Here are free resources about the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission:

Aquí están algunos recursos gratuitos sobre la Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Norte:

• Mission address and phone number
• Mission map
• Missionary blogs
• Facebook groups
• LDS Mission t-shirts and gifts
• List of past mission presidents
• Cultural articles written by returned missionaries
• Survey with RMs

*Other Mission Pages: Argentina LDS Missions.

Buenos Aires North Mission Address

Here’s a recent address for the Buenos Aires North Mission. We try to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the mission address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.

Buenos Aires North Mission Map

Here’s a link to the mission map for the Buenos Aires North Mission (LDS). To access an official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Buenos Aires North Mission

1. Log into your LDS account here.
2. Click here.

Buenos Aires North Missionary Blogs

Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Buenos Aires North Mission. This blog list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.

*Send your missionary a gift (mission-specific shirts, ties, Christmas stockings/ornaments, pillowcases, etc.)

Buenos Aires North Mission Groups

Here are Buenos Aires North Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the Buenos Aires North Mission.

1. Misioneros Regresados de la Mision Buenos Aires Norte (879 members)
2. Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission (264 members)
3. Buenos Aires North Mission (President and Sister Ayre) (209 members)
4. Mision Argentina Buenos Aires Norte (232 members)
5. Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission Friends & Family (173 members)
6. Misión Argentina Buenos Aires Norte – Pte. Berta (127 members)
7. La Gran Mision Buenos Aires Norte – President Fausett (56 members)
8. Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission (22 members)
9. Buenos Aires Argentina North Mission (Pres. Bishop) (23 members)
10. Buenos Aires North Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) (18 members)

Buenos Aires North Mission T-Shirts

Here are T-shirts for the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission!

Shirt designs include Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission logo/emblem shirts and Called to Serve shirts. The shirts make great gifts for pre-missionaries, returned missionaries and missionaries currently serving. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL.  The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you.

*Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: Argentina Buenos Aires North missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.

*Click here to browse Buenos Aires North Mission gifts

*Click here to see our new shirt design for the Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission:

B.A. North Mission Presidents

Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Buenos Aires North LDS Mission.

1. 2016-2019, Robert T. Smith
2. 2013-2016, David S. Ayre
3. 2010-2013, Richard Gullbransen
4. 2007-2010, Shane V. Argyle
5. 2004-2007, Alan Lee Wilkins
6. 2001-2004, D. Clive Winn II
7. 1998-2001, Craig Hansen
8. 1995-1998, David Udall
9. 1992-1995, Anthony Bentley
10. 1989-1992, Gustavo Cesar Berta
11. 1986-1989, Paul ‘Hap’ Green
12. 1983-1986, Grant C. Fausett
13. 1981-1983, Wendell Hall
14. 1978-1981, Joseph Bishop
15. 1975-1978, John Arthur Harris
16. 1972-1975, C. Dixon Anderson
17. 1969-1972, Verden E. Bettilyon
18. 1966-1969, Rex N. Terry
19. 1963-1966, Arthur H. Strong

Argentina LDS Statistics (2015)

• Church Membership: 432,007
• Missions: 12
• Temples: 2
• Congregations: 765
• Family History Centers: 107

Helpful Articles about Argentina (Written by RMs)

• Tomas is Argentina
• Crime and Safety in Argentina
• Argentine Pasta Sauce “Tuco”
• Argentine Cookies “Galletitas”
• Argentine Barbecue “Asado”
• Pizza in Argentina vs. Pizza in the USA
• Shopping for Food in Argentina
• Building Architecture and City Layout in Argentina

Buenos Aires North Missionary Survey

Here are survey responses from Argentina Buenos Aires North RMs, to give you a snapshot into what it’s like to live in the mission.

*Click here to take a survey to help pre-missionaries going to your mission.

When did you serve?

• 2013-2015 (Jared)
• 2011-2013 (Martin)
• 2011-2013 (Jorge)
• September 2011-April 2013 (Samantha)
• 2010-2012 (Kyle)
• 2009-2011 (Jorge)
• 2008-2010 (Layton)
• 2006-2008 (John)
• 2006-2008 (Mike)
• 2005-2007 (Ryan)
• 2001-2003 (Eric)
• 1994-1996 (Lynn)
• 1993-1995 (Ariel)
• 1985-1987 (Sergio)
• December 1976-December 1978 (Dennis)
• 1974-1976 (Don)

What areas did you serve in?

