Life is good—March 21, 2016

Quellón, my previous sector, is a giant hill. Everyone lives on the coast, and the countryside is on top of the hill. I remember seeing there a mom that would always roll into town riding a horse with her daughter, they both were wearing ponchos, and the little girl was always holding a chainsaw.

For Saint Patrick’s Day we cooked green pancakes. 

There is a saying in Chile: "dar palos" or "give sticks." It is used to reprimand someone or tell them to change. Funny.

In Valdivia, my current sector, some preachers set up a speaker, microphone, and preach on the street. I heard one around the corner, and I thought his congregation would be out listening to him because he was pretty loud. As I rounded the corner, I saw the guy. He had a crowd of two little kids on bikes that were watching him from 5 feet away.

This week we contacted a nice old guy outside of his house. We chatted a bit. He was pretty chill. I asked him if he had any religious beliefs and he told me he belonged to a church.  But he didn’t pursue the topic and still seemed pretty chill. I asked the guy what he believed. I then spent the next 10 minutes trying to avoid debate as he just railed on us. It took a lot to juggle around keeping my temper under control, be polite, and escape all at the same time. I laughed about it later.

This week has been a good one. And very hard. This sector has 2 eternal investigators (investigating for years and still haven’t been baptized) and that’s it. We have been doing lots of contacts. It has been hard. Wednesday morning, I was doing sit-ups and bawling my eyes out at the same time because this is so hard. I prayed hard. At the end of my sit-ups, I felt a prompting from the Spirit tell me I just need to be patient. I felt better. That morning, I had a powerful study on how we can find more people. The relationships with the ward leaders and members here isn’t the strongest so we are going to improve that. I fasted for this sector, for success, to help God’s children here. I feel a lot better now. 

As part of improving relationships with the members here, we have been passing by their homes and teaching them the restoration. I absolutely love it. It helps us practice, and helps them feel the Spirit. And we can ask them for references. I love teaching it to them because they already believe it and we get to have a spiritual experience together. Afterwards, we always feel more enthusiasm for the work.

We taught a less active members this week. They are unmarried and have a daughter. We are going to help them get back to church, and start living the gospel again. Living the gospel is true happiness. I feel so blessed to be on a mission. I have felt true happiness. 

During our leadership council we did "mirror preaching." We treat ourselves like an investigator. We pick our need, what we see that we need to change to improve, create a 10 minute lesson outline with a commitment, and then teach ourselves in the mirror. At first it was weird. But once it became comfortable, I felt the Spirit very strong. It is the same format we use in the Duty to God program. I love it. 

I’ve been practicing gratitude a lot more. I’m ponderizing Doctrine and Covenants 78:17-.20. Look it up. I had an experience with it. I was in the street. I was hot, tired, and wanting the day to be over. And I was tired of walking. I remembered my goal to say a prayer of gratitude. I did it. The Spirit filled me up with joy and I realized how blessed I was. As we are grateful, it allows the Lord to show us how much he loves us, that he is a merciful being, and that he actually is blessing our lives a lot. I especially love thanking Heavenly Father for gospel truths. I cherish this gospel. I have grown to love it so much more on the mission. 

We made bread with a member family this week. A little family home evening. Elder smith had the idea to have the members teach us how to make bread, then we take it to their friends with them. It is a soft way to build better relationships with their neighbors and friends, give them more exposure to the Church, and help the members do missionary work. After we made bread with this family, they took it to a sister in the ward that has a hard time getting along with others, and an elderly man whose wife is in the hospital, and he limps around and has hard time doing things. He told us we were the first visit from the members of the Church. I felt great joy. That is such a good feeling. Later in the week, we cut the elderly guy’s wood and just talked with him. I encourage you all to find small ways to serve others like that. It feels really good. 

