#pday stuff

[beeapocalypse]

very vague possibly made up memory that there was some bit w the new safehouse update where hox had all the illicit stuff packed off to the mansion but i do not care for that. complete destructive impulse that nearly gets the crew nailed (secret basement aside. no chance there wasnt SOME illicit shit left in those boxes labeled as past heists that couldve survived the fire) and worsens absolutely everything instead

[dinoshmino]

where’s that ‘next week has drained me’ post cause that’s literally me right now

[snsmissionaries]

3/24/19 -- Sister Nicole Ritman, Spain, Madrid Mission

Hermana Rihanna and Sister Shakira Getta Anotha' One 👌

Subject Line: It's a long explanation that will be given throughout the email.

 ¡Hola a Todos!

 So last, last Saturday we had the baptism that we weren't planning on, and this last Saturday we had the one we originally were planning on jaja. Her name is Karent (the t is silent) and she is amazing because she was actually a street contact! As much as we do it, anyone who has been a missionary in the past few years knows baptisms most often come from member references and part-member families, not random people off the street. But it does still happen and Karent is proof! Her prayers are the most genuine and beautiful Oraciones I've literally ever heard. The other great thing about Karent was she was praying and forgot my last name so she called me "Hermana Rihanna" (like the singer) and she thought it was so funny so she even mentioned it in her baptismal talk 😂

 WE WORKED SO HARD to put her baptism together and it paid off! We had a solid amount of people and a cello/piano musical number trio (we randomly have super musical youth in the ward. Several cellists and violinists and a million pianists). It was super spiritual, she cried during the talks but during her own testimony she didn't and gave the sweetest account of how the Hermanas found her and taught her and how she just wants to follow God. So cute!!

 The rest of the week was kind of a blur to be honest. Even though we were busy with the baptism, we managed to hit my personal mission record for new Amigos (new people you're teaching). I won't say the number because it is probably like what some missionaries get in a single day but oh well jaja

 We had zone conference! It was a super spiritual one because we tackled the Atonement of Jesus Christ and Pres Bussey knocked our socks off a little just reminding us of what an incomprehensible yet accessible gift it really is. Also my Mom (like my actual Mom, not my trainer in the mission) and my Aunts happened to be at the temple (she didn't know we had zone conference at the church by the temple) and President let me see her for a bit during lunch. That pretty a unexpected but well-received surprise jaja. Now I can't say I haven't seen my fam for a year and a half but I'll forgive my mom for breaking my streak (jaja broma 😉). 

 The Sister Shakira part is a result of being in a really small district. It is just Elder Young, Elder Cordovez and us. And when she have a small district you just have more random craziness. For example, E Cordovez said that H Brumble said that she sounds like a girl, but she didn't like that so he agreed that if we hit our finding goal he'd say she had the voice of Shakira. We cleared the goal, so now to fit the theme I'm Hermana Rihanna and she's Sister Shakira and we gotta anotha' one because we had our second baptism in two week. Don't expect more for a while though because now that we absorbed the Elders area we have 1000000 people to teach but currently no one who is actually progressing haha 😅 We're working on it. It's going to be a filter process. 

 Also since I am close to Madrid now I got to go to the temple the morning and it's felt SO GOOD LEMME TELL YA. It has been a LONG WHILE since I've been. Man I missed that place. ❤️ (That's why our Pday got switched--the temple isn't open on Mondays). 

 After, we played sand volleyball and when we weren't on the court we were munching on our pastries we grabbed from Lidl for lunch . Literally the entire zone just went to Lidl and attacked the giant pastry wall (savory and sweet pastries). I'm talking doughnuts, focaccia, pizza, empanadas, classic Spanish puff pastries, palmeristas, etc. You stuff it all in your bag and check out. We were quite a sight. 

 Well tbh I can't really remember anything else that's happened since last Pday. I wrote a long group email because when I have so many individual ones I'm ignoring I just write a long group one so everyone gets to here something at least and I don't have to write things twice. Okay lame excuse I know, I'll go focus on my individual ones now. 

