Post Christmas- December 30th

Wow. What a week! I got to see my family! Nothing in the world compares to my family. Except for maybe a nice powder day or a good round of golf....just kidding. Still not even close. There is a reason family is a huge part of the gospel. What a blessing to have the family i have. You are all seriously the best I cant even describe. I had a hard time turning off the skype if you couldn´t tell. I just felt home for the time when I was on there. Loved seeing the kids, the judds, tasha and andrew, tyler, heather, and of course mom and dad. I love you all more than you know and think about you lots. 

This week was stellar. I got to sleep inn until 8 on christmas! So nice, but it was more of just waking up at 6 30 and laying there until 8. But still a nice little break there. Lets go back to christmas eve. We had lunch at Muchelas house. (family) Then they invited us for Chivo at night. We were allowed to stay out until 10 30. So we had Chivo and played ping pong and guitars and ate a lot of food. So nice. Chivo, or lamb, is like what everyone eats for christmas. Also, in the night, we toasted with glasses with martinelli type drink. Then we got drove home in a car. A CAR! so weird to be in one of them. But nice. We got back and just ate some more food. Then at 12, outside tons of fireworks just exploded. Literally every rooftop was shooting off fireworks. The sky was filled every inch it seemed like every corner. It was cool. We just hung out on the roof and watched in amazement. Very cool experience. 

The next day we slept in as i said and just hung out and went to lunch for pollo or chicken. So good again. Then went to the stake center to play some futbol! I scored 2 goals. Not that it matters, but you know me, im competitive. I broke an elders wrist on accident by kicking it at the goal and he put his hand out to stop it but hit the pole and well, it was gross, his wrist looked like a bendy straw. Oh well. What can ya do. He will be ok though. Still here. Then after futbol we went home and relaxed and played guitar and then went to bed. 

The next day we had lunch with fam. sura. We just pick it up and take it home and eat it. It was chivo again. Pretty good. Then we went to skype MY FAMILY! that was very fun! Then after we had an amazing lesson....

It was with Horacio. The guy we finally found. We brought bishop and his wife to join Horacio and his wife. It went ok. Horacio struggles to feel anything. He has lost his daughter in accident 15 months ago so he is very stubborn and you can tell he is hiding his pain. Its very hard to teach him cause he believes we turn into ballons in the air when we die. Because he died for a moment and then they brought him back. He said when he died he was floating in the air and thats it. So thats what he thinks happens when you die. We explained to him that he in fact is still alive, and didnt die. we shared the plan of salvation with him and it was just rejected super hard. He straight up just says no creo. or i dont believe it. But guess what. Were going to change that. We just need a little more time. 

The next night we visited Diego and Alison. Alison is a member of 6 months. Diego is the boyfriend. Alison is now pregnant. They have been talking with bishop and both love the church. So they are working through that situation right now. Diego has a baptismal date now for late january. Thats very exciting. He has changed so much since we first met him. First time i saw him he called me a nerd and made fun of us. But then i started talking to him about the world cup and yadadadada. And now he invites us over to teach. He has been to church 3 weeks in a row now. He is progressing and he has felt the spirit many times now and he knows and recognizes it. I also get the priveledge to feel the spirit very strong everyday. It strengthens me and builds my testimony as i teach and help others. THIS truly is a blessing from god. 

Last story i dont want to bore you all with a novel. Our ward mission leader was inactive. Brother Sandoval. He is 60 years old and very hard hearted. He has a great testimony but he just is tired of working. We have 6 missionaries for the ward so he is sick of us. But i have been stopping by his house every week and finally! I found out he problem! He is not very involved in our work. So we got him involved with diego. He came to church to teach gospel principles and he is basically excited now to help the missionaries and keep coming back to church. The guy is obsessed with Isaias unaturally but he is a great help to us now! 

I dont have time to write you all the miracles i have seen. But i promise you. The church is true and feeling the spirit is directly from god and its amazing. Our area is getting fun now. I love it. Once i realized its not about me, and that its not my mission, its been a lot better. So we are going to keep working and hopefully get up to 80 people at church by the end of the month. Its great.

I love you all. Let me know how BYUI goes Lindsey, you know i love hearing about the good old rexburg. Heather, Tasha, let me know how the kids are doing as well. I love my neices and nephew! Tyler and Derek too. I love hearing it all. I love you all. Have a great new years! 

Love, Elder Westensee

December 23rd

Hello everyone. Feliz Navidad. I miss you all like crazy. I am excited to skype on thursday at 2 pm my time. Should be a great time. I am jealous of all the snow. I also have to say that i laughed so hard when i heard about dereks story (sorry derek i know that sucks) but its super hilarious to me because i remember he called me once to come pick him up in rexburg. He was driving and a spark plug fell out lol. Oh thats funny. good good times for sure.

Well i dont have a whole lot to say. I will be talking to yall in 2 days so thats cool. I am glad to hear everyone is doing good. please travel safely!

