Ewwwww!!!!

Hola, como andan? 

I'm glad you liked my letter last week, you're right that it was definitely one of the crazier ones. The Gilbert temple looks amazing, I can't believe I'm going to miss the dedication of the temple in my home town!! Ahhh. But it sounds like it's been insane trying to get everything ready! I hope it all turns out great and you can take that week long nap haha. I'll take one too when I get back! And mom, nice job handling crazy questions like that from your work friend about the church. Honestly I've never had any experiences with people that have questions like that. I think it's because the church isn't that well-known here and so there aren't as many rumors, or maybe they just don't care enough or don't want to ask us missionaries their questions. Luckily the Lord loves me enough to put me in a place where we don't necessarily get interrogated like that very much. I hope that the open house goes well though and they can feel the spirit inside the temple. I know what you mean though when you say that you desperately need the temple. Imagine not being able to go for almost a year! I hope you feel better though.

This week was cray but not as much as the last one. We didn't end up going to trapiche last monday, but we're planning on going next week! To explain what happened in the picture, we officially got PIOJOS aka LICE. Well technically the other hermanas (Hatch & Reyes) did but the nurse made the four of us stay home all day on Tuesday to do a shampoo treatment (as seen in the photos). and then we had to wash everything- by hand- too. The next day we were at a lesson with the crazy family that talks so much, and they fed us empanadas and soda that made me sick, and so we had to go home early because I felt like crap! The rest of the week was relatively drama free except for a few storms that freaked out the other hermanas and ripped out a ton of trees all over La Punta and down town in San Luis too. Luckily this Sunday was a lot less stressful and though our investigators didn't come to church, the less active family that we're working with did!! La familia Quiroga. We've been working with them for about a month. What helped them the most to get back to church was a family night that they had with a family in the branch from Buenos Aires who are awesome and they invited our eternal investigator's family too! I guess they talked about the book of mormon and now both families have started reading it again! It's the best when members help us out with the work.

Other than that there's not a bunch to tell. I'm doing great with my comp even though the area is kind of stressful at the moment. Time is flying by too- I can't believe I'm almost at my year mark..! So weird. I love you guys and hope you have a great week!

<3,

Hna Crawford

the sky looked crazy the other night 

best meal I've had in a while. They never eat beans here..I miss mexican food!

yep, it's real. and dead.

I'll explain: Thursday morning we're walking back to the pench from an appointment when I find this little guy on the side of the road. Knowing me you probs won't find it suprising that I picked it up and took it home-  obviously I couldn't pass up the opportunity to play a prank on the other hermanas who were out working still. As shown in the pic, I took la vibora and put it right outside the back door and tried to make it look like it was alive. When the hermanas got home a few minutes later I told them that their clothes that were hung up outside had fallen on the ground, and then my comp and I pulled out our cameras to record the reactions. Just as we'd hoped, they both screamed and freaked out, and I have it on video but you'll have to wait a few months to be able to see it (:

My poor Guadalupe has an extreme garrapata problema. (I found out that they're called garrapatas, not pulgas)

action shot

Lice treatments!!

sorry about the name.. it's in Spanish so it doesn't count!

an almost-23-year-old eating baby food. Gotta love her <3 

It's HOT in Argentina!

Hey guys, how's everything going up there in AZ? Is it freezing? It sounds like the Aussie's are taking over Gilbert! The puppy looks cuter than ever too, and so does Jarom. I miss that crazy little guy. I hope Olivia and her friends have fun playing lacrosse and they have a great first season. Haha it makes me laugh when you talk about the Bachelor Juan Pablo because I've met quite a few Juan Pablos here and they've all been pretty weird so it's hard to imagine one that's cute. 

This week went by super fast because my comp said by to everyone in La Punta, then my new comp got here and we had to get all her stuff settled in, and we only had a little bit of time to visit investigators and work. Hna Sabas is awesome though! She's from Peru and she got baptized a couple years ago. She's studying nursing and is 21 years old. She's calm and funny and we've gotten off the transfer to a pretty good start, especially because we have a lot to talk about given the fact that she just came here from Maipu and gave me the low down on all the stuff that's happened in the area since I left. It's been fun! Hna Hatch and her daughter are doing well too even though the first few days were a little crazy because EVERYTHING in the pench is breaking!! A few weeks ago the thunderstorm broke our beloved air conditioning, then the water heater started leaking so we don't have hot water, then we lost the key to the backyard so we can't go out back, then we saw a tarantula in the living room but lost track of it, then the toilet overflowed and none of the neighbors had a plunger so we made one with the broomstick and a soda bottle, and then the light in the main room died.. Oh yeah and then someone in the pench (I won't say who) got lice. Haha a lot has happened, but it just makes the mission more of an adventure. We're working on getting everything all fixed, don't worry!

