June 30, 2014

This week was full of a lot of exciting things, that don’t usually happen in this Small pueblo of Yungay. We have Interviews with the mission president, stake conference in Chillan and I also had the opportunity to have 2 mini-cambios, one with Elder Barrios a missionary from Guatemala and the other with the Zone Leader Elder Wiese from Sandy Utah.

Stake conference was definitely a hassle because we had to organize all of the member’s rides with the bus schedules and still trying to commit investigators to track along with us for an hour and a half for the church meeting Saturday and Sunday. But I loved the talks that were given. President Arrington is literally the man. I loved what he did in his conference talk Saturday in the afternoon. He explained that members need to participate in the mission work with the missionaries, with means they need to act like missionaries and prepare to teach and talk to people as missionaries do. So what did we do? Practices! 2 missionaries did an example practice in front of everyone to demonstrate how to invite a friend to a church activity, then every had the time right then and there during the conference to do practices with someone they were sitting next to. I believe that a lot of people had a great experience doing that practice and for most, it was the first missionary practice that they have done in their lives. I practiced with a little kid and his mother. I was the kid’s friend, and in this practice and we were waiting at a bus stop to go to school. He invited me to an activity and bore his testimony about how awesome the church is. In that moment I totally saw him as he will be in a couple years as a missionary. It was a sweet experience.

Because this stake conference I was in Chillan with the zone leaders Saturday and Sunday. I slept on the tiled floor. And I was soo cold all night. But it was fun to be in a big city again and actually see people.

On the way back we brought with us materials with we were lacking so finally we had sufficient supplies.

So With those new supplies I decided to contact our bus.

 It was so great to see half the bus reading about the restored Gospel that day. Walking to my seat in the back of the bus I could just see those orange pamphlets opened to page one, "God is our loving heavenly father" and I was happy.

Everyone needs to know that God is our loving heavenly father, that he sent his son to the earth to save us, and this his church has been restored. Mission work is so great

 It is crazy to me the magnitude of the work of salvation or the missionary force that is today, and to me it’s even crazier to think about how he completes his will.  And it’s through us. I have learned this week that "through small and simple things great things come to pass" (Alma 37:6-7)

Through the small experiences, quiet promptings, simple actions and an extra

Ounce of courage we can see miracles in the Work, IF we pay attention and act.

 These experiences are very easy to pass by. This week I have been focusing on these simple things and have been great results. Actually all of our new investigators that we have found this week, were through small and simple acts of obedience, or acts of service or something simple as following plans and praying for guidance.

Love you family and friends!

June 24, 2014

So there I was standing in the rain our side of a grocery store, an old lady walks out with both of her hands full of heavy bags. Being a young strong and charitable missionary I automatically went over to offer help. But in passing the bags form one hand to the other one bag slipped and fell on to the road. Of course it had to be the bag with the eggs in them. They all broke.

we all stood there for a good long while soaking in what just happened, staring form the broken eggs, to the old lady, to the broken eggs, to my companion, to the old lady, and then again to the broken eggs.

 So awkward.  But I will not accept the whole blame for this incident. My all too puffy gloves were the culprit. Plus this lady seemed to have wound these bags in knots about her fingers so I could not see clearly where the bags even were.

Anyway I bought her new eggs and gave her a slightly wet pass along card of Christ so she better be happy.

This week was quite a hard one. But I have learned how to confide in Christ more than I ever have this week.

We just can’t do everything on our own, when it all comes down to it we are, one day, going to have to take that blind leap of faith. We are all going to have to just lay everything on the line, give everything to him and pray... and he will always lift us, help us, and sustain us.

I am convinced that in this life after all that has been said and done, we will all need to rely on our faith in Christ and His tender mercies.

   

I don’t have much time this week...

But I love you all and am doing well

But...

Thank you HERMANA CASTRO FOR THE SCARF!!! I love it

.I ate a rather weird fruit this week called mankaki. It is very good on toast

June 16, 2014

HAPPY LATE FATHERS DAY AND

HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY CAYLEB

 Better late than never and better earlier than late...

(That’s a pretty catchy)

I LOVEEE YOU GUYS

This week in Yungay we very busy. We have been trying to work with the members as much as possible to strengthen them. Because as missionaries e can only do so much, but if we have the members on our side there is no stopping us!

We have come up with some plans and ideas on how to involve and strengthen the members here...

-we passed out a calendar of daily scripture study to every member and less active to help develop the habit of reading more consistently.

-our correlation meetings are now not just with the mission leader but with the whole branch, so that the members can join in on the fun that is being on a mission.

-we are planning a training class to help the members know how to teach home and visiting teaching lessons, and so they can know who to act and what to do when there are less actives and investigators in the church

-every Friday we are having English class and movie night open to the public!

-AND we are planning a huge branch activity... but don’t have one set ideas yet (so if anyone has any ideas I would like to hear them)

This Sunday was the first Sunday that I conducted the Sacrament meeting and sat up front with he president and our other counselors... it was rather odd looking at every one look at us for an hour but hey, better get used to it, I might be conducting a lot of the meetings for the next couple of months.

