When life is to hard to stand......KNEEL October 24, 2011


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The family and friends of Suzanna Sosa and her daughter Sabrina Guzman
at their baptism.
Elder Mathers, Elder Foster and Elder Gonzalez 

 

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 Susana Sosa has been paralyzed since the age of five from the effects of Polio.
I was able to baptise her on October 22, 2011.
She looked like an angel dressed in white,
 I was able to carry her in my arms into the baptismal font. 



Mosiah 27:25
And the Lord said unto me: marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindred, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters.

This week was one I will never ever forget. I know that God is aware of us as missionaries and the sacred work we are doing and that his angels are writing the conversion story of each and every one of his children.

We met Susana ten weeks ago reading her Bible enjoying a day in the sun, clapping doors like all missionaries do, she loves God and loves to learn and gladly excepted us to hear what we had to say.

She has been congregated in the Jehovah's Witness Church for the last 10 years and has only missed 6 days in her 10 years of assisting, we shared a short but very powerful lesson on the apostasy and the restoration of the only true existing church on the earth today, we shared with her the Book of Mormon and invited her to find out for hersel, and to be baptised when she knew. In her church you have to have about 15 years of study of the Bible to be baptised, so she was really confused how we could be offering this so sudden.
She prayed but didn't receive the answer we know comes through sincere desire, so we explained to her about the Holy Ghost and listening for an answer... she continued praying but still felt nothing.

We continued to pass by and teach her very basic principles from the Book of Mormon... faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. She always did her studies and always prayed but never felt like she was receiving an answe.

One day we had a very power lesson on the need for a prophet in this day and age as well as the prophets existed in the olden days, we found something that really interested her, she felt that there is one God and one true church and if that church had prophets before Christ and Christ not only being our Savior but a prophet as well, then the church today should also have a prophet!

Susana has been paralyzed from the age of five when the effects of Polio took over her body, for this reason she has been really scared to come to church especially because her electric wheelchair has been broken for several months.  So all this time she refused to come to church, but when we saw her interest in the prophets it was a blessing from God because we were only two weeks away from General Conference.

We promised her an answer from God through his living prophet Thomas S. Monson and committed her to come and hear his voice.

She received her electric wheelchair and gladly managed her way 9 blocks on dirt roads to hear the prophet, she arrived there early and enjoyed the music of the Tabernacle Choir which invited the spirit nicely, she sat attentive for the next two hours without hardly blinking.

We had a prayer in our heart and knew she would find her answer.  I looked over at her during the talk of Dieter F. Uchtdorf and saw a tear falling from her cheek, I know that President Uchdtorf doesn't know me Elder Quade Foster personally or Susana Ester Sosa but I know that we are all children of God and that he knows us, I know that the prophet and his 12 apostles are called of men and through their words our prayers are answered.

We took Susana to the baptismal font and invited her to be baptised ( probably for the 15th time) and with tears in my eyes as I write this... she replied "How are you going to get me in and out of there"? So we had a Baptismal date for the 22nd of October!

We passed by every day and our relationship became deeper and deeper and her testimony then became stronger and stronger of the church, we enjoyed many laughs and very spiritual moments.

Her 15 year old daughter Sabrina Guzman has gone to church with her mom since she was a little girl and never wanted to listen to us but always came with her mom to church, she one day wanted to know everything because she loved how her mom was continually happy and wanted it for herself, so we taught her and she as well had a date for the 22nd.
Well this week the long waited day arrived...Susana had to have a special visit with our mission President for a few things but her desires to do what was right out weighed anything else, but Satan is real and knows what she was about to do, so he put one of her old friends from her old church into her path and made her doubt and doubt until the point she wasn't going to be baptised, she told us this the day of her baptism.

But as we all know our Heavenly Father has ALL power and has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost to change the hearts of even the hardest people, our Bishop, Bishop Moisko had a great chat with her and used his missionary skills to teach and testify of the simple things he knew to be true, she left his office ready to be baptised.

We got changed and words can't describe the way she looked in white, Susana looked like an angel, she is an angel! We had everything prepared and knew how we would get her in and out of the water... I took her into my arms like a little child, I took the steps slowly into the nice warm baptismal waters and sat her into a chair that was previously set there.

