this time last year...

Family!!

Happy Easter!!!  and Happy April!!! And gosh! Happy Conference in just a few days!!!  Ha, I feel like I live for Conference sometimes. Its just amazing and Im so excited.

This week was incredible.  Mainly I think because we had divisions.  With all the new sister missionaires supposedly coming in (except not because of visa problems) 2 sisters were assignes as like... zone leaders of the hermanas for all intents and purposes. Anyways, nos tocó a nosotras hacer divisiones esta semana.  We were kind of freaking out.. but not really.. more just annoyed because of the cost and the time.  We are pretty much as far away as it gets because the other sisters area is close to Rosario.  I hung out with a member pretty much all day Thursday while the my comp and Hna. Ferraez (who came here) were traveling.  With it being Easter weekend and all traveling ended up being an absolute disaster.  The member had to stay over at our pench while Hna. Ferraez got in at like 10 am from a bus ride standing up.  Disaster.  But she is such a trooper!  ..or maybe its just her awesome dedication and responsibility.. but either way it was great.  I was honestly a little nervous because in the morning literally nothing went according to plan.  I was jsut like... fetch. Now shes just going to tell President that im the worst missioanry in history. cool.  But after lunch and studies and all that good stuff we went out for our afternoon plans and saw miracles.  The elders always say that they see miracles when they do divisions.  Maybe I was skeptical at first but it is true.  We found 2 jovenes from Columbia (figures right)  but literally, their openness and desire to know the truth.  They had so many questions and doubts but honest doubts... Its hard to explain here.  We have a lesson with them on Tuesday.  Im a smidge nervous because my comp doesnt know them yet and maybe she wont love them like I do but... I pray that she will and that they will open up to her like they did to me and Hna. Ferraez. 

All that happened on Friday.  Supposedly Hna. Carlson was gonna come back on Saturday but again with crazy Semana Santa breaks and travels and what not she ended up having to leave Friday night. ...and get in at 4 am.  ....4 AM!!!  we pretty much just died.  It was funn y though a littl ebit bc there is a boliche around the block that plays obnoxious electronica dance music all night long until roughly 530.  I usually dont here a thing because i sleep like a rock here in the mission but after having to wake up and come back for our precious hour of sleep we heard it all... including all the borachitos that salió and were doing things that drunk 14 year olds do.  We spent Saturday morning in a trio which was... weird and i wasnt a huge fan because taking turns talking and what not.... was jsut awkward. But I got over it and Hna. Ferraez left.

That brings us to Sunday. Easter!  As usual here in Argentina, it was not really celebrated.  But they are big on huevos de pascua.  there are all sorts of big chocolate eggs and yes, my comp and i thought it would be appropriate to buy some and celebrate.  :)

Ill be sending some pics hopefully. :)

let me know how conference goes for everyone. Its truly incredible the love that God has for us that He calls prophets to lead and guide us.  I know that they speak for the Lord. 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Hna. Morgan

frreaking potatoe

Dear Family,

Hello from another week in the mission. It is slowly turning into fall which Iabsolutely love but apparently that comes with more rain which i could easilydo without.  The work seems to be going slow because almost all of theinvestigators were dropped before I came so we´ve been doing a lot offinding.  Along with that my poor companion has been dying of who knowswhat due to the change in clima and I've been doing what I can to stay healthyand strong to keep working. :)

As I'm sure many of you know, the big news here in Argentina has everything todo with the new pope. It really shouldnt be such a big deal because there arevery few Catholics who actually go to misa but the Argentinepride is unbeatable. I only know what I have heard but apparently he is a veryhumble man and didnt want to travel in the fancy pope car so all the peoplejust love him. On Wednesday night cars drove up and down the streetshonking and celebrating.  As we contacted we got a lot of looks that said"what are you girls, ..stupid??" "I was bornand baptized Catholic, my parents raised me Catholic, and now the pope is fromArgentina so I am going to die Catholic."  ...It's said loudly andthen they walk away.   Haha, all I can do is smile and testify of thetruth. I feel so grateful every single day for the knowledge that I have andfor the desires I have to grow and learn more. 

