Hola Familia!
It's great to hear from you guys. Sorry this email is a few days late. What happened is P day was changed to Thursday this week so we could have a zone meeting and P day together. It's because our zone is very spread out and in order to use our time the most effectivly we needed to have the meeting and P day together. It should be lots of fun, there's about 30 of us in the Bell Ville zone. I'm not gonna lie though when we found out late Sunday night about the meeting and change of P day I was super bummed. Because it's our only time to just have a break from the constant go go go all the time.
Anyways congrats to Sarah and Ryan on the new baby boy. Hope they're happy and healthy. Can't wait to meet the little guy! Well he'll be a lot bigger by then but still so excited.
The past week was super hot here temperatures in the 40's but with lots of humidity. It was crazy. Super grateful for the rain that we had after that. And the weather is beautiful now. It was funny all Monday it rained but it seemed to only rain once we entered the houses and then when we had to leave it would stop then start. Truly a blessing because working the whole day soaking wet is a lot harder. But finally we got caught in the rain in the evening and the streets have horrible draining systems so the water was rather high for biking so we had to change some appointments and knock doors instead.
I've also learned how to make the stuffing part for Empanadas Saltanians, each province has a different empanada. It's ground beef, onion, and potatoe with seasoning. So yummy. And also realized that I had cow stomach empanadas the other day. I didn't know it at the time but it was so delicious honestly I think a lot of these weird foods totally depend on the mamner in which it's cooked more than what it is.
So this weekend we were supposed to have two baptisms but yesterday was a day of oppostition. We are teaching Elian the little brother of Dulce and all we need is the persmission from his mom who works in a different city and yesterday she was in town so we passed by the house and immediately knew something was wrong. The mother wasn't very happy to see us and Elian was in tears. It broke my heart to see him cry and say I want to be baptized. What a pure and righteous desire he has. But in this moment he is learning to have more faith and patience that one day it will be possible just like his older sister. We also have a young girl Gianella she is friends of some new members and is super sweet. I really enjoy teaching her but again yesterday we tried to meet with her three times and couldn't find her and her mom stopped answering the phone. So we don't know if she will be baptized this week or the next. but I know it will happen. But through all of the canceled appointments we got a call from one investigator Luis. He called us and said that he was having a horrible day and wanted to talk with us right away. So we meet with him and he told us what's been happening and I just felt so much love from the Savior for him. He wants to have a better life and to find peace and I know he'll find it in the gospel. I pray that he will fight through the hard times to feel the joy and blessings of the atonement. It's amazing to me how a day can go totally wrong but in the end I still know that we were in the right place at the right time for Luis. It's the work of the Lord and I feel so blessed to be intrusted with this call. Everyday when I need a little more courage or faith I think of my Savior. He gave His life for me and I am grateful to give a year and a half of my life to help others come to know Him.
Oh and send thanks to Auntie Brenda for the Christmas Package I received it last week late but in good condition. Loved the photos of Grandpa!
Hope all is well my thoughts and prayers are with all of you always.
Lots of love,
Hna Potrie
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Week Twenty-Four
Hola Familia!!!!!
It's been another crazy busy week and I can't believe how time is flying here in the mission. But news flash I love ARGENTINA !!!!!
I was riding around with Hna Frias to our next appointment and I said "Sabe que Hna" (know what Sister?) Me encanta Argentina! ( I love Argentina). It's true, although I still feel kind of lost in the language and culture I love it.
The good news is it will be cooling down soon and at night it's usually nice and cool. Last Monday though was crazy humid and we spent P day with the elders in our district. We made pizza in the church and it was so hot, we were dripping with sweat with the oven open and closed to change all the pizzas. The pizza here is very different but delicious, with lots of sauce thats more chunky, oregano, tomaotes, red peppers and always green olives and then this chesse that is really soft and creamy. Delicious really. We also played a bit of soccer - the best thing to do for P day!
This week we worked really hard at finding new people and teaching lessons. My comp Hna Frias is really bold at inviting people to be baptized and it's great. We are teaching the little brother of Dulce and we are praying to have the permission to baptize him. As we've increased our contacting it's been a real test of faith for me. More than once this week I had people yell at me because they think I'm American or because I speak English. It was really discouraging one night but my great companion helped pick me back up as she told me to think of my Savior who suffered so much and yet people rejected Him and that I am no better then Him, but that He is with me. And the next door we knocked on was much better. But really the greatest thing was to
feel the love of my Savior and Heavenly Father. We are not alone in this work. We saw miracles this week of people letting us in their houses and giving us time to teach. I know there are people in Bell Ville that have been prepared and are waiting for me to talk to them.
