March 30, 2015 - Maipu!

It truly has been a week of miracles!!                                                             March 30, 2015

Tuesday: zone conference!  We had 3 zones at this conference.  We are the only sisters in our zone, there were none in one, and 3 sets in the other zone.  It was so fun to meet some other sisters.  There aren´t very many of us in this mission, so I am hoping to get to know more throughout my time.

 waiting for the train to get to zone conference

 all of the Hermana's at zone conference, the other 3 sets are in another zone

 Wednesday: We talked to soooooooo many people today, somewhere between 30-50!  We are trying to meet people to teach, so lots of abrir la boca.

 Thursday: Oh my! So in trying to find a young man´s house, we started talking to this family, who set up an appointment with us!  We didn´t end up finding his house, but more on this for

Saturday.  We also had a woman, in trying to find an antiguo investigador, come up to us, ask us what religion we are, and tell us, I am interested, when can you teach me!!! What??  We are going by today, so we are praying that she will be there.

 Friday: So, again, we had lecciones planned, but all of them fell through, which is basically what happens every day, but we still had faith that Saturday would be better

 Saturday:  What, another day!! Amazing!  So, we finally found the young man´s house, and he is interested, and we are going by tonight!!  Hopefully we can bring the spirit with us.  Also, the family!!!  They have been so prepared by God!  Life has been really hard for them, especially recently, and they have had bad experiences with other churches in the past.  Therefore, we are emphasizing how this is a church of Christ, not man, and are not pushing them too fast.  There are three generations, the grandma, her children, spouses, and grandkids.  We taught 5 of them on Saturday, all except the grandkids, there are three ages 20, 6, and 2.  They have such an amazing spirit in their home, we are praying that they will maintain their interest and pray and ask Heavenly Father, and that all will be well with them.  Also, the 2 yr. old is sooo cute.  He just runs around, screams :), and even blew us kisses, ran in while we were teaching about prayer and clapped his hands excitedly.  They can only do Saturdays, when all are together, but we are going to drop by throughout the week to check on them, maybe give a short spiritual thought to whoever is there

Sunday:  I got to play for choir again!  And I might start playing for church, as right now they just use recordings.  As those who know me know, I am sooo excited to serve in this way, I just love it so much, love piano!  Also, a truck full of really drunk guys drove past us on our way to church, calling out for a miracle, then they passed by again, calling out for us to save them.  We couldn´t help but laugh, we can´t save them.  I also was so worried for them, they were sooo drunk and should not have been driving, I hope they didn´t get hurt or hurt anyone else.

Random advice:

* Bring as many underclothes as you can! Way more than the 8-10 recommended

* Girls- bring as many no-show socks as you want, you can never ever have too many.

* Go for durability, not cuteness in shoes, at least in walking missions

So, we found out that there is a Walmart, so we are going to try and find it today.  Otherwise we have been using little minimarkets, panaderias, and vea (kind of like Raley’s, but smaller).

So, in preparing to go home, Hermana Jasso is starting a diet today (she has this and next transfer left).  So to have unity, I am joining in on this, basically, she wants to actually work out in the morning, as she doesn´t always (yay! this includes running, though at a very slow pace, but it is still running!!!).  Also eating healthier, so she is on a strict no soda, and one treat a week.  Which means me too, soda, easy easy, treats, a bit harder...  to give you an idea, she is accusing me that I will get diabetes with all the sweet stuff I like.  This will be for the next 2 months, and then the last week or 2 before she goes home, we are not following this at all :)

Sé que nosotros tenemos un Padre Celestial.  Él tiene mucho amor por nosotros.  Podemos orar por ayuda y Él nos da. No estamos nunca solo.  Nunca.  Estoy agradecida por esté conocimiento y la ayuda que yo recibo. 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Quain

our funky washing machine, it just soaks the clothes, so they smell good, but aren´t cleaner

 

Questions:

How do you get your clothes clean then? Do you hang out to dry or have a dryer?

They just don´t really get cleaned :), we are hoping to maybe find someone that we can use their washer at least every once in a while so they can actually get clean.  We hang dry too. 

What did you do in zone conference? Do you have Elder & Hermana Zone leaders? So is Hermana Jasso Zone leader? What does STL stand for? Maybe you could manually move the clothes around a bit to help them get clean? ;) Like with a big stick, ha.
In zone conference, we learned from our zone leaders, assistants to the President, Hermana Goates, and President Goates, it is kind of like a big seminar.  We start altogether, but then split up by zone and go to the different classes.  There is one set of Elders as zone leaders, and then Hermana Jasso is a sister training leader-STL, (female version almost of zone leaders, Spencer could also help explain).  Usually it is a companionship, but I am a trainee, so she is solo as sister training leader.  She is over me and one other set of sisters in a completely different zone, an hour and a half away.  There is maybe a 1-5 ratio of Hermanas’ to Elders here, maybe, so sister training leaders are sometimes over sisters pretty far away.  And we all cover big areas, so other missionaries are easily super far away anyway.

