Hot and Hotter, and bam! My fam!!

So I dont have really any time to write.. but neeeeews flash. Im here in Salta hanging with the hermana leaders until wednesday or thursday, and then Ill get to pick up my daughter from the offices, and go to a area that I dont know and open it...its like a christmas gift. Presidente called me yesterday, Feliz Navidad, i have to asignments. 

He sure knows how to wrap his gifts. 

and they closed my area and gave it the elders... and so that was super sad. And in church it was like a cry fest in Christmas.... but I really felt the love of God in that moment, and learned to focus more in the little baby that was born, waiting in the stable.. and no think of what was to come in his life or mine. He was born to give us peace. So I just sat there in the church and thought about that little baby boy... Im so grateful he loves us so much.

and of couse I got to TALK TO MY AWESOME FAMILY!!!

It was a little loud, spanish and english was confused, and tears were shed. I sure love them. Give them a hug or like ten for me. hahahaha

I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Hope you had an awesome Christmas, and have a happy new year!!!

LOVE

hermana Bower

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!!

Wow... we-re almost in CHRISTMAS!!!

I feel like Buddy the Elf yelling to everyone that Santas coming!!!!!

So this week, I really saw miracles!! wooohoo!! We took Luciano and Celeste to the church. Theyre a really young couple. They took their month old puppy with them.. yeah hahaha it was interesting. but they went! They have a baptism date for 7 of January. And Mirta went to church also. We-re teaching her! Shes renting from one of our converts. Shes from the country and left her kids and her husband to be with another guy.. but shes like super awesome.. and just like everyone... looking for peace. and Liliana our convert went to church with her grandkids. it really was a miracle to see them all sitting together. love it!!!

Yesterday was so spiritual in the church. I could really feel the spirit so strong. all of the little kids stood up and sang how Christ loves them and how Hes always so close.... and it made me stop and think... do i feel the saviors love? In everything around me? Do I feel him right beside me?

And the answer is yes! Hes always there!!

And well I had to give a talk yesterday... that they asked us saturday at 10pm to do it... and then our ward mission leader likes to mess with me and said that I didnt have to give a talk... and then the bishop called me name to give a talk... oh well. hahaha missionary life. 

But I watched as the 12 year old boys handled the sacrament with care. They were so reverent... there was a little boy running around and climbing the pulpit and one of the boys passing the sacrament, tapped him on the shoulder and let him eat of the bread... and wow...the spirit really testified to me how sacred is the sacrament. How often do we get distracted by everything other than the spirit and the sacrifice of Christ in this moment? The sacrament is a little bit of bread to remember the body of Christ, and a little bit of water to remember the blood he shed. we take this every sunday to remember him. 

Are we rememebering him?

I felt the saviors love in that moment as I watched a young man give the water and bread to the little boy to make sure that EVERYONE could participate, that this little boy wouldnt be forgotten. I loved that so much yesterday.

I hope that this Sunday we wont complain that Christmas falls on a day that we cant go out and buy things or that we need to go to church. I hope that we can be happy and remember that because this little child was born, our lives are changed. How awesome is that Sunday is Christmas, and that we can partake of the sacrament and remember him in HIS day. 

I love you all more than you know!!!

AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Lots of love from you favorite burnt white girl in Argentina,

Hermana B.

?

So... We're getting closer to Christmas, and the Sun is getting closer to Argentina. We're almost in full out summer... and man oh man.. we feel it!!

This week I was listening to a family tell us about their puppy that died last month.. yeah sad stuff, nd lo and behold...

its name was KOBY!! LIke what? Im in Argentina... And I had a flashback moment to when I was little with my brothers...

"Ahhh Kobe is so pretty" 

"Aw thnks brother."

"Not you, the nieghbors dog Kobe..." 

hahahaha Thanks Jace and Jadden, I still remember that... hahahaha

Its just weird.. I was sitting there at the table just like what....

But whateves Im best friends with that family now, hahaha they really loved that dog. hahahahaha

SO our investigadors are all sick... like need to go to the hospital sick... the sun is destroying our investigadores! Because here in Tucuman, the climate changes from BOILING HOT to you need a scarf and rain boots.. to BOILING HOT AGAIN that you come out of a ice cold shower sweating. but its the sacrifice. hahaha 

Last night we found a young couple that were moving things from one apartment to another down the street. so we offered to help and we ended up teaching them. Luciano has 19 years and Celeste 22. They accepted a baptism date within like two seconds... and that was last night, when we asked when we could return, they said in Monday. So we're going to visit them tonight too. hahaha I love miracles!! 

