To the most amazing family.

Dear Family,

How is life? How is school and work and all this traveling going for everyone? And thank you for the lyrics to the song! Oh and another favor... dad and mom, could you scan me a photo of your wedding, with the temple? :)

Hermana Britton, she is from Arlington, Texas and has been in the mission for 5 months.  She went to BYU for a year.  She reminds me alot about Megan.  She loves to read and she is super funny and smart. She is great!

The weeks are all starting to blur together, but being a missionary is still great and hard. So we had changes and we actually ended up going, because the other companionship in the house also had transfers of one companion so the other hna, Hermana Marcos had to go to the hospital for something that she is being treated for, and I went with her, and then an elderly couple came and picked us up and took us to cambios, which was actually pretty great, because then I could see Hermana Smouse before she left, and Hermana Tejada, because I don't think I will see here before I leave.

We got back and started working and I just know that this cambio is going to be great! She is obviously different from my last companion, she is a little more serious, but super funny and her spanish is pretty good, though not always does she like to speak it ha, and I know I am really going to learn from her when we should keep going with investigators or when we need to drop them, like who can progress.  I think that is always a hard thing to tell, but she has done some really great questions to be able to see if they are willing to change, and I love working with her.

This week was great! We found some new people also.  Matias, at first we were a little iffy becuase he is a guy, but as we started talking more at the very end of our conversation he told us he has a daughter and that he wants to change for her! So that was really great.  He is hard to find, and also didn't go to the church because he had a party the night before... but he is great and really wants to change and be a good dad for his daughter.

I decided that as a goal for this cambio I want to pray more and inquire of the Lord about what he wants us to do with his children.  So the day after cambios we had weekly planning and we prayed that for Luis and Virginia because every time we have a cita they never can, but always come to church. We decided that we were going to try to be their friends first and visit them with out setting a cita becuase they always cancelled and well... asked that if it was his will that we keep visiting them that we'd be able to talk to them.  Then Saturday came and we were clapping a door infront of them and he came out and was like hey! Come in! And we went and talked with them, and Martina was also there, the daughter.  We had a really good lesson, and he has a ton of questions, but it ended up being really good.

We were also walking home and this guy stopped us and he looks and me and was like sorry, I let you down. And I was so confused and he was like you guys were going to past but then I wasn't there. And I remembered this guy that did the same thing about a month ago and told us to pass by right before we had to go home and so we set a date, but never was there.  So I was like.. Rocky? and he was like yes! When can you come visit me! This week we are going to go see him and we invited him to church and went to go with him, but he ended up not feeling very well.

Another new we found about a week ago, we went for our cita and we was working but stopped and we talked for a bit, I think we might need to teach him a little slower but then at the end we asked if we could help him with anything and he said yes! So we helped water his plants ha, I think he was in an accident so I would have been a little harder for him, because he has a well and we pulled the water from there... well at the very end, he was like thanks! and these are for you! And he gave each of us a flower! 

Anothony is doing good... I think Erika felt like he was getting a little lazy so they set goals on what they are going to do with their life and then also to get married! so they are saving money to do it and we are finished with all the charlas except for one, follow the prophet and we are also going to include tattoos in that, because  he really likes them and wants more ha.

Family, there are times that I miss you, not going to lie, but I know this is where I need to be and helping the people here and serving my savior.  Thank you for your support and all that you do, I love you all so much! Keep going strong! Sigan adelante! I love you!!!

Love,

Hermana Louder

Dear Family,

How is life? How is school and work and all this traveling going for everyone? And thank you for the lyrics to the song! Oh and another favor... dad and mom, could you scan me a photo of your wedding, with the temple? :)

Hermana Britton, she is from Arlington, Texas and has been in the mission for 5 months.  She went to BYU for a year.  She reminds me alot about Megan.  She loves to read and she is super funny and smart. She is great!

The weeks are all starting to blur together, but being a missionary is still great and hard. So we had changes and we actually ended up going, because the other companionship in the house also had transfers of one companion so the other hna, Hermana Marcos had to go to the hospital for something that she is being treated for, and I went with her, and then an elderly couple came and picked us up and took us to cambios, which was actually pretty great, because then I could see Hermana Smouse before she left, and Hermana Tejada, because I don't think I will see here before I leave.

We got back and started working and I just know that this cambio is going to be great! She is obviously different from my last companion, she is a little more serious, but super funny and her spanish is pretty good, though not always does she like to speak it ha, and I know I am really going to learn from her when we should keep going with investigators or when we need to drop them, like who can progress.  I think that is always a hard thing to tell, but she has done some really great questions to be able to see if they are willing to change, and I love working with her.

This week was great! We found some new people also.  Matias, at first we were a little iffy becuase he is a guy, but as we started talking more at the very end of our conversation he told us he has a daughter and that he wants to change for her! So that was really great.  He is hard to find, and also didn't go to the church because he had a party the night before... but he is great and really wants to change and be a good dad for his daughter.

I decided that as a goal for this cambio I want to pray more and inquire of the Lord about what he wants us to do with his children.  So the day after cambios we had weekly planning and we prayed that for Luis and Virginia because every time we have a cita they never can, but always come to church. We decided that we were going to try to be their friends first and visit them with out setting a cita becuase they always cancelled and well... asked that if it was his will that we keep visiting them that we'd be able to talk to them.  Then Saturday came and we were clapping a door infront of them and he came out and was like hey! Come in! And we went and talked with them, and Martina was also there, the daughter.  We had a really good lesson, and he has a ton of questions, but it ended up being really good.

