Venado Tuerto was founded by Eduardo "Casey" in 1847

Week 69, Las Delicias, Rosario, Argentina

Back in villa diego. That's a train station behind me.

Me contacting Ronald McDonald. haha
(I didn't have a Book of Mormon)

Elder Hixson - Springville Ut.

Elder Butler - Riverton, Ut.

Elder Donjuan (Florida), Me, Elder Haderlie, Elder Ferreyra (Argentina)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

I am thankful for everyone that has supported me while on my mission. Thanks so much for writing me and praying for me.

So, this week was full of ups and downs. We had some great times at our FHE and then unfortunately Cristina didn't get baptized. She needs more, time but its okay. 

Alrighty, so I'm getting transferred!!! I literally just found out!!! There were a few missionaries that just got here to Argentina, so I'll be training one of them! We're going to a city called Venado Tuerto that's pretty chill and calm. I'm super stoked and we're going to work like crazy there! I don't know if my new companion is american or latin, but whatever he is, he better have nice shoes because we're going to work and baptize!!! I'm Stoked. 

This week for my "spiritual part" I would say that God knows us and tests us. He does it to help us grow. We were kinda getting tired of doing the same thing over and over again because we've been together so long but God already knew. I feel like after lots of prayer, God answered our prayers! I'm super stoked to train and go into an area without knowing anything! It's going to be great! Patience, prayer, then perseverance. I know that the church is true and that God knows us personally and loves us personally too. We have the task to become like him. But He helps us. 

I love being a missionary!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JADE!

LOVE YOU!! 

Elder Hjelmstad 

(This is Elder Hjelmstad's Mom)
I just received this message from a family that our son was teaching... (We had to have our Son-in-law translate it for us :)

It says: hello dear joanne, today your son, our missionary, was transfered to another providence of our country. Unfortunately for us, we were not able to say goodbye to eachother, but I want you to know it was an honor and a blessing that he visited our house and passed many special times with us. I wanted to come back and tell you that you have an amazing son that we will never forget. God bless you and know that a family in Rosario Argentina learned to love you.

Week 68, Las Delicias, Rosario, Argentina

This is a porcelain figurine that a member made me.

The Scripture is from Doctrine and Covenants 18:15
"And if it so be that you should labor all your days crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"

HOLA FAMILIA!!

This week was great! First and foremost I’m staying here in Las Delicias for my 5th transfer! Elder Haderlie and I aren’t sick of each other yet,lol. We’ll be together for the holidays! We’ve now been together for 4 months. We’re working hard but need to baptize!!

Unfortunately, Cristina got sick on Saturday so she didn’t get baptized but no worries. This weekend it shall be. Cristina is so great. She talks a ton and always says stuff that makes you laugh but she never laughs! haha She’s a crack up. She watched the Restoration video and loved it. She understands everything so good! She loves the service part of the church and how we’re always helping people. She went to a Christian church before and said sometimes she felt like she was at a rock concert and not at church. She has a son, Maxi, that is also way cool. He’s studying to be a lawyer and washes cars on the weekends for money. He was raised good because he doesn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs, stuff that’s super common in Rosario for 20 year-olds. He should get baptized in December.

Last night we had a Family Home Evening with two families in the ward. We talked about the family and the role of the home. We used the Family: Proclamation to the World and I wanted to share a part with you guys that I love.

It says, "THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a Father and a Mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities." We talked about how we need to make an effort to progress as a family and focus on one of those many principles.

So, I’m going to go on a little tangent and say that I’m super excited to get married. Jackie asked if I was "Wedding Hungry" and I would say yes. haha I cant wait to find my eternal spouse and start a family! Some may think I’m crazy but hey, I already am.... I walk around in a different country, speaking in a different language and talk to people about God. haha So, appreciate your families, They are MOST IMPORTANT. Spend real time with them and get to know them better. Family Home Evening is an activity that you can do every Monday night. Ask my mom and she can tell you how to do it. IT’S THE BESTTTT!!!!