I think my brain is melting from the heat... this email is weird... but I love you all... hahh hasta lunes.

THis Christmas... What are you going to give the Savior?

LOVE YA ALL

Hermana Bower

Tuculandia

Welcome to Tuculandia!!

Where the sun ALWAYS burns... i mean shines,

the dogs like to bite,

and the people always offer us water when we're fasting...

It's a different life here.... And everyone keeps telling me how white I am (like I dont know...) and my comp just keeps busting up laughing and telling them that they dont even know... I was so much whiter before... she saw some pics... hahahaha

Im like a freak show here... hahaha the poor white girl walking down the street, sweating, changing colors from white to RED, and trying to speak spanish... hahahah but whatever because what they dont know is that we're called to be here... and being the Lords hands is a special priviledge Ive come to LOVE!

Like this week, we were walking... and walking.. and walking... under the sun. and we clapped our hands at this one door... which is what they do here to knock on doors.. everyone will clap their hands, no one knocks on the door. hahah and no one left.... and well we didnt blame them. It was siesta, and buuuurning hot outside... but hahah we kept trying. So we clapped our hands again. Out ran some vicious dogs trying to eat us, but we felt like we had to keep trying at this door... so we clapped again, and yelled HOOOOLAAAA!! Like some white hippy, and well, the door opened. And out hobbled a little old man. And a HUGE smile broke out, and he like ran, stumbling to open the gate for us.... Turns out he is member.  YEars and years as a member, he was ward mission leader for 20 years, and had a lot of callings, really active... but hasnt went because he couldnt walk... now hes stumbling around a bit more... but we sat down and sang and prayed and he was almost crying telling us that he thought everyone had forgotten of him.... and my heart just broke. but it also filled up with the love that God has for this older brother. And I know, that God never forgot about him. So we testified to Ramon... the brother, that God loves him and hes never been lost to him. Sometimes we think that, that we're alone and that people or maybe even God has forgotten about us. But if God remembers this little old man Ramon, I know He knows you.

LOVE YOU ALLL!!!!!!

Hermana Bower

Letters

Hermana Bower

Casilla de Correo 429

4400 Salta

Salta

Argentina

Socks, sunshine, and smiles

So this week... Im like seriously so burnt its not even funny and now its pouring rain. Tucuman is constantly throwing a fit. A member gave me a jacket because I was freezing to death and then the next day, Im so burnt that everyone keeps poking me to see my skin change colors... and now its raining... and Im safely here in the church building.. but Ill need to leave sometime. hahaha

This week....

we went to a man made lake and chilled it eating churripan... look it up. its awesome. Its like their version of sausage here. hahaha And we taught a little girl who is 9. but she ended up rejecting us because she said that she doesnt want to be Mormon right now... she wants to be a Nun.... okaaaay... hahahaha

we had a really intense District meeting... these elders are like super serious right now... my comp and i are the only hnas in our district... but we're going to shake it up a bit. hahaha We taught a lot of people about the new idea for Christmas.. and what can we give our Savior. I love this plan because really everyone is so depressed about all the bad in the world, and teaching them how to shine forth so that the light of Christ can iluminate the world, its opening doors for us. Its opening hearts. Because everyone NEEDS more light in their lives. 

Miercoles, I NOW HAVE 14 MONTHS IN THE MISSION:.. I really really didnt think Id survive until this day. hahahaha but wow.... I dont even want to think about that. hahahaha We also had interviews with Presidente, and wow... sometimes I just love him to death. he always reads my mind. And literally we always leave the interview laughing up a storm and talking about something that is not related to the gospel at all.. .how bad. hahaha no but this interview was powerful. I felt the spirit so strong! He left me thinking... and he told me, that in every conversation, in everyones lives we should always leave them something to remember. Something to leave them thinking. Well he did that for me. 

We taught Isabel this week. We havent been able to find her.... she told us that she wants to know if this church is true... that she needs to know. Shes desperately looking for the plan that God has for her and her family... well its right here. :D I love that we can be messengers of glad tidings.

and We also entered a house this week.. that wow... We entered and two abuelitas answered the door and invited us in... we sat down. I sat down in a chair that was falling apart and full of pee. Yeah... and the abuelita at my side asked me for my socks.... I wasnt wearing any.... and then she asked me to bring size 36 in socks the next time... I told her Id try. hahahah and well they were a interesting pair of sisters. But sitting far back was the step son of one of them.. Hector... He has only one eye... and is like 50. He was listening to our every word.... and for that, Ill sit in pee again, ill enter a house falling apart full of people that dont want us there as long as theres one person waiting for us. We're coming back to that house. 

