Pray for them!

Your guyses weeks sounds super crazy and way fun and I'm super jealous. I received like three letters each form you guys and it took me forever to figure out what was all going on, but it sounds like its awesome! I’m way happy you got to at least do the second dive! That sand hill is sick, all of it is awesome I hope you are keeping a detailed journal of it so we can talk about it when I get home! I'm still waiting in those recipes!!!! ;)

Elder Benedict and Elder LeFleur

Monday we had a lesson and a menos activo—way good day! I don't really remember with who they were but I got to at least teach a little that day, half of this weeks teaching almost in one day and I can't even remember who they were! 

Tuesday and Wednesday we had no lessons, but it was the last days of Elder Houghton so we thought we would go way hard and we made sweet and sour chicken with ham fried rice it was so freaking good, I can’t even tell you! I miss Chinese food so much its crazy!!!! But it was way yummy and then that photo, that tie is from him and the tie clip too— I love that kid so much and I can’t wait to party with him when I get home from the mission!

Sweet and Sour Chicken and Ham Fried Rice

Thursday we taught two people, one way awesome and one less so! Christan is this way anti social kid who is way weird and likes to say the S word a lot and it bothers me... but his grandma wants us to help him through the church and the young men! but he is just hard! The second was cintia she is way awesome and has had good experiences with the church and she knows God has saved her life for something and we are going to show her why. A member once helped her leave the grave of someone she loved and talked to her about Gods plan and she called the words of that person totally beautiful so we are going to explain all that to her on this Wednesday and I'm pumped! 

Elder Houghton and Elder Benedict

Friday we had a big activity for the ward this day that me and my comp mostly me put on it was way crazy and fun but it worked well we had about 30 people there, two of the hermanas investigatores came and we had a ton of empanadas, it was a big competition of empanadas! 

Saturday we went over to this guy Johnatons house, he is a menos activo and way cool guy. He knows what he needs to do, but just isn't coming back to the church. It sucks because he is way awesome. His wife isn't a member and his son is 9 years old not baptized, but they are all awesome and I love them! Pray for them! 

Sunday I had my first investigator from my area above the age of 13 come to church today but he wasn't one of our investigators, he is the husband of a inactive lady who came to church, but i think they have a ton of potential and I’m way pumped to help them change there lives even more, we have a lesson with them tomorrow! Then we had a lady that we knocked her door say to us ¨I will never join the church (reading our plaque) of Jesus Christ. It was really interesting to see the way the Spirit changed as she said that, but its her loss! 

It was a good, long, hard week but we made it through and I can't wait to see what this next week brings! Your trip is sounding awesome and I cant wait to hear more!

I love you a freaking ton! 

Love, Jayson

Good Week

So this week has been good! So to quickly answer your questions:

• How long have you and your companion been together now?

We have been together for 6 weeks now and we will be together 6 more!

• Have you cooked anything yummy lately?

No I haven’t really, I made some onion fried rice the other day that was awesome but nothing desert wise. This Wednesday or Tuesday I'm making Magic Bars so that should be awesome!! I want the monkey bread recipe and the lemon poppyseed recipe!

• How are Hernan and Florencia doing this week?

We haven’t been able to find them again since we taught them but we are working!

• It looks like it has been pretty hot lately—how are you staying cool, or are you just use to the heat?

We are just hot and deal with it but really its fine! 

Monday we had a ton of lessons planned but they all fell, so we didn't teach, but we did alb and at least we had that going for us! 

Tuesday all of our citas fell again so we went around knocking doors and then when we had done that for an hour or two we went back to a cita that fell and we got in and taught and it was awesome! 

Elder Benedict and Elder Houghton and their jar of peanut butter

Wednesday we were way tired and my comp didn't want to work so the morning was kinda a wasted we worked, but not great! Then we had two lessons that day, we had one with Camila and Gonzalo and then we had one with a guy named David, he is the husband of the bishop of a different wards daughter, so its weird but they won’t come to our ward, they just want to go to the other wards activities so it sucks, but way awesome teaching!

Thursday we had no luck this day, but had a ward baptism that was awesome that I loved a ton, one of our menos activos was there and he felt the spirit so strong, we are going to go visit him and see what we can do to help him to come back to the church it should be awesome! 

