Changes

¡Hola!

Wow what a crazy week!!! lots of changes around these parts but I am REALLY excited about all of them! So the biggest news is that my call letter was written wrong.... It was suppose to say that I was called to the Las Heras, Argentina Mission... ha ha ha. Yup we had transfers and it looks like I am staying here for 6 more weeks which equals the first 6 months of my mission in Argentina. I am excited about it though. My new comp is Hna Salazar from Argentina! I am way excited to have an Argentine as a companion and to be honest I was praying that it would be her. She is amazing... pretty much the best Hna (possibly missionary) in the mission so I am SOOOOO grateful that we get to be comps. I had divisions with her last week in her old area and she really is incredible and works so hard so this transfer will definitely be awesome. Other big news is that Hna Svedin is in Lujan with Hna Tucker!!!! How cool is that? I get to see them again on Wednesday at a meeting so I am excited about that!

Ha ha I forgot to tell you last week that all the Evangelists here were saying that the world was going to end on 21 May, 2011... There were billboards and everything. I am not really sure how they felt when that didn´t happen (relieved?). I am not really sure how many had their faith shaken by that... I thought it was pretty funny. Not really sure how a church could regain it´s credibility after that...

Other tidbit of news/Argentine culture that I have forgotten to share with you.... Here in the fall instead of sweeping up all their leaves (yes they use brooms for the leaves there are) they just cut off all of the branches that are on the trees. If you ask me I think it would probably be a ton easier just to sweep up the leaves.... Today I saw a man with a machete (sp?) hacking away at one of his trees. Ha ha good times.

So I have left out some pretty important information I realized today. The temple in Buenos Aires is being remodeled very extensively right now. They have been working on it for over a year and a half now and I think it is scheduled to reopen in November so that will be SOOO awesome. President Monson dedicated it the first time so many think that he will come again.... I guess we´ll just have to wait and see. Also this is the last 6 weeks of my mission President!!! So we will be getting a new one like the first week of July so that will be really cool to experience!

I wrote a quick email to dad but other exciting news is that I MET SOFIA TODAY!!!!!!! I was in the middle of all the missionaries this morning as we were all getting our new comps and she came and found me! It was so cool. Thanks for the package!!! I haven´t had much time to look at everything quite yet but I am wearing the jacket right now and LOVING it! Thanks so much for going through all that trouble for me! It was fun because she basically got to meet everyone including my new companion and President Benton so she can tell you about the whole experience. It was the best to get a little hug from home! :)

With President Benton about to go home I have thought a lot about the council that he has given us. One of my favorite talks that he gave to us was about obedience. He taught us that there are 3 kinds of obedience:

1. We are obedient because we are afraid of the consequences
2. We are obedient because we want the blessings
3. We are obedient because we love Heavenly Father and all of His children

I often think of this when I don´t want to get out of bed at 6:30 in the morning or am tempted to break any other of the tiny rules that we have here. That is when I think "why do I want to be obedient?". Or more importantly, "Which type of obedience am I going to have today?" I´ve found that when I am obedient because I love my Heavenly Father that is when I am truly happen and being here isn´t a sacrifice at all, but an incredible blessing from a loving Heavenly Father who knows me better than I know myself.

I am having the experience of a lifetime here and I am so grateful every day that I can help others to find lasting peace and happiness in this life and in the life to come. I love you all tons and tons and am so grateful for all that you have all done to help me to be the person and the missionary that I am. Thank you so much for all of your prayers etc, I can feel that added strength from all of you.

Think about you often, pray for you always, and love you forever!

Hna Scanlon

(these pics aren't real current - hopefully we'll get new ones soon!)