We went to visit Liliana, and we ended up teaching 7 people in her house. It was awesome. Theyre hard ones but itll work out. She wants so bad for her family to join her in the church. We're preparing them, they just dont know it yet. hahaha

And we had Stake Conference this Sunday... wow.... REVELATION! hahaha

We didnt have an inv. there but wow.. it was full. We spent the morning looking for people and trying to not get soaking wet sharing an umbrella... until we saw a taxi driver pushing his car.. so we offered to help. He was with his two small kids. We helped pushed his car, running to jumpstart in rainboots and skirts. and off he went, really grateful. and we were SOAKED. we arrived just in time for church, like drowned cats. all the missionaries were teasing us, but they dont know. hahaha It was a much happier sunday starting out helping others. hahaha

and something I loved from Conf.

Doctrine and Covenants 68:6...

Be of Good Cheer is not only counsel, its a commandment. :D

LOVE YOU ALL 

Hna B.

P.s. For thanksgiving... we ate CAKE! hahaha a member brought it out, and we asked why.. and she said that she didnt know why she bought it but felt like she needed to. THey normally give us fruit to eat... its because God listens to the prays of one burnt, blonde missionary. hahaha

Fail

Some days, I fail at writing. hahahaha

the quotes that got me through the week:

Just keep swimming -dory

Dont count the days, make the days count. -hna barnes

God is like the wind, you cant see Him, but you can always feel Him. -sis. brigida

If I want to have my little girl forever, of course Im going to read my scriptures, and pray everyday and never miss church. -sis. nanci

The devil didnt want us to get here. so we finally got here for a reason, lets enter and find out why. -our investigator Julieta coming to church for the first time.

And that was my week... in the words of others. hahaha

LOVE YOU ALL!

HAVE AN AWESOME THANKSGIVING!! AND eat lots of turkey and pumpking pie for me, because thanksgiving doesnt exist here... hahahaha

Hermana B

********************************

MAIL ISSUES!

Dear Missionaries,

Please forward this email to all your family members, friends, loved ones, and hated ones.

Dear Family Members, Friends, Loved Ones, and Hated Ones,

If you might want to send a letter or package to your beloved missionary at some point in time, please read the following instructions.

Letters

Send letters to the mission address under your missionary´s name, like this:

Elder Example

Casilla de Correo 429

4400 Salta

Salta

Argentina

Packages

Send packages to the mission office under the name:

Carmen Perez

Casilla de Correo 429

4400 Salta

Salta

Argentina

Please do not put your missionary´s name on the outside of the package or they will never receive it. Put a paper inside the package with the missionary´s name so we know who it is for.  Large packages are not a problem.

Cold water, but burning hearts!

LILIANA WAS BAPTIZED!!!! WOw.... what a way to end the transfer!!

We spent 2-3 hours filling the font with water using buckets, and it was FREEZING cold, and so many things went down, BUT, Liliana was baptized and left shaking from the cold, but smiling so big. she couldnt stop hugging everyone. I just love her!!

It was all worth it. In the begging of this week, we sat down with her and said that the only thing that was stopping her from being baptized is smoking. So we asked her if she would stop smoking and be baptized this saturday. She looked at us... and asked us at what time.

She stopped smoking and was baptized. Sometimes its as simple as that. Let the desires to follow god fill you more than the desire to smoke. shes awesome. Shes been trying to quit smoking all of the time that we've known her. She went from smoking 2 to 3 packs every day to one ciggarete, to just quiting and giving up all this stuff and being baptized. Im so proud of her. You could feel that she was so ready. In her baptism, not everyone knew her, she only went to church 3 times, but they came to support her, and everyone left just crying. The spirit was so strong. She was baptized, the first in her family, but she gave her testimony after she was baptized, and wow... God prepares the means for great things to be accomplished. 

Now we're working with her family... itll be a little bit more of time, but as we could see this week. With God, nothing is impossible.

I love this work, I love the chance to see light enter the lives of those we teach. No one is too far gone that they cant return. God with help even the most lost sheep.

LOVE YOU ALL! Looks like Ill be here in Belgrano for more time, with the same comp.

Nos vemos!
Hna B.

Donkey Daze

This semana.... Well, I hugged a donkey..

and it was under a GIANT Christ statue that is doing the peace sign... sometimes I really dont know where I am...

hahaha

This semana.. I dont have much to say... Because.. I dont really remember what we did. It was so fast!! We had Halloween... and I ate so much candy that was really stupid. hahaha and then we just went kind of crazy this week.

