December 29, 2015

Summary:
What a great week of Navidad! It was so great to see the family on Skype! Family is really what it's all about.

The week was full of fun events such as caroling, Christmas dinner with a less-active family, and a Christmas deviotional with all the missionaries from the whole Santiago East mission. There are some missionaries with incredible musical talents and we were able to hear some beautiful songs. It inspired me to really think more deeply about all that happened before Christ´s birth, as well as afterward. We were also able to share the Ha Nacido Un Salvador in many different homes this past week and it truly brings a beautiful spirit.

Rosita went to church! We're planning to go to the temple this weekend and do baptisms for the dead for her parents! We also met a family that are less-active members of the church and they have been wanting to get back to the iron rod. Their names are Leonel and Susana and their two sons Leon and Santiago. I don't think I've met a less-active family so desirous to go back to the church in my whole mission! We had a lesson with them yesterday and say that we'll see them in church on Sunday.

Spiritual Experience:
My companion and I were able to teach part of Zone Class yesterday. We talked about using our own individual talents and strengths to bring to pass the work of Salvation. It made me think of the process of calling missionaries. It's not a random raffle, but an inspired calling from God through the first presidency of His church. One day, I was talking with Presidente Morgan and he asked me what my nametag says. I started to say, "The Church of Jesus Christ of..." He cut me off and said, "They all say that. What else does it say?" I looked at it and said, "Hermana Martin." "Exactly. It doesn't say 'Generic Missionary.' Use the strengths that God has given to Hermana Martin."

Funny:
On Christmas Eve, we ate dinner with a less-active family. The wife was setting the table and wanted a certain candle that was shaped like a reindeer to set in the middle. She says to her husband, "Carlos, go get me the reindeer decoration from the other room." Carlos went to look for it and came back with a reindeer decoration, but it was the wrong one. She's all, "No, it's not that one. Try again." He left again and brought another one that was wrong again. She's all, "Are you serious, Carlos? Try again." He left again and brought the wrong one again. Ingrid's all, "Oh my gosh how many reindeer decorations do we have?!" Haha we were laughing so hard. 

December 1, 2015

Summary:

It's been of week of many small miracles! We just got word that I'll be staying here in Cordillera for at least six more weeks with Hermana Parra. I'm so happy! Hermana Parra and I couldn't be more opposite as far as backgrounds go, but we're very similar in personality and we became best friends so quickly! I'd finish the mission with her if I could! The more I learn about her the more I realize how amazing she is too. She lives in a tiny house without even a running-water shower and It turns out that her branch is literally just her family. Her dad is the bishop and they have church in their own house. Her brother is on a mission in Columbia which means that two out of the six members of their branch are on a mission. Good percentage, I'd say! Anyways, I just really love her and I love serving with her. She's fun and sincere.

We were able to do exchanges on Thursday, and I had a good experience getting to know Hermana Andersen from California. She actually reminded me that it was Thanksgiving. I had completely forgotten! On Saturday, we went to the temple to do a tour with Beatrice, a recent convert. It was a great experience and it made her excited to be able to do baptisms for the dead.

Franco was baptized on Sunday. His cousin, Alexis baptized him and it was just a really special day for their family. Even though he doesn't smile in pictures, he truly was happy. haha. He's a great influence on one of his other cousins, Marcello, who is currently less-active. I have faith that this will be a turning point for their family. They are all very special people.

Franco's Baptism

Spiritual Experience:

Hermana Parra and I have been focusing on teaching more simply. When we get stuck and don't know how to help someone, we've been trying to go back to ground zero and teach the basic truths of the gospel. We've seen so much progress since we've started to do this. For example, last night we were teaching a less-active member that we had no idea how to help her because she was like, "all churches lead to God" and such. We taught about the Restoration using the old video. Afterward, she totally changed. She remembered the testimony of the restored gospel that she has. President Uchdorf was inspired this past conference when he talked about the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Funny:

I was on exchanges and we were passing by the house of an old lady that I had visited a while back. We decided to pass by and see how things were going with her. We get in there and she starts telling us the story of how she got to know the missionaries and such, and gets to a point where she's starts talking about "Hermana Martin." I said, "Me?" and she goes, "Yeah, she was north american like you guys..." Then I realized that she was talking about me and didn't know that I was the same person. I didn't know what to do haha so I just listened to her story and made sure not to mention my name for the rest of the appointment. haha

A family we teach with kids who are always wrestling.

