The ´field´ is white and ready to harvest... Apr 23, 2012

And when I say it´s WHITE, I mean we are getting the beauty of the SNOW at the end of the world. It is COLD! Brr...good thing I have some winter clothes that I can put on...all of them....every day. No sickness or frostbite yet! haha

Though yesterday at church, there were a lot of sniffles and coughing etc, we are blessedly NOT SICK! And everyone else is! I guess everyone needs to labor more in the Work of the Lord!

SO we have little time. I just want to let you know that we are working with Estefani. Her estory is a great one. She just moved her from Colombia and is living with a member friend. She was all ready to get baptized up in Colombia BUT felt that she still needed some time and some more knowledge. Turns out that she didn´t have a very strong testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. In other words, she said she believed everything but him. We testified, we read the testimony in the front of the BoM and we taught the Restoration...again. Then we felt to leave her a couple of videos to watch. We showed up the day after she watched the videos and she said casually as we were warming our hands by the heater, oh you know that thing i wasn´t sure about, I got it.

WHATT?!?! Yeah, ok. Will you get baptized this weekend?..... Yeah, I would love that.

OK!!!

WOOT!

It was a great miracle. There´s more to the story but not any more time. We are hiking to the glacier today. Much like i would in ALaska BUT it´s FREEZING and slightly rainy so.....yeah. It´ll be GREAT! we have another appointment with Estefani tonight and I’m super excited!

Love you all. I know that the Church is true. i still don´t feel like I have any more time in the day than i did a year ago. Remember when I said that mom? Yeah, that feeling never goes away. Everyone is counting down my time. The members here I mean. They keep saying, hey, isn´t it about time for you to go home? RUDE haha I’m sure they mean well. A lot of the ones who ask are mothers who have had missionaries out so I figure they feel super happy for Mom and Dad though they don´t know what they do to my heart!

Love you! Love, love, love!

Have a wonderful week!

Pics are worth a thousand words. So these make up for the short message!

Hermana González

 I cut my comps hair last week. We were trying to keep my mind off of my lost stuff for a bit to see if i could remember where it might be. I bought hair cutting scissors and gave her a trim! haha

 a BIG HAIRY dog that makes us laugh every time we see her because she´s got these big bangs and her underside is soooo dirty that she´s got dreds hanging out all around her poor body.

The SNOW

Our alpargatas (TOMs style shoes but they are really ARGENTINE and these are LEGIT)

some wet and cold missionaries...

and a pic with a BOAT...i don´t know why we loved it but we had a Finding Nemo moment with it and it was special....  

It´s not a job, this is my life right now.... Apr 16, 2012

The title is a direct quote from my amazing companion. We talk CONSTANTLY. But we're like the same person so talking is like just being vocally aware that we´re on the same brainwave. We are zoned in on being missionaries ALL day, all night and not ´clocking out´ just because it´s p-day or at home. She´s such a wonderful blessing to me and I´m so glad that I had to come all the way to the end of the world to meet a new best friend from Highland, UT! haha it makes me appreciate her way more. :)

Hna Kapp and I talk about how to be better. We had this great chat about charity and it was remarkable all the things I was learning as I testified to her about experiences that I´ve had throughout the mission and I know that the Spirit wanted to teach me a lot. I thought about how I have come to teach with more charity than when I got here to Argentina and was afraid to even speak. I look at these people we pass and think of what I would want THEM to do were I the one passing them on the street. What lengths would I go to speak and invite if it was MY salvation on the line? It´s what keeps me going. What if it were me? Do I love them as myself? Good, then get out, forget yourself, and go to work.

We had a fantastic week, didn´t have the results we really wanted but we are learning to be patient and press forward doing all the right things despite the lack of INSTANT signs of repentance and change. It doesn´t always work that way.

