Bahia Blanca Argentina Mission

Bahia Blanca Argentina Mission

Monday, October 30, 2017

Isaias Baptism / Grateful to Serve

Isaias was baptized on Saturday! It was really the perfect day and his whole family and a lot of non member friends came as well! As I watched Isaias there in the font looking at his mom I was filled with such an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the calling that I have had here in Argentina as a full time missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ.                 

Reflecting back on my first couple of days in the mission I remember the very first time that I recited the First Vision by memory to an investigator. My trainer and I were standing across the table from Pablo in his little shop teaching the Restoration. In broken Spanish I tried to tell him about the experience that Joseph Smith had that day. It was the first time that I really felt the power of the spirit testify through me. I don't know if Pablo understood anything I said or felt any of the same feelings that I did but it was the first time I really understood the importance of my calling. Since then I have been able to meet more people and teach lots of different lessons, some better than others, but the constant help of the Spirit has been there. The experiences that I have had watching the Spirit testify to those that I have taught and being able to be the voice of that spirit has been one of the best parts about being a missionary.    

I am so grateful to have had my own personal testimony strengthened during these last 18 months. Learning how to be a disciple of Christ and doing the best that I can to represent Him everyday has helped me to understand the impact His life can have on each person that makes the choice to follow Him. Meeting people and loving them without knowing almost anything about them has helped me to better understand the way that Christ loves each of us. Feeling His help every step of the way during this crazy adventure has been the biggest blessing. I know that He lives and I know that missionary work is His work. I can't believe that my time to serve has already almost ended. The people here in Argentina have taught me so much and I am so grateful to have been able to learn from their examples. My heart breaks even just thinking about all of the goodbyes that are ahead of me this week! Being a missionary was the best decision. I´ll see you all next week! 

CHAU! 






Monday, October 23, 2017

Finally Bitten

HOLA! 

This week has been so great. We had divisions with the hermanas in Rama Centro and I was able to work with the Hermana Quenta from Peru. We visited one of her Investigators who has been investigating the church for years but hadn't been able to quit smoking. A few weeks ago she decided to stop and has been working towards her baptismal date ever since. When we visited her she seemed really sad. She told us that the night before her 16 year old daughter had moved out to live with her dad, who hasn't been the best influence on her. She was crying and asked why God would do this to her now when she's finally starting to work towards her eternal family. We watched a mormon message and read a couple of scriptures together before we ended with a prayer. We asked her if we could kneel and Hermana Quenta prayed for her. The spirit felt was so strong: When she ended Veronica couldn´t even talk. She pulled the two of us into a hug and we just kinda stayed on the floor hugging her for awhile. It was a cool experience to feel so much love for someone that I had literally just met. 

Also on Sunday Isaias, his mom, his older sister, and his grandpa all came to church. Isaias was so excited to show us his new church tie and his nice shoes. We sat next to them and he taught his mom all about the Sacrament and what everything represented. Griselda (his mom) had been pretty closed off to everything but she stayed the whole 3 hours and even had an interview with the branch president afterwards. We talked about Temples and Family History in our Gospel Doctrine class and Griselda told us that Isaias had been talking about wanting to Baptize his dad (who passed away) and she didn't know what he was talking about and now it made sense. We are praying that she wants to start taking the lessons this week! 

Andrea. Martin and Orlando are all doing well. Andrea teaches everyone she meets about the Plan of Salvation and even has a few of our pass along cards to give to people! 

I was also BIT by my first dog this week. I should have known I couldn't leave this country without that experience.  It was on my ankle but did not break the skin.

This is Isaias and Zamira reading the Book of Mormon with us in their childrens book that we gave them. Isaias told us that he knows God answers prayers because he lost something of his and after praying he found it! 





Monday, October 16, 2017

No Kissing

Hello!

This week we taught our 10 year old investigator Isaias about the law of Chastity and The word of Wisdom. He's so smart! It's so fun to teach him because he picks up on things so quick. When we came back to visit him after our lesson his older sister Diana told him to fill us in on his big news from school...he looked at us and told us that he has a girlfriend BUT that he explained to her that because of The Law of Chastity they can't kiss until they are married. 

We also have been working with Andrea and Martin to help them get married. When we passed by to visit this week Andrea was a little down because of some crazy family problems she's having right now. We had planned on teaching her los diez mandamientos but we both felt like she needed to hear something a little different. We shared with her a couple of verses from Romanos 8 about Christ's love and her divine potential. She cried and told us she can feel it when we teach her and has loved having so much more knowledge about the plan that God has for her and her family. Andrea is such a great example to me. She has been through a lot and has never let herself be mad at God for it. 