A member we teach in his pet shop

November 24, 2015

Summary:

The week went by flying, as usual! Franco had his baptismal interview and all went well. Out of all the investigators I've met so far, I think he's been the one that's changed the most from the first time I've met them. Actually, the first time I met him he told us he didn't want us to pass by to teach him. He gave us a straight-up "No."  It's crazy how things work out, though, and how God really does soften the hearts of people. 

I had exchanges with Hermana Valladares from Honduras. She's finishing up her mission and goes home this week. She's a sister that I've been with almost my whole mission because we were together in Trinidad for about 8 months. They finally transfered her, and then the next transfer, I got transfered too to her same ward. I've always looked up to her. She's known me ever since I didn't speak a lick of spanish, but has always demonstrated the same amount of patience and love. I've learned a lot from her.

On Thursday, we had interviews with our mission President. He is an inspired man and I know that he is led by the Spirit in all that he says to us missionaries. 

Some other highlights of the week were meeting some less-actives. One of my favorites is a lady names Cintia that has an autistic daughter. She's so sweet and I don't know if I've ever met any other less-active member so prepared to recieve missionaries in their home. 

Spiritual Experience:

We had lunch with a less-active sister this week who doesn't come to church because she works on Sundays. It was crazy, because in less than an hour we watched her attitude go from, "There's no way I will ever be able to go to church because I work on Sundays." to "Tomorrow I'll talk to my boss to change my free day to Sundays. I need to go to church." The Spirit really does tell us what we need to hear when we listen.

Funny:

The other night, Hermana Parra and I were both really tired. We ended up talking to a lady and I asked her what day we could pass by to visit her. She told us a day and then my companion was all the sudden like, "AND.... How old are you?" Then the lady and I both just stood there confused and finally the lady repeats the question to clarify, "Did you just ask how old I am?" My companion just cracks up laughing and says, "Oh woah, sorry. I'm so tired. I didn't mean to ask that I meant to ask at what time we can pass by..." and then we all just cracked up laughing. 

November 17, 2015

Summary:

Another great week! On Wednesday, I did exchanges with Hermana Chapman from Las Vegas and I met the family of the boyfriend of one of the converts that I taught in my first area! I also had a blast serving with Hermana Chapman for a day. On Friday, we had a speacial counseling meeting with President Morgan. It was incredible because Hermana Parra and I have been talking a lot about things we see as setbacks in the mission and trying to think of ways to overcome them. In the meeting, every single last little question and worry we had talked about was answered. Sunday was the primary program, which is always just really cute. Monserrat's whole family except for her brother came to church. Today we had a zone activity and we cooked breakfast and were able to hike up a little mountain. It's been so long since I've gone hiking! It was the best!

Spiritual Experience:

Remember that lady that got kicked out of her house because we went to visit her? It turns out that she has been messaging with one of the sisters in our ward. She now has a place to live, is happy, and is going to recieve the missionary lessons! I was so happy to hear this that I almost cried.

Funny Moment:

We went to the house of a less-active member to share a message with her and were getting ready to start the lesson. There was music playing, so my companion asked the sister if she could turn down her music so we could sing a hymn. We thought the music was coming from her stereo, but she got up and walked past the stereo and outside and just starts screaming, "TURN DOWN YOUR MUSIC!!! WE'RE ABOUT TO SING CHURCH SONGS!" I looked at my companion and she's all, "Woops... I didn't know it was the neighbor's music."

November 10, 2015

Summary:

It's been a great week! It was the first week in a long time that we haven't had lots of meetings or anything, just lots of appointments! Except for on Thursday, we had a "scrapbook party" with the area books. The zone got together and shared ideas of organization and we pretty much started from zero in organizing the folders and progress sheets to how they should be. It was good for us because now I feel a lot more organized!

Franco finally accepted a baptismal date! It's planned for November 28th. Pray for him that he can keep feeling the spirit. 

On Wednesday I did exchanges in Lo Canas and met some great new people. In our own sector, too, we were able to find some new investigators and less-active members, so we'll see how it all turns out!

Spiritual Experience:

The other night I was kneeling by my bed praying, and I did a little "zoom out" on the Plan of Salvation. It's kind of hard to explain, but I was thinking about how I lived before, and how I'll live after, and all of that stuff that we teach every day and I realized how short this time is on earth. And on the mission even shorter. My heart started beating really fast and the thought came to my mind, "Rise to the occasion." 

Funny:

The other night during daily planning, I had a series of unfortunate events. I stood up to get the area book off of the shelf and tripped over my feet and did a head-dive into the door. Luckily I caught myself so it didn't turn out too terrible, but we were laughing so hard. Then I finally stopped laughing and sat down to focus and the district leaders called. The phone was so loud that it scared both of us and I almost fell off of my chair again! 

November 3, 2015

Summary:
On Tuesday we contacted a new investigator and her son, went to her house to have a lesson. Hermana Parra and both realized that we had felt a cautionary spirit in the house of this lady. The Spirit told both of us, "Be careful." and even, "Leave as soon as possible and don't return."This shook both of us a little bit, so we said a prayer, asking for comfort, and continued on. I am so grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost that truly does lead, guide, and walk beside us. As we got out of there and were talking as we walked, we had both experienced the exact same thing and we don't know why.

On Sunday, an hermana from the ward pulled me aside and told me that an investigator we had gone to visit got kicked out of her house. It turns out that the owner of the house didn't want anything to do with us and was angry with our investigator for inviting "Mormons" over without her permission. I couldn't believe it! I still feel sad when thinking about it, but not guilty.

Monserrat was confirmed on Sunday. On top of that, her grandma who is a less-active member accompanied her to church for her first time in quite a while. She gave me a hug afterward and said that she will be coming to church every single Sunday from now on. Monserrat's older brother and mother are both more interested and receptive after seeing Monserrat's baptism. I have so much faith and hope for this family and know that they will all soon make the choice to follow Christ.

We went to the house of an investigator, Beatriz with an hermano to give her a blessing. She's been really sick. He gave her a blessing and she said she immediately felt something lift off of her. She came to church the next day and I know that she'll keep progressing. I'm excited for her and her family.

Spiritual Moment:
Last night, we finished a lesson early and had about fifteen minutes before it was time to go home. It was too short to go to a lesson so we decided to just walk and contact for a few minutes. There weren't many people out, but finally we passed a guy. We gave him a pass-along card and I ended up asking him if he believes in Christ. He responds and says he's a member that's been inactive for about 10 years. Then he asks us where the church is and what hours we meet. He's started to feel the need to go to church and had been asking around but he doesn't know anyone from the ward.

Funny:
The other day we were walking down a street and I looked up and the moon looked so cool! I got distracted for a second and told my companion to look at the moon. I expected her to comment on how pretty it was or something, but she didn't. So I just stood there admiring it for a second waiting for some sort of comment. I turn around and she's swinging her bag all around while this little dog was nipping at her feet and ankles hahaha. Finally the dog leaves and she just cracks up laughing, "Thanks for your help. The moon looks gorgeous."

October 27, 2015

Summary:

The first week of transfers always flies by! My new companion is Hermana Parra from La Pampa, Argentina. She's also about 4"10' and 90 pounds. My companions just keep getting smaller and smaller! Haha she's super fun to be around and our first day together we were already laughing so hard we couldn't breathe. She's way dilligent and humble.  It's going to be a great transfer.

Monserrat was baptized on Sunday. She didn't think her whole family was going to come, but they all did! For the first time, I saw her mom open up a little bit and start to understand why Monserrat wanted to make this covenant as her grandma did. I think this will be a great turning point for their family.

Yesterday we had a zone meeting and Hermana Parra and I taught about "Good Conversations." The things we think and things we say really do affect our salvation. We also learned about having a vision of baptism and the temple and miracles. Miracles still exist!

