Monday, March 13, 2017

The Best 18 Months of My Life

I can't believe this is my last email of my mission. These last 18 months have been the best 18 months of my life. I can't begin to express how greatful I am that my Father in Heaven let me serve here in La Gran Misión Buenos Aires Norte, and to represent His son, Jesus Christ. I am SO happy. I also don't have words to explain everything that happened during these last 18 months. How much I grew, learned and changed. I love this mission with all of my heart, and I don't want to leave at all. 
First, I want to thank each of you for your love, support, and prayers during this time. I love you all so much! I want so badly that each of you could have walked the streets with me, talking with everyone, and feeling the same things I feel every day. To see the miracles and the hand of God in each moment. It's beautiful!
I know, without a single doubt, that this is the church of Jesus Christ, the only true church on the face of the earth. I know that Christ lives, and that He and our Heavenly Father love us, and have a PERFECT plan for each and every one of us. I know that the Book of Mormon really does have the power to change lives. I´ve seen it, I'm a witness of it. I know without a doubt that God called Joseph Smith to restore the church. I love my Savior. He is my best friend. I am so thankful for Him and His infinite Atonement. For the opportunity that I, and we, have to change and improve everyday. It is the most incredible thing! I will never be able to repay God for the blessings that He has given me during this year and a half. I have met the most incredible people that have changed my life 100%. I love this gospel. It is the only thing that can give real, lasting happiness. 
I can't believe it's all coming to an end. That in a week I have to take this nametag off, and won't be a full-time missionary anymore. It breaks my heart to have to leave behind my beloved Argentina. It has my heart. I love this country and these people. 
I love my mission, I love being a missionary, and I love this gospel! 

I love you all and I am so thankful for you!

I will see you all in about a week! 

LOVE YOU!!

Sunday, March 12, 2017

13 March 2017

I'm going to write 2 of these, and this one is just going to be a rundown of my last week.. won't be too long.  

Well. Sara and Briyit. We finally got in contact with them again, and we set up a lesson. We went with a weird feeling in our stomach as she had been acting super weird, avoiding us and all. But we got there and it was one of the BEST lessons I have had in my whole mission. The spirit was so strong and I could literally feel Him talking and testifying through mine and my companions words. Sara opened up, tears were said, and she started to recognize the answer. We left feeling amazing. 

Well, we had set another appoitment for Saturday. So we called to confirm, and she didn't answer. We called a couple more times and nothing. So we decided to be persistant and go by anyway. So we got there. From her gate outside, we can see her but she can't see us. So we decided to call her again to see what happened. So we saw her go get her phone, give it to someone else and say "will you answer this for me please?" The man then answered, saying that Sara was working, and had left her phone at home. So we left. And she didn't come to church yesterday. So...We´re planning on focusing on others. 

We have a couple more people that are listening, but have yet to come to church. One is named Norma. She´s great, she actually listens without interrupting us every 30 seconds. It's just that she´s angry with God and doesn't feel the need to read or pray or go to church, but she´s listening. 

The other is named Cynthia. She is RE ELEGIDA.... But not married. But she is awesome. She so sweet and LOVES the idea that families are eternal. 

So our plan is to focus on them while always keep looking for more. 

It's been a good week, went by way too fast. I was sick again, so that took away a few hours of work time, but all good. 

I love this gospel, and I love being a missionary. 

Love you all!!
Hermana Prestwich 

Last pday with my best friendssss. I'm going to miss them :( 






Monday, March 6, 2017

The Final Countdown

Oh friends and family. It hurts me to say that after this email, I only have one more left to write.. Where did the time go?? 

We´ve had a pretty good week here en El Talar. On Wednesday we had a super cool activity. The zone got together in Talar for 2 hours Wednesday morning. Basically we split up and exploded El Talar. It was cool. We had 18 missionaries there and in 2 hours we set up about 46 appointments. It was awesome! 

We had an appointment with Sara and Briyit this week. We went there thinking we were going to teach lesson 3, but the spirit directed us to talk about other things. We talked about prayer and how we can recieve an answer. She said she hasnt recieved one.. Then says its because she hasn't prayed. We told her that we always pray for her, but that we can´t recieve an answer for her. That it depends on her. We also mentioned that we had set the goal for her baptism for the 5th which was yesterday. She didn't feel comfortable. She said that if she got an answer she would be baptized, but she hasn´t received that answer. That was on Tuesday. We set another appointment for Friday and she cancelled it. Then didn't come to church on Sunday. We´re a little nervous. But we´re just going to keep working and hope that she has the desire to keep going. 

