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
Monday, April 20, 2015
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!
March 2, 2015
Hola a todos! Espero que todo tuvieran una semana muy linda.
Things are pretty much the same as always here in Malargue, Argentina. We've got transfers coming up this next week, and since I am coming to an end of my training, I am now fair game to transfer anywhere! haha, we will see what happens. This week really flew by quickly. We had a great lesson with a member (hna Cuevas she is awesome), with a couple of our investigators. It was kind of like a make or break lesson because we hadn't seen them in a while and we weren't sure if they had real desires to investigate, so that was what our goal was: to find out if they truly wanted to change through Christ and if not, try and really help them feel the Spirit, and let the Spirit change their hearts. The wife is not very interested and she told us for now, no. But the husband I think has real desires, and his heart is more receptive and open and changing, but he told us that he doesn't want to fail. So, we will keep working with them and praying for some little miracles.
It was kind of cold and rainy a few days this week. I broke out my rain boots and jacket, but it is kind of hot again today, so we'll see where the weather goes. But everyone is starting school this week and the coming week. It's really strange to think that it is March, but really here it is like September.
The Noche de Postre was pretty successful. We had a lot of less actives and a few investigators there. Hermana King and I made banana bread (thanks mom for the recipe!). The missionaries performed a skit about missionary work and I was the evil queen muahaha. We still need to work with the branch a little bit on getting the members to fellowship the less actives and investigators more, but the branch is great.
This week I found a cool spiritual thought in an old Liahona about our work and the Lord's Work. Through Moses 1:39, we know that the work of the Lord is "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." But there is a corresponding scripture found in DyC 11:20 that reads, "Behold this if your work, to keep the commandments, yea with all your might, mind, and strength." That is our work as children of god. To keep the commandments with all of our efforts and desires. And by doing that, we will help the Lord fulfill his work which is to give us the life eternal. It's a great article by Elder Bednar about the tender mercies of the Lord.
I am glad to hear that everyone is doing well. Thank you for all the birthday wishes, I'm sure it will be a great day(even if we do have to travel).
Okay, funny story to end. Hermana King and I walked up to an investigators house and clapped, and they told us we could come in. So we walked in and looked upon kind of a strange thing. The lady, who is about 70, had a plate on her head and on the plate was water. Her son was lighting pieces of paper on fire, putting them on the plate, and then quickly putting a cup over the burning paper, and then somehow all the water would get sucked up into the cup. They told us that it is an "ancient remedy" to cure headaches. It took all of the willpower of Hermana King and I not to bust up laughing. But I think we're gonna try it next time I have a headache haha.
Have a great week everyone! Love you all!
Love,
Hermana Pyper
Feb. 23, 2015
Well this week was a little bit hard. Right after P-day on Wednesday, I starting feeling kind of sick. Turns out, I had a stomach bug or something, threw up during the night, had a fever all day Thursday. It was yucky, but not the worst thing. I was pretty weak from the fever so we stayed home all day Thursday and then went to only one appointment that night. But by Friday morning, I felt good as new! And Hermana King and I have started to run in the mornings, and I already feel better because of it! (my legs are a little sore, but my heart feels great)
We still had kind of a hard time with getting members to our appointments, but we can plan better. It's a little bit rough because none of our investigators want to progress, they like that we come and share our message, but they don't keep commitments. So Hermana King and I are going help them see why it's important for them, and if they still don't want to progress, we have to move on and find people who have a sincere desire to change and follow Jesus Christ.
I really think the dogs here just don't like me, because one attacked me again! Hermana King and I just turned the corner and suddenly there was this dog standing there staring at us with it's top lip starting to curl up, showing it teeth and growling and then lunged at me! But I dodged it and yelled and threw a rock, and it stopped attacking me at least. But seriously, I don't know why the dogs attack only me, and not my companion? haha
We have our noche de postre, or dessert night coming up this friday, and we made these invitations that are really cute, but my comp and I didn't realize how much work they were gonna be. We handmade these little cupcakes. Actually Hermana King did most of it while I was sleeping off my fever.
