I am what I am!

 This is the cutest grandma you will ever meet.  She is in our ward.  She can laugh like a duck and it makes you laugh twice as hard when she does it.

Ive gained some weight hahahaha

DONT CRY FOR ME UTAHHH. IM NEVER COMING BACK. CAUSE I LOVE ARGENTINA SOOO MUCH!!

Ya know. I gotta tell you guys somethin. Before the mish everrrrryone told me, ¨¨oh Marie good luck with those Argentines. Theyre very prideful.¨¨ 

Then i come here and then more Paraguayas and Peruvians and Uraguayans are like.. OH GOOD LUCK WITH THEM THEY ARE SO COLD!

Ive really been thinking about it. WHAT AN HONOR. What an honor it is to be serving in a place where people need God so much to soften and love them. There are people that are harsh, but its because theyre sooo sad. Me and my comp were talking and we both realized that Buenos Aires might be the loneliest city in the world because its a city of business and most people live to go to work and thats it. Soooooo many people that live alone. It breaks my heart. . The people are so harsh. Im just gonna say.. I love these people like Jesus does. And hopefully they will break and come to God. :) I have faith in these wonderful children of God. Theres no need to be lonely. we got out best friend on our side. Hes fighting for us. :). 

Me and Hermana Torres were coming back home on the train. There was this woman sitting alone and her face absolutely BROKE my heart. K let me just explain to you what her face looked like. You know when youre trying sooooooo hard... with allll your might to hold back the tears.. and you have a lump in your throat? Ya thats what she looked like. Her lips were shaking.. and tears filled her eyes. 

I knew in this moment.. I couldnt let her go feeling like this. BUT WHAT could i possibly do? 

Right when she looked at me, I smiled at her. Through this smile I tried to tell her, LADY ON THE TRAIN!! YOU ARE NOT ALONE, GOD IS WITH YOU! And then I thought..

What is the spirit telling me to do??

It came sooooo fast. And soooo quiet.

But I caught it. :) My hand first reacted to the response and I pulled out a little sticky note. On this sticky note me and my comp wrote her what we felt. You are a daughter of God! God loves you! We know that whatever trial you have, God will be with you! Have a good day! Then we signed it the missionaries and gave her our number and put www.mormon.org. :)

When i gave it to her she was so happy! She said that she just found out her son has cancer and is going to go visit him. She said that when I smiled at her she knew that it was from God and that he told her that hes there for her. She said that we came to her in the exact moment. when she needed it the most. 

Shes not from belgrano:( but shes interested in the church! awesome huh?!! :) Planting seeds, thats what we do.  What an honor.

This week was our last week with Juan. Juan is an investigator that we've had for 1 month!! I KNOW. Its wayyyyy too long. He wanted to get baptized but is too darn stubborn to do anything. Hes someone that we just couldnt let go. He has depression and has had a lot of sad things happen to his life. He lives alone and literally has no money. We have a genuine love for him.

So our hearts were full Thursday night. We decided that it would be the last time we taught him and the last try to invite him to be baptized the following Sunday. 

When he came to talk to us he was very open! He told us that the doctor told him he needs to see a psychologist. He told us that he is so mad with his family and with his ex wife. He told us that its soo hard to forgive. He just feels hopeless. He doesnt have any motivation to do anything. We talked about leccion 3 (fe, arrepentimiento, bautismo, don del espiritu, perseverar hasta al fin.) but he wouldnt listen. :( 

He told us he had been abused by his grandpa and thinks that thats why hes like this. Me and my comp wanted to die. All of our thoughts.. All of our prayers.. are all meant for this man. he kept saying that hes mad at God and doesnt trust him. 

and then i testified. JUAN I KNOW IM ONLY 19 YEARS OLD AND I DONT SPEAK WELL, BUT I DO KNOW THAT GOD LOVES YOU. MY NAME IS MARIE TERRY AND I LIVE IN SPRINGVILLE UTAH. I HAVE ANOTHER LIFE OVER THERE. BUT IM HERE IN ARGENTINA FOR A YEAR AND A HALF BECAUSE IVE SEEN GOD IN MY LIFE AND IM FOREVER CHANGED. I WANT TO HELP PEOPLE COME TO GOD AND PARTAKE IN HIS LOVE.¨¨¨ okay something along the lines of that.

I felt sooo much power. Its amazing what we feel as missionaries while teaching. I know what we said was true. I know God has timing for all of his children. I know one day Juan will be ready to come to God and make covenants with him. I know there are people ready to hear the gospel from us. I have faith in my God. :)

Last story. Yesterday I was feeling like.. man. I feel like a robot. I feel like I cant be myself. Its so hard! Where is Marie? Why do I have to act perfectly and talk in a perfect manner?

So this morning I prayed and asked God and this is what I opened up to:

1 Corinthians 15:10

But by the ^agrace of God I am what I am.

In the verse before talks about how Paul says that he is the least of the apostles because he persecuted the church of God.

BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM.

I love this! God gave me this message in the perfect moment! HE CALLED ME TO BUENOS AIRES FOR A REASON. He doesnt want me to turn into a robot. He wants the real me. He wants the real in all of us. And by his grace we have the right to be who we are:) BY his grace we are cleansed from our sin and imperfections. By his grace we are who we are. :)

hopefully that makes sense.

Pray that well find people who are prepared to hear the gospel.  We will look and look until we find them.

loves, Hermana Terry   CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!

