Re: Glorious Gospel!

Hola!! ¿Cómo están? So, life is pretty excellent here in Pergamino.  It was a pretty great week! full of miracles of course! So let´s see, we´ll start with tuesday and we had a zone conference with like 50 of
us missionaries! So fun!! I was so happy because I got to see my trainer, Hna Israelsen one last time because this is her last transfer! SOOO crazy!! We were so happy to see each other! I honestly am so incredibly grateful for the comps I have had. I have been so blessed! I love them all so much and have enjoyed my time with all of them! The conference was so awesome and really made us put things
into a better perspective. The president said instead of imagining people in white in the baptismal font, we should imagine them in white in the temple. It is so true. As I thought about the temple and the blessings that come from it, I was overwhelmed with a spirit of gratitude. I love the temple and miss it so much. We are so blessed to have the saving ordinances available to us. So tuesday was just a super awesome, spirit filled day. I love being with so many missionaries. There is so much power! There were lots of other great things this week, but one in particular that stands out. So on Saturday we went to this lady who we had contacted like months ago and she hadn´t been home the other times we passed by. We were close, so we thought we would stop by and she let us right in. She lives in pretty poor circumstances and has had a super hard past. She just lives with one of her daughters who is six and a year ago she lost a baby an her husband left… etc. etc. the list goes on. She told us a lot about the trials she has had in her life, and we don´t even know this woman. She had tears in her eyes that brought tears to ours as
well. She is a very sad sort of person. I just sat there the whole time thinking, yes, what we have is going to change your life and wipe all those tears away. So often we have that feeling as missionaries, like, WE HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED!!! WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE! Just sometimes the people don´t figure it out for themselves. She told us how she is a little angry with God and that sometimes she prays but doesn´t feel like she has recieved answers. I testified to her that we are an answer to her prayers, that God sent us to her house, but that she has to do something herself to be able to receive the happiness that she lacks. We talked about the plan of salvation and how she will see her precious baby again. I was overwhelmed as we testified, that yes, this is so true. She talked about how hard it is because she wants to be strong for her daughter.
Mom, I told her about you. I told her how dad had passed away and you were left to take care of us all, and the little emily. I told her how you had to be strong as well, and it was so hard, but that you continued in the gospel, taught us how to live and trust in God, and we are happy because of that. There were definitely some wet eyes. It is just so true.

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is hope after this life. I could never deny the testimony that I have of this. The spirit was felt so strong. We invited her to church the next day
and she said she´d come and her little 6 yr old daughter as well wanted to come! We passed by yesterday and all of us went to stake conference together!! It was so great!! Our mission president spoke
and it was so powerful, then the member of the 70 spoke a lot about missionary work and had all of us missionaries, like 16 of us, come up randomly and sing called to serve. Wow. In this moment, looking our over the Stake of Pergamino, I was overwhelmed with love for all these people and a love of this gospel. I felt like a real missionary! It was a super special moment for me and I was filled with a love for the work we do. Don´t get me wrong. It is so stinking hard, but it is worth it for all the miracles and beautiful experiences. I love being a missionary. I just know the day I take off the plaque is going to be a tough day. Maybe that sounds cliché, but honestly, I love this work so much and I love these people. Thank you all so much for your support!! I love you all dearly!! Stay happy!

Loves,
Hermana Thompson

Re: Hello again!

Rachel & her comp, Hna. W.

