To Tupungato Too!

Dearest Familiares Mios: 

I was not expecting that one. En serio, this transfer is una locura! Hermana Cortès, my little hijita is staying in Uspallata, and recieving TWO companions! She`s gonna be in a trio! Which will be great, because there`s a lot to do in that Area. Mutual, Gospel Principles class, Open Chapel every week, tons of members to activate, it`s a handful. And Hermana Cannon is going to Tupungato! I haven`t heard a whole lot about it, so you`re all going to have to wait till next week when I get to know it, because SURPRISE! I`m washing area again! And this wednesday I`m going to Mendoza to pick up my Trainee number two! AND to top it all off with a delicious red cherry, I`ll be a sister training leader as well!  

What do I have to say about all this? Let`s just say it can only be described in spanish. "Gaaaaaawowowowaahahahaha!!!!!" Oh wait, I guess that`s sweedish? Meh. Who knows. 

Anyway, so that`s going to be super exciting. I`m very sad to be leaving my beautiful Uspallata. The little branch has been such a joy, and it will be hard to leave, but I`m excited for the adventure ahead. 

So anyway, hows about this past week? 

Well, Monday and Teusday the Hermanas came for intercambios, and we spent Pday together exploring the beauty of Uspallata, so that was fun. 

This week we met with Edelmira again, but only for a few minutes because this guy came to fix her car, so we had to go. But, it didn`t go too well. She just had a friend pass away, and she and her sister were talking about that the whole time with lots of anger and hurt. It was hard to hear. She said that she hasn`t been reading the book of mormon, and that there`s no chance she`s picking it up any time soon. This actually happens a lot. One of the first important points we go over with new investigators is that as they begin learning more about and accepting the message of the gospel, they`re going to confront difficulties, but that God will always be there to help them. And it always happens. Just as they`re starting to recognise the spirit, read the BoM, come to church, something really trying happens. And lots of people take that as a sign that it`s God`s fault, or the book of Mormon`s fault, or our fault. So they distance themselves from it, from the very thing, or rather person, our brother Jesus Christ, who has all the solutions, and can help them through the hard times. It`s difficult to see, but it`s helps us to realize the importance in focusing on the little things. While we had been talking about Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity, we now see that what she really needed was a review, and re-review of the restoration. The book of Mormon. The plan of salvation. Prayer. The little things. How many times has it been said? It`s always the little things. The beautiful simplicity of the gospel. 

So it was hard to see, but I think it was necessary, now we know to go back to the basics. 

We also had some pretty cool experiences this week. We met with a less active member whose daughter is going through a divorce, also a member. We went to meet with her, and slowly, one by one, more members of the family and extended family started joining in on the lesson of the restoration. In the end there was Hna Pizarro, her daughter, her husband, a grandson, her son and daughter in law, and a couple neices and nephews too. It was so great! Especially because not only were they all there, but listening and asking questions. It was so great! The best part was at the end when we asked them to commit to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. They all kind of looked at eachother, as they said they would, which was great because they all know that each person has to do it personally, and they`re all going to be there to make sure everyone completes the assignment. It was great. I understand a bit better now why they always say to find and teach families. It`s so much easier to live and apply the gospel when there are others around you doing the same. 

We also met a really great investigator while doing the chapel open house. It was weird because we had just set up everything outside, and Hna Cortès was inside the doors because some papers had fallen off the bullitin board and she was cleaning them up. Just then a guy passed by, and I started talking with him and shared a pass along card. Normally I would have just let him pass so I could wait until Hna Cortes to join me, so we could do it together. But I just kind of did it anyway. To my surprise he stopped, and wanted to see inside the chappel. We let him in and started talking a little about the church. While we were talking he said he had heard about the mormons, and how they`re lots of times rejected by everyone, and he wondered why. "it must be because it`s the true chruch." He says. Well, you don`t hear that every day from people on the street! So we kept talking, and I got this still small feeling to talk about the Book of Mormon. That isn`t part of the chruch tour, so it was a little awkward, but I somehow squeezed it into the conversation, and we gave him one to take home. He sounded really interested, so I hope he reads it! 

