Have to GO!‏

Hello Family and Friends,

Jarom on Skype Christmas Day

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years! I hope everyone is having a wonderful time, I know I am! For Christmas Eve we got together with the Maimó family and shared a beautiful dinner after sharing a spiritual family home evening. Then we went to the roofs and watched the amazing firework show of an entire city. Christmas day we spent with the other missionaries making tacos, playing games, and watching Inside Out and Big Hero. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.



However, I received sad news. I’m being transferred from La Prensa, Comodoro Rivadavia, to Rio Grande in La Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire). I’m really going to miss the here… There are many wonderful friends that I have made, but we do our best to stay in contact. I also have to say good bye to Elder Teixeira! My Brazilian companion has grown so much since he arrived 3 months ago. He has almost a whole mission in front of him, and I wish him the best.



The internet cut again, so I'll let you know how everything went next week! Love you all!



Elder Bartlett

I fixed my glasses, I just sewed them back together! But my tennis shoes are really falling apart... I played soccer yesterday I a have lots of blisters, but I guess I could just play less ;)

Basically Christmas‏

Hello Everyone,



This week was tranquil. We had our Christmas activity and did a little nativity. I had a lot of fun being the angel (better than having to be the star...) and I'll see if I can get a hold of some pictures.



I love Christmas. It is a time to remember the greatest expression of love in the all of history. There is magic in the air that softens our hearts and encourages to be and do good. The family comes together, the best food is served, and no one is forgotten. Love more this Christmas, and make it last all year round. Don't forget our Saviour when you take the decorations down.

Love you all! Have a wondeful holly jolly merry CHRISTmas!!!



Elder Bartlett

Perdónenme‏

Mom & Dad,
Se cortó el Internet acá... sorry, I meant to say that the Internet went down right as I was about to send my email... I got busy looking at all the amazing pictures from the carribean! I think my favorite is on the horses in the water with the sun and ship in the background.

Everything is fine! I responded to one or two emails, but we got to the cyber a little late and normally between 12 and 1 the internet always crashes. Plus, the lady had to leave from the cyber we were at...

So... I prayed for your scoping, but I wasn't really sure what exactly I was praying for so I don't know if it was too effective. Very happy to hear that everything is alright, though. What is a scope?

I hope you got my other email, if not, I can call most likely the 24 from 3 until 12 (my time). If it is easier the 25 or 26 let me know please!

Hey! I got your package! I don't know if I ever told you... But thanks a ton! I am in paradise eating poptarts... I wanted to wait until Christmas to open it, but I am most likely leaving right after and I didn't want to take it with me on the travel. Plus, colleen sent the cookies to make! I'll be doing that this week.

If either of you know anything about Star Wars or have seen it, DO NOT SAY ANYTHING. I am literally dying right now, and I am trying to just ignore it. Thanks.

Have a very merry christmas! Thanks for everything.

Love, Elder Bartlett

Another Week‏

Dear family and family (we're all brothers and sisters!),

This week has flown by so fast that I'm still not sure I know what happened in it. I know we had several lessons with members and a new investigator that we're absolutley wonderful. Other than that it was a lot of chatting quickly and trying to set appointments for other days with families that didn't have much time.

Oh, we also had a lot of reunions this week, one with President and Sister Rogers and the other with the zone. Both were really good. For those who aren't in my direct family, every year we usually get together and act out the nativity, the birth of Christ. I love this time a lot, but as I am not with my family, I miss it a lot. Thankfully the President organized something similar with christmas hymns, scriptures and pictures. It was awesome. I love CHRISTmas.

That's about it for this week. We're just trying to find all the families we normally teach, which is difficult due to the time of year... But I love it!

I hope everyone enjoys this wonderful season and has someone to share it with. If not, feel free to jump down to Argentina, we can figure something out!

Love,

Elder Bartlett

Thanksgiving

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

¡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

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