Hi!

I´m happy. I´ve been humbled here in Argentina. I have flaws I didn´t even know I had which is great. Now I can change them. I love the people of argentina. I love watching them understand. I´m not afraid. Sometimes I tell my comp...man if we ever came here and weren´t missionaries...whoa...I feel protected and I know that we can become powerful tools in the hands of the  Lord, when we are humble. 

We´re working hard with the family Figueroa. They are reading the book of mormon and praying but didn´t come to church this past sunday for health problems. Seems these problems happen a lot unfortunately and we´ve been praying for ways to help them give one degree more. They are a beautiful family, but it´s like their experiencing the "great awakening" here and need a push. I see them in the temple, and felt sad that they couldn´t be at church. We´re having a family night this week with another member family. That should be good. 

I love teaching what it means to me obedient. I´ve learned that being direct with our investigadors is the only way to help them truly repent. As I´ve applied the atonement in my own life I´ve seen that the presence of the spirit is much stronger during lessons. Sometimes we assume that people already know, that it´s obvious...BUT IT´S NOT. Sometimes we too, need to be reminded. 

Happy news....our family in Bragado. Cecilia and David. The miracle family I found doing an awkward contact in the street. Don´t know if I ever told you about how we found them, but you´ll all know one day. Well yep! One month after leaving Bragado they were married and baptized. All they want to do is go to the temple now. 

I´m soooo happy! It doesn´t matter that we can´t see the final results for every effort we have given, but I know that one day we will. I´m just happy to serve the Lord. 

Hope everyone is happy and well. Enjoy the summer.Be productive. Read your scriptures before anything else. 

Love you!

Hna Cleveland

Feliz Dia!!

Dear family,

 

Happy summer! I hope you´re all happy because I´m a happy missionary! We had what is called a capilla abierta (open chapel) where everyone from everywhere can come see the inside the church and stuff and there´s an organized program about Christ and what it means to me mormon. It´s a super stellar program that is happening in all south america. We had more than 20 new investigadors come and it was a special moment. I´m sure if you good america sur capilla abierta, you can find our pictures from here in Hurlingham, BA, ARG :) Try it because I can´t ha. My comp took all the pictures this night and there´s a problem with her pendrive...sad that you can´t see.

 

I know that the Lord blesses us with miracles. It was interesting how we were sitting in sacrament meeting and a man walks in, super confident and takes a seat. We had never seen this man before, but afterwards we were talking and he told us that he just felt like he needed to come to this church. That a long time ago two elderes gave him a passalong card, and he actually called and asked for them to sent the missionaries but now one ever showed up. Time later, he´s having a rough time, and decided to just come to church. It was super interesting. Also something interesting, his girlfriend of 4 years is from Utah. We´re excited to pass by their house this week. Marcelo coming to church was a miracle.

 

The young family we´re teaching, gladys and mariano are so close! They´re praying and reading the book of mormon. Mariano LOVE the capilla abierta, and was super excited to do family history work too. Mom the ward loved the book you made me. I think you´ve inspired quite a lot of people with the project. I never got to spend time in the family history booth but everyone afterwards was asking me about it. So thanks! Just praying a lot for Mariano and Glady, that they can take a leap of faith and trust more in how they feel than in everything else they´ve "heard of." When I study and teach the restoration, it just makes sense. The truth makes sense and the spirit testifies of truth. We´ve had powerful lessons with them, and it´s been a privilege to feel the spirit along with them. Lots of prayers for this family.

 

We continue on this week with a new president starting saturday. It will be a great experience and I know we will learn so much from President Robertson.

 

Sorry it´s short but at least I got to write mom and dad so that makes up for this letter not being aweomse.

 

I love how in the mission, there are moments of confusion and self pride, there are rough times that test our faith and we go through the refiner´s fire, become more humble, and start to see the miracles...then the puzzle starts to come together and we start to think "ooooh, so that´s what the Lord had in mind" I know that this is His work, and that there is no other work more important. I´m so thankful to be a missionary here in Hurlingham.

 

Love you all! How is your scripture reading? Let´s go!

 

Love,

 

Hermana Cleveland

 

pic...this is hermana medeyro from argentina, we´ve become best friends although we´ve never been companions...we were hoping but bueno....You´d all love her, she´s great!

Lice

Dear family,

Lots of stuff this week. 

Just renewed my visa today. I can´t be in the country until July 2015, then they´ll kick you out. That´s good. Another wasn´t sister wasn´t so lucky. They canceled her visa. Don´t like us americans that much...kicking us out! 

President Carter leaves the mission next saturday and we´re expecting a new President. I love President Carter, but I¨m sure President Robertson is great too.

Being a missionary in argentina during the world cup is crazy. We´re not allowed to leave the pench every time there is a game. We´re not allowed to watch it, but that really doesn´t make a difference considering all the wall-punching, kicks and screams we hear, it´s easy to tell what´s going on. 

This week we had a sad experience. We visited a recent convert/less active in our ward. I learned once again how important it is to excersize our faith and to do the little things. After he was baptized, it was easy to come to church late (he didn´t have a member friend), then he started working and it was easy to just stop going altogether, being the only member in his family, he started living the "easier" lifestyle (which is a lie, it´s a whole lot harder to do wrong than right), he stopped reading altogether and rarely prayed. His visiting teachers never visited, and the only contact he had with the church was the missionaries. Yesterday he told us that he wouldn´t be coming back.

We can´t afford to not read out scriptures everyday. Sincere daily prayers HELP us. Doing our visiting teaching is a commandment. Love your neighbor, love God with all your heart! Why would we ever stop doing these things or waste time thinking of "good excuses" for not doing what we should do? There is no good excuse. We´re studying the recent conference talks as a mission and Elder Hales talk about obedience is as direct as they come. When we are disobediente and stop serving God, we are showing that we love satan more. It´s simple. I know that the only way to show our love for our Heavenly Father is by our obedience to His commandments. Commandments that only help us be happy. 

I´m thankful to be here in Hurlingham. Every day we pray to find a married family. We´ve found two and we know the Lord has prepared more. There is nothing happier than seeing how the gospel changes a family and watching them understand what it means to be an "eternal family."

 

I love you all!

Hna Cleveland

ps. yep, the title means what it says. But it´s all good and normal.