It`s kind of a bummer, because we have a meeting with him on wednesday, and I`m not going to be there. :( But it´s all one work, right? Right. 

Anyway, that`s basically how my week went. Hope you all have a great one! Thanks for the prayers! Keep them coming, I`m going to need a lot of help with these coming weeks. :) As always, there`s lots of adventure ahead. Tupungato, here I come! 

Hermana Cannon

p.s. Oh, today we went to a dinasour museum thing with the district. It was pretty fun! That`s why I`m emailing a little later than usual. :) See the pics. Wahoo! 

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Manso Semana

Fam and Friends: 

"Manso" literally means "meek" but here in Argentina they use it to say "Great" or "Cool" or "Holy macarole that`s quite awe-inspiring". So there`s the Castellano lesson for the day. Tune in next week! 

First things first. A while ago President Goates told us that before the Mendoza Mission was allowed to have 250 missionaries max, and now they`ve changed that number to 200. It doesn`t mean they`re going to send anyone home, it just means that there will be fewer missionaries sent here until we get down to 200. It also means they will be meshing and closing areas. So a few days ago we had our coorelation meeting the the Branch President. In the middle, he gets a call from...I`m not exactly sure. The Area president or counseler? Something like that. Anyway, someone important who was asking about the area, and the weekly attendance and everything. Not too long ago, the attendance was up in the 80s, and now it`s gotten down to mid 20s. We`re kind of scared they`re going to close the area. 

I know God always has a plan, and we have many great leaders in the church, and here in Argentina, that are inspired as to the decisions made in that aspect. But I really don`t want to area to close! I know that if they do take the missinaries from the area, it will be left in God`s hands. But... we`ve been praying lots. It will take quite a few miraces to get the attendance up, and to strengthen the area. But I believe in a God of miracles. More than anything I just want to be a worthy instrument in God`s hands and do everything in my power, and His, to strengthen the area and leave it better than we found it, pasa lo que pasa. 

So, we`ve been trying some different things. And this week, I`ve never felt more dedicated, more busy, more fullfilled than all my mission. I think I got a tiny taste of what it must be like to be the US President. Or even Relief Society President for that matter. And we`ve begun to see results! Small and simple things, but that´s how great things are brought to pass, no es cierto? 

This week we met with a whole bunch of less actives, and a couple families are even starting up family prayer, and family scripture study again! It`s great to see their progression. 

We also met a few new investigators. One woman even said, "I don`t really know why I let you in. I don`t normally like to get involved in religion." And we kind of just looked at her like, yeah, we just might know of a still small reason why you let us in. Sigh. I love missionary work. 

Uh, let`s see. Ooh, I taught the Gospel Principles class yesterday! And it went really well! We talked about the naturaleza de Dios and we did a little Get to know you questionaire of Him. Name, Where he lives, What makes him happy, what makes him sad, what bugs him, we drew a picture of him. It was great. My favorite part was answering what things he likes to do. Listen to our prayers. Watch us serve others. Bless his children. And then there`s Moses 1:39. His whole work and Glory, is us. Everything he does, he does for us. 

I know that`s true. God lives. He loves us. He does everything for us. And only asks in return that we follow his commandments, remember His Son Jesus Christ, do the little primary answer things. Pray. Repent. Read the Scriptures. Go to Chruch. Serve others. I`m so grateful for this gospel, I`m grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and for the Sacrament. I know this chruch is the true one. And I`m so grateful to be a part of it! 

A pinch of salt, and lots of love, 

Hermana Cannon

p.s. Last p-day we went to the "Shopping" and Bowling. It was fun. We also went to the Other sister`s apartment and roasted Panchos on the stove. Also fun. :) Chao! 

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Generally Conferencial

Holia Famila! 

