Update #52

This week has been super chill but at the same time, it has been super hectic. I just love my area. Seriously. I am super spoiled here hahaha! For this reason I feel like I'm going to get transferred haha! I am enjoying my time with my companion and we are also working hard helping our brothers los argentinos in here. One of our investigators has been progressing so much. He read gospels principles so that he can participate more in class. LIKEWUT? Hes a rock star! One of our part member family too has been a little more receptive and slowly but surely things has been a bit more promising. So anyway, my district has been working a lot about our spiritual power. Like we promised ourselves that we will keep focusing about searching, teaching, and baptizing. So we said that we are not going to think about how many weeks left we have or marriage. HAHAHA! (Half of my district are on our way home and half are already engaged. welp there we go hahaha!) Sooooooo..... please please please please! I don't want to get trunky emails! hahahha! 

I love you all byeeee!

We went to Tafi del Valle. It's super gorgeous in there. Stress-free zone. Just what I needed.

My companion and I slept in our porch. It was amazing. Though we were freezing cold later on that night. It. Was. Worth. It.

We ate Domino's Pizzas. This family lived at California back then and they learned how to make bbq chicken. I was heaven.

Dont start the countdown.

Miracles that I saw this week: 

1. My companion and I got lost. Like so lost that we were outside of our area and in this sketchy place. We were trying to visit this family that lives outside of our area (long story) and we took the bus to get there. We were so proud that we got on the right bus but we failed at getting off in the right place. Its hilarious to think about it right now but we were so scared! But anyway, we are so blessed because there were people who helped us get on the right bus and the right track. The bus dude even helped us where to go. He dropped us where we should've been! Prayers are powerful, people. You just gotta have some faith and ask!

 

2. President`s revelations! Did I even mention how awesome my companion is? Well then, she is. She's just what I needed the most in my stressful season of the missionary life. I just got used to being the psychologist of the hermanas in my zone that I didn't even realize that I have been keeping a bottle inside me. Hermana Smith helped me a lot to just be truly happy and calm. Way to go President Chaparro!

 

3. The Sacrament. Well funny story. My companion and I live at the 8th floor. There were flyers at the ground floor where we can order delivery. So we did. Our food came exactly at 10:15 PM. We gotta sleep at 11 PM. So we ate like a whole bunch of fried potatoes and milanesas with green olives and melted cheese. It was awesome. But it was not awesome to wake up in the morning with a stomach ache and vomits (horrible image, I'm sorry. Rated PG please). But the next day was Sunday and we were like, noooo. NOOO! So we went to church sick. But right when we ate the bread and water, WOOOSH! We instantly got better. The power of the sacrament is legit! - sorry for my lack of vocabulary. I don't know how I can explain it even better hahaha! 

This week has been superb! My companion, Hermana Smith, is awesome. We were joking that we're like a married couple because we just gotta do everything together. (Its obvious since we have to stay together like companions, but you get what I am trying to say hahaha!) We just recently finished eating at this fancy place (fancy for Argentina) and my oh my it has been a while since I ate a good stake. Medium rare with melted cheese, bacon bits, and mushrooms. It was heaven. It was a bit awkward at first because I am just not used to eating at restaurants hahaha! But we just gotta treat ourselves sometimes, you know? 

At the mission office!

We made an Argentina t-shirts as a zone. It is wicked!

San Miguel Tucuman!

FOTOS THIS WEEK!

Sister Smiles :)

I do not know how I am still alive and full of energy. Miracles really do happen hahaha! Week 6 was just the most stressful, tiring, and wow. I am just happy that everything is done. 

Welp. Anyway, this is week 1 of our transfer. I have a new companion! Her name is Hermana Smith. Of course she's from Utah. I was joking that shes a direct descendant of Joseph Smith. It would be pretty cool if she is, right? I do not know her yet because shes going to arrive here in my area at night. The travel time is like 8 hours from her area to my area. Yup. We travel A LOT. But anyway, I am pretty nervous because I have to train her. Man, I just live training people. I talked to my mission President about it and I asked, "President, why do I always have companions like this? Not that I am whining. Lets get that straight. I just wanted to know, hahaha!" Then he said, "Because Hermana Garcia, you have the energy and the character to do so." Welp. There we go. Short and sweet. 

The members in my ward also have a nickname for me. La Hermana Sonrisa. Sister Smiles hahaha! Still living up to my nickname. SmileyPauline all the waaaaay!  