Elder Gonzalez my companion from Santiago Chile did the ordinance and together we baptized her in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost,we enjoyed a 15 second hug together in the water and then I lifted her again into my arms... she held onto to me ever so tight, looked up at me with a huge smile and tear filled eyes and said nothing but " Thanks, I've been waiting my whole life for this moment".

At this moment I knew that I had a new spiritual born woman in my arms and she was my precious angel. I thank my Heavenly Father of the sacred privilege I have to be apart of this great work, I know that we are apart of the only true church here on the earth today, I know that the ordinance of baptism is special and literally like King Benjamen taught in his wonderful speech to his people just moments before his death, we can be born again of God!

Mosiah 27 25
And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters.

It sounds like the week in the life of the Fosters isn't any less interesting on the other side of the world!!! Seriously I'm so so proud of Tate and how his game turned out.. thanks mom for your letters so detailed I got so excited and was just about jumping out of my seat here thousands of miles away,  I really hope you enjoyed the first email I sent... it was a very amazing for me... very spiritually refreshing... but I also wanted to tell you a few other crazy things that happened.


Tate Foster's Senior Night for high school football.
Pictured with his parents Ross and Cheryl Foster
Played the game of his life with scoring three touchdowns
 the last one being in the last seconds of the game.
Winning the game 41-40 and sending his
Shelley Russet team into the playoffs.
QUADE WAS A PROUD BROTHER IN ARGENTINA!



I received a letter from Elder Huntsman and he sounds like he is loving life... I sure miss the kid, he helped me a ton right before the mission.

I also got a Dear Elder from Zach Morgan... if you could please get his email somehow I would love it.  He is doing great and sure appreciates our example and said we are doing enough good to make up for his bad doing... seems like something he would say.. I sure want to help him figure things out.

I love you all so much and I wanted you to know of a saying that I am becoming known for here in the mission...

Before it was... Keep it real, clean and sexy

Now it is:
When life is too hard to stand... KNEEL
When your in a rut... REPENT
When life gives you lemons... MAKE LEMONADE!!!

Hope you enjoy your week and I just want you to know I'm happy as they come over here!!!

Love Elder Foster

 

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WELCOME HOME ELDER JOHNS - OCTOBER 17, 2011

McCray Foster, Elder Johns, Tate Foster
So crazy to meet Elder Johns and feel like we were talking to Quade,
they are so much alike we knew why they were such close friends.
  He made us miss Quade a ton and hope he will come visit us in Idaho!

WELCOME HOME ELDER JAKE JOHNS
McCray, Tate, Elder Johns, Cheryl, Ross, Shad and Delanie
Quade and Jake were only together for six weeks but became such close friends
Our family traveled to Utah to listen to Jake report his mission

Hey Family!!!

Wow what a week! OH MY HEAVENS I CANT EXPLAIN JUST HOW AMAZING YOUR LETTER WAS.... I LOVED IT!!! The feelings I have looking at the photo of all you together just brought tears to my eyes, the two best parts of my life... my family and my best friend from my mission together at the same time.

 I'm so so happy that you took the time to go and spend time with Jake... Literally the kid is something special and I know that you felt of his spirit, the friendship that we developed in the short six weeks together is one that will last for eternity! I will make sure to write him and thank him for spending time with the most precious people in my life, and as far as his girl situation goes I know as Jake knows that the lord has his hands in all things and I know he has learned to accept the trials that the lord gives us, I know if things don't work out with Morgan, there is someone

 SO PERFECT FOR HIM!!!!

I don't have much time because we went to Merlo to get a few things, it's like a three hour bus ride, but I wanted to let you know that we worked really really hard this week and as humbling as it has been here in Catan we were humbled even more.

  We have 11 people with baptismal dates in the next month and I know that if we continue planning and following the spirit and putting our trust in the lord that they will all arrive to their dates.  I don't know why we are continuing to be blessed as imperfect as we are the Lord still looks at the desires of our hearts and allows us to be literally his hands in this work.

This week I studied a lot about the gospel of Jesus Christ... I had an analogy and I hope it makes as much sense in English as it does in Spanish (haha its weird to think that its now easier to talk in Spanish, never thought that would happen) but the gospel of Jesus Christ is like a company.

