I'm On A Boat - 12/18/17

Hey Fam!! Well I have moved on to a new phase in my mission. Friday night I got a call from Elder Slade, the secretary of the mission and let me know that I would bne leaving Reconquista and going to Goya Corrientes. I was super shocked... I honestly didnt believe it for a little. But here I am in Goya. I was a little bummed to leave reconquista because there are 5 for sure baptisms that will happen this transfer with people I have been teaching since I got there but I am super excited to be here cause my new comp is ELder Teves. This dude is SO cool. He is one of the few guys in the mission that I would like to meet up with again and keep in contact. I got to know him a little 2 transfers ago when he was in the REconquista zone but then was emergancy transfered to be a zone leader in Goya. Well one tranfer after, I get transfered to be his comp. He is from Buenos Aires and is such a genuine guy. He is super well known in the mission for being a super successsful missionary and very carasmatic. Also, Goya is a super cool town. It is basically the same size as Reconquista, but is alot more anciently buit. The streets are a lot more crowded and the buildings are older. I am really excited to be here for christmas. 

This week we were unable to have our #lighttheworld event because it rained. So they suspended it for this next saturday in which the Ortiz Family will be baptised. And in this mission, it is just impossible to ask for permission to go to a baptism in another zone because zones here are super far apart. For example, Reconquista and Goya are 3 hours apart in boat and 9 hours apart in bus. But I will get pictures of the event and the baptism next week. But it was bittersweet saying bye to my good friends in reconwuista. Julio Ponce was probably one on my best friends that I gained there. He is just a really educated guy who knows how to treat people. He will be a very influencial leaderr in the church in reconquista and I am excited for his future. He is a member of one year who will be getting his endowments this next week. It is a interesting story becuase his whole family got baptised together and now him and his daughter are the only ones left active while his wife and other kids go to another evangelical church. Super strong and faithful. 

With transfers, I got a call from the asistents that they were going to do a test with me. Like I said, it is 9 hours from recon to Gya, But there is also a Boat that goes crosses the Rio Paraná taking mainly semi trucks and other vehicals. And is only 3 hours compared to the bus option. So at 6am I got on a boat and crossed the river. It was super fun. But funny story when I got off the boat in Goya, There wasnt any body there to pick me up. I got off and then sat in an empty dirt parking lot for 2 hours alone waiting for some missionary from goya to come pick me up and take me into goya(because the dock is 5 miles away from the actualy city). So there I was and then at 10:30am a car came and a guy got out and asked me if I had saw a certain girl get off the boat, Which I had and told him that she got in another car and left for Goya. He then offered to take me into goya, And I accepted because I felt like it would be a perfect oppurtunity to let a stranger have a good experience helping/serving a mormon missionary. I got into Eziquiel´s car(that was his name) and we talked all the way to goya. While I was in the car, I realized that it mightve been a stupid idea to get into a starngers car, but it turned out to be a really nice experience and I learned that his 91 year old grandmoother was having surgery that afternoon. I got his address and passed it to the sisters that work in the area of where he lives. 

But I am super happy to be here... I am thinking it muight be my last area. TOday I got my trunky papers, which is a document the mission sends us in which we have to inform them what air port we want to be sent to(I put cancun) , the email of mom & dad, and stuff like that. So it is just a sign of the times. But I am super excited to get some real work done here in Goya with ELder Teves. I will let you all go for now. But know tha tI love yall. 

Corbin Keicher

Walked 45 Minutes to Church - 12/11/17

Hey Fam! This is the last week of the transfer. I`m not sure what will happen.. really anything Could happen, so we`ll just have to wait and see. This past week a lot happened. We continue planning our #LightTheWorld event in downtown Reconquista where we will have a little concert made up of our choir singing christmas carols. Then the second half will consisto videos and speakers that talk about the LightTheWorld inititive and about Christ. But we have to coordínate the rounds, projector, screen, ballons(cause we are going to launch 100 hilium ballons), and other stuff. But we are in the radio and posting stuff all over so we are going to have a lot of people there. 

We also had emergancy tranfers in our zone with Elder Carro. He got sent to resistencia and Elder Albuqueque(from sao paolo) replaced him in our zone. So we were dealing with that earlier in the week. I took a Photo with elder carro in the bus terminal and then a Photo with  a taxi driver, who is an inactive member, who let us put a #iluminaelmundo flier in his taxi. Like I explained last week, elder carro has a torn acl so the emergancy transfer was for that. Not sure of much longer he will be in the misión… but not too much longer. 

