Monday, February 27, 2017

Bye to the Office and Bautizárate

Hey Guys!!! Sorry I am so late. We went to the zoo today in Escobar, and today is also a holiday here in Argentina so the buses were going slow and we are just now sitting down to write, so I don't have too much time! But thanks so much for your letters. That's pretty crazy that I'm already signed up to live at BYU haha, That's a little weird to think about. 

So President called me late Thursday night, like at 12 at night and told me that he wanted me to go to Zárate and serve as Zone Leader. President told me that this zone historically never baptizes, and he was like "Elder Yeoman, I'm sending you there to change that!"  Now let me tell ya'll a little about Zárate. It is the zone farthest north in our mission. It is like a zone apart from our mission and it is awesome!! I have taken so many pictures to show ya'll. So I will upload them all on google drive, and zoo pictures as well!! It was pretty sick!

Dad, my new companion is from Sau Paulo, and he is from your mission!! He wants to know what wards you were in to see if you might have baptized his girlfriend's family haha! They were baptized during the time you were there. I told him I would ask you! My companion's name is Elder Andrade and let me tell you, this kid is a legend in the mission. He is such a stud! He is finishing the mission next transfer. 

So I'm out here living the dream! I love my area and we have so many investigators, but we were in the offices like all of last week because I was working there until Friday night and Elder Andrade was there because his companion became the new assistant. I'm super pumped to be here and I am looking forward to all of the amazing experiences to come! My ward is awesome and the members were very welcoming and help a lot in the work! So this is going to be a great finish!!!!!!!!! 

I love you all! 

Remember that Jesus Christ paid the price for all, so all need to get the chance to learn the true and everlasting truths of the Plan of Salvation and this Eternal Gospel! 

I have a whole lot to talk about, but not any time to say it! 

I will have more time next week! Have a great week!

Elder Yeoman


Goodbye Cake for all of the Office Elders!
Elder Asper, President's new secretary!

Elder Lyon, My Office Companion for the last 5 months
Elder Garcia
Elder Sherman


Goodbye to Elder Stagg
So grateful for The Anderson's, hard to say goodbye!
Goodbye to my Carolina bro! Elder Stafford
This is Zárate! So Awesome! We walk so much!
Not in the city anymore!!!
We visited the zoo in Escobar today!
My new companion, Elder Andrade
More of the zoo


Monday, February 20, 2017

La Viña del Gran Rey Jesus

Hello all!

Hope you guys had a fantastic week and that the weather is getting a little warmer up there north ;). We had a great week here in the offices. It is kind of busy around here because we are gearing up for a mission tour with Elder Levrino, an area authority here in the mission! So other than that, everything is going well! I am getting to the point where sometimes I don't even know what to do in the offices because I trained the new secretary already. So, basically I am just doing what I can and waiting for President to call me and tell me where I'm going for my last area! 

These last 5 months in the offices have taught me a lot about leadership, organization, and the importance of certainty. Many times when I first started, i would think that my assumptions were good enough, or that "it will probably work," but I quickly realized the importance of not letting anything get passed me or slip through my fingers. I have learned a lot about business and how things need to be run to be effective, and how to plan way more effectively, and a ton of things from President Smith, his family, and all the great missionaries I worked with here in the offices! I will be eternally grateful for the time I had to learn in the offices, and I know that I have a lot of responsibility to apply all that I have learned!

I don't know why but I was just reading back in my journal over my whole mission, and I am so grateful for how much the Lord has done for me! I am so incredibly grateful for the growth and mighty change of heart that I have been able to experience and have in my life! My mission will always be very personal for me, and extremely special because of my own conversion and the changes I have seen in the lives of others.

Lucas, a kid I baptized in my 2nd area, just sent me an email telling me that he is sending in his mission papers within the next few weeks. I'm so proud of him. That was to this day one of the most amazing experiences of my whole mission; teaching and learning and crying with him as he was able to learn for himself the truthfulness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so incredibly proud and excited for him as he enters into the best time of his life, that will change him and generations forever! 