We´ve found some other people, but we haven't seen them enough to know if they´re going to progress or not. BUT there is a girl named Kiara, that is pretty much a member, just lacks the baptism. She comes every Sunday and goes to every activity. Her parents gave her permission to listen to us so basically she can be baptized this coming sunday! 

We have a member of the ward that is a convert and I don't know if he has problems or what, but he asks the most random questions. For example "Why first, second and third nephi? Who are the nephis??" Or (talking about the offices in the priesthood) "But where does the pope fit in to all of this?? And there arent prophets and apostles today, right? Oh, there are?? But only for the people in north america.. right??" He kills me. 

But honestly, I love being a missionary. I love having the nametag, being able to represent Christ here in Argentina. I can't believe I only have 2 weeks left to do it. Breaks my heart. :( I love being a missionary!! I love the mission and I love the people here.

I love you all. Have a great week!!!

Love,
Hermana Prestwich

1. Compiiii



2. Ice cream 




3. Rodri :) 


Monday, February 27, 2017

27 February 2017

Helllooooo again! 

This week was awesome and went by amazingly fast as always.. And a lot happened so Im just going to sum up some highlights for you! 

This week we did some service helping Sara and her daughter Briyit move. It was awesome but was only about 1000000 degrees outside with 100000% humidity. But it was fun! And better because now we´re going to be able to teach in her house, instead of in the park. The sad thing is that they didn't come to church yesterday, due to them being busy getting settled at home... So I'm not sure if they will be ready for their baptism on the 5th, because we still have to teach them, but if not this week, the next! I love them so much.

Also this week was I think a record heat wise and we just happened to not have power. I think that was the WORST night of my life. We were DYING of heat. We all woke up at one point for lack of air, because even at 3 in the morning there is 100% humidity... 

We had a mission conference this wek, with a member of the seventy, Elder Levrino. It was super baja la caña, but it was sooo amazing. I got so many answers that I was looking for. It gave me so much desire to finish the mission giving everything I have. Which was the plan anyway.. But it made me even more ready to do so. Something he said was super direct but I think called everyones attention. He said, "If you work for the prizes of men, you don´t deserve the prizes of God." I loved this. We´re, and I´m, not here for recognition of men. I'm here because I love God, and I want Him to be happy with what I'm doing. 

I love you all and I hope you have an amazing week! Share the gospel with someone :) 

Love,
Hermana Prestwich 

1. Servicio!!! 


2. They travled far to come see me today


3. Preaching the gospel at 10pm in the rain 


4. Hermana Anderson :) 


5. When the power goes out and you´re drowing in your own sweat (thats gross im sorry 


6. The best lunch with my favorite family :) 


1. Hermana Bautista! She has my heart :)  

 
2. Hermana Rodriguez... she also has my heart 


Monday, February 20, 2017

20 February 2017

Hey everyone!  

This was a good week. We´re progressing well with Sara and Briyit! We had a good lesson with them this week and they´re doing awesome. They're still set to be baptized on March 5th! I'm so excited. 

This week we did divisions with some sisters from the zone. I was with Hermana Doxey here in Talar. It was one of the hottest days, I swear. We walked and walked and walked and got rejected over and over and over. But who cares right? Well God always blesses us, and we saw a miracle. We were walking down the street knocking doors, when I saw this guy outside. Felt like we should talk to him and then got distracted with the door contact and we left. We were about 2 blocks away when we heard someone whistle at us to call our attention. I looked back and it was that same guy, and he goes "want cold water?" My first reaction was to say no, but then I realized this was our chance to talk to him. So he goes "are you guys mormons?" And says that he's familiar with the church because "his friend was on drugs so he went to church to get help" which made no sense to me, and then I realized that his "friend" was him. So I asked if we could go by later and he said yes, and then goes "as missionaries, are you able to help people with drugs? Like change their lives?" So I said. "we teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. The things that we teach help people come closer to Him, and change their lives in the process." It was awesome. So we have an appointment with him this week. Wish us luck! 

This week my testimony of the atonement was strengthened. It was a hard week for me, and I was going through something that I didn't understand. I prayed so hard. And during those prayers that I said asking to be able to understand, I felt something really cool. I don't need to understand. That´s why Christ suffered for us. So when we don't understand, there's someone that does. I don't need to understand, just trust. 

I love you all and hope you had an awesome week!

See you in 4 WEEKS!!!

