Lima - Post 9

SO this week has been AMAZING!  My new companion is Hermana Durán from Honduras. We both arrived here in Argentina at the same time but I have 1 month more than her in the mission since I was in the Provo MTC for six weeks before I came out here.  I remember the first day here, I was trying to speak in broken spanish, and she in broken inglish.  When I learned she was going to be my companion I was so excited!  We get along so well!  I feel like we have been together a lot longer than one week!

I had the BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!  It was full of miracles.  We had 9 lessons with members, found 8 new people through referrals and also started teaching an AWESOME family that are way prepared!  Let me tell you about them :)

LA FAMILIA MUGA:  One day Hermana Weitl and I were bicycling and we passed a house.  Hermana Weitl remembered knocking the door but couldn't remember if they we former investigators, less-active members, or what.  So we decided to knock the door and out came a man.  We chatted with him and found out that he had listened to missionaries before and that he had a Book of Mormon, however he didn't have time to talk but said we could pass by another time.  But then something happened and we couldn't pass by and we didn't have his phone number. We tried and tried to find this family at home again, and one night we did.  His wife wasn't there so we chatted a little bit outside his door.  He was reading the Book of Mormon and has felt something change inside of him.  He and his wife used to argue a lot but when he started reading the Book of Mormon he felt more calm and didn't want to fight anymore.  He just kept trying to have peace. After talking to him awhile, we invited him to be baptized.  He took a minute and thought the said "I wanted this for my family too" I just about burst into tears!  He started talking about how he wants to be with his family forever and he wants their family relationships to get better, and all the things a missionary wants to hear.  I was in cloud nine!  So he accepted the baptismal date and said he was going to talk to his wife about it.  

We had a return appointment but something else came up (Freaking Satan trying to mess up the work of God!) so when Hermana Durán came we went by on Wednesday night and met his wife and she was interested in learning about the gospel too.  We invited her to be baptized too and she accepted also!  We set an appointment for the next day and they were all there!  We had an awesome lesson! They are preparing to be baptized together as a family the 9th of August including and their son who turns 8 on the 3rd of August! WooHoo!  (In the LDS faith, we believe children are blameless in incapable of sin until they have been taught and reach an understanding of accountability - age 8 - at which they are baptized.) We set up a return appointment for the following day but they had to go do some paperwork last minute and wouldn't be back until Saturday night.  So we prayed and prayed for them and that they would go to church.  Sunday morning they didn't answer our calls so we ran by their house and lo and behold they were getting up and getting ready to go to church.  They LOVED it! They are such a miracle, but they are helping me learn the plan that God has for the family.  The Gospel truly does bless families.  Reading the Book of Mormon caused a change of heart that literally saved a marriage and now the whole family is working together to receive the blessings God has waiting for them!

So that was my miracle for the week.  We had other interesting experiences this week.  Sunday we contacted a referral.  He thought he knew pretty much everything about the Mormons and our book.  He said he only believed in the Bible and that it is perfect and complete.  We asked him if he had ever read the Book of Mormon, he replied no.  We asked him if he had ever prayed to God to ask if it was true and if it were possible that he could give us more revelation. He replied no, he didn't have to, because he already knew it was false.  That made me so sad because he wasn't even willing to ask GOD, in whom he had so much faith.  He decided to rely on his own knowledge and not ask Him who knows all.  

It says in James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom , let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."  I know that if he would soften his heart, read the Book of Mormon, ponder the message it contains, then ask GOD if it is true, he would undoubtably receive the answer that it IS TRUE and that it could change his life if he would let it. (He is fulfilling the prophecies found in 2 Nephi 29, READ IT - it will blow your mind!) That is all we, as missionaries, ask people to do - listen to the message, read the Book of Mormon, ask GOD in prayer if it is true, when they do know that it is true, then follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and be baptized to start on the path that leads to salvation. It really is very simple and I KNOW that whoever applies these simple invitations will have a great and marvelous change in their lives. It happened to me and I have seen it happen to other people and I know it can happen to anyone who sincerely wants to find the truth.

I love serving this mission so much and I love being able to help other people change their lives and accept the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is the greatest thing EVER!  I love my Savior and all He allows me to do day after day. I know I would not be able to do all of this without his help.  I'm actually doing nothing, just trying my best to be an instrument in his hands to bless the lives of others.

I love you all and can´t wait to hear from you next Monday!

