Special conference with 2 GA's

August 30, 2010 (Translator)

I am really loving it here in Vallenar. As we walk in the streets, there is a special spirit that abides here with us. I know that the Lord is preparing His great work here, and I have no doubts that our zone will see many miracles this next month of September!

This week, we had a special conference with two General Authorities: Elder Costa from the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Amado, President of the Chile Area. We travelled to Antofagasta and had a wonderful meeting with them. As always, I was the official translator so I couldn't take many notes, but after the conference was over I wrote down what I remembered, and I loved the spirit that they brought to the mission! I am very excited to keep up the work in this beautiful city and do my best to bring others unto Christ.

I'm sending one picture that was taken at the conference, and the rest are from today as my companion and I walked to the center of our little city of Vallenar. We live in a part of the city called "La vista alegre" which is up on a big hill, and our proselyting area is La vista alegre and another part on the hill called Torreblanca. It is really pretty, especially compared with the rest of our mission. As you can see, there's a river! There are also wild horses that are always down by the river. It is great to actually see green for once in two years. :) Vallenar is a little city (bigger than Diego de Almagro, at least) and really peaceful. The work is going great here, and we have found many people who want to learn more about the gospel. In fact, we found 13 new investigators this week, and the members are helping us a lot! I only wish I had more time to work here and serve, but I know that the Lord has a different mission in mind for me in just a few more weeks.

This week, we also did a lot of companionship exchanges, as we have had some difficulties in the zone. I love serving and helping in every way that I can! What I have learned here in the mission is that there are no crummy areas here in the mission. It all depends on the missionary, and if we are doing what we should and seeking to receive revelation, if we really love the people and desire their salvation, the Lord guides us and gives us success. I have seen that in every part of my mission, and I know it applies in other aspects of our life as well. It doesn't matter what circumstances we are in, if we really put our faith and confidence in Christ, He will guide us through this land of trials and sorrows to a land of promise, just as He did for Moses and the children of Israel, just as He did with Lehi's family and the brother of Jared's family, just as He has done for me many times here in Chile. And, I have truly been blessed with the best companions and the most amazing experiences I could have ever asked for! :)

Well, I guess that's about it. I am loving life here in the mission! I wish I could write forever and tell you about all the neat experiences I am having! I guess I'll just have to wait for a month more and tell you in person. :) I love you all; you are in my prayers every day. Have a wonderful week, and Happy September!

Desert Wild Flowers

August 23, 2010 (New sector--Torreblance, Zone Leader conference, etc.)

It has been an awesome week of my first transfer in Vallenar! I'm sending some pictures of these past couple of weeks. The first ones are in Diego de Almagro as I said goodbye to our little chapel and then in Chañaral to my old district and President Dinamarca. It was sad to be leaving, but I am pumped and really excited to be here in Vallenar! It is really a beautiful city, and I know that the Lord has sent me here for a wise purpose. I sent one picture of the "Desierto Florido" (the blossomed desert), which is what happens when it rains in the Atacama Desert. I took the picture out of the bus window, but I wish I could have captured how beautiful it really was! The driest desert of the world was filled with beautiful wild flowers of every color. I hope that we can have a zone activity to take pictures of how beautiful it is! :)

I am working with Elder Shim, a great missionary who also has lots of time in the mission, and we were assigned to open a new sector (Torreblanca) and be the Zone Leaders here in the city. It has been lots of work! We've been running around like crazy trying to talk to as many people as possible, doing procedures for Visas, paying bills, opening contracts with the regional hospital, and all that jazz. I'm sending a picture of my new companion and our zone. We are really excited to start working with these great missionaries and raise the level of excellence here in Vallenar. We have been truly blessed this week in our work, and I know that the Lord is here working alongside us in His vineyard. On Thursday night, we rode in a bus for 9 hours to Antofagasta for a Zone Leader Counsel, and it was amazing! All day Friday, we were with President and Sister Bruce, and the Spirit edified us and taught us how to work towards our goals in the mission. It turns out that all the missions in the world are going to be changing soon, and the missionary lessons are changing as well! This week, we'll be travelling to Antofagasta again to be with Elder Costa from the Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Amado, the Chile Area President. It should be a great experience to be trained and taught by General Authorities, and I'm excited to continue the work in this beautiful city!

