Sister Sargent

"OFFICIALLY MY LAST EMAIL AS HERMANA SARGENT"

2011-03-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

How are you all? As I write this email I am just so excied because I know that soon I'll be seeing you all in person. Yay!

Right now I'm spending my last pday in downtown. The district wanted to get together at Pizza Hut for my last hoorah. So we just ate there. It was fun.

So how was your week? For me, this past week has seriously been great. I'm pretty sure it's gone faster than any other week in my mission. We have been teaching a ton, doing splits with the members, having fun FHE´s and really just talking to and finding so many prepared people. I love how the Lord is constantly preparing people and guiding us in His work.

We have about three people who are really progressing and should be getting baptized within a few weeks. One of them is Lucia, a 22 year old who we actually just taught for the first time on Saturday. We went to her house on Saturday afternoon to meet with her sister but she wasn't home so we ended up teaching Lucia. Ends up, about a year ago she met with Elders in another area, moved and lost touch with the church. Yesterday morning we went to pick her up for church and she and her two kids were all ready to go and waiting. Seriously, that's the best...when people are ready and we don't have to clap a million times or drag them out of bed. She loved church and has good desires. Great lady.

Funny story....so each night my companions and I are always just sitting on our beds writing in our journals. One night this past week we were sitting there and all of a sudden Hermana Paipa started screaming. Like, so loud. Seriously, I thought someone had like entered the apt or something. Ends up a gecko slash like lizard thing had crawled up her pants! Oh my gosh! We were all laughing so hard!

So, this is officially my last email as Hermana Sargent. Wait, sad. All I have to say is how grateful I am for this time I have had in Paraguay. I can hardly believe I'll be back in the states next week. Feels so unreal.

I love Paraguay. It is such a simple country. I love the Paraguayans. So loving. So humble and kind. I'll miss them. I love the gospel. Living it is the key to real happiness. I love the Lord. Never before in my life have I felt so close to my Savior.

I feel like the mission has taught me a lot. I've learned what joy is. The importance of obedience and discipline. The people here and my companions have showed me and taught me about patience, trust and love. I've learned that maybe bugs aren't all that bad, I can live without AC and that avocados can be huge! I've come to understand what our purpose in this life is and the importance of enduring to the end and honoring the covenants we've made.

I have learned that God exists and really is a God of miracles. I testify that He knows each and every one of us personally! He hears and answers our prayers. I have felt His love each day and have witnessed the love He has for others as they've applied the atonement in their lives. I know His plan is one of happiness and hope.

And this is why I love being a missionary! Because each day we are able to go out and talk, preach and testify to everyone about our Heavenly Father, His son and the restored gospel! These past 18 months have been a sacred time and a time I will always remember for sure. I'm grateful for the Holy Ghost that prompted me several times to start my mission papers. I almost ignored that voice. But I'm glad I decided to follow it. I realize that this is what Heavenly Father wanted me to do.

So, I have all this week to work hard and next Tuesday is my last day in Amambay. Early Wednesday morning I'll be in the mission office to start a day of activities (including going to the temple!) with President and Sister Callan and the other missionaries who are leaving. Then...Thursday I leave and Friday I'll be with you all! How crazy! Seriously, it just doesn't even seem real to me. I try to imagine it and I can't. I'll believe it when I'm actually there! Wow, even though I'm sad to leave I'm super excited to see you all!

I'm sure that mom is possibly planning some things for when I'm back.......umm, I'm wondering if mexican food and a good, thick like Ghiradelli status brownie can work their way into these plans? ¡¡por favor!! haha

Seriously, I love you all so much. I hope you know that. I feel so grateful to have such a supportive, loving family. Thank you for always writing me. Thank you for your constant prayers and love. You have all helped me so much and given me strength to keep on going as I've been here in South America.

I know that God lives, Jesus is the Christ and His atonement is real. I know that the gospel has been restored. ¡que seamos fieles y perseveremos para siempre para que podamos vivir en el reino celestial!

SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK!! :)

Eating Chupa Chup...it's like a frozen popsicle for 5 cents...saves us on hot afternoons.

The entrance into "village" in my area....it's a way poor part with shack after shack...
homes to about 50 families.

Pics of us with some grapefruit we picked.

"IT'S BEEN A ROLLER COASTER RIDE FOR SURE!!"

2011-03-07T09:35:00.000-08:00

Dearest family,

How are you all? Wow! I'm so happy to be writing you. How weird is it that this is the second to last email I'll write home.....I thought this time would never come and now it's just around the corner. Have to admit, super excited to see you all.

Anyways, this week has been a whirlwind. It's passed by quick. Okay, here are some of the highlights...

Friday night there was a youth fireside. It was all about the mission and how the mission effects us in different stages of our lives. It was awesome. It started off with a young priest who told of his desires to serve and how he is going to make it possible. Then, the 2 Elders spoke about the mission life then I had to talk for about 5 minutes about what I have learned from the mission, my testimony and my hopes for after the mission. Then, they had 2 recently RM's share their thoughts, a 50 year old High Priest from the ward talked about how serving a mission has helped him in his life and then the Bishop spoke. It was a way good fireside. I really enjoyed it and I think all the youth did too. I love it because alot of the young woman in this ward have strong desires to serve!

Okay. Saturday we had an interesting experience. We went to Magali's house. Our 12 year old progressing investigator who has come to church a few times and was going to be baptized this week. She came out and said she wasn't able to talk with us because her grandparents were there and they didn't like the mormon church. So, we were just chatting with her outside and all of a sudden her grandma came and was like can you guys come in and talk to my husband? We were like sure. I was totally naive and thought oh sweet, we can teach them both! Um, that definitely wasn't the case. we sat down and Magalis grandpa started off by saying how he and his whole family are Roman Catholic and how we are brain washers, devil worshippers and don't believe in Christ. Wow. seriously, I just felt so sad while talking to him. We tried to explain but he was def hard in heart and didn't want to listen. It's so sad when these youth have testimonies but because of the "tradition of their fathers" aren't able to progress like they would like to. It's sad. But, I know that we are planting seeds and one day when Magali is a bit older she'll be able to choose for herself.

Um, let's see. This last Ttuesday I got my Valentines package! Thank you mom!!! I laughed when I saw the new skirt! I have like three weeks to wear it! But, igual no mas....it's cute! PS, loved those cute little 100 calorie pack pop tarts. Yay.

Yesterday was a special day at church because we got a new bishopric. the bishop, Bishop Grau had been bishop here in Amambay for over 12 years. Yes, TWELVE YEARS!! I can't even imagine! But, I know the new Bishop and his counselors will do great. I think change is an exciting, good thing.

We are teaching Cynthias friendMmonica. I'm not sure if i wrote about her or not. But okay, she's great. She's 17 years old and will be getting baptized on the 26th of this month. She is really gaining a testimony of the Book of Mormon. And yesterday when we taught her she said the closing prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help her prepare for her baptism! I love when investigators pray for things specifically like that! It shows me they really have the desire and are serious about it.

I feel like I have felt so many different emotions this past week. From completing 18 months on the mission to being called a brain washer to finding some awesome people and seeing inactive families who we have been visiting with return to church.....it's been a roller coaster ride for sure!

I know this church is true. I am grateful for my time to serve the Lord as a full time missionary. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon. Even though prophets in the ancient times wrote it, it's for us. I am grateful for the opportunity to read and study this book each day because through this book I have come to personally know my Savior and better recognize His hand in my life and in the lives of others on a daily basis. I know President Monson is a prophet in these latter days. I am so looking forward to general conference! It's soon!

The gospel is true! And seriously brings such happiness to our lives when we live by its teachings!

Me, Hermana Paipa y Herman Lewis at church yesterday.....we didn't even notice it but everyone was like oh you sisters are dressed like the Paraguayan flag...red, white and blue! (and the US too).

So we had to take a pic. Funny.

Awesome fruit stand in our area

Me and Hna Lewis in LA JUNGLA! Yeahhh.

Me with Cynthia and the scripture case I made for her!

Me with my package! Thanks mom!!!

The district last Tuesday.

MORE LESSONS...MORE PEOPLE!!

2011-02-21T09:39:00.000-08:00

Saturday was baptism day! 14 year old Josue was baptized! Okay, so his mom is way involved in another religion and honestly, is kinda of an interesting woman. She is always telling us about dreams and visions she has had. She told us that she had a vision where the Lord showed her all the good people and told showed her that we were okay for her son to be talking to and that Renato was a good guy too. So, because she had her dream she allowed her son to be baptized. The baptism went great on Saturday....well, we always have problems with filling up the font and last minute people calling us telling us they can't give the talk or prayer.....ugh...but I guess just that's how it is sometimes! After being baptized Josue shared his testimony and said that he feels really happy and has finally found the peace that he had been looking for. Wow! He's a special kid.

Funny story. This past Monday we had an appointment with Josue. We were just sitting out in his yard and he came out with a little bouquet of roses and was like there is a rose for each one of you....because it was Valentines Day! Haha! He was like "my mom wants me to give them to you" . So cute. But oh man, I'm sure he felt as awkward as can be giving roses to the sister missionaries. Ha! We still have them in our apartment. I sent you the pic of us with the roses...Hna paipa thinks we look like we're in some Miss Universe Pageant or something but missionary style! We got a good laugh out of it.

We had zone conference this past Tuesday. Like always, it was awesome and I really enjoyed it. The Stake President here in the Asuncion stake came and spoke to us. He talked about how as missionaries there are two things that are essential for us to have...love and the spirit. He also focused his thoughts on how we can work with and strengthen the members. Also, I loved what President Callan spoke on...we all had our New Testaments open and we read from and focused on certain stories and parables of Christ's life and how they relate to the missionary work. It was awesome to hear his insights and thoughts on these scriptures. Also, since that was my last zone conference I had the opportunity to share my testimony with everyone there. Seriously, I remember when I first got here I thought that the time would never come for me to stand at the pulpit and share my testimony...and now it's already come and gone. Basically, love zone conferences. I learn so much and really try to apply everything we learn into the daily tasks of the missionary work.

Still enjoying the threesome. Hermana Lewis and I get along way well. It's fun getting to know her better and seeing all of her first reactions to this foreign country! One of the advantages to having a threesome is that we can have a member come with us and we can do splits...more lessons, more people!

We seem to really be finding and teaching alot of youth who are interested. Their parents...not so much. For instance, we were sharing with a 14 year old girl, Claudia, who we've been teaching for a week or so now. We asked if she wanted to invite her mom to come listen so she did. However, her mom didn't want to and shouted out "I'm Catholic. I don't want to play with God." Umm...eeek. But, we continue to teach Claudia and other youth as well. We have 4 people who are preparing for baptism in March and they are all under 20 years old! I'm amazed at their desire to do good and learn.

People are giving us those huge avocados right and left and now we are pro's at making guacamole...so good. If only we had tortilla chips! We have to eat it with other things. But it's all good.

Well, I think that's about it from here in Asuncion. I'm happy to be here and to be a missionary. I love to share the gospel with the people every day.

I love you all lots! Thank you for everything! Have a great week!! Be happy!

Our Valentine's roses--haha

Me and Hna Lewis eating chipa....a traditional Paraguayan food thats pretty yummy! We were coming back from zone conference and like always, some guy got on the bus and had a big basket and was selling chipa....Hna Lewis hadn't tried it yet so we bought one!

Baptism of Josue...Renato baptized.

Street in Amambay after a rain storm!

With some members

Here in downtown!

LOVING THE MISH!!

2011-02-14T09:14:00.000-08:00

Hey! How are you all? Happy Valentines Day!!

So bascially being in a threesome is awesome and the work is going great. Loving the mish. We are having a lot of fun together.

Yesterday we had a four investigators come to church. And Josue, who is Renato's friend, will be getting baptized this Saturday! Yay!

We are teaching a couple great families. One is a young couple who we met on Friday night. They asked us question after question...alot of "questions of the soul"...like, how will God answer our prayers? Why does God allow suffering and destruction to good people? etc. We had a great lesson with them. Taught about the restoration and through the Book of Mormon, we answered their questions. We have another appointment tonight which we are looking forward to.

The other family is way great but they have a lot of social doubts...since all their family and friends are in a different religion. We visited them yesterday because they didn't come to church after commiting that they'd go. They were explaining to us how it was going to be difficult for them because of their family and friends...I was just like Hermano and Hermana, it looks like you are asking every one for their opinion except for one very important person--you need to pray, ask God and listen to His answer! This is one thing we are really focusing on as a mission is to get people down on their knees and pray so they can receive personal revelation. They told us they pray so hopefully they'll recognize their answer and progress.

I'm not sure if I have mentioned about the Koreans here in Asuncion. There are randomly a lot. It's funny, because they all know Spanish but when we go up to contact them they act like they don't speak Spanish and only talk to us in Korean. ugh!

Tomorrow we have zone conference. I'm totally looking forward to it! This will be my last one..crazy.

Okay. There is like a full out mosquito attack here in Paraguay. I'm not kidding. They are everywhere. Saturday I thought I had Dengue Fever. There are a lot of cases of it here and all of a sudden Saturday morning I felt so sick...like fever, aches, nausea, the works. We went to a pharmacy to ask them about something I could take and they told me that it looked like I had Dengue and needed to go to the doctor. No! Seriously, I wanted to cry. I always think of worse case scenarios and imagined me in some third world status hospital getting my blood drawn. Ew. ha! But I called Hermana Callan and asked her what I should do. She said it's most likely that I just had a virus of some sort and told me to do a liquid diet and drink lots of Sprite. So that's what I did. After about 24 hours I was totally fine. Thank goodness!! Saturday was not fun, but I'm totally fine now. So BG!

So there is a scripture that I love. 1 nephi 17:51. I love Nephi's attitude and faith...here his own family members were doubting him and making fun of him, etc... but he was just like hey, the Lord has helped me out this far, I'm pretty sure He can help me make a ship! I feel like we can really relate to this. Yes, we have trials and challenges and sometimes some things seem impossible. But if we think about and recognize the tender mercies and help and miracles we've seen and received from the Lord throughout our lives it is evident that He can and will help us out as long as we are doing what He asks us to. I love 1 Nephi!

Well, already did our grocery shopping and are going to head back to the apartment. Hna Lewis and I want to bake something...she wants to make banana bread with chocolate chunks so I think thats what we'll do..yum!

I love you all so much. Thank you for constant support and love.
I pray for you all daily.

Have a great week and I'll be writing next Monday!

¡La iglesia es verdadera! ¡Somos tan bendicidos por tener el evangelio en nuestras vidas!

Me with my comps

Me with Griselda......it's funny how the little kids draw me like totally blonde! Ha!

TALK ABOUT A GOLDEN INVESTIGATOR!!

2011-02-10T09:37:00.000-08:00

¡maiteipa! ¿mbaécichapa peiko?

Wow, I feel like so much has happened within these past ten days! I was happy to see my inbox full of emails and getting the update on all of you. Yay.

Okay....we had transfers on Wednesday. I am training again! Hermana Lewis from Boise Idaho. She is great! She is an elemenatary ed major at BYUI and is way excited to be here. Her Spanish is...coming along! She'll pick it up in no time. Sometimes she just looks at me and is like what did they just say?! And okay, here is the thing...I'm still in the process of training Hermana Paipa as well. Yes, we are in a trio! It's kinda crazy. I actually found out at the leadership training meeting we had last week. I think President Callan wanted to give me a heads up and prepare. There is a total of 14 sisters in our mission now...so it's not like we have an odd number and have to have trios but President Callan said after much fasting and prayer he felt like this is what he needed to do. So we are in a trio. Really, I'm totally up for it! Learning a lot from the both of them. And so far it's been a lot of fun to have two comps. I was in a threesome in the MTC so I'll be ending my mission the way I started it. It makes it a lot easier too because both Hna Paipa and Lewis are great girls!

Okay. The leadership training conference we had last week was awesome. Itt was basically all morning and afternoon and I learned a ton! We spent a ton of time doing practices and learning how we should better teach some of the doctrine and encourage our investigators to do their part. It was way cool because President Callan did lots of practices and examples so we could learn from him and participate with him in the practices. Like I said, I learned tons. Now I'm just really trying to focus in on what he taught us and apply them in our lessons.

Okay, so it looks like we'll be having a baptism on the 19th. Renato is like Mr. missionary now and wants us to teach all of his friends. Um, okay! Fine with us! We are teaching his 14 yr old friend/neighbor Josue. We taught him for the first time last Monday...we explained the restoration to him and then asked if he had any questions. He asked, "how can I become a member of your church? When can I be baptized?" Wow! Talk about a golden investigator! That's like the question we want every investigator to ask! He has already been to the church 3 times and loves it. Today he left on a YM camping trip with all the other YM and is already way good buds with them. We are excited about him! We are just waiting on his dad's permission....but it looks like everything will be okay!

Mom mentioned something about a cold front up there in Az. It's been so much cooler down here too! Cloudy, not hot. I've been loving it.

So, with Hna Lewis as a companion now we have an hour of language study each morning and not just 30 minutes. I'm going to take advantage of it and learn some more Guarani! Or at least try. It's seriously hard but I want to learn more while I'm here. This morning I was studying Guarani, Hna Lewis was studying Spanish and Hna Paipa, English. We were all trying to do practices...it was funny. There is def a mixture of langagues going on.

Okay. Well family, I love you all lots. Can't believe I am now in my last transfer of the mission. Where has the time gone? Everyone is asking me how I feel, and really, I feel normal. I don't feel like next month I'll be going to my house. Hasn't hit me yet. But it's all good. I'm happy to be here in Paraguay. But, when the time comes, I will be so excited to move on. I know that there is life after the mission and that everything will be okay. Ha!

Okay, I'll be writing on Monday!
The church is true! God lives, knows and loves us. Have a great weekend!

CYNTHIAS BAPTISM that was on January 29th! (and Tobias' almost baptism!)

All the hermanas from last change...

Future missionaries from Amambay...Leila and Renato

........at least I hope they both serve!

Me with my two trainees!! Yeahhhhh!

Our threesome eating some avacado and brazillian mango last night.....

they're huge huh???!!! We picked them off the trees!!

...ENDURE!!!

2011-01-31T09:04:00.000-08:00

Que tal? Can you believe that today is the last day of January! I can't! This month has passed by super fast!

Okay, this week has been a good one....Saturday was baptism day! Yay! Cynthia was baptized! Okay, so hna Paipa and I filled the font up on Thursday and all was good to go. However, Saturday morning we just happened to pass by the chapel and there were a ton of people inside doing some heavy duty cleaning. Seriously, it was like a disaster. And to top everything off, they had emptied the font. NO! We thought we were all prepared and ready to go, but no! It takes about 2 to 3 hours to fill up the font so luckily we happened to pass by the chapel that morning. If not, I don't know what would have happened. Eek. But anyways, the people cleaning told us they would take care of it and refill the font. Well, they did fill it up but the water was like river status. Filthy. Something is like wrong with the pipe. But, everything else went good! Cynthia is SUPER happy! And actually, we've been teaching her 9 yr old nephew, Tobias,who now lives with them. He almost got baptized on Saturday as well. I say almost because yes, he had his interview with the Elder, was dressed in white, but when it was his turn to enter the water he totally had a panick attack. Seriously, we along with everyone else, were trying to get him in the water for like thirty minutes but we had no luck. Ugh! It was crazy. Lots of Paraguayans are afraid of water because they aren't used to it. No beach, no pools, etc. so ya, Tobias was traumatized to say the least. He would not get in. But, hopefully we can get him in the font soon! I think if we have clean water in the font it would help!

Last Tuesday our district meeting was awesome. We talked a lot about the Book of Mormon and its role in the missionary work. At the end of our meeting our district leader invited us one by one to share our testimonies about the Book of Mormon. It was a powerful, spiritual meeting. The spirit was strong. I love the Book of Mormon.

Okay, last Tuesday after the meeting we were on the bus coming back to our area. I was sitting down and looking out the window when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I looked and sitting across the aisle and one row back from me was a 40ish year old man offering me Terere...the traditional Paraguayan drink. (it's like mate but cold). Everyone here carries around their thermals and drink Terere all day. I politely said no gracias to him. Then he started to ask if I was here in Paraguay working. I began to tell him how we were missionaries. He said he knew about the church but had never seen an Hermana before, only Elders. Afterwards, I pulled out a pamphlet about the restoration and began to explain a little bit to him. He told me he would like to attend the church and learn more. Okay! I wrote down his name and direction to pass along the reference to the Elders where he lives. It was cool to share with him! I love riding the bus because we get to talk to people from all different parts of Paraguay! and plant seeds so that other missionaries can teach them in the future!

Hermana Paipa is doing and good and continuing to learn the ropes of the mission. at times she tells me she feels way inadequate to be amissionary. I'm pretty sure that's normal for every new missionary. And honestly, at times I still feel like that! I think we feel like that so we keep ourselves humble and realize we need the Lords help in every moment. One thing that she is really struggling with more than normal is the weather. She is so not used to the hot summer weather. It seems to really be taking a toll on her. In her city she says maximum it reaches 80 degrees. NADA! This past week there were a couple days here where it reached over 110 with 80 percent humidity. HOT! The Elders here in Amambay with us were sick in bed for 3 days because of the sun. Eek! For me, ya, it' hot..but I don't know, I think I'm kinda used to it now. We are just drinking and drinking so much water, it's crazy! I just hope neither one of us get sick. I don't want to be inside all day. I'm super excited for this week because tomorrow we have district mtg. and then Wednesday we have a leadership training meeting with President Callan. It's for the zone leaders, district leaders and trainers. I'm looking forward to it! Should be pretty neat!

Transfers are next week. Yes, this change is coming to an end! Wow! Hermana Rencher...from Dyan's ward, ends her mission this change. Crazy! So...the next time I'll be writing is next Thursday!!

I wanted to send a pic off of Cynthias baptism but this computer isn't letting me. Ugh! I'll have to next week!

Well, we are going to head back to the apt to each lunch. I bought all the ingredients to make a bunch of banana bread to take to all the people who helped out with and participated in the baptism!

Yesterday the Bishop gave the 3rd hour class all about the scripture found in D&C 64:33. I love this scripture. We can't let ourselves bet tired, lazy or be less dedicated....endure!!

Okay fam. I love you all tons. I hope you have a great week. I pray for you all daily. Thank you for your love and support.

BAKED POTATOES AND FRENCH TOAST!!

2011-01-28T09:08:00.000-08:00

Family!
Hey! How are you?! Maiteipa?! So, I'm having problems with my church email....I guess I'm officially not in the system anymore so I can't log in! How weird. I think the people in SLC think I'm home already. Not yet. So, I have permission to use my gmail account for the remainder of my mission.

Okay. Just read moms email......wow! ROBS....CONGRATS!!! I'm super super excited for you! I'll totally help you out out with your Spanish to prep you for the summer! and how cool that your "brother" will come here and we'll be able to speak Spanish with him too! Sweet!

And okay....NAT.....BYU???!!!! WOW! Congrats! You def have some big decisions to make now :) I say...go to BYU this summer.....I would like to find a job and work in SLC....so we could be close! And then, once you've turned 21, after this summer you can go on a mission!!! Just my input :)

Okay. Things are going good here. Honestly, right now I can't even really remember what happened exactly throughout the week! But okay, one of the highlights was that yesterday we had a fireside with President Arnold who is the Area President...he's over Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina. It was definitely a great opportunity to go and hear him and his wife speak! There were lots of people there. President Arnold spoke alot about topics regarding to the restoration and then told us that he wanted to tell us 3 things he would tell to his children....1. Have a testimony of God. 2. Get an education and continue to study and 3.Understand the importance of a temple marriage. It was way awesome! I was so glad we were able to go!

The weather here has been so nice this past week. Well, lots of rain...but the temperature has totally dropped. It's reminding me of CA weather or something. Love it. We haven't been using our AC as much at night and we've actually had to shower with hot water in the mornings! It's been a while since that has happened!

Okay. Our investigators are....good. At times it's hard because they just don't progress how we'd like them to! But, we do have a couple that are progressing. Angel and Magali. They both have been to church several times and just need to get baptized now! We are really trying to help them keep their commitments and understand the importance and need for baptism.

Mom asked about a couple families that I had mentioned a while back. One of the families...we aren't visiting anymore. They basically told us not to because their family is from another church, etc. However, the other family we are continuing to visit. They are was humble and awesome. The only thing is, it's hard to find them in their house! However, this past week we had an awesome appointment with them. We focused on the Atonement of Christ and how it helps us repent and fulfill our purpose here on earth. The brother was just like looking at us as we talked and it seemed to just click in his mind. We are hoping to find them in their house tonight to teach them again.

Okay. I just have to tell you this. Yesterday we went to eat lunch with Jose and Leila and their mom had made baked potatoes! It was my first baked potatoe in such a long time and I was so excited!! Funny huh! and speaking of food, for lunch today we are going to make Hna Paipa french toast. She's never had it and Hna Lewis and I were talking about it the other day!

So cute. This week we received a text from Josue, our recent convert. He invited us to an FHE he had planned in his house with some of the other youth. It made me so happy. He loves the church and the gospel and is progressing well!

So we are now inviting people that we meet to be baptized the 26th of March. It's weird.

Okay family. I love you all sooo much! Thanks for your love and continous support! I feel like so much is going on at home! Lots of good and fun things! Makes me happy.

Have a great week. The church is true. I love being a missionary and teaching the truth each day!

Me....with fresh cut bangs...did it myself!

WE ARE CONTINUING TO SEE MIRACLES!!!

2011-01-24T10:15:00.000-08:00

Wow! Another week has passed by. I'm SOOO happy that Jayda made her entrance this past week and that she is healthy. And not to mention, SOO cute. Ah, can't wait to meet her! Congrats to the Fagrell family!

Right now we are in downtown. It's been a lot of fun this morning. We strolled around the plazas and streets for a couple hours, shopped and did some bargaining in all the little markets, toured around some of the historical palaces and sites and have taken a ton of pics. Everytime I come here I just love the city vibe. Can't wait to show it off to mom, dad and Nat!

The work is moving forward and we are continuing to see miracles. Yesterday we had six people at church. It was awesome. Cynthia came for the third time and will be getting baptized this Saturday afternoon. She is super excited, and we are too! I made her a cute little countdown chart to her baptism that is up on her wall and everyday she tears off a piece....and now it's finally getting close! We are also working with a mom, Emilia and her kids. Emilia is great. They live in a very, very humble home. She is very open to learning and understands the need for repentance and to be baptized. She wants to be baptized but there is one problem...she isn't married. Her and her "husband" have been together for like 25 years now but have never gotten married. This is very common in Paraguay. Her husband is very closed and doesn't like sharing with us. But, we are trying! Her 22 yr old daughter, Karen, is a history major in college and way smart...we are teaching her as well. I really enjoy teaching her because she just doesn't say "que lindo" all the time but has questions for us about the Apostasy and the Book of Mormon. Really wants to learn and understand. She came to church as well and one of the speakers in Sacrament meeting was talking a lot about baptisms for the dead...that kind of threw Karen off and she has a lot more questions added to her list now. But, they really are great people and they will continue to progress!

This morning I finished the Book of Mormon. As I was reading Moroni's promise I couldn't help but feel a literal power that comes from the Book of Mormon. There was one part that particularly stood out to me this morning where Moroni basically tells us all to remember how merciful the Lord has been to us all-from the time of the creation until now. We can see that time after time in the Book of Mormon how the Lord is very merciful and loving towards the people in many different situations. As well as to us in these latter days. I think at times we think, or at least I do, that the Lords mercy is when we repent. This is the ultimate act of mercy which we gain through His atonement. However, as I was studying today, I realized that each day we receive His mercy. Every little blessing we receive is an act of mercy. Moroni wants us to realize this, ponder it and remember it. Our lives really are filled with tender mercies from the Lord.

Well family. I really don't have too much to say. Things are going good down here. Don't worry, haven't had any more scary incidents with crazies on the street. We're being extra careful.

This week will be a good and busy one as we get everything set up for Cynthias baptism this weekend. We asked a bunch of members to help us out with it at church yesterday and everyone is willing to help which is always good. Renato is going to baptize her which will be awesome! He is like the official baptizer in the ward these days.

I hope you all know how much I love you. Thank you for your constant support and examples to me!

All decked out in my indian gear!

Looking at typical paraguayan dresses in a little street market

Hermana Paipa and I this morning in downtown by the historic palace

Yes, thats a frog! They are huge here in Paraguay!!

Me with Dulce and Cynthia (who's going to be bapitzed). They were playing in a YW handball tournament at the church!

YES, MY MISSION IS ENDING, BUT NOT SLIPPING AWAY!!

2011-01-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

Okay, this week has been achallenging one but awesome all at the same time. Let's see, heres what's been going on....

Tuesday headed to the office for interviews with President Callan. Wow, it was by far the best interview I have had with him. We spent about twenty minutes talking and it was just good. He is awesome and so inspired. So in tune with the spirit. I felt like it was a one on one training session. We talked a lot about goals and what I've done here in my mission and what I want to accomplish in the next two months. He talked with me a lot about Hermana Paipa and the responsibility to help mold her into a successful missionary. I went in with some questions and really, he answered all of them without me even having to ask. It was a great interview. Got me charged up again!

Okay. Throughout each week we work alot. We're outside teaching and talking with people each day from 10:30 to 9:30. Each day we are helping people, inviting people, and encouraging people to make commitments,keep commitments and follow the example of Jesus Christ. On Sunday, it's like the test to see exactly how well our investigators are doing and their intentions and really see the fruits of our labors. Sunday morning we tried calling a bunch of inactives and investigators for al ast minute reminder call but like all their cell phones were off. Ugh. We decided, okay, we've done all we can...we have to have faith in them that they'll come! We had five investigators come to sacrament meeting and some inactives that we've been really focusing on who haven't been to church in months came too. It was awesome! One of the investigators was Cynthia who still on track for her baptism. It's cool to see how the gospel has changed her. Seriously, she has a special light about her now as she is reading the Book of Mormon , praying and attending church. Last year she suffered from health problems..she was bellimic (is that how you spell it) but her health is improving these days. She just seems so much happier now. She is friends with lots of the young women and really is just the cutest girl. I'm so happy for her.

Okay, so yesterday, I was sitting in the chapel and I saw a young man, about 25, walk in and sit down. I saw his face and it looked so familiar but I didn;t know how I knew him or if I had met him before. After the meeting I looked back to see if he was there..he was sitting by himself and waved to me. I was like who is this guy?! I went up to introduce myself to him and asked what his name was and if this is his first time coming to church. He said his name is Manuel and then said "ya, you invited me to come about two months ago". Okay, as missionaries we make at least twenty contacts, or invites to church, each day...some people listen, some people keep on walking, some people let us write down their address to visit them in their house,etc. each contact is different but right when Manuel told me that I had invited him I remembered exactly. About two months ago Hna Machuca and I went to an appointment and we clapped at the house and the lady there didn't want to let us in. So we were standing outside the fence when I noticed Manuel, sitting on his motorcycle getting ready to take off. We started to talk to him, he told us that he lived nearby and so we invited him to church and that was that. Well, yesterday he showed up. He came to the gospel principles class and we were talking about the Holy Ghost when the teacher asked if anyone had an experience they wanted to share. Manuel, even though it was his first time at church, wanted to share. He told the story about how that morning two months ago he was headed to his house but felt like he should go visit a friend. Ends up that his friend wasn't even home so that's when he was getting back on his motorcylce when we came up and started talking to him. Later that day he was thinking about how he wasted time going to his friends house because he wasn't even there but then realized that possibly he went so he could be invited to the church by us. He then realized that something, the Holy Ghost, told him to go to his friend's house so he could know about the church. The day after, his dad, who lives in the rural parts of Paraguay, called him and Manuel had to go work with him out there for like 2 months but just this week he returned to Asuncion and this whole time had remembered about the invite to church. Yesterday morning when coming to church he got lost. He asked someone for directions and they lead him to a Japanese church that's about 3 blocks from the LDS chapel. He entered and instantly knew that wasn't the right place. So, he went out looking again, and finally ended up finding the church. He loved it. He was soaking up every word. He's a great guy. I know he is prepared. The only thing is, he lives about 3 blocks out of our area. So, I had to pass the reference onto some elders in our zone. But seriously, wow! It reallystrengthened my testimony of making contacts and talking with everyone. Because really, we don't know who is prepared, but the Lord does and really does put people in our path. I just know this Manuel is going to be baptized! I'll have to keep in touch with the Elders on his progress. Cool, huh?!