On Friday we had a show de talentos in the capilla.  Ha it was prettyfunny.  About a month ago they had another one but i guess the lights werecut so this was part II.  We had a good turn out and I am going to send avideo of what we as missionaries did. :) 

Thats about it for this week. :)

Con Cariño,
Hna. Morgan


CONNORRR!!!  Have a wonderful Birthday on Wednesday!!!!  I feel likeit was just a week ago approximately that we were listening to Fun. in your carin the garage. ha. you are like the little brother I never had. :)  loveyouu

my birthday

 el bautismo de dana :)

birthday week. :)

Family!!!

Ha, so we had an awesome week.  Maybe it was so exciting because it was so different. ..well, everything is different here but let me explain.

Part of our district is a small town about 2 hours away called Feliciano.  Suuuper tranquilo.  Anyways, on Friday there was a big festival there.  Kind of like a swap meet/state fair with a TON of asado.  The Elders that are up there right now were super stoked for us all to be able to go so after contemplating a lot we gave up our pday last Monday (with the exception of ciber) to spend Friday at the festival.  As it is the beginning of the month we also had zone mtg. and other things to take care of so Friday was all booked and ready to go.  

But first things first.  My birthday. :)  Unfortunalty I dont have any videos of how Argentine's celebrate because I don't know any members well enough which was a downside of swithcing areas a week before my cumple.  We got facturas for breakfast and ate them en El Puerto and watched boats creep by up river (dad, you know where its at).. Super tanqui and lindo.  Afterwards we got ready and studied and... had a normal day of work which was weird.  Weird in that I kept forgetting it was my birthday but my comp did a good job of reminding me every now and again.  One of the other things I wanted to do was take the bus around the town to get a better idea of how everything is laid out etc.  There are 2 bus lines here and I dont know if I told you but we rode #1 last week so I felt complete and more oriented afterwards.  At 9 we had plans with the district to get pizza and eat it in the plaza. (we had ice cream for my comps bday)  Pizza here is different but the rotisseria that we went to had pineapple pizza so I was in heaven.  I special ordered a combo of pineapple, jamón, and rúcula.  Super rico.  And to finish of the night.... my comp and I got ice cream because I cant help myself.  The heladeria here is pretty good.  it doesnt compare to all the ones we found in Esperanza because its more expensive here but their Banana Split is delicious.  

Wednesday was Zone Conference and we had to travel to Paraná by 9am.  Wonderful thing about La Paz, there aren´t colectivos every hour like in Santa Fe so we got to get up at 3:30 to cath our bus which left at 4:15.  We got in at about 7:30 and went to the hnas pench in Paraná.  There were about 8 of us but by that point and they had made pancakes which was super cute. The Zone Conference was really good.  My old Zole Leader is Assistant now so maybe I was biased theyve been focusing on The Expiación and Repentace which is something that we all need every single day. By the time we finished the only bus left was going to leave at 9 minus 20 so we didnt get back to la paz until around 11.  

Thursday was weekly planning which always takes a ton of time.  On the bright side on Thursdays we have lunch with Flia. Jurijuria who own a giant kiosko and panaderia next to the plaza España (dad) which is in front of the hospital (dad).  Anyways, they always cooksuper rico and everything is just so homey because well, they are rather well off. 

Friday came and once again we got on the bus.  We got to sleep in this time though.  ..until 4.  Colectivo left out at 4:50 but was actually an hour late so we could have slept (in).  I was so excited for this festival but supuestamente there would be all sorts of leather goods and Argentine souvies -- mates, alpargatas, bombachas, ponchos, you name it.  Problem is (or was) that in Argentina nothing starts early.  Fairs and festivals and events start around 8 or 9 and go until 3 or 4 in the morning.  I dont know why the elders from Feliciano didnt know or tell us that because it was a total bummer. there were a few stands set up so we did get to buy a few odds and ends but nothing like there was inside.  We had to leave at 8:30 and even though the doors were supposed to open at 8 they didnt open until 8:45.  ..or so we were told.  O well.   Zone Meeting was god though.  Once again, nothing like my old zone.  Numbers here are a lot lower.  My comp goes on abot how contacting doesnt work here and other (i dont want to say excuses but) excuses for why datos are what they are but I´m refusing to accept it.  Despite all the traveling we doubled almost all of our numbers this week.  There is stilla ton to do here though.  Im excited.

