Monday, December 30, 2013

Feliz Año Nuevo!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, the best part of the week was seeing all of your adorable faces!!!  It was so much fun! I loved talking to all of you even though I could only talk to each of you for about 5 minutes! Why is our family so big?!
 
Well, this week was great! Besides talking to you, we taught a lot of people and found a family of 11 kids!!!  We hope to start teaching them this week. The dad is less active but we haven't been able to talk to him yet.  We are teaching the 3 older kids English and hope that we can start teaching them about the wonderful gospel that will bless their lives!!!
 
Yesterday was a really hard day for my companion and I.  Our investigator Orlando, the one I talked to you about on Christmas told us that he doesn't want to continue learning from us. The story is really long and so I will just tell it to you in the letter I am writing to you. After he told us why he doesn't want to continue, we just bore our testimonies to him that we know that this Church is true. I told him to never forget the spirit that he has felt and to never deny the things that he has learned.  He said that maybe in the future he will start learning again, but right now this isn't for him.  It broke my heart because I know that this gospel will help him.  I know he knows it too, but I know that Satan is trying to get to him with doubt and scare him.
  
One of the things that I have learned this past couple of weeks is the power that satan has.  He is fully engaged in going against this work.  This morning I was reading in the May 2012 conference Ensign and read a talk by Elder Adrian Ochoa.  He said that the best weapon against the enemy (satan) is to actively promote righteousness.  As we stand up boldly for what we know to be true, the Lord will give us power over the enemy. We are part of the Lords Army.
  
Each person we share the Gospel too has the choice to accept it or not.  If they don't accept it, I know that one day the missionaries will knock on their door again, or look in the area book and will share the gospel with them again.  Everyone has their time and everyone will have a second chance. It's hard when people say no, especially when you know they know.  However, I am grateful that we have this great plan of salvation that gives everyone another chance.  Heavenly Father wants all of us to return to him!
  
Last night, as I was laying in bed I was looking at the pictures I have of you family on the wall and I was filled with so much gratitude that I belong to a wonderful family! Thank you for being my family and for staying strong in the gospel!!
 
I am learning so much! My favorite part of the day is my study time!  My challenge is for each of you to study at least 10 minutes each day... read a chapter in the Book of Mormon, read an Ensign article, read a conference talk -- it will bless your life and change your whole day!!!
 
Well, I hope you have a great day!
¡¡¡FELIZ AÑO NUEVO!!!

With Hermana Pinnock at the mission Christmas dinner.

Christmas dinner with the Martinez family.

With Hermana Hadley and Elder Bagley... the missionaries from Kaysville!!! Two darts and one lancer...

Just got back from the day... soaking wet!!!

With Hermana Pinnock in Christmas spirit!! Red and green!

Monday, December 23, 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE HEAT OF ARGENTINA!!!

Dear Family!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

With Hermanas Marin, Hadley, and Pinnock
This was a busy week.  We were here and there, meeting new people and teaching all around.  Its been kinda hard though because of the heat.  We have study time and then lunch, and then 4 hours of silence as we walk around the city in the heat during siesta.  People start to appear around 5 or 6 in the afternoon after the heat dies down.  Its fun though.  We are trying to be creative during the siesta time by visiting less active members or part member families.  It doesn't feel that much like Christmas since its so hot here! This last week it was about 38-46 degrees Celsius.... One day it was 50!!  I am definitely getting a nice tan line! You are so lucky to have snow and cold weather! I much prefer the cold weather!  It did rain a lot yesterday! After 2 weeks of heat, heat and heat, last night we had a thunderstorm and we danced in the rain! Probably not that safe, but it was sure fun!!

This week we had the Mission Christmas party! It was a lot of fun. We sang songs at a disabled person home and then sang songs in the plaza in Bahia Blanca! There were about 100 missionaries singing.  Members who came to watch said that you could hear the choir blocks away and that the spirit was there! The T.V channel came too. It was a great missionary opportunity. Also, we had a wonderful dinner and then a talent show.  Yes, I did a talent with Hermana Pinnock! We danced.  However, after not dancing for about a year my body was hurting afterwards... It is still hurting and its been 4 days!  But it was a lot of fun!  

We had a fantastic experience this week!  We were teaching one of our investigators about faith.  We told him that he didn't have to know everything about the gospel to be baptized but what was important was that he needed to feel and know that it was true.  He said that he knew it was true but that he wanted to know it all before he made any decision. The lesson was definitely guided by the Spirit. I don't remember what we talked about but I felt the Spirit teaching him.  Hermana Pinnock asked him if he would accept to be baptized.  He said no, but then looked down at his scriptures for about 2 minutes in silence.  He then looked up at us and asked, "do you really think I can be baptized in 3 weeks?" This was a miracle.  The Spirit was very strong in the room.  We weren't teaching that lesson... it was the Spirit who was teaching and helping this investigator to feel the love of the Savior in his heart.  I know that the Lord is preparing people.  As we work with the Spirit it can help touch the hearts of others and help them know that the Gospel is true.  This was our miracle of the week!

Why are we commanded to love everyone? The first commandment is love god and the the second commandment is love others. why?  
 
In John 4:8 it says that God sent his son into the world, that we might live though Him.   So, if God loves us, we ought also love one another.
 
In Luke 2 it says that Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes and was laid in a manger.  Many think that that Jesus was just a baby. But he was more than that. What was lying in the manger was the Jehovah of the old testament, the God that parted the red sea, the God that created the world, the son of our Heavenly Father.  After all that, he came down and was born in a stable.  Jesus loved us so much that he came to earth so that we may live again through him.  

I am so excited to talk to you in 2 days!! I can only talk for an hour though, but that is okay!  I can't wait to see you face to face and talk with you!!!  