We had a few other adventures this week like locking ourselves out of our apartment and not being able to leave the building either without the keys. Thanks to the elders for stopping by and saving us from that situation. 

Also, it has always been really interesting to me the way that the meat is handled here in Argentina. The other day on the way to an appointment we passed our meat truck friends and I finally got the courage to stand close enough to the dead cow for a pic. 

I hope all is well at home! Have a good week!


Locked out of their apartment

Meat Truck Friends, This is how all of the Carnecerias get their meat here




Monday, October 2, 2017

General Conference

HOLA! 

This week we had transfers and my new companion is actually my old companion! Hermana Watkins! My first Hija! She started the mission with me and I'll be finishing the mission with her. We are super happy to be able to be back together after our crazy emergency transfer back in March. This week has been really great and today Hermana Watkins was able to see the beach and the ocean for the first time in her whole life! 

I loved General Conference and I hope that everyone had the chance to watch it! The spirit felt is always so strong and the messages that the apostles gave were great. I especially loved how much the principle of learning and progressing "Grace to Grace" was brought up. The mission for me has definitely been a learning process for me and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father has ben so patient with me as I try and progress "Grace to grace" 

Have a great week!

At the Beach with Hermana Watkins, Her first time seeing the ocean ever
We can on the mission at the same time

Monday, September 25, 2017

Hermana Monardes is leaving, staying in Necochea

Hello! 

We had transfer calls last night and Hermana Monardes is leaving me! Im not sure who my companion will be yet but I am really excited to finish my last transfer here in Necochea!

This week we were able to travel to Loberia for a chrch open house. The branch there is really tini and their church building is super small but quite a few people ended up coming and the spirit was really strong throught the whole event. 

Our investigators are going well and still progressing! I hope that everyone has a great week!

YAY for Conference weekend!  Its like Christmas for the missionaries!

Hermana Monads
Making chocolate Marroc with Hermana Rodriguez 
Capilla Abierta

Monday, September 18, 2017

Rosana Baptism

Mi vida,como esta?
ROSANA BAUTIZOU MAMI!
Estoy tan fliz ,ella es increible y su familia tambin.Su hijo y su nora fueran no bautismo y domingo tambien con Loli.Mire este abolito en su lado,el es lo ex esposo de Rosana ,hasta el apareceu en el bautismo kkk Fui tudo muy lindo ,yo y hermana Barbosa cantamos Grande eres tu en Portugues ,tambien Elder Mardones tocou violino,fue todo perfecto.Solamente oq no me gusto que los mienbros no fueran y no havia nadie de lo bispado,pude creer?

2017-09-04 16:47 GMT-03:00 Gabriela Silva <gabrielasilva16@myldsmail.net>:
Un poco trank por su vestido de madriña de casamento kkk

2017-09-04 16:36 GMT-03:00 Gabriela Silva <gabrielasilva16@myldsmail.net>:
Sim ,Hna Araya!Buena pq bunisima solamente usted!
 Rosana bautizaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!

2017-09-04 16:28 GMT-03:00 Samantha Lynn Ahlmer <samantha.ahlmer@myldsmail.net>:
Es buena?

2017-09-04 16:27 GMT-03:00 Gabriela Silva <gabrielasilva16@myldsmail.net>:
Bien!
Estou con una Chilena aca tambien kkk

2017-09-04 16:24 GMT-03:00 Samantha Lynn Ahlmer <samantha.ahlmer@myldsmail.net>:
HAGALO! Y digale que quiero viajar para el bautismo de Rosana tambien! :)

2017-09-04 16:23 GMT-03:00 Gabriela Silva <gabrielasilva16@myldsmail.net>:
TE AMO AHMITA...
Volve para mi,voy pedir a presidente,de verdad!

2017-09-04 16:23 GMT-03:00 Gabriela Silva <gabrielasilva16@myldsmail.net>:
CHUPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA MUCHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

2017-09-04 16:21 GMT-03:00 Samantha Lynn Ahlmer <samantha.ahlmer@myldsmail.net>:
POBRECITA nooo tramites CHUPA!

2017-09-04 16:14 GMT-03:00 Gabriela Silva <gabrielasilva16@myldsmail.net>:
Recibe mami....
Estoy aqui no freaking tramites,pasei toda la tarde con los Eldres solita ,viajei solita tambien ...

2017-09-04 16:09 GMT-03:00 Samantha Lynn Ahlmer <samantha.ahlmer@myldsmail.net>:
Recibio mi tarjeta!? Sino preguntales en la officina lo tinen ellos! FELIZ 4 MESES!!! 

