Another good week

REBECCA MY LIL SIS HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Yesterday we did a door contact and the guy accepted an appointment and gave us two references. Wow.

On Saturday the branch had an asado in the campo (countryside?), we got permission to go! 

While there Hno. Felipe (his dad owns the campo) took us to a super pretty river, we ate wild apples on the way, and he also showed us some wild berries that taste like black licorice. 

After we went back to Quellon for Nicol`s baptismal interview, and she passed it with flying colors and impressed Elder Bliss a lot. She will be baptized this Saturday Feb 27. Happy birthday Rebecca.

Elder Torres’ plan A [his old girlfriend at home in Peru] got married this week, so we’ve been laughing about our circumstances this week.

I had an intercambio with Elder Ramer this week. He has 3 weeks in the mission. I learned a lot from him, his enthusiasm, and sincerity. I love that. All of the new missionaries are super good and bear powerful testimonies. We did 12 semanas (training) and then taught a family (Eliacer and Nivia) that are renting a room from the Familia Fernandez. They had 2 family home evenings and saw the restoration video and have been asking lots of questions. We gave them the restoration lesson. We were in the living room. There was a curtain dividing us from the kitchen where the Familia Fernandez were eating dinner, making bread, and cutting tons of onions for empanadas. We bore testimony. The Spirit was strong. All of our eyes are watering, and then Nivia bursts into tears and I got super pumped because I knew she was feeling the Spirit. She looks me directly in the eyes and tells me, "These onions are making me cry." the whole situation was super funny. We were crying because of onions, but also because of the Spirit.

We made a contact with a guy named Nacho. He is super funny and receptive. He said he was catholic, but was very open, so we were pumped to commit him to baptism. Then he told us he was also baptized, Mormon. That happens a lot here in Chile. With my first baptismal invitation in the mission, the guy turned out to be a less active. Anyway, we are helping Nacho stop smoking and come back to church. He gave us a reference to pass by a friend of his. We contacted the guy and passed by a day later. He wasn’t home. But on our way to a different contact, we saw him on the other side of a busy street. We said hi. He waved back, obviously drunk, and then crossed the road like he was the only person in the world. We screamed in horror thinking he was about to get levelled by the oncoming traffic. But he made it. He was carrying lots of rope, and we asked him why. He told us he was looking for his lost horses. Super funny.

Friday, we organized an activity to help the branch’s energy. We planned to share a message, then pass the rest of night with activities. We invited an investigator named Umberto. He came! Umberto is super sincere, timid, and intense when he talks. He has had a super hard life. We invited people to share their testimonies about prayer. UMBERTO WENT UP!!! Umberto also talks a lot so we were worried. He shared a lot about hard things that have happened to him in his life, and shared his life story. Everyone was QUIET. Umberto opened up a lot that night with the activities, said he felt very welcomed, and now feels comfortable going to church. So that is a huge step.

We are trying to help Umberto recognize that his dream about getting baptized by John the Baptist is an answer to his prayers. God still works miracles.

In that same activity, Catalina got up to share her testimony too. She testified about prayer. She said her dad didn’t want anything with the Church. When she was at the temple in Santiago with her mom and Benjamin, all they did was pray for her dad. Then she pointed at her dad, and said, "And now look. My dad is here. I know God answers prayers." Super powerful, the Spirit was very strong. The Familia Carrillo Lemus gave a big hug after. Later Hno. Mario told us he chose to come back because he has a testimony of the Church, and Catalina’s baptism helped. Wow. Miracles.

The commitment for district council this week was to take a scripture from our lesson one outlines and make a plan on what questions we will use with it to help out teachings. I chose Galatians 5:22-23 for recognizing the Spirit. I remember the first person to show me this scripture was Dad. Anyway, I applied it last night in our lesson with Eliacer and Nivia. It went so well. Asking them questions that helped them apply the scripture brought the Spirit. We were able to involve Nivia more and help her recognize the Spirit. Eliacer accepted the 26 of March as a baptismal date. Nivia will move to Temuco in a week, but we are going to send the missionaries to her.

I know God hears and answers our prayers. I was studying today to receive an answer to a question I have. When we turn to God, prayer, the scriptures, and action, God blesses us with guidance. I know that is true.

