There Is No Way I've Hit Halfway!

Hey Everybody! I am now writing on the second half of the mission and it is just more than my “little brain” (name that movie) can handle.

Unfortunately I am yet to receive the bubble envelope you sent me, but Elder Harper in the office said that things are just taking a while these days. Don´t worry, I´m sure it´ll come soon.

I´ll begin with a story that happened last transfer that I forgot to tell ya'll. One day after District Meeting my companion and I got on a colectivo to go to our lunch appointment and I put my change in the machine and as I took my ticket and went to sit down… I dropped my coin purse and ALL my change and ALL my bills fell to the floor of the bumpy, speeding colectivo. Change literally went everywhere in a 10 foot circumference circle. To my horror I knelt down and began collecting it all truly panicked that people would start robbing me like they robbed the spoons of Nicole Kidman on than movie with Tom Cruise… lol! (the name escapes me) But luckily that did not happen. A nice older man helped me and my comp gather my money and he didn´t take any. It was a huge relief because it was actually a lot of money--almost $50 pesos in bills. It was so embarrassing and everyone else just stared at us as we almost face planted it gathering it all up. It gave me motion sickness because of all the jostlings and turns and I was quite embarrassed. But, hey, good story, eh?

The happy moment of this week (that has nothing to do with missionary work… because that will follow next with another “happy moment of the week”) was when my comp and I found an ice cream store 3 blocks from our apartment that sells a forth kilo for $4,50 pesos – like a $1.35 US – we even passed the other store that sells it for $5 pesos that day and I almost bought a forth kilo again just for the heck of it… but I resisted. We have found that it is a good way to basically hydrate ourselves instead of having to drink so much water. It is definitely more calories, but it works well!

We were also attacked this week, but luckily just with water. We were standing in front of a fence talking to a lady who doesn´t want to come to church and this car drove past and the punk teenager sitting in the front sprayed us from a shotgun bottle. They drove away before we could turn around and see who it was, but you can imagine how shocked we were! It was no big deal, because we dried off in like 2 minutes, but it was pretty insulting.

I have no idea why, but all the cockroaches and beetle bugs have suddenly died – apparently a natural death - and their dead little bodies are scattered all over the side walk. I tried to come to the conclusion that someone had had their place exterminated and it affected the surrounding houses, but alas… they are everywhere throughout our entire area. I don´t know why… it´s super hot, but come on… I don´t think they all just up and said, “I can´t take this Argentine heat anymore, I´ve had it!” and died. My companion has no answer either. We are stumped.

What language do we REALLY speak? Well allow me to answer that question with the following. We pray in “tú.” We talk to dogs in “vos” We quote scriptures in “tú and vosostros.” We talk to our companion, investigators and members in “usted and ustedes.” We sing in “tú” and “vos.” We talk to ourselves in “tú.” And we train ourselves all day long NOT to think in English. It´s pretty trippy. Just thought you´d like to know-- Nata can explain all that.

This week I felt a lot like we were playing “hide and seek” with “the elect.” And not only that, but that we were “it” and they were kicking our trash. I got a little frustrated and thought about asking Heavenly Father if we could play “sardines” instead. We could hang out in the chapel and wait for everyone to come in and find us. But I don´t think that He´d let us play that game.

The miracle and incredibly way awesome moment of the week was when we passed by to visit Edgardo – a 33 year old man with a wife and 6 kids (one aged 8!) that we had taught twice before and left a Book of Mormon with his wife one day. He said he had read 3 Nephi 11, the introduction, all the testimonies and everything up until 1 Nephi 7 and get this… he remembered and recounted EVERYTHING. He had prayed about it, said that he knew it was true and asked when we have baptisms because he wants to “do that and become a Latter day Saint” WOW! We took out a date for the 7th of March and he accepted it with joy. He has to quit smoking, but promised he´d try. We made plans to pass by and walk to church with him that Sunday (2 days ago) BUT… his wife basically won't let us on their property and wouldn´t let him go. We have been trying to make friends with her since the beginning, offering to help in her home, but she is cold and doesn´t receive us at all. She hung up on me and is standing in the way of a man that wants to be baptized… and have his son baptized too! We did a special fast, my companion and I so that the Lord would soften her heart. More than 24 hours perfect… and I didn´t every drink water (don´t get mad… we need a miracle!) We are going to pass by tonight and see what the Lord has in store. This would be a complete family – just like Daddy talked about (and holy cow – a family of 8 booyah!) I want to baptize a complete family with all of my missionary heart! It is my mission dream and I´ve got just under 9 months to bring it to pass. We pray constantly for this family. I know that if it is the will of the Lord, she will listen to us, let us into her home and be converted, but if not then... maybe down the road. It breaks our hearts, we finally won playing hide and seek… and then came the opposition!

Faustino didn´t come to church on Sunday because it was his 65th birthday, but we made him brownies and delivered them with a card and a prayer rock I made him. I sang Happy Birthday to him in English, Swedish and Castellano. He was quite pleased. He needs to attend church this Sunday to reach his assistance and be baptized on the 21st, but we feel good about it. As long as he doesn´t say he won´t pay his tithing in his interview we should be good with him. He was joking with the ward mission leader and said that he thinks he will become bishop someday… it was great-- but at least it shows commitment to the church, eh?

Haedo 1 is tough. There´s no getting´around it. Sometimes when people reject us all day long I think to myself, “I don´t deserve Haedo 1-- but I know this is where I need to be because there is a lot of work work to be done in this area!

My time is gone already....Mom, yes, could you put $200 on my debit card. My leather scripture cases might be done soon and it will be time to pay up! Thanks!

Nata- I miss holding Davy so much and can´t believe how big he is now. Does he talk yet? You´ve got to teach him to say “boca” – that should be pretty easy, well at least easier than saying “Hermana Jensen” or “Argentina!”

Jason- I heard you wrote me a letter that is super awesome. That´s no surprise. Guess what… I´m planning to write a book when I get back… about the mission!

Daddy, yeah for a fun super bowl and way to go getting your food at the Mirage. You´d love the all-you-can–eats here because of the ICE CREAM! What is going on in Israel?

Chiao!