Wherein Sadie Celebrates Christmas in Uruguay!

 December 25, 2023

Feliz Navidad!! 

Had some technical difficulties today but wanted to get this out still!

This week was full of some exhausting memories. On Tuesday we had our lovely 6 am bus for district council but vale la pena because it was a great meeting. We talked about faith and did the self-examination in preach my gospel. Everyone should go do it. It is so powerful to do it honestly and see where we can grow in our faith!! Chapter 6: Christlike attributes.

Thursday we had a multizone conference in Montevideo and well, good thing it was absolutely amazing because it sure was a whole adventure. It all started Wednesday when after lots of confusion and stress because there aren't a lot of buses out here in the middle of Uruguay, the APs just said we were responsible for making it to Montevideo before 9am Thursday. Well, we had a bus that would make it right at 9, but some other hermanas in our zone did not. So they stayed with us Wednesday night. We got up at 4 am and headed to Montevideo. We tried to sleep but man everybody on that bus must've eaten something because they all had to take a dump and wow, the smell woke us up. Like holy moly. I was nauseous the rest of the day. Well, we enjoyed a super great spiritual inspiring meeting and acted out the nativity and had good food, then left with our whole zone in a bus back to Durazno where we would take a different bus back to our areas. Well our sweet bus driver took his good ole time and just by chance the late bus doesnt go on Thursday so we ended up arriving at the bus terminal at 7:17. The last bus left at 7:15. So now there we were, 6 hermanas stranded in peach, Uruguay. 2 hermanas found a taxi to take them to their area 30 min away and we were stuck an hour and a half away from home. Bueno, like 24hrs away from home home but also away from our house here! After a few hours, the branch president and his family from the other hermanas branch drove all the way to get us. Bless his soul. He even took us to get ice cream before leaving. We arrived to Carmen, a different little town in the middle of Uruguay, and well just before we finally made it after such a long day, we got pulled over. Haha, we are just bad luck i guess. We finally made it to the Hermanas house and they didn't have extra beds but todo bien cuz we were tired. The next day we got up early to take a bus back to our area. Halfway there the bus broke down and we sat there standed for a lil while. We decided we just had to laugh it off because it was just a joke how many things were happening. We finally made it back to our area, showered, and got to work!! 

As crazy and exhausting and somewhat pathetic as it was, i will never forget the zone leaders trying to distract us from the stress, the hymns the branch president was blasting in his minivan in the absolute literally middle of nowhere country Uruguay in the pitch black, the crazy fast speed at which that minivan took the turns, and the miracle that the cops just said ok have a good night, the absolute hysterical laughter we broke into with the hermanas at 12, that horrid smell in the bus in the morning, watching a bus driver run into a sheep field to get water to the broken bus, and the glorious shower when we got home. I know the Lord blesses us and watches out for us and im grateful for these memories. 

Also Saturday we realized that the closet with the baptism clothes was locked and everyone who had a key was out of town also there was no gas so Andres got baptized in cold water. But it all worked out.

having his baptism on Christmas Eve was so special. I am so grateful for a Savior, my Savior, who came to this world to save us but not just save us but to make it possible to have joy, and peace, and make covenants with our Heavenly Father.

So yes, this week and Christmas was a little chaotic and just a little of everything, but it helped us focus on the important things. Even though the mic didn't work on Sunday and everyone sang at different times during the hymns, we took the Sacrament. Thanks to a humble Child who came to save us, we could do that. Thanks to Him, Andres was baptized. I was a little nervous about Christmas here and missing out on family, but the Spirit I felt when Andres was confirmed or when we showed up to the Hermanas house singing la primera Navidad and helping her set up her arbol, singing hymns with la familia secada with the cordero cooking on the parilla and Gregorio saying that Christmas to him means Jesus, finding Santiago in the street, the peoples smiles listening to our very off-tune singing, the amount of food they expected us to eat,  and the reaction of the kids opening their one regalo at midnight, showed me a whole lot more of Gods love. It was a wonderful Christmas, one I'll never forget. I loved it. 

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope you've felt the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is the biggest privilege to be a full-time representative of Him and wear his name every day! FELIZ NAVIDAD

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Bailey

Spider count: the scariest creature came crawling into our house and we found cockroaches by our bed on Christmas eve

Photos: i tried making cinammon rolls to carry on a tradition and they were ready by 6 pm instead of 6am. Good thing mama will be making them for me next year, and other photos!!

