Final words

We had a really good week this week. Actually it was one of the best weeks of my mission with teaching lessons. We were able to have some investigators progress so that was really good to see. I love all of them but I'll tell you guys about my favorites.

The first is Cèsar and Suzy. They're a married couple that have talked before with missionaries and almost got baptized. The only thing that held them back was Cèsar coudn't quit smoking. We've been talking to them and it looks like there is a lot of hope for them!

The other is Juan Pablo and Karen. Juan Pablo was a missionary and bishop but now doesn't go to church. I admire him so much. He loves god and has such a good testimony, he just has a lot of questions and confusion from different sources but he has always kept the faith. Karen was a jehova witness and knows a lot about the bible but is receptive and  little by little is progressing. I've seen it so many times. The best way for people to come to christ is to let love be the source of motivation. 

So this is my last email to you guys. I kind of went off in my last email ha so we'll keep this one tranquilo. So many good people here in chile, but I promised Roberto and Paola and their family I would give them a shoutout :) I'm so happy for them and their decision to get baptized this sunday. Unfortunately I can't go but I will say bye to them in the airport. I'll say bye to my chilean family in the Santiago airport, and be with my family again in the salt lake airport next week. Should be a good time:)

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

MISSION COMPLETE

I can't believe how fast time is going. I can't believe next week I'll finish my mission. I read through my journal and can't believe all of the experiences I've had, all the ups and down, successes and failures. It's hard to describe how I feel right now. I think the very best word is satisfied. The gospel is so wonderful because you cannot fail, all that is required is your best effort. Even though sometimes I feel like I couldn't always give my best effort, I feel like God gave me more than I ever deserved. I remember feeling lonely alot but looking back, I realize that I never really was alone, not for a single minute. 

I think the most important thing I learned on my mission is love. I learned that change and growth comes only in the pure love of Christ, not in condemning or critiquing. I've seen with my own eyes people overcome addictions and very serious problems, and the reason was because of love. Loving God over all things as a direct result truly allows me to love myself and other people for who they are even in our weaknesses.

I think about all the people I had the privilidge of meeting and I wish I could muster up the right words to tell them how much I love them and how much they mean to me. It's hard to believe two years ago I didn't know anything about this country or culture, and now I can hardly breathe realizing that I'm leaving it all in just two more weeks. Thinking how hard it was at the beginning and all the frustrations I had and seeing them all be turned into blessings is a pattern I've seen Christ do with everybody.

I am so grateful how god has healed my heart. I remember feeling frustration about certain things that I had done or experienced, and now it's as if it was never a problem. Grace by grace, step by step he showed me his love and has given me answers. There is so much that I still don't know, but I truly do believe in him and I honestly think I always will.

I love my companions and how much they have helped me. I know there was a reason that we were together. Each one has taught me and shown me attributes that will make me into the person I  desire to be. A good satisfying life seems to be the plan for each one of us.

I'm so happy to see my family again. I'm so heartbroken to leave my family here. When someone finishes the mission we say that they "die" I hope with all of my heart that in a long time when I  do have to pass on from this life, I feel this same peace and joy. I love you guys so much. I'll be seeing you soon.

 24 And behold, there were divers ways that he did manifest
 things unto the children of men, which were good; and all things which are good cometh of Christ;otherwise men were fallen, and there could no good thing

come unto them.

In his time and season

Today we are in Santiago to buy some stuff. It's been awhile since I've been here for a p day traveling around in the metro/subway. It kind of feels like coming back home :) I really love this city.

We have been meeting often with Juan Pablo and Karen. Juan Pablo used to be a missionary that is really cool but doesn't go to church anymore. Karen is his wife that is really interested in joining the church. She asks a lot of questions but what we have learned with her is that she wants to understand more with her heart than with her brain. She always says that she feels a little bit better each time we are with her. I think that is the key to missionary work. Not anything drastic or serious but every visit a subtle but certain love is present. It made me think of this scripture. 

D&C 88

 58 And thus they all received the light of the countenance of 
their lord, every man in his hour, and in his time, 
and in his season—

On Sunday it rained like crazy. It hardly ever rains here, but when it does it rains really strong. We were outside getting soaking wet with all of our plans falling through. My comp got the idea of visiting an old contact that wasn't part of the plans. When we got there, the whole family was together and they told us that the dad of the family recently had a stroke and the doctor told them the only way he lives is if God provides a miracle. I had the chance to pray for him and it was an amazing experience. We're hoping that everything goes well for this family.

I love being in this zone. We all get a long really well. A lot of young missionaries with a lot of motivation to work hard so it's fun to be a part of that environment. 

Love you guys have a great week.

