He will not forget

I am glad that you guys had a good time in Salt Lake! I love the picture in front of the Temple! This was a good week for us. For Elder Patterson's training we have to study this thing called 12 weeks. It was good at first but now it's a waste of time. So we decided to use that time to deep clean our house. We clean it out really good and put up all of our christmas decorations and our little house is a lot more like a home :) I would say our house is perfect now except for waking up in the middle of the night every night from the cats running on the roof. Like a month ago we found this awesome family. They were way interested and they told us they had been looking for a long time to find a perfect church but couldn't find it. They wanted to get baptized but couldn't find this perfect church. So they just picked a random church and were getting ready to get baptized there. We taught them that night about restoration and they were way interested. But after we lost contact and we didn't see them for like a month. We decided to go on interchanges with the bishop and somebody else so that one of us could talk with this family, and the other could meet up with brillante and joseph (haitianos). So me and the bishop went to the gonzales family. When we knocked on the door they said they didn't have any time. The bishop was like small talking, and I don't know how, but got started in a really good conversation with them. He was really direct with them, which was good because they were really open about everything. We weren't able to get into their house but we finally talked to them and we are really excited for them. Elder Patterson went to talk with brillante. It looks like Brillante is going to have to leave his apartment because he can't pay the bills. It's a really stressful time for him and we are hoping for the best. I'm not sure how much we can help him but we are doing our best looking for rent and praying like crazy for him. The only thing is that rent is really complicated and hard to find here.  15 For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.  16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Christmas season in Conchali

 Santa said something mean to me right before we took this picture haha!

This was a pretty good week for Elder Patterson and I. We were protected from the spiders so that's a good thing. We are really good friends and the work is fun when you get along this good with your comp. 

We had interviews with our mission president on Wednesday. Me and patterson were the very last ones to get interviewed so we were in the church forever but it was definitely worth it. I really enjoyed my interview. President wrote down the plan that we use in our sector because he really liked it. He also gave me a couple ideas and we've tried them out and they have worked really well. 

This is a really good sector and we keep finding more and more people. It's just hard for them to keep progressing because nobody will come to church.  Grrrr.  But anyways we found Joseph and he is really cool. He is from Haiti but only been in Chile for a little bit. He lives with the most interesting man in the world. I say that because he speaks 6 different languages and he has never studied. His name is Christian and he is from Chile. They are both super humble. So hopefully we can add Joseph to the Haiti project :)

We had stake conference this past weekend. It was really good. A seventy came from Argentina. He did a really good job. Something that I really like about Chile is that in every stake conference they dedicate a little time for the recents rm's and people with mission calls to give their testimonies. I loved hearing their testimonies and how much being a missionary meant to them. It made me happy to be a missionary!

Sometimes I like to say I'm learning two languages, Spanish and Chilean. Because they have so much slang and sayings. But I think I learned my favorite chilean saying. `` He is More crazy/dangerous than a monkey with a gillette (razor blade). #Truth.

I learned in my life that we don’t need to be “more” of anything to start to become the person God intended us to become. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Have a great week!

Animated Translator

The highlight of this week was our lesson with Brillante and Wilken. Wilken is from Haiti but speaks spanish perfectly. Brillante and his family are from haiti and are still learning spanish. When we got to Brillante's house with Wilken there were two members already in there house helping them set up a washing machine. We had no Idea that they were there. Wilken did an awesome job at translating. He always translated what we said, but in his own style. Like we would say something normal and he would translate it but almost yelling and moving his hands and acting everything out. Afterwards he was so happy! Literally he was smiling cheek to cheek. We went back a second time that week and Wilken came with us. Wilken is still an investigator so I think that is what makes it such a miracle.

On Sunday we helped one of the members paint their house. Elder Patterson is pro at painting and I am not. I kept spilling the paint on their floor, but I lucked out because they never saw it, I cleaned it up fast,  ha. The family that we helped was from Venezuela. I love Santiago because there are a lot of people from other countries and I've learned a bunch about other cultures.

We had a pretty bad scare on Friday night. There aren't very many bugs in Santiago but there are spiders. The most dangerous spider is called Rincon spider. I saw the biggest one of my whole life friday night crawling on our wall. I hit it with my shoe and chased it around but I didn't kill it and it got away. So me and Elder Patterson filled four bowls of water and put them on each leg of the bed so a spider would drown before it got on our bunkbed. I've never been so scared in my life, but our plan worked and we were safe.

1 Nephi 8

 14 And I looked to behold from whence it came; and I saw the head thereof a little way off; and at the head thereof I beheld your mother Sariah, and Sam, and Nephi; and they stood as if they knew not whither they should go.

 15 And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit.

 16 And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.

I love you family.  Always  partake of the good fruit God has for you.  Elder Terry

Make a plan

I'm so glad that you guys had a good thanksgiving. Elder Patterson and I almost forgot about Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving night we were with Elizabeth and her family and they reminded us that it was thanksgiving. So they bought pizza for us. But anyways that night we had a really touching lesson with Elizabeth. Her family is always so nice to us but aren't very interested in taking actual lessons from us. Finally they agreed to say a prayer with us. Afterwards we had a great talk with them. Elizabeth wants so badly for her family to join with her but we'll just have to be patient.

