Misión Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia
Here are free resources about the Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia Mission:
Aquí están algunos recursos gratuitos sobre la Misión Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia:
- 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.
Comodoro Rivadavia Mission Address
Here’s a recent address for the Comodoro Rivadavia Mission. We try to keep this information up to date, but it’s a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office.
Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia Mission
75 FRAY LUIS BELTRAN
COMODORO RIVADAVIA, CHUBUT 9000
ARGENTINA
75 FRAY LUIS BELTRAN
COMODORO RIVADAVIA, CHUBUT 9000
ARGENTINA
Phone Number: +54-297-455-9795
Mission President: President Claudio Salerno
Mission President: President Claudio Salerno
Comodoro Rivadavia Mission Map
Here’s a link to the mission map for the Comodoro Rivadavia Mission (LDS). To access an official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Comodoro Rivadavia Mission
Comodoro Missionary Blogs
Here’s a list of LDS missionary blogs for the Comodoro Rivadavia Mission. This list includes the missionary’s name, URL and when their blog was updated.
Comodoro Rivadavia Mission Groups
Here are Comodoro Rivadavia Mission Groups- for LDS missionary moms, returned missionaries, mission presidents and other alumni of the mission.
- Misioneros de Comodoro Rivadavia! Group (308 members)
- Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia Mission Group (93 members)
- Mision Comodoro Rivadavia Fieles Marzo 2015 (20 members)
Comodoro Rivadavia Mission T-Shirts
Here are T-shirts for the Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia Mission!
Shirt designs include Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia 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 Comodoro Rivadavia missionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments.
*Click here to browse Comodoro Rivadavia Mission gifts
*Click here to see our new shirt design for the Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia Mission:
Comodoro Mission Presidents
Here’s a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Comodoro Rivadavia LDS Mission.
- 2016-2019, Claudio Salerno
- 2013-2016, Mark F. Rogers
Argentina LDS Statistics (2015)
- Church Membership: 432,007
- Missions: 12
- Temples: 2
- Congregations: 765
- Family History Centers: 107
Helpful Articles about Argentina
- Strong Winds in the Patagonia
- Chacras in the Patagonia
- 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
Comodoro Missionary Survey
Here are survey responses from Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia 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?
- 2015-2017 (Isaias)
- 2015-2016 (Paige)
- 2015-2016 (Kellie)
- 2015-2016 (Kjerstin)
- 2014-2016 (Jarom)
- 2013-2015 (Ronald)
- 2013-2015 (Whitney)
- 2013-2014 (Anneliese)
- 2013-2014 (Cassie)
- 2012-2014 (Hans)
What areas did you serve in?
- Río Turbio, Comodoro – Abásolo A, Ushuaia – Andino C, Trelew – Centenario B, Caleta Olivia – Caleta A, Trelew – Unión 1A. (Isaias)
- Sarmiento. Las Heras. Rada Tilly. Andino, Ushuaia. (Paige)
- Ushuaia C, Rawson B, Las Heras B, Gaiman. (Kellie)
- Trelew, Caleta, Ushuaia, Rio Gallegos, and Gaiman. (Kjerstin)
- Ushuaia, Calafate, Rawson, Comodoro Rivadavia, Rio Grande, Caleta Olivia. (Jarom)
- Puerto Madryn, Trelew, Comodoro Rivadavia, Caleta Olivia, Las Heras, Rio Gallegos, Ushuaia. (Ronald)
- Caleta Olivia Centro, Ushuaia Centro, Trelew Pellegrini, Puerto Madryn Roca, Río Gallegos. (Whitney)
- Puerto Madryn, Caleta Olivia, Rio Gallegos, Ushuaia. (Anneliese)
- Río Grande, Comodoro Rivadavia, and Ushuaia. (Cassie)
- I was originally called to the Argentina Neuquen mission. I waited for my visa in the Salt Lake City South Mission where I served in Draper and Sandy, Utah. I then went to Argentina where I served in Cutral Co., Ingeniero Huergo, Bariloche and Comodoro Rivadavia as part of the Argentina Neuquen Mission. Finally, while in Comodoro, the mission was divided and the Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia mission was created where I served in Comodoro Rivadavia, Rio Grande, and Trelew. (Hans)
What were some favorite foods?
