I'm Never Coming HOME!

Buenos Dias!!! It's a beautiful day here in Las Tunas! I absolutely love it here! Right when I got off the plane I just felt at home. And guess what everybody! GUESS WHO IS MY COMPANION!  E L D E R   E N G E B R E T S E N ! Can y'all believe it! Haha, I couldn't either, but here we are! My area is called Lopez Camelo and we live in a small pension with two other Elders (Carlson and Heil). Itty bitty living space.  E l d e r   E n g e b r e t s e n  and I are whitewashing an area together (brand new to both of us) and so we have lots of work to do! We teach AAAALLLL DAY and I love it so much! My area is in the Villa or as others would call it, the Ghetto. It's suuuper poor and dirty. I love it! So many peole to teach!

There are dogs EVERYWHERE! Stepping in poo is a daily occurence and something you just gotta accept. They are so mangy and gross, it's crazy!
E l d e r   E n g e b r e t s e n  and I got these little bikes we ride to our area and we get snapped at by dogs ALL day! Haha, I can't count the number of dogs I've already curb stomped from my bike. HA, LOVE IT!

So like I said, this area is really poor. You see the videos of the poorest places and that's basically where I'm at. They are just little broken down shacks! Ha, one of the first things  P r e s i d e n t   A y r e  told me when I got here was it wasn't a matter of if i got robbed, but when. Ha! OH YEAH! LOVE IT! Ha, we walked out of our pension yesterday and some homeless guy and two dogs were eating the food out of our trash. It's crazy guys... So awesome.

Oh, so it turns out that they don't speak spanish here! Bahahaha! Castellano is a completely different language it seems like. I'm starting at like step one. but that's okay because McFly is THE BOMB! He is seriously already fluent! He has had 2 months here already though. He is such a stud, I can't even start to explain how happy I am. Also, they don't use toilet paper here, they use a bidet. Basically just squirts water at your bum. A porcelain milagro. Very new sensation, but HEY, I LOVE IT! Oh and the plane ride wasn't too bad. I started my journey down here Wednesday at 5pm and got here Thursday at 9am. Pretty sweet! Couldn't really sleep on the plane though.

They have these things called Sanjas along the roads just full of green liquid and trash. It smells super bad! Oh and you clap outside a person's house to get their attention, it's cool. We don't eat dinner here, really. We eat a huge lunch and then just snack the rest of the night. Super weird, huh? Did I mention there are just horses that roam the city? Oh... Well horses just walk around the city. And there are legit sewer rats. Seriously. There are no traffic rules here either. You really gotta be on guard.

That's pretty much all I got for the area. I can't believe that Cade is going to Rapid City! That is so crazy! I'm so proud of him! Now that I know where he is going, it just seems so perfect for him! I love this work! This place is so perfect. I honestly never ever want to leave... Luckily I got some time. ;)  I love my Savior. He knows me so well and just what I need. I marvel that I'm with my best friend again serving here. Out of 200 missionaries, we get back together again. Wow.

Therefore, this is my giftñ apply unto it, and blessed art thou, for it shall deliver you out of the hands of your enemies... Oh remember these words, and keep my commandments. Remember, This is your gift! -D&C 8:4-5. This is such an amazing scripture. Apply what you have been given, have faith, and you will be delivered out of your enemies hands. WOW! I know that my redeemer lives!

Elder McFly and I

Beautiful Sunday morning
on our way to pick up some kids to take to church

Downtown

Lunch at the Mission Home

We are so thankful to have  E l d e r   H a n k i n s  with us.  He arrived safely this morning and is doing wonderful.  We are so excited for this great opportunity we have together to serve the Lord.  We all ate lunch together here in the mission home and this afternoon he will be meeting his trainer and arriving in his area to work.

We love you,

P r e s i d e n t   a n d   S i s t e r   A y r e

Good Morning Argentina!

E l d e r   H a n k i n s
has landed in Buenos Aires!

"I'm so pumped right now!"

"I'm flying to Buenos Aires
...a Spanish New York!"

Click: Watch My Flight LIVE

Departs Alanta, GA
 9:14pm EDT, Wed, Jul 24

Arrives Buenos Aires
8:30am ART, Thu, Jul 25

5,015 Flight miles     10.3 Flight hours

My Boeing 767

Click: Seating Chart

I'm Going to Argentina!

"Nobody move! I've dropped me brain." -Cap'n Jack Sparrow

Yes, that's right, I've received my visa and will be heading to Argentina on Wednesday morning! I'm super stoked! I know that I was here in Greensboro, North Carolina for a reason. I needed it, and it needed me. This work isn't like worldly work, it just isn't. I know it, and I love it!

One thing that I have absolutely loved here is the food. Haha! When you think hispanic branch you probably think mexicans, but no! The Majority of the members in our branch are of other nationalities, especially Honduras y El Salvador! And OH MY GOODNESS the people of El Salvador make this food called Pulpusas (basically a cheese filled pancake) and I have fallen in love! I'm actually having that tonight since Hermana Marin-Castro promised it. ;) Yesssss! Anywho, I've enjoyed eating all the different foods and hearing the accents of all these different people. The closest I've heard of an Argentina accent is some people from Uruguay. :) Super Excited to hear it for myself on Wednesday though! :D Oh and one last thing. Tres Leches... Nuff said. And Tortas.... Okay I just love hispanic food. ;)

So this last week has been the best of my mission so far! We taught a mountain of lessons and have lots of new investigators with baptismal dates. We have been lightin' this place up! Funny experience... On Friday we were outside an investigators house in the car just about to bow our heads to say a prayer and this white guy (very rare in the south) comes stammering down the street with no shirt on and tattoos all over his body. I knew it would happen, he came directly to my window and had me roll it down. The stench was unbelievable. He started the conversation of asking who we were and he told us a crazy story. I noticed his knuckles were extremely bloody and he was sweatin' up a storm which, in turn, dripped onto my arm.... Disgusting! Then he just broke down bawling and sat in the middle of the road. So we helped him back to his apartment and gave him a card. Ha! Only as a missionary.

Something that I've tried doing this week is putting into practice the advice of our prophet, Thomas S. Monson. To look at people not as they are, but as they can become. I tell you what, it's a good idea, but be ready for Heart Break. I see these young men who would be great priesthood leaders and these women who would contribute immensely to this work and have a family forever and they reject it. "Behold, my soul is rent with anguish because of you, and my heart is pained; I fear lest ye shall be cast off forever. Behold, I am full of the Spirit of God, insomuch that my frame has no strength." -Nephi to his brothers

I have only seen the Hobbit like twice so don't kill me, but I believe the quote goes: "I have a home, but you don't. I will do whatever I can to help you get it back." -Bilbo Baggins  The dwarves looked at Bilbo, in the beginning, as he was, not what Bilbo could become. They became humbled as they saw him become a great hero and saved the day! Y'all pickin' up what I'm throwin' down? :)

I love my companions. I wish I could have had them since April, but alas, that wasn't the Lord's plan. They are just so happy and willing to work! We laugh all the time, but always try our hardest! I'm going to miss Secor and Molina so hard! They were clutch!

I love y'all with all my heart! Thank you so much for the love and support while I waited here to get my visa! It was appreciated! Don't worry, if you sent something the last few days. I'm gonna have my companions send it home and then my parents will hopefully send it to me. ;)

"Big Gulps huh?  Alright.... Welp, see ya later!"

Erica

I got to go inside the Colliseum today!
Pretty legit, right!

Greensboro Coliseum

36.059653, -79.825800