Hermana Allison Scarlett

Lima - Post 8

July 15, 2014

Thank you so much for all of the birthday wishes!  Having 40 e-mails today made my week! You all are the best and I sure do love you all!  Well this week has been a long one but interesting.  

Tuesday all was normal. Wednesday the Branch President asked us to do a favor and stay with his wife while he went to work.  We said of course - almost nobody asks us to help so we jumped right on it.  His wife has schizophrenia; she is a super sweet, super faithful and strong member of the church and has a strong testimony.  I've learned that people that have this illness are born with it but it doesn't come out until later in your life. She had a nervous attack when she turned 23 and that is when it showed up for her.  She had had some bad dreams Tuesday night and when she woke up she was still seeing things and was afraid to be alone.  So the Bishop asked us to come stay with her.  She was perfectly fine - just needed someone to bring the Spirit to calm her down and make her feel safe.  That's where we came in.  When we got there she was afraid but as we sat with her, talked and looked at her photos we could see how the Spirit we brought to the house helped her. It was something quietly incredible that really impacted me.  It was amazing to be able to help someone in that simple, quiet way.

Right after that we went to a member´s house to watch the semifinals world cup game: Argentina vs Holland/Netherlands (don´t remember which one it is in Inglish)  and you know what?!? WE WON!  It was crazy but awesome and so fun!  The first half nobody had made a point so I pulled out my Argentina Jersey and I love Argentina earrings, decked myself out, and said to the family "Now, we are going to win!"  They LOVED IT!  And then WE WON!  WHOOOOO! VAMOS ARGENTINA!

Thursday we planned in the morning then went out to work for a little bit then headed back in because we had to travel to San Fernando, 3 hours away, to do some paperwork the next day so Hermana Weitl could receive her Argentine ID. 

SO Friday we were in San Fernando ALL DAY!  But it was fun and it was amazing to see how the Lord provide a way for us to share the Gospel even when we were away from our area.  That morning the missionaries that had to do the paperwork all got together and took the train to the immigrations office in Retiro.  On the way, someone walked up to one of the elders and asked him how he and his girlfriend could be sealed together forever in the temple.  Elder DaSilva explained it all then the man told Elder DaSilva that his girlfriend is an inactive member and she wants to get sealed in the temple; but they are living together and aren't married.  IT was cool. Then another guy with a cool mustache and a bowler hat kept looking at us but didn't really say anything.  Finally, he walked up to Edler Sanders and asked in perfect Inglish "DO you guys have one of your books? I´ve always wanted to read it."  Elder Sanders only has 12 weeks in the mission, same as Hermana Weitl, and they both were wide-eyed and were like "YEAH!  Hey Who has a Book of Mormon?!?" SO all the missionaries start rummaging in their backpacks and finally someone whips one out almost shouting "HERE!" and gave him the book.  It was pretty funny, but Elder Sander and Hermana Weitl had a pretty good chat with him on the train.  

SO we get there and start the tramite process and in walks this big farmer-looking guy with a long-sleeved harley davidson t-shirt with jean overalls, a camo ball cap, and big brown work boots.  I looked at Hermana Weitl and said "how much do you wanna bet he´s from the USA?" She chuckled.  We hadn't seen anyone like that in a LONG TIME! SO she decided to talk with him and had a good chat. We started talking about what we were gonna do for lunch and the ride back when he asked us how much the exchange rate was here, so we told him.  Then he reaches in his pocket and whips out a HUGE WAD OF AMERICAN CASH!  We both kinda go into shock because we hadn't seen that much american cash in a while, and you don't just WHIP OUT AMERICAN CASH IN ARGENTINA!  Then he tried to give us 2 twenty dollar bills. That is a LOT of pesos!  400 pesos if you change it in the streets.  We couldn't accept it as nice as it was.  Then Hermana Weitl got the papers she needed and we went to see if the Elders were almost done.  Then 2 girls walked up to us and asked how long we had to wait - IN INGLISH!  At this point we were just in total shock of all that had happened.  Then we started talking about why we were here and talked about the with them church.  It was really cool.  They were from Mexico, had studied in Washington DC and were finishing their studies in Bueno Aires.  Finally, we went home and got back late.

