Amanda's letter!

October 28, 2013

Dear Family,

This week was one surprise after another. Where to start. Half way through the week there were some flash transfers and now we are in a trio. It was an adventure getting her from San Luis to our area but I love the buses here so I was happy. Everyone else is not a fan. 1 they never stop moving and 2. Mendoza has asecias or a trench of anywhere between 2 to 4 feet. I love jumping from buses all my companions think I am crazy. But thats a good thing right? My two companions are very different. Hna. Ruiz is from Mexico and it was hilarious to see how fast my Mexican accent came back. There is no hope of maintaining my Mendocino accent. She is really funny and a recent convert. Only member in her family. The only trio I have been in was in the MTC but suprisingly the transition into teaching has been really good. 

We have this ward missionary plan of doing Family Home Evenings in the 5 different areas within the ward. Its going really well. It is so amazing to see people coming back to church. There are some amazing families in the ward. And now we are taking tons of less actives to teach their friends. The whole 5,5,5 is working swell. 

Another shock was the little boy of K. and F. past away this week. It took quite a toll on all the ward. K. and F.  are members of the active R. family that have been less active for quite a while and were finally starting to come back to church. They came to church this week as well and was so incredibly greatful for support and love showed by the ward. 

I feel like this letter is super lame. It was a pretty crazy week though. I feel like it is just going to get more crazy. Pray for me!! 

Love you lots!

Happy Mothers Day!!

Oh Dearest Mother Mine,

Whose face is so darn kind,

You make me so happy!

Yes, I know my poetry´s sappy...

But give me a break

for good gollys sake,

For I am still your favorite daughter!!

You should feel pretty special! My poetry is only for the eyes of those I truly love! So mothers day was yesterday in Argentina and I figured the least I could do was write you an actual letter. I haven´t recieved news that the family has recieved any handwritten letters I have sent home (not that you could read my handwritting anyways) so I am guessing I shouldn´t trust the postal system too much. So this email will have to do! 

I was thinking of you yesterday as I went to church and saw all the faithful mothers who came with their children without the support of their husbands. I thought of those years after Mark died and Dad after my mom died and how hard it must have been, but the lessons we (the children) learned from consistant church attendance and the blessings that come through fidelity to the truth. 

Also yesterday we came to church with the Morel children. Miriam (the mom) has such a strong testimony she is paying tithing, and now she is in the middle of Alma but her work schedule changed and can no longer attend church unless she has the faith to drop her job and find another. But I have grown to love this family with all my heart. They have been coming to church for the last 2 months but haven´t attended church the last two weeks due to work issues. So we picked up the older children with another family before church on sunday. It so happened that this week was the primary program and we walked into church just as the meetings were starting and instead of Adriel (8) walking and sitting with all the children he came and sat next to me. I tried to convince him to go and sing (using the typical tactics used on Cam and Maddy) but to no avail. Nada! I was just about to give up when the bishop came down from the stand and knelt next to Adriel and explained how he would walk with him to the stand and help him sing. I was touched by the sincerity and the love Bishop Paez has. I was reminded of Jesus Christ who always sought out the one. In that moment Bishop Paez left the 99 and came to this little lamb and lifted him by his little hand and guided him to where he belonged along side the group of Gods children singing praises to our Heavenly Father. Also everyone in the ward new in that moment that the Bishop loved them, why? Because if the bishop was going to go out of his way to make sure this 8 year old was safe in the fold of God he was going to make sure every family, every troubled teen made it there too. Its a powerful principal. How do you show that you love the 99? by showing love to the 1. A principal I learned in one of my favorite books. 

Also I had the pleasure of watching Adriel and all the other children sing! I don´t think any other mother in the room could me as proud as I was of Adriel. It is so amazing to watch the change as people partake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Oh and now I am running out of time. But don´t you fret. This letter will include my list for Christmas. I want Nutela. I think that sums it up. Just Kidding. I would love a calander! The same Calander that Hannah gave us last year. Oh and will you make sure Hannah is okay. I was thinking about her all week and then I recieved news about the hospital visit from Dad and her and I will continue to pray but its not the same from being able to give her a big hug, or talking to her on the phone. 

Also remember that bracelet you gave me with the pictures? Can you send me more modern pictures that I can replace them with. And not pictures of me!! I use my bracelet all the time to testify that families can be together forever. I want pictures of the fam as well. Also the only picture I have of my mom is the little one I have in my bracelet. Can you send me one as well. 