We also had a baptism this week! Woah… it was of Agustina who is 13 years old. It was a good bautismal service, and now she is ready to go to the temple with the rest of the branch after christmas. The Ortiz Family is doing Amazing. They definatly are having their trails and are having their faith tested, but they are still super excited for the 23rd. We had a lesson with Luciana(the mom) and Agustina(daughter) where we were talking about the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we talked about baptismo, Agustina told us she wanted to get baptised on the 5th of feb because that is her birthday. Haha it made me laugh… and Luciana told us that she is down to 2 cigerrets a day right now…. So we explained the importance of getting baptised together as a family. We then explained the potencial they will have to be able to go to the temple next christmas as a family to get sealed if they all get baptised together. They loved that idea, and continue strong, they even made it to church Sunday despite the fact that they dont have a form of transportation but they still walked 45 minutes to church as a family in 90 degree heat! Please keep this family in your prayers… 

But we have a christmas conference with half the misión tomorrow in Resi and then this weekend the LightTheWorld event. Should be an eventful week for the misión. But that is it from me this week. I hope you all are feeling the spirit, not just of christmas but of Christ. I would invite you to really set apart some time from the crazy locura of chrstmas time to sit down and reflect on Christ. Watch some inspired videos on mormon channel, listen to some inspired talks from His prophets and apostals, and to read from inspired words given to ancient prophets of God about Him and why he is so important for you… I love you all and hope you all have a great week! 

Sincerely,
Corbin Keicher

MISIÒN ARGENTINA RESISTENCIA

ps- difficult day with the ciber so no photos this week :(

Tremendo golpe en la cara - 11/28/17

Well that week flew by and here i am again writting another letter. 

A lot of things happened this week. I will start off with the progress of the work in our area. We putting most of our focus on 2 young families and an older couple right now. The family that is progressing the most is the Ortiz family. We starting teaching them 4 weeks ago. Their family consists of Luciana(mom45), Eugenio(dad45), Antonella(daughter13), and Luciano(son17). There the family that, last week, we found out were married. Well, Tuesday and thursday we had great lessons with them and challenged them to a baptismal date for the 16 of december. Then Saturday night we had branch council with the branch leaders. Julio Ponce(a member as of a year) got sustained as the elders quorm president and I can already tell that he is going to make a huge difference in the branch. He is very well known throughout all of reconquista, and is very educated. I am excited for him because he and his whole family got baptised a year ago. And now his wife and older kids have left the church and are now attending an evagenlical church. But he comes ever Sunday and will be going through the temple this christmas. Such a good example for the branch here. But Anyway, Branch council got done at 7:45, and Elder Oliva wanted to get his hair cut because every single barber shop in Argenitna is closed Mondays, so while we were at the barber shop, I got a call from Brother Casafu(friend of Eugenio Ortiz) telling me that Eugenio was invloved in a bad motorcycle accident and that he was in the hosptal. Luckly Julio Ponce and the branch president were still in the chruch so I called them and they headed over to the hospital. He got all his teeth knocked out and bad cuts to his face. He wasnt wearing a heltmet and basically rearended the back of a car. But despite having 10 stitches put into his face and the pain he was in the next day(Sunday) He was in Chruch with his wife and daughter. He is a guy that was characterised to us as a heavy drinker just a worldly man. But in these4 weeks, his wife has told us that he has changed SO much. The preisthood herein the branch has really taken him under their wing and are supporting him. This morning, we sacrificed the morning of our p-day to go and visit him and see how he was recovering. We taught him ether 12:6.  

6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witnessuntil after the trial of your faith.

And then we talked about the word of wisdom and challenged them to start living the WoW. So we will be following up with them. But it got me thinking, if I wouldve been in a accident like that, Would i have still gone to church the next day? BUt anyway, thats how the Ortiz family is doing. Their baptism is planned for the 1st week of the next transfer so not sure if I will be here for it but that doesnt really matter. 

Along with the Ortiz family, the Duarte Family came to church Sunday... but only stayed for the 1st hour. We have been struggling with them. They have been visiting with the missionaries since Febrero and are not really progressing. The husband(Fabian) doesnt have a testmony of the Gospel or restoration, just of the missionaries and the branch BBQ´s and the wife Mercedes does have a testimoney of the gospel and the church... and the missionaies but they have some things they have to work through in order to get baptised. For one, they have to get married. Before with elder Souzze, they said that they wanted to have a steady job and finish their house before they got baptised... well now they have a steady job and their house is almost done..... still with no action on their part to get married. We are goping to give them one last chance before dropping them. We are inviting married members to come with us to lessons and try to show them how marriage, and the restord gospel will bless their family... but it is still up to them and they have to use their agency. SO we are still waiting on them. 

Thats the update on the work here in Recopnquista for now. I am doing well. I am excited for Multi-Zona conferece tomorrow in Resi. Then This Weekend we have district conference. President Patania is coming down to preside and to hold interviews for us missioanries and for the members that are planning on going to the temple in Buenos Aires this christmas. For District conference, I was put in charge of directing the choir. So these past 3 weeks I have been coordinating the songs that the choir will sing. So that has been fun... but i dont really know how to direct a choir so I ve been kinda winging it. 