This week I've been thinking a lot about perfection in Christ. Sometimes, I get really frustrated because I feel like I am trying hard but I'm not improving at all, but I remember what Nephi says at the end of verse 19 in 2 Nephi 4, when he says, after describing that he is still wretched and easily beset by sin, "nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted." God does not expect us to be perfect, we should not expect to be perfect either. Sometimes, it is hard to remember that, and the closer we get to perfection, the more we realize we are imperfect, like Nephi does. But all we need to be doing is trying to imrove ourselves a little each day and then put the rest in the Lord's hands. Our faith in Jesus Christ includes our faith that His Atonement is sufficient to make up the difference for us. So keep trying! And then put your trust in the Savior.
Well, I hope everyone has a great fantabulous week! Love and hugs and ice cream from Argentina!
Love,
Hermana Pyper
Feb. 18, 2015
I attached a picture of one of the hilarious old men in our branch who sang like old folksy songs with his guitar at our talent show last week. Also, some cool graffiti, it says, "Malargue, a kingdom untouchable and unforgettable."
This week was great! We had a lot of great lessons, and more of them with members, which is so awesome. We have this one investigator in particular that I'm really excited because she told us right off the bat that she wanted to have the Holy Ghost with her but she didn't know how! And my companion and I were both freaking out inside because it was a perfect way to talk about baptism and she comitted to baptism but not a date. She is really awesome, so I am really excited to keep working with her and helping her receive the Holy Ghost that she wants so badly to have!
We had intercambios this week again, and that was so nice, because the Lord always blesses us and we see miracles during exchanges. And I also always learn a ton from the example of the other missionaries. And then at the end of the day, we made tacos! complete with avocado, homemade tortillas, and the spiciest sauce that we could find here (which is like mild taco sauce at Taco Bell haha) So delicious, because the food sometimes in Argentina gets a little boring.
It's still pretty hot here, I feel like we are on the edge of the breaking point of the fever, almost done with summer but not quite. School for the kids starts in about two weeks, so I wonder what kind of effect that will have on our work. I cannot believe that we are already halfway through another transfer, my training is almost over! I hope I don't leave Hermana King because she is literally the best thing ever, but like Nephi says, "Iré y haré" whatever the Lord commands.
This week I have been studying a lot about the doctrine of conversion, what it means to be converted, what do you need to feel to be converted and so forth. What I thought was interesting is that it says in the Bible Dictionary that Complete conversion doesn't come until after many trials and testing. And I just think that means that we continually are "trying" our faith by doing the little things every day, reading, praying, going to church, becoming like Christ, and as we do those things, we will keep converting ourselves bit by bit unto the Lord everyday.
Well family and friends, I love you all. Keep strong in the faith. Keep me updated. Have a super week!
Love,
Hermana Pyper
Feb. 9, 2015
This week was insane. We traveled a ton, and finally got back in our area Wednesday night. We worked hard but was a bit tricky with only three days in our area. We have a bunch of investigators that we are working with, but we need to find more. Hermana King and I have plans for that this week. We are loving Malargue and Hermana King and I basically just laugh all the time. This week I have really felt the Spirit just giving me quiet comfort and peace all the time. I have a little bit of a sore throat, so I'm hoping that I can shake it off quickly.
I can see progress with my Spanish sometimes. Sometimes, I will sit back and think, Wow, I am communicating in a different language, this is so cool! But I know that it is the gift of tongues.
We had our branch activity, the talent show, and that was really fun. I sang and played, Brave by Sara Bareilles, and we had a lot of fun acts like traditional argentinian guitar, and the young men did a skit about missionary work. I love the branch here, they are all so great. I have a ton of pictures, but they take forever to upload here, so I'll send a couple next week.
I love everyone, and my thought this week is from preach my gospel, "Effective prayer requires great effort." It's true!
Love,
Hermana Pyper
Feb. 2, 2015
Pretty sure that groundhogs don't exist here in Argentina, but Happy February! Currently, I am in Alvear, which is the other area in our zone, because we have a zone meeting tomorrow, and after that hermana King and I have to go to mendoza for a new missionary training. Long story short, we won't be in our area for three days:( but's hopefully, after this, things will calm down and we can work work work in Malargüe!
