Mission to Rosario Argentina: So Many Reasons to Celebrate!

The Stapler was broken so these 2 hand stapled this bulletin board display!!
I think they forgot about thumbtacks

Haylie has taken "Preaching to a Tree" to new heights

HOLA FAMILIA Y AMIGOS
This week was a great one! It consisted of making a variety of great foods(cinnamon rolls, pigs in a blanket, alfahores de maicena), traveling another time to Venado Tuerto in the middle of the night, interviews with our mission president, singing disney songs in divisions at 6:30 am with hna whitworth to the hnas who wanted nothing to do with us haha, laughing through the many miles we walk, eating a real taco(!!! this was a great find- the argentinians don't believe in tacos or hot foods,) celebrating today and yesterday as if it were Christmas and Christmas Eve because why not¿¿ many spiritual lessons, many direct lessons, and many lessons dominated by some local locos. Also 3 months in the mission and one week left of this transfer-- whaaaat how does the time fly?

The Best District Ever!!

We have really been focusing on work with less actives here in Villegas. There are a mountain of less actives and it has been years since some have been to church. As I talked about this in my interview with my Mission President, he advised me to read the Book of Mormon with them, and bear testimony of the Sacrament. There is an undeniable spirit that is in the Book of Mormon. At one time in all of their lives, these individuals felt the power of its message. Perhaps they have forgotten, maybe they have made it to be something they believed they created in their head, but the power is there. The stories are not just words written to fill empty paper They are a history of things, miracles that actually happenend. The more we read this Book, the more we undertand our purpose, our relationship with the Savior, how we can ultimately return to live with God and Jesus Christ, and how we can be happy in this life amidst darkness and affliction. Their story truly is our story. And when we go to church we join with others who have received personal accounts of the truthfulness of this book, and others who are in the process of receiving an answer.

I love going to church above all to take the sacrament. President pointed out something I hadn't really thought of before: As we take the sacrament each week we promise to keep God's commandments, to take upon us the name of His son and always remember Him. If we do this we will ALWAYS have the spirit to be with us. Always is a pretty big word. The people who haven't gone to church for any number of reasons have been living without the spirit. Just as faith without works is dead, when we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism and if we do not attend church to renew our covenants, the gift is in vain.

We always seem to meet someone whose situation is harder than the last. But it is truly remarkable how the gospel of Jesus Christ can apply to any person in any circumstance. I know that there are people all around the world who are suffering or confused, and sometimes at first glance they are not the people you just run to talk to. As a missionary you don't have much of a choice. I am trying not to judge and to love people as Jesus loves us, forgetting appearance, physical abilities, or age. Forgetting how smart they may be or who their friends are...at the end of the day we are all brothers and sisters. We are all loved equally and are therefore equal. Listen with love to the ones who need it the most. Be humble and faithful. Pray often, and God will pour His Spirit upon you. I love you all! Watch conference this weekend. It is going to be so great! Check is out on lds.org. Everyone can watch it! Have a good one!