We have a CEO, God, and a vice president Jesus Christ, they have a purpose to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, but they can't do it all by themselves so they have hired other leaders, the prophet and the 12 apostles, who then delegate and train other leaders all over the world.

 The training is given from person to person until it gets down to the very bottom of the list, they have given us every tool necessary to complete the goal that they have but cannot do it for us personally, we are given faith, repentance, baptism, The Holy Ghost and expected to endure to the end.

 I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have been given to be a little messenger boy who has the great blessing of bringing people the greatest news that they will ever need, that there is a way to complete what seems impossible as long as we follow the guidelines that our leaders have given us.

I consider it a privilege and a sacred honor to be here and to dedicate this time to help my Father in Heaven complete his goal to bring to pass the immortality and life of all his children, we all have a small part to play but every single one of them is important.

Susanna is doing great she will be baptized in five days, it's going to be such a special day!!! I would love to type for hours and hours but I really have to go, I am so thankful mom for your time to write me about every week...

Shad I know how you feel buddy, I too lost my championship game, but I can promise you as hard as life gets, the sun still shines and life is so much better with a smile.

Tate good luck this week, I'm so happy for your success both spiritually and physically.

McCray I am so thankful for your example to your friends and I hope you continue to shine.

Delanie your a doll

Love you all so much I really have to go...

Elder Foster!!!!!

WHO KNEW THAT SHOVELING POOP COULD MAKE YOU SO HAPPY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011

We had to go to capital to do DNI and we took this sick picture
Elder Gonzalez, Elder Foster,  Elder Jimenez, Elder Claiter,
TAKING ON THE WORLD1

I had to shovel the poop shoot....
When you flush it just goes outside and you have
 to make a little canal so it flows.....YUCK!
But I love to serve :)

This is a cabinet we built for The Salinas Family
Walter, Elder Gomez and Elder Foster  

Elder Foster at Capital

Hey Mom I don't have any time today to write because we spent the day with investigators but we will have time tomorrow to write, Mom thank you so much for doing my blog I'm sure it looks amazing. It is just one of my many journals! I'm really glad the Huntsman family got my letter.

I'll send you more photos of the MTC with captions for you to add to the blog too! I'll make sure to send photos every week then and put a title on my email! You can look for my email tomorrow.

We spent the day with Susanna in the wheel chair we cooked and did service for her, we are actually typing this on her computer because none of the cybers are open because its a holiday here, Day of the races.
It was a very amazing week. I'm so so so so glad you got to talk to Jake Johns and I really hope you'll go down to see him.
I cant explain how happy I am!!!! LIFE IS NOTHING MORE THAN WHAT WE MAKE OF IT!!!!!

I'll send you my photos of our P day with Susanna.

Hey you guys!!!

Sorry I didn't get the chance to write yesterday things got way busy and I ended up going on divisions with an elder named Elder Dayhuff from South Jordan, Utah.

I loved the experience it was awesome, they are struggling and didn't have any baptismal dates so we went over and worked really hard, talked to everyone, followed the spirit and we have a baptismal date with one of their old investigators Pablo for the 5th of November.

I love helping other Elders enjoy their missions! It is something that is hard for me to understand why sometimes they just don't take it all in and LOVE IT!  But I am glad I have the chance to help some of them out.

Just wanted to start off by saying WOW!!! Tate looks like a hotty with a naughty body, I wonder if he took it from his older brother jaja jk jk.   I definately have some work to do before I can say something like that, but really he looks like a model.  Cole did an amazing job and really is talented and would be smart looking into a profession.

This week I found out something really crazy,  an Elder in my zone named Elder Perez from Chiqawawa,  Mexico knew Elder Luke Chapple because they ate at their house on a regular basis, he told me Elder Chapple is a stud and works really hard, nothing could have brought me greater joy so you'll have to make sure and tell their family about it.

This week we went into capital and it really is a whole other world, people are clean, they have jobs, they have hair appointments and I even saw some clothing brands that I am used to. While I was there I took advantage and bought myself a few jerseys and have tucked them away for after the mission.

So I honestly haven't used hardly any personal money maybe 200 dollars but I don't know what my card situation is, are you putting money on it monthly or how is that working? Would you please make sure there is some money on the card because I am going to start preparing a small package to send to you guys for Christmas... I'm sorry it wont be anything big because it is REALLY EXPENSIVE TO SEND PACKAGES.