We met this guy from Haiti this last week. His name is Wilken. It was kind of strange how we met him. He was riding on his bike and pulled up to us and started talking to us. There are a lot of people from Haiti in this sector but usually they don't speak Spanish very well. Wilken spoke perfectly. He told us he learned because he lived in the dominican republic for 10 years. He is so awesome and has such a good testimony. Each time we talk with him he tells us that he prays for a chance to share his testimony. This last sunday one of the members brought a family from Haiti to church. They don't speak a lot of spanish but are really interested. So the plan is to use Wilken and have him translate for us. We think it will work really well.

Yesterday a seventy came to our mission and spoke to us. He gave a really good talk about how to be a successful missionary. He gave three steps 1. the desire 2. constant thoughts about the desire 3. the spirit. I'm learning in my mission that you truly can accomplish any dream, if you desire it enough, make a plan to achieve it, and if your persistent in the plan to accomplish your dream.

Mark 5

 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Make things new again

  This last monday we had a really good planning session. We got really organized and set really good goals. We made a system to track how well we use our time throughout the day and it really helped us. We ended up teaching a lot more lessons than we ever had before.  I'll start off with Elizabeth. She started her plan to quit smoking but it just didn't work out. We should have known better because you can't go from smoking to not in one day. So we set up a plan for her to gradually quit and she has another baptismal date. We had a great lesson with her about faith. She found out that we don't like milk that much. It was so funny when she found out! I can't describe it you will just have to imagine it! Magdalena and Gabriel are also both doing great. They live together and have a kid but aren't married. They both have gone to church several times and they both really like it. The only thing that holds them back is their divorce/marriage situation. They want to do it but don't have a lot of motivation so me and Elder Patterson are going to have to do a lot for them. Wish us luck! We got a new ward mission leader. His name is Franco and he is a the coolest man ever.  He is going to be a huge help for us and is really excited for the work. Revelations 21:5  Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Gift of milk

The biggest news of this week is Elizabeth. She is doing great. She started her plan yesterday to quit smoking. I really ilke the plan that our mission has. I've seen some people quit smoking through it so I have a lot of faith in it. She is so awesome. She loves spoiling us. Like she won't let us leave her house unless we tell her something her husband can cook for us the next visit. She is like our chilean mom. The only thing is that she has this idea that we absolutely love milk. I'm not really sure why, but she gives a thing of milk every time we go to her house. We have a fridge filled with milk. Yesterday we gave talks in church. It went really well. Elder Patterson blew everyone away when he gave a talk in perfect spanish. He hasn't even been out one change and speaks really well. I felt really good about my talk. I wrote some ideas on a paper to help me out if I got stuck but I didn't need to look down at my paper once. The spirit was really strong and almost everyone came up to us afterwards and told us we did a good job. Sorry for such a short email this week. Everything is going good here in Conchalì 14. We have one more week until changes and plan to end really strong. Isaiah 30  21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it

Hong Kong and Halloween

I'm completely shocked about the China  Hong Kong mission! I cannot believe it! I loved watching the video of Emma opening her call and Marie and Mom just screaming! It made me laugh so hard! I really wish I couldve been there to feel Emmas happiness.

Things here in Conchalì are going good. We found a lot of people this week so we were happy about that. We had zone conference on Wednesday. It's the first time I have gone to another chapel for zone conference because I've been in the same area almost my whole mission. Anyways it was awesome to meet up with old friends and be able to meet more missionaries. The doctor and the psychologist for the Santiago missions came and spoke to us and it was really good.  My takeaway is stop stressing so much, because the doctor and psychologist are overworked enough as it is ;)

Elizabeth is doing great. Thursday was my comps birthday and she invited us over to eat cake. Her family sang happy birthday to him in both Spanish and English, it was funny. Her family is SO good to us. We have only known them for a little over two weeks but it's as if we were life long friends. That is one thing that I love so much about being a missionary. She was eager to learn the ten commandments and loved the signs that we taught to her so that she could remember. 

We were also finally able to meet Magdalena's boyfriend. He's really cool and nice to us. We've taught them a few times and they are really receptive. Magdalena came to church with us on Sunday but Gabriel didn't. He's a little more stubborn but I guess that's a good thing. Stubborn in the right way can move mountains. Magdalena is already like a regular at the church because she is friends with everybody and everyone knows her son for being the one that runs up on the stand and makes faces at everybody :) 

Halloween on Saturday was great. We were able to take some pictures with kids in costumes again. The most common costume was a tie between batman and spiderman. The best costume was this little kid dressed up as a scary clown.

3 nephi 22 

9 For this, the waters of Noah unto me, for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee.

 10 For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
 Love you guys.  Have a good week and give our Terry furture missionary a hug for me. 

