I am now in El Triangulo (The triangle)

So, this week was fun. We did a lot of things in preparation for a talent show we held on Friday. But before I talk about that... you should all know that I got transferred again. I’m no longer in Villa Zula. I am now in El Triangulo (The triangle). I’m really excited about this transfer, but terribly scared. The President kept me as junior companion... so I guess I don’t have to be District Leader anymore. And I know I will learn a lot this transfer because my companion is about to finish the mission. This is his last transfer and he is Zone Leader... so I’m sure I’ll learn a lot with him. His name is Elder Chatwin. I don’t have a picture of him because my camera is still packed up. But he was in The RM... so if you want to see what he looked like like 5 years ago... watch the movie. He is one of the twin brothers of the main character. The twin of my companion is in the Buenos Aires North mission. He is really cool. He was in my first zone. So I already know him a bit. The truth is that I’m super excited. I hear that our area is all villa... or ghetto. So we will be teaching humble people. That is a cool idea for me. No more city-ish areas. I’ll probably finish my mission here in this area.

In other news... I am changing my e-mail. The rules in the mission have changed. I can no longer use gmail. So please e-mail me at thomas.steinkuhler@myldsmail.net from now on. I’m not sure if that is the real address. So just to be safe, e-mail me at both from now on... please.

This last week we had a lot of success. We taught a lot with the members and took out a wonderful fecha. It feels so good leaving an area in good conditions. And the talent show we did was a blast. It was like going out with a bang. I did some magic and my companion read minds. We were the magicians. Others sang, some danced or drew. The truth is that I really enjoyed it. The saddest part about the week was saying goodbye to everyone again. But it was good because I said goodbye once and could see them again... perhaps God will grant me another chance.

I’m doing fantastic and will send more information next week. But right now I need to go and find my new pinch. Sorry this is a short one again.

Love you all,
Elder Steinkuhler

PS I’ve visited my new pinch before... it is HUGE!!!! :)

amazingly I don’t have anything to say

Well, this week was basically lame. It was a great experience, but no good stories. I don't want you all to get me wrong. Because I am not bummed at all, I just had a weird week. You see, we are trying to become a ward... and not just a branch. But there are so few members that we need everything to be exact. There needs to be so many Melchizedek (FYI that word is known by the spell checker) Priesthood holders for every member. It is complicated... but here is the deal: It just so happens that I know almost all the members here because I was here for so long. So the Branch, Stake and Mission Presidents asked me to go by every member on the list within the week. We had Stake Conference last week, and they needed to know who was still within the ward boundaries before the conference. So my companion and I went around like crazy men trying to contact every member and teach them a short little message. It was CRAZINESS!!! It was also hilarious seeing people again and them looking at me dumbfounded-ly and asking, "Your still here?" It was fun, but a lot of walking and little teaching. We worked really hard, even though we were (past-tense) both sick and through with the rain. I’m proud of what we did this week, but it is little to report on.

Anyway, amazingly I don’t have anything to say about this week. I’m happy to be a missionary and I’m working hard. I am reading like crazy in the Book of Mormon. I decided to just read as fast as possible. I’ve read from Alma 20 to 3 Nephi 8 this week and I love it so much. We also did some great invitations to a FHE we will be having this week with the ward. We will be doing a talent show and my companion got into the invitations a little too much. They look good though. I can’t really think of anything else to say. Sorry... this is a super short/lame update for you all. But, um... I’m good. ☺ :)

I hope everyone at home is doing good too. Oh, this is like a good time for you all to e-mail me about things you want from Argentina before I come home. I need to go looking for things, so tell me what you want and I’ll see what I can do.

I love you all,
Tommy

PS I’m happy. I’d like to sing you all a song: "I feel pretty, I feel witty, I feel gay!!!" I’m in a good mood.

we didn’t break any rules

I’ve got like 0 time today. We went to an island as a zone and we just got home. We all got on the boat and then realized that the schedule said that he wouldn’t be returning until 4 hours later. So... we had a lot of time to play soccer and Frisbee on the beach... and have a picnic. It was GREAT!!! But, our p-day time has been sucked away. It was super fun running around without shoes on and getting our feet wet on the walk in. Don’t worry... we didn’t break any rules. It was our zone activity... so we had a great attendance and time. I might have burnt my legs because they NEVER get sun... but I’m kind of happy about that.


