Happy Monday!

It is a beautiful day here in Barrio Jardin. The sun has finally come out (for the first time in a week), and Hna Cannon and I are planning on going to the park later today to enjoy the sunshine.

Last week I got to try... squid tentacles! Yum. They actually weren't too bad, they didn't have much of a flavor. Luckily I haven't had to try anything too nasty here. So far the worst I've eaten is squid tentacles, reviro (literally, flour and oil burned on the stove together), and liver (yuck yuck yuck yuck yuck).

Last week we had interviews with President LaPierre! It ws so great talking to him and getting some new ideas to help our area. We have been trying to find new people to teach, but we really need the help of the ward. So all y'all have the homework of doing something this week to help the missionaries. Give them a reference! Accompany them to an appointment!

We went with Marina this week, but we weren't sure what to teach her. We knew we wanted to share something from the Book of Mormon and had prepared a lesson plan. We got to the lesson, but we just really felt like what we had prepared was not what she needed to hear. We said the opening prayer, but then completely changed from what we had planned. We decided to read Etehr 12:27 with her. We finished reading the verse and she looked up with a huge grin on her face. She had been trying to remember that particular verse and couldn't find the reference. When we read it to her, she said that she felt a strong spiritual impression that God had used us to answer her prayers. I feel so honored and blessed that Heavenly Father uses us to help Him save and comfort His children.

I found this quotation and liked it! "The most important of all the commandments of God is that one that you are having the most difficulty keeping today." President Harold B. Lee

All of God's commandments are essential to our salvation. Just like we shouldn't murder or committ adultery, neither should we tell little lies, hold grudges, backbite, etc... I know Heavenly Father's plan is perfect and His commandments are to help and strengthen us! Through Jesus Christ we can have the stamina and excitement to keep ALL the commandments.

I love you all! Have a fantastic week!

Love,

Hermana Simmons

ps- Next week I will be at the Iguazu Waterfalls on Monday, and then we have Consejo on Tuesday. So I don't think that I will be writing until either Tuesday night or Wednesday.

it might be cold and rainy, but Argentina is as beautiful as ever!

out contacting

Rain, rain, rain, and miracles

So, we have had 3 weeks of nonstop clouds and rain. Since I have arrived here in Posadas we have had cold weather! Yesterday was the first time it had cleared up and been nice. We were so happy! We were hoping that the sunshine would last, but we woke up to a nice thunderstorm this morning. Oh well.

Yesterday we passed by a less active sister to walk with her to church. We clapped her house, but she couldn't come outside! They have two doors on their house- one normal door and one that has a lot of bars and padlock to keep the robbers out. She opened up her normal door and we saw that she was all dressed and ready to go to church. Unfortunately, her younger sister had gone out to a party the night before and had taken the other key! We felt as if we were talking to an inmate. She wanted to go to church so badly but couldn't! That was kind of a bummer. But we are going to have a Family Night with them today, so we are excited for that.

Last week, again, we had a lot of investigators fall through. And, due to the rain, we had troubles finding new people to teach. When Sunday rolled around, we were worried that nobody would be at church. But they came! An entire less active family was there, and a young man that we had invited to church two weeks ago came! His name is Claudio, and we had only spoken to him once (literally, we handed him a card and said he was welcome at our Sunday services). Woohoo! Miracles happen when we work and show our faith. God blessed us with a lovely Sunday.

Doctrine and Covenants 35:8

"For I am God, and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs, and wonders, unto all those whobelieve on my name."

Love you all! Have a lovely week!

Hermana Simmons

OFFICIAL MISSIONARY STATUS!

Hey, so I GOT BIT BY A DOG.

Yes, yes I did.

We were walking to an appointment with the Relief Society President to coordinate with her about the less active sisters that we visit. While waiting outside of her house, a dog started barking and snapping at us. This has happened to me my entire mission, and from experience I've learned that if I just ignore the dog and not threaten it in any way, it will leave me alone. Apparently that dog does not understand common sense. While putting my water bottle back in my backpack I felt a sharp stinging in my calf. I looked down and there was an ugly little dog (it wasn't even a big dog! it was a wimpy mutt, probably a maltese) hanging off of my leg! I shook it off and then we just walked away. I thought I was fine because the bite marks weren't very deep, but then we got home. When I took my tights off, I saw that he had broken skin and I had nasty blood dried on my leg. yuck.

