The year, 1991. The month, January. The day, the 26th. The season, summer in the southern hemisphere – HOT! The place, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina. With whom? Elder Sergio Romero.
Elder Romero and I were companions in the city of San Martin in the Mendoza province of Argentina for only one week. Then we received word from our mission president that we were going to be transferred to the city of Tupungato together. Elder Romero had been there once before and so he knew his way around. We would be living in an apartment that doubled as the church house on Sundays with another companionship (two other elders – Elder Ward and Elder Benson). I was hoping this transfer would make things better, as I had been really struggling with the Spanish language and trying to adapt to the change in cultures from the United States to Argentina.
From my journal comes this description: “I love Tupungato. It is so green here. At night it is fresh and cool (unlike Palmira or San Martin). We open our window each night – it is so much nicer. I love the area – there are side roads (dirt roads) that are lined with poplar trees, and the view of the mountains is fantastic (Andes Mountains). Mount Tupungato (a volcano – the name of this town too) is covered with snow. Vegetables can be bought pretty cheap here, but other things are more expensive.”
Many times we rode out into the fields and vineyards to meet with different families. The province of Mendoza is known throughout Argentina for its grapes, wine and olive oil. There are a LOT of grape vineyards. Many people, having excess grapes would give us grapes to eat.
I became very proficient and quick at popping a grape in my mouth, splitting it with my teeth, digging out the seeds with my tongue, spitting them out, and then eating the grape. These were some of the most delicious grapes I have ever tasted. Amazing!!! This is a picture of me with some of our spoils from visiting many people with grapes.
On March 21, 1991, Elder Romero was transferred to a different area, and I received a new missionary companion, Elder Owen Quass. Elder ward’s companion, Elder Benson, was also transferred to a different area. Elder Ward’s new companion was Elder Matt Cox. This was the new foursome that graced our missionary apartment. In my journal I described my companion, Elder Quass thus: “He can do back flips, hand stands, et cetera. He also loves to joke. He’s funny, yet knows a lot, and understands his responsibilities as a missionary very well.”
In April I wrote: “We also had another Noche de Hogar [Family Home Evening] last week. About 55 people showed up and the Elders from Tunuyan and the assistant [Assistants to the President or APs] were there too (Elder Bell and Elder Bradshaw), and it was crowded.
“We ate empanadas and pizzas — mmm! I love empanadas. They are like the fruit pies, but with meat inside. We did some skits and sang and had some testimonies and all.” It was always fun to have gatherings of the members of the church and friends in the area.
These type of activities were held with the intent to teach newer members of the Church what a Family Home Evening could include: spiritual messages, fun activities, and dinner. Basically just spending quality time together with our families and sometimes with friends and larger groups.
The month of April 1991 in Tupungato was was a month of some beautiful spiritual experiences and amazing miracles. The Maldonado family was blessed with Alberto (Tito) deciding to join the Church after a miracle of healing with his daughter, making a part-member family a whole-member family. Elder Quass baptized Tito on April 21, 1991. What a blessing to see families be able to find the truth and later be sealed in God’s temple for time and for all eternity. These are amazing people of faith and conviction!
My journal goes on to describe the conversion of another newlywed family: “A few days ago we taught a charla [discussion] 1 to a young husband who was just married. They had just moved into a small two room house way out of town (like 4 miles out). They didn’t have any electric lights when we taught him. We taught him by the light of one candle, standing up (they had no chairs). He seemed very willing to listen to us. It was a good charla. We found out later that last Sunday he brought his wife, who hadn’t even heard the charla, to town on the bus to come to church. They couldn’t find it.
“We came back and taught charla [discussion] 1 again, to the wife. This time they had an electric light hooked up and had two padded crates just for us to sit on. Then, tonight [April 17th] we went back and taught charla 2. When we asked if they had read any of the Book of Mormon (assignment – 3 Nephi, chapter 11), he kind of ducked his head, ashamed, and said he can’t read very well, and didn’t have much time to read. I asked how much he had read, and he said, holding his Book of Mormon open to 3 Nephi, chapter 13, ‘Only to here.’ We were shocked – he had read 2 1/2 chapters – more than we asked. That must have been hard for him because he doesn’t read very well.
“We taught charla 2 and they accepted the commitment to be baptized. They said the prayers, asking God to help us keep coming to their house and to help them know if the Book of Mormon is true, etc. They put off a trip to Mendoza just so we can come again on Saturday. They are coming to church this Sunday. They are definitely chosen people. They seem so humble and willing to learn. I’m sure Heavenly Father is well pleased with them.”
I continued in my journal on the day of the baptism: “They have to be the most humble people I’ve ever met. They accepted everything we taught in the first 5 charlas… They were chosen. They accepted the commitments and fulfilled them. We found Jose and Rosa only about 2 weeks ago. Elder Quass says this is the fastest he’s ever seen anyone baptized in the mission. I know that that could have only happened through the Spirit. They felt the Spirit and followed its promptings.
“Today they came and after church we had a baptismal service. I baptized them both and Elder Quass confirmed them both. The Spirit that was present was very strong. They were definitely the Lord’s ‘chosen.’ The chosen hear the voice of the Lord (through His servants – us) and follow it. They do everything you commit them to do. Jose and Rosa did just that. It was something special for me that I will never forget. Now I just hope and pray that they continue firm in the faith and continue reading the Book of Mormon and praying. It is something we all NEED to do. A prophet of God has commanded that we should.”
The month of April miracles spilled over into May of that year too. A granddaughter of a member was baptized a week after Jose and Rosa. Liliana Elizabeth del Rio was baptized by Elder Quass and confirmed by me.
But this was not all. Jose and Rosa shared the gospel with their neighbors. In my journal I wrote: “They were referred to us by Jose and Rosa – they are awesome – CHOSEN. I love seeing people change their lives to live the gospel. The Lord really helps people change and helps them see and understand the truth when they truly have sincere desires and seek it out.” Eduardo and Myriam Gordillo were baptized on May 19, 1991, another chosen couple prepared to accept the gospel. Elder Quass baptized them and I confirmed them.
How blessed I felt. I wanted to rejoice like Ammon in the Book of Mormon. He declared:
“…My brothers and my brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings?
“And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell?
“Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.”
“….Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.
Alma 26:1-3,36
I felt as Ammon, that my joy was full and I wanted to rejoice in God’s love and mercy! The Holy Spirit spoke peace, joy, and excitement to my soul. I cannot deny what I felt – I know it was the Holy Ghost confirming the truth of these things to my soul.
The experiences I had in Tupungato helped me draw closer to God and to feel the joy of bringing souls to Christ. The preaching continued with Elder Quass, and periodically doing what we called “splits,” which was switching companions, usually for the purpose of baptismal interviews being done, but also giving us the opportunity to work with other missionaries for a day.
