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!!!!