Love makes you courageous!

 Me and Hermana Quintana on Christmas Eve.  We got off on the wrong stop and got caught in the closing doors!  What an adventure!

 My awesome amazing zone.  We are Zarate!

 I bought these blowers for the kids Christmas party.  They thought they won the lottery.  Over here its the little things that thrill the kids!

 Mom, this is the yummiest, chubbiest most giggly baby on earth.  You would eat her up.  She was our baby Jesus.  It was hard to not kiss on her all night!

 My primary ninos taking a "swim"

And yes I got to see my mtc comp HEMI!

HOLY SMOKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CANT BELIEVE THE ONE AND ONLY BROOKE LANGE IS CALLED TO THE BEST MISSION IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE HONESTLY.... PLEASE SOMEONE TELL B-LANGE THAT SHES GONNA LOVE HER LIFE DOWN HERE!!!! AND I JUST KNOW IN MY HEART WERE GONNA BE COMPANIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHH YAYYYY BRROOOOKKKKEEE!!!!!!!!! IM SO HAPPY!! IM LITERALLLY CRYING IN THE  KIOSCO!!! ALTO BUDDIES FOR LIFE!!!!!!! 

UMM ALSO I LITERALLY ALMOST DIED WHEN I HEARD NICOLE PADGETT GOT CALLED TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!!! AND NATALIE MY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK THE HEAVENS YOU{RE GOIN BACK HOME! MEXICO 4LIFE.... BUT ARGENTINA IS BETTER:))) SO HAPPY FOR YOU!! SISTA MISSIONARY POWER. I SEND ALL OF MY SISTAS MY LOVE!!!! :)))))

Ohh famlia. It was soo nice to see all of your beautiful faces... even if google chat was super slow. :) My heart wanted to jump when I saw how beautfiul and happy everyone looks! GEEZ DONT HAVE TO MUCH FUN WHILE IM GONE!!!!!!! :)Why do you have all the fun when I leave?  Very suspicious!

So HAPPY NEW YEARS MY PEEPS!!!! WERE EATING GOAT ON NEW YEARS... SO YA MY LIFE KINDA ROCKS. ;) 

My year was kinda legit..not gonna lie. I never thought I would graduate high school, receive my call, go to college, and then leave on a mission alllll in one year!!! Completely crazy!! But seriously I look back and I thank my lucky stars that Heavenly Father has given me all these opportunites. I feel 3853296945872X mature. :) HOLLA.

Sooo I wanna talk to you about Analia. Shes 13 and she reminds me of HANNAH MOCKASINI. So bubbly, so much personality and so happy. We've had about 3 lessons with her and we asked her is she would like to be baptized and she said YES! So now we have to get permission from her parents (who are cray cray catholic). WE PRAY EVERY DAY that they'll say yes. 

Oh but seriously... this sweet little girl. I cant even explain how thankful I am for YW because thats where my testimony REALLY began. Thank you YW program. You help so many girls like me.. who just need some extra love in us. Even if were so cranky and teenage hormones all the time. :) SORRY MOM- that couldnt have been easy having three of us in it at the same time, ouch. Anyways... I told her that having the holy ghost with me through out my life... has made me a better person. I feel so much love from our Heavenly Father because of this gift.  I want her to have this gift so bad. Because I know whats it done for me. 

Anyways in our last lesson, something awesome happened. Her uncle was walking by and saw us and introduced himself. His name is Carlos and he only has his pointer finger and thumb on both of his hands. YAAA KINDA FREAKED ME OUT AT FIRST. Hermana Quintana started asking him QUESTIONS FROM THE HEAVENS. She first asked him if he believed in God. He said yes. Then she asked what does he want from God.. and that question really got him thinking. YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIS FACE. AND then she asked what do you think your purpose is in this life? AND THEN THAT REALLY GOT HIM THINKING. He thought about it for a while and all he could say was.. I dont know?! My jaw dropped. Hermana Quintana was on FIRE with the spirit. Carlos wants lessons pronto. Hes determined to find out what his purpose is in this life and who God really is. :) GOD BLESS CARLOS!!! And the funny part is that when I told Quintana about how awesome her questions were..... SHE TOLD ME SHE DOES NOT REMEMBER EVER ASKING THEM. NOW }, I KNOW MY LANGUAGE ISNT THE BEST... BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT SHE ASKED THOSE QUESTIONS!! . The spirt was working through her and then into Carlos. Fue INCREIBLE.Today in my study.. I read some profound scriptures. Every time I learn something new in the scriptures... I just wanna scream because Im so excited. :) HAHA.