Elder West

Also Elder Weech visited this week.

A super-duper week

Rain --again

So this week there has been a clown in the main street of Quellon that has been selling pig balloons. He also screams at people and then does a Joker laugh. He got the people in front of us and it took me a few minutes to relax. Hate clowns.

We finally got a new iron!! To iron, we were putting the broken one we have over the gas burners on the stove to heat it up. Very inefficient.

I tried to make an Asian stir fry this week. I tried making a soy sauce I saw Elder Watson do: 50% peanut butter and 50% soy sauce. It was horrible. After gagging half of it down, I threw the rest away.

Snap, I’m writing this email super slow in horrible English because Spanish is taking away my native language. I forgot how to say "organization" this week in English.

We cut 4 cubic meters of wood for service.

We talked to a youth in the ward. He said in 2 weeks he has read up into Alma. We were impressed. Then he said he has to read to music to be focused. When I asked him what kind of music he listens to, he told me Wiz Khalifa. I died laughing. The kid was dead serious.

This week, we had a dinner with the family Carrillo Lemus. We ate papas lawancquillina or something like that. Elder Torres cooked it. They made ceviche (crab salad). Seated at the table with 6 people eating DINNER (that hasn’t happened in a while) made me feel like I was with my own family. Haven’t felt that chill in a while. HNO MARIO CAME TO CHURCH!!! TEMPLE! TEMPLE! TEMPLE! TEMPLE!

We passed by Mattias this week. His grandma met us outside and told us he doesn’t want to meet with us anymore. We asked if we could talk to Mattias instead. When we met with him, he confirmed what his grandma said. He said he wants to devote time to studying, family, and other things, and doesn’t want to be limited by what we can’t do. We asked questions and listened sincerely. Turns out he had heard and read some pretty whacked out stuff and we were able to respond to those doubts, answer some questions he had, and then watch the restoration video. Helped him out.

In district council this week, Elder Bliss bore a powerful testimony. I had been feeling lukewarm for a while. That sparked the Spirit in me and confirmed my testimony of the restoration. The next day, I bore that same testimony to Nicol, and I felt the Spirit very strong. The day after that Moises told us he doesn’t believe in what we do, and whipped out some scriptures from the Bible. I didn’t know what to do, or how to respond. But I did know that what I have a testimony about is true. So I bore my testimony. My point is that bearing your testimony has a powerful domino effect. Elder Bliss´ testimony this week helped me throughout the week. Please bear your testimonies.

Yesterday, we were talking with a youth. Something happened in the conversation, and then Elder Torres and the kid burst out laughing. I didn’t understand and thought I said something that was interpreted inappropriately (happens a lot), or that they were laughing at my Spanish (neither of the two). Later we were walking to the church, and a group of 3 teenagers were screaming English words and sentences at me, mocking me. That happens a lot, and it takes a lot to ignore and keep walking. They followed us for about a minute. Elder Torres had it and whipped around and did a contact with them and told them they could practice English with me if they wanted. I felt dumb. I had had it. We got to the chapel and while Elder Torres was in the bathroom, I prayed on my knees and cried like crazy. Sometimes it is super frustrating with the language. I want to build relationships, help others, teach and have others understand, and express myself. Sometimes I feel like the ability to express myself is completely taken away from me, even in prayer because I can’t say everything I want to, and it is such a habit to pray in Spanish that it is now difficult to pray in English. I felt the Spirit confirm to me that God was pleased with me. God knows what He is doing. Tender mercy.

After district meeting this week, I was also feeling overwhelmed on the bus ride home. I was stressed, and struggling with my weaknesses, and trying to be focused on the work. I prayed. I had the strongest feeling come over me that in that exact moment my dad was praying for me. I felt his prayer for me. It helped me.

I know God hears and answers prayers, and our testimonies have a powerful impact on others.

Elder West

Wearing out the soles of his shoes

worn out insoles

Bautismo

This week we traveled to Castro twice. Once for district council and again for zone council. There are three new elders being trained in the zone. One is from Hawaii, and we have clicked super well. Once he found out I have 7 months in the mission, he asked me how it felt. Why are you asking me?!?! Haha. Ask the other dude who has 1 cambio left! I feel for the new elders so much because the beginning of my mission was the hardest time of my life. Just like it is for everyone else.

