Below are all addresses for Anna - it costs 98 to mail an overseas letter - if
you go through dear elder it is free - if you want to mail to the pouch you can
only send a letter size sheet of paper fold in thirds and taped and addressed on
the outside with stamp - they dont accept any other kind of mail (cards and / or
letters in envelopes)
Hermana Anna Schmidt
la Misión Argentina Resistencia
Avenida Rivadavia 323
Resistencia, Chaco 3.500
Argentina
Pouch address
Hermana Anna Schmidt
la Misión Argentina Resistencia
PO Box 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150
United States
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Anna's mission address in Argentina!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Anna's third week in Argentina!
We've received another email from Anna. Other than having some major blisters and food poisoning, she's doing well! Here's her latest email:
SO I believe that I've been here for about 3 weeks now??? Everything is starting to blur together...Lots of things have happened...hopefully I can remember them all...the mosquitoes are eating me alive out here!!! They are huge!!!! I found out why my feet are in so much pain from another Sister who served here!! Its because the ground is mostly sand so your feet grip the ground differently. I have horrible blisters in between my toes (which I;m sure you all want to hear about ) so I'm in so much pain as I walk around. Hopefully my body will adjust soon!!!
I'm also eating alot of food here which is horrible for my weight...........the second I come back home- I'm going Vegan again!!!!!!! The food is very good and the people give us giant plates of food but I kept getting sick my first few weeks.......I found out the the butchers don't sanitize the counters here........which is the most disgusting thing I've ever heard of in my life. My companion from Peru has no idea about bacteria/sanitation and food poisoning so now I keep a REALLY close eye on everything she does with our food. I also realized that the people here drink water straight out of the sink which is dangerous and they serve it to the missionaries too. The Doctor in the MTC warned us about all of this stuff! Its okay though because after my mission the church will give me medicine to kill worms and other scary stuff thats probably in my body right now.
Last Saturday I had my first Actividad de Zona in Posada (the big city part). My companion and I got on a bus (Rio Uruguay) at 10 pm Friday night (we had to get permission because we're not allowed out after 9 pm) there's a set of sister missionaries are Hermana M and Hermana Trisch in our District in Posada. We spent the night with them and then took a city bus to another area in Posada to the church. It was sooo cool to be on that bus! You have to hold on for dear life!!! I was like I can't believe I'm in Argentina on this bus right now.We arrived at the church where our mission President was with other people in our Zone.
I also found out why we are not allowed to use both straps on our backpacks because thieves on motorcycles will drive past you and grab your backpack and literally drag your body with it!!! Yep I'm the most paranoid missionary with a backpack when I'm in the big city of Posada. All of our churchs here have metal bars and iron gates around them here.
It was sooo awesome b-c I got to see Elder Meeks from my district in the MTC!!! Its so ironic because somehow Elder Meeks and I always end up together somehow......he's older like I am and we just relate really well to each other. Hes just a really real person and hilarious. He and I are both going through major culture shock and we just wanted to talk forever about all the crazy stuff we've seen and experienced!
It was pretty cool to be in the bigger part of POsada and I could tell which people were German!!!! People still look at me pretty weird though......I've actually experienced my first rejections from people which I didn't enjoy very much. I was thrilled because I was able to buy a pillow and sheets at this giant store called Libertine ( I think) which is like Argentina's version of Walmart!!! (Mom I used my credit card which in american money should be only about $30) I was using this filthy pillow that I think is about 10 yrs old and yep....I'm sooooo thrilled to just have a clean bed to sleep on with a new pillow and clean sheets!!! Its amazing when simple things make you soo happy and you realize how blessed you are back home!
We were out friday night and it starting pouring like hurricane weather!! It was sooo scary with all the lighting and thunder! Of course my companion and I were out in the middle of nowhere when it started pouring.......... I just looked at the sky and like -God you better protect me because there's no way I would be here right now if I wasn't serving a mission!!!!!!! I had never missed a hot shower so much in my life!! I was soaked wet!! But after boiling water on the stove to bathe with, I felt so better!!
I have good news!!! We have been visiting with Oscar and he actually came to my english class saturday night! It went really well!! I taught everyone how to pray in english!!!! Then Oscar came to church on sunday too!!! I was sooo thrilled to see him!!! He is still smoking but at least he's attending church now. He can't receive the Priesthood right now but its good that hes in church! We were visiting his apartment so much that we started teaching his older sister who is a single mother with 2 children from 2 different men.......every time I go to that apartment I get bitten by fleas on their couch but its worth it after seeing her children's faces while looking at pictures of Jesus that I bring. Shes not interested but I know she feels the spirit while we´re in her apartment!!! I pray that Heavenly Father will soften her heart daily.
