A Special Witness

September 14, 2015

This week was fantastic!  Elder Juan A. Uceda member of the first quorum of the Seventy and President of the South America North East Area came to tour the mission and train us as missionaries.

Thursday, I was flown in to Santa Cruz for a special Mission Leadership Council meeting with Elder Uceda and his wife.  It was amazing to me how simple his message was to us.  He talked about the conversion, and how it's impossible to achieve without one gaining a personal testimony of Prayer, Scripture study, and Church attendance.  These things give the spirit an opportunity to touch our hearts and mold us.  Moroni teaches about "Being perfected in Christ" in the last few verses of the Book of Mormon, and that simply isn't possible without these three vital lifestyles.

Saturday, I went with my powerful district to Tarija for a Zone Conference where Elder Uceda presided.  Honestly, for 5 hours I was on the edge of my seat!  It was very, very insightful.  The spirit was tangibly present.  Elder Uceda taught about "digging deeping" into the sciptures.  It was very cool to learn how he studies the scriptures and hear his insights after years of being a general authority.  Even though he was born in Peru, he said that more than 30 years have passed since he has studied the scriptures in Spanish, he studies in English 100% of the time, and literally exhorted all of the Latinos to learn English. Hahaha it was nuts!  The man is powerful!  like out of nowhere he just starts yelling!  haha or better said exhorting, but it was legit.

Something really special happened on Sunday, out of all the units in the mission, he chose to preside over our district conference!  Freak it was nuts though, so much "palo"!  He basically just gave all the members here a spanking.  haha.  For two hours:  Pay a full tithe, arrive to church meetings on time, or early, no purchasing on the Sabbath day, Modesty, and Having a current temple recommend.   It was heavy!  His wife got up and said, "NO COMPRAR EL DÌA DOMINGO, NO COMPRAR EL DÌA DOMINGO, NO COMPRAR EL DÌA DOMINGO"  (Don't buy on Sundays x3)  Literally yelling/exhorting.  haha I loved it.  It's exactly what we needed here in Bermejo!  And what basically every unit in Bolivia needs.  

All in all, it was a life-changing experience.  The spirit worked so strong within me this week, I feel so blessed! 

It is so important to be 100% obedient to even the smallest of things, after all, we are doing it for Him.

D&C 64:33, Amen.  

Love,

Elder Bender

                                                         Can you tell it is hot here?

Elder Lozano and I got matching BOCA shirts! Aguante BOCA!

Elder Rose and I both suffering in the heat on P-day. We had a great Churrasco with Presidente Fred!

The Work of Salvation

September 7, 2015

Such a special week!  Hey, the weather even cooled off for a few days too!  Probably the best birthday present;)

On Monday we had a super Asado (BBQ) with the district after playing an intense soccer game.  A bermejeño classic!  Soccer and Meat!  

Tuesday we drove to Tarija early in the morning to get to our Zone Conference and interviews with the mission president.  It was a fantastic zone conference that truly changed my life.  We prepared for it studying about the Light.  Light from Christ is tangible and easily measurable in one's own life, and its a precious commodity that we can easily gain, or loose depending on simply daily decisions. After the conference President asked for my district to stay back after all had left, and then said, "Today is Elder Bender's birthday!  Let's take him and his district to lunch!"  Haha I love President Willard.  So sneaky!  So we went to a way to nice restaurant with an all you can eat sides buffet, and yes, more great meat.  I had a great interview with President, and really nothing makes one feel better than knowing that God is happy with what one is doing.  God helped me to feel at peace knowing I am truly giving my all, each and every day.  President Willard is the best!

When we had returned from from Tarija we were blessed to teach two great lessons in the hour and a half we had left.  We taught the Gareca family (they still are the best converts ever!  So much faith!) and the Vilca family!  (The best investigators ever!)

Wednesday, Nephi's prophecy (2 Nephi 28-29) was fulfilled in just about every lesson. So many people that hated on the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.  As Moroni said, Joseph`s name would be held for good and evil, and more and more for evil as our Redeemer´s second coming closens. 

My district meeting on Thursday was focused on preparing ourselves and our investigators for the district conference where Elder Uceda will preside this next Sunday!  This is big news, in 40 plus years of the church in this pueblo, this is the first time a general authority will be visiting! Kind of a big deal... ;)  ¿Bermejo Stake?

I had a great exchange with Elder Evans Thursday and Friday.  One plus was running with him in the AM!  I set a PR, 6k in 22:20.  I hope Kaylee is training!