Hermana Prestwich

1. Train Tracksss




2. My comp thought I was smiling hahahah




Elder Muchaca came back for a visit 2 weeks after he was released.


Monday, February 13, 2017

Milagros en El Talar

Holaaaa! 

This week had a lot changes. But besides all those, it was a good week. 

Monday was the last day of the transfer, so we all got together, knowing that some would be transfered or going home. Then Tuesday was transfers. It was a sad day to be honest. I said goodbye to some of my best friends as one got transfered and the other went home. 

Butttt thats the mission I guess, life goes on, right?

Right. Remember Sara and her daughter, Briyit? They came to church a couple times. Well Sara called us the other day to see if we could meet in the plaza to talk. Me with my experience that an investigator wanting to "talk" is never a good thing and my obvious lack of faith, was praying the whole way there.  Well we got there and she goes "well, are you going to teach me?" hahaha so we taught the restoration and even though we had planned to not invite her to be baptized again, because she said it was too fast the last time, the spirit prompted us so strongly to do so. So we invited her and Briyit to be baptized, and they accepted. They´re set to be baptized on March 5th! It was so awesome. She kinda talked herself into it. We invited her, promising that her life would change, and she said it was fast, and then ended up saying that she needs to do her part and keep going so that God will bless her. She´s in a really tough spot in her life and really opened up to us during the lesson. Tears were shed and confidence was gained. The Spirit was there, and he touched her heart. 

Other than that, the mission goes on. Im learning to love this ward, area, and the members more and more every day. I had a long conversation with my companion the other day about how thankful I am for the mission. I thought about the person I was before and I am 100% different. Im still way far from the person that God wants me to be, but Im trying. And thanks to the mission I was able to progress and change so much faster. My weaknesses have been turned into strengths... and because Ill never be perfect and because Im far from it, I have more weaknesses. But now I know how to trust and rely on the Lord to work and turn those into weaknesses. I dont think there are words to express how grateful I am for the mission. 

I´ve already written enough, sorry they´re always so long. Just know that I love each and every one of you and Im so thankful for you all! 

And thanks for wishing me a happy birthday! It was great! Love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Love,
Hermana Prestwich 

1. Even the rain cant stop us




2. Soccer every morning!




3. Mi cumpleeeee! 





Roomates





Monday, February 6, 2017

The Beginning of the End

Well, here we are. Today I officially start my last transfer. I dont even know whats happening. Never thought this would happen.  

This week there isnt much to tell sadly. I dont even know what happened. Sara and her daughter didnt show up to their appointment, so we werent able to teach them. But she did happen to see us and came up to us to talk, and explained why she didnt come, but that she would be there on Sunday.. and didnt show up. But she sent a message later Sunday night saying she couldnt go but next Sunday she would be there. 

This is a hard area. Im honestly tired of walking around and contacting and not getting anywhere with anyone. Im tired in every way possible. But I know that miracles come after the trial, right? I hope to see a ton of miracles this transfer.

Yesterday we had a great lesson in relief society, about whether or not we really know Christ. The teacher said something interesting. That one day, Christ is going to come, and He´s going to call us by our names.. Will we recognize His voice? 

That´s all I have this week, sorry :( Next week will be better, I promise. 

Love you all and have a great week!

Hermana Prestwich 








Monday, January 30, 2017

30 January 2017

This is probably going to be one of those super lame emails.. So I apologize in advance.  

Wednesday we had a worldwide missionary broadcast. Super awesome, all about missionary work. How we can better teach repentance and baptize converts. A lot of good ideas and a lot of personal revelation. It hit me then that I have 7 weeks to put all that in practice. So we got to work. And it was a tough week. I have definitely gotten used to the rejection, but I don't know what was up with the people in Talar this week but they were just.. rude. Even down to the members. I mean if you dont want to listen to us that's one thing. But when you yell at us about how you´re "tired because you just got home from work and we´re disturbing you and giving you a headache"... frustrates me. 

Okay I''m done ranting. But something really cool Ive come to notice about this week is that the rejections dont hurt me. My self confidence doesn't go down, and neither does my ánimo, because they´re not rejecting me. But it hurts my soul when they reject because when they´re saying no to me, as a representative of Jesus Christ, they´re saying no to Him. And it hurts. Because I am so proud to be here doing what I'm doing and when people say no without even knowing what it is they´re saying no to, sometimes I just want to take them by the hair and make them understand.

