Deck The Halls!

December 15, 2014

Hola Hola Hola!!!

Okay, so last week was a good week. We worked a full!! It was the last week to find people that will be able to get baptized the month so that we can reach our mission goal of the year. Friday morning, we had a testimony meeting with our zone where we shared the baptisms and miracles we have seen in the mission. It was such an inspiring meeting! It’s amazing to see how much the hand of the Lord is in the work! It truly is His work! 

Yesterday, Carlos went to church and so did Jonny. I was teaching Jonny with Hermana Cipriano when we first got here, but due to some things of his past, he wasn’t able to get baptized until December. Today he has his special baptismal interview and 3:00, in the middle of P-Day, and I’m just hoping and praying for the absolute best. If he passes it he’ll be able to be baptized this Sunday. I’m praying for miracles!!!!! He really is so so great. All he wants is a new start and to change is life. Its crazy the love I develop for these investigators. Without a doubt it’s a small part of the love of God that I feel for them. I think that’s one of my favorite parts of the mission. It’s being able to meet someone, and already feel such a great love for them. It is in those moments, that I can feel the Lord work through me. Just one of the many reasons that we need to be worthy so that the Lord can work through us. It’s an incredible experience. 

Last Monday, La Familia Gutierrez invited us over to help decorate the tree and their apartment. Here in Argentina, December 8th is a holiday and it’s the day where si o si everyone decorates their houses and trees. You don’t do it before or after, ON December 8th. That being said, there still isn’t as much Christmas Spirit as I wish there would be. Oh well. The Family Home Evening we had with them last Monday was super fun! :)

Yesterday was the Primary Program! And guess what?? I was the pianist! It was so much fun jaja! They gave me a little homemade yellow headband so that I would match all the little primary girls in the program. I had a lot of fun going to the practices and then accompanying them. They are so cute. And now I know quite a few primary songs in Castellano!! :) 

Hey!! I totally forgot to tell y’all, but a couple weeks ago I ate an OTTER EMPANADA!! Que loco, no??? It was not as bad as I thought it would be. The taste was like a mix of meat and fish. It was super weird. Even though it wasn’t too bad, it’s not something that I would request more of. So yeah, I’m enjoying trying new stuff. There’s a family in our apartment building that always gives us new things to try. It’s pretty funny. :)

So basically that’s it for this week. Carlos and Jonny are going to be baptized this Sunday, so PLEASE keep them in your prayers so that this miracle can come to pass!! Sería de 10!! :) Well, I love you all and I hope you are enjoying your White Christmas! Oh how I wish I could have a White Christmas jaja! Remember, when we love the way the Savior does, miracles happen. And of course, Stay Anxiously Engaged!! :)

xoxo,

Hermana Van 

El es la Dadiva----He is the Gift!

December 8, 2014

Hola mis queridos!!

Well, I’m just going to start of with one of my favorite things about this last week. (Many of you have already told me that I need to go and watch it, so I’m glad most of you have seen it) Yep, that’s right, its the new video the Church has launched called Él es la Dádiva! Or, for you English speakers, jaja, He is the Gift. :) Oh how I LOVE this video!!!! It is absolutely beautiful! I just cry when I see it. It’s a huge program the Church is doing. We have been given cards to pass out to the people to give out each day to the members and other people we find. It’s so we can share this Gift we have been given with others. The Church is really emphasizing finding through the members and through this program. So, for that, PLEASE help your missionaries out. The MEMBERS´ duty is to FIND, and the MISSIONARIES´ duty is to TEACH them and bring them to BAPTISM. We need to remember in this Christmas time the GIFT we have been given and we need to SHARE that GIFT with EVERYONE! #COMPARTELADADIVA! I know that as you share the gospel you will come to know a joy that you never before have experienced. You will be blessed more than you could ever imagine and you will become more and more excited to share what you know is the truth. Your desire to share will increase and your testimony will become more firmly built on the rock of our Redeemer. 

