Hey all! Let's get down to business with this update shall we?
Wonderful Hermana Pucheta with my companion and I
First off:
14th de Octubre: I had divisiones with Hermana Hemi, the sister
that replaced Hermana Henriquez, as she went home. This was a momentous
occasion, as Hermana Arntsen went to the Chacabuco area, leaving me to
guide Hermana Hemi in our area. I've never led in my area before, and
was a little sick to my stomach with apprehension. Divisiones last 24
hours, and this was my second one. We started out by taking the
Colectivo back to Parque Patricios. I had to really focus to remember
where we needed to get off. While on the bus Hermana Hemi struck up a
conversation with a man standing next to us. We got to know a little
about him and invited him to church before getting off at San Juan.
After dropping off our stuff at the apartment we grabbed lunch, namely
empanadas and fruit, before heading off. Throughout the day I realized
that I knew my area quite a bit better than I had thought. I also really
enjoyed teaching with Hermana Hemi. She's from New Zealand, has a sick (meaning awesome!)
accent, and a great love of the gospel. We stopped by to visit Nicolas,
the son of Tanya, and taught him about the Restoration.
view from our pension
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We also stopped
by to visit Zulma G. and ended up finding both her and Cristian. They were
on their way to the capella, which is where we needed to be next, so we
walked with them. On the way as I talked with Zulma while Hermana Hemi talked
with Cristian, teaching him about the Restoration. Cristian is a real
puzzle. He's come to church by himself, without even being invited, and yet
doesn't want to get baptized. If he had read the Book of Mormon and
prayed about it as he's been invited to I think things would be
different. However, al things will happen in their proper time, and the
best we can do is invite him to learn and to experiment. As it turned to
evening and we reached the capella we met up with Cristian Pucheta, who
said he would accompany us as a member present for our lessons. He's
only gone out with us once, and was a little apprehensive. However, as
we visited the stops we had planned and talked with him I could tell
that he was changing, that he was warming up to the idea and process. On
the walk back to his place to get the dinner Hermana Pucheta always
prepares for us he bought a 2 liter bottle of some sort of juice that we
enjoyed on the way back. It was cool to see him involved in missionary
work, and to have the beginning of a desire to go out with us more. When
Hermana Hemi and I got back to the pension she died inside. For those
of you who do not already know, we have a lot of roaches in our
apartment. Hermana Hemi was not ready. Unfortunately, I've grown a
little immune, and crushed them left and right on my way to my desk.
They are nasty. She was horrified. It was not good. However, she made
platones, which were delicious! A lot like potato fries.
Dragon I drew for Cristian
15th: In the morning after studies I got Hermana Arntsen back, and
we went to have lunch with the Pucheta's. While there I gave Cristian
the drawing of a dragon that he had asked for. Then after we had eaten
and Hermana Pucheta was doing our nails I shared with him a lot of my
favorite scriptures found in all of the standard works. Usually he
doesn't seem interested in such things, but he kept asking me to show
him another of my favorites. It was a really cool experience and a nice
change. Later we visited with Hermana Nelly and helped her out with her
English homework. I always find it entertaining, because it's British
english, and they say things pretty strangely. No matter. We vanquished
the homework and left with our litle chocolate milks, sipping
triumphantly:)
16th: We had lunch with the Bishop and family and shared atonement
scriptures with them:) Always lots of fun, although usually a little
long as well. The fish we had was excellent:) Later that day we talked
with Cristian, Zulma's brother. We had been hoping to find Marcos, the
cousin of Zulma, but ended up talking with Cristian who had a little bit
of free time. It was my first time teaching him, as usually I'm
occupied with Zulma when he comes to the door. It was a really cool
experience. I invited him to read the Book of Mormon with a question,
and promised that if he did he would receive an answer. He had been
telling us that he would get baptized, but that it would be in the
future and that he needed to see how things went and learn more. I told
him, very clearly, that the only way to know was to read and to ask. I
have yet to know if he took my challenge, but I Know that it works. It
has in my own life. I have always received an answer when I came with a
question. It doesn't matter where in the Book of Mormon you read or ever
how much you read. What matters is coming with an inspired question and
Expecting to recieve revelation. It works. Every time.
Later, while with Guillermo he told us that I was the last
missionary that he would be accompanying, as he feels caught in a never
ending circle of befriending missionaries who then leave. I felt honored
in a funny sort of way. He certainly has done a ton for us, and is
always there when we need a member to accompany us or someone to walk us
home to the pension at night. He does a lot and we're extremely
grateful for him:)
17th: Hermana Arntsen and I played an interesting little game in
the morning:) Namely, looking for all the different little flowers we
could find. We found about 15 different types, all gorgeous and unique.
It was fun and a good little bonding experience:) For lunch we went over
to visit Hermana Nelly. After eating we helped her with some more
English homework. As we finished up she started telling us that the day
hadn't been very good for her. She started to cry, which really
surprised me. Hermana Nelly is a tough, independent woman, and I had
never seen her cry. But I understand exactly where she was coming from.
Sometimes the build up of various things becomes too much and we just
have to let it out. We were able to share a couple scriptures with her
and help her feel a little better.
18th: I got to see Brenda! We hadn't seen in her in about 2 weeks
and I was missing her like crazy! It was wonderful to catch up with
her:) We also got to see Anita and talk with her which was wonderful.
Ever since they've moved it's been hard to get ahold of them, but we
managed to find her:) We also finally found Nicole, a less active member
that we visited my first week here. We invited her to come to church
before heading back to the Pension:)
Sunday Lunch with the Amazing Family Montiel
19th: Mother's day in Argentina:) During church I was able to give
away a couple of my various drawings. One of them was a lion I had drawn
for Guillermo. To be honest I don't think he liked it, but he
appreciated that I'd put the time into it. After church we headed over
to the Montiel's. Guillermo joined us for lunch there; it was
hamburgers! Delicious. We also watched The Hope of God's Light, a mormon
message, with them. Afterwards Mario Montiel shared a personal story
about how he had been atheist until two sister missionaries had found
him and taught him. He received all of the lessons in a week and was
baptized. A couple years later he was on a mission. Such a cool
experience. It also pricked his heart a little bit towards going to
church. He hasn't been in a long time due to work, and we've been trying
to get him to come. He has this sunday off, so we got him to pinkie promise with each of us that he would come this week. I really hope he does!
(for those who may be a little confused like I was: These are the members of the Pucheta family: Zulma (mom), Juan (dad),
Brenda, Fatima, Cristian, and Carla. Hermana Montiel, who we have lunch
with every Sunday,
does our laundry. The family Pucheta are the ones that give us dinner
every night. Zulma and Cristian gomez are siblings. Zulma Gomez is our
convert. The flower creature was for Hermana Pucheta.--so there are 2 Zulma and 2 Cristians, no wonder I was confused!)
(Muchas gracias siempre to Guillermo, la familia Montiel, y la familia Puchesta por todo su amor y ayuda a mi hija!!!)
It's been a busy but good week:) I love all of you and hope every one is doing well!
Much love,
Hermana Mallory Dickson
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