BUT we did have a miracle... or like 5. hahah but one was our inv. Maria never stayed for more than an hour of church.. but yesterday she stayed for ALL of it! The spirit was so strong. I gave my testimony, my comp gave hers and CRIED it up...hahaha and the spirit... wow... I walked into church thinking about who was going to come, if we needed to call them, and walked out, thinking only how grateful I am that we have a Savior. Its always a good reminder. Cheer up, God loves you. And PLEASE leave the world at the door. Its Gods church and hes the one waiting for you. 

Its my goal to always feel the spirit when taking the sacrament, even if children are screaming and throwing toys at me, I can feel the same peace I feel in the Temple. Its my goal to not only remember him in that moment but remember Christ and the sacrament throughout the week. Its my goal, and I hope its yours too.

"I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me..."

Its great to know, even in our bad days, he loves us.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

This week has been so high en the clouds and then smacking the ground in a huge stinking nose dive, and now in the clouds again! hahha

This week... what can I say....hahha

First off... I went to walmart today and bought spicy brown mustard... normal day... haha for you guys! It was a MIRACLE!!! I also saw goldfish!!!!! AND REESES AND A SYMPHONY BAR!!! Someone pinch me please!!

And now getting out of the things of the world...

Weve seen some crazy stuff this week. And we could find some awesome people. Here in Tucuman, the question everyone always asks is why theres so much bad if god loves us? And ive had the awesome opportunity to testify that God really loves us and that is why he will NEVER choose our decisions. He will guide us, give us prophets, scriptures, the holy ghost, literally everything to be sure that we wont fall but he will not choose. He loves us just that much. Im grateful for that choice, because I know im stubborn and if someones chooses for me, I dont like it one bit. hahaha We need to choose our own salvation. And it really is through our decisions everyday.

Liliana went to church again this week!!! WOOHOO! But Julio and Juliete no... because we passed by to their house in Saturday in the nightime... and a brother from the church gave them a bible, gigante so that liliana can read. And they stayed up together until 5 in the morning... reading ALL OF IT!!! Literally ALL! And we gave them  book of mormon, nd wooohooo.. i just love the hunger tht there is in this family to know what god wants for them. Theyre willing to give everything.... 

I love it nd just feel so blessed to know them nd try to help them.

We also used the 5th sunday to teach the ward... hahh it was awesome. We did prctices in how to give a book of mormon, how to invite your friends! It was just so great!!! It just made me love the scripture John 21:15-17 more!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL!!!

From my zombies to yours... hahah

Hermana B

A slice of miracles please!!!

I haven't been able to stop smiling alllllll week!!

MIRACLES ARE HAPPENING HERE!!!!

This week we have a lesson with one of invs... Liliana. Shes awesome. I just can't stop hugging her... shes like a little old preacher. hahaha shes not old really, looks like it but no... shes has 55 years.. she literally is so ready to be baptized, God has been preparing her for YEARS!! She listened to the Elders 25 years ago.. And its really like shes teaching us. She told us that she believes that everyone forgot about God and the life before when we were born, but some people can remember better than others who they are. Love it! The only thing thats stopping her from being baptized is that she smokes. Alot. like alot. But she really wants to stop, so if you could all pray for her! Shes down to smoking one cigarete every day... but still has a ways to go. And she is always talking about her kids that live with her... with the drugs, and the all the crap they're into. We just literally finished telling her that through her example, they'll come to know the truth, and in walked in her son Julio... He has like 24 or 25 years. Hes a drug addict and never wanted to listen to us. We invited again, because you can never lose hope in people, and he sat down to listen... he was more than a little bit timid but in the end we felt like inviting him to be baptized, which obviously is crazy...so of course we did it! He accepted!!!! WOOOHOO!! Hes scared that God wont forgive him and that he cant quit drugs but he really wants to!! Liliana ended up saying the prayer and it was full of the pleadings of a mom, and she was praying for him. and he was crying, and we all just wanted to cry. 

and he said he would go to church. well we went to their house and he said he would go a little bit later... so we went with Liliana and 5 MINUTES LATER her son Julio walked in, really unsure but smiling and luckily a member had found him lost in the hallway and talked to him (another reason, why you should always take to people you dont know in the church building PLEASE!!!! it saves lives) and Julio walked in and Liliana started to cry... saying that she never thought he would come. She thought she would go to church and be baptized alone.. without her family. And well the church was really intense, and we lost the lights in the sacrament, and it was the farewell of  kid leaving for his mission so everyone was crying, and the little old grandma dropped a hammer of a class about the law of chastity... so really church was intense, but they left smiling and happy and said theyd come back next week.

LOVE MIRACLES!!!