 40 Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot ^abear all thingsnow; ye must ^bgrow in ^cgrace and in the knowledge of the truth.

 41 ^aFear not, little ^bchildren, for you are mine, and I have^covercome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath^dgiven me;

I LOVE THIS BECAUSE we honestly are all babies who only know a tiny bit of the truth. GOD IS SO BIG AND IS FULL OF MYSTERIES. He truly wants there to be many mysteries so that we will seek and ask and constantly come to him in wonder.  Then when he reveals how beautiful the answers are to our hearts, we want to be near him even MORE! But the best way to find more truth is through GROWING IN GRACE- understanding the love that Christ has for us, and receiving a knowledge of truth through and ONLY through the HOLY SPIRIT. These two precious things will help us progress in life. ;) And I kinda found my own little scripture reference to these scriptures: 1 John 4:18-19:

 18 There is no ^afear in ^blove; but perfect ^clove casteth out fear:because fear hath ^dtorment. He that feareth is not made perfect inlove.

 19 We ^alove him, because he first loved us.

LADIES AND GENTLEMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE LOVED US FIRST NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND, THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING! There are people in this world who act in fear. Who go to church only for the reason to show people that they're perfect.  We have to stop the perfect act, it really keeps the most vulnerable away. There are people who dont understand who God is. AND THESE VERSES LEAD US TO WHY, WHY, WHY? WHY do we go to church? WHY do we pray? Why do I love my family? Why am I obeying the rules.. even though it kills the little rebel in me sometimes? Why am I serving a mission? BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT GOD LOVED US IN THE FIRST PLACE. AND WHEN WE HAVE THIS KNOWLEDGE its sooo much easier to give back. To live your life for Jesus. To go to church. To serve a mission. I hooooope I can remember to NEVER FEAR. Yip back on the doubt not fear not bandwagon! Because truly, if I know of that perfect love, theres NO NEED TO FEAR!! A lot like moms famous theory: Theres a monster at the end of the book. We dont have all the knowledge, we're little children, but if we listen to the spirit and feel his grace, we realize its not so scary after all. :) The monster at the end of the book that we are so afraid of is actually the thing that will save us.  Thanks for the book lesson my whole life mom.  Ok familia....

Carry on carry on carry on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas week

                                                            Our Christmas Tree!

                                                    Before the ward Christmas party.....

                                                                  THE PARTAY!

HOLA MI FAMILIA. FELIZ NAVIDAD YALL.

ENJOY THE SNOW. JUST SAYIN.

Alrighty so I only have a little time to email... cause we dont have PDAY today since were getting tomorrow off! Were going up to San Pedro and the whole mission is gonna have this devotional and social. :) I GET TO SEE HERMANA HEMI! 

Second.. about the SKYPE! DAD! Ill email you! I dont know when... but Im hoping for 4 my time..? THE 25!! I think you guys are 4 hours behind... so be ready... mas o menos! WHO KNOWS MAN. HAHA Lima out of all of Buenos Aires North is the hardest to find a place to skype... cause there are NO MEMBERS with computers here.. and the internet is slow. SO IM PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE THAT ILL FIND SOMEONE AND EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY. Hahaha you dont know how many times Ive stressed about this. HAHA. ESTA TODO BIEN. BE WAITING MY LOVELIES.

Some of this week has been hard.  My companions grandpa died.. and shes still not feeling better. SHES MAD AT EVERYTHING. HAHA bless her heart. Honestly it doesnt bug me.. .

 I had the wonderful opportunity to give a talk this Sunday.  I talked about the song Be born in me  and challenged everyone to find a time this week in their mind with just Jesus and ask him to be born in each one of them. I truly felt inspried to say that.. because I did for myself... and it changed mi vida. And Lucas 2:7 how there was no room in the inn for the Savior and how I hoped that we can always have room in our hearts for the Savior.

And then I talked about how the best gift we can offer to our Savior is our sins, weaknesses and PAINS. Ive never preached so hard in my life.  Because I know when you offer that pain to Jesus, HE GIVES YOU MORE STRENGTH AND HAPPINESS THAT YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU COULD HAVE. FAMILY, I feel stronger than ever. 

