from Daniel

Well I definately have got to say that we had an awesome week in Salto Colonia 18! Elder De Hoyos and I are tearin it up real good out here! Its interesting because we have started a new study schedule as part of the new missionary training program which requires an extra hour and a half of studies. It also requires that we study our 4 hours of study every day even if we have things going on in the morning like church, weekly planning, or district meeting. So almost 4 days a week we dont start working until 5 or later. But Sin embargo, we are being blessed with some great investigators, and lots of help from the members!

On Wednesday poor Elder de Hoyos had to do his first splits with the brethren in the ward. I remember the first time I went on splits my first couple weeks in the mission and I had no idea how to speak spanish, and even worse, not being able to talk to your companion. He said he just followed the hermano and his moto on his bike and then when they got there he just looked at the hermano like ok....talk! hahaha....Im sure it was great. Our side of the splits were AWESOME! Weve been trying to get through to Daniela`s husband. He has been hiding from us and stuff. He`s kind of a motorcycle, buff, cool guy that likes to joke around, but is super cool and chill and down to earth, kind guy. So I told Jorge, the hermano to come in a polo and sunglasses or something. haha...it totally worked. He broke him down a little bit and he even accepted to come to church with him on Sunday. He ended up going hunting all weekend with some guys so that was a bummer...but...we`ll get through to him. 

We are also teaching Fabian (23) and Diana (17). Fabian is the young men`s presidents son and was baptized but I guess never confirmed. Diana is his pregnant girlfriend. Fabian has always wanted to go to church and stuff but I guess she was never too excited about it, but after a couple lunches with the Young Men´s President and his family, she has gotten a little more interested in the gospel. They want to get married and baptized!

We also have Claudia, she`s the one who`s husband beat her for listening to us. Well, Juan, the one who was just baptized a couple weeks ago is his neighbor and has been going over every day explaining to him about the pamphlets and the book of mormon and stuff. They went to Elementry School together. Claudia and Dolores were arch enemies because of some old rumors a while ago, but we had her read in For the Strength of Youth pamphlet about friendships and she decided to forgive Dolores and come to church with them. The crazy thing was "them" included Claudia`s husband!! 

Gerardo is doing awesome....He will be baptized on Saturday! 

We had a great week and my time is really short today but I know the church is true and love the work!

Love you guys!

I couldnt even think about what else you could send but....definately a big bag of skittles!!!!!

Tell grandma I love her and hope she gets better! 

Hey Family!

My time is very short today but let me tell ya. This week was absolutely ridiculously awesome! I picked up Elder De Hoyos from Montevideo on Friday...You`ll NEVER guess where he is from! its this little place a little north of Provo called Pleasant Grove haha...yeah he is American. He is the MAN. He is doing really well with Spanish even though he cant really talk that much..he is doing better than I did at first! He played tennis for BYU Hawaii! Isnt that awesome! President totally spoiles me everytime with my companions. I am super excited to work with him and we are already seing so many blessings and miracles!

 

Church yesterday was the crowning event to the week. Do you remember me telling you about Gerardo (25)? Well he is the one that came home and cought his wife (not married though) cheating on him with another guy. He came over to his parents house last Sunday and was just DESTROYED. He had 2 kids with her. I have never seen a human being so torn up and hurt. He looked like the life was taken out of him. But we gave him a priesthood blessing. His family is all sealed in the temple except for him, and they are all awesome. Missionaries have taught him lots but he hasnt had any support from his ex. So I think the Lord was kinda preparing a way for him. But he came to church yesterday and his mom asked us to give him another blessing with the branch president. His little brother, Gabino (21)  helped us. As soon as we put our hands on his head he just started weeping. Hard. Then Gabino started the blessing and he started weeping. The blessing was powerful, tender, and perfect, counseling him and blessing him to follow Christ, be baptized and join his eternal family. Well then I started crying and after the blessing we all just embraced. It was one of the most powerful moments on my mission. After Church we went over to his house and gave him a baptismal date for the 19th of November. He is super excited and the gospel is helping him ALOT.

 

Then we had Daniela. She`s the 21 year old who came to stake conference and met Elder Bradley Foster. She is the first investigator I have ever had that came to church with a skirt on and that wasnt the only thing that impressed the whole branch. She bore her testimony in testimony meeting as well. She didnt want at first but I told her the story about Quinn Mitchells simple AWESOME testimony that God loved him that one day. That must of really touched her. She asked me to walk up there with her...I just kinda stood up in the back..haha..but she left the pulpit after her awesome testimony and then SHE started bawling. I think she was either REALLY nervous or had a really special experience. Hopefully the 2nd...but an Hermana came over and hugged her and told her to come sit down with her. We need to start working with her husband so that she can get baptized. They arent married yet. But she is definately going to get baptized one day!

