Life as an RM.

Ever since I got home, whenever I see someone I haven't seen in a long time they normally ask at least one of the following questions, if not all of them:

1. How was your mission?
2. How is it being back?
3. What are your plans now?
4. So, are you dating anyone?!/Can I set you up with "so-and-so?" (Ps. Did you know that "so-and-so" is actually found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary? #FactoftheDay.)

Question #1-How was your mission?
I’m sorry. That question can not really be answered in a word or a sentence. Nor can it be summed up in a sacrament talk in church. It's indescribable. Serving a mission is….. Look. I’m trying and I can’t even explain it. No hay palabras. It is the most all-in-one-experience you could ever have. It’s wonderful. Hard. Life changing. Challenging. Demanding. Intense. Unexpected. Joyous. Unforgettable. Incredible. Wonderful. Rewarding. All of that and more. And on some days, it wasn't uncommon to feel all of that in just one hour. 

So how can you explain all of that in one word?! I think it's a gift from God that you can't, because it makes it even more special.

Question #2-How is it being back?
 How is it being back? ha Well...it's the same kind of a concept. It's a mix of emotion. Most of the time it's really great! And then there's those days when you realize just how awkward of an RM (Returned Missionary) you are because you feel like:

• you have to say Hola/Buen dia/Buenas Tardes to everyone that walks by.
• Or how you naturally feel like sharing a scripture after eating a meal.
• Or wondering why you don't have to call your district leader at 9:30pm to pass on the datos.
• Or feeling like you need to give everyone a beso or a handshake.
• Or how you still think in Spanish--which makes you stutter as you try to figure out how to say it in English.
• Or walking outside on a windy day and out of habit slapping your leg to keep your skirt from flying up...and then remembering that you're wearing jeans.
• Or how light switches here in the US generally flip up and down rather than from side to side.
• Or feeling like you need to call a Remis (taxi) to get home when it starts getting dark.
• Or you turn the knob on the sink that says "C" expecting hot water to come out...
• Or realizing that you're actually at the point where you feel like you can express yourself better in Spanish rather than in English.

It's weird. But there's fun things too, like:

• carpet!
• dishwashers, washers & dryers
• not having to wear flip flops in the shower
• being able to drive a car
• air conditioning
• ovens with temperature control
• streets that don't flood over when it rains
• unlimited email time
• TECHNOLOGY! Please. It's changed so much. 
• or being able to talk to someone of the opposite sex for more than 5 minutes and not feeling bad for it
• peanut butter, brown sugar, maple syrup, Ranch dressing, cheese that isn't queso cremoso, Mom's cooking, & milk that actually takes good!
• sleeping in past 6:30am, or staying up later than 10:30pm
• being able to hold babies!
• running water. And hot running water that doesn't run out

Question #3-What are your plans now?
School and work, people. That's what you should do when you're twenty-something. Luckily it was easy for me because I already finished a chunk of my major before my mission, so now it's back to the books, the classrooms, and the sewing lab! 

Question #4-So, are you dating anyone?!/Can I set you up with "so-and-so?" 
That's always a funny question. But to answer: No, and yes.

When I look back at my mission and the rules I had to live by, or the sacrifices I had to make to go without the simple day-to-day things we take for granted here in the United States--I'm happy. I loved every minute of it. 

It's just good to be back.

I'm home.

Hello everyone! I'm HOME! 

And trying to learn how to be a normal person again. ha 

I'm amazed to see how many people are still visiting my blog! I feel bad I've taken so long to post something, because you're probably waiting for an update. As they say in Spanish: mil disculpas! (1,000 apologies)

Well. As for an update: I've been home for about four months already. I can NOT believe how fast the time has flown by. Here I am now with school starting in less than a month! What?!

Many people still ask: What's it like being home? It's...strange. Luckily the adjustment coming home wasn't too hard for me. But it wasn't easy either. Just strange. Sometimes it feels like I'm in a dream, like I'm going to wake up any minute to an obnoxious alarm in Argentina at 6:30am and roll over to the cold tile floor to start another day with a prayer. I miss that. But I know that all good things come to an end.

What's interesting to me, is the "mini-identity crisis" returned missionaries go through when they come home. You see, if you did it right, you don't come home the same person. You come home and realize that the world really did keep going without you, and you need to figure out how and where you want to fit in the world.

Luckily I've figured it out a little. While on my mission, I realized just how passionate I am about teaching and helping others be happy. I'm going back to BYU Provo to finish my Bachelor's Degree in FACS-Ed (Family and Consumer Sciences Education). I only have about a year and a half to finish. Woot! But until next month when school starts, I'll be busy working. Working a lot. (With an emphasis on the lot part) Being a big kid and being a college student includes many bills and expenses that add up quite quickly. I'm currently working two part times jobs. One of them is at VitalSmarts, which is a súper awesome company. Check it out, they'll change your life for good. And then I teach Spanish at the MTC! aka: the second coolest thing I've ever done in my life! (My mission being the first coolest thing)

But, in a nutshell, that's the update. I'm busy, happy, and finally blogging!

It's not an event. It's a PROCESS!

Family and Friends,

Hello! I'm glad to hear that things are well. Not excited to hear all of the trunky things about school and going back to the real world...ha pero bueno. I'm happy. I want you to know that I'm happy! I love the gospel and I love that I become more and more converted every day. Dad, I loved what you shared with your ward the other day that not just "every member a missionary," but every member an investigator! It's true! Our road to conversion does not end when we meet the missionaries, or when we get baptized, or if we finish the Book of Mormon again. It's not an event. It's a process! I've been studying that a lot lately, and I love it! Our lives, our testimonies, our joys, our sorrows, our laughs, and our cries are not events. It's all part of the process of our personal conversion.

To all of you that are thinking about going on a mission but can't quite make a decision. Stop thinking! Just do it! It's good. It's right. You're only going to be more happy, more converted, and more secure in the gospel. And you get to be a representative of Jesus Christ and help your brothers and sisters while you do it. Serving a mission is an incredible thing. An incredible process. Just the other day I re-read my missionary call letter. I found it interesting because part of it says that...okay más o menos...it says through our hard work, diligence, and reliance on the Lord we will be able to BECOME the missionaries that he wants us to be. Again. It's not an event, it's a process. The word "become" means that it is a process. When you leave the MTC or when you complete a year on your mission, that doesn't necessarily mean that you have become a good missionary. It's a continuing process. I think even those who completed their missions keep going in their personal process of becoming the missionary the Lord wants and needs us to be. But what's so wonderful is that we can do it. We CAN become the missionary, the children of God that He wants to be as we rely on Him.

This week. Well...it was hot. What else? ha No, it was a good week once again. We saw many miracles. We're working a lot with a girl named J. She's 24 and has investigated the church quite a bit. She's really smart, has a lot of conocimiento...how do you say that in English?? (knowledge/understanding) But she gets stuck on little things, and it turns into big doubts. We're learning a lot that when investigators have a doubt, it's normally only a tiny part of the real doubt. There is always something deep down based on a bad past experience, or a misunderstanding. That's when the role of the Spirit comes in. We're focusing on asking "inspired questions" to try to find the real doubt. Presidente Parreño's wife is going to come with us to a lesson tomorrow to help us out. We're excited.

Ah! News: Yesterday they called a new mission leader! And get this: It's J's dad! Super cool. What would be even more cool is that if the first baptism we have with him is his daughter. Hmm. But the Lord is in charge.

Mama, here's your questions:

• The first group of new young missionaries will arrive to our mission right after I leave. We're expecting a group of over 30!! (Depending on how everything goes with their Visas) Everyone is very excited and anxious about the new "jovencitos."
• Forever ago you asked me how many there are in our district. There are 8 of us. 4 companionships, 4 elderes and 4 hermanas. Then there are 30 of us in la Zona Bahía Blanca. 6 hermanas I wanna say?
• Our ward recently has had about 50 people there for Sacrament Meeting. There is room for growth, and lots of menos activos (less actives).  :(  But our bishop is fantastic, and some of the members are always willing to help us out.  :)
• Our apartment? It's good! We love it! It's quiet because there are just two of us. I feel like I always have to have music on. ha But it's cute. I recently used my interior design skills and we put pictures us on the wall to make it feel more homey.  :)

All right. I'm almost out of time. Family I love you! Amigos, you too. :) Hope you all have a great week!

-Hermana Vawdrey

PS: Sarah Pinnock: CONGRATULATIONS on your mission call to Bahía Blanca! You are going to LOVE it! I am really excited for you. Hopefully we'll be able to meet before you leave :)

We were given a bagful of fresh grapes. We're loving it!

Our study area

"Living" room

Kitchen

I love...

Hello Hello!

Happy Holidays! Ha! How weird is that? Thanksgiving has past, which makes it truly Christmas season. There are Christmas trees all over the place here at the stores in Centro, and I still can't grasp my head around the fact that Christmas really is coming because it's so stinkin' hot outside! But that also makes me happy because that means that in less than I month I get to talk to all of you!

Jordan! I hope you have a super special day this weekend when you get baptized. I am so proud of you! I'll be thinking of you and I hope, like mom said, that you picture Jesus smiling at you when you get baptized. :) By getting baptized you walk into the door that leads to the Celestial Kingdom! After Jesus Christ got baptized Heavenly Father said that he was "well pleased," and I know that Heavenly Father is really proud of you too for following Jesus Christ's example.

Well as you can see from our pictures, even though we were far away from home we still celebrated Thanksgiving. On Thursday we had weekly planning, and we were all able to make some yummy burritos together to celebrate. We even made the traditional placemats by tracing our hands to make turkeys, and we wrote on them the things we are grateful for. I feel like by being a missionary I have really learned what things I am grateful for. The Lord has given me so much and I am so grateful to be able to dedicate myself to Him 24/7 to try to give back a little bit for all that He has given me.

I'm thankful for...

This week we saw many miracles, as usual. We had a Family Home Evening with some recent converts: R and F. We all shared our favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon and I was blown away at how strong their testimonies are for just being members for 7 months. It was so neat to be able to hear them talk about the changes that they have seen in their lives since they have joined in the church. And it's true! The gospel only brings GOOD changes! Sometimes they are hard changes, but they are always good.

With the air of Thanksgiving it made me think about how much I love Argentina. I LOVE Argentina!

• I love these people. 
• I love this language. 
• I love the culture. 
• I love the funny quirks and "backwards social norms." 
• I love the obnoxious business men that get on the buses and say the same thing over and over again for 5 minutes straight to try to convince you to buy something.
• I love the flame throwers that go into the street when the light is red to try to earn some money.
• I love the silly cow bell music Argentines listen to all the time.
• I just love it all.

I love being a missionary. I love the challenge to constantly keep going, to keep the faith, and to trust in the atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. And I do it because I know it's true! I know this church is true. These truths and the doctrines of Christ are being etched upon my soul. And even though the journey is sometimes difficult, I've never been happier.

Family, friends, abuelitos, etc..... les quiero!

-Hermana Vawdrey

Hermana Squire

Hermana Carson 

Hermana Batista

Mi Distrito 

Thanksgiving burritos!

Las Hermanas en el Dia de Gracia