Sometimes is does though! Like with Cristina. I just can´t even tell you how I adore her. She and her sister Norma (who is STILL not baptized and she knows she should...whatever. AGENCY) have adopted us. Norma and I had a way amazing moment and I love her like crazy and will be here for her baptism I know it, even if I have to come back to the end of the world. She said that there were only 2 people in the world that she has met that instantly win her love like a mother-child thing. I am one of the two, she says. It´s a special thing that through Hna Shelley and I saying Hi to her in grocery store, we are now like FAMILY. Cristina, as I was saying, is doing amazingly well. She has fallen in love with the Relief Society/Priesthood manual for this year about President George Albert Smith like I have. She is desirous to go with us to appointments and have a visiting teaching assignment. She just wants to serve and help more people be as happy as she is. She is teaching her nephews and it´s just been a wonderful blessing to see them grow in their testimonies! She gave the prayer in Relief Society and it was like a parent watching their child and I was busting with joy and pride! I did nothing, of course, but I was so proud to have been a part of her amazing decision.

Tuesday and Wednesday were warm here..meaning....only ONE jacket, one skirt and one pair of tights. Then it got cold REAL cold again and back to the layering of the clothes. Good stuff.

DAD! and Danny! and any other RM that love me: I have a huge favor to ask!! Will you commit to writing me a story about your MISSION that you were reminded of or that you think I would like to hear? I don´t know many from Dad´s mission and FEWER from Danny´s so...yeah! That way Danny won´t have an excuse of something like, nothing cool in my life is going on and that´s why I don´t write you...junk. haha LOVE YOU AND THANKS!!

It´s only a few stories until I’ll HEAR them but ONE a week would be great. Thanks! I meant to ask for this FOREVER ago but have continually forgotten to ask....

Ok, Estefani from Colombia moved her three days ago. She has been meeting with Elders in Colombia for a WHILE now and is just SO CLOSE to the waters of baptism that it´s killing me. We are going to go get her right now and play soccer with the elders. Soo....see ya! haha love you bye!

I know this IS the true Church of Jesus Christ. There is no other. i love my Savior and am eternally grateful that i have this amazing opportunity to serve Him and my fellow brothers and sisters. i am grateful for the change in my life. I truly have changed and I hope to continue growing as my life goes on. Missions don´t end at airports. They just won´t let me wear my nametag anymore is all. :)

Love you all,

Have a great week!

Hermana González

I just LOVE life!!!!

From April 9th, 2012

 Ok Family and faithful friends, I just want to let you all know that the power and burning faith one can come to have on the mission DOESN´T die if you don´t LET it!!!!

I am so incredibly excited about these coming weeks and am more afraid of the dwindling time than worrying about it. I’m afraid that there´s not much time left because I don´t ever want to stop feeling this way every week when I report about what I´ve been doing. I have had amazing companions and the Lord knows me and has blessed me with yet another amazing Best FRIEND!!

Hermana Kapp is a joy and we have the best days!!! I was feeling a little under the weather this past week (we got REALLY wet in the constant rain and it didn´t do well with my already on the edge of dying health. haha exaggeration of course but I was NOT my full self so after I started taking meds and asked one of the Elders after district meeting for a priesthood blessing (I LOOVE the priesthood and I have FULL faith that my faith and the faith of a worthy priesthood holder helped me recover) I started doing much, much better.) I was feeling guilty for being grumpy and not with full energy to get out and help Hna Kapp learn the area quickly. I told her that last night after a great Sunday of visits and meeting great people and she said, “that was you GRUMPY? This transfer is going to be AMAZING!” Haha it made me feel better that she hadn´t been too effected by my lack of energy and that it hadn´t been so apparent. She said she noticed a real difference after we had rested and I let the meds take effect. All is well in Zion.

We are so alike, it´s nuts. We get along SPLENDIDLY as i have been so fortunate to do with all of my amazing companions on the mission. I loved seeing Hna Erickson last week and she´ll be coming down here at least one day for when President comes to do interviews and then I won´t see her again until....yeesh, 2013. Hna Shelley and Hna Dunn already know that they are REQUIRED to go to my despedida. haha I WILL see them both before I leave and Hna Kapp wins the jackpot to be able to pick through everything I leave behind haha :)

Seriously, Hna Kapp and I both feel like she´s been here way longer than a week. I feel as though we have known each other for years. We teach in an amazing unison that usually takes much longer to work out, practice and plan. It has been a huge blessing since day 1.

