Kalene’s Letter

Hello everyone! 

Well another week has flown by and here I am again checking my email. It´s starting to get hot here in Santa Elena, not sure if I will survive another summer here in Argentina, I may melt! But atleast I won´t be complaining about being cold haha. 

Tomorrow is transfers and the assistants called us last night to tell us where we were going. My companion Hermana Miranda is going to a different area, Venado Tuerto, and will be with Hermana Gossen. Hna Miranda is now senior comp (she´s so ready for it). She´s nervous but I know that she will do great. 

And guess what!!?? I am going to be training a new missionary!!!! Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!! I can´t believe it and I am super super nervous about it. I don´t feel prepared in the least bit, but I´m hoping that everything will turn out okay. I don´t know who my companion is yet, not until tomorrw, but I do know that she is from the states. So I´m hoping that I can help her transition into the life of a missionary, and that we get along good. Because if a companionship gets along and trusts eachother, everything else seems to fall into place. 

Got the news today that my Grandpa Israelsen passed away last Tuesday. It wasn´t a surprise but it´s still hard news to take. I know that he had a lot of health problems recently and he had mentioned to me, and everyone I think, for quite some time now that he has been ready to leave this life. It´s hard not to be there with my dear family, but at the same time I know that everything will be okay. I know that death is not the end, it´s just a step in this grand journey that we have embarked on. We accepted our Heavenly Father´s plan to come here to earth, receive a body, endure every trial and hardship and enjoy every happiness and joy that this life has to offer. Then when it´s our turn to leave this mortal existence we go to a place where we can rest from all pain, affliction, and worry while we wait for the glorious return of our Savior and the resurrection. I know that God has a plan for each and every one of us and that this plan is eternal. It didn´t start with our birth and it doesn´t end with our death. God is eternal and so are we. I know that He lives and that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and our Redeemer. 

I love you all so much and I hope that you each can find the joy in your life and that you can remember the things that are important in this life and throughout eternity. 

Have a fantastic day! 

Be happy- Hermana Israelsen

Brett’s Letter

Hey guys, how are you all doing? I was sad to hear that Grandpa is not doing so well. We thought his time would come when jake was still on his mission but somehow he kept on. I am hoping for that same miracle but I also know that he is very ready to go. He has lived a good life and has reached his potential here on earth. I was a little shocked to hear about celeste and the dance. I thought Dad wouldn't let her date until she was 18 or so. Anyway that is way cool that you got asked, just have fun. Order very expensive things on the menu when you all go out to dinner. Guys love girls like that.
Well I have got some exciting news for next month, Jeffery R Holland will be coming to our mission to speak to the missionaries. It will be on Oct. 20th so I am pritty excited. That will help me get through that very difficult week. I am expecting a transfer this next week and I think that it will be off island as well so I was relieved to hear that they are inviting all of the missionaries, even the off island ones to come. That usually dosen't happen when we have something like this. Well the work is going good, the time is going faster and it is almost transfers. Our area has struggled a little this last week. Our very progressing investigators who have a baptismal date next week didn't come to church this last Sunday. Some problem came up and now she has to work. They want to be baptized so bad but just can't seem to find a way out of this situation. We had a appointment last night where we followed up a investigator of ours who didn't come to church. Her concern was not new, in fact most all of our investigators use the excuse that they don't have any money to get there or to feed there families. I brought out the scripture in 3rd Nephi about not worrying what you should eat or drink but seek first the kingdom of God. I had her read it and after the first sentence she just starting crying, she couldn't even finish it. The faith that these people have to exercise to not know where they will get the money for their families is so much greater than anything I have ever had to experience. But only after her trail of faith will the miracle happen. The sacrifices these people have to go through are only things that we just take for granted. It takes a lot of faith and trust in God to rely on that promise. It is easily said but when it comes to doing with 7 hungery kids that is a test to your faith.
Well I actually did receive that email from Paul but only after I sent that letter to you guys. I can't believe that you guys have already gotten your corn done. I miss that so bad, they have corn here but it is not the same. They mash it up and cook it like you would rice. It is more healthy for you but does not taste near as good. I am really missing American foods. I have not been feeling to well latley and I feel it is because I have not been eating very well. I eat rice, pig and chicken just about every meal. I am trying to cut down on the pop but everyone gives it to you. I am scared to go to any members houses because that is a for sure pop and candy bar. I have gotten very fat while on my mission, I am trying to do better with my excersizing in the mornings. I think it will take some time to get this beer gut I have got  to go away. I have just got over 8 months to prepare for swim suite season.  Well I love you all. Keep the letters coming.

Elder Allen

Hey guys, thats really to bad about Grandpa. At least now he is now in a better place. I know he left a great legacy for us. I have been inspired to do better because of his example. I wish I could be there for the funeral but I know he would rather have me here.

Hello Family, It sounds like that was a very successful funeral. I figured there would be a lot of people who attended. I can't believe that he is actually gone. He is defiantly in a better place now, how blessed we are to know the Plan of Salvation. That makes death so much easier to deal with.  I was just starting to realize yesterday how many blessings I have received from a family who has and follows the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yesterday was a very hard day, our investigators are going through struggles I can't even imagine going through. One of my favorite investigators husband has not come home for 5 days now, she has 6 kids all under 10 years old. She went to her mothers place yesterday and will probably move there. Her husband is a very nice man and a great father but he has a weakness as well. He has a addiction to drugs and so when he gets his pay he spends to much on his drugs not leaving enough for his family to get by on. This investigator wants so bad for her family to be baptized, she has great fellow shippers right next door. I am hoping and praying for a miracle so she doesn't have to move. We found a new family yesterday, there house is not in good shape at all, one of there kids has a growth on his back the size of a football. They haven't had it checked up because they have no money. It is so humbling to see what people here have to go through. Another family is also struggling, there baptismal date was this Saturday but because they have no money sister had to take a job on sunday. Her husband can't support the family alone, they want so bad to be baptized as well. Another investigator whose baptismal date was also Saturday needs to be postponed because the place he works won't let him stay the full 3 hours of church. The sad thing is he works for members who are endowed at the temple. I feel so close to the members and investigators in this area it is hard to leave it. We got the transfer calls just barely, I am transferring to a island called Comotes. I am stepping up to Zone leader, there are 4 missionaries in my zone including me and my companion. We are the only missionaries on this entire island, I now get to drive. I think it is a small truck, my companion does not have his license so I will be doing all the driving. I am scared to drive here because it is a place with no traffic laws. If there are any laws they are defiantly not enforced.
A missionary who went home last transfer may be stopping by there, he was my zone leader. He is the hardest working missionary I have ever met.  He lives up in IDAHO some wheres. Hopefully he can find the house. It is hard to explain how to get there. Well I love you all, keep the letters coming. Have fun hunting this fall.

Elder Allen