Saturday I had my first baptism in La Paz.  It was a little 9 yr old girl whose parents are inactive hence her not getting baptized at 8 but here grandfather is the branch president so she comes every week.  She has so much energy and it was so fun getting to finish up the lessons with her and knowing the she will have access to the gospel and solid examples of faith and endurance even if her parents have fallen away a little bit.  The other branch here in La Paz also had a baptism of an 8 yr old so they had everything planned down to the pizza and cake afterwards.  What was refreshing? having a real baptismal font.  Blue water, no bugs, no holes or leaks....  ahhh. :)

And that brings us to Sunday.  I´ve gotten used to sitting and listening every Sunday.  Participating in the classes and (in the case of Esperanza) cringing at some of the things that were said but yesterday I was suprised and had to give a discurso on the fly.  fetch.  After almost a year in the mission I had yet to have to give a talk that I hadnt planned out for at least a week.  Anyways, it actually turned out really well.  Bishop Dixon would be proud because I didn´t use any notes.  Cameron told me before the mission that every 6 months or so I would notice a difference in my Spanish... its true.  Giving the talk and contacting and teaching and everything that I do here is so much easier than it once was. I know its not me.  I may be learning more Spanish or more about the gospel but more than anything im learning about how the Spirit works with me. I love this gospel and know that it is true.  Christ lives and this is truley his church. :)

I love you all,

Hna. Morgan

O! ha, p.s.  This week I was asked if I was from Spain. Also, someone else told me they thought I was from Mexico.  Así que my accent isnt quite as yankee as it once was.  :)  Maybe by the time I leave I will be from Agentina. Ha, I love this country.

Hola from La Pazz!!!

It is maybe just the weirdest thing being in a new area when I was in Esperanza for so long. It doesn't seem real... like, a long vacation or something. But I have been so excited all week, still am. The rama acá tiene sus problemas tambien pero there are a good 5 families that have awesome testimonies, cumplir con su llamamiento, and give references.. Everything. However, I can´t let that disillusion me because there are about 9 more pages of inactives that still desperately need our help. Ha, I just feel like from where I came from... every branch and/or ward has well, HOPE. (enjoy that as much as I did)

The city is split into two branches (even though it seems smaller than Esperanza.) The Zone Leaders (Las Termas) and and our branch (La Paz) la cual tiene 4 misioneros. We share the branch with the district leader and his companion and its honestly a lot of fun how were able to work with the members, especially the youth. The branch just has so much potential and I know without a doubt that there are so many people here waiting to receive the gospel.

My companion is great. Shes been here for 3 transfers now and came from a bigger city in Entre Rios (the province) where the branch wasnt quite as disfuncitonal but I have to just ignore her lack of hope for the people here because, as stated, I'm just excited. She is from Salt Lake City but like myself has only had Latin companions so we speak Spanish 24/7. The only downer is that I dont have a Latina to correct me if I say things wrong and I pray that I won't pick up bad habits gramatically or more of a yankee accent.

As for excercising... it is not something that my companion is the least bit interested in doing. I have convinced her to come running with me at least once a week and as for the rest... I will be struggling. Getting up and to it is always so much easier when your companion has the same goal. O! ha, and the pench?? hm... lol. She has gone on about how she loves it (they just moved recently) but.. ya, I feel like I have moved backwards. Lol. It's not that it's too bad but seeing as it's very likely that I will be here in winter, I just know that I am going to freeze. No ac, no heat, no closet, we shower with a cup and a bucket (because the hot water is broken), and its just old. I will say though that it's not as bad as my first pench so... maybe I just can't complain. La Paz is a tourist town because of Las Termas (natural hotspring) and so everything is pricey and.. no great. Really the whole city reminds me of San Diego or Monterrey. Older, kind of dreary, but (perk) 3 mintute walk from the water (Rio Parana -- which I´m told is the 2nd biggest river in the world. puede ser) But ya, we pay 1600 pesos/ month for our pench now and the brand new apt. with heat and gas and hot water and mirror was only 1500/ month. Like I said, bit of a downer.

