13 February 2012

WOW VALENTINES DAY? Geez i can't believe just a year ago I was a
newbie in Argentina and didn't speak a word of spanish and just looking
at the change in me. It is truly a humbling thing to realize that I am
so much closer to my father in heaven and that I discovered that I
truly had my testimony before the mission and now it is just a few
words. I know Jesus Christ lives and I want to become like him!!!
Seriously just knowing that he loves me and is always helping me in a
lesson is the best feeling to my heart. The fact I, Elder Darby, who
didnt even know it was Moses that split the red sea before the mission
can convince someone to first off enter the house then teach the only
true way to pray to God and then teaching by listening to the person.
Knowing exactly what to say and share using the Bible and of
course the Book Of Mormon!!!! And then inviting the person to be
baptized like Jesus Christ and doing all of this in fluent SPANISH!!!!
It is incredible how much I truly love this gospel and how awesome it
is to be here serving the Lord with every drop of sweat I have every
minute and of course waking up early!!! 

I have 4 words I LOVE THIS WORK!!!!!!! I mean sure it is fun to have a car, a
cell phone with texts, money to blow on materials but there is nothing
like having a person cry to you because they have a family problem or
something and knowing that what you miraculously studied that morning
is exactly what that person needed!!! The way the spirit guides when
we are willing to listen and be obedient to receive it. 

I love the mission and now that you all want to hear the story of the week well
it has to be 2 things. Ok so the first was that thursday my companion
had to go to salta to do his papers so they send him and also another
brand new gringo who was actually his comp. in the MTC. So I thought
they would arrive at the terminal in salta and missionaries would pick
them up but nope!! So what happened is that they needed to take a taxi
to the offices but they didn't have the address. So they leave and
apparently they got to the terminal at 11:30pm and no elders were
there to help them so in the worst spanish possible they tried to ask
a taxi driver if he knew where to go but they struck out so what do
they do? they go and buy a sandwich at the worst shop possible haha.
Then apparently a taxi driver out of no where came up and said lets
go!! So they hopped in and he drove them to the OFFICES!!!! Miracle.
Then what happened is that no one was in the office at midnight so
they walked up to pres. house which is like one block away. They
arrived woke up pres. and neither of them could say a word so imagine
2 big white boys on pres. doorstep at 12:30am with just shrugged
shoulders and the most puzzled look on their face. classic!!! Then
pres. sent them to the house of the elders which was a long ways away.
So they didnt get to the house until like 2am. I( just love how no one
helped them but yet with all of that the Lord sent a taxi driver to
help them out thank goodness. The best was that i didnt know anything
until they got back friday just looking so tired and the first thing
my comp. says was "DARBY DONT LEAVE ME!!!" I heard this and started
laughing and they explained it all and wow what a story!!! 

So that was a classic moment and also just yesterday we were walking by a church that was catholic. THis lady started saying you praise Joseph Smith so
what do i do? I turn around hand her lesson one and what does she do?
she takes it and says I want to give you a blessing and starts
slapping my cheeks and my comp. just had such a puzzled look and next
thing you know she does it to my comp. it was freaking hilarious!!!!
But anyway those are our good stories oh and we went to the feria and
i found a chik fil a shirt and took a pic with my comps. camera so i
will send the photo next week!!! 

I love you all and am having a blast the pics are of our baptism saturday. 

It was awesome because one of my converts baptized fernando because 

he got the pristhood so it was a great experience. The best part is this 

saturday we are baptizing 2 more little girls who are just so cute their 

names are Agustina and Luciana!!! I love the success because we are 

just so happy because we know the Lord trusts us to baptize and teach his children. I love you all and hope your weeks are just fabulous and filled with LOVE!!!
HAPPY VALENTINES DAY LOVE ELDER DARBY

27 February 2012

Ok so yes transfered with my brand new companion Elder Zulauf!!!! He is so funny because his spanish is still just so gringo!!! I am trying to help him just be happy and so far we have our tea time at night while we plan for the next day so we buy a little bread and types of tea!!! NO MATE!!! We aren't allowed to drink mate and I am not really sure why. 

We are actually in the next town over so we see the members from our old area all the time!!! And the funniest part is the apartment we lived in before is actually in our area now so we didn't go anywhere far so it is hard to work so poorly next to an area that we just killed!!! We are still in the like same atmosphere except it is like the out skirts of the city so very humble, very lazy and no more paved roads meaning MUDD!!!! Thank goodness I have those sweet gore tex boots they are just so awesome!!! 