Friday we had zone conference and it was good, and then in the night we had a lesson with a menos activo that we thought was an investigator, but he is interested in learning again and letting his kids listen and we are going to reactivate him and get his family baptized. I'm way pumped for it really! Thats me just being hopeful — we will see what really happens! 

Saturday we went over to the church to clean a little and the young men were having an activity and a investigator of the hermanas came and he brought an other friend. Me and my comp taught that friend and it was awesome and he is going to be taught by other elders and it should be awesome!

Sunday we had no luck with anyone but a lot of appointments, pero no luck with other peoples lessons but really an awesome week and it was just fun! 

Elder LeFleur and Elder Benedict

We got transfer calls and it was awesome and I'm staying with my comp, but my really good friend who is from Provo Elder Houghton is leaving and I'm way sad, but its cool I’ll live, but I hate the other zone leader who is staying so thats a bummer, but I’ll live. 

I love you a ton mom, I hope the trip goes well! 

I love you forever and back! 

Love, Jayson!

God is blessing us with peanut butter and really cool people that I love!

I want everyone to know that my heart got a little broken when you wrote me and told me that Jesika is moving! 

Its not just hard for you mamma... I'm feeling your pain—you need to remember that me and my siblings weren't really friends until a year, or a little more ago, so to think of me not having a chance to hang out with her after really bites me too!

• Who are you teaching right now?   

We are teaching Camila and Gonzalo and Marcus and that’s really all the people that we are trying really hard to get going, but we have a ton of people we are teaching. 

• How are your feet doing?

My feet are way good, I never walk I just bike everywhere! 

• Are you heathy and strong? Are you eating any veggies at all?

I'm strong, and healthy too, and yes we had french fries for dinner 4 times this week—those are vegetables right? People always make this tomato salad here and I always eat some for lunch! 

• Are you still doing Body of Gods

Sorta of, the work outs I'm lazier now, I do most of the push ups, but the abs I struggle a little more now. 

• Do you have beds in your kitchen? Where do you sleep?

Yes we have beds in the kitchen, but the kitchen and the living room are the same here, so its just like we have beds in the living room that are really close to the kitchen. :)

This week!

Monday we went and taught Camilla and Gonzalo and they are awesome I really love talking to them, but its really hard to teach them because we never run out of things to talk about, but thats okay we taught the word of wisdom a little and then taught them how to pray, but Gonzalo wasn't really paying attention but it was awesome and I  loved it!

Tuesday we found two news—Hernan and Florencia.  Hernan seems really interested but Florencia no. We taught all of lesson one and the at the end before we could teach prayer Hernan asked us how he could know for himself. It was awesome, so maybe he will make it, they are just way hard to find! 

Wednesday it was pouring rain all day so we walked in the morning because my comp didn't want to ride in the rain and we got nothing done at all, literally nothing, but we went and got a plate that I had left at a members house because I gave them banana bread and he offered us a ride home and it was awesome! So that was cool, then we just taught a couple menos activos! 

Thursday we got nothing this day, we talked to a lot of people, but nothing more then that! 

Friday literally one of the best days of my mission! Me and Elder Houghton, one of my zone leaders did intercombios (exchanges) and we did some good work. We went and taught Gonzalo prayer and we talked about the hand of God in his life. He told us a huge list of miracles that he has seen in his life, and we told him that we need to give thanks to God for these things and ask for what we need and we will see even more miracles. He said he would pray, and then yesterday we found he did! He prayed and told us I just feel like I have so many things I need to give thanks for, even more then I could when I prayed! Way awesome!! Then we taught a menos activo about tithing and he said he would! Then we got besitos from a lesbian and that was weird but cool. She asked us how our church felt about gays, we told her God has his law about man and women, but he loves her still and stuff and after that she gave us besitos! Then me and elder Houghton knocked the door of a literal mansion — like nicer then our house and the lady answered and let us in... We taught a lesson in the mansion just a quick one, but still that house was incredible, and then we just found some cool people opening the mouth that night! 