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

TE QUIERO!!!

Monday, December 16, 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

Dear Family,

Yesterday at the concert
Well, this week was fun!!!!  We had a Christmas concert last night and it turned out very well!! I was so happy and excited to be a part of this concert and to sing with other missionaries from two other zones.  There were four wonderful choirs that also sang.  It was a wonderful missionary opportunity and the spirit was really felt in the chapel as the choirs sang.  Sad part of the week, none of our investigators came to church... but we will continue trying and working with them!!!

Well, I get to talk with you next week!!! It is so exciting! I will be skyping from a member's home on the 25th.  She said we can come by in the morning, around 10 or 11 am our time. Her name is Hermana Chaura. I don't know what her Skype name is but I will have her email it to you this week. She has two sons on their missions! She is so great to us sister missionaries!!! What time is better for you to skype? When is Pablo skyping?  Also, the packages wont get here for a couple of weeks because the mail system is on strike here. They just stoped striking this week but they might do it again next week. Either way, the packages will get here sooner or later. :)  Thanks for sending me the packages!!!  Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY PABLO!!!!!!!!!

I love this season of Christmas.  As I ponder on what the meaning of Christmas is, I am filled with hope and with love for our Savior Jesus Christ. As we celebrate this wonderful season I am reminded of that night in Bethlehem long ago when the Angel appeared and proclaimed the tidings of great joy to the shepherds that Jesus  our Savior was born in the city of David.  What would it have been like at that moment to hear that the Savior of the world had been born? And at the same time in the Americas the sign was given of the birth that there would be night but the night would be as day.  I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior.  I know that because of him we may live again.  Through Jesus Christ we can be given release of any burden of guilt, sickness, pain and sin.  Through him, we may be given peace and love as we continue on through the trials along the path. Through his atonement and sacrifice we are given the gift of repentance and resurrection, the gift of everlasting life.  He knows who we are and is there every step of the way. It is his purpose to help each and everyone of us to return to live with our heavenly Father again and to experience joy and growth here on earth.  I know that he loves us and because of this perfect love he gave us the most precious gift of hope. Everyone needs this message of Jesus Christ because it is only through Him that we may live again.
I love you all so very much.  I hope that you can think about the wonderful gift of the atonement as we approach Christmas.  I promise you that as you continue to share this wonderful message of Jesus to the world you will find peace and feel more love this Christmas season.  This truly is the most precious gift we can give to our friends and family, the message that our Savior lives and that we can have peace.  Jesus truly is the Prince of Peace (2 Nephi 19:6)

I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!!!!

Hermana Susana Zubeldia
With Hermana Fries. Brooke Nelson taught her during her mission!

Monday, December 9, 2013

A slow but kinda fast week

Dear Family,

Sorry that this letter is going to be short. I don't have that much time this week to write but I will type really fast!!

1. Christmas concert!! We are having a Christmas concert this week. There is an "encuentro de coros" of several choirs in Bahia Blanca. The church is hosting it at the stake center. A few of us missionaries where chosen to sing in a special missionary musical number. It is going to be next Sunday! I am really excited to sing!! We have made some great arrangements of hymns! Also, in two weeks three zones are getting together to sing in the main plaza of Bahia Blanca. We will be singing for an hour! You can look it up on the news probably...it will be on the 20th!

2. It has been a hard week but we are still going. Thank you Papi for your words of encouragement. I know that in the future those we meet will eventually join the church. I may not see it now, but that is okay because I know that seeds planted will one day be harvested by other missionaries. The people we are teaching know are products of other missionaries planting seeds 5 to 10 years ago.

3. Guess who Hermana Marin's new companion is!? Her name is Hermana Nicky Hadley and she is from the 20th ward in our stake! We went to junior high together. She is great! She was waiting for her visa for almost 7 months!

4. About Christmas. I think that we get to Skype you. I am not sure if we will have access to Skype or a phone. I will find out and tell you next week. I know though that we get about an hour, maybe a little more :) to talk to you!! I am so so excited!!!

5. SNOW!!! How I wish I could have snow right now. I am dying of heat and humidity!!! It's ridiculous!! I don't like the heat at all. Its great that the nights are cooler and more people are out.

6. I am glad that Ethan is doing better. We are praying for him.

Love.

Hermana Zubeldia

Monday, December 2, 2013

Another transfer in Villa Mitre

Dear Family!!!

Hermana Pinnock, Hermana Silva, and I
Another transfer down!!! I am now on Transfer 4!! In just about a year I will be coming home! The time is flying by so fast.  I am staying here in Villa Mitre I with Hermana Pinnock. I am so excited to get to work here for another 6 weeks! There is so much work to be done and so many people to find and teach.
 
We are still teaching Orlando and Santiago. They are doing great and progressing. Orlando came to church for the first time yesterday and he loved it!

This week was really hard. We didn't teach much and we didn't find any new investigators. It was really hard because it was hot and the sun was shinning. We worked hard each day and when we got home we were so exhausted. Even though we didn't see much success we know we did our best each day and we fell asleep content that we had worked our hardest.
Villa Mitre weather, with a beautiful thunderstorm.

This week I have learned a lot about faith and about being humble.  As we humbly submit to the will of the Lord he will help us through our trials and help mold us. 

I had an incredible experience this week concerning faith in the Lord.  We have an investigator who, after teaching him about the Law of chastity, took the step in the dark with faith and decided to stop living with his girlfriend.  He has such desire to get baptized and has committed himself to get baptized on the 21 of this month! We are really excited for him because he really wants to change and wants to live the gospel.  Seeing his example of faith really taught me the value of living the commandments, with the faith that one day you will see the blessings of your obedience.

