Dear Familia y amigos!!

So as you can tell by the time I am writing we don´t have much time, so I dont have time to write back personally, but I would like to write something to everyone!!

What a great week it was to talk to my wondeful family. Their lives are a constant strength to me, and each and everyone of them are angels to me guiding me on my way! It was great to hear their experiences and struggles and share some of my thoughts and feelings about my mission thus far!! As a new missionary in a foreign country, and anyone else who has had that experience, knows its pretty tough sometimes, not going to lie, but there is always support. I cannot adaquately express my gratitude in words for the most amazing family in the world! Also for those friends and acquaintances who stand by and respect me, and I feel an outpouring of blessings from all those who sustain my call as a missionary, even if they do not fully understand the reasons for my serving.

As we grow there are always people we can turn to, and I have the most amazing blessing to have a strong family, but not everyone is as blessed as that. That is something I have learned in my mission. I have amazing friends, but some are not blessed with such an abundance as I have. Sometimes I think about how blessed I am and why that is so, and why others seem so deprived of those things I hold so dear and love with all my heart. The mission is an interesting journey. It takes you literally away from the comfort and support of the personal presence of family and friends, and puts you with a companion you didn´t choose, and a mission that wasn´t your choice. (Although I love and am grateful for those two too!!!) I thank my Heavenly Father everyday that he knows me better than I know myself, becuase he has given me the opportunity to totally rely on him as I struggle through, at times. Something I have learned is that those who are not blessed with the family and friends that I have, still have the blessings of the ultimate comfort, the ultimate friend, even their Heavenly Father, the literal Father of their spirits. At times we rely on others so much that when we are taken out of the personal presence and comfort of those we love, we shrink and know not where to turn. But, God is the Eternal One, he will never leave us comfortless or forsake us. If we are living worthy of His Spirit we can feel His influence molding us, and upholding us, and guiding us to the strait and narrow path. What a blessing a loving Heavenly Father is, even to those who have received different blessings than I. God is the same yesterday, today and forever, and will make His abode with them, if they only but come unto Him through His beloved Son Jesus Christ, the Great Mediator. I have learned and am still learning to put my trust and confidence totally in God, and not lean on my own understanding. There is the secret of the mission. We learn to rely on the Eternal Father of us all, and His Beloved Son Jesus Christ, with all our hearts, might, mind and strength, and we learn to follow His Spirit to help others feel the same hope and happiness that we have! And when we rely and trust in Him we will never fail, and no matter what will happen in this life, we will be built on the Rock of our Redeemer, and when the hard times come, we will stand firm in the faith, even until the sitting down with God in His Eternal throne (Rev 3;21) I am grateful for the blessings of adversity, and the happiness and shaping of character that it brings all who go through it, with a steadfastness in Christ!

I love you all I am doing fantastic, and will get more personal emails out next P-day!! Keep it up and know that I am ;)

Sincerely,
Elder Passantino

Feliz Navidad, it looks nothing like Christmas (in the states ;))

So another week has come and gone and I have the opportunity to talk to my family this Week! Im so excited! So this last week we got two new Zone Leaders, Elder Sansford, and Elder Fielding, and they are both really awesome. I think Elder Sansford is about 27 years old and he joined the church about 3 years ago now. He has a very powerful testimony of this work, and told us a little of his conversion. He is the Only member of his family, but came to an absolute knowledge that the Book of Mormon is true, that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ on the Earth the first time that he prayed to know if it was true. It was a really cool story!

So anyways this week I went on splits with this Elder named Elder Rios from Argentina, and he is my District Leader too so that was fun, he is really funny! We had a lot of success together, but it was in his area, but thats alright! The other funny thing is that his brother is in the mission too and they are living in the same apartment, and they were companions in the past too so that was pretty crazy!! I have learned to appreciate some of the laws in the U.S. about fireworks, because here there is no restrictions and people light off huge ones in the street, so it always makes you jump!

We had the ward Christmas party here this week as well! Elder Morinico and I helped prepare the empanadas and peel the potatoes and the onions for about two and a half hours. It was a fun party, but they start meetings and church things so late here its so funny, it started at 9, but no one showed up until ten at night and it went until 1 in the morning!! Pretty different than the U.S. huh?? Its a different world down here sometimes!!

