April 20, 2015

Hola to all, hope that everyone is healthy and happy! This week
(yesterday) I said goodbye to my companion, Hermana Guzman, who is
going home this week. I cannot believe that 6 weeks passed by so
quickly! But now, Hermana Bentley and I will stay together for a
couple days until Wednesday. Yesterday we received transfers and I
will be staying in Tunuyan and I'm going to train! I am very excited
and a little bit nervous too. I hope that I can help my new comp
adjust and learn and most importantly feel the beautiful spirit of
missionary work! So that's the big news.

IN other news, it is starting to get cold here in the mornings,so we
are approaching fall. My mission president sent an email about getting
flu shots, so I will probably go get one so I won't get sick. Pretty
everyone that we have talked to in the past week has said that they or
someone in their family is sick. Yay! I am excited for my first
experience with Argentinian healthcare.

Our week was kind of crazy because Hermana Guzman was getting ready to
go home and we were juggling doing work in our area and the area of
Hermana Bentley! But everything will start to calm down after
transfers, and then we are back in the groove.

This week, we made donuts! How you ask? We found a bakery with the
most delicious tortas fritas (tortas fritas are a fried bread sort of
thing, and they usually taste nothing like donuts but these ones do!)
and I used the frosting recipe from the Texas Sheet Cake and we topped
our hot tortas fritas with the chocolate frosting and boom: donuts in
Argentina style. They were soooo delicious.

Also, this Sunday was kind of different because the elections were
this Sunday and because voting is obligatory in Argentina, we only had
one hour of church so that everyone could go vote. Interesting huh?
But we had investigators come! Angela (who has been twice before), and
she brought her 2 sisters, and they came on their own! It was pretty
awesome, I am sure that she will get baptized and then her whole
family will follow!

Well family and friends, best wishes this week, remember to pray
always,and I love you all! Scripture thought: 1 Nephi 19:9

Love,
Hermana Pyper

April 14. 2015

Buen día a todo! I hope this email finds you all well and in good health and happy. I am also well and in good health and happy. It's an amazing blessing from the Lord that every night when we come back from working, and my body is so tired, that I can wake up refreshed and healed and good as new. Every day! I have noted so far that the most amazing miracles I have seen are the small tender mercies.

This week was interesting because we 2 turned into 3! The other sisters in our zone, one of them went home a little early, and left her comp alone haha. So Hermana Bentley came to stay with us and will work with us until Hermana Guzman goes home and I get a new companion. Next week is transfers and I cannot believe that 6 weeks has passed so quickly. 

We had interviews with the President yesterday, that is why I am writing today instead of yesterday. We also had a capacitación and the assitants gave us a quote that I absolutely, "Ojos Puestos en la gloria de Dios", which I think translates to Eye single to the glory of god. It is really greats, it talks about how if we really had our eyes set in God, nothing else would matter but serving him, not even hunger or pain or the fact that you haven't received a letter, nothing! I love the quote because it reminds me of why I am here and what I should be doing with the Lord's precious time and resources. 

This week was pretty good. We had a lot of people come to church this Sunday, 64! That might seem small to you in the states haha, but in comparison with our numbers that have been 40 and 50, it is a lot better! And I had a surprise, a family that we taught from Malargüe (my previous area) showed up in sacrament meeting here in Tunuyán! And Hermana Bentley has also served in Malargue, so that was a cool reunion that we had. 

Que mas...we are planning on making peach cobbler(dump cake) and white chicken pizza today for pday with my district...I am excited:) 

Well, I hope everyone has a great day and week and remembers that God loves you! 

Love,

Hermana Pyper

April 6, 2015

Feliz Pascua! I hope that everyone  had a really great Easter/Conference weekend! It was a true joy to listen to the prophet and apostles and other inspired servants of the Lord speak to us. I loved conference! It was so refreshing and strengthened my testimony that God knows us and loves us and listens to our prayers. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the same resurrected Lord, who has restored His church on the earth upon the foundation of prophets and apostles!

Other than Conference, our week was a bit uneventful. We had a bit of trouble finding people at home or willing to receive us. But we had an investigator who is struggling to get married come to conference and they talked about marriage and family and faith! So I hope that answered her doubts as much as conference answered mine. 

Yes, so conference was live, by satellite (2 hours later than the MDT) and I got to watch in English! They had an english with me, our elders from Tunuyan, and like 3 others from our district, and the senior couple! It was really a treat to watch in English, athough when the spanish talks rolled around, I wanted to listen in Spanish!

Easter in Argentina is an interesting experience. Even if you're not Catholic (whicheveryone is), it's still really culturally traditional to not eat meat during the Holy week. It's kind of funny. And everyone makes homeade chocolate easter eggs filled with candy, and they are beautiful and delicious(one of our investigators gave us some). There's a dish here that they make during the semana santa called humita, which is like a mixture of liquified corn, peppers, tomato sauce, onion, and other delicious stuff, and they eat it alone or they put it in empanadas and it is so delicious for a corn lover like me! The corn is really cheap right now, so I'll have to take advantage of that. 