Obedience to the commandments really does bring blessings.  Just like Nephi said, the Lord really does provide a way for us to live and complete his commandments.  I know that because I am seeing it in the lives of those we teach.  I am so excited for this next transfer to come! We really want to work hard by using the Christmas spirit! This is going to be such a great next 6 weeks!!

Funny time of the week: making Thanksgiving turkeys...making a Christmas photo for you guys! I am not going to send it yet, but it will come in the mail to you just in time for Christmas!
I am so glad you had a great time in Arizona for thanksgiving!   Even though I am not there with you I know you still had a good time. Sorry Papi that you had to drive the whole way down though...you should have had Sarah or Mami help. haha :)

Just like Pablo asked, I too want to ask: what are you going to give to Jesus this year? Remember that the best gift that we can give to people is the happiness they can find in the gospel.  My companion tells everyone that the message we give them is the best present in the world.  It truly is! I hope you remember the blessings you have.  Share your blessings with the world! As we work in the field together we will bring our friends and family closer to Christ. And when we are in front of him in the last day we will be in front of him together!

Have a fantastic week! Keep reading the Book of Mormon and keep praying to have the opportunity to share the Gospel with someone. Remember the promise given in General Conference about bringing someone before Christmas.
Love
Hermana Zubeldia

PS: Here are a few pictures
Me with Hermanas Rozsa, Marin and Pinnock. Hermana Rozsa is going to another area.


Shelling walnuts, by hand, with a member of our ward.
The missionaries in my zone. The sisters from three adjacent zones.


Monday, November 25, 2013

5 months! actually 6 since i entered the mtc later...

Dear Family,

This was a great week! I went on splits with Hermana Rosza and it was great to go to her area and see that Argentina is more than Villa Mitre I.  Her area is just on the other side of the highway and its so different than my area.  We went on splits because our companions weren't feeling well.  I had a great time because I learned so much by the way that Hermana Rosza teaches.
 
The work is going great.  We are teaching a man named Santiago (I told you about him last week). He loves the Book of Mormon and loves the things that we have been teaching him.  He really feels the peace in the church and has so much desire to be baptized.  We need to work with his girlfriend though and start teaching her.
 
As missionaries our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by having faith in Jesus Christ, in repenting, in being baptized by someone with the proper authority, by receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.  With this in mind, it is also my purpose and vision to help bring this people to the temple so that they can be sealed as eternal families.
 
We are also teaching a man named Orlando.  He is reading the Book of Mormon and has really changed his approach to the Mormons from the first time we met him. We had a fantastic lesson this week with him and his parents.  After our lesson, Hermana Rosza and I felt like we should end with a song.  Music is a powerful tool and way to feel the spirit.  I love singing in our lessons because we can leave their home with a beautiful and strong spirit.
 
We are working really hard right now in finding people to teach.  We have come up with some fun ideas to talk to more people and help people come to church.  We need to contact people better as well.  We want to contact in a way that the people feel the Spirit and feel how this message of the gospel can really change their lives in the five minutes we have to contact them.  The gospel is really real and as people see how our message really applies to them they will feel the Spirit testifying to them.  This is our goal this week! Please pray for us that we may find those who are ready, specially a family. 
 
This week has been really humid and hot! I felt like I was going to die with the heat.  However, after 4 days of heat and humidity, the weather changed and now is cooled down a bit.  I had to actually use a sweater last night because it was kinda cold.
 
HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!! I hope you have a fantastic week in Arizona!! You are going to have so much fun!  Can you believe how fast the time has flown!? I have been on my mission 5 months already!! Only one more year left! the time is going by faster than I could ever have believed.  Everyone said that it did but I didn't believe it!  Not only that, but Pablo (aka Elder Zubeldia) has been out for almost 7 months!

Well, yo quiero compartir mi testimonio.  Yo se que ésta iglesia es verdadera.  Se que José Smith realmente vió a nuestro padre celestial y a Jesucristo esa mañana.  Se que nuestro Salvador vive y que El está allí para nosotros.  Se que el arrepentimiento es real y que si tenemos fe en Cristo todo es posible y podemos cambiar.  Este evangelio es un evangelio que nos ayuda a mejorar, cambiar y progresar.  Me encanta la obra y se que si oramos nuestro padre celestial va a contestar nuestras oraciones.  Tal como José Smith, nosotros también podemos tener respuestas a nuestras oraciones. 

Gracias familia por sus oraciones y por sus cartas y por su amor!! Les Quiero muchismo!!!

Con amor,

Hermana Susana Zubeldia

Monday, November 18, 2013

Castellano de Argentina...

Dear Family,

Thanks for the wonderful update.  This has been a great week for us! We have seen many miracles and have been blessed so much by the Lord.  We are teaching a man named Santiago and he has been prepared his whole life for the gospel.  Last Sunday, Hermana Pinnock and I didn't know where to go or what to do. It was 6 in the afternoon and no one was out in the streets. All of our plans had failed and so we decided to just contact in the streets.  We were in an area we hadn't planned to be in.  As we walked, this man, Santiago, stopped us and asked if we had a "folleto" (pamphlet) for him. After talking for 15 minutes he asked if we could meet with him in the church that week.  We were so excited!  After meeting with him twice this week at the church he came to church on Sunday and he loved it! He told us that he wants to get baptized and so we set a date for the 21 of December.  We also found out that his "pareja's" daughter is a less active member. This man studied 3 years to be a catholic priest but left the catholic church. He has attended many different churches and said that out of all the churches he has been to, only the Mormon Church has all the truth. I am so happy for him that he has found the Church of Jesus Christ and that we were placed in his path that Sunday afternoon. 

