ACROSS ARGENTINA

Hello fam!!!

What a crazy week!  and can I just name a theme, miracles... with missionary work nothing but the hand of the Lord in my little world, let me start from the beginning...

Monday we made alfajores with a member, can you just say delicious... straight up heaven send in my mouth, well we get a call that we are going to leave for sanadillo in 30 minutes for our renunion de districo in the morning. alright so off we go running. who needs fresh clothing anyways? and off we head on a ROAD TRIP! woot woot. So we arrived there and spent the night with the sisters, we got to teach a family home evening to a soon to be member. The next day we had the meeting which was absolutely spiritual needed.  YOu know those moments when its like someone is reading your mind. Yup it felt like that for 2 hours. the more I am a missionary the more I am aware of direct revelation. DIRECT as in you have a question, BAM answered.  on the way home we get another call, Hermana alley we have your transmit stuff, (oh you mean I may actually get to be legal in my mission, awesome)  so we grab an extra skirit maybe a toothbrush and a book of mormon and head to bragado, then to RAMOS MEJIA. for those of you who dont remember this is my stomping ground!  I WAS so excited to return to the pench and see my companion and the other hermanas. the only change that had happened was me.  After a long day of waiting in Argentina government lines for whos its and whats it and GALOR! I got to return to work the day in Haedo! I got to see Mika, Raycho, and Two incredible families that I was heart broken to leave! it was so great and with transfers this week, It was a miracle of an opportunity. I also found out that one of my contacts Leo (I remember him, he was literally my last card for the night and I thought to myself, nope He looks intimidating and I have to do all the talking alone... but for a missionary you talk to him regardless) is getting baptized this weekend!  just goes to show you seeds really are being planted.  He even sent his thanks to me. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!  The next day we headed to down down buenos aires which I imagine is just like the land of Italy. Skinny streets and really old buildings, my tourist eyes came out as I soaked up my surroundings wanting to See more.  after another very long day I now have all the paper work done and just have to wait about two months... then I am legal. Whoooa 

The last week of transfers... What?

Hello family to start off I have some Questions.... WHen is easter? mothers day? and general conference? in fact maybe just send me a list of all the imporatant holidays up to december! hehe because in a missionary mind things may get missed... BUT DONT WORRY I AM THE ONLY AMERICAN IN 25 DE MAYO THAT REMBEMBER VALENTINES DAY! 

Can you believe ive been in campo for six weeks? holy moly it doesnt feel like that long, how very loco! I would like to thank everyone for the wonderful letters last week, seriously they were all so great and made my week even greater!  you know your family is awesome when you find yourself pasting their testimonies in your jornal so you can highlight and study it later :)  moms temple trip sounded so incredible, heavens I want that kind of tour when I return, and the detailed image of a lazer eye surgery. yum.... I am looking forward to this video.. and then again maybe not!  To start out last week mom asked me how my spanish was going and if I made silly mistakes like christine. Luckily I havent had to many bad expereiences with this... until now.  You see I decided to read the scriptures in spanish before my half way mark which is a wise goal, I think. but I ended up learning my first bad word in spanish in the process... just ask stephen and he can tell you what it is probably. the word for whore or harlot in the scriptures is very similar to a blouse or shirt... haha now why would that be the case, who decided that!  and why is it in nefi so much!! haha now it is ingraved in my mind and I found myself telling a lady that I liked her harlot?  no not a good idea... haha and I owe my thanks to the scriptures! also, one of my favorite things to do in spanish is translate phrases from english into spanish... they have no meaning but its like a becca personality in an hermana alley missionary.  For example, its raining cats and dogs... put it in spanish and say it to people and they give you the funniest look! or ¨esta bien, yo tengo su espalda;  its okay ive got your back... haha I dont know if it is the wisest thing to do as it is incorrect, but it makes me laugh and you get great looks from people.  I am an america phrase book in a spanish world, and I will make them new trends here in 25 de mayo.  

The Beginning of February

To start with some business and comments on last weeks letter,

mom and dad please thank the karen family, kinnersleys, bishopric and dials.. I have received thanksgiving and christmas cards from them and things on the relief society. THe ward sends me great stuff and I really appreciate it... yup still receiving christmas stuff :)

number one, I cant believe richard visited tinnie, my mind was blown as I thought about how crazy of an experience that would be... still dont believe it, but the picture helps. I hope you filmed it too. how crazy, I think my heart would stop in its tracks!

