Wow! It is sooooo different being here in Frías, Santiago del Estero. It’s got a population of about 30,000 and it’s actually quite large for just two missionaries. It’s a really nice, calm little city and has various clean, pretty plazas. The people are all really nice and everybody will at least talk to you. In other areas I’ve been in, it seems kinda over-proselyted because everybody puts on this aggravated face when they see "another" door to door religion person, but here even the rich people come out and greet you before shutting you down, haha. President Hinckley once said something to the effect that wére preaching the Gospel to a world that doesn’t want it, or at least they don’t know they want it yet. Our job is to help them see they actually want it.
The branch here is small. My companion and I got to the building (It isn’t a chapel, it’s a house on a street corner remodeled, I’ll send a picture next week) an hour early to set up chairs, prepare the sacrament, and so forth. The first members came about 15 minutes late. About 15 minutes later, a few more trickled in the door and we started Sunday School. Neither the Elders Quorum leader or Primary leader arrived, so my comp and I pulled off simultaneously teaching those from the doorway of each classroom. The Branch President got there for Sacrament meeting, which made the total church attendance 14 people. It was kinda crazy for me to sit up there and look at all the members and think how the church started the exact same way, a small room with six members. The only way it could have grown from such a small size, despite such vehement opposition is because it is true and it was backed up by heavenly guidance. I’m excited for the challenge of helping excite the members and strengthen the branch here and I know that the Lord will help us as we rise to our callings and seek for his help. Time to put the shoulder to the wheel down here in Frías.
My new companion Elder Mayhoffer is great! He’s from La Junta, Colorado and is studying computer Engineering, so we always have lots of good conversation topics. He’s also an excellent cook, which is nice because we only get food from the members here a couple times a week. We rang in the new year by making homemade biscuits and gravy and toasting a sparkling pineapple juice at 9 o’clock, haha, I know, we’re pretty boring, but we still have a good time. Anyway, that’s about it from Frías. I love it here! The only downside is that we’re about 3 hours away from the closest missionaries, but we get along super well, so it isn’t that bad. I love you all! The Church is true! Happy New Year!!
-Elder Jonathan Spencer
Saying goodbye to Elder Garay in the bus terminal
Salta la Linda (Salta the Beautiful)
Biscuits and gravy and sparkling pineapple juice
Me eating
Elder Mayhoffer and I eating
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