The Spanish is improving each day. Little by little I am learning and people are understanding me better.  I am picking up the "Castellano" accent because otherwise they don't understand me. Heavenly Father really is helping me to learn Spanish really fast. Sometimes its easier for me to speak in Spanish than in English with my companion.  
 
Congratulations Daniel on the indexing! You are an inspiration!!!
Levi, I am so glad that you have had a great week! Remember to keep up the good work.
Carlos, remember to wear your uniform each day to school. haha.
Sofia and Soraya, I am so proud of you for organizing your closet and your room! 
Pablo, I am praying for your and your investigators. remember why you choose to serve a mission.
Sarah, have fun with school, homework, dating and visiting the family when ever you want!!! I love you!
Mami, I hope you are feeling better! The best medicine is to smile and to serve someone.
Papi, good luck substituting this week in school!

Have a great time in Arizona for Thanksgiving!!!

Well, I hope you have a great week. Thank you for your prayers and for your love and for your letters. I am so grateful to be on the Lord's work here in Argentina.  I love this country, the people and of course their food.


Hermana Susana Zubeldia


View from the street in front of our apartment, last night, with a full moon.

With my companion, Hermana Pinnock
Talking with a recent convert while my companion is trying to entertain their 4 year old daughter. The 4 year old took this picture of us :-)

Monday, November 11, 2013

Another fun week in Argentina...

Dear Familia,

This has been an interesting and fun week. I have learned a lot about myself and about the importance of having unity in a companionship.

1. The packages came!! Thank you so much family for the wonderful letters, the candy, the chocolate chips, the peanut butter and the stickers!! My companions were so excited, especially for the peanut butter!  We opened the organic peanut butter and its probably going to be gone in the next two weeks. Also, thanks for the testimonies Sofia.  I have carried your testimony with me this week and have used it in a couple of my lessons to explain the simple power of the atonement and of repentance.  As I read your testimony the spirit filled the room and touched the hearts of those we were teaching.  I am going to continue sharing it with everyone. Also, the music you sent was great! We have been listening to it all week!

2. Maria accepted a baptismal date!! Maria is Graciella's (our recent convert) mom.  She has a strong desire to be baptized to change her life around.  She has seen the happiness in Graciella's life and wants to be happy again.  She didn't come to church this week but we are still meeting with her this week.  Church yesterday was really good. We had an investigator come unexpectedly.  He is in his 80s and he talked throughout the sacrament meeting.  I think he thought he was whispering but his voice was really loud.  My companion and I were sitting on the other side of the room and when he started talking we looked at each other, then looked at our bishop who was looking at us with a smile.  It was really funny. We moved over to sit by him and he stopped talking.  It was the Primary program this Sunday. I loved the simple testimonies of the children and how much they love the gospel. Jesus said, be as the little children.  It is true. They have simple but true and pure testimonies of the gospel.


3. We had Zone conference this week. I loved it!! The assistants asked my companion and I to bring an investigator to the conference so that we could practice teaching the lessons with them to help us ask good questions and to help us improve our teaching skills.  After teaching, the assistants asked the investigators what they had learned. For example, why is church attendance important? What role did Joseph Smith have in the restoration?.  It was really helpful.  We brought Graciella and her mom. The spirit was very strong as the missionaries taught them. Graciella and Maria both had tears in their eyes.  One of the elders right before the meeting brought in a street contact he had just made and they taught her the importance of church attendance. It didn't get any more real. The thing I learned the most in the Zone Conference was that practice is essential in missionary work and that learning to be a missionary is a life long process.  As we have the faith and reach out to others and share the gospel our abilities get stronger and our testimony grows. They will feel our testimony and know that what we are saying is true. Always share your testimony with everyone. You never know who is being prepared by the Lord.

Playing by candlelight The light is from the flash. I could barely see the keyboard.

4. I played the accordion! We were walking home one night and a lady who lives by us invited us in to hear her play music. We walked into her house and she brought out her accordion! She played the Jota, Spanish music, French music and music she had composed herself. She is 79 years old and taught herself. She also played the castañuelas for us! And it was all done by candle light!

5. I learned this week the power of Prayer.  We were having a rough day and didn't know what we needed to do to help our area move forward.  I sat on my bed and talked with Hermana Pinnock.  We didn't know what we were doing wrong or what we needed to do better. There is an Ensign article that I read that said that it might not be what we are doing wrong but what we aren't doing right.  My companion and I decided to turn to the Lord in prayer and ask for help.  The only thought that was going through my mind during the prayer was the song, "I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord." I know that as we keep going and do what the Lord wants us to do He will bless our work and one day we will see the fruit of our labor, in this life or in the next.  Just like Abinadi, he bore his testimony and never saw anyone baptized. Little did he know that his testimony touched the heart of Alma.  After the death of Abinadi, Alma had a change of heart and latter baptized thousands of people. As we put our faith in the Lord, pray for help, and go where he wants us to go we will be blessed. 

I am so glad you had a fantastic week! I have learned a lot this week and had a great time doing the Lords work! Daniel, I am glad you had a great Rhapsody performance. Levi, I hope it was fun seeing Mami and Papi at your Reality Town activy for school! I remember when I did Reality Town. Sofia and Carlos congratulations on your piano performance!! Sarah, I hope you are having a great time at BYU!! Mami, I hope you are feeling better and that today is a bright day! Papi, good luck substituting this week at school! Pablo, I love you! Katie, I hope you get all your art projects done this week!

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!

Hermana Susana Zubeldia

Monday, November 4, 2013

Week ?? I don't know what week this is.

Dear Family,
  
I am doing great. This week was a kinda slow week for teaching lessons but we did contact a lot of people and talked with many on the streets.  My companion is doing great as well.  She is learning Spanish and is hard on herself but she is doing great and has progressed a lot. She has helped me a lot especially with enjoying the mission.  She is always smiling and even though she doesn't understand a lot of what is being said she always just bears her testimony and the Spirit is brought to the lesson.  I love it!!
 