Another investigator has agreed to be baptized but she has to get married first. Her name is Nioami llanes and she has been taught for a really long time by the missionaries but because she's not married and living with a man & child they had together.....she has to wait until she's married. But she has agreed to be baptized!!!
Sunday was kinda tough for me......the Bishop asked me how I was doing with the Language and I just burst into tears and left the room. There are different kinds of Spanish here and so its confusing and my Companion is WONDERFUL but she has no education therefore isn't able to help me with the grammar of Spanish. Argentinian's speak a certain kind of spanish called Casteliano where we pronounce the double ll and y differently. I love it!!! But its confusing because other people speak Paraguayan also.......I don't really understand it really but there are just lots of different words and ways people speak here.
The Bishop and his wife were soooo sweet to me after I left the room bawling. Everyone is REALLY kind and supportive to me with my language. But everyone says that I've improving fast and when people write stuff down I understand better. I have to remind myself that 3 months ago I knew NOTHING!! Also many people say that I know more than other missionaries who come here first. I just want soooo badly to understand people when they talk to me!!!! I want to be able to really talk to them and help them!! But I am teaching more and more everyday in Spanish.
I am starting to really care for & love the people we teach and I find myself wanting them to have a fullness of happiness in their lives. I want the people who are suffering & struggling to know of their Savior and his love for them. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ all things are made fair.......that is my favorite line in Preach My Gospel. The Savior has the power to change us and heal our hearts. I realized recently that its a HUGE lie when others say People can't change!!! The Savior has the power to change ANY & ALL but we must reach out to him to help change us. After all we can possibly do....we acknowledge that we are powerless and then allow the Savior to step in and make up the difference. I'm grateful for this opportunity to be here in Argentina and serve these people. This is REALLY crazy hard and some days I question my sanity because honestly if this wasn't God's church on the earth with priesthood power than mormon missionaries would be the craziest people alive!! But because its true and Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price which is sooo difficult that we can't even imagine/comprehend the pain he went through......I too can can handle the pain & challenges I face everyday here.
Yeah....so don't worry about me - I'm in a safe little town here and in a blessing I was told that my family doesn't need to worry about me because I'm in Jesus Christ's hands right now!!! God protects his missionaries!! I love you all!! Mom, please tell me how much is in my account every week so I know!!! And......tell me whats going on with my family & America.....I have never had sooo much pride for my country than I do right now!! We are so blessed- its disgusting!!!!! love you all!!! -hermana Anna Schmidt
SO I believe that I've been here for about 3 weeks now??? Everything is starting to blur together...Lots of things have happened...hopefully I can remember them all...the mosquitoes are eating me alive out here!!! They are huge!!!! I found out why my feet are in so much pain from another Sister who served here!! Its because the ground is mostly sand so your feet grip the ground differently. I have horrible blisters in between my toes (which I;m sure you all want to hear about ) so I'm in so much pain as I walk around. Hopefully my body will adjust soon!!!
I'm also eating alot of food here which is horrible for my weight...........the second I come back home- I'm going Vegan again!!!!!!! The food is very good and the people give us giant plates of food but I kept getting sick my first few weeks.......I found out the the butchers don't sanitize the counters here........which is the most disgusting thing I've ever heard of in my life. My companion from Peru has no idea about bacteria/sanitation and food poisoning so now I keep a REALLY close eye on everything she does with our food. I also realized that the people here drink water straight out of the sink which is dangerous and they serve it to the missionaries too. The Doctor in the MTC warned us about all of this stuff! Its okay though because after my mission the church will give me medicine to kill worms and other scary stuff thats probably in my body right now.
Last Saturday I had my first Actividad de Zona in Posada (the big city part). My companion and I got on a bus (Rio Uruguay) at 10 pm Friday night (we had to get permission because we're not allowed out after 9 pm) there's a set of sister missionaries are Hermana M and Hermana Trisch in our District in Posada. We spent the night with them and then took a city bus to another area in Posada to the church. It was sooo cool to be on that bus! You have to hold on for dear life!!! I was like I can't believe I'm in Argentina on this bus right now.We arrived at the church where our mission President was with other people in our Zone.
