Feb 22, 2010

Soooooo the big deal about MATE. Everyone from the states asks us about this. So Mate is pronunciated mahh-tay, it´s an all herbal tea that people drink down here. It´s cultural, and when i think Argentine i think Mate. Its just the way of life down here. Very unlike the states you can´t buy a small mate or go to a mate shop and buy a cup of mate. They all make it in the home. You can go to any little kiosko (little corner stores) or the grocery stores and buy your preferred mate (theres seriously like over 50 different brands, apparently with a distinct taste). Every family has their mate cup, just one per family. It´s wood, with decorations and stuff, sometimes with the family name engraved outside or their favorite fútbol club. Then it has a special filter straw thingy, that is metal. First you put the mate in the cup with a little water and mash it around then put more in with sugar, then fill it to the brim with scorching hot water, and sip out of your little metal straw. The cups are like 4 ounces or so so you drink till the water is out then hand it to the next person. they´ll put al lil more mate in and a little more sugar according to your taste then they drink. And they just pass it around. They all drink mate in the mornings usually for breakfast, then during the siesta, and sometimes late at night after work. But it´s usually always shared with family or friends while talking about life. (the terrible youth now days, the socialist government that apparently does nothing for them (but give them free everything), fútbol, or what ever else they talk about but usually those three subjects.) As missionaries we are not allowed to drink Mate. No one tells us why but i think for a variety of reasons. 1. Every house you step in they usually offer you mate as like a respect thing. If we could we´d be drinking mate all daylong. 2. Some brands are jack full of caffeine, all have it but i don´t think more than a coke or something like that. It makes it hard sometimes that we can´t as well because people get offended here if you don´t take something offered, i usually use my salesman skills and tell them it´s too hot for mate and that i´d take a water (not sure what i´m going to say once it cools down haha. People don´t have to give up mate to get baptised, and members have never been counciled from the church not to drink it. I´ve heard they´re not supposed to in the church but whenever there are activities they´re always drinking it so who knows. To me i just think it´s a deal where no one would get baptised if we tried to tell them they couldnt drink mate. It´s a cultural thing, traditional thing as well and for that reason i don´t think it´ll ever be outlawed. Admit tingly I did try it one time at Carmen´s house in Godoy Cruz the day after her baptism because Chesley told her he´d drink mate the day she got baptised. It´s not very good, just tastes like bitter grass. I don´t get it, haha. Anyways we had a crazy week, as transfer week always is. We´re staying here in Alvear together! But Williams had to get some paperwork done in the capitol so we had to take 5 hour bus ride to Mendoza to do it. We slept in my old pench in Trapiche and got to go visit Carmen and my other converts there, which was really fun. Good to see Gutierrez again as well. Anyways 3 of the Tobares boys passed the sacrament this week, it was so sweet. So spiritual, i just sat there teared up watching them in their white shirts and ties we bought for them, passing the sacrament. The fruits of missionary labor are like no other. This Saturday we are so excited for another one of our investigators, Fautino 25 from Paraguay to be baptised. He´s just a sweet sweet A dude who has been quitting his smoking habit to get baptised. He´s been investigating since my 1st week here in Alvear, and has had 2 baptismal dates fall because of the stupid cigarettes, but he hasn´t smoke in 2 weeks and I just feel like he´s really ready this time. He says he´s done waiting for his salvation, and done with cigarettes for the rest of his life. He´s going to be a great member of the church. We found Fautino clappin´ (not knocking, we don´t knock here we clap :) ) doors. He has had a few issues with certain things in the church but he took our challenge to pray about it and he´s gained a testimony. We´re real excited for him. Alvear has taken off here lately. We´ve baptised more as a district than any other zone i think in the last month. I credit all the success to our obedience, and unity. We wake up on time, we get home on time, and we do what we´re asked to. The blessings have been coming and we´re going to enjoy them until the trials come. It´s just really amazing to me how real this work is. To see the amount of people we have in such a short time as 4 Elders here in Alvear has been great. To think that these people have made the choice to change their lives, and to follow Christ in the last 2 months here is great. I hope all is well at home, my scripture for you to read this week is DyC 104:79 and 82. I like it a lot. We´ll talk to you next week, love you all very very much!!!