Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

TEMPERLEY, Agrentina — First week of the transfers down!

This week has been a little crazy, but good. My companion is awesome, but it is always an adjustment with new people. We have a lot of work to do, but we are ready to get it done. I have a feeling I will be here at least 1 or 2 more transfers after this. Obviously I don’t know, but I am thinking I will be here working for a while. 

I love this area. It is great. My ward is so awesome! But of course, as always, there is always room for improvement and so we are working on strengthening this area. 

I cannot believe that tomorrow is April. Wow! April already and I am so stinkin excited for General Conference! What a blessing. We haven’t seen the Women’s Conference but will get to see it on Saturday, so that will be good. I have loved inviting everyone this week to come to the church to hear our prophet and apostles speak.

Some people give me faces like, ¨What are you serious?¨ And others seem more interested. But I don’t care because I just feel grateful I get to spread the truth and invite people to come unto Christ. And especially this next weekend come listen to a prophet’s voice. 

This week we have been really trying to find people who are ready and going to progress and dropping investigadores who are not progressing. Its a hard process but, Heavenly Father knows who is ready and who isn’t so all we have to do is get to work and rely on him 100%. :)

Well guess what... MIRACLES HAPPEN :) Wahoooo we found 6 new investigators this week. I am most excited because we found a family and  I love teaching families! 

Well, I know it’s short and sweet again this week but that’s all I got :) I hope you all know how much I love being a missionary. Seriously, has changed my life. 

Yes, I am still the same silly ol´ Sara Newman but I will never be the same in the Gospel. I am sooo excited to always be a missionary! I know it will be hard, but I am willing to do hard things because that’s what God expects of us. We are His children and He is more than willing to show us the way. 

Thanks for your great examples and for your love, support and prayers! You are the best! Go out there and find your part in the work of salvation. Invite all your friends to Conference this week. I am excited to hear your thoughts about conference :) Have a great week!

Love ya,

-Hermana Newman 

Meet Hermana Dias

Temperley, Argentina - Hello family! 

Wow! Yep a new transfer begins today. I can hardly believe it. Hermana Calderon got transferred to Villa Espana and I am here with a new companion. Her name is Hermana Ruiz Dias. She is 18 years old and from Paraguay. She is on a mini mission right now.

Me and Hermana Ruis Diaz

Here in Argentina, when we don’t have enough companionships they ask some of the youth to help out with the work and go on mini missions for a transfer or two. Haha  So yep, she is a mini. Should be interesting. I am a little nervous because I am the senior companion again and she never went to the MTC or anything, but no worries i think everything will be great. She seems nice and like a hard worker so that’s all we need. I am excited to get to know her a little better and work hard! We have lots of work to do and miracles to see here in Banfield 1! 

Our Zone

I know this is a short email this week but I want to share a few quick thoughts from Elder Evans who visited us. 

• Heavenly Father will allow you to become what you desire but you have to show Him by your actions. Not what you say but what you do... what you choose to do... He will grant you according to your desire, your choice and your actions.
• Desire is not what we want, but what we do. Are we willing to change?
•  Never stop working as a missionary. Always think like a missionary! Don’t ever be a scared, timid member ever again. We need strong courageous members. Now is the time... we don’t need lazy members... we need hard workers!
• Immortality is individual but Eternal life is for the family. We need to work hard and strengthen the family.

It was an amazing meeting with Elder Evans. I feel blessed I got to go. I wish I could share more with you because I could talk a whole lot more but my time is short. Let us just remember who we are and who we need to become. I am going to try harder and harder every day to become the Hermana Newman that my Heavenly Father needs. I invite us all to get down on our knees tonight and pray and ask who we need to become and what we need to do to help with the work. We are all called to this great work! :) Give it all you got. Smile big and get to work!

My New Boots

My Skin does not like my new boots

Te quiero un monton! :) Que tengan una buena semana!

-hermana newman :) 

Tracting at the Basketball Court

TEMPERLEY, Argentina — Hola familia!!

Feliz Dia de San Patricio para todos... especialmente a mi Hermano Cris!!! Happy Birthday!! 

I cannot believe that we are halfway through March already. Transfers are next week on Monday. Hermana Calderon and I are thinking she will being leaving, because she has been here for quite sometime, but you never know. She is awesome!! Love that little Argentine! But bring on the new adventures, I am ready! How was your week?  I hope it was great! Mine was wonderful!!!! Miracles galore. I don’t have time to write about them all, but I do want to tell you about two :)

First, my companion was sick last Monday night and we had visitors from the coast. We needed to go out and work after preparation day, so I took my companion home and switched her with another Hermana and we went out to make our visits. I am getting the hang of my area, but sometimes it is still a little crazy, especially at night when you can’t see where you are. But no worries;  I was determined to get to our appointments.