We baptized this week!!!! His name is Aureliano Sànchez. He is a wonderful old man of 75. He is the youngest 75 year old man I’ve seen. He reminds me a lot of Patrick Stewart. He looks old, but acts young. He jumps from buses and runs after motorcycles to get on. He is really cool. His baptism was amazing too. We had dirty/cold water again (It is a Villa Zula thing), but he didn’t even notice. We were able to visit him with a member, so they became great friends. It worked out perfectly! So the member was able to baptize him. For all of you who served missions... you’ll understand that it is way better that way. Anyway... in his baptism... 6 of his 15 kids came. When he came out of the water he raised his hands into the air in praise and bowed his head in prayer. It reminded me a lot of the Alma father story... and Joseph Smith’s baptism. Then during the confirmation he raised his hands up and said "Yes" after we told him "receive the Holy Ghost". It was amazing see someone so close to God receive such amazing ordinances. Elder Villarroel and I found and taught him together. He loves us and the gospel... and his family has seen him change and his desires to do good. Saturday and Sunday were GREAT days.


I also went on intercamios with the Zone Leaders. I traveled really far to the Berisso apartment... a whole 5 blocks away. Our areas share the same church building. They are both branches and the Stake President wants to make them one ward. If that happens (this transfer) there is a high possibility that they will shut down Villa Zula as an area and make it one with Berisso... That might mean that next transfer I go to Berisso... and finish there. Our Zone Leader thinks that it will happen. If that does happen... I’ll have a total of about a year and a quarter in the same area. HAHA, how funny and wonderful would that be.

Anyway... I’m off... I don’t have much time... but know that I’m happy. I’m working hard and doubling the work that we’re doing here. The mission has a goal to double the baptisms... so we are doubling our work... and we have already doubled it this transfer... and are still going up. I’m excited to see so much success.

Love you all,
Tommy

PS I know some are asking.. I’m not trunky. I admit that I think of home often... but I am not stopping to breathe. My feet are killing me and my body hurts a lot. But my joy is full.

my brother from another mother

Lots to say, no time.

I have a picture or two to send, but the USB doesn't work here... I’ll send it next week. So, on Wednesday we had interviews with the president. I went with my paper informing me of my return day home. I placed all the needed information and told him I was certain... I wanted to extend. I knew it was something I had to do... so I did it. But as I did it, I felt this feeling like, it didn't matter. I don't know why. So I explained everything to the president and told him that if this one elder would not be able to extend with me, I wouldn't be able to extend. He said it was okay and that he would talk to that elder the next day. He signed my paper and everything. All I needed to do was send it in. I held onto it and thought I’ll just see what happens. Then I get a grand notice... Alex, my brother from another mother is getting married! And on the 7th of August! WHAT!!! My paper says I'm going home the 31st. Well, I pray and think about it again... and feel like I need to call this one elder. So I call him and ask him if it was all okay that we were going to stick around together the extra month. In a very sad shameful voice he says he can’t. Well, I’ve given in the towel. I won’t fight it anymore. I’m coming home like planned on the 2nd of August.

That said... I’ll return to my week, which was wonderful! The best part was the end of the week. Right before I left this area, I helped to reactivate a wonderful member by the name of Americo. He went inactive about 10 years ago. When we got to church, the branch president asked he and I to bless the sacrament. It had been 10 years since he had done it. It was a pleasure to break and bless the sacrament with him by my side. I would never have had that experience if I were to have stayed in my other area. I love this member and he has changed so much. He gave his testimony as well and it was amazing to look at who he was when I found him... to the worthy priesthood holder that he is now.

Another wonderful note. Someone in my last area will be getting baptized this week... well, married too. I won’t be able to go, but I’ll be here baptizing a wonderful old man that we’ve been teaching. He literally throws his arms in the air for excitement at some things we teach him. It reminds me of the Book of Mormon stories. He is about 80 and has more energy than I do. I love him to death.

We are teaching a lot of people who are just wonderful. I am growing in joy with them daily. Most of them were friends from long ago who have accepted the offer to learn more. One thing I love is that all the work I did here before, although it did not spit out baptisms... it was well worth the efforts. There are lots of people here ready for baptism, because of what we’ve brought to them. I love this work!

Quick explanation: that photo of us in the water is when it rained really hard here and we were on our way home walking in this river/street when we came upon this area of deep deep water. So we took a photo and carried on. It was fun. There was a lot of water that day.