I also found out why we are not allowed to use both straps on our backpacks because thieves on motorcycles will drive past you and grab your backpack and literally drag your body with it!!! Yep I'm the most paranoid missionary with a backpack when I'm in the big city of Posada. All of our churchs here have metal bars and iron gates around them here.
It was sooo awesome b-c I got to see Elder Meeks from my district in the MTC!!! Its so ironic because somehow Elder Meeks and I always end up together somehow......he's older like I am and we just relate really well to each other. Hes just a really real person and hilarious. He and I are both going through major culture shock and we just wanted to talk forever about all the crazy stuff we've seen and experienced!
It was pretty cool to be in the bigger part of POsada and I could tell which people were German!!!! People still look at me pretty weird though......I've actually experienced my first rejections from people which I didn't enjoy very much. I was thrilled because I was able to buy a pillow and sheets at this giant store called Libertine ( I think) which is like Argentina's version of Walmart!!! (Mom I used my credit card which in american money should be only about $30) I was using this filthy pillow that I think is about 10 yrs old and yep....I'm sooooo thrilled to just have a clean bed to sleep on with a new pillow and clean sheets!!! Its amazing when simple things make you soo happy and you realize how blessed you are back home!
We were out friday night and it starting pouring like hurricane weather!! It was sooo scary with all the lighting and thunder! Of course my companion and I were out in the middle of nowhere when it started pouring.......... I just looked at the sky and like -God you better protect me because there's no way I would be here right now if I wasn't serving a mission!!!!!!! I had never missed a hot shower so much in my life!! I was soaked wet!! But after boiling water on the stove to bathe with, I felt so better!!
I have good news!!! We have been visiting with Oscar and he actually came to my english class saturday night! It went really well!! I taught everyone how to pray in english!!!! Then Oscar came to church on sunday too!!! I was sooo thrilled to see him!!! He is still smoking but at least he's attending church now. He can't receive the Priesthood right now but its good that hes in church! We were visiting his apartment so much that we started teaching his older sister who is a single mother with 2 children from 2 different men.......every time I go to that apartment I get bitten by fleas on their couch but its worth it after seeing her children's faces while looking at pictures of Jesus that I bring. Shes not interested but I know she feels the spirit while we´re in her apartment!!! I pray that Heavenly Father will soften her heart daily.
Another investigator has agreed to be baptized but she has to get married first. Her name is Nioami llanes and she has been taught for a really long time by the missionaries but because she's not married and living with a man & child they had together.....she has to wait until she's married. But she has agreed to be baptized!!!
Sunday was kinda tough for me......the Bishop asked me how I was doing with the Language and I just burst into tears and left the room. There are different kinds of Spanish here and so its confusing and my Companion is WONDERFUL but she has no education therefore isn't able to help me with the grammar of Spanish. Argentinian's speak a certain kind of spanish called Casteliano where we pronounce the double ll and y differently. I love it!!! But its confusing because other people speak Paraguayan also.......I don't really understand it really but there are just lots of different words and ways people speak here.
The Bishop and his wife were soooo sweet to me after I left the room bawling. Everyone is REALLY kind and supportive to me with my language. But everyone says that I've improving fast and when people write stuff down I understand better. I have to remind myself that 3 months ago I knew NOTHING!! Also many people say that I know more than other missionaries who come here first. I just want soooo badly to understand people when they talk to me!!!! I want to be able to really talk to them and help them!! But I am teaching more and more everyday in Spanish.
I am starting to really care for & love the people we teach and I find myself wanting them to have a fullness of happiness in their lives. I want the people who are suffering & struggling to know of their Savior and his love for them. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ all things are made fair.......that is my favorite line in Preach My Gospel. The Savior has the power to change us and heal our hearts. I realized recently that its a HUGE lie when others say People can't change!!! The Savior has the power to change ANY & ALL but we must reach out to him to help change us. After all we can possibly do....we acknowledge that we are powerless and then allow the Savior to step in and make up the difference. I'm grateful for this opportunity to be here in Argentina and serve these people. This is REALLY crazy hard and some days I question my sanity because honestly if this wasn't God's church on the earth with priesthood power than mormon missionaries would be the craziest people alive!! But because its true and Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price which is sooo difficult that we can't even imagine/comprehend the pain he went through......I too can can handle the pain & challenges I face everyday here.