 Chao! 

 Hermana Ritman 

 P.S. So I haven't had many funny language mistake stories for some reason so far, but I have one know that I thought was pretty hilarious at the time. So my companion understands pretty well, but she is still new and Spanish over video call is super difficult to understand. So we were teaching this guy who is probably almost 30 and we are teaching him to pray. We tell him that he can pray about his feelings, thoughts, questions...anything. He asks, "So I can pray to ask God to make Hermana Ritman fall in love with me?" I was trying to think of something to say that was missionary appropriate and not a sassy retort, but before I could think of anything, my comp (not understanding) is like, "Ya of course! You can say anything at all!" I think I need some of you guys to start praying for me not to fall in love with this guy to counteract his prayers because I think he's going to try it out for a while now jaja

 Also to explain the crepe and milkshake picture: We can only meet with men in public or with another woman and for this one cita, we couldn't find another woman and it was freeing outside so we agreed to me in a cafetería (like a cafe, not like a school cafeteria). We had to order to stay, so we just ordered a crepe (an homage to my job in college at a crepe shop) and a MILKSHAKE to share and hoped to finish it before he got there to not be rude eating in front of him but still reserve the spot. But when it came, it was GIANT. We were like "how are we gonna finish this milkshake". But then we realized it wasn't a milkshake--it was actually just milk flavored like cheesecake and that's why it was called a "milkCake" and not a "milkSHake" on the menu. If tasted good, but still what a ripoff- I call it a milkFAKE because they totally made us think it was a milkshake! And it was just flavored milk!! With whipped cream and everything! But the guy never ended up showing up to the cita and we just used the WiFi to contact on Facebook as we ate and waited, so the jokes on him. 

  Contact Information

email: nicole.ritman@myldsmail.net

 Sister Nicole Ritman

Madrid Spain Mission

Avenida de Tenerife, 11

28703 San Sebastian de los Reyes

Madrid, Espana

  To see all the photos and videos from this week, click on the link below.

Villalba Week 2: https://photos.app.goo.gl/C31jAA1ywp3SnjS19

 To catch up on all the photos from last week, click here

Villalba Week 1: https://photos.app.goo.gl/9UJDsroQPxanHCKQA  

Our Crazy District: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kATRQip2yudjEGDD9

 "The MilkFake"

Karent

 Pizza waiting for the font to fill

Zone Conference

[slaytencio-blog]

something about you.

there’s something about you that i’ll always be in love with. there’s something about you that will make me keep coming back. there’s something about you that sets you apart from the rest. there’s something about you that you thought was unlovable and i fell deeply in love with it.

you have so many aspects that i fell for , every single aspect makes me fall deeper and deeper.

maybe the thought of waking up next to you, is what i’ll always be in love with.

maybe how we could fall asleep singing to each other, keeps making me run back.

maybe your ocean blue eyes are what sets you apart from everyone else.

maybe your jealousy , or clinginess is what you though was unlovable but i sit here everyday missing and adoring it.

maybe there 100’s of things that make me want to come back.

Here is 100

1. Your smile , how it can easily put a smile on my face. The thought of your smile brightens my day.

2. Your ocean blue eyes, how i get lost in them. I can see my future in your eyes.

3. Your laugh, is my favorite melody, i would without a doubt listen to it on replay if i could.

4. Your kisses , i quickly became addicted to your lips on mine .

5. Your presence , something about it calms my soul.

6. Your scars , showing how unique you are. How strong you are.

7. Your dimple , the one thing that stood out to me in the very beginning.

8. Your heart , its golden. It has a spark, that hopefully will never die out.

9. Your mind , it’s a wonderland , full of unspoken things. Holding in emotions and thoughts that only you will understand.

10. Your teeth, one bigger than others on the lower set. Top set straight as can be, as shiny as pearls.

11. Your hair , naturally curly, with an admirable flow.

12. Your ability to stay up hours after hitting your limit, all those late night calls. Mumbling words , but knowing exactly what the other said.

