Letter Dated January 10, 2012

Dear Mom and Dad;

Well I'm sorry I didn't write yesterday.  You see, we didn't have any electricity.  It's kind of hard to write an email without electricity. So I am writing a bit to tell you whats been going on.

        1st. We had transfers and I got kicked out of  Quequen. 

        2nd. So I am actually writing you from a different place.

I'm  in a placed called Castex (I think the map will say Eduado Castex, and I don't know how to spell it.)  its in the Pampa.  Like and hour north of the big city Santa Rosa.  It's a small little town of like 10,000 people.  But it's a really nice city.

No I don't yet  know where my house is.  I'll try and  remember next time.

So I have a lot of pictures of Quequen to send home, unfortunately I don't have a lot of time to write you today.

My companion named is Elder Stutz from South Jordan, Utah.  He has 2 transfers.  And Elder Flamm (who was in my district in the MTC) trained him.  And I just replaced Elder Flamm here.  He doesn't speak much Spanish so should be fun.

These last pictures were things that happened just right after we found out I was leaving.  We started to say good bye to people and clean up the house and pack and such.

So yea, that's pretty much what happened Friday through Monday with transfers.

I was on a bus to get to Castex for like 16 hours.  Ugh.

Elder Arriaga has a new companion named Elder Retana from Costa Rica.

So in these pictures you got a bird we found.  Poor guy couldn't fly.  Then Maria Rosa and her Parents Estela and Florentino.

Then some calles.  Picture 6326; in the middle is the house of flia Marteinez.  They weren't home to    get a picture of them.

Then some streets.  Then the house of Flia Fernandez.  Some menos activos.  We never activated them, but someday they will go, ha ha.

These pictures you can see flia Fernandez and their kid, Marcos, in the wheelchair.  Good family.

Then I got some pictures of Quequen so you can see it a bit.

Oh and its boiling lava hot in the Pom pa.  Monday I just about died of heat, ha ha.

Ok, well this is the last that you will get this time.  Enjoy I'll write more next time.  

Love ya.

Elder Obray

 

 

Letter Dated January 2, 2012

Dear Mom and Dad;

Christmas present from the Mission President

Happy New Year!!  Hope you guys had a good one!  Sounds like you all started off pretty good.  I can't say new years was much for us.  We bought some food to eat, and a expensive (well like 3 dollars so not really) kind of pop.  And we went to bed at 10:30 like normal, ha ha, but the fireworks woke us up at 12:00 ha ha, someone close to us had really loud one, ha ha.

I hope my shoe pictures work ha ha, I glued my shoes so they will hold up for a while longer so I can't take anymore.

Yea, Elder Sullivan went home in....October I think, a long time ago, ha ha.

Winning first place in Volley Ball Tourament

Good to hear everyone in Utah is doing well.  Weird to think Scott and Holly are going to Graduate from High School! They are old now, ha ha.  If Scott goes to a full year of College I'll be able to see him before he goes. That will be nice for me.

OK, so this week we had a bit of success.

First off, well actually its a bit of bad news really, two of our investigators Estela and Floretino wont get married to get baptized for several more months. We were a bit disappointed, but they are fixing their house up a bit.  So they don't have enough money.  They don't have any really.

We found and taught a lady called Carmen, she didn't really care about our message, but the other day we went back to her house, and she wasn't home, but here son was, and we taught him a bit. Then his mom came home, ha ha and she wasn't too happy that he was talking to us, she wasn't rude, but she said that her husband was going to be home soon and he hates missionaries and kicked us out of the house ha ha. So we are going to pass by in a bit and see what happens.

We found two more Niko and Marialisa. We were knocking doors when the son Niko invited us in we started to teach him, when his mom Marialia came home.  Kinda the same as Carmen but nicer, she didn't like that her son was talking to us, but she didn't kick us out. The problem is this, she is Evangelical and active, the good is she is a new convert to their church.  We have a cita with them tonight, we will see how that goes.  I have a little fear that she will invite the preacher of her church....wont be the 1st time that has happened.  They just like to fight us.... o well.  I guess we will see.

Next we went and visited Alejandro (he is a kid we visited a few months ago, his mom name is Monica) He was really nice.  We dropped him cause he and his mom didn't have time for us, and he was to busy drinking and smoking marijuana.  So, we passed by and he said he was tired of these things and was willing to stop.  One thing at a time.  1st the Cigarettes.  So by the end of this week he promised to have stopped.  I think he will.  He knows they are bad for him.