2017-09-04 16:05 GMT-03:00 Gabriela Silva <gabrielasilva16@myldsmail.net>:
Oi mami,no voy a mandar pq es en portugues que mando a ellos.
LLamei hoy pq su telefone estava como secretario en mi telefono,que loco no? Cuando escuche usted me quede tan feliz y queria ablar un montao.Estoy en Bahia,voy le enviar una carta para dijer todo que pasa mejor.
Te amo mucho y amei mi tarjetasssssssssssssssssssss....Gracias.....Espere mis cartas <3


2017-09-04 15:45 GMT-03:00 Samantha Lynn Ahlmer <samantha.ahlmer@myldsmail.net>:
MIJA! 

Porque me llamaste? Perdon estaba TAN cansada y la verdad, no intendi mucho jajaj pero FELICIDADES en el bautismo de Rosana, quiero escribirle una carta. Me pude mandar su direccion? TE EXTRAÑO me tiene que dar mas detalles. Mandeme lo que esta mandando a su familia! 

2017-08-28 17:38 GMT-03:00 Gabriela Silva <gabrielasilva16@myldsmail.net>:
Mamiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii,Te estraño un montaum...
Ahora ja me llevo mejor con hermana Barbosa,ella es buena e tambien un poco vaga kkkk
Si,Rosana bautiza en dia 09,ya estamos ,ahora falta enseñar sobre templos solamente,pode creer.Ella va bautizar Mamiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!! \o/
Justo salimos de su casa,almorsamos aya hoy,fue muy bueno,ellas te estrañam mucho tambien..

Oh my gosh que increible sus fotos...

Te amo con todo mi corazon y quero ver le luego.
Um bezo Shakira!
E gracias por ouvidar su maple kkk


2017-08-28 11:30 GMT-03:00 Samantha Lynn Ahlmer <samantha.ahlmer@myldsmail.net>:
HERMANA SOUZY TE AMO CON TODO MI ALMA. Como estas mija? Espero que estya semana fue mejor :) la extraño mucho. Loli me escribio y me dijo que Rosana Pronto se va a  bautisar! YAY diga me cuando para que pueda estar celebrando de lejos. Le voy a mandar fotos :) TENGA LA MEJOR SEMANA eso soy yo tratando de besar los lobos marinos. 











Isaias and the Plan of Salvation

Hello! 

This week started off with MORE divisiones in 3 Arroyos but this time with Hermana Medina de Mexico. While we were together we commited one of her investigators to FINALLY go to church and when I called them on Sunday they said he came! YAY. 

While Hermana Monardes and Hermana Gonzales were working here in Necochea they commited Andrea and Martin to a baptismal date as well! 

Also we have been teaching Isaias and when we talked about how Jesus was baptized during our lesson, and about the Plan of Salvation. He told us that he wanted to be baptized  "Tomorrow so that I can live with my Dad in heaven forever".  I really love being a missionary and having the opportunity to be a part of these kinds of moments. 

ALSO Hermana Souza emailed me this week and ROSANA was BAPTIZED. It is so hard to not be able to be in 2 places at once, I would have loved to have been there but Hermana Souza said that it was awesome and that her whole family came. YAY.

 I hope all is well at home! 

World Service day. We painted a school! 


Doing homework with Andreas son Evan 
BEACH DAY
Today is Independence day in Chile and so Hermana Monardes made our district Sopaipillas! 

Monday, September 11, 2017

Ethan and Evan, Orlando, Andreas family

Hello! 

This week went super well. We have been finding all kinds of people to teach and despite the rain, we have had so much fun running to appointments soaking wet. 

We started teaching a little brother of one of our less active members. His name is Isaias and he's 10. His mom told us that she is really worried about him because since his dad died he has had a really hard time in school and his teachers tell her that he only plays by himself. She asked us if we would start brining him to church with us to see if he could make a few friends. We picked him up on Sunday and he was nervous and didn't say much but after church he couldn't stop talking! He loved primary and told us about all of his new friends and all of the things he learned!  When we brought him to his mom she was in shock!

We also have been teaching Orlando and he came to church this Sunday too! He is doing good, praying and reading. He has lots of really great questions and is trying to find his answer. 

This is Ethan and Evan, our investigator Andreas sons. We were helping them move this week because during one of the rain storms last week their roof fell through. Ethan and Evan told us they want to be missionaries when they grow up! Also, this is Susana, their grandma who asks me to braid her hair every time I go to their house haha. 

