BAN

Elder Yeoman and Elder Smith (This Elder reminds Jace of his best friend at home, Ben Ferguson!)

Elder Yeoman and his Awesome MTC teacher, Hermano Weekes
Hermano Weekes must be REALLY tall because he makes Jace look small beside him!

Elder Yeoman and Elder Sears (True Blue BYU Fans!!)