Hot, Hot, Hot

Dear family and friends,
Happy Birthday Mom!!!  I love you!  Best mom in the world!
So this week was probably one of my more interesting weeks of my mission.
It started out with a great night in playa hermosa after emailing on
Monday.  We even got to have a lesson outside with the fireflies.  I've
never seen fireflies before.  It was cool and they were on the long walk to
the parada as well.  But that night there was a scare in the mission.  We
got home and there was a text saying that there was a new temporary rule
that all missionaries had to be home by dark instead of the usual 9:30 or
10:00.  Then the zone leaders called asking for all of our parents emails
in case of an emergency.  But no one told us anything so we didn't sleep
that well.
The next morning I woke up swollen.  Bad.  So I took a benedryl and did the
normal morning routine.  We went to Rosario for the Christmas conference
and I have to be honest, I didn't get much out of the spiritual morning
because of the benedryl. But they told us the reason for the new rule.  All
the robberies going on because the police were on strike.  Dang it.  there
goes all our lessons.
Then we had lunch and it was way fun, but the highlight of the Christmas
conference was getting to see a lot of familiar faces.  I got to see Elder
Lopez who I've been with since the MTC.  So that was fun.  And then every
zone performed something.  Most just sang Christmas songs, but our zone did
a skit.  Because our district is kind of apart from the zone, we did our
own skit.  We have a really funny elder in our zone that kind of made of
skit the best.  President filmed it and then showed it to the north half of
the mission the next day.  It was the only one we showed.  So now we're
famous.  Kind of embarrassing because I did my dancing in the skit.  Ya...
Hermana Jimenez said she couldn't breathe she was laughing so hard.  Good
thing I don't see these people very often.
The rest of the week was kind of rough.  We had so much potential and all
of our appointments fell through.  We worked harder than any other week,
but numbers wise it was our worst week.  Which got me thinking about the
success of a missionary.  It was a hard week, but we were happy.  I feel
like the joy comes when you really are trying your hardest.  It doesn't
matter what people say after that, but I feel accountable to the lord and
no one else.  He knows my heart and knows that I gave it my all this week.
On Friday I had to go to the doctor's.  I know I said no more doctors, but
after 2 weeks of straight diarrhea I felt like it was time to make the call
to Hermana Giuliani who told me to go to the doctor.  the good news is, it
was the best doctor I've seen.  The bad news is he put me on a special diet
that took away all my joy out of eating.  No lactose, only bananas and
apples as far as fruit goes, and limited veggies.  This means no cereal
(I've become a cereal addict on my mission), no ice cream, no cheese, no
yogurt with fruit, no fruit salad, etc.  Really depressing but it's only
for a week.  And I have to do a bunch of studies which are a pain.  But
I've been feeling better.  And I lost 4 kilos in the last couple of weeks.
So I guess that's a plus?  Not very healthy but I'm happy.  I blame it on
the heat.
And that was mainly our week.  Yes, I'm super excited to skype next week.
Oh!  And I'm being transferred.  Kind of expecting it.  Hna Dean's training
so I'm going to be a grandma and I'm going to Pergamino!!!  I'm going to
miss Arroyo Seco a lot, but it's time.  Pergamino also has air conditioning
and Hermana Mueller and her companion share the pench with us!  Kind of
funny because I told everyone that's going to be my next area and it rang
true!  By the way, I'll be finishing my mission in Rafaela in 3 transfers.
My plans are the same as God's plan for me.  Presidente Gutierrez told me
I need to get married 6 months after I get home, I told him 2 years. he
brought out the miracle of forgiveness and the scriptures, but I told him
God has a plan for me and it's 2 years.  Ha, I'll miss him and his wife.
I'm going to miss everyone.  I've learned so much here.  It's been a
growing area with a ton of trials, but I feel like I'm leaving part of my
heart behind.  Hna Dean will do great though.  Pergamino here I come!!!
Hermana Borup

ps pictures are of birthday day.  The Barcelona, messy jersey was given to
me by a family here

We have my sweat line.  That was not the best shirt to wear.  It was cooler
than most, but it showed all of my sweat.  My back was a lot worse.  Gross

Like McKenzie would say, Birthday week

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes.  It means a lot and they sure did brighten up my week!  But I still didn't get your birthday package mom, so I just opened up a few of the christmas presents and I'll save some of the birthday ones for christmas when it comes.