Well I hope everyone is doing well! Today I completed 16 month of missionary life! I can`t belive it has gone by so fast! 

Ethan and Evan - Andreas sons, wanting to be missionaries
Susana, Ethan and Evan, grandma want her hair braided every time they come over
Ethan and Evan Parents, the Andreas
Evan on Moving Day
Isiah going to Church for the first time
Isaiah so happy about Primary
Orlando who they are teaching

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Working with Orlando

Hola! 

This week was great! Hermana Monardes and I have been working with a guy from la Republica Dominicana named Orlando. He is 22 and told us he is looking for some God in his life. We have been teaching him for a few weeks now and he has a baptismal date! He fasted with us this weekend for strength to stop drinking and partying on the weekends so that he can wake up for church. 

We are also working a lot with the ward members to find some new ways to shove some life back into the branch. Hermana Monardes is great and were both super excited for some warmer days and the start of spring in a few weeks!  The Necochea wind chill has just about killed me! 

We had divisions this week to and I was able to travel about 3 hours away to a city called 3 Arroyos. I worked with Hermana Gonzales from Panama. She came to the mission with me and we were put in the same zone. We laughed all day about our first couple of transfers and the struggle I had at the beginning trying to understand her. Crazy how fast time flies! 

We went to the beach and a museum in QueQuen last P day with our district and it started hailing so we all had to take cover under a rock. We were soaked! 

Soaked by the rain at the beach, we ran for cover under a rock
Hermana Monardes and I at the Museum
Like kissing a dead fish, Oh it is dead
No idea what is going on here

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

By the Sea

Trying to kiss the Lobos Marinos

Hermana Monardes and our day at the beach

The city of Necochea

Monday, August 21, 2017

Necochea and Hermana Monardes

HELLO!

I got to Necochea on Tuesday morning and met my new comp! Her name is Hermana Monardes, she is from Santiago Chile and lives in Maipu. 

We had Interviews and Zone Conference this week and between that and meeting members and investigators we had a pretty busy week! 

Our area is a branch of about 30 people and at least 20 of them are little old ladies. They love us to death and are really sweet. Im excited! Necochea is great so far. 

Have a good week!


Hermana Monardes from Chile

Monday, August 14, 2017

Transfer to Neccochea - Leaving Tandil

Hello! 

Yesterday we got transfer calls! Hermana Souza and I are being split up and yes, we are DEVESTATED. Ill be headed to Neccochea in the morning and I am really excited to get to know a new place! Saying goodbye to Tandil has been really hard. These are definitely the hardest parts about mission life. So bitter-sweet! 

Have a good week! 

Neccochea is a costal city northwest of Bahia

Running from Street Dogs
Rosana and Loli at Church
My mission in a picture
Making pancakes for Rosana and Loli


Monday, August 7, 2017

I PRAYED and Gaston

Hello! 

These last couple of weeks have been really crazy! Hermana Souza and I have been dying at how fast the time has been flying by. 

Our investigator Rosana is doing really well. She had a really hard time believing in God when we first met her and Hermana Souza and I made it a goal to just get her to pray. About 2 weeks ago we knocked on the door for one of our visits and instead of letting us in she told us that we were going to have to chat outside. She told us that her daughter had split up with her husband and moved into her house with her 3 little boys. Rosana was really sad about it, but after she had told us about all that had gone on she said she had some good news for us. "I PRAYED¨. Hermana Souza and I were STOKED. She said she couldn't sleep and finally decided to ¨take the advice of the chicas¨ and she prayed. On the walk home Souza and I had a little fiesta in the street for her. Its crazy how something so small makes all of the difference in the world to a missionary. We fasted afterwards that her daughter would be able to work things out and that Rosana could find peace in her home again and last week her daughter moved out and is working things out with her husband again and Roana has a baptismal date! YAY

In other GREAT news, Gaston was baptized! His family has been really inactive for awhile and now they are all coming to church regularly. I loved being able to get to know the Familia Carro. Watching Gaston's dad baptize him was a really spiritual moment, families are SO important. 

Other than that we have spent all this last week traveling around. Wednesday we had zone conference in my first area in Olavarria. Walking into the church building I felt like I stepped back into my first in the mission! Its so crazy how fast the time flies. We got home thursday morning and then I had to head out Thursday night for a leadership meeting in Bahia. Not much sleep this week...thank the heavens for PDAY. 

I hope everyone is doing well! Have a great week! 

Gaston baptism by his now active Dad, Great Day


Monday, July 24, 2017

Calvario

Rosana in Red our newest investagor
Calvario


Church at the Calvario
New Missionaries