Que sus momentos sean milagros, May 28, 2018

Hola Mamá y familia!

It´s really hard to express how I feel right now. I am extremely grateful for the time that I have had here in Argentina and the people that I have met. I am also determined to keep focusing on today, because I know that I cannot live in the future nor the past. There is a firm hope that more of the people that I could teach can come unto Christ and be baptized and also the lingering question if there was anything more that I could have given in the service of my Lord and Savior.

This past week was miraculous. The biggest miracle that I was blessed to participate in was the teaching of Jorge. Jorge is the husband of our recent convert Angela. He attended church with his family the Sunday of their confirmations, and we were able to visit with him this week. 

As Elder Soberanas and I spoke with Jorge, we felt the words that we should speak come in a way that I cannot describe as anything but inspired by a loving Father in Heaven that knows his children by name. We were able to promise Jorge that by committing himself now to be baptized, that he would be able to quit smoking and that he would never have to smoke again. And he did it.

Jorge has begun to put his faith in Christ and in his family first. He is determined to receive the blessing of baptism for himself, and for his children that tragically passed away. After committing himself to baptism and reading in the Book of Mormon, he was able to see his deceased son in a dream. It had been months since he had dreamed of his son- I know that it was God that blessed Jorge to see his son again, even if in a dream. Elder Soberanas and I are extremely happy to be able to help be with his son forever one day.

This is my last letter. There is nothing that I can say except that I know that God and Jesus Christ live. I know that I am nothing, but I know that God has a perfect Son who has paid the price of my errors. I want to surrender myself to Him every day of my life. He has power on earth to save all of God´s children. 

Thank you all for all of your love and support during these two years in Argentina. I hope that I can continue to work daily to thank God for the miracles that he has worked in my life and in your lives.

I love you all with all of my heart,

Elder Lambert

Photos:

1. The zone of Merlo

2. Elder Trejo (Guatemala), Elder Whitmer (Elk Grove, CA), Elder Soberanas, Me

Sed firmes, May 21, 2018

I don´t think that I´ve lost weight, but I couldn´t tell you. That´s really cool to hear about the trip to Ohio. Looks like it was a beautiful place, and a really cool event. I´m glad that you were able to go and participate. 

I don´t have a lot of time to share but I want to share a few thoughts.

This week was pretty incredible. Angela, Rocío, and Matías entered into the waters of baptism. I know that they made a promise with God in that moment to keep the commandments take the name of Christ over them. I know that God´s priesthood authority on earth made that possible, and also made it possible that they could receive a remission of their sins.

At times in my life I have questioned many things. However, in all of my questioning the only light that lead me towards true happiness has been the light of Christ. We are not here in the world for mere happenstance. God sent us here- we are his children. He does have a church over the face of the earth.

We as men and women are imperfect, but that´s why God sent his Son to perform an infinite and eternal sacrifice for us. I want to trust in the testimony that I have received from the spirit of God. I want to choose to follow Christ every day of my life. I know that it is the only way to live that will never lead to regret.

I love you all! I hope that you continue to get down on your knees daily and talk with your Father in heaven! 

Much love,

Elder Lambert

Photos: Elder Soberanas and I with Angela, Matías, and Rocío

Feliz dia de la madre, May 14, 2018

Hola Mamá y familia!

It was great to see everyone Sunday! I´m glad to hear that you could have a great Mother´s Day and that you and Dad are going to be able to visit Connor and Melinda! That sounds like it is going to be a great trip!

This last week was absolutely EXCELLENT here in Altos de Merlo. I didn´t get to tell you about them last Monday, but on Sunday night the 6th of May Elder Soberanas and I met Angela, Rocío, and Matías in addition to Fiorella and Bautista. 

Angela had attended church over ten years ago, and was preparing to be baptized when a tragedy happened- she lost her daughter, a newborn granchild, and her 13-year-old son in a house fire. After all of this time, we found her last Sunday and she now is excited to be able to attend church again, be baptized with her two grandkids (Rocío and Matías), and then be able to perform the temple of work of her children that passed away.

Fiorella is a single mother of 4 boys (Bautista, Ignacio, Francisco, and Caleb). She recently broke up with the father of her sons, and we contacted her in the street in a moment when she was being weighed down by the burden that she was now facing (raising 4 children alone). She was able to read in the Book of Mormon, feel of its power, and receive her own testimony that it´s true. She is also excited to prepare for baptism along with her 9-year-old son, Bautista. 

God continues to pour out blessings upon me and my companion. I know that in the coming days I still have many people to invite unto Christ. Today is my only day to work in the Lord´s vineyard, and I hope to thrust in my sickle with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength. Thank you all for your continued love and support.

With all.of my love,

Elder Lambert

Photos:

1. Elder Elliott (my former companion from Orem, UT) and I at a mission activity

2. Elder Ruiz (former comp from Ecuador) and I

3. Elder Sparks and I (former comp from Canada)

Tengo gozo en mi alma hoy, May 7, 2018

Hola Mamá y familia!!!

It´s great to hear from you all! I love hearing all of the exciting news. Elder Soberanas and I had a great week! We had some truly beautiful experiences, and we´re excited to see many more!

Technically the last name of Elder Soberanas is Elder Milne-Soberanas but his name is too long to fit on his plaque so he chose the part that was easier to pronounce in Spanish- Soberanas. And the answer is- yes he does know his heritage. His mom is actually from Spain. 

Victoria was actually baptized and confirmed this last weekend!!! It was a really spiritual and uplifting chain of events! We really felt the spirit so strongly throughout all of the teaching and her decision to be baptized and confirmed!

It was an amazing experience- in one of the lessons as we talked about the commandments, and being able to attend the temple after baptism her 3-year-old daughter, Maitena, said, "I want to join this church." Victoria was able to explain to her how when she is eight she will be able to get baptized- although she wasn´t excited that her older sister, Tiziana is going to be able to get baptized first.

After the beautiful baptismal service and her confirmation in church, she even went up to bare her testimony! It was such a powerful moment, and I felt so happy that Elder Soberanas and I could be in the right place, at the right time, and act upon the impressions that we received from the spirit. 

I don´t have time to write more details, but I´m so excited for wait the coming days hold. God is pouring out his blessings upon us. I hope that you are all seeking out the promised blessings of God! I know that as you are obedient to him and his called servants that you will be blessed!

I love you all!

-Elder Lambert

P.S. On Mother´s day this Sunday I will be calling at 6:30 PM Argentina time which I believe would be 3:30 PM Utah time.

Photos:

1. Victoria with all the members at the baptismal service

2. Elder Soberanas and I with Victoria.

Altos de Merlo con mi amigo australiano, April 30, 2018

Hola Mamá y familia!

When I went to my second area, Santos Lugares, I also lived with Elder Soberanas. He wasn´t my companion but we lived together. He´s from Gold Coast (basically Brisbane), Australia. I had mentioned that you guys could visit his family when you visited Australia. 

My new area, Altos de Merlo is in the city. Merlo is a very humble part of Buenos Aires. My area is incredibly good for missionary work; I´m very excited to be able to finish my mission inviting the people of Altos de Merlo to come to Christ.

We had a great miracle my first day in the are. I had prayed to be able to find someone who will be baptized, and Elder Soberanas and I went out to proselyte. We walked two houses from our apartment and felt to stop and knock. 

A woman came out who turns out had investigated the church when she lived in Formosa (a different province of Argentina), and all of her family are members except for her. Additionally, she already is friends with the Primary president, and still has contact with the elder that taught and baptized the other members of her family- who is currently a bishop.

After visiting with her a couple more times this past week she told us that when we arrived at her house Tuesday, she was passing for a particularly difficult time. Recently she has faced problems with clinical depression, and we arrived right when she was having an attack of depression. She read in The Book of Mormon and was able to feel the healing power of our Savior Jesus Christ.

This woman´s name is Victoria. The faith of Victoria was strong enough that even though there was a huge storm that flooded the streets on Sunday she was still committed to going to Church and participating.

It was a really incredible miracle. I know that God put Elder Soberanas and I in the right place at the right time so that Jesus Christ could work in the life of Victoria. I´m extremely excited to be able to keep helping her and her family to come unto Christ.

I love you all! Thanks for all your love! Keep looking towards Christ! He will give you the power to overcome any difficulty!

Con todo mi amor,

Elder Lambert

Photos:

1. Me with Elder Neto (Brasil), one of the current assistants

2. Me in the apartment of Ramos Mejía the day of transfers

Un fin y un principio mas, April 23, 2018

Hola mamá y familia!

Glad to hear that you had a beautiful weekend! Utah has so many beautiful places to visit. I´m really glad that growing up we could go and visit so many of the beautiful mountain ranges, etc. I like getting away and getting out to nature every so often.

As for the weather here there isn´t much to talk about. However, I did experience one of the craziest storms of my life yesterday. Out of nowhere Elder Winward and I were hit by really powerful winds, and a TORRENTIAL downpour. Within a half hour the streets were totally flooded. We had to immediately head back to our apartment because it was dangerous to stay outside. It was honestly hard to even breath as we tried to bike/walk to the house because of the combination of wind and rain that hit us. 

Besides that though, the weather has been a weird mixture of rain some days, and heat the next day. We never know exactly what to expect.

As for the missionary week here- Elder Winward and I had an AMAZING week! God blessed us so much! I wish I could share more details, but I´ll just have to settle with a short recap. 

This past Saturday and Sunday our investigator Nicolas was baptized and confirmed! Making the experience even more gratifying- our two investigators Celeste and Morena passed their baptismal interviews and will be baptized this coming Saturday!

As if Elder Winward and I weren´t already ecstatic- God blessed us that two other investigators- Aura and her daughter Bri (a Colombian woman and her 14-year-old daughter) attended church as well! It was an incredible experience and Chacabuco has a very bright future!

As is normal, when I´m hitting my high point there is a change. This last week was the final of this transfer and I will be leaving today in order to head back towards the office of the mission. Tomorrow I will be in "Altos de Merlo" with a new companion- Elder Soberanas from Australia.

I´m very grateful for all of the people that I could meet here in Chacabuco. I am grateful that I could work with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength in this part of the Lord´s vineyard. I know that Christ lives. He is guiding your lives. If we allow Him to take charge of our lives He will do it. He has paid the price, and is happy and willing to carry us in our moments of trial AND triumph.

I love you all! I hope that you are growing closer to your Savior Jesus Christ every day!

-Elder Lambert 

 Photos:

1. Us with Nicolas at his baptism.

2. Me with the statues in the central plaza of Chacabuco.

3. Elder Winward and I with Celeste and Morena.

4. Elder Winward and I with Aura and Bri.

Y asi la luz abrio el cielo, April 16, 2018

Hola Mamá y familia!

It´s great to hear from you! Glad to hear you could wish Connor a happy birthday, teach some yoga, and spend some time with Ruth. I didn´t realize she wasn´t in the same ward as you guys anymore!

Also, Mom I know that you have spiritual gifts because you have several Christlike attributes that are not common in the world! Open up "Preach My Gospel" and read Chapter 6 and I know that you will see you have a level of those Christlike attributes in your spirit! I love you Mom!

Elder Winward and I had a great week! While we were not able to hold the baptism of Nicolas quite yet he continues to repent and change daily! He attended church again and is showing powerful desires to follow Christ! It has truly been a pleasure visiting with him and helping him to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ!

In addition to Nicolas we had three other investigators (or friends of the church as we like to call them now) who showed great faith by attending. Two are young girls- Celeste and Morena. They are 10- and 8-years-old. Their father does not want to accept our commitments to come unto Christ, but he loves that his daughters want to. He has committed to taking them to church every week, and came through yesterday!

My companion reminded me yesterday what a miracle it is that we met Celeste and Morena. One night before going home, we wanted to make one more visit. We stopped and prayed about which direction to go, and by so doing when we finished praying we were in the path of a recent convert, Juan Pedro, that was going home. We went to visit with him in his house and as a result found a neighborhood that we didn´t even know existed (you can´t see it on the map).

When we went back another day to visit the recent convert Morena saw us and said that we had visited with her before (she was mistaken- they were other missionaries). We were confused but she had just recently moved to live with her Dad, and was excited to be able to keep learning about the gospel like she had done before.

In addition to Celeste and Morena, there is a woman named Ana that attended. She is probably about 60-years-old, but walked for probably an hour to be able to attend church. We had met her about a month ago, but after a couple of visits we couldn´t go by anymore because of the distance from our other investigators that were progressing. We felt to head by this past Saturday and to our surprise she had been thinking every Sunday since we visited her about attending church. We were finally able to arrive in the correct moment and give her the extra push that she needed to make it to church. 

I know that God lives and loves us! He is working in the hearts of the children of men! I hope am forever indebted to Him. I know that we all have been bought with a price, and a hope that we can live in a way that honors that sacrifice of our Savior!

Much Love,

Elder Lambert

Photos: 

1. The sunset in Chacabuco,

2. The church here in Chacabuco.