This week was crazy packed and I have very limited time because we have to get back to work soon.  So I'll just share the highlights.

Tuesday we had our first real lesson with Miguel and his dad, the less active, was there as well.  He accepted a baptismal date for the 11th of January.  He's going out of town for work soon, so that was the best date for him.  He's pretty solid though.  I haven't had anyone this strong and ready to go since Estevan in utah.

That night at midnight I got a call.  Really confused I answered the phone and it was a family in the branch that sang me happy birthday.  Ha!  I love this branch.  The mom is the relief society president and the dad is the first counselor in the branch presidency.  They are the best.

My birthday was fantastic.  Couldn't of asked for anything better.  We just taught all day long and you're right dad, teaching on your birthday is the best present.  We ended up having 6 lessons that day which is pretty darn crazy for this mission.  It was hot though.  And we were running from place to place.  I thought I was going to pass out, but I didnt which was another birthday miracle.  We found the familia Narducci in the morning, then a less active, then we went to another less active for lunch.  They made me milanesas and salad and they bought be a cake!  They are not the wealthiest of people so this meant a lot.  She's the mom of this area and can't stop smoking and that's why she doesn't go to church, but she has the biggest heart.  I love them!

Then in the afternoon we went to Pueblo Esther, and our lesson fell so we ended up having a lesson with the less active family we work with there.  Their daughter isn't a member and we got to teach her and it was awesome!  She'll be baptized soon.  Give it a month or so.  She knows it's true I just think no one's really invited her. 

Then we went back to Arroyo Seco, met with Hermana Isabel and taught her about tithing (she paid for the first time this week!)  and then to the chruch to celebrate with the members. Members got me presents! And we had a surprise lesson with Miguel.  So best day ever!

Then on friday we had lunch witht he family that called and they had another cake for me!  And milanesas... ha.  And then we went to zone meeting in Rosario where I got my gift from president and sister Giuliani and then we got home in time to have dinner with hermana isabel and she had gotten me a gift and made pizza for me!  I love this branch!

Transfers are coming up and I really don't want to go.  Especially now that so much is happening, but I think I might be going.  If that's the case I'm so grateful I got to spend 3 transfers in Arroyo Seco.  I'm convinced it's the best area a missionary can have!

Hermana Borup

Miracles are all around

Dear Family and Friends,

Ahh!!!  This week was pretty great.  I did get a little sick from the heat at the end, but other than that it was wonderful.

Monday we picked up two new investigators that are wonderful, except one is living with her husband without marriage, juntada?  I can't think of the word in english.  Tuesday we picked up another investigator and a member actually went with us to a lesson!  That's amazing in itself!  Members are really hard to get in Arroyo Seco because they don't live in the actually city. 

Wednesday was 9 months in the mission and we had to go to Rosario for a conference for new missionaries.  Ha, Hermana Dean has 9 months now too and she's considered new.  But it was good to hear from President Giuliani all the same and I learned a lot more on what my purpose as a missionary is.  The best part is the questions and answers part at the end.  And then I got my christmas package... but not my birthday one yet.  And the calender's weston's so I hope he can send me mine because I'm going to send him his.  Thanks for the candy mom!  I haven't opened anything else.

That afternoon we went to Pueblo Esther and we had a little bit of time before we were going to meet with a less active family so we went back to a good contact hermana jimenez and I had and the lady just let us in without us saying anything.  Offered us mate, then mate cocido (which we're allowed to drink) and then her daughter joined us for a lesson.  It was one of the best lessons I've had on my mission and she just kept saying she felt peace and we kept testifying that it was the spirit.  They accepted a baptismal date for the 28th!

Thursday the miracles continued and we got another new investigator in playa hermosa.  She's juntada as well though.  And then we met the son of a less active we've been working with.  We had heard about him but he's like 60 and lives way out of the way.  As we were leaving from teaching his dad, here he comes up the road!  We met him and invited him to a family home evening we were having on sat. and he said he would come!

we also celebrated thanksgiving by eating chicken and mashed potatoes with cobler and ice cream as dessert.