• Gran Bourg, Villa Verde 2, Vicente Lopez 1 y 2 , Tolhuin Tierra del Fuego, Liniers 1 y 2. (Martin)
• Virreyes, Escobar, Parque Avellaneda, Belgrano, La Boca, López Camelo, Monte Olivia and Río Grande. (Jorge)
• El Talar, Vicinte Lopez II, Nuñez, Tigre, Zarate II, Belgrano. (Samantha)
• Palermo, San Fernando, Lopez Camelo, Constitucion. (Layton)
• Benavidez-Escobar, Rio Gallegos (Tip of South America), Villa Adelina, Zárate, San Isidro. (John)
• Jose C. Paz, San Nicolas, Villa Soldati, San Fernando, Pilar, La Boca. (Lynn)
• Gualeguaychú (Entre Ríos),Mercedes, Pontevedra, Malargûe (Mendoza), Merlo, Moreno, José León Suarez. (Sergio)
• Laferrere, Gonzalez Catan, Ramos Mejía, San Fernando, Beccar, Virreyes, Tigre. (Dennis)

What were some favorite foods?

• Empanadas, Pizza, Asado, Peruvian dishes. (Jared)
• Asado, milenesa, pollo al horno, chorizo. (Martin)
• Asado and guiso. (Jorge)
• Empanadas, Arroz con pollo, Duce de Leche ice cream, alfajors. (Samantha)
• Empanadas, Choripan, Asados (Kyle)
• Asado argentino, alfajores, choripan. (Jorge)
• Asado, Guiso, Pan, Ceviche, Arroz con Pollo. (Layton)
• Choripán, Asado, Empanadas, Fideos con Tuco. (John)
• Choripan, milanesa, empanadas, asado. (Mike)
• Alfajores (glorified cookies), empanadas and milanesa (kind of like Weinerschnitzel). A lot of missionaries liked chorizo, which is basically sausage, and asado, which is not unlike Texas barbecue. A little greasy for my preferences, but still quite tasty. (Ryan)
• Milanesa, Alfajores, Noquis, Canoles, Asado, Chorizo, Ensalada Rusa. (Eric)
• Empanadas, Milanesa. (Lynn)
• Empanadas Tallarines Pollo con arroz Asado. La mayoría de los alimentos en esta misión son muy buenos. Los miembros invitan a almorzar a los misioneros y es notable el cariño con el que ofrecen comida. No pueden dejar de probar los Alfajores!!!! (Ariel)
• Canelones de verdura con salsa mixta, chivito a la masa, pan casero. (Sergio)
• Empanadas, Churrascos, Milanesa a la Napolitana, Pizza, Helados, Alfajores. (Dennis)
• Chorizo, fresh ravioli, milanesa, chorizo, flan, lechon, asado, chorizo, helado, mate, and did I mention chorizo? (Don)

What was a funny experience?

• Fell in the ditch during a rain storm when the piece of wood to cross it broke, soaked my pants, socks, and shoes. (Jared)
• We we’re obviously told by the church not to drink the water down there but there were many instances that it couldn’t really be helped. There were plenty of times that you would sit down to a meal with a family and they would have Tang, which is kind of like cool-aid but WAY more sugary, and that would be the only thing to drink. On top of that you didn’t want to offend the family by refusing to drink it, so you drank it. The running joke among the Missionaries was that it was “ok” to drink the Tang even if it was made with unfiltered water because there was so much sugar in the Tang that it would “kill anything that was bad for you” and you know what we all made it through the mission perfectly fine and unscathed. (Samantha)
• When we were trying to run from annoying dogs on the streets. And where the “barro” (mud) makes you slip on the ground. (Jorge)
• It wasn’t funny then, but every missionary laughs later on in life regarding their first “Brown-out.” (Layton)
• Teaching an old dude in a red speedo. (John)
• Drunk guy wanted my tie but I wouldn’t give it to him. Next time we passed by him, he had a pile of bricks and started heaving them at us. Don’t worry, he was pretty far away and wasn’t even close to hitting us. (Mike)
• In my first area our neighbors/landlords gave us lunch every Thursday. One week when we got to their house, they had plates with lamb heads on them, looking up at us, because the eyes were still in the sockets. I am not kidding. For lunch that day we got to crack open lamb skulls and eat the brains and eyes right out of them. The brains actually weren’t that bad, but I could only do one eye, and it almost made me throw up. Fortunately the landlord asked if I would let him have the other eye. I think he knew I was having a hard time with it. In case you are wondering, no, that is not a traditional Argentine dish. Our neighbors were totally messing with us. (Ryan)
• Un compañero durante una charla parafraseó el testimonio de José Smith sobre la primera Visión. El problema es que en vez de decir: “Vi una columna de luz”, dijo…”-Vi una columna de LA luz ” y en Argentina significa “poste de alumbrado en la calle”. (Ariel)
• Cuando llegué a un área nueva, mis compañeros de pensión en la primera semana me dieron la bienvenida con una guerra de soda, terminamos todos mojados y tuvimos que bañarnos y limpiar la pensión antes de salir a trabajar, fue muy divertido. (Sergio)
• My North American companion and I were sitting in a small restaurant, eating lunch one day. A guy in the restaurant came over to us, and in Spanish, said that he had a bet with his friend. He wanted to know if we could speak Spanish. He said that he didn’t think that we could speak Spanish. In Spanish, I answered that No, we did not, but that we hoped to learn it one day. In Spanish, I said, that I actually could not understand a word that he has said to us, but that I hoped that he was enjoying his meal, as we were, but that he had won the bet, because we did not speak Spanish. He then said, with a confused expression on his face, “That’s what I thought.” (Dennis)
• Anything involving misuse of language by the other missionaries. For my part, I NEVER made a language error. And if you believe that. . . (Don)

What was a crazy/dangerous experience?