This last week was pretty good. We had an awesome miracle happen. Last Monday we had just left the apartment to go to the internet place where we write when we ran into an investigator we had taught last transfer. He was a reference from a member, but when we had taught him the restoration and invited him to church he told us he worked on Sundays and there was no way he’d be able to go. He walks dogs for a living because he had a couple accidents and now is right hand and right leg doesn’t work very well. So after that first lesson we stopped going, and we continued looking for others. So when we ran into him last Monday he asked us why we hadn’t visited him in a while. We apologized and said we would stop by. So Thursday morning during weekly planning we were thinking about people we could invited the stake conference we had last weekend. We decided to call Carlos and invite him. He once again told us that he couldn’t go Sunday, but that we should stop by Saturday. We told him that we couldn’t go Saturday because we had Conference. He got super excited and said he wanted to go. So he went to Stake Conference Saturday night and he absolutely loved it. At the end, before we could say anything he was like "Well, I gotta go, but I’ll see you guys tomorrow. It starts at 10:00am in the chapel right?" So we were stoked! When we got to church at 9:30 the next morning he was already there sitting down waiting for it to start! He’s so awesome! We put a baptismal date for the 21^st  of December! I’m so stoked!! He just so happens to do his dog walking before 9 and after 12 Sunday so he can now go to church! I don’t know when that changed, but hey I’m stoked! Jaja! :)

This last week we had divisions. I was with Hermana Zendejas (she’s from Nebraska) and it was the funnest day ever. I seriously love her so so much. She’s going home this transfer, so I’m going to miss her a whole lot. In the morning after our studies I was like "Ya know, sometimes I just have the greatest urge to cut my hair, but I don’t want to because I hear horror stories about people cutting their hair here." And she was like "I can give ya a trim. Someone in the mission taught me a really easy way to do it." And I was like, "Okay, sounds good to me, let’s do it." So yeah, she cut my hair. It’s pretty much the same length. There’s a little more to the story, but that’s the gist of it. It was pretty much hilarious. So it looks like I should be good for the rest of the mission with my hair jaja. 

Speaking of the rest of my mission, this week I hit my half way mark in the mission. I’m kind of freaking out. The other day I was thinking about how in one month I’ll have 9 months, single digits, and I just about started crying because it was such a sad thought to me. I love the mission. I can’t believe my time in Argentina is already half over. It was literally gone by so quickly. What a privilege it is to be a servant of the Lord here in Argentina. I really do have to make every moment count!

Well, I think I’ve rambled enough for this email. I hope you are all enjoying the snow! I love the snow for Christmas, so it’s been a rough switch having it be in like the 90s with horrible humidity. Oh well, such is life in Argentina jaja. Love you and pray for you everyday!! Have fun at all the Christmas parties!! Remember, when we love the way the Savior does, miracles happen! And of course, Stay Anxiously Engaged!! :)

xoxo,

Hermana Van 

Just a Normal Week Here in Argentina!

Hola!!

Well, Daniela got confirmed yesterday so that´s super great!! :) Saturday night it rained soooooo much and we didn't have coats or umbrellas because it came out of know where. So we sat there thinking who the heck would receive us right now with all the rain...um no one. So we ended up calling Daniela and we went to her house and taught her for the second time that day since we had already visited her in the morning jaja. We were desperate. 

I hope y´all had a FANTASTIC Thanksgiving! :) Or en Castellano... Día de Accion de Gracias. :) Basically spending Thanksgiving in another country is just no fun at all. We had a mix up with our lunch so we ended up going to a restaurant that a member owns because he gives us free lunch. It was quite a bummer. Eating "Thanksgiving Dinner" in a restaurant But hey what can ya do when you´re in a different country for an American holiday? Jaja.

I´ve been kinda sick this last week. So that´s been a smidge rough, but hey what can ya do? I had a bit of a fever for a few days, and my throat and head have been hurting a lot. Yesterday after church we had to stay for some meetings and I felt like I was going to faint because my head was turning so much. And then I felt like I was going to faint again during lunch so I ended up going back to the apartment around 6:30 since my head was hurting me all day. After resting a lot I´m quite better so that´s good. :) 

Well, there´s not much going on here, just the usual. The missionary life is just truckin´ along just fine. I wish I had more to tell y´all, but if I keep writing I would just be rambling soo...I should probably get going. I love you all so much and pray for you all the time! Thanks for all you do! Remember, when we love the way the Savior does, miracles happen! And of course, Stay Anxiously Engaged!! :)

xoxo,

Hermana Van

Happy Thanksgiving

November 24, 2014

Hola!!

