Monday, March 7, 2011 — Enos

Transfers are coming up and as usual, I have been working hard to leave the area better than I found it. Veronica, our investigator who is preparing for baptism, is progressing very well.  She is a bit slow when it comes to understanding, so we have to teach very simply and slowly.  However, she has the desires to be baptized and to learn.  This week we also taught two of her children, Jesus (age 14) and Lorena (age 12).  They also accepted [an invitation] to be baptized on the 26th of this month.  We are working with them to try and prepare them for that date.  The work is progressing and Elder Lecaros and I are begging to see the fruits of our labor as this transfer comes to an end.

In my personal study of the Book of Mormon, I recently read Enos.  As I read, I noticed something interesting.  The words of his father caused Enos to cry to the Lord.  First, Enos cries to the Lord for his own soul.  Then after he receives forgiveness and comfort from the Lord, he cries out for the Nephites and then for the Lamanites.  Truly this is how the gospel works within oneself.  After Enos had come to know the joy and comfort of the Lord, he cries out for his people the Nephites.  However, Enos does not stop with the Nephites, but also calls out to the Lord for his enemies, the Lamanites.  I pray that the Lord will give me the same desires and faith that Enos had.  That I too can come to know the Lord as Enos did and that my friends, family, and ´´enemies´´ can come to know him too.

. . . I love my mission! 

Monday, February 28, 2011 — Time, So Much and So Little

¡No puedo creer que ya he cumplido siete meses hoy! El tiempo y yo no somos amigos... [I cannot believe I have already served seven months today! Time and I are not friends ...]

This week started off slightly difficult.  Elder Lecaros was ill in bed for a day and a half.  So I was stuck inside with him all that time.  Although I was not able to leave and do any proselyting, I still got a lot done.  I read all the Isaiah chapters (and more) in 2nd Nephi; I cleaned the bathroom, kitchen and closet; I vacuumed the entire apartment; updated my journal; made some delicious noodles; and even wrote a new song entitled "Return With Honor."

As I was inside the apartment for all that time, I realized something—there is a lot of time in every day.  There is so much time to find people, to teach, and to serve.  It gave me a renewed perspective on the work and the time that I have.  Yes, the days and weeks fly by, but there is plenty of time to fulfill my purpose as a missionary and help others come unto Christ.

After being stuck inside for such a "lengthy" period of time, when we left the apartment, I left with a new-found energy and desire to work.  Although the current area has been difficult thus far, I am determined to be successful.  I remember in the MTC [Missionary Training Center] one of my teachers told us, "There is no such thing as a hard area, just a missionary who lacks faith."  As I pondered upon that statement this week, I have examined my faith and the success that we have (or have not) seen in this area.  I believe that I have the faith necessary.  The Lord has called me here to this area to work for a reason.  The scriptures teach us that the Lord is bound when we do what He says [see Doctrine and Covenants 82:10]; so I left the apartment, determined to prove the Lord in His promise.

In the last two days, we have seen the long awaited success as the Lord has fulfilled His promise.  On Friday we found a new investigator, Veronica, by doing tours of the chapel. On Saturday, we went to her house to teach her and she accepted a baptismal date for the 26th of March!  Furthermore, she attended church yesterday!  She is very well prepared and will probably be baptized even before the 26th.  I thank the Lord for giving Elder Lecaros and I this tender mercy.  I know that if I continue with energy and excitement, being obedient, the Lord will continue to bless us.

Saturday evening we had a ward activity.  The activity was a "completada" and talent show.  By completada, I mean that we all enjoyed delicious completos.  Have I not explained completos yet?  They are one of my favorite food items!  Completos are hot dogs in toasted bread with tomatoes, guacamole, mustard, mayo, ketchup and "pebre" (salsa). Also, I sang a song while playing the piano, accompanied a couple on the piano and played the piano part of "La Bamba" while the ward sang along.  It was an excellent activity and helped the ward come together.

I am so grateful to be on my mission and am so excited for all my friends who have served, are serving, and are still preparing to serve.  I know that the Lord blesses us when we are obedient.  He gives us trials and tests so that we can learn and become more like Him.  I love my Heavenly Father.  . . . I love my entire family and all my friends! I love my mission! ¡Amo la misión!

Monday, February 14, 2011 — Promptings

¡Les quiero tanto! Gracias por todo lo que hacen. Gracias por escribirme cada semana y por mandar cartas por correo. [I love you so much! Thanks for all you do. Thanks for writing each week and sending letters by mail.]

My second Sunday here in Gomez Carreño was wonderful.  I love Sundays.  What a blessing it is to attend church and renew our covenants by taking the sacrament.  . . . I play the piano during sacrament meeting. I am so happy that I am able to put to use the talent that God gave me. 

Yesterday we had one investigator attend church.  Sadly our one investigator with a baptismal date did not come.  However, the investigator who came is pretty amazing.  We have not yet taught Elsa (the investigator) this transfer.  She was taught once by the missionaries last transfer, but since then she has been progressing on her own, with help from her [Church] member friend.  She has been reading the Book of Mormon and praying on her own.  Right now she has read up to 3rd Nephi!  The Lord really has prepared people for us to find.  However, it was Elsa´s friend who planted the seed.

