I’ll just be honest with you all. This was one of the longest weeks of my life. So many things happened it was crazy.
Well, Tuesday we woke up to LOTS of rain. We had to travel to the mission headquarters by boat almost. Every street was about a foot deep of water. So we trudged over to the train, and from the train to the chapel. We were taught a little bit and then went to the mission home (or, in other words... where the mission president lives with his family). There were 4 Latin’s that came in and 9 Yankees. My companion turned out to be Elder Gallardo from Chile. He is 19 and really excited to work. Once we got home we dropped off his bags and took off. We swam down the roads again to a few appointments. He handled it like a pro. He really is a champ. He has some great new ideas and some interesting outlooks on life that will really spruce up our teachings. It is odd looking back at when I came here. I wonder what my trainer was thinking.
The terrible news is that on his first week we just happen to not have gas in the apartment. That means we can’t cook or shower. There were a few details about the apartment that no one told us about. We ended up being without water for 3-4 days. Let me just tell you, I had the coldest showers of my life. The water tank is outside and it got to 0º a couple nights in a row. It was really the coldest thing I think I’ve ever done. And my poor new companion just went a few days without showering. He also didn't have a sleeping bag... so I lent him mine and we went out and bought him one Thursday. Oh my poor poor companion. The first week is always the longest... but even more so when there are problems like this.
Well, before I write you all again I will finish my first year as a missionary. Yup... I’d like to say that I should be finishing 2 years already... but at the same moment I feel like I just started. There is something interesting that happens to missionaries around this time. We seem to just forget and loose all connections to home. I can honestly not remember what it is like to be a normal person right now. My life seems to be a blur of baptismal dates, old shoes, scriptures, Spanish words, ties, etc. I'm sorry to inform you all that I probably will NOT be coming home in a year. I don't think I can make the change back into a normal person.
Well, from what I hear, everyone is doing well. Jamo and Rebbecca should be getting married this week. My congratulations. Save me a napkin or something... Or just send me a photo... that might be better. I hope Alex got home safe and sound... I'm kind of worried about him going to the beaches of Hawaii right after the mission... tell me he got home in one piece. As for the rest of you... I hope and pray you will all stay safe until I see you again.
Love,
Elder Tommy Steinkuhler
PS I am having fun... for all of you who worry.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Email from the President
Tommy is Training a new missionary! His President sent the following to the new missionary's family and added us on the email to see the picture.
Estimada Familia Gallardo,
Es con placer que les informamos que su hijo llegó bien a la gran Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Sur. Está muy contento con su nueva área y tiene un entrenador Buenísimo! Gracias por criar a un hijo tan bueno. Aunque hace poco tiempo que lo conocemos ya lo queremos.
Cordialmente,
Presidente y Hermana Asay
_____________________________
Estimada Familia Gallardo,
Es con placer que les informamos que su hijo llegó bien a la gran Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Sur. Está muy contento con su nueva área y tiene un entrenador Buenísimo! Gracias por criar a un hijo tan bueno. Aunque hace poco tiempo que lo conocemos ya lo queremos.
Cordialmente,
Presidente y Hermana Asay
Monday, July 20, 2009
Staying in Villa Zula for my 5th transfer and TRAINING!
WOW!!! WHAT A WEEK! I'm changing companions again... the president came for a day... miracles have been working their way into my area... I cannot express to you all how grateful I am for our Savior Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven.
Last Monday was long and Tuesday seemed even longer because we knew that President Asay was going to come the next day. Really, just one of those feelings like you are waiting for your death sentence. When we got home on Tuesday President Asay was already waiting for us. And it started!!! The best 24 hours of my life.
On Wednesday we woke up on time and the president was already showered and dressed. We then got ready and studied like normal. We planned and everything. Then took photos and left. It was a really spiritual morning. There is something about being around a man who knows the majority of the quorum of the twelve. The whole day was really a spiritual experience.