This christmas... find some time to sing unto Jesus and praise him with all your heart. And LISTEN TO MOMS SONG, BE BORN IN ME. And ask him that question. It will change your life.

Because of the love that Ive felt this week.. I feel more love towards my companion and Im trying to do what the Savior would do.. and that is to love her, love her, love her. I know tomorrow and wednesday is gonna be amazing if we just think about whats most important. And thats the love of the Savior and sharing it with others. Its an honor to feel the love the Savior has for me and other people. I cant even describe the feeling. Jesus heals all. 

LAST OF ALL... the fiesta was BRILLIANT.  GREAT DECORATIONS (ALL BOUGHT BY ME.:)) AND GREAT PEOPLE. AND BEST VIDEO ABOUT THE BIRTH OF THE SAVIOR. . God works through everyone. And hes working through Jorge(2ND COUNSELOR) and us to build the church back up again. MIRACLES HAPPEN EVERY DAY!!!!

SO yesterday I was planning on giving some pesos to the familia Lamas. Theyre a family on our ward who is strong in the church and comes to EVERYTHING! They feed the 4 of us missionaries every Sunday and they have nothing.  But they were in the capital yesterday so I was super bummed.. cause I wanted to get the money to them before Navidad. (IN SECRET OF COURSE)

Anyways... yesterday we were walking and I had this money in my purse for the Lamas. WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN I looked up and saw this family.. even poorer than the Lamas. Theyre just a random family.. but me and HQ see them every day. TONS of little kids all dirty with no clothes. The thought came to my mind that I needed to give this money to that family. SO we passed by again.. and I slid the envelope under their door. WOW. I cant even tell you how good that felt. 

ANYWAYS... MERRY CHRISTMAS YA FILTHY ANIMALS... BAM..... AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. SEE YALL ON MIERCOLES. 

Mi Familia!!!!!  Merry Christmas from Lima Argentina!!! This is Limas town Christmas tree!  How AWESOME IS THAT??????

Ok so I just need to take a quick second and tell you about my amazing stroke of genious!  I took theses pictures of my perfect little ninos in Primary.  We made over 200 copies of these pictures and we are passing them out to as much of Lima and Argentina as we can before Christmas.  It is my Christmas present to the Argentines.  Seriously people, just take a moment and drink in the magic of this adorableness! Our message on the back says, "Do you want this kind of joy on your face?  You may want to read El Libro De Mormon!"    SWEET RIGHT?

Okay first and foremost. HOLY HOLY HOLY HEAVENS TO BETSY. I GOT YOUR PACKAGE!!!!!!!!!!! AND LET ME JUST TELL YA.... I honestly dont think Ive ever been so grateful in my entire life!!  Man my heart strings. Que bonitaaa. Me encanta. Best christmas ever. :):):) 

second... 

SO TRANSFERS WERE YESTERDAY... AND GUESS WHOS STAYING IN LIMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????? THE FANTASTIC FOUR LADIES!!!!! ME,  MY BEST FRIEND LATINA, FUNNIEST CHICA EN EL MUNDO, QUINTANNA, HERMANA ZENDEJAS MY  AMERICAN AMIGA, AND HERMANA CENTENO MI OTRA LATINA AMIGA!!!!!!!!!!!!  My heart is singing IM SO HAPPY! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH FUN WE HAVE TOGETHER! And for christmas.. were gonna have a sleepover... and have the cutest devotional by ME (MOM.. IM GONNA COPY YOU:))  See mom and dad,  all those Christmas deovotionals you gave us while we acted like we didnt care? really did have a payoff! ABout skype.... okay. So HQ cant skype her familia.. :( So its just me! We have some members in Lima who have comps with skype.. SO IM PLANNING on the 25... but IDK what time. :/ Haha everyone is almsot tooo chill here and late for everything! So im gonna figure it out and let ya know next monday!! :) Argentina time= forget that time exists and do whatever you want whenever you want, grrrr, ok its all about the positive attitude people ;)

Oh man this week. FREAKING HOT. My body is dying!! Its slowwwwwwwwly adjusting to this weather. Its soooo humid. My body is constantly sweating! BUT I HAVE A HUGE STASH OF DEODERANT (thanks mom, everyone in Argentina thanks you for that) THANK THE HEAVENS. :)  We'll be out for like 20 minutes and were dying!! SO LOTS OF WATER!!I feel like I drink gallons and gallons of water just to make it through the day.  GAHHH!!

