March 18, 2013 Hey Family! This week was pretty miraculous. La verdad che, si... We started out the week a little worried that Victor was smoking... So the first time we could we taught the word of wisdom. It was amazing because we talked about the 5 things that we have been commanded not to consume, and when I said tobaco, he kind of grunted and said something equivalent to "well dang!" haha... Having confirmed our thoughts, we talked about that a little bit. He didn´t have any problem with anything else. He started smoking when he was 8 years old...55 years ago! So we talked about how in order to be baptized on the 16th, he would have to stop pretty quick. He was sad because he had been smoking on average about 2 packs a day for 55 years and was confronted probably with the hardest thing he had to do ever, in a very short period of time. But, his desire to follow the Lord and be baptized was greater than his desire to smoke. We gave him a blessing that he could stop, and that he would lose his desire to smoke. The next morning we called him and he had smoked twice since the lesson. But he had also read 10 chapters from 1st Nephi and had said that he doesn´t have the ganas to smoke anymore.... (ganas is like the desire). We went and talked to him and to see how he was doing on Wednesday night, and he hadn´t smoked anymore... Thursday morning, he had smoked two. But he said he only did it because he still had them and it was a part of the regular schedule. So we talked to him about the requirements of baptism, and how if he was smoking it wouldn´t really be demonstrating his repentance. We also shared the story of the Lamanites who burried their weapons of war so that they would never be tempted to shed blood again, even if they already didn´t want to do it. Without even helping him to apply the story to himself, he asked his wife to get the remainder of the cigarettes (3) that he had and he gave them to us. He understood that those were the weapons of rebellion that he had to burry. It was so cool! I have never seen anyone so excited for their baptism. His was truly a miracle, golden conversion for a missionary. He kept all the committments and recieved a testimony of all that we taught him. His baptismla service was so great too. His two sons came (the third came late and never actually entered the chapel because everyone was already leaving...) and it was such a great experience. Unfortunately, there must have been some kind of lack of communication because a lot of the people that had assignments to speak or pray or whatever, didn´t come. So with a little improvisement, we got Elder Dowdle to give a talk and some of the other members that came gave prayers. The other member assigned to give a talk fortunately came prepared to talk about baptism. They were super good. Especially Elder Dowdle´s talk. He is SUCH a good missionary. His talk was just filled with the Spirit and everyone there felt it. He was after all talking about the Holy Ghost haha. So Daniel and his family are members. But the other son of Victor, Damian, is not a member,. He came with his girlfriend Mariana. After the ordinance was performed by Elder Moscoso (I confirmed) we watched the story of John Tanner because the conversion of Victor was such a semejanza to the story of John Tanner. I know this doesn´t necesarrily mean that the spirit is present... But EVERYONE was crying! Mariana and Damian are new investigators now and we have an appointment to teach them this week. I am STOKED. So.... Thats what happened with Victor. There is more to the story, but I can just say that faith, prayer, and fasting really does work miracles. I don´t really know what else to say. It was a very exciting week. It was also the first time that I have been present at one of my convert´s baptisms since November haha... We have this amazing ability to find people that get super excited about baptism and get baptized, just the weekend after I leave the area haha. Thats the important part though so no worries. Well... I have a lot more I guess I wanted to say, but I really just want to tell you that the Book of Mormon is the most powerful instrument that we have in this great work besides the Spirit. Read it. Ponder it´s messages. Pray about it. LOVE IT! lOVE you guys. Elder Daybell Oh yea. I think today to celebrate my birthday I am going to go crazy and buy an expensive cereal haha. Love it. Thank you guys. Also, the Pope being Argentine has so far not changed anything here. As far as I know. Except for the tshirts and posters you can buy now.