About Argentina

vegetation in El Calafate

Hi, I'm Elder Bartlett, and welcome to our show, Exploring the Patagonia with the Mormons. Here in the most southern tip of the world, with the exception of antarctica, the climate if very similar to that of Southern Utah. It is very dry, dusty, and sandy, lots of small scrub bushes, and the four seasons. The Patagonia is well known for it's excessive amounts of wind, extreme heat, and bitter cold, and overall a place where normally no one would want to live.

Yet, the people here are very abundant and extremely wonderful. They don't have much, but what they do have, they willing give. They are very modest and humble and have a strange sense of humor that I still don't really understand.

El Calafate

Most people, like us, are new here to the Patagonia. They have moved in from further up north and from many surrounding countries such as Chile, Peru, and Paraguay. Many have their own plots of land and build their houses on their own, or they rent like us. We have a wonderful landlandy that takes good care of us when she is here. Right now she is in Cordoba visiting her daughter in College. Our house, also known as a pension in mission lingo, is relatively nice. They only problem is that our door has many holes in it, and bugs just love to walk right in and crawl up my nose while I sleep!

Elder Bartlett & Elder Flores from Chile

It's a great life here, and I am enjoying every minute of it. Even though the people here are very honest and immediately tell us what religion they are and that they don't want to hear anything we have to say before we even introduce ourselves, they are very kind and loving.

This has been Exploring the Patagonia with the Mormons, thanks for tuning in. Until next time, stay golden my friends.

Love, Elder Bartlett

Elder Bartlett at Glacier Perito Moreno

?, Elder Eakle & Elder Bartlett at Glacier Perito Moreno

Far left Elder Bartlett

Mom & Dad

So just so you know, my bag broke, but I mostly fixed it. I somehow ripped a huge hole in the crotch of my jeans, so i'm going to find a less active member that can sew to see what she can do. Also, the in-seem of one of my pants came out, also going to take those to this sister member. I lost my flip-flops in Ushuaia, so I bought some toms! As for music, everyone here just has music on usb/pen-drives, so I bought one and got some music from one of the other missionaries, and today I'm going to buy a speaker that has a usb port. It would be cool if you could talk to Ivan or Jacob and put together a pen-drive with a bunch of LDS music from moromon tab, janice kapp perry (celtic variations), EFY music, anything that is produced by the church, and then send it to me. Elder Eakle's mom hid his pendrive in a pack of gum, so that's an idea.  I gave a blessing in Spanish yesterday, my Spanish was terrible but I think they understood.

Love, Elder Bartlett

Don't be a groove thrower

Sorry I guess I forgot to mention who my companion is... His name is Elder Flores and he is from Chile! I would send a picture, but I'd be sitting here for the rest of the day.

This week was interesting. I spent a lot of time with other missionaries and in other areas because my companion left for Rio Gallegos to do tramites (to receive his citizenship in Argentina), and then we went to Rio Gallegos ourselves for zone conference. After the zone conference we did a tsunami! Basically the whole zone goes and contacts in one area. It was a great experience, and I think just about everyone got into one house and taught. The hermana we found was called Doris, and by the end of the lesson she was crying! She accepted to offer the closing prayer, and ask God if what we taught was true. It was so sincere, and I felt the love of our Heavenly Fath - *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* "Hey is my kid here?!" "Hey! Have you seen my daughter?!" Wow. Totally just threw off my groove.

I hope she has the opportunity to pray in a more private place.

Yesterday was super cool! Elder Vinas, the member of the seventy in charge of our area, came to visit us, right here in El Calafate! He really wants us to be thinking about how we can apply the atonement in our missions, and how it has helped us. So I ask all you back home, "What affect has the atonement had in your life?" Every leader of the church that I have met with on the mission always talks about the atonement, and with good cause. It is the single most important event that ever occurred in the history of this earth, and it is the only way to make it back to our Father in Heaven.

Well have a great week everyone!

Love, Elder Bartlett

This Stuff Really Works!