13. Your slang, something I caught onto.

14. Your voice , like a lullaby , so precious and graceful.

15. Your style , wanna be bad girl, but just a girly girl.

16. Your taste in music , something we have in common. I’ve never been fond of classical , but something about watching you sing and dance to it made it my favorite genre.

17. Your strength, physically it’s growing as you grow. Mentally it’s remarkable. You are the strongest person i’ve ever met.

18. Your intelligence , when you start to ramble about something your passionate in, there’s no stopping you.

19. Your work ethic, when you set your mind to it, it will get done to its best ability.

20. Your confidence , days go by and you are okay with who you see in the mirror. But at least once a week , you wake up and realize you acquire true beauty and you show it.

21. Your love for children , thriving to be a kindergarten teacher shows just how much you love them.

22. Your mesmerizing grin , could get you anything you want.

23. Your four year old self , throwing tantrums and asking to have play dates. Adoring fairies , believing in the good in the world.

24. Your past, bringing you to this exact moment reading down a list of reasons i keep coming back. Your past shaping you but you not becoming your past.

25. Your forgiveness , you give endless chances and believe everyone can grow.

26. Your ability to put a smile on everyday, even after everything you’ve been through.

27. Your eating schedule , one that does not exist. You are the absolute worst at eating correctly, but something about it makes me want to take you to a buffet at 2am just to see you stuff your face with cookies and cake.

28. Your encouragement , when a friend asks for help or support you’re always there to give it.

29. How open minded you are , always willing to take new ideas and such.

30. How good you are with children, watching you get along with my younger siblings made me fall more in love with you.

31. How you can speak Russian , hearing you speak another language , saying you love me in it. Has got to be one of my favorites. “ya tebya leublu”

32. Your inability to stay focused on one thing for longer than 2 minutes.

33. Your humor , similar to mine.

34. Your ability to get me to laugh, had me head over heels for you on day one.

35. Your love for the Divergent series , showed me you were capable of getting lost in a book.

36. How you get jealous about small things , which you don’t have to worry about.

37. Your family, man will i miss your crazy Jewish Russian family.

38. Your ability to box me, but still be scared to hit me.

39. You and your crazy Russian foods.

40. How you deliberately tell me to go just so I can chase you.

41. Your hugs , I feel safe in your arms.

42. Your ability to wink like a dork, which I find absolutely adorable.

43. How you could spend hours on FaceTime with me and never get tired of me.

44. Your collection of stuffed animals , that you chose to share with me.

45. The smell of your house , every time I got there I knew everything was okay.

46. Your scared cat Leo, who has only ever let me touch him once out of 7 months.

47. How we could laugh for hours and hours about one simple joke.

48. How you take 50 minute showers and think it’s normal.

49. When you used to put charcoal face masks on over FaceTime.

50. Your ability to spend countless hours typing or writing about me, which I loved so much.

51. How crazy in love with me you were.

52. Your caring friends , that would blow my phone up with texts.

53. Your fingers, they were so long yet so skinny.

54. Your body, how perfect it was in my head.

55. How you would go against your teacher rules and FaceTime me in the middle of class.

56. How we would wake up exactly at the same time , its was like psychic or something.

57. How you have been my person for the last 7 months for everything.

58. How you would hang up on your BEST friends for me because I’m needy and I always wanted to talk.

59. How you handled my clinginess so well.

60. How you offered to pay for everything because you knew I never had money.

61. The way your little how are you hairs was like a black girls curly hair.

62. How you love animals and are so caring for them.

63. How we can be using the bathroom on FaceTime and it’s normal.

64. How your bladder isn’t that shy anymore around me.

65. How when you stand up too quick you get dizzy.

66. Your inability to beat me in arm wrestling.

67. Your stretch marks , they're one of my favorite things about you.

68. The fact you don't fall asleep on you stomach, except for the night at my house. [1.21.17]

69. How your biggest fear is the Orange Flame Monster.

70. How our lucky number is 2, 22.

71. Your desire to look good on days you go out.

72. How amazing you look without make up, but with it on you always look stunning.

73. When you wear beanies, I lose my breath.

74. How you feel free while swimming because Papa AK.

75. How you don't have a middle name , gives me a reason not to get mad at you cause I usually call people by their full name when I'm mad.

