Week 37 Santa Fe, Argentina

At the ZOO

Monkey trying to take the camera????

(I love that he looks so happy and is having fun!!!)

Monkey shaking my hand!!!

SO sounds like things really got switched up in the Temecula stake! How cool! Dad you will be a GREAT First counselor! Just take it one step at a time!

And it sounds like you guys had a blast with the Foleys! Thanks for sending me all those pics and sharing your experiences with me!

This week went way good! We met a lot of great people and have some baptismal dates! Only bummer.... almost nobody came to church!!! I really believe that going to church is one of the most important parts in receiving an answer that these things are true! I’m so grateful for the Pauba Ward and the amazing leaders that helped me progress to where I’m at now! Seriously, going to church is so important and so essential in the maintaining of our testimonies. For me, going to church is like charging batteries, filling up the gas tank, or adding sticks to the fire. In the church is where we receive the personal revelation and comfort we need to be able to handle the stuff during the week! I hope we never lose the desire to go to church. I’m so excited for you guys and the new Morgan Hill ward!

So just about 15 min ago I got a call from Bro. Z, he told me that Antonella, the Hairdresser, just uploaded a picture of the baptismal invitation that we gave her when she accepted to get baptized on May 6th. She’s so awesome! She really has a desire to get baptized and I know that that is all that God asks of us. Claudia, the widow, is doing really great and we had a great lesson about her husband because she wanted to know where he was and how he’s doing. I’m so grateful for the knowledge we have that we can see and live with our loved ones forever! We have 2 couples that are still doing the things to get married so they can get baptized so the work is moving forward!

Today we went and played soccer and then played handball...basically like water polo out of water! SO FUN!!! I loved it! Then we went to the ZOO!!! We finally went because it’s my last pday here in Santa Fe! We had tons of fun checking out all the animals but the monkeys were by far the best. I shook its hand. It was awesome. Then it started grabbing the other Elders stuff and almost got an Elders camera! haha so funny. It was a little zoo, but good enough! haha

Pday is on Tuesday next week!

But I’m doing good! Need to lose weight but Elder Larson gave me a whole thing of peanut butter, so I ate that the whole week. Actually ate the whole thing in 5 days. :)

I’m excited for transfers because I’m finally leaving!! Almost 7 months in Santa Fe! We had interviews with President this past week and it was really great. I love that guy. He’s really changing around the mission so we can have more success. I love being a missionary! Thank you for all of your support!!

LOVE,

Elder Hjelmstad

Shout outs:

Grandma Cassie- haha thanks for the email! I forgive you for sending them to the wrong address!

Jade- Dont fall down anymore stairs! haha

Jenee- Stop having fun!

Mom and Dad- keep up the good work. I LOVE you guys so much. THANK YOU!




Week 36 Santa Fe, Argentina

Happy Easter!!!!

Family!!!!

Thanks for writing me everybody! I love reading your email’s. Every week I get super excited to see what you guys did and how everything’s going in t-mec!

This week was pretty good! Tons of failed appointments, but we did our best! We have a bunch of prospective investigators and just need to capitalize on them!

Easter was great though! They don’t look for eggs or anything like that but one thing that they do is make chocolate eggs! I bought one and somebody gave us a little chicken one. Another thing that they do is on Good Friday they don’t eat red meat. Everybody eats fish!

I LOVED THE EASTER PACKAGE! We waited until Easter morning to open our bags. Elder Smith was really grateful. Thanks for sending that to him.

Sooooo BIG NEWS...Elder Hjelmstad has gained 10 pounds! hahaha shoooooot. I started my diet today. :) And since I started my diet today, I pretty much ate all my candy yesterday. I felt like crudd. haha but it was great!!

We had a bunch of people that promised they were going to come to church but in the end, only one person came! :/ We were really bummed. We hope to really turn it around this week and extend baptismal dates. I really want to baptize before I leave Liceo, but we’ll see!

So another fun thing that happened this week was that the lights went out Wednesday night because there was a storm. We thought they’d come on in the morning but...nope. Never came back on. We realized we didn’t pay the electricity bill. The office was closed until today, so we’ve been living without lights for 4 days. haha fun stuff.

