Thursday, November 27, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States.  Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  It is a time to remember all of our many blessings.  I asked a few of our missionaries to share a few things they are grateful for.  We hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving Day wherever you are in the world!
 
 
I am grateful for my Savior and His sacrifice for me. I'm grateful for my family and the love and support they give me. I'm grateful for the gospel and to be able to bring the blessings it provides me to the people of Argentina. I'm grateful for my health and the ability to function everyday. I'm grateful for scripture: both ancient and living through modern day prophets. I'm grateful for modern technology and to be able to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving all the way from Argentina!

 
I am thankful for air, washing machines, and my mom. I am thankful for the opportunities to learn, serve, and meet new people. I am grateful for my dad, my brother, my sisters, and my bird. I am thankful for Jesus and His courage and example. I am grateful for good music, prayers, and scriptures. And I am thankful for forgiveness.

 
 
Sometimes you don't realize what you are grateful for until you don't have it or you sit down to think about it. This is a great time of year to stop and think about it. Here are some things that I'm grateful for, family, friends, good shoes, music, fan, a bed, a pillow, washing machine, watch, computers/modern technology to email, the scriptures, prayer, prophets, the gospel of Jesus Christ, time to serve and learn. These are just a few things that I am grateful for, really the list could go on forever. =)

 

I am so grateful for my family! I'm grateful for all they do to serve me. I'm also grateful that I can live with them forever! They are my best friends in the world and I love them so much!

 
 
Spanish version: 
Estoy muy agradecido este año por muchísimas cosas, pero más que antes nada, estoy agradecido por tener un madre que lavará mí ropas por 18 años. Estoy realmente agradecido por mi familia y el conocimiento que tengo que puedo vivir con ellos para siempre. Yo he sido bendecido con el oportunidad de vivir con un conocimiento de la iglesia verdadera y estoy agradecido que puedo compartir eso con las personas en la Misión Argentina Neuquén. Estoy agradecido por mi padre celestial que me ama y el gozo que siento en mi vida a causa del evangelio!
 
English Version: 
I am very grateful for many things this year, but more than ever before, I am grateful for a mom that washed my clothes for the past 18 years. I really am so grateful for my family and the knowledge that I have that I can live with them forever. I have been blessed with the opportunity to live with a knowledge of the true church and am so grateful I can share that with the people in the Argentina Neuquén Mission. I am grateful for my father in heaven that loves me and the joy in my life because of the gospel!  
 
 
 
I am thankful for the opportunity to be a missionary and representative of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for all the opportunities to love and get to know so many wonderful people from all over the Americas and I can see Gods love for me through them. I am thankful that Gods grace is sufficient and that even though I have so many weaknesses I am strong through my Savior.

 

I am grateful for repentance and the opportunity to take the sacrament and start over. I am grateful for the mercy and patience of the Savior despite my many weaknesses, and for all the opportunities that I have to learn from the scriptures, the spirit, my leaders and those around me. I am so grateful for coming to know so many people and learning something different from each one. God is kind in giving us experiences to teach us, whether good or bad.

 

Estoy agradecido por tener la oportunidad de cambiar, de poder arrepentirme cada día de las cosas que he hecho mal, por la expiación de cristo que me da la posibilidad de regresar a vivir con mi padre celestial y mis seres queridos. Agradezco cada día por mi familia, por el ejemplo y apoyo que ellos son para mi. Doy gracias infinitas por estar sirviendo una misión y sentir a diario el amor.  De mi salvador, es algo único. Doy gracias por las personas que dios ha puesto en mi vida para ayudarme, corregirme, amarme y guiarme para ser una mejor persona. Gracias por los principios que tengo. Gracias por las pruebas que tengo que me ayudan a progresar. Doy gracias por mi maravillosa vida. 
 
 

I am grateful for gods love and for my Savior Jesus Christ. For the peace and comfort they so freely offer me. For family y el gozo que tengo en mi alma hoy :)

 
 
Estoy agradecida por los momentos en que nos reimos hasta sentir dolor en la panza, por todos los amigos que he hecho en la mision, por los abrazos de los niños, por los almuerzos con postre, por las fotos, por las tiendas que no cierran a la hora de la siesta, por la buena musica y por el privilegio de representar a Jesucristo aqui en Argentina.

 
 
I truly am so thankful for many things. For bug repellent and warm showers. ;) But not only am I thankful for the things of the  world, but more importantly to have a family who loves and lives the gospel standards, and who has taught me how to live honorably. I am thankful for the Savior Jesus Christ and for my understanding of His sacrifice for me. I am grateful to be a part of His church and to be His representative this thanksgiving day!


