Asombro me da

Fumeeleeuh y Uhmeegos,

Greetings from Zárate! Thank you for the emails. Mom, I can´t picture
you not being YW Pres haha. You were the perfect lady for the job, and
I know that you will learn a lot from those crazy 9 year olds :)
Kaylee, yes it is summer here and it´s a hot one! When spring starts
to begin for you, it will be fall for us. Wheird. Dad, I feel the need
to tell you that Karl Malone and Brian Russell (is that his name?)
were in my dream the other night. It´s because a member of our ward,
Gonzalo, was telling me how he was a huge Karl Malone fan.
So....yeah.....

What a wonderful weekend it was. Mabel was able to be baptized and is
so happy. And so is her family. It´s amazing to see the happiness the
gospel can bring. Mabel has been investigating for years and years,
but told us she was finally able to open her heart. She has had many
tragedies in her life but she never fully let herself receive the
gospel of Jesus Christ until now. This experience confirms to me that
the spirit is able to bring the message "unto the heart" but it is the
choice of each person to let it enter "into the heart." This time
around, she was able to do just that and I feel so grateful that I was
able to be here when her change of heart took place. Through faith,
repentance, baptism, the gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the
end, lives are changed. I have been learning more and more about the
Atonement and how the purpose of the Atonement is so that we are able
to be changed. I have been reading a talk called "His Grace is
Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox. Please read it! (And also if someone could
find it in Spanish and email it to me, I would highly appreciate it
:)) Jesus Christ gave us this marvelous gift so we would have
motivation to put our faith in him and let him change us into
something better. We all have weaknesses, temptations, faults, but,
sabe que? They are for our good! We need to know that we have short
comings so we have the need to look for the Lord. Ether 12:27 has come
to be one of my favorite scriptures. There is also a scripture that I
discovered this morning in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (I think?). I have a
message that I feel I need to share with you all: Don´t get
discouraged if you mess up. You can come back. It will be hard, and
grueling, and there will probably be some tears, but by overcoming
these obstacles, you will become strong and know how much you need the
Savior in your life.

Asombro me da el amor que me da Jesús.
Confuso estoy por su gracia y por su luz,
y tiemblo al ver que por mí Él Su vida dio;
por mí, tan indigno, Su sangre Él derramó.
Cuán asombroso es que por amarme así muriera Él por me.
Cuán asombroso es lo que dio por me.

The Lord loves each one of you! It hurts Him when we don´t come unto
Him and use His Atonement in our lives. But he will always be there
with waiting for you to come into "the arms of his love."

I love you all!

Hermana Hill

P.S. I would like to hear what you all did with those little BOMs I sent you!


P.P.S. I forgot that I was going to tell you a little bit more about the
baptism. So it all went super smoothly, which is rare because usually
there is a ton of adversity before a baptism. After the baptism,
Hermana Vargas asked me if the font was turned off. I went to check,
and everything appeared to be good to go. The next morning, we were
about to leave to pick up investigators to go to church when we
received a call from the Elders Quorom President. He said that he was
in the church for a meeting and there was water in the chapel :S He
said it was all cleaned up but asked us if we had turned the font off
the night before......oooooops I guess one of the dials wasn´t turned
off all the way and I didn´t realize it. Luckily it was only a small
amount and it didn´t reach the bishop´s office, which has carpet....
There is always something exciting happening here in the mission!

Mabel and her brother, Antonio

La Flia Bua, cutest kids ever

Fishing my casco out of the sanja for the second time! No puedo creerlo.

For our noche de hogar Maxi taught us how to make palomitas.
I'll have to teach you all sometime!

Mi linda companera

Suenos

Dear family,

Okay first off.....HALEY LOVELAND!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, Roseville, California?! Who would´ve thought??? Okay wow. And JENNNNNNNAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow so much news in one little email. I am so happy for my dear friends! I know that your lives are going in a lovely direction and that the Lord is so happy with your righteous decisions :) (Am I sounding like a mom?) But really. I am so happy for you both and I will write you more in a letter that will hopefully get to you by next year haha.