Love you all,

Hermana Bower

This is Julio and Liliana!! <3

Foodie alert!!!

I FOUND WALMART!!! AND A REESES IN WALMART!!!
Something just freaking magical happened that yesterday we stumbled into walmart. and so today we went... wow... it was a walmart for rich people if you can believe it but wow... it was liking being in the U.S. without weird people buying things there, and alot more cleaner, and a lot more happy. hahahah

Woohoo!! Sometimes, just sometimes miracles happen! hahah WOoohoo!!!

SO that happened!!

This week... 

I never remember what happens...

We had FHE with a less active member.. and basically they let me throw flour in their faces and then read a scripture explaining why.. hahaha love it. As missionaries, people trust that theres always a spiritual reason to everything that we do. Falling in the street, well someone needed to help us so they could know the church, locking the keys in our apartment so our new leader could learn how to take the door off and the neighbors would come talk to us, and throwing flour in the faces of less activas... because we can. Love it. haha we're teaching her brother in law... and hes trying to quit drugs and keeps asking us if we're sure that God can forgive him for all that hes done.

Of course!! God can't look at us and not forgive us. When we turn our hearts to him, he can make us into who we've always been: sons and daughters of God. He loves us and we have more power than we think to change. We need to take that first step and if we fall, he'll catch us, but if we never take that first step, we cant change. I love teaching about the Atonement. Really, I think my hijastra is like WHY? This lesson again? But really.. Christ can heal hearts, stop tears, change people completely. He's not just some name in the bible, he lives. He lives and can help us.

Yesterday was Mothers day here in Argentina so of course, church was filled with tears and hugs from all the sisters, and every stinking class and talk was about marriage.. hahahaha of course. But we got to eat bbq and cram 15 people at a table to eat. Love it. Bbq, apple soda, and empanadas. Argentina. hahaha

And I ate TACOS THIS WEEK!! We have a family from Chile that love us because luckily my comp is from Chile hahahah so they made us tacos.. woohoo!!! I STILL LOVE TACOS!!! 

And also I went of splits with the lovely Hermana Smith from Orem, Utah. And we ended up teaching a family of 10 people. It was awesome. I love it because every single person was focused and trying to teach the law of chastity to them... ADVENTURE!! hahahaha love the mission.

LOVE YOU ALL TOO!!
Hermana Bower

Stepmommy, bombilla, and strangers walking

So Tucuman... I dont have much time... always.. hahaha but my area is TINY!!!

hahaha Its literally so tiny and we can´t enter a big section of it because its called the Bombilla... and we share a barrio with the Zone Leaders. Adventure.....

And my comp is the bomb. She has SO MUCH energy.. Ive had to kill a little bit of that excitment.. but only in the mornings.. I just cant. hahahah

But shes my step daughter... she gets me. hahahaha

Here in Tucuman, you'll probably never get photos from me.. because I cant take my camera in the streets. Only a book of Mormon in the hand, and the keys to our apartment in my skirt.

hahah speaking of keys.... we're breaking in our new leader misional.... He got called as of 2 weeks and hes had to run in every direction for us. Today... I was standing in the doorway reading a message from him saying that hes going to help us so we dont have to wash our clothes anymore by hand and BAM! The door slammed shut and knocked me out of the way... yeah... the keys were inside.... we were standing in front of our apartment in shorts and tshirts but WITH our tags, and we hadnt showered or anything because we've been cleaning all morning... poor guy, our leader misional came to take off our front door so we could get in. hahaha Im really grateful for our ward. hahaha and also this area is super interesting. Like 2 transfers ago, they changed from Elders to Hermanas... so its all new and all the members are like WOOOHOOO Sisters!!!! And Im the first gringa (the first hermana from the US) here in this area... so everyday is interesting. No one is used to seeing me here. Its a weird area to be in but I know Im here for some reason. hahaha

Conference was awesome no? I hope that you are all watching again and again Conference and never getting tired of hearing the prophets voice. Really easily, we take notes and then put this notebook on a shelf to never ponder about again. Keep Conference fresh in your mind until the next one!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Hermana Bower

Old Hair, Transfers, and PROPHETS

Wow... this week.... There was only one day this week that we didnt travel to Salta... EVERYDAY!!! First for Pday, then for a mtg, then interviews with Pres, then we went to do paperwork so we can get our packages.. which now we can recieve packages!! Wooohoo!! But literally this week was crazy!!! We did service for a hermana in our ward.. we cleaned her house and she paid us with lunch. hahaha and it was all fun and games until she took out an old plastic bag... that had HAIR of missionaries.... she had cut ALOT of hair from the missionaries and stored it in a bag. And then she took it out and started petting it and said,

"Do you think that this Hermana knows Im touching her hair?"

