Monday, December 20, 2010

Hola, its me again, Hna Payne!

Sorry this wont be very long. You can almost be disappointed.. but Im calling home this week! Thats even better! YAY! Im going to call a little before two (my time) Are we four hours different? Anyways, im going to use the at&t calling card this time. Maybe next time I will use the other. Can tall do a conference call on our phone? or Could kels and levi be on skype? I only have 40 minutes and dont really want to split it with anyone. If I were to do that 40 minutes wouldnt be much at all. See if yall can play with that this week.

I cant believe another week has come and gone, again. Where does the time go? It just seems to go faster and faster. Well as of right now I still have a white christmas coming my way. Gladis is getting baptized on the 24th! YAY!!!!!!! I cant wait to talk to yall on the phone and tell yall a lot more. I really am not very good at the whole writing thing. im not very patient and im all over the place and i probably leave a lot out.

Mom you need to Jan that she needs to ask Zach to ask if they can see me, even if its only for like 5 minutes!!! I will be soooo close! But I can see it not happening. Oh well, its worth a try. I think there is a better chance of it happening if Zach asks President.

I still havent gotten my pics yet. Maybe tomorrow!

Okay well this letter was just VERY lame. Sorry.

Thanks everyone for the Christmas wishes!

Angel, my pday is Mondays! I cant write you back on here, but I can send letters!

Ang, did you not get my letter a while back? Its your turn! =)

Love,
Hna Payne

Monday, December 13, 2010

Hola! Its me again, Hna Payne!

I´m dreaming of a white Christmas... In baptisms, that is! We have a baptism for Gladis (the lady in the wheelchair) Christmas!!!!!! Yay!!!! We still dont have all the details for her. We need to talk to President. We are still really worried about how she is going to get to church every week after her baptism. She is waiting to receive money from the government. Who knows how long that could take. We fasted for her this last week. We dont want her to make this covenant without a way to keep it, but at the same time we cant keep her from making either. No one really has a vehicle, so taking her the sacrament is out of the question.. We will see what President says. We were going to have another baptism. A 16 year old that has a mormon friend. He told his friend a while back that he didnt want him to tell the missionaries, that one day they would go by his house and he would talk to them. Well last week the elders walked by his house and he ran out and talk to them. He was in our area so they passed him to us. We started to talk about the 2nd lesson and he taught us. We got a date for xmas! But then his mom said he couldnt. His parents are divorced and she said this was a way that his dad could take the kids. We didnt understand how.. but maybe one day. We are now working with a girl that comes to the ward with her boyfriend. They have been dating for like 8 years, two of those for his mission. He got back like 4 months ago. He now doenst come to church every Sunday. He is just sooo in love with her and wants her to join teh church sooo bad. But the thing is, she is starting to drag him down a little bit. She is reading the Book of Mormon, but doesnt really want to pray about it because she is scared of the answer. She lives the standards of the church, but Im pretty sure she is scared of the whole forever thing. It takes sacrifices to go to church every Sunday when you grew up with out that. I think our lesson went really well last time. We hope to get a date with her next week.

Hey, yesterday we had a cool front. Oh, it was heaven! It actually felt a little like xmas! I was actually cold! Ha too bad it cant stay like this. We fasted like two weeks ago and it was soooooooo hot. That night neither of us could sleep. We think our bodies just didnt know what to do with themselves. Im pretty sure it took about a week for our bodies to feel normal again. I dont know how we are going to do it in January and February when it is like 50c here. That is like 115 or more isnt it? I thought I didnt like fasting before, well now the thought it just torture. Okay, usually im just stating the obvious, i might be complaining a little bit =) Well, all I have to say is that I will NEVER complain again about fasting in the states! But the good news is that our schedule changed and we now have 2 hours of our studying during the siesta (im pretty sure there would be about 50% more baptisms without these) that helps a little, and then we sit in church for 3 hours. After our one night of not sleeping we decided to start our fasts on Saturday nights after we get in the apt, instead of after lunch. That will help a lot!

Last week we had trainigs. Usually its just zone and district leaders, and trainers.. but for some reason we were invited. It was only two days, usually its four. On Monday we only had like an hour and a half of pday so we didnt have much time. So I just printed my mail and told you I was alive and great. Dad, as far as President goes.. he runs a tight ship, but thats the way that it goes. Dad, I value your opinion but cant have you say those things or I dwell on it more. You and he both have my best intentions at heart.

Today was my best pday thus far. We went to Corrientes! I never thought I would say this, but I LOVE Walmart! And McDonald's! Who would have known that both were soo cool. Ha McDonald's here is where the rich kids eat. I felt a little stuck up, ha but just a little. bit. We then went bowling. Oh, and I bought a cd player as part of my xmas! I debated a long time about it, then bought it, then had a little bit of buyers remorse. Oh well its only like $5 a month. Totally worth that for the rest of the mish.

About Xmas. I think I will be calling in between 2-4 our time. What are yalls plans for this Xmas. So much depends on what goes on here. We have NO idea. Someone said that we have dinner... but then again we have a baptism. I dont know what is going on. Will yall be with the Davis´? Tell Dusty he is invited!

Dusty! This is your personal invitation! You are invited! Talk with my parents if you are around or want to be around.

Mom, I will let you know about my pics. At one point I asked for peanut butter. I take taht back. I can buy it in this area. But can you send my big curling iron? Oh and an conference ensign in english. We still havent gotten them here. Mascara, not waterproof. And some hair rubbber bands, my usual black ones?

Okay well that is all i have time for! I love and miss yall. I cant wait to talk to yall. And I really have no clue about calling Kelsie =( Have a great week. Wish Leigh good luck!

Love,
Hna Payne

P.s. our pday is now till 6:30 because our schedule changed. we wake up at 7 now. 7 is soo much better!

Monday, November 29, 2010

Hola its me again, Hna Payne!

My first shout out goes to Brittany Brooks! I got your letter today and am soooooooo excited. YOU ARE GOING ON A MISSION!!!!!!!!!! I was getting ice cream and I wanted to cry I was so happy. Brazil????? Cool. I wrote you a letter today. It wont get in the mail until next week tho. P.s. I didnt understand a whole lot about the post it note. Haha details please! When? Where? Why? And why soo awkward? Send me an email.. I get them faster! =)

Okay this week... what to say?? We had like 10 baptismal dates.. but 4 of them lost them. BOOOO! We still have six though for December 25th. But only one of these people came to church this last week. Her name is Gladys. She is like 50 and in a wheelchair. She really liked church. We will see what happens. I think she will be baptized but Im afraid she wont be able to get to church every week. We had a taxi this last week which is great, but we cant do that forever.

We are trying to work a lot with the inactive families. We had one mom in church again! That was great. Her husband isnt a member. She has such a sad life. Her husband controls EVERYTHING in her life and doesnt let her go anywhere. Im really not sure how she left with her 7 year old son without her husband saying anything. There are sooo many people that live this way... brain washed, with no way out.

We have a great ward mission leader. Wili. He wants to go with us to lots of our appointments. This man has no shame. Ha he is definitely his own person. He and his wife are giving us lunch this week. She is soooo cute, she hasnt been able to quite talking about it, and that is with EVERYONE. She went to an appointment with us this last week and she was telling this inactive family that she knows, that we are having lunch with them. She was worried about what drink to get us. Sprite or fanta? Oh I feel soo bad, this family has nothing! It was his birthday last week (which we didnt know until it was too late) and they didnt have money to buy a cake. And here they want to give us lunch. Wow. I pray that the Lord will bless them for their sacrifice. I know that he always does. Im pretty sure the members sacrifice more than we think when it comes to lunch for us. Lunch appointments always fall through at the end of the month because no one has money then.

It sounds like thanksgiving was good. Im glad that yall all had a good time. Here it was just another day. But we did have lunch... which the assistants(that arent in our ward or area) tried taking away from us. We were not too happy, but the daughter of the bishop said that we had it. We have lunch every Thursday with the Bishop si o si! The assitants arent my favorite people. We had a run in with them yesterday. The way that approach things is always sooo acusingly. And then I dont have confidence in what im saying, for one i cant speak spanish and two I dont do well in situations like that. We were just doing what our zone leaders said to do. But it makes me so mad that I cant have conversations with people and defend myself without having confidence in what im saying. I dont know if that makes sense. Sorry, I feel like all of my letters are always soo scattered. Anyways, Im trying to love! And I just decided that I need to have more confidence in myself. I decided im not going to be afraid to talk to anyone. And if I am, well they dont have to know that!

Dusty! I just got your email like 2 minutes ago. I didnt understand the translating part? I wrote in english... Its quite possible that it still didnt make sense.. I never reread what I write. Sorry.

Hillary! Loved the letter. I will write next week!

I was trying to send pics but i dont know how... Boo!

Okay well I think that is about all! I love and miss you all! Have a great week.

Love,
Hna Payne

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Hola!! Its me again, Hna Payne!

