The Oven of Argentina

Hey Fam,

Well i am in the middle on literally nowhere!! haha but it is kinda cool. haha a lot of things for me are very different. I will go and explain somethings that happened this past week. Firstly, on Wednesday I picked up my new comp Elder Taylor from the office. He landed in Resistencia last Tuesday and he is from the Bay area in California. But crazy thing happened while we were at the office. So usually what happens when missionaries arrive in the mission field is that on Wednesday morning, they get assigned their trainers. After that we have a lunch all together and watch a mission video. But while we were eating lunch, one of the new latinos started having a seizure. It was kinda scary and weird and president Franco and Sister Franco ran in and we all left the cultural hall. But after 15 minutes he was okay and we all returned to the cultural hall to finish eating our lunch. Probably just a stress thing. But anyway, from there Elder Taylor and I left to the bus terminal to take a 6 hour bus to IBARRETA, Formosa. It was actually split up into two bus rides. a 2 and a half hour bus to Formosa Capital. then a 3 and a half hour bus to Ibarreta. So I am out here... and there isn't much. There are actually indian colonies out here that have members in them. But yes it is HOT. Usually sits around 40-43 degrees celsius. But these first 3 days, the Air Conditioning was having problems with the uneven electrical circut and for these days we couldn't use the AC at night.... and I remember I think Friday night I went to bed at 10:30pm and inside our little house it was 95 degrees. Luckly I had the little fan that mom sent me and I just set that on my chest and I had air blowing in my face all night. But we got that fixed and now we have good constant AC in the house. But Ibarreta is pretty small and a lot of dirt roads. It is a lot different but one thing that is really nice is that there is a really nice church here. It totally sticks out like a sore thumb but it is nice. I am writting from that church right now. One thing that was also kinda fun was that on the bus rides here they played movies. When we got on they were playing the end of a film with Tina Fey when she goes to like India or something as a reporter. But that was in Spanish. Then they played a movie in english but it was soo cheesy.

I got to spend sometime with Elder Potts new trainer and his name is Elder Howe. I found out that his older brother was in my ward up at Utah State last year. I thought that was cool. This week we have a world wide broadcast with Elders Bednar, Oaks, and Andersen who are going to be talking to all of the missionaries. It will happen on the 25th. So that will be fun to attend and listen too. 

It is definitely different getting thrown into a brand new area and having to train at the same time. It is difficult to have to do everything and get to know an area you have never been in. Right now I feel like my language isn't as good as it should or could be. I felt really good after being companions with Elder Gallegos cause he was a kid from Buenos Aires but now I have gone 2 months with new american missionaries and I feel like my ability to understand and communicate has diminished. But I am just pressing forward. I know that if I just do what I am supposed to do and work hard everything will be okay. 

Anyway that is basically my email for this week from FORMOSA, ARG. You all sound great. Keep pressing forward and keep true to the things that matter. 

Sincerely,

Elder Corbin Keicher

(Photos of the little house and inside the bus)

Change is a Good Thing

Hey Fam,

Big changes AGAIN this transfer this week. I AM LEAVING wooaaahhh.... and I am training again. haha so I will be picking up my next trainee tomorrow and then heading up to.... Ibarreta, Formosa. This province of Argentina is comparable to West Virgina of the states. The language is dirty and the conditions are super poor. And everytime I meet a missionary and tell them that I am going there, they just look at me and say, "Im sorry man". haha SO It will be interesting and a growing experience. Especially since I am going to a new area that neither I or my comp (obviously) knows. But anyway I am super excited to train again and I definitly learned a lot of things this past transfer. I will be traveling 8 hours in a bus tomorrow after I get my comp from the office. It will be my first real bus ride here. They play movies on the buses over the speakers so hopefully I get a good one. haha

This past week was fun. I had a feeling that I was going to leave so I made sure I got to say goodbye to the people that I was close too. On Sunday I got a call from the branch president at 8:12am asking me to give a talk that day. So I quickly reviewed somethings I studied this past week in personal study and then we went to church. At 9:41 the branch president gave me the rest of the time in the church.... soooo I got up and I actually gave the best talk I have ever given. I truely felt the gift of tounges guiding my words or I guess the spirit but it was really cool and I actually didnt have any nerves. I talked until 10:02 and it ended up being really cool. And I can credit all of it to the time I dedicate to Personal study. Thats something that I thoroughly enjoyed and have been trying to take full advantage of that hour I have each day. 

