Hermana Aliza Pollock

So this week was a lot better!  Let me just tell you that praying is probably the only thing that is getting me through this hard part of the mission. I am so grateful that I learned how to pray and talk to my Father in Heaven before my mission so that I can really talk and rely on Him while on my mission. This week we had no hot water, so I feel like I have really experienced a mission.  It's not as fun because it's starting to get cold, so in the morning when it is really cold, the water is really cold, so I just kinda really don't like taking showers sometimes. This week we had the chance to be in the Elders area because we are in the same ward and we went to go eat at the bishops house who lives in there area.  They really do put the Hermanas in the better areas, because at one house there was a house arrest going on and at another house there was a fight going on, it was so interesting, and scary, and exciting at the same time.  My favorite food here is Empanada...

So this week was good but very long. I have only been in the field for two weeks but it feels like I have been here for like 4 months. But it's all good, just trying to get through the days and trying to understand the people and trying to communicate with my companion. On Wednesday, we had district splits or something, so I was with a diffrent companion and she speaks fluent Spanish and fluent English.  We came into the field together, so that was fun hanging with her and talking to her in English and kinda just getting all my emotions out.  Later that day she got sick so we stayed in their casa for the rest of the night and just talked and shared scriptures and it was something I really needed for that week and that hermana and I really grew closer, so she is always someone I can talk to about just how I'm feeling and stuff.  Saturday we had a baptism and that was amazing! He is so cool and he is learning English in school, so that is fun kind of helping him learn it, i...

So this was an interesting week. I don't really understand anything, so that is hard sometimes, and the people here talk so fast, and with the Argintine accent, it makes it harder to understand. Just waiting till I can actually understand and waiting to be able to respond as well. But during that process, I have found that Oreos are my comfort food here. You always learn something new.  My area is called Italia Centro and my companions name is Hermana Valdivia and she is awesome. She doesn't know very much English, but we communicate pretty well.  We have a baptism on Saturday so that is exciting, and I know what you are all thinking, wow one week and she already has a baptism!!  The investigator was from the Hermanas before us, we just set the date with him and that kinda stuff. But, other than that, all has been well.  I didn't understand anything on Sunday, but had a good rest of the day.  We went and talked with a member and I communicated pretty well, so th...

Dear Pollock Family, Sister Patania and I are pleased to inform you that Sister Pollock arrived in La Gran Misión Argentina Resistencia last night.  We welcomed her to the mission, ate dinner and let her rest. We had a small briefing of the fun facts and necessary information about the mission.  After that she met her new companion, Sister Valdivia and they headed off to open their area called Italia Centro in the province of Formosa.           A mission is a wonderful experience filled with challenges and successes that strengthens the testimony of each missionary.  A great support that you as a family can give your daughter during her mission is uplifting letters.  In addition to using email, you can send letters to the office address: Hermana Aliza Whitney Pollock Misión Argentina Resistencia Entre Ríos 435 Resistencia Chaco CP 3500 Argentina  You may also send letters (and only letters taped shut; no envelopes) via the ¨p...

So getting to Argentina was one of the longest 48 hours of my life! Pretty much didn´t get any sleep and let me tell you, do not drink the water in Panama. I am regretting it now! But, I had to say goodbye to my companion from the CCM, but I know she is going to do amazing things in Uruguay. Had to say goodbye to my district which was really sad too because when you are with people for 24 hours each day you get close and it's sad to say goodbye. They are all going to be amazing missionaries in their missions. But for traveling, I had only one person from my district with me, so we kinda became each others companions during the trip. Which we called each other our favorite Illegal companion, because my "companion" was an Elder. But we had so much fun and it was really sad to say goodbye to the last person in my district. Fun fact, my Mission President doesn't know any English, but he speaks slow enough that you can pretty much understand what he is saying. My Trainer...

Ok so this week was A LOT better than last week, but it feels really weird that I am leaving on Monday!! So by Monday of next week I will finally be in Argentina and get to see what it is going to do to my hair. I promise I´ll send pictures.  I feel like this week has only consisted of class and then eating and then more class and then maybe a meeting about when we leave on Monday and our flight information. Just a lot of packing this week and a lot of trying to make sure that everything is under the limit, which it was really hard because the carry on has to be under 17 pounds!! That´s like a toothbrush. (well not really but pretty much!!!) So that is the hard part about finding out how to make that really light and then also make my other suitcases under 50. This week we had the opportunity to show around the new Latinos and get them to their casas and make sure that they are all good. I was really nervous at first, but once we had to actually talk to them it was fine, and I ac...