On a Rainy Sunday!!!!

Wew this week slipped right underneath my feet and out the door in no time! We had some fun times this week... We had stake conference, and had tons of investigators all planned to be picked up by us or my some of the members.... but none of them came. either they werent home or they didn’t come.... it was really disappointing cause we were all fasting in our zone to have a goal of five in the conference. I guess the lord had other plans in store for them. We passed by some of them later in the day with liahonas. It was pouring like crazy. We visited the Italian member that lives in the same building as us when we returned and she made some soup for us... it was nice and warm! So once again that big rainy coat serves its calling here for the rainy days of May!
And yes I did receive the package!!!! oh it was amazing to get it… all the sweaters and sticker notes and everything is just perfect! thank you so much... and yes I did get the letter from Lynette! I’ve been meaning to write her back.

Other than Sunday we had a really great week with finding new people and working with the members in the ward. It is amazing to see these people change their habits and change their ways when they grow closer to our heavenly father.
Its interesting how I never realized how many churches there are in the world and how important our message really is... its been a big eye opening experience to share my simple testimony and have it re affirmed every time we share the restoration. Last night we had a lesson with our mission leader where we talked about afterwards that you will find everywhere you go the same questions... why are there so many churches... which one is true... and how can you know?? It is through a simple sincere prayer. I testify to you all that I know it is the true church. With our prophet Thomas Monson leading the way. I know he receives pure revelation for you for me and for all the people on the earth. I know that we have the authority to act in the name of our savior Jesus Christ and truly become members of HIS church, the original church that He organized when he was here. Our covenants are sacred and bring us closer to him. How I’m so grateful for what happened to Joseph Smith and how our god which is in heaven is the same forever. We can trust in him and his path. The other day I saw a little sign in the Liahona that said the ten commandments are commandments not suggestions.

hahaha there is my little spiritual message! I love you all and am so grateful for the people in my life and how they have helped build me and strengthen me. I hope that I may do the same for others! Have a good last week in school and know that I love you all!! Be good and Be safe!

Mulé de Arjenteena!!

OH my goodness that is hilarious with Hestons hair cause I swear every kid here has it as well!! (Sam cut Heston’s hair into a mullet for a day - GROSS!) It’s exactly like that a thick mohawk! hahahahhaa... the little boys grow up to be grown guys wearing them.

I love RAMOS!! It is amazing here... with my little comp Hermana Salazar! She doesn’t speak a lick of English so that’s good! ahhaha then I won’t be tempted to revert back in my own tongue and get the gift of tongues in more progress! I do feel like I have improved with the language.. I just keep on going and keep on talking and I know the lord will use me where he wants to. The church is right in the middle of the rich area and then there is a highway that is close by. On the other side we have kind of a ghetto area, but its all good... its the west side of the highway! watch out!!! There is a kid that was recently baptized and he comes with us during the lessons... we were pretty good this last week.
This next week I want to try some more areas where we found a lot of people the other day. I swear Hermana Lopez drilled in me exactly what I needed before I left her and the area. The ward is great too! There are a lot of members that can come with us. This transfer we are trying to focus on members that relate to the investigators in some way... like if its a teenager then we would want to bring someone around their age that would be able to befriend them! hermana salazar is wonderful, everyone loves her here in the ward.. we laugh a lot together! The bishop in the ward is really young like in his 30´s and has two little children. He seems like he is going to be great to work with and our mission leader as well. There are a lot of families in the ward that are from all parts of South America, like Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, all sorts of different people here!

I enjoyed this last week... it flew by way fast!!! There is a park as well that is right next to the train and buses that we contact a lot of people! It’s going to be a good transfer... the more I get into the mission the more I don’t want to leave it. It has shown me how ingrained the gospel is in my life and our familys. How I’m so grateful mom and dad for both of your examples.. and look at the fruit that is coming out of it! president benton is a wonderful president, I think he will be higher in the church after his calling here... he truly is amazing.. and his wife. Buenos Aires West is the Best!!! I love you all and have great week and happy birthday JAKE from last week!!!! oh I loved your pictures too of Sam at the temple!!! I love my family soo much... never forget that !!!!!