But anyway I took some photos this week. They are all on dropbox but I will attach some on this email. I took some photos with members that I loved. The one with the old guy is the guy that gave me the name "Elder Ketchup". I took a photo of the keys here cause they look like Hogwart keys and look ancient. We also had interviews this past week which was a lot of fun. The actual interview is pretty short like 10 minutes. Just a "how are things going?" "Hows your health?" "DO you have any concerns?" Then it is done. But here in July we will be getting a new president so it will be interesting to see what changes will be made. We will also be watching a world wide broadcast from salt lake on the 25 that is going to be broadcasted to all the missions in the world. They are going to be doing a little schedule changes to the missionary daily schedule and a few other things. SO that will be fun. But anyway.... I am excited to this new change. I will be writing you guys from a different place next week. I love you all and hope you have a great week. Love ya'll

Elder Corbin Keicher

Frog In A Bucket

Hello!!

Well another week in sweaty white shirts is in the books. Nothing too crazy... kind of a quiet week here. This is the last week of the transfer. on Sunday evening we will get a call and then monday is a normal day and Tuesday is P-day next week. Something kinda of sad happened here in Fontana on the 31st/new years eve. An inactive family lost a 11 year old girl due to a cement pillar that fell on her. Totally random and super sad. For the 6 months I have been here in Fontana I have never seen this family at church or even knew who they were. But a couple members in the branch that did know them were devastated. I tried to go find them they other day when I was on divisions but it is just so hard to find. We looked for 45 minutes but to no avail.

We struggled the first part of the week to find out investigators at home and all our appointments fell through. These past couple days we were able to find some good new investigators and find some investigators in their house. Unfortunately our investigators with a baptism date didn't make it to church. So we will just have to keep inviting and set some goals on that end. 

This past weekend I had a pretty simple spiritual experience that helped my testimony on prayer. When I started my fast this past saturday, I began the fast with a prayer and during the prayer I just felt the spirit so softly. I really felt like my prayer was being heard. Sometimes, especially as a missionary, prayers are said so often that it becomes a routine and sometimes I forget to really pray from my heart. I have noticed that the more I put into my prayers, the stronger Heavenly Father responds and testifies to my heart. 

Basically that was the week for me. A member gave us some mangos they had picked from a tree. I was super excited to try them cause I have never had the chance to eat a fresh mango before. But it ended up tasting horrible and not good at all. Anyway I love you all and hope you enjoy the snow while I bake ;)  

LOVE,

Elder Corbin Keicher

ps. We found a frog in out water bucket that collects water drops from out AC unit. It stayed there for like 12 hours. 

This Week I Ate...

Hey Fam,

How are you all doing? I am doing great here in ARG and have actually experienced a few firsts in my life this week. The first 1st was it was the first New Years Eve I did not stay up til midnight. They go crazy with fireworks here all over the streets and they party til 4am in the morning. Other Elders had told me it is hard to sleep on those nights because of all the noise. So I popped 2 Ibprofan PM and was out by 10:30. Didnt even wake up. But I didnt really do much for New Years. We had to be in the Apartment by 7pm on the 31st and 1st. The other "1st" was I ate ostrich. haha we went over to a members house for lunch the other day and they asked me if I have ever ate ostrich before. I actually didnt understand them cause Ostrich was a word I didnt ever think about learning but then they showed me the ostrich they killed on their phone and then I realized what they were talking about. We ate it in the form of empanadas so it was actually really good. Just tasted like regular meat. Nothing too special but it was definitely different. Then this past week we had a branch activity which was just a little party to celebrate Christmas and the new year as a branch. We had both of our investigator families there and they seemed to enjoy it. It is super funny because Augustin Boasso who i like 15 was playing Clash of Clans on his phone at the activity and I kinda freaked. haha I saw him accross the room playing with his phone sideways, which is a key giveaway that he was playing clash. So I got to be a nerd for 10 minutes and I gave him some tips on how to play the game cause he had just downloaded it. But dont worry... I didnt play it. hahaha

Anyway I very much enjoyed talking to you guys. It was awesome seeing you guys and conversing for the time we had. It was great seeing and hearing your humor. One thing maybe we could do different is do one on one talking to start then all come together at the end as a group. Just a thought. It is still quite Hot and Humid... it is different.

