The 18th of September is
coming up, and now there are almost as many Chilean flags as there are dogs, ha-ha.
JK. President told us that we will still work on Sept. 18. Our sector is
the most dangerous in the mission, and the 18th is always crazy. People die
every year, and it´s dangerous after 6 pm. Please pray for our safety.
Last week we had no
food, money, wood to burn, our washer broke, and a cold front came in. We were
laughing at our circumstances. But we were alright.
A thing about Chile:
fungus. Foot fungus is bad here. We NEVER let our feet touch the floor. Every
morning we spray our feet with this stuff, and I rub vinegar on my feet.
Two days ago, I asked
a man at his door what the purpose of life is. He said it was to work so we can
earn money. So sad. We are so blessed to know that the purpose of this life is
to experience joy and prepare to meet our Father in heaven. And we can do both
at the same time too.
We knocked an antiguo
investigador (former investigator) house and she opened the door and accepted a
return appointment. As we left and the door shut we heard a scream. We were
like, "huh?" Turns out she screamed because the missionaries came
back. She has a baptism date for Oct. 3!
Before we came, she was reading praying and everything. She has a
testimony!
Evangelista also has a
baptismal date. The AP´s came and we had divisions with them. I was with elder
Fotheringham. We taught the plan of salvation, began and ended with a hymn,
taught with great power, and gave him a priesthood blessing. He wasn't someone
who I thought would change. But he accepted a baptismal date for Oct. 3. That
was the most powerful lesson I've been in. Elder Fotheringham in the lesson
STOOD UP like in the John Tanner story, and asked him if he wanted a blessing.
I felt like I was in a movie. So powerful. We took a picture with them after.
Evangelista has his gaucho hat on.
The language is coming
slow and steady. Some days I can understand a lot, and then others feel just
like day one in the field. Thank you for your prayers. I am progressing.
Yesterday we knocked a
door of a menos activo (less active member) named Caesar. He let us in. I asked
him to turn off the radio and if we could say a prayer and talk about his
relationship with God. That was bold for me. Something I never would have done
before the mission. I´m learning how to better apply the principals of how to
begin teaching on page 177 in Preach My Gospel. We began. In our discussion
with him he told us that he made a deal with his best friend. The deal was that
whoever died first, the other had to visit them and tell them what it´s like.
His friend died. One year later he had a dream. His friend visited him in this
dream and told him only one thing. He said: "The only thing that is
important in this life is Family." That was powerful. I testify of that
too. Please strengthen your relationships within your families. Caesar also had
a playboy bikini calendar on his wall which was distracting from the spirit a
lot. There on the wall, Satan presented himself. In all his filth, degrading
the sanctity of virtue and women. And it completely disgusted me. I couldn't leave
without doing something. After our closing prayer I asked him if we could burn
it in his wood burning stove right then. I felt filled with the Spirit and
power. I don´t know how to describe it, but it felt like in that moment it was
me and Jesus Christ and the power of the priesthood, against Satan. Caesar
accepted and burned it immediately. Great experience.
One thing the Lord is
showing me a lot of is what I want my future family to be like, and the
importance of the family, and living our covenants together as families. I have
a story for this. We just made rolls with a great hermana in the ward. Her
husband is less active and is way chill with us, but he doesn't give us
anything when we try to talk about the church. We made rolls with them to try
to build relationships, but her husband just watched soccer and a violent show
after. Her children don´t want to participate in the church either. But this
hermana is completely golden. We left feeling crummy because she is so good,
and her situation is so bad. She told us she just needs more patience. Then we
went to Hermano Victor Vargaz. He is awesome. He is so faithful in going to
appointments with us. We were in his home with an extremely faithful family
that just moved into our branch. We could feel the Spirit in their home. As we
talked and sat there, the Spirit just worked me over. I know what I want in my
family. I know what God has for us as families is the best. There is great
power in a home where the gospel is taught and covenants are kept, and scriptures
are read, and when there is love at home. Mom and Dad, thank you for always
creating a home environment like this. I love you.
We are truly representatives
of Jesus Christ. And people treat us like Him. Really good and really bad. So
many times I feel shoulder to shoulder with the great missionaries in the
scriptures.
One thing we work
super hard for with every investigator is reading, praying, and going to
church. If they are doing those things then they progress. If you aren't doing
those things, please change. And start now. There is great happiness for you if
you do them. And spiritual safety.
I testify that this is
God´s work. I love you all.
Elder West
Sent from a rented Chilean
computer.
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| Elders West & Fotheringham with Evangelista. |
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| Elders West & Ryan in Coyhaique |
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| Elders West & Ryan in Coyhaique |
