San Fernando - Post 13

November 24, 2014


This week I have learned alot.  We found a lot of great new people, a lot of miracles actually.  But they didn´t come to church. Let me just tell you how the week went.

Tuesday: P-day Not much happened. We just relaxed and chatted. It was nuce

Wednesday: We had weekly planning. Not much really happened.

Thursday: We went by to find some less actives and we found some non-members.  Matias is the 16 year old son of a less-active.  The mom didn't want us to talk to her but she said we could talk to her son if we wanted.  So we did :)  We also found Maia, the 12 year old niece of a less-active.  She said she wanted to learn and go to church, but she had to go with her aunt.  And her aunt said she would take her.  And her mom said she had no problem with it.  SO we were really happy :)

Friday: We went by a name we found in the Area Book.  Don't remember if it was a future Investigator or Former Investigator.  But when we went by out came a 16 year old girl named Milagros.  She was super sweet!  We taught her a quick lesson and invited her to be baptized and accepted! She said she wanted to go to church and was really interested.  So we set up an appointment to go by the next day and meet her family.  Also later that day we went by Yamila.  She is 8 years old and turns 9 this week.  Her dad is inactive and her mom goes frequently.  Her mom never took the initiative to baptize her daughter and now that her daughter is turning 9, she's realized it's important and she shouldn't have put it off, so she wants us to teach and baptize her.  SO we are excited to help this family out :)

Saturday:  We went by to visit Milagros but they had a birthday party, then out came the mom to talk to us.  She was super great! Her name is Marcela.  She told us that recently one of her sons had passed away.  We talked to her about the Book of Mormon and how it can help us find comfort in our trials.  We left her Alma 7:11-15 to read.  She promised she would read it and said her daughter commented to her about us and wanted to go to church.  She also commited to go to church and accepted the invitation to be baptized! And she said they were a family of 8 and wanted that everyone could go to church together! We were on cloud 9!  The whole transfer we've struggled to find new people and in 3 days we found 4 GREAT people! It was a miracle!  We were so stoked to bring them all to church Sunday!  So Saturday night we made plans to pass for some of our investigators and some members committed to pass by for the others.  

Sunday: We get up and get ready to go bring our investigators to church. We were so stoked! We call Maia in the morning to make sure her aunt can take her, but her mom said she went to stay with a cousin for the weekend and the aunt can´t go.  What?!?  But we still had hope for Milagros and Marcela and their family.  So we pass by and knock... nothing.  So we clap.... nothing.   So we call and hear the phone ringing inside.... but nothing.  We yell their names... Nothing.  Absolutely Nothing! We kept on trying but we didn´t hear a peep or a rustle.  So we went to church hoping the members brought the other investigators. But the investigators didn´t come.  We were a little sad.  But later in the meeting in comes the Rosales family with Yamila AND THE DAD CAME TO CHURCH! That was a miracle.  The mom said that they were going to talk seriously about Yamila and that she wanted us to come by Monday and make plans.  So we were happy :)  We are waiting anxiously to visit with them today :) 

But all in all we are good and happy.  We worked really hard this week and are satisfied with our efforts.  Once in a meeting with President Ayre, he said that when the faith of the missionaries and the agency of the people come head to head, the agency is always going to win.  The Lord will never take away our agency.  So I just need to be patient and keep on doing the things I need to do and the blessings WILL come.  That I know.  And through the rough times we can always see the hand of the Lord lifting us up and helping us endure to the end.  And it´s amazing :)  I love the mission so much and don´t want it to end!  

Well to end I just want to share an awesome quote that I found by President Howard W. Hunter about the importance of a personal testimony of Christ.

"Strive to build a personal testimony of Jesus Christ and the Atonement.  A study of the life of Christ and a testimony of his reality is something each of us should seek.  As we come to understand his mission, and the atonement which he wrought, we will desire to live more like him.  We especially encourage the young men and young women to come to know the reason for the atoning sacrifice of our Lord.  When temptations come, as they surely will, an understanding of the Savior's agony in Gethsemane and his eventual death on the cross will be a reminder to you to avoid any activity that would cause the Savior more pain.  Listen to his words, `For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent, they must suffer even as I´ (D&C 19;16-17)"

I know that the Savior lives and is there to help everyone overcome the sins, sorrows, and trials of this life.  We need to look to him in every moment and he will guide and support us.  

Cool Mask at a Member's Home

I love you all!

Hermana Allison Scarlett

Bad Ring Tan Lines :(

San Fernando - Post 12

November 18, 2014

This week was transfers, And.... (drum roll please.....) I´M STAYING WITH MY HIJITA HERMANA GOMEZ!

This was a great, but interesting week :) Let me tell you a little bit about it :)

Monday:  We rested like normal and ordered peruvian food for lunch (Lomo Saltado) DE-LISH! It's funny how I've come to Argentina and developed a love for the peruvian culture ;)

Tuesday: Don't really remember much.  This week passed by so fast!  