We have been working a lot with the members this week.  We have been passing by their houses to do an activity with them.  At the end of the lesson, we give them a Book of Mormon so that they can write their testimony and gave away the book to a friend.  The Book of Mormon is incredible and has the power to change the lives of all those who read it.  I encourage you to do the same thing that we are doing with the members—take a book, write your testimony and give it to a friend.  Plant the seed and watch how the tree grows!

This last week I have been focusing on learning to listen, feel, and understand [the] promptings [of the Holy Ghost].  As members and missionaries it is important to have the guidance of the Holy Ghost.  Through his promptings we learn what the Father wants us to do, where we should or should not be, what we should say, etc.  Here are a few of the experiences that I have had that relate to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

This Wednesday we were walking in the street and I felt a strong impression to talk to a young woman who was walking with her baby in a stroller.  She was extremely receptive and accepted a Book of Mormon and a teaching appointment on Friday.  During the lesson, she was very attentive and very receptive.  When we extended her the baptismal commitment, she said that she needed to read the chapter that we left her, ponder the message in her heart, and ask God if it is true. As the introduction of the Book of Mormon says, those who do this will gain, through the Holy Ghost, a testimony that these things are true.  We have an appointment with her tonight.

Last night I had a similar experience.  We were working in one part of our area but I felt a prompting that we should go visit the Acuña family.  We crossed our area and arrived at their house, where Hermana Acuña was waiting outside for us.  She told us that she had been praying that we would come to give her a blessing.  The Lord answers prayers and has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us know the answers.

Thank you for your support. . . . I love my mission!

Monday, February 21, 2011 — The Spirit Teaches

Last week we were doing tours of the church and found Ximena.  We have now taught her twice this last week.  In the last lesson that we had, we were teaching her about the need to be baptized.  We explained that Jesus showed us the example of how to be baptized and taught us that we have to be baptized in order to enter God´s kingdom (John 3:5).  She then looked at us with tears in her eyes and said, ´´So if I don´t get baptized the same way that Christ was, then I can´t go to heaven?´´  I then repeated the question back to her and asked her what she thought.  We waited in silence.  She sat thinking as the Spirit testified.  She then said,  ´´No,  I know that I have to be baptized, I have to be baptized.´´  The Spirit was so strong.  We didn´t talk much, rather we testified, read scriptures and let the Spirit teach her as she discovered the answers for herself.

There isn´t much time, I´m sorry.  More will come next week, I promise!

I´ll end with an experience. A couple of days ago, we stopped by to check on Hermana Acuña.  She told us that the night that we gave her the blessing, she slept like a rock.  Ever since then she has not had a single problem sleeping! As all miracles are performed according to faith, I know that Hna Acuña has a lot of faith.  There truly are miracles performed today.  What a privilege it is to be able to hold the power of God and to be able to act in His name. . . .  He is guiding me and helping me find my lost brothers and sisters here in Chile.  I love Him. . . . I love my mission!

Monday, February 7, 2011--Gomez Carreño

It has been a long week, but a good one.  The bus ride from La Serena was long, but passed quickly (if that makes any sense).  It was hard to say goodbye to my first area, to the members and especially those whom I taught.  However, I enjoy my new area and there is a lot of work to be done here in my new area.

My new area is very pretty.  It sits right on the top of the hills that surround Viña del Mar.  The view is incredible—on clear days, we can look down from our cuico eighth floor condo apartment and see the bay lying beneath us and the sprawling city stretching out across the hills. (Cuico is Chilean for "expensive" or "rich.") Whenever I see the view I always think to myself, "How many people are there out there waiting for me?  How many people are looking for the truth, looking for true happiness and I have what they want?"

Elder Lecaros is a very interesting lad.  He is from Santiago, Chile!  He will end his mission in August of this year.  Like everyone else, he has his interesting personality traits and perks, but I am very excited to be working with him.  

One thing that Elder Lecaros is really good at is talking!  On my part, I am not much of a talker, but his jaws keep flapping (in a good way).  Let me tell you, it is never boring with him as my companion.  However, as he is so good at talking, it is very useful for contacting people in the street.  It could be that he is Chilean (but I don´t think so)—but the people always seem very comfortable talking with him.  He always finds something to talk to them about and then they just open right up and talk to him.

My new ward is el barrio [neighborhood or ward] Gomez Carreño.  The work in the area is pretty dead right now, but that is why I am here right?  Elder Lecaros and I are going to work hard and bring this area back to life.  This week we did an activity with the members involved in the activity.  We did a "dynamic demonstration" using lights, music, chairs, the stage, cultural hall, and chapel to teach them about "The Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ." (I will have to explain more about it next week).  At the end of the presentation, the Spirit was incredibly strong and the members were crying and I have to admit that I too shed some tears.  It was an incredibly powerful moment. 

