Dear Everyone,
I hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday and best of wishes to those brave souls who participated in Black Friday. Nothing happened here, but I told everyone about Thanksgiving and how they should be more grateful and spend time with their families.
Another week here in Argentina, school is ending but summer school is starting for all those who didn't pass. They go to school and take tests for about two weeks to try and improve their grades. There has been a lot of energy sapping heat from the sun and the dry climate here, but the work continues forward, regardless of all the people making their way towards the beach.
This last Sunday, yesterday, was very spiritual and didactic. We learned about sacrifice and obedience. In the combined class between relief society and priesthood I was giving the opportunity to talk about one great example of sacrifice in my life, my dear mother. She recently celebrated her birthday, and she has truly dedicated and sacrificed her years and time on this earth for her family. I like to consider myself one of the primary benefactors of her selfless service, and shared with the class how she sacrificed her time to talk with me, and share her support, advice, and love. Thanks mom.
I also would like to thank my sisters, direct and in-laws, who in their own way showed me the same support and encouragement.
And lastly, I thank my father for his example of obedience and dedication to his priesthood duties, and always taking me to do service, whether it be physical or spiritual. I thank my brothers, direct and in-laws the same, for your strength and obedience. Keep it up!
I love each and every one of you, all have made a difference in my life. Thank you.
Elder Bartlett
Monday, November 30, 2015
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
¡Feliz Cumpleaños!
Happy Birthday MOM!
You're the BEST, and I love and miss you a lot.
Below is most of my district, one sister got cut out but the camera died so I couldn't take another picture. Also the brownies you sent me I made with butter instead of veggie oil and they turned out really good, so I ate those for your birthday! Thanks!
Mom, thanks for always keeping me in line. Thanks for making sure I was in the places that I should be. Thanks for loving me and taking time to listen and give me advice. Thanks for being patient when I didn't listen. You are a huge example to me, and make me want to be better so that I can make you happy. Thank you for helping me get on the mission, and for supporting me temporally and emotionally, and spiritually. I hope you enjoy your special day. I'll be calling in about a month, but until then remember that I love you.
What do you wish the person with a BUMP on the head!? I wish that you and dad can prepare for the mission because it is the absolute best thing that I have ever experienced, and I want you to have the same experience. Thank you for your testimony, it really helped me understand my own testimony. I didn't want to accept that it was something so simple, but that's how it is. I feel happy when I talk about the things of Christ, and I feel bad denying them. I feel great desires to read the scriptures, more than any other book. It makes me happy and helps me love others. What more should I want? It is all true, that simple.
Have a good day Mom, and do something for you. You deserve it.
Love a lot,
Elder Bartlett
You're the BEST, and I love and miss you a lot.
Below is most of my district, one sister got cut out but the camera died so I couldn't take another picture. Also the brownies you sent me I made with butter instead of veggie oil and they turned out really good, so I ate those for your birthday! Thanks!
Mom, thanks for always keeping me in line. Thanks for making sure I was in the places that I should be. Thanks for loving me and taking time to listen and give me advice. Thanks for being patient when I didn't listen. You are a huge example to me, and make me want to be better so that I can make you happy. Thank you for helping me get on the mission, and for supporting me temporally and emotionally, and spiritually. I hope you enjoy your special day. I'll be calling in about a month, but until then remember that I love you.
What do you wish the person with a BUMP on the head!? I wish that you and dad can prepare for the mission because it is the absolute best thing that I have ever experienced, and I want you to have the same experience. Thank you for your testimony, it really helped me understand my own testimony. I didn't want to accept that it was something so simple, but that's how it is. I feel happy when I talk about the things of Christ, and I feel bad denying them. I feel great desires to read the scriptures, more than any other book. It makes me happy and helps me love others. What more should I want? It is all true, that simple.
Have a good day Mom, and do something for you. You deserve it.
Love a lot,
Elder Bartlett
Thanksgiving in Argentina
Dear family and friends,
I would like to explain a little how thanksgiving works here in Argentina...
Yep, interesting right? I actually think with some other missionaries we are going to put something together so we aren't sad!
