Yo Merry Christmas!

Sooo, you are probably wondering why I didn't write yesterday! lol We had a zone conference so our p day is today. 

Alright so this week was pretttttty dope. Christmas! Ha, Monday, we had p day like normal. went to this hill that overlooked a huge town, was tight. Love it here!


Tuesday was Christmas eve, and the rules were a little different than usual. We got to stay out until 12:30, and have dinner at a members house. We had a barbecue with a recent convert and it was mad funny, we just cracked jokes all night basicamente. Haha It was real nice though cause the years in the past she has only spent Christmas with her and her son, so she said it was real nice to have more people in the house. 


Christmas day was fun, I got my packages from Pat and Auntie Judy! Awesome Christmas present! lol everything in it was perfecto. Later that day got to speak with the fam! Never realized I would stumble as much as I did after having the habit or trying to speak spanish to everyone i talked to lol. I only imagine it being more difficult on mothers day! haha. It was awesome though!


I've been doing way better at my contacts though, this week I made a goal to do 10 every day by myself and I've really been doing it, its pretty fun too! Lots of funny weird things happen. Lol I was talking to a lady a couple days ago that mentioned she doesn't believe in any church or anything, and so I just went on to tell her that we only invite others to learn, and if you believe there's a god, to ask him yourself to find out....and she just sprayed me with her hose haha. It just made me laugh so hard! It was awesome! lol. 


It was dope though when we went to our investigators house to check on how she´s doing and we ended up talking to her dad! We thought he was gonna be all stickler and what not, but he´s pretty much golden like his daughter, asked tons of great questions! They're definitely gonna love what we have to share, its just been hard to find time because I'm pretty sure his daughter has a serious health problem, because she actually asked us to pray for her.

So Christmas is a little different here...at midnight on Christmas eve all the kids run out and play in the street, and someone yells ho ho ho and stuff, and then when they come back inside after a bit there presents are under the tree haha, little interesting. I just read Spencer's letters. He's soo hilarious haha. Just like Uncle Gerry... I'm sittin here crack-in up, and need to step up my story tellin! I think i just forget things lol.
So, other than that, things are going superb! Just learning my Spanish...es mucho mejor cada dia. Lol. (it's a lot easier for me now) Well, better go lots to do today.


In closing..I found out that Doctrina y Convenios Seccion 42 is pretty knowledge filled and would challenge you to read it this week. (D&C 42)

Love,

Elder Preciado

Yo

Sooo lol sorry, I don’t know why, but I don’t know what to say because it seems like we just talked lol... The ward is awesome, we got one new investigator, Romina, she’s 15 years old, she said the prayer in the first lesson and felt the spirit .At our second lesson, we invited  her to baptism, she said  yes - when she’s ready! Oh and  after that she goes ¨" am I allowed to wear pants to church after my baptism?" out here in Chile it’s an custom to do so I guess, so we were like uh yea, haha. I think the fact that she said it that way says she wants to get in the water!! lol. I’ve ridden my bike to sweet places today! I don’t have time to attach pics because the computer I’m using is worse than before and we don’t have much time since we were doing stuff this morning and what not , lol still needa go shopping!

Christmas will be unexpected. lol we have no plans with ward families for anything...except skyping at the famila quezada´s casa. but that’s later. lol Oh, we get to sleep in till 9 and tomorrow night we stay out till 1230! Tell dad the air is fine! I’ve honestly had like no problems adjusting with food or anything!  My leg itches randomly and idk why haha, but that’s like the only thing I could think of J

This is Jordan’s mom talking now J …We are so grateful that we had the wonderful opportunity to use technology to not only hear our son, but  to see his handsome face so many miles away! What a blessing! We were able to have Josh and Ashley from Sacramento add in as well as Alex and Steven & of course Calvin in Utah and the Grandma Lupe and the rest of us here in Southern California all at the same time listening to him, seeing him and asking questions to have him share his experiences with us! So fun!

I asked him at  one point if he missed us, and he said…”not going to lie, but not really because I love it here!” J Most may think I would be sad with that statement, but I couldn’t be happier!  He misses Benz the most J (our chocolate lab).