Turnaround times

Another week went by here in San Felipe. It's so pretty here I love it. In the day I wear short sleeve but at night with a sweater and a coat it's still cold. I'm getting a long great with my comp. Even after two years I'm still learning new chilean words and slang. 

This week one of the seventy came to our mission to speak to us. It was Walter Gonzalez who's also president of the area of south america south. My favorite part was at the end he answered questions that we had. Someone asked him a question about the atonement. He said there is a lot of things to say about it and we cannot understand everything. But he talked a little about the power and mercy Christ has towards us. He didn't say anything new, but it was so convincing. It made me really want to be like that someday.

It felt like for almost the whole week we had bad luck with just about every visit falling through. Nobody had time and it seemed like nobody really cared which was honestly a little frustrating. But literally the next day (Sunday) everything just seemed to click and we found 3 really good families. That has happened so much to me on my mission, where everything seems to be going bad and without really understanding why or how, after a little bit of time things all work out great. I always think that's the story of the mission but maybe that's the story of life. Just be patient and keep the faith because everything will all work out great. Dad always says things can be hard for a long time and turn around in one day.  There is alot of truth to that.  Just hold on with a positive attitude until its turnaround time. 

I've thought a lot about why enduring to the end is so important in the gospel. I think when we endure to the end we allow divine help to humble and shape us into the person who god desires us to be. Or in other words who we really desire to be. God makes the change in his timetable little by little we just need to be open and humble for his grace.

Sorry for the sermon :) a lot of emotions and a lot of meditation as the end comes closer. I'm so grateful for these two years and the things I've experienced. Have a great week!

San Felipe

I'm so glad to hear that Paul had a good birthday and that Luke won his Hershey track! That's dope!

First week in San Felipe.

It was a really good week here. It's strange trying to get used to a sector when you know you are only going to be there for one change, but oh well. I get a long really well with my comp Elder Espinoza. 3 three things you should know about him.

1. He's my first Chilean comp which is awesome I wish I could've been with him longer so he could teach me all the Chilean words but it's chill. He speaks english pretty fluently. In the house we speak straight English and he is set on studying at BYU. He thinks Im helping him, but really he's making the last few weeks of my mission so easy and sweet. 

.2. He's one of the lucky few that got to serve on Easter Island.

3. He has a guitar and jams out on it. He knows how to play so well.

Anyways I also got a chance to do an interchange with Elder Pagano from new Mexico and it was a total blast. He literally lives in the farthest sector from santiago. Actually his sector is closer to the beach than to Santiago. He has a convert that gives sushi to the missionaries every thursday so it was awesome to go there on a thursday :) but seeing the relationship between him and his convert was really special. That is for sure the best part about missionary work. The relationships we make helping people join the gospel. Im still mourning the loss of Roberto and his family.  Im amazed how dear this family became to me.

Last note. I have been overwhelmed with feelings of peace and satisfaction about the last two years.  I feel like I did what I wanted to do.  I wanted to know god better, see his people as he sees them, break my heart down and be humble and follow him as a child would follow his father.  I have seen mercy, felt amazing grace, and in quiet moment of walking the dusty chilean roads I feel this overwhelming peace and joy for the amazing people I have met and what I have gained here.  I might be the luckiest missionary in the world.  

That's it with me. Just trying to love and enjoy this last little bit. I hope everybody has a great week. 

Last transfer

What's good fam. This last week was my last week in esmeralda and it was a sad but special one. It was a lot harder saying bye to people than I thought that it would. On thursday we got a phone call telling us that they were going to transfer both of us and put in new missionaries in our sector. It caught us off gaurd so much.  We talked with a kid named david a few times this week. He's 17 and is really cool and always happy. We read moroni 10: 3-5 and he got really interested in that. That night he said a prayer, and even though he didn't recieve what he was expecting, he said it was a good experience and good after praying. He also told us he felt a little stressed out because they have like no money and his birthday is this week and he needed some new clothes. I gave him most of the clothes I have because I'm not going to be here for that much longer. He was really happy about it. We taught an english class but the only people that went were paula (roberto's wife) and her kids. They were actually way interested taking a bunch of notes and asking us to say things in english so that they could record it and practice the pronuciation later. We had found out that we were leaving the day before but we didn't have the guts to tell them that they we were leaving. Afterwards they said they wanted us to say a prayer in english to end. You guys have to promise not to tell anybody but I started crying in the prayer. I said they don't know we're leaving and they don't understand what I'm saying but maybe someday they'll really understand how much we really love them and that we just wanted him to take care of this family and keep guiding them. It was one of the best moments of my whole mission. On sunday we made breakfast again for Roberto and the fam. We made french toast, and once again another miracle took place because they actually really liked them. After church we went over to their house to do skype. It was so good to see the family one last time on skype. I'm also way glad to hear that my mom had a good mothers day. She definitely deserved it. Yesterday I got my new comp and my new sector. I'm here in San Felipe, it's the farthest zone from santiago. In a bus it would be like an hour and a half to get to santiago. It is honestly so pretty here. My comp is Elder Espinoza from chile. Finally I got a chilean comp, too bad I'll only be with him for one change. I love you guys have a wonderful week. PAUL HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK  Kevin R. Duncan  Brothers and sisters, in the competitions of life, if we win, let us win with grace. If we lose, let us lose with grace. For if we live with grace toward one another, grace shall be our reward at the last day.

