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