The Post-Mission Six Month Report

So it’s been 6 months since I can home from my mission and some of you may be wondering 'what happened to the girl we used to follow on her mission blog?' This is my attempt to help satisfy that curiosity.

The best way is to start from the beginning. I came home and walked off the plane to friends and family waiting to welcome me home. I overheard a little girl walking in front of me say “ Why are all those people there? Are they waiting for someone?” Yes, indeed they were. It was amazing after 19 months being away from my family. I can’t express how amazing it was to see them. It’s what I always imagine life after this to be like as we greet those that we love again.

It was great and crazy at first but honestly felt like a dream. I didn’t feel like I was going to stay. As if I would only visit and leave again and go back to the people I loved in Argentina. Then reality started to sink in. I didn’t even know how to greet someone. I had to force my legs to stop from approaching people and kissing them on the cheek. I stumbled through backwards English because I couldn’t remember how to say things. I felt like I had become someone who just didn’t fit in this western civilization. I realized at the same time how blessed and grateful I was for all the little things. For example the washer and dryer, couches, pants, and cars only to name a few.

As time went on, I realized more and more how much I missed being a missionary and doing something meaningful everyday. I’m not talking about just getting everything on the to do list done. I’m talking about really feeling like today I made a difference in someone’s life. Or, I’m working and progressing and becoming a better person. I feel like the mission changed me so much but I didn’t realize it until I came home. In so many ways from how I reacted, to having a stronger belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ, to helping around at home, listening and talking to people, taking the initiative to start conversations, changes in what movies I wanted to watch or music I wanted to listen to. I’m not saying I listened only to classical and church songs when I got home, but I realized how much music influences me and that spending time watching something that wasn’t in line with my standards just wasn’t worth it.

A few weeks after being home I came back to school at BYU Idaho and started working on getting my bachelors in nursing. The structure was great but I felt lost. I would find myself talking to others who had gone through the same thing and all they could do was listen and tell me that it just takes time. All I wanted to think about was the people that I loved and cared for in Argentina, but I had to learn to remember that they were, and are loved and cared for by God. I know that if he cared enough to send me to them at such crutial times in their lives, that he would continue to watch over them. Nothing brings me more happiness now then to hear that they are okay and still living the things that we taught them and enjoying the blessings that go with those teachings.

Now it’s been 6 months and I think I’ve learned how to move on without forgetting. Remembering that it’s okay to miss the amazing people of Argentina and to miss being a missionary, but it’s what I do with those feelings that matter. I pray for them, write them, but I carry on and look for those around me that maybe need a little help today. I remember to share my beliefs with those around me and to be the person that God changed me into in those amazing 19 months. I will never be the same, but I would never want to go back to who I was. I love that my mission will always be huge part of who I am and more importantly, my Savior will always be a bigger part of who I am. He was with me through it all and after it all. He was the reason that I went and the reason I keep going forward and have continued to find happiness everyday.

So to sum it up, post mission life is different, but they say change is good and helps us grow, and I would have to agree it seems I always have room to grow and become more like the person the Lord would have me be.

Week Seventy-Nine

Hola!

 

It's still been so hot here but I think it might just rain tonight. But don't worry, we just eat ice cream and drink lots of water. Also, we found a pomegranate tree the other day and asked to have a couple and they were pretty good.

 

But anyways last week I kinda of freaked out because I just felt so much pressure to get numbers and even when we were able to stretch and make the numbers, it just didn't make me happy. But then we had this fireside thing and he reminded us to love the people because if we don't love them and do this work with our heart it doesn't have a real effect. So this week I tried to remeber that the worth of souls is great in the sight of God and didn't focus on the numbers just to have numbers rather to help the people. Because in the end of it all after this life Heavenly Father isn't going to ask how many lessons I had, he's going to ask if I took care of His children, if I loved them and helped them come unto Him. I think in a bigger thought we can apply that to sharing the gospel and serving in the church. Heavenly Father wants us not just to do home teaching and visiting teaching because we were asked to, He wants us to do it because we love them and want to help these people. Why do we live and share the gospel? Because we love it, we're thankful for it, and because we love our Heavenly Father and His children. If we forget that and do it only because our leaders ask or becuase we feel guilty - maybe we aren't doing it in the best way. I love this gospel and how it makes me grow and change.

