3 December 2012-Almost FINISH LINE

Ok so this is probably the worst moment of my entire life because I am now going to finish my time as a full time servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. The joy, the happiness, the friendships. All of these things will be coming to an end next monday. I truly can't believe at how much I have grown as a leader and as a dedicated worker. 

I have learned how to be in charge of groups of large people, I have learned how to deal with those that are out of line and with those that are just done with life. This last week elder Viñas from the Seventy came to speak to us and it was great because I was able to give the spiritual thought and I loved being able to teach 130 missionaries in one room. Not only in a huge group but also in a foreign language. I am truly shocked at how 2 years has passed by and how much I was able to speak near-perfect in 2 weeks. I have seen so many miracles and have had so many in just 2 years. The fact it is coming to an end truly brings a very sad but hopeful feeling to my heart. 

I will leave behind the success and my Argentine family that I have been one of for 2 years and will be going back to being just a normal member of the church. The fame on the mission is great but it will be a hard time getting use to going back to a sick and perversed generation. I was able to give my testimony Sunday just yesterday and as I saw all my converts sitting in the sacrament meeting, I was able to see when they first heard us up to their confirmation as a member of the church. It was great because Saturday we had more baptisms and this Saturday we will be having more. Here in this area Villa Alem I was able to complete the family Rams that consists of Graciela the mom the daughter Guadalupe and the father Luis and the neighbor Jose. This last Sunday the other son who doesn't live in our area attended church as well and it was an incredible experience to see them and see how families can be blessed so much from the gospel. 

All I have learned, all I have felt centers on one thing and that is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He made all this possible and he suffered every single pain there is in the world not only for him but for each and every one of us. I know the power that has hit me came through repentance and the faith in him. There is no better moment in history than that. 

I cry when I hear of the apostles as Christ says"Come follow me and I shall make you Fishers of Men." then after Christ died they went back to fishing and were visited again by the ressurected Jesus. Peter jumped out of the boat and they went back to shore and Jesus asked "Peter do you love me?" peter responded"of course i do thou knowest" Jesus then asked another time and the 3rd time he states"Peter do you love me more than all of this?" "yes of course i love you more than all of this" I love the statement by Jefferey R. Holland in the MTC and my last general conference "Then Elder Darby GO AND FEED MY SHEEP!!!"  I took this statement to my heart and it has made all the difference. I love this work and there is no way i could ever abandon it. 

In my testimony sunday I was crying because I felt the power of this work to see the most difficult the most stubborn the most rich people throw it all away because I completed my purpose to invite them to come unto Christ by the gospel. They did and that is why I am more than proud of the 2 years I have served. I will see you all so soon and I know that you will all see the change in me. 

I know God lives and Jesus as well I have felt his presence and his spirit has warmed my soul in the most dificult times. I know that if we never look down and we keep the attitude and will always positive then the love of Christ will fill our lives and like it says in the Book Of Mormon the love of God is most desirable above all things.  I know that if we have it we will never need anything else. Love the one and only for one more week Elder Darby Signing off for the last time Hasta Ver(till we meet again)

26 November 2012

I will send the last email on the 3rd of december that way I will be in the thinking mode because right now I am in the focused zone because I have a lot of investigators that need to get baptized and if I don't focus, they will be gone. I always worry about the people I teach and to leave them with other elders. So this last weekend was a true accomplishment we completed a family!!!! All 4 of them got baptized meaning the Mom the Daughter the Father and the son!!!!! It was incredible. Tomorrow we are doing their first family home evening, then we have a bunch of dvds and stuff to give them so they can just rock this place when I leave. I have made sure that all my converts stay active and as of now they are all!!!!! I am so happy and blessed to see them all in the church on Sundays. Passing the sacrament, giving prayers and singing the hymns. Oh it just melts your heart when you see the change they have made. 

I remember with Elder Ipsen, I wanted to stop passing by this family we completed but he said one more time and look what came out of that.They all got baptized!!! Is that just a coincidence?  I tell you that in no way is it. So this week was pretty great we had a lot of success and had that baptism Saturday of the real GOLDBERG!!! He is taller than me yet I still only baptized him in one try. It was a classic because the members kept telling me that I needed help but I said"aww, I got it" and it worked out haha. 

I am very very sad to go home but yesterday I saw this family and we then had a lesson last night and as we were walking back, all the faces in the Darby family came to my mind and i just thought of how fun it will be to be together again and to able to see the DANESTER!!!! Plus Los Vaqueros Reservoir sent me an email today and the trout fishing is great!!! Plus the sacramento river is on fire so it made me happy to think that I am not going home to be sad and depressed but to an AWESOME FAMILY!!!! Friends, wards, and of course my girlfriend Danielle!!!! (I had to throw that in their for the bonus points) 

I am very excited, this wednesday Elder Viñas of the seventy is coming to talk to us so it should be just great to hear him. Then on the 5th of december we have a wedding of our 2 investigators that are gonna get married then baptized. Then we have about 3 more people who will get baptized so it isnt over yet!!!!! Not till i am denametagged!!!! The weather is perfect with an overcast and the work is just OUTSTANDING!!!! 

My comp. is for sure going home with me at the end of the transfer so I failed my mission to change his mind but a new elder is coming to our area today and it is Elder Reece who i just love so I know this will be great to be with the three of us as I "die off" haha. My comp and I are great friends though it is just that he hates it here and I know how he feels but I couldn't convince him to stay. 

I had a baptism interview to do of this lady that didn't want to get baptized this week because she is scared her family will abandon her and it was great because the elders said"elder darby we believe in you please help us." I gladly accepted and sure enough we talked for 30 minutes and she will get baptized this saturday and asked me to baptize her even though I don't know her but I told her to have one of the elders to baptize her. I just think it is funny though because she made a decision on faith and I was able to promise her so many blessings.  I shared the stories of my own family and it seemed to work. So that was a good acheivement for this last week. Lets see oh yeah plus this last week was a strange one because elder parraga!!!! I was his last comp. in salta and he is from buenos aires and he came to visit villa alem and sure enough we saw him when we had our district meeting and it was awesome because we were able to chat and he accompanied us to a few lessons and it felt great to teach with him again. So that was a fun experience to be able to see him before iI go home. He told me that since i killed him (ended his mission) he came back to kill me but he had no clue I was here and I had no clue he was coming. It has to be another one of those coincidences right? haha (sarcasm) But all is well, I  put up my christmas lights that Dad sent me last year and I wore my santa claus tie sunday so I am ready to be home for the best time of the year and real FOOD!!!! I haven't even seen anyone eat a turkey here and we tried to find one to cook but couldn't find one. Argentina you just have to love it haha. I love you all see you in a few weeks!!!! Love elder darby the 2nd

19 November 2012

I once heard the saying "THIS IS IT" By michael jackson.  Things are truly starting to feel real. I mean the way I speak spanish, the focus I have, the lessons I have learned and the changes I have made. Wow big change. 2 Years sound long to the world but for me it has gone by so fast. I can't believe the faith that I have gained to honestly feel like anything is possible. It all comes down to obedience. 

It was funny because last week I was talking to the other elders in my group and that were in the MTC with me and they all said"Darby, I thought you would be the most disobedient trouble maker" all 4 said that and one said "Darby, I knew you would change for the better" You could imagine that these words sound pretty harsh but as for me, I smiled and said "well Elders when you make a mistake you can always repent and will be forgiven" they looked at me shocked that I said this and then 1 said"elders I also thought I would be the same way!!!" It was fantastic but look at what has happened. I have to admit the one who has seen me change the most has to be Danielle because I wrote so many letters but I know you can all see what has happened. 

I have come to keep the rules and to reap the blessings. I have to say I had a dream last night and I saw myself starting the mission over again and I saw how I was and the desires I had then were so much different than now. I realize I am not perfect especially with my comp. now who has brought me down abit, but things are getting better. Just wait till you hear the story of him when I come home. It will shock you. 