This week I had another amazing I LOVE PEOPLE experience. On Thursday we got a call from this girl, Mayra who is from a less active family. So we went to her house that night... wondering why a little 10 year old wanted the missionaries over so badly? This girl is the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen. Her eyes just sparkle. It kinda breaks my heart she can't go to church because HQ was telling me before that SHE SETS HER ALARM every Sunday to go to church and she tries to sneak out.. but her mom always catches her and pretty much forbids her to go. Anyways.. we shared a scriputre with her and said a prayer. After the prayer Hermana Quintana asked a question which truly came straight from the heavens. She asked Mayra if she was feeling sad. This sweet little 10 year old broke out in tears. She said that her parents had recently been seperated and shes sad because she wants her whole family to be together for Christmas. There was one day when the dad came to pick her up but her mom had a nervous breakdown.. and ended up in the hospital. Ah man. My heart broke for that little girl. She was soo broken. She just wants everyone to be okay. Shes worried for her mama. She has sooo much on her little shoulders. As I was hugging her.. I thought in my head... WHAT SCRIPTURE can I share with a 10 year old who will understand and apply it to her life?!! AND THE HEAVENS OPENED AND GOD SAID TO ME ONE WORD, ONE NAME. PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PAUL TERRY-  MY BROTHER PAUL!! MY CUTE LITTLE BROTHER PAUL THAT WRITES A SCRIPTURE ON THE BOTTOM OF HIS SHOES TO HELP HIM REMEMBER WHO HE IS.  MY PAUL WHO WRITES "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME" ON THE BOTTOM OF EVERY PAIR OF SHOES HE OWNS!  So thats what I did. I shared Alma 26:12 with her and repeated to her over and over.. we can do all things through Christ. Christ is watching little Mayra in the night. When shes crying. When she feels lost. When she wakes up in the morning. When shes praying and feels like shes not getting an answer. I felt sooo much love from Christ for her . As a representative of Jesus Christ, I am able to feel this love that I cant even explain. Its too much for me at times!! Sometimes after these experiences, I just feel exhausted.  When Padre Celestial fills you up with how much love he feels for people, I think its almost more than the physical body can handle.  But I'm always so grateful for the chance to try to grasp his heart. 

Anyways I went home that night and cried and prayed for that sweet little spirit. I was crying for her pain.  But then Heavenly Father picks me up and tells me, My beloved daughter Marie, you are feeling what Im feeling when I see my children like this. I JUST KNOW. I JUST KNOW. GOD IS NOT GONNA LEAVE US ALONE. I PROMISE. I PROMISE. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE ON SATURDAY MAYRA TOLD US that her parents are back together and shes so excited for Navidad. God listens to our prayers. Hes always making the way for us. WE JUST HAVE TO TRUST. AND WHEN GOD SEES THAT WE TRUST HIM... HE POURS OUT HIS BLESSINGS FOR US!!!! Its the most beautiful cycle! FIRST THE PERFECT ACCEPTING FAITH OF HIS WILL, THEN THE MANIFESTATION OF WHO HE IS AND WHAT HE CAN DO! And Im horrible at explaining things and I know my grammar stinks... BUT I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT GOD LOVES YOU. TRUST HIM. TRUST HIM. TRUST HIM.

Remember Jorge? The less active we started visiting MY FIRST WEEK HERE? WELL GUESS WHAT??? HES NOW THE 2nd counselor in the bishopbric. How amazing/perfect is that?!!! He went from a man who became less active after his mission, feeling lonely and sad... TO A NEW MAN WHO LOVES THE CHURCH! Familia... I gotta tell you about a miracle. OKay... so I pray to Padre Celestial , [What do we need for the less actives and the members to thrive in LIMA?[ and then I had a random thought about student council. I was like.. WHAT. NOW IS NOT THE TIME MARIE. TO REHASH STUDENT COUNCIL! BUT then it hit me!! STUDENT COUNCIL WAS ALL ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, UNITED AS ONE. AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT???!!! Activities. Activities. Activities. 

So one time when we were visiting Jorge I told him about my idea and I felt so dumb about it because it felt like it would be IMPOSSIBLE to carry out.

