Valentines Asado with the Leaders of the Neuquén Stake

We had the most wonderful Valentines Evening with the Leaders of the Neuquén Stake.  Since it was Valentines Day we took pictures of each of the couples!  The missionaries and the Ward and Stake Leaders work so closely together.  It is nice to spend a little social time together once in a while!  These are wonderful leaders and it is a privilege to work together with them. 

 

 

We gave everyone a heart to write one of their favorite things about their spouse that they wouldn't mind sharing with all of us.

 

Then after we got situated at the table....

 

....everyone read what they loved about their spouse! 

 

The Elders took good care of us all evening. 

 

 

After the meal Elder and Sister Ehmke were able to line up the next two wards for the Capilla Abireta (The open chapel) evenings!  The support the priesthood leaders is so important for the success of this wonderful program.  The Ehmkes are working hard to make it available to as many wards as they can in the mission.

 

 

 

It was a wonderful evening of getting to know each other

 

 

The wonderful Priesthood Leaders of the Neuquén Stake

 

They are each blessed with supportive wives

 

 

 Behind the scenes..... 

 

Thank you Elders!

Youth Conference with the Neuquén Stake

 We were excited to be asked to attend part of the Youth Conference for the Neuquén Stake.  They stayed at a Camp Ground for three days and this was the last day.  It was only about 25 minutes from the mission home but it was in an area we had never been.

 

 

 

When we arrived they were in the middle of a service project.  They were cleaning the camp ground!

 

 

 

Everyone was so kind to us as we arrived.

 

I asked Debbie Carter, the Mission President's wife from the Buenos Aries West Mission for ideas on what she had done before for activities like this and she said that the most important thing was to take some missionaries with us!  That is exactly what we did!  The assistants came with us and they were wonderful with the youth of the stake.

 

We talked about how important it is to have the spirit with us in our lives and that one of the best ways to do that is to share the gospel.  We also talked about ways to talk to a friend about the church.  Sometimes we worry that we don't know enough about the gospel to be able to share it. 

 

We told them about a survey that was done in the church.

“....the Church did an extensive survey of new converts to determine what it was about the Church that had initially interested them...

These were the results, in order of frequency of mention:

1. The feeling of closeness to God that they wanted to experience because they could see this closeness in the lives of Mormons they knew.

2. Happiness and a sense of peace, which they wanted and which they saw in the lives of Mormons they knew.

3. They wanted a better sense of purposefulness and direction in their lives. They tended to see this in Mormons they knew.”
— The Power of Everyday Missionaries by Clayton M. Christensen

 

These are not hard things to talk about with others.  They can talk about these things!

The assistants were great to help them all practice how to share the gospel with a friend.

 

 

 

 

 

It was fun to talk to a few of them after the activity.

 

President Lovell had fun playing a little volleyball as we got ready to go!

 

Here are a few pictures from some of the other event of their youth conference.  It is wonderful that these kinds of wholesome experiences are available all over the world for the youth of the church!  Look at their faces and see their goodness!

 

 We went to the baptism later that night of two of the youth that were there.  What a special group of young people and leaders!