So this week was pretty much a disaster and like I stated the other week, I thanked God for the hard time I had. The 2 baptisms both fell through and they didn't even go to church as well as most of the investigators. They all slept in yesterday but in every bad situation there is always something good right? There is a man who has to be the hardest person I have ever taught here and actually left me almost wordless a few times but this last week we found him...He is named Francisco and this man or should I say brother of mine is about 68 years old die hard catholic. He had a fall last week and fell in the bathroom almost cutting off his right hand.  As we sat down I said the first prayer and it was a prayer I hope to never forget. "Father please bring Francisco back so that we can be able to invite him to assist church" It felt weird as it left my mouth but sure enough 3 seconds later he came back. My eyes lit up and he sat down and looked different. We taught about the importance of obedience and promised many blessings to him. Then I asked "Francisco is there anything that would stop you from receiving these blessings?" he stated "no" I replied "what is the one reason that is stopping you from keeping all the comandments?" He said "I have my belief and you have yours, please stop" The spirit was strong as can be and I sat and stared into his eyes, not scared not worried but just happy. He finally said "elder Darby why do you want me to go to your church so bad?" Instead of answering I said "Francisco what is God telling you in this moment? Does he want you to go to his church or this church?" He said"yes he does"I said"then brother Francisco will you go to church this sunday?" he said nothing and we finally ended with a prayer. 

I kid you not that yesterday as I was sitting in the elders quorum listening to the class a sister from the ward said"elder there is a guy looking for you and sure enough it was him!!!! He made it to church sunday and after the class and sacrament meeting he said"Elder Darby it was worth every minute to come, I want to thank you and next sunday I will be back. Now he didn't say this out loud but rather with a defeated little mumble that i understood perfectly. This had to be the best and most rewarding moment because I knew in that moment that the sopirit of God testified through me and all I did was put myself in the right place and the right time. It was a truly incredible experince. 

One I will never forget. I want you all to know that we are just instruments here we are the latter day saints but we stay strong because we feel the spirit it does everything. I love it and it was a great experience. I love it here even though I am having a tough time, I still have the smile on my face and a positive attitude. I love you all with all my heart Love elder darby

12 November 2012

It doesn't seem real that my mission is coming to an end but you all
remember elder Zulauf who I trained, well he is in my district now and
he completed a year!!! I remember him when he was brand new and now he
is an oldy. I realize I am old here with the way to teach and the love
I have for this work. 

The people we teach here call me smiley because
I am never caught with a bad attitude or a frown, I always say how can
anyone be sad in this world when we have the one and only true gospel
and we LIVE IT!!!! It is a huge testimony grower and now I love just
telling everyone. I honestly think we talk to about 30 to 40 people a
day now. We just pass people on the street and i tell them that God
wants them to be a member in his church then i share my testimony with
all the love and excitement I can and you know how many investigators
we have right now? We have 46 people that we are teaching right now
and now you realize why I love having bikes haha. 

It is incredible and
the best part is that we are gonna have a wedding of 2 investigators
on the 5th of December. I am so excited and we have 3 baptisms for
this Saturday and more and more to come. Yesterday we had 11 go to
church WHICH IS GOOD!!! 6 of them said they want to get baptized. They
even came from outside of our area because they loved our excitement
when we talked in the street. One girl rode her scooter to church
30minutes in the rain to get to church alone. She is 21 and is willing
to get baptized after one or 2 more church attendances. It is
incredible. 

So there is a family that has been listening to elders for
4years and never went to church, never accepted a baptism date, never
stopped smoking but out of this family. We found them my first day
here and they all have gone to church over 3 times and the Mom got
baptized the daughter and the husband who looks like the wrestler
Goldberg QUIT SMOKING AND IS GETTING BAPTIZED SATURDAY!!!! It is
incredible!!! This family now has a goal to go to the temple and
everything. They are so wonderful and I will miss them so bad!!!(that
answers your question Dad that yes, I will miss a lot of people here
but thank goodness facebook exists) 

Also this marriage well these 2
have been talking to elders for 2 years once again never went to
church never progressed but they have assisted 6 times their daughter
has been baptized and now they will be getting MARRIED!!! This man he
is 23 years old and he was addicted to drugs, alcohol you name it and
yeah he liked it haha. He has changed a full 300% and is just
incredible now. He loves the church and is now sharing the gospel with
his entire family. He goes an hour early to church ON SUNDAY
MORNINGS!!! Here in Argentina waking up at 7am is a miracle haha and
he gets to church by 8am. Whoever says that this gospel isn't true or
doesn't have the power to change lives or bring happiness well that is
IMPOSSIBLE!!! What is funny is i can go on for days telling you these
stories of people leaving behind everything. 

We have an investigator
he works in a night club as a DJ(he is so cool) but he still comes to
church even though he works Saturday night to 7am Sunday morning he
gets to church at 9:15 or 9:30am. It is truly incredible to see that
this ward is changing so much the members are really active they are
working hard in their callings and they cook us some good lunches.
haha. But other than these there are only so many more miracles that
happened this last week. I paid a very very generous fast offering
and everything got better. I have obtained a testimony in every
single topic or point in this Gospel and the power of the atonement is
the best of all. To bring just streams of tears to know that he
suffered so much for me. It is incredible and just cant wait like
seriously CANT WAIT!!!! To see all of you so soon and to be able to
tell you everything and to see how my life has changed and how I have
changed. I heard that you never know how much you changed until you
get home so I am just as excited as you to see what has happened to me
here. 

I just love this church and Now is the time to change like
it says in the book of Mormon."today is the day of our salvation!!!"
Everyday we either serve God or the devil. Choose ye this day for whom
ye shall serve!!! The bible haha I just love it because now i even
have scripture knowledge haha. I love you all so much and will be
sending some good pics. Of Goldberg when he gets baptized Saturday
haha Love Elder Darby the second

5 November 2012

Oh wow, I get home on 12/12/2012? that one will go down in the books.
So things are really interesting here because everyday we still find
someone to get baptized and the best Sunday in almost my whole mission
was this last Sunday.  This past month we baptized 2 brothers that
are 12 and 13 and their neighbor that is 14 and their friends who are
12 as well so this last Sunday all 4 of them got up and passed the
sacrament.  

You can't even imagine the tears coming from my eyes as I saw
these 4 before just wrecks actually passing the sacrament doing
something so sacred. I realized that this was the purpose because i
love these kids because they will for sure be the future elders then
leaders in the church. I just loved seeing this and to top it off we
had 2 confirmations of the 2 we baptized Saturday and the girl who is
14 she got up and bore her TESTIMONY!!!! In a ward of 120 people she
got up and shared her testimony, I was going nuts!!!!! She gave thanks
to everyone in the ward and she forgot to close in the name of Jesus
Christ but i believe all the members learned there lesson Sunday with
this young girl just confirmed bearing her testimony. It was
incredible to me. So I had the best fast and testimony Sunday of all
time. 

MOM young women's presidency? oh just get in there and knock it
dead get everyone of those young girls reactivated and just let each
of them shine!!! That is so great, I am so glad to hear that because we
have a young women's president here and she is just like you and not to
mention she drives a Lexus!!!! She is the best and she calls us her
sons haha you just have to love the members here they are so loving
ALWAYS!!!! 

So about the success we are doing great we had the 2
baptisms Saturday and this 13 yr. old kid went to church Sunday for
his 3rd time and i said "ok your baptism will be Saturday" and do you
know what he said?
"But Elder Darby does God want me to wait all the way till Sunday to
get baptized?" IT WAS AWESOME!!!!! I just wanted to give him a big hug
and say "you are the man!!!" So he chose this Tuesday to be baptized
so we will hopefully be baptizing during the week and on the weekend
haha i just love this place. 

Although it is insanely hot and the rain
storms have started to drench us it is still such a blast. I was
walking in water up to my knees the other night i took a picture but i
don't think it came out very well. I will send it to you all. So other
than that my comp. well he is starting to talk but only to me.
Everyone asks me "Darby is he ok?" i say "of course he is just really
chill ALWAYS!!!" haha so with him well there isn't much conversation
but I am just being patient. He told me he is always like this and the
best part is that he hates the food here haha. So the members gave us
about 20 empanadas the other day he ate like 4 so i had to eat the
rest and man it was quite a trial. I guess I don't have to eat them but
if you want referrals you gotta eat their food haha. But as you can
hopefully tell in my letter i am happy and HEALTHY!!! Thank goodness i
am not kidding when i get home do not feed me a lot and no rice please
i will quote tommy boy and say i will just want a ketchup packet or
two. haha 

I have a couple foods to cook for you all as well. You will love it. The weather is really hot
the rain storms are incredible and my timing is running out here in
the wonderful Argentina. I just love it but i know that I was born in
the states so i have to go back haha just kidding I cant wait to see
how amazing technology is now and my comp. has explained a couple cool
things to me so I guarantee you will all get a good laugh when i open
a dish washer and say "wow a dishwasher I haven't seen one of these in
forever!!" So you could only imagine if a dishwasher will excite me
how I am gonna be when I see other things like CARPET!!!!! haha i am
getting myself so excited!!! 

