Whoa!!! We're HALFWAY There!! WHOAAAAA!!!

Livin' on a prayer!!! Actually MANY prayers.... This week I hit my halfway mark. And that's all I'll say about that. 

HELLO WORLD!!!

How's it going? Hear you got your first snow! Poor things. HAH! Not!!! I don't reel sorry for you, cuz I was cold for a year!!! WOO summer time is a comin' ! I may melt. 

-So I am typing on the most ancient computer EVER. I think it might actually be wheezing. Hold on bessie, we got an hour to go....:-)

- I'm super jealous that BYU basketball has started. OH MY GOSH DO I LOVE MY COUGARS!!!!!

-SO WE MOVED! We now have a house! We are living about 3 blocks from our area, and the house is like a dang mansion compared to the cracker box! I don't have pics because the house is a disaster. All we have are our beds, our things, 2 chairs, a fridge, a blender, and a few random utensils. I ate breakfast on the floor this morning, thank you. But the hermanas from Villa Floresta are staying with us temporarily... Hermanas McWhorter and Marin. From Arkansas and Chile. So we're not all by ourselves. We have a BIG room, with no closet or anything so we're STILL living out of our suitcases, huge kitchen, pretty backyard, and a big bathroom. There's not a lot of hot water for the shower though... oh my Argentina. I'll miss Hermana Vawdrey, but it's nice to have some space. 

- Today I saw a girl walking down the sidewalk and juggling. Quite amusing. Random, I know.

- Remember Natalia? She came to General Conference. Well, we had an activity in the stake center and she and her 3 kids WALKED 28 blocks to get there! It was various plays put on by the youth of each ward, and they LOVED it! Then Natalia came to church! She doesn't have a fecha(date) because she needs to get married. She already talked to her pareja(partner) and he didn't say anything back... ahhh! So pray for her!

- We found an amazing woman this week, Gabriela. She's a young mother who is getting MARRIED THIS THURSDAY!  I almost peed my pants with excitement because NO ONE GETS MARRIED HERE! They say it's better to try it out first and live together for a few years. The worst part is that in Argentina if you're together with someone for over a year you get the same privileges as married couples. I am amazed and saddened at the hold that Satan has on people. Anyway. So we taught her the first lesson and when we explained baptism and how we don't baptize babies, she said  "I knew I made a mistake after we baptized my (one year old) son". You better believe I about had to pick myself up off the floor. AMAZING! She asked us when our reuniones(meetings) were and we told her. She accepted a fecha(date) and everything. THEN GUESS WHAT HAPPENED THAT MADE ME WANT TO PUNCH SATAN IN THE FACE??!!!! She started working on SUNDAYS. Flip!!! I swear, every time we find someone golden, problems come up. We have a lesson with her tonight, so we're going to explain BIEN CLARO(real clearly) the importance of church. Pray for us. LIke right now. I have faith that she can become converted, and then change her work schedule. 

 - So last week the office elders decided to play a joke on me and tell me that all my packages and letters got sent to another city in the mission. I flipped out a little, and the next day they told me it was a joke.  So I withheld cookie privileges. THEN this week, I get a package, supposedly from my dad, and I open it and it has cookies and this funny card in it. (see pic) One of the Elders said "If there's one thing I have learned in the mission: it's not to mess with Hermanas that bake cookies". Needless to say, they were forgiven. 
And Elder Costanzi's bday was on Friday, and you better believe cookies were delivered.:-)

I think the Elders learned their lesson!! 

- I´ve been reading in the Book of Mormon (IN SPANISH, thank you) and I just finished the part in Alma about the 2000 stripling warriors. I love this part in Chapter 56

V.44 Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle? 45 And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen ^aso great^bcourage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites. 46 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will ^anot suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus. 47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the ^aliberty of their^bfathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their ^cmothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. 48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their ^amothers, saying: We ^bdo not doubt our mothers knew it." 

I know that as I continue this battle here in Argentina, a battle against Satan to help others gain eternal salvation, my Savior will not let me fall. I will put my trust in Him forever. When I am a mother, I want to teach my kids in a way that keeps them on the straight and narrow path, and hopefully they will say, "We do not doubt that our mother knew it".  That if we do not doubt, God will deliver us.

--Shoutouts: DAVE! Thanks for the email! Evelyn is just a DOLL! 

EVERYONE ON THE EAST COAST! Please be careful. I will pray for you!! 

Hey peeps. I love you all. I hope you all have a great and safe week. I love you and pray for you often. I miss you a BUNCH. But that´s ok, cuz you're all people worth missing. LOVE YOU!!!

Hermana Squire

Yes, dad I´m getting your emails, thanks!
Love ya parents!

The Marathon of the Lord

Hey people!

Well, it's another rainy day here in Bahia. I swear, it ALWAYS rains on pday. BOO! But I got to take a nap for a WHOLE HOUR. Oh my. It was heaven. And this week we will end the transfer! What the!? I can't believe it's already over. Time is flying. 

- So yesterday was Mother's Day here in Argentina. We handmade cards for the hermanas in the ward complete with glitter (UNICORNS AND GLITTER!!!) and they LOVED it! We didn't get into anyone's house... "Chicas tengo gente...."(**girls, I have people here) so we delivered our cards to menos activos(**less actives) and other hermanas in the ward. Sweet Hermana Cortez would have spent the day alone since her kids live in Buenos Aires and Spain, so we dropped by to see her too. It was a great day. I loved it. 