Friday was when I started to feel bad because it was also a million degrees and we had to walk everywhere.  But a friendly man gave us a sauce to put on bread and meat.  That was nice. 

Sat I was really bad so all we could do was the family home evening at night.  And Miguel (the son) came! New investigator and he loved it!  We did the spiritual part and the treat and the other sisters did the game.  They did something!  Well Miguel at the end said he would come to church.

Sun we get there 10 minutes early and there is Miguel and his dad sitting in the shade ready to go!  After priesthood one of the members asked me when his baptismal date was and we asked him if he wanted to be baptized and he said yes!  So... we're going to actually teach him something on tuesday and we have a member to go with us.  So many miracles.

I love being a missionary when things are just handed to you like that!  I feel so blessed!  I love being a missionary always, but I would love a few more fans and air conditioning because I woke up sweating bullets.  Not a good start.

Love,

Hermana Borup

Oh I almost forgot.  We had a great encounter with a drunk man in a dark alley on monday and he wants to marry us!  I'm engaged! No but it's funny now, at the time I was scared for my life.  Luckily he didn't accept Hermana Dean's invitation to come to church on sunday.

Sister Drama

 

 

This week was full of traveling.  On Tuesday we had a conference in Rosario for the hermanas in the mission.  It was the best!  I got to see Hermana Smith, Hermana Jimenez, Hermana Lake, Hermana Miranda, and Hermana Mueller... and everyone else.  But the office elders served us lunch with bow ties and towels and everything.  I loved every minute of it.  But the other hermanas here in Arroyo Seco had some problems so they talked to president afterwards for a long time and Hermana Dean and I got to talk to Hermana Giuliani while we were waiting.  She´s so cool!  She does zumba every day in the mission home and we´re going to go to classes afterwards together. 

Then Wednesday we went to General Lagos and worked there.  Still can´t find Delma, which makes me really sad,  but we did find a few very strong potentials.  We´re going back tomorrow morning.  Then it was off to district meeting and the zone leaders were there.  Apparently the sisters hadn´t worked out all their problems because there was an interesting conversation there.  They think the way that I divided the area is unfair because they have no members on their side.  I did the count of active members, they have way more than us.  So our district leader´s going to look over that.  But it´s kind of been an uncomfortable week because they have problems between them, and they´re looking for any excuse to why their work isn´t going very well.  I can now finally understand why my friends never wanted sisters in their zone.  Sad, but it´s true, they can get scary when they´re mad.  I felt bad for our leaders.

Thursday Hermana Dean and I (the member specifically asked us not to invite the other sisters, again, problems) did a service project in Playa hermosa all morning.  We painted a house!  I´ve been waiting my whole mission to do this and I finally got to do it!  So much fun!

Sunday, the familia Narducci came to church!  Also, Hermana Isabel told us that she´s noticing the difference in her week when she goes to church and when she doesn´t, so she came as well.  And another less active we´re working with.  It was the primary program and it was so cute!  Maximo and Nazarena Narducci participated!  Nazarena even read something!  And then Eve got a blessing after the meeting and it was super special.  The member that gave it to her was visiting from Galvez and he was shocked at her faith.  They are basically members, they just can´t get baptized until they work out a lot of things.  Eventually.  It´s another Estevan from Utah I think.  When the day finally comes that they can be baptized it will be very special.

So that´s us.  Trying to keep working and finding new people.  Everyone we´re working with needs to get married first, so our goal this week is to find a new investigator that can get baptized. 

I´m pretty exhausted these days.  And I could really use some letters or emails.  I´m just trying to keep going! 9 months, it really has gone by fast.  Hopefully I´ll have enough energy for the next 9!

  Thanks

Hermana Borup

 

 

 

With hermana Jimenez in the conference

Painting the house

The primary program

 

 

Activity in Playa Hermosa

Dear Family and Friends,

So I haven't mentioned this yet, but I've turned into a cry baby.  I cry all the time now.  This week I cried during a lesson and that's only the second time that has happened to me.  I don't understand it!  Well, I do, but I'm hoping all this crying wont stay with me after my mission. 