This week was a good one. Nothing spectacular really happened though. A couple dissapointing moments when we got dropped by our investigators. Really. We are doing all we can to help these people and if they dont want to accept Jesus Christ we cant do anything about that. Its very stressful sometimes, but, we cant control a lot of the things that happen.

A highlight this week was we had a zone activity at the stake center. White elephant. I gifted a huge scarf i found in the pension and my companion gifted a maleta. or a small luggage bag. Pretty good gifts ill say! But there was like hot chocolate peanut butter a yoyo, Jenga the blocks game, and other fun stuff. It was a good time. We got an alfajore and some rocklets candy (basically crappy version of mnms) but still very good. It was a good event.

Oh, we finally found Horacio!!!! Your probably wondering huh? who? Horacio is an antiguo investigador. I visited him and his wife and daughter last transfer but i forgot wehre they lived.AND we have been seeing them pass by on biks near our pension but never had the time or situation to stop them and talk. I felt like i was being taunted!  So we have been in the general area looking for a month. FINALLY. one evening i was just like hey, magana, lets go find oracio. And like always hes like ughh. Again? were never going to find him. (my companion really doesnt have faith in finding investigators or anything) Sin Embargo! We went and we were looking and.....couldnt find the house again. heads down, we walked away back to the main road when i look up and hear a high pitched ¨heyyy elder Westerhootz, Como Le VA! Thats the best high pitched argentine i have ever heard in my life. It was the short and stubby Horacio!!! Horacio is tough however. He rejects everything we say but always is willing to listen. he wants to find the truth! we have our cita tongiht with him.- So that was a miracle no doubt! oh and get this, after we found him my companion says Yo le dije. im just like En Serio Che! (he said i told you so) I cant even believe my companion sometimes he is so full of himself its stupid. He thinks hes the cats pajamas for real though. BUT i dont say anything i just say hey good job elder! He really is not a good companion but im trying my best to keep things calm and smooth.

This week at a lunch the MEMBERS called my companion out and said. Elder, Elder, Elder, please stop talking. I dont care about your 2nd uncles job in the church lol. He talks about how much better mexico is than argentina and how the language here sounds gay. Oh wow its a handful when we talk with members ay yay yay. But hes getting better. Im trying to make it through without doing anything out of line!

Not sure what else to tell yall. I will fill you in on thursday! Any other questions yall gots write them down and let me know! love you all.

Elder Westenhootz

Charlie bit Me

Hello Everyone. Its good to hear from you all. I am very excited to skype next week. I am able to skype any day of the week, so let me know which day and time works best. I can do it your time from 7 am until about 3 pm. So whatever works for youall. I want to see everyone, so whenever thats gonna be. 

Im glad to hear my beloved blazers are tearing it up. Im glad to hear everyone is healthy and doing well. I love everyones emails and look forward to reading them every week. My spanish is coming along slowly. but coming along. Im learning the guitar a little as well. Its a good stress reliever and keeps me focused. Its been hot as junk over here in Patagonia. I cant escape it. We finally get a fan this week!!! Hallelujah right! our pension is dirty hot and i cant sleep at night. 

This week was good. The work is progressing. Still planty of ups and downs, its never just a normal solid week. Always ups and definatley always downs. But at the end, im still here and still going. 

Tuesday we were just chillin in the streets talking to whoever and whatever thing we saw. We came across a casilla and it was the familia Avila. We clapped and she came out and said oh elderes pasen! Which mean come in. So, i proceeded to do just that. I started walking from the road, about 25 feet from the door. Walls outside on both sides. Anyways, i was walking in and failed to see the massive German Shepperd on the yard on a chain. Next thing i know the dog is on my leg. He bit me. He bit me good and strong. Right above where the knee bends. I jumped away to the left and went in the house shocked. I played it off cool as if nothing happened. It was throbbing and i could feel the blood dripping down my leg the entire time we were there. (about 15 minutes). It was an awkward visit cause i was just trying to get out of there the whole time. ANyways we got home and i ripped off my pants to check out the damage and wow. It was ugly. Already bruised and totally just a piece of my leg mangled. With 4 deep holes where the teeth sunk in. 

The next day, my other leg was throbbing, i thought i might have rabies. Nah. I dont have rabies i promise, it was a members dog, tame. But still protective is all. Anyways, i found out (and this is hilarious) that the dogs name is CHARLIE. Guess what guess what, CHARLIE BIT ME! So classic oh i crack myself up. But no, my leg still hurts i have been limping cause it hurts to bend my leg, but its all good. I am now scared of all dogs. Paranoid. For good reason. That is all for that.

 We have 7 investigators now for a previous 0. So im happy with that. we have a member, or recent convert se llama Nicco Sura. La familia Sura. Amazing familia. They have shared the gospel with their parents, and sisters and cousins, its great. It helps having hem on our side. Milagros en realidad. Great to see. 

