Sofia was baptized! At first as she entered the water she started to whimper and panic, but the brother that baptized her calmed her down and she did it… first try and all. She submerged face first instead of backwards… but it counts! As she was whimpering I literally pled with the Lord to help her. He answered all of our prayers and she was able to calm down and within 3 or 4 minutes… was baptized and later confirmed!
I cannot tell you the half of the story of what happened afterwards, but remind me to tell you when I get home about the ordeal that we endured after this baptism. It was pretty rough, but I don´t want to even go there now… in 10 months I´ll tell you all about it… and about how my tongue hurt for days to come… if that isn´t enough of a tease… I don´t know what is!
Thanks for asking about divorces, Argentina has a tough time...it takes anywhere from 1 to 79 years to get one.
About things I could use….could you send me the make- up remover, another one of those little Sally Hansen cuticle lotion thingies… it was a small circle with orange goo inside it… I love it! If you can track down a picture of my baptism, I´d love a photocopy of it, and I would also love to receive a 5th Avenue Bar. Oh, and cowtails if you can find some, if not it´s all good. THANKS!
Nata: I loved the pix of Davy and can´t believe how big he is! I miss that little guy. I hope that you have a lovely trip coming home in March. I´m also thrilled to hear that the BOM Wheel of Fortune worked out and was a hit. You´ll have to tell me all about how to do that when I get home!
The mission is a lot like "Survivor" when they are thinking and planning about "the merger" that´s like every transfer. And having a family member visit you is like the Christmas phone call. And when you get to eat good food or a candy bar you won on a challenge… that´s like getting and opening a package from home!
I have a question for you guys…. When you pray for me, what do you ask Heavenly Father? Due to the fact that the last two weeks have been insanely trying I´ve been doing a lot of pleading of my own and it dawned on me that it would be a strengthening experience to know some of the specific thinks that you pray for when you pray for me. If it isn´t too personal, would you mind telling me a few of them so that I can pay more attention and realize the blessings that I receive because of the prayers of my family? Does that make sense?
I´m going to pull my first mission prank tonight on the sisters that are sleeping in our apartment for the Sister Conference tomorrow. They sale brains in the meat stores here and me and my comp are going to buy one and put it in the fridge and then during the night when the other sisters are here my comp is going to ask one of them to get something that she has in the fridge and we are going to scare them with a brain on a plate! It´s going to be a riot! I´ll let you know how it goes!
The other day we were feeling about as empty as you can feel and we got on a colectivo to go to the far end of the area and we were so like depressed that I said "we´re going to play a game" we stood in the aisle of the colectivo and weren´t allowed to touch anything to support us and we had to see who could go the longest without falling and grabbing something for support. Sounds easy, right? But you have to remember that the colectivos here drive super fast, and there are a bajillion turns and speed bumps. We tied because we both made it the entire trip, but we were giggling and laughing and felt all better afterwards. There were only 2 other people on the bus, so we didn´t cause too big of a scene and they were oblivious to our existence anyways. It made me smile again and then we were able to work better.
Speaking of colectivos (and trains) they raised the prices this week! What used to cost .65 now costs .80. What used to cost .90 now costs $1.10 and what used to cost $1.20 now costs $1.50. That´s like a 20% increase in some cases… imagine what that does to us! It´s not just about the money… remember the real struggle is having CHANGE! I wonder if the mission is going to increase our monthly stipend to compensate for the inflation in the public transportation. I hope so, because it really would become necessary, but I certainly won´t be the one to ask for it.
I´m rationing the peanut butter, and I have one thing of PEZ left. I like to dip apple wedges in the PB… you should try that. And my comp and I love to eat the mint lifesavers in the heat. It is so fun to have those things from home!
Daddy, in my interview last week with Pres. Benton he asked about Sunwood and said that it was good that you hired another salesman. He said that it is in the tough moments like now that you need to make a bold move, not a conservative one. He is all on board and congratulates you for your courage. He sincerely cares about your business and it makes me feel even more close to him as my President. Know that you are in many prayers!
I´m so out of the loop on sports, and it´s probably a good thing, but I feel quite detached… I´m afraid I don´t even remember what a lateral is… oh no! Enjoy the super bowl especially the yummy chili dip with cream cheese and nachos… oh my mouth is watering… and shrimp too… all sauteed in butter.
Mommy, could you possibly try and find out what church songs have already been translated into Spanish and compiled into albums. For example; I know that, He Hears Me has been, and Roman Soldiers and His Hands… can you try to explore about that? They´re not all approved, but I bet I could get them approved if I knew they existed. I don´t know where to recommend you begin, but surely there is some church store that knows.
So yeah, tomorrow is the Sisters´s Conference and the biggest blessing of all is that we are going to the temple! It is a tender mercy of the Lord because this transfer has been so hard and more than any other thing I wanted to go to the temple, but it´s not a temple transfer (the next one is). But the sisters get to go and when Sis. Benton called to tell me, I just about cried! I am going to soak it all in like a sponge and leave feeling full again.
In the states the people are more ashamed to admit that they are seeing a psychiatrist. Here it is like a form of bragging about how bad your life is. It´s like everyone is excited to tell us that they have to go to the psychologist… it always surprises me because that isn't something we brag about in the states. Interesting, eh?
Well then, this week I studied a ton in the New Testament and who knew that there was so much great stuff in there..lol! I compiled some of my favorites and encourage you all to look over them when you get the chance:
Romans 15:30-33 – this is like the prayer of any missionary.
1 Cor. 4:9 – welcome to the mission!
1 Cor. 14:18-19 – I feel like this sometimes… I have about 5 words, but it could be better than thousands
1 Cor. 16:13 – check foot note D – be strong!
2 Cor. 3:17 – I love this… I recently studied Christ as our "deliverer" and learned a ton
2 Cor. 4:8-9 – we are not abandoned, even though we are tried! Remember that… never abandoned.
Other miracles of the week… I´m still SCABIES-free! I am learning a lot and praying more than ever. I am humbled each and every time I beg for advice and help. I really do believe that I have become incredible patient… I still have my moments when I slip, but for the most part… I take things quite well and in stride. You´d be so proud.
I directed the area and took 2 colectivos without problems when I was on splits with Hermana Farias who is still really young… so even if they take Hermana Roy away from me in 2 weeks, I have faith that I am sufficiently capable in the area leading it. But I have a feeling that we are staying together another transfer. I really hope so… she is so awesome and teaches me so much!
Say "hola" to everybody and tell them all that I wish them the best 2009 possible. I am really loving the mission, even the hard times because I know they are making me stronger. Sometimes I think that I could not possibly get much stronger, but then I am humbled to learn that I can… because there is always another challenge around the corner, but we face them with faith and rely on the Lord. He makes this work possible.
I pray for you guys and all my friends back home and can´t wait to give you a big hug in about 10 months, but until then there is much to be done! I love you tons!
Thanks so much for everything. I love you more than words can express and can´t believe that this adventure is all really happening.
Sometimes I look at the clouds and stop and think,
"Hey, I´m in ARGENTINA!"
I love you more than a million Swedish fish!
Hermana Jensen
Every Good Thing
4 years ago