Okay. So here is another story for you all. So many members have told me not to tell my family, but I'm going to tell you guys anyways. Ha. But don't worry. Yesterday we were walking along the street at 3 in the afternoon. The streets were quiet because it was during the siesta and hot outside. We were walking and a young guy, about 20 years old, was approaching us. I didn't think anything of it until he was about five feet in front of us and wasn't really moving to one side or the other. So I started moving more towards the left so he could pass by on the other side of us and he kinda like trapped me so I couldn't go that way. Before I knew it he had put me up against the wall and strongly had his hand placed on my right arm. I tried to step away but couldn't because of his grip on my arm. Ah. I had no clue what to do. It was me against this wall, he was in front of me, and Hna Paipa was like 3 feet behind him in shock about what was happening. He was hal fdrunk and started saying something like "hermana, hermana, give it to me, give it to me, now, hermana" over and over again. I was frozen and had like a thousand thoughts rush through my mind. He then, with his free hand, reached into his back pocket like he was taking out something. This is when my heart really started to race because often we hear stories of people with knives. Ah. He was looking to take something in his pocket, but had nothing. All of a sudden he said "yo digo no mas"...which is like "just joking", let go of me, and took off. It was REALLY weird. It all happened so fast Hna Paipa and I didn't know what to do. She could see the back of him and that he was trying to take out something but his pocket was empty. I guess he realized he didn't have anything to threaten me with and took off. I don't know. Really, now that it's over with and thinking about it I'm sure an angel or something took whatever he had placed in his pocket earlier that day out. I feel very blessed that neither one of us were hurt or that really, nothing happened. It was definitely a scare though. My first encounter with anything like this. Really crazy. Honestly though, don;t worry mom! :) We are safe and avoid all dangerous parts at night! It was just something really random that happened. I was telling the elders about it at our zone acitivty today and they couldn't believe it because nothing has ever happened to them but of course, something happens to the gringa. Ha! Anyways, that is that.

Well family. The work is going very well. Yesterday seriously was a great Sabbath day. I love the missionary work. I love when people are progressing and really have desires to do good. I love seeing how the Lord prepares people to hear the gospel. In my interview on Tuesday it kinda suprised me when President Callan said "well Sister Sargent, your mission is slipping away. " I have thought about that phrase this past week. Yes, my mission is ending, but not slipping away. I still have hold on the things that we are doing here. As missionaries, we work full out until the end. There is a hymn that is only in the Spanish hymnbook and one of the verses says "I want to be a faithful soldier, next to the Lord". Really, as a missionary, this is my desire. We are in a battle. I want to be better. I want to fight harder. I want to work hand in hand with the Lord. I want to be a better teacher, a better companion, a better missionary, a better daughter, a better friend, a better person. I really am so grateful for this time we have on earth. It's a time to learn, to grow and to progress. I'm grateful for the opportunity we have to participate in the Sacrament each week. What a blessing! Each week we can have a "mini baptism" and renew our covenants we have made with our Heavenly Father and be clean. The gospel is perfect!

Well, I have written a novel. Lots of stories to tell you! Haha, good and bad, huh?! But, know that I love you all tons. Thank you for your support, prayers and love. I hope you all have a great MLK day and a great rest of the week. The church is true!! LOVE YOU ALL TONS AND MISS YOU!!

Me and Hermana Paipa

I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT I'LL SAY IT AGAIN...!

2011-01-10T08:36:00.000-08:00

Wow, really can't believe yet another week has passed by. Like dad said, it's been a fast week. And a good week. I am loving Hermana Paipa as a companion. She's a lot of fun and always happy. We get along well and laugh a lot. She is always asking questions about the mission in general and really has a desire to learn. As I said, I've seen her progress a ton in these past couple weeks. She told me last night how at times she feels like she is the worst missionary ever. I don't know why she thinks that but i told her I'm pretty sure we all feel like that at one point or another. I think it's the Lords way of keeping us humble and realizing that we really need His help in every way.

We have basically been melting away this past week....because of the heat. It's intense. The humidity on top of the high temperature is what gets me. I think I feel it more this summer being in the city...paved roads, buildings, etc. I think people feel bad for us that we are out walking all day because a member bought us little hand fans to carry around and basically everyone gives us water and juice. In fact, the other day while passing a little store a lady waved us down and gave us little juice boxes. Cute. Well after feeling like we didn't have a ton of solid, progressing investigators we decided to do a special fast this past Sunday and have seen such miracles this week! It's been great! On Wednesday, a big storm was coming in so we decided to go to Rolys house, a member, to borrow her umbrellas. While there she asked if we still visit Cynthia, a 14 year old girl that Hna Machuca and I actually taught a few months back but could never find her again. Anyways, Roly told us that she had seen Cynthia in her house that morning. So, we headed to her house. Cynthia lives with her mom who was baptized 5 years ago but is inactive. They have lived a pretty hard life but are such good, nice people. It was so awesome because before we even could sit down, Cynthia told us how just earlier that afternoon her and her mom were talking about the church and how they should go on Sunday. On top of that, she also said she wants to be baptized. Wow! To have someone say that is like GOLD. They both came to church yesterday and the members were so welcoming and nice to them. It's looks like Cynthia will be baptized on Feb 5th!

One thing I love about this time of year are the mangos. You can't walk two feet without passing a big mango tree. They are EVERYWHERE. The mangos look like colored ornaments hanging on a tree..it's really pretty. There is the Paraguayan mango which is little and yellow, but my fave is the Brazillan mango...they are huge and shades of purple and red....delish!

I know I've said this before, but I'll say it again...I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be in Paraguay. I love the people. I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be here and share the gospel with them. I wouldn't change my decision to serve a mission for anything. I know it's what the Lord needs me to be doing at this point in my life and I'm happy to do it.

Things are good here. Tomorrow morning we will be having interviews with President Callan which I'm excited about. And then.....working away until next pday. Yes, even on Saturday. :)Know that I love you all. Thank you for everything. You all are awesome and such a great support to me. !Que tengan una semana muy buena! Les escribire hoy en ocho! !Jajejapata!

Famous Paraguayan flower that is everywhere here!

Us with some less active girls

Eating watermelon.

Walking into a jungly entrance into someones house.

New Years Eve dinner with the family Paredes! It was way fun!

LAST EMAIL OF 2010!!

2010-12-30T09:27:00.000-08:00

Can you believe this will be my last email of 2010??! Seriously, this year has gone by fast.
I remember back in January thinking I'd never be able to make it through.

Okay, how awesome was Skype?! I TOTALLY LOVED it! It was soo good to see you. I felt like I was sitting there in the family room with all of you. I still can't get over how all my nieces and nephews look so grown up! And Robs too! I guess that I have been away from home for awhile now and that you all are changing. But seriously, it was great to Skype. Luckily the connection was good and everything. It was funny too, because Jose was there listening in on everything. I thought it was going to be like awkward since he knows English and could understand....but it was fine and I think he enjoyed hearing our conversation. It was like a movie to him! Ha!

Okay. 2011 will start out good. It'll bring some new challenges and adventures because I am now training. I found out Tuesday at district meeting and shortly after the assistant to president called me to see if I'd accept the assignment. And then Wednesday morning we had an hour leadership training with President Callan. I'm kinda sad because Hermana Machuca is on her way to El Salvador right now. But my new companion is Hermana Paipa, from Columbia. She actually lived in Venezuela til she was about 12 and then moved to Columbia. She's 25, finished college, studied chemistry, all her family are member minus her dad. In her early 20's she was inactive for about 2 years but has returned to the church and is now on the mission. This is her 3rd day in Paraguay. Wow! She seems pretty shocked with everything. Things that are totally normal to me now...like cobblestone roads, humble homes, the heat, people speaking Guarani and not being able to understand, the food, etc, are so new to her. Yesterday she was wearing some high heeled shoes but today she pulled out her flats! She learned quickly. She's really trying to learn and pick up on everything of how the mission is. She seems to overall be doing good. I'm excited to train. I've always wanted the opportunity to do so because my first few months in the mission were a little rough and I always have thought that I hope no new missionary ever feels so alone as I did. Along with the excitement, honestly I'm a little nervous about it. I'm used to having a comp who knows the ins and outs of the msision but now it's like I have to explain and teach her every little thing. Hna Paipa told me she doesn't feel comfortable at all with teaching and she's scared to open up her mouth....so we'll be doing lots of practices! Really, I know the Lord has given me this assignemnt to help me develop patience and love. I'm learning a lot. She'll be a good missionary. I just hope that I can be a good trainer and that we are able to see miracles in the mission field!!

Well, we have a lot of investigators right now...there is always someone to teach..........but they aren't progressing too quickly. We really need some people to go to church this Sunday!

Well family. I love you all so much. Thank you for your support. I felt, and still do, so uplifted from talking to you all this past Saturday. It was awesome. I'm already for another phone call but I guess we'll just have to wait til March! Know that I love you. Know that I'm doing good down here in Asuncion. Know that I pray for you daily. Know that I know this church is true. I'm grateful to my Heavenly Father for His constant love, help and guidance in my life. He really does know us individually. Have a great weekend. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 2011....WOW!!

Christmas morning!

Jose' family-in their house (where i Skyped)

All the trainers and the new missionaries yesterday morning!

WE HAVE OFFICIALLY TURNED INTO CAMELS!!

2010-12-20T10:25:00.000-08:00

Sounds like you are all great and feeling the Christmas spirit! The report is the same from my end! I loved the pics of all the Christmas decor in the house. Looks so fun and festive! Yay for
Christmas!

This morning we had an awesome zone acitivity. By far my fave. In our zone conference, President Callan encouraged all the zone leaders to plan something special since its the holiday season so our ZL planned for us to go to a public childrens hospital here in Asuncion and Christmas carol to all the people there. Okay, first off, I couldn't believe the hospital conditions. It was dirty, hot, no AC, there was hardly enough space for people in the waiting rooms, etc.. We sang Christmas hymn after Christmas hymn to people in the waiting room and then we were able to enter and sing in some of the patients rooms. There was usually more than one kid per room and honestly, it was really sad to see them in their little cribs or beds. One of theElders dressed up as Santa, and the kids loved that. And thanks to mom, each kid got a cute little sticker that they loved and were super excited about! It made me sad to see so many people, who honestly have nothing, spending their Christmas week in the hospital. But, I'm glad that we could at least bring a smile to their face and let them feel a little of the Christmas spirit! It was definitely an awesome experience and one I will always remember.

Okay, lets see. What else. We continue to teach the family that we taught...Marcos and Roxanna. They are awesome. The thing is, it's a little difficult right now because they are working a ton since it's the holiday season. It's hard to find them...but when we do, they are gold! We taught them about baptism this past week and they both have a desire to be baptized which is really exciting. I'm pretty sure it'll happen next month! We've been teaching 13 year old Salma who was supposed to be baptized this upcoming week. However, Saturday we went to her house and her mother in law told us she moved to her moms house for the holidays and was probably going to stay there throughout the summer. Sad! We were totally bummed. But, I know one day she'll be baptized. And who knows, maybe she'll be moving back sooner than later!?

Hermana Machuca ends her mission next Wednesday. Crazy! I can hardly believe it. These past 2 changes with her have flown. She says she feels both happy and sad about ending her mission. Last Monday we went to the city of Lambare to visit some of her converts..it was fun!

Ok, yesterday Hna Machuca told me she was excited for Christmas. I asked if it was because she's excited to talk to her family and she said "no, I want to see what is in my stocking!" Too cute!

I am now lice free. Thank goodness! But I'm still a little paranoid now. Summer has definitely hit. We have officially turned into camels because we are drinking so much water. Seriously, I'm not even hungry these days, my body just craves water. Tomorrow as part of our district meeting we are going to be doing a white elephant gift exhange! Should be fun!

Okay, we get to talk on Saturday!!! Yay!!! So cool how you all talked to Jose yesterday. He is a great guy! He has visited the states one time and loves the US. He loves to practice his English so I'm sure he was super excited that you called. I'm planning on 5pm my time...1pm your time still. So, should be good! And yes, Skype is allowed now! Crazy huh?! We just found out yesterday. I'm sure it depends on each mission president, but President Callan has given us permission. The thing is, Skype is like slow sometimes...so we definitely have to talk by phone but I figured it'd be cool to see each other too while we talk! I think Nat has Skype....you will need to add Jose as a friend...he said we can use his username....its jose_olavarrieta and he'd be under the Paraguay group. So, if you can find him, go ahead and add him and we can connect through Skype right before 5! But if not, don't worry about it....because we can talk by phone!

Well, I think that is about it from down here in Asuncion. Just about to go across the street to do some grocery shopping and head back to our apartment. Tonight we have a special Christmas FHE planned with some members and investigators! Love you lots. I hope you have a great Christmas Eve and we will talk on Saturday!! YAY!!! La iglesia es verdadera y perfecta. Estoy tan agradecida por estaraqui en Paraguay y compartir el evangelio. Se que Jesus es el Cristo, nuestro redentor y salvador. Aunque el fue nacido hace mas de dos milanos, podemos sentir su espiritu y amor cada dia porque realmente, Elvive.

Us missionaries in my district this morning playing some pool!

Me and Hermana Machuca eating watermelon.....its sandia season here in Paraguay!

Me and Hermana Edwards....she's great! She just ended her mission this past week....we always wanted to be companions, but sadly never were!

Griseldas baptism with her mom and little bro.

PURETE!...AWESOME!!

2010-12-06T08:34:00.000-08:00

This week has been purete!....awesome! December has started off good. Hermana Machuca and I have seen miracles this week. Last Sunday we decided to do a special fast for our investigators and to have a navidad blanca....aka...baptisms in December! After fasting we went to Griseldas house on Tuesday to visit her. We sat down with her and her mom in their crowded house (seriously, ten people live there and its probably the size of my bedroom at home or a little smaller..eek). One of the first things Griselda told us was that she talked to her dad and he gave her permission to be baptized! We've been teaching Griselda for a little over a month now and were so happy to hear the good news! Griselda is smart, really understands what we teach her and is just so cute! Chulina! She is my little bud and I love her like she is one of my nieces. It's been great to teach her and also help reactivate her mom. Grislelda will have her interview with our district leader tomorrow and will be baptized Wednesday at 6! Yay!! We've been planning the baptism and inviting people which is always fun to do. I'm excited for her.

Thinking about this experience really makes me recognize the power of fasting and prayer. During these fifteen months on the mission I have learned how powerful these two things are and how the Lord answers us. The answers come at different times and in different ways, but He always seems to bless and help us when we diligently show our faith.

Friday night was the ward Christmas party...it was way fun! There was a talent show and dinner. The elders, us and our ward mission leader, Jose sang. We met up at the chapel on Thursday to choose and practice a song....oh my gosh...it was a disaster! Seriously, we'd sing a song.....start laughing because it was too high/low/long/etc and then switch songs. Well we changed songs like ten times before we settled on Joy to the World. I don't know why, but we couldn't stop laughing. I guess we all realized that 5 voices from 5 different countries don't quite blend! Ha! But, it was fun...and I think somehow our song turned out decent. The ward seemed to like it, so thats good!

Good news...this past Wednesday our AC got fixed. Yay. It was perfect timing too because Thursday it was like someone opened up the oven door of Asuncion....the heat hit hard! It was prob only like 95 out (ha, only)....but with like a thousand percent humidity. Yuck. I quickly remembered what it had been like last summer. And the thing is....summer is just starting....the 21st of this month is the official start to summer. Eeeek!

This Thursday we have a special Christmas zone conference in the mission office with a couple other zones..... I'm totally looking forward to it!

And yes, received all my Christmas packages! Soo fun! Thank you everyone for the cute little Christmas ornaments to go on our tree! Seriously, love it!! Hermana Machuca probably said about ten times that night "wow, your family is really special".....she comes from a very humble family and won't be receiving a Christmas package this year. She felt very excited and grateful to have a stocking and gifts of her own. So thank you to mom and to everyone else!!

Well, the work is going good. I just feel really happy and grateful to be here. We've found some great people this past week and hope they progress. I love the Christmas season. Some people may say that it's too bad I have two Christmases on the mission...but really, I'm so BG that I have another one here. I feel like last year I was so new still that I couldn't totally grasp onto and enjoy everything. But this year, it's different. I love the Christmas season and I love the mission!

Ward Christmas party pics!!! SOOO fun!!

The little girl with me is Griselda!! Love her!

We even got special permission to stay out til 10! Woo hoo!! Haha....so early still!!

I love this plaza here in downtown. Reminds me of New York a bit.

THE PERFECT WORD...JOY!!

2010-11-29T08:29:00.000-08:00

Hey! How are you all? Mom gave me the full report on Thanksgiving and sounds like everyone really enjoyed themselves. Can't believe you went black friday shopping! Crazy! But, it sounds like a lot of fun. Count me in for next year!

Okay, this week has been a busy one. Each monring I've felt super tired. More than usual and I don't know why. But really, the Lord gives me the energy to keep on going!

On Saturday, Lili was baptized! Seriously, she's awesome. she is such a good mom to her 3 daughters and as I've said before, has such a desire to do good. As part of her baptism service she shared her testimony and said that she feels closer to her Heavenly Father than ever before and how she is willing and ready to keep learning and moving forward and how she wants to be an example for her girls. It was great. Okay, the only bad part about the baptism was that something was wrong with the water pipe for the font and the water came out like river water status...dirty. but luckily, Lili is verychill and it didn't even phase her. Oh! And Renato baptized her. Very cool. It was cute, when they were in the water Lili's 2 year old daughter, Luz, was just staring at them and then shouted out "I want to swim too".....everyone started laughing. It was funny. Overall, it was a great evening!! I'm so happy for Lili and for this step she has taken. In D&C 18 we learn about the joy we feel when helping people know and convert to the gospel. Really, that is the perfect word..joy!

Lili's baptism

Confirmation day. Going to church in the rain!!

Ssaturday we headed to the chapel in downtown....in that chapel there is a part for institute and for the mission prep classes final, they had to leave with us missionaires. Luckily my district was asked to help out! A 19 year old girl from San Lorenzo was assigned with us and shadowed us around for the day. She was way cute and helped out with our lessons! We were walking down the street and we decided to contact a couple that was coming from the other direction. The man stopped to listen but the woman just kept on walking and didn't even acknowledge us. For me and Hermana Machuca it was a normal thing, but for this girl she was like "wow, that lady didn't even stop, how rude! The mission is hard". But ya, I think she learned some things about the mission and really liked the short time she had with us! It was fun!

It's a rainy day here. I kinda like it because it makes it feel more Christmasy! A lot of people here have Christmas decorations and light sup already! Hardly anyone had stuff up in San Lorenzo last year. I think since Amambay is a more ritzy area more people have a little more money for Christmas decor. This Friday we are having a ward Christmas dinner and talent show. Should be fun! The elders and are going to sing a song. We'll see how it turns out. Ha! I'm looking forward to it though!

Well, the work continues to go on. We were very blessed to have a baptism this past weekend. Now, we need more to baptized! We are teaching lots of really good people but need to find more as well. It's always a cycle.

Well familia, I love you all lots. I hope that you all have a great day today and have a happy start to December!!! I really can't believe it's going to be December!! Seriously, I remember back in January, looking at my calendar and thinking, wow....I have a lot of months ahead of me....and now, it's the end of the year. What?! Really, can't belive it. But, I'm excited it's December. I love the Christmas season! And even though it's very different down here in Paraguay.....no matter where we are at we can remember the reason for Christmas!

Fun FHE we had with Lili and the Chilavert family this past week!!

"MONITO"...aka...LITTLE MONKEY!!

2010-11-22T10:04:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! How are you all? I'm doing great here in Asuncion. It's been a good weekend. Lots of teaching, good Sunday at church and lots of laughing with Hermana Machuca. The weather here has been rainy and cold....so weird because it's almost December. Last November when I got here it was full out summer at this time and I remember just sweating and sweating. The school year is ending here and people are getting ready for their summer vacation to start up. Most people don't travel so I'm hopingthat it'll give us more opportunities to find people in their houses.

Interesting experience the other day. We were teaching a lady who is about 30 years old. Ends up she believes that the Holy Ghost is Mary. Definitely something I hadn't heard before. It's amazing to me how there are so many different ideas in the world. Every day we hear different things. Really shows us how there was an apostasy where all the teachings and doctrine of Christ were distorted. But, how blessed we are to live in this time where the gospel has been restored and how we can share this message with others!

Okay, I was reading back through my notes from when Elder Foster came. I have another statistic that he shared with us that I find interesting. He said, that the church did some polls and out of ACTIVE members...95% said they know the church is true ..50% know that God knows them personally..20% believe that God responds to their prayers ..interesting huh? I wish people could recognize that we are all children of God and yes, He knows each one of us personally and does answer our prayers. One thing I love to share with investigators is the First Vision. It's powerful. The phrase "calling me by name" is direct evidence of Gods love for us and the knowledge He has. He knew Joseph Smith by name, and He knows us too. There is no doubt in my mind. Okay, Lili is still doing good! She left out of town this weekend so we haven't seen her in 2 days and I feel like it's been forever. I miss her! Luckily, we have an appointment with her tonight. Her baptism will be this Saturday if all goes as planned!
I don't know why but lately Hermana Machuca and I have been eating bananas like crazy. Seriously, I feel like every house we go to people give us bananas to eat! The other day I had 4 stashed away in my backpack and Hermana Machuca called me a "monito"...aka...little monkey. So funny.

Well, this morning we had a zone activity here in our chapel. It was really fun. We studied together as a zone and set goals for the month of December and plans for how we will reach these goals. After our little study session, we had a ping pong tournament and then ate pizza. I actually did pretty well in the tournament.....I think all those times I played ping pong while at Sea Lodge helped me out! haha! Well famila, this Thursday is Thanksgiving. Here in Paraguay, the 25th is just like any other day. But know that I'll be thinking of you all on Thursday and hope you enjoy your holiday weekend! I know you all will. Thanks for all of your love and support. I'm pretty sure I say that every week, but I really do mean it. You're all the best! The church is true!

Just wanted to wish you all a...HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Rainy day in the market. We were driving with a member to her house

after church and I snapped a pic!

STILL HERE IN AMAMBAY!!

2010-11-18T08:26:00.000-08:00

Hello! Wow, I feel like it's been a while. How are you? Sounds like you have all been super busy...but with good/fun things...so it's all good! Can't believe Lex was baptized this past Saturday. So exciting!
Well, things are good here in Paraguay. I feel like I have so much to say from the past week and a half. Here it goes....transfers came and went. We're still together here in Amambay. To be honest, it was kind of a rough day on Tuesday. Had lots of mixed emotions. It was sad because our district had lots of changes...lots of my good Elder friends were transferred. As missionaries in the same district we really do become good friends and then all of a sudden it's like boom...transfers. Also, for some reason I just felt down after transfers. I'm going to be totally honest... I had a "I feel bad for myself" type mood. So not good. I thought wow, so many people are going to next places and here I am with almost 15 months on the mission in my second area. Very unusual. However, as I've said many times before...the Lord has a plan. He knows better than I do. When I was feeling pretty down on Tuesday, my converts, Gloria, happened to call while we were eating lunch in our apartment. Her son, Osvaldo had just been released from his drug rehab place where he has been the past month and wanted to talk to us. He asked if we could come by that day. It seriously made me so happy to hear his voice and know he was doing so much better. I hung up the phone and for some reason I started to cry. I don't really know why. It was like a huge feeling came over me and I realized ya know, the mission isn't about me..it's about how I can help others. I honestly felt a little embarassed and guilty for the feelings and attitude I had had. I had questioned the Lords will. I thought I knew what was best for me. I had to totally remove those sad/bitter feelings and find a peace. The Lord knows where I need to be. And honestly, I am SO BG to be here in Amambay. Everyday is good here but these past 2 days have been great and have confirmed to me that this is where I'm supposed to be. I'm really grateful I have for the opportunity to be here and continue to work with these awesome people! I love the people we are teaching. The members are helping us out a ton. And, being in the city is a plus.:) so really, it's all good! Okay, our investigator Lili is awesome! She'll be getting baptized on the 27th! The scripture Mosiah 5:2 reminds me of her....she has heard the truth and has such a desire to move forward doing the good! I love teaching her. I really admire her for her faith and dedication. For example, we taught her about the Word of Wisdom and she told us she drinks coffee daily and it'd be hard to just drop it, but that she was totally willing to do it since its a commandment from God. She told us the morning after we taught her about this she, out of habit, went to the store to buy coffee and it just so happens that the store was all out. It was then when she remembered about what we had taught her and the commitment she had made and knew God was helping her out. It's been like 10 days now and she hasn't touched coffee! This past weekend Renato came with us to a couple appointments we had since he's a ward missionary. It was super cool to see a convert of mine teaching and sharing his testimony! Def a highlight! On Sunday our ward had its primary presentation. Oh my gosh, it was so cute! Presh! They sang the song "I want to be a missionary now" and I loved it! The kids here have a special place in my heart. I just love them. They all reminded me of my nieces and nephews!On the 9th we had our zone conference with Elder Foster from the area. It was great! He talked to us a lot about working with the ward leaders. Here is an interesting statistic he gave us....in 2005 there were 73,000 members attending sacrament meeting weekly in our area. In 2010, there are now 70,100 members attending. Here's the thing though, within this 5 year span there have been 65,000 baptisms. Where are all of the people? Why aren't they going to church? Basically, there is a huge inactivity problem. Huge. It's really sad and the area presidency really wants us to work hard to resolve this problem. I imagine it'll be a long process. But a much needed one. I have a challenge for all of you......ready? Visit the less active and inactive members. Help get them back and going to church each Sunday. More cases than not, these people won't just one day decide to go back to church. They need support, they need a friend. You can be their friend!!
Okay. Basically, the mission is the best. I'm now in my 10th out of 12 transfers here in Paraguay. Ahhhh. Where is the time going?! Estoy muycontenta para estar aqui. He tenido muchas experiencias tan lindas quejamas voy a olvidar. Me encanta hablar con la gente cada dia. Son misamigos y les quiero mucho. es impresionante a mi para ver como el Senor nos guia a las personas que esten preparadas. Cada dia nosencontramos con gente tan buena para ensenar. Que bendicion! Realmente, estoy tan agradecida a mi padre celestial para tener estetiempito como misionera.
Well, we're just about to head back to our apartment....later this afternoon we are headed up to the Bishops house. The Bishops wife and daughters invited us over to make cookies with them this afternoon. Fun stuff!
Okay, need to end this novel! Hope you all have a great weekend! Know that I love you all and am so bg for each one of you!!

Us by a little stream here in our area..........I was thirsty....ha!

Tuesday at our last district meeting of the transfer.....

one of the elders brought pan dulce....yummy sweet bread!

For all those of you who are wondering if Paraguay has anything modern and only horse drawn cart status....here is a pic of the mall we go to! Love it all decorated for Christmas!!

My district eating Pizza Hut in downtown last Monday! Fun times!!

"CAN YOU FEEL THAT?"

2010-11-08T07:08:00.000-08:00

How are you all? I hope you had a great week! Can you believe it's already the second week into November?! Wow!! Okay, just so you all know....les quiero mucho!!

Right now I'm in downtown Asuncion. I LOVE it here. It's just such a different vibe. Lots of people, traffic, vendors out on the streets, so fun. I'm here with my district. We had a study session together this morning and then went to the little market to buy souveniers....love! Right now we're in this mall type place...and it has all its Christmas decorations up! So festive! We're going to hit up Pizza Hut after this too! It's like I'm in the states right now!

My district this past week at district meeting...

Okay, this past Tuesdsay we had district meeting and it was extra special because President and Hermana Callan joined us. It was basically like any other district meeting but it was neat to have them there to hear about our investigators, ways to help them progress, and to do teaching practices with them. At the end of the meeting President stood up and was sharing his testimony and thoughts when he suddenly stopped and said " can you feel that?"...it was silent and the Spirit was incredibly strong. After waiting a minute he said "We are in the Lords work." It was definitely a powerful moment. Bore witness to me that I'm here in Paraguay doing the right thing.

So, we went to visit one of our investigators, David, this past week. He opened up the door and said "no quiero ser mormon"..."I don't want to be Mormon." We talked to him for a while, but what it comes down to is that he doesn't want to live some of the commandments. It's sad. He had such a strong desire but can't have one foot in the worldly things. We asked him if he'd like us to keep passing by but he told us no and that we should spend our time visiting people who will be baptized. Ouch. But, it's okay. Seed planted. One day he will come to see that commandments are just a list of do's and don'ts but from a loving Heavenly Father who wants to help us.

Our lead investigator is Lili. She is demasiada buena!! She lives in such a humble home..shack. We went to pick her up for church yesterday and she came out wearing a nice skirt and blouse. So cute! She once again loved church. After Sacrament meeting she told us she wanted to go up to the pulpit and share her testimony too. She is great! We gave her a Book of Mormon this past week and she just held it in her hands and was looking at it. She loves to read and has a desire to learn and understand. definitely progressing and has her goal to be baptized this month!!

We have a new ward mission leader. His name is Jose, he's 28, and was baptized just last year. He has such good ideas to get the missionary work going even more! Also, Renato..the soccer player, was called as a ward missionary! Cool huh?!

So I'm super excited because tomorrow we have Zone Conference! One of the counselors in our area presidency, President Foster, and his wife are coming. It is going to be so good. We have a 4 hour conference with everyone from 1-5 and then a special meeting with all the hermanas with Sister Foster and Callan! So looking forward to it!!

I'm so BG because the summer heat hasn't hit us too bad yet. I remember last November was brutal. It's hot, but bearable right now. I'm trying to really enjoy it because I know that summer summer is right around the corner.

Many people we visit ask us if we get tired of being a missionary and doing the same thing each day. To many people, it looks like we are doing the same thing each day....but we really aren't. It's similar, but so different. Really, I love this work. Each day brings new experiences, new friends and strengthened testimonies. There are very few times I wonder if i can go on and do another day......however, I've learned that when these moments come that is when I have to turn to the Lord the most. He gives me strength.

Well fam! I love you all so much! Thank you for your letters, love and great examples to me! I won't be writing next Monday because next week on the 17th is transfers.....yes....another change has come and gone! Crazy!! Who knows what will happen next week....but next Thursday I'll write and let you all know!

ONE YEAR!!!

2010-11-01T12:32:00.000-07:00

Happy November!! And shout out to Dyan...happy bday!! I hope you all had a good Halloween weekend and ate lots of yummy treats! People here don´t celebrate Halloween. People have heard of Halloween though and lots of people asked me about it....they kind of have a skewed idea of what it really is...lots thought it was a lot of evil-ish type stuff and didn't know about trick or treating and the fun carnivals and stuff! However, here tomorrow is a holiday... "day of the dead" where lots of people will spend the whole day in the cemeteries remembering their loved ones who have passed away. Also, it's interesting...all the cemetaries here are the above ground type....like New Orleans status! I don't know why but it's kinda cool.

Okay. this past week has been great. The Lord has helped us out so much in the work. We have really been working with investigators and getting them to make and keep their commitments. Yesterday at church, all 4 of our investigators who are preparing for baptism within the month came! This is a huge step. Shows us that they just don't want the visits but they really recognize the importance of the Sabbath day and what they need to do to be baptized. We are teaching David, who I mentioned last week. 15 year old Rodrigo who is demasiado bueno. After we taught him about the restoration I asked if he'd like to know if the things we shared are true. He looked at his pamphlet then back at us and said "I know they are true." These are the best words a missionary can hear! Also, another 1 of the 4 is 28 year old Lili who has 3 little girls. She told us that she wants more peace in her life and feels that peace when we visit her and felt the same feeling yesterday while at church as well. Also we are now teaching a 9 year old girl, Griselda, whose mom and sisters are inactive...it's our goal to reactivate the whole family and baptize Griselda! I am so gratefulfor our investigators progress and for the great blessings and answers to prayer we have received.

The past few weeks have been a little hard...lots of looking and looking..at times I honestly felt like we weren't going to find anyone who was going to progress! But I have learned that it' s when we are diligent and keep on working (even Saturdays! ha) the Lord helps us out. Oh my gosh, Friday night we had a HUGE storm here. By far the biggest storm since I've been down here in Paraguay. It was hailing like ice cubes, windy and raining so hard. We had to take shelter in the house of a member for a little bit! We then had no choice but to walk back to our apartment because it was late.....we came home to a flooded apartment. I guess our big glass doors don't keep the water out! Luckily nothing got ruined...but it sure was wet! So crazy! This Wednesday will mark my 1 year mark here in Paraguay. ONE YEAR!! I can't believe it. I was sitting in the office this morning andthinking how one year ago when I arrived and was sitting in the office I felt so lost! Oh how things change! Well fam! Just about to go do grocery shopping and head back to our apt! I'm pretty tired this PDAY....we had to get up at 5am to be in the office by 630 so Hermana Machuca could go and sign some papers! Que loco! I love you all so much! I hope that all is well up there in the states. Know that I pray for you daily. Thank you for your love and support. You're all the best!!

A pic of us two with Fatima and her mom making Paraguayan
tortillas as we took cover from a big storm! Me, Hermana Machuca and the YW president, Roly, with the famous
Paraguayan Losmitos.....they are supposedly little men that come out
at night in the more rural parts. A weird part of their culture!

I LOVE THE TEMPLE!!

