Little Piglet writes again

Dear Mom

I love the song!

Insert here a portion of the email and the song he is referring too:

(Now, you must put yourself into a singing mood for the time being and sing the following to the tune High On the Mountain Top. Just do a syllable per beat and all will be well. : ) )

High on the mountain top

A banner was unfurled

The mother sat and typed a letter to her son.

She typed and typed and typed

Quite early in the morn

Just so he'd have some mail

Not be forlorn.

My favorite teaching moment? I was doing divisions in Santa Monica, and a recent convert asked a question about something he read in Revelation. This guy just has shelves of great philosophers and their books, tons of notebooks full of notes, and is probably one of the smartest people I have ever met. (Very humble conditions though, you would not expct it) He is very very smart, and is just soaking up the gospel. His wife (they just got married) is a member and I think he because converted a few weeks ago from athiesm because of her. He said how he knows it is way important to learn the basics, but he is just learning so fast! He asked a question about something in Revelation though and wanted to know the answer. I never thought all my random knowledge about that stuff would come in handy. The guy is just so cool! He is absorbing the gospel and just devouering (spelling, yeah) the scriptures and gospel principles. But he also wants to know about the other stuff he finds! Just an incredibly smart person who is using his brains to gain this knowledge. We connected well, and he told Elder Pranter to bring me back soon.

Most difficult? Probably the Jehovah's Witnesses who lie to you and switchstuff up about their church. Doesn't help that most of them aren't allowed to talk to you. You have to be at a certain level to talk to a mormon. But last night we were with a less active lady and her boyfriend who is living with her and her two friends (one of whom spoke english so well she just sounded like she was from louisiana. She ended up giving us a ride home from dinner, and we just got to speak English the whole time. It was cool to explain what we do and the church in English!)

gmail shut down and my computer froze for about 10 minutes, so it is even shorter than at first.

Don't worry! All good answers to your list this week.
We had a BBQ with our neighbors this weekend, it was awesome. Even though we ended up spending alot more on meat than we would have liked.
We also went fishing this morning, it was fun.

And now it must needs be that we go to a meeting with the ward, and I have to stop. I have not really responded to everything you have written, but thank you. You are the one link I have to everything that is going on i the family, Mom! (well, Dad of course, but it is different) Thank you so much. I love your emails, they make my week, you have no idea!

I love you so much, Mom!
Your little piglet with a plaque on his pocket.

Elder Joshua Wartena

He's been Tranferred!!

HI!
Ok, I got the call this afternoon to where I am going.
Drumroll please....
Punta Mogotes...yeah, less than climatic, I know.
It's in Mar Del Plata, and apparently is a very touristic place.
I am with an Elder Palmer, which is kinda cool actually, because he was Elder Wiltbank's last comp. When Elder Torres founds out he said ''you just won the lottery, Palmer, in Mar Del Plata.''
Yeah, our area is very large from what I have heard, but good. I leave tomorrow night around 6 pm. Mostly all packed already, just going to visit a few people, go to church, then head out!
Elder Hatton from the other ward in Tres Arroyos is going to Balcarce Rama 1, and is going to be district leader. hehehehe...So we will be together to travel until MDP.
Another Peruvian is coming to be Elder Torres' comp (and he is not too happy about it) and another Latin to be our dist. leaders'. So Tres Arroyos will have no English speakers!
But yeah, that's the big news, wanted to let you know, and will talk to ya'll wednesday.
Oh, Hay fotos en flickr.

I love you!
Chou
Elder Wartena

This week I shall update on the day it happens--WOW!

Dear Friends and Family,

For Christmas we got to talk with Josh for over 2 hours. It was fantabulous! He sent a package full of letters, coins, and a few presents. Jeff and Chris look totally awesome in their new Argentine soccer jerseys. He is doing quite well, and they had their first two baptisms the Friday before Christmas. Josh is hoping for a transfer in January and to be a trainer in March. He is also starting to dream in Spanish, but I'll let you read about that below.

You'll want to be sure to visit the Flickr account link and see the new pictures of our boy. Most of the new ones are of the missionaries during their 8 hour wait at the Mar del Plata bus station.

Mom!

Ok, I'm not worrying to much about writing alot, because we talked so much! I also said most everything there.
I love the pictures!

All I have to say, very exciting. Go working out! We have started to do that in the Tres Arroyos house, and it is quite fun for some reason.

