I need more sleep - 09 June

Dear family,
Well it sounds like you guys had a full week this week. For Me I am
just doing a bunch of street contacts and just trying to find more
investigators. We have this family of five girls that we set baptismal
dates with three of them for July 12th. The first time we met this
family was because a member brought her our first Sunday in
libertador. We have also watched the testaments with the oldest one.
Our ward needs a lot of help though. We have a lot of inactive people,
but the bishop and everyone seem excited to have us here.
Oh one cool thing we did this week was the four elders in our
apartment went to a evangelical church called the Madaen. The church
is inside this huge dome type thing surrounded by a bunch of smaller
offices and a soccer field. It was so funny there were people just
dancing around like idiots. It was more like going to a rock concert
than a church. The whole reason we went is because one of our
investigators is a dj for the radio station. The radio host actually
interviewed my companion. It was just who we were and what we were
doing in Argentina. But ya we got thrown out because one of the elders
was video taping stuff. The two Utah boys that we share a pension with
were all like they are possed by evil spirits and stuff. I just
thought it was hilarious.
Our apartment is a really tight fit in the mornings. A lot of times we
will start studying early then just progressively get ready through
out the morning. Also all of us have been having crapy sleep since we
got here.
The farmers are still on strike and we saw a long line of tracketers
heading in to centro last week. Like a line of 50 of them.
My Spanish is progressing so much. Everyone say that I am speaking
better, which is a good sign.
Man I almost have 7 months in the mission it just flys by. It is a
little cooler down here but still pretty nice.

The question about the guitar is it is allowed. So I am probably going
to go to centro next week and Buy one.
Hey when dose the new Narnia movie come out because they are already
selling bootleg copies down here? It looks pretty sweet.
Well That all I can think of right now so,
Tu amo,
Ross

Mom and Dad,
Well it sounds like you guys are having a crazy busy first part of
summer. I have not gotten any other packages yet but I will probably
get something this Friday. It feels so weird that Seth was visiting me
a year ago. Man how a year flys by. Sorry if my letter are not longer
but I am writing in my journal so after the mission you guys can get
more details.

Zach,
Si, manda me carta con Jack Johnson y yo traduciré para usted. Usted
es muy anamiable por al terminar de School. Okay I tried to write more
Spanish than usual. Man you are going to be an elder that is going to
be de diez.

Justine
Only a couple more weeks and then its end of school, can I see your happy dance?
Have you got your drivers yet?

Madison,
How was your party? Did you finish your movie for your friend? What
movie did you guys watch? Send me pictures of your wallet. Tracy is so
much fun.

Electric Avenue - 02 June

Dear Family,

Well living in cordoba is diffrent than my last area by the fact that
we have a bunch of other Elders close by. Also we have bigger stores
to shop at which is k-po. My area is in the Villa (Slums) but it is
not really that scary.
Elder Fusté my compaion is a great guy. Him and I are just working up
a storm. The lord is really blessing us in this area. The memebers are
way excitied to have us as they have been sharing missionarys with
another ward. Our ward attendence is not so great right now like 50 or
so. So we got to help them with that. But our good memebers have a
bunch of people that they want us to meet.
On Sunady a memeber brought a friend to church and this lady is so
chosen. She is 21 years old, she has 6 people in her family. We are
going to teach her this week so that should be good.
I also live in a pension of four missionarys now so that is cool. It
is neat to have more than one person to talk to. One of the guys only
has a transfer in the mission. He is still geting used to not being in
the states. So he is sometimes a jerk to my compaion. The other gringo
and me are trying to get him acosutmened to latins. Our appartment is
pretty small with the four of us cramed in there. It would be perfect
with two but four is a strech.
Oh my compaion from the MTC finally made it out here this transfer. He
sounds way excitied from this email.
Two memeber have shown me how to make empanadas now so I think I have
it down. So i will show you guys once I get home.
Because it is my birthday this month I think I am going to by myself a
guitar. It should only cost me about 30 or 60 dollars with the
conversion. My compaion said he will teach me.
The spanish is going way good with a latin comapion now.
Well Love you all,
Elder Ross Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
I have not recived anymore packages but Hopefully this week. So Jason is
finally geting married. Oh isn´t that just exciting. Are they geting
married in the temple or no? Well I´m excitied to hear from Grandpa
about the whole stock thing.

PS Zach,
Well it was good to hear you had a good time at grad Zach. Okay you
need to tell me about this whole stock thing next letter if grandpa
dose not send me any info. Hey can you send me some jack johnson
guitar tabs? ¿Como esta estudindo por sus probras?

PS Madison,
How is your film going? Dad says you have been working on it for
awhile. You little creative person you.

PS Justine,
What are you listening to right now justine? Sorry to here your first
dance sucked. Did you dance with any boys? If not why? Well Le amo
todos de ustedes

Happy Birthday Mom - 28 May

Dear Family,

Well transfers are here and I have left Villa Maria and I am serving
in Cordoba. The neighborhoods is Levatdor. My new compaions name is
Elder Fuste, he is a latino from Neo ken a province here in argentina.
He has about 18 months in the mission, I have heard from others he is
a problem with disobedence but he seem to be a pretty cool guy. He
should really help my spanish to improve.
I am in a four man pension, with two other gringos. One elder has a
year and the other has 3 months. So a wide varity of experince.