Im sittin here in good Ol´ Resistencia. Man, are things different! This week has been a little crazy as we are getting to know the area! As far as I can tell Im going to love it here... really i know I will love all of the places. We were told that the ward is pretty big... there really werent very many people this last Sunday because it was raining. When it rains no one does anything.. work, school, or church. The primary was supposed to have had their program this last week, but it is postponed due to the rain. Im excited for this next week to meet all of the ward. We gave our testimonies this last week. At first I thought we had to speak... I about died... but then it was just our testimonies. Ha I would have been nervous no matter what. Hey, we had two investigators in church. One is an eternal investigator... She has known the church for like 8 years. Her Boyfriend is a member, she wrote him the whole time on his mission and he has been back for only 4 months. They have also been dating for the past eight years. They are kind of weird. No idea what her intentions are.... hopefully we can find that out and get her baptized. The other investigator is our neighbor. We live outside of our ward by a couple of blocks.. so she really isnt in our ward. We really arent sure what ward or what elders. Ah we are taking her as a tender mercy, that we didnt have to leave church to go look for anyone. This week we will have others!

Hey, we are in the ward of President. Ha that made me nervous. But then we found out that he really isnt ever in this ward. We didnt want him seeing us with out people in church. I guess its a good thing that we have plans to have lots =)

Hna Runyon has about a year in the mission. She goes home in June. I dont remember your other questions about her. She helps me a lot with my spanish. Hna Marilaf did a lot too. The only difference is that Hna Runyon knows the rules of spanish and can tell me why something is the way that it is. Ha if someone were to ask me rules about English I really woudnt know how to answer that.. And yes Hna Marilaf was great. Why did you think we didnt get along? We wont be BFF but we really didnt have any problems. She is a great missionary and I learned a lot from her. But Im glad for a change. Then again, I usually like change.

So our first night in Resistencia, the Elders took us to our apt where the elders were still packing up their stuff. Ha they left us to clean their dirt! Gross. I think they found out that day that they were to leave and didnt have any time to clean. Im a little sad because my other apt had air conditioning where we sleep. This one has solo fans. Ha we are going to die! Im not complaining, just stating the obvious =) I think Elder Foster from the Seventy said that all the apts need air conditioning, especially for those from the US. I think that is coming next year. Man, I really dont remember humidity it Texas, probably because that was just the way that it was for me. I didnt know a difference. But it is soooo weird being cold from the air, but hot from the humidity at the same time. Weird. I didnt really sweat in Utah, but that is quickly changing here. Yum =)

Our first day working was a taddy bit overwhelming? The elders gave us a map and left. Their area, now our area is the down town heart of Resistencia. I dont know what area to compare it to. It is ALL city with apts mixed into the streets. I want to give you an idea, but I really dont have anything... Every house that we knocked at were people that worked there, not the actual owners. And these people live in other areas kind of far. We didnt know what to do. Contacts in the streets were hard too because these people also didnt live here. But then the following day was the best news ever! We found out that we also have the area of other Elders. The two sets of missionaries in these two areas work in the office so they only had nights to work. So really not much. They are both in another ward and we have their areas. The other area is more of the area of what I had before. Well, its not the country, but there are dirt roads! Yay. We felt a lot better after that.

I know I say this a lot. But I really HATE dogs. There arent as many here is Resistencia. That is a relief. Haha I still pray for protection everyday though! Ha if its important to me, its important to the Lord too! Even if its something as stupid as dogs =) But this last week Hna Runyon was talking to this man and his dog was standing by me. All of a sudden I saw his leg go up.... (he was about to pee on me!) All of a sudden I let out a loud yelp. I didnt know what else to do. The man and my compa thought I was crazy. But no the dog was about to pee on me! NEVER in my life. Im really not sure what that means.. I smell like a dog? I look like a dog? (I was determined not to be an ugly sister missionary, but that has past. But I didnt know that I looked that bad) Or possibly he was just trying to mark me as his territory. Im not too sure, but I really dont like any of those ideas.

Mom, I got your Christmas count down. Very cute. Thank you!

Dust I got your Lake Powell card! I could smell the red sand. All we had in Posadas was red dirt. Now its all white. Definitely different. Hey, TODAY is your birthday! Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

Chels! I got your dearelder! Thanks for all the updates!

Rach! Im still waiting on your letter!

Random P.s. Yesterday was a holiday and today is our pday.

Yall are on your way to Karan´s right now! Weird. Dad are you frying turkey? Eat lots for me. They dont have turkey here. Someone said they saw some in the market for 80 pesos! Needless to say that I wont be eating any!

Okay well I cant really think of anything else. The Gospel if true and nothing else matters. Everyday I am soo grateful for all of the blessings of this Gospel. I still cant believe the opportunity that I have to be a part of this wonderful work. How blessed we truely are! HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I love yall. Have a great week, and give everyone my love.

Love,
Hna Payne

Monday, November 15, 2010

Hola familia! Its me again, Hna Payne!

I just got a phone call from the assistants.... Im being transferred!!!!!!!!!!! Im white washing an area in Resistencia. My companion is Hna Runyon. She is here in Posadas with me right now. We leave tomorrow. I cant tell my compa though. I dont know why its a secret. Ha she thinks she is the one leaving. I get to pack my bags tonight. I dont know why they called today... we always find out Tuesday nights. Im really excited though. I love Hna Runyon. She is from Orem. We are going to work hard!

Well this week I dont really feel like I have a lot to say. We had zone conference and it was wonderful. We only have them every three months now. I wish more. We learned a lot. We learned how to be more direct and forward. This is soooooo hard for me. But something I really want to change. Ha I have always hated 创BIG GIRL创 conversations, so this is really good for me. We walked away from this conference with a better clarity of knowing who we are and the authority that we have. We put into effect what we learned with the approximate lesson. We are working hard! Speaking of working hard we had two investigators in church with us this Sunday. We found them Saturday about 5 in the afternoon. All we really talked about was the importance of going to church and they agreed to go. They declined that we stop by in the morning so we could go with them. We figured it woudnt hurt, so we did anyways. To our surprise when we clapped at their house (which by the way I love where they live. It reminds me of Texas in the country, really green.) she came out in her Sunday clothes. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They really meant what they said! They were really coming! We got to church (I dont know if I said that church is now at 8) and both talks were about tithing, right after we told them they didnt have to pay anything! Go figure! But the approximate class couldnt have been better. The lesson was on Temples and families forever! Her husband died 16ish years ago. Her son that is 30ish suffered some mental something or other when his died died. Needless to say they both want to be a family forever! Who doesnt want this. If only everyone realized that they cant be an eternal family without the temple. When we talk to families about living together after they all act as if they know they can be!!! Well that is why I am here isnt it? Baptism is only the beginning!

I told you my spanish was getting better.. I might have lied. With this same family we were talking about mornings, and I might have mentioned that we as missionaries practice exorcism every morning. Yes, you read that correctly, exorcism. Her eyes got really big and was like what?? Every morning?? My comp shook her heard yes, every morning. Hahahahahahhahahahahahah OOPS! What I meant to say was EXERCISE! We exercise every morning! Exercise and exorcism are quite similar in spanish! I think that has been my biggest oops.. other than the one time that I confused the name of a baby with a napkin. Ha to me they sounded really similar. Hey, at least I havent said anything about monkeys and the priesthood. Raelene told me to stay away from that one =)

EW! Guess what I ate this week. Chicken throat and chicken heart, and who knows what other part of the chicken! Okay it really wasnt that bad, it was just the fact that I knew what it was. Next time I wont ask what I am eating. I was really confused at first because part looked like chicken, and the other looked like hamburger meat... but all connected. I asked my compa what it was and she just told me to eat it. Then someone else said chicken throat. I was quite proud of myself, I only gagged once!

The holidays are coming fast. I cant believe Next week is Thanksgiving. Are yall renting a car to get to Karan磗? The good old days of Thanksgiving with Karan. Those are fond childhood memories at the lake house. Be sure to eat some BlueBell ice cream for me. When I was printing off my mail this morning there was Christmas music playing. Crazy. Hey since I will be in Resistencia I will for sure be able to see the Becksteads!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!! I will be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with Hna Runyon. Im really excited for this change! A lot of things have changed in three months! Its time for me to grow more. Ha I can see where 18 year olds get married and then 10-20 years down the road they want a divorce because they are SO different. Okay, maybe that was a horrible example, and you probably dont understand.. but my point is yay for a change. Its amazing what you can do when you have to. Ha im about to have to =) Bring it on!

Mom, I got my package last week. Thank you sooo much! I love the shirts! It is getting quite warm here. Im not close to dying yet.. that means much more heat and humidity to come.
Hey, Im proud of your memorizing. We are supposed to memorize a scripture everyday from the Book of Mormon. I just found this out. Im determined that its impossible in english, much less spanish. Boo! Ha i know I need to stop complaining about it and just do it. The Lord will help me if I give it my best shot. Levi, remember that time you tried to memorize a scripture everyday for a photographic memory?? How many did you memorize? Who was it that said this?

Michael! I got your letter. I am now waiting for a follow up letter.... one that sounds more like the Mike that I know!

Okay, well the next letter will be coming from Resistencia! yay! Have a great week. Thank you all for all that you do!

Love,
Hna Payne
xoxo

Monday, November 8, 2010

Hola Familia! It´s me again, Hna Payne!

This week was a little tough. Again, no investigators in church. We left right after sacrament so we could go find someone to come with us. Again, no one. Oh well, next week right?????? Sometimes I wonder if I have the faith to do this work. Right now Im not so sure.I know that my faith can cause miracles because everything says so.. but I dont have a testimony of this. I dont know if that makes sense. I know, I know, ¨forget myself and go to work¨ ¨remember who you are, and who you arent¨´ my job is to only invite... I know all these things. Our mission has the theme of baptisms every week. Well we cant even get people to come to church. But ¨its possible, its possible´´ again I know this. But what things am I doing, or not doing that need to change? Obviously a lot. I have six months in the mission and I dont feel like I have done anything. Booooo! Haha sorry this sounds REALLY negative. Dont worry, all is good. I know that this experience is shaping the rest of my mission. I wouldn't appreciate the good if I didnt know any of the downs of the mission.

