Back in Formosa with Coleman!

You`re never going to guess who my companion is..... remember my first greenie I trained? Hermana Coleman? We are companions again. And guess where?  BACK IN FORMOSA. 

It was the most surprising thing ever. I couldn't believe I was going to be with her again, and that I changed areas for just 5 more weeks. But I think that maybe God wants us to work together again because when I trained her we were both new... and both a little unconfident. But now we both have more than a year in the mission, and I think it's an opportunity to experience miracles together. because we wanted to  have a baptism so badly, but weren't able to. And maybe now we`ll see the fruits of our labors. We`re going to work super hard! 

I was a little sad to leave Villa Angela, because Cristian (ice cream guy), already made friends with some of the guys in the branch, and was hanging out with them this week. He`s going to get baptized for sure. Then we visited Karen, who had dropped us 2 weeks ago... but we stopped by and were able to save that situation , and she`s letting us teach her again. There is so much potential in that area, but oh well... God wanted me in a different place. It seems that I always help teach and prepare people for baptism, and then I get transferred. 

This last week Hna Arias and I laughed so much. We really did grow close, and are going to miss each other.  My last day she made me a cake haha. oh yeah...and for the first time I had to eat something disgusting. Its called mondongo.. (pretty sure its the stomach lining of a cow)... and it was awful. the texture made me want to throw up. But we were eating lunch with an investigator, and she was so excited to feed us. oh well.. guess at least once in the mission you have to eat something gross. 

We met a guy named Jose, who lives alone, hes about 40 years old, and we started to have a lesson with him. About half way through he told us that 3 days before, he had a dream that he was sitting down talking with a "Rubia and a Morochita"  And we were like... "you dreamed of us?" and he nodded his head. Wow... that was a miracle for us. To know that God knows literally everything. He knows us personally and is in the details of each of our lives. 

This week I started to read my MTC journal... and its been crazy to see the difference from the first night.. when I wrote "I don't know what I'm doing here. I'll never learn Spanish, etc etc".. and then just 1 week later I was so enthusiastic about being a missionary. It was such a drastic change in just 1 week. I'm sure I've changed a lot in a year and a half. My personality hasn't changed.. still the same Skye. But my perspectives, desires, and faith have changed completely. 

love you so much! have a great week :) 

Aug 20th and Aug 27th

AUG 20, 2018

Things are going well here...

We've had to go on splits a lot this week to help some Hermanas who don't see eye to eye.  I don't like girl drama and waste my time  and energy on gossip.  Hearing their complaints about one another has affected me and my comp a bit, but in inventory we decided to stick together and we are doing well.  We have 2 more weeks together.  

We´re teaching a girl named Karen.. and this week we gave her a baptismal date for September 1st.. and she was super excited. She´s progressing a lot, and was excited to take her kids to church. Pray for her! 

Love you so much! Thanks for your email and your spiritual thought you sent from MOSIAH 24: 12-16 that's actually one of my favorite scriptures.

AUG 27, 2018

Wow sounds like you had a great time in New York! I wanted to see pictures! That's such a cool experience that you had with that guy at church. That's something I´ve noticed so much in my mission.. that a lot of times we think something is an accident or inconvenience.. but really its one of God´s divine designs. I´m glad he could use you guys :) 

(THERON & KRISTIN'S EXPERIENCE AT CHURCH IN NEW YORK...Sunday, we decided to find a branch in the big city to attend which is harder than you think. We left in plenty of time to get here but got confused in the streets. We had to take a subway and walk a ways. It started at 10, and at 10:10 we still hadn't found it. We were really going to just take the sacrament, and thought we missed it- so we almost bagged the whole thing. So We sat in the park and I ate my hard boiled eggs. Then theron found it on the map on his phone and we decided to go anyway 1/2 hour late. It is not a stand alone building, but just a door with a sign over it on the street.  The church was on 4 different levels with stairs and an elevator.  As we walked in it had already started (and happened to be stake conference so there was no sacrament) and we entered the apartment building and were looking for the chapel. It seemed empty and no one was there. Then in comes a guy- Ron, and we introduced ourselves and found out he was also searching for the chapel because he was late too. As we looked around together he said it was his first time back to church in 20 years! We welcomed him and talked for a bit and found the chapel together on the fourth floor- took the elevator. Another girl on the elevator welcomed him as well. He had seemed apprehensive about staying at first, but happier when we showed interest in him. I had an impression that he felt warmly received and that it was meant to be that we were late and helped him find the chapel. He gave us a meaningful thank you- as if to say thanks for making me feel comfortable.  After church Theron and I sat in the empty lobby on the second floor and shared impressions.  He had the same feeling about Ron.  I know we were supposed to be late. The messages were also about charity - and repentance.  Good topics for Ron.) 

