Short - February 6, 2012

Short email today sorry!

Highlights of the week:

1) We found 2 great families. One has 4 kids (ages 12, 9, 6, 3) and another is a family of 3 (2 older parents and one 30yr old child). We are pumped to start getting to work with them. It has been pretty sad that the two other guys that can get baptized and really really emotionally addicted to wine and it is still a process. Here it is just like drinking water sometimes so we have to re teach temptation control and how to learn to have faith and hope. I have faith that Juan and Agustin will make it to baptism, but maybe more like in the Lord´s time instead of mine which I have accepted.

2) The ward boundaries have officially changed. We had a big conference at the stake center this Sunday. We met with our bishop (who got called about 4 months ago and is 29 years old but amazing) and tried to figure a plan to keep the ward alive. I am pumped to get things moving here in these weeks. I pray we can put some fire in the ward this month!

3) President and Hermana Avila might be angles or just really amazing saints. They show so much love for me and teach us so much each time we get to go to Mendoza. We took the 2.5 hr bus ride and got to meet up and see lots of missionaries I have become good friends with. It was refreshing. Five hours straight of practices and lectures but it was worth every second. 

So, the work presses forward. The Lord is blessing us and trying us but we cannot be stopped in this work. Hermana Call and I wake up every day wanting to baptize more and find more people waiting to hear the good news of the gospel. Although it is a tough área and we are the only sister missionaries in the whole province, we are doing great. I love you and and hope you have a great week, because we sure are!!

Hna Thatcher

Baptisms and big changes in area!!‏ - January 30, 2012



Alberto after being baptized



Alberto and Christina

Well, two of our lovely investigators entered the waters of baptism this Saturday night and were confirmed yesterday!!! Cristina Villafañe and Alberto Zarate! It was awesome!! It feels great to see the fruits of your labor. I know the Lord blessed us a lot and I felt very very grateful! Alberto committed to not drinking wine and a day later his best friend (Dr Avelin, an old governor of San Juan) died a day later. We were super worried with his sadness he would grab a bottle but he did great and realized it just makes things worse! I was so happy! Juan and Agustin are ALMOST clean. We felt they weren't ready this weekend but maybe in the next couple weeks. Agustin almost made it but when he stopped drinking he got anxious and smoked 1 cigarette the day before the baptism. It was a hard blow but a good sign for us to know he still needs more time and testimony to get over it. Maria and Maite´s dad still isn't convinced of baptism but he lets them still go to church and listen so we will see where to go forward with them.

The big change. The bishop announced that there are going to be big changes in the ward limits. The Stake President asked us and three other wards in the stake to meet for a conference next weekend. My stomach dropped because I heard rumors but thought since we passed the first of the year when they were supposed to do it. After the meeting he pulled me aside and said we have lots of work to do. They are cutting of about 1/4 of the ward in the area with most success and 4 active families. Cristina who just got baptized lives there and now will have to switch wards. Plus there are 4 other recent converts who will be moved. So, the next 6 weeks should be LOTS of hard work. We are going to be more just in downtown and trying to activate the families that are still in the limits because our sacrament meetings will be cut in half. (From 70 to 35 or so). I don´t really understand why but my job isn't to ask why but to help this ward stay alive. I am sure the Lord will put people in our path to make it happen like He always does!

We go to Mendoza this Friday for the second part of the training meeting. Should be a good short day trip to break up the work. 

Thank you for all your love and support!!   Read Mormon 9!! The Ballards sent me a package and Jonny challenged me to read it and now it might be one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon! 

-- 
Hermana Emily Thatcher

Misión Argentina Mendoza