These Missionaries sang as they walked... and walked... (July 27, 2015)

and walked, and walked, and WALKED. Happy Pioneer Day Utahans!!!! We celebrated by, surprise! Walking. haha :) I´m so grateful for the sacrifices of my ancestors and all pioneers to establish a home of faith! And for being so firm in the standards of the Lord- I could go on about this all day- learn from the Pioneers everyone! Their examples are for our day! That being said...

Buen día!!!!!

What a wonderful week that it´s been! We got to teach Jenifer on Wednesday! She´s so wonderful! She said the prayer and is reading the Book of Mormon and everything! It was SO sad- her baby boy had a bad cough and so they couldn´t go to church this week, but we´re praying hard that everything is okay with him and that they can come soon.

We also helped host a baby shower this week! Kinda weird thing to do as missionaries, I know, but baking brownies and decorating a baby blue onesie- yeah, we´re the team for the job :) There are 3 pregnant ladies in our ward right now, so it was a fun night to come together and teach and learn about the importance of mothers and families and, well, we ate lots of cake too. But the morale is, THANKS MOM! And guess what!!!??? Like 4 less active members made it there too!!! YES. Our investigator Mailen was even going to go, but was sick. Freaking winter.



Speaking of winter, we celebrated Christmas in July. It’s just that, being in this freezer, naturally all we were craving was a little Christmas music and cookies and hot chocolate, so we decorated the house to the 9s and enjoyed ourselves :) (But not too much, because Friday I was sick. Again. Freaking again. With the stomach flu. But I´m okay. it was a one day stint. I don´t know what caused it, I just know that I’m only going to be able to eat fruit and veggies for the rest of my life... not to be dramatic or anything...) Lesson from this- finding random reasons to celebrate life (and especially the life of our Savior), will do your heart a lot of good.

Okay, because I'm short on time, I had to copy and paste my testimony and letter to my pres. It´s not that I don´t want you all to receive the spiritual part of my letter, AL CONTRARIO! I would love it if you could translate it... if not, here´s a little sum up of what I want to say:

Please, know that I love you and hope you read and study the scriptures with an open heart. I hope you smile at at least 5 strangers every day. I hope you remember to pray both morning and night! We need every second we can get to meditate and talk with our Heavenly Father. GO TO CHURCH!!! Help others go to church!!! If you have a car or don’t, get out there Sunday morning and help them make it. YOUR INFLUENCE MATTERS!!! :)

Este semana disfrutamos el oportunidad de ver los frutos de hermanamiento en nuestro barrio. Muchos menos activos vinieron a actividades y fueron visitados por nosotros y miembros juntos. Yo sé que Dios nunca olvide de ninguna persona. Aunque nuestros investigadores no pudieron ir a la iglesia este semana (causado por enfermidad) no nos disanimamos. Dios todavía esta con ellos. Esta ayudandoles, no les ha abandonado. Sé que como usted dijó, conversion no pasa en sola una semana- toma tiempo. Ellos pueden todavia progresar en este proxima semana y oramos que puedan ir a la iglesia pronto. Me puso un poco triste cuando ellos no llegaron (tuvimos miembros para ayudarles llegar y todo), porque sé que en la iglesia el Epiritu les puede enseñar aun más! Todos nececitamos estar ahí. Quisería que los miembros pudieren entender esto aun más- la importancia de la iglesia, y la influencia y responsabilidad que tienen para ayudar a otros llegar ahí. Nos esforzaremos para ayudar a más llegar este semana :) Ya tenemos mucho razon para regocijar- La asistencia esta subiendo! que gozo!!! Sé que el Salvador nos capacita y limpia. Su Expiacion es real, no solo una historia. Nececitamos la Santa Cena, y nececitamos aprender de uno a otro en la iglesia. Nunca estamos solos! Y tampoco nuestros investigadores estan solos- Dios les ayudará en su conversión, y nosotros tambien haremos todo posible por ellos.