We taught a few less active people in the morning and then investigators in the afternoon. All went really well. It was amazing to see how he reflected EVERYTHING back to The Book of Mormon and prayer. It was amazing how powerfully he spoke and the influence he had on people I’ve been teaching for 6 months. He changed those people in 10 minutes more than I’ve done in 6 months. It was amazing. Truly a humbling experience. He complimented us on all the things we do well and helped us improve ourselves in the things we lack. From the way he was acting, I was expecting us to stay together for a long time.
Turns out that on Saturday... when the phone rang and we received the transfer news, it was nothing like we though. My companion, Elder Villagra, who is probably my favorite companion so far... left me. Well, he left very reluctantly. And I am staying in Villa Zula for my 5th transfer and WILL BE TRAINING!!!! I still don’t believe it. In some MTC in the world, my next companion is getting ready to come here. I’ll find out who it is in about 24 hours. Currently I’m companion-less and walking the streets of Argentina solo. Well it is either that or Elder Bogarin and I are chilling together for a day. He is from Paraguay and came into the mission with me. We`ll be rocking it up in his area because mine is an 8 hour round trip and his is about 30 minutes. I figure we can find something constructive to do with those 7 and a half hours.
That is really the big news. I don’t know what else to say about my week. It was a wonderful week. Absolutely wonderful. I learned things like I was in the MTC again AND applied them. We had an appointment yesterday with a family I’ve been teaching for 6 months. The daughter is inactive and is 20 years old. She loves the missionaries but has never said anything kind to me. After a lovely appointment that included a little bit of cane dropping, she told me thanks... and that I was a capo (roughly translated to stud). By the end of the lesson she not only had the desire to read for the Book of Mormon every day and to pray... but also to pray about whether or not a mission was the right decision for her. I love what the president taught us. Now I just need to teach that to my new companion.
I don’t know if you all can tell... but I’m kind of freaking out. As much as I don’t like asking for it, I could really use some prayers.
I almost forgot, I had some questions about the food here. The food here is NOT like Mexico. There is no spice whatsoever. The most common foods are meat, empenadas, pizza, pastas and MATÈ. Empenadas are kind of like burritos and matè is a type of tea that everyone drinks. Anyway, I’m out of time... but if anyone has more questions about culture or what-have you... ask me.
All my love,
Elder Tommy Steinkuhler
Last Monday was long and Tuesday seemed even longer because we knew that President Asay was going to come the next day. Really, just one of those feelings like you are waiting for your death sentence. When we got home on Tuesday President Asay was already waiting for us. And it started!!! The best 24 hours of my life.
On Wednesday we woke up on time and the president was already showered and dressed. We then got ready and studied like normal. We planned and everything. Then took photos and left. It was a really spiritual morning. There is something about being around a man who knows the majority of the quorum of the twelve. The whole day was really a spiritual experience.
We taught a few less active people in the morning and then investigators in the afternoon. All went really well. It was amazing to see how he reflected EVERYTHING back to The Book of Mormon and prayer. It was amazing how powerfully he spoke and the influence he had on people I’ve been teaching for 6 months. He changed those people in 10 minutes more than I’ve done in 6 months. It was amazing. Truly a humbling experience. He complimented us on all the things we do well and helped us improve ourselves in the things we lack. From the way he was acting, I was expecting us to stay together for a long time.
Turns out that on Saturday... when the phone rang and we received the transfer news, it was nothing like we though. My companion, Elder Villagra, who is probably my favorite companion so far... left me. Well, he left very reluctantly. And I am staying in Villa Zula for my 5th transfer and WILL BE TRAINING!!!! I still don’t believe it. In some MTC in the world, my next companion is getting ready to come here. I’ll find out who it is in about 24 hours. Currently I’m companion-less and walking the streets of Argentina solo. Well it is either that or Elder Bogarin and I are chilling together for a day. He is from Paraguay and came into the mission with me. We`ll be rocking it up in his area because mine is an 8 hour round trip and his is about 30 minutes. I figure we can find something constructive to do with those 7 and a half hours.
