August 26, 2014 - Waiting for my new companion

Hola from Santa Fe!

Today I am the city of Santa Fe, which I think is beautiful.  I imagine it looks a lot like Europe... maybe a tiny bit dirtier :)

I am waiting to receive my new companion tomorrow... and I am so excited!  It was difficult to say "hasta luego" to my "media naranja" (which literally translates to ´half an orange´ and means my other half).  I am so grateful for the mountains that Hermana Boren and I were able to climb together, and grateful to climb even more! "Don´t live with regrets.  Live with learning for the future." -Hermana Boren.  She told me this on a particularly self-doubtful day.  I hope it can help one of you.

Okay... we have a less active member of the ward names Electra.  She is pushing 80 years old I think, and she is so sweet.  She wants to learn English, and was a professor of humanities and social studies for years.  She is maybe 4´4" because I believe that I am a foot taller than her... and she is just the sweetest thing!  Always wearing pink or purple scarves and baggy sweaters and maybe some sort of a crazy coso in her white hair.  Whenever we work with the elderly, I am reminded of President Monson and his love and service for them.  They have so much to teach me.. they have seen so many things!  I hope that I too can teach them something. 

Electra´s house is like a story book. Or maybe a haunted house.  There are stacks and piles of books with layers upon layers of dust.  Spider webs are everywhere and she has two really creepy refridgerators with who-knows-what hidden inside.  But I love going over there because she has an energy and spirit that is so lively! She is so ready to learn.

Happy birthday Amelia Mae!!

I am giving you a big hug from Argentina.  Be ready for me when I come home... because I am now a lot more huggy than I was before.  The Latin culture is rubbing off on me :)

August 18, 2014

I have to be the most blessed person in the world to be here right now.  Yesterday I was able to see my first baptism.  Sergio and his two children, Aylén and Gabriel.  Esteban is seven and will join them next year!

I just feel so grateful.  The truth is that I had the privilege of teaching them their lessons... other Hermanas (who are so awesome) found them in the beginning and were later transfered.  I am just so grateful to know this family and see their progression-- they are such an example to me. 

It is so humbling.  During the confirmations of his children, I could hear Sergio softly sobbing behind me.  Their faces were lit up all throughout the day, and their Spirits so bright.  I only wish I could convey the happiness and warmth of the moment.  It was beautiful.  They already are trying to share all that they know.  He can see how much it has blessed his life, and

wants others to feel the same happiness.  When he bore his testimony, he spoke of the darkness and despair and hopelessness that he once had.  His children were all that kept him going in the morning and at night.  He was yearning for the truth and guidance and help.  That was when he found the missionaries.

We had some adventures before the baptism!  Cleaning out the font (in our skirts), trying to clean up all of the water that flooded the President´s office and the primary room, and working on rounding up people to attend the service.  The font is in a garage that is connected to our little chapel... so that will explain why the pictures look like we are in an auto shop.  But the truth is, it felt totally normal to me!! I am only just now realizing that is weird.

Hermana Boren (my trainer) is leaving me this Sunday.  We were talking, and decided that it is kind of like my comfort blanket is being ripped off!  I will have to be in charge of this area... I don´t know much spanish, I don´t know the roads very well, I still struggle to use the keys here (the locks and keys are super weird), and I definitely don´t know how to teach very well.  But one thing I do know is that I love these people.  And I know that Heavenly Father won´t let my weaknesses impede His children from progressing.  I am completely inadequate, but with the Grace of the Atonement I can be made strong.

Next week we will see where I am and what I am doing!  I know I have amazing leaders that will help me through... and Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

Love you all! Keep on.

Love, Hermana Eleanor Briggs

Baptism Day! (notice font in the background)

Excited for upcoming baptism

Studying

August 11, 2014

Okay funny story...

We were having lunch last week with Pichy and Daddy (I don´t think they know what their names mean hahah) and they found out that dad is in the film business.  They said he should come to film them and their family... because there is enough drama there to make us rich!  It was really funny.

Also, I apologize for lack of pictures.  The computers here are sketchy and if I plug it in a wrong one it will erase my memory card... so hopefully next week I can get a better computer.  But trust me... there´s a lot of good ones coming your way.

