Back to Work

Hello friends and fam! I feel likes its been a few weeks since I've sent an email telling you all about the work here in Zárate. Lately its just been meetings, meetings... and more meetings. 

BUT we do have some investigators. I think I´ve told you all about Alicia and Emilio. They´re an older couple. Emilio is in a wheelchair due to Parkinson´s and he can't walk and he struggles to talk. He and Alicia live alone, and their house just happens to be in the most complicated location that going to church is a struggle. What we need is someone from the ward to stop by and take them in their car.. but remember how I mentioned that we talked to the bishop and he said there wasn't anyone and I was upset? Yeah. We continued to ask and finally our ward mission leader decided to step up and he said that if no one can, we, he, and the elders, will push him all the way up the hill and to church. Anyway. We´ve been working with Alicia and Emilio for about 5 weeks with no progression. I honestly felt ready to give up. But this past week we were in a lesson with her and we started talking about baptism and we said we were preparing a baptismal service for september 10th. Alicia goes "you know what? Im going to get baptized." It took every ounce of strength not to shout "FINALLY THANK YOU" due to how relieved I was. Emilio said as well that he still has a few doubts but he´s willing to accept the date and work towards it. SO HAPPY.

We also are teaching a mother and son named Nancy and Nicolas. Yesterday we went and Nancy had to leave so we ended up teaching Nicolas and his girlfriend. We ended up placing a baptismal date with them both, and they both accepted for september 17th. His girlfriend lives in a different city but the missionaries there are going to work with her. I was so happy! We´re planning on committing Nancy this week as well.

So Friday was the hottest day so far. About 90 degress and 100% humid. And then Saturday was freezing and pouring rain non stop. Argentina is funny, because if it rains even a little, or if it's super hot, they cut the power every where. Luckily we had families let us in almost all day Saturday, but we were soaked and riding bikes through rivers basically. 

On Thrusday I think, we contacted a man in the street and invited him to church. He reacted like everyone, without showing much interest. But sunday, I saw one of the elders signaling to me like crazy from the hall so we went out and the man was standing there, suit and all! His name is Jorge. He told us after that he didn't understand everything, but he liked it and wants to learn more! The night before I remember praying that maybe, just ONE of our million contacts we did that week will show up, and hey. God is amazing. 

This week I read a talk by Holland called "lessons from liberty jail" about how even though it was basically hell for Joseph Smith, it was also a temple. That anyone can receive revelation in any situation if they´re open to the spirit and continue with a good attitude. You should all read it :)

I don't have pictures this week because I didn't take any and also because the thing to upload the pictures broke.. so.. 

Have an amazing week! Share the gospel with someone! Love you!

Love,

Hermana Prestwich 

The Longest Week in History

Hello friends and fam! This has been a LONG week packed full of things, and that explains why I´m writing on Thursday.. 

Let´s just start cause it´s gonna be a long one. 

Last week was packed full of meetings and surprises. It was my companions last week in the mission so it was full of meetings for her and full of saddness as the ward said goodbye. We had Pday and then district meetings and leadership meetings and doctors appointments and final interviews with President and divisions and a dinner with President and a whole bunch of other things. 

So let's see. The doctor. I went to get my MRI last week. I have to go this week to pick up the digital copy, but we got the photos and the doctors said that they think there is a cyst in my knee so thats pretty awesome.. We´ll be sending the digital copy to Salt Lake soon to see what those doctors say. Pray for me.. 😥