So this week, week one of the transfer, usually a terrible week when nothing gets done, was absolutely amazing. We have found so many new investigators and put 3 baptismal dates, with the possbility of 5 total! In these lessons, talking about the Plan that God has for us, talking about how because He loves us He restored His church and brought His power back to the earth, talking about how we can apply the principles of the gospel in our lives and become clean, new, and make it back to live with our Father in Heaven... I don't ever want to leave. I just want to teach these people, my brothers and sisters, all there is to know! All the tremendous blessings that God has in store for us, I can't even express my amazement and gratitude!

I would like to talk a little bit about how I arrived at this overwhelming feeling, and how you too can "[feel] to sing the song of redeeming love." Yesterday, I was thinking about how I got here, in the mission. We have been testifying of the basic principles of the gospel that lead to conversion: reading, pondering, praying, going to church, all the primary answers. But they are more than primary answers, they are the BASIS OF WHAT WE BELIEVE, the FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH IN CHRIST. These precious tools that have been given to us are not suggestions, they are requirements for eternal salvation.

When I look back, all of my prayers have been answered, every single one that I have ever prayed fervently for. He is listening. We prayed and fasted to find investigators that are ready to teach, He heard us, and He will hear you as well. God loves every one of us, and I love every one of you, so let's get out there and get harvesting!

It's okay if you started laughing during this email, sorry I'm a little ridiculous sometimes, but take it for what it is. I'll see ya'll next week.

Love, Elder Bartlett

Almost 7 months

Well we had quite a good week this week, the last week that I would be with Elder Eakle. He left this morning and now I am awaiting my new companion, Elder Flores, on Tuesday. 

We put another baptismal date with an investigator named Martin. He really liked the Plan of Salvation, and he said we answered a lot of questions he has always had. Bad news is, he works so much we will barely be able to find him... But with faith and pray comes miracles!

Also, randomly we got informed that a less active and investigator were getting married last Friday, so now we can get the wife baptized! She is so energetic about the church that she really jump started her husband, and he is beggining to take more responsibility for being the father and patriarch of the house. He is curious about how family home evenings work because he wants to teach his two children about the gospel. A lot of good is coming from that family.

Sunday we had some really good meetings, but I liked most the principles of the gospel class. I feel an awful lot like Nephi because I really joy in the plainness of the gospel. The principles of the gospel class is very basic, but it holds the plain and precious beauties of the gospel that I often overlooked. For example, yesterday we talked about the Creation. Take one look around you. Everything is a gift from God! Every breath you take, every heart beat, your eyes, your ears, your family and friends, the beauty of nature are all gifts from a loving Father in heaven. What does that mean to me? That means for all the joy and love and life that God gives me, I can give a portion back by doing what He asks, by helping Him reach out to His other children, my brothers and sisters, that are lost and need what little light I have to offer as a guide.

I love all you back home, and wish you all the best! Don't forget God, He hasn't forgotten you.

Love, Elder Jarom Seth Bartlett

Goals and Plans

This last week was amazing! The zone leaders came to do divisions with us and everyone we visited was home! Plus at one home, we put 3 baptismal dates! Then the next day we visited a golden investigator and put another date! However, the opposition kicked in. We haven't been home and they haven't been coming through on their commitments. We can't let them fall back into the darkness!

Other than that, we also climbed Cerro Calafate... well, we tried to. It was an activity for the youth, and we were hoping to get some investigators, but it ended up being 8 missionaries and 3 youth from the ward... Anyway, no one actually knew what we were doing. Our only instructions were don't go straight up the face because you will most likely fall off a cliff, and instead follow the canyon. 1) We found the canyon, but not the path up the mountain. After jumping around on the river and rocks for about 3 hours, we decided we had lost the path. Elder Merkley, a senior couple missionary with Hermana Merkley, gave us a little talk about goals in life. We had a goal, to reach the top of the mountain, but we didn't have a plan! We didn't seek out enough information, and decided to rely on our own knowledge and bush-whacking skills.

What goals are we trying to achieve in life? Do we have a plan? Are we seeking direction from our Father in Heaven, and following His safe paths? I would encourage all of you to think of our celestial goal. What plans do we have to make it back to our loving Heavenly Father's presence?

