Dogs, Danger and Christmas Carols

Que pasa familia?

It's good to hear that you made it back safely from Puerto Rico. I guess it's true that I'm the lucky one because I get to spend a year here in ARG, but it's not quite as glamorous or tropical here as it is over there in PR. It's definitely an awesome experience though! I can't believe you swam with a MANATEE- that's sweet! BTW, you guys look super in-shape, unlike your daughter who's eating nothing but carbs all day every day haha. That's cute that you attempted to chat with a little Puerto Rican boy! If you had brought me I could have translated for you guys.. Maybe next time.

Oh yeah, before I forget:  ¡FELIZ (casi) CUMPLEAÑOS, Tina! (Rustin) Have an awesome day on Thursday and watch some Walking Dead in my honor! I have a present for you, but you're going to have to wait like 2 and a half years to get it if you leave on your mission before I get back.

Che, you guys freaked me out with the picture of Jake, it was the first thing I saw when I opened the email! Haha but I've seen dogs in worse condition here, so it didn't tramautize me too badly- especially since he's doing fine now. What did traumatize me is the part of the letter Connor's letter that you sent me! What the?! And I thought it was sketchy here.. Well it is sketchy here (I'll tell you more when I get home), but not to that degree! Dang, it sounds like he's loving it though, and he's got an awesome guardian angel protecting him so he'll be just fine.

This week was a pretty great one as far as lessons go. Hna. Cheta and I recently have started using a lot more examples that relate to every-day life during the lessons, because the people respond so much better and understand so much more when we incorporate more things that they can relate to. It's not a new concept or anything, obviously, because Christ used a lot of parables and examples during His ministry to help the people understand His Gospel. It's been helping me improve my teaching a ton though to be able to use my creativity along with following the impressions of the Spirit to be able to think of more effective ways to explain basic principles. A lot of times as missionaries we teach just to teach, and we lose focus on really helping the people we're teaching to fully comprehend what we're teaching without getting bored or missing the point. It's been awesome.

We did get a little bit of bad news from 2 of our investigators who have been progressing the most- Grizelda and Ana Laura (mom and daughter). They're friends of a member who live alone in a house that had been rented to them by a lady, but that lady recently passed away and now her kids, who own the house, are trying to sell it. Grizelda and Ana Laura don't have the money to buy the house, so they're preparing to move to Paraguay to live with family. When we met them, they had no idea when they were going to have to leave the country and they were hoping to stay here at least another year, but just this week they found out that they have to move in the middle of September... It's super sad for us because they're progressing a ton and they already have testimonies and a baptismal date. Even though their life has been crazy for the past few weeks, they were finally able to find peace as we taught them about the Restoration and the Gospel, but now we're not sure what's going to happen.. Dang it.

Some other new investigators that we've found are Rocco and Concepción. We met them in their store when we went to buy ties for our ward mission leader's birthday, and they're the sweetest little old couple ever. The husband is a taylor and told us all about how he immigrated from Italy to Canada at age 17 to work, and then later moved here and met his wife, and opened up his own business. Yesterday we had a lesson with them and they're so great. The lesson was a little on the long side because they talk a ton- just like everyone else here- but it went well and we even sung them a few hymns and everything, and they're excited to go to sacrament meeting next sunday. There's others I could tell you about but I don't have a ton of time!

Just know that we're having success and finding people that have been prepared to hear the amazing message that we have the privelege of sharing with them. Nothing too eventful has happened other than that. We haven't been robbed, stabbed, or shot yet. We are starting to get nervous about the ominous transfers that are approaching.. Word on the street is that 20 new sisters are coming- DOUBLE than what it was last transfer, and there's only 28 sisters here right now (a lot of which are already training)... Ah la pucha (it's not a bad word at all here, don't worry). But yeah, transfers always drive us crazy, as you well know. We'll find out what's gonna happen this Sunday, so I'll let you know next Monday what my fate is! Enjoy your week, and don't work too hard! Read your scriptures, say your prayers, and stay close to the Spirit. I love you guys! Thanks for all the prayers and the emails.

<3,

Su loca hija, la Hna. Crawford

Hna Cheta and I in Lunlunta

Bienvenidos a la vida de una misionera en Mendoza, Argentina.. This pic is a pretty accurate depiction of what the mission does to you (physically and mentally, at least).

Hna Puebla drinking Mate and helping us clean the chapel

WARNING: Look away if you have a sensitive stomach or your name is Jenna Bush. Sorry, but I just had to illustrate to you guys how horrible the life of a homeless dog in Mendoza is. There's so many pregnant ones roaming the streets, and the people kill their puppies, as you can see in this picture.

Hna Ruiz & I decided to take a stroll in an asequia after all four of us ate lunch together at a member's house.. Like I said before, we're easily entertained..

One day my comp and I randomly decided to sing a Christmas hymn to the other hermanas in the morning when we started our comp study. We're so easily entertained and we thought we were so funny, that it's now become a tradition to carol to each other every morning.

The other hermanas went to Wal Mart (Wal Mart, not ChangoMas) this week and found peanut butter!! Unfortunately it's weird peanut butter that's 100% natural without any salt or sugar, so it's not the greatest, but it's better than nothing!

The other night we were finishing planning when we heard screams coming from the other hna's apt. Thinking that something serious had happened, we went over to see what was up. It turns out that this tiny little cockroach had broken in to their apt. and hna Ruiz was FREAKING OUT and refused to do anything until they found the intruder and killed him... drama queen. I have a video of it, but you'll have to wait 11 months to see it!