REMEMBER HOW IM AN ARGENTINE NOW???

Hi everyone!!! IM IN ARGENTINA!!!!

I got here really early on Tuesday morning and then life just got real haha. Im in an area called Zarate, it is so poor and humbling, I have never seen anything like this in my life. This week was literally so cold haha I wore tights and sweaters and a coat everyday, but now its warming up so im so happy about that!

Let me tell you about my area. I walk on dirt roads all day and see cement houses. We visited an investigator this week who lives in the craziest house I have ever seen. It is like so so tiny and just cinder blocks and cement. She has 4 kids and her niece is living with her so they have 6 people in their tiny house. Oh and 5 dogs like everyone else. I just cried because I wanted to hold the kids and tell them I loved them. When they kissed me on the cheek, I dont think I've ever been happier. 

We have an amazing investigator named Melina. We have her baptism interview tonight and I am so excited! She is so amazing and ready to live the gospel. She looked so sad when we first met her, and now she has light. That is my testimony, the gospel brings so much hope and light to everyone! Pray for her. She is amazing. 

We had an investigator come to conference last night and he came up after and said, "I want to be baptized" Guess who cried yet again? Yep, me! He hasnt had the lessons or anything, but he will! we start that on saturday. I cant wait! He is amazing. 

I wont lie, being on a mission is SO hard haha. I really miss home, i miss my washing machine and I miss being able to drink any water and walking down the street without a creepy man trying to talk to me haha. But, every second has been worth it. Every tear, every smile, EVERY THING! I have to opportunity to serve my Savior, and I want nothing more. I have learned to lean on the Savior and overcome so many fears! I know I will learn SO much more!

My trainer is so sweet and only speaks Spanish haha I leave with 2 other Latinos so I only speak Spanish. Its such a different life but God has blessed me so much to be able to speak! God is so good. 

This week when I was thinking oh  my gosh how in the world can I do this for 18 months? I have so much time here! I decided to study a conference talk by Elder Uchtdorf. I cant remember his exact words but it was saying how we are all missionaries. The thought came to me, I can either be a missionary in my beautiful, poor, Argentina. Or at home. Either way WE ALL NEED TO BE MISSIONARIES. I don't care where you are, how old you are, whether you have a tag or not. GET OFF YOUR BUM AND WORK FOR THE LORD. My goal is to put holes in every pair of shoes and smell like smoke everyday because that means I was in the house of someone who needed me. Let us work for the Lord!!

The Savior lives. I love Him. His Atonement is real. It heals us. Guys the fact that I can be here and not homesick every second of everyday is a literal miracle. If you EVER have a doubt that miracles happen, just remember Hermana Cottrell is literally in a different country not dying because shes homesick! God will bless us all with very real miracles. 

I love you all!
-Hermana Cottrell 

Heres my backyard! I live in a nice area haha