We are working with Richard and Paula. We are helping Paula get divorced with a former husband so she can get married to Richard. Richard is investigating. He came to church yesterday. And in the gospel principles class, he said he wants his 4 year old son to serve a mission!!! Richard wants to be baptized. We are helping him stop smoking. The only downer is the process with the lawyers to get them divorced takes time and we don’t have any control over that so we can’t put him with fecha. But he is so good!

We are helping Luis and Julia get married. Julia is the investigator. She has prayed about marriage and is waiting on an answer. Luis wants to straight up get married. Yyyyyeeeeeeaaaaaahhhhhh buddy!

This week we passed by a member of our branch. She is a widow. We cut her wood every 3 days. She is 84. We talked with her for a while this time. She told us that she is struggling with depression, she misses her husband, her son is a drunk that gets angry fast and she does everything for him (he is like a little kid). Her daughter left the house and her mom with lots of bills and debt to pay off.  This sister can’t leave the house because of her health. We cut her wood, and then pulled out some chairs and shared something with her outside. Right when we ended, the rain started. Not a coincidence. It was so good to hear her testimony. She cherishes this gospel. Great lady, and I felt the Spirit super strong.

Yesterday we visited a less active. Her husband works in the sea, so he is gone a lot. She can’t read. Which means she can’t read the scriptures. She has a very complicated family situation, but we were able to share Doctrine and Covenants 100:15 to help her. She just needed someone to listen to her and read the scriptures with her. Such a blessing to be a missionary and do what Christ would.

Nicole is progressing well. Still going strong for the 27 of February for her baptismal fecha. She read the law of chastity, word of wisdom, and gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlets in one sitting!!!!!!!!!! No one reads ONE. And she read THREE, and all in the same day!! Crazy!! So prepared. She stopped drinking coffee when she heard it was wrong, even before we taught her. So she started drinking tea to replace that, haha. Once she found out about tea, she stopped drinking it in a heartbeat. Her evangelico parents are happy that she is getting baptized and support her decision. They will come down for her baptism from Puerto Montte.

On Friday, a man called us up and asked if he could come out and work with us. Turns out he is from Coyhaique. Turns out he was the zone leaders’ investigator. Turns out he was a guy Elder Lawton and I contacted!!! Crazy! We found him outside of our house. He has back problems and walks with a cane. He fell one day, and couldn’t get back up. His cane was out of reach, and dogs were biting him. Elder Lawton and I found him, and helped him up. As we were working, he said he knows the church is true. But he still isn’t married with his pareja, so he can’t get baptized. But way good guy. He helped us out Friday with citas and all of Saturday cleaning the church and filling the font.

The familia Carrillo-Lemus. LOVE THEM. This is a family I will never forget. This week we were with Hno Mario. HE ASKED US FOR THE SPIRITUAL THOUGHT!!  Then we talked about him going to the temple with his family. He committed to begin on that. Complete miracle. We gave him a form that the Church has that shows all of the steps to get to that point. The form is called the “hoja del templo”. The next cita with him, we planned a welcome home party for Catalina, Benjamin, and Claudia for when they go home from their travels. When they got home, we showed up an hour after. Hna Claudia told us that when they went to buy their bus tickets to Quellòn from Viña del Mar, there weren’t any until the 9th, 3 days after Catalina’s baptism. A few minutes later, she got a call saying that there were EXACTLY THREE SEATS AVAILABLE. When Catalina heard that, she told her mom that she had offered a prayer and asked Heavenly Father if he wanted her to get baptized on the 6th that He would give them seats home. Right after the prayer, 3 seats became available. Miracle. Anyway, we were with them in their house after they got home, and Hna Claudia told us that her inactive mom told her about how women aren’t appreciated in the church, how they are slaves to the men, they don’t have rights, and other ugly things. Claudia said a prayer. The next day they went to church and the bishop in Viña del Mar gave a lesson to the Relief Society about a talk from President Hinckley about the value of women in our lives. THE TALK WAS JUST FOR HER. Miracle. Anyhow, we are with them in their house talking. Catalina tries on the baptismal clothes and they fit perfect. Then we talk more. Then Elder Torres says, "Oh, Hno Mario isn’t there something that you wanted to show to Hna claudia? (wink wink, hint hint)." He then stands up, grabs the “hoja del templo”, hands it to Hna Claudia, and tells her that he wants to be sealed in the temple as a family. MIRACLE. She bursts into tears. The Spirit was so strong. I cried. I have never been more happy in my life.

