Guess, what? My second transfer (6 week period) ended today aaaaand---- President Benton is stealing my companion again! Because of a weird combination of sisters leaving and new sisters arriving, President Benton needed Hermana Scott in a different area. She´s going to be an aunt (2nd comp in the field) again in Ramos Mejía, and I´m staying in Luján. My new companion is Hermana Lewis---- we are Lewis and Clark!
I was really upset when I first found out on Saturday, because I loved being with Hermana Scott. She really helped me be less stressed out and more happy and she taught me a lot about diligence--- she did so much for me. I´ve come to terms with her leaving though. I´ve already had to direct my area, so I´m not as nervous about showing my new companion around and having more responsibility as I was last transfer when Hermana Scott came. President Benton told me that giving me so many new companions and letting me direct the area twice shows that he has a lot of confidence in me-- that was really good to hear. And even though I don´t know Hermana Lewis very well yet (we´ve been companions for about 2 hours now), she seems really nice and I think we´ll get along and have fun together. This will be an exciting transfer because we have a mission goal to have a "white Christmas" and baptize on Christmas day. We have 9 investigators who could potentially get baptized this transfer, so I´m hoping for lots of success.
It sounds like you are all in suspense about the Celeste and Mario situation. I appreciated the feedback from all of you and from the extended family. Hermana Scott and I talked to President Benton on Friday about the situation and he said this: Mario and Celeste have been together 17 years and have 4 kids--- it´s not likely that Celeste is going to leave him. Marriage certainly can´t make the situation worse, but it could very likely make it better-- when they get baptized they´ll have extra help from the Lord-- even more than they are already getting. The gospel, he said, can make bad men into good men-- if they follow it. And it seems like Mario is trying to follow the gospel. The decision is obviously Celeste and Mario´s, but I don´t feel upset about them getting married anymore. If that´s what Celeste wants, I´m really excited for them to get married and work to be worthy for baptism. I´m trying to have hope and faith in Mario´s ability to repent, and in the Savior´s power to help him change. The situation is still overwhelming, but I´m excited to be able to help this family heal and change.
Other things that happened this week:
* I had the best day of my mission so far on Tuesday. I went to district meeting and actually liked it (it usually stresses me out) and got lots of letters from my friends. But that was just the beginning. The rest of the day our ward missionary, Paula (preparing to serve a mission of her own) went on splits with us. She was a big help. Something clicked with Hermana Scott and I that day. We began teaching with greater unity and trusting each other to say what needed to be said. The Spirit was really strong and I could tell we were feeling some of the same promptings. We taught three lessons that afternoon with our investigators Gisela, Mabel, and Victor. In each lesson we "sacked a fech"-- committed the investigator to prepare for a baptismal date. It was so amazing. When we went back to our apartment at the end of the day, I felt so at peace.
* On Friday we went to the capital to submit some papers for my visa. We drove down the avenue 9 de julio, the widest street in the world, drove past the casa rosada (where the president lives), and then ate a really delicious lunch (milanesa with ham, cheese, and tomato sauce on top and french fries on the side, with dulce de leche icecream for desert) at a pirate-themed restaurant where all the waiters were dressed as pirates-- it was fun.
Oh, and the packages got here-- thank you so much! I´ve already decorated my apartment with the stockings and snowflakes. This morning I ate an energy bar for breakfast-- it reminded me of hiking and camping with the family, and I felt happy.
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