Okay, now on to a much brighter note. We had divisions this last week. Best thing ever! I love change. (I might need to be reminded of this love someday). I was with Hna Mena in her area. I have actually worked with her before, my first week in the field when my compa had trainings. She entered into the field the day that I was supposed to get to Argentina. She is from Chile! We woke up and went running! Best day ever! It had been soo long since I had been running. We didnt go far. Maybe a mile, I was afraid to ask her to go more... Maybe my next compa will like running. We also had music in the apt. First time in 6 months since I have listened to music!!!!!! Another reason that it was the best day ever. Drew are you using my ipod??? I like divisions because it gives the chance of learning things from someone else. I have three months with the same person. It was nice to see how Hna Mena does things. I hope we will have divisions more often! It was so nice not to be in a routine. Its amazing what you can do when you have to! Hna Mena didnt know what I could do.. I just had to do it =) The Lord helps his missionaries, that is for sure.

Hey, Mom!!!! Today is your birthday!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MOMMY! HAPPY BIRHTDAY TO YOU!!!!!!! Where are yall going to dinner?? What did you get?

We fasted this week! Of course! It is getting quite warm here. I wanted water sooooo bad. The bad news is that it isnt even hot yet. Ha I cant wait until December. Im going to die =)

Well I decided that if things in the mission dont work out and i want to quit.... I found that I have options here. We were down by the river quite a bit this week. Every time we see this man that is working construction. He is always really nice and says hi. Well this one day he is walking with us a short ways and some how says that he wants to live with me... or possibly asks... not really sure, I had no idea what was going on. My compa was quite defensive and kept telling him no. He told her that I was the one that had to make the decison. HAHA but I didnt say anything because I didnt know what they were talking about. Ha but she told him that I had a boyfriend or something to that effect.(Everybody has one of those here. Its just easier to say so that guys will leave you alone) And he asked if I was married. Ha she didnt no why I wasnt adding to the conversation. I figured something bad was goin down and I didnt want to say anything and ruin what had been said! HAHAHAHA but really who says things like that. Oh, I forgot one important detail, he is like 65 years old! He has kids older than me! Well, just a word of warning, if this week is terrible, I know that I can find a ¨¨suga daddy¨¨here! HAAHAHAHAHAH EW!

Mom, you keep talking about Leah Brennan. The first thing you mentioned about her is taht you bought a skirt for her.....? That is all I know. Is she planning on school? Living with yall? Finding an apt?? What happened to Alex?

I will see Elder Beckstead this week at Zone conference, and then transfers next week. He is in a different zone, but we only have these like every 2-3 months and I guess it is easier to have them come to us. Soo weird, he only has one transfer left. Im excited to see him. I really hope that I will get to see Jan when they come. As for things to send im not really sure. I will think about this. Just send jan a brisket or ribs and they will be happy to bring anything. Ha I know what you mean by not knowing. Just ask her. She is sooooo sweet. She wont care if you ask. Ask about the airlines and the restrictions and what she is planning on.

Today for pday we went and had lunch, and then played soccer. I actually really liked playing. Today was really the first time that I have ever played. Hopefully one of these pdays we will get to go to the falls. Maybe I will be transferred to this area one day. I think its only like 5 hours away from us.

Hey, my spanish is getting better. I had to call the mission doctor to ask them a question for my compa. He doesnt speak spanish and when he said hello. I couldt for the life of me give an intro in english. Ha this is what I say the most everyday. HAHA no but really my spanish is getting better. Its still slow, but everyday is better. I cant wait until I can communicate EVERYTHING! But hey, gotta live in the moment and be thankful for what I have!

Dad! IM soooo excited for your news! Its about time =) Keep me updated on this! And thanks for your letter!

Karan! You are sooo faithful at writing. I appreciate this soooo much. Sorry I am horrible at writing! I will try to be better!

Grandma and Grandpa thank you as well for your letters. Again, sorry that I am horrible at writing.

Drew, soo faithful at writing too. But I dont know if I can call you my brother anymore. Ha you know why!

Well fam! Thanks for everything! Have a great week. Love you and miss you lots!



Love, Hna Payne

Monday, November 1, 2010

All the bugs that I have to look forward to! Yikes!

My rain attire! Yes, Im a dork, but hey Im dry, warm, and my feet arent muddy!

Two kids that I just love! Mili, and Maria! Their parents wont get married =(

Hola Familia!!! It´s me again, Hna Payne!

About the falls! We dont have any plans as of right now to go. We haven´t met our goal for baptisms. Speaking of baptisms, we didnt have one this last week =( We kept trying to get a hold of Lurdes but every time she wasnt home, or just wouldnt answer the door. We talked to her dad at church and he said that she hadnt said anything about a baptism… which she told us that her parents said that it was her decision. (Her dad and sister are members, but not her mom). So then he said that they were going to talk as a family. The next day was Wednesday and we couldnt get a hold of anyone. I knew someone was home.. just ignoring the door, and the phone. It came to be like 6 that night and we didnt have an appointment with someone until 7:30. I was determined to sit outside of their house for an hour and a half. Luckily they finally answered the door! But to our disappointment she said she wanted more time… that she wanted to finish this year of school that ends in November and then. I was trying to understand the correlation in this… We tried talking about it (all of this was in her stairwell because they were supposedly about to leave) but of course we couldnt drag her to the waters of baptism, so we left… boooooooooo! My compa thinks that its because of her mom! She was going to be baptized like two years ago but her mom wouldnt let her because of her grades?? At least that is what I understand from one of the members.



So this week on Tuesday, the day before the census we were ¨knocking doors¨ and this man told us to come right in. We were really surprised at how easy it was. I dont remember what was said. We started asking him about his family, how many kids he had, work, religion and so on. Then we asked if we could start with a prayer. He was a little shocked but of course said yes. We gave a short explanation about the Restoration and then asked if we could close with a prayer. He finally admitted that originally he thought we were part of the census! Hahaha we got a good kick out of that! But hey we got another appointment for the next day when his wife would be home. It was there that the wife said that she knew me! She was the lady that helped, or didnt help me in the hospital! She kept telling me that is was IMPOSSIBLE to get the test that the doc wanted, for one week. What a small world. Out of all the people in the world! We gave the first lesson, and they are really interested! I cant wait to see what happens with this family. I can only pray that they are the reason that I threw up blood! =) Oh and I gained a stronger testimony that we are representatives of Jesus Christ at ALL times! You never know who you will run into again!

This week we were working out (one of our days outside) and I saw an old investigator, one that we hadnt seen in a long time. I asked my comp about it and she said she had forgotten about her! Well, it wasnt 10 minutes later that she comes charging with a walking stick, all the while yelling at us, when I say us, I mean ME. I had no idea what was going on except that she was pretty angry. She couldnt see my compa because she was on the ground and I was jumping rope. She finally got close and I had no clue what she was saying, or rather yelling. I was so nervous I couldnt say anything. I tried asking her if she knew who we were. All the while my comp just sat there not very close. I told the lady that I was learning spanish and that I didnt understand, that my compa did. I kept looking at Hna Marilaf to help me. She finally woke up and started to talk to the lady. The only thing that I understood from her was when she looked at my companion and said that I wasnt normal. The significance is that Im special!!! Hna Marilaf explained that I was normal and that I speak english! Ha and I thought my spanish was getting better! But really, who calls someone special when they are standing right there! And why do people think that I am my country? Hate America if you want, but not me! That day we talked to one of the members that is a Police man just so that we could tell her no worries, we talked to the police and they said it was a public place! Quite funny! We havent seen her again. Im guessing we havent seen the last of her. Tomorrow we will see! HA

Okay well Im going to try and upload some pics now! Thanks for everything! Love you lots!!
Love Hna Payne

Monday, October 25, 2010

Hola familia! It´s me again, Hna Payne.

I know I say this every week, but I still cant believe that another week has come and gone, AGAIN! This week I realized that I practically have 6 months in the mission.... WOW!!!!!! That means I will get my trunky papers in like 6 more... (my comp just got hers today). I feel done before I even get started. I dont know if any of this makes sense? I can only imagine how fast one year will go by. I need that extra 6 months that the elders get. Well, I guess its good to know that it will one day come to an end.. that just means that I have to give my best everyday now, so that there wont be any regrets when I get back. That being said, I have a new goal! I have said goodbye to english, yup, thats right, no more english... (writing doesnt count) But I only have a year and I cant talk to these people, like I need and want! That just means I just have to work really hard now, and that means no more english with my compa. My spanish continues to get better everyday! It still isnt good, but its amazing what I know for only being here 2 months... (ah, basically 3!) I am loving the work more and more everyday. I am loving Argentina and the people more and more everyday too. I feel like this last week was a turning point. Not really sure why, it just feels that way.