It shall be given you

THIS IS MY MESSAGE THIS WEEK YA'LL!  IT WILL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU WHATEVER YOU NEED-GOD WILL FIND A WAY TO GET IT TO YOU.  DOUBT NOT FEAR NOT MY FRIENDS!

IV

PROM WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!!!!! MY  BROTHER AND SISTER LOOKED LIKE MOVIESTARS. AND THEIR DATES?!! Stop!! Youre killin me!! You had me bawlin. :):):) They looked like they all were lit up with amazing lights!  I LOVE THOSE KIDS! 

NO TRANSFERS HERE! THE 2 HERMANAS are staying strong in BELGRANOOO. :) BLEGRANO! I LOVE YA! BELGRANO! MY RICH LIL BEVERLY HILLS!!! I LOVE YA! :)

AS A MISSIONARY Ive learned that when I make mistakes IT IS VERY OBVIOUS because I feel sooo yucky inside. The contrast of living at peace, and not living at peace is much greater in the mission field. I got totally frustrated with my companion on Thursday and said things to her that I should not have said.  So I decided to FINALLY break down my pride and repent. :) I can honestly tell you that when I said sorry to my comp, I felt soo much love and peace from my Savior. It was a new beginning. My comp forgave me and said shes the same way. We both asked, why? Why is it that we blow up at the ones we love the most? Ya know.. Im still trying to find the answer to this... but what I DO KNOW is that WE HAVE A SAVIOR WHO MAKES UP FOR OUR IMPERFECTIONS. IM SO GRATEFUL for this experience because I now have a deeper testimony of the Atonement. And if my Heavenly Father and companion can forgive me, I can forgive myself. :) THis life is all about messing up, but getting back up again with the help of the one who already went through it, Jesus. He is my bestest friend. WONDERFUL!!! BEAUTIFUL!!! IS WHAT HE SEES WHEN HE LOOKS AT US!!!!

I JUST RECIEVED BIG NEWS. HERMANI HEMI AND HERMANA VELAZQUEZ ARE COMPS. HHAHAHAHA HEMI TOLD ME SHE TOLD HER SHE WANTED TO PUNCH HER FACE SO HARD IN ENGLISH AND HERMANA VELAZQUEZ DIDNT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING- HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I cant wait to see what happens with them. hahahaha.

So Easter waas such a fun day!! Sacrament meeting was the best part!! THE SPIRIT WAS SO STRONG! I wanna tell you a story that our second counselor (he was a mission pres in honduras!) HERMANO GOMEZ LADIES AND GENTS:

Its about a woman who was once was a member. She had been baptized but didnt get married in the temple. Her husband is a non  member.. but theyre such a good family. She has three little daughters:) Through talking to her sisters (who are members).. she made it a goal to get sealed to her family in the temple. Finally after her preparation her and her husband went to get sealed in the temple:) She wore HER SAME wedding dress she wore many years ago. The color was an off white and she had a HUGE TRAIN. When they got to the front the front people of the temple said that she couldnt go through with her dress. Pobrecita she was so embarassed she had her train wrapped up in her hands. Her husband as well! So they go to Hermano Gomez who also works in the temple and this is what he says: WHy not? Let her in. Jesus knows her heart so let her in. 

They gave her another dress to wear for the ordinance. When she came out she LOOKED LIKE A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSON. She wasnt wearing the big off white dress anymore.. she was wearing a new white dress. :) He said her whole countenance changed! She was glowing:) 

THAT IS  THE POWER OF THE ATONEMENT. THAT IS JESUS.

The story is sooo symbolic. :) It goes to show that it doesnt matter what sin we have commited JESUS WILL TAKE THEM AWAY FROM US. HES ALREADY PAID THE PRICE. ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS JUST GIVE HIM THE YUCKY GUILT WE FEEL AND HE MAKES IT ALL BETTER. I TESTIFY WITH ALL MY HEART THAT THE ATONEMENT IS REAL. LA VERDAD, ITS REALLY HARD TO EXPLAIN THE ATONEMNET BECAUSE I LEARN SOMETHING NEW FROM IT EVERYDAY. ITS SOMETHING SO PROFOUND WITH SO MUCH LOVE IT MAKES OUR HEADS SPIN. I LOVE THE MISSION BECAUSE I GET TO SEE MYSELF AND THE PEOPLE IN ARGENTINA USE THE ATONEMENT IN THEIR LIVES. BEST GIFT EVER. THE ONES WHO KNOW WHAT IS THE ATONEMENT........... ARE THE ONES WHO USE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay he also said in his talk.. that Jesus obeyed the will of the father. But it was his will ALSO. How interesting. He never once felt obligated to do it. It brings me back to what I learned from my second counselor in the mtc, Brother Williams. He taught about the 3 types of motivation. 3. fear- doing something because youre afraid of it. 2. duty-doing something becasue you feel the responsibilty to do it. AND 3. LOVE- DOING SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU ARE MOTIVATED BY LOVE.

Jesus had number 3. :) PEOPLE! MARIE! WHOEVER! DO WHATEVER you have to do to not feel obligated to the fathers will and keep his commandments. Its different for everyone.. its what I call. FINDING GOD. Its our journey to find him. AND WHENwe find him and feel his uncondicional love.. WE WANTTTT to choose the right. Gahh I cant stress that enough! 

