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 

"I Love She" Going to College

I've been thinking that I should read my Patriarchial blessing more honestly. But on my mission I've noticed how much it mentions the premortal existence.  In one part it said that I helped others gain the faith to come to earth. So I have more confident in applying that here, and try to help people have faith in their trials. I'm trying to figure out how to do that still.  

We started working with a family that we were lead to this week. The mom is an inactive member, and she has 2 daughters (24 yrs and 10 yrs) that aren't baptized members. And the discussions we´ve had have been so good! She hasn't been to church in years, and I think there is some resistance from their husbands...but for now they really enjoy our lessons. 

We also met a guy in a store who's studying English, and is pretty advanced. So he asked us to come to his English class in college and talk to them all so they could hear native speakers. So we went and it was awesome! Just a class of like 7 people, and they asked us what we do, why we´re here, what our daily schedule is, etc. So it was great because we got to help them with their English, but also they got to meet the missionaries and understand what it is that motivates us to leave home and preach the gospel. We hope that some of them call us to learn more! 

After the English class we were walking outside, and this dude runs up to us and in very broken English was like "do you guys have boyfriends" and we expained that as missionaries during this time we´re dedicated to the Lord, consecrated and don't date, etc. 

And he said "what a bummer!" and tells Hermana T.... "you are very pretty.. but your friend.. wow, I love she." hahaha we have been laughing so hard about that for the past 2 days. "I love she" 

 In 2014 A law passed by the Argentine Congress says public transport must have signs saying "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" (the Falkland Islands are Argentine).The Argentine MP behind the initiative said it would reflect "our undeniable sovereignty" over the islands. But the source said the move was a "hostile course of action".

The cold has started here! I'ts weird though because its not freezing freezing yet.. but its really chilly. And so I'm not really sure what to do as far as clothes. Because we cant just always wear leggings with our flats shoes. It doesn't look professional. Sooo.. we are cold a lot. Which is bad because then we cant concentrate on the lessons. And when we wake up/when we study its freeeeezing in our pension. But we just bundle up. Crazy because I'm just so used to hot weather now. MMMMM MATE!! 

Pre-mortal life prepared us for the hard times

Hermana Todd 

It was so good to talk to you guys yesterday on Mother's Day.  I miss you so much! Getting to talk to you guys made me so excited for the time when I can tell you stories and also about the different cultural things in Argentina. You looked beautiful and happy! 

Beautiful Sunsets 

This week we were going to have multizona.. which is my favorite thing because presidente teaches us and I always leave with new ideas and motivation. But it was canceled last minute because  the President got sick :( but I think we should be having it this week! We are working hard and have a few investigators progressing.   Please pray for Jlio, Blas, and Antonio! 

In my study this week I decided this week to go over the mission lessons, specifically the plan of salvation, because I just hate when I get in a routine.  I realized that I was skipping too fast over the pre-mortal existence and focusing more on this life and the spirit world after. But really its so important to understand where we came from and how we prepared to come here, and that we understood it would be hard, but that the hard times would serve as experience. 

Anyway, sorry I don't have a lot of details because we talked just yesterday. But I'm so grateful to be here right now! 

We had a ton of rain this week. One of the worst storms I'd seen. I'll try harder this week to take pictures of Bella Vista and the streets we walk on, houses, etc. Thanks for all your support and love. 

HAVE A GOOD WEEK!

Biggest Avocado

The Members Give us Referrals...

I had a great week! Seriously it was awesome. I'm loving my time with Hermana Todd and already feel like we´ve been friends forever. So on Tuesday morning as we traveled back from Goya, and she told me that her dad got cancer like 5 years ago, but did chemo, and it went into remission. But then it came back and was everywhere in his body. She told me the story and it took me by surprise. Turns out that her dad died 2 weeks before she left for the MTC. She is so strong! And she always is so happy and positive... I was thinking all day after that about how much i love you and dad. And I was reminded that I take you guys for granted sometimes. Love you! 

We went to a branch activity and it turned out great. It was raining, but the members all came anyway, and played futbol in the rain. One member, Hermana Rojas, brought a friend (Susanna). Susanna used to talk to elders, but her boyfriend was jealous and wouldn't let her continue. But she and her boyfriends separated 3 months ago and so she moved, and now we´re teaching her. She has a lot of interest in the gospel, and at the end of our lesson she said the prayer and cried. She said it was her first time praying and she felt the spirit so strong! 

Then we had another referral from a member.. .we started to teach his cousin, Antonio! He came to church this Sunday and accepted a baptismal date for may 26th! He´s even  going to do a service project on Friday with the priesthood group! We´re excited about him. 

Also our investigator Blas has really been progressing and was super excited to come to church. But then it was 9:00 and he wasn't there so we started the meeting, and I was a little sad. Then I see him walk through the doors! :) It was testimony meeting, and he loved it. I asked him afterward how he felt during church and he said "like I've been coming for years".. ahhhh  it made me so happy! I think he loved it, and his kids are accepting his decision to talk with us. We´re really happy about the work here. Its been great because the members have been so willing to work with us and give referrals.. which is new! 

We found this lady named Ana who recently moved from Buenos Aires, and we have super spiritual charlas with her. She was saying that she wants to believe in an after life.. but right now she doesn't think she does. So I suggested that we all kneel and she could offer a prayer and ask. And usually we don't do kneeling prayers, because we generally talk to people outside. But we were in her house so I thought why not. And the spirit was so strong, I could literally feel it filling the room. I really have been noticing God´s guidance.. because things just seem to work out. Like an appointment will fall through, and we´re sad.. but then we visit some people who aren't really progressing, or who usually aren't home.. but we are able to have a great break through with them. And every time I'm amazed at the wisdom and designs of God! 

We did divisions this week which was super fun! At the end of divisions we all say somethings we learned from each missionary. One hermana told me that she loved that i used the scriptures a lot and know how to use them.. which is something she had heard about me before and was finally able to see it. That made me feel good, because I'd been working lately on using the book of Mormon more. Like actually reading the stories and relating them to peoples lives instead of just reading 1 verse that proves a point in the restauración or something. She also said that I she likes how I relate the commandments and blessings we teach to our lives.  And that it always has to do with my family. which proves that my family is one of the most important things to me. And i guess that's true. I'm learning so much