I had a nice last week in Luján. Hna. Vindas and I got along well and I enjoyed seeing people I knew. It was especially great to see my friend, the ward missionary, Paula, who is currently waiting for her mission call. And I got to teach the Reyes family some of their first post-baptism lessons. Another perk was visiting Soledad, an "eternal investigator" I spent a lot of time with my 2 and 3 transfers in Luján. She´s practically a member (a dry mormon or mormona seca as we say) but has been waiting over a year to get baptized because her partner whom she lives with and has a daughter with doesn´t want to marry her. But she told us that he recently said he would marry her "sometime this year". Sounds like he´s still being stubborn, but it´s encouraging news anyway. Soledad wants to be baptized so badly, I hope she doesn´t have to wait much longer.
On Saturday Julián, the nephew of the primary president, got baptized. It was really nice and lots of his family came. Hna. Vindas and I were a little depressed because we wanted Elias, his little brother, to get baptized too, but his mother didn´t want him to yet. Partly because she thought he wasn´t ready and partly because he has tiny medical devices in his ears that don´t allow him to go under water. We tried everything we could-- explaining why an 8 year old really is ready for baptism and explaining preventative measures to keep water from entering his ears that worked for other kids who got baptized-- but in the end his mother decided not to let him (though his father was ok with it). But I understand why Elias´s mother would say no and I know Elias will be able to get baptized in a few months when he´s a little bit older and his ears can get wet. And despite the disappointment, the baptism was very nice.
My last Sunday (again) in Luján was great. The attendance wasn´t record breaking, but unusally high-- 96 people! And thanks to Julian´s visiting family members who came to see him be confirmed and Paula´s help, we had 12 investigators in sacrament meeting. But what made me the happiest was seeing Nely walk into Relief Society. She is a recent convert but hasn´t come to church in months because she became pregnant with her nonmember boyfriend and felt too embarassed and guilty to come back. I visited her several times and tried to help her understand that she could repent and that everyone wanted to see her back in church. So when I saw her walk in to Relief Society a smile broke out on my face and my eyes teared up. Nely looked shy, but happy. I hope she keeps coming to church! Another inactive member, Lucio, came to church for the first time in over a year. I used to visit him and his wife Nancy (Otilia´s daughter, if you remember) to try to help them come back. Lucio always said he knew he needed to and said several times that he would come, but he never did. So when I visited him with Hna. Vindas and he said that he really needed to change and this time he really would come, I didn´t fully believe him. But he came! Seeing Nely and Lucio in the chapel made me feel good and it gave me hope too for other inactive members. People really can change!
And now, the moment you´ve been waiting for. . .I HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO HURLINGHAM! It will be my first area in the city-- yikes! It´s so much busier than I´m used to, but I know I´ll adjust quickly. My new companion is Hermana Schneider. This transfer is only her second one-- I´m an aunt! (i.e. a missionary´s second companion) She´s still getting the hang of speaking Spanish (though she´s doing pretty well so far) and is still really new, so it´s a lot of responsibility, but I feel zero nerves about my new assignment. Can you believe it? Well, maybe I´m a little bit nervous. But mostly I´m just excited to help Hermana Scheider! I already love her. She has a really strong desire to work hard and teach well AND she wants to go running with me in the mornings. So I expect this to be a challenging but very fun transfer.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Ellis is Back in Lujan
Dear Mom and Dad,
On Wednesday night Elder Thompson from the offices called at 10:30 and told me to pack my bags and show up in the mission office the next day because I was leaving my area before the end of the transfer. He said President needed me to help a sister in the mission. Hna. Duarte started to cry. She didn´t want me to leave. I was willing of course but really confused and sad to be leaving my area.
When I got to the mission home, they told me I was going back to Luján. The silver lining is that I got to be there for the wedding and baptism of Celeste and Mario and got to see all my friends in the branch again. Hna. Vindas, from Costa Rica, and I went back to Luján together in a taxi and did what missionaries have to do, even in moments when the world is turning upside down -- go to work.
