The Day After Tomorrow

Unfortunately, no. I did NOT meet Jake Gyllenhaal... But Chaco WAS hit with a crazy storm this week.
Tuesday, Hna. Beckstead and I had planned to do divisions with the Hermanas of Ensanche Sur. I was to head over to Ensanche with Hna. Aybar and Hna. Beckstead would stay here in Centro with Hna. Moreno. Two hours or so before we were about to make the switch, during our companionship and language study, it began to rain... HARD. That's one of those little things I love about Argentina: the rain storms. There's no storms like that in Utah. Anyway.

We called a cab and headed over to the Hermana's pension on calle 10. They live on the corner and the entire intersection was flooded, almost up to my knees. Even in my trusty knee-high Hunter rain boots, there was the danger of getting wet.

I've noticed that generally, when there's a huge rainstorm like that, it's during studies, when we're inside. Then, when we have to go outside to work, the deluge lets up a bit so we don't get so wet. Yes. There are some exceptions, (I don't even want to talk about that one storm in Formosa.) but I like to think that for the most part, it's a little blessing from the Lord so we don't have to be out walking in the pouring rain. So, when Hna. Aybar and I headed out to work, the rain had stopped and we were happily enjoying the cool, fresh air.

We had had a number of good lessons and we're nearing the end of the work day, only lacking 1 hour or so, when dismal, dark clouds started rolling in again. We had one more appointment which luckily, wasn't too far from the last house we had been visiting and the rain started up again. The one umbrella we did have was flipped inside out in the wind and so we decided it would probably be better to just run. We waited outside the house of the Hermana we'd gone to visit in the pouring rain until her husband could open the gate and let us in. Almost immediately after we got inside her house, quarter sized chunks of ice started pelting down from the sky. It was hailing like the end of the world! We could hardly hear anything because of the rocks of ice pelting down on the tin roof. It was crazy. The Lord really is watching out for us. Had we delayed just 1 minute, we would have been under that downpour of ice. It's crazy that it can be so hot outside and then, 5 minutes later, have ice falling out of the sky. I don't understand...

 Hna. Beckstead and I at choir practice for 
district conference

 This week, we also got to go back to Resistencia for Multizone conference. Not much to note there, other than getting to see my little hija, Hermana Dustin! She's all grown up. I'm so proud. Haha. It was a good conference. President and the assistants talked a lot about using the Book of Mormon to teach investigators, and teaching more to their personal needs rather than just teaching the written out lessons. It's what Hermana Beckstead and I have been working on anyway and we've found that it brings a lot of cool miracles.

Speaking of the Book of Mormon, we read this week the chapters about Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah and their different missions among the Nephites and the Lamanites. A personal favorite of mine is the story of Amulek, Alma's mission companion. Amulek is just a normal dude, living in the wicked city of Ammonihah where Alma had unsuccessfully tried to share the Gospel. Alma says that he was ready to turn his back on that city forever when an angel comes to him and tells him he needs to go back. Meanwhile, Amulek, "a man of no small reputation", as he says, had resisted the Lord's calls to serve several times. He was comfortable in his life and was happy to go on living it. That is, until an angel came to him and told him he had to go back to his house because a prophet would be coming by. Oh. Alright. So, without hesitation, Amulek goes back to his house and receives Alma there. And the rest is history. He becomes an awesome missionary, calls Zeezrom a child of hell for offering him money to deny Christ, they're thrown in prison, and the prison walls fall down through the power of God. Awesome story.


Something that President has been pushing a lot in the mission, is getting members to help with the work. And we need it. There's no way that Hna. Beckstead and I can do all of this on our own. We need help. We need people to do that member missionary work like Amulek did. Being a member missionary doesn't mean you have to get thrown into prison and beaten like Amulek was. It means praying for missionary opportunities. It means going on visits with the missionaries. It means doing your visiting/home teaching. It means being an example and living the Gospel. Maybe I'm just an impulsive, self righteous-missionary. But the fact of the matter is, we are all missionaries. And we need to have unity to be able to bring the lost sheep back to the good shepherd.