How about that conference, hmm? Those apostles and prophets, they never let you down. So great. 

Speaking of conference, we had quite the adventure. It all started Friday. 

So Hermana Cortés and I are walking down the street, knocking doors and sharing the "Gracias A Él" video with people. We recorded it on our cameras to be able to show it easier because it´s three in every hundred that have internet or a monitor with a USB input, and 1 in every 3 that the video actually works. It´s been really successful actually! We found a new investigator, and have two meetings with other new people set up for this week due to the video. I truly believe it´s inspired, and all in all beautiful. Anyway, so we´re walking down the street, and then suddenly all the lights go out. Blackout! In all of Uspallata. Really though, everything happens in Uspallata. We know it´s a special area, because the adversary is really on our tails here. 

So we go back to the appartment, and turns out I haven´t gotten batteries for my flashlight yet, so we´re left in the dark. It was then I remembered the little finger lights you guys sent me in the MTC. I thought you guys would get a kick out of that. Really, they saved our lives that day, so thanks a million! haha. So we did planning in green and red that day. (The blue one didn´t work. ;( ) I also figured that it would be a good opportunity to pull out my emergency backpack, since the food I stored there is one too many months old. (Hey, shoutout to Joey! Did you guys have mochilas de emergencia on your mission? I´ve been told it´s a recent thing, but I wasn´t sure how recent. Just wondering.) 

Anyway, just as we were partying with the snacks and lights, the power came back on, and we were sad. But also really happy because the next day was conference and we didn´t want to miss it. 

So Saturday we go into the chapel at 1:30 to be early for the conference at 2. No one was there, so we hang around till 2:15 when the president shows up with his family to set up the conference. To our surprise, because of the blackout, the internet wasn´t functioning. In all of Uspallata. Thank you adversary. BUT! Here´s where the miracle comes in. We had just switched internet systems from a old not working well one to a newer and faster one, and at the time we´re still paying for them both. So we hook it up to the old internet, and it works! So all of uspallata is internetless, except for the faithful saints in the chapel. Hallelujah!

So, we sit back and listen to Perry´s talk. And then they say the closing prayer. What? Yeah, turns out the conference started at 1, not 2 like the rama in Uspallata had been told. Strike two adversary. So that was fun. Good news is we were able to start the next session, and all the ones on Sunday on time. 

Also, that saturday afternoon, Edelmira showed up! We were so exited! She even came with her little sticky note of questions she wanted answered. It was really great. Afterward she told us that her car broke down (Really? Strike three.) and she wasn´t sure how she´d be able to come. Her phone didn´t have any minutes, but she decided to try anyway, and called a friend to pick her up. With no credit on the phone, the call went through, and she set up the ride just before the call cut out. Really, that´s a true Argentine miracle, because basically no one has credit on their phone. Ever. 

Anyway, you can always put your money on General Conference. She loved it, the spirit was so strong, and she said her questions were answered. We´re super excited for her. 

So, there´s the excitement of the week. oh, we also did an open house between sessions and passed out more Gracias a El cards. It wasn´t too successful because it fell right in the dead of siesta, but we did a church tour for a group of teenages passing by, and one lady came up asking if we did classes for kids. We told her about primary, and she said she thinks her kids will like that. So that was great! I hope they come. 

Still not sure whose talk was my favorite, but really, they were all great, as always. It was really exciting to hear the ones in spanish! Because a couple of times the spanish voice overs are a little comical. one guy started coughing and they had to switch translaters in the middle of a talk. Another guy said a word wrong, tried to fix it like three times only saying it more mixed up, then finally laughed and moved on. It´s pretty entertaining. 

I guess the moral of this week, is that God is a God of miracles. And no matter how much Satan likes to plant himself in our way, God always provides the necesities we need to complete His work and will, and make it back to Him. I´m so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and all he´s done and continues doing for each of us everyday. I know He lives. 

Love you all! Have a great week! 