Saturday was a normal day.  Sunday we had to go home right after church because the World Cup finals were that day.  We stayed in all day.  And we lost to germany ;(  But it´s okay - we at least made it farther than Mexico (Steven!) and Brasil (Logan!) VAMOS ARGENTINA! (THAT´S HOW WE DO IT ALEC! WHOOOOO!) Yesterday we visited a bunch of members to say goodbye in case one of us left during transfers.  Hermana Weitl left.  I´m gonna miss the boogers out of that girl!  But it´s okay :) I will see her every now and then and we have plans to have adventures together after the mission.  It´s just hard to see your first daughter go off on her own.... wow....... I sound like my mom.......

But I am still in Lima and my new companion is Hermana Duran from Honduras.  She came into the mission with me, but I have 6 weeks more than her because of my time in the MTC in Provo.  I remember when we got here I was speaking my broken spanish to her and she was speaking her broken english to me.  I have NO IDEA what we talked about but I remember we got along very well and she is super sweet.   We are going to have an AMAZING time here in Lima this transfer!  I am way excited and I can tell we are going to work hard and have a LOT of fun :)  

I love you all and thank you for all of your love and support.  It really helps a lot to keep going when it gets rough.  I love this Gospel so much and I love being able to share it every day.  I am so blessed beyond what I merit through my own acts.  I know it is through my obedience and the mercy of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I receive so many blessings.  I love my Savior so much and am so grateful for the sacrifice that He made for me.  I can't wait for the day I get to see Him, give him a big hug, and thank Him for all that He has done for me.  I could not continue day after day with His help.  He is my strength and without Him I am nothing.

I love you all!

Hermana Allison Scarlett

Lima - Post 7

BUEN DIA!  This week has been quite a whirlwind.

Tuesday, we had a special mission meeting followed by an Argentine cultural event in Vicente Lopez (my last area) at the school of President Ayre's son.  This was weird cause we usually have our meetings at the chapel in San Fernando so everyone was suspicious.  We went to Zarate Monday night and got ZERO sleep then got up early and our whole zone went together to Vicente Lopez.  We had a REALLY awesome meeting and talked about all of the miracles we have been seeing in the mission and what we need to do to keep having these miracles.  I felt so inspired and ready to work afterwards. We finished the meeting and then special cultural event was WATCHING THE ARGENTINA SOCCER GAME!  Oh man it was CUHRAZY!!!!!  They played against Switzerland and the WHOLE TIME nobody made a freaking goal!  They went into Extra Time and EVERYONE was going crazy!  It was so fun :)  I was going crazy and I don´t even like soccer!  I think its that Argentine pride!  The best part is that WE WON!  YEAH BOI!!!! That´s how we do it here in Argentina!  We got back to Zarate and decided to have our zone meeting that night so we all wouldn't have to travel BACK to Zarate the next day.  SO we had another SUPER GOOD meeting but we also got back to our area then to bed late.  We were wiped out!

Wednesday was an intersting day.  We got up and got ready but we were dead.  Didn't sleep good and I haven't been sleeping good for a while.  I asked the Elders for a blessing that morning so I could get some good quality sleep. Before the blessing they were asking me why I wasn't sleeping good and if I was having bad dreams. I rarely remember my dreams, but I did remember a glimpse of and it was a little freaky. I just kept waking up like every hour feeling panicked or worried. So Elder Heil gave me the blessing and blessed me that I would stop having nightmares and have good dreams, that I wouldn't be so preoccupied about other things so that I could focus on my mission. Ever since the blessing I've been sleeping good and apparently having good dreams because the next day my companion said I was sleep talking in spanish and I was teaching people about the gospel.  I am seriously so grateful that in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we have the priesthood authority of God to bless our lives.

We then headed out to try to find some people but we were SO TIRED!  Like WAY TIRED!  and you guys know how I get when I'm tired-WEIRD! And my companion too. We were walking down the street and our shadows were in front of us. I made my shadow punch her shadow, then she made her shadow punch my shadow, then we started shadow fighting.  It was pretty funny.  When all of a sudden my companion stopped.  Then I heard her say "Hola"...... and I heard someone reply "Hola" and I just froze.  Someone had been behind us the WHOLE TIME and saw the WHOLE THING!  ohmygosh!!! I turned around to make sure I heard right and sure enough there was a lady trying to hold back her laughs! I quietly said "hola"  and waited for her to pass by.  Then we busted out laughing!  We called the Elders and were like "look, as much as we want to work, we need to get some rest because our brains are pretty much fried." They told us to head home and get some rest.  