For the most part I can find anything I ¨´need´´ but one thing I cannot find that I would love is those tiny sock things that you can wear with nicer shoes? I sure hope that discription made sense and if you could send quite a few to last the next year or so. Like 14 or 15. But good quality. 

Again I would love music, and conference talks that I can listen to when I get ready in the morning. And pictures. And nutella. OH AND A ULTIMATE FRISBEE!! But a good one. Dad can tell you which one is good. I am so sick of playing soccer!! But tell Cam and Seth I made a header goal last week. I am infinetly better then before my mission. The one sport I can´t play to save my life. Also there is a senior couple heading home in December and I was hoping to send some things home with them. I don´t know how much Cam and Seth, Jordan, or Mads have grown will you send me some estimate sizes before next week?

Mom, I love you so much!! Go on lots of tandom bike rides with Dad through the canyon for me. And yes I will pray for you and your memory! I have no doubt that you will be successful. For whom the Lord calls he qualifies. You cannot deny that God has guided you to where you are, trust in God and he will fill your mouth. 

I love you! I Love You! I LOVE YOU!

Your favorite daughter, 

Amanda 

Arrepentios extremos de GODOY CRUZ!!

Familia,

Today is another feriado (or Holiday) and so we took the liberty of doing some church tours with people who work all the time on their day off, but consequently everything was pushed back and will be short today. I have yet to have a recorrido that didn´t result in a baptismal date. 

The highlight of this week was teaching a missionary prep institute class. This work is hastening!! First off we had a very successful day grabbed a taxi and headed way far out to Mendoza Centro when we entered the taxi and I asked my companion if she had money. Her face fell and she asked me what we should do. I told her to pray and things took care of themselves. We arived only 5 minutes late (super good for South American Standard time) and taught mostly converts who now are in the process of putting in papers and loads of future sister  missionaries. Hna. Rostelli hadn´t told us what to prepare but there is something about being in a consecrated building full of people eager to learn that makes teaching by the spirit comes so naturally. The spirit was strong and the nice thing about teaching mission prep. outside of Utah is we were able to hit the streets with the class and could get tons of referals for the missionaries serving in that area and of course were able to share the miracles that come with taking the step of faith of opening your mouth. 

Sunday was a pretty awesome highlight too. We only had one investigator come but had lots of less actives. A couple that hadn´t been to church in a long time. 

I cannot believe transfers are next week! The time flies!! Only 4 sisters are coming so odds are that I will finish the training of Hna. Rodriguez. 

I feel like things that are difficult for lots of missionaries came fairly naturally for me. From day one I was never nervous to talk to random strangers (I don´t know what that says about your parenting style. jk.) And the missionary schedule has never been difficult to follow but things like updating the area book, and making an accurate registro (not quite sure what the word is... account?) has always been difficult. And now my focus for next transfer to better.

This week was wicked awesome! We had tons of lesson with members. And hoping to do better next week. 

Hannah, mira voz!!  I am so proud of you!! Make sure the missionaries understand the importance of our reference and hold them to their potencial.

I cannot believe Alyssa and Joe are married!! That blows my mind. I am still waiting for Covey and Annies announcment.... =) JK

Gotta run! With transfers coming and all the office Elders changing I have got to own up to my bets which means loads of no bake cookies.... 

Love you lots!! Pray a lot!!

Hna. Hill

Its a great day to be a .... MISSIONARY!!

Dear Fam!

I think I will start this letter off with loads of love for Ryan, you are such a good missionary!!! So proud of my not so little bro! I will follow with a question for mom.... Have you ran into the garage with you new car yet? Just kidding!! 

Can you believe that one year ago they announced the age change?!?!? Blows my mind! General Conference as a missionary is the best! Not only does everything everyone says apply to you but you leave with pages worth of notes for investigators. I was hoping for the announcment to change the 18 months to 2 years... or a temple in Mendoza. Guess, I will wait for another 6 months. And I was super blessed to have the stake center be our building because that means we could work in between sessions and go straight to work afterwards when you are full of the inspiration from prophets of God. 

