Friday, September 27, 2013

Are you a Resistencia Missionary?!?

1.      We have a question that we keep forgetting to ask. Do you think in English or Spanish now?

Well, that depends on the moment. But for the most part I think in Castellano. I speak Castellano all day and so I don`t really even have anything to do with English for pretty much the whole day. Sometimes I talk to my companion in English and it has been more and more recently because he is getting a lot better but for the most part I just think and speak in Castellano.

2.      When do you find out about transfers? Not until Wednesday when you actually transfer or Tuesday night? How does that work does someone call you or do you get an email?

For transfers we get a phone call Tuesday night from our Zone Leaders saying who will be staying and who is going. We don`t know anything until then. If all goes like it normally does then I will leave and Elder Fiabane will stay with someone else. We also have a tradition in Circ

2 that every transfer eve we go to the house of Barbara and we are there when they call at 8ish. That night is when and where we find out. We have been there every transfer eve that I have been in Argentina.

3.      How deep of mud have you been in? Any crazy incidents with mud?

The mud hasn`t been bad lately it has hardly rained this transfer. The wet season was when I first arrived and during that time I only used boots for two weeks strait. It has only rained one or two times this transfer. When it did rain there was a bull dozer that was in the street and it couldn`t move. It was stuck peeling out in the mud. I thought it was going to slide into the sanja but we didn`t get to stick around to see. It can get to ankle deep at times depending on the street and how long it was raining.

New Floor

4.       The pictures of your floor in the pension look all torn up still… what kind of floor was put in and why did you need a new one?

Oops, that is because I didn`t get all the pictures on the week before. They are there now and you can see the lindo new floor. We have enjoyed it for this week and now I will probably be going, but we`ll see.




5.      Have you been sick very often? Uncle Bryan says you’re not a true missionary until you have pooped your pants. GROSS!!

Not too often. I would say once every month or every other month I am a little sick but usually nothing bad. And I would have to agree. Sometimes the food just doesn`t agree with you and hasta ahora, I haven`t had a log in my pants and hopefully it won`t happen but I could easily see one day eating something that will kill my stomach and not having anywhere to go to take care of business. One of my Zone Leaders said that you aren`t a Resistencia missionary until you have been bit by a dog, fallen in the sanja, and crapped your pants.

6.    Do you have any good Argentine recipes for us?

As far as Argentine recipes there aren`t a whole lots, jaja We eat Milonesa (What Rob ate), marinera (similar to milonesa but with different breading), Guiso (noodles or rice with either chicken or beef on top), salchicha (hotdog), empanada, pizza (Only difference is different cheese and something other than pepperoni because they don`t have anything remotely spicy here), tarta (tortilla with cheese in the middle), and sometimes tortellini. Basically if you just add more oil it`s Argentine :P The food is good just a little repetitive and too much oil. If you want recipes ask for the specific food and I will give it to you.

Mini Elder Pickle
I had a great opportunity recently when I went on exchanges with my new zone leader. He is at the end of his mission and knows a lot about teaching a being a missionary. I learned a ton from him! Right now I feel like I really didn`t know how to teach or find people in my mission before that exchange. He first of all taught me that we always need to be looking for new people and talk to everyone that we see in the street and ask every person for references. Even if we don`t have time to stay for a lesson take their name and address and phone number and write it in the future investigators section to put as a backup plan for other days. We need to always have something to do. Then to begin talking with someone you need to ask a ton of questions about them to find out things that will help you know what is there need and obstacle. Three really great questions that he told me I will share with you and if you want more just ask. but ones like, Do you live here with your family? How many are there? If, one day, we invite you to come to church with us would you attend? Those questions whether they answer yes or no you learn things about them that will help you know what they need to be taught.

