Well This Is Strange

Dear Family:

So, due to the internet connection I decided to use the "basic HTML
view" of my email, because the computer told me it would be perhaps
faster. I don`t know if anyone besides Dad and Joey know what I`m
talking about, but basically I just feel like I went back in time. I`m
having flashbacks of second grade computer class. The whole, "you
didn`t know what you had until you don`t have it" thing. Anyway, it
seems to be working, because I can actually do the basics now, as in,
type an email to you guys, and open the emails you sent.

But anway, I seem to spend a lot of time complaining about the
internet here. Sorry. Old news. Let`s continue!

This week I got to do exchanges with the other two hermanas in the
branch. One of the privelages of being Sister Training Leader! Wahoo!
It went really well. I got to know Hermana Azeñero, from Peru, a
little better, and we had a great time. The best part was when we were
teaching one of her investigators, Ema. We taught lesson 3, about
faith, repentance, baptism, the holy ghost, and enduring to the end.
Hermana Azeñero is a great teacher. She really teaches so clearly and
simply, so the investigators really understand. What I especially
loved about her teaching was that when we talked about baptism,
somehow she also snuck the temple in there, and talked about the
importance of attending the temple, the things you can learn, and the
sealing ordinances we do inside. It caught me by surprise, but it
wasn`t off topic. A lot of times as missionaries, and in talking to
investigators, we tend to emphasize baptism, and that`s it. It`s true.
Baptism is really important, and a big part of the investigators`
lives, but it`s more important to remember that that isn`t the end.
Baptism is a covenant that should prepare us for the temple, to be
sealed as families, so that in the end, we can all live together, all
of God`s children, and be exalted with Him. Anyway, I was really
impressed with that. It`s great being a sister training leader,
because I get to learn lots from all the great sisters in the zone!

How`s Adriana you ask? Well, it just so happens that Hermana Matamoros
went to visit her without me, during exchanges. But the lesson went
super well! She told me about it. Andd Guess what? Adriana said that
she has already gotten her answer that the message is true! They had a
really great lesson with her, and at the end, set a date for baptism!
Adriana said she would pray about it, so this Friday we`ll see how
things go. I`m so excited for her. A little bummed that I couldn`t be
there, but it`s all the same work. So now we`re working on bringing
members with us to all the lessons so she can get to know a few
members and be more motivated to come to church. Wahoo! Chruch on
sunday, and next stop, Temple! :)

We also have a lesson with a member tonight, with a new investigator,
Gladis. Don`t know if I told you about her. But she`s progressing
really well, and more than anything we want to get to know her whole
family, and teach them together. So I`ll keep you posted on that as
well.

But the best moment of the week was yesterday when we went to the
Cordoba Temple Dedication. Wow. I remembered going to a few temple
dedications at home, but wow. It was so great. I`ve really been
missing the temple here on the mission, since we don`t have one
closeby. And going to the dedication, it was extremely special. The
spirit there was so strong. I mean, we always teach the investigators
that the feeling in the temple is like how you feel in the sacrament
room emplified by 10, but wow. It`s true. And it`s been 9 months since
I`ve felt that, so it was really special. Go to the temple guys! It`s
the best place on earth.

It was a great meeting too. Elder Christopherson was there speaking
spanish, also Elder Zaballos, great to see him again! And Elder
Uchtdorf was there as well. He gave a little part at the beginning in
spanish, which was great to hear, and then the rest of his talk he had
a translator. It was super great.

Well, I guess that`s it. Love you all! Thanks for the love and
prayers! Have a great week!

Hermana Cannon

p.s. Happy Birthday last week Mariah! I wanted to send you a picture,
and then the internet wouldn`t let me. So I tried ataching it to this
email, we`ll see how it goes. Feliz Cumpleaños! :) Love you!

Short time, yes see!

Dear Family:

Get it? Instead of long time no see? Eh? Eh? Oh well. I guess you had to be there. Oh wait--you were!