76. How you were deaf for some time when you were born.

77. How even though you're terrified of spiders, you offered to kill them for me.

78. How you endlessly make my tummy explode with the entire zoo.

79. How we can go from lovey to joking in seconds.

80. How no matter how many failed attempts we had when we tried seeing each other we always made up for it the one time we could.

81. How on our first date we marked our territory in the bathroom.

82. How I'm 110% comfortable with you and can be myself.

83. How our FaceTime record is currently at 14.5 hours and we adored each other for all 868 minutes.

84. How we would get lost in each other eyes and everything seemed perfect.

85. How we grew together as people.

86. How you encouraged me to be a better student.

87. How we could spam each other hundreds of text and never get annoyed.

88. How we've shared 1000's of secrets over the past 7 months and all have been kept.

89. How you tried so so so so hard to teach me Russian. Ya tochna ya tebya leubleu pathamoshtha thee crasivia.

90. How all our inside jokes always had amazing memories to go along with them. CHIPMUNK.

91. How we loved each other endlessly even through all the arguments and fights.

92. How we always managed to end every fight with "I love you".

93. How you were my best friend and my girlfriend all in one.

94. How my friends loved you almost as much as I love you.

95. How all our nick names had a special meaning behind all of them. Dory, Boo.

96. How well we both got along with each other's family.

97. How we spent your first PDays together. And rode the ferries wheel, and we some what got that kiss.

98. How we have a bucket list which can still be completed.

99. How we always knew what to say to cheer the other up, and always supported each other.

100. How even after 100 reasons listed , they only go over an 8th of the things about you that make me keep coming back.

something about you , is an understatement because everything about you is what makes me keep coming back. [ek.]

[beeapocalypse]

think the big Thing for the getaway driver oc is that in the middle of a heist gone loud w/o proper planning sydney gets too fucked up to return 2 the fray after dropping off a couple duffles and the driver makes the call to borrow her mask + guns to go in there Herself and while that is instrumental to making sure everyone makes it out there alive + Not in police custody it ALSO throws a jug of gasoline on the whole payday Case media + fbi efforts wise. absurd speculation on this sudden change in operations (ie fifth heister out of nowhere. spirals out to impossible theories of a huge network of potential agents and all) that puts a TON of pressure on them. gets put on safehouse arrest and is constantly butting heads w dallas during that entire time (him thinking she acted out of line vs her believing it was thru her actions alone that they got out of there. she shot a cop in the head while he was in the middle of cuffing a wounded dallas) while him + bain try to figure out what the hell to do abt it all

[beeapocalypse]

strikes the i can imagine anything pose. trans woman dallas

[beeapocalypse]

playing toys

[beeapocalypse]

who is this man

[beeapocalypse]

refinement of last nights thought. rather than craigslist dallas buys the total clunker car from a chop shop and gets the owner to agree to let him + houston come by on weekends in order to work on it (car maintenance against their apartment rules). houston eventually starts showing up everyday after school just to hang out and look at the cars and the owner starts paying him off book to help around the place as his first job

[beeapocalypse]

like the idea that houstons interest in cars got started as a teen when he totalled dallas' car while borrowing it and initially was an obsessive trauma thing where hed spend nights on end at their shared clunky desktop pc staring at car wrecks of the same make and model that slowly migrated into learning abt the different types of damages accidents cause to the precautions taken against them to how to repair cars in general

[beeapocalypse]

entire basis of mine reading of dallas + houston is the idea w absolutely no roots in canon that houston lived w him for a couple years due to their parents going thru some financial struggles and was around when dallas faked his death. the drama

[snsmissionaries]

2/1/19 -- Sister Nicole Ritman, Spain, Madrid Mission

EXTRA! EXTRA! BAPTISM AND TRANSFERS EDITION!!!

¡Hola a Todos!