• We crossed a half mile flooded plain to teach investigators. When we arrived they cried and the sister that was a member looked at us and said “I knew you would come.” (Martin)
• As a sister missionary, we always were a little more cautious when it came to talking to random men or young boys on the street. You never knew what was running through their head. One time in particular, my companion and I were trying to contact some inactive members on the very edge of our area and that was always a little scary by itself even in the middle of the day because empty streets are not safe down there. But at this time, we were approached by a drunken man who was trying to hit on me but rob us at the same time. I did happen to have quite a bit of money on me that day as well to buy something to hang dry our clothes but the shop was closed so I still had all this money on me. I had bought a candy bar earlier and so I was able to quickly pull out the candy bar and a pass along card with a picture of Christ and give that to him. It distracted him enough that he forgot about robbing us and instead continued to hit on me. I told him that we as missionaries did not date and that sleeping with anyone outside of marriage was against our beliefs as well. He then said he understood and leaned in to kiss me on the cheek and then said as he walked away “Ciao mi amor” then he looked at my companion and said “Ciao doña” which means “good-bye old lady”. But hey smart thinking and being watched over by the Lord really helps 🙂 (Samantha)
• When I was assigned to an area in the southern part of Argentina, we had the opportunity to see penguins. (Kyle)
• When robbers love to take their guns out and yell: “don’t be nervous, you are serving God, I’m not gonna do anything to you guys”. (Jorge)
• I got robbed at knife or gun point quite a bit in two of my four areas. (Layton)
• Getting a gun pulled on us. (John)
• Walking through the maze of ghettos near the abandoned hospital in Linears. Luckily we didn’t get lost. (Mike)
• One time a kid who was sadly either drunk or drugged asked if he could have my glasses. I’m all about Christian charity, but since I needed my glasses and they are fairly specific to me, I said no. So he just grabbed them right off my face and started running. Since he was not in his right mind, he didn’t run very well, and we easily chased him down. Another time we were heading to an appointment, and when we got to the apartment building there were guys wearing army fatigues and holding what looked to me like AK-47’s. They said we couldn’t go in, and as we watched we saw some dogs coming out with bags of white powder in their mouths. Fortunately whoever those drugs belonged to, it wasn’t our investigators. That building actually felt much better after that night. (Ryan)
• Having a .44 put to the back of my head and robbed for $5. (Lynn)
• Estábamos enseñando a una joven cuyos padres asistían a la iglesia evangelista pentecostal y ella no le gustaba. Ella trabajaba para una Hna. miembro que tenía en su casa un taller de costura y ella nos había dado su referencia. La joven decía que tenía pesadillas y que el Pastor de su iglesia le decía que era porque estaba escuchando a predicadores de satanás,(o sea nosotros).Cuando fuimos a enseñarle una vez con la Hna. que nos había presentado, después de la oración escuchamos que empezaron a caer piedras en el techo de chapa de su casa y eran los de la otra iglesia y cuando terminamos tuvimos que salir corriendo porque seguían arrojándonos piedras a nosotros. Fue una experiencia muy triste, ya que luego de ello la joven no quiso escucharnos más. (Sergio)
• I had guns pulled on me several times. A few times it was done by the military in train stations, or getting pulled off of a bus, while they checked our documents. This was during the “dirty war” and a military junta was ruling the country. And once we walked into an armed robbery of a pharmacy, and we were taken into the back room, with the other customers, at gunpoint. (Dennis)
• Terrorists (los Montoneros) threatened to blow up a refinery in Campana that we lived three blocks away from. (Don)

What was a spiritual experience?