On Friday Hna. Vindas and I got to go to Celeste and Mario´s wedding in the registro civil. The Peralta family came to be witnesses. I was so happy to see Celeste and Mario and Jazmín and Belén. They were happy to see me too. We gave Celeste a beautiful bouquet of flowers and took lots of photos while the judge married them. Then we threw rice at them with the Peraltas outside in front of the building. I was so happy that they finally got married! It was a long road, but their faith finally got them there!
The baptism was even better than the wedding, obviously. At the last minute, President and Hermana Benton decided to come, which made it even greater. It was wonderful to see the whole family dressed in white. A bunch of their family members (nonmembers) came to see the baptism, which was really neat. When the four of them were baptized the spirit was so strong. I was grinning uncontrollably. All four of them said they felt happy and peaceful-- they were glowing! Then afterwards Hna. Vindas bore her testimony and President gave an amazing talk about important parts of the restored gospel. I was so happy-- happier maybe than I´ve ever been in my entire life. Celeste and Mario finally got baptized and now their family is going to enjoy all the blessings of being part of God´s kingdom. Together they are going to keep progressing, finding more and more happiness along the way!
After the baptism the whole branch celebrated with massive amounts of cake and soda in the kitchen and Hna. Vindas and I had a table of pamphlets and Books of Mormon set up for the nonmember family members to look at. All the members of the branch were so nice! They were so happy to see the Reyes family get baptized and join the branch!
On Sunday the whole family showed up on time for their confirmation (phew!). Mario came in a white shirt and tie and had a light in his eyes to match-- he has changed so much! As I saw them all get confirmed, I felt so blessed and so in awe at the transformative power that the gospel has in our lives--- it changed the Reyes family and it´s changing me. There isn´t a force for good that compares.
When we visited the Reyes on Sunday afternoon, they told us their next goal is to prepare to be sealed in the temple in one year! YES YES YES YES! Tell me you have seen a bigger miracle. Mario is full of enthusiasm because wonderful President Benton told Mario in his interview that he sees something special in him and that he could be a president of something in the church someday. We told Mario that yes, any worthy man can grow to receive a leadership calling in the church. And the miracle of all miracles is that despite his mistakes and his past [prison, among other things], now Mario is a worthy man! That is what the Atonement of Christ can do! I love this family so much. I can´t wait to see all the amazing things they do with their lives. They are already talking about how Mario will be able to baptize Fausto and Felipe when they turn 8! And Belén, who used to be quiet and reserved, is starting to open up--her eyes are still glowing with the peace she said she felt at her baptism-- and seems excited about Young Women´s. Sweet Jazmín still keeps her thoughts mostly to herself, but she seems happy, and I know Young Women´s is going to help her too. And darling, darling Celeste seems so much less nervous and concerned-- like a weight has dropped off her shoulders. I´m convinced that the miracles haven´t stopped yet. In about 16 years, I expect to see pictures of little Fausto and Felipe in suits and name tags, going out to proclaim the gospel that changed their family forever.
For me, the Reyes family is yet more proof that the church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet who restored the true church of Jesus Christ. I know the Book of Mormon teaches us beautiful truths about our Savior and about God´s love for us. And I know that our Savior lives, that he loves us, and that his love, if we choose to follow him, can change not just our lives but change us deeply and profoundly. If the world changes and becomes a better place, it will be a change that comes from the inside out as people like the Reyes family choose to follow Christ and become the people Christ and Heavenly Father want us to become.
I love you all! Thanks for all the support and love!
Love,
Ellis
On Wednesday night Elder Thompson from the offices called at 10:30 and told me to pack my bags and show up in the mission office the next day because I was leaving my area before the end of the transfer. He said President needed me to help a sister in the mission. Hna. Duarte started to cry. She didn´t want me to leave. I was willing of course but really confused and sad to be leaving my area.
When I got to the mission home, they told me I was going back to Luján. The silver lining is that I got to be there for the wedding and baptism of Celeste and Mario and got to see all my friends in the branch again. Hna. Vindas, from Costa Rica, and I went back to Luján together in a taxi and did what missionaries have to do, even in moments when the world is turning upside down -- go to work.
On Friday Hna. Vindas and I got to go to Celeste and Mario´s wedding in the registro civil. The Peralta family came to be witnesses. I was so happy to see Celeste and Mario and Jazmín and Belén. They were happy to see me too. We gave Celeste a beautiful bouquet of flowers and took lots of photos while the judge married them. Then we threw rice at them with the Peraltas outside in front of the building. I was so happy that they finally got married! It was a long road, but their faith finally got them there!