We passed by a less active this week. His son fell from a tree and is now paralyzed waist down. He really wants his son to be able to serve a mission. His son went to Santiago this week to meet with doctors. This brother is also having a hard time financially. We talked to him and cut his wood, during which I asked him about how he joined the church. We talked a bit. He told us he had an uncle who was a member. This uncle always gave away copies of the Book of Mormon and Liahona as presents. His uncle gifted him a Book of Mormon, looked him in the eyes, and told him "this book has changed my life." Then the brother paused and there was a silence. He looked down as he started to get emotional and I felt the Spirit. He looked up at me and with tears filling his eyes he said "Hermanos, the book changes lives. It changed mine. Keep preaching. The book changes lives." I felt the Spirit very strong. I can add my testimony too. The Book of Mormon has changed my life. I know it is the word of God. I know it contains the fullness of the gospel. I know that by applying it, we will grow closer to God. I love that book. 

Even though this week has been rough, it has been good. I feel that God is pleased with what I am doing. I feel I am a good missionary.

Elder West

Me, hypnotizing a dog with a rock

Cambios and exhaustion

Cambios--so we got the call Tuesday morning. Elder Torres is now training in Quellón, Chiloé and I’m now in Valdivia, in the Calle Calle stake in Los Encinos. 

Tuesday, I was in a bus all day and stayed the night in Osorno. And then Wednesday I bussed up to Valdivia. My new companion is named Elder Smith. He is from Colorado. His family now lives in West Valley. He is the district leader. There are 8 in our district. This is Elder Smith’s second to last cambio in the mission. We get along great and laugh a lot. He is obedient in a balanced way. Super good. Elder Ryan (my trainer) is my zone leader, and he is in my district. Crazy!

I’m going to miss Quellón. I saw a lot of lives change there.  I’ll miss the Familia Carrillo-Lemus, Nicol, Hno Felipe Colivoro, and a bunch of other great people. But I won’t miss throwing slugs out of the bathroom window every morning and mold on our ceiling, and more dogs than I’ve ever seen in my life. Haha. It is pretty hot here, with less dogs, and less drunk people. But I’m still getting eaten alive by fleas.

Here in Valdivia there are giant wood piles in front of everyone’s houses. Preppin’ for the winter.

Los Encinos is a ward of about 65 or 70. My first ward! Here we have a ward mission leader! He is the best, super full of energy. And we also have ward council.

The mission focus of the month is contacting. In our leadership council we all brought a creative idea to do new contacts. There was an idea to ask for references, film them and ask them questions for a video (our idea), start the contact in English, haha (ZL idea), give them a balloon and then pop it? (hnas idea), and sing a hymn with a harmonica backup. We are trying new ideas out.

Our neighbors are pretty cool. We live in a green apartment. Our neighbors downstairs are always booming the latest rap music, reggaton (Spanish rap), and any other kind of party music. We call it the green and spacious building.  

If I could describe this week in one word it would be: contacts. And sore muscles. And walking. Haha. Forget one word. One day we did so many contacts I was losing my voice.

In my contacts, I have been focusing more on bearing my testimony in 2 or 3 sentences with all the sincerity I can muster. I have felt the Spirit more in the contacts. But it also hurts more when I’m rejected. But I know I am filling more of my purpose. I felt to knock a street. We did. Straight rejection except one house. We asked the lady something called "questions from the soul" (Preach My Gospel chapter 5). She responded and was very open. She has a 4 year old son and wants us to come back.

We also met another woman. We asked her how she was, and she said that she wasn’t doing well. Her grandma is on life support, and just a month earlier her baby died. It was a very late term miscarriage. We testified of the plan of salvation and the atonement. She said she is seeking spiritual help. We are trying to set up a cita with her.