One more story. I woke up saturday morning sweating like crazy as normal. And went out at 6 30 for my normal routine of push ups and guitar until 7. All was normal, but i just felt like i needed a blessing. Of course my stubborn self, i ignored these feelings that i needed a blessing, i was just fine. Well. Nope. No sir. I wasnt fine. 10 am hit and i exploded into barfing and dry heaving and sweating and dizzy and just the most sick i have ever been in my life. I was laying on the nasty bathroom floor i threw up 9 times and i dont even know how many times i used the bathroom. Horrible time. It was then when i was like...oh...hahaha ya i guess i need a blessing. Im so stupid. I was just laughing and throwing up because i knew i should have asked for a blessing when i was being told i needed one. I learned my lesson. i hope. I probably lost a good 5 pounds. Which is like 10% of my total wegiht anyhow haha. But i couldnt eat the entire day so i am still recovering there and trying to make it back to regular. It was a painful 2 days. But im better now and moving along. 

Thanks you all for reading. I hope to see everyone on skype the week of christmas. Let me know when you can! 

Love, Elder Westensee

Hola ...week 20 something

Hello everyone. What a week. If i could just take a moment to tell you all that these weeks i have been having are just.....uncomparable. They are like nothing you could ever imagine. Success, failure, great food, crappy food, tears, joy, exhaustion, etc. EVERYTHING. It has been crazy here. Nuts. Kudos to mom for rigging the debit card, that was genious. Im glad to hear everyone is doing well. Stay sife driving in the snow (heather) and stay safe through the holidays. Its worth going a little slower.  

This week was a duzy. I dont even know where to begin. We had a lesson! I havent taught in a while. My first ever lesson where i found the person, set the appointment and taught the lesson as Sr. Comp. It went so perfect. so perfect. It started with the drunk father jabbin the whole time and just saying shananagins then, we steered away satanas and brought the spirit with the restauracion. After sharing joseph smiths 1st vision, you could feel Christ himself in the room. Unbelievable. UN. Believable. Diego, 20 years old, was sittingthere just frozen like ¨wow, this is true¨ Cause he is catholic and he only wanted to take the lessons cause his girlfriend, but now. He is telling us he wants to know more for himself. We have the plan of salvation tuesday with him. Should be great. 

Nicco, a convert of 6 months has been coming with us and he knows the area very well. So thats helping us bigtime. The area is picking up and its getting fun. But also hard and strwessful as always. 

The policia here went on strike so we have been on lockdaown as the streets were a free for all for 3 days. Very interesting. We just played guitar and read scriptures haha for 3 days. It sucked but its ok. 

Not sure what else to say....Things just keep going. I miss everyone a ton. I just want to hug you all. Go blazers! keep working hard and stay safe everyone. Chao!

Love, Elder Westenhouse

P.s. Mom, thanks for helping me as always with the debit card, huge relief. 

Can you spot Elder Westensee? 

What about in this picture ? Clue. Purple Tie. Right Side,

Evans companion he is currently training. 

Dia De Gracias

Hola familia esta semana estaba mas o menos normal. Estoy hablando un poco mas cada dia y yo puedo entender mas tambien. Esta es ayudando la obra tambien porque puedo llegar a ser mas junto con miembros y con nuestros investigadores. Muchos milagros!

This week was good though. My companion and i finally tipped off. We had a long talk or argument at first, then a talk and now we understand each other better. Also we finally ave investigators. Working with the members works. Do you have missionaries in the ward? If so, hook them up with referencias, or refferals. It helps a lot and its your job. 

My Card is still broken but i have money from the mission card for now. I dont know what to do to fix it. The last thing i can even think of is calling you while your at the bank and passing the phone over. But i dont even know if i could do that. But as of this week its ok i have plata. 

We have been busy. We have 2 new investigators. Alejandro and su espousa. They are great people and we are connecting well. Niko, a convert of 6 months is helping us! He is so scared but he knows everyone in our barrio so were bringing him totalk a lot and its cool to see the exito. Really, sharing the gospel can be scary. Especially with close friends. But its totally the best way to do it. And it brings miracles. So that was a great experience. Also we have 2 more new investigators. But were waiting to visit with members. 

This past 2 weeks has been so hard its just a joke. So over the top hard thats its just laughable. My  card didnt work, im training a companion who knows only spanish and weve been lost a lot. But somehow, someway i always end up where i need to be and say the things i need to say. The spirit is everything, If you ever feel lost, seek after the spirit for comfort and guidance. 

Sorry i forgot to write about my card, but im really busy and dont know what else to do. It doesnt work still. The mission office is no help and nobody cares so im alone on this one. But im alone on everything basically so its ok. Im used to it. just me and the spirit down here in argentina trying to do my best. 

I dont really know what else to say....home sounds heavenly. Golf, and maybe a nice meal. Im hungry. IM sick of mayonese on everythingand bland food. Its not that bad, home is justthat much better. BUt ya.... any questions? Im horrible at remembering what to write. Let me know! Love you all and miss you all very much! Peace. 

   L0ove,

    Elder Westensee