This week was the beggining of our second transfer together here in Comodoro! It was a very interesting week. I learned that it really is the Spirit that teaches, not us. Our job as missionaries is to do everything possible so that the Spirit is in the lesson with us, including keeping the mission rules, having a good knowlegde of the scriptures, bearing a sincere testimony, loving the people we teach, and praying for His company. We walked into this lesson like firefighters without their gear and we got burned! We luckily made it out, but the worst feeling is that we left the poor soul we were teaching behind.
That was probably one of the worst experiences I have ever had, so now I'll share some good ones! We are literally being guided every where by the Spirit and finding people to teach by miracle power. We have found from the more experienced types to young children that wanted to know what a mormon is. A man found us on the street, pulled over his truck, and told us that he had a Book of Mormon, but wasn't sure what to do now. Talk to your colleagues about the church, invite them to share with you in the joy of the gospel! Love and serve.
Now the weather... sun! I am sunburnt in the face because the one day it wasn't cloudy and rainy, I didn't put on sunscreen the sun was really strong. Plus, I got to catch up on my basketball with some other United States elders, and we taught the Argentines a little bit as well! Good times.
Enjoy thanksgiving. I am so grateful for my family and others who support me. I am grateful for the gospel in my life and the atoning sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
By the way, sorry for not writing yesterday the internet was down. Everything is fine and the work is moving forward, although it could always move with a little more speed!
Love Elder Bartlett
I would like to explain a little how thanksgiving works here in Argentina...
Yep, interesting right? I actually think with some other missionaries we are going to put something together so we aren't sad!
This week was the beggining of our second transfer together here in Comodoro! It was a very interesting week. I learned that it really is the Spirit that teaches, not us. Our job as missionaries is to do everything possible so that the Spirit is in the lesson with us, including keeping the mission rules, having a good knowlegde of the scriptures, bearing a sincere testimony, loving the people we teach, and praying for His company. We walked into this lesson like firefighters without their gear and we got burned! We luckily made it out, but the worst feeling is that we left the poor soul we were teaching behind.
That was probably one of the worst experiences I have ever had, so now I'll share some good ones! We are literally being guided every where by the Spirit and finding people to teach by miracle power. We have found from the more experienced types to young children that wanted to know what a mormon is. A man found us on the street, pulled over his truck, and told us that he had a Book of Mormon, but wasn't sure what to do now. Talk to your colleagues about the church, invite them to share with you in the joy of the gospel! Love and serve.
Now the weather... sun! I am sunburnt in the face because the one day it wasn't cloudy and rainy, I didn't put on sunscreen the sun was really strong. Plus, I got to catch up on my basketball with some other United States elders, and we taught the Argentines a little bit as well! Good times.
Enjoy thanksgiving. I am so grateful for my family and others who support me. I am grateful for the gospel in my life and the atoning sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
By the way, sorry for not writing yesterday the internet was down. Everything is fine and the work is moving forward, although it could always move with a little more speed!
Love Elder Bartlett
Monday, November 16, 2015
Good Afternoon
Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen,
This is Elder Jarom Bartlett reporting in from the far-south Argentina, where the wind and dust never sleep. I discovered this week the refreshing sensation of having one's eyes sanded smooth. They are tender, but holding up! What a beautiful place! We have had good, moderate temperatures this week, and I have the option to wear short sleaves if I desire. The weather is good.
In general everything is going great. We had a noche blanca (white night or night in white), in the which three youngsters were baptized. Two more weeks and the family Remolcoy with their 3 kids will be baptized! Oh those sweet souls... they are so timid and quiet! We barely got out of one of them that they read the Book of Mormon and prayed, but nothing happened. I honestly was amazed that he had actually done it because... well not all that many actually read and pray! Luckily we had with us a super awesome brother from the church that was also baptized young, and shared his experience. He said that he too read, prayed, felt nothing, BUT kept trying. After several weeks, he was listening to the missionaries, and he felt something... different. He took that as his answer, and the more he kept learning and reading, the more he kept feeling this different feeling.
Everyone has an experience to share with someone. What is yours?
Friday we found out transfers, I am staying here in La Prensa, Comodoro with Elder Teixeira to baptize all the families that the Lord has guided us to. Thank you for your prayers... they are being answered.
Take care, of yourselves and one another. We are all here on this earth together far from our Father's presence, help each other get back. I love all of you back home. I'll be seeing you in 7 months!