Burdens pass away

Elder Patterson and I had another good week here. We were able to try out some new ideas that went really well for us. Each week we teach a little more and we are learning a little more each week. It's cool to see the sector growing and progressing. So the big news of this week is Elizabeth. She came to church last week for the first time with her cousin. She asked a bunch of questions and was really interested. A couple days later we met with her and talked with her in her house. It was a great lesson. As we were getting ready to teach and introducing the subject, she interrupted us. She said she already knew that the church was true. Awhile back while she was with a doctor, the doctor gave her a book of mormon and told her to open it and she would find what she was looking for. She followed his advice and found exactly what she needed. She accepted a baptismal date. She is SO awesome. She is like our mom and is always trying to spoil us :) We went to church yesterday with Magdalena. She really enjoyed the church. She stayed the whole time and by the end of church she was talking to everybody. It was like she had known everybody for a long time. We had a lesson with her after church. The lesson was fantastic and Magdalena started crying when the member gave his testimony. She has problems with divorce and she needs to get married but things are looking really good. So we heard a really cool story from one of the families that we visit this week. The story is that the grandma was taking care of her granddaughter. the grand daughter got sick and the grandma didn't know what to do or how to help her. She said a prayer and realized that she also started getting sick. She went to the doctor the next day and got medicine. She took the medicine and gave some to the grand daughter also, they both got better because they had the same disease. The only difference was that the grand daughter was unable to get help. We were actually able to relate it to the atonement pretty well. Dallin H. Oaks One day all of these mortal burdens will pass away and there will be no more pain (see Revelation 21:4). I pray that we will all understand the hope and strength of our Savior’s Atonement: the assurance of immortality, the opportunity for eternal life, and the sustaining strength we can receive if only we will ask

Valuable lessons

Elder Patterson and I had a good week here in Conchalì 14. Our second week here. We were able to meet almost everyone and we now know our sector really well. We were thinking about the best way to work here and so we decided first to talk with the bishop. So at the beginning of the week we talked with the bishop. He told us about the goals that the ward has and what they are doing to reach them. We were able to talk to him about what our mission wants to do and how they want the ward and the missionaries to work together. It was a really successful meeting. We left being on the same page and with new ideas on the work. We had a goal to visit every leader in the ward and ask them how they were doing and how we could help them. We were especially looking for families that are part member part investigator. It was nice to talk with the leaders and gain their trust a little better.  One of our investigators is named magdalena. She is from Peru. She is really awesome. Her situation is a little complicated between her and the dad of her son. She had talked with the missionaries before and is really open. We're hoping that she can progress. Also we had a miracle on Sunday. One of the members brought her friend to church. In gospel principles she was asking a bunch of questions. We set up a lesson with her this week.  We have been visiting the Briseño family often. They were less active for awhile but now they are going to church and always recieve the missionaries. The best part about going to her house is we read the scriptures verse for verse. They have a 4 year old daughter that doesn't know how to read but she wants to participate. So when it's her turn she gives her best guess on what the verse says. She always says the funniest stuff about her family, animals, and favorite foods. Ok one more story. So our toilet broke and was leaking so we had to call somebody to come fix it. We told the guy when he came that the toilet was broken. He went into the bathroom to go look at it. After awhile we realized that he was using the bathroom. We told him the bathroom was broken and he was like yeah yeah don't worry about it. And then for like 10 minutes we heard the shower going. Afterwards he taught us that we can still use the toilet we just had to flush with the showerhead. The next day he came and put a new toilet in. But I'm just grateful for learning valuable lessons in my mission :)  Romans 8  24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. I love you guys have a great week.

All things work out

Mom I'm glad you had a great birthday! You definitely deserve it! So my new comp is Elder Blake. He is from Gilbert Arizona and he just graduated high school and he is a total stud. He already speaks really well. He is super motivated and dilligent. I really lucked out having him as my comp. Were going to have a great time here in Conchalì! We spent a lot of time this past week walking around learning the sector and meeting investigators and members. The members here are great. Almost all of the leaders here are young, like under 30 and excited for the work. On sunday we were able to meet almost everybody. We also introduced ourselves to the ward and we already feel really comfortable being here. Our first day here we ate with a woman named Maria Soledad. We started talking to her and she told us about a lot of hard things that have happened in her life. She told us that the biggest question she has is why it is so hard for her to be happy. I think that is a good question for a lot of people. I guess I don't have a perfect answer but it made me think of this scripture. Something so great about this gospel is the hope and light that it brings.  DC 90  24 Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, andall things shall work together for your good, There is a lot of work cut out for us here, but that is what we want! I love you guys have a great week!  Jeffrey R. Holland Today I declare from this pulpit what has been saidhere before: that no love in mortality comes closer toapproximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child. Mom I have so many memories of you showing kindness and starting conversations with complete strangers in my life.   I saw you pay for someone's groceries more than a couple  times and you even let that lady cry on your shoulder,  literally,  at the passport office.   You were so kind to her and you didn't know her from Adam and I thought to myself if I can be a missionary like my mom is to people I will be a success. 

Now I see

The big news of this week is that we had changes. I got transfered to Conchali. It was sad saying bye to everybody, I'll talk about that later, but I'm excited about the change.  Cristina and Juanito were going to have their baptism this sunday, but we decided to change it because of general conference. Cristina finished up her plan successfully, we were so happy for her. On sunday night we passed by her house one last time to say goodbye. We both cried a bit at not seeing each other again when we've grown to love one another so much.  I just told them I was so grateful for them and that my heart was so full of love for them. I'm so grateful for my mission and for all the relationships I have been able to make here.
General Conference was so nice. I loved being able to hear the prophet and the apostles. General Conference is literally better than Christmas in the mission. There is always such a good feeling with conference.  Looking forward to a great change here in Conchali. I heard a song on the radio in the taxi  on my way to the new area called this girl is on fire.   I felt the fire of the gospel burning in me and I promised God I would finish my mission on fire.   I can do all things.......... Thanks for all your love and prayers. Have a great week!  John 9  16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.  25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