The next day Catalina was baptized. Branch President Ojeda did it. Later that night, Hno Mario told Hna Claudia that he will come to church from now on and return to activity in the church. WWWHHHHHAAAAATTTT?!?!?! I can’t believe that we are seeing this miracle take place. I don’t deserve to be a part of this. But Heavenly Father is blessing me so much. I love this family with all of my heart.

The next day, I confirmed Catalina as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost. A great experience.

I have no idea why I am being so blessed. This is a miracle. I am so grateful. Before my mission, I had a powerful experience where the Spirit told me there is a specific area that I need to serve in, and specific people I need to teach. I know that the familia Carrillo-Lemus is one of them.

Elder West

Estamos hecho polvopo!

This week has been ridiculous.

Monday we washed pigs. First we had to feed them. We dipped buckets into a vat of slop. Slop is water, and ANYTHING ELSE. For real. Rotten tomatoes, old french-fries, corn husks, mystery meat. Everything. Gagged when I saw it. We carried these buckets of slops to the pig pens to feed the beasts. While we are trying to pour it into their troughs the pigs were slamming their heads into the buckets so slop would fall. Sometimes more slop ended up on the pigs than in the troughs. I also now know what it means to eat like a pig. The pigs slammed their faces into the muck and made all kinds of noises. Once "the feeding" began, all the pigs started shrieking. Straight Jurassic Park. Never going to forget that.

My new companion is Elder Torres from Chiclayo, Peru. He is a straight bro! I haven’t laughed so hard my whole mission. Also, Elder Torres is obedient and kills himself working hard. We have seen a lot of success this week for our work and obedience. He is my first Latino companion. THE SPANISH NEVER STOPS. I have been getting humbled for that. But this kid is a rock star. He has about 10 months in the mission.

This week we were with a family. They let us in to teach. We chatted beforehand and laughed a lot because the grandma. Just the way she talks is super funny. She has died her hair red and says the most off colored things. Elder Torres asked if we could begin with a prayer, and she said "dèle no màs!”, which basically translates to "just give it already." We killed over laughing for about 5 minutes and after gaining composure we started the prayer. Halfway through, we lost it and laughed again. We finally finished the prayer. Funny experience.

This week, because they removed 2 missionaries, we now cover all of Quellòn. We have walked wayyyy too much. We are dead at the end of every day. But God has been blessing us with success. We put 3 people with baptismal fecha! Mattìas (16), Moisès (30ish), and Nicole (19).

Nicole is amazing. Her less active friend from Santiago told her about the church. Nicole has been investigating for a few years now. She has an evangelico background. Last week she just showed up to church all on her own. In gospel principles class we all introduced ourselves. She gave the normal info, then explained that she is looking for the truth and that is why she came to our church. We were all speechless. This week we put her with the baptismal fecha of 27 of Febuary.  Pres. Ojeda gave her a triple combination Book of Mormon, D y C, and Perla de Gran Precio. She has been calling US and asking US when we can meet with her. As we taught her the restoration and asked her if she feels it is true, she told us yes. She feels it is true. She told us that she feels her search for truth has come to an end and she wants to be baptized in our church. WOW. Golden. She went to Relief Society on Thursday and drank mate with the hermanas and said she feels like our congregation is a family. Perfect. I don’t know why God allows me to take part in such an amazing conversion process.

Mattias is 16 and told us that he felt super relaxed and at peace when he prayed about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. His fecha is 27 of Feb., but we will have to change it because he is leaving on vacations. Moises is a former investigator. He directs the choir and plays lead guitar for his evangelico church. He has read the Book of Mormon up until 3 Nephi before. He is set on getting an answer. With all of his time investigating, he hasn’t gotten one, but said if through his efforts God gives him one, he will be baptized for the 27 of February.

