Share what you know

 I have gone from wearing short sleeve shirts in 90 degree weather to full sweaters in 30 degree rain. and back again in one week. Not to mention this is supposed to be winter. This is crazy. 

But whats really crazy is that I have delved into this life so fully. so much so that i forgot to mention the baptism we had last week. Rosa . And the one we had this week. Victor. These people are some of my best friends. They are absolutely incredible. Its so fun to see these people that i finally have gotten to know and love start taking these big steps and little choices to change there lives. I know how much these steps are going to help them. The hardest part is getting them to see that from the other side of it. 

We are working with on average about 24 different progressing/half progressing investigators per week. This means at least 6 lessons a day as well as 4 hours of study and meeting with recent converts and less actives. And we still find time to cook awesome fry-bread egg sandwiches at night.

Share the gospel. Share what you know. If you don´t believe in any one thing enough to share it, then you better reevaluate what you´re believing in. Or at least learn more. Truth is like light. once obtained it cannot be hid. It will automatically manifest itself to the world.

And even if after all you can do. If you still question your beliefs, your sources of trust, your actions. Follow this one simple test. 

WORK

"and by their fruits they shall be known"

Work at it in every aspect of your life. I can testify that if you want to know the truth of something. Living it 24/7 will prove it right or wrong. Their have been hard times. (people throwing rocks, slamming doors, people hiding from us, people hurting each other and making our job a million times harder.) and without a perspective of what i´m doing. These would definitely be too much. 

My companion always teaches one thing to people. "¡Busque la buena!"

(look for the good) If you look for the bad you WILL find it. because no of us our perfect. But if you look for the good you will also find it. because we are all different and can learn from each other in this way. Plus God´s plan for us is called the Plan of Salvation. as well as the Plan of Happiness. If you´re not happy at any moment. Switch from your plan to His. And you will find the comfort, perspective, and strength you need to be happy.

Elder Siebers,

With love from Argentina!

"adjusting to missionary life"

This week we got an added bonus from a parent that was visiting Tucuman:

Hello there!  I was recently in Tucuman with my son who returned from the Salta Mission last year.  We happened to visit the Arganaraz family during your son's very first day in Tucuman and probably during his first discussion.  I promised him that I would sent you a photo.  He looked happy (a little lost during the discussion but his Castellano will improve :) )  That is my son in the middle of the full time missionaries.  He helped teach that discussion :)

The members in that branch are wonderful people and love the missionaries.  He will be well taken care of there.

We have a small pension for just the two of us. and we usually cook for breakfast and dinner. 90% of the time we have lunch (an absolutely huge delicious lunch) with the members. The food is incredible. We eat pancakes every other morning, and empanadas every other lunch. Dinner we make raviolis or noquess. Its awesome. I´m much more worried about gaining weight than losing it. i can feel it already.

 Skip wrote Nicholas in Spanish and he replied in Spanish- TRANSLATION TO FOLLOW: yo estoy en una barrio. pues, tecnicamente yo estoy en una mitad de una barrio. Tenemos casi 15 lecciones en una semana. Y también tenemos CR/MA´s. Converso recientes o Menos Activos. Enseñamos casi 10 de ellos también. 

 En una día. Despertarnos a las siete de la mañana y hacer ejercicios y comer desayuno. Después ( a menos que tenemos una lección en la mañana) Estudiamos por 4 horas (cuz i´m a newbie). Tenemos una hora personal, dos horas de compañerismo, y una hora de idioma. Después de eso, vamos a nuestros investigadores y CRMA´s. En una semana tenemos 7 o 8 investigadores progresando mayormente. Eat with a member and go to bed after we have cooked dinner and verified (my comp is the district leader so we call the otros elderes cada noche in order to see how lifes going) We usually get to bed around 11 or 1130.

I'm in a ward, or technically I'm in half of a ward. We have about 15 lessons a week. And we also have CR / MA's. Less Actives or new member discussions. We teach about 10 of them also.   

In a day. Waking up at seven in the morning and do exercises and eat breakfast. Then unless you have a lesson in the morning studied for 4 hours (cuz i'ma newbie). We have a personal hour, two hours of companionship, and one hour of language. After that, we go to our investigators and CRMA's. In a week we have 7 or 8 investigators mostly progressing. Eat lunch with a member and go to bed after cooking dinner and doing verifications (my comp is the district leader so we call the other Elders every night in order to see how lifes going) We usually get to bed around 11 or 1130.

Pick a day and tell us about it – meetings?  Knocking doors?  Visiting members?  We rarely knock doors (maybe 5 since i´ve been here) due to the fact that we have appointments most of the day and if they are not home, which happens more than i like to think, we have many CRMA´s who live nearby that we visit.

Do did you know that Mercedes Sosa is from Tucuman?  She’s famous for Solo le Pido a Dios, a song that I love (and that you may remember a cover of from my ipod).  Listen for it. I actually heard the song whilst walking through the streets. Solo le pido a Dios. The exact cover that i grew up on. That was a weird moment.