Guess what?!?!!? You´ll never guess. Okay I´ll tell you. I get to stay in Zárate!!!!!!!! Hermana Vargas and I are here for another transfer and are happy as can be. We have made a ton of goals and plans so we can do all we can to leave this ward better than we found it. I know that I am in this little city in Argentina for a reason and that with the help of the Lord I am finding it out. I am learning so much here. For example: how to ride a bike (I´ve only crashed like 6 times in total... :P) (wow I think that´s the first time I´ve typed the sticky-tongue-out face on my mission...), how to forget how to speak English and at the same time not know Spanish, how to not care that I´m always sweating, how to find my way home after riding through endless fields in the middle of nowhere, how to hand wash my clothes, how to teach people how to pray, how to listen ever so closely in order to hear the spirit, how to talk to complete strangers in a foreign language about the buenas nuevas that I have brought with me, how to counsel with the Lord, how to love these people so stinkin much. And all this in six months. But, wow, do I still have a lot to learn.

Maxi received the priesthood yesterday. Increíble. This Sunday he is going to pass the sacrament and I couldn´t be more thrilled that I get to be here to witness it. We are teaching two sisters, Mabel and Monica, who are sisters of a member in our ward. He is always talking to them about the church and inviting them to read the Book of Mormon and go to church. Mabel has investigated for quite a while and been to church many times. She told us that she knows the Book of Mormon is true, but always had a fear of being baptized because she didn´t think she would be able to complete with the responsibilities that come with being a member. Monica has never been to church before but knows a little from her brother. Recently, their other sister took her own life and it has been devastating for the family. Last week we had the opportunity to teach them both about the Plan of Salvation. They both are reading, and asking questions, and praying and, wow, it´s amazing. This tragedy in their lives has really made them sensitive to the spirit and want to search and find answers and have some sort of anchor in their lives. The gospel is their anchor. We are going to continue to teach them and help them to see that they can have the opportunity to see their sister again. We have taught them about the work that is done in temples. In our last lesson with Mabel, she told us about a dream she had. Hermana Vargas and I came to her house, but there was someone else who came behind us, wearing a hood. She asked us who she was, but we didn´t respond. The person took off their hood and said "yo soy." It was her sister and she came for help. It is amazing to me that we not only can bring the gospel to people on earth, but also on the other side of the veil.

Well I just love you to pieces. Congratulations on the blessing of Easton :) Don´t forget to send me pictures. Aw, what a cute eternal family you are.

LOVE YOU

Hermana Hill

P.S.
GUESS WHAT?! Hna Vargas just informed me that I slept, sleep, slep talked....talked in my sleep....last night. IN SPANISH! woot.

Ohhhh noooo!

Hna Coronel and Hna Franco helping us out with our bosque in our backyard.
(Hna Jones, can you believe our bosque?!)

Celebrating 6 meses! (The bottle has Madagascar 2 and says "Fiesta para los  ninos :) )

I debated whether or not to send this picture, but I have a feeling a lot
of people will appreciate it.  We went to the end of the earth the other day.
(Hna. Jones, we went to Calle 60!!!!  Wayyy off the map.  Then we couldn't
even find the house we were looking for)

Gotta love this kid!