- Tortas fritas, ravioles, fideos con tuco, asado!!, empanadas, canelones, polenta. Siempre pedir mate cocido cuando te ofrezcan mate!! When people offer you mate, always ask for a mate cocido instead!! (Isaias)
- Empanadas. Milanesas. (Paige)
- Milanesa de pollo, EMPANADAS, asado, pizza, ñoquis, arroz con leche, tortas fritas, MATE. (Kellie)
- Some of my favorite foods are Milanesa, ñoquis, empanandas, and canalones. Asado is the best! There is a lot of Italian influence so they serve lots of pasta. I still miss the mayonnaise that they put on EVERYTHING. (Kjerstin)
- Churripan. Facturas. Empanadas. Canalones. Fiambre Alemán. Alfajores. (Jarom)
- Milanesa. (Ronald)
- Milanesa, empanadas de pollo o carne, y dulce de leche :). (Whitney)
- Empanadas al horno, and Pastel de papa on a chilly day. (Whitney)
- Empanadas and milanesa. I hope you like fried meat! (Cassie)
- Milanesas, hard boiled egg and beet salad, the milk, peaches with cream, and asado! (Hans)
What was a funny experience?
- Una vez se nos perdió una mini misionera durante los traslados… al final supo llegar sola a su casa. ¡Siempre hay que quedarse en la terminal hasta que terminen los viajes! We once misplaced a mini-missionary when doing transfers as a zone leader… We ought to have waited for every colectivo to arrive at the terminal until transfers were over! The Sister arrived to her home by herself. (Isaias)
- We got chased by a sheep that thought it was a guard dog. (Paige)
- I fell in the baptismal font and broke my toe… it was rough… but 2 days later on P-day we went to see the penguins at Punta Tombo so I had to be tough and go see those penguins haha. (Kellie)
- If I was knocking on doors with my companion and we came across a house with several apartments, we knocked on almost all of the doors and no one was home. There was one more door around the corner. This time there was an answer! A gentleman opened the window on the door and we began to get to know him. I started looking behind him into the house and saw several strange things. There were bottles of shampoo on a shelf and a toilet in the corner. After he agreed to let us stop by at a better moment he informed us that this was his bathroom door, and it would be nice if we could go to the front door next time. My companion and I had a great laugh about that. (Kjerstin)
- One preparation day, we decided to hike a mountain. On the way down, a couple of missionaries and I thought it would be fun to run down the very steep path. We almost made it the whole way on two feet, but there was a patch of mud right at the bottom. All of us slipped and fell. It was awesome! (Jarom)
- Cuando intentaba comunicarme con mi compañero gringo en las pocas palabras en español que él sabía. (Ronald)
- Well, the wind caused so many funny experiences, from crazy hair to wardrobe malfunctions, you just have to laugh because the wind is just so crazy strong there. Also, saying things wrong in Spanish lol, I once said that I was raining instead of crying. (Whitney)
- One time on a P-day, my companion and I were looking to go to the open air markets in Puerto Madryn. We visited a member who lived with her father who was very old and senile but knew where the markets were. He guided us to a point where we could see the markets from a steep hill. Right after we said goodbye, I took my first step and slipped on some rocks. I took a hard fall but harmed my pride more as the crazy old man cackled as loud as he could, laughing all the way home. (Anneliese)
- Learning to walk in the snow and ice (I’m from Arizona). (Cassie)
- During transfers, my companion and I were the Zone Leaders, and needed to go with an Elder to his area while we waited for his new companion to show up. The Elder told us he had an new investigator to visit. We show up to this house and an extremely angry man starts yelling out the door, “What did I tell you yesterday!” My companion and I started asking, “Elder, what did he tell you yesterday? Why is this guy mad?” The door was a ways away from the fence we were behind, so the Elder yelled back, we talked to your wife and she said we could come back to share a message.” The guy got madder and angrily yelled “You were talking to my wife!” The elder replied yes, so the man responded that he would ask his wife. The Elder assured us that the man’s wife was extremely nice and that there would be no problem. However, the man returned super quick saying his wife didn’t remember anything. At this point, the man started to approach the fence and I noticed a long stick in his hand, as he got closer I realized the stick was a rifle. The man and the Elder swapped remarks for a bit and the guy pulled out a huge bow knife. I was freaking out at this point and being a sometimes not-well-liked gringo, I was ready to run, my companion from Mexico wanted to figure out why this guy was mad, and the Argentine elder we were with continued pressing to have a lesson with this angry man. Eventually the man came outside the fence and asked what we wanted. I responded that we didn’t want, didn’t have anything and the Argentine Elder responded that we only wanted to share a message about Jesus Christ. The man paused for a moment, and said “Oh, well then come in.” At that moment the Argentine Elder went to give the man a hug and I realized we had been pranked. My companion still hadn’t gathered that the whole thing was a joke so when we got inside and sat around the table, my companion asked, “What’s going on?” The Argentine Elder explained that this was a member family and that the man who played angry was the Young Men’s leader. (Hans)
What was a crazy experience?
