Clara

Hola!  Como estan?  Everyone back into the school groove?  I can’t believe my bro, Max, has officially started his senior year.  Feels like yesterday I was graduating and now I’m in Argentina speaking Spanish (kind of).

Clara got baptized!  And the baptismal service was so beautiful.  There was great member and family support and Clara looked so happy in white!  Now we just got to help her put that white on again in the temple of the Lord to be sealed to her family for all eternity.  Martin – her 7 month old son – is so cute and had a little bow tie at her baptism.  Her husband had a smile on his face the whole time.  The joy I could see in this family gave me even more energy to get out and do the work of the Lord.  The best thing I can do for the people in Argentina is help them know how to be an eternal family.

CHISTOSOS

·       In Argentina, to greet people, we kiss on the cheek.  But since we are missionaries, we can only give handshakes to the men.  Well we had a lesson with an old couple and we told the man we could only give a handshake so he got real mad and excused himself from our lesson.  Haha  Sorry dude.

·       Our ward mission leader tries to be American and it is so funny.  He is going to the USA in October so I gave him a list of restaurants that he needs to go to.  So keep an eye out for a super cool Artentine man in USA.

·       We knocked on a door and there was a big family but they said, “Sorry, we can’t right now, we are playing ping pong.”  So I said, “Bueno.  If I win then y’all have to listen to our message.”  Challenge accepted.  I lost but they still listened to us!

MILAGROS

·       We had another Tormenta Blanca this week in a different area in our district.  I was paired up to work with a return missionary – Saira.  I was super nervous because Bueno, she’s Latina.  But it went really well.  Saira is a convert of 8 years but wouldn’t know it because she is so awesome.  She was super patient with me and we found a lot of awesome people!  She served her mission in Bolivia which is supposedly the most dangerous mission in the world.  Like there are no gringos there because it is too dangerous. 

·       Yesterday in church I got called on to bear my testimony and I was really nervous because Spanish is hard.  But I just followed the Spirit and it went really well.  But when I was up there looking out at the audience, my eyes were drawn to Lucia – super awesome 11 year old girl.  She had the biggest smile on her face.  She is so patient with me and always gives me a big hug.  She reminds me a lot of my sister, Emma.  So it’s great to talk to her and feel of her love.

This week in my studies, I came across the scripture located in 3 Nephi 13:31-33

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What should we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

I’ve read the Book of Mormon many times but this scripture never really caught my attention but I love it.  Heavenly Father knows we have temporal needs and He is willing and ready to help us.  But only if we put Him in the first place.  I know that to be true.  I have seen so many miracles in my own life and the life of the people here in Argentina.  I know that as we put God first in our lives, He will provide for the rest.

Happy Birthday to Alex this week!

HOY ES EL DIA     

♥ Hermana Mannewitz

Clara's baptism

Clara's baptism

Clara's family

Clara's baptism

Clara's baptism

Clara

Clara's baptism

San Lorenzo

bbq with Obispo

ciao Elder Guarteche

District photo

Los Atalayas

Familia Tejerina

District pose

Hermana Adam's MAC and CHEESE

MAC and CHEESE

District prep

District yee-haw

Fe Aful

Hola!  Como estan?  Life is going great here in South America.  Stay tuned for the latest Chistosos y Milagros in Limache!

CHISTOSOS

·       At the end of one of our lessons with one of our new investigadores, she asked if we were Jehovah’s witnesses.

·       One stressful day I was crying and sitting on a bench in the park.  This week we found a new family to teach and the man said, “Oh, you’re the girl who was crying in the park.”  lol  Yup, that was me.

·       At lunch one day I was talked to Benjamin – a cute little boy who has 4 years.  I asked him if he had lots of amigos in school and he said, “Yes, and amigas too!”  (amigos = boy friends, amigas = girl friends)

·       I think we found a drunk dog.  If it wasn’t drunk it has some problems.  The dog was walking all weird and barked very strangely.  Then it peed which was hilarious.  Hna Adams and I were staring and laughing for a solid 2 minutes.

·       We clapped at a door and a little girl answer the door.  So we asked if her mom was home.  She told us that she was in the bathroom.  So we said we would wait.  She ran to tell her mom and then came back and said it was going to take an hour.  Guess her mom’s stomach has difficulties with the food like mine does.  Haha

·       One lady described another lady like this – “She’s huge and ugly and her face is like this (ugly face).  But the only thing more ugly than her face is her personality.”  WOW  I wonder what she says about me behind my back.