Anyway i love you all so much and as much
as I love it here yes this transfer is a little harder than the last
but i am fighting it out and the Lord is right on my side. I just love
it here and that will never change. Keep it real because I will be
coming home in just a little over a month!!! Wow it so doesn't seem
real. Love Elder Darby

29 October 2012

NO Saw movie how sad haha but just imagine you could be here and not even celebrate Halloween.  I can't even imagine how many people are gonna go to your old house and find out you moved they will all be so sad. 

Mom things are really interesting and about being sick well it was one day and I can't stop working it is just so fun always. All elders ask me why i love it so much and why i am always so excited. I tell them the same thing every time. Because it would be a waste if I had this testimony and didn't share it with everyone I encountered. That is my response and I just love it. I am always so excited and just so happy even when i was sick i thank my heavenly father for the sickness. 

Mom this work is incredible and today things really changed. So today transfers and I didn't leave but elder Ibsen left to go to my first area in Jujuy in Perico. How weird then elder Yates got called to my last area to be zone leader, and now my kid Elder Zulauf is in my district and just came today. Meaning new companion, new assignment. President Levrino called me and said "Darby you did it" "Ibsen is more excited than ever and now the Lord wants another favor, There is an elder who has packed his bags and wanted to go home 2 times on his mission and he is still in his first area and he has promised to stay one more transfer and you Elder Darby with the trust that me and the Lord have in you, I want you to get him excited and to make him want to stay and not go home because I just know you can do it and that if it doesn't work out, we will have to pull you both out of the area and I don't want to do that. Elder Darby keep baptizing you are doing great and i trust in you so much and just know you are so capable of doing this. I love you so much and will call in a couple weeks to see how you are doing." Talk about a responsibility because he got here and my comp. does not look happy at all I have been trying to crack jokes and trying to be really nice but I haven't cracked him quite yet although now he is talking a little more. 

So we will find out what happens haha. His name is Elder Ellsworth and I just know we are gonna rock this area on my last 6 week transfer. I am so excited as always and will keep you posted on how i do with my comp. and of course with this area. I love you all and lets just say miracles are happening here. This last Saturday we baptized 2 people then on Sunday a girl that is 17 years old went to church and after 4 years of talking to elders she said I want to be baptized so I said tonight and she totally got baptized last night so that tops off an amazing transfer with a great comp. and a mission well succeeded. I am so excited to be able to work my heart out in this last transfer and rest is so not an option there is just no time for everyone. The other great news is that this last week we found a couple that have been living together for years and we got them so excited to get baptized that they will be getting married this month. I am so excited and just know that the Lord is on our side. We are knocking it dead and i just know that with my new comp. we will be killing it some more. Everyone is excited to hear about this area even president. So we will find out. I love you all and want to wish you all one thing that i wont be celebrating and that is a 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!! Love Elder Darby

22 October 2012

Baptisms after baptisms and more baptisms!!!! Our purpose is explained as this to invite the highest number of people to come unto Christ through the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is amazing the faith we are finding in the people in this area. Everyone listens to us once or twice and says i want to be baptized. So our faces light up and we put a date on it. As of Sunday we have 8 baptism dates meaning 8 for sure baptisms for the end of this month and next month for sure. We are doing great in this area. President Levrine came this last week to give a conference and he used me and my mission as an example many times. It made me feel so good because I realize I am being the missionary that he wants me to be. It was so great to hear him share stories and ask me questions knowing exactly what I was gonna say. 

I am so excited because I know coming out of Salta in a tough area and enduring for months has brought so many blessings here. All those prayers to baptize to find more to teach to have more people go to church well it is happening now. It made me step back and truly realize how God knows exactly when we will need trials and when we will be blessed from them. I know this might sound weird but this last saturday we had 2 baptism services for 3 people and at the end of the last one I got hit with a sickness. That night I had the chills and I was very uncomfortable and couldn't sleep but sunday I woke up and felt not too great, but a little better. 

Then at church it was bad I felt weak, dizzy and achy. Usually when I get sick or was sick before I could be mad and try to fight it off as much as I could but sunday I listened to the talk by Henry B. Eyring he says he heard Spencer W. Kimball pray for mountains to climb. This brought a different look on how I was feeling, my attitude changed.  During the clases I felt bad and didn't listen or even pay attention but during sacrament meeting as they invited us to help with the confirmations.  I remember wobblying back and forth because I felt so sick but as we sat down and as I was taking the sacrament I thanked God for every sickness I have ever had. It shocked me that I said this because it was always terrible to be sick but it made me think so much on how we are given a body to be tested, to feel pain, have trials and in reality we accepted this before we even came to this earth. 

It is amazing as I still am a little drowsy I realized how much I love this work. Last night I was feeling bad and very weak but we went out and worked I was as pale as can be, my comp. didn't want us to leave but as we went out to work we had no success.  Imagine being as weak as I was having to walk for 2 hours with no success.  I started to pray in my mind to be able to have a miracle and as we passed a park the benches looked nice to sit down and as soon as we were gonna sit down we decided lets keep going. My comp. looked at me with his eyes wide open and said "are you serious you look like a zombie" I might have looked a little like a zombie but we walked another few blocks and found our convert that we baptized Saturday and both her parents. We went in and honestly taught the most amazing lesson to both the parents they are now willing to get married so that they can both get baptized. Honestly marriage was never an option for them but after this lesson they got excited. Directly after we got a call from a member and found out they were gonna watch the ressuration with a lot of non members and to our amazement they invited the family we were currently teaching, so we went together. It was incredible because we not only got a couple who now wants to get married but we found at least another 8 people that sat down and watched the ressuration with us. 

Then after the member of the house asked me to share a scripture so I shared Mosiah 2:41 consider the happy and blessed state of those who keep the commandments, the will dwell with God in an everlasting happiness. The spirit was so strong and I totally forgot I was even sick.  It was incredible to see how happy everyone was and to see all of our converts talking with the members being best friends. 

I forgot to mention that Sunday was mothers day so everyone in just about every house had really loud music and beer like crazy this is why we had no success because either our investigators parents were drunk or you couldn't find anyone in their house because they visited other families. So anyway this was truly a testimony grower for me to prove doctrine and covenants 50 'we are little children and we cannot bear all things now but we should believe in the grace of god'. None of those that my father sent will be lost. I realized that we will not be forgotten but we better pass this test. We need to be stronger than ever because we are in the last days. Like God says he knows we wont be able to bear all things now but we better not have excuses or exceptions because that is not what it means. Many times we think oh this doesn't apply to me but we need to always realize it is Gods will that matters in the end not ours. It is Gods law by which all men will be judged. Stay strong because it says who knows how many times in Doctrine and Covenants that Jesus Christ is close and is coming soon. I love you all and love you all sooo much. Love once again Elder Darby

15 October 2012

L. Tom Perry at your stake conference? aww I am so jealous, that is so cool!!! Yeah in the end of November the Elder Viñas is coming to capacitate us.  He is gonna speak in his native language so it should be even more special and they always have something so basic yet new to share with us. 

So this last week was a miracle and a half. We had 3 crucial lessons on thursday and all three turned out to be golden for baptisms and so this last saturday we had 4 BAPTISMS!!!! The best part as well is that all 4 of the investigators that went to church are gonna be baptized this saturday meaning 8 baptisms in 2 weeks!!! That is so many and we are loooking to baptize maybe even more than 4 this week!!!! It is unbelievable what the members are saying and how truly excited we are right now. I can't wait to see how we end up in December because I think we will be able to be pulling out maybe 6 baptisms a week. 

Everyday we pray hard to find people to baptize and sure enough they are in lessons we ask how many times they have been to church and there you have it, next baptism!!! It is so great!!!!! 

We are still rolling on our very wobbley bikes but it is helping us get around to everyone. We now have the coolest ward mission leader that lived in Utah for 6 years and he has started to work with us. This area is taking off. I have never felt so happy to see something change and so fast!!!! This last week we had a zone meeting and my comp. shared the first scripture and it is in Doctrine and Covenants; it says do everything with excitement.  During the whole conference you could see my comp. just glowing as he answered questions and has the best attitude ever. We are so excited and our prays have been the main factor. I know that this is God´s work because if it wasn't, this success wouldn't be possible. 

My comp. had his b-day this last week and woke up just sick. Poor guy but he wanted to work so bad that he got on his bike and pedaled and we were able to teach 4 people and as we came back he said "I don't know how i just survived that" it was the coolest thing ever. To see someone so dedicated. He doesn't speak very good spanish and has a tough time knowing what's going on but hey he is a really loving elder. He said i have to wait to get married as well because he wants to be there(sorry Danielle) haha.