Wheelbarrow champ

So I'll start with a funny story. On Sunday we ate lunch with a family. This family has three little kids and their youngest simon is four years old. He is always telling funny stories and doing funny things. Before lunch we were telling stories from the scriptures to simon. For example I told the story of the brother of Jared and how he needed light for his ships. I asked him what he did so that their was light. He thought for a moment and he was like he gathered a bunch of rocks. Everyone was laughing because we were like how could he possibly know? And we told him 3 or 4 stories more and he knew all of them. It was awesome. It made me liss how hilarious my little brothers are.
On Saturday we had an activity in the church. It literally lasted all day. Chileans do church activities different than Americans.   They plan for a long time and spend hours and hours together.  It was a blast though. We ate a bunch of food. Played games. Bishop won the potato sack race but elder bof  and I dominated wheelbarrow race :) Afterwards in the night we watched the cueca (chilean dance) It was a total success. We were able to bring a bunch of investigators between all of the missionaries. Everybody had a good time.
So the best news of this week is that Cristina, Juan's wife decided that she wanted to get baptized this sunday. We are so happy for her. Like Juan, she needs to quit smoking. We gave her a plan to quit and so far has gone four days without smoking. Everyday we are so nervous to talk to her, and it is such a relief to hear that she is still doing good. Something that I have learned with Juan and Cristina is that they have been able to quit something that has been so hard for them. I think the main reason is that there was no pressure or no fear. Only love and positive things.   I love you guys have a great week, and enjoy conference this weekend! 1 John 4  16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.  18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  19 We love him, because he first loved us.   I love you guys have a great week, and enjoy conference this weekend!

Earthquake

We had a fantstic week this week. We started this week with zone conference. It was a conference with the whole mission because the 18th was Independence Day. It was awesome to see all my friends from the mish that I haven't seen in awhile. Elder Jimènez leaves this change so he bore his testimony. He did a really good job. He had a great mission and I loved being his comp.
WELL,  Wednesday was the earthquake. I have felt a ton of earthquakes here but this one was definitely the stronest. It started out small but gradually kept getting stronger and stronger. Things were falling from the walls and cabinets. Even Buenos Aires felt the earthquake.  It was a little scary but mainly made super scary by people yelling and acting like it was the end of the world.   If someone could teach the Chileans to remain calm in a disaster we would all do better :)  
We ate non-stop empanadas this week because of the 18th. They were so good! We spent the 18th with the Rojas Family. We've had some problems with them as of late. They're really dramatic and said that they wouldn't go to church anymore for something that happened. We have tried a lot of times to go to their house but they said no. Finally we were able to go on Friday. We bought expands to them and had a really good time with them. She told us that she was really lonely and was happy that we were with them and thanked us for not giving up. I love what preach my gospel says. It says the best thing a member can do for others is be their friend. Most of the time all people need is a good friend but one really important step beyond that is a friend that will listen. I love you guys have a great week. 

JUANS BIG DAY

I'm so glad to hear that you guys had a good week. I'm sad I wasn't able to be there for luke and dads birthdays, but it sounds like they had a good time without their favorite son/brother! :)  We had a really great week. Things started off slow because we got behind with interviews being on monday. but we ended the week really well, including Juans baptism! Everyday this past week we passed by Juans house, asking him how he was doing with giving up smoking. Each time we prepared ourselves for the worse, but each time he said that he hadn't smoked. His wife and his kids were so excited for him. On Sunday we went to church with him and his family. When we got to the church we had all sorts of problems setting everything up. Turns out nobody had keys to the baptismal font, so we had to break in using a fork. We started the water and it looked like it would easily fill up by the time of his baptism. Right before, we checked the water and there was hardly any. Me and Elder Bof panicked and we found a bucket and a garbage can and cleaned them out. We filled them up with water from the hose outside so that the font would fill up. The good news is that it filled up. The bad news was that the water was ICE cold. Juan afterwards joked with us and said that the ocean was warmer. But the baptism went real smooth. The best part was when he bore his testimony. He has had a lot of struggles getting to baptism with his smoking and health issues, but he said he didn't wait too long or too short. That everything was perfect timing. And that he has hope and faith that in the same timing all of his family would join with him so that they could get sealed in the temple. Now we just have to work with his wife :) We had a really cool experience with one of our investigators. We were teaching her about the plan of Salvation. We got towards the end and we asked her a question. We told her there is only one person standing in her way to be with God some day, who is that person? She thought for awhile and guessed a few times. She guessed the evil in the world, temptations, bad influences, the devil. But we told her no. The only person in your way is your own self. It was a neat experience because it was like she lit up. I have been thinking a lot about that as of late and I really like this quote- The Savior seems to say to us: “Come unto me, and I will give you such assurance and hope and strength that you cannot be taken hostage by anyone who seems to do you harm. I will liberate you into love. And then you will no longer give anyone cause to resent or fear you. Instead, they will respond to the love that I have bestowed upon you. By abiding in me, you will do much good, bear much fruit.” C. Terry Warner Time is flying here on the mish. this week is independence week for chile so I'm looking forward to all of the empanadas and mote con huesillo! I love you guys have a great week!