  

 

We had a good week. On Wednesday we went in the morning to clean the house of our convert Hugo - again.  He had boxes on boxes on boxes.. covered in dirt. It took all morning. The hermanas from our district traveled to help us... and had to leave at 5, but they missed their bus so they had to stay over night. In the morning while the others slept I got up at 6:30 like normal.. and studied. That day I was able to see some blessings for having gotten up and studied. That morning I had the feeling that I should read this one pamphlet about temples and families. And I underlined some things I liked. Then the next day we had a noche de hogar with a couple... (an investigator and her boyfriend, who´s a less active member  and temples came to mind.  So we took the pamphlet that I had marked up and we shared that with them. And it was a super spiritual lesson.  Walter (the boyfriend), loved it! He asked so many questions, and said he got baptized 8 years ago, and didn't remember anything about temples. And I thought.. what would have happened if that morning I had slept in as well? 

So 2 weeks ago Hermana Arias wanted ice cream and we walked into a heladería. and the chico working there gave us a free kilo of helado! And said he had gone to our church 1 or 2 times about 2 months ago. But never talked with missionaries. So he said he´d go to church on Sunday. Then on Sunday he didn't show up.. but 2 weeks passed.. and yesterday he showed up in the chapel!!!! and he stayed for all 3 hours.. in Gospel Principles class he even cried, telling us his life story. The members invited him to seminary on Wednesday.. and wants us to have a charla with him this week. He mentioned that he was baptized in the catholic church when he was a baby... but he has always wanted to get baptized again, being older and being able to choose in which church!  Pray for him! I think he´s super prepared :)  

Lili is another investigator we have.. and she came to church this week.. with 5 of her granddaughters! They loooooved church.. and afterward said "convince my abuela to bring us next week again!!" .. the only problem with Lili is that she´s not married.. just lives with her boyfriend. We need to figure out wedding stuff this week. 

It's so weird that i have 6 weeks left. I know its going to go by super fast.. but I don't think it will feel real until i literally arrive in our house. And even then it might just feel like a vacation.  I'm so excited I"ll be going to BYU.  Thanks for all your help with my application.

LOVE YOU. Thanks for supporting me all this time.. and writing me every single week even until my last transfer. there are some other people who don't even hear from their parents. 

Read the Book of Mormon

Well I"m trying to eat healthy, and we´ve been running every morning.. but I"m convinced that it's not possible to live a healthy lifestyle or loose weight while on a mission. I'm hoping it all comes off when I get home, back into work outs and eating salads! Oh How I miss a good salad.  

This week we went with the relief society to clean Hugo´s house.  He is a new member, and the house hasn't been cleaned for years and he needs help.  It is going to require quite a bit of work - we swept and mopped and I was so thankful for our clean living conditions at home.  

Sergio´s doing well.  Our investigators don't progress unless they do the reading in the Book of Mormon, and he hasn't been doing that, but he is encouraged.  

Lidia is another investigator.. who works for Sergio, and she´s progressing more than him. She says she believes in everything we teach her, the only problem is that she cant come to church on Sunday because she works.... for Ssergio!   HAHA  We´re gonna bring her to the church activity this Wednesday so she can at least be in the chapel. 

I had interviews with presidente and he said that next transfer we won't be together since we will both be finishing up our missions at the same time.  He wasn't sure who would leave the area. I trust that whatever happens will be for the best. Everything that's happened up until now has worked out and I"ve learned what I needed to learn.

I was sad to hear that Cyndi Hyum and Emily Mitchell from our ward both died this past week.  Their families are in my prayers.  

Te quiero 

Hugo Is Baptized!

Hugo was baptized! It was crazy because it took like 4 tries to baptize him. He's blind so we had to pick him up in a taxi and guide him everywhere, but he lives next door to members who help a lot. It was so cute because after he recieved the holy ghost, he told me he felt a cold sensation go through his spine when he received the holy ghost. 