Our new district leader, Elder Bliss is super funny. On the day we put Mattias and Nicole with fechas and we told him on the phone during our daily verification, he screamed. The next day when we told him about Moises he screamed again. Love him.

We don’t deserve any of this success. Doing my best to keep my head down and work.

We passed by a less active during the week. He let us in. He was ordained an elder, baptized his sister, introduced the elders to his brother and they baptized him, and was going to be the first missionary from the branch of Quellòn. But he has fallen away. He now is living with a pareja and won’t come back. It gave me great pain to see that. A man who was enjoying the fullest blessings of the gospel is now on the polar opposite side. As we talked he acknowledged what he was doing was wrong. He wants to come back. But he told us it is too hard. I told him very directly why we were there and that what he was doing was wrong and God wants him back. I felt the Spirit very strong. Elder Torres shared Alma 34 about repenting NOW. Then we left the lesson. He didn’t want to act. Walking away, I started praying for him and broke into tears. Agency is so frustrating. I want to use mine well.

During the week, we passed by a recent convert named Karen. We talked a bit outside. As we asked her about her conversion process the conversation became more personal. We asked her how she felt about the apostasy when the elders taught her and if she understood it. We were super down and frustrated with the day and with rejection. Everything she said was a home run to the heart straight from the Spirit. She said it is never our fault if they don’t accept it, and that we teach well. If the investigator is ready and prepared then they will understand it and ask questions if they don’t. She was our missionary in that moment. Elder Torres and I were crying, we sang a hymn with her (at her suggestion), and then said a prayer. That was a massive tender mercy. Such a strong convert, strong testimony. I love Hna Karen.

Hna Claudia called us this week super exited. She told us that she, Catalina, and Benjamin were at the SANTIAGO TEMPLE!!!!!  After Catalina’s examines, they walked to the temple and read their scriptures. She was way too amped. I talked to Catalina and she said she felt super good and ready for her baptism. Yesterday we passed by her dad, Hno Mario, to give him baptismal invitations to pass out for Catalina`s baptism. We ended up talking for half an hour. Then we talked about his baptism (never has been that open enough before!!!) and then shared a scripture (that`s never been done either!!). Elder Torres was bold and took the lead on both of those. Then I asked a question about spiritual experiences and Hno Mario then told us about one. I’m not going to explain it out of respect for him, but we were crying. And throughout the process, hugged like 6 times. Love that man. God has been working on him and he is opening up. Miracle. I see them as a family in the temple someday. Catalina will be baptized this Saturday February 6 and confirmed February 7.

Thank you for all of your support. I love you guys. You are important to me. And I need you. This church is so true and this is God`s work. So grateful to see it happening.

Elder West

Baptismal interview and cambios

Benjamin and Catalina

This has been a full week. As always I’ll start with the less spiritual and then progress from there on.

Last pday I cooked Reece’s, rice, and hot fudge sauce. One of my more relaxing pdays. This one has been polar opposite, haha. We have walked all day around town so Elder Weech can say bye to the members here. He is leaving for Osorno to participate in all of the activities with the missionaries who are ending. And because he extended his mission he will serve 2 weeks in La Union.

Cambios: in Quellón there are 4 missionaries. In the mission our numbers have lowered from 200 to 190, so they have had to close some sectors. They are combining the two sectors here. Elder Weech and Elder Linton are leaving. Me and Elder Torres will stay here and hold down the fort. When we found that out, we were too amped. I love Elder Torrez. During my 2 week intercambio/sobrecambio in Coyhaique with Puerto Cisnes, we changed companions. I also was able to work with him one pday in Coyhaique, and we have lived here in the same house this cambio. He is super funny and we get along too great. Really going to enjoy this cambio. We will see a lot of baptisms here. Legit though. He works so hard and is obedient. I have been blessed to have Elder Weech as my companion. He has taught me so much about working through the members and references. And it was during this cambio that I arrived to feel like a real missionary. I know now more about my purpose and how to do it. The life of a missionary feels more normal now, kind of like it did in high school. Love Elder Weech. He has done so much for the rama [branch] here.