Also, the ladies of the choir! 
Classic Hna. Hein, taller than everyone... 

This work is so important. I love it so much. I know the Lord has His hand in the work and that we can only do it with His help.

I love you all,
Hermana Hein

One year later...

Hello hello. Greetings from Argentina.

Here we are... another week has again passed. And believe it or not, it's been a year since the beginning. It's a little difficult to believe... But one year ago, I was in the MTC, trying to learn Spanish and being a real annoyance to our poor teachers. Sometimes it seems like I haven't learned anything. Like I haven't grown at all. But that's not even true. It's taken a year... but I think I've finally gotten the hang of using the past subjunctive tense in Spanish! :D:D:D In reality, the most valued thing I've learned in this past year is that the Lord really does live. And He loves us so much more than we could ever understand. And I'm grateful for that knowledge. I know He's there for me. I couldn't do it without Him.

Tuesday, we had interviews with President Franco which was great. We've been struggling a bit in our area; we get a little frustrated sometimes from the lack of results we see. But President assured us that we just have to be patient sometimes. And that our work isn't going unnoticed or without results. We later in the week, had a cool experience that confirmed his statement that we were in fact helping people, even if we don't notice.

We had received a referral from a member in a small town about 40 minutes outside of Sáenz Peña called Quitilipi. She asked us to go visit her aunt, Dominguez. When she came out of the house, she told us immediately that she wasn't interested. "The missionaries have come to my house before, but I'm Catholic and that's not going to change." "Did the missionaries share with you the Book of Mormon?" Hna. Beckstead inquired. "No. But if it's not the Bible, I'm not interested." she responded. I was praying the whole time that I would know what to say and have the courage to say it. I whipped a Book of Mormon out of my bag before she could get out her retort. "This book testifies of Christ." I said. "I know He lives and that because of Him, we will all be resurrected one day." The spirit whooshed in at the mention of the Saviour and tears came to her eyes as she said quietly, "I hope that's true." "I KNOW it's true." Hna. Beckstead said firmly. "Death is NOT the end." And she shared Mormon 9:13 which talks about the redemption and resurrection of Christ.
Dominguez still had tears in her eyes as we testified of the Book of Mormon and its power to heal. When before, she had never accepted the Book of Mormon, we were able to give her one thanks to the spirit softening her heart. It seriously was one of the fastest and most dramatic changes of heart I've EVER seen. 100% by the spirit. We set another time to come back to see her and left, marvelling at the spirit we had felt. It was a really cool experience.

We couldn't do anything without the spirit. It was yet another testimony to me of the truthfulness of the Gospel, and that the Lord is in charge of this work.

I love this work and I love the Lord. Keep the faith.

Con amor,
Hermana Hein  

The Noble Art of Divination

Hi All:

A bit of a wooly subject, divination... nevertheless... we had a run in with Argentine Professor Trelawney this week that proved to be... interesting. Walking down Calle 7 one morning, looking for a name from the list of members here in Sáenz Peña, we noticed a sign that said something like, "Rodolfo, parapsicología" "What's that?" I ask. Hna. Beckstead shrugs her shoulders and claps. An old man wearing a stained wife beater comes out to the gate to greet us. "Are you Rodolfo?" we ask. "Yes." "What's parapsicología?"  "I'll show you." We just stand out on the front patio and he shows us a certificate that authorizes his practice of this parapsicología, which he tells us is basically... divination.

"For example," he says. "I can tell just by looking at you that... you haven't been here for very long..." "I've been here for almost a year." I reply. "Viste? That's not very long..." *long awkward silence* "I can also sense that you two... are not from around here." he divined. "How could I possibly know that just by looking at you? I don't know... I'm just... knowing..." We tried our best not to laugh. Apparently, you can't tell that we're not Argentine by just looking at us... or hearing our accents... you have to have... the gift.

