Argentina Neuquén

Snow

Either snow is exceptionally unlikely to fall at any time during the year at this location

Woohoo!!!

Opening and Accepting the Call

Dear Sister Bastian:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.  You are assigned to labor in the Argentina Neuquén Mission.

Teaching the Gospel in the Spanish language.

Opening this letter was the most nerve racking thing ever! I never thought that I would be able to serve in such an amazing place! So far away from home!

I received the envelope on Thursday, April 18, 2013.  I was currently living up in Ogden, alone.  No family around.  I had it in my mind that I wanted my family to be there when I opened the call because I will be leaving them for eighteen months. We had it planned that on Sunday, 21, 2013 we would have a big family dinner and open the call then.

Everyone around me thought I was crazy, getting the mission call and not opening it right away.  I got so many comments.  "Just open it." "Open it and reseal it." "You're crazy to wait."  Everything, but I knew in my mind that if my family wasn't around me... I wasn't going to open it.

The time felt forever, I'll be honest.  I wanted to open it so bad.  Sunday couldn't come fast enough and when Sunday did come.  The time for the dinner couldn't come fast enough.  The only bad thing was that I heard my big brother Josh, wasn't going to be able to be there.  Since he had to work...  It was saddening, but I had made plans with him to call him so that he would know right when I opened it and where I was going.
On my way there I got a call from his fiancé and my best friend.  Mariah.  Telling me that he will be there.  He was able to come home, but it wouldn't be till about seven.  Which honestly, I was more than willing to wait two more hours to open the envelope just so my big brother could be there.  He made it xD  

True blessing in my life to have all my brothers there!

When I opened the called and saw that I got Argentina I couldn't believe my eyes and reading down more to learn that it was for sure a Spanish speaking mission! I had been given more than I asked for.  I simply hoped for a Spanish speaking mission and in return I had received that and so much more!!! I am truly blessed and grateful for this chance and opportunity in my life.  To not only be able to share my love and joy with the people in Argentina, but to be able to learn the language that I find amazing and beautiful! 

I depart to the MTC in Provo, Utah, for a couple weeks on August 28, 2013.  There I will be preparing and learning the language that will allow me to communicate with the people in Argentina. 

I am so blessed and hope that I will be able to bless the lives that I come in contact with while out in Argentina for the eighteen months.

I thank the Lord for this huge blessing and new challenge in my life.  I will do everything in my power to make him proud. I love the Lord and will never be ashamed to do his work and glory on this earth.

Thank you,
Have a Wonderful and Outstanding Day! 

Love,

Hermana Bastian

Choosing to Serve

Starting from the beginning of my way to choice.

I have found myself always wanting to serve a full-time mission.  Everything about it seemed so amazing.  Being able to spread the joy that I have learned and felt from the Gospel was strong within my heart.  Allowing others the opportunity to experience the tremendous joy I have felt from living the life I do.  Though it may be challenging at times, I have grown to learn that through all the bad times... The good will always out weigh them.

About two years ago, in the summer of 2011.  I took the time to write over seventy-five missionaries.  Asking them for their word of advice, wondering how they prepared for their mission and experiences they have had from going on one so far.  Not many had replied, which I don't blame them for.  But those that did had touched my heart greatly, helping me push forward to pursue the idea of going on a mission.  Now at the time the age for a young woman to serve was twenty-one.  I had a few years to prepare to leave. No rush, no worries.

My best friend left on his mission the following summer.  Somehow I had gotten it in my head that I would be snatched up and married off once he returned, therefore a mission wasn't in my life plan....

But that mindset, didn't stay for very long.

October 2012, General Conference. Little did I know that my life plan would change so quickly.  An age change for missionaries was announced. Young woman were now able to leave at the age of nineteen, the exact age I was turning in a month.  My chance to go on a mission was NOW. :)

My mind was racing, confused on the new decision at hand. Thinking about it everyday, about what I was suppose to do.  Finally, pulling myself out of the world and giving my mind time to think and actually ponder it out.  I took a hike, finding a nice place to sit and simply enjoy the outdoors.  Letting nature to its magic on calming my heart and soul.  My mind thought and out of now where, the thought came to me. "The question isn't if you're going, it's when."  That was strong in my mind and I knew that instant that a mission was the right place for me.  It is not the duty of a young woman to serve a mission, therefore it is our choosing.  No wrong to the decision made.

From there I have talked to my bishop, my stake president, and of course my parents.  My papers were filled out in a month or so.

I have received the envelope, on Thursday, April 18, 2013, that holds my calling.  When and where I will be serving for eighteen months.

I will be opening it Sunday, April 21, 2013.  Surrounded by my family. :)

Starfish Poem

Once upon a time there was a wise man

who used to go to the ocean to do his

writing. He had a habit of walking on the

beach before he began his work.

One day he was walking along the shore.

As he looked down the beach, he saw a

human figure moving like a dancer. He

smiled to himself to think of someone

who would dance to the day.

So he began to walk faster to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw that it was a

young man and the young man wasn't

dancing, but instead he was reaching

down to the shore, picking up something

and very gently throwing it into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out, "Good

morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied,

"Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked, why are you throwing starfish in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out. And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it. You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely. Then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it

into the ocean, past the breaking waves and said - 

"I made a difference for that one."

Adapted from the story by Loren Eisley