Yeah....so don't worry about me - I'm in a safe little town here and in a blessing I was told that my family doesn't need to worry about me because I'm in Jesus Christ's hands right now!!! God protects his missionaries!! I love you all!! Mom, please tell me how much is in my account every week so I know!!! And......tell me whats going on with my family & America.....I have never had sooo much pride for my country than I do right now!! We are so blessed- its disgusting!!!!! love you all!!! -hermana Anna Schmidt
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Anna's first two weeks in Argentina!
Sorry I'm behind with this (as usual) but here are Anna's first two emails from her first two weeks in Argentina!
Just some highlights: The people in Argentina call her Sister Rubia (Sister Blond) because they can't pronounce 'Schmidt'. Her companion is from Peru and doesn't speak any English and Anna speaks only broken Spanish, so they both are teaching each other the language!
The first one was received June 8th:
hello everybody!!! I have so much to say!! First off...I'm on a different planet. I'm going through culture shock right now but what's soooo crazy is that I´m happy here!!!! I feel so much better here even though these people have so little compared to Americans. After arriving in Resistencia.....I went through orientation at the mission president's house and then in the evening our first companions arrived to pick us up for our first area!! I found out the my mission is the size of California!!!! In California there are 26 different missions and mine is only one!!! I met my first companion who DOESN'T speak English!! She is 32 yrs old, from Peru and is under 5 ft tall!! We are the funniest pair you're ever seen!!! She is amazing!!! Very patient, loving but pushes me as well!!! Exactly what I need!!! Right now I'm in Ituzaingo, Posada....go look it up! My companion and I are the only missionaries in this province......the elders in our district are an hr away.......this is another world over here!!! Here are some differences:
1. No doorbells.......we clap!
2. Biggest meal of the day is lunch!!! Kids come home from school for this and its a huge meal!! Dinner is kinda a snack later for the people here!
3.No one is in a hurry here.......being American and after being in the m.t.c. I'm always in a hurry......everyone is slowwwwwwww here........it cracks me up because I end my prayers and look up quickly and everyone is still thinking about the prayer with their eyes closed and arms folded.
4. the teenage boys love the missionaries and many converts are teenage boys!! Now that I´m here.....we have more....haha..they all jump up to shake my hand and the little girls all want to kiss me. Some people call me Hermana Rubia.....Sister Blonde. Everywhere I go people stare at me.....I'm starting to get really self conscience about it actually....all the men get big grins on their faces when they see me.....yep.....kinda awkward but I just smile and say hi!! One investigator wrote in my dictionary....you is beautiful! Really! yeah......but people are really, really respectful to me!
5. ALMOST everyone listens to the missionaries!!! They are so respectful and polite and getting people baptized is NOT a problem.......keeping them active is the problem!!!! I seriously think about half of south america are members but not active....its soooooo different than the u.s.!!!! People want to listen to you!! They are very religious and polite and social with you!
6. Sanitation does not exist here at all........everyone touches your food and we kiss all the woman hello on both sides of their cheeks and touch everything. I'm not going to go into further details but everything that you wouldn't do in America...they do here.... The Mission President asked me if I was in good health.....when I said yes....he replied I hope you stay in good health!! I have to wear repellent everyday so I don´t get Dengue Fever which once you get it you have it for life. Its chills & pains in your bones and your skin breaks out in lesions everywhere.....I have been thinking about my blessing I received in the m.t.c. where I was told that my family doesn't need to worry about me because now I'm in the Savior's hands. it all sounds crazy but I'm happy despite it all!!!!!!!!! We have this electrical thing hooked up to our shower to kill the bacteria......but its freezing right now here b/c its winter.....I actually boil water on our one burner that actually works on our stove-top (the oven doesn't work either) and bathe with water in a big bucket b/c our water is freezing and its soo cold outside right now!
7. Most people can't say my name and even my companion can't.....its really funny!!!!!
8. Remember how I hate singing in front of people?? Well I'm the best singer here....its cracks me up b/c pretty much no one can sing in tune.......sacrament meeting is the best.......heehee
9. The members constantly give references to the missionaries and come along to help teach almost everyday.......they seriously put the american members to shame in this area.......and these members aren't even ward missionaries....you should share this with Brother Poulton!!
10. no one is on time and totally chill..........sooo funny!!!