He was happy to hear of his cousin’s Jayne’s mission call, Jacob’s missionary works with another friend from high school taking the discussions, and of course saddened and sorry to hear that great grandma “nana Vicki passed away last week, but he is comforted in knowing she’s in a better place and busy chatting away with Andie and Opa J

He loves everyone and wanted me to tell you all to write him! J He loves hearing how you all are doing! Pictures are fun too! The best way again to send him a quick message is jordan.preciado@myldsmail.net 

We truly feel blessed this Holiday season and are so thankful for Elder Preciado and his example to all of us. We do miss his sweet spirit and mostly his humor and fun, but wouldn't want him anywhere else!

Love you all!   

Sincerely,

Elder Preciado

Momma Preciado

P.s. In the excitement  of it all, he forgot to give a scripture, so he will have one for us next week J

Word UP!!

So, yesterday was mad-real. First baptism!!! His name is Lalo, nickname for Eduardo, lol. His wife is a member, and even served a mission! He was one of the first people we taught once we got to our area. He was supposed to be baptized a week ago, but he was drinking coffee haha, and idk if he was taught not to or not, but we covered that for him and he totally understood. 

I never thought my companion and I did much because HE told us he wanted to be baptized the first time we taught him, but once my companion got done baptizing him yesterday, his wife leaned over to me and said  thank you and everything and told me that there was something special about us for some reason. I still don’t know what or why or how, but that doesn’t matter, lol. I guess he had been talking to the missionaries for over a year now and coming to church forever, but we were able to get him in the water within two weeks!! So I feel like that might speak for itself! Haha… it was an awesome experience though!

Soooo, also something that supports my understanding that everything happens for a reason happened to me and my companion this week, also. It was my turn to contact someone and so we were on our bikes riding through a neighborhood and saw a random house with a guy outside doing some yard work, I said “Hey!, do you need some help?!” He said no, so i went on to ask if he’s talked to missionaries before etc. Sooner or later, he goes si pasan! (which means we can come in!)..we go into talk to his mom or abuela I don’t remember lol...but we start talking to her, we sing a song by ourselves and then pray for the spirit and go on to explain the restoration..then, another lady walks in and BASICALLY says, I need you guys to leave, so the lady we were talking to says, do you have a problem with them here? She says yes, I have a problem, so we were like oh no she’s atheist or something..lol but we sat there for a second cause we didn’t know what to do then she goes ´bueno, su abuela fallacio´ which basically means, your grandma just passed away. Room goes dead silent. I’m just sitting there like uhhhh oh.....sooo my companion and I just hand her a plan of salvation pamphlet and leave with a prayer.. super weird! But for some reason I knew we were supposed to be there at THAT time whether we knew exactly why or not. It was crazy..I love those moments though!! Don’t know why yet.. haha

Anyways….other than that, my Spanish is getting so much better its crazy to me. lol I had my first contact the other day all by myself without the help of my companion! AND, I understood everything and all. It was sweet! People still don’t believe I’ve been here this long. Lol (only 2 weeks).

It’s also funny because almost EVERYONE gives me a funny reaction when I tell them my name. lol In English it means valuable. haha so everyone always laughs and what not.

My companion and I were at a members house yesterday for almuerzo, (lunch) and they were awesome, taught me some more Spanish, and made me feel at home it was sweet! I told them I like to make music and write and stuff he goes AH! perfecto! Rancagua has elder archuleta and we have elder preciado! hahaha. It was funny. 

Lots of people have been telling me only certain people get sent to the area I’m in… haha whatever that means, but they were saying how only certain people can help the people here?? Idk, just kinda cool I guess. lol. 

Oh, and today was a great morning though, because I finally got to REALLY wash my clothes. The past two weeks I’ve been using a bowl! Hahaha it was pretty dope, and sweet experience, but I’m glad we found a washing machine to use lol. 

I’m loving it still!! learning Spanish every day is fun, and eating the food here is bomb!! The people are awesome, I didn’t think I’d be able to relate to the people here and stuff but once I start talking to someone it always works out.!!

I contacted a lady yesterday whose kids are baptized and all, but she doesn’t understand anything about the money stuff, she doesn’t think it’s right how the tithing and stuff is sorted out or something..idk. All I heard was “I wanna be baptized, just clear my worries of tithing and fast offerings lol” J I can do that!

Days are starting to go by so quick, I know I just got here but there’s times where I feel like I’ve been here forEVER and other times I’m like oh I just got here. haha kinda weird...anyways. I got love for anyone reading this and hope all is well with everyone!