 So this week was just about my undoing because not only did my bestie Hermana Orjuela get transferred to Móstoles (Madrid) but that Sunday we were planning on planning the baptism in consejo because we didn't have it the last week but then we didn't have it again. And then all the sudden H Orjuela left, our ward mission leader told us it was finals and he couldn't come to the baptism, and I realized that since Elder Gergov has only been here 3 weeks I was the only one here with a full transfer in the ward and it was basically up to me to plan this baptism. In real life, this wouldn't be a problem. But without a laptop, knowledge of who was who in the ward (everyone was gone for the Fiestas), my Spanish struggling when I'm overwhelmed, and never having had another baptism in my mission, I was more than a little over my head.

 So I am running out of time to write this but al final, everything came together with the Lord obviously guiding us because somehow at the last second, white pants were found, the papers were cut in pretty waves with pens to write notes, the brownies were made, the ward was invited and after asking a million people, we finally found speakers jaja. The musical number didn't turn out as well but the most important part was that even though we had to try three times, Sany (got permission to use her name tell her story and share the pics) was baptized. Presidente had the idea of confirming her right after because we had the baptism immediately after church and it was seriously the most beautiful blessing I've ever heard. And her testimony was also the strongest, most mature and genuine I've ever heard at a baptism. She even got to video call Hermana Orjuela after! The other great thing about the baptism was that we had record wars attendance because it was right after church! There was even a couple on vacation from Provo that stayed after just to come support and even helped us in the kitchen with the brownies. They said they don't ever get to see baptisms because the only people in their neighborhood who aren't members are Larry King and the President of Budweiser lol. I wish I caught there name but I didn't because I was running around like crazy. I was also relieved because I thought the Elders would roast us for printing our programs in blue, having a framed picture of Christ and putting our brownies on decorative plates and putting the notes in a flower stand like girls, but all they said was "hey that was actually a nice baptism" with a brownie in each hand. Whew. 😅(Homemade brownies are so impressive to people here. They have them in panaderías and in Gelato shops and stuff but they think it's like so foreign and they can't make it. If only they knew it were legit the easiest thing in the world maybe they wouldn't think I was so cool jaja). 

 Also I just realized I forgot to say that my new companion is Hermana Mecca! She's lived the first 10 years of her life in Argentina and the rest in Italy an hour from Milan. I had the gall to cook her pasta her first lunch. She actually liked it but the next day she cooked for me 😂 Her Spanish has an Italian melody but a strong Argentinian "sh" and sometimes she remembers the Italian words for things better than Spanish jaja. She dealt with all the craziness of the baptism like a pro. We actually have the same time in the mission except nativos get three weeks in the CCM first and are in the field while we are in the CCM for six weeks. But I'll be seeing her again when we go home.

 After a crazy baptism we decided to take a relaxing Pday and do touristy things which meant going to the Puerto and being basic tourists, which is still fun. We wanted to go to Hard Rock Cafe but realized it was still under construction. Someone Google that and let me know if it'll open by the time I leave or not.

 Well pretty much out of time and I'll tell you to the whole story of Sandy's conversion next week! Miracles to tell 😃

 Os quiero, 

Hermana Ritman

 Malaga Week 6:

 https://photos.app.goo.gl/xt9oEsG8LurAZ8B98

 Malaga Week 7:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/8HHUbEj9FUqAdhCEA

  Contact Information  

email: nicole.ritman@myldsmail.net

 Sister Nicole Ritman

Madrid Spain Mission

Avenida de Tenerife, 11

28703 San Sebastian de los Reyes

Madrid, Espana

[snsmissionaries]

1/14/19 -- Sister Nicole Ritman, Spain, Madrid Mission

Tiquismiquis

¡Hola a Todos! 

 This week we went to *Sevilla*! For a big Andalucía zone conference since it was Christmas Conference (super late after Christmas lol). We had our workshops then did a White Elephant (I got a 2/3 used jar of coconut body cream lol) and then we had a legendary talent show. Some highlights were Hermana Bussey drinking a raw egg on stage, a Dora sketch where the map was carpeta de area and the goal was to find a reference, and of course Elder Toro and Elder Roger's singing the song they wrote (which you can see on their FB). 

