Hello
Sorry I never email
We just don't have time!
We also only have one phone that we share and p days are busy.
Any way so ill update yall
So I got to Argentina and I was assigned my comp who is awesome. She's from Argentina and doesn't speak any English.
When we got back to the apartment I met the other girls we live with!! They are so sweet and are also from Argentina. They didn't speak any English either except for funny phrases the elders taught them, like "what's up man?"
I had a mini heart attack when I realized that English was out the window, but it's been exactly what I needed. I can totally communicate and understand soooo much better now. Speaking English isn't a temptation because it's not even possible. I've learned so much it's crazy.
It's still a struggle to understand old people though, but I have a solid study routine down now.
The people here are awesome! The food is good. Tons of pasta bread and meat. Lots of soda and dulce de leche. The members are so awesome here and feed us almost everyday. They usually serve me up a huge portion of pasta and throw on a ton of fried chicken on top, drenched in butter and salt. They always make sure I get a huge second serving too. Then, they whip out donuts for us covered in dulce de leche.
Everyone drives super fast here too, I thought I was gonna die on the bus the other day. We were literally catching air off the speed bumps, which people just use for jumps here.
Some moments are hard. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the Spanish and the heat and I think about how long I'm gonna be doing this for, and I get overwhelmed. But then, just when I'm so tired and I smell so bad and I'm soaked in sweat, that's when a miracle happens.
We see miracles every day and that's awesome.
I feel like there's too many to write.
Sometimes things get gnarly here. There's a crazy guy that grabbed my comp's arm and chased us around the corner. It was during siesta so nobody was on the street.
I thought we were donezo and then a big burly man walked out of his store and saw what was happening and yelled at the guy to leave us alone and not brother us again. That was seriously a blessing.
It's also crazy how the people who want to hear about Christ literally fall into our laps. One guy, Hurmbuerto, was just sitting on the corner and we passed him and asked him for directions. We found out he was dying of cáncer and had a lot of health problems. He's only 60 and lives alone in a furniture store. Anyways he wants God in his life and I'm so glad we have been able to help him have that.
We've also been spending a lot of time with this cute little old lady who lives in a cute little cottage with her son. Every time we go to teach her the spirit is literally so strong. I was able to give her a Book of Mormon that had all my favorite scriptures marked in it and she really appreciated it.
Another time we were going to go visit one of our friends and she was sitting on her dirt floor crying. She was having a lot of family problems and my comp was able to pray with her and over her home which was cool.
Alsoooo, my brother got his CALL to REXBURG IDAHOooo?????
Jk, actually ethiopia. Which is INSANE. I'm soooo stoked for him. It's gonna be a bit gnarly but he's gonna love it! As a missionary none of your efforts are wasted. Every little thing makes a difference, and God has ángeles walking everywhere with his missionaries.
There's no way this could be possible if the gospel wasn't true.
One last thing. So basically it's hard never being able to speak in English. Like ever. Except on p days, when I get to talk to my fav person ever herm. Ikler. This cool rock climber chic from colorado. I love her so much and when I talk to her once a week that's the only time I get to actually talk freely without thinking. But my comp told me I could only talk to her in Spanish for now on, which is sad and hard.
But the girls I live with are so funny. Whenever we are out and we see a blonde person, they joke that they speak English lol.
Anyway, that's the email.
Sorry I never send them and I'm bad at replying.
I wanna keep these real but not too real ya feel?
Ok so here's some scriptures.
Alma 55
31 But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction. They could not be taken in their snares; yea, they would not partake of their wine, save they had first given to some of the Lamanite prisoners.
Alma 57
26 And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.
27 Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually.
I don't have time to write why I like these so take them as you will.
Love you guys!!!
-Hermana Watkins