In my studies this week, I read a talk titled "The Simpleness of the Way" and it was incredible. I loved it! We make things SO complicated as human beings, and lose sight and lose the importance of consistently doing the small and simple things. In the talk, it says that having the spírit is a 4 point program: 

1) Pray
2) Study & Learn the Gospel
3) Live righteously
4) Give service in the church

These things we learned in primary, but now that we are older we seem to lose the importance and drive of being consistent with these 4 principles. We need the Spirit in our lives! And this outlines how we can always have the spirit. We take the sacrament every week and we keep doing the small and simple things and obeying the commandments and we will always have the spirit.

Mosiah 5:2 - 

And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

If we have the spirit, we can have this mighty change of heart, which will help us to not have any disposition to do evil! I can personally testify of this process, as I have experienced this mighty change of heart, and have lost all desire to do wrong. Of course, I am not perfect, and never will be, but I know what is required of me, and I know that the Lord will help me in every way! I hope we all can experience this in our lives!!

Now, another part of the talk refers to the story of Moses when he the wicked Israelites were cursed with fiery serpents, but a way to be healed was provided. All they had to do was look upon Moses' brass serpent and many of them didn't even do it. It says in the scriptures that "because of the simpleness of the way, many perished."

Now we are all thinking, wow that is the easiest thing ever. All they had to do was look, and they would be healed. I'm sure the Lord still thinks that- when we don't read our scriptures, or say our prayers, or repent daily, or do a lot of the things that are so simple, but we fail to do them because of the simpleness of the way! I think we can all evaluate how we are doing with this, and then work on it! I mean it may be easier as a missionary, but I know how important it is for when I get home to continue to grow and progress.

I read a quote that was in this talk and I thought about my mom. It says "A loaded train doesn't jump the track, only when the boxcars are empty is the train liable to leave the track." We may think that we have a ton to do, and not enough time to do it, but the only time we can fall off the track is if our box cars are empty! So I dont think we should worry about being over burdened, because that is how we can always stay on the track! 

"You read your scriptures every day, and some days there just isn't time." I love this. We must always read our scriptures, or do all the little things that are asked of us, and many times there really isn't time, but we dont need to think about that until we already have it done!

Keep moving forward, giving your best effort, because that is what is asked of us!

I love you all! And hope you all have a great week!

Elder Yeoman

Playing basketball today for Pday
Training the new office elders
Hometown Boys! 
Had to get a new rim, Haha!



Monday, February 13, 2017

You Guys are Both from North Carolina?


Hello Everyone!

Well I have lots of new news! President called me and told me that I will be training the new secretary this transfer until Feb 24th, then I will be heading out to a new area. But of course he had to kill me with the suspense and not tell me where I am going! I am very grateful for all that I learned here in the offices, and can't wait to apply it all in my last area! It is going to be really special for me being able to get back out in the field! Also, Matt Stafford is taking my companions place in the offices and we are living together. Yesterday we went out and worked together all day! It was so fun! Often times we just can't even believe that we are living and working together as missionaries 5000 miles away from home and speaking a different language. It is very cool! But don't worry! We are still working really hard! 

This past week was a tougher one. The family that has been progressing the past 2 weeks told us that they really don't want us to pass by anymore and that they are done, which was a big shock to me. The lessons I had with them were some of the most spiritual that I have ever been a part of in my mission, and I know they felt the spirit a ton! And I know they came to understand the power of Christ´s atonement and love. But they were just not completely ready at this time. I know they will be later. The seed has been planted and we have done everything! They did not make it to Church this Sunday.

Yesterday I went out to work with Elder Stafford. It was very fun! He is a stud and not afraid at all to open his mouth! We talked to a bunch of people and invited a lot of people to be baptized, so we were able to find a lot of new investigators and this next week is going to be a good one!

