Anchor for the Soul

This was a good week for me and Elder Jimènez. We had some problems with the house though. Our house is so ghetto. We had somebody come and fix some stuff. We thought it would be an easy fix but it took the dude forever. And it dragged on for three days. Ha it was so frustrating. We couldn't go out and work because we had to stay in the house with him. The repairman was actually pretty cool and we became friends and ended up talking to him quite a bit. The last day he finished everything up and was like ¨after you shake my hand you need to wash your hands, because I have herpes¨ haha oh my poor innocent Springville heart.  lol.

English class started out really strong and we had new people coming all the time but it's has slowly been decreasing. I really hope this is not a reflection of the cool teacher. We have English Wednesdays and Saturdays at the church. Wednesday was probably the lowest numbers of English class. There were three kids, and I just hurried and did all of there homework, and we played soccer after that and had a blast. But Saturday was awesome. This woman came in and she was really cool. At about the end of the lesson she stopped what she was doing and asked me why in the world I was serving a mission. For one of the first times on my mission I had a conversation with no pressure to ´´teach´´ about God but just be myself and connect with someone. It was really good. She said she doesn't really care to believe in that stuff but she is interested why a kid from the United States would come to Chile for two years to serve a mission. It was awesome too because maybe for the first time I didn't have to translate in my head when I was talking to her It flowed like a real and easy conversation and I have just felt grateful for that.

We have a baptism this week with Marisol (hopefully!). Marisol is such a good person. All of her family is members but she wants to get baptized now because her son wants to serve a mission. Two of her kids had birthdays this week. I gave her son that wants to serve a mission one of my ties. All his younger siblings took the tie and were rubbing it on there faces and super excited that it was from the United States. haha they didn't know it was just a cheap tie from Wal mart. Her little daughter had a big party with all of her friends and ate cake. I think people would be surprised to see just how similar people are no matter where they are in the world.

One night we stopped and talked to this older woman sitting on her porch. She was really nice to us. At the end of our conversation we asked if we could leave with a prayer. She said that she wanted to pray in her style, and after we could pray in ours. It was a great experience.  I felt the spirit so strongly in both prayers.  God always listens to us.

We shared this scripture with one of our investigators. Ether 12:4. I really like this scripture. Sometimes it's hard for me to express how I feel.  But I really like how it says that faith and hope are like an anchor for the soul. Even though everything doesn't make perfect sense we continue forward with faith in god. I hope everybody has a wonderful week! Enjoy thanksgiving, eat extra food for me! 

4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

Earthquakes and English class

Hello Family! 

So we had a really good week this week. One of our investigators name is Marisol. Her whole family was baptized except for her. She is honestly the nicest woman you will ever meet. We had an awesome lesson with her this week with some members of the church. Everything went smooth and the spirit was really strong. Afterwards she told us, for the first time everything is starting to make sense in my mind and in my heart. I was so happy when she said that. She wants to get baptized but has a huge phobia of water. So we'll see how that goes.

 

On Sunday we went on splits with the other missionaries to help get their investigators to church. We were running late and I felt frustrated because I didn't want to be late for the Sacrament. So we get there and we sit in the back. I felt flustered and was in a bad mood but I saw one of our investigators sitting in the very back by himself. I went and sat by him. He told me he was really worried that he was going to have to sit by himself at church. If we would've been on time and sat more towards the front, I would never have seen him.

Yesterday there was an earthquake. I love the earthquakes haha. But we were in this womans house and she started screaming and panicking. The earthquake wasn't that big but her screaming actually made it kind of scary. They always tell us we need to relax and not panick in an earth quake and now I know why.

I love the ward and the people here. They are so cool to the missionaries. Always so willing to help us out.

Every Saturday and Wednesday we have classes of English and piano in the chapel. We put up fliers and advertisements in stores and more and more people show up. Its getting exciting that we are starting to draw a crowd.  I like teaching English. It actually helps me with my Spanish.

I hope everybody has a great week. Try not to freeze! It's warm here but honestly ever since September the whether has been just about perfect.

Elder Terry

Chile loves Greg Ostertag

I'm glad everybody had a good week this past week. I was happy to hear that you went to a Chilean restaurant! But you got the most gringo food possible! :)You need to try the traditional food next time!