K and, scripture for the week is 1 Nephi  chapter 3, all of it! You can do it! J

Love,

Elder Preciado  

P.S. I added some pictures this time! The blue house is where my companion and I live by ourselves! It’s sweet! …I would pull the weeds out front if I had the time haha always on the go! lol! And then, the other picture is Lalo in the baptismal clothes. And then I added one of my Mission President and his wife & Mason Porter! Last one is my companion! I'll try and send more next time!

Chile is DOPE!!!

Howsigoing?? Chile is DOPE. After the first day filled with tonnnnns of craziness, the next day was just as sweet. We already have a baptism for this Saturday!! Eduardo(aka Lalo) is one of the investigators in our area book. He owns, or works at, a shop in the Centro, the place with just lots of shops. haha  We were looking for him one day, and he wasn't answering the door at the address we had, so we go into the shop which was right next door just looking around and he came up out of nowhere and said to my companion...so i want to get baptized, who do i talk to?... well obviously, conmigo. haha It was awesome!! Everyone here speaks so fast and they don't pronounce the ¨s at the end of words, if that makes sense lol...but i'm slowly getting the hang of it! Every day I always understand more than yesterday,  so with time! lol , its so crazy to me how we meet these people though, its like theyre expecting us but theyre not? no se... but its legit. One nino that was baptized recently (his name is Emilio) and my companion and I got to confirm him with the holy ghost yesterday at church! I didn't even know until we got called to go up with the bishop! haha it was awesome! 

cool story... Once we got to the mission office where I ran into Mason! haha we got paired up with our companions and everything, and then we got our things and went off to our new area. I'm in a place called Los Andes, which is like 2 hours away from the mission office. The area is just awesome all together, totally poor!!, but awesome! I love it everywhere!.... and we get bikes! haha not all sectors do. lol so i feel blessed with that. Once we get off the bus from the mission office we have no idea where to go..were kinda looking around...started asking a random person, and then out of nowhere a guy pulls up in a truck and says...elders! ... so i went and talked to him and the only thing i caught was obispo. hahah so i yelled to my companion its the bishop! hahah  super funny! So he takes us to our new house, and then helps get my companions bags from his last area, man it was so weird but awesome! 

The food here is bomb! Lots of pollo! (chicken) Oh, and instead of eating dinner with members we eat almuerzo (lunch) con miembros. It's like a dinner pretty much cause it's always a bunch of food with different courses, even if it's ice cream after or something!! I've never are so much food in my life! Way more than the MTC!! But I finish it all every time and feel great! haha I feel like I'll definitely get the pounds I need here! lol Oh!, we have a house to ourselves. I'll try and send a pic in a few. We go to bed at 11:30 and get up at 7:30, a little different than most missions, but its awesome!  The only thing that ever makes me tired is no food and the heat. but I'm doing great! 

Funny story..after a mission conference we had,  everyone in the mission got sick from the lunch they fed us! I had diarrhea so bad hahahahha but i took the pills i had and i was totally fine after that lol!!! (diarrhea since eastersss) hahaOne thing a little different is that we don't knock doors, we ring a door bell or just yell ...HALO!.... and wait to see if someone comes out haha. It's interesting to me, but its just the culture I suppose.  Hmm.what else..not suree. I  just know that it's awesome here....I know i'm gonna love it muchhhh more when I can fully understand and speak the language, but literally almost everyone says I speak realllly good already and are surprised I have only been here less than a week so far.. haha 

lol I'm trying to attach pics now but its taking foreverrrrrr

The computers are sooo slow so it didn't attach the picture, I'll try again next week. I'll do my best to write down more experiences to share. Read Ether 12:4!   Until next week! Love you Mucho and tell everyone hello!!

Con amor

Elder Preciado

I've Arrived and am Alive!!

Hola!

So today was crazy! I was detained by PDI (FBI for Chile) because my card didn't work and I couldn't get through immigration! So nuts! I was waiting for 3 hours! Then they came up to me and said if I can't figure it out in 30 minutes then they will send me on a returning flight to the U.S.! I, como, WOW! Most intense thing
ever, but I thought it was AWESOME! haha I just prayed and knew things would work out. THEN...I lost my bags!...lol so we had to go all over the airport and luckily they were holding them for me! I just arrived at the Mission office right now and I'm with MASON!! So awesome!! Anyways..I'm here safe and from what I've seen so far (which isn't much) I LOVE IT!!!

