I'VE ARRIVED IN SAN JUAN!!! - November 14, 2011

Hola FAMILIA!!!!

Well, I LOOOOVVEEEE this new area!! It is hard to believe how big a difference there is between the province of Mendoza and San Juan. I feel like I am in another country! But the differences are great! The people are soooo much nicer in every way. I was used to knocking 100 doors in San Rafael and getting in 2 and here it is like every other one lets you in to talk! They are very chill humble people. They also look different- more like Bolivians or a native race. The only thing  that they love to sleep and party at night. Because it is so hot here, they wake up, cook lunch, sleep the siesta (from like 2pm-7pm) and then stay up all night until like 3 or 4am because it is cooler outside. So we have to be creative and smart with everything we do. But, I am PUMPED!!!!

The ward is great. It was very hard to go to a ward where I didn't personally know everyone but it will come. I made sure to say hi and introduce myself to everyone. Hna Wilde and I had to give talks which was cool took. I talked and 2 stories from the Book of Mormon. When God gave Moses a mouthpiece or aide to do his work (Aaron) and speak and how Amulek was a common citizen who was of high standing and left to help preach with Alma. I related these both to how important it is for the members to support and preach with the missionaries. It turned out really good and comical in places and I think the ward members really payed attention. The bishop looks like he is 19 but very nice haha! The pension (apartment) is pretty small but nice. We have one fan, no air conditioning. So it will be fun in the next 4 months of 100, 110 degree weather here! Love the mission experiences! I am expecting to loose all the weight I gained in San Rafael with sweating ALL day long. 

As for investigators, we started off with basically none when I got up here so we have lots of work to do. This area has tons of potential (and is HUGE) so I am excited to find some great people. I have tried to memorize all the part member families and members so they can be the key to helping us since Hna Wilde only has 6 weeks here, she doesn't know everything or the area very well yet. It is going to be like starting from scratch but I am pumped to do it. Every morning we listen to our soundtrack music ( I got from Hna Anderson from Avatar and DaVinci Code and others)  that pump us up and then we leave to work! 

Here are the pictures

1) The bishop's family. He gave me an amazing compliment. He said ¨I feel like calling your mission president and begging him to keep you here. But I guess you can go bless another ward, but as long as you can come back in a few months¨. They are young but awesome! Bishop Galdeano.

 

2) Lucia and Agustina. Our converts w Hna Zepeda. They go to church every Sunday and are becoming very good with the scriptures. They have THE HARDEST family situation but are very faithful.

3) Jessica, one member who is 23 and the primary president in the ward. We became great friends. She came in the morning to see me off.

4)- etc. My trip to San Juan. Pday today we made it official hat day with come hats we found in the pension. We were on the bus in this pic. We played bball with the zone and then ate almost 2ft long hot dogs for about 1.50 American dollars. Yummy!

Last pic- we live below members, our pension.

Love you all!! Hope you have a great fall week!! Pray for the people here please and that we can recognize the Lord´s chosen to bring them to the waters of baptism!

Hna Thatcher

SAN JUAN!!!!! - November 7, 2011

So drum roll……………..

 SAN JUAN!!!!!!!! Comparable to Phoenix Arizona I think. 45 degrees C in the summer...CALCULATE THAT!!!! So I was in the coldest zone in winter and the HOTTEST in summer. Should be great times!! I AM SOOOO PUMPED!!! I leave tomorrow at 7am and it is a 6 or 7 hour bus ride where I switch buses on the way there a few times! Hope I get there ok...I wont have a cell phone or companion and 3 suitcases that weight about 75pds each. Ouch. I love the mission!!!!

And my companion……… HERMANA WILDE!!!!! AGAIN!!!!!!! President hasn’t told us yet what we are doing up there but some special assignment. He is in Buenos Aires and said he would tell us later. Should be fun no?

 Well I wish Ihad more time to write but I have to go visit the 200 people here that I came to love and teach. The ward even got together last night and the Familia Garrido came to see me off or “despedirme” .  I think I will cry the whole 6 hours bus ride alone to San Juan….

 Hermana Dana is training and her new companion is from Argentina, Jujuy. She will be a great trainer and I will miss her a lot. She is scared to death that I am leaving but she will be fine haha poor thing.

Hope you enjoy the pictures. They will explain a little of the week. I love you all

Scripture of the Week, Alma 26, 12.

 Hna Thatcher



The Andes from San Rafael



All Hermanas



Hermana Arias



Kitty love!



Market People



My kids!



Pounding the pulpit



Silvia, Lautauron, Azarena



Terminal leaving San Rafael



Zone Transfers



Ward Farewell



Baptism! - October 31, 2011

The Navarro Family

 GUSTAVO, VIRGINIA AND MATIAS NAVARRO HAVE ENTERED UNTO THE WATERS OF BAPTISM!!!! 