Pero bueno, other than that I am still just catching on to everything. I´m gonna try to send some pictures now but more on La Paz next week. :)

Con Cariño,
Hna. Morgan (who almost has 22)


p.s. Thank you all so much for the birthday wishesss!!! (Mom, Dad, Mikey, Squid, Nana, Nene, Ryles, McKenna, Lexi, Nikki, Devyn, Liz, Chan, Tracie (p.p.s. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU TOOOOO), and Aunt Carolyn and family, and..anyone else I missed) I love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful day tomorrow and eat something yummy like lots of ice cream in celebration. My comps bday was actually on Sat. Funny story how neither of us were going to say anything because of transfer stress etc but, mire! haha it all worked out. igual, creo que va a ser un dia normal. Im ok with it. I love this work. I love being a missionary. and I know this Church is true. :)

La Paz y Esperanza

 Dear Family. 

Tomorrow is transfers.

Up until this transfer I was always excited for the prospect of change.  ..new area, new members, new problems, ha. But really, this branch has gone through so much and unlike the members I knew that my time here wouldnt be forever.  Anyways, the time for change has come and it´s breaking my heart.  Their trials and difficulites have become my own and I feel like I´m abandoning ship.  I know at least that my wonderful companion will take good care of the members here but at the same time... it´s like the glue is still wet and if i let go everything will fall apart. But the Lord will take care of his children here... tengo esperanza.. :)

As for me?  Tomorrow I go to La Paz.  ...toda mi misión en paz y esperanza.. :)  I look forward to being able to say that.  Todo tranqui.  Pero en serio, aun en Texas. Pleasanton.  hehe.  La Paz is in Entre Rios.  Honestly I dont know much about the area.. but I know that it has costanera. ..y mucho campo.  I love big cities so much but it seems that the Lord has other plans for me.  It is one of the northern most areas of the mission and my companion is Hna. Carlson.  She´s... ha again I don´t know very much about her.  She has one transfer more than me in the mission and is from the States.

I don´t have much more to say... honestly I´m still in a weird state of shock... sadness... anxiety... excitement. Today I will go and say my goodbyes and pack which will be interesting after 8 months here. O also!  Hna. Aragon is visiting us.  She is from Mexico and is going to teach me how to make tortillas. I´m excited.  Her companion went home this transfer so she came up from Santa Fe to not be alone until her new companion comes.  

I love you all super a lot and hope that all is going well at home. :)  Keep reading the scriptures and praying every day.  It makes all the difference.

-Hna. Morgan

:)

Hello family,

Goodness time goes by so fast.  Next week is transfers and honestly I have no clue what is going to happen... Ha, there was a time when I was so ready to leave esperanza and move on.  I couldnt understand much of anything and I felt like I was just being drug around by my companion.  I always thought that when I left I would be able to start over and by myself and make the changes that I wanted to and noone would know about the weakness that i had.  almsot 8 months later... my fears have flipped.  I shouldnt say fears because It´s no that Im afraid but.. I´m just really going to miss it here.  Again, who knows, maybe I´ll stay. ha. But, these people here are so special.  Everything seems so hard and the members feel like its them against the world.  They have highs and lows but we´re able to help them see that they are not alone.  Christ lives and he loves them.  But even with those beautiful moments when the Spirit is so strong and I am able to see them with eyes that are not my own, they struggle.  Financially more than anything.  Or rather, its the financial problems that lead to... everything else.  I know I have asked this before but... if you could continue to pray for the Familia Spies.  They are closest to my heart and they need all of the help that they can possibly receive.

Today it is raining and oddly cold.  Its truly a blessing.  Were back on foot because se me pincho la bici ayer.  Did i tell you that we got bikes?? omgsh it was amazing... while it lasted. haha.   a good two weeks.  hopefully we´ll get everything going again tomorrow.  also such a blessing.  my legs are sore but a good sore rather than the "i feel like my bones are going to break" sore.  haha.  Also, funny story?  hace 2 dias, the water se fue. when you ask?  o, mid shower.  super cool.  all of our neighbors still had water and gave me a bucket of water to rinse the shampoo out of my hair... definitely one to remember.

Thanks for all the advice and what not that you sent me.  I love you all so much and hope and pray that all is well. :)

Hna. Morgan

:)

My dear family,

Forgive me for writing so late.  Pday was switched to at night for the zone meeting and on top of that today was a national holiday for carnaval so finding an open ciber was a challenge but... here I am.