We were also walking home and this guy stopped us and he looks and me and was like sorry, I let you down. And I was so confused and he was like you guys were going to past but then I wasn't there. And I remembered this guy that did the same thing about a month ago and told us to pass by right before we had to go home and so we set a date, but never was there.  So I was like.. Rocky? and he was like yes! When can you come visit me! This week we are going to go see him and we invited him to church and went to go with him, but he ended up not feeling very well.

Another new we found about a week ago, we went for our cita and we was working but stopped and we talked for a bit, I think we might need to teach him a little slower but then at the end we asked if we could help him with anything and he said yes! So we helped water his plants ha, I think he was in an accident so I would have been a little harder for him, because he has a well and we pulled the water from there... well at the very end, he was like thanks! and these are for you! And he gave each of us a flower! 

Anothony is doing good... I think Erika felt like he was getting a little lazy so they set goals on what they are going to do with their life and then also to get married! so they are saving money to do it and we are finished with all the charlas except for one, follow the prophet and we are also going to include tattoos in that, because  he really likes them and wants more ha.

Family, there are times that I miss you, not going to lie, but I know this is where I need to be and helping the people here and serving my savior.  Thank you for your support and all that you do, I love you all so much! Keep going strong! Sigan adelante! I love you!!!

Love,

Hermana Louder

Our house and out front :)

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Dear Family,

YEAH EMILY!!! You look beautiful! Congragulations! Ah you need to send me more photos!!!

Thank you so much for sharing with me, sounds like everything is going well at home! And really nice experiences and weather!

Changes! I will be staying here! And I hope I die! My companion is going to melo ha! And my new companion is from her group, Hermana Britton, another american! I am excited, and super happy to be staying! Well no matter where I'd be in Uruguay still be a missionary and with great people!

So I remember reading your letters about Joseph Smith and my testimony about him, and decided that I wanted to strengthen mine.  So I was stuyding about him, and thinking when I really got my testimony.  But I feel as though being a member my whole life it is just something I accepted.  I love being able to share the first vision, and had it memorized since the CCM so that has been really good and I can feel the Spirit as I share it and testify. And this week as thinking about him there was one day that I prayed to feel that he is a prophet.  Well we were having an intercambio with the hermana viajantes and they came to our area, and we went to the house of a new investigator and we were sharing the restoration, well I began to share about Jospeh Smith and the first vision, and as I began to share it impacted me so much more this time.  The Spirit was so strong and I felt so strongly that he truly is a prophet of God.  I know he restored the chuch of Christ to the Earth.

Things are going great! We had a zone conference about 5 things to be a leader and to follow everything and it went super well, and other than that is has been normal! We are trying to figure out how to help Anthony and Erika get a date! they want to get married but are just putting of getting a date. And we weren't able to visit Robert, the husband of a member this week, but we have cita set for tomorrow because they went to visit family.  And we went to visit Carlos, husband of a less active and it went really well, he wants to get married and be baptized, but we are not really sure the reason behind it.  It is good that he wants that, but now we need to help me with his testimony.  And mom, reading your email real quick, interestingly enough we were sharing we a less active this week and I shared my experience about Jospeh Smith and shwe wanted us to share it with her little primary class and about him ha!

I love you all sooooo much!! You are the best family! If there is anything you want, let me know!

Oh or if anyone has the lyrics to my kindness shall not depart from thee please send me them! Love you!!

Love,

Hermana Louder

We ran to the beach this morning!

Mission leader and fam!

Anthony and Erika!

Another great day! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN!!!

Dear Family,

First off...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN!!! I cannot believe it now, that you are 17! and sorry I didn't write it last week, we walked out and I thought, oh no, megan! And more bad news... I sent your letter at the beginning of january, but they didn't take it out of the package or whatever and all of our zones letters got sent back :( so now hopefully it is on it's way.  Question! Have you gone on your first date?! Ah and how is acting up going?! I've heard that you are loving it!

We will be able to work on family history on p-days, don't worry I will find some names! And I love that you guys are doing it.  It sounds like there are alot of things going on, and lots of kids that aren't going to be in town... Mom and Dad, are you guys going to go on a little trip? ;)

YEAH! Emily, I'm so happy that you passed, you are all always in my prayers, and now... we have a little nurse in the family!

This week was pretty normal haha well except for the last bit.  So I tried a new contact solution, because the regular solution only lasts about 3 months so I need to save it! And I don't know if I'm allergic or because of the weird weather, but come saturday my eyes were terrible, so I used glasses, and as we began proselyting I started crying and I couldn't really see and they just burned! We made it to lunch and then language study and continuted but then after a charla outside, I couldn't look at my companion at all during the lesson and I couldn't see, so we called our leader and went home to put some stuff in my eyes and then we went back out.  Well later that night, my eye lids puffed up ha! But now all is good! I'll just be wearing glasses for a bit is all.

Wow.  Talk about miracles.  So because of my eye problem Saturday we couldn't talk to a lot of people, which that day is a big day in the mission field, get everyone ready for sunday! Come Sunday.  Anthony came! and they are going to try to make a date this week! And then Luis came again with his daughter, Martina and wife Virginia less active, and a cousin.  And then a member Gwendy and her husband Robert, and a less active woman, Raquel and her husband Carlos! It was crazy and it was a super good sunday. It was fast sunday and we had the stake president there and an area 70.  

Thank you for your testimonies and for sharing them with me, because every time they do they grow.  Thank you for your support and love, I love each and every single one of you!!!

Love,

Hermana Louder