Anyway, sorry that took up a whole paragraph. I just thought it was pretty fun that I have now had the stereotypical bad experience with dogs as a missionary.

This week we have seen rain every single day. Hermana Cannon and I have been walking and clapping at a lot of doors. It would be so easy to slack off in the stormy weather (especially since nobody wants to listen to us in the rain), but we want to be diligent and show Heavenly Father that we are doing our best! After a very long week with some excruciatingly long days, we got to Saturday. The weather unexpectedly cleared up and within a few hours we were able to get in multiple lessons! Then, on Sunday, our investigator showed up at church! Her name is Valeria and she is 18 years old. Right now she is living with her boyfriend because she fights a lot with her parents. But she understands the doctrine well and is very receptive and eager to learn more. Hna Cannon and I will be praying for her lots in these next few weeks!

Random thought- The other day I remembered back when we would lose something at home- a pair of shoes or maybe a book. We would look around and wouldn't find it anywhere. But then Mom would (without fail) suggest that we say a prayer to find the lost item. Within five minutes someone would always be able to recover what was lost. Now, instead of praying for lost shoes, Hna Cannon and I pray for lost people. Heavenly Father has so many children that are searching for the Gospel, and we just want to be able to find and help them! Thanks Mom for teaching me how nothing and no one is ever lost to God.

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation." 2 Nephi 22:2

I love you all! Have a fantastic week!

Hermana Simmons

hey look a dog bit me.

found this little guy in our shower. 

hna cannon refused to touch it so I had the honor of carrying him outside.

More News

I don't really know how to send love or comfort in a letter, but I just want to say I love my family and I am so grateful for our Heavenly Father's plan. Today I found out that Hayden and Hudson died in a helicopter crash together. Definitely shocking and upsetting news (both of which mean I was crying in an Argentine internet cafe). I guess all I can say is that I know that God loves us, I know that Jesus Christ saves us from death, and I know that we can be together forever as a family as we depend upon the Gospel.  

This past week with Hermana Cannon has definitely been amazing! She and I both had the same trainer, went to BYU before the mission, love al the bakeries here, and want to invite as many people to come unto Christ as possible in these next six weeks! She is super upbeat and outgoing. She only has 3 months here in the mission field, but she already speaks Spanish really well! We have also had a lot of fun working out together in the mornings! She did gymnastics at BYU, so I`m going to see if I can learn any fun tricks from her :)

Here in Barrio Jardin there is mud EVERYWHERE. I`ve worn my mud boots every single day. Sunday? I wore the boots to church and then changed into my nicer shoes.

Here is a lot more neighborhood-y setting. We are still in a city, but we have less businesses and more houses, which is nice. 

2 Nephi 5:27 "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." In this chapter, Nephi and his family have to abandon everything and move far away because Nephi`s own brothers are trying to kill him. But in spite of all this, Nephi and his family and friends are able to find joy. They find joy in working hard, in building a temple, in keeping the commandments, etc... I know that the only way to find true joy in this life is through living the gospel of Jesus Christ. I honestly think that is what has changed the most about me in these past months. Serving God and just truly living the gospel to the best of my ability makes me HAPPY. It doesn't matter the things that I go through, God helps me push on and see the bigger picture. Trials and disappointments and sadness will all end if we put our faith in Christ and repent. He does forgive; He does heal; He does provide peace. I know that only through living the Gospel of Jesus Christ am I able to feel this goodness that I feel. This is happiness.

I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week!

Hermana Simmons

P.S. I can't believe the news about Hayden and Hudson. But I do know that God is watching over them and has a perfect plan for them.

Saying hello to Hna Cannon and Barrio Jardin!

Saying goodbye to Hna Moreno and Barrio 2!