- Saturday we had a great ward activity. We ate empanadas and chorizos and played games. There wasn't much I could do in a skirt, but I DID win the Potato On a Spoon Race against the hermanas in the ward. We couldn't run, but I definitely am the tallest of all the women, so I smoked everyone!!!!!  One of our menos activos came, Miriam, and brought her daughter-in-law, Florencia. We tried teaching her before, but she was like "no, I want to stay in my church." But now she's interested! She wants to change some things in her life, so we are super excited to work with her! It was such a fun way for everyone to just chill out and get to know each other better. We definitely need to have more activities to unite the ward more!!

- SO. Earlier this week, it was really warm. Like WAY warm. Like time to ditch the tights warm. So for 3 days I did... It felt SO WEIRD! First time in almost 9 months that I haven't worn tights. My legs are SO WHITE!  Who needs street lamps at night??!!  My legs will light the way home!!!!! Haha, in time I'll be a little morochita. (***tan country girl)  It's already been pretty warm, and all the Elders are dreading summer. We'll see!

- We passed by a members house this week and their little boy was outside. He's six, but has a growing disorder so he looks like he's 3 or 4 with the tiniest bones. He's so cute and I just want to squeeze him! So anyway, we waved to him and later his mom told us that he said "Las Elderas passed by and they waved to me! They saw me!" It was so cute. It's so hilarious when people call us "Las Elderas" or "Las Elderes". I'm always like, ohhhhhkay, we're hermanas... but whatever. It's a little endearing.

- HOPEFULLY we'll be moving to a new house this week. They called us last Monday and told us we'd be moving on Tuesday, so we packed EVERYTHING, but the next day they said that they were fixing up the house! NOOOO!!!!!! So EVERYTHING is all packed in space bags and I have TWO skirts that I've been wearing. Fun times. I'm sure going to miss my Vawdrey. :-(

- So, I read my weekly pday letter from Aunt Lori last week, and she shared two excerpts from Dave and Greg's emails from when they were serving. I LOVED what you two said, it really has helped me. They compared the mission to a marathon, and the longer I serve, the more I realize it really is like a race... an 18 month race. This is what Dave said, (direct quote because I cannot do it justice by summarizing) "Now is my time to RUN full out. When a runner finishes a race, how much should he have left? The answer is NOTHING. If it is anything else, he didn't run the race right. I want to run the race correctly by expending myself fully so as not to have any regrets or wonder what might have been. And oh yes, I will finish despite how tired I may have been throughout the 2 year marathon-- and as I hit the crimson tape, both my index fingers will be extended to the sky. But not to glory in my own achievements, but more in the attitude of praising my Heavenly Father for sustaining me when the track got rough. I'm not an idiot--I know it is going to be difficult. But I also know of the promise made by my older brother Jesus when He said, 'I never said it would be easy, I only said it could be worth it'. Yes, I will stumble and probably even fall flat on my face just at about the point I reach maximum speed... so what? At this point the Savior will come and put me on my feet, brush me off, clean up my cuts and help get me started again. He'll whisper words of sympathy in my ear saying, 'Kinda stings, doesn't it? I know how you feel--but you must not let it slow you down. Know that I am with you the entire way and will carry you across the finish line upon my back if you require it'. I have already felt the Savior carrying me throughout this race-- I know I am accomplishing things beyond my efforts and abilities with the Lord's help. I am doing the Lord's work, and so it is in His best interest that I succeed. I have the faith that my Savior will not quit 'saving' me-- He IS my Savior, not WAS my Savior. Despite how tired, sick and weak I may become, the Lord will lift me up and I CANNOT fail in the Lord's work." Wow. I can honestly say that I have never felt so tired and worn out in my entire life. But I know that my Savior is sustaining me. He is helping me keep going, amidst the blisters, rejections, sweat, cold, and rain. This is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but I will endure it with the help of my Savior. It is also the most rewarding thing. We don't have a bunch of success, but when we do have success, even a small miracle, all the tough times make me appreciate it more. I'm trying to gather up my energy and run full out, run until I have nothing left, until I cross that finish line and get on that plane home, and feel the Lord accept the work that I did here in the Bahia Blanca Mission... I want to feel Him say," Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter now into the joy of thy Lord." I want to leave the field with no regrets, leave knowing that I accomplished the work the Lord called me to do. 

Shoutouts: Cousin Heather, THANK YOU for the email and the updates on the real world!! Tio Hector, thanks for the email! Glad things are well. 

Happy birthday this week tooooo Amberly, Jonathan and Myrinda!! Hope you all have great days!! 

Kris... the last dearelder I got from you was a few weeks ago... I MISS YA. 

Hunter, WELCOME TO THE EMAIL LIST! This is where the cool people are. :-)

Okay people. I hope you all have a great week. Remember I love you.

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Squire

Might Be Turning A Little Argentine!

HELLO ALL YOU GOOD LOOKIN PEOPLE!!

How are  ya?? How's your October going??  Ok, so about the title of the email... I might be turning into an Argentine... I´m foot tapping to a song here in the cyber and I love it. It´s called Colgando En Tus Manos. Go look it up! Hey!! I can't do much about the songs blasting in the cyber!! So I´ll just happily foot tap through this internet "sesh", then go listen to some MoTab. Shoot, AUNT LORI, they're playing MUSE!! Satan, why must you tempt me so???

