We went to Cerro Castillo! But
it was super snowy and cloudy so we couldn´t see it but we visited some other
cool places. Chile is beautiful. Sometimes it hits me so hard that I’m serving
in Patagonia. #blessed
Elena (less active)
and Evangelista (investigator) came to church! That’s huge because it is hard
for us to get them to read or pray but at least they are starting to form an
identity of themselves as church going people.
Hermana Isabel (less
active) is basically active now which makes me so happy!
Jordana moved out but
she will be baptized in Centro. I just know it.
Josaline cancelled a
work trip so she could start going to church so she can be baptized.
Victor Vargaz is a
member that is just golden. He never fails us. He sacrifices so much. He just
moved back to Osorno with his family. Happy for him but he was such a strength.
Jose is a recent
convert with a heavy accent. He said something to me and I didn’t understand. We
had him repeat it back slower, and it made it that much harder. Hilarious. Sometimes
I feel so lost, but the language really is coming along. I can understand the direction
of a conversation now. I can talk well enough, and I can teach. I may not speak
perfectly but they understand. Yesterday I asked someone if they wanted me to
close their gate, but I didn’t use subjunctive, so it literally translated to
"do you want to close me?" ha-ha. I laugh at myself sometimes.
I´m so happy. I´ve
never been happier. I´m growing more and more focused on the people we are
helping, and that just makes me so much more happy.
Missions are awesome because
of that.
Someone said they were
stressed and I told them "I just pray for patience, eat manjar, and everything
works itself out." Elder Ryan and Peterson thought that was funny. I was
half joking.
Our zone leaders that
we live with (Elder Bustamante and Peterson) have a ringtone for when president
Obeso calls. It is O Fortuna. Which is that dramatic doomsday choir song. They’re
like "OH NO, its President!" when it goes off and I die laughing.
The weather here is a
lot like Utah, it’s alright and then it’s snowing the next. The stars here are
BEAUTIFUL. There’s not really any light pollution and they are so clear.
I´m kind of like the
mom of the house here. I always do everyone’s dishes. :)
It hit me so hard that
I´m almost 19. I forgot about my age.
The other night elder
Bustamante and I sang hymns and played the guitar and I harmonized. I haven’t
felt more relaxed on my mission. I love singing.
For the day of world
service the church had on the 12th, we did all of the yard work for
a health clinic here.
The other day the
spirit comforted me because I was frustrated with the language. It basically
boiled down to "Jacob, you don’t need to speak Spanish in order to walk,
serve, knock doors, eat, exercise, get ready, love people, study, prepare for
lessons, plan, or really anything. And when you need to speak in lessons,
you´re blessed with the gift of tongues." That comforted me. Also Ether 12
vs 37 when it says “you have been faithful, therefore your garments shall be
made clean, and because you have seen your weakness, you will be
strengthened." that hit me so hard in church when I read it. I know it is
true.
I want to share with
you Alma 32. Use it. I read the chapter with the desire and question of how can
I have the faith to see people and myself change. I now have my answer. Take
your righteous desires and questions to that chapter.
I love you all! Please
read your scriptures, pray every day, and go to church.
Alma 38 vs 5
Elder West
Sent from a rented Chilean
computer
[Explanatory note: Jacob and his
companion sometimes get emails which have the “Sent from my IPhone” message at
the bottom. This is a humorous play on
that message.]
Answers to Mom’s questions:
Breakfasts for me are rice,
or egg sandwich, or oatmeal.
Thanks for the 200. I
need to pay for a district sweater, our trip to Cerro Castillo, and so I will
use the money for that.
They have stuff like Pero
here. We drink herbal tea or that stuff like Pero.
Our branch has 1500
members, but 40 come on average.
We haven’t found a
house and the members say it’s dangerous to live alone. About 3 years ago an
elder woke up with a guy on top of him trying to stab him. So that’s why we
live together.
We buy food at Unimarc
which is a small grocery store.
Please, please send meal ideas and also recopies that can be
made fast and cheap. Thanks! love you.
