TRASLADOS ARE HERE!! ...:)

Hola Queridos,

Well, this week has been one of the longest in the mission...can you guess why? TRANSFERS! Well, that and almost all of our appointments were cancelled throughout the week...I'm glad to hear things are going well at home! Glad Craig's birthday celebrations were fun! Wish I could have been there! I thought about you guys all day and even made some french fries with fry sauce at night to celebrate...my options were severely limited :) Haha... anyway, can you believe it's almost march? Can you believe that in three weeks I'll have completed a third of my mission? So crazy. So terrifying.

Well...I know the only thing you really wanna know about is transfers:) Saturday night the zone got together in Trelew for a baptism and then afterward they announced the changes. Anyone wanna know where I'm going?? It's been 4 amazing (and extremely short) months in Rawson...but I guess Heavenly Father thinks it's time for me to go. I'm not convinced...but gotta have faith right? ...Welp, I'M GOING TO CHILE!! My new area is Rio Grande...which is in Tierra del Fuego...just three hours north of Ushuaia...in other words three hours from the bottom of the world...WHAT?! So, I get to pass through Chile on my way and we get to take a boat which will be pretty sweet. On the down side...I'm pretty sure I'm looking at 24 hours minimum on a bus...pray for me people. My new companion is Hermana Tumbiaco(?) or something like that. I don't remember but she's from Ecuador. She's only got two transfers in the mission and so I'll be senior companion...yikes. I'm excited to meet new people...but I'm super sad to go. It was super hard saying goodbye to people yesterday! I'm also sooo sad that Hermana Hundley and I only got one transfer together. She is seriously amazing. I love her. So easy to get along with, so fun to teach with, and on top of that we have so much fun together all the time. I would love to stay with her for another transfer...or two...or three...or the rest of my mission:) Changing companions is reallyyy scary! haha. Every day I come up with another reason the mission is so hard. Yesterday I came up with about 50...haha:)

So, I leave today from Trelew at 3:00PM. I travel alone to Comodoro...and then I'm supposed to meet up with a bunch of missionaries there. We'll see! I'm actually really excited...and a lot nervous. It'll be a hard transfer, but it'll be a good one! Elder Elliz is the zone leader there so I'm super excited that I get to see him and work with him again!! :)

Sorry, this letter is a little bit scattered but I'm running on very little sleep here...I think 7 hours total in the last two days. It's been rough. Packing and getting everything ready to go is a big job...which is weird since my pension is tiny and most of my things stayed in my suitcase to begin with. Yesterday we visited Mariela and Agustina, Carlos and Soledad, the Familia Pranes, and then the Familia Chemin. Guess who cried A LOT yesterday?? Yep...Hermana Heath. It was sooo hard! When we got to Carlos' house he told me I looked tired..."you're eyes are all red!" Yes...I was pretty much dead on my feet yesterday, but that was not the reason my eyes were red:) hahaha. Being in Hermano Chemin's house yesterday pretty much killed me. It was definitely the hardest.

This morning we finished packing and then bought some facturas... DELICIOUS. I'm gonna miss having a bakery right outside my pension! haha:) It's a good thing and a bad thing! I'm trying not to think too much and just go with the flow at the moment...it's gonna be an interesting couple of days!

Umm...I'm trying to think if anything exciting happened this week. Elder Verges is officially in Comodoro working in the offices. The assistants came on Monday to take him away. Oh, did I tell you that Hermano Chemin isn't the mission leader anymore? Well, he's not. The new one is Gabi Mayor...he's awesome.

Okay...I can't think of anything else. Mostly because my mind keeps wandering. I'll write a better email next week. Wish me luck in my travels! I'll try not to get left at the border of Chile...apparently that happened once. I've only heard really good things about Rio Grande. I'm excited to meet the people there! It'll be a fun, and very very cold and windy experience:)

I love you!

Hermana Heath

Hermana Hundley...best companion EVER!

Familia Chemin :)

Leaving my pension for the last time!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRAIG!!

(don't mind all the water spots on my shirt...hehe)

GOIN' TO HOGWARTS! Actually...it's a soccer jersey

of one of the professional teams here...GO BOCA!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CRAIGGGG!

Hola Queridos,

This week has been LOCO! I'm glad it's finally over...but unfortunately this week is probably gonna be just as crazy! I haven't had time to read any of your emails...but I'm assuming ya'll are doing great! It looks like Matthew had fun at Preference...just for the halibut...hahaha...cracked me up. That's clever. I hope kimberly is feeling better. I noticed mom's email said something about the stomach flu. That's no fun...oh...and the olympics? Since being in Argentina I don't know if I've come to like or dislike the United States more...I will tell you though that hearing about the olympics gave me a moment of homesickness...I wanna watch sooo bad. It's not a big deal in Argentina so I had completely forgotten! Watch lots for meee!