Gotta get to work!! Adios!

I love you all mucho!!

Love,

Elder Preciado

P.S. ONLY use USPS for ANY packages as it takes 3 weeks (usually more) but it's the best to use
so that I ensure that I receive them and also so I don't have to pay extra money on my end to receive them! Haha Thanks again for all those awesome packages in the MTC! You of course can still email me the easiest at jordan.preciado@myldsmail.net I will be able to read these weekly.

This is the instructions from the mission office on mail:

HERE IS THE MAIL POLICY… I know you will have questions and concerns.  If this doesn´t answer those concerns, feel free to email. 

We receive all packages here at the office.

The mailing address is :

                           Sucursal Correo Patronato

                           Casilla #60

                           Recoleta

                          Santiago, Chile

When we receive any type of mail it is delivered to the Missionary at their District Class.  The only time that changes is when we have Sector Changes.  Then they will not have a District Class so it will be another week before they get their mail.  We do try to get the mail to the missionaries as fast as possible.  We know that happy missionaries work harder.  So please, mail all you want to keep your missionary happy!!!

This is a letter from his Mission President: 

December 5, 2013

Dear Preciado Family,

            It was a great pleasure to welcome your son to our mission.  He arrived safely, is enthusiastic, and anxious to begin missionary work here in the Chile Santiago North mission.  I have interviewed him carefully and find him well prepared, with a strong testimony, and a good beginning foundation in the Spanish language.  I feel honored to be his mission president and know that the Lord has prepared many people here to receive the testimony of the restoration he bears.   Sister Essig and I will treat him as our own son. 

            Your son will look forward to your weekly letters of encouragement and support.  E-mail is a great way to communicate with him as he communicates with me by e-mail weekly as well.  If you prefer to send letters, the church pouch system is the fastest and safest method.  The pouch mail comes several times per week and is delivered to the mission office, where we either carry it ourselves, or send it with missionaries to your son as soon as possible.  You can also send letters directly to his address but it will not get here as quickly.  The address of our mission for the pouch system is as follows.

Chile Santiago North Mission

MP-Chile Santiago North Mission

Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

            Thank you for all you have done to prepare your son for his mission.  Sister Essig and I will do everything in our power to help him have a wonderful and productive mission.

Sincerely yours,

Fred D. Essig

President, Chile Santiago North Mission

fessig@ldschurch.org

This is President Essig and his wife

My Last P-Day!!! Chile here I come!

Hola que tal?

This is my last pday in the CCM! Super weird to think about, but i'm stoooooked to get to Chile! Honestly, if I wouldn't have prayed and trusted the lord with my reassignment I don't think I'd find myself saying that so easy , haha..it's all bueno tho!

These weeks have been FLYING by...never studied so much in my life! I also never learned so much in such little time. Its craazzzy, but pretty dope. It's pretty sick too that our teachers always teach us something that really hits me, then we go to a fireside or devotional and it like compliments what I learned. It's awesome.

We've been having great devo's, (devotionals) and tomorrow I get to hear from a General Authority, that'll be sweet!

When the last district in our zone left, they had a huuuge amount of things from food to nerf guns and whatever that had been passed down from previous districts, and it was our turn to get it so we were coming back from a fireside at main campus and it was like Christmas haha!! They left everything on our front doorstep and it was LOAD's of junk food. candy, cookies, a stop sign that everyone signed, tonnns and tons of stuff, even some clothes, and a goldfish hahaha...I don't know how that got here but it's pretty funny. We had to hide it when a member of our Branch Presidency came by to visit last night but he had no idea :p haha Hes a legit guy though, he teaches people how to be successful through seminars and travels all over and stuff, its dope! His name is Brother Williams, only cause I don't know his real first name lol. 

Being district leader is pretty funny though, cause I don't know if I really feel like district leader? Is that bad? haha.. I've been having fun just getting to know each Elder a lot better and its pretty cool! There are still one or two that don't really open up, which gets hard at times, but slowly they are getting there.  (I hope and just pray lol, only cause I know it will be hard for them in the field) The biggest thing I learned this week is Charity and Love. I used to think I understood the concept of it, but being here really made me take a step back and jump back into  it blindly so I could experience it much better. It's been real humbling.