Well I don't have much time today, so I guess I will leave with a little of my testimony. During this time of Christmas we feel something that is different than any other time of the year. We feel greater love, more gratitude, and a greater hope for the coming year. That is because if the So another week has come and gone and I have the opportunity to talk to my family this Week! Im so excited! So this last week we got two new Zone Leaders, Elder Sansford, and Elder Fielding, and they are both really awesome. I think Elder Sansford is about 27 years old and he joined the church about 3 years ago now. He has a very powerful testimony of this work, and told us a little of his conversion. He is the Only member of his family, but came to an absolute knowledge that the Book of Mormon is true, that this is the true Church of Jesus Christ on the Earth the first time that he prayed to know if it was true. It was a really cool story!

So anyways this week I went on splits with this Elder named Elder Rios from Argentina, and he is my District Leader too so that was fun, he is really funny! We had a lot of success together, but it was in his are, but thats alright! The other funny thing is that his brother is in the mission too and they are living in the same apartment, and they were companions in the past too so that was pretty crazy!! I have learned to appreciate some of the laws in the U.S. about fireworks, because here there is no restrictions and people light off huge ones in the street, so it always makes you jump!

We had the ward Christmas party here this week as well! Elder Morinico and I helped prepare the empanadas and peel the potatoes and the onions for about two and a half hours. It was a fun party, but they start meetings and church things so late here its so funny, it started at 9, but no one showed up until ten at night and it went until 1 in the morning!! Pretty different than the U.S. huh?? Its a different world down here sometimes!!

Well I dont have much time today, so I guess I will leave with a little testimony. During this time of Christmas we feel something that is different than any other time of the year. We feel greater love, more gratitude, and a greater hope for the coming year. That is because if the unequivocal truth that Jesus Christ lives and that he loves us. His birth is one of the marks of his divinity. It was a miracle that the Savior of the world was born in the most humble circumstances, and ´´made a little lower than the angels.´´ The wonder and power of his ministry, his life, his infinite and atoning sacrifice, and his resurrection are enough to leave one awestruck. I cannot adaquately express in words my gratitude for his example, his love, his life, and the price he paid for me and the rest of humanity, if they would only ´´come unto Christ and be perfected in Him´´ He is my Lord, my God, and King!! It is my testimony that he lives, that his love and mercy are perfect and that He lived His life for us, and had no selfish desires in Him. He perfectly pleased the Father! He deserves the Glory and the praise forever and ever and I love and worship him with all my heart!! Everyone have a Merry Christmas, and don´t forget, for one second, Jesus the Christ!! I love you all, Feliz Navidad!!!

Love,
Elder Passantino


truth that Jesus Christ lives and that he loves us. His birth is one of the marks of his divinity. It was a miracle that the Savior of the world was born in the most humble circumstances, and ´´made a little lower than the angels.´´ The wonder and power of his ministry, his life, his infinite and atoning sacrifice, and his resurrection are enough to leave one awestruck. I cannot adaquately express in words my gratitude for his example, his love, his life, and the price he paid for me and the rest of humanity, if they would only ´´come unto Christ and be perfected in Him´´ He is my Lord, my God, and King!! It is my testimony that he lives, that his love and mercy are perfect and that He lived His life for us, and had no selfish desires in Him. He perfected pleased the Father! He deserves the Glory and the praise forever and ever and I love and worship him with all my heart!! Everyone have a Merry Christmas, and don´t forget, for one second, Jesus the Christ!! I love you all, Feliz Navidad!!!

Love,
Elder Passantino

¿Como Les Van?

Dear Family and Friends :)

This week has been a really great week! It turns out that ELder Morinico and I are staying together here in Rodeo de la Cruz for one more transfer so I am really excited about that!! At first before we found out about the transfers I sort of wanted something new, but after I found out that we would be staying I felt the sweet confirmation from the Spirit that we still had more work to do together and more to learn from each other. From that time until now we have been feeling a greater measure of the Spirit and greater Unity in our teaching. Also we have had more open conversations and just grown a lot closer so that has been great! I love serving this mission for the Lord, he blesses you in so many ways because he just truly knows us better than ourselves. It is such a comforting knowledge to have, that we have a Father in Heaven looking out for us and leading us in the path he wants for us, if we will only listen to His voice and heed His Spirit. So I am so excited to be staying in this area and serving with ELder Morinico for this transfer. I feel so blessed!

