Chapter 5: Something of a Mission

The picture of the zone at the Asado!!

Family it’s so good to hear from all of you.  I am filled with the spirit today while I am writing this. I just wrote an email to Anna, and I hope she is doing well.  The lord has blessed us with more than what we deserve.  I know I am not the most humble, or the most spiritual but I know I am nothing without God.  I also know that I am nothing without my family.  I want everyone to tell me good experiences. Tell me how well they are doing. Tell me all the good stuff that happens because they were in a trial and they turned to Our LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST in prayer.  I know he lives. I know died for us.  I know he suffered the same things we did times the number of people who have ever lived.. He has been through it all.  I know this because I stand as a witness.  I have received an answer to my prayers. I have seen the hand of God in my life.  I have seen the blessings he has given me.  So be happy.  We live in a Gospel that no one can take from us.  Act like it!!!!  Johnny I am so happy you are using the priesthood!! It is such a sacred gift that God gave us!! Wow it’s so cool to hear that!!!! WAHOOOOO

In other words, things here have been weird. My language seems to be improving so much. I can confidently hold conversations with people without my companion. Although I do need him all the time.  I was blessed with such a good, humble, loving companion.  I really got lucky.  We are not having a lot of success with teaching people right now.  We have a solid three that we can always visit and have baptismal dates.. But other than that, we are trying to contact and find people to teach all the time!!!

I mentioned contacting, I wanna tell you why I like it.  Haha there are so many different ways people can reject you or turn you down.  I love how people turn us down. It’s so funny.  My favorite, is people peak out their window and then see us and dive away trying to stay out of our view.  Haha it’s so funny.  The best way I have seen, is when they come out to say no, and we just bare a short testimony and they immediately get interested.  We hand them a little passalong card or a folleto and then set a return appointment.  The spirit is the best thing when it is allowed to speak! 

Last week on P day we had a huge Asado.  That means like a barbeque.  It was so tasty.  It was like a huge tucanos at this members place.  You don’t eat anything else but straight meat!!! Haha sooooo delicious.  There is this things called churizo. It is a bratwurst but Argentinian. And wayyyy better. Man it was so good!!! I will send some pics!!

We do this thing called Intercambios.  It’s when my companion or I go to another area in our mission and switch companions for the day.  We do that so we can get new ideas and then work harder when we see each other again.  Haha it’s really cool!! Mostly do it because my comp is the zone leader. 

I started off with a zone leader named Elder Duty.  He lived in OKC like 10 min outside of the city he says!! But he taught me the importance of always having the testimony of the truthfulness of this Book of Mormon and this Gospel.  It was cool to sit down and talk with him.  He is a convert of 2 and a half years.  He has been on a mission longer than he was a member at home!! Crazy huh?? Haha I love hearing those stories!! It’s so cool to hear convert stories!!



I found Courage the crowdedly dog!!

Gilberto is still progressing, but he was not able to come to church because he was finally getting a bathroom installed at his house!! He hasn’t had one for 10 years he said.  I feel so bad for him!! We did service and helped him clean out his outhouse!! It’s so cool to see smiles on peoples face when they accept the gospel!!

Ivan still has her baptism date. We met with her mom and her mom didnt accept a date to be baptized but she said she would be if she found out this was a true church. So pray for her guidance and what we need to do to help her find out for herself!!



I have been trying to read in D&C this week and learn from it. I came across my favorite chapter in the whole book of Mormon and D&C.  It is D&C 11.  I want to give it to you guys and find out what yours gifts are from god! And what he wants you to do in this life. It’s a powerful chapter! I love it!!



Lovin it!!!!!

I don’t have much time! But I love you family!! Keep working hard! Love the gospel and turn to god before anyone or anything else!!

LOVE YOU GUYS WITH ALL MY HEART!!!

Elder Clayton Wessel



July, 14, 2014

Elder Hills Birthday

So this week was nuts everybody.. Full of miracles and full of sickness!! hahaha full of laughs and full of God helping us out.. And a lot of humbling myself!! Let’s get started shall we??