 We have a small booklet to study called "adjusting to missionary life" and we never use it. I count it as a blessing that i have barely noticed i´m here. Por medio de my senior year, my mucho life experience taught by my parents, and traveling the world in my youth. NOTHING phases me here. I have been able to slip right in to this life, culture (most of the time, i´m not a huge fan of mate yet) (mate is the drink the entire country drinks. We only drink mate cocida. Its okay...i guess).

 The weather is kinda like the autumn of Utah all the time. Some days i wear my short sleeve shirt, and otheres my long sleeve with a sweater, (thanks mom for the sweaters, i have to say that i was doubtful at first but now i love them) but its winter here so everyone bundles up like californians, namely they have a winter coat on and its 70 degrees outside :P

 The language is a breeze...and that was a lie. but it has come much easier than i ever imagined. I tried to think what i learned in middle school spanish and realized that my three years of spanish i passed in the first three days of the MTC. Its insane.  

 I don´t miss much of home since i´m soo distracted in the work. And thats serious. Not that i don´t miss all of you. But i have soo many new friends here. I love hearing from ya´ll. 

 Talk more next week! 

Love to you all

Elder Siebers

Now I call it Home

 Time just flies by so incredibly fast here. First its an hour then a day and then all the sudden i'm two weeks in. And the next time i realize that i'll be 2 transfers in. Life is awesome. We have cooked every recipe in that cookbook. (except for the caramel popcorn cuz there isn't any brown sugar) and i am soo grateful for all the shopping, cooking, and cleaning experience you gave me. 

We cleaned our pension (apartment) like a boss and are living great here. The members (All 40 of the active ones :P) take great care of us and after lunch every day i can barely move. I love empanadas. They are like fancy pizza rolls:P 

Anyways .DON'T SEND PACKAGES. They cost like 1000 pesos to pick up. *over 100 dollars. Letters are fine and can be sent to the missions home in Salta. Don't try to send it directly to me cuz we don't have a mailbox. No one has a mailbox... I don't even think there is a mail system. 

I LOVE THE MISSION!!

The people here are awesome. I when i say that that does not mean that doors don't get slammed in our face,or they hang up the telefone when we introduce ourselves. But usually they are polite about it. But whati mean by that is this. 

I have a card in my wallet that states that a modern prophet of God called me to this area in order to invite and help other people, all people, come closer to their heavenly father. ME! I have slowly come to realize that the more i open my mouth. The more I devote to these my new friends and complete strangers. The more they give back. 

These people are no different from the many people i met and loved and grew up with and talked to back home in utah. These people are EXACTLY the same. Sure they speak a different language. Sure they eat different food and live in houses that aren't usually more than 4 cement walls with a roof of tin sheet metal. BUT THEY ARE THE SAME. I learned a lesson in the spirit as well. For every house of a member we visit. It is, Without fail, more comfortable, more clean, more organized. more peaceful, more homey. I have even been in a members home who didn't have a front door. The relief society president's door is a metal sheet that is slid back and forth. Follow this gospel and as states the 13th article of faith. SEEK after these things. Seek to live happy, to live peaceful, to Live.

Keep up the good work and Smile at everyone! 

(We have gained new contacts just by smiling as we walk. countless times) 

Smiles, Love, and Good Courage!

Elder Siebers

First area: Tucuman Oeste

Primero. The basics. My area is the Tucuman Oeste. Me and me companion have an area about 25 blocks by 15 blocks big just to ourselves. Its called Villa Muñecas. Its half of a ward. This ward has about 60-80 members and is absolutely awesome! I have learned sooo incredible much here. My companion is named Elder K. He comes from Smithfield Utah. He is super organized, smart, and awesome. He knows just about every verb in Spanish and helps me montons with the language. 

Nicholas and Elder K

*Warning. this email will be filled with random typos and weird words because i have two languages in my head and most the time cant tell them apart anymore.

First of all. I can understand these people. Like their words. Its incredible. For the most part i can understand what people say. Except for most questions directed at me and other random terminology, I know whats going on. The hardest part is trying to respond or talk. Although that is coming at a frightening pace as well. That,s what happens when your immersed in it though..

So for my spiritual thought of the week i combined about 6-7 different scriptures into one big motto monster;) Capitalized or otherwise stressed words are stressed for a reason. And I will leave the

Verily I say unto you ALL:

Awake! arise form the dust.

Arise! and shine forth

that YOUR light can be a banner

to every nation

How long will you choose darkness over

LIGHT

We have been given a charge

to live as God's own

Chose Generation

Royal Priesthood

Holy Nation

       AND

Peculiar People

A peculiar treasure

which fadeth not away;

which is Eternal

Nicholas' apartment

A fun study to do if anybody wishes is to look up each of these scriptures and find their stories behind them. 

D+C 115:5

2 Nefi 1

Helaman 13

Helaman 5:8

Numbers 26:29

Exodus 19:5

I'm having the time of my life here! 

Work hard and Love everyone around you. Push them to be better. IN EVERY WAY. NEVER and i say NEVER. Even for 2 seconds let the people you love be less than their potential. Not for one crude joke. or for one snide comment. or for one evil thought. Don't let yourself be 99% committed to who you want to be. And if you don't know you want to be. FIND OUT! 

All My Love! 

Elder Siebers

Elder Siebers and his Trainer

Elder Siebers and his Trainer