We met a guy named Sergio, who actually went to high school a long time ago with our branch president. He came to church on Sunday and they talked for the first time in years. We hope Sergio progresses, because he seems like a great honest guy...  he`s one of those people that has so much light in him. It's almost as if he is a member already. 

We have 2 ladies that have a baptismal date for this Saturday.  They`ve talked with missionaries for like 6 months now.. and they feel peace when we`re with them and when they go to church- but the change would be huge for them. Their names are Aantonia and Juana.  The work is progressing in Argentina!  

Love You - 

New Skin, New Hair

I'd die to go to the temple right now.  A branch here traveled to the Cordoba temple this last week.. and this Sunday they bore their testimonies. It was so tender. They all came back with a new spirit that was noticeable. One lady had gone for the first time, and did baptisms for her family. she said that that night she woke up at like 4 am.. and felt so light.. like a feather. She felt like she had new skin, new hair, she just felt new like she had been born again.  Oh it was so tender, and sweet to hear their testimonies. I miss the temple so much.   

Nika already picked a dress? that happened faster than i thought! Send me pictures? of the bridesmaid dresses too!!! i want to be kept updated!

We had a good week! We found a lady named Liliana.. when we contacted her she told us that shes faltering in the  faith a little. We talked about the plan of salvation.. because she thought that the trials in her life were punishments from God. We talked a lot.. then a couple days later we returned, and she told us that she remembers the day before we went to her house she had prayed and told God that if he was really there to show her a sign. And then we came.. and she knows God listened to her prayer. She said she had been thinking about what we taught her, and she understands a lot more know about why we have trials and hard times. She has a lot of potential.  

We`re also teaching Nina and Saira. Nina's the girlfriend of a less active member. I think I told you, but they are living together and can't get married because he never got divorced from his wife..they just separated. But she wants to get baptized so much! So she talked with him and he said if she wants this, he`ll do the divorce papers and get married so she can be baptized.... so that is exciting.  

We have an investigator Hugo.. he's an older blind man. He wants to get baptized, but has many family problems living with his son that leaves him uncared for an abandoned. We`ve had a couple of members bring him lunch some days, and he struggles to buy basic groceries.  Our Branch President is helping him find a social worker to improve his situation. He has a lot of faith. 

We had an area  meeting this week where a member from the 70 came to teach us. I got to talk to the elders that are now in Mercedes - my favorite area.  They asked me for how long I was there.. and I told them for just 5 weeks.  They said based on how them members talk about you we thought like 3 or 4 transfers! and they were thankful we did a good job leaving them detailed notes and and area book about the investigators - whom they were able to find without problems. And they were super happy because usually when you do a white wash its because there aren't investigators and you have to start from zero. But we left them with lots of progressing investigators.. so they thanked us for our hard work! It was so good to hear. Because we really tried to work hard in Mercedes. 

Anyway, we`re trying to take advantage of our time and finish strong! Enjoy the sun :) Thanks for all your help with the BYU application! you are the best.. I would die without you! 

LOVE YOU

The Only Gringa

I stayed the week in Resistencia with 2 Hermana's that I'm good friends with.  We just did divisions everyday.  

We had some cool experiences. One of them was with a non-member husband of less active family.  At one time he had a grudge against the missionaries because they had been teaching his child without permission. But we started talking to him, asking how him and his wife met, and in the beginning he was super serious, but then towards the end he actually let us teach him, and joked around with us and stuff. After our meeting, the wife walked us out and said she was so sad that we were leaving the area, because we accomplished something with him, that no other missionary has been able to do,and she had been praying that something could happen to soften his heart. So she feels like God answered her prayer. Too bad we both got transferred out of that area.  On Saturday night the Tablero came, and we all went in the chapel to see our new areas and companions. 

I received a Portuguese companion from Brazil Hermana Arias. She goes home the same time I do in 2 transfers so we both have the same amount of time in the mission.  I've only been with her for 24 hours and really like her.  She is super sweet and caring...and very short which makes me look so tall. And she wants to go running with me and we are excited to get in shape for our "last transfer" home.  We traveled all day yesterday to our area "Villa Angela"... in Chaco, and then today we had to travel to our district meeting, and finish pday with the other missionaries. I'm the only Gringa in my district meaning everyone else is Latino! hahah goodbye to speaking English. But all day I've been hanging with the Latinas and I love it. They crack me up.  

