Thursday, December 25, 2014

December 22, 2014

This week has been such a crazy week for me. Well, I got to say goodbye to my loving father (Trainer) Elder Burgos. I probably won’t seem him again since he goes home in three months. 




I received my new companion! Elder Bayle from Sandy, Utah.  He has been on the mission for 10 ½ months. He is such a chill guy, we get along so well and he has an awesome sense of humor! 


So, President Goates took the other pair of missionaries out of our area and now the whole city of Unimev is all ours!  We have a lot of work to do. A LOT OF WORK. This is going to be pretty tough, especially since I just finished training and have only been in Argentina for seven weeks, haha. But I am praying we can accomplish great things in Unimev.

This week we have been focusing a lot of work in the Unimev B (The former area of the other Elders). Luckily we found five new investigators this week! Whoo hoo! It is pretty sweet how we contacted them: We were walking on the street and we past by this house. We knocked on the door and asked for some water. We were welcomed into the house and the first thing I noticed was a DJ Controller on the table. I got so excited and asked the guy to demonstrate his skills for us. He did, and he played some EDM classics! And he let me give a go as well.  It felt so good being able to DJ again for a bit. We had a pretty good conversation about EDM music. And it just so happens that our bishop is looking for a DJ to play at ward parties. So I am putting these two in contact with each other. We then met his mom, and we took the time to share with them a Christmas video from the Church. They loved and they want us to drop by again and teach them more about the Plan of Salvation and such. So that’s pretty sweet! I have a DJ investigator!

The other investigators we found are so cool, too! We were walking in a neighborhood really close to our pension, and walked by a house when we heard someone playing the cello. This caught Elder Bayles’s attention, as he knew exactly what song was being played. So we rang the doorbell and a 16-year old girl came out and she noticed right away that we were Mormons. She was going send us away, when we stopped her and asked her to play the Cello song again. It was so beautiful hearing the cello. She played the "Cello Song" by the Piano Guys (cover). We gave her a round of applause and I asked them if they had a guitar. A guy of about 19-years old came out and brought me a guitar to play. We asked if we could come in so I could play for them. At first, they were hesitant, but then they let us in. When we entered we noticed that there were more people in the house. Turns out they have a band! They played us some of their music, which was so beautiful and unique. I thought of Melanie, because it sounded like music she would play. Then they let me play and I played them one of my favorite songs I had written. They loved it so much and asked me if I wanted to play with them. Haha, I told that I couldn’t since I am missionary and have to focus on the work. They then found out that were from the United States. Turns out they all know English! WHOA! They are such nice people and we will be passing by a lot more and teach them more about the gospel. They loved having us over and had so many questions.

After we left  we went to the store where we ran into another guy. He is around 55-years old. And it turns out he is from the United States and has lived here for seven years! Also turns out he lives only a block away from us!  Like what are the chances?? Haha! So basically half of our investigators can speak fluent English! Sweet! 


We have been doing alot of working and walking. And because of this, we have gotten a bit sick. Especially Elder Bayles. He to get a blessing the other day because he felt so much in pain. And I have been having so much pain in my knees and my back and have been gaining a fever. I might have to call the nurse if it gets worse. This week we may have to get Elder Bayles to the hospital. We isn't doing to well. But I have been taking good care him. So this next week will be a week of rest for us. We need rest, haha.

I was so happy to see Belen and Pia at church! What a lovely surprise!  They are doing so great! It was so nice being able to talk in Spanish with them.  Thank you so much for the packages! I love them so much! I got a ton of candy! Sweet! I will pass it out to the kids in our ward :) 



Monday, December 15, 2014

December 15, 2014

Guess what, last night we got transfer calls…Turns out the four-men pension (house) I live in will now only be with one companionship. Me and my comp only. And guess what..All the other missionaries in our house, including my comp are leaving Unimev to serve in different areas. Super sad. My new comp will be Elder Bayles. I will meet him on Wednesday, 12/17. Originally, Unimev has been split into two areas. One side for the other elders, and the other side for the other companionship. Both of these areas alone are massive! Well, President Goates decided that it would be a great idea to put only one companionship (Elder Bayels and me) in Unimev and close off the separation. That means we have the whole city of Unimev to ourselves. We will have to work with my investigators and the other elders investigators. This is going to be so hard....I am pretty nervous. But I trust that our President knows what he is doing. It just a daunting task as I barely know this big city.  Finding addresses is impossible! J But, oh well. The upcoming transfer is going to be a huge learning experience. 