So things are fantastic. We have a lady who has been talking to the missionaries for 4 years and has decided to get baptized this saturday. We have been the only ones to get her and her really tall daughter to church and now she has dropped cigarettes and is going to get baptized saturday. It was a good story because they said they were in the entrance to the church and were about to turn around and right then I called them asking if they were coming, so sure enough they entered and both now want to get baptized. Little miracles like this are happeneing like this everyday and I know I will have such great stories to tell when I get back. I am still ending strong 

I love you all Elder Darby 

8 October 2012

I am so honored to be your best xmas gift!!! Mom things are so great here and with conference we smoked the zone on most investigators in church.  I love this area. I dont know if it is our faith or what but we are blowing it up. We baptized saturday morning because conference started at 1pm so it was great waking up prepping the waters of mormon and then baptizing.  After changing and going to conference oh it was a greeat experience!!! 

I have to say the greatest of all was that when Jeffrey Holland talked he gave almost the same talk as the one when I was in the MTC. It is known as feed my sheep!!! When he came to the MTC he gave the talk about the fishers of men and all the apostles and the famous question "DO YOU LOVE ME? but 3 times!!! It truly felt directed to me because I remembered as I sat in the MTC, I heard that talk and walked out in silence.  His conference was like round 2 but not just for missionaries but for every single member!!! 

I have to say I heard a terrible statistic this last week that 50% return missionaries go inactive!!!! 50% that burned my soul to think what hypocrits to tell people to get baprized and to stay active.

In the priesthood session, D. Todd Christofferson who came to our mission said a powerful statement. "All of you missionaries and ex missionaries who stood in a baptism font, did it to make your converts be active forever, but as much as it was for them it was for you.  You stated, "having being comissioned of Jesus Christ you have been given the permission from him." This line hit me so hard because it hurts me to think that elders can go home and not stay active. The saddest part is that a few elders that have gone home since I have been here have gone inactive.  they have written either me or my companions. I don't see how this is possible!!! I know I have not come back yet but to think of all the many blessings i receive everyday, I realize this is what I want in my life. Not to gaining a ton of money, not having the best of everything but making the best of everything you have. 

As you all know, I didn't do so well in my last area in Salta. Yes we made a huge difference but I let other elders get me down, they made me doubt and as I left that area, I realized what I did. Now you have all seen how much success is going on here and how excited I am to write and share experiences to you all. This area is amazing and not because it has good people but because me and my comp. have come to the same level, realizing that we can do so much more here. When I showed up he was sad as can be, he didn't see the real point of missionary work because his first comp. treated him terribly. Sound familiar to my first area with my comps? 

I have come here to realize and reflect of every part of my mission I've realized, I maybe tired and constantly exhausted but I'm was doing my will not the Lords!!! At the year mark on the mission I was learned and was better ready and I made the change. 

Now that I have heard conference talks, I put an eternal vision on everything I'm reading.  I'm almost finished with Doctrine and Covenant and it is all about zion and missionary work!!! I know that every experience, every area and every comp. has helped me grow. I know that humility and diligence were my 2 hardest struggles to learn on the mission but I changed so much.  I wonder if you will see the difference in me by the time I get home.  I'm more diligent as i am constantly excited, never wake up tired or want to stay in bed.  I get up just pumped to get out and share this most amazing life changing gospel. It hurts me how there are people who don't understand how truly great this gospel is but as a missionary we don't force it on anyone. 

Ok so my story this last week was a life changer for me and my comp.  There is a family I wanted to drop or stop passing by, but my comp. said one more time please. We passed by and that sunday 2 weeks ago she went for the first time in 6 years of listening to the elders. The best part is that this last saturday during the second session she appeared in our english room and said "darby do I just sit over here?" I realized it was her and with a gigantic smile said "yes over there!!!" I looked at my companion and we gave each other a fist pound.  Then sunday night after the session ended at 8:30pm and we had some time so we passed by her house and the spirit of the conference was with us. We taught her the Word of Wisdom and I kid you not, for the first time in 6 years she accepted a baptism date along with her daughter. I didn't sleep much last night because I was pretty much praying, thanking God for this amazing miracle plus, 2 weeks ago we found a family of 9 people. They all went to conference and this saturday 3 will be getting baptized, then next week a few more along with other investigators!!

There is a spirit in this area whether it is the members or my comps. faith, I do not know but as much as he says that I am the change here because he didn't do so well here before with his last comp. I know that it isn't me, it is God trusting us with his most precious children because he knows we are trying and putting all the strength and 2 very beaten up bikes to the test here. 

I feel loved, happy, at peace and just stinking excited every single day here. We have not had a bad day yet. I love it here and i know that it may be hot or it may be raining or we may be tired but there is no drive like drive of having angels on our left and right and Jesus Christ himself leading us to these people. We are having so much success and I know that when I come home, it will continue. I am very competitive and know that satan is in this fight with us. Just like M. Russell Ballard said, "an addiction is a mental disease".   I say that any exception to the commandments or anytime we sin we have a mental problem because I have seen the promised blessings. I now testify to over 20 people a day saying that this is the path to follow and how could I do that if I didn't know it to be true.

I love you all and I plead you to please forgive your enemies or the people you think hate you. There is no better feeling than knowing that you are loved by everyone. It all makes sense to me. Jesus Christ called his fishers to become fishers of men.  I would say I have changed from a fisher of worldly things to a fisher of men. I have converted to become a true disciple of God, He answers every single one of my prayers and there is no better feeling or knowing than that. I love you all Love Elder Darby see you all in 2 months

24 September 2012

SOOO WEIRD!!!!  I am so excited because as much as Roseville was great, I love the bay area as well. Plus it will be good to catch up with the friends I first had in high school and elementary school and so on. 

So Mom the other day I was thinking of who I could get to church after the mission right?  A really random name came into my head but do you remember lauren rammer? She was always so tight.  I will have to see her after for sure and I mean for like 30 minutes I was thinking of all the friends I would love to see again in Alamo. But the members in Roseville are so great!!! Lots of memories but hey, I am use to switching areas now haha. I am so pumped to get home be with everyone, go to school and work.  

I am so excited to just have such a spiritual life just based on the church. There is no better way to be blessed. 

So Tucuman villa alem AMAZING AREA!!!! I have to say I came here just ready to work and my comp. has changed a ton he is now super obedient.  We go running every morning and this last week we had so much success he would walk out of lessons and say "que capo!!"  which means like stud. He just said that his last comp. was a tough serious elder and just never involved him.  We have a great unity that we have baptisms planned like crazy!!!! WE baptized saturday and have hopefully 3 more for this saturday. I showed up and all the investigators had a couple doubts and after 2 lessons they now all want to get baptized all 14!!!!! So, I have a feeling we will be baptizing A TON!!!!! 

It is so exciting to come here and just find so many new people to teach and they went to church after only one lesson. I dont know if it is the area or our faith or excitement but whatever it is we are getting better. 

My comp. loves hearing all my nature stories and we are really good friends. He is such a nice innocent kid and ONLY CHILD!!!! hE SAYS YESTERDAY TO ME. ELDER DARBY YOU JUST MAKE MY MISSION FUN YOU JUST LIKE CHANGED IT FOR ME!!! I was so happy to know that and now we are just like brothers.  He speaks terribly but I am helping him because he has like 3 months in Argentina.  The investigators think I am really protective of him. It made us laugh but hey we are knocking it dead here. He always says"elder darby there is a family that had a few doubts but we could never help them but I know you can do it!!! So we went and as of now we have all 14 ready to get baptized in 3 weeks or less. 

I am so excited to be here it may be hot but the work is even hotter. I realize that this is my time to shine.  I am trained, prepped and ready to just baptize. The ward is the biggest in the mission and I am hoping we will baptize at least 50 or so if we can keep ourselves humble. This is so the best area and i am just gonna be glowing when i come home because of the success that there is here. All the members are great and the bishop is excited to work with us. 