The baptism was even better than the wedding, obviously. At the last minute, President and Hermana Benton decided to come, which made it even greater. It was wonderful to see the whole family dressed in white. A bunch of their family members (nonmembers) came to see the baptism, which was really neat. When the four of them were baptized the spirit was so strong. I was grinning uncontrollably. All four of them said they felt happy and peaceful-- they were glowing! Then afterwards Hna. Vindas bore her testimony and President gave an amazing talk about important parts of the restored gospel. I was so happy-- happier maybe than I´ve ever been in my entire life. Celeste and Mario finally got baptized and now their family is going to enjoy all the blessings of being part of God´s kingdom. Together they are going to keep progressing, finding more and more happiness along the way!
After the baptism the whole branch celebrated with massive amounts of cake and soda in the kitchen and Hna. Vindas and I had a table of pamphlets and Books of Mormon set up for the nonmember family members to look at. All the members of the branch were so nice! They were so happy to see the Reyes family get baptized and join the branch!
On Sunday the whole family showed up on time for their confirmation (phew!). Mario came in a white shirt and tie and had a light in his eyes to match-- he has changed so much! As I saw them all get confirmed, I felt so blessed and so in awe at the transformative power that the gospel has in our lives--- it changed the Reyes family and it´s changing me. There isn´t a force for good that compares.
When we visited the Reyes on Sunday afternoon, they told us their next goal is to prepare to be sealed in the temple in one year! YES YES YES YES! Tell me you have seen a bigger miracle. Mario is full of enthusiasm because wonderful President Benton told Mario in his interview that he sees something special in him and that he could be a president of something in the church someday. We told Mario that yes, any worthy man can grow to receive a leadership calling in the church. And the miracle of all miracles is that despite his mistakes and his past [prison, among other things], now Mario is a worthy man! That is what the Atonement of Christ can do! I love this family so much. I can´t wait to see all the amazing things they do with their lives. They are already talking about how Mario will be able to baptize Fausto and Felipe when they turn 8! And Belén, who used to be quiet and reserved, is starting to open up--her eyes are still glowing with the peace she said she felt at her baptism-- and seems excited about Young Women´s. Sweet Jazmín still keeps her thoughts mostly to herself, but she seems happy, and I know Young Women´s is going to help her too. And darling, darling Celeste seems so much less nervous and concerned-- like a weight has dropped off her shoulders. I´m convinced that the miracles haven´t stopped yet. In about 16 years, I expect to see pictures of little Fausto and Felipe in suits and name tags, going out to proclaim the gospel that changed their family forever.
For me, the Reyes family is yet more proof that the church is true. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet who restored the true church of Jesus Christ. I know the Book of Mormon teaches us beautiful truths about our Savior and about God´s love for us. And I know that our Savior lives, that he loves us, and that his love, if we choose to follow him, can change not just our lives but change us deeply and profoundly. If the world changes and becomes a better place, it will be a change that comes from the inside out as people like the Reyes family choose to follow Christ and become the people Christ and Heavenly Father want us to become.
I love you all! Thanks for all the support and love!
Love,
Ellis
Monday, February 14, 2011
Love in the Family, & Marriage Can Only Make Things Better
Dear Family,
Today is my cúmplemes (7 month anniversary in the mission) and Valentines Day. I intend to celebrate by ordering icecream. Hna. Duarte and I will also be teaching a Family Home Evening lesson on unity and love in the family to a family of recent converts. I´m planning to use the classic "one stick breaks easily, many sticks together don´t" example to explain the importance of unity. This family consists of two stressed grandparents and four grandkids they are raising because their mother is in prison and their father is uninterested. The poor kids are having trouble adjusting to having grandparents who parent them instead of spoil them, not to mention the emotional trauma of having a mother in prison. So I think a lesson in unity and love will help them. It seems like a very appropriate way to celebrate Valentine´s day.
