Photos

Pictures from last pday when we went to a little zoo here in San Juan. Kind of pathetic but still fun haha!!

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Here it is!!!

  Well, i guess here it is. The last time writing home! Im not really even sure what I should feel like. Elder Hernandez asks me every day how I feel and every time I dont know how to answer. I feel like the only thing I can say is ´´a little bit of everything´´. I feel like im back home once again during the week before entering the MTC thinking to myself ´´how can I do this. Leave my home and the people I love?´´. But this time I feel like it´s a little more difficult since I dont know when or if I will be able to return one day. Of course there is excitement in there too. Excitement to see those that mean the world to me. And then throw in a little bit of the butterflies to go with it. And now you have it, there is Elder Wengert for you haha. But I know the Lord has everything planned out and knows what is best for me. 

   Im glad to see you all had a good week and were able to celebrate a bit for Tans birthday. Jordy im looking forward to watching some of your softball games. And Naes, we need to do some track workouts together to get me back into shape. I can walk hundreds of miles without any problems, but when it comes to running maybe ill make a mile (unless I have a Dogo chasing me from behind haha). 

   Well this was by far the best week we have had here in Retiro. Truly a week full of miracles. We got to meet a few times with Betty this week and work on slowly chipping away at her doubt of the Difunta Correa (I believe I told you last week, but she is a catholic saint here in Argentina). By our last visit we chipped enough of that doubt away that she understood the importance of baptism  and accepted a baptismal date for the 21st of March. She is now super excited for that day and is progessing well. We also got to work a lot with Hermana Ricardo and his son Eliam. In one of the lessons Hermano Ricardo said such a simple but powerful prayer that anybody could have felt the spirit there. It was truly incredible and led up to his son, Eliam, accepting a baptismal date for the also the 28 of this month. Then the last miracle happened yesterday. In my whole mission i have always had the goal to leave everyway one of my areas better than when i found it. In every aspect. So when I got here to Retiro I set a personal goal to work in such a manner that the total ward assistance will increase from about 75 to 100. We got to work teaching inactives, the members, and of course working with the investigators. After a little time that number began to slowly go up and now all that work has payed off when yesterday we had exactly 100 asistances. What a great feeling to complete with that goal.

  I want to thank all of you for everything you have done for me these past two years. The mission is not easy at all, but when somebody has the love and support that I have had, it is so much easier to keep working hard. My mission has been an incredible time of personal growth and learning and truly has become the North Star of my life. When one can learn to truly love others, even when they dont quite love you back, that is when the miracles begin. It is sad to see the mission coming to an end but the Lord blesses His servants and for this I know He has great things in store. I love you all so much and look forward to seeing you next week!! (keep an eye out for me on the TV monitor at the airport!!)

Elder Derek Wengert - W9 forever!!!

Misión Argentina Mendoza

´´Alcanzando lo más alto´´ 

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Photos!!

1. This is a tower that san juan is known for. Why? No idea haha!

2. Some gun that we found in a plaza here.

3. It finally has cooled down a bit here in San Juan, we even had to work one day with jackets on. So Awesome!!!!!!!!!

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  Well here we are, just one week closer. I cant believe it!! But im happy to hear that everything is going well with everybody!! Tan Man, happy birthday last week!!! Naes, keep working hard. That sounds like a fun trip you are working towards!! And Jordy, im looking forward to watching some of your softball games!! Oh Mom, Alcanzando lo más alto means ´´reaching the highest´´. Just so that you know! Dad, you can do whatever plans for my homecoming. I am fine with anything, just let me know next monday (since it will be my last time emailing) all the details about what is going to happen so i can let others know! 

  Well, this was another great week. First of all I had my final interview with President Goates last Wednesday. It was seriously incredible. I truly believe a huge part of your mission is who your mission president is and the impact he has on your life. We had a great talk for almost 2 hours, and he gave me counsil on just about anything from school up to the secrets of having a successful marriage. Very interesting. And then this week we got to meet with Betty. She is just the sweetest and the most loving old lady ever. Right in the middle of our lesson as we were teaching about the restauration, she just burst into tears because her dog is sick haha. But she absolutley loves the church and everything about it, except for the fact that we dont belive in the Virgen Mary and the Difunta Correa (other catholic saint here in Argentina. They have way too many haha). But she knows the church is true and she knows she will get baptised soon. She kept telling us ´´but elders, im catholic........for now´´ haha. Unfortunatly i wont be able to be here for when that time comes, but everything works out in the Lords time and in His way!! So she really is prepared, we just need to help get rid of those few doubts that she has. Enzo and Valeria love everything that we are teaching them and they are so happy to be able to teach these things to their son. But the only thing is that we cant get them to come to church. Well Valeria wants to come, but she doesnt want to come alone. Enzo says he is afraid of coming and feels embarrassed to come. So we are going to try something new this Sunday and cook them breakfast in their house for them so that they get up, and then afterwards we will all walk together to church!! So hopefully it all works out!! Lets go Enzo!! Well, other than that everything is going great here!! Sorry its a little short today. We been having some problems with the computers.

   But thank you all so much, have a great week, and I love you!!

