¡el tiempo esta volando!

Dear familia,

Time is seriously flyin by out here!! This cambio is already half way over! And I have a feeling that after this cambio I might train... we`ll see. But I`ll almost definitely get a new companion because this area is super small so no one is ever here for more than 3 cambios. Hna Lossa has already contacted practically every house, multiple times in her time here and already knows basically the whole neighborhood. We`ll be passing a house and she`s like "we taught the lady that lives in this house like 2 times but shes super catholic and doesn't want to give up the virgen. Her name is Estella and she has 3 kids and works..." okay so not always that detailed, but I`m really not exaggerating that much. So yeah, we think shes gonna be transferred this next change.

and... oh yeah!! Feliz Año Nuevo!!! The new year here is basically bigger than Christmas. There were firework ALL NIGHT LONG and nobody was in the streets January 1. Lots of people were traveling. So this week was pretty bad for lessons, but hey, that's okay, and this week we`re gonna teach "a full"!! (don't ask me, its a phrase all the missionaries use here to say "a lot")

¡¡¡¡FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS SCOTT!!!! hope its a good one. Oh and funny story, everyone here opens their Christmas presents on January 6... I dunno.. something about kings??

And spiritual-ish thought for the week. Yesterday was fast Sunday right. so people were bearing their testimonies and at the end the bishop stood up and bore his testimony and gave goals or something for the ward- like we`re gonna start on time, participate more in activities, fulfill callings, get temple recommends and go to the temple more this year.. etc, etc. buenas cosas. and he also said something I really liked. He said (more or less) "we all say how the gospel brings us happiness. so this year, let`s make a goal to be happy. let`s ...esforzarnos..(I dunno in English, like put forth the effort, strive, something like that) to be happy this year, no matter what problems or trials we have. We have the gospel and help from Christ, so everything will be fine." and that`s my challenge for all of you!! Life is always going to be full of trials. that`s the point, so we can learn and improve. but the point is also "for men to have joy" (2 Nefi 2:25). So we need to be happy even when we have trials because we`re always gonna have trials, so if we wait until we don't have trials we`ll never be happy. and it actually is a lot in your attitude. just.. ¡sea feliz, no mas!

So yeah, that's it for this week. love you!!! See you in 1 year and 1 month!!

Hermana Urie

my last district in Reducto (the second cambio)

me holding a bird

me holding another bird and yes it is biting me in this picture. the other one bit me too, but not hard so its fine.

me, hna. espinoza, and an investigator

same thing.... she is golden, probably got baptized last week or will this week!! but I don't know yet, because we don't have contact with our previous areas.. :(

same thing.. she`s probably already baptized now too, but again, don't know yet, I`ll keep you updated when I hear more!