So, this week started out really slow! A lot of our investigators just decided to uhhh, not like the gospel anymore... ¿Que Paso? And so we were just running out of appointments. Then Wednesday came around, and I just got sick man. Everything that has ever been in body exited by puking... hahah pardon the extreme content, but it was bad. Soooo its kind of plantar fashidous again.. I can barely walk.. but I walked it off!! its getting better!! The next day came, and I felt like a million bucks! We had a couple appointments but we just didn’t really touch anyone and I don’t know why... then Friday cam and that’s when God put his hand in our work and helped us out!!

We started off that Friday with not missing a minute of preparing for the day and getting ready. We worked hard to have the spirit with us because today we decided to just contact all day. Good news we found 2 new investigators and 4 new people with appointments to come back and 1 new baptism date in the first lesson!! And all that is good about this, I understood Spanish and I could speak pretty well. I really put in the work and just studied really hard this week in Spanish so I could understand better and God realized that I wanted it and he blessed me with a little bit more!!! So my point this week is just work hard for the Lord and he will bless you tremendously!!

Our Newest investigator is named Gilberto! He is about 70 and seems not to really understand his own language!! He is really funny!! And he came to church! He has never been married and doesn’t have any kids.. And lives by himself. It is really sad! A milagro with him was the first time we met him he let us in and we taught the lesson. Gospel of Jesus Christ. The 3rd lesson in Preach my Gospel. We taught him how to pray because he cannot read, so that was the commitment we had to leave him. He followed through and we had a new appointment the next day. We set up a member to come with us. So after lunch on Saturday, we made our way to go pick up this member to take him to Gilbertos house. Low and behold, Gilberto was wandering in this guy’s backyard for no reason... haha it was absolutely hilarious!! And The Hermano we were going to teach with was calling a taxi because he thought we were going to meet him at the church... so we were seriously blessed by god that day! it was fantastic!! The Familia Selpuveda was out of town because its winter vacation for Argentina kids so we didn’t get to teach them, we are keeping in touch through cell phone and they are following through on their commitments. They are progressing a ton!! It’s legit and i love seeing them!! Next is Ivan, she hadn’t really let us come over to teach her because she is busy, but she came to church for the first time, so her baptism date is set back up for the 2 of august!! WAHOOO please pray for these investigators. And let the Holy spirit to touch their hearts!! We had 3 people attend church this week!! They loved it!!

We have this small washer that can only hold like 3 pairs off garments or like 3 shirts at a time. We have to ring out our clothes and hang dry them!! haha really humbling but it is a great experience!! i love it! I’m going to have strong hands, to match my Huge GUNS!!!

 DONT SEND PACKAGES!! WE CAN NOT RECIEVE PACKAGES!! SO IF YOU HAVE::: IM SORRY. i forgot to tell you that!! But we do receive letters and dear elders! I’m the only one in district meetings who doesn’t get dear elders every week.. It sucks!! haha so use and tell me some cool experiences!!!

so Argentina won the semis and lost in the championship!! THEY GO FRIGGIN CRAZY DOWN HERE!! IT’S NUTS!!! It’s so funny!! On Sunday when the game started we had to stay in our pension until the next day. So we spent all day from 4 in the afternoon until today in our house. The pres. said it was okay to take a Sunday nap!! So we might have done that!! It was so nice!! hahaha

I have been blessed with the things people gave me. First my jacket my parents got is saving my life. Looks good and I am warm all day!! I love it!! And also the shoes Chris Guinn got me!! I was so blessed to have him help!! I use the boots all the time!! It’s been raining a lot and so it’s been really muddy!!! And also Karen for the blanket!! I use that thing every night!! I love it so much!! Also the shoes she helped us find!! THANK YOU ALL FOR THE HELP AND SUPPORT AND YOUR PRAYERS!! I DO FEEL THEM AND I AM VERY BLESSED! THANK YOU!!!

