August 17, 2015

Hola familia!

We were so blessed this last week.  I had divisions with two amazing Hermanas... including one (Hermana Harris) who helped me to see the importance in listening after prayer.  

It has been raining almost every day all week... and here that means that everyone is canceled.  All activities or buses... and often times stores don´t open.  I always worry when it rains a lot... because it is much harder to bring people to church, and there are less members.  We had been praying and working hard... and Sunday morning I woke up and opened the shutters... and it was a grey and ominous sky and really cold.  I got ready for the day and when we left at 9:00 to start walking over... the sky was blue!  And the sun was out!  And I took my jacket off and it was so nice outside... the flooded streets had even dried up a little bit.  In church there were 98 people.  98!  We are in what is considered to be a large ward... and we usually have 70 people.  But 98!  And guess what... the entire Romero family came!  And the Blanco family!  There were 10 investigators in church... way more than I have ever had.  We have passed many weeks without having anyone... and prayed and fasted and worked a lot with the members... and this week we went from 0 investigators in church, to 10!  I am so grateful... and it was so sweet to see how the members helped them and hugged and kissed the kids... and how fascinated the family was because no one was shouting or hitting their children or making fun of their spouses... it was so strong the spirit.

We taught the law of chastity to a family that needs to be married.  Our relief society president went, Mariana. She is so amazing... her husband isn´t a member, and she raised herself because her mother abandoned her and her sister.  Mariana was inactive for many years, but came back after marrying her husband. They have two of the cutest kids in the world... and I love this family so much.  She works every day, takes her kids to school, offers to visit families with us, and then goes to the church by herself to organize clothing that is going to be donated to families in Buenos Aires.  Of course, no one knows all of this... we as missionaries are more attentive to seeing service that others are doing, and observed all that she does in one day.  

We got to the lesson, and began teaching reviewingthe Plan of Salvation and Adam and Eve and what is the law of chastity.  And after we explained, the boy said, "So you are saying that I am living in adultery?"

"Yes," I said. "How can you repent from this sin?"

"Ask forgiveness and stop sinning."

We had the biggest smiles on our faces, and he said that they are going to be married soon so that he can repent and be baptized!

It was a great moment, and wouldn´t have been possible without Mariana.  Members do everything... we just bring the scriptures.

Hermana Eleanor Briggs

This is Mariana and her family...her husband Julian and her kids Francesca and Aaron. They are so amazing!

Sol. She is so sweet...she has down syndrome and always knows when someone needs a hug.

August 10, 2015

I don`t have time to write home about the week... but it was a beautiful one.  That consisted of helping people through anxiety, bringing people to church in the pooring rain, and seeing the members help us so much in everything we are doing.  You are going to love it here when you come!  You will love the people... and the carne asada (I never have been much of a steak lover... I like el pollo mas).

I am so grateful for grace and sarah, because they will be there to help me get back to life!  But for now I am trying to be a consecrated missionary and give my heart, might, mind, and strenght.  Love you so much, dad!!

Hermana Eleanor Briggs

July 29, 2015

This week was fantastic... or espectacular as they say here.

I have been praying to be able to find people who are pure in hard and seeking to know the truth, and Heavenly Father just directly answered my prayers.

We were in a lesson with the family that I think I wrote about last week, called the Romero family.  And the sister of the father came and sat down across from me as we began to chat before doing the opening prayer.  I remembered that the first day we met them, I had invited her to be baptized, and she had said no, while the others had responded yes. I asked her what her name was, and she told me it was Elsa.

So Elsa stared at me with really big brown eyes... she is from the North of Argentina, and has beautiful long black hair and dark skin.  It is obvious that she has lived a long and rough life by the way she moves and speaks.  

We began the lesson of The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and she said, "Can I share something?"  She had been very quiet up until this point... and we smiled and encouraged her to share with us whatever her doubt was.

"I had an experience the other day.  I was cleaning the bedroom, and I found this book (pointing to the Book of Mormon).  I felt the deepest desire to pick it up and read it.  I touched it, and felt so strongly that I needed to open it... though I didn`t because I realized that I wouldn`t be able to understand anything."

We were so shocked we just sat there quietly... and began to explain about the Holy Ghost and how it touches us and tells us that something is good.

We continued with the lesson and began to speak about repentance... and everyone sat quietly.  And just listened.  And nodded their heads as we asked if they wanted to leave these things behind.  And Elsa stared at us so sincerely, and began to have tears in her eyes.  Never before had a I witnessed so strongly the power of the tongue of angels.  The change it can bring about in a person.

At the end of the lesson, Elsa tugged on my elbow and whispered, "Can I ask you something?"  Then she leaned over the table and softly asked me, "If you feel sad or don`t know what to do, can you kneel down and pray to receive help from God?"  Her eyes filled with tears, and mine too, as I testified to her that we can do that.

I am so grateful for answered prayers and that Heavenly Father helps us even though we are so imperfect.