I have been thinking a lot this week about how discipleship requires sacrifice.  If we aren´t progressing and moving forward in testimony and service... we are moving backward.  There is no stagnant rest. It is so important for us to always look for ways to strengthen our testimonies and those of the people around us as well.  It is called "The Cause of the Christians" in Alma 48:10.. and it is the same cause today as existed then.  We must follow Alma 48:7 and prepare our minds for the fight ahead.  This generation, the the preceeding, and the coming all have a large responsibility that requires sacrifice.  But we know that anything we sacrifice is never lost... we receive so many blessings.  I hope and pray that we can all find the strength to not be as the Zoramites in Alma 43:4.  Those that stood on the middle ground eventually all fell... we must choose and follow up on those choices.  Forever striving to be better.  That is the meaning of Discipleship.  And "Enduring to the End."

Here is a way that I have seen this.

This week was harder than the rest.. I think because Hermana Boren is going to leave in two weeks and I just know that I´ll be here in Gálvez with a lot more responsibility.  Plus she is amazing and I will miss her!  Anyways... we were both having a really hard day this past week.  And it was night time and we were going to Sergio´s home (the father of the three little kids and they are all getting baptized on SUNDAY!).  When we got there, his children weren´t home.  And we can´t enter the home without a woman of 10 years or older... so we stood outside.

Sergio is such an example to me.  He is truly converted.  He has changed so much.  He testified to us out there!  He sensed, through the Spirit, that we were having a hard time.  He shared his testimony with us, and ended by telling us that we have so many things before us that we can´t see.  Miracles that we will behold.  Spirits that are waiting to hear, that we have the privilege of seeking out.  He told us how through Jesus Christ, all things are possible.  

I know that this is true.  I know it with my whole heart.  That because Jesus Christ died for us, we can repent and become whole.  We can achieve the enabling power of grace to overcome our weaknesses, to step up to our callings, to see the light in dark times, and to live again with our Heavenly Father.  Our Heavenly Father who loves us so much.  I can feel a little bit of that love through the children´s prayers in our primary class.  As they whisper softly to please protect their dad and the missionaries, and ask to not feel alone, and thank Him for families and the happy feelings that the gospel gives to them.  They are so simple and sincere... I only hope to reflect what I am learning from them.

Sometimes we are so happy that we just want to cry! We decided we need to space out all of the miracles and tender moments because our hearts just can´t fit it all!  Like after Sundayyesterday... Hermana Boren taught primary for two hours and gave a 20 minute talk (wow) and I taught gospel principles to 9 adults and lead the music (yikes)!  We had the highest attendance in all of our time here... 17 people (including us)!  The spirit was so strong with the members... I love to see their eyes as they discover new things and decide to renew their coventants and make changes in their lives.  It is so amazing to behold.  Every morning (well most mornings) I wake up and just smile in the mirror and can´t stop because I am so happy.  I am just trying to convey to you how happy service makes you... especially this type of service.  It is so hard but so rewarding.

Love you all so much.  

Love, Hermana Eleanor Briggs

August 4, 2014

It has been such a maravilloso week!  Seriously... everyday we are so tired when we get home.  We plan for the next day, eat a tiny dinner, and get in bed.  We are so tired, but we keep on talking and laughing in the dark room in our bunk beds (I´m on the bottom bunk).  Hermana Boren said the other night, "We should be sick of each other... we`ve been talking all day!" Then we just kept on laughing.

I am just so happy.  You know you are happy when you can't stop smiling during a prayer at a member or investigator`s house.  When you hear a 7-year-old boy sincerely bless you and your companion and thank God for sending us.  And we walk home from homes, even on a hard day, just in awe at how beautiful the stars are here in Argentina.

So many times you see people fall who once knew... or still know.  I am never going to let that happen.  I have been thinking a lot about Discipleship.  "If ye love me, feed my sheep."  That is the way to not fall... we must always serve and look for ways to share the gospel.  Here is a really humbling story I had.

We are teaching a less active family.  Elizabet, the mother, is a large woman with a very raspy voice and forceful beso (you greet everyone with a kiss).  As we taught them, I noticed that I was feeling somewhat frustrated with the way that she was yelling at her children.  Because her voice is so raspy I had a really hard time understanding her... and I wasn`t focused on what she was saying.  When we left their home, I noted to my companion that I didn´t appreciate the way she yelled at her kids. At the end of our meeting, I had felt that I needed to share about self-worth, so I bore my testimony about our potential and the worth of our souls.

