Saren is HOME!

Her flight arrived on time, 12:20 on Tues. the 12th. She left Argentina Monday night at 8:00pm and flew straight through to Atlanta arriving at 6:00am. On that flight Saren was surprised to meet up with her former MTC companion Hermana Smith who has been serving in the Buenos Aires South mission. Saren traveled home with Elder Hobson whom she served with in several areas. Hooray for Saren's return. She wanted to stop for mexican food which I assumed that was all she had in Argentina, but found out I was wrong haha. Hermana Jill Daniels and her mom were able to visit with us at El Matador before heading back to good ol' West Weber. Saren was released and whisked away to softball and baseball games, where we are found everyday. She is freezing in our crazy Utah weather. Her homecoming talk was wonderful, we enjoyed Hermana Sasha Lopez visiting for the weekend. We were fed both spiritually and temporally that day. Thanks to you all who have helped support our Hermana and who have offered prayers and letters in her behalf. Our family has been very blessed.

Welcome Home Saren!!

Saren's last letter!!

We had a good weekend of many people that came and watched conference! We watched it both in English and Spanish.. one of our investigators, Graciela, turned to me and said this man is talking directly to me! hahah it was at the beginning of Elder Utchdorf´s talk! I just thought how would it be to listen to these men for the first time in my life! I love how the spìrit works and testifies of the truth. It’s all so perfect. As long as we are open and have a desire right? We also had Marcelo who we have been teaching English to come.. he’s the one from another religion that is a preacher and he loved it as well! He said the men talked about good things from god and they were right about many things. haha of course they are! All the missionaries loved how Dallin H Oaks dropped the cain on all the mormon bachelors. haha. im going to miss working with the elders.

We also are preparing Marta for her baptism this end of the weekend. Amada the lady that lives in the villa wants to build up a little room on top of her little shack for me to live and you guys can come visit me when you want in the villa. Hermana Daniels wrote me the other day as well! It was nice to hear from her! I was thinking to myself I don’t need to be scared when I get home, the lord will always be there for me he always has been. I just need to trust in him and everything will come into place! I love you all and hope you study those talks that were given just barely. I love the church so much and I have loved the joy it brings into others lives, I will miss my mission more than anything.

NO te precupes!!

So we are emailing a little later cause we had a long day trip to Las Heras! Oh it was so great to see the Velazquez family and the Mercado family! They are doing great! This week was pretty crazy as well. My comp was sick one of the days cause on last Monday we ate a lot of deep fried food and it wasn't so good for either of us.. but the next day she was able to rest a little and then we went out and worked. Martas kids were being different yet again! They have their off and on days. we need to find out what the iceberg is with her and them. She came to church with us and it was good! We gave the principles class and it was on the organization of the priesthood. I actually learned a lot that i didnt know before.. haha.the time is winding down... and everyone likes to point that out.. missionaries, members and investigators.. but its all good! We are getting excited to go to general conference! it is in our area where they are broadcasting everything! I hope you all have a great week! I have to go cause its late!
I love you all!

3 Week countdown!

Hola familia!!!
We are sending mail early this morning cause we are heading out to Ituzaingo and Ramos today!!! yay!! I’m going to be visiting all the families it will be fun to see them! This week was kind of sad with Marta and her kids. We had a fun night with them and the zone leaders came as well. They have been coming lately in all the different areas to help the whole zone out, to help us meet our goals that every area in the mission can have baptisms- all for one and one for all!!! So they came and we played this oreo game and ended the night with all of them committing to coming to church on Sunday.. however we showed up with all the pancake mix on Sunday morning and none of them were home. Marta had left with some of her children to go out and help her other daughter.. soo that was a very devastating.. however the daughter of Josefa and Fransisco came to church and absolutely loved it! She wants to be a missionary.. haha. which she can be! She just needs to quit her job cause it is not a good place for her to be!

Last week I forgot to tell you that Guillermo, the guy with one leg, blessed the sacrament and it was amazing and he gave a talk in church! He gave it on honesty and how we must be honest today as members of the church! i loved it we were so proud of him. It is so rewarding to see the progression of the new converts and with the help of the holy ghost!
well I love you all and hope you have a great week!
I sure hope there is snow left to get in a day of snowboarding!

March 14

Hey family!
Well that was a good full email of events! I'm so happy you all visited Hermana Daniels.. I love her so much! Jason just barely wrote me too saying he got to talk to Hermana Lopez.. I love her too. What a small world! haha. Thats so weird they are home.. I guess in a month I will be as well. It hit me this week that I have to actually think about life after the mission, plans and goals that I need to make.

This week was really weird with everything happened. The tsunami of Japan has caused people talking non stop here. It's just more of a reason to prepare and preach la palabra de dios! We saw a bonding moment happen from one the converts from the villa Amada with another lady who suffered a lot during her life with her mom. She is like 70 something her name is Mari and she always calls us mamitas haha. she has a huge heart. When Amada came with us to visit her they had a bonding moment during the lesson. She came on Sunday finally to church! and absolutely loved it! Then marta ( the lady with 11 kids) stopped smoking! thats exciting. we keep teaching the kids but sometimes its hard to get them all together or paying attention but little by little they progressing.
well.. thanks for looking and getting into all the schooling stuff for me! I love you all so very much and hope you have a great week!

March 7

Hey family!
Wow this week went by so fast. we ended it off pretty good! We had a huge barbeque on Thursday with the familia Laporte (who are my by far favorite family here in Bonzi) We have about 80 to 90 people in attendance here it's officially a ward now thanks to Guillermo being baptized and a full tithe payer now.. he is amazing. He wants to show up at our door in the states someday to watch conference live. We gave talks in the ward about the importance of serving a mission for all the youth.. that was very special. I probably wont be back home in time for general conference.. i think its the week before I get home. Tell Hermana Daniels that I love her so much and that Tomas is still in the house! haha.

This week was nice! There was a baptism in the other ward so Marta and some of her kids came to watch it! the day before we had a haircutting party and while I was cutting the 16 year olds hair Estefania she was talking about how she has been reading the book of mormon and loves it! She loves the story of Nephi and how his family was like families today with the same problems.. she is going to get baptized before I leave. We also had a noche de hogar earlier on in the week with a family from the villa. Amada is the mom and a member. She has some kids that aren't members including her 25 year old son. He came to church on Sunday for the first time and got to hear his mom's testimony. He used to be huge into drugs and drinking but after she got baptized back in Oct he stopped and started working! Amada is an amazing woman so humble but yet so strong in the gospel, her grandchildren are teaching her how to read. I truly feel so blessed to be a part of the lives of these great people. The Lord has His time for everyone.

Hermana danes and i colored our hair.. mine looks pretty much black and hers is really red! haha its fun. it was a holiday so nothing was open. Well I love you all and hope you have a great week!!