Dont Cry for Me Argentina

Dear Family,

First off, Mom, to answer your questions. I dont really care where we eat, but I know you dont like questions like that so I will go with Cafe Rio, get the good old tomatillo dressing running through my veins again. And as for what you want to serve after the block on Sunday, I dont really have a preference. What ever is easiest for you. I have been bragging about your cooking abilities to lots of friends so just work your magic and all will be happy! About the day I get home. I havent really thought about it. I know.... I promise I am decisive, but I still havent comprehended that I am actually coming home. If you have to go to BYU that is more then fine. Just leave the keys to the car (dont worry, Seth will be driving) the keys to the church, and money for ice cream. Not sure when you will get back from teaching, but if it is before sunset I would love to go up the trail by our house and watch the sunset like old times. Maddy you better be up for a bike ride on the tandem. And Mom, no one is allowed to go to school. 

This week was amazing. I am so incredibly happy. I was able to go on exchanges with Hna. Rodriguez whom I trained a year ago and it was an incredible experience. We worked so hard and I thought that being a year apart would have made our teaching rusty but quite the contrary. It felt like we had been together the whole time. Lunch came around and they canceled on us and it felt so normal to be cooking side by side. By that I mean she cooks the food, I cook dessert, and then I clean everything up. It was so good to see how she has developed her gifts and how incredible of a missionary she has become. I was hoping I could end my exchanges on that note but there were some complications and so it looks like I will have to do at least one this week as well. 

I feel like I should say something really profound and demonstrate all I have learned on my mission this being my last email home and all, but turns out not too many things have change in the last year or so. I am still obnoxiously competitive (basketball this morning at 6 was proof). I still cant speak spanish perfectly, I still have no idea what I want to study, and even though I have been surrounded and bitten by tick infested dogs for the last while I still want a giant dog (sorry mom, somethings wont ever change.)

But I guess I have changed a little. And if I haven't completed changing yet and can at least say that I have learned a lot. My testimony has been solidified. I have a love of hard work. I understand the importance of unity. My love for you guys back home has been amplified almost as much as the love I have for the people here in Argentina. I understand the importance of personal virtue. I recognize the influence of the Spirit. Have the faith to act, and the humility to pray. 

The mission is incredible. My heart aches at the thought that I have to leave. On Saturday we got into a taxi with this really creepy guy and when he asked when we were headed back to the states I just started to cry. I think I scared him more then he scared us... Menos mal! 

I love you all so much! I love Argentina so much! I guess I will see you guys soon!

The Gospel is true.

Life is Wonderful!

Love,

Hermana Hill 

Life gets harder, but life makes us stronger

Dear Family,

I am just about to end my fast so I can´t think very well but I had some extremely humbling experiences this week and I just want to share everything I can with all of you.

I attended my last leadership meeting in mendoza this week. I don´t think I will miss the 4 hour bus rides but it was powerful. On the ride there I got to thinking about all the zones I have been able to work in. Out of the twelve zones I have done missionary work in 10 and spent at least multiple days in 8 zones. And when I got to consejo I was fairly excited to bear my final testimony. I have been to 12 consejo´s which means I have witnessed many many many missionaries give their last testimonies over the last year. You can tell who have died and who has only become more powerful. I was so excited to prove that I have not died and just feel the whole room with the spirit. But as I stood to give my last testimony, nothing came. I have always felt so guided by the spirit and no direction came. I bore the simple truths that I know are true and sat down humiliated. I learned a powerful lesson, that I hope to never ever repeat. Without the spirit we are nothing. It doesn´t matter how long I have served a mission, how long I have been in leadership, how many zones I have served in, I am still infinitely separated from God if I am not humble and properly access the atonement. It hurt to see how prideful I was. I feel embarrassed for even admitting out loud that I actually wanted to prove that I was a good missionary. The spirit is always hard to access when our focus is on ourselves. 

This week I have also been fairly sick, which made everything worse. We had so much to do, and we ended up doing it all anyways, against my companions better judgment but I figure I can recuperate when I am home. But this week things have changed. I just love these people so much. I just wish I could restart my mission and serve again with all that I have learned and with all the love I have now. And I guess I will just have to love y´´all to death when I get back. 

It was awesome to hear that Ben got baptised. Ironically enough we had a baptism the same day. And I just couldn´t help think about Ben and how exciting it is that he got baptized. I still cant believe I have nephews the age of getting baptized but then again I guess Little Jeffrey will be getting the preisthood next year. 

Was going to share a super funny experience but I just got like three calls in a row and should probably go fix a couple problems. But I will be able to talk to you all soon. 

 But to answer a couple questions fast. 

Dad, I am not taking block classes, I accept the assignment to speak on the 28th, I don´t really care where I work but I have a feeling I will have a couple options, I still am planning on going down to Albuquerque but it won´t be for too long, and it is not because I don´t love you guys. Give me three days and you will want to kick me out of the house again. 

Love you all!