Hermanas Pinnock, me, Tokailagi, and Hawkins
Companions are a blessing.  They are always there for you, they help you when you are stuck, when you don't know what to do, they teach you, they have spiritual insights and they help you push on, stretch and grow.  I am blessed to be companions with Hermana Pinnock.
 
Funny thing that happened this week with Hermana Pinnock.  Because she is still learning Spanish she says the funniest things. One night we were having a lesson with a less active couple. She opened up the scriptures randomly and started reading what ever was marked on the page. She read 2 Nephi 9:28.  It was really funny. She started reading and I looked at her like, what? the less actives looked at me and I just smiled. She had no idea what she was reading until later that night when I told her. Haha, she is the greatest!! She just said: You think I can read Spanish, ¿no? I have no idea what I am reading!!!

Contacting on the streets
The weather is warming up here. I am getting a nice tan line on my feet and also on my neck. I am wearing sunscreen but even then, I get burned a bit.  After this summer ends I am going to be pretty tan!  

Just like Pablo said, we also see miracles here.  Everyday miracles happen in one way or another. Heavenly Father is really preparing people and puts them in your path.  And its up to us to open our mouths and talk to them.

This last week as we were walking we said "hi" to a woman. She stopped us, kissed us on the cheek and said Hi Hermanas.  I was surprised for a moment, I didn't know if she was a member, a less active or an old investigator.  She told us that her daughter was baptized Mormon 4 years ago but that she was know less active. She told us that she wanted to us come by her home to teach her and her daughter again. She said she loved the church and went to her daughters baptism. It was a day where we didn't teach any lessons, all of our plans failed and no one wanted to talk to us. Hermana Pinnock suggested that we pray and ask where we needed to be at that moment.  After the prayer we felt prompted to keep going the way we had planned.  We decided to talk to everyone on the path.  With faith we talked with all, knocked on doors and knew that there was someone who we needed to find. I know that heavenly Father will provide as we put our faith in him.

I love you all so much! Thanks for your emails and your prayers and love!!
 
Hermana Zubeldia
 
PS: Week ?? I don't know what week this is. I know that I have only 13 months left! The time flies by fast.
PPS: Here are some more pictures.
 
Zone service project. this is my district and some members. For the project we worked with the municipalidad and cleaned up some neighborhoods.
After contacting a family they gave us roses from their garden. I really like this picture of me and my companion.
Not everything is work, work, work. We can be goofy too!
 
Hermanas Silva, Janampa, me, Marín, Rozsa y Rojas.
 

Monday, October 28, 2013

Another transfer in Villa Mitre I

Dear Family!!
I am still in Villa Mitre I and guess what?? I´m Training!!! My new companions name is Hermana Pinnock and she is from Salt Lake City. Im not really training her but showing her how the work is done here in Argentina and helping her with her Spanish.  She was in the MTC with me but was in Arizona waiting for her visa! She is the third of four kids and her brother is serving his mission in Milan Italy. Because I am left in the area its going to force me to really work hard and stretch myself. Just like Katie said: "To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain."
  
I am excited to learn a lot from this new transfer and excited to start new and find those who are ready for the gospel.  Because I am still new and Hermana Pinnock is new, we are going into this area kind of blind.  Hermana Pinnock and I are ready for miracles to happen this transfer as we put our all into the work.

Hermanas Pinnock, me, Tokailagi, and Hawkins

Right now I am reading in Alma. In Alma 43 Moroni and the Lamanites are preparing for battle. I really liked this chapter because it shows us how Satan tries to attack us and shows us how we can prepare ourselves from the attacks of Satan.  Moroni in these chapters is fortifying the cities with arms and weapons.  As the Lamanite armies were attacking they went to attack the weakest city. However, they were surprised to see that Moroni had fortified the weakest points of the Nephite lands.  Just like the Lamanites, Satan knows our weakest points, he knows our secrets, he knows where to attack to make the most damage.  However, as we trust in the Lord and work each day to strengthen ourselves we will be protected from being attacked from Satan's temptations.  As we read the scriptures daily, pray fervently, count our blessings and head the words of the prophets we will strengthen ourselves. 

Question for the week: How have you been blessed by keeping (the law of the fast, Word of Wisdom, tithing, keeping the Sabbath day holy, or Living the law of Chastity?) I ask this because in one of the Preach my gospel acitivies it asks us to ask our family.
We are still working with Blanca. We taught her about the Law of Chastity and showed he the blessings that come from a gospel centered home and marriage. We had a member with us who knows Blanca who also served her mission. She was a great help! Blanca is really progressing and is wanting to live the gospel. We now need to teach her with her husband.  We have lost contact with Margarita.  We are still going to keep trying to find her because she really wants to change her life as well.

I am so glad that you guys are doing great! Keep up the good work in school, in sanding the swing set and painting it! I am so glad you had a fun time at the halloween party!!! Send me some picutres next week!!  Have a fantastic week!!!

I love you so much!!!!

Monday, October 21, 2013

Still in Villa Mitre...and loving it!!!

¡¡¡Hola familia!!!

Well, another week down and another transfer down. We have transfers this week! This transfer was 7 weeks long instead of 6 because the Mission President was gone a week for a mission conference.  I find out tomorrow if I am staying here or if I am being transferred.  Also 40 new missionaries are coming this week fresh from the United States! Its really exciting.  A new zone was opened! The mission is expanding, and not just in this mission, but in all the missions in the world! The work is expanding and the vision of the prophet Daniel is now being accomplished!
 