We went around to say goodbye to a few people with Hna Shelley. It was great to have some time to say some farewells and let them see both Hna Shelley and Hna Kapp at the same time and see the transition. I am so grateful that Hna Kapp has a wonderful memory for all these people I have been telling her about all week. At church yesterday, she was a rock star and remembered lots of people by stories I told her. It was wonderful.

CRISTINA AND JAVIER got CONFIRMED!!!!! They are now confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!!! The newest members on the island!! Well...at least in Ushuaia, don´t know what went down in Rio Grande. haha

I feel like I´m always saying goodbye to Hna Shelley! haha the bajillion pictures that we took together here in Ushuaia make up for the very FEW that we had in Congreso.

I have been learning so much about how important Hna Shelley is to the work in Ushuaia. She´s just amazing organized and has a mind for planning. She always said that she hated planning but she´s so ridiculously good at it, she can´t hate-hate it. I am really grateful for everything that I learned from her because it has really been helping with how I´ve been able to teach Hna Kapp about the area.

This week was a wonderful one for sure. Talking all day, every day about the Atonement of Christ, helping investigators and members alike remember what EASTER is. There is a lot that I would like to study about it later but it is one of the most meaningful weeks I´ve had in my mission. It helped to have this particular recent convert who was really stuck to her catholic traditions but we read together and learned together and the Spirit testified to our hearts of the Savior´s divinity and what we can do to sacrifice our vanity and selfishness to be more like Him. We can and must come in Him to find the peace that He gives. I have been studying the week, day by day, of the last week of the Savior´s mortal ministry and I think it´s a great new tradition to start for Easter week! I learned so much and was truly blessed with a greater love for my Brother and Redeemer.

We even had a special conference all about the Savior as a mission. It was the first time in President Gulbrandsen´s time that we have ALL been gathered, north and south, in a conference and it was amazing. I want to always make this such a special time of year.

Because Jesus lives, we have HOPE. Because He lives, we can repent, we can live again. Because HE LIVES.

Hna Gulbrandsen said this once and I´ve never forgotten it: Christ died to save us and He lived again. He didn´t die again. HE LIVES. Like you and I live, so does the One who loves us more than human mind can comprehend. I hope I can learn to love Him in like manner.

I am so grateful for being here. I am truly blessed to be found worthy as one to represent Him to the marvelous people of Ushuaia and lead them back to the fold of the Good Shepherd.

I love you all and hope that all is well......right?

A couple of shout outs:

Angelica, I´m glad you had such an amazing birthday. I DIED laughing at your email. Seriously, you HAVE to write me more. Just a couple more weeks yo!

Ali Washburn: I heart you face!!! I am so excited for you and congratulations on your call!!!! That´s so amazing and you will be phenomenal. We have GOT to talk hun!!! I LOVE missions!!!!!

Nick: follow Angelica´s example and....write me!! Email is SOOOOO easy. DON´T FORGET!

Hey I’ve been thinking a lot about my brothers. Brett, you are great, you know that? I do love you like a crazy pants and I hope you know that. COLLEGE man!!!! We should move out together!! haha maybe your second semester because I won´t be there for fall...but that would be cool! We can live work and study in SLC! What do you think? Maybe Danny could move in as my roommate after you leave on a mish.....oh wait.....he’ll be married by then! hahaha right?

Sam, is it too late to change a class for next year? You MUST take Mr. Park´s class (if you aren´t already and if he´s still at Timp) I´ve been thinking about that a while. It´s a creative writing class that I always wanted to take but it didn´t work out in my schedule. I had him for 10th grade English and it was a mini version of his creative writing class. It would be LEGIT for your talent. For real. Look into it if you haven´t already.

RUTH!! I love you hair!! I love that you do what you like. I hope you are happy. Haven´t heard from you in a while. PS a couple of my fav young members here looked you up on youtube (I told you I was going to make you famous in Argentina) and they said you have billions of videos!! When are you going to write your own stuff?!?! I will help you and edit your poems and stuff. You´ve got lots to work with!!! Love you pooh

Mom and Dad, you are fantastic! Have I ever told you how much I love and appreciate you guys?? If I haven´t recently, I repent. I LOVE YOU!

No word on flights or anything but I am honestly not worried about it. If you are, I´m sure you could ask Hna Gulbrandsen but I won´t ask :) haha all I know is that the Saturday before my last Sunday I will be flying up to BS AS again for my final interview with President. SAD! I get shorted 2 days! Bah....