Hola todos!!! Amigos, familia, etc! first off, family, wow talking to you yesterday made me so happy, you don´t even know. Hearing the precious sounds of your voices lifted my spirit. You all mean so much to me, I would have loved to talk more, tell you all how much I love you, etc. But seriously, it has been a hard couple of weeks and you gave me everything I needed. So anywho, talk to you all again in like 7 months or something, but thank you all so much! Okay, as for this week, it was awesome! super hard, but some great things. Yes, we have tons of doors shut in our faces, especially now because we are 2 people from the states, and there are lots of people who aren´t big on the states… so it makes it a little harder to get in some doors. A lot of people think we are spies from the states and we just come to gather dats and then we send them back to the US. It is so ridiculous, but kind of funny. I will aske someone their name, and they are like, why? haha anywho, this week we had a super great lesson with A., an investigator who just loves us it is so cute! But we were in the church and reading in the bom and she just opened up about her past and hard things that she has been through. There were tears on all sides. WE felt so grateful that she was comfortable enough to confide in us these things. The spirit was so strong. Then as I bore my testimony to her, I honestly felt they were not my own words. They just kind of flowed out of my mouth and I am not entirely sure everything I said, but I think it was understood. It was a really special experience with all of us together. The spirit really does use us! It was kind of a crazy week for this or that, but really a good one full of ups and downs. My comp and I have been through a lot together, so we are pretty close! And we are basically the same person when it comes to our ideas about family, school, church, everything.. She is so great and exactly what I needed. I know the Lord is providing me with tons of learning experiences, and I am so grateful to Him. I truly love this work with all my heart. And I love you all!! Have a fabulous day!

 

Love,

hermana Thompson

Re: Lilacs are blooming!

Hola!! okay so mom let me answer some questions first. right now it is
like fall, just beautiful, perfect weather, and the leaves are
changing color so it is actually pretty as well!! Today we played
ultimate frisbee with our zone! so fun!! It is such a beautiful day!
It is so fun playing with the elders every week!

Rachel with her new comp, Hna W., and some elders in their district

I heard it gets frigid cold here.. but more in june and july.. so we´ll see! As for my comp, sadly she already graduated BYU, which is too bad because we get
along super well and have a lot of fun together, but she lives in utah
so i will totally see her after! That is so fun hearing about apple
blossom! Crazy!! you guys got to send me pics or videotape everything
or something since I am missing out on some big years in Em´s life! I
am so proud of you girl! Let´s see, so this week, I won´t lie, was
hard. it was weird because we are working hard and being obedient, but
just not seeing many fruits at the moment. We contacted over 200
people this week and didn´t see much from it. we have been talking
about it a lot, and we just know that the blessings come ofter
tribulation. My comp and I have both had a hard mission with just 1
baptism in 9 months, but we talk about how it´s okay because when
someone finally let´s us in their house the spirit is always present.
We feel it really strongly and know that the Lord was with us. Today I
read in D&C 128 when Joseph Smith is like in hiding in order to
protect his family, etc. and his attitude is incredible and the verses made me think of your play mom. “And shall we not go on in such a great cause? Go forward never pause…“ something like that, I am not sure word for word in english. It just filled me up. It is so true. Our cause as missionaries is great and we just have to keep moving forward. I know the Lord is trying us right now to see if we will give up, or if we will just keep going and… We keep going! We did also see some great blessings and miracles this week. On tuesday we were contacting house and just house after house… no one was home and we did feel a bit discouraged… but then this guy drove up near to us and asked us about our religion, if we had something he could read,
etc. his grandma just died and was really religious and he wants to know more, etc. so we talked to him about the BOM and gave him one. It was all really fast but the spirit was there. Sadly he lives way out of town where there aren´t missionaries, but we planted a pretty big seed! Right after that I just felt so incredibly grateful to my heavenly father. He never lets me go for long feeling disheartened. He always puts something or someone in my way to brighten things up. I am so grateful for those little tender mercies. Also the other day we went to a lesson with Hna M. (recent convert) and the guy wasnt there.
We were walking back and she saw this lady outside her house just standing, and M. was like, hey let´s go talk to her… so we said
why not? and we went over to this lady who was kind of cold and closed in the beginning, but as we talked to her we really felt the spirit strongly. It was so great. She even told us that she felt a lot happier with us, that she felt changed. It was really awesome. She wants to come to church some time as well.. she didn´t come yesterday,,,but there are other sundays!