This week we have an inactive family come back to church! We visited them last week and promised them that the Lord would help them receive enough money in 6 days where they woudnt need to work on Sunday if they committed to coming. (They said that before they couldnt come because the dad had to work.) When we went back on Saturday to make sure they were coming. He told us how the Lord really does love and help his children when they put Him first. He told us about how he received a couple of things from people in the week that are a big bonus to his work, things that will make work easier, and where he can sell more. Wow! How cool is that! All I can say is that the Lord´s promises are sure when we put him first and do our part. Sometimes, okay, most of the time that takes great faith! But if we have that relationship with the Lord before the trials come, we have no reason to doubt.

This Wednesday is the census. No one can do ANYTHING!!! Everything is closed and no one can leave their apts. I think that we can because we arent from here... Our zone leader says we can leave.. but our bishop says that we cant, and that the police will be out and about to direct people back in their houses. Im not really sure whats going to happen though because we cant tract, and we dont have any appointments at this point.

Mom, you have asked if we workout in the mornings. I convinced my compa to go outside with me (we have to wake up like 15 minutes early so we can get out and have 30 minutes.. At first she said no because she would be losing like 2 hours of sleep every week. Then we talked about how we are basically married and we need to compromise. We compromised to 3 days in the apt and 3 days out. I cant do cardio inside because the apt under us beats on our floor. I cant say I blame them.. 6:30 is quite early! Will you send me a workout with the jump rope? I dont really know what to do with it for 30 minutes. I miss running! Maybe I will get a comp one day that likes to run. There arent many people that run here, or work out. They have a few gyms though.. they are quite small.

Sherri, I know you already know this, but your Drew boy comes home soooooo soon! Yay! I know you are soo excited! P.s can you please come to Argentina, my face needs you! =)

Sorry, not much time today... I cant really think of anything else that happened anyways. I dont have my list again, I grabbed the wrong paper =( Anyways, thanks for all that you do! Have a great week!

Love,
Hna Payne

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Hola! Its me again, Hna Payne!

I stress out every week wondering what I should write. My time at the computer goes sooooo fast, ha kind of like my week. In between writing yall and President (in spanish) my times flies. Too bad I cant just copy and paste this email to him. Then again he understands quite a lot of english... maybe I will give it a try one week and see what he says! Ha! My interview with him was fine. I understood most of what he said. When I didnt he would explain it another way or resorted to charades. Ha it came to him making actions when he asked me if I had an eating disorder. I didnt understand the terms when he asked so then he showed me by sticking his fingers in his mouth. Haha! Apparently one of the sisters in the mish had a problem and when my companion told him that I wasnt feeling that well and that I had thrown up. He had to ask. I guess it was the fatherly role coming out in him, kind of like you dad, ´´i just have to ask´´ about me taking your drugs. Haha. About my health. This last week I was a little sick again, but no blood at all. Im totally fine, please dont worry. And dad how dare you accuse me of ´´thinking´´ I would never think that you worry too much =) You just love me a lot!

So this week I got my first taste of what it was like to drop people. Sure, we have stopped going to people´s houses before. But this week was different. I really and truly loved these people. My heart! One family refuses to get married. Im absolutely love their 6 year old Mili. I just want to hold her and hug away her hurt.. Sometimes when I looked at her I would see an adult. Im not sure what goes on when we arent there... but I know that her dad if verbally abusive! I of course didnt understand the words, but my compa said that he was calling her words equal to retarded. What parent can call their child retarded? And then the way that he picks up his 2 year old, im always afraid he is going to rip her arm out of the socket.. I dont understand, he is soooo nice to us. He loves the missionaries! And then the second family is two cousins 13 and 17. They both got an answer that this gospel is true, but neither want to change their religion!!!!! Boooo! I also got my first little taste of what its like to be a parent. Here you know better, have learned by experience, or just flat out know better because you have seen otherwise, try to tell and protect your kids... but yet they still have their own agency and can choose what they want. Remind me to never be a parent.. it will hurt too much! That being said, we talked about eternal marriages in church yesterday and had a grand understanding! A lot of people would tell me that I dont know anything about life, and that I havent really lived life. And in a lot of ways, in which they mean them, they would be absolutely correct. Hum.. how to explain? I didnt have to live my life in a worldly way... Because I have parents that made the decision to marry in the temple, and to always put the Lord first. I look back to some of my friends that were raised in the church that dont live the standards today. In almost all cases it was because their parents werent ALWAYS very consistent with the standards of the church. I realize that everyone has their free agency, but for the most part I know that if parents were more consistent then their kids would be also. There is a scripture in Proverbs thats talks about raising your kids in the truth and they wont depart from it. (I know Im an awful paraphraser) And I am a product of that. Temple marriages and always putting the Lord fist is a protection for all families. How could I not want that for my future family. If you didnt understand that, I guess what I am trying to say, is Mom and Dad thank you for being the loving, and consistent parents that you are. Yall are truly a great example.

Yesterday was Mother´s day here in Argentina. Too bad I couldnt call you mom and wish you a happy mothers day. Only two more months tho! The ward had a fiesta where they had a mariachi band (i dont know how to say that.. they arent really a band) come and play for all the mothers. We didnt get to go of course, but we saw a video of everyone dancing..... haha sooo funny.

We had a really bad storm the other night! Oh how I love the rain, thunder, and lightning. Haha but this time we had a little white water flood in our room. Yes we live on the 2nd floor. Somehow with all the wind it came in our window... a fun little adventure. I can only imagine how all the little houses faired... the ones that have nothing. Im very grateful for our apt!

We have a baptism that is really going to happen! Its for the end of this month. Her name is Lurdes and her dad and sister are already members! She has had the lessons before according to our area book (she says she hasnt) but is finally ready for baptism. Yay!!!!! Hopefully we will have someone else! Everyone´s goal is at least two!

Drew! Im putting a letter in the mail this week! I wrote it today! Sorry im still awful at writing! Hey and you didnt answer my question. Who did Rachel marry?

Hillary!!! What about Michael?? The only reason I could see him being home is if something happened to his mom.. I know she has cancer really bad... Please write back asap even if its just to answer this question =)

Kels congrats on nursery. I cant believe I heard the words come out of your mouth that you are glad to be called into nursery.
Well, I guess I didnt hear them.. you get the point. I loved the pics. B isnt my baby anymore.. I dont know who this girl is that you keep sending my pictures of. Im glad that mom could come and play! She told me all about our Miss B that is VERY independent! P.s you are still in my prayers for Levi to find a job. I cant help but think that when it finally comes around its going to be a good one!

Okay well, again....... my time is up. I love and miss you all. Have a great week! Ya´ll are always in my prayers.

Love,
Hna Payne
xoxox

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Hola, its me again, Hna Payne.

Life here is a good as it can be. Ha, I know how you read into all my words. All I have to do is change the good as it can be to pretty good and you know that it was a harder week. At least I think that is how we read into Drews letters. But really, life is great. So last week I told you that I didnt feel to great. Well after pday right as we were about to go out for work, I got a little sick. I knew that if I threw up I would feel a lot better. Well turns out that I was throwing up blood. Crazy, I know. I felt fine! We called Hna Del Castillo and she of course told us to go to the hospital (which is like the doctors). We went and they tried making me pay money (remember that it is free here) because Im white, and im from the United States, oh, and I cant speak spanish. But Hna Marilaf wasnt going to have that. Because she had been there, more than once, she knew that I didnt have to. Ha that started my experience at the hospital.... It started monday night and want over until the next night at like 7! So I finally get in to see a doctor and he just asks me some questions, then sent me in for a shot to help with the nausia (which I didnt have) and to protect my stomach. He wanted me to come back the next day and have a sonogram. All this time I felt fine. I didnt feel like I needed to go back the next day but Hna del Castillo thought differently (to your relief, I know). So we went back the next day getting there a little after 9. There we proceeded to get a number to wait in line for like 2 hours. Finally it was my turn! But then we found out we waited just for them to tell me that it was impossible for an exam for one week. Are you kidding me? I could have died in that time. She finally said that we could talk to the doctor that came in a 2. He wrote urgent on my paper so they would let me go that day. Then the person just sent us to another person who proceeded to tell me that I needed to be fasting. None of this was mentioned to me before. So then we went back to talk to the doctor and he said it wasnt necissary.So we went back to the lady that told me that they couldnt do it that day. She finally said okay and told us we needed to wait a little while longer so that my food could digest more. We waited like 2 hours before we asked her how much longer... she said she forgot about us. LIE! Im pretty sure she saw us and really didnt forget. Ha. Thats what I get for being American I guess :) FINALLY I got the sonogram where everything was great and perfect. All that for nothing. Okay, not for nothing, it was good to know that there really wasnt a problem. Im surprised, the hospital was really nice. Ha Hopefully that was my LAST experience in the hospital because I hear the other hospitals are just awful.

So I have the same comp. We have interviews with President this week. Ha it will be interesting to see how it goes, I dont exactly speak a spanish. Today we have been cleaning like crazy. We have been taking on little projects that turned into big ones. By the way I started this before I knew president was coming. And as a side note, that you wont ever believe. I got the cleanest american award from my companion. Yes you read that correctly. She said that I was like the first comp to clean the bathroom. Really¿ That is pretty pathetic!

Mom, I also love Alma 26:27. The scriptures are filled with so many beautiful promises! All we have to do it go forward with faith. Speaking of faith, Im still working on it. I fell like so much of faith goes along with following the spirit. And I feel that I struggle with knowing that its the Spirit. Man, this work is really easy in a sense of its all about talking to people, and serving people, and such. But it is soooo hard because there are soooo many variables that go into teaching, living worthely, following the Spirit, the list could go on and on. The list is never ending... always so much to work on and become better at. I have to take a deep breath and tell myself its all a process, otherwise i get overwhelmed with myself.