Saturday we taught a menos activo and then basically just opened the mouth. I found lemon poppy seed bread and it was so good, I miss that stuff so bad! Then we did a abrir la boca (opened the mouth) and the lady told us to come back and she would make us some tea and some bread with peanut butter. We freaked out and asked her where she found peanut butter? She said wait right here, don't move. So we waited and she came back with this huge jar of peanut butter and told us, “La mitad por cada una de ustedes”. “You each get half the bottle,” and gave it to us. It’s like bigger then a Skippy bottle, but smaller then the big Jif ones—its just Walmart brand, but I have peanut butter now!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That night we taught Marcus, he is a boxer and way awesome! He is really just way cool, but when we ask about God he says, I cant tell you what I believe because I have never done religion, I've never even thought of what Christ is. When we talk he bases all he knows off of what he saw in the movie. He saw Passion of Christ so its weird, but he is way awesome and I feel like he is interested. He is going to fight next week in Buenos Aries so thats way cool and he is awesome and he  has a way cool family!

Sunday we didn't teach anyone but we abrir la boca and found cool people! 

Honestly, one of the best weeks of my mission and it was incredible! God may not be blessing us with baptisms, but he is blessing us with peanut butter and really cool people that I love! I love it here in Argentina and what I'm doing! God and Jesus truly are real and I am blessing people with the opportunity to experience the joy that this gospel brings and I love it!! I love my God and I love what I've had the chance to do, and what I can still do! I love you and miss you and I really can hardly wait the 69 days to talk to you, its so close—we are already half way done with the wait! I can’t believe I've already been here for 200 days just doing that two and a half more times and I'm done its so crazy and I love it!!! I love it all!!! I'm way emotional today, but thats okay! I love you guys a ton and I miss you like crazy!! Tell Jesika I love her and I'm praying for them. 

I LOVE YOU TO ARGENTINA, THE MOON, KOLOB, AND BACK, don’t you dare forget it! 

Love, Jayson Benedict

I have 40 birthday emails!

I loved your talk, it was way good mom! I’m way proud of you! This letter has to be fast again because I got on today and I have 40 birthday emails—I can’t handle it!!!!

Oatmeal Cake that I made for my birthday!

So questions:

• How are your Book of Mormon studies going?

I love the Book of Mormon!!  I’m in Mosiah 3 in Spanish, but I already read it in English once. I read Jesus the Christ, Preach My Gospel, True to the Faith and I'm in Corinthians in the Bible I love studies—they are the best!

• How is Hector doing?

Hector, is going through a hard time and went back to his old church and dropped us, but its cool--we will be able to help him eventually!

• Tell me one of your most favorite things about Argentina.

I don't know—I need to think on what I love…Sorry!

• I got a picture from Becca of you and Elder Peters!! Man I love to see your face!!! Please send me pictures of your cute face!!

The AP's came to stay for a few days--Elder Peters and Elder Benedict

Monday we had a normal work day and it was long because it should have been p-day but it was fine. We did service and taught a new investigator who is weird but good!

Burning my tie to celebrate six months serving!

Tuesday we had intercambios (exchanges) and it was way weird! We walked over 20 kilometers from 4pm until 10pm because I was in the other elders area and their bikes were broke, so it was awful!! We had a cool lesson in the middle of nowhere that I thought I might die at because the lights went out in the middle of the lesson and it was scary, but it was good and we just walked fast the last 4 kilometers to the bus stop in a lightning storm. Thankfully a kid that we talked with earlier that day stopped his dads car and gave us a ride home! It was an amazing miracle!

3 kilos of ice cream to celebrate!!

Wednesday was our p-day. We just chilled and slept!

Thursday and Friday we worked hard but literally had nothing!

Saturday we still had nothing this day, but we were going to a meeting we had, on the way it was like my bike hit a invisible small wall and I got launched about 10 feet and landed and rolled a few times with  no problem to my clothes or my hands or anything—but the rim of my wheel literally bent in two places in half, it was crazy! I’ll show you what it looked like when we bend it back next week! 

I got a cactus from the pension and mate made from palo santo  that smells amazing.
The yerba is signed by my favorite  family. Way good birthday!