• Every day when meeting people who were receptive, especially when working with the members. (Jared)
• Seeing the lives of the people we taught truly come closer to God. Watching men and women grow in the gospel as missionaries, mothers and fathers. (Martin)
• Converting a gangster. (Jorge)
• We asked a convert of mine to go with my companion and me to a lesson with an investigator. She had a hard life but had found so much joy and happiness in the true gospel of Jesus Christ. While on this visit, we asked our recent convert to share her testimony about The Book of Mormon. Her answer had me grinning from ear to ear. She explained to the gentleman that when she was first asked to read the Book of Mormon that she did read but that it was hard for her understand what she was reading. She said that she knew, however, that if she prayed to Heavenly Father and asked for his help that she would be able to understand it, so she prayed for help. She testified to him that with God’s help that she was able to start to understand that the Book of Mormon was the word of God and that she felt closer to Him by reading it. Such an amazing testimony. (Samantha)
• I had the opportunity to help someone ask and receive an answer through prayer, it was a small moment, but one I’ll always remember. (Kyle)
• Lots of people prepared, once my companion and I were contacting people in the front area of the church and a kid tells us that he wants to get baptized and he did. (Jorge)
• Our Mission President testified to us that there was someone ready to be baptized right then. Not having any investigators, we took to the streets, and found a 16 year old boy that was dating a member girl in that ward. He had attended church a lot, and had his own copy of the Book of Mormon that he read. He only hadn’t been baptized because of his parents. We had an amazing discussion in which he bore his testimony to us, so we challenged him to testify to his parents. They finally relented, and he was baptized that same weekend. (Layton)
• Healing a young, bed-ridden boy with a blessing so he could walk again… And he did. (John)
• Many. One that comes to mind is a gentleman named Carlos who loved the gospel but couldn’t stop smoking. We finally invited him to stop cold turkey and kneel and make a promise to God that he will stop. He did for about a week. But the first time he lit up again, he got extremely sick and saw it as a sign from God to stop. He had no desire to smoke after that and got baptized. (Mike)
• I contacted a man on the street, and he gave us his address and told us to come by later. When we did, he let us in and told us he knew who we were and what we wanted. He also said he’d been praying that God would help save his family, which was falling apart. He said when I contacted him, he knew that was his answer. He told me he wanted to be baptized, and that he wanted us to teach his wife, too. At first his wife was quite hesitant. It turns out she was angry at God because of a child she had lost a few years back. Being Catholic, she had been told her child- who had not been baptized- was in hell. We had no idea about any of this. Through a series of small miracles, she decided to read The Book of Mormon one night, and though we had marked 3 Nephi 11, she found Moroni 8 on her own. That is the chapter where we learn that little children need no baptism. At our next appointment, she told us of that experience and how, though previously the image of her deceased son haunted her at night, now she could feel only peace about him. I asked if she believed The Book of Mormon was true. She nodded. I asked if she wanted to be baptized. She nodded. It was a powerful witness of how The Book of Mormon changes lives. (Ryan)
• Almost too many to count. I remember having a baptismal interview of a hesitant investigator who during the interview, simply stated that she did not want the interview to end because of the Spirit she felt. Words are not adequate for that conversion experience. (Lynn)
• Es muy difícil contestar esa pregunta, porque no creo que exista misionero en el mundo que haya tenido “una sola” experiencia. Tuve muchas, pero las más significativas fueron tal vez las más sencillas, como la de orar por una familia, ayudar a mi compañero, escuchar a otros sus problemas, etc. En todos esos casos pude sentir, y lo digo muy humildemente, que era una herramienta del Señor en sus manos y que como su representante oficial de su Iglesia, muchas veces mis palabras no fueron las mías, sino las de El, sí, Nuestro Redentor. (Sergio)
• There were many, as people heard the gospel, changed their lives, and joined the church. There is no greater feeling than being a part of that. (Dennis)
• Same event as above. When we asked President Harris what we should do, after some thought he said we should just stay put and trust the Lord. We did, and although the threat was credible, nothing happened. (Don)

What are some interesting facts about the Buenos Aires North Mission?