Brotherly Advice

Yesterday we all had interviews with the President.   It went really well.   I feel like I got to know him a lot better.   Juan is getting baptized next Sunday so we are really excited about that. It has been several days since he smoked last.  Everyone is keeping their fingers crossed he can stick to it!  GO JUAN!    The work is busy and wonderful and I can't believe how much I am loving it.  

We finally got our water turned back on after a week.   I ate off this knife for a while because there were no clean spoons.   Remember how I used to drink out of mom's flower vase when there were no clean cups?   Very similar and made me feel at home. 

I wanted to make this email mostly to Luke and Paul.   I hope that's OK.  I want you two little guys to know how much I love you.   You're going to be the very best missionaries some day. Junior high is such a different change than elementary, and it's confusing. It's hard trying to figure it all out. Luke just know third grade is like walking on cotton candy for a year.   It's that great.   Jesus spent his whole life telling people that he is the way. He that comes to Jesus will never hunger (dudes I'm always hungry) , he will never thirst. As humans we have needs, I think the most important are to love and feel loved. My advice for you is to tell Heavenly Father how much you love him every night before you go to bed. Read the scriptures and try to know him better. Try seeing things from other peoples view. Love other people even if it's hard. Give people sincere compliments and try your best to do nice things for them. And they will truly love you for who you are. That is who you truly are. God will fill you up from your head to your toe with his love. You'll realize you truly do need him to have true happiness. Mom always tells me that I'm enough. It's hard to believe but when I think like that, I feel so good. Sometimes we put question marks after periods. Try not to complicate things, you're enough...... PERIOD:) Today we went bowling and they were playing a bunch of cool songs I've never heard before. Have an absolute blast this year in School and we'll have amazing times when I get home this summer.

I miss you family but work keeps me busy and happy and I have things to do.   In fact I have a lot of things to do and I'm not slowing down until the last second of my mission.   My heart is full of gratitude to be here in Chile.   I love these people.   And I love Jesus Christ more than I ever had any idea.   He is a brother born for us and has found me and taken me under his wing on the streets of Santiago Chile.   Love you guys.   Stay positive.   Everything always works out in the end.  

Grateful rain

Last week of the change was a good one for Elder Bof and I. Elder Bof just finished his first change in his mish, que tierno :). He has learned so much this change and is already a superstar missionary. We're going to have a really good six weeks this change. 
On Friday we had a family night in the chapel. Every other Friday we have a family night in the church. A lot of members and investigators go. There's really nothing like this night in the states,  but it's a missionaries dream night.  This week we were able to bring one of our investigators Alberto. Alberto is from Perù. He lives with his family, he actually lives on the same floor as us in our apartment. We always have good lessons with him and his family. In the church me and Elder Bof talked about how to gain a testimony especially of the Book of Mormon. We shared Alma 32 and how the word is like a seed and needs time and nurture to grow. Alberto told us that he liked the class and had some good questions for us. On sunday we had big plans to eat breakfast with Camila and Juan and his family and afterwards go on divisions with members so that they could all go to church with one of us. But of course, Juan had to go out of town for a family emergency and Camila went to the hospital saturday night because she was so sick. Story of my life on the mish :) So I was thinking of how we can literally  use the healing nature of the gospel in our lives. This week I read a talk that I really liked by Dieter F Uchtdorf about how a grateful heart heals and eases our problems.

We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?

NEW HEART

Thanks for all of your emails and support. I love reading your emails every week. I'm so glad to hear that everybody is doing good. Today we had our zone activity. It was nice to relax after a good week of work. I've been wanting to play basketball with my comp for a while now because he played a bunch in Argentina. He balls so hard! It was way fun to play basketball again. We can play soccer, but the rule won't change until next change. Juan and his family are doing so well. Juan is the perfect example of finally being ready for the gospel after a lot of work from other missionaries. He reads the book of mormon every day and is always so anxious to tell us what he has learned and to share his testimony. He read us the whole chapter of 3 nephi 11. He said that he knows he has to get baptized. The plan is for him to get baptized first and the next week for him to recieve the priesthood and baptize his family afterwards. They were all ready to go sunday morning. We passed by their house and they told us that they were going to go in the car of one of their kids but he slept in. We were kind of frustrated with that but we learned, learned that we ourselves need to go to church with them. Sunday we found a bunch of people from the area book and also had some really good contacts so this next week will be a really good week. I hope ha. Something that I learned this week came from Juan. He said for somebody to be baptized they need to be ready, it has to be their decision, they are the one that has to want to change habits and start new ones. I really liked that. In ezekiel 36 As missionaries we have our goals and what we want, but everything is about the other person. We don`t change people, we can`t. Only God can do that.   26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 

Cast your net

Elder Bof and I had another good week here. It rained so much! This winter it almost hasn't rained at all, but this week it poured. All the streets were flooded. It was a miracle to breathe in clean air afterwards, compared to the usual polluted santiago air!
We found another really good family. They're from Peru. We had such a good first lesson with them. I'm learning how important it is to have a really good first lesson. Anyways after the lesson they invited us over for lunch. On sunday we passed by their house and there were a ton of people! Like around twenty all jammed into a small apartment. They were really nice to us and gave us a bunch of good peruvian food. I feel so grateful when these people treat us well because they do not have to and do not have a lot of money and I feel honored by their kindness.   Afterwards we asked if we could read a scripture with them and they said it was ok. We read Luke 7 together.  It's my go to chapter because I love those stories so much.   We went into their house with loud music and party status and we left with a really sweet feeling of peace. It was a really touching experience to me how God's word touches people and atmospheres.
The thing that's hard about our sector is that we live so far from the church! Not a lot of people have cars and it's about a forty-five minute walk to the church. There isn't a lot of buses that pass by either. Oh well. We'll have to figure out how to get everybody to church!