Hermana Cannon

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A Little Email

Dear Family, Friends, and...the rest: 

Hah. Just kidding. You`re all my friends, and like family to me! Especially those who are family. 

Yeah, just a little example of when Hermana Cannon thinks she`s funny. We`ll just say I`m tired. 

Speaking of sleeping, I can`t believe I totally forgot to tell you all! At least...I think I did. Every time I got on to email, I forgot, and now... well anyway. As of many-a-month ago, President Goates changed the mission schedule, due to the fact that everyone was asleep from 1 in the afternoon to about 5 or 6. So basically, we got a SIESTA!!! That`s right ladies and gentlemen, at 2:30 after lunch, for one hour, the missionaries here in Mendoza Argentina were given a mandatory siesta! And then we were allowed to stay out until 10 at night instead of 9, to be able to meet with more people. Here in Argentina, even the little kids are up at night till about 11 or 12 even. Crazy right? So basically, that happened. And sometimes it was a little hard to get to sleep at that hour, but it`s been really nice, and very effective. 

However, now that the weather is a little colder, the siesta isn`t as forever long, and in April we go back to the normal schedule. So, glad I got the news out just before it`s irrelevant again. Surprize! 

This week we were able to meet with Edelmira finally! We went with the branch president`s daughter, Celeste, who`s leaving for her mission in Peru in July. After a few minutes of talking, we found out that Edelmira hadn`t talked to her partner Daniel, and they`re still living together. So that was sad to find out. We shared Doctrine and Covenants 20:37 which shares the requirements of baptism, and talked a lot about repentance, and the importance of repenting fully before being baptized, in order for it to have more meaning, and to really prepare for a new life. We re-explained the Law of Chastity, so that it was even more clear for her. We came to a point in the lesson where she finally asked, "So, if I want to be baptized, what do I have to do? Or, what`s the next step?" Golden! You know things are going well when Investigators ask questions like that. Answer? We`ve been explaining that all along! Keep the commandments. Read your scriptures. Pray. Talk to your partner, and keep the law of chastity. 

And, I think she was a little disapointed to hear that. Which, to me, made sense. I do the same thing. A lot of times I ask, what can I do now? What`s the secret to feel the spirit more? To be more like Christ? To be a better missionary? Hoping, that maybe this time I`ll find some secret ingredient in the Book of Mormon, something I missed before. But that`s just it. Like Kung Fu Panda, (You had da noodle dweam?) the secret ingredient is what you already have. The answers are always what you learned in primary. Not because they`re easy. But because they`re true. There`s strength in reading scriptures every day. There`s power in praying with real intent. There`s refuge in repentance.  And there`s spiritual enlightenment in the chapel every week. They`re simple, sometimes hard, and they often seem repetative, but I know the little things, always the little things, are the most necessary, the most strengthening, and the most true things we can be doing to be a better missionary, person, mom, brother, student, disciple of Jesus Christ. 

Love you all! Have a great week, one and all! And don`t forget the little things! 

Hermana Cannon

ps. The pictures! We set a goal with a less active family that if they read they`re scriptures and prayed every day for a month, I would make them cookies. They did it! Wahoo! Then there`s the Zone conference, and intercambios with Hermana Dutra, our Brasilian Sister Training leader. We`ve been in the same district my whole mission, so that`s been fun. She`s the best. 

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Hna Cannon`s Failed Attempt at Email Title

Dear Fam: 

Hey! It`s another one of those, Suddenly everything that happened this week just flew away, much less became translated from Spanish to English. :) Asi que, bueno. 