Wednesday: We saw Brian again.  We were waiting outside their family's fruit and vegetable shop and we saw some watermelon.  So we bought it and ate watermelon outside while we talked to him.  It was a fun and good lesson.  Also wednesday we had lunch with a family the elders baptized.  They are SO GREAT!  The dad reminds me a lot of my crazy uncles.... Also we visited with a less-active member who has a daughter that turns 9 soon and wants us to teach and baptize her daughter.  Today she is going to talk to her husband and tomorrow we pass by to teach the first lesson and set the baptismal date!

Thursday: We had interviews with president.  Let me just say that we have the BEST MISSION PRESIDENT EVER! :)  I feel like i can tell him anything.  He really cares about each of his missionaries and knows how to help.  Also that afternoon we were working when we got a phone call from the sisters in Lima.  THey were here doing tramites and wanted to know if they could work with us,  So we said YES!  SO we went by the mission offices, picked them up, called some members, organized divisions, and went off to work. I went with Hermana Duran and Hermana Fullmer with our member Juan Manuel and Hermana Gomez and Hermana Reyes went with another member Jorge Luis.  We went to visit a less-active member and she said she had a friend that moved in with her family and he had listened to the elders before but then they stopped visiting him.  SO we met him.  His name is Ramón.  He is a really humble man.  He has diabetes and because he hasn´t been taking care of himself; he also has gangrene in the pinkie toe of his left foot.  It looks pretty bad.  He also has a small mental disability and doesn't know how to read.  He has probably about 40 years old.  He has a strong desire to learn and be baptized. 

Friday: We had weekly planning. It was good.  We have made some good solid plans to visit a lot of people and through them we can find more people to teach!  We also decided to go visit a less-active member that my companions met at the train station the day before.  SO we went by and he wasn't there so we left to go visit with Ramón.  We walked about 2 blocks when we heard someone running behind us and i turn around and see this drunk man.  He was the less active they had met the day before he was like "They said I wasn't there but I was, come visit me." I kindly said "We don't have any time right now, we have to go to another appointment, but we can come back another time."  And he got mad at me because I didn't want to save his soul.  He then blubbered some drunk spanish stuff that i didn't understand waving his finger in my face.  It was a bit scary but we  gave him a Book of Mormon and got out of there.  That night we had a Family Home Evening with a member who is re-activating and her less-active boyfriend.  She is pregnant and they are living together but she wants to make everything right.  We just need to help him come back too! So we went by and had the plan to do a lesson about faith where you try to put the hard boiled egg into a glass bottle, but you can't.  Then you but a match inside the bottle set the egg on top and it creates a vacuum and the egg drops right in.  SO we were running all over the place trying to find a glass bottle, and we finally found one in the church.  So we grab it and go.  We were so excited and it came time to do it... And it DIDN´T WORK!  The hole of the bottle was too small.... but it was funny :)  

Saturday:  We had a special meeting with the North and West Buenos Aires Missions and Elder Christofferson came to speak to us!  (Elder Christofferson is one of the 12 apostles who work directly with our Prophet/President) Our zone were the ushers and it was way cool :)  IT felt almost like a conversation.  AND HE SPEAKS SPANISH PERFECTLY! He served his mission here in argentina with Elder Lines (the missionary couple that work in the offices) when there was only 2 missions.  He talked a lot about how we have an apostolic calling. THe first presidency and 12 apostles can't get out and preach the gospel to all the people, so they send the missionaries out.  We have the same power and authority that they do.  He said that the spirit he felt on the mission and the spirit he feels now as an apostle are one and the same.  He also talked about how each of us are called by an apostle of the Lord and that they feel the spirit the most when they make missionary callings. It was really good.  And he left us with some of the most beautiful blessings i have ever heard.  One of which was that our missionary service would be recompensed with blessings upon the heads of our families.  That one made me cry.  And it's so true.  The Lord has really taken care of my family when i've been away and to me that shows how much the Lord loves and blesses his missionaries and their families.  

Sunday: We had a special Stake Conference with Elder Christofferson.  1 Apostle, 2 days in a row.  Boo Yah!  Blessings of being a San Fernando Sister :)  Except I walked in and saw the drunk less-active member!  I just about flipped! But 15 minutes into the meeting he left. That guys freaks me out a bit, so we are going to talk to the bishop about him so he knows.  Ramon came to the conference! But it turns out the he´s not going to move in with his less-active friend, so we presented him to the elders.  Javier went too.  He is so awesome.  They are still meeting with the lawyers to resolve thee house situation.  

Monday:  Was a good day.  We enjoyed our last day with Hermana Reyes with ice cream, crazy less-active member, and saving a little old lady from the elevator in our building.  We stayed up helping her re-pack and chatting.  It was nice :)

And here I am now.  Hermana Reyes took a taxi to the airport this morning at 7.  I´ve picked up a bit of a cold but we´re good :)  I LOVE YOU ALL! 

Hermana Allison Scarlett

San Fernando - Post 11

November 10, 2014

Hi readers! This is Hermana Scarlett's mom with a little bit of news.  I received an email from the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission office this week.  They are beginning the process for releasing our Hermana Scarlett from her service as a missionary.  Her return date is March 25, 2015!!!  Time is flying by for us and for her but I wouldn't have her any other place doing any other thing.  Her service has blessed our family in many ways for which we are most grateful. Now back to the latest update from our Hermana Scarlett....

Well this week has been interesting :) But good!

Monday we went to a pizza libre as a zone. It´s like a cici´s pizza, but they bring the pizza to you.  It was so yummy! I ate 8 pieces of pizza! I felt so fat but i was happy :)  It was fun to chill with the zone and just laugh.

Tuesday we had a good day. Visited a lot of people.  Not much to say

Wednesday is where things got crazy. So we had a really good zone meeting then after we went to lunch and it was good too :)  yummy food.  We left and were on our way to the bus stop when we got a call from one of the AP´s.  He was like "Are you busy?" I said "No, we´re heading back from lunch"  SO he said "Oh okay, then i´ll give you something so you can be busy.  How do you feel about having another companion?"  I had NO Idea what to say..... I was like "Okay... but is she new, is she going to be with us one day, til the end of the transfer?  I need details!"  He then told me that she was from another mission and she would be with us for 10 days and she would show up at the offices in 40 minutes.  So we took the bus straight to the offices and I'm freaking out the whole time (like i always do when i get a new companion)  We get there and they explained that she finished her mission in Mendoza but when they got to the airport they couldn't go because they needed the yellow fever vaccination.  So they gave them the vaccine and they have to stay here 10 days before they can leave Argentina and go home.  So now we are in trio.  Her name is Hermana Reyes and she is So AWESOME!  I always thought I would hate being in trio but we're really enjoying it :)  Also that day we found a great new investigator named Jean Carlos from Peru.  He has 17 years and has such a great desire to know the truth.  He accepted a baptismal date for the 23rd and wanted to read the Book of Mormon and go to church!  Also, we almost got hit by a train again (not really), but it was super funny :) Learning to look both ways before we cross the train tracks :)

Thursday was a long day. ALL of our plans fell through and we didn´t find anybody!  We passed by this one guy and he said hi really friendly.  SO i thought. why not talk to him? SO i started to talk to him, BAD IDEA!  He was crazy and very blasphemous.  So i was like "Alright, we gotta, go! Have a nice evening!"  SO we left and on our way to our correlation meeting and stopped to make copies of our informe de progreso, when a guy walked by yelling stuff about the Savior then he saw us and turned around.  WE paid for the copies and started walking to the church when he looked at us and was like "You girls, are you going to heaven or hell?"  I was just like "WHA?!?" and Hermana reyes looked at him, smiled and said "heaven, thank you" And we just kept on walking.  It was pretty funny :)

Friday morning we saw Jean Carlos again and he said he received an answer that the Book of Mormon is true.  WE were super stoked.  He also said he talked to his mom and she said she didn't have a problem with him going to church or getting baptized!  Later, we supposedly had a Family Home Evening and the Ward mission leader asked us to prepare a message.  We were excited because we had a really good idea of something we could do.  The Elders were supposed to do the games.  Well the Elders called us and said they had to travel to capital for divisions so they wouldn´t make it.  SO we had to do the games AND message.  We get to the church at 7, the designated hour for the activity.  AND there was NOBODY there! AND the lights didn´t work!  So we had to find the switchboard and check everything.  FInally we fixed it and we had lights, but still nobody showed up.  THe ward mission leader called and said he would get there in 30 min. 3 people showed up and 45 minutes later the ward mission leader still didn´t show.  So we did the activity with the few people we had.  3 more people showed up and we had fun.  I was just a little frustrated at the lack of planning and all but it turned out fine :)

Saturday was alright.  We went by to visit Jean Carlos but he wasn't there.  So we went by later and we found his sister.  She said that he had to go visit and uncle for the weekend and would come back Monday.  SO we started talking to her.  Shared a quick message.  She wanted to know which church was true and decided to go to church.  We invited her to be baptized the 23rd also and said yes :)  So we were really excited.  Her name is Olimpia

Sunday morning we get up and go by Olimpia to take her to church, but she wasn't there...... SO we were a little sad.  But Javier came to church here with his friend.  Javier is super awesome!  He won´t be able to move back to his house for like 2 more weeks and his pareja said she would give him the answer about getting married before new years.  SO WE are still working with him.  He´s basically a dry mormon.  Just need to add marriage and the waters of baptism!

Don´t really know what else to say.  It´s been a fun but difficult week.  But we keep smiling and laughing all the day long.  Love all of you!