Please tell Luke and Paul living your life to be a missionary is worth it.   I am seeing amazing things and learning how to reach out to people and really care about and be interested in their lives.   The one thing I find myself struggling with is how impatient I feel with people sometimes.   No matter how patient I tell myself I will be I have to admit Paul the missionary speaks the words I want to express.  
Romans 7:15  basically it's I do the things I specifically don't want to do and don't do what I should.   Paul understands.   But,  like the disciples who cast their nets over and over with no luck I realize I need to just keep trying.   As they were about to give up Jesus told them to try one last time on the other side of the boat.   And as we all know the Nets were overflowing.   GOD ASKS US TO JUST KEEP TRYING.   We never know when the net will come back full but we know that there will be times it comes back overflowing.   And every day,  cast your net again.   Never give up.   And someday I won't feel frustrated and anxious with people and situations that don't do it my way.  

I love you guys
So
Proverbs 17 17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Loving much

I'm so  happy to hear that all of you guys are all okay and safe. We had a good busy week. We worked really hard all week.  I'm in a really happy place in my mission where I know what I'm doing and I love these people so much.
I'll start with Camila. Her baby was born with a muscular problem. He qualified for the teletòn (an organization that helps kids with disabilities) and has had exercises and examens almost everyday this past month. So it's sometimes hard to find her but as you can imagine she is stressed and exhausted with this constant worry.  But we did have a couple really good lessons with her this week. She is actually better than most actual members because she reads the book of mormon every day and always keeps her commitments. But she never wants to go to church!  She's the best living Christian but most anti church person you will ever meet.  This might sound strange but I actually respect her for her deep desire to be a good person privately and develop a relationship with God without really wanting any show or praise for it in a church setting.   I can't say it very well but her humility and integrity of character is really admirable.   We've been visiting her for awhile and were like best friends with her and her kids now ha.  They are a precious family to us and we help out whenever we can.  
Juan and his family are doing well also. Juan is recovering from his heart problems but is doing a lot better now. They were worried he would have to go to the hospital again, but he has gotten a lot better. It's hard to find all of their family in the house together because they all work. Juan keeps telling us about these amazing experiences that he had while he was in the hospital. I guess being so close to death made him think a lot about god, and he prayed so much to find comfort and knowledge. He was able to comfort a lot of people in the hospital with his testimony and being a good listener. He is such a good example and I've learned a lot from him. He told me every man needs a near death experience where they have a high chance of dying.   He said he was prideful and hard in his heart until his heart started failing and the doctor told him he might die.   He found God in a very real way in that hospital and he is thankful for it every minute.  

Luke 7  46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.  47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.  48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
I love you guys have a great week!  We all have work so no one shirk(sp?) Make this week your best one yet.

LET YOUR REQUESTS BE KNOWN

Elder Bof  and I had a really good week. We are already starting to teach well together and we are both working really hard and loving it. It was good weather here in Santiago and things are looking up with the work here in Simón bolívar.  There is no better feeling than coming home at night completely exhausted because you did everything you humanly could.  

The highlight of this week was finding and teaching the family of Cristina and Juan. We found out that her husband had been in the hospital because of heart problems and that their family was struggling. We had a good meeting and set up an appointment to go back. Kristina her four kids, and including Juan were all in their house. Juan told us that in the hospital he had been reading the book of mormon and was researching about the history of the church. He told us after a private surprising spiritual experience alone in his hospital room he already believed it was all true. Afterwards we shared a lesson about the restoration, and the spirit was SO strong. In fact I don't think I've ever felt the spirit that strong but when I think more about it an entire family was on the line,  and the love and generosity of God to pour out his love and acknowledgement to them was really palpable.   Everyone accepted a baptismal date.  It felt like a miracle family.   We have been praying like crazy for this family because they are honestly so good!  

Philippians 4:6–7. “Let your requests be made known unto God. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep 
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  

I hope everyone has a great week this week! Don't be afraid to do hard things.   Hard things are the key to joy.   And remember people are what's most important.   People's minds and hearts are what matter most to God,  and he expects us to treat everyone with love and dignity and compassion.   I think compassion is the reason we wake up and function every day.   So we can minister to someone else.   I love you guys! 

Higher Dimensions

I'm glad to hear that dad has been safe and only has a little bit left in India. That'll be awesome for all of you guys to be together again this week. Dad you are lucky to have a family who loves you so much waiting for you at home.   A little bird told me they are planning a big celebration for you.   Not like you've been on a two year mission or anything!
So my new companion is Elder Bof from Argentina. He has an awesome argentine accent. He played basketball in Argentina and personally knows Manu Ginoboli. He is really excited to work and we are going to work really hard together!  I told him I have plans to work us ragged and he said great and I knew this is a good match! 

