Rain Shower and Shower of Miracles

So it’s been a long time since I’ve written. Sorry about the wait, but it has been a crazy last couple of weeks with Christmas, New Year’s, new companion, mini missionary, and everything! It has been a little difficult but the blessings always outweigh the trials. I have seen a ton of tender mercies these last couple of weeks and I hope you enjoy hearing about them.

La Navidad - I possibly had the best Christmas in my life. The only thing that it lacked was dressing up as a wicked Nephite in the family nativity. (That will always be my highlight of Christmas.) But this year was equally special because I was in the Mission Argentina Cordoba choir of missionaries. We went around singing Christmas hymns in parks, Wal-Mart and everything. We were singing at a park, and a news station started video taping us. And we sang in a shopping mall and I got to do a ton of contacts and give out Books of Mormon, and I saw and talked to my favorite member family in the mission. Huge tender mercy for me. And we sang with Pte. Salas´ family. It was just a ton of fun. And when we were traveling in a bus, we were still singing some of Christmas carols in English. It was a ton of fun and I think the people liked it! It was crazy to be singing Christmas carols in 100 degree weather, but I was definitely feeling the Christmas spirit. We also had a kilo of ice cream and met up with the other hermanas – Hna. Mortensen and Hna. Dickey! It was so much fun! We continued singing carols in my area for members and investigators. And then we returned to the pension and ate tacos and enjoyed some fun Christmas traditions – American and Argentinean. We went up and slept on the roof and got to see all of the fireworks. There was a ton!! And then the next day we opened presents. I opened mine a little bit early and gave most of them away. But I loved it all the same. After, we had a party with the zone. We played signs aka señales (Spanish style) and werewolf (it´s like mafia/murder in the dark). We changed the game a little bit so that it was mission style. It was a little sacrilegious but a lot of fun! But the highlight of the day was calling home and talking to the family! Best Christmas ever!

Nuevo Año – We ate banana pancakes in honor of Jack Jackson’s song with some ice cream on the side. It was delicious! And then we went to bed on time and woke up at midnight to see all of the fireworks. It was crazy! There were so many fireworks. They don’t have any laws against it here, so I saw some pretty crazy illegal fireworks. I kind of want to buy some for home. (jk!) But they were pretty intense, so we got too scared to go on the roof. But it was still fun to watch them through our window. The next day we had an asado with the zone and played some soccer. It was a pretty fun day, and I was very grateful to have time to take a nap. It was lovely! And then we tried to find a cyber to write home, but everything was completely closed! I’m embarrassed about it now, but I got pretty upset about that. So that’s why it has been a while since I’ve written. I’ll try to make up for it today…

Step-Daughter – So we had a little surprise come to us for the New Year. A new hermana arrived in the mission, and she got called to be my companion. She has 6 months in the mission, but she had problems with her visa. Hna. Martinez is from El Salvador, and she’s a pretty neat girl. She’s 29 years old and kind of timid but sweet. I kind of felt like her step mom. In mission terms, when you train someone new in the mission, you become their mom. So Hna. McDonald is my daughter, along with Hna. Mortensen. But Hna. Martinez has already been trained, but I had to show her a little bit about the Cordoba mission and how we do it here, along with the traditions and customs of Argentina. Thus I’m not the mom but I’m kind of a step-mom. But it only lasted a week. She is now off to bigger and better things.

Terrible Trio – So for a week we were in a trio. I was kind of training Hna. McDonald and Hna. Martinez. But it was pretty difficult because Hna. Martinez doesn’t understand English and Hna. McDonald is still pretty new to understand all of the Spanish. So I spent a week translating and trying to say everything twice. Let me tell you, it’s not as easy as it looks. But I’ve decided that trios are not my favorite thing. I’m glad that it was just a week.