After about 2 hours of rest, we got up and headed back out to see a less active family. I was telling them a story when I turned and saw THE HUGEST FREAKING RABBIT EVER! I HATE RABBITS! I froze, made this gaspy noise, turned around and squealed "AHHHHH! THERE´S A RABBIT!"  My companion laughed but I was freaking out because that was the first time I had ever seen a wild rabbit here in Argentina and my companion was just LAUGHING AT ME! But it´s okay because later that night we were teaching someone at their door and a dog peed on her leg!!!!!  MWAHAHA!!!! (We really do love each other)

Thursday I honestly don´t remember much.  I remember that we planned for the week  but that´s about it. 

Friday I had a break through. The whole week I had been studying about Humility and I just really got it!  When we are truly humble we are willing to do whatever our Heavenly Father asks us to do, and when we don´t do it, we are being prideful thinking we can do it our way and it´s okay. But it´s NOT!  For example, we have been commanded to read our scriptures every day, pray every morning and night, and go to church on Sundays. When we justify not doing those things we are being prideful in thinking that it´s okay.  It really goes hand in hand with obedience.  I found an awesome quote about humility from Spencer W. Kimball, a past Prophet and President of the church.  He said, "How does one get humble?  To me, one must constantly be reminded of his dependance. On whom to depend? On the Lord.  How remind one's self? By real, constant, worshipful, grateful prayer.... Humility is gracious, quiet, serene, not pompous, spectacular, nor histrionic. It is subdued, kindly, and understanding - not crude, blatant, loud, or ugly.  Humility is not just a man or a woman, but a perfect gentleman and a gentlelady.  It never struts nor swaggers.  Its faithful, quiet works will be the badge of its own accomplishments.  It never sets itself in the center of the stage, leaving all others in supporting roles.  Humility is never accusing nor contentious.  It is not boastful." So I am working on becoming more humble and focusing my life on the will of the Lord.  

Friday we also received a little surprise.  We felt prompted to visit Maria Ester.  She is a recent convert of about 4 months that lives in the Elder´s area and was recently called to be the Relief Society President. (Relief Society is the women's organization in the church. The President is responsible for the spiritual and temporal well being of all the women in the congregation and those living within the boundaries of the congregation.)  SO we went by and were like "How are you? We felt like we should come visit you!" She had a smile on and was like "come on in!" So we sit down and she brings out this box full of books and manuals and lays it on the table, pulls out a folder, sets it on the table, and just kinda looks at us.  So I asked "Is that all for relief society?" She said yes then just kinda looked at us and said "Has the Branch President told you that you are going to be my counselors?"  I was like " No.... but that´s okay :)"  So we started organizing some visiting teachers right there.  (To help the President with her responsibilities, two counselors are called to assist her.  A part of Relief Society is a program called Visiting Teaching in which two sisters are assigned as companions and given 2-5 other sisters to take care for. Together they help take care of the spiritual and temporal need of those sisters.)  It was a bit of a shock but now Herman Weitl and I fulfill the responsibilities of the 1st and 2nd Counselors and the Secretary in Relief Society.  It will be interesting :D

We also found this great lady named Ester who said she was looking for a church and would love to attend with us.  We invited her to be baptized and she accepted!  But when we went by Saturday to visit her she wasn't there.  We went by Sunday morning also but she wasn't there still.  Her son was there and he said his sister was in the hospital, pregnant and sick, so that´s where she was but she should be coming back this week. We are going to keep passing by to try and find her because she is awesome!

Well not much else happened this week.  Just working hard trying to find people to help and teach! 

As some of you may or may not have noticed, my birthday is on the 16th.  Some of you have asked what I would like for my birthday and ALL I could think of was "I just want to turn 20!"  But with some more thought I have come up with the BEST Birthday gift any of you could give me.  I would love all of you to take part in missionary work and share the Gospel with somebody this week.  Think about how the gospel has blessed your life and think of who you want to help receive those very same blessings.  My Birthday Challenge is that you each invite someone to come to church, read the Book of Mormon, or listen to the missionaries.  Then write me about your experience.  I promise you that it will be an awesome experience to give someone the opportunity of hearing the great message of the restores gospel of Jesus Christ.  And for those of you who aren't members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I invite you to read The Book of Mormon and ask our Heavenly Father if it is true. The Book of Mormon has changed my life and has helped me through tough times. I know it can do the same for every person who reads it.

