Hermanas Renteria & Alvey chillin' with some brownies

waiting at the bus stop L-R Hermana Renteria, Hermana Milmont, Hermana Salva, Hermana Alvey

                                          RS b-day celebration - picture painted by member
                                          L-R Cecilia, Hermana Salva, Hermana Alvey,
                                          Hermana Milmont, front - Hermana Renteria

                                          Relief Society birthday party celebration

                                          Hermanas Alvey & Renteria

                                          Fountain in Villa Ballester

Hola!!!

 

So I really hope that you got all the pictures I sent. I know you wanted to see some more of what was going on here. The Relief Society activity was amazing. They did such a good job and we were so happy to be a part of it. They reenacted what happened when the Relief Society was first organized. We had a couple of non memebers there and a couple menos activos. It was really nice for them to see this part of the church. The sisters went all out with the activity. There was tons of food, the decorations were gorgeous, the costumes were superb, and the Spirit was there. I really do love the sisters in my ward. The men are pretty fun too. ^_^

 

So I am going to answer the questions right off the bat so I don´t forget.  The area is combined again, but we are still in seperate apartments and working mostly in different areas, but we are needing to communicate more and be more familiar with the entire area. It looks like Hermana Renteria will be my companion until the end of the transfer. Transfers are sunday night right after Conference.

 

I am sooooo excited for General Conference. I love General Conference and several of our recent converts and investigators have shown interest in going. Here in Buenos Aires it´s not broadcasted over television so we go to the stake center to watch General Conference. They also have a special room for all the english speakers to listen to Conference. I know that I am going to love this weekend.

 

Back to answering questions. I have not gotten any packages yet, because we don´t get mail until transfers and only if your companion is leaving. Other than that we get mail when we have interviews or zone conferences. On average we get mail about every six weeks no matter when it actually arrives. Letters still take six weeks anyway. I am still working on letters for people, but it will most likely be the beginning of next transfer when I send them all out.

 

We do not really have any investigators right now. The other Hermanas found 5 investigators in 1 day. It was an entire family and they were so happy. We were happy for them as well. Finding is the most difficult thing in our District. Our mission president has said that street contacting and door knocking are the last things you try. You are going to have the most success in contacting references, talking with menos activos, recent converts, and 5-5-5. We are still learning how to effectively do that.

 

The biggest emphasis in our mission is the vision. The Lord has a vision for each individual area and when we have that vision we will do what the Lord wants and have the greatest success. I believe that I am starting to get it, but I have always been thick headed. Part of receiving the vision (in my case) is understanding that I am in my area for a reason. The Lord wants to use me and my talents for the people here specifically. I now understand that and can go from there. Another part of the vision for everyone is to understand and believe with all their heart that in reality ¨the field is white already to harvest¨ now! A lot of missionaries have a hard time believing that the field is white in their area. They can see it in other areas, but often fail to see it in their own. President Gulbrandsen related it all to the story of Nephi in 1 Nephi 10-11. Nephi wanted to know and understand the vision his father had. He showed us how we can receive the vision and the understanding. I am still putting that into practice. I love that President Gulbrandsen sends out quotes every week from people´s letters about receiving the vision. It´s inspiring.

 

This last sunday we had 5 menos activos at church. Four of them were an entire family that had been inactive for 5 years and they wanted to come back. They had told us several times (as missionaries) that they felt special and wanted because we kept stopping by. I cannot  stress enough the importance of visiting teaching and home teaching. It is to go after the one who is sick or lost or lonely. It is to let them know they have a brother or a sister who will listen and spend time with them. My words through letters are not enough to express what I know and feel about this. There cannot be retention and love without visiting and home teaching. We are told that we will not be saved without our dead and they cannot be saved without us. It is true in this life as well. Everyone is a brother and sister and they cannot be saved without us and we cannot be saved without them. The Lord has condemned those who do not take care of their brother and had pleaded that we do so. I don´t want to sound condemning or preaching, but please know that I say this will all the love I possess. These people need you so much. I know that I will have to account for the visiting teaching that I did not do. I also know that there is great joy and wonderful friendships to be found in fulfilling this call. I wish that you could see the faces of these people when they see that someone loves them enough to come find them. It´s not always easy. But they need you.