BUT YESTERDAY HE CAME TO US AND HAS HE COOLEST PLAN FOR A NAVIDAD FIESTA FOR THIS SATURDAY!! ASADO...TONS OF HELADO AND TORTA(amazing Argentine food)... GAMES... NATIVITY... AND SINGING BY THE ONE AND ONLY HERMANA TERRY (SORRY LIMA, IM DOIN IT)!! DUDE IM SOOOO EXCITED!! WERE INVITING SERIOUSLY ALL OF LIMA!!! THis is gonna help the ward sooo much. WE NEED IT.  FUN HEALS PEOPLE.  I remember mom told me that once and I thought it was lame, but now I think its so important! Because we have like less than 20 active members. GOD HAS A PLAN FOR LIMA!!!!!! 

I wanna share you a quote I read in the BEST BOOK THAT MY FRIEND SYD GAVE ME. :) 

Father, where shall I work today? 
And my love flowed warm and free. 
Then He pointed out a tiny spot 
And said, “Tend that for me.” 
I answered quickly, “Oh no; not that! 
Why, no one would ever see, 
No matter how well my work was done; 
Not that little place for me.” 
And the word He spoke, it was not stern; 
He answered me tenderly: 
“Ah, little one, search that heart of thine. 
Art thou working for them or for me? 
Nazareth was a little place, 
And so was Galilee.” 
--Meade McGuire

Family. I know this is where I need to be. The people here need loving and tending. And little by little the church will grow and the baptisms will come. Wherever we are called to serve I HOPE we can remember that GOD LOVES ALL. And we need to PUT OUR TRUST IN HIM that he has placed us in the right place. :) 

I wake up to a song stuck in my head every morning. It fills my whole soul with joy and peace and Im ready for the day. CAN YOU GUESS WHAT SONG IT IS?!! The song that MOM PLAYED OVER AND OVER ALL MY LIFE AND IVE ALWAYS HATED... BUT NOW IM IN LOVE WITH. Ladies and gents... moms fav song, THE REAL ME by Natalie Grant. 

"BUT YOU SEE THE REAL ME.. HIDING IN MY SKIN, BROKEN FROM WITHIN.. UNVEIL ME.. COMPLETELY. IM loosening my grasp. Theres no need to mask my frailty, cause you see the REAL ME. WONDERFUL! BEAUTIFUL!!! IS WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU LOOK AT ME! YOURE TURNING THE TATTERED FABRIC OF MY LIFE INTO A PERFECT TAPESTRY!!!"

Oh I hope we can remember that Jesus sees us as wonderful, beautiful, precious children. Always always always remember that you beautiful creatures. :)

Well I think this email is a little too long. :) LO SIENTO. 

So I just gotta say... the mission is so fun. Again, fun is healing and brings people together.  What a beautiful lesson about clean wholesome wonderful fun!  Like I learn something new about myself every day. I get to feel Gods love for me and his children every day. AND sometimes I get to just cry it out. Cry out all of my worries and discomforts that come from the mish. And then I get to tell God that I trust him and tell him that I will forever endure any kind of PAIN because it opens my soul to Jesus Christ. :)

You bet your bottom dollar that I belt out "PART OF YOUR WORLD" CADA DIA DURING LUNCH WITH THE OTHER HERMANAS!!I I WANNA BE WHERE THE ARGENTINES ARE, I WANNA SEE WANNA SEE THEM CHANGING!" Sometimes the hermanas laugh, sometimes they are silent. I just tell myself they love it, it helps me!!!! I LOVE MY LIFE!!!

K last thing. I was studying in Luke today and found the most beautiful words that came from the mother of Jesus Christ, Mary. I want to be like this woman. We all need to be like her. She lived her life in sacrifice of her son.  So can we.  I hope we can have the love for the Savior like she did. 

 46 And Mary ^asaid, My soul doth ^bmagnify the Lord,

 47 And my spirit hath ^arejoiced in God my ^bSaviour.

 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his ^ahandmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me ^bblessed.

 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great ^athings; and ^bholyis his name.

 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the^aproud in the imagination of their hearts.

 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of ^alow degree.

 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

 54 He hath ^aholden his servant Israel, in remembrance of hismercy;

LETS US ALL SING AND REJOICE OF OUR LORD, THE NEWBORN KING!!! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS MY DARLINGSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PEACE AND BLESSINSS!! FROM HT IN LIMA ARGENTINA LIVIN THE LIFE. XOXOOXOX JESUS LOVES YOU XOXOXXO  SO DO I!!!!!!

