November 25, 2013 I can't believe I have been here almost a month!

me and my comp

me and Hermana White

 Familia,

Wow time is odd. this has definitely been the hardest month of my life. I have grown so much. I have learned (a little) to be patient. I definitely am not all the time, but I am getting better. It helps that I am starting to understand more. This past week I decided to tell Hermana Sanchez every random story I could thing of about my life. She has been a good sport because I am sure it is rough listening to my profoundly broken Spanish! It has helped my Spanish though, especially since we don´t teach a whole lot!

We do a ton of walking. I have some pretty great blisters on my feet, and I know it is hindering recovery of my ankle, but I have to work. I can walk most of the day fine on my ankle, but sometimes it is like a fire. It has been amazing to see how at night, or in the morning I feel like I can barely walk, but when it is time to go out and work I can do it. I know that God is helping me because he needs me here.

Yesterday we found two new investigators. They are a couple, and it was really amazing to see how prepared she is! We think that they will get baptized in December! Because we have has such little success in the past 3 weeks it really made this sweet success!

This past week I had a REALLY blonde moment. or rather I came out of a really blonde moment.... The faucets have C and F on them, and the C is on the left. Every time I used the sink I would laugh at the silly person who put the C on the wrong side. (don´t ask me why the F never phased me) then... I had a lightning bolt moment. Caliente is Hot in Spanish! C=HOT!!! HaHa!  I felt really dumb.



The stake president took all the missionaries in the stake out to McDonalds because last month we broke the baptismal record for this stake. It was super fun!

Some interesting things about Argentina:
-there are no stop signs. I think I have seen 2. The busy roads have traffic lights, but other than that you go at your own risk. I am glad we don't have cars here. I would be absolutely terrified to drive!
- there are no speed limits. Usually there are too many cars to go fast, but the other day we were in a bus really early and I thought we were going to die he was going so fast!
-we eat so much pasta. Bastante. It is great/not so great. I am going to get so fat.
-dulce de leche is in everything and is so divine
-all doors lock from both sides. This means that you have to lock/unlock your doors every time you go in and out. If someone wants to leave your apartment you have to go let them out because you can´t leave anywhere without unlocking the door first.
-everyone greats with a kiss on the cheek. I never thought I´d be totally okay putting my face close to this many random people.
-we hand wash our clothes
-people here never sleep. They think the missionaries are weird for going to bed so early, but we are exhausted!
- women wear high heals everywhere and they are monstrously high. I have no idea how.  The sidewalks are not exactly flat.... I have almost killed myself and I wear flats. I would die in heels.
I am sure there are more, but I can´t think of any right now.

Random tidbit about my area: we don´t live in our area. I think we live a mile out of it. Because of the way the ward boundaries are and both us and the elders live in their area, this adds quite a bit of walking for us! But that´s okay. it´s not too bad.

daily Miracles:
Nov 18- one of the elders in my district happened to have a good foot brace that he is letting me use. it is much better than the wrap I had been using. I am so glad that it fits! It helps a ton to really support my foot!
Nov 19-My understanding is increasing
Nov 20-I had a conversation about Christ coming to the Americas all by myself! my comp was talking to someone else and this guy started asking me questions. It was really cool to have a conversation! The gift of tongues is real!
Nov 21- today we got a DVD player. We can now play music! I mean I like silence... but it was starting to wear on me. I am so grateful that my comp had some CD´s and we have something to listen to. Also, she has a bunch of English music so that is pretty cool. One of the first songs that was played was Josh Groban's "don´t give up" it was exactly what I needed to hear. I know that we are never alone. He is always there and we are always loved.
Nov 22- Me and my comp are starting to be able to communicate a bit better and be friends. (its hard to really be friends with someone you cant talk to)
Nov 23- We were able to get a ride home from our last appointment with a less active family. It was amazing because we were on the very edge of our area and my ankle was hurting.
Nov 24- We found two new investigators!!!!! YAY!!!!!

Pretty much this week has been tons of walking, and growing on the inside for me. I am amazed at how much I need the Atonement. In Alma 7:11 there are 7 aspects covered by the atonement. In vs 12 it talks about how Christ suffered this so he could know how to succor his people. I truly know that He does know! I know he lives and that he is always with us. I have felt his love and help and strength so much. I am infinitely grateful for this gospel and what it has done for me.