 

I have run out of time. I love you all sooooo much and wish that I could express that in my letters, but I feel like Nephi when he says that ¨the Holy Ghost makes a man mighty in word, but not in writing¨. I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ. I will talk to you all soon.

 

Love

Hermana Alvey

Hola!!!

 

So another week has gone by. Wednesday, the doctor said I could work a half schedule. We have visited a lot of people, but nobody was home. We had stake conference this last sunday and it was amazing. It was all about missionary work. President and Sister Gulbrandsen even talked. There is a phrase here that I am in love with and say all the time. It´s ¨Bajar la cañe¨. Basically it means ¨crack the whip¨ or tell it how it is. Anyway, President bajó la cañe with the stake about having a current temple recommend and sharing the gospel with their friends.

 

I remembered one of the questions was if I had had any dreams in spanish. The first time there was any spanish in my dreams was when I was still with Hermana Reed about a month and a half ago. A couple weeks ago there was a lot of spanish in my dream. Everyone tells me that my spanish is really good and they are surprised when I tell them that I have only been in Argentina for 4 months. It seems like just yesterday I was telling them that I had only been in Argentina for 2 weeks. Time flies. I can´t believe that I´ve been on the mission for 6 months already, but at the same time, I can´t believe that I´ve only been on the mission for 6 months. There truly have been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of experiences. At this point I really need to learn a lot of vocabulary. It´s frustrating for both sides, when someone has to repeat themselves so many times and I still don´t understand. It is progressing though.

 

Several people have told me that they keep senior companions in areas for 3-4 transfers and junior companions move around a lot. I have been in Vicente López for 3 transfers or 4 months almost 4 1/2. I also don´t have the feeling that I will be transferred next transfer. I don´t know what the Lord has in store, but I am curious to see what happens. Hermana Milmont thinks that I will be training soon. What an experience that will be.

 

Our english classes are still coming good. We are finally getting some invitations and pamphlets out for it.

 

Because I have been inside for so long and still can´t work a full schedule, they have put me and Hermana Renteria together and Hermana Milmont and Hermana Salva together. The area is now back to one area and it´s huge. We pretty much redid everything, maps and all. We are still not done.

 

Well, my time is almost up. I love you all so much I hope all is well. I pray for you everyday that you may be safe and happy. I´ll talk to you soon.

 

Love

Hermana Alvey

Hola!!!

 

So another week has gone by. Wow, time sure moves fast. So here are some pictures that I promised to send. The first is of a baptism from the other Hermanas. On the left is our ward mission leader: Hermano Hales. Next to him is Angel; he was so excited. Last is his little sister who was there to support him. It really was an amazing experience. The next picture is of me and Hermana Milmont. Yes, I did cut my hair. I like it, and it helps in this weather. It´s also more healthy.

 

It was a nice simple week. We started an English class for saturdays in the church and I think it went great. We had 1 investigator, 1 menos activo, 1 recent convert, and 1 missionary all learning. We are so worried that we won´t be good teachers, but we saw the Lord make up the difference. We will see what happens next week. The investigator actually had questions about the Book of Mormon that he will talk to us about next week.

 

In church yesterday, we had 4 menos activos and 2 investigators. Now all we have to do is get the investigators to come to sacrament meeting instead of just the classes. We were so happy, though, to see all those menos activos. One of them even got up and bore his testimony. It was amazing. Bishop interviewed all of them right on the spot, and two of them will be receiving the priesthood next week.

 

Things here have truly been moving forward. We need new investigators, but the work is moving forward here and I know that God is pleased. I am so excited for everyone who is preparing or thinking about going on a mission. I´m not going to lie and say it´s easy, but it is worth it. You work hard for an entire week for that one moment that brings greater joy than you can ever imagine. My heart wanted to burst when I saw our menos activo stand up and bear his testimony even though he was scared and had doubts. When I realized this last week that I was a mouthpiece for the Lord. I did not have the words, but He put them into my mouth and I felt the Spirit stronger than I ever have before. Will there be disappointments? Yes. Will you want to give up and cry? Yes. The thing is that all those things are drowned out by the joy you feel in the Lord´s work. I know it´s cliche and I´m not trying to discourage anyone, but you could not feel this much joy without knowing it´s opposite. It truly is the hardest and the best two years (or 18 months) of your life.

