Transfers, goodbye Mendoza, hello again Chimbas!!!

Well it´s been a good week here in San Miguel. 

On Tuesday we had a zone conference so in the offices with President, and Hermana Avila and the assistants. President started out by talking about the new President Goates who will be coming in like at the end of June. He told us that there will be changes for sure, and that we need to take those changes with faith and without hesitation. I will really really miss President Avila, i´ve loved serving with him as my leader, I´m also excited for President Goates to arrive and bring things even more forward. President asked us what our purpose is as missionaries and we told him, and then he an elder what his second purpose is and after a few seconds came to the conclusion that there is no second purpose. We are called to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them recieve the Restored Gospel. Then he talked about an effective study and really preparing well for our investigators and after planning a lesson, asking "what does it lack?" and when we do that it gives room for the Spirit to tell us what else we need to teach or add. He compared it to a salad and how we can serve them a salad of plain lettuce but to make it a little better we could add some ranch, and a little better add some croutons and a little better add some bacon bits!!!!!! haha. yum.and so then he talked to us about following the spirit and really meditating things and finding out what God wants, and about having a goal to always follow those impressions that we feel. I loved it. One thing I notice with Pte Avila is that as he teaches ever few minutes he takes about five to ten seconds at least to just look at us or think and recieve guidance. It was an amazing conference. To end it there was a testimony meeting, Elder Blackman who was in the offices shared his testimony  and told us we need to use well our time on the mission because we never know what can happen. On monday, president had told him that he´ll have to go home to get the surgery he needs for his knees and then on Thursday he left. I also loved the testimonies  of Hna y Presidente Avila. I´d never seen them that emotional before. 

That night we went to the Palma family house to see how things were going. They shared with us that they are really enjoying going to church and he said for the first time in at least a year or so he really felt the spirit, which was in sunday school. There kids are also really enjoying it. They´re working on being more and more reverent. Then on thursday to friday we did an exchange and I went with elder Wyckoff who you guys met last week. It was really good. We went to meet with an investigator at his fruitstand and his friend was there too. He had been taught the plan of salvation with the little wooden pieces the day before and was able to explain to his friend each part after putting them in order. way cool. Elder Pereira and elder Chamorro were able to talk to the Gutierrez family and set up to take out their marriage liscence which we did this morning!!!!! So they will be able to get married the week of their 28th ´together´ anniversary, and then baptized that weekend. marriage the 18th and baptismal fecha the 21st of June. 

There were a few difficult days this week, but saturday was a great one! We started out by going to meet the cousin of a recently returned missionary in our ward, the cousin is way cool and way funny. His wife is actually a member but less active. They lived in the states for 13 years and got back less than two years ago so he speaks way good english. He´s gone to the church a few times and we set up to do a family night with them sometime this week but his work is way random so we´ll have to plan the night the night before. Then we went to lunch with pablo and dayana, but he wasn´t there so she made empanadas for us to take back to the pench, which were wayyyy good. As we were waiting for the bus, Pablo drove up in his car as he was driving from job to job and he took us back to the pench. I love that family. 

Then we went and taught Gonzalo the law of chastity. Having only gone to church for a short while like 6 years ago he didn´t really remember it and as we taught it we could see on his face that there would have to be a few changes in his life. We told him that he could pray to God to get the confirmation that these things truly do come from Him and it´s His will. He asked us how he would know and we told him how the spirit often feels. He said the closing prayer and then after words he looked at us and said he felt the good feeling. It may be hard but I have faith that he will do it. 

Then we went to see a brother who spoke last week in church and brought his nonmember ´friend´ that´s a girl. He had 5 minutes before having to go to work but she was there too and so we got to know them a little bit better and then shared a scripture. We´ll be back soon to share a lesson and set a return visit. Then we went to meet a brother, brother Pages, in the ward and his elderly mother in law who is also a member. We got to know them better and shared a message. (little did we know that the next day he was going to become bishop).

Then we went to look for a member who´s record we found in the directory and we taught lesson 1 to him and then he asked if we could give a blessing to his mom who´s having withdrawels because she´s stopped smoking. She was really catholic but wanted the blessing so we taught about the priesthood and then gave the blessing after which she did the little catholic hand signal. Carlos the son told us he would for sure be at church the next day and would try to take his mom as well. But on sunday they didn´t make it neither did gutierrez nor mateo nor gonzalo...... the stake president, a counselor, and like half of the high councel was there so the whole ward kind of figured that the amazing bishop of 7 years would probably not be bishop very much longer. And brother Pages was called to be the new bishop. The leaving bishop and the new bishop both shared their testimonies followed by their wives. Then the stake president spoke and first off said that the counselors in the bishopric were released but everybody else was not, and they were not supposed to just stop doing their callings until they were told what to do. 

On sunday night at like 11 we got the transfer call. Elder Wyckoff is staying and going to be senior comp with an elder from elder lafleurs group, Elder Child. Elder Chamorro is going to the offices to be the new pensionista, make sure all of the missionaries have everything they need including a place to live. He´ll do great! Then Elder Pereira is staying here which he´s completely ready for and Elder Peters is coming to be his new comp and the district leader here. And i´m going to be zone leading in the zone i started out in! Chimbas! Elder Blackman´s comp before i got here is up there and will be my companion. His name is elder garcia and he´s from Mexico and is the youngest zone leader with like 11 months or so. So that will be exciting. I definitely did want to stay another transfer here (this one is just 4 weeks) but I´m sure Chimbas will be great, and i´m excited. I know that I know a few elders in that zone and then there will be more to get to know. I´m excited to be back in Chimbas, since i left i was hoping to go back. The area Retiro is like the best ward in the mission and they baptize a lot, the people are humble and more receptive. And i already know a few members from that ward from exchanges i did with my first zone leaders here in Argentina.   

I love you all so much!!!!

Love, 

Elder Fullmer