Hope everyone is doing well, thank you so much for all of your support. Until next week Love, Elder Bartlett

Elder Bartlett

Life is like a game of cards

We had the opportunity to go to a Zone Conference in Rio Gallegos on Friday, and Elder Barrionuevo said something that really inspired me. He said that life is like a game of cards. We don't decide what we get in our hand, but even if we get the worst hand, with faith and diligence, we can still win. Just because we get a bad hand doesn't mean we just give up. We have to do our best with what we are given, and when God sees our efforts and desire, He will bless us with more.

Let us all make the best of the hand we have been given. Accept the challenge with eagerness, in faith that it will help you grow. "Run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus." (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Until next time, enjoy these pictures of 1) Me starring confidently into the distance 2) Super delicious empanadas Elder Eakle and I made 3) Me when it gets really cold and windy outside

Empanadas

Elder Bartlett & Elder Eakle with empanadas

cold and windy here

flamingos in the distance

Elder Eakle

horses

 To Mom & Dad,
Dad's last paragraph hit me hard. I am definitely not being the missionary I can be, but I want to. I am praying hard and letting that desire work in me. When I put forth my effort, I can feel the strength of God blessing me and helping me in every aspect. I feel your prayers when I do what I am supposed to.

It's a new year. It will be the only year that I have entirely on my mission, and I want to make it the best year of my life. I have made several resolutions and am making plans to complete them. I feel so wonderful and hopeful! I am putting my heart in the hands of our Savior with faith that he will make me the best I can be.

Thank you both so much for raising me in the church and teaching me principles of faith, love, repentance, honesty, diligence. Although I haven't perfected them, thanks to you I have a good start. Sometimes I wish you had pushed me harder or been more strict with me, but then I realize I needed to take responsiblitly for my own life. I knew what I should do, but I wanted someone to tell me I had to do them. Now D&C 58:26-29 hit me hard.

Now it's a new year, I am going to take responsibility for my life and my actions!

Love Elder Bartlett

Weekly Jan. 5, 2015

Queridos familia y amigos,

In answer to your question how do we email, we borrow a computer from our landlord because there isn't a good cyber (internet cafe) here. I got your package!! Thank you so much for the peanut butter and honey! We made pancakes last night and I smothered them in peanut butter! My companion died from deliciousness. He says thanks!

This last week was filled with both joy and a lot of disappointment. New Years Eve we made cookies for a grand feast with the familia Ignasio. We at lamb asado, corn, potatoes, really delicious lasagna with ham, chicken, and tarta's. We sang some songs and raised a glass to a new year. The rest of the week was terrible, except Saturday when we got to go to Rio Gallegos for the conference with President.  Thank you for the inspiration and testimonies. This week has been the worst week of my mission, work wise. Everyone we tried to visit either wasn't home, or the told us they didn't actually want to hear our message. Those were the two days we got out to work. The rest of the time we were too discouraged to leave or it was the holidays and no one had time for us.

But, I am tired of hiding. I don't want to watch the work pass by me while I sit inside. I have been reading a really good talk called "The Fourth Missionary" and it has really changed my perspective. I have started to share my testimony of small principles more when I talk to people, I try to stop and talk to people where ever I am, and I am trying to open up my heart more to everyone. I am growing my testimony of my calling and the power and authority I have been given. I never really felt it before because I never tried to use it. I have never been one to butt-in to peoples business and give suggestions or get them to make changes, especially if I did't know for sure my way was better. Now, I know my way, the Lord's way, is not only better or the best, but the ONLY way to receive happiness in this life and peace in the eternities. I cannot bear the thought of those I was too afraid to talk to walking past me after judgment and wondering, "Why didn't you tell me?"  I'm tired, I'm hungry, I'm hot, I'm cold, I'm dirty and dusty, but none of that matters, I am not my own. Everything we have is a gift from a loving Heavenly Father, and it's up to each one of us what we will do with it.

walking, walking, walking

Yum!

It is a new year! The year 2015 is here, and 2014 is in the past. Decide today to change and be a better person, then go DO IT. It is possible; anything is possible with God. You simply must ask for His divine help, put in your part, and He will take care of the rest. Do your best to end each day with a feeling of accomplishment, that you did your best and left nothing undone. Then, get up the next day ready to move forward!

Those are my feelings for the New Year. Hope you all had a great one, and are all ready for a new one!

Love, Elder Bartlett