Vamos vamos Argentina, vamos a ganar!

Familia y Amigos!

Hey! So I am in Balcarce, Argentina now! After trying to leave on Monday and getting delayed at the airport, they sent us back to the MTC for the night! It was weird getting excited to leave, saying goodbyes to the friends I have made and the district that became almost family to me, and then coming BACK! But it was all fine because I loved seeing those people again :) So the next day, on two hours of sleep, I left once more. We got up at 2am to say goodbye to Sister Weight who left at 3 and then we all left at 5. So after a 4 hour flight to Atlanta, Georgia, a 6 hour layover (where I had a Big Mac and Dr. Pepper and almost died because I was so happy), a 10 hour flight to Buenos Aires, a 6 hour layover after switching airports, a 1 hour flight to Bahia Blanca, spending the night, spending the day meeting my Mission President and having an interview with him and some presentations from him, a 7 hour bus ride to Mar del Plata, spending the night with my Zone Leaders, and a 1 hour bus ride to my area, Balcarce, I FINALLY ARRIVED.

But Balcarce is soooo awesome! It's very European feeling. They have brick and stone walk ways in front of rows of houses and shops all crammed together side by side. But everyone speaks Spanish! There are basically no traffic laws except "don't get hit" and "don't hit anyone." But everyone just walks in the streets like it's no big deal! The town is probably 8 square miles (definitely more than 2 mom but probably still only 2 by 4 miles) and has like 16,000 people I think. But because I'm on foot, it feels like it's huge and there are people everywhere. The food is awesomeee. I've tried quite a few things like empanadas, facturas, tratas I think they're called, and this nasty sugar water called malte (not mate). It's super different though! It's very dirty, to the point that we don't even go barefoot in our home (which is actually nicer than most people's homes). But that's like everywhere outside America. I love it though! I can't understand a word of what anyone says but I'm learning. I think I'll get it down quick. I hope.

So my companion is named Elder Blackhorse. He's Navajo and pretty hilarious and he's from Phoenix! He finishes his mission in July but isn't even trunky which is nice! He wants to be obedient, work hard, and have success so that is exactly what we are going to do. We left to teach a lady and her son the moment I set my bags down in the house. We have a lot of investigators so we're going to do our best to help them pray and read and take the steps to progress in the gospel so they can come to know Christ and gain their own testimony of Him. I'm excited! And I am actually helping in the lessons believe it or not :)

So random stuff?

I can only email family! It changes from mission to mission depending on the Mission President and the rules he sets. So everybody else has to write me real letters or use dearelder.com (which is both easy and cheap) and you all better do that (Jake). And then I'll respond freehand.

My Mission President, President Detlefsen, is super awesome! He has done a ton to help our mission to be both more obedient, and in turn, more successful. He doesn't speak English well but he understands like everything you say. He's also really funny.

Argentines all look Italian. The guys in the stores that sell bread or food or something else all look like Italian pizza chefs. It's straight up legit.

The police here don't really do anything.

My feet hurt a lot.

The little children all stare at me and think it's funny when I speak Spanish...

They do not sell Dr. Pepper here.

My mission is a non-caffeine mission anyway.

There really are more dogs here than people.

I get to travel BACK to Mar del Plata tonight and then BACK to Bahia Blanca tomorrow for some training meetings. And then I have Zone Conference in Mar del Plata on the way back.

Winter is coming not summer.

The water does spin the other way when draining.

I have an hour to write now instead of a half hour.

Jordan thank you for the pictures and emails! I loved them. I was told I could open any emails waiting for me but from now on I need to receive physical letters so getting writing (like Jake).

And I miss and love everyone! Mom make sure to find out what Jordan's mission call is so you can include it in an email next week. Or Kim could do it, that'd be cool! Thanks for everything and I really appreciate everyone who takes time to write! Bye!

-Elder Ryan David Garrison