This week we enjoyed the opportunity to see the fruits of sisterhood in our neighborhood. Many less-active came to activities and were visited by us and members. I know that God will never forget anyone. Although our investigators could not go to church this week (because of sickness) but we are not discouraged. God is still with them. He is helping them, and has not abandoned them. I know that, as you said, conversion does not happen in one week- it takes time. They can still make progress in this next week and pray that they can go to church soon. I got a little sad when they did not arrive (we had to help get members and all), because I know that in church, the Holy Ghost can teach them even more! We all need to be there. Members understand this even more-the importance of the church, and the influence and responsibility they have to help others get there. We will strive to help them arrive this week :) We have much reason to rejoice for attendance is rising! I love it!!! I know the Savior teaches and cleanses us. His Atonement is real, not just a story. We all need the sacrament, and we need to learn from each other in the church. We are never alone! And our investigators are not alone-God will help them in their conversion, and we will also do everything possible for them.

Love you! Have a WONDERFUL week!!!



Hermana Hill

Jeremias, Jenifer, y Geletina (July 20, 2015)

Feliz Dia del Amigo!!!

It’s the day of the friend here in Argentina, so buy that special bud of yours an alfajor (or other candy bar common to the country that you’re in...)

What an amazing week that we’ve had! Yes, we’ve fully recovered from the stomach flu (THANK GOODNESS) and were back to the battlefield. There’s already so little time left, so here’s the super experience of the week:

Sunday. End of the day, beginning of the week. We finished all the plans that we had for the day, but we still had an hour to hit the streets and work. We were tempted to just go home and work on the area books- like, that’s a good thing, right? And sheesh, it’s super cold outside, why not? But no, we felt that we had to keep working. we thought of a few more people that we could visit and headed that way. The people we had thought of didn’t open their doors. But just next to the last house we had, a woman sat on a bench feeding her baby. "We HAVE to talk to her!" as we started talking, we began to be amazed. This woman, Jenifer, is SO nice! And really had genuine interest in what we were sharing. She shared with us that she believes in God, but that doesn’t understand why things happen the way they do. She prayed for a baby, and she got one! But her boyfriend left her. Her friend had a baby and the baby died after 3 days. We were able to share with her about the plan of our Heavenly Father. Even though we don’t understand everything that happens, God loves us and promises us that everything will work out for our good. He has given us knowledge and his spirit to comfort us, and we CAN ask him! We talked for a long time, and I can’t explain it all, but she asked so many things, and it was so wonderful! She says that she has read the bible, and believes there is one true church, but even though she’s been to many churches, she can’t find it- she wants to! She asked us if we believe that our church is this true church, and how can she know? I can’t even begin to explain my amazement and rejoicing! I’m so amazed that even though I’m weak and a sinner and I make SO many mistakes, the Lord still guides us. He loves his children! He answers prayers! This is His work! He qualifies the called. I’m weak, but through the atonement, I can do many things!

This week we also got to hang out with our good friend Jeremias :) He fills us with so much joy. His mom recently was baptized (about 2 years ago) and because of the health of Jere they can’t go to the church. Jere has Down syndrome, and it makes it easy for him to get sick. But it doesn’t stop him from giving love and happiness to all those around him!!! Everything around him glows. Also, who knew that my scriptures could also be a car? He’s got a super imagination.

Also, Argentinians don’t know what hit them- they had a Jell-O sale!!! These 2 Utahan’s are in heaven!

Love you all! Have a wonderful week! May God bless you and keep you!!!

Abrazos!!!

Hermana Hill

Adios Presidente Parreño!!! (AND I´m old) (June 29, 2015)

Buenas Tardes!!!!

Wow, this week has been SO CRAZY GOOD!!!! So let´s jump right in...

This week a member called us and told us that she had set up an appointment for us with a neighbor in her home. WHAT?! A missionary dream come true. And the leccion went SO well. I loved it so very much.