Then we were just walking down the street and a kid of 16 years said a full sentence to me in English, which is really weird.  So I turned around and started to talk to him.  He is called Max, he like to learn English, pretty smart kid, and his friend Santiago.  We probably talked for 15 minutes and him and his friend are going to meet with us in the church (we can't go to there homes cause the parents are Catholic and Evangelist's and don't like us ha ha).  So we got their phone numbers and are going to call and remind them of the cita.  Hope it goes good.

Also this week a guy on a motorbike stopped and tried to rob us, he wasn't very good at it.  He first asked us for a few pesos to buy something.  We said no.  Then he said if we don't he will have to pat us down and rob us.  We actually didn't have anything.  So we told him we really don't have anything, Then he just drove off.....

We also ran into a Guy from the States.  Who served a mission in Cordoba, Argentina.  He was visiting his mission and some of his converts.  Really nice guy, he said he would take us to dinner, but he had to hurry to Mar Del Plata, so he gave us some money to buy something, ha ha.  He is from Texas, his name is Ed Shinedling and he has his own dental business called ¨Dental Implant Surgery Center.

It was fun to talk to him and his family.  He speaks really good Spanish still.

Anyway that's about all I got for you all this week.  Enjoy your week and start the new year good! ha ha.

Love ya

Elder Obray

Letter Dated December 26, 2011

Dear Mom and Dad;

QueQuen

Well it was good to talk to you guys for a little while, the time goes by fast huh, ha ha.

So I sent all the pictures you guys haven't seen yet, I don't think I really take very many pictures, but o well.

So, yea,  just some random ones.  My companion with the paper....the paper is our fly swatter, its covered in dead flies.  It's pretty gross.

Then some pictures of us at Mar Del eating lunch with half the mission.  You  can see the President and his wife, and the Senior missionaries,  and the cook with the Asado.  We ate a lot of meat.  Then the futbal court we played on.

Some more pictures of the soccer place, then the place where we played basket ball and volleyball. Little kids where there when I took the picture but I was playing, not taking pictures, ha ha.  Oh and you can see Elder Vauterlaus from the MTC.  Then that night we had a talent show and a small dinner with treats, and a gift from the misson President for everyone. So you can see me and My companion and the other Mexican Elder Ocadiz  who came at the same time as Elder Arriaga.  Then Elder Parra, who lived in the same house as me for a time with the District Leader Elder Palma, ha ha. So ya that those ones.

We had a lot of fun.  In the morning, I played basketball since we couldn't play futbal yet, and sometimes they would pull me out of the basketball game to play with my volleyball team (I wasn't to happy about, I wasn't  angry either ha ha) I would rather play basketball then volleyball, but my volleyball team won...weird, ha ha, then we ate lunch, then we played soccer which was fun.  But of course crowed since lots wanted to play ha ha.

Alright, So we got a certificate cause we won the volleyball tourney.  We got for Christmas a picture of all the  missionaries in the mission :) yeaaa! cool huh. I have 3 copies, so I might send you one someday. Or you'll just have to wait, ha ha.  Who knows.

Then I took some pictures of my shoe I hope one of these works.

So we had a talent show for the navidad party. And some elders did some funny stuff. One group did a Apply what we learn in the mission to the life after the mission. It was pretttttty funny, ha ha.  I have a video, but I cant send it. So you ll see it sometime, its good. 

At church Sunday almost nobody went, ha ha.  We had like 30, so some people went, but we were defiantly lacking a ton.  But that's Argentina. For Christmas, its more like 24th in the night that they do everything.  They stay up till 1200 or or 200 in the morning.  So it was a challenge to get up on time.  And everything is closed, ha ha. Everything.

I'm not sure I'll have time to send more this computer is terrible.  Sorry I didn't really write a ton. I'll give you guys a good update on people next week I think, ha ha.

Oh and I would like it if you could tell me if David Titus is going to come to my mission still.

Thanks.

Love ya, it was good to talk to you.

Elder Obray

 

Letter Dated December 19, 2011

Dear Mom and Dad;

I must say that we have lots more food choices in the states. Which is good. The food here is good.  But ya have to know how to cook.  Soooo small problem for us. We are learning bit by bit. I might be able to cook a bit when I get home.  Not a ton.  But a little.

Mike's Companion, Elder Arriaga

Ok, so the phone calls or skype is going to happen on the 24th, my companion at 5 and me 6:30ish.   Obviously there could be a variable, cause it depends on when my companion finishes. But I would say 6:30 in Argentina time, sooo, like 2:30 in the states? Ha ha, bit early, but o well. And I will try to do skype 1st, but if I can't, cause the Internet where we are going to do it isn't very fast, and I have to find a web cam to borrow.  I will call home if skype doesn't work and hang up so you have my number, then you guys have to call me back so the Branch President doesn't end up paying.