Oh and on Thursday it was Elder S.’s b-day. So he opened his package from his family at night and when he pulled everything out 2 little candy looking things fell out, so I naturally thought it was candy and ate them. Quickly realized it wasn’t candy. They were 2 dye tablets for coloring eggs. I was rinsing my mouth out for about 15 min straight. Hahahahaha!!! So moral of the story.... remember to pay the electric bill so you don’t accidently eat dye. hahaha :)

I was thinking a lot this week about the importance of Easter. I never understood the true WHY of the resurrection of Christ. I knew it was important, sure, but never really thought what significance it has for me. I thought and I have learned that Christ was resurrected so we can live with our families forever and not just "til death do us part." I’m so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that created a perfect plan for us. We came to learn and to receive a body like He has. Thanks to Him we CAN be eternal families but it’s conditional. We must learn to walk by faith and obey all the commandments. Christ suffered and died for our sins and rose again so we can live with God and our families again. I’m so grateful for this understanding because I know that there is hope in this world and that this life isn’t just time passed by but every day is another chance that God gives us to repent and come unto Him.

Ether 12:4

Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

I love you guys so much and think about you constantly!

Love,

Elder Hjelmstad

Jenee- Utah, youth conference, and senior year stuff. I’m so jealous!

Dad- Keep goin to the gym! I miss it!

Mom- Give Natalie and the girls a hug from me!

Grandpa- Thanks for the support and updates!

Tyler- Miss ya bud! and you can't get married until I get back. hahah jk

Week 35 Santa Fe, Argentina

"This is Martin and Isabel.

They're waiting for papers to get married. Great people."

"us choppin down 3 little trees with Bro T. LOVE THAT GUY!!!"

Hey Family!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKIE!!!! You’re 22!! You’re old!!! haha

So this week was really good! We taught a lot of people and getting close to some baptisms!

There’s a lady named Claudia that’s listening to us and she’s way cool! She has 4 kids and is a widow.

We are also starting to teach a girl that’s way cool! Pretty much a miracle too! So one day (6 weeks ago) I had to get a hair cut, so we went to a place and he said that he closed at 12:30. So we told him we’d be there right before he closed. We went back and he had already closed. So there was another place to get a hair cut around the corner, so we went and the girl (23 years old) just has her own place. So we went in and I sat down and we started talking, as she was cutting my hair. I told her that my sister cuts hair and my mom did nails and stuff and then we got talking about the states and stuff and then we left. I talked a ton because I felt like I was talking to Jackie! Haha!! Then we went by a members house nearby and they asked me if I’d gotten my hair cut around the corner. I said, ”yeah” and she said that they’re friends and that she listened to the missionaries when she was little! COOL! This past week I got my hair cut again and I asked her if she’d every talked to missionaries before and stuff and she said ya and that she didn’t know why they stopped coming. She then said that she’s never been baptized and I told her we could help with that and she said, “okay”! We’re going by tomorrow and I hope everything goes great! MIRACLES!!

General Conference was amazing wasn’t it!? We got to go to Saturday morning and then the two on Sunday. I was SOOO excited for conference this year because it’s so great to receive counsel from living prophets and apostles! We’re sooooo lucky to have prophets and apostles that speak to us! I know that Christ has restored His church through a prophet like He has always done. I know they are inspired of God! Oh and this time I understood everything! We watched it in English! haha but really I’ve had some questions and stuff that I want to get better at and many of the talks were perfect. I’m so grateful for conference and it was so cool to think you guys were doing the same thing as I was! And how cool is that that you guys got 4 tickets from a guy that spoke Spanish! Miracles! I can’t wait to get back and talk to those people! Please send me the magazine of the talks when you get it!

So a cool thing and funny thing from this week:

COOL...We were walking home at night really fast because we didn’t want to be late and we were far from the apt when a horse cart stops and 3 guys asks us if we wanted a ride so I said YEAH!!! So we got in and I had just bought a bananas so I gave the guy a banana and he took us pretty much all the way to the pinch! Way cool guys! haha so cool.

FUNNY...So you know that you’re in Argentina when the precious peanut butter that your Mom sent you from the states falls and squirts out onto the ground and you stare, think about how dirty the floor is, and then take your finger and eat it all. Yup. I’m becoming Argentine. :)

Alrighty, I don’t have anything else! LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Your Missionary in Argentina that eats off the ground at times,

Elder Hjelmstad

SHOUT OUTS!