That is really the big news. I don’t know what else to say about my week. It was a wonderful week. Absolutely wonderful. I learned things like I was in the MTC again AND applied them. We had an appointment yesterday with a family I’ve been teaching for 6 months. The daughter is inactive and is 20 years old. She loves the missionaries but has never said anything kind to me. After a lovely appointment that included a little bit of cane dropping, she told me thanks... and that I was a capo (roughly translated to stud). By the end of the lesson she not only had the desire to read for the Book of Mormon every day and to pray... but also to pray about whether or not a mission was the right decision for her. I love what the president taught us. Now I just need to teach that to my new companion.
I don’t know if you all can tell... but I’m kind of freaking out. As much as I don’t like asking for it, I could really use some prayers.
I almost forgot, I had some questions about the food here. The food here is NOT like Mexico. There is no spice whatsoever. The most common foods are meat, empenadas, pizza, pastas and MATÈ. Empenadas are kind of like burritos and matè is a type of tea that everyone drinks. Anyway, I’m out of time... but if anyone has more questions about culture or what-have you... ask me.
All my love,
Elder Tommy Steinkuhler
Monday, July 13, 2009
It got me dirty, but hey... that’s the price we pay.
So much to write... not enough time. Sorry... to say everything, this will be very random and confusing and unorganized... so probably just normal. We`ll see.
Story: One of the members in our ward visited the Branch President. His dog came with him but did not follow him home. When we passed by later on the wife of the branch president explained the situation and when we left the dog followed us. We decided to go out of our way and walked the dog home. It was pretty funny because it isn’t that big of a dog and got scared a lot... so I carried it some of the way. It got me dirty, but hey... that’s the price we pay. He was happy to be home though.
Another act of service we did this week was when we went to visit some inactives... they have a long story. Let’s just say it was interesting to see them in the same house, let alone happy in the same house. He was working on the floors, so when we walked in and saw the commotion, we dropped our bags and just started buffing as well. It felt so good to do a little bit of service.
Last Monday I bought my first matès. One is a part of a cow horn... the other is a wooden one. If anyone knows anything about Argentina it is that a matè is required to be Argentine. Now I’ve got two.
As missionaries we get to know the most interesting people. One member has sons who went down dark paths. They are now in jail. We work with her when we can. Anyway, we were sitting in another member’s house teaching and I glance over at the TV to see her face staring back. Turns out they did a special on her and she was on the news. Que tal.
Another funny thing is that when I was in El Cruce we found this man who looked golden. Later on I heard he wanted to get baptized but couldn’t because of past things he did. Elder Villagra told me all of what happened. Turns out he is like a leader of all the robbers in El Cruce. Needless to say, he has some things to fix. Also, he told them that if anyone ever tried to do anything to them... that they should tell the person that they are friends of his. I love crazy stuff like that.
This last week we went to a members home to talk to his sister-in-law (not member) and they asked us for a blessing of health. We did it. Then they asked for a blessing on the house, which I did (interesting how we receive our first experiences). Then the mother (member and not all there in the head) wanted one and kept on talking all throughout the blessing. THEN... she was like "Thanks, and the heater is broken to... can you bless it as well". Needless to say, the point of Priesthood blessings was lost to her... but she had the faith to be healed. It is things like this that remind me of how we must become as innocent children.
Well, I’m WAY out of time. So I’m heading out to do some good. We had fun today. I played Frisbee and we watched Kung Fu Panda for the 10th time. HAHA... all well.
Love you all,
Tommy
PS the president is coming on Tuesday.
Story: One of the members in our ward visited the Branch President. His dog came with him but did not follow him home. When we passed by later on the wife of the branch president explained the situation and when we left the dog followed us. We decided to go out of our way and walked the dog home. It was pretty funny because it isn’t that big of a dog and got scared a lot... so I carried it some of the way. It got me dirty, but hey... that’s the price we pay. He was happy to be home though.
Another act of service we did this week was when we went to visit some inactives... they have a long story. Let’s just say it was interesting to see them in the same house, let alone happy in the same house. He was working on the floors, so when we walked in and saw the commotion, we dropped our bags and just started buffing as well. It felt so good to do a little bit of service.
Last Monday I bought my first matès. One is a part of a cow horn... the other is a wooden one. If anyone knows anything about Argentina it is that a matè is required to be Argentine. Now I’ve got two.