2010-10-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hola hola! How is everyone? I'm doing great! Today was our temple day!! Yay! It had been over 8 months since I last went! Long time! We were in the temple from 8am until 2pm and basically I enjoyed every minute of it. I did see the Huffakers there...they are so nice! And also, I ran into Sister Griffith (know her mom?).....I walked into a room and Sister Huffaker and Sister Griffith were sitting in there and they both said "thats her!" and came up and gave me big hugs. So cute. Sister Griffith said she knows mom and dad from along time ago when Kenny was a baby and that you guys lived right by each other. Such a small world! I think all the other missionaries were just like how does Hermana Sargent know all the temple workers?! Ha! So funny. Who would have thought all these Arizonans would be in Paraguay?! Okay, we had the opportunity to do baptisms, sealings and then a session. It was great! After the session there were a ton of us missionaries in the Celestial Room and President Udall, the Temple President, came in and was talking to a young couple who were just about to be sealed. This couple only had like 3 people from their ward to be present in their sealing so they invited all like 30 of us missionaries to come. It was a really neat experience since I had never seen a live sealing before. So we were able to be a part of their beautiful sealing, then they brought in their 1 year old baby boy to be sealed to them as well. Wow, the Spirit was incredibly strong. As missionaries we are constantly teaching about how families can be together forever and how when we prepare ourselves and are worthy we can receive all the blessings our Heavenly Father has in store for us. So to see this cute young family be sealed really strengthened my testimony of the things we teach! and especially of the power of the Priesthood. I was thinking today without the Priesthood on the earth and without worthy men who hold the Priesthood, we wouldn't be able to take part in such sacred ordinances. We are so blessed! I am grateful for the temple experience I had today and the things I was able to learn and feel. I love the temple!

Asuncion Temple

So after the temple we headed across the street to Burger King! Okay, I never would eat at Burger King if I was in the States, but I was all up for a taste of America today. And honestly, it was really good. Chocolate shake, hamburger and fries! The place was packed with missionaries! So fun!

Burger King

This past Sunday we had stake conference in downtown. It was awesome. It was broadcasted from SLC and Elder Packer and Ballard both spoke as well as Elder Costa from the 70. It was super good. Elder Costas talk was my personal fave. He referred to the hymn "count your blessings" and listed off about 10 big blessings that we have as members of the church. The Book of Mormon, Temples, etc.. It was a really great conference. Okay. This past week we didn't have water in our apartment for three days. Disaster!! Something was wrong in our building and they couldn't fix it. To shower, wash dishes, flush the toilet, wash clothes and for everything else we had to carry 2 little buckets that we have down into this like parking garage area underneath our buidling and use this little like pump thing to fill up our buckets and then take them back up to our apartment and then go back down to refill them again. Oh Paraguay! It was crazy. Luckily, as of last night we have water!! So BG now. Hermana Machuca and I are teaching a 33 year old single man, David. I don;t know if I wrote about him or not. But the other week we were walking by an apartment building and we decided to see who lived there. So I rang each of the little door bells and David was the only one to come out. Ends up he has talked with missionaries before, often reads from the Book of Mormon...and knows a lot about it!, and has a cousin who is an active member in a ward nearby. He is definitely prepared and has a desire to be baptized. He does drink coffee but we are helping him to get off that addiction. We are excited about him and hope that he progresses more! Oh my gosh the other day we were making some contacts and we came across this older woman. She was not up for listening and said that we speak two different languages because all we do is talk about Jesus Chrsit and not Mary. I asked her who was it who died for us? She didn't answer the question but asked us "well who gave him birth?" It's interesting, the different point of views and beliefs that people have. Many people think us, as mormons, don't believe in Mary. We often have to explain how yes, we do believe in her, she was a great woman, we respect her, but as it says in the Bible, we only pray to our Heavenly Father. Many people here don't agree with us which is weird since they are such avid Bible readers. It's one thing to read the Bible, but we have to understand and apply what it says too!

Last Tuesday in district meeting I received a letter from the mission secretary........it was the dreaded trunky papers.....aka....release papers asking all about the nearest airport to my house, if my family would be waiting for me, etc. so, March 24th is when I'll be leaving Paraguay. Less than 5 months now. Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

Okay family.......gotta get going! So glad to write you and give you the update on what's happening down here in Asuncion. I love reading your letters and am very happy to know that everyone is doing good! I love you all lots and am so grateful for each one of you!! Have a great day! Hasta Monday!

Un Carrito

My trunkypapers...ahhh!

COMMUNICATION IS KEY!!

2010-10-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hola! How are you all? So another week has passed on by. Sounds like you all had a great fall break! It' been a good week here. We are teaching a ton and finding people. Now the hard part....got to get them progressing! As missionaries we really have to create that spiritual environment and help our investigators feel and recognize the spirit. We are studying and practicing the 8 lessons that the General Authorities recently came out with that focus on helping us become better teachers so we can better help the people.

So this past Tuesday we had interviews. It was a little crazy because 2 zones showed up at the office at the same time because of a mix up so we were in the office for 6 hours that day waiting. It basically turned into a zone activity. It was a lot of fun. And of course I enjoyed my interview with President Callan. As a mission we are really trying to get the members more involved in the work and he gave us some pointers on how to do so. Yesterday morning in ward council we were talking about the ward mission plan and our Bishop suggested that the goal should be each member leaves with the Elders or Hermanas once per year. Once a year!! Our RS presidet jumped in fast and said the goal should be once a month! Much better! Our ward really is a good ward. Has a a reputation for being one of the most organized wards in Paraguay. Now we just need to get everyone on the same page and the work will really take off!

Oh my gosh, so our old Zone Leader ended his mission this past change and his parents, from UT, came to get him. So this past Wednesday the Grau family, an older couple from Spain, who we eat lunch with every Wednesday, invited him and his parents to eat lunch with us and the 2 current zone leaders working in Amambay. I can't even describe the situation but basically it was so funny. There were 2 people from Spain, their Paraguayan niece, missionaries from Argentina, Chile, El Salvador and then 4 of us North Americans. Basically, all communication had to go through me and the other North American Elder because we were the only ones who knew both English and Spanish. It was so funny because I think Brother Grau, who is 84 years old, forgot that the parents couldn't understand him but he'd just talk and talk and talk telling them about the Paraguayan history and such and they just kinda sat there and nodded their heads. I don't know...I guess you just had to be there! It was funny!

Okay, so i'm sure you all have heard about the miners in Chile? Was it a pretty big deal up there? Earlier this week it was what everyone was talking about! The whole situation was just crazy....and a miracle that they all made it out. Ysterday our Bshop gave a really good talk on how we need to rescue our "miners"...or lost sheep. He pointed out how there are many people stuck...looking for a way out, want to get out...but don´t know how to. We should be concerned for them and looking for any way possible to help them. We can be part of the rescue team!

So one part of the mission that I'm really grateful for is how I've been able to make such good friends. The start of this change started off to a shakey start but this past week with Hermana Machuca has been so good. I've learned that communication is key. I've also learned that when it's hard, that is when I need to pray to love them and serve them even more. It's when we are open, both obedient and set goals is when the companionship is good and the work goes well. I'm pretty sure the mission is like a marriage prep class!! Haha!

So next Monday is Hermana Machucas bday! Yay! I'm sure we'll be eating some cake! Also, next Monday we don't have pday....because Tuesday we get to go to the TEMPLE!! It's been over 8 months since I've gone so I'm basically so so so excited! Also, this Sunday we have stake conference....broadcasted from SLC to all of Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina....lots of things to look forward to!

Well, I'm here in downtown Asuncion right now! We came to do some shopping and just look around! Seriously, I love the little markets here. It is just so fun being around so many people and talking to all the Indians selling their handmade things! I want to buy everything but def have to limit myself! We're just about to go grocery shopping and head back to our apartment now.

Okay family, I love you all! You're all the best!! Have a great week!!! Gracias por todo de su apoyo y amor.

LES QUIERO MUCHISIMO!

Hermana Machuca and I on the busride to downtown this morning!

So much fun stuff to buy at the market!

Artwork on a side of a highrise here in downtown.....love all the cool artwork!

Us helping Fatima with her english and math homework!

TRADITIONS... AN ONGOING BATTLE FOR SURE!

2010-10-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

Hi! How are you all? I feel like it's been forever since I last wrote. So much has happened. Feels good to sit here and write you all. Okay, can you believe we're already a week into October? Wow! Well, we found out on Tuesday in our district meeting that we had transfers and were at the bus terminal early morning. Hermana Cozzens got transferred. Honestly, it was really hard to see her go..we started to cry as we said goodbye at the terminal. We both felt that yes, the mission goes on and we'll continue to have great experiences with new people but a very rich part of our mission was ending. I enjoyed these past two changes so much with her. She really is one of my very best friends now! However....every goodbye means another hello, ¿verdad?! My new companion is Hermana Machuca from San Salvador, El Salvador. She's been on the mission for almost 16 months, just about to turn 23, studies marketing, baptized at age 14, has like a Mexican-ish Spanish accent and ya, seems like a good missionary. I'm looking forward to working with her. We'd always see each other and talk a little bit at Zone Conferences and activites and she always seemed way fun...so it should be good!

Okay, so we were able to watch ALL sessions of General Conference this past weekend! It was SOO awesome. The church downtown had all these different rooms set up for people to watch in Spanish or Guarani...and even a room for us missionaries to watch in English which was def a special treat! I seriously enjoyed every word. It was like a spiritual feast! I'm so impressed with our church leaders and how they are so on top of everything and share exactly what we need to hear in these latter days. I've felt an extra power or boost this past week as we've taught people about the restoration and how we have a living prophet and apostles on the earth today! They truly are men called of God.

The work goes on here. Still trying to help and prepare Gladis for her baptism. We found a couple of way great girls who are in their 20's who came to Conference and seem to be interested which is exciting! We have lots of people who we just really need to find out they are really going to progress or not. At times it seems that tradition and culture are the two biggest battles we face here. Trying to get people to see that they believe the things they do because of tradition no mas and not because they have a personal testimony. Many times in the Book of Mormon we read something along the lines of how "the traditions of their fathers" affected generations for good or bad. I really can understand that now, and how traditions have a huge impact on ones life. We see it every day and it's an ongoing battle for sure.

So here's some sad news. Gloria, who was baptized in July, her son Osvaldo has totally gone into the deep end. The thing is, it happened so fast. Before Osvaldo was baptized in June he did drugs, drank, smoked, robbed, etc. he totally changed, was baptized, baptized his mom, has been off drugs for about 6 months or so, would always plan FHE's with people from the ward, activities with youth, etc. he really is such a good guy! But just last week he fell again out of nowhere. Satan works hard. We saw him one time last week and he was just like shaking...his body craving for more drugs. He told us he had sold all of his things to buy more drugs. He's totally addicted. It' so sad. At that point he did have plans to meet with the Bishop, but since that time he has left and hasn't come back. We don't know where he is or who he is with. Of course Gloria is devastated. It's been a really rough week for her. O noticed she has been relying more on prayer and reading the scriptures more to find comfort and guidance. She seems to be doing a little better but really, I just feel so bad for them.

I really am so grateful for the Gospel. I know when we learn and apply the teachings of Christ in our lives, we will receive blessings and find happiness. The key part is the applying part. We have to do our part. Of course if we do these things our lives won't automatically be perfect, we aren't perfect, no one is....but we have the opportunity to repent daily, find peace, learn more, progress and as we say here...!seguir adelante!...keep moving foward.

Well family, I hope all is well with each and every one of you!! Thanks for all your love and support!! I hope you have a great weekend! Sounds like you all have some fun plans for next week...fall break!! So fun! Oh, this is random, but we just did our grocery shopping and in the supermarket here they have Christmas trees up! Yay for Navidad!

Okay! Love you all!!! You're in my prayers. The church is true!!

My new companion...Hermana Machuca!

Hermana's Cozzens and Sargent with Gloria!

Renato with Hermana Cozzens and Hermana Sargent!

Hermana's Sargent and Cozzens!!

A monkey that was chilling on the garbage can outside our apt one morning! Crazy!

me and fatima

SERVICIO MUNDIAL!

2010-09-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Well, the work continues to go on here in Barrio Amambay. Hermana and I are really trying to find some solid new investigators to teach. We have set some goals and come up with a few ideas to find people and get them progressing. Looking forward to putting it all in action now. We do have some progressing investigators. On the top of our list is Gladis. She's been to church the past 3 weeks, has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, feels good about everything she is learning...but.....(theres always a but!) she wants to wait a little while to baptized. Hm. She is basically afraid to make such a big commitment....a huge part of Paraguayan culture is the tendency for people to shy away from making any sort of commitment or taking on responsibility. It's really sad because I have def learned that we have to make commitments and keep them in order to progress! I know Gladis will be baptized but its just a matter of when now. Hopefully soon! Hermana and I are really going to help her overcome this doubt she has and make it into the waters of baptism sooner than later!

So, Saturday was a highlight for this past week. We had the "servicio mundial"...supposedly all members in the church are doing big service projects this month. Is that true? Well, Saturday was the day here in Paraguay. Our stake was assigned to clean up a main road by one of the chapels here in Asuncion. We spent about 3 hours picking up trash, raking leaves and dirt and painting benches and curbs. It was a lot of fun! I totally enjoyed just being out with all the other missionaries and getting to know more members from the stake. I also loved the "amar es servir" pancho style shirts we got to wear too!

This past weekend I was able to finish the Book of Mormon. It has made me really reflect about the book and what it means to me. Throughout this year as I've had the opportunity to read it over and over I have really come to know and understand it better than ever before. I love the Book of Mormon. I love teaching about it and sharing it with the people here. It really does contain the fulness of the gospel and helps us know and become closer to our Savior. Before the mish, I'd read the Book of Mormon but that's it. I'd read a few verses or a chapter to mark it off my list but didn't really study, understand or apply it. Just read it. I remember there were days when I wouldn't even read it. Now, my day isn't complete without the Book of Mormon. I love sitting at my desk every morning with a colored pencil in hand knowing that I have the full hour to study. It's a powerful and true book. And, it's for everyone!

Well, next week on October 6th is transfers. Can you believe it?! This change has flown by. I think that Hermana Cozzens will be going and I'll be getting a new comp. But, we'll see. We totally want to stay together...but we feel that we might have changes. I'll be way sad to see her go. She is one of my best friends! But, I have learned over and over again that the Lord knows best and knows where and who we need to be with! We'll see what happens!

Oh! and general conference is this weekend!!! I'm soooo looking forward to it! We'll be able to watch the Sunday session for sure, but haven't heard about the other sessions. I can't wait though!!!

Well fam, know that I love you lots and am so BG for each one of you! I hope that you have a great week and enjoy conference weekend!

Shauna with her skinny jeans and pointed toe shoes!

Just a few pics from our service project on Saturday morning

with the Asuncion Stake! It was so fun!

09-25-10

Hermana Cozzens and Shauna with youth from the stake.

BLESSINGS, MIRACLES, AND COCKROACHES!!

2010-09-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

How are you all doing? I miss you all! This past week has been another awesome one here in Asuncion. I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the blessings we've seen and received throughout this past week. 13 year old Fatima was baptized on Saturday night!! We've been teaching her for over a month now and the roadblock to the baptism font was her parents. They did not want to give their permission and wouldn't budge. Honestly, there were definitely times where I wanted to give up with the whole situation. I think the Lord was really testing our diligence and patience. We kept on visiting and teaching her, prayed daily for her parents hearts to be touched, fasted and hoped for the best. This past Tuesday we were out and about and felt prompted to go visit with Fatima a little earlier than we had planned. Her mom was sitting out by the stream in front of their house alone so we started to talk to her about Fatima and her desire to be baptized. She didn´t want to talk about it. Seriously though, one minute she was saying no and then all the sudden she said that she doesn't sign. We thought she was saying that she wouldn't sign but she was really saying she didn´t know how to sign. I pulled out my agenda and a pen so she could practice her signature. She did. Then she signed the actual paper! We couldn't believe it! It was a complete miracle. The Lord softened her heart. I know it. And once Fatima told her dad that her mom signed he was totally fine with it and even bought her a new pair of sandals to wear to her baptism. Chulina! Wow. What change! So ya, that's how it happened! Her baptism was extra special for us because Renato, who was baptized just 3 weeks ago, baptized her! It was definitley a special night!

We have such an awesome group of people we are teaching. The ward members are really getting excited about and into the work as well. We have a handful of people who are attending church, coming to the activities and are preparing for baptism within the next few weeks. Really, the Lord is blessing this area tremendously.

Hermana Cozzens and I were talking the other day about how the mission has really heped us become truly converted. I had a testimony before, but its different now. As missionaries, we aren't only helping others come closer to Christ, but ourselves too. We were talking about how there are so many RMs who go wayward after the mission and how really, we just don't understand how it happens. Hermana shared with me a quote by Sister Hinckley that says something along the lines of "I know this church is true. This is the Lord's work and He is at the helm. I have seen too much to ever deny it." Really, this is exactly how I feel. Each day we see the love of our Heavenly Father. We feel it and can see others feel it too. We see the hand of the Lord each day in His work. Miracles do happen. And the thing is, we don't have to be on a mission or have served one to have this knowledge. Whereever we are we are able to grow in the gospel and become closer to our Savior.

Okay, this is totally on a different topic but I just have to tell you that our apartment is like infested with cockroaches. Ahhh. Each night we find at least one in our kitchen and we don´t know where they a coming from. The thing is, they aren´t normal cockroaches...they´re HUGE!! Like, the length of my middle finger. No joke. I am such a baby and can't even go into the kitchen to kill them....but luckily I have a tough companion who isn't such a scaredy cat :)

Well family, I love you all tons!! Thank you for your support. Really, you are all awesome! Know that I pray for you all daily.

Loves from Asuncion!!

9-15-10 Shauna, Fatima, Hermana Cozzens.
Pictures of Fatimas baptism!!! yayyyy!! And, Renato baptized her!!

It was AWESOME!

Hermana Cozzens, Shauna, Fatima and Renato!

ONE DAY!!

2010-09-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm in downtown....Hermana Cozzens and I got permission to come down here for a little bit...so we´ve been here for the past few hours.....walking around, shopping, bargaining, ate a yummy chinese lunch!, went to some historical sites and oh ya, we ran into some young Jehovahs Witnesses (one from Germany and the other from Kenya) and had about a 25 minute conversation English with them---it was very interesting...some of the first things they told is how we shouldn´t give blood and how there are only 144 thousand people who will make it to heaven. I was just like and what doctrine do you teach? All the things they were saying were very literal and different interpretations from the Bible. Totally strengthened my testimony of the church and the knowledge we have and def made me feel BG to be a representative of the true church!

Well, this past week has been challenging but very rewarding. At times I wonder why we have trying times and why can´t everything just go perfectly as planned...but I have to realize and keep in mind that everything is on the Lords time. I was reading in PMG earlier this week and it says something along the lines of how patience is the capacity to accept the Lords timing and endure delay without being anxious, frusturated, etc...and how if we feel stressed or frusturated there's something we can learn from the situation. It's really made me think a lot the past few days about okay, what does the Lord want me and need me to learn from this situation? One of the things I have learned is that we all have our agency. As missionaries, we can create that environment for people to learn, teach them, pray for them, encourage them and maybe even push them a little, but they have to have the desire and make the choice. And really, it's all about the Lords time when they´ll be ready to accept the gospel...or, when their parents will allow them to accept the gospel and be baptized. It's sad because the parents of couple of the youth we've been working just really are against the idea of baptism. But, we will continue to visit them every now and then. One day!!

So, Renato received the Priesthood yesterday! We were visiting him yesterday afternoon and he was asking about the Sacrament prayers because the Bishop told him this next Sunday he will bless it!

Friday night we had about 40 mins to knock doors before an appt and we came across this way nice..like USA status type house. We rang the doorbelll and a man came out and invited us in. He's a very well educated, Catholic man. He once talked with Elders in Chile before and was very open to listen and had several questions about the restoration. We felt impressed to give him a copy of the Book of Mormon so we explained what it was and shared our testimonies of it and handed him the book. He looked at the book and then at us and asked, you're giving me this book? We said yes. He looked down at the book again and then quietly said "I feel like you are giving me a part of you". We then testified of how yes, the Book of Mormon is a part of us. It's not just any book on the shelf but a book that has really, changed our lives and let us know more about our Savior and His teachings. We told him how this book brings us comfort and happiness and how we want him to have that too for himself and for his family. I know he felt something during the lesson. The message of the restoration and the Book of Mormon is powerful. I'm excited to visit him again this week!

Also, this past Tuesday we were trying to find an inactive but came across this 45ish year old woman, Gladis, who lives in a little garage and is buenisima....awesome! We went to pick her up for church Sunday morning and she came out wearing a skirt and had her Bible in hand. She really loved church and kept commenting about how nice everyone was and how organized it all was! This Wed night we're having a movie night in the chapel as a missionary activity...we're going to watch the Testaments (featuring skye!!) and she really wants to come! We're excited about her and the progress she's already made!

So ya, its been a good week! It seriously feels like it's been the fastest week ever. Time is flyyying. Still am loving my companion. Seriously, she's one of my best friends now. We've been in the process of memorizing more Spanish hymns together and it's been fun...we're always singing as we walk the streets which is kinda fun and keeps us focused too. We have really seen the Lords hand in the work and are so grateful for the guidance and direction He gives us each hour of every day. It really is His work!

I love you all! Thank you for all of your prayers, love and support. Suerte y exito con todo!

paz y amor,
hermana sargent

Me and Hermana Cozzens out on the street "jumping for joy" to preach the gospel :)

The palace here in downtown Asuncion..it used to be the President of Paraguays office back in the 1800´s!

IT REALLY WAS A MIRACLE!!

2010-09-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

I now have 2 nametags.....one in Spanish and one in Guarani!!
Chulinnna!

Como estan todos? Para que sepan, les amo muchisomo y tambien, les extrano. Aunque estamos lejos de cada otro, estoy muy contenta estar aqui en Paraguay sirviendo un mision y predicando el evangelio verdadero. Realmente,es buenisimo! Bueno, este es bastante Espanol. Voy a escribir en ingles ya. (pero mama, usted puede practicar y aprender un poquito mas por su clase!! jaja!)

Well! this past week has been a good one. It has passed by way fast. Basically, i love being comps with Hermana Cozzens. I am so BG for her.

We are continuing to work with all of our young investigators. They are coming to church and all the activities but their parents are the problem. It's kind of difficult. These youth know it's true and want to be baptized but we are in like a waiting pool I feel like. Okay, 13 year old Fatima has been to church three times now and has a bpatism date for this weekend but we aren´t sure if it's actually going to happen this weekend or not because of her parents. Her mom really doesn't have a problem with it, but the dad does so she's scared to give permission. But basically, this guy like isn't even a dad or husband type figure. They aren't married but have just been living together for like 30 years (typical for Paraguay) and when her dad is home, he's drinking a ton or sleeping. Honestly, it's really sad. Yesterday before church Hermana Cozzens and I were talking very directly with Fatima's mom and I think she was starting to realize like ya, why am I with this guy? I think she will give permission. We're going to go talk to her again tonight so we´ll see what happens. Ojala que todo salga bien! As for Bruno, he hasn't talked to his dad and we haven't either. He's like impossible to find in his house. It's our goal to track him down and talk to him this week.

We have some goals to really work better with the church leaders here in Amambay. There is so much potential for the missionary work and I know it could really just take off. The area President has chosen the Asuncion stake out of 96 stakes in the South American area to do a project...basically as missionaries, we have 2 weeks to contact every member of the ward and see how many people are really living in our area still. It'll be an interesting percentage. Retention here in Paraguay probably isn't the best. But I'm sure we´ll be able to find more people to teach by going to everyones house!

Okay, I´ve said this before but seriously, the weather here is bipolar. It's crazy! Wednesday we left our apartment with short sleeves and we were sweating.....then that afternoon it was freezing! This past weekend I had to pull out my big coat and scarf again! The thing is, it's usually even colder in our apartment than outside. Our apt is totally like made for the summer so I'd like be wearing my coat around the apt! Since winter really is relatively short here, people just seem to suffer through it. It's crazy! But today, its warming up.......I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.........eeek....summer is going to start and will be here until I leave.

This morning we had a zone activity here in our chapel. We studied together and talked about zone goals for the month and then we watched "The District 2". The church makes these movies that are like real experiences from missionaries and sends it out all over the world to missionaries so we can learn from it. It was awesome! It was just so real and honest...we were all like laughing and crying during it. I want all of you to see it.

Well, we already did our grocery shopping for the day so we're just headed back to our apartment now to eat lunch. I'm just going to hang out and read some Ensigns we have! Looking forward to it. We're also going to make some "staircase to the celestial kingdom" posters for a couple less active families. We're hoping that they'll hang it up in their house and really see what they need to do! Tonight I'm excited because we are going to talk to Fatima and her mom and we also have an appointment with Renato. We printed off pics of his baptism for him today so he'll be excited to see them! He is doing AWESOME. He went to a YSA fireside on Saturday night and was at church yesterday. Renato's the best. I wish I could just pick up the phone and really tell you how much of a change we have seen with him. It really was a miracle.

Well fam, I love you lots! Have a great week!! And happy labor day!! The church is true! It's amazing how well the Lord knows us and how willing He is to help us out when we do our part!

Paz y amor,
Hermana Sargent

SEPTEMBER 02...ONE YEAR MARK ON THE MISSION!!

2010-08-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hey family! How are you all? I feel like i just barely was sitting here writing......the weekend flew by way fast. it was a great weekend because RENATO WAS BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!

RENATOS BAPTISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8-28-10
(me, hna cozzens, Renato and Bishop Grau!)

Yes, the futbolista aka professional soccer star who we have been teaching for about a month and a half was baptized Saturday night! Seriously, I wish you could all meet Renato..he´s awesome. He had his interview on Thursday night and he told us that night that Saturday was the day. The baptism service was simple and nice. Hermana Cozzens and I were in the church doing last minute preparations when I saw a guy walk in wearing a white shirt and tie and I was like who is that? Couldn´t recognize him for a second and then I realized it was Renato. He has been to church a ton of times now but he always just wore jeans and a polo so it was awesome to see him walk in for his baptism in a new white shirt and tie he'd bought! Chulina. Anyways, as part of the program there was time for testimonies....Hermana and I had planned for other people to share but when going over the program with Renato he told us that he'd really like us two to share...so we did, then afterwards he got up and shared his which totally suprised us because he had told us just like an hour before that he didn't want to. I guess the Spirit really touched him. One thing I really liked that he said was how he has made a lot of contracts in his life and will make more in his life...because of his soccer career....but he knows that the contract that he has made with his Father in Heaven is the most important of them all. Wow! I honestly just still can´t believe he actually was baptized! I'm just so happy for him! He has changed so much from the first time I met him! It's been amazing to see. I can't even describe it. But ya, I was telling Hna Cozzens yesterday how Renato has probably been the "hardest" convert of mine but I have also probably learned the most through this whole process of teaching him. First off, to have patience!! Ha! But really, I have gained a stronger testimony that God answers our prayers, we are His instruments and He always helps us out, the Spirit can soften the heart of anyone and that miracles really do happen!

Okay, we also have some other youth who we are teaching and who are coming to church. Yay! I talked about Bruno in my last email. Ends up that his grandparents and mom are totally fine with him wanting to join the church...but his dad...not so much. Bruno told us yesterday that he was going to talk to his dad about it all. We have an appointment with him tonight so we're anxious to see how it went. I'm hoping that his dad will be okay with it!

On Saturday afternoon Hermana Cozzens and I were walking to an appointment and I heard someone yell out Hermana Sargent....I turned around and it was my friend from Leopardi!! Mica Aquino! She was in the neighborhood walking to classmates house to study! It was SOOOO fun to see her and get the scoop on Leopardi! Ah, love Leopardi!

So one of the challenges that Hermana and I have really been dealing with is the whole tradition/culture thing. So many people here just go to their church or are Catholic because their parents and grandparents are. Often times I'll ask someone straight up if they've ever asked God if the church they are attending is the true church. Not one time in my whole mission has someone said yes to this question. They just kinda look at us and are like oh ya, i've never thought about doing that. But the thing is, they feel good at their church so they keep going. It is just so interesting to me. We always like to ask this question because its a good lead in to talk about the Apostasy, the need for a Restoration and how there has been a Restoration!

Well this Thursday, Sept 2, is my one year mark on the mission. Honestly, I really can't believe it!! I feel like its been about 5 or 6 months no mas. I'm thinking back to like a couple years ago when the mission really wasn't even really on my list of things that I wanted to do. Now, I can´t even imagine my life without the mission! I am so grateful to be serving here in Paraguay!!

Well family, I love you lots and hope that all is well up there! Thanks for everything! You're in my prayers daily!!

PAZ Y AMOR,
Hermana Sargent

PIZZA HUT...TOTALLY LEGIT!!!

2010-08-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

Hola!! It feels so good to be sitting here and writing you all. I feel like it's been a while. Anyways, transfers came and went...Hermana Cozzens and I are together still and I'm so BG! I love her and am excited to have at least another change with her. This transfer is going to be a good one!!

We are making some progress with our investigator, Renato. This past week we have had some way good appointments with him. Honestly, I feel like Renato is like my little brother or something. He's just awesome. Hermana and I have really grown to care for him so much as we've been on this rollercoaster ride with him. We are always just like thinking about how we can help him make it into the baptism font! Tuesday we had our game plan and went to his house that night. It was such a powerful and direct lesson. I am amazed at the power of the Holy Ghost....how it helps us as missionaries know exactly what to say and even more so how it touches the hearts and works on the investigator. We read some parts in Alma 34 that talk about how we can't delay the day of our repentance and how the time is now! Renato read it outloud and it was like something hit him in the face. We sat there in silence for about 2 minutes, the Spirit was so strong and present and he was just thinking and thinking. After a little discussion and sharing of personal experiences he told us that he wanted our district leader to come Thurs night (today) to do his baptism interview. This is the second interview he´ll have...but we made it very clear to him that if he has his interview, he has to be baptized withing a 7 day period and can't wait or think that our district leader can just come every week. Honestly, Renato is so ready. He knows it's true, has his testimony and has been to church 8 times in a row! This is his time!! So tonight he´ll have his interview.

Okay.......some cositas from the past little bit....

This past Monday was Hermana Cozzens 22nd bday. It was way fun!...except for the fact she woke up that morning and her eye was swollen shut from a bug bite...pobrecita! Anyways...we taught some kids how to make a cake and also, since we didn´t have a lunch appt we thought we'd go to Pizza Hut to celebrate! Yes, we have a Pizza Hut in our area. We're so spoiled! It was honestly sooo good. It was like totally legit. Such a good taste of home!

Also, I've eaten some weirder foods than normal this past week. Every Wednesday we eat at the Graus house...they are an older couple from Spain so all the food she makes is like traditional Spain food. It's super good! Last Wed we ate octupus and shrimp. It would have been totally fine until one of the Elders pointed out that the shrimp had its eyes still. Ew. Totally grossed me out for some reason. I felt like the little shrimp was just like staring at me or something. But igual no mas...had to eat it!

Also, we ate pig this past Sunday for lunch with a member and it made me soo sick up until monday morning. Ughhh. I think it was like a combo of the pig slash heat. It's warming up here. I'm kinda scared for another summer. And the bugs that it´ll bring!!

Anyways....enough food stories!

We have a great group of youth we´re teaching who all live down by this stream which is a very poor area. At first when we met them they were all kinda wild, just not use to structure, etc...but now when we go to their house they are always like "the hermanas are here" and they all grab their Books of Mormon or pamphlets, pull out some chairs and logs to sit on and we sit in a big circle and share. And a few of them are coming to church and progressing which is awesome!!!

And okay, we´ve been teaching 14 year old Bruno who is a neighbor of Gloria, our convert from last month. He has been to church a couple times and loves it. The thing has been that we haven´t had the chance to talk with his parents and he was worried about what they´d say because they are very Catholic. Anyways...Gloria called us this morning and was telling us how she talked to his grandparents and parents about the church and they are totally fine with it all! Wow...such a blessing!! The Lord really does soften hearts of people. Hermana Cozzens and I are super excited and are going to plan a baptism date with him asap!

Okay.....Natalie sent me a few pics and there was one of her and this tall guy and I was like who is that?? So I opened up the picture to see it better and it was Robbie!!!! i Iwas like what???!!! ROBS....YOU ARE SO TALL NOW!!

Well fam, really, everything is going great here in Asuncion. We have progressing investigators. The ward is great. The members are great and are helping us out a lot in the missionary effort. Basically, love the mission. I'm so grateful for this time to serve my Heavenly Father and preach the gospel. The more I study and share the Gospel each day, the more I know it's true.

A pic of us and the youth who live down by the stream.........we were making cake with them in honor of Hermana Cozzens bday!

WE FELT LIKE SAMUEL THE LAMANITE!!