Jenee- Way cool you picked out a hair school!

Addison- I got your mini package! Thanks so much!

Dad- Thanks for your notes!

Grandpa- Thanks for the updates!

Mom, Jen and Jade- Drive safe!

Brother and Sister Zambrano- Thank you for the Reeses pieces and mac and cheese!

Week 34 Santa Fe, Argentina

"We also got to do service this week and cut a ton of weeds! But guess what we used? A MACHETE AND A REAPER! Sweeeeeeeet. Argentine style."

Hey guys!

The week flew by like always. Can’t believe that tomorrow I’ll complete 8 months in the mission and 6 months in Liceo tomorrow. Totally crazy. TIME FLIES. But sounds like you guys are doing great! Have fun looking for schools and going to conference up there! And you got to hang out with the Colbster!? NOT FAIR! I miss that guy! I want to know where he’s going serve his mish! Please let me know ASAP!

SO this week we went by Ezekiels house and he told us that he didn’t make it because his bike got 2 flat tires about 15 miles away. He was really bummed that so many things went wrong. We told him to forget about it and that we’d have his baptism when he wanted. He said he wanted to get baptized on the 24th! Sweet! So we planned all the stuff and everything was great! He ended up getting his old job back that he loved and was way happy. We called him on Friday night and asked how everything was and he said he was good for the next day. SO baptism started at 6pm and he worked the morning so we called him around lunch and his phone was off. We called him over and over again and nothing. 5:10 comes around and we decide to run to his house to check on him. Wasn’t there. Kept calling...nothing. Said a prayer. People started showing up. 6:00, still nothing. We ran to his house again...nothing. We then sang hymns until 6:45 and then left. :( I was really bummed. We still haven’t seen him or been able to talk to him. But I don’t want you guys to think that I’m all sad or stuff because I’m not! I know he will get baptized one day! Maybe not right now, but he will.

We also got to do service this week and cut a ton of weeds! But guess what we used? A MACHETE AND A REAPER! Sweeeeeeeet. Argentine style. The reaper was a work out and the machete killed my shoulder, but we got it done! The Family we served is awesome too! Her names Claudia and her and her son Hermam came to church! She’s a widow of 4 years and we’re trying to help her! Way cool lady.

So yesterday for studies we listened to a fireside by John Bytheway called Righteous Warriors. It was so good! He talked about all the war chapters in Alma and how they relate to us! He said a lot of things that I wish I would’ve known when I was in high school! He talked a lot about preparing ourselves against the evils of the world and never letting ourselves be lured out of the city gates. He said when talking about the Stripling warriors, "Its one thing to know that the church is true, and another thing to be true to the church." They understood the commandments and obeyed them! Alma 57:21! He went on saying by obeying and doing EVERYTHING within the church we build our fort against Satan. He said a lot of the time we give in to temptation because we think were in control when were really not. Because when were "High on drugs, were low on agency." Heavenly Father gave us the chance to choose so we can LEARN! President Benson said, "Its better to prepare and prevent than repair and repent." I LOVE THAT: Follow the guidelines set forth in the scriptures and by the prophet. I know we will be blessed by doing so. I wish I would’ve known this in high school!

But were doing good here in Liceo! I love you guys so much and hope everything’s going well.

Love,

Elder Hjelmstad

Shout outs:

Aunt Penny- I hope you guys had fun up in the snow! I hope you didn’t "pull a Josh" and break your leg like I did.

Grandpa- Too bad BYU lost and the 49ers didn’t get Peyton. GO LAKERS! haha

Jen- Good to hear Dan asked you to prom. I approve.

Jade- Can’t wait to see you play volleyball!

Dad- Go play bball outside! It’s a good way to relax.

Mom- You’re so busy its insane! Have fun in Utah!




Week 33 Santa Fe, Argentina

Sergio and his wife getting married!!!

Congrats to the Mr. & Mrs.!!!!

Sergio and Elder Hjelmstad!!!

Love that they are all wet!

Pure. Joy.

Hey familia!

This week has been completely crazy, long, and stressful. But yeah!

