SEPTEMBER 26, 2022 -- FLASH BACK TO TEMPLE SQUARE

This week was SO FUN!

Monday:  P-day w all the sisters in mission

Everyone came in to Córdoba and we hung out! It was a blast!

Wednesday: Temple Trip with all the departing missionaries.

Here (Cordoba, Argentina) when missionaries go home, they go on a temple trip the week before they go home. I go home in November, but the temple is closing this week for three months -- so we got to go this week! It was special getting to participate with companions and friends in the Lords house!

Thursday: TEMPLE GROUNDS TOURS!!

You guys  --  I can not tell you how excited I was to be giving temple tours again. The temple grounds and church owned buildings were opened to the public to be toured. It was so neat, hundreds and hundred of people came! We were there until midnight giving tours. Its like everything comes full circle, I spent seven months at Temple Square in SLC doing it and I got to experience it here in Argentina too

Also! we have a tree in our front yard that puts out these DELISH berries.  So,  today I think I'm gonna make a pie!

I'm so filled with love this week. Grateful for my Savior and to wear His name. I love you guys!!

   41 No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;

   42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—

   43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;

   44 That he may know that thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.

   45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

   46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.

My scripture of the week.  

ALSO GENERAL CONFERENCE THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY!! 

SEPTEMBER 19, 2022

Hi!! I don't have a lot of time to write today but my one advice is don't drink unfiltered water:( I got sick like a dog this week... and I'll spare the details haha. Love you guys!!

I love Córdoba, please -- can I never go home.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2022

I feel like I don't have crazy a lot to share this week but I love you guys!

We got invited to be members of the city council lol, we made friends with one of the city coordinators and we went! I'm starting to feel like my life plans are changing. Before the mission I wanted to be a dermatologist. In the mission I wanted to run my own funeral home...

And now I've remembered how much I love working with a team and being with people after participating in their crime prevention presentation and how to improve quality of life here in Villa Allende. It made me remember high school DECA!! So we'll see what I end up deciding -- what I major -- in when I get back to school, but I feel like God has put my mind on a different wave.

She also invited us to Córdoba to go to convention with the governor?? So that's cool.

But I learned good lessons about humbling myself this week. Learning things about myself and trying to let God refine me. I look back a year ago and I was such a little kid it's crazy how the mission changes your perspective and you in general (for the better).

So this week:

-English class 

-Exchanges

-Zone conference

-The first time going to the a public bathroom in MONTHS, sounds weird but their just aren't public restrooms here.

Woohoo! Have a wonderful week!

#hermanaamytracy

SEPTEMBER 5, 2022 -- THE BEST WEEK EVER!

Yesterday we had five investigators in church which is a new record for this area, we haven't had people in church for so long. 

It was testimony meeting and our ward is made up entirely out of converts. Each testimony was about how meeting the missionaries and accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ changed their lives. So that was so awesome.

Also over the pulpit one of our friends said she just hopes one day her grand daughter turns out like Hermana Tracy. jeje

But it was SO AWESOME. Both of the couples we're teaching came and also a lady from my English class! (I made a virtual flyer and then the Director of Citizen Participation called us and asked if she could promote it publicly throughout the city!!!!)

We put another friend on his baptismal date. 

This week was just awesome.

Yesterday while we were having an asado with Luis and Vanesa their "five in one pastor, prophet, apostle, priest, deacon" uncle came and preached to us. It honestly was one of the hardest moments I've had in my mission. He asked if he could share with us from the Bible so I said sure why not? We love the Bible!

Keep in mind this whole time he's just talking directly to me. So many lies mixed in with scriptures so abrasively presented. He says stand up. We all stand up. Then he tells us to close our eyes and I say umm are you going to touch us?? He says NOOO. I'm going to help you "receive Jesus". And I say, "I've already received Jesus , I chose to follow Him years ago when I was baptized."

Then, we go in circles and circles and circles and any time I talk he says OIGA (listen!!!) Or "you don't want God to teach you???"

And then he quotes in Revelations about how Jesus stands at the doors and knocks but it's up to us to let Him in. Then starts going off about how why are you denying Jesus???? HE SENT ME HERE TO TELL YOU THIS EYSKWHCLFYYSOZNWIC YOU CAN'T DENY WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY AND THIS IS THE MOMENT YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR DECISION OF FAITH. 

And he says CLOSE YOUR EYES. So I close my eyes. Then he says repeat after me and starts going off trying to get me to "receive Jesus" and I open my eyes and say I'm not going to do that. And then it starts again with the "why do you want to follow paths of sin why are you denying Christ???" To which I say -- are you calling me a sinner?? I believe in Christ and I will never deny Him. And I won't repeat after you. 

Just absolutely insane this man. And then he just insulted us. And insulted us. And insulted us.

In this moment I fully realized what the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-42 refers to when it says, 

No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile.

This man was the embodiment of Christ's statement in the New Testament, Mathew 15:7-9

Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

So we stood there. Took the insults. But stood up for our faith and the truth we've received. The true doctrine of Christ.

Christ taught with meekness and respect. Not with rote presentation and false precepts. And they even said of Him

"Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!" Luke 7:34

So what a privilege, when we face rebuke and the hatred of the world, we're in good company. The best company. Our Savior, the cleanest most perfect person was also the most hated, and reviled. I'm so grateful for Him

So this week I learned so much!! Pray for our families that we're teaching and that we can find more.

I love you guys!!

#hermanaamytracy