 

Well I wish I had more time but just know that we are gonna have an awesome next 3 months here in the coolest part of Uruguay! Well...weather wise...right now its not so cool...its getting SUPER HOT!! but its all good...

 

Love you all!

November 3, 2011

Hey! so your probably wondering why my email hasnt come yet...President Heaton has a meeting in Buenos Aires and so transfers were moved back 5 days to today! We woke up monday morning thinking it was Pday...we had nothing planned for the day, we were in basketball shorts and pjs...I was super excited to hear from the family and rest after a stressful week...We called our district leader about a question we had and he told us it wasnt pday and that we had transfers on Thursday...WHAT?!?!?! We were totally taken back especially because we had to postpone the baptism to this saturday for some smoking problems...so we decided..well...its most likely that Elder Olivares will be gone on Saturday...and hes gotta be here for the baptism. so we made a bunch of quick calls and moved it to Yesterday, Wednesday. They were baptized yesterday and it was an awesome service, and a really special last day for Elder Olivares.

I also got some good news from our zone leaders last night! I am going down to Montevideo with Elder Olivares tonight...TO PICK UP MY COMP!! I`ll be training for the next three months! Is that sick or what!? Ima be a Trainer! but I have no idea who he is until I meet him. It will definately be a new experience and I know it will be sweet. Im excited to see a bunch of old friends from my district in the MTC who I am sure will be going down to pick of their oritos as well.

So Juan and Dolores were married on the 28th. We all packed into a little tiny really old car and drove out to constitucion. I made pizza and we bought some drinks to eat at this really nice picnic area by a lake out in constitucion. It was an awesome day! Then the car wouldnt start...so the groom, and us two pushed it halfway to the courthouse. It started miraculously and we made it. The ceremony was WAY fast...only a couple minutes long. The judge had a cool Uruguay flag thing wrapped around his waist. He spoke like a hundred miles an hour and they kissed. We attacked them with a bunch of rice and ate the wedding cake. 

The baptism was great. I have a bunch of pictures to send but this junk computer here in downtown Salto just wont survive such a hard task. its a PC of course. We are in the mall at a cyber. But as Dolores bore her testimony after she just started bawling. She couldnt finish and was about to faint. She just finished with "Im just so much happier now that Im in the church" and sat down. It was really special and made all the sore legs and long viajes to their house and surprise food and wierd meat dinners all worth it. I just couldnt wipe the smile off my face yesterday. Juan was baptized by his older brother who was just baptized an married a week before I got here. Sweet huh!

Today we bought choripan (Chorizo & Pan) its a super unhealthy delicous sandwhich. and anyways, the guy at the little carrito asked me how he could find a Bible. I told him I was gonna be in Montevideo and that I could get him one from the distribution center. I am excited to deliver it to him! 

Man! Your letters sound just like Christophers and Jakes letters! You guys are really into the missionary work out there and thats so awesome! I know that the sisters must be so grateful for all your help! 

To answer your questions Dad, the nearest computer isnt too far...there is a little place in Colonia 18 (about a 2 mile bike ride) that has free computer service...its government owned and its to teach the students how to use computers better and do their homework on the computers. The guy there is was nice. Hes like "you guys dont have to just come mondays, you can come all the time if you want!" haha...the nearest groceries are about 10 minutes away. We usually dont have to buy too much food cuz the members and investigators and nieghbors here just stuff us with food. There is a swap meet but its only on sundays mornings. But there is still all kinds of shops and stuff downtown. We dont go downtown too much though. They kinda celebrate halloween here. They take it really seriously and a lot of families dont support it because its all about withcery and devil stuff. Some families were upset because the missionaries set up a halloween activity in the church. They thought it wasnt appropriate for a church activity. Its intersting the cultural differences huh? 

Well...It wont be too long till I write again on monday...but Ill tell you a little about my new companion and stuff. I love you all you family and friends lots and hope you have a great weekend! 

Love,
-- Elder Daniel Kellis
La Mision Montevideo Oeste
Enrique Martinez 1167
Montevideo Uruguay CP 11.800