 Fast forward to later that night, when Hermana Boren asked me if I understood what Elizabet had said during our lesson.  I replied that I did not.  She then told me of Elizabet´s story... her mother left her family when she was nine years old.  She was the oldest of six children, and was left to raise her family.  Her father raped and abused her.  When she was 14 she became pregnant with a boyfriend she had, but lost the baby because of her father´s abuse.

I can´t even tell you how I felt after I heard this.  I had been sitting in the lesson and not paying any attention to what she was saying... only dwelling on other things that were running through my mind.  My own pride and ignorance kept me from understanding her... and I can see now why she is the way she is.  It was a very humbling experience for me.  I am grateful to see how the gospel can completely change someone´s life.  Even someone with so dark a past as Elizabet.

We also got to celebrate the 9th birthday of Ailen... one of our investigators that is going to be baptized on August 16th!!  She is so sweet.  It is humbling to hear the father of the family, Sergio, say, "No you eat all of the chicken, I am full.  The smell of it cooking already filled me up."  It is obvious that they don`t have enough money to feed all of us, and he is so sweet and hard-working.  They asked me to cut the cake, and I accidently dropped a few of the pieces.  Cutting a cake in front of people has been one of my biggest fears ever since I served at that  wedding for Chantry and I destroyed all of those cakes... it's just so much pressure!

Well wish me luck... I am teaching Gospel Principles next sunday to all of the adults!  And we will (hopefully) have a lot more people there than usual, because will begin in the afternoon rather than the morning (Argentine´s hate waking up).

Love you all so much.  Read Alma 37... verse 33 until the end is all about how we can be disciples.  Doctrine and Covenants 11 as well.

Love, Hermana Eleanor Briggs

July 28, 2014 - Gálvez is Amazing!

Gálvez is amazing.  Okay I am just going to describe one of my days to you, because it is just so difficult for me to say exactly what life is like here.  

A few days ago we had quite the day.  First we went to Veronica´s house.  They live in a villa (which is the poor part of town.  Metal and scrap homes mostly, and just really humble living conditions).  The home is dark and cold and very dirty... and she has three children. Her job is to clean the bathrooms in the Boliche (a club where people dance and do drugs and such).  She works late nights and early mornings.  But her and the father of her children want to join the church.  As we spoke with her, she told us of how much she loves the Book of Mormon.  I can just see that it is a light in her very dark world.  She told us of the three Kingdoms: and how she wants to live in the Celestial Kingdom with Heavenly Father.  Not the "moon or stars."  She knows!  She knows that this is good, that it makes her happy.  She is discovering that she has self worth and potential!  It truly is beautiful.  But all the while we talked with her, a dog was ripping apart a chicken right beneath my chair.  Bloody and gross and it smelled like something had died (because something really had.  And it was being torn apart right under my legs).  It was so hard not to cringe as her sickly children were lighting paper on fire and we had to pause the lesson because we didn´t want the house to burn down or a child to get hurt!  They don´t have time or money to do the paperwork for marriage.  So pray for them, as we are!  

It is just so hard to see people in such difficult circumstances, but I see the light in their eyes when we come and discuss Jesus Christ and God´s plan for us.

Later that day we went to visit an old woman in our branch that is a menos activo (less active).  Her name is Ebelia.  I noticed that she had a lot of artwork, and I asked her if she liked art.  She said that she does, and she teaches a class.  She has good taste!  But this meeting was really hard for me, because I could see how alone she is.  We asked her how old she was, and she said she just turned 74 on Tuesday.  We said, "Oh, what did you do for your birthday?"  You want to know her answer?  "Nothing, no one remembered that it was my birthday.  I didn´t celebrate it."  She has no husband and no children and lives with a lot of dogs.  As we talked and talked I just felt her loneliness.  Hermana Boren said that she was excited to live with Heavenly Father again.  And Ebelia said, "Me too.  I think I am ready to go."  It was like a knife.  Good thing I didn´t really understand what was going on.  She then proceeded to tell us about how she has had times when she just can´t get out of bed because it´s so hard; and then she remembers Jesus Christ.  And she can do it.

This led us to make a new meta (goal) for our branch.  We want to make a ward family.  We don´t see the love and friendship in our branch like we have in the past.  We want everyone to love and lift one another.  So, our goal is: Create a ward family.

Anyways, we planned a birthday party for her on Sunday and Hermana Boren made an amazing cake.  My companion is amazing.

