¡¡¡¡¡Feliz Año Nuevo!!!!!

Hellooo and Happy New Year!!

I know that I told you all that pday would be Tuesday but... they lied to me. and its today! But I dont mind. Pday on Tuesday always kills.
Sooo... I know you are all dying to know...!!

I´m GeTTiNg a NeW COmPaNioN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WooOOOoOoOOOOOOoOO!!!!!!

Hahahaha her name is Hna. Velasco from Ecuador (cyd, be super stoked for me) Tomorrow we stay in the pench pretty much all day cleaning and what not to stay out of the streets and away from the borachitos pero on Wednesday I get to go and pick her up in Santa Fe!!! Ha, transfers have been eating away at me all this weekend but I realized that literally anything could have happened and I would have been thrilled. One day I will leave Esperanza but... not yet. I now have a wonderful opportunity to change things up a little bit. I don´t know how much of a difference it will make with the members because they are all pretty dead but I am so excited igual.

Other than tranfser news, this week was great. Rather long and hot but after all the Christmas excitement that was expected. We did a lot of contacting and visiting members and what not but with the holidays still in full swing noone really wants to do much of anything until after the new year... I myself was fighting hard against that. Church was a complete disaster. Literally noone came for the first hour. The second hour, we had an investigator family that came because we called (and payed for) a remisse for them. And the third hour, Flia. Ruben came (menos the Hno. because he is inactive currently -- and the only Elder in the area) and 2 more investigators. Most everyone was traveling for the holidays so it´s not as bad as I´m making it sound but it was honestly a great wake up call. There is so so much to do here in Esperanza. The Pte. sigue hablando de la autosuficienca cada domingo pero... the problem is deeper. The members lack faith. But I have been given more time here to do all that I can. I feel like it´s so easy to just give up and say that the area will never progress because the members don´t care and without solid members, successful baptisms don´t happen... but I know that I was sent here for a reason. The area was reopened for a reason. I have suffered a ton here but learned even more and I look forward to being able to give all that I have, to turn myself over to the Lord and see what He can do through me.

Thank you all for your continued love and support. Being able to talk to you was absolutely incredible. and Chandler... ha. I still can´t believe that happened. Mom, Lisa. Thank you. :)

All my love,
Hna. Morgan

Christmas Hymns Video

Merry Christmas to you all

Merry Christmas Eve to all of my wonderful family and friends who read this. :)

I am continually amazed at how fast this year has gone by. ...how long I have been away from you all and how much I have learned and changed. I have truly been blessed as I know you all have been as well as I read and hear of all or your accomplishments.  I want to thank everyone again for all of the love, support, letters, thoughts, etc. that have been sent my way.  Getting pieces of home and knowing that all is well makes my work here so much easier. Despite all of the differences that this season has brought it has been a wonderful Christmas. ...it makes me a little sad when I think about it and realize that I had to taken thousands of miles away from home and put in a country that is so incredibly foreign to me to  be able to understand the true meaning of Christmas... It is o so much more than Santa and hot cocoa and even all the wonderful family traditions that we have accumulated over the years. ...it is even more than just thinking about the birth of Christ.

3 Nefi 27:13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

Christ came into this world for a purpose.  He came to do the will of the Father. To set the perfect example and teach us His Gospel.  To suffer and die for our sins. And overcome the bonds of death so that we too could be resurrected and stand before the Lord once again to be judged according to our works.  The mercy and love of the Lord

astounds me.

John 3:16 For God so bloved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Our loving Heavenly Father has given us everything so that we can return to live in His presence and during this time of year more than any other we must give Him all that we can.  We must give of ourselves.  Be happy, humble, and obedient to His commandments.

I love this Gospel.  I love this mission. I love being able to serve the Lord 24/7.  I have a lot to learn and do still but I know that through the Lord anything is possible.  I love all of you and hope that this email finds you happy, well, and together, celebrating the

true Reason for the Season.