Mini Misionera – So yesterday we got a mini missionary that ended up being the companion of Hna. Martinez. Hna. Quinteros is her mini, and she’s pretty much amazing! I met her at the beginning of my mission. She’s this way cute member that always has a smile. I was way excited to see her. It’s a little hard for Hna. Martinez because she doesn’t know the area, investigators, members… But I plan their days, and we share investigators and contacts and everything. It’s great to have four hermanas in the ward. Yesterday was a little hard because it was their first day, and they got lost. All they had was the map and the Spirit. We had lunch at 1, and they weren’t there. Hna. McDonald and I left to go search for them, but we didn’t have too much luck. It was pretty crazy, but they showed up about a half hour late. But I think they’ll be fine. We just have to put all of our trust in the Lord, and everything will turn out fine.

Rain Shower and Shower of Miracles – We’ve been getting rain every day at about 3 o´clock. We try to get into an appointment; and if not, we rely on our little umbrella. I’m sad because I used to love rain, but the mission has kind of changed my opinion. But we are happy to see all of the miracles that are happening. We gave all of the members Books of Mormon to give to their friends, and we received a ton of references at church. And we were able to put some more baptism dates. We are excited to baptize in January! We had an appointment with an older lady named A_. She has had a ton of problems in her life, and she practically asked us if she could be baptized. The Lord is blessing us a ton. We are happy to see the miracles!

One Year in Argentina – Yesterday I completed my one year birthday in Argentina. I made a list to eat all of the things that are just specially made in Argentina – facturas, criollos, dulce de leche, alfajor, empanada, y grido! It was a pretty fun scavenger hunt, and we even did a service for a member so that she could practice her English and Hna. McDonald could practice her castellano. We even had an amazing charla with a family. We’ve been working with D_ and C_ for a while, and C__ told us that she knows that this church is the most perfect church on the earth. Overall, it was a great day!

Package from Liz - Today we are spending the day in Centro and we ate a Mexican burrito and visited the Catholic church and we are going to go shopping next. The highlight of my day was to receive my mail and I got a package from Liz Huber. She is pretty much amazing! I have to tell you why. I had just finished my first journal in Argentina yesterday. And I’ve been looking for another one but I haven’t found the time or the money. But the package came today, and she gave me a new journal! It was the most perfect thing that I have ever seen! I loved it! And this journal is pretty much amazing! It is full of scriptures and thoughts and everything. I just love when I can see the miracles that happen in my life. I love when God blesses me through friends, family, companions, and other people.

I just have to tell you that I love all of the blessings and miracles that I am seeing in my life. I am so incredibly blessed! I know I am where I need to be. I know that this church is true and we need to share this gospel with everyone that is ready to listen. I know that Christ lives, and I testify that Heavenly Father loves me. I’m grateful for this New Year to put goals so that I grow closer to Them. Thank you for all of your support, love, and prayers! I love you all!

Cuidense,
Hna. Ellsworth

Story Time with Me

Ok, I’m a little pressed for time. But I have three quick stories for you all or all y´all. Sorry, here we go… Story Time with Hna. Ellsworth.

So we found this lady knocking doors this week. She seemed pretty interested but had a little difficulty accepting that the Book of Mormon is scripture. So we were explaining and testifying about the Book of Mormon when we got interrupted by a neighbor. While she was up, she decided to get us some water. Hna. McDonald quickly told her that she did not need water because she had a trusty filtered water bottle. You see, she’s a little worried about the water here because it makes everyone sick, except me, I hope. Anyways, she didn’t hear her and got her a glass anyways. Well, the motherly carácter that I am, I decided to chug down the water of Hna. McDonald’s before the lady saw. Sometimes they get offended when we tell them their water is not clean. So I was chugging it pretty fast, when all of a sudden, I started choking. But I closed my mouth so that it wouldn’t come out. So the only other opening was my nose. Yep, my nose turned into a body part waterfall. I’ve never experienced this in my entire life, and Hna. McDonald was very happy to see the surprised look of horror that came over my face. And she thought it was pretty hilarious with the water gushing out of my nose. Luckily, the investigador did not see any of this. But it was a little hard to explain the water all over my shirt, and the incontrollable laughter coming from Hna. McDonald. Needless to say, it was not one of my proudest moments.