Spiritual Experience:

Yesterday we were in lesson with an investigator that says she has been praying to know if Joseph Smith was a prophet. We read James 1:5-6 with her and it really hit her hard. We testified that faith is hope, not a knowledge, and preaying with real intent is the willingness to act on the answer, not just to know the answer. We all just sat in silence for a couple of seconds and all the sudden she's like, "Well there it is! That's what I"m missing! I was just praying to know."

Funny:

We were in a lesson with another investigator named Beatrice and her little son Martin. Martin was laying there half asleep and Beatrice was sharing a personal experience and said something like, "Somtimes I'm just really strict with my children because I love them." All the sudden, Martin perks up and goes, "It's true. SUPPPPPER STRICT!"and then lays back down and goes back to sleep. It surprised all of us and we all just cracked up laughing. 

October 20, 2015

Summary:

This week has been a busy one! We had a great family night with Franco's family, and he is getting more and more excited about having the gospel in his life. We went to the temple with a recent convert, Patricia Medel, to receive her endowments. It was great! We had two days of exchanges. On Wednesday I was with Hermana Delgado from Peru and on Friday I was with Hermana Rodriguez from Guatemala. They're both really great sisters and I learned a lot from serving with them. On Saturday there was a stake activity that was awesome! Each ward put on a skit of something from Doctrine and Covenants and I was really impressed with how much practice they must have put in. They did a great job of using everyone's specific talents. We went with a less-active member that we met last week and she had a good experience. On Sunday, Monserrat's baptism fell through because of something that came up in their family, I'm not sure what. This coming Sunday, though, she'll be baptized.

We got word this morning that Hermana Alcantara will be getting transferred and I will be staying here in Cordillera with a new companion.

Spiritual Experience:

During exchanges with Hermana Rodriguez, we had a lesson with an investigator named Mario. I don't think I've ever met someone so prepared in my whole mission. At the end of the lesson he just paused and looked at us and said, "I've never read any of these books or anything like that, but for some reason I feel like I've heard this all before. I feel like you two have told me this and now we're just reviewing." We told him that he has heard all of this before. 

Funny:

We were sitting in a lesson with a less active member named Iris and she left the room to grab her hymn book. Hermana Delgado says, "I'm gonna let in a little light..." and opens the curtain a little bit and the whole thing falls off the wall. haha We both jumped up and put everything back really fast and sat back down RIGHT when Hermana Iris walked back into the room. Then during the hymn we were trying so hard not to laugh. Haha 

The Cofre Family

October 13, 2015

Summary:

This week flew by! We were able to fit in a lot of lessons and find a couple of new awesome investigators! Monserrat has everything set and ready for her baptism this Sunday, but the baptismal date of Valentina fell through. It'll get back up there though with some more patience and testimony of the Plan of Salvation. On Wednesday we had exchanges and I stayed in my sector with Hermana Jones. I really enjoyed serving with her for a day and learned a ton from her! She's from Salt Lake and her family has been through some crazy things. She's one of the prettiest hermanas I've ever seen and yet so humble. We found two new investigators that day and ended up running into Stake President, Presidente Escobar. He accompanied us to two lessons and they were both powerful. On Saturday we went to do a tour of the temple gardens with Rosita. We taught about the Plan of Salvation on the temple grass and it was such an incredible experience. We all felt the Spirit so strong. Today we get to enter the temple with a recent convert because she's going to recieve her endowments. Such a great week!

Spiritual Experience:

In the temple tour with Rosita, we were able to enter through the doors and look only at the entryway. Right when she stepped through, Rosita just started crying. She said she felt chills all down her back and really light and relaxed. I recognized that to be the Spirit, even though I knew that she maybe didn't. It was just a testimony to me that this really is real and true. It's nothing created by man, and it's not our imagination. 

Funny:

Last night we had a family night with and investigator named Franco and his family. His grandma and cousins are members and want him to have the gospel in his life. We finished a spiritual message and my companion asks him, "Franco, do you have sincere desires to know that these things are true?" The room when silent. We were all hoping to hear a "Yes." It was seriously like five seconds of pure silents with Franco sitting there, thinking all deeply and then his stomach does this huge growl. It was like "WHHAAUUU!" We all just busted up laughing so hard. haha

October 6, 2015

Summary:

What in the world! I can't believe another week has gone by! General Conference was incredible. I'm sure that's what all missionaries are saying, but it really is true that you can see everything with a whole different light here on the mission and I felt like it charged my energy for being here and doing what I do. We also had Zone Class this week, which I had to teach a part of. I truly love all of the missionaries in my zone, too. We learned about strengthening our weak parts and having a vision of baptism. Speaking of baptism, we were able to set another baptismal date with one of our investigators, Valentina, for the 25 of this month. She's the best and I know that the gospel will not only bless her own life, but the life of her family as well. Pray for her and Monserrat that things will all go well and they will not lose the spirit that they have felt!