The other day I was thinking about some of the most important things to study and understand as a Missionary, and of course there are a ton of things that are very important, but one thing that has really helped me is studying commandments, commitments, and the why behind everything! The natural man will never change unless he is invited to do so, or has a motivation to change! I know that we can all relate to this! If we never got results from working out, there is no way we would ever do it! No one is going to get up to go to Church unless they can feel by the spirit that they need to, and unless they understand all the blessings that come from being obedient to this important commandment! As I have grown spiritually and seen more of the blessings in my life every day, and the changes in others lives I have come to understand the “why” behind every commandment, and I try my best to make every single person I talk to also feel the spirit and understand “why.” It is a whole lot more than just saying “If you follow this you will be blessed.”

As many of you have read from my emails, one of the hardest commitments for people to keep is going to Church, and that is what I focused my studies on! I was reading in Preach my Gospel about keeping the Sabbath day holy and 2 important points caught my attention. One, as we go to Church our faith is strengthened and we are filled with joy and peace, and that is a promise from the Lord; and 2, the importance of the sacrament by the proper authority!

In 3 Nephi 18, it talks about the importance of the sacrament and the blessings that comes from it, but it reiterates the fact that these blessings can only come to pass by the proper authority, showing the great importance of going to Church every Sunday and partaking of the sacrament by those who have the authority. In verse 12, there is another promise that says if we do these things, we will be “edified by the rock of Christ.” The scripture Helaman 5:12 came right to my mind, which holds the promise that if we are “edified by the rock of Christ, we will never fall.” If we partake of the sacrament worthily by the proper authority every week, we have that same promise, that whatever happens we will never fall!

Sometimes we take for granted the importance of strengthening our faith. As I was pondering this topic, Ether 12:4 came to my mind-

 4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.”

As we work to build our faith, we will have a greater hope, and that hope will make an anchor, which will change our lives, because we will be steadfast in all that we do, doing all that we can do to do what the Lord asks of us, and have a bright hope for the future, even Eternal Life! Faith is the motivation to change, leads us to act, and helps us to overcome our challenges in weaknesses! If everyone could know that, I feel like everyone would go to church! 

Verse 14 says:

“14 Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.” We can bring to pass great miracles in our lives and the lives of others as we strive to strengthen our faith, and it is something that can only be done as we strive to live the commandments of the Lord!

Verse 27 (One of my favorites):

“27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” The key in this is humility and the phrase “have faith in me”. Then we can make weaknesses become strengths, and all of this started because of the little sacrifices we make to come closer to the Lord, and keep His commandments!

I know that this church is true, that Jesus Christ is my Savior, and everything has already been provided for me! I know that as we strive to increase our faith and be more obedient, and truly come to understand the “why”, we will see our lives change, and the lives of those around us as well! I hope we all can understand a little bit Heavenly Father´s love for us, and what He wants for us. If we can understand that, we will realize that everything that happens is for our good, and that we will have His divine help in the process!

I love you all! Happy Valentine´s day!!! Have a great week!

Elder Yeoman
Two Carolina Boys in Argentina! 
Elder Asper, Elder Stafford and Elder Lyon
Elder Mella going home! I'm going to miss that guy!!


Monday, February 6, 2017

Transfers

Hello all!!

I hope everyone had a great week! We had a great week here in the offices! This week is transfer week but I am staying at least another transfer here, from what I know... but I mean anything could happen!  We were pretty swamped with office work the past couple of days.Really, all last week to get ready for transfers and President asked me to do a project for him, so we did not work as much as usual in the area, but we are still doing well out in the field as well!
The Palacios family is doing well! Susana was all set to go to church this Sunday but at the last second she had to be rushed to the hospital, and her daughter had to take her so she was unable to attend church! However, 3 of her kids did make it to church so we were still excited about that! We had a couple really powerful lessons with them this past week and they are very excited to keep repenting and coming closer to Christ!
We have a whole lot of things to do today to get ready for transfers tomorrow so I don't have much more time. Sorry that this was kind of a lame email but I promise everyone a better one next week!
Just remember how much Heavenly Father knows you and is aware of you, and always keep that in mind as trials and hardships come, that it is always for your progression!!
I know Christ lives and loves you all and has provided all we need! I love you all! Have an awesome week!!

Elder Yeoman
Office Elders having lunch with The Andersons