If you can, find the movie, Special Witness of Christ. It was when Gordon B Hinckley was prophet, and all the apostles speak. I especially love the James E Faust testimony and Maxwell little speech. I bet you can find it on YouTube or something. I suggest you look it up! Strengthened my testimonio so much!! I have to write my President now, but just know i am forever grateful for everything you guys do for me! and all the letters you guys send and your support!! Pray for my investigators more than me! I have a testimony, and they need one! At least pray for me to be able to share that testimony in Spanish!!!

Love you guys and miss you every day!!!!

Elder Clayton Thomas Wessel signing out!!






 OKAAAYYYYYY, Bueno...

Soooo i planned out this whole email then left the paper back at our pension. So i will try and remember everything for you guys!!! im sorry if i suck again!!!! hahahahahhahaha love you guys!!

Ill talk about my investigators. We have one name IVAN, she is the cousin of milagros who is the Granddaughter of Rooth. Rooth is a menos activo. Less active. She had the date of July 26 but she did not come to church so we have to change it. We are still trying to get Rooth to come to church, but she can’t really see so that is her excuse...

Familia Selpuveda. They are 3 girls. The mom Sandra, the 24 yr. old daughter Demara and her little sister that’s 11 and I don’t know her name.. But we have only met with them once and they are super excited. We went to go meet with them yesterday but they just had a baby so we are going back tonight. We will set some fechas tonight!!! haha im pumped!! Pray for us tonight.. With much strength please.

Next we have ALAN. He was a referral from a member, and he wanted to learn English. SO we went and taught him English as service, and as we were teaching English we were trying to tie in religion somehow... and then he just randomly asked what religion are you guys and why did you want to teach me English for free.. Usually that cost like 150 pesos a visit... and we taught him the first principals of the restoration, and set a return appointment for tonight. Pray for him tonight a lot as well please.

I have been studying how to start conversations with people on the street and how to find people to teah... if you guys get a chance go to the Preach My Gospel on the internet or in a book, look up chapter 10 then go to family history stuff. It is insane and has a wonderful story. Mom you would love it!! (Jacob 5) ahah

Our 4th of July



I have been translating the BoM in Spanish to try and learning Spanish better. it’s going to take forever. haaha but I will do it before I get home. I love learning Spanish. It is getting hard tho. We talked to this guy who is also another future invest. And we talked about the plan of salvation. We asked where does he think families go after this life... and can the live forever... He did not know... I felt so much love for him at this time.. it SO SAD to see someone who loves their family so much and think they only have a limited time with them... I can’t wait to teach him and bring him to Christ with me. He trusted us a lot and told us a story about his son. He was two and ate a bad chemical and got really messed up. HE had to relearn how to speak, how to walk and do everything. It was so sad. He said he saw the work of God in his life. He wants to follow in the right direction.

I have been blessed with the gift of toungues down here. I still don’t know how to spell that word. But I am learning. But at the same time, I feel like I am not respected... I feel like people think I am a new missionary and don’t know what i am talking about... so in lessons or study time I get cut off a lot or people try and change what I say because they think I don’t know what I said.. I am praying for patience and love instead of getting angry. Its a small trial that shouldn’t matter. And I know things can get better.

IN Argentina there is a bunch of graffiti!! Cars are going everywhere and my foot is as good as broken. haha I can hardly walk. I wanna tell you about how people give directions here in Argentina. They do not say the address... They say, YOu know the street alberdi, they reply yeah, go two blocks on that, then turn right, you follow? Yeah. Follow for 3 blocks turn left. It is the house with the huge garden but you have to pass the huge rock on the right then you know you are there. You get it?? Yeah. THEY FIND IT EVERY TIME!!!!!! They are loco!! haha





Argentina is winning. We have to be in our apartment when they play. And then after they win we have to stay in our apartment for an hour to two hours because people drive drunk and get crazy. HAhA it’s cool. Horns go off for two hours, cars are swerving honking horns, kids are hanging outside the windows yelling VAMOS ARGENTINA kids kicking soccer balls in the streets, everyone has the jersey on and has a painted face.. HAHAH they love their country. It’s awesome!!!