- It was POURING down in Comodoro, we were heading to an appointment. Comodoro is full of dirt roads. And this area where this family lived was up a really steep hill. We got ready by putting on the biggest raincoats and our best boots. But as the rain kept falling down on us, and as the hill kept making us slide down… we decided it’d be better for our safety to go back home. I’m not saying: don’t go to your appointments, do whatever you possibly can!! Once you’ve tried it all, then think of safety! (Isaias)
- The weather was sometimes pretty crazy with rain, wind and snow. (Paige)
- I got bit by many dogs and I have scars on my legs to show for it. I saw my district leader getting robbed and tried to chase the robber (probably not a good idea but in the moment it seemed like the right thing hah), luckily nothing happened to us. (Kellie)
- I once had a great conversation with a Jewish convert who worshiped the devil. He was a DJ who admitted to doing drugs because he “needed to be high for work.” I’m fairly sure he was high then, but we were able to briefly share our beliefs with him. He had a great sense of humor and was super nice. I learned not to judge anyone that day. My companion and I walked away and chuckled at how odd our day had become. (Kjerstin)
- I was surrounded by angry dogs in the mountains of Ushuaia, and I had to hop backwards on one foot while I repeatedly kicked at the dogs faces with my other foot. (Jarom)
- Cuando me amenazaron de golpearme si volvía a un cierto lugar a predicar. (Ronald)
- Crazy experiences were seeing the penguins, sea lions, and the glacier in calafate. Despite the fact that most of the mission is not very beautiful, it has several quite amazing and beautiful things that I felt privileged to experience and see. Also, I got bit by a rather large dog. Don’t turn your back on loose and unknown dogs. (Whitney)
- I got bit by a couple dogs, specifically at a less active members house in Caleta Olivia. She had a front patio full of black rescued dogs. One time when we visited, she tried to round them up so we could cross the patio and enter the house. I felt like I was crossing a river full of crocodiles. The 30 or something black dogs were barking and eager to approach us. Just as we were about to enter the house, I got bit on the back of my leg, but I didn’t say anything because I was almost as scared of the less active as I was by her dogs. (Anneliese)
- Being attacked by stray dogs with my companion. Always keep some rocks in your pockets to throw at them! (Cassie)
- We went to clap a door (you clap your hands from behind the fence instead of walking up to knock on the door). This fence was made of old wooden pallets and it had two pit bulls on the other side, one of which really wanted to get at us. We were clapping the door right at the front gate, two pallets high, with the pit bull jumping right in front of us. He was jumping so high that he could easily look us in the eyes, and I’m about 6 foot. All of a sudden, his giant head burst through the pallet. My companion and I both yelled and my companion jumped behind me. I smacked the dog back inside with my scriptures and we got away from there quick! (Hans)
What was a spiritual experience?
- I was given the oportunity to deliver a speech in a sacrament meeting where the theme was missionary work. I took the oportunity seriously. I prepared many days in advance, reading as many missionary speeches I could, and the book of Mormon and PMG. I wanted to motivate the ward to work with the missionaries more, and to share the gospel, and to just consecrate themselves to the gospel. I decided to quote CS Lewis: “Give me all of you!!! I don’t want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work. I want YOU!!! ALL OF YOU!! I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man or woman, but to KILL IT! No half measures will do. I don’t want to only prune a branch here and a branch there; rather I want the whole tree out! Hand it over to me, the whole outfit, all of your desires, all of your wants and wishes and dreams. Turn them ALL over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self—in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart.” (Isaias)
- Meeting great people and seeing them change their lives and be baptized. After baptism, seeing them stay faithful. (Paige)
- His name is Mario and he was 65. We taught him the first lesson as well and I thought there was no way he would progress because he looked as far as it comes from a “golden investigator.” But I thought well, there is no harm in inviting him to be baptized as well. So we invited him, and he said “dale.” Which is basically like saying “sure.” Haha, so I didn’t have a lot of faith in Mario because I still thought he was crazy, but decided to give him a chance. We started teaching him, and he told us about his life and his life as a shrimp fisherman and captain, and how he had watched his son die in a deadliest catch style fishing accident and that in a similar accident he was injured, and that is why he talked that way. But he was actually a great, sweet man who was very sensitive to the Spirit. When he read the account of the Savior in the Americas giving the power to baptize to the prophet Nephi he said, “now I understand that the person who will baptize me will do it with that same power that Jesus gave to Nephi.” It was such a sweet experience. On January 9th of 2016, I watched Mario enter the waters of baptism. The Spirit was so strong in that moment that when he came out of the water I started clapping… but I only got one clap out when I realized that I shouldn’t do that. I was just overcome by happiness for that man, and a month later his daughter Barbie was also baptized. (Kellie)