Yo estoy agradecida por :) por mis padres,gracias a ellos puedo existir, estoy agradecida por mi vida, estoy agradecida por tener el evangelio en mi vida, gracias a dos jóvenes valientes que tocaron la puerta de mi casa.hoy gozo de las bendiciones del padre,Estoy agradecida por la expiación del salvador por que  Gracias a ella yo puedo perfeccionarme cada día.  Estoy agradecida por estar sirviendo en la misión y poder mirar milagros en mi vida y el las resonas. Estoy agradecida por  mis amigos y familia que me apoyan y brindan  su amor. Realmente es muy poco lo que puedo escribir por hay tanto por las cosas que tengo gratitud.
 

I'm so very grateful for a loving and supportive family. They've helped me more than they even know.  I'm also so grateful to have the gospel in my life thanks to my parents who had strong enough testimonies to raise me and my 5 other siblings in the gospel. I'm grateful for the mission and that I have the opportunity to serve gods children here in Argentina. There's nothing better or more important that I could be doing with my life than being out here in the mission. It truly is a blessing. Happy Thanksgiving! Even if Canada celebrated it in October. :)

 
 
 I am grateful for loving families that make me feel at home even though I'm farther away than ever. I'm so blessed to have my family, especially my parents, who support me and taught me the gospel with their testimonies and examples. Thanks to the atonement of Jesus Christ I can be with my amazing family for eternity. I'm thankful for music and smiles and letters and the opportunity to help other people be happy.

 
 
Yo estoy agradecida a mi padre celestial por la fortaleza  espiritual y fisica . Por la expiacion de su hijo jesucristo . Y que gracias ha eso puedo salir adelante y que el consuelo que el me da es grandioso . Estoy agradecida por seguir firme en su evangelio y por ser su discipula de el y tengo la esperanza de que todo saldra bien :-) amo  este evangelio .

 

I don't think there is any other thing I could express more gratitude for than the gift of Jesus Christ. He is the focal point of my life and I feel, especially this thanksgiving in the mission, great joy in knowing what He does for me as His brother. I am grateful for my loving family, and the blessing that it is to be raised in a home centered in Christ. I am grateful for His mercy and grace, and that everyone has the chance to come unto Him. And I have come to know that thanking Him is as easy as following Him.
 
 
 
From these two Hermanas:
 
I am grateful for loving families that make me feel at home even though I'm farther away than ever. I'm so blessed to have my family, especially my parents, who support me and taught me the gospel with their testimonies and examples. Thanks to the atonement of Jesus Christ I can be with my amazing family for eternity. I'm thankful for music and smiles and letters and the opportunity to help other people be happy.  
 
Estoy agradecida por tener la oportunidad de conocer a mi padre celestial y a su hijo jesucristo, por tener  a mis hermanos,ellos son una bendicion para mi, por tener bellas familias que me apoyan, por amigos,por buenos consejos, buenos ejemplo,y lo mas fundamental en mi vida la expiacion de Jesucristo

 
Sou agradecido por ter o evangelho em minha vida e que isso sempre me dá uma segunda oportunidade de fazer melhor com Cristo. Eu sou grato por meus pais e o amor que eles tem por mim. Sou grato pelo meu coração saudável que bate e me dá vida para seguir progredindo no caminho de ser mais como meu Pai Celestial é. Eu estou agradecido pelo sol e o oxigenio porque sem eles nao poderia viver.

 

Estoy muy agradecido por ser parte del Plan de Dios, por ser Su hijo y por tener un Salvador, Jesucristo, estoy muy agradecido por tener mis padres terrenales y por la oportunidad de ser un representante de Jesucristo durante estos 2 maravillosos años en Argentina. Estoy agradecido por mis padres terrenales, por futuras oportunidades, por las bendiciones que recibo día a día, agradecido por la oración, por la Santa Cena, por la Expiación, por mi salud. Estoy agradecido por los dones que tengo de Dios. Agradecido por estar aquí en la tierra y por el amor que mi Padre Celestial tiene por mí.
 
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us in the Argentina Neuquén Mission!

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

December Fieles Video

Please enjoy this Video to Celebrate the Service of these Wonderful Fieles!

(Los Fieles are those missionaries who return home after serving faithfully here in the mission.) 
 


Music: Mormon Tabernacle Choir "Called to Serve".

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Great Story!

On August 26th of this year I received a fun e-mail from Caroline Sasine, the Grandmother of Elder Sasine.

She related this fun story with me and I want to share it with you:

This is a great story that has prompted me to write you. A picture was taken in about 1946-47 of the Aaronic Priesthood Quorums in Arlington Ward in the Los Angeles Stake. Three of the young men in the picture are now grandfathers. In 2012 two Elders were assigned to your mission, Elder Child and Elder Sasine. In August of this year a third missionary arrived, Sister K Hansen. The three in the quorum picture were... Dick Child an advisor, Bob Sasine and Ray Hansen, Deacons. This is a wonderful event to have grandchildren, of old childhood friends serving a mission together.
 
She included this photo with the message of these three grandfathers many years ago
 
  
Then later Sister Sasine sent me this message with recent photos of these three Grandfathers:
 
You have asked to know the story behind the picture of the group of boys I sent you earlier this year.