We crossed a woman on the train tracks one day and began to talk to her. She was quick to tell us that she doesnt share our beliefs and doesnt have interess in talking more with us. To at least get to know her, we asked her name. "Graciela Hilson Jones" ...um what??? Her ancesters are welch and english. Of course this imediately caught my attention. especially because our names are so similar! We asked her if she had studdied her family history- she hadnt and wanted to! So we gave her a pamflet "my family, stories that unite us" to help her get started getting to know her family, complete with the church websites that lead her to the family history libraries. I was filled with so much joy in being able to help her with that! Family history means so much to me, and I know that it´s important for everyone!

Our whole district of missionaries came to Pueyrredón this week to help us find more people to teach- it was wonderful! We got to find so many people and it helped us to update all the old records that we have.

I don´t know if you all can believe it, but I sure cant- I complete one year in the mission this week! I´m so grateful for the time that I have had and will have here! I love it SO SO much! Share your testimony, it´s SO worth it.

We got to celebrate this morning the wonderful 3 years that we've had with presidente Parreño and his wife here in Bahía Blanca! Yep, they go home this week. What a big change! And with the new mission in Buenos Aires opening up, another mission will be taking some of our areas- I don´t think I'll ever get to know Mar del Plata... We´re looking forward to meeting our new president, and I´m so grateful for the things I've learned from Presidente Parreño!

Speaking of which, here's my little letter from this week because I don´t have more time:

Apreciado Presidente Parreño,

Ni puedo expresar cuan grande y maravilloso ha sido este semana! Es un cambio gigante por el barrio de Pueyrredón!!! Los miembros nos estan ayudando muchisimo! y wow, hasta recibir llamadas diciendo "hermanitas, he invitado mi vecina para escucharles en mi casa a las 3 mañana. ella nececita escuchar del plan de salvacion porque estos son sus nececidades..." Y SU VECINA VINO! La hermana le invito a la iglesia y hizo todo. Sí presidente, cuando nosotros nos consagramos los miembros tienen mas confianza en nosotras y ven la importancia de esta obra Y PARTICIPEN en ella. Ofrecimos a las hermanas de SS.SS que ellas nos pueden llamar cuando sus compañeras no pueden salir con ellas para hacer las visitas. Resuelta que salimos con una hermana y visitamos muchisimos menos activos, y encontramos muchos familias incompletas que ya tienen extra hermanamiento ahora y fa hay demaciados milagros para contarle.

I can not express how great and wonderful it was this week!  It is a huge change for the neighborhood Pueyrredón !!! Members are helping us a lot ! And wow, to receive calls saying " Sisters, I invited my neighbor to listen to you in my house at 3:00. They need to hear the plan of salvation ... " and neighboring Vino! The sister invited him to church and did everything. Yes President , when we consecrate ourselves members have more confidence in us and see the importance of this work and participate in it. We offered the Relief Society sisters that they can call us when their partners can not go with them to do the visits. Resolved we left with a sister and visited very many less active, and found many incomplete families and have extra sisterhood now there are way too many miracles to tell.

Love you! Hope you all have a wonderful week and HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!!! We Yankees will be celebrating down here on the bottom of the earth! Go to church, read the scriptures!

Hermana Hill

Back to the basics in... English Class!!! (July 13, 2015)

Hola familia!!!

We have had a STINKING AWESOME WEEK! Sadly, We were only able to work for about three days of this week... we caught some kind of a stomach virus... ewe... it was super sad. We feel 100% now and we were able to work all day Sunday! Nevertheless, it was still a great week, because in those days that we could work, wonderful things happened.