- I remember walking out of the pension one morning and feeling the need to walk in a certain direction. I didn’t think it was an impression from the Spirit until we came across one of our contacts crying in the street. This was a sweet confirmation to me that the Lord guides His missionaries even and especially when they don’t recognize it. (Kjerstin)
- Watching someone change their life in order to have the blessings of the gospel. Also, listening to sincere prayers to know truth. (Jarom)
- Mientras cuidaba a mi compañero enfermo, medite en cuanto a la mor de mi madre, todo lo que ella me a aguantado desde que nací, eso cambio mi corazón. (Ronald)
- There were many but I remember one super clearly right now about a lesson I helped teach with my trainer. I was a brand new missionary and I couldn’t speak Spanish very well, we had an appointment set up by our District President at the church and he actually came and helped us teach his friend, a woman named Susan. Usually I didn’t really know what was going on during the lessons because of my inability to understand the language. But during his lesson, I was able to understand everything that was said and able to testify and teach very clearly. It was a strong testimony builder of the gift of tongues. I knew then that Heavenly Father was helping me and I truly felt like an instrument in His hands. Helped set the tone for my whole mission. (Whitney)
- Every day. I would say one of the greatest miracles was every time I taught the first lesson to a new investigator. It’s almost magical meeting these children of God that you have never met and sharing with them a message that they have never heard before. One night after meeting Carolina and Jose a couple of Christian beliefs, I felt like I floated home. Even though I left the area the next week, I was so happy to have found them and shared my testimony with them. (Anneliese)
- Every day. I would say one of the greatest miracles was every time I taught the first lesson to a new investigator. It’s almost magical meeting these children of God that you have never met and sharing with them a message that they have never heard before. One night after meeting Carolina and Jose, a couple of christian beliefs, I felt like I floated home. Even though I left the area the next week, I was so happy to have found them and shared my testimony with them.
- Seeing someone decide to be baptized. (Cassie)
- The whole mission is a spiritual experience. My companion and I were in a ward where we were invited to share a message with the Priesthood brethren at the beginning of each Priesthood meeting. I had prepared to share some verses from the Book of Mormon on the Priesthood and had prepared some questions that I felt would help the group think a bit. After sharing the verses and then asking my question, the bishop felt that waiting for people to think things through was taking too long so he cut the message off there and moved on to the lesson. I was a little sad that I didn’t get to hear any of the responses from the members. After church ended, one brother came up to me and said, “Elder, I found it! These are the promised blessings that you wanted us to find in these verses.” Knowing that at least one person was able to benefit from my message helped me to know that I had been following the Spirit and not just wasting everyone’s time. (Hans)
What are some interesting facts about the Comodoro Rivadavia Mission?
- It is the southernmost mission in the world! (read Matthew 28:19-20). It is home to towns founded by Welsh immigrants, such as Gaiman and Rawson, both towns in the Chubut province, about 5 hours north to the home mission. Punta Tombo, home to one of the biggest Magellanic penguin reserve, is also in the Chubut province. There is a real-sized Argentinosaurus model outside of the city of Trelew. La cueva de las Manos is a touristic destination in the Santa Cruz province. Ushuaia and El Calafate are internationally famous touristic cities. (Isaias)
- It is the southern most mission in the world. In some areas, you can see penguins or the Perito Moreno Glacier. (Paige)
- It is the southern most mission in the WORLD! It’s pretty huge, so get ready for transfer rides anywhere from 4 hours to 30 hours long. There are PENGUINS, there are TONS of cool things to see on super preparation day, there is a little part of Chile that belongs to our mission called Puerto Williams…it is in Patagonia, there is a LOT of wind. (Kellie)
- The most interesting thing about Argentina is the culture. Almost everyone drinks mate, and you clap in front of gates instead of knocking on doors. (Kjerstin)
- Clapping at doors. Always eating with bread. Bakeries on every corner. A lot of people work in petroleum. (Jarom)
- Que tiene muchas herramientas de planificación. (Ronald)
- Even though it’s South America, it’s usually very cold and windy. When it’s not cold, it’s still windy so be prepared. Also, most of it is along the coast. Ushuaia, “the city at the end of the world”, is one of the most fascinating and beautiful places on Earth. In this city, it’s farther south than any other mission in the world. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see penguins and sea lions. If you go to Puerto Madryn, please take time to go see the whales when they are close to the coast, it’s unbelievable! (Whitney)
- So many night bus rides. When the store doesn’t have any change… they give you candy as currency. (Anneliese)
- Even though it’s South America, it’s usually very cold and windy. When it’s not cold it’s still windy so be prepared. Also, most of it is along the coast. Ushuaia, “the city at the end of the world”, is one of the most fascinating and beautiful places on earth. In this city, it’s farther south than any other mission in the world. If you’re lucky you’ll get to see penguins and sea lions. If you go to Puerto Madryn, please take time to go see the whales when they are close to the coast, it’s unbelievable!
