One of the final pieces of the puzzle, for familia Palacio, the daughter, Andrea finally entered the waters of baptism this past Saturday. Her mother and Sister got baptized some weeks ago, but Andrea needed a little more preparation and teaching, she also had to quit smoking and other things that she had to take care of... So when she finally entered the waters of baptism, it was like a triumphal entry. I really love this family and I am so happy that I could be part of the miracle for her.

Our last lesson with her before her baptism was a scripture study of Alma 24 about the Anti-nephi-lehis and how we need to bury our sins deep in the earth to show our determination not to return and do the same sins over and over again, and how God blessed them with power and protection, we then turned it on her, that all the changes that she has made in her life are really wonderful, and that she has to bury her past life deep in the earth to show God her seriousness and her repentance, and that she is doing it now, and God is already blessing her for it.

But the cool part about this did not happen until sunday, She had an awesome experience while she was recieving the Holy Ghost, she says that she could literally feel the Spirit entering her body, from the top of her head gradually descending right into her toes, and when she was done, she felt so empowered that she felt that she could conquer anything bad that could ever happen.

It really is a miracle when the people whom we help begin to recognize the power and the protection for themselves and not for what we say or what anyone else says.

I know that the power is real, the salvation and the atonement is real, because I can see the power of God changing lives for the better, and I know that when lives are better, it is because of the influence of God, and noone else. I love the happiness that our Heavenly Father offers us and that Jesus Christ brings us, and I know that this happiness exists, even in the furthest reaches of Argentina. You just need to ask anyone that is really, truly, smiling, and you will know.

Con Amor,
Hermana Tritsch

I LOVE CONFERENCE!

It’s probably the best thing that ever happened to a missionary serving in a foreign country in a foreign language… They rigged up a 14 inch screen in the relief society and I (and about 12 other English-Starved missionaries) huddled around it to watch in our native tongue, while our companions went and watched it on the big screen with the members.

Watching it live-time, the morning sessions started at one in the afternoon and the afternoon ones started at five, but we were so giddy-happy to be there… Like a little kid when their favorite cartoon comes on or Santa Claus enters the room. We even dubbed the room the English Room and anyone who entered had to speak English… It was a funny awesome turn of events.

The whole conference was one emotional/spiritual rollercoaster after the other and I enjoyed every minute of it. What President Packer said about our Priesthood living below their expectations and that the priesthood power does not have the power that it should have because they are not using it the way they should, really hit home.

Also, Elder Holland´s talk about the difference between love and lust was something that we in the mission field like to call “Bajando la Caña” which is an Argentinian idiom which refers to when the leaders castigate you really hard for something that is wrong. But it was seriously powerful and necessary.

President Monson´s powerful testimony of the Plan of Salvation and Jesus Christ made me well up tears… like he was speaking right to me.

And it was a good thing too, because two of our investigators that have baptismal fechas both came to conference and really loved it. Andrea was a little sad but found comfort in the words about the relationship between mothers and daughters, and continues to progress toward her baptismal date this upcoming Saturday.

Jorge Alvarenga, our newest investigator with a baptismal date, went to and enjoyed all four sessions. Jorge Alvarenga is the son and brother of a member who recently developed a sudden interest in the gospel. Even though it seems sudden, he seems sincere, especially because he is attending and went to conference…

Thank goodness for conference… Without it, I am sure I would have gone stir crazy, and maybe our investigators too.

Love,
Hermana Tritsch

My Beloved Friends and Family,

So I looked at the calendar this morning and I realized that yet ANOTHER P-day came and now it’s time for another blog from the depths of the Argentine mission field.

This past week was all ahead forward preparing for the baptism of Ana Maria and Augustina. TONS of stuff to do and not enough time to do it. But we are so happy that at the end of the week, there are two new members of Barrio LaValle. The baptism went GREAT…. Really smooth and without problems, which was a nice change to what happened in Ituzaingó with my last baptism.

Everyone enjoyed themselves and the spirit was really strong and beautiful…. Ana Maria´s son Pablo baptized Ana Maria, and Augustina´s cousin Gabriel baptized Augustina. Ana Maria looked so happy afterward when she hugged her son in the font (Pablo got baptized about a week before I got here). You could feel the love and happiness that was in the room, and I wish I could adequately describe the great spirit of zion that I felt in that room.

Also this week, we got to see Presidente del Castillo and his wife in Zone Conference!! I love going to zone conference and getting the training and help directly from our leaders. I know that he is a smart, inspired man and is always there to help us… I wish we could see him more often than zone conferences and intrevistas.

I love it when he gives the doctrina… this time we used Alma 22 to teach us from the scriptures how we should be teaching and going about the obra misional through the examples of the great Book of Mormon missionaries. The general message of the conference is that we need to use the Book of Mormon more in our teachings and not just rely on the Bible because it is familiar for our investigators. Sometimes we have a little fear of using the Book of Mormon because we have fear that people will reject it and us more rapidly, when in reality, it sparks an interest in the Book of Mormon much more efficiently.

So we are to try and use the Book of Mormon as much as possible.

Back in the mission field, we contacted a really cool family of circus people, who seem really interested in the gospel. The whole family is involved in the circus, and the two daughters are “Little People.” They are all a really fun, awesome family that seems like they have been searching for peace, comfort, and tranquility for a very long time…

We have only talked with them once, but we are really exited to return and teach them, and they seem really receptive. We are going to give them a Book of Mormon when we return, and we hope it will give them the guidance that they are looking for.

Well, I hope that everything is well, and I thank you a ton for all your cards and notes of inspiration and love.

Les Quiero,
Hermana Tritsch