Saturday was very special.  Micaela Teran was baptized.  We sang a special musical number with Efrain Vargas, the World's best Mission leader.  He rocks.  She cried. #wesinggood

Honestly I just love the work of Salvation!  Sunday was full of ordinances.  The Sacrament, a confirmation, a baby blessing, and ordination of Roque Cazon to the Priesthood. 

¿Could this work be any more perfect?  I know is perfect because is His.  He guides His church.  We are His servants (friends).  What a blessing that is.  ¡Que se llenen con luz esta semana!

Elder Bender

View from our 3rd-floor apartment

 For the Bermejo foundation day (24 de Agosto) Everyone marched in celebration, even Bolivia's fiercest Marines

                                                  A random apostate march for some "virgin"

                                                    The Cazon Family baptismal pictures

                                                             The patio after a baptism!

                                            Elder Lozano and I last Monday with the prized meat.

                                                Another meat picture, Argentina's best.

One year older, and happier too!

Dear family and friends,

Thanks for all the birthday wishes!  I was especially peppy in replying to each one of them, so this general letter will be a shortie!

The best part of the week was cooling off in the baptismal font with the Cazon Family!  It was probably one of my favorite baptisms I've had. It was themed about the temple.  The Cazon family travels to Cochabamba (where the temple is here in Bolivia) frequently for their work, and they will be doing baptisms for the dead in September!

As a mission we are getting ready for Elder Juan Uceda from the 1st quorom of the 70 to come in a week and a half.  It'll be a life changing experience!  I am convinced that in a month he'll be an apostle too!  It's about time for a Latino apostle.

Love,

Elder Bender

Firsts and Lasts

August 24, 2015
Yesterday was a day of firsts!

It was a first for me to be a sacrament meeting where:  The two Priests that blessed the Sacrament were my converts (Cristian Galarza and Mauricio Lafuente) One of the deacons that passed, Luis Gareca (another convert) and the same Luis also gave the first talk in the sacrament meeting about prayer!  He wrote it all on his own and it was amazing!  I was blessed to give the second talk about the Holy Ghost, and personal revelation.  Liliana Gareca (1st counselor in Young Womens presidency) gave her first lesson in Young Womens and everyone said it was amazing!

I love the Miraflores branch, they know how to include the recent converts, and I feel that they wont ever fall away with the way things are going.

After church we have a ward missionary activity called "Together, to the Rescue!" It was planned and lead by the district.  The idea of the activity is that we divided into 13 groups of Preisthood, Relief Society, YSA, and kids to go out and visit less active families.  WE were able to successfully visit 18 less active families, and set future visits for the missionaries and the Hometeachers to teach the family and bring them back to activity in the gospel.  It was way legit. One thing I love about the saints in Bermejo, is they know how to work!

Wednesday I flew to Santa Cruz for Mission Leadership Council meeting.  It was good, weird because for about 18months I have been in those meetings, and now I am one of the "oldest" missionaries there!  I feel like Grandpa, "Wise with years". hahahhahaha ;)

All in all I am happy, healthy, and I love my companion Elder Lozano!  He is one the most chill companions yet, I'd love to finish the mission with him as my companion!

In my goal to contact 1,000, I am 145 contacts in, lots to go!

I love my Savior.  I know His church is true.  I know that if we put on the armour of God we'll be protected from the adversaries firey darts and they wont have power over us.

Sean Fuertes!

Love,

Elder Bender

Families are Forever

August 17, 2015
This week was fantastic!

Monday I ran 6 miles with my companion, that felt great. 

We have been working with a bunch of new families recently, and they have made some great progress!  I love teaching families.  Its the best.  The Plan of Salvation was made for our family to become like Gods.  We are literally practicing right now!

The Cazon family is an older couple that's overly excited to be baptized on the 29th of August that we are current very excited about. Roque, the husband, is the most enthusiastic guy ever when he learns about restored truths!  It almost makes me laugh seeing his reactions.  "Brother Cazon, your family can go to the Temple and be sealed together forever, and not only with your wife and your son, but also to your parents who have passed on, grandparents, etc."  Hno. Roque, "Really?!  That's amazing! That's like, way too perfect, God really does love us doesn't he?!"  

They are a special family!

Also the Vilca family is progressing splendidly.  They attended church for the first time yesterday, and as Dad would say they just about, "flipped the switch" in the chapel.  They left after the bishopric! haha, their youngest daughter was having the funnest time playing with the nursery toys with the nursery Sister and her Parents! haha.  They will be in the water before they know it. :)

I feel eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father for MY eternal family.  I have the best parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, everything!

