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.