I attended my first consejo, which is where the zone leaders and the sister training leaders all meet with the president and the assitants and talk about stuff for the mission. Of course, I didn't go in, only my comp is a sister training leader, but I sat in the offices all day haha. I studied and talked with the other missionaries, it was kind of fun. 

Ooo! Also, I remember now, that we went to harvest grapes for service this week! It was so fun and just an all around cool experience. The senior couple live on a vineyard in a little town about an hour away, so our district went to help harvest grapes on the vineyard! It was way fun. You cut the bunches of grapes off the vines with scissors and put them in huge buckets. My arms and face were really sticky by the end of the day, because the juice spills down. I'll try to attach a pic.

Well, my spirit and faith have been lifted by the guidance of our prophet and apostles.I encourage everyone to study conference and heed the words of Elder Nelson, who said "How are we going to change from what we have heard this conference?" I love you all! Have a beautiful week!

Love,

Hermana Pyper

March 30, 2015

Gracias a él! Everyone go watch the video, in English it is Because He Lives. This week is the semana santa, kind of crazy here. Everyone was at the catholic church last night at the mass, waiting in line for their palm leaves to be blessed. The weather has been weird, it was cold and rainy for a couple of days, and then just cold, and then yesterday it was hot hot, and today it is cloudy and cool. I never know what I'm going to get when I wake up!

This morning I had a cramp in my calf again and I was gettingup to stretch it and I fell out of bed, and I think I scared the heck out of Hermana Guzman haha. But, my legs feel great, other than that! 

This week was good. We basically just ran all over the city, I seriously don't know how hermana Guzman walks so dang fast haha. We had a great lesson with a couple of investigators who are golden. we met the wife a couple of weeks ago and we had been teaching her solo, but she told us that she wantd her husband to be there for the lessons, and we were  like, "that is a great idea!" her husband was really quiet at first, but I think we have gained his confidence. We watched the video Together Forever (and if you can believe it, it is even more cheesy in spanish!), but they really liked it and I did too. It touched my heart just as much as them. I think they are going to progress really well. 

Our investigator who came to church last week, came again! and she brought her sister with her! We have an appt to teach them this next sunday, and I know that if we can just find them all at home, they will love the gospel!

I have been reflecting on humility this week. Sometimes we think that we are doing everything good, but we also have something to improve. It is hard to face our own weaknesses and admit that we are not perfect, but when we do that is when we feel more desire to be obedient and submit ourselves to the will of the Lord. And then our faith increases!

Also, I just feel really grateful for this opportunity to be a witness of the reality of Christ this easter season. He suffered and died for us, so that we can be free from death and sin. But more than that, He lives for us! He lives so that we may live forever in joy, if we only follow His example. And even if we fall short (and we will), He is there to comfort us and pay the price of our weakness. I know that He lives and that He directs this church today. He speaks to his prophet to direct the work of salvation on the earth. I feel very grateful to be a small part in this great work and very grateful and humble to be His authorized representative.

Missions are great. Yeah they are hard, but there is nothing better than being able to testify of Christ all day long, and to be able to dedicate your every second and thought to service to the Lord is a wonderful privilege and a really humbling and changing experience.

Thanks for the support from my family and friends! Love you all and I wish you a happy conference/easter weekend!

Love,

Hermana Pyper

March 23, 2015

Well there goes another week just like that. Hermana Guzman and I are working pretty hard here in Tunuyán. We had a zone conference this week(my first one!) and it was wonderful! I always love receiving inspired counsel from the president and the other leaders. We have a bunch of new tools and initiatives that we are starting and it is really cool to see how the president receives counsel and revelation specifically for this mission to help the people that live in this area of the Lord's vineyard. The new initiative we are starting is called "the tool of the harvest" and it's really bold. Basically, we knock on a door, eplain that we are representatives of Jesus Christ and that he has sent us here to leave a blessing of peace in their home, and then they let us in, we say a prayer with them, ask for a referral and that we can come back and teach them, and then we're out! It helps gain the confidence and explain our purpose a lot clearer than other approaches and ways we have been using. It's awesome, and it requires a little bit more boldness and faith, so that's always good right?

Other than that, pretty normal week. My body is adjusting still because Tunuyán is a lot bigger than Malargüe, and we are usually always sprint walking to our appointments. My companion is so short, like probably 4 foot 9, but she walks so fast! haha, it's kind of funny and I would laugh if I wasn't sprinting to catch up.

We had an investigator come to church this week! por fin! We contacted her family on Saturday (they were a referral) and talked to them, and they are so prepared to receive the gospel, it's amazing. They are a family of 9, two parents, seven kids from 20 years to 9 years. And the oldest daughter came to church with us! So, we are going back to teach them and I just know that they are going to get baptized all 9 of them!

I am really excited for general conference and I hope everyone else is too! There are rumors that they are going to announce the temple of Mendoza! But I guess we will see. 

This week I was studying in Alma 31, and where it talks about the Zoramites. The reason they fell into error was because they weren't keeping the comandments! So, keep the commandments and you will always be safe!

Alrighty then, I love you all! Have a great week! 

Love,

Hermana Pyper

March 16, 2015

So Tunuyán is great. It is definitely not a pueblito like Malargüe. I think my companion was laughing when we walked through the downtown and I was gasping and ooing and ahhing every 2 seconds at all the stores and restaurants and people haha. It's pretty big and our area is pretty big. I am still pretty lost going to and from appointments but I think I will get my feet under me soon. To be honest, transferring for the first time was a little bit harder than I thought it was going to be. But I have a really good feeling about this area. There's a lot a work to be done. It is nice to get transferred because it refreshes you a little bit. My companion is super great. She is so sweet and really is a great missionary. Hermana Guzman is from Peru, and she is just the sweetest thing. Having a Latina is great because I am already thinking more in spanish. I tried to pray a little bit in english the other day and it was so hard, I kept reverting back to spanish haha. It's kind of cool to look back from this point and see how much the Lord has helped me progress.

But anyways, Tunuyán is really great. The apartment is really nice, it used to be for 4 hermanas, but there are only two of us now, so we have a lot of space. Not that we use it much, because we are out in the streets all day. And we have lunches with members every day tambien. The branch is a little small. I was surprised that we don't have more people coming to church, because the area is so huge. But we're gonna work with getting people to come to church. 

This week was good. Just a bit of adjusting, but the good news is that it is the same work! We are still inviting everyone to come to Christ. A lot of our investigators are so great and have a lot of potential to progress. I am really excited to work here and to learn a lot from my companion. I already feel like I am a little more bold and loving in inviting others to Christ. Obviously, I still have a long ways to go, but everyday I feel more and more like I am fulfilling my purpose as a missionary. 

What's going on in the states? Is it cold, hot, anything crazy happening? It is starting to be cool in the mornings, but still hot in the day. The fall is going to be really beautiful here, because there are a ton of trees! 

I was reading this morning in DyC 6:34, "Fear not, little flock. Do good. Let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail." and in verse 36 ,"Look unto me in every thought, doubt not, fear not." I really like these verses because I think we all feel like a little scared sheep huddled in a little flock sometimes, no? Sometimes, our branch or ward feels very small, or our family feels alone in the storms of disinigrating values, or maybe you are missionary very far from home, trying to help others, but the Good Sheperd says, "Fear not, little flock. Everything will be okay if you only look to me and doubt not and do good. Because guess what? All the earth and hell can fight against you, but they can do nothing, if you are with me!" So remember to build your foundation on the rock of our redeemer. And then fear not!

So I hope this week that everyone is well and safe and enjoying the coming spring! I love you all! 

Love,

Hermana Pyper

March 9, 2015

So, yesterday the zone leaders called us and guess what...I am getting transferred! I am so excited but also a little bit sad to leave Malargue and Hermana King and all the great people here, but excited for new things and growth and more people to teach and help. I am going to an area called Tunuyán, it's a little more than halfway to Mendoza from Malargue. I am going to be companions with Hermana King's trainer (hermana Guzman), my grandma in the mission! haha, it should be awesome, and she only has one transfer left. I don't know much about Tunuyán but I will soon! I think I am leaving here Wednesday or Thursday, not sure. Hermana King is staying and she is going to train again! 

Other than that, this week was pretty uneventful. My birthday was pretty awesome. We had to travel to San Rafael for a zone meeting, so we had that, and then we went out to eat at this awesome burger joint called Hollywood Burger. It was so delicious because the burgers were actually normal and American tasting. I got the Hot and Spicy burger but it wasn't spicy at all, but still delicious. (that is a funny thing about Argentina, nothing here is spicy). I also made a Texas Sheet Cake for my birthday and Hermana King and I took down pretty much the whole thing (we gave a little to the elders in our district too haha).

This Sunday, the Anhders (senior couple here) took us to have lunch with some members who live way out in the countryside of Malargue and we saw some of the most beautiful sights I've seen in Malargue. I'll attach a picture or two. OH, also, my district leader somehow got his hands on some peanut butter and gave it to me for my birthday!!! So all of my dreams came true. 

A lot of our inverstigators are not progressing. It is a little bit hard, and I think a little bit of the problem is because they don't understand why we are there. They think that we are there just to chat with them about Jesus, share our message, and then leave...but no, that is not what we do as missionaries haha. Hermana King and I have been trying to work on that, to be really bold from the beginning of meeting them and just say, "As missionaries, we teach you so that you can be prepared and have the desire to come unto Christ. And the biggest way that you can do that right now is baptism." We figure even if that doesn't impress and change everyone that we talk to, at least it will weed out the people who aren't willing to keep committments right? It's hard sometimes, because you want to find a balance as a missionary of not giving up on your investigators but still making sure that you are teaching people that actually have desires to change and do things. 

I am excited for the next transfer. Lots of change, but I am ready. I hope everyone has a great week. Thanks for the birthday wishes, they really made my day!

Love,

Hermana Pyper

P.S. Everyone read and study Preach My Gospel! It is for everyone!