Feliz Cumplemes 2!!!

Hola!

Feliz Cumplemes today! Wow can you believe that I have been a missionary for 2 whole months?! At times it feels like just yesterday I said goodbye in Provo, and then at other times it feels it's been over 2 years! Time is so strange, but no matter how it feels I've been doing this work for 2 whole months! And I almost have 3 weeks in Argentina too! Woah! Believe it or not, time is marching on:)

So this week I have discovered that although I'm thankful for my bike because the area we cover is so big, it is my biggest trial. The problem with the bike is we ride for so long and then get off and right away go into a lesson - where quite honestly I don't say much, because half of the time I don't know what is going on (but I'm trying to be better... poco a poco) - anyway this gives me a lot of think time. Which I appreciate a little bit of think time, but the sad thing is, I think I get too much of it, because I end up thinking of family, or what will happen in 16 months, and it kind of brings on homesickness (not really terrible homesickness, but enough that it distracts me and makes my heart a little sad). I discovered that this was the problem on Friday. Here is what happened on Friday: We had a full morning with appointments with new investigators and appointments with other investigators, I was very excited! Then every. single. one of them. fell through!!! NOOOOO!!!! Both Hermana Bautista and I were sad and frustrated with this, especially cause we were so excited, anyways we ended up having to ride our bikes for probably about 3 hours and had no success whatsoever... yeah so that morning I had about 3 hours of think time, while feeling upset, and I discovered that this is the problem. When I'm on the bike I can´t talk with people, or really be myself with anyone so I get more sad. BUT! Then I had a blessing! On Saturday evening we had just finished a lesson and were out visiting with an investigator, when we got ready to leave I got on my bike and realized that I had a flat tire, and when I say a flat tire, I mean it was completely flat! Then Hermana Bautista looked at her tire and she had one too! Completely no air! - Yeah we don't know how it happened (I joked that it was the Jehovah's Witness' missionaries that always glare at us - SABOTAGE! - but that probably wasn't appropriate, so pretend I didn't mention it;)) Anyways, I don't know how it happened, but it was an incredible blessing, because for the rest of the night on Saturday we got to walk and talk with each other while working and on Sunday we got to do the same thing! Ha who would've known that a bike would be my biggest trial, and a flat tire a great blessing? Now I know that I will have to get back on the bike because our area is so big in order to really serve the most people that we can bikes are the answer, but this has given me hope! Hope in the knowledge that at least I know where feelings of homesickness come from (too much time alone - probably yet another reason we have companions), and I also know how to solve it. The answer is get out of your own head and talk! I also have hope in knowing that most other areas in the mission are walking areas, so most likely for the most part of my mission, I won't have this problem:)

I am growing to love the people here more each day. Everything in life is a process, we just need a little bit of patience, and know that it will come. The language, is still difficult, but it's coming. Haha it's funny because now I can understand most of what Hermana Bautista is saying, because I know her accent and I can understand her better than others. So it's funny because someone will say something to me (in Spanish) and if I don't understand I'll turn to Hermana Bautista and she'll say the exact same thing (in Spanish) and I'll understand! Ha the people usually think that it´s weird because she's just "translating" Spanish to Spanish, but it's coming! It's a step in the process:) I'm so grateful for that, and I'm getting to the point where I am teaching in every lesson, I can't quite understand everything the people say, but I know how to testify of the truthfulness of the Gospel and God's love for all of us, and right now, that is enough. At the MTC I was told speaking Espanglish¨ is an act of faith. I believe here that opening my mouth in a lesson and trying my best to speak Spanish is an act of faith too. And I have seen God with me during the lessons, guiding my words, and giving me the words that I need to say in the very moment that I need to say them. I know that God is helping me in this. He is on my side. He wants me to succeed too, He has and I know He will continue to help and bless me in this work.

One last thing that was sad and strange... We had a really good investigator this past week that we met while tocando las puertas, Martha. She seemed so ready for the message of the Gospel, so sweet, so wanting to learn, everything. Then when we started coming to her house more frequently she told us that her husband didn't like us coming so we said that we could meet at the chapel or a member´s house and she said that would be great. So we set up an appointment at the chapel, and she didn't come:( When we went to her house the next day she told us that her husband said she couldn't see us anymore, or any religion anymore. Apparently he believes in what they call the ¨Santa Muerta¨.. or holy death... apparently he actually worships the devil... like prays to Satan... WHAT?! That's a thing??? How does that even make sense? If you could choose to worship someone that was loving and merciful and has your best interest in mind, or someone who was the complete opposite, why would you ever choose the other? Some things just don´t make sense... anyways, we had to stop seeing Martha, because we don't want to cause problems, but I don't know. I wish I knew how to help her. She told us some of her problems, and I know that the Gospel is what she needs. I want her to have the peace that it offers, but we can't go if we aren't welcome or if we are causing problems... I just wish there was something we could do to help her. It's so sad to see these things happen sometimes.

Well overall it's been a successful week! Gustavo is still progressing! And some of our other investigators are progressing in every aspect except coming to church, so we'll hope to know for a way to help them come to church next Sunday!

I love and like you all so much! I hope you having a good week and doing well!
Suuuure love ya!

Hermana Anderson

ps
the hot dogs here are incredible! They're called panchos.. and wow.. we had these ones that were longer than my arm, but literally if Argentina knows how to do anything (other than soccer) right, it's ice cream and hot dogs!

Mucho Amor

(A little note from Raquel's Dad)

I know some of you have requested a mailing address from Raquel. However, they don't really have addresses and mail delivery in Argentina like we have here in the States. She told me she lives in the blue building, second floor, etc. Anyway, I asked the Mission Office and they confirmed that there is not really mail delivery -- however, if you would like to send her a litter, you can send it to the mission office and they will deliver it to her. (However, DO NOT send any packages. Apparently the Argentine government confiscates or destroys any and all packages originating from the United States.) Here is the address:

Hermana Raquel Anderson

Misión Argentina Mendoza

Casilla de Correo 631

Mendoza 550

Argentina