José Balmacera's baptism

Excerpt from October 12th email:
"We had the wonderful priviledge of seeing José Balmacera's baptism this past Saturday. He is a gaucho from the campo who recently was diagnosed with congestive heart failure at the young age of 55 and is searching for God in his life. He was such a joy to teach, I feel like he taught me much more than I have taught him. Not many people were able to attend the baptism, but it was sweet and simple and full of the spirit. He is such a good man, and I've never seen such a desire or sincere effort from anyone else I have taught. Everyday we passed by he would ask us if we thought he was ready and what else he could do to prepare. He still reads his prayer off a paper, but everyday understands better and better how a prayer works, and the spirit speaks through his sincerity. He doesn't understand it all perfectly, but this Gospel isn't about that. It´s for everyone, and we are all different. I love José and admire his faithful desire to be closer to our Heavenly Father and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to teach him and learn from his example."

Nora and Oscar's Baptism

Excerpt from September 7th email: "Probably the best birthday gift I received was the baptism and confirmation of Nora and Oscar. It was so special and they were so happy! They ended up having to baptize Nora twice because her hand came up out of the water (poor thing kind of has a fear of water…) and then, after they had finished the service and they were changing out of their wet clothes, one of the witnesses realized that they had done it all with the left hand…so Oscar was baptized twice and Nora three times! She was a good sport about all of it, and announced after that it now she was super clean. . . . The Branch was very supportive and it was just a very happy day. There is really nothing better than to hear someone you have taught, bear their testimony and say they know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. The confirmation was actually on my birthday and that was extremely wonderful as well. They are just such good people and I love them immensely. Nest week Oscar receives the Priesthood and can pass the Sacrament…at the ripe age of 69."

Sophisticated Foodie

Excerpt from September 7th email:

"I have some pretty awesome food stories for this week… My companion and I were eating with Hna. Sena this week and she made us a traditional dish called locro. It´s basically a stew with meat and vegetables…but they always use the obscure parts of the cow. This week was cow face, and it looked horrific. Of course you eat it, because that is what you do when someone gives you food, right? I scarfed my piece down, praying that it didn´t come back up, and my poor companion didn´t have the same luck. She couldn´t swallow the meat. Her body literally would not let her do it…so Hna. Sena, got a little offended and told my companion to go spit it out in the sink. As my companion, bright faced and teary eyed shuffled to the sink to get rid of the mess in her mouth Hna. Sena said, “poor thing isn´t used to country food yet, so Hna. Schmutz, you can eat her meat, yours is gone and I know you eat all my food.” Grudgingly I took my companions meat and did all I could to shove it down…Let´s just say my poor stomach paid for it later and my poor companion owes me her first child.

Then, THE NEXT DAY, we went to eat with Flia. Rodriguez, who once fed us mondongo, and this time they gave us CARPINCHO! If you don´t know what carpincho is, GOOGLE it. It wasn´t all that bad, just the thought of eating a rodent of unusual size didn´t appeal to me too much…call me snotty. Anyway, we have a day free of member meals, so I am on a strange food diet, and I am forever saying NO to locro."

Hna. Tritsch

Excerpt from August 26th email:

"My new companion [Hna. Tritsch] continues to amaze me everyday with her ability to fearlessly speak a language extremely foreign to her. She is a superstar and she is really teaching me how to do missionary work. You really can learn something from ALL your companions."

Excerpt from August 19th email:
"Saturday morning I went to the mission home to pick up my companion. I was so nervous and anxious…But, tried to pull myself together so I looked confident and strong. I knew I would be training a North American, and only one came, so when we went to the backyard I knew at first sight who my newbie would be. Her name is Hermana Sarah Tritsch and she is from Las Vegas, Nevada. She is a sweetie and we get along really well. I was thinking that because I had been so hard to train I was probably in for the same fate, luckily there is no such thing as kharma in the mission and she is great. She talks to people in the street, has confidence, and speaks the language very well for a new missionary. She is a blessing, to say the least."