Zona de Caseros

Ok so here´s the heads up for the week. 

This week was a learning experience. I think we saw the direct results of not planning very well and thinking the ideal side of things and not the reality. Towards the end of the week we didn{t have many lessons. A lot more time walking and a lot less time teaching. We need to magnifty our calling and find those members who can help our investigadores progress. We saw the fruits of our labors (isn´t that phrase so churchy?) on Sunday when Gladys and then Paola and her two kids came. It was a miracle! I feel like the Lord is blessing our area and us because were not content with where we are. While we made mistakes this past week, I think the Lord let us stress ourselves out a bunch and make up for all the bad planning we had done and then blessed us. It is the best feeling seeing a family at church. We need to make the extra efforts and make sure to involve the members. They are the reason why we saw people at church and why we will see them next week at church as well. I´m so excited because we´re working with families!!!!!

It is THE BEST feeling seeing peope at church, loving it, and then making friends with the ward. I see you all doing the same thing with the sister missionaries in your ward which makes you the best! Thanks for helping us out. 

Well yep! That´s this week. I love you all?

Love, Hna Cleveland

Transfers?

Dear Family, 

CAMBIOS!!! I was all ready to stay in Bragado until August but the Lord had other plans for  me. After campo campo campo, for 10 months straight, I´m going to back to where I was born. That´s right folks! The CITY. ....drastic music placed here..... Dad you called it, I didn´t see it coming. My new area is called Hurlingham and it´s the richest area in the mission. These people have money.

I feel like I´m in deja vu. In my first area, Castelar, I did everything my comp told me to do, but  maybe didn´t do it very well, maybe I didn´t understand why. Now I understand why and I´m able to do well. It´s different, but I like that. It´s definitely challenging me in ways I have almost taken for granted serving in the campo.  The ward is amazing. It was a little shocking to see so many. When bishop dropped the cane for the  many who hadn´t come to clean the chapel, for not paying a full tithe, for not giving more of themselves (he pulled it off with love) I got a little emotional. The spirit was present. I´m thankful to have two perspectives and so closely together. A bipolar moment has allowed to me to blatantly see the good from both sides.  I love Bragado, but I´m set out to make Hurlingham my favorite area now. I was looking in the carpeta and saw the name Hna Bustamonte with a full month of 5,6,10, 6 investigadors in church attendance. I read that in a week they found 15+ news and were able to have 20 other lessons, 10 w/member. I saw all this and I thought, there´s nothing stopping us from doing the same. Shows us again that it´s the missionaries who make the difference. (if this doesn´t make any sense, caseros has had a bad rep for being a tough area. Every transfer meeting when caseros pops up on the screen we here the oooooooo. I think it´s  dumb, but this doesn´t even matter cuz the zone  is changing a ton. Success!)

I´m companions with Hermana Solis (chile again!). Who´s awesome. She wants so badly to learn english, so we set goals for that. While I´d love to keep practicing my spanish, but I´ve had my time. She deserves a chance too. She´s consistent, she believes in the people, and she is very sincere. The people believe what she says, I think we just need to pick things up a bit. Lengthen and quicken the pace. We talked with everyone this week. There are few weeks in my  mission where I could say without any doubt that we did everything we could to talk to everyone. Someone always manages to slip by. Practicing my door approaches. It´s touch entering houses here. In campo everyone just sat outside. But the good news is that there is public transportation!

Right now we have one progressing investigador, Jose. He´s the first investigador I´ve had to have a Buddhist background. Really focusing on the basics and trying to understand what he´s saying. He speaks a whole other language that I´ve never touched. Maybe that´s how new investigadores feel hearing our normal church lingo. While we don´t understand him very well, his intentions are clear. Any one who rides their bike to church by themselves 2 sundays straight after finishing work at 7 am is interested. We´re praying and looking for different teaching ways to help him understand the restoration better.

What else.....o, I´m off bikes. after a year. I feel new haha, walking a little like the hulk ha. Sore. Feels good.

lunch with members EVER DAY? Where am I, Utah? 

It´s 10x colder here in the city. You get to the point where you can´t feel your feet and it´s  like your legs are two stalks hitting the pavement. 

In the Hurlingham ward we have older missionaries who´s assignments are specifically to help the ex-missionaries in the ward. Apparently it´s tough.It´s an experiment missionary calling for matrimonios.

Saying ¨see you later¨ to Daniela was a special moment. It was actually a little funny, I gifted her my Jordan sweats and my bball t-shirt anda then she went around a gifted me her argentina bball t-shirt. Her mom even gave me a basketball haha....? Like the two twins from parent trap when they show both sides of the picture of their parents. Without thinking we gave the same gifts....special!

I was alittleworried about Agustina....but I have the faith the m issionaries will take care ofher. 

Is this the longest email ever?

ok...I love you all! I´m so happy! Still learning lot. Take a moment to count your blessings. How´s your reading going? Let´s go!

Hna Cleveland

Transfers! there´s a big power point....it´s fun

MAY

Dear family,

It was a miracle to see Daniela be baptized. She is one of my most worthy converts, and it´s also a little different because I feel like my life experiences really  have helped her apply the gospel to herself. We´re similar. I never thought that small, mediocre talents would end up being a blessing on the mission. Simple things, like singing, or juggling, or playing basketball...

. I think of how long Daniela  has sought an answer, all the while living the commandments. A lot of work and faith. The day before her baptismo, we saw trials. Her basketball coach semi-kicked her off the team for not playing in her games this past sunday, her dad was furious and hasn´t supported her decision to be baptized. The two situations obviously were very stressful. I remember, she was traveling from chivilcoy to bragado and called us. I was on the phone with Daniela for nearly 30 minutes. Just talking about everything. I let her know that IT IS POSSIBLE to be a member of the church and play basketball. She laughed at that. In the end we jus tlet her know that we loved her and that   she would make the right decision. I just admire her so much. Something that was an answer to prayer, the same week as her baptism, she mentioned that her middle name is ruth...Did I already tell you this? As a family you should all go to the Index and read what it same underneath´s Ruth´s name. Reminds me a lot of Daniel´s experience. It was game-changer of an experience, and she ended up reading the book of Ruth with her mom the same night. So cool! The Lord finds small ways comfort and strengthen us. One way being the scriptures.