Also good news, we've been working with the family of Enzo and the mom finally came to church on Sunday!!! Miracle! We also went to pick up a little girl Shiela that's 8. She was so cute. We rode over on our bikes and asked if she wanted to ride with me on mine. Yes, I double people all the time. It's quite funny. But she wanted to ride her own. She really enjoyed church and wanted to know when we could go back again. So sweet - love her!
We've also had a miracle with Haydee. We had a lesson on tuesday and we're trying to teach her to feel the spirit and so she can recognize her answer about the book of mormon. So I opened to my favorite scriptures and started to share why they are important to me and how I feel closer to my Savior when I read them. I felt the Spirit so strongly and I knew it was there and testified to her that it was and yet she said that she felt nothing. I was shattered. I felt so much love for her like a grandma and yet I couldn't do anything more to help her understand. We rode away that night very sad because we feel so much love for her and want her to have this gospe. The next day we passed by again and she was very angry with us and me and Hna Frias were running out of patience and just in the moment we needed some help, Hno Hugo Osess rode up and came and shared his powerful testimony of the book of mormon because that is how he learned to read. Such a blessing for us. Haydee still hasn't progressed but I know that Heavenly Father cared enough to send someone else to help all of us that day. What a blessing.
This gospel is such a blessing and I pray every day to be a better missionary. I know the Lord is watching over all of us and pray that we will always remember to do the things that He has asked us to help us in this life. READ, and PRAY everyday!
Lots of love and prayers,
Hna Potrie
It's been another crazy busy week and I can't believe how time is flying here in the mission. But news flash I love ARGENTINA !!!!!
I was riding around with Hna Frias to our next appointment and I said "Sabe que Hna" (know what Sister?) Me encanta Argentina! ( I love Argentina). It's true, although I still feel kind of lost in the language and culture I love it.
The good news is it will be cooling down soon and at night it's usually nice and cool. Last Monday though was crazy humid and we spent P day with the elders in our district. We made pizza in the church and it was so hot, we were dripping with sweat with the oven open and closed to change all the pizzas. The pizza here is very different but delicious, with lots of sauce thats more chunky, oregano, tomaotes, red peppers and always green olives and then this chesse that is really soft and creamy. Delicious really. We also played a bit of soccer - the best thing to do for P day!
This week we worked really hard at finding new people and teaching lessons. My comp Hna Frias is really bold at inviting people to be baptized and it's great. We are teaching the little brother of Dulce and we are praying to have the permission to baptize him. As we've increased our contacting it's been a real test of faith for me. More than once this week I had people yell at me because they think I'm American or because I speak English. It was really discouraging one night but my great companion helped pick me back up as she told me to think of my Savior who suffered so much and yet people rejected Him and that I am no better then Him, but that He is with me. And the next door we knocked on was much better. But really the greatest thing was to
feel the love of my Savior and Heavenly Father. We are not alone in this work. We saw miracles this week of people letting us in their houses and giving us time to teach. I know there are people in Bell Ville that have been prepared and are waiting for me to talk to them.
Also good news, we've been working with the family of Enzo and the mom finally came to church on Sunday!!! Miracle! We also went to pick up a little girl Shiela that's 8. She was so cute. We rode over on our bikes and asked if she wanted to ride with me on mine. Yes, I double people all the time. It's quite funny. But she wanted to ride her own. She really enjoyed church and wanted to know when we could go back again. So sweet - love her!
We've also had a miracle with Haydee. We had a lesson on tuesday and we're trying to teach her to feel the spirit and so she can recognize her answer about the book of mormon. So I opened to my favorite scriptures and started to share why they are important to me and how I feel closer to my Savior when I read them. I felt the Spirit so strongly and I knew it was there and testified to her that it was and yet she said that she felt nothing. I was shattered. I felt so much love for her like a grandma and yet I couldn't do anything more to help her understand. We rode away that night very sad because we feel so much love for her and want her to have this gospe. The next day we passed by again and she was very angry with us and me and Hna Frias were running out of patience and just in the moment we needed some help, Hno Hugo Osess rode up and came and shared his powerful testimony of the book of mormon because that is how he learned to read. Such a blessing for us. Haydee still hasn't progressed but I know that Heavenly Father cared enough to send someone else to help all of us that day. What a blessing.
This gospel is such a blessing and I pray every day to be a better missionary. I know the Lord is watching over all of us and pray that we will always remember to do the things that He has asked us to help us in this life. READ, and PRAY everyday!
