Hermana Aliza Pollock

So this week was really good! We had a baptism of my first contacts!! They are brother and sister and they are so cool. Like two days before the baptism, the sister was like, I'm not sure if I'm ready, I think I need like another month. I was kinda just like, oh no, we don't have a month!!! But we just asked her to pray about it again and really think about it.  When she was baptized she got a bloody nose and I was like, oh no, is she going to think this is a bad sign or something.  But she was like, "I have no idea why that happened, but I am so happy and feel peace."  I was jumping up and down, well in my head, and her brother said the same thing, so I was really happy that day, so I feel like I have really experienced real joy! Anyways, I feel like every older person here in the mission, whenever they feed us, always say "Hermana Pollock más comida!!" (more food) always!! Like I cannot eat that much, but I just have to be like, ok gracias :) but all...

So this past week was the English fast, which was pretty easy when it was just me and my companion because it's always only Spanish. The hard part was when I was with someone who could speak English because I would want to just talk to them in English to explain what I'm trying to say better. It was also hard not being able to read my scriptures in English. I did find writing in Spanish didn't bug me as much. This week we were supposed to have a baptism, but his mom didn't give him permission, so then he was like ya I need more time anyways. So then we set a new date and the mom was there when we did, so she is on board as well. So hopefully he does make it to that day.  We are supposed to have a baptism this Saturday.  I don't know if it will fall through the last minute or not.  I feel like most of our baptisms have been like that. But I think she is really interested and really understanding what is being taught and understanding it. So that is good. We are teach...

This week was a weird week. On Tuesday we had a Multizona meeting, then that afternoon we went out and preached. Then on Wednesday, we had interviews with the President then that afternoon we did splits and went out and preached. Then Thursday we were still on splits for that morning and then that afternoon we went to the other hermanas in our districts area to help them find people because they have the rich area so they have a hard time finding people. So that was a district activity. Since the first of the week was full of pretty much half days, Friday and Saturday were a little hard to get back to the regular schedule, so I would wake up in the morning not wanting to work. So I would just say a prayer and ask for the energy to do his work and forget myself and I did and each time my day turned out really good. We had amazing lessons and we have a Baptism this Sunday!! So I really hope that it stays and that there are no problems. Also, my very first baptism gets the Aaronic Priesth...

This week was really good.  The more I put my faith in my Lord, the better my days are, and the more I forget myself and get to work, the happier I am while working! Anyways, this week we got our hot water back!!  So my days are good. A funny thing that happens to me and my companion a lot is when we are contacting.  We tend to contact members houses. We are both new to the area so we don't know where the members live and we always tend to contanct members. One really amazing and awesome thing that happened this week was we were contacting, and we clapped at this one house and we told her that we are missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  She was like enter, so we talked to her and found out that she used to talk to some missionaries, but I can't remember how long ago.  We taught her the plan of salvation and invited her to church on Sunday and we left. It was a contact, so we didn't really expect her to show, because they never do aft...

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...