Zone Conference with the Roca and Villa Regina Zones

The Villa Regina Zone

 

 

The Roca Zone

 

Our daughter and Granddaughter were able to visit us and enjoyed visiting so many of the zone conferences.  Because they heard the messages so many times their Spanish really improved!  It really wouldn't take them to long to become proficient at speaking Spanish!  They were so great to just follow along with us!

 

Facturas are a tradition in the mission.  That is one of the things that the missionaries from other countries say they will miss after the mission!

 

 

We learn so much when we watch others teach.  It is easy to think of ways we can improve and be more effective teachers as we watch them.

 

Time to practice!

 

 

Hmmmmm....

 

We did the birthdays during the first part of lunch in this zone!  Happy Birthday!

 

The Zone leaders had everything arranged for lunch but Hermana Olga of course did the cooking!  She has a wonderful staff that helps her.  She actually does professional catering but does all of this for us because she loves us!  It is amazing that her staff is willing to give of their time also.  They make it a special occasion and we love it!

 

 

Christmas Packages

Christmas is coming!  We know that each of you are thinking of ways to make Christmas special for your missionary.   We ask that you think of creative ways other than to send a big package.

This is a photo of the Christmas packages we received last year….in May!!!!!   

The Area Presidency has asked us not to send large packages until further notified.

Here is the information that we have posted on the blog about packages: 

Las Cartas y Paquetes

Querida Familia del misionero,
Sabemos que a los misioneros les encanta recibir correos electrónicos, cartas y paquetes de casa. Nos damos cuenta de lo importante que es para los misioneros sentirse amados y recordados. Para ayudar a evitar problemas en este sentido, tenemos las siguientes recomendaciones para su consideración:
1. Poner "Dinero de regalo" en su tarjeta de crédito personal del misionero o tarjeta de débito. Esta es la forma más fácil y segura para darle a su misionero un regalo para la Navidad, su cumpleaños o cualquier otra ocasión. No se cobra gastos de envío, tarifa de aduanas y no hay riesgo como en los paquetes que se pierdan o lleguen tarde. Muchos misioneros nos han dicho cuánto les gusta que les den dinero para comprar un regalo para sí mismos, mientras que están aquí en la Argentina. Instamos enérgicamente a considerar esta opción segura, barata y cómoda, en lugar de enviar un paquete a su misionero.
2. Las cartas y los pequeños sobres acolchonados. Si envía cartas, tarjetas o pequeños sobres acolchonados para el misionero, lo mejor es enviarlo a la oficina de la misión a la dirección que se encuentra debajo. Normalmente se necesitan dos o tres semanas para cartas, tarjetas o pequeños sobres acolchonados para llegar a Argentina. Pueden pasar dos semanas adicionales que se entregarán a la zona de la misión que estén sirviendo. Las cartas y sobres acolchonados pequeños no suelen ser necesarios para ser examinados por la aduana.  Las cartas y pequeños paquetes o correo enviados a la oficina de la misión debe ser la siguiente dirección:
                   
                    Elder o Hermana (Nombre Completo del Misionero)
                    Misión Argentina Neuquén

                    Zapla N 24 – Casilla de Correo 321

                    8300 Neuquén

                    Neuquén Argentina

3. Grandes sobres acolchonados y otros paquetes. . Hemos recibido noticia del Presidencia del Área que por causa de cambios en las reglas de importación de Argentina, no deben enviar mas grandes sobres acolchonados y otros paquetes.  La mejor manera de dar regalos y otras cosas a misioneros es por su tarjeta personal de débito.   No podemos recibir mas paquetes que vienen afuera del país. 

Muchas gracias por considerar estas directrices. Por favor, comparta estas pautas con la familia y amigos que podrían estar enviando cartas o paquetes a su misionero.

Nos encantan sus misioneros y estamos muy agradecidos por el privilegio de trabajar con ellos.

Saluda con cariños, 

Presidente y Hermana Lovell

Argentina Neuquén Misión

 Letters and Packages

Dear Missionary Families,

We know that missionaries love to receive emails, letters and packages from home.  We realize how important it is for missionaries to feel loved and remembered.  To help avoid problems in this regard, we have the following recommendations for your consideration:

1.      Place “Gift Money” on your missionary´s personal credit or debit card.  This is the easiest and safest way to give your missionary a gift for Christmas, his or her birthday or any other occasion.  There is no postage charge, no customs fee and no risk of a package being lost or arriving late.  Many missionaries have told us how much they enjoy being given money to buy a gift for themselves while here in Argentina.  We strongly urge you to consider this safe, inexpensive and convenient option instead of mailing a package to your missionary. 