The another miracle, all day saturday people fodged us and we were so tired. We had walked sooo much and we were pretty dead.. Then we had a family home evening as a ward in the church. We went by an investigator, A., first to invite her, and she came with us!! It was so great!! The family home evening was perfect! The elders talked about the atonement and we did
the game! A. really enjoyed it!! It was so much fun and the spirit was so strong. It was a miracle she came with us. On sunday it
was sad because none of our investigators came, but the meetings were incredible. The testimonies of the members really got to me. I felt the spirit so strongly and so much love of the savior. It is just soo true. I know that he died for us and because of his sacrifice, he knows each of us so perfectly. I know my Heavenly Father knows me and loves me and understands so perfectly all of my needs. I love my savior so much and desire so badly for others to feel this love that I have felt. I know it so much! There is just no doubt in my mind about these things. I love this gospel with all my heart, and family, speaking to you on sunday is going to be such a joy!! I love you all so incredible much!! Stay happy!

Love ya tons!
Hermana Rachie

Picture from a friend of Rachel’s District Leader

I got a nice email from a sister who is a close family friend of the elder who is Rachel’s current District Leader.  She sent this picture he had taken with the “awesome sister missionaries” in his district.

Pictures from Monica

Following are some photos sent to me by a sister in Rachel’s ward.  She loves the sister missionaries and often goes teaching with them.

 

Hna M. with Hna C. & Hna Thompson

Hna C., Bro. M., and Hna Thompson after Bro. M.’s baptism

Rachel & her comp. with a member before a ward Fall Dance

Re: Happy Apple Blossom!