So last week was pretty much more of the same. But we had so cool
experince though.
Elder Neeley and I found this lady while contacting. She said she
belived more in sicence than god, but she said we could pass by. When
we Passed by she explained that it was not that she did not belive in
god but all the other churchs did not give good answers or were
corrupt. So we had a K-po lesson with her just answering her
questions.
Then we had a cool little dinner cita with another investigator
family. The Father is this way less active memeber but the wife is not
a memeber and they have a cute little 8 month old daughter.
Saying goodbye to people sucks. So you can all know. Sayong goodbye to
the gyspies and one other memeber was the hardest. They are all such
good people.
Well i think it is offically winter here and that it is here to stay.
Right now it is rain and it is the coldest it has been since I got
here. But still not as cold as Canada.
I can not think of anything else that exciting to talk about
So I love,
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,

Oh Happy Birthday Mom!! Sorry Dad that your plans to treat Mom did
not go over to well. Just try again next year. I did get the pictures
but just not have printed them.
I am in mosiah 8 right now in the book of mormon. How are you guys
doing? Stay strong during the summer months.

PS Madsion,
Thats to bad to hear that this Brooke program got shut down.
Remeber though that you have 4 weeks left then you are free from
elementry school forever. So enjoy it, enjoy recess.

PS justine,
How is studying going for you? Are you excitied for summer and are you
going to get a little summer job or is baby sitting going pretty well
for you?

PS Zach,
Freaking Francis, at least you guys did some damage. So grad sounded
like it was fun. So what about this stock tip from grandpa, what is
it? Write me before Monday about it I told dad yes, so do what ever
you feel is right.

Fwd: Pig skin - 5 May 2008

Dear family,
Okay For the phone call on Sunday. I am going to get a phone card. I
will phone around one. That is the easiest way for me to do it I
think. My companion is going to show me what phone card is the best.
Some cool experience I had this week was with this recent convert and
we had taught about the temple and prayed about her list of people .
Then she was I can not believe it. The name that came to her was her
son in law. She was like it was on a big sign. So that was a cool
experience. We have been trying to work with this guy for a while so
hopefully he will see the blessing for his family.
My companion and I are doing really good. We place two baptismal dates
this week with this lady and her son. This lady's brother is a member
so thta is really k-po. The only thing is that I will probably not be
here when it happens because of transfers.
Okay one gross Argentina food experience this week. Its this thing
called locro. It is this stew with pig skin and fat. The only thing
too is that there was pig hair in it! So both of us is this is
disgusting. My companion had a nipple in his. So ya that my gross
experience for the week.
The language is really improving. My companion really encourages me to
speak. So that is really good. Everyone say that my language is really
improving.
That All i can think of right now.
Love you all,
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
It sounds like the house is coming a long nicely. So Dad did you guys
win or lose your game. The secret with the young teams is just to
injure them all. Okay that might not be a good plan.
How is nursery treating you mom? Could you please send me some family
pictures in the next package our letter you send? They really are
helpful and I do not want to wreck the calender by carrying it
around.

PS Zach,
How is rugby going? How is all the grad stuff coming?

PS Justine and Madsion,
How are my two sister doing? Are you guys excited for summer vacaton?
IT is finally starting to get a little chilly here. So that is nice.
Well I love you.

Fwd: quick as lighting - 28 April 2008

Dear Family,
Some clarifying points I am still in the same area, different companion. It is so funny because my current companion trained Elder Toone. So this name is Elder Cameron Neeley from California. He is so funny. A Really good missionary. Really good language skills.
We have found so many cool people this week. President wants us to have 4 groups of progressing investigators by Thursday right now we have 3 so we should make that goal. I also had Zone conference this week it was good. I understood what was being said this time so that was good.
We have been having some crazy storms this week. So I got some pretty cool pictures of that. Sorry for not sending them I forgot to bring my camera to the internet place.
The Farmers are getting ready to go back on strike this week so that should be interesting. So please pray for us.
Language is really improving because my companion is a really big help. He also encourages me to speak lots so it is a really big help. We are also doing a ton of contacts.
Oh more gypsies moved in with our current ones and a couple of them want to be baptized so that should be way k-po.
Okay Amanda is getting married , CRAZY. That is so weird, I´m gone for six months and everyone is getting hitched. Jordan is going to las vegas. Do you guys know if he will be in the same mission as the Galusha's?
I am in Jacob right now in my book of mormon reading in Spanish. He has just dropped cain for law of chastity and then is talking about the vineyard. It is so cool.
Love you all,
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
Things seem to be going good. That email journal sounds like a cool idea. The House sound like its is going along nicely. Post some pics on the blog soon. Ya mission life is always interesting. Well love ya.

