Week 32 Santa Fe, Argentina

This picture was taken the day Elder Hjelmstad became a trainer and met his "Kid"

(Kid= The new missionary being trained).

This picture is of all the trainers and their "kids".

Eva's (the little elderly lady in white) baptism!

Zone t-shirts

(FA is like saying Dang it)

"When it rains... it floods!"

FAMILIA!!

So this week went by really fast! Actually, everything goes by fast now! Ezekiel did not get baptized this week but will this upcoming week with Sergio! Sergio is getting married on Friday and then baptized on Saturday! Such a stud. He’s so ready. I’m so excited for them both! Oh and yes I’m staying in Liceo for my 5th transfer! I’ll have 7 months in my first area! Crazy!

So on Tuesday we went to Eva’s house to teach her and we showed up and she was glowing! Her face looked all bright and lit up! I know that that’s not just a coincidence but comes from the gift of the Holy Ghost that she had just received! She was all jokin around with me and kept calling me her Padrino, or Father-in-law. haha I couldn’t stop laughing.

So Elder T, a Chileno that was living with us this past transfer just went HOME! That sure made me think about things and even though it made me a little homesick, there’s no way I’d go home right now. Its already been 7 months but I feel like I’m just a newbie and have SOOOO much to learn. I was also thinking about Travis Conley and how he had to go home after his first 7 months (for health reasons). I can’t even imagine how hard that’d be. This work might be hard, exhausting, and far from home but the truth is that this is way more important than what I’d do at home. I’m so excited for the people that will get baptized and the people we meet everyday. We met a lady this week named Maria that is going through a hard time right now. Her husband drinks a lot and she hasn’t seen him in 2 months! She has 4 kids and doesn’t go to a church. She said she’s gone to a ton but never felt like that was where she was supposed to go. She said she went to our church 10 years ago and liked it but the missionaries never visited them again. I know that God has a purpose with all of us and puts people in our paths. I have a testimony that people are ready to listen to us but what we need to worry about is if WE’RE ready for them. I’m excited for another transfer here and hope to have a lot of success. Because, "Every soul is great in the sight of God." We’re all children of God! He Loves us and Knows us personally. I’m so thankful for my full time job in the Lords work.

Two crazy things that we saw this week:

Cock Fighting Chickens- Totally illegal and these kids had like 8 in crates and these things were HUGE. They said they get 10,000 pesos if they win. crazyyy.

Fireflies!!!!!- we were walking home at night and I saw little things blinking and was like whattttt? First time ever. Pretty sweet!!!

Well thank you all for writing me! I love getting your emails! Remember that Dearelders are still free to get down here so no excuses. haha Love you guys!

Your missionary,

Elder Hjelmstad