Felices Fiestas and we'll talk tomorrow :)

Hna. Morgan

 the foto is from the xmas conference. Thats our zone with pte. and his wife. :) 

horno para hacer pan (dulce) casero.  ...unfortunately with all the rain everything got really wet and awful and we had to relite the thing 3 times to cook the bread and so it rose super huge and fell and burnt... but...

still yummy :)

our zone singing a song for the xmas conference

hnsas of the zone

elder james who plays piano for me and elder fernandez, one of the assistents that wanted to sing with me for the xmas conf.

elder guevara carrying my box. ..and a few others for funsies

....campo....

mixin the masa (hna. Spies in her kitchen)

singing xmas carols in the plaza yesterday! :) soo much fun because people here just dont... do that. asi que... we got a lot of confused looks but people loved it

outsdide the capilla afterwards

one week and counting

Hello all,

Christmas is officially a week away. ..or something like that.  It seems unreal.  As I think I have mentioned a few times, Christmas doesn´t really seem to exist here.  In a way it helps me not to miss home so much because it feels like any other day but it´s just also super depressing.  My usual Christmas craze just gets me weird looks.. haha.  This past week they finally put Christmas lights in the plaza and on the municipal building but the rama still has no interest in singing Christmas songs and o! get this!  Yesterday I was asked to speak in church in on Sunday and the branch president said, "you can speak on any topic you would like. totally up to you" ...I looked at him confused and said "Christmas??"  Both him and my companion were like... ya, whatever you want. Thats fine.  ...........ITS GOING TO BE THE 23rd OF DECEMBER AND FOR SOME REASON SPEAKING ABOUT THE BIRTH OF CHRIST IN CHURCH WASN´T OBVIOUS!!!    En serio, I absolutely love Argentina but next year when I am home and Christmas time rolls around, I will not miss this country one itty bit.

On a different note (for the sake of my sanity), this week was really great.  We still don´t have anyone ready for baptism but we are working hard and working with what we have.  We found out that our investigators (both of them now) from Colombia are moving to Santa Fe to work there.  Victor and Rebeca (the other couple we are teaching) despite all of the trials they have been faced with recently, are still progressing and coming to church which makes us happy.  ...Pray for them that they can get married. ..Especially as she recently found out that she is pregnant once again.  The Familia Spies still is struggling with paying their tithing so prayers in that regard are also much appreciated. The hermana taught us how to make bread this week though! It was super good (but not as good as mom´s :)  and on friday we are going to make Pan Dulce which is what the holidays mean to people here in Argentina.  I don´t think I ever tried fruit cake back at home but I think it´s essentially the same thing.  Anyways, I´ll be sure to send pictures. :)  It´s good being able to spend time with her alone though.  We almost always meet with her husband because he is the one that wants to learn and progress but without the help and support of his wife, it´s hard.  

We found out in the estandartes today that pday next week is normal (Monday) and on Tuesday we work as usual but with the hour to call home. :)  I am really really super excited and glad that we were able to get everything figured out with the conference call line.  I´m still thinking that around 4 or 5ish will work out best.  My companion told her family around 3:30... I might call at the same time or a little later. Haha, as usual I can´t make up my mind but it will more depend on what is going on.  As I mentioned yesterday, zone Christmas conference is on Wednesday so I should get any packages or letters that have arrived then. :)

I love you all so very much and hope you have an amazing week leading up to Christmas!  Enjoy it all for me.... Delilah on the radio and in every store you go into... the cold, the snow, the trees, the lights, the decorations, the holiday cheer and stress, eggnog... everything. :)

Hna. Morgan

almost Christmas.... what?

HOla Familyyy from another wonderful week in Argentina. :)))

Time flew by faster than usual this week a we spent over half the week away from our area.  Monday was pday and reunion de zona in Rafaela, Tuesday reunion de distrito en Recreo and Friday Conferencia Especial en Santa Fe.  Gosh though, what an incredibly spiritual week.  I love conferences because there is always so much preperation that goes in to every second.  The Conferencia Especial was con Elder Viñas of the 70.  Ha, one of the assistants called me Tuesday morning and said, "Hola Hna Morgan, buen día.  Una pregunta, Ud. ha cantato por un setenta antes?"   .."uhhh....."   "Bueno, tiene la oportunidad el viernes en la conferencia.  Nos vemos allá.  Chau!"   .... "uhhh...."   ... ok it wasnt quite that brief but I still had no idea what to sing and had 3 days to figure it out and call up my trusty piano player who, thank goodness, was still in Santa Fe.  I ended up having the music for "I Heard Him Come"  .. I honestly have no clue where I got the music from because I have never sang it before. We.. rather my companion, translated it by listening to the recording we have and I learned it best as I could.  Friday morning we had plans to get to Santa Fe early to practice with Elder James.  We were told antes de las 8 whcih meant being in Recreo at 630 and leaving Esperanza at... 545 or somwhere around there.  Anyways, long story short, my companion set the alarm for 6 insead of 5 accidentally and we ended up taking a remisse all the way to Santa Fe to make it on time. Chaos. We ran through it a couple of times and salió perfecto.  It was honestly incredible.  I know without a doubt that it was gracias a la ayuda de Dios becuase there were about 5 areas that I lost my place or couldnt read the words right and yet I sand them caught back up. Also Elder James es un capo.  Cyd (and Connor if you read this), never stop practicing the piano. You will be an incredible ray of light on your mission, especially if you serve outside the states. :) 