Thanks so much to EVERYONE showing love while I'm here! Sister Daniels is the besttttt, the pumpkin muffins she made were gone in that same night haha..oh and the Dr Pepper!! Perfect! Grandma Pat and Grandma Chiquita loaded me with goodiesss, which was exactly what I needed!! haha  In the next letter i'll give you an update on how much weight I gained cause I know I feel like I definitely put a few on! I even made my mom send me a new belt haha...Never thought I would ask for that for at least a year lol..anyways 

I want to leave you with a message I shared with Addie. In Moroni 10:3-5 it just talks about how cool the Holy Ghost is and what it can do. Cause as long as you live worthily to receive the Holy Ghost or the spirit then you can know the truth of all things! Also go read 2 Nephi chapter 32! It talks more about the Holy Ghost, but remember to have faith in all these things! Cause with out faith nothing is possible. That's a fact! And whenever you want to follow the spirit, don't look for something to "yell at you" or let you know for sure (if that makes sense). If you are prompted to do something and you don't know why, then do it! Most likely it's the spirit, cause I know you know right from wrong and if you don't, just pray! James 1:5!

O.k. well, I better go! Love you all! PLEASE keep writing me! I LOVE it!!!

Mucho amor por todos! Y muchos gracias tambien

Con amor!

Elder Preciado

NEW ADDRESS and departure info!!

I received Jordan's Flight Itinerary today and he will fly out from Utah for Santiago Chile on December 2nd!!! So exciting! 

I would NOT mail him anything further after the 27th of November if you want anything to physically reach him prior to him leaving. Please continue to use the original address as they know his situation and he is receiving his packages and letters just fine as addressed even with the re-assignment from Argentina to Chile.

Here is the address for where his hand written letters and packages will be sent. You can still reach him much faster by using either jordan.preciado@myldsmail.net or Dear Elder.com.

To mail letters and packages to missionaries serving in our mission, the correct address is:

Elder Jordan Andrew Preciado
Misio'n Chile Santiago Norte
Sucursal Correo Patronato
Casilla # 60
Recoleta, Santiago
Chile

Mail is fairly reliable in Chile and once the mail comes into the office, we send it out to the zone where your missionary is serving.

If sending a package, do NOT use Fed-Ex, UPS or DHL unless you want to incur the additional fee in Chile to get it from their local contractor. The best way to send packages is the US Mail Priority Mail Box (USPS). Your package should arrive safely in 2-3 weeks. During holidays there can be some delays, but as noted above, we have had very few problems.

One additional suggestion: if your missionary has a Latin companion, please consider including something for him or her. He may also know of someone even if they are not his companion either. These missionaries seldom receive packages and letters and your kindness will be greatly appreciated!

DearElder.com will also send letters via pouch for FREE to your missionary.

Hope this helps answer your questions! 

Thank you for all your love and support! He expresses often how grateful he is to all of his family and friends!

Love,

Linda Preciado

Week 4..Already!

Mom speaking here....can I just say how handsome and happy he looks! :) Love this Elder!

Sooo this week has been pretty dope. First off I got called to be the District Leader! So that's a blessing to be able to serve.AND my district and my companions have been having a lot of fun, getting along, and teaching some awesome lessons to our investigators" , it's pretty fun! 

 I never thought I'd see my fourth week so fast already. My good buddies that were my Zone leaders (pics below) left today and I had them all write in my journal and like everyone said that I was a big example to them and stuff like that.  I don't remember doing anything like that so i was like uhh...ok sweet! So yeah its pretty sweet, its just something i neeeever notice at all so it was nice that they said that..but  I gave them business cards too :) haha

I'm lovin it and cant wait to get to CHILE!!!  The MTC President Nalee pulled me out of class to personally let me know what my new call was, and when i got back, my teacher and everyone were like wanting to shake my hand cause i got a chance to speak with him haha, it was pretty funny...I honestly didn't know who he was at first, then i was like whoa..lol

We had a fireside on Sunday with Mary Ellen Edmund's and she was HILARIOUS. lol She served like 3 or 4 missions or something, and was one of the first missionaries to serve in the Philippines! Pretty nuts..sad about all of that too by the way!

