Week 6 - Nueva Cordoba - August 24, 2015

My Beloved family.  

The time of transfers have come and now I have a new companion! Hna Humacata now only has one transfer left in the mission, but she left to a different area after spending 6 months here in NvA CBA.

My new comp is Hna Ascuña de Arequipa(?) Peru. She is super sweet and she came with me to the mission.  I am excited to work with her, but a little nervous to teach her how to be a sister training leader.  y bueno.

Our investigadors are progressing.  This week M*, and A* came to church! with their less active boyfriends :) haha.  we are working really hard on eternal families.  con el fin en mente!

Also, good news, V* and J* have now spoken with the registro civil, and have set a date to be married in september! Do you know what that means? there will also be a baptism following the marriage! We are so excited for them, and we always feel the spirit so strong when we are with them.  I sent a pic of them.  It is the family with the wife, and 4 kids and the pics of Jesus on the wall!!!!

V* is going to be baptised on the 12th.  It is the same weekend as her birthday so her family will be in town.  She wants them to attend her baptism.  So, in fin, we will wait a little longer befoe she is baptized, but the good news is that she is not doubting nothing.  only waiting for her family to arrive and share the special rebirth in the same week as her birthday.  We have already started planning EVERytHING so that it turns out perfect.

Enough about the work here.  I just wanted to add my thoughts and feelings about Rachel.  The truth is it was super hard for me to read those words from each of you.  I immediately began to cry.  It was even harder for me becuase with transfers, I had only been with my new companion for less than

2 hours, and I was already a mess.  The truth is that I felt super alone.

Everyone just stared at me in the cyber, and finally a man handed me a tissue.

This had always been one of my biggest fears of the mission, and I did not want to have to say goodbye for the last time before coming.  I was hoping she would make it until Nov. but now I am well.  I am content in knowing that I will remember her how she was when I left.  She was happy, she was joy, she was love.  She laughed with me as I visit taught her.  I took her flowers I arranged in my classes, and I never stopped praying for her.  I love her and she truly has a lasting impact on me.

The good news is that I dont have to say goodbye.  We are going to live forever.

I liked the thought dad as you told me we should appreciate and reverence on the sabbath.  With the passing of my dear and sweet friend Rachel, I have been able to have the sacred feeling of the Holy Ghost testify to me yet again that this is the truth.  What a joy.  I

am happy and I am releived that she is well.   I thought of the lyrics

from a song wee sang in choir.  Because He lives, so shall we.

"My brethren, I have found

a land that doth abound

with fruit as sweet as honey;

The more I eat, I find,

The more I am inclined

To shout and sing hosana.

My soul doth long to go where I may fully know The glory of my Savior; And as I pass along I'll sing the Christian song, I'm going to live forever.

Perhaps you think me wild,

or simple as a child;

I am a child of glory;

I am born from above,

my soul is filled with love;

I love to tell the story.

My soul now sits and sings

and practices its wings,

and contemplates the hour

When the messenger shall say,

'Come quit this house of clay,

and with bright angels tower.'

And as I pass along

I'll sing the Christian song,

I'm going to live forever."

Rachel is going to live forever. and we will too.

It is a joy to know. Because I love her with all of my heart.  and I love my Savior.

Today the sisters made me a cake, and we put the mattresses together to watch a movie and they really made me feel better.  I prayed and thanked god for sending me so many angels in my life. Rachel being one of them, and my companions and friends in the mission being others.

As I told president this week, although I may have "lost" a friend this week, I have gained a whole lot more.

Hna Ortiz hugged me supppper tight today and I felt His love.  I felt your love from home as well.  Mom, I am being cared for and "we can do hard things" together.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-01-003-mountains-to-climb?lang=eng

con amor,

Hermana Woolley

HOORAH FOR ISRAEL

P.S.

DAD

I have found your twin here in the mission, and at times it makes me trunky hahha.

The matrimonio misioneros (marriage missionaries) in our ward-- Elder y HNA spears from Oregon....

One sunday we went to their apt to use their computer.  He pulled out his cell, his tablet, his laptop.... and wait for it... his broken reading glasses.

As he sat on the couch with his white shirt, church pants, and socks-- no tie, i couldnt help but want to hug him and imagine that it was you.

I love you lots and amd wishing you the greatest of weeks.

Run hard for Rachel. in whatever you decide to do.

Te quiero.

con amor,

Hermana Woolley

ps, sorry I dont think that all the pictures were able to be uploaded..... next week

 

Week 5 - Nueva Cordoba - August 17, 2015

What up fam?

How are things going por allí (over there)?

Here I am doing very well.  

You will hate to hear that this baptism of V*a has yet again been postponed.  For now.  

It has made us pretty sad to see her pass through so many hard difficulties and doubts before her baptism.  She is so sure in her testimony.  THe truth is that she is so excited about it all and is trying to find a day when EVERYONE she knows can be there.  It is hard to be patient.  We have talked a lot with our leaders en cuanto a esto, y vamos a ver lo que hacemos (about this and we will see what we decide to do).  She certainly will be baptized, but it is looking like it may not happen unitl september.  However, there still is time!!!!!!!  We are planning her interview to make things more real and to help her realize her testimony. Keep praying for her and her faith to do the right thing, and to do it in his timing.  However, I am sure that God wants his children to have all the blessings right now.  Lo mas antes posible no?  Y bueno.  (as soon as possible.  Right?)