I can't believe Nika is getting engaged.  Can't wait to hang out with her and Paul.  When is the actual ring proposal gonna go down? 

During transfers, one elder was going home.. and his parents came to Argentina to  surprise him and picked him up. Please don't do that to me haha. Anyway, LOVE YOU SO MUCH! next week ill be able to update you on my area :) 

Happy 4th! I'm leaving Mercedes

SO EXCITING about Nika's wedding!!! ahhhh I can't believe it. Well I'm super happy that i´ll be home for it :) 

For the 4th of July my comp and I made no bake cookies, and then we called people in our zone and sang "proud to be an american" haha... that's about as much as we could celebrate. 

Today (9 de Julio) is actually the independence day of Argentina! So we have an activity with our branch that me and my comp organized.

We´re going to this place where they raise yacaré (crocodiles) and we get to hold the babies!! I'm stoked
     

So we had a pretty good week down here. We´ve got quite a few investigators who are really progressing... Ramona is awesome. We went by her house to pick her up for church and she wasn't there, so we were super sad. Then during sacrament she showed up.. and she had ridden her bike in the cold to get there, without a coat. She´s definitely going to get baptized when the elders are here. 

News though...I'm leaving Mercedes tomorrow - emergency transfer to keep us safe.  We have an investigator who is texting us too much and inappropriate things.  So we have to pack today and leave tomorrow afternoon. its been crazy! Don't worry, I'm safe. 

This week we had our final "comp inventory" and it was really good! We have a great relationship even though 

we´re really different. You know, showing genuine interest in others despite how different you are does wonders for relationships. She haven't had good experiences in the past, but we've really enjoyed one another and made a friendship.  

We met Ismael this week. He's 25 years old.. we taught the restoration, and when we talked about Joseph Smith he was like "hey I've read a book before that says his name on it.. and it has a dude holding some bible in his arm. and it talks about how he was persecuted and had to move a lot. He said he just found it in his moms house. So he´s already got some knowledge  and seems prepared to progress.  

LOVE YOU SO MUCH! 

This house is completely made of bottles. 

People think I sing well...

Sounds like you guys had a great time with Grandma Judy ! 


So Monday we had a correlation meeting with our branch president and I presented a plan for member fellowshipping. We really need the members to help us visit the less actives. They are reluctant and we are frustrated, but I have hope we will have more participation.  Then on Sunday we had an area conference in a different Provincia..and President Patanìa came and spoke to the members.  He reminded them that the members need to speak up and help the missionaries because just knocking doors isn't effective. So maybe hearing it from him made a difference. We`ll see! 

We had met a guy named Jose 2 weeks ago... gave him a quick version of the restauraciòn at his door.. and he said it interests him, but never has time. So we finally stopped by at a time when he was home.. and he told us that he had looked up Joseph Smiths biography on mormon.org.. and read about him. Also watched a video.He liked learning about it a lot.. but when I asked if he prayed about it he said no. He was like "you guys think I should pray?" and we were like.. uhhh. yes. Then he asked some advice for how to pray.. so we taught him, and also talked about searching for our answers afterward..and waiting and listening after praying. He lives with his girlfriend and she listened as well. They are super awesome! I love meeting people who actually take initiative to investigate. 

The branch prepared a choir for the conference.. and we sang Did you think to pray,  The Lord is my Shepherd, and If the Savior stood beside me.  My companion sings really well, so she lead us all. But everyone else here... is pretty tone deaf.So they had the people stand next to me to be able to follow me and find the right note. I thought of how funny it was because I sing so badly.. but here the people think I'm good hahah. 

We also spoke with a guy named Nazario... who`s a referral from the internet. He`s super awesome.. hes stoked to read the BOM and has already downloaded the  gospel library app! He works in Entre Rios all week.. so we`ll see him next Saturday. :) 

Anyway, it was a good week! We`re in Corrientes capital right now because we`re going to have multizona tomorrow! I'm going to see Hermana Rodd!!! I'm  so excited for that.Love you  Hermana Hall 

Difficulties can breed Success!