This week was pretty good, pretty normal week as far as everything goes. We had a few good lessons with investigators, and a couple crazy ones haha. It's always a little awkward when we meet a man and he tries to kiss us and we have to say, "sorry we can only shake hands in the mission!" That happens frequently, but I'm getting really good at saying that really fast in Spanish haha. We've been trying so hard to get members with us in our lessons, because it increases the quality of everything so much! It really makes the difference in missionary work. A family in our branch, their daughter just got home from her mission this week, so that was fun to meet her. And we have a family who just returned from the Buenos Aires temple, and now they are all sealed. They shared their testimonies on Sunday and it was really beautiful to see (even if I only caught about half of it).
Hermana King and I had a english fast on friday, we tried to not speak english all day...we broke it a little bit haha. But it really helps. I am learning and learning more every day. I had kind of a cool experience. We were in a lesson with some new investigators and we were talking about how God has answered prayers in their lives, and when I was listening, a thought came to me to share a little experience that I had the other day, but I thought, "no, I can't say that in spanish", but the feeling got a little stronger and stronger, and so then I just went for it and explained that the other day, we had left the apartment and it was so hot, and I just said a little prayer in my heart, "Heavenly Father, it's hot, please make it better", then all of the sudden, these clouds moved over the sun and we had some shade, and I knew that it was just a little tender mercy from Heavenly Father. So i shared that experience, and I'm not really sure what effect it had on them, but I know that I was following the spirit, so that was cool.
Our investigators would be progressing if they just came to church! It's such a challenge, but I think we will find ways to help them if we keep following the spirit.
Well, I think that's it for this week. I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Love you all!
Love,
Hermana Pyper
Jan. 26, 2015
Today is the first day of a new transfer! That means this is my third transfer of the mission, I'm half way done with my training woohoo! I'm staying in Malargue, because I have to finish my training still of course. Thank you for all the news! I think I am going to start writing a more general email and then send little tidbits to each of you also. So turns out, we didn't have to travel last week, but that means we still have to sometime this transfer, but whatever haha. OH yes, the picture from last week. The one with me and Hermana King and ice cream was in San Rafael. We went to this really popular ice cream chain called Grido, and they have all sorts of delicious flavors and it's pretty cheap too. And delicious. Tan rico. The other picture was of a part of our area in Malargue, just a classic little street corner in Malargue. You can see part of a kiosko, I think and the sunset is always beautiful here. That's something different about Argentina, they have all these kioskos, which are just mini stores, kind of like a gas station without gas haha.
This week was pretty good. We tried so hard to have members with us when we were teaching, but everyone was busy haha. We also had intercambios this week (we weren't able to have them last week because we were in Mendoza todavia), and I absolutely loved it. I learned a lot from hermana Japa, she has a true and genuine love for everyone that she meets, and she teaches with the spirit so strongly, there are a lot of things about her that I want to develop in myself also. And, we saw lots of little miracles during our intercambios. Hermana king went to visit one of our investigator families and the daughters told her that their dad has been reading the book of Mormon everyday! That was so exciting!! We also did find a couple of new investigators and are seeing a lot of progress with our menos activos tambien. I just love this work.
It really is amazing how personal each person's progress is to me. It is a really beautiful and unique experience to be able to look through Heavenly Father's lens and see people as he sees people, love people as he loves people, even just a tiny fraction of that grand and infinite love is so amazing to experience. I can see that if we continue to develop this love and this eternal perspective, we will be more prepared to become like our Father in Heaven one day.
Yesterday, Hermana King and I went to the capilla to help Hermana Ahnder (the senior couple here) teach a class on how to direct music. It was really fun and I learned a thing or two as well. Some of the people in the class were asking me if I could help them learn how to sing better and maybe even start a branch choir, so that should be an adventure:) We are having a branch activity next week, a noche de talento (talent show), so that's gonna be fun too. We are hoiping sometime in the future we can have an activity on missionary and family history work.
It rained quite a bit last night, and it reminded me of Oklahoma. I think it's a sign of good luck for our next transfer haha.