Well, I love you all... take care this week,

E. Tommy Steinkuhler

PS Don’t forget to smile and have fun.

I felt like I jumped into Mission Impossible

Elder Steinkuhler with his new companion Elder Villarroel

So, I have some bad news... well, kind of. I got emergency transferred out of my area. But before you all get excited and start thinking that I'm a bad elder... let me explain what happened.

On Monday I'm working with my companion to get our daily goals. It was raining and dark and we were in a rather obscure part of town. My phone rings and I pick it up. It said that the president was calling me... I didn't understand why, so I answered somewhat hesitantly, "Hola?" (If I had known what he was going to say... I might have reversed that salutation). I heard President Asay answer back, "Hello Elder Steinkuhler, are you in a secure location, can you talk?" I felt like I jumped into Mission Impossible. I replied, "Yes president. It is raining, I'm in the middle of the street and there is absolutely no one around... what do you need?" He continued to explain to me that an elder had broken his leg playing soccer that day. So he needed my help. There was a rather crazy mix up of everything. Here goes... An elder in Villa Zula had been doing some things that he shouldn't. So he got emergency transferred out 3 weeks ago and Elder Villarroel came in. Then a week later a new elder went in to replace his companion named Elder Pulgar. A week later the old companion of Elder Pulgar broke his leg... so Elder Pulgar had to go back to his old area... which left Elder Villarroel in Villa Zula alone with 2 weeks of experience in the area. So the president called me up and said, "Who knows Villa Zula better then Elder Steinkuhler?" So, I’M BACK!!!! I’m going on my 8th month here in Villa Zula.

Cool and just funny

We did planning like this one day... it has a long story... but I dont want to explain it all

It is weird being back in an old area. Everything is new... but different. The apartment is new and the area is still the same. But all the investigators have been left behind... without reason. So this week we have been going around activating all the old investigators who still wanted to hear about the gospel. It is weird! I can really see the changes that I’ve left with the people. A few members still have the goals we set together up on the wall. The strength of the members has doubled. Everyone was really really happy to see me again. It feels like coming home again... but not. The President said that I’m here to teach my companion the ropes of the area and then I’m out. Elder Villarroel is great, he already knows a lot. He is a stud! He has about 6 months in the mission and speaks really well. He is from Mendoza Argentina, so I'd hope he'd speak well. He is really into the work and excited to get things done. I’m excited to be with him. I’ll send you all more about him when I can... if I don't get emergency transferred out again. Elder Gubler and I got along great for a week... we were both really sad when we got the call. We were looking forward to working hard together for a time. But then he found out that one of the assistants was going to be his companion and he calmed down.

So, earthquakes... I’ve heard a lot about them. My companion Elder Villarroel lives near Chile and was worried about his family... but I believe they are fine. I also heard that California was falling into the sea again.... true or not? Here in La Plata everything is chill. I didn’t feel a thing, I didn’t even know it happened till Sunday when everyone was talking about it at church. As far as I heard, everyone in the mission is fine and didn’t feel a thing.

I don’t really have anything else to say. This computer is running slow... so I can’t send the audio file I made for you all. It'll have to wait for next week. We had some cool experiences this week... but most of them were experiences with people seeing me again and freaking out. I was really surprised at how many people remembered my name. The most spiritual encounters this week were with this family I found about 3 weeks before leaving... I loved them and found out that they got married and everything... then the elders dropped them??????? We taught a great lesson with them and the spirit was so strong. We taught about Christ's importance with us. I asked if they could feel the Spirit that was with us and the wife said, "You two are not going to make me cry, but yes." I loved it!!! I love seeing the changes in people. I love seeing people who were once sad be happy. I am terribly sad to have to leave the people I was teaching in Mayol. But I could talk with a few and it was hard leaving. After getting the call we RAN over to Adrean and Veronica to say goodbye. It was SO sad. I will miss them terribly. She gave me a drawing she did a long time ago of a father holding his son. On the back she wrote, "For Tomy (she can't say my last name), thank you so much for teaching us what the family really means and how to have true love within our home. You arrived at just the right time, and we will never forget what you've done to help us". I look forward to seeing their progress.

Well, I’m off. I love you all and hope to hear from you all soon... If anyone wants something... like a letter or what have you. Let me know.

Take care,

Elder Tomy Steinkuhler

PS Villa Zula says hi