The baptism was AMAZING! Thank you for your prayers. We had a bigger assistance of people at the baptism than we normally do at our sacrament meeting (around 50 people). It seriously turned out like a dream, a very spiritual meeting for all. But, it didn't come with out opposition. (As always!)

At 730 am the morning of the baptism the Familia Navarro called us. And yes, Argentines don't even wake up that early so we knew something was wrong. An evangelical preacher friend of theirs came knocking on their door with all Anti-Mormon information in hand trying to convince them not to get baptized. I had just gotten out of the shower but we ran over to the house to try to talk to this lady. I was furious, knowing the enemy was only trying to frustrate our plans but I prepared myself knowing it would be a bible bash. So it was, a calm 3.5 hrs doubt and answers to EVERY doctrinal question you could ask. We were calm, prayed, and even though she tried to get us worked up, we could not be flustered. I was very very grateful for such great help from the spirit. She left probably feeling silly trying to find an error in the church but found all the answers and the Flia Navarro had no doubts, it actually was a stronger testimony for them. So, we were greatly blessed!

The baptism were amazing. We sung a hymn with the other Hermanas and it went really well. They got confirmed AND they received the priesthood the same day!!! I also gave a talk on missionary work. So yes, I'm exhausted.

TRANSFERS are this Thursday!! So next week I will be somewhere else!

Sorry this is all rushed, I am doing a few projects. Iove you all!!!!


Hna Thatcher

Ready for lots of pics!!! - October 24, 2011

Hola Family!!!

Well I spent a ton of time uploading pictures for you all. I will let the pictures tell the story of the week. It was a GREAT week!!! This Saturday Familia Navarro are getting BAPTIZED!!!! They have their temple date picked out for 1 year, Matias the older son wants to SERVE A MISSION!!!!!!!!!!! HOW AMAZING IS THAT!!! He is anxious to go out teaching with us. Knowing that we have the fullness of the gospel has just lit them on FIRE. They want to know EVERYTHING!! (It keeps me on my toes with hard questions!) Anyways, I am super stoked and the members are finally helping a ton with them. 

Pray for this week to turn out well. We are going to work very hard. This week Pte Audikaitis (quorum of 70) comes to do a training. He is notorious here and usually tears the missionaries apart on everything they are doing wrong. I am excited, it should be interesting! That is this Friday and the Saturday night is the baptism. Great week no?

Well, I love you all and thank you for your prayers. Shall we not go forward is such a great cause?!

Hna Thatcher
 


Eating with all the Elders and Hna at a family´s house this pday



Familia Navarro!! This is their second Sunday and this week they all bought church clothes and dont they look SHARP??

  

One of the many sweet signs here



tourist board



visiting flia Garrido´s new house

Visit to my 2nd favorite family



This week everyone voted for the Argentine President. Here it is a law to vote. There are these posters ALL over but now Cristina won so I thought I should take a picture!



When I met up with Hna Diaz and Zepeda during my training meeting in Mendoza

Tortuga!

goofing around like I love to do



walking an investigator to a primary activity




The last pday we did a picture scavenger hunt in two groups and this was the last picture we needed



Familia Navarro is ORO‏ - Oct. 17, 2011

Springtime in San Rafael. I love it.

I officially have spent three seasons here. I got here in fall, went all the way through a very cold winter, and now spring! This week was lots of HARD work but great. We were so tired one night I am pretty sure I walked home 30 minutes while power napping. But so it is on the mission....I LOVE IT.

Familia Navarro is amazing. We found them in a very simple way about 1 month ago. We have to do a certain amount of contacts each day and I always try to contact every family I see, kind of like I have a radar for them. I saw this cute family walking in centro and introduced myself. Knowing quickly that I was not a native Spanish speaker, they began to speak broken English to me. The hav¡d lived in Florida for a few years. We both laughed as we talked in a fun mix of English and Spanish as I asked if my companion and I could come by during to week to teach their family. They agreed and we went by the next day. 

We faught with them about 2 week. They were never there, but Hna Dana and I stopped by about everyday to see hopefully if they were there. We would run to their house at the end of the night to see if they were there. Well, lets just say our efforts were worth the time. We brought a member couple who were converts in the church 15years ago and now are the Stake Relief Society President and in the Stake High council, and they were instant friends. Familia Navarro have been assisting a baptist church (one that has a rock band to sing to and they shout and scream in their meetings) but every lesson we showed them love and showed them the spirit of reverence and love. They are a super unified family and already pay tithing in their church and have lived the word of wisdom as a family for some time. It took a lot or re-teaching, but finally they came to church yesterday. The family consists of Gustavo (dad), Virginia (mom), Matias (18yrs), Luna (7) and Morena (4). They are fireballs and have tons of doctrinal questions but have come to love the Book of Mormon. They are on fire right now and know the church is true and have been reading and praying as a family. The ward members helped us SO much this Sunday because we called them all ahead of time and let them know we had a special complete family that needed lots of support. Sunday each class they felt comfortable to comment, participate and ask questions in which each member testified to them and helped them along the way. I have never felt so much joy since the night Karina and Marcelo Garrido got married and baptized. They are scheduled for baptism the end of this month!!