I feel great because as I left my last area, I knew that I did a great work because attendences of the members and investigators went up, baptisms doubled and now the other elders are gonna baptize all that we were able to prepare. This is the work of the Lord and I know I am smack dab in the middle. Never will my service in this church end whether I have only a few weeks or months; this is the reason I came to this earth. To bulid up Zion and baptize and prep the saints for the judgment. I love it here and i will see you all in less than 3 months but for now it is time to hit the pavement and declare repentance unto all the inhabitants of this area!!!! I love you all Elder Darby

17 Sept., 2012 - Transfer to Tucuman

Hey how are you because I am sweating sooooo bad!!!! I got transfered today to be in my last area on my mission and I am so excited!!! The mission president called me to tell me my specific mission to do in this area.  I am now in TUCUMAN!!!! Another province and the hottest one with the best work there is!!!! President Levrino called and said Elder Darby, I have a really special job for you!!!!( my heart dropped!!!) You are going to Tucuman to open an area that will be the best baptizing area on the mission!!! 

He said years ago it was the best but there is an elder there right now that doesn't want to be obedient and he doesn't know how to work well.  The Lord and I trust in you and want you to go and not have a responsability as a leader but just be the best missionary ever. Show this elder how to work and get him excited because he isn't excited at all. Work with the members and I guarantee you will have sucess that not even you can imagine!!!! 

Danielle, I am so excited, I have never been so willing to accept something so great as this calling To work!!! I am ready to just baptize like CRAZY!!!!! There are so many people that are gonna be ready and I know and of course God knows I am the one who can do it!!!  He trusts me so much that he has sent me to an area that will either be closed or stay open. He said you will work till the end of your mission and you need to lift that area up, get it baptizing like crazy and I will send 4 missionaries to your area to keep working there.  If not, it will be closed and no more elders will work there!!!! Talk about trust huh? 

We need to baptize enough so we can split the ward!!!! What a call right? Do  you think I can accomplish such a task? I ask you to pray for me to be able to find the prepared people here so we can enter their houses and baptize family after family!!!! I honestly believe I can baptize a ton here . I have that Darby determination and I will be informing you every week about the progress!!!!

I love being here in Argentina I am honestly gonna make the biggest step in missionary work here in this area.  We have a meeting with the bishop tonight and I am so excited to meet him and just get to work. I am pumped out of my mind. 

I will see you all in a few months, but for now I am with Elder Ipsen from Utah and we are gonna baptize like crazy. 

It is hot here in Tucuman but either way it means I will be losing some weight off my stomach finally haha Love Elder Darby

10 September 2012 - Buenos Aires temple dedication

That best 2 years movie isnt quite the real thing it is a lot different but yeah some parts will be a lot funnier. So success is on the table and I am so happy!!!! This last week was a real tester and ended up just great!!!! So saturday WE BAPTIZED AGAIN!!! Meaning we are baptizing every week. Completting with the goal set for the mission. 

Last weekend the Buenos Aires temple was rededicated and we went to the stake center to watch it and WOW!!!! I MISS THE TEMPLE!!!! But it was incredible to hear Elder Eyring, Christofferson, and Ballard who totally has my same name, Russell.  Each one had such a powerful testimony.  I would have to say the best line was"THIS IS THE WORK, THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THE CHURCH, THIS IS WHY CHRIST LIVES, THE WORK HERE IS GROWING THANKS TO THE MISSIONARIES WHO ARE HERE LISTENING THEY ARE THE REASON WHY SO MANY CHILDREN OF OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN HAVE ACCEPTED THIS GOSPEL." It was so great to hear an apostle talk about us as missionaries!  I had the best feeling inside, I just wanted to explode. I have never felt the spirit so strong in my life till the mission and I realize it is something so crucial. Ok so I wont just testify in my email because it seems like that is what I always do. 

But things are great the rededication was awesome and 12 of my converts here in this area went so it was a great sight to know that if I wasn't here or if I didn't serve the mission, they might not have made it here to the temple rededication. Each one came up to me after and thanked me. I honestly had tears streaming from my face to feel the love that God has for his children and to realize it wasn't me - it was merely the spirtit that guided me. There is no better Joy than bringing someone to the gospel of Christ, to witness the change in them and to see what it truly means in their life. 

I am so grateful everyday to have known this church my whole life because I am so blessed for it. I love it out here and hopefully by this next email I might be in a new area. MY LAST AREA!!!! i THOUGHT  I WAS GONNA FINSIH HERE BUT THIS COMING SUNDAY I WILL KNOW WHERE GOD WANTS ME TO DIE ON THE MISSION!!!! Really sad but hey you will all be waiting back home for me.  I am sad to leave but excited to see you all again. I love you all Elder Darby

3 September 2012

This week was great we BAPTIZED AGAIN!!!  This little boy was a boss, he told us that he was ready because God answered his prayers. Then sunday we found a 16 yr old and we will baptize him in 2 weeks.  The attendance of the ward is going up like crazy so things are looking great here in miracle city!!! I love the name and i love the faith me and my comp. have now. I mean we are so focused and honestly we have been teaching like crazy passing almost evereyone in lessons and our baptisms are continuing to happen. 

I love the line from the warriors because we are in Cuidad del Milagros and this is WHERE MIRACLES HAPPEN!!!!! There are so many people to teach and so many more to baptize, we are gonna call 10 ward missionaries and our ward mission leader has a car so we always are driven around it is just the best!!!! I realize a car sounds normal in the states but here, 1 family in every 56 or more has a car, it is rare. 

The members just love us and we have the best lunches with them. I am loving the food the work and of course the baptisms every week truly make for a great bonus!!!! I love this place and i think my comp. now hates dogs because one bit him the other day in the pinky and it is a gnarly scar haha. I got lucky!!! 

The weather changed there goes the cold and now it is hot so i am still debating what to do with all my warm weather clothing if I leave them or not. I love you all and i will see you in 3 months!!!! I have not one doubt that this is the Lords work and there is no better joy than hearing someone want to be baptized and now it is happening a ton to us so i couldn't be any happier or sadder to go home. haha Love you alll Elder Darby

27 August 2012 Best Testimony!

Honestly don't feel bad for what you write because there is no way that I could walk into a non funcioning family and say it can't be fixed!!!! Mom we "better" families everyday. We commit people to throw their drunk boyfriends out of the house and they do it. I know that there are bad families but it is normal. The prophets teachings say that this will happen in the last days. 

Satan entered the heart of one and that one WOLF as the prophets say, influenced the others to fall as well.  The gospel can heal the worst house in the world. I have seen so many miracles and families of 20 come back to church after so many heart aches. The best part is that you all go to church.  There are so many things that will be changed and now I have learned every single method there is to better a family that has had any type of problem. Mom if you want to feel better look up the talk by DALLIN H. OAKS ON DIVORCE!!! It is so great and he just explains it all. Also look up the talk NOBODY WAS WITH HIM, JEFFEREY R. HOLLAND!!! They will change you in so many ways.  I download talks every monday to listen during the week. 

I testify to you all that no matter how alone, no matter how afflicted or painful or difficult a situation is IT CAN BE WORSE but God is aware of you and he is ready to help!!! God doesn't bless us if we murmur to him and give when times are hard and he doesn't only bless us when times are good, great and jolly. He blesses us when we feel like there is no hope, when there is nothing left, when the days or situation can't get better. You can imagine Jesus Christ when he was alone in the garden of getsemani and came back to see his friends his disciples sleeping more than once. He was alone in the worst moment of his life. Taking upon all the pains of the people who have ever lived are living and those who will live. 

Now think of yourself. Don't ever be like Nephis brothers or even his Dad Lehi who only complained once. Be the younger brother that he was and like the scriptures say RISE AND SHINE!!!! Dont ask God where are you but find him. I can promise you that this mission has not been easy that I came not knowing even 4 words of spanish and left lessons crying.  I kneeled down every night to beg my Father in Heaven to bless my tongue so I could just speak. I didn't realize in that time but I was sinning. I was telling God to free me of this pain and trial when I realized that that is not what He wanted me to do. 

He wanted me to smile and just have patience to be able to wait and apply myself to better. I now after more than a year kneel every night thanking my Father in Heaven for the trials I have, thanking him for the family I was given. Not because it is broken or separated but because I am who I am because God gave me this path. I accepted this even before I came here to this earth. I have been woken up and it took me a day flight and being in an unknown place dedicating 2 years to him. If I complain, I am not bettering the situation but just letting satan discourage me. 

I ask you all to choose who you will serve because the scriptures say this day choose who you will serve!!! Not every change takes time but know that every journey or trip begins with one STEP!! Take that step not to satan but to God. Satan desires that we are all miserable like him that he can drag us down make us complian feel hatred for each other.  God is right now preparing A MANSION for his saints that stay strong that forgive one another that love and help. All he asks is that we have no other Gods or anything that becomes more important than him and his commandments. Keep the commandments. Follow him and i know he will have a reward so sweet so great that we aren't even capable of imagining. 

