The work goes on

This picture was taken last week when Eric finally received the Valentine's package we had sent

Street view in Rosario

A view of railroad tracks in Rosario

Hey family, how is everyone!! I hope good! We're doing pretty good out here as well.

We've had some good progress with a new family that we found in the area that's called Barrio Las Flores, which you can imagine what that means. (neighborhood of flowers) It's a pretty villa area, but we found a huge family out there with a really nice house, despite that they're in the villa. (slum area) It is definitely one of the nicest houses out there, and the parents are actually married. The whole family is super receptive, and they're looking forward to coming to Conference this week. Unfortunately, as missionaries we can only go to Sunday's sessions of conference, which is all right, we'll just go find people during that time on Saturday to attend on Sunday. Anyway, that family's really cool, and we expect good things with them, and I assume much of that family will be baptized at some point, although it wouldn't happen during this transfer, but the next one.

Apart from that, we haven't had huge progress, just the usual stuff. Celeste should be baptized the 9th of April, and confirmed the 10th, my birthday, and the family is finally supporting that.

This week Elder Towner and I enjoyed something we haven't had in about a year and a half. Macaroni and cheese! Wow, thanks for sending that, I think it's a genius idea sending the sauce packet, and I'd love to get more! We bought some macaroni type noodles to make it with, and it came out just like mac and cheese at home. So thanks for sending that, and Elder Towner says thanks too.

I couldn't open the video of Maya you sent me, because I can't see it on these computers, so I'll have to wait until next week and try to get a real computer.

This area is very interesting because it's super easy to find like 100 people to teach in one day, but nobody really wants to progress. This whole mission is like that, but this area has even more than most areas of the mission. We're trying to work in better areas and with references more so we can overcome that, but with little success.

Just yesterday, however, we had an awesome lesson with the husband of an inactive member who wants to come back. The way it started was about a week ago, we felt like we should pass by this family who has a fruit and vegetable shop (verduleria) and who I had only talked to once, and it was with Elder Calvert. Well, we passed by there and the older sister came out and expressed her concern, a concern we see daily here. She wants to come back but feels it's too hard. Anyway, we set up an appointment in the church at 7 o'clock and she and her husband came, and we gave him a good tour and taught the restoration. He liked it although he's very shy. Funny thing is, he was converted in jail by one of those pastors that teaches in jails, and so he was pretty prepared, because he has desires to come unto Christ, which is what an investigator needs to accept this message. Many people know our message is true, but don't follow it simply because they don't want to follow all of it. In other words, they don't want to keep certain commandments, etc. It's quite sad, because many people we teach learn for themselves that it's true, but don't want to make an effort to change, so they try to trick themselves by saying the church isn't true, which no matter how many mental barriers they put up, it's still true and they know it. Well, either way, the guy's great, and he wants his new child to grow up a good girl, and he wants to support his wife, and he has lots of support to come to church, so we expect good things with him.

So in answer to your question, we're teaching in the church and not in the pasillos! (the really dangerous area) No, but really, we have stopped teaching in the pasillo just because the people weren't progressing.

As always, we do lots of walking, but my clothes are holding up just fine besides those things you mentioned. (shoes, socks and belt.)

One thing I'd really like is a few pictures of our motorcycles. Argentines love seeing the one picture I have of the motorcycle, and they'd love to see more, because pretty much everyone here has a motorcycle, they're just all really cheap and fake.

I will send lots of pictures next week, and will let you know how the mission conference was. I love you all and thanks for everything.

Love,
Eric

Hope it didn't have too many friends

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