Week 78, Venado Tuerto, Argentina

My Companion, Me and Elder Hull
(My best friend on my mission)

Hey! So this week was super great.

We had interviews with President Giuliani and it was probably the best interview I’ve had in my mission. I wasn’t nervous or anything and we just talked about me and my area and my companion. I told him that I want to have success on my mission and he asked what I consider to be "success." I told him that even though I know that baptizing isn’t everything, I want to be able to look back on my mission when I finish and smile without regrets. He stopped me and asked, "How many people did Jesus Christ baptize?" According to the bible you can’t find a place that says Christ baptized so many people but He still changed mankind. We need to do everything possible on our part and have faith that people will accept our message. 

D&C 18:15 

And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

On Saturday, we showed up at our branch presidents house in service clothes and asked him to give us something to do! We cleaned up his front yard and I really think it was good. He’s a great president and serves all day long and deserves a little service as well. I felt great doing it and we even cleaned out his gutter. haha We’re going to try and serve the members more and hope to find people that are ready to hear the gospel.

I feel like I have a ton left to learn on my mission. I need to love more and serve others. Lots left to do!!

Love you all and hope this week is great!!

GO NINERS!!

Elder Hjelmstad

Week 77, Venado Tuerto, Argentina

                 

This shotgun is a church members from 1914.
(It was empty.)

This is a Santa Fe rugby jersey

Alrighty, so this week was good! We found some new people and we are excited to teach them! I don’t know if I told you but there’s a family that’s friends with some church members and they came to a Family Home Evening that we did about 2 weeks ago and this week we had plans to teach them. There's Samantha the mom, then Antonella is 13, and Samira is 9. On Tuesday, we taught Antonella with the members and she said that she had been reading the Gospel Principles book and told us everything she learned. (Oh and by the way the teenage girls here look like they're 19 when they're 13. So crazy.) My companion says it’s because they eat a lot of meat. hahahah But anyway, Antonellas way smart and excited to go to church and get baptized. On Thursday we taught her and her lillte sister and their cousin too. We had a great lesson and she had some questions about the Word of Wisdom. She said that when she goes to dances she always drinks a little and didn’t think that was bad. SHE'S 13 and sadly that’s normal here. That made me so grateful for the gospel and that I learned from an early age to not drink alcohol or use drugs. I know that God loves us and wants us to be happy and for that reason He commands us to not partake of drugs, alcohol, black tea, coffee, or tobacco. We have the blessing from God, that if we do not partake of these substances, we will live longer and be happier. 

Another thing that I was thinking about a lot this week was the "will of God". We know that we are given different trials at different times for a reason. I believe that God definitely has something to do with those trials, but we must not accept them and live with them, but instead take them and run with them. Every single person is special in the eyes of God and every single person must learn from their personal trials. They are necessary for our progress. I know that every single trial is an opportunity to learn. We must not be discouraged but look to the future with determination.

Doctrine and Covenants 24:8 

Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.

I love all of you and GO NINERS!!!

Elder Hjelmstad

Week 76, Venado Tuerto, Argentina

                   

                Dinner at a church members house

 

 An activity we had at church

Christmas Morning

My companion in the park where I fell last week :)

Thanks for writing me everyone!!! I love the Star Wars analogies and the Niners updates. Thanks Dad and Grandpa!

So yesterday, I had a pretty cool experience that I wanted to share with you guys.  I was reading in my patriarchal blessing when I started thinking about some people I love. I decided to say a little prayer and ask Heavenly Father to bless them. After my prayer, I felt that everything was going be just fine. It was as if something told me.... don’t worry, it’s coming, everything will be alright.... It was kind of the same type of thing that I felt when I prayed to know if the Book of Mormon was true in the MTC. I knew it was true, but I needed a firmer testimony.  I also felt something telling me to read in Enos but I didn’t know why so I opened it up my scriptures and turned to Enos and I read some verses.  I believe verse 10 when it says "I will visit thy brethren in their diligence in keeping my commandments." just that little part comforted me. I believe, we just need to stay consistent and God will provide. Just keep being a good girl/boy and leave the rest to Heavenly Father. So, just know that Gods is always thinking about you and will always be there for you. We need to learn to trust in Him.




I also cannot believe that Dee ends his mission today!!! Insane. I can’t believe that my mission is coming to an end either. I need to take advantage of the time I have and leave it all out on the field. I love this work, but it is WORK!

I love you all!

Elder Hjelmstad

(Josh’s Mom: these are a few of the questions I asked Josh today)


1.  How is the apartment search going??

good! we're just doing the paperwork now!

2.  How's the weather there?

hottt!! but it's nice because at night it cools off!

3.  What's the funniest thing that happened this week?

we played football and we were laughing our heads off. SOOOO FUNNNNNN

4. High?

FHE (Family Home Evening) with Samantha, Antonella and Samira. a new family were teaching!!!!!

5.  How are the new shoes??

so good, so far!

6.  Tell me more about your new area?

ummmm... it’s all dirt roads, but a truck comes by every couple hours and waters the streets, so there isn’t so much dust. The people are usually nice and the members are super great. They support us a lot.

7.  How is everything going with washing your clothes? How long does it take? What is the process?

ughhhh i don’t really like it! We have a little bucket and you fill it up with water, put soap and bleach in it, then put the clothes in it and mix it around for a min. Then you go back at night and mix it around and scrub the dirty places like the necks, under arms, etc. then we rinse it out and then hang it up. Pretty simple.