A sweet member called us this past week to invite us to attend her English class as North American guests. We had prepared a message about families and family history, but they already had it all planned out! They asked us tons of great questions to which we responded in English (it was SO hard to speak!) Their questions were wonderful! We didn’t think we would be able to share very much of what we believe with the class, but with their wonderful questions we could! We shared about a range of things, family history, why we´re called Mormons (book of Mormon), where is the church and what time, what kind of activities do you do are there etc. then, one girl said "Dale, no entendí nada, podemos hablar en castellano?" ("come on, i didn’t understand anything, can we speak Spanish) another student said in English (haha) "Why not?" So they began to ask us in Spanish! Booya. One man even asked "what is the difference between your church and the rest?" Good question! We were able to explain the restoration to them! And we turned the time over to our handy dandy member in the room to explain a few other things too, like the book of Mormon and why our ancestors are important to us :) BEST LESSON WITH MEMBER EVER. haha or one of the best that is. We made them oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and they gave us chocolates- win win. And we took a huge group pic and everything- it was so much fun!!! And now they don’t think that we´re just 2 crazy girls in nice clothes wandering the streets bothering people! Hopefully we can talk to them again soon :)

We had many lessons this week, and I was able to learn tons about the fears of the investigators/people that we talk with to change. They often feel that if they go to church, they´ll have to commit to God and everybody that they’re going to be good people and try to change their life. I hope we helped them understand that while yes- the goal is that we can all change our lives! And that’s not a bad thing, or to say that they’re horrible people, we all can be better, no? But going to church for the first time can be whatever you need it to be. Maybe its just to see how it is. To see how you feel there, and to learn. To see if it´ll help you or hurt you. It´s between you and God. I hope so much that they understand that, and have the courage to just see if it´s something they want in their lives!

Love you all tons! Have a wonderful week!!! Spread smiles!!!! Don't eat 3 day old meat empanadas!!!!

Love,

Hermana Hill

Shankie Doodlay SOY! (July 6, 2015)

Hola, Buenas Tardes!


This week was flipin' awesome! Especially with my wonderful companion, and the hard working members of the Pueyrredón ward. This week includes the Finales del Copa America (American Cup? Soccer Tournament) On the 4th. We sported the colors of the USA, NOT Chile, just so you know. But so that we didn’t die, those colors were kept on the inside of our coats, and outside, we rocked the Sky blue and Gold with scarves and ribbons and earrings and whatever patriotic argentine thing we could find. The world wept here when Chile won. It´s just that us Argentines like letting others enjoy the 1st place so we can rock the second. Bad joke. We´re still bitter. Especialmente para perder a CHILE (especially to lose to Chile). Ouch. Add that to the fact that the streets were VACANT for 4 hours on Saturday, and the missionaries (us) without many people to talk to. BUT! Never fear, because we Yankees had a 4th of July miracle!!! We found 2 new investigators during the game- WHAT?! This is almost half of the new investigators that we had found in all of the week! One was a man named Fernandez, a 40 year old hipster that agreed to talk with us for a few minutes while he smoked, but no longer cause then he´d miss the game. But, even after he had finished 2 cigarettes he kept talking with us. and it was a wonderful lesson! We have another appointment to meet with him and his family this week!

The second contact was a woman named Norma. Whoa- another not so coincidence. Norma had just left to get some snacks for the game (seriously, everyone and their dogs were watching it) when we found her. She really needed to talk to someone, i´m so happy that we got to talk to her too. Her 9 year old son died a while back, and so she is desperately trying to figure out how God could possibly love her and what is going on with life. It hit a real heart string for me, well, extra hard, because I immediately thought of joey my little brother. We were more than happy to be able to share with her the plan of salvation! She was very grateful too, and apologized for her tears. I wanted to respond "ARE YOU KIDDING! Don´t be sorry for talking to us and crying!!! We look EVERY day for people who are like you and need comfort!!!! And if we hadn´t found you in this moment, we´d just be sharing the gospel with dogs cause they’re the only living beings in the streets right now! And this message is so important!!! And I know I only just met you but I love you so much and hope you have a happier life!!!!! I hope we can talk to you again because I KNOW this message will help you!" I think I shared a shorter, less scary, calmer version of that with her, but just know, missionaries ALWAYS have time to help. We LIVE for moments like that.

Hope you all have a wonderful week! Read and enjoy your scriptures! Love you all!

Hermana Hill