I LOVE YOU ALL and can´t wait to hear all about your missionary experiences next week!

Hermana Allison Scarlett
allison.scarlett@myldsmail.net

P.S. Next week transfers are on Monday - not expecting any changes, but you never know! 

Lima - Post 6

June 30, 2014

OOOOOOH OOOOOH! I'm halfway there! 

OOOOOOOH OH! Living on a prayer!

Yeah guys I hit my halfway mark on Wednesday and I am feeling pretty great!

Honestly, I really do not know what to say about this week.  All of our investigators we found either stopped meeting with us or told us they did not want us to come by anymore.  It is sad and we are back to ground zero trying to find people to teach. But it is okay because we know there are people prepared here in Lima.  We just need to FIND THEM!

SO I found a super cool quote this week that I wanted to share with everyone. It is from President Gordon B. Hinckley -

"Life is a mission, not just the sputtering of a candle between a chance lighting and a gust of wind that blows it out forever... While here, we have learning to gain, work to do, service to give. We are here with a marvelous inheritance, a divine endowment.  How different this world would be if every person realized that all of his actions have eternal consequences.  How much more satisfying our years may be if in our accumulation of knowledhe, in our relationshps with others, in our business affairs, in our courtship and marriage, and in our family rearing, we recognize that we form each day the stuff of which eternity is made... Life is forever.  Live each day as if you were going to live eternally, FOR YOU SURELY SHALL!"

This life is seriously so important.  Everything we do, every choice we make, affects eternity.  We need to do our best to choose the right and find the truth, because our eternal salvation truly depends on it. That is why I am here so far away from home.  I am trying to help people find the truth and do the things they need to do in order to return home to their Father in Heaven.  And I LOVE IT!  Sometimes it is hard but in the end it is all worth it.  And I have 9 more months to share the greatest message the world has ever heard!

Well I really don't know what else to say, except HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD AND BROTHER!  (also mine is coming up July 16th.... hint hint!)

Love and miss YOU ALL!

Hermana Allison Scarlett
allison.scarlett@myldsmail.net

Lima - Post 5

June 23, 2014

Well this week was quite an interesting week.  I actually got to work in my area for like 2 days and we still were able to see blessings. So my week went a little like this-

Monday: We got a call that morning from the Sister Training Leader to let us know that we were going to do exchanges.  That is when we trade companions and areas to learn from each other.  They were gonna come over that night then the next morning I would head to San Pedro with Hermana de la Cruz for 2 days. So after p-day activities, we worked 3 hours then headed to the house to prepare for the exchange.  They got there at 10:30 that night.  Our apartment is TINY and it was FREEZING so we didn't sleep very well that night.

Tuesday: We get up, I pack my stuff for 3 days and we head to San Pedro.  We were late for a meeting back in San Pedro with some other missionaries so they moved the meeting to that night.  We went to work and had a blast!  That night we had a little electric heater and so we thought it would be a good idea to turn it on full blast and close the doors while we slept so we would be really warm.

Wednesday: I woke up like 10 minutes before the alarm went off and I was sweating, had a huge headache and felt so hot and dry.  I thought I had a fever and felt like I was gonna die. I said my prayers, got out of bed, headed to the bathroom, then headed upstairs to exercise.  Hermana de la Cruz came in and I told her "I have the worst headache EVER"  an she said "ME TOO"  We then realized it was probably from being closed up in a tiny room with the heater on full blast.  SO we drank tons of cool water to rehydrate ourselves, took some Advil and once we got outside in the cool air we felt a million times better! We worked that day then headed back to Lima that night and slept in our tiny apartment with 4 girls again, froze and didn't sleep well again!  

Thursday: We all get up and get ready study then the other sisters headed back to San Pedro.  Hermana Wietl and I then did weekly planning which took a while.  We worked only for a few hours because the next day we had a sisters conference.  So we had to head back home, shower, pack, and go to Zarate to spend the night.  That night there were 8 of us girls in an apartment - It was interesting and yet again we didn't get a good quantity or quality of sleep. 