Just a little spiritual thought for this week. I really love Alma 36, because I think that it is a chapter that everyone can relate to. I think everyone has felt some of the same converting power of Jesus Christ that Alma experiences in his life, and I absolutely love verse 24, "Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost." I love when Alma says that he wants everyone to taste the sweet joy that he tasted, the sweet redeeming love of Jesus Christ. And I think that an increased desire to share the gospel is a natural consequence of your own conversion. We see that a lot in the scriptures and I see it in my life everyday.
Well everyone, I love you, have a wonderful last week of January! Besitos from Argentina!
Love,
Hermana Pyper
Jan. 19, 2015
DAD, FELICITACIONES!!!!!!!! That's so exciting!!! I'm so proud of you! Good job, well done! I'm so excited for the family, are you just walking on air still? I love that picture of you in front of the Delta sign, you rock!
The inactive guy that I told you about last week came to church again, after we visited him on Saturday. He's really awesome, so I hope that he can continue progressing back to the gospel. We had a visit with one of our investigators, who is a teenage girl, and her dad was there, so we got to teach him the plan of salvation. It was kind of a cool experience because he had lots of questions, and at first I could tell he was trying to catch us off guard, but as we kept answering his questions, and teaching the message of the plan of salvation, his heart was softened by the end and his questions turned a lot more sincere. So, I hope to see some more progress with this family:)
My interview with the president was awesome. He is such an awesome man and his wife is fabulous as well. We had a little bit of training as well, and then after the assitants and the president left, we had a lot of time until our bus left, so we walked around San Rafael a little bit. It's a really gorgeous city. I bought a backpack and a argentina jersey! Whoo! Hermana King bought some new shoes and she has some nasty blisters on the back of her heels, pobrecita haha
Dad, I totally feel the same as you in your greenie area. I feel like I can speak decently well, but it is hard for me to understand people still. So, yes it is terrifying, but I'm trying to put it all in the Lord's hands. I really love Malargue with all of my heart though. I feel very much that there was a place in my heart prepared for Malargue.
That's pretty much it haha. Tell me about your lives? Any cool missioanry experiences? Well, everyone be good and keep enjoying the cold for me and somebody eat some peanut butter for me this week haha.
Love you everyone! 3 Nephi 13:19-21.
Love,
Hermana Pyper
Jan. 12, 2015
oo, this week was good. I gave a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday about faith. That was fun. We had a zone meeting this week in San Rafael (which is three hours away), and it was great. It's really nice to be with a lot of other missionaries, because sometimes you feel like it's just you and your companion in the middle of a little town in Argentina, walking around haha. That was really fun, and the AHnders took us in their car, so we got to see a little bit more of the landscape on the drive and Argentina is beautiful, Apparently, there's an inactive volcano pretty close to Malargue, so we'll probably head over there and try to reactivate it...:) haha sorry I couldn't resist.
So Hermana King and I visited this inactive family who we ran into, knocking doors, and had a chat with them. They were a little bit hesitant at first, but once we got the dad talking about his mission, I could tell that he was starting to remember all the experiences he had there, it was cool. Then we invited them to church, and they showed up about half way through the second hour! So we'll have to follow up with them and see how that was for them. THis week is kind of insane though, because we have to go to Mendoza today and tomorrow to do something with my visa so I can stay in Argentina, and then we have intercambios on Wednesday, and then Friday we have interviews with the president in San Rafael. So lots of travel, but we'll be able to do work still.
I don't know guys, this week was somewhat uneventful. We're going to start having english classes soon and hopeful that will be a good way to find referrals and new investigators, and to teach people english! Hermana King and I have a goal this week that we're each going to talk to five people on the street everyday (we call it Abrir la boca or Open the Mouth), which will be good, because sometimes I get nervous to talk to people, but really I should be thinking, Hello! THis is someone's salvation on the line, and the Lord will fill your mouth when you open it. So yeah, I'll let you know how that goes.
Thank you for all the love and support from home! I think it's y'alls prayers that keep my going sometimes. Thank you for teaching me the gospel and being examples to me. Dad, good luck with your interview, you're going to do so awesome! And Hermana King says to say hi to her family, they live in Atlanta haha. Have a great week everyone!
