Emergency Transferred...

Hello Everyone!

-Well. This last week was probably the longest and toughest of my mission so far. I´ll tell you why. It all started with Wednesday. We got a call around 1pm from our mission leader telling us that Mariana had passed away that morning. It was so sad. But she was suffering so much. The comforting thought is that she went from this world completely clean. One month ago today she was baptized... and that baptism was a miracle. She suffered so much, but knew that baptism was necessary. She knew it and we all knew it. So she went through with it, and now she is resting in paradise. That I know for sure. I'm so grateful that the Lord let me teach her. It was an amazing experience, and she is an example of perseverance.

- Later on Wednesday, we had Juan Enrique's baptismal interview. TODO BIEN. He passed. On the way home in the remise, our district leader called us and said there was EMERGENCY TRANSFERS: WHATTT!! NOOOO! He said we would be leaving THE NEXT DAY. But we were like "NOO! We have a baptism on Sunday!" So after our Z.L.s (*zone leaders) talked to the A.P.S. (assistants to the President)... we were able to stay until Sunday. And we had time to say goodbye. They put Elders in this area and Hna Ibaña and I were assigned to TOAY, LA PAMPA (a different providence in Argentina) OPENING THE AREA FOR HERMANAS!!!! and Hna Batista and Hna Godoy got sent to Pigue. So the whole half of the week was spent preparing, saying goodbyes, packing, cleaning the pension, and writing up info about the area for the Elders. It was super sad saying goodbye. Especially to our ward mission team. The best ever. The girls cried. I'm not gonna lie, it blew. Emergency transfers blow. It's a big change to put in Elders. But the Lord knows what's best. 

- Juan got baptized!!! It was the best thing ever. He looked so cute in white, and was just grinning from ear to ear. It's been a long time since someone got baptized that wasn't a referral from members. So, it was a true miracle. Juan taught me that you are never too old to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is never too late. I know he's gonna be great.

- SO, here I am in Toay!  We left last night at 8:30 and got here at 8 in the MORNING.. well we arrived in Santa Rosa. I LOVE LA PAMPA!! It reminds me of Nevada or Arizona or Texas. Hopefully, I'll have more pictures of the Area next week. I think I'll be finishing my mission here and I'm pretty excited about it! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it already. 

Shoutouts; Happy Birthday Corb! And thanks for the email! :) 

Also thank you to Tio Hector for the email. 

Hope all is well. 

HEY I LOVE YALL! 

Have a great week. 

Hermana Squire

(******note from mama Squire: In a separate email, she wrote that Sister missionaries have not been in Toay---pronounced *toe-eye* since 2008. So she is super excited to be in an area that has not had hermanas for a long, long time.)

Familia Henrik

Graciela and Carlitos

Hermana Raventos & Gladis

Missionary Team in Puerto

Ward Misson Leader and his family

Barby, a ward missionary

With Estefy, FUTURE missionary!

Straight Up Miracles

Hello everyone!

- Well I've got a lot of exciting news! We got transfer calls on Saturday and we found out that Hermana Mansilla and I are both going to be training! She's going off to Dorrego and I'll be staying here in Puerto. I kinda had a feeling I'd be training again, so I'm excited! It'll be great to have an extra energy boost to finish off my mission training a nuevita.(newbie) We'll be heading off to Bahía tomorrow to go pick them up. I'm excited to train, but I'm sad I'm going to be leaving my Mansilla. Our companionship was perfect, and we never had problems. It was a dream and we had a lot of success together.

Sweet Mariana

-The other exciting news is that Mariana got baptized on Friday. That was a miracle in and of itself. Missionaries have been teaching her since August, but she never could get baptized because she was in and out of the hospital. She has cancer in the area where she sits... not to be graphic, but she has a lot of lesions and she's constantly in pain. Her legs are very weak and she can't walk anymore. Well, she got out of the hospital on Thursday, and the plans were set in motion to baptize her on Friday at 6. Her daughter was supposed to come home at 5 to help her change and get ready, but it turns out that she couldn't make it in time. We ran over there at 5:30, helped her change, and then the bishop, his son, and another hermano came and put her in a chair and carried her out to the taxi. They couldn't find a wheelchair in time, so they carried her on the chair the whole time. She was in so much pain... almost to the point of vomiting... I felt terrible. We got to the church and we had an hermana there who's a nurse. She helped her get into her clothes and ready for the baptism. There were two men waiting for her in the font, and two men who carried her in there on the chair. Luckily, she got baptized in one go and the nurse helped her change quickly. She was confirmed that same day. We all felt so bad that she was in so much pain, but she knew, and we all knew that this baptism was important for her salvation. I honestly don't know how much longer she's going to be with us. But we went to go see her Saturday and yesterday and she told us that when she got in the water,  the pain and fear left her. She was all smiles after that. It was so wonderful to be apart of this experience with Mariana. She is a special woman and so spiritual. The Lord really has blessed me here in Puerto.