Yesterday was kind of a tough day at first. We passed by the houses of four investigators to walk with them to church and none of them answered or were home. Only one of our investigators, one of the Soledades, showed up to church. But the gospel principles class taught by Hermanas Daniels and Scanlon cheered me up. It was on prayer and the new members and one of the hermana´s investigators shared some really need experiences about feeling the Spirit through prayer. The talks in sacrament meeting were also good. Then we got to have lunch with two of my favorite members, Maxi and Paula Miguez. They are the very funny young couple expecting a baby who rescued us from the heat wave a couple weeks ago. After lunch we visited Rocío and Brisa, who are going to get baptized on Saturday morning. They were sorry they didn´t come to church and were really excited to see us. They are excited for their baptism too. I can´t wait to see them get baptized. It´s been too long since I had an investigator get baptized.
In the evening, Maxi came with us to help us teach MaríaLuz (the 16 year old pregnant one) and her boyfriend Lionel (19). We read scriptures from the bible about the importance of marriage. MaríaLuz wants to get married, but Lionel doesn´t. He says he wants to change his life and get baptized, but doesn´t want to have to get married to do it. He has a variety of excuses: "what if we get married and then I can´t provide for my family?" (he already has the responsibility to provide for them) "MaríaLuz is too young" (19 year old Mr. Maturity should have thought about that 1 1/2 babies ago). Lame sauce. What we tried to explain is that he is already living the life of a married person with MaríaLuz-- the only thing that will change is that he will have the paperwork that makes it official. . .and the blessings of God to help his marriage work out. It is kind of appalling to think of 16 year old MaríaLuz getting married, but it´s also appalling to see her with a 1 year old child and three months pregnant. The time to be appalled was when she and Lionel first considered having a relationship. At this point, marriage can only make things better. Fortunately, I believe Lionel really is good on the inside because he agreed to pray with MaríaLuz about whether or not they should get married. I hope he was open enough to receive and accept an answer.
In happier news, Mario and Celeste and Jasmín and Belén are going to get baptized Saturday afternoon and I get to go! I am so excited to see them and finally watch them get baptized. They are such an amazing family!
Well, got to go! I love you and I miss you! I hope everything keeps going well at home!
Love,
Ellis
Today is my cúmplemes (7 month anniversary in the mission) and Valentines Day. I intend to celebrate by ordering icecream. Hna. Duarte and I will also be teaching a Family Home Evening lesson on unity and love in the family to a family of recent converts. I´m planning to use the classic "one stick breaks easily, many sticks together don´t" example to explain the importance of unity. This family consists of two stressed grandparents and four grandkids they are raising because their mother is in prison and their father is uninterested. The poor kids are having trouble adjusting to having grandparents who parent them instead of spoil them, not to mention the emotional trauma of having a mother in prison. So I think a lesson in unity and love will help them. It seems like a very appropriate way to celebrate Valentine´s day.
Yesterday was kind of a tough day at first. We passed by the houses of four investigators to walk with them to church and none of them answered or were home. Only one of our investigators, one of the Soledades, showed up to church. But the gospel principles class taught by Hermanas Daniels and Scanlon cheered me up. It was on prayer and the new members and one of the hermana´s investigators shared some really need experiences about feeling the Spirit through prayer. The talks in sacrament meeting were also good. Then we got to have lunch with two of my favorite members, Maxi and Paula Miguez. They are the very funny young couple expecting a baby who rescued us from the heat wave a couple weeks ago. After lunch we visited Rocío and Brisa, who are going to get baptized on Saturday morning. They were sorry they didn´t come to church and were really excited to see us. They are excited for their baptism too. I can´t wait to see them get baptized. It´s been too long since I had an investigator get baptized.
In the evening, Maxi came with us to help us teach MaríaLuz (the 16 year old pregnant one) and her boyfriend Lionel (19). We read scriptures from the bible about the importance of marriage. MaríaLuz wants to get married, but Lionel doesn´t. He says he wants to change his life and get baptized, but doesn´t want to have to get married to do it. He has a variety of excuses: "what if we get married and then I can´t provide for my family?" (he already has the responsibility to provide for them) "MaríaLuz is too young" (19 year old Mr. Maturity should have thought about that 1 1/2 babies ago). Lame sauce. What we tried to explain is that he is already living the life of a married person with MaríaLuz-- the only thing that will change is that he will have the paperwork that makes it official. . .and the blessings of God to help his marriage work out. It is kind of appalling to think of 16 year old MaríaLuz getting married, but it´s also appalling to see her with a 1 year old child and three months pregnant. The time to be appalled was when she and Lionel first considered having a relationship. At this point, marriage can only make things better. Fortunately, I believe Lionel really is good on the inside because he agreed to pray with MaríaLuz about whether or not they should get married. I hope he was open enough to receive and accept an answer.