 Well, this week has been great! We found a couple of new people and are working more with the ward members.  We are still teaching Margarita.  We have taught 2 lessons with her. On Monday we were teaching her about the restoration and were about to invite her to be baptized when guess who showed up?? Her two friends who are "pastores". It definitely was fun! We answered their questions about Joseph Smith and then ended with a hymn. I felt the spirit very strongly in that lesson and I know that they did too.
  
Yes Papi, I would love to get a copy of our ward mission plan to see what it is like. You said that the ward has a plan, but why haven't I ever seen it before? The ward needs to give the plan to each household so that they have a constant reminder of the plan and the part they play in it. Just a suggestion :)  And yes, each apartment in the mission has a DVD player to watch the District movies and also to play music. Hey, take a look at what I found in the phone book!

 
Pablo, are you training??
 
Sarah, email me!! Good luck with your school work and have fun on your dates! Mami told me that you gave the Sunday School lesson this last Sunday. I bet it went amazing!
  
Daniel, good luck on your performance tomorrow! You are going to do a great job. You have a great voice and I hope you keep practicing. When are the try outs for the school play?
  
Levi, keep up the good work with your violin!!! I wish I could have learned to play the violin. Just like Daniel, you have a talent for the violin. Keep up the good work in school. I promise that as you read the Book of Mormon before you do your homework and pray for the Spirit to help you that you will have an easier time doing your homework.
 
Carlos, I love you and I hope that you always remember that you can do anything that you put your mind to.
 
Sofia, keep writing in your journal. You are a great example of a missionary and your example will help other people.
 
Soraya I love you! You will always be my baby!! You are potty trained!!! Congratulations!!!

Family, I love you all so much. Sorry that my emails aren't as spiritual as Pablo's. I am going to try harder next week to write on a more spiritual tone.

Hermana Zubeldia
 
 

Monday, October 14, 2013

Week after General conference

Dear Family,

I am so glad to hear that you guys are doing great! This week was really good. We worked really hard each and everyday. My favorite feeling of the day is when we return back to our apartment and my body is physically exhausted.  It is at this moment that I realize how much I worked that day and I feel like I did my best for the Lord.  I know that even if we didn't teach as many lessons as we had planned, or that even if all of our plans fall through that, if I work my best, the Lord will be pleased with what I did, because it was my best. 

Miracles happen each day. I promise that as you pray as a family you will see miracles and you will find someone to teach.  I promise you this because it happens to us each and everyday.  I told Sofia that if she wrote down each day one miracle that she saw in her journal she will see the hand of the lord in her daily activities. This week, as we were knocking doors we met a woman.  After talking a bit she let us in.  After talking about prayer and about the plan of salvation we invited her to come to church, and she said yes! She had taken the discussions 20 years ago and was about to be baptized but couldn't because she was living with her boyfriend and wasn't married. She was the miracle of the week! We are also still teaching Graciela's mom.  Graciela bore the most amazing testimony about the Book of Mormon yesterday.  She is truly becoming converted to the gospel as she studies the Book of Mormon each day.  Tears filled my eyes as I listened to her bear her testimony about how the Book of Mormon has changed her life.  She told me that she sees her little son one day being a missionary too. Its remarkable to see the change in the lives of people when they have the gospel. This work is truly amazing! I am so grateful to be part of the Lord's army in this time-to proclaim the gospel to the world alongside Pablo.  To think that you guys are also in the work make me so happy!

Good luck papi at school! I can't believe you are going to be teaching for a couple of weeks at the school! How fun!!

And the funny event of the week...We were walking down the street and saw two girls knocking doors and talking to people.  The first thought in my mind was... oh no, the Jehovah Witnesses again.  Many people don´t talk to us because they think we are Jehovah Witnesses.  Well, as we kept walking I recognized them and realized that they were sister missionaries! Even I, a missionary confused sister missionaries for Jehovah Witnesses!!

Brother Martinez is our Ward Mission Leader
Yes papi, we are working with the ward.  Yesterday our ward mission leader presented the ward mission plan in the ward coordination meeting! I am so happy that the ward now has a ward mission plan! Does Kaysville 3rd ward have one? I bet they do. I didn't even know what a ward mission plan was until the mission.
 
Lunch with the Familia Martinez yesterday
Also, we are eating well. the members feed us each day. and when they don't my companion cooks amazing meals (she is a chef by profession!!!) and also Hermana Marin cooks great!  

I love you so much! Thank you for your prayers and your emails!

Hermana Zubeldia

Monday, October 7, 2013

Update from the Oakland Mission

Hermana Cooper,

Happy birthday Hermana Cooper!! I hope you have a great day tomorrow as you celebrate your special day! How are you doing? What area are you in know? Where is Hermana McLaws?

Questions...did Nelson ever get baptized? Did Lexi? How is Kristin doing?

Have a fantastic day Hermana!!! May tomorrow be a great birthday!!

Hermana Zubeldia
--------------------------------------------------
Hermana Zubeldia,
 
Nelson and Lexi both got baptized. Hermana McLaws is in San Francisco!
Kristin writes me letters...
 
Hope you have a good birthday too! LOVE YOU! BAPTIZE EVERYONE!
Hermana Cooper
--------------------------------------------------
Hermana Cooper,

That makes me so happy to hear that they both got baptized!!!! I have been waiting to hear the news!! Can you send me pictures of their baptisms?? I want to send them to my family!!
She is finally in San Francisco!! Her dream came true! Where are you??

Is Kristin still getting the discussions? What is her address so I can write her.

Thanks!!!
Hermana Zubeldia
--------------------------------------------------
Hermana Zubeldia,
 
I'm still in Brentwood. :) I don't know. I don't have Kristin's address but if you want to write her a letter I can get it to her.
 