I have a baptism set in January for a new investigator we found this week.  He is such an amazing guy. 

Here is a Christmas photo of our original district in our pension. They are all off to different places, except me :(. I will miss them so much. They were all like brothers to me. 


I hope that everything is great back home! I pray every night for you all!

Love you so much,


Elder Malzl 

Safest mailing address for letters:

Elder Mattias Malzl
Argentina Mendoza Mission -- POUCH 
50 East North Temple 
Salt Lake City, UT 84150 


Packages:
Elder Mattias Malzl
ARGENTINA MENDOZA MISSION
Cabildo Abierto 161
5510 Godoy Cruz
Mendoza, ARGENTINA





Monday, December 8, 2014

December 8, 2014

This month we celebrate Christmas. We get the amazing opportunity to remember the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. What an amazing time of the year!  We have these pass-along cards that say "He Is the Gift" on the front, and on the back it has a link to a video to watch about His birth. We have a goal to pass out all these cards this month. People need to understand this month is about Him, not about getting drunk and drinking wine with your friends. Unfortunately, a lot of people think that is what Christmas is about. We have been visiting members and giving them some cards so they too can share this beautiful message with their friends and family. 

I want to do the same with you. Here is the link to the page:


Share this video with all your friends. Share your testimony with your loved ones. I promise that the spirit will help you testify according to the needs of your loved ones. And I promise they will understand that this month has a deeper meaning.

Oh, something cool I did this week: We have a departing future missionary in our ward. His name is Juan Cruz. He leaves on his mission to Paraguay on the 18th of December. His family threw him a huge farewell party. They assigned us, the missionaries, to do a skit. So we did and it was funny.  At the end of the skit, we shut all the lights off and I turned on a song called "never rain down again" by Dash Berlin (Dash Up). The people we kind of confused because it was pitch black with music playing. But I surprised them when I turned on my poi (my lights) and I gave them one heck of a light show. People were in awe and were clapping so much. It felt pretty cool. At the end people came up to me saying how they got "mind blown" because they have never seen anything like it. 

And because of this members are scheduling us to come for Family Home Evening and are inviting their non-member friends so that we can share a message - and a light show. :) Who would have known that I would be using my talent here on the mission!  I have been giving light shows three days a week now, haha. It is fun. And this is my kind of missionary work. I showed the Zone Leaders my lights and they now want to hold a meeting to encourage other missionaries to apply share their talents with their investigators and members of their wards. 

God gave us many talents. Let us use them wisely and with much reverence. Prior to my mission I only used my lights for my own benefit and entertainment, but now I am sharing my talents with others and apply it to missionary work.

This month, let us share our talents and testimonies with others. 


Safest mailing address for letters:

Elder Mattias Malzl
Argentina Mendoza Mission -- POUCH 
50 East North Temple 
Salt Lake City, UT 84150 

Safest mailing address for Christmas packages:
Elder Malzl
C/O Brenda Sepulveda-Mena
Sargento Aldea #876
Villa Alemana
V Region
CHILE
(Christmas packages have to arrive in Chile by Dec. 21 and will be delivered to Elder Malzl in Argentina on Dec. 22.)







Monday, December 1, 2014

December 1, 2014

All I can really say about this week, is that it was an emotional roller coaster. I cried a lot this week. I feel pretty confident with the language, but it is so hard to understand people when they are speaking at 200 miles an hour. Back at home I had friends like Tyler that would listen to me and understand my emotions.  But thats okay, I just talk with God and I feel his comfort and his understanding love. 

This week I went on exchanges with the zone leaders. And I went with Elder Peters from Utah. We went to his area. We talked to a lot of people.  Almost all of them rejected us. An old man came up to us and said: "What are guys trying to do? Save the world?" We replied, saying: "We are trying to." He replied: "No, you guys don't do anything, you are useless!" When I heard this my heart hurt so much. Why are we so targeted by such people? Why can't they understand what we have to share and can change their life and find true happiness? Why do people run away from us and chew us out? This is something that has been on my mind for a while now. 