2010-08-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

Well, this past week has been a little rougher than normal..but still good at the same time. Basically, we just have dealt with lots of rejection. We taught so many first lessons but when we'd go back for the follow up appointment it's like the person had totally changed...like they'd see us and run into their houses and shut their doors, hide from us, or just flat out lie. Okay, one day we went to teach this man who lives in a little shack with his family...he had told us the day before to come by so we were all excited and went. We got to his house, clapped and were like waiting for someone to come. All of a sudden we hear boys laughing from inside and a big boom...they had thrown a shoe at the door! The thing was, since their walls were like cardboard and had like holes in it, we could see them inside. So, we just ignored the shoe and clapped again. They wouldn´t answer the door. So we clapped for a third time and all of a sudden they started to throw rocks at us through the holes of their house! So, there we were trying to like dodge the rocks. For a split second we felt like Samuel the Lamanite, on the wall, blocking off the arrows..........but not! Ha! It was seriously like crazy. I was just like wait, is this really happening right now?! We ended up just being like bueno, muy amable, muchas gracias por su ayuda and left. But, the situation turned out to be good.....as we were walking off all like bruised from the rocks (ha, not really!) a young woman came out saying ´hermanas!´and told us she's been inactive for a while, apologized about the rock situation and gave us her address so we could visit with her! Wow, the Lord really does work in mysterious ways! As missionaries, we sure do go through a lot of different experiences!!

okay, but for real, despite all the craziness of the week that we just have to laugh about...we really have seen such blessings! Yesterday at church was awesome. We had a handful of investigators there.....Renato, Fatima (13 year old who has a baptism date for next month!) and Teresa and her 3 kids. Teresa is awesome! We met her just last weekend and last week her kids came to church, but this week she came too! The challenges with her is she's not married but living with her "husband" and her very catholic/anti mormon next door neighbor is always talking to her. We´ll see what we can do! Also at church we were very happy because 4 inactive families who we've been consistently visiting each week all came! I honestly couldn´t believe it!! It's like we visit, visit and visit with them and at times it feels like its not helping at all. But we were way happy to see them all there after months of not going to church!

Okay, as for Renato....he wasn't baptized this past week. :( He's awesome but just a little on the non-commital side. His family is being a lot more supportive about the situation now. Last night we had a like a mini FHE with them all which was way good. We don´t know when Renato will be baptized for sure, but we know he will be. He's ready, he's prepared, he knows he needs to do it. So sometime soon!!

So, it's such a small world. A girl here in this ward, Sandra Roig, got back from her Temple Square Mission last week. We ate lunch with her and her family this past week and she knows both Emily Newman and Carly Porter! It was way fun to hear all about her mission and exactly what its like at Temple Square. So different from the mission down here for sure! Also, the other night Hermana Cozzens and I were walking along and heard someone say something to us in English. It was this guy and his wife...he had served his mission here about 3 years ago and was back visiting. Ends up he's from Kaysville and knows Uncle Scotts family! I think he told me his name was Jesse Jensen. But ya, so random huh!! Small world!

Basically this transfer has FLOWN by. Next week on the 25th we have changes. I don't know what will happen for sure. I'm sure I'll be staying but Hermana Cozzens could possibly be headed out to another area. We just don´t know! I really really am hoping and praying that we stay together for at least another change. We are just working so well together and really enjoying the mission. But, I feel like because I want us to stay that she'll leave. Ojala que no! But ya, I'll email next Thursday and let you know what happens!!

Well, it's pday and I'm excited because we don't have any plans to go anywhere or anything. Just kinda hang around our apartment. We are going to make some banana bread since the Elders in our District requested it for tomorrow...funny! And ya, thats about it.

Well familia, les amo muchisimo. I hope that all continues to go well for everyone up there!! Know that I love you all and miss you! Thank you for all your support and examples to me!

The church is true! We are so blessed!

Love you all lots!! Have a great week!!

Paz y amor,
Hermana Sargent

Me and Hermana Cozzens out and about in our area!

Pday with the District in the Centro.

Me and Hermana Cozzens.

A community of shack type homes here in our area.

BROWNIES...CHRISTMAS DAY TO THEM!!

2010-08-09T10:46:00.000-07:00

Hola to everyone! How are you all? Right now I´m at an internet place in downtown. We had a district activity this morning....studied together, the elders played soccer and Hna Cozzens and I shopped for an hour (got some awesome souvenirs!), met back up at 11:30 and we went to this RITZY restaurant called "negrita" where the owner is a member from the downtown branch and invited us all to join him. It was awesome! We had fun. Now we´re all emailing in this like mall place. It's like a legit mall. Def nicer than like the Idaho Falls mall...haha! I so don´t even feel like i´m in Paraguay. It's crazy.

Okay anyways, August has started off great. This past week was just good. Let's see...where to start!

We had zone conference all day on Friday. Basically...amazing. Took so many notes I wish I could just share all of them with you! We focused a lot on teaching with the Spirit, asking inspired questions to allow investigators to open up. Really, I´ve seen it over and over again how the Spirit it the key to success. We really have to pray for it, be worthy of it and have the faith to rely on it and follow the promptings we receive. I think my fave part of ZC was the almost 2 hour discussion we had with President Callan on "the dilemma"...which is how we are all sinners and nothing unclean can enter into the Celestial Kingdom. The solution to this dilemma....repentance through the atonement of Christ. I enjoy so much to dig deep into the doctrine. I def learned so much that I can apply in my own life and to help the investigators understand the need for repentance and baptism.

So Amambay is great. Totally loving it here. I was telling Hna Cozzens the other day how I´m suprised I´m not like way homesick for Leopardi. Of course I love love those people there, but it's like transfers and boom---focused on and have an instant love for a new group of people. It's amazing how the Lord helps us and knows where we need to be. We really have some awesome investigators who we are really working with. First off, Renato. He wasn´t baptized this past weekend :( his new goal is for this Thursday. He´s had his interview and everything now so we´ll see. The challenge with him is that he has absolutely NO family support. It's sad. His mom and 2 siblings are members too. We were visiting with his mom last week, who is the RS president, to try to talk to her and help out with the whole situation and I asked her if she was excited about Renatos decision to be baptized. she looked at us and said..."mmm...no." I´m pretty sure my mouth just like dropped. I was just like whatt?? This is your son and his salvation! She told us that she doubts he´ll stay active because his older brother is inactive now. The thing is, to make a long story short, theie family is just so dysfunctional. They don´t talk, encourage or honestly have anything to do with each other. I feel like I´ve learned a ton about family relationships this past week. And how BG I am for all of you! It really just makes me feel so sad for Renato. Here he is, and 18 year old who wants do what is right, has a desire but I think since he doesnt have the family support it makes him feel uneasy about it all. It's just weird. I can´t even explain it. But ya, we are praying for him and trying to help him out a lot!

Also, we have a couple families who we are teaching. I love it. One of the dads, Pascual, has major doubts about the Book of Mormon. The thing is, he wants to know if it's true or not...a sincere desire. We are reading with him, praying with and helping him get to that moment of conversion.

Okay, I´m super excited because they announced at zone conf that we´ll be going to the temple on September 8!! soon!! Yayyyy!

This is kinda random, but this past week Hna and I made brownies and took them to a few families. When we gave them to them the little kids faces just lit up when they saw chocolate! Seriously, it was so cute. Presh. Like, I´m in a nice area but there are still lots of pockets of poverty. Real poverty. These people don´t have much and a little bag of brownies is like Christmas day to them!

Well fam, everything is great here. Loving it. I hope all is well up there in the states. Sounds like all is pretty tranquilo! I hope everyone has had a good first day of being back in school! Know that I love you lots and pray for you all daily. Thank you for your prayers and support.

The gospel is true!!

PARAGUAYAN ALEXA AND GAP HOODIES!!

2010-08-02T10:30:00.000-07:00

Can you believe it's August! Today is exactly my 11 month mark on the mission. Wowww. Anyways, sounds like you had a great time in La Jolla. Sun or no sun, how could you not enjoy a nice vacation on the beach?! Mom gave me the day to day run down from all the fun activities you did down to the menu….my mouth was totally watering imagining all the yummy food you guys ate! Oh man, love LJ. Next year!!

So this past week was a good one. I´m thinking back and nothing like huge happened but it was a good week!

Renato is awesome and totally progressing. He may be getting baptized this Saturday. He´s totally prepared and we really want it to happen this weekend but the date is a little up in the air still. We are having an FHE with him and his family tonight to talk about it all. Seriously, we´ve seen such a change in him and its been amazing. Hna Cozzens and the other Hna before me taught him once before I came. The first time I went, well to be honest, I didn´t think he was serious and probably wouldn´t be baptized. I learned that I need to have more faith! He´s always reading what we mark in his BOM, comes to church on his own, asks us questions, learning a ton, knows a ton and ya....demasiado bueno el. And plus, get this, we found out he´s like a way good soccer player....like well known...and has a good chance of playing in the next mundial. Hna Ccozzens and Iare all excited because he´s like famous-ish. Ha!

Okay so one of our goals as a companionship for this transfer has been to go back to every person we taught a first lesson to and not to be like hmm, they didn´t seem interested. Just really trying to give everyone a second chance. We´ve been making the effort to do so and we have seen major blessings because of it. Some times the people are there and we teach them again. Some times they aren´t there, hide from us, lie to us, ignore us, etc....but it's been amazing to see how the Lord guides us to maybe that persons next door neighbor or down the road a little bit. I feel as if we´re in a cycle of some sort just looking looking looking to find those who are prepared. And everyday, the Lord leads us to them. We´ve found so many new investigators who we hope to progress. Another focus of ours is to really talk about baptism and even put a date for their baptism in the first visit. This lets us see what the persons desires, thoughts and motives are, more easily. We´ve really started doing that more this past week and its been great.

Basically. I love working with Hna Cozzens. She is awesome! Her and Hna Jara are tied for my fave companion here in Paraguay. Ha. But really, all my companions have been good.....just different....and I have learned from each of them. But really, when we´re totally united as a companionship it makes all the difference in the work.

So I have found a Paraguayan Alexa. It's this 7 year old girl in the ward here and she is so cute...and looks/dresses/talks like Alexa. She always comes up and gives me a big hug! Yesterday we were talking after sacrament meeting and knowing that I´m from the states, showed me her GAP hoodie that she was wearing and was telling me how her sister or someone brought it for her and that she likes to shop.. too cute!

We have zone conference this Friday!! Yay! I´m excited. We´ll have it with 2 other zones. We didn´t have it last change so I´m really looking forward to it!

Shout out to Natalie and Kayla................HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well fam, I love you all lots. Miss you guys. I always love reading your letters and hearing about what everyone is up to. I hope you all enjoy your last week of summer vacation. I can´t believe summer has like come and gone. I feel like I was just reading about when the school year ended for you all!

Well, Hna Cozzens and I are just off to do our grocery shopping and head back to our apt until 6. I´m excited to have some downtime this afternoon and to write some of my converts from Leopardi!

Just want you all to kow that I know this church is true. I know we have a living prophet on the earth today. How blessed we are to have his guidance. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior. The Atonement is real. Our Heavenly Father really is our Father. He knows us and loves us. The gospel is great!

I LOVE YOU ALL!! Have a great week!!

SERIOUSLY, I LOVE THE MISSION WITH ALL MY HEART!

2010-07-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

Well, really, this past week has been great. I think I always say that. But really, the Lord has blessed us so much.

Gloria was baptized on Saturday night! It was such a great service. It was so awesome to see her 16 year old son, who is a recent convert, ex drug addict, baptize her. Wow, what a change their family has had in the past little bit. It is the best feeling to see people repent, change and accept the gospel. It really is amazing. Strengthens my testimony of the Atonement and how real it is.

As for other investigators…some are progressing. 18 year old Renato seems to be a lot more excited about his baptism which should be on August 7. We have definitely seen a change in him this past week. I think things have finally clicked in his mind and he sees the importance of it. We are also teaching that American family who is living here for his work. How random! It really is kind of tricky to teach in English…after almost 9 months of it my mind is automatically Spanish when talking about church related things. We continue to teach 81 year old Roberto who somewhat believes in evolution. It's interesting to me how heavily he relies on the internet and science and not in who we need to rely in. It makes me sad for him that he just can´t see the truth. I know he feels something when we visit and when he's at church but I think he´s just scared about commitment. The other morning we were teaching him about the creation and going over how we were created in Gods image. We testified and invited him to pray about these things…to ask God instead of man. He just sat there for about a minute and then said ´´no one has ever talked to me like the way you two talk to me.´´ We told him that its not us that makes him feel the way he does but it’s the Holy Ghost testifying to him that these things are true. He said the prayer to close the lesson and thanked Heavenly Father for the 2 hermanitas who are teaching him things he has never learned in the past 81 years of his life. Honestly, Roberto is such a great guy. Ex military, way smart and knows what's right. I hope we can help him to progress more!! He needs to!

Okay, so here are just some random things…………´

Got a bunch of birthday cards and letters this past Tuesday. Gracias por todo!!

Last Monday Hna Cozzens and I did go to downtown Asuncion. Seriously, it was sooo much fun! I think I was seriously a little bit in like culture shock because I hadn´t seen such nice buildings, restaurants, shops, etc in a long time. I just kept looking around like the biggest tourist ever. I really didn´t know that parts of Paraguay were that nice. There is wealth here and so much poverty at the same time. Not a lot of middle. Downtown has such a fun vibe. Lots of cars, people walking around, tourists taking pics…definitely felt like I was in a different country…like NYC slash spain or something. We spent the afternoon there....ate at a cute little place, walked the high-rise lined streets, shopped in little boutiques and markets full of the guaranians selling their handmade stuff, walked along the river and saw palaces from the 18th and 19th century. I loved it! It was just a really fun pday and such a fun opportunity to see more of this beautiful country!!

Okay, so I told you how we have the zone leaders who work in the same ward as us. I really am enjoying having another pair of missionaries to work with. We see them quite a bit...at our weekly meetings with our ward mission leader and we also have a few lunches with them at members houses during the week which is fun!

Ok. So like a week and a half ago our gas ran out and so we went to fill it up and I guess there is like little to no gas in Paraguay right now. It's been a lot colder than usual so Argentina and Uruguay have been using a lot more of their gas which has left Paraguay with nada. So ya, we haven´t been cooking at all. One of these past nights we decided to make cookie dough to eat but we had to melt the butter somehow so we used our space heater! It was funny. Just everything is different and an adventure here!

Well fam, things are good here. Seriously, I love the mission with all my heart. Each day I thank my Heavenly Father for this opportunity. I love the people here. And the gospel. I love it. It's true. How blessed we are to have it in our lives!

Well....I hope you have a FANTASTIC time soaking up the sun in Cali. You´ll have to send me a few pics next Monday through email! Know that I´ll be there in spirit with you.....the herd is always together!

Love you lots!! You´re all in my prayers daily!!

Paz y Amor,
Hermana Sargent

"THAT'S A MISSION FOR YA..."

2010-07-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

"Hello! Sounds like you´re all doing good and prepping for LJ!! Wow…weird that I won´t be there. But, proximo ano si o si. Make sure to boogie board, eat a cheese shop BLT and lay out for me."

"Well, this past weekend went by fast. I continue to enjoy serving in here in Amambay. It has been cold! Cold! Cold! these past few days. Today it's finally sunny and somewhat warm ish out. But seriously, its been like 40 outside, which isn´t like Rexburg or NYC cold, but walking around all day, teaching lessons under umbrellas, having soaked feet from walking in the streets/rivers and being able to see your breath inside of houses because they don´t have heat just puts a chill to the bone! In our apartment we have 2 little space heaters that basically don´t do anything…but oh well! That’s the mission for ya. It's always an adventure!! I have thought about Skye the past few days and wondered how he served in Alaska for 2 years…wow…couldn´t do it!"

"So…our investigators are great! 43 year old Gloria had her baptismal interview yesterday and everything is set for Saturday evening! She is really great. She has seen her 2 boys, who were drug addicts, totally change their lives around because of the Gospel. They all have such strong testimonies. Also, we have 2 others with a baptism date….Renato who is 18 years old as well as Antonio who is 86 years old and has 18 cats in his house!! Eww. But he is so great, loves the hymns and has a desire to be baptized. So, hopefully all will go well! Hermana Cozzens and I feel like doors are really opening here for the work to move forward..such a blessing!"

"I loved meeting the ward yesterday. It's very different from Leopardi. There are a lot more older people and lots of families that attend with their grandparents, their kids and their grandkids. Definitely a more wealthier, sophisticated type crowd. I felt so spoiled yesterday....the chapel is a lot more like how a chapel in the states is..more than one piano, nicer chairs, big stand...I seriously kinda had forgotten how nice some things were. And the thing is, it's still not as nice as like the chapels in the states, but pretty close. I kept on telling Hna Cozzens, wow, I feel like I´m in the states! haha. The Bishop is way nice, I´m excited to work with him more, as well as our ward mission leader. There seems to be a lot of good leadership and Priesthood in this ward. Like, our gospel principles teacher is the ex stake president and also one of the temple presidency counselors is in this ward..I need to talk with him about the Huffakers! I´m really excited to get to know all the members better. There are so many new faces and names to learn! They really were all so welcoming yesterday."

"Okay, mom asked me some questions...I´m gonna write the answers....
I recieved some Dear Elder bday greetings. I´ll probably get more at our next district meeting...which I don´t think we´re having tomorrow....sad...but next Tuesday!"

"Hna Potter is now with Hna Plessl, from the states who is a little more older in the mission. Don´t really know her that well but they should be good together. It's always sad to say goodbye to a comp. It's like ya, we may have not been best friends or gotten along the best, but we shared some great times and experiences together, saw miracles. I´m grateful for the transfer I had with Hna Potter but I was ready for a change as well."

"Since I basically knew that I was going to leave Leopardi I actually started packing up the weekend before transfers and organizing all my stuff so it wasn´t too bad. I fit everything I wanted to. I did leave some of my clothes behind for some of the young women and my young single adult friends."

"Haven´t heard much Guarani here in Asuncion. Definitely more in Leopardi I think. I´ve heard in some of the more wealthier areas here that Guarani is like looked down upon since its an Indian language. But igual no mas....voy a compartir en mischi mi con la gente aqui. They always smile and let us in the door if we say like 2 words in Guarani. It works."

"Yes, saw some of the elders from my MTC district at the terminal last Wednesday. Always fun. It's really fun to see all the other elders who I´ve had in my districts here as well. Is seriously just like one big reunion and everyones just talking to everyone and trying to catch up in the little time we have. It's fun."

"We now email from just a little internet cafe."

"Love having black shoes without holes. Yay for that!!"

"Having a comp who is new to the mission field really doesn´t change too much. It's like I´m the senior companion but honestly, that really doesn´t mean anything. We work together. It's fun because she is pretty new to Paraguay still. Just hit her 3 month mark here and she had a Latina for her trainer so all the things she really didn´t understand or know she always asks me about. It's cute. And okay, speaking of the Hermana who was her trainer.....she made some sticky situations here in this ward. Wasn´t totally obedient, didn´t get along that well with the elders who serve with us and some of the members and didn´t make the best use of their time. Basically, the whole story is just long and weird. But, it´ll be good to get things back on the bright side here. Hna Cozzens has a desire to work hard, find those prepared people, fix/better some situations and have fun along the way! She told me the other day that she's smiled and laughed more in the past few days than her first 3 months here. Chulina. Seriously, I really like Hna Cozzens....we just really seem to get along and I already feel like our companionship is pretty unified for just having days together no mas. I feel like she's a friend from college and we´re roommates or something...but doing the missionary work! It's fun!"

"Well the work continues to go on! I'm enjoying the adventure of a new area. At times I feel so inadequate and like ugh what am I doing...don´t know anyone or where I´m at....but I know the Lord will help me out as long as I turn to Him for help. He has already given me a patient companion to show me around! Well, we already did our grocery shpping for the day....and right now we´re going to take a 20 minute busride to the centro/downtown, grab some lunch and do some shopping! Hna Cozzens wants some warmer clothes....and I´m always up for a shopping trip :) I´ll have to take some pics and send them your way next Monday of the Centro. She says its full out like city, city....so we´ll see."

"Well fam, he hecho un libro ya. jeje. pero quiero decirles gracias por todo. I love you all lots and miss you tons! Have a great week!!!!!"

Loves de Asuncion,
Hermana Sargent

xoxoxo

"SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED! REWIND...."

2010-07-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

Dear famillia!

"Hello hola que tal coma estan?? Sounds like everyone is good, busy and having some summer fun! Thank you all for your bday greetings!!"

"Well, wow! So much has happened in the past 10 days! Rewind……"

"On July 9 we had interviews with President Callan. There was a huge storm that morning and after walking though a river/street and being soaked by two busses we arrived at the office basically soaked! I felt like so unpresentable to meet with President but he and Sister Callan just kinda chuckled and were like well, we´re in Paraguay! It was basically just outta control. But the interview was great! I am seriously so bg for the Callans! It was cute too...Sister Callan called me yesterday for my birthday! I didn´t know they did that!"

"Okay, Richard, our investigator in Leopardi had his baptism pushed back until the 23rd of July. He is awesome and I know he´ll be baptized. He has such a desire. There is a chance that I´ll possibly be able to head back to San Lorenzo to see his baptism! It´d really be great because I was with him when we met him in the street and taught him everything!"

"Received 3 packages while at the office last Friday. Thanks mom! (ps...in that pic you saw, I was holding 2 and 1 was in my backpack!) my new shoes are greattttt. I loved the tape you sent me! Thanks everyone for talking on it! I laughed out loud so much! I loved the American Idol spin off when Robbie sang his song! Also...thanks for the bday package....cute clothes and I´m happy to have my own personal pantry with yummy treats! Yay!"

"Said all my goodbyes to Leopardi. Or I like to think see ya laters. It was actually pretty hard to say goodbye to some people. Tears were shed on my part and some of the members who I have really come to know and love. I can´t express how grateful I am to have served in that ward for such a long time. I will always remember Leopardi!! It was cute, Tuesday night we were in our apt and I was packing and the phone rang, it was some of the young single adults and all they said was come downstairs! So Hna Potter and I went downstairs and they had brought me a huge thing of ice cream and a thank you card. It was cute!"

"Okay. So....as for transfers. Tuesday at district meeting was when we found out, as usual. The meeting is the same as any other but the conversations always turn to whats going to happen, who's going where, etc, etc.. All the elders were giving me a hard time about how I just need to buy a house in Leopardi. haha. But, that won´t be the case. I am now serving in the Amambay ward in Asuncion with Hermana Cozzens from Dobson, North Carolina! The first time I met her was yesterday when we were at the terminal with like a ton of other missionaries. She has been here for almost 3 months and I´m her first American comp after having a Latina trainer for 2 changes so she´s pretty excited. Like okay, the area is like Asuncion Asuncion. Basically the centro/almost downtown. Seriously, it's such a different vibe! It's a really pretty area...and quite a bit nicer than Leopardi for sure. There are so many hills which is really pretty....(my legs are going to get a workout!), the streets are all pretty much cobblestone but there are quite a few more paved roads still. The houses are a lot nicer. And all the houses have a number on them! And all the streets are named and have signs. It's definitely a lot more organized. Our apartment is like really nice too. I seriously feel like I´m on a vacation or something. It's an actual apartment building....there is even a little lobby with like couches! ha! Our apt is really open and we have these big glass doors that lead out to a balcony with a gorgeous view of the red rooftops and green trees here in Asuncion and the river! And the other side of the river is Argentina! I sit at my desk and look out and see Argentina. It's really pretty. Honestly, I love it here already! I was thinking this morning how its funny that Heavenly Father put me in the the "city"...He knows me well. It was sad to leave Leopardi, my home, but I already feel like it's my home here too. I guess it's not really the area but the people that make it feel that way!"

"The members I have met here in Amambay are great. The first one I met looked at me and said she knew me and we figured out she had helped me through at the temple when I went back in February. Small world! But ya, this is one of the oldest wards here in Paraguay. There are like 120 members in Sacrament Meeting each week. When Hna Cozzens told me that I couldn´t believe it. We averaged like 65ish in Leopardi. Such a difference. Since our ward is so big it's actually divided into 2 areas. We have one part and a pair of elders, who are actually my new zone leaders, have the other part. So, we´ll be working with the elders a lot which will be an interesting and fun experience. I absolutely love Hna Cozzens already. She's really great. She also went to BYUI, graduated and is a nurse. She is a lot of fun. Quick to smile and talk (kinda has a similar personality to Tessa Sargent). We´ve already shared some awesome experiences together too. Yesterday we found an awesome family who had a lot of misconceptions about the church...especially regarding to how we have a Prophet on the earth today. I love when people ask us questions and want to learn. It's amazing how the Holy Ghost really does help us out to know what to say and how to say it. Also, so random...last night we taught a lesson in English! We rang a doorbell and this man came out. After talking to him for like 20 seconds he told us he doesn´t know Spanish that well. Ends up he´s from oregon and living here with his family to do some non denominational church work. They´ve been here for 4 months and really didn´t know Spanish that well so we taught in English since thats all of our first language. It was seriously so weird! I´m just so used to teaching in Spanish! It was really hard for us to totally seperate Spanish and English. Weird!"

"But ya, as much as I love and miss Leopardi I am really excited to be here in Amambay. Really, there's a good vibe here. I feel good about it. I know this is where I´m supposed to be and I´m so grateful to have Hna Cozzens as my companion! We are going to work hard and have fun. We have a baptism planned for the 24th...Gloria. I met her last night and she's great! Her two sons (remind me of Robs) who are 16 and 14 got baptized the end of June so now it's her turn! We also have a handful of people who have been to church and are progressing so I´m excited to meet more of our investigators and ward members!! It's fun because I have heard some of the members already mention Hna Jara because she served here before she went to Leopardi! It will be fun to write her and tell her about how her converts are doing and hopefully we can continue to work with some of the seeds she planted!"

"Well familia, les quiero mucho. I hope and pray that all is going well up there for you! Know that I love you and miss you lots. Thank you for all of your support!"

"I´ll write on monday!!"

paz y amor,
hermana sargent

xoxo

"CHICA'S, CHICA'S"

2010-07-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

Mi Chulina Familia,

"Hola que tal? How are you all? Ah, love you all. Hope you all had a good 4th! Sounds like you´ll all have fun celebrating today! Well, this morning we had a Zone activity. It was fun. Did a big group study together which always seems to be the best part, and then we watched a really good movie...The Lords Errand....on the life of President Monson. So good! Then we played a couple games! "

"Well what a week it has been here in Leopardi. Hna Potter and I set a goal at the beginning of the week to teach 60 lessons. It almost seems a little impossible to me to be honest...def pushed us...but with the help of the Lord and his daily guidance we were able to reach our goal and find plenty of new investigators we hope will progress! Okay, yesterday at church was awesome. Richard, who´s about 30 years old, came to church for the third time. Don´t know if I´ve mentioned him before, but about a month ago on a pday Hna Potter and I were walking back to our apt from Salemma and we heard ´chicas, chicas´....I didn´t want to look who it was, usually I don´t because they say something inappropriate, but we looked and there was this guy, Richard. He asked where the church was and that he had visited with Elders and visited the church in another ward and loved it but lost contact after a while. So anyways, he´s been to church three times now. It's kinda different from all of our other investigators because we haven´t taught him a whole lot...his schedule is crazy with work during the week. But yesterday after church we sat down and now he has a baptism date...for this Saturday! The 10th. Really, he´s a great guy. From Columbia, moved here to work, businessman, really smart...I am praying that all will go good this week and that Saturday will be his day!!"

"Okay, on a different note, I´ve been a bit sick this past week. Hna Potter was and then I got it. A cold. Ugh. The weather changes so often from hot to cold and so I think that's why we got sick. Saturday was basically horrible. My eyes were red and like waterfalls, my nose too...but the work went on. Sunday morning I woke up feeling much better....I feel fine today, I just don´t have that good of a voice. But it's def a lot better than a runny nose and eyes!"

"So I love how some of you have been keeping up with the world cup! Yay for soccer. Seriously, I´ve never liked soccer that much but now I´m like into it. Of course I can´t watch the games or anything, but its what everyone talks about here so we´re pretty filled in on whats happening. And especially since Paraguay was one of the top teams...woot! woot!! Okay, last Tuesday when Paraguay played we were on the bus coming back from our district meeting and everytime we heard fireworks and big shouts our bus driver would stop the bus to look at someones TV in like an outside restaraunt to see what the status of the game was. Seriously, like stopped the bus. It cracked me up! Soccer here is like peoples lives. But, too bad that Paraguay lost on Saturday :( I was really hoping they´d win. People were like wayyyy sad. But happy at the same time because it was a first for Paraguay to go that far!"

"This Thursday we are going to have a cooking night with the Relief Society sisters! We´re going to teach them how to make these scone/biscuit type things....its Hnas Potter recipe and really yummy! I´m looking forward to it. And we´re hoping that some of our investigators and lots of inactives will come too! Just another way to get people to the chapel!"

"So this transfer is a little weird because we´re not going to have zone conference. I don´t know why. I´m just assuming that President Callan is super busy. We do have our interviews with him this Friday morning which i´m looking forward to though!! And mom...thats prob when i´ll get my packages because i´ll be at the office...finally! Yay!!"

"But ya, i´m hoping President Callan will give me a clue what will happen next with transfers. I´m almost positive that I´ll be leaving Leopardi...but at the same time...I feel like I´m staying. I just really don´t know what will happen....the mission is full of surprises! Honestly, I want to stay in Leopardi. I love it here! This ward, the people, the neighborhoods have a special place in my heart...and always will. It's where i´ve had my first real missionary experiences. Where I´ve learned Spanish with the help from all the patient members, my latina companions and our investigators. I´ve seen miarcles. I have made some of my very best friends. Here is where I have shed tears through times of difficulties, of gratitude, and because of laughing so hard. It's a place where I´ve really come to know my Savior more than every before in my life. He lives. I can´t even express how grateful I am to have had such a long time in this ward. I LOVE this area. But, as transfers approach....I know that the Lord knows best. If changed, I´ll be excited to go to a new place, meet more people and make more memories!"

"Well familia, I love you all lots! I´ll be writing next Thursday...the 15th of July........most likely from a new area, with a new comp, and I´ll be a year older too! Eeekkk! ha!"

"Muchisima gracias por todo de su apoyo y amor mientras estoy serviendo aqui en Paraguay."

"LOVE YOU ALL!"

Paz y Amor,
Hermana Sargent

"AH, LOVE DULCE!"

2010-06-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

"Things are continuing to go good here as well! Dulce was baptized on Friday night. It was great! However, seriously, there is always something that happens on baptism days. At 3pm we received a phonecall from Dulces mom saying how she wanted to postpone the baptism. Our hearts like sank when she told us that. We asked why and she said that she didn´t get paid like she thought she would and didn´t have the money to buy a cake for her baptism. Seriously, Satan works in weird ways to make the people feel bad on such important days. Ugh. However, to make a long story short, we bought a cake and the baptism and everything turned out good! Dulce was so so excited and cute when we went to pick her up on Friday. She´s adorable. It made me think of how Lex will be getting baptized soon! Also, her mom told us that Sunday morning she was super excited for her Confirmation that she woke up at 5 and got all ready for church! Ah, love Dulce!"

"As for others...we´re continuing to teach the discoteca girl, a couple other youth and we´ve found a great family this past week who we´ve taught a few times now. They are awesome and progressing! I´m seriously amazed at how we just keep on finding people to teach. I´ve been in this area for almost 8 months now. Have probably knocked every door. Yet, there are always new people to teach! The Lord leads and guides us daily."

"So, the weather here is like LOCO. Earlier this week I was wearing a scarf and sweater everyday, then it got warm where we were sweating in short sleeved shorts, and just this morning it turned cold again. Oh Paraguay!"

"Funny how you asked about soccer mom and dad. Ya...its definitely soccer season here. Well, basically its always soccer time here! But ya, when theres a big game on on tv...NO ONE wants to listen to us. We´ll straight up ask them what's more important...soccer or to learn more about Christ and His teachings...and usually they say something along the lines like ´´other day´´ as they rush back into their house. People are hardcore soccer fans here for sure!"

"So, my friend sent me quote this past week that I really liked. He said it was from Pres. Eyrings talk and says something along the lines of "when I am drawn away from my Priesthood responsibilites (or really, any church responsibilities) and when my body begs for a rest I remember this phrase, ´Remember Him´. ¨ I have thought a lot about those two words this past week, remember Him. Just this morning I was reading in Mosiah 3 and 4 when King Benjamin is talking to the people about Christ and the Atonement. I really enjoyed it. My mind doesn´t exactly comprehend everything about the Atonement, but I guess that is where our faith comes in. But I do know that Christ knows how we feel. He knows us, what we go through. Everything. And most of all, He is our Savior. He died for us. He went through so much and sacrificed so much. For us. This quote like keeps me going everyday and makes me want to work harder and do better."

