Week 32 - El Bolsón

How's the Spanish? 

Bien! 

Are there any parts you still struggle with?

A lot! but I'm learning more each day! 

Do you think in Spanish?

Yes and no. Sometimes I talk spanglish without realizing that people cant understand my words that I dont know in spanish. But thats like very rarely and only with my companion.
 

I know you talked a bit about your Comp last week but now you know her better.  Does your current Comp speak English? No, but I'm teaching her because she wants to learn:) She's awesome!  What's her personality like? Shes a little quiet but is happy and fun! She likes the horoscope stuff like cancer and pices and stuff haha
 

Any awful bugs or rodents now that it's warming up?

Not too badly yet! There are little bugs here and there, but Bolson is like utah. 

Do you sweat like a pig tracting?

Depends on the day. Sometimes, YES. 

Are you sun burned?

YES. The back of my neck got super burned this week because I put my hair in a bun.
 

How are you?! 

Good! 

How was your Argentinian Thanksgiving? 

On Thanksgiving we didn't really eat anything special, but a member had us over for a bbq yesterday and it was a TON of meat. You'll see the pictures on facebook because my computer doesn't work with my pendrive today. 

How is your companion doing?

I think shes doing good! Shes happy and this week was hard because our investigators are deciding not to progress so its hard. 

How goes the training? 

It's good. 

How's the weather? 

Hot.

Your investigators? 

Our investigators are all going down the toilet. We can't find them, they don't show for our appointments, didn't go to church this week, aren't repenting, a lot. But I'm happy and we're still teaching like 8 people every day. 

Your ward?

They're good! This week was the primary program and it was awesome! I love watching them sing! 

I don't know why but my mind is blank every time I sit down to write! I love you guys! 

Today we are in Bariloche for a big zone activity because today is a holiday.  We are using the computers at the family history center and they don't read my thumb drive so no pictures.  Also, here in Bariloche, there's a little lady member that can knit incredibly cool sweaters! She's like a chinese child with her skills! It's so cool! 

This week was super spiritual. We learned a lot and were very bold with our investigators about the commandments of God. They didn't like the commandments of God, so they aren't following them. It's sad to see, but we're gonna work harder! 

Also, there are lots of gypsies here and there's a ton of stereotypes about them! They're known to be car robbers, woman buyers, and dangerous. The elders were walking by a gypsy house (you know which ones they are because the women are always outside in their big skirts and they always have TONS of cars) and a car came spinning out of nowhere and they left the car with a gun and they walked super fast and didn't look but they heard screaming and gun shots. So... we don't cross the line between our area and the elders now! 

That's it! 

Love, Hermana Sant

Week 31- El Bolsón

 

Okay, so I followed hermana Jarvis to Bariloche ... weirdest thing ever. Nothing like taking your companion to meet her new companion and staying for two days haha then I left at almost midnight for Neuquen on Tuesday night and got to Neuquen at like 5 in the morning. I slept for a half hour in the pension of the Hermanas on the floor and then met all of the new hermanas. Then we went to the mission home, proselyted for a bit in the street, and then had lunch and found out who our companions are and had some meetings with information.

As I watched the gringo elder fall asleep on the couch, I realized, I don't remember any of my orientation because I didn't understand it!!! haha Then we stayed with the hermanas for the night and left for Bolson the next morning!

Who is your companion?  Her name?
Hermana Banuera
Her major?
I didnt really understand it. Its something with legal stuff.
Where's she from? 
Cordoba Argentina!
What MTC did she go to?
Buenos Aires

Is Bolson getting ready for Christmas?
Nope! not that I can see! But us missionaries are!
Is anyone going to attempt a Thanksgiving dinner for the Gringa (you)?  Yep! An awesome recent convert- Viviana!

Is it hot enough to need A/C?  Yes..... I am starting to have a hard time to sleep at night.

Does anyone there have A/C?  Not in Bolson. There is one pension in the north of the mission that has AC.

What's new with your investigators?  Norma has now decided to get married to her boyfriend in AUGUST. and live with him until then...

What's new with you?   I'm really really happy!

Anything funny?   Hermana Banuera has a hard time with the keys in our doors... I don't remember much of this week either!  I'm gonna start reading my journal before I write y'all!

Sad?   Norma.

Challenging?  Norma.


Happy?   LIFE!

Sorry those were boring answers! Haha today is the birthday of my comp so one of the pictures is of me last night making a cake for her... its not really a cake its just cookies and whipped cream and dulce de leche...