Well, while Daniela´s baptism was the highlight of highlights, gotta dim the lights a little bit and say that we only saw oscar this past sunday...all those who committed to come to church didn´t come....and there wasn´t rain or bad weather or anything! It was a sad surprise. A lot of work on our part this weak to help them recognized that they didn´t keep their committments. We´re working on finding and increasing our teaching pool. It´s possible and it´s what the Lord wants, now we just need to do our part. Praying for families who´re married. We´re going!

Well, that´s the news...

I love you all! 

Love, Hna Cleveland

Oscar, Abel, Daniel´s mom, Daniela, yo, hna morales

HappyDayAf​terMother´​sDay

What a great mother´s day!

Some great and not-so-great experiences this week. (but for the most part really GREAT) 

Emilse didn´t come to church :( It´s sad to think that people use the rain as an excuse. We need to teach well enough and really prepare out investigadors so they can understand and develop the will power to keep their committments no matter what.

We really prepared ourselves for divisiones this week. Because we put a lot of thought and prayer into what we were hoping to teach and also accomplish in our area, the Lord blessed us. We found people who not only want to listen, but have the disposition to do their part. We were happy to finish the week with 9 people with baptismal dates. We´re just working on helping them all progress. I feel like I was bolder in these divisions than I have been. Really correcting and teaching someone is loving them. I was direct with my comp, hna redford, I was direct with the people. If they don´t know we´re here to baptize and invite them to follow Christ, it´s not very fair for them, or for the people who are prepared and waiting for us to find them. Saves us and everyone a lot of time when we´re just bold (+loving!) from the start.

This past week we also had an Hermana´s conference. All of the sisters from campo (there are about 20 of us) traveled in a overnight bus to Buenos Aires and there we stayed with the Family Ashton (another matrimonio) who cooked us breakfast. They´re really sweet. Sister Morales and I were able to give a short talk/activity about our focus as missionaries for all the sisters. A topic that gives way for laughter, but is also serious and personal for each person. It really was a success. I was surprised how well it went and how different it was than what we had planned. Shows us that the spirit is the greatest teacher there is, and will let us know what we need to say for the Lord´s work to progress. I mentioned my first companion Hna Salas, she really helped me see what my mission could be. She was a perfect example of someone completely focused on the work. My first transfer here in argentina is actually very personal and sacred to me. I don´t share it in every ocasion. There were a lot of¨"happy tears" as grandma would say. Even president cried!  I´m excited for you all to just know everything.

Well, talking to everyone was so fun! I really liked the sharing part. Felt like I was able to get a feel for how everyone is doing. Usually we´re completely rushed for time, but this time I felt calm. Maybe it was because were were focused on the more important things. I hope everyone remembers their committments. I know that it´s not easy, but it´s worth it. Mom, maybe consider making reading charts for everyone. I forgot to tell you this, but I couldn´t believe it when Anna told me there´s a reward for every chapter in the BoM! Maybe the reward should be less material and more like "time" rewards. Friend time, TV time, shopping...you get it. While it´s strict, it might´ve helped me prioritize and develop the habit of reading everyday from the start. Reading the scriptures really is the most important part of our day. Of course what really helps us is the example that you and dad give. It´s just a thought! I´m not a pro mom like you.

Well I love you all!

love,

Hermana Cleveland

PICs

1. Hermana Edwards....she´s cousing with the edward family. Reminds me of Laurana a bit. It was fun to chat at the sisters conference this past week.

2. the bible bar?

Daniela! And weird fog blues

Dear Family,

Well this week was pretty eventful. Did I tell you all a bout how Daniela is getting baptized this 17 de mayo? She is a sweetheart. Very excited for her baptism and to enter the temple. Now we just need to find someone around her age....there´s no one here in Bragado! She needs a mormon boy! 

I´m just going to send a ton of pictures because we´re skyping this sunday! 

these are how many days I have left in my mission. We went to a leadership conference and they past this bags out to everyone. It was a cute idea. Reminds me that time doesn´t stop for anyone and that we need to make the most out of every day.

Divisions with hna Ancheta from Honduras. She´s a great cook. I saw in her someone who is very humble- she was quick to accept her falts and quick to change.  She is a great missionary!

Zone meeting...the family ashton and alldredge cooked for campo! These are the sisters in our zone!

Special Week

This week was special. Just felt the spirit a lot in lessons and saw miracles.

Our first miracle

 We were teaching an older woman, susan, who is a very hard-core Jdub and accepted us into her home just to see if she could convert us. Literally asked us when we were going to switch religions. I laughed and said (happily) that I could never do that. She wasnt´offended, just curious when she asked me ¨why not?¨ I told her that I couldn´t deny what I know to be true. And I know that the church we represent is the only true church there is. She asked us how we could ever know that. Ding! We taught her the restoration. Just the whole lesson, I can´t really remember the details, but it was all spirit. We just focused in on her. The questions were inspired so that she literally taught herself. She understood everything in the end. (afterwards, hna morales and I turned to eachother and said, now why can´t EVERY LESSON  be like that!) It was an intense lesson, and in the end we had a tender moment as she started to cry. . We let her know, that were here for no benefit of our own, but to help her know and come to the truth. It was amazing that the spirit changed this older women, from being defensive, to accepting the truth. It will take a lot of courage for her to now act on what she knows is true. A lot of familia tradition...her whole social spectrum. She let us know that she would pray about it. I pray she can always remember the spirit she felt when the mormon missionaries knocked on her door. The lesson was a miracle. Her coming to church....would be the miracle of the century! 

Yesterday Daniela let us know that she, along with her family has seen a change in herself. It has been 4 months of missionaries...and she´finally admitted that she knows she needs to be baptized. It was a miracle. I just wish you all you see how she has transitioned. We read mosiah 5 ver 2 together. The spirit has motivated her to know the truth, and it seems she just wants more and more of it. She has stopped playing basketball on sundays and has stopped staying up late with friends to come to church ( we just taught the commandment and she made the connect herself) What 22 year old does that? Daniela is an example to me of someone very strong, someone honest, and someone prepared to hear the gospel. She will be on of my most worthy converts. I love her!

I know this church is true! This is just the best!

Love, 

Hna Cleveland

1. this is my mission baby. Knew him since he was in his mom´s tummmy until now. This family was in Junin and moved to Bragado. His name is Bruno. 