"Well, that's basically what has been happening here in Paraguay this past week. This afternoon Hna Potter and I are excited because we are going to go over to the Aquino familys house and teach the mom and her 3 daughters who are around my age to make snickerdoodles!! Yay for that! Then later tonight we have a couple appointments and an FHE planned!"

"Well family. I love you all. And miss you too. I hope you all have a great week!! Any 4th of July plans?? Have a good fourth! ps...really can´t believe its almost July. Wow."

Love you all!
Hermana Sargent

xoxo

"IN THE HEIGHTS"...IN THE BOOK OF MORMON!

2010-06-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

"How are you all? It sounds like you had a fab time at 'In the Heights'! A little pre-dessert party and then of course the show! I´m glad it lived up to everyones expectations. Oh man, I wish I could have been there to see it. Okay, get this..on Saturday morning during personal study I was reading in the Book of Mormon and came across 2 Nephi 17:11--look it up! I never knew the words ´in the heights´were in the Book of Mormon! Classic. And how funny that I read it the same day as you all went!"

"So my district is going to start having an activity together every Monday morning. I like it. It's fun to get to know people better. We all met at a chapel about a 30 min bus ride away, did our studying and played some water balloon volleyball. It was fun. I think my favorite part of the morning was our companion study together...our district leader had set up a big table for us all to sit around and for an hour we went around saying which each one of us studied/learned from our personal study this morning. I don´t know, it was just really good. I felt like I learned so much just from hearing all the Elders and Hna Potter share!"

"We are going to have a baptism this Friday! Little Dulce, who is 9 years old, will be getting baptized. She is just so cute and smart! Her mom and older sister have been less active members for a while now, but now that we are teaching Dulce they have all been coming to church!"

"As for other investigators---for some reason we are finding and working with a lot of youth who are progressing. 13 year old Ruben came to church yesterday for the first time. He has a baptism date in July and has permission from his mom which is good! We are teaching 15 year old Rosalee...she is funny. Her house is in between our apt and the church....and her house is a discoteca! Aka, club. So we´re always out sitting on the curb of the disco teaching her! I´m sure it looks a little weird. We need to work on having lessons with her in a house of a member or something!"

"Oh my gosh, so seriously, the craziest things seem to happen here in Leopardi. Hna Jara and I would always tell the Elders things that happened....like, when we got chased by that man, weird texts, etc..so they always ask what is going on in Leopardi as a joke. But okay, Wednesday night we had a 8pm meeting at the chapel with all of our ward missionaries and mission leader. It was about 7:45 and Hna Potter and I were making contacts just a couple blocks from the church when we noticed a bunch of police cars. We thought it looked a bit sketchy so we decided to stay away. At 8, we arrived at the church and were sitting there waiting for everyone else to show up when a policeman came up to us and told us how some guys had robbed a car from another nearby neighborhood, got in a wreck just a few blocks from the church, didn´t want to get caught so they supposedly ran to hide behind the church property where there is a big jungly field type area. Ah. Just after he told us this, a bunch of cops came, jumped the church fence and went searching for the robbers. How crazy huh?! The sad thing is we don´t even know how the story ended because when the other ward members got there, we just had a quick like 5 minute meeting in the street and left the scene. We didn´t hear any gun shots or anything so that's good! But ya, seriously, the most random things happen here and our area is supposedly more safe than other neighborhoods. But don´t worry..I really do feel totally safe!"

"Just last night we were looking for new investigators and clapped at a house and an older man came out. We asked if we could share with him and he let us in. I think he was hoping to teach us ´the truth´. At first he wouldn´t stop talking about the Catholic church and his beliefs. But, it was interesting because as we taught I could see a change in him. As we taught about the great Apostasy and the need for the Restoration he became silent and very attentive. The Spirit was strong. He then was asking good questions about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. After we left I told Hna Potter how I am always amazed at how the Spirit touches and softens so many peoples hearts. We see it daily here. It is amazing!"

"Okay, funny thing. Yesterday while eating lunch with the Aquino family our conversation turned into a Spanish/English study session. Their daughters who are 21 and 19 wanted to hear Hna Potter and I speak English because they´ve been studying. So we were talking and they said that Hna Potter talks more like English-Brit and then they said ´Hna Sargent talks just like the girls on the show Gilmore Girls!´. Ah, I couldn´t help but laugh. Guess i haven´t lost my accent :)"

"It sounds like everyone is doing good! Thank you for all your love and support, letters and prayers! I love you all so much and miss you bunches!! The church is true! I love the Gospel."

Paciencia y fe....

I CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED...

2010-06-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

"This past week has been another good one. Basically, I continue to be amazed with the Lords help, blessings and tender mercies. Last weekend I just felt like blah..like, we were not finding anyone. This week the Lords hand led us to many new investigators. We were busy, taught close to 50 lessons, going quickly from appointment to appointment. I love missionary work. We met a lady who when after teaching her lesson 1 about the Restoration told us how "just yesterday my friend who I haven´t seen in years came over and was telling me how two young men who came to her house and were teaching her about Joseph Smith and we were talking about him yesterday--and now here you two are just the day after to answer my questions I had about him¨. Seriously, little things like this stregnthens my testimony that things aren´t a coincidence. Heavenly Father has a plan!"

"The ward members are helping out a ton with the work!...or continuing to do so! I´m pretty sure I mentioned how we had eight ward missionaries called. This past Thursday we had our first meeting with them all...awesome! They all have their own companionships and assignments to further the work and especially help out with recent converts and inactive families! I seriously just love the members in this ward. They are such good examples to me of always being willing and ready to serve."

"Yesterday we had Stake Conference....amazing! I always like the crazy bus ride to the stake center with the bus stopping all along the way picking up anyone in a white shirt and tie! And okay, guess who spoke at the conference? The Huffakers! It was so fun to look up at the stand and see familiar American faces. It was funny...at one point during President Huffakers talk he was talking about missionary work and had all of us missionaries stand up for people to know us. He then said that actually one of the missionaries is from his Stake back in Arizona..Hermana Sargenta! The whole congregation turned around to look at me. ha! Also, Sister Huffaker shared her testimony ...she doesn´t know too much Espanol, but she did a great job! Too cute! The whole conference was just really good and uplifting...talked a lot about families and the temple! We had a couple investigators with us and they really enjoyed the whole thing as well!"

"Okay, totally random...but last night i finished my first journal from the mish!"

"And other random thing...we now have hot water!! Yay for that!!"

"Well, okay, things are good here. Lots of work to do. I am grateful for the Gospel and for this opportunity to serve. I´m so grateful for the guidance of the Spirit in our every day lives."

"LIKE PRACTICE HUSBANDS...BUT NOT!"

2010-06-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

"So, this weekend passed by fast. We´ve been knocking doors and looking for references lots these past few days to try and get a good pool of investigators. I kinda feel like we are starting from scratch. We have like 1 progressing investigator, 18 yr old Fabiola who should be getting baptized this month. But other than that....we´re looking. Saturday night I was pretty discouraged. I just felt like we were teaching, teaching teaching, looking, looking and not having success...like, not finding people who are interested. I was especially feeling bummed because we didn´t have one person who was for sure going to be at church on Sunday...and that is like a si or si thing for me. We were praying lots and fasting for our investigators and the Lord blessed us once again by allowing us to have an investigator at church. Sunday morning we had literally taken about 3 steps out of our apartment when we heard ´chicas, chicas´....there was a man, Richard, who we had contacted on the street on Thursday night and he was walking to church! It seriously made Hna Potter and I both so happy! Such a blessing and answer to our prayers! We have an appointment with him for this week and hope he will progress!"

"Things with Hna Potter are going good. A couple of you asked if I missed having a native. Five months ago I never thought I would say this...but YES! I miss having a native as a comp. Hna Potter has only had a native comp for 6 weeks/1 transfer out of her 9 months here in Paraguay...so we´ve definatly had different experiences. Our companionship with the two of us now is different than Hna Jara and I, but good. I can learn a lot from each of my companions, and learn to be patient. They are like practice husbands, but not."

"Hna Potter has actually been sick these past couple days..well, not like sick sick. Basically she feels fine but her voice has been totally gone which has left me to do about 90% of the teaching and contacting. Her voice seems to be coming back today....hope so! I need a companion! In the streets and with the people we always talk Spanish and in the apartment it just depends. Probably about half and half. A lot of Spanglish. It's funny though, I feel like at times its almost harder for me to actually talk in English. I often am like what is that word again? Oh ya!"

"Pedro, our recent convert, is doing good! The only thing is I´m sad because he may be moving to Argentina...like soon! Ahhh. He almost moved before his baptism but something happened..but now I think its for real. It is sad because he´s only 17 years old...didn´t finish highschool. Just working. Paraguay is really bad with people working who are underage. Like for instance, on the busses there are always like 10 year old boys selling fruit and candies while they should be in school. It's just such a different culture."

"Yesterday at church the Bishop called 8 ward missionaries to serve with us! Yay! We´re excited!! It's a bunch of young single adults and youth..should be good!"

"Well, the rest of this week is pretty normal. District meeting tomorrow. My district leader called me last night and asked me to teach the lesson...hope it goes good. This weekend is our Stake Conference. We´ll only be going to the Sunday session but I´m excited...and I hope we can have a handful of investigators come with us as well!"

"Well familia...thanks for everything! Hope you are all doing good and having a fun summer up there in the AZ! You are all the best!"

LOVE YOU LOTS AND MISS YOU ALL!!!

Hermana Sargent
xoxoxo

"HALF-WAY MARK!"

2010-06-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

"Its June. Wow! Well the past week and half has been a good, busy, crazy one! Full of Zone Conference, baptism!, running away from a crazy man (don´t worry mom!) and transfers."

"Hermana Jara is gone. SAD. We had to be at the mission office yesterday morning at 630am.. We got there, took one last pic together and then she was off to do things with all the other missionaries who were leaving. I was surprised at how sad I felt about her leaving. 3 months ago I never would have thought she would have been one of my best friends. We even cried together a couple times during this past week when talking about all of our times together and how she is leaving. But when we said goodbye at the office it was so quick that there were no tears. The past 2 changes with her flew by like no other. I learned so much from her. We had fun together. We saw miracles together. I really am so grateful for the time I had to be her companion! I just love her! She left this morning at 4am for Peru....crazy!"

"Okay, so now my companion is Hermana Potter from Owasso, Oklahoma. She's 22, went to BYUI for 2 years before the mish...wants to study Physical therapy, 6 kids in her fam, and is 1 transfer ahead of me on the mission. We were actually in the MTC at the same time...she was Hna Renchers comp there, but I don´t ever remember meeting her. But anyways, we´ve only 24 hours together...but so far, so good. She's not loud or shy. Pretty normal...if there is such a thing. It's kinda weird walking around with another American. She's about my same height and has lighter hair and skin than me, so we sure do stand out!"

"PEDRO WAS BAPTIZED on May 28. It was awesome! Okay, so Hna Jara and I were talking about how there is always something though that takes place on the day of the baptism. I´m sure all you that have served missions can relate. Whether it's a big storm or whatever it is...there is always something that tries to make the baptism not happen. Well, we went to pick up Pedro at 715 for his baptism and found him sitting out on the curb and sad. We asked what was wrong...he had been robbed and the guy took his brand new tennis shoes he had just bought 2 days before. Pobrecito. Since he's only 17 and works a ton of hours digging holes to find water he was pretty bummed because all the money he saved up was for these shoes. His older sister, who he lives with, wanted him to go right then to look for the guy who took his shoes and not go to his baptism. ahh. To make a really long story short (like, when waiting for Pedro to get back from talking to his sister at her work his crazy neighbor came out yelling to us (me, Hna Jara and Lourdes) really bad things and walking really fast towards us..we literally had to run away, threaten to call 911 and take cover at a members house just at the end of the street! ahhh.), we talked Pedro out of going to find his shoes..we told him it was basically really dangerous to do that. we calmed him down, said a prayer, and headed to the chapel for his 8pm baptism. His baptism was great. Very spiritual, great attendance from the membes...a really nice service."

"On May 25, last tuesday, we had a zone conference with Elder Shayne Bowen...our area President and General Authority. It was AMAZZZING. Seriously. We had a 2 hour discussion with him about the Abrahamic Covenant and the Priesthood. The Spirit was so strong and filled the room. Each one of us missionaries were just soaking up every word. Elder Bowen told us his purpose in the discussion was to help us realize and understand who we are...children of the covenant, and for the elders, holders of the same Priesthood that Christ holds....and how when we know who we are and remember who we are, we act in a different form. It was seriously such an awesome conference!"

"Well, yesterday was my half way mark on the mission. WOW. Really I can´t believe it. I´m now on the down slope of the mission. To be honest, it makes me smile and want to cry at the same time. It's like all the sudden my 9 month mark came out of nowhere. It really kinda makes me feel like anxious. I feel like there is so much to do, help with and learn in such a short time. It really makes me want to do more and push harder this latter half of the mission."

"...ALONG WITH THESE ROSES, THERE IS ONE THORN"

2010-05-24T13:54:00.000-07:00

"This past week down here has been great! Here are some ´roses´ from the week...."

"This past Tuesday morning we had interviews in the office with President Callan. I don´t know why but it was the best interview I´ve had with him yet. We talked a lot about the conversion process...for investigators and for us as members as well. I just love the Callans!"

"Okay, we had special splits and I got sent up to the Paraguay Asuncion North mission to work for 2 days this past week. I felt like I was on a missionary field trip or something! Hna Jaras younger sister is serving in the north mission so the Mission Presidents from both missions gave them permission to work together before my Hna Jara leaves for Peru. Such a sweet experience for the 2 of them! So ya, on Wednesday morning I went to their area and was serving in the Cocuere branch until Thursday night. My comp for the two days was Hna. Tsoesi from southern Utah, near Moab. She has about a month longer than me in the mission...we were actually in the MTC at the same time but never met. I was surprised how at just 40 minutes away how there was such a different vibe. Definately more campo/rural and by far a poorer area. Mostly all dirt roads instead of cobblestone, saw literally shacks for homes...it made me feel really spoiled to be serving in my area. I met a lot of members and investigators...all very humble, so friendly and welcoming. It was weird, I felt like I had met some of them before and it was like a reunion or dejavu. I also enjoyed just talking to Hna Tsoesi and hearing about the north mission and how things are run. I feel really grateful for the opportunity I had to see more of this beautiful country and meet more great people! Oh and I remembered that Taryn Salmon served in the north mission so I asked Hna Tsoesi if anyone ever talks about an ´Hermana Salmon´ since people always remember and talk about the missionaries here. She told me that when she was serving in her last area, Moroni, there were a couple families that would always talk about Hermana Salmon! So you´ll have to pass the word along to her!"

"We are possibly having a baptism this week! 17 year old Pedro has been to church three times now and is progressing. He has a baptism date for this weekend but the thing is...he may be moving to argentina to work. Eeekk. He doesn´t know the details yet and so we don´t either but we are praying that he´ll be able to be baptized!"

"We have found a ton of new investigators within just the past few days. Some which came to church on Sunday. Re buenos. Hna Jara and I talked about things we could do better, things we learned from our ´north mission comps´and from Pres Callan and set goals and have really been working hard to achieve them. We really have seen miracles and the Lords hand in this work to lead us to more people to teach."

"Okay, this is a random ´rose´ but I ate McDonalds french fries this week.......there is a Mcdonalds near the mission office in Asuncion so afterwards we stopped in to buy something real quick. I´m no big fan of Mcdonalds, but I have to admit.....they tasted really good! A little taste of home."

"I´ve been reading/studying in 3 Nephi when Christ was in the Americas and taught the people. I love this part in the Book of Mormon. Perhaps my favorite part, or for now at least :). My favorite part always changes!"

"Today for pday Hna Jara had permission from Pres Callan to visit her converts from the past year and a half. So Andrea Aquino, a 21 year old in our ward, drove us to all different parts of Asuncion for Hna Jara to say a final goodbye to people. It was a lot of fun for me to see different areas and possible future areas where i´ll serve!"

"We have zone conference tomorrow with our Area President/General Authority, Elder Bowen. We have to be at the office at 715am! Eek...que temprano....but i´m so looking forward to it. Should be a great conference!"

"Okay, so....along with these roses there is one thorn....knowing that Hna Jara will only be my comp for 8 more days. I seriously wish she could my companion for the whole mission. She really is a best friend of mine. Next Tuesday at our district meeting we´ll find out about transfers. President Callan told me in my interview that I´d be staying in my area...but i don´t know who will be coming to Leopardi to serve with me...eek! I´m kinda nervous about it...but I know that whatever happens will be right!"

"Well family, the mission is great. This is the Lords work and it continues to move forward day by day. The Gospel is true. I feel so blessed and grateful to know that and to share the truth."

"THIS YEAR HAS FLOWN!"

2010-05-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

"Things continue to be good here. We had a baptism on Thursday night!! Jorge was baptized. Yay! Last week at this time we weren´t exactly sure if it was going to happen, but we truly have seen miracles this past week and he was able to baptized. He was so excited and happy...and we were too! He has changed so much from when we first met him. At first he just wanted to talk about religion but not commit to baptism or anything. But now he understands the importance of repentance and baptism and has a strong testimony of the gospel. As I said, we have seen miracles. The hand of the Lord is in this work. His work. He really does have a plan for everyone and everything. We couldn´t do this without Him!"

"So yesterday was rainy...ALL day. And today again. I´m not too fond of the rain. It's pretty....but everyone is always locked up inside. Yesterday at church we only had 44 people in our sacrament meeting...!que poco verdad?! People here tend to think that rain means a free day or rainy day schedule...but thats not the case! As we say here in paraguay....igual no mas!"

"Okay, at times I am caught off guard at how little some people have here. This past week we visited homes that literally had nothing more than a matress on the ground and piles of clothes and a bag of rice and noodles stashed away in the corner, bad scent, etc., it's sad. However, one woman who we visited with said ´we´re poor but happy´. What a good attitude. Here she was in her house that she has lived in for years, raised her kids, with little to no money, but she understands there is more to life than the riches. Such humble people. On Friday morning Hna Jara and I were just getting ready to study and happened to look at the window to see a mother and daughter with baskets of fruit walking along our street. We decided to go down real quick and buy some. Instead of wanting money the mom asked if we had any winter clothes we could exchange for. We went back up to our apt and found some clothes that other Hermanas had left behind. The mom was so grateful!"

"This past Saturday was Mothers Day here in Paraguay...it's always May 15th. So Friday night our ward had an activity...talent show! It was a lot of fun. I helped the primary kids sing a song and Hna Jara and I also sang a song to the melody of ´Follow the Prophet´ but changed all the letters to talk about our ´Madres en Paraguay´. It was fun!"

"So i´m excited because next Tuesday, the 25th, we are having a big conference because our Area President of Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina is coming! He has asked us all to study about covenants to prepare. Def looking forward to it!"

"Well, things continue to progress and go on here. We´re teaching lots and helping people to prepare for baptism. Just this morning I read in True to the Faith how ´conversion is a process, not an event´. At times it's hard for me to accept this because I just want people to be converted right then and there!...however, I have seen over and over again how that's not the case. It really is a process. Hermana Jara and I are working with our investigators to help them in this process. We have an investigator, Pedro, who is 17 years old, has been to church twice and has a baptism date for later this month! Yay! We hope that all will go well with him."

"I only have 2.5 weeks left with Hermana Jara. She has told me that she basically feels about every emotion knowing that she is ending her mission soon. It's definitely a bittersweet time. She has really been such an example to me of working hard until the end. Here she is with just 2.5 weeks left...at this point, I think a lot of missionaries seem to feel ´trunky´ and maybe not be totally on board. But she continues to work hard and consistently invites others to come unto Christ."

"On June 2 Hna Jara will end her mission and June 2 is exactly my half way mark! Wow. Just really can´t grasp onto time. In fact, the other day I was looking back in my journal...and I noticed that May 17th of last year was when I had my interview with President Thomas and my mission papers were sent to SLC. Wow! This year has FLOWN."

"Well, off to do some grocery shopping this afternoon, going to make banana bread (finally!), write letters and read some Ensigns this afternoon! We still don´t have our May Ensign....but am soo looking forward to when we finally get it! Tonight we have 2 appointments planned and an FHE with Lourdes and her family! Yay!"

"MOTHERS DAY PHONE CALL HAS COME AND GONE!"

2010-05-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

"IT WAS SERIOUSLY SO GOOD TO TALK TO YOU ALL YESTERDAY!! I LOVED EVERY BIT OF IT! It was just so refreshing and good to hear all of your voices, laughs and everything inbetween. It is crazy how that mothers day phone call has come and gone. Next--Christmas. I have a feeling it´ll be here before we know it! Time seems to pass by faster and faster. But anyways, seriously, loved loved talking yesterday!!"

"Well, today has been a really fun pday. It's now 3:40pm....but this morning Hna Jara and I met up with Lourdes (20 yr old in our ward) at 10 and we headed to Villa Elisa, a city about 25 minutes away on bus, to do some shopping! It was so much fun to be in a different part of the city. Where we were there was one big avenue with a bunch of supermarkets and a few little hole in the wall boutique type places as well. It was fun just to shop around, talk, and hang out. I felt like I was shopping with my best friends. Well really, I was! Lourdes and Hna Jara are both just so fun! Love them. Hna Jara was in search for a blouse to wear when she goes home and found a cute one. I splurged and bought a purple pen...ha! But also I bought a straightner......because the second or third day here my straightner overheated because of the different outlets and got destroyed. But now that it's cold here and I´m not sweating all the time I can actually straighten my hair some times and look somwhat decent! ha! After we shopped for a while, we ate lunch at this plaza type place..I ate cow tongue for the first time....eeek!!!. But ya, it was a plaza that had a movie theater, food court, and supermarket. Definitely more ritzy than my area for sure! It was fun! We also ran into some Elders there along the main street....some of them had had a meeting this morning in a chapel nearby. Always good and fun to talk with other missionaries."

"This Saturday is Mothers Day here......not sure how people celebrate. I´ll find out shortly I guess. Holidays here are really simple. No gifts. Just family visits for the most part."

"So, we kinda have a problem in our ward. One of the members, a male member, is acting really strange. I think he is mentally a little unhealthy. It's sad. But he has been sending bad texts to all sorts of members in the ward, including us. He thinks all the members are against him and takes small, little things and turns them into huge problems and gets offended very easily. He has tried to call us several times, but we haven´t answered. He has been spreading rumors about the members and us as well. All lies. We talked to the Bishop about it because as missionaries, especially sister missionaries, we can´t really sit down and talk with him or do anything about it. So the Bishop is going to talk to him now that we and many members have told him. I hope it ends up okay."

"Okay random, but for some reason our hot water has turned off in our apt....of course now that its cold outside!! Burr..a real one! It's been like this for the past few days now. This morning I couldn´t handle another cold shower so I ended up heating water on our stove to use bathe with. I felt like a pioneer or something.....ha!"

"I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!! Seriously.
Thank you for everything!! I loved talking with you all so much! SO GOOD!! You are all the best!"

..."OVER-POURING AMOUNT OF BLESSINGS"

2010-05-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

"Can´t believe it's May! Seriously, I remember thinking back in November that February would never come....and now its May! Where have the months gone? Crazy crazy. How are you all? Sounds like you´re all busy and doing good. Things are great down here in Paraguay. This past week was really good! We have seen an overpouring amount of blessings from the Lord. Hna Jara and I are ´being purified´...a challenge from Pres. Callan to all of us missionaries. I have already seen and felt a difference just within this past week. We have worked a ton with members this week and reached our goal....we had 28 lessons with a member present! The members are such an awesome support. It's really great because lots of our invesigators have a friend in the church now. It helps them progress. As a result, we had a good number of invesitigators at church yesterday..yay! Jorge Mongez has attended church twice now and has a baptism date for May 14th. yay!"

"My testimony of how our Heavenly Father hears our prayers and helps us has been strengthened throughout this past week through small and simple experiences. For instance, during the siesta here it gets pretty ghost town. At times it is difficult to find people to teach. Tuesday it was 4pm in the afternoon and we still hadn´t had one lesson for the day. Appointments had fallen through, weren´t home, people didn´t want to listen, etc.. We decided to say prayer asking for help and guidance. We then came across a road that we hadn´t clapped at in quite a long time, if ever before, and the people were willing to listen. By the time 6 o´clock came around we had taught 5 lessons and found new investigators. The Lord heard our prayers and definitely helped us out! Also, on Friday I felt so sick...I think I may have drank bad water or something the night before. Not really sure. After our lunch appointment we went to pick up a member who was going to help us out. I seriously wondered if I´d be able to walk all afternoon, I felt so weak. I went into the bathroom to say a prayer asking for health and strength to do the work. Within minutes of my simple prayer for help I felt totally fine. What a blessing and an answer to my prayer it was! The Lord blessed me with health and we were able to continue with His work. He really does help us out daily. With little things like this, with investigators, what we should teach and share with them, etc, etc! everything!"

"So, there is an older sister in our ward, she is the YW president, who is sick and hasn´t been to church recently. Her 21 yr old daughter passed away a year ago and since then she has dealt with depression and now is physically suffering as well. A group of about 20 or so of us met up last night and went to her house. All scrunched up in a tiny little room, holding hymn books, we sang hymn after hymn to her to perhaps help cheer her up! It was such a sweet little experience."

"So, I now have been in Paraguay for 6 months. And it shows in my shoes. One of my black shoes has a hole in the bottom now. Eeek!"

"Been enjoying lots of fresh fruit and thinking of Kayla these past couple days. Lots of members have mandarine, grapefruit and orange trees and are always filling up a bag to give to us! yummmy!"

"Another funny parrot story. We walked by a house the other day and Hna Jara told me to say hola to the parrot, so I said hola and immediately the parrot responded with a hello! I don´t know if it always says hello or could tell from my voice that I´m different! We want to pass by another time and have Hna Jara say hola to test it out!"

"Well familia, I love you all so much! Thanks for your continous prayers and fasting as well. We have seen a great progression with many of our investigators this week. Its been awesome!!"

"BASICALLY, I LOVE PARAGUAY!!"

2010-04-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

"Hello! Happy Monday! How are you all? This weekend went by quick! I feel like I just wrote you. But ya, always something to write! Lets see....Friday morning we had our plan guazo after studying...its our big weekly planning session that we have each Friday for about 2 hours to discuss our plans for teaching, investigators, how we can best help them, etc. The rest of the past few days have been pretty normal. lots of teaching, and lots of help from the members. we didn´t reach our goal of 25 lessons with members for this past week...but this week, si o si! I feel like its a rollercoaster ride with our investigators right now. They are such good people but are struggling to accept the truth and progress. The adversary is real and will do anything. However, we are trying our best to help them to receive their answer and prepare for baptism."

"The weather has turned cold--por fin--and I think its here to stay this time around. It's weird to see everyone in their sweaters and jackets and not sweating. I like the chilliness and being able to wear my cardigans! However, it's been raining alot these past few days.....big storms during the night, power outages, and during the day it has been doing a constant drizzle. I feel like I´m walking under misters or something. The streets are all muddy and filled with puddles. One thing I don´t like about the cold is that no one is out on the streets anymore...it's sad and makes it a bit more difficult to make contacts with people."

"Okay, I have been reading the book ´Our Heritage´this past week and just finished this morning. Loved it. I didn´t want it to end. The stories about the early saints are inspiring. They seriously suffered and went though so much yet had great faith and determination to follow their Prophet and the Lord. such examples! The thing that I have thought about how this really wasn´t too long ago and how the church has rapidly grown since. It really is a marvelous work!"

"So mom asked about how my haircut went. Haha. La verdad, I was a bit nervous when an older man, about 60 years old told me he was going to cut it. Sketchy. However, I told him over and over again that I just wanted barely nothing cut off. And that's what he did. My hair is fine. It's no ROLFS haircut (ha!) but it´ll do since I only wear it in a ponytail every day."

"So I feel like each week I have a new animal or bug story to share. Ha. So, here it goes..there is this dirt path that we take to get to a members house which is surrounded by plants and this one huge tree that is full of bats...especially at about 6 or 7pm. The thing is, the bats just don´t stay up in the tree but swoop down almost running into us...its seriously scary! Yesterday we happened to have our umbrellas so we pulled them out of our backpacks and used them as shields as we ran by! Usually I cling onto Hermana Jara and close my eyes because if one comes near me...I don´t want to know or see it!"

"This sunday I will be completing 6 months of my time here in the middle of South America. And 8 months on my mish. Wow. I feel like I have so much work to do in such a short time. And time is passing by faster and faster. Eek. Basically, I love Paraguay. I really am so grateful for the opportunity to serve such sweet, humble, kind people. They are awesome. I love being able to testify of our Savior, Jesus Christ each day and share how our Heavenly Father has restored the gospel on the earth. The message is true!!"

"STILL HERE IN LEOPARDI"

2010-04-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

"Okay, well transfers came and went. I´m still here in Leopardi with Hermana Jara! I´m pretty sure I´ll be spending lots of time in this area...especially because this Hna Jaras last transfer...she ends her mission on june 2...which means I´ll most likely stay another transfer after this one to show another Hermana the ropes of this area. Almost always at least one person of a companionship stays in the area because to be ´whitewashed´ is very difficult here in Paraguay for 2 new hna´s or elders to try to figure their way around in a city that doesn´t have street names or anything! But anyways, I´m happy to be here. I did have a brief moment of feeling kinda sad that I didn´t get transferred....I feel like everyone else is getting switched around a lot, new companions, new areas, new people and I´m still here in my first area. But, the people are great here and it´ll be fun to be with Hna Jara for her last 6 weeks before she heads back home to Peru. The thing that really gives me comfort and feelings of ease is that the Lord has a plan and knows best. I have learned that over and over, but at times I forget still....I need to always keep that in mind! Hermana Jara and I have set goals for this transfer..we really want to see baptisms! We have progressing investigators....those of ´gold´ that I referred to in my last email. But, we need to find more. Lots of work to be done. The Paredes family who I´m pretty sure I mentioned is continuing to progress. They are great. Speak more Guarani than Spanish which is at times tricky but they are nice to transalte to Spanish for me! Hermano Paredes told us how just last month he was telling his family that he didn´t feel totally right about their church they´ve been attending for years now and how he wants to leave but isn´t sure how to since he has a Bishop type postion in their church. Their family has told us how us showing up at their door has been an answer to their prayers. They are progressing and learning lots but still, the thing they are having trouble with is totally leaving their church. We are helping and encouraging them. They really need to gain a testimony of the truth and that will confirm to them that this is the true church where they need to be!"

"So, last month we came across Lourdis, an inactive member who is 20 years old. Her house is almost at the limits of our area in the more jungly part. She was baptized 8 years ago and has been inactive for the past 5. We´ve been visiting her often and she has come to church the past 3 sundays now! She even volunteers to help us out to have lessons with a member present. She´s awesome! She told us the other night how she has felt a reconversion to the gospel and can´t believe how happy she feels now! Its' great to see people stengthen their testimonies of the gospel."

"Okay, this past week was hot and humid again. I was spoiled after a week of nice weather and then summer hit again. I´m hoping that this is the last of the heat. When it's hot..the bugs come out like crazy! I counted and have over 20 bites on my left foot alone! For reals. !Que mucho! We don´t have many bugs in our apartment....it's just always from being out on the streets and in others peoples houses! Last night there was a huge, huge thunderstorm...I thought our window was going to shatter! I´m hoping winter comes soon!"

"Last night we had a great missionary work centered activity at the chapel. Kinda of like a missionary work 101 activity. There were only about 15 of us there, but it was still good. For people to enter into the building we had a ´reference box´and the ´cost´ to enter was 1 reference. David Canete, our mission leader, is seriously awesome and helps us so much. He talked about the ´good news´ we have as members and how we need to share it with others. Hna jara and I talked about the importance of working with members. We had little activities, like for example we had people give good and bad examples of how we should greet investigators at church (it was funny!). Our goal as a ward for this next week is to have 25 lessons with a member present. We usually have about 15ish. We made a big calendar for people to sign up when they can help out. We´re excited about it. Seriously, members are so important in the work and I think the people that were there last night are pumped up to help in the missionary work!"

"I get to call home in like 2 and a half weeks for Mothers Day...YAY! Since I´m still in the same area, I think you´ll be calling the same number you did for Christmas! Back at Christmas I thought May would never come...and here it is, just around the corner now."

"Ok, funny Spanish mess up. Yesterday I asked a lady...¿quien vive con usted..sus ojos?...which means, who do you live with? your eyes? I quickly corrected myself and said hijos...which means kids...but for some reason ojos came out and not hijos. Don´t know from where or why, but ya, made for a good laugh!"

"Today is pday. Cleaned our apartment this morning before studying. Right now, after using the internet, we are going to get our hair cut! Yay! It's been over 8 months for me. Eek. The salon we are going to is here in the Salemma shopping center. It's probably the nicest most American like salon that I´ve seen here in my area. We went in to ask how much a haircut cost....18mil guarani...which is equal to just over $4! Can´t believe how cheap things are here. I hope they really just trim my hair and not do anything crazy. Eek!"