I want you all to know that I know that this is the work of the Lord.  He i preparing people here in Esperanza and in every part of the world to accept the message that we bring.  to accept Him and Hi atoning sacrifice.  He loves each and every one of us.  Pray for the people around you -- family, friends, acquaintances...  pray for ways to talk about the truths of the gospel... ways to invite them to listen to the missionaries.  Ways to help them feel of the love that the Savior has for them.  It will cahnge their life the way it has changed yours and mine.  

I love you all so much

-Hna. Morgan

Februque?

Hello all :)

Ya, super crazy that it is already February...  I say it every week but, time truly flies.

This week was nuts. Highlights?

1. WE FINALLY MOVED!!!  Ah! On Thursday as we were planning we decided to call the Bibliotecario para ver todo because it was almost February and we were going to have to pay another months rent there and... ya. Anyways, a new Bibliotecario was assigned hace una semana and I think he actually took us seriously because after making a few calls he called us back and told us.. ok, President has the contract and he will give it to you tomorrow en las entrevistas and ...Saturday youre good to go!  I was extatic. The whole thing is still unreal because we went from the humid, moldy, cockroach filled slums to our beautiful new pench with a breeze and no bugs. Haha of course I will probably leaving in a month and my luck will go to the worst sisters pench in the misison but... im going to make the most of this month in heaven. :)  --and dont worry mom. Ill send pics. 

2. Entrevistas.  Friday we went down to Santa Fe to have interviews with President.  We have interviews every 3 months and last time was just... a disaster really.  I say that because it was my first real interview and justo despues de my training and everything so every question he asked just made me cry or confused of frustrated because well ya, my first few months were a challenge to say that least but these interviews were awesome.  I honestly love pte. Giuliani.  He cares so much for every missionary. Whats crazy is all the sisters that will be coming to the mission.  Ive literally heard these rumors for like 3 transfers now but he said that for reals 11 sisters are comgin this transfer and 15 the next. ... and we only have 23 sisters in the mission as it is so everyone will be training... and there will still be a falta.  It makes me glad that Im not him so that I dont have to think and stress about things like that... but it will amazing having that many more sisters here. That many more misisonaries in general.  This church is true and it is growing in every area of the world. wowza.

3. Baptism of Maria Luz.  Maria Luz is the sweetest 9 year old ever and miraculously about amonth ago her dad (non member) gave her the ok to be baptized.  Her family is less active but everyone came to her baptism and she was just so excited it melted my heart.   Ha, later that evening when we were talking to Hna Susana she pointed out that we have a trand of only baptizing older men and younger girls.... ha, its true. But it´s the people that the Lord has prepared.  As for now we continue working and finding and teaching and loving the people here.  Every single one of them is a son or daughter of God and desperately needs the hope and joy that this Gospel brings.    

I am so grateful to be here serving the Lord. To be a representative of Jesus Christ.  To meet so many incredible people and help them to come to truly know their Savior.  He lives and loves us so much.  

-Hna. Morgan

:)

Hello again family,

Another week (and almost month) behind us.  Nuts.  Life here is great though.  We´ve seen so many wonderful miracles, the first of which being that my querido Ramón came back to church yesterday for the first time since his baptism in August. I just wanted to sit there with him until next Sunday.  Please keep praying for him.  He is such a wonderfully humble man that has treated me like his daughter ever since being here.  Hno. Spies and his son Joaquin also came and after visiting their family with the R.S. president, we were also able to learn the real reason why the Hna. has not been coming or had any real interest in the church for a long time.  She doesn´t know how to read and turn out that the branch president called her as the R.S. secretary back in October and she took that as he was mocking her... sometimes I feel like he is our biggest obstacle here in Esperanza.... but I can´t think like that because we need to work together.  Anyways, with that inspired visit we now have soemthing to work with to help her return to activity.  Telmo was also baptized this week which was just such a breath of fresh air because he was so prepared.  He accepted everything without question or doubt and will be a real help to the branch.  Funny story with Telmo.  He went to Recreo the day after his baptism because he has nietos that live there and he wants them to go to church. Anyways, he went and saw the big beautiful capilla that they have there and when he came back he told us that he´s going to have to start playing the quiniela so that he can win a lot of money and build a chapel just like that here in Esperanza.  :)  It made me smile.  We don´t need money though, we need more people like him.  But the Lord is putting people in our path.  So often I feel like we aren´t working hard enough or that I´m not talking to enough people.  I´m sure it is always true, I can always do more but this week as I have prayed and meditated on the ways that my prayers have been answered I was able to see all of the incredible things that have happened.  The little ways that the Lord hears and responds.  It´s truly incredible and I´m left with no doubt that Heavenly Father truly lives and loves us.  He listenes to our prayers and is always here to answer -- to comfort, to counsel, to lead and guide. To everyone reading... please never forget or doubt that.  If you have doubts, go to Him in humble prayer and you will receive an answer.  I promise.