PS Zach,
Man you sound like you are going to be crazy busy this up coming month. How are the mission papers coming? Good luck with painting the car. Are you going to use brushes or are you going to attempt air brushing it?

PS Madison and Justine,
How is it going? 92% Justine that is way good. I am glad I have such smart sisters. Keep smiling you two. How are the books/ Shows going ? Remember I love you and so dose the lord.

Fwd: Hotel California - 21 April 2008

Dear Family,
So another week has gone by. Oh wait I wrote just on wednesday. Oh well
Well my new compaions name is Elder cameron Neeley, he is from California. He has 22 months in the mission. He has trained twice ,my trainer included. He is way cool and funny. This past weekend he told me about fight club and a bunch of other movies. So he is way k-po.
We have already found some way cool people we are going to start teaching. It is cool to see how other missionarys do the work. Where elder toone really liked working with members, Eldery Neeley knows how to keep it more balanced.
Oh We finally got our bikes we have been trying to get for the past 4 weeks. Mine is way k-po. Way super fortifed and it has hand brakes. Which are not that common here. They are basically beach cruisers.
Also this weekend we went to one of our investigators weddings. It was totally weird because it was  a north american wedding which is taotally not how they role down here.

I heard about the smoke in Benous Aires but we have not had any problems with it here. So that is good. Warmed up about Wednesday last week and is still pretty nice out.
I will hopefully send pictures next week of some cool stuff.
My language is really improving, I am just trying to speak more so that is really helping.
To answer a question that Dad asked me. A Remi is a taxi.
Is mothers day the 11th of may this year? I am probably going to phone around 1-1:30pm mountian time because my comp has a 5 hour time diffrence. But tell me what works best for you guys.
I also got Grandma Blaszczyks letter this week. Ya Gypsies are pretty cool people, once you get over the crazy funny factor. No but I really enjoyed that letter. Keep writing me about your childhood it is so cool.
Well love you,
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
Those kid need their snacks, good job dad.
Put pictures on the blog of the finished tile for me. I have not received any packages yet but it will probably arrive sometime. Oh make sure they are all under 2 kilos. I would really like 6 bean bag like from the dollar store. Why you might ask because I want to learn how to juggle on pdays. I have faith the main floor will be done by the time I get home, the rest of the house no but the main floor yes. Good luck on slow pitch.

PS Zach,
Is the girl you are dancing with on the blog your grad date. She is pretty decent. Man your life sounds crazy right now. So how is rugby going this year? Are you just trouncing. I am going to write you a separate letter about the other stuff you asked in your email.

PS Justine,
It is so good to hear from you. You do not know how much easier this makes writing people when they write me. So how is the foot? What are these two books you are reading about? Just go for broke on the grad things justine , you can do it.

PS Madison
Definitely saxphone and sleep.

Watch how I soar 16 April 2008

Dear wonderfull family,

So transfers came on Monday. I am staying in Villa Maria for another transfer but I am getting a new companion his name is Elder Neely. He was Elder Toones trainer so he has only two transfers left in his mission. So that should be really good. Really help with the language. It was really sad yesterday because Elder Toone had to go say goodbye to everyone. Elder Toone is going to Catamerca to be a zone leader. I went on my first splits with a latino last week, which went pretty well. There was some confusion but we still got some work done in his area. It is really weird because I understand about 70 percent of what people say to me, but I can only express things really simply so there is still a communication gap.

It is officially fall here now at a chilly 14 degrees. All the people here are all bundled up in their jackets and i find it pretty funny wearing my long sleaved shirt. Um weight wise I am still the same so that is not good or bad.I don´t know why but I have really been missing you guys this week. It might be because I hit another month mark this week Nothing really cool happened this week so. Ya.
Love you all,
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
Your question about the mission allotment covering expense kind of depends on the area. For my area we take Remis a lot because it is so lagre but hopefully that will be fixed once we get our bikes. Otherwise yes it dose cover my expense. It sounds like the house is coming along nicely. I love you guys so much. Oh because I don't know if madison shared this and it has been really pressing on my mind. On the silver computer in my personal folder under genolgy there should be a family file. on it is our family research. Their is a famliy named Cox The work is done for a couple of them (inculding our direct desdeant) but can you please finish the rest of the family. If you have time that is. I have had this feling all week that I need to get it done. So please take a look.

PS Zach,
ooh the ACT is always hard to gauge the time. You probably did beter than you thought. How is becoming a life guard coming?
Well just want to tell you I love ya. How was BE kind rewind? Was it funny? is it a must see? tell me.


PS Justine,
How is the injured girl doing? I expect a letter from you this week. What are You reading right now and have your friends returned the twilight books yet?
How was Mia Maid activity?

PS Madison,
How is life treating you? I have not goten any new news about you in moms and dads letters.
So write me and tell me whats New?