"Well fam, I LOVE YOU LOTS! Thank you for your continous support, love, letters, emails, prayers and for everything! I know I say that every week, but really, I mean it! Thanks for everything!"

"The church is true!!"

"I SERIOUSLY FELT JOY!"

2010-04-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

"We just got back into our area from a zone activity this morning. It was nothing special, but fun. All of us at the church...studied together, some played football, ate ice cream, hung out, the usual. always fun to be around other missionaries."

"This past week has been really good! It started off Tuesday with an awesome zone conference. President Callan seemed to lay down the law a little more than usual. He talked alot about obedience and how to bring others up. We need to be on a higher ground. He had a slideshow of pictures from the 2004 tsunami that hit Indonesia...pictures of people by the shore watching the wave come in...thinking they could run away last minute. Unfortunately, we know that wasn´t the case. He then compared this situation to us. Are we walking along the shore watching the wave of tempation and wickedness approach us? Or are we doing everything possible to flee to the highest ground with everyone we can? To say the least, it was a really good conference. Learned a lot. I´m pretty sure all of us missionaries walked out with a list of goals and things we can do better."

"Things in my are area are good. I continue to enjoy working with Hermana Jara. The Lord has blessed us by leading us to some golden investigators this past week. On Tuesday we knocked at the door of the familia Pareres. It's a husband, his blind wife, and their 32 year old daughter and also the brother of the wife who is also blind. They are awesome! Such sweet, kind people. The blind brother is very talented with music...he can play the piano, guitar, harmonica, flute...and.....the accordion! I loved listening to it all."

"Yesterday. Sunday, was basically awesome! The day started off good when at 630 in the morning we received a text from this family that they were going to attend our church. When Hna Jara read the text out loud I seriously started jumping up and down I was so excited. We saw them at the chapel and also Gilberto Cabellero and his 2 oldest kids came to our ward...its been almost a month since I´ve seen them since they moved and when I saw little Pequeno...guarani Kaleb...I just about cried! In our Gospel Principles class we had 14 of scrunched into a little classroom...lots of investigators and recent converts! It was great! Sacrament meeting was so uplifting...it was our fast and testimony meeting and one by one so many of the new converts and inactives who we have visited went up and shared their testimonies. It was really powerful and the Spirit was really strong. After church the Bishop called us into his office and said he was very happy to see so many recent converts share their testimonies. I was really suprised he took the time to tell us that because our Bishop doesn´t talk very much. Very serious...a little hard. But ya, I seriously think I had a perm a grin at church yesterday. I can´t describe it, and I don´t know why yesterday was so different than other Sundays, but I seriously felt joy. More than just like happiness. I think I´ve only felt that a handful of times in my life. It was almost an overwhelming feeling. I really just feel so incredibly grateful to my Father in Heaven for so many things."

"So Paraguay changed our time this past weekend. It's just about 2pm right now....so I think we´re only 3 hours ahead of AZ now! As a mission we changed our schedule a bit as well. We now wake up at 6am instead of 630. We need to be in our apartments between 830 and 9pm and not 9 to 930pm. And we go to bed at 10pm now. Basically, the same schedule....just everything a half hour earlier. It's starting to be winter here and for instance, it was dark by 530 yesterday. Ugh, no me gusta! I´m really grateful I have only one winter here....I don´t care about the heat...I like the sun!"

"Okay, funny story. I got chased by a cow the other day. Only for like 10 seconds, but still. I´m not even sure exactly what happened but we were walking along this little path, I was in front, and all the sudden this cow that was about 5 ft away from me starts moving quick in my direction. I didn´t know cows could move quick! I started to run until I looked back and saw the cow be jerked back because it had a rope tied around its neck and was tied onto a tree or something. ! Que suerte! It made for a good laugh!"

"Transfers are next Wednesday, the 21st. Eek! I really don´t know what to expect. Could very well be staying...or going. I really want to stay. I am really enjoying working with Hna Jara and I just love the people here so much. It's going to break my heart to leave them if I have to! But...I´ll let you all know what happens next Thursday when our next pday is!"

"Well, all is good down here in Paraguay!! This week should be pretty normal. District meeting tomorrow and work work work to find those who are prepared."

CONFERENCE HIGH!

2010-04-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

"How amazing was Conference?! We were able to attend both sessions yesterday. The bus picked us up at our chapel at noon....of course getting people there was a bit crazy...last minute we did splits and were running up and down the streets with the Aquino daughters to pick people up. Our ward had a really good turn out though and we also had 3 of our investigators come. Yay! Nestor, who we have been working with for about 2 months came. It was seriously a miracle. I still can´t believe it! As we say here...´poco poco´...little by little! Also, Maria Cristina, who is the mother of the Bishops wife--who is going to be baptized this Saturday!--came with us as well. Teaching and working with her has been combined effort between us and the Elders who are serving in the Barcequillo branch who also meets at our chapel. Her house is just barely in the boundaries of the branch but she wants to and has only been attending our ward for over a month now. Not sure what will happen after her baptism. She´s a great lady. She has seen how the gospel has brought happiness to her daughters family and after being catholic her whole life realizes she needs to be baptized another time! We are happy for her!"

"Okay....back to conference.....it was SOO good! I remember when I was younger thinking two hours was such a long time for one session but now its like I can´t get enough! Before it even started there was such a strong spirit. I loved being with so many members. Our bus showed up at the stake center and there were about 4 other busses with members all piled in and unloading entering the church! It was quite a sight. A memory for sure. I was able to watch the first session in English in the primary room...with about 10 other American elders and a young woman from another ward who knew English and wanted to be my companion. Between the break the Relief Society had brought food for everyone and then the second session started at 5. Watched that one in Spanish. I just loved all the speakers and their messages! The choir sounded amazing. I really enjoyed both President Uchtdorfs and President Monsons talks from the morning. How blessed we are to have a living prophet and apostles on the earth today! I know that they are men called of God and that their guidance and direction is specifically for us in these latter days from our Heavenly Father. Their words are true and I already can´t wait until October!"

"This past Wednesday we had interviews with President Callan at our apartment! He and Sister Callan have been wanting to see exactly where all the missionaries are living so they decided to have interviews in our houses this transfer. My interview with President Callan was quick, but good. The first thing he asked me was if Hermana Jara was staying focused since she now has less than 2 months on her mission to go! We also talked a little about the power and need of the Book of Mormon and how the work is in my area. I always really look forward to and enjoy interviews. President Callan is great and so in tune with the spirit."

"The weather is changing here! Since I arrived in November a day hasn´t gone by where I haven´t worn sunscreen...but I think I can finally think about tucking it away now for the season! Yesterday it was like 75 degress and everyone had sweaters on and drinking their matte to stay warm! ha! Last night I slept in my sweats and hoodie....we´re not used to this chilly weather!"

"Okay, I seriously love having Hermana Jara as a companion. She´s awesome. Such a good example to me in so many ways. She really is a good friend. We have a lot of fun together! Transfers are in 2 weeks from Wednesday...the 21st...time flies by huh? There is a very big chance that I´ll be leaving...but I want to stay with Hermana Jara for her last change in the mission and with the members in this ward! I love them!"

"So the other day I was thinking about our recent converts....Fabian, Daniel and Oscar. Before their baptisms these 3 men had little to no work or income. Jobs are hard to find around here. However, all 3 of them have good jobs now. It really is an answer to prayers. And strengthens my testimony of how the Lord really does bless us and will help us when we follow in His ways!"

"Zone conference is tomorrow...yay!! I feel like I´m on a conference high! P. Callan encouraged us to study PMG chapter 1 to prepare. I love chapter one...which talks about our purpose as missionaries. I´m looking forward to tomorrow!"

"Well familia, things are really good here in Paraguay. I love the mission. I love my companion. I love the people. I love the Gospel. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to serve."

YOU LEARNED SPANISH?

2010-03-29T08:06:00.000-07:00

"Things are good down here. The highlight of this past week was the baptism of Oscar on Friday and his Confirmation yesterday at church! His baptismal service was really nice and we had a lot of support from ward members there which is always great! Also, Hna Castaneda and her comp, Hna Lozano were able to join us for the baptism because Hna Castaneda helped teach him. As part of the program us 4 Hermanas sang "I´m trying to be like Jesus. (I felt HUGE standing up there with the 3 other Hnas! ha!) Also, as part of the program, Oscar shared his testimony. It was awesome! He talked about how he always heard about the ´Mormons´and wondered about our church since a young boy, has talked with Elders in the past but knows that the Lord was preparing him throughout the years for when we knocked at his door last month and shared the message of the Restoration! He is seriously so excited about everything. And knows that this is the truth. Sunday he walked around the chapel with a smile on his face. He really has made some changes. I am happy for him. I can´t even describe how it is to see someone we´ve been working with dressed all in white and making a covenant with our Heavenly Father. It makes every hot afternoon, being rejected by people, blisters, etc, etc....totally worth it!! I love the mission!"

"So last night we were visiting an inactive family...familia Otto. Hna Otto and her 3 sons are members, but her husband isn´t. Anyways...last night when we went to visit the husbands parents and step sister were there visiting. They are from CHILE! But have lived in Paraguay for a few years now. The first Chileans I´ve met here...beside elders from Chile, which don´t count. ha. We were all sitting around this little round table drinking juice...matte for everyone else :) and eating bread. They don´t know much about the church but they were so excited to hear that my dad and brother in law had served as missionaries in Chile and they were telling me all about Chile. So proud of their country. It was cute. I couldn´t help but think about Dad and Mark when talking with these Chileans and the people they served with and how similar our missions and experiences are! They were such nice, humble people! It's funny though, I feel at times I´m like peoples entertainment...so many people who we visit and talk to are excited to have an Americana in their house and always ask so many questions about what I think of their country versus the US and like to try out their 3 words of English that they know on me. It's fun though!"

"Okay, on Saturday night we stopped at the store across the street from our apartment before going in for the night to buy matches so we could cook. The store is owned by a family who is always just sitting outside every night. I went up to them and asked if they had matches and then was talking to them about the pastries they sell. The 13 year old daughter looked at me with a suprised face and said ´?aprendiste Castalleno?....which means, you learned Spanish?. It made us all laugh! I quickly realized that I hadn´t talked to her for a few months....usually only say hola or que tal as we pass by. I seriously think it was a little tender blessing from the Lord that she said that to me because on Saturday morning I remember feeling so inadequate with the language and I remember thinking..will I ever honestly just talk fluently!?. But I think it helped me think okay, Shauna...I am progressing and with the Lords help I can learn more!"

"Speaking of languages....mom asked about how involved Guarani is with Spanish. It depends on the family. Some speak more Guarani than others. But usually it's mostly Spanish and at times they´ll talk to their family members in Guarani which throws me off! Hna Jara and Hna Castaneda have both told me that when they came from their countries it was hard for them to understand at first because people here randomly mix in Guarani. It really is a totally different language. For even native Spanish speakers it is hard to speak they say."

"This morning in personal study I was reading in Jacob 4 and the first 3-4 verses really stood out to me....its Jacob writing about the how they have written on the plates and how they hope that people will recieve them with gratitude and learn with joy. I like that. It made me question myself how I have received the Book of Mormon in my life? And how can I show more gratitude for the Book of Mormon? Do I learn with joy? I can imagine a prophet engraving on the plates, each letter, each word. Difficult as Jacob says. They didn´t have a laptop or even a simple piece of paper and pen back then to quickly write something down. I am so grateful for the prophets in the Book of Mormon and for their obedience and willingness to do what the Lord commanded them to do. Now today, we have the Book of Mormon in our lives! And it truly is another testament of Jesus Christ!"

"The work continues to go forth. Lots of teaching and trying to find those who are prepared. We have a big pool of investigators...however, none with a baptism date lined up. We are working with them though and trying to get them to progress!"

"I am so looking forward to conference this weekend! We only get to watch Sunday....but still, can´t wait!! There will be a bus that will take our ward to the stake center to watch it on Sunday afternoon! Can´t wait! I´m not sure if I´ll be watching it in Spanish or English...I´ve heard they usually have English for the missionaries...so we´ll see!"

"Friday is my 7 month mark on the mission. Can´t believe it. Each month passes by a little faster than the last. Crazy."

"Today for pday.....the usual. I´m going to make some more cookies this afternoon because its Oscars 28th bday today! Tonight we have an appointment lined up and an FHE with an investigator at the Canete familys house!! Looking forward to it."

CAMPO IS FUN...BUT DEEP DOWN, I'M A CITY GIRL!

2010-03-22T08:07:00.000-07:00

"Mbaéchaipa! That is Guarani for how are you?! Hermana Jara knows quite a bit of Guarani so I`m trying to learn...but its weird! And I still really need to focus on the Espanol. However, she has a Guarani hymnbook so sometimes we´ll sing hymns to our investigators and members in Guarani! It's kinda fun!"

"Okay, we have a baptims this week! Friday at 730pm for Oscar Ortiz! YAY! After he didn´t show up to church last Sunday we were a bit worried....but when he found him at his house on Tuesday afternoon he told us he wants to be baptized! We have met with him a bunch of times this past week to prep him for his interview this Wednesday with my district leader. Oscar is seriously awesome. He participates in the classes at church and really has a desire to live the gospel. When teaching him things like tithing, fasting, the word of widsom and ask him if he´ll complete the commandment he says yes...like its common sense and its no big deal if its what the Lord is asking him to do. He really understands and has a testimony. He truly has been prepared by our Heavenly Father. I´m excited for him!"

"As for others that we are teaching....we have a big pool of investigators....some progressing. We are hoping with patience, love, dilligence and most importantly--with help from the Lord, we can help them know the truth and lead them to the waters of baptism as well!"

"Okay, so seriously I feel like Hermana Jara is an answer to my prayers. I love her! We have a lot of fun together and work well together too! She is such a good teacher and a great example to me. With Hna Jara I feel like we really rely on the Spirit when teaching to meet the needs of the people. None of our lessons are the same...and that' how it should be! Mm..you´d like Ha Jra...she is always singing along to our music in our apt! ha! She's just a fun, happy person..and I like that! Nat asked if she knows English....the only English she knows is what other North American missionaries have taught her. So not much at all! It's def 99% Spanish for us."

"Yesterday at church, Fabian, one of my converts, gave his first talk in Sacrament meeting. It was awesome! When he was up at the pulpit in his white shirt and tie speaking I was thinking about how much he has changed these past 3 months since he was baptized. When we first met him he was bitter about life, didn´t think God loved him, didn´t have a family etc, etc. but now, he is so happy! He is a ward missionary and helps out alot with visiting people. It makes me happy to see him with his family now too--his ward family. The gospel really has changed his life!"

"Oh! So Friday afternoon we ventured into the jungle slash campo part of my area. You guys wouldn´t believe what its like! It's seriously so different. I love going there though. An inactive member works at some like cow farm there so we went to help out a bit and talk with him. They were milking the cows and seriously, after seeing that, I don´t know if I ever want to drink milk again! ha! I was thinking the other day, the Campo is fun...but deep down, I´m a city girl
still! " :)

"Okay, has anyone read the March Ensign?? (its the Liahona here, but pretty sure its the same). We just got ours this past week and all the articles are so so good! I really enjoyed the little article ´Nobodys Perfect´and also reading the article about the law of and importance of fasting! So good!"

"Lots of fruit on the trees....it's all really green still but in another 2 or 3 months it´ll be great! I have seen lots of grapefruit and oranges!! Yay for that! "

"The work continues to go on here in Paraguay! Estoy agradecida por este opportunidad de servir mi Padre Celestial y compratir este mensaje de felicidad con la gente aqui. Se que este iglesia es verdadera y que el evangelio fue restaurado. Jesucristo es nuestro Salvador y Redentor. El Libro de Mormon es un libro verdadero. Families son eternas!"

I TOOK OFF MY NAMETAG...

2010-03-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

"Its the middle of March! Wow! Time is just weird on the mission. I can´t describe how I feel about it. its passing by quick! Well, I´m glad my tape arrived! I can´t believe it got there so fast! I thought for sure it´d get there when you were all in Payson! I´m glad you enjoyed listening to it! I´ve already started another one! "

"Well, the past 4 days or so have been pretty good. It's kinda weird having a new companion...different teaching styles, changes and everything. But I like it. Hermana Jara is a good teacher and so good with our investigators and members. I´ve learned lots already. She is excited, bold, peppy and really uses the Spirit as a guide. Our investigators and members in the ward seem to like her as well which is always good! It has been different because yes, I´m the junior comp, but am the one who has most of the say in planning and where we should go since I know the people and area better. But, quickly she will learn! Already is! Hermana Jara makes me laugh because she definitly is a little HM...like Saturday our lunch appointment fell through so we were looking for a place to eat and she wanted a place that had inside seating and a clean bathroom for her to use. Uhh...that basically doesn´t exist in my area! (she came from a more ritzy ish area in the center of Asuncion.) Here, everything is just out on the streets and most of the time, the bathroom is a shared outhouse. Ha! She really is a lot of fun though. we have plans to make a music video together on a pday to an EFY song!....classic missionary fun."

"Okay, 2 bits of sad news. First off, Oscar didn´t go to church yesterday..ugh. We had a member go pick him up but he wasn´t there. We passed by his house in the afternoon to see what happened but his daughter came out and said he wasn´t home. I don´t know if she was lying for him or what. We definitly need to talk to him and figure out what he´s thinking and hopefully get his baptism lined up for another week. Also, another sad thing....the Cabellero family is moving.....about 8 blocks out of our area. It makes me sad. Sad that I won´t see them but more sad because they are moving to a little house that is like inside the grounds of a Catholic church. Its weird. They´ll be cleaning the church there and living there for free. It makes me worry because the Cabelleros are still new members and not totally 2 feet into the church...they are GREAT people but need constant help and encourgament. I am praying for them to attend their new ward and for the elders in that area to visit them often. I am seriously going to miss little Guarani Kaleb and Laura so much. When they told me they were going to move soon I seriously wanted to cry."

"So, Hermana Jara and I are really trying to seek out people who are prepared and going to accept the gospel. It's hard. So many people here say they have faith...but the problem is they don´t want to do the whole faith with actions. People want the easy way. A lot of people also get hung up about Joseph Smith. For instance, just yesterday afternoon we were teaching and older woman who is a Jehovahs Witness....she kept on referring and bringing up Joseph Smith no matter what we said or were teaching about. I finally said to her Joseph Smith was simply an instrument in the hand of the Lord. I then took off my nametag and held it out in my hands and asked her to read the name of our church out loud. I explained that yes..this is the Church of Jesus Christ, not the church of Joseph Smith..and that we are representatives of Jesus Christ, here to share a message about Him and His teachings. I don´t know if that helped her understand or not, but ya, its a challenge for people to see the marvelous work and love that our Heavenly Father has showed us through restoring His gospel on the earth."

"Yesterday at church I taught the gospel principles class about prophets. I actually really enjoying teaching that class...full of our new members and investigators. I always seem to learn a lot from their comments. Also at church yesterday, since it was the 2nd sunday, we had to give talks! Last night we taught 2 families we found...yeahhh! Finding a family that allows us to enter their house and teach them all together is like gold here in the mission field! It was only our first time teaching and meeting them...but I feel like the lessons went well. We are crossing our fingers!!"

"Well, Paraguay is good. To say the least, I love it here. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to come to this country. The work is hard, honestly, there really is never an easy day..but at the same time this work and this gospel seriously bring so much joy. Ok, that reminds me of a song that I´m like obsessed with right now....the song ´Whatever it Takes´ from the EFY Joy in the Journey soundtrack! We had it on repeat this morning playing pretty loud while getting ready for the day and I just love the words! I hope and pray that each one of us will do ´whatever it takes...to feel His embrace...to see His face´. I have learned there are always going to be times of struggle, disappointment, challenges...not only for missionaries...for everyone..throughout our lives. But, how do we respond to those challenges and roadblocks? Do we give up or do we do whatever it takes? Ah, I just love that song! You all should listen to it!"

"Well, we are off to buy some groceries, make copies of some pics and then back to our apartment! I´m going to teach Hna Jara how to make cookies this afternoon (if I can find all the right ingredients in the store..haha!) and write some letters this afternoon. Possibly take a nap? Don´t know. I always say I´m going to but haven´t yet! Tonight we have an appointment at 6 with a contact from the plaza the other night and then we are having an FHE at a members house with investigators! Should be a good day. Tomorrow we have district meeting....new elders in our district so it´ll be fun to meet them. Our new district leader is Elder Silva, from Costa Rica. So now when he calls to get our numbers I have no choice but to talk in Spanish! With Elder Parke we´d always just talk in English!"

TRANSFERS = NEW COMPANION!!

2010-03-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

"Okay, transfers were yesterday. We found out Tuesday at our district meeting where we´d be going and who with then the changes were Wednesday morning at 8am at the terminal. There were so many missionaries there, it was fun! Saw some old MTC friends! Yay. Okay, now for the news.....I am in the Leopardi ward still (city San lLorenzo, Barrio Barcequillo)...but I do have a new companion! Hermana Castaneda went to another area about 20 minutes away. My new companera is Hermana Jara (pronounced ha-da) from Lima, Peru. I think I´m bound to have comps from Peru or something! I had met her before a couple times at zone conferences when we combined with another zone. She is so different from Hna Castaneda. She is 23, talks alot (at times its hard to understand her...shes a fast talker), wears make up, knows a tiny bit of English, and is a little more HM(high maitenance)..like last night she wanted the ac and the fan on, and she wants to have someone else wash her clothes! Makes me laugh! She was just recently companions with Hermana Rencher. Her parents are converts...7 out of the 8 in her fam have served or are serving missions...and this is weird, her little sister is serving in the Paraguay North Mission right now! I have realized in the past 24 hours that change is good, but hard. I feel like I´m starting all over again in a way. The mission is a roller coaster for sure! I think Hermana Jara will be good for me though. She has already helped me a ton with my Spanish which i´m really grateful for. And honestly, its nice to have someone that likes to talk! It made me laugh, last night when we were both laying in our beds, lights out, the first thing she asked me was if i had a boyfriend. And then she asked if i liked to dance. I think we´ll get along well. haha!"

"Well, the work is going really well right now, I feel like, in this area. Oscar has a baptism date for next Friday, the 18th! He is awesome! Definitely a prepared person. For instance, when we taught him about the Plan of Salvation and the 3 Kingdoms of Glory he told us how in his mind he had always thought there needed to be more than just Heaven and Hell. He reads from the Book of Mormon, pamphlets and Gospel Principles book a lot. Very intelligent. I am praying, praying that all goes well between now and the 19th! We are also teaching 13 year old, Lisa who is so cute! She wants to be baptized, she goes to church and mutual, but her parents are a bit hesitant. They don´t want her to rush into anything. However, each visit with her mom is better and better and now she sits in our lessons and participates too!"

"I finished the Book of Mormon in Spanish last week for the first time. It was the copy of the Book of Mormon that Pres. Callan gave me to mark all references of Christ and His doctrine. As I browse through the pages I´m amazed to see how many markings there are! I love the Book of Mormon! It is a true book! "

"Oh! This is random...but okay, Oscar has this big black dog and his name is Kenny!! How funny is that?!"

"The ward is really helping us out here in our missionary efforts. Usually at our missionary meetings on Wed nights its all young adults. They are awesome and so willing to help further the work of the Lord. I am so grateful for their help! Last week, one afternoon, we were doing service...cutting down some of the jungle in an invesitigators backyard and then off we went carrying shovels and pirate knife type things down the street to another appointment all together. I feel like we are the buttercream gang or something! ha! Remember that movie?!!"

"Well, this weekend will be an interesting one with a new companion. We have lots of appointments planned out so that will be good! I´m glad that pday is Monday again so I can fill you in on how our first few days together went. To be honest, I don´t even know how I feel right now. It's weird. Like I said, change is good, but hard. I´m excited to have a new comp, but almost feel like anxious about it too. This morning I kinda had a small melt down and I don´t even know why really! But seriously, the things that keep me going every day are the constant help of the Lord and the people here. I love the people in this ward. This will probably be my last 6 weeks with them, and I´m grateful to have another transfer here. They are awesome!!"

"Have a wonderful day! This church is true! How blessed we are to have the knowledge of the Gospel in our lives!"

Because the internet failed Shauna that day...they had to go back and write their Mission President so she dropped us another little note... Here are the highlights!

"Today has been a good pday. This morning when I woke up I was kinda dreading it because with a new comp and not quite sure how it´d be. Some times I´d rather just be working with the people and not in our apt. But todays been good. I really am going to like Hna Jara. We´ve already talked about things that took me and Hna Castaneda like 3 changes to talk about! After using the internet this morning we bought grocreies....it was fun though cuz she really likes to shop too so I think we spent about 15 minutes choosing out food and then like an hour in the shoes and clothes section of Salemma trying on stuff. I felt like I was shopping with my friends or you guys in a way! We both ended up with a new blouse! Yay! When checking out we realized that it was almost 2 so we decided to eat lunch at Salemma instead of cooking when we got home..there is a big food court kinda thing there. I´ve always wanted to eat there but Hna Castaneda never wanted to. It was fun!. Totally made me think of being at Chandler Fashion Center out to lunch or something! It was fun! When we got home I made brownies and wrote a couple letters. And now, we´re here in this little internet place...sketchy....and then off to appointments!!"

"Thank you for all your prayers and fasting for my health! And basically for all your support and encouragement!!"

"Much love to you all!! I´m excited to write you and hear from you again on monday!!"

6th MONTH MARK!!!

2010-03-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

"Happy March! Tomorrow is my 6th month mark on the mission. Wow. Time really does pass by quick. It's weird. A third of the way through. I feel like since I´ve been in Paraguay for 4 months now it should be all easy and smooth sailing...but really, thats not the case. It's difficult at times still for sure. A couple days this past week I seriously just felt so blah, and I think it's mostly due to the language. I´m at the point where I can communicate, but I want to communicate how I talk in English. It's frusturating at times, but I´m trying to be patient! I have realized and learned that those down times and frusturating days have brought me closer to my Savior and I've really learned to lean on Him for help."

"Yesterday we had a ward council meeting that the Bishop invited us to attend. I guess it's been the first ward council they´ve had in almost 2 years....eeek. But ya, I feel like the ward is really ready to progress and go to the next level and make some changes for the better."

"The work is going good. This past week we taught more lessons than any week before in these past 4 months. Busy, busy and running around. Makes for lots of blisters but puts a big smile on my face too! I like to be busy where at the end of the day I wish we had a couple more hours to work! We have some progressing investigators. One is Oscar, a 26 year old. We found him by clapping fences on Friday, taught him again on Saturday and he came to church yesterday. He's pretty hardcore Catholic, but I think he realizes that there is something different about our church and has a desire to know the truth. He said after we met him on Friday his mom was pretty upset that he had talked to us and that in his prayer that night he asked to be able to learn more about our church without problems in the family. Saturday after we visited he told his mom that he was going to be going to our church the next morning...expecting an angry response from her. But instead, she said oh good! Wow...the Lord really does soften hearts of people!"

"Saturday we did splits which was fun with 2 members in our ward. Hna Castaneda went with Silvia and I went with Hna Romero, the 67 yr old..and David, our ward mission leader came with us too. It was kinda weird cuz I felt like I had an Elder as my comp. David just returned from his mission and knows all the lessons so really it was me and him teaching. Kinda funny! I am so grateful for the help of the members in our ward. Saturday was rainy, streets were like rivers and lakes, but they still came....troopers!"

"Last Monday we made chipas with Silvia and Hna Canete. Way fun! I´ll have to send a pic. Today we had a zone activity. We had to be at a chapel, thats about 40 mins away, at 8am. We did our personal study there and then at 9 we had companion study guazo.....guazo is the Guarani word from grande. There were 22 of us there and we used the stage in the cultural hall and acted our scenarios to do practices..it was funny but we were all able to learn a lot from each other too! After that, we all changed, played some volleyball, ate ice cream, talked, the zone leaders gave us gifts....covers for out little hymnbooks...its totally South American and I love it. It´ll match perfectly with my covers that a member is making for my Spanish scriptures! Yay! I really like being with and talking with the other missionaries...it makes me feel normal as we share our struggles, funny stories, stories about our converts, etc, etc! Its nice just to talk!"

"Funny thing that an investigator asked the other day....Ii guess there is a rumor going around that Joseph Smith is buried here in the Chaco in Paraguay. Interesting...."

"So transfers are next week. We´ll find out Tuesday at district meeting and then change Wed. I´m pretty sure this time we´ll have changes. Most likey. But really, I feel like I can´t say that because of what happened last change! Most likely I´ll stay here in Leopardi and get a new comp. But who knows?! I have been praying hard to prepare myself for transfers and to accept whatever happens."

"Well familia, gracias por todo. you all are the best! I hope you know that you are in my prayers each day. This church is true. Live the gospel. Be obedient. and endure!! "

'VERDAD' IS MY NEW..."LIKE"

2010-02-22T08:26:00.000-08:00

"This week has been a bit crazy. It's been one of the more challenging weeks for sure. We´ve had a bunch of sad things take place. First off, Enudino, a new member who was baptized mid September of last year passed away. He was 54 years old, the skinniest man I´ve ever seen, lived by himself and honestly had nothing. His family all lives in Spain and I guess about 4 years ago he went to Brazil for something, his documents were lost, had no money and couldn´t return to Spain...so he ended up in Paraguay somehow. We would visit with him about once a week while sitting on buckets outside his house and some Sundays, pick him up for church. Sad that he passed away, but honestly, in a way I´m happy for him because he´s in a better place now! He was so lonely here."

"There are so many people here who think they have the truth...but they don´t realize that they don´t have the complete gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the Restoration and for the knowledge we have! However, despite the roadblocks, we´ll continue to teach other people who we have found this past week. I am grateful for the Lord and for His help. There have been some low times this week, but He is always there to help us out and to meet another person who we can invite to come unto Him."

"Zone conference was this past Tuesday! Each one gets better and better. They´re awesome! Elder Moore from my MTC distrit was there along with Hermana Rencher! It was so fun to see two familiar faces. It's funny, I don´t even know Hna Rencher that well....just from being neighbors in the MTC and such...but I feel like shes one of my good friends! She's only 1 transfer ahead of me but on her 3rd comp. Her first two were from the US, but now she's with a sister from Peru. It was so fun to talk to her! We got to talk for a bit too! And of course Elder Moore and I walked down memory lane talking about the MTC. It's sad, Elder Short from our district went home....but as for the rest of the Elders who came with me, they are good and surviving the jungla! Seriously, ZC is the best. Pres and Sister Callan are awesome. I always think about Gordon and Janis getting ready to do what they are doing! This zone conference we focused a lot on teaching and how we can better our teaching. Really, the way to better teach is to really know the doctrine. Everything we talk about with people on the streets, in the store, in their houses, etc...can relate back to the doctrine of the gospel. I always leave ZC feeling so pumped up and rejuvenated...ready to go! Can't wait til the next one!!"

"Yesterday at church a ward mission leader was called. David Canete...who was Christians comp. He is super excited and having a ward mission leader and ward missionaries will help out tremendously with the work!"

"Okay, I was thinking about my Spanish...and I have come to the conclusion that ´verdad´is my new ´like´. When I talk in Spanish I´ll always say ´verdad?´ at the end of my sentences, even if I´m not asking a question....its kinda funny! I think I get it from Silvia, the 22 year old who helps us out sometimes! She´s like my Paraguayan Kellie!"

"I thought I couldn´t do it. However, have to admit, the Lord knows best. this change has been the best one. I feel like we´ve actually gotten to know each other and work well together. Definitely still challenging times, but overall, it's good. I´m pretty much certain I'll be getting a new comp next change...however...I feel like I have no clue because that's what I thought last time!"

"This afternoon at 3 we are going to the Canetes house to make chipas with Hna Canete and Silvia...yay! Chipa is a type of bread type thing here. Pretty tasty so I´m excited to learn how to make them! It´ll be fun....I always laugh alot with Silvia and Hna Canete..they are fun! Then at 6 today we have a couple appts and an FHE with the Caballeros....which means I´ll most likely be playing áirplane with pequeno (guarani Kaleb) and Laura. They have a hammock that hangs from these 2 big mango trees in their yard and they´ll sit in the hammock and tell me where they want to go...usually the campo, Brazil, Spain, etc...and depending on how far it is from their house I´ll either push them really high or not. Its so cute! They just laugh and laugh! They get the biggest kick out of it! Pequeno Caberello is adorable. A couple weeks ago he randomly asked, Hermana Sargent..where is your mom? It was like his little mind was thinking why is this girl a little bit different from the rest of us and always at my house and where is her mom! So now when we play airplane he likes to go to Arizone to give ´saludos´a mi madre! How cute is that!!"