Lots of love and prayers,
Hna Potrie
Monday, February 6, 2012
Week Twenty-Three
Hola,
Perdon for not writing last week. I was equally as sad not to have the opportunity, but I did receive real letters instead so it all was good. Last Monday, my Companion, Hna Tejada left for her home. So we were up at 4AM to take her to the bus, and then I waited with the members to see the youth off to EFY. Then I headed to the apartment. Things in our mission are a bit different with the areas being really far away. We travel on the buses alone or we wait for our companions alone in the apartment. So this is what I did. I cleaned and wrote letters, and then headed to the bus station to pick up my comp because I had been given a time when she would arrive. But after waiting for an hour I got worried and called the secretary and apparently he forgot to call and tell me that Hna Frias (my new comp more about her later) missed the first bus and would be another 30 mins. Then after about an hour I got worried again but then she walked off the bus and everything was good. Who knew it would feel so weird to be alone for only a few hours. Anyways she explained that there was an accident en route and that's why she was late. So that's how i spent my p day but it's all good. I wrote lots of letters and need to send them now.
I'm still in Bell Ville and my new companion Hna Frias is awesome. She's from the north part of Argentina called Salta. The moment she arrived she dropped her bags in the pension and said lets get to work, which is perfect because the harder we work the faster time flies. She is about the same height as you mom and has dark skin. She speaks very little english and she likes to learn to sometimes she speaks in english and I respond in Spanish so we can both learn the opposite language. But I feel like it is a huge blessing to have another latino companion to help me learn the accent and even better that she is a Argentine because she knows their sayings and culture and everything. I love it!!! And love working with her!
Here in Bell Ville we have a very small church building, but it has everything we need including a soccer court in the back made out of cement this is always important. And I don't know what city your phone is locked onto mom, but it's been a lot hotter than 25 here around 40 C cada dia (everyday). But it does cool off a little at night usually. For the first time I felt a little sick this week, but I took some of the antibiotics that I have and the pain in my stomach is gone which is a huge blessing. Trying to focus on teaching when your stomach is a knot doesn't work well. Oh and I found out that a month ago in the house of the Cordobas we ate iguana (the lizard thing). Ya, gross to think about but it was delicious when I ate it, kinda like chicken.
The work is great the last day with Hna Tejada we had the baptism of Dulce and it's just so amazing to see the change begin to happen. She is such a great example to her family. Also we had a lesson with the family of Enzo this week and his parents and sister accepted an invitation to be baptized!!! They need to get married first but Enzo is such a great example for them. We are having problems helping the mom of Osualdo receive a testimony of Joseph Smith. She is old and can't see very well so she can't read the Book of Mormon which is a big problem. She is so sweet and I want so badly for her to find the truth.
Well I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week.
Love Hna Potrie
Ps Kim Stoddard I got your letter my love and prayers are with you. Hope school is going well. Love you!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Week Twenty-One
Hola
For all of you who are freezing cold just trying to think of 45 C and roasting in the sun. Maybe together we can find a happy medium. By ravioles I meant raviolis, sorry I was typing fast. But you know the pasta stuffed with cheese and cut in little squares. So good! Oh and we had homemade cannelloni they make them like crepes and then spread a spinach, chicken and cheese mixture on them and once rolled up, they put them in a pan and put sauce on them. So delicious! And yes the, rabbit really did taste like the dark meat of chicken. Pretty good really. Oh and 90 pesos is about 20 dollars.
Mom, you're going skiing? That's awesome. Be safe and dress warm. Oh and tell Eric congrats on the engagement. I'm sending him a letter today but it'll take a couple months. So happy for that guy. He's so awesome and what I hear she is pretty cool too.
The teaching is going good. We haven't been able to find Eliana since last Saturday and I just want to find her and figure out where she's been. That is the hard part when people are progressing and then something happens but we can't find them. Umm the best lesson for me is the plan of salvation because it's so true and so many people have questions that can be answered through it. And it's a chance to speak about how Jesus Christ is the center to that plan. It's so true that we are all just sons and daughters of God and He is trying to help us return to Him. This work is such a blessing as I have seen miracles happen. We needed the permission of Dulces mom how she had said no for the last year and then she finally said yes. It's amazing.
I love this work. I know that I'm here because of my Savior and His atonement that changed my life. I know that blessing is available for all if they follow his example. There is more peace and love than they could ever imagine in this life.
I pray for all of you and know that the Lord will bless you. Please strive to always do the small things of reading and praying everyday. They are the spiritual nourishment we all need.
