February 27, 2012

Wow. City life is different. I forgot how nice the simple amenities of the city are. Being able to flush my toilet paper, not having to wash my clothes in my bathroom sink!! I love the city for that reason. It’s a different world here then in my last area. It reminds of my LA. Everyone is really laid back, into fitness and health...and believe it or not a ton of people speak English. I have seen a HUGE amount of progress in my Spanish this week. We speak it together a lot more and it been helping a ton! So in our apartment it’s Hermana Sperry and me, and then two other Hermanas from South America. Its fun because all the Latinas in our mission are asked by the church to learn English, and Hna Sperry and I are learning Spanish so we all help each other out and speak in Spanglish when were in the apartment. I think as a missionary you are given the gift to love in a different way then before you mission. I instantly love everyone I meet here as if I’ve known them for years... and a lot of the people I meet I feel like I have known for years. It’s weird.  The city (like everyone warned me) has a lot less receptive people. Most are more stubborn then in my last area.

My first bautismo is this Wednesday! I am so excited! Its little boy named Santiago. He is 9 years old and comes from a less active family. Last transfer they reactivated the mom who is probably one of my favorite people I’ve met so far in my mission. She was really closed off and not super receptive to the new missionaries because she really liked the other ones that left, but yesterday something happened (we don’t know what, we just know they were all sad and mad when we got to their house) so I shared my favorite scripture and after I bore testimony she opened up a lot and told me I'm welcome in her country when ever I want ha-ha. Didn’t know I wasn’t welcome before, but good to know I am now. Anyway, she’s a really good mom and a really good person. I'll attach a picture of Santiago. It will be a tough week though because her boyfriend that she lives with is getting back from a 2 month vacation this week and so we have to get them married so she can start following the law of chastity now that she is active again or they have to break up. Keep her in your prayers!

This week I was talking to Hna Sperry about the idea/inspiration I got when I was in the MTC, about as a ward member being able to teach the Gospel. I Want to teach the members, especially the youth how to teach what we believe because I wish I would have done better at that in High School, but I didn’t know how to teach. Anyway so I said ´´when I get back I want to help do that in my ward´´ and she said ´´HERMANA WHY WAIT. THATS AN AMAZING IDEA LETS DO IT IN OUR WARD HERE´´ so we have a vision of teaching the members how to teach and instead of us doing the missionary work and members helping us eventually our goal and the goal of the prophet too is the members doing the missionary work and the missionaries helping the members. I’m really excited about this! Were planning on teaching classes on how to teach and how to commit etc. I think it will be amazing and with time I really think it could take off! So don’t forget to do your missionary work!

Well like always, this week was an adventure, learning a new city, new people, new bishop, companion etc. But it’s been pretty smooth. The members in this ward are so helpful. We have at least one every day to help us and come with us to lessons. The youth are hilarious and teach us all the slang and make fun of our accents and even the tiny old ladies and men walk all over the city and come with us to help us teach. Hna. Sperry got her bag stolen this Wednesday...we don’t know how it happened she set it down for two seconds and I was talking to the ward member and she was making a phone call and then we looked back and her bag was gone. The funny thing was it didn’t have anything of value in it. Only scriptures and her Agenda...which is a big deal because I didn’t have a lot of the phone numbers and addresses she had because she has been here longer( by the way, lesson learned- I got everything important now in mine too) and her scriptures are of zero value to everyone but here..but all her markings and notes written in it. Well anyway we were walking back after it happened and talking and I said ´´you know, as long as were being exactly obedient and doing what were supposed to do, then we are protected and everything that happens is for a reason and part of the plan, so this has to be for a reason, maybe they’ll read the book of Mormon or something´´ she agreed and we joked about converting him. Anyway, about 3 days later our Mission Pres calls us....and guess what? The guy that stole it felt bad, called the presidents wife (her number was in her agenda in her bag) and turned it back in!! We couldn’t believe it. It’s in a different mission right now in Buenos Aires South, but in a few weeks she’ll get it back! How crazy! He obviously felt something if he looked at the stuff and felt guilty... so I hope who ever he is, and where ever he is he reads more into the church!! Our pres said were not allowed to meet up with him because he could be dangerous if he stole it, which makes sense so maybe Brandon Phillips will find him down in BA south someday!! Well everyone, I love you all tons and look forward to your weekly emails! Keep helping the missionaries in your ward and read your scriptures daily!! xoxox

Besos,

Hna. Marchant

Oh just realized I forgot my camera cord, so I cant send pics this week, next week for sure! and also I bird pooped on me this week right on the collar of my shirt!! ha-ha sick.