Hermana Allison Scarlett

San Fernando - Post 10

November 3, 2014

It's raining, It's pouring! But the missionaries keep going! 

Here is a rundown of the week

Monday- FHE at a member's house. They invited some Recent Converts over and said they were going to start at 7:30 because we had to go at 8:40 to get home on time at 9.  SO naturally we get there on time and not everyone is there and so we wait and wait and wait. One more person shows and it´s 8:20. SO we start share a SUPER quick thought and activity and are ready to bolt out the door. Then they are like, No, stay for empenadas and gaseosa!  And they pour us sprite and I grab the cup and CHUG!  But my companion can´t eat or drink quickly so when nobody was looking i switched our cups and CHUGGED hers too! Then we were like THANKS! And out the door.  SO we start quickly heading home and the mom and daughter come running out after us and wanted to walk us to the train station, but we HAD TO GO! SO we are SPEED walking and get to the train station and we get there, say goodbye, and we start RUNNING to the house.  We get there just on time, but out of breath.

Tuesday-WE had divisions and I was here in san fernando with Hermana Terry.  She came in with me and is way great!  In the morning it was sunny and beautiful and all of the sudden it gets dark and starts POURING!  SO we RUN to the church, dry off a bit, grab some black plastic bags, and make pancho-type thingies and head out to work again.  It was so crazy! Thunder and Lightning, pero mal!  I almost died.... ANd then that night we talked for hours, laying in bed.  IT was nice :)

Wednesday- I get my hija back and we share stories about what happened in divisions.  We had a good lesson with Javier,  He is a boss!

Thursday we had planning and then went out to work.  I have this habit where while we are walking I grab flowers and leaves. I dont know why.  But I grabbed a flower, opened my hand, and saw a BEE! I screamed, felt a little pinch, and flicked my hand real fast!  I looked and the bee had stung me but because I reacted quickly only the little tip of the stinger entered, not the whole thing.  So I took it out and it hurt!  I was worried because I don´t know if i'm allergic or not but nothing happened.  I don't know if that´s because i'm not allergic or because the stinger didn´t enter all the way.  But it was interesting.  First time in my life!

Friday we had a rough lesson with Javier.  We were thinking about his situation.  He´s here alone, but his pareja is away working for 2 months.  SO we talked to him and he said he would marry her went she gets back.  So we thougth Law of Chastity, CHECK! But then we realized that when she comes back they would be living together and that can´t happen, so we called the Zone Leaders and talked about it.  Together, they decided he needs to get married before he can get baptized.  It was rough but Javier is so determined.  So today his pareja is coming up to visit and to talk with the lawyers and finalize everything about getting the house back, and while she´s up here he´s going to ask her to marry him!  We are anxiously waiting to see what she says so we can start the wedding plans!

And Friday was HALLOWEEN!  But it was sad because here they don´t do anything.  Maybe a few kids dress up and go around but nothing else.  Also this day we had lunch with an awesome member family.  It came time to share a scripture, so i pull out a Book of Mormon....IN CHINESE!  Everyone was so confused and i just started to laugh!  We had received a referral of someone who wanted a Chinese BofM so we got one but we never found the guy, so now i just have it and accidentally grabbed it when we headed out.  We got a good laugh.  

Saturday-it started to POUR!!!!! We got soaked!  It was bad

Sunday-  It poured all day long! and my umbrella, after 13 months of faithful service, passed away.  It is broken, pero mal!  My companion´s umbrella broke too! So we were walking around trying to hide from the rain under broken umbrellas.  IT was so funny :)  

And today we are going to a pizza buffet with all the missionaries in our Zone.  I LOVE ARGENTINE PIZZA! The sauce is so much better than american pizza sauce. I´m so excited!

Well i love you all and hope you have a great week!

Hermana Allison Scarlett

San Fernando - Post 9

Hermana Scarlett and Hermana Gomez

October 27, 2014

Well This week has been interesting... Here´s how it went :)

Monday:  Everything fell through and it was just a bad day...

Tuesday: Was an alright day.  We had a good visit with a part-member family.  The mom isn´t a member but she has such a strong testimony.  I still haven´t met the dad. He is less-active. The reason she can't get baptized is because first they need to be married.  She wants to but from what I understand the dad is the reason they aren't married.  We're trying to find a time when we can meet him but he is ALWAYS working... We'll see what happens there.  Also that day, I almost got run over by 3 things.  A HUGE RAT, a train. and a car. Well it wasn´t that close but it was pretty funny :)  We heard the train horn and screamed and ran across the rest of the tracks only to see that it was still a ways away.  WHen we crossed the tracks a HUGE RAT ran right in front of us and we screamed again, and as we were laughing about it, a car honked at us as it flew by and we screamed again.  It was pretty funny and the member, Jorge Luis, the member with us, was just dying!