Well, lets start off with a shout out to the CRAIG MIESTER MIESTER CRAIG!!! Happy birthday, Bro! I know it's still a couple days away...but I hope it's the best one yet! Eat lots of  yummy cake for me...and definitely some ice cream...mint chocolate chip?! I think Emily said she's paying...:) Anyway, I'm super happy that you're part of our crazy, but awesome family! I think you're pretty great and wish you the very best in this next year of life! Have a wonderful day! Hugs from the bottom of the worldddd! :) Love youuu!

Well, like I said, this week was a lil bit nuts. Lets start with Elder Verges. He's doing really well! Hahaha...that's what he tells me anyway...but I'm pretty sure his ankle hurts more than he lets on...but overall he's doing good! Last monday we spent a few hours chillin' by his hospital bed. Poor kid hadn't showered in like 3 days...wanna know why? The hospital didn't have water. I know, super sketch. The HOSPITAL didn't have WATER. Is that even possible? The saddest part? I wasn't even surprised when he told me...I'm becoming accustomed to Argentine sketchiness! HELP! Haha. Anyway...it was soo hot and there were mosquitos everywhere. He was very excited to get out of the hospital in Rawson and go to a clinic in Trelew. He didn't have surgery until Friday...almost a week after he broke his ankle! One of the other joys of Argentina...you go to the hospital and get a turn. They tell you to come back on a certain day at a certain time. Hahaha..love Argentina. It's a blast. Anyway, he stayed in the zone leaders pension in Trelew from Monday night until Friday morning. President came to Trelew for the surgery and left shortly after...I didn't get to see him, but everything went well luckily! Elder Verges is moving around on crutches and his ankle is in a giant boot. He leaves for Comodoro today :( We're gonna miss him! It's okay though. Everyone keeps telling me my next area is gonna be Comodoro anyway...we'll see! Haha...anyway, thanks for your prayers! It's been a stressful week! We saw Elder Verges yesterday for the first time since Monday. It was good to see him!

Agustina's baptism was beautiful just like her mom's! It was such a great day! Hermana Hundley and I made cookies again:) But, I can't even describe my feelings. There just aren't words. There are lots of things in the mission that you can't understand outside of the mission. You just have to be hereee! Wanna come visit me??:) But seriously, it has been the biggest blessing to be able to see Mariela and Agustina change their lives for the gospel. It's a miracle! God is so good. I'm so thankful that I got to be a part of it! I have learned so much from them and their testimonies! I love them soo much! It was a great night...but one that pulled at my heart strings a lot. Hermano Chemin gave a talk on the Holy Ghost...and the spirit was so strong but as I watched him talk to Agustina my heart couldn't take it. I started to cry...I don't know how I'm ever gonna say goodbye to these people. I've always heard people say their heart literally felt like it was breaking in half...but never actually believed them until now. This part of the mission is the worst. But, I've got lots of amazing memories here in Rawson and there are people and friendships that I'll have for the rest of my life...Hermana Hundley shared a scripture with me this week...D&C 130:2...it's pretty neat! You should read it!

So the funny story of the week? Well actually it wasn't funny...but here it is anyway. This week we did divisions with our sister training leader so I spent an afternoon in Trelew one day and the next day my companion was in Trelew all day. While I was in Trelew with another Hermana, we visited a menos activo family. Apparently the man doesn't like the United States or gringos. Did you know that I'm a prideful spoiled rich kid and won't ever have to work a day in my life? Did you also know that I'm selfish and have no business being in Argentina because this culture and these people mean nothing to me? Did you also know that I don't have a heart? Cool, right? Oh...and fun trivia question for ya'll...How many times can one person get called "yankee" in a lesson? Well...I lost count after the first five minutes...but it's more than 11. Pretty much left that lesson feeling like an awful person... well...technically we didn't leave...in the middle of this guy's anti-american rant there was a car accident right outside. Luckily everyone was okay... thinking back...I think that car crash might have been one of the tender mercies of the Lord...I was more than happy to be leaving that house. Good times.

Oh, also. Christmas came late this year for everyone except for me! Everyone in my district got a Christmas package last week. It was pretty great...the Elders have been rocking their Christmas ties this week! Haha..too funny. Also, Hermano Chemin got released yesterday as ward mission leader. He had told us before so we wouldn't be too shocked, but it still killed me to hear it said in Sacrament Meeting. He has been an amazing help to this work here in Rawson, and he still will be, he just won't be as directly involved. I'm so thankful that I was able to work with him for as long as I did in Rawson! He's my hero. For reals!