THE WARD IS REALLY SMALL!!! This last sunday there were 26 people in church and we only had 2 investigators it was really sad although we didn't have lunch with members this last week we do now!!! We are now in Mariano Moreno. It is a lot smaller so easier to have just a ton of lessons. We are trying to get a few people to teach so we can actually have some appointments cause right now we have a small list of people, we are trying to find when they are home so some times we get lucky and other days are terrible!!! Sunday was way fun because now we finally have the addresses of the members and inactives so now we are gonna visit members and inactives and inv. to see if we can spark a successful flame like our last area. It is so true that once you have the trust of the members it is easy to find news and get member present lessons. The members are very loving though and I am still the gospel principles teacher. I just love teaching a class in spanish it is so fun to just think I am in Argentina speaking fluent spanish and connecting with these people. Truly a blessing and gift that I was social before the mission. 

The apartment is becoming more normal it isn't so bad except for the 3 poodles or yappers that live in front of us. So terrible all night, all morning, when we open a door or close one they just yap. It was funny because the other day one was whining to get in the other door so I took water and sprayed it and right after I did that the owner walked out looked at his wet dog and he hit his dog thinking it had peed all over the door!!! Serves that little poodle right. I have no sympathy whatsoever for dogs anymore. 

But that is about it. I am still district leader going into my like 5th month and the district is worse than ever. I am quite disappointed so district meeting should be very interesting tomorrow. The new sister missionaries that are in our old area are just doing a terrible job with the work and success we left them which makes me realize that some missionaries have the gift and others not. Of course I love the sisters and am helping them as much as possible but they seem to get down on themselves way too much especially because they have the best area. I just love the mission and right now it is tough but hey when does a smile not come onto my face? Trials are just a part of life and the ones who kept a smile on their face learn the most. I just love it here and we are excited to see the great miracle that is gonna happen as the weather is now getting colder!!! No more heat!!! Even though I am in the nicest part of the mission for over a year what luck right? Faith and positivity is what brings the success. So excited to get out and work love you all Elder Darby

2/20/12 Marino Moreno transfer

OH WOW I HAVE THE CRAZIEST NEWS EVER!!!! Yesterday was the
phone call for transfers. I thought it was impossible my district
would change because my comp. is brand new and also the comps. of the
other missionaries. BUT I WAS WRONG!!!! So I get a call at 8:30pm
sunday night. We are with my favorite family, I get the call and he
says, "Eder Darby, I have some weird transfers"!!! My smile dropped and I
said WHAT!!!! "You and your companion are going to open an area
in Mariano Moreno!!! Mariano Moreno is right next to Coronel Arias,

our area. I said SERIOUSLY? Then he said that 2 sister missionaries

are coming to work in Coronel Arias. I was shocked to hear this.
We visited a few families and just cried our eyes out because you
just love these people and they love you. We are opening an area

that has huge problems in the ward and that hasn't baptized in almost

a YEAR!!!! So wow, I am sweating bullets and am praying like I never

had before because not only is my comp. brand new but I don't know

the area. I need to help him the best I can while having success!!!

Man it has been a crazy day with moving and leaving the best apartment

and going to one that has pink and green walls.

I am exhausted, I didn't sleep and a little nervous but why worry and have
doubts when this is God's world and He loves us. Doctrine and covenants
6 really hit me hard 'to not worry to not have doubts but rather be
faithful and have the vision set that no matter what things will be
just fine'.

I know this is true, I love the scriptures and I have been told by many missionaries that I share too many scriptures during a lesson because

I swear when I listen to these people there is a scripture that has the

answer. I am a little worried but get a peaceful feeling and actually

excited to let you all know how the ward will be strengthened, how our

obedience and faith will bring us success.

I would love to hear some emails to get me excited for next
Monday cause this week should be a tough one to go from 50 lessons
last week to way less. I know that the Lord has callen me to serve here

and he promised me that I will speak with the tongue of angels and that

no matter what we will make a huge effect on this ward.

I love you all and yes Mom time is going so fast to see my 'kid' not be

able to speak. It's a humbling experience because I remember how hard

it was to be so new.