Okay, now  I'm done ranting. 
Remember Sara? The one I mentioned last week that showed up to church? Well she showed up again, with her daughter. They are so awesome. She has a complicated living situation and schedule, but we´re trying to meet any moment we can. We tried committing them to baptism yesterday. They said they wanted to be baptized, but not that fast. But at least there´s something to work with. 

And Suli, the awesome contact we had, and the awesome lesson we had last week, hid herself from us this week so that was cool. 

I am just so eternally greatful for the mission. It has blessed me in every part of my life. I have met my life long friends here, have met some of my greatest examples and heros, and have come close to my Savior and my Father in Heaven. I love the mission. 

Hope everyone has a great week. 

Love you!!

Hermana Prestwich 

1. My best friends



2. roommates hahah


3. Sunday


4. Peruvian Food!!! w/ some of the zone 

Monday, January 23, 2017

Blessings really do come after the trial of faith

This was an awesome week. I really don't have words to explain it.
Just a lot of awesome things. On Tuesday we had interviews with President. Took all day but sooo worth it. President always knows what it is I need to hear. He´s always super direct with me for some reason. My comps always say that he's super nice and all in interviews with them, but he's always super direct with me. All good though. I need it.
So this week we finally got to see Suli, a super awesome contact we did in the plaza. We had an AWESOME lesson with her! Like, so awesome. We read in 3 Nephi, and she loved it. We committed her to coming to church and she said we needed to wait for her there because she was for sure coming... and didnt show up. But it's okay because we had an awesome miracle.
Her name is Sara. She was a contact done by the elders. We called her to set up an appoitment and she said "the boys invited me! Wait for me on the corner tomorrow because I'm coming!" So we waited, and she came. With her daughter who happens to be 9 :) She loved it, and already said she´ll be coming back next week. So we have an appoitment with her this week and we´ll be committing her and her daughter (and hopefully her husband) to baptism :)
Now for the highlight of the week:
Today in the morning we had a special meeting with Elder Stevenson from the Quorom of the 12 Apostles. It. Was. Awesome. It was with all the leaders from all 4 of the Buenos Aires North missions. Before we started he asked to be able to shake everyones hand, and that was awesome. It was a really cool meeting about how to be a better leader and a better missionary over all. And, even though I had dreams every night this week about falling or messing up directing the music in front of an apostle, everything went great. Hahah but really it was such an incredible meeting. His wife said something that I loved. Talking about missionaries, she said, "you´re different, and that´s so good".
I think that applies to everyone, missionaries and members. We have different standards, different goals, and a different perspective. We all are trying to come unto Christ and return to our loving Heavenly Father. We´re different, and that is so good.
I love you all, and I hope you have an amazing week.
Love,
Hermana Prestwich
I have pictures but dont have my camera.. Sorry! 




1. Rio de Tigre 




2. Hermana Rodriguez :)




3. Rio de Trigre, sin mi jajaj






Putting a deadlock in my hair.


Monday, January 16, 2017

I Believe That We Will Win.

Bueeenoooos dias!! 

This has been a crazy week packed full of heat and work and meetings and ANIMO. 

So we have the biggest zone in the mission (see photo below) thanks to the fact that we have the assistants, office elders, and 4 new areas that are being opened. We have 16 companionships, o sea, 32 missionaries. Its.. Awesome. President has set the goal to get to a point where we´re regularly baptizing 200 per month. And because we´re the biggest zone, President has been putting a ton of pressure on us. So we set the goal to baptize 50 this month as a zone. We also made a "leaders zone" with the zone leaders and sister training leaders and assistants and set the goal to baptize 55 this month... I have neverrrr had such a desire to find and baptize like I do now. 

...And its never been harder. We have a ton of posibilities, but no one that can progress right now. Its killingggg meeee. Satan is working so hard on us right now. Miguel, well.. is unwilling to act on anything. He refuses to read and go to church. Its frustrating. Marcela isnt married, and cant read, and also isnt willing to come to church. All the other options we had just all fell through this week. We committed them to come to church this week pero mal mal mal and.. no one showed up. The elders gave us some records of old investigators in our area. We prayed and felt super strongly about 4. Well we called them and 2 of those 4 dont want anything to do with us. 

So basically, its hard. But the desire I have to find and baptize is stronger than ever. The zone has come together to reach this goal. We made a list of every posibility the zone has to be baptized these next coming weeks, and in total, there were 120 names. So every other day this week we´ve had conference calls to pray for each person by name. One of the APs has taught the zone the we believe that we will win chant so they have been calling us all every night to do that chant together. haha Its super fun...