I am totally and completely unrepentant that I opened this amazing Christmas package as soon as I got it, and Im so glad I did!  Im loving the fun things.  Thank you so much!

I eat alot of this!  Be jealous---or not!

Alot of teasing and goofing off.  I did not know how fun a mission could be!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A MESSAGE TO CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heaven sent rainbows appear in Argentina

Oh my sweet familia- 

:) The office received your package on Wednesday and an elder is coming to to Lima to drop it off this week!!  IM GONNA OPEN IT the minute I get it!! Cant wait for Christmas, sorry folks! Honestly you didnt have to send me anything!!   Its funny, I dont want presents or anything for Christmas, I just want to be with the people we are teaching and spend the day loving them.  Heavenly Father is making it so easy for me.  IM SO EXCITED TO SKYPE YOU GUYS ON CHRISTMAS!  HOLY SMOKES!! :) No se si es la 24 o la 25?? Hmmm. And i think its for only 35 minutes so ya. I know Im gonna cry. :) And.. TRANSFERS are next week. IMMM SOOO HAPPY because I will stay in Lima. :) But I dont know if me and Hermana Q will be together. :( WAA. That breaks my heart. I need to tell you a story about my sweet companion.

So last Sunday Hermana Quintana was up alll night because she felt like God was telling her that we needed to knock on doors on this one specific street. When she told me in the morning I told her that what she was feeling and thinking was TRUE. And I KNOW THAT GOD was telling her to do it. She is so connected and in tune with the people of this area.  So she shared that story  last week in our zone meeting.  People were not very nice to her telling her they doubted that was God telling her that because we have not yet been given permission to knock on doors there. They treated her like she was making trouble as opposed to trying to act on a prompting. We held our cool. And then we came home and we both turned into two dramatic, fiery Whitney Houstons. Ive never seen HQ cry in my life. But that day I saw her in so much pain. All because she feels like she can never trust if she feels the spirit but and in my head im like.. Girl-  To thine own heart be true!. So then HQ told me that she feels like she doesnt have enough faith. She KNOWS God loves our investigators... but she doesnt know if God loves her. In that moment  I prayed in my head sooo hard. Heavenly Father HELP me know what to say. And I waited and waited. I was trying to comfort her... but she just couldnt take it. She NEVER cries. I dont think shes ever cried until then. Everything started to make sense..

And then I heard Dios in my head.  I need to tell someone this because it was truly amazing. He told me in mi mente," Rita, Rita, Rita (hermana Quintanas name) Come to me, Im right here". So much love filled my whole body from God for her. I prayed and asked if I should tell her what I was feeling. I already knew the answer. I held my broken companions hand and told her that Dios is calling for you. Rita, Rita, Rita, Venid a mi, Venid a mi, Venid a mi. I TESTIFIED that God is happy with her. That she doesnt need to worry about anything because shes working SO HARD. Mom remember how you always said," Do your best forget the rest?"  Your best is more than good enough and I told her that.  And that if she feels we need to knock on doors, we will set up an appointment with the mission president and get permission to do it because she needs to knock on those doors. I then told her say a prayer FOR HERSELF. Oh mom, it was so beautiful. She poured her soul out to God. She said she feels mad at him sometimes. She said she needed help. She said she wants to know if she is gonna be okay. I couldnt believe I could speak and understand her fully in Spanish. That has been the only time where I fully understood everything. And whats sooo beautiful about God is that even though my sweet comp needed love from God, I GOT TO HEAR AND FEEL IT FROM HIM FOR ME AS WELL. I felt him tell me that this is why your parents told you that you're gonna love your comps as much as the people you teach. I felt him tell me that this is another reason why I need to be in Lima. And even though I cant speak the language fluently, that God was gonna use me to show Rita Mariel Quintana that she is a precious beloved daughter of God who he adores.  I learned something that day. Yes... we need to pray for the people in Lima. Thats soooo important. BUT WE AS MISSIONARIES are important. WE NEED to be fully converted to God and filled up with love from him in order to preach his gospel to his children. We need to be fed the words of Christ and fed in prayer of his love cada dia in order for us to be filled with the spirit. God loves all of his children. His missionaries are just as important.  On Saturday we met with our mission President, President Ayre.  He was so incredibly kind to us.  He told us he loves us together as a companionship and he loved Hermana Quintanas promptings.  He had the opposite reaction to her feelings, than the reaction she got at the zone conference.  Its ok, we as missionaries are all very young and learning, especially me. I read my patriarchal belssing every day because I remembered in one of your letters you said to fill my mind with positive thoughts and love! And thats what I do. All because of you. I have that thing memorized. :) One of my favorite parts, is that it says I was called on an earthly mission.  It gets me that I am on a mission in a foreign country on earth, but I also received a call to come to earth and serve a life mission.  It just touches me now for some reason.  