Stay strong and happy always.  I love you.

Hna. Morgan

ummmm... quuueeee???

um.....  ok. so hello first of all. second of all. ..WHAT THE HECK?!?!?!  ALASKA!?!?!

that is quite possibly the most random state that you guys could ever consider moving to......  Literally I thought that at the end of the email you were gonna say broma broma.. or.. something.  .. but instead you send pictures.......  Im just so confused.  Is is for real? what are the odds of it happening?  Im still in like a weird state of shock.   ...and also a bit jealous that a) its freezing cold there. b) you rode a fetching dog sled c) you saw the northern lights....... I feel like you should have known taht that is something I have always wanted to do. ... chandler and I will go without you when we get back.  ..... or maybe you crazy people will live there and we´ll come and visit. that´ll be cheaper anyways..  right, chandler???    

Anyways,  besides that chaos, this week was great.  Last Monday was zone pday and zone mtg at night.  I absolutely love them becuase the Spirit is so strong and I get so pumped to just work until I die.  ... ha, let me tell you though, a week later, I feel like it actually happened.  I have never been so exhausted in my whole entire ever life.  Pretty much everything hurts when I walk but had awesome success and did divisions with some hermanitas from Rafaela!   As Im sure Cyd told you, Mabél Caro facebook requested her. Ha. Love Mabél.  She had a reference for us here in Esperanza so came (1:15 bus ride) with another hna. from allá to contact the referencia and do visits all during the tarde.  To tell the truth, divisions with members has also terrified me. ( i dontknow how to spell that word) but, it always just seemed likes so much pressure.... leading the lesson, talking, including the member...  and also proving to them that you can work so that they have confidencein you and give you more references. ..wowza.  Anyways, I just put my fears aside and it was awesome. Mabél is also a pro with an incredible love for this work.  She works with the misisonaries there every other day if not more, gives references, talks to everyone about the church... gosh its inspiring.  I seriously want to be like her when I get back from my mission.  Sharing what has brought me joy and purpose in my life sin vergüenza, ni nada because really, It is our responsibility.  Everyone has their agency to listen or not, to read or not, to pray for an answer or not  but it is up to us as members of the restored church of Jesus Christ to give them that opportunity to exercise their agency.  

We´ve still been working hard with the menos activos here in Esperanza.  Honestly, we dont know what to do.  THe branch needs unity but its a constant battle and the branch president seems to only make things worse sometimes... but he doesnt mean it and so I pray for ways to help him understand as well. We´ve recently decided thoguh to go though the roster and teach every single member the 1st lesson.  start from scratch so to speak.  build them up from square one.  We have seen miracles as we have done so and as we have put ourselves and our problems aside.

Please pray for Telmo this week.  He is an awesome 72 year old that works like hes 50 and talks and talks and talks like hes 15.  Ha its hilarious.  But his baptism is programmed for this Friday and weird things always seems to happen the week before a baptism.  Maybe also pray for his wife, that she will support him in this decision.  Shes atea and seems to have a not so great attitude sometimes.  pero bueno.  Seguimos adelante. :)

Know that I love you all so much and pray for you every day. Stay strong and dont ever forget to read the Book of Mormon.  It is such a blessing that we are all literate with healthy eyes and light bulbs in our houses to be able to read whenever we want.  Dont take that for grantes.  The Book of Mormon is truly the word of God and gives us the strength that we need and answers to our prayers.

Sorry if I was all over the place. lol

Love always,

Hna. Morgan