8.  How far is the grocery store? How often do you go? What do you buy?

We go every Monday. I buy milk and cereal and fruit. that’s it!

9. How do you like being on bikes? (I loved that story you shared about you falling in the park, I'm glad you're ok though)

I love it! We get everywhere fast and my shoes aren’t getting destroyed.

Pictures of Elder Hjelmstad in Action...

Here are some pictures that I (Josh's Mom) found on facebook of Elder Hjelmstad, from my new Argentina fb friends... 

As you can see, part of our Sons mission is service. Here they are clearing someones backyard and removing a large tree. After they are finished it looks like they were fed a traditional Argentine bar-b-q.

   

 

   

  

 

    

    

 

                                      

                                      
   


                                 

                                     

These are just some random pictures of Josh with other missionaries serving in his mission. 

The missionaries are given one day "off" each week. This is called their "personal day" aka: "P-day". 

On p-day they wash their clothes, get groceries, run errands and usually take time to play a sport or fun activity...

I had to post this picture because I couldn't believe how much Josh looks like Grandpa Mike (when he was 20)! 

Those are some strong Casey genes. Crazy!!!

   

Week 75, Venado Tuerto, Argentina

Jan 5th is called REYES or KINGS to celebrate the wise men that sought out the baby Jesus

Week one of 2013…. check.

This week was pretty good! We saw some progress in some of our investigators and met some great people that we hope to help and teach. Here in Argentina they have an extra holiday on Jan 5th called REYES or KINGS to celebrate the wise men that sought out the baby Jesus. It’s for the kids, so the branch had an activity and a ton of people came, so that was super great. A few non-members came too and we now have a few appointments with them. woohoo! :)

So...funny thing this week... So, I had told you guys that we have bikes in this area, which is way sweet. My companions bike is normal but mine is kind of old... alright, it’s way old, but it works...or I should say worked. Haha!!! We were going to the stake center and we had to pass through a little park but the park had a sign that said you couldn’t ride bikes in it, so we went along-side the park but then all of the sudden there was a fence in the road so... I think to myself...I can do a bunny-hop and jump on the sidewalk.... no problem! hahaha So I get ready....Clear the curb but when I come in for the landing… The front tire just totally gives in and I go flying forward. I start BUSTING up laughing because there are people EVERYWHERE in this park. SOOO FUNNY. I didn’t get hurt at all and I don’t know how it didn’t. haha mini miracle. So then I went walking to the church with my bike in two pieces. ha good times. Luckily the branch president has an extra bike so I’m using that for now.

This week when I was talking to Elder Larson we got talking about how sad it is to see people reject the gospel, when they need it so much. Elder Larson nailed it when he said. "It’s just so sad and frustrating at the same time because they need it SO BAD! They have no idea. Just letting us in the door and listening and applying our message will bring them more happiness than they can even imagine. I can’t even describe how essential it is!"

Today I was reading one of my favorite talks by Elder Jeffrey Holland called "Safety For The Soul."  The whole talk is really bold and I loved this one quote, "I testify that one cannot come to full faith in this latter-day work—and thereby find the fullest measure of peace and comfort in these, our times—until he or she embraces the divinity of the Book of Mormon and the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom it testifies. " Think about that a second. It’s bold but I know that it’s true. God has restored His church because He loves us SO MUCH. 

To read the talk please go to:

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/safety-for-the-soul

Finishing touch... Pres. Uchtdorf said this...

"God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!

For what we love determines what we seek.

What we seek determines what we think and do.

What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become."

I love being a missionary and being a member of God’s restored church.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Elder Hjelmstad

P.S. So that’s exciting that Lexi’s in the MTC and Addison’s going to New York on her mission!!! Sweet!! You’re both going to be amazing missionaries!!! I’m so happy for you guys!

Week 74, Venado Tuerto, Argentina

us with the sunset

sunset

Me and my Companion with the Argentina flag

little ornaments that a member made us

Happy New Year!!!

I hope everybody had a great Christmas! It was so fun talking to you guys over Skype and the see everybody. Jaden’s grown up so much and Jenee doesn’t look like my little sister anymore, but older! It was fun chatting with you guys and laughing about some stuff. One more phone call and I’m home! Crazy!!

So.... like you all know it’s new years, a great time to set some goals and get down to business. That’s what I plan on doing. I was thinking about my mission and the little I’ve changed and other things that I still need to change, Andrew nailed it in his letter. Service. Showing love is different than having love. I fell like I can do a lot better at serving my companions as well as investigators and members. Everybody is happier when serving or being served. Mom has always been a huge example of service for me. From cleaning the house to cooking the BEST DINNERS EVER, she does it all and almost never asks for anything in return. I hope I can develop that gift and put it into practice. For in the end it says:

Mosiah 2:17:

“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God”.

Yesterday I got to give a talk in sacrament meeting, at church, and I talked about missionary work and being on the same team. I felt like it went pretty good! I introduced the bracelets that say "walk with me" (that Mom sent me). I explained I was going to hand them out to remind them to talk to their friends about the gospel! They all loved them and I think we are starting to work better with them as a team! We’re excited for our area and want to see it progress!

Woohoo!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

LOVE YOU TONS!!!!

Elder Hjelmstad