-Ok, this week we had divisions. I went to Dorrego with Hermana Ermácora, and poor Hermana Batista had to navigate her way through our area with Hermana Gaspar. Hermana Ermácora is a hoot and a half. I had such a fun time! But silly me, I thought that Spring means warm, but NO, I froze! I had to borrow sweaters from her. That house is a dang freezer. ANyway. Hna Ermácora. She´s 22 and from Rosario, a small town called Venado Tuerto (Dave?? do you know it?) which means "one eyed reindeer" in Spanish. HAH!!!!!!! Her favorite movie is Nacho Libre!!!!  She's an art student, and loves ACDC. So as you can see, we got along pretty well. We laughed a lot and worked our buns off. Dorrego reminded me of Pringles, just a little bit nicer. It was such a good experience. I hope I have the opportunity to serve with her again someday. 

- So the mosquitos are ridiculous here. I SWEAR THEY KNOW WHERE I AM! We were waiting for the bus last night and I was getting about 2 bites per minute. So I was standing there in this awkward downhill skier squat position so I could see my legs in the light, my eyes darting around to every part of my body and when one would land WAHPUH! Smack em dead!!! Then the bus came, sweet relief, right? WRONG! THEY WERE ON THE BUS! And I watched them. They would fly around the natives, then sniff me out with their freakish gringa blood seeking noses and they would FLY RIGHT AT ME! I was ticked!! Might die this summer.!! It´s getting warmer, I think it was like 80 degrees yesterday.... people are saying it gets to be about 105 WITH HUMIDITY here. I might melt!!

- Now they're playing MGMT... FOCUS CYDNEE!!! 

- Joel is doing great. He is totally baptizable. We just need to finish teaching him and help him to quit smoking and IN THE WATER HE GOES! He seriously is so great. 

- While I was on divisions, Hna Batista told me that Paula left. She will be gone for 2 months plus. I was heartbroken. Her pastor came and lectured her and now she´s confused and doesn't want to go to ANY churches. I´m way sad. Keep her in your prayers. 

- I read an AMAZING talk by Elder Wirthlin "Follow me". GO READ IT. It talked about how Peter, James, John and Andrew left their nets "straightaway" and heeded the call of the Savior to come follow Him. We must do the same. Elder Wirthlin describes the nets of today: "Nets are generally defined as devices for capturing something. In a more narrow but more important sense, we might define a net as anything that entices or prevents us from following the call of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God." We must leave the nets of the world and follow the call of the Savior and follow him. "As Jesus the Christ stood on the shores of the Sea of Galilee 2,000 years ago, so stands He today, issuing the same call He gave to those faithful fishermen and now to all who will hear His voice: “Follow me!” We have nets that must be tended and nets that must be mended. But when the Master of ocean, earth, and sky calls to us, “Follow me,” we should leave the entangling, worldly nets behind and follow His footsteps." I have left my nets of the world, my friends, the music I love, my education, family and all things that are comfortable to me. I have heeded to the call of my Master to follow Him, and feed His sheep. And I can tell you all that I do not regret it for one second. I can say to you all that I have never been happier!! So my invitation to the youth and to senior couples:  Leave your nets of the world, and come follow Him. Feed His sheep, and you will receive blessings beyond your imagination. You youth can now serve sooner!  Take advantage of this opportunity and come thrust in your sickle with all your might, because the field is white and ready to harvest. To the rest of you, I invite you to leave some of your worldly nets, and serve and love a little more. 

Shoutouts! TYLER! THANK YOU FOR THE DOUBLE EMAIL! WOOO IT´S LIKE CHRISTMAS!!! Had. I love you!! Rachelle. WRITE ME. Zander thank you for the pictures!! Cute fam! PEOPLE OF THE WORLD! I love you. Know I pray for you and that my missionary prayers count as double. SO you should be receiving lots of blessings. HEY!! Work hard, and pray harder. Have an AMAZING WEEK!!

Hermana SQUIRE

LOVE YOU PADRES!

On Missionary splits
L-R: Hermana Batista, Hermana Ermacora, and Hermana Gaspar

On my way to Dorrego for the split

Her "HLJ" birthday ring: Haz Lo Justo, Choose the Right

HELLLLLOOOOOOO PEOPLE OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HELLLLOOOO PEOPLE OF THE WORLD!!!

UM OK DID EVERYONE JUST LOVE CONFERENCE AS MUCH AS I DID??!!! I love missionary superbowl!!! Ok, before I talk about conference, I need to cover some other bases that happened earlier in the semana. (**week)

- We had lunch with the Elders early this week and the member lied and said there was a woman at the house and there WASN'T. Aka, we (sisters) couldn't be there! E. Gravelle was freaking out. He was like Que haría Nefi??? (What would Nephi do?) and Elder Cruz was like Matalo. (Kill him). We all died laughing. Everything turned out just fine... we just all ate outside. Hilarious. 

- So I must say I've been seeing some miracles working in Villa Mitre 2 with Hermana Batista. She's a great missionary! Really great! She is SO VERY SENSITIVE to the Spirit. We'll leave a house and she'll be like "wow, did you feel that special feeling in that house?" And I'm like... "ummmm sure".... then I'm like "DANG IT!! Why am I not that sensitive to the Spirit?"  There is ALWAYS something I can work on. 