The last lesson of the night was with José and Sol; a couple that are on date for baptism on August 16th.  José is 28 and Sol 17 (this is really common in Argentina.  Most couples are about 10-15 years apart...).  We went to their little store that we always teach them in (I don´t really get it.  Basically there´s just a few pencils and pens for sale..), and when we got there Sol was crying.  She was quite hysterical.  We were super confused and concerned, so Hermana Boren asked her if she was okay.  José says that they had just been talking about their relationship.  We walked in right in the middle of a DTR!  So awkward.  So we said we could leave and come back another time... but we both felt that we needed to stay.  We began with singing "I am a Child of God."  Wow.  The spirit just flooded the little, weird store.  They told us that they feel something everytime we are there. And I´m guessing you know where we went from there.

Anyways... I went home that night with a really heavy heart.  I feel a large mantle on my shoulders, because I love all of these people and I want to give them all I have.  But I also have so much to learn.  I am so inadequate.  I only pray that I can learn fast so that I can do my best! I have been blessed with the best trainer out here, no joke. 

Birthday party for Ebelia

Jacque and James are on my pass along cards

Arrived in Argentina!

FAMILIA!!

Okay so I am typing so fast on this keyboard that is really hard to use, so I apologize for any errors.

I seriously don't even know how to begin to describe this past week.  In one word: MIRACULOUS.

Okay so I am just going to bullet point some things.  Okay here it goes.  Wow my mind is going a thousand miles an hour.

• Argentina: the weather here has been so good.  The days are nice and mild and the nights are a bit chilly... it kind of feels like Utah in the fall.  The people are awesome.  In Buenos Aires they are super fashionable and it reminded me of New York.  The people are so beautiful too... tan skin and dark hair but green eyes.  
• My Trainer!!:  Hermana Boren is my trainer and I am the most blessed person in the world to have her.  She is sincerely so amazing I don't even know what else to say.  She is from Highland, Utah and speaks spanish like a nativo.  People always think that she is from here.  We stick out a lot because we are so blond and fair with blue eyes, and it is kind of funny when people look at our name tags and faces with such scrutiny.  But I love it!  It is such an honor to be able to represent Christ and His work.  Hermana Boren is so sweet and a great teacher; you should see her in our lessons.  She knows exactly what to say and how to speak to both children and spiteful men.  She always has the spirit, and I am so humbled to be with her.  I am grateful for this time I have with her.  Okay so here is the scary/sad part... this is her last transfer.  Normally everyone trains for 12 weeks, which means that I should be with her for two transfers.  But she leaves in FIVE weeks!  Do you know what that means?  I only have six weeks to train.  She wasn't going to tell me this.  She was going to tell me right before she left... but it accidently slipped on our first bus ride.  And according to her my face just went pale, because I feel extremely inadequate to be doing this!  My jaw literaly dropped.  I was literally speechless.  But I know that this is happening for a reason, and I need to absorb and learn and enjoy all this blessed time I have to be with her.  She is so amazing, I am so grateful.
• G'alvez: My area!  I don't know how this is happening, but I got the most amazing area in all of Rosario.  Probably all of Argentina!  Or the world.  We are about six hours outside of Rosario.  And we are in the pueblo of G'alvez, and the nearest missionaries to us are about an hour and a half away!  We have this place all to ourselves.  And I love it so much.  The streets are clean and the people so friendly.  And the homes look like a spanish colonial... sometimes European. But it is nice because there are also more humble or rural places.  Like sheet metal for walls and cement floors everywhere and things like that.  Dirt and rust and wrappers around.  Dad, it kind of looks like Milipillas in Mexico... We spend a lot of times in both areas, and I feel that I have the best of both worlds.  Very humble areas, and more cityish areas.  Okay and get this: we are doing a "white wash." That means that both of us are new to this area.  So we are meeting the members and investigators and the streets all for the first time.  It is a very humbling experience: because supposedly this is a very difficult thing to do.  Particularly because are without any other missionaries... but I love it!
• Church: So our branch is tiny! On Sunday we had about 9 people not including us. And guess what... we give a twenty minute talk every week, teach the primary, lead the music, teach Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society.  So on Sunday I taught primary, while my amazing companion taught Gospel Doctrine/Relief Society, and later she gave the twenty minute talk.  Sorry I know a dash belongs there but I can't figure out this keyboard.  But Heavenly Father is helping me so much... I was able to talk to the members and communicate just fine.  I could understand almost everything they said, and relay back what I needed to.  We are strengthening this branch, and I am giving it my all to leave it a strong ward with faithful members and the Priesthood.
• Language: It all depends on the Gift of Tongues.  Sometimes I can understand what is happening, and say all that I need to.  And those times I feel the spirit so strongly and I know that it is not my own doing, but Heavenly Father's.  Other times I am in a lesson and I feel very confused.  "Wait, why are they talking about Catholic clothing?  Where did I come into this conversation?  Why are they flinging their arms all around the place?  I think that was a swear word."  Sometimes that is what I am thinking.  But I always can look to Hermana Boren, because she is just always ready and knows what to say.  I truly believe that she responds the way that Christ would.  I am just trying to absorb everything.  
• Our apartment: at night when I finally lay down I am OUT.  Wow the work of the Lord is draining.  But so worth it.  I will send you pictures.  On the first day I learned how to deal with a finicky pilot light, take apart a table, put together a bunk bed, and many other adventurous things.
• Miracles: I don't even know how or where to begin.  It's like I said in a previous email: things are sacred and it is hard to just talk about over the computer.  But believe me, there have been many.  One is this family we are teaching: Sergio is the father.  His children are Milagros, Gabriel, Ailen, and Esteban.  And they are all getting baptized on August 16th!  Don't think that I had anything to do with this... it was all the doing of the sister missionaries that were here before us.  I just have the pleasure of teaching them. They are so sweet I love them so much.  Just the deepest type of love there is.  We pray harder for our investigators than I ever have for myself, that's how my companion put it. Let me just say that G'alvez is white and ready to harvest.  God has been preparing people to hear, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.
• Food: Well I can't say that I love it.  But it could definitely be worst.  I've seen pictures of Sarah's food in Peru... yuck.  But we eat a lot of pasta and meat and bread.  Breakfast I have yogurt.  Lunch is HUGE.  Dinner isn't until 9:30 at night, and it's really small.  But I love you all so much!