2. Hna alldredge gave us chicken noodle soup. It was a dream to eat vegetables. Tasted like american cooking...maybe because it was.

All diligence

So hello family,

HOw´s everyone? Is it getting hot? We´re litterally freezing our feet off here in Bragado. The wind is crazy.

Detalles

We bough gnuchis. I´m not sure if I spelled it right. Actually I´m sure I spelled it wrong. Mom there´s so good! You should learn how to make them. Every 29 of the month everyone makes them and yep. Son rico. Pasta.

Cleaned the church this past week. Lonely. I remember cleaning riverview ward with a ton of people. It´s an army over there.

Ummm. We had interviews with President the other day and we (us the elders, president and the family alldridge) all ate dinner at the home the the family alldrdge. She cooks like Grandma Boyer, it´s so weird, but very appreciated. Gave us chicken noodle soup the other day- I couldn´t believe it! 

There´s not a lot to say about this week. I won´t say it was a downer, becuase it was good, but we didn´t see the results we wanted. We´ve been working with several people who were super committed in coming to church and we didn´t know what to think when they didn´t come. Agency.....We´re really studying chapter 9 of pmg. How to FIND. It´s interesting, I´ve never had a really hard time finding people. Finding the Lord´s chosen people, yes, it´s been hard, but finding people who are just willing to listen? Hermana Morales and  have started something called a 40 day fast where we put a list of things we are going to do better for forty days and then will obviously continue afterwards. It´s to develop the habit. For example, stop the bike for every family we see in the street, asking eveybodyfor references, families to reactivate, baptism date for every new investigador, 5 minutes early to everything....simple things that will help us use our time wisely and allow the Lord to bless us.

The other day Hermana Morales and I walked into our pench at the end of the day and kneeled down to pray and plan...when I got up and sat down in my chair, I looked to see Hna Morales still on the grownd, resting her head on the seat. Without lifting her head she said "Hermana.....I´m tired." Good. I said. It was a nice moment, we tired-laughed (not a lot cuz obviously we were tired) and then continued planning. In my interview with President he let us know that we have the best companionship in the mission, that we have the best area (seriously, having hte family alldredge in the ward changes everything) and that there are people chosen, waiting for us. We´re praying and doing everything we can to find them. The Lord knows what He´s doing.

I hope that together this week you can reach out to another family and provide then a chance to hear the gospel. Use the pool. A great missionary tool, the pool.

I love you all! 

Windy

Dear Family,

I love hearing about all your missionary experiences. Thanks for sharing them with me. ps. When does cami go to tennessee? Talk to me sister!

The wind was so strong, Hna Morales couldn´t ride her bike. She fell. So we walked a bit. We also climbed alot of stairs, one of the tower apartments, and now it´s 4 days afterwards and hna morales can´t believe how sore she is. I keep telling her it´s normal but she doesn´t believe me. I remembered how mom used to tell me how great it feels to be sore. It means we worked hard (or that we´re just out of shape ha)

This week was a cold one, but we saw a lot of miracles. 

First, highlights of the week:

Luis was baptized this week! I´m proud of the changes he made in his life. Really is a worthy convert who took a little more time getting to the finish line, but his efforts were honest. All in the Lord´s timing and with real results. The hardest trials in our life are the times we remember most, because it´s where we become more like the people God wants us to be.

An investigador we had, Javier, came to church. It was a miracle considering he wasn´t very committed in the first place. But we past by his house Sunday morning and there he was ready to go. The Lord knows better than we do! Everyone can progress when given the chance. The ward welcomed him with open arms. He´s not your usual church goer, smokes, drinks, but inside he really wants to change. I remembered a cute quote.... ¨don´t judge, if every sin had a smell you´d smell bad too!

Daniela is progressing, she had us over for lunch yesterday ( which saved us) and is reading and praying daily. She´s always mentioning the temple. One of her greatest doubts is that her parents can´t be present with her. She´s done a lot of her own research which is great but also puts us on edge a bit. We´re praying and focusing on her testimony of the Book of Mormon. Really it´s the  basics that help us experience conversion. 

The family Alldredge (senor missionary couple) are a huge support for us missionaries in Bragado. They make all the difference because the rama is organized, our converts are active and will stay active thanks to their efforts. 

I was re-reminded this week of a scripture that I love. It´s the greatest feeling to be re-reminded. Helaman 15:3, we teach a lot of families who have lost hope for their children or their spouses. We are given trials and face difficulty because the Lord loves us. We need to trust that He knows what He´s doing, and that all the tough times will bring positive results. He knows His children. I pray everyday for the faith be a light to these families. I know that milagros are made possible when we have the faith to believe.

I love you all! Here´s a good question...if someone were to walk up to you on the side of the street and ask you what you believe, how would you respond? Would you be prepared?

Anna?...Mette?...Cami?...Jackie?... It´s critical, especially in our time to be spiritually prepared. I encourage mom and dad, in these next FHEs to help everyone understand what is the restoration and how it all fits together. L1 of PMG! Make it fun, act it out, be dramatic ha.I feel this is one of the most important lessons you should all have together. Let me know how it goes! 

I love you all!

Hna Cleveland

fotos

1 our front desk/map

2 chivilcoy sur!! Bien venidos a la jungla!

hna morales afraid of dogs

In one of the towers...yellow!

RAIN

Dear Familia!

Hello! Seems like you´re all busier than ever and happy. This is great news! Did you all LOVE conference? I did. Although all this talk about Elder Holland´s discurso is killing me. We didn´t see the first saturday session. Maybe one of you could send me a copy? Thanks!

Conference, more than anything else, I know that conference is inspired. We were able to bring investigadors to church and it was interesting that the sessions they attended hit there needs and concerns spot on. Daniela has been a little bit hesitant to move forward with the answers she has received. Elder nelson´s talk on faith  and the need to act and be courageous with what we know to be true was perfect. Elder´s Scott´s talk about focusing on the basics, and his mentioning his marriage in the temple also were very special moments for her as well as Elder Cooks talke on the exaltation for families. It was all perfect. 