Hola!
Hey!! Mom thanks for the pics! EMILY I am so stinking proud of you!
You are so legit!!! Way to go girl in the play and in the parade! Wish
I could see ya! Man it was such a great week! first of all mom I will
answer some questions; So yeah, my comp was pretty sad that she was
leaving, poor thing, and she is scared to have a new comp and stuff so
I hope she will be okay. I was sad to see her go as well. We worked
hard together and had some good times and great experiences. I am sure
we´ll see eachother again someday atleast in the mission. I am super
stoked as well because my new comp is AWESOME! So I found out later
that her and I were going to be training this transfer, but our
missionaries are still in the states waiting for their visas, so we´re
just waiting for our ´´kids´´ to get here so we can train them! It is
cool though since Hermana Wilkinson  knows the area because it was her
first and we are both senior comps, so we are just ready to work! She
is so cute! from Utah and it is so fun because she went to
BYU, and is a super BYU fan as well. We just have a ton in common and
want the same things in the mission as well! I seriously feel sooo
incredibly blessed because one of my biggest fears about the mission
was getting along with my comp and I have been so blessed with
incredible ones! I wanted to send you some pics we took of my 9
months, but this comp doesn´t work to send pics. On the mission it is
a tradition for the hnas at their halfway mark, (9 months) to take
fake pregnant pics… So yeah we had some fun on friday with some
pics… but I will have to send them to you another time. Oh yeah by
the way mom, drop the cane is like maybe drop the ball or like I dont
know, be kind of harsh or strict… I can´t really think of how else
to describe it in english. Okay now for the week! So on Wednesday
with transfers I sent off my comp and waited for my other one. It was
fun seeing elders coming and going that I know. One, Elder Schneiter
who was in the MTC with me is now in my zone! It was so fun seeing him
again! Like family! But yeah so my comp got here and it was honestly
so weird speaking english again because I really haven´t for 6 whole
weeks. I recognized that hna C. helped me so much in my spanish
just by being able to talk with her 24/7 in the language.So cool! So
yeah everyone is super excited to see my comp again, especially the mom and daughter that my comp found like 6 months ago and they are basically members, just the mom is waiting for paperwork to
get married, it is a long story. I know that my comp is back for a
reason and that there are going to be a lot of miracles this transfer!
The other day there was a relief society activity and E. came and
there were quite a few of the women there, all sewing and putting
together scripture cases with the kids. I just sat there and thought,
yup, this is what it is all about! The church is true! So I mainly
just want to go to saturday and sunday, the days of miracles. We did
service for M. in the morning and helped her clean! So fun! Then
we worked and came back later for lunch with the Elders as well! so
fun! and sooo yummy! Then after lunch we started our fast. It began to
rain and was super cold. We had asked monica to come with us to visit
some people, like Mr. A. because we can´t go alone in the house
of a man… I was worried that M. might be like, it is too cold,
too rainy, maybe another day. Becuase really that happens a lot and
people just don´t feel like coming with us. I prayed that despite the
rain and the cold, she would come. We needed her. We went to her
house, rang the doorbell, and she immediately opened the door, all
ready to go, with her scriptures, her umbrella, her rain jacket, and
a smile on her face. I almost cried at the sight. So happy!! So we
went first to these 2 ladies who we really wanted to see, but they
weren´t home… and I was thinking, please don´t let us walk around in
the rain with no one to teach. Then we went to Mr. A.`s house
and rang the doorbell. We were waiting for a while and I prayed sooo
hard that he would come and he did!! We had an excellent lesson with
him as we taught the restoration! The spirit was really strong. I
really like the way Wilkinson teaches. That was great, then we went to
Ms. A., who has a baptismal date but is kinda iffy… she wasn´t
home and we had really wanted to teach her with M… oh well.
Then we walked M. home down the street. As we were walking back,
Ms. A. pulled up to her house in perfect timing for us to see her.
The Lord knows His stuff. Then she couldn´t let us in because there
were too many people, so we walked down to M.’s and she wasn´t
there for some reason… and I was like, man what do we do? Then
Ms. A. was like, well is the church open? (They live next door) I
figured it wouldn´t be… but we checked anyway… and… it was! And
guess who was inside? M. y M. preparing the church for sunday.
Wow. So we had a lesson with Ms. A. and M. in the chapel.
Someone tell me that isn´t a miracle. It was so great! Fasting works!
Then in the morning we went by Mr. A. before church. He told us
he would go to church if it was raining because he had other plans if
there was nice weather. It wasn´t raining, but we went by anyway! And
he was there and was like, okay, let me change real quick. So we
walked with him to church and wow. He loved everything about it. He
loved how people participated, everyone was so loving, he loved seeing
the young men pass the sacrament, etc. It was seriously perfect. My
face hurt so bad from smiling straight the whole 3 hours. This kid who
just returned from his mission came and sat by M. A. and was super
welcoming. I love this ward so much. so so much. They are incredible
people. I feel hugely hugely blessed. Everything just went so perfect,
I couldn´t be happier. Mr. A. sang the hymns loud and proud and
participated in the classes. It was a grand miracle and we just
couldn´t be happier! I just know it you know. The church is true. I
love it all. Thanks everyone for their love and support! I love you!!

ciao!

Love,
Hermana Thompson

Re: Good stuff!

HEY HEY HEY!