Fwd: I´m a leaf on the wind - 7 April 2008

Dear family,
Conference was really good this year for me.  The first two Saturday seasions were in spanish because we could not find a cord to hook up another tv, but all the rest were in english. Which was really good because I did not understand the first two seasions. But  at least that gives me something to read when I get the ensgin in june.
We did not do anything afterpreisthood because it was 11:00 pm so we had gridio the night before. Sunday was awsome the talks by Holland and Bednar were really good. We thought that Holland was just going to start droping the cain.
Also for this weekend we had two other elders over because they do not have a satelite in their town. So it was fun to just talk and work with them this weekend.

Let see what else happened this week oh the farmer protest is over now for 30 days like april 1st so hopefuly the goverment will work something out or its going to be worse than before.  So we finally have meat. It´s asuasdo time.

Oh this is the last full week of the transfer so I will be writing on wednesday next week.
The Bets are that I am staying and getting a gringo, while elder toone leaves opens an area with a missionary about to leave.
Exciting new a weighed myself this week and I am 142 kilo. So I have lost ten kilos already. Doing the happy dance.

Well love you all,

Elder Ross Blaszczyk,

PS Mom and Dad,
That is so cool to hear about the kitchen almost being done. I have been thinking this past liitle while about how I could have done more to help around the house, so sorry.
How is your art class coming mom?  

PS Justine and Madison,
No letter this week form the two of you.  um but beside that I heard that there is a twilight movie coming out in december of this year. Hope you are having a fun time. Tell me about this little retreat you are going on justine.

PS Zach
Geez that concert sounds pretty cool. How is the studing going for the Act it is more about knowing how to take a test that actual knowldge. So you should do fine. How are the papers coming. First guess okay Tonga thats my guess okay but I want you really to come to Argentina Cordoba because that would be so k-po. Well love you brother.

Fwd: Banana pancakes 31 March 2008

Dear family,
It was good to hear you got home safely from Utah. I´m just chillen here in argentina. I had my first official splash this week. Hey Dad is that what you called it back in your day when all the elders in a district got together in one area and just worked in that area for  the day. It was pretty fun. I got paired off with a Zone leader, so it was cool to see him work and make some contacts. But ya six guys in one appartment means a bunch of goofing off . Zach I think would have approved that we had a airsoft gun.

Oh if you are sending me a package please make sure it is under two klios. I have not received the young womens package yet. But ya the farmers are protesting against the goverment. so that means road blocks so it takes forever to get stuff. But don´t worry we are all safe just with out meat. Send Candy and black socks.

Essentialy all is going in our part of the vineyard. I am so excited for conference, and yes we get to here it in english which is really good. I am so pumped for priesthood because we are going to have another set of elders staying with us for the weekend so we will eat junk food.
I have really felt my spanish has grown over that last couple of weeks. Especialy this week I am really starting to understand people and how it all works out.

We got bikes this week which should really help us out in the work.

Love you all,
Elder blaszczyk

PS Mom and Dad,
Sweet the house might be done by the time i get home. Okay that was bad joke. It was goo d to hear that you guys had a good time. Your classes sound really cool Mom. Your going to be an advertising machine when I get back.
Okay really important i had a thought this week about my tax return. Could you take my tax return and put it in an Ing(the guy with the orange comerical) high intrest saving account. So I could have something when I get back.

PS Justine and Madison,
First off Madie What the heck was with this weeks email. Was it about young womens conference. That meeting is so k-pa. I love to hear the leaders of the church speak. Oh and did mom take you out for cheese cake after. You guys need a tradtion or something.
That's sad to hear about your Camera Justine. How is the count down coming for the next twilight book.

PS Zach,
How was rugby ? and working with little kids? So what happened on the trip mom did not tell me? For myself no new real adventures. Como fur su preparar por Grad? Teine su corbata?

Here's a link on the farmer's strike in Argentina

I want candy - 24 March 2008

Dear family,

Ya this week was super long. Elder toone was sick for two days this week and still recovering for like three. So that basically killed our week number wise. Vansea, The lady we placed the date with, we found out this week is not married to her spouse even though she said she was. So ya that always is fun. But we still have hope. We also found two really good people this week so we are excited about that.

But Pday last week after email Elder toone and I went and played some serious basketball with our zone leaders and some members and one guy we just invited to come from off the street. It was pretty fun.

I also broke my watch this week while wrestling elder toone so that is always fun.

For easter in argentina, the catholic church dose a bunch of stuff. Like last night they had a rock concert outside the Cathederal. And they don't eat meat Friday for some reason. But like all thing argentina they pretty much just chill. Oh it still like 30 degrees out so they have baraques.

The Spanish thing is coming along nicely. I am understanding and being able to express my self more each day. But it is still a struggle sometimes.

Well love you all and be safe driving home this week
Elder Ross Blaszczyk

PS Zach,
Okay you need to post some pictures of your legs man. Also of your gradate. But you beat logan that is good. Oh and nice choice of song for youe grad date video I finally found a computer with speakers.

PS MOM and Dad,
That is so fun that you guys went to Utah for the week end. I can understand why your comp dad thrugh the tennisball at the wall now because I was at that point this week. You can only do so much studying.