Something that I enjoyed was Elder Hales talk. He was direct and it made it so much easier for our investigadors to understand. We are obedient because we are motivated by our love for our savior and for his children. And why do we disobey when we understand? Because we´ve put God second, or third, or fourth....Seems every talk mentioned the love we must feel to obey, to do missionary work, and to just be happier people with stronger testimonies (a constante proteccion).

Love Elder aidukaitis? His talk about the restoration. It´s a lesson I teach every day but he helped me understand even more. 

Well this is short. I left conference feeling excited to apply what I learned. It was a miracle that I understood everything, I think the spirit was helping me a lot. Just happy, I feel like I¨ve really gained a testimony of the importance of conference, of hearing our prophets and his apostles speak. 

Thanks for your prayers, I really love you all. Take care!

Hna Cleveland 

1. i jumped

2. pday fun with agus, we got bored shooting hoops

Bautismo, Maria :)))))

Dear family,

Hey! I miraculously got your package when no one else in the whole mission is receiving packages right now. Mom, thanks for putting it all together. It´s more than I could have ever expected or wanted. Wow!

Dad, thanks for writing me a letter in spanish. That made me feel good too. 

Well this week was special because Maria was baptized. From the start she was prepared to hear the gospel. We honestly did nothing but invite her to read and pray, and she did the rest. Capa!!!! Someone humble and happy to follow Christ. She loves coming to church.

Well...this is short, but after a year and 2 months on the mission I´ve learned a few things....

- obedience = freedom

- the material things don´t bring happiness

- spanish (I hope)

- to trust more in what God wants and to let go of my own self

- that we are children of God, and that He loves us

- true repentance brings about a permanent change

- to do things now

We will always have hard times, and during these times it´s really easy to think about how the future will be better. I´ve learned to appreciate what I´m doing NOW, to be happy NOW, and to see the good. Hard work TODAY makes all the difference. I´ve seen a change. The whole mission is changing. Just a ton of faith, great leaders, and blessings from the Lord. I´m so blessed to be in the mission during this time. Attached are pictures of richard and Maria...and me! 

I love you all! Prepare for conference this saturday, it´s going to be big! Talk to you about it later...

ok ok Love you!

hna Cleveland

Baptisms! Agus and Gabriela!

This week I´ve been studying about what it means to be humble and truly repentent. Reading in Alma 32:19-20 I learned that we get what we work for. I learned that with true repentence comes a change in conduct. There is progression and very few mistakes are repeated. I have come to feel and understand that I am a child of God. It´s interesting to me that true faith and desires to follow God become stronger after we are tried. And then with the success the Lord gives us, we become firmer in the faith. These past two weeks we have been setting goals , but I think that we haven´t finished what we set out do to which is to find families. I think that the goals we set need to be more specific and that we need to pay more attention to these goals on a daily basis. When we are a diligent in finishing our daily goals, the bigger goals will come.  Reading in alma this past week I was reminded that it´s by doing the small things that makes the big things happen. We´ve set a goal to stop the bikes and talk with every family we see on the side on the road. Also to ask everyone for references. I´m excited to see the blessings that will come when we take our goals seriously.
Also! Agustina was baptized yesterday. I am blessed to witness the change she has made. Her parents were really stiff in the beginning but were desperate for someone to help their daughter so they allowed us to teach the lessons. I wish you could see the change! Her mom was crying at the baptism and at this point they will do anything to help Agustina stay active in the church. All of this was made possible because a recent convert decided it´d be a good idea to invite their neighbors to hear the gospel. It goes to show that we never know. I´m praying for the family of Agus to follow her example and I´m excited to see what the Lord has in store for them. I love Agustina and I will care for her my whole life. I feel as if I knew her before this life and that it was a part of my mission to find her. We are so blessed to be here!

Thanks for all your prayers and your support! I love you all!

Hna Cleveland

Buena Dia!

Dear Family,

Remember Luis? The 21 year old boy who I found crossing Grido Icecream? Or rather, he found us. I remember the moment. Riding our bikes home and we decide to stop and contact someone on the side of the road. I make eyecontact with Luis and he comes running out. The missionaries! Goes to show that every small thing we do counts. He had talked with missionaries before but decided that he wasn´t interested in living the commandments. Now time later, Luis returned, only a lot more prepared. I´m so happy! He has now  completely quit smoking. Going on 3-4 weeks now. When he understood the commandments he decided that his girlfriend and friends weren´t good news and weren´t helping him. I see this change in Luis and thing how? Why not before? How sad the other missionaries must have felt, one year atras. I know that everyone has a time and is being prepared to hear the gospel. I know that every little thing I do on the mission counts. Every person I talk to matters. So just remember that. Every small act of kindness counts.  Maybe we´re transferred to another area, or we never live to see the results we were looking for, but sharing is what counts. I feel happy for Luis.

Gabriela will be baptized this Saturday! She picked the day and hour and is super prepared. I remember knocking her door, also remember when she almost stopped taking the discusiones. I was with my last comp Hermana Godoy and she walked outside to let us know that she wasn´t really into this whole mormon thing. I remember I was really shocked. But felt like we couldn´t leave her without teaching the restoration.You shouldn´t do that ever. We had only taught about the gospel of Jesus Christ and so I pushed. I let her know that we respected her and her decision, but had prepared a lesson that would be special and would resolve some of the doubts she´d been having. Well she accepted (this wasn´t a super happy moment) After teaching the restoration, everything changed! EVERYTHING. Since this day she has been eager and happy to listen to the missionaries, come to church...everything. She has hope that one day her family can enter into the temple together. Another testimony that the small things matter. Sometimes you need to push a little. This isn´t a matter of ¨do you like it or not¨it´s a matter of our salvation. And if we all understood, I think we´d put in a little more effort.I´m just happy that in these moments with Gabriela, the spirit told me to push a little and that I had enough sense to listen. I pray for the courage to act on what the spirit tells me everyday.

Well I´m happy! Agustina and Maria are preparing for this saturday as well. Working with Hermana MOrales is great. I feel like we both just want it so bad. The greatest happiness comes when we see how the gospel changes people, including ourselves. This is the truth church of Jesus Christ!

Love, Hna Cleveland

Bragado week 2!!

