Week 32

Yep, another week without a weekly email :(.  This boy is killing me!!!  The only redeeming aspect of this weeks communication with him, is that he used another elders voice recording device.  He spent part of his time trying to figure out how to use it and send it.  We finally figured it out at the end of his hour.  So yay, we got to hear his voice today, even if it only was for a few seconds.  Oh how I miss hearing him.   I guess it was a good trade off for not getting a weekly email to at least hear him :). He did send some fun pics...

What a good brother, he sent Brayden a letter for his birthday!!!

 Heading to church, all of us in the pension:

Elder Rodriguez, Me, Elder Smith and Elder Rafagnini

 We found SKITTLES!

They were like 2 bucks every bag.

 The soccer 5 court next to the chapel.

This is us playing with all the young men in the ward.

(All of these boys are members!  He said the ward is big like in the US.)

My district...

Week 31: Jujuy

Welp, I made it through my first week in my new area... No, just kidding.  I love it here in Jujuy!  It's super weird going from the tiny branch in Pichanal to the ward here.  Everyones been super nice and friendly, and the church is huge here.

My new companion is the coolest dude ever and the tallest dude ever, well out of all the missionaries in the mission.  Really it's a blast working with him.  He really has a love for the work and gets me excited to go and teach every day.

This week we've really been trying to find new investigators that we can work with this transfer.  On Wednesday we decided to "knock some doors".  Since were in Argentina we get to clap our hands. We clapped at one house and a lady came out.  We talked for a couple minutes and she accepted us in her house, but her husband wasn't there so we planned an appointment for the next day.  When we showed up the next day she wasn't there, but her husband was.  She hadn't told him anything about us, but he accepted us in the house too.  As we sat down to teach his wife, Cintia, showed up with their daughter.  We were able to teach The Restoration to the whole family. It was one of the most powerful lessons that I've ever been in.  The dad started to tear up after the closing prayer, and they are going to read El Libro De Mormon as a family and pray.  Then yesterday they came to church with us.  It really strengthened my testimony that The Lord is putting those ready to recieve the gospel in our path.  It's super cool how The Lord can change our hearts.  I feel like I've changed so much this week.  Like I've found a new love for the people of Argentina, the mission, and the Savior.

Catch you guys next week!

Elder Starkey

 Outside the pension.  We live upstairs, it's huge!

There is four of us that live together.

It's been raining a ton here, and its hard to work because it is always super cold.  We stopped by a members bread shop to use the bathroom, and we found out they sell donuts!!!  Thats like unheard of in Argentina.  I was sooo excited!

 Jujuy from the roof of  the pension...

 It's so cold here.

 La pension...

 Theres jungles and mountains here.  It is super pretty.

We are going to be able to go on some hikes!!

Week 30

No weekly letter AGAIN :(.  He was finally transfered for the first time since arriving in Argentina. He was transfered to the Jujuy providence (pronounced whowhoey), his area is called Alberdi.  It was a 3 1/2 hour trip from Pichanal to Jujuy.  Well if he didn't write a letter I am at least grateful he sent lots of fun pics....

 Baptism of Benjamin...

In his new white shirt and tie...

In the zone conference we had a tiny table in comparison with everyone else.

Priesthood conference...

 Saying good bye to the familia Licantica...

La familia Del Zotto...

 My new 50 peso or $5 sunglasses...

My new comp Elder Smith...

Week 29: Soap Opera Pichanal

This week has been crazy.  Theres been a lot of drama in the branch here in Pichanal, and when your in a little branch like this the missionaries are in charge of settling it all.

So yeah, its been a little bit of a long week, but time and time again the Book of Mormon never ceases to impress me.  We were talking with a family who had a bad encounter with their uncle who's also a member here.  The family told us that they never want to see him again, and because of him they are never going to church again until they move.  It sounds cheesy, but it was actually pretty serious.

We started talking a bit.  We didn't really know what to say, and the conversation wasn't really going anywhere.  So we decided to read.  My comp opened up and started reading.  Every once in a while we'd stop and talk a bit, but the dad was pretty mad and didn't really want to participate.  I'm not really sure what happened, but out of no where he broke down.  He looked at us and said, "I'm not going to miss church.  I know that's where my family will be safe, and that's where we need to be.

I know the Book of Mormon is true.  It's what gives me the strength to leave the apartment and teach every day.  So don't forget to read each day!!  ha ha.

Love,
Elder Starkey

Oh, and don't forget to write my homie Elder Tate that went into the MTC on Wednesday!

District meeting...

Miguel showed up in the middle of a lesson with a member family with his sweet shades.

I think he looks like an Argentine Tom Cruise...

Miguel, and thats the club we listen to every Friday and Saturday night,

Kolor Disco...

The rocks I pulled out of my shoe.  I shined my shoes and they look brand new on top, but underneath more or less, ha ha.  I tried to fix it with a bunch of glue stuff, we'll see how good it works ha ha.  I think I am going to have them resoled in a couple of months.

The hat Miguel gave me, ha ha...

Finally going to be able to gift one of the shirts you sent!  We have a baptism this week for a little dude, 9 years old.  Half his family are members, but really inactive.  I think his baptisms really going to help them.  Thanks Kohler and Urbina families for sending shirts!

Week 28:

Dax said he didn't write a weekly letter or take any pics :(.  I told him he was in trouble, and better never do that again.  So he went through his camera and found two pics to send, and I made him take one right then and there at the internet cafe.  He has to know I can not make it through a week without a letter and pics...

Here is a little info he gave me in an email today:
Guess what, I did a comp exchange with one of the 2 AP's of the mission.  That never happens, they usually only do comp exchanges with the zone leaders.  I was so nervous, but it was great.  I learned a ton and he said I'm doing super good!  Oh, and I had my third interview with Pres Chaparro, this time in the pension.  It was super good he's such a cool nice dude.  I really like him.

 A member made me this awesome cake... 

That giant candle looking thing is a HUGE sparkler!!

They lit it off and all sang to me, it was awesome.

The mission really aged him :)...

Ok, I took a pic in the internet cafe just for you, ha ha...