 Guess what? Me and Hermana Quintana  had the sweetest lesson with Jorge and Carla. Carla was feeling so mad at her rebellious teenage daughter. She asked both of us what did our moms do that made us who we are today. OUCH. What ME?  I was never rebellious or difficult???? Ok so truth I started crying because I know I was a challenge at times. I told Carla about how the armies of Helamen had theses mothers of STEEL. Who never doubted their sons to triumph in the end, who loved them and taught them about Jesus. And I told her that was Mi madre.  My mom loved me no matter what or how I was acting. Even when I was a complete stinker she still loved me. She gave me confidence every day that I was a good person and I would always triumph in the end. She told me she loved me and that God loves me all the time. I am who am today because of that. AND I said it all in espanol. :)  I hope you guys can feel me. I feel you all the time near me. I feel confident and loved.  HAHA. WHY??? Because you gave me the confidence, that I am unique and worthwhile, and even my weaknesses will bring me closer to God. That lesson is so sacred and so important to me. I think its why I am in Lima.  So I can teach what I was taught. 

The other day I couldnt remember the English word for Ingles.  I know its completely ridiculous, but the languages are mixing up in my head, and the frustration of not being able to say exactly what I want to say is nearly driving me mad!  I lost it the other day and started yelling, I CANT SAY ANYTHING I WANT TO SAY in English at my poor companion who cant speak one word of English.  I think she sensed what I was saying because she said in Spanish, BE CALM HERMANA TERRY.  You are doing so much better with the language than you think you are"  She is so warm and kind to me, like an argentine mother.  President Ayre said I was very very lucky to come to Argentina with no waiting on a visa. I was one of a small group who got to come with no waiting.  He said they aren't doing that anymore and missionaries are being reassigned again.  I think I was supposed to come straight here for a reason, and I need to walk by faith that the language will come, and my best is good enough. 

 I gotta tell you. I share D&C 6:36 with all of Lima. All my little kiddos have it memorized in Primary and its all thanks to you.  They even scream it a little the way the Springville primary did! My goal is to get all of Lima to memorize this scripture. Seriously memorized scriptures have changed my life. HQ loves my idea. She helps me when I cant explain it perfectly in Spanish. :) She has totally caught the vision of the"doubt not fear not" movement.  And every time I teach it I always think of you! :) ELEVAD HACIA MI TODO PENSAMIENTO; NO DUDEIS, NO TEMAIS! Memorize it! Repeat it!  It will change your whole outlook on life and come to you when you least expect it!  :)

So last Monday after emails, we came home to take a nap. HAHA our apartment is sooo stinkin small- like width of your arms small. But I love it. Its homey. :) I got in my bed and I started to cry- just a little. I needed my mom. I needed someone to give me a hug and tell me that Im gonna be okay. I pulled out my dear elder letters and read your letter about your BEAUTIFUL story about the Rainbow. And when we give Christ our pain (rain) He gives us light and strength (sun) And it creates this rainbow in our life and heart and on rare occasions, actually in the sky. So I gave Dios (Dios is God in espanol. Its honestly so much better than God. The name Dios feels like home to me. Dios is my friend.;))all of  my rain. And asked him for a rainbow. I asked him for light. I asked him for strength. And then I fell asleep. My dream was sooo comforting. I cant remember  what I was dreaming... but I woke up with a smile on my face. And I felt so much better.  ANGELS come to missionaries living spaces.  I know this.

Anyways we walk outside and GUESS WHAT.The most beautiful rainbow Ive ever seen is beaming in the Argentine sky.  And so I took a picture of it because it was a miracle to me.   Im eternally grateful for you guys sharing your experiences with Dios, because you taught me that I can talk to God and ask him for anything. :) I cant prove it, but Im just sayin, I think he put the rainbow there because I asked to hear from him, and a reminder that we are still so connected.  LOVE YOU GUYS!  CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!!!!!!!!!!!