So, first news is that yes, it is transfers again. My comp and I were
absolutely positive that we were staying together, so I wasn´t
worried… but today we found out that Hna Corales is leaving me. I
still can´t believe it. I have absolutely loved my time with her and
especially this oportunity to speak nonstop spanish. Our mission Pres
always says that when we are comfortable is when something has to
change. It is so true. But, change is also good and exciting. My new
comp is Hna Wilkinson, from the states. I sort of know her a bit and
she seems super sweet. She was here in Pergamino like 4 months ago and
is now returning which is pretty cool because I think she will see the
Baptism of Evelyn and Poala, who she found and taught when she was
here, so I am excited for her! Let´s see… So that´s the big news, I
will miss my comp a ton, she is a super great missionary and I feel
very blessed to have worked with her. We always talk about getting
together someday in the future… I pray that it will come true! Okay,
well, I guess I could write about the week now! so, this week was just
really good. We worked afúl! Taught tons of people, contacted a bunch,
taught english, made birthday cakes, etc, etc, oh yeah, on tuesday we
had interviews con Presidente Guiliani (of the mission) and I am
always a bit nervous… hoping he doesn´t drop the cane (I don´t know
if we say that in English) but yeah, he first talked to both me and my
comp about new plans for the mission because there are not very many
baptisms each week. I know that he is a very inspired man and I felt a
lot of desire to work even harder. Then he talked to us individually.
I love this man. He asked me if I am obedient and I told him yes, that
it is something really important to me, and yes I need to still be
better, but something I was promised in my setting apart was that If I
would be obedient, I would find strength and power. It is so true. I
have been sick with a cold this week, but it hasn´t impeded my work at
all, I always seem to find the strength I need to work everyday, and I
know it is a promised blessing from the Lord. I just felt so much
peace as I talked to President, that the Lord sees what I´m doing and
recognizes that I am working as hard as I can and trying to improve
everyday. What a blessing! Let´s see, we found this man, Miguel Angel,
last week, or maybe the week before… but anyway he told us when we
gave him the book of mormon that if he didn´t want to read it or he
didn´t like what he read, that he would give it back to us… but…
we passed by again and he likes what he is reading! he has good
questions too! As we taught him about the plan of Salvation the other
day, I just felt so much love for this man. Grandpa, he reminds me of
you. He is so good, so content with his life and loves the Lord. When
I look at him I feel like I am looking at you, grandpa, and I just
want to hug him!! I have a lot of faith for his future! We also
have Evelyn and Poala and Evelyn is waiting still for papers to get
married, but they are almost done! Her husband does not really have
interest in listening… but the other day we had lunch with them
(Asado=BBQ) and he stayed and listened as we shared a scripture! I
know that in time he will find his way into the church. But evelyn y
poala go to church every week, study the scriptures everyday together,
etc. They are amazing! Let´s see, this week we also had to birthdays
of people we just love! Monica, who is a recent convert and Hna Gina
who is this 86 year old member who gives us lunch every friday and
lives alone, without family, etc. It was so fun! I love being with
people I love! We sang for hna gina and brought her a cake and told
her how much we love her. She had tears in her eyes and talked about
how it is hard because she loves us so much and then we leave. She
made me cry. It is something about the mission that is definitely
hard. You fall in love with everyone you meet, and then you say
goodbye. I have been thinking a lot this week about the people I have
met and loved here on the mission. I just feel so overwhelmed with
blessings! I love this gospel and everything that is a part of it. I
am so incredible grateful to my heavenly father for the life he has
given me. I love this work more than words can say. I love my life!!!
I love you all so much and pray for the best!! Thank you all for being
so wonderful!
I love you!!!

Love,
Hermana Rachie!