Thursday we did divisions And I stayed in Zárate with Hermana Zanotti, who is just here waiting for her visa to go to the EUGENE, OREGON mission :))))) So that was super fun. Enzo, my favorite member here, accompanied us and tried pulling me on the bike. Athough he´s a giant, he´s only 13 and sometimes lacks strength, which resulted in us crashing into a parked car and us both being super sore... but lots of laughs. We were ending divisions super late that night traveling to San Pedro, when at about 11 at night I got a call from one of the assistants. I assumed it was for my comp because her final interview was the following day but NOPE. He called to tell me about some changes in the mission so in about 10 seconds a ton of thoughts passed through my head starting with "they´re having an emergency transfer and pulling me out of the area", and ending with "I'm an awful STL and they´re lowering me". Well it wasnt any of those and I was informed that I will be staying in my area as Sister Training Leader, and also be training a new missionary. Bien. As soon as that call was over the stress came in. I barely know my area and even less how to be a sister training leader, and doing it all alone on top of that. Elder Bustos also informed me that we had to be in the mission home at 8 the following morning. No problem except that we were heading to the farthest area in the mission. Which meant we got to wake up at 4 to take a taxi to the mission home to get their at 8. It was all super fun. We spent the majority of the day there because we had the meeting, lunch and then my comps final interview. 

Monday we went to the mission home again with all the missionaries going home. They stayed in the mission home while I, and all their comps, get to work in other areas for the day. It was awesome until we got back to the offices at 8:30 and ended up waiting for our comps until midnight. And on top I was super sick. But it was fun to be with everyone in the offices to see what they do all the time. I think they put the funniest elders there because you need a snese of humor to be trapped in the offices with SO MUCH STRESS for 6 months.We got to our apartment at 2:30 that morning and I tried to go to bed feeling awful, but my comp was up all night packing so we didn't get much sleep.

Then Tuesday morning the assistants texted us asking if I could help give the training to the new missionaries along with another sister. So we were with the new missionaries all day in the mission home, which was actually super fun. I swear the missionaries get better and better every transfer. 

Then yesterdey we had a mission conference with the area presidency. Elder Teixiera and President Bragg and their wives came. Before the meeting they had a training with the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders so that was super awesome. Then we had a long meeting and lunch and it was just super awesome. I also got to see Hermana Olivares one more time before she left this morning to Chile :( Also during the meeting I got another message from the assistants telling me that Elder Teixiera wants to have personal interviews with a few of the missionaries and they along with president chose me. That was SUPER awesome. I got to talk with him for about 45 minutes and it was just full of the spirit and a ton of ideas. He helped me so much. I´m so thankful to be one chosen to meet with him. 

We haven't really been able to work in our area thanks for all the meetings and stuff, but we do have a few investigators. The ones with the most potential area a mother and son named Nancy and Nicolas. Nancy came to church last week and Nicolas came to an activity. We havent been able to meet with them since Monday, but we´re going to try to find them again and place a date with them. 

My new comps name is Hermana Glarza. She´s from the north of Argentina and just full of ánimo ready to talk to every single person that crosses our path! It´s going to be a different transfer but I know we´re going to see success. 

I read a talk this week by Elder Holland, one he gave in a BYU devotional called "Cast not away they confidence" about how normally opposition comes right before we make an important and correct decision. But, he chose to talk about the opposition that comes after we make these decision. He said something that I really liked. He said "along with the illuminating revelation that points us toward a righteous purpose or duty, God will also provide the means and power to achieve that purpose. Trust in that eternal truth. If God has told you something is right, if something is indeed true for you, he will provide the way for you to accomplish it."

If you have time this week, look it up! It's on the BYU speeches page. Love you all and hope you have had and continue to have an amazing week! I´ll be back on on Monday :) LOVE YOU. 

Love,

Hermana Prestiwch 

15 August 2016

I have ZERO time to write but so much to say 

It's been a busy week. I went to lima this week to do divisions with one of the sisters. It is a HARD area. God definitely put His strongest sisters there because one day killed me. They have 2 active families in their ward and no one wants to listen. 

I came home super sick from divisions so that took about 2 days away from working, but we had a member accompany us on Saturday and he led us to an amazing reference! Her name is Nancy and she let us in and even came to church yesterday! it was an amazing lesson. 