What a blessing it is to know that the Gospel has been restored.  Because of one simple prayer by a young boy, we are able to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ, where His authority is found.  I know that this is His Church.  I know that Joseph Smith was called of God and that Thomas S. Monson is the present-day prophet.  I love them.  I love you all!!! I love my mission!

Monday, January 31, 2011 — I Will Be Serving in . . .

This week flew by. Being the last week of the transfer, we were working really hard to leave the area better than we found it--just in case one of us was transferred. As always, when we work hard and lose ourselves in the work, time passes by extremely fast.

Also, this last Tuesday, we went to Coquimbo (the large neighboring city to La Serena) to have our usual zone meetings over there and a special meeting with President Gillespie. It was a very short meeting, but a very powerful meeting. During the meeting, we discussed a few mission rules and then studied about our power, authority, and responsibility as missionaries and representatives of Jesus Christ. One of the things that we talk about is living on a higher level (un plano más alto). Right now I am living on a level, higher than any other level I have lived in my life. My calling and authority depend on this way of life.

However, this way of living will not end when I "take off the tag." I like to think as the mission as "boot camp for life and eternity." The principles that I am learning and by which I am living right now will be carried with me throughout all time. I am so thankful for this opportunity that the Lord has given me to serve, to learn, and to grow.

Yesterday was Daniel´s baptism! The baptismal service was truly beautiful and powerful. Daniel was baptized by Andreas, a [Church] member with whom he has become close friends, and Ingrid (an investigator from Brillador B was baptized by one of the Elders from that part of the ward). Daniel´s mother and father who both are not members (yet) came for the service along with Daniel´s niece and nephew who have come to church with him these last two Sundays. The Spirit was so strong in the chapel, you could really feel the powerfulness of this sacred ordinance. When Daniel came up out of the water, he was literally glowing with happiness. He and Andreas embraced in a tender hug as they both were affected by the joy of the moment. I have to admit, I shed a few tears as I witnessed this moment and thought about all that Daniel has done and how far this man of miracles has come.

Now for the moment that you have all been waiting for.......transfers. I will be getting on a bus at one fifteen tomorrow morning to head down to Viña del Mar to serve in the Achupallus zone with my new companion Elder Lecaros. I am very excited to head to a new area. I have heard that Achupallus is one of the most beautiful areas in the mission and the work is progressing well there. Of course, it is hard to say goodbye to my first area, to those I have taught and guided, to the members and to the missionaries that I have worked with, but I am very ready to leave and find the people waiting for me down south.

. . . I love my mission!

Monday, January 24, 2011 — Short, But Sweet

Greetings from the "long, skinny country." I am doing very well, working hard and loving life.

Yo creo que mi español esta mejorándose. [I think my Spanish is improving.] I work really hard to learn all I can about Spanish. Many missionaries took Spanish in high school, so I have to make up for taking Latin and Japanese. The Latin has helped me a little, but I still fill like I have had to catch up to a lot of the missionaries. I do not want to speak average "missionary Spanish." However, having Elder Jimenez as my companion has helped me so much with my Spanish. Poor Elder Jimenez gets asked probably a hundred questions a day, like, ``How do you say this? What does this word mean? Why did you say it this way?´´ We do not have trouble understanding each other at all. The Lord has really helped me and blessed me with the gift of tongues. We walk and talk the whole day and I can now speak fairly fluidly.

Elder Jimenez and I cannot believe that this is the last week of this transfer. Our time together has flown by. We have worked hard, had fun, and learned a lot together. He and I have shared some pretty powerful experiences together and have become good friends.

Daniel had his baptismal interview on Saturday. While he was being interviewed by Elder Blake (one of the Zone Leaders), Elder Jimenez, Elder Blake´s companion and I waited in the chapel. When they came in, Elder Blake had a sad look on his face. Following Elder Blake was Daniel, trying to fake a sad face, but couldn´t help smiling. Elder Blake told us that Daniel "drank tea the night before and would need some more time." However, Daniel cannot lie and his smiling face told us the truth. He passed! Daniel will be baptized this Sunday!

He is very prepared for his baptism and already is a powerful missionary. He began this week to go with us to visit other investigators (he has been wanting to help for a couple weeks). In the lessons, he always bears powerful testimonies and invites the Spirit with his words.

This week I tried a Chilean dish called pastel de choclo or "corn pie." I had previously tried potato pie, but not corn. Both dishes are the same with the exception of mashed potatoes and "mashed corn" (they somehow mash and cook the corn so that it has the consistency of mashed potatoes). To make the dish they fry hamburger meat and onions with spices (like taco spice). They then place this in a glass pan. On top of the onion/meat they scatter olives and grapes and then finish off by spreading the mashed potatoes or corn on top. They then put this in the oven to add a little crisp to the top. I still have not grown to enjoy the olives, but other than that I love pastel de choclo. Another food that we eat here a lot is called "fake eggs." They put half a canned peach in a bowl with some of the juice/syrup from the can and then in the middle of the peach they place cream. Simple yet delicious.

. . . I love my mission!