 Today for PDay I wasn't feeling to good but we went out because we had a ton of shopping to do for the piso. I was looking for pants the WHOLE TIME but was too tall and gorda for these skinny and short Spaniards styles. Not the best PDay. At least we got some stuff for a girl in the ward who is leaving to Barcelona mission without any support from her family and they also aren't sending her to a CCM (Missionary Training Center) either! I would feel so unprepared. The Relief Society is helping her buy all her stuff and we used got her stuff left in piso and when we went shopping we got her stuff too. 

 We really had a great week and saw the biggest miracle of my mission so far but I won't say it until two weeks from now in case everything burns. I'm don't want to jinx it.

 Os quiero, 

 Hermana Ritman

 Socieded de Socorro (Relief Society)

  Centro from the window of a shop I was in

Centro

 Looked pretty in person but the pic only shows the dirt and graffiti. lol

[snsmissionaries]

10/19/18 -- Sister Nicole Ritman, Spain, Madrid Mission

We Crashed a Baptism

Subject Line: So our really good friends, las Hermanas del Puerto de Santa María, had a baptism on Saturday. We wanted to go but since it was out of our area, we as missionaries have to have an amigo (someone we are teaching) go with us or we are not allowed to go. We couldn't find anyone, so we had to miss it. But when the day came, they went to baptize him but something went wrong and he didn't go all the way under the water and came up coughing. They didn't make him do it again because it was pretty traumatic, but they continued with the program: the singing, the talks and everything. That meant the actual ordinance of the baptism got moved to our PDay and since they were originally going to come to Jerez we got permission to go to Puerto instead and we got to crash the baptism! They had another person in the font this time to help him go under the water. Everything went smoothly the second time and we are so proud of him! It was so special and just a golden moment of happiness, even if it wasn't a baptism like all the other ones we've seen in our lives. And now he'll have quite a story to tell about his baptism! 

 ¡Hola a Todos!

 This week we had two citas that were quite unlike our other ones. 

 The first happened last Monday after PDay. The story is that the Saturday before, we helped a lady with carry her groceries to her house. She didn't speak a lot of Spanish, but we communicated that we'd meet with her again that Monday when her husband who speaks English would be there. 

 We went and he was there and as soon as he opened the door, before we could introduce ourselves he said "I know who you are. You don't have to tell me. My wife has been talking about the nice girls all weekend. I don't believe in coincidences and I know we have met for a reason." Man, what an auspicious greeting! I was intrigued. 

 We came inside and the sister in law insisted on serving us something, so we skipped the coffee and tea jaja and went for this flower drink that I'm a fan of now. He explained that his family has been refugees from Palestine for generations and have been living in Lebanon until he brought his young family and his wife's sister and son to Spain with a nonprofit organization that is sponsoring them. So we're just listening to his cool story and it's kind of weird because all his family around, but it's basically a private conversation because they don't understand. And then all the sudden he's like "I decided to read the New Testament and now I believe in Jesus. My wife and family know, but I cannot profess my believe because I will have to leave them." We were like um what?????? We were NOT expecting that. Did we just find the single man Muslim turned Christian man in Jerez? Like how often does that even happen? We gave him a Book of Mormon in Arabic and are going to meet with him again to answer his questions and he wants to tell us more about his conversion story. 

 And then on Saturday we met with a young boy who is living here without his family in a youth home, who was also raised Muslim. But he told us he is on a search to find out what Christians believe about Christ. Man- two in one week! What are the chances of that? We explained a bit about what we believe and directed him to mormon.org and said we'd bring a Book of Mormon in French for him next time. 

 This week we had intercambios in San Fernando and they went really well! I was with Hermana Simmons and the highlight was when we helped a girl with English and then at the end we asked her if she wanted to know more about the church, but we had to rush off to a cita and she had to go to the bathroom but the Bishop happened to be there and when she came back out he started talking to her and she said she's interested in learning more because she always feels good when she meets for English help in the chapel and he talked to her more about the church and even gave her a Book of Mormon! Bam this is why we need member missionaries--we can't be everywhere at once! We also got my first traditional mix-your-own bag of chuches  that all Spanish kids clutch in the hands as they hold the handle of the bike and ride around with their friends.