Some of these grown men are still in contact with each other and that is how the story began to unfold to me.

I have asked each of these grandfathers to send a recent picture of himself so I could place it next to his grandchild’s picture to send to you

Sister Kayla Hansen is the granddaughter of Ray Hansen

Elder Ben Child is the grandson of Dick Child

Elder Clark Sasine is the grandson of Bob Sasine

In the past years I have personally kept in contact with Dick and Lee Child. We became friends when our family moved into a ward in Downey California. Lee and I served in the Young Women’s Program. Our children knew each other from a very early age. It was a surprise to Lee and I to find out that our grandsons, who had never meet or known of each other would be serving in the same mission. Entering the MTC on the same day. This story has been my favorite family missionary account and It has been a blessing to our families.
 


Thank you Sister Sasine for sharing this with us!  What a fun story of these three Grandfathers who knew each other many years ago and came to know that their grandchildren were serving together in the Argentina Neuquén Mission!

Friday, November 14, 2014

Stacey and Natalie

We love it when we are able to have family come and visit us!
 
Please meet our daughter Stacey and our Granddaughter Natalie!
 

 
We were so excited to have them come and they were so great to follow us around and do what we do!  They attended Zone Conference with seven of the twelve zones! They both know a little Spanish and it was amazing to see how much they understood and could say!  They really enjoyed getting to know the wonderful missionaries of the mission and feeling the spirit of the missionary work.



 
They even participated in the practices with the missionaries!



It was fun for the missionaries to get to know some of our family!

 
While we were in Bariloche we were able to take some time to see some of the beautiful things there!


 
We went on a boat ride out to Victoria Island on the lake in Bariloche.


 
President Lovell does love to be a grandpa!


 
One of our favorite things about this boat ride is that the seagulls will come and eat right out of your hand!
 
 
We came prepared with crackers and bread to feed the seagulls and it was fun to share!

 
There were lots of fun places to stop for photos.
 





We were also excited to take them horseback riding.
 
The scenery was beautiful.

 
President Lovell was able to practice skipping rocks! 
 
 
 
Marí was our guide and she was so much fun!  She is actually from France but she has lived in Argentina for the last 10 years.
 


 


 
The view was beautiful at the top of the mountain!
 
 


Some of the group enjoyed their mate at the top of the mountain while we enjoyed the view.

 
Thank you for a great ride!


We took them to some of our favorite places to eat....
 
La Fonda del Tio's in Bariloche
 

 
and the restaurant in our hotel in Esquel.
 
 
We had fun shopping...



...and introduced them to some of our favorite friends! 
 
 This is President and Hermana Giorgi.  He is the District President in Esquel.  Hermana Giorgi has learned to make some delicious and fun drinks!
 
 
She also fixed a delicious meal for us!
 
 
We  showed them some of the fun places in Esquel.  These are two places we have eaten before. 



The Giorgis have a store that sells party supplies.  They wanted us to come to the store so they could give Natalie a special candle for her birthday! 



The flowers were so beautiful all along the roads as we went through the national forest between Esquel and Bariloche!  I learned to love these flowers from my mother and took lots of photos!  My mom would have LOVED to see all of these flowers!














We stopped to see the Silva family in Villa la Angostura.  It is about an hour outside of Bariloche. 



 
The small branch in Villa la Angostura attends church in this building.

 
Some fun buildings in town!


 
There we so many places to stop and take beautiful pictures!


 
We travelled through San Martin and stopped by the church. 

 
It was fun to show Natalie the room for the Young Women.  They have all the colors for the Young Women values to decorate the room.

 
It is good to know a little Spanish to know which bathroom to use!

 
Look who we found at the church!

 
The volcano Lanín.

 
There were some very interesting rock formations along the way.

 
Back in Neuquén at the Mission Home!

 
Elder Arnaudin cooked the meat for a Argentine Birthday Asado for Natalie, one of  our mission secretaries and one of the assistants.
 

 

 
We had trick candles to give them more time to enjoy blowing out their candles!


 
Hermana Esterkin painted one of her famous painting for Natalie for her birthday.

 
All the time they were here they were great to help us with things we needed to prepare.  It was great!

 
We also had fun looking around Neuquén.  There are often people with interesting talents performing in the street while we wait for lights.  Their hope is that we will all pay them a little for the entertainment before the light turns green!


 
We went grocery shopping and it was fun to show them how we need to weight the vegetables in the vegetable department before we checked out!  It took me a long time to get used to that when we first arrived!

 
Hermana Esterkin went with us in a taxi down town.  She knows where everything is!


 
Getting ice cream at Gridos!


 
Shopping at the regional store


 
All too soon it was time for them to return home.  There were five other wonderful children and a great husband at home waiting for them.  They made it possible for them to take time to make this trip!  Thank you to each of them!


 
We are grateful for the fun memories!