During this week, we were in Castro. I bought a milcao. A milcao is basically mashed potatoes in a huge ball and then fried. Apparently, it is the specialty of Chiloe. So I ate one. First bite felt like a really fat McDonald French fry. Afterwards, I wanted to throw up because of all the grease. Didn’t feel normal the rest of the day, haha. Also in Castro we saw a worldwide missionary capacitacion [training] from SLC. Super good. Cool to see all the missionaries in Utah with their iPads, dry-cleaned suits, padded chairs, talking about past baptisms, and speaking English, hahah. And then us. jk. Totally jk. Well at least about the baptisms part because there are some here.

This week Elder Weech and I made a document for Catalina’s parents to sign giving permission for a baptismal interview. It might become an official mission document because our mission doesn’t have one. We made it on the fly!

After making that document, it was already late and we had like 15 minutes before going to the house. So we knocked the nearest less active’s door just to pass the time. We are just two young punks but the Lord blessed us with a cita with the less active’s daughter and her nonmember boyfriend. Totally God´s work.

Yesterday, we had an asado with Pres. Ojeda and today we ate lunch with him. His confidence in us is building.

There was some contention between some missionaries in our house, so Elder Weech and I made crepes and chocolate sauce for breakfast. Everyone is now best friends. Service works wonders.

I taught 20 minutes in district meeting. Super fun. We talked about goals.

Tonight we have a noche de hogar with Hno. Antonio and Hna. Jacklyn who live in the "kind of campo." We had an asado with them on Christmas. We are going to wash their 10 massive pigs, woot woot!

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that we set a cita with a guy and he turned out to be a preacher so we didn’t go to the cita. Well this week we were talking with Hno. Dias in his carniceria (meat store) and the preacher walks in. Once we saw him, we both thought "oh crud". But Elder Weech actually said it out loud. Haha. I tried not to laugh. He told us we failed the cita and that only men fail so we aren’t of God.  I said a silent prayer in my heart. No idea what to do. I was direct with him and told him we are here to baptize and he probably won’t want to be baptized so he isn’t in our focus. I stood as tall as I could. Being 6ft 4 sometimes doesn’t hurt. :) Then I thanked him for all the good he does in the community and how he helps people. That threw us onto "good vibes" territory, but it was still tense. We told him we had to go so he left.  I guess I tell this story to explain that God put words into my mouth that were not my own to protect the name of the Church and the work of salvation here in Quellón.

This week, I was talking with an elder. He was burdened with stress because of his leadership position. He told me that he is a horrible leader. That in every calling he has had (teachers quorum president and stuff like that), no one has ever wanted to follow him. The guy before him and the guy after him, the people follow, but never him. He tore himself apart in front of me. His thoughts were obviously not coming from the Spirit. I said another payer in my heart during the silence that followed to know what to say. I had no idea but I just opened my mouth. Again, God put words into my mouth. It is a special feeling as they come out. I told him of a blessing my dad had given me where he said that "a leader is just a good disciple of Jesus Christ." I explained to this elder that all he has ever done is try his best, he has never tried to do what’s wrong. He has only had good desires. As I spoke, I watched his eyes change. They softened, and I could see the Spirit working on him. His eyes filled with tears and he hugged and thanked me. Special experience sitting in a bus terminal.

CATALINA: we just barely said bye to them. They left for Santiago. Here is the situation. We went with Hno. Díaz to a cita this week. Her dad (Hno. Mario) answered the door, and we talked with him for several minutes. That is amazing because Hno. Mario has been pretty closed off. In a cita with Catalina, we did a practice baptismal interview. I asked the questions. That girl has a powerful testimony. I felt the Spirit so strong. What joy! The next day, she passed her interview with Elder Vega, our zone leader. He told me he wanted to cry during the interview as she told him of a spiritual experience she had. After the interview, we went to their house to have Hno. Mario sign the baptismal registro to give his permission. He did it! And then we talked for 30 minutes after. HUGE.  He is a pretty cool guy. In church on Sunday, we set a cita with Claudia and she invited the other elders too. That night, we cooked arroz con leche. Elder Torres, not knowing the situation with Hno. Mario, asked if he would join us because he was hiding in his room like normal. Claudia asked him and Hno. Mario came in!!! That whole night he talked with the four of us and we all laughed and had a great time with the family. The family is Benjamin, Catalina, Hno. Mario, and Hna. Claudia. I felt like I was with my own family. Bliss. It has been a complete miracle seeing Hno. Mario open himself up to us this week because in the beginning he wouldn’t even let the missionaries in the house. With time, he will come back to church and they will get sealed in the temple. I’m so humbled to take part in the conversion process of Catalina, reactivating Hna. Claudia, and just becoming a part of their family. Catalina will be baptized Feb 6 and confirmed the day after.