2.      Letters and Small Padded Envelopes.  If you send letters, cards or small padded envelopes to your missionary, it is best to send it to the mission office at the address below.  It normally requires two or three weeks for letters, cards or small padded envelopes to arrive in Argentina.  It may take an additional two weeks to be delivered to the missionary´s area of service.  Letters and small padded envelopes are not usually required to be screened through customs.  Please use this address to mail letters and small padded envelopes:

Elder or Sister Full Name of Missionary

             Misión Argentina Neuquén
             Zapla N 24 – Casilla de Correo 321
             8300 Neuquén
             Neuquén Argentina  

3.      Large Padded Envelopes and other Packages.  The Area Presidency has requested that parents, family and friends refrain from mailing large padded enverlopes and other packages at this time.  Argentina is experiencing issues with importation of non-domestic products.  As a result, the country has imposed very strict regulations regarding packages sent from outside of the country.  The best way to mail gifts or other momentos is by using personal debit cards and placing the money in these accounts.  Please do not send large padded envelopes and other packages until further notice. 

Thank you so much for considering these guidelines.  Please share these guidelines with family and friends who might be sending letters or packages to your missionary.

We love your missionaries and are so grateful for the privilege of working with them.

Best personal regards,

President and Sister Paul R. Lovell
Argentina Neuquén Mission

 

Leadership Council

 

 

This is a council and we value the opinion of each member of the council

 

We had each read President Packer's talk from General Conference.  We were able to discuss and share our incites and feelings from reading the talk and we especially focused on the blessings of the atonement in our lives and in the lives of those we teach.  This will be the theme in the Zone Training Meetings and Zone Conferences.

 

There was time for practices

 

Learning to lead the music

 

Presentations from those in the office on how we can all work together better

 

And of course...Food!

 

 

 

Missionaries leaving from our Stakes, Wards, Branches and Groups

There are many wonderful things about being able to serve a mission but today was especially wonderful! We had the privilege of having an Elder from Trevelin, a small branch in the mission, stay with us for the weekend as he was getting ready to leave for his mission. He is the only member of the church in his family. President Lovell was able to set him apart because he is from a branch in a district of the  mission. He has been a member for 16 months and has read the Book of Mormon 8 times! He has also read and studied Preach my Gospel, The Doctrine and Covenants, The New Testament and The Pearl of Great Price.  He has also worked to earn all of the money he will need for his mission. 

 

While he was with us here in Neuquén he was able to work part of a day with these wonderful missionaries.  We arranged to meet together at the baptism that night after their afternoon together. 

 

 

When we arrived we found that the Elders had arranged for our new Elder to speak at the baptism!  They were so great to do all they could to help him experience the mission! He loved it! 

 

 

We were able to arrange time for him to Skype with the Asbells who returned this last year after serving a mission in Trevelin and with the Sister Missionaries who each played such a big part in his conversion.

 

After all of his preparation is was now time to get on the airplane!

 

He had never left the small area he is from until he went to  Bariloche to receive his Patriarchal Blessing a few months ago.  He was excited for the adventure of it all!

 

As we were waiting for the time he would leave I asked him about the details of his conversion.  He gave me permission to share it with you. 

Last year he went to his landlord to pay his rent and the two Sister Missionaries were there to teach a lesson to his landlord.  He stayed and listened to them and after the lesson there was an appointment set for the missionaries to teach him the very next Sunday.  As they taught him he fell in love with the Book of Mormon.  These wonderful sister missionaries went by every week to read it with him.  I asked him what touched his heart in his conversion and he began to relate some of his favorite parts of the Book of Mormon in great detail.

 

  He was so excited to leave this morning for his mission in Peru.  We are so happy for him and for the Peru Lima Oeste Mission to receive such a wonderful missionary.

 

 

One of the goals we have as a mission is to encourage the wonderful youth here in the mission to serve a mission themselves. It is  a great blessing to be able to share the gospel and they come back with such strong testimonies.  They are a great blessing to the Branches and Wards here as they return home.

We have a group in Rincon de los Sauces that  just sent out their first missionary.  This group was established at the beginning of this year.  Her family was without the organization of the church for I believe…twelve years. They held church in their home each Sunday for those many years.   Now we have a group there with 6 missionaries serving in the city and her father is the group leader.  When I asked her Dad how they stayed faithful for so long he asked me to close my eyes tight. He then asked me if I could see any light.  When I said "No"  he asked me if I could remember the light.  I said I could.  He said that that is why they always taught their children the gospel because they could remember the light the gospel brings.  What faith and commitment!

 

 

There are other missionaries from the Wards and Stakes that are serving but these are the photos I have.  I just want you to know of the wonderful  missionaries that are serving the Lord from our mission and who will be such a great blessing as they return.