 Right after intercambios we helped a member move and her house used to be a day care so the floors have crazy colors and there's cute owls on the walls.  They even left the mini beds for naptime and the rubber duckies decorations so it was kind of funny to see. She ordered us pizza and we got half a pizza with anchovies because she loves them and I wanted to try that because bucket list ya know? We've all heard of pizza with anchovies but guess what now I actually know what it tastes like! (too salty but not a bad flavor) We explained to her what a bucket list was and she thought the idea was kind of weird but interesting. She's one of our favorite people now - there's just some people on the mission you can immediately tell they're a homie. I've officially decided I'm going to be a homie too that gets missionaries pizza and Googles stuff they can do on PDay (one of our members did that and it's the only reason we ever have fun on PDay jaja) when I get back from my mission.

 We really are seeing some people progressing and choosing to solve their problems and better themselves with the Lord's help! It's been so inspiring to see, because I know everyone one of us can do that too, in whatever way that looks like in our own lives! Él nos brindará ayuda 😊

 Os quiero, 

 Hermana Ritman

[snsmissionaries]

10/3/18 -- Sister Nicole Ritman, Spain, Madrid Mission

Satan Works Hard, But We Work Harder 😈<😇😇

¡Hola a todos!

 This entire week falls under the slogan of my subject line. There's just some weeks where Satanás is obviously working against us and all our amigos. For example, the amigo we put on fecha kept having random stuff come up that made it hard to meet even though he wanted to. Once we finally met it was hard to actually give the lesson because random interruptions kept happening like literally a guy wandered in from the street into his living room and started asking him advice on how to remodel his kitchen. I'm not making this up, like can this wait? We had a member at the cita and she was so cute because she just tore out a paper from her notebook, got the guys number and sent him away lol. We still didn't get to teach the lesson because then, a minute later, he got a call that something heavy had fallen on a friend and he had to go help her. We were like ???? This is getting a little obvious Satan, back off. We were RELENTLESS and we finally got to teach him Lección 3 later that week after so many times trying to meet. This is just one example of how Satan was working against us this week but we wouldn't let him take the W. We worked so hard, I was soooooo tired. It's kind of funny because in the pictures I'm sending you can see me getting more tired in every one lol. 

 Things like that are pretty discouraging, but there were also some very encouraging things like when the member we had at his house for the cita pointed out a pencil drawing on the wall that was him copying the painting on the front of the Restauración pamphlet we gave him that has Jesus holding a lamb. Sooooo precious! 💜 Literally made it all worth it.

 Another high of the week was the member family we have noche de hogar with every week gave us cheesecake because it was the Father's Cumpleaños! They are the funniest family and make us laugh every week. They love to teach me new vocab and one of their favorites is "cremallera" (zipper). They call me Hermana Cremallera now because in church church they couldn't get my attention by saying "Hermana" but then they said "cremallera" and it worked lol. The spiritual message we gave last night was also one of my favs, if I do say so myself (I picked it last minute because we realized we didn't have anything planned lol. Usually we meet on Tuesdays, OK? We're not slackers.). We watched the "Create" video from President Uchtdorf that gets me everytime. It's amazing go watch it and you'll be so motivated after I promise! The daughter was kind of looking down ever since school started but we used the video to encourage her to share her talents and she sang for us (she hasn't done that since the first time I met her) and the light literally went back into her eyes! Honestly big miracles happen on the mission but my favorite thing is just seeing someone's day brightened a little bit, whether by something I did or if I'm just there to see it. I think that's something we can relate to on a universal level 😊

 This week for Zone PDay we rented out the soccer field and then went to Burger King  just like last time. Unlike last time, we chose Disney princesses that fit everyone's personalities and apparently I'm Meg from Hercules, and our Zone Leaders are Elsa and Pocahontas hehe. Also, we were supposed to do a photo scavenger hunt but idk what happened to that because we're all just sitting in the chapel and emailing now lol. I'm gonna make that happen next time though because that sounds legit. 