Drew!!!! Who did Rachel get married to? Chris or the other guy? If its Chris, how in the world do people get married without money¿ That is my question?

Hillary!!!! I need an answer this week because I am dying. OUR Michael doesnt get home until 2 months after im supposed to get home... or something like that. but i cant think of another michael.... write back asap on this one.

Sarah, I got your letter Thanks sooo much.

Okay well im out of time. i love yall and miss yall. have a great week.

Love,
Hna Payne

Monday, October 4, 2010

Hola Familia! It´s me again, Hna Payne!

Life here is as good as it can be! Okay, well we have´nt had any baptisms, so it can always be beeettter.. but you understand =) I cant believe that another week has come and gone again, and that I am sitting here writing yall again! Like ya´ll I stress about what to write every week! Sorry, I dont feel like I have much to say this week....

So I think that this was the first conference that I didnt fall asleep in, unlike all of you =) I love conference! I was sad to leave when it was all over. I think my favorites were Elder Eyring, Scott, and Uchtdorf... and others that I have forgotten! I always love Elder Eyrings! He set a great example for us when he gave the story about President Hinckley asking all to get out of debt if possilbe.. well that was his story, but the example was that when the Prophet speaks it is as if God is speaking and giving us council. Not even the apostles of the church are exempt.. (not that I ever thought they were) I need to pay more attention to the council given by God! The ¨´fences´´ are there to keep us to safe. This gospel isnt a gospel of ´´cants´´ but a gospel of all that we can do. All the council and commandments are to help us to be happy in this life, and return with our Heavenly Father again! Elder Eyring also talked about how we can have faith in the Lord because we know him. I loved that! We have no reason to doubt or fear when we really KNOW the Lord. He is always there and looking out for us. How easy it is to forget when things get a little rocky in life.
Drew, I also really liked Elder Scotts talk on faith and it being a principle of power. Faith is my Chirstlike attribute this week that im working on. The whole faith thing is really difficult for me. Kels I thought of you when he talked about patience and struggle... but then that is when the growth comes. I know that you are hating life with work, and you want to stay home with B. But I also know that the hand of the Lord is in all things! Maybe the Lord hasnt given you what you wanted yet because something even better is coming. And in the meanwhile you are being forced to turn more to the Lord and trust in him. Have faith, you know the Lord. Yall are in my prayers!

These last couple of days I have been a little sick. Im not really sure why. Something I ate? My stomach has been a little upset. Hopefully it will pass quickly. It hasnt been too bad, but enough that I dont feel the greatest. As a side note I think Im a little lactose intolerant? I know you are laughing. Im for real though. Ah I love milk and yogurt though! I have yogurt just about every morning for breakfast! Im not sure that I can live without it. Mom you asked a long time ago what we eat. ·Empanadas are really popular. They eat them like we eat pizza. Its like meat, or cheese, in a flaky tortilla or something... google it =) They also eat a lot of noodles and rice. I ate this soup the other day and found out from my comp after that it may or may not have had cow feet and other scary stuff in it. I thought it was good. Im glad that she told me after... gross! But its some soup that is pretty typical for Argentina. Locro is what its called. I have seen a few cauldrons (big enough for child to be cooked in) on the side of the road and im pretty sure that is what they are cooking. One day I hope to get a picture of it! Other than that I dont think I have had anything crazy... I cant really think what else to tell you about the food. We have lots of Sprite and Orange soda here. Oh, did I tell you I found a new love? Of course it has to do with Oreos! Its an Oreo alfajor!!!! The best thing in the whole wide world since Godiva cheesecake.They are even better in the freezer. Yuuummm I wish I could send you one.

Speaking of food. We went to an investigators house to get them for conference and they had made this pastry cake thing. They gave us piece while we were there and then proceeded to give us a whole other cake. This family told us before how they are struggliing with money every month, but especially this month because someone stole their money... something to do with someone taking advantage of the dad because he cant read. When he was younger he was shot in the head or something horrific involving his head and gun.. We dont really understand the whole story of what happened. But they have 3 little kids that are just darling. Mili is the oldest and is such a sweetheart! The youngest is 6 months old and they dont have enough money for diapers! And then they are giving us this whole cake and wouldnt take no for an answer. I know it had to have been their lunch for the next couple of days. And if thats not enough, they want us to have lunch with them this week. My comp said that they dont really have friends and that we are their family! What love to literally share ALL that you have. I just think of the story in the bible where a family was told to give the rest of their flour stuff for a servant of the Lord. It was all they had but they did it because they knew the Lord and trusted in him. In the end they had just enough for that day, and then the next day the same miracle, and so on. Okay, so that was awful paraphrasing and I obviously need to go back and read the story, but you get the idea. I know that the Lord will bless them because of their love and wanting to share with us. What a lesson that was for me.

Transfers are tomorrow. It is highly likely that Hna Marilaf will be leaving. I dont think it is usual to have more than two transfers with your trainer... then again I only have 1.5 We shall see what happens.

Drew, I got your letters. I had wondered what happened to you. Im glad that school is going well for you. I will try and get you a better letter this next week.

Grandma, I finally got your letter too! Thank you. Its good to hear what is going on in your life!

Dusty, Angel, Angie, and Chelsee, I have you a letter sitting in my apt.... the post office is still closed... I dont know why. I will try and get someone else to send them for me.

Mom, I got the pictures! Thank you sooo much. My favorite one is of you and dad with the hats on... sooo you! And Drew is way skinny! What ya doing man?

Okay, well Im out of time...... again! I hope yall have a great week. I love and miss yall.

Love Hna Payne

Monday, September 27, 2010

Hola familia!! Its me again, Hna Payne!

Life here is just dandy! This last week was kind of an interesting one. We got a phone call on Tuesday morning asking us about our baptism for that Saturday. We told them that we had no one.. no one was even close! They proceeded to tell us that President said that he knew we had one, have faith and look in our old area book... We went home and started to fast (our second one). We went through and found a few possibilities that has gone to church three times. That whole day we searched for these people, but to no avail. We felt that we had pretty much gone through all of our possibilities in that day and the next. Thursday we didnt really do anything towards our goal of baptism because we didnt see how it was going to happen. Well Friday we get another call asking us how the search was going. We told them that we found some people that were once close, and that we were going to work with them. Again, they told us that we were going to have a baptism the next day and to look for the miracles.. sounds familiar, dad =) Well we had absolutely no idea who, or what to do.... so we started another fast (our third one for the week) We set out looking and went back to a guys house from a couple of days before that wasnt home. We told him that we were told that someone in our area was prepared for baptism and that we felt it was him. He said he knew he was supposed to be baptized eventually, but didnt know when. We told him to pray and ask God when and that we would come back by the next day. Well, I was just sure and positive that he was our miracle! My compa was losing faith! Okay, I admit, maybe i doubted too! But not vocally! Vocally I was positive that we were going to have a baptism! I even wore my nice clothes, hose, and shoes, carried around my camera Saturday after noon because I was determined to at least show that my actions had faith in a baptism! We then went to the guys house to see how is prayer was! He was the miracle that I was looking for! Well, I know that you are probably reading thinking that I had a baptism Saturday night... but no. Nothing happened! Why I just told you this big long story, I dont really know.. But it wasnt all a total waste. It changed our mindset about the way we go about doing things. We always thought that we could have a baptism next month, or the next, but never right now! There are people here right now that are ready for the waters of baptism... they just need a little bit of help. And we found others that had gone to church twice... so close! We will have one soon!!!!!!! NO, we will have lots soon! The field is white and ready to harvest =)

Speaking of harvest we are working with an 18 year old kid,Fabion, with a baptismal date. He walked to church yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay! That is the good news. The bad news is that we think he may possibly have a problem with one of the baptismal interview questions that you have to talk to the mission president about.... we had our suspicions and then one of the members told us something else. Hum.. lets just say its a life style that I dont agree with and I can only imagine how hard it would be to change one´s thinking. Eh.. Im scared for that conversation. But hey, I will play the I dont understand card =) That being said, I know that through the help of the Savior, and His atonement that all can be overcome in this life. Too bad that doesnt necessarily make things easy. I hope that he can gain a testimony of The Book of Mormon, and then of the Atonement!

We have had 2 families in this last week tell us that they cant listen to us anymore, that their ´´husbands´´ (no one is really married) wouldnt allow it. One of them is just the father of the last baby, and pays for the families food. How can you tell someone that doesnt know ys to pick this gospel when its that option or food for their kids? They want to listen, but when they really dont have a testimony of these things yet how can we expect them to pick us? Well maybe we will get a chance to talk to their very Catholic husbands that probably dont even go to church... a lot dont like us because they dont know anything about us, or they think that they do and it turns out to be completely false!

So this next week is conference and I am soooooo excited. I have been reading all the last talks this last week. Something big is going to happen, like missionary work in China =) We will be at the other Church like 20 mins away. And there will also be a room for the english speakers in our native tongue! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Im soo glad that I will get to understand it all. It starts at 1 pm for us! We are praying to have lots of investigators in the 4 sessions. There arent any in the morning which will hopefully make it easier to get people there.

We had 3 investigators in the church this Sunday. I dont know that I want to call the other 2 actual investigators though. A mom, and daughter, the father and other daughter are already members. We arent really working with them at this exact moment. We have to change that here really quick. We want to talk to the husband and tell him that its his responsibility to prepare them for us! The time is now!!!