- It’s really cold and really hot, so bring a range of clothes. (Cassie)
- The goal we had when I left was to get a temple in Comodoro, and I don’t think that has changed. The longest transfer you could have from top to bottom could take about 28 hours on a bus with all the stops. There are a lot of beautiful areas in the mission. (Hans)
What was the weather like?
- People in the Patagonia often say that they have all 4 weathers in a day. The weather is just very unpredictable. It can get very hot during summer in the north, and rapidly changing winds can turn a hot day into a cold one. Rain is not too common, but can also strike anywhere in the Patagonia. It does snow in the mission, mainly in the south, but Rio Grande, the coldest city in the mission, isn’t the coldest because of the snow, it’s the chilly winter wind. (Isaias)
- Hot in the summer (December to February) and cold in the winter (June to August). It was windy basically all year around. It also snowed in most areas, mostly though in the southern areas. The summer was hot in most areas and if you weren’t careful with sunscreen you would get super burnt or tanned. (Paige)
- Windy. In the north of the mission, it’s hot; in the south, it snows tons, and in the middle it is a mixture of the two haha. (Kellie)
- The weather could be incredibly hot in the northern part of the mission, and incredibly cold in the southern tip. Some areas are windy. Some are not. I never saw lightning in my mission but it did rain sometimes. Prepare for everything, but pack as lightly as possible. (Kjerstin)
- Generally the winters were very cold with snow and wind. There is almost always wind, and some places are very dusty. You’ll probably have black/brown boogers. (Jarom)
- Era lindo a veces cuando corría poco viento y con calor. (Ronald)
- WINDY! Mostly cold especially during the winter, some places warm up in the summer but some don’t. (Whitney)
- Cold, hot, windy and everything else. (Anneliese)
- Overall it’s fairly cold. You can expect wind just about every where. If you go really south, pretty much any where in Tierra del Fuego, then expect to dress really warm. I spent a summer in Rio Grande and the warmest it ever got was maybe 50 degrees. Just about every day, even during the summer, was a sweater day. (Hans)
Any things you really like about the area/people?
- The people are just friendly. The mission population is distributed among several small towns, most of them familiar with the missionaries of our church. That plays a crucial role in your mission: the people will be kind to you even if they don’t want to hear our message, but that’s when you get to shine by changing things up for them! Be nice, be sincere, be loving, be warm, be powerful and be attentive! And everybody will love you! (Isaias)
- For the most part, they are kind and generous. They may not want to convert but they will still open their houses to you. (Paige)
- The culture, learning about their lives and struggles, and just connecting with them. They’re the BEST. (Kellie)
- I just love adore the people of the Patagonia. They are so loving and very patriotic. (Kjerstin)
- There are hardly any bugs or spiders! The people always feed you. (Jarom)
- Son lugares que tienen creo yo, todos los climas, en ciertos lugares como rio gallegos, creo yo todos los climas en un día. Los Argentinos son muy amorosos. (Ronald)
- I love the Argentine’s! They can be difficult and closed off at first, but they are also so loving, wonderful and it was a privilege to get to know them. I hope to be able to visit Argentina again some day! (Whitney)
- Argentines will always have a very special place in my heart. They are comically prideful and stubborn but that ultimately can make them the best friends, members, and companions. (Anneliese)
- The people are so humble and kind. You will learn so much from them. (Cassie)
- The people there are some of the best you’ll meet. It might be hard to establish a relationship with them at first, but after you do, they’re your friends for life. This helps make some awesome converts that are extremely strong. The members there are among some of the most faithful you will ever meet. (Hans)
Any packing/clothing advice?
- Bring your best raincoat and some waterproof boots. Don’t forget summer clothing as well! Try not to bring too many bags of luggage with you, since traveling will be done exclusively by bus (unless you’re an AP) and bus company staff will want to charge you for bringing “too much”. (Isaias)
- Pack for winter and summer. Also pack longer, not super flowing skirts so that they will stay down in the wind. (Paige)
- Sisters: don’t bring skirts that will blow over your head in the wind. Straight skirts are best. They may not be as cute, but having your skirt blow over your head while you’re walking down the street is a lot worse. (Kellie)
- Pack lightly. You can get normal toiletries like toothpaste and mouthwash so don’t pack extras unless you have to have a certain brand of deodorant for two years. (Kjerstin)
- Bring clothes that break the wind. Bring a very warm sleeping bag. (Jarom)
- Lleven camisetas de futbol de su país natal para intercambiar. (Ronald)
- Invest in a high quality coat. One that has a hood, is waterproof, and very warm; it will be the best thing you ever do! Also, good boots and warm socks/tights (if you’re a sister). Thicker skirts and ones that won’t fly up in the wind. (Whitney)
- Get sturdy shoes. Dr. Martens or Blundstone would have been a dream…wish I would have brought them. I went through the soles of a couple of my shoes. (Anneliese)
- Don’t bring any nice clothes, they will just get ruined. Girls- buy sturdy skirts, there is a lot of wind everywhere and if you bring flowing skirts, it will be a disaster. (Cassie)
- Dress warm. Learn to retire your garments properly. Don’t leave your old nasty clothes for others to clean up when you leave an area or finish your mission. And don’t burn any of your shirts, ties, suits, etc. while out. You’re trying to represent Christ. (Hans)
What blessings did you receive from serving a mission?
