I Cannot Say The Smallest Part Which I Feel

Lucia, our sweet neighbor!

Hello people!
I hope everyone is well and happy and having a great February. But now let's talk about Puerto.

- We had 4 baptisms on Saturday. YUP! FOUR! Well 4.25 because Suni is pregnant... but anyway! Emanuel got baptized!!!! STORY TIME! So, Emanuel was not feeling so sure about his testimony about Joseph Smith. He's the kind of guy that wants to know EVERYTHING before he makes a decision. He isn't too focused on feelings, but more on logic. One day, he  flipped open the Lorenzo Snow book to chapter three, and read the story of how Pres. Snow got baptized more for logical reasons and less for spiritual experiences. We told him that this was God's answer and that He had to do the same, trusting that God would help him gain a testimony with time. He was willing to continue to go to church and keep all the commitments, but he had Suni next to him who always cried when she felt the Spirit and is just a super spiritual person in general. So we're guessing that he thought that he had to feel the same. But, we reasoned with him, logically of course (he also studied philosophy... and so did Hna Mansilla... so she was able to reason with him on HIS level), and after his Baptismal Interview, and a chat with us, he said he would do it. Wow. A true miracle. I know that through his act of faith, he will receive his answer and his testimony. 

Saturday rolled around and we went to fill the font, and guess what?? We only had cold water. The calefón(water heater) was being finicky. So we warmed up a huge pot of water and started filling the font. But that wasn't gonna work. Luckily, the Bishop came and fixed it and we were able to have warm water for the baptism. The service was really beautiful, and we had about 40 people there. Jony got baptized first, then Suni, then Emanuel, then Laura. It was such a happy happy Day!! 

I later read in Alma 26, where Ammon is praising and glorying in God.  "16 Therefore, let us ^aglory, yea, we will ^bglory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his ^cmercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." 

I really cannot express how I feel, other than happy, joyful, relieved, peaceful...a mixture of a lot of good feelings. . It has been a goal for me in the mission to baptize a family, and the Lord prepared Suni, Emanuel and Jony for me. Suni has known about the church since elementary school, and this was her third time investigating. And I got to be the one to teach her and watch her and her family enter into the waters of baptism. The Lord has allowed me to teach this family, and watch them prepare to enter the temple. And I don't care WHEN they go, I am coming down to Buenos Aires and I WILL BE THERE when they get sealed as a family for time and all eternity!!! 

- So we've been having some water problems again in our house. Our water heater shut off for some reason on Saturday, and we couldn't get it lit back up until today. So yup, we bathed with pots again. I'll be relieved when I go home and everything works and isn't broken... Argentina I love you, but I don't like that everything breaks easily. Also, the faucet in the shower is loose, so the water keeps on running ALL DAY. We found out where to turn the water off so when we're not using the water, we turn it off. Oh the mission. Someone should be by tonight to come fix it! 

- Well, I'm gonna be a grandma! Hna. Batista is going to train, and she'll be off to Bahia tomorrow to go pick up her hija! ("daughter") The first batch of the youngsters has arrived! I kinda have a sneaky feeling I'm going to be training when this never ending 9 week transfer finally ends... We'll see. 

- I can't believe that they opened 58 new missions!!! Wow! The work is moving forward!!! I'm so happy that the Lord has allowed me to be apart of it!

-Since I am at loss for words and don't know how to explain exactly how I feel, I will close with the words of Ammon in Alma 26:

 28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

 29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their ^asynagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been ^bstoned, and taken and bound with ^cstrong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

 30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our ^ajoywould be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

 31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the ^afruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are ^bmany; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.

 35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all ^apower, ^ball wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a ^cmerciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

 36 Now if this is ^aboasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a ^bbranch of the tree of Israel, and has been ^clost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, ^dwanderers in a strange land.

 37 Now my brethren, we see that God is ^amindful of every ^bpeople, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

Shoutouts: Tyler, thank you for the email! And Lucas is SO ADORABLE in his tie! 

Happy Birthday this week to TAY BAY BAY!!! Hope you have a fantastic day! And think. This is the last time I'm gonna miss your bday. 

Happy Birthday to my cousin GREG too! Happy birthday cousin Andrew. Hope you have a great day! 

Tia Alice, I forgot to say thanks for getting those Christmas cards together! That was way nice! Big hugs to all of you on the farm!! 

Hey! I love you all very much! 

I am very, very happy right now in my mission. Like Ammon said, "My joy is full."

H. C. S

(Hermana Cydnee Squire)

Familia Villalba with Suni and family

Mother of a convert from Salta. She makes the BEST empanadas!

After you have a year in the mission, ironing goes like this!