Wednesday:  This day we met with this less-active member and he doesn´t go to church, just because he is LAZY!  Seriously.....But at the end of the lesson we asked him if he knew anybody we could help or teach, and he said he had a friend that is living with them that had some things happen and had his house taken from him and needed some help.  So we set up an appointment the next day to meet him.  That night we saw the less active again, with this friend, walking in the street, so he introduced us to his friend, Javier.  He told us that he wants to go to church on Sunday and we were just jumping with joy inside.  Also that day we went to contact a reference of someone we talked to in the plaza.  We got there and there were like 6 doorbells and they had a little plastic cover over it, so I went to open it and the cover fell off!  Wy companion and the member were laughing as i did my best to put it back on...

Thursday:  We had a lesson with Javier and it was GREAT!  THis guy LOVEs to read the bible, so when we got to the part of the Book of Mormon, I asked him "What would you do if God gave you another book of scripture to study?" His eyes just lit up and was like "I would read it all!"  SO we showed him the Book of Mormon and explained it to him and he basically started reading it then and there! My companion. hermana Gomez, then invited him to be baptized and he said "yes." He said it so decidedly and was so happy when he said it.  I just about cried right there and then.  The spirit was so strong in that lesson!  That night we saw someone on the street and I thought it was the less-active son of a member, but I wasn't sure because I have only seen him in a picture.  SO when we passed by I said "hola" nothing else, and he said "Hola hermosa" (Hello Beautiful) right in my face and his breath was rank!  I made a face and my companion saw and just started laughing!  She was like "I guess it wasn´t him." ANd we just laughed as i cringed with disgust!

Friday:  Well friday morning was just downright crazy.  We had to go to a meeting for all the new missionaries from this past transfer, and their trainers.  Meaning that Hermana Gomez and I had to go.  It was a great meeting :)  I just about cried at some parts.  President Ayre was talking about a problem we have in the mission.  The problem is that in February 41 missionaries go home.  In March 39 missionaries go home.  In April about 25 go home.  In 3 months the mission will lose over 100 missionaries.  He started talking about how those missionaries are some of the strongest, hardest-working missionaries in the mission.  I started to tear up because I am one of the ones who go home in March!  He started talking about how the new missionaries are going to have to fill the shoes of those who are leaving.  It was a really powerful moment and felt a big responsibility to train my hijita well so that she can carry on the work after I've gone home.  As for Javier we taught him about the law of Chastity.  He just ate it up.  His pareja and kids are in another provincia for work but are going to come back in a month or 2. They aren't married but he said he would get married when they come back so they can live the law of chastity.  He is awesome!

Saturday:  It was a good day.  Had some good lessons with some less actives and recent converts.

Sunday:  Javier and his less-active friend came to church!  Everyone was so happy to see them!  The less active friend is a returned missionary and hasn't gone to church in about 2 or 3 years because he´s lazy, but his investigator friend woke him up and the whole week was telling him "We can´t miss church Sunday!"  It was a good day. It looks like they are going to be giving Javier his house back on THursday so he can move back.  He lives in the next ward over so we will explain to him that he will go to the Virreyes ward and the elders there can teach him.  It was a bit of a bummer at first that we'll probably be losing him as an investigator but when we thought about it, it really is a blessing for him and at least we were able to find him and bring him the Gospel.  It really doesn't matter if he gets baptized with us or them, just as long as he has the Gospel and takes that important step of baptism.  Also the Elders had another baptism and Javier stayed and loved it.  THe Elders also asked us to sing the closing song again.  I guess this whole singing thing is a trend in the San Fernando Baptisms.  

Friday as I was getting ready I looked in the mirror and thought about who I was 3 years ago and who I am today.  I have changed so much and yet I´m still me.  I marveled at the change that truly accepting and applying the Gospel of Jesus Christ has made in me.  I am a better person because of it.  I´m happy with who I am and I know what really is the most important.  I have an eternbal perspective and everything i do in my like will be to reach the goal of living with my Heavenly Father again.  I love the Gospel so much!  And I love you guys too!

Hermana Allison Scarlett

Argentine Apple Pie

Best Flan ever!

My Friend, Mikey

San Fernando - Post 8

October 20, 2014

HAPPY MOTHER´S DAY FROM SUNNY ARGENTINA :)

Yes, here in argentina mother´s day was yesterday.  It was kinda weird but cool at the same time :)

Well as for me, This week has been rough yet satisfying, this is how it went.

Monday: WE had p-day with all the hermanas at president´s house.  It was really great :)

TUesday: Don´t really remember much, just that we worked hard but didn't really see the fruits of our labors.