Oh yeah and I got a 2 week extension to my mission. I finish on August 13th. For some reason in 2013 we all get 2 weeks more. So put that on the calendar. haha

LOVE YOU TONSSSS

ELder Hjelmstad

Week 67, Las Delicias, Rosario, Argentina

Alrighty, this week was good! SUPER FAST! We had plans on every single day. From splits, training meetings, and a district meeting it was really interesting and different!

On Wednesday, we had the training meeting and learned from President and the Assistants. I learned how to plan better and more effective, (something that I’ve always wanted to improve on). A big part of missionary work is using your time wisely. I can’t believe how much time I wasted when I was home. hahaha So after the conference, we had splits with the assistants and I went with Elder F to his area. We taught some great investigators and I learned various things from him!

1) Make lessons spiritual experiences

2) Visit members and teach them according to their needs

3) Congratulate people for their faith.

I have so much to learn!!! Then we did splits again within our zone. Elder F came to my area and we had some good fun. :) He’s 25 and was into drugs and stuff but quit drugs and went on a mission! We went to one of the families that we’ve been teaching so he could share his conversion with them. It was so special. He shared how he had changed. From one day to another he stopped doing hard drugs, smoking cigarettes, and smoking marijuana. He never relapsed. Bro S really loved his conversion story and it got him excited to get rid of his bad habits so he can get baptized. 

On Saturday, we passed by Cristina and taught her. She read the whole gospel principles book!!! She’s crazy!! haha She understood everything from the creation to baptisms for the dead. She loves the Book of Mormon. Her son Maxi who’s 20 yrs old listened and admitted he is looking for something to fill the vacancy inside him. I know that the true and restored gospel of Jesus Christ fills that gap. She will get baptized this Sunday! We’re stoked!

Camila loves the church and was super excited to get baptized, so she called her mom that lives in another province and her mom said she can’t get baptized...pray please for her and that her Mom’s heart to soften :)

Also, we received a hand full of referrals from members, so were way excited about that! We have transfers next week so well see what happens... 

So, something that I learned this week was that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a way to live. Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end is a never-ending process. We do it every week. As we do these things, we begin to perfect ourselves. I love the End of the Book of Mormon in Moroni’s farewell when he says,

(Moroni 10:32) Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot."

Moroni 7:32 And by so doing, the Lord God prepareth the way that the residue of men may have faith in Christ, that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts, according to the power thereof; and after this manner bringeth to pass the Father, the covenants which he hath made unto the children of men.

33 And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me.

This life is a process and a test. We must ask ourselves every day if we have improved and become more like Christ. Are we more friendly than we were yesterday? Do we love more than we loved yesterday? Nephi invites us in…

2 Nephi 31:20 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

I love you all and hope we can all become like Christ, so that when He comes, we will be as He is. We will be pure, as he is pure.

Love you tons,

Elder Hjelmstad 

Week 66, Las Delicias, Rosario, Argentina

We played soccer this morning...

Alrighty...

So it’s starting to get hot!!!! Gunna be fun... not. :) 

This week was great! We had interviews with Pres. Giuliani and then had mission council on Thursday. I really learned a lot and am super excited for November. In the interviews President talked to us about Hot Air Balloons... He told us that just like a hot air balloon must take out its sand bags to fly, we must do the same. We cannot expect things to change if we don’t do anything different. He talked about how we need to elevate ourselves and think about what things we can leave behind and stop being good, and be excellent. I really took it in and decided that I need to suffer more. I need to sacrifice more and try even harder to help others around me. President told us that our number one responsibility is to TEACH. Teach the people doctrine and teach the missionaries how to be better missionaries. I love being a missionary!

This Sunday was great too! We had three investigators in church in which two of them went for the first time! Camila, is the grand-daughter of a part member family and loved the church. She has a baptismal date for the 16th. :) Then Guiliana also went, but is still scared to ask her dad if she can get baptized... it’s a work in progress. Then Cristina, a lady that we’ve taught for like three weeks went! We were so happy! She loved Relief Society and is excited for Enrichment! haha We’re doing good here in Las Delicias and hope to baptize here real soon.

I heard that some of you got your postcards! Sorry it took so long. We don’t have a postal office in our area. ugh

Alrighty. love you all tonssss!!!

Elder Hjelmstad