DAD FELICIDADES!!! after your letter I have decided I am going to start saving my pesos so they can build a Pierre here in argentina. Italy has david we need a pierre. That is so great, and I am totally singing along with you Joseph. you WALKING WORK OF ART!  haha also thanks for the dets on my town! THATS RIGHT MY SEAHAWKS TOOK IT ALL!!! welcome to the best mission in todal el mundo!  I was so proud of them, andn cant wait to cheer them on with the teli when I return, celebrating is a bit more rough in a different country.  And the olympus, here on the radio we hear the theme song but thats about all we get.... Send me the hits I love this  event!  russia... burrrr, I have a lot of missionary friends there... four in fact.  and to the meat question, we eat milanasas more than anything, giant thin chicken fingers!  but the meet is so cheap here, my comp and I buy loads of it every week! and CHEESE! yum! never want to leave this place, or bring the cows with me! 

Another Week in the Fields!

"the Capilla!!"
Editor's Note: mom, that means "The Chapel"

Hello and good afternoon family the weather wind has slown down here and after some crazy storm the air is nice and fresco! thats right we are enjoying a little break from the heat that makes it hard to breathe!  and wow is 25 de mayo looking good these days, or maybe its the same just a missionary perspective!  I think that might be it... as you well know that blessed time of the year in south america has come around when everyone fiestas in CORSO (CARNIVAL for bubbus) thats right every saturday night for the next three months... lots of feathers and lack of clothingn and A lot of problems with the commandment we love , the Word of wisdom. THis blessed fesitvial starts around 10 and goes until about 3.  keep in mind this is  saturday night, so when 9 o clock church rolls around our little rama suddenly is smaller and has nothing but zomblies groaning around.  the Four confimred forsure going to make it to church slept. Thats right they coundnt make it after all. People here need sleep, more than chruch sometimes and for that reason I was a sad missionary for a day...  THis is the one time I despise a fiesta.  its ok though... only two and a half more months... GRRR

there was a super happy momoent in church yesterday though, Last week I helped out in the primary and taught the 10 commandments with had motions, the crowd went wild, and I have been asked to be assistant to the primary president. So she takes the first hour during relief society hour and I take the second durning sunday school. That is correct, I get to spend every sunday with the most adorable group of hoodllums that range from 1-12. It is so FUN!  No judgement just lots of giggles, I couldnt be happier with my calling.  

¿Country or City?

Well last week was the fastest week ever. Hermana vicente and I spent time visiting all the people she wanted to see before she left. All her favorite families and investigators and menos activos. we were really busy which is always good on a mission.  My highlight was a family home evening we put together for the older ladies in our barrior. I just love them all to death. I am telling you older than 70 and younger than 19 have become my best friends here on the mission. its the best ages, you are born young and after seventy you just become younger again. seriously, you grow to grow younger. well at least these ladies here in Argentina in my circle of haedo. we had 7 ladies and everyone has a special place in my heart.  One investigator and one menos activo.  Amelia, who I am pretty sure I have mentioned before Is a sweet heart.  She is going to be baptized this Saturday, has a heart of Gold and was so prepared to receive this evangelio. so for the activity we made a giant plan of salvation, and they asked the best questions about everything. Luckily we knew all the answers. (breathe) and it was so fun, sign me up to hangout with them anytime of the week. Loved it.

Tuesday night came and transfer calls ran in, I wasn't nervous until they say hello hermansa and my heart instantly sinks and I hear hermana alley pack your things.... What? haha joke right?   nope. dead serious.  Hermana vicente is staying in haedo AGAIN and I am hitting the road Jack... I was so caught of guard, 99.9 % positive I would be leading the area, now I am saying bye.  Not knowing what to expect, cause literally I only know ARGENTINA from haedo, since I was born here.  Excited and nervous the four of us party animals spent our last few hours together chatting and laughing a whole new adventure about to start. I called up Raycto and Mica to let them know, my best buds here.  Raycto is `planning on going through the temple in ia nyear before he heads on a mission, and you better believe I will be there to see it!  It was so sad to hang up with them... Man Do i get attached!  Transfer meetings are very much so Like the hunger games, a picture of a companion comes up and then the other one follows.  Well Just like that in a blink of an eye my fake was visible for everyone and I am headed... wait for it.... mooooo mmooooooo...

Just a normal study

HOLA FAMILIA!!!

picture, Look i bought a sun hat and made a salad, it was the best pday ever! now my comp and I really look like J-dubbs... Oh well at least I can see!