Que vamos a hacer cuando regreso? A veces parece como estoy perdiendo mi Ingles. Y cuando es tiempo para regresar a casa capas no voy a recordar ningùn Ingles. Por eso de cierto de cierto os digo, aprendìd Castellano y hablais conmigo cuando regreso :P chiste no hablamos en vosotros pero es chistoso a hablar asi. Y a insultar gente en maneras lo que Cristo hizo, jaja Pero ojala todo esta bein y que uds van a entender todo estes palabras porque a veces son diferente entre los paises. Y a quien esta tranduciendo este carta vos podes entender cuando hablo con vos? Porque me gusta usar vos y no podemos por la mayoria del tiempo porque tenemos que usar ud con la gente solo podemos usar vos entre compañerismo y con los niños. Pero asi es che!
Vaya con Dios!

I love you all so much and I can`t wait to hear from you next week!




Friday, September 20, 2013

Secret Desire's

Well what has been going on recently here is that we have been trying to bring our area back to life it is still dead and we are lacking investigators and no one has gone to church in the last two weeks. I am excited for transfers even though I like my companion and lots of things about my area I want some change because I am ready for a change but I shouldn´t say that because I will probably stay here :P 

It has been starting to get hot here but we have only hit about 38 degrees Celsius and haven´t reached the forty’s to fifties. I don´t remember what is the conversion to Fahrenheit. I will soon have to buy a sombrero to wear every day so that I don´t fry, jaja





Right now Elder Fiabane and I are enjoying our new floor in the pension after two weeks of construction it is finally done and the pension looks a ton better (photos in dropbox). 




Right now our only investigators that I would say have real intent would be Miguel and Lucia and Alejandra. Miguel and Lucia had a baptismal date for this Saturday but didn´t go to church yesterday because of health problems of Miguel. He has been having really bad headaches and stomach pain. That with being blind makes it hard to get to church. Alejandra we met this last week and she said that she was going to go to church no matter what even if it rained(not even the members go if it rains). But when we went to look for her she was sleeping and the dad answered and instead of waking her up keep trying to tell us to give up on her because she won´t keep any commitments and that he knows her so just give up. I found that at least a little strange that she won´t keep commitments since she has been reading in the BoM.... needless to say we won’t be giving up....

There isn´t a whole lot to say about what has been going on lately because for the majority of the time it is just clapping houses and having people say that they are catholic and don´t want to listen to anything we have to say because they already know everything about our religion. Today is exactly my eight months in the mission or one third. Elder Santoro said that this is the very hardest part of the mission. 

Oh, I don´t know if I ever told you guys but I got my ring back. It turns out that it was the people who were working on our floor. One of his assistants was doing something in the bathroom and didn´t want to knock it off of the toilet so he put it in his pocket then he just forgot it was there. But anyway I have it back!

It is crazy to think that I have two cousins that I have never even met! It is weird to only have seen them for pictures! It is also crazy to see how big everyone is getting! 

Barbara has a kidney stone and might need surgery do you know any tricks to help them pass I know Lindsey had several and maybe has some suggestions. 

As far as the Toms that you and Emily said you wanted there are no Toms here. There are only the original things called Alpargata that look like Toms but aren´t that brand. I don´t know if that is what you guys wanted but that is what they have. You also need to tell me you shoe size in metric if you want me to buy them for you guys. Also I want the shirt size of everyone if you could send that. 

I am trying to take pictures of around here but it is dangerous to have things like cameras and phones out so I am doing what I can. Also there really isn´t any good landscape here in the city except one part that is the most dangerous of our entire area, jaja So I will try to get pictures but I don´t know how well it will work with where it is at. 
Formosa
Formosa
                                                                             
I also have a secret desire that I will get transferred to a faraway area because the collectivos play movies when you travel far and I am dying to just sit down and watch a movie especially because the other day some investigadores were watching Transformers and didn´t turn it off when we came so we were fighting not to watch it but I would be lying if I said we didn´t watch at least one scene :P 

It is crazy that general conference is almost here. I can remember the last one when I was in California and I still watched it in English. It will be really weird to watch it in Castillano here. I hope that I will understand all the words that they use :P
I love you guys more than anything and can´t wait to hear from you next week! 