In happier news, Mario and Celeste and Jasmín and Belén are going to get baptized Saturday afternoon and I get to go! I am so excited to see them and finally watch them get baptized. They are such an amazing family!
Well, got to go! I love you and I miss you! I hope everything keeps going well at home!
Love,
Ellis
Friday, February 11, 2011
Ellis Never Has a Completely Bad Day
Dear Mom and Dad,
Sorry my email is so late this week. I hope you weren´t worried. There are only two places we can do internet here and sometimes they aren´t open when we want to go or there aren´t computers open side by side or we run out of time to do email. So every once in a while I might have to email later in the week. Next Monday I´ll do my best to email though.
Things are going great here in Las Heras, as usual. We were a little bit worried and stressed early in the week because we didn´t have anyone with a baptismal date and the transfer is already half over. Our district and zone leaders and even President Benton have been putting on extra pressure too (though they try to do it with love) because the mission goal this transfer is to help 200 people be baptized in the mission during the transfer. The previous record is 198. To reach the goal each area has to baptize 3 people. Poor Hermana Duarte started crying during district meeting because she was worried and stressed about doing our part to reach the goal and help our investigators.
Fortunately, on Wednesday we were able to set baptismal dates with four investigators: Rocío and Brisa, (9,11) sisters who love coming to church and reading the scriptures; Delia (14), the daughter of an inactive member who knows the church is true but worries about going inactive after her baptism, and Rosa, an amazing woman with lots of faith and three baptized but inactive children (she has 6 more that aren´t baptized yet). On Thursday Hermanas Daniels and Scanlon, our roommates, visited two of our investigators for us, both adolescent girls named Soledad (they live next door but aren´t related) and set baptismal dates with them too! We have some other great investigators too that we hope can get baptized next transfer. Hermana Duarte and I are really excited to have so many baptisms planned. Now we are keeping busy trying to help our investigators make it to their baptismal dates-- they need a lot of love and support to keep developing their testimonies and keep coming to church to learn more.
To answer your question, Dad, it´s true. I´ve never had a completely bad week or even a completely bad day. I´ve had hard days, and some weeks are easier than others, but in each day or week there is something (usually a lot of somethings) positive to focus on. When I write home I like to focus on the positive stuff that has happened to me so as not to depress the family or me. The only thing that I consistly struggle with (though struggle might be a strong word) that I don´t write about a lot is the stress of constantly trying to do better. There is always something (or rather many things) that I need to improve-- studying more effectively, going to bed exactly on time, being a more supportive companion, thinking less about myself, teaching better to meet the investigator´s needs, etc, etc., etc.. At times it´s a little overwhelming-- or it could be. But feeling overly guilty or worried just impedes the work, so over and over I conclude that I just have to keep going despite my imperfections. I can torture myself and walk around all day in a fog of self reproach or I can keep trying and choose to hope that my imperfect best effort will make a difference for other people and accomplish good things.
Despite the fact that there is always something to do better, it is encouraging to see the progress I make. This transfer I´ve been trying to work on being more "simpatica"-- basically on being a friendly person that makes other people happy. My gut reaction is to hold back when meeting or greeting people and wait for them to show interest in me before warming up and responding to them-- not the way to win the hearts and confidence of most people, but especially not Argentines. So now when I walk into a room I smile and say people´s names loudly like I´m excited to see them and enthusiastically tell them I missed them in church on Sunday or compliment them or ask them questions about themselves. I have a long way to go, but it´s getting easier and easier and I can tell I´m improving and I notice that it seems to be helping the investigators open up more.
My goal this week is to deepen my focus on the work by trying to think more often of other´s needs before my own-- by serving and helping my investigators in ways that meet their individual needs, by taking on more responsibility to help my companion feel less stress, and by constantly looking for opportunities to serve others in small ways.
Have an amazing week!