I love you all so much!
Love, Hermana Sirrine

 

I got creative last p-day and made tables while my comp slept. Since our apartment is new we don't have much of anything and I wanted a place to put my stuff!

November 18, 2013 Hello Hello

Hola familia!

Well this week was pretty much straight street contacting and walking. It´s pretty brutal, especially because walking is not exactly my strong suit right now! But it´s been cool to see times when the gift of tongues is definitely present.

This week we had a super cool opportunity. Elder Holland came and talked to us. We went to the Buenos Aires West mission, and it was Us, them and the South mission. It was cool to be with that many missionaries again! I have never been that close to an Apostle before (he walked right by me! Seriously he was 2 feet away). The hermanas all got to sit in the front, so I was about 5 rows back. Man was that powerful and spiritual. Oh and he was also staying in our ward, because the Area Seventy is in my ward. He talked a lot about how important our own conversion is. This is something that I know to be true! Out here is really hard, and I cannot imagine doing it if I was not converted to the lord.

One thing that he talked about is that the road to salvation always goes through Gethsemane. It is impossible to become like Christ without trials and tribulations. This work will never be easy because it never was easy for Christ.

Daily Miracles:
11- we got a new map that is actually legible! Yay!
12- I started a bunch of conversations in the street. I could not carry the whole conversation, but I was able to do a lot!
13- We had a really good district meeting. I have the best leaders. I am so grateful for them!
14- This morning i woke up with a fever, and felt terrible. As we were going to our lunch appointment we passed the elders, and they offered a blessing. They were able to give me one, and it was amazing how quickly I was able to feel better so that I could work. I am so grateful for the power of the priesthood and that I have access to it. I am so grateful for those who live worthy of it!
15- Today we had very little success... but nonetheless I was able to be happy and the day turned out pretty good. I am learning that my happiness here does not depend on what numbers I put at the end of the day, but on how much I choose it.
16- Elder Holland
17- We had ward council today and they are amazing! The leaders of our ward are so missionary minded and it is awesome! Hopefully we can get this area progressing!

I love you all and I pray for you every day!
Les Quierro!
Hermana Sirrine

November 11, 2013 Second Week in Argentina!

Well I am officially in my area here in Belgrano. My companion speaks no English and that has put some challenges on this whole thing. Also she is from Columbia which has it´s own special hard to understand accent. And she speaks wicked fast. Turns out the first day she was just really tired and I thought I could understand her. We walk many many miles a day, which has been slightly difficult on my sprained ankle. I am praying every day for it to heal rapidly.

We have not had a lot of success this week, and it has been difficult. But it is the first week of the transfer...and we are opening an area. Haha!  I have no idea how it is to work in an area that is open, the apartment is well furnished, and there are accurate records. Maybe one day :)

Since we are opening a new area we have to do a ton of street contacting. Unfortunately my companion hates it and wont do it. So guess who does. Yep me. The one who can't speak.  So I have no idea if people don't want to listen because they are not interested or because they have no idea what I am saying. Also sometimes they start to talk with me... but I have no idea what they are saying and it is super hard. Hopefully things start to click so that we can be effective.

Here are my daily miracles for the week. I realized I have not shared them in a while.

Nov 5- the elders in our ward are so helpful. the got us a map of the area and are being super nice about us asking tons of questions.
nov 6- we met a really nice lady on the street that seemed interested. I even initiated the conversation, so that was cool.
nov 7- there was about two minutes today when I had no pain in my foot. It was bliss. Also I was able to walk a ton today without a ton of pain. I know the lord is helping me because as soon as I get home I can hardly walk, but during the day I can manage.
nov 8- the last member we visited (of 13) was at their house! which was lovely seeing as we both really had to use the bathroom and there are not public bathrooms here.... at least we both don't think so.
nov 9- today I got to be around missionaries who speak English. It sounds awful but I loved being able to feel a part of something and to understand what was going on.
nov 10- today we had another visitor center thing. It was amazing; during the tour I could relatively speak. Definitely a gift of tongue experience.

Scripture of the week.
Mosiah 24:13-15
Love you all and hope things are going well for you!
Love, Hermana Sirrine

November 5, 2013 Oh boy! I am not in America any more!

