Awesome Experience

Dear Family and Friends,

My companion and I just had an amazing experience! A couple weeks ago we were walking around in downtown San Juan trying to look for a Cyber that was open. We were getting sort of frustrated because none of them were. As we were walking this guy yells at us, ´´Hey my wife is American and she wants to talk to you.´´ SO we were like alright sweet. She is a polynesian from Hawaii and an ex professional volleyball player. Her husband is from Romania and speaks english and about 4 other languages. He is playing professional volleyball here on a team in San Juan. She is like six three and he is like six five crazy! But anyways she wanted to know if we could help her find some foundations and charities that they could give back to. We said that we could help them out with some cool charity things. So we exchanged numbers and went our ways.

This last week she called us and we set up an appointment at Mcdonalds for today. It was so fun and awesome to talk to them. It turns out that her grandfather served a mission in his youth but died before she ever got to know him. She is Catholic and her husband is Greek Orthodox, but they are so awesome and open. Obviously she grew up in Hawaii so she had a lot of friends that were members and knew a little about the church. so she asked about something to the affect of the family living together after this life. They told us that they had lost two children a short time after their birth. It was two twin boys whom they loved with all of their hearts. A little while after they asked an Orthodox priest what happened to them after they died. He told them that they were not going to go to heaven because they had not been baptized. The women bore a powerful testimony that she had felt that was not true and had really felt it in her heart. You could tell how much they loved their children. We then explained the message of the restoration, the restoration of priesthood keys that make it possible so that families can be together forever. We explained about the Book of Mormon and the prophet Joseph Smith. We bore testimony that they can be sealed to their families for time and all eternity and that if they read and pray and follow the necessary steps, they will be able to be sealed to their children forever. As we said this you could feel the spirit present and the conviction of the words hit their very souls. Tears welled up in her eyes as we testified that her children were fine and that they were learning and progressing like us and that if they did their part they will live as an eternal family.

I am so grateful for the restored truths of the Gosepl of Jesus Christ. It was awesome to teach ny first lesson in English too. Now I just got to find a romanian book of mormon haha. They were truly amazing people and if they ask with a sincere heart, having faith in Christ and do so with real intent they will know the truth of these things just as I do. I am so grateful to God to share the peace and the hope I have.

Have an amazing week I love you all!

Elder Brian Passantino

Hola Familia!

Hola a todos!!!
Well its been a week to remember that is for sure! So as you all know transfers were this week and I thought that Elder Crossa and I were going to stay here in Rawson, but that's not what happened. Elder Crossa left to Mendoza and I stayed with an Elder who came in my group named Elder Austin. SO we have the same time. I got asked to be senior companion and the District Leader! I was way surprised but humbled for the responsibility and trust from the Lord. It´s only my fifth transfer on the mission and I still have so much to learn but I guess we get put in quick growing and learning positions sometimes huh?? I am grateful too because the District is awesome!! They all have a desire to work and work very hard for the cause of the Lord. For this I am grateful :) Hahaha well my companion is a great guy too!! I think the best way to describe him is just a big ball of fun! Oh man the first hour I was with him he spilt milk all over the floor and the table, and then a half an hour later spilt soda everywhere. Then when we started walking he tripped three times and fell down while climbing up the stairs!!! It is so funny sometimes with him but he has a desire to work harder than any of my other companions and has a powerful testimony. He is a great man and we laugh so much each day just because of the kind of person he is :) It should be a very fun and successful transfer!!! I am way excited and so is he and that is just the thing you need in this work!! Excitement for the work of the Lord. My comp looks a bit like Syndrome from the incredibles, mixed with Chris Farley. haha its fun.

The zone of San Juan is awesome as well, and my old good friend Elder Sansford moved here to be the Zone Leader, so I get to learn more from him and get to talk to him every night verifying. We have a huge vision for the zone based on the vision of the stake President. There is a big push and focus to work more and more with the ward and get them involved as much as possible. It makes the work so much easier and brings the fire of the Gospel when we are all working together under one cause, ´´inviting others to come unto Christ.´´ We have all the tools necessary to bring to pass miracles, and we just need to work and trust in God. Its going to be a great transfer!!!

This week we committed a girl named Florencia to baptism for the 30th of April!! Woo Hoo!!! She has been looking for the truth for a while and has felt the confirmation that this is the truth! She went to conference a the last week and said that she felt one of the talks was speaking right to her the whole time :) Aint that the truth?? She has also had spiritual experience while reading the book of MOrmon and praying to know if it was true. The miracle is that we teach to the best of our Spanish abilty... and then if they will read ponder, pray and go to church the Lord will tell them through the Spirit if it is true or not. I love how merciful the Lord is with us, because if we truly want to know the truth and we search with a diligent heart, we will find it. Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. That is the promise that God will not leave you to your own. As long as we allow all truth to penitrate our hearts, and ask Him who cannot lie, he will tell us the truth. I love the Lord my God. I am forever grateful. I love this work. And I love all of you!

Sincerely,
Elder Passantino