Love, Elder Bartlett
Mom & Dad
So those silver dollars are going towards my college fund... right? ;) Ha ha no just kidding. I was thinking about that this morning with my companion... I will only have that little bit of $2000 in the bank when I get home. Why didn't I get a job!? Why didn't I listen to my parents about saving up money!? Oh well, guess I'll figure it out afterward...
I don't think I'll need to worry too much about the cavity while here, it isn't bothering me, it's small, and I'm trying to take really good care of it. I guess this is what I needed to help me figure out how important dental care is!
As for the glasses, I have my other ones and I'm too lazy to do anything about the lost screw.
I really miss the temple... I think about it a lot. Walking around in Argentina is really depressing and it is one of the thoughts that keeps me going. There are so many young kids into drugs and alcohol, families torn to pieces with the kids left homeless, dead birds and dogs, live dogs that bark at you and bite at you, dust and wind, sewage running down the street, trash everywhere, almost everything is dirt of pavement no one has grass, most peoples teeth are rotten, they are covered in scars or smell of alcohol or smoke... It isn't a nice place to live. So I focus on the temple or my home back in the states and keep on going! I am starting to understand well the phrase in the bathroom "Cleanliness is close to godliness"
The maple syrup you sent me turned out really well... thanks. The root beer not so much, mostly because of the soda here isn't the same and my limited cooking tools. The peanut butter cookies were going to be really good, but our oven is bi-polar and decided to burn the bottoms... the brownies I tried out and were not good, but I'm going to try the others with butter instead of veggie oil. I make a lot of corn bread, banana bread, and a version of peach cobler that a missionary taught me. Any other recipes or ideas for things from home that I can make here are greatly appreciated!
I love you both so much and hope all goes well with Thanksgiving! I'm going to see if we put something together as missionaries for P-day.
Love, Elder Bartlett
This is Elder Jarom Bartlett reporting in from the far-south Argentina, where the wind and dust never sleep. I discovered this week the refreshing sensation of having one's eyes sanded smooth. They are tender, but holding up! What a beautiful place! We have had good, moderate temperatures this week, and I have the option to wear short sleaves if I desire. The weather is good.
In general everything is going great. We had a noche blanca (white night or night in white), in the which three youngsters were baptized. Two more weeks and the family Remolcoy with their 3 kids will be baptized! Oh those sweet souls... they are so timid and quiet! We barely got out of one of them that they read the Book of Mormon and prayed, but nothing happened. I honestly was amazed that he had actually done it because... well not all that many actually read and pray! Luckily we had with us a super awesome brother from the church that was also baptized young, and shared his experience. He said that he too read, prayed, felt nothing, BUT kept trying. After several weeks, he was listening to the missionaries, and he felt something... different. He took that as his answer, and the more he kept learning and reading, the more he kept feeling this different feeling.
Everyone has an experience to share with someone. What is yours?
Friday we found out transfers, I am staying here in La Prensa, Comodoro with Elder Teixeira to baptize all the families that the Lord has guided us to. Thank you for your prayers... they are being answered.
Take care, of yourselves and one another. We are all here on this earth together far from our Father's presence, help each other get back. I love all of you back home. I'll be seeing you in 7 months!
Love, Elder Bartlett
Mom & Dad
So those silver dollars are going towards my college fund... right? ;) Ha ha no just kidding. I was thinking about that this morning with my companion... I will only have that little bit of $2000 in the bank when I get home. Why didn't I get a job!? Why didn't I listen to my parents about saving up money!? Oh well, guess I'll figure it out afterward...
I don't think I'll need to worry too much about the cavity while here, it isn't bothering me, it's small, and I'm trying to take really good care of it. I guess this is what I needed to help me figure out how important dental care is!
As for the glasses, I have my other ones and I'm too lazy to do anything about the lost screw.
I really miss the temple... I think about it a lot. Walking around in Argentina is really depressing and it is one of the thoughts that keeps me going. There are so many young kids into drugs and alcohol, families torn to pieces with the kids left homeless, dead birds and dogs, live dogs that bark at you and bite at you, dust and wind, sewage running down the street, trash everywhere, almost everything is dirt of pavement no one has grass, most peoples teeth are rotten, they are covered in scars or smell of alcohol or smoke... It isn't a nice place to live. So I focus on the temple or my home back in the states and keep on going! I am starting to understand well the phrase in the bathroom "Cleanliness is close to godliness"
The maple syrup you sent me turned out really well... thanks. The root beer not so much, mostly because of the soda here isn't the same and my limited cooking tools. The peanut butter cookies were going to be really good, but our oven is bi-polar and decided to burn the bottoms... the brownies I tried out and were not good, but I'm going to try the others with butter instead of veggie oil. I make a lot of corn bread, banana bread, and a version of peach cobler that a missionary taught me. Any other recipes or ideas for things from home that I can make here are greatly appreciated!