Luisa y Mabel

DOSMILDOS

Dear Family,

 

HI! Thanks for the pictures, you are the cutest little nativity ever! I also loved the one of Camri doing sit ups. I´m glad my missionary service is blessing you with a nice big tv and entertainment center :) It sounds like you have had quite the lovely holiday season. I´m glad you were able to spend so much time with the family. Way to go on your scripture reading every day! 100%!!!!! You can do it. I promise that you will see so many blessings. Dad, you´re, right, new years is overrated but the good thing about starting a new year is making new METAS!!!....uh, goals. I have been thinking a lot about the goals I want to make for this year. It is the only year that I get to be a missionary every day of the year. Isn´t that cool? On the 6th I will complete six years in the mission. Hahah...months. No puedo creerlo. There are still so many things I want to do better to be able to help people come unto Christ. I know that we need to make goals, pray for help, and then WORK. I think all the time about the potential we have as children of God. Working and praying and changing is hard. It takes a lot of energy. I think about the story of Enos how he had to "wrestle" with the Lord. I don´t know if you have heard the quote by....the guy who wrote the Narnia books....about how the Lord changes us into a mansion. If not, look it up. (and send it to me :)) This week has been challenging, but I know that the Lord has a grand design that we can´t see. We have had some difficulties, but at the same time I can see that we are learning and growing...and I am learning to have more charity, patience, and faith. The only way we can learn is through experience. On Sunday Hna Vargas gave an awesome talk about humility and how it is the only way we can learn. A member of the stake presidency also spoke about gratitude and always looking for the good, even in trials. He shared a scripture that I LOVE.

 

D&C 78:17-18

 

Sorry my thoughts are scattered, we don´t have a lot of time. But I hope you all can make some goals this new year. 2012!!!! Woo! Oh I just remembered his name. C.S. Lewis :)

 

Things are going well here! Hna Gonzalez left but Hna Vargas and I are plugging along and meeting a lot of new people! We have transfers this Sunday. Ah, I don´t know where I am gonig to go but all I know is that if I leave Zárate I´m going to miss it so much. I will keep you posted. I love you alllllll!!!!!!!!!

Su hermanita

 

I found Quaker Oatmeal Squares! Expensive, but worth it.

Easton! Pahaha.

Yeah...

Regocijad!

Dear Family,

JO JO JO Merrrrry Christmas! Ah it was so good to talk to you and see your bright smiling faces yesterday. Sorry I had such a hard time talking normal :S I´m glad you are all doing well. Thank you so much for your love and support! And to my friends as well….I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and thank you for the love and support and letters. I´m sorry I haven´t sent hardly any letters, there is never time to write. But just know that I appreciate you all! Oh and speaking of….just a reminder to all those who have exciting news such as mission calls, EMAIL ME RIGHT AWAY! thx

Okay so the baptisms. Wow. Miracles. And also a lot of adverstiy. So Ruben was a former investigator and we had tried to visit him before but he wasn´t home. So we got special permission to leave earlier in the morning to visit him. He was home and after talking for a little while we found out he still has interest in the gospel. I asked him if he would be baptized the next day and he got a huge grin on his face and said yes. We found out that two of his sisters, Milagros and Evelyn, had also been to church before and they both chose to be baptized as well. Miracles. Nicolas and Santiago are brothers and I already told you the story about them but they are amazing. Maxi and Joaquin are doing awesome. There weren´t very many people in sacrament meeting on Christmas, but Maxi and Joaquin got there early, even though they hadn´t slept at all the night before. A lot of the investigators and recent converts need us to call or pass by their house to wake them up, but these two brothers are always where they need to be without anyone telling them. I love the people here so much. I don´t ever want to leave Zárate!

I will send you lots of pictures. I love you a ton! Give Easton a big beso from his favorite tía :)

Hermana Hill

Nicolas and Santiago looking at the font before their baptism.
I love this picture.  They are little angels!

A frog entered our house and wanted to do some gospel/spanish study.

Baptism of Milagros, Ruben, & Evelyn :)

When we went to fill the font for Santi and Nico,  it was still full from the baptism
of  Maxi and Joaquin because the person who is in charge of emptying the font forgot.
So we took buckets and emptied about half of it and filled the rest with warm water.

Blanca Navidad :)

Hello!