Love and empanadas,
Hermana Pyper
Jan. 5, 2015
So today is my cumplemes! Or the month mark is the 5th of every month for me. I have officially been gone for two months, isn't that crazy? The mission time warp continues, I feel like it's been years and that my old life is really far away and yet I feel like it was just yesterday that I arrived at the MTC haha. I think that after my training is over, time will start flying, so I'm trying to enjoy every moment of the mission, even if some of it is crazy haha. For example, this week we decided to knock the door of a future investigator again to see if we could set an appointment with her and so we clapped at the door and out comes this crazy guy that we met on the street a week before haha. We were super confused and trying not to laugh because what are the odds that the random crazy guy actually lived there and not the person we were actually trying to find? hahaha, it was pretty entertaining. And then the other night I fought off some dogs by throwing rocks and yelling, so that was crazy too. But the mission is filled with awesome moments as well, like the other night, we knocked on the door of the guy that we met street contacting and he let us in and we taught lesson 1 to him and his wife and it was so amazing. The Spirit flowed, unhindered, throughout the whole visit. I could see that the Lord had been preparing them to receive the gospel. I really hope that they will accept soon and be able to partake of the sweet joy of the gospel, but perhaps I am just another step on their pathway to acceptance. I might just be another experience, another missionary, that softens their heart a little more, until they are ready, because everyone has their time, and it is hard to remember that as a missionary sometimes. But the learning continues.
I spent the new year well. The elders and us went over to the senior couple's house otra vez and had PANCAKES!! IT was so delicious. And then we played Uno and just chatted , it was fun. We weren't allowed to proselyte on the new year because it's a bit dangerous. There were a ton of fireworks that went off on New Years and lots of drunk people haha. Super crazy.
So now with the festivities over, I think that things will calm down and we'll be able to dig into the work a little more. The branch here is so great. The members are awesome, the branch is super unified, they are really willing to help the missionaries, the branch is such a huge blessing. We'll be able to coordinate more with the branch predsidency and auxiliaries and such in a bit because the branch presidency just changed and everyone is getting new callings. But meanwhile, the work goes on. We walk a lot haha. It's pretty hot, I'd say probably at least 90 most days, although this weekend was a bit cooler, But the sun is way hot because we're up closer to the mountains. The view is gorgeous everyday. Oh yeah, that picture was of us working in a garlic field. How cool is that? We were harvesting garlic with this couple who are recent converts and they are so super awesome. So that was a fun thing.
Bueno, I think that is all. How's the fam? I can't believe Andy is back at school and everyone is just going with life haha. Dad, you are going to rock that interview with Delta. Keep me updated with all of the family plans. OH I have a question. We're trying to do some stuff with family histroy and I got on family search and it's pretty good, but it's missing some info on halmoni. Could someone get on their and put in her info for her parents, at least? Or you could just email something, a pedigree charts, or just names and dates. But yeah, that would be great thanks!
Alrighty then. I love you all! Stay awesome, and good luck with the beginning of a new year! Ciao!
Love,
Hermana Pyper
Dec. 29, 2014
Hola familia! It was awesome to see and talk to you guys on Christmas day! What an interesting day it was, we had tacos and cake at the Anhders house and played some uno and then we went back to our pension and studied and stuff because we couldnt leave unless we had appts which we didn't. The rest of this week was pretty awesome, we met a lot of interesting people in the streets haha, we went back to the house of a couple potential investigators and found a Jehovah's Witness and we talked to him a bit, actually he talked to us haha, we couldn't get a word in edgewise haha. We've been trying to meet a lot a menos activos, and we met with this sweet lady on saturday, hadn't been to church in years I think, and then she came to church the next day!! It was awesome!
What else, not a whole lot happened since I skyped y'all, I've just been busy with missionary work, studying, walking, praying, teaching, being hot, being barked at by crazy dogs, haha lots of stuff. Christmas Eve was crazy, all these fireworks went off at 12 and it was loco haha. And then the next morning was like dead haha because everyone was asleep and tired from the fiestas I guess. That another different thing about Argentina, is the siesta. The streets are so empty from like 1 to 6, so our schedule is actually different so that we do most of our studies during that time so we're not wasting time.
