A Million Things...

Ok, so I literally have like a million things to tell you. And there is no way I will be able to tell you everything. Especially because this keyboard is crazy!

Ummm, first off. Did I tell you Elder Holland came and talked to us? SO COOL. That was in Washington on Saturday before I left. He shook hands with all of us and then talked to us about missionary work. AWESOME.

Then, I had the longest days of my life. We traveled from Monday morning at 7:30 am to Tuesday at 5 am. Slept and then woke up, got our companions and traveled another 5 hours to get to our area. Rough Stuff. But it was so cool because the airplane to get to Buenos Aires was at least 3/4 missionaries.

I´m in Clorinda. It´s super close to Paraguay. We are whitewashing the area (which means my companion & I are both new to the area) and we are the first girls in this area. On the bus ride over here, the other American girl was telling me about all the bugs and the stuff here in Clorinda and was like, "they sent us girls here because they must know that we can handle stuff like that." I think I accidentally laughed out loud because that brought back a ton of my camping experiences...  

Anyway, ya. That´s basically what it´s like. Camping. Haha for the first couple days we didn´t have hot water so we used this thing that heats up water and a bucket.  My companion showed me how to wash my clothes here. We just use the bucket for that, too.

My companion is from Peru and only speaks Spanish.  The only time I hear or speak English is when I see the three other missionaries that speak English at church. They are in different branches, though, so I only see them for like a couple of seconds. It´s so nice though. It's like a little treat- someone being able to understand what I´m saying.

I guess if someone was watching my companion & me communicating it would be pretty funny because we have to act out a ton of things to be able to figure out what the other person is trying to say. Good thing my companion is super patient, because she usually has to say things a hundred times before I understand, haha. Esta bien. It´s good for me. I'm learning fast. 

I'm the designated pianist at church. HA! I don´t really know where to start on this topic. Normally, I wouldn´t be super nervous if I didn´t really know a song very well, because in America people just keep singing the song if the pianist fumbles a little because they know how the song goes. Here... well, first lets just start with saying that... I don´t know how to say this. Basically, the sacrament hymn was a DISASTER and I had to try super hard not to laugh. The singing was all over the place and my companion who was the chorister struggles. haha. She finished and sat down while I still had a whole line left of the song to play! Awkward. But it´s fun. I love it.

Also, Coca Cola is never going out of business. They have signs and chairs and stores and stuff EVERYWHERE here. 

I had on my little paper to tell you how cold it was here because the first night I was FREEZING and I looked like a goon walking around with my long johns and tall socks and a million layers. But it´s actually SO HOT. SO HOT. And it´s winter. So ya. So hot. 

My favorite scripture for this week: Mosiah 24. I can´t remember the verse. Maybe 13-16. But it´s about how the Lord doesn´t take trials away, but He strengthens us. I know that´s true. He doesn't take away the bugs and spiders, but He make us able to endure them :)

I love you all!! Miss you!!

Hermana Peterson

Clorinda, Argentina