• It has the park where Elder Melvin Ballard dedicated South America for missionary work. Elder M. Russell Ballard recently returned and specifically dedicated Argentina for missionary work in the same location. Lots of variety between big city, to suburbs, to smaller towns out in the provincia. Contains many historical sights of Argentina. Also, lots of diversity, you will meet people from all over the world. (Jared)
• It’s the largest baptizing mission. (Martin)
• We have the capital of the country so there are many places to visit and to know. (Jorge)
• The people are amazing and they love to love. Allow them to be a part of your life and build those relationships because that is what is important to them and helps them know that you really care and want the best for them. (Samantha)
• here were three kinds of areas in my mission, 1) The Capital 2) El campo (the countryside, pretty much the suburbs of Buenos Aires) and 3) The South (which is now part of the new Comodoro Rivadavia Mission). Each has it’s pros and cons, but only one had penguins! (Kyle)
• The bigger cities are composed of mainly Italian and German immigrant families. They are more wealthy and tend to have a lower success rate than the more native Argentine type further out in the country. A large majority of church members are actually Peruvian transplants living there illegally. (Layton)
• It includes the Capital which is a pretty cool tourist destination. Outside the Capital, you have to clap instead of knocking because people’s dwellings are back behind a fence. Part of the mission is Tierra del Fuego, the most southern mission in the world. You have to fly there. When I was there, there were 20 or so missionaries at a time down there. It is like a completely different mission. (Mike)
• During the time I was there, it was a divided mission. It consisted of the city of Buenos Aires and the surrounding area, but it also had Tierra del Fuego and a little bit of the province of Santa Cruz (Rio Gallegos, specifically). This was because you could really only get there by plane feasibly, so instead of flying from the Neuquen Mission (which used to have all of southern Argentina) to Buenos Aires, and then down to Tierra del Fuego, we just cut out that first step. Now that region belongs to the Comodoro Rivadavia Mission, which was formed in 2013. Buenos Aires city is culturally rich. It hosts Boca Stadium, and the surrounding area has River Stadium, which are home to two of the best known soccer teams in all of South America. Quite a rivalry between them, and you’ll probably be asked which team you support. There’s also Calle Florida (Florida street), which is a huge marketplace. You can find pretty much anything there. And of course, you have the Argentine equivalent of the White House, the Casa Rosada. All worth a visit. While in Argentina I checked to see if the toilets really flush in the opposite direction. They do not. (Ryan)
• Hay muchas transporte : tren, subterraneo y colectivos (buses). En Argentina se inventaron los buses. Se come bien. Se produce carne de vaca y leche. Se puede trabajar mucho con los miembros siempre y cuando se les demuestre amor. El argentino tiene mucho carácter de italiano. Los Alfajores son una de las golosinas más famosas y tiene muchas variedades. Para llamar en una casa o golpear una puerta, especialmente en áreas rurales, se golpean las manos como aplaudiendo. (Ariel)
• Los datos son que en aquellos años la misión abarcaba mucho más de lo que hoy comprende. Yo comenzé en Gualeguaychú, provincia de Entre Ríos, también estuve en el sur de Mendoza, en Malargûe y estuve dos meses con mi hermano menor de compañero en ese pueblito. Mis presidentes de misión fueron Pte. Faucett y Pte. Green. Sus consejos me ayudaron durante, después de la misión y ahora en la actualidad. (Sergio)
• While I was there the armed forces staged a “golpe del estado” (coup d’etat) and threw out the Peron government. (Don)

What was the weather like?

• Very hot and humid in the summer. It would be very hot for a few days and then as the heat built up it would bring in big thunderstorms at night which would cool things off. In the winter it gets cold, around 32 degrees Fahrenheit at the lowest, but it feels colder because of the humidity. (Jared)
• Warm and rainy. (Martin)
• Cold. (Jorge)
• It was extremely hot and humid during the summer and extremely cold with the humidity during the winter. Dress really warm for the winter or you’ll freeze. (Samantha)
• In the North, it was humid and hot in the summer and wet and cold in the winter. The humidity really made the cold bad, it really cut into your jacket. In the South, it was always cold and always windy. Even during the summer we wore sweaters and gloves. The best way to describe would be like being in Wyoming. (Kyle)
• Summer really hot and winter really cold and rainy. (Jorge)
• Really hot and humid in the summer, cold and humid in the winter. When it rained, every inch of you got wet. (Layton)
• Super hot, then super cold. (John)
• Humid. Cold in the winter but no snow. The cold penetrates your clothing so you do need to dress warm. The summers are hot and humid. (Mike)
• In Buenos Aires it gets pretty hot in the summer, not too bad in the winter. Remember though, that in the Southern Hemisphere summer is December, January, and February. Buenos Aires is about as far south of the equator as Atlanta, GA is north, and the weather is comparable. It did snow while I was there, but they said it was the first time in decades. Meanwhile, Tierra del Fuego (which used to be part of the mission) is very windy and gets really cold in the winter. It’s only a couple hundred miles north of Antarctica’s tip. (Ryan)
• Hot and humid in the summer, cold and damp in the winter. (Lynn)
• Es lluvioso. (Ariel)
• Bueno en verano muy caluroso, con mucha humedad y gran cantidad de “Cucarachas”. Cuando estuve en Malargûe conocí la nieve y el frío seco. (Sergio)
• Hot, humid summers similar to Miami, and cold, damp winters similar to San Francisco. (Dennis)
• Humid. Winters were unbearably cold, summers were muggy. Spring and fall were nice. Summer thunderstorms were incredible light shows. (Don)

Any things you really like about the area/people?