Hermana Hill! 

Amanda's Letter

Dearest family,

I have absolutely no time, but know that I am so happy! We taught more lessons this week then I have in a long time. Since a couple crazy weeks in San Rafael. And More then half of the lessons we taught were with members. The ward is getting super involved. We put this poster out for people to sign up for assignments for a baptism and people that have never come out to lessons with us got really excited and I have a feeling we will have some of the best food in all of Argentina in this next baptism. 

I went on exchanges with a bran new missionary and I just love the power they have. 

Mom, I realized that I never finished my letter to you last week! I cannot believe you are so ancient! Happy birthday! Know that I love you with all my heart! And I am so excited to show you how much I love you in a couple of months. Well I guess it is a couple of weeks now. 

Sorry this is short, it might even be shorter then Ryan´s letter but I will leave an interesting thought. I have studied a lot of the power and authority missionaries have, and with that has come the power we receive from the spirit. As I was studying the spirit and interesting image came to mind. The judgment bar of God. I was standing and God questioned me how I spent the time on my mission. As I explained all the thoughts and feelings of my heart the Holy Ghost stood as a witness before God and testified that he had been present and could validate in front of God that my words were true, because he had been present. Perhaps the judgment bar of God is far different but all I know is how important it is to have the spirit as our constant companion. To not only direct us but to testify of truth. To witness before God that we have fought the good fight, and we are worthy of our reward. 

The gospel is true.

Life is wonderful!

Hermana Hill

Love you so blasted much!! I would send pictures but all of them got erased..... 

Que tal eh, pues mi hijito

Querida Family,

No tengo nada de tiempo. Transition to English, I don´t have anytime at all. We generally write first thing in the morning but today was a provincial holiday so we played a little basketball, volleyball, until blood was spilt and then cleaned the pension and made our way to lunch with a couple families in the ward. The Columbianos made Sancocho and we made dessert. Toddy empenadas (aka the best dessert known to man. I can´t take all the fame for the creation but I have adapted the recipe and may I say that it is genius!) Empanada tapa, chocolate chip cookie, dulce de leche, chocolate, one more cookie another tapa and then you fry the whole ordeal)

This week was amazing! Truly I am so incredibly blessed to be with the Hna. Norr. We wake up early to go running every day, (menos mal with the empanadas we are making) and she is so supportive. I have come to realize that unity within the companionship makes success a natural consequence instead of an active fight. And with Hna. Norr the success just flows. I also feel like God is blessing me for trying to do my best so far on my mission. Yesterday Hna. Norr said, ´´This has got to be the easiest area I have ever been. People let us in. The members are willing to help. We have awesome investigators. And people come to church.¨ Her comment made me laugh as I looked back to the last transfer where I felt the complete opposite. But we do have some solid investigators and we had 5 people come to church for the first time yesterday. Just no one is married. 

Elder Viñas of the 70 came to Mendoza and we traveled to hear him. It was so powerful. I actually got to see him speak twice and ran into lots of members from Godoy Cruz, my first area. I have always been nervous that no one would remember me, but I was so thrilled to see them and it was nice that they were thrilled to see me. (But I guess with the last name of ´gil´ (or stupid) I am hard to forget).

Life is great. Just so happy! Thank you for all of your support and prayers. I found this scripture in Juan 10:10 today that I love. It is true. Christ did not just come to give us life, but a more abundant life. I plead with all to use His sacrifice to more fully feel the happiness that is inevitable when filled with His love. 

The gospel is true and life is wonderful!

Hna. Hill 

Plan of Salvation (fun size)

Dearest Family,

This week has been crazy! Hermana Norr is amazing, we have been working crazy hard. Our first day she told me that she was hoping to get Hermana Sorensen as her comp and that I am the closest thing that she can get to Hermana Sorensen in the mission so she is happy, and so am I! But so happy! She is super patient, and goes along with my crazy ideas. 

There is a new missionary in our pension from Utah. She is great. She has fire. Not as much as me but she is just what I needed. I just love her so much and she likes to run stairs even at 630 in the morning. Got to love her!

Not tons of time, but I had this long thought process this week hopefully I can capture a little of it. So I came to the conclusion that the mission is just the plan of salvation at a smaller scale. Do you remember how excited I was to come on my mission? I am pretty sure it was a similar experience when we were waiting to come to earth. And now as I am coming to the end I feel like I would do just about anything for a couple extra days of life, similar to many who search for a way to prolong the inevitable. But even though days slip away I have found that instead of the slightly skewed thought process that if one doesnt work hard they will suffer the wrath of God. But the mission is similar to our life on earth and that every day is an opportunity, not a punishment. Let me explain. 

A greeny comes and regardless of what they do in their time on the mission if they finish they return an RM. I have yet to meet someone who has digressed on their mission but have seen incredible differences based upon the level of dedication, desire, faith, and diligence one places in the work and the person they are able to become. Similarly we two have our first estate. And regardless of what we do on earth will not take away the happiness we felt when we were in the presence of God. But truly God only wants us to be happy and has given us an incredible opportunity that requires dedication in order to fully capture and enjoy. 