Asher:
That is funny that Asher says now everyone will speak “his language”, jaja but there is one problem here we don´t speak Spanish in Argentina, we speak Castellano, jaja and Harmony´s sister (Got her mission call to Buenos Aires Argentina and leaves January 15th) will speak like a Portaño with the ll sounding like sh while here in the north it is more of a juh. but you can tell him, Cuando regreso podemos hablar solo en Castellano y Español. A menos el puede entender lo que digo y el puede ser me traductor porque no se si voy a olvidar todo mi ingles mientras estoy acá. Y puedo enseñarle a hablar Castellano porque solo hay chicito diferencias como el sonido por los y´s y ll´s y usamos vos porque tu no existe en Castellano.




Friday, September 13, 2013

Just another week with lots to learn and grow right?

This week has been a little rough because we have been lacking in investigators. It seems like they all decided that they don`t want to listen to us and that no one else wants to be investigators either. We will be working hard on finding new investigators this week and recommitting the ones that were supposedly solid. But just another week with lots to learn and grow from right?

Sebastian was baptized last week but not confirmed. He didn`t show up for church the next day to be confirmed and then we finally found him during the week and he said to come by the next day. The next day he wasn’t there and we called him and he told us that he had permanently moved to Resistencia. We have been struggling trying to get a hold of him again and finally today got his address to give to our leaders. They are going to bring him to church there and do the confirmation.  If all works out bien... But fingers crossed!

We now have lunches every day with someone. With flia Rosa Tuesday, Barbara Wednesday (and anytime we stop by, jaja), Hna Carmen (owns our house) Thursdays, Flia Rodriguez or Flia Pereyra depending on the week Friday, and Bishop Saturdays, and Asado with Flia Fleytas every Sunday!!

I have tried to get money at the bank of Formosa but they just gave me funny looks when I handed them the card and said they couldn`t do anything with it. They said to try the other type of atms that can be found in central. The problem with that is it is outside of our area so I will try when I get a chance.

You guys should put pictures of baby Hailey, and more pictures in general! Crazy schemes of boxes being transferred back and forth in front of the neighbors, crazy huge lawnmowers, you guys, everything! Also a picture of our house people often ask how it looks.

Emily:
Careful if you procrastinate then you definitely won`t be able to keep up with your schedule this year! In AP US you will do fine if you read the book. If you read the book you will pass the class sì or sì.
No, I have never met Emerie as far as I know... And also why are you flirting it up with your boyfriend in the library when you should be studying that WILL make you fail your classes, jaja. Yes I had Keeko and he was cool, just a lot of busywork in that class. Oh, and Hansen is pregnant in Honors English? To answer your question I would say no the Argentine girls here are in love with Elder Fiabane and he would say the opposite so you can decide who is telling the truth :P
  8O Love you so much!

Nathan:
That is awesome that you have seminary now! It is a great class and very exciting! You can learn a lot in there! That is cool that you have Sackett, I never had him myself but I knew a lot of people who liked him! Continua practicando tu Castillano y podemos hablar cuando regreso. Voy a necesitar un tranducidor para mi y vos podes hacerlo! And you slow danced with the girl you like WHAT? jaja jk bien hecho. I look forward to the day when we can once again destroy the GDF (those scum) and kill some zombie Left 4 Dead status. Love you so much!

I want to invite you guys to get your patriarchal blessings! I know that they will bless you a ton and it is only an interview and blessing! Let me know how it goes!

``I`m black how dare you assume that I am tan!`` Shawn

``Oh no Gus what will we ever do, it is closed`` (steps over chain) ``That wasn`t too bad`` Shawn

I love you guys soo much and can`t wait to hear from you next week!

Ammon the most amazing missionary!!!

There were 34 missionaries who arrived this week. It really wasn´t like I was expecting. Basically nothing happened :P We are now in a new Zone Formosa 3 with half our old zone still in Formosa 1. We have one new area that is a companionship of Hermanas and I am pretty sure that one of them is a Hermana from my mtc district. I will see tomorrow. 