 

We've also had the chance to teach Angel this week. He is a sweet heart. He has some learning challenges but we are teaching in a very simple form and he just wants to learn all about it. I love his simple heartfelt prayers. He is just like a little child but I know that God loves him and I believe that through him we can help his family as well. We've still be teaching Santiago and he brought his friend Gabby to a lesson. He is so awesome and they have started reading the Book of Mormon together. I love this work!

 

Take care - I love you all so much! More than words could ever express. 

 

Con Amor, Hermana Potrie

 

Week Seventy-Eight!

Hola!

Alright so this week we were working like crazy to have the members help us with the lessons and it was way good. The best was lunch on Sunday. Marysol had invited Santiago a guy from work for lunch and to talk with us. It was so awesome! Santiago is amazing and he is so ready for the gospel. He told us that he had never heard of mormons before and then within one week he meet four. Hahahahaha but seriously he told us how he is just looking for peace in this life and we told him how the gospel can help him. It was awesome.

Also in church, Evangelina blessed her two youngest babies. It was so amazing to hear the blessings and see Evangelina keep progressing. We're really trying to help them as a family to all come to church because some of her sisters have stopped coming. The interesting thing though is that both of their boyfriends are interested. So we're teaching them all together again the lessons that they learned. I love the example of their mother though that is always reading the scriptures of the Liahona to them. She truly is an amazing example to me.

I love the story you shared about Tacey asking Kesler if he knows God loves him. And how he knew it. It sounds like they've both grown so much physically and spiritually. They are so adorable and I know that Ammon and Tyanna are doing a great job teaching them. I love the children here, especially of Natalia and her two year old twins and her baby girl Uma that just turned one on Saturday. We made her a cake and got to sing to her. It reminded me of Kesler. I just love that little girl she is so full of smiles. It never stops to surprise me how little children will be playing and screaming and then we stop to say a prayer and they just stop and calm down, then carry on playing. I can't explain it but it's so powerful to me.

I love you all so much and hope you have a fantastic week. Keep smiling and keep sharing this amazing gospel because it truly is the key to happiness.

Con Amor Hna Potrie 

Week Seventy-Seven

Hola,

 

So this week I learned that an old dog can learn new tricks. We got a new ward mission leader and he helped me understand that there is a better way to do some things. So as much as it's hard to change, I'm learning that an old missionary can change her ways. It's about helping the people come to their own conclusions about the gospel and that really, it makes the most sense to just live the gospel and recieve the blessings - but it has to come from them. We teach and they want to change. We worked with the Elders and I saw how it worked and it just clicked and I thought why didn't someone teach me this before. Bahhhhhh but I'm grateful for this time that I have to apply it and see the difference we can make here in Nueva Cordoba. It goes hand in hand with last week I was asking and looking for help of how to do the work in a different way and then this week the answer came. I love prayer and that God answers and blesses us. It's amazing. 

 

This week we worked more at getting to know the members so they can help us more in the work. We're really trying to start off on the right foot with the new bishop and help this ward. I love this time that I have to learn and grow in the gospel and as a person. It's really incredible how the Lord can help us over come the things that challenge us and how we can truly change. 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful week and remember Heavenly Father is always only a prayer away.