As missionaries we get to know the most interesting people. One member has sons who went down dark paths. They are now in jail. We work with her when we can. Anyway, we were sitting in another member’s house teaching and I glance over at the TV to see her face staring back. Turns out they did a special on her and she was on the news. Que tal.
Another funny thing is that when I was in El Cruce we found this man who looked golden. Later on I heard he wanted to get baptized but couldn’t because of past things he did. Elder Villagra told me all of what happened. Turns out he is like a leader of all the robbers in El Cruce. Needless to say, he has some things to fix. Also, he told them that if anyone ever tried to do anything to them... that they should tell the person that they are friends of his. I love crazy stuff like that.
This last week we went to a members home to talk to his sister-in-law (not member) and they asked us for a blessing of health. We did it. Then they asked for a blessing on the house, which I did (interesting how we receive our first experiences). Then the mother (member and not all there in the head) wanted one and kept on talking all throughout the blessing. THEN... she was like "Thanks, and the heater is broken to... can you bless it as well". Needless to say, the point of Priesthood blessings was lost to her... but she had the faith to be healed. It is things like this that remind me of how we must become as innocent children.
Well, I’m WAY out of time. So I’m heading out to do some good. We had fun today. I played Frisbee and we watched Kung Fu Panda for the 10th time. HAHA... all well.
Love you all,
Tommy
PS the president is coming on Tuesday.
Monday, July 6, 2009
I have the answer to everything
Oh my goodness... huge week! Where to start... Gripe A.
My mother so kindly berated me for not informing people about being sick. I will now explain why I didn't... because if I don't, this week will make no sense to anyone. I have no clue what it is called in the states... here it is called Gripe A. I believe back at home it is called Swine Flu or something like that. It has gotten big down here. People have been dying down here because of that. No one I know... but people in the city I'm living in. I BELIEVE... not sure, but believe we got sick with this sickness. We all had the symptoms and everything, all 4 of us. And I did not want to worry people with this because it passed... I'm not going to die. AND I'm sure people would have told us to stay inside... which we just can’t do. You`d understand if you were a missionary. Staying inside is not an answer, even if you are sick or dying. Sorry... not going to happen. Here it is being called an epidemic. Okay... so THAT is the reason I did not tell anyone. I don't want people freaking out about poor little Tommy... because I'm fine. OKAY!!!! Good.
Well, so what happened is that because everyone is sick... no one really wants us to come in. Also, there was a mandate sent out saying that Berisso (the city in which I live) is not allowed to have meetings of any kind. Schools, clubs, Churches… Everything has been shut down. If anyone knows the Articles of Faith... they´d know we follow the law. That, above other things, means that we did not have church Sunday. But, God`s church cannot be stopped... so we as missionaries went to the house of every member and gave them the sacrament. Let me tell you... it was a long day with rain and all sorts of horrible things. But it was also one of the best days of my mission. Going house to house giving the sacrament to people is a blessing rarely heard of.
Well, that isn't even the biggest event of the week. On Saturday we had a baptism of Jorge Alegre. It was amazingly wonderful. As a church we normally give the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sundays, during the sacrament meetings. But this week we had no sacrament meeting so we had the opportunity to do it right after the baptismal service. It was amazing. We spent all day boiling water in the church`s kitchen and dumping it into the font because the water wasn't warm. And something in the font tinted the water greenish. And all of these things were working against us, but it turned out to be one of the smoothest baptisms I’ve seen here. Very wonderful.
Anyway... I had a million things to tell you all... but I grabbed the wrong agenda. Let us think...
This Monday the power went out in Berisso. We ended up doing contacts in the pitch black and teaching people in their homes under candle light. I really felt like the old school missionaries who taught like that. Houses here have not progressed and are much like what they were back in the era of Joseph Smith. It was an experience I won’t soon forget.
It has been really weird weather here. Raining hard one day and then the next is like summer. Then the next is like we stepped into Antarctica.
I’ve been teaching my companions how to fence in any free 10 seconds we have.
We also had interviews this week... we learned a lot. It is amazing how much we learn now adays. There are so many techniques out there at our disposal. The President also thought about sending me home... but then didn't (just kidding).
I'm sorry... it was the biggest week of my life. SURELY the longest. And I forgot my agenda and don't have anything to tell anyone. My apologies.
Oh, I hope everyone got that e-mail our mission sent out to us concerning the packages. I have not received anything yet except a few things from my mother... letters, photos and ties... para que sepa. I’ve heard that a lot of things are on their way... but I didn't receive anything. I’m a patient man though. I’m sure it`ll come. I have faith. Something cool though that I’ve seen people do is: Write "Dios sabe todo y Dios vea todo." on the side of the box. It means "God knows all and God sees all". It seems to help it so that people don’t rob from the packages. Um, I guess that is all. I hope the photos I’m sending make it to you. I’m sending one from my roof of our yard and one of Jorge... I’ll try to get some of my face... but no promises. I will send one of my shoe (that I have since fixed).
Well, I love you all. I hope everyone is doing well and not dying of the gripe. Let me know if there is anything you want or need from me. I have the answer to everything... or at least the means to find an answer (whether it is the right answer or not... we`ll see).
All my love,
Tommy
My mother so kindly berated me for not informing people about being sick. I will now explain why I didn't... because if I don't, this week will make no sense to anyone. I have no clue what it is called in the states... here it is called Gripe A. I believe back at home it is called Swine Flu or something like that. It has gotten big down here. People have been dying down here because of that. No one I know... but people in the city I'm living in. I BELIEVE... not sure, but believe we got sick with this sickness. We all had the symptoms and everything, all 4 of us. And I did not want to worry people with this because it passed... I'm not going to die. AND I'm sure people would have told us to stay inside... which we just can’t do. You`d understand if you were a missionary. Staying inside is not an answer, even if you are sick or dying. Sorry... not going to happen. Here it is being called an epidemic. Okay... so THAT is the reason I did not tell anyone. I don't want people freaking out about poor little Tommy... because I'm fine. OKAY!!!! Good.
Well, so what happened is that because everyone is sick... no one really wants us to come in. Also, there was a mandate sent out saying that Berisso (the city in which I live) is not allowed to have meetings of any kind. Schools, clubs, Churches… Everything has been shut down. If anyone knows the Articles of Faith... they´d know we follow the law. That, above other things, means that we did not have church Sunday. But, God`s church cannot be stopped... so we as missionaries went to the house of every member and gave them the sacrament. Let me tell you... it was a long day with rain and all sorts of horrible things. But it was also one of the best days of my mission. Going house to house giving the sacrament to people is a blessing rarely heard of.
Well, that isn't even the biggest event of the week. On Saturday we had a baptism of Jorge Alegre. It was amazingly wonderful. As a church we normally give the gift of the Holy Ghost on Sundays, during the sacrament meetings. But this week we had no sacrament meeting so we had the opportunity to do it right after the baptismal service. It was amazing. We spent all day boiling water in the church`s kitchen and dumping it into the font because the water wasn't warm. And something in the font tinted the water greenish. And all of these things were working against us, but it turned out to be one of the smoothest baptisms I’ve seen here. Very wonderful.
Anyway... I had a million things to tell you all... but I grabbed the wrong agenda. Let us think...
This Monday the power went out in Berisso. We ended up doing contacts in the pitch black and teaching people in their homes under candle light. I really felt like the old school missionaries who taught like that. Houses here have not progressed and are much like what they were back in the era of Joseph Smith. It was an experience I won’t soon forget.
It has been really weird weather here. Raining hard one day and then the next is like summer. Then the next is like we stepped into Antarctica.
I’ve been teaching my companions how to fence in any free 10 seconds we have.
We also had interviews this week... we learned a lot. It is amazing how much we learn now adays. There are so many techniques out there at our disposal. The President also thought about sending me home... but then didn't (just kidding).
I'm sorry... it was the biggest week of my life. SURELY the longest. And I forgot my agenda and don't have anything to tell anyone. My apologies.