New Transfer

A New Transfer with a New comp! I'm an AUNT!! (This is the title for a second comp to a new missionary.)
Oh I loved your pictures and talking to you all as well!! The time went by fast. I’m with my new Hermana Salazar from Argentina sur! We are more in the city now and its called Ramos Mejia. Our church is connected with the mission office where all the assistants work and where we will have our district meetings. It sounds like there is about 90 to 100 members that come to church on Sundays... the map looks small and my comp said we walk a lot here... never take the bus so that will be good cause the food is starting to get heavier with the cold. Lately what we had in Castelar was called giso (i dont know how to spell it in castellano but thats how its sounds) and it basically is noodles with potatoes, a delicious tomato sauce, tons of different vegetables and meat. So ya
It’s soo weird that I’m in a different area, it is exciting it will be nice and refreshing! Hermana Lopez is with Hermana Perez from Nicaragua now... I’m eating my lunch while writing you! Last night we passed by the familia Benitez and the mom Patricia felt bad that she forgot but it was just nice to say my goodbyes to them... I’m going to sure miss them.. I loved watching Leandro pass the sacrament each week... they are great kids, and the others as well. But just like you said now its another chapter in this great adventure, to help my savior find those who are ready... I don’t feel too scared and that’s thanks to Hermana Lopez who helped me grow more confidence in myself and in the lord. We showed that the lord uses the willing to thrash the nations! Well I love you all my family! I love that you are all doing so great and are achieving so much... we are so blessed! Have a good week y nos vemos en la semana que viene!!! TE AMO MONTONASO!!!!!!!

Never a dull day!

Saren in front of their chapel.

Ward mission leader & wife on the right, friends learning the gospel on the left.

Argentine Drink (it is no diet coke) and Garbage can man

Street Art

Saren with a new family

Hermana Hobbs and Hermana Lopez with results from their FHE activity.

May 3, 2010

So this week was way fun! We had divisions with Hermana Daniels and Urdapilleta! Hermana Daniels was with me this time in Ituzaingo, it was really fun with her... always is. This weekend there was an airplane show in our area with helicopters and different planes flying by every now and then. We kept snapping shots during the siesta in the streets!

We had a special lesson with and investigator who has been listening to the lessons for over a year now! He is an amazing guy that has a beautiful family but he´s been struggling to make the decision of baptism cause his wife doesn’t like the church too much that is before she didnt... we´ve been working with him a lot cause he has a testimony but is just scared what is going to happen if he does make the decision! At the beginning of April he told us we would see him be baptized and just give him a month more to be prepared and to think about it. So our night with him ended up being on the last day of April. Hermana Lopez found this awesome talk from the May 2002 ensign by Worthlin. It talks about the apostles when the savior called them to be his followers when they were fisherman before then compares how we have nets today and if we are willing to leave them behind to follow Christ. We shared this talk with him and also when Paul is talking about how his life was before he knew Christ. He was high in society with his education and everything but he says those things are like dung compared to the joy that it was to know the savior! After the lesson he accepted to be baptized this week! So pray for him please and our others.... the little girl is getting ready to be baptized! She is soo cute and just absorbs everything we teach her! We also have the Peruvian lady that will be... and the other that was supposed to be last week!

I love this life here. We had our zone activity with volleyball and popcorn and homemade donuts and of course a little bit of soccer. It wouldn’t be a zone activity without futbol! Its going to be sad to leave this place! I have grown to love these people in the ward and the investigators that we’ve been working with for awhile. Now that I know this area like the back of my hand they want to send me somewhere else all new! hahaha no it will be good. I will definitely miss working side by side with Hermana Lopez.

It sounds like it was a great week for all of you as well... and how exciting we will get to call next week! I’m going to call around 5 here so I don’t know what time it will be there... I forgot the time difference! Know that I love you all. I’m sending a letter off to grandpa and grandma Hancock today! I love you all and remember what is most important in life... the gospel, family, and facturas! hahaha