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!  

May 27, 2014

Happy late birthday to little cousin Elle! I can’t believe she is 7 already!

It is so great to read all of your emails! I love that about P-day. Just listening to what’s happening in all of your lives. I can’t reply one by one but your emails are so greatly appreciated... and if they are extra funny, important or interesting I print them out to read now and later...and EVERYONE wants to be that person that gets their emails printed out and read multiple times by my eye balls.

This week I baptized JULIO! It was one of the greatest baptismal reunions I have gone to or participated in on the mission. The Spirit was so strong it was Undeniable.

Julio is a teenager that we have been teaching for a while... for him and his family these past 2 months has been very tough. One week everything’s good and the next another problem...and then he’s doing good again...and then another problem... until finally he said IM JUST GONNA DO IT! And that’s what he did. The problems went all the way up until his baptism hour... walking to the church building he crossed the street and almost got his by a car that didn’t see him, then when we were just about to start the reunion all the lights in the church building shut off for about 10 minutes.

Once we started the reunion however everything went smoothly. His Aunt Novellia and cousin Stefany who used to be less actives talked in the baptism and our convert stefany bore her testimony. It was great so see all the support that he was getting from his family and members of the ward.

He really has the potential to be a great leader and missionary in the future.

This past week I have been doing a very deep and extensive study of the restoration. I love how we can study the scriptures to understand the primitive church... and all of those principles that Christ taught... of prophets, apostles, quorums, 70s and priesthood have been restored ion our day. There is no better organization then the one that Christ has set up. And to be a part of the organization is amazing.

I will send picture of Julio’s baptism next week!

Love you!

May 19, 2014

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MCKAY!!!! I love youuu!

It’s crazy that you’re going to be a senior! You’re so old. Weird. You better not leave on your mission until I get back...

Enjoy Poca Cosa for me McKay! This will be your first time right?? I don’t remember

I can just see the top of our piano tonight... there are lots of big bags and presents wrapped in bright colors... the same ones that we use every year... and in the biggest bags there is nothing but shirts, socks or underwear.. But most importantly hot Cheetos and candy!

And dad, right after you just finished unwrapping it, will demand that you share... all of it right then... birthdays are great

Tis week we had stake conference and Elder Gonzalez of the Quorum of the 70 came to talk to us! This is the second conference that I have had with elder Gonzalez, but I think that I learned more this time because for that last conference I was only 5 weeks fresh on the mission and didn’t understand Spanish very well.  So this time when he made jokes and everyone laughed I didn’t have to fake laugh... Because I understood him!

It seems that every single person that went to the conference that I talked to learned something different that they could apply in their lives.

I learned...

-That as a missionary I need to teach people about the nature of God and the nature of us as his children. God is our father. Jesus is our older brother, and as children trying to learn we should follow the example of our older brother. As child of God we have the opportunity to inherit all that he has. Just like any good father would what for his children

-God is going to hasten his work in his own time. This is his time to do so and we are his army, as missionaries and members of the church of Jesus Christ.

- There is littler and littler of a difference between full time missionaries and members. We need to work together to find, teach, preach, retain, reactivate, and baptize

-setting goals is an exercise of faith. So set them and have the hope that you can achieve them

I love you! ALL.

May 12, 2014

My Birthday passed by soo well. Other than that day I had my faced slammed into a cake 2 times. That’s like one time too many. I mean everyone loves to see someone with a face full of cake, but 2 times is a bit ridiculous.

We planned on having a FHE (family home evening) at the house of Julio, but it actually turned out to be a surprise birthday party, were I was attacked at their door with fists full of confetti glitter and was commanded to wear a silly hat for the rest of the night. That’s what I get for telling someone that is was my birthday... secrets fly in this ward like no other. One person knows that it’s my birthday and the next thing I know every single person wants to slam my face into some type of frosting smothered desert.

 This week for our district class elder Hancock and I had the idea to combine our 2 districts into one and teach about how to maintain the vision to baptize. As missionaries our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ through their faith repentance and baptism. To progress spiritually one needs to follow Christ our Savior. When we do not invite people to repent and be baptized by someone who holds the power and authority of God which is the priesthood, we are not completing our mission as representatives and servants of Christ.

What is the first thing Christ did before he started his mortal ministry? He got baptized (matt 3:15-17)

What is the first thing Christ preached unto the ancient inhabitants of the Americas when we appeared to them? To be baptized by someone who had the Power of God (3 Nephi 11: 21-34)

I used to think that it was weird to talk about baptism so fast but now I know that is what God wants.

This week we had a movie night with a group of investigators, less actives and recent converts to help them understand a little better the life of Joseph Smith.

 There is so much crap about this guy on the internet and lots of lies that other churches say about him. But none of that really matters, because the fact of the matter is he was either a prophet, or not. And the only way to know is to pray to our Father in Heaven and ask. Because people can lie, people can be mistaken. Shoot I could be lying right now... but our father in heaven cannot not and will not." Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be open unto you."

We can also know by his actions "By their fruits ye shall know them"

Through Joseph Smith we have the book of Mormon which is an amazing other testament of our savior Jesus Christ.

I love this quote by Elder Holland. He said that "No evil man could wright such a book as this, and no good man would, except he was called of God to do so"

 Joseph died for the truth, standing firm until the end, never denying what he knew to be true. If he could do that. I can serve him for these 2 years easy standing as another testament and witness that this is the restored gospel.

We are going to have stake conference this week! And I am so excited because the president of the area is coming to talk to us! And also my convert Carla is going to be in the stake choir! WHOOHOO!

Happy mother’s day to all the mothers out there! Family it was great to see you.

 I have the best family ever. Sorry other families that are reading this...

May 6, 2014

HERE we are in May already. I can’t believe it. And I’m 20!

It is weird to think that every day of my life that I am 20 will be on the mission.

 Here in Chile it is getting cold and rainy. My companion Elder Castro did not have the clothing for rain. He thought an umbrella would work just fine. It doesn’t. When it rains here it rains... for days without stop. And the streets turn into rivers. I LOVE IT! Adds a little excitement to the week. I still think that I prefer monsoon season better however because this rain is so freezing.

It is also very hard to talk to people in the rain ….who knew?

This week 2 of our golden investigators moved... It was so sad! They were just starting to get to know the ward too. But I’m sure it will be for the good. Arixa is an 18 year old girl with 2 kids who just recently found out that her boyfriend is no good. She is now taking charge of her life and is going to move back in with her mother and go to college and work and her mom will help with the kids until she can get back on her feet again. I am so glad that I got the chance to get to know Arixa and her mother Inged. Through their story I have learned the great and lasting effects of the Atonement in our lives.

It doesn’t matter if we make mistakes but the important part to recognize it, learn from it, and allow Christ to heal us.

And through our trials we receive the grace and mercy of GOD.

She now knows what is right and is willing to do all that it takes to get there. I have never seen anyone so determined and humble in my life.

I don’t have much time because I sent a lot of pictures but I just wanted to say that I know this church is true and people can change and become spectacular. But that is only if we utilize what we have in this life when we have it. This day, is the day that we need to prepare to meet God. And we cannot procrastinate.