El lun, 18 de dic de 2023, 13:19, Sadie Bailey <sadie.bailey@missionary.org> escribió:

Hola hola!! 

We had transfers this week and...hermana Thompson came to Sarandi del Yi with me!! She was my companion 2 transfers ago in Florida and now we're here in Durazno together as hermana liders. Shes my bestie!!! The people here kinda dont like to understand gringas but vamo arriba, we're totally sufficiently fluent! 

This week we just worked a lot with our friends, had district council, hermana zago said bye to people : (, and we sweated a lot!

Its rainy and stormy right now! Apparently a huge storm hit argentina/part of uruguay. Where im at it hasnt been bad but we're praying for all of those affected by the storm! The hard thing here is that most people dont have great roofs so everything just gets all wet when it rains

We have a fun, busy, travel filled week this week so thatll be fun and tiring!

I loved this quote i read this week from the talk Do you want to be happy by Elder Choi

"...it is never too late to turn our hearts to Heavenly Father for help. Elder Paul V. Johnson taught us: “When we follow Satan, we give him power. When we follow God, He gives us power.”

So so true!! Its never too late! God loves us. He doesnt want us to obey Him to be giving Him power, but so that we have power! Im so grateful for the commandments and for the covenants we can make with our Heavenly Father!...speaking of covenants.....this guy, andres, that has gone to church like 30 times here but then disappeared off the face of the earth cuz he works out in the country, showed up to church yesterday asking to finally be baptised!! So we'll have his baptism on Christmas eve!! Such a cool miracle to see how God has a plan and this is His work. When we set our goals, we can trust that He will help us accomplish them even in ways we dont expect. We have the goal to have a baptism this month and had a little kid on date for the 30th. Well yesterday we ended up having to move the kids baptism to January but todo bien because God was preparing Andres' heart!!

Our friend Federico also made a lot of progress this week saying that after years of missionaries and his wife telling him to read the book of mormon if he had doubts or questions, he kept finding it around so he finally sat down and started reading. He said he also prayed to have tranquilidad in his job that day and he really felt it!! His testimony is growing and hes been coming to church with his not yet wife and cute toddler! Theyll be an eternal family one day!

I hope you all have a fun and safe week leading up to Christmas!! Light the world with your light, love, and service!!

Remember Cristo siempre. 

Love you all muchisimo!

Hermana Bailey

Spider count: we legit have a cockroach problem and theyre big

 

Wherein Sadie becomes a "Sister Leader"!

 December 18, 2023

Hola hola!! 

We had transfers this week and...Hermana Thompson came to Sarandi del Yi with me!! She was my companion 2 transfers ago in Florida and now we're here in Durazno together as hermana liders. She's my bestie!!! The people here kinda don't like to understand gringas but vamo arriba, we're totally sufficiently fluent! 

This week we just worked a lot with our friends, had district council, hermana zago said bye to people : (, and we sweated a lot!

It is rainy and stormy right now! Apparently, a huge storm hit Argentina/part of Uruguay. Where I'm at it hasn't been bad but we're praying for all of those affected by the storm! The hard thing here is that most people don't have great roofs so everything just gets all wet when it rains

We have a fun, busy, travel-filled week this week so that'll be fun and tiring!

I loved this quote I read this week from the talk Do You Want to Be Happy by Elder Choi

"...it is never too late to turn our hearts to Heavenly Father for help. Elder Paul V. Johnson taught us: “When we follow Satan, we give him power. When we follow God, He gives us power.”

So so true!! It's never too late! God loves us. He doesn't want us to obey Him to be giving Him power, but so that we have power! I am so grateful for the commandments and for the covenants, we can make with our Heavenly Father!...speaking of covenants.....this guy, Andres, has gone to church like 30 times here but then disappeared off the face of the earth cuz he works out in the country, showed up to church yesterday asking to finally be baptised!! So we'll have his baptism on Christmas eve!! Such a cool miracle to see how God has a plan and this is His work. When we set our goals, we can trust that He will help us accomplish them even in ways we dont expect. We have the goal to have a baptism this month and had a little kid on date for the 30th. Well yesterday we ended up having to move the kids baptism to January but todo bien because God was preparing Andres' heart!!

Our friend Federico also made a lot of progress this week saying that after years of missionaries and his wife telling him to read the book of mormon if he had doubts or questions, he kept finding it around so he finally sat down and started reading. He said he also prayed to have tranquilidad in his job that day and he really felt it!! His testimony is growing and hes been coming to church with his not yet wife and cute toddler! Theyll be an eternal family one day!