I started having dreams in Spanish this week! Definitely weirding me out though, even if it is a good sign.
Our investigators are doing well. Slower week with Christmas, parties, and new year, but good! We are teaching a Jehovah's Witness family, Veronica and Gaston. I actually enjoy it, they ask hard questions and pay attention. Not sure if it's because they are genuinely interested, but they are fun to talk to. Working alot with Blanca's family now, and her daughter Andrea even said the prayer after reading 3 Ne 11 and watchign the testaments!
Yeah, just plugging along. I might be training in march! We have over 20 missionaries dying, and alot of leadership that will need to be filled. Chances are I will be out this transfer, get a comp for one transfer, and then train one of the newbies. I really hope so, that seems like so much fun to me.

I love you Mom, I hope you like the pictures I added this week! Thanks for all the good wishes and the quote. I love quotes, you know...
haha, flyaway! Don't worry, I'm still doing very well.
Thanks again for talking to me so much. I'm praying for you all and love hearing about everything
I love you!
Your missionary son
Elder Joshua Wartena

Signing off for now,

The Mama

December 2, 2009—a short update

Woohoo...

Alright, I have a full 10 minutes to write you this week. Due to miscommunication, not knowing where people are, lots of walking, and bus schedules, Elder Torres and I have 10 minutes. Yeah...I'm kinda mad about it. I had alot to write to you guys.
Mom, thank you for the email, it was great! Even though I can't respond to everything.
Dad, thank you for the scripture study outline/ideas. They really correspond creppily well with what I'm studying in pers. study.
Chris, do you like Argentina Nation Team or River jerseys better?
I will be writing you all an actual letter about things here and sending it next Pday, so it should get to you by christmas. The big news of this week is that we have 3 baptisms scheduled for the 20 of december. Yay...kind of. I think only one of them is going to be ready. The other 2 are extended family of the screwed up Branch pres.' wife, and it is a bad situation that I do not feel good about. Missionaries have the keys of baptism in their area, and I do not think they should be baptized this soon and with this situation. More about that as it unfolds though.

I love you all!
Thanks again for everything, sorry about the email this week.

Elder Wartena



Josh was attending an area pday and things got cut short. He had to take a 8 hour round trip bus ride to Necochea for the event. I guess it's worth it for the missionaries to spend time together. He sounds much happier these days.

Signing off for now,

The Mama

The Mama has a comment to add

We posted a link to Josh's photobucket account. You can find it in the links on the right hand side of the blog. Be careful though. Photobucket doesn't have the best of advertisers. We always put up a smaller size book on the left side of the screen to hide the photos that come up. The pictures are fun.

Second, a mother posted on November 18th here that her son had just entered the MTC headed to Bahia Blanca for a mission. I wish I knew who she was. It is wonderful to feel the support of other mothers with sons on missions. When a sister at church who has "been there, done that" speaks to me or throws me one of those "I know what you are feeling" looks, I just feel bonded and loved. My best wishes go out to the new missionary mother of November 18th.

Signing off for now,

The Mama

The Day Before Thanksgiving 2009

Haha, choir huh? I'm glad it was fun, but 4 am? Blech. But I'm not a morning person, as you know. Elder Torres learned that one after trying to grab my feet a coule times to wake my up early. ''No toca mis pies...enserio.'' That sounds fun though!
We're doing well, apart from E. Torres being ridiculously sick to his stomach and our Branch Pres being an idiot, but I told that in Dad's email, so for sake of time, I won't repeat. But yeah, the branch is our biggest hinderance, sadly. The other Branch actually gives us more support than our's does.

I will try my card today, I promise, and let you know! There is actually only a Wal-Mart in Bahia, but apparently it is quite good. You can buy Peanut Butter there (one of the things in short supply and not allowed to be shipped due to some disease thing) and many of those good things.

Thanksgiving sounds fun! No worries, we shall have a good Thanksgiving here. I will cook a very large chunk of meat to eat and we will eat it. Logical, no?
But have fun, take pictures, etc! (<-------please, and not the etc.)