Love,
Ellis
Sorry my email is so late this week. I hope you weren´t worried. There are only two places we can do internet here and sometimes they aren´t open when we want to go or there aren´t computers open side by side or we run out of time to do email. So every once in a while I might have to email later in the week. Next Monday I´ll do my best to email though.
Things are going great here in Las Heras, as usual. We were a little bit worried and stressed early in the week because we didn´t have anyone with a baptismal date and the transfer is already half over. Our district and zone leaders and even President Benton have been putting on extra pressure too (though they try to do it with love) because the mission goal this transfer is to help 200 people be baptized in the mission during the transfer. The previous record is 198. To reach the goal each area has to baptize 3 people. Poor Hermana Duarte started crying during district meeting because she was worried and stressed about doing our part to reach the goal and help our investigators.
Fortunately, on Wednesday we were able to set baptismal dates with four investigators: Rocío and Brisa, (9,11) sisters who love coming to church and reading the scriptures; Delia (14), the daughter of an inactive member who knows the church is true but worries about going inactive after her baptism, and Rosa, an amazing woman with lots of faith and three baptized but inactive children (she has 6 more that aren´t baptized yet). On Thursday Hermanas Daniels and Scanlon, our roommates, visited two of our investigators for us, both adolescent girls named Soledad (they live next door but aren´t related) and set baptismal dates with them too! We have some other great investigators too that we hope can get baptized next transfer. Hermana Duarte and I are really excited to have so many baptisms planned. Now we are keeping busy trying to help our investigators make it to their baptismal dates-- they need a lot of love and support to keep developing their testimonies and keep coming to church to learn more.
To answer your question, Dad, it´s true. I´ve never had a completely bad week or even a completely bad day. I´ve had hard days, and some weeks are easier than others, but in each day or week there is something (usually a lot of somethings) positive to focus on. When I write home I like to focus on the positive stuff that has happened to me so as not to depress the family or me. The only thing that I consistly struggle with (though struggle might be a strong word) that I don´t write about a lot is the stress of constantly trying to do better. There is always something (or rather many things) that I need to improve-- studying more effectively, going to bed exactly on time, being a more supportive companion, thinking less about myself, teaching better to meet the investigator´s needs, etc, etc., etc.. At times it´s a little overwhelming-- or it could be. But feeling overly guilty or worried just impedes the work, so over and over I conclude that I just have to keep going despite my imperfections. I can torture myself and walk around all day in a fog of self reproach or I can keep trying and choose to hope that my imperfect best effort will make a difference for other people and accomplish good things.
Despite the fact that there is always something to do better, it is encouraging to see the progress I make. This transfer I´ve been trying to work on being more "simpatica"-- basically on being a friendly person that makes other people happy. My gut reaction is to hold back when meeting or greeting people and wait for them to show interest in me before warming up and responding to them-- not the way to win the hearts and confidence of most people, but especially not Argentines. So now when I walk into a room I smile and say people´s names loudly like I´m excited to see them and enthusiastically tell them I missed them in church on Sunday or compliment them or ask them questions about themselves. I have a long way to go, but it´s getting easier and easier and I can tell I´m improving and I notice that it seems to be helping the investigators open up more.
My goal this week is to deepen my focus on the work by trying to think more often of other´s needs before my own-- by serving and helping my investigators in ways that meet their individual needs, by taking on more responsibility to help my companion feel less stress, and by constantly looking for opportunities to serve others in small ways.
Have an amazing week!
Love,
Ellis
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Celeste & Mario are getting baptized!
Dear Family,
I had another excellent week in my new home, Las Heras. I love it here. Here are the most important/interesting news/happenings of the week.
* ¡CELESTE Y MARIO VAN A BAUTIZARSE! Hermana Lewis called and told me on Thursday. They are getting married on February 18th and getting baptized on the 19th. Belén and Jasmín are going to get baptized with them too. I was so happy when I found out that I started to cry. I´ve already asked permission from President Benton and he says I can go to the baptism! Despite all the challenges, my miracle family is going to make it.