Got to see someone i knew for the first time at the Devotional last night too! I got to say what up to London! err, Sister Harvey, haha. It was funny, she didn't expect it at all. So it was fun to see her and I included a picture. Shout out to my Auntie Judy for the tie/Martinelli's/pkg as a congrats on my Reassignment!! I went crazy! haha :p Oh and yes laundry is easy haha -.- already did it at 630 this morning lol. Sorry, I'm not sure what else to include, because its like the same routine every day and it's been awesome!

Tell  Addie I love her letters and the Temples she sends are sweet! I'll try and write her back but it's hard sometimes because we are so busy.  I cant think of what else i need honestly..I'm surviving just fine, and lovin it! Maybe bubba can bring me some DP! lol

I hate to say it but I've got to go for now!  Thanks everyone for all the support and love! I'll be way more detailed in the future i promise.

Tell everyone I love them! and sorry if i haven't gotten to everyone!! I am sure I am leaving things out but I'll get better at this :) I'm trying...but still write cause I love it and LOVE the packages and goodies! :) Can't believe I leave on December 3rd! So Stoked!

Much love! Check out my pictures!!!! 

--

Elder Preciado

Santiago North, Chile

10/23/13 - 10/23/15

This kid is LEGIT haha super funny, reminds me of Sean Burnham :)

Look who I ran into at Devotional! London from Eldo/Folsom! aka Sister Harvey!

This is another zone leader that I had , and he left today too.

The stadium in the back ..This one's for Jake :)

This is my buddy Elder Jensen, I promised him a meal from you mom when we get back....soooo heads up! He reminds me of Jake ..He's from Idaho, plays rugby--He's a beast! But a total mamma's boy-big teddy bear! :) lol 

 Represent! Haha
 Love this guy!

This Elder was one of my Zone Leaders before he left. He was cool.

Here's more of my good buddies that just left to Uruguay and some of my zone with the district leaving to Uruguay

 The Sister's are still here but the guys left today.

I've been RE-ASSIGNED!!!!

HOLA!

So the President of the MTC, gave me permission to email you once I found out about my Mission reassignment! Pero, i know you already know, since President Aragon already called you. lol... I'm  very excited though! Mason is there! He said, David Archuleta is there too! Super crazy. That'd be sweet if he trained me or somethin.. Hows the casa?  Look up about Chile for me and sent me pics! annd remember its spelled Chile not Chili..don't look like an amateur hahah...anyways, 

Love you Mucho!!

Pat sent me a package with tonnsss of treats. Make sure to tell her i say thank you, and ill write her next p day! 

Te' amo

--

Elder Preciado

North Santiago, Chile

10/23/13 - 10/23/15

Week 3!

soo Que Pasa? Time has been flying by so quick! Every day is feelin like a week, but the weeks feel like a day! its crazy. I'm learning so much espanol tambien. I never knew I could learn this much this quick! I've been able to give our "investigators" lessons in full spanish now, and explain everything I want to say, including my testimonio. It's the coolest feeling to be able to keep a conversation going and understand someone who speaks fluently! 

I met a few cool sisters, but i cant talk to them too much or else an elder will yell 33! cause in page 33 of the missionary handbook it says how you shouldn't flirt with a sister or a member of the opposite sex and stuff lol...I just talk but they freak out thinking I'm flirting haha. They will go to Mexico. That would be dope to go there! I still haven't heard back about my visa other than they are still working on it. So who knows if there will be any changes or not.

We had the opportunity to listen to L Tom Perry and it was dope! He talked a lot about companionship's! Hes super funny!! When he entered the room its like he had a huge spirit fill it, it was awesome..the things he talked about were like everything I've been working at! So it was cool to know my goals are right kinda thing, ya know!

.Oh, i got a shoe shine kit! been shinin my shoes lol...haha . but yeah its been really hot during the day then freezing when the sun goes down, super weird.

So yeah, i was sayin i was tempted to see if you could volunteer for thanksgiving and come cook for the day at the mtc lol that would be dope! I really miss your food! 

Ok, crazy storry...that just strengthens my belief in everything happens for a reason, cause i believe theres an elder that came to the mtc at this specific time because one day we were eating in the cafeteria...normal day...and we had fried chicken and tri tip or something..it was okay, but an elder started choking and no one could tell but me and so i look over and I'm like yo! are you alright? then an elder from my district popped up super quick! went over there and gave him the Heimlich, cause he used to be a lifeguard, and totally just saved his life! It was super crazy...everyone just was praying and im lilke uhh someone should do something! Do we not have a ton of  eagle scouts here? haha He's o.k. though, just glad I saw him and was prompted!