If you have questions or something, I will check my email before I call or skype.  So we hope it works.

Yea I am pretty excited for super p-day.  I get to play some sports, visit with lots of other missionaries.  Should be fun.  We eat good too.  We leave Wednesday and come back Friday. Should be good.

Christmas on Sunday should be interesting, we only go for sacrament meeting.  Which for the Argentineans is weird, cause they celebrate in the night... ha ha.

This week was pretty interesting.

Argentine money

Saturday we had a branch Christmas activity.  So Friday and Saturday we spent the days inviting people, investigators and menos activos really.  And we had lots of people there. We had probably, 8 investigators and 6 menos activos.  So that was pretty good.

In the activity, they read the story about Jesus, and had a bunch of pictures to go with it made by the youth.  Then we sang some songs.  Then we ate lots of food and talked.  Went really well. The people really liked it.

Then at church most of the people at the activity didn't go.  But a few did, we had 4 investigators go to church so that was good.

We struggled to have lessons with peole this week, everyone is really busy right now getting Christmas ready and all.  And lots are traveling.

We had almost all our citas fall.  But we did do pretty good. This next week or so will be the same I think.

Gives a good idea on how big the cereal package are

I forgot to read what happened in the week to remind me before email.  The weeks get mixed up in my head sometimes.  I cant really think of what lessons we had with investigators.

We taught Flia Martinez twice, but then the kids went to visit there brother, so we haven't been able to pass by.  And she (the mom) wont go without Walter there to drag her, ha ha.

Anyway we should be talking this Saturday.

Until then.

Love
Elder Obray

Letter Dated December 12, 2011

Dear Mon and Dad;

Thanks for the email.  It's good to hear that things are going pretty well back home.  I was really glad to hear that Sam is leaving.  That's really exciting.  I'm sure he will do great.

Yea, so the whole eye infection stuff is pretty bad here, lots of people get them. Who knows why. But right now me and my companion are good health wise. Well minus that my companion has destroyed both his pairs of shoes.  I think we bought pretty good ones since he lost 2 pairs in 4 months...

Ah man, I almost ate all the peanut butter, I ate probably 6 PB and J sandwiches for lunch the other day, ha ha.  But its sooo good.

And about the Christmas calls....Hmmm.  One of us is going to call about 5 here and the other about 7 Argentina time.  So I don't think we will have a problem. You should send me information on how to call home.  I don't remember what numbers I have to press to call the States and Idaho ha ha.. I think we call the 24th as well.  But really I gotta ask someone. And I probably can skype if a member will let me use the computer.  But we haven't prepared anything as far as that goes.  If I call it will be the same as before where I will call you and hang up and you have to call back.

For Christmas I'm not sure what we are allowed to do....I guess we will see.  We cant go knock doors, ha ha.  I think the 22nd of Dec. we go to Mar Del Plata for the Super P-day.  I'm pretty excited to play some sports. Its been a while.

Alright so this week. In Argentina.  I gave the missionary lesson in District Meeting, which was weird, since I'm not district leader.  But apparently, President said that every once in a while another missionary should give the lesson.  So that was pretty cool.

We had a pretty decent amount of success this week. 5 investigators went to church.  Estela, She is the mom of a member, she has gone to church like 3 times now.  Just needs to get married.  2 little kids, Juan Cruz and his sister, they are in primary and well we can't actually baptize them because there parents wont commit to supporting and bringing them to church every Sunday. But they went this week without the parents. In order to baptize a young person into the church we have to be sure that they have an adult to at least bring them every week to church.  Just so the missionaries don't go out and baptize a bunch of kids who will go to church for 1 year and that's it.

Then another kid named Brian who is friends with an active member came.  Which was really good.  He is about 16 years old.  We taught him the 1st lesson in the church.  We taught the class for the young men that day, ha ha.  Which went pretty well..

Then Adrianna went of course.  Carlos didn't because he had work. We had two citas with them this last week, we talked a lot.  Finally Carlos read, and prayed. But he didn't really connect with the Book of Mormon very much.  But he said he was going to read more, I think he is really trying, so if he keeps it up he will get his answer.  This was pretty exciting for us.  I think there is a chance with him right now, he seems more open.

