Week Sixty-Eight!

Hey Family,

 

So I'm writting this today because yesterday we had an amazing Christmas conference. It was so awesome. Papá Noel (Santa Claus) showed up and had packages from home. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!! I Loved them all. I got the three from you mom the one from Sharla and the one from dad. Hahaha some of the chocolate had melted and squished but it was all contained. And thank you so much for the photos I'm actually a little shocked it got her safetly but I love it I spent a good while just looking through them. My comp also says thanks for the little package. I'm so stoked to do those gingerbread houses too! Loved them. We also played some games all together differerent zones against the other and it was super funny because it was charades, but the gringos would yell out the words in english cause we didn't know how to say it in spanish, like weird words like inn keeper. Super funny we also had christmas karaoke - spanish elders singing english, and english elders singing spanish the english elders did way better, just saying. We also got to play some soccer my ultimate favorite in the mission because the elders are always to scared to touch me because I'm an Hna(girl/sister). Hahahahaha. 

 

This last week was awesome though we had another baptism, Evangelina!!!! It was a cute little baptism and she was so adorable. Her mom who was baptised a year ago came with her to her baptism. Her mom is super strong in the church and has an amazing story that maybe one day I'll tell you. But I really loved her confirmation as they talked about her being an example for her family and kids. She is such a special person she has been through so much. I wish I could explain it all but their family just needs the gospel. I also love her kids. They are so cute and they always say "hola chicas de la iglesia" ( hey girls from the church). It sounds cuter in spanish with thier little child accent too. I truly know that the Lord can help her change her life around as she keeps learning and growing in the church.

 

We also got together as a district and did some Christmas contacting in the plaza on Sunday. It was so much fun. We all just walked around asking people why they celebrate Christmas and then just testifing that we celebrate it because our Saviour was born. I love the Christmas season and how open the people are to talk about Christ because it's true, we get so caught up in buying gifts, going to parties, and worrying about the material things of Christmas that we forget to stop and just remeber exactly why we are celebrating. I love Chirstmas because it's the time we remember the birth of the Savior. A birth that was so plain and simple, yet changed the world forever. Is there room in our hearts and thoughts this year for the Savior?

 

Mom I remeber that line from the blessing everytime it's so hot here. I don't think it will get much hotter than high 40´s or 50 but we'll wait and see. The other night in the street we stopped and talked to a lady named Laura. You could tell from the scars on her body that she's had a hard life but my companion felt that we should stop and talk to her. As we talked with her and testified that she can have a new life and a new start through baptism I looked into her eyes and truly felt that she was a daughter of God and felt her potential to over come the challenges of her life.

 

I love you all so much and am so excited to hear from you next week. I warn you I don't know how my English will be.

 

Lots of love,

Hna Potrie

Week Sixty-Seven!

Hola!!!!

 

No way the ward there is the highest baptising in the mission!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats so awesome!!! I bet the work is just growing like crazy there and just like you said, keep working hard and helping all the new members. Their testimonies are there, but they just need to keep strengthening them always. It was so hot this week! One day it was 47 C with the hunidity factored in. Do you know what that feels like? Sticky and sweaty and there is no way to stop it. There was also a moment of such selfless giving. A member brought us into her house and gave us buckets of water for our feet and for our hands and face. It's somthing that I'll never forget as these memebers gave everything they could because they know what it's like not to have much. They give with so much love it really is amazing.

 

We're working with a girl named Evangelina and we really want to baptise her this week. She is 21 and has 4 kids so it's hard sometimes to get her to church because they all start crying for her. But we talked with her and she really has a pure desire to follow the example of our Savior. In her family, they really are looking for a better life and a new start and it's exactly what our Savior offers. A chance to change and become the person we've always wanted to be, or better as our Heavenly Father has wanted us to be. We also worked with a girl named Micol. She is 18 and studying at the university here. She has been coming to church for almost a year but her parents won't let her get baptised. She's hoping that when she goes home for chirstmas break she'll be able to talk and explain it better to her parents. She is such a sweet heart.

 

I was out working with a member and we were contacting someone (where you just stop them in the street and teach them/ invite them to hear more) I talked about the eternal families and then they started talking and going off about the mormons and all this stuff and I was just listening and then she stopped and I looked at her and said well we're mormons hahahahahaha her eyes got so big, I just testified of the truth that we share. It was just super funny to see her reaction I wasn't offened by anything she had said but I just wanted her to make sure she could feel the spirit as I would testify. I love teaching and testifying, it just fills my soul with fullfillment. It doesn't matter what they say to us I just love feeling the spirit work through me as I testify. It's amazing try it sometime. Just testify of a simple truth of the gospel as you teach or talk to people. They will feel it, and so will you.