I will spend about 100 dollars or like 400 pesos just to get it to you, but I'll make it filled with Argentina stuff! Speaking of packages Mom, I received yours and I love the shirts.  Thank you so much for being so thoughtful, I actually gave my companion the yellow spud run shirt as a gift and he loves it and sends you a kiss.

Wow I was impressed with the letters and the drawings of Shad and Delanie... they are developing their skills rapidly.  I have a list of things that other missionaries have said are needed when you hit a year in the mission that would be nice for Christmas and my birthday, but the problem is it would cost so much to ship it, so you could  do one of two things.

If people want to send me something you can tell them what it is that I need and they can send it... or they can give you just cash and you could put it on my card and I could buy what I need here.

Packages are faster than letters, I honestly don't want much... mostly just good hygiene stuff, but I would like to buy a new suit and shoes for my last year, but  I'm not to worried about all that now.

This week was will be hard to forget - President Carter has focused a lot on diligence and planning since he has been here. Well we have been diligent and found lots and lots of people to teach but we have faulted a little on the planning part, so we took the time to plan for the 30 investigators that we have.

We made specific plans for everyone of them and their needs and how they could come to church and who would bring them, who would sit by them, and how we could meet their needs. It was well worth it, we had 11 of the 30 come to church this Sunday and we have baptismal dates with all of them, I honestly don't know why we are so blessed... but I do know that as we make our deepest desires the desires of the Lord he is bound to guide us.

We have the goal to baptise every week, but sometimes our pride or feelings of scared or tired don't allow us to really complete with our desires, I have prayed and prayed that the Lord will strengthen me to act according to the desires that he has placed in my heart, I know that he is giving us the strength of mind and physical strength to complete his work.

Mom I pray nightly for my future spouse that she will feel my love and the love and support of the Savior when she needs it, I don't know who it will be but I know as you said mom... that she will be perfect for me.

This is all the time that I have for right now but I'm excited to here about your week with Jake Johns! I hope Tate will go and hear and see what a returned missionary has to offer, he is as good as they come! I love him and hope you enjoy his spirit, smile, and love of the Savior that I once enjoyed just a few weeks ago!

I love you all and wish you the best of luck in all that you do.

Thanks for updating my blog mom I'm sure lots of people will love it, Mikel and Kelly already looked at it and emailed me.

Elder Foster

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SALINAS FAMILY ON THEIR WAY TO ETERNITY - OCTOBER 2, 2011

Yeah Baby - P Day
Soccer and pizza
I love my Argentina soccer shirt.

The Salinas Family and Susanna at General Conference
Susanna is ready to be baptised just nervous on how we are going
 to get her and her wheelchair in and out of the water 

The entire Salinas family is now baptised and on their way to eternity.



Baptism of Walter and Mica Salinas

Hey Family!!!

Wow what a week I have the pleasure to report to you this week. I don't have much time because we took the P day to enjoy ourselves and went to a pizza joint and played soccer,  it was a type of fun that I haven't had in a very long time!!! Well needed!!!

But wow can I just tell you how much I love the conference time of year,  general conference honestly just gave me an energy I cant explain, I wanted everyone I know to enjoy the blessing of hearing the voice of the "Moses of our days" Thomas S. Monson. We ran around contacting everyone that would give us 25 seconds to explain his importance, we prepared a sweet home evening to explain to all out investigators the importance of a prophet in the world today, we had a great turn out, I'll send a picture.

Oh I forgot to mention that as of this transfer I am now a zone leader. It is a honor and a privilege to serve and help other people...there is no time for anything, I love it though... it is really great to work with other missionaries and learn from them, I do have to mention that it is really hard to write in my journal at night, but I am still going strong and haven't missed a day in what now is my nine months in the mission (I can't believe how fast time flies!)

We had a goal of 100 investigators in the zone to attend conference and had everyone working hard and pumped up to meet the goal, we worked hard and had very specific plans with 20 people, but as you know you have to invite double who actually come, and it worked out about like that, we had 11 that came to hear the words of the prophet.

 

Things got really complicated this weekend as we had to go look for investigators, worry what they were thinking and feeling and in the midst of all that we managed to baptize two people between the sessions, Walter and Mica.