- I learned how to be a part of the families of many wonderful people I barely even knew. I learned that organizing everything: from schedules, lessons, study sessions, speeches, etc, will make the Spirit work through you. I learned that people expect many things from missionaries even if they don’t say that out loud; members and non members are always looking at you. Don’t let them down. Don’t let your Heavenly Father down, even when you think nobody is watching. I learned that the Holy Ghost is willing to tell us what to do if we’re willing to listen. I learned that Jesus Christ DID suffer the same things I suffered. I learned that prayers are answered, if done with sincerity. I had the chance to cook for many people, and to wash many dishes as well. Serving is a huge blessing!! (Isaias)
- I learned patience and love for my fellowman. I grew a lot both spiritually and mentally. (Paige)
- Increased spirituality, ability to have meaningful conversation (not just small talk), Spanish language, eternal friends…. so many things. (Kellie)
- My family was cared for at home despite surgeries and car expenses, and I was blessed with the strength to continue with my mission in times of injury and trial. One of the biggest blessings I received was a stronger relationship with God and a stronger testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ. (Kjerstin)
- People skills. Learned Spanish. Understand different cultures. (Jarom)
- Ser mas amoroso con mi prójimo, etc. (Ronald)
- I can’t even begin to list all the blessings I have received. I have lifelong friends who I would not have met otherwise. I am going to get a degree in Spanish next year which I know wouldn’t have been possible without serving a mission Spanish speaking (I love Spanish). I am convinced that I would not be married to my sweet husband had I not gone on a mission the same time that he did. I have a much stronger testimony now than I had my freshman year of college. Everything I have, I owe to my mission. (Whitney)
- Learning Spanish has been a huge blessing in my life. It has given me direction and allowed me to pursue a career in Spanish Education and Dual Language Immersion. Though some may think it would be a choice of convenience but I feel that it has be a path divinely constructed to bring me to this point. (Anneliese)
- Too many to count. Marriage, family, schooling, etc. (Cassie)
- I only use Spanish for my current job and I’m using it to open up other career opportunities as well. The leadership skills have helped me in the workplace as well. The goal setting and planning skills have helped me learn how to make better and smarter goals, and I’m able to establish more clearly what I want to accomplish in life, and how I’m going to make it happen. My relationship with my wife is also better because I learned some social skills that have helped me be a better help meet for my wife. (Hans)
What are some skills you gained?
- I learned patience, organization, self motivation, cooking, group coordination, time management, goal setting and accountability, and socializing. (Isaias)
- I learned how to talk with a lot of different people. I learned how to be patient. I leaned how to live with someone 24/7. (Paige)
- Bravery. (I feel like I can do anything now and I’m not afraid to try new things), I can speak Spanish, I understand how to help people according to their needs, I’m cleaner, I dress classier, I’m a LOT more mature. (Kellie)
- I really learned how to receive revelation and how to love the scriptures and the stories inside. I also learned how to teach and share the gospel which is a skill I am using whenever I can. (Kjerstin)
- Learned how to tie my shoes and cook a fried egg. (Jarom)
- Planificar mejor mis tiempos. (Ronald)
- I learned how to communicate with people and overcame a slight struggle I used to have with talking to strangers. I learned another language. Also learned how to get along with all sorts of different personalities and people. (Whitney)
- I rarely have trouble waking up on time. I have developed a love for work and progress to become a better child of God every day. When times get hard, I look back on the challenges I overcame while I was in Argentina and I’m empowered by those experience to take on the challenges that face me now. (Anneliese)
- Learning another language (obviously), learning to speak with everyone, service, Christ like love, seeing the good in everything, having a positive attitude even when times are rough. (Cassie)
- Fluent in Spanish, leadership skills, social skills, goal setting and planning skills. (Hans)
What do you wish you knew/did at the beginning of your mission?