Long story short, all of our appointments fell through. We only had 15 minutes left until we needed to head back to the pension so we decided to do some contacting. We ended up on a road that was pretty dark and sketchy, so I felt like we needed to find somewhere else to be. I was walking with this other Hermana when I felt a prompting to quickly cross the street. I had no idea why. But I did it. 

The next street: same feeling — cross again. So I did it. Ha I look behind me and there is a man following us. I was getting a little nervous but knew that Heavenly Father would help us know what to do with the Spirit. Just at that moment, I hear someone yell ¨HERMANAS... HERMANAS!!¨ I don’t know which part is the miracle... the fact that this man saw us in the pitch black or the next part that I am about to tell you. 

I had no idea who the voice was that yelled "Hermanas," but I quickly followed it and crossed the street. There was a tall man there waiting for us. He said hello and introduced himself. He said that he had heard of Mormons before and wanted to learn more. I love it! Miracle that he could see us and that he even knew who we are. His name is Cristian and he is one of our new investigators who is pretty stellar. I am excited to watch him change and progress. It’s funny how the Spirit works to keep us missionaries safe and give us new people to teach :) I love it! 

Two. This one is shorter to explain. Ready? drum roll...... we had 2 investigators and 3 less active families at church on Sunday!!! Wahooo! Tender mercy from the Lord seriously. We have been fasting and praying to get some investigators to come to church and progressing. I am a happy camper to say the least :) 

One more fun story and then I will let you go. I had the funnest ¨street contact¨ this week. We were at the church doing English classes and were about ready to leave when I saw a man playing on the basketball court by himself. I asked my companion and the 2nd counselor to the bishop who he was. Nobody knew, so I decided that I would go find out. So yes, Hermana Newman, skirt and all, walked out on the court to shoot some hoops with him. Basketball street contact?!? Best thing ever!! 

Sadly he is not in our area, but the elders are now teaching him and he is solid! It was fun to talk with him a bit and share more about our beliefs and invite him to church all while shooting hoops with him. Good times. I love being a missionary. Always something new! :) 

I think that is plenty of stories for this week. Sorry! :) I have lots going on in my mind but I sure love you all! Have a fabulous week and give it all you got...

PS. I didn’t get any pictures from anyone this week. I will be waiting for them next week! ;)

haha 

LOVE YOU!

Que tengan una buena semana!

Chau,

-Hermana Newman 

I Think Satan is Trying to Get Me to Not Listen!

TEMPERLEY - Argentina

Editor's Note: Last week Sara signed off as "Gringa Trucha". I (Sara's Dad) asked native Spanish speakers what "Trucha" means. The response was "trout". I asked Sara to explain and here is her response:  Yes indeed trucha means trout or fish but when I say "gringa trucha" it means fake white girl. My companion calls me that because she thinks I was meant to be latina ;)

FAMILIA!!!

Hello once again. How are you all doing? I have been thinking about you all this week and guess what? Yep... I love you soooooo much! :) Guess what else? .... drum rolll...... time to send your lil´sissy pictures! I want to see your beautiful faces. (That includes all of you) hahah and especially my cute nieces and nephews. MUCHISIMAS GRACIAS :) Muy amables! ha

How was your week? I hope you know I have been praying for you all. Congrats to Nick on the job that is awesome! :) And good luck Chris! You are all awesome. Yep, I have the best family ever! Thanks for being so great and always being such good examples to me. Here in the mission field I get to talk about you all everyday. Because we are always meeting new people and one of the first things they always ask is about my family. They are always shocked to know I am the youngest and that all my siblings have served missions as well. So yes... thanks for your great examples!

Families are the greatest ever. I know Families are part of the Plan and that families can live together forever.  What a blessing that is to know in my life.  I love sharing that with other people as well. I heard a cool quote about families the other day I want to share. ¨You can obtain Salvation solo, but Exaltation is for the family!¨ Cool yeah? I thought so! 