MILAGROS

·       Clara got married!  Finally!  Her wedding was Saturday night and sadly we couldn’t go but we heard it was beautiful.  Now we are focusing on her baptism.  Keep her in your prayers that everything will go well!

·       We had splits with the Hermana Capas this week and I stayed here in Limache with Hermana Oliveira.  This was the first night that I was with a Latina which is crazy considering I’ve been in South America the past couple of months.  But Hermana Oliveira is too cool.  She is so happy and has a true love for missionary work.  She got baptized only 2 years ago and now is helping others receive the blessings of baptism.  Such a good example to me!

·       This week we had a tormenta blanca (white storm) here in Limache which means all the missionaries come to our area and we worked really hard to find new people.  We also had some members from our ward helping us which was so helpful.  We worked really hard and in 2 hours found 6 new investigators.  Afterwards we went to the house of Obispo and ate pizza and lemon pie.  I am so thankful for our bishop and his family.  They are always so ready to help us in the work of the Lord in whatever way they can.  And they are so patient with me because I am still learning Spanish.  So much to be grateful for!

·       Our other super awesome investigator – Guadalupe is doing great but we need a lot of prayers!  She has so many desires to be baptized.  She wants to go to the temple, and she is reading the Book of Mormon and praying every day.  But she is in college and gonna start classes this weekend and only studies on Saturday and Sunday so she won’t be able to attend church.  Keep her in your prayers, and us to so we can know how we can best help this daughter of God. 

·       My favorite cookies were on sale for only 7 pesos!  Oferta!

We are finishing up our family Book of Mormon challenge for the summer and so I was reading about faith in Ether 12.  As we develop greater faith and trust in the Lord, we can access His power to bless and deliver us.  But sometimes we must act blindly.  But we read in Ether 12:6

“And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”

First, we must act and show God that we trust in Him.  We can trust that He will help us.  Not necessarily in the way we want but in the way that will best help us grow.  I know that submitting our will to His may be difficult, but it is essential to becoming like Him and finding the peace He offers.  Find hope in prayer.  Find hope in reading the scriptures.  Find hope in temple covenants.  I know that we are children of our Heavenly Father.  That he knows us perfectly and loves us perfectly.  I’m so grateful for the hope I find in the gospel of Jesus Christ and specifically in His Atonement.

HOY ES EL DIA!

Thanks for all the prayers, love, and support!

♥ Hermana Mannewitz

Hermana Oliveira

Correa chicas

MOM LOOK!  PEPSI!

the fanciest restaurant I've seen

The Dogs are Mormon

Hola!  Happy August!  All my homies in the United States are getting ready to start school while all my Argentine homies are finishing up school.  How crazy!

CHISTOSO

·       When you learn a new language, you make a lot of mistakes.  The other day I was explaining a picture to one of our investigators.  I was trying to explain that we are like a little lamb in the arms of the Savior, but I accidentally said “little fatty”.  Little fatty in the arms of the Savior!

·       After clapping at a door, we heard someone say Hola, but we didn’t see anyone.  I assumed they were talking form a window so I responded.  They responded.  I explained that we were missionaries and then suddenly I realized I was talking to a parrot!  A BIRD!  I was talking to a bird.

·       In the middle of a lesson, the mother of one of our investigators came out of the bathroom and said, “Sorry, I was hiding.”

·       My tortilla homie gave me a tortilla for free!!!  She said I’m too skinny so she trying to fatten me up.  Lol  Tell that to the scale.

MILAGROS

·       We had zone conference this week which is my favorite.  I always feel so pumped for missionary work and baptisms and teaching and life as a missionary.  This conference we talked a lot about how we can help our investigators get to church which is something we really need help with.  Since no one has cars.  And church is pretty early.  Church is pretty hard for people in Argentina.  But with all the new things we have learned, I have a lot of faith that we will see success.

·       Hermana Adams made peanut butter that was so yummy.  Yeah it was because we already ate all of it.  Haha

·       Clara, one of our super awesome investigators has her wedding this Saturday, so keep her in your prayers!  We are so excited!

·       Guadalupe, another awesome investigator is progressing so well.  She came to church yesterday in a skirt.  She has so many desires to be baptized and help her children have the gospel and to learn and grow.  But keep her in your prayers because she has some personal difficulties that keep her from baptism.  But I know that baptism will really bless her life.  I really love Guadalupe and desire the best for her!

·       In fast and testimony meeting yesterday, Lucia, that only has 11 years, bore her testimony on the power of prayer.  She reminded us that we can always pray, especially in times of trial, to receive strength from our Heavenly Father.

