Querida Flia

Hey guys how's it going! 

It's good to hear that you all had a good week and that everything's going well over there. We're thinking that on Mother's Day we're going to try skyping at like 8 here so around 4pm there, would that be alright? If you want everyone to be there (koskis, wilsons) that's fine with me. We're gonna see if the mission nurse Hna Ashby will let us do it in her apt. and use her iPad! I'll let you know, though. I think they're giving us an hour this time! Haha I'm glad the kids are doing well. Congrats to Chloe for being elected as historian and for going on two dates in one weekend haha! Nice. And thanks for the pictures, Grandpa´s face was classic. I can't believe Madi Barazoto got called to Rome, I remember her being obsessed with Italy and wanting to go there! That's awesome, but it sucks that I won't be able to tell her goodbye because I'll be flying from Buenos Aires to the US that day!! Woohoo. That's cool that Nate Woods is going to Iowa too! He'll be a great missionary.

Thanks for setting the record straight on what Zutaro told us, I figured most of it was a bit off haha... I'm going to attach a pic of her so you can see what she looks like. She's great though. 

Oh yeah, and before I forget: ¡FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS MAMÁ! I've already got a few gifts that you'll get in about 3 months, and your biggest present is the Mothers' Day call of course! I hope you have an awesome day and that you do something fun! 42 isn't too bad, I actually thought you were turning 43.... haha oops.

It was the Elder Smith from Gilbert (Chelsea and Tanner's cousin) that went back to Ogden, and the story is that they went to contact a referral and I guess the guy that they were contacting had probs with some other guys and right as they were in front of his house the guys came to fight with the referral or something and there were about 6 shots fired but not necessarily at the Elders. I'm not sure on the details but I'm sure Smith was shaken up and is glad to be back in the US.

So things are going well over here in Mendoza with Hna Schiess. I discover new things everyday that she doesn't know about, and she's always quoting Disney movies and saying things like "I was so befuddled" and "the whole caboodle". And not only do I translate Spanish for her but I also have to translate Sarcasm because I guess it's another language that they use a ton here that she doesn't really get in English or Spanish haha, but she's like doing great! (:

As usual we're having a rough time finding people to teach that are there for the appointments we set up but I've already talked enough about that over the past 14 months so I won't go into much detail, I'll just explain using a scripture reference: D&C 43:23-25, 34-35. Yep.

Yes, we still get cat calls 24/7 and you're right about the fact that I haven't really filled you in on how bad it actually is, but it's fine I'm sick of it but used to it by now. We halso had a first when a lady on the street quoted the Pope when we tried to talk to her, I think he said "we're all brothers and sisters of the same faith" or something like that. I've never had anyone actually quote him before. They talk about him a lot though.

I had my first exchange as a leader this Friday! It was just with Hna Sanford and I've already had at least 3 with her before when she was comps with Schiess, but it was fun. She's a little scared about running the area when her comp leaves so I just tried to help her see that she can do fine without her and that the ward's not going to rebel against her or anything. We had fun talking and we had some great lessons so it was a good day and wasn't too stressful. Basically I just had to fill out a paper and check whether her planner was ok and how their area book was doing. Ha and I also had to check and mark off whether my own pench is clean or not.... Being a leader isn't too bad though. Tomorrow we have my first "consejo" or Mission Leadership Counsel meeting and I'm a little freaked out but I'm sure it will be fine. I've heard they usually get fed tacos so I'm at least excited for lunch.

Nothing else too exciting happened this week. We're just doing the best we can to help less active, converts, and to find investigators of course. We celebrated Miriam's (the lady who got baptized in early March) birthday yesterday. She invited us over and had the table all set up with a bunch of kinds of cookies (including some we made for her) and mate cocido. It was cute. And we had a mini birthday party, well I guess it was more like a tea party, with her and her kids. I read the kids fairytales in English and we just talked and tried make it a good birthday for her because she deserves it and has a ton of difficulties that she's dealing with. It was a good sunday though.

Well, thanks for the emails and I can't wait to talk in a couple weeks! You're the best. Have a great week!! I'll have pics next time!

<3, 

Hna Crawford