2017.02.20 Week 37 - If Rudy can be Mormon, you can too!

This week I went back to Bariloche for a conference. It was the best. I love that place, but it didn't feel the same. I know that I am meant to be in Roca right now. I don't really have time to say anything so here is my testimony.


Yo se que esta iglesia es verdadera. Se que Jesucristo es nuestro salvador y el redentor del mundo. Gracias a el tenemos oportunidades sin fin. Siempre vamos a poder empezar de nuevo. Testifico que JoseSmith restauro la iglesia de Jesucristo de nuevo en este tierra por la ultima vez. Se que Dios tiene un plan perfecto para nosotros, gracias a esto vamos a poder vivir con nuestras famililias por la eternidad. Testifico que el Libro de Mormon es un libro de Dios y que siempre podremos aprender mas sobre Jesucristo cuando leimos. Se que Jesucristo nos enseno las cosas que tenemos que hacer para volver a la presencia de Dios.

Vamos Arriba people!

If Rudy can be Mormon, you can too.



Leadership meetings with Elder Jose A. Teixeira of the Seventy.

2016.12.26 Week 29 - We brought gingerbread cookies

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and could remember Christ a little bit. Not much happened here, but I got to talk to my family and that was super great. Sort of. There are a few more people taller than me now so I don't know if I'm ever gonna go home. But they are really great. 

This week was spent with us trying to find a pension (apartment) to rent for the new elders that are going to be in our area. We just pretended we were on HGTV with a really small budget and really ugly furniture.

For Christmas Eve we went and ate with our favorite Italians. He cooked a trout he caught for us. It was a three course meal all with homemade noodles. It couldn't have really been more delicious. 

They also almost cried when we they saw that we brought gingerbread cookies. They took a million pictures of them and told us how they have only ever seen them in the movies. It made us feel like we were on food channel, real deal chefs or something great like that. 

Sunday we had church for an hour and were surprised to see someone from the area presidency there, he gave a great talk. Also, we are super excited because Elder Nelsen is going to come to our mission in April. I can´t wait to meet that guy!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

~Sent from my Internet Cafe~

This is what it looks like when you are dying of frio (cold) in your pension (apartment).

Here is some other picture that was to small for me to see what it was but I hope it was really great.

Here's us with some food.

2016.12.24 Week 29 - Bariloche Zone Conference

Be sure and notice Rachel's shoes! This is what they looked like when she left.

Feliz Navidad!

2016.12.19 Week 28 - I have a huge sunburn under this snowsuit

So this week was just great. 

We had the funnest slash funniest tea party ever. We get this call from a woman named Nancy to come over and have tea with her and her Aunt during the week. And of course we say yes because she is an investigator and her Aunt is a member. So then the day for tea comes and we go. We get there and it's her, her Aunt and 2 other women. All in their late 80's. But these aren't just cualquier (any) 80-year-olds. THEY ARE KILLING IT. It was pretty much just hilarious. They are all just yelling the whole time because nobody can hear, and we're all drinking "tea". And eating panettone. It was hilarious. 

But then it just got better. Guacalda starts telling everyone she's sick of living because she's just bored. So they all convince her that she should just start a bread business. They tell her to buy a new stove. Bake bread every day. And sell it in the streets. But we can't forget the last part. She lives in a little house on the property of her son and he can't know about any of this. So really the plan is that she is going to do all this without him knowing. She's just gonna hide the bread under the bed. Then she realized she can't actually walk super well. So the other woman gives her, her cane. It was just great. And super funny. And super fun. The plan is to baptize them all.

Basically, Argentina is getting along just fine, and I'm wondering if summer is ever going to come. The weather here is crazier than Utah. I have a huge sunburn under this snowsuit. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!! 

2016.12.12 Week 28 - I found this sweater in the street

BOCA beat RIVER (soccer teams based in Buenos Aires) this week which actually just meant walking through the streets we could hear people in their houses watching the game and screaming. And then running out of their houses decked out in all blue forming into a parade. Whipping out the trumpets (literally) and beating a ton of drums while they chanted the BOCA theme song. I still don´t know if I support BOCA or RIVER but I did choose to leave my red clothes home for safety. 