So Sergio got baptized so that was super, super cool. He is an amazing guy, that will be a great leader in the church. He got married on Friday and baptized on Saturday. Such a champ. The weddings are super simple here. They do it in a little office in the government building. About 20 people went to see them get married. We went in the little room and they do it sitting down and basically the official talks about the commitment they’re making and then they sign the papers and boom! They’re married! I really gained a strong testimony of the importance of marriage because even though it was just a little tiny wedding in an office, the spirit was so strong and they were so happy! It was so cool being there seeing him receive all these blessings in one weekend! On Saturday, we did some service cutting grass and then prepared all the stuff for the baptism like inviting people, refreshments, and cleaning up the chapel. We had it all ready and called Sergio and Ezekiel to see how they were doing. Ezekiel told us that it was going to be hard to get there at 5:00 and might be a little late but that he’d do his best. The baptism rolled around and Sergio came with his wife and we changed and everything and waited until 5:15 and started without Exekiel. He never came. :( We called a bunch of times but the phone was off or dead. The service went fine, just a ton of stress but I had a smile on the whole time! haha totally crazy. There’s a ton of little details, but I don’t have enough time to explain them all. But I baptized Sergio and it was totally great. I love that guy and I’m so excited for him and his wife.

Alma 36:34-26

24 Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost

25 Yea, and now behold, O my son, the Lord doth give me exceedingly great joy in the fruits of my labors;

26 For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God.

I LOVE that scripture!!!!

So Elder S. wanted to send off a tape that he had talked into and stuff so we went to the office to send it. The guy asked us what it was and I told him that my comp had recorded his voice and wanted to send it to his parents. The guy looked at us like we were crazy and then told us that it was ILLEGAL. haha he said that it could have secret info and they couldn’t send it.... so... ya. haha so going "old school" is now illegal. haha :)

Oh, so I got a bunch of church music from a member and there is a song called "Give it all to him" SUPER GOOD! I love it!

So were living with two new elders now. Elder S. from Idaho and Elder L. from Texas. They’re both great guys and it’s fun having mini America when were in the apt. ha

So that was pretty much the week! Little crazy! I really hope that we can find more people that are ready to listen to us. I don’t really have anything else to say! These weeks are flying by!

I love you all so much and hope everything’s going great!

Elder Hjelmstad

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

Week 31 Santa Fe, Argentina

Eva at her baptism

Woohoo! Eva got baptized! Kinda crazy but it ended up being a really spiritual baptismal service. We had everything ready and were waiting at the chapel at 5:00 when the baptism started at 6:00. Eva and her family got there at like 5:20 and 2 minutes later I realized...We didn’t have her baptismal clothes...We quickly ran to the pinch (10 min) and grabbed them and walked super fast back. We got back at 5:45 and waited for the rest of the members to come and stuff. We invited a ton of people but only very few came but it didn’t matter because it was all about Eva. I baptized her and even though she swallowed a little bit of water, she felt great! When she walked in after she had changed her clothes she said, "Estoy bien" (I’m good) with a smile. It was really great to see another daughter of God be baptized in His church. I’m so blessed that I’m here to witness these miracles.

This week I don’t really have much to talk about but I read something this morning when I was studying that I loved. I was reading in the Bible in John when it talks about Lazarus rising from the dead. I’ve always loved this miracle and I don’t really know why. I was thinking about it and it’s really similar to how, thanks to Jesus Christ, we will all rise from the dead in the resurrection. Every single one of us will live after this life to be judged before God, thanks to Him. Because this is possible we have the potential to live with our families forever. How amazing is the Atonement of Christ. Also I believe that in every one of our lives, we come to a point when Christ saves us. From physical danger, as well as spiritual danger. I know, that is how it was for me. I know that Chirst still works miracles because I know that I am one. I’m so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.

K I have to go! Sorry it was a shorty. I love you all so much and will send you the pics of Evas baptism and then Ezekiels thatll happen this weekend.

LOVEEEE YOUUUU!!!

Elder Hjelmstad.

Oh something cool. ahha so the first counselor in the bishopric couldn’t pronounce my last name so he said "Elder HLJ." HLJ means ctr (choose the right) in English! haha Haz lo justo. I thought it was cool! Anyways chao!