January 12 letter

Querida familia,
¡Buenos dias! ¿Como estan todos? Things here in Argentina are hot, cold, rainy...the weather is the weirdest thing I've ever seen. It's roasting hot one day and the sun is seering into you and you've got sweat all over and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it, then there are days (the day following the hot day) when it rains and it's cold and windy and I have to wear my black marshmello jacket and carry around an umbrella for the whole day. Then the nights when it's hot...oh dear what can I say about them? We're on our beds waiting for the sleepiness to take over the unbearable heat and sweat so that we can fall asleep. We're so tired all the time, but it's so hard to fall asleep at night. No matter how comfortable my bed is, the heat is insane. I'll never complain about the heat ever again, at least I can get out of it because we have air conditioning. The houses we go into do not have this luxury. It's really okay though cuz I'm getting a sweet tan speaking spanish all the time! I'm understanding more every day! I'm so so excited! Even though my companion has a greenga accent, at least I don't. Thank heavens. This last week was so good but so so so tiring! I don't know what week in the life of a missionary would not be tiring! Dad, please relate more of your stories from the Philippines to me. I really would love to hear them. From all my uncles and experiences from their missions too, if you don't mind spreading the word. =) They'll have to either write them by hand or type them up, print them out, and send them because I won't have enough time to read all of them on the computer. I can print them out, but of course that costs pesos so however I can get them it would be great! We set a baptismal date with one of our investigators, Gloria, last Tuesday for January 31st! I was so excited! It was the first lesson 1 I've taught and it went soooo well! It was aweswome and we were so excited that she said yes when we committed her to baptism. On Friday morning, we had another cita with her, but when we called her on our way to her house, she said she couldn't receive us because she got a new job at a pizzeria and was there when we called. She also said that she couldn't go to church with us because of it. My comp hung up the phone and said, "I'm pretty sure Gloria just lied to us. I could hear her kids in the background." We walked by her house anyway and guess who was standing in the doorway with her back to us? Yep, you guessed it. I didn't see her, but Hermana Capener saw her, turned to say hi to these two old men sitting outside on the opposite side of the road, turned back around and the door to Gloria's house was shut. We're like, ah! Lame! I was so upset. We set another cita with her for tonight so we'll see what happens. She won't, however, be getting baptized on that date though. As for your questions, you have so many! We walk everywhere. It is very rare we take a taxi anywhere. We live 9 blocks from the border of our actual area so that's a little bit rediculous, but whatev. My typical diet is whatever anyone feeds me. We always eat lunch, either at our pension or at someone's house. I eat everything when I'm at the houses where we're being fed, and I haven't seen anything disgusting, but I am just waiting for and dreading that day. I'm gonna need some zip lock bags. Mom, would you mind hookin me up with that? Last night the Bimaco hermanas brought home a delicasy. It's the foot of a pig ground up and put with onions. Yum. It looked disgusting. I took a picture of it and did not take one bite. A pig foot? Come on Argentines! Also, I need mas sunscreen please!!! An emergency shipment of benedryl allergy (non-drousy) would be good too. My allergies are just a little bit out of control when we go out to the campo...which is every day. That would be awesome if I could get some of that quick. It actually got so bad one day that we had to buy paper towels from a kiosco during the SIESTA when nobody wants to be bothered and ALL the kioscos are closed. I felt so bad, but I was desperate. I did get the package you sent at our zone conference on Wednesday as well as a letter from Adrienne that I loved!!!! Thank you Adrienne! Are you engaged yet? =) How the package deal works is if I'm not serving in Cordoba capital, I get my packages ever transfer at our zone conferences. That's why it took forever Mom! Thank you so much though! I was sad that Audrey was the only one who wrote me a note! Congrats to Curt! That's so awesome! When's the big day? I'm going to need a wedding announcement! Mom, don't worry about sending me recipes. We only eat in our pension about two or three times a week and you can't get a lot of ingredients here that you can get in the states. I'd love some, but I don't think I'd have the time or the resources to use them! Thank you though! A tape recorder would be awesome but once again, I have NO TIME ever! That's my life. The life of a missionary and I love every second of it! Thank you all so much for everything! I'm doing fine, Argentina's great, it's beautiful, and the people are wonderful. There's definitely a reason I was sent here. I love you all so so SO much and I pray for you every day! I hope to hear from the girls soon! Chau!
All my love,Hermana Shumway