Anyways im lovin it! learning so much! Send  me some love! haha treats of any kind are awesome too :p I try and remember to thank everyone, so let everyone know i appreciate their letters and goodies! 

Oh and this is a picture from the devotional with L Tom Perry!

Much love 

--

Elder Preciado

Week 2 Update

Week 2's letter arrived today! He had to mail his letter this time instead of email because he was so busy answering emails from others he ran out of time :) With the holiday, it delayed it arriving until today. I hope to have another letter waiting for me tomorrow!! Love hearing from him!! :)

11-6-13

Hola! Today was a great day! I've been learning charity, love, and patience the most lately and today was just one small result in doing my best to keep all those characteristics with me. I am learning that all of the Elders in my district have a different perspective than what I am used to, and that's o.k. but it's given me some off experiences at times but being here, and exercising charity has shown me that you can ALWAYS make something work even if it seems impossible. Lately our "investigators" we've been teaching haven't really been progressing or keeping their commitments we extended to them. Tonight one of our investigators we were set to teach just hadn't been understanding what we were trying to help him learn. I noticed that my companions hadn't been really preparing for it, so I didn't remind them this time on purpose cause I found out that the more they "over prepare" the more doubts and, (my favorite word "assumptions" haha), and lack of confidence would fill their minds. So! Instead I let them just go throughout the day and right before we were set to teach I let them know that I thought we should make sure he knew. Now, usually we all bring note cards or a notebook with Spanish phrases to remember , but I had a big prompting to leave that all out this time. I said, no note cards, all memory and thought of an object lesson to include and so when we got to our lesson the spirit was so strong it was just awesome! I don't remember ANYTHING I said, but I knew it was what I needed to share and our investigator said he felt the spirit really strong, that all his stress and nervousness had gone away! It was the coolest thing to see happen and gave me a HUGE testimony in faith and prayer! I Loved it! I'm really starting to see how to really teach someone, and the feeling to care for someone in this way is so indescribable for me.

I just love learning new things every day. Literally every day here I learn something new. It's amazing! I can tell I am where I am supposed to be even though the food here makes me realize how SPOILED I was at home! haha It's good though, and I get seconds almost every time I eat! Jake better be proud of that! Hahaha 

And, I am sorry I don't miss you all too much yet. I love you all, but I know learning what I am learning is mas importante! :p But is there anything I can do for you guys? enserio? ( means sincerely) I know I'm far away, but I'm learning how powerful words can be :p

Love you all lots!

Love Elder Preciado

P.s. I'll try and send some pics next week and tell people they can write me! I love it when they do! 

First real letter from ELDER PRECIADO!

It was so exciting to receive his first letter this morning! You can tell he has a lot to share and not enough time as they all seem to say :) Sure grateful for him!

Howsigoing?! That's so funny addy dressed as a minion, lol. Nice recycle of costume too lol. Miss you guys! The first 4 or 5 days or so were a little tough but it wasn't a tough i couldn't handle at all, so papi dont freak out. lol. We had an opportunity to go to a devotional last night by a member of the seventy named Carlos Godoy, FUNNIEST dude ever. Made us laugh the whole time, he talked all about his conversion story, why its important to teach everyone and not judge them especially by appearance cause when he was baptized he had hair past his shoulders! He was awesome though because he had fun with his whole story and also brought the spirit and doctrine along with it, which i think is sometimes hard to do when you want to have fun, or don't know how to express it i guess...

Anyways! My district is growing on me, my district leader reminds me EXACTLY of Forrest, its crazy...he dresses like him, acts like him and a few of the same mannerisms he had, but i know he has changed much more since his mission, so Forrest is probably much better but, hes had a hard time last week because his companion was a little "cocky" if you will? not to speak bad or anything but he was just a little too confident in what he knew, because he actually ended up moving districts because he got pushed up to the intermediate group for Spanish because he knew so much, so we lost our translator haha..