Pictures from Illinois

Ward mission leader, elders, me, my comps

With investigator Kyle

Pictures from Argentina

A peek of the huge city I am in

Me, hermanas from my MTC district, and the president´s wife in front of the temple

 pink house

The Rio de Plata.  You can see the city across the water

Familia,

Welp.  I don´t speak Spanish. Nope, and I thought Mexicans were hard to understand. They clearly learned from the Argentines. They speak wicked fast and they speak Castillano (no it is not Spanish, they are almost offended if you call it Spanish) and they have a lisp, almost like Spain but not as bad. Soooooo yeah, I feel a little underwater.

With my 3 comps and two recent converts, Thommy and Junior

For the past week I have been with Hermanas White, Lobo, and Escalante. When we got our visas, they just put us in a temporary area until transfers, which are today. So there were four of us in an apartment the size of our kitchen and half the dinning room back home. It was cozy! I didn't mind though, it´s not like we spend much time there. Two are native speakers, one to Mexico and one to Argentina, but they both speak really good English. It was a crutch I liked way too much! Haha! It was nice to be able to at least communicate a little. However, I am now in my new area. My companion is Hermana Sanchez, and no she does not speak English. None. She is from Columbia, so at least she pronounces the whole word, which makes things easier... but I am gunna get real good at charades. Also, we are opening an area. We are in the city, and she has only been out in provencia (the country). So we both are super confused. It´s going to be great!

This BOM was part of our open house

On Saturday we went to another church with a bunch of missionaries and made our own sort of visitor center. It was really cool. pretty much it was like temple square, start at the Christus, and then learn briefly what we teach. It definitely helped my Spanish! At the beginning we were out on the streets inviting people to come in. I got really good at saying ´´we are inviting people to a center for visitors to learn about our church´´ I would then give them a card, and pretty much no one said more than no thanks. Until one man.... he starts talking to me and I had NO IDEA what he was saying! Me and my companion were standing a little bit apart so that we could be more effective, and when she saw that someone was actually talking to me she comes over. After we told him I had no idea what he was saying, the man repeated to her what he had said to me. Apparently he said ´´I have been asking God for a doll like you, but he never sent one to me´´. All the missionaries there thought it was hilarious!

Sunday, we were walking out of our apartment to go to church and I fell on the last step and rolled my ankle. In Illinois or Missouri that would have been unfortunate, but okay. Here it is a problem. We walk everywhere. So I pretty much had to stand up, wrap it quickly, and walk to church. I thought I was going to die at church. I got a priesthood blessing that I didn't really understand except that I would have strong feet throughout my mission. I felt comfort and knew that Heavenly father will help me. I think Sunday I ended up walking close to two miles or so. As much as I knew I shouldn't be on it, I didn't really have a choice. However, my companion would not let me go out on Monday. It was the worst day of my mission. I thought I was going to go stir crazy! There is only so much studying I can do.... I did not like not working! I iced it a ton and hopefully it will get better real quick because I know there will be lots of walking in the upcoming week. I am wearing my boots because they help give support.  It looks really weird because it is spring here and getting warmer!

Pretty much the food here is amazing. Everyone cooks very well. and the ice cream is to die for. Someone needs to bring it back to America.... It is custom to eat a small breakfast and then a huge lunch. I have no idea if the normal population eats dinner.. but as missionaries we are so busy that we don't. When we get home at night we eat something small , but the members have been feeding us so well that we have not been hungry. I sorta like the whole small dinner big lunch thing.

I do all of my studies in Spanish, which means it takes forever to do because I read really slow in Spanish, but I know it helps me. Also it is super exciting when I read a verse and I can understand the whole thing and don´t have to look up anything in the dictionary.  Yesterday while I was imprisoned in my apartment, I studied the plan de salvation. It was really cool to read all of the Preach My Gospel scriptures in that section all together. I was amazed at how central the atonement is to the whole thing. Every scripture either directly talked about the atonement, or had a scripture that did really close. It was cool to notice that pattern. I love seeing how central Christ is to the gospel and our lives.

Well, I love you all so much!
Love, Hermana Sirrine

 P.S. Mom, don´t worry... I am taking care of my foot.