PS Madison and Justine,
How is Easter break? How is the choclate? Um ya Keep smiling and being happy. Send me an email this week its hard to write you stuff when I don´t know what is going on.

Elder Ross - 17 March 2008

This week's picture is of Linda's Uncle Marvin, her sister Carol and Ross when he first entered the MTC.
Dear family, and blog people,
This week was a lot of travel. We had our zone conference this week in Cordoba. So ya
A whole day killed there. The conference was really good. Just we need to talk more so I am going to work on that.Also Jordan is in my zone so that cool. Then I had my interview with President Olsen the next day. Which means another morning not working but it was really good. We talked about the need to be humble and asking people for help which I do everyday. Then Elder Toone had to go do a baptismal interview on saturday, in a town about an hour away so ya the bus. It is always fun to go the interviews because I get to talk with other missionaries.
Oh I placed a baptismal date this week. It was with this lady named Vanesa she is 25 and has 3 kids, one of them is eight so we hope to get her too. Some other Elders had found her before Elder Toone came and white washed but Elder Toone and his companion were unable to find her. So we found her just a couple of weeks ago. She also came to church this week so that was good. She is way k-pa. Her husband is not ready though but we are going to work with him. It´s hard though because he works away from home all week and is only home on Sundays.
Also we had out time change yesterday. We went back an hour because it is getting to be winter. But with that we have different work hours. Now its 6:30-10:30 with prosletying 10:30-9:30 but the Argentina people are really night people. They like to stay up late. So a lot of our teaching appointments were from 8-10 before the change all well just got to adjust.
That all the exciting new for this week,
Te Amo,
Elder Ross Blaszczyk

PS Dad and Mom,
Okay the picture with Jordan is from when I first arrived. I don´t really see him that much because our zone is spread over a very large area like 5 citys. But I totally love the blog. Just keep up dating it. Oh could you please send me a family photo either through the mail or internet just by it´s self so I can show it to people. The house looks really good to with the tile all done for the back splash and all. I am now 144 Kg so keep going parents.

PS Zach
You are a creative genies with the grad date video. It was funny with out sound. The response was also funny. Still need picture of grad date. The spanish is coming along ever so gradually. But it is coming. Man your almost a life guard that is so wicked.

PS Madison.
Your project is so cool. I could not view the video though so that made me sad. Keep writing ,smiling and laughing. Drama would be a cool option to take. Something I have learned on the mission we grow the most when we go out of our comfort zone.

PS Justine,
How is life? What are you reading right now? How is art coming dad says you are drawing a lion. Post art work on blog please if you have time.

---

Elder Ross - 10 March 2008

(Pictures this week, Asuado, Ross' cousin Jordan, Ross, His comp Elder Toone and the Olsen's, His group from the MTC arriving in Cordoba)

Dear family, loved ones, and others

Ya the weeks just seem to fly by. Wait this was a short week oh well.
Oh something exciting happened yesterday, after waking up and heading for church we noticed something was wrong with our mailbox. Like the little door was missing and there was ashes every where. Elder Toone and I figured that someone must of stuck a firecracker in our mailbox. It is kind of bad since it is the whole apartment complexes mailbox. Hopefully our power bill was not in there.

Oh For the young women do not fedex. use canadian post I will not receive it if you fedex, UPS me stuff it will get stuck in buenos aries which is out of my mission so I will not receive it.
Okay mail rant is over.
Well exciting news I hit 4 months this week. So the spanish is still not there quite yet. But this transfer I have made the goal to try and be really out going and just talk like crazy with members and everyone. So just keep praying for me because I am praying for you all.
Oh and a weather report it is starting to turn to fall here. So the days are getting shorter and well it´s not really that much colder high 20 usually.
Thats all for now folks, Turn in next week for more exciting adventures of,
Elder Ross Blaszczyk

PS Justine,
That is cool that your friends like the Twilight series. Just make sure you get the books back. You are going to have to tell me how it is but don´t tell me the ending for the nex book. Is your friend taking the missionary lessons yet. If so ask Mom and Dad to have them at our house or you be there when he receives them.
Te amo

PS Madison,
Be bold and just show your shining personality and you should not be a loner. Heck thats my job. Just kidding but seriously if people don´t say hi to you say hi to them first and just start talking to people. You are such a cool person. Just keep a positive outlook and everything will work out. One more thing don´t worry to much about school, as in the people, it all works out. But ya home-ec is such a K-pa class.
Madison es k-pa.

PS Zach,
What to say, Man did the girl give you a yes or not and if so how? Gosh I hate being on the other side of the globe sometimes. But ya I love being missionary. How is the stake missionary prep course. My advise and you can tell them this is from me. You just have to survive the MTC. Once you get to the mission field its so awesome because your in the work. Ya and seriously I do not know where my slingshot is. Oh and please do not get a concussion this year in rugby.
Love your Brother.