Elder Wengert - W9

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More Photos

1. This is Hermano Ricardo Gallardo. He is seriously the funniest old man you will ever meet. And the other is us trying to imitate the face he always makes at us to make us laugh haha!

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Its Gameday!!!

   Wow, I dont even know where to start! Tan, im sorry about your wrist bud. But your right, its all for the love of the sport. Through my years of sports i got banged up quite a bit. Had to use quite a few braces, slings, a boot, who knows what else haha. But looking back it was worth every second of it. But you know, its a lot like the gospel of Jesus Christ. During this life we also get banged up quite a bit. Every day is gameday. We may get hurt a bit, but thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we have been given the healing process necessary to get back on the court/field. What a perfect plan the Lord has truly given to us! Jordy and Naes, it sounds like you are playing really well. And good luck ´with your first state game! Dad, thank you so much for your talk. Your talks have always been the best! And Mom, I cant believe you got to meet Albert (what is his real name haha?) and that he came to seminary. That really is incredible! Oh and for the place to eat at when i get back, im thinking mexican food haha. And I remember that with the older kids we always ate at Mecayos. But I am down for anything! Oh, and Congrats to Dallin Miller. He will tear it up there in Mexico!!

   Well this was another great week. Unfortunatly things are still a little tough with Dolores. We still havent been able to get in with her since the incident with her husband. We have passed by quite a few times and every time she has a different excuse. I believe she is afraid of what her husband will say or do. Thank you so much for the prayers in her behalf, and if you could, please keep them coming! But we had another great miracle happen yesterday. We arrived at the church and there inside was a member waiting for us. But she was waiting with one of her friends named Betty to introuce to us. Betty loved church and is now wanting to learn a little more. So this afternoon we have an appoitment set with her. We know she is very catholic, along with most of Argentina haha, but she is super nice and really wants to learn more. Hermano Ricardo is doing so great and has really seen the difference since he began to come to church again a month ago. We havent been able to teach his son Eliam yet, but we should be able to this week.

    Oh Mom, i forgot to tell you that last week i recieved the christmas package from your seminary class. Thank you so much! Well, im sorry but time is just about up. Its gameday, so i better get to work. I love you all so much and look forward to hearing from you next week!

Elder Wengert - W9

   

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Miracles Happen!!

    Hello from Retrio!! Arizona sounds beautiful right now. Some rain every now and then making it greener and starting to change to spring. My favorite time of the year!! In the mean time, we are still burning up here. But hey, its all good! Jordy and Naes, good luck this week with your first play off game. Go get um!! Naes, so you decided to do track! That is exciting and i know you will do great!! I cant get over that picture of Beau, she is adorable. No wonder those photographers wanted a picture of her!! Mom, way to look for those missionary opportunities. You are the best!! And Dad, thank you so much for all of your counsil and guidance. I have been a little worried about some those things, so thank you!

    Well, during this past week we had some ups and downs. To start out, on Tuesdsay we had to travel to Mendoza for a trainers meeting with President Goates. As we were boarding the bus I realized I didnt have my scriptures with me, but that i had left them in a little store we stopped at. Some we ran over there super fast but they werent there. I had lost my scriptures that i have used for my whole mission. 23 months full of personal growth and progression. I seriously was so sad about. The whole rest of the week I was praying and praying for help to find them. It came to the point that i recieved the impression that its not the scriptures itself that are important, but the teachings they contain. So taking that as the answer the Lord had for me, i got another triple from the offices and got to work studying. Honestly, it may have been the best week of studies i have had in my mission. There were so many little things calling out to me that i never realized before and my testimony took giant leaps. And then last night, our zone leaders called and gave me the great news that a member in the other stake found my scriptures in the middle of the road in San Juan Centro (the city part of San Juan). So later today I will be getting them back. To many people this may have been a coincidence, but to it is a true miracle. Evidence that Lord answers prayers, and He does it in many ways. I feel like He first answered my prayers with that impression to get to work and study. There was something special He wanted me to learn from that experience, and He lead me to find out. Then after, knowing how much my original scriptures meant to me, answered my prayers once again and help His child find what was lost. How amazing it is to know we have a loving Father in Heaven who listens to His children and is willing to guide them! 

   Last monday we had a great lesson with Dolores where she was so excited for her baptism. She told us ´´Elders, when I get baptized, I want to get baptized using a white dress and a white flower right here on my wrist´´. We answered back saying ´´I think we can handle that haha´´. But then on Friday we had another lesson with her. We were teaching the Word of Wisdom since she needs to quit smoking, and her husband entered the home. He got pretty angry that we were there and took Dolores outside behind the house and made her wash the clothes. We sat there waiting for her but after 15 minutes of waiting we left a note for her and decided to leave. Yesterday, she wasnt able to come to church either because of her husband. So we arent exaclty sure what is going to happen. But we know that the Lord has everything under control and that it will all work out in the end according to His will. But if you could keep Dolores in you prayers I would really appreciate it! We also havent been able to find Enzo or Valeria in the house for over a week. So things are still a little difficult here in Retiro, but Ricardo is doing great. He came to church again yesterday. And he now wants us to teach his son who isnt a member. So we will see what happens there. Well, thank you all so much for everything. I love you and hope you have a great week!!

Elder Wengert - W9

   

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