Sunday for my birthday Elder La Fleur gave me a cactus, and then the family Burnet gave me a mate and yerba with their names on it! I’m going to keep it forever, because it makes me way happy! Then we just had a normal night, but it was a good day and I loved it — good, but weird! I’m going to go shopping today and will send you photos! 

We also had the assistants in the pens (apartment) this week and it was a blast to hang out with them and just have a great time! Honestly it seems like its been a hard week, but God has been helping us a ton to help our burdens feel light, and to just keep going! I know that God is treating me great in this area. He is trying to give me blessings but people have agency and for that we may not have success, but I know that He is making my burdens light that I may be able to bear them! I love you all so much!! Tell Jes and Taylor that I will write them next week and that I love them a ton! Don’t forget you still have to write me while you’re on your trip! 

I love you to the moon and back and I love my God and this gospel a ton! 

Love, Jayson 

It's been a good week!

So its been a good week, but its Wednesday and I'm short time, but I promise this will still be a good email because I love you a lot! 

We had Carnival on Monday and Tuesday which here in Argentina just means that people don't go to work and that people just sit around all day—nothing special but we couldn't email until today! 

So on to the questions!

• Which investigator has impacted you the most?

I would say that Stella and Alberto. She was gone from the church for so long because her husband wouldn't let her go, and then as soon as she had her own house and place she found us and was ready and took the immediate opportunity to come back. She didn't wait—as soon as she saw us she came and talked to us and got us over to her house, but a lot  of investigators have affected me! When I get home we will go through all my agendas and journals and I’ll explain them all! 

• Tell me about a miracle you have witnessed.

Yesterday we were out about 10 kilometers from the pension (apartment) in the middle of a huge lighting storm and we has to walk 4 kilometers to get to the bus stop on a dirt road that had no street lights. We didn't get robbed, and no one talked to us and then when we got to the bus stop—we would have had to wait an hour in the rain until 11:30pm in the dark, but a man in a truck passed us stopped and gave us a ride home straight to the pension. We had talked to his son earlier that day for maybe a minute and that miracle came to pass because of it. We would have either had to walk for 3 hours at night or pray that the bus was actually going pass on a holiday at night, so we were really blessed! 

• What was the best thing that has happened?

I don't know what the best thing is to happen... probably actually getting to find and teach people and just being peoples friends—thats awesome to me! 

• What is your favorite place to be?

My favorite place? Teaching! In a house or outside when a member testifies of the truth —I love it, it’s just really perfect!

• How did you help somebody this week?

We painted a guys roof, and we taught some kids whose mom died two years ago and we were their friends and it was way awesome! 

• Tell me one thing you learned this week?

I learned that I need to get to houses of safety when people tell me it will rain! 

• When were you the happiest this week?

I was really happy when I told our branch president about some investigators and he told me he knew them well, and we made a good plan for how to help them and how he could help and it was just a cool way happy moment—that also helped me be happy with the president of the rama! 

So this week! 

Last Monday we went and learned how to make facturas ,(Argentine pastries) it was way good, and way cool—they are a snack from here that I love!! Look them up! Then we just kinda tried to work! 

Tuesday we taught a menos activo and it was way good, and we found out the Neito isn't a member and we are going to start teaching him! I’m way pumped for it! 

Wednesday we taught Hector and he told us that he had an answer and he believed the Book of Mormen was true! Way cool lesson and I was way happy with it, but he later dropped us this week because he is passing through hard timea and started going to his old church and he feels good there. I was way sad, but it happened.

Thursday we taught a few less actives and it was just a good tanquilo day of work and we worked hard!

Friday my 6 month day! We had some way cool plans—we taught Hector and he was still good, then we went to ward correlation. Then the other ward by us had an activity that we helped with.  We played tons of ‘Minute To Win It’ games and then had a empanada contest. It was way fun, and way good, and a blast!!! Then we bought three kgs of ice cream and burnt a tie I had cut out of a sheet. I’ll send you the pics next week! 

Saturday we had a way dope day and we taught three people who were our age and they all spoke English and I loved them a ton! I really cant wait to teach them, i feel like they are really my friends and I loved it! But they are on vacation now, so next week! But  after we taught them we got bought in the huge rain storm to the point that I could dump water out of my shoes and we found shelter in a menos activos house and he gave us a bunch of game cube games that I will get to play when I get home so I'm way pumped for that! It’s all good though, no temptation here! 