Wednesday:  Worked even more.  We did have a funny moment though :)  We were in a rush to catch the train to make it to the next place we needed to go, and we heard the dinging noise that signaled that the train was coming, so we started to RUN! We got to the entrance and there are those spinny entrance thingies and you have to put your sube card on the scanner so that it charges you so you can enter.  So the train was sitting there with the doors open and we tried to scan our cards, but it wasn't working!  THere were 2 guys on the other side that tried to help us through and we were yelling like maniacs trying to get past the barreras.  We finally did after laughing and screaming and we ran towards the train only to have the doors slam in our faces!  After all that trouble, we had to wait for the next train.  #trainprobs

Thursday: We planned a lot.  We had a great lesson with a member. She wants us to visit with her neighbor that lives below her, but she´s in brazil right now and comes back this thursday.  She´s going to invite us and her over for a Family Home Evening next week :)  We are excited for that.  Also, that night the Elders had a baptism.  One of their converts came to our talent show a few weeks ago and heard me sing. I was asked to do a special number, but i was too embarrassed to do it by myself, so my companion, the elders and I sang "Nearer My God to Thee" as the closing hymn.  During the baptism I was sitting behind one of the members and this little green bug flew into her hair and got stuck. I tried to get it out without her knowing and then the bug flew RIGHT INTO MY FACE!  My companion and I were trying so hard not to bust out laughing!  Also, that night we had about 10 minutes before we could enter the house, so we went to the plaza in front of our house and started inviting people to church.  My companion gave one guy a pass along card and he was such a SNAKE! He started hitting on us and asking for our number.  We basically had to run away.  It was pretty funny :)

Friday:  WE had to do tramites so that my companion could receive her argentine DNI.  We had to do some things here in San Fernando and then take and hour train ride to the immigrations offices.  We got her number and waited and waited and WAITED!  I´m not a big fan of waiting. But while we were waiting i saw this obviously American guy and his T-shirt said  "Smart, Southern, Spiritual." SO I asked him, In English, Where he was from.  He looked a little startled and got a huge grin and excitedly said "The United States!"  I just kinda chuckled and said "I know, but from what part?"  He said he was from texas and i told him i was from North Carolina,  He said he had friends from Gary, NC but i had never heard of that place.  We chatted and he came here 3 months ago to study at a catholic university.  It was cool to talk to another southerner. We finally got back to our area and were able to start working at 5 but then that night, the ward put on a mother´s day activity at 8.  It was nice :)  #bautsimosybichos #tramites

Saturday:  We worked our tail ends off and we were DEAD when we got home, and still had not found ANYBODY to teach! I was a little upset and frustrated because I was doing all the things I should be doing, and to no avail.  Luckily that night the Young Men and Young Women were doing a pizza fundraiser, so we bought a pizza from them and they brought it to our house that night and it was YUMMY!  When we knelt down to pray that night, I pleaded to my Heavenly Father that He would bless us with a miracle Sunday, that we could have someone come to church.  WE had worked so hard the past 2 weeks and I just wanted to be able to find someone to come to church and to teach.#deadtired #PIZZA

Sunday: We got up, got ready, and went around to invite more people to church, but nobody came.  We got there and said hey to everyone, and then sat down.  I was a little sad, because after all that work, we had nothing to show for it.  Then right when the meeting started Elder Valerdi came over to where we were and said that one of the members, Jesus, brought a friend to church that lived in our area.  I perked up, looked over, and sure enough there was this guy sitting over there that i didn't even see when we came in! I just about burst into tears.  After the meeting we went over and met him and brought him to the next class.  That AP´s had already invited him to be baptized and has a baptismal date for the 2nd of Noviembre.  After the 2nd class we showed him the baptismal font and talked more about baptism and he wants to learn more.  He said he didn't really understand a lot of what they talked about but he felt good.  Then he went to the Priesthood class with the Elders and his friend and Hermana Gomez and i were just awestruck.  God literally placed this investigator in our hands!  Oh and I also gave a talk on the Blessing we receive when we share the gospel.  It was good. ·#Miraclesexist!

And here I am still awestruck by how great GOD is and how much he really loves us.  If we do the best that we can, he will ALWAYS bless us! Sometimes we just need to be patient.  It makes me think of a scripture in the Book of Mormon in Ether 12:6 which says 
"And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

I love the Gospel and I love this great opportunity I have to serve the Lord as his representative.

Hermana Allison Scarlett

San Fernando - Post 7

October 13, 2014

From President and Sister Ayre -

We are enjoying a Sister's P Day at the Mission home. We love your daughters very much. This group of Angels is causing miracles in Buenos Aires. Thank you for your sacrifice.

From our Hermana Scarlett -

Sorry that I am getting on so late!  We had a sisters pday with all the sisters in the mission so we got back late and bought groceries when we remembered that today is a holiday and all the internet places are closed.  Luckily we are able to use the computers here in the mission offices.  So here is how my week went-

Tuesday I recieved my new companion, my baby!  She is super awesome!  Her name is Hermana Gomez and she is from Spain!  I was a little worried about the accent but it really is a great blessing because I don't know if I could have trained a gringa who doesn't speak any spanish.  I probably would have died.  I love her a lot.  Sometimes it is a bit difficult because even though she knows the language I have to teach her everything I know about how to do things on a mission.  I am trying to remember everything but I am definitely having to rely on the Lord a lot to know where to go and what to do.  It's a learning experience for us both :) #Imamom!