Its been a weird time for me in the mission. Its my comps last week :(((( I hit 11 months last week. I think at 9 months I got to the point where I fell in love with the mission, but for some reason I've hit a wall. I know the secret is work and I know it will pass. I know that the secret to true happiness here in this life is being exactly obedient to the gospel. It's the only thing that can give you pure joy. I've seen it over and over again in my life and in the lives of those I've met here. I don't have a single doubt about the truthfulness of the gospel, and I am so proud to be able to wear Christ´s name on my chest and spread the gospel to all those here in Buenos Aires. 

Sorry this was so short! I don't have any time. I love you all and hope you have an amazing week! Share the gospel with someone! LOVE YOU.

Love,

Hermana Prestwich 

Traveling, traveling, traveling.. and more traveling.

This week went by SUPER fast. It´s been crazy.  

So Tuesday, we got to get up at 5, and get on the bus at 6 to travel to Capital for Leadership Council. Its a longggg ride but its okay because the bus has like beds as seats so we just sleep the whole time. But anyway, it was a crazy and somewhat tense meeting. Sadly, there are a lot of missionaries that are having a hard time adjusting to President Smith and his vision for the mission. Its hard because its COMPLETELY different than President Ayre´s. But the meeting was like 6 hours long and we changed everything. It was intense. For example, I´ve never knocked a door in my life, as before, we didnt knock doors here. And now President is telling us that if we think it will work, then do it! And before it was ALL about the numbers. How many of lessons with a member and Less active and Recent converts that we had every week and so on. We had "numbers of excellency" that we were trying to hit every week. And now numbers are almost at the bottom of the list of things that are important. I´m having a hard time adjusting to that.. especially since we didnt get anywhere near the numbers of excellency this week. 

Then my and my comp and the zone leaders were asked to stay after in the offices to have our interviews with President. They were super cool. With President Ayre they were super fast, 5 minutes max. But with President Smith they were easily 30 minutes. But that resulted us getting back to Zárate SUPER late., 

Then Wenesday we had a Zone Meeting. We were stressing out big time with the Zone Leaders trying to figure out how we were going to present and explain the changes in the mission when we ourselves didnt even understand them. But we got through it and I think it went fine. Then we did divisions in Zárate. I went with Hermana Gonzalez from Mexico. It was super fun. 

Thursday we had to go to Capital to pick up some medicine for my comp. And I dont remember what else we did that day to be honest.. 

Friday we got to go to Capital again, but this time for me. I´ve been having some problems with my knee, and after talking to the nurse, and trying to treat it ourselves for about 3 weeks, she sent me to the doctor. We got an X-ray and he touched it and moved it in ways that had me crying, and then told me that I need to rest it with advil and ice until it gets better. I asked what he meant by "rest" explaining what we do on a daily basis. He said no bike. So I asked if I could at least walk, and he said no. Until it stops hurting. So I left there scared about what the nurse was going to tell me, as the doctor told me to do the same things that I´ve been doing for the past 3 weeks (minus the rest.. ha..) And so the nurse scheduled me for an appointment with a knee specialist, and told me to "say everything possible" to get them to do an MRI on my knee to figure out what the deal is. When talking to her I asked if there was a possibility that I would have to go home. There was a long silence after and then a ".....Well... I dont know. Lets just see what he says". She then said that she was going to talk to President because I cant be in an area with bikes, and so Im going through every day not knowing if its going to be my last here or not. Which sucks because I LOVE Zárate. 

Now a little about the progress of the area. We had a lesson with Aldana and Cristian this week. We decided not to mention anything about marriage, and taught the first lesson again. We left them with the challenge to pray again. The next day we ran into Aldana in the street and asked how her prayer went. She said super casually "the same as the first time, the church is true". We were like jumping up and down in the street. haha I love her so much. And Alicia and Emilio. Alicia came to church! she just showed up. It was so awesome. Then we introduced her to the bishop and he asked why her husband didnt come, and she explained he was in a wheelchair and there wasnt anyone to help him. The bishop told her to "bring him" no más, completely forgetting that we had asked for his help like a week ago and he refused to give it to us. We then had another member come up and pretty much yell as us for "not doing our job" for not getting her husband here and telling us that Zárate needs better sister missionaries so that was great. 

