Sally Fraser, daughter of Steve and Jill Fraser, has been called to serve 18 months in the Argentina Neuquén Mission. Sister Fraser will experience two weeks of an at-home / online MTC beginning February 21, 2022 before she enters the Mexico MTC for final preparations including Spanish language learning.
In her Sacrament meeting talk, this beautiful young sister missionary noted, “There’s nothing else I’d rather be doing than this most important work! I look forward to bringing light to those in darkness and teaching the people in Neuquén about Christ’s life and ministry, because all of God’s children matter. We are all so important to Him. I want them to know anyone can have a 2nd chance. I want them to know they can be forgiven for their sins. I’m not perfect but as long as my heart is turned to Him, I can do all I am commanded to do … I can serve even if I fall short because our Heavenly Father loves effort! I rejoice in what He has done for me.”
Sister Fraser shared the last six months of her life serving in Miss Megan’s kindergarten class and the letter she received from a 5-year-old which said, “Miss Sally: I will miss you. Have a great time on your mission. Let everyone know Jesus loves us.”
She concluded, "I don’t have all the answers but I do have faith in my Savior. My faith and my Spanish is as small as a mustard seed but I know He can made weak things strong!”
South America was dedicated by Apostle Melvin J. Ballard for the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to establish the South American Mission in December 1925 after Wilhelm Friedrichs and Emil Hoppe, two German immigrants first brought the “good news” of the gospel to Buenos Aires in 1923.
“The work of the Lord will grow slowly for a time here just as an oak grows slowly from an acorn,” Ballard prophesied shortly before leaving Argentina. When the work matured, he said, “The South American Mission will be a power in the Church.”
As predicted, the Church grew slowly in Argentina at first, but Argentine members gained valuable experience in the 1940s when foreign missionaries were withdrawn from the country and local members assumed leadership of the branches and the mission organization. When foreign missionaries returned to Argentina in 1946 growth accelerated as was prophesied.
A building program initiated in the 1950s provided local meetinghouses for the rapidly expanding membership of the Church and gave on-the-job training opportunities to young men called on building missions throughout the country. In 1966, a stake was created in Buenos Aires, and several others were created soon after.
Today, Argentina is home to nearly 475,000 members – about 1.09% of the entire population of the country – in 78 stakes including 484 wards and 250 branches. And, membership continues to grow through the efforts of fulltime missionaries serving in Argentina’s 13 missions.
In 1986, the Buenos Aires Argentina Temple was dedicated. In 2015 a second temple was completed in Córdoba, and in 2018, President Russell M. Nelson announced a third, to be built in the northwest province of Salta.
Hasta que regreses, nuestros pensamientos y oraciones están con usted, Hermana Fraser.