In other news, my companion is a walking spaz attack and exploded a whole bidon of agua (large water bottle) on the floor this week as she told me "she was an expert" at lifting with her legs and not her back because she did cheer in high school. She started squat waddling across the floor with the whole water bottle and then just spazzed. The water fell and was just dumping everywhere. I screamed and jumped up, cutting my leg on my chair just to add blood to the situation. She picked up the water so it would stop spilling and then we noticed that the bidon actually just broke so it was still shooting water everywhere. Add to this situation the fact that we got new neighbors and they were moving in right as we are screaming. We open the door, throw out the bidon shooting water and then proceed to mop out a ton of water into the outside hall and all over the stairs. I would definitely say it was a great first impression.

I bought my dream crocs this week. They're not even name brand because I was reading in the scriptures about "expensive clothing, and tinkling things" or something like that and decided that I would be able to survive with fake crocs. 

We also found some super awesome investigators this week! One time we got to this neighborhood really early for lunch so that we could contact a little bit. We contact this house and this woman comes out who isn´t really that interested, but then she says she will go ask if her husband is interested. We just assume we will never see either of them ever again because it's kind of a classic go-hide-in-my-house move. But then her husband did come out. We started talking and he is actually from Italy. In the end, they invited us in right then and there to eat lunch with them. It was awesome and horrible since we were on the way to lunch right then. But now we are just waiting to receive a Book of Mormon in Italian so that he can understand a little better. Por lo menos (at least) I feel great about my Spanish now because his Spanish is completely horrible.

I just want you to all remember why we celebrate Christmas and all the things that Christ has done for you, its really just incredible.

Oh also, we met this tourist this week who was a missionary in this area in 1969. When he was here there wasn't even one member. It was just him and his companion. And now he came back to find a whole stake and 14 missionaries. I loved being able to talk to him and see that the work of God really is progressing quickly!

Oh yeah, I also decided to make a Christmas tree. I decorated it with flowers and trash I found in the street.

This is us as true Argentines. Crocs. Hand Knit socks. Piel de Mono (literally translates to "monkey skin" Weird.) sweaters. And scrunchies. Also, I found this sweater in the street.

2016.11.21 Week 25 - Lots of miracles this week

I have no time left. But it was a great week. The comp and I are homies now. And we saw lots of miracles this week.

Here are 2:

We say hi to a woman outside of her house and start talking to her. Turns out she "Has a Mormon Bible" and has been reading it for 30 years. She loves it and knows it's true.

We contact a random house. The woman comes out. Hi, we are the missionaries. Oh hi, me and my husband were just eating lunch and wondering who we have to pay to get into that church on Elflein y Frey. Oh that's our church, it's free. Awesome. Can we teach you? SICK MAN.

Hope you all have a fantastic week and remember that God loves you!

2016.11.14 Week 24 - I have been here forever

I am still alive. All is well. Donald is Trump. And the only thing anyone wants to talk about here is Trump. Oh well. He cray.

Transfers happened and my companion left me. It was pretty much the saddest thing ever and was really shocking. She´s only been here one transfer and I have been here forever so I am not really sure how that happened. 

Anyway, I'm an Hermana Lider (leader) now. I'm in charge of all the Hermanas in the South of our mission and will be doing intercambios (exchanges) with all of them. It should be fun. I was really hoping I could have more time as a normal missionary before I had all these other responsibilities, pero todobien (but all is well). 

My new comp is probably a great person but I haven´t found out yet. All I know is that she brought enough suitcases and things to last her 10,000 years.  We´ll see how it goes. Please pray for me.

Funny Moment of the Week: 

I can´t think of one, sorry.

Spiritual Moment of the Week:

God prepares us for anything we have to do. Even if it seems hard. WE GOT THIS.

 A lady in our ward knit us these sweaters. She cried when I told her I might be leaving this area.

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2016.11.7 Week 23 - I can't wait to help him in his life goal

Not much happened this week.

THATS A LIE.

I´m engaged. 

A really great drug dealer in the street invited me to get married to him 4 times yesterday. I'm really excited for our wedding that will probably be tomorrow and I can't wait to help him in his life goal to have "millions of Canadian children"

But in reality I told him about thirty times I wasn't from Canada. And he was just absolutely sure that we needed to get married. HANNAH (BYU friend) I accomplished that thing on your bucket list that was, "Get someone to fall in love with you, propose, SAY NO" Never thought that would happen but I am really glad you can cross it off the list. 

