Week 10: Bicis (Bike)

This week has been a lot of hard work, but has also been a blast. One of the members that helps us teach all the time, Miguel, has lent us his bikes! We've been flying around all over Pichanal teaching tons of lessons.

Last night we were visiting everyone, but no one would let us in, not even the members. Finally we decided to head to one of the families that lives way out in the middle of nowhere, and when we got there they wouldn't let us in either. So we started heading back, by then it was pitch black. We were trudging through mud because it had been raining all day, and Elder Philpot and Miguel ended up getting way ahead of me. As I was pedaling along a group of 3 or 4 dogs started chasing me and trying to bite my ankles, so I started pedaling as hard as I could. They still were on me so I kicked the closest one and they all kind of stopped, but I couldn't because the biggest fault of our new toys is they don't have brakes. I went straight into a huge puddle of mud and water. (see the pic of my suit pants)

Anyway, its going great here. Everyday I can understand the people more and more, and I am learning so much from the Book of Mormon. I had to give a talk in sacrament meeting this week and I want to share a little with you guys.

Missionary work is for everyone, we all know someone that we could talk to. So many of our brothers and sisters are out there and need what we have, the gospel. I promise you that as you pray for opportunities to share the gospel The Lord will put them in your path. 

Love you all tons thanks, for all your prayers on my behalf. 

Elder Starkey

 Selfie Sunday

 We found a guitar the neighbors are letting us borrow.  

It has been so fun to be able to play again.

 Miguel sleeping while we study, hahaha.

 Me with the bikes when we stopped for a gaseosa, (soda)

Our upgrades because the bikes were hurting us...

Week 9....

Another week down here in Argentina and I´m slowing getting used to being down here. Its crazy hot here and super humid.  Basically the exact opposite of utah right now. haha. Its been a crazy couple of weeks here. It rained so much that it flooded the nearby river and destroyed one of the bridges cars cross on, so traveling has been super slow! Also they needed all of the electricity for the machines being used to repair the bridge and so we went for three days with no electricity and no water. It was the worst three days of my life. Ok not really, but it really did kinda suck haha. The language is coming really slowly, and I still have no idea what the people are saying to me. I usually just say Si and kinda nod my head and it usually works haha. 

The people down here are really friendly and are really loving. I love the members they are so good to us. They feed us lunch every single day. Its crazy, they have so little but they are so generous.

I don´t have much time to write, but I´m working hard and sweating more. I am so grateful for all the emails I have received. Sorry if I haven´t responded to you yet. Oh and bishop if you read this give the youth a big thanks their emails. They were so awesome to get i loved them!

Elder Starkey

 Waiting for the bus...

 The river flooded the bridge and destroyed it, and traffic has been aweful.

 A bunch of us from our zone played futbol last pday...

 The view from our pension (apartment)...

Brenda's Baptism...

Week 7: Rain!!!!

It has been a crazy week and I feel like I could barely take it all in.

The flight was forever long (10 hours), when we finally got to Buenos Aires we took a bus to the Buenos Aires temple for like 10 seconds. We couldn't even get out of the bus. Then we took another flight from Buenos Aires to Salta where our mission president was there waiting for us. From there we went to the mission home, had an orientation meeting, and then went to our hotel for the night. The next day we met our trainers and were sent to our areas. My first area is going to be a little town in the northern tip of Argentina call Pichanal.

This is the most humbling experience ever. The people of Pichanal literally have nothing, it blows me away. It is so pretty here and super green. And it rains like every day and it is super humid and hot. We walk miles everyday through mud and dirt so thats pretty cool hahaha.

I still have no idea what anyone is saying, and I really wouldn't know how to respond even if I did but I guess Im learning. It has been kind of a rough first week but I think Im finally adjusting a little bit. Plus I have the coolest companion, Elder Philpot. He knows so much and is such a hard worker and pushes me to be better constantly, he has taught me so much already.

Sorry I don't have much time, love you all.

Head to the airport for Argentina...

A kind person offered to take this picture and send it to our parents.

Cafe Rio at the Salt Lake airport, all the Saltans...

Where we study...

Our apartment, its tinnnnyy...

Out on a rainy day, the streets literally become a foot deep mud river.

This is Miguel, a member who teaches with us a bunch.

Miguel y Elder Philpot...

Week 6: A Few Extra Pictures From the MTC, and arriving in Salta...

 Me and Elder Shimata after haircuts...

 My district and two of our teachers...

 Study hard, serve hard, nap hard...

The newest Salta Argentina Missionaries...

Hermana and President Chaparro and Elder Starkey...

 Dax and his new companion/trainer with President and Hermana Chaparro...

 All the newest Salta Argentina companionships...

A welcome lunch for the new missionaries...