With all of the walking, knocking, and contacting that we have been doing in the sun, we are pretty beat up. And there are times during the day when we are bummed out. I like the new rule that we have to carry a Book of Mormon in hand all the time. I can open up to scriptures in contacts and also read scriptures of comfort when it is hard and we need to keep going. There was one time this week where I had had it. I was tired, sore, and it was only like 6 in the evening. I remembered something Elder Bliss (my last district leader) told me. He said that the Holy Ghost gives us energy. I remembered a story he told us. He had been knocking doors ALL DAY and was done. His companion looked him in the eyes and said, "We don’t have the Spirit with us. We need it with us. I am going to bear you my testimony with all of the power and authority that I can. Then you will share yours." His companion bore his testimony, and the Spirit was strong. Then Elder Bliss shared his and started crying in the middle of the street. Afterwards, they were full of the Spirit and felt energy to do the work. As I remembered that story, I found myself in the same situation as Elder Bliss. I told Elder Smith, "Elder Smith, I’m tired. I don’t have the Spirit. I need it with me. I’m going to bear you my testimony." He was kind caught off guard. But he listened. My testimony was short. But it held all of the truths I absolutely know to be true. I felt the Spirit very strong. Afterwards walking in the street, I felt the Spirit burn within my chest, confirming to me that what I said was true. That Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I choked back tears. I know this gospel is true. I know it. Sharing our testimonies helps us realize we know it and provides the Spirit with the opportunity to confirm our testimonies to us.

Elder West

Elder Smith

A dog

Craziest week ever, for real

Yeah, so this week was crazy.

We went to Osorno for Elder Torres’ second visa. We were in a bus for a solid two days. I ran into Elder Ryan while in Osorno.

We have a new mission rule to always have a Book of Mormon in our hand when walking around.

I had an intercambio with my district leader, Elder Bliss, in Castro. We did 31 contacts and then slept VERY well that night :)

The mission has changed the day of when they tell us our Cambios [transfers]. So we find out tomorrow. Elder Torres and I have the same amount of time here in Quellòn, two cambios. So we will see what happens.

We can see the massive Volcano Corcovado basically the whole time we are tracting, along with two others. So that is a blessing.

Remember that guy who was always looking for his "horses", who was drunk? So we were passing by his house to visit an investigator yesterday. We hear a scream, look back, and see him. He comes up to us, and the next thing we know he has us seated on his couch inside his house. We attempted to teach lesson one. But he told us some pretty neat stuff too, such as:

- he is a gringo from Germany

- he has 2 hearts

- he has 5 horses that have been lost for months. That’s why he always walks with lassos.

- the carabineros (police) hauled him off to the jail in Castro because he was drunk. As he was trapped in the back, he belted out an epic braveheart scream: "Vive Quellòn!!!" ("for Quellòn").

That was a fun cita.

On Wednesday morning at 3 AM, I woke up to sirens. The first thing I thought was "Oh shoot. Tsunami!" I opened the curtains in our room and saw a massive ball of fire. I woke up Elder Torres. First thing we did was grab our cameras and started taking photos and videos. A house on the street next to ours was on fire. And I mean ON FIRE. 

Our dueña (the person we rent from), ran to us and told us to be careful with the cenisa (ashes) that were falling. The wind was blowing all of the ashes our direction, and they were landing on the rooftops. Everyone and their dog were on top of their roofs spaying water to prevent the ashes from catching their homes on fire. We could see the silhouette of our neighbor, valiantly spraying water on his roof while smoking a cigarette at the same time. The bomberos (firefighters) arrived. A crowd watched from an evangelical church just up the hill.  The fired then spread to 3 more houses, and then we got pretty freaked out. So we ran in and packed our bags. By 4 AM, the bomberos managed to put out the fire. We slept for 3 more hours. The next day we learned that two people had died- the albino DJ that is pretty well known around here and his girlfriend. Hna Claudia knew him well. So she has been pretty shaken up. We met a man in the street the other day who was a friend of the man who died. We testified of the plan of salvation and felt the Spirit.