So this will be another week us hard hard work. We have a ton of ideas. We´re doing "multi-divisiones" where the instead of doing exhanges with leaders, the whole zone is going to change. We have divisions with other sisters, we have conference calls, chants.. we´re super excited. 

We´ve been giving all though, seriously. To the point where we´re singing on the bus. If you know me, its probably hard to imagine. But I want this so bad!

I just love the mission. I cant believe I only have 9 more weeks to wear the nametag for everyone to see. To testify of Christ and bring people to repentance. We´re focusing a lot on charity as a mission and when you pray for it in every prayer it really works. I really do love every person here. I have gained such a strong testimony of the perfect plan that God has especifically for me. Every person that has crossed my path here has taught me something or helped me become the person God needs me to be. 

I love you all, have a great week!
and a birthday shout out to my sis who turned 15 on friday, love you!!

Love,
Hermana Prestwich 

Pics:
1. la gran zona LITORAL. #LITORALmenteexcelente



2. last pday with the sisters we live with 



3. the kittens that brought us to marcela



4. y mi compi 



5. Roomates




6.  Hangin





7. P-day Fun





8.  Me and Hermana Ladezma again

Monday, January 9, 2017

9 January 2017

Hey everyone! 

This week I actually have some things to report as we got to go out and work this week finally ;) 

The first day we got to get out and work was on Wednesday. Which actually was a pretty good day. Well we were walking along and on the side of the road we saw some kittens, and being who I am I just had to stop and play with them. So I was sitting there in the grass playing with these adorable creatures when this woman came up from the house in front. Well I decided I needed to stop being 5 years old and we started to talk to her. Her name is Marcela. She has two kids who are 10 and 9 (perfeccctttt) and is super open. We asked what her biggest worry would be and she goes "everything. I don't know if I did the right things or made the right decisions.." YES. Those are my favorite answers because it means there's a lot to work with. We went by a couple times and the only problem is that she can't read.. so that makes it hard to leave things with her. She's also not married. But there's potential. 

We have also been working with a man names Miguel. He always listens to us, the only problem is that he only seems interested because it gives him someone to talk to. But it was so funny the other day we went by and he was outside, along with his sons and all their drunk friends blasting music from a car and he turns to them and goes "can you turn that down?!?! I can't hear my sisters!!!" haha I died. 

We also contacted someone in the park the other day named Suli. She was super awesome but kept making excuses about why she couldn't accept the book, and then goes "why don't you read me something right now?" So we asked if she had any questions and she said she didn't understand where our spirits go after we die. I let out a sigh of relief because as soon as I asked that question I regretted it because who knows if I would have found an answer. But luckily I knew it. So we read and she really liked it. She then accepted the book and we have an appointment with her on Friday ;)

Theres a lot of potential here in Talar. It's a little bit of a challenge opening an area with a companion that still doesn't know how to be a missionary, but we´re doing well I think. We´ve only gotten lost like 100 times, including yesterday when we got lost for an hour and ended up contacting this guy in the middle of this forest who had rod in his hand like he was going to murder us. I couldn't stop staring at it and he goes "oh this? Its nothing. Im just a little weird" Which was when I was like, "okay yeah.. see ya!"

The members are awesome and are helping us a ton. My comp is great, and we live with the best sisters in the mission. Times is flying. Today I reached 16 months. Cant believe it. Demasiado rápido. 

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

Love,
Hermana Prestwich 

Monday, January 2, 2017

Happy 2017

Happy New Year!!! I can't believe 2016 has come and gone. It was one of the best years full of miracles and happiness and blessings out here serving en La Gran Mision Buenos Aires Norte. I just love the mission. 

This email is going to be super short due to the fact that we haven''t left the apartment this week thanks to my sickness. BUT I do have a new companion. Her name is Hermana Ledezma, and she´s from Chile :) My 4th Chilean comp! Shes super awesome :)

We did get to work Wednesday though, which was great. I think the ward really missed the sisters because we´ve been invited over so many times, given so much food, and even flowers. And the ward found out I was sick and over and over again brought us food and medicine and drinks. Its gonna be a good 2 transfers :) 

Sadly thats about all I have to say.. Its really hot here. Like unbelievably hot. We don't have much shade in our area. Our apartment doesn't have air conditioning... Pray for us. 

Love you guys and hope you have a great week!!

Love,
Hermana Prestwich

The only picture we took this week.. 




Sick in Bed and my new companion Hermana Ledezma