Spiritual Experience: 

The whole week has really been a spiritual experience, but I'll share one of my favorite moments. In Zone Class, I asked an Elder that's still in his training to tell the zone how he feels and what he and his trainer have been doing to strengthen their companionship and area. I expected just a short little answer because he's just starting to learn the language and all, but like a champ, this young, new elder stood up and said he'd like to share an experience. He talked about how much of a challenge it's been. How he wants to be able to talk to everyone and share the gospel and not feel sick because he's not used to the water and food here and everything. He came home one night frusterated and just started to cry. It was taking him so long to explain all of this as he was translating and scrambling to find words but he bore his testimony that he knew all this would pass, and that weak thing really do become strong through Christ. It's hard to explain through writing but I think we all felt the spirit so strong as this elder spoke. A lot of us even started crying.

Funny Story:

Valentina has a four-year-old sister that is hilarious. She always likes to sing the hymns with us, but she can't read yet. She just sits next to me and when we start singing she starts singing really loudly just whatever words come out. It always makes us laugh, but we have to control it because if we stop singing, she stops singing too and waits for us to start again. So it ends up just this singing and holding-in-your-laughter type battle. haha It's so cute. 

September 29, 2015

It's been a great week! On Wednesday I was able to go to Pirque for exchanges. I absolutely love going to that sector because it's up in the mountains and all green with fresh air. Getting out of the city gives me a breather sometimes. The houses are all spaced out and they're just really humble, great people that I met up there. I met a young mom of 18 years that is investigating the church and she was very receptive and ready to receive the gospel in her life, a less-active that really wants to go back to church but she's addicted to cigarettes, and a few other less-active members. On Saturday it was my companion's birthday and I think we ate cake or Peruvian food at every single house we went to and were running late to get home. We ended up both throwing up that night and feeling way sick the next day. Church, though, was excellent and we were happy to see many investigators, less-active members, and recent converts all together in church, right where they should be on a Sunday morning.

Spiritual Experience:

On Sunday morning, we passed by to walk with Monserrat to church. Her grandma and brother were getting ready to leave the house and said they could drop us off at the chapel. We had planned on walking but accepted the ride and ended up getting to church like a half an hour early. At first I was all stressed out thinking we should go out and use this time to contact that I forget to just look up and look around. One by one people starting walking through the chapel door until there were about seven or eight of us standing in a circle talking. I looked around and realized that every single one of them were a recent convert, an investigator, or someone that didn't attend church when we came to the ward. Hermana Alcantara and I have been blessed enough to serve all of them and just thinking about where they were when I first met them and where they are now, first ones to church on Sunday morning, smiling and ready to hear the word of God, was such a great moment. 

Funny:

A brother of one of our investigators came out of his kitchen and gave me this mayonaise because it's American Style and I'm American. haha.

zone pday

we did a flower relay race and other typical Chile games

September 22, 2015

Summary: 

It's definitely been a week. It went normal until the earthquake on Wednesday. We were in a meeting at our ward mission leader's house when it hit. The Elders had just left because they had to run to an evening appointment and we were sitting at hs table telling the hermano about some of the people we teach. It started to shake a little. I though my companion was bouncing her leg up and down, but I looked down to see if she was and she wasn't. Then I looked down at Hermano Leon's legs to see if he was shaking his leg and he wasn't shaking either. Then the hermano looked at me all confused because I was looking around at everyone's legs. I looked up to explain to him that I thought I felt something shaking and his eyes got all big and he said, "está temblando." then it started getting strong and the hermano's wife  runs out of the kitchen screaming "earthquake" and then screaming for her son who was outside playing soccer. It kept getting stronger and I just huddled there under the door frame and watched the furniture and even the wooden floors move around.  Personally I didn't think it was that scary but my companion instantly started screaming and crying and Hermano pushed us underneath the door frame and ran to find his son. Hermana Alcantara is screaming '"oh my gosh!" and Hermano Leon's wife starts reciting really loud the Virgin Maria prayer (she's Catholic) and then I was just there in the middle of them like ... patting them and stuff trying to calm them down. It lasted a few minutes. The phones and stuff were down for a while afterward so a lot of people were worried about their family members and that they couldn't contact, but the next day everyone just seemd fine and back to normal. We've been feeling the little after-shock waves every couple hours which really scares my companion, but Chile is built to survive earthquakes.

