Dear Family,
How are you? I am well—I haven't noticed much of a strike here [A general transportation strike was called by the Argentine Transport Confederation for March 21 but was averted when the Federal Government met its demands for an increase in salaries], only
that a few bus companies weren't running for a few days. We didn't
make it to Mina Clavero (only our senior missionaries, with a few
members from here), but we did bus out of town to other families. One
is the Familia Molina, Ivan and Mariela. Their son Francisco was
baptised this week, and Ivan and their daughter Micaela are still
investigating (the mother is a member). We also visited the Familia
Grez—Elders Melerio and Lopez (who were companions before Elder
Castillo and I arrived) found them when the car of the Dos Santos
broke down infront of the Grez house—they were greeted with an
unexpected "Hola Elderes!". We're teaching the three daughters (aged,
roughly, 18, 15 and 10) who are not members, and working to motivate
the parents to come back to church. Also, we're working with a Familia
Ortiz—the mother is a member and was divorced 8 months ago, and we
found the family knocking doors. Their daughter Austina feels that the
church is true and remembers her mother's baptism, but is rather
confused and feels bad because she's practically a practising Catholic
because of her school. We're working especially to help the mother,
and trying to build trust and help them to come to church this week.
We've been thinking a bit extra this week about finding families to
teach, especially part-member families! We feel that these families,
already knowing and having felt the truth of the gospel, can more
easily form a supportive environment for their non-member family
members. Also, families really need, and can really apply, the gospel
of Christ. I am really grateful for the home that we have, and the
correct principles and faith that I have been taught.
I've also been thinking about budgeting this week—we ran out of money,
then received a bit more (waiting for a refund for travel expenses),
then ran out again today! Thus, I'll be eating lots of oatmeal and
we'll be carefully confirming lunches with members this week, until we
receive our monthly alottment on Friday. However, thriftiness is a
key—I've spent a lot on alfahores this month, and silly snacks.
However, I have been keeping track of our expenses, so we'll be able
to more easily determine how to spend money in the coming month.
I hope that Alex is enjoying his new car! Also, I'm really excited
that Levi is working on his mission papers! Be sure to advise him to
set up medical appointments as soon as possible (vaccinations,
examination, dental work), as they seemed to take me forever! Also, I
was thinking this week that, having received a Spanish speaking
mission call, the wise thing to do before for language help wouldn't
have been to take Spanish classes, it would have been to visit a
speech pathologist!—Pronouncing the erre is difficult for me, but
happily it's pronouced more of a "sh" in Villa Dolores (not rolled),
and the elle is more of a "j". I'd be excited to see photos of the new
car, and of how things are around the house generally! They can be
sent to me—I have eight gigabytes of email space and we have a quick
connection from Villa Dolores! (but do keep them a bit on the small
side, e.g. not at the camera's full quality, but a bit smaller as set
on the camera).
Thank you for writing to me! I love you all a lot! Have a great week,
Love,
Elder Schlachter photos