Okay, so not a whole lot of time to right today. Sorry! We went to the temple. (I’ll get to that later in the email.)

Daniella's Baptism!

To start....Daniela got baptized yesterday!!!! It was absolutely incredible!! She was basically balling the whole time! I felt so grateful and so privileged to be apart of bringing her the restored gospel of the Jesus Christ. I don’t feel like I did much, but I had the incredible opportunity to be a witness to all the miracles the Lord was working. He is so good. On top of it, President came to the baptism! We called him Saturday to ask him for permission to donate blood (because I wanted to this Saturday but he told me no sadly.) and then we told him that Daniela had passed her interview and we invited him to the baptism. He said he would try to come but he had to see his schedule. Well, he’s basically the coolest President ever and came with his family and some family friends that were in town visiting. It rocked! He is so so so great! I love him! Oh! And Daniela’s less active husband, Walter, baptized her! :) It was beautiful!

President Ayre and family came to our baptism!

Yesterday, I had to give a talk in Sacrament Meeting--my first one in the mission. Basically I didn’t have time to prepare much before, and I hadn’t written anything down, just like 5 scriptures I could use. So I just got up there and spoke by the spirit. I only ended up using two of the scriptures because I ran out of time. When I got done, I thought well that was mas o menos, oh well jaja. But after the meeting quite a few people told me they loved my talk and really felt the spirit, so I felt good about that. 

So there’s a member in the ward that’s pretty cold to the Hermana missionaries, and likes the elders better. She isn’t one to show much love and she always criticizes us. So obvio, I’ve been determined to make her love me. Well yesterday, she gave me a huge hug and while she was hugging me she told another member that she really loved me because of the way I am and what I say just makes her and others happy. She said that I just have a really big heart. Um...SCORE! I was so happy to hear that she finally opened her heart to us hermanas! She’s a great person, just a little hard on the outside sometimes jaja. But I really do love her. 

Service Project

Saturday we did service in the house of the house of some recent converts from Haiti. We painted. It rocked. I loved it. Pictures to come. :) 

Today we got permission from president to go to the temple because the members from Rosario were going to be there and Hermana Contreras’s sister lives in Rosario. She has never had the opportunity to meet this sister, so it was pretty much a once in a lifetime opportunity to her. So that was really fun for her. And me, because I got to go to the temple and do a session! I was stoked! It pretty much took the whole day, but it was worth it. I love the temple!!! :)

Today, a teacher from the MTC here in Argentina (it’s by the temple) that I was talking to told me that I’m a total Argentine. Just 100% Argentine. Um...Heck yes!!!! That was such a great compliment. I was super stoked! Made my day jaja!! :)

Hannah's Argentine Family.  She couldn't do it without them!

Well, that’s all the time I have. Love you a whole lot!! Thanks so much for your support and prayers! I hope you all have a FANTASTIC THANKSGIVING! I’ll probs be eating the regular same old Argentine or Peruvian food this Thursday. Oh well, at least it’s good food jaja. :) Eat extra just for me! Remember, when we love the way the Savior does, miracles happen! And of course, Stay Anxiously Engaged!! :)

xoxo,

Hermana Van  

Another Transfer Come and Gone

November 18, 2014

Hola!!!

Well, transfers are today, but it looks like I will be staying here in good ol´ Almagro with Hermana Contreras. Yep 6 more weeks. It´s crazy to think that in this transfer we will be skyping for Christmas! I can´t believe how fast the time is passing!!! :) 

So Daniela is progressing nicely, but we had a smidge of a hiccup with the Word of Wisdom. And it's only with coffee... But anyways, she said that she's already changing so much in her life (she believes in Saints and what not and worships them so...) That she just told us she wouldn't give up coffee. Even though she doesn't drink if very much. I think she just feels like she's changing a lot of things and she wants to just hang on to something of her "past life". After explaining that it's a commandment I think she's more on board. At least that's what I hope. We have an appointment with her tonight so we'll have to verify that she's keeping her commitments. But I have so much faith that she'll get baptized this week.

So we had interviews with President last week. One thing he told me was that I´m a glass-half-full girl. I told him I really try to always look at the positive so it's good to know that at least someone can see that. We also told him the story of Daniela and he LOVED it. He had us film it so that he can show it to the whole mission. They said they were going to put it on the newly started blog so that all the missionaries could see it today, but with transfers and everything I think they forgot or didn't have time. Anyways, it should be up next week and then I'll send ya the link so that you can watch the story... In Spanish. Yep, you'll be able to see me and hear me:) How fun! Jaja!

So Saturday we had a special meeting with Elder Christofferson!!!! :) There were two missions present, Buenos Aires North and Buenos Aires West. I have a couple friends in the West mission so it was sooooo fun getting to see them! It was nuts!! :) There were some other General Authorities there too. It was an awesome meeting. All the wives and the general Authorities that spoke spoke in Spanish and they rocked! The wives of Elder Chirstensen and Elder Christofferson have to have had served Spanish speaking missions or something. Elder Christofferson served in Argentina so his Castellano was just perfect, obvio. jaja! :) They all talked so much about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and then Elder Christofferson talked so much and repentance and how it relates to every principle of the gospel and how everything starts with repentance. It made me think a lot more about repentance and my investigators. It made me realize that there is a lot I need to do to improve in my teaching! (como siempre) But yeah, it was a really great experience! I loved getting to listen to an Apostle of God and to be with the whole mission. So fun:)

Well, that´s about all I got for this week. Crazy to think yet another transfer has come and gone and that I am now approaching my halfway mark in the mission. Time just flies. Thanks for all your prayers and support! I love you all so so much! Remember, when we love the way the Savior does, miracles happen. And of course, Stay Anxiously Engaged!! :)

xoxo,

Hermana Van

Just Cruisin' Along in the Mission Life

November 10, 2014

Hola!!

Well, this last week has been a little nuts. I basically have a million stories I want to share, but I’m thinking I won’t have time to write them all, so we’ll see what comes of this email.

First, Norma was confirmed yesterday, so her baptism is complete. Thank heavens!! So much stress. She’s super great. I love her a lot. 

Next, my mirror broke today. I’m pretty bummed. I’m just hoping to not have 7 years of bad luck. Yikes. To be honest, I’m more worried about getting ready in the morning. My comp takes the entire time in the bathroom so I have just grown accustomed to getting ready with my mirror. Looks like I’ll be borrowing my comp’s mirror until I can buy a new one. It seems like there’s always something that needs to be bought or replaced. Grown up life is rough. 

So we have a super set baptism for the 24th of November, which is the Sunday after transfers. I’m really hoping that I don’t get transferred next week. Anyways, her name is Daniela and she is the wife of a less active. We’ve been working with her for a little while, but we were never super focused in her because she’s super catholic and always said that she’d get baptized when she felt it in her heart and believed it. So then on Saturday we had a super awesome lesson with her. We taught the Restoration, but we felt like we needed to get down to the intimate details, more than anything in the great apostasy. So we talked about how exactly the Catholic Church came to be. It seemed as if I light bulb went off in her head. The whole lesson was super spiritual. Then at the end we asked her to be baptized the 24th and she said that it was her anniversary and they will have been married for two years. This made her super emotional and she could feel that the date was set by God. So then she prayed to know if it was true. The prayer was beautiful. She was basically weeping through the whole thing and then she just stopped praying all together. My companion and I just sat there waiting in silence for her to finish, but she never did. Then when we all got up from our knees and sat back down she said she felt a flame inside her but that it didn’t burn her. The whole time I was just praying that the Holy Ghost would touch her, and he did. It was such a great experience. She full heartedly accepted the baptismal date. It was an experience I won’t forget. So beautiful. 