I saw a few members that are from my first area Perico and they were

shocked to see me and they said "Darby you have a voice?" haha

"Hermana why yes and did you know I have a kid?" her smile

dropped and I told her that a new elder on the mission is a 'kid' and
that I am his father haha,it was priceless. (It wasn't the funniest
thing I could have said but in spanish I think it was especially with
the culture and past stories of other missionaries)

Man I just love it here. Although we can't fish anymore, or just sit

and relax, sit on facebook, drive a car or text, I find that the best

thing I can do is feel that my Father in Heaven loves me and trusts

me to take on the most amazing tasks possible on the mission.
I love all of you so much and I dream of the day when I can sit in
front of you and tell you how crazy, spritual, humbling and just
FUN my mission is!!! The mission that has over 130 rules with

the most strict guidelines, 4 hour studies everyday. But with that

said, there is nothing that refreshes my purpose in my life than

studying the only thing that I know is true without a single doubt.

I have purified my heart this last week and have went through die hard

repentance and feel the most free I have ever felt and thanks to that
experience, I know that God will provide us with baptisms and a
stronger ward. I hope you all can realize I am just so excited
and ready to get to work. I love you all and hope your lives are
filled with as much joy as i feel. Love always Elder Darby

6 February 2012

I can´t even imagine what a fast and testimony meeting would be like in english anymore!!! I just love the emotions that people have here and the sacrifices they make just to go to a temple. So yes the closest temple is cochabamba Bolivia and it takes like 20 hours to get there by bus and is like 1000 pesos a person or 250 dolars which is a ton here. There was a family that bore there testimony yesterday and they sold their wedding rings and their car to be able to pay for their family. It is nuts how all we have to do is hop in our car and just drive a little ways when here they go for a week and make sacrifices that are just incredible. The people here honestly have better testimonies than those in the states because there conversion stories are just amazing!!! 

The love and respect I have for these people is truly incredible and the funny thing is that they love us more. I don't care what door we knock if it is hot they will bring out like coca cola or something and then tell us no. It is funny because they are never like jerks, just closed hearts. 

This week was great we had a few ready to baptize but they all had stuff to do so now we are gonna have a baptism of hopefully 3 or 4 people this saturday!!! It should be fun because it is so exciting to be able to change the lives and truly bring pure joy to them.

So clearly we are working hard and doing so well and my comp. is just hilarious!!! He loves the huge flea markets they have and Napolitana which is a filet of chicken that is breaded and friend with tomato sauce cheese and sliced ham on top of a huge pile of french fries. I just love it how excited my comp. gets when he says something correct in spanish and when he invites our investigators to be baptized. He is doing so much better than I did in my first area because he has almost a month out here and is understanding and speaking fairly well. We are practicing a lot and I am able to help him because I knew how it was. He is my greatest son so far on the mission !!!! 

Well that is about it not too much happened this last week other than just finding so many people to teach and having so many go to church on sundays. I think we are gonna make some records here on the mission and I know president keeps calling to check up because he is way excited for our success!!! Well i love you all and know there is no better place to be than here. Love Elder Darby

19 December 2011

Had a sweet week and still loving the mission more than anyone!!!! So me and my comp. with our 3 money investigators thought we were done because we didn't find anyone after knocking at least a hundred doors but guess what? We walk into a home of a family we love and they asked us about friends, "if they aren't baptized where do they go?"  So the 7 year old, angel Antonela, brings out 26 names addresses and everything and says"I know you 2 are the ones to teach these friends, I want to enjoy all my friends in the spiritual paradise!!!" I honestly started crying because she is SOOO CUTEE!!!! 

So we received these references Saturday.  When Sunday came we'd contacted 18 of them and found 16 new investigators to teach!!!!! All it took was a cute little 7 year old girl and the spirit!!! 

So sure our work is back online. The other highlight of the week was Sunday because now I am in a real ward and they had the primary program. I was crying like a little baby because of how excited I truly was to see these amazing little kids sing and just be so happy while singing and talking in spanish!!! 

I love it here, sure the country has problems like crazy but the work of the Lord never does!!!! I now know with all my heart that there is nothing that was more truthful than that first vision that Joseph Smith had. 