Re: Eternally Indebted

Hola todos!! We had a sweet week! As usual! Oh, yeah, mom the pics
of the food are all things my comp has made, dishes from Peru,
Colombia, Argentina, etc. Delicious! Pretty sure she is trying to
fatten me up for the winter. I always make Grandma Lidiard´s
pancakes and my comp is in love with them! Ok so funny story to start
off with, since I always seem to have some gross encounter with some
animal that is out to get me. The other day we walk out of our
apartment building, ready to start the day and I feel something PLOP!
right by my lip. Uh-oh is right. I go to wipe it with my hand and
another PLOP! on my hand. Let me just say the pigeons here must love
me, leaving me a happy present on my face! haha so gross! My comp and
I couldn´t stop laughing. To be honest, I appreciate times like those
where we just stop and laugh. What else can you do? haha bueno, so on
Friday our ward had a family dance and we helped prepare food, etc. Oh
man, annie I thought of you one time when you said serving a mission
would be hard because you can´t dance. My comp and I were dying inside
with the urge to dance It gave me so much ganas to return and come
to a dance here with the members who feel like family to me! Pretty
sure I will return and dance like a whole week long!! But it was super
awesome! Lots of youth came! Our investigator and her whole
family came! With her husband who is so not interested in the
lessons… but he loves his family and her came! We were ecstatic! We
had lunch the other day with a member and her son who just got home
from his mission in Bolivia. So WEIRD! I feel like this is my life
here in Argentina, that everything else is just a dream and it hit me
that wo. Someday I will go home. Nah, can´t be. haha Kind of made us
missionaries a bit trunky,but it was super fun!! Okay, now on to more
espiritual things. So, the other day the whole zone worked in one area
together, we call it a night of miracles. So true! My comp and I were
working hard with a few lessons and loads of contacting. It was 8:20
and we were done at 8:30, we were tired out and both had major
headaches and did not feel like contacting as it was getting dark… I
prayed just that we could have some experience to put us in a better
mood. We decided to finish contacting a block. First house we go to,
this woman opens the door and she´s got stitches all over her face
because she recently got in an accident. We started talking to her
about the Book of Mormon. The spirit was so strong. As I beared
testimonio that this book has forever changed the life of me and my
family, tears came to my eyes. The spirit was so heavy and we could
see in her eyes that she felt it. We invited her to be baptized in may
and she accepted in a way that showed that she really was feeling that
what we were saying was true. She also said a prayer with us. Wow. God
does miracles. Incredible. I have a testimony that when we push
ourselves to the very edge, that is when God gives us the blessings. I
have this quote that I love, ´´When you are going through difficulty
and wonder where God is, remember the teacher is always quiet during
the test.´´ But I know that if we finish through, God is waiting to
hand over the miracle. Even though we won´t ever work more with that
girl because she is not in our area, it is okay because we have
brought one soul closer to Christ, which is our purpose. I have been
thinking so much lately about my whole mission as I realize that it is
almost halfway over, weird! And as I think over the last 8 months, I
am overwhelmed with the blessings the Lord has given me. The love I
have felt for and from other people, for and from my Heavenly Father.
The testimony I have, it is almost like it isn´t a testimony, it´s a
knowledge. I know these things are true. There is no doubt in my mind.
And even though people smack doors in our faces, yell at us, make fun
of us, or slip us rude notes under our door, it doesn´t affect me
because our mission president says when those things happen, it is
not that they aren´t accepting us, but that they aren´t accepting
Christ. I love this Gospel with my whole heart and soul, and it just
makes me so happy! I love you all!!!
Love love love,

Hermana Rachie!

Re: Hallelujah! He is risen!

Hola Todos! Feliz Pascuas!
I hope everyone had a wonderful easter. It was a beautiful week! Now it is cooling down and the leaves are changing colors. Crazy! On Saturday I hid a “easter basket“ for my comp and she was so happy, should have seen her face. It isn´t something they do here, so I really enjoyed doing it for her. They do have chocolate easter eggs though, that is about it. Also almost everything is closed on Friday and Sunday (except for restaurantes and bars.. because they are holy days. So yeah, a great week! We are still on the hunt to find people who are willing to make a sacrifice for the Lord, but I know they are out there! We had a cool experience with this one lady the other day. We brought Monica, recent convert and her testimony was incredible. This older lady didn´t have to much faith. she knows God exists, but she has a really negative attitude about the world because there are so many horrible things in the world. The lesson began a little rough because the lady was a little contentious and if there is something I have seen on my mission, it is that the spirit will not be present with contention. I was quiet in the beginning and tried to think of the right thing to say as we talked about the plan of salvation. (That is another huge thing I have learned: the importance of silence as we teach. We need to give time to the spirit to testify and we need to not be the only ones talking.) A scripture came to my mind that talks a bout the spirit world. I got the chance to talk and I asked the lady if she had loved ones who passed away. She said yes, but she couldn´t believe that their spirit is still alive, that she will see them again, that they will be resurrected. I read this scripture that talks about Paradise. Everything else in the world seemed to stop. It felt like me, the book of Mormon, the spirit and this lady were the only things in the world at the moment. I shared with her that her brother is watching over her right now in the spirit world. I shared with her that my dad passed away, and if I didn´t have the knowledge that I could see him again, I don´t know where I would be. She seemed to be paying close attention to what I was saying. I bore my testimony with all of my heart and soul that there is no doubt in my mind that I will see my dad again, that she will see her family again. And that every single one of us will be resurrected because Jesus Christ was resurrected.There was silence for a moment and before we left she comitted to read and pray. It was a very special moment for me. I just wanted so badly for this woman to understand that her brother isn´t lost, that she will see him again. Man I know the gospel is true! other interesting experience: My comp has been having really bad dreams lately and she just can´t sleep. I told her to wake me up and talk to me whenever she woke up from a bad dream. The other night she woke me up and she had had a nightmare and was really shooken up. I asked her if she wanted me to say a prayer, so I did. Although we may not have the priesthood, I felt a power as I prayed and felt God´s love for us. After that my comp said she fell asleep right away and didn´t have another bad dream, and hasn´t had one since. I`m just putting it out there: God exists. So yeah, a pretty interesting week. It was great. I know without a doubt the Lord is with us and that we are protected. I hope you all have an incredible week. Until next time! Love yas!