Saturday was a service day for all of the LDS people of Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. We worked at a hospital moving this trash pile of rocks, tile, and dirt into a path for a truck to drive on in the back. It didnt really make sense to me but hey we were there to help. We would have gotten it done a lot faster if all would have helped, but instead we had quite a big group of support from the women! ha! Some lady from the church came. I think that Hna Madilaf and I will be in the Liahona here. Eventually I will get around to sending more pictures.

Dad and Dusty, I just got your letters. im going to print them off. I hope that you didnt need anything answered today. sorry.

Mom, I would like you to send those shirts pretty quickly if you can, and its not too expensive. If you were to send them with Jan, I wouldnt get them until January and it will be sooo hot in November. Are they tank tops that are only half?
And I will hopefully get the pics this next week!

Angie!! I loved the pictures you look sooooooooooooo good! I will try and get you a letter in the mail next week! Im thinkin that your add is the same st george one?

Angel and Evan! I got your letters as well! Thank you sooo much!!

Okay well that is all I have time for today! Thanks for all the letters and support! I love and miss you all. Have a great week!

Love,
Hna Payne
xoxoxo

Monday, September 20, 2010

Hola familia!!!!!

How is everything for yall this week? As always, thanks for the letters. I know you hate writing them so! Dad, I read your letter and I laughed soooooo hard when I read the part about you wanting to call the ´´Big Boys´´ So today we got an email saying something about being obedient to all of the rules, and that one of them is to only write the spiritual uplifting things in our letters home. For that rule, it gave an example of how we arent to tell the rules of the mission to our family..(the rule that we cant go to church if we dont have investigators) Yes, it said that one specifically. Hna Marilaf and I both laughed and wondered why they gave that as an example. She figured it was because parents had called president about this rule. I just kind of laughed and was like oh ya probably... That is something my dad would do. About an hour later I read your letter saying you wanted to call someone. HAHA it made my day!

So about this rule that I am not to tell you about... Man, Im being disobedient... (but I figured if I were to just tell you that i am no longer able to tell you that we cant write home about not being able to go to chuch because of no investigators then you would for sure call. So.. I will explain. Yes, President made the rule that no one can go to church unless they have investigators, and also the rule that no one can stop going to church! Well I guess parents called and complained and now the rule is that we have to go to 3 houses and see if they will come with us. If no one, then go to chuch for sacrament meeting and then after you leave and go look for people that will come... Which is difficult because sacrament is the most important meeting for investigators. Anyways, please dont call anyone! This whole writing home rule is difficult... I write what happens in the mission.... rules are a part of the mission.. how am I not supposed to write home about things like that? And then be told that I am not being obedient?? BOOOOO

Oh, Dad, thanks for your little taste of humble pie! =) You are totally right though. However, it would be nice if people were ready to jump in the waters of baptism just because my little 21 year old self told them to. Sometimes I just laugh at the situation because here I am 21 telling people that they need to read and pray together as a family, that it will strenghten their relationship as husband and wife, and with their children as well... and yet I have never even been close to marriage and I tell them what will fix it or make it better. I know that reading and praying together really does strengthen families, but its just a funny situation. Back to your humble pie advice, it is sometimes hard to remember who I am, or as you said, (who im not) because we are always talking about numbers... so when we dont have 6 investigators in church or a baptism every week its just frustrating. I want everyone on my watch.. not Heavenly Fathers. Which is of course a little or a lot messed up. I know that we are asking them to do a lot and to give up a lot... but we get soooooo much more in return. I am soooo thankful for the protection that this gospel offers individuals and families. All of the commandments that we have help shield us from the evils of the world and are there to keep us safe. Everyday that Im here I become more thankful for the safety of the church. I see youth that have awful lives because of the agency of their parents.. Some dont even stand a chance in this world. This week a 16 year old member committed suicide. She said it wasnt anyones fault, she just wasnt happy. She is the granddaughter of the lady that washes our clothes. Soooo sad. I dont know that I saw her before, she wasnt active. Apparently suicide is kind of common here.. at least that is what Hna Marilaf says... Eh soo sad!

So I figure that Im about fluent is spanish!!! yup, thats right! I was speaking spanish in my dreams.. Its now happened at least twice now.. well, that hna has heard. I was bearing testimony about the Restoration of the gospel and Joseph Smith. Yay, life is good! =) haha spanish is still a struggle, but again, everyday is better! And I know, Spanish is only part of my purpose as a missionary =)

Okay well that is all for today! I love and miss you all! Have a great week!

Love Hna Payne

Monday, September 13, 2010

Hola familia!!!

It has been raining cats and dogs here! Ha that is something that cant ever be said in Utah! But I love it! Okay, well, maybe not the working in it part, but I have my jacket, boots, and umbrella, so life is good!

This week has been good? Well, definitely not bad!!! But obviously it could be better... We didn't have investigators at church, again! AHHHH!!!!! We have no one that is progressing! Its soo frustrating because they talk in the MTC about how it doesnt matter where you are that there are people waiting for the gospel. That is field is white already to harvest... Which I know to be true!!!!! So what is it that we are or arent doing, that needs to change?? Its hard to come into the field having all sorts of expectations, and then realizing it is a whole new ball game. So, what do I do? Obviously things need to change I just dont know what, and then there is that question of how??? Change is good! I just have to figure out how to do it =) For crying out loud, this will change your life!!! Doesnt anyone care ??? Ah, Im starting to realize that im dealing with REAL people, with REAL ''BIG GIRL'' problems. Here I am just 21 and have never lived life in a way that these people have. I will never have to experience a lot of what some people do because of the gospel. I live such a blissful life because of the gospel! And for that I am sooo thankful. Right now, the greatest blessing of my life in the gospel is that it is a message of hope. Of course there are never guarantees even with the gospel, but at least I know who I am and that I have a Heavenly Father that loves me. I know it will all work out in the end. The trials that we experience are just to shape and mold us to become better. But how do people deal with life when they dont know that?? I think there is a talk by Elder Eyring that talks about that? It was in conference a couple of years ago I think. If you could please forward that to me if you think about it???

*side note* Im not down, discouraged, unhappy, culture shocked or anything like that. Im just saying how it is. Dont worry life is good and im happy. Ha Dad, you said that there were quite a few people that read my letters.. I know, I dont like the pressure of it all! HAHA to all of my readers, Im trying to keep it real, dont judge me!!

My comp has been sick this last week. We went back to the pension early Saturday night and then went back after Sacrament meeting where we both slept till lunch. Does that make me a bad missionary? I really do want to be a good missionary. Then I sat at our table and studied for hours, until bedtime! I worked on our program thing that we have in the mission... that includes LOTS of memorizing... which is hard for me because its a foreign language that isnt very familiar to me.. so its straight memorizing. Mom, I feel your pain! But I know that you can do it =) Im not going to lie, it was nice to have a ''normal'' Sunday. Like I said, dont judge me. I will catch the vision! Sadly I need more time =) She went to the hospital (people go like its the doctors) Friday and they told her that she was allergic to the climate...? She got a shot of something.. The hospitals here in Argentina are free! Everything! Weird! You can have a baby for free! This hospital, or at least what I saw of it was really nice. She has been several times since she has been here. She said the one in her other area was awful. Great. Hopefully I wont need to ever go. Im pretty sure she just has a really bad cold... doctor payne here! I really do want to be a nurse tho!

Kels, I totally understand your fasting thoughts! Im dreading the thoughts of fasting in the summer here. No water for 24 hours?? My comp says that she almost dies every time. But you are right, I know that the Lord blesses us when we do it! I feel like so much of my life in the gospel is just that I know that Heavenly Father blesses us but Im not sure that I have been directly blessed by some things... even though I KNOW that I have been..If that makes sense?? I at least understood EXACTLY what you meant. But here Im starting to gain those little testimonies of everything! Im sorry that you are hating life at work. Yall are definitely in my prayers! And wow, one year ago that Levi found out he had cancer. In some ways it feels like yesterday, and in other ways it feels like forever ago. Hey, fasting right there! How blessed we are to have the gospel in our lives.. something to turn to when life gets out of control. I need to be better about not ''turning'' when things get hard. I just need to continually remember God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Mom, 50 pesos is $14

Dad, I need some pics of your latest creations!

Drew, how is school going?? And work?? The new ward? The girl situation?

Dusty, I got your email, I will print it off and try and write next week =)

Darci!! I need some pics of that little man of yours!!! I hope all is going well with your new little family.

Chels! I need an email sent my way! How is your new little family? Ha weird! Is married life everything you thought and more??

Bart! Thank you for the email! I was soo surprised! But it was great to hear from you. Thanks for the words of wisdom! Im working on my caveman spanish =)

Raelene! I got your dearelder this last week. Thank you. It was good to see how your fam is doing. I think about your family when I eat mayonnaise. I feel like it is a staple food here. And so far I havent said anthing about monkeys and the priesthood. I will try my best to stay away from monkeys =)

Okay well I am out of time! I love yall and miss yall! Have a great week!

Love,
Hna Payne

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Hola, hola, hola!

This week has been a blur! Every week goes by really fast, it feels like yesterday that I sat down and wrote to yall.. Everything feels like that, and Im sure the longer that I am here, the faster it will feel. Life here is great. Every day still continues to be better. I can´t wait till I have the language and can really talk to the people! That will be the day =) But again, every day is better and that is for the language as well!