I have thought of just doing a more manual washing, as we have to manually bring the water by buckets into the machine anyway, and scrubbing my clothes, especially garments.  Or maybe find a big stick :)

How are your Sundays - church meetings?
We have all three hours, if you go on the lds tools, we are at the stake center of Maipú, and Spencer is good at figuring it out.  At 9-12 we have Relief Society first, sometimes only 4 of us at the beginning, but we can sometimes grow up to maybe 10 by the end, then gospel principles, then Sacrament, we have been having really good attendance, about 60 in Sacrament meeting, typical is 40.  We then go back and do studies, go to choir, then only have an hour and a half for proselyting. 

Do you eat any meals with the members? Does your ward have the missionary spirit?

They either feed us or give us viandas, togo lunches, as we do lunches with members.  We are working on building up the spirit, they have it in them!  They are super supportive and want to help out, which is awesome!

March 23, 2015 - Maipú

It has been a week of miracles!

I got to play piano!!!! For the choir practice!  I loved it so much, and was exactly what I needed.  I don´t know if I was just filling in or if this will be an every Sunday thing, I couldn´t understand completely the explanation.

Our investigator pool is basically about nobody, but that is ok, because we are working really hard and are going to find people, or have people follow through with lessons!  We have a few for this week, and many, many potentials.

So, we go to a cyber and use the computers there, where we pay for the time.  The people here would not be able to afford computers, I think there is a family history center in the offices, but not here in Maipú.  We are serving specifically in the Gutierrez area. Maipú is beautiful.  All of the streets are lined with trees.  It is getting a bit run down, but still so beautiful.

Hermana Jasso is 23, fluent in both English and Spanish.  She is in her last 2 transfers, and so will be heading home right when she is done training me. We work with just one ward, and we share the ward with the Elders Christensen and Fernandez.

So, yesterday, we taught Soc Soc and talked in Sacrament meeting!  Lots of talking.  Everyone is so patient and encouraging with my Español and castellano.  I get lots of comments about how I must have learned from a Mexican, or am used to hearing a Mexican accent, which is true...  It is funny when they use different words, or when I say something and get a funny look.

So I can receive mail, it takes 2 weeks.  Mission office is the best place to send it. Everyone tells me no packages, but nearly everyone who is older mission-wise has received a package at some point, but it takes a very, very, very long time.

Interesting things:

* The smells..

* I almost get ran over... all the time, every day, every hour, it is just a part of life.

* I tried fried pigs ear, and it didn’t´ get me sick!!!  They put them in tortitas, and it is actually pretty good.

Some fun stuff I have had:

* tortitas, grido-helado, facturas, alfajora de maiz

Oh, and elders will do anything for a coke :) and Hermana Jasso has a coke addiction like everyone here J

So, I have read and reread D & C 1 many times this week.  I sometimes wonder why Heavenly Father would call someone who can´t speak the language and is only 19 to teach the Gospel, but in this chapter, we are told that God calls the weak to do His work.  This is true in life.  As we are shown our weaknesses, and turn to God, He helps to strengthen us.

 Love you all!

Hermana Quain

Group of Missionaries that arrived the same time as me

View from the Hotel I stayed at in Mendoza

Hermana Sangama from Peru

Me & Hermana Jesso!

My first meal before we could go shopping :)

 

from on top of a hill outside of Godoy Cruz, BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY!

San Martin Monument

 

  

March 16, 2015 - Maipú!

It has been a week of miracles!                                                      March 16, 2015

I made it to Argentina!  After leaving the MTC around 6 am Monday morning, we flew to Georgia, then to Buenos Aires, then to Mendoza.  We arrived in Mendoza around 5 pm on Tuesday.  I was so tired as I didn´t sleep on the plane and Sunday night only got 2 hours of sleep, as the other Hermanas got up at 2am to leave to CA.  Something fun, I met Elder Holland!  He was on the same flight to Georgia.  In Buenos Aires, the Elders and I met up with the group from the Buenos Aires CCM, which had 5 sisters and 8 elders.  I was now comps with Hermana Sangama who doesn´t speak English.  She is so awesome and nice, and we were actually able to communicate ok.  We stayed in a hotel Tuesday and Wednesday night, and were at the offices during the day.  Thursday I found out who my trainer is, Hermana Jasso!  She is from Mexico, but also has lived in the US and is fluent in both Ingles and Español, which is such a blessing.  She speaks to me in mostly Español, except some random moments.  She is so encouraging and awesome.

I am in Maipú!  Sorry I don´t have pics of Maipú, but I love it here.  The trees aren´t as big as in Mendoza. We washed Maipú, so we are working on finding investigators.  It is a bit rough, as mostly what we do is walk around all day meeting people, and have only taught once.  But we have a few appointments set up for this week, and hopefully they are there and remember.  

There were a lot of people at the ward this week, which apparently is weird, we had about 90 at sacrament meeting.  It is us and 2 elders working with this ward; Elder Christensen & Elder Fernandez.