We saw UP this morning for our zone activity while in Necochea for pday! Our choich of movies is quite limited (church stuff and certain G movies) but UP was so good! I loved it, if I may say so. Also had quite the ridiculous game of ultimate going on. Hot day, so we all worked up a sweat.
Unfortunately, not much was done this week due to sickness and the conf, so this email is much shorter, I apologize. I did put several more pictures up on photobucket though, so enjoy those! Yeah...
We hopped a train! It was only going about 2 miles an hour, but we did it! I just feel cool saying that, even if it was only to get to the other side.
We sure cooked alot this week too. Learning dishes from Peru, yes Mam. Quite delicious too, if I may say so. Alot of rice, pasta, bread...carbs...yeah.

hmmmm, yeah. That's the week. Seems alot lamer now that I'm looking back and trying to tell you about it. Hopefully next week will be much more exciting! Your snow sounds fun...hehe.
Something I shared with Sadie about the scriptures this week, maybe you'll like it!

sScriptures are amazing. 2 Ne 6-8
Ch. 6 about being someone of the Lord by applying and learning from the scritures. Like...
Ch. 7 It is an individual process we have to go through
Ch. 8 Remembering covenants doesn't hurt either.
Just alot of how when we're going through rough times the Lord is there. He is ALWAYS by our side. The only reason he isn't is WE seperate ourselves (7:1) He always calls us, because we can't overcome without Him. If we are doing what we know we should, we know He is there with us. Which means whatever is going on can't overcome us. We just have to go a certain distance until He will take over. Very helpful and comforting, especially since I'm feeling like I am having so little success in the beginning of my mission. Turns a disheartening feeling into almost a ''fine, I'm going to keep going because I know it's right. But I need your help''

I love you all! Really, it's true! Especially you, Mom. Thanks for everything you all do for me.

Your misisonary
Elder Joshua Wartena

A new day . . . a new companion

Yes, indeed, that makes 5 companions in 3 1/2 months. This companion speaks no English. Fun, huh?! Here is part of the email we got today. Yeah, today. P-day changed to Wednesday this week. He is busy.

MOM! I love you, Mom!

OK, life in Tres Arroyos this week? Fun, I guess. I got to try my skills at fixing our toilet this week and I am proud to say that after a good amount of fishing life, it is now fully funtional. I also got attacked by some bug (I think it was walking through some high grass) but the bites are gone now! Hopefully the little scars will leave...just kidding! It's a beautifully wonderful day (yes, it's a word!) and just a little humid.
haha, yeah, my fifth comp. But I'll keep this one awhile, I promise!

What do we do on Pday? Well, we got a haircut today! Yeah...we usually get grocery shopping done, clean the house, take a long nap! Study things we've been wanting to but don't have time. Mostly just unwind. There really isn't that much to see in the City that we don't see walking and teaching anyway, but we can go find think we'd like to buy and of course, write our family. Technically, we're only supposed to spend an hour writing emails, but we always go over uploading pictures, writing everyone, etc. So don't shorten your emails, I love them!

Ok, I had some great scripture studies this week I wanted to share with you. I'm reading the standard works in 2 languages and Jesus the Christ again (in English...) and it is so amazing! The scripture that says how everything testifies of Christ is so true! Every story is everything and all the prophets are of Christ! A great talk, finding Christ in the Old Testament that I printed in the MTC really has some cool stuff.

Also, Nephi was a STUD! Lehi in 2 Ne ch 1 says how it is pretty much because of him that they survived. He had such love for his butthead brothers (yeah, I'm still me, can ya tell?) that he desired there eteranl welfare constantly! So many times we read how he spoke to them in the energy of his soul. How can we do that? The different levels of ''sorrow'' they had leading up to repentance is an interesting this to apply to us too. 2:14, 4:4, 7:21, 15:20, 16:5, 16:39 in 1 Nephi. What was their attitude in each situation and what caused it? I just love the scriptures. Think when I get back I might just spend most of my time reading them, because we don't have enough here!

So, cats are fun...especially when they take a liking to your bag whenever you visit a house. Made me laugh. Ok, weird thing about Argentina. Women will just breast feed with no shame. It is absolutely incredible, not even a blanket or anything. Just pull the shirt up or down in the middle of a lesson and go for it. Can't think of many things that catch you more off guard than that...

I made alfredo sauce without a recipe this week! I was pretty proud of myself, I must admit. I was craving some and it ended up being a really good cheesy white sauce. You think you like ice cream in the states? You need to come down and try Victorias Helados. Oh my gosh, so good. Sure, it's 20 pesos for a half-kilo, which is double Grido's, but if you want good ice cream...

Just a good week.
E. Torres and I get along pretty well. The language barrier isn't a problem. Yeah, the two cultures colliding and adapting to each other takes some work, but we have the Lord's help, so it isn't too bad.

Yeah, it's good. I am still getting used to it, but I like Argentina alot. Still haven't really realized I'm HERE yet. Just feels like living.

Hello!
Your eldest son and missionary
Elder Joshua Duveua Wartena

I am so grateful this week for modern technology. To be able to actually hear from him weekly is such a comforting thing. He sounds well. Thanks to all of you for your support.

Signing off for now,

The Mama