My week was great [although it] went by as fast as ever. I can’t believe we are starting another week. This transfer has flown by faster than most. We only have 2 weeks left in this transfer. Bah!! :) Working hard as ever here in Banfield! I am not sure exactly what to say this week. Other than it was great. ha sorry. My mind is blank. Thats never good ;) 

Hermana Calderon and I have been working hard with one of our investigators se llama Lidia. She has a baptismal date for this month. She said something interesting to us this week. She said, ¨hermanas I dont know what is happening. I know when I saw you on the streets I felt peace and knew you were special and that I needed to listen to what you had to say. But ever since that day something has been working hard against me. I am more busy than ever and hardly have time to read or pray. Hermanas.... I think Satan is trying to get me not to listen.¨

I  stood there in amazement yet I had a big grin on my face. I was so excited that she could tell the difference between the spirit she has felt so often with us and the influence of Satan. I would like to agree with her. Satan is a punk for lack of better words. Seriously! The work of salvation is moving forward and he does not like it one bit. He is working hard as ever to get people to go astray or think that they are not good enough for the gospel. But I testify that, yes he is working hard, but out Heavenly Fathers plan is perfect and that is why we as members and missionaries have the awesome privilege of working even harder. I know this gospel is true with all of my heart. I don’t know everything there is to know but I know it is true and that we can all grow and become better and better everyday and one day return to our Heavenly Father again! 

Times up but I hope you have a wonderful week. Tear it up this week and show Satan who is boss! Do your part, smile big and help move the work along in your area! Love ya lots!

-Hermana Newman :) 

Hermana Newman's New Door Approach

TEMPERLEY, Argentina - HELLO FAMILY! :)

How is everyone doing this beautiful fall day? ;) I can’t remember what the weather is there, but I am guessing it is turning into spring? I hope you are enjoying it for sure! It’s weird to be on the opposite side of the world and hear about your weather there but it's different here. Anyways.... this week was GREAT! 

First I want to start off with some ¨funnies¨ from the week and then after I will tell you about our miracles. 

No Power for Two days. Fun.

First, we learned something new this week. :) ...  It is not a good idea to throw rocks at people’s doors. bahaha I can just imagine your faces. 

Yes, Hermana Calderon and I were desperate so we started throwing rocks at an investigator's door to get her attention. You do what you got to do as a missionary right? ;) I think I told you this before but here in Argentina instead of knocking on a door or ringing a doorbell, we clap. Well, we had an appointment and she wasn’t responding to clapping so we threw rocks. Oh dear. Bad idea. She was mad and cussing us out until she came to the door and saw who it was. She apologized quickly and said, "Oh my angels, come on in." ha-ha Quite the adventure. I don’t think we will be using that as our contacting technique in the future ;) 

Sister Calderon and me with unique ways of using candles.

Second, I think I have been hit-on my mission more times than in my entire life. Hermana Calderon and I are going to start keeping track this week. It’s pretty ridiculous. This week we got some whistles and a ¨Hey Mormons, how you doin?¨ Oh dear, I love being a missionary. All the adventures and randomness keeps me on my toes :) 

Okay, time for some miracles :) 

We found a new investigator who is ¨De Oro¨(golden) Her name is Lidia. (Yes we threw rocks at her door). We smiled at her on the street and said hello and miracle happened .... she asked us who we were, and what we were doing. We explained our purpose as missionaries is to invite people unto Christ, to have faith, repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost and endure to the end.  She smiled and asked us to come back. We have been really trying to work with members and get them to friendship our investigators. Well, it worked! We had a member come with us. We talked about the Restoration and invited her to be baptized. The Spirit was strong as she looked up at us and replied, “Yes, yes I will prepare to be baptized on March 29!”  
WAHOOOOOO! We are praying for her and working hard with her to make her date. I am pretty sure she will have no problem. She is solid. I love seeing little miracles like this. God putting us in the right place at the right time! 

Baptism with the Elders

Next up... Less active work. You all know how I love working with less actives. It’s the best! We have been working with a bunch of less-actives in the area. Our district had a goal to get two investigators or more per companionship at the sacrament meeting. Well all of ours canceled like 15 minutes before church, so we were kind of bummed. but God had other plans in store. 

We went to go pick up a less active — and surprise! — her less active brother came also with their children and we got to church and another less active and her son were there. It was so good to see three less actives and their children at church! I was super-happy. 

And the miracle doesn’t end there... One of them got up to bear her testimony and was telling us how the Lord works in mysterious ways. She was looking for a new place to live and bam!... she is the missionaries neighbors (us). I agree the Lord is aware of everyone and everything. I feel so blessed to have her as our neighbor and watch her change and come back to church. LIFE IS SO GREAT, ISN'T IT? :) 

Okay, I have already made this email super long so I will share more next week. We got a special visit this week from Elder Evans (the head of the missionary board). He was awesome and so inspired. I will share what he said next week for sure! Love you all! 

Have a  great week! Remember who you are. Go out and help build the Lord's Kingdom this week. Can’t wait to hear from you again!

Chau!

Your favorite ¨gringa trucha¨:) (Editor: I think this means Trout. More on this next week)

-Hermana Newman