 Os quiero

 Hermana Ritman 

  Questions:

 How is the work progressing?

 We're working on finding as a mission and we set a super high goal as a companionship to find people to teach for the month of October so it should be really gearing up! So far, it's been a lot of foundation-laying, like seeing who is really progressing and who is not. 

 Has it been hot there?

 Yes--hotter than AZ from what I can tell, plus it's humid. The members say it's summer until November lol. But the heat doesn't bother me. The fact that it's socially acceptable to fan yourself with an abanico at any time, even in sacrament meeting or a lesson, helps. 

 Do you have air conditioning in your apartment?  How about most of the buildings?

 We have one room with air conditioning and so we sleep and study with it even though you're not really supposed to do that jaja. (We had piso checks and they said it was fine-don't worry) We're one of the lucky ones--a lot of people we meet with and other missionaries don't have it. 

 Do you cook for yourself a lot? or do the members feed you?

The members feed us occasionally. They feed the Elders a lot because they're good at asking, so it's our fault we don't get fed lol. Our amigos and recent converts feed us more because we see them for lessons. We also have an amigo that give us groceries everytime we see him, which is so nice. Everyone is so nice here, really. And ya I don't really mind cooking for ourselves though, we've gotten creative and I've learned a lot of things like putting a raw egg and a slab of butter and stirring it after your drain the water when you make noodles makes it sooo good. We also make fried rice, toasted gouda and salchichón sandwiches a lot. We also buy cheese frozen pizza and put this Spanish meat slices on it that are kinda like pepperoni and it makes me laugh because we Spanishified our pizza. 

 What is your favorite food there?

Idk if I can say churros and chocolate because I only had it once in Madrid but it's probably up on the list for me. Also Spanish empanadas they're not doughy like Sud América (those those have a special place in my heart too) --they're flaky. Also anything marisco (seafood) especially paella. 

[snsmissionaries]

9/19/18 -- Elder Braden Cowden, Argentina, Cordoba Mission

Elder Cowden Week 15

(The internet connection at the Internet cafe (he had a cool Spanish word

for it) kept going in and out last week, so there was no big Week 14 letter

to send last week, but he told me he was able to respond to a few of you)

 Hey Everybody! This week has been fantastic! I wanted to clear something up

that I have noticed in the emails I have been getting, I didnt actually

confirm Christian! I realized that my wording in my first email made it seem

like i did the confirmation, but i just stood in the circle.  haha

 This week we had inercambios, where i went with one of the zone leaders for

the day. We had some good contacts and was able to practice my spanish. I

really am understanding and its amazing to see how the Lord truly blesses

his servants. We also had zone conference this week and that of course went

for about the whole day, but i wasnt complaining. Its nice to get kind of a

relax day every transfer besides pdays haha. With news about veronica, she

has got all of her legal work done, however they dont have a date to be

married yet which means no date for baptism. And you have to set the date

out two months before and i dont think they are going to do it until later

this month or beginning of October. That means that i possibly wont be there

for either if i get transferred after this next transfer. But thats okay, im

not complaining.

 Last week we went to the zoo and it was HUGE (As trump would put it). And i

paid an extra 70 pesos to get a bucket of food to feed the animals, which

was awesome. We had a roaring contest with a lion and we won when the lion

passed out (probably because he was tired of fighting with us gringos! I had

three different opportunities to do service this past week, and it all had

to do with moving. I have never been so dirty in my life, I had dust and all

that stuff all over me and my hair, I got sick the day after. But im not

complaining, i love working and doing service to make others happy and im

glad i was able to help.

 Thats really it for this past week. I love getting your emails every week

and i am always here if you guys want to talk.

 I have a testimony of this gospel and of mission work. And i am so blessed

to be able to serve the Lord and bring as many of his children as possible

unto him!

 Work hard.Time flies by when your having fun!

 Elder Cowden=