PS Mom and Dad,
Can I please have the blog link, because i am allowed to look at it. Okay so ya send me pictures now of how the house looks I am really want to know. That is exciting to hear the Funeral went well. Dad did you have to wipe out our white bible for the dedication because it talks about it in there. I got a letter from bishop on Friday so that is exciting to hear you got 4 baptisims planed. We are hoping for three this transfer. Man nursery sounds like a lot of fun.
Love you all

PS Aunt Val,
I got your card last Friday and thought I would just write you and say thanks. It really brightened my day. That is good to hear everyone is doing well. Oh I got to ask is there any marriage prospects on the horizon for the Girls.
Love ya
Ross

Elder Ross Letter - 5 Mar 2008

christopher blaszczyk	Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 6:39 AM
Dear Well everybody who reads my familys blog, This week was transfers so, sorry for not writing on Monday. I am still in Villa Maria and my compaion is still Elder Toone. We are excited though for this transfer. We have found a new little neighborhood that has some real potenial. We are teaching one lady right now in that area who is really progressing. All of our recent Baptiazies are doing really well. All the men have recived the aronic preisthood. Still working on geting them callings. Our branch president got realeased this past week. So we have a new one to work with which shouuld be intresting. I am hoping the old branch president is called to be the ward mission leader. The spanish is coming along ever so gradually. Like yesterday we were at a members house having dinner and the zone leader and Elder tonne were like say Gracias Hermana por la porquesia. The whole family started laughing . After they were like you just said Thank you sister for this piece of trash. Ya that was pretty funny. Oh School started this week in argentina so all the kids are runing around in their white uniforms while the older kids wear school shirts. Ya they have school at weird times here. Like for four hour each grade. Ya this past week has been pretty tame otherwise. So love you all Elder Ross Blaszczyk PS Zach, God job man on geting a date. That is so funny with the adress being wrong. Don´t do anything stupid to get this girls picture. You are in the grad fashion show! And you did not tell me! Man you thought you new a guy. But that sounds like so much fun, send me pictures. I am starting to learn hoiw to juggle the soccer ball but right now I am not very good. PS Mom and Dad, I can not believe Courtney got engaged! That is so crazy, But I should not be really surpried though she was going to byu. Man that is so exciting for her and she is the first one too. Ya I sent her and email congragulating her so if this is some kind of joke please tell me. Okay my rant is over and I´m good. Can you tell grandma Blaszczyk i got her letter last Friday. I also got your letter from january 20 it was cool to get the pictures. I would like it if you sent a writien letter about once a month with printed off color pictures. That is sad to hear about Bro. Sabian, but I am glad sister Sabian will be able togo live with her grand kids Oh and the girls failed to write me again so next week ya I really want an email. Oh it is okay to allow member to email me. I have to respond by snail mail though. I love you. PS Madison and Justine How is it going? I got your letter Madison, they all sound like cool shows. How is school going? I miss both your smiling faces so much. Keep doing good.

Elder Ross email - 23 Jan 2008

(Spencer and Ross met in Buenos Aires, Spencer was leaving and Ross was arriving. It was nice that they were able to see each other at the temple)

Hey Famila
I Made it to Argentina. The Flight to Buenos aries was way long. Once we got to buenos aries I got to go to the temple. Spencer was in my endowment sesion. it was way cool to see him. Oh before the temple we had to check in our bags and I left my razor in the bags so I havent shaven for three days. After the temple we went to the another airport.
This little lady just started riping in to me in english. I just let here blow off some steam and walk away. Then I had another Flight it was shorter though. Then presdent and Sister Olsen met us at the airport and took us to the instute building with some of the office elders.
They feed us and then booked us into a nice hotel.
In the moring we had breakfast at the hotel and  then went back to the instute building. Met my new companero Elder Toone. Way cool he was born in lethbridge but lived in utah American Fork. Es Kupo.
We did this cool contact activity it was way neat. We took to this gypisy family for like half an hour I understand about half of what they are saying. My comp is really good at telling them that it is my first day in argentina.
Ya how are things doing at your end of the world?
Hope work/school is going well for everyone?
No photos at this time because I have not ug out my cord yet.
Oh right i am serving two hours away From  cordoba in two towns called...
I can´t remeber but I promise to find out by monday. It is like the biggest area in the mission so lots of walking Hora!
okay Cordoba is structuraly kind of like if you took the vatican. Took out all the preist and put spanish people there and let them build up for a few centurays. Which is kind of what happned.

Oh its like really hot outside. So Iam drinking lots of water and should probally be drinking more. Oh Ihave $ 370 peso a month for living so that 94.25 a WEEK so i should be good on the living end.
Mas Importante
My P-days are on MONDAY so write me on sunday nights I guess.
Love ya all;
Elder Blaszczyk

PS Zach
¿Como va buscar por Grad Cita? How goes the rugby training? Do not kill anything with your airsoft gun okay.

PS Justine
Okay I finaly got your letter from christmas. Okay your friend needs to take the disscuions to make sher that it is something he wants to do. But good for him and his excitment keep me posted. Share with him the story of Enos and your personal testimony of Prayer. If he has any doubts.
Okay have you finished the whole twilight seirs or just twilight. Because the other books are just as good if not better.