- On Wednesday we went to see Paula. This woman is so great. She already knows that the LDM (**Book of Mormon) is true. I'm sure she's just afraid to leave her church. We asked if she needed anything, and she said "ummm yeah, but I´m just going to ask my kids." And I just said "Hermana, we are here to SERVE you. Tell us what you need." And it turns out the woman had no food. If someone in worse condition asks HER for food, she gives what she has. She is a pure Mormon already. So we went off the the grocery store and bought her some food. As we trudged down the muddy hill (it was raining) my heart was full to the brim. I LOVE when people let us serve them. It doesn't happen very often but to see the look on her face as we pulled out bread, crackers, fideo, rice and everything, her eyes full of gratitude, my heart was truly full. Paula also read 16 chapters of the LDM!! AHHHHH. She's so ready. PRAY HARD FOR HER! She leaves for TWO MONTHS on the 21st. PRAY WE CAN GET HER IN THE WATER BEFORE THEN!!! She already has 2 asistencias.(attendances to church) One more!

- OK TIME FOR MY CONFERENCE SPEEL. First off, we had THREE investigators that came to the sessions. WOOOOOO!!! We had Natalia and her son there and at first we didn't think they could come because we passed by for the morning session and her mom had gotten there and she said "well I can go at 5 and we're like "BUENO, we´ll come back to get you!" So we did! She came with her 9 year old son who is a future investigator and her little 10 month old. They talked about families that session and she loved it! She needs to get married, but for now, we can start teaching her son. Then we had Luis, who came with Ines. He looked really content and happy to be there. Then we had Joel. A reference from the ZLs and he already had 2 asistencias to the church. Now 3. Totally BAPTIZABLE! We went to pick him up and he was in a cute corduroy suit! He's 50 years old, MARRIED, and SO SWEET! He is SO addicted to smoking, but through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE! We know we can get him baptized this month! Pray for him! We are hoping to have a lesson with him and Presidente and La Hermana. 2 misioneras and THE POWERHOUSE OF THE PRESIDENT! So nice that we can do that... since they are soo close to us! It was such a miracle to have THREE investigators come to conference. I thanked my Heavenly Father for the miracles that we have been able to see here in Villa Mitre. I am very, very happy. 

- Ok so the cable wasn't working for the English missionaries, but luckily we had the office with computers so it was me, and yup, you guessed it, NINE Elders crammed by one computer watching conference. Me and all the Elders. Yup. 

-HOW BOUT THAT MISSION AGE!!!!! I was stoked! I know that I was supposed to come at 21, but HOW GREAT FOR YOU FUTURE SISTERS! MEGAN, Jake, Gavin and Hunter!!! ARE YOU SO STOKED?!!!!  Such history! And now my grandkids will by like, "yeah, my grandma was one of the last sisters to leave at 21 on her mission..."  I have no doubt we will get a stronger Army of missionaries with MORE SISTERS!!! WOO! 

- Ok SO I LOVED CONFERENCE. LOVED IT. Is it just me or does it get BETTER EVERY YEAR! I loved how President Monson asked us to take an inventory on the blessings that we have in our lives, big and small. I AM SO VERY BLESSED!! SERIOUSLY!!! Did everyone notice the theme was mentioned about 2 times that we must DO and BECOME??? LOVE THAT! I also Loved Pres. Eyring's talk, how God will NEVER hide from us. We put up spiritual pavilions that hide us from Him. I testify that He NEVER stops caring, WE are the ones that have to reach out to HIM first. He will never take away that agency. I love Pres. Eyring. My favorite, of course was Elder Holland´s. I listened to the Feed my SHeep talk in the MTC and I was SO HAPPY TO HEAR IT AGAIN. All of us missionaries in the office were like... whoa. afterwards. HE´S SO POWERFUL. Everytime I don´t want to get out of bed, or I would rather throw the covers over my head and not go out to work because sometimes it's just really hard, the thought has always crossed my mind, a little, silent "Cydnee. Do you love me?" But now it's going to be Elder Holland's voice, "CYDNEE. DO. YOU. LOVE. ME?" Yes, Lord, I love thee. And I will get out of my bed and onto my knees and pray for the strength I need to take on the day." I LOVED that talk. Can't wait to listen to it again. I hope you all thought of me when you stood and sang "Called to Serve." I stood there in the office with 9 Elders, singing that song and thinking of y'all singing with me. Remember you don't have to wear a plaque to be a missionary.

SHOUTOUTS!!! Leah dear! I'm so sorry I forgot to say happy birthday! I hope that it was great! I miss you cutie pie! Happy birthday this week to REBECCA SERNA!!! And to Tía Jeni! And to Taci Fernuik! Hope you all have great days. Tay! I got your HP dear elder and I DIIEEEED! HP for life! Kris and Paige, I quite enjoyed your self portraits of me. Way to keep the roomie tradish going. HIATTS! Thanks for the JAM!! When I opened it, Hnas Vawdrey and Carsen were like IS THAT REAL JAM???  It's heaven!!! I splurged on sliced bread (um 18 pesos THANK YOU) and enjoyed myself a PB&J on my Bday. BEST MEAL EVER!!! Zander, thank you for the message! Send some pics of the kids through email! 


Hermana Squire
 pic 1: Vawdrey and Carsen saying THANKS DENNIS FOR THE BIRTHDAY LUNCH!!
pic 2: Me with Linco, Leguizamon, and Alvarez, Pixton and Israelsen in the background at zone conf..
pic 3. Vawdrey made me a bday cake!!!
pic 4. Zone conference

I'm OLD! I'm UGGGH Like the Crypt Keeper!!!!!!