Oh, I hope everyone got that e-mail our mission sent out to us concerning the packages. I have not received anything yet except a few things from my mother... letters, photos and ties... para que sepa. I’ve heard that a lot of things are on their way... but I didn't receive anything. I’m a patient man though. I’m sure it`ll come. I have faith. Something cool though that I’ve seen people do is: Write "Dios sabe todo y Dios vea todo." on the side of the box. It means "God knows all and God sees all". It seems to help it so that people don’t rob from the packages. Um, I guess that is all. I hope the photos I’m sending make it to you. I’m sending one from my roof of our yard and one of Jorge... I’ll try to get some of my face... but no promises. I will send one of my shoe (that I have since fixed).
Well, I love you all. I hope everyone is doing well and not dying of the gripe. Let me know if there is anything you want or need from me. I have the answer to everything... or at least the means to find an answer (whether it is the right answer or not... we`ll see).
All my love,
Tommy
Updated Information on Mailing Packages
Missionaries…please read and then FORWARD this email to your parents!
Dear Parents of Buenos Aires South missionaries;
As some of you already are aware we are experiencing a growing problem with the Customs and Postal Offices here in Argentina. Until just a couple months ago we were recommending highly that you send all packages “Express Mail” through the US Postal Service. They arrive safely and come directly to the Mission Office within 6 days. All “Priority Mail” packages are still a problem as they go to the Capital until we can get them picked up (an all day event outside our mission boundaries) and there is a fee to retrieve them.
However, the new problem is that the customs office in our region has decided to impose a huge tax on all “Express” packages arriving from the United States. They take the cost of the items inside the box (according to the value you place on the customs form) plus the price of shipping, divide it by two then times it by 3.7 to get the price in Pesos. That will be the C.O.D. charge placed on the package when it arrives at the Mission Office. We also noticed that most of the boxes with values less than $10.00 dollars were not charged anything. Others with values less than $20.00 were random…some charged, some not.
We are not sure why this has suddenly changed, but we still feel that the best method to send the packages is “Express Mail”. We would suggest that you write on the customs form, “Missionary Supplies”, but keep the written value as low as possible. If you send clothing take all tags off as they could think they are items for resale. We have had missionaries be charged as much as $250.00 dollars to get their packages. This money comes out of the missionaries personal account, so the parents end up paying twice for the package.
Another suggestion would be to hold off on sending any packages for the time being. We have some very nice stores here where the missionaries can purchase new clothing and shoes, and for usually less money than they cost in the US.
We are so sorry for this problem. If you have any questions feel free to email us at 2014459@ldschurch.org or call our office at 54-4293-5392.
Sincerely,
Sister Fitch
Secretary
Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission
Dear Parents of Buenos Aires South missionaries;
As some of you already are aware we are experiencing a growing problem with the Customs and Postal Offices here in Argentina. Until just a couple months ago we were recommending highly that you send all packages “Express Mail” through the US Postal Service. They arrive safely and come directly to the Mission Office within 6 days. All “Priority Mail” packages are still a problem as they go to the Capital until we can get them picked up (an all day event outside our mission boundaries) and there is a fee to retrieve them.
However, the new problem is that the customs office in our region has decided to impose a huge tax on all “Express” packages arriving from the United States. They take the cost of the items inside the box (according to the value you place on the customs form) plus the price of shipping, divide it by two then times it by 3.7 to get the price in Pesos. That will be the C.O.D. charge placed on the package when it arrives at the Mission Office. We also noticed that most of the boxes with values less than $10.00 dollars were not charged anything. Others with values less than $20.00 were random…some charged, some not.
We are not sure why this has suddenly changed, but we still feel that the best method to send the packages is “Express Mail”. We would suggest that you write on the customs form, “Missionary Supplies”, but keep the written value as low as possible. If you send clothing take all tags off as they could think they are items for resale. We have had missionaries be charged as much as $250.00 dollars to get their packages. This money comes out of the missionaries personal account, so the parents end up paying twice for the package.
Another suggestion would be to hold off on sending any packages for the time being. We have some very nice stores here where the missionaries can purchase new clothing and shoes, and for usually less money than they cost in the US.
We are so sorry for this problem. If you have any questions feel free to email us at 2014459@ldschurch.org or call our office at 54-4293-5392.
Sincerely,
Sister Fitch
Secretary
Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission
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