Love you family!! love one another!! LOVE CHRIST FIRST and work in the glory of God!!

Elder Wessel

06/30/14

My Apartment

Sunset from my apartment door

Hola familia y Amigos!!!

THis week was nuts!!! i got attacked by a dog!! hahhaha you cant walk 3 steps withiout seeing another different dog!!!

But a story that i have that was a miracle was when i was on exchanges with another misionero.  His name is Elder Wall.  

We were out just going to citas, when we went to this one old guy that is straight nutso!! but he was no esta.  His really old sister was tho.  They are like 60 years old and still live together.  Sorry family, i wont live with you that long!!!  But we taught her the first principals of the first lesson.  But she kind of brushed it off.  SAhe gave us a reference to the house next door.  The house was a back up  plan for way later in the day.  but we followed the spirit and  decideded to visit it early.. We Clapped the doors [yes we clap doors here] haha and they answered.  Luiz answered the door, but we were therefor his mom Claudia.  She was hiding behind the door.  We could even see her.  She was funny.    We chatted outside the door for a couple of minutes with claudia and then luiz invited us in.  we entered and taught the restoration to both of them.  First milagro, They understood the apostacy.  2nd milagro, They understood how joseph was seeking for the truth even tho he was 14.  3rd milagro they had input for everything that was being taught.  4th milagro, They WANTED to read the book of mormon and pray about it.  5th they excepted a to be baptized and we set a date for the 26 of julio!!!! holy smokes it was so insane.  We walked to blocks after and just prayed to god for thanks!!!! 

God is real.  people are prepared. we just need to do our part to do his work.  He will do the rest.  

This week i have been studying our ancestry in Jacob 5 and it is so insane.. It takes me 1 hour to jsut read 15 versus in that chapter because i am disecting it.  I love it.  

There is this thing called the siesta where every one in the country closes all the stores, from 1 oclock to about 5. and they just sleep and relax.  That is the hardest time to Prosolite.  My house is sweet.  we have such a legit view of the wonderful sunrises EVERY MORNING!! i got blessed this first transfer.  My companion is from Kaysville and has a family of 10 kids.  He prolly has one of the poligamest vans!! haha or how ever you spell that polig word.  I gave my first annointing this week for a women in her hospital bed.  We had to walk eight miles to give it to her.  God needs us even tho its hard some times.  Walking eight miles sucked until i saw her face when we walked in.  later that week i had to do the second part of that blessing to an hermana that gave us lunch.  She was sick.  So she asked me to give it.  I thought it was great even tho i could not speak spanish.  After i got done saying that blessing, she got up bawling... She said that i only revealed one thing to help.  I was suppose to reveal three.. She said i knew the other ttwo... I dont remember knowing them.... haha she was kinda mad, but thankful.  I felt really bad, but i was happy becuase i couldnt even speak spanish and i gave a blessing.  I dont even remember what i said.

Circus in Sacroment

Well circus in sacroment is crazy.  I am counting my blessing that no ivestigators came this week.  The kids were throwing paper airplanes and laying on blankets in the isles, and just loud as can be.  It was hard to have the spirit there.  Haha its so funny to see.  Its like we are sitting in a def person sacroment with no microphone at the pulpet either.  Hahaha its so great.  We have a great youth that loves to help.  

They dont believe in carpet here.  Just dusty tile floars.  How do you spell floars?? flores? i am loosing english.  ahah but i love this place.  

I get a sunrise every morning i love it.  Sorry my last email sucked.... haha i have no time to read emails... i have to take pictures so i have no idea what you say.  so your questions will take about a week to be responded to!

I love all you!! especially you mom... Stop crying!! i am lovbing it.  God blesses me everyday!!!!

Love Elder Wessel

June, 23,2014

President and Hermana Lovell and Elder Wessel

Bienvenidos a Neuquen Argentina!!!!

   So I have arrived to Argentina!! Nothing is in English here. All the people all the signs and everything are in Spanish. Even the Microwaves. ahahah >What the heck???
 