- Yesterday we had stake conference. It was a broadcast for all of Argentina and it was AMAZING! Elder Bowen spoke (in Spanish) about the Holy Ghost and receiving revelation. Suni was there, and I think that talk was especially for her. He also talked about how when we "receive" the Holy Ghost when we are baptized it is a CHOICE if we receive it or not. It is also a CHOICE if we want it to stay with us or not. It was a great talk. Also, Elder Nelson spoke in Spanish! It was so special to see him. We felt like they were in the room with us. 

- Hermana Mansilla told me something yesterday that really humbled me. She and President are pretty close and he frequently talks to her about the Hermanas and how to help them. He confides in her with that type of stuff. Well, before I got here, he told her that he trusts all of the Hermanas, but there are some that he trusts in completely and unconditionally. Actually two. Hermana Mansilla, and me. He said that we are the pillars of the mission. I was honestly like... what?? She said that basically he knows he can put us with anyone and anywhere and give us any assignment knowing that we would do it and succeed. I was floored and humbled at this confidence that President has in me. Our mission leader also told me that he had a lot of faith in my capabilities and knows I can do a lot of good in Puerto. I hope I don't sound like I'm bragging, because I really do feel so humbled... and I have a drive to prove myself to President and to our Mission leader. Hermana Mansilla and I talked about it later... how Pres told her this before I came here... we think he put us together for a reason. Actually we know it was for a reason. The investigators we taught and baptized in 9 weeks were no ordinary investigators. A family, an engineer, a psychologist, a woman with cancer...  They were tough to teach with a lot of tough questions and issues, but we did it. So now that we completed our purpose together, we're off to teach new missionaries how to have success. 

- Well, how special is it that today, on March 25, 10 years since my brother passed away, I get to write you all and give my little tribute. I don't know where I would be without the special lessons I learned from my brother. Lessons on love, service, patience, endurance, and long suffering. I don't think he knew that he was preparing me to serve a mission, long before I even knew I would go. He is busier than I am on the other side, and I feel that he is approving of my work here in the mission. He's not far, I know that for sure. I am blessed to have the family that I do. I am blessed to be a missionary, sharing the news that families are forever. And what better example do I have to share than that of my own family? I know families are forever. I know that MY family is forever. And man, I'm grateful for it. So to all of you, be sure to send my parents lots of love today, since I'm not there to do so.

Shoutouts: Happy Birthday to Andrea Corbett! Grandma and Grandpa Squire, I haven't been getting your emails! Anna, I haven't gotten pics of Evelyn in a while! I don't know if they are coming through! 

Everyone! Our mission rules on emails have changed! I now can receive emails from friends and all family members! So send away to cydnee.squire@myldsmail.net! You guys are the best!

With lots of love,
Hermana SQUIREEEEEE

Had Subway heaven today! With a real pickle!!!!

Our District in Puerto

Where Did Summer Go?

Hey goobers,

Listen, I hope you aren't offended by the name "goober". It's really a term of endearment because you aren't just any goobers... you're MY goobers. And I love ya. The end.

- SOOO we hit a cold front here in Mar Del Plata... We hit autumn super fast, and now I'm sleeping with 2 blankets. I'm scared for winter. I just keep flashing back to sleeping with thermals under my PJs, wearing like 3 layers of clothes, sleeping with six blankets, and how cold it is when the sun goes down. Eeek. And it's gonna be worse since I'm by the ocean.

- SO! Suni has a calling! She is now secretary in the YW presidency! How exciting! She was really happy about it! I'm sure that Emanuel will get a calling here soon.

 
- Mariana... well, she's not doing super great. Good thing is, she quit smoking! She hasn't smoked in a week! Keep praying for her to resist the temptation. So, she has her good days and her bad days, and when it's a bad day, she's in a lot of pain, and her legs are weak. We are thinking of talking to the bishop about baptizing her when she feels good. Like, call her everyday and when she can walk and isn't in so much pain, we fill up the font and do it. The poor thing is in such pain.

- So the new hermana is here! I'm a grandma! Her name is Hermana Godoy and she's from Corrientes, Argentina. And she's 19! She's great! 

Our good bye celebration for Elder Proctor. Hermana Godoy is next to me.

