First off...here's a shout out to my
amazing mother! Happy Argentine Mother's Day!! As I've mentioned
before...Argentines are CRAZY! Soo...one of them one day must have
decided that Mother's day should be celebrated in October rather than
May...so there you have it friends...this Sunday (Oct 19)
is Mother's day in Argentina! Thanks mom for being the best mom ever!
Thanks for always loving me and supporting me especially now in the
mission! It means the world to me. I can always feel your love and
prayers. Have a GREAT day! :) You should probably eat some cake...I
definitely will be eating some!
Soo...this week
I almost got blown away by the wind several times...whoever named
Chicago the "windy city" clearly never visited the Patagonia. Nada que
ver. The wind was sooo strong. It stopped us in our tracks several
times.. which happened in Rio Grande too...but the difference here is
that my area is pure dirt...you can imagine what we look like when we
get to the pension at night. Our skin is a full shade darker...no joke.
Gotta love the wind:) It's been really nice outside though. I don't even
have to leave with my coat! BEST. FEELING. EVER. I feel like a new
person...at least I'm not dressed in straight black from my head to my
toes all the time...less "nunn-ish" I feel like. Speaking of new...this
week my shoes were not gonna give any more...I, being a lil bit
stubborn, didn't want to buy new ones...so my "mom" here in Caleta,
Natalia Martinez, fixed them for me. She literally sewed them. I didn't
know you could do that...but she did a really good job. The guy in
modern shoe totally lied when he said these shoes would last me. Not
even close, bro...pero bueno ya fue! :) They're super comfy so that's
good.
Can you believe I turned 13 months old in
the mission this week? I sure can't. OH! And get this...two youth from
my branch here are gonna be in Utah visiting their brother who is
studying at LDS business college in February and March...in other
words...you'll get to meet them! They're AWEOME! We always eat lunch
with their family...Aldana(19) and Martin(17)..such capos. I'm super
excited about that:)
This week we visited a
little old lady in my branch...Margarita Martinez. It was the first time
I ever went to her house since she doesn't live in our area... but she
invited us so we went. I'm pleased to announce that grandma homes smell
the same in Argentina as they do in the states. It felt good to be home
for a few minutes:)
This week we had a family
night in the church. We played Jeopardy. The Elders did the questions.
They did a really good job! We had a blast and we had lots of
less-actives there. I love Caleta. We had a meeting with our branch
president on Sunday...imagine...10
missionaries and president crammed into a tiny office space in the
corner of a church in Argentina. Woah. Sometime it just hits me. I'm a
MISSIONARY!
So, saddest news of the week. Elder
Cardoza, a missionary from Argentina who was serving in Peru passed
away this last week. He was 19 years old and had about 1 year in the
mission. He was in a lesson with a family and had an aneurism? (blood
clot in the brain?) I think that's what I heard, anyway. He started
having convulsions and within 5 minutes passed away. He left from the
district of CALETA OLIVIA. He was living in Puerto Deseado which is the
smallest branch we have...20 member attendance each sunday.
It's about 3 hours away on the map...right on the coast! Anyway...his
family is originaly from Salta and they moved back there about 5-6
months ago. President Rogers (as the mission President at the time Elder
Cardoza started the mission) had to tell the family. The family went to
Peru to bring back the body. I don't really know much, but I do know
that Elder Cardoza is in a really good place. I have no doubt that there
is a place especially for him in the celestial kingdom. But, even still
I can't imagine how hard that must be for the family and for the
members in Peru...the other missionaries...his companion. No I can't
even imagine. Please keep Elder Cardoza's family in your prayers:)
Well...sorry
to end on a sad note...but it made me think of all the things in the
world that can happen. Every single day we have here is a gift from God.
It's too bad that it sometimes takes something as awful as the death of
a missionary to make us realize that. I'm so thankful to know that God
has a plan for us and that we can all be together forever if we live the
gospel and endure to the end. What a promise! Go to church every sunday...read your scriptures...pray!
I
love you all so much! Thanks for all your love and support! Have a
fantastic week! And please...I know ya'll miss me like crazy and can't
wait for me to come home but would you PLEASE STOP PRAYING FOR THE TIME
TO SPEED UP! I really need it to slow down! Hahaha...not cool, friends.
Not cool. Anyway...on that note. Have a great week. Mom...happy
argentine mothers day. Matthew...errr Elder Heath...keep up the good
work in Texas. You're doing a great job! Kim...keep "studying" hard in
spanish class (in other words...keep sending me emails;) haha) and
Dad...I got you a reference for the office! One of the hermanas is gonna
go visit you in the office when she finishes the mission....in
December! I just happened to have one of your business cards in my
wallet so I gave it to her...I might be a little biased but I told her
it was the best way to go:) Emily...just keep being awesome...and as for
the craig-meister? GO FAINTING GOATS!! Haha:) I love you all! Hugs and
kisses from Argentina! Have a great week! Woah...I just looked at the
date on the corner of my screen...October 13! I can't believe it...we're
already starting week 4 of this transfer! Only 3 more weeks in Caleta
Olivia :( ohhh...and one last thought...a really exciting one! Remember
Maxi? That kid that got baptized in July? Welp...he wants to go on a
mission. Kill me. Just kill me. He melts my heart every day of my life.
He's totally gonna go on a mission. He already talked with the branch
president...all he has to do is wait to get the year of member and he's
gone! He even comes to mission prep classes occassionaly:) OH MY GOSH! I
love the mission. I love it so much. Okay...so goodbye for reals this
time. Chau chau!! :)
Forever and always,
Hermana Heath
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