Traffic Cop Training

It's a super nice day here in Chile. This is the last week of the change and I'm praying like crazy we don't have changes.

The sector we have is huge. This last friday we went out to the farthest part of the sector to meet an investigator. We took a taxi thing that's called colectivo for 45 minutes to get there. It was the most incredible thing I had ever seen. It was SO green. We went to his house and he wasn't there but honestly it was worth the experience.

On Saturday we had English class. On our way to the class we got a flat tire (of course we did!) and had to run. We sprinted to the chapel to find... nobody. We were there at the chapel with the keys so we tried to take people on a tour of the church but nobody wanted it. For a little bit we were pretending to lead traffic and direct people in the church parking lot.  We were trying to act exhausted by the droves of people coming to tour the church but no one bit.  It didn't work although a lot of people thought it was funny.

Roberto and his family went to church. We went early to his house Sunday morning and brought them breakfast. Seriously who can refuse a hot breakfast made by me?  They actually liked the pancakes that we made which was a miracle. At church they were friends with everybody. Honestly they are the coolest, warmest, friendliest family of all. We're really happy for them.

We gave blessings to an entire family after the parents recently were divorced and was honestly one of the most sacred moments of my mission. It was so nice to feel they were being taken care of even in such a hard situation. God loves us all the time.  But I learned during those blessings he is the closest he will ever be when we are completely broken.

 Isaiah 41:10  “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Love  you family! 

Green Hill far away

We had another good week here in Colina. It's starting to get pretty cold here but that's good. We have all sorts of problems on our bikes, but oh well ha. It ended up actually being a pretty good thing because I'm a lot more used to walking and knocking doors than riding on bike. I'll start with Roberto. He recently found a new job so he is a little bit harder to find now a days but he is still progressing really well. He worked saturday night but still wanted to go to church the next day but couldn't because he had to work a little longer. Anyways we taught him plan of salvation and he really liked it. All of his neighbors love him, he is just a really solid guy. The branch president is working like crazy. He gave us some families to visit and we talked with all of them. He's got a good vision and we are trying everything to work with him and help the branch. Elder Mackay is so great. We get along perfectly. I really hope we can be together for one more change. We found this awesome green hill the other day so that's the plan for this p day to go hike up there. Dieter F. Uchtdorf But perhaps there is a different metaphor that can explain why we obey the commandments of God. Maybe obedience is not so much the process of bending, twisting, and pounding our souls into something we are not. Instead, it is the process by which we discover what we truly are made of.

More similar than we think

This week there was a ton of rain. Where I'm at it wasn't too bad, but a lot of santiago got flooded. 

The highlight of this week was definitely Roberto and his family. The lessons with them are so awesome because all the family gets together in a smaller room and there is always such a special feeling. They were going to go to a family night in the church but there was too much rain. Sunday morning they all got ready and got in their car to leave to church but the car wouldn't start. At least the intention was there, right? In our last lesson Roberto told us that his whole life he feels like he has been searching, and he feels that he is beginning to find what he has always been looking for. 

Our branch president is a total superman. He is working like crazy trying to raise church attendance. He interviewed three young men and set goals for them to go and serve a mission. There has been a lot of changes here in the branch but it looks like everything is falling right into place.

We had a cool experience when we talked with a man that was Islamic. We asked him a lot of questions and learned a lot about him. After listening to him I learned that we are a lot more similar than we think. The base is that god loves us and we pray to him for help and guidance.

A priesthood holder came in. He knelt down, blessed some bread, and handed her a piece. She ate it. He knelt down again and blessed some water and handed her a small cup. She drank it. Thereafter, Diane had two thoughts in rapid succession: First, “Oh, he [the priesthood holder] did this just for me.” And then, “Oh, He [the Savior] did this just for me.” Dale Renlund 

I love you guys have a great week!