 

I love you all so much. Your letters mean so much to me and help me a lot. Keep moving forward. Go to the temple. I cannot stress that enough. Go together and the blessing will overflow. With all the love I posess, I invite you to go, because I want you to feel the joy I know is there. I will talk to you soon. Stay strong, stay safe.

 

Hermana Alvey

Hola Everyone!

 

Hope all is going well with you. It´s been an awesome week. So first of all, yes Hermana Reed was tranferred to one of the areas down south. She is not the biggest fan of cold and it´s approaching winter. It´s already snowing down there and it´s still technically summer! Her flight is this thursday so we will be a trio until then. Her companion is Hermana Gutierrez (one of the sisters from the MTC). I´m so excited for her. My companion is Hermana Milmont. We are going to go pick her up at 4pm today so hopefully I´ll be on again later today with a photo. I can´t wait to meet her.

 

Because of transfers it´s going to be a pretty chill p-day. I´m actually sad that I won´t be playing fútbol today. I know, quite a shock, huh? So I weighed myself the other day and I have lost 15 lbs and about 4 inches off my waist. All this walking and playing fútbol is doing some good. ^_^ Don´t worry, I´m still eating pretty good. I´m actually eating more now than I have before. Although, I am eating less sweets, but craving them just as much. I think my favorite food that I have had is the empanadas. They are absolutely fabulous! I hope that we buy some today. I have found a couple staple foods here and it´s green olives and eggs. Both of these things are, literally, in everything. And I know that eggs are already in everything, but I mean hard boiled eggs or fried eggs. Just thought I´d let you know since you were wondering what the staples were here.

 

My watch did die and I can´t live that long without one here on the mission so I´m going to be using a little of my money from my account; just so you are aware.

 

So Monica is doing really good. This last tuesday, we went and visited with her at a small park close to her home. She was there playing with her little brother and for once she looked like a child. I was so happy to see her so carefree for a little bit. We are still working with her on her baptism and are planning for it in two weeks. The other Hermanas have one this coming weekend. We are so excited for them. His name is Angel. He is such a sweetheart and a gentleman and pretty much has taught himself the lessons. He is golden and is so excited for his baptism. There was a little hiccup because for a bit he thought they were Jehovah´s Witnesses. That was cleared up and they are back on track. He´s about 20 and wants to serve a mission as well.

 

We have not been able to find Juan Carlos or Terecita again, but we shall see what happens. We have had other successes this week. We went to go talk with one of our street contacts and another person was outside her door. Turns out that there is actually 4 houses there. She wasn´t feeling well so we stayed and talked with the gentleman that was outside her door. More acurately, he started speaking with us. His name is Dario and he just moved here from further north about 2 years ago. He had the discussions from the missionaries in his other home through the english classes and loved them. He was so excited to talk to us. He had passed by the chapel in our area, but never went in. He is a private tutor of calculus, biochemistry, physics, biology, and micro biology. You can imagine how excited I was to talk to him. He´s also only 42. We are extatic to talk to him more.

 

I know it´s a small thing, but I was so excited to find casaba melon in the store last week. I thoroughly enjoyed my time eating it, and now Hermana Bray really likes it as well. The fruit here is delicious and so fresh. I tend to have two plums and a couple granoala bars for breakfast. They are really good. With all the fresh ingredients, the cooking here is wonderful. We went to a member´s house for lunch this last week and had apple crisp. She´s from the US and went to culinary school. I´m going to leave it at that.

 

The ward is still awesome. We are working at finding the miembro justo for each of our investigators and have had great success. Our ward mission leader is still wonderful and so is his wife. They are working so hard for us and speaking up for us in the ward. They want to help so much and he has come to several of our appointments and given us wonderful advice. The work here is just going to keep growing. I don´t know if I explained the arboles de converso. Basically you have one person, a recent convert or a menos activo. You work with them sharing the Gospel with their friends and family. Through this one person, you have 30 or new active converts. It is a wonderful vision from our President. One of our menos activos who was baptized about 2 years ago was talking with us the other day and we asked if he knew anyone that God was preparing to receive the Gospel. He gave us 6 names of his friends and 5 of them live in our area. We are constantly receiving references and baptismal dates, but the people live in other areas. We were speachless when he gave us these references. On top of that, we have a family night set up with them for this next friday.

