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