My favorite hymn is Love One Another. We sing it in almost every lesson because if we do it in the home, we will have peace and the best line of that song is LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU!!! So I ask: do you love your brother or sister or Mom or Dad as much as God loves you? Would you be willing to give up everything as God gave up his son to suffer for us? I see so many companionships who struggle to get along. I see so many families who are split and hurt. I see all the sins the wickedness and lies in the world and it hurts my heart. I am not perfect but stop comparing yourself to others. Stop thinking that oh it is normal or everyone does it. Because God's saints, God's true disciples don't. 

I love you all and I promise to always be a support in every moment whether you are getting married like Alix or moving away like Mom and Dad just put your faith and trust in God and nothing that is TOO HARD OR IMPOSSIBLE TO DEFEAT will happen. We are given the gospel in its fullness and that is all we need to endure. Dont just follow the gospel but truly live it. I love you all Elder Darby

20 August 2012

6 August 2012 MIRACLE OF ANGELA

BAPTISM AFTER BAPTISM AFTER BAPTISM!!!!  MIRACLE AFTER MIRACLE AFTER MIRACLE!!! 

2 weeks ago we passed by a sister that is inactive, she is 56 and told us she needed help. So we respond. She said "you all know I believe in blessing the sick and know a family that asked me for help and they have a daughter. She is 12 and she is in the hospital and the problem is that she isn't eating, can't walk, can barely even talks and is ready to give up". "The doctors said that they don't know what is wrong and were ready to send her to Buenos Aires and it would put the family in a real debt".  

We were called and on tuesday, which was 2 weeks ago, we went to see her in the hospital.  For 2 days I was prayed for a healing miracle but not really believing that it would make a change for this little girl.  We show up to give this girl the blessing and seeing her brought tears to my eyes as she was so young, so lifeless in bed with no hope in her eyes. We greeted her and talked a little bit and explained the blessing to her and she chose me to give her the blessing. As my comp. blessed the oil, I remembered in matthew, Jesus Christ was asked from his disciples"who is the best in the glory of God" Jesus Christ put a young child in front of them and said if a man doesn't humble himself and come unto me like this child in no way will he be received in the glory of God!!! 

I honestly was overcome with so much love for this child that laid there so sick and helpless. We placed our hands on her sweet little head and I saw her close her eyes and smile!! This was the best smile I have ever seen in my life and as I gave this blessing; "Angela, you will rise from this bed but for now just wait and with your faith you will be free to walk and smile and share your light with the world around. Don't let discouragement fill your mind but rather hope and love for your family and your Father in Heaven."

When i finished she looked up at me and said thank you as the tears were just rushing out of my eyes. So this last week we got news from her family. Angela wasnt sent to Buenos Aires to be checked. The doctors couldn't find anything wrong with her!!  Angela got out of bed by herself, walked, ate and just the other day we talked with her grandma and she thanked us and told us we were "angels sent from God to heal her". 

Kinda amazing to experience and witness this for myself!!

This last week changed everything for me. I knew she would get better and as she was in bed in the hospital she read the book of mormon, prayed just like we told her and we promised her she would get better with her faith!!  

This wasn't just luck or just a small thing that happened but a true miracle from God. 

I have prayed for many testimony building experiences but to witness this was amazing.  I am so grateful to be here working for the Lord my savior doing his work and holding His priesthood. 

Don't get lost in the things that aren't important in life and focus on the things that are and that will last forever. I love you all Elder Darby

30 July 2012

WE have 2 baptisms for this saturday so as long as everything goes smoothly my comp. will be able to baptize his last week on his mission!!!! His going home has made me think alot and it is really starting to become something real!!!! THE MISSION WILL END!!!! Right now it hurts but I have to admit this whole talk about so many activities that I haven't done in 2 years is making me feel a little better about going home. My next transfer starting monday will be interesting because I will stay here without a doubt but after this next one, I will either stay in my area to DIE!!! Or i will be switched out to go somewhere else so we will find out what happens!!! 

I love this area and we are having a lot of success, I know there is so much more to do. So lets see, oh yeah this week was quite a week.  Saturday I got hit with something just terrible and all day Saturday i was bed bound.  My comp. made me tea and tried to help me. I kept telling him I am not a child and I want to work so after the sixth time at about 5pm I got up to go work and made it to the door and then ran to the bathroom and yeah lets just say i threw up quite a bit. I kept leaving the door open so he could hear and giving him thumbs up. It was honestly hilarious!!!! I would have to say it brought back many memories of going to San Francisco with the Danielle, the buffet in Sacramento with all the cars around and other choice times I got sick. It was nice though because I got to relax for a day and take it easy, we watched every church movie and read every liahona. 

When the others elders came back Saturday night, they forced me to get a blessing and sunday I woke up happier than ever. Sunday went great and today we even climbed a huge hill in a beautiful little town. It was a blast. 

As you can all tell I am always excited and happy, these trials are just a short time frame in the scheme of everything. The stake president here now plans activities for the stake and works with the bishop as much as possible. 

I now i have the vision and have set goals and know what I need to do to be successful. It gets me excited because I can ONLY do it all with the help from my Savior. I love him and he lives me. I love what pres. Thomas Monson has said, What a sweet sentence this is I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES!!! I can just feel the spirit everyday and the way it works through some of the hardest or closed people. It enlightens the minds of so many and is something i will strive to always have. I love you all Elder Darby

16 July 2012

MY FAVORITE LINE!!!! I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES AND A MIRACLE HAS HAPPENED TONIGHT!!!! MJ So this week was fantastic!!!! WE FASTED 2 TIMES AND WE HAD A MIRACLE!!!!! We have been teaching this one girl for 3 months but her dad never wanted her to even talk to us but found out and never gave us permission to baptize her either.  But, the other day, we taught him the and the spirit truly made this hard core alcoholic man cry!!!!!! He said if my daughter wants to be baptized then why not.  So we asked his daughter when and why? and she being 10, gave the strongest testimony I have ever heard.  I was almost crying and we are gonna baptize her this SATURDAY!!!! 

Next week a family of 4 they went to church and if they go one more time it looks like we will baptize them!!!! I have never been so excited because there is no better way than a fast.

things are fantastic we are the best zone on the mission so i am so excited. This last week we baptized 24 and there are 14 companionships.  I got a call from our mission president saying fantastic now this next month you will be in charge of giving a presentation to everyone so I am excited.  My comp. goes home in 3 weeks.  I remembered what joseph smith said  The Lord must bring us down before he raises us up.. it's so true. 

The weather is around 24 degrees in the morning. The bishop is now our best friend and the stake president we have a meeting with him every 2 weeks now!!!! Fantastic and truly a great and marvelous work and it is so being harvested in our area called MIRACLE CITY(CIUDAD DE MILAGRO) I love it here!

9 July 2012

Wow that was truly an incredible email that you just wrote, mom!!!!  I have to say that Mom it must be tough and now I have had so much time to think back on my life and think how truly strong you were. I have had many hard times out here but you know what I learned from you was to put a smile on and don't ask why me but rather start and progress. I read my comps. journal the other day and it said he admired me for my smile and how we would have the hardest time and I would smile and say, "satan really wants to destroy us right elder? and you know why? because we are studs and we are stopping him from succeeding so what are we gonna do? let satan get us down or change his attitude and sift him as wheat? 

 

I think it was funny when he showed me this because he is a very self concious kid and clearly doesn't get a lot of love but I love his humility and how respectful he is. I can't say he is strong or powerful in the lessons but he has such love. He truly is an example for me because I am totally the opposite!!!  This was my good experience to know that he isn't the only one who is watching me and watching all my actions because there are others and, of course, I want to make my Father in Heaven happy!!! 

Mom you taught me everything I needed to know to be out here. How to put a smile on when things are terrible, how to stay organized and of course how to talk and socialize. I always see other elders and how fear to speak or say the truth is present and I realize I'm so blessed not because I have divorced parents or a lot of hatred but because I have 2 parents who love me separately and that no matter what, am sealed to them to be with the strongest one hopefully in the celestial kingdom. 

This week truly was a test of faith, I have been fasting and praying a lot and truly searching for Gods help as much as possible and it is paying off. People are going to church people are reading the book and people are gladly letting us in to their houses. I am so thankful to be out here, to humble myself and to be so responsible of so many people and their salvation. There is no better feeling to know that what we teach someone can and will change their lives. I love this work and I love this culture.  It will be hard to come back and to be back in the real world but this is just the start.  I mean, if we can find 12 people in one day to teach and convince them to go to church and drop addictions just imagine what change we can make our entire life. 

