Querido Todos!

Hola!

Wow this week has been insane. I am tired all the time! It's great! Sorry I forgot my camera again... Basically things week I've been hiking multiple times a day. I feel like I'm just wandering through the forest and finding these little shacks of plywood. Everyone needs the gospel, right!? And dogs... there are dogs EVERYWHERE. We try to approach a house and 3 or 4 dogs come running and barking. I'm pretty sure most of our contacts have been yelling in an attempt to get over the noise of howling and growling. Luckily most of them aren't dangerous, just loud.

We have met some wonderful people this week. Roberto is a president of the barrio (kind of the neighborhood) that we are contacting in, and he has read the Book of Mormon and prayed, but never got an answer. He is set in his ways, but very nice and always willing to have a conversation in passing. Oh ya! We found this other family, the parents are Javier and Aleida, that are very interested in the gospel, and we got them a baptismal date. However, it cost my companion some wicked dog bites to the leg! This is the only dogs out of the thousands I have seen that's ever been threatening. Weird. We have some other interesting investigators, but we'll see if they let us come back.

We had some delicious vanilla pudding this morning. It was our second batch, but the first chocolate batch burned! Please correct me, but I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to boil milk! Anyway, we figured it out. I haven't eaten anything too crazy yet, just a lot of meat, rice, and bread.

Ice! Totally wiped out twice going downhill this week. I fell two other times, but caught myself. Good times because I just kind of layed there and rested.

I miss everyone! I'm pretty sure I have thought about everyone this week, which I know isn't good, but I couldn't help looking back on the good and the bad times of my life. It was good because I realize how much everyone has had an influence in my life, and I thank you for that. Well, until next monday!

Love, Elder Bartlett

Comodoro Rivadavia Ushuaia

Querido Todos,

Ushuia!! This place is amazing. It is very similar to Alaska, with a small town, lots of people up in the mountains, and an absolutely beautiful view the mountains and ocean. It is super muddy and cold and windy, but I think I'll stay. It's been snowing for the last couple of days, but that just made everything look 10x more amazing! I have been informed that Argentina is closing everything out, so I wouldn't bother trying to send mail or packages because they most likely won't make it. My only contact will have to be through email, so just keep your messages short and sweet!

So my adventure to get down here... Woke up Monday morning and traveled to the airport for a 5 hour flight to Atlanta, GA. Ate my last Chik'fil A (not actually sure how to spell that), called my mom, and got on another plane for 11 hours. I arrived in the Buenos Aires airport with no clue what anyone was saying! I just followed the other missionaries. We found a kind lady by the name of Martha, and she got us unto a bus to go to the Buenos Aires Temple! But, we didn't go inside because we didn't have time, we just stopped at the little temple hotel to get something to eat. Apparently the flight schedules were kind of weird because the pilots went on strike, so we left suddenly when our flight plans were finalized. Some of us went to a different airport than where we landed, and got on a plane to fly to Comodoro Rivadavia. Argentine plane food is the best! Alfajores, lemon cookies, crackers, and plenty of drinks. We landed, by the way it is now Tuesday night, and la familia Carter and the Mission President were there to greet us! Great people. I slept at the Carter's home, and ate my first empanada! Next day we had some training and facturas, which are delicious breakfast pastries, at the mission office/chapel. Around lunch, the trainers showed up and we ate massive amounts of ravioli. By this time, we had finished being interviewed by President Rogers, and we went into the sacrament room (can't remember the real name of that room), and we were assigned our trainers! I received Elder Sirrine from Draper, Utah, and was called to Ushuia, Monte Olivia. That night we got on a bus, and then got on and off buses and went through border crossings and slept and talked until it was Thursday night when we arrived at our pension (that's what they call missionary apartments) after a long wait for a taxi. I was exhausted, but arrived safe and sound.

Next day, I found out that I get to go hiking every day! We climbed up this big hill to go contacting and find a family that my companion has been teaching. We found a few people (everyone is super friendly and caring and just wants to talk your ear off, which is good, but I have no idea what they're saying), and got some to let us come back. The house we were looking for was empty, so we kept going further around the mountain. Through a neighbor, we were directed to la familia Diaz. We knocked, they let us in, and we talked. Well, my companion talked and I smiled. Next thing I know, I recognize that my companion is extending the invitation to be baptized, and this sister says YES! Crazy... So now we're working with her and her daughter. We planned to get them to church and teach them a lesson on Sunday, but both fell through. I really hope they eventually let us come back.

I'm going to try and get some pictures on here, but no promises. Also, I'm really bad about taking pictures, so I apologize.

1)Elder Sirrine 2) From our pension, the view below  3) Snow 4)Elder Sirrine

Comodoro Rivadavia

I made it! Everything is cold and windy, but great! P-day is Monday, so I will let you know more then. Also, don´t send packages. Tell everyone else, too. Argentina rarely lets anything through. Apparently sleeping bags aren´t optional, so I need to go find a xtra long sleeping bag! Love you! Love Elder Bartlett

Jarom Bartlett and President and Sister Rogers

Hola familia y amigos,

Well, I have five more days until I'm in Argentina! Can't say much about when I will actually get to my area, though. From the travel papers we've received and rumors I've heard, it'll be about three days of traveling. First, a flight from SLC to Atlanta, GA will take either 4 or 6 hours (I'm guessing 4 cause that actually makes sense). Then, we wait at the airport for 4-5 hours, after which we have an 11 hour flight straight to Buenos Aires. That's where it gets sketchy because I've heard we take a bus. If that's true, we looked it up, then it will be a 21 hour bus ride. Woo-hoo!! Super excited. I'll probably be fluent in Spanish if I just study the whole way there! Or I could read the Book of Mormon several times. Who know... Anyway, this week has been spectacular! So much growth, in Spanish, in gospel, in belt notches, in facial hair, and in anxiety. Seriously though, I've had so many spiritual experiences I am not going to be able to tell about all of them. However, I will share that faith is awesome. You can do so many things! You can learn anything you want in the gospel, you can learn a language, you can teach people with the spirit, and you can be filled with so much happiness you almost cry. I guess its a well known fact now that I don't cry, so... Oh! I have pictures this week! 1) Elder Graves 2) Elder Hooton 3) Elder Dunford 4) Top models! It's been a great 6 weeks, but I am ready to get out and help the people of Argentina! And eat their bread.

Mucho Amor,

Elder Bartlett