On Saturday, we knocked a door, and a lady who was willing to talk to us came out. Turns out she is an atheist. But that wasn’t a problem. Atheists are normally very willing to listen, and we both leave respecting each other’s beliefs. We shared with her our testimonies, and then she started to tell us all of our testimonies are just human feelings that we invent to have our minds rest, and because we need to have something to hope for. It reminded me in the Book of Mormon, of the antichrist who taught that no one can know of spiritual truths because we can’t see, and that testimonies are just the results of a "frenzied mind." I’ve never had my testimony more challenged, picked apart, tried, and blasted than in my mission. But God does not fail us.

We had interviews with President Obeso this week. I’m telling you all about the following and opening up about my weaknesses because I want to help any other currently serving or prospective future missionary. President Obeso sat me down and asked me if I was enjoying my mission. The man has the gift of discernment. I started to cry and told him “sometimes.” I’m trying so very hard to be obedient, but I’m not perfect. I want to do my mission to the best of my ability and serve with everything I have, because I don’t want to let the Lord, myself, or my family down. And all of that has created a lot of stress for me. And to be frank, I am very hard on myself. Always thinking on how I can improve, and how we should have acted in that situation, and how we are going to act in the future. Anyway, President Obeso had me open up to Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-46. He explained that Christ is kind, and we show love for our investigators, and we are kind to other people, and we are so forgiving to other people. All this because we want to follow Christ and because they are commandments. But that those things also apply to ourselves. We need to treat ourselves the same way. We read the Doctrine and Covenants scripture and told me to have those same attributes with myself.  President Obeso told me that I’m doing the work well. That helped me a ton with being less hard on myself. Tender mercy. For fast Sunday, I fasted for help in being less hard on myself and to have help with this weakness. My fast and prayers are being answered. After a study, I felt I just need to be patient with myself and have faith. I hope this helps you guys.

One of our investigators said she wants to be baptized. She and her husband came to church again.

Hno Mario came to church without his family because they had the funerals to go to. But he came by himself. He is serious about getting sealed in the temple.

We taught a less active member. We were very direct and invited him to live the law of chastity, because he his living with his partner. I used to be very squeamish about being direct like that. But as I understand more about the power and authority of my calling, it has become natural. It is such a blessing to help others.

I know God answers our prayers.

Elder West

Bautismo

Family! Friends! Nicol got baptized!!!!!! And her family came from Puerto Montt!

But I’ll talk about that later. Today, we leave for Osorno for 2 days to start the process for companion’s second visa. We will be in a bus all day today, and all day tomorrow. But I’m pumped to see more of Chile.

This week we were tracting and it was overcast, then within 30 minutes it just dumped rain on us. Soaked every part of our bodies. All of the pass along cards and baptismal invitations I had with me were destroyed. But by the end of the day my pants had dried off so it works out in the end.

Wild blackberries are all over the place. On the sides of the roads too. We have been eating them like crazy.

Some humorous stories: 

There is a funny menos active who is a little confused. He smokes, so we read 1Corinthians 3:16-17 about how our body is a temple.

Us: “Based on what we have read, how can we keep care of our bodies?”

Him: “We can wear clothes so we don’t get cold. Eat.”

Us: “Good, what other ways are there?”

Him: “Don’t wear makeup. God doesn’t want us to do that.”

Us (trying not to laugh): “Are there any OTHER ways??”

Him: ..... Us: “How about not smoking??”

Him: “Ooohhhhh thipo (ohhhhhh, yeah that’s right)”. 

A confused older lady we met-

Lady: “How are you two doing?”

Us: “Great, thank you.” 

Lady: “I like you guys. I like your religion. You do great things. I also like Jehova’s Witnesses, Catholics, and Evangelicals.”

Us: “Thank you very much! That’s great that you like religion so much and see the good it does.”

Lady: “But do you know who I HATE?”

Us: “Who?”

Lady: “I hate the Mormons.”

Us: “But mam we are Mormons.”

Lady: “No no, you guys are great. But I hate the Mormons.”

Us, after several attempts: “Have a great day!”