   First things first, I took a plane ride to Argentina that I promise I will never take again unless I get to come back to the US of A. Ha-ha it was insane. I was picked up and spent my first 2 nights in the mission home in Argentina. My first night there, there was a man cleaning the house and he was not a member. I then talked to him about the church and gave him a book of Mormon. He promised me that he would read it. Unfortunately he is not in my area.

My Companion Elder Hill



   I am starting in an area called Cutrol Co. It’s about 2 hours west of Neuquén. My companion slash trainer is named Elder Hill. He’s a gangster. And is a stud in the field. We already have 3 baptismal dates and had 4 people come to church my first Sunday. Pray for those dates not to fall through.

My Apartment

 The youth here are very awesome. They are so willing to help with the work. They want to be missionaries so bad. And always want to come do splits with us. Some of them are planning on going to the states. They like to say swear words here. In English. When I hear English it is a swear word. HHAAH so it’s hilarious. But we tell them no.

   People here don’t really say their S or open their mouth when they talk.. Ha-ha it’s so funny but hard to understand. They get mad when you call it Spanish. I speak Castellano. They say [yo] like Show. Or double ll like shhh. It’s a cool language. I taught my first lesson and had to recite the first vision all in memorization. I am surprised I can write in English right now. It’s kind of hard. Hahaha but it’s great. I love the language of Castellano and know that it is the language I can preach God’s word in the best. Thank you so much for the support and all that everyone has done for me. I am working my hardest to do Gods work. It will happen if he wants it too. Love every one of you!!! Elder Wessel





Last Letter From the MTC

Elder Wessel and Elder Jorgensen




Elder Wessel and Elder McAllister

 














  Well hello Family and friends.....

I have come to a conclusion at the Provo CCM (MTC) and have came to the conclusion that it is super repetitive.. So i am sorry for the emails not being as long and humerous, and exciting.

 I am absolutely loving my MTC experience here at the provo MTC. Its so nice to get started and

Elder Farnsworth and  Elder Wessel





 learn so much about how to teach and see different investigators and missionarie views. I have also learned many things while i have been here.

1. Patience really is a virtue. Its good to have things done, but also just take a second to relax and enjoy the task at hand and understand that God has things he wants in your way. Don't try to force things to happen.

 2. Gratitude. I have so much to be gratefull for. I grew up in a family where we all loved eachother but we had to learn alot of things on our own. I am so gratefull for all the support from my family and my good amigos that are out in the field with me. Also for Megan, she has taught me so many things and was such a great example to me in preperation for this huge leap of faith i am taking.

3. Prayer is Real. I will bear testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel until the day that my body is put to rest. Then if god alowes me, i will do work on the other side as well. I love this work. GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS. I know he does just because of the trials that i have had to go through here, and he answered me. It feels like i have super powers, but it is just God.

4. Humility. Alma 26:12 Why boast of yourself?? we are nothing if we do not live in the sight of god. God has the power to do all things. WE ARE NOTHING WITHOUT GOD AND JESUS CHRIST. Please thank them every night for they have done for you.

Good news i am able to call from the airport, They have prepayed cards here that i have bought. So they select few that are lucky enough to hear my sweet, wonderful spirit (HUMILITY) be prepared to answer between 9 am and 11 am on monday morning, Then also between 4 pm and 9 pm that same day. Please be prepared. From 9 pm to 8:20 the next morning is my flight from georgia to Argentina.. THATS 14 HOURS. hahah Sad news... I keep getting letters about Matt being in peoples lives... and I have yet to have an experience. Those few songs that have come up... but. uhh... nothing.. I guess that is where i need patience. Love you all so much. Elder Wessel Tengo un testimonio de este evangelio. Jesucristo vive cada dia por medio cada una de nos. encontro la expiacion. Jesucristo murio para cada persona. Este iglesia es verdadero.

Mi Amigos



MY Branch Presidente







Elder Wessel has arrived in the Argentina Neuquen Mission. The Neuquen Mission is presided over by Presidente and Hermana Lovell from South Jordan, Utah