But i hope that the turkey was yummy and that spencers first Car Rental scene from Planes Trains and Automobils didnt scare him off. But Im sure he should be used to the Keicher shananagins by now.. Have a great week . Love ya 

E´ Corbin Keicher

¨Uh Yeah... We Getting In The Taxi." - 12/4/17

What a memorable week! 

This past week we have been on constant divisions with the elders from Vera because Elder Carro from Argentina had multiple appointments with doctors here in Reconquista to look at his knee. Wednesday he took a soft tissue x-ray and then on thursday a knee specialist looked at the results. And it turns out that Elder Carro has a torn ACL!! jaja crazy! He supposedly tore it before the mission playing soccer but never got it diagnosed. And now, after 17 months in the mission it is really starting to bother him. So President basically told him that he cant have the surgery while he is on the mission... so he will have to go home when he wants to get operated on. The goal for him to go home is the end of next transfer(Jan27). So I havent been able to work at all with my comp elder oliva this week. I have either been with Elder Carro or Elder Bankhead from Utah.

Tuesday- We had Multi-Zona conference in Resistencia, which is 3 hours away. So we have to contract a shuttle to take us to and from Resi. We were scheduled to leave at 5:30am, So I set my watch alarm fro 4am.... and at 5:43am I wake up to the phone ringing, it was Elder Ashby.... he goes, ¨Hey where are you guys?¨ and from my bed completely startled and confused I said, ¨uh Yeah... we getting in the taxi.¨haha We totally slept through the alarm. I was so mad!! I figured out that when the watch went off, my hand was stuffed under my pillow and muffed the sound and no one heard it! Well the four of us got ready and called a taxi and got to the church we the shuttle was at 5:55am. 

But it was a great multi-Zone conference. Saw a bunch of old mission friends and a bunch of new elders/sisters that Ive never met. It is weird being on of the oldies in the mission. After the conference we went to ¨Paseo libertad¨ in resistencia which is basically a mini mall that has a Burger King! The only Burger King in the mission! It wasnt the same, but it was a little taste of the states. We took some photos. 

Wednesday- Elder Bankhead and I went to Romang, a pueblo 40 away from reconquista. We visited with the only members there who got baptised a little over a year ago. They arnt doing to well, spiritually or economically. They are struggling. We read ether 12:12 with them and talked about faith. 

Thrusday- was kinda boring because I spent most of it with Elder Carro, we were in the doctors office and didnt do any work... I did order a nativity from a place that makes wood crafts. So i odered a a wooded nativity with Lucas 2: 11 carved in it. 

Saturday- THe mission President, president Patania came to recnoquista because he presided yesturday in the district conference and he held our regular interviews in the morning. I had a good interview with him.. we talked about the work and the branch here in recon. We also talked about a big public event we want to do here in the plaza in downtown reconquista. I told him that I wouldnt have a problem staying in reconquista... and he asked me if I wanted to train a new zone leader... so im knot sure what exaclty will happen but I think I will be staying here from awhile.. 

Sunday- Yesturday was AWESOME! there were 150 memeber from the 3 branches of the district. I directed the choir which was made up of half members and half missionaries. We sang ´´Childs Prayer´´ to start and then ended with ´´Hark the Harold Angels Sing´´. It actaully turned out really nice.. and president Patania said that he wants our zone to sing that from the christmas conference on the 12th. The Ortiz family came to the conference! they are awesome! They are just your golden Investigator. I wasnt able to meet with them this week with divisions, but Sunday I took a picture with them after the meeting. They are scheduled to be baptised on the 23rd of December. Keep them in your prayers as the mom has to kick the cigerett and the dad has to drop the Bottles! 

We also found out this week that one of the Young women in the branch, who is going to the temple with the branch to do baptisms, doesnt have any records in the church. She is 13 and the branch president and the mission president think that her records never got filed to salt lake. And basically there is no proof that she is a member.... so we are going to have to baptise her this week, but do it in a low key, kinda private way, because she is a fully active member... but according to the records, she isnt. So we will technically  have a baptism this week. kinda wierd. 

This month we have alot of fun this planned. On the 12th, we have a chrsitmas conference in Resistencia with half the mission. On the 17th, we talked to the city council of reconquisdta and reserved the stage in the main plaza in downtown reonquista and will be doing a #LightTheWorld event similar to what the church did in Buenos Aires...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbTTqnS1gFs 

We are really excited but we will have to do a lot of planning and organizing to do it well. 