We were taught all about revelation as well as asked to focus on our motivation for coming on the mission.  Everyone has a ton of reasons for coming but they almost always stem from the love of the Lord and the desires to show their gratitude for His sacrifice by helping spread the Gospel.  In my case I know that is true.  I have so many weaknesses and there are constantly trials and difficulties here in the mission but I have come to know of the incredible sacrifice of the Lord.  Without Him I would have no hopes of anything after this life.. but through Him, His Atoning Sacrifice, and the knowledge I have been blessed with of the Restored Gospel I have purpose.  I have joy and love and hope of eternal life. Gosh,  knowing that I can return to live in His presence and that I can live with all of you, my family, forever... What an incredible gift.  I don´t even have words to describe the gratitude I feel.  He has show us the way. The path is strait and norrow and perfect.  I dont have a lot of time left but... I just want all of you know to know that I know that this church is true.  I know that Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and that He knows and understands us perfectly.  He can help us through any trial, weaknes, sickness, loss.... and give us the peace and rest that we need to carry on.  Trust in Him always and never forget what He did for each and every one of us.  Epecially during this Christmas season I invite you all to reflect on that and perhaps what you can give Him in return.   

I love you all so very very much

-Hermana Lyndsey Morgan

p.s. I forgot to tell you the highlight of the week!  We bought a fan!!!!   ...ok it wasnt the highlight but it was awesome.  To put things in perpective... we were essentially living in the the barn (minus the horse smell) in Texas in mid august.  .... we still are but there is a breeze at least..... lol. fun

happy december.

HEY FAMILY!!!!

Another week down. Ha, once again our numbers were weird but this week may have been the best one of the mission (here in argentina) ha.  We have two incredible families that are progressing and learning and coming to church on their own and just soaking up the gospel.  The lessons with them are always full of the Spirit and it makes my work fun. Gosh, nothing compares to watching someone grown in the gospel and learn to trust in the Lord as they feel the abounding love that He has for them.  Stumbling block?  marriage.  But unlike so many people here in Argentina, these people actually want to get married and live with their pareja forever.  ahhh love..  :)

Also on Friday the branch had our end of year cena. the Argentine asado is traditionally beef but pollo is a lot cheaper these days so the pollo asado has become rather popular and that was what our end of year cena consisted of.  Everyone was to bring their own chicken (if they could) and/or salad.    Pte tambien bought 8 chickens por las dudas and wow did we have a ton of chicken. so many people came. all of our investigators and members and it was a blast.  i took a ton of pìctures but will have to send them to you later because i broke my camera again... long story.  but i love the branch.  a ton of the members dont want to change or help or do anything (including come to church --we only 19 in the capilla yesterday, 5 investigators, 4 members of pte. family from santa fe, and 10 members none of which have the priesthood or are worthy to use it) but weve realized that maybe the Lord has other plans and means for strengthening the Rama Esperanza.  We will push forward and hopefully marry and baptize this month and continue finding either way. :)

I love you all so much.  The church is true. Christ lives and stands at the head of it. Never doubt that.

:) Hna. Morgan

p.s.

Debido al cambio de las edades para salir a la misión, hubo cambios en las fechas de los traslados:

2013: 01 de enero

26 de febrero

09 de abril

21 de mayo

02 de julio

13 de agosto

24 de septiembre

so....see ya in August. lol crazy right?

Paitonnneeyyy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  FELIZ CUMPLE!!!!!!!  a letter for you will be in the mail today hopefully! I will be thinking of youuuu!!  have a wonderful wonderful dayyyy

"new" transfer

Hello and Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!!

As you may or may not know, transfers were last week aanndd.... nothing changed! Ha, Hna. Quintana and I will be spending Christmas ("Las Fiestas" como dicen acá)  here in Esperanza.  Not gonna lie, hearing the news of the transfer (or lack thereof) was... super duper hard.  There is so much that I want to learn and do and experience and yet (with the exception of Texas and the MTC) an entire half of my mission will be rather static. Looking at the transfer sheet though only 2 of the companionships of Hnas. (out of 13) changed.. and that was because 2 Hnas. finished their mission. ... I don't really know whats going to happen next transfer.  Our district leader told us that President said that 60 missionaries will be coming next transfer, most of which will be hnas.  We could be whitewashed out or I sould die here in Esperanza. Maybe I wouldn't mind.  I've just come to be so tired.. emotionally.  And not because of the work, our lack of investigators that eligible for baptism (a.k.a. married instead of juntada), or anything else but just the instability of the members.  Satan truly knows how to destroy people and it always seems to be over the silliest things.  Sometimes we just try to forget about the problems in the branch for a bit and work hard with our investigators but Sunday it all comes back to the choas of our church mtgs and doing everything possible to help our investigators feel the Spirit. 