Argentina. THERE ARE SO MANY JEWS AND TESTIGOS DE JEHOVA HERE IN BELGRANO!! lol its like a silent competition every time we pass the missionaries (older women) of los testigos de jehova!! But we're really sweet to them! There are a lot of churches here. But I can honestly tell you.. MY HEART SINGS every time we share the book of mormon with someone. THAT AND THE SPIRIT IS OUR MOST POWERFUL TOOL. I love love love love testifying about the book of mormon and how it has helped me come to know my Savior more. The bible and the book of mormon... peeps it couldnt get any better. I started reading the bom in octubre and im only in alma 33. hhaaha talk about SLOW! but its so nice cause Im learning so much about JESUS!!! READ THE SCRIPTURES PEOPLE! IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE! I read slow and stop and think about every few verses for several minutes.  Its helped me so much.  My favorite is that the scriptures that we read will come to our rememberance when we need them. Me and HT both have a strong testimony of this. The spirit is our best friend. 

I LOVE SERVING GODS CHILDREN! THERES A CUTE LITTLE recent convert THAT WE SEE WORKING ON THE STREET EVERY DAY. HIS NAME IS SAMUEL AND THIS GUY HAS THE LIGHT OF CHRIST. OUT OF EVERYONE IVE EVER MET IVE NEVER SEEN SOME MUCH LIGHT IN THE EYES LIKE THIS GUY. SAMUEL ALWAYS SAYS... SOY UN PECADOR! (IM A SINNER) BUT HE TELLS US EVERY DAY HE ASKS FORGIVENESS FROM OUR LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER. HE IS SO PURE AND HUMBLE. GODS CHILDREN SERIOUSLY AMAZE ME EVERY DAY. 

UMM YA THATS ALL. SORRY ITS LONG!!!!!!!!! CHAU!!! 

ILL TALK TO YOU GUYS OVER SKYPE IN A MONTH AND YOULL GET TO MEET HERMANA TORRES!!! Go mi mexicana tamale!  CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!!!!!

Ask for a song every night

                                                          PDAY FUN

                                            ONE OF OUR FAVORITE FAMILIES

  I CANT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS PAINTING.  I FEEL LIKE IVE SEEN IT BEFORE

MY MEXICAN  FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHATUPPP GRINGOS??!!!:):):):)So the cruise has changed you forever to the spanish life eh?

hahahaha wow. the cruise looked divine! Soo jealous!

HOLY ASADO... ITS SOOOO COLD IN ARGENTINA RIGHT NOW. SOOOOOO COLD. THE HUMIDITY KILLS ME. BUT IVE NEVER FELT SO GRATEFUL IN MY LIFE. ME AND MY COMP THINK ITS CHRISTMAS. Haha weve been singing christmas songs all week. :) YA YOURE THINKIN.. YA DUMMY ITS APRIL.. PERO QUE ME IMPORTA. :)

Shoutout to all my friends that wrote me!!

CHELSEA DOHNER! I loved your sweet note. :) I love you and your mom. My brother is lucky to know you.  You gotta good head on your shoulders. :)

Emma Graves. :) MI AMOR!! Gracias por su carta:))) I miss you a bunch. Im gonna write you. GIMME YOUR EMAIL. P.S:. I MISS CROCKETT AND CHOIR AND MOST IMPORTANT NEW YORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BA IS NY!!

TOM SETZER!! Your incredible testimony gives me so much faith! Thanks man!

Stake Presidency! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST! I LOVE ALL OF YOUR SWEET STORIES AND TESTIMONIES!

So im just gonna lay it on the table. This transfer.. we´ve seen a lot of miracles. WE¨VE found un mon ton de investigadores. En serio!! Me and Hermana Torres LOVE LOVE LOVE to talk to people. No meido. :)

But something was lacking... we didnt know what. I think I felt like the lessons were not so heartfelt, but just memorized. It was like we were robots. My sweet comp is a convert and is trying super hard to teach everything perfectly... but I just felt like we needed to try something different.

We have this investigator named Juan. Juan is 59 and lives alone... with no job.. and has serious depression. Ya. I know what youre thinkin.. ¨¨Hermana Terry where ya goin with this..¨¨ Let me tell you. Juan is hard. Hes harsh. Hes  a sweet little old man that has depression. Hes messed up a lot in his life. And because of this..he feels mad at himself. We´ve had countless lessons of teaching and teaching him.. but hes not changing. Key word: teaching. We knew we needed to do something other than teaching, teaching, teaching.

WE KNOW that the repentance process is taking a while for him, its only natural that it would,  but you know what.. thats okay. We are gonna make sure he is ready for his baptism. :) But he feels frustrated because he doesnt have this connection with God. He tells us that he repented of his sins.. but still doesnt feel forgiven. Thats what hes lacking.. TO FEEL IT.  FEELING GOD IN  YOU IS EVERYTHING!

So one day during study.. I was trying so hard to find something for Juan. Specifically about repentance and the forgiveness of God. This day was very special. My prayer was different. I didnt say the same things. I asked God to please guide me in my study and thats exactly what I got. He guided me!! 

The story that my mom gave me. MOM IM TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW. THE BLOG IS MINE AND I CAN PUT WHATEVER ON IT. I FEEL VERY PROMPTED TO PUT THIS STORY ON IT. :) OKAY? OKAY. :) DONT CUT THIS OUT OR ELSE!

It was a miracle that I translated this whole story. It took me forever but I did it straight from your email. I felt so much love for Juan!! During companion study, I had a little fear to share something ¨¨out of the books¨¨ with my companion. But I remembered the promise Ive always made with God and that is that I WILL NEVER DENY WHAT THE SPIRIT TELLS ME TO DO. So I shared this story with my companion: Ladies and gents.. Julie Terry: I titled it La Expiacion:

  It is about a man with a dog named Princess.  He named her Princess because he treats her better than anyone on the planet.  Princess is an explorer but she is a pretty white fluffy dog that is super small and poofy.  Sometimes she gets into a sticker bush behind their house looking for her ball.  He often warns Princess not to go by the bush, but she is always sure her ball is under it.  Every time the man sees Princess with sticky cockleburrs on her, he say "Oh precious Princess, come here beautiful.  Let me help you, that must hurt so much"  And because hes so sweet she always comes to him.  He takes as long as he needs to set her free from the stickers.  Then he stokes her and tells her he loves her.  The dog comes to him for everything and gives him unconditional love.  He says at the end of the story What if I screamed at Princess every time she had stickers in her "YOU IDIOT WHY DO YOU HAVE STICKERS IN YOU.  I TOLD YOU STAY AWAY FROM THE BUSH.  WHAT KIND OF A DOG GETS STICKERS.  YOU ARE ONE DUMB DOG"  He decided she would hide when she got stickers  He also decided the reason she comes to him for everything is because he is so kind to her.

GOD IS THE OWNER AND WE ARE THIS DOG. :)

My comp almost screamed she was so excited. ITS EXACTLY WHAT JUAN NEEDS TO HEAR!! That day we literally ran to Juans ¨hotel.¨(Ya he lives in a hotel. But its more on the poor side. )Anyways.. when Juan read the letter his eyes got big. He stopped and pondered for a really long time. Oh my word.. this guy is a tough one. But man.. Me and Hermana Torres saw this man. This broken, beaten up man change. His AURA  changed. His spirit was sooo strong. I knew he felt it. I knew he felt God reaching out to him in total love and kindness.  No rejection.  No anger.  A call to Juan to come and sit on his lap and allow God to remove the pain from his life one burr at a time. :)

ANyways.. we went home that night.. and my comp thanked my mom. She thanked my mom in her prayer because her words have led us to the people who need to hear them the most. MOM. I know I talk a lot about you.. but I use all of your letters. I use your stories, your sayings, your scriptures.. and its seriously helping so many people. I felt sooo much gratitude after this prayer because I really am so lucky to have a mom like you. My comps pretty much in love with ¨¨Jewelry Terry¨¨ hahaha.:) I have a memory of you tearing up when you told me you wished you could come along and serve my mission with me.  MOM YOU ARE SERVING MY MISSION WITH ME!  I PROMISE!

My comp said that this is the first time in the mission that she doesnt feel like a robot. WOW!! EVerything after that moment changed!! We are literally going by the spirit in every lesson. Everything is so much better.  WE LOVE EACH OTHER POR FIN!! Hahaa. I can honestly say I love this girl. ELLA ES UNA CAPA. LA MAS CAPA EN TODO DE LA MISION. She mentioned me in her testimony. :) She said my comp always says ¨DIOS ES MI MEJOR AMIGO!¨

We have other investogadores! A lot! We found un escogido! (CHOSEN ONE) His name is Roberto and owns una verduleria! Roberto is a dad who loves his kids.. but is now divorced and lives alone. But man does he want to change his life. Ive never met anyone that is sooooo into the BOOK OF MORMON! He reads everything we give him and more! He talks a lot about mormon.org! Isnt that awesome! I KNOW WITH ALL MY HEART THAT GOD HAS PEOPLE PREPARED TO HEAR FROM US. AND IT MAKES OUR JOB SO MUCH EASIER. THEY ARE OUT THERE. WE JUST NEED TO HAVE PATIENCE AND TRUST IN GOD AND WE WILL FIND THEM. THIS IS FOR ALL MY HOMIE MISSIONARIES OUT SERVIN THE LORD. THERE ARE ESCOGIDOS EN TODO EL MUNDO. 

I want to end by saying.. I love receiving answers from my Dios (God). Its amazing how he communicates with us. He put a song in my head this morning that made me smile. Every night I ask God to put a song in my head when I wake up so that I can have a good day. And youre  thinking.. WHY IS SHE SAYING THIS. 

haha Im tellin ya peeps.. TRY IT!! Its so awesome! He hears every word!! IT REALLY WORKS!

So the song he put in my head.. ¨¨ 

"tears stream down JUANS face.. when he loses something he cannot replace.. tears stream down his face and I WILL FIX HIM.¨¨

 Dont know how I even remembered that song from Coldplay... but Im grateful that I could hear from Padre Celestial. I felt him tell me to not worry and that he will do what he wants IN HIS TIME with his precious son, Juan. He will fix every broken heart who comes to him.  Just come to him.  Thats all he asks.

CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!

thats all folks.

enjoy spring/summer ya little luckiessss.

CHAU!

IM SO SO VERY HAPPY. SMILE YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD. LIFE IS SOO GOOD!!

Conference week

LUCKY FAMILY!! I loved reading your emails and seeing your fun pics. :):):) Im sooooooooooooo jealous you went to a BLACK BAPTIST CHURCH WITHOUT ME. Isnt it the best thing ever?!!! Seriously. The music. Their spirits. Gahhh. THats so awesome! I feel so proud of you guys! Haha cause thats my fam. I WAS BLACK IN THE PREMORTAL LIFE.jajaja.