• Very friendly, receptive, many are open to talk with missionaries. (Jared)
• People are very open to listening to the gospel. They are very sincere and know when your being fake. There is no room for false emotions. they can see right through you. (Martin)
• I loved, loved, loved the people with whom I served! They are such amazing people who truly want to do what is right and love with all their hearts as well. They are also very giving and will give you the jacket off their back if they thought you needed it. (Samantha)
• I really liked the diversity, Argentina is an eclectic mix of people and I feel like it was always a new adventure while meeting people. (Kyle)
• Lovely, kind and loyal to you and God. (Jorge)
• Incredible people…they treat you as if you were their own child. I was spoiled rotten by so many families. Peruvian food might be composed of a chicken spine and other things you don’t recognize, but it is the best food in the world. (Layton)
• Everything. Loved every minute of it. (John)
• I grew to love the people, especially those in humble circumstances. They love to feed and serve the missionaries. Just don’t bother them during siesta. (Mike)
• There were a lot of difficult things about Argentina for me. I had a hard time with how crowded Buenos Aires city is, and outside of the city (as well as in it) there was a lot of poverty, which can be discouraging. And of course, in any mission experience there will be people who are rude and mean. That said, the poverty often makes for humble, really friendly people, and the crowds mean there are a lot of people to share the Gospel with. I think what I liked most, though, was seeing that even though we had different native languages, different standards of living, etc, we all basically are the same. Argentines care about the well being of their children and families, they worry about work and balancing it with family, they like to watch sports and play games and enjoy meals together. They are just as much God’s children as anyone, and that is true no matter where you serve. (Ryan)
• The people were caring and personal. They were very giving and family and friends are very important. (Lynn)
• Les hace bien sentirse amados. Suelen ser muy divertidos. (Ariel)
• De la misión me gustaron todas mis áreas, cada una tenía su encanto. Por sobre todo las personas que conocí, eran todas especiales, y entiendo que esto se debía a que tenía el espíritu del Señor todos los días y eso hace que uno vea como ve el Señor. (Sergio)
• The people were very friendly. The sunsets were amazing, every single day. The food was good. (Dennis)
• The people were open and very giving. The food (really, besides the beef, the national cuisine is Italian) was superb. (Don)

Any packing/clothing advice?

• Take plenty of short sleeve shirts for the summer, they get dirty fast. The amount in the packet the church sends with your call is good. Also, take plenty of warm clothing for winter with a good umbrella and a waterproof coat, it rains a ton. (Jared)
• Don’t bring wool garments… bring extra socks… bring spicy spices. (Martin)
• A good umbrella and waterproof shoes. (Jorge)
• For sisters, I’d say pack light cotton clothing to stay cool and not feel suffocated. Anything else will not be comfortable. Do not buy Payless shoes. You do a lot of walking/running. Buy two pairs of great walking shows and make sure they fit right. Even if they are just a little too big will hurt your back in the long run. I would also pack personal hygiene products for your mission. They also are not very accessible and they are scarce even if you happen to be in the city and they sell them in your area. I would also pack enough deodorant for your whole mission. I did and I was extremely grateful! The deodorants down there that don’t cost an arm and a leg are the spray deodorants and if you want to buy dove, they have them but they want $20-$40 pesos for a travel size deodorant. (Samantha)
• Get some really good socks and shoes, I wore holes through 6 pairs of shoes. Make sure your outer jacket is water proof and not water resistant. Bring trinkets to give to the little kids. Stickers, toys, even coins from the states will work. (Kyle)
• Bring a sturdy umbrella that you can keep in a scripture sized case. You won’t use a backpack ever, so don’t waste your time. Don’t buy a long trench coat. Get a black Peacoat instead. (Layton)
• I wore Dickies because they are more durable. Highly recommended. Just remove the tag on the outside and nobody can tell. (John)
• Everything that is listed in the preparation book is good. I wore through both my pairs of shoes. (Mike)
• Take more short sleeved shirts than long if you are in the Buenos Aires North Mission. Although when I was there Tierra del Fuego was part of the mission, it is not anymore, and it gets pretty hot in Buenos Aires. It’s also very humid, so even though the winter isn’t terribly cold, you’ll want a good coat. Since you don’t sweat as much in those conditions, the long sleeved shirts can be reused a couple of times before needing to be washed. Not so with short sleeved shirts in the summer, though. (Ryan)
• Make sure you have good socks and sturdy, comfortable shoes. (Lynn)
• Si trabaja en áreas algo peligrosas no lleve mucho dinero consigo. (Ariel)
• Seguir los consejos que uno recibe en la carta del llamamiento. (Sergio)
• Insect repellent. The mosquitoes are terrible in the summer. They can bite through clothing. The food is good, and you can easily gain weight on your mission if you are not careful. Keep a journal! Warm clothes for winter. Cool clothes for summer. (Dennis)
• Pretty much everything you need you can buy there. Make sure you have a serious overcoat, though. It rains. And rains. Occasional heavy hailstorms, as well. Think “Great Plains” storms. (Don)

What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?