OK,  This week FLEW BY!!!!  One of, if not THEE fastest week of my mission.  

We travelled to La Rioja and visited the sisters there.  And guess who I worked with?  My good ole buddy pal HNA DENNIS!  It was so natural to be with her again, and to see all of the progress that she has experienced in these 3 transfers apart.  She is now more prepared, more confident, more focused, and just as happy as well.  We enjoyed the day, visited some members, receieved and contacted references, found new investigadores, contacted, laughed smiled, and all the good things. 

It was so great to see her and to hug her.  She has changed me and she has changed my mision too.  When we were split up, the goal was that each of us were to live the mision in the right way so that one day we can be sister training leaders together.  hah.  This week she told me that I have done my part, and now she is finishing her work there in La Rioja, and we hope to be companions again.  It is not unheard of!  We shall see.  I am excited for you to meet her as well.  She has got the competivness of tyler, and the biy stories like kristen, and a contagious laugh like allison.  All good things.  

This week I have to do informes (missionary updates), so I dont have much more time to update.  I am so truly sorry, but know I love youall dearly, and am wishing you the best as you start up school!

I am happy and I am well.  What else do you need to know? :)

CON AMOR,

hermana Woolley

OH how can I forget?  We had a mini activiy and the ward loved it!!! We did a night of internacional foods and it reminded me of cultural night for missionary month!

I made some brazilian food with my comp.  Feijoada! Que rico! (delicious)

I will send fotos next week. 

We really are heloping the ward here and they rely on us a whole lot more than they ever have.  

We will be singing in sacrament mnetting the sunday that comes.

Love you!

Week 4 - Nueva Cordoba - August 10, 2015

WOWOWWWWOWO

Ok I have like zero time because we are a fulllll aqui!

I was able to go back to Bell Ville this week and it was super fun to sleep in my bed, and walk the streets and see a few of the members as well.  It will always be my home!  

It has been a crazy week with 2 full days of exchanges and a full day conference with the president as well.  And get this.  I had to give a capacitacion (training?) in front of EVERYBODY! I think about half of the mission was there.  Luckily it all turned out well.  A few times my tongue got twisted because I was so nervous and tired, and overwhelmed, but in the end it all turned out well.  The assistents thanked us, and the president as well.  So good news bears. 

I hope you now prepare for me weekly sermon.

Something that really struck me was when we talked abotu the neccesities of each person.  When we enter a house a missionaries, we like to get to know the person, and try to help them with the message that we have.  But it is simple.  A baby has needs.  It cries and it cries for help, and most likely will not stop crying until its needs are met.  But what do we do when this happens?  Do we get frustrated and start shoving in the binky, or checking the diaper before knowing the cry of the child?  

I remember from my days of Child Dev, or Human Dev when we talked about how each cry of a baby is segun su necesidad - according to their needs.  The mother will not be able to help her child until she recognizes each of these cries for help.  

The baby cries because it is unable to meet his own needs.

We as missionaries are trying to understand and discern this cries for help.  The investigators usually dont know how to express themselves.  They are new to this all.  They are babies.  We then show up, with this speacial gift of the spirit to help us and guide us as we help and guide them to the Savior.  It is an eternal round. 

Working with the sister missionaries this week, and it got me thinking that not only our investigadores have needs, but so do we. 

We have needs that we can not meet ourselves.  So we cry for help.  Who is our master, or protector, our comfortor, teacher?  

The savior, Jesus Christ.

When looking for a need we ask, "Por que quiere acercarse mas a Jesucristo?"  Why do you want to come closer to Christ?

Think about your own needs and your desires from Christ.  I know that he knows these needs better than we do.  He also knows our cries, and he knows how to help us.

He is the message.

He is the good news.

He is the Christ.

Our Redeemer, Savior and friend.

Look unto him, and doubt not; fear not. (DyC 6:36-37)

I love him and I am working each day on his errand.

Another cool mission experience that I had this week was during our many moments of terror.  contacting. haha joke. we{re naturals.  

Anyways, we contacted a lady with her special daughter.  Her handicapped daughter saw us, and began to smile so big and sqeal and squirm.  I understood it all in that moment.  The mother began saying "calm down... what has gotten into you?"  But we knew.  That sweet little girl, with her pure spirit, recognized us.  SHe knew us.  She knew what we stand for and what we have to share.  In the end, the mother walked away and rejected the opportunity.  I can only imagine the thoughts and yearnings of the sweet girl wanting her mom to receive us and claim her blessings of an eternal family.  It was a bitter sweet love hate  moment.  We felt so much sorrow because we were not able to teach, but we sure did feel the spirit, and we know that the little girl felt it too.  

I sure hope that in the future, they remember that sweet moment we shared.  There is no other way to describe it.  Sweet.  

