They changed what???

Its been quite the week! A highlight of the week would definitely be the worldwide missionary conference we had on Wednesday! Again, the topic was Teach Repentance, Baptize Converts.

Here are some bullet points I took away that I think are super beneficial

• D-T-S-T-E-D (do the simple things every day)
• Just Do it! (that which is right)-we won't always know if something is personal revelation. sometimes, we just need to act on faith and do what is right. We may never know that it was revelation!
• The book of mormon is still, and will ALWAYS be the key to tru conversion-for those investigating and those already members
• I was called to Paraguay to establish the church. One thing that was mentioned was that the real "establish the church" part comes after the mission to those who continue faithfully
• Even the apostles don't have all the scriptures memorized. Elder Anderson was trying to remember one and says, "I believe it is in Matthew 10:32" but you could tell he was leaping! I love that it shows they are real people too!
• Matt 10:32-I should feel enormous success here in the mission. It doesn't matter if baptisms come or not. Those who confess the name of Christ in this world, Christ will confess our name unto the Father in the day of judgement and we will have success
• A testimony is not just "words that we know". No, a testimony is representing Christ in all that we do and say. It is living His gospel. It is sharing his love. It is testifying that he lives in all times, all things, and all places

So those are some of the great points I took away. Another huge announcement was the change to the mission schedule! Wow. It could not have come at better time for Cutter! haha The mission schedule is now way more flexible, allowing missionaries to choose when they do certain "requirements" of the day. I say requirements because they are the things the First Presidency has asked that we include in our day.

Sister Oscarson said, "I love this new schedule because it shows that He [Christ] trusts them [missionaries]". That hit me huge. This new schedule does not come from the missionary department. It comes from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He trusts 18 year olds to carry out his work and showed us of his trust with this change. 

I know my Savior lives. This week I learned that some points in our life, we have to rely on faith. The future is unknown to us. We may have plans and goals, but everything can change so quickly. At first, we may want to react super fast, but when we take a moment to slow down and look at the bigger picture, we may have a better idea how to act. But the most important thing is to trust in him. He knows best and knows what will help us grow. Some times, we have to take a leap of faith and hope for the best. 

Love you all!

Elder Zaugg

Perla came down to Asuncion and visited! I love her and her family!!! Good old PJC memories. 

Thanks for the awesome art cards. I translated the backs and we are using them as really sophisticated contacting cards! haha It works pretty well here in the rich part of Asuncion!

Elder Parada is leaving the office! it was a sad last pday! 

Surprise Pictures

Perla was visiting Asuncion for work and stopped to see Brody.  We sure love her and the love she has for Brody!

A nice man from the states took this picture of Brody when he saw him in the Church office Building!  What a blessing to get these pictures!!

More migraciones

Well we started off the week with more Migraciones. 2 mondays en seguida now that we had it. We planned everything, expecting to finish quicker this time. But then we remembered of a 4th location we had to herd the missionaries too, so we figured we would get back by 3pm. Granted, we left at 8:15AM. We ended up getting back at 4:30, because of a 4 hour stop at the hospital...yeah. migrations is not fun. But hey, round 3 is this monday so hopefully it will be faster this time!? 

I've learned that there are not "normal weeks" here in the office. In the field, you are doing basically the same thing every day, but in the office everything changes so quickly-for example, yesterday. It was about 5pm and 2 hermanas had traveled down from PJC for some dentist work. We were planning on taking them to the terminal that night. They show up to the office and we find out that during the dentist appointment, a part of the dentist's instrument broke inside this poor sister missionaries' tooth/jaw. Luckily, she isn't in any pain! Anyways, an hermana was headed home this morning so President asked us to drive the sister's to Loma and bring back other sisters. Elder Parada said, "Time to go on a viaje!". Loma is actually super close...so it shouldn't have taken that long. But, at that time during traffic, it wasn't pleasant. Plus, as we were nearing the office, the hermana told us she forgot her camera so we had to do the whole viaje all over again. 

Fast forward to the night. It was about 10:05 pm, we were still at the office but about to head out the door. I was talking to President and bammm. Another viaje! This time to Yuquyry. Now this place is far from the office. Not Pedro Juan far, but far. Its about 30ish minutes away in the van. We had to go pick up an elder who was headed home as well. This one was hard. Long story short, just after midnight, the elder was finally "ready" to go. Long drive + late night + stubbornness + early morning airport run = very little sleep. But, it's all good because I've really seen how the Lord helps us make it through the day even when we are low on sleep. Even though we didn't get to sleep, I feel fine and I think it is because we were doing the work we were called to do. We were serving Him. Now I know this work is wayyyyyy different than "put a book of mormon in the hand and get to work" normal missionary life, but it is still His work. While we were at the airport, I got to talk to a man from Paraguay who lives in Georgia right now. I spoke English and we had a nice conversation. I had to leave and pay some fees, but I got to talk to him briefly about what we do as missionaries. So even though we aren't mobbing the streets all day here in the office, we do get to share testimonies with others and that always brings me back to normal ground!

During studies this week, I was reading about faith. I came across Enos while he is praying:

 4And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

5 And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

 6 And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

 7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?

 8 And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.

So many times in the book of mormon and the bible to we read about people acting upon faith. I always remember the story from the bible when the sick women just touches Jesus's robe and is healed because of her faith. We all make mistakes in this life. But I know without a doubt the God lives, that he sent his son, Jesus Christ, to this Earth to die for each and everyone of those mistakes. Imagine a world without punishment, without laws. That would not be very just-murders, robberies, scandals would all happen without any punishment. Luckily, that world does not exist. There are laws to protect us, to keep us safe.  When someone breaks a law, others demand justice. If someone murders another, they have a trial and people demand justice for the loss of their friend/son/loved one. Our Heavenly Father has likewise given us commandments to keep us safe. When we break those commandments, justice must be demanded. But their is one way we can obtain mercy in our Heavenly Father's plan. Through Christ's atonement, we can obtain mercy and forgiveness. Christ suffered for every mistake we ever have made or will make and we can be forgiven of those mistakes as long as we turn to him in faith, trying our best go keep the commandments he has given. Those who do not repent, or in other words, do not change their hearts to follow christ, to try to keep his commandments, must receive justice. But those who do change, will receive forgiveness and their sins will be forgotten. The plan is free to all of us. All it requires is that we act on a little bit of faith to try and follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Elder Zaugg

Some street art in Asuncion

Post Office

when we played soccer in the pouring rain