Hope you enjoyed that. This week has gone well. This week we had a broadcast in Castro for the missionaries by Elder Bednar. He was in Argentina. It went super well. I received a lot of help from the Spirit. I received comfort for members of my family who are less active or non-members. I felt God is very happy with what I am doing, and I felt an overwhelming calm about the work. The Lord will hasten His work in His own time. I just have to do my part. My absence is helping my family more than my presence. 

During district council we did a practice. We knocked a door, got in, and started to begin teaching. The Spirit hit me with an overwhelming prompting to testify of Christ. But this is just a practice in district council! I thought promptings like this only come in real lessons! But I bore my testimony, and the Spirit was strong. Later that day, we did a street contact. Instead of using the pass along cards and other contacting methods, I just bore my testimony of Jesus Christ to these people right off the bat. I felt the Spirit. The couple didn’t accept our invitation, but I’m doing my part as a representative of Jesus Christ.

Two investigators came to the mission activity on Friday! There were 3 investigators and 3 members, but it went great. Nicol bore her testimony to them, said they should keep investigating, and that they should come to her baptism on Saturday. They came! It has been a little tricky with them. They are 16 and 17 years old. They are off and on. Right when we are about to drop, them they progress rapidly. And the cycle repeats. But they are progressing. 

With a couple we are teaching, their baptismal date is for the 26^th of March. They are still working for an answer. They have such great faith. They are a MARRIED couple (that’s rare) with 2 daughters ages 7 and 5 that remind me a lot of my little sister Rebecca. We had dinner with them last night. They are from Temuco. The husband works here in the pesquera (fish factory). His wife is going back to Temuco but is praying for guidance if she should stay or should she should go. They are looking to rent their own house here. Right now they are living with members. That is how we got their reference. The husband has a powerful testimony of prayer, and is praying for guidance in this decision. He told us that he doesn’t believe moving here, living with a Mormon family, and then coming into contact with us as missionaries is a coincidence. Such a great family.

Nicol was baptized on Saturday by Elder Torres. On Sunday, I confirmed her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and conferred to her the gift of the Holy Ghost. People always look different after their baptism and when they receive the Holy Ghost. There is a light in them. It is noticeable. As missionaries we notice it even more because we interact with every kind of person. Nicol, after her baptism bore here testimony. She said it has been hard. Really hard. And that God has let her struggle through the whole process. But that has made her stronger. She had prayed every night asking God if this is the decision that he wants her to take. She even prayed the night before, seeking a confirmation to her answer. She testified that because of her decision 1,000 problems came. But for every problem, there were 10,000 answers and help. Powerful testimony. She wants to serve a mission but hasn’t taken the decision yet. The poor girl was so scared at the baptism, she was rigid. It took her 3 attempts before she was baptized properly. Elder Torres told her to say a prayer in her heart and then let her feet leave the floor. That was the time that it worked. She has such great faith.

In the broadcast with Elder Bednar, he talked a lot about praying with faith. We do that by telling God our plans, what we want to accomplish, and then asking for His help and blessings as we act. I put that to the test this week. One morning I woke up, still dead tired, and I didn’t want to do exercises. But I wanted to be obedient. I said a prayer and told God I would begin the process of getting ready, and I would do the exercises because I wanted to be obedient. But I asked Him to bless me with the energy to do them as I acted. The energy came! The motivation came! I know God answers our prayers. Yesterday, Elder Torres and I offered the same prayer. We were exhausted and didn’t want to work. But we told God we were going to work anyways, and that we wanted Him to bless us with the strength to walk the rest of the day, and energy to do the work. And it came. Test this out. I know God answers our prayers.

While we taught the gospel principles class about the fall of Adam and Eve, I thought about how this story applies to us. The Spirit testified that just like with Adam and Eve. We make mistakes. We will sin. But God has a plan for us. And even when we fall, He can still make the best out of things, even bring us great blessings as we repent. Just like Brother Wagner used to say in seminary, "God has our goofs worked into His plan for us." 

I love you guys.

Elder West

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