So, some interesting things so far:

* One man we met threatened us, telling us how much God loves us, which is a really strange threat.  He was also only wearing what appeared to be very small underpants, beautiful.  Then, when we were trying to leave, he kissed me!  Yay! Mi primero beso!  Luckily it was a nice wet one on the cheek, and not the lips.  It was a bit startling, but we just walked away and I couldn´t stop laughing.

* Sad- I saw my first dead dog.  Alive dogs are EVERYWHERE, but this one was bloated and covered in flies, really sad.

* I gave a tarjeta to a man, who then went on to say, I am Jesus, you can´t see me... ok... I just handed you a tarjeta... but ok.

* We don´t eat dinner here, only breakfast and lunch, which is different.  It works though.  We are shopping today, so we will now actually have non outdated food or cereal.  I have already lost probably 5 pounds this week, my body doesn´t like the food, even though we haven´t eaten anything strange.  I am hoping it will start to change and accept it.

* We have a really nice pensión, which is way worse than Spencer´s apartment.  I can send pics next week.  I guess we have a bit more room than Spencer, but not as nice.

A scripture that has really stood out to me this week is D&C 6.  It talks about putting your trust in God. I am learning to do that, as I can´t understand people when they speak and am adjusting to being here.  

Hermana Quain

Me with Sister & President Goates

Mendoza, Argentina

View from the Mission Home in Mendoza

March 8 - 10, 2015 - Leaving the MTC

 My Zone at the beginning with our Branch Presidency

 The 2 Districts that arrived together

Happy UnBirthday :)

Sad to to Leave  - But excited for Argentina!

With Hermano Dolbin - MTC instructor

With Hermano Rasmussen - MTC instructor

March 5, 2015 - MTC

It is a week of miracles!

I have my visa and flight plans!!!  I leave on Monday at 6 am from the MTC.  Our flight leaves at 11 am from SLC and we arrive at 4:50 in Atlanta.  We then leave Atlanta at 7:36 pm and arrive in Buenos Aires at 6:55 am on Tuesday.  Then we are somehow getting to Mendoza, I don't know how yet.  Also, I don't know what time zones all of those times represent.  My specific travel group consists of all of us going to Mendoza; Elders Kidd, Burns, Plumb, Erickson, and me.  We will be flying to Argentina with everyone going to Argentina, which is close to 30? maybe? missionaries.  I can't believe that we are really heading out in a couple days!!!

Congrats to everyone for getting into BYU!!! That is so exciting, BYU is awesome, y'all are going to love it!

In our district we do pensamientos buenos before class.  It is such an awesome thing, I highly recommend it.  When you focus on the good in others, complimenting them and recognizing them, you really invite el Espiritu Santo.

So, I am still really working on Spanish, really working.  And, yes I continue to mess up, sooo much.  But the other amazing thing is, I have felt the spirit the strongest I have ever felt it while teaching in Spanish as well.

So, again with Word of Wisdom mess-ups, I asked my investigator blessings he has in his life.  He started listing women’s names, however my mind took them as just Spanish words I did not know.  With that mindset I asked if he would like more blessings (if you can see where this is going), and he quickly agreed.  I then promised him more blessings if he would obey the word of wisdom, that he would be blessed for following this commandment.  I still did not realize what I was promising him.  He looked at me and said, "Hermana Quain, if you are one of those blessings, I will gladly live the word of wisdom"-----oooooops.  Now I realize what I had just said.  My companion being the loving person she is had noticed what was happening from the get go, didn't stop me and just busted up laughing at me.  The Elders had also been watching this exchange and were laughing.  It is ok, because I couldn't stop laughing either.  Oh the things we promise.  

So, we tipicamente bring food to our class, and have a stash of food for all times.  One of our teachers really loves to come in and eat all of it and it is never healthy food.  One of the other hermanas commented on how he remains so skinny, and here was my response; he 1, has a really fast metabolism and 2, is a poor college student, who is 3, getting married, and therefore 4, has no money to buy food, and so 5, the only food he eats is what we feed him.  In conclusion, he is skinny.  The other hermanas just started laughing, and so did I, because I didn´t even think it out before I said it and it sounded so funny.

Also, Hermano Rasmussen had an awesome quote that just popped out of his mouth during class one day and he had us all write it down.  It was, Effective teaching in no more than a good smile and a good question.  How good is that?  It is true, a smile shows that you care about them, and questions are like opening a window into somebody's alma.

When teaching investigators, I feel so much love for them.  Ellos y Ellas son mis hermanos y hermanas.  Yo quiero que todos volvamos a Dios.  Cuando yo ayudo mis investigadores, yo siento mucho amor por ellos.Todos pueden sentir este por otras personas.  Yo siempre oro para el amor de que Dios tiene por todos Sus hijos y hijas.  Y, yo recibo un parte de este.  Todas las personas tienen un parte que es muy bueno, y a veces nosotros estamos aqui para ayudar ellos veen este.

que tenga un buen semana, y les quiero!

Hermana Quain




Us hermanas referencing an old pic, do you know which one?  With some slight changes

Our districts last p-day

Hermana Bedell's skirt that she bequeathed to me