Pero buueeeenno.  Have I told you that a few weeks ago I saw my very first ever firefly?!? Omgsh!!  Im obsessed.  Sadly they dont stay lit like in the movies but whever we go out in the campo or out to the Orilla at night they are all over in the bushes and I even caught one. haha. definitely a highlight of the new schedule and staying out later.

As far as this week goes, it was awesome.  After putting my frustrations and disappointments aside and accepting what was to come I just focused on how I could accomplish the goals I had set for myself for this transfer.  My companion and I had a nice long inventory and set goals as a companionship as well.  Living with someone that chews louder than Cyd is for 6 months is a challenge haha but honestly things are good now.  We are focused on bigger things than ourselves and I'm excited to see what comes in these next 5 weeks.  

Thanksgiving was a bit of a downer.  Ha, I have never missed home so much in these past almost 8 months that I have been away.  It's always the little things that you take for granted.... but Heavenly Father blessed me with a tender mercy of rain and stormy skies all day that made Thanksgiving feel more normal and homey.  :) I made corn pudding in a pot in the over and we put up a strand of Christmas lights and have been singing Christmas hymns ever since.  Unfortunately the Christmas weather didn't last and once again the sun is shining and we are sweating and smiling but it's good.  As I mentioned we found awesome investigors which is always the highlight of this work -- people that want to listen to us.  One (rather 4) of which is a family of Columbians that moved here and sell muebles.  Ha, they are a little hard for me to understand but so funny and polite.  They ask all sorts of questions and even came to church yesterday.  Makes me wish I was called to Columbia... lol. But, yes. they too are juntada...  But maybe we are supposed to marry the entire city of Esperanza before we baptize them... puede ser?   

Thanks for all the wonderful pictures! I´ll send some our way as well. 

¡Felicitaciones a Taralyn y su esposo!  Your wedding looks like it was absolutely gorgeous. Sorry I couldnt quite make it but I look forward to meeting him when I get back. :))

Con cariño,

Hna. Morgan

thanksgiving day...

me and ramon monzon (baptized last month and helped us fix our sink haha) :)

These next five pictures are from my companion's camera.

pte gudiño and his wife at their house for lunch during conference

"cayó piedras!"  ...aka hail but the people here are deathly afraid of hail and lock themselves away until the radio says its safe.

reunion de zona con las hermanas de rafaela y algunas miembros

another rainy day.  lol pardon the hair. agostina. a young woman in the branch

chickys!!  

old district picture (tranfer 3)

my bbq chicken pizza!  :)

this is my favorite pic from the mission so far i think.   baptism of máximo. :) he reminds me of papa.  thats our baptismal font btw

maximo got to baptize his neice Araceli (to his left) and great neice Rocío (far left) :)

us outside..... lol cyd, photoshop me skinnier. :P

me in the plaza.  PURPLE FLOWERS EVERYWHERE!!!!

the comp and i in the plaza. :)

ha, the bus stop in recreo.  ...we tend to spend many an hour here...... defintiely not on purpose.

HAppy HalloWEEN!!

The Hermanas in Rafaela when we did divisions there.  ...isnt their pench beautifull.... sigh.  its ok, were going to be moving soon!! wooohooo!!

sleeping arrangemtns. :)  me in my Colón jersey. choosing a fútbol team was actually super hard but.. im content with my desicison

me and a random horse on the side of the road

cool sunset and sweaty greasy me. 

us amd máximo before church one sunday.  Sharp looking grounp no?  :)   also the color theme is perfect

zone pday with my first asado! I ate my weight in meat.  it was delicious.

zona rafaela hnas!

me and araceli for her bday

our pday in santa fe.  haha i was in heaven. such an amazing place.

my mcdonalds. :))  dont know why my cadbury mcflurry didnt make the picture..

walmart!  and a real like glazed donut in my hand!  mmm..  also, note how the walmart slogan is in vos.  ..only in argentina..

bus back to town

 random lucnh in hna. susanas house. eating salamin and pan.