Here are pictures of them.
Hermana Cooper
 

 

General Conference and my Birthday

Dear Family,

Thank you so much! I had a fantastic birthday!! And what made it even better was watching general conference! I am now 21 years old! It is weird to say that. Yesterday, someone asked me how old I was and without thinking I said I was 20. haha
  
Hermanas Zubeldia, Silva, Marin and Rozsa
My birthday was great! I woke up to the sisters in my apartment singing happy birthday with balloons all around me and a cake with a sparkler in it. It was very sweet (both them and the cake).  And then around 11 the elders in the zone called me and sang happy birthday in English to me.  Later, Hermana Parreño, right after conference ended, had the elders who were still at the church sing to me again. My companion said that my face was all red.
  
I love having my birthday during General conference weekend.  It was especially wonderful this time because I watched it from the point of view of a missionary.  The conference talks were all really good.  Elder Ballard's and Elder Holland's talks were really good.  There was a lot of focus on member missionary work and also on preparing our testimonies each day.
The conference was particularly based on maintaining our relationship with the Lord and on how the time has  come to share the gospel with everyone. Right after the last conference session ended our zone leader told us that he had set up an appointment for us at 7 (he told us at 6:55).  The women lived right up the street from the church. Her name is Susana and she accepted to be baptized on November 9!  She had already had the Book of Mormon in her home and she said that she is going to start reading it.  
 
I was thinking of a FHE idea for you guys to do... I would love it if you would all send me your testimonies so that I can glue them into the Books of Mormon we pass out. If you could each do one I could pass out 10 Books of Mormon with testimonies.  You could also do this for Pablo. He would appreciate it just as much as I would!!

  
With my companion, Hermana Silva Hermanas Silva, Marin, Rosza and me
  

I want each of you to know how proud I am that you are reading the Book of Mormon together as a family and separately. It will really bless your life and make a big difference as you study the Book of Mormon, both as a family and individually.  This morning I focused my study on Humility.  I was reading in Alma where Ammon was teaching Limhi and the Lamanties.  Alma was humble and taught with the spirit.  When asked if he was god, Alma said that he was just a man and that he is only teaching the word of god.  The Savior is the perfect example of humility. Read 2 Nephi 9:28-29 and Mosiah 4:11-12.  As we accept the Lord's will with humility, he will help us accomplish the work he has given us to do.
  
Concerning missionary work, I want each of you to really take the commitment given in conference to heart, to invite one person to hear the message of the gospel between now and Christmas. I promise you that as you pray to know who to invite, miracles will happen.  This is the Lord's work, he is more invested in it than we are.  As we, with humility, allow him to work through us, we will see miracles and opportunities all around. 

None of our investigators ended up coming to conference.  They all said they would the morning of, but none of them showed up.  It was sad, but I have to remember that everyone has their agency to choose.  It was a beautiful spring weekend though.  The sun was up, the weather warm and the breeze fantastic. A lot different than the cold that you described! I can't believe that it already snowed! I am going to miss the snow! It's now getting really warm here. 

I am so glad you had a fantastic weekend with Wendy and Jonathan's family at our home.  This weekend was really busy for you all... Brooke's wedding! The funeral for Wendy's brother and general conference! I am glad to hear the primary program was a success! Also, good luck Daniel with your fall performance! you will do great! Levi, keep at it with school and have fun! Carlos, you are fantastic! thank you for your smile and I know that you can do anything if you put your mind to it! Sofía, keep doing your crafts and I know you are a great help to mami!! Soraya, I love you too! Sarah, you are reading the Book of Mormon again! great job! I'm still reading it for the the first time on my mission. Papi, if you keep doing a great job at substituting in school they are going to keep calling you....and Mami, I hope that you are feeling better. I also have had a little sore throat this week. honey and lemon really do work! Pablo, I love you so much! you are a great example to me!!
 
I love you all! I hope you have a fantastic week!!!! And the chocolate chips would be great, and peanut butter too if you want. haha

I love you!!!
Hermana Zubeldia

Monday, September 30, 2013

Its almost spring

Dear Family,

I will send the family history thing to you for the Seely book next week. I am going to write it today during lunch.  Thank you for the reminder last week. I didn't remember about it until this morning.

Also, yes papi, the mission president is trying to change how we work with the members. its going to take time, but with lots of patience and hard work the ward here will soon get to the point of working with the missionaries.  I am trying to work really hard with them and be positive about what the future will bring. 

This week:
 
1. I lost my name tag!! It was raining and it was dark and I realized I had lost my name tag.  I didn't know what to do.  We prayed and decided to retrace our steps to find the tag. Along the way we contacted.  After finding a few people and after retracing 10 blocks in the rain we found my tag in the middle of the road!!! It was a miracle. We then decided to contact one of the referrals we received from the Elders last week when they helped us.  This referral lived right by where we found my tag. Her name is Carolina. She was very interested and we are going to start teaching her.  Miracles always happen.  Maybe there was a reason why I lost my tag and why we went all the way back to teach Carolina.
 
2. Someone said that they were going to call the police on us if we knocked on his door again. :) I wish the best of luck for the sisters who are here next transfer when they knock on his door. 
 
3. We are going to start teaching a girl from León, Spain!! Isn't that cool!  She is married to a less active member of the church.  She wants to learn more about the church and is going to come to General Conference with her husband.  Its great to talk with someone with a Spanish accent again. I am having a hard time understanding the argentinian accent. 
 
4. I am learning so much about all the different religions here.  Here are a list of some of the different religions I have talked to: Catholic, Católico Apostólico Romano, Seventh Day Adventists,  Evangelistas (different branches on each street corner), Bautistas, Testigos de Jeováh, and Umbanda (never heard of this before...I don't know.)
 