- I wish I’d known that the key to success in missionary work are the members! I wish I’d known Preach my Gospel more in depth. Also, I wish I hadn’t been too shy on sharing the gospel with the people around me. (Isaias)
- I wish I would have dedicated more time to studying the scriptures and Preach My Gospel. (Paige)
- Numbers aren’t everything. Don’t get obsessed. Remember that you’re there to help people and sometimes that help will not equate to a number that you can put in your planner, but it could have an eternal effect on a person. As you teach faith and repentance, BAPTISM WILL FOLLOW. Push for baptism, but don’t make that be your goal. Your goal should be helping people to change and become more like Christ. Baptism is a consequence of a changed heart. (Kellie)
- I wish I knew how to have fun when I began my time in Argentina. The mission is hard work and can be stressful, but after a little while that hard and stressful work becomes a joy. Enjoy every moment. Don’t worry about the language or teaching. Those things will come. Work hard AND have fun. (Kjerstin)
- What the gospel was. (Jarom)
- Conocer a fondo a las personas de Argentina. (Ronald)
- How demanding it was going to be, how difficult learning a language was going to be, and how horrible the weather was going to be haha. (Whitney)
- There will come a time when you have to decide if your going to stay or if you’re going to leave. Choose to stay every morning of that first transfer and all will be well. (Anneliese)
- I wish I knew more about the Book of Mormon. Many people ask about it or have questions. (Cassie)
- I wish I’d known how to set better goals in the beginning. I also wish that I had the 12 week program. That wasn’t put into place until half way through my mission. (Hans)
Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Comodoro Rivadavia?
- When you see other missionaries being disobedient, do not HESITATE to talk to your leaders about that! Specially your mission President! The work will hasten if you do so, it’s up to you! Never think that other missionaries’ disobedience makes it OK for you to do things you know you shouldn’t! Obey as if the Lord were watching you all of the time, He actually is! But love is also key, never sacrifice love for the sake of obedience. “Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” Proverbs 3:12 Also: always be anxious to report your work to your leaders. And love your companions! All of them!! Serve them in every way you can, talk openly about your mission goals, your family, your conversion, your interests, your disappointments. Counseling with your companions will bring the Holy Ghost. (Isaias)
- It definitely is not easy but it is completely worth it! It is hard but if you just keep working, you will see the fruits. Have faith and stay obedient! (Paige)
- Don’t believe when people say “I can’t”. You CAN be obedient, you CAN get along with your companion, you CAN baptize, you CAN learn Spanish, and you CAN HAVE FUN! It’s all possible because you’re not alone, you’re on the Lord’s team. (Kellie)
- Weakness in the missionary language means super power. Don’t ever be afraid of not being able to complete a mission. The Lord knows what He’s doing and He has a plan for your life. (Kjertin)
- Start living the things taught in Preach My Gospel. (Jarom)
- Escudriñen los convenios de la investidura. (Ronald)
- You just hit the jackpot. You are going to the best mission in the world! My Mission President is no longer there but I know that any Mission President called to Comodoro Rivadavia must be special. The weather and the rejection can be draining, but something my Mission President told me on several occasions is that the Lord sends special missionaries to this mission. It takes heart, determination, and drive. You can’t give up after being rejected nine times in a row because it’s the tenth door that holds the miracle. If you keep working, if you refuse to quit when it gets difficult, you WILL witness miracles. (Whitney)
- Missions are not a sacrifice, they are the greatest gift you can receive. It’s a humbling experience to be the Lord’s servant and forget about yourself. I know that the Lord prepares his children for many things, but the mission is something that will never harm or detract from the success of your life. Because of my mission I know the importance of being a covenant keeping people with the ultimate intention of returning to live with our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and is the keystone to our religion. It plays a miraculous role in the process of conversion in both member, missionaries, and investigators. It’s privilege to know these things and they will be treasured forever. (Anneliese)
- Serving a mission is so great! You will learn and grow so much. It will be a time in your life that you will never forget and will always treasure. Be humble and let the Lord work through you. (Cassie)
- Put your Mission President’s council into practice on a weekly basis. Forget yourself, and go to work. Don’t be afraid to mess up while learning Spanish. No body who has ever learned the language shows up speaking perfectly, it takes some work. The sooner you get over your fear of speaking, mistakes or not, the easier it will come to you. Most importantly, sincerely seek the Spirit and follow the promptings you receive. You are destined to succeed, so trust that the Lord will not fail you. (Hans)
What was a funny language mistake?