 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful week. I love you all and pray for you all always.

 

Love Hna Potrie

 

 PS the ward christmas party didn't have any weird tuna only chicken and salads. But yes, mayo has become a common thing to have on the table. Weird right!

Week Sixty-Six!

It's officially December, and I can't even believe it. Time goes so fast here. So this week it was crazy all of our investigators like went into hiding. We were trying to call and pass by for them everyday and we would make appointments and then they wouldn't be there. We really believe its the other side working super hard because the mission is pushing so hard right now to baptize this month. Our goal is to have every companionship baptize, and to baptize 200 as a mission. It's so possible but for this our faith is being tried. I'm so excited to see the miracles of God roll forth as we just keep working. We saw some amazing miracles as we were walking to look for investigators on Sunday and we saw Miguel and his cousin walking to church. Miguel is blind from an accident that almost took his life. He really enjoyed church and is such a sweet spirit. I just know he will accept this gospel and that it will change his life.

 

We also saw the movie 17 miracles. It's a church movie about the pioneers and it was so awesome. It was amazing the miracles they received. In loo of that we've made a Christmas miracle list in our apt to help us count all the miracles that we receive. In the mission we see miracles every day, and I know that God is a God of miracles. I love it!!!! Even from the smallest thing to the biggest things we are so blessed.

 

I should receive the letters and packages for Christmas at the conference in a couple weeks. Thank you so much for all your love and prayers.

 

Love hna Potrie

Week Sixty-Five

Hola Familia!

 

Alright - so this week I know that there were so many things that happened but I always get to the computer and can't remember anything.

 

 The new area is pure city. We live in an apt on the 11 floor. Ya, don't even think about how high that is right. Oh and sometimes here they cut the power when they want, and that's a lot of stairs. You can also hear people in the street all night as the cars drive by, so sleeping with a fan is a must. I thought I really wouldn't like it much but it's really growing on me. We also have a more residential area and we found a family of 8 and they are all in the baptismal age. Ya super stoked to work with them. Our first lesson was with a 25 year old woman who really needed the plan of salvation. It was awesome how strong the spirit was and to have the member testify and help in the lesson. Members are great missionaries!!!!!

 

Oh and one day we were just walking in the street and I saw a lady with a young womans necklace and her husband talked with us and told us about his friend that lives in this area that wants to be baptized and has been going to church with him. I love miracles like that on the mission.

 

I love the mission and love this work I just feel so much joy helping people understand more about the Savior and his restored gospel. I used an analogy this week with a contact that I loved. This man said he doesn't really believe in God because he can't see him. So I told him to think about the wind and imagine telling someone who doesn't believe in the wind that it's real. It's that same. We can't see it, but we feel it and we see it's affects, but we can't see it. I know that God exists even though we can't see Him I feel his love and see His hand in my life everyday. I love the gospel.

 

I hope you all have a wonderful week!

 

Lots of love and prayers,

 Hna Potrie

Week Sixty-Four!

Transfer News!!!!! I got a new comp and a new area! I'm in Nueva Cordoba - it's the downtown center of Cordoba Capital and I'm with Hna Bosco from Utah. She came to Argentina with me and at the exact same time. We're super stoked to work together and rock this area! That also means though that I had to say good bye to some amazing people in Ayacucho. Like the Family Luna, they are so awesome. The kids are recent converts and the mom is a reactivated member. She also makes the most delicious bread pudding in the world no joke and lemon pie (sorry mom). But I really could see how they lived the gospel in their home. They had learned that the only smart way to live this life is with the help of the Lord. I think they really understand the quote you sent mom, that they understand the why of the gospel and find it a joy to live, not a burden. They are an amazing example to me. We also said good bye to Marcelo. He went to church yesterday and he wants to give up his pride and become someone better. It was amazing to see how the gospel continues to change him as he applies the atonement in his life.

It was sad to leave Hna Suarez because she was such an amazing comp. We had a great time together and really felt like Ayacucho was ours. We got lost together, we cried together, and we laughed together. It was amazing, and I truly think I will never forget it. I loved the people there and really wish them the best. I know that this next area will be awesome and that there are really people here waiting for us to help them come unto Christ. I know that what we share is true and that really it's the small things that we do everyday that make the biggest difference in our lives. Like read the scriptures and saying our prayers everyday. It's a war everyday with Satan and if we are not prepared, we will fall. We have to be strong and keep fighting. The gosple isn't always easy, but it's always worth it. I wish you all a wonderful week and Happy Thanksgiving to all that are in the USA. 

 

Love Hna Potrie