 

 

Love Hna Potrie

Week Seventy-Six

Hey,

 

Well this week we've had the amazing adventure of backpacking through Argentina. Okay, not really but I feel like all my camping skills have come in handy this week. Sunday morning we woke up and there was no power and as far as I know we still don't have power, which means we get our daily exercise going up and down 11 flights of stairs. Hahahahahah right. When we came back in the afternoon on Sunday to do studies we also didn't have water. Hahahaha so not light no water. Luckily we had some water in the fridge that was stored. And the miracle is it's been a lot cooler the last few days, so we we're okay. It just cracks me up. Who know all my camping skills of brushing your teeth with a little water and how to making popcorn over a gas flame would come in handy.

 

This week we got to work with another missionary, Hna Willson in our area. It was way good to have her help with our investigators. We found a couple of really great new investigators and are trying to help them receive a testimony from our Heavenly Father that the things we teach are true and about the Book of Mormon. I love the Book of Mormon - this week I was reading in Alma in the war chapters, and I know you might think 'weirdo, why would you like that?' Here's why. They used strategies and plans to protect their liberty and families. And I thought well maybe I need to just think of a different strategies to help our investigators keep their commitments, like come to church. Or how someone the other day pointed out that Nephi, when the first few plans didn't work to get the plates, he didn't give up, he just changed his strategy until he got it. And I imagine if it didn't work he would have tried again until He completed the will of the Lord. Sometimes it won't work out the first time but that doesn't mean we give up it means we try again with more prayer, and more faith. I know He will help us complete the tasks we have.

 

I love you all so much. If there's one thing I've learned it's just how much I love and appreciate all of you. You all mean so much to me and I know that the Lord is watching over you.

 

 

Con Amor Siempre, (with love always)

 

        Hna Potrie

 

 

Week Seventy-Five

Familia!!!!

 

Alright, so today we recieved transfers and it's official - my last 6 weeks of the mission I will be here in Nueva Cordoba finishing training Hna Rios. I'm excited to just give it everything I have till the end. It's surreal because right now we're working with people to be baptised in March and then the work I do will be a lot of planting seeds so that others can see the end result. I can't believe how the time goes. Oh well, this week we're going to find families. We're looking for the families that the Lord has prepared here. Natalia is doing great. She is so sweet and wants to change her life. Her little girl Uma is so cute. I just eat her to pieces everytime we are there. We really just need to help her come to church. The ward had some exciting news here. They got a new bishop. So it'll be interesting to work with a new bishop. I'm excited and know it'll will bring great changes.

 

This week we went out and did visiting teaching. It was so great to go and work with the Hna Maria. She is such a great example she is really trying to help her family. I talked with her as we walked about the importance of her example and if she wants her family to be eternal and her children to change she needs to be the best example she can. She is amazing. I respect her for everything that she has changed and overcome in her life.

 

With Roxanna, we are still doing all that we can to help her. I think I've learned alot about how blessed we are and how often we take advantage of the basic things. I know that the Lord will bless her and take care of her if she will keep turning to Him and put Him first in her life.

 

I hope you all have a wonderful week. Love you all so much and thank you for everything!

 

Love Hna Potrie

 

Week Seventy-Four!

Hola!

The time is really just flying by. I can't  believe it. This week we were running all over the place trying to help Roxana and her family find a new place to live. We still couldn't get them to church but this week hopefully. We found a place really close to the church and I hope she accepts it, but we're still waiting to see. We also found a new lady, Natalia. She has twins and a baby girl and a single mom. We taught her and she has such a desire to be baptized. We've also been working a lot with the members and trying to all get on the same page in how can we help them. Or really how we can help each other achieve the work of God.

As a mission we are focusing on the families and so I started studying the Book of Mormon, looking for scriptures to help the family. I love one in 1 Nephi 8: 36-37 It talks about Lehi teaching his children and desiring to help them. We are sharing it with the members and asking them to pray for a family that they can invite to listen to this message. We'll see how it goes.

There was also a crazy hail storm again with hail the size of eggs almost and they weren't round so they were a little dangerous but don't worry we were in the apartment when it happened.

I hope everything is going well with all of you. I think of you and pray for you always.


Love Hna Potrie