Besides that, the week was a little normal, but I am loving serving the Lord and interested to see what translados (transfers) bring this Friday. There is a good chance I will be leaving Bariloche because I have been here so long. I'm really sad about that, but we will see. Love you all!

2016.10.31 Week 22 - Apparently, big cheeks are a good thing

It was a really boring and annoying week because we were in Neuquén. We were doing trámites (Passport procedures) for the whole week. This involved going to the police station one day, signing some papers. Wasting a day waiting for the papers to be passed to another office. Going to Immigrations for a day and signing three other papers. THE WORST. Oh well. I guess we are just trying to be legal. The mission president and his wife aren't even legal. No one here is legal. No importa (It doesn't matter). 

Today is Halloween and I am dressed as an American. I don't have many options, but I have to dress up for Halloween. I have to.

Interesante Momento del Semana: (Interesting moment of the week)

We eat lunch with the bishop of another ward every other Saturday. It's a really annoying situation where the best family that lives in our ward IS THE BISHOP OF THE OTHER WARD. Anyway. Here's the conversation.

Obispo: Usted está engordando? ---Bishop: Are you getting fat?

Yo: Si, claro. ---Me: Yes, of course.

30 minutos después ---30 minutes later

Obispo: Yo puedo ver que usted esta engordando. Sus mejillas son mucho mas grande ahora. Creo que tal vez esta mas saludable. Ha dicho a su Mama? ---Bishop: I can see that you're getting fat. Your cheeks are much bigger now. I believe that perhaps you are more healthy. Have you told your mom?

Yo: No ---Me: No.

Obispo: Necesita decirla. ---Bishop: You need to tell her.

Yo: No creo que es necesaria, ella puede ver en mis fotos. ---Me: I don't believe it's necessary, she can see me in the photos.

Thanks Obispo (Bishop). Thanks.

Apparently, I am getting fatter. Apparently, it's healthy. Apparently, big cheeks are a good thing. Apparently, I won't be able to use the slacks that I brought. Apparently, I should probably start exercising. Ya fue. (Nothing I can do about it now.)

I hope you all will like the fat version of me that will be returning to America en algunas meses (a few months).

Good luck out there in the world of people who aren't getting fatter every day because all you eat is bread and pasta.

Remember that God is real and is helping us every second.

2016.10.24 Week 21 - Apparently I screamed

It was a pretty long week in the beginning. The hermana leaders called us Monday night and said they would be here for the week. Just kill me. We don´t really get along and I was really annoyed that they would call so late without giving us time to buy food or anything, but oh well. They are pretty much the most pesada (heavy) people I know. But by the end of the week, we became friends and all is well. But I did write one journal entry in all caps and just scribble all over one page to try and relieve my anger with them. 

This week we found a super awesome investigator named Vicky. She is trying to learn English and I think she will be baptized very soon. She just needs to get permission from her Mom because she is only 16.

Funny Moments of the Week:

I went to walk off of a bus and the cole changed speeds really quickly so I tried to grab hold of something and failed. So then I was just falling and reaching to grab on to anything. Then I made eye contact with this man sitting there and he grabbed my arm and basically saved my life. But it was HILARIOUS. I'm sure all the people were just like, "I already knew gringos were idiots and now I know for sure." It was quite a scene and apparently I screamed. At least I screamed in Spanish.

We left early for church to try and bring anyone we could in the street. We talk to this old weird man for a while on the corner and then he goes to leave. Before I could do anything he kissed me. HAHAHAHA. I have been kissed by some weird old man in Argentina. My companion had a little more time and was able to avoid it. But for me it just happened way to fast. SO FUNNY AND ALSO THE WORST. In the end, no one from the street went to church, but I know God blessed us for our efforts because two of our investigators showed up halfway through sacrament meeting. Victor was one of them and I almost started crying because I didn´t know if he would ever make it. God really does bless us for our efforts.