On the 18th we had a celebration lunch with a less-active/investigator family and from then on the next two days we walked almost all day because almost nobody wanted to recieve us during the holidays. I gave a talk in church on Sunday.

Spiritual

We had a special zone fast and afterward we were in an appointment with a young investigator who has had desires to follow Christ for a long time. She just didn't want to commit to a baptismal date. She finally accepted one for the 18th of October. Pray for Monserrat!

Funny

There are always a lot of dogs running and walking around on the street here. We passed this little tiny one and I was all, "ooh how cute!" and pointed to it.Hermana  Alcantara looks over and goes "awwww!"' and approaches it and all the sudden it barks and shows these huge teeth and we both just started sprinting down the street laughing so hard. 

September 15, 2015

Summary:Hermana Valladares left and to our surprise they added a companionship of Elders to the ward. They still live in the same apartment, they just switched sectors and actually didn´t even let the poor Elders know. In the meeting with all the mission that very same day President Morgan told them they´ll be doing a "white wash" in the open sector in the Cordillera ward. They´re both good Elders though, I´m sure they´ll work hard. After that meeting we had to have another meeting with the Bishop to refine the sector limits in the ward. Unfortunately, a couple of our great investigators are now on the Elders' side. Whichever way you cut it, though, that´s how it will be. 

On Thursday and Friday we had to be in the house early because September 11 is the anniversary of an uprising that happened here in Chile so people go out in the streets and burn stuff and do crazy things. Nothing too crazy happened in my sector though and all the missionaries are safe.

This coming Friday is 18 de Septiembre, Las Fiestas Patrias! Chile celebrates their independence, and everyone is already partying and decorating and eating empenadas and dancing the "Cueca." On Thursday we´ll have our ward party and there should be some new investigators and less-active members there. It´ll be a fun week!

Spiritual:
There's a family we teach that the hermano is a less-active member and his wife is investigating the church. The missionaries have been visiting them for quite a while. They´re such a cute family but the husband is sometimes demanding and tries to always test our knowledge of the scriptures and stuff and always whines about how we come in and take off really fast and don´t spend enough time at their house. I wanted to stop teaching them because I felt like there are lots of people waiting to hear the gospel and we are wasting time being in their house every week while they´re not progressing, but the bishop asked us not to leave them because in his eyes they are slowly progressing. The bishop does have the keys, and I am here to serve him. So, I´ve been praying a lot for this family and to be able to touch them in some way as well as be obedient. We went to our appointment last week and it was so awesome! It was like a total change of countenance. Also, they had their niece over and she told us at first she didn´t want to listen. Then the hermano invited her again and she said something like, "fine but it´s only because I don´t have anywhere to sit and I´m already here on the couch." Then she started listening. Then she wanted to participate. All of her first comments she´d make sure to add, "I don´t want to be Mormon or anything... but yeah I think that´s true." haha. By the end she was asking questions and even asked for a Book of Mormon and said she was really interested. When we left the lesson, the hermano said for the first time, "Thanks for coming. I´ve learned something new today."

Funny:
There´s a less-active family from Peru that we teach and they have one of the cutest little girls I´ve ever seen. She asked me my name and I said, "Hermana Martin." Then she pointed to my companion and asked her. She said, "Hermana Alcantara." Then I asked her what her name was, expecting her to say Yeseline, but very quickly she said, "Hermana de Arianna." haha Arianna is her older sister. 