Dear Family,

We literally did all we could to see people in the reunion sacramental this past sunday. We were so sure ten people were going to come. Then it started to pour sunday mornign and we were like noooooo! We went out on the bikes and got soaked and in the end we saw Augustina and Angel at church. So two souls came! The rama was tiny on sunday but those who were their were strong. One hermana works all night until 7 am and road her bike in the mud and rain to come to church. An example for everyone. Another Hermana, Hermana Rizzo, who recently had brain surgery has been coming to church every sunday to take the sacrament. His story is inspiring. It´s hard for his whole family, but for all of us to see him at church shows us all that whatever our circumstances, the Lord provides a way for us to keep his commandments. For Hermana Rizzo there are no excuses. He really understands.

This week we´re working with Daniela and Hermano Oscar. They both have testimonies of the Book of Mormon and have prayed to know whether they should be baptized and both know that they should, they´re both so scared to leave family tradition. It´s frustrating. We´re doing everything we can to motivate them. Just praying for them. Yesterday with share with Daniela the story of Ester. Her bravery and willingness to do all the Lord required her to do. It was a great lesson where we were able to apply the scriptures. Praying the Lord can help them have a little more faith.

We´re excited for Agustina. The gospel will change her whole life. Before she was someone sad and friendless, but hearing that she was able to go to Mutual and makes friends at church makes me feel so good! This work is nothing without the support of the members. They play a critical part and have a huge resonsability to help these new converts feelcomfortable. It´s true, us mormons have a different language and need to be patient and just love those who are learning it all for the first time. ´The rama of Bragado does that. They make everyone feel welcomed.

Well today we were studying in Alma. About two of the greatest missionaries, Alma and Amulek. They are fearless and they trust in the spirit. They loves the people. (alma 13:17) Basically are saying ´listen to me!´ Sometime I´ve learned, is that saying it straight but with love helps our investigadores truly progress and become converted.

Well, I love you! Have a great day!

Hna Cleveland

pics. Hermana Maria! This next week is her baptism!

Ate dinner with Abel, Oscar, and Daniela. (Daniela is one of the reasons I came to bragado. She loves, but LOVES, basketball. We´re playing next pday ha. It´s really rare to find someone as into basketball as she is. Espeically out here in Bragado. We connected. :)

Our zone and Hermana Walker from Utah! Saw her! 

Bragado

Querido familia,

 

It was the most exciting thing when President called the four ¨campo¨ hermanas into his office. (South and North) We were all seated on the couch when he let us know we were sitting in the wrong place...huh? That´s right, it´s time to switch things up! I was so happy. Never thought president would put Hermana Morales as my comp as well as move me south! 

Bragado vs. Junin. I thought Junin was the campo. I´m in the real pueblo out here. A lot smaller. Everyone knows eachother. The greatest blessing is that the church is right in the center and people know exactly what we´re talking about when we invite them. We also have a senor missionary couple, President and Hermana Aldrige from Arizona, who are doing everything to make sure the ward is alright. They litterally are visiting and calling memers all day. They have maximized their calling and are examples to me. The members are strong and are always offering to help the missionaries. So it´s different. I´m grateful for the chance I have to live my mission in the campo. People say it´s hard, buy it´s really not. Just different. I was touched by how my first day in Bragado, every person we visited prayed for me. I love Junin, it was hard to leave...March was all set to go, but it´s already been 5 days and Bragado feels like home. 

Something special that happened during the week that happened. Hermana Morales explained who we´d be visiting and mentioned Oscar, a man who has been investigating the church for nearly 3 months already.I think a lot of other hermanas lost patience with him. Knows everything, but has yet to gain a testimony of the BOM. We were in the lesson and Oscar was talking about how the sabbath day should be saturday when I felt the strong impression to cut whatever he was saying and let him know the real reason why he hasn´t been baptized. Do you know this is true? Yes... Then why have you done nothing? This is your salvation! We are here because we care about you. What are YOU willing to do? We were all a little surprised after that, but the spirit was very strong. Finally, he stopped with the little excuses and said that really he just lacked the will to do it, to read and pray about the BOM. We set a goal, that for 22 days he´d read the BOM everyday. We´re praying for Oscar this month.

Also made a friend, Augustina. She is very shy and doesn´t have many friends. We contacted her family who weren´t all that interested but Augustina showed interested. Came to church on Sunday as well as Mariah Hill (our grandma investigador!) We were expecting more but hey, happy for Agu and Hermana Maria. 

I know that the Lord provides a way when we do our part. We can´t ever be lost when we are obedient. 

Thanks for writing me! Love you!

Hna Cleveland

Agus and I (it was like pulling teeth to take this picture)

 Hermana MOrales!!!

 Bragado!

No time...Ciao Junin

Dear family,

The time when I want to stay most in Junin is the time I get called to leave. I was in the chivilcoy norte zone for 7 months and will now be with...surprise. Hermana Morales!!!! remember her? Mexicana, my first comp serving in Junin! My best friend!!! I can{t believe President put us together. Dream come true!) serving in a small pueblo called Bragado, in the zone of Chivilcoy Sur. So North to South I{m coming and I{m so excited! The Lord obviously wants me in el campo. I am so lucky! 

I am so excited to be in campo with Hermana Morales! That is just about all I can say. It is a dream and will be great and different at the same time. We are both committed to be better. Hermana Godoy is an angel and will be the favorite companion to whoever she is companions with. I am grateful to have had the chance to learn from her. She is gentle and sweet and so patient. This past week Ricardo was baptized and it was a special moment. Saw a lot of opposition but in the end the spirit let us know the words to say for him to remember what was right. Gabriela came to church! And will be baptized this next March along with the family Teran. The work is rolling. Over 70 in sacrament meeting in Junin. I am one of the very few missionaries who saw this grand miracle in Junin. from 15 people to 70, and it{s only going to grow. We found a ton of families in Junin together  The family Teran, Gabriela, family Paola, Luis, Victoria, Laura, Navila….etc.  Ironic that the time when I want to stay most in Junin is the time when we see changes, but I know that these people need to hear from Hermana Hicken and Godoy.  Today in our leadership meeting I really felt a desire to change.  A happy missionary is one who is always doing what they should be doing and being so diligent there is no room for the Lord to not bless us with miracles. It is not science. When there is no success something needs to be fixed. I know the Lord blesses the obedient. Something that I{ve thought about a lot, after talking to a sister who will be going home early the mission. I know that I have been called by a prophet of God to preach the gospel here in Argentina. My call is powerful and I know that it is the right thing to be here. God doesn{t make mistakes. It is a privilege to be here. 