11. There are stray dogs and cats EVERYWHERE........
11. Some people here don't even have glass windows and share their home with mosquitoes.........My attitude about some things are really changed......I've always though why would someone want to come to America to work at Mcdonalds??? Now I know........b/c for most of the people here a Hotel 6 bedroom would be the nicest place they've EVER been in..........but seriously these people are really blessed b/c they have soooooo little.....(no washing machines, dryers, cars, microwaves, proper protection from basic elements) they ARE humble!!!!!!! They want to listen!!! I wonder how many of these people will make it to the Celestial Kingdom over us americans who have it all!!!! Not everyone is poor here but many are lacking.......but they don´t even know it and are really happy! My apartment is not the best and I'm terrified of my bathroom but I'm happy and working hard.......
Spanish is hard!!!! But I have to remember that I've been called and I have power b/c of that. My companion and I have a lot of really funny moments where we just both crack up laughing and can't stop......We've had funny moments where we totally misunderstand each other and laugh after wards......I make her write stuff down and then I'm able to understand better!!! People talk really fast here!!!!!!! Its frustrating but also funny b/c my companion doesn't speak English and I don't really speak Spanish so we are teaching each other........whenever I get frustrated I just say something hilarious and stupid to her face and of course she doesn't understand which makes me crack up and feel better....I also get her to say crazy stuff in English and its just hilarious!! Anyway I'm over my time period....there's no more count down outside the m.t.c. and I feel to be more obedient next week!! I love you all and don´t worry....right now I feel totally safe!!
One more thing: I'm only allowed 4 packages during my entire time out in the field!! Also when you send them your suppose to write down the value.........only write down $40 or else you have to pay extra!!! talk to you next week!!!! love hermana schmidt.........have an awesome week!
Here's the second email, received Monday June 14th:
Hello everyone! You know you're a missionary when your legs are covered in over 50 bug bites (yes I counted & praying that I don't catch malaria or dengue fever) you get food poisoning (last Thursday) and have the world's biggest blister on the bottom of your foot burst while you´re walking on it (thank goodness my companion doesn't understand English) and a newly baptized member all of the sudden drops the church and I thought I had gotten lice.........yep that was this past week. Saturday night when my companion and I went home to our pension (apartment) I was exhausted, cranky and discouraged.
It's frustrating b/c I want to be able to communicate with these people!!!! I seriously could get this work done if I only spoke Spanish.....I am comfortable enough right now to say that I speak very broken spanish. The problem is everyone talks REALLY fast!!! I make my companion write down the words I don't understand. Anyway when I learn this language and I'm the senior companion- I'm determined to convert half of Argentina. As for right now I´m learn poco & poco........little bit at a time!!!
I really like the people here b/c they are really bold & passionate and of course with my personality that's perfect!!! I'm really enjoying working with the members of the Ward and I'm so excited b/c this Saturday I'm going to teach my first english class to the public!!! It cracks me up b/c everyone calls me Hermana Rubia (my companion still cant say my name right and now I'm actually having trouble saying it b/c I´m talking so much Spanish)......the little boys scream "te amo hermana Rubia"! I love you sister blonde! But its perfect b/c I'm blond and blue eyes and from the US people want to talk to me so we can use this to get appointments (citas) to teach!!
This past weekend we visited one of my companions newest baptized jovens (young adult) His name is Oscar and he´s 20. He was just baptized the week Sunday before I came. He wasn't in church and when my companion called him I could tell he was acting weird. What's really interesting right now is that I'm super sensitive to others' feelings and maybe I can't speak the language but I feel other peoples' emotions SUPER strongly right now. We went to visit Oscar and when we entered his apartment I was hit in the face with a bad spirit.....his friends were there and everyone had been smoking and there was an ashtray right next to us on the table and it was really uncomfortable. My companion is WONDERFUL but she is not observant most of the time. She wanted to sing and I whispered in her ear how I did NOT feel the spirit at all.....his friends had gotten up and let us sit on the couch and they kinda stood in the corner of the tiny room. My companion seemed alarmed after I said that but I was just like- lets just do this.......Oscar is questioning everything now and my companion told him how Satan works really hard on new members! Our visit was short b/c It was not comfortable there with his friends. She picked up the ashtray and asked him if he was smoking and drinking.......anyway as we left his apartment I just started bawling in public.......I don´t even know him but I was soooo sad. My companion was sooo sweet and said lo siento hermana!! (Im sorry sister)
These people have soooo little and then we give them the Gospel of Jesus Christ but they either fall away fast or don't stay active. My companion cried later in our apartment after we planned for the night. I felt really bad for her b/c you work with your investigators and love them so much and invest your time & energy with the hope that they accept the Gospel and have the same blessings you do. SO when they fall away- it breaks your heart. Its discouraging b/c you want them to always be close to their Savior.