On Friday night, before going back to Vallenar, I also had the chance to work a bit with my old companions in the mission. My entire MTC district is serving as Zone Leaders, so we have a fun little competition between us! One great blessing was coming into contact with one of my converts, Leciram Salomón, and as we caught up on the past year, I was overjoyed to feel of her testimony and love of Christ. She had an awesome conversion to the gospel, and her life literally turned around 180 degrees. She really wants to go to the temple, and she is serving actively and faithfully as the Young Women's Presidency Secretary. The greatest joy really does come as we help others come unto Christ. I will be coming hope soon, but it feels like I'll be leaving home as well, for the members and Chilean people have really become like my brothers and sisters. I really do love them!

Oh yeah, just so you know, I found out this week that in our branch, I'm serving as the second counselor in the Branch Presidency, so I guess I didn't get out of all my responsibilities... :) I actually love serving and helping the members of the church and doing what I can. My companion and I both gave talks in church on Sunday, and we have gained the trust of the member. I know that we will have lots of success in this short month that I have left. I love this great work!

Have a wonderful week! I love you, and I'll see you in a bit!

Last Transfer

August 16, 2010 (Vallenar as Zone Leader)

Thank you so much for your emails, pictures you sent, your love and your prayers. I appreciate every word and thought that you send my way! We have been really blessed to have such a wonderful family. I especially loved the picture of my new little nephew! He is so precious! I can't wait to see everyone again in 6 short weeks, but as for now I have to focus 100% in the work that I have, because everything is about to change again!

On Saturday morning, this past week, I got a call from Elder Rahde, one of the assistants to the president. He told me that I was going to be transferred, but he didn't tell me where to! I just had to train Elder Duerden so that he could train the new Branch President when he arrived. It was good to have a little time to say goodbye to the members of our little branch, but it was bittersweet. I feel so small for the responsibilities that my Heavenly Father has given me here in the mission, but I know that by His power and His grace, we have done many mighty miracles among His children. In my time in the Diego de Almagro branch, we reactivated many families and baptized many of God's children for the remission of sins. The spirituality of the branch is what really gets to me; the members are so humble, they love one another and look out for each other. It has been amazing to serve with them and feel strengthened by the Lord's hand to help His children.

As we were sharing a message with one of our investigators on Sunday night (Margaret), we gave her the news that I would be leaving. We talked for some time, and I really felt like I was leaving my family again because I really have grown to love the Chilean people SO MUCH! When Margaret offered to give the closing prayer, I listened to the touching words she used. She asked our Heavenly Father to bless me in all aspects of my life, now and after the mission, for the service I was rendering. It was one of the most heartfelt prayers, and I was filled with a pure love for all those who I have had the privilege to serve. It is difficult leaving the people that I love, and I know it will be even more bittersweet when I have to return home. However, as I poured out my soul in humble prayer, I felt the sweet assurance that my work here in Diego de Almagro was not wasted, that the Lord is accepting of my sacrifice, and the He is preparing many more spiritual experiences and people to help in these few weeks that I have left. I am sure that the Lord's will will be done, and I am ready to head off to my new sector and start working again!

On Monday, Elder Mortensen called me to tell me that he is the new assistant in his final transfer of the mission! He gave me my transfer. Tomorrow, I will leave bright and early from Chañaral to go to my new sector, Torre Blanca, in the city of Vallenar, the furthest south of the mission! It is the most beautiful part of the mission, I hear, and there are even horses and cows that walk around in the streets. Everything is green. Well, green for the Atacama Desert. :) I have been assigned as Zone Leader, and my companion will be Elder Shim. It looks like we'll be opening the sector also, since Elder Shim was serving in Calama before, so that should be great fun. I am really excited to serve, focus all of my efforts on my call as missionary (not having to worry about giving callings and doing interviews and all that), and help, inspire, lift, and bless my fellow missionaries. Should be a great transfer, a great way to end my mission!

Well, there's not much more to say. It has been a great end to a great transfer. I loved serving in Diego de Almagro, but I know that the Lord wants me to go to Vallenar to end my mission. Elder Duerden and his new companion, Elder Cruz, will have a lot of success here; they already have lots of progressing investigators and potential converts. You are all in my prayers. I can't wait to see you all in October!

Chess

August 9, 2010 ( Check mate!)

Wow, it has been a great week! I am so happy for Jessica and Sebastian and their little newborn! That is so awesome; I can't wait to meet him!