Love you all Elder Darby

12 December 2011

Thank you mom for the money I am seriously so grateful for the help that you have provided me with. I want to come home and go kayaking or something crazy like RIVER RAFTING!!!! I was known as your son that would enter the coldest water for the longest time right? And now 2 years without water!!!! This is why I keep baptizing so I can swim down to lift the drain up and dunk my whole body underwater!!!! Honestly it feels good to do that especially when the water is cold!!! Or hot!!!! So everything is perfect because we BAPTIZED AGAIN!!!!!!!!

I realize that I say this just about every week now because we are baptizing every week me and my gringo comp. from Utah!!!!

We are just having so much fun and had the best one year celebration (I will share it after the mission!!) I love it here but we fasted yesterday because we are baptizing faster than we are finding. I mean not a single person in the street walks by us without knowing us because we are doing what the prophet said "open your mouth" so we are talking every opportunity.  We have 2 more people to baptize this month and after that we don't really have anyone haha. But never loose the faith.  

SO EVERYTHING IS GREAT, 2 baptisms so far this month and we are in the second week.  Yesterday I gave 2 confirmations, I was crying and shaking so bad after because you can seriously feel the power of the spirit working through you. I just love the spirit and the joy we have right now. 

There is only one thing that I am bummed about this christmas...I WILL BE USING SKYPE BUT WITHOUT THE CAMERA!!!! The president said we can chat and talk but we aren't allowed to see your faces.  so yes, we will use skype but you need to shut off the camera. I honestly am a little bummed but i realize it is probably a test to see who will be disobedient and who will be obedient. This is the rumor but this tuesday, we have a zone conference and a leadership meeting with the pres. He will tell us all the rules for christmas so i will inform you all next Monday like what time and all of that. 

Well I've completed one year and I have more than a year YYYEEEEAAAAHHH!

More time to baptize and bring these amazing people unto REPENTANCE!!!! 

The best thing that happened this week was thursday in the church we started the lesson with Gustavo (who got baptized) he said he wanted to wait a year for his baptism. I looked at Yates and we both laughed.  We started with a prayer, watched the testimony from Richard G. Scott about baptism and read 2 nephi 14:10-11 it says "follow me my beloved children and be baptized and whosoever is baptized in my name will I give my holy spirit". We read it and he apparently had a huge doubt that he didn't think he was gonna recieve the holy ghost because he didn't think God loved him.  He said "wow so every child who is baptized in his name will be given the holy ghost?" I said "yes and hermano now you know this is not our invitation but God's so hermano will you be baptized this saturday (in 2 days)" he said YESSSSSSS!!!!!! We were so pumped because I remember the first lesson with him.  He was rude but we got him to take the cross off his neck and 3 weeks later after 4 times in church he was baptized and now will be entering into the celestial kingdom with us!!!!! His wife is a member and now they will be going to a temple in a year.  That makes 2 temple marriages for me in one year one from my first area and them.  Wow.  

I love my mission and know that this is so not our skill or talent but that we are just his servants and we are able to testify and truly bear witness of the power of the Book of Mormon. The work is perfect but sadly his servants aren't and this is why I am so motivated to be perfect, just like him, to be able to come home and be at rest knowing I did my best.  I will be able to see my converts after this life and know they are there because we worked hard. Me and my comp. are one in every lesson and truly every person we have found and has listened has been baptized or will be baptized!!

There are a few houses here with christmas lights but nothing like the states. We have a great apartment, third story with a huge tile roof so we will be seeing about 600 firework shows christmas night. They are just crazy with fireworks here because there are no laws or speed limits or DOG POLICE!!! 

We have a lot of families who want to celelbrate with us but we aren't sure what we are gonna do. Although we are close to christmas it doesn't seem like it but we got a little tree from a family for free so at least we have a tree.  Our christmas dinner I have a feeling it will be coca-cola and empanadas!!!!! 

Love you all, your names are always in my prayers, live hard but keep a strong foundation in the gospel because there is nothing more helpful or true on the earth. Just look how many people are changing to get baptized!!!! I don't have a single doubt about the church.  THIS IS THE ONLY TRUE CHURCH AND YES WE DO HAVE THE HOLY GHOST AND A PROMISE THAT ALL WE NEED TO DO IS BE OBEDIENT AND WE WILL ENTER INTO THE BEST PLACE IN HEAVEN!!!!! See you there love Elder Darby

12 December 2011