 

The work here is starting to boom. I have felt all of your prayers and I cannot thank you enough. It has been an amazing last week of the transfer. I know that a lot of that was due to your prayers. I have also felt the strength and love this week from all of you. Thank you so much. I love you all and will talk to you soon.

 

Love

Jessica

Hola!!

 

I just got back from playing fútbol with my district and I am exhausted. It´s pretty hot and humid right now too. I am getting better at fútbol, but I also got hit in the face again....by the same person. ^_^ Oh well. It was a lot of fun. We also had cake because Elder Witherspoon (aka Elder WinniePooh, our zone leader) and Hermana Bray are going home this coming monday. It´s so hard to belive that I have been here for 3 months and on my mission for 5. It´s been fast and intense.

 

Monica was not able to be baptized yesterday. Through no fault of her own, she missed sacrament meeting and before an investigator can be baptized, they need to attend sacrament meeting 3 times. We are hoping that this extra time will help her parents realize that this is something important to her. She is an awesome wonderful girl. Right now, her parents are saying that she can do whatever she wants, but they don´t want to talk to us. It was hard getting a signature for her baptism. We still have hope, but it´s been a tiring week because it was a week before a baptism.

 

I thought I updated you on Carlos. We had to stop visiting him. He said that he will never be baptized even though he knows the Book of Mormon is true. He doesn´t feel like he can change and we´ve tried helping him in every way. For now, we pray for him and hope that he is still reading the Book of Mormon.

 

I realize that I forgot to answer a couple of your questions last time. We use internet at a place called a locutorio. It just a small place you go to use phones, internet, and make photocopies. It´s pretty much like a more updated corner store. It even has candy. Yes, the chocolate in the package had softened, but had not melted. The Young Women´s manual in english is perfect. Thank you soooo much for everything.

 

Saturday was interesting. One of our investigators came back from vacations and so we went and visited him. His name is Didier. He is nine years old and is part of a part member family. He is a very mature 9 year old, but when he doesn´t want to do something he is difficult. He is a good kid and saturday wanted to show us one of the movies he rented. It was Pokémon Heroes. I started talking to him about pokémon (after the lesson of course) and he was thrilled that I knew the names of a lot of pokémon and their evolutions. He is so excited to talk to me now and is facinated by the idea that I like talking about the Gospel more than pokémon. We areso excited that he is more willing to listen to us. I know it´s odd, but this experience really shows me that the Lord is mindful of us and our talents. I am probably one of the very few sister missionaries here that can talk about pokémon with any excitement and there are only sister missionaries in Vicente López. I never thought I would be using pokémon on my mission. Of course I focus on the Gospel, but it´s wonderful that we found a way for him to be more comfortable with us and want to listen.

 

We have a new couple: Juan Carlos and Terecita. They are probably 70-71. We have not had a chance to speak with Terecita again, but she is reading; according to her husband. We have talked to him a couple times and he has read the introduction. It´s an interesting situation. He loves pulling Hermana Reed´s leg and teases us (especially her) about being ¨Yankees¨. He told us that if we try to commit him to anything, even a time to pass by, he will just get mad/offended and not want to listen to us because ¨His time is his time and our time is our time.¨ We´re working hard. His wife loves reading and says that she will read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover. She read 4 pages the first day. We shall see what happens.

 

Our new ward mission leader is amazing! We had a meeting with him this last wednesday and he is very willing to fulfill his calling to his best. He wanted to know everything about each investigator, where we were with them, how we were finding people, where we needed help, etc. This last sunday we finally had a ward cousel meeting and he stood up for the missionaries and we were able to express to the ward counsel our concerns and needs. We are very excited to see where things go from here. I did like our last ward mission leader and am sad that he is less active, but it was hard doing everything. Hermano Hales is calling people, following up with baptismal preparations, and everything.

 

I appreciate your letters soooo much. They bring me such joy and help. It´s been really rough. I am struggling with confidence, contacting/talking to people in the street, making decisions, and teaching effectively. I am enjoying my time and am so grateful to be here. I´m just going through a rough spot right now and am trying not to listen to the adversary. It helps me to hear from you that you are praying for me and love me. Thank you.

 

I love you all soooooo much. I´ll talk to you soon!!!

 

Jessica