This week I started to read Jesus the Christ. That book blows my mind, and rocks me with the Spirit. I love it. It has helped me a lot.

Elder West

Doctrine and Covenants 100:15

Baptismal font that will soon be filled. We cleaned it and there were spider webs. It has been too long since there has been a baptism

House rest lifted

A Chilote house (on stilts)

Mis queridos!!!!!

So Tuesday the house rest was lifted and we have been able to work normally now. Elder Weech feels better because he is taking some medication to help with the pain. They said he has "calculos" which could be kidney stones. But we don’t know.

We went to Punta Lapas this week. It is the end of the Pan-American Highway. Super cool. Reminded me a lot of the Oregon coast- windy, cold, water, beautiful, salt smell.

Punta Lapas

I had an intercambio with my zone leader Elder Hughes. He is from Nevada. He is taller than I am. We ate completos for lunch, then worked hard. We gave two baptismal invitations, but they weren´t accepted. That’s ok. We did our part. During the intercambio, an hermano named Ronald worked with us. He works in Líder and called us to see if he could work with us even though it was his only day off in the week. Golden.

A few days ago, we passed by Hno Antonio y Hna Jacklyn to visit them. That’s the family we ate an asado with on Christmas. They live on the top of a forever long hill and have a ton of massive pigs. As we were climbing the hill, we could hear pig shrieks. When we got to the house, the hermanas told us to go to the pig barn. The familia Fernandez had just come, and they butchered a pig. We all grabbed a leg and carried it to the car so the familia Fernandez could take it home. Super heavy pig.

The other day, a guy in the street said hi to us. He looked a little too happy. We were waiting for someone to come to a cita with us. After a few minutes, the guy came back and started talking to us. I’ve learned in my mission that if someone wants to talk with you, and not the other way around, it often means they are either drunk or a pastor. He turned out to be the second. He kept pulling out all of these "examples" to help him make a point which he wasn’t doing very well, and he kept telling us parables from the Bible. Elder Weech talked with him. I said hi to people as they passed. The pastor asked me the answer to a parable. I remembered the answer because Dad had talked to me about that same parable a while back. Whipped out the right answer.

This week, I asked Elder Weech for a priesthood blessing because I have been feeling a lot of stress. It helped. Mom, Dad, Uncle Josh, your advice in letters helped me out a ton this week. I’ve made little cards to carry around with me that give ideas on how to deal with stress. That way I always have a resource with me. I’m marking up my scriptures so I have something to read also. The mission is really helping me out with stress. I’ll return super chill :)

Yesterday, we taught Hna Jacklyn and Antonio about preserving to the end. We set up a noche de hogar with them. We are going to bathe their pigs!!! While teaching them, I realized that I absolutely love these people. They are so humble and have such good desires. I love them.

Catalina leaves Santiago on the 24th. We taught her the plan of salvation this week. And during the lesson, she stopped us and told us that she got an answer to her prayer about joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. She said it was a warm feeling that felt good. Her mom started to cry. Tender moment. I couldn’t stop smiling. While teaching the plan of salvation, Claudia realized the importance of the fall of Adam and Eve. It was cool to see that light bulb go on. Tonight, we have a noche de hogar with Hna Jacklyn, Hno Antonio, the family of Pres. Ojeda, and Claudia, Catalina, and Benjamin. We are going to teach the ten commandments. Later this week, we will complete her teaching. She could honestly get baptized this weekend, but we will wait until after her surgery. But I think she will get her baptismal interview this week. So grateful to witness the conversion process of this beautiful family. Catalina has been reading and praying daily and going to church. She is so good!

Until next week,

Elder West

Que tal mis compadres?!