* The members here in Las Heras are great. They are pretty willing to accompany us on visits (though sometimes they, through no fault of their own, are busy) and they take good care of us. For example, on Tuesday it was SO HOT. My face was dripping before we even left the apartment. We happened not to have lunch with members that day, so we ate a lunch we packed as we walked--in the sun. By about 3:00, Hna. Duarte and I were "plantitas secas" as Hna. Duarte says(little dry plants, though in my case "little sweaty plant" might have been more appropriate). All the kioscos were closed for the siesta and we had no water. Hna. Duarte confessed later that she was starting to see stars. So we called darling Maxi and Paula Miguez and begged for mercy. Sure enough they invited us in to their air conditioned house and gave us several glasses of water and koolaid AND icecream while entertaining us with funny stories about their family. They were amazing! AND on Saturday afternoon (also a hot day, but not as bad as Tuesday), Hermano Juan (forgot his last name) rode past us on his bicycle and said hi. Three minutes later he appeared again carrying two icy cold bottles of jugo (i.e. koolaid) and gave them to us. Bless his heart!
* On Thursday we had zone conference, which was really great. I learned again the importance of relating stuff that´s important to the investigator to the gospel to help them be interested and feel like you are interested in them. I plan to apply that when I do street contacts and during lessons. After zone conference we got the mail-- I had a letter from Mom (thank you!), two letters from Grandma Campbell (tell her I miss her!), and a PACKAGE from Grandpa and Grandma Clark and Rachel (it was great! It made me very happy! I loved the lotion and the Clif bars!). I feel so blessed that I get so much mail from family and friends. Speaking of which, I just remembered that there is a wonderful elder from my old district in Luján who has never once gotten a letter during his mission. His family doesn´t hardly email him either. His name is Elder Alvial and he is from Chile. So if you ever don´t have anything planned for family home evening, maybe you could write him a quick note in Spanish and send it. I bet it would make his day to get a letter.
* Investigators: Ludmila and Aldana cut pictures from church pamphlets to make us cards that said "I love you" on the front and on the inside said things like "I want to be baptized" (with a picture of Jesus being baptized) and "I will always pray" (next to the picture of a girl praying) and "I will follow Jesus" (next to a picture of Christ). It was precious and heartbreaking. They are so prepared, but we still haven´t been able to meet their mother because she works or hangs out with friends all the time and is never home. We´ve left notes and even left the baptismal form for her to sign, but for now L&A say that she doesn´t want them to get baptized. Aaargh! However, we have been finding some great new investigators. There is a whole extended family (a father and his two sons and their wives) that we are teaching who are really great. They aren´t really convinced yet (Martín, for instance, doesn´t believe in God yet but says he wants to come to church to find out for himself if God exists), but they are curious, ask lots of questions, and listen well. Hopefully they will come to church next week. One of my favorite new investigators is MaríaLuz (I changed her name). She just turned 16 and whenever we come to visit she smiles and her eyes sort of glow-- she´s really happy to see us. But she breaks my heart because she´s currently living with her boyfriend, who does drugs, AND she already has a 11ish month old baby girl and she is 3 months pregnant with another child. In Argentina this is sadly not as shocking as it would be in the states. I really hope the gospel can help her. And then there is Milagros, an 11 year old girl who watches her two younger siblings all day while her mom works in an icecream shop trying to support the family. Her dad doesn´t live with them--he abused their mother and maybe the kids too-- all I know is that Milagros and her little siblings are afraid of him. There isn´t much we can do because Milagros´ mother doesn´t usually come home till after our curfew so we can´t teach her or even go in to the house (really more of a hole in the wall) but yesterday we stood in the doorway and taught Milagros how to pray. It breaks my heart that that was all I had to offer Milagros, but at the same time I know that prayer is one of the most powerful tools I could give her to improve her situation. We´ll keep stopping by.
Well, I´m way out of time, but I love you all and miss you a lot. I hope that you are happy and healthy both physically and spiritually. I think of you all the time and pray for you a lot. I´m so lucky to have such an amazing family.
Love,
Ellis
I had another excellent week in my new home, Las Heras. I love it here. Here are the most important/interesting news/happenings of the week.
* ¡CELESTE Y MARIO VAN A BAUTIZARSE! Hermana Lewis called and told me on Thursday. They are getting married on February 18th and getting baptized on the 19th. Belén and Jasmín are going to get baptized with them too. I was so happy when I found out that I started to cry. I´ve already asked permission from President Benton and he says I can go to the baptism! Despite all the challenges, my miracle family is going to make it.