Right now there are 4 of us in Puerto. But we're doing something new. We are working as a team. That way there is less competition between the hermanas and less between the members as well. We share the investigators and share the baptism. But it really isn't OUR baptism. It's God´s! So, we can cover a lot more ground and find a lot more people when we work as a team. It requires more humility and more charity, but hey, we're all trying to develop Christlike attributes!

- Shoutouts: Tio Hector, thank you for the email! Also, thank you to Susan! Love you both. TAHNEE!! You're getting married! Congratulations! I'm super happy for you! HAPPY birthday to Paige this week! Hope it's great. 

Hope you all have a great week!

H. Squire

Cold front hit Mar del Plata... and the more that time goes on in the mission, the less important my hair and clothes become. plus, there are a lot of gross men here, like I wanna give THEM anything to look at, psh. Dig the fake glasses??

ONE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey

Ladies and Gents, this missionary hit her one year mark this past weekend!!!!! ONEEEE YEEEEAAAARRR! Can you believe it? Woo! Well, it wasn't too eventful of a day, but Hna Mansilla and Hna Batista made it special. They dressed up as a 1 and a 2 for 12 months, and put clown noses on. It was super fun!!! 

Pointing to ONE YEAR mark on calendar that my mama made me!

SOOO here's a little list of things that I have learned/done in the 

last 12 months of my mission:

- I have drank a lot of water that I probably shouldn't have

- eaten a lot of food I didn't want to

- eaten MORE than I wanted to

- Have had great companions, and learned to love each one.

- Have had baptisms with each companion, so far

- Gained weight (BOOO!)

- Lost weight (yahoo! now let's stay that way!!!!!!)

- Met amazing people that I consider to be family

- Taught hundreds of lessons

- Talked to strangers in the street

- Entered strangers' homes like it was NBD(no big deal)

- Missed several weddings (booo!!)

- Been chased by a few dogs

- Had my skirt RIPPED by a dog

- Learned a little bit of Spanish

- Knocked on a lot of doors and clapped at a lot of gates

- Received very creative excuses as to why someone can't listen to us

- Got a few rejections... OK, a LOT of rejections

- Felt the Spirit stronger than I ever have before

- Heard words leaving my mouth in grammatically correct sentences with words I didn't even think I knew how to say

- Borne my testimony every day

- Strengthened my testimony about this gospel

- Walked endless miles

- Grown closer to mi Salvador y a mi Padre Celestial (***my Savior and Heavenly Father)

And many more. To repeat what cousin Greg wrote to me in my letter book, this has been the "MOST year" so far in my life. And I am happy, happy, happy!!!!! Even though I'm TIRED. But it's all good.

OK, SO WE HAVE THE BEST INVESTIGATORS! We had ELEVEN PEOPLE IN CHURCH YESTERDAY! Excuse me, are we in Lamanite land?? That does NOT happen, especially in Bahia. And they all came by themselves or with members. WOW! I wish I had time to explain all of them, but I'll give y'all the DL.(down low) 

Suni and Emanuel. This is the third time that Suni has investigated the church. When she read 3Nefi 11, she got emotional because the people didn't hear the voice of the Father until the third time. She felt that this third time is HER time. She has a testimony already and said  "I know I need to join this church". Her husband comes to church with her, but doesn't have a strong testimony. We're working on that. Both of them and Jony, Suni´s son (10) have baptismal dates for the 23. THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!  Our lessons are super spiritual and they are SO smart so they ask great questions. Then we have Laura. She has like 6 asistencias (church attendances) but wants to go slow. She said in our last lesson "How do I have to prepare to get baptized??" HELLO! WE CAN HELP YOU! She wants to get baptized at the end of March, but we are confident that she can make it to the 23 too. Then we have Mariana. She has cancer, and is very sick and in so much pain, but is determined to get baptized. She needs to quit smoking and make it to the 23 as well. PRAY FOR THESE PEOPLE PLEASE!

-So there was a HUGE storm on Friday. LIKE HUGE!!!!! We were close to the house so we hid inside while it passed. But the thunder sounded like CANNONS. AND then it hailed huge ice-rocks! One hit me in the head and it HURT! (see pic). But wow, it was CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shoutouts: Happy Birthday this week to Eric Dunn!! 

Aunt Lori, thank you for the email! Glad to hear an update from the G-Lo, especially about the Super Bowl half-time show. 

Thank you to Sister Wirig for the email, too! 

LOVE YOU ALL!

H. S.

Milk in a bag....yeah.......we do.

Our new missionary phone! It replaced the old brick that we had before!! yay!!

Just a little hole in my shoe!