Love, love, love,

Hermana Rachel Thompson

Some pic’s of our food:

Rachel & Hna C. eating

Re: God is good!

Hello everyone!! We have had another wonderful week! As usual! Today
we played soccer with the other elders in our zone and can I just say
that playing soccer just makes my day!! I love it so much! Probably
the best part of the week was yesterday when Mario got confirmed and
he told us he just felt so happy and peaceful and that he knows he is
a member now, and he will never miss a sunday. I know the Lord has
worked miracles in this man`s life. SO INCREDIBLE!! There is something
so special about watching the change the gospel makes in a person`s
life.

But let`s see, as for this week, we worked pretty hard.
Something I love about Pergamino is how many people there are because
we get to know so many more people and teach so many lessons! My comp
is also super legit because she does everything she can to get in the
door. We make a good team because she is super blunt and I am more
chill, so together we work really well because we even each other out.
It`s perfect! It is kinda crazy sometimes as I realize that I only
really speak english once a week on Pday with some of the elders from
our zone. I never in my life thought before that I would first of all,
live in a different country, and second of all, live with someone who
doesn´t speak my language! It is so awesome!! LOVE IT! I feel really
blessed to have now had 4 companions that are awesome. That was also
my biggest fear about the mission, but so far so good!

Let`s see,
this week we had a really great lesson with this woman Evelyn, and her
daughter, Poala, who have been coming to church for weeks, but they
have to wait because Evelyn is living with her boyfriend and they are
waiting for papers to get worked out so they can get married. It is a
lot more complicated here in Argentina. But Evelyn is amazing, her and
her daughter study the scriptures together every morning and they even
have scripture journals and write their thoughts and questions. It is
amazing! I love them!

On Saturday we went to a baptism for another
ward and it was this little 9yr old boy getting baptized by his dad.
It really got to me. They are such a precious family and I know that
they are going to be together forever. Us 6 missionaries sang Families
can be together forever and I was so overwhelmed with the testimony
that it is true. Sometimes people feel that we are forzing them to go
to church or get baptized, but what they don`t realize is why we want
this for them. If everyone felt what I have felt in my life because of
the gospel, people would be running to the baptismal font. If people
just only understood that we are here because we love them and know
that God has more blessings in store for them, If people but
understood, they would be lining up to come to church. I just want the
whole world to get it! I know it is so wonderfully true and I am
determined to work hard my whole mission and bring these people unto
Christ. Sometimes it is really hard, or sometimes I am so tired or
have a headache, etc etc, Then I step outside our door and just start
to testify and my aches, tiredness, challenges, just fade away. This
work is amazing and I love it with my whole heart!! I hope you are all
doing wonderfully well!! Have a fabulous week!! I absolutely cannot
wait for General Conference!! I don´t know if I have ever been sooo
excited for it! Love it!!

Love always,
Hermana Thompson