* The members here in Las Heras are great. They are pretty willing to accompany us on visits (though sometimes they, through no fault of their own, are busy) and they take good care of us. For example, on Tuesday it was SO HOT. My face was dripping before we even left the apartment. We happened not to have lunch with members that day, so we ate a lunch we packed as we walked--in the sun. By about 3:00, Hna. Duarte and I were "plantitas secas" as Hna. Duarte says(little dry plants, though in my case "little sweaty plant" might have been more appropriate). All the kioscos were closed for the siesta and we had no water. Hna. Duarte confessed later that she was starting to see stars. So we called darling Maxi and Paula Miguez and begged for mercy. Sure enough they invited us in to their air conditioned house and gave us several glasses of water and koolaid AND icecream while entertaining us with funny stories about their family. They were amazing! AND on Saturday afternoon (also a hot day, but not as bad as Tuesday), Hermano Juan (forgot his last name) rode past us on his bicycle and said hi. Three minutes later he appeared again carrying two icy cold bottles of jugo (i.e. koolaid) and gave them to us. Bless his heart!
* On Thursday we had zone conference, which was really great. I learned again the importance of relating stuff that´s important to the investigator to the gospel to help them be interested and feel like you are interested in them. I plan to apply that when I do street contacts and during lessons. After zone conference we got the mail-- I had a letter from Mom (thank you!), two letters from Grandma Campbell (tell her I miss her!), and a PACKAGE from Grandpa and Grandma Clark and Rachel (it was great! It made me very happy! I loved the lotion and the Clif bars!). I feel so blessed that I get so much mail from family and friends. Speaking of which, I just remembered that there is a wonderful elder from my old district in Luján who has never once gotten a letter during his mission. His family doesn´t hardly email him either. His name is Elder Alvial and he is from Chile. So if you ever don´t have anything planned for family home evening, maybe you could write him a quick note in Spanish and send it. I bet it would make his day to get a letter.
* Investigators: Ludmila and Aldana cut pictures from church pamphlets to make us cards that said "I love you" on the front and on the inside said things like "I want to be baptized" (with a picture of Jesus being baptized) and "I will always pray" (next to the picture of a girl praying) and "I will follow Jesus" (next to a picture of Christ). It was precious and heartbreaking. They are so prepared, but we still haven´t been able to meet their mother because she works or hangs out with friends all the time and is never home. We´ve left notes and even left the baptismal form for her to sign, but for now L&A say that she doesn´t want them to get baptized. Aaargh! However, we have been finding some great new investigators. There is a whole extended family (a father and his two sons and their wives) that we are teaching who are really great. They aren´t really convinced yet (Martín, for instance, doesn´t believe in God yet but says he wants to come to church to find out for himself if God exists), but they are curious, ask lots of questions, and listen well. Hopefully they will come to church next week. One of my favorite new investigators is MaríaLuz (I changed her name). She just turned 16 and whenever we come to visit she smiles and her eyes sort of glow-- she´s really happy to see us. But she breaks my heart because she´s currently living with her boyfriend, who does drugs, AND she already has a 11ish month old baby girl and she is 3 months pregnant with another child. In Argentina this is sadly not as shocking as it would be in the states. I really hope the gospel can help her. And then there is Milagros, an 11 year old girl who watches her two younger siblings all day while her mom works in an icecream shop trying to support the family. Her dad doesn´t live with them--he abused their mother and maybe the kids too-- all I know is that Milagros and her little siblings are afraid of him. There isn´t much we can do because Milagros´ mother doesn´t usually come home till after our curfew so we can´t teach her or even go in to the house (really more of a hole in the wall) but yesterday we stood in the doorway and taught Milagros how to pray. It breaks my heart that that was all I had to offer Milagros, but at the same time I know that prayer is one of the most powerful tools I could give her to improve her situation. We´ll keep stopping by.
Well, I´m way out of time, but I love you all and miss you a lot. I hope that you are happy and healthy both physically and spiritually. I think of you all the time and pray for you a lot. I´m so lucky to have such an amazing family.
Love,
Ellis
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