"I am so grateful for this time to serve a mission. I´m so grateful for this church and the gospel in our lives. I know it's true. I don´t have a doubt about it."

Oh.....my Espanol!

2010-02-15T10:27:00.000-08:00

"Okay, so I really feel like each week goes by a little bit faster than the last."

So, we ended up having interviews last Tuesday with president Callan...SO good. I love interviews. Totally enjoy talking with him...about the missionary work, Paraguay, everything! And Sister Callan too! It's so cute, Sister Callan whenever we say bye she´ll give me a big hug and say ´love ya´...I told her she is like my Paraguay mom! They are great people. Tomorrow we have Zone Conference and I´m seriously way excited about it! We have to be there at 8:30 and it usually lasts til about 5...however, that time of day busses and traffic is a bit crazy so we usually don´t get back to our area until 7! It's an all day event. I got a call last night from the assistants to president asking me to say a prayer at the conference. And to prepare for conference, President Callan asked us all to read PMG ch 10 and 11...we´ll be focusing a lot on teaching! I´m excited!"

"Our investigators are doing really good! Laura and Leticia are still on track for their Feb 26th baptisms! They are both really excited about it..they´ll have their inteviews this Saturday afternoon with Elder Parke. Laura is hilarious to me...she is a bigger woman, kinda has a different accent, laughs a lot and always calls me ´Sargent´. Its cute! I am really so grateful for the Relief Society sisters who have really helped out with Laura and Leticia and embraced them. Members seriously help so much...it gives investigators a friend and to see a ´normal´member of the church...not just us missionaries!"

"Okay..and remember 17 year old Ismael? Well, he is back in the picture now. We talked to him this past week and straight up asked him if he wants to meet with us. He said yes and we´ve had a couple lessons with him since...he is now preparing for a march 5th baptism. I hope he can really do it this time around!"

"Yesterday at church was kinda crazy...gathering investigators, I taught gospel principles again, played piano in Sacrament meeting and gave a talk about the Atonement! I really enjoyed preparing for my talk and studying about the Atonement this week. I feel like I have gained a better knowledge. How grateful I am for Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us. Only He could make such a sacrifice. I know He is our Savior and our Reedemer. Only through Him can we be rescued from our fallen state and gain eternal life. However, it is so important for us to take on our responsibility..to accept Him and continually use the Atonement in our lives!"

"Okay....Jac asked me how I do my laundry. We have a sink, a couple big bowls, a bar of detergent soap and a sponge! We hang everything to dry on a clothesline. You all should BG for your washers and dryers!! haha :)"

"Okay, this past week while we were eating lunch at the Canete home they asked me where my parents are from...so I was explaining they are from UT but moved to AZ. However....I accidentally said mudieron which means they died, instead of muraron which means they moved. OOPS! Sorry mom and dad! Everyone at the table got quiet and I couldn´t figure out why. Hna Castaneda asked if I meant to say muraron...I quickly realized what I had said and clarified! After I clarified we all got a good laugh out of it! Oh......my Espanol!"

"Oh, when returning to our area this morning from playing volleyball I was sitting behind a 30 year old woman and I felt prompted to talk to her. I tapped her on the shoulder and started a conversation asking what part of Asuncion she was from. Quickly our conversation lead to the church. Turns out a couple years ago she had Elders that taught her about 5 times....she has read parts of the Book of Mormon and really likes what she heard but I guess the reason she stopped listening was because the Elders who taught her got changed and it was kinda the end. It was really good to talk to her and explain how missionaries are always changing, but the members are the same and will be their for support. And more than that, we have a loving Heavenly Father who will always be there for us. Our conversation ended because she had to get off the bus, but she said that she would pass by the church this Sunday. I have no clue if she will....but at least her ´seed´has been watered a little more! It's amazing who is placed on our path to talk to!"

"Missionary work really does continue to move forward. It amazes me. We have progressing investigators and a bunch of new investigators we are hoping will progress. I was telling my comp this past week how there is no way I could do this whole mission thing if it wasn´t for my Heavenly Father. He helps us out so much. With investigators, members, my Spanish, contacts, our health....every little thing!! I am so grateful for Him! I am amazed with His love for each one of us. He knows us. I know He lives, that Jesus is the Christ and that the gospel has been restored!"

HAPPY MISSIONARY HEART!

2010-02-08T09:29:00.000-08:00

"Things are good down here in Paraguay. This past week has been the hottest yet by far. Seriously, muchismo calor!! I guess its been so hot that some water companies have shut off the water leaving a lot of people without water for 5 or 6 days now. Luckily we have it in our apt. but some people are scrounging for water to bathe, wash clothes, cook, etc. crazy."

"Wednesday I came down with a major cold. Which is weird since its so hot here. I basically felt like I was going to die. Almost as bad as when i had a canker. Ha! But for real, congested, fever, and my whole body just ached. We probably walked close to ten miles that day which didn´t help. It was miserable. I finally decided to call Sister Callan at about 7 that night to ask what the rules were about retiring to our apt a little early. She said if its just a cold to keep on working. so I did. But that night after we planned I drank some juice, showered and crashed. I was exhausted to say the least! These past four days or so I have felt much better! Def a blessing! However, the only thing is is my voice is like gone. No pain in my throat, just can´t talk that well. Today it's a little better than it has been, so I´m hoping it will continue to heal soon!!"

"Saturday morning we had an appointment planned at 11am. We went to the house and she wasn´t home...which happens a ton. However, the Lord always, always places other people in our path. We came across this little random dirt road that is just barely in our limits that we´d never been down before. We weren´t even sure if it had houses but we came across 5 very humble homes that were nestled in the jungla with trees all around. At each house we clapped at the people were so kind and allowed us to share a message with them. We have some follow up appointments this week which i´m excited about!"

"Yesterday was Fast and Testimony meeting. I really enjoy listening to the members share their testimonies of the gospel. It strengthens my testimony for sure. Giblerto Cabellero, baptized in August, has shared his testimony numerous times now in our gospel principles class but never in sacrament meeting. Yesterday in Sacrament Meeting I was sitting near him and I could tell he wanted to bear his testimony but was nervous. He leaned over and asked me if he should go up. I told him that it was up to him but if the Spirit is prompting him, he should. He waited a little bit and then made his way up to the pulpit and shared such a sincere testimony.....all in Guarani of course! I couldn´t understand all the words, or even close to all the words....but I could understand. It's like how it says in Preach My Gospel...there is one language...the language of the Spirit. How grateful I am for these new members we visit with each week! They are awesome!!"

"So, I have been teaching people here how to lead music! It is the funnest thing! No one here knows how to do the whole 3-4 or 4-4 thing so usually everyone asks me to lead...but now more people are learning and can do it! Makes my little missionary heart happy!"

"Well, I love missionary work. I feel blessed that the Lord has allowed me to be an instrument in His hands. Sometimes I wonder why he trusts me to preach His gospel...but with His help I can do it! I am so grateful for prayer and for a Heavenly Father who listens. All the time. I often find myself praying as I walk along the streets. I know he listens! I am grateful for a living prophet on the earth today...for his guidance and counsel to us all. I am grateful for the Book of Mormon and for the opportunity to read and study from it daily. It is a true book. I know this gospel is true!!"

STILL IN LEOPARDI

2010-01-28T09:24:00.000-08:00

"Hello!!! I feel like its been forever! You are all going to be surprised to hear that we had transfers yesterday and I am still in LeoPardi with Hermana Castaneda. Yep, transfer number 3 with her. Not having a transfer totally threw me for a loop..Tues afternoon was rough. However, I know the Lord has a plan. And thats what has been getting me through. If He needs me with her for another 6 weeks, I can do it. I really need to rely on His help!"

"We are continuing to teach alot. We prob average about 7 or 8 lessons a day. However, still searching for those are really prepared! About Maria Teresa...her daughter is hardcore Catholic and doesn´t want us to do anything with her family. Whenever we´ve tried to find her at her house her daughter comes out and says she is ´sleeping´or ´not home´. It's sad. We´ve been working with Ismael, a 17 year old, who is the Caballeros neighbor. He came to church last week and we are hoping he will come again this week! One of our ´front runners´is a 65 year old woman, Laura, who is so fun. When we teach her she´ll always say íncredible!!´..it's like she knew it before but hadn´t but 2 and 2 together! I hope we are able to get some people progressing and preparing for baptism soon!"

"One morning last week before lunch we clapped at a fence and an older woman came out. She spoke Guarani-Spanish so I couldn´t really understand her. Def more Guarani words than Spanish. And she couldn´t understand me like at all. I like to think that its because she is older and possibly had problems with hearing...but I think it was because I´m still pretty valley girl no matter how hard I try and prob the first American shes ever talked to! I was kinda nervous to teach her because I thought there was no way she´ll understand what I´m saying! So, I decided to say a quick little prayer asking Heavenly Father for the ability to communicate. When it came to my part of the lesson I started to talk and this little older woman was just staring at me. After a few minutes she stopped me and said, ´I don´t know what happened--but I can understand every word now!´ This little experience strengthened my testimony of two things. First off, Heavenly Father hears our prayers....all of them...even our little pleas for help! And second, the gift of tongues really is so real! We seriously see small miracles like this each day!"

"Funny story....little 9 year old Myra in our ward (who reminds me of Lex) came running up to me on Sunday holding a Liahona and said, hermana! hermana! Your name is in the magazine. I looked down at the page and it said ´Hermana Sanchez´. Lots of little ones here can´t say Sargent so they think my name is Sanchez! Too cute!!"

"Last pday Hermana Karduzo taught us how to make empanadas and I taught her to make waffles! It was so much fun! And pretty tasty too. Or, as we say here in Paraguay... ´!que rico!"

"At our district meeting on the 19th all 6 elders showed up wearing matching pink ties. Ha. They didn´t want us to feel left out so they brought us a present....pink headbands. Funny!! Nice of them. As a thank you, on just this past Tuesday, for our last district meeting before transfers, I showed up with about 30 waffles and a couple jars of jam. They downed them so fast!! With transfers, 2 elders in our district left, and we are getting 2 newbies (who arrived yesterday I guess). I´m excited. Our district is pretty awesome! We have the zone leaders, and now 2 elders that are trainers...good elders in my district!"

"We don´t have pday on Monday. Its on Tuesday, the Feb 2nd (my 5 month mark on the mish!) because we are going to the temple that day! We are going as a zone, and I can´t wait! Not sure what time our session is. I´ll def look out for my fellow Arizonans who are in the temple presidency! After the temple my district has plans to go out to lunch and then if we can get permission, we´re going to the centro....downtown Asuncion. So we´ll see! If thats the case...I may not have time to write on Tuesday. So, it may be a while again. We´ll see!"

"I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission. At times, its tough..but the Lords hand is always there. For all of us. I love sharing this happy message with the people here. I love Paraguay and being here in the jungla more and more each day! Its amazing!!"

MANGOS EVERYWHERE!

2010-01-18T19:23:00.000-08:00

This post comes from snail mail that was written on January 18, 2010.

"I want you all to know how much I love you! Seriously-thanks for everything. It's so comforting and nice to know tha I have a big support group!"

"Missionary work amazes me. The thought of thousands of young'uns like me all over the world spreading the Gospel is just so cool! I'm so BG for the opportunity to serve."

"I love Paraguay more and more each day. Sometimes the mornings are rough or the hot afternoons-but every night I always feel happy. The people here really are just awesome. Def examples to me of charity and kindness!"

"Mangos are everywhere! Tons have fallen from the trees and are just laying on the streets. Tons! The flies and bugs seem to be in heaven!"

LOVE ZONE CONFERENCE

2010-01-18T18:51:00.000-08:00

"Another week has come and gone. Crazy! This week has been good. Full of ups and downs for me. We´ve been busy...teaching lots. Its just so hard to get people to commit and progress. We´ll contact someone, have an awesome lesson and then they´ll like disappear. Makes it difficult to have progressing investigators. However...I need to remember that we are planting seeds!"

"Last Tuesday we had zone conf all day. LOVE zone conf. It was especially fun this time around because there was another hermana from the states there...hermana Edwards, from West Jordan, UT who is a communications major at BYU. Way cute and way fun to talk with her! She's been here for just 2.5 months longer than me and her Spanish was really good! Gives me hope! Pres. CAllan focused on working with members and strengthening the ward. Pres. Callan is awesome. I think all of us missionaries hang onto every word he says! In our ward we don´t have a ward mission leader or anything so my comp and I are trying to work with the Bishop on that. There aren´t too many people to choose from for leadership positions...and some people already have 2 callings! Hopefully we can get someone called soon! "

1-12-10

Hermanas Castaneda, Shauna, Valente, Lozano, Callan, Jara, Edwards

"Hermana Callan and the six Hermanas at Zone Conference!"

"Oh my gosh!! I had my first like really weird experience on Friday afternoon. So we´re walking along the street and clap at a little green house. A senora comes out, we invite her to our church, and then she goes inside to get her husband who is about 35ish. He comes out, is really nice and invites us to sit down on his patio. he starts talking...and wouldn´t stop! He´s Brazillan and knows more Portugese than Spanish and was really fascinated with the fact that I was an American. He has a younger man, a profesor, living at his house who knows English so he had him translate Portugese to English for me. Seriously, I can´t even describe the situation to give it justice! Basically, this Brazillan was speaking to me in a really loud, energetic voice and the translator guy was just as into it. Crazy facial expressions and huge arm movements. I was trying not to laugh so hard! The Brazillan was talking about the fire..meaning the Holy Ghost and how it started in the US but isn´t there anymore because of pride and money. He told me that I didn´t have the Holy Ghost because I´ve only lived in America. Hm. We finally got him to stop talking and told him we needed to leave. He wanted to say a 20 minute long prayer before we left but we said we didn´t have time....so he agreed that we´d have 1 min for a prayer and then he´d have 1 min for a prayer. I said the prayer and just as I was ending it he starts yelling hallelujah SO loud. It was weird. Then, it was his turn to pray. He lifted up his arms high in the air and started talking. All the sudden I felt his hand on my head and I quickly moved away. The translator guy was translating this whole time and told me that because I´ve come to paraguay I have received the Holy Spirit from this Brazillan man. Uh, to say the least it was just weird. We quickly left after the prayer!"

"Oh! We get to go to the temple on Feb 2nd. I´m SUPERRR excited. I feel like it has been forever! I hope I can understand since it's in Spanish. But nonetheless, I´m just so excited to be in the temple again!"

"Well, this afternoon we are going to the karduzos house at 4....Hermana Karduzo is going to teach my comp and I how to make empanadas!! fun huh! I´m excited! I´ll have to make them for you all when I return. Her empanadas are by far the best I´ve had down here! And, I´m teaching her how to make waffles....she randomly has a waffle iron but doésn´t know how to use it or have a recipe! Thanks mom for sending the recipe!!! Tonight we have an appointment with an investigator at 6. We´re hoping to talk to her about baptism. We have taught her twice but really need to figure out what her motives are! At 8 tonight we are having an FHE at the Romeros house. Some of their family is active, but some inactive so it´ll be good to do an FHE with them. We are also inviting new converts like Luis and Fabian which will be good! Looking forward to it!"

"The church is true. How blessed we are to have such knowledge in our lives!!"

MIRACLES EACH DAY!

2010-01-11T17:40:00.000-08:00

"Well, things are great down here! This past week has been crazy busy! The Lord has blessed us with the ability to find people to teach. It´s like there is an overflowing amount of people all the sudden--we don´t have enough time to teach everyone--I often have found myself thinking I wish there were a couple more hours in the day! We´ve been super busy going from house to house and I feel like we have found some of those who are prepared. For instance--Thursday afternoon we were trying to contact a reference..we clapped at the wrong house..but it was so meant to be! We met Maria Teresa, a 55 yr old ish woman whose husband died just 4 months ago. We taught her about the Plan of Salvation and how through this gospel families can be together forever. We taught her again on Saturday, and she came to church yesterday and really enjoyed it and is now preparing for baptism! The Lord has really helped us start off 2010 the right way--we have seen His hand lead and guide us and really have seen small miracles each day!"

"Luis was baptized Friday night!! His 7 o´clock baptism didn´t start til 8:30 because at about 5pm that afternoon a HUGE, and i mean HUGE storm hit! It was crazy. We were totally drenched but were happy that a total of 12 people were there to support him and help with the program! And okay, whoever was supposed to fill up the font put only a little bit of water in it...so last minute, there we were using pots and pitchers to fill up the font! So funny to me! Baptisms are always crazy here!! Luis is awesome though! He was confirmed yesterday in church. Also, at church yesterday he told us how late Saturday night he got a call from a friend inviting him to a party. At first, Luis said yes and started to get ready. He was in the shower when he had a strong impression that he shouldn´t go....because there would be temptation to drink and because church was early that next morning. He got out of the shower and called his friend to tell him that he wouldn´t be going to the party. When Luis told us this my eyes got all teary. It seriously is awesome to see people change and make good decisions on their own!!"

"Transfers are coming up as well...I think it´ll be the 27th. Soo...just over 2 weeks to go and I´ll be in my 3rd change. Weird. I´m about 99 percent sure I´ll be getting a new comp. However, not sure if I´ll stay in this area or be moved. H. Castaneda has been in this area for over 5 months....so I´m not sure if they move us sisters around too often. We´ll see I guess! I´m excited for transfers though. There are 10 of us from the USA and 8 sisters from South America...so we´ll see who I end up with! "

1-8-10

Shauna and Hermana Castaneda

"We were teaching on the person's patio and a big storm hit-we were stranded on our chairs. Tons of rain---flooded their house."

"Under my umbrella....." "When it rains--it pours!!"

FIRST EMAIL OF 2010!

2010-01-04T16:22:00.000-08:00

"Happy New Year! Another week has come and gone. It's been a good week. I´m excited because this Friday night Luis will be baptized. At 6pm on Wednesday Elder Park, DL, is coming to interview him (again)...but I think this time all is good to go! Luis is great. He's 40 years old, divorced, all his family lives in Argentina. We´ve been teaching him for almost 2 months now. I remember at first I couldn´t understand anything when talking to him, but now we are like friends! He´s been to church the past 4 Sundays, has lots of member friends now and has given up drinking..which was his downfall! I´m so happy for him! It's funny...I have yet to baptize a true Paraguayan...Daniel and Fabian are both Uruguayan and Luis from Argentina!"

1-01-10
Shauna, Hermana Romero and Fabian
"This is the staircase/ladder to Fabian's house-crazy!"

"Well, had 82 people at church yesterday....which is like really great for here! And can I just say I LOVE the members. For those that accompany us for the afternoon, feed us, etc. okay, and Angel Lopez, I sent a pic of him, was baptized 2 weeks before I got here....so since he and his wife are new members we visit them often. Over a month ago he told us that he was going to work hard and save money for church clothes (I didn´t know he said that until last night when H. Castaneda told me..guess I didn´t understand! ha). Well, for work he literally carries around a pirate-like knife to cut grass, weeds, etc. anyways...yesterday he showed up to church wearing a white shirt, tie, church pants and new shoes. It seriously like melted my heart. It may not seem like a big deal but for people here, especially Angel, thats giving up ALOT of money. The people here are the best! They are so humble...don´t have much at all. They truly are an example to me...we don´t need all the bells and whistles to be happy!"

"So, I am so impressed with all the elders. Whenever I´m around them I always think of Robs being out in the mission field fairly soon! Ya, they are 19 year old boys, young, but they surely do step up to the plate and represent the church! Their testimonies are firm and they are great examples to me about energitically doing the Lords work!"

"So, for every Spanish song I hear while walking the streets there are like 3 American songs! Funny that people listen to English music because they don´t understand it! Anyways...its so hard not to just like sing a long with the songs! Sometimes I´m just like ahh, where are my skinnies and flats?...I wanna dance! But then I´m like wait, I´m a sister missionary. I´m memorizing Spanish hymns while walking around now to sing when I hear an American song! And plus, it helps me out with my Spanish. It's been a fun way to help me learn more words and sentence structures and stuff."

"So, I am starting to dream in Spanish. It's weird. I´ll wake up and be like wait, that was in Spanish! It's funny though because a lot of my dreams are with people from here but we´re in the US or with you guys and we´re in Paraguay. I think my brain is officially confused!!"

"This church is true! I´m so grateful for the gospel in my life. For the comfort, happiness and knowledge it brings! Heavenly Father knows us, loves us and wants us to be happy....we just need to always do our part and endure to the end!"

Images from the last week of 2009...

12-31-09
"Typical night at the Caballeros house!"

12-29-09

"!Que Linda es Paraguay!" (How pretty is Paraguay!)

12-23-09

"Who wants a chipa?! People are always walking around with baskets or on their motorcycles selling these...chipa's...it's a bread type thing and usually A LOT smaller than these! One day we ran into a member on the street and he bought me two since I'm "flacita" as people call me! So funny! I may reutrn to the states as "gordita"!!" :)

JOURNAL ENTRY...CHRISTMAS NIGHT...

2009-12-28T12:00:00.001-08:00

12-25-09

"My first Christmas away from home! Sat on my bed and opened presents! Look at that pile of fun stuff--thanks everyone!! My Christmas gifts--I've always been one for arranging the gifts by the tree!" :)

"Wanted to share this with you...my journal entry from Christmas night....Feliz Navidad. Today was quite a different Christmas than usual! I woke up this morning at 630 and opened my gifts...my mom sent a beyond awesome package! Photos and letters from everyone in the fam which made me cry when I saw the photos! A tape with a little message from everyone...I laughed, cried and smiled the whole time listening to it! It was great! I also got a couple new blouses..so cute, lots of snacks, new missionary pillowcase, US and AZ flags, a pretty silver necklace and tons of stickers and little CTR rings for the kids here! It was great. It was a little weird and I felt a little sad opening gifts without the fam...which made this morning a little rough I have to admit. I was sad and homesick. However, everyones letters were so focused on Christ and the real meaning of Christmas and I just so happened to study the end of 2 Nephi which is all about Christ and His doctrine. I´ve had a lot of time to think about my Savior today while walking the streets and such...I am SO grateful for Him. So grateful! He is the perfect example of everything. These past couple months I have really gained a relationship with Him. He comforts me. Helps me. Guides me. Loves me. He is my older brother. He is my friend. My Reedemer. He died for me! What love! I will be eternally grateful for Him! And, i´m grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who had a plan that included the atonement. And eternal families! I talked to my family for almost an hour this evening..it was so awesome and just fun! I shed some tears..but really, they were happy tears! I loved hearing everyones voices..it felt like we just talked yesterday..and I like that feeling! I´m so grateful for my family..their love and support. My family is really blessed...we really do have a special bond. They are my best friends! And that is one thing I have learned this Christmas...what's really important. The gospel, my Savior, my family. Sure, the gifts are awesome and fun but as I went from house to house visiting people today...they really do live such humble lives here. No christmas presents under the tree...just a dinner on the night of the 24th with their family to celebrate. Peoples thoughts really are focused on Christ here. What an example to me! I´m grateful for this day, the day of the Saviors birth, to focus on and learn more about Him. I can´t express enough gratitude for Him, for His open arms and for the blessings He has allowed me to have....an awesome family, to be a member of this church and to share this happy gospel with the people here in paraguay!!"

CHRISTMAS IN PARAGUAY!!

2009-12-28T12:00:00.000-08:00

Highlights from Shauna's first Christmas away from home....

12-27-09

Shauna and Laura Caballero getting ready for church just a few days after Christmas! Notice Laura's CTR ring--Shauna handed out CTR rings to some of the children for Christmas. Laura "Loves it!" Shauna is wearing her new blouse and necklace she received from home!

12-24-09
Classic 'fruit nativity' and Shauna.

"One thing that people do here for Christmas that I love is that they set fruit out by their nativity...representing a gift to Christ. The days leading up to Christmas they´ll go to the store and each day buy the best piece of fruit they can find and when they return to home, set it by their nativity. Then, using that fruit they make a fruit salad for their Christmas dessert. Peoples fruit salads here are fruit in really small pieces with juice served in a glass. I just think its such a cool thing that EVERYONE here does! I'm def going to make it a tradition with my future family someday! But...i really like pie for dessert so ensalada de fruta will be part of Christmas breakfast! Haha, yes, i´ve already planned it all out! " :)

12-24-09
Shauna and Sister Castaneda enjoying Christmas Eve dinner! She says, "the Caballero family was nice enough to cook for us! Carne, Chicken and Potato!"

12-23-09
Sister Casteneda, Shauna, Papa Noel and Cesar. Cesar has been a member for almost a year. They visit him about once a week. "Great guy!" Don't you just love President Monson in the background...the church really is the same everywhere.

"Can I just say how AWESOME it was talking on Friday?!! It was so so good to hear everyones voice! The time passed by way too fast...and it was hard for me to say a final ciao and push the off button. But after the call I was like on cloud 9! So happy and felt reenergized to go! You don´t know how much it means to me to have such love and encouragement from every member of the fam. I have found that that really is a unique thing. H. Castaneda talked to her mom, sister and brother at 7 for about 40 mins. At 8pm her dad was supposed to call to talk for just like 5-10 mins (her parents are seperated) and he never did! She hasn´t talked to him for over 9 months. She didn´t seem to mind that he didn´t call, but I felt so bad for her! But really, you guys are the BEST! Ah, love you all!!"

"Oh..I thought it was interesting what you and dad both said onthe tape...it really is true that parents can receive revelation and such about their kids...because some things that you and dad talked about I really needed to hear! So, thanks!!"

"Oh--this is random but I forgot to tell you along with my oatmeal christmas breakfast I had sweedish fish. (thought of you Jac!)"

"THANK YOU for all your christmas cards, letters and messages on the tape that mom sent (I listened to it again christmas night and got it playing right so the voices weren´t skewed!!). I soaked up every word. And, in your letters and cards you all helped me focus on why we celebrate christmas...Christ. I know He lives. He loves us. and its only through Him that we can live with Him, our Father in Heaven and our family forever! And that really is the greatest gift!"

In a "snail mail letter" that Shauna also wrote on December 28, 1009 she says...
"You asked about homes here...definitely varies in our ward. There is one home that is pretty nice and like American, but then there are a lot in the middle-lower class category. Then I've been in homes that are like nothing. Dirt floors, one room, no kitchen, fire outside is their kitchen."

"We really work a lot with families here in the ward-especially new member families-to help strengthen them and keep active in the church. So many people don't stay active and it really is sac. The church has such potential here! I think of Brother Jarman (from Shauna's home ward)
here years ago, and how his investigators are probably leaders now and how he planted seeds that I could very well be helping out with now! Crazy to think of! It's amazing how the church continues to grow! Worldwide too! To think that there are missionaries just like me-doing what I'm doing everyday in all parts of the world boggles my mind. It's so cool! Our church is awesome! And TRUE! What a blessing it is to have such knowledge in our lives! We really are so blessed!!"

12-22-09
Baptism of Fabian Castallerri
Shauna, Bishop Romero, Fabian, H. Castaneda

BUG COUNT...40

2009-12-21T16:11:00.000-08:00

"This weekend was pretty good. Saturday Luis and Fabian had their Baptism interviews. Fabian is good to go...his baptism is tomorrow at 730pm! yay! However, Luis needs a couple more weeks to prepare and change some habits. His struggle is with drinking. He's been doing so good but Friday night I guess some of his friends came over and peer pressured him..not a good situation. Sad. I hope that we´re able to help him out! He really does want to be baptized but it's just hard!"

"Okay, so I think I´ve gained like ten pounds this weekend. ha. Everyone has been feeding us! Must be the holiday season?! But seriously....lots and lots of watermelon..which is like the cool thing to eat here....someone bought us pizza, Hermano Cabellero made us steak yesterday (it was good, but no firebirds :) ) last night this lady in our ward served us milk and rice in a mug. It was...different...but i kinda liked it! People here love to feed the missionaries I guess!"

"Oh....FYI....bug bite count....uh..i lost count over 40. For reals. Ahhhah!"

"Well, I´m writing earlier than normal today because this afternoon we have our Zone christmas activity..(not on the 25th anymore) at a chapel about 30 mins away from 1 to 4. should be fun!! I wonder what we´ll do?! Don´t know! Then tonight at 6 we´ll head out for appointments. One of our appts is with Griselda..she has 3 kids (one is a 3 year old boy named evan!) and her husband works in the US. She met with the elders over 3 years ago and we just happened to meet her on the street a couple weeks ago. She has been progressing and always reads out of the Book of Mormon so I´m excited to meet with her tonight! Hopefully she´ll be home!"

12-21-09 Zone 4 Christmas Activity!

Making Christmas Cards.

12-21-09 Zone 4 Hermanas!

M. Lozano, Shauna, Castaneda, Valente

12-21-09 Shauna and Hermana Casteneda

Christmas card made at Zone Christmas activity.

"Yesterday afternoon we did splits with 2 girls from the ward. I was with Andrea, a 20 year old. We clapped at a lot of doors...found a 21 year old girl, Maria, whose first question was why are there so many churches? Talk about a perfect set up for a lesson about the restoration! I´m excited to teach her again...she seemed pretty receptive to our message! Oh, and while we were teaching we were sitting on a bench and there were 3 baby parrots just sitting on the bench as well! They were so pretty...i´ll send you a pic!

12-20-09

"Parrots! aka - Evan, BK & Gunner :) (Shauna's nephews)

They just sat on this bench with us as we taught! PRESH!!"

12-18-09 Shauna, Crecencio, Gabriel

"Cutting a watermelon in Paraguay for the 1st time! It was

kinda hard with the knife they had! These 2 guys, who are members,

were laughing so hard at how I cut it! Turned out okay though!!"

"You asked about Hermana Castaneda. I have found out that her parents are seperated. She is closer with her mom. I just found out today that her mom doesnt have email so she only gets snail mail from her mom and not that often. Sad!! But, she has a younger sister who she emails every week. And sometimes she says she gets emails from her brother. She hasn´t recieved a christmas package and says they don´t do presents in her family. So i´m putting together a little christmas gift for her....with some stickers I have, some of my stationary, a ´gift certificate´for ice cream and just some other random things.....and am going to add it to my presents which are nestled by our baby christmas tree! I think she´ll really like it! At least i hope so!"

"Well family, I LOVE you all so much! and miss you. HAVE A GREAT AND VERY MERRY, FESTIVE CHRISTMAS WEEK!! Can´t wait to talk!! The church is true!! Until later this week.....yay...

Paz y Amor,

Hermana Sargent

BUGS AND FROGS...BIG FROGS!!!

2009-12-17T15:44:00.000-08:00

"Okay, so...when it rains here not only do bugs come out but frogs too! and I mean BIG frogs!! I thought one was a statue until it hopped away! Seriously...like it stood 5 inches off the ground. Big. Everynight I go to bed to the sound of frogs and wake up each morning to birds and parrots chirping and talking away. Oh Paraguay!! Seriously, sometimes I just laugh to myself and think where am I?!"

"Hello! So you´re all prob wondering why I didn´t write on Monday...well, Sunday night my district leader, Elder Park, called and told us because of transfers this week pday would be Thursday. Weird. Don´t really know why! But ya. Transfers were yesterday...no changes for me. I´m really grateful I get to spend Christmas here in this area..I love the members and our investigators!! So...at least 6 more weeks here! I´m pretty sure Monday we have another pday..thats what Elder Park told me today at least!"

"Well, this past week and a half has been awesome! We´ve taught a ton and have had success with finding new investigators. The Lord helps us out so much. We really do see little miracles each day. For example, one of our investigators, Fabian (who is nothing like the model guy mom!) was robbed earlier last week and his cell was taken...making it really hard for H. Castaneda and I to get in touch with him. Well, Saturday morning during companion study H. Castaneda just happened to look out the window at the right time to see Fabian walking across the street. We ran down the stairs and quickly greeted him and set up an appointment for that night. Fabian is one of those people that has a question for everything and has been hesitant about baptism. We´ve really been praying for him to understand, accept and know that this is the true church. Saturday nights lesson was great with him and he attended church this past Sunday for the 3rd time in a row! Both he and Luiz, his cousin, have interviews this Saturday at 4 with Elder Park for their baptisms next week!!! Its awesome!!"

"Last Tuesday, the 8th, I had my interview with President Callan at the mission office instead of district meeting. Pres Callan is awesome. We talked for about 15 minutes....about our families, missionary work, the culture, the language, my testimony and he shared with me the key to a successful mission...love the people! It was a very uplifting interview. He is so kind and encouraging. It was so nice to just talk with someone! He´s a great leader!"

"One day this past week I had my camerea while at the Caballeros house. Laura and Guarani Kaleb were dancing so I took a video....they thought it was the absolute coolest thing to watch themselves! We took video after video and they were laughing SO hard. It was quite presh to say the least. I love love the kids here!! They always teach me little handgames which are fun to play with them.....I´ll have to teach all my nieces and nephews them when I get back!"

12-09-09

Shauna and "Guarani Kaleb" (Kaleb because he reminds Shauna of

her nephew, Kaleb). "I LOVE this kid! Notice their home-very humble.