I'm in a small town right now......but we travel to the bigger city of Posada for zone conferences and district activities. I love it b/c we use this one bus line called Rio Uragray (cant spell it) that's a double-decker bus and the seats are sooo comfy and they feed us lunch and play American movies which I always hate bc there is no censoring here and so they always play really disturbing rated r movies that are really violent & upsetting........so I always nap during the bus rides. We are contacting lots and teaching a lot but we actually need progressing investigators......I'm working with my companion so that we can really focus on certain people and get them to church & progress......anyway I love you all and I'm sooooo insanely grateful for my PERFECT life in the US!!!! We literally have it all in the US. I'm really grateful for this chance to bring a fullness of happiness to the lives of the people in Argentina! Its just so cool and different here........by the way I recommend emailing now that I´m out in the field b/c its quickest!!!!!!! love you dad, mom, laura, johnny and family, friends! Ciao!
Just some highlights: The people in Argentina call her Sister Rubia (Sister Blond) because they can't pronounce 'Schmidt'. Her companion is from Peru and doesn't speak any English and Anna speaks only broken Spanish, so they both are teaching each other the language!
The first one was received June 8th:
hello everybody!!! I have so much to say!! First off...I'm on a different planet. I'm going through culture shock right now but what's soooo crazy is that I´m happy here!!!! I feel so much better here even though these people have so little compared to Americans. After arriving in Resistencia.....I went through orientation at the mission president's house and then in the evening our first companions arrived to pick us up for our first area!! I found out the my mission is the size of California!!!! In California there are 26 different missions and mine is only one!!! I met my first companion who DOESN'T speak English!! She is 32 yrs old, from Peru and is under 5 ft tall!! We are the funniest pair you're ever seen!!! She is amazing!!! Very patient, loving but pushes me as well!!! Exactly what I need!!! Right now I'm in Ituzaingo, Posada....go look it up! My companion and I are the only missionaries in this province......the elders in our district are an hr away.......this is another world over here!!! Here are some differences:
1. No doorbells.......we clap!
2. Biggest meal of the day is lunch!!! Kids come home from school for this and its a huge meal!! Dinner is kinda a snack later for the people here!
3.No one is in a hurry here.......being American and after being in the m.t.c. I'm always in a hurry......everyone is slowwwwwwww here........it cracks me up because I end my prayers and look up quickly and everyone is still thinking about the prayer with their eyes closed and arms folded.
4. the teenage boys love the missionaries and many converts are teenage boys!! Now that I´m here.....we have more....haha..they all jump up to shake my hand and the little girls all want to kiss me. Some people call me Hermana Rubia.....Sister Blonde. Everywhere I go people stare at me.....I'm starting to get really self conscience about it actually....all the men get big grins on their faces when they see me.....yep.....kinda awkward but I just smile and say hi!! One investigator wrote in my dictionary....you is beautiful! Really! yeah......but people are really, really respectful to me!
5. ALMOST everyone listens to the missionaries!!! They are so respectful and polite and getting people baptized is NOT a problem.......keeping them active is the problem!!!! I seriously think about half of south america are members but not active....its soooooo different than the u.s.!!!! People want to listen to you!! They are very religious and polite and social with you!
6. Sanitation does not exist here at all........everyone touches your food and we kiss all the woman hello on both sides of their cheeks and touch everything. I'm not going to go into further details but everything that you wouldn't do in America...they do here.... The Mission President asked me if I was in good health.....when I said yes....he replied I hope you stay in good health!! I have to wear repellent everyday so I don´t get Dengue Fever which once you get it you have it for life. Its chills & pains in your bones and your skin breaks out in lesions everywhere.....I have been thinking about my blessing I received in the m.t.c. where I was told that my family doesn't need to worry about me because now I'm in the Savior's hands. it all sounds crazy but I'm happy despite it all!!!!!!!!! We have this electrical thing hooked up to our shower to kill the bacteria......but its freezing right now here b/c its winter.....I actually boil water on our one burner that actually works on our stove-top (the oven doesn't work either) and bathe with water in a big bucket b/c our water is freezing and its soo cold outside right now!