Sorry I'm not sending any pictures, but thank you so much for the pictures that you all sent! I love to see what's going on at home! Today, my companion and I spent some time in the plaza here in Diego de Almagro, which is really pretty and green. Since it is a little town, it's well kept and clean. And, they have little chess tables set up, but nobody ever plays! So, Elder Duerden and I bought a little chess set just to have the pieces, and we sat down to a nice game of chess in the warm, spring-like sun. I check-mated Elder Duerden after one and half hours of playing! I know, I'm kind of slow, and I'm not very good at chess, but it sure was exciting! :) After using Internet, we'll be off to buy food for this coming week (the last week of the transfer), and then we're going to Hermana Yamilett Mánquez's house (an awesome member here) to make American pancakes and maple syrup with the family. It should be fun!

Fast and Testimony with new converts

August 2, 2010 (Zoo in Copiapó and BBQ on beach)

I'm sending some pictures from last week and this week. Last week, we went to Copiapó, and as a district, we went to the zoo. It was a lot of fun! Today, we went to Caldera, which has some of the most beautiful beaches in Chile. We took pictures and had fun with both of the zones from Copiapó. We also had a little barbecue on the beach. We went to the most famous beach in Caldera, Bahía Inglesa, and it was completely empty because we're still in winter and the water is way too cold to swim!

Well, it has been a truly amazing week in Diego de Almagro, but a week of patience and continued perseverance. We worked a lot with our recent converts and members of the branch, and when we went out doing contacts, we were rejected straight out. Elder Duerden at one point turned to me and asked, "Why do they hate us so much?" I was a little taken back, and then I remembered something that I had been pondering on before. I told him, "They hated Him before they hated us. Our Heavenly Father allows us to be tried and tested that we might exercise faith in Him, and as we do so, we come to understand just a little more of what Jesus Christ did for us. So, let's just thanks our Heavenly Father for allowing us to have trials, because it just means that He has confidence in us." After a difficult week, my companion and I felt at peace, for we knew that we had worked diligently and effectively. We were brought down to our knees, pleading to our Heavenly Father for help and guidance to find His children that need our help. I know that this week will be miraculous; I have no doubt. We will continue in faith and patience, focusing our efforts on the needs of the branch and our investigators. This is what the Lord expects of us.

Sacrament Meeting was a little strange, but it gave me and my companion a good laugh. I asked a less active sister to give the opening prayer, and when she stood up to give it, she stood at the pulpit and started out: "Good morning, brothers and sisters, I want to start out by giving thanks to God for this Mass that we have..." She continued and spoke a bit of her unstable activity in the church and many other topics. I didn't know if I should open my eyes and stop her or to just have patience! Luckily, she ended "In the name of Jesus Christ, amen," so it wasn't a total disaster. Then, as we got into the testimony meeting, a few sisters got up and told story after story, taking up all the time for our little branch. The same sister who gave the prayer got up and told a strange story of when of how the gospel satisfied her thirst, literally. She spoke of her ex-husband and how he cheated on her, and through many events, she ended up walking for many miles, finding a bottle of unopened water by a rock given to her by God to help her continue her journey see with her own eyes that her husband was cheating on her. It was the foundation of her testimony.

Needless to say, we had a nice little talk in our Sunday School class about testimonies and meetings at church. It was more for our new converts -- we don't want them to be confused at what a testimony is and how it should be given. I sure hope that we cleared up all the doubts without offending anyone who shared their testimony, but I guess this is just one of the challenges of working in a developing branch like this one. :) I just feel blessed to have been raised in a family rooted in the Gospel and to help my brothers and sisters here in the Diego de Almagro branch. I am also grateful for an awesome companion who gets to share my responsibilities and burdens!

Well, I guess I should wrap up this email now. I really love all of you and pray for you every day. I still can't believe that I'll be ending my mission in just 2 months, but I'll make sure I'm focused and keep doing what the Lord expects of me!

Flight Plans

July 26, 2010 (Ordained Melchizedek Priesthood Holder)

I'm happy to report that I have not been bitten by any poisonous spiders lately! :) It has actually been a really great week here in Diego de Almagro. We've been working really hard and seeing many miracles that the Lord has prepared for His children. I am so grateful to be a missionary in these times and develop such great love for the Chilean people. I am loving every minute of the work here!

This week, we ordained a new Melchizedec Priesthood holder, the first ordination to the Melchizedec Priesthood for many years here in the branch! It was amazing to have the interview with this brother who received the priesthood and feel the spirit as we spoke about the covenant he was about to make. We also had our Branch Conference on Sunday, and twenty nine people attended, which is also a record high! And though I know that numbers aren't always a measure of success, I can testify of the amazing spirit that we felt as we shared the talks we had prepared and as the District President shared the class with all the adults.