Last testimony

For the first time in a while it rained this morning. It's started to get a little cold here.  On thursday we had a zone conference. It was good to hear from president and his wife. At the end of every zone conference the missionaries that are leaving give their last testimony. I couldn't believe that this last conference was our turn. It was so awesome hearing the testimonies of all the friends that I came here with. But also the date was strange giving a last testimony with so much time still left. Oh well. On friday I had an interchange with Elder Clarine. It was way too fun. We ended up teaching a lot of good people that day. He's been in his ward for a little time now and everyone their loves him. He is such a good friend and being in the same district as him makes the mission a whole lot better. On sunday the plan was to go to church with our investigator nicholas. He is 18 years old and is so awesome. I think I talked a little about him the last time. He lived up by antofoghasta and went to the church a lot there, and reciently moved to colina. Anyways we live pretty far from the church and the plan was to meet forty five minutes early to walk to church. We called him and he was still sleeping but said he wanted to go. So we waited and ended up only being like six minutes late to church. But when we got to church we saw that our president was sitting in the stand. It was the worse luck. He ended up kind of getting on our case, but it was a good thing because we were also able to talk about some other important stuff going on in our sector. We are teaching the most special family of all time. We've met with them a few times and all of them are really receptive. The mom is less active and her husband and four kids are investigators. The dad, roberto, started off being a little hestitant but has really opened up and is really considering everything. For example he refused to pray at the beginning but now at the end of lessons we pray on our knees and he says the prayer. On our way to their house me and mackay both got the feeling to change the lesson plan to alma 7 and talk about the atonement and baptism. He didn't commit to a date but said he would really think about it. He also said we made him really want to read the book of mormon so that was good.

To run to

We did a bunch of contacts and knocked on a bunch of doors and found some good people. We're hoping they can progress. We ate lunch with a member yesterday who gave us two references, promised to invite her neighbor to general conference, and walked with us to a friend that needed a blessing. There is such a difference when missionaries and members work together. I have a stroke of genious how to get investigators to come watch conference.  I will let you know if it works.

On Sunday we got to look for Easter eggs. The family hid the eggs in the craziest places and refused to help us out. But it was a blast. We're starting to really gain confidence with the members here so that's good.

In church I taught the gospel principles class. The class actually went a lot better than planned, which is a miracle. We talked about the atonement. Everyone in the class made a comment about somebody in their family or somebody that they loved that was struggling or had made a mistake, and were worried and wanted them to be okay. We ended the class saying that is the reason we believe in god, to help us and those we love.  I realized we deflect a lot by saying we are worried about people we love and rarely ourselves.  It might be to hard or embarrassing to talk about our own pain and mistakes, but hopefully over time it can sink in that its all about our personal growth and healing. 

Elder Holland said one time that the verb to succor in latin means is: to run to. I think that gives us really good insight to one of my favorite scriptures.

Alma 7

 12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor (run to) his people according to their infirmities.

I hope everything is going good back in Utah. I love you guys!

Magic and Missionary work

This week we found a new investigator named Brandon. He is a magician and has the most insane tricks! He was literally blowing our minds.  There was one trick that he did that was ridiculious. Elder Mostacero and I stood up and almost ran out of his house because we had no idea how he did it. It made me remember how amazing the great Magic Max was in 2nd grade.  This guy might be better although he didn't shrink himself.  Anyways we had a really good lesson with him. We finished the lesson and spent some time talking about how God gives us true success and transforms us into good people.

Cesar is doing awesome. One day he had a bunch of questions and we spent the whole time trying to answer his questions. I guess it sparked a huge interest in him because in two days he read all the way to Jacob and ended the week in Mosiah. Better said he listened rather than read because in his work he drives all day so instead of listening to music he's been listening to the Book of Mormon and has been really loving. It is so awesome to see how bright his testimony is. No one who sees what I see first hand can argue what the Book of Mormon does to people.  Its not something you can explain, you just have to see.  Their family is so special.

On Friday we had interchanges. It was a pretty chill day. We left the window open and a cat got into the house. As we were trying to get the cat out of the house I thought of Emma and how lucky she was for going to a place without a lot of cat sightings! I am not scared of cats but honestly this guy was a little spooky!

This Sunday they told me I was going to give a talk, but someone from the Stake came and spoke so there wasn't enough time. Anyways I prepared my talk on testimony. A testimony becomes powerful when we listen to what a person needs and give them what the Holy Ghost puts into our hearts. I think sometimes we want to show how much we know or say what we want to say, but when we listen to the holy ghost, we say what God desires his child to hear. At least I have a talk prepared for the next time :)

Things are going great here in Chile. I hope all is well and that you all have a great week!