 

The Salinas family are all dunked and ready to start their path to eternal life, Walter and Mica who had complications this last week were baptized and looked so good in white,  Walter is way excited to receive the priesthood so he can baptise his son Claudio on December 7th when he turns 8.

The most exciting news of all is that Susanna the lady in the wheel chair I have been talking about has been praying and reading and doing all that God has asked her to do to receive an answer, but she hasn't received an answer yet, she is scared to go to church because of her wheel chair. We promised her that if she would use her faith and go to hear the prophet of  God she would feel something that she hasn't felt before, we went to look for her...and she came!

 

Susanna 100 percent at attention and didn't hardly blink, at the end of the conference when they sang How Great Thou Art... I looked over and she had tears running down her cheeks, the members were so amazing to her, we ran around and asked everyone to say Hi to her and I swear over 60 people personally gave her a kiss and welcomed her! It was incredible!

 

We then took her to the baptismal font and showed her and explained to her that Christ himself was baptized and we help people follow his perfect example! I hold back tears asI tell you the only question she had was " How are you going to get me in and out of the water if I'm in a wheel chair"... We have a baptism date for the 22nd of October!

 

I too have been praying and preparing for the conference for almost a month and some of my deepest questions and desires were met in almost everyone of the 5 sessions!

Tate, McCray and Shad... you all have better been in the Priesthood session, and if not, you should pray and repent! Dad I hope you did your part to make sure they were there like you always did for me, I sat in a room alone and listened to the session in English and I know that those talks were not only for m, but that he answered my prayers and were there for you as well, I would really love to hear your comments on what you learned.

I was hit really strongly with a 2 phrases from the conference!

LOOK UP, and take the actions to STEP UP, and you are guaranteed to CHEER UP! I know that as we look at the best in every situation, and do that which makes the situation better we will find a happiness we have never had... I have seen this in the hard times of my mission!!!

We often pray for patience, but we want it NOW! I know that patience is the key to happy, healthy, relationships... especially in the family. We can all work on our patience levels and be much happier!

Well this is all the time that I have for today but don't worry I'll be writing in no time! Tate and Shad good luck in your football games.. and Dad keep on working hard big guy! I love you!

May you have the faith to make the changes that God would have you make in your lives!

 

Elder Foster

 

BEST DAY OF MY MISSION SO FAR - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Can't believe another week has come and gone, feels like just yesterday I was writing you. COMO PASA EL TIEMPO NO? jaja just a little Spanish for ya! Wow what an emotional week, full of adventure, laughs and smiles, happy tears, and the rich joy that comes from preparing, loving, watching and participating in the baptisms of Family Salinas

We spent the week focusing on them and their goal of being baptised as a family, the best way to develop a true love for people is through prayer and service. Every day we passed by with little gifts or treats to help them stay excited that had to do with the lessons we were teaching them, for example one day we brought home made flags that they could write their own standards of liberty as we read about Captain Moroni and his standard for his people... and how the Lord asks us to make covenants with him such as baptism.

It was a fun week that took a lot of preparation and planning, but it was so worth it! My studies in the Scriptures and PMG just seem to get deeper and deeper and I love it, I feel like I have no time to study because 1 hour just isn't enough.  It will be really nice when I have the time to just sit and read for a few hours or something... HAHA IN 2 YEARS!!!!

If I could have some body record one of my days in the mission, I would have them record Saturday September 24, 2011.... We started the day off with a ward service project to clean the church at 9 a.m., its amazing how incredible this ward is, it reminds me off one in the United States! SO ORGANIZED! We cleaned the inside and outside and all of the church grounds and finished at about 1 to have empanadas and pizza for lunch.

After a good quick shower we headed off to make plans for those investigators who wanted to see a baptism, we ran around like crazy taking old rigidy buses and speed walking until we visited and had plans with all that wanted to come  - 12 people.

We went to pick up our family to go to the baptism and we had a few difficulties, Walter the dad had to go to the hospital cause his dad had a heart attack, so we had to go with out him in hopes that he would show up, we got to the baptismal service and had a surprise visit from PRESIDENT CARTER, he came with his wife and daughter to his first baptismal service, along with family Salinas.