I hope you all have a fun and safe week leading up to Christmas!! Light the world with your light, love, and service!!

Remember Cristo siempre. 

Love you all muchisimo!

Hermana Bailey

Spider count: we legit have a cockroach problem and they are big

Photos: Enjoy!

Wherein Sadie Gives a Book of Mormon to a Kid Who LOVED it!

 December 11, 2023

 I don't really remember much of what we did this week but one day we were walking out to a house kinda far away down the highway and 3 little kids on the other side yelled us down. One of them was like 2yrs old running around in a diaper and gave me a heart attack being so close to the road. But as a missionary we can't grab them or anything so it was just a whole thing convincing him to go run closer to his house. Anyways the other 2 are 7 years old and 5 yrs old and they stopped us because they had taken all the random books they had and were trying to sell them. In the end we gave them a Book of Mormon and said we'd go by another day and talk to their mom. The next day we were walking on the completely opposite side of the town when we saw a little kid on the road with his family and this little 7-year-old had that Book of Mormon in his hand. We stopped and talked to the mom who said we can come by and she said that he just wanted to bring the book everywhere. It's like he wouldn't put it down. And well, that was just the cutest and most inspiring little thing to see. This 7yr old boy, who can't even read it, knew inside there was something special about the gift we gave him. I hope I cherish the Book of Mormon as much as he does. 

My companion was sick one day so we stayed in until the evening and I read like 20 chapters of alma and reorganized my closet while she slept.

I love reading a chapter of Luke every day! Do it with me!! 

We have transfers this week so we'll see if anything happens!

Love you all and hope you are enjoying this Christmas season!!! It doesn't quite feel like Christmas here because i'm sweating but as we serve others and focus on Christ, I think it'll be the best Christmas!

Hermana Bailey

Spider count: 10

Pictures: Capybara meat with ham and cheese, Claudia gave us homemade bread, pretty views, the flooded river, mi amiga vaquita, my bracelet still lives after 3.5yrs, Christmas tree!

Wherein Sadie Learns that Even If The Power Goes Out, God's Power Never Does!

 December 4, 2023

     The other day a big storm came in. We got drenched. There was loud thunder. But we went out and we saw miracles. We found a family. The power went out. I couldn't sleep half the night cuz it was so hot. I prayed really hard. The power came on, I turned the AC on, and I went to back to bed knowing God really was there. 

And that's what everyone talked about in the testimony meeting yesterday, that there is a lot of power in prayer. 

And it's so true.

God wants to hear from us. He wants to help us.

And there was once a young boy who prayed, and it changed the world. 

I'm so grateful to have the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today. I'm grateful that Joseph Smith decided to reach out to God and I'm so grateful that God knows, hears, and answers every single one of us. He's got some great ears, a lot of patience, and a whole lot more love than we can comprehend.

Espero que todos esten bien!!

I invite you all to read a chapter of Luke every day until Christmas. Even if you start today! 

And this video is great...

The Reason Behind Christmas

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/video/inspirational-messages/2013-11-018-the-reason-behind-christmas?lang=eng

Sometimes we ask people the question "If God was here next to us right now, what would you ask Him?" And then we talk about how we can ask Him in prayer about whatever question we have.

And sometimes members answer, will I be saved? And sometimes we get thinking that way sometimes, doubting if we're really doing enough. I read a scripture this week that answered it. There's lots but this one hit me. if we're doing what He's asked, we can trust that we will be. The Lord fulfills. But if we're sitting worried about it while we're already not doing something we should, then ya we should be worried because He sure can't save us if we're not doing what He's commanded us. 

3Nephi12:20 Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Are you doing everything the Lords asked you to? If not just start to right now on the count of 3. And every day as you realize you've maybe messed up, kneel down and repent and get up and try again the next day. Don't give up, because your eternal happiness is on the line. It's not just about completing the bare minimum either but giving Him our best effort. That's what daily repentance is all about. Not just for when we make big mistakes but becoming a little bit better every day.

Mostly just a reminder for myself : )

Sending lots of love from Uruguay,

Hermana Bailey

Spider count: you wouldn't believe how brave I was and how much I prayed because of the big spiders that came in when it rained. A lil tricky and spooky with the power out, but I got em fast

Photos: blitz with Hna de la Cruz, zone conference, I made pan de queso, turtle, right before the storm, and random!