On monday I was with Elder Frossard. While we were walking in the street this man named Juan stopped us and began talking to us. He said that he was a member but less active. His baby was born last week and he said when he saw his baby he felt the spirit really strong and wanted to come back to church. He's married and his wife is catholic. That is really common here,  to be married to someone of a different faith.   We visited him late Saturday night and he went to church the next day. He is so cool, he is only a little bit older than us, he's 22 but feels like a peer in a lot of ways.   I love the power the gospel provides to make warm  friendships quickly,  to the point you feel you  have known people a lot longer than you actually have. 

We went and visited an old investigator. Her name is Cristina and is about 45 years old. Her son was there when we visited her. Her son is 22 and we found out that we was baptized a few years ago. He helped us out a ton in the lesson and Cristina has a date to get baptized.  THIS WAS SUCH AMAZING NEWS AND HAS HAD MY HEART  SOARING THIS WEEK.   PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS HERMANA FAMILY THAT ALL WILL GO THROUGH.   Her husband is in the hospital because he had a stroke. She carries a heavy burden because of this.   He wanted to get baptized but couldn't quit smoking. When he found out that we were visiting his wife again he asked us to read a scripture with his family in 3 Nephi 27, about the gospel and especially baptism.  There was a sweet feeling in the room and I am becoming really aware of the tone in the room when we talk about families and love and being together forever.   There is nothing in the world like it.   Because it's not of the world,  it's on a higher dimension.  It was a really good experience. Basically, we had a good week this week, and plan on having a better week this week. Have a great week this week!  If you chance to meet a frown do not let it stay,  quickly (and quickly is the secret)  turn it upside down and positive think the sadness away!   Love,
your favorite positive missionary

CHANGE AHEAD

Today is a cold day in Santiago. This winter has been super dry, almost no rain. But yesterday it rained all day long. It's actually a blessing, Chile really needed the rain. We got a phone call on Friday telling us that Elder Pope would be leaving. We spent a good part of the weekend saying bye to everybody. The ward really loved him. He was such a good comp, I'm really going to miss him! All of our funny experiences and good talks,  especially that magical night about the fighting bed. 
Our investigator Camila is doing really good. She is reading in 2 nephi in the book of mormon and we always have touching lessons with her. The only thing is that she is really busy on the weekends, so it's hard for her to go to church. Her little baby Vicente, is awesome. We have been visiting her for quite some time now and Vicente has grown up a lot. It's pretty sad because he is not as chubby as he used to be. Sadly he's faithfully doing his baby exercises so he moving out of the too fat section on the baby chart.   This weighs heavy on me because he's so darn adorable with all the chub. 
Tomorrow I'll get my comp so for Today I'm with Taylor Frossard. The two springville high kids chilling for a day! I'm really excited for this next change, it should be really good. Our ward usually had 8 missionaries but they changed it to 6, so we'll see if limits get changed. I'm really excited to start training someone new and really get to work!
Alma 7  
 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will takeupon him 
their infirmities, that his bowels may be filledwith mercy, according to 
the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their 
infirmities.
Have a great week!

Party Planner

I'm glad to hear that everybody is ok and doing well! Me and Elder Pope had a good week. We are now on the last week of the change. On Thursday I hit my one year mark! Time is moving so fast!

We had to enter early in the house on Monday and hardly got to work on Saturday because of the copa de america. Chile won! Everybody was screaming and honking their horns. It was the first time in the history that Chile had won it all. Everybody was celebrating all night. Literally all night there was honking and screaming. A few people in church added the game as a part of their testimony the next day.

On Tuesday we had interviews with President Videla. Our zone is pretty big so it took awhile to get through everybody, but it was good to talk to him. We only have interviews one time every two changes (3 months) so it was something I was looking forward to. 

Josè, one of our investigators is doing really good. His wife just had their little baby daughter. We were going to go see her but we didn't have enough time. But he is really cool and is really interested. 

On Friday Elder Pope and I were in charge of a family night in the church. We set up a good scavenger hunt and people were getting really into it. Running from clue to clue and searching everywhere to find the paper telling them where to go next.  I need to major in party planning when I get back. 

1 corinthians 15

 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 

Have a great week!

a bed fights back

I'm glad that everybody is doing well. Good luck to Marie and Emma in college and I loved the picture of Paul with Jimmer. Mom I hope you are ok with dad in India for a month.  I laughed when you said you could hear the spooky Halloween cd all through the night whenever dad is out of town.  We're all ready for the Chile game tonight. Last game when Chile won, everybody went crazy! The streets and apartments explode with the loudest cheering youve ever heard! I think the same will happen tonight if not more crazy!

We had a good week here. We lost a little bit of time this week because we have to go in early to our departments when Chile plays in the Copa de America. But we know exactly how many goals Chile scores because everybody goes crazy!