Me muero de la risa. :)

Anyway, it was so great to see you all! Sorry the sound wasn`t so great. I guess that`s just kind of how it goes here in Argentina. We couldn`t do it in the chapel, which might have had better sound because the other missionaries were using it that hour. So, bummer. But celestial points for sacrifice, right?

Also, explainging a little about the internet here, don`t hesitate to keep sending me emails! I can usually open them just fine, and I always take pictures so as to be able to read them later, the only thing is that due to the slow internet, I can`t reply to as many of you as I`d like. :( Basically, just know that I get your emails, read them, laugh and cry over them, and then I usually don`t have time to reply. Jus sayin, I love you all. I just can`t show it in email form very often here in Tupungato: the city of inturtlenet. (No, that`s not spanish. It`s a turtle.) Me explico? Bien.

So, HI! Things are still going great here in Tupungato. Couple things I didn`t mention over skype. This week we went to a reunion in Mendoza with Elder Zaballos! He`s from the 70, and he spoke in the last conference, one of the ones that spoke in Spanish. (Woot!) Anyway, it was super great. His wife also spoke, and it was also great. One thing she shared with us was an example of an apple. (She shared it in spanish, and then in broken english, it was adorable.) She cut the apple open and said, You can count the seeds, but you can never count the apples that will come from each seed. A great reminder than when we see someone on the street, someone we want to share the gospel with, we should always remember that we`re not only helping them, but their family. their generations to come. THe people they`ll teach some sunday in gospel doctrine class, or as relief society president or bishop. All the people they`re great grandson with teach on his mission. This gospel is so much more than teaching and baptizing. It`s about families, and God`s family. I really liked that.

Also this week we had a member call us and ask if she could accompany us that day at 4. Who-da-what-a? Yes please! so she came with us, we visited some less actives, and she helped us out a little with some of the areas we didn`t know as well. Afterward we thanked her and she said, "No. You don`t need to thank me. It`s a priveledge to work with you. And it`s my duty as a member to do so." It was basically heaven. How much different the world would be, and how much larger the gospel would stretch if we all thought the same. I`m so grateful for the members that I`ve met here who feel the same as this sister, and who are great reminders to always be that type of latter day saint. And a shout out for all of you back at home and your daily missionary efforts! The best part was that one of the less actives we visited came to chruch the next day. :) Small and simple means, and great things brought to pass.

hmm, what else. Adriana is coming along. She didn`t read again, so we read a little with her and helped her understand the apostasy a little better, and the need for a restauration. We`re really hoping she reads this week, and keeps working on getter her answer that the message is true. Like I said, she`s a little stubborn, so it`s going to take, well, the holy spirit, to help her know the truth. Lots of prayers.

Anyway, I guess that`s all today. Thank you all for your love, prayers, and support! I love you all immensely! See you on Christmas!

Hermana Cannon

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We`re gonna try and upload some fotos, eh?

Dear Family: 

Looks like that`s gonna be "photo". Singular. Darn internet.

But hey! It`s actually going a whole lot faster today than before, so that`s been great. Stay on the sunny side, am I right? 

So Tupungato! I love it. At first, with all the cityness around, and me coming from the middle of the cordillera, I felt a little claustrophobic, and missed my old area a bit. I still do, I mean, in the sense that it will always be part of my heart, (aww!) but I`m super happy to be here in Tupungato, and I love the area, the members, everything. It`s pretty great. 

So basically there are only two districts in the zone, and ours has four sisters and four elders, two of which being the zone leaders. Also, the zone leaders, the other sisters, and us (we? us? I think we is correct, but it sounds weird) are all in the same Branch. The sisters live below us in the same appartment complex, so that`s been fun to see them every day and we eat lunch together a lot, in the pench and with the members. I like having six missionaries in the branch, but it`s just a bit of a culture shock, going from "Hermana Cannon and her lone hija two and a half hours away from civilization" to "Hermana Cannon, her Hondurian comp, and every other missionary, member, and random argentinan in the world".It`s been really great, I just have to learn to talk with and coordinate better with the other missionaries, so we can all share the load and work effectively. Tons of fun, and lots of work. 