My birthday was pretty good. Honestly, it didn't register that it was my birthday a lot of the time, because it was just a normal day. But there's a couple of members who are super awesome, so they texted us and told us to come over that night.. and they gave me a little package with chocolate bars in it :)  

Other than my birthday... its been quite the week.  We have struggled this week, not teaching much and it's been a trial of faith, but mostly hope.  In Bella Vista I felt that "missionary joy" that the scriptures always talk about.. because we had a lot of moments where we taught people and watched them recognize the spirit and the truth. But here so far we haven't experienced that yet and I feel like we aren't accomplishing anything.  

So to overcome this lack of hope I was reading this week about gratitude.. and a quote said one of the greatest sins of these days is ingratitude. And it struck me that to overcome this sin I can be more grateful.  The article said that  "you cant be bitter, resentful, or mean spirited when you are grateful"... so I've been making an effort this week to be more grateful, in my thoughts and prayers. I also prayed one morning before studying that I could read something that would help in my situation right now. And in true to the faith under the adversity section it says "our success and happiness now and in the eternities depend largely on our responses to the difficulties of life." 

It's been super cold this week. We have this little heater that we plug in.. and its brutal when we have to be in another room in the house that doesn't have the heater on and the door shut. I'm going to have to start wearing leggings over my tights haha. 

We had a branch talent show, and since I can't sing or dance.. I cooked banana bread to bring. But I did do a talent too....I did the cup thing while Hna Howe sang the cup song from pitch perfect. (she sings really well).  We have decided in order to keep our minds from wandering we will memorize the articles of faith in Spanish while walking in the street.. and we`re already up to #9. Im also memorizing The Testimony of the Living Christ. 

Sounds like you guys had a great fathers day! I was thinking of dad yesterday while in church. Glad you enjoyed your steaks.. I miss your food so much!  

Mission life teaches perspective and priorities

I can't believe you turned 50 mom!  I'm so glad you had a good birthday! Sounds like a lot of people went out of their way to do something nice :) I wish I could have done something for you! But sounds like you were well taken care of. Paul seems great - everyone seems to really like him.. and Nika seems to be super happy whenever she talks about him. I'm so excited to meet him.   

Serving a mission is amazing - and I'm constantly realizing what things in life really matter. I didn't get to see the devotional from the Prophet, but a member spoke about it in church.. and I liked that he said to take a social media fast -a nd during that time to pay attention to the things we start doing, stop doing, and to how we feel. I know that personally being here, away from technology, I've become a lot more studious, and learned things that I'd  never known... or even thought about before. One thing the mission life has taught me about is prioritities. 

So this week in my new area we did a lot of finding. This is a devout Catholic city, so its different than Bella Vista, but still found some awesome people to teach. We took the old area book and searched for a lot of people who used to talk to missionaries and visited them. We found Juana.. who`s super awesome. She feels really sad because all of her kids live in Buenos Aires, and they never call her. That made me so sad. I promise ill still call you when I'm married and moved away. haha 

My comp and I have different teaching styles and at first it was rough.  But we talked about it in comp inventory, and its really been improving! I've tried to be positive this week and I'm starting to adapt to the new area and apartment, etc. Our branch is super tiny here. In Relief Society on Sunday we only had 4 people. (counting me and Howe). But the members are great! 

When my last ZL Elder Keicher left, he gave me his BOM study manual... and so I've been studying with that all week. Its so awesome! It clarifies a lot of the historical or geographical stuff.. as well as the spiritual. 

We had a miracle happen last night where we were guided to this lady. She is a less active member that Hna How had been searching for - but didn't have her address. We contacted this lady, and she wasn't interested, so I asked if she knew of new anyone else we could visit, and she said that a lady who lived 2 streets down and to the left, was maybe passing through some trials. So we guessed a house on that street, and it was the member that Howe had been looking for for so long! Amazing! We knew that we had been led there. 

Anyway, I'm doing good here... I know times gonna go by fast, so I have to make the best of it! only 4 more months.. ahh! 

BTW..the babe lash is working wonders - thank you!

Julios Baptisms and hello Mercedes

Wow...I can't believe you have already received flight plans home.  I have 3 transfers left.. so weird! But I do feel like I've lived in Argentina forever haha. 