• Many…it has changed the way I see the world around me and interact with people in my life. It helped me develop a greater appreciation for the gospel as well as how the gospel changes lives and really can be so influential. (Jared)
• The ability to see that every man women and child has the potential for good. (Martin)
• The satisfaction of knowing that I loved the people and I loved the challenges that the mission presented me. The extremely close relationship with my Heavenly Father and my ability to listen to the Holy Ghost. (Samantha)
• I am in Elder Holland’s camp, my mission changed me into a new person. La Gran Mision Buenos Aires Norte is the best in the world, no one could ever convince me otherwise. You get a taste of everything, push yourself harder than you ever have, and learn to rely on God’s help. (Kyle)
• I do speak English, I met another culture and being a leader makes me a better person and boss on my actual job. (Jorge)
• Knowing Spanish has been a nice thing to add to resumes. Also, BYU and BYU-Idaho allow you to take a test to skip the first 2 years of collegiate Spanish. (Layton)
• Too many to count. (John)
• Too many to count. Most of all, it built my love and testimony in Jesus Christ. (Mike)
• Most importantly, I got to feel just a little bit of how the Savior feels about us. As I made sacrifices to help those I was teaching, I got just a taste of the love Jesus must have felt for each of us as He sacrificed His own life. (Ryan)
• It changed my life. Two years of spiritual development that helped me get to the same level of my lovely wife. Otherwise I would not have been able to be prepared for to meet her. As Elder Holland said when visiting our mission in ’95, “My mission changed everything in my life!” He hit the pulpit with his hand with each syllable to emphasize the statement. I concur. (Lynn)
• Un actitud más positiva, más Fe y mayor autoestima. (Ariel)
• Muchas, confianza en mi mismo, fe, perseverancia, amor y respeto por los demás, paciencia, mi esposa y los cuatro hijos que el Señor nos confió, que el mayor de mis hijos ya retornó de la misión Argentina Rosario, y la lista sigue y es mucho más extensa, pero la misión a sido una especie de meridiano de mu vida. (Sergio)
• There is not a day that goes by, that I do not see a blessing, in some way or another, as a result of my mission. And I returned home in Dec. of 1978, more than thirty five years ago. A more powerful testimony. Faith in Christ and how his atonement can be efficacious in my life and in the lives of others. A better knowledge of Spanish, the language of my ancestors. Confidence in career choices. Actually, I feel like every blessing that I’ve received since my mission is directly or indirectly a result of my mission. (Dennis)

What are some skills you gained?

• It helped me develop much better communication skills as well as my ability to meet people and be friendly. It also helped me develop a lot more confidence in myself and my ability to do hard things. It helped me learn about goal setting. It helped me learn about hard work. (Jared)
• I definitely learned that charity, patience and love are key parts to a relationship that will flourish. It has helped me live a happy life with my wife and three kids. (Martin)
• The great ability to teach the basics of the gospel to people because the gospel is not complicated and I love teaching about it to my family and friends to this day. (Samantha)
• Beyond speaking Spanish, the biggest thing I learned was how to set and work towards goals. It sounds simple but has really helped me in preparing for graduate school and doing well in my undergrad. I became a much more confident person and learned how to lead people and achieve objectives as a team. (Kyle)
• Leadership, learning to love and have good listening skills with the people. (Jorge)
• Speak Spanish. I converse more easily with others. (Layton)
• Every skill I possess today came from my mission. (John)
• Leadership, communication skills, how to speak Spanish, organization, responsibility. (Mike)
• Other than speaking Spanish, I learned about effective ways to teach. I didn’t know it until several years after my mission, but teaching was to become my career path. The teaching I do now is not directly related to the Gospel (I’m a biochemist), but knowing how to effectively communicate difficult concepts is a great skill to have in any field. (Ryan)
• Development of leadership skills. Speaking. Foreign language. (Lynn)
• A comunicarme. (Ariel)
• La habilidad de haber escogido a la persona correcta para formar una familia y ser felices con lo que uno tiene. (Sergio)
• While I could speak Spanish before my mission, I was able to perfect it on my mission. This has helped tremendously in my profession, where I speak Spanish on a daily basis. Spanish has also helped in communicating with Mexican relatives, and with genealogy. Increased fluency in my ancestral language. Study skills. Interpersonal skills. Skills in teaching. (Dennis)
• I still use Spanish every day, and it has been the key to my getting at least two jobs. (Don)

What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?

• Don’t be afraid of anything when it comes to talking with people and inviting them to change. (Jared)
• It’s okay to question things, just not rebel. Loop holes are one of the the most important tools you’ll ever use. (Martin)
• I would change nothing. I tried my best from the beginning. (Samantha)
• I wish I would have been able to speak Spanish quicker. I was a slow learner, and as hard as I tried, it took awhile to really get things to click, and it made my first 3 transfers a lot harder. (Kyle)
• Nothing is easy but you can make it more fun. And go big or go home. (Jorge)
• Really hit the ward lists hard for less active members. You will baptize 30 times more than trying to baptize by contacts. (Layton)
• Took Spanish instead of Japanese in high school. (John)
• How to speak Spanish. (Mike)
• I wish I understood grace and the message of Christ better at the beginning of my mission. I knew the scriptures pretty well in terms of knowing where different doctrines were found, but at the beginning I was teaching a message of Joseph Smith and of obedience rather than a message of Jesus Christ. While Joseph Smith and obedience are important, what we are really teaching as missionaries is how those (and other things) point us to the Savior. That is critical to understand. (Ryan)
• Missions are hard work, and there are moments of heartbreak, and there are moments when the work is not going well. There is a tendency for missionaries to blame themselves, and to consider themselves unworthy. That is usually not the case. In spite of being hard work, with disappointments, missions are not supposed to be miserable, but joyful. You are serving the Lord. What could be better? Enjoy it. Kept better records of people and places. Packed lighter. (Dennis)
• I wish I knew how cold the winters would be, because of the humidity. (Don)

Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Buenos Aires North?

