Smile

Familia!

Milagros of the week

Not much rain

I found raison brand!! I found it I say

The work is a moving. we´ve really been working on fellow-shipping the ward. Missionary work has been kinda of dormant. This ward is small, but the tesimonies here are strong. They are diamonds in the rough. These people love to talk, they love their carne asada, they love their families. They are blunt and ask questions not because they´re trying to offend- they just want to know what´s going on haha. Honest people.I admire them for the pioneers they are. It´s not easy being a member of the church here. You really are one in a million. One member was called to open the first mission in Spain and later was married by Elder Packer to his wife in Utah. They had special plans to move back to the states, but Elder Packer told them not to. That they were needed here in Argentina and would be a big part of the missionary work here. I think that is so cool! This family reminds be of the gma and gma Boyer. They sure have sacrificed a lot for the Lord´s work.

O! Sister Salas is whipping me into shape. But with love ha. It´s the greatest. We work hard, the necessites of life have stopped becoming necessities. Leonor and pablo(80´s) came to church! It was a miracle. This Sunday t hey´ll be baptized. I keep thinking wow, that´s a whole life´s worth of sins being washed away. I´ve enjoyed teaching them, really helped me to teach with simplicity. They call us their chicas. :)  Today President Carter talked about the difference between serving an honorable mission and serving a sacred one. Losing yourself completely in the work. Physically, and more importantly, mentally. President is awesome. Tells us to forget it all!  I think he´s right. A year and a half that will shape the rest of my life. This isn´t my time.

I´ve learned that it´s the little things that make the big difference. It´s remembering the important unimportant details about a person´s life that show we care. I´ve learned that a smile changes everything :). Turns what might be taken as critisim into advice. Turns a boring conversation into a fun one. Having a smile changes the way the world sees- treats you, which then changes the way you see yourself. You don´t need a reason! Smiling for no reason often brings the best moments. Moments when you see a serious face crack a smile. And then- what?! We´re laughing. Laughing about nothing! The day has changed. I enjoy watching people on the street change as I interact with them. So SMILE today!

I love you family!

Love,

Hermana Cleveland

pic 1 oreo night

2- found a mouse trap behind my closet

This is the Place

Familia,

This is Hermana Cleveland informing YOU that this is the place. This is my mission and I LOVE it. My mind hurts from all this thinking.

Some details on hma salas:

She´s from pero. Lima pero :)

She works like no other missionary I´ve seen before.

It was HER idea to celebrate the 4th of july! We are for sure friends. (making some american food to celebrate. Including.... popcorn! She´s all about the popcorn for some reason I´m not to sure why haha)

K this is going to be short.

This week I had the chance to meet a young boy and his family. I can honestly say I love this family. They have nothing but the clothes on their backs. They don´t have much food. Their lives have been way harder than what I´ve ever known. I always knew that people didn´t have around the world, but this is the first time loving and being  close with a family who has literally nothing but a shack. We shared a little bit about how we´re all children of God that he has a plan for us and wants to bless us. As we taught the lessons the grandfather started to cry. O family, was I crying. It´s humbling to see people who don´t know when they´ll next eat. I feel sad walking in the streets, and at the same time all I want is to give. I really have everything. My life in comparison to some, many...it´s perfect. I am thankful to be here in Argentina because it has allowed me to value what I have. I´m not teaching these people, they are teaching me. Only a week and my experiences have giving me another perspective. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it changes and blesses the family.

I hope you´re all working hard and doing good things. Count your blessings! There´s no way in this world we could ever count them all!

Love you all,

Hermana Cleveland

ps. I don´t know what it is. Pictures won´t download on this computer. Next week maybe?