Saturday, November 19, 2011

South American Remedy

¡Hola!

Well last Monday i woke up with a sty. I just love those!! (sarcasm). Anyway, Martín, a member from Paraguay gave me some advice on how to get rid of it quickly. He told me that in the morning when I go pee all i have to do is wet my finger with the pee and rub it on the sty. I figured I had nothing to lose so I tried it. Three days after i first got the sty, it was gone! (that is rather quick for my sties.) I am not sure if it was the pee or the medicine i was using. But something worked. haha!

The conversion story of Edwin is quite wonderful. Elder Ellis and I decided to start teaching English class soon after I arrived in Granollers. A few days before the first class, a man (Edwin) stopped us on the street to ask us if we were starting English classes soon. We happily informed him that yes we were starting that very week. Edwin came to class a half an hour late but stayed for the spiritual thought afterwards. Elder Ellis noted that Edwin seemed really interested during the spiritual thought. During the week between classes, we saw Edwin almost everyday in differing, random parts of the city. We took this as a sign that we needed to start teaching him. Thus, we decided to talk to him after the next class about learning the gospel. However, Edwin did not come to class. So we called him to tell him that we missed him in class. And, we ended up setting up a visit for the next week before English class. We were a little disappointed that we would have to wait a week to start teaching him. However much to our surprise, he called us the next morning (Sunday) to ask about church. This particular week was Stake Conference, but fortunately there was extra space for him in a members´ car. We invited him to come with us that very day to Stake Conference. And he accepted! And it so happened that the members who took Edwin are also from Venezuela. Thus, they instantly become friends with him. Later that night we visited with Edwin in the house of another member. Edwin accepted to be baptized in that first visit. And from that day he began progressing rapidly, accepting everything we taught him with ease. Three weeks after Stake Conference, Edwin was baptized by that same member who drove him there. After that first class Edwin never did come back to English class. But, from half hour of English, he found something so much greater, the restored gospel!

¡Hasta luego!

Love,
Elder Buchkovich

Baptismal Interviews

¡Hola!

Training is way more fun that I thought. I am learning so much from my new companion. Élder González is amazing! You can feel the Spirit quite strongly with him. He already teaches really well and always has wonderful insight during companionship study. At times I honestly feel like he is training me, not vice versa. He will be a great missionary. This week I am going to focus on helping him make more contacts. The ward already loves him, and with more contacts in the street we will have a flood of new investigators from members and our own efforts....all thanks to Élder González!!! Also with the new 12 week in field training program, we have 2 hours of companionship study instead of one. it is AMAZING.

On Saturday I gave my first two baptismal interviews. Our district leader had two baptims yesterday. However the zone leaders could not come up to perform the interviews. Thus President authorized me to do them. It was a new experience for me. I enjoyed this opportunity a lot.

Prayer never seems to fail me. On Thursday we had a visit with one of the families we have been teaching. I absolutely love teaching this family. They are wonderful (and Bolivian)! However sadly, they are progressing quite slowly. During the visit they weakly committed to attending church. And afterwards, we felt that sadly we would have to stop visiting this family as often. Thus for fast Sunday, I fasted specifically for them. And Saturday night before bed, I pleaded with Heavenly Father to help them come to church. The prayer was answered. The dad and two of the children came to church!

¡Hasta luego!

Love,
Elder Buchkovich

Halloween Baby

¡Hola!

I am so excited! One of the part member families we are working with (Greicy and Alberto) had a baby this week!!! The new baby was born yesterday evening on Halloween!!! How fun!!!! They are a great Bolivian family!

Well speaking of births.....there will be another birth in Granollers tomorrow....well in missionary jargon. Today is transfers. Sadly my dear friend and companion from north of the border, Elder Ellis, is leaving me after only one transfer. He is heading to Zaragoza to reopen an area with my other friend and former companion, Elder Plaskett! And I will be a "dad"!! Yep, I am going to train. I am super nervous and excited at the same time. I will pick up my "son" tomorrow in a new missionary conference. There is a pretty good chance that he will be a nativo. That would be even more exciting! I love Spaniards/south americans!

Whenever new elders enter the mission field there are always a ton of miracles. My new companion isn´t even here yet and the miracles are already starting. Last night a man stopped us on the street and asked us to help him. He took us to his piso and broke down crying. He girlfriend and daughter had just left him. He wants to change his life so that his family will come back, and he recognizes that God is the best way to do so. We have a visit set up with him for Wednesday. I have no doubt that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can help this man change is bad habits and be a loving husband (after he gets married) and father.

Well we are going to go visit Greicy in the hospital so that Elder Ellis can say goodbye. Have a great week!

¡Hasta luego!

Love,
Elder Buchkovich

Picture from Spain Barcelona Blog