Then we found the cutest little old lady this week that wants to get baptized so badly! She’s the greatest! Unfortunately she wasn’t able to go to church because her grandson was in the hospital from an accident that happened. So that was really sad. But yeah, she’s a little old lady that is missing most of her teeth (I’m starting to think that’s the kind of people I’m meant to teach jaja) and she just wants us to visit her every day, which is great!! :) Jaja! There are some great miracles occurring here in Almagro. I have no idea what is going to happen this next week with transfers. Vamos a ver. 

So last week a lady threatened to call the cops on us, because we may have been teaching outside of a catholic church....but all we were doing was saying hi to one of our investigators that we hadn’t been able to find in forever and she just happened to be selling food in front of the church. So yeah, that was SUPER rough. The member was arguing with her so she told me that I was the only considerate one out of the three of us. Basically, it pays to follow the white handbook, even if you find one of your elegidos investigators that have been hard to contact. Oh the experiences of the mission. 

On Saturday the Elders in our ward had a baptism. Right before it started one of them asked me to give a talk on baptism. So that was fun. It was more like a spiritual talk rather than a talk jaja. It wasn’t bad because basically we teach about baptism all day every day. So it was just pretty natural. 

Well, that’s all the stories I’ll share for this week! I hope you all have a fantastic week! I love you all lots! Remember, when we love the way the Savior does, miracles happen. And of course, Stay Anxiously Engaged!! :)

xoxo,

Hermana Van 

BiPolar Weather

November 3, 2014

Hola!!!!

Buenas Noticias!!!! :) Norma got baptized!!!!!!!!!! :))) I’m so so stoked! It was the craziest, biggest miracle!! We only saw her like 2 times during the week and it was just a quick hi + a scripture or principle in the door of her apartment building and then chau. So yeah, I’m still in awe. Honestly, there were so many times during this week, when I was like, well that’s it, she’s not getting baptized. There were way too many times when I allowed the doubt and fear to creep into my mind. Every time that happened I had a little voice tell me, "It’s okay, just have faith and trust in Him. Remember the promise He gave you in the temple." And that honestly helped me so much. I think I told you this, I don’t remember, but when I was in the temple, I received the inspiration that there were past investigators that were ready now and didn’t get baptized yet because the were prepared to hear the gospel from me and my companion. So that is the promise that I continually reminded myself of this last week. And sure enough, it happened. Norma was a past investigator of about a year, and it turns out she wasn’t ready a year ago, she was ready now to get baptized. I would say the most incredible thing to me is seeing how the Lord works His miracles. I can honestly say I did nothing. It was all the Lord and I was able to be a witness to what He had/has in store for Norma. 

Baptism picture with Norma and companion.

So Halloween was the worst. Why? Because it was just an average ordinary day. In the entire day, I only saw ONE kid dressed up and then 2 others with masks nothing more. It was the worst! And nobody did anything! I was shocked. So yeah, that just wasn’t the same. I was thinking about what I did last year for Halloween and I seriously couldn’t believe that a year had already passed. It is so crazy to me. Time is just flying. It’s crazy to think that it’s already November. 

Also, the weather here is more bipolar than Utah’s weather!! It was so unbearably hot two weeks ago, and then this last week it rained all week and it was FREEZING!!! Yesterday I felt like I was in the middle of winter. It rained so much yesterday and the wind was like 70 kilometers per hour. Terrible. And obvio my umbrella is just so broken, but whatever I continue to use it because I don’t want to buy a new one, and today it’s raining cats and dogs. 

It's raining cats and dogs and my umbrella is toast!

So yeah, That’s basically an update of the week and what’s been going on here in good ol Buenos Aires. Even with the rain, I’m just loving it. What an opportunity it is to serve the Lord in such a wonderful place. Thanks so much for all your support! Love you! Until next week! Remember, when we love the way the Savior does, miracles happen! And of course, Stay Anxiously Engaged!! :)

xoxo,

Hermana Van