Love Hna Potrie
For all of you who are freezing cold just trying to think of 45 C and roasting in the sun. Maybe together we can find a happy medium. By ravioles I meant raviolis, sorry I was typing fast. But you know the pasta stuffed with cheese and cut in little squares. So good! Oh and we had homemade cannelloni they make them like crepes and then spread a spinach, chicken and cheese mixture on them and once rolled up, they put them in a pan and put sauce on them. So delicious! And yes the, rabbit really did taste like the dark meat of chicken. Pretty good really. Oh and 90 pesos is about 20 dollars.
Mom, you're going skiing? That's awesome. Be safe and dress warm. Oh and tell Eric congrats on the engagement. I'm sending him a letter today but it'll take a couple months. So happy for that guy. He's so awesome and what I hear she is pretty cool too.
The teaching is going good. We haven't been able to find Eliana since last Saturday and I just want to find her and figure out where she's been. That is the hard part when people are progressing and then something happens but we can't find them. Umm the best lesson for me is the plan of salvation because it's so true and so many people have questions that can be answered through it. And it's a chance to speak about how Jesus Christ is the center to that plan. It's so true that we are all just sons and daughters of God and He is trying to help us return to Him. This work is such a blessing as I have seen miracles happen. We needed the permission of Dulces mom how she had said no for the last year and then she finally said yes. It's amazing.
I love this work. I know that I'm here because of my Savior and His atonement that changed my life. I know that blessing is available for all if they follow his example. There is more peace and love than they could ever imagine in this life.
I pray for all of you and know that the Lord will bless you. Please strive to always do the small things of reading and praying everyday. They are the spiritual nourishment we all need.
Love Hna Potrie
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Week Twenty
Hola!
I Love the mission!!!!!!!!
I just thought you should all know. It's true that some days aren't that easy, but it's so worth it everyday. I had an interview with President Salas this week and he kept asking me if I was happy to be here and this week I truly feel like I am. I'm feeling more joy in the work everyday as I forget myself more and think of the work and the people more. I love the people here and we've been working with some very great people. It's amazing how much people let us in and I feel so much love for them and want to just help them come unto the Savior and find rest. Everyone has a story that the Savior can help them with. That's why this gospel is so perfect. I love it.
We also had to cook lunch for President Salas, his wife and our district of 12 in total and we had ravioles which are so delicious here with cream sauce and fed everyone for under 90 pesos it was way cool. I also got other letters but kind of worried because in a letter from Bree, she's sent other ones but I haven't received them. So warning - I don't know when I don't receive letters because it takes so long to get them and then it takes even longer to reply and if it's lost in the mail I'm sorry. I still love to hear from everyone and I promise I also write back it just takes time for me to get them and the mail service is very slow going back. I'm sorry, I'm trying to do all I can but I can't help the slowness.
Also this week Monday was roasting hot so we had a water fight for p day. But then the next day it just poured rain in the evening which was a nice break from the heat. The water was up to my pedals on my bike as we biked home it was crazy, so I jumped in a few puddles along the way.
It finally clicked that my mission relates a lot to sports. Right now I have a coach and she is trying to prep me everyday and help me improve so I can play better. It's changed my whole attitude and I love it. You all know I'm jock at heart and it all just makes more sense to me and I'm so grateful for that. It's helped our companionship a lot, but mostly me.
We are teaching this one lady Eliana who is 21 and has a little girl, but also recently lost a baby and it's been such a blessing to teach her. The first day there was a lot of tears but as we've helped her turn to her Savior, I've seen her pain change to more understanding and comfort from a loving Heavenly Father. It's amazing, and I know our Heavenly Father listens and cares.
I'm trying to learn the difference of having faith and accepting the will of the Lord because I want faith for the miracles for this work but I also know that it's always the will of the Father.
Ah so much to say but no time. I ate rabbit this week and it was actually pretty good and couldn't tell the difference really. Lo fue muy rico it was really good.
I love you all and I hope all is well!
Love Hna Potrie
I Love the mission!!!!!!!!
I just thought you should all know. It's true that some days aren't that easy, but it's so worth it everyday. I had an interview with President Salas this week and he kept asking me if I was happy to be here and this week I truly feel like I am. I'm feeling more joy in the work everyday as I forget myself more and think of the work and the people more. I love the people here and we've been working with some very great people. It's amazing how much people let us in and I feel so much love for them and want to just help them come unto the Savior and find rest. Everyone has a story that the Savior can help them with. That's why this gospel is so perfect. I love it.