Sometimes it can be a little cold but the winter is over now. Now it is time for the hottest hot I have ever seen. I have decided that I hate humidity and am very glad that Utah is dry because humidity causes molds, colder cold, and hotter hots. I don´t even think there is any benefit to it...

We attend a ward here not a branch. I think that all the churches here are wards unless they don´t have a meeting house. Because here each ward has its own church to make it easier for the people to go to church. With more buildings it is less travel distance. 

The city here is different. The way that houses are build is very different from the states. There are still lots of empty lots around in the city and one that is next door to us is being built on.. Here is just a few guys who have come and laid down a huge cement slab for the floor and then they have these red bricks (different from the kind in the states) and they take cement and start building the walls. Almost always the houses are one story and I don´t think any house has a basement. It is also common for the walls to be built of only wooden slabs side by side and you can even see through them if you try. Air conditioning and heaters are the kind that you mount on the wall not ventilated through the house. Electricity wires are often strung through comers of the house not in the walls. Sometimes a better floor, roof, or walls will be put in later after it is done. The floors are always tile; it is very rare to see carpet or anything else. 

Markets aren´t too different from home. They work basically the same. They aren´t as nice though. They also don´t have near as many choices of food. We are very limited in selection. Basically someone here decided that all food should be the same. Everything is also cooked in oil, if it isn´t it probably isn´t Argentine, haha Even a salad is lettuce coated in oil but those aren´t common. Tons of fried meats, potatoes, eggs, noodles, and rice. The big difference in stores here and there is that here there are a lot of little kiosks and hardly any large stores. There is a kiosk house on every street but hardly any big stores. There is a chango más (Walmart with a different name to have latinos enter it) but it is out of our area. I have heard that it has lots more options and food from the states. I had the Hermana that we live with buy me a jar of peanut butter there.

Mom I am glad you asked, there are lots of different ways that you can approach reading the BoM again. For me, I didn´t connect the entire story in my head before my mission. I knew basically all the stories but I wasn´t totally sure how they connected. If you haven´t yet spend some time focusing on the story behind it all. But you probably already have done that... another thing you can do is study it by topic. When you do that you will want to keep a study journal. I find when studying like that the best way to start is pick a topic and start in PMG or the topical guide. You can read each of the passages and write the reference and a summary of what each says and then your study journal will be really useful for things such as talks or if for whatever reason you need a scripture about something. If you study it by topic or through PMG you will probably find that there are key chapters and passages that are used a lot for different topics. Such as 2 Nefi 2, 9,31,32, Alma 17, 26, 31, Ether 12, and many others. 

As far as Nefi I like him a lot. He is always willing to go and do what the Lord wants (1 nefi 3:7) He was a great example for all those around him even in times of hardship (1 nefi 14 more or less, when he breaks his bow), also he is a good leader and ruled as a righteous king until his death. 

My favorite person in the Book of Mormon is Ammon. He was an amazing missionary. He was offered to be son of the King but instead chose to be his servant (As Christ always said him who is greatest among you let him be thy servant). He saved the servants of the king by cutting off the arms of the enemies. Then when he had accomplished that he didn´t go back to the king to brag about it he went to the king´s stables and fed his horses because the king had also commanded that his servants do that. He then converted the king to the church. As it says in the scriptures that not a single one of his converts fell away from the church. Also my favorite chapter in the Book of Mormon Alma 26 when Aaron was telling Ammon not to boast then Ammon says ´´yea, I know that I am nothing, as to my strength I am weak, therefore I will not glory in myself but I will glory in my God, because with his strength I can do all things, yea behold many mighty miracles we have brought to pass in this land for which we will praise his name forever.´´ Then he goes on to talk about how he know that it isn´t his strength that he praises but the strength of his God and that if that is boasting then yes, he is guilty of boasting.  Good luck with your studying! Love you all!