Yeah, it's kind of crazy here in Argentina, because it's summer, so everyone is out of school, and a ton of people left Malargue and are on vacation for a while, so it's been a little difficult to be able to find people en casa but we keep trying. I hoping after the new year, more people will be back and we can teach more. Yeah, Argentinians lead a different life haha. They don't usually get up til like 10 ish and then they have a huge lunch at like 1 ish and then siesta until 6 and then the whole world starts to come alive at around 9, right as we are going home haha. I thought that we might have a modified schedule here because of that, like 7am to 11 pm, but nope. Esta bien.
The Spanish is alright, getting better every day I think. I know that the Lord will bless my efforts and accelerate my learning. I pray for the gift of tongues everyday.
Well fam, nothing much else to say, I'll keep you posted as best I can. I love you all so much. Thank you for your love and support, your testimonies, and the fudge and pecan logs (I finished off the fudge last night:)
Keep the faith, 2 Ne 31:20 and Ether 12:4. Read those together. They're bomb.
Love love love and a giant empanada,
Hermana Rach
Dec. 21, 2014
Ay familia! What a crazy week it has been. So yes, we got to Buenos Aires and then took another plane to Mendoza. I was so tired when we finally got there haha. Then we went to the mission home and had dinner with all the nuevos and the mission pres, his wife, and the assitants. Then the next day, we had some training and orientation and then we met our trainers! My comp is way cool, she's a gringa tambien, her name is Hermana King from Georgia, she has 5 months in the mission, she knows spanish well and her testimony is strong as a rock. We are currently in Malargue which is the southern most area in the mission and it's really small haha, it's a branch and in our district here, we have a pair of elders and a senior couple and us. Malargue is muy tranquilo, pretty small, dogs literally everywhere, but the people are so nice. My comp and I are washing the area, so we´ve spent the first few days getting to know the area and the leaders and contacting referrals and investigators. THis week is kind of crazy though because today we're going to Mendzoa for la fiesta de navidad for the mission, it should be fun and I'll get to see hermana Zaugg<!
Oh yeah, so I'm gonna call Andy's skype account at 12 pm my time, I think it's 10 am in OK, but I'm nor sure, you might want to look that up. I've been enjoying the fudge and pecan logs still and the music and the talks! Thank you so much for those!!! And thanks andy for the sufjan:)
My mission president is really awesome and so is his wife. I really like all the people in Argentina, latins are the best. The weather in Malargue is really crazy though because our first day here it was so hot and I got sunburnt and then the past three days it's been flippin cold and it's really windy like really windy, so I guess we'll see if it warms up haha. Our apartment is really nice actually too.
Ay missions are hard haha. No se como explicarlo, but like I knew that missions were hard and I knew all the things I would be doing , but actually experiencing it is a different story haha. It's also kind of hard because we haven't been able to teach a whole lot, and I still can't really understand people when they talk, so...haha. I know that it will come the more I listen and practice. Argentinian spanish is different haha. They like leave off consonants and "s"es at the end of words and it's kind of musical, I really like it though. Although they use all these colloquialisms that I don't understand, like "dale" y "listo" haha , es un poquito extraño, pero me encanta.
We taught some Jehovahs Witnesses ayer, that was pretty cool. They were really receptive and I think they could feel the spirit, so hopefully we make some progress with them. There's also a family that the mom and dad aren't members yet because the mom needs a divorce and then to get married to the dad, but all three of their daughters are members and they are really special.
We had a branch dinner the other night, where I tried goat for the primer vez. It was pretty good, but I'm kind of scared to see what this diet does to my digestive system haha. It's bread, meat, and pasta. And orange punch haha. Apparently, there is a festival of goats here in Malargue that wer might go to but no se. Vamos a ver.
I'm so excited to continue serving here. When I got to Argentina, I could already feel like I was coming to a place that my heart already knew. I really love it here, the people are special and they are ready for the gospel. I have weaknesses, and the work is hard, but I know, i know, i know that through Jesus Christ we can overcome anything, we can do all things.
Bueno, I love you all so so much. Tell paul and nicole congrats for me! I'll call on Christmas!
Mucho amor,
Rach
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)