Another highlight of my week was Christmas in 100 degree weather. YEAH!! We went to the misión house and had our Zone Conference with the misión president and some of the other zones. It was pretty fun! Hna. Mortensen, and Hna. Dickey, and Hna. Stott were all there. And we watched a movie of Christmas and played a lot of outside games. It was pretty fun! We even had a water balloon fight that turned into pouring buckets of water on the hermanas fight. I lost that one. We also had an asado, and Santa Claus (aka Pte. Salas in a papa noel suit) came and handed out presents and packages. I already “misión impossible” stole all of my packages, but it was still fun to see everyone else get their packages. Then we left and headed out to Wal-mart and went caroling to all of the check out lines. It was a pretty Amazing day! We even got permission to have an hermanas sleepover for Christmas. We are pretty much excited! Caroling and acting out the nativity will definitely be involved. I can’t wait!

Today we had a zone activity and ate the leg of a cow. It was pretty delicious. And yesterday we got to see one of our members open up his misión call. His name is Diego, and he is the coolest kid I have ever met in this world. He is a recent convert of two years and he’s going to Chile Santiago North. So I already told him to look out for Shan aka Hna. Ellsworth. He’s pretty excited! He just invited us and opened it with his companion (he’s on the mini misión right now) and his family who aren’t members. I’m excited for the example that he is for his family and the blessings they will receive while he is a missionary.

Well, I’m out of time, but I want to wish you a very holly, jolly Christmas! And just remember to think of Jesus Christ and his life when you picture Christmas this year. My goal is to give Jesus Christ a present this year. I know that if we focus more on the gifts that we give than the gifts that we receive, we will have the best Christmas ever. I’m excited for Christmas and to celebrate this year in the misión. Christ lives, and don’t forget the true meaning of Christmas. I love you all!

Feliz Navidad,

Hna. Ellsworth

Pictures

Hermana Ellsworth y Hermana McDonald

Missionary Choir

araña

We found chuck!

So I have my new little hijita – Hna. McDondald. She is pretty much amazing! I went to the mission house Tuesday to go find her. We had a whole bunch of training meetings and it was very beneficial. There were two of us hermanas, and 16 elders that were training. That is a ton of new refuerzos coming to the mission. And a lot of them were latinos. But both of the hermanas were gringas. The other gringa was assigned to her trainer Hna. Lopez, who doesn´t know English. Hna. McDonald later told me that was grateful to get a gringa for her trainer. But ya, she is awesome and we get along great! She is from Idaho and is full of excitement to do the work here. She has had a couple of problems adapting to Argentina culture. But she is a trooper and just keeps on going. I am so grateful to have her as a companion. Her Spanish is way good for a week. She pretty much has a better accent than me. But I´m just way impressed with her testimony and how she can bring the Spirit into the lesson. We are definitely going to be seeing huge miracles this transfer!

We have been doing a lot of contacting this week so that we can find some new investigators that are ready to progress and be baptized. And while we were knocking doors, we pretty much found the coolest thing that I have ever seen in this world. It was a chicken/duck, and yes, we are calling it Chuck. I vaguely remember having this conversation with my sisters one time. I can´t remember when or where, but I just remember talking about that it would make me happy to know if Chuck really does exist. And he does exist, he lives in Parque Ciudad de las Rosas, and his owners are not ready to accept the gospel. Chuck was pretty distraught at that. He started cluck/quacking, would that be clacking?

We had a ward activity this week and it was very interesting. I went around talking to members, menos activos, investigators and introducing them to my companion. And they all laughed at her name and made a joke about hamburgers. It got pretty old, but my companion is cool and doesn´t let it bother her. We ate an asado and they had fuzball tables and a jump castle. It was pretty legit. They told us it was supposed to start at noon, so we came a couple hours late. And we still didn´t eat for another hour and a half. I hate latino mormon standard time. I´m not a huge fan. And we were blessed to be the only gringos in the room that could understand the music – Bon Jovi, Britney Spears, and Spice Girls. We had a chat with the bishop that he should be a little more careful about the music he puts on in the church. Ya… it was fun.

We have seen a couple of difficulties this week with investigators but we are excited to work more with members and find some new investigators that are ready to progress and be baptized. This week we have our zone conference with the mission president. I am way excited! We are going to have it with some of the other zones and I think I have zone conference with a couple of past companions. I´m excited to see them again. Oh and I forgot to tell you. I pulled a Mission Impossible on Tuesday. Apparently, the mission office was keeping the packages for hostage until the Christmas Zone Conferences. Well since I was at the mission house, and knew that my packages were there, I snuck in and saved my packages. I now have a beautiful paper tree in my apartment with presents under the tree. It was pretty cool! Thanks for remembering me Mom!

Well, please keep me in your prayers this week. I often find myself inadequate to be training. It´s a huge responsibility and I definitely feel the weight of the impact that I need to be making for my hijita. But I just myself praying more intently for Holy Ghost so that I can help Hna. McDonald learn all of these things. So if you can do the same, I would appreciate it!

Les kiero,

Hna. Ellsworth

Una Refuerza Ya Viene

So we got transfers this week. Drum roll please... I´m staying in Rosedal... and i'm training! I definitely didn't see that one coming! I really just was hoping that I would staying with Hna. Neff for Christmas but I guess that I need to follow the example of Nefi and ¨iré y haré.¨ I´m a little nervous to be training again because it´s pretty stressful. And i wish the area and the members and the language a little better. Oh well... mostly I´m just excited for a new adventure. Just remember to keep me in your prayers that i don´t corrupt this new missionary with my gringa accent and obsession to ice cream.

This week was full of exciting moments. We finally sang in our missionary choir. It was actually a ton of fun! There was about six different choirs from different religions and we all sang our songs. It was supposed to be a Christmas concert but we were pretty much the only ones that sang Christmas songs. But there was an evangelist choir group that sang some pretty fun music. There was some clapping and snapping and swaying of the hips. I´m not sure if it was completely appropriate in our church, but we all got a kick out of it.

We also had a little adventure yesterday after church. We went to go pass by one of our investigators that didn't go to church. She wasn't there, so we decided to pass by a member to get some water because there was a bunch of drunk guys outside the house that were yelling some offensive stuff at us. Well, we were just about to take off and the drunk men started fighting right outside. The members told us to get away from the door and the one lady grabbed her baby and ran to the back room. It was pretty intense! But they just threw some pathetic punches and then the cops arrived. We decided to take advantage and we left. Ya, drunk men are dumb. The end.

We´re still working with our investigators and they are just progressing slowly. Satan is working hard with them. We had one investigator that really wanted to go to church yesterday but she had to go help her mom because her dad still beats her mom. I just really hate how Satan has such an influence on people. And he´s always there when something good is about to happen. Just remember to be prepared against the attacks of Satan. I know that the gospel blesses lives and it is always worth it! Yo sé que es difícil, pero no es imposible. ¡Y siempre vale la pena! Pretty much, i know it´s hard but it´s not impossible and it´s always worth it! I´m so grateful for your examples and support. The Church is true!

Les kiero,

Hna. Ellsworth

Nori's email home on November 29th

¡Feliz Día de Gracias! So Thanksgiving was a huge success. We made turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, Jello salad, and apple pie. Pretty much we had all of the thanksgiving staple foods. But don’t worry; they had a little of Argentina in there. The turkey was deliciously
flavored with Argentina seasonings, the yams were yellow not orange, and the apple pie was more like a giant empanada. Yep, when in Argentina, do as the Argentinians do. Hna. Neff and I had a ton of fun preparing it, and even more fun eating it. It was definitely a Thanksgiving that I will never forget.