Friday: Headed to San Fernando and found out that it was a holiday so the fastest bus wasn't running and the other bus we had to take was about to leave. To get all the Sisters on that bus, we stalled by slowly getting on board as the others were buying their tickets.  We were the last 2 to get on the bus.  We got to the meeting right on time.  It was a lot of fun and so great to see some of my other sister missionary friends and catch up with them.  SO we finish the meeting and get to the place where we need to take the bus to head back to Zarate. The Zarate Comun bus passes by but we didn't take it because it takes 3 hours to get to Zarate so we waited for the Zarate Express to pass by.  One passed by and we flagged it down but it didn't stop because it was full.  We waited again and another one passed by, same thing happened.  So we had been waiting for about an hour and another Zarate Comun bus comes by and we hop on.  It was a long bus ride and we were all so sleep deprived that EVERYTHING was funny. We finally get to Zarate and take our bus back to Lima and get there about 9:30. We weren't feeling too great but we had to travel again to another place for a meeting the next morning.  So we just decided to sleep it off and go to the meeting in the morning.

Saturday:  Woke up and felt just terrible but I get the strength up to get to the shower thinking that after a hot shower I would feel better.  I didn't but got out and dressed because I REALLY wanted to go to this meeting. I look at Hermana Weitl, she looks at me, and says "do you really think it´s a good idea to go to this meeting?" We both knew what the answer was so we called the elders and we  told them we weren't going to be able to go and that we were sick.  So they told us to just get some rest and they would see how we were doing when they got back.  SO we slept for like 5 more hours and the elders called us and said they got back and had some stuff to bring to us.  SO they came by, dropped off the stuff, and saw that we still weren't doing too great so were were commanded to just stay in the house and get better.  So we were in the house sick all day.  

Sunday:  SO we get up and felt a million times better. We go pass by our investigators to get them to church but nobody came.  But after church we got to work to make up for the crazy week we had.  We are now working with and investigator named Victoria and she is super great.  We are also working with Juan who has a baptismal date set for the 19th.

Oh and remember the miracle guy we met last sunday? Qell we tried to find him all last week but couldn't until yesterday. So he´s a little bit interesting... he started telling us about how he had accepted Jesus then he started talking about how he used to be anti christ and when his brother accepted christ he wanted to go burn his house down and almost did.  then how he accepted christ was that he purposefully burned himself on the leg and had it healed by the power of God.  Then he started talking about how his sister is a prophet and just some other weird stuff.  It was pretty weird....  so we were just like we´re here to help people find the truth and make covenants with Heavenly Father, the first being baptism and he was like well i´m just going to go back to my church.  So we just invited him to read the Book of Mormon and pray to see if it´s true then we left and I´m pretty sure we won´t be going back.  

SO that´s my week and I want to share a quote from Joseph Smith I found this morning in my studies.  You may have heard it before, I had, but it just kind of gave me more of a drive to keep on doing this work.

"The standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the Truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

What a blessing it is to be doing the Lord´s work, especially at this time when it is moving forward faster than ever.  Even if I feel discouraged or beat down I know that I am doing what my Heavenly Father wants me to be doing. I am where He wants me to be.  Yeah, sometimes it is hard, but no matter what the truth of the restoration will go forth until all the world has heard.  I seriously love being a missionary and being able to share what I know and be able to help change people´s lives for the better.  I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is true and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true and living church on the face of the earth. It is guided by a prophet and apostles who have the power and authority of God, just like the church Christ established while he was here upon the earth, because it is the SAME church.  And I have the great blessing to share that with people every single day.

¡Que grandioso es mi llamamiento! (My calling is so awesome!) I love you all and hope you have a great week! 

Hermana Allison Scarlett

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD AND JOHNNY! (Did you know your birthday is the same day as the anniversary of Lima? How cool is that?!?)

Lima - Post 4

June 16, 2014

First off - HAPPY DAY FATHER´S DAY!  hope you all had a good one :)

Second off - WHAT A WEEK!  It has been pretty busy!

Tuesday we had a zone conference that took up a big chunk of the day but was WAY AWESOME! and the cooolest part is I GOT PACKAGES!  It was a freaking miracle!  They were the last ones Mom sent before the No More Packages Rule came out.  That was months ago!

This means Prayer in Spanish -
Of course I had to take a picture of it!

Wednesday was a normal day except that NOBODY was home went we went to visit them.  Lots of appointments fell through but we kept on going. It also started POURING rain the night before and the leaves that had fallen from the trees clogged up the street drains so the streets were FULL of water and it just kept on pouring.  There were people outside trying to unclog the drains with their rakes

Thursday it continued to rain and halfway through the day Hermana Lines from the office called us and told us they received the papers for Hermana Weitl to start the process for her Argentine ID.  So we had to run home, get ready, pack up, and get to San Fernando (just outside of Buenos Aires) that day in order to do the paperwork the next day - it is a 3 hour trip on which we take 2 buses and a train.  So we got there and stayed with Sister and Elder Lines (a senior couple that works in the offices)  They're like the mission grandparents.