This week I had an interesting experience while I was talking to a lady on the street. We had been talking for about ten minutes when she said that she recognized my name! She said she knew some Passantino´s that lived in a city called Maipu which is about twenty min from where we are right now! That was exciting to hear so I wrote down all I could remember about where she said they lived and hopefully I can visit it sometime in my mission. She didn't know the street names or anything, but hopefully I can find it sometime! It was just one of the tender mercies of the Lord to me and hopefully I will be able to find some family down here :)

So yesterday I gave another talk in church about Christmas and how that relates to us having to renew our faith and Jesus Christ. It was tough because we got the call we were speaking as we were going to sleep the night before, so I did my best to prepare during one of the first meetings in church (because sacrament meeting is last here) and I gave it. I´m not going to lie it was a little rough, but I made it through and was able to bear my testimony of the Divinity of Christ as our Lord God and Redeemer so I think that is the most important part!!! I am grateful for the Gift of the Holy Ghost to comfort me through stressful times like that and help me accomplish a daunting task.

We had the opportunity to watch the Christmas Devotional last night and I was so happy I could participate in that event. Even though it was all in Spanish I felt the power of the Spirit testify to my soul that Jesus is the Christ, the Only Begotten Son in the Flesh. There was a beautiful song that the choir sang in the middle that talked about something to the affect of what my gift was going to be for Christ. Well I was very touched by that simple declaration and like the Wise Men of old I want to give Christ a gift this Christmas. Well first and foremost it will be a worthy, stalwart mission where he will be the unwavering focus of my attention, but more importantly I will give him the gift of my life. A life in service in worship, love, and declaring the truths that he has written on my heart. It was just the strength I needed and woke me up even a little bit about what my duty to God is and how I can do better in His service. I also know these men, although imperfect and human, are called of God to be his apostles and prophet on the earth today, and their job is to testify of Christ and give Him all the glory. How grateful I am and blessed!

I think that the mission field is one of the greatest Spiritual learning areas in the world. ALthough I had studied the scriptures before and gained a testimony of the truth, the Spirit that I have had with me of late has given me actual wisdom from on high not just an intelletual knowledge. Wisdom is a gift of God and I am glad I received it in portions throughout my life on certain subjects and that I am receiving it even now through the unwavering focus on God our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ His Son!

Family, you are right skype is the best way to communicate with me, and I still don´t have the number but that will be coming probably next week so don't worry we will get that all worked out! I am so grateful for the greatest friends and family in the world :) You are all amazing! I am doing amazing and feeling better than ever in my life. One is never happier than in the service of God.

Love,
ELder Passantino

P.S: I love you all more than anything keep it up and know the Gospel is true!!!!

¿Como Les Van?

Well this week has been an interesting week. We have all been anticipating the transfers that we are going to find out today so that should be fun!! Im excited to find out what happens so it should be pretty awesome! I have a feeling I will be leaving Rodeo but Im still not quite sure. I have grown to love the people here and feel of their love, but whatever happens I will be ready and love it :)


Well we wanted to see the Christmas Devo so bad, but it started at 10:30 here so they are rebroadcasting it next Sunday in the stake and hopefully wherever I might be off to they will rebroadcast it over there too. It doesn't really feel like Christmas because its blazing hot, but we watched one of the church videos called Joy to the World and it got me more into the Christmas Spirit! I love Christmas time it is definitely my favorite time of the year ;) I am so grateful for my Savior and His atoning sacrifice for all of us! There is a special spirit around this time which I love because usually people try to be nicer and get back on track with themselves and with God. I truly love it!!!

This week an Elder in our Pension left back for home in Peru, his name is ELder Aparcana. He was a grear Elder and full of love and happiness!! He was so sad to leave it was tough. He was so nervous to go home, and you can tell he just loved his mission with all his heart, but we all assured him that his mission doesnt stop when he goes home, it just changes gears. I was grateful to get to know such a good man.

ALso we had our first Ward Missionary Activity this week that we set up. My companion worked really hard on making a scripture hunt game all throughout the church and outside too. So we worked a lot of the week on that and I prepared the Spiritual thought. We didn't have quite as big as a turnout as we would have liked, but the people who came had a lot of fun, and the Spirit was there so that was an awesome experience. I have really learned to love the people and follow the promptings of the Spirit. Well I am going to write some more people back this week because we don't have a lot of time this week, but I love you all and you are all in my prayers! Another excellent week is over and I am pressing forward with faith and the Spirit!!!

SIncerely,
Elder Brian Passantino