7. Most people can't say my name and even my companion can't.....its really funny!!!!!
8. Remember how I hate singing in front of people?? Well I'm the best singer here....its cracks me up b/c pretty much no one can sing in tune.......sacrament meeting is the best.......heehee
9. The members constantly give references to the missionaries and come along to help teach almost everyday.......they seriously put the american members to shame in this area.......and these members aren't even ward missionaries....you should share this with Brother Poulton!!
10. no one is on time and totally chill..........sooo funny!!!
11. There are stray dogs and cats EVERYWHERE........
11. Some people here don't even have glass windows and share their home with mosquitoes.........My attitude about some things are really changed......I've always though why would someone want to come to America to work at Mcdonalds??? Now I know........b/c for most of the people here a Hotel 6 bedroom would be the nicest place they've EVER been in..........but seriously these people are really blessed b/c they have soooooo little.....(no washing machines, dryers, cars, microwaves, proper protection from basic elements) they ARE humble!!!!!!! They want to listen!!! I wonder how many of these people will make it to the Celestial Kingdom over us americans who have it all!!!! Not everyone is poor here but many are lacking.......but they don´t even know it and are really happy! My apartment is not the best and I'm terrified of my bathroom but I'm happy and working hard.......
Spanish is hard!!!! But I have to remember that I've been called and I have power b/c of that. My companion and I have a lot of really funny moments where we just both crack up laughing and can't stop......We've had funny moments where we totally misunderstand each other and laugh after wards......I make her write stuff down and then I'm able to understand better!!! People talk really fast here!!!!!!! Its frustrating but also funny b/c my companion doesn't speak English and I don't really speak Spanish so we are teaching each other........whenever I get frustrated I just say something hilarious and stupid to her face and of course she doesn't understand which makes me crack up and feel better....I also get her to say crazy stuff in English and its just hilarious!! Anyway I'm over my time period....there's no more count down outside the m.t.c. and I feel to be more obedient next week!! I love you all and don´t worry....right now I feel totally safe!!
One more thing: I'm only allowed 4 packages during my entire time out in the field!! Also when you send them your suppose to write down the value.........only write down $40 or else you have to pay extra!!! talk to you next week!!!! love hermana schmidt.........have an awesome week!
Here's the second email, received Monday June 14th:
Hello everyone! You know you're a missionary when your legs are covered in over 50 bug bites (yes I counted & praying that I don't catch malaria or dengue fever) you get food poisoning (last Thursday) and have the world's biggest blister on the bottom of your foot burst while you´re walking on it (thank goodness my companion doesn't understand English) and a newly baptized member all of the sudden drops the church and I thought I had gotten lice.........yep that was this past week. Saturday night when my companion and I went home to our pension (apartment) I was exhausted, cranky and discouraged.
It's frustrating b/c I want to be able to communicate with these people!!!! I seriously could get this work done if I only spoke Spanish.....I am comfortable enough right now to say that I speak very broken spanish. The problem is everyone talks REALLY fast!!! I make my companion write down the words I don't understand. Anyway when I learn this language and I'm the senior companion- I'm determined to convert half of Argentina. As for right now I´m learn poco & poco........little bit at a time!!!
I really like the people here b/c they are really bold & passionate and of course with my personality that's perfect!!! I'm really enjoying working with the members of the Ward and I'm so excited b/c this Saturday I'm going to teach my first english class to the public!!! It cracks me up b/c everyone calls me Hermana Rubia (my companion still cant say my name right and now I'm actually having trouble saying it b/c I´m talking so much Spanish)......the little boys scream "te amo hermana Rubia"! I love you sister blonde! But its perfect b/c I'm blond and blue eyes and from the US people want to talk to me so we can use this to get appointments (citas) to teach!!