Well, today we're going to Trelew for the going home party of our awesome zone leader Elder Haroldsen. I'm gonna miss him sooo much. He's sooo funny! I'm bumbed I only got to be with him for one transfer. Can I just say...I LOVE MISSIONARIES! Hah!

Have a fantastic week peeps! I love you all and you're always in my thoughts and prayers! Thanks for your love and support and make sure to give each other lots of hugs and kisses! (Especially to the birthday boyyyy!) You're the best! Keep reading your scriptures everyday and don't forget to say your prayersss!

Forever and always...CHAU!

Hermana Heath

Mariela's baptism!!

Agustina, Hermana Heath, Mariela, Hermana Hundley

 Agustina's baptism!! :)

Missing Elder Verges! ...but I love my district in Rawson :)

My district outside of the church :)

playing tetris :) on our way to lunch with Gustavo Chemin!

In the hospital with the cripple...Elder Verges!

making cookies with Agustina and Mariela

for the yummiest object lesson I've ever participated in :)

The Chemins treated their favorite missionaries

to some ice cream :)

The Elders cooking us lunch. Tan amables...:)

Missionary or Mother?

Hola Family,

Well, this week has been crazy! It's probably been the hardest week of the mission so far. I'm soooo tired...but it's okay! :) Staying strong...I'm glad to hear you're all doing well. I can't believe Joseph Pearce is already home from his mission?! What? That's crazy. Time flies!

So, last Monday we went to Trelew and played soccer and volleyball. It was fun. Then we visited Mariela and Agustina. The exciting news?! We put a new baptismal date with Agustina for February 15th...as in THIS SATURDAY... and she said yes! She's been really excited with all the preparation and last week told us that she got her answer. The best part? She found her answer in the Book of Mormon. That's the best way:) I love helping people find help and answers in the scriptures!

On Tuesday we had a district meeting. We talked even more about finding new investigators and making contacts. We did some role plays...have I mentioned I HATE role plays? Well I do. But, they help, so we do them anyway. Haha.

On Wednesday I don't really remember what happened. I'm sure it was a great day though!! Thursday is a blur as well...the problem is I don't have my journal or a list of things I was going to tell you...bad call on my part cause I can't remember anything! It's sooo weird. I don't know where the time goes... but it sure does motivate me to work hard every single day!!

Okay...so Friday Nani Velazquez had an activity in the church. He did a piano concert with his own compositions. It was incredible! Unfortunately we didn't get to stay to the end since we're missionaries and we need our sleep:) but we got some new investigators from it! That's always a blessing. I LOVE finding new people to teach:) It's the best! One of my favorite principles to teach is "God is our loving Heavenly Father." It's always so cool to see the people learn about the loving nature of God.

Saturday was a CRAZY day. It started out with us forgetting to turn on our alarm the night before which means we didn't wake up until 7:00AM. I HATE waking up late...it's only happened a few times...but I always feel guilty. Anyway, we got up late...hurried to get ready so we could start our studies on time and then went to the Church to eat a delicious lunch the Elders so kindly prepared for us...while they cooked, Hermana Hundley and I ate a couple cookies and prepared for the English class. We taught them how to pray in English. It was really neat. There's something really special about a simple prayer...which is all these crazy Argentines can do at this point:)

Then the Elders had an activity with the youth of the ward after. Hermana Hundley and I cleaned the dishes since the Elders cooked and then we left to go to an appointment...to make a long story short, all our appointments were cancelled within a 10 minute period. Not long after Mariela sent us a text saying that she wouldn't be home for our appointment because she was in the hospital with Elder Verges. Turns out Elder Verges twisted his ankle funny and broke his fibula down by the ankle. Luckily it was a clean break, but still..he's got a broken ankle. Mariela, bless her heart, drove him and his companion to the hospital. Hermana Hundley and I, since we had no other plans, walked to the hospital to see what was going on. Walking into the hospital felt like going back in time to the 1920's WWI hospitals...sooo sketchy. Elder Verges is in a room with an old guy that has diabetes...he's doing really well, but, they're gonna have to do surgery. So, basically from 6:00PM until 10:30PM Hermana Hundley and I got to play mom. We had to make sure he ate something, was drinking regularly...you know...all the things that moms do. We were busy talking to the zone leaders and the nurses, while Elder Verges talked with President and his family. Mariela, bless her heart, was there the whole time. She's sooo sweet. In case you didn't just catch what I just said, Mariela...the lady that just got baptized last week, spent her whole friday night in the hospital with 6 missionaries cracking jokes and making fun of the nurses who weren't as friendly as they could have been. Have I mentioned that I love her?!