Hey you people whom I love so DEARLY!

If you can guess what movie that´s from, we´re BFFs. WOW CAN I JUST SAY I FEEL SO LOVED!!???? Ok wow. I´m 22. I also completed 8 months in the mission TODAY! Way to kill two birds with one stone!! I FEEL SO DANG LOVED!

- Ok so this is what went down on my bday. WE HAD A ZONE CONFERENCE! What better could I have asked for!??  But first. I was a good girl and waited until this morning to open presents. I was so touched at the stack of cards I got! Seriously! Made my day, and it was more than I could have ever asked for. Just about cried, thanks. I got some sweet cards from my companion and from my companions de pension.(**apartment). THEN we left for zone conference. I got to see Hna Israelsen, Linco and Leguizamón and got some birthday wishes from them and a bunch of hugs. Mom, NO I did not wear the "Birthday Girl" badge to conference, because you know me and attention.... but it didn´t make any difference because I got a whole bunch anyway!! Right after lunch, we were all chatting and waiting for the conference to start back up again. I was up front, chatting with some Hermanas, when presidente was like "Attention! We have an Hermana here...." and that's when I was like "Shoot!!!!" and tried to sneak away, but I got trapped........ "...that has a birthday today!!!" And then the two zones sang happy birthday to me, or rather, "Se lo cumpla feliz", complete with clapping. I almost DIED of embarrassment!! But, I did feel loved. Now, I´m all spiritually uplifted and edified and I´ve got some ganas(motivation) to get out and teach some people!

- Zone conference was AMAZING!! We learned more ways how to better ourselves as missionaries through planning better, and having more desires to work. Sometimes it´s hard to have desire when you get so many rejections, especially when you leave the house thinking, "well, here we go. Let´´s get some more rejections."  BUT I've been trying to be better. I'm trying to leave the house with more faith, and a vision for miracles. Our area is TINY TINY TINY, and I feel like all these people have already had their chance. But there is always that ONE person that you haven't talked to. One person who is ready. ALL you have to do is LOOK. All you have to do is have faith that God will put them in your path. That's why it´s important to talk to EVERYONE! Experience time. So on Thursday, we combed our area book, praying about old investigators. We felt good about 3-4 in every sector of our area. Friday and Saturday, we passed by the majority and eliminated a few, and than the rest, we couldn´t find. I was struggling with the lack of success we've seen here in Villa Mitre II. On Saturday, I read through my letter book of all the letters y´all wrote me before the mission (I didn't read ahead mom, don´t worry :-)). Then I prayed more fervently than I ever have before. I prayed for strength, for courage, and the faith to see miracles. Then I wiped the tears off my face and we headed to work. Nothing happened on Saturday, but the miracles came on Sunday. We went to look for an investigator at church and guess what? She didn´t answer. So we trudged up our dusty hill ( I swear, it is SO DUSTY HERE! It´s ridiculous. It´s like sand in some areas) and made it to church. That´s when the miracles happened. Luis, our investigator, came with his girlfriend who is menos activo. THEY STAYED THE WHOLE TIME! He needs to get divorced and they need to get married, but there is progression. Hernan, a menos activo and x missionary came too!! We've passed by there two times, and he came to church, after about a year of inactivity. WOOO! Miracles. Then. That night, we passed by another x investigator, one that was on our "feel good list" and she was there! SHE IS A MEMBER WITHOUT KNOWING IT! Her name is Paula. She had investigated a little bit with her husband before he died. She LOVES the Book of Mormon and still reads it. She goes to a evangelica church and her pastor was giving her beef about the LDM,(Book of Mormon) and she said, "If you would just READ it you'd find out that it's true, and that it's similar to the Bible. I understand the Bible better because of the Book of Mormon. And I was like "IS THIS REAL LIFE????" She said, "I've seen you chicas walking by my house and I wondered, why haven't they stopped by me yet? Just before you came, I was praying. I told God I felt alone, and that I needed someone or something. I looked out the window and I saw you." And she pointed to me. "I thought you came alone because I only saw your head over my fence, but then I saw this bajita (short one)  with you when I came outside". This woman already has such a strong testimony of the LDM. She knows what we teach is true. She´s just afraid to leave her church, and I know that her pastor is going to hound her. SO PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pray SO HARD for Paula. That her pastor will leave her alone and will not influence her decision. I cannot believe this miracle. I am sitting here, full of love and the Spirit, grateful that God has blessed me with this miracle. I know that the Lord will put us right where we need to be. I know that if we are worthy of His Spirit, He will guide us to where we need to be.

-We almost got eaten by two dogs this week. Freakin perros. (**dogs)

Shoutouts: TO ALL OF YOU WHO SENT ME BDAY CARDS!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I felt so much love today (and a little trunkiness) BUT THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH! Flip, I have the best family and friends IN THE WORLD. Ty Ty, Corb and Steven... WHEN DID YOU BECOME MEN??! Ha! I love you guys! Grandpa and Grandma Squire thank you for the card and such! Wow, I can´t thank every SINGLE one of you but I WISH I could!  THANK YOU! Venice, Haddy, Paige, Kris... your pics are gorgeous. You're all tan and such! Tyler W. Standifird!!!! Bout time you wrote me you goober. I expect better from YOU these next few months!! Peterson family! Thank you for the package! HAVEN'T OPENED IT YET!! Grandpa Serna, Muchisimas gracias! Tio Hector & Alice, Thank you! Grandma Hobson- I have become the popular sister missionary here through your cookies. Just look at the picture below. Elders offer me FAVORS in exchange for your cookies. When I brought them to the office last week, Elder Costanzi (glasses in front) looked like a kid on Christmas day. They took this picture and it is now the desktop of Elder Costanzi´s computer. Thanks for making me extra popular! EVERYONE!!!!!!! WOW!!!! Thank you for EVERYTHING. Thank you for loving me so much!!! I love you allllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!  Work hard, and pray harder!