Well this week one of our investigators had a futbol game (as in, the game that you play with your fut. ...soccer. It was soccer.) So there`s a picture of us with her just before the game. Celina, is who it is. She`s really great. Because of the game, and preparing for it, we weren`t able to teach the lesson we had planned for this week. But we did go over for lunch, and we were able to talk with Sergio, her husband...who isn`t her husband since they`re not married. Speaking of the lesson we were planning on giving this week... But anyway, it was really great because we`ve been focusing a lot lately on trying not to just teach moms and kids without the dad being involved, and the importance of finding and teaching future priesthood holders. Sergio however, doesn`t show much interest right now in participating in the lessons. He believes in God, but doesn`t like the idea of religion. So, while eating the deliciously succulent asado, we casually brought up the subject with him, and were able to have a great discussion about his family, his work, and his beliefs. We`re really hoping his heart will be softened so that we can teach the whole family, (He, She, and I guess their three year old son Lucas too. :) ) so any prayers in that regard would be appreciated. 

Hmmm... I guess I really don`t have a whole lot more to tell for this week. We found lots of new investigators, so that`s been great, and we`re excited to see their progression. One new investigator in particular, Maria Castillo, we`ve been trying to meet with for quite a while. Finally yesterday we were able to sit down with her and teach the first lesson. Turns out not only had she looked at the pamphlet we had given her, but she had been reading parts of it out loud to her family. She said her kids started calling us, "las chicas de los libritos", or, "the girls with the little books." Darling. 

The lesson with her went really well. She had lots of questions, and understood everything very well. The best part was at the end when she offered the prayer. It`s pretty hard to get the investigators to pray in the first lesson, but it`s also very helpful and important that they do so, and become comfortable with talking to their heavenly father. After her beautiful and sincere prayer, she says, "No sè como saliò, pero sentì algo." or, "I don`t know how it turned out, but I felt something." I think that`s my favorite part of missionary work, hearing the investigators pray to their father in heaven for the first time. Truly special. 

Oh! And speaking of prayers, Celina also prayed for the first time this week! It was also very sincere, and very sweet, and a big step for her. She was really nervous, it was sweet. 

Well, I guess that`s about it for this week. Thanks so much for the prayers, and support. I love you all and hope you have a great week! 

Hermana Cannon

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Con Amor, La de Argentina

Hola mis queridos! 

What to tell, what to tell. Firstly, yes it is traslado time! And secondly, SURPRISE! We`re staying right where we are! Kind of a given, so we can finish another traslado of training, but with President Goates, we never know what`s going to happen when changes come. Anyway, here`s to another few months en la cordillera! 

First of all, this week we met with Edelmira again. Thank you so much for your prayers! She was feeling loads better this week. She came out with a smile, and hugged us all (we went with a member), it was great. And she told us that she had been reading the Book of Mormon again! Wahoo! So the thing with Edelmira is that she has a few obstacles in her progression. Firstly, she isn`t married and living with someone, and she works on Sundays. During companion and personal study, Hermana Cortès and I spent a lot of time thinking about what we could teach and how we could help her. And we decided, with a little help from above, that we know what she needs. She needs to keep the law of chastity, and guardar el dia de reposo. (haha I don`t remember how to say that in english.  Keep the law of day of rest? haha Awkward.) So in our lesson on teusday we taught the 10 commandments, focusing on those two things. I`ve never been one to be direct with the investigators. I always get scared they`ll get mad or something. But it went really well, and it was exactly what she needed. In all reality, God has blessings in store for her, if only she can keep the commandments. And if she doesn`t know what the commandments are, how can she keep them? We talked a lot about the temple, and how if they can get married, or separated if that needs to happen, she can enjoy all the blessings found within. It was so sweet to talk about the temple with her, and watch her face as she tried to imagine what it`s like inside, and what one can feel upon entering. She does want to do all she can to get there. She and her pareja have to have a talk, and we haven`t been able to meet with them since, so we`re still waiting to see what happens. But I`m so grateful for the spirit we were able to feel in the lesson, because we were able to be very straight forward, as well as show a lot of love for her. Definitely going to try to teach like that more often. :) 

Wow, long story. :) 