I also am super blessed to have the companion that I have. Sometimes in the past I had to be careful about what I volunteered to do and recognize the limit of running faster then we have strength. So yesterday when my companion asked if I wanted to eat lunch in the park with all the other missionaries, I grabbed my backpack and agreed but as we walked she asked me ¨´What are you thinking?¨´ (A question that made me laugh because I always ask my companions that, and a question I will always answer honestly) I told her of E... that I was thinking we could visit. She then said relieved ¨perfect! Let´s go!¨¨ (okay so really that whole thing was in spanish but I transalated to be kind. JK.) We visited 3 people in that hour and found 1 new investigator. Did they accept our invitation to return to watch conference? No... But I can say they all know that I have a testimony of Thomas S. Monson. 

The water was shut off for lots of this week but at least we knew before hand about this one. And the water came back on this morning an I was finally able to clean the bathroom. It is the worst when the water is shut off on P-days. It is redicolously difficult to wash your clothes with no water. 

We had a way awesome recorrido (tour) of the church this saturday. I still have yet to have someone decline a baptism invite after feeling the spirit of the chaple. Now it is the process of helping them follow through with their commitments. The family is great! We just have to get M... to get married. Too bad that takes a month in Argentina. 

I love you all so much! Cannot believe it is October!! Give me one more week mom and I will send you a list complete of things I want for my birthday and Christmas. Verify with me in your next letter because I will probably forget. 

Everyone asked me if I had seen conference in the conference center. I was ashamed to say that I have lived in Utah all my life and never once attended a session of General Conference. That needs to change! I don´t know what I need to do to get my hands on a couple tickets but for the record I am asking in a year, or a year and a half in advance if my wish of serving for two years comes in to play.

Love you all! And pictures are attached. We went hiking last week on P-day through Estanzuela. Really beautiful! 

My peruvian family!

I found a Hobbit door! So of course I knocked it! Family of 7! Too bad they are already members....

I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed

Dear Family,

I only have a couple minutes to write but I can type super fast so my letter will still probably be ridiculously long. 

We did not have that much of a successful week but me and Hna. Rodriguez managed to continue laughing through the whole week. We did have success through a PEPO (referrals from members) and the family is actually married!! The father came to church, and has been free from smoking for 10 days. He really felt the spirit and for the first time the ward really embarrassed an investigator. The slight problem is that the Elders had taught him about 6 months ago and so I think that we will end up giving them back to the Elders. But they are ready to be baptized. 

No one else is really following through with commitments, which is disappointing. 

We taught a super cool lesson this week. We have become friends with a lady who owns a small hostel and once a month we go and have hot chocolate with her and teach everyone who is visiting. Last night we taught her and her guest who is from France. My companion didn´t talk much and wasn´t until after we left where she asked ¨What language was he speaking?´´ that I realized that he must have been speaking french. But we got our message across and he committed to read The Book of Mormon and had began to read before we left the house. 

Funniest moment of this week was during the blasted siesta. Saturday siesta is the worst. Because EVERYONE sleeps for about 4 hours. We had 3 really good lessons scheduled and we even called to remind them and every single lesson fell through. So we were walking up and down streets cleaning out the ward list. Meanwhile me and Hna. Rodriguez were doing this scripture chase thing and we walked through some construction which sent out whistles, catcalls, and slang that thankfully I don´t understand. This happens all the time and we are used to ignoring it. Hna. Rodriguez continued to read out loud the scripture that happened to be Alma 7:10. Immediately all the noise surrounding us stopped.... You should have seen the faces of the men who were openly reprimanded by God. It was so funny!! The best part is that Hna. Rodriguez didn´t even pick up on it and re-read the verse again. Now skimming through this paragraph it really doesn´t sound to funny, but I promise.... Oh goodness, it was hilarious! 

I stayed in the area for exchanges this week but get to travel next week for exchanges which I always love. And Saturday and Sunday we have General Conference!!! I am so psyched!! 

Love you all! And I am praying for you all. Happy Birthday Mads!!! I cannot believe you are turning 12!

I got the package from the family!!! (thank you mom!! It was an answer to my prayers!! Every week when my district leaders ask for my pedidas I always ask for pamphlets, Libros de Mormon, and Nutella and I this week I got some from you!!! You are the best! I think it is worth its weight in gold in the missionary world) 

Which means I got your letter Seth.... I laughed really hard and hope you are true to your word. Can´t believe 3 different girls asked you to Sadie Hawkins (dance, wear my Khaki pants, nothing better oh, oh, oh!) I can hear Cam Singing it!

Hna. Hill