Any who,

Love you all. WRITE ME PEEPS! Those who write will be those with whom I will spend some quality time. If not, I don´t know. I´ll move to another state or something and make NEW friends. haha :)

Love y´all forever!

Hna Gonzalez

hey quick update

Super crazy, awesome transfers. Seriously, it´s been hilarious.

Well, Hna Shelley´s bags are packed and she´s headed north!!! To an area called San Ignacio II.......

with.........

HNA DUNN!!!! Small funny world, right? She has STILL only had 3 companions in the field. Hna Shelley is destined to have repeat comps! haha Wow!!!

A LOT of changes in our little zone. EVERY companionship changed. Not the usual thing but hey, what the Lord needs, we will go and do!

My new companion is Hermana KAPP from Highland, UT. Officially wins award for the one who lives closest to home! haha sweet! She´s got 3 months in the mission. Started with Hna Gillum! Then with a sweet, sweet amazing sister I love, Hna Carriola, now here!

I just can´t get over the fact that Hna Shelley’s going to be senior companion,she is going to be with Hna Dunn again. Crazy, right? The Pinto´s will get a kick out of that, I´m sure. Right Camilly?? haha love you!

Oh, and Hermana Erickson came through here!!! She´s on her way to Rio Grande (weird, I forgot I wrote from there last week). She´s going to be companions with Hna Reed! Woot! So I got to see her and be with her about an hour before her combi went on its way to Rio Grande. That was a great blessing because even though she´s down here on the island now, she WON’T be in the north for my despedida in San Fernando which is a bummer! But Hna Dunn and Shelley will be there together with their most recent converts, together!! Hooray!!

This is so nuts. There is an elder here that I heard a LOT about from Hna Erickson when we were together because they were in the same MTC zone and then same zone in the north. Also, more familiar faces are making an appearance tomorrow. Elder Johnson, an elder that used to serve as the secretary to the President when I was in Tigre, is now coming down here to be a zone leader. We were really good friends so I´m super excited for all the great, amazing things that are coming our way this transfer! Seriously!!!!

Rio Grande with Hna Reed was superb. We had a great time and I love her so much. I am so glad that I got to serve with her even though it was only a few days. She´s fantastic! I learned a lot from her in such a short time. I am also very grateful for my wonderful, now former companion, Hna Shelley. I knew that she was going to be called as senior companion soon and I think that this division that we made really helped her see that she CAN do this and now she´s off to do great things.

I am excited about this all.

I´m sending pictures of our MIRACLES from this week! Cristina, the woman we found last week got baptized with her nephew!!!!! HOORAY! Between crazy conference sessions. I hope it was a great conference. I´ll read it when the text comes up next week. We had some major technical difficulties but it was a wonderful experience all the same. Even though it was nuts, our branch, almost all of them, showed for the baptisms and we had great support for these wonderful new members!!

I love this work. It brightens my day when I actually stop and remember that this is what we do, who we are and it´s the best thing in the whole world. The gospel saves lives. It has changed me forever and I hope to always be a person that lives so that my faith isn´t hard to detect.

I can´t wait to tell you all more. Just know that I love you, Hna Kapp and I are going to ROCK it here. We´re going around with Hna Shelley to say goodbye to peeps before taking her to the airport tonight.

Hna Shelley, Hna Reed and Hna Gutierrez in Rio Grande

 Cristina and her nephew.

 Hna Erickson and Hna Shelley!!

 The tall blond one is Hna. Kapp--Hna. Shelley, Me,

(the TALL one that makes me feel like a woodland creature...)

and Hna Erickson. Love them!

Gotta go. I’ll tell you all about the greatness of this week next week. Love you all. Thanks for the love, I feel it and hope to SEE it in my inbox next week, yeah?

What was your favorite part of conference?? Tell me your highlights and favs that I should look up and print off next week. I´m sad I missed it! Best weekend of the year still though. I love these two just like everyone else that is preparing to be baptized!!! Ushuaia, here we come!!

Love you, until next week,

Hna Gonzalez

This email came on the first day of Suzette's last transfer. She would love to hear from you before she comes home.