And the best part about missionary work is that we experience these "sweet tender mercies" every day.

Valeria has progressed even more and has accepted to be baptized the 22nd of this month. 

I love being a missionary.  I love all that I am learning, and all that I am becoming with the Lord and his Atonement.

Look for your needs, and then look to him.  He can make us more than we can ever make ourselves.

To a great week of miralces--- cheers and Hurrah for Isreal!!!

love you tons,

con amor,

Hermana Woolley

Week 3 - Nueva Cordoba - August 3, 2015

Happy anniversary Parentals!!!

well, if I thought I was tired last week, I didnt know what was coming. 

We went on more exchanges this week, but this time to Leones.  It was a great day, but we spent 2 nights in a bus.  Not quality sleeping hours para nada.  Also, we drove through a crazy storm with lightning and rain drops the sizes of my big toe.  Then about 2 hours into the trip, the bus broke down at 2 in the morning.  So we sat and waited on the side of the road for 2 more hours until another came.  Then we had to take a detour, and so all in all-- a long trip.

We drank mate together, and I learned a new way how to make a good mate.  I am so excited to show you all back at home! You will learn to love mate as well! I just know it! la mate celestial!

My favorite part of the trip was when we drove through Bell Ville.  What strange emotions.  As we drove through, it all became so real.  The time is passing by sooooo fast.  I felt like I was in Bell Ville just 2 weeks ago, but the truth is that I was there more than a year ago.  Now Ive moved on, and surely the members have too!

This week, after the many conferences, a missionary was teasing my companion because she is about to go home.  I never knew how much it would hurt for someone to ask me how much time i have in the mission.  Apparently it hurt her as well.  When someone brought up the topic that she only had 9 weeks to go- 9 p days, 9 weekly planning, 9 sundays-  She began to cry.  It also hit me.  As I put on my Argentina flag neckalce this sunday, I would be lying if I said that I didnt shed a few tears.I will only be able to wear it for 3 more fast sundays.   Later in the day we were eating with some members and as we were leaving, Vani offered the closing prayer.  She prayed a good chunk of time- elaborating for the missionaries.  It again hit me that this will all come to an end.  The dream I am living of constant stress.  Constant prayer.  Constant  learning.  y bueno.  Fight until you make it.

I forgot my paper that has the things I wanted ot write you guys. Some highlights of the week and investigator updates.  Sorry.  I remember before my mission, I hated hearing about investigaroes.  I wanted to read about food, and companions, and jokes.  But, the truth is that the investigadores are our lives now.  and they help and lift us as well.

V*-  Bien.  Now her baptism is just around the corner.  During the week, her phone broke... and we just about had a heart attack.  We thought that she had dropped us by never answering when we passed by or sent messages or called.  Also, with 2 days of viaje, we got nervous that she had changed her mind about baptism.  On saturday, FINALLY we were able to get a hold f her.  When we showed up to at her house she was so glad.  She filled us in on the details.  She bought white fabric, and sent it to her friend to make her a dress!!!  She invited all  her friends from he YSA group, her sister and her boyfriend to go to her bapstism.  They all said they would attend, and so now it is full speed ahead.  She even put herself in charge of asking a member to baptize her before we could even help her organize everything.  It is such a tender mercy that our investigators are progressing, when we barely have time to take care of them and help them along the way.  It is a great privledge to see the changes and exitement in her.  This sunday, after many trials, she came to church with her 2 daughters for the first time. WAHOO!  To be continued...

Ver* really shocked me this week!!  We were paying so much attention in V* and other innvestigaroes, that she slid under our radar.  She is not married, so is not able to be baptized right away.  For this reason, we had not made her a main priority.  However, without us even passing by her house in the week, nor inviting her to come to church, she showed up once agian with her 3 kids!!! Bathed and in ties and sweaters.  What really got me was when I was keeping the children entertained during testimony meeting, Ver* looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "is it a requirement to be a baptized member to bear testimony?"  I said "Of course not!" and she shot herslef up there to the pulpit.  She gave a perfect testimony of the spirit she has felt, and her testimony of knowing that this is the only true church on the earth.  The members were blown away at her maturity and confidence, a pesar de las lagrimas.  It is crazy because now a ton of members have offered to help us and to accompany us to go and teach her and her family.  She was my example that day and reminded me of what is truly important.  Testimony and eternal families sealed in the temple.  I was super proud of her, and she, as an investigator had more courgae and confidence in giving her testimony than me. An experienced missionary with 14 months in the mission.  We truly need to bear testimony in every moment that we can because it brings the spirit so strong.  

Sorry for the boring update.  The thing is that we are flying from one thing to another, and I dont have time to write out every story of what I eat, or where I sleep, or the jokes we tell.

I hope you have a great week and that you know I will be thinking of you lots.  Thanks for your trunky emails!!! haha Mom I cant belive you are dreaming of having me there!  Just you wait!

mucho amor,

Hermana Woolley

ps. no fotos this week because the USB in this comp doesnt work.

Hurrah for Isreal