This week, I changed my exercises. They are harder now. Tuesday morning I drank too much water before and during my exercises and then felt sick. Haha. Go hard :)

Claudia and Catalina are going to Puerto Montt this week for a doctor appointment. We are feeding their cats. But their house is at the end of a road full of possessed dogs. They all hate us, and there are, no joke, like 13. Once we get past them we have to go through a gate and 3 more dogs. One is nice. One is small and mean. And the other is black and big. It is a touchy situation. The nice one jumps at you because he is glad you’re there, the small mean one tries to bite you, and the big black one gets right up in your grill. With him, it is weird. It is like pet or get bitten. And it has an ugly snotty nose, it is dirty, mangy, and has flea holes in its fur. Pet or get bitten. Don’t look, just pet. And then gag :)

I had an intercambio with Elder Linton this week. He is from Wyoming, has a year in the mission, played soccer and worked construction. He is a good missionary. We worked all day long and didn´t teach a soul. So tired. I hurt everywhere. But I was happy. I felt we should knock a house and we found a former investigator. We made other great contacts. To end the day, we were tracting by the beach front. We stopped for 30 minutes and took pictures and just watched the ocean because it was a really long day. Then on our way home, we ran into a family from Argentina vacationing here. Their accent was thick and I felt like I hadn’t learned Spanish for a bit. Also with Elder Linton, we were in the church checking for references on the internet. A guy knocked. We looked at each other, then answered the door. He was an inactive member, 25 years old. He asked us for a plan of salvation pamphlet. Then he asked us if we could teach him the lesson because he had forgotten it all. WOW. Not a coincidence that he walked by the church and knocked at that exact time. To add to it, I had just finished making lesson 2 diagrams to help teach visually the night before. I used them to help.

The next day, we went to the doctor because Elder Weech was in a lot of pain. The nurse put us under house rest for 5 days, but we could still leave and teach citas.

The daily verifications in our mission have changed. They are more focused on helping our investigatores progress towards baptism, and on the wellbeing of the missionaries. Yesterday, the mission fasted together for a 100 baptisms in a month. That is the mission goal this year. 100 baptisms in a month. That is basically one every companionship. Last month we had 40ish.

The situation with a girl we are teaching: Her baptismal date is for Feb 6. We need about 6 citas with her in 2 weeks to teach her everything, and she needs to complete all of her compromisos. To this point it has gone great. But her dad, who is inactive, seems against the church. He took her to the beach when we had a scheduled cita. Don’t know if that was on purpose or not. We need his written permission for her to be baptized. She will go to Santiago in 3 weeks for a surgery. She will come back and needs to have her baptismal interview soon. Glad I have Elder Weech guiding us through this. We are doing our best to use the members to help open up her dad. We are doing our part and trusting the rest to the Lord. We don’t want a baptism. We want a happy active family that will help this girl in her conversion for the rest of her life.

We taught a man and his pareja the other day. We taught the law of chastity. We found out he is leaving for a month to visit family so his fecha will fall. But we will still be working with them. During the lesson we were able to ask inspired questions. I felt the Spirit really strong. They are hesitant to get married. They didn’t accept a date to be married, but they said they would think about it. I know they felt the truth of our testimonies and what we taught.  We worked and worked to get them to accept a date for marriage but wouldn’t. Just then the neighbors started booming ¨knock, knock, knocking on heaven’s door¨ by guns and roses. I smiled to myself. Super true. These people are so close. Tyler Anderson also came to my mind.

Elder Weech is in a lot of pain. Right before we taught the law of chastity lesson, he asked me what we were teaching when we had just talked about that like a minute before. He is improving, but I took the lead in that lesson.

I gave a talk yesterday on sacrifice. I did my best so I know God will make up the lack of my Spanish ability and help someone. I felt the Spirit as I gave my testimony. Afterwards, I was feeling down and self-conscious about my Spanish. In the second hour class, I read Doctrine and Covenants section 100. It calmed me down. Verse 1 comforted me about my family. Verses 12-13 and 15 helped me a lot too. I know God loves me and is helping me.

I love this work. I know God is real. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. And I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the restored church that Jesus Christ himself established when he was on the earth. I know it is true. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Elder West