I love it here so much.  Sincerely I do.  I feel the Lord strengthening me and helping me everyday.  I love these people, and I love this work.  It is so amazing to sit in a little cinder block home on a broken chair and teach a couple that are not married but have four children, about the Atonement.  About how Christ has suffered all, and He knows our pains and sorrows.  I am so grateful to be here in this area, with this companion.  For the time being all is well... and I know that hard times lie ahead.  But for now I am grateful for the light I can see in the eyes of these people across from me, who are hearing of their self worth for the first time.  That they have a Heavenly Father who loves them and they can communicate with Him.  It is such a wonderful spirit.

MIssion Home

Hitting the streets

Mission President

July 12, 2014 - MTC Week 6 - Last email in the U.S.

Olympus High School at the MTC

Shout out to Keri Bengtzen---thank you so much for the bread!  We needed it, as you can tell.  It honestly made my day.

Last picture with my zone!  Love them all so much.  So many laughs and cries.

Last picture with Hermana Mechum.  Such an inspired mentor.

Ellie Degurda.  We played soccer together muchos anos ago!  She is incredible.  We have become such good friends and support for one another. She's going to Croatia.

I love this picture.

My first companion: Hermana Robinson.

These hermanas are going to Toronto.  So awesome.

Familia,

Okay this is actually the official last time.  I have met so many amazing people here, I can't imagine never having known them.  And that is my hope that ahead lies a better future with more people to love!  And even though an enormous task lies before me, I feel hope.  Because I know I can't do it alone.  That's just a fact!  But with God I can.  Through the grace of the atonement, I can.  Through the guidance of the Holy Ghost, I can.  

The other day someone said that people over-complicate a mission.  It is just making friends and loving people, and then sharing with them what matters most to you.  I am so grateful for this opportunity I have, and for the eternities that I can share with people.

I don't know what else to say.  But an Elder told me in his departing words to STAND ON THE WALL.  And that's what we all must do.  Stand on the wall-- together.  The world may mock us and arrows rain down upon our heads.  And it will be hot and slippery and your voice will be cracking and hoarse.  But don't lose hope!  Because the wall is our rock.  And we are here to deliver a message to those who have no idea that life can be joyous.  And the life to come can be as well.  Love you all so much!  Les Quiero!  (Moroni 8:3)

Mucho Amor,

Hermana Eleanor Briggs