Yeaaaaah okay. BYE!! This was probably one of the weirdest moments this week... but I like her. She's really funny... but yeah okay, I dont think we're going to go back to her house. Another moment was when investigador Romina just started taking pics of us. And then a member walked in and started to take pics of us.. and its just turned into the paparazzi.. and I still dont really know why.. ahaha I love Guemes so much!!! Like really!! Some of my best friends are here.. and of course saying that, last night we found out that tomorrow Im going to Tucuman... to be stolen again.. hahaha no. I LOVED my time here and LOVED my time with Hermana Herrera.. but we both agreed, we're best friends but together, we're elders... we do weird things and get distracted and egg one another on... hahaha no. But friends forever. hahahaha So tomorrow Ill go to Tucuman and meet my step daughter ahahahaha who is also from Chile.. ADVENTURE!!!

And how awesome was this Conference!!! Watching it, I really felt like we need to prepare ourselves... I really love when someone said, "God was listening to me, but I wasn't listening to him." Do we pray just to pray or are we focused on talking to our beloved Father in Heaven. Prayer changes us, not God. THats why we need it so much. 

I was thinking about my prayers alot this week. As missionaries, we pray more than you can even imagine... but I was thinking in the difference in my prayers as a new missionary as to now... When I got here in Argentina, I didnt understand anyone or anything, not only Spanish, but God's plan for me. But I did know that He hears prayers. And EVERY MOMENT, in literally every moment I was praying. The beginning of my mission was hard, not just culture shock or the life of a new missionary, I had many trials put in front of me... But just like the People of Alma, I prayed in my heart when I couldn't pray outloud. And I know God answered me everytime. I know! How? because he didnt take away the trials, he made them lighter, he made me stronger, he gave me love and joy. Really I know that God loves us. I know that we really can be happy in the midst of diffulties... we can have JOY!! But We need to remember who will give us that Joy. We need to rememeber God. Now, my prayers probably arent as continual or fervent because Im not passing through as many things, but how sad.. We really need to remember God in the good and bad, because he always remembers us! Someone recienly sent me this quote,

"Is Prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"

I hope no one will forget how they felt in Conference... and if you didnt watch it to go WATCH IT! Because God speaks to us through the Prophet and the leaders and God is waiting for us to not only talk to Him, but listen. 

I love you all!! And Im so grateful to be able to see Conference and hear the Prophets voice. God hasnt stopped talking to his children, we've just become bad at listening.

Hermana Bower

Next time, writing from TUCUMAN!

One Year older and wiser too.....

So I have now been here for one year.. hahaha time is so fast...

Here's some things ive learned

1. well i still havent learned spanish... 

2. Dont sleep with your body uncovered... bugs... lots of bugs..

3. Smile, you're working for the Lord

4. If you see a coakroach, burn it alive, because if theres one, theres sure to be more.

5. Love everyone like they're your family, because they are, and you hope that people are treating your family the same.

6. Just talk to people, everyone just needs someone. Be that someone.

7. If you're scared, there's no room for faith.

8. Look up, not over, not back, not down. Look up to God.

9. I really like REALLY love llamas

10. Ants here CAN and WILL try to take you away.

11. how to wash all my clothes by hand

12. how to cook (I know you're happy with that mom) but i still dont make my bed... hahahah

13. How to drop to the floor when a dog is running towards you

14.Clean your apartment. just do it. enough said.

15. And really, that God loves us sooooooooooo stinking much. The life here is crazy. Its loud, it really smells horrible all the time, and people like to try to confuse me with their spanish, hahaha but I love it so much. I cant imagine serving anywhere else.I know that everyone says that.. but Argentina has my heart. I love that I have the opportunity to not only feel the love of God but to share it. Really, the only reason I can be here is because God loves me enough and he sure as heck knows that im not perfect but hes okay with that. He trusts me to be here. I feel that trust everyday that I can talk to someone. I love my Savior so much. and I sooo grateful. Thanks to him and i can breath. Nothing that has happened or will happen can keep me down. LOVE YOU ALL

Hermana Bower

oops

So like... Hi... 

I literally forgot to write.. I dont know what is happening to my brain this week... I thinks its because using pants in the heat...

hahaha but the old man who we baptized.. hes just awesome. 80 years old and he rode his bike to church to make it. He didnt know that a member was going to pass by for him to pick him up.. so to not miss church he jumped in his bike. hahahah Hes just awesome. 

