Thrasher, Evelyn T

We worked hard, laughed hard, cried hard. It was Hna Judd's last week in her mission and we saw LOTS of miracles (like putting Eduardo on date to be baptized with his daughter!!!)     But it was also sad to go to Hna Judd's farewell and hear her last testimony.      But it was also so fun to go to the nice asado restaurant that the departing missionaries eat at on their last night.     But it was sad to say goodbye to her. Her parents also came to Argentina to pick her up so yesterday I got to meet them and send her off with lots of hugs and "see you later"s .     But I got to come spend the night in my old area, Carcaraña (my favorite place in the world). And see all my favorite people again. We made lots of plans for them to come to Funes and visit or even to the US one day.     This week, I got to sit in and help President and the APs work on the transfers that start this week. It was SO COOL to see revelation flow and in the end...

This week was sooo good! Mariano was baptized and confirmed!!!! It was such a happy day. I got to learn how to set up an outdoor font and did an impromptu musical number of "Jesus es mi luz" that unexpectedly turned a cappella after the second verse and ended with everyone dying of laughter. I definitely will never forget that.     But really, Mariano is a miracle and I love him sooo much! He works so hard to bring money home to his parents and brothers, but he still wants to pay a full tithe. He lives so far away, but shows up to church early and stays late to help clean up. He's super humble, super sweet, and honestly hilarious. I'm grateful for people like Mariano who teach me more than I teach them.     Earlier in the week, I also got to do exchanges out in Villa Constitución with my old companion, Hermana Martinez!! My first and last native companion I've ever had. It was super fun because now I actually understand her... no joke. I feel like I learned more a...

The last two weeks brings us to a total of 2 zone conferences, 2 district councils, 5 exchanges, 1 power outage, and about 14 bowls of froot loops.     This week I got to go back to my roots and do an exchange with the STLs in my home town: Venado Tuerto!! My first area in Argentina!! It was so fun, we got to eat ice cream at the best place in the town, walk down familiar streets, and visit the FAMILIA LOCA. Those kids are still crazy, Brian is still trying to quit smoking, and Emilia is preparing herself to be baptized this week yay! Ahhhh I just have such a love for that pueblo and it was so good to go back and see it all again. For some reason, going there made me realize how much I have grown as a missionary. I just knew I'm not the same person I was when I was there last.     The other exchanges were a lot of fun too! I got to see how other zones in the mission are doing and what challenges they each face. It has been really cool to see why the Lord puts certain...

Wow. This general conference weekend was AMAZING. It felt like every single talk was written for me and I learned so much! And a temple in my hometown? I can't express how happy I am! It's just overflowing! This week was pretty awesome apart from Conference too. We met Raúl, the drug addict who lives in a hut on the edge of Funes. When we talked to him, it was obvious he had absolutely no hope. But even in the week that we have known him and talked to him about God's love, Christ's sacrifice, and the Plan of Salvation, we have been able to see a change in him. He is happier, his eyes have more light, and he seems more hopeful for the future. My favorite thing about the mission is seeing the change the gospel brings into the lives of everyone who learns about it. Speaking of change, Mariano is progressing super well towards his baptismal date and we have noticed a change in him too!! He's a lot more calm now, not as stressed or agitated anymore. He understands the sc...