Spiritual Thought of the Week:

This week I have been thinking a lot about faith because we always say that we can do anything with faith, but sometimes it doesn´t seem like it. But I realized more this week that we need to have confidence in our faith. Satan has way more confidence in our faith than we do. That is why he is always trying to fill our heads with doubts. It's sad but I think that Satan understands faith a lot more than we do. So this week I am trying to have confidence in faith. We always have doubts thanks to Satan because he knows how much power we would have with faith. JUST HAVE FAITH LIKE SATAN KNOWS YOU CAN. It's exactly what he doesn't want you to do, because he knows that we really can do anything with faith in God.

Anyway, rambling. Hope you all have an amazing week. Ciao!

2016.10.17 Week 20- How awesome God is

It was another great week on the mission. This week we spent a lot of time searching for people to teach. We have a lot of investigators that are not progressing like we are hoping so we are trying to find new ones. This search is pretty hard but we are super excited about the three kids that we are teaching. This week is when I have started to understand the rule in the handbook about how we can't adopt. THESE KIDS ARE SO CUTE. Their Mom left them when they were both little and their Dad is a boracho (drunk). I love them so much and I really want them to be able to turn their lives around. It's hard to be on a mission and love people so much and see that they still aren't going to do anything to better their lives. Sometimes I just want to take away people's agency because I know that their life would be better if they would just listen.

This week Carolina sent us a message saying she doesn't want to hear from us more. So that was super sad and pretty hard. She was progressing so much before and then it just stopped. HORRIBLE. 

My companion is super awesome. Her Castellano is already super good and we are excited to work more. LOVE YOU ALL!! Remember how awesome God is and that he can really help you with anything.

Funny Story: My companion already can't speak English. Some people asked her to do a prayer in English and she couldn't. Also, I can´t really speak English. I am always doing weird things like saying English words but using Spanish grammar and it doesn´t make any sense. Oh well.

Argentina Fact: Everyone here wears crocs. And platform shoes. Also, everyone smokes. And drinks mate. They don't usually have teeth. And girls by 14 have a kid. But every time you enter their house, they put every single food item they have on their table for you to eat. Super awesome.

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Translation: "Hello family, this is Argentina. It's a little hard to baptize because there are only trees, and people don't exist. But all the same, it's very pretty. This is my district, my companion, and......water."

2016.10.11 Week 19- Pt. II - It's like a sin to not play soccer here

Good news, we are still alive. Argentina is still awesome and all is well.

Somehow I ended up with the best companion EVER. She is super awesome. She was born in Canada but her family lives in Ohio. She went to BYU and we actually met each other at a bonfire once and joked about being companions, then we both apparently forgot about it because it took us about a week to figure out.  We have a ton of friends in common because we were at Helaman at the same time.

When I met all the people that were a possibility to train I got super scared because none of them were latina. There was no possibility of me getting someone that would know Spanish. But all is well, I guess I know more Castellano than I thought. Now that I am forced to use it, everything is going well. Somehow we are always able to communicate with everyone. It's fun to visit the members and hear them tell my companion that she doesn't need to worry about the language because Hermana Farr just barely got here and she already knows Castellano. 

I don't have much time, but it was a great week. A little different because the drunk men are even more interested now that we are both gringas, but I have confidence that God is protecting us!

This week we started teaching this group of boys that are always playing soccer in the street. They are super cute and I really hope we can baptize them. The oldest is 11 and the youngest is 9. The oldest reminds me a lot of Harry (my brother). We originally started talking to them because my companion is super good at soccer and wowed them with her juggling skillzzz. Now I am trying to learn how to soccer. As of right now, I can juggle 8 times in a row. I know it's horrible but give me a break Argentines. Soccer is like the one sport I never played. It's like a sin to not play soccer here. I hope that I will be able to juggle officially when I get home. 

I'm pretty much sick of my clothes. I found some clothes in a garbage bag kind of ripped and ruined and sewed them back together. Lots of missionaries leave all of their clothes here, lucky for me!

YOU'RE ALL AWESOME; HAVE  A FANTASTIC WEEK!!!!!

2016.10.03 Week 19 - Pt. I

The internet is down in Bariloche today so no e-mail. 

Hopefully tomorrow!

However, we have had a few Hermana Farr sightings this week.

The friend of a friend, picking up his daughter, sent this picture.

Mission FB page pictures:

New missionaries and their trainers.

Bariloche Stake conference:

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