The End of the Start

I am going to Artigas!

Last week, we had a Hermana’s conference—all of the sister missionaries in the mission got together for two days in the mission home. It was really special, just to meet all of the other sisters. Plus Hermana Peterson and her daughters made us the best Texas french toast breakfast in the world! It was even better than Kneaders, well as close you’ll get in uruguay. =)

Hermana Allphin and I wrote a song about contacting to share with everyone. The lyrics go along with the Follow the Prophet song. It was inspired by the fact that here in the city where we are serving you have to like chase people down to contact them or to give them a flyer and by the special emphasis we give to mothers with children—whether they think they want it or not, every young mother who passes will receive a family brochure if its given to them in the hand, placed on top or inside the stroller, hand bag, etc.

We also had our second baptism on Friday. A young girl, nine years old, named Victoria. We found her family contacting, It turns out her grandmother and mother were baptized a long time ago in another city, but hadn’t gone to church since they moved to the city 14 years ago. The greatest part had been bringing Alicia (the grandmother) back to church. It’s like she had just put all of her testimony, knowledge about the church, etc., in a box in the attic. We just had to come, brush the dust off and get it going again. She is awesome and ready to contribute in any way she can.

We met Victoria in our first cita with them. She just had a natural light, its seems, and acceptance of prayer, God, the scriptures, etc.—even though she was never taught those things in her home. This is the second baptism this month we’ve had where it’s been the example of the child who brings the parents back to listen to those tender whispers of the spirit.
After the baptism, Victoria gave both me and Hermana Allphin a little present, a metal box and a paper flower, her own personal toys she had wrapped up with a giving heart. She’s lovely.
And two of our other investigators just decided on a baptism date! I’m so happy! The best part is they both did it with a lot of prayer and sincere desire to do that which will please their Father in Heaven.

The first, Claudia, has been one of the most faithful persons I’ve ever met in my life. She grew up with a love for God, Christ, and the scriptures. Among her friends, she’s even known as the ‘spiritual one,’ but she just has a way to really apply what she finds and reads to herself and life. She told us yesterday after our tithing lesson that the scriptures are books of promises. She said if she didn’t believe that what He says brings promises and blessings to her life, she wouldn’t read them. And then she added, “Of course I will pay my tithing, I know it is a way the Lord will bless my life.” She speaks about her experience with us and the Church with everyone and has already given the missionaries many references. She’s just full of light and love.

The second is Joanna! I love her! She and her husband Danilo and their two girls, Danela, 7, and Natlia, 2, are from Ecuador and just moved here about three months ago. We’ve been teaching their whole family. They love coming to church; they’ve started saying their family prayers, and they tear apart the Book of Mormon. Danilo is still hesitant about the baptism (he says his Catholic mother will kill him!), but Joanna knows it’s true and good. They talked among themselves and decided that she would get baptized first, and then he would a little later. The love and unity of their family has grown tremendously in these short weeks.

So five and a half weeks I have been here in Pocitos. I’ve fallen in love with the ward, the members, the investigators, the ice cream shop on the corner, and of course my companion. But all good things come to an end, and yesterday we received changes! Tonight I am boarding an eight hour bus ride and heading out to Artigas. (From the very south of the mission to the very north!) My new companion will be Hermana Murdock. Artigas is right at the tip of Uruguay on the border of Brasil. They speak half Portuguese! Hopefully I’ll get to learn some! Hopefully I’ll understand them!

Hermana Allphin served there so she has told me a lot about it. It definitely won’t be the city anymore. But I’m expecting to love it. Plus, I don’t know if you all remember how I went to the temple on the 15th with some of the converts of Hermana Allhpin? Well those converts are from Artgias! So I’ll be going already knowing some of them! Haha, that will be good. Plus they tell me they have really good food up there.

I’ve been receiving my Dear Elder letters, thanks! Also, if you want you can send me emails to the mission Gmail account; it works the same way, but I think its free. Do you have the address still?

The mission Gmail account is urugoest@gmail.com. Just put Sister Susie Salisbury in the subject line and they will print it off and send it to her. Dear Elder letters are also sent free of charge in a pouch delivery once a week, on Mondays. All letters must be received by Thursday at noon MST to be sent that week.

Today is Hermana Allphin’s last day in the mission! The members cheated and are throwing her a farewell party tonight, = ) but we are using it as an investigating tool an invited all of your investigates, so they’ll meet members! It will be fun, I am happy to leave lots of happy people here in Pocitos! They are a great ward and have the desires to magnify their callings, serve the Lord and their neighbors with all their heart, so that will get them far.

P.S. Elders are coming in; the old ladies are sad, lol.

Sister Suswha