But that is it from me this week. I havent seen the christmas devotional yet, but I´ll see if the zone wants to watch it tonight for district meeting. I hope you all have a great week. We were able to complete with Day 2 of #LightTheWorld because as Elder BankHead and I were going back to the appartment, we saw a member walking home from work. His name is Eziquiel, he works as a secerity gaurd in Avellaneda. I was confused to why he was walking, he said that his motorcycle broke and had to walk. Well Avellaneda is an hora and a half hour walk, 3 hour round trip. He looked beat and tired, so we gave him some of our ice cold grapefruit soda we had just bought and he went on his way. Day 2 was to give water to someone who was thursty. I hope you can all have fun with the lighttheworld initiative and do some good this month. I hope you all have a great week! 

Love,

Corbin Keicher

Netafim in Recon? 11/21/2017

Hows it going all!

Well this week was FILLED with a bunch of fun activities and a lot of success. In the begining of the week, we went to  a school in Reconquista because an English teacher named Julio stopped me in the street a couple weeks ago and asked me to go and present myself to his students and share with them the american culture. So we went and it was super fun. I basically just talked to them for 25 minutes and explained who we were, why we are here, and I explained a couple cultural differences between the states and Argentina. It was super fun and they seemed super intriged. But being in their school made me feel so grateful for the type of education i got at legend, even though there are always things to improve on.... the resources are there and was honestly privledged in comparasion to the type of school I visited. 

The class i visited. They would be the equivalant of juniors and senors in high school in the states.    

 We also had a really fun activity Friday night that turned out not exactly how w because there were more investigators than members at the activity. haha There were 4 investigators, 3 members, and 4 missionaries. But it was still super fun. We did a scavanger hunt for a tresure chest. We hid 10 clues all around the church property. There were 2 groups and they had to race to find the tresure. In the tresure chest, we put  all the spiritual tresures that we need to value, The sacrament, temple, book of mormon/biblia, prayer, mondern day prophets, etc. and I also bought 12 alfajores to put in because there needed to be a temporal tresure as well haha. We were a little disappointed with the turn out of members but the good thing was that the investigators didnt mind and had a good time. 

Yesturday, we went with the preisthood to ``puerto`` which is 15 minutes from reconquista for their fishing activity. That was super fun. Unfortunatly we are allowed to fish in the mission, or be in a boat. When we got there, all the of preisthood, crossed this small part to go fish from the island because there was a lot more space to fish. So we had to stay on the other side but luckily, 3 guys stayed with us and we went to a different part to fish. Also in puerto, there are a bunch of abandened ships, there was this really old/rutsy one that we went and explored. I took some cool photos on that. But after returning back to reconquista, we learned that every cyber was closed because of some holiday... and the church has been without internet for 5 days because someone forgot to pay the bill so the internet got cut. SO not sure how much longer we will be without internet. So thats why I am emailing today. 

Abandoned ship we explored    

The boat you take to the other side. Literally like 50 yard/30 second boat ride.     

Elder Oliva and I on the shore of the river    

 My comp elder Oliva needs to get a root canal, so we went to the dentist last wednesday, and we walked into his office and on his wall he has a huge painting of the maroon bells in the rocky mountains. So I took a picture and the dentist was like, ¨you like the painting?¨ and I explained to him that that mountain is where I live... close to my house. 

The Dentist office and Maroon Bells painting

And then you wont believe what I found this week. We were walking back from lunch. and as we were walking I was casually looking at a group of buildings we were passing, when saw a building that was a tractor/farm supply warehouse. Well on this warehouse was a NETAFIM ¨drip irrigation¨ sign. I stop walking and just stared at the sign for like 15 seconds. My comp was like, ¨what is it?¨ haha I went and entered the building and asked a group of three guys that were seated there, ¨Do you guys sell netafim.¨ The fattest guy look at me and arrogantly said, ¨we used to but not anymore, its too expensive.¨ I pulled out my leatherman that has the netafim logo on it and explained to them that my dad works for netafim. THen the fat guy kept talking about how expensive netafim is and that it would take 12 years to start seeing benefits.... blah blah blah. I left and took a picture with the sign and then we left. But who wouldve thought that there was netafim in Reconquista Argentina... well there used to be.

NETAFIM

To update you all on out investigators, this week Luciana and Eugenino Ortiz attened church, this time with their 13 year old daughter antonella. We learned this week that they are Married!!!! so now we are going to put some goals with them  and teach the word of wisdom and see how they progress. Also Alejandra and carlos attened church as well and they are doing well. We learned that Carlos is married to another woman and will have to get divorced in order to get baptised. And here ethat process takes a ong time... 3 months with lawyer or 2 years without lawyer. And I am not sure they will be able to affored a lawyer. So we will continue working with them but for now things with them wont be as fast as one would want. 

But that was my week. I hope you all have a great week. Read ether 12, I studied that chapter this week and loved it. Lots of things to take from the chapter about faith. 

Elder Keicher

Argentines playing soccer