The Zone Leaders Elder Johns and Mather also had 3 baptisms - a deaf and mute 16 year old, a blind man, and a pregnant lady.... what a combination and story for every one of them. We asked President Carter if he wanted to baptise and he said THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR ELDERS... So he baptized the blind man of the zone leaders! jaja such a great man.

We had another complication, Mica the 16 year old girl was on her special time of the month....( In Argentina they say... She is having a date with Andrus) and was too scared to get into white.... So we are going to have another service this next week with her and her step dad Walter... But wow what a sight it was to see so many people in white clothes.

After the Baptism it was pretty late but decided to stop by Gabriella's house.... ( the lady a few weeks ago who bore her testimony her first Sunday) to see how her and her husband were doing... Well GOD IS A GOD OF MIRACLES!!!! What seemed impossible he made possible, she couldn't get baptised because she was married to another man other than the one she was with, and the papers take literally years to complete! Jose her boyfriend is an alcoholic and abusive...they got in a fight and are done for good and he moved out! Through her tears she told us she feels lonely but knows its for the best because now she can be baptized. 

We have a baptismal date with her for the 9th, I had a great talk with my Father in Heaven that went deep into the night thanking him for what he has blessed us with and asking him to guide us to keep helping his children progress, A PERFECT day in the life of a missionary.

Faith isn't that everything will turn out okay, faith is being okay no matter how things turn out!!!   I know that the Lord has his hands in each of our lives and if we just allow him to guide us through his Holy Spirit he will lead us to what he wants us to do.

Elder Johns finished his mission today... I love him a lot. He is an amazing kid who has a lot of power. I am going to miss him. But he worked till the very last minutes of his mission and I'm excited for him to see his family again. I feel like we have been friends for our whole life but can't believe it was only 6 weeks.

Mom and Dad it would mean a lot to me if you could take the time to at least call him, or go visit him in 3 weeks for his homecoming in Ogden. Dad has his number in his email! Or Jacob Johns on face book.

I hope your all stoked for General Conference this next week. It's always a great way to share the gospel, I would like to leave you with the challenge to look for an opportunity to share the gospel with somebody by inviting them to here the MOSES of our day... THOMAS S. MONSON!!!

What an opportunity. Next week I would love to hear what you all thought about conference... And another little challenge - write down some questions and we are promised an answer.

Con mucho Amor

Elder Foster

Our beautiful ward building that everyone is so grateful to have.

I see things like this everywhere, thought I would take a picture just to always remember that an old car turned on it's side in the middle of the street isn't normal in the United States.

Baptism of the Salinas Family
President Carter was surprise visitor

Empanadas and pizza for everyone after our ward service project.

Service project with our ward.

Zone Leaders Elder Mathers and Elder Johns with myself and Elder Gomez after ward service project.
Just pointing out our mission goal of 200 baptisms per transfer.

INTERVIEW WITH ELDER AIDUKITIS - Sunday, September 18, 2011

Elder Aidukitis, Elder Foster, President Carter

Hey mom I will write you tomorrow we went to capital today and got back really late,  I have a killer week to tell you about, I'm really loving it here mom - I cant explain how happy Iam, I just can't.

 I loved the photos you sent me and I'll be sure to send some tomorrow as well and I will be sure to write to Elder Long,  wow how I love the kid. I'm really bummed out to hear that about the game but I know Coach Richins wont let it happen again!!!!

I love you all so much! I have full heart and teary eyes as I write this letter... I LOVE EVERY FIBER OF BEING A MISSIONARY!!!

I finally have a few minutes to write you about the amazing week we had last week! It was just another week engaged in the work of the Lord, we have lots of people that we are teaching - I am just loving teaching,  I love helping families be happy through the teachings of the Savior, as they complete with what we ask them to do the Lord promises us in D&C 82 verse 10 that he is obligated to bless us as we do whats right. I love the family Salinas, they are so great and are progressing a lot

I for the first time in my mission should baptise a complete family this next week. The four girls and their parents love the changes that they are experiencing and are just now realizing that its the Holy Ghost! Silvia is like my mom (in Argentina) and takes really good care of us. She wanted me to tell you mom that as far as she can tell I'm behaving myself!!!

This is Elder Johns last week here in the mission and we both feel like we have known each other for such a long time and we know we will keep in contact after the mission,  we have spent a lot of nights talking about just how amazing this experience is and the amount of love and confidence the lord has for us as 19 to 22 year old kids.  I really look up to Elder Johns and really hope I can develop myself to who the lord wants me to be.