This week was fantastic because we had the zone conference with our mission president and it was great. I was able to plan lunch and taught an hour to 28 missionaries. It was a great experince and I know that it is something that I just love to do. SHARE THIS GOSPEL!!!! It is true and I am a true servant of our Savior Jesus Christ. There is no better title in the world. I love you all and ask you to stay strong, forgive one another, an argument will get you nowhere but an example and a hug can change someones life forever. Be obedient stay truthful and remember we arent here for our own benefit we are here to earn our eternal life. Love Elder Darby

2 July 2012 WHAT A WEEK

25 June 2012

So everything is going great we BAPTIZED!!!! We have another planned for saturday so things are starting to explode. It really is first attitude then hard work or suffering then the reward!!! 

I can tell you that it is the last trransfer for my companion so we are gonna baptize a ton and the best part was last week we had an amazing spiritual guidance. We were looking at the inactive ward list and we were tired and freezing but I saw a name and said  "lets pass by this family" so we walked to the address and it didn't exist.  I looked around to ask someone and we saw a man who was on a bike.  I felt a feeling to talk to him but I didnt feel like chasing him down because he had already passsed.  I  felt it again and way stronger so I took off running for about 2 blocks and stopped this man. He turned and said "elder what are you doing?" I was shocked that he knew I was an elder.  I asked him who he was, he said he was the son of a member his but dad hasn't been to church in years. We quickly took down his address and he said "lets go to my house now" so we went and found a family of 10 NON MEMBERS!!!!!  We entered and taught an amazing lesson and we were able to get 6 of them to church so you could imagine how excited I was.  We are gonna baptize 3 in primary, 3 in young mens, the mom in Relief Society, and 3 future missionaries 17 yrs old 19 & 23. It was just incredible that we were able to find them all thanks to a spritual prompting!!! 

    This morning one of my converts from jujuy sent me a letter and it has a FOUR LEAF CLOVER!!! She is ramona the one who cut my hair a bunch of times free and we baptized her and her son. It was so cool because she said she was thinking of me the other day and at that point the missionaries went to her house and one was coming here to salta so she wrote me a letter and put a four leaf clover. She said she was thinking of a gift or something cool to send and right as that happened her gardener walked in with the four leaf clover and she taped it and sent it to me. It is the coolest thing ever, I will send a pic next week. 

It was so great to read her testimony and her son just got hired to paint the inside of the temple in Cordoba that is under construction. I love how there is a scripture that says work all your days so that those you save will be united with thee again in Gods Kingdom. I thought of her and of all those that God has allowed me to baptize. 

I truly love this work and even though i say it might be hard, I realize that the goals I set are almost unreachable but if you compare it to the success of the elders before or others, we are having better success. I just love this work and the most amazing people that we meet. I love you all Elder Darby

18 June 2012

I can't wait to be with you again Mom you will be amazed at the son I have become, I mean I have changed so much. I just have desires to baptize all my friends and of course Dads family. I can't imagine how dissapointed they would be when they get to heaven and realize that we never gave them the oppurtunity to be baptized. 

Danielle has a friend she is teaching the gospel to and I gave her a bunch of advice but ask her about her friend and see if you can have a lesson in your house because I know the spirit is so strong in your house!!! I love you Mom and I realize how important these things are and how everyone one day will kneel down and know that Jesus is the Christ and that we are the santos that will follow him. How great of a promise right?

18 June 2012

So what are you gonna do with your giant house now? Are you gonna move? Look into the beach house or what? I remember you once told me that when my last son graduates high school, I will have the uhaul ready to go to the beach and live there. So is it true? Can you smell the ocean? Haha mom, I love you soo much and I am sorry I am not that great at these emails but it is hard because I work so hard everyday and am not much of a jokester or a pranker but rather an obedient hard worker. I realized that I will not come home and tell dangerous stories or great pranks but rather show the success and the people that God changed through me. It is weird because I know when an elder came home, I wanted to know all the dangerous and funny stories but I will feel bad because I dont have very many. I am just too focused on the investigators and work to think of pranks and other things. I mean our mondays don't consist of any traveling or funny activities but rather buffets and studies. 

This week was interesting because no matter how many investigators we taught this week we decided to drop them ALL!!! I honestly mean that we have one person to teach and are gonna turn our finding talents on because we want new people that actually want to progress because no matter how much we try and try to change these people they don't want to go to church.  We stated this to them all...IF YOU DONT GO TO CHURCH THIS SUNDAY AND REALLY DONT WANT US TO PASS BY AND HELP YOU THEN WE WILL NEVER PASS BY AGAIN. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE!!! It was harsh and do you know how many went to church? 2 and we are gonna baptize one this Saturday.  The other can't get baptized because her husband.  

Every day I am reminded to stay strong because the Second Coming is very close. Satan can't have anymore control than he does now on the hearts of men. I feel as though we are a wicked generation. It burns my heart to see such amazing people that I love reject what I know IS SO TRUE!!! It hurts me to know that they might not have another chance to recieve this gospel and I wonder if they will ever acept it again. 

The good news is that we made a plan to reactivate the men in the ward because in priestood on sunday we have 6 us 2 missionaries then the quorum pres. and 3 youth so we set dates for every day this week so they can accompny us to pass by the inactives to reactivate them by presenting a strong friend that is a member a strong member. I could really use a Bishop Sheppard or a Bishop Paulsen or Bishop Littlejohn down here to give us some ideas and to have the love and dedication that i have seen in them because although our bishop wants to help, he just doesn't get it fully. 

I love what I am doing and I love this area but it isnt easy but I know that the Lord will prep the way. 

I cant say this week was very eventful but i can say we had a lesson with 23 people GROUP X! We started a group with my convert and she just invites friends like crazy to listen to us and they all come so i am hoping we will be able to get some more groups and baptize like alma and nephi to baptize 100s or 1000s. I know it will take faith and hard work but hey it is the only way to truly receive the celestial glory. I love you all so much and everything is going great. We are strating to change this area a lot but if you could keep our names in your prayers i know things will be even better. I love you all AND CONGRATS KEEGAN TO BE A BYU STUDENT!!!! I am so proud and we will be out there together in january!!!! Love Elder Darby

June 11, 2012

Nativity sets don't exist just a ton of fireworks but you can find some sweet other souvenirs for sure and Mom, I hate thinking or planning what I will do when my mission ends because it will be sad but COME ON DOWN!!!! I am excited to show you some sweet places but better yet show you the culture and to visit my converts to make sure they are all active.  

This week was very interesting and i learned a very valuable lesson that when blessings come down think they will last forever. So wednesday we had a lesson planned and we decided to ask a member to invite just a bunch of friends to come and it turned out we taught a group of 14 people and they were all new investigators.  Tthe best part is that we learned that the only reason Nephi or Alma baptized so many is because they taught in groups and baptized in groups. It was soo cool because we took out baptism dates with the 12 investigators that were there and also 10 went to CHURCH!!! It was a miracle and the best part is we have now started the best secret of missionary work and that is to teach in groups. The best part is president loves this idea and tomorrow we are going to teach our whole zone of Salta. I am so excited because baptisms will sky rocket. It was a miracle that in this area we were able to find 15 new people to teach and they all want to get baptized.I am really excited to give this a try and i will let youall know how well i goes. we are looking o have about 20 or more to teach this wednesday so wish me luck. 

June 4, 2012 WE BAPTIZED

WE BAPTIZED!!!!! It was so great because we baptized franco and of course it was testimony sunday so right after his confirmation he got up and bore his testimony!!!! It was such a great moment because his mom isnt a member and even bore hers and said, "I am glad my son has taught me the way now it is just my choice to take the next step!!!". So great because we are turning things around and getting ready to baptize more and more - not for the numbers but because these people need to be saved. Who knows if they will have another oppurtunity to better things!!!
I got Danielles package today so I have recieved all of them and absolutely loved them!!! The coke bottles to the little toys, to the other candies, cotton candy. I imagine how big the market is in the states and how there are more brands and so many varieties.
Its cold here and the weather is freezing!!! I hope we have snow this year because I haven't seen snow up close in a long time!!!
PDay, we play every monday now so it is fun as can be to watch the other two north americans fall and trip and just do terribly. The best part is that we play with little 11 year olds and the other elders just getted burned by all of them. But lets see, ice cream is really cheap here, I can buy a whole kilo of really good ice cream for only 2 dollars so that is a fun treat to keep me gaining weight. So not really much has changed. I love my companion because he puts so much trust in me to do everything so it is kinda nice. I am loving it here and we have the greatest lunches now because we eat soup with every meal and of course and Argentine meal wouldn't be complete without bread, which i am so addicted to now. It is really weird to eat without bread now. I am glad to hear you are all going into summer because once summer ends I will be there to enjoy the cold coming from the heat down here in Argentina. Well so this is about it let me know if you have any questions so i can write better emails. Love you all Elder Darby

May 28, 2012

Well once again  I am here and things are good but not perfect. I am loving the area but it is HARD!!! I have to say my faith hasnt been as strong as I wanted it to be but I can feel the change. I love my companion but he doesnt really talk in the lessons!!! He just stares at me then after says Darby that was great!!! 