So Tuesday we got some bad bad news about an investigator.  It probably broke my heart more than anything else has on my mission.  Unfortunately, it's extremely confidential and I can't explain.  But I think I prayed harder than I ever have.  And we went back to that house wednesday and talked about the priesthood.  My district leader asked me why, and I don't really know why, but we just felt like she needed a blessing and to understand the role of the priesthood more.  So she's getting a blessing this week.  It was special because her son was also in the lesson and I think it made him want to prepare to receive the priesthood even more.  Benefits for both.

But that was the only set back this week.  The week was spent mostly preparing for our activity in Playa Hermosa on saturday.  Somehow there was miscommunication and the other sisters thought we were doing everything, so that's what we had to do.  But the activity ended up going really well.  It was a costume party and 5 non member families came with their kids.  And we're already teaching 2 of them!  Success!  But this is how the activity went.

We played about 9 games, eggs race, 3 legged race, oreo on the head, etc.  and all the kids were under 10.  And there were about 30 kids.  And we were there for 3.5 hours.  I almost went nuts.  And I decided afterwards, I'm never having kids.  But it was also fun even if the other sisters turned up 2 hours late. 

Today we had a zone activity in Rosario, that's why I'm emailing so late.  We watched Monsters University!  It felt so weird watching a movie like that, but we can on birthdays and zone activities.  On my birthday I want to see despicable me 2.  Ya, I've already decided. 

We're having a really hard time getting our investigators to church.  Please pray for them.  Especially our investigator that has a baptismal date, Delma.  She's scared to change religions and she's come to church before, but didn't go inside.  I think she has a lot of fear of change.

Mom, the pictures are like that because I'm fat and I ask the person taking the pictures to not zoom in.

Those books I probably can't read but if you want to send another package I would love more taco seasoning and apple cider!  And music!

I love you all!  Thanks for all your support and I'm sorry I haven't written letters in a while.  If you write me, I promise to write back eventually!  And my birthday is coming up... letters!

Hermana Borup

pictures: some of the kids, and the mask I made

One of the girls with the egg

Hermana Dean and I

Just kidding, they aren't loading so next week!

A pretty normal week

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was pretty normal in comparison to some of the other weeks I´ve had in Argentina. 

Wednesday Hermana Jimenez and Hermana Mueller left to train and Hermana Dean and I were alone because Hermana Ospinal went to pick up her new companion.  We went to General Lagos to work and then eat with our branch president, but I looked at my clock wrong and got to President´s house an hour early... ooops.  I guess I was just really hungry.  But we ended up working for another hour and had a great lesson with our investigator named Delma.  She accepted a date for the 7th of December.  She´s amazing and came to church last week, but no one was in the hall so she left.  Ah!  But she didn´t come to church this week.

Thursday everything was normal.  Friday we had zone meeting in Rosario at 9 in the morning.  Usually our zone meetings are during siesta, but they changed it this time.  So we had to wake up early in order to get there on time.  And then afterwards we ended up having to wait 1 hour and a half for the bus to get there because it was raining.  It was horrible and I wasn´t too happy because my back was hurting a lot.  But in the meeting we talked a lot about family history and how to use it as missionaries and that got me excited.  Obviously I had the two callings I did in college for a reason.  So I´m excited to talk to everyone about family history!

Saturday a lot of our plans fell through, but we were able to have a lesson with the Narducci family.  Bad news, well not bad but bad for me because I´m not perfect.  Franko wants the kids to wait to be baptized.  He wants them to really know what they are committing too because of his own experiences with the church.  On top of that, Eve fell out of their truck on Friday and broke her ankle and tore up her back.  But they are still progressing and all of the kids came with us to church.  They were a little bored in sacrament meeting but I found ways to keep them entertained.  It was a one time deal though because this week Eve will be able to take them because she´ll be able to walk.  We´re going over tomorrow to help her out around the house. 