 I woke up Wednesday morning. I literally thought I was going to die. :) So we called the doc and he told us I needed to stay in bed... all day long.... :( Uhh no. Not gonna happen. So I tried to just suck it up.. and we went out to work. But this little voice in my head was saying.. NO MARIE. You need to turn back and go home. Ehhh I shouldve listened to that voice because at the end of the day I was sitting in the doctor with a high fever. He told me my body was fighting off stomach flu. But the next two days I had the stomach flu. ahhh guys. It was sooo bad. 

 Laying in mi cama all day was the worst. Thoughts crept up into my mind and were saying.. Youre a horribe missionary. THat youre being a disobedient missionary for sitting in bed and that youre never gonna have success on the mission.

  My comp without telling me called the elders and they came over to give me a blessing. The lider de distrito, Elder Hicks de Arizona gave me the blessing. He said something in that blessing that gave so much strength to me. He said that there are angels surrounding me... specifically my ancestors. :) I was going to be okay! I had my family surrounding me. Even though I felt soo sick.. there were angels there to bear me up.

The night before General Conference I had a dream of Elder Tom Perry speaking. I woke up that morning and decided that whatever he was going to say it was going to be for Marie Terry. 

Oh my Tom Perry. Mi amor. I cant even describe the love that I was feeling from my Heavenly Father from that talk. Im not gonna describe it all.. but he talks about who is the driver of your team of horses? He said to LET GOD be the driver. And there was my answer. Thats when God came to me and told me, MARIE! NO TE PREOCUPES!! I got this!! Let me be your driver. I know what youre going to do on the mission. Just breathe. Youre going to be okay.

Gahhhh. I felt sooo much better. :) Conference was a big life changer this week. All of the talks really hit me strong. I INVITE YOU FAM... to go listen to the talks. :) CAuse I know you guys didnt watch it ON THE CRUISE!  I will give you a million dollars if you can prove you watched it on your cruise.:)

Elder TOm Perry also said (not eactly the words.. but algo asi) 

¨With the slightest tug of the master, it can unite our bodies and spirits and guide us back to our Heavenly Father.¨¨ PEOPLE. WITH THE SLIGHTEST TUG OF THE MASTER, YOUR LIFE, YOUR WHOLE LIFE CAN CHANGE. Ive had countless tugs of my Master and Im forever grateful for them because every tug brings me closer and closer to him. In all my weakness, and all my sins.. I WILL FOLLOW HIM. I WILL STRIVE TO BE OBEDIENT. He is the driver of our lives. Let him in. Have an absolute faith in him and trust in him. Follow his lead. He will never lead you astray. :) 

I KNOW THOMAS S MONSON IS A PROPHET OF GOD. Here are the words I wrote as he was talking, ¨¨I know he is a prophet of God. I hear God speaking. He speaks with gentleness and love and

 has so much love for the people on this earth. God bless President Monson.¨¨

 

CHAU. 

Did you think to pray?

This week we have had our small little miracles with God. There was a day this week where everything was rough.  We couldn't find any members to come with us in our lessons and all of our citas(visits) fell through. We  felt so discouraged.  Then my comp stops me and told me we need to pray. It was not like her at all.. BECAUSE WE NEVER STOP. Never ever. Belgrano is a like a ticking time bomb- you have to keep moving as fast as you can! You dont have time to stop and think! 

But man was I sooo grateful for this moment. We realized we just needed to stop and breathe and remember whats most important. We sat on the sidewalk and prayed. And prayed. And prayed. To help God lead us to the people who need him. And that we could reach our goals for that day and find a member para acompanarnos. After the prayer.. I felt so much peace. Even though it was super busy in Belgrano.. it was like God had slowed everything--time was in slow motion. He filled our hearts and minds with peace. We got up from the sidewalk AND this sweet member, Adela, comes walking in our direction. She asked us if we needed somebody to go with us and were like YAAAAA!!! :) So then we walk a little further and came to the vegetable stand. :) WE had forgotten about a reference we received from Adela and she led us straight there.  Anyways we started talking to her, Georgina, and shes interested in the church! Shes 17 years old and her sister Marina is 20. :) Whats so amazing about this is that before we felt like our target for investigators were going to be young women :) WOW does God answer prayers. :) AS we were talking.. I thanked God in my head for leading us to these girls. 

GOD ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS THAT DAY. IT WAS DEFINETLY AN ALMA 26:27 MOMENT. :) 27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to ^aturn back, behold, the Lord ^bcomforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with ^cpatience thine ^dafflictions, and I will give unto you success.

I know life can be sooo busy but remember whats most important. From now on I will take some time to think and ponder and then have a conversation with my Heavenly Father because that is what is so important to me.

SO Marcos is doing sooo good. His BAPTISMl is this Sunday. But guess what?! He has to get baptized in the ward where he lives! GAHH that is what is sooo hard about Belgrano! Nobody lives here. They all work here. :/  We were so sad about that. But hey, were gonna help everyone. POR QUE SON ALMAS NO SON FECHAS.  SAVE EVERY SOUL!  EVERY SINGLE SOUL ;)

Bueno. I love you all. 

Chauu. CARRY ON!

Forget about yourself

Wow. Belgrano... my rich little city. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEVER BEEN SO TIRED IN MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D YOU KNOW WHAT IS SOOO GREAT ABOUT THE CAPITAL?!! There are soooooo many people. And we talk to all of them! My comp has the same personality as me! We LOVE to find new people and share the gospel with smiling faces. :) Were sooo happy together! Were like the happiest couple ever. Hahaa.