Hermana 22-year-old Squire

FOTOS:

1. Bday decor. Thanks mom!

2. I´m twenty twooooo.... and my hair has never been so blondeeee

3. Hna Vawdrey and I... with our cool party favors!

4. MY CARDS! THANK YOU EVERYONE!!

5. Office elders and their cookies. Almost cried laughing.

Got Me Some Chocolate :-)

Hey PEEPS,

-OK I know you're all DYING to know who my companion is. Well here you go. Her name is Hermana Batista. She's frommmmm........ PANAMA!!! doo doo dooo PANAMA-HA. doo doo doo PANAMA!!! doo dooo PANAMA-HA! (please tell me you're all singing Van Halen right now... dad, are you super proud of me that I knew that Van Halen sings that song?!! ) I really have been singing that song in my head for the past few days. Not good to have an 80´s rock song in your head while trying to preach the gospel. :-)

ANYWAY! She´s 26, and the only member in her family, in fact, her mom didn't even want her to go on a mission. BUT SHE´S HERE! She got baptized 2 years ago. Hna Batista is very sweet and ready to work and study and practice. And that´s really all you can ask for as a trainer. And I'm STOKED to improve my Spanish!
- Speaking of training... HI! I'M A TRAINER NOW:  What the? Everyone says that you really learn so much and you surprise yourself with how much you really do know. And that has happened exactly. I have to explain a lot of things and I surprise myself with my knowledge. I'm like "hey, I can do this. I know how to be a missionary."  We had a capacitación on Wednesday (what's that in English? workshop? English skills= waning) and the A.P.'s (**assistants to the President) talked to us about how great our responsibility is as trainers to help these new missionaries develop the skills necessary to become EXCELLENT missionaries. I was freaking out like almost the whole time. Especially since everyone there had already trained or had a year in the mission. I thought "WAHHH THIS MISSIONARY´S FUTURE IS IN MY HANNNDDDSS!"  Can you tell Presidente to PRAY AGAIN? I think he received the revelation wrong. But all the office Elders were just way nice to me and said, "Hermana, Presidente didn't choose you, GOD DID! You are CAPA! You can DO THIS! You will be FINE!" Ha, so then I calmed down. I wasn't necessarily freaking out but I guess I had a look of terror and stress on my face. BUT I'm doing great now. I love training. And I love that we get this extra time to study and practice. 

-Ok, JTs "Sexy Back" song is now playing in the cyber. Hna Vawdrey and I just exchanged looks and now we can't stop laughing. I love Argentina and their love for American music. They ask me to translate sometimes and I'm like... "Um. No. I'm not translating THAT!"

- Well.  We don´t have any investigators that are progressing. We have a few that need to get married though. We are really struggling finding people that will progress and COME TO THE DANG CHURCH!!! My word. I feel like I have been working really hard and being obedient but I'm not seeing any fruits from my labors. I'm not seeing any baptisms. It's tough when all your leaders are like BAPTIZE! BAPTIZE! BAPTIZE! and you're like what am I doing wrong? It's a little discouraging, but you gotta keep going. Gotta keep knocking on those doors and stopping people in the street, hoping to find the ones who are ready. The ones who have been praying for you to come and help them change their lives. But in the meantime, you gotta take those doors that are shut in your face, people talking to you from their windows, and LOTS of rejections. I was reading in Alma 5 (LOVE THIS CHAPTER) and in verses 

14-15 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? 15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?" 

I have realized that is what I need to do. I need to look forward with an eye of faith and keep going, having faith that the Lord will put people in my path that need me.
-Also in that chapter, it talks about humility in vs 26-29 

"26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now? 27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins? 28 Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.29 Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless." 

Being a trainer has made me realize that I have to rely on the Lord more. It was like when I was made trainer, it was the Lord's way of saying, Ok Hermana Squire, enough relying on yourself. It's time to rely on Me. I've spent a lot more time on my knees, praying for help and guidance, and for strength to take on the day. I need the Lord's direction every day, so I can receive the inspiration of where to go and who we should see. Being humble is not a sign of weakness.

-SHOUTOUTS: Adrienne, got your email THANK YOU! LOVE YOU! Fernuiks, thank you for the bday card!! 

HAPPY BDAY TO MY BFF JENNY!!! 

And to Sister Thurman and Brianna Hall this week! 

GRANDPA! QUE BUENO QUE SU OPERACION FUE BUENISIMO!

Love ya! Peeps, next time you get this, I´ll be one year older (and hopefully wiser too). HAVE A GREAT WEEK AND KNOW I LOVE YA!!

Hey. Work hard, and pray harder. P.S. now they are playing Lady Gaga. WOO. 

Hermana Squire

 Dad, can't wait for Mustang Monthly!  Love ya!!!

