La Vida Loca

Queridos amigos,

There are random occasions in life that cause us to reflect on who we are, where we are, who we want to be, and where we want to be in the future. This week I had one of those moments.

I was trudging through the mud with my companion (with our bright purple bikes and shiny orange helmets) when we turned the corner and passed a house blasting the song "Livin´ la vida loca". I smiled because a year ago I would have never imagined that I´d be where I am today.

Argentina is beautiful, the people are great, and the work here is amazing.

I´m extremely grateful for all that I´ve learned here in these short 7 (almost 8) months here in Argentina and my short 20 years here in this beautiful world that our Heavenly Father created for us.

This morning I looked in the mirror and asked myself if I am who I want to be. My immediate answer was "No, but I´m getting there".

This life isn´t perfect, but our Father´s plan for us is. It is for us to learn and to grow. We must experience sorrow to truly experience joy.

I challenge each of you to ponder your lives, however "loco" they may be. Are you where you want to be? Are you getting there? What needs to change?

La vida es loca, but I wouldn´t want it any other way.

Thank you all for being a part of my vida loca. I´m grateful that I have a part of yours as well.

Thank you all for the sweet birthday wishes and thank you for your support. I truly appreciate each one of you. You wouldn´t be receiving this email if you weren´t important to me.

I love you all and I know that our Father in Heaven loves you too.

Con amor,

Hermana Chaffin

"Everything you are learning now is preparing you for something else" -Marjorie Pay Hinckely

"Are we prepared to leave our comfort zones to reach a better place?" -Elder Godoy

Milagros

Dearest family and loved ones,

This week has been amazing! The only thing that could have made it better was if there had been a baptism.

Tuesday we traveled to Alejandro Korn for district meeting. It then proceeded to rain like nobody´s business. It flooded everywhere! The water was almost up to the doors of the church!

We were so grateful for the rain! We knew it was going to rain and we intentionally left our umbrellas in the apartment so that we could fully enjoy the rain. After taking the bus back to San Vicente and happily trudging through mud and a lot of puddles we arrived at our lunch appointment (with members) completely soaked! Haha it was great! Our clothing actually dried quickly and then we went and taught a lot of lessons.

One of our lessons was with Sonia and her family. We taught about the Plan of Salvation. The Spirit was soooo strong! It was incredible. Everyone was crying in the end. There aren´t words to describe how wonderful it was (I also don´t have time to find the words because I have 6 minutes left...)

Sonia ended up coming to church yesterday! After 3 years of listening to the missionaries she came to church! We are positive that she will be baptized this transfer!

Saturday we had a service project with her that was amazing. We have daily contact with our investigators now and they are all progressing so much! I can´t believe that I´m so tired and yet so happy. Missions are the best!

Sorry, out of time!

Love,

Hermana Chaffin

Feliz Año Nuevo

Queridos Amigos,

Okay, I would like to appologize in advance. This email is going to be short.

Today has been all sorts of crazy and it´s only 1:30pm.....

We had personal study and then companionship study and then we headed to the cybernet café to email all of you wonderful folks. Guess what.... it was closed! Have no fear, Hermana Chaffin is not so easily discouraged. Yes, there is only one option in this small town for computers, but I rubbed a few brain cells together and called the Branch President to use the computers in the chapel. He answered right away and said come on over. Sweet! Problem solved right? False.

We arrive at his house and he´s not home.... But, some friendly construction men are and we talk about missionary work with them while we wait for presidente to return. After 20 minutes he arrives. At last we receive the key and head to the church. Unfortunately, there must be oposición in ALL things in this life.

We get to the chapel and unlock the 6 locks to the computer and discover that two of the outlets aren´t working.... So, after jiggling cords, stretching extention cords to their max and several very heartfelt prayers we connected the computer to another outlet-only to discover that the internet wasn´t connected. At this point I was laughing hysterically at our situation and my companion was giving me concerned looks....

So, if you received this email today please now that I suffered a lot to send this to you. I hope that it made you smile and I hope that you forgive me for not being as frequent in my emails. Things happen (see example above)

This week was amazing. We had many lessons with many investigators. I love this área with all of my heart. It is amazing. Hermana Chappell is the greatest and we are having a blast sharing the góspel with others.

I hope you all had a wonderful 2016 and that 2017 is even better. I probably won´t see most of you until 2018, but through cords stretched across church hallways and keyboards across the world we can keep in contact. I hope you all see this year as an opportunity to strive a little harder to reach your true potential. Set goals and make plans to achieve them. You can do anything you set your mind to. The wise Dr. Seuss said, "You have brains in your head,you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself in any direction you choose"

Lots of love,

Hermana Chaffin