My companion and I have been making a dent here in Guemes. Im so glad that shes here working her butt of with me. Wepre seeing miracles and crazy things! hahaha sorry this email sucks. hahaha But I literally forgot!!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Hermana B

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Dear Missionaries,

There has been a change in the mailing system here in Argentina that makes it so we can’t receive packages at this moment. We are working on finding a solution to the problem as soon as possible. Please tell your parents and loved ones to not send you packages until we have a solution. (Or you can just forward this message so you don’t have to explain anything.)

Have a great day!

Elder Chambers | Secretary

Argentina Salta Mission | 2012316

Cell 387 445 4476 | Office 387 439 8119

Angels in white, and missionaries in black PANTS

Okay so I dont really have time this week, but I feel like someone will kill me if I dont write something. hahaha This week was CRAZY!!! We're running around in Pants now... and mosquitos still managed to bite us... my comps hand is swollen big because I think shes allergic.. hahahaAnd well.. yeah hahaha this whole pants business is horrible because the pants are horrible and no one wants to say hi to us in the streets. hahahaha its a new adventure everyday here in Argentina. 

And also Valeriano Avillo has been investigaging the church for 3 years, and has wanted to be baptized all this time. And he finally stopped drinking and was baptized, he told me,

Now, we're family.

ahhhhhh!! Love him! He has 80 years and awwww 

And Yuliana was baptized!! Shes so great and all of the youth stuck to her like glue!!! I love it here. Except for the pants. hahaha

Ill write more next week! LOve you all

Hermana Bower

God loves me, and I love Llamas...

What didn´t happen this week...

Only...

THE BIGGEST FIESTA EVER IN GUEMES!!!

All thanks to a Virgen named Santa Rosa of Lima.... I dont know.. I dont understand... But It was CRAZY!!! We couldnt really visit ANYONE... so taking advantage of the fiesta we talked to as many people as we could... hahaha and well another pic with a llama...!! This was literally one of the craziest days of the mission. This week was so fast!!! Seriously! It was a blur of Virgen statues, llamas, and coca cola... But My comp and I have really been focusing on sharing about the Atonement.. youd be suprised how many members dont even really understand it... its crazy. We`ve been focusing on helping our investigadores understand it. And wow.... When we really do as the scriptures says in Nephi.. When we talk of Christ, preach of Christ, rejoice in Christ... people change. And the light of Christ can enter there lives. We have seen that this week. One of our investigadores Alicia, we told her to study about the Atonement and gave her scriptures to read and she hasn't stopped! Her boyfriend came into town after working for a month and she didnt want to stop reading! Hearts change!! She started to teach us!! hahaha And she read to us in Alma 34... if you havent read it.. do it! hahaha 

And this week we have 2 baptisms planned. Yuliana a timid girl who has been assisting and now will actual smile at us, and Hermano Avillo... he has 80 years and loves to go to church, and wants to live again with his family. So if you could pray for them... baptisms are always crazy things here!! hahaha But I love this so much!! I love that God never gives up on us, and in the midst of people dancing and drinking and carry statues of idols... We could talk to a guy who was searching for God.. Searching for God in the midst of Chaos. If you search, God is literally right here and he wont ever move. I dont know why it takes us so long to really learn that.....God loves us, and if we love him. And with that, doesn't everything change?

Hermana B.

Also... I bought pants to start wearing in the week... -_-

Preachers, storms, and panchos...

Okay, so Ive just got to say that I love my companion. Hermana Herrera. hahaha we realized in the first together that we're the same. hahah this means that we're always running to appointments because we're late because we both got distracted, but we're working on that... hahahah

Everynight this week we've seen the Catholic Church having mass in the streets and having a parade for different Virgens.... And every night we walk right through this crowd inviting people to know Christ while we're munching on footlong hotdogs.. hahahah

Other churches really hate us... but tomorrow is the BIG FIESTA of the Patrona Virgen in Guemes... We're going to be talking to people all day in the streets! Im super pumped, Ill take lots of pics!!

THis week we're were teaching an abuela who loves her santos, and HATES her neighbor and we ask her to pray, so she did... but in her head. for 10 MINUTES!! hahaha I was literally dying of laughter. My comp and I just kept looking at one another and then at her... 10 minutes and then she said Amen... hahahahah So many weird things happened this week.. so many!!

But our investigadores are progressing like crazy right now. Yuliana will be baptized in 10 Sept, and Hno Avillo in 9 Sept. And we have 4 other baptisms planned. I have a feeling this month and a half with my comp will be the best. hahahaha 

LOVE YOU ALL

AND MUCHAS GRACIAS to my girls in the Walnut Grove Ward. I love you chicas. I got your letters! Literally made my day today reading them. I love you all and your strong testimonies and your love for everyone. hahaha And thanks Ryann... Im going to take your advice and always knock on one more door! LOVE YOU CHICAS!

