Weekly Dec.29, 2014

Hello,

This week was great. We spent Christmas with the familia Kahuasiri, eating tons of meat and pan dulce. By the way, all of you who have ever complained about fruit cake, you are wrong! There is very very very delicious fruit cake here. Also something really good called pionono. We made corn bread to share, and that was really good, too. It was just a nice relaxing time to get to know the family better.

The next day, Christmas Day, was the best! We got on bus at 7 (calculating how late we were out the night before, showers in the morning, and walking to the bus; we got 3 hours of sleep) and went to party with the rest of the missionaries in our Zone over in Rio Gallegos! We played dodgeball, soccer, football, ate, did a white elephant gift exchange (I ended up with an alfajor and a mini cooper), and watched Frozen (in spanish).  It was a great time, and we might get to go back on New Years this week.

President Rogers spent his Christmas here in Calafate, so he showed up at our church on Sunday! Luckily we were only 30 seconds late. He gave a wonderful lesson about the Good Samaritan, and how we need to 1) Recognize the needs of others 2) ACT 3) Follow through, and offer any other assistance that is needed or desired.  Open your eyes this holiday season. There are people that need your help, and you CAN help them.

It sounds like so many exciting things are happening! Nannette's moving, selling the house, ward and stake splitting, and New Years! Elder Eakle said that's what his parents did to go on their mission in Puerto Rico. They packed all their stuff up and stored it for when they return. I'll have to ask him for their email, but he's sleeping right now. Thank you both so much for the reassuring emails. I still have my ups and downs, but it is always good to have something hopeful and positive to focus on.  All is well here. The work is a little bit slow, but we are planning to get down to business. I really want my mission to be a turning point in my life. Before, I was really irresponsible and didn't really care about anything, and never really tried hard to accomplish much. Everything I did have was either luck or someone else helped me a lot. I want my mission to be a thing between me and the Lord. I want to get to know Him better, and put 100% of my trust in Him. My hopes are high, and I feel good.

We are for sure doing skype for mothers day, and just mom and dad

I built a closet!

Elder Eakle in our bathroom

finished closet to the left

bus ride!

. I don't even feel like I talked to anyone, just saw a bunch of pictures and heard random voices... Our family is too big! It was nice to see everyone, though.  Say hello to everyone!  I got Mary Joyce's package on Christmas morning!

MJ's package, it had pics of Christ all over the outside

Have a wonderful New Years, I hope everyone has someone to pass the fiestas with.

Love, Elder Bartlett

Weekly Dec. 22, 2014

Hola Everyone,

Elder Bartlett & Elder Eakle

near El Calafate

Just to clarify, I moved areas from Ushuaia to El Calafate and my companion is now Elder Eakle! It's weird because we were just with each other in Ushuaia, and now we're companions! He got really excited when he saw that I was writing about him, so I'll write a little bit about how cool he is. Elder Tyler Eakle is from Parker, Colorado, and is birthday twins with my brother, Ivan. He really loves to sing and play guitar, and likes country music. He went to BYU for a year and will return there after the mission. He is super cool. He is senior companion, but only has one more transfer than me! We're trying to figure out what exactly we're doing out here in the middle of nowhere.

Even though I missed two days traveling, we did some great work this week! I beat my record for the most contacts I have ever done in one day! Plus, they were mostly really good, promising future investigators!

I have already seen so many miracles it's crazy! We decided one day to walk way out to one of the points of our area to see if we could find some people to teach. We walked, and walked, and walked, and forget trek there was so much wind and dust and walking! My companion said he just wanted to get into a house. After about 2 hours we arrived at a very large house, and a young mother met us at the door, and invited us in! She was super nice, but I'm not sure how interested she was... Then we began the long walk back. We were about 15 minutes in, and my companion asked for a car. Literally seconds after, a tourist truck pulled up and gave us a ride all the way back! Cool, or what?

nice dirt roads

I definitely miss the landscape of Ushuaia... El Calafate is dirt and wind. The only nice place is centro (downtown) because it has trees and buildings and paved roads. There is one paved road in our area, and we hardly ever use it. So far the people are really nice, so that's a plus.

I spilled more juice yesterday... and dropped the guys pen-drive. I don't know if he'll invite us back to teach, but we're going back to do service on Saturday! Might giganticness doesn't mix well with the homes of Argentina. I feel like Gandolf in a hobbit home. For whatever reason, these people had a wire on the top of their fence posts, and I got clothes-lined in the face.

wire on entrance, got clothes lined in the face

landscape around El Calafate

The work is difficult here, but we are working to get the ball rolling. The Christmas cards we've been using have been really helpful. I'm sure all of you have seen it all over anything church related, it's called "He is the Gift." Just a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. Look it up, and write me back what you think of the video.

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!

Love, Elder Bartlett

the church is an old pizza place

eating a meter sandwich

Christmas card from the mission

district interviews in Ushuaia

Weekly Dec. 17, 2014

Sorry I didn't write on Monday, I was on a bus! We found out transfers on Saturday and I left Monday morning at 5am. I am now in Calafate "C" with Elder Eakle! He was in Ushuaia with me just two transfers ago, so we already know each other pretty well. It's going to be an awesome but super tough transfer. I only have 1 transfer since my training and he only has 2. We're not really sure what we're doing, but we will move forward with faith!