Hermana Eleanor Briggs

Mi compañera y la Carolina Zanni

this is Sol and Franchesca!!  They are so dang cute... Sol has downs syndrome and her parents are faithful investigators... waiting to get married and then baptized

This is what a lot of my area looks like

all of the hermanas in the mission!  We had an activity together in the mission home... it was so awesome.  There are only 38 of us... muy pocas.

July 20, 2015

I had an amazing week this week.

We had a lesson with Tatiana, who is a single mother raising two little girls. She lives right along the train tracks and works all day to help provide for their little home made of metal sheets.  And it was so sad as she told us that she chose not to believe in things that she can`t see, because she has been so hurt by people in the past. The sun was going down and setting behind the identical white government homes where we were working (you can imagine long lines of identical white houses with blue railing.. it makes me feel kind of like I am in a movie).  But it made a sort of pink haze as the sun set, and we set out down the dirt road and I couldn`t get Tatiana`s face out of my mind.  And I was wondering if she was so far from the spirit that she couldn`t feel it, or if she really did feel it and chose not to listen. As I thought, a little voice pulled me out of my thoughts.  "Are you from the church?"  it said.  And we looked over our shoulders, and found a little four-year-old girl standing outside alone by her chicken-wire fence.  "Si," I said.  And we began to slowly walk towards her, and I asked her if her mom was home.  The little girl looked frightened and ran inside... and out came the mother with her three daughters.  Her name is Lorena.

We began to talk to Lorena shared about the Plan of Salvation.  She asked us if we wanted to go into their home and talk!!  What!  We had to set up an appointment for another day, because it was just getting dark in this dangerous area and we had another appointment.

Fast forward two days later. What began as a lesson outside with Lorena as we sat around a giant pot of soup that was boiling over a huge fire, soon became a giant lesson inside of their little home with 9 people around us.  Her sister-in-law and brother and other sister and dad and grandpa and all of their children... and all of them were listening so intently!  There was silence.  And the brother, Manuel, said, "In every prayer I have ever done, I have always asked what church is true and where do we go when we die. And I feel like now I am learning the answers."  It was such a miracle!  This transfer has been one of the hardest, but the miracles have been some of the greatest.  I am so grateful for the stretching and growth that God is giving to us.  And for the spirit that is constantly guiding us. Sometimes I feel it leave as I grow impatient or upset... and I quickly try to change.  It is not easy and I am so so so far from where I need to be... but there is growth!!

Love you all so much.  This the Romero Family... and they are progressing well.  From the saddness of losing someone, came pure happiness of finding many.

Hermana Eleanor Briggs

July 6, 2015 (sorry out of order)

I actually don`t know what to say today... it was such a week.  One of those weeks where seemily everything goes wrong!  Though I know that not EVERYTHING fell apart... because we still had a a lot of great moments as well.

I just tried to write about everything we did... but it didn`t come out right.  So I deleted it and am going to try again.  But basically we had to stay inside a day because of my achillis Tendon (I have no idea how to spell that in English).  But we went out to lunch at Patriarch`s house.  And as we talked to his wife and him... the spirit touched us so strongly and told us that we needed to leave and go to visit a sick member in the hospital.  But this member was in a hospital outside of our zone... so we called Presidente Zanni and asked for permission.  His answer was "Que harìa Jesucristo?"  He said "What would Jesus Christ do?"  

"Go," I answered.

"Then why are you calling me?" he laughed.  

So we arrived and had a very special and sad experience there... it was a good thing we went.  

But then later in the week we were sick... and then we had LICE ROUND 2.  We got lice from some of the hermanas that we recently did divisions with... but it is okay because I am now a professional lice-picker!!  My poor companion... she had it worst this time.

On Sunday we began teaching a woman named Tatiana.  She is 33 and has two beautiful little girls... and they are so skinny because sometimes they don`t have enough to eat.  She is a single mom and working and living in a home right next to the train tracks.  She told us, "I was born Jewish.  But my mom began taking us to the Evangelical church even though we are Jewish.  And then I went to a Catholic church.  And now I just don`t know.  But I decided that when Jesus Christ tells me which church is His... that will be my religion."

"Perfect!" we told her, giving her the Book of Mormon.  

Even though it was a really hard week for us, I am so grateful for every moment that I have to be a missonary.  I love it... even on the hard days.  When we are lost, we get to see Argentina and how amazing it is.  And when it is hot or cold, we get to experience a little bit of what everyone else around the world has.  I don`t really know what is is like to pass through hunger... because that never happens here!  But I love the people and getting to know them and learn from them.  And I am grateful that it is something  I can do my whole life... not just here.  And serve the Lord.