This week I was reading in 3 Nephi when our resurrected Savior, Jesus Christ, visited the Americas.  I love to read the way Jesus Christ expressed His love to the Nephites and the love that the Nephites had for Jesus.  I especially love verse 21:

3 Nephi 17:21

And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

I know I already mentioned my love for this verse, but as I read it again this week, it was exactly what I needed to hear.  I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of His children perfectly and infinitely.  I know that He wants us to be happy and feel His love.  I know that we can feel His love more in our lives when we keep the commandments and do the simple things everyday (pray, read the scriptures, etc.)  I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve a mission and spread this love.

Have a great week!

Hoy es el dia!!

♥Hermana Mannewitz

Zone Conference

Our District

After an intense competition of who knows preach my gospel we won kit kats!!

yeeehaw

I'm about to DIVE in

Los Atalayas

Salta

our district...again

Maria Emilia

Hola! What a crazy week we had. We worked so hard, laughed, cried, and witnessed so many miracles. Missions are seriously the best and I wouldn’t change this experience for anything!

The highlight of my week was the baptism of Maria Emilia! We witnessed so many miracles as we prepared for her big day:

·       Her whole family came! Her family is less active so we have been working with the whole family. We were worried they wouldn’t come to support but they did! Now we are working with the whole fam to help them return to church.

·       La tunica! Our ward has one baptismal dress but it was nowhere to be found. As of Friday night, we did not have anything for Maria Emilia. But late Friday night we got a call from our ward mission leader saying that we finally had clothes- and they fit Maria Emilia perfectly

·       It is always risky to pray for warm water since we are in Argentina but the water was warm!

·       The member support was great! Several families were able to attend and support Maria Emilia! And they all brought food J

·       Maria Emilia was so nervous about everything but when she saw how happy everyone was for her, she knew everything was going to be okay! It was truly a great baptismal service and the spirit was so strong! And to watch one of our investigators who I have really come to love enter the waters of baptism makes all the rejection worth it. I know that baptism opens the door of salvation and I am so grateful for the opportunity to help so many people here in Argentina.

But we still have a good time…

CHISTOSO

·       “So is Rosanna your friend?” “no… neighbor, and neighbor only” oh jajaja

·       A dog almost attacked us so now I have a pretty big bruise on my arm - battle scars of the mission

·       This is more embarrassing than funny but I had sweat stains on one of my shirts this week. Now I know that I have to be careful with that shirt.

·       One elder in our district is from Brazil and is so sassy but there is no translation of the word so I taught him the word sassy. Basically an English teacher and missionary duo.

·       One member of our ward speaks English really well and pretty much without an accent. The other day at lunch he taught us that chamar means to make out. Haha thanks Elias!

MAS MILAGROS

·       We didn’t get that lost this week!

·       My Spanish has really sky-rocketed this week since I am the only person who knows our area, the members, our investigators and their needs. I have had the opportunity to talk more and more. Bueno, I am not fluent yet but I am learning a lot faster. One member told me: “give it a month and you’ll be fluent!” Still have a lot to work on but it is getting better and better.

·       WOW! Let me tell you, the power of prayer is so real. One day this week I was feeling overwhelmed with all the responsibilities I have as a missionary. The only thing I could do was pray, but I’m so grateful that resource is available to us at any time, any day. I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. I know that he is always ready to help us and bless with the things that we need to press forward.

·       The Familia Caceres is always a miracle but this week they specifically saved lemon pie and apple pie for us because they knew we were going to want food. They know us too well.

·       Hermana Adams, another companion from the United States is a miracle. I have learned so much from her already.

This week I was thinking and reading a lot about joy. In the Book of Mormon we read…

2 Nephi 2:25

Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

Our purpose in this life is to have joy. I know that we can find joy in lots of things - Rollercoasters, buffalo wild wings, movies, etc. But the real joy I feel comes from my knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ – the fact that I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father, that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can return to the presence of our Heavenly Father and that I can be with my family for eternity. However, even with this knowledge, life is still hard but I love the counsel of Dieter F. Uchtdorf that we must never forget to be happy now. He says “The happiest people I know are those who, while in the pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments.” He continues to explain that as we are grateful for the tender mercies we receive everyday of our lives, we will have true joy. I know that Heavenly Father desires our happiness – that’s why we are here on earth!!

Be Happy!

Hoy es el dia

♥Hermana Mannewitz 

Maria Emilia

Obispo with Maria Emilia

with Obispo

Familia Puca

Ward Fam

Mateo and his cool CTR rings