The branch! They`re super great. Two sundays in a row we haven`t had a piano, which was sad. Basically they have a keyboard, but they don`t have the cord for it, so you can`t turn it on, play it, or do anything really that is neccessary for a keyboard. So we`ve been singing all the hymns a capella-ly. It reminds me of "to kill a mockingbird" (I think it is) where they go to the church for blacks, and they only have one hymnbook, so the conductor sings first and then everyone follows. It`s kinda like that except everyone has hymnbooks. Anyway, it`s interesting. Yesterday the branch president found out I play the piano so he`s gunna try and find a cord. Wahoo! 

The investigators. As of now, we`re teaching one lady named Adriana (I always say something different every day. Ana. Andrea, Aileen, I don`t know why her name is so hard to remember.) who`s pretty great. She`s very direct and a little stubborn, which is good and bad. Good because when she has a concern, she lets us know exactly what it is, and we`re easily able to address it. Then again, she`s also very slow to change her mind, and to open her heart, so it`s a bit tough teaching her. The good thing is that when she knows the gospel is true for herself, no doubt about it, she`ll be the faithfullest member on the face of the planet. 

Right now she doesn`t understand what the difference is between the Chruch of Jesus Christ, and every other church. So we`ve planned an in depth lesson on the apostasy that we`re looking forward to. Prayers for that would be appriciated. We really want her to be able to come to church, and that`s another big concern of hers. 

The other great investigators we`re teaching is a family of three boys, their mom, and her husband-not.husband. (Not married. Law of chastity, coming right up!) They`re a reference from the Relief Society president, and they`re pretty great. The son, Andres, 9 years old, was showing us the part he read of the Restauration pamphlet about prayer, and it was adorable. He had it all marked with colored pencil and everything. Ana, the mom, is pretty great too. She`s worried, as most moms are, about how to raise her kids in the kind of world that it is today. Luckily, the gospel`s been restored exactly for that. We`re excited to continue with them. We haven`t been able to meet with Gustavo, the father, because he works. The Argentine schedule really makes it hard to meet with complete families. Prayers in that regard, that we`ll be able to find them all together, would also be appreciated. 

Also meeting with lots of less actives, always lots of work to do in that area. 

Anyway, super excited to be here, training, and sister training leader-ing. Ah, had my first Council meeting as sister training leader, that was fun. 

Welp. I guess that`s it. Oh! We talked to our Recent Convert, Ana Laura, and she said we can do skype at her house. Wahoo! So I should be getting on at 6pm, Argentina time. Which is either 2 or 3 pm Utah time. I forget. The daylight savings threw me off. You can google it. It sounds like that should work for everyone, from what you`ve told and haven`t told me haha. Can`t wait to see you all! Have a great week! 

Hermana Cannon

p.s. The photo is of me and Hermana Matamoros. :) ...I think that`s the one I sent. haha

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Sorry So Short and Slow

Dear Family: 

Bit of bad news, the cebers in Tupungato are super slow, so you might have to get used to short emails for a while. Or at least until we find a faster ceber...unlikely. Oh the joys of Argentina! jaja 

Other news, I took photos of the emails you all send me last week to read them, and then left the memory card in ceber, and lost them all. :( So, I retook pictures and now I`ll read them and be able to reply, perhaps, next week. If not, please know I love you all. 

Good news, Tupungato is great! It`s much more city than I`m used to, so it`s a little weird to get used to all the moving around. But we`re getting to know the area better, and Hna Matamoros, my new hija, is super great! She`s from HOnduras, and she plays the violin. She even bought it with her, with permission, so that`s been great! WE`ll be doing lost of musical things together. Wahoo! 

Well, like I said short email. Love you all! Thanks for everything! 

Hermana Cannon

ps. Hey fam! Mothers day is coming up! From what I`ve heard we`ll be skyping the day of, so I`ll start asking around to see how where and when, but if you guys have any conflict or things, let me know these coming weeks and we can coordinate. Love you all! Can`t wait to see you! 

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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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