One of our favorite people to visit is Marco. He's about forty years old and is super happy. Like, always really happy. We usually always start off lessons with a hymn. I'm not sure if we can keep singing hymns with him because he gets way into it, like Im not exagerating here one bit his whole body and soul start rocking out to the hymn,  and me and Pope laugh every time. Marco is also friends with other people we visit throughout the week, so at church we all hang out together. It's our little crew. It a little crew of people who need a friend and I love that we are in it ;)

On Thursday I was told that I was going to give a talk in Sacrament. So I spent a lot of time preparing . Yesterday I gave the talk in church. I was nervous about it but a  lot  of people told me I did a good job and a few even told me my Spanish was perfect, that was music to my american boy ears.  I talked about the Sacrament. Later that night we went on visits with elders quorum. It was a good time. We visited two families. We gave the sacrament to a 98 year old lady which was a really sacred thing. It was a good experience because I went with somebody that I don't talk  to a lot, but after the two visits we were best buddies :) Everyone need to feel loved and accepted.  Ive spent to much time worrying that I didnt speak good enough or that I was socially awkward, but when I stop caring about myself and just make sure everyone else feels good and has a friend, I feel happiest too.

Gabriela, our investigator, is still doing really well. We still have the same problem of not being able to find her because she works so much. We taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ yesterday and it went really smooth. Her little kids are awesome. Diego, her seven year old, told us the best story ever of how he got in a fight with his bed. He re-enacted how he felt like his bed was purposefully pushing at him trying to make him uncomfortable, so he took a few punches at bed, and low and behold bed started fighting back.  I was swallowing my laughs it was so hilarious.  Me and Pope have been together for a long time and we have so many funny experiences and stories together. He's a really good missionary and has truly become a close friend.

 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

So Im hungry and thirsty a lot, like a lot which is why this scripture really speaks to me.  It feels miraculous to have some of those needs permanently filled, even in a spiritual way.  I love you guys.  Go Chile!  Have a positive happy week!

Hot soup on a hard day

This week was another cold week in Santiago. It's freezing in the morning but not too bad in the afternoon. The weather is pretty extreme.


Everyone here is excited about the copa de america. Chile played against Ecuador on thursday. We weren't allowed to watch it, but we could tell when chile scored a goal because because everyone went crazy, it was actually cool to hear the cheering from the street.


On Sunday Camila and Josè both went to the church for the first time. It was so awesome! Finally Camila went to church! Her little baby started behaving bad at the end of sacrament :) so she went home a little early. Josè went to church in L.A. and said he felt really comfortable in the church and that it was pretty much the same as california. We visited them both later Sunday and they said that they both enjoyed going to church and felt really calm the whole time!


We visited Gabriela and her little kids last night also. The little kids love me and Elder Pope. They are gold but it's really hard to visit them, because Gabriela literally works all day from monday to saturday. We taught them the plan of salvation and Gabriela told us that she felt like it was all true, especially when we talked about the atonement.


So our ward is huge, the only ward in our mission with 8 missionaries. Me and Elder Pope are the only elders so we often go and give blessings to people in all over the ward. We've had so many good experiences with giving blessings to the members here in the ward.  This will sound strange but there have been moments here I felt pure warm fire flow through my hands into someone's body like God's love was being transported to them through me.

Friday was rough.   We had important appointments that we either missed due to time constraints or fell through. I was so upset because I felt like we wasted everyone's time.    As we were walking home in the dark I felt like a total failure.  As we were turning the corner I bumped into a man on accident.  He got in my face and started screaming and swearing at me.   It shouldn't have affected me so much but it did.   At that moment a man walked out of his restaurant and invited Elder Pope and I inside.   He said God told me to bring you into my restaurant for some hot soup.   And that is exactly what he did,  free of charge.   As I ate it I thought about our failure day and thought we don't deserve this.  AS SOON as I thought that,  I felt God whisper to me failure days are the ones he most enjoys blessing us with warm soup.   My God is an awesome God.


Our goal as mortals is to gain the mind of Christ, to believe what he believes, to think what he thinks, to say what he says, to do what he does, and to be as he is. Bruce R. McConkie


Love you guys, have a great week!

Backflips for my friends

This week we have changes. I'll be here in Simòn Bolìvar with Elder Pope for at least one more change. I'm really happy with it, we had a really good week and have a lot of hope for this change.

On Friday I had my best contact of all my mission. All of our plans for the morning failed and so we decided to do contacts. I began to talking to somebody in the street and he was immediately really friendly with us. He told us that he has only been in Chile for a month because he was living in California. He was sharing with the missionaries there and was about to get baptized but moved to Chile. It was too good to be true! We do so many contacts and usually people don't have any time, or just blow us off. So it was amazing that we were able to find Josè, the contact. Happiness looks different  on my mission.  It looks like someones face lighting up when we talk about Jesus Christ.  I hope I always remember this amazing feeling.

One of the members in our ward teaches karate in the chapel every Thursday night. He has two young students who always go and the mom always goes with them. We were finally able to find the mom and schedule an appointment with her. Last night we had an awesome lesson with her and her kids. The spirit was so strong in the room, I always feel surprised by the warm confirmation of God to his children, even though I should never be surprised. They all accepted baptismal dates so we were really happy about that.

Insert backflips on our lawn here.

I've talked about Francisco and his mom Angelina before. They both were recently baptized and have such strong testimonies. Angelina came with us on a visit and bore her testimony of the word of wisdom and how she was able to overcome all of her addictions. They invited us over for dinner one night with all their family and shared their testimonies the whole time. They are just filled with love and want everybody to feel the same as they do. It was a very healing inspiring night for me.

Have a wonderful week!

 We are the creatures of our thinking. We can talk ourselves into defeat or we can talk ourselves into victory. Gordon B. Hinckley