LOVE

Hermana B

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Estimadas Hermanas,

Ya se les ha depositado el dinero para la compra de pantalones de vestir en sus tarjetas. Estimamos que el dinero les alcanzará para 3 o 4 prendas. Favor mandar comprobantes de compra y si tienen un sobrante deben enviar al secretario financiero por sobre cerrado a través de los líderes. 

Les copio una porción de la carta del departamento misional anunciando el cambio:

"Durante las temporadas en que el contagio de enfermedades serias transmitidas por mosquitos sea alto, se anima a las misioneras de las misiones que hayan sido autorizadas  a que lleven pantalones de vestir cuando hacen proselitismo. Las misioneras deben continuar usando faldas o vestidos cuando asistan al templo o durante los servicios de adoración del domingo, las conferencias de líderes y de zona, y los servicios bautismales; sin embargo, al asistir a los servicios de adoración del domingo, las conferencias de líderes y de zona, y los servicios bautismales, pueden usar pantalones de vestir hasta llegar al lugar de reunión y cambiarse antes de que comience la misma."

Esperamos que esto nos ayude a mantener una misión con "cero dengue"

Favor recordar utilizar la permetrina en ropa de vestir, sabanas, colchón, puestas ventanas, etc. También deben usar repelente en la piel con la frecuencia necesaria.

Por consultas adicionales escriban a la Hermana Chaparro 

Gracias por su servicio

Hermana y Presidente Chaparro

Aquí figuran fotos de ejemplos de la Hermana Chaparro para ayudarles con escoger los pantalones:

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They are telling us to buy pants... nnoooooo or skirts large.... thats like impossible here. the only long skirts are weird gypsy skirts. Ahhhhh nooooo hahahahahaha nooo pants

Estimadas Hermanas,

La falsas largas, máxis o long skirts también están permitidas aunque consideramos que la mejor protección son los pantalones. En caso de optar por faldas deberían no olvidar de aplicar permetrina rociando la prenda a fin de aumentar la protección contra mosquitos.

Gracias por su servicio

Hermana y Presidente Chaparro

Soy un abuellita.. en la mision, y la vida...

So.... I just gotta say...

This week... I have to not only buy pants... but start wearing them... 

Presidente made it final... we need to start using pants to protect from the mosquitos that are giving everyone dengue.... 

Tomorrow Im going to have 11 months in the mission and this is how things change?! This is going to be SOOOO WEIRD!! Dont worry, Ill take lots of selfies... oh gosh...

This week was awesome!! So I just love my ward here, one of our investigadores made me a cake for my birthday, and then the YSA of the ward threw me a party.. and wow... 20 years old.. ew. hahaha I feel old...

Today I got a new companion

Hermana Herrera from Chile... she has 5 months in the mission.. and well shes practically a baby in the world of missionaries... and she asked me how many months I have... 11... wow.. yeah Im old now.. in years and months! ahhhh

But awesome... this week has been crazy.. So last night we were testifying in the streets to one kid that is 19 years old that hes a son of God and no matter what God loves him.. yeah... its sad to see the decisiones of people so young. And when we went to visit Vetiana, she was in the church of the Evangelistas... :( This week I could really understand what Joseph Smith experienced... Never before have I understand that part when he sad there were so many different churches and the pressure to join one was so high. because... yeah theres alot of churches but a lot of people dont even believe in God in the US.But here... wow... Joining a religion is so important here.. walking down the street, theres the priest of the Catholic Church waving smoke and singing with a giant crowd of people carrying a statue of Jesus Christ walking down the street, the churches are open and you can hear a million different religions singing and for once I understand.. how the pressure can be so intense to feel the need to be part of a religion. Everyone here is of one church or another.... and Im just so grateful for the restored truths. God brings light, understanding, and peace.. and if you dont understand whats being said, why youre there... then you need to really ask God what he wants for you. God will never lie. If you ask in faith, and you are willing to act, he will always show you the way. I love that when I enter our church, I feel at peace. I feel like God is smiling at me, and hes been leading the way there all along. Its  a feeling different..... its the love God has for us, his children.

I love that we can bring that hope, that peace to people. I know that God loves us, he wants us to return to him, and he will show us the way. We've just got to be good at listening, and then following. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAY WISHES!!! It was different to celebrate here, and a little ratchet, but I loved it!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Hermana B