So funny story. We have this goal that if we see someone that we need to talk to... we pray.. and then we just go get em . :) So I say this guy.. and I started to talk to him. LOL the hardest thing about Argentina--- ALL OF THEM LOOK LIKE AMERICANS. I totally was talking to this guy in Castellano and he didnt understand. :) So for the first time in literally five months I started to talk in English-- it was ABSOLUTELY HORRRRIBLE!! I forgot how to talk in English. lolololol the guys like.. I like your accent. are you from here? HAHAHA. YES- I am Marie the original Argentine!! So he has a ton of mormon friends and is interested!! and HE LIVES IN SEATLE!

okay so i have this huge testimony of ward missionary work. i cant stress enough how important the ward members are in the work!! They all have their friends who aren't mormon and this Sunday seriously every person brought a friend! It was magical!! It was the happiest feeling. It truly felt like a family. Now is the time mis amigos to start praying and ask God who you can talk to about the gospel. It doesnt have to be a big huge lesson.. just open your mouth and God will give you the words. He will lead you to the right person. Something in my gut tells me that this will be talked a lot in this upcoming conference. All my peeps in Utah... even though you all have your mormon friends.. go out and find someone who desperately needs something in their lives and share your testimonies with them, many times that just simply looks like kindness.  You´ll be amazed at the joy you will feel. :) Just like it says in DYC !8:16

 16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the^akingdom of my Father, how great will be your ^bjoy if you should bring many ^csouls unto me!

 We got A TON OF INVESTIGDORES!!! I gotta tell you a story. So all of the members live in rich houses. Its not like Lima where you clap at the doors... they actually have DOORBELLS!! lol. So ya. we went to this HOUSE that had less active member.. but she wasnt there. But the guy who works at the desk stopped us and started asking us these questions!! 

 We gave him a hand out and our contact info and left. We didnt think anything of it.. cause we hand out a billion of those cards every day.. but later that night he sent us a text and told us he went to mormon.org and he wants to learn more!!  His name is Marcos. Marcos is 30 years old and has a girlfriend but isnt married.  But I will never forget the feelings that we all felt when we sang I stand all amazed with him after a discussion.  He was choked up and said for the first time in my life i feel like God has forgiven me. Its amazing what music can do. I love the power of music and the spirit it brings in our lessons.

He still has a lot he needs to do. But were keeping the faith with him. Marcos is legit. He wants to change. I think thats the best thing to see on the mission. To see people have this desire to change and improve their lives. Hes on the path. :) 

We had divisions this week! I went to Juncal with Hermana Dunn! Juncal is AWESOME YALL!!! It has one of the worlds BEST theaters.   Its soooo beautiful! We ran past in the morning and it was playing the most beautiful symphonic music.  It is a very beautiful historically rich city.

Hermana Dunn is fantastic. shes from Idaho and this is her last transfer! her SPANISH is beautiful!! Shes soo good with the people. I learned through her that its sooooo important to listen and then follow what the spirit tells you to do. she gave me soo much confidence!! After having an english companion for 2 days.. I realized that Ive been lonely for  long time without realizing it!! Thats another thing on the mish.. you forget that you are lonely. hah i cant describe it. but its all good cause Ive had God with me this whole time. but.... I was soooo grateful to have her and talk to her about the mission!! She told me that EVERYONE on their mission goes through a big change process.. it happened to her in her 8th month on the mish. She told me thats when she started to forget about herself. everytime she wanted to complain or think about herself... she would say her investigdores names out loud. Now she says its fun to think about them and loves to talk about them. I was soo amazed!! I wanna be like that.

i realized that the mission in a way is a like GIANT CLEANSING PROCESS. In the beginning I was sooooo prideful (im still workin on it.:/) and thought sooo much about me and my own comforts and my feelings about everything but seriously i feel myself changing into an improved Marie. I used to dread waking up at 6.30 in the morning. but now I jump outta my bed and get ready for the day! First we go out running and then come back and do our ab workouts!! You need a strong core if you are going to be a strong missionary people!   We listen to the best music. my music. .) and hermana Torres has some awesome music! INCLUDING ERIN THOMAS´s hit: mountains to climb! Erin shoutout to you! Seriously you dont even realize how much your song is changing my life. 

Anyways theres two more songs that Ive fallen in love with. these two songs have helped me through some of the hard days i have in Belgrano. The first song is called I am his daughter.  Sometimes when Im out on the streets of Belgrano I look at all of these women and sing this song.  

The photos in the magazines
Don't dictate who I'm supposed to be
The world can't recognize, all that I am inside
But I know in His eyes, I am a part of, the bigger picture,

There's so much more to me
He helps me see that I have so much to offer
I am His daughter
He loves me the way I am,
He's my strength when I stand
He is my King, and my Father,
I am His daughter.

The people on the TV screen,
The leaders, rulers, and queens
I watch them shape the world,
And though I'm just a girl, I still know for sure,
That I am a part of, the bigger picture

There's so much more to me
He helps me see that I have so much to offer
I am His daughter
He loves me the way I am,
He's my strength when I stand
He is my King, and my Father,
I am His daughter

And when I'm feeling small,
And wondering if I'll ever, find courage to stand tall
Through His love I remember

There's so much more to me
He helps me to see that I have so much to offer
I am His daughter
He loves me the way I am
He's my strength when I stand
He is my King, and my Father,
I am His daughter

last song:  BOO our fav singer.. mindy gledhill. i dedicate this song to you emmy emms. :) love you!!