Another thing that happened this week, we`ve been trying to meet with everyone on the ward list, because there just so happens to be more less actives than active members, and a lot of them no one knows nothing... (oh no... the double negatives have got me too! Spanish, please leave my english alone.) No one knows anything about. So we met with a less active, who at first sight began sharing all the reasons she was never going to return to chruch, and how she told the other missionaries she didn`t want to meet with them anymore. She had separated from her husband, her kids left her, one of her sons had passed away, and there was so much pain, and so many things and people she didn`t want to forgive. Recently we`ve been trying to show a little more faith in meeting with people by being just a bit more persistant than, "okay, we`ll try back another time." So I asked if perhaps we could sing a hymn for her nada mas. She accepted, and we pulled out "Asombro me da" (I stand all amazed). I felt a little awkward singing for her becuase she kept looking away, and we were just standing there in her yard singing as motercycles passed, but after the hymn, her whole demeaner changed. We shared our testimonies of the atonement, and offered again to visit with her another time. And she accepted. I truly know that the hymns are inspired, and that they truly are a prayer unto God. Music really can touch the hard-to-reach places of the heart, and I`m so grateful for their sweet spirit. 

Also this week, another kind of funny thing happened. We were supposed to go to Mendoza monday night to be able to attend the meeting teusday morning, but we missed the bus. At first we were super bummed, but then that night both Hna Cortès and I felt pretty sick, we think it was from the full concentrated power of the sun we had been walking in that day. So it turned out that it was a good thing we were able to sleep in our own beds that night, and not on a bumpy, up-chuck-a-rama bus ride, if you know what I mean. So remember, siempre hay una razòn porque pasan las cosas, sola que a veces al pricipio, no podemos verla. Oh, and also, we did make it to the meeting in the morning as well. Bonus! 

Thanks again so much for your prayers for Edelmira. We`re hoping to see her again soon and help her out a little more. :) Have a great week! 

Hermana Cannon

p.s. The photos: Hermana Cannon sharing the gospel with every creature, Argentine version of Pizza Planet, and yo y mi compañera y hija chilena! 

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Animo de los Andes

Dear Familia:

This week was so great! This week we found a new investigator named Celina, and we`re really excited to be working with her. She had met with the missionaries before, but she said herself, I feel like back then I wasn`t really ready to learn all this. Now, with you two, I feel like I`m ready. Wahoo! Nothing better to hear from investigators. We have another appoinment with her today, so I`ll let you know how it goes! 

Also this week, we met with another investigator named Edelmira, an Hermana in her 40s. She`s been going through a lot of tough times lately. After our visit with her, she said she feels like she has more purpose, feels more support, and the care that God has for her, and it was very sweet. Prayers for her would be appreciated. That she can feel God`s love, and have the strength to keep going, even when things are hard. Thanks so much! 

Speaking of prayer, this week I wanted to bear my testimony of the power of prayer. This week I made a goal to pray more specifically. Being a missionary, it`s actually pretty easy because after companionship planning we have every layed out in the planner, and I can just read down the list, asking to be able to find each person in their homes, and take a moment to pray specifically for their needs. And wow. The results were astounding. We had so many more lessons, I felt more love and care for the members and investigators, we recieved and contacted referrals and met lots of new people, and looking back on the week, I couldn`t believe what we had accomplished. 

I know that God directs this work, and there is no greater joy than knowing that you have an instrument in his hands in helping his children become closer to him.

Also this week, we played the "Por Que Estamos Aqui" game, one that Hermana Fernandez taught me. Whenever an appointment falls though, we imediately turn around and ask, why are we here? If we`re not meeting with this person today, why does God want us in this area? Who is here that we can find? Taking that way of thinking really helped us to work more effectively with every moment we`ve been given, and helped us combat the discouragement that comes when people don`t recieve us. 

I love missionary work! So great.  

I love you all! Have a great week!

Hermana Cannon

p.s. Here are some pictures of some new companions I had for the week. Hermana Nordgran, for intercambios, and a goat. For...intercambios... haha

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