One investigator that we have in Diego de Almagro, Margaret, has gone to church twice now. She was very Catholic before, but after many experiences and sharing the gospel with her, we have seen a huge change of heart. If you remember, it was her husband who totally destroyed his wife's beliefs as he shared the fact that Mary had other children with Joseph. Margaret always shares with us how much she enjoys going to church and the warmth and feeling of belonging that there is there. Her husband Felix also enjoys listening to our message, but it's difficult for him to go to church because of his work schedule (10 days of work, 5 days of rest). However, he too has seen the change in his wife's countenance, and what has really stuck out to him is her cheery disposition after attending church and her new love of reading in the Book of Mormon. I marvel at the power of Redemption that the gospel offers us! I have seen hearts changed and sins forgiven. I have seen only a portion of God's love, and it has filled me to the overpowering of my body. I can only imagine the smallest portion of what our savior Jesus Christ did for us, and it is enough for me to serve Him with all diligence now and forever. And who can doubt that it's true? There are miracles in this work. The Lord hears and answers our prayers. I know that this is true. :)

We also had the privilege of helping one of our investigators put a baptismal date! Nicole lives in El Salvador, so we can only visit with her once a week. She has found the light of the gospel and accepted to be baptized on August 14th. It has been amazing to share with her from the beginning and see the Holy Ghost working through the light of Christ in her. She started changing her life after she understood and felt the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel. She stopped smoking. She took out her piercings, one by one. She has made new resolutions in her life, and her only desire is to follow her Savior Jesus Christ. Now she is ready to be baptized, and I'm very excited for her! We will be praying to help her and do all we can to strengthen her testimony.

Oh yeah, and about the pictures that I'm sending... The first are from when we were in Chañaral last P-day. We had a fun time on the beach with the other missionaries. I am also sending you the shocked look I had when I got my "Casa Papers" with my flight plans! It seems to be just a crazy dream as I think about the end of my mission, so I'll just keep working. :) And the brownie pictures are for mom. I guess I'm not a very good baker anymore! I used a good brownie recipe the other day to make some treats for the members, but look what happened! They never hardened out... They were in the oven at a high temperature for over 45 minutes and were totally liquid. Before I knew it, I smelt smoke -- the brownies had swelled and spilt over the pan! We took them out of the oven, but they were still liquidy. I'm not sure what went wrong... Maybe the materials we found here in Chile aren't the same as we have in the States... Oh well. :)

I just want you all to know that I am having a wonderful time here in the mission. There are always challenges and adversity, that is true. It was especially evident this week in the lives of many members and people who we love and serve. But, as we shared the pleasing word of God, hearts were warmed and confidence replaced doubt. I know that Christ lives. If we put our trust in Him, when adversity comes we won't think "Why me?" but rather, "For what?" What can we learn from this experience? How can I serve my Lord and do what He would have me do? Looking back on my mission, I have found that this is a great truth. Adversity is a tool to help us grow, and as we put our confidence in the Lord, we will pass the test and come out stronger, developing charity and a greater ability to serve others. We can also learn to grow closer as families with our loved ones as we face adversity together and carry each other's burdens.

Well, I guess that's enough for now. Oh how I wish I could share everything that I feel! I love all of you with all my heart, and I am so thankful that we can be together forever. I love the Gospel and know that it is true. See you soon!

Chapel robbed!

July 19, 2010 (21 years old)

Wow, I feel like an old man now. It still hasn't hit me that I'm 21 already! Where does all the time go? :)

This week was really great. It is awesome to be a missionary again after spending a week in the hospital. And we have been wasting no time in teaching and preaching! This week, Margaret, our progressing investigator who had her beliefs brutally smashed by her husband after he said that the virgin Mary had other children, is doing great. We've kept teaching and helping her develop a renewed faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. It has been lots of work and lots of patience, but I absolutely love it! Margaret told us this week that she was speaking with her husband a lot this week and pondering on what we had taught. She finally realized that it's true: the bible says that we should only worship the one and true living God, and it doesn't say anything about praying to the virgin. She is reading diligently in the Book of Mormon, and she received an answer to her prayers. She has felt the power of the Holy Ghost testifying of the truthfulness of the Restoration and all that we teach. We had her read in Moroni 8, which might seem kind of harsh, but she absolutely loved it! As we conversed, she spoke movingly of what she had felt and learned through reading the Book of Mