The Oak and the Ivie (83rd email)

Buenas!! Familia!

                Hows it cookin? It sure is cookin here, I thought we were in fall here but we´ve been having summer temps unfortunately, im ready for it to cool down to be honest!

                Anyways its been another great week in the work, working with the Lord has never been better! Sometimes here we get frustrated that things dont happen the way we want them. But as we have learned this week to be humble and diligent! J Something that I havent realized because we have been so busy is how much BETTER we are working with the Lord. Its not easy let me tell ya because it requires more effort. But we have seen great results and joy that comes from working with the leaders and members of this ward! J The have provided us with lots of lists to work with, so we are never just wandering haha! But literally we are swamped everyday finding new people and visiting our investigators as well!  I love this work! J

                 As I said last week we had a Multi-Mission Conference with Elder Dallin H. Oaks!! And it was super uplifting, just what I needed! J To be in the presence of an Apostle just changed the whole room, right when he entered with his wife we all stood up and the Spirit just filled the room, it was amazing! Not only did he come but Elder Vinas from the Seventy and his wife, a future mission pres. in Paraguay which was actually my Stake Pres. in Durazno, Pres and Hna. Cook of course, and more I cant remember. Oh yeah I cant forget we got to shake everyone´s hand (everyone from the 2 missions!) and I havent washed my right hand since. J A couple things I loved from the conference, mainly the words from Elder Oaks, he talked about how important morning scripture study is. And how reading the BoM everyday prepares and guides him in EVERYTHING that he does!! Everything he said, I would say that is very important so that we can have the Spirit to guide us in everything we do. I also loved when he talked about being instruments in the hand of the Lord 24/7 not just be a missionary! He clarified and we are FULL’TIME missionaries at all time no matter if its p-day or Sunday. And he told us to enjoy it, enjoy every moment! J It was a fabulous conference I could go through my notes it put down so much more but I dont want to bore ya! Oh yeah I saw E´ Petersen for the 1st time in like 4mths!! J I missed that guri! I really did, he´s a fav of mine. He actually sat behind me, we were chatting it up a little but of course during the meeting. ;) He asked me about you guys, and told me you guys wrote him back!! Thanks for keeping care of my comps, you da best fam! J

              Ummm so yeah I really dont have much for you guys, sorry Tuesday is pday for me next week, im glad Braxton and Savanna got home safe this week! :) Mom take care of yourself, im praying for ya! Alexis I dont even recognize you anymore, but still a babe. Lumps email ya next week, LOVE the photos especially the Pop-Star one! The cake one is torture thanks for that, and yeah love you lumps! Quick quote to end off the email, I was reading a talk on the Atonement/Repentance by Elder David A. Bednar this week and I read this quote that just changed me it said ¨Teach me how to repent; for that´s as good as if thou hadst seal´d my pardon with thy [Christ´s] blood.¨ Think about that for a bit! I LOVE YOU ALL TOO MUCH thanks for the love back fam. Enjoy the pics sort lame sorry. And yes wow hit 19mths. yesterday I know....  

Les amo, Elder Tyler Scott Ivie

Pic #1 Hna. Silvia have us a whole jar of DULCE DE LECHE!! We are Uruguayos for lyfe

Pic #2 Yes, this is me making a sad face, pointing at the Airport, I told ya I was close! But no I am not trunky, Im just missing Aeroparque a bit! ;)

Dulce de leche that Hna. Sylvia made us

Airport in Aeroparque isn't too far away...missing Aeroparque so much!

Multi Mission Conference--Elder Oaks was there!  April 2015

Lil' awesome! (82nd email)

Heyyo lets go! Long time no talk, jokes the weeks are flying here literally. This change will be over in like 2 weeks, and to be honest it might be my farewell to Bella Italia! I really love it here, the members are real close to my heart here but wherever the Lord needs me I´ll go! J Also say bye to my little Araujo, I don’t even want to think about it. Not gonna lie we´ve been getting on each other nerves this week but really just like a normal companionship it happens. We don’t agree on everything but the thing I love about E´ Araujo is that he is super patient and wont get mad at ya! We are better now, but just in case you wanted to know about our relationship status!

                I forgot to tell you guys last week, that Sebastian received the Aaronic Priesthood, is got ordained to the office of Deacon! J WOOOO!! His b-day is actually today too, he turns 14, so wish him a Feliz Cumpleaños! Which means he might be ordained to the office of teacher here soon. J

                Our Mission Leader has been helping us at a bunch this week. Him and his wife, have been visiting a lot of less actives with us, even on their own as well! Thanks to the urgency of him we saw miracles yesterday in church, 8 less actives came to church yesterday! J That’s the highest Ive ever had here I believe. Our mission leader, Hno. Gonzalez has been helping us a lot with Max and Veronica as well. He made the hike to their house so that he could help us out with their marriage! We found this week that the last time they went, to take out the papers it didn’t really work out well. Thanks to the Spirit we found out that in some way they lost hope of going again so that was the reason they haven’t gone back! So the charla with Hno. Gonzalez really helped clear up a few doubts and get them excited again to get married! It’s a happy thing right?!?! So yeah this week him and his wife are going to work the clothes situation, the bus situation, the witness situation, and more! But its gonna work we´ve seen a lot of progress in them this week! Another testimony why we should work with the ward especially about the topic of marriage because I have no idea let alone how to do it in Uruguay!! Ha so yeah that was a real tender mercy this week that we had!

                TOMORROW we have the privilege to  have a Multi-Mission Conference in the Flores Stake (other mission), unfortunately we aint goin to the big boy´s house this time! L BUT this is going to be an amazing conference I just know it mainly because Elder Dallin H. Oaks is coming!!!!!! JJ Wish me luck its gonna be a good one, its the first time an apostle has came while Ive been here and its truly a HUGE blessing, I cant wait there are no words to describe it!

Wow so many people are already home or coming home this week, I cant believe it! Mom dont worry about telling  me who is coming home, I actually rather know who is coming home because I have lost track of everyone to be honest haha! :) Braxton and Savanna´s testimonies were really strong werent they! If anything knowing helps me keep moving along! I still feel at my peak :) Oh yeah the pic below was a little gift that bought myslef, sorry I just had to do it. Its my Uruguay team Peñarol, I figured Uruguay is really the only place im gonna get it so I did it last week if you didnt notice! ;) And no dont worry I havent changed into a steelers fan!

Well thats what I got for today and the week....thats crazy that SKYPE is coming right up!! You better be practicin´ Lumps on your español, its on mujer! I love you guys TOO MUCH! :) That will forever be my saying sorry if you are already sick of it. I hope you all have a glorious fab week. Oh yeah and I wanted to ask you guys how the BofM reading is going? Where are you guys at? I think I might be behind just a bit, im in 1 Nephi 20. I dont have it to planned out like you guys but I hope im at least a bit close to you guys!

Les amo, Elder Tyler Scott Ivie

Elder Ivie's  Uruguay soccer team--Peñarol

Sup Weird Weekish (81st email)

DEAR FABULOUS FAM!

Alrighty hows it goin´ ya´ll, Im glad that you are doing alright Mom, that was quite the heart breaker. :( Sorry Momma. This week I really don´t tell much either though sorry, that doesnt mean it wasnt a good week it was just a weird one!

The good part was I really feel like the Lord is guiding us here more than ever. He has been so merciful with us, because sometimes I just dont know what Im doing or why we are in that spot but the Lord is providing us with SO many people to teach. We found a few new inv. this week M and her son J who want us to come over to their house because they MISS the missionaries. Apparently her daughter got baptized a couple years ago but stopped going for some reason but she wants us to start coming over again, I really feel something special about them! So lets hope for the best! We can also really see the hand of the Lord in the His work in the rescuing less actives! We had 7 less actives in church yesterday with an all time high of 82 in church (well from the time Ive been here)! :) We´ve been working with a few of those less actives and the new video has been a huge blessing to have, to re-kindle that fiery tesitmony of Jesus Christ in US and THEM everytime we show it! :) Good things are happening here in good ol Pretty Italy!

I would like to share a scripture this week that really got to me straight into the hear ok! Its in John 9: 1-7, 25

 1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
I was reading the Ensign the other day and I came across this scripture. Of course this is the story of when Jesus heals the blind man, the faith that the blind man had to be healed really is amazing but what really hit me was the last line when the blind man says to Jesus one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. This scripture hit me so much because this scripture caused me to remember ALL the spiritual progress that has happened to me these 18 mths. thanks to the tender mercies of the Lord and his Holy Spirit. My testimony is stronger than ever of this work, Im not going to say that my eyes were blind my whole life because I´ve had a testimony of this church my whole life. But here on the mission I can say now that through the mercy and grace of my Savior Jesus Christ he has opened my eyes to His light and I cant ever look back! :) I love him and so grateful for the testimony I have of Him that He lives, my Heaven Father is His father and my father and He loves me and I am here in Uruguay doing what he needs me to do! :) Now I can see with my spiritual eyes that all these things are true and I cant doubt it. Im a cry baby! But I just wanted to share that with you, I love you all!!  L and familia are doing good, L came to church yesterday. We werent able to have a charla with them because they canceled! :(
Alright thats all I got it was good to hear from all of you sorry I ran out of time today but I love you all TOO MUCH! Sorry spring break is over, time to work.. git her done! Oh yeah remember my friends from Maceys Jenessa and Dalton, yeah they both got home last week! :) See ya have a good week!
Les amo, Elder Tyler Scott Ivie

Because HE lives I love conference and being a missionary (80th email)

JJ Fam! JJ

                Hope you all enjoyed conference and took advantage of it because we sure did!! :) Now the hardest part is to organize my thoughts and apply it! I guess the Holy Ghost will help me a lot this week! Its so cool when you dont get revelation for yourself but for your investigators and area, I could really recognize that a lot more this time. Luckily our ward met in our stake center in Barrio (Ward) 14, so all the gringos got to watch it in english in a seperate room just like what we did in Malvin last time! :) It was a marvellous experience I must say, very strange at the same time because of the obvious Ï oppose¨thing, I bet that is all over the news, right? Also Richard G. Scott didnt speak, we are saying that because he is coming here in a couple weeks to speak to both missions, at least we think he is coming. We know an apostle is coming but we dont know who. So we´ll see but those were a few weird things that happened this time. Other than that, I stayed awake for all the sessions (and thats saying a lot because Priesthood session is from 9-11pm here), took so many notes, and I am so grateful to have living prophets!! 3 new temples in crazy places too! J

                A few talks I like, a few because I cant mention all J

1.       Dallin H. Oak´s talk on the parable of the sower

2.   David A. Bednar´s talk on developing more faith than fear! LOVED IT! Just for me!

3.  M. Russell Ballard´s talk in Priesthood Session, I got to have a personal interview with him! J

4. Larry M. Gibson´s farewell talk noooo, welcome back to the stake buddy! Is he in the stake still? Im not even sure any more but I love his talked on the eternal perspective

5. Pres. Eyring´s talk on the Power of Prayer in Priesthood Power

6. Brent H. Nielsen and Kevin W. Pearson´s talks on Lehi´s dream which coincidentally I had been studying a lot lately this week! WE HAVE TO STAY BY THE TREE! J

7. And of course Elder Holland´s talk on Jesus Christ and even though we sometimes feel the sand just slippin´between our hands, his ¨brotherly hand and devoted arms¨are there to catch us! J

Sorry again I dont have lots of huge news to tell ya but it was a great week to be honest, the Spirit was real strong this week. I think what really was special this week was the new ¨Because He Lives¨initiative!! We´ve been showing that video to everyone, I believe it really help turn everyone´s hearts to what Easter really means! J I love easter because it gives me a chance to reflect on what the Savior has done for me especially in this 18mths. And what I can do better in these next 6mths. To remember Him! J I hope you guys watched the video and enjoyed it! We had a great lesson with Luis and his fam. this week on that video! :) We talked about the Plan of Salvation and how their whole fam. can be together forever! It amazes me how much faith they have because they recently lost there son, but I think that is what the knowledge of the truthfulness of the gospel brings them! They are getting closer to marriage!

I also hope you guys had a fabulous Easter!! Looks like you did the usual and colored eggs, thats sooo classy I love em Alexis! :) Sadly I didnt color any eggs but me and my comp. had an Easter egg chocolate thing that they sell here!! :) (see photos) I think we didnt get though because it was hollow but nothing cool was in it! I think the point is to hide a gift inside but we had no idea!! It was suppppper delicious though! :)

WISCONSIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I´ll be prayin for them tonight!!! Your boys Mom (mine too but they are more like your boys mom!)!!!!!! :) I am so proud, I think I might have to go to Wisconsin for college now!! AHHH you were right mom awesome sports and spiritual week. Good to hear from everyone of you, I promise I´ll write back Im getting better at it I promise! Dont forget I love you all TOO MUCH! :) Have an amazing week, enjoy the clima!

Les amo, Elder Tyler Scott Ivie