This week at church we thought for sure we would have at least 5 people, a family of 3 and two brothers, with possible others. We got to church and NO ONE! Well, I say no one, but there was a 9 year old boy that my comp taught before?? He is the grandson of a member. I dont really count that, but it was nice staying at church and not running around trying to beg people to come to church with only an hour left of Relief Society and Priesthood. Eh, my heart! They need the church in their lives, this message will change their life!!! Ya know, Its kind of nice not having the language yet, because Im forced to get over the nervousness of talking to people. I say my little part and my comp is the one that is in charge of how the lesson goes because I dont know whats going on. It is all just a process that I will work up to saying a lot more in a lesson. But I want to tell people in more words how their life will be different.. but I cant. That being said I have been forced to really think about the reasons that it will bless others lives. Really, how does it bless mine? Yes, I know that its true!!! But growing up in the church, and my latter days in Utah, I never had to defend the church or explain to others how my life is different.. I dont know if any of this is making sense. But for some people to go to chuch here its a big sacrifice. For example one of ther Hnas said that some people would have to walk like 2 hours because they dont have money for the bus. I have never had to think about what I would sacrifice for the church before. Would I be willing to walk 2 hours every Sunday? I would like to say I would.. but Im not an investigator! I grew up in the wonderful gospel. How blessed I am because I was born into a family with the Gospel, and not to mention a car to get me there. So how am I supposed to explain that no matter the sacrifice it is important. Sorry if that doesnt make sense.

So my area is a lot bigger than I originally thought. We just hadnt been in any of the other areas. This last week we went to an area where the people are very poor. I really dont know how to describe some of the houses here. For lack of a better word, shack. It is so weird because one house can be really nice and big, while the houses across the street have NOTHING! Well we went to this area and every house let us in to talk to them. We just tell them a little bit, and then ask if we can come back another day to tell them more when they have more time. They of course all say yes! We tried going back a couple of days later but it was raining. The rain can make it very difficult in some of the areas because we usually teach outside... the more poor houses, definitely outside. Well what do you do in the rain?? We will go back this week and hopefully have more success! Oh, I forgot how much I LOVE the rain. The thunderstorms and rain are like Texas. It rained here for like 3 or 4 days. It was nice when it finally cleared up. It wasnt bad though! Well, once I bought an umbrella and rain boots! Then it was more than bearable. My boots were 50 pesos, and my umbrella 25... both worth EVERY peso! (Eh I hate spending personal money when I dont have a job! oh well.) Eventually I will send a picture of how ridiculous I look with all of these things, and in a skirt! Oh, and my beautiful rain jacket that Mom gave me. Ha =) But hey, I was warm and dry! Yesterday was the day that all the clouds broke, and there was actually sun. Last night was the prettiest sunset I´ve ever seen! (Mawmaw would have appreciated it) =) Really though! All the sunsets are gorgeous! One of my tender mercies! Im pretty sure that Heavenly Father does them just for me, just because He knows I love them soo much!

So today for Pday we (the district) decided to go to the Zoo! With the word zoo, I thought elephants and zebras and such.. haha we get there and its this little ghetto building with a picture of a snake or something. Turns out that it only had reptiles... I really hate snakes and lizards! (oh, there was a lizard in my sink this last week... Im not okay with that!) I dont know who called it a zoo, im guessing there really is a zoo some where here.. Then we went to eat at some overly priced Chinese restaurant. It was a fun day though. Im glad we didnt just play volleyball again. Its fun getting to experience some of argentina. Oh, I held a really big snake at this place. Im glad it decided to not eat me. I had my doubts. I really hate snakes! We purchased a picture of us holding it, but I really dont know how you are going to see it... just take my word for it, I, HNA Payne held a snake =)

Well, we are still working on talkin to more people... Its kind of hard... well for one I dont have the language, but secondly, if I were a person in the street and a missionary randomly came up to me and was like telliing me this message and wanted to come to my house and tell me more, Im not sure that i would want them to. What can we do to help others know that we are normal people with a special message??

Im glad yall got my pics! Sorry, there is no cool stories to any of them. The dirt is just red dirt that is EVERYWHERE here. I thought you could maybe see the road in that pic too, but I dont think you really can. And the one of the sink is where we wash out clothes. HAHAH that isnt dirty dad!


Karan, I got your letters! Thank you!!!!!

Well it looks and sounds like yall had so much fun with Brecken. She is who I miss the most because I wont know her at all as a one year old. Every month is different for her. Everyone else will be the same.. but not her =( ha well I love getting the pictures so that I know what she looks like.

Okay well im out of time. I love and miss yall! Sorry that I ramble and dont make much sense some times... Until next week =)

Love Hna Payne

Mom, I will probs just buy a flat iron here... and I will want Peanut butter and mascara =) that is all I can think of for now. Oh, and I cant wait to see the pics that yall are sending!

Friday, September 3, 2010







Hola! Its me again, Hna Payne!

So, I forgot my list... hopefully I can remember things that happend this week =)
So this last week was a little crazy. Our electricity went out tuesday morning, and then our water on Wednesday. We kept trying to call someone to tell us what was wrong.. but it turns out that the missionaries that lived here before my comp didnt pay the month of may... and then our water just was out for a few hours. We finally got it all taken care of on Wednesday... with my personal money. We had money problems the last couple of weeks. Somehow I wasnt given the full amount for the month of August. We called out district leaders that said they called the office and that my card was having problems or something?? And then my comp had been paying for our apt with her personal money or something because of the past sisters in our apt. So we were using our personal money, and no one was listening to us. We couldnt call the office because you have to have permission by the Zone leaders to call.. but I knew someone could do somthing.. our message was just getting lost somewhere in between people. One of our sisters in the zone went to Resistencia to pick up her new comp and talked to someone. The elder called us and was really mad that someone didnt tell him, and was super sorry. So yay, I have money again =)

So I didnt end up going to Resistencia. And I thought I was leaving Wednesday afternoon, but it tunrs out it was Wednesday at 330am. So we got up as planned on Wednesday morning at like 2 where i had to try and get ready in the dark because we still didnt have power. We took a taxi because its dangerous on the busses at that hour? We picked up the zone leader and his comp.. and then went to the bus station where we found out the bus left at 3am instead of 330am. Someone in the office told us the wrong time. So then they said that i would go at 8. So we went to some hermanas that lived super close and slept there for a couple of hours. Well, President said not to come because I would get there too late and the training would almost be over. Here I thought I would get a nap and it tunrs out I just got less sleep than normal. HA, go figure =)

So Sunday was a successsss! We have five investigaters at the special conference! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! One was a family Cabral that we have been working with longer than I have been here. They really liked what they heard and have plans to come to church next week! They noticed that all the youth wear modest clothes and liked that. They want the same for their 11 and 18 year old daughters. We will see what happens! But definitely a miracle!
The other family we havent really been working with. We went there once my first week and then didnt go back until right before the conference because he had said that he wanted to go. We got on the bus and there they were. They left saying that Elder Foster was a man of God. We went to visit them last night but didnt get too far. He is a very smart man, and is letting that get in the way of him asking and receiving an answer about this church. Again, we will see what happens.
This work is soo hard because Im not in charge in any way. At what point do you cut someone off because they arent progressing. I have no idea the heart of these people.. only Heavenly Father does.. so its a hard call.

Yesterday was Zone conference. Apparently it was very different than other ones. Resistencia has 5 missions in this mission. There are two zones in this area that I am in. This zone conference we had all of this one mission here... Well, Im sure it would have been great... if i had understood =) haha oh well, I will get it next time! But guess what, I saw Elder Beckstead! It was soooo good to see a familiar face. I didnt think I would get to see him at all. He has been telling President that we have to see each other! Well he has changed a ton! He used to be the cool kid, but now he is just sooo happy and smiling and so on. I can tell that he is a good missionary just by how happy he is. He said he had no idea that a mission could make someone so happy! He said his parents are coming to get him in December. He said that if im still here that they will for sure come and say hi. That means I would get to see Jan. She is one of my favorite people. Im going to try and not get my hopes up though.

You asked if I was staying warm?! HA! If only it were cold. When I got here there were a couple of days that I didnt take my coat off. But now its just warm and humid. I have this feeling that I am definitely going to die when summer comes.

Mom, my straightner doesnt work here.. well it did for like 4 days and doest now.. I hope it didnt die for good. But should I buy one here for like $50 or just be ugly for a year? Everyone says that it is impossible to wear your hair down here in the summer. When summer hits we all have to wear a grass hat thing.. EVERYONE! Ha! If we didnt look ridiculous before, we will in the summer. Anyways.. what do you think?

Rachel! Congrats, you are the first one to send me a letter here! I got it last week! I will be putting you a letter in the mail this week!

I still havent gotten a letter from Karan if she ended up sending it.. How is she doing?

That is great to hear that Pat came home. Hopefully she will feel better soon, even though I know that she has a long road ahead of her.

Dad, I couldnt believe that you started a bigals page on FB. That is really funny. But actually a good idea. Im interested to see how it works out. How many fans do you have now?

Im glad that yall have enjoyed Miss B´s stay. Im not jealous.. okay a little bit cause I will miss her whole one year old phase. But keep telling her I love her!!