Thanks for being patient with all my short emails. We were in Buenos Aires today and don{t have much time. 

Love you! 

hna cleveland

pic. family seron...my family from Junin!

Meaner Bugs Live in Argentina

Hi family!

News.

Someone robbed the pension. :( So no camera and no money. But more importantly, the camera. That´s my mission... try to save every picture I sent home por favor!

I made pistasio cake! Hermana Godoy was begging me to send her Jello Pudding when I get home. It was a hit as I knew It would be because it´s my fav! If you haven´t sent the package yet, send some more jello pudding packets! The Latins love it.

Today I was reading in Mosiah and was reminded how much the Lord knows and wants to help us. Sometimes we need to do better about doing our part, or just simply ask for help. We we work and do our part, He shows us the way to go. And we´re a lot happier. There is nothing confusing about the Lord. He blesses those who believe in Him and love Him enough to be obedient. Mosiah 1:16-17.

We´ve really been blessed in Junin. I feel like we´ve grown to become better teachers. Very bold. That´s something President taught me our last reunion. Just let em have it!  Are you looking for the truth? Yes. As representatives of Christ, we have the truth and know it will change your life!

It´s sad when are investigadors don´t read or don´t come to church. That´s one thing I´ve learned. What it means to be an agent of repentence. As Elder Holland said, we should be DEVASTATED when an investigador or friend doesn´t do their part. No, it´s not ok, because we love you and this is your salvation! One of our families, Mariah and Christian committed to read as a family and when they didn´t follow through, Hermana Godoy and I felt horrible. Maybe we ¨let them have it¨  a bit. It´s so easy to just shake it off and say next time, don´t worry, but we love you more than that! I believe they honestly felt sorry. We promised them the blessings from the Lord and let them know that their family can be together forever, so will they committ to pray every day this week? Family, when we called them the 2 days later they were so excited because they had been praying! We didn´t even ask if they had done it, it was the first thing they mentioned. I am so happy when our investigadors are progressing and and committed to the Lord. I´ve learned a bit more about what my responsabilities are a missionary. I am here to motivate, and love the people here in Junin, and be direct with them as well.

Well I can´t believe this transfer is already gone. Junin is my home. We had 61 people in the rama yesterday! Wooooo!

Love you all,

Hermana Cleveland

ps. Cami you awesome you! Thanks for the letter! My companion and I read it together (hna Godoy is from Honduras and speaks great english) We laughed at how well you described each horse. Hermana Godoy was confused by your description of Jasper. ¨What´s a kicker?¨she asked me. ha! Well it was the best to hear from you. I love you!

pics...hermana Godoy and hermana Morales who made us a cake for our birthdays in January

Navila y Griselda. Working on getting this family to church.

Talents!

HI family,

 

Alright, I´ll start out and just say it...I´m not the best but I can fake play a little guitar. Well, we were with a less active family and we weren´t connecting, they weren´t really interested in hearing a spiritual message....well they mentioned the guitar. And I just go for it. I start playing. I remember the days when dad would start playing nothing and making up songs about every person in the room and how everone felt good when the song was just goofy. It could have been a really embarrassing moment talking about hermana cooking whatever and hermano doing the laundry, but they loved it. Started singing along. Oooooo! The sun, it´s yellow! Yeah! Just gained a lot of trust and in the end I felt like because we let them see a little bit of ourselves (missionaries are people!) they began to trust that our love was real. Whether you´re the best or mediocre...use your talent! Everyone´s a lot happier.

 It´s been a rough two weeks witht the rain storms in Junin...rough because we didn´t see a lot of investigadors or members in the church. Not an excuse. The blessings when we go to church are huge! Just need our investigadors to feel it!

 

Highlights of the week. We found 3 families! We were praying and praying to find a family, and the Lord blessed us with three. Now we just need to rely on the spirit and really put in the practices so they can progress. These practices have changed the way we teach. Nine out of our ten new investigadors accepted a fecha bautismal and I think it´s because we´re more focused on listening to the spirit. I´m really happy about that.

 

We´ve been teaching Luis. I feel like there a lot of people confused when it comes to religion. They just want to know which church is true. I love testifying about the Book of Mormon. Everyone believes Dios loves all his children and will talk and reach out to them all. The Book of Mormon is evidence that our Heavenly Father is a loving God. Luis began to understand this yesterday...a great feeling.

 

Hermana Godoy are great. I don´t know where time has gone. The sisters in the zone are seeing success. They are the best!

 

Wow. Two short letters in a row. Forgive me...but I read all your lettersand tried to respond!

 

Love you all!

 

hna Cleveland

Happy Lunes

Dear Family,  

Yesterday we had a special training with president and the leaders in el campo. We were doing practices for 5 hours! Changed my mission and I learned everything I¨m doing wrong teaching. It was tough stuff, but It was good to know how to change! Grateful for my leaders and the power that comes from teaching with the spirit. 

 

 Today I was interested in what the scripture 2 Nephi 9:39 says. Specifically when it talks about "yielding to the enticings of that cunning one." That when we know the rules and decide to just not do anything versus making a conscious decision to disobey- that it´s the same thing. There is no neutral, we cannot serve both God and mammon (3 Nefi 13:24) and those who say otherwise are looking for excuses. I loved when Nephi talks about how we need to bear the "crosses of the world." Despite all opposition we have the promise from the Lord that our "joy will be full forever" when we are bold and serve with love. And who doesn´t want that?! We have several investigadors who have their challenges and seem to make every excuse to make themselves feel better- but that is not where true joy comes from. We can never compare God with changes we see in the word.

Yesterday we saw a miracle. We had been praying for the Lord to help us find someone who already had visited the church and had attendence that would be prepared to hear the gospel and be baptized this month. We knew we were praying for a lot, but we promised to do everything we could to be worthy to see such a blessing. Yesterday we met and talked with Louis, an antiguo investigator, who let us know that he had been reading the Book of Mormon. His question basically was "how many times do I need to go to church before I can be baptized?" ?! I know the Lord answers prayers!

 

I love you all!

And this is short but it´s what I got!

 

Hna Cleveland

ps. mom, president told us to tell our parent not to us Fedez or UPS or DHL. Also we´re only allowed 4 packages every year. And hey! It´s a new year! :) Thanks!

