Chos Malal

 

In the upper part of the providence of Neuquén there is a small city by the name of Chos Malal.  Because of the increase of missionaries in the mission we have been able to have missionaries in Chos Malal for the first time.  For the past six months the missionaries have worked hard to find long lost members that had lost contact with the church.

 

There were fewer than twelve people....six of whom were missionaries...in the first Sacrament Meeting that was held on January 26th 2014.   

 

 

 

Having their first baptisms in the river is something they will all remember!

 

 

 

 

Several months ago President Lovell and I and the assistants travelled to Chos Malal to attend Sunday meetings.  It is over 5 hours away from Neuquén so we enjoyed this beautiful scene as we traveled!

 

I took a few photos of the city to share!

 

Here we are at the church.  It is a rented two room building.  This is the new Group Leader.  Up until now the missionaries had been the leaders of the Group.

 

 

This is where they hold Priesthood Meeting and then they hold sacrament meeting here after that.

 

In the second room of the building they hold Relief Society.

It wasn't long before the members, missionaries and investigators started to arrive.

 

They hold Relief Society and Priesthood Meeting first.

 

Then they all meet in the big room for Sacrament Meeting.

This is the group that attended Sacrament Meeting that day!  Usually there is an average attendance of about 28 to 30 people. They are well on their way to becoming an established branch of the church.  There has been a number of priesthood ordinations that have helped the group receive the leadership that it needs to continue forward.  At this time there were  two High Priests, two Priests, one Teacher and one Deacon in the group.

 

The missionaries that were serving there along with the Assistants.

 

 

 

When the church was first established in Chos Malal the missionaries were blessed to find a family of members that had been isolated from the church for seven long years. 

 

The husband, who is not a member, instantly invited the missionaries into their home and offered the back building to hold activities and meeting.  This is where the Sunday services were held for the 1st twelve weeks of time in this beautiful city. 

 

 

Even now they all often meet here and do a "pot luck" lunch after church.  There are some members that travel for two hours to come to church. This "pot luck" lunch gives everyone a place to eat and gives everyone the opportunity to get to know each other better.

 

On the day we visited they roasted a goat in this oven.  It was very interesting!

 

One of the Assistants shared a thought.

 

They took me inside their home and showed me where the youth were hanging out!

 

Now...just this last week the missionaries serving in that area came to this same room to watch General Conference for the Saturday Sessions!

 

Then on Sunday they all met out back of the home with some of the members to enjoy the Sunday Sessions of General Conference.  This family has been a great blessing to the saints and the missionaries in Chos Melal.

These are the missionaries that are serving in Chos Malal today! 

 

There are even more miracles to come!