Things are going good we are teaching a lot of people and never have time but they are not progressing or getting baptized either because there is someone in their family that doesnt want them to or they arent married and want to wait. I have really learned how to be direct and I am seeing a bit of a change. Many of the inactive families are coming again and we have about 7or 8 investigators every sunday in church but just wont take that next step of baptism. It is really beating on my positivity a little but as you all know, I keep the smile and will never drop it. 

ANYWAYit is starting to get cold here and that means lazier people and harder circumstances when we tell people they have to walk to church at 9am when it is cold and windy. But other than that I love the cold it is a lot easier to work and we arent sweaty or anything!!! So the weather keeps going cold to hot hot to cold but soon it will hit the cold part and once again i am in the coldest part of the mission. I was in north Salta last winter and now southern Salta. How lucky haha. Lets see what else,oh this last week I wanted to learn to make milanesa and it was the best and even my latino companion said it was great. So that was exciting and we played soccer today and I am doing so much better at playing because I scored 5 goals and it was north americans verse latinos and we so won!!! 

Also this last week got my haircut and sure enough when you tell the hair cutter to cut with a four apparently a 2 on the sides and a 3 on top is what I wanted!!! It is terrible, I will have to send a picture next week but sure enough they all ask what happened to your head why do you have a scar. So things havent changed on that question except that it is in spanish. 

There are so many great people and they are fun to teach but we are trying to figure out how we can get some more in the water. My comp. said just yesterday. Darby I heard you have baptized a lot and I was so excited to come here and I know if you made that miracle before God will surely bless you with it again. Hopefully these emails will be saying WE BAPTIZED in a couple more weeks.
I want to thank as well everyone that sent me a happy birthday email it was great being able to remember that I have such a great family friends and cousins, and uncles and aunts. It truly was great to be able to see some pics . Well everything is going great here and i am excited to start a new week and get out and work to make you all proud and to bless you all with my diligence. Love Elder darby

May 20, 2012

So what a week and yeah I am with old companions because our president said I am good at keeping old missionaries excited all the way to the end. I mean I never really talk about home or anything with my companions we always just talk about the investigators and how we are gonna baptize. The craziest thing happened this week and it really has hurt. This last Thursday I was sleeping on our bunk bed on top and actually fell off in the middle of the night without knowing and once I hit the concrete floor, I woke up. IT HURT!!! I have some nice bruises on my thigh but it hasn't stopped the fact that we are still working. I don't remember what happened at all, I don't know if it was a bad dream or what but I created a phrase like keegan that says 'please help me that I don't fall off the bed at night'.  

It was quite a classic because when I hit the ground I looked up and the other elders looked at me and said DARBY WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!! I just gave the best answer by saying, 'man i have no idea'!!! There faces were classic, they just looked so puzzled at 4am. It hurt but I didn't hit my head on anything so I got lucky, just my thigh and my heels are a little bruised. It was funnier than painful. I found out that my companion is 26 years old!!! He is an oldy because he was inactive for a couple years got reactivated and left on the mission. I told him man by the time I'm your age, I will have children!!! He is a great elder just a little shy so I over power him a lot in lessons. He may not be loud when he talks but when he sleeps he roars!!! I swear he came Monday and by Tuesday night, I kicked him out and now he sleeps in the kitchen all alone. He honestly makes the loudest noises. Tuesday we were all exhausted because we didn't sleep even a minute with his snoring and grudge noises. 

This truly has been an epic time in this apartment with the other elder splitting his chin open and getting stitches, me falling off the bunk bed and now my companion is a sleeping bear. I JUST LOVE THE MISSION!!! Such a fun time. The best part is that Sunday there is a convert who is 18 and her mom is die hard evangelist but after 4 months of listening to missionaries we taught a lesson with her on Saturday and she came to church!!!! It was great because her daughter had a talk and was just bawling saying, 'if it'wasn't for elder darby she wouldn't be here. I felt way bad and told her that it wasnt me, it was the spirit and she wouldn't let that one go. The best part, her mom now wants to get baptized but first has to get married. She pulled out her shotgun and put it to her husbands chest and said, 'we either get married or you leave the house, which one will it be'!!! My reaction was a really big smile because not only did her faith grow a ton but she just freaked her husband out so bad. So we are gonna get her married in a couple weeks and then baptize her IN A RIVER!!! I know I've said I was gonna baptize in a river once and we didn't but if she can put a shotgun to her husbands chest, I am pretty sure we will do what she says, haha. She is honestly the coolest lady in the world.  She sells empanadas and bread during the week and is one of the best in Salta meaning she was in the newspaper. She is awesome. 

We finally received permision to baptize a few teens so I am feeling the turn in the area and I know we will be able to change this place into the best area on the mission. I wouldn't be a true Darby if I couldn't take on a true challenge right? I love you all Elder Darby

May 13, 2012

OK my companion is next to me the new one and the funniest part is that I thought he would be with me for about six months but he goes home in 3 months!!!! Once again i will be KILLING a missionary. He seems great we were already laughing and joking around and the best part he is ALSO from Buenos Aires!!!! So i will be speaking some amazing spanish after my mission!!! It is fun because he is an oldy on the mission and he seems really excited to be with me so I can't say I am dissapointed. 

Haha same old miracle city as my area being hard but remember God knows why we get put together and I have a feeling we might make a big dent in this area. I loved my last companion Elder Parraga but the one thing was he talked a lot so I never really said a ton in lessons so I wasn't as loved by our investigators.  Now it should be different because I am the one who somewhat knows the area and all the investigators. 

Of course the phone call home was a highlight with Keegan becoming the pranker and Erik being sick and all sounding great as always. I can't believe that was my last call on the mission and the next time I will be with Mom calling right before my flight home!!!! I don't know what it will be like to see everyone with a car and nice clothes and of course MORE THAN 4 TEETH!!! 

Ohh i am just so amped to have a new companon and do be able to just lead the area and drop the investigators that we need to drop. I feel like the one problem with any missionary is that there are those investigators that are your best friend that will give you any food or tea or other things when you want but will never go to church or get baptized and missionaries continue to pass by just to waste time. I am honestly feeling the turn right now to be able to truly give this area all I have to leave the Darby title here forever. 

I was told by the bishop to tell my family that he was grateful that I came because he likes my attitude but when I heard your voices, I forget to say it. I love the ward and the members but it is true we work alone here but hey, I always felt it is easier alone that with others. It will be great to learn from a missionary older than me on the mission because there aren't many!!! I hope you can all see how happy I am and how grateful I am to have my family backing me everyday!!! Today was great because I opened my email today in the offices and about 10 missionaries saw how many emails I had and said 'wow Darby your family hasn't forgotten about you?' I said nope and was so proud to say yes!  I can't tell you how many parents stop writing their elders that president has to call the parents!!! But as seperated as we might seem there is no love like the Darby love. I miss you all sooo much. I am sorry Mom that I never said happy mothers day, I was just soo lost when I was talking and I apologize if I didn't answer your questions well enough or ask any questions but just know I will be home in 6 months and we can talk alll you want. 

It is funny that no one knew about me blasting my companion in the face with a fireball and you all seemed to laugh! That was in my first area, I have so many more stories like that and a lot of rat killing ones. I love you all and am ALWAYS praying as hard as I can for each one of you.

I hope there is not a sad day in any of your lives because no day should be sad if we do what God wants because I know that even if we lose it all, we will never loose Gods comfort if we stay obedient!!! That was pure revelation to write that and I know this might sound weird but I feel as if it is important. Family, I invite every single one of you to try and help someone this week because one of you will have a great experience of someone who truly needs your help. Keep an eye open and I will be excited to hear your experince in my next email!!! I love you all.