Sunday our only investigators that came to church were the Narducci´s.  But Hermana Isabel was there and so was a new less active we´re working with.  Hermano Labat came at the beginning but only to talk to Presidente Gutierrez.  He doesn´t want us going to his house anymore.  I about cried when I heard.  I´ve been working with the Labat family since I got to Arroyo Seco and Hermano Labat was coming.  I have no idea what happened.  But I know that there are others out there that really want to come to Christ and that´s where we need to be working.  I will always love that family and I still pray for them.  I hope that one day their hearts will be softened.

Last night we were on our way home when a man yelled "how are you?"  It´s normal to hear things in english so I kept walking.  But Hermana Dean stopped to talk to him.  Turns out he was from New Jersey and he lives in Rosario now!  It was so weird to tell him about the gospel in English.  I stumbled over a lot of things because I´m so used to talking to people in Spanish.  Ha but it was a fun experience. 

Today we played kickball with the elders and volleyball.  I still love this district, even if all of them are different from when I first got here.

Love and miss you all.

Pictures: well the only one I need to explain is the ice.  Yep, hail the size of golf balls came down Friday night.  Destroyed a lot of roofs and cars.

Hermana Borup

PS mom can you accept Eve Muñoz on facebook for me?

You're leaving... Just kidding!

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was probably the craziest of my life.  So many different emotions rolled into one.  First off, Tuesday... oh Tuesday.  We finished the day and I was literally dragging my feet.  I had no energy left.  So I went to bed.  We got a call that night from our district leader saying that I was training a visa waiter and that I was leaving Arroyo Seco.  I cried and I couldn't sleep at all that night.  The next morning I started planning my goodbyes and getting things ready to leave.  It was going to be perfect, because we had a lesson planned with the familia Narducci and lunch with the relief society president.  But then I texted the zone leaders asking them where I was going.  They must have been confused because they then called me to tell me I was not going anywhere, and I just had to pick up my new companion at the mission home the next day.  Elder Martínez!!!  Oh my goodness.  So then it was obvious that Hermana Jiménez was going.  But I was so happy to be able to stay in Arroyo Seco for another transfer!

So Thursday I also didn't get to sleep because I had to be in Rosario at 8:30.  So I got there with puffy eyes and ready to meet my new companion.  We had a training meeting on how to help the visa waiters adapt to Argentina and then in they came.  All 30 of them!  Huge group!  My new companion's name is Hermana Dean from Utah.  She started her mission in February with me but had to wait for her visa for 8 months!  She served in the Washington Tocoma? mission and never taught in Spanish.  So her Spanish is at a beginning level.  Other than that little set back, she's amazing and so excited to be here! 

Thursday I also got to talk to an elder that looked really familiar to me.  He was in my freshman ward at BYU and served for 4 months in the Salt Lake City West mission.  When he told me that it was the first time I realized that I've changed a lot since freshman year.  It was kind of exciting to see the changes in me and it gave me hope that I can still change even more!

Friday was another crazy storm, but this time we were in the streets.  We got soaked and I felt bad because it was Hermana Dean's first day, but it was fun.  And Saturday made up for it.  4 new investigators!  And 8 lessons in one day!  I've never had that much in Argentina.  That just doesn't happen here, but it did on Saturday, and it will again!

Sunday everyone said they were going to come to church and then no one came.  We had 58 people in attendance, which is the most we've ever had, but only one investigator, and she's the other hermanas.  The familia Narducci didn't come because they had a birthday party, so we changed their baptismal date to the 23rd.  We found out after church that Delma, a new investigator came, but there was no one in the hallway so she left!  No!!!  We're seeing her tomorrow and apologizing.  I'm praying she will come again. 
And yesterday I did not feel so good but we cleaned the apartment and had a few lessons in the afternoon.  I have a random fat lip? and swollen eyes?  But I'm used to random things by now. 

Glad to hear all about New York and that mom had so much fun running the marathon! And Annie and Covey!!!!!!  Yes!!!!  Congratulations on the engagement!

I also got Alyssa's announcement in the mail this week!  So cute!  Congratulations!

Love you all and I'm so excited for another packed week in Arroyo Seco, Playa Hermosa, General Lagos, and Pueblo Esther!  I love this work!

Hermana Borup