So the most eventful day of the week was yesterday by far. First of all one of the hermanas texted us a few days ago and told us one of us had to teach the class for relief society, and of course I got stuck with the job. Then as we're sitting sitting waiting for Sacrament meeting to start one of the bishopric members comes up to us and tells Hna Hatch and I that we have to give talks.. What.. So I'm sitting there freaking out because I'm not good at making up stuff on the spot in English, let alone in Spanish, when they announce that our awesome ward mission leader was released and that the missionary that returned home 2 days ago from Brazil is our new leader. So after Hna Hatch gives a short talk I went up there and somehow managed to say something coherent- I basically talked about the first part of the class I was teaching (lesson 2 from the teachings of Joseph Fielding Smith) and the members seemed to like it so I guess it wasn't too bad. Then the poor returned missionary got up to talk and could not for the life of him speak Spanish. He didn't even try, he just spoke Portuguese and we had to try and guess what he was saying. I felt like I was brand new again and didn't understand 80% of what was going on.. Not fun. Then after sunday school I had to teach the class and it started off a little rough because the fans were so loud that no one could hear, but it turned out alright and I got the main points out I think. Haha and then after a fun lunch with familia Sosa we had a meeting with our new ward mission leader and it was the most awkward thing ever because we couldn't understand his Esportuguese and we were all sweaty because it was super hot and stuffy in the chapel. We also had a lesson with some crazy investigators talk SO MUCH and gave us pizza and Coke. It was quite the interesting día de reposo. 

Next week should be a little more tranquila though and hopefully I'll have some updates on the investigators. Today all the hermanas are going to Trapiche (besides Hatch and her comp) and I get to hang out with Hna Hales! I hope you have a fun day too and an awesome week. Love you!

<3,

Hna Crawford

the other district in our zone

saying goodbye to the members of La Punta

Herm Hatch solita on her way to pick up her hija in Mendoza

My new comp (Hermana Sabas, from Peru) attempting to cook.. Trying to make white sauce for raviolis.

Hermana Hatch.. you don't want to know what she's doing in this pic.

Speaking Spanish in her Sleep! Literally!

Hey family! 

It must be a giant party over there in the casa with the puppy, your Australian, and getting ready for the temple celebration. Tell Sammi I said hey or good day or whatever they say in Australia, and tell her that if she's a little weirded out by being in a different country super far from everyone she knows, I know how she feels. It's not the most fun sometimes having to adjust to a different culture, but there's a ton that we can learn from it. Haha I love that Peter tried to take Jasper home too, I miss that little guy! 

So this week was an interesting one once again. We got to spend the whole day on Wednesday in Mendoza for a training which was awesome & I saw Hermana Hales and Hermana Chorolqui. My comp and I (barely) survived the week with just a few bumps along the way, but we made it! Haha thanks for all the prayers. It's been a little difficult to have lessons this week because it's summer break and everyone is camping, but we had a few good lessons with Angie and Matias and with Gloria. Angie came to church yesterday! She had to leave partway during sacrament meeting, but it doesn't matter- she came. It's seriously a miracle in this mission when an investigator comes to church. 

We were all a little on edge from Thursday up until yesterday because of the transfers- we all knew that there were gonna be changes. We've been saying as a joke for weeks that Hermana Martinez (my comp) was going to go to Maipu, and that the other was going to San Juan where it's super hot right now. Do you wanna hear 'em?? Alright...baterías por favor: Hermana Hatch and I are both staying in La Punta- Hatch is TRAINING and I'm gonna get Hna Sabas from Peru (the hija of my mother in law Hna Cheta!); Hermana Martinez (my ex comp) is going to MAIPU B and the other is going to SAN JUAN Centro hahahahahaha. We couldn't believe it when we heard it!! My new comp is in Maipu B right now because she replaced me a few transfers ago and now my comp's going to replace her. Crazy stuff. Oh yeah, it's also going to be the sickest zone ever because HERMANA HALES is coming to Pringles to be the Sister Leader with Hermana Barney who's our other leader. And all the rest of the hermanas that are in the zone stayed except hermana Schiess who's going to be replace Hermana Hales in her old area with her daughter. P-days this transfer are going to be the best.