 Anyway I will leave you guys with a message from Elder Rasband that he gave to mission presidents in the South America region a while back. It was great and I hope you enjoy: 

Seminar of Mission Presidents – Ushuaia, Argentina
Remember, O Lord, the presidents, even all the presidents of thy church, that thy right hand may exalt them, with all their families, and their immediate connections, that their names may be perpetuated and had in everlasting remembrance from generation to generation. D&C 109:71
After reading section 109, verse 71 of the Doctrine and Covenants (above), Elder Rasband said: I pronounce this same blessing on each one of you, each person, each individual, each couple, each of your families, each of your children and your children´s children, your missionaries, and your immediate connections, whether near or far.
I promise that this compensating blessing is given to you and your family because of your consecrated work. I am grateful for your service. You have raised your arms to the square in sacred Temples and now you are here. You are a sacred assembly of the Lord´s elect.
I bless you as though my hands were on your heads that Heavenly Father will give you health and strength and physical stamina and guiding revelation that you will be filled with enthusiasm and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost.
Tell your missionaries that this same blessing is extended thru you to them as well. Tell them to be fearless, to be bold but not overbearing. As they work to find and teach, they will feel the power to invite their investigators to make commitments that will help them progress to baptism.
This is the Lord´s work. Know that you are equal partners with us in this great work.
I invoke this blessing upon you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. 

I hope you all reap the blessings in your lives and recognize them. Have a great week. 

Sincerely,

Elder Corbin Keicher

111 Degree Christmas

Hey fam,

It was sweet talking/seeing you guys for 2 minutes yesterday. I will tell you this tomorrow but I will write it down anyway for record. On Christmas Eve is when Argentines do most of the celebrating. But to start I have to begin Friday night. My comp and I were heading back to our place it was like 8:30pm and I decided that we would buy some empenadas for dinner cause they sounded good. So we did so and Friday night I ate 12 empenadas which is kinda alot but I had done it before. And of course I downed it all with a nice Argentine Coke. I was pretty full from the soda and empenadas going to bed. But that all ended up being a mistake cause I woke up Saturday with a horrible stomach ach. I didnt feel like i needed to throw up but my stomach just hurt. Then as i got ready and was doing personal study.... it hit me.... diarrhea. And I was in and out of the bathroom all morning and we couldn't leave. Then we left to appartment at 1pm to go to our main Christmas lunch with the Aguirre family who is also the 1st consulor and his wife washes our clothes. So we are pretty close with them. But my stomach was feeling kinda weak going there but luckly I was able to eat all the food and sprite with out problems. That was basically the main Christmas meal for us because Sunday a member just brought us food to the church and then we ate it at our place after church. But Christmas was pretty anti-climactic. Just Church then just chilling in the church building watching Elders talk to their families. We were going to talk at the church building of our Zone leaders and bake brownies and cookies there but the Internet was not working at all. So we had to take a Taxi across the city to us the Family History Center in the big main Church building in the Mission (435 Entre Rios). Then after we were done with that we just went back to our place cause it was the end off the day. Kinda boring. Not to mention the taxi driver said it was 44 degrees celsius or 110 fahrenhiet with humidity. It was pretty weird. 

But as for the work.... it's actually going ok. We found a lot of new people last week so it makes it a little easier to plan when you have names to put down haha. But our investigators with baptismal dates didn't go to church... so that's a problem. and I kinda undestand because here Christmas is just like New Years in the States. They party all Christmas Eve with BBQ's and fire works and at midnight they put the kids to bed and then continue partying and drinking until 3-4 in the morning. So waking up like 4 hours after going to sleep to go to church is improbable. And next Sunday is New years day.... so it might be the same issue next week too. But we will try to work with them and at least get them to go to a Branch party Friday night at the church. So that was that this week. I'll talk to you all tomorrow. Write down questions that you have cause I dont know what ya want to know. Love you all and I'll SEE you tomorrow!! 

Elder Corbin Keicher