Hello Lomas de Solymar

Dear Everyone,

We really didn't expect that changes call last week, but here I am in Canelones, Uruguay, right next to Montevideo!  The ward I have moved into is amazing.  I am in the Lomas de Solymar ward in the zone La Costa.  We're right on the beach, although I haven't seen it yet.  The members are wonderful.  They are super excited to work with us in missionary work and even the young men want to leave with the missionaries to see what the mission experience is like.  This is going to be a fantastic change.  My companion is named Elder Green.  Which state is he from?  Trick question!  He is from Peru!  His grandfather is American and so the very american name that he has continues until his generation, even though he doesn't know any English and his accent is super Peruvian.  He is a super old missionary.  Like, super old.  Like, tomorrow he completes two whole months on his mission.  He is actually still an oro, as in I am completing his training and he couldn't be happier.  Evidently, he and his trainer didn't get along in any sort of way.  So he refuses to call his trainer his father and instists that I am his real trainer.  So, I adopted him.  And now I am a father.  Would you look at that!  Elder Sevilla is a grandfather!  I am super stoked because this area has amazing potential.  Elder Green is a hard worker and so far we have gotten along excellently.

Last Thursday, we went to a recent convert's house.  Her name is Zoe and she is eight years old.  Her mother is named Yessy.  Yessy was going to get baptized a while back, but she could never give up smoking, so she kind of gave up and stopped talking to the missionaries.  But this past Thursday we buckled down and testified like there was no tomorrow that God is a God of miracles (Mormon 9:19-21) and that He could heal her.  We gave her blessing on Saturday and she hasn't been smoking since.  We set the baptismal date for this Saturday and everything is going swimmingly.  I am a huge fan of miracles and have learned that the Lord really does provide miracles if we choose not to doubt even a little bit.  So I have given up on doubting.  It no longer exists for me. And I have seen amazing miracles so far from it.  We are gonna baptize!  Yessi is super excited to finally get there after already having given up.  But her faith has been renewed and now she is repenting.  Next stop: baptism.

Being a district leader is super fun, but all I have in my district are sisters. And after having spent such a good amount of time trying to have little to no communication with sisters, the Lord saw it fit to bless me with the opportunity to talk to them every single night over the phone.  They are an amazing district, though, so we're working really hard.  It's a whole new step of service and a completely different realm of missionary work.  Instead of just motivating people to get baptize, I now also get to motviate people to baptize.  I am having an excellent time working with them and our zone is full of wonderful people.  Being in a new area is always so exciting and gives a missionary the abilitly to leave any sort of bad habit aside that he used to take part in.  It always brings such energy! I am super jazzed!  We're gonna baptize!  I really love being here in Uruguay.  It is my home now.  I love everything about my life and am so glad thatI have so much time to continue to grow and learn.  The Lord is really blessing me.  I will continue to give my all.  I must now go and serve the beloved children of God.

LOVE,

Elder Plautz

Wasn't I Just Emailing You Guys?

Dear Everyone,

Have you ever tried to type on a English keyboard that has Spanish programming? It's a game of guessing sometimes and I am not a good guesser... We always seems to take it one step further every week when it comes to how hard we work and how much we give of ourselves. We need to improve our charity toward the people of Florida. I am in dire need of some charity. And humility. And basically every Christlike attribute. It is a work in progress. I wish I could say that I remember what happened this week... Let me think...

We have been meeting with several people that are progressing in several aspects of the Gospel, but have yet to take a leap of faith and come to church. This is difficult for several because most the people that we teach live in the very humble part of Florida and the chapel is wayyyy on the other side of the city. None of them have cars. Few of them even have bikes. So they have to walk. And in the cold Sunday morning it is Uruguay custom to sleep. And then eat and then drink some mate (pronounced mah-tey), which is the herbal tea that everyone drinks down here. And then go back to sleep. Sounds fun, right?

We do see several miracles. We met a guy on the street who stopped believing in God after his daughter of 12 years died in an accident, but after letting the Spirit guide our conversation, I testified about the Book of Mormon, how it was the keystone of my belief in God. "I have to reach that whole thing? Is there a movie or something?" No, there isn't. But we agreed to watch the Finding Faith in Christ movie the next day. He was really jazzed and we could see the flicker of hope gleaming in his eye. Unfortunately, in between that time, his family convinced him not to let us in the next day. When we arrived, he was back to being bitter, which really made me sad. He had read the pamphlet we gave him about the Plan of Salvation, but never prayer to know it was true. That's like watching three quarters of a movie. Of course you won't be satisfied. Seeds need to be planted as well as reaped, so we knew we did our part. He'll get there one day. I hope that all are having excellent weeks. After August is over, the cold will go away! I love you all and ask for your prayers for me and my family. I must now go and serve the beloved children of God.

LOVE,
Elder Plautz