Me and Hermana Gomez, Mi Hija!

Wednesday we planned, ate lunch then went to the church to wait for a member.  We waited and waited and he didn't show. Elder Lines came out and said "I want you to come in and meet your new companion!" I was so confused!  So we went in and there was a Sister missionary who had to go home about 10 months ago then returned and she was going to stay with us for a couple days before she goes to her new area, which just happened to be LIMA! Oh man i was so excited!  I was giving her the run down and telling her who to visit and to tell everyone I said hi!  She was really great.  It was funny because as we were walking, her and my companion and the member were all chatting and following me around like little ducklings as I directed us all to where we needed to go. But stuff like that happens to us San Fernando Sisters a lot.  WE pickup random companions, people spend the night with us, we pick up the APs lunches and run errands for people.  We are basically the behind the scenes sisters. #atracompañera #wearethesanfernandosisters

Thursday we visited a less-active member who is a little off.  He always says things that are a little off and strange, but what happened this day just topped them all.  We were finishing the lesson after some of his strange comments when he looked at me and said "Sister, before you go can you do me a favor?"  I just kinda looked at him and was like "uhm....sure, what is it?" He then walked into his kitchen and came out with a bottle of olive oil and asked me if i could bless and consecrate the olive oil so that he could drink it and receive more strength as he flexed his twigy little arms.  We all just kinda sat there staring at him not knowing what to say.  All i could think was "NO! This man is CRAZY!"  SO we said, "No, you could say a prayer over your food so that it will nourish you but we don't consecrate food like that."  SO we just said the closing prayer and ran out of there trying not to laugh! #crazymenosactivos

Friday was a good day.  We had lunch with a family from the ward and they had family visiting who had lunch with us - and they thought i was from argentina!  I was like "oh yes I am!"   It was funny. We found a new investigator but when we went by Saturday, someone else answered and was super drunk. Then the investigator we were looking for came around the corner, saw it was us, and ran and hid.  The man who opened the door said he was a less-active member, then another guy came and said he was evangelist.  It was pretty bad, so we left and decided not to go back. 

Saturday we had some good less-active member lessons.  Also everyone kept saying i was rubia! that means blonde!  I do not have blonde hair!  They said it was like a dark blonde, not brown.  My hair is a disaster, and it's like 3 different colors so i am going to see if next monday one of the members here can fix it up.  (I can just hear Mom, Sara, Juleigh, and everyone else shouting for joy!)  There is one girl here named Estefany who is having a rough time and wants to change so bad.  She is about 5 months pregnant and we have been visiting her since I got here.  But Saturday we had a member with us who has known her and her family for a long time.  At one point she started to cry.  The member knew exactly what to say to help her and showed her support.  It was such a powerful moment with feeling the spirit.  I was on the verge of tears seeing this girl who made a mistake, seeing the pain it has caused her and her desire to change and come back to church.  She is going to turn her life around and become so strong through this trial and bless the lives of so many people, i just know it :) #apparentlyiamblonde

Sunday, none of the people we are working with came to church.  It was frustrating but now we are going to start back at ground zero and work our tails off so that we can have someone at church next sunday.  We did have some really powerful lessons with some former investigators.  It still may not be their time now but I feel like the Lord sent us to push them a little more and help prepare them so that they will one day be ready to take the step of baptism.  The most powerful one was the last visit of the night.  We had an appointment with a member family but strangely it fell through.  So I pulled out a list of less-active members and saw a name and decided to go by.  Once we started walking I realized it was farther than I thought and almost changed my mind but I felt like we should go anyway so we did.  Then once we got closer I remembered a little about who it was and almost decided not to go because we never found him and once we found his son and he didn't really want anything to do with the church, but i felt like we should go anyway.  So we get there, ring the bell and out comes the son.  I was prepared for him to just tell us to go away, but something completely different happened.  He told us that his father, the less active member, had passed away on wednesday. We chatted a bit and he said the day after his father's passing, he ran into some elders and asked them to pray for him.  Then we talked a bit about the plan of salvation and invited him to church.  He said no thank you, i'm catholic.  But we talked about how we at least wanted to give him the invitation and the pamphlet. Then we talked about how through the atonement of christ, he would one day see his father again and he could be relieved of these sad feelings.  He accepted the pamphlet and we left.  As we left, I turned around and he stood there with the pamphlet in his hands looking at the picture of Christ and then just looked up to the sky and just stood there.  I know that he felt the spirit while we were them and felt it leave when we left.  I know the Lord is preparing him to receive the gospel.  Maybe he will come to church on sunday or maybe he will talk to the missionaries later, but I knew that Heavenly Father sent us to him at that time for a reason. #aninstrumentinthehandsofthelord

As for today, we had the sisters pday.  We watched the Womens conference and it was SO GOOD! And then afterwards President Ayre had a surprise for us.  He called sister Linda K. Burton, the Relief Society General President and we talked to her over speaker phone.  IT WAS WAY COOL!  Then we ate tacos and chatted. I shot some hoops with some other sisters.  It was great :) and now here i am writing you guys :)

I Love the mission so much! It goes by WAY TOO FAST!  I am enjoying every moment of it.  Thanks for all of your support and love. I LOVE YOU ALL!

