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!

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

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.

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

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 :-)

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

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.