About Argentina

vegetation in El Calafate

Hi, I'm Elder Bartlett, and welcome to our show, Exploring the Patagonia with the Mormons. Here in the most southern tip of the world, with the exception of antarctica, the climate if very similar to that of Southern Utah. It is very dry, dusty, and sandy, lots of small scrub bushes, and the four seasons. The Patagonia is well known for it's excessive amounts of wind, extreme heat, and bitter cold, and overall a place where normally no one would want to live.

Yet, the people here are very abundant and extremely wonderful. They don't have much, but what they do have, they willing give. They are very modest and humble and have a strange sense of humor that I still don't really understand.

El Calafate

Most people, like us, are new here to the Patagonia. They have moved in from further up north and from many surrounding countries such as Chile, Peru, and Paraguay. Many have their own plots of land and build their houses on their own, or they rent like us. We have a wonderful landlandy that takes good care of us when she is here. Right now she is in Cordoba visiting her daughter in College. Our house, also known as a pension in mission lingo, is relatively nice. They only problem is that our door has many holes in it, and bugs just love to walk right in and crawl up my nose while I sleep!

Elder Bartlett & Elder Flores from Chile

It's a great life here, and I am enjoying every minute of it. Even though the people here are very honest and immediately tell us what religion they are and that they don't want to hear anything we have to say before we even introduce ourselves, they are very kind and loving.

This has been Exploring the Patagonia with the Mormons, thanks for tuning in. Until next time, stay golden my friends.

Love, Elder Bartlett

Elder Bartlett at Glacier Perito Moreno

?, Elder Eakle & Elder Bartlett at Glacier Perito Moreno

Far left Elder Bartlett

Mom & Dad

So just so you know, my bag broke, but I mostly fixed it. I somehow ripped a huge hole in the crotch of my jeans, so i'm going to find a less active member that can sew to see what she can do. Also, the in-seem of one of my pants came out, also going to take those to this sister member. I lost my flip-flops in Ushuaia, so I bought some toms! As for music, everyone here just has music on usb/pen-drives, so I bought one and got some music from one of the other missionaries, and today I'm going to buy a speaker that has a usb port. It would be cool if you could talk to Ivan or Jacob and put together a pen-drive with a bunch of LDS music from moromon tab, janice kapp perry (celtic variations), EFY music, anything that is produced by the church, and then send it to me. Elder Eakle's mom hid his pendrive in a pack of gum, so that's an idea.  I gave a blessing in Spanish yesterday, my Spanish was terrible but I think they understood.

Love, Elder Bartlett

Don't be a groove thrower

Sorry I guess I forgot to mention who my companion is... His name is Elder Flores and he is from Chile! I would send a picture, but I'd be sitting here for the rest of the day.

This week was interesting. I spent a lot of time with other missionaries and in other areas because my companion left for Rio Gallegos to do tramites (to receive his citizenship in Argentina), and then we went to Rio Gallegos ourselves for zone conference. After the zone conference we did a tsunami! Basically the whole zone goes and contacts in one area. It was a great experience, and I think just about everyone got into one house and taught. The hermana we found was called Doris, and by the end of the lesson she was crying! She accepted to offer the closing prayer, and ask God if what we taught was true. It was so sincere, and I felt the love of our Heavenly Fath - *KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK* "Hey is my kid here?!" "Hey! Have you seen my daughter?!" Wow. Totally just threw off my groove.

I hope she has the opportunity to pray in a more private place.

Yesterday was super cool! Elder Vinas, the member of the seventy in charge of our area, came to visit us, right here in El Calafate! He really wants us to be thinking about how we can apply the atonement in our missions, and how it has helped us. So I ask all you back home, "What affect has the atonement had in your life?" Every leader of the church that I have met with on the mission always talks about the atonement, and with good cause. It is the single most important event that ever occurred in the history of this earth, and it is the only way to make it back to our Father in Heaven.

Well have a great week everyone!

Love, Elder Bartlett

This Stuff Really Works!

So this week, week one of the transfer, usually a terrible week when nothing gets done, was absolutely amazing. We have found so many new investigators and put 3 baptismal dates, with the possbility of 5 total! In these lessons, talking about the Plan that God has for us, talking about how because He loves us He restored His church and brought His power back to the earth, talking about how we can apply the principles of the gospel in our lives and become clean, new, and make it back to live with our Father in Heaven... I don't ever want to leave. I just want to teach these people, my brothers and sisters, all there is to know! All the tremendous blessings that God has in store for us, I can't even express my amazement and gratitude!

I would like to talk a little bit about how I arrived at this overwhelming feeling, and how you too can "[feel] to sing the song of redeeming love." Yesterday, I was thinking about how I got here, in the mission. We have been testifying of the basic principles of the gospel that lead to conversion: reading, pondering, praying, going to church, all the primary answers. But they are more than primary answers, they are the BASIS OF WHAT WE BELIEVE, the FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH IN CHRIST. These precious tools that have been given to us are not suggestions, they are requirements for eternal salvation.

When I look back, all of my prayers have been answered, every single one that I have ever prayed fervently for. He is listening. We prayed and fasted to find investigators that are ready to teach, He heard us, and He will hear you as well. God loves every one of us, and I love every one of you, so let's get out there and get harvesting!

It's okay if you started laughing during this email, sorry I'm a little ridiculous sometimes, but take it for what it is. I'll see ya'll next week.

Love, Elder Bartlett