Matt's email 8/31/2010

Sorry I never got the opportunity to write home yesterday, we had quite the day and didn´t plan for time at the internet, but the good thing about Argentina is that from 2 to 5 everyone sleeps, which makes for good make up time. Last week was pretty frustrating though. We had 2 people ready for the water. We had already taught every lesson, cleared up any doubts, and scheduled their baptismal interviews until it all fell apart. The first kid, a 13 year old boy named Gustavo, was first up on the baptismal schedule. We had been walking out to his house 2 to 3 times a week and teaching the kid since the beginning of the transfer. We always knew that it was going to be hard to get him to the font, but we set a date and followed with it. Anyways to make a long story short the zone leader showed up to his house to do the interview and Gustavo refused to pray in front of him. We all know that prayer is essential to salvation and is perhaps one of the most simple acts of faith that we can perform, but he just wouldn´t do it. The zone leader, Elder Ashby, basically told him if he didn´t pray, he wasn´t going to have the interview. So yeah baptismal candidate #1 fell. The other investigator, a 17 year old girl named Euginia has quite a different story. She comes from a part active family and has been hearing the missionaries since her siblings got baptized a few months ago. She never really paid attention but little by little we got her committed. She passed the interview with ease and seemed way stoked about her baptism, but when we went out to pick her up sunday morning her parents told me that she was sick and they were headed to the hospital to do some tests. I asked if she couldn´t come for just 2 hours and they rejected that idea pretty quick. After church we went back to the house to see if she needed a blessing, only to find her outside with her boyfriend just doing whatever it is the people down here do. It was super disappointing, but she says she will get baptized the 18 of September. We will see how that turns out. Anyway that´s how it goes when Satan gets the best of the people. Aside from those 2 disappointments we had a sweet outcome at church. Three people that we have never met showed up and loved church so we are visiting them this week. That´s about all that happened investigator wise this week. We still have our solid pool of people close to baptism, we just have to help them get there. It´s all part of the fight, what can I say?
Anyways on a better note, yesterday was just one of the most legit days on the mission. Elder Williams and I headed up to Mendoza to have a talk with president. He called us this week and said he wanted us to come up. It was awesome. We just sat outside the offices and talked about how to make it big in this life, and how much of a competition this life should be. We should be competing for everything that we have. President is too cool. It is awesome the way he knows each of the missionaries in his mission and schedules time out of his schedule to talk to them about the future. It was way awesome. After finding out how to become legit Elder Williams and I went to a bodega in the city of Maipu. This bodega was too sick. I know I wrote this in the last email, but we stick out so bad in this place. The two tallest people within a 50 mile radius, dressed in a shirt and tie, with a plaque, and me carrying a huge package that I just got from the offices. Just the most touristy looking tourists to ever step foot in the place going on a tour of the wine factory. It was really cool to learn how the wine was made though and learning more about the Mendoza wine industry. That is about the only thing this place is famous for. The most ridiculous part happened at the end when everyone started their free wine tasting experience. Elder Williams and I were just posted up taking pictures of the winery and everyone on the tour came up and started asking to take pictures with us. I felt like Mikey the Mouse at Disneyland. It was just ridiculous, but don´t worry we didn´t sample any of the free wine but we did feel pretty cool swirling it in the glass and smelling it like the fine wine coneisseurs that we are. However that word is spelled. But yeah it was really fun and people started asking us why we don´t drink wine and all that so it turned into a good experience. We got some good pictures with the people and everyone was happy and that´s what it is all about. I am finally starting to love the people here which is a blessing. It has been a process adjusting, but I feel like I am getting it. Sorry my letters aren´t very cool but it is what it is. I love the mission. It is the best experience I have ever had. The most reassuring thing is knowing that the Lord is always on my side when I do what he asks. I love you all. Have a great week. Thanks for the garments. That made my day. Keep the faith. Pray always. Do work.
Love
Elder Burr