 

FIRST OFF YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED I WAS TO ARRIVE AT THE CYBER TODAY. BABY LEAH! for the past week every single night without fail i have had a dream of the little angel... and it his been so long waiting. I woke up at five ready to come to the cyber... all you missionaries know that sleep is sacred. yet I wanted to give it up, for her it is worth it... to bad i had to wait until now. well I had a pretty normal week, this upcoming is transfers so we will see where the wind blows me. my companion is convinced she is leaving since she has been here for 7 months. so i am guessing the same for me here in haedo with a new comp. we will see!  since not much happened this week i want to share an experience for my personal study,

 

one day in personal study which is literally the best time of the day and one hour is never enough. I decided to do an activity in the good old preach my gospel.  it asks us to read John 15.1-6 and I was blown away by this set of scriptures, they hit me like wreck it ralf.  First off with verse number five.  "without me you can do nothing".  in this parable Christ is the vine and we are the branches.  Just like a vine is the center core for nutritionment and supples everything with what we need, so should be Christ. In the center of our LIfes, the very core.  especially in missionary work.  How can I ever expect to get anything done without crediting my Savior... I CANT!  and I sadly have to admit that somedays I am only fueling on hermana alley power which in reality is just an endurance test.  just like elder holland always says "this is not our work, it is His."  naturally we then we should do it with his help and guidance.  In verse number nine "so have I loved you, continue ye in my love." well everyone loves to be loved.  and its not very often in the scriptures when these three words together are directly pointed at the reader. 

Summer cleaning

wow what a week and where to begin...

 

my comments from last weeks email.... I cant believe I leave for one year and dad forgets to make slush and mom doesn't bring out her own camera for Christmas? what next...  you need the baby to put things back in order!!!  also, I read and reread and reread the comments on gay marriage. I NEVER thought the way would come... wow add that to my list of prayers hold up Utah, you are zion remember... goodness. But it sounds like a full and eventful year! what a great Christmas for the fam!! not as good as dart gun wars but maybe the next step down! thanks for the details.

 

Cleaning time in ARGENTINA!!  if you have seen this place its filthiy and this week was full of hard work put your shoulder to the wheel clean urrr up!  starting with last week the capilla! it was the missionaries turn with one another family. naturally they didn't show up right. well t-minus one hour until a lesson, time to get dirty!  literally sprinting from one room to the next my companion and I put our soul into the stains and stubborn filth of the capilla!  the worst part... here in Argentina the companys cut the luz aka electricity because its used so much for fans and other things during the summer. it can be up to hours to days with out anything.. aka no running toilets. thats right I had to scrub toilets that hadnt been flushed in who knows how long. yum. I think the toilets might have won.  nothing stops an alley thats had 19 years of experience, the smell was close but never fear I pulled through.  by the end we finished and I think the saturdays growing up helping dad clean our church helped me pull through. yah we mighth have been like slugs and left behind a trail of sweat but we made it and were only... well 30 mintues late to our next appointment. we also deep cleaned our appartment becuase what president says we do!  lots of gunk there, and dont even mention the baptismal font... oh wait I already did. 2 weeks later bishop remembers that the water hasnt been drained from raytchos bauptism... talk about all sourse of fungi... and once again we took head on the job of accomplishing the task. my shoes were soaking from it all day but the thing sparkled from the bautipsm in the morning. Ive never seen so much mold and bacteria!  cleaning machine!!! oh and one random note... is it just me or does the water spin the other direction here? haha its been 2months. 

 

 

 well folks we had a baptism this week!!! he is eight! ok his grandpa is also in the 70... ok his whole family is members.. these are only small details!  the Zivic family is incredible, and make up our whole ward. everyone is related to everyone and they all served missions. well these past 3 weeks we have had the opportunity in teaching their son the lessons before his bauptism.  correction he taught us, what a stud.  its incredible how much a little fella can know.  and it made me so stoked for calebs, just like Caleb knows there needs to be a star on top of the trees for jesus, this kid knew how important baptism was and is in cute argentino words "i am very emotional about it".  the place was filled with his large family and he had the cutest grin on the whole night, the day of his birthday and baptism.  yesterday he got up and bore his simple testimony that just hit all the adults out of the park.  his mom told a story that just screamed Caleb and well left me crying. in a summarized version... Facu (his name) claimed that he didn't believe in santa clause one day.  When his mother asked him why, he replied "because I  havent seem and neither have you". His mother began to explain that believing isnt seeing and explained the concept to him.  She then exclaimed you believe in Jesus right?  "yes" he replied.  "well you dont see him either"  "yAH but I can feel him!!! not santa clause"... she then had to back peddle about how he shouldn't