We also are very excited to work with the members. We have a new ward misión leader and we are seeing miracles. We now have the phone number of every member with a committed time that they can help us with appointments. We are so excited!! I have never seen the members so excited and aware of the misión work. We are going to keep it going and we’re going to start the month of December with some fun, new stuff. We’re going to keep folletos for the month of Jesús Christ and try to pass by their friends and neighbors to sing a Christmas song. We also are going to make a treat to a member every day so that we can get to know them better and get references. We also want to give a Book of Mormon to every member to mark their favorite scriptures, wrap it as a present, and give it to someone. I love working with members! They are the key to success. Go help the missionaries with a leccion this week, or pray specifically for their investigators, or make them brownies or something. Just do it! You’ll have no idea the impact that it will have!

So we kind of had a hard day Saturday and Sunday morning. It’s pretty much our fault because we prayed for patience and humility. And we definitely received that lesson. We had three lessons with our baptism date investigators and all of them fell through because of different excuses. One was sick, one was busy, one went to the dad’s house, and we even got turned down by a 12 year old girl who wants to be baptized, but she was too busy playing volleyball with her friends. It stung pretty bad! We were afraid to go to more citas because we were afraid to hear more excuses and receive more rejection. And then we had no one in church because of more excuses. It was pretty hard! But Hna. Neff and I went home and prayed. And let me tell you, there is power in prayer! We poured out our whole heart to Heavenly Father, and got up to go to work. We left to go knock doors with a member that is preparing for his misión, and we found 10 new investigators! It was pretty much a miracle for us. I definitely know that God loves us and sends us trials sometimes. But if we learn humility and patience, we will always see the blessings and the miracles that follow.

Well I love the misión and I miss all of you. But don’t forget the commitment that I’m leaving with you all. Go help the missionaries this week! Will you do it? If you will, I know you will have a better week and receive more blessings. I know that missionary work is important and that you can be a missionary without a name tag. I am grateful or all of the important things that I am learning in the misión. I love you all and have a great week!

Les kiero,
Hna.ellsworth

Never a Dull Moment

So we have had plenty of adventures this week. Let me just tell you that there is never a dull moment in the mission. There’s always something we need to be doing, and the unexpected always occurs. We started the week with P-day, and we got a special invite to the mission choir. I was pretty surprised because I don’t really know how to sing, and apparently you’re supposed to have some music talent to be in this choir. But I think it’s because I’m an hermana. There’s only about 6 hermanas and 25 elders. I’m the only female alto with four elders. Ya, I’m excited! But after the choir practice, we went and played some basketball with some of the elders. We played in our skirts for a little bit; and when we went to leave, all of the gates were locked. So Hna. Neff and I had to jump the fence… in skirts. It wasn’t one of my proudest moments. But I think we did it gracefully for the most part. We also are very blessed to have lunches with members everyday now. But I have learned that you have to work for your food. This week I was a little bit stressed because we ate with an old misión president, the bishop, and the stake president. I was a little nervous, but Hna. Neff and I won them over with a robbery story and misión work plans for the ward. We now have their support and offers for an asado in the future. ;o) We are welcoming in the seasons with a lot of rain and a lot of bichos. We have already found a ton of bugs, the highlights being a scorpion, slugs, and a huge spider. We attacked the scorpion with Raid, the slugs with salt, and the spider had a fiery death. Hna. Neff and I enjoyed ourselves. We have videos to show after the misión. Be excited!

All of that stuff was pretty fun, but the real highlight of the week was Maricel and other baptism dates we put. Rosedal will definitely be baptizing in December. We went and talked with Maricel with our zone leaders, and she had a ton of miracles that happened to her. She now is going back to church and is preparing for her baptism again. She said that she was pretty upset and wanted to drop us but then opened the Book of Mormon and opened to the scripture in 3 Nephi 11 about contention is of the devil. She felt like God was talking directly to her. And then she continued reading about baptism. I love miracles! Heavenly Father really saved us on that one. So she’s preparing to be baptized in a few weeks and went to church yesterday with a couple other investigators that are preparing for their baptism.

We are way excited for all of the miracles that are happening in Rosedal. Hna. Neff and I are just having a party teaching the gospel. Remember that Jesús Christ loves you, and I do too!

Les kiero,
Hna. Ellsworth