To make the Sunday even better, we got permission to visit Flia Garrido in the country since we met our goals early in the week. We took the 30 minute drive out there with the help of a member with a car and surprised them. They CRIED when they saw us! I played for about 2 hours with the kids in the vineyards and orchards and we had a great family home evening after. Their branch is small and seems like they are having a hard time adjusting to being in the middle of nowhere but I am sure they will be ok. It was overall a great day! (It was Mother´s day here so it was a little sad to wait and study while Hna Dana called her family but it is ok, I will have my chance in May).

Thank you for your support and love. The Lord is putting amazing people into my hands I am sure I dont deserve but I am soooo grateful. We are being obedient and working hard to keep receiving the blessings. The vineyard really is ripe and ready to harvest here, even in your 7th month in San Rafael!!

Love,
Hermana Thatcher

Lovely Week - Oct. 10, 2011

AMAZING WEEK!!!

Well there is great news and bad news this week.

1) Bad news first. Familia Garrido moved. The owner of the house recently passed away and a lawyer came last week and told them they have one week to leave. So we scrambled and helped them find a house but they found a great house in the country far into the boundaries of another branch. I tried to be happy for them even though it will be hard not to see them basically every day. It will be good for them because the neighborhood they live in is kind of harder. I think it is small steps preparing me for the day I have to leave here permanently. I will ask for permission to see them outside of our area before I leave. They made me a huge poem in a picture frame they all signed for me. So Sunday morning we helped them move and I will pray the new branch will keep them going strong. Sad........

2) Good news. We are teaching FOUR complete families!! Wow the Lord has blessed us!! They are all very strong in the catholic, evangelical, and methodist churches but they are ALL reading the Book of Mormon and have had small answers to prayers. YEAH!! I am so pumped!! 

3) I forgot, more good news. We went to Mendoza this Thursday for special training. It was a long bus ride there early in the morning and back late at night but we learned A TON from PTe Avila. I was sooooo happy to learn more. You can never learn it all and I loved to hear the new ideas from our new assistants. Plus I got to see Hna Zepeda there! 


Well, I love you all. The pictures wont upload this week so very sorry. Pray for our families! I pray for you!!!


Hna Thatcher

Week 25 in San Rafael, I still love it!‏ - Oct.3, 2011

Hello All!!! 

Wasnt Conferencia General amazing!!!!!??? I loved everything! I loved the Japanese Elder´s talk (long name I don't remember) about missionary work and Elder Scott´s on scriptures, and Elder Christofferson on repentance and Elaine Dalton´s. Overall I was taking notes like a mad woman. I am also very proud to say that I watched the whole thing in spanish and understood it all. I had the choice to watch it in English but it was amazing to hear it and understand the apostles and prophet in spanish! I am so grateful for both the amazing conference and the gift of interpretation of languages. We had a few investigators there and I think besides being overwhelmed, they overall liked it alot! 

So this week has been pretty calm. Lots of good hard work. Found another choice family, Flia Araniz. They are married thank goodness! Hna Dana has been amazing this transfer, and is no longer nervous or timid. I am helping her learn English and she throws out the funniest one liners in English that keeps me on my toes laughing all day. She has come out of her shell so much because she feels better she is no longer the ¨new one¨. I am having a great time and loving everything more than ever!

Hna Anderson is training Hna John who is from Fayetteville, North Carolina which I was excited about. She is quiet, but we will soon change that haha! It is going to be a great transfer I can tell!

So the pictures will tell all the fun from the week:
1.´Making tacos in between conference 
2.3.4.  There was a spring concert and parade downtown so I convinced the other Hermanas to make a stand and talk to people. I had a super time and there were TONS of people we contacted!
5. To end the last transfer, we had a slumber party in the living room!
6. Hna Dana´s sister just had a baby so we sent this to her in honor
7. Hna John and Dana made us something since we are their ¨mothers¨ on the mission. How cute!
8. Part of our zone
9. San Rafael view from the hospital (we were visiting someone)


Love you all!! Keep close to the Savior and He will be there in every pain, joy, and experience of this life. He is watching me and blessing me as I try to bless His sheep. How marvelous is this work!!

Hna Thatcher