Goodbye Escobar....Hello Palermo!

My first transfer! I officially said goobye to Escobar this morning, and now I'm in Palermo! Capital captial. It's going to be way different than provincia was. But I'm super excited. My companion's name is Hermana Holloway, she's from Texas and is super sweet. But just from the hour car ride we had to our area, I can tell this is going to be an interesting transfer. For one, this transfer is 8 weeks, instead of 6. Everyone's missions got extended because native speakers are now going to be in the MTC for 3 weeks instead of 12 days, so in order to have the transfers all work out, we had to extend our missions. Another thing, my comp has 3 transfers left on her mission and is still struggling hardcore with her spanish. So time for me to step it up. Also, she has a problem with an eating disorder. And because of that her emotions can get out of control. Her old comp told me that I will need to have a lot of patience, and will have to make sure she's eating. President is super close to sending her home, and he told her that if she loses anymore weight he's putting her on a plane. But she's super great and I'm super excited for what this new area will bring. 

But leaving Escobar was super hard. I was super ready to leave, felt like I had actually accomplished something, and then about two or three weeks ago my converts just decided to stop going to church. ALL OF THEM. For different reasons. Lucia doesn't have anyone to take her, Damian is working sometimes on Sundays, and Noelia refuses to have anything to do with us, the Rios family is a little on and off. If one can't go none of them go, and Dana told me she just doesn't want to go anymore. My heart literally broke. I have never felt that way before. She was the one person that I was never worried about, and she just... wow. Then we couldn't fiind her for a week. We went by about every day but she just didn't want to see us. Finally we saw her yesterday and convinced her to go again on Sunday, but we´ll see. I hate that I can't be there to help her though. But she´s strong, she´ll make it :)

The mission has helped me see literally every weakness that I have, and it's been super hard. One that I've noticed a lot lately is patience. I literally have none. I've been trying to work on it and it's super super hard. I've told Heavenly Father that it's something I want to work on. And today as we were changing comps and everything, about 5 people told me I will have to have a lot of patience with my comp and my area... So here goes. 

Tomorrow Elder Bednar is coming to speak to all 4 of the Buenos Aires Missions. There will be about 800 missionaries there. I have some friends from the MTC in other missions in Buenos Aires so that will be cool. I'm super excited to see and hear him speak though. It will be a super cool experience. 

Other than that, life is good. I really am thankful for this opportunity that Heavenly Father has given me to serve Him and His children here in Buenos Aires. It's an incredible chance I have to meet these people and to watch them progress in the gospel. I only have 18 months to fearlessly testify of Christ, and 5, almost 6, of those 18 are already gone. I have about 1 year left to give everything I have to this work, and I'm so ready to do this. I love the mission. I love my Heavenly Father and His Son. Jesus Christ. I love every single person I have met here. And I just wish each and every one of you could be walking the streets with me, to meet these people, because it's amazing. And an email once a week doesnt do it justice.

I miss you and love you all so much!

Love,

Hermana Prestwich