I don't think missionary work was ever supposed to be easy. Our Savior went through similar things - but to an unimaginable point. He is our perfect example, and yet, people treated him like he was useless. They spat upon him and abused him. And yet, our Savior still loved us, and he suffered for our sins. When I feel sad and useless here on the mission, I always look at the sacrifice our Savior did for us. And I am so ever grateful for that. Remembering his sacrifice reminds me that he understands me.

Thank you for everything. I love you all very much!

Safest mailing address for letters:

Elder Mattias Malzl
Argentina Mendoza Mission -- POUCH 
50 East North Temple 
Salt Lake City, UT 84150 

Safest mailing address for Christmas packages:
Elder Malzl
C/O Brenda Sepulveda-Mena
Sargento Aldea #876
Villa Alemana
V Region
CHILE
(Christmas packages have to arrive in Chile by Dec. 21 and will be delivered to Elder Malzl in Argentina on Dec. 22.)





Thursday, November 27, 2014

November 23, 2014

This has been a really good week! A lot has happened. Elder Burgos and I work so good together. Last Sunday we had 5 investigators at church! WHOOO HOOO! 

Let’s start at the beginning of the week: We had a Family Home Evening with a hermana and an investigator. It was so much fun! So, as you know, I love to play with poi lights. I have been using my light show skills for missionary work! It started out by me giving Elder Burgos a light show and he thought it would be a great a idea to share my talent with the members and investigators. Turns out that everyone loves it!  My trainer in California didn’t like the lights and told me to send them home. So I am happy that Elder Burgos sees the potential this talent has. He thought it would be a really good idea if I did a light show for our investigators for Family Home Evening. So we put the song “Never Cry Again” by Dash Berlin on their speaker system and turned out all the lights. They were so confused and said: “What’s happening, what’s happening?” Then they music started playing and my poi lights were on. I did the whole show to the song and at the end – oh they were like: “Elder Malzl! Oh incredible!” They were amazed and asked me to do it again and asked me to do it again next week, and “bring that again tomorrow!”. You know, this talent seems to be a pretty good missionary tool. Elder Burgos’s idea to use it as a FHE activity, was actually very good! It really worked, because afterwards, the brother said: “You know, I think I’m gonna come to church this Sunday.” He never had wanted to come to church. Never. It’s crazy how this visit made him want to come to church. 

Also this week I had the opportunity to do another light show for one of our investigator families. We brought them over to a member’s house and there I did a light show for them and they were blown away – their kids were like “Wow! Bastante! Wow, Elder Malzl!” It was loco! They now want me do participate in the talent show of their ward, so I guess I will do that. I also got to play guitar for the first time since I left on my mission in August. Let me tell you, the feeling I got when I put my hands on that guitar was incredible. I played – everything came back to me – it was wonderful! I really do miss the guitar a lot. It used to be the way I expressed myself with all the emotions I had. I used to express myself through music. It’s really hard on a mission not to be able to do that. But it’s OK – it’s only for a short two years.


You know, there is a lot of sadness here in Argentina. Everyone seems to be doing fine, but the more you get to know them, there is a lot more that lies beneath, and often times it’s pretty sad. I’m not going to go into a lot of details about the things that I have seen, but it’s really sad seeing how many problems people really have. And there are some pretty serious problems. On the bright side many people her have embraced me like their own family. 

Safest mailing address for letters:

Elder Mattias Malzl
Argentina Mendoza Mission -- POUCH 
50 East North Temple 
Salt Lake City, UT 84150 

Safest mailing address for Christmas packages:
Elder Malzl
C/O Brenda Sepulveda-Mena
Sargento Aldea #876
Villa Alemana
V Region
CHILE
(Christmas packages have to arrive in Chile by Dec. 21 and will be delivered to Elder Malzl in Argentina on Dec. 22.)


We made a wonderful dish called nuoqis! It was so good! A la casa de hermana Toro. Un menos activo miembro de la iglesia