Love, Hermana Sant

Week 30 - El Bolsón

Mayra got baptized!!!! She has been an investigator for like a year and she decided that she wanted to be baptized:) Shes passed the baptismal interview with flying colors several times and she is fabulous with a new little baby and everything! I am so happy for her!

Do you know what is happening with transfers? 
Yep! Hermana Jarvis is going to Bariloche (hence why I'm here in Bariloche today) and she will be the hermana leader with Hermana Farr (also hermana leader) and I'm going to Neuquen in a few days to pick up my new greenie! I'm staying in Bolson!

How's the weather?
It's raining and cold today:) I love it! I'm drinking in these cold days before it gets hot!

How are the dogs?
Good! They occasionally bite me but thats fine! They've yet to break skin

What's your favorite food?
CHIIIIIPA! I love chipa! Its cheese bread balls

What's your favorite thing to wear?
My pink skirt with my blue flowery shirt as shown in the pictures. Its so comfy

What do you love the most right now?
What? ummmm investigators! I love the work!

Tell me what you see if you look out the window right now?
Im in Bariloche so I see a city bus and tons of little colorful buildings with cobblestone sidewalks and its all soaking wet.

Do people in town recognize you because you've been there so long?
Yes. Luckily, I recognize them too so I can now stop people on the steet by their names and talk to them!

How big is Bolsón?
I dont know haha Pretty big but also really small. Can you look up the miles in a map?

(Yes, I can):

How are you investigators?
Good! Norma wants to be baptized the fastest possible! Mili is doing great! Claudia is still going to church but we have yet to teach her more than about Joseph Smith so she's really confused. The other people aren't progressing much, but we are finding new ones every day!

Sleep?
Good! I didn't sleep the night I found out I was training, but I'm fine now!

Eat?
I like to do it.

Hair?
I've now transitioned to a middle part to follow the foot steps of my roll model: Rachel Cromwell.

Happy thing?
LIFE!

Sad thing?
Gloria, one of our favorite members is less active now! Where did we go wrong?

Funny thing?
I don't remember this week very well.

Challenging thing?
This week was easy. Which makes me fear the following week haha

Ooooo! In church yesterday,  the stake presidency was there and them and the bishop talked and their talks were awesome  Sacrament was 2 hours long! We just skipped the second hour of classes. They talked about marriage and that the statistics here are 75% of marriages end in divorce. They told us to be careful what we say and how we treat our families. It was awesome! because there are a few members we are trying to help that are going through divorces or splits right now and they need help.

Week 29 - El Bolsón

 

Well, this week we had exchanges with the sisters in Tevelin (a little town south of Esquel). The hermanas are Hermana Brown and Hermana Ventura! Turns out, Hermana Brown was the FHE brother of my friend at BYU-I! Crazy how there are so many connections! They came here to Bolsòn and we had 29 lessons in one day:) Its always so nice to have someone in your area to help us do more work in less time!

 We are having tons of success here! The lord is working really hard and preparing a lot of people to hear about the gospel! Mayra finally decided she'll get baptized (again...) and Norma, Claudia and Mili were in church this Sunday and norma is asking her boyfriend today if we can teach him! And hes already read all of the pamphlets we gave her:) Its so great to see the little things that we can do in our lives to get HUGE blessings.

Also, Mayra's baby, Maximo, was blessed yesterday! I like the culture here because after the baby blessings, the preisthood holders kiss the head of the baby one by one. Its very Pope-like haha

Thats pretty much it this week! I love you guys! 

Week 28 - El Bolsón

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

*How are you?
Im great! Happy and all!
*Is there something or someone specific that we can pray for?
Pray for norma and her boyfriend. He says he wants to get married but not right now. And she wants to get married in the temple someday so that she can see her kid again! but he doesnt want to listen to us.
*How's the language?
Bien.
*How's the weather?
Today its raining, but usually its hot because of the sun, but cool because of the wind!
*How's the work?
Really good! We're working hard and finding tons of people!
*Any new dog attacks?
Almost yesterday! but nope! I escaped!
*How's the ward?
Its great! Its changing a lot and the members are starting to help us in lessons and bringing their friends when we have appointments to visit them! Its awesome! Yesterday, Presidente was in Bolson for church and he was SHOCKED - he was so impressed with the change!
*Are you tired of your area?
Sometimes I think so but no.
*What are the names of your favorite ward members?
EVELYN YAÑEZ! nancy gatica, Hna Lina, Gloria Uyua, familia bachman, EVERYONE!
*Investigator updates?
Norma, claudia and mayra ares still going to church!
The computer place closed for siesta at 1 so I came back to finish now that siesta time is over haha
This week was great! We had exchanges in esquel and in one day we had 26 lessons! Its was a productive day!
Well, thats basically all that I remember for now! I love you guys!