That room with the table is their kitchen (no fridge or stove or anything).

The room we are in sleeps six people! Def a crowded little house! But the

Caballeros are some of the most generous people I've ever met!"

"So Spanish. its....coming?! I don´t know! Ii feel like I´m understanding better but talking is pretty rough still. Every day has its up´s and downs! "

"Every Thursday our ward gets together at the chapel....crafts, soccer, primary activities, etc....so we´ll stop by there. H. Castaneda, me and a sister from the ward are going to practice singing Silent Night to sing at the ward christmas dinner next Wed night! oh...and guess who gets to be Papa Noel for the Christmas dinner?? Me! ha! Everyone wants me to be because I´m tall and white! How funny is that?! The little kids will love it! And mom, i think i´ll pass out the christmas pencils then! :)"

"Well, the work here is good. Lots of teaching, lots of walking, lots of heat and drinking water, lots of potential investigators and lots of being continually amazed with the Lord and His blessings. He really does help us out so much...everything from a gust of wind on a hot afternoon when I think I can´t walk down another cobblestone street to allowing us to find a prepared people to teach! The Lord is with us every day...and not just with us missionaries, with you all as well! With everyone!!"

FIRST BAPTISM!!

2009-12-07T14:28:00.000-08:00

12-09-2009
First Baptism! Daniel Laguna!
Hermana Miranda (stake YW President), Daniel
Gabi, Shauna, Mirtha, H. Casteneda

"Well, Daniel was baptized on Friday night! It was awesome! It was such a neat experience to help teach him, prepare him for baptism and now he´s a member! I can´t express how I felt watching him come up from the water and then being confirmed yesterday in church! His wife and daughter..who I love...are members as of about 8 months...so now their family is complete! Funny thing...his baptism was planned for 7pm on Friday but didn´t start til about 8 cuz everyone was late! As usual! ha. Okay, and the sister who was supposed to talk and one of the counselors in the bishopric who was supposed to share his testimony as part of the program didn´t even show up! Weird! I ended up having to play the piano for the special musical number...eekk...two little girls sang that ´When I Am Baptized´song. Despite all the last minute changes and crazyness it was great and I am so happy for Daniel!!"

"Also...last Tuesday was Zone Conference! Loved it!! There were 3 zones there at the mission office....which by the way is in a way nice part of Asuncion...I´m def in a more poor part for sure! There were 52 missionaries there, 4 of us hermanas. Elder Short from my MTC district was there and I seriously was so happy to see him! I just wanted to give him a huge hug...but a handshake had to do! He said my accent had changed which made me laugh! Guess i´m not a 150% valley girl speaking spanglish like I was at the MTC anymore! Haha!

First at ZC, Elder Petersen and his wife, from Utah, talked to us about our health. He is in charge of 14 missions in South America...crazy! He mostly just said drink lots of water, don´t eat any meat thats been sitting out for a while, etc, etc..kinda common sense type things. After that, two elders spoke and then Sister Callan. (all of this was in Spanish besides one of the elders talks cuz he´s a native so he had to speak in English!) Anyways...her talk was way good and afterwards we all sang Jesus the Christ...LOVE that song. The Spirit was so strong! It was awesome! President Callan then spoke. The whole morning at conference I was able to understand so clearly and take good notes. It was def a tender mercy from the Lord because I really wanted to and had been praying to have the ability to understand and learn at the conference. His talk was really good as well, I like him a lot. He kept referring to how what we are doing now is helping people here in Paraguay and building strong families and how it is also preparing us for our own families in the future. He then led a really good discussion on how the Book of Mormon is the keystone to our religion! After that, we had a testimony meeting. I had the opportunity to share mine. I was probably the worse Spanish speaker in the whole room but with help from my Heavenly Father I was able to express my thoughts and feelings! After that, we had a big lunch and then for a couple hours we did practices and had classes with the different zone leaders in charge. It was kinda frusturating in the afternoon cuz it was seriously like a light switch turned off....I couldn´t understand well at all! Spanish is very humbling. ugh!! We didn´t have interviews with President Callan....I guess one day this week or next he´ll come to our chapel or something. Not sure! Transfers are next Wednesday, the 16th...but I don´t think I´ll be changed. It seems like everyone is with their trainer for 2 transfers. Anyways....I´m really grateful for Pres and Sis Callan. They are seriously soo busy and do so much for the mission!"

12-01-09 Zone Conference
H. Casteneda, Shauna, H. Valente (Argentina)
H.Lorenzo (El Salvador--she arrived in Asuncion
the same day as Shauna)

"Yesterday after church....HUGE rainstorm. We were walking in water just about to our knees. My skirt was drenched!! It was crazyness."

12-02-09
Rainbow after a big rainstorm!

"Finished the Book of Mormon this past week and started it again this morning. Pres and Sis Callan gave every missionary a new Book of Mormon and challenged us to read it within 3 months marking every reference of the Savior. I think it will really help me focus my thoughts and learn more about the Savior while reading it this way! I´m excited! and I think its cool that every missionary will be doing it in our mission!"

"Okay, I seriously love the members here. Yesterday was testimony meeting and it was so sweet to hear their testimonies. Hermano Caballero shared his testimony of the Book of Mormon and shared with everyone how he can´t read but is grateful for the missionaries who come and read to him (we usually read to him about 3 times a week) and that he is able to fill the Spirit and know of its truth when he hears its words. Its so awesome to hear these new members testify of the gospel! Its moments like that where I forget about the rough times I have every day and am just so BG to be here!!"

12-02-09 Familia Lopez
Shauna, Mirian, Angel and Tanya
"Do you like the NY pic hanging up in their apt?"

12-03-09
"Relief Society craft night. Every Thursday at the chapel
everyone goes and plays soccer, primary kids have an activity,
women cook/crafts, etc. The ward is pretty unified! The sister
in the NYY is the Bishope wife. In the black v-neck shirt is the
RS President."

In the Heights...gone jungle!

2009-11-30T12:00:00.000-08:00

-If you are an "In the Heights" broadway show fan like Shauna, you'll love this ..."So, I seriously feel like I´m living in the heights gone jungle. Piragua guys ride around on their bikes selling shaved ice and ice cream, people are always saying ´que calor´, all the family owned shops are just like usnavis, a couple people in my ward have their own salons, all the music, etc!!" While living in NYC, Shauna saw this show five times...now she is living the real thing!

-"This week has been good. By far the best yet. We´ve taught a lot--had lots of appointments. A couple of the days we were out running along the cobblestone streets from appointment to appointment. I find myself happiest when we´re sweating to death, busy, walking lots and teaching lots. Ya know..working hard! Even on saturdays! haha!"

-"I also feel like I´ve had somewhat of a Spanish breakthrough this past week. By no means am I near being fluent, but little by little its coming along! Mom, in one of your dear elders you wrote to look back in my journal and see progression...I´ve been doing that and it's helped me see that I am making some progress even though it may be small! I read for at least 40 minutes in the Book of Mormon out loud each day during my lang study time and I think that's been the key to what's really helped me. When I don´t know a word I look in my English scriptures that are sitting out on my desk as well. Teaching is a lot easier these days and just like little things I´ve done there is no way I could have done when I first arrived! I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for His help and hope that I continue to receive His help and the gift of tongues! I talked to an elder this past week from Utah who has been here for just over 2 months...he said he is able to understand well but speaking is still awkward. The mission is all about being patient!"

-"Okay, your thanksgiving sounded like so much fun!! I´m SO glad you had a good time! I have to admit...I had a meltdown on Thanksgiving. We were out walking the streets and I was thinking about what you were all doing...Macys Thanksgiving parade on the TV, tables set, mom cooking-humming away in the kitchen, etc, etc....and i started crying! H. Castaneda was like ´what happened´...I explained to her that I really missed my family! She's pretty understanding. She told me something I liked and have thought a lot about since....she said we came on missions knowing we´d return to our families...but right now we are loving and serving this people and we don´t know if we´ll have the opportunity to see them again. It´s true! So whenever I´m feeling down or homesick I think of that and realize I better soak it all up and serve with all my heart each day! Also dad, read your email you wrote last night...thanks for your thoughts on how it was for you on your mission! It seems like everyone goes through the same thing!"

-"Had stake conference yesterday. It was crazy!! We left our apt at about 730am and were going from house to house telling people to get ready. People are def slow paced here. I´m all about the NY style go-go-go. Very different here. It's a test to my patience each day. But anyways, our ward had a bus take everyone to the stake center which is about 20 mins away since only 4 or 5 familes have cars in our ward. It was crazy! The bus was crowded and was like booking it down narrow cobblestone streets dodging palm trees! The choir at stake conference were all wearing these interesting matching outfits and ties, kids were running around....its just so different! I couldn´t understand a bunch, but it seemed that the stake leadership was pretty strong. Our ward is a good ward as well. The ward members seem to be really united here. There are about 7 to 10 strong families I would say."

-"Tomorrow instead of district meeting we have zone conference!! I´m really looking forward to it. It is from 9 til about 4 in the afternoon! It's at the mission office and Pres and Sis Callan will both be there and like 22 missionaries. 4 hermanas in our district...I´m the only American Hermana. We´ll have talks, interviews with Pres. Callan, a doctor is coming to talk to us about summer health, lunch, classes, etc.. We had to prepare talks in case we get called on...Americans write theirs in Spanish, natives in English. Hermana C was translating hers this morning...she seriously knows NO english. I was able to easily help her translate. I think she got a small taste of what I´ve felt like this past month!"

-"Oh my gosh! I´ve seen 2 snakes this past week. Ahhh. We were walking on this dirt path in more of a jungly area and I saw them! Seriously, nast. They were like 1.5 feet long. So like baby size, but big enough to scare me and sending me running down the path!! ha!"

-"Daniel, who I wrote about last week, is getting baptized this Friday! He had his baptismal interview this past week and all is well! Friday at 7pm...can´t wait!! So happy for him! He kind of reminds me of a Paraguayan Brent Pulley! ha! If you can even imagine that! As for other investigators...we are trying to get them to really commit to baptism! its tough here...every one either drinks, smokes or isn´t married but living with their boyfriend, girlfriend!"

-"You´d love the ice cream here. Its 2 mil guarani which is about 40 cents and you get 4 scoops! It's awesome!! Good thing I´m walking a bunch!"

-"So, I am almost done with the Book of Mormon. Have about 50 pages left! I seriously love reading it every morning during my personal study...the time goes by too fast when I read it! I´m excited to finish it and start over!"

-"Today.....going grocery shopping after we´re done here, hanging up a strand of christmas lights we have in our apt! Yay! And also, we have a little baby size christmas tree! Makes me happy! I´m planning on making some more brownies this afternoon and taking to them to the familia Lopez tonight! They are a new member family in our ward who we visit with often. They don´t have much but are so giving to us! I love them! Their daughter is Tanya...in one of the pics I sent you! Then tonight we have a few appointments lined up!"

-"I love it here. Ya, its hard. Times I think I can´t go on. But at the end of each day I´m always smiling and pumped up for the next day. My testimony of the Savior has grown so much this past month. He really does know us and love us. Just like the scriptures teach..His arms are always open. It's our choice to go to Him and accept Him. I feel like I actually have a relationship with Him now. He is my friend, brother, comforter and Savior. I know this church is the true church. The Book of Mormon truly is the word of God. I am so grateful for its teachings. I´m grateful for this opportunity to share this message with these humble people here in Paraguay!!

Talking Parrots

2009-11-23T12:00:00.000-08:00

-"Well, this week has overall been good. Had a couple days where I seriously just wanted to go home. Being here has really been hard and challenging for me."

-"Update on a couple of our investigators....Luiz and Estela. I think I wrote last week that they both had baptism dates. Well, neither went to church yesterday....argh! It's hard because so many people say yes and it's hard to know who is sincere and are willing to make changes. Last night we saw Luiz drinking...no bueno..especially since we´ve already taught him the Word of Wisdom."

-"I am amazed with the Lord and how He continues to provide teaching opportunities for us! Monday night I had kinda a cool experience. My comp and I had done our planning for Tuesday. I was ready for bed and was saying a prayer. During my prayer I had a really strong feeling about Luiz. It was seriously like a voice said his name to me..I´ve never really had that happen before. I quickly realized we hadn´t included Luiz in our plan for Tuesday but felt and knew that we really needed to go to his house that next day. Tuesday came and we stopped by his house...his cousin, Fabian, was there and sat in our lesson about the Plan of Salvation. He seemed really interested and was asking a bunch of questions. Fabian attended church yesterday (without Luiz), asked for a Book of Mormon before we gave him one and last night we taught him (in his house that is about half the size of robbies room!) about the restoration, Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. He was totally receptive to our message and agreed to a baptism date for next month!! It's so awesome how the spirit is able to lead us to those people who are prepared!! I am excited about him. Now, we just need to get Luiz back in the game!"

-"Also, another cool thing! We´ve been teaching this 55 year old man, Daniel, who has been an on going investigator for 37 YEARS!! He´s from Uruguay and elders first contacted him when he was 18. Well, on Wednesday he told us he wants to be baptized!! I am estatic about it and so happy for him! I don´t know what changed his mind after 37 years but its awesome! The lord works in mysterious ways! He is a great guy..dec 4th is his date!!

-Only those that know Shauna's lingo will understand the following... "Jac...love the pharse for be obedient. BO! Its the new BG for me. I have thought about BO often this week. I have a strong testimony of how obedience is key. By being obedient is how we receive blessings! (DC 130: 21) Also Jac, you asked about what I´m studying. Right now I´m focusing on PMG and the BOM. I read 20 mins of PMG every morning...right now I´m on ch. 9, and 40 mins from the BOM...right now i´m on 3 nephi 5!!"

-"Funny story....so, this past week I was practicing teaching about the Fall to my comp while walking along the streets. All the sudden I hear someone repeating me. I look over and there is a parrot sitting on a fence talking about Adam and Eve!! It threw me off cuz I was like wait, parrots know Spanish??!! haha. It was funny! and kinda sad because the parrot sounded more native them me!"

-So, one thing I love here is that everyone drinks juice! They always offer it to us and I always think that they´re going to pull out a bottle of simply orange or minute maid but instead they pick off fruit from their trees or run to the market down the dirt road to buy a melon and they´ll make it fresh for us! Its pretty tasty!!"

-You asked about lunches. We eat with the same 6 familes each week. Only 6 cuz we don´t eat with people today on pdays. Usually the husband isn´t there but the wife and kids will eat with us. The bishops family just cooks it for us and lets us eat by ourselves which is kinda weird. I like when the fam eats with us! Ppeople have siestas here...so many people are just sitting outside on the sidewalk in the shade sipping their tedide (cold matte) all afternoon. It's such a different culture!!"

-"Well familia, I think thats about it for this week! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE you all! And I MISS you lots!! Whenever i see a horse on the street...which is often....i think of my herd back home and how I am so BG for each one of you! I hope you have a great thanksgiving this Thursday! We don´t have that holiday here which is kinda sad! So....eat an extra piece of pumpkin pie for me!!....and dad, you can have my portion of whip cream :). Hope you all have a great week!! Love you lots!! The church is true!!"

Shauna and Gabi (8 yrs old) "She gave me the
yellow toy--it's pretty fun! Oh..the red hat belongs
to her dad, Daniel, who always wears it as he sells
hamburgers at his cart! Peace out!"

Gilberto Caballero! Total Guarani man and
so generous!

A usual street here. Lots of cobblestone!!

Typical meal here-rice, noodles, meat, potato, bread.

"teaching, contacting...and walking!!"

2009-11-16T12:00:00.000-08:00

-"Week 2 completed here in the field. It has been better. It went by fast!! I think I just need to realize and accept the fact that the mission is always going to up's and down's."

-"Spanish continues to be a struggle, and def a humbling experience...just as I think I am progressing and doing better I go into an appointment and can't understand a word. It's quite frustrating and annoying!" "...but I am practicing, studying and often make mistakes! I'm hoping with some 'paciancea y fe' it'll come...eventually!"

-"This weeks been full of teaching, contacting...and walking!! Highlight of the week: one lady, Estella, who just turned 30 yesterday, committed last night to be baptized on dec 11th. Very exciting! She is great!"

- "I do help with the teaching..hermana casteneda is good about letting me help even though she does most of it. I can teach the doctrines very simply. It's hard cuz I always want to refer to scripture stories and such but I have no words in Spanish to say them! Thank goodness for study time! One of my most favorite parts of a lesson is when we sing a hymn! Whether it's with a member or investigator...they are words that I know the meaning of and it's awesome sitting in a small house or out on the patio singing together! Def invites the spirit!!"

-Okay, the dogs here are NAST and all over! Usually they just lay there or are roaming the streets and don´t bother me. Thank goodness!"

-"I had my first south american bus experience last tuesday when we went about 20 mins away to my district meeting. CRAZYNESS!! I don´t think the bus every came to a complete stop. People just hop on and off. It's seriously a different world down here!"

-"The people here are seriously GREAT!! They are what keeps me going! And the kids are adorable. I give them stickers (thanks to the ones shay and tyson gave me!) and they think it's the absolute best thing in the world. They´ll always come up to me and hug me and say Hermana Sargenta! I love it. But really, even though I can´t communicate well with the people here I already love them. I am amazed with their generosity. They have nothing and yet, they give so much. They´ll send their kids to the store across the street to buy us a little piece of chocolate or watermelon. They are so giving towards us missionaries. Yesterday at church we were helping some new members pay their tithing....most were paying what would be equivalent to $4. And that is a lot to them. They really are very humble, giving people!"

-"So, I have read over my setting apart notes severeal times this week. So many of the things President Thomas said I needed to hear. In my blessing he said there will be times of discouragement and loneliness where I´ll need to rely on the Lord. This past week I really have been relying on Him..and will be throughout my mission! People here may not be able to understand me for now, but the Lord does. I know that He is the one comforting me when I feel like I can´t go on. He really does hear our prayers."

-"Oh! so funny thing. There is a new member in our ward that knows about twenty words in English. So, whenever he sees me he wants to practice. So, we were going over words and I realized that whenever he´d say the English word back to me he sounded like a valley girl! Ahh!! I decided from then on that I better use my most womanly voice when teaching people English so there aren´t a bunch of Paraguayans speaking valley girl English!! :)"

View from our balcony on a rainy morning!

Shauna and Laura Caballero
"Their house is seriously 'la jungla'!"

"Love Sandia! (watermelon) This is how everyone eats it here!"
Shauna and Hermana Casteneda

Shauna, Hermana Romero (from the ward), Hermana Casteneda.
"I'm a giant :)"

First Impressions...

2009-11-09T14:50:00.000-08:00

November 4-9, 2009

-Shauna has been in Paraguay for almost a week now. She tells of her travels to Paraguay. Her favorite part was talking to the fam. They were stuck in Buenos Aires, Argentina for some unknown reason, for several hours, but scheduled another flight and made their way to Asuncion late afternoon of November 04. While waiting in Buenos Aires, a man from the USA approached them and asked them what mission they were going to. When he heard the Paraguay, Asuncion mission, he informed them that that was where he was headed. His son was being released the next morning from their mission and he was picking him up. He offered to take them all (9) to lunch at the airport. He had story after story and picture after picture that he shared with them of his son's experiences. It got them totally excited to get there.

-Of landing in Asuncion she says "flying into Asuncion was like a dream...it's like I was finally here! I couldn't believe how green it was looking out my plane window either!!"
President and Sister Callan were waiting at the airport for them. There were 16 new missionaries that arrived that day. The nine that Shauna was a part of, and seven who were in the Buenos Aires MTC. They had dinner, orientation and a quick interview with President Callan. She says..."I like him a lot." Then the Elders went to a hotel for the night and "us hermanas were able to stay at the mission home...which was way nice!"

President and Sister Callan

-The next morning she was assigned to her first companion, Hermana Casteneda from Peru. Here is what she says about her, and their living conditions..."She goes up to about my shoulder and knows two words in English...hello and bye. Seriously. We're serving in a part of Asuncion...I'm not even sure where. Someone told me 9k from the centro...but who knows! My area covers the Leopardi ward. That morning we took a 25 minute taxi ride to our apartment. Totally liveable, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, kitchen and laundry sink. There is a little family owned store across the street from us that always has latin music playing and they're always just sitting outside talking. Love it!"

-Shauna admits that this week has been rough. Frustrating, difficult and lonely. She has questioned if she can do this for sixteen months. Mostly because of the language barrier. She says.."NO ONE knows english, not even my comp. I can't understand them AT ALL, and vice versa." It's been hard because she can't even share those frustrations with Hermana Casteneda since she doesn't speak any English and "I don't make sense in Spanish." She says that it's been discouraging and hard. She turns to the only one who can provide comfort..."I've really had to rely on the Lord and seek for help and comfort through prayer. It's definitely been a humbling experience."

-"Well, as hard as it's been....it's been good too." The people are kind. They eat lunch everyday with members. She says, "They are awesome!". Out of one hundred people plus they've contacted on the streets, only two people have not stopped and listened.

-Her description of Asuncion..."okay, Asuncion is like a jungle, for reals. Not many paved roads in my area...most are dirt and rocky cobblestone. I see a ton of horse-pulled carts each day but most people seem to have motos, walk or have cars. Houses here are like nothing, (even the nicer homes) compared to a basic home in the USA. It's crazy. Horses and cows are often roaming the streets. I've seen a handful of parrots. When walking along the streets I hear a different latin song coming from each home. We clap at fences instead of knock at doors. There are TONS of Mango trees. Everywhere I look I can spot a Mango hanging from a tree. It's awesome...they'll be ready to eat next mont. Yay!! My first few days were hot, hot, hot!! and humid!! and it's still considered spring here. Eeeek! But these past couple days have been bearable for sure. Saturday night I survived my first rain storm...just a little one. The streets quickly turned into streams and we were walking for about a half hour in water that came up past my ankles. It was crazy!!"

-Shauna read her dad's mission journal before she left. She said, "Dad...I feel like I'm living your mission...it seems like am seeing a lot of stuff yo ohave told me about Chile!"

-They are teaching a lot. They are working with about fifteen investigators. Only four came to church on Sunday. Luiz, a man about thirty years old committed to be baptized. She says, "I hope it actually goes through...I can't totally tell what's going on or what's going to happen cuz of my Spanish. My comp does most of the teaching and I usually just smile, nod my head, testify, say the prayers, share a scripture, etc. which is good for a start I guess! It's cool though, although I can't understand, I can feel the Spirit and see it working on investigators!! People here seem to get excited when we tell them about the Book of Mormon and how there is a Prophet on the earth today. I can tell the Lord really has been preparing many people here in Paraguay!!"

-The Caballero family is quickly becoming one of her "fave" families. They are new members so they stop often to visit them. She describes them as..."The dad is like straight from the jungle. They have three kids and one on the way. Their house is like in this jungly area and they are always outside just chilling on chairs and tree stumps. They all speak Guarani as their first language, but all know Spanish too. Their little five year old boy is like a Guarani Kaleb (Shauna's nephew)...he is SOOO CUTE. He'll always come up to me and smile and whisper something in my ear, but I don't know what he is saying! I really have a soft spot for all the kids down here. They are so sweet."

-Shauna lists several "random" things that she thought we would all want to know...

She gets mail on Tuesdays. She received a few dearelder letters when she arrived. She wants anyone who uses dearelder to write her to date their letters so she will know when they were written. (BTW-dearelder.com is a free service. They copy the letters and get them to the pouch mail. They need to be in before noon on Thursdays. The letters then leave on Tuesday morning and are delivered to Paraguay on Thursday. She would receive them the following Tuesday. So it's about a 10 day service. Did I mention...it's free?)

They get packages every six weeks or so.

No problems with the water. Most people filter it and keep it in big bottles in their frig. The church supplies a big tub of water each week to their apartment.

No big bugs yet. "So BG"!! She does have 10 mosquito bites and she's going to "bust out my insect repellant!!

She is keeping her hair in a ponytail because of the heat and humidity. Her blowdryer remains in her suitcase. "Ha."

Her ipod is a treat to listen to, since she couldn't use it in the MTC. She can't use earphones, but has tiny speakers she is using.

People can't say the name Sargent. She says, "It's kinda funny. So mostly everyone will say Sargenta...said... Sar hent a... and they'll always salute me!!"

They love to see the pictures she took with her of the family. They all comment on our eye color and height!

She was called on by her Bishop to bear her testimony in Sacrament meeting. She said, "I think the people could understand about half of what I was saying! Everyone just sat there smiling at me though! They are so nice!"

The best news yet..."don't have to wear nylons...yay!!"

They walk around with big umbrellas to keep in the shade. "Gotta love it."

No blisters...yet!! It kind of surprises her because as she says..."we have walked, and walked, and walked!!" Sounds like a Primary song-doesn't it?

-Shauna's daily routine includes..6:30 rise and shine, get ready, work out etc. 8:00 personal study 9:00 companion study 10:00 language study 11:00 leave apartment for appointments, tracting, lunch with members 9:30 return to apartment and plan for the following day 10:30 bedtime. She says, "the days seem to go by pretty fast!"

-This morning, her pday, found her cleaning the apartment, studying, washing clothes by hand and hanging it out on the line to dry, emailing and grocery shopping and writing letters. At 6PM they hit the road going to appointments and tracting.

-Shauna says, "I can't describe how I feel about it. It's hard, but good. I can see how people say a mission is the hardest thing, but the most rewarding. There have already been a lot of ups and a lot of downs. Tomorrow morning, and each Tuesday, we have a district meeting from 10:30-12:00. I'm excited for it and to see some other missionaries from the states. ha! I know I should have a better attitude about Spanish right now....that's what I was called to speak...and I'm trying...it's just HARD! This seriously has been "prob" the hardest week of my life!"

-She concludes with "well fam, I love you lots and miss you all very much!!! Know that you are all in my prayers each day and that I think of you often. You are all the best! Thanks for your support and love!! Have a fabulous day!!!!!!!! LOVES!!!!"

"I'm here"

2009-11-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

November 04, 2009

Shauna is in Paraguay and here is what she has to say...

"I made it. After tons of traveling, I'm here. Just got my companion...she's from Peru. Doesn't know english at all. Ahhhhh. It's so tropical and green here. So pretty. Loving it so far. President and Sister Callin are great. Spent the night at their house last night. Going out tracting today...the mission begins. Loves to you all........write you on Monday!!!!!"

shauna in the Asuncion Paraguay airport.

Shauna's companion, Hermana Casteneda, after a rain storm!

Travel Plans--last MTC letter!!

2009-11-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

October 22-29, 2009

-Travel plans came a day later than expected. Here is her itinerary:

Nov 02
DELTA #130 Lv. SLC, UT 8:30 AM
Ar. ATL, GA 2:13 PM
DELTA #101 Lv. ATL, GA 7:40 PM
Ar. Buenos Aires 7:50 AM
Transportes Lv. Buenos Aires 9:40 AM
Aereso del Ar. Asuncion 10:20 AM
(TAM)

-She has a four hour layover in Atlanta and she can call everyone (family) and she says "of course, I'll call in SLC that morning too! YAY for flying through Buenos Aires!!"

-Her last week was a busy one. She can't believe how the past eight weeks have flown by! Of the MTC she says..."The MTC has been exhilirating, hard, SO fun, exhausting, an adrenaline rush, and everything else combined!!"

-This week they have had departure meetings..health and safety, language and getting ready for the field. Sunday afternoon they will have a departing devotional with the MTC president. "Should be good."

-Her eye is "totally fine." She says "No mas ojos rojos por mi!" :) Still using the eye drops, but is wearing her contacts.

-Trust Shauna to find a way to have fun on Halloween..."There is a group of us sisters that all have those 'Jody' dresses...the long floral 'ish' ones...and none of us have worn them yet. We're more like blouse and pencil skirt type sisters. ha. But on Saturday we are all wearing our Jody dresses to dress up like the "typical sister missionary" for halloween. Glasses, Jody dresses....the works. We're pretty excited about it. I love how the little things are so exciting to me here at the MTC, haha!" ...I'll bet nobody even noticed. I'm pretty sure they'll blend right in!!

-This past Tuesday was devotional. Shauna and her district were all hoping an Apostle would visit since it was their last devo. She says, "So, we're sitting in the gym waiting for whoever is speaking to enter. The doors opened up, and Elder L. Tom Perry came walking in. It was AWESOME!! Of couse, everyone stood up as he walked in since he's an Apostle. The Spirit was
so strong. He spoke on how to be a better teacher and learner. I think it got everyone pumped up for the mission field! It was really good."

-Sunday will be her mission conference. The MTC holds them on Fast Sundays. She is really looking forward to that.

-Her plans for Monday morning are to meet at the travel office at 5AM and bus up to SLC.

-There are six Elders from her district that are traveling with her as well as another Hermana and Elder from another district. She is happy to have another Hermana to travel with. Their plans are to eat a bunch of American food at the SLC and Atlanta airport!

-Four days at the MTC and "then Paraguay, here I come!!" Shauna is sad to leave all her friends but so excited to get into the field. She says, "Not going to lie though, I am a little nervous and scared to get down there. I am nowhere near being fluent and it's weird how this time next week I'll be immersed in Spanish in a third world country with just me and my companion walking the streets. But again, I'm SOOO excited. It's going to be hard at first, but it'll be an adventure. I can't wait to meet the people down there!"

-"Well, I love you all. Gracias for all your letter throughout these past 8 weeks. I'm so BG to have such and awesome family and friends!!! Can't wait to chat with you on Monday!!

-She ends, "Yo quiero compratir mi testomonia con ustedes que Jesus es el Cristo. El es nuestro Salvador y por medio de la expiacion podemos regresar con nuestro Padre Celestial despues este videa. !Este es una cosa buena! Yo se que Jose Smith fue un profeta y por el plder de Dios El tradujo el Libro de Mormon. Este evangelio es uno de felicidad. Y el solamento iglesia verdadero en el mundo. Estoy muy agradecido y amimada a compratir este mensage con la gente en Paraguay! Pas y Amor, Hermana Sargent"

Field Trip

2009-11-09T10:38:00.000-08:00

October 15-22

-"I bet you are dying to know about my eye!! The MTC Doctor said it didn't seem like anything serious, but since I was leaving to live in a third world country soon, I should get it checked out by an opthomologist. So, I went to the front desk to get an appointment made and that's when they called you! And don't worry, I started to cry too. I was like just like oh my gosh, you are talking to my Mom right now! It was just so weird how we were like so close but so far. I'm glad you heard me shout out 'hi mom' though! Anyways, after she called you, she called the opthomologist and they said to send me right there. So, Hermana Green and I rushed to pick up Hermana Denker from the tutor (when we went to get her some of my elders saw me and could tell I had been crying and were like 'are you okay?' I was like ya, my eye is fine but I miss my mom and explained to them how they just called you! I'm such a baby sometimes!! I think they felt really bad for me because when I went into the classroom later that day I had like three chocolate dove bars on my desk from them to make me feel better...so sweet!) Anyways....me and my comps hopped on a little shuttle and it took us about 10 minutes away to a really, really nice doctors office in Orem. It was SOOO weird to be outside of the MTC. We were all loving the "field trip" though. Anyways, so I saw the doctor, he said it's just a small eye infection from wearing my contacts so much. So, he gave me antibiotic drops and I'm wearing my glasses for the next five days. My eye is already like not red, guess it really just needed to breathe a little bit. But ya, I'm glad it was nothing serious and that it's taken care of. He also told me to wash my eyelashes and eyes with baby shampoo...any brand. They don't sell that at our MTC bookstore, so could you send me some??? Gracias!!!

-Played sand "volibol" with her district during gym time!! "So fun!"

-Hermano Latimer, one of her teachers, taught her district how to do "this cool fingersnap thing." The elders caught on right away, but "it's taken me this whole time to figure it out. I guess I'll show you it in like sixteen months!!:)"

-Shauna has been reading and studying the Book of Alma this week. She loves it. She says, "Gets me way pumped up to be out in the field!"

-She was happy to hear that mom had been able to talk with Sister Renchers mom. Sister Rencher's home ward is Dyans (Shauna's sister) ward in Gilbert. Her mom shared information on what her living conditions were like, when their pday was, how long she got to use the internet, her first impressions, and how she was already loving her mission. Sister Rencher and Shauna were in the MTC together for just a few short weeks and Sister Rencher left for Paraguay. She said, "I LOVED hearing about all that!!! I shared the letter with a couple of Elders going to Paraguay with me too! Got us sooo stoked to go!!

She ends with, "We get our TRAVEL PLANS TONIGHT!!! So excited!!! Doesn't it seem like my mission is going by super fast already?? It seems so unreal that I'll be outta here in ten days. Sometimes I'm like wait...you trust me to go and teach people about the church?!! Are you sure?! But, then I realize that the Lord will help me so much and that really, the Holy Ghost is really the one who will be doing the teaching ....I'm the instrument."

-She expresses "Gracias for all of your letters, love and support."