I´ve been studying a talk by Elder Holland called "Remember Lot´s Wife" For those who havent read it, I suggest you do. Its a super cool talk about looking at the future with faith, and leaving the past in the past. And not only ours, but that of others. Also another talk I read called "That´s How the Light Gets In" by Tyler J. Jarvis. It talked about how we naturally strive for perfection, and how we need to accept that we will never reach it, but that doesnt mean we aim lower, but that we aim higher and higher until we reach perfection after this life. 

I hit 11 months tomorrow. I cant believe it. I am so greatful for this time I have to be serving. To focus 100% on the gospel and how and what I need to do and change to help other people as well. Something I read this week said that we as missionaries arent expected to be perfect. We´re not going to be perfect examples for the members and investigators always even when we try, and we´re not getting them to follow us. Instead of saying "follow me", we should say "follow me as I try to follow the Savior". I just really liked that. 

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week! Ill send pictures in a different email. Sorry it was so long!

Love,

Hermana Prestwich 

1. My comp is dying here in the mish.. so we had a little funeral.  

2. Sisters in the zone :)

Families can be together forever...

Hello again friends and fam!  

This week has gone by SO fast. 

On Tuesday we went to San Fernando to have a training meeting with President. Well in this meeting he literally changed EVERYTHING about our mission. It was crazy. We all left with zero idea how to even do missionary work anymore. Before with President Ayre, we found "elegidos" or those who are completely ready for the gospel, and used things called filters in the first contact, things like if they were married, were free on Sunday´s, and lived in our area, things like that. Then if they passed all these filters, we committed them to baptism and a date in the first contact. And the date was ALWAYS in 3 weeks. And we baptized those we could fine, be it families or children or anyone really. 

Well we get there and President completely took away the filters, and the 3 weeks, and said that we are only allowed to baptize families... I´ve never baptized a complete family in my mission and so now the search has just gotten a whole lot harder. The whole way home we were all silent in thinking about how we´re going to find families.. especially here in Provincia where its close to impossible to find a couple that is actually married... 

But anyway. We came back and got to work. We started with a reference from a member that led us to another reference and so on and so forth until we found a lady named Alicia. She and her husband Emilio invited us back to their house. So we started passing by them. Emilio is in a wheelchair and has Parkinson´s. But they are so amazing. So far we´ve taught them 3 lessons and they did have a baptisimal date for the 14th of August.. The problem is they live in an area where its straight uphill and with them being older and Emilion in a wheelchair, its close to impossible to get them to church. So we went to the ward for help.

Sadly, we received none. Now  I´m not trying to complain here about our leaders or the ward, but we left this meeting with them in complete shock of the lack or support and help from them. We went to the bishop and explained the situation and asked if there´s a member with a car that could pass by to get them. He asked where they lived and when we told him he told us, without stopping to think, that there arent members down there with a car. So we then explained that the member doesnt have  to live down there to pass by and get them and he said "hermanas, I dont think you´re going to find a member that will want to do that." We then asked if he could because he has a car, said he couldn´t, and walked away. 

So we decided we were going to get there early and push im the mile uphill and 2 miles to church. But then we called them telling them we were on there way and they told us that they wouldnt be able to go. It just makes me sad to think that the ward would deny them the chance to be baptized because no one wants to take 10 minutes to pass by and get them. I left the conversations fully committed to helping everyone I can get to church. 

Well other than that, its been a good week. I cant believe we´re halfway through this transfer because I swear it just started this week. Time is going by so fast and I actually wish it would stop. I love the mission so much. I love the opportunity I have to serve and work as the Lord´s hands here in Zárate. I love the mission  :)

Love you all! ¡Que tengan una buena semana!

Love,

Hermana Prestwich

fotos:

1. We found a forest:)

2. Bikes!!

3. Enzo!!