This week, we also got to head once more to Resistencia for Consejo. President talked about the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. Which just so happens to be one of my FAVORITE Bible stories. The way the Savior teaches is just so simple yet so profound. One learns important teaching principles from the example of the Master. President talked a lot about the living waters, which are the teachings of Christ. And how important it is for us to share them with others. Those who drink of the living waters of Christ shall never thirst again. What an incredible promise. And it's true. It's something I've witnessed a lot here in the mission. There are people here with literally NOTHING. Entire families are living here in a square of bricks smaller than my bedroom, with a dirt floor and two grimy mattresses. And yet, in these families, I've met people with some of the most faith. They find the strength to keep going even when there's NOTHING LEFT because of their faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. It makes you realize just how real it is and how much we really need those living waters.

Jenessa with Antonia

Pancho, our dog??

I am so blessed. I have everything I could ever want and need and more. Seeing the people here, living in poverty is a real eye opener. It's very humbling. We need to do what we can with the means we've been given to help those who have less than us. It says in the Book of Mormon, in Ether, that we must have charity to inherit the kingdom of God. But charity isn't just giving to the poor. It's loving as Christ loves. And Christ loves everyone perfectly. Which is a hard thing to accomplish for us as imperfect beings. But, one way to get better at loving, is by serving. We automatically grow to love those we serve. Charity never Faileth. (or as they say here, in Relief Society every week, "la caridad nunca deja de ser." in a very monotone voice. It's hilarious.)

Love you all,
Hermana Hein


       

Dia' del Amigo

Another week, come and gone like the wind this morning. Even though the wind is still here... It's a nippy one this morning... Anyway. ¡FELIZ DÍA DEL AMIGO! That's July 20 here in Argentina. Friend Day.

Divisions with Hermanas Cluff and Lopez

It was a pretty good week. Pretty uneventful. We did divisions again. This time, with Hnas. Cluff and Lopez of San Martín. That was super fun. As divisions always are. Hna. Cluff came here with me and Hna. Tello took the 2 hour journey up to San Martín to be with Hna. Lopez. Divisions are usually only supposed to be 1 day. But ours ended up being much longer. Hna. Cluff and I were supposed to head up to San Martín to meet up with the Hnas. Saturday morning. Our bus supuestamente left at 5:50 in the morning. So... we had to get up way earlier to get to the terminal on time. Well... upon arriving at the terminal, we found that the bus just kind of leaves when it wants and it wasn't going to be at 5:50. We couldn't even find anyone to sell us a ticket to San Martín until 7. And the earliest one wouldn't be leaving until 9:30... But it was WAY cheaper than the "I leave when I feel like it" bus. So we took it. But that meant a cold morning spent sitting in the terminal. Boo. Luckily, I had conference edition Liahona to hold me over until we could get on the bus. Gotta love conference. But that's the mission for you. Everyday's an adventure. There's always some new test of patience or humility. But that's how you learn.

This transfer, I've tried to focus my studies more. I'm trying to study more specifically for other people. Everyday, I have a question, and I look for the answer in my studies. It's been great. And I've learned so much. I've felt so much more in-tune with the Spirit. It's crazy how much of a difference your studies make on your day. But alas. There it is. Scripture study makes a huge difference.

Studying the Gospel with Lucas

Well... that's pretty much it for the week. We had interviews with President which is always great. But other than that... Pretty much the same old story. Not that that's a bad thing. It just means we're working like any normal pair of missionaries.

PIZZA - YUM

Thanks for all the support and love that's been sent this way. I appreciate everyone who reads these emails. Sorry they've been so lame the last couple of weeks... But I promise I'm healthy and happy here doing the Lord's work. It's so important. Everyone needs to know!

With lots of love from the South,
Hermana Hein