I love you both so much and hope all goes well with Thanksgiving! I'm going to see if we put something together as missionaries for P-day.
Love, Elder Bartlett
Monday, November 9, 2015
Bowling in Argentina!
We went bowling for Preparation Day! And I helped my companion make flan, but it deflated... still super delicious.
Bowling was really fun, President and Sister Rogers were there. We, our district, took 3rd place!
We walked a lot this week... not as many people came to church this week, but we are preparing a lot of people to come. We are teaching lots of families, but they are hard to find sometimes... Sunday was special because all the members that went to the temple came back Saturday and shared their experiences with us.
It has been good sunny weather, and the people are open and receptive!
Don't have much else to report, just working hard!
Love, Elder Bartlett
Bowling was really fun, President and Sister Rogers were there. We, our district, took 3rd place!
We walked a lot this week... not as many people came to church this week, but we are preparing a lot of people to come. We are teaching lots of families, but they are hard to find sometimes... Sunday was special because all the members that went to the temple came back Saturday and shared their experiences with us.
It has been good sunny weather, and the people are open and receptive!
Don't have much else to report, just working hard!
 |
| Flan |
Love, Elder Bartlett
Monday, November 2, 2015
Argentina
Good Afternoon! At least here in Argentina.
Before I go over my week, I would like to say that my family is AWESOME. All you you had super cool Halloween costumes and I am proud to be related to so many cool people. Here I saw maybe 3 people dressed up…
This Sunday was absolutely miraculous. We had four investigators attend, plus three less active families. There was a beautiful spirit in the testimony meeting because almost a fourth of the ward is going to the temple this week! We are still fighting to get a temple down here in the far south because Buenos Aires is pretty far from Comodoro and it requires sacrifice to get up there.
The rest of this week was pretty good. It has been nice and sunny, with only a few cloudy days. We can walk around in just bright white shirts (mine not-so-much compared to my new companions) and everyone else is outside as well.
I made some home-made root beer the other day, but it came out more or less… Elder Teixeira thought it tasted like mouth wash. I liked it, but I think I put too much root beer flavoring and it was really strong, so I couldn’t drink too much. I am looking forward to finding some ice cream to make root beer floats.
Today I have achieved 16 months in the mission! The time is going by so so so so fast. Seems like yesterday I was in the MTC... Well, there's only one thing to do, keep going! Keep seeing the hand of the Lord every day... literally every day. He truly goes before us, and is at our sides.
Have a great week!
Love, Elder Bartlett
1) An average Argentine breakfast. Malta and bread with dulce de leche (creamy carmel)
Before I go over my week, I would like to say that my family is AWESOME. All you you had super cool Halloween costumes and I am proud to be related to so many cool people. Here I saw maybe 3 people dressed up…
This Sunday was absolutely miraculous. We had four investigators attend, plus three less active families. There was a beautiful spirit in the testimony meeting because almost a fourth of the ward is going to the temple this week! We are still fighting to get a temple down here in the far south because Buenos Aires is pretty far from Comodoro and it requires sacrifice to get up there.
The rest of this week was pretty good. It has been nice and sunny, with only a few cloudy days. We can walk around in just bright white shirts (mine not-so-much compared to my new companions) and everyone else is outside as well.
I made some home-made root beer the other day, but it came out more or less… Elder Teixeira thought it tasted like mouth wash. I liked it, but I think I put too much root beer flavoring and it was really strong, so I couldn’t drink too much. I am looking forward to finding some ice cream to make root beer floats.
Today I have achieved 16 months in the mission! The time is going by so so so so fast. Seems like yesterday I was in the MTC... Well, there's only one thing to do, keep going! Keep seeing the hand of the Lord every day... literally every day. He truly goes before us, and is at our sides.
Have a great week!
Love, Elder Bartlett
1) An average Argentine breakfast. Malta and bread with dulce de leche (creamy carmel)
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