Sunday we had a rough day—my comp felt way sick so we left late, went to a meeting and then just talked to some people in the street. It was good, but not like teaching three teenagers that can speak English kinda,and are way cool musicians! ;)

So that was my week, next Monday I will email normal with more time and let you all see the pictures of the six month stuff.

I miss you a ton mom and know that I love you like crazy and as always I am praying way hard for you! Please be safe and take care of all the kids at home. It seems to me that Jesika needs help—please go and try to help her for me, or send Taylor to go do it —I think she could use a little time off! 

I love you forever and ever! 

Sincerely your child,

Jayson

One of the best days of my mission...

Hey beautiful,

I hope the birthday was everything you hoped it would be and more. It sounded way awesome, but I wasn't there so it still lacked the best stuff, sorry for that ;) 

To answer your questions:

• Did your figure out your Oreo cake?

I didn't figure out the cake thing, but I didn't try either—maybe this week ;) 

• How are you and Elder Le Fleur getting along?

Me and elder LaFleur are getting along fine he is way weird kid, but a good kid, he talks about some stuff I don't want to talk about — so that’s hard but other then that he is a good guy!

• How many lessons (approx) do you teach a week?

Last week we taught 5 lessons to investigators and 5 lessons to less actives—really a pretty good week I’d say average is about 7 or 8 grand total lessons a week. 

• Taylor took me to a Mexican store and bakery—I saw a Milanasa steak! Do you like it any better than you did 5 months ago?

I do like mileneza more then before, I don't really like the beef ones, but I think the chicken ones are way good. I really like them! 

• Tell me what things cost there in pesos:

Loaf of bread is like 16 pesos but you can get a kilo of rolls for 9 pesos, but its not like sliced bread, they are just like bread roles that are way good! 

Dozen eggs is 22 pesos. 

One liter of milk is 11 pesos. 

We can get a 20 liter bottle of water for 13 pesos, but like a 1.5 liter bottle is like 8 pesos. 

• Do you try to eat fruit and vegetables every day?

I eat a fruit everyday, we go out for 5 hours every night so I take an apple with me every night, it helps me be happier.                                     

• How many Elders live in your apartment and who are they?

I have four guys in my pens (apartment) elder LaFleur, me, elder Houghten who I love, and elder Charca de Peru.

Your week sounds way fun and crazy—so way to be awesome!!!!

Monday we had a large bbq thing called an asado here with my zone of 14 people, and it was way fun and pretty good, but it was meat so not incredible, but not bad! Then that night we had a lesson with a less active kid that was cool and fun!

Tuesday we had a lesson with our crazy recent convert, he talks as if he wasn't baptized and its way weird and I really don't like teaching him, but thats whatever—he is interesting. We were dropped by Tania because they started going to a different Catholic church so that sucks, but thats fine. We also had a zone meeting just about rules and it wasn't that fun, I feel like I'm obedient, and then we get way stupid rules that I break by trying to do right, like we are only allowed to fast from lunch to lunch not from morning to night time. I got in trouble for that today — its just stuff like that that bugs me....

Wednesday we had a lesson with a member this day that was way awesome, his name is Hector and he is 24 and I really think that he could make it! We teach him everyday and he seems to really like what we are teaching, so for the rest of the week after this day we passed by and chatted for at least a second! Its been way cool and I really like it, but that was all that day! 

Thursday we got dropped by a ton of investigators in the morning so that was lame... but we did get to teach a new investigator who swore a ton and it was way weird, I didn't really like it I felt like we were fighting while we were trying to agree on certain things, but its hard when we believe we are the only true church while other people just go wherever the wind blows and its true... but it was at least a lesson! 

Friday we really just tried to find people to teach and no one was home or wanted us, but like always we worked way hard! 