July 13, 2015

Last night my companion was really sick, and we got back from doing divisions with the Hermanas from Beltran.  We went out to work, and then came back feeling more tired than usual.  Planning took a while, and when it was just about time to go to bed, we put our pens down and stopped calling people and I went to change into my jammies. I was really happy because we had 4 set appointments that I was sure were not going to fall through the next day. At 10:30, right as we were triumphantly about to get into bed, my companion called me from the other room.  A hint of urgency in her voice.  And I went out and looked at what she held in her hand-- an afro pick.  "Is it moving?" she asked me.  And I looked and saw the slightest movement of a little brownish-black body with a bunch of legs.  LICE.  ROUND 3.  I felt frustration set in, but as I looked at the worried face of Hermana Knapp, I fought to change my character. "I think I am going to throw up," she said.

Long story short, we ended up doing the lice treatment and going to bed at 12:30 with grocery bags on our heads.  But before sliding into my covers, I went out into the kitchen and prayed.  And I pleaded to be able to accomplish all the things that we needed to do the next day, knowing that we would have to walk with all of our things again to the little lady who we pay to wash our clothes.  Surely she would think we are crazy for washing our giant wool blankets so many times!  And I told Him how frustrated I was because I just wanted to be able to work, and how we hadn`t been able to recently.  And then I felt it hit me... it has nothing to do with what I want.  This is not my work, it`s His.  This is not my work, it`s His.  I felt it echo inside of me, and I knew it was not from my own tired mind.  And as I knelt on our really dirty floor with a million papers around me and a plastic bag on my head, I felt a calm set in. That we make plans and set goals and do all we can to achieve them, but He shows us His will along the way.  And as we learn to accept it and be humble and know that HE is the creator of all things, even the little bugs on my head (as said by my companion), then we will find true happiness in the journey.  I may want to go to the four lessons the next day, and look for new people... but that wasn`t His plan.

I am grateful for all of the lice that gave me this new perspective!  And I pray that I never get them again.  But, always according to His will.

"God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform.
He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take.
The clouds ye so much dread,
Are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head."

He does work in a mysterious ways... even through lice.

Division with Hermana Bushman

oh how I love these people!

June 30, 2015

Hola!

Okay wow I just can`t believe how much the Lord keeps on blessing us.

Remember the family that we found last week?  Well the parents just recently separated (por una pavada) but I am pretty sure that he will be back soon.  So mean time we are working on helping the two boys who live in the house... Nico and Jesus (the second Jesus I have met here in Argentina!).

Nico and Jesus are brothers but have different dads.  Jesus is 12 years old and an orphan, because both of his parents died and he has been moving around from place to place basically on his own.  I don`t know his whole story yet... but you should see the smile on his face when he is inside of the church building.  And Nico still has his dad.. but has no relation with him.  He is 14 years old, and the two of them are living in their older sister`s house.

But when they come home from school, the first thing that they do is read the Book of Mormon.  We left 2 Nephi 31 to read, and Jesus read it four times!  Nico loves praying and they are both helping all of the other little kids in the house to learn how to pray and read and apply the scriptures.  It is the most beautiful thing ever!

They came to church on Sunday without any adult, because no one else woke up to come.  Nico is going to start going to seminary, and Jesus is going to play soccer ever Thursday with the Young Mens.

It is so amazing to see this change!  Can you imagine how dark there work was?  Having no one and being so young?  The few people that they do have in their lives have very few morals or standards... and it is truly a miracle that the two are not into drugs or already have children (which happens so often).  They were truly prepared and set in our paths by the Lord... and I am learning so much from them and their faith and trust in the Lord.

Also... we got to travel to Arroyo Seco, which is a sleepy little town about an hour out of Rosario.  And it was so cute... it literally looked like I was in the 1950´s!  I got to do divisions with some amazing hermanas.

There is so much work to be done here... and it feels like so little time.  It is goingy by so fast!  Divisions with the hermanas, vising less actives, finding new people to teach, and keeping up with those we do have, and also trying to wash our clothes while we are at it... wow I just don`t even know what to do with myself sometimes because I can`t figure out where all of the time is going!  

Love you all so much.  Use the time you have in the best way possible!  We are teaching a family of less actives, and the 15-year-old daughter has cancer and is not doing well at all.  And I see how the family has lost all hope and love for the Lord... and it is the saddest thing to see how they refuse to use what little time they have in such a poor way.  The parents have been separated for many years, and all of the children have forgetten how to pray and don`t know what the Book of Mormon is.  We are doing our best to listen to the spirit to know how to help. Like you said, mom, "Don`t get caught up in the thick of the thin things!" Presidente Monson.

Hermana Eleanor Briggs

Patriarch Florencio Taborda. He is so amazing... I truly love him so much. His love for the Lord is so strong and he is 91 years old! And plays the accordion. 

This is what most of downtown Rosario looks like... a lot of parts remind me of NYC.

Seeing Hermana Christensen agin! I didn't think I would see her until after the mission! She is the hermana that I trained for a transfer in Capitan Bermudez. It was so awesome to see how far she has come when I did divisions with her.

Divisions with Hermana Lopez! She is from Chile and is so amazing... so loving this woman!

We found a fish  head in our apartment... oh Elders.