 Sadly a lot of them are like ignorant in their ways... real stubborn, selfish to an EXTENT but not that bad at all.... but still frustrating cause their opinion is gold to them.... so it makes it a little tough when trying to share ideas about what to teach or whatever..but i read through the whole book grandma pat gave me called how to be an extraordinary missionary, and its AWESOME....a lot of things in there teach you how to be effective, remember why you are here and all that. one of them is instead of answering a question with "i think its...." or "its probably this because..."  its better to say "i don't know....." or "let me see if i can find out..." i know you see the difference in it, as far as being humble and meek, because everyone in the district acts like they are the teacher.....so that's probably the toughest thing if id have to say...yeah, i know, so its all going good and  i'm lovin it!!! Oh yeah and I noticed that whenever i feel the spirit my eyes water and I always think about papi...i'm like danggit, why'd i have to get the cry gene! lol

 I'm getting better with conversations, and am about to give a 4th lesson to a "acting" investigator, its pretty fun to get the real experience but kinda crazy cause they act so well! haha, but now my district leader is in a trio with me and my companion! Its been going pretty good but I know how it can get when you want to all share your idea and have something good to say but we might not all agree....we'll figure it out i guess....a lot of the district worries on things they could do better worrying, but i know they will learn! I KNOW the lord is saying i need patience....lol....There's also an Elder Nelson in my group from Prescott Arizona, who literally is a SPITTIN image of Spencer Preciado, err I mean Elder Preciado. Evvverything from his humor to his looks, I swear hes my long lost cousin haha....they're startin to enjoy my nacho a little bit too lol... there's one Elder that's super dope, hes not in my district though, hes elder woodcock, hes 21 too, super awesome guy elder woodcock he  isn't going to Argentina lol...so bummer but its okay.....aanywayss..I'm lovin it!! Im really surprised with how much I've learned in just ONE week, it feels like 3 weeks!! but send me treats!! haha, the food here is good and i'm pretty sure i gained some weight already cause the pants i wore before the mission are a little tight on me when i put em on today haha....but it REALLY makes me miss your cooking! like a lot...nothin compares at all....i try not to brag about it because i don't wanna be "that guy" but Its hard when I get a meal, that you've made that is ten times better :p but i guess we have the best chef in all the mtc's here in provo, so i guess that's good! I'm in the Wyview campus by the way too! (West Campus, according to main MTC) which is the old married student housing, some students are on the other half of the complex, but we mainly just sleep there, and spend like 15 hours a day in a classroom at the former Raintree Apartments, if you know where that is.... right next to burger Supreme!! so we are heading there for lunch today :p  

So ya! if you want me to know what to say in my emails, by the way, just write me through dear elder so i can read it during lunch or dinner and Ill be prepared for when P day comes to know what to write! oh and thank Michelle Daniels for the cookies!! they were sooooo bomb, i loved gettin the package. but YES send me stuff!! treats, cd's whatever! do you got any monies? i needa buy a laundry bag, and stuff....OH and even though they don't really share, soooo i probably wont share, but i'm always offering..you know me..lol but there is NO caffeine available here...its weird for me haha, i dont need that though...but just surprise me! you said you know me! :p but yeah anything is fine with me! ..its just awesome to look forward to mail or packages! Tell grandma i miss her! Whats her email? Is she still with you guys? Well, I GOTTA GO 

LOVE YOU MUCHO!!!

Love,

Elder Preciado

Cordoba, Argentina

10/23/13 - 10/23/15

Hello Everyone!

This is a quick update to let you know that Jordan was dropped off at the MTC on Wednesday October 23, 2013 by my good friends Myles Lulla, Jamison Weeks and Cole Roberts. He already forgot his vaccine medicine at his sisters so he was able to send me a quick note to let me know he needed it dropped off, and that he had already said the prayer in Spanish as well as taught 2 people in Spanish! He is the oldest one there in his group, but doesn't care :) He let us know that he is LOVING it and so far LOVES Sundays! (of course today was his first one :)

His  "P" days are on Wednesdays, so we will hear from him then. If you want to get a message or note to him sooner you can sign up through www.dearelder.com and send him a note while he is in the MTC and they will print it out for him to get instead of waiting a week to read emails. His email again is jordan.preciado@myldsmail.net.  He can also receive your mail or packages here as well.   

Elder Jordan Andrew Preciado
DEC03  ARG-COR
2023 N 900 E Unit 824
Provo UT 84602

Adios for now!