This past weekend we visited one of my companions newest baptized jovens (young adult) His name is Oscar and he´s 20. He was just baptized the week Sunday before I came. He wasn't in church and when my companion called him I could tell he was acting weird. What's really interesting right now is that I'm super sensitive to others' feelings and maybe I can't speak the language but I feel other peoples' emotions SUPER strongly right now. We went to visit Oscar and when we entered his apartment I was hit in the face with a bad spirit.....his friends were there and everyone had been smoking and there was an ashtray right next to us on the table and it was really uncomfortable. My companion is WONDERFUL but she is not observant most of the time. She wanted to sing and I whispered in her ear how I did NOT feel the spirit at all.....his friends had gotten up and let us sit on the couch and they kinda stood in the corner of the tiny room. My companion seemed alarmed after I said that but I was just like- lets just do this.......Oscar is questioning everything now and my companion told him how Satan works really hard on new members! Our visit was short b/c It was not comfortable there with his friends. She picked up the ashtray and asked him if he was smoking and drinking.......anyway as we left his apartment I just started bawling in public.......I don´t even know him but I was soooo sad. My companion was sooo sweet and said lo siento hermana!! (Im sorry sister)
These people have soooo little and then we give them the Gospel of Jesus Christ but they either fall away fast or don't stay active. My companion cried later in our apartment after we planned for the night. I felt really bad for her b/c you work with your investigators and love them so much and invest your time & energy with the hope that they accept the Gospel and have the same blessings you do. SO when they fall away- it breaks your heart. Its discouraging b/c you want them to always be close to their Savior.
I'm in a small town right now......but we travel to the bigger city of Posada for zone conferences and district activities. I love it b/c we use this one bus line called Rio Uragray (cant spell it) that's a double-decker bus and the seats are sooo comfy and they feed us lunch and play American movies which I always hate bc there is no censoring here and so they always play really disturbing rated r movies that are really violent & upsetting........so I always nap during the bus rides. We are contacting lots and teaching a lot but we actually need progressing investigators......I'm working with my companion so that we can really focus on certain people and get them to church & progress......anyway I love you all and I'm sooooo insanely grateful for my PERFECT life in the US!!!! We literally have it all in the US. I'm really grateful for this chance to bring a fullness of happiness to the lives of the people in Argentina! Its just so cool and different here........by the way I recommend emailing now that I´m out in the field b/c its quickest!!!!!!! love you dad, mom, laura, johnny and family, friends! Ciao!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Anna's in Argentina!
So here's the latest email from Anna. She left this Monday for Argentina and arrived in Resistencia after traveling for 30+ hours. We still don't have her new address, but everyone can go to dearelder.com and write her a letter that way. MAKE SURE TO CHOOSE ARGENTINA-RESISTENCIA instead of Provo MTC. Here's the email:
Hello everyone! I can´t believe it but I´m finally in Argentina after 2 days of traveling on 3 different planes and buses......let me just say I´m so excited to be here and am just thrilled!!! It´s a whole other world here and kinda crazy!!! Right now I´m in the mission president´s home doing all kinds of stuff that needs to be taken care of like documentation and stuff like that. Later I´ll be meeting my first companion and trainer which I am soooo excited about. Also I have to say that even the fast food here is soooooooooo yummy!!! I seriously am in shock that I´m here! The traffic is crazy!!! I try not to watch while we are being driven around.....seriously it´s all in God´s hands bc most people dont wear seatbelts and there are no stop signs!!!!!!!!!! Dont worry ....I insist on wearing mine.....I wont be driving! ANyway I love you all and pray for me!!! Love you all- hermana schmidt......its weird bc here I look different from most people!!
Anna mailed me a cd with all of the pictures she took at the mtc, so I'll make sure to post them next entry. Please everyone send Anna dearelders because I'm sure she could use the support now that she's actually out in the field in Argentina!
Thanks everyone for all the support you've given her these past two months!
-Laura
Hello everyone! I can´t believe it but I´m finally in Argentina after 2 days of traveling on 3 different planes and buses......let me just say I´m so excited to be here and am just thrilled!!! It´s a whole other world here and kinda crazy!!! Right now I´m in the mission president´s home doing all kinds of stuff that needs to be taken care of like documentation and stuff like that. Later I´ll be meeting my first companion and trainer which I am soooo excited about. Also I have to say that even the fast food here is soooooooooo yummy!!! I seriously am in shock that I´m here! The traffic is crazy!!! I try not to watch while we are being driven around.....seriously it´s all in God´s hands bc most people dont wear seatbelts and there are no stop signs!!!!!!!!!! Dont worry ....I insist on wearing mine.....I wont be driving! ANyway I love you all and pray for me!!! Love you all- hermana schmidt......its weird bc here I look different from most people!!
Anna mailed me a cd with all of the pictures she took at the mtc, so I'll make sure to post them next entry. Please everyone send Anna dearelders because I'm sure she could use the support now that she's actually out in the field in Argentina!
Thanks everyone for all the support you've given her these past two months!
-Laura
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