Mi Nueva Compañera: Hermana Batista de Panama!!

Well, I Got My Giant Bowl of CHOCOLATE Ice Cream!!

Hello all you lovely people,

Name: Hermana Cydnee Squire

Area: Villa Mitre 2

Companion: Unknown

Status: Almost a "mom", aka "pregnant" (in mission lingo)

What that means to all of you....

I´M GOING TO TRAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Someone please come pick me up off the ground because I have passed out in disbelief. OH. MY. LANDS. I'm going to TRAIN A BRAND NEW MISSIONARY! What the..?? 

Ok. Story time. So. On Saturday, we got transfer calls in the middle of studies... I was asleep in bed because I'm a lazy missionary... haha NOT!  I got sick the day before with a terrible sinus infection so I was sleeping it off. Elder Araya (our DL--District Leader) called us and we put it on alta voz (speaker) and all four of us were listening in. All he said was "ok hermana, prepare your bags because you're going to Pigüe with Hna Baker! And your companion is going to train!!" But he didn't say any names! So we were like "wait!!"!  "WHO ELDER!!!!!" And he said "Hna Israelsen, you're going to Pigüe! Hna Squire! YOU'RE GOING TO TRAIN!! WAHHHOOOO!!!" All the hermanas flipped out and were jumping on me and hugging me and cheering, and I was like... uggghhh I think I'm going to be even more sick!! I was in such shock! This was my thought process: "Oh my gosh. I have 4 transfers. I've been in Argentina for 5 months. I've only had one companion. I'm not ready for this! I'm not ready to be a 'mom'!!" So went my thoughts. I'm still frazzled and such. 

There are 6 missionaries coming, 3 Hermanas, 3 Elders, ALL LATINOS! WOOOO! I GET MY LATINA COMPANION! But I don't know who she is yet. It's supposed to be a surprise. I'll pick her up on Wednesday. So I've been flippin' out for the past two days. Just feeling way inadequate and things. But if the Lord thinks that I'm ready, then I'm ready. We read 1 Nefi 17 with a menos activo and verses 50 and 51 really helped me. Nefi is explaining to his brothers that if the Lord can work mighty miracles like parting the Red Sea and helping the Children of Israel escape, he can help Nefi build a ship: 

"50:  And I said unto them: ^aIf God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done.

51 "And now, if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot ^ainstruct me, that I should build a ship?" Or how is it that he cannot instruct me to train a new missionary? I'm scared out of my MIND and I know I'm just about to enter into the refiners fire of my mission. That this experience, training AND training in a tough area will shape and mold me into the missionary that the Lord knows I can be. 

I'm scared for it, but I'm happy to know that the Lord thinks I'm ready for the refiners fire.  I have been praying for change and an opportunity to progress, and the Lord has given it to me. Not in the way that I thought, because I was 90% sure I would be leaving. But He is putting his confidence in me to do this. And with his help, I can do it. 

Like the Lord said to Joshua after he was made prophet after Moses, in Joshua 1: 5 and 9 : 5. "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with ^aMoses, so I will be ^bwith thee: I will not fail thee, nor ^cforsake thee.9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the ^aLord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

 Um hello, how great is this promise? I know the Lord will be with me wherever I go. I just hope and pray I can be a great trainer and work for miracles in Villa Mitre 2.

- Ok, so how I got sick. The climate here changed OVERNIGHT, I swear. One day it was normal and dry, the next, HOT and HUMID with 1000000000 mosquitos. If you didn't know, mosquitos LOVE ME. LOVE. ME. I have 32 bites. THIRTY TWO. And they all swell up to the size of silver dollars. OH MY WORD. I've been itching to the point that I have bruises all over my legs. It's getting to the time to ditch the tights... and I have the most unattractive, white, bruised, mosquito bitten legs. Put on your sunglasses Bahia, the white girl is ditchin' the tights!! So because of the change of the climate, I got super sick. As in 101 fever, sore throat and congestion up the wahzoo (haha wahzoo. I like that word). That's why I was in bed for transfer calls. I'm doing better, I still sound like Squidward when I talk. I'm nervous about summer... everyone says it is SUPER HOT AND SUPER HUMID in Bahia. Hope we don't die. Don't worry mom, I'll take water with me.

- Elder Caicedo left! So sad! He said to us in English yesterday at lunch "Seesters. I'm going to miss eating lunch with you. Remember you have to eat more" Definitely won't miss that kid trying to sneak more food on our plates! Little goober. But we will miss our Columbian and all his crazy energy!

Shoutouts! Ashley! Sorry I missed your bday! Hope it was great! Stefan! Happy Birthday!!!! Also to Jake Dunn! LITTLE LACIE WELCH IS SO CUTE! And Rippy family! Congrats on your baby! And congrats to the Thurmans too!! 

Send some extra prayers up for me this week, people. I'm gonna need em. Sorry this email is way unorganized and stuff, but it's all I got! I love you all!

Hermana Squire.... or Mamá Squire

Parents: PLEASE SEND SOMETHING TO REPEL MOSQUITOS TO WEAR ON MYSELF: I don´t want to smell like I'm camping all day!!! THANKS!

MY PRINGLES PEOPLE!!!!!

HOLA MY PEOPLE!!

How are ya? Fall is around the corner for you all and I'm hopping into SPRING!! WAHOO! 

-Well here it is, the last week of the transfer and I'M SO READY FOR SOME CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM!!!!!!!! (if you know what I mean).

