God put me here on Earth to do service

I remember what shopping bags means...

I went on intercambios (or companion exchanges) last week and I tried to show forth the best example possible. Well, I have this thing, I’ve always wanted to help someone carry their grocery bags because in missionary pictures they are always doing that for service. The people here try to run away from you if you offer because they think you are going to rob them. Well, I saw a lady struggling with her bags and I stopped to help her while on intercambios. The part of town we were in was rather nice and fairly friendly. She looked up at me and I smiled at her. It was great to see her old wrinkly face crack into a smile and said she would love help. I grabbed her bags (quite too much for her) and we walked some 5ish blocks to her house. We chatted about things as we walked and eventually talked about the gospel and how she knew we wouldn't rob her because we are missionaries. She loved our little stroll and accepted a return visit the next day. It felt so good to see once again how the pure love of Christ gets to the heart of people a lot faster than a word of testimony. I learned long ago that I God put me here on Earth to do service. That is why I was blessed with a big body and lots of free time. It feels so good doing service. This week we also did service. We saw a young girl carrying 4X4 beams into her yard with difficulty, so I stooped down and started helping. I think she only accepted because she could see that I couldn't run far with her wood and therefore had nothing to worry about. By the end she was a good friend of ours.

This is a little thing for my father: We did a zone learning activity this week where we got together with the Stake Family History Specialist. She taught us a little bit about the services available here so that we can invite people to come in. It was good, but she got mad at me because I told her that my father is a specialist and that I knew little to nothing about it. So I guess I’ll be learning something more when I get home.

The other day while on intercambios again (we do a lot of intercambios) we contacted a wonderful lady. We were looking for this guy and he wasn't where he was supposed to be (on the top floor). So we went down a story and he wasn't there either, and then down another... and still nothing. So I asked some neighbors and this wonderful lady answered the door. It was hilarious because I was looking at the handle and as the door opened the first thing I saw was a huge cross and as I followed the necklace up it got lost in a nuns hood. I chocked back a laugh at doing a contact with a nun and started talking about The Plan of Salvation. It was a good chat and we set up an appointment to come back and teach her and her family more. I was really shocked. But then again, we do share the truth and the spirit can touch any heart. I won’t be there to go back, but I’ll try to figure out what happens and let you know. She was really wonderful though and interested.

Funny side note about the intercambios... I did one this week with Elder Mortenson, one of the elders I trained. He is doing really well. We had a really successful day and I loved to see how much he has changed in the past 6 months. He has really grown up.

We baptized again this week. It was a really lovely baptism. It was a bright sunny day with lots of people who came. The father is a member and was able to baptize his kids. It was really one of those "How perfect" kind of moments. I’ll try to send pictures soon.

One of our recent converts, Oscar, he has taken up this saying. We keep on teaching him new things about the Gospel and he says, "Ah, mirà... que lindo"... or in English, "How wow, look at that... how lovely". He really loves the Gospel and everything it brings. He can’t stop learning and doing things in the church. Hopefully his son and daughter-in-law will get baptized this next month if everything goes well with the marriage and everything. They are such a wonderful family and wonderful people.

One last note: Our zone is number one in the mission and has been for two weeks straight. That probably doesn't sound that cool to any of you, but it does to me because I know the history of the mission. We are in the zone of Adroguè... which has the office elders and assistants. They can’t work all day because they need to be in the offices until 6 at night... sometimes later. So Adroguè has never been the number one zone in the mission. NEVER! Until NOW!!!! I was so excited that I wanted to do something for the zone... because we are rated on an average of every area... which means that every area is working well and hard. Well, I was pondering upon it and what I could do... when I went to a shoe shop to get my shoes fixed. The man was very nice and started talking about all sorts of things (I think he was a little lonely). He off handed-ly commented that he had received two large bags of leather that he was not going to use. I asked to see them and he said sure... and that I could take whatever I wanted for FREE!!! So I rummaged through the bags and pulled out a large stack of hard forest green leather. He looked at me like I was crazy and I asked if I could take it... he said that he had no use for it and that I could take it and whatever else from the bag I wanted. So I brought it home and started cutting. I’ve learned many tricks from my parents and friends about making things with limited tools. So I cut out agenda covers and then cut holes in them with a metal pen tip so that we can bind them to our agendas. I made 42 tops (it took a lot of time... I didn't sleep much). But today I finished them off and gave them to the zone as birthday present from me because they are all working so well. They turned out really well. I like them a lot and the zone was ecstatic. I’ll try to send picture of that too.

Anyway I’m doing well and am really tired. I’ve got to get going to work now... I love you all.

Elder Steinkuhler

PS I don’t have plans for my birthday... I will be working I think. The truth is that I have no idea what will happen.

PPS The World Cup for Soccer starts this week... I pray that Argentina doesn’t loose and that the USA doesn’t win... because if those things happen we’ll be in trouble.