Día de la Independencia

 Hey y'all!

On Thursday this week it was Uruguay's independence day! Everyone was busy celebrating so it was hard to meet with people. There was a huge parade and during our lunch time we went to the main town plaza and saw the end of it. It was basically just a bunch of cowboys riding their horses down the street. It made me feel at home, yeehaw! There was also so much good food, it felt like July 4th!

The festivities for Dia de la Independencia

The highlight of my week was Sandra! We had 2 lessons with her this week and she is the best! We invited her to be baptized and she accepted. When we asked her about a date/goal for baptism she said, "tomorrow?" On Saturday we had another lesson with her and when we asked her about her Book of Mormon reading she kissed it and said, "I love this book." She is so ready for baptism. She loves the gospel and is willing to change in order to take this next step in her life. 

with Sandra

On Saturday we had a lady in our ward tutoring us in Spanish. It was helpful for pronunciation and she said we can meet every week, so I'm excited for that!

This week we tried lots of new ideas for finding. (Shoutout to the best siblings for the ideas!) We went to the park and talked to people, had a sports night, printed a map of our area to mark the doors we knock, and showed a video during street contacting. Go watch it, Because of Him.

The video is so powerful and everyone that watched it felt the spirit. Jesus lives, He suffered for us so that we can have joy in this life. He loves y'all! Have a great week!

Love y'all!

Hermana Neuberger

Primary Activity

panaderia

I love eating dulce de leche

The week of no hot water!

 Hola!

This week was crazy, but I learned so much! 

Outside our apartment in Artigas

On Tuesday we woke up and had no running water in our apartment. Then, Wednesday night our electricity went off. I was already frustrated with not being able to speak Spanish and not having power and water added to it. But God is so good and I was able to see so many miracles. During personal study I was reading the Book of Mormon and read Mosiah 24:13-14 :

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. 

All of this was in the broken water heater

This scripture along with 2 Nephi 4, Doctrine and Covenants 31, and praying gave me the comfort I needed (highly recommend reading these scriptures). I learned the Lord helps us through our trials and negativity is a lie that comes from Satan. Our power came back on that morning and when we got home that night our water was working! These were answers to my prayers! God is a god of miracles! However, our hot water is not working, after not having running water for a few days I don't mind taking a freezing cold shower haha! They are supposed to get our hot water working today! These events have strengthened my testimony in trusting in the Lord's ways and the power of prayer. He has a plan greater than ours. He knows us personally, answers our prayers, and helps us become better. 

Yummy alfahor

This week we visited members and knocked on a lot of doors. One night when we went to visit a member her friend, Sandra, was there. Sandra comes to church but says she doesn't have time to visit with the missionaries. However, because she was there we were able to teach her a lesson and her friend pushed her to commit to keep meeting with us. This was a tender mercy and I'm excited to see her progress. Also, this week someone gave us crepes with dulce de leche in the middle. Best thing I've ever tasted!!! I have grown so much this week and learned the importance of trusting in God. When we feel like we have no one to turn to, God is always there.

I hope y'all have an awesome week!

Hermana Neuberger

view from apartment

with members from the ward

at the mission home

I made it to Uruguay!

 Hey yall!

I arrived in Uruguay on Tuesday! This week has been exhausting. We spent the first day in the mission home in Montevideo and then found out our area and companions on Wednesday. I am in Artigas, which borders Brazil! My companion is Hermana Ferre, she is from Sandy, Utah and is the best. Our area is an 8 hour bus ride from Montevideo. We left Montevideo at 6pm and got to Artigas at around 2am, so it was a long day.

Meeting our new companions

This week has been hard because I have come to the realization that my Spanish is terrible, but I just smile and nod. However, the Uruguayans are the best and are so kind to the missionaries. Some things I love about Uruguay so far are:

- Instead of knocking on doors we stand outside and clap, somehow the people hear it and answer. I'm still trying to figure out how that works.  

- The food is so good here! The members give us lunch everyday, and it is normally chicken and rice. Plus they have something called Alfajors and they are the best. They are pretty much cookies covered in chocolate with caramel in the middle. I have had one every day I have been here hahaha!

- I love the way the Uruguayans greet with a side kiss and hug. Even though I can't communicate I can still feel their love.

- Randomly seeing horses walking in the streets always makes me laugh. 

- In the evening everyone is out on their porch drinking mate. I'm still not a fan, but I need to get used to it so I can bond with the people more.

- Soccer! We walk into houses and people always have soccer on the tv. 

Artigas countryside

This week I was reading in James and James 1:2-3 says, "...count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." This week has been hard because I can't speak Spanish as well as I would like. I'm trying to be patient and count it all joy. Christ brings so much joy to my life and I'm so happy I get to share it with others everyday!

Have a great week!

Hermana Neuberger

Yvonne got her visa

outside the church with Hermana Ferre

mini horse hanging out in the plaza

our amiga Miriam

Uruguay Here I Come!!!

Hey yall!

Celebrating one month on the mission with ice cream

Mexico has been amazing! I have loved my time here! I have learned a little Spanish and so much more about the gospel. I am so sad to leave, but know the Lord has bigger plans in Uruguay. I fly to Uruguay on Monday!

This week we practiced teaching lessons in spanish. It was super hard, but God is so good and we were able to get our message across. My district volunteered to help in the kitchen this week. We helped wash the dishes. There was so much going on and the latinos work so hard and fast, but we managed to keep up and help out. 

Washing the dishes

One thing I'm going to miss about the CCM is exercise time. During exercise time we challenge other districts to volleyball, frisbee, or groundball. Groundball is my favorite. It is like volleyball on a tennis court, but the ball can hit the ground once on each side. We played one district who showed up in all black. It was intense to say the least, but so fun! Today we got to go to the Mexico City temple again. It was fun to see Mexico City again!

This past week I have been studying the story of Ester. The king made a law that would kill her people, so she fasted and prayed. Then she had the courage to ask the king to take away the law and he did! Ester's faith in the Lord and her courage to talk to the king saved her people. I pray that I can have faith like Ester to teach the gospel and try to bring souls to Christ. 

Have a great week!

Hermana Neuberger

 Pics:

Mural of Esther 

More district pictures

dressing like the Elders

big conference room where we have the devotionals

Relief Society at church