April 30, 2012- Letter

Dear Mom and Dad,

First question. If people go to Craig and Maries, does that mean that
I won´t be able to see them? I am completely unaccostumed to the ways
of Skype, is there a way to do some sort of three way chat thing? I
HOPE SO!!!

This week was pretty good. I feel like so far in Pueyrredón my weeks
are pretty dull. They consist of so much of the same. But there were
some major highlights this week.

One of thems names is Jessica Salvo. She is the daughter of a member
here. She is my age, and she is studying in Buenos Aires. We have
eaten with Hno Salvo and his family twice, and both times have been
times when Jesica has been at home visiting her family! I had gotten
to know her decently the first time, and I was thrilled when we went
to eat on Saturday, and she was the one who came to open the door! We
had a really good time at lunch, and we were able to get her
interested in some things about the church. Like the temple open
house, she said that she was curious and wanted to go where she
normally isn´t allowed. (Can I just say that I am super sneaky? Mom,
Dad, you would have been proud at how she got curious and didn´t even
realize that that is what i was trying to do. Haha. I love my job.)
Her dad, Hno Salvo is the only member, one of his sons, Benjamin is 11
and wants to get baptized, but his mom (who is Catholic) says that she
wants him to wait until he is a little bit older. Anyways, Hna Salvo
wasn´t home, she was on vacation visiting her mom. So we´re talking
about a bunch of random things, and then I invite Jesica to church and
she said yes! I think Hno Salvo just about fell out of his seat. And
even better, she came!!! And she had a good time! She really liked it
and had a lot of questions. They gave out the Daughter of my Kingdom
out in RS, and they gave one to her, and she was really excited to be
included, and is going to read it. She also talked to Romina, about
institute. Romina is just great and talks to EVERYONE. So now Jesica
is going to look up where she can go to institute in Buenos Aires. She
asked me if she will be allowed to go even if she isn´t a member, and
I almost giggled when I told her that they will be thrilled to have
her there regardless of her religion.  So that was really cool, and
fun. Jesica is awesome, I am excited to be friends with her after the
mission. In fact, after internet, we are going to try to go see her
before she heads to Buenos Aires and I am going to take a picture with
her so you can see her. I just love her!!!!

Also exciting news! Fernando got the Priesthood yesterday!!!! It was
so great! He has been waiting and waiting, but due to things like
stake conference and his work travels it has taken basically a month
for him to get it. He was so excited, and he is so prepared. Romina
was the ever sweet, excited wife, ready to see her husband progress,
and she told us after his ordinaition, "I have a priesthood holder in
my house now."  They are so great! They really have become the life of
the ward here, they are helping the ward remember the potental that
their neighbors and family and friends have. I am really excited to
see how the ward will grow!

Kind of a flip from that optimism. Haha. We had the most depressing
ward activity last friday. We had been planning a mission activity,
where all the members could invite someone and we would have an
activity, kind of chill and low key, but crazy spiritual (obviously)
so that everyone would want us to come over afterwards and teach them
more. We had publicized (sp?) like crazy, and had all the assignments
given out. So Hna Bingham and I got to the church early to set up, and
make sure everything was ready since we were going to have to book it
home afterwards, and no one is showing up. Finally ten minutes before
the activity is supposed to start, our ward mission leader shows up
with the refreshments, and says that he won´t be able to stay, and
then he walks away. We were like, uh...now what. We didn´t have
anything. We managed to pull somethings together, and it turns out
that seven people came. And that was all. It was deperssing. We still
had a decent time. And the good news of all of that is that of the
seven that were there, 4 were recent converts, and that 2 of those
recent converts are inactive at this point in time, so we were able to
talk to them a little bit more, and we think we know a little better
how we can help them now. So that was good. Also, there was really
good cake. Isn´t that a sad story? I can honestly say it was one of
the only times I was angry on my mission. It didn´t last too long,
because I dont´like feeling that way, but it was there for a second
embarrassingly enough. Hna Bingham said that watching me mad was like
watching a small kitten. I prefer to think that when I´m mad I´m a
little scarier than that. Haha.

Yesterday we found two new investigators (YAY). I think they may be a
little slow to progress, but I have a lot of hope for them. Silvia is
the mom and Martina is her daughter. We also met the grandfather, the
husband, and one of the sons. I think they all really liked us, they
are already talking about inviting us over for pizza. And right as we
were leaving, on of their friends showed up, he owns a meat shop, so
they said that one day they would invite us over for asado. I´m down.
Haha. Please pray for them so that they will be able to progress!!! We
need a family like them so badly!

Zac, congrats on the new position at 7peaks! That is so great! I hope
that you are able to work to go to the Ambassadors of Utah. It was
completely great, and I know you will love it. Work hard, I bet it
will pay off if you decide to go!

Holly, congrats on the successful concerts! Mom told me how awesome
that they were! I am so glad that you are doing so great! And I can´t
wait to come to your first concert next year! Dance Company baby!!!

Summer, let me know if you end up needing braces. Everyone will tell
you that they are awful, but I actually kind of liked them!

Let me know what Mothers Day weekend is looking like! Let me know what
will work best with you, and I am prettysure I should be able to make
it work here! I sure love you all, and I am thinking about you
constantly (not in a trunky sort of way, just in the I love my family
sort of way!) and I am praying for you!!!

Love,

Corinne