So we had a successful week this week. Life is a lot better when you have a little success, right? So Friday was a really awesome day. We had a bunch of fixed appointments that we had high hopes for. And it all worked out perfect. Usually people don't answer the door or they are so extremely busy they can't even talk for just a minute ha, but Friday was different everybody was home and wanted to talk to us. In the night we were literally running from one appointment to the next when we saw someone on the street bending over with people by him helping him. Honestly his face was so bloody I couldn't even recognize him. But Elder Jimènez recognized him as someone we talked to in the street earlier. He was drunk, and while crossing the street he fell and smashed his face against the curb of the sidewalk. We helped him to his house and his neighbors took him to the hospital.

The next day we called him and he said that he wanted to talk with us. When we got to his house he told us that he lost 2 teeth, split his lip, and got four stitches in his eyebrow. We kept asking him how he felt, if he was in pain. And he always responded with no I'm totally fine. I think I have done that too much in my life, pretend like I was fine when I was in desperate need of help. He wants to keep talking with us, I hope we can help him. I think he feels something when we talk about the Savior, and is ready to have that in his life. 

On Sunday the Primary directed sacrament. It was the most adorable thing I have ever seen!. I know I'm probably bias, but the Chilean kids are the most adorable in the whole world. It was exactly the same as back in the states only with less kids. I grinned from beginning to end, it was a total hour of perfection.

Russel M. Nelson came to Santiago and spoke with all of the missionaries. Before he gave his talk we all got the chance to shake his hand. It was so awesome to see one of the General Authorities and shake his hand. He and his wife gave awesome talks. Elder Nelson showed us tips on studying the Book of Mormon that I thought was really interesting. It was fun to see all of the other missionaries, and get a spiritual recharge.

So I read Marie's email and hers are so fun. She always did make me feel so boring!

So I have been thinking about how we receive a testimony and an answer from God a lot this week. I wish I didn't do this, but I always am waiting for this wonderful manifistation that will take all my doubts away and I can just know for sure all the truth. I read a talk from Elder Bednar that I really liked. He said for most of us we receive light very slowly, like from night to day. You don't know exactly when everything became so clear but before the sun came up you can see everything. I really liked that. I think everytime I have asked for guidance, I have been guided. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the whole world than Santiago, Chile serving my mission.I really feel like I am not an miraculous manifestation person, but I am definately a night to day kind of person.  And in Chile I can see the sun pretty clear.

ok one more story, this one is just pure awesome. This dude stops me in the street and just like everybody else here says in English ¨hello, how are you?´´ At first I just smiled and nodded and ignored it, but he kept talking in english and it was obvious that he knew how to speak. So I told him I was from Utah, and he told me that he loves the Jazz. I was like serious?? Who is your favorite player? And he stands there and is thinking for awhile and was like.... Greg Ostertag! 

Have a wonderful week everybody!

Elder Terry

Candy Success!

So we had transfers this week. I'm staying in Dorsal with Elder Jimènez. I was happy about that. I really love and feel comfortable with the ward here. They are such GOOD AND HUMBLE people. I'm glad that I got to stay here, I feel like I still haven't done all that I was supposed to here.

So on Tuesday I went to an orthodontist because my permanent retainer was loose. I was worried about getting it fixed here but they did a perfect job. We got permission to travel outside of our mission to go to the orthodontist. On the way there we took the metro for about 40 minutes. The metro was packed the whole time with each station people came and people left. As we were walking in the streets to the orthodontist we passed by a bunch of people. Santiago is a very big city. For some reason I just felt REALLY small, especially being a missionary. Santiago has over 6 million people in it. How are the missionaries supposed to help all these people come to Christ and hear the gospel? I realized one person like me is an ant.  The next day I got a letter from the stake that was really comforting. Thank you brother Briggs and Brother Nance! God has a plan for everybody and it's only possible through  his son. I realized that if I only get to a few people, and we can change their life for good over the next few years, I did exactly what I came here to do. 

We took a temple trip with one of our investigators. His name is Isaac. I think I have talked about him before. He is so awesome. He feels overwhelmed with his life. He has problems with mental issues. He told us he smokes 30 cigarettes a day sometimes more but doesn't have a job and has no money. The temple tour was really good. Even though we didn't go in there is such a real peaceful spirit at the temple. 

Halloween here was so cool! I got a bunch of funny pictures with the kids.. The kids in Chile are adorable! We bought a bunch of candy and filled our backpacks with it and gave it out to the kids, probably spent too much money on all the candy but oh well :)  I think candy for the Chilean kids may be the best waste of money I have ever spent.  And for sure Im doing it again next year. We found some really nice families and set up some appointments this week from Halloween night that was good!

 Know that I am having the most amazing once in a lifetime experience even if it is a little bit hard! Have a wonderful week!