JULIO GOT BAPTIZED!! It was awesome. Everything went off without a hitch! Hna Todd and I sang a song  at the baptismal service, and Julio was smiling the whole day. Then on Sunday when he was confirmed he told us that he was thinking about the first day when we contacted him, and even though he was working he let us in.. and that we brought such a peace into his house! Hes super awesome, and I'm excited for him to progress and receive the priesthood.  

Then President called and gave us the news that Hna Todd is going to be training in Bella  Vista - which meant I was for sure leaving - and he said I'm going to Mercedes.  It is known as a hard area and the birthplace of gauchito gil.   The church is a tiny dentist building we rent out and there are only about 20 people who come to church.  It will be tough - but I'm sure things can be great, it just depends on my attitude. 

Saying Good-bye! 

It was hard leaving Bella Vista yesterday because I felt like like that place was my home. I was so close with all the members.. and everyone there really. Even the people we would pass by on the street everyday or the people who worked at the groceries stores said they were sad I was leaving.   I will miss this place. 

We had our multizona this week, and Hna  Balderree brought me my fav candies, a coke,
hairspray, and a little note. Shes so sweet! 

Love you so so much!!!! 

Julio's baptism, Locro, and the Universe

[As you can read...sister Hall is busy in Bella Vista and the work is progressing!!]

The inactive family we´re teaching has had relatives visiting from Buenos Aires, so we couldn't teach them this week.  But Evelyn, the 24 year old, has a son named Alejo who turned 4 years old. So we brought him a little present and chatted with her. She wants to come to church, but couldn't because of the visitors and all that. But this Wednesday we´re having a noche de hogar (family night) , so i hope they commit to come this week. 

Julio is getting baptized this Saturday!  I don't know if I've described Julio very much. But he's super awesome. One day he was busy doing yard work, but still attended us. He´s just a super happy dude.. always smiling.. sometimes its hard to take him seriously because he's just so smiley haha. But he has come to church 3 times now, and came to an activity this week. We had a ward activity and he really bonded with our branch president.     

So may 25th is a really big holiday here.. basically like their Independence day. It celebrates the day that Argentina became independent from Spain. So the ward did a big locro in the church. Locro is when you get a huge pot and you cook this soup like thing - basically they put like every part of the cow in it, and oil and corn, and it cooks for like 6 hours. I don't ask what I'm eating anymore. But it was a great day. It's been cold, but for our activity the sun came out and Julio was there. 

Also one day this week we were eating lunch with this dude Jorge Villanueva, he's 71, and a recent convert. He told us that he wakes up at like 3 or 4 am and sits outside to watch the stars and enjoy the universe silently. So we decided to set an alarm that night for 3 am, go on our balcony and look at the stars for a couple minutes. So we did, and after like 30 seconds we realized that it wasn't worth it hahaha. But hey, did it for the experience. 

We went to visit Jose´s (he has one eye) to teach him and help him quit smoking.  We made these huge posters about quitting smoking and pictures of Jesus and put them all over his house.  

We did a noche de hogar  (family night) with another menos activo (less active) member family this week. It's a lady and her 2 sons. One of them, Santi, is 17... and he's just a teenager, kinda too cool for anything, ya know? But his mom made him participate  I'm sure. So after sharing 1 Nefi 16, about Nefi's broken bow.. we played a game. And I suggested "water in the face". (the only game i had off the top of my head haha) I think we played it a couple times in family nights. so we played it and it was a big hit! It was my turn to start it off and Santi guessed it right.. so I squirted my water bottle super hard in his face. And it got the who family laughing and then they got super into the game. It was great, and the mom was so happy that her sons were actually interacting with her. It brought the family together.  

We also taught a couple of the girls from the English class we visited last week. So we taught in English, and it's so hard to speak about the church in English haha. But one of them was saying that she doesn't really believe in God, because of all the bad things that have happened in her life. But we talked about the plan of salvation, and she says that she really wants to visit our church and learn more. 

We also found a guy named Armando, who's talked to missionaries for 20 years and has never came to church. But we met him on the street, then visited him in his home... and he came to church for the first time! we were so excited.  Crazy. 

 Anyway, it was a good week. And I probably only have 1 more week in Bella Vista! I've got to take lots of pics. I took some more pics this week of what Argentina looks like. This stick fence thing is really common here. 

PS: I haven't used a microwave in over a year