I remember a couple weeks before the mission the whole family was dancing around the kitchen on a Sunday afternoon. Jordan was being Jordan and hence Mom was laughing so hard she was snorting (probably shouldnt say that out loud), I had Daniel in my arms and Hannah finaly agreed to dance with Josh. And as everyone else danced and laughed I remember recognizing how hard it would be to leave all of you whom I loved SO much! And though I never let you guys know it was a struggle to leave you all. So why did I leave? A little of a faith, I think, but know I cannot imagine my life without la familia Ibanez, without companions, with out the familia morel, flia Kim, flia marinero, and if I keep going I will never end. But I am ever grateful for all I have learned, the people I love, and who I am becoming. And now I realize that this life is a time to prepare to meet God and practice for the happiness we can have in Heaven. I realize now that I am obedient not because I fear Hell, but because I hope (the spiritual sense of the word) because I hope for Heaven. 

Love you all!

The gospel is true.

Life is wonderful!!

Hermana Hill 

Ser una luz, en vez de un juez

Dear Familia,

Can´t tell you enough how much I love you! I figure I should remind you all! Even though we are no longer going to Jerusalem together anymore and that some of you went backpacking in the Chalet without me....(but really... you couldn´t wait? Backpacking is my favorite!!) Just kidding! 

Dad you wanted to know a little more in depth on my investigators. We are teaching a young couple Gonzalo y Daniela who have a child but are not married. They have been to church 5 times now but need to get married. This week we had a go big or go home because they are not progressing towards baptism. They read, they go to church, they pray, but they don´t understand the importance. It takes about two months to do all the paperwork for marriage. But they understand the importance. And came to church early on Sunday. 

We are teaching another family, that was a reference from a an Abrir la Boca. Super Solid! Didn´t come to church this week though. We called them until they woke up but still didn´t come. It is just hard because it is more then normal to go to sleep at about 4 or 5 in the morning on Sunday and it is hard for people to wake up at 9ish to come to church. But we have been having people set alarms in their cellphones when they commit to coming to church which helps a little. 

This week I sent Hna. Lawrence home. It is wierd because 5 of the girls going home this transfer were with me in the MTC. But ya esta. I am so excited for this transfer. Hna. Norr is coming from San Juan. I did two exchanges with her when I was in San Juan and love her to death. It will be de 10! I am just so excited to work a full! I am sad because they took out both of the Salvadoreños. But last night I made Papusas for them completely by my self and they were stellar. But I will miss them a lot! On a positive note, Hna. Rodriguez is coming to kill my MTC companion and I am so grateful God answered my prayers to let me see her before I leave. I don´t think words can describe how much I have come to love some of the people I have met on my mission. 

This week we were presenting Zone conference and though it was powerful, a thought came to my mind while we were teaching. It was a thought that came from a letter you sent to me Mom. We were talking about the atonement the power we have from the atonement and the scripture Mom shared with me from Revelation 12:11 and how the blood of the Lamb and our testimony is all we need to overcome any and all opposition. Its true. In those moments of darkness, or confusion, or pain, stating out loud the simple truths that we know with all of our heart can cut through even the darkest opposition. This Saturday was really rough for me. My heart just hurt. But that evening we were eating with a less active family and as we listened to complaints that seemed to fill the atmosphere with doubt, fear, and anger it was amazing the stark difference pure truths cut through as we bore with the power that comes the power and authority of the calling which we hold.

The gospel is true.

Life is wonderful!

Love, Hermana Hill 

Some peoples children

Dear Family,

The week started with a trip down to Mendoza for Consejo. Some of my best friends from the mission are leaving next week and it was hard to say good bye. I also got some really great news from letters from people in old areas.  It is a sad realization that some of these people I might never see again. It honestly broke my heart. But I put my act together on the 4 hour bus ride home and now I want to work harder then ever. 

This week we dropped a lot of people and found a couple. One of them is a PM family that is amazing. I asked if it would be alright if we woke them up Sunday morning and gave them the warning that I am fairly pesada. But they agreed. On Sunday I think it hit my companion that she is leaving next week and how she wants to die. We got up really early and walked a lot stopping by everyone we had invited to church. Not a single person came. But I think we woke up about 15 people. It was sad but it I felt like I had done all I could have done. Positive side affects though. We saw loads of members on their way to church and all of them were amazed at how far away we were from our pension. We are starting to get more and more member referrals. I just hope that they are able to see the fruits. 

This week a family gave me A Nikestrike soccer ball. I think that is comparable to giving up your first born child. Made me feel super great! I really love this ward. Well we are off to go hiking this morning! Have a wicked awesome week! Love you all! Thank you for your prayers and for your letters!

The gospel is true!

Life is wonderfuL!

Love,

Hna. Hill