I'm Pretty Sure the phrase "room temperature" just doesn't work in the Patagonia

June 9,2014

Dear Fam Bam

What a week. A fabulous week, for three Big reasons. 

One--remember Cata? Cata is 14 years old, and basically the feminine version of Joseph Smith. Okay, that might be slightly blasphemy, but seriously, in all of my time in the mission I don’t know if I have ever taught someone who drinks in the gospel with such intensity. Cata has big, brown, mild eyes and a pale face. Yesterday, she not only arrived at church by herself, but brought her little sister. We have taught her the three basic lessons, but yesterday she was simultaneously taking notes during Sunday school, asking me questions, and grazing through the Liahona. Here are some of my favorite things that she said this week:

"Oh! That´s the prophet, right? I watched one of the conferences on Youtube this week!"

"The law of chastity--I looked that up on mormon.org, and I think it is a great idea. I mean, my parents only lived together and then separated, and its been ugly. I don’t want to live like they did."

"mm hmm, and when I was talking to the missionaries in Chat they explained to me what saved means."

"When I go on the mission, where am I going to go?"

(When she saw the article in the Liahona that says "if I don’t feel a burning in my chest?") she said "oh, but I already felt that."

Every time after we teach her, hermana Howell and I simply hug and jump and down and can not believe it. As hermana Howell said "who in the world actually GOES to the web page??" 

I have thought a lot about what an authority said (don’t ask me who, because I don’t remember) but I remember the quote "the Lord has always trusted in young people" She is young, yes, but i have never met a young person like Cata. She has intensity, a sincere desire to learn, that I have rarely seen in my mission. We see so much potential in her, and I have so much confidence in her. 

She is planning to get baptized the 28th of June. Pray for her. please. 

Newsy things:

We took our pday on Saturday (but there wasn’t a single internet shop open on Saturday so we have to write today #smalltownprobs) and went to the Bosque Encantado (the enchanted forest) with one of the member families. It was one of the single most beautiful hikes I have ever had in my life. We went curving through the forest, and then had to hike through the snow until we ended in a small, completely frozen lagoon nestled in the mountains. 

Alba is doing really well-we went to visit her this week--there is a wall because its HARD that she can progress due to her work situation, but for us, although she cant get baptized here, she can feel the spirit, progress, and come to Christ. Keep her in your prayers.

A million thanks for the birthday wishes!!! I feel like this year didn’t actually exist in a way, but I think I have learned more in this one year than in my other twenty years...we are going to eat lots of kuchen (a Chilean dessert) to celebrate!! But thank you very much for the emails, they mean a lot! I love you all more than I can say.

All my love,

Hermana Monroe