Ps Madison,
How goes it in your part of the world? It pretty cool here you would like it. How goes being the Secrtary. I hope you are having fun with it.

Ps Mom and Dad,
I Am okay and I love you lots. Wo write you guys is makeing me home sick new experince. Okay under control. Ya loving it here in my sun little place of paridse. Alright don´t worry it going to be okay.  Get everyone to send me an email okay indvidualy probally is best I now have an hour for email.

Elder Ross - 28 Jan 2008

(District photo)

I was just writing a letter and hit the wrong key and lost it so here I go again. The keyboards here are realy cramped.
Hola,
Okay it is really hot here.
Ya I live in a city called Villa maria, but in our area is also villa nueva.
My comp is pretty cool. We try to follow all the rules. Hes also a district leader so we have lots of work to do.
The work goes well here. We are teching this lady whose name is ceilo, her whole family is baptized except her so that will be good. We are also teaching her two friends. we are also teaching a girl named Belin who is 14. She is keeping the commitment and is really excited about the church. We have a couple of other investigators but I have not met them yet.
Ya my president is so k-po. Argentina slang word for awsome. This wife is also pretty cool. Jordan is not inmy district, but he was training this transfer and that when he saw my comp and I. Good knews church is the same every where you go. They still argue about talking to inactives for anything. but ya the members are our real strenght here.
We got a email  about presdenit Hinckjleys death. That was way sad to hear.
Okay I have found out the three most important words in argentina are
Facturias-rolls stuffed with jelly or dulce de leche
Empanades- like paroges but like a million times better because they are stuffed with meat
Alfhoras - like a wagon wheel but with two cookies covered with chocolate
I have still not found my cord for the camera but have not had much time.
Well love you all,
Ross

Ps. Zach
okay one dayin my life.
7:oo am wake
work out for 30 mintutes
eat breakfast and prepare
personal study for an hour with 30 min for pmg.
Companiship which we discuss what we are going to teach. for an hour.
10:30 start working street contacting or appointment deppends what we have planed.
12:30 have lunch with members. members like to feed us so we are always full afterward. Oh in argentina the big meal is lunch because everyone wakes up late and gose to bed really late.
1:30 back to the appartment for 30min.-hour of lang. in the area I serve in the people here have a seista from 12-4:30 so no one is out and do not like to be distubred so we study some more or have appontmeints already set up. In thw evening is when we have most of our apponetimts so we get back around 10 pmthen plan and unwind.
So ya that what my day is usally like. 

Elder Ross - 5 Feb 2008

OK, so redemption is possible.... (picture is of his zone... I think)

Funny story about the jury thing Ross mentions. The day Ross flies out of the MTC we get a summons for him to appear before a jury selection board. We of course sorted it all out.

9o here the letter but no photos i figure this out eventually
Feb 5 2008
Okay I got special permision to write home because of that little misshape yesterday.

So I got the photo that is so cool.
I am doing well it is really hot right now so I am sweeting lots. I have lost 6 pounds already so that’s good.
Okay about the baptism on Saturday I had. It was for this lady whose name is Celia. She is married to a member and all her kids are members so that is good. Um their gypies so there house is pretty intresting. It is a broken down bus but they are good people and fine addition to our branch. So here are some photos of that.
 We are also teaching the husbands Nices and her husbands.
They are really ready we just have to get them married. But we are working on that and they want to so that good.
I had Two asuedas this week which was really good. Lots of meat. They are the argentian BBQ. So lots of good beef.

I had my first interview with President Olsen. Decied I should work on paicnce this transfer. I got to know lots of missionarys in the zone so that was good. There is one who has lost 70 pounds and has not been out a year so High hopes for me and my goal.
Um language is going pretty well. I keep improving each day and speaking more yesterday I tried to do a door approach and got stuck it was pretty fun now that I think about it. But ya that is going okay.
It was weird to think that I am not going to see president Hinckley at general confreness anymore. He has always been such a constent.
Oh we had 10 people at church on Sunday so that was good. And we have 14 new investigatoirs we got to go contact this week. We had the Aisstiants help last week because we went on splits with them Friday and Thursday.
Oh I found my cord it was in my suit poceket the whole time.
Love ya
Elder blaszczyk

PS Zach,
Whats up crazy man? Calc was definetly one of the hardest subjects for me that last semesiter so good luck. Man your going to elders quorm I feel so old now. Hows being the teacher? How is trying to find a date for grad going? You to get on that.
But love ya man.

PS Madison,
How goes life? I am always on the go down here so many people are resptive to the gospel here it is amazing. Well love ya

PS Justine,
How goes the reading? Are there any cool movies coming out soon?