Hermana Allison Scarlett

San Fernando - Post 6

October 7, 2014 - Sorry folks for getting behind on Hermana Scarlett's blog :( 

Well this has been a long crazy week.  Working hard but not getting the results we would like, but we keep on keeping on anyways :)  I'm just going to skip a few days :)

At the Temple with Hermana Ostler and Hermana Hatch

So this transfer we were supposed to get some new missionaries from the states, but the FBI changed their system or something and the FBI checks didn´t come through and those missionaries were going to get temporary assignments.  But thursday morning they got news that they were coming anyways AND that afternoon Elder Valerdi called us to let us know that I was going to be training and that the trainer´s meeting would be the next day after the temple.  SO i was a bit shocked.

Road Trip with The Lines

Friday we went to the temple and it was GREAT!!! I love the temple.  it´s basically the best place ever :)  And after wards we had a great training meeting.  It was really funny actually.  Elder Valerdi and Elder Pirez are the AP´s and we share the San Fernando ward with them.  They are super cool but Elder Pirez goes home and he has been SUPER TRUNKY!  Like bad!  So during the meeting Hermana Ostler and i kept laughing at him then Elder Valerdi saw us and was trying not to laugh too.  They are great.  So after that we headed home with Elder and Hermana Lines, the senior couple that works in the mission offices. Later the office elders met up with the AP's and us at a huge shopping mall in Vicente Lopez to eat.  It was so fun to just chill and see everyone relaxed and enjoying themselves.  We were just laughing so hard!  And then we saw President Ayre with his family and chatted for awhile  Then we headed back to our area just in time to get ready for the ward talent show that night.  Elder Pirez already had his act for the show and Elder Valerdi asked if he could sing with us. Here´s the thing-he speaks english REALLY WELL but is too humble to tell anyone (he is from mexico) so we made him sing the EFY medley with us in english and it turned out really well.  I also played the piano. It felt good to be able to perform a piano piece again :)

The San Fernando Stake Baptisms - 14 People!

Saturday and Sunday we watched GENERAL CONFERENCE! Sad thing was that none of our investigadores came.  We were able to watch it in the mission offices in english for Hermana Ostler.  It was fun to have our little group of english missionaries in there :)  In between the Sunday sessions we had the HUGEST baptismal service I've ever seen.  ALL the missionaries had to come to San Fernando Sunday, because it´s the stake center (A stake is about 6-10 wards or congregations and a Stake Center is a centrally located church building where the Stake offices are located and where Stake meetings are held).  In between the sessions, all of the baptisms for the missionaries serving in that stake were held and 14 PEOPLE GOT BAPTIZED! It was way cool.  Us and the AP's were running left and right to try to get everything organized and started.  There was a line of people dressed in white waiting reverently to go into the baptismal font.  We were in the women´s bathroom helping the ladies in and out and trying to keep the floor dry.  It was crazy but it was a great experience to help all of those people to take that important step of baptism so that one day they can live with their heavenly father again :) 

As for yesterday, we had an interesting conversation with a Jehovah's Witness waiting for the train. When we walked by him, I knew he was going to come over and talk to us.  He was polite but i could tell he wanted to trip us up and prove us doctrinally wrong.  But I shared with him the story of Joseph Smith and the experience he had.  When i shared Joseph smith's First Vision experience, I could feel the spirit so strongly and felt that what I was sharing was true.  He stopped for a minute and I am pretty sure he felt it too, but after a second he kept on continuing to bible bash but i simply said, "We basically share the same beliefs up until the restoration of Christ's church to the earth.  Thank you for trying to help more people come unto Christ and share the word of God."  Then the train came and we departed.  It was a neat experience for me because I was thinking about one of the talks in the first session of conference about loving people despite our differences in beliefs and cultures.  Normally I probably would have gotten frustrated with him trying to prove me wrong but instead I felt a sincere desire to help this man find the truth and the Spirit was able to help me know what to say to him.  It´s hard for me when people reject the message I'm here to share or choose not to live the commandments because i know it´s what they need. I get frustrated.  But i am praying for more charity and a greater desire to help these people, and He is helping me :)

I love this gospel and the opportunity I have to share it with people and help them to change their lives.  It is seriously the best thing ever!  I am going to mae these lat 6 months of my mission really count and work herder than ever. I know there are more people waiti

ng for me to find them!  I love you all!

Hermana Allison Scarlett