If you remember Walter, the kid who went to church last Sunday, they had a huge change this past week.  His Dad no longer lives in the house.  The mom was sick of him and kick him out (which wasn't a huge surprise since he was always drinking).  But still it was hard on the kids to lost their dad.  So they are going through the judge process.  So they had a big change.  But with all that happening Walter and his little sister Sophia went to a youth activity Friday. Which they loved.  We have a appointment tonight with the family.  So we will see how it all goes with them. They didn't go to church and we thought they all would go.  So I guess we will see what happened.

We also met a guy named Daniel Suarez who was baptized when he had 9 years (now 32) but he lost contact with the church cause he started to work.  We talked to him for a few minutes and he has some really good memories of the church.  We put a appointment for this week, so we are excited cause he asked us what time church was at.  That never happens, ha ha.  So we will see.

We talked to a guy named Hugo Blanco this week.  He is a menos activo.  And was married in the temple and everything.  But got mad at a member and never went to church.  I get frustrated with these people who know so much but don't go.

Oh yea those pictures where of a plate mashed potatoes.  MMMmmm good.  And then a pictures of my shoe ha ha.  One of my shoes is dying the other is fine. but you can see my finger sooo.... maybe they will send me some new ones.  But I'll use these till winter probably.

Then a picture of a dog.  Our dueno (duno umm....English...lady who owns our house? since we rent) anyway she took care of a dog, and it started to rain really hard.  So we let it stay inside a little bit of our house. Well because of that he thought we were best friends of course. So that night when we came back to our house, we opened the window, and look, the dog just sat on the  windowsill allllll night.  Seriously.  When we got up in the morning.  Still there.

We were looking for old investigators for a while this week to see if they changed there minds.  And we knocked one door, and 3 kids came out, a kid of 5 year, a kid of 10, and a girl of 13. We asked if the mom was home, the 10 year old said no.  BUT the 5 year old is a honest little kid, and with a grin on his face he said, "NO! Mom is home". But the 10 year old wasn't done yet.  Alright well shes sleeping. The little 5 year old says, "NO! look shes washing the dishes, she is right there."

At this point we were laughing. and the 13 year old girl went in to talk to the mom. Unfortunately the mom just sent the 13 year old out to say she didn't want to talk right now.  But still.  At least we found an honest 5 year old.

We were pretty satisfied with the lessons we had this week. If things continue we hope to have a few baptisms (that would be nice, its been a while).

Anyway, enjoy your week, its almost Christmas.

Love ya,

Elder Obray

Letter Dated December 5, 2011

Dear Mom and Dad;

Well sounds like you all had a good week. That's always good, ha ha.

We had an interesting week this week.  My companion had a pretty good little infection in his eye this week, the pictures I sent home are of the eye, I think you can see it pretty good.  But anyway, we had to go see a doctor and everything.  Couldn't leave our house for a couple of days this week.  So that was pretty boring.  There is NOTHING to do in the house really.... So we were stuck Thursday through Saturday in our house.  So our work was cut pretty short this week.

But we still had 3 investigators go to church.  So that's good.  The parents of a menos activo Maria Rosa went and a kid named Walter who's dad is a menos activo and him and the rest aren't members.  So we are working with them.

We taught some people who are from Paraguay this week.  We found them looking for a kid we taught one day.   Its weird cause they speak Guarani (weird language ) and Spanish.  One of them was actually a member and got baptized a few years ago but hasn't gone to church in a while, but she really likes to go, the problems is, they are traveling to Paraguay for the holidays...so we wont see them for a while.

Oh and I got my hand on some peanut butter this week. So I ate a bit of PB and J.  That was good.  Mmmmmm.

Elder and Hermana Fee (a senior couple) came and talked to us on Tuesday about cleaning the list of members.  Since they are huge.  And many don't live here anymore.  So we have to clean them up good.  Its a lot of work to try and find these people.  But the records are important.

We also taught and took out a fecha with a couple called Carlos and Adrianna.  Adriana goes to church with her son who is baptized Jesus.  But Carlos no.  And they aren't married yet.  SO its a bit in the future.  But we had a really good lesson and the spirit was there.  So we will see where it goes.

Well we hope to do a bit more this week, ha ha.  I feel a bit bummed we didn't get to do more. Its hard to sit in the house all day, ha ha.  Especially cause the weathers good.

Anyway, I don't have much more to say.  My companion is just fine now,  so we are going to work good this week.

I don't think I've gained any weight.  We walk a ton.  But who knows someday I might.

One of the members found a movie about missionaries the other day.  It was weird cause it was in a public movies place on the same cd as 2 other movies.  And people where buying it ha ha. 

Well I hope its a good movie.  The member bought it.  So I guess we will know.
And that's really all I got.  Hope you all have a good week.

Love 
Elder Obray