Sent to this earth
You were saved through the ages for this day
and time
Child of great worth
Child of promise, daughter of the Divine
Pure and holy in a little, white dress
You were held in a circle and you were
blessed
And the Father looked down
And the angels surrounded that place
They knew the truth, all that you could do
And you will, too, if you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you
Dressed in white once more
Making promises to follow in God’s way
So much lies in store
For the little girl who enters at the gate
Pure and holy in a little, white dress
You were led into the water and you were
blessed

Do you understand who you are
Part of the Father lives in you
If you continue on this path
Every promise God has given will come true
Heaven on earth
In the house of God, so much fills your heart
and mind
Woman of great worth
Woman of promise, daughter of the Divine
Pure and holy in a long, white dress
You promise forever and you are blessed
And the Father looks down
And the angels surround that place
They know the truth, all that you can do
And you do, too, ‘cause you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you
Will you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you 

ALWAYS REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE ND WHAT HEAVENS SEES IN YOU. CHAU MY LITTLE AMERICANS. PEACE BE WITH YOU. :)  CARRY ON CARRY ON CARRY ON!!!!!!!!!

Dear Springville High School, WE CAN DO HARD THINGS!

My dearest friends at my beloved Springville High School,

HOLA MIS AMIGOS!

This week I am doing my letter a little different.  I have really wanted to talk to all of my friends back at Springville High School, two of whom are my own brother and sister.  I have been thinking how my whole high school experience was about trying to figure out about how to FIT IN- how to be the best sports player, get the best grades, and get the solo.  Whos with me here?  Who understands what Im saying?  Without realizing it, our whole experience becomes about fitting in.  We feed ourselves with these accomplishments, or we berate ourselves with the lack of.  I am the MASTER of trying to fit in, not stick out, and live my life based on the amount of accomplishments.  But something is happening to me on my mission that I feel like I wanted to tell my friends.  I think it might help relieve some of the  heavy, crushing pressure of how we judge ourselves.

I have a NEW testimony.  It feels groundbreaking to me, although I know for most people its not.  Ok you might want to sit down for this.  ITS NOT ABOUT FITTING IN!  Its not about having that boyfriend or girlfriend, its not about always making the team, and its not about being the super star.  ITS ALL ABOUT YOU AND GOD!  I promise.  Thats all that matters, in high school and after high school.  I know for a fact God LOVES ALL OF HIS PRECIOUS SONS AND DAUGHTERS!  ALL!   He has equal love adoration and mercy for the kid at Springville High who appears to have the perfect life (which nobody does) as he does for the kid who appears to be in constant turmoil and trouble.  He has a plan for every single life.  EVERY SINGLE ONE.  The kid you ignore every day, is most likely preparing to do great things on the planet that would shock you to pieces.  I have one year and one mission experience on you guys and this is what I have learned in that very short time......ALL PEOPLE DEEP DOWN ARE EXACTLY THE SAME in Gods eyes.  A mission is like a huge highschool.  You get ALL kinds of people.  You have the rich kids, the quiet kids, the rude kids, the models, the nerds, the jocks, the popular and well loved, and the poor and lonely.  Mean kids, sad kids, funny kids, and crazy nice kids.  There is one thing that brings us together if we are humble and will just remember.  We all have pain.  We all hurt sometimes.  We all feel broken in different ways.

I have met so many poverty stricken poor people.  They barely eat and have one pair of clothes.  Can you imagine walking into high school every day with the same outfit????????? Recently I have met some of the richest people I have ever known.  They are very successful in the business world and yet, they also have a tremendous sadness in their eyes.  They are lonely.  It is because they are missing the one thing that will ever fill up the lonliness.  Its not popularity.  Its not an award telling you that you are the BEST ONE.  Its God.  Pure and Simple.  Its a relationship with God.

And this is where a piece of my heart still seems to be back in the high school in Springville.  We think if we look a certain way, or DO certain things, we will be enough.  We will finally be ok.  Maybe, just maybe, we will be sufficient.  HIS LOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO MAKE US WHOLE.  He loves you.  He does not love you on a love meter that changes day to day.  Can you imagine never being able to rely on a God to love you?  Or how much or if he will at all?  No, you have one stable thing in your life that never changes, no matter how much you are hurting or struggling.  HIS LOVE FOR YOU.  HE KNOWS WHO YOU ARE.  I feel impressed to make a plea with my friends back home.  PLEASE LOVE EVERY SINGLE PERSON AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL THE SAME!  Those halls are full of hurting and broken hearts.  I know this.  And its time for the heroes of SPRINGVILLE HIGH SCHOOL to come together and forget popular.  I promise you there are people at school who are really suffering.  You may be to.  If you are, then you are the perfect person to reach out to someone else.  Because you know what it feels like, you will know how  to help.  You just need to be brave.  Outer appearances mean nothing.  Popular kids need love and healing.  Kids who sit alone at every single class and event need love and healing.  Look at people with more love and practice feeling hopeful- happy feelings for yourself.  I know from personal experience on my mission that as you do this, YOU WILL SERVE LIKE THE SAVIOR DID EVERY SINGLE DAY!