Saturday was honestly a way dope day and I loved it so much! First we rode our bikes about 10 kilometers down the freeway type thing, don't worry it had a bike lane! We found a go-kart course and it was way weird and cool but then we had to go back, but I at least felt like it was a good ride! I miss actually just going and going for a good long distance, I miss it a lot! That night we had three lessons, one with Mabel who is this old crazy lady who doesn't really want to listen, but we taught the plan of salvation and she liked it a little, but didn't really pay attention. Then we taught Hector and he read and prayed the night before and he told us that he felt way tranquilo and peaceful and he said he believes its true!!!!! Wooo hooo—it was a really good day for me!! Then that night we took another member and had another lesson with a menos activo named Jonathon and his wife and it was good and simple, but i liked it a lot! One of the best days of my mission tons of teaching—how I wish everyday was really! 

Sunday we had a good day of church really. I have this huge love for the young men of my ward and they really help me a ton! I feel at home with all of them, we have no priests, but its just fun to chat and be kids and just love them all the time, they honestly make me so happy I could just chill with the young men all the time!!! It would be the best!!!! We did go teach one menos activo that day who just plain said, “I have no desire to go to church”, and we were like nooooo! It’s so hard to help people want to go, it needs to be from them not us, so it sucks — but whatever! 

That was my week and its been way good! Please pray for Hector because he is awesome! I love it here! I had a hard morning today, but I'm fasting and praying and feeling better! I know God is there and I had a big testimony booster today! I love my Lord and God for all they do for me! 

I love you all so much and wish you an amazing week! 

Love, Elder Benedict

I have a new companion

Hows the life treating the family? Taylor finally done working? Good for him, it sounds tiring to me! I really like the way Taylor’s car looks and its going to be a nice car! 

Answers to your questions:

• What is your new companions name and where is he from?

My new comps name is elder Zachery La Fleur, he is a good kid from Salt Lake, he went to Highland High. He is nice enough, he works hard, he has 14 months in the mission and speaks good, but nothing special. I got him mid-day on Thursday after lunch. 

• Did you get your package yet? I sent it on December 18th.

Your packages haven't even made it to Argentina yet, so maybe next month! Some people tell me that it takes about 2 to 4 months to just get them to Argentina, but I'm not worried about it! 

• When was the last time you laughed with your companion and why?

I don't know...we laugh a lot—probably sometime this morning or last night I don't know mom, I don't really remember much about what I laugh about! ;) 

• What do you love about your mission President?

I really love that my President knows who I am from just looking at my face, or he just knows and pays attention to what I say and he just really cares! 

Monday we just went home and slept and then we went and got ice cream it was way awesome I really like ice cream especially because its way freaking hot here! That night was just saying goodbye!

Tuesday and Wednesday was just all day saying goodbye—it was just a ton of talking to members and chilling it was awful, I hate when I feel like we are not really working.

Thursday we woke up late mostly because I didn't know I was supposed to go so my alarm went off when I wanted it to at 6:30 because I didn’t think I needed to go to the bus stop, but everyone woke up with me, the bus left at 6:50 so we were sprinting to the terminal and trying to get him there on time and it just barely happened it was so freaking close, but the zone leaders stalled the bus and we got him there. Then that night I got La Fleur.

Friday we went and taught a recent convert and it was a good lesson, but other then that we didn't have any luck with any of our plans. I cooked me some rice though so that was exciting! 

Saturday we found a new investigator named Hector and he is a good guy, he let us teach him when we actually clapped his door and it was cool he is a nice guy, but I'm not positive how interested he is. We are going to go this Wednesday and see! But at least we saw some success! 

Sunday we had a ton of great plans that I was pumped for, but they all just fell as people sent us texts and that was fine, we kept working and we got some citas (appointments) with some people I'm really excited to teach. I know that when we get tired and our butts hurt from riding the bike for so long and it seems like doing anything more wont help us at all God will bless us if we keep trying and that is what I'm hoping will continue to happen with the people we sorta found! 

So that was my week, nothing special, but a good week! 

I love the young men here they are just super great and I am starting to love the  people in general. My name here in castillano is llésin and I think its super cool, I think I'm going to start spelling it that way! 

I love you fam a ton and am going way hard always! Don't forget that I love you and pray for you always—never stopping! 

Love you for now and on into the eternities, 

Llésin Benedict ;)