I'm so relieved that I'll be able to start fresh with a new comp. I've met her once and she's really sweet and humble. Hna Cheta told me once that she never talks in lesson but I'm sure she's gotten more used to the mission now and is more comfortable. Hopefully. I guess the Lord really wants me to perfect my Castellano though for whatever reason because he put me with my 7th Latina! If you're wondering how the whole Spanish thing is going by the way, it's amazing how much I've been able to progress in a short time. For example: lots of people assume I'm from here and one investigator was shocked and didn't believe it when I told her that I speak English- she asked if I speak it as well as I speak Spanish haha, also my comp told me last week that in her opinion my Spanish is about 95% perfect, and also Hna Martinez from Nicaragua informed me that I sleep talk.. in Spanish! Isn't it crazy how fast things have changed? A few months ago I literally had no idea what was going on.. I'm so grateful for this new talent that the Lord's given me so that I can help more of His children that are lost find the truth. One of the many blessings that the mission has brought me. I hope you guys have a great week and enjoy the puppy and new daughter that 2014 has brought you. You don't have to worry about me too much this week, things are going to get a lot better. Love you all! 7 months left, you can make it!

<3, 

Hermana Crawford

My new perrito, Elvis

I beat you guys to New York! I'll see you there.

My ex-district (both the Elders got transferred- Elder Prieto finished his mission and Elder Campos is going to Mendoza)

Staying another transfer in La Punta!

Hna Hatch and I are staying together another month and a half in La Punta!

Las montañas. Well, they're more like cerros compared to the ones in Mendoza, but they're still pretty

The old zone- Sion San Luis

¡¡Feliz Año Nuevo!!

¡¡Feliz Año Nuevo!!                                                              Jan. 6, 2014 La Punta

Thanks for the emails, I can't believe how cute Presley is!! She's definitely more adorable than all of the stray dogs here put together. Haha I loved the crazy story of how you went all the way to Oklahoma to get her, slept in the airport, and had a missionary moment! Way to go, mom. That's awesome that her and Jasper get along too. Oh yeah and I can't believe Jenny's sister is going to come to Mendoza!! If she gets her Visa right away I could see her at some point during my last transfer, but it's a pretty small chance. That's so crazy though, she'll love it! Hey, did you know that Hna Barney's (the hna in my zone from Alpine that's going home the same time I am) best friend is serving in Katie Stewart's ward in Wisconsin?! Que tal, eh!

So this week was.. different. We only were able to work like 3 days because of the new years parties and I guess there's been some problems in the mission where Elders have been getting robbed and hit with glass bottles so that was one of the main reasons we could leave the pench on Tuesday or Wednesday. San Luis is pretty safe (especially La Punta) so I'm pretty sure nothing would've happened anyways but it was just a precaution that Pres. took. On the 31st we were allowed to eat with a member so we spent from 8-12:20 ish with Flia Varela (an older couple, their 18 year old daughter Brenda, and their son & his wife and two little kids). Hnas Sanford and Scheiss came with us and we had fun talking, looking at old family pics that the members had, and eating asado and empanadas. There were a few fireworks but it wasn't that exciting out here in our little pueblo. The next day (Hna Sanford & Schiess slept over) Hna Cooley and Jacinto came over and we spent the day making lasagna and playing Uno. It was fun but it just feels so wrong hanging out with a bunch of friends and playing games as a missionary.. It's enjoyable but not at the same time. But anyways, as far as investigators go we couldn't really have too many lessons with any of them because family was in town and they all went camping (everyone in San Luis apparently goes camping for Christmas and New Years) and so I don't have a ton to fill you in on. We did find a new family that has promise because they're MARRIED and have family members that are members and the mom wonders how her aunt has raised all of her 7 boys to be so well behaved (they're all ex missionaries) because her kids are rebellious. We told her of course that it was because she raised them in the Gospel and that it's not too late for her family. She's a little hesitant right now but I know she'll get there. Lucia and Gloria are doing well but they still can't take the next step and come to church.. We're not going to give up on them though.

So I'm sure you're wondering about how my comp and I are doing? Yeah, it's probs better not to talk about it.. I'll just say that we don't communicate well at all and don't understand each other at all either, we're literally just trying to survive this last week without going insane. Luckily we've been given a lot of breaks this transfer and so we've been able to make it this far, but it hasn't been fun. If it wasn't for Hna Hatch too I wouldn't have made it. But yeah, we get to go to Mendoza for some sort of training on Wednesday too so that will help us get through this last week. I'm thinking that what's gonna happen with transfers is that my comp will leave and that I'll get put with a gringa that can't speak Castellano very well.. I figure that they've thrown just about everything else at me (mini-missionary, training a Latina, gringa that speaks fluently, comps that are notorious, etc.) and the only thing that I haven't experienced is a gringa that doesn't speak Spanish.. So well see what happens! I'm hoping Hna Hatch and I will have another transfer together too. Speaking of Hna Hatch, our Spanglish has been terrible this week, here are some examples : "How many years does she have?" -me; ".. with your voice beautiful." - Hatch; " I have hunger" - me. We're retarded. I'm started to get worried that I'll come back even more weird and awkward than I was when I left.. Oh well, it's worth it. Anyways, I love you guys. Don't worry about me and my comp, we'll be alright. Have an awesome week!

Hna Crawford