I know what you are thinking.  I thought it to.  How can I talk to that kid who barely talks back?  How do I talk to someone who wont make eye contact or makes me feel dumb?  How can I forgive the teacher who gave me an F?  How do I get through constant rejection, or never dating, or someone who broke up with me?  How do I tell my parents I have failed ONE MORE TIME......at a test, at a tryout, at drivers ed;)  How do I maintain my social life and grades and extra activities and not crack?  How do I handle the constant anxiety that I am never good enough?  How on earth do I reach out to make someone elses experience more comfortable when I am struggling so badly myself?  Why do I have to go to seminary, no one ever talks to me?  Why do I have to plaster a fake smile on my face in the hall and act nice?  HOW DO I SHOW UP AT SCHOOL WITH A GIGANTIC ZIT ON MY FACE?  How do I face my coach I just let down in the last game?  How do I tell my coach give me another chance?  How do I graduate with all of these freaking tardies?  How do I show up at school when I just lost one more stupid election?  How can I show up looking so fat?  How can I show up looking so skinny and weak?  How do I go anywhere when I have no friends?  Shes so much prettier than me.  Hes so much smarter than me.  How do I ever find the words to tell anyone high school is really kinda scary and lonely and sometimes sad?  How can I go to school, much less, do my life, when someone in my family just died?  Who could ever understand that pain in a high school?  How do I do homework when there is a divorce going on at home and no one at school knows or cares.  Who could possibly understand that kind of pain?  How do I deal with this sickness or injury that no one pays any attention to but causes me so much heartache?  HOW CAN ONE SINGLE TEENAGER LIKE ME, WITH SO MANY ISSUES, MAKE ONE BIT OF DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.  HOW CAN A LONELY SOUL HEAL THE LONELY?  It really seems like there is no way.  The fear of it all could literally overtake you.

There is an answer.  I think I had to come all the way to Argentina to find it.  And I cant keep it to myself.  YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.  SOMEONE ALWAYS UNDERSTANDS.  JESUS CHRIST LIVED AND DIED SO YOU WOULD NEVER EVER BE ALONE OR NOT HAVE COMFORT.  HE IS MAKING A WAY FOR YOU TO HAVE AN AMAZING LIFE ON YOUR DARKEST DAYS.

HE WILL NEVER FAIL YOU!

PROVERBS 17:17 A FRIEND LOVETH AT ALL TIMES, AND A BROTHER IS BORN FOR ADVERSITY.

Someday every one of you will graduate and leave that high school.  We all go our separate ways.  We leave our families, we go away for missions or school or jobs.  We get married and we begin our own families.  Guess what I just realized?  It actually gets HARDER!  I KNOW!  I THOUGHT HIGH SCHOOL WAS THE TOP OF THE HARDNESS LEVEL!  I thought it would get easier---darn!

ALL YOU NEED IS GOD.  HOLD ON TIGHT TO HIM.

As a missionary Ive learned doing it afraid is the most brilliant thing we can do. If you feel afraid, its ok, just go ahead and do it afraid.   In retrospect, I have been in Gods hands my whole life.  I wish I had a better understanding on this, I would have done high school less afraid.  I promise you if you do things afraid, and just trust in him, he will lead you to miracles.  You will do things you never dreamed someone like you could do. Don't waste your high school opportunity worrying about your own popularity.  Use it to help and lift others.  BE BRAVE.  You always have God on your side.

DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO FAIL.  JUST TRY.  JUST GIVE A LITTLE MORE.  KEEP GOING.  FAILING LEADS TO SUCCEEDING.  LIFE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE WONDERFUL.

I have failed at many things.  I have spent to much time being a benchwarmer.  And I make lots of mistakes, especially on my mission.  But these things only make you stronger.  I didnt used to think I could speak to strangers in a crazy new language and teach them a lesson in less than five minutes.  But WE CAN DO HARD THINGS SPRINGVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.  YOU, ME, AND EVERY AWESOME KID COMING BEHIND US.  Lets pave the way of people who do hard things to make the world a better place.  ALWAYS LEAVE PEOPLE BETTER THAN YOU FOUND THEM.  If your hurting over anything, endure it with a good attitude, and joy will come eventually.

Hard things can be beautiful.  Be grateful for your personal struggles.  In fact pray to be able to overcome everything sent your way.  Every hard thing brings you close to God.  If you can do hard things yourself, he will put you in the way of others trying to do hard things because you will know what to say and to do to lift them up.

Heavenly Father brushes my hair with the wind in Argentina and kisses my face with the Argentine sun and tells me "Oh Marie you are doing better than you think you are.  Miracles are on the horizon."

High School friends, we were made to do hard things.  Our small community can change the world with what is happening within those walls of seminary and high school.  Your potential is great.  Don't let temporary setbacks erase your ability to see twenty or thirty years into your future of amazing life.  He hears every word you pray.  You are so much stronger and more powerful than you think.  Use your talents and be kind to yourself with weakness.  Serve your peers, ESPECIALLY THE ONES YOU SEE SUFFERING.  But never assume that someone has no struggles.  Just assume they do.  He gives us pain and hard experiences so that we have the lesson made solid to us that we cant do it alone.  We need him.  And he needs us to do his work.

YOU MATTER.  YOU ALWAYS HAVE.  YOU ALWAYS WILL.

If you are ever walking down the halls and feel alone, remember Hermana Terry loves you and is there with you in spirit.  Keep your hope on a brighter and more loving world.  And never stop planning how you will be part of that plan.  I LOVE YOU FRIENDS!

Hermana Marie Terry
representing the Terry family and Jesus Christ (thats what my nametag says ;)


p.s.  If anyone is wondering  if you should serve a mission, you will never ever regret the decision to go.  Carry on!