- I've started noticing more funny things about Argentina that just make me love it more... like during the siesta little camionetas FULL of cartons of eggs pass through the streets and a man on a megaphone yells LE VENDO HUEVOS, HUEVOS BARATOS, BARATOS BARATOS (I'll sell you eggs, cheap eggs, cheap cheap) But its more like LEVENDOHUEVOHUEVOBARATOBARATOBARRRATTTTOOOOOOOO! Jaja, I LOVE IT!! Then there are these little horse drawn carts that go and pickup cardboard boxes that people leave out... just a horse drawn cart in the middle of the city. NBD. (**no big deal)

- So Elder Caicedo will be leaving this week which is way sad. We've grown to be good friends with that little Columbian. He's trying to learn English and works with 3 American missionaries in his area so we always make him practice. He says the funniest things. Last funny thing he said to me: "Hermana Squire you have to eat more cake!" When I didn't finish my postre. We all were dying. He's just as focused as ever and I swear he wont get trunky until his plane ride home. We'll miss our little Columbian!!

- We have a microwave!!!!! Oh MY!!  We are now getting up to date on things here!! We got it and we were like... "ok, now what do we do?" I've been warming up my oatmeal on the stove still because I keep forgetting we have it!! Wonder how things will be like when I get home, when I have a stove that is electric, a dishwasher, A DRYER, and carpet. I won´t know what to do with myself!!!!!

- So I had the wonderful experience of seeing Amanda TWO TIMES this week. On Thursday, she came for a doctor's appointment and she came to see us! It was the best! She is now COUNSELOR IN THE RELIEF SOCIETY! Ahhh nothing is better than to see your converts progress after baptism... getting callings and preparing for the temple. I got to see her AGAIN on SUNDAY along with all my PRINGLES FAMILY! Gigi and Melisa, my YW, came running up to us yelling HERMANASSS!! AHHH! I just hugged everyone so tight! I´ve missed everyone SO MUCH! Amanda has her temple reccomend too! AHH! Presidente Wilt was like "how are my dear angels??"  Oh my. I miss little Pringles.

- The temple rededication was so great. On Saturday, we got to see the celebration and see all the traditional dress and dances. I LOVED IT! I just was grinning like a goon for love of these people and this culture and this country. I really think I got a little peek into the love that our Heavenly Father has for them. I got tears in my eyes thinking how much I love them. I felt a little bit of pride too like, "I love my country." Then I was like, "wait, I´m American... then I said "NO IMPORTA! SOY ARGENTINA EN MI CORAZON!" (***NO MATTER! I'M ARGENTINIAN IN MY HEART!")  I also saw Elise Leavitt with the missionaries!!! Ah! Sunday was great too! So spiritual and I love President Eyring. Elder Christofferson did the dedicatory prayer in Spanish. Loved it!! Such a great weekend!!

- We also had our mini missionary with us on Sat, Yanet. She's 16 and super cool! She loved being with us and loved living a day in the life of a missionary. We had studies in the morning and left like normal! We didn't have tons of success, but she loved the experience. 

- Quote from Elder Oaks: Testimony is to know and to feel, conversion is to do and to become." My dear friends and family, are we truly converted? We may have testimonies, but what are you doing about it? What are you doing to become better disciples of Christ?

- I have another quote for yall. It's by Bruce R. McConkie: "I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my master and He has chosen me to represent Him. To stand in His place, to say and do what He himself would say and do if He personally were ministering to the very people to whom He has sent me. My voice is His voice, and my acts are His acts, my words are His words and my doctrine is His doctrine. my commission is to do what He wants done. To say what He wants said. To be a living modern witness in word and deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous latter-day work."  How great is my calling!!!!  I love being a missionary!!! We all know the calling process... the apostles sit in a room and a picture of the missionary comes up and by pure revelation, we are assigned. I have no doubt whatsoever of where I have been called. God knew I needed to be here, with these people, loving them and teaching them. There isn't one day that I am not proud of my calling. I am so proud to be a missionary and a representative for our Savior.

.
Shoutouts! KELSEY OH MY GOSH YOURE GETTING MARRIED!!! AHHH!!!!!! I'm way stoked for you and your ring is GORGEOUS! My word... will I EVER EVER, be a bridesmaid!??? Sheesh. 

Jk!!! I am BEYOND happy for you! 

Happy Birthday to TYTY!!!!!!!!!!!!

And Sister Wooden! Hope your day was great!! 

Happy Birthday to Mikael too!! 15... oh my, I'm so old. I remember watching you learn how to walk. Love ya kid. 

Jenny! Thanks for the message! I miss ya! 

SANDII! Thanks for writing, glad that Elly is finally outta diapers!! 

Serna's in VIRGINIA! I sure love getting letters from my little monkeys! I love you kiddos! Love you too Robert and Julie :). 

Abuelo Serna! Espero que todo salga bien con su gallbladder. Estaré orando para usted.

LISTEN YOU PEOPLE! I LOVE YOU! I hope you have a great week and know a little sister missionary in Argentina loves you and prays for you! 

Hermana Squire

Foto 1: Us and our PRINGLES PEOPLE at the stake center for the rededication!!!
Foto 2: For the love of ARGENTINA!!! (the INSIDE of one of my shoes....)
Foto 3: The dogs in Argentina are either 1. really ugly. or 2. really fat. This one we affectionately named Jefe---Chief.