Thanks for the emails! I did a few laugh out louds. Especially seeing dad in the ELF SUIT! Classic. Please tell me that is his for keeps? It was good hearing from the my funny sisters! McKenna, good job with your finals and I will look for Elder Skousen. Hannah, good job in swimming, and stay away from the creepy seniors at viewmont. Camri, ugh...ozzy. And poor Bella.....:S

As always, SO MUCH I WANT TO WRITE. But of course life is crazy. This week has been very satifying. We are definitely seeing the fruits of our labors! We had seven investigators at church this Sunday, which is the most we have had in Zárate. We also had the most people in the chapel that we have ever had--67. It doesn´t sound like a lot, but it was a huge blessing to have that many, believe it or not! I am beginning to learn how to lose myself in the work.

Let me tell you the story of Maxi and Joaquin a little. So Maxi was an antiguo investigador and we found his registro. He had met with the missionaries before and had been to church as well. We decided to see if he still had interest and find out why he wasn´t baptized before. It was one of the days when I was on divisions with a member, Julieta, when Hna Vargas and Gonzalez went to the hospital. We had some trouble finding his house, but were finally able to find it. There was a teenager sitting there smoking and he hurried and left. A girl came out and we asked for Maxi. Turns out he was the boy who we saw. He came out and we got to know him a little bit and talked about the gospel. After about five minutes I asked him if he would be baptized and he said yes. We invited him to a noche de hogar that night and he actaully went! We also started teaching his brother Joaquin. They are chicos muyyy especiales. Because they had both been to church many times before, and they had testimonies, they were able to be baptized quickly. Many miracles occurred in order for it to happen though. Maxi was able to quit smoking and he took out his piercing on his lip. At first their mom wouldn´t let Joaquin get baptized because she thought he was too young to make such a big decision. But Joaquin had a huge desire to get baptized. Although he doesn´t say much, he has a huge spirit and always has a smile. When his mom said no, he wouldn´t eat the rest of the day because he was devastated. We continued to plan for his baptism because we knew that his mom would have a change of heart. Which she did (amazingly). She was able to go to their baptism and it was such a spiritual experience. We had asked Maxi if he would share his testimony after he was baptized and he said no. Joaquin hesitantly said he would. After the baptism, he went up to the front, but got all shy and wouldn´t say anything. His mom started asking him questions, trying to prompt him like "how do you feel? do you feel clean? do you feel like Heavenly Father is happy with you?" He just got a big smile and nodded his head. Then Maxi started to bear his testimony and talk about how he felt during his baptism. It was like he couldn´t hold it in! He said that he was nervous right before, but he came up out of the water and felt a peace that he had never felt before. After the services, their mom, Adriana, even told us that she felt something she had never felt before and she even felt like sharing her testimony with her sons. I know that the spirit can change people! I believe that Adriana would be baptized if it wasn´t for her husband who is against it. But, I know she will have the opportunity because with God nothing is impossible! I was talking to Maxi a while ago and he said that many missionaries would come to his door before, but he would always say he wasn´t interested or he would hide. He said he didn´t know why he decided to talk to us when we went to his house. He said when he went to the noche de hogar, he stood outside the church for about fifteen minutes and wasn´t going to go in. But he heard us sing "noche de luz" (silent night), which he remembered from church and liked it, and he decided to go. We sang that song at his baptism. I know from this experience that people are being prepared by a loving Heavenly Father all the time. 

Wow I have to go. Hope that story made sense. 

I love you so much and wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope you remember our loving Savior. I have a compromiso for you all. This Christmas think of a gift that you can give to Christ. Pray to know something that you can give up in your life, something you can do better, some way to use your time for more things of the Lord. I know if you do this, you will be so blessed. I am going to do it too :) And if you feel like it, let me know how it goes. 

LES AMO!

Hermana Hill

Ezequiel y Lucas.  Aren't they just the cutest?

We bought some shoes for 12 pesos :)

Subimos el techo.

Las Chicas Super Poderosas

Familia!

 

No tengo tiempo! We just got done with doing tramites for Hermana Gonzalez and we need to get back to work.