I said good bye to all my investigators that need to get married, and exhorted them to push onward and get married so they can be baptized and receive the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost to bless their lives, and the lives of their families.

Elder Bartlett at Chile checkpoint

The last Sunday before I left was amazing. We had a less active help us go and get an investigator from off the mountain that attended church for the first time. Plus we had Noelia attend, plus Hno Alfonso! That makes 2 less actives and 2 investigators attending from our area... well my old area.

It was quite the adventure arriving here in Calafate. It started with the bus ride at 5 in the morning, we went through several checkpoints, one of them being to enter Chile. I met some Israelites traveling to Calafate as well. They were talking in Hebrew while I was waiting in line to buy a super massive empenada. They thought I was from Argentina because of my amazing accent, which normally I would be very proud of, but one of them didn't even speak Spanish... Anyways, we have to cross into Chile and then cross a strait, so the bus gets on this giant boat! It's pretty cool, and one of the elders said the saw dolphins one time. I didn't see anything.

Bus on the boat

We finally arrived at Rio Gallegos at about 5pm, where everyone I came up from Ushuaia with got on another bus and left for Comodoro or other cities further North. The problem is, the bus people were really upset for whatever reason, and only let everyone take 1 bag. So we, the zone of Rio Gallegos, about 4 elders and 4 sisters, with the help of wonderful members, had to haul everyones 2nd and 3rd bag to the zone leader's house and wrap them up in plastic (still not really sure why we did that, something about so people don't steal from them). We did that until about 12pm, but had a great time whilst working. Bought some hot dogs and bread! Kicked a soccer ball around for awhile! And passed out in the cockroach-infested pension.

Plastic wrapped suitcases

I got up at 6, loaded all the bags back up to take to the terminal, and at some cookies and facturas for breakfast. Right before I left around 9am, the missionaries heading to Ushuaia showed up and I got to see my MTC companion Elder Dunford! I guess he's been robbed 3 times, but also has 5 baptisms. With sacrifices comes blessings!

Elder Dunford in middle from Provo MTC

Elder Eakle in Ushuaia

After another long bus ride, I finally arrived in Calafate with Elder Eakle. We made some delicious fried chicken, bought me a pillow, and went to bed!

Well, I'll let ya'll know more about my area on Monday, Chau!

Love, Elder Bartlett

Oh! here's some pictures from Ushuaia!

 1) Alejandro, Shirly, Agustin, Melody 2) Ramiro, Noelia, Flavio, Yulisa 3) Branch Christmas Party!

Weekly Dec. 8, 2014

Hola Everyone!

This week was crazy... After we talked with Alejandro about marriage and he said he was going to get married in March, his girlfriend, also investigating, admitted that she was only with her boyfriend for her kids. If it wasn't for them, she would have left a long time ago. When we asked her why, she said that he never expresses his gratitude for what she does, and he always ignores her advice, putting friends and others before her. My family and friends, it is important to tell others that you love them, but you shouldn't have to. They should feel your love by what you do for them, how you treat them, and the service you freely give.

Our baptismal date fell. Our investigators husband, a less active, is really messing up her progression and our ability to teach her.

We had a perfect Sunday yesterday... almost. Our investigator, Luis, showed up! He is progressing very well, and understands everthing we teach. It just so happened that we had interviews with president of the mission the day before, so Luis got to meet President Rogers. It also just happened to be fast and testimony meeting, and just so happened... no, it was a miracle from our Father in Heaven that some of the most beautiful and powerful testimonies were born. I think Luis really felt the spirit. Then, we had gospel principles class, and taught Luis about the sacrament. Everything was going great until Elders Quorum... Elders, please. Just please, somehow fix what you are doing. If you have a good Elders Quorum, then press onward!

Had some crazy wind, I said some stupid things and laughed a ton. We had a taco party today as a zone today, and played a ton of futbol and volleyball.

For those that would like to send letters or packages, my address is:

Elder Jarom Seth Bartlett
Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia Mission
Av. Fray Luis Beltran ·75
Comodoro Rivadavia
Chubut, 9000
Argentina

For packages, which are being discouraged, put Elder Perry Carter above my name. The yellow puffy packets with customs orders are the most likely to get through.

I love all of you, and I pray for you. Stay strong.

Love, Elder Jarom Seth Bartlett

Hey I fixed my hair!

Weekly Dec. 1, 2014

I don't have much time, but this week was good! We had a ton of lessons, I felt the spirit a lot, and we got thanksgiving dinner! The landlord of our pension is super awesome, and we have dinner with them every Thursday night. We convinced them to help us put on a grand feast! All the missionaries in our district contributed a salad or dessert, and the family cooked three chickens (no turkey). It was super delicious and we had a great time together.

I am so thankful for the oppotunity to be on the mission, for my family and friends who helped me get here, and for the fantastic people here in Argentina. I have gratitude that I cannot express for our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and what He has done for us.

P-Day

I love everyone back home, and if you don't believe me, send me an email because we need to talk! Stay true and keep the faith, God is with us!

Love, Elder Jarom Seth Bartlett

Ushuaia

Elder Chacon and Elder Bartlett