Formula...Omar

Dear family!

I enjoyed hearing from you this week. I´m happy to hear about all these babies and Neil getting married and Knute and everything about the family! I´m sure everyone´s so happy! Tell Michelle, Sara, and Bay...super super super congratulations! :):):) and to take care.

Mariah, the 18 yr old girl, is doing ok! Not great, because while she wants to listen and learn, she doesn´t necesarily want to act, a little rebellious. One thing positive is that the other day we past by ( she always yells us down ha) and she was with all her¨guys friends. I think something has changed because she showed some embarrassment at the language her friends were using. Really was a little frustrated. We´ve seen changes in Mariah. It´s a little hard to track her down, but we always schedule sitas in the plaza. We´ll see how church goes this Sunday...

I think the day Omar is baptized will be one of the highlights of my whole mission. Omar in these 2 months has changed tremendously (I´ve been here 6 months! Blessings from staying in your area :) He´s ex-military, hard...just very hard. This joking, crude, sad man has changed. I feel blessed to be here and watch it all happen. I remember when we found him. Everday we´d pass his lonely house (it´s surrounded by fields) and there´d be Omar sitting on his chair outside. One day, we had other plans but I felt strongly we needed to stop and talk to him. Where it was a power struggle to get him to pray, he now prays everynight. He walks to church every sunday. (It´s far) However many jokes he tries to make about drinking his tea every morning (he likes to scare us. Not funny.)....he has not been drinking tea or alcohol for a month. He´s involved in lessons. Omar!...is involved in lessons! The other day he made a joke about how President Monson is basically God´s private secretary. I know that the the spirit has touched his heart. (Mosiah 5:2) I know this is God´s work. I´m praying for Omar to feel prepared and worthy for his baptism. I hope I can be here to see it, but if not, it´s still happening and that´s what counts!

One thing I´ve learned from the mission is that there is time for everything, when I´m working and doing all I can the Lord will bless our area. I know that the Lord loves all his children, but this doesn´t necesarily mean he trusts all of us. When we are obediente and diligent the we will see success. There´s no secret..the formula is plain straight! I´m trying to be worthy and strictly obediente. Those 5 minute late days matter! I´ve really learned to value this time...I know it´s not mine. I love my companion and my investigadores. The gospel continues to change my life.

Love you all!

The blessings come

Dear family!

 

Glad to hear Mette, Anna, and Cami are all doing well. Mom and Dad, rest up! I hear the weather of there is tough.

 

TRANSFERS!!!!! I have a new comp from Honduras! And Í´m still in Junin! haha It´s only the greatest area!

I know it´s only been 4 days, but I feel like Hermana Godoy is an angel. I just love the way she thinks and quick she is to obey. Although she´s tiny and the bike is tough, she never complains. (I´ve been with bikes over 8 months! Walking feels awkard) We started teaching together and saw a lot of miracles this week. The family Teran is a family that, after a lot of prayer and door-knocking, Hermana Figuero and I found. We basically prayed for a miracle and here they are! They have been prepraed to hear the gospel. The father actually has 2 sisters who are already members and he´s already prepared for baptism with elderes ten years before! Who would have ever thought? They came to church yesterday and didn´t want to leave. Fit right in the members and everything. Here we were praying to find a family and we found one---I still am a little starstruck. Our lessions feel like a missionary movie. Just a sweet, humble family who are making all the connects by themselves, we´re just teaching the gospel here.

 

Everything I just wrote above sounds so easy. I´ve gained a testimony that the Lord loves us. He loves our investigadores. He obviously wants them to be baptized too and will do everything he can do for the miracles to happen. I know we are capable of miracles. I know that when we have faith and are patiently looking for answers to prayer, that the Lord provides a way. We just need to work with all diligence, being meticulously obedient. We need to be happy and don´t give our doubts attention. A lot of times people wonder what Christ-like attribute they need to develope to see more success in the mission. I know what it´s like, I´ve done it...but that´s not how it works. When we are anxiously serving other people and focosing on our investigadors (family, friends, teachers...) When we complete forget about ourselves or what attribute we hope to achieve and just lose it... we become different people. I know the Book of Mormon is true, and that if want to know how we can better "lose it" we should take a quiet moment and read. I´m thankful for the faith of Nephi and Alma, the lñoving boldness Moroni. Ok so I could mention everyone but I¨m not going to ha. I hope every one of you can take a moment to read the book of mormon and ponder how you can love someone better. Whether it means being more respectful, physically serving someone, or writing a letter...I promise that you feel so much happier! And it´s long-term. Love you all!

 

Hna Cleveland

22 years...I am so young!

Dear family,

 

Hello! It was great to talk to you. My how you´ve all grown! :) Sent some pictures because...maybe you might like to see what´s going on over here!

 

My week!

 

We´re working hard. Had a tough Sunday. Didn´t have a ton of investigadors in Sacrament Meeting. A lot of the rama wasn´t there. BUT still we had a great meeting. We´re finding people everyweek who have been prepared to hear the gospel.

 

This week we were waiting for one of our investigadors in a plaza in the middle of the city and there was a young girl, sleeping on the side of the park bench. I started talking to her but she was drained. We invited to church and all but she didn´t want to go so we do what we always do, we went to church! Later that day after lunch, this girl is still there. I felt like we needed to stop. We talked a bit, got to know her. Maria is her name, 18 years old, rough childhood, left her parents to go live life on her own. Wants a job, but doesn´t have one, has a boyfriend.....She had some rough experiences.  Maria was an answer to prayer. After we gained some trust she really opened up to us and  we were able to have a lesson. Maria is so real, so funny! And so caring. I felt better talking with her, just more real someone. Testifying that she is a child of God and He has a plan for her....I really felt like we were doing what we were called to do. Talk to everyone, love everyone...we´ll be surprised what we can learn and the experiences we can have if we just see everyone as the person they are. A child of God. I know that the Lord answers prayers and that He loves us. Miracles are there for all those who are faithul. I was reading in 3 nefi this morning....7:18-22. I hope we can always remember the experiences we´ve had where the spirit has testified to us, so that our faith can grow.

 

I love you! This is short but enjoy the pictures...

 

 

hna Cleveland