5. The weather is raining and cold but we are staying warm!


I don't have much time to write this week because we got to the computers late.  I love you all!! I wrote you all letters and they should be coming soon in the mail!

Alma 8
The people of Ammoníha didn't listen to Alma and they kicked him out of the city.  Alma labored with much spirit and prayed a lot for help.  He sorrowed for the people  but an angel told him that because he was faithful he would be protected.  He was then commanded to go back to the city and cry repentance again.  The Lord gave him a companion (Amulek) and gave them the spirit and power to teach.  I love this story because even though the people say no, we aren't alone in this work. 
In Alma 34, Doctrine and Covenants 6 and Doctrine and Covenants 9.....We need to pray with real intent and have faith that we will get an answer.  Lust like Alma said, begin to exercise your faith...begin to call upon his holy name. To get an answer we need to BEGIN. 

This week, as you prepare for general conference pray and exercise your faith that you will receive answers to your questions. 

I love you all! Have a fantastic week!!
 
PS: Here is a picture with the two other sisters in our apartment,  Hermana Rosza, from Utah, and Hermana Marín from Chile.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Life in Villa Mitre I

Dear Family,

This week has been really cold and wet. Yesterday was the first day of Spring here and apparently it is supposed to be getting warmer but everyone is telling us that it is going to rain some more this week. I am keeping cold though so don't worry. The jacket that I brought has been a life saver.  I am going to have to buy boots though because I don't want my shoes to get ruined in the rain.

I learned a lot this week about the importance of having faith and not letting things get you down.
 
We have had a hard time this week finding people to teach.  It seems like everyone is too busy to listen and they don't see a need to be happier than they already are.  Well, after having a hard week a miracle happened yesterday.  Hermana Silva and I were walking to visit a referral we had received when the phone rang.  Our zone leader said that we needed to go to the church because they were waiting to meet with us.  We didn't know what he meant, but we walked the 6 blocks to the church. As we entered, I saw my entire district, all 6 other elders waiting for us.  My entire district had come to help me and my companion find people to teach.  For 3 hours we went contacting.  Yesterday, we found a total of like 30 people that we can teach this next week! The elders all came to help us find people to teach. I am so grateful for the missionaries here who help us.  We are all in the work together.  It was a blessing for me.  We found more people yesterday than we have the entire time I've been here. 

I also met a man who knows someone with the last name of Zubeldia here in Bahía Blanca.  He didn't remember where the man lived but he said there are a lot here. Its my goal to find them and teach them the gospel!!! You know what people say to pronounce my name?? They say, SUBE EL DÍA really fast. haha, I am the light that is bringing them gospel and raising their day!
 
The mail system here should be working now so I should be getting letters soon.  I don't know when the package will come though... I'll let you know when it does.  Also, dearelder.com works here.

Sarah, I am glad that you had a good time at the football game.  I didn't really enjoy the games because I find them boring. Its fun though to be with friends and spend Friday with them eating ice cream.  How was Brooke's bridal shower? I can't believe that she is getting married!! I am so happy for her.  Let me know how the wedding goes and please send pictures!! Too bad that Brooke won't have Pablo, Brittany and Me in the pictures, they would have been better if we were there. :)
 
Daniel, I am glad that you are becoming the big kid in the home.  Isn't it great to be the oldest?? You can boss people around and assign chores or delegate chores :)  What song are you singing in your recital this week? Good luck on it. I am so glad to hear that you are doing well in school and that you are enjoying being in Rhapsody.  Are you still doing indexing? Who won the contest?
 
Levi, I am glad to hear that you have Life in you. It would be really cool if you got your Eagle Scout before you were a teacher.  If you want to do that you need to start really working on it and being diligent.  Just like violin, you need to work on it often. How do you like your new violin teacher in our ward? She is really nice. Did you know that she also went to BYU Jerusalem? She also served a mission in Korea.  Before I left on my mission she went out with me and Aja to teach some families in our ward.  I will be praying for your muscle spasm pain. I am sorry to hear that your back is hurting. My feet are hurting too because we walk all day long.  Also, what do you do in the Nerd Club??
 
Carlos, that is great that you made friends with Zach's cousin! Now you can play with Zach and his cousin all together. I will also pray for your head that you will feel better soon. 
 
Sofia,You are a great missionary! You should take a Book of Mormon to school and give it to your teacher, I bet she would accept it and read it if you gave it to her.  I am also impressed that you are helping around in the home with Soraya and making breakfast. You remind me a lot of when I was a little girl.  Keep up the good work!! And you are playing "Teach me to walk in the light" from the big green hymn book?! That is incredible! Way to go! You will do great.  
 
Soraya, keep being cute! I love to hear all of the funny and witty comments that you make. I wish I could hear them in person, but I guess I will just have to imagine you saying them.  And yes, God's greatest creation is you (and also all the siblings)! You definitely should say that in the primary program!

Thank your for your letters! I love to re-read your letters throughout the week.  I think of you each day as I share the gospel.  Its amazing the difference the gospel makes in the home. Going from an investigator's home to a member's home is such a drastic change.  To feel the love and unity brings me comfort and joy and reminds me of how much I love you.

And don't worry. I am staying safe at all times. Don't worry about the robbers.  We aren't allowed to wear purses or bring bags with us, just in case.  All I carry around are my scriptures. The members are feeding us.  They make sure we have a meal with them everyday.

And like Pablo said, CONFERENCE IS COMING!! I am really excited! We are also inviting everyone to come and hear a prophet speak and feel for themselves the power of the prophets and how important it is to have a prophet hoy en dia :) 

I LOVE you SO MUCH!!!

Write to you next week

Hermana Zubeldia