I love you all!

Elder Bender  

We take very seriously our callings, but we also know how to go crazy when the camera comes out! 

-With the Bermejo District

A few more pics Elder Ruiz sent me.

In the last one, you can see us playing Raquetball, our activity from last week!

Last week of transfer #1 in Bermejo. Kind of out of order

The 'cacha sythetica' in Bermejo is amazing. We had a blast playing with members.

"La Casa Dorada" A famous building in Tarija, it is on the back of the 20 Bolivano Bill

Raquetball with Presidente Flores and the District was fun

The first week of transfer #2 in Bermejo. District Meeting photo.

Transfers - With no changes!

August 10, 2015

Wednesday we were to a training meeting in Tarija with all the district.  It was really special.  The meeting was especially to train the new missionaries, and measure how they are doing after 5 weeks in the field.  There were 22 missionaries there, 8 from my district, and the rest are serving in Tarija.  The Assistants didn't fly down for this meeting, so President Willard asked me to direct the meeting, and apart from that doing a one our practical training with the other trainers.  It was the best!  I love training new missionaries, talking about it, everything about it I just love!  President Willard told me that he was very pleased with the change there has been in the effectiveness of the work in Bermejo.  He said, "This transfer just keep it up! I don't think I'm changing anyone there."  That made me stoked, because I have so much reaping to do in my area!  It's been so much to work with these new guys here, I feel like I am living my dream of working in the MTC early! haha.  MTC Bermejo!  

Sunday night I got the call from the APs, yep, no one is getting transfered from my district!

Saturday was full of many, MANY miracles.  The three Mamani Sisters were baptized, and Mauricio was as well!  It was a one of kind special night, and there was a great support from the Branch.

My testimony was strengthened this morning of the universalness of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  It really was necesary for every part of the plan of Salvation to work.  If you're not reading Preach my Gospel's 3rd chapter currently, then read it!  

I love you all!

Love,

Elder Bender

                                                   Mamani Sisters!

                                                   Mauricio was baptized!

1,001 Disciples of Christ

August 3, 2015
I just feel so hyped right now!

I have loved reading all your emails, hearing about all the great stuff your doing, and finally I found a computer that will let me email pics!   I hope you enjoy!

As you can see from the pictures, Elder Lozano and I are running to the internation bridge (6k loop) every other morning.  It feels good!  Its such a beautiful run too, I run with Tucan Sam flying over head... literally there are tons of tucans here.

As I wrote you about last week - we set some high goals, and I feel like God inspired us to do so to raise our vision, and highten our faith.  I felt so blessed!  My faith has grown, and we invited a TON of people to come unto Christ.  

Friday we didn't have a single "set in stone" lesson.  We talked to probably 80 people, no lie.  haha.  It was hot too, but I felt so great doing it!  We found and taught a ton of new investigators, and I am stoked on that.  That night our feet HURT!  haha, but we felt great for having talked to so many people, and I made a comment to Elder Lozano, I said, "we probably talked to a thousand people today!"  And thinking about how happy that made me I thought all of a sudden, What if I set the goal for my last two transfers (more or less last 3 months) to talk to 1000 people in that time period, and count em! (its about 12 people a day, so it's easily doable and still have time to teach 6 or 7 lessons a day.)  So that's what I am going to do!  I am going to finish off my last 3 months talking to everyone and their mothers, and invite them all to come unto Christ.

I love you all!

Elder Bender

 Soccer from 2 weeks ago with the District!

 A lady dressed up from San Santiago (I wrote about that holiday last week)

 Going hard in the service project for the La Fuente family trying to pick apart the harder than cement adobe footings (2pics)

 #Aztecstyle.  The big stair case going up to the Christ statue in Bermejo

 Elder Barahona and I

 Bermejo Panorama! #smalltown

 Our Lord!

 My District (with some random guy who wanted a picture with us)

 With My companion Elder Lozano

 Cool statue, its big.

 Showing off my true colors, #banderaboliviana

 El Rio Bermejo (The Bermejo River) Panorama on one of our morning jogs.

 "Hey Mom!  I got a bridge!"  The international Argentina/Bolivia Bridge

 The Bridge, look at the cool way its painted!

 Bolivian side...

 Goucho side ;)

 Cheesin.

 The bridge in fog

 The boats that smuggle across illegal goods.

KFC in Bermejo!  (It ain't real.)