Week 27 - El Bolsón

 Hermana Jarvis had some training meetings for leaders in Neuquen so she dropped me off in Bariloche with the sisters there and went to Neuquen for a few days. So I was in a  trio with Hermana Farr and Hermana Barfuss. I love these girls! Hermana Barfuss is SO excited for the work! She has 3 weeks in the mission now and every single person she sees, she asks Hermana Farr, can we talk to them, please? Hermana Farr is super chill and funny and always says, sure, you got a passalong card? And lets Hermana Barfuss do her thing! Their spanish is really really good! Hermana Barfuss's espenol is better than mine haha I love Bariloche! We counted and I've had an accumulative 2 full weeks in Bariloche and I know the area pretty well haha Then when Hermana Jarvis got to Barioche again we did exchanges and had the training of the zone... zone meeting in english? the next day! So we were gone from Tuesday through Friday! And Saturday morning! But I changed a LOT in Bariloche. We found a girl who wanted us to teach the lessons to her in English, so Hermana Farr and I did out best but we were translating everything from Spanish to English in our heads anyway. I learned how simple to gospel really is. Then we found a girl in the street (with Hermana Barfuss) Who we taught the first article of faith (it was our passalong card) and she said, okay, what more? for like 10 blocks of walking! I didnt know, but we walked out of the area of the sisters! oops! But now, I'm a new missionary. I'm excited and happy and everything and it's because of a list of "commandments" That Presidente Casariego wrote his wife while he was in his mission in 1979:

1. We dont fear.
2. We take investigators to church.
3. We break traditions.
4. We are enthusiastic.
5. Faith
6. We mentally visualize the investigatos in the baptismal font
7. Prayer
8. We testify sincerely.
9. We dedicate ourselves.
10. We teach to the level of the people
11. We invite families to church.
12. We baptize multitudes.
Thats what I leanred.  And I love it!

Also, we saw a pretty horrible dog fight this week. We were talking to this little boy on the street and his dogs came from behind him and two more dogs from behind us and all started fighting. We ran away as soon as possible! And the owners came out of their houses with shovels and were hitting their dogs on the heads supper hard and they were still fighting all lock jawed on each others throats and everything. It was horrifying.

Also, there are a lot of lilacs here and I love it.

And theres yet ANOTHER dog fight outside the window now. Poor little guys. Eventually, people just grab on of the dogs by the hind legs and drag them off with the other dog still in its mouth.

Also, Norma went to church yesterday! And Claudia and Mayra! Its so awesome! I love these girls!  Norma is the best friend of Evelyn, the girl who lost her baby. They met each other in the hospital because their kids had the same hydrocephalus and died within two weeks of each other and they were the same age. Well, Evelyn is awesome and every time we are at her house, she has another friend for us to meet and teach! And Norma wants to join the church! She said she knows its true and she has so much hope for her kid Zahoin (pronounced zion in english), that she can see him again thanks to Evelyn!

Thats it! I love you all!

Hermana Sant

Week 26 - El Bolsón

 

Well, This week was really really rainy! Winter is coming back and I love it! there is nothing like being able to stomp in puddles ALL day long. Its my life long dream and Im not being sarcastic haha I love the rain! My compaiunion... not so much. Its been a little hard for her. Shes getting sick and drained of anergy while Im getting more and more happy and healhty haha

We have been trying to find the house of an investiogator for like two months! We always teach her in her grandma's house and finally someone told us that lucia lived in a house behind theirs! We went to the house and clapped and a girl that was about 15 came out and we asked if lucia was home and she said, yeah im her! haha my companion was shocked out of her socks! We taught her and wrote down her number so we culd plan a time to visit her and then her dad came out and he looked mad. He shook our hands and cracked the knuckles of my companion he shook so hard (and I my hand still hurts from it). He told us that he hates missionaires and that missionaries with nametags like ours had lied and hurt their family and he never wants to see us again. He had us scribble out the phone number and watched us to make sure we did it. It was threat number 2! So we're not gonna visit them anymore haha
Well, Im out tof time! I want to write more! but I cant haha I love yall!