 

Maxi and his brother Joaquin were baptized. It was amazing. I will give you more details next week.

 

I love you so much!

 

Christmas is so soon!

 

WOO!

 

The church is true! And it changes lives!

 

Hermanaza Hill

No puedo creerlo...

Familia!

 

¡Qué loca semana! Okay it seems like I´m always saying it has been a crazy week. But I feel like this week has been extra crazy! Let me just list a few things that have happened.

 

-I have a new companion. She´s super awesome. Like I said, she´s from Guatemala. She´s so cute and so happy and always says "¡no puedo creerlo!" She´s also a stylist so I can get a haircut, waxing, make up, etc done by this little chica. Jaja.

-The first day she got here, there was a huge rain/hail storm. We were super far from the house when it started and we got PELTED by giant ice rocks. It was fun though. Once in a lifetime opportunity :)

-We were in the middle of a lesson when the Secretary of the mission called and told us we need to get back to our house asap because another Hermana, Hna Gonzalez was going to come join us. She is a traveling missionary...she spends about a week with every companionship to help out and such because she´s re-copada.

-Hna Vargas had to go to the hospital in capital because she has a constractura cervical. Poor thing is like a robot, she can´t move her neck. So Hna Gonzalez went with her and I got to be a trainer for a day. A member accompanied me to all the lessons we had for the day. Her name is Julietta and is 19. She is a ward missionary in Zárate I and wants to be a missionary someday. She´s awesome. It´s with her that we found Maxi....

-We have a baptism this weekend! His name is Maxi Alderete. He had been investigating the church about a year ago, but his mom didn´t want him to get baptized. But we ended up visiting him and invited him to our noche de hogar on Friday. And he came!! And he came to church. He is fifteen years old and wants to change his life around. Right now he smokes but he said he is going to stop. And he had an earring on his lip but Hna Gonzalez got him to take it out and give it to her. Haha she´s awesome. And his mom said it is okay with her if he goes to church and gets baptized! The best part is, his sister is a member and she can help him to stay active.

-We also have a bunch more investigators but I don´t have time to write about them all.

-We went on divisions the other day and, again, I got to be a trainer. I went with a girl in our ward, Eliana, who is twenty, who is also really awesome.

-I feel so busy but I love it.

-Today I have been in Argentina for three months. Where does the time go??

-I feel like a ton more has happened but I can´t think of it all right now.

 

I can´t believe it about the crazy strom you had!!! Is everyone safe and sound? I sure hope so! How scary!! At least you got some good missionary experiences out of it :) Hahaha mom, I can´t believe you sent that text to the wrong person! I remember doing that a few times back in the day. Awk-ward.... Alfajores are delicious treats they have here in Argentina. Google it. And, yes, they do taste better on the roof. Hna Jones can testify to that :)

 

Well I love you. And I love the gospel. Don´t forget to do the little things each day. I know our testimonies grow by reading and praying every single day. Don´t forget! Make it a priority. Something I have been trying to remember to do is pray everyday to ask if the Book of Mormon is true. It has helped to strengthen my testimony. Right now I´m reading in 3 Nephi. I LOVE IT. It´s so interesting to see that right before something amazing is about to happen (the coming of Christ), there is so much opposition. The people were the most wicked and Satan had the hearts of many. But these were the people who were destroyed...those who remained faithful through it all were the ones who were able to witness the coming of Christ. Don´t ever give in to doubts, only go forward with faith.

 

I love you!

 

Tía Hill

 

P.S. Hermana Jones: Thank you for the email! I love the photos!!!! I almost died laughing when I saw the pink jump suit. Oh boyyy. Are we friends on facebook yet? Have you stalked me yet? It sounds like it has been crazy being home. Good luck with the whole adjustment! I know you can do it. Keep being a missionary, okay? Don´t worry, we are taking care of Zárate for you :) I wish I could write more but just know that I love you!