September 8, 2015

Summary:
Our two weeks of Trio has come to an end and it turns out that all of the hermanas I live with are leaving except for Hermana Alcantara and I. There were six and now there are two! It's been so great working in both sectors of the ward and getting to know investigators, less-active members, recent converts, and even active members that I didn't really know before. I really do admire so much both of my companions. Hermana Valladares from Honduras and Hermana Alcantara from Peru. They're both so humble, obedient, and hard-working that it hasn't been a problem getting along. Plus they're both fun! I've learned from them that even in a group of very different people, with the same goal, anyone can become great friends.  We've pretty much been running from appointment to appointment, so it might be a little sting this week going back to working only in half again. Especially because we haven't found many new people to teach in the past couple weeks. I'm excited for a new change!

Spiritual Experience:
It never ceases to amaze me that every time we have a meeting, someone always says exactly what I need to hear. This past week we talked about self-sufficiency, and it's something I really want to implement in the work and help people understand it.

Funny:

We visit an hermano that was less-active when we met him. His mom is 87 years old and she always listens to the lessons, but I'm not really sure if she can hear or not. Every once in a while, though, she'll make a comment and it's always, "Asi es la vida po." Like, "Well... that's life." We'd finish reading about something in the scriptures or bear a testimony and she'd just nod and say, "Asi es la vida po." Haha we were laughing about it as we left and ever since then, whenever one of us would say something dumb as we were walking we'd say it in her voice. haha

We helped la familia cofre paint their house. This little girl is probably one of the most hilarious people I´ve ever met

September 1, 2015

Summary: 

I think this past week may have been the busiest one I've had so far in the mission! That's how I like it! It's been awesome working as a trio. I'm actually kind of sad it's only a temporal thing. It's been great getting to know everyone in the ward, not just the half that live in my sector. 

I did exchanges with Hermana Griffin this week. She's from Texas but she went to school at BYU and played soccer there. Her sector is in the mountains and I loved spending the day there. We even had an appointment up in the mountains with a family that has an ostrich farm. I was nervous when she told me that because ostriches are so scary, but the appointment fell through, so I never did quite get to meet them.

Rosita was baptized on Sunday and it was a great experience. She will be a strong member and she's already progressing and working towards making her next covenants. The testimony she bore after the ordinance might have been the sweetest thing I've ever heard.

I was also overwhelmed with all the love and kind words I received on my birthday. Both from the people here in Chile and from my loved ones at home. Thank you for being such special people! I sincerely love you all. 

Spiritual Experience:

We've been visiting a family of less-actives and investigators. Finally, after years, the mom came to sacrament meeting this past Sunday. In the next visit she was so enthusiastic in ways I haven't seen before and said she felt the heavy backpack lift off of her when she entered the chapel. It was another testimony to me that we really do need to be nourished by the word of God every week.

Funny:

It had been a very long day and we had just finished our last appointment of the night with an hermana before going back to the house. I'm not sure if this was so funny to me because I was so tired or what but I laughed so hard. Anyways, her two young boys ran through the door and said they wanted to show us something before we left. One was so cute and chubby and the other really scrawny and tiny. So they turn on some music and the chubby one starts doing these choreographed moves all perfectly while the skinny one just starts jumping around everywhere. He eventually starts doing these very impressive roundhouse kicks all over the place and I'm positive he had no idea which way he was facing and kicks the chubby one a bunch of times, but it didn't even phase him. He just kept on dancing all perfectly. Both of them just totally in their own zone. hahah oh man, it was a good laugh. 

familia lleiva that took us to the snow

My Zone

Happy 20th Birthday Kylee!

This is an email we received from Hector, a wonderful ward mission leader in Kylee's new area. He told us that they love Kylee and her Spanish is perfect. He gave us his email and Facebook info and told us to ask for anything we need. I told him that her birthday was coming on August 31 and asked if he and his wife would give her a special hug...They sent this message to us on her birthday!

Ho ho ho , finally the time came and today was the Kaylee's birthday, we did something special for her and we celebrated at home half 30 minutes ago, it was a very nice mimment with her and the sisters, she was so happy....well that was the idea....

My wife gave two hugs because i can't...

So , i hope you be okay all of you and do not worry, we love her ...

Take care .