PS Mom and Dad,
Thank you for the emails. It’s nice to here from home every week. Oh can you please keep a copy of these document As I send them on the silver computer for me in my documents. That so cool to hear about your art classes mom. I have been feeling the urge to draw on p-days my self. Dad thanks for the thing about the Jury. Uoo one thing about the day to day here is they are crazy drivers. It is always an intresting experience to ride in a taxi. But it is vary safe.So it picture time

Elder Ross - 4 Feb 2008

OK it seems that I am not the only one who sometimes has difficulty with technology.  (The picture is of Celia)

Oh I hate his cleint.
Sorry I just lost my letter again. because i tried to add some pictures and closed the wrong window.
So otherwise I am doing good. I had my first baptism which was good. Her name was celia.
We had 10 people at church on sunday which was good. I also had an asueda which was really good. its an agrentinaina asueda lots of meat.
The members are really good here with helping us find people.Man I hate this system of writing letters next week I will try something difrent way. I am doing good
love

Elder Ross - 11 Feb 2008

OK Another one in the wrong order. (This is a picture of Belen)

Dear family, and all others who may read this letter,

I am doing well, Lots of walking so that’s good.
Okay about sending letters and packages to me. Send them to the mission home address. That is the easiest and safest way for me to revice anything. Also on packages send them through national mail and mark the value as little as possible and keep them small. Or else I will have to pay tax and may not recive the package if sent through a difrient courier.
Ya this week was pretty long. Elder Robens of the seventy came and visited us. So we had a special conference for zone conference. It was pretty neat. He talked about the mission in general for experiences we are having. Also let us ask questions about being more effective missionarys which was cool. On Sunday there wasa special meeting for members in my district so that was good. It was all in Spanish though so a little difficult to understand.
About last week we had 10 investigatores at church. So that was good we only had 4 this week because of the conference.
The Spanish is coming along. Everyone says my Spanish is improving every day so that’s good.
I am in 2 Nephi 2 in my scripture reading in Spanish and am understanding most of it.
Okay one story.
                  We are teaching this Girl her name is Belen. We try to have her aunt who she lives with        in the lessons. But she has been really negative towards us in past visits. So we decied to share the Family a proclamation to the world with her. As we talked about the family with her and her goals for her family she really warmed up to us and our message. So it was cool to see the spirit touch her and start to change her wants for her family.

Ya love you all,
Elder Ross Blaszczyk,

Elder Ross e-mail - 18 Feb 2008

Sorry this is in  reverse order, I'

ll try to catch up and then they will be posted properly. 

Good morning Canada,                                                                            Feb 18 2008

In answer to moms email about sending stuff send it to the mission home.
Well this week was really hot in argentina for like four days it was above 35 degrees during the afternoon.
My companion is doing well, he has a sore throat right now but all is well.  It is so cool to see pictures of you guys and now that you are all alright. But ya those hats are cute/ funny looking.
This week was really busy. We have four investigators we had to get ready for their baptismal interview this week so lots of running around. But they are all doing well. Belen’s aunt came to church this Sunday which is awesome. Better, she said she had liked.
Oh so cool of an experience this week. So we, Elder Toone and I, are over at a recent converts house, her name is Maria, and talking to her Daughter, whose name is Veronica, she is 23. She has sort of showen intrest in the church but has not really wanted to commit. But, Elder tone and them are just talking, I still do not understand a whole lot when people talk about other things than the gospel even then I’m not a 100 percent sure. So we are just talking about her job and life. Then she turns to me and realizes that I do not understand anything they are saying. And she mentioned that she wants to learn English. She asked if we could teach her. We were like sure. But you have to listen to our message after. She was like actually I want to hear your message and she just totally opened up to us and we talked about repentace with her. It was so freaking cool. To see the spirit work with her.
Spanish is coming along as it does, Some days I understand a lot others not so much. But ya everyone says I keep improving.
Okay one thing a church that was funny was there was a bird in the chapel. Our chapel did not have power for like the first two hours of church so they had the windows open, and I guess this bird flew in.

Ya so I love you all, Be safe,
Elder Ross Blaszczyk

Elder Ross Letter - 25 Feb 2008

Ross suggested that we post his e-mails on the blog so anyone who's interested can read them, so here's this week's letter

Dear family, loved ones etc.                                                               Feb, 25 2008
 Holy cow this week just about blew my socks off int he busy scale.
So by the photo that you hopefully finally recived, you can tell that our four investigators got baptized. It was so amsome the spirit was really strong, and we had a lot of the memebers out as well. So it was really good. Also the president of the branch´s daughter was geting baptized so they had a party after for all our baptiazes because she turned 8 this week.
Ya this is the last full week of my first transfer so that is crazy! Me and my comp are working really hard. And, yes my comp is related to the whitehead family.
So most of this week was just making sure our investigators were ready for baptism so lots of running around since our mission leader was away this week.
last night my comp and I went and heard elder Holland speak to the youth of Argentina over the satilaite. He is such a good speaker he really empahized the fact that. The youth now are the leaders tommotow which was good.
Ya not a whole lot to say abot this week,
Oh I am now 146 Kgs so I am losing wait still that is good. i might be because we did not have power in our pension for 4 days this week. We do not have power because Elder toone did not know how to pay the bill so they cut our power.
But ya,
Love you all,