So anyway, this week was just so hectic. I wasn't in my area for almost the whole week because we were traveling to train other zones then have divisions with our sister missionaries. It was pretty tough. I felt so bad for our investigators because we haven't seen them at all! But yesterday we were able to see Jorge. Oh my. He is honestly the bestest. He started reading the Book of Mormon! He said that he liked reading the testimony of Joseph Smith! We left him to read Enos. I know that he will like this chapter too :) Also man, he is so different now. Different from the Jorge that we know when we first started teaching him. But not only him, his whole family too! His mom looked so healthy! All of them just have a brighter light. Right now we are working so that Jorge can be a worthy Priesthood holder :) 

Hmmm.... what else can I say? OH! Well, I have been eating Locro the whole week. Its a typical food here in Argentina. But more than likely Tucuman in general. I LOVE LOCRO. Its a weird kind of dish because it has cow stomach and all the fun. Its like Kare-Kare in tagalog. Like squash soup but with the goodies of cow organs ;) Sounds great, right? I am not even being sarcastic. I love it so much. We had an activity in church during 9th of July and the whole ward cooked this big bucket of Locro (I will send photos next week!). Then Hermana Garcia sin verguenza, (my other nickname of the ward hahaha) I brought my own tupperware so that I can bring some at home hahahah! My companion doesn't really like Locro so just more food for meee hahahaha! 

Even though this week has been hectic, it was pretty fun. The zone leaders in my areas were like, Hermanas are you even working in your area? What do you do in your life? LIKEWHUT. Hahaha :) 

I love you all. The mission life is great! So grateful for this opportunity! Pray for my new companion! We are in a big area and shes blonde so... well.... we are probably going to get robbed soon haha! KIDDING MOM! All is well in tierra de Gadianton!

Weekly Letter #2

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICAAA! 

Send me pictures on what you guys did this 4th of July! I miss the summer there in Philly! I want to play in the park! hahaha We are freeeeezing cold in here. It has been raining and the weather is just super depressing. I catched a bit of a cold but no worries! I have my inhaler, nebulizer, and medicine to keep me company! 

Well this week we have seen miracles. We were able to baptize 2 souls, Estefania and Jorge! It was a struggle to get Estefania to be baptized. Kasi meron syang epilepsy. Yung memory retention nya eh hindi masyadong magaling. Its easy for her to forget things. Then she was also not keeping one of the commandments so we were battling to keep her on shape to get baptized. But all is well in Zion kasi now shes able to repent and really live the gospel. Si Jorge naman, sya na lang yung nag-iisa na hindi member sa family nya. He didn't even want to get baptized or even think about getting baptized. Pero a month ago we had this lesson so spiritual with him. His mom cried and he felt to spirit so strong! Then he accepted the baptismal date! He attended church without fail for 3 weeks and he even participated in Priesthood meetings. Did I mention that he lives far from church and has to walk to church? YUP. Hes that awesome. His mom is also sick. Like REALLY sick. Pero his mom wants him to get baptized so that they can be together forever like a happy family. so his mom didn't mind the cold weather nor the distance so that his son can be baptized. We asked the Elders to give her a blessing. MAN! Priesthood blessings are legit! It worked to well and she was able to do the things that she used to do! She also can stand alone without help! This family is just so awesome. They invited us to eat with them the day of his baptism and they cooked this super meal to us. It was a humble meal but we can feel that every ingredient and steps were made with love. 

It was just so great to see Estefania and Jorge grow. It wasnt easy. But it was worth it. I feel like they are one of my kids hahaha! Kasi I took care of them, I sacrificed so many things to keep them going, I prayed for them, I cried for them. Man oh man. Missionary work is just so awesome and humbling.

Anyway, this week is the last week of transfers. I will be able to have a new companion. Id still have to talk to president about ending in October tomorrow. We are rushing things right now because we have to travel to the mission office and have a reunion for the leaders. This week is just going to be crazy because of 9th of July. The independence of Argentina! My area will be so crazy because the members said that roads will be blocked. The president of Argentina will be here and even the King of Spain. Like what? Spain has a King? And there are still kings reining? WHUUUUT? But anyway, we just know that it will be crazy. Ill also have the train 3 zones, have divisions with 2 companionship, then organized an activity. yay...... Pray for my soul hahahaha! This week will be hectic! 

I love you all! Keep being awesome! 

Weird question. What do you guys want for me to bring back home? Recuerdos! I cant remember what this word means in English! I AM FORGETTING EVERYTHING! 

PS- The struggle is real. I am seriously an argentine right now.

Weekly Letter #1

Welp. I was praying and meditating. Maybe I really should come back home in October. Its a bit hard to think about it kasi maybe I was just trying to run away from my responsibilities back home hahaha! Kasi the mission life we are only focusing on the problems and life of others. We are fully focused on the job that we are forgetting about our own needs and our own life. Hahaha to be honest kasi I am scared about what is waiting for me back home. Alam ko naman that you guys are there and all. Parang mahirap lang maka-adapt ulit sa surroundings. Ive heard about it with other returned missionaries hahaha. Pero I will have to talk about my mission president about everything. But more than likely I am going back home in October. 2 more transfers and I am back home!

Pho... BECAUSE I MISS EATING PHOO!!

We had a district activity where we wanted to visit this tourist spot in our area. Pero sarado kasi holy day!! HAHAHA! So naghanap nalang kami ng magagawa. May park so nagpicturan nalang kami. We gotta make the best of the moment diba? Hahahaha!