An imaginary love triangle that is actually a point trying to be a line

Friends and family,

I'll explain the subject line really quickly. This past weekend, two investigators accepted baptismal dates, and we are so excited for both! We are almost perfectly certain that they will be baptized. One of them is Gabriela, the daughter of Enrique (who was baptized three weeks before), and she is 18 years old. She keeps telling me so very directly that she wants to marry me. Like, to the point of talking about our Hillitos ("little Hills"), which is really weird but I honestly don't mind it that much because I want her baptized for her own sake, not so I can have a free latina wife. Furthermore, her sister accused Elder Ericksen of liking Gabriela, too, so they started this joke about a love triangle situation. I described it more accurately to Elder Ericksen afterwards as an imaginary love triangle that is actually a point trying to be a line. So funny. But yes, I testify that snakes are a very real danger here in Argentina. And goodness, these snakes come out of nowhere and strike all over. It's a challenge. But I will endure it with faith and LOL (Lots Of Love).

Today we went with our zone to Valle Grande again, which was great because they're much more tranquil people so I enjoyed the scenery a lot more with fewer distractions. I was also burnt chili red despite the clouds, which really hurts. My nose stings every time I even brush it. But it was completely worth it.

I just want to remind you all that I am ridiculously happy to be here. I have been having such bright, happy days, full of sunlight (but mostly spiritually, because it's been raining almost the whole week - that has only helped my mood). I know that my Redeemer lives. I love Him so, and I know He loves me as a chosen child. He loves infinitely. I so testify in His name, in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

With much love,

Elder Hill

Por falta de tiempo, voy a mandar las fotos en otro momento. Pobrecitos ustedes.

Glasses Tan Lines

Family and friends,

I was talking with Elder Ericksen the other night and jokingly said that my pride is so huge that he would never be able to break it. He then humbled me with three words. Glasses tan lines. Boom. Instantly humbled. God uses small and simple means to confound the wise, right?

Anyway, yesterday was insane in the sacrament meeting because the two of us did almost everything. I was chorister and I passed the sacrament, Elder Ericksen was the pianist, we both gave talks, and we sang in a trio with the ward mission leader. It was the missionary Sunday, with the theme being the members' duty in mission work. I talked on Deuteronomy 28:45-48, which says that many curses will come upon the house of Israel and destroy them. It then explains the reason they will be castigated so: "Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart". We are under the same condemnation for not having been missionaries and ministers to all people with joy. But what can we do to get that joy back? In Mosiah 4:11-12, King Benjamin explains that if we humble ourselves before God always, we will always rejoice. And how do we humble ourselves? Keep His commandments. How do we keep His commandments better? Do missionary work. He promises us that "if ye do this ye shall always rejoice". Thus, we must be missionaries, shouting the good news of the Gospel from the housetops, carrying the glorious message across the mountains and into the plains, to every person; and if we do not share with every person, we need to repent. By that definition, I am a failure as a missionary, but I repent of it. I will continue. But I can't be the only one. I direct these comments to all you who read these messages, and I invite you all to consider your personal status before God as a missionary, and then repent and do better. I promise, according to my own personal experience, that it will be more than worth it. We will sacrifice our precious time for joy and salvation, which are priceless. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amén.

Con mucho amor,

Elder Hill

Foto: Elder Ericksen festejó su cumpleaños un poco tarde conmigo, usando un mix de su familia para hacerse una torta. Estuvo riquísima.

Ando en bici

Family and friends,

This week was a bit insane, particularly near the end. Firstly, I wanted to mention something hilarious that happened when I roasted an Argentine teenage boy in the middle of his group of friends. We were riding slowly down a residential street, and we saw a group of pibes (pronounced pee-bays - it refers to anyone younger than an adult) walking down the street. They saw us and one immediately began to whisper to the others some plan to mock us gringos, or something, and he called out, "ey, ¿cómo andás?" (it means literally "how do you go?" but is used as "how are you?"). With my quippy attitude, I called back, "¡en bici!" ("on a bike") and all his friends immediately began to yell and guffaw, poking at the boy who had asked us. Just let the record say that I roasted an argentino in his own language in his own country. [takes a bow] [doesn't give it back]

We were really concerned about a man we were teaching named Enrique. He expressed mountains of desire to be baptized on the 9th, this past Saturday, but he told us he'd stop smoking on the 22nd of this month. We visited with him on Friday, prepared to lay down the law and tell him that he would not be able to be baptized the next day because he had not stopped smoking. Due to that conflict, we had not planned anything for his baptism. Thus came our enormous surprise when he told us that he had already stopped smoking! We went through the interview questions, and he was all good! He was going to be baptized! We abandoned the rest of out unfixed plans for the day and rushed around calling and contacting a lot of people to plan everything for the next day. To cut a long story short, everything fell perfectly into place, and he was baptized Saturday night. Who baptized him? Yours truly. I did. It was the first live baptism that I have ever performed. I think he can be a very strong addition to Zion here.

I have seen the hand of God so much this week, and I am so happy for it. I can testify that we really are children of the one living God, and that He cares so much for us that He sacrificed His only perfect Child to save us, the sinners. That blows my mind, and I am immeasurably grateful for it.

With much love and excitement,

Elder Hill

Fotos:

• Enrique
• Mi zona
• Mi distrito

Laberintos and my new comp

Friends and family,

I am rushed again this time, as has become all too common. But I wanted to say that you will probably all hate my new companion, Elder Ericksen. Because he's me. He's basically a music-composition-major version of me. He's smart, philosophical, and - the reason you all would hate him as my companion - punny. We make puns. All. Day. It's great. Especially because even when I make a legitimate pun in Spanish, the argentinos don't understand that type of humor, so they NEVER laugh. Now at least someone laughs. It's so great. We got to be good friends very quickly. He also wants to work hard, as I do, so we have legitimately begun to talk with people in the streets and visit more efficiently than we did with Elder Becerra. Elder Becerra is wonderful, and I have started to develop real charity for the people here because of him, but he doesn't rush, because he always wants to stay and care for the people. That's not bad, but we are simply working harder now. It feels great. I got to the point yesterday where I needed to take a nap for five minutes in the afternoon, because we had been working so very hard the whole week and my body was shutting down. But yeah, I am really, really happy. We are prospering. And I'm actually not just flopping as a district leader! That makes me very happy, too.

Today we went to the Laberintos here in San Rafael, which was also really fun. Elder Ericksen and I raced against the zone leaders of San Rafael, each going in the opposite way (because the entrance and exit are in the same place), and we WON! That was great.

Anyway, I'll try to find more time next week to give more details about the work here, but know that I am growing every day in my faith, and to date I have never been surer of my election and appointment as a servant of the Lord.

Love,

Elder Hill

(The video below the pictures is of Elder Hill singing "Evermore" from "Beauty and the Beast" (but with Spanish lyrics) at a ward party a few weeks ago.)