 Elder Johns has a girlfriend waiting for him ( who he converted, and his dad baptized) , a new step dad, and lots of new little babies, he really loves the work and isn't looking forward to all the change. I don't blame him. Mom it would be really really cool if you sometime could get hooked up with him or his mom and talk a little.

Now I finally get to tell you about my favorite experience of my mission thus far.... Elder Aidukitis of the 70 came to our mission and we had a conference with him in our church on Thursday.  He is one of the counselors of all of Argentina and I guess last year he dropped the Cain on EVERYONE! He told Pres. Benton to shut up and just made everyone feel like they weren't doing anything right, but that he did it with love... He is from Brazil and talks with a crazy accent.

Everyone was really scared and looking forward to another Cain dropping, but we got the opposite, he completely brought with him the spirit of love, thanking us for our work and all that we have changed this last year, he told us as the presidency "they are happy, but they aren't satisfied" and the lord feels the same way.

He talked about the importance of weekly planning and I realized just how bad our weekly planning is, we should be taking 4 to 6 hours every Sunday to receive the revelation for our investigators, he brought with him a goal for us to reach - he wants us to be baptizing every week!

When we were asked who had baptisms every month for the last 6 months I was very surprised to see that only 9 people in the entire mission could say they had...(again i hope you can understand just how blessed and humble I feel) he talked about our desires and numbers, he hates the numbers but the numbers are necessary and don't lie, he said our numbers will show our desires and how much we really love the Lord. 

He did drop the Cain on some elders that just gave dumb answers and were very disrespectful. I loved what he taught us and how we could feel his spirit.  After the meeting I was very very very surprised when Pres. Carter asked for me to stay back so that I could have a personal interview with him and Elder Aidukitis.

I had a 10 min interview with the two of them that was probably one of the most scary, exciting, happy, and spiritual experiences of my life. We talked about what I have learned in my mission, what I learned in the conference, what were the desires I had in my mission and in my life.... Pres. Carter said some really good things to Elder Aidukitis about me that I really didn't deserve... I learned just how much the Lord, Elder Aidukitis and Pres. Carter expect of me and made me think of the scripture D&C 82:3 that says where much is given much is required and about how those of us that know what is wrong and still sin... our sins are bigger.

I sure have been blessed not only in my life, with my family, school, sports, and friends... but even more in my mission with knowledge, a testimony, great companions, the ability to love and understand.

I can't believe I had a personal interview with a 70... over all of South America!!! An experience I'll never ever forget, even better he came to our house to see the apartments and I had a picture with him... the USB drive isn't working so I can't send it to you but I will.

I have gone to bed just sore and tired every day this transfer, I was laying in bed late at night because my body hurt when I had the funny realization that the mission is like growing pains... if it doesn't hurt then your not growing... So I am so thankful that I'm sore cause I know I'm growing spiritually and having the experiences that God has planned to help me grow and raise an eternal family!!!!

I'm so glad to hear that all is busy at home... cause if your not busy and your minds not thinking about other things all the time... that is when satan has a chance to work! So stay busy and don't give the little -----  a chance to even work on ya!!!!

I love you all so much but forgot to pray for you this week...But I know the lord is blessing you and wants me 100 percent focused on my people here in Argentina!!!!

Love Elder Foster

BLESSED TO HAVE SO MANY INVESTIGATORS - Sunday, September 11, 2011

What a week you guys had, I love you mom and dad so much, you inspire me to be so much better! You guys are always so busy and willing to do whatever is asked of you,  I sure hope I can grow into something you guys are.

I am so glad to hear that Shad and Tate are just tearing it up, did you mean to tell me that McCray is thinking about playing football next year? Wow that would be so so sick, do it, jaja! I'm also glad to hear that Delanie is behaving herself... She is so cute!!!!

Wow that is so crazy that Cole got his mission call, I'm excited for him and I know he is prepared to leave... and will be a great missionary, he is a dedicated kid and as he puts his time and talent into his mission he will see the success!

I also had a very good week ,we are teaching lots of people here in Catan and I am just humbled at the success that we are seeing just for being diligent and obedient.

