Missionaries at the Zoo!

Raining in China Town on Me and Hermana Child!

Rosetta Stone Is Pretty Sweet!

Hello to all! I hope everyone is doing well and staying cool. Well, I don't know if it is warm where you all are but it sure is warm here. I now understand the whole "humidity" thing here, it is nuts! It is so humid and hot and sleeping has presented a problem once again in our "oven" room. We'll survive though... at least we have fans blowing hot air on us. Last night an elder told us to put our hands and feet in freezing cold water until we couldn't stand it and then go to bed. It actually worked... Sister Child and I looked very silly with just our hands and feet in the bathtub with cold water but we weren't as hot... why it works... I have no clue, maybe it's just a mind thing.

This week has been so good. We had a baptism on Saturday of Nayeli Santos. She is so cute and we are now trying to work with her parents too. We'll see how that goes. We also have a baptism this Saturday! We are so excited for China and her testimony. It will be an awesome baptism. The Lord has really blessed this area.

Speaking of this area, transfers are next week. I can't even believe we have another cycle down... where is time going? I am really hoping that I DON'T get transferred. I want at least one more cycle with Sister Child in this area. I am hoping we just stay the same. Sister Wadsworth, a Sister we live with is going home this cycle and I am so sad. I love her to death and she is such an amazing example for me. Family, don't be surprised if she calls you to say hello for me. She is awesome!

This week I was taught how to make tostones, my favorite Spanish food so far. Sister CHild and I tried and failed but now we have been taught and we are getting better, they are so yummy! YUM! Now I can make some for the fam one day! Orianet taught us and that night we had a good FHE with their family. We were talking about Joseph Smith and translating the Gold Plates. We asked Jordan how Joseph Smith was able to translate them and he said, "Well, I don't know, he must have used Rosetta Stone!" Ha ha, he was kidding of course but we all laughed for a long time!

As I said before, things here are great! I am still loving missionary work and all the craziness that goes along with it! The summer time brings out some interesting things! I am enjoying the fact that I can wear sandals and having fun all at the same time... even when there is a freak downpour in the middle of the afternoon!

I'm off to get ready to play volleyball for P-day! Love you all! Stay strong and go do missionary work! We need members help!

Con Amor- Hermana Passantino

Argentina!!!

As you can tell by my subject line.... I AM SO EXCITED BRIAN IS GOING TO ARGENTINA!!! Oh my goodness! I can't even begin to explain. When I found out, the Wilhites called to tell me. I was on a walk with Sister Child and Marlon... They called and I screamed and then started crying. Ha ha, Marlon laughed at me. It was so exciting. Man, I can't wait! I am happy Brian will have an accent from Argentina. Their Spanish is so pretty! My Spanish is so mixed up because I have so many different accents coming at me. Anyway, I just can't wait!

This last week with Sister Child has been amazing. We are totally revamping our area and I am so happy about it! We work so well together. She is such a wonderful person and I know I am going to learn a lot from her. I am so excited for this cycle!

So, good news of the week. Antonio got baptized on Saturday! He kind of went MIA and then I had a feeling to call him at a certain time and I did... and he was ready! It was wonderful! He was confirmed and bore his testimony on Sunday and it was so nice to feel of his spirit. He is so cool. He has a kid named Mario who is the cutest little boy ever. Sister Walker got to come for it too so that was exciting. We all got to hear her sing one more time!

Since being companions with Sister Child we have taken a taxi twice. My first times on my mission. Ha ha... they were actually not too scary. If it were my choice I would not do it very often. He he :)

Our apartment is SO hot! We live in a room that has no windows and just has a skylight. So, we have the sun beating down into our room and it creates an oven type of thing... yeah.... it's hot. We kind of die at night. We have 5 sister living in our apartment now so it's crowded but fun.

Sister Child and I spent a good amount of Monday creating our "Missionary Play Book" it is so cool! We are setting up and planning for situations that might come up and it has helped so much. We always have something ready! I'm pumped!

Today we got to go to another Yankees game. It was fun because they actually won this time. It was a good P-day!

Well, I love you all! I can't wait to talk to my family on Sunday! I AM SO EXCITED!

Con Amor- Hermana Passantino

PS: Be on the look out for me talking about Wonda and Fermin. We are determined that they will be baptized this month! They are both amazing!

Time for Change

Well, it has happened, they have taken my "momma" away from me. Ha ha! In the mission, your trainer (for a sister) is your mom. Sister Walker got transferred. I know that it was time for change but last night was hard for me. Taking over an area scares me because everyone loved Sister Walker so much. Yesterday was a day of a lot of goodbyes and it was so sad but we made it through. Sister Walker will be very missed.

Last night as we were trying to get everything ready for Sister Walker to leave (we also had to switch rooms because the English sisters we live with are now in a trio) we got a call from Marlon's mom. Marlon is our 14 year old recent convert and he is like a little brother. We love him so much. His mom called around 11:30 telling us that Marlon was missing. It tore us up inside. It was so hard to just sit there not being able to do anything. I prayed so hard to make sure he was ok. He is a great kid and doesn't just not come home. I felt so helpless but I was reassured that our Heavenly Father would make sure everything was ok. We talked to his mom this morning and he is back safe. We didn't really get the story as to where he was but everything is ok now. I am so happy. Needless to say, Sister Walker and I have had no sleep the last couple of nights, not the best for missionary work!

I am so excited about my new companion. Her name is Hermana Child and she is from Utah. I have met her a couple different times and we just really got a long. We were hoping one day we would be companions and WE ARE! I am so excited to work with her. She is so sweet and fun! We are going to have a blast. I am still SO nervous about being in charge of this area but it will be fine. Good thing this is Heavenly Fathers work and not mine!

I am trying to think of what to talk about because this last week has kind of been a blur and I am just so tired! Oh, we met the coolest guy, Fermin. He is from Peru and he is so interested in the church! We went to his house and he made us a full meal and then he had so many questions we taught the first two lessons. He is so cool and I am excited to continue teaching him.

Antonio still has some things we need to work out but he is going to be baptized, I just know it. We have a lot of things to look forward to in these next 6 weeks. I'm excited, nervous and everything in between.

I love you all and hope you are doing well! Write soon!

Con Amor- Hermana Passantino