• Love and enjoy it, work your hardest, be obedient, work everyday like it is your last in the mission field because it goes fast. Work with the members, talk with as many people as possible. Have an attitude of faith. (Jared)
• Lose yourself in the work and prepare yourself for culture shock when you get there and when you go home. (Martin)
• Don’t be a robot missionary. Meaning to be yourself. Don’t be so focused on “following the mission manual” to the T and forget to love. No body likes fake people and your companion, members and investigators can tell if you are more fully committed to the letter of the law and not the Spirit of the law. (Samantha)
• Just dive right in. If you can have an attitude of “This is an adventure and it’s going to be a blast,” it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. There was a quote I loved form Elder Holland that I used throughout my mission, “Prepare now for the stories you will tell your grandchildren.” I went on a limb and did crazy things, I started a radio show, I created an English reading program in a town, I challenged people to be baptized the first time I met them. Be bold and get ready to tell people about your legendary mission. (Kyle)
• Love Buenos Aires as a second home, love people you serve there and love the culture and they will love you back. El Señor te ama y ama a la gente de Buenos Aires Argentina, quiere bendecirlos y tu eres el medio por el cual Dios lo hará. (Jorge)
• Always be aware of your surroundings. The guy you think looks creepy might accept the gospel and become a future bishop. (Layton)
• Truly forget yourself, don’t let pride prevent you from fully immersing yourself in the culture and try as many new things as you can. Also, “juice” isn’t the same as juice in the states. It’s just Tang powder mixed with their dirty tap water. I came home with 12 parasites. So, when they offer you “juice” instead of water, it’s still water. (John)
• Work hard and be obedient. The Lord will open doors if you follow the Spirit. (Mike)
• It’s going to be hard. Missions are hard by design. You may think you understand how hard it is going to be, but you can not understand it until you actually do it. However, the hardest things in life are usually the best things. When things get hard on your mission, rejoice, and get ready for the blessings that are about to come. As hard as missions are, they are also full of blessings. You may think you understand the blessings that come from serving a mission, but you can’t understand it until you actually do it. (Ryan)
• Amén el lugar. Es rico en experiencias y diversidad. La iglesia es fuerte. (Ariel)
• Be diligent. Pray always. Love everyone. If you are from Argentina, but are not a Porteño, become one. If you are not Argentine, become one. Be like Ammon. When King Lamoni asked Ammon if he wished to live among the people, Ammon answered, “Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die.” Let that be your attitude. Be dedicated. Read the scriptures. Be flexible. (Dennis)
• Turn it all over to the Lord. Take the mission seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously. Don’t be self-righteous. (Don)

What was a funny language mistake?

• One time I said, “Jesucristo murio para nuestros pescados.” Which mean, Jesus Christ died for our fish. (Kyle)
• The letter “r” in Spanish is actually an American “d” sound. So when American elders try to say things as simple as “dog”, they are actually saying they are farting or drunk. (Layton)
• I said many many curse words my first few transfers because in Argentina they speak Castellano which has a very different vocabulary than any other Spanish speaking country. A seemingly innocent word like “coger,” which, in any other country means “to take” means something very different in Argentina (hint: starts with “F”). Also, “concha” DOES NOT mean “shell” there. I won’t tell you what it means but it’s worse than the other one. My ignorance cause me to get slapped many times. Good luck, you’ll figure it out. (John)
• When teaching the Word of Wisdom once, while talking about the “do’s” I said “Hay que comer productos de arena.” What I meant to say was “Hay que comer productos de harina.” The difference? The latter means “it’s important to eat wheat-based products.” What I actually said means “it’s important to eat sand-based products.” (Ryan)
• “Doler” is a verb that means to hurt. When used in the third person, it is said “duele” pronounced in English sort of like “dwell-ay.” So my North American companion thought that it meant “to dwell”. He told our investigators that the Holy Spirit does not hurt in an unclean body. A missionary gave the Joseph Smith story, claiming that a pillar of light descended from the “suelo” (ground), instead of the “cielo” (heaven). (Dennis)
• A companion made a rude hand/arm gesture in front of a member family and they were shocked. He didn’t know what it meant, and I explained it to him in English. This was my first day in that branch, and after I told him pretty directly what it meant, I found out that the family had lived in Arizona for 8 years and spoke English as well as I did. We were both embarrassed. (Don)