- A comp told me this story: He was taught the three ways of greeting somebody in Spanish at the Mission Training Center: Buenos días Buenas tardes Buenas noches. So, on his first day in Argentina, he decided that if he couldn’t yet talk to everybody like he would have liked, he would greet every person on the street. So, when somebody came close to him, he prepared mentally, gathered every bit of courage he had, and said, for the first time to a native Spanish speaker in Argentina: “¡Buenos días!” “Buen día” was the person’s reply. … “WHAT IS ‘BUEN DÍA’??” the missionary wondered. He hadn’t been taught that at the MTC!! (Isaias)
- I can’t think of anything that wasn’t inappropriate haha. Usually if it’s a memorable mistake, it’s because they accidentally said something bad… classic. (Kellie)
- I heard people saying the phrase “Nada que ver” and I started to try and say it. The problem was, I started saying “hay que ver” because of how they pronounce it. After a few days, my trainer asked me what I was trying to say. Luckily, what I was saying was nothing dirty, but it didn’t make much sense. Nada que ver means that something has nothing to do with a topic. Hay que ver means something along the lines of “we’ll have to see”. (Kjerstin)
- It’s not very funny, but one time I called an investigator to set up a teaching appointment. When he answered he said something really quick that I couldn’t understand, so I just said “Oh, good. When can we come talk to you again?” He politely rejected and hung up. I was confused so I looked at my companion to see if he know what the investigator had said at the beginning. The man had said, “My mother just died, and my wife was the doctor operating.” And I said, “Oh, good.” NOOOO!!!! (Jarom)
- I accidentally said that I sometimes “rain” when I feel the Spirit, instead of “cry”. Haha also just the classic, “estoy embarazada” which means “I’m pregnant” not “I’m embarrassed”. Don’t do it! Haha (Whitney)
- Almost everyone gets mejor and mujer confused. I definitely said that the gospel makes us man/women instead of better men. (hombres mujeres vs. hombres mejores). (Anneliese)
- One of my companions. If another missionary says to tell whoever is cooking “Gracias por su porqueria,” then watch out. This is like telling the cook, “Thanks for this garbage.” (Hans)
Cecily (Argentina Comodoro Rivadavia Mission)
–Paraphrased from Cecily’s mission interview–
A Mission Split into Four
I went into the MTC in July 2013 and got back in January 2015. I started in Puerto Madryn and went to some other places including Comodoro itself. My mission president liked to refer to our mission as four missions in one. There is the northern part which has two stakes and the culture is a little different. It’s warmer so they have more tourists that come in on big boats. The middle area where Comodoro is is where people work on the oil rigs and do other things in that industry. That can change the family dynamic a little bit because the fathers usually have to work a lot during the work and they aren’t home a lot. The further south you go it seems like people are there just for work. You go more south and get to Rio Gallegos which is really windy and a lot of people that work down there have a good amount of money. Then you pass through Chile to the island of Tierra Del Fuego. That is all one district right now working towards becoming a stake. A lot of people that have moved to Rio Grande don’t have a lot of family there so they just work in factories and have their immediate families. It’s really cold down there with the extreme wind chill. We got told to stay in one day because there was so much wind.
The Edge of the World
Ushuaia is the beautiful area of the mission with beautiful mountains and the ocean. My mission president always said that he went to different missions as he traveled throughout our mission. In all of the areas there is a big difference in attendance. As you move farther south it really varies. Some wards are really strong while others have very small attendance. I want to say the smallest was in Rio Gallegos and we had about 40 people come to church. I was never in really small branches, they usually put sisters where the wards are a little bit stronger. In Puerto Madryn we got up to like 100 or 115, but it changes.
Popular Religions
There were three main religions. The evangelicals always had loud music and were very interesting. There were the Catholics that most of them never went to mass or participated in church at all. They would go for holidays, but they would just tell you they were Catholic to try to get rid of you. They viewed their baptism as “the baptism” so it is hard for them to understand that they would need a change. We did teach a substantial amount of Catholics though. There were also Jehovah’s Witnesses. We would pass them a lot as they were knocking on doors at the same time as us. There were a chunk of people that didn’t believe in anything, and you have to learn to handle that when teaching people. Most people have heard of Jesus Christ so that really helps.
Teach with the Spirit
Some people are so open and willing to learn, but a lot of people haven’t had church experiences so you need to help them. It’s the most incredible thing to share your testimony with another person. I grew a lot after that experience. Focus on teaching with the Spirit.
Puerto Madryn
I started off in Puerto Madryn and it’s the most northern city in the mission. I was in the area close to the ocean and I got to see the whales jumping. A lot of tourists will come to the beach in the summer and they will go to see the whales. The area there is pretty flat for the most part. Some of it was paved and some of it was not. I loved that area. They are very welcoming and open. We had a lot of young single adults that would come out with us. They just need to have a little bit of confidence in you to open up and share. Part of my area I had a neighborhood with a lot of Bolivians.