We also had to cook lunch for President Salas, his wife and our district of 12 in total and we had ravioles which are so delicious here with cream sauce and fed everyone for under 90 pesos it was way cool. I also got other letters but kind of worried because in a letter from Bree, she's sent other ones but I haven't received them. So warning - I don't know when I don't receive letters because it takes so long to get them and then it takes even longer to reply and if it's lost in the mail I'm sorry. I still love to hear from everyone and I promise I also write back it just takes time for me to get them and the mail service is very slow going back. I'm sorry, I'm trying to do all I can but I can't help the slowness.
Also this week Monday was roasting hot so we had a water fight for p day. But then the next day it just poured rain in the evening which was a nice break from the heat. The water was up to my pedals on my bike as we biked home it was crazy, so I jumped in a few puddles along the way.
It finally clicked that my mission relates a lot to sports. Right now I have a coach and she is trying to prep me everyday and help me improve so I can play better. It's changed my whole attitude and I love it. You all know I'm jock at heart and it all just makes more sense to me and I'm so grateful for that. It's helped our companionship a lot, but mostly me.
We are teaching this one lady Eliana who is 21 and has a little girl, but also recently lost a baby and it's been such a blessing to teach her. The first day there was a lot of tears but as we've helped her turn to her Savior, I've seen her pain change to more understanding and comfort from a loving Heavenly Father. It's amazing, and I know our Heavenly Father listens and cares.
I'm trying to learn the difference of having faith and accepting the will of the Lord because I want faith for the miracles for this work but I also know that it's always the will of the Father.
Ah so much to say but no time. I ate rabbit this week and it was actually pretty good and couldn't tell the difference really. Lo fue muy rico it was really good.
I love you all and I hope all is well!
Love Hna Potrie
Monday, January 9, 2012
Week Nineteen
Hey!
The mail finally came!!!!! Oh what a happy day! This is supposed to be me with a picture of pure excitement and joy, but I'm not really sure what happened haha! I got the packages from mom and Sharla plus the photo book for Christmas and the bank card. I LOVE THE PICTURE BOOK!!!!! It was so great to see pictures and read the letters thank you so much. It means so much and I love showing it to people here. Oh and I have the cutest nice and nephew in the world hands down no contest they are adorable in the pictures! Give them lots of love from me always. Muah Muah Muah. The shirt is perfect too mom, you couldn't have picked a better style or size, gracias. All of the candy is gone and I forgot how great jelly bellies are yumm. I either want to buy soccer shoes, an Argentina soccer jersey or a leather cover for my scriptures. We'll see what I decide.
Anyways sounds like your New Years was kind of a bummer with being sick but I hope you are feeling better. And the weather there sounds crazy what is happening to the cold snowy winters? The dogs have yet to bite but they keep chasing this week was a group of them. But it's okay, just an adrenaline shock and then it's fine. Ya I don't know what it is with tuna and Christmas here but I ate more nasty tuna things in that week than I would like to experience again. I think the cake tuna roll is a Holiday thing or at least I hope so. The greatest thing though is even with the different food I have yet to get sick from it. Knock on wood. It's a great blessing. That's so exciting Naomi is making Argentine food with the YW you'll have to let me know what you think and what she makes. The drink we can't have as missionaries is called Mate and I don't know why exactly we can't drink it. I think because it's so strong that we would get sick especially with the heat. Hna Ada was teaching me how to serve it though and I was serving them. Hahaha it smells just like tea and here it's a symbol of friendship when you enter someones house if they welcome you as a friend they share mate with you. It's all in the same cup with the same metal straw. That's one thing here sharing cups and things like that doesn't matter. It's a good thing I'm okay with that.
The missionary work hit a hospital road this week as our appointments kept falling through and then when we got a hold of them later every single one was sick, had a loved one sick or pass away. So hopefully we'll have more success next week and be able to help these people through these hard times for them. One of our converts, Osualdo is having problems coming to church so we're working really hard to help him come back and be active. It's sad because I know it's Satan that puts the thoughts of unworthiness to enter the church, but like we say the church is like a hospital. It's for those who need the cleansing power of the Savior not for those that are perfect. We've been working with the ward missionaries to help teach our new members as well and I see the great blessing of having the help of members fellowship these people.
It's also been a week of great humility and learning. I'm striving to become the missionary the Lord would have me be, but that's not always easy to know how to do. I'm striving to know how to use change my personality but keep it the same it's hard to describe. Because in English I love getting to know people on a very personal level but I don't like doing this in a large group so and I don't always know how to ask these questions or understand all they say. I like to listen and think and then speak but when this happens in Spanish, it often appears that I don't know how to say or what to say which is half correct but it's also the way I think and talk in English. So I pray to find a balance of doing this in the Lords way.
I hope all is well. My thoughts and prayers are with you always.
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