We're still arranging things for Elder Verges' surgery...but we think it's gonna go down tomorrow in Trelew. Please please please keep him in your prayers!! Today our p-day is gonna be super fun...sitting...or shall I say standing in the hospital keeping the cripple company. Good times. Yesterday we were incharge of giving Elder Verges and the zone leader who stayed the night with them lunch...it's good times. Also, since he was super bored, in all of our appointments yesterday we asked for jokes...we sent him a steady stream of them all day to give him something to laugh at. I didn't understand hardly any of them...Spanish humor is weird. I'll keep you updated with how he's doing! Luckily he won't have to go home to Cordoba for the recovery..I think he'll be in the offices in Comodoro for the next transfer.

Well, that's it for this week! I'm doing well despite the everything going on! The mission is hard, but that's okay because it helps us to grow and improve! Have a fantastic week! I love you all sooo much!

forever and always,

Hermana Heath

Hey look! It's the missionaries!!

Hola Familiaaa,

CATHERINE'S GOING TO CANADA?!?! That's soooo cool! She's gonna be an incredible missionary...I already know it:) The other day I saw my nametag from Alma Academy and remembered our little missionary experience together:) French speaking...oh my heck...I'm freakin' out here... FREAKING OUT! CATHERINE HAS HER MISSION CALL!!!!!!!!! Everyone give her lots and lots of BIG hugs:):):) and kisses too cause we do that in Argentina...hahahha

Well, this week has been CRAZY. I'm tired. Did ya'll know that missions are hard? Well, they are. They're really hard. But did ya'll know that being a missionary is the best thing in the world? Well it is. The VERY best. This week I learned sooo much. Diligence, patience, obedience, love, perseverance...BUT! Let's start from the beginning...

Monday was an awesome day...we went to Trelew and played volleyball and then practiced the hymn we sang on Tuesday at the zone conference with President.

On Tuesday we had the zone conference with President and Hermana Rogers. I LOVE THEM. They always have just the right message and training for us. This time they talked a lot about how to teach more effectively and then how to find new investigators...along with lots of other things. Did you know that it only takes 7 seconds for someone to make a first impression of you? Well, it was a great conference... I always love learning from our leaders. President Rogers talked a lot about preparing the area for a temple. I have no doubt that Heavenly Father knows where the Patagonia is and he will help us prepare his people for a temple. The best day of my life is going to be when the prophet announces a temple in Comodoro Rivadavia. Ahh...I can't WAIT for that day!! These people deserve a temple. Did you know that the people in my mission have to travel farther than anyone else in South America to go to the temple?? Not for long though!!

I hardly have any time this week so I'm gonna tell you a funny story and then tell you about Saturday:)

So, one day this week we were walking down the street and suddenly two nice looking boys (a little taller than the average Argentine) wearing white shirts and ties came walking around the corner. Wanna know the first thing that came into my mind? "HEY LOOK! THERE'S THE MISSIONARIES!" It only took me a few more seconds to realize that I know those missionaries and that I also am a missionary. Good times. Had to laugh at myself for that one. Sometimes it's impossible to believe that I'm a missionary...like a real one. It's like a dream!

Well, Saturday came around REALLY fast...which was good! Mariela was sooo ready and sooo excited... as were we, of course. Saturday morning after studies we went to the church to start cleaning. Not long after the Elders showed up and helped us. We ate lunch in the church and then had our English class...we played simon says. No big deal. We also taught them I am a child of God. Cool beans. Mariela came to that too:) After the class we made cookies, and got everything ready for the baptism at 7. The zone leaders came to our baptism and we did the musical number that we did for the conference at the baptism while Mariela was changing. It was great...except we didn't have Hermana Smith who has a gorgeous soprano voice..lucky me I got to fill in and try to sing with two Elders who are more or less tone deaf...the last verse Elder Scogin and I sang together a capella...he sang melody and I sang the harmony. It actually turned out pretty cool...although...I don't enjoy singing in front of people...the things I do as a missionary. hahaha. The baptism was sooo great. It has been a privilege to be able to watch Mariela change and learn. Unforgettable experience:) She was so ready and prepared. It has been a testimony to me that God really does have angels working among his children preparing them to hear the gospel just like it says in the scriptures..I think that's in Alma 13:24...? Good scripture:)

Seattle won the superbowl? I guess dad's happy then...right? I would have cheered for the Broncos personally. Peyton Manning and all:) Oh well...I guess it wasn't a bad one to miss!!

Also, for the month of January, my zone had the goal of 511 lessons with members. Wanna know how many we had?? 548!! President owes us a reward...at least that's what the zone leaders say...maybe we'll get to go visit another tourist site...that's what I'm hoping for at least!!

Have a wonderful week family! I'll send pictures next week..we're running out of time today:) I love you all and you're always in my prayers!!

Forever and always,

Hermana Heath