Finally in Saltaaaa!!!

Hello everyone!! 

I've survived my first week in the field!! Haha it has been an adventure for sure!!

Leaving the CCM was actually a lot harder than I thought it would be. It was just an incredible experience overall! I met a lot of awesome people and so it was hard to say goodbye! There´s no place like the MTC!!!  But there's also no place like SALTA ARGENTINA!!

I can't believe I'm finally en el campo!! We left Monday morning and got to Buenos Aires Tuesday morning. Then we had to go to another airport in order to fly to Salta. The problem was that the workers at this domestic airport were on strike so it was pure chaos!! Haha thankfully our flight was only delayed a couple of hours. Tuesday evening we finally arrived in Salta capital and President Orquiera and his family picked us up. We got to eat dinner at the mission home and it was definitely the best food I've had in 6 weeks!! They have an 8 year old son and he is the cutest!! Even though I ́ve only known them for a week, I already love them and can't wait to get to know them more! Then we spent the night in a hotel and the next day met our trainers and went to our areas!! 

My trainer is Hermana Folau and she is the BEST!! She's Tongan, which is super fun that we are together because I think we are the only Polys in the mission haha!! She's from Utah and she literally just finished her training before me, so she's only been in the field for 3 months. CRAZY!! She is awesome though! She's practically already fluent and is super sweet. 

Our area is called Mosconi!! Let me just say it is not at all what I expected Salta to be like - but I know this is where I am supposed to be :) It is this little town in the Salta province but is very VERY rural and spread out. That means A LOT of walking in the hot summer sun!! YAY!! It gets up to 100 degrees here right now and apparently is supposed to get hotter in January, so hopefully I don't get heat stroke lol. 

So basically the Salta mission actually covers 4 provinces (like states) which is actually like HUGE land wise. Even though Mosconi is still in the province of Salta, it is 6 hours away from the mission home and office in Salta capital. Most of the areas in our mission are also up to 8 hours away from the center of our mission, both North and South. So I´ll definitely have to get used to long bus rides lol

Anyways in the couple of days I have been in Mosconi I have learned a few things :)

1. The Spanish here is literally like another language than what I learned in the CCM!! People here speak and pronounce their words with the Castellano accent which sounds cool but is difficult to understand because it is not what I am used to. Not to mention a lot of people in Mosconi don't have teeth and mumble and talk really really fast haha. It has been a learning experience for sure, trying to adjust to the language differences. But I hope with time and patience and the gift of tongues the language will come!!

2. The people here clap instead of knock outside houses. Haha at first I was confused and like whaaatttt?? How can they even hear us outside?? But they really do come out!! (Unless they are ignoring us lol)

3. The people really REALLY love their animals as much as they love their people, maybe even a little more. There are literally dogs EVERYWHERE and a lot of horses and chickens in Mosconi that just roam free. I don't  trust any of them and am especially afraid of the dogs because I don't want to get bit lol

This week we also had a couple of great lessons with our interested people! One of the best lessons we had was with a girl named Lucia. The spirit was so strong during our lesson on the Restoration. Even though I still don't know that much Spanish, especially Argentinian Spanish, I was able to testify and feel the spirit work through me during the lesson. We committed her to a baptism date so hopefully she continues to progress and makes it to church next week!! Having awesome lessons and teaching people like Lucia makes the whole mission and all the sacrifices worth it!! 

Overall, even though my area is very very different than what I am used to, I know this is where I am supposed to be. It has been very humbling for me as the people here have so little but are always happy and kind to me and my companion! I have a lot to learn from them! 

Anyways I´m sorry I don't have more time to write today! If you wrote me, it might take me a couple of pdays to get back to you because our time is limited on the internet but I will do my best to write you back!! I love you all and don't know what I would do without your support at home!!

Also if you want to send me a package or letter - the mission address is on my blog. But it is easiest and best if you send it either through the companies packmule express or missionary packages argentina!! 

And sadly I don't know if ill be able to send pictures this week but i'll try my best next week!

La iglesia es verdadero y cambian vidas!! Hope you all have a good week!!

Con amor,

Hermana Tate