Drew, how is school going? Harder or easier than you expected? Dont worry it will get easier! Its kind of funny because all the girls have these problems at like 18 and 19. But then you missionaries come home and have to make these decisions plus more at 21. Welcome to being an adult.. haha its not all its cracked up to be! HAHA you are in my prayers =)

Dust! the good in your school could be missionary work! haha! and you have to get good grades your first semester back in school, and every other semester for PT!! Its a really competitive program isnt it?? And I didnt leave my scarves at the MTC. I brought one, and sent one home so I could have one when I get home in December. But at this rate the one I have here will still be nice enough to bring back home. I got to wear it once. But apparently it was really cold before I got here. Its so weird that the seasons are flipped. It will be quite an experience to have a HOT Christmas.

Dad, dont feel bad about nice meals... yet! Ha apparently I havent seen anything yet. That scares me. This is a pretty rich area compared to other parts of the mission. I saw one of the Elders yesterday that was in my district at the mtc and he said that in his area that everyone is very poor, but still wants to give. I am humbled that they want to give. The Lord has helped me eat here.. Im sure he will help me eat in my other areas too! Ha its a once in a life time opportunity! Its funny.. and when i say funny I mean gross... everyone uses their fork to dip into what ever food they want. It brings a whole new meaning to double dipping! HA oh well.. im getting over it!


Well I am now going to try and send some pictures. I love yall and miss yall! I hope everything is going well for everybody at home! Things here are great, and still getting better... until next week =)

Love, Hna Payne

Monday, August 23, 2010

HOlA!!! Its me again, Hna Payne!

Week 3.... not a complete failure.. but not successful! We went to church with the promise of at least 4 coming! We went to get one, but she never came to the door.. we get to church, and no one! So we go and sit hoping that someone will come! We take the sacrament and still no one. We get up to leave and to our astonishment and delight Ramona was standing outside! YAY!!!!!!!! She only stayed for the rest of Sacrament meeting and had to go. Ramona has a date to be baptized.. but that doesnt mean a whole lot at this point. it just gives us something to work towards. She has good feelings when we come to visit her and such.. she is the one that feels that God sent us to her.. but she doesnt have a testimony of anything yet. She cant read so that makes things a little more difficult! We shall see what happens! I have faith!

This next week is a conference where two of the 70 will be here. That is super exciting! However, like church, we cant go unless we have investigaters! That is a hard rule for me because then I dont know if im sad for them that they arent getting the blessings of church, or sad for me because I cant go.. Well its definitely both.. but I need to get to the point where its not about me in any way, shape, or form.. darn, still not there! You´re right, dad! Forget myself and go to work! This work isnt about me! I have lots that I want to do.. and I have an idea of what I want it to be like when im done.. I just dont know how to get there! All of it is work.. we arent given anything! Where would the growth happen if we were just given everything¿

So today is Pday and we met as a zone for volleyball! I wish we would see Argentina if we are going to meet and do stuff! Maybe that can be arranged.. I dont know. Dad, I had a hamburger today! It wasnt as good as yours but still pretty good. It had an egg on it too! Yall are still keeping the tradition of fast sunday right? Right now I am in the mission of the waterfalls. If we meet our baptism goal as a zone we get to go! I think the number is 16?? (yay! I figured out how to do a question mark) Oh soo I get two pdays this week.. not really but Wednesday is the day that I go back into Resistencia! Its like a welcoming lunch thing with the new missionaries that are just coming in.. (I didnt have one because of when i got here) but I leave wednesday at 3=30 pm and then spin the night there and come back the next day. Mom, the President and his wife seem really nice. It was really comfortable talking to him the first day.. (ha i had a translator) .Im looking forward to this bus ride because I will get to sleep on the bus! YAY!!! A nap two days in a row! hahah I wish that it was easier to get up.. i mean I get 8 hours of sleep for crying out loud! But if Drew said that it was hard to get up you know that its definitely hard for me. I think it would be easier if there was sun.. but nope, still dark at 6=30!

So we have zone conference this coming monday.. I think we still get to write home that day.. not too certain. Im not really sure how everything works. We will see after monday =) this week is transfers. People get a call Tuesday night and then they leave wednesday if they are being moved.. I think quite a few will be leaving my area.. i think they have been here for a while. Maybe Elder Beckstead will be transfered here. He only has till December until he goes home! My comp had him as a zone leader for like 6 months. She said he is a great missionary.

Mom, more questions =)

Yes, internet is really close. My cave man spanish is still exactly that.. but still getting better everyday. I need to be better at speaking with my comp in more spanish.. she understands a lot in english. And I cant believe the laundry situation either.. lucky us. im jsut being spoiled now.. it wont happen again! My feet are fine! IM excited B is getting to come stay with yall! Lucky! Give her hugs and kisses from me!

Okay well that is all for now! I love yall and miss ya! Yall are always in my prayers!

Love Hna Payne

Pat!! I love you and am praying for you to be and feel better =)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

HOLA!!! Its me again, Hna Payne!

I know yall have been checking to see if I have written! Sorry, yesterday was a holiday and so we had pday today! I really have no idea what yesterday was.. Anyways, we usally print off our mail in the morning and then write back in the evening. Man, there are not enough hours in the day.. any day, but especially pday. Mom, you asked if we got together as a zone, and the answer is yes. Today we had lunch as our activity. The activities are a time sucker! NO TIME!!!! But I guess that is the way that it is. I would rather just do stuff on our own. Even then I dont think there would be enough time in the day!

Okay so you asked like a million questions! I will try to answer them..

This week is tons better! Everyday gets better and better... everything about it! The language is of course still difficult. But I feel that I understand more everyday. I just want to understand whAT is going on so that I can CaveMan spanish my way through. Oh well, with time it will come!

We walk everywhere except church. Our area is really small and we can get everywhere pretty fast.

We flew to Resistencia! Then took a bus into my area. It was a 5 hours bus ride. On the bus was a missionary from this mish that got home like 2 months ago. That was cool because we got to ask him all sorts of questions!

I have hot water!! Yay! Life is good.!

I HATE dogs! Eh they are everywhere and some of them want to eat me! But I carry my pepper spray around all the time and dare them to try and bite me.. which some do. i havent used it yet thougho... i really hope I dont have to. im too chicken. Dad, I know that you are sitting there laughing and saying Great, now its just even more pissed off! Ha anyways, it makes me feel better =)

About church! I am in a branch. I haave no idea how many people that consists of.. There is also another branch that meets after us.

Food! There is a supermarket super close, which is nice. Today we went to a different one so that I could buy a pillow. I havent had one. I also bought another towel, and sheets. We have a lady in our ward that washes our clothes (minus our underwear). I think everywhere else is fend for yourselves, which means hand washing. I havent actually washed anything yet. This last week was really weird. Hna Marilaf had trainings monday through thursday. We had to travel for like 30 minutes one way. We would get there about 9 and then I went on splits with an hna also from chile that has only been here for about a month. Then we would walk back to the church and get our comps back at like 4ish. So the days were really short. Week number 2 at church.... fail! Ahhh! But this is actually my first normal week!!!!! This is the week, I can feel it. We are going to have people at church!!

We are supposed to have 6 people at church every week. That sounds really hard, especially since we havent had one in two weeks! But my comp brought up a good point.She was reading in Nephi and it was talking about how Nephi could do anthying... if the Lord commanded! I dont remember what scripture.. but 1 Nephi 3´+7 (i dont know how to use this key board) says the same thing! Well the Lord has commanded that we have 6 people in church.. so that means it is definitely possible! We just have to be creative and find ways to get people there. I know we can do it, but Im definitely working on having more faith ¨=)

Dad, you always tell me to look for the miracles. Ahh, there are miracles everyday! Maybe not huge, but someone reading the Book of Mormon, or getting an answer to their prayers.. that in itself is a miracle. We had a referance from the elders and went to try to find his house. We were having difficulities but had been asking people if they knew how to get there (which is a good way to then talk to the about the gospel) Well we got to a house that had the same number, but wrong letter.. but at the way we had been talkin to people I suggested we go ahead and ask.. that maybe she needed the gospel in her life. We clapped at her gate, and she finally came up to the gate and talked to her. We asked if she knew where we could find this particular house. We then introduced ourselves as missionaries, and she let us come in and talk with her. We sang her a hymn and then pretty much just listened. (everyone here is soooooooo long winded. they can talk for hours without us gettting in 3 words) But in all of that she started to cry and say that she felt like God sent us to her!!! At first she wondered what we were doing, and then saw that I looked different so she decided to come up and talk to us. But yes!!!! God did send us to her! It´s miracles like that that happen everyday! I see the hand of the Lord in His work. I cant believe that he allows me to be a part of all of these little miracles! One of these days I will actually get to help in them.. and not just be a tag along! But that will come! =)

I cant remember what else you asked... but this week really is much better! Everything about it is better! The members are great! We are trying to get them more involved in the work. That is a great way that we will get people to church! We get lunch with a member like everyday.. apparently it is the same families every week. Now I am just praying that the hair isnt in my serving of food... and that I will be able to stomach the food! Ha apparently this is a really rich area compared to the other areas. That means i havent seen anything yet =) I will try and send pics next week, especially for you mom.. ha i can just see you at the computer researching Posadas!

So 2 more weeks and you will have brecken_ ( i dont know how to put a question mark...) That will be fun! Thanks for the pics kels, dad, and dusty!

Okay well that is all I have time for today! I love and miss you all! Thanks for all the letters =)

Love Hna Payne