This family we are teaching is so awesome! Mikayela is 16 and is such a happy bubbly girl, Florencia is a little timid but has opened up and loves to just talk about girl stuff she is 14 years, Ludmila is very smart and is the only one that likes going to school, she is 12 years, then there is Yamilla who loves to complete all of the homework we give her and is the most excited to be baptized, Claudio is 7 and is a little bummed out he cant get baptized yet but prays every night that I'm here in December so that I can baptize him jaja he is my little buddy, Walter is 28 and is such a positive happy man who has taken on the responsibility of being a father to all these kids who aren't even his... He is such a good dad and wants whats best for his family!

 Salina is enjoying seeing her family change and really likes our visits... The family is all gangster!!! All of them have tattoos.... even the 10 year old Yamilla,  they are super awesome and wear the gangster clothes and all! P.S.I bought some of the gangster pants and hope you enjoy the photo.

Gabriella and Jose are other investigators that we have that are super excited to get baptized but this week we found a little problem.. when they told us they were married they really meant they were both married before to other people but have been living with each other for the last 10 years and have two precious little girls!

Funny story, the little two year old Juliana was climbing all over me in sacrament and as you know its a rule we cant touch little kids, which kills me by the way cause you know how much I love little kids. So I was doing my best to keep her away and stay by her mom and still be reverent, and she just thought it was so funny and just laughed and laughed,  her cute little laugh just made me smile and everyone was looking at us, it was super funny and reminded me just how much I love litttle kids... It made me miss Delanie a lot!

We are teaching a really great little lady named Susanne who is paralyzed from the waist down and is in a wheel chair, she is 52 and loves our visits.  She has been studying with the Jehovah Witnesses but really likes our visits, she is confused of who is right and only needs to pray to know.

What a blessing it is to know that we have the Holy Spirit of the Lord on our side, we as missionaries can count on 100 percent that if our investigators ask with an open heart and with faith that they will receive their answers.

Mom I used your brownie recipe to make her brownies for her birthday, she was going to come to church but sent us a text and told us that her electronic wheel chair broke and when we went by it was true and we tried to fix it but it didn't work.  She told us this was either a sign from God that she shouldn't come to our church... or a sign from the devil trying to keep her from finding the truth!!

Such a great lady, I honestly love so much talking with people and joking around with them making them feel good and comfortable! haha she told me I could win any girl I wanted with my brownies, haha I made the joke and told her yeah all of them except a diabetic and she was crying from laughing so hard.

We visited an old man named Pedro who got baptized like 6 months ago and he is SO sick, his body is slowly shutting down, he tells us the doctor's don't know what is wrong with him but that his whole body just hurts, it is something to do with his muscles, he gets really tired really fast and he can't even do the littlest things, it is hard to understand him because he gets tired from even talking and has to spit every minute or two because if not he drools cause he can't feel his saliva, so he just sits at home all alone all day. His wife died a year and a half ago.

Any way we visited with him and helped him put a smile on his face, we gave him a blessing of health and then taught him how to pray again so he can pray for himself, he gave the most humble pray I think I've heard on my mission, he just pleaded with God to take away his pain, he wanted to go to church but can't get there, he was in tears because he was lonely and missed his sweet heart.

He hates being alone, his prayer left me so humble and grateful and crying like a little child! I understand that sometimes we have to suffer to learn and to progress in this life but I don't know what else the lord wants from this poor man, I sure hope the Lord will give him the strength and take away his pain or not leave him to suffer and die!

Just a few of hundreds of experiences that have become so regular on my mission, but everyone leaves me just a little more humble than the other. I pray that I personally and that you as a family can count your blessings and thank the Lord for his tender mercies.

I love my mission so much and it makes me sad that the weeks are just getting faster and faster, I have so much to do and to learn and I just want to take advantage of each and every day that God allows me to wear the name of his only perfect son Jesus Christ on my chest! What a privilege!!!! I love you all so much and pray that your found good this next week in all that you do.

Keep it real, keep it clean, and keep it sexy!

Elder Foster

The gangster pants that are really common here.
The crotch hangs down to your knees and they come in the craziest colors.
They are so ugly but so Argentine - so I bought some green ones for myself.

Family Salina
Mikayla 16, Ludmila 14, Yamilla 10, Claudio 7

The Sanja
Drainage from the bathrooms and all the household trash.