There is a lot to do here if we want the work to progress. But we are not alone in our efforts...

It says in Jacob 5...

 70 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard sent his servant; and the servant went and did as the Lord had commanded him, and brought other servants; and they were few.

 71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.

 72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their might; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.

I know that if we are obedient and work as a team both members and missionaries we will not be working alone, but the Lord with be working with us, side to side with his servants.

I love this work and I love the Lord my God.

June 9, 2014

Bye Bye Cerro Verde and Hello Yunguy!

My last day In Talcahuano was a crazy one. The plan is always to visit as many members’ investigators and converts as possible to say good bye and all that jazz. But things never really go as planned...

But we did manage to visit a lot of people that I will miss sooo very much! Due to the heavy rain that started without warning we ended up running from house to house without jackets and with dogs trying to bite our ankles the whole way. Also it was quite hard to make our visits short because Chileans are such food pushers! We just wanted to say bye and they shove our mouths full of cake and goodies and hot chocolate that is as hot as magma.

I have had such an amazing experience working with the people in Talcahuano. It sure hasn’t been easy, and I have send a lot of time on my knees for my investigators members and converts but I know that I have completed my purpose in that ward and it is time to move on. But as far as memories and experiences that I have had there will never be forgotten... even with my horrible memory.

My first day in Yunguy it rained, the second day it rained harder with heavy wind, the third day it hailed and the fourth a cruel combination of the other 3 days in one. Today is the first day that I have seen the sun. I pretty much work up singing here comes the sun by the Beatles I was so excited. But I do love it here. Even with all the rain and cold it is so beautiful here!

I was a little nervous to go to Yunguy because what some of the other missionaries have told me Yunguy is the butt crack of the mission. But all I see here is a lot of work to do and room to grow. I am very excited to be here and help the branch progress.

In Yunguy there is about 16 thousand people, 180 something odd members and 11 that went to church this Sunday.

But I did get the chance to give a talk to those 11 members this week. I explained the importance of commandments and modern day revelation. Even though we were few no one could deny the spirit that we felt during the meeting. Also the stake counselors from Chillan came to visit and gave the classes for the second and third hours about the importance of home and visiting teaching and helping those that are less active(because there are so many!)

Also this week as counselor to the president I went to my first stake bishopric meeting in Chillan! It was cool to meet up with all the other bishops and leader of all of Chillan and the surrounding towns to talk about how we can improve.

My companion is Elder Villegas, he is from Monterrey Mexico and is so awesome. He has about 5 months on the mission.

He is such a goof ball but we are having a lot of fun together. And Taylor he says hi (with a wink and a thumbs up) hahah

I love you family and am so happy to be here. I know that the Lord has sent me to this small town for a reason and I am so ready for the challenge. I can feel the spirit so strong here and I know the Lord is guiding my actions. This is his work and I am proud to be his hands.

June 3, 2014

I’m on my way!

My time in Cerro Verde has come to an end and I will be leaving tomorrow. My new Sector will be in Yunguy! The most south, closest to the mountains and the coldest sector in our mission. Great. I’m going to die.

But I am so excited. It will defiantly be a new and different experience than ever. I will be serving as a missionary and will be called as a counselor to the president of the branch in Yunguy. I don’t exactly know what that means yet but it will be fun. I know I will be going to a lot more meetings, working closely with the branch, interviewing people and directing church meeting a lot of the time.

 Yunguy is a small town, in the middle of nowhere, 2 hours in bus away from anything. 

I am going to miss Cerro Verde SOO MUCH! I have been here for 6 months and have met so many people here that have changed my life and have helped me become a better missionary and better person.

I kind of knew that this was my last week in Talcahuano, so I wanted to go out working hard, go out with a bang. To start off the week we didn’t have any investigators progressing. Finding has actually been very hard for the past 2 weeks for us here and I was getting a little frustrated. But one day we decided to just leave the house... and follow the spirit. I picked the street to walk down and my companion picked the house and we knocked. And through that experience I have such a greater testimony the the Lord is guiding us, and leading this work. We are just his instrument. This family ended up knowing Maria Valentina, the sister that passed away in Quillon when I was there. I got the chance to talk to them about Quillon ...and she was actually at the funeral service that I sang in! I even passed her a pamphlet of the plan of salvation like 7 months ago that she still had. Miracle right?

In Chile the sell tiny tiny coconuts... so I bought a bag and am making rings out of the coconut shells... there soo COOL... I am going to send one to you Taylor! So you can put it in your hair...

I forgot to bring my tot and chip badge with me and the mission so I’m not scout official with a knife. But I have only almost cut my finger off a couple of times so don’t worry about me momma!

And I forgot to tell you all that I bought a ukulele! So if anyone can send me tabs to songs that are sweet I would love to learn them.

I love that on the mission we have the chance to study so much. Before, I never understood how important personal study was but now I wake up in the mornings excited to jump in the scriptures.

Something that called my attention this week is the necessity to protect ourselves spiritually from all temptation and sin.

If we put on the armor of God we have the strength to not only protect ourselves but attack back with righteousness!

Romans 13:12

Doctrine & Covenants 27: 15-18

Love you all!