So we get up Friday morning, get ready, and go to the church offices here in Buenos Aires to pick up the papers.  We are just looking around while Elder Lines is doing his business.  Bumped into a couple members from Vicente Lopez that worked there and some Americans too.  Then Elder Lin

Yeah - we are definitely in the country!

es said "I have bad news"  In the rush of getting all the mail, they accidentally put Hermana Weitl's papers in the box for the Buenos Aires West (BAW) Mission, not ours which is Buenos Aires North (BAN).  So they were calling people in the BAW mission to see if they could take the papers to the immigrations office in time for our appointment. The folks in the BAW Mission office said they would send it over on motorcycle by such and such time.  SO we were FLYING in the minivan to meet up with the other missionaries there and let them know what was going on.  SO we met them, all piled in the van, went and parked in front of the immigrations office and waited.... and waited........ and waited for hours and the guy never showed, nobody was answering their phones, and the appointment time passed.  SO we got NOTHING done.  Then had to travel 3 hours back to Lima and wasted pretty much a whole day.  Don´t get me wrong it was a good break and lots of fun but very unproductive.

Saturday yet again everyone fell through.  Not such a great day either.

Nicer home in Lima -
dirt roads are standard

Sunday everyone we had planned for church fell through again.  It was great...

But this week the World Cup Series started (that´s soccer ya´ll)  And Argentina played Sunday, so we had a record low on church attendance.  It was 19 including the 4 missionaries.  Everyone we visited that evening was prepping for the big game, nobody let us in.  Once the game started there was NOBODY in the streets.  It was eerily quiet and empty until someone shot a goal, then you heard the whole town cheering, blowing their horns, lighting firecrackers in the street.  We were wondering how on earth we were going to find someone to teach!  

So we biked the streets looking for a human soul, when we saw a little old man walking. We walked up and started talking to him and had a nice chat. We talked about the restoration and how Christ has restored his church on the earth again through a latter-day prophet.  Then we invited him to be baptized and said yes! Then he was like, but I need to go see what it´s like.  SO he´s definitely coming to church.  His name is Nicolas so pray for him!  He´s a way cool little old man.  And he was our miracle for being diligent even when it seemed like we wouldn't find anybody.

And as for today (P-Day), it´s been pretty chill.  We cooked lunch with the Elders and chatted and listened to some wholesome music (Sons of Provo) it was a good calming day

SO yeah that was my week.  I love this work and am ready to keep on keeping on for the next 9 months!  (I hit my half-way mark next week.  HOLY CRAY!)

Love you all!

Hermana Allison Scarlett
allison.scarlett@myldsmail.net

Lima - Post 3

June 9, 2014

Well here in lima is getting colder by the day but that can not stop 2 determined sister missionaries!  

This past week has been pretty good.  We have been finding and teaching lots of people!  The people here are so great.  The only problem is that out of ALL of them, NONE came to church.  That is one of the most frustrating things that can happen as a missionary.  You know that going to church can bless them SO MUCH and they decide they would rather sleep.  So this week we are going to focus a lot on getting people to the church.  

As for my companion and I we get along SO GREAT!  We have the SAME sense of humor and we joke and tease a lot. Hermana Weitl is a lot of fun and we are already planning the great adventures we are going to have after the mission.  She gave her first talk in spanish on Sunday about the Book of Mormon and she rocked it!  Seriously this girl amazes me.  

Well this is a pretty boring e-mail but it's okay because nobody writes me back anyways :p so i am calling you all to repentance except for Mom and Sheridan Thompson.  The highlight a missionaries week is seeing a plethora of e-mails from people who love you.  But days like this when you get on and have 6 e-mails and half of them are from the mission, you tend to feel un poco triste (a little sad).  SO I love you all and I know you love me too, so why don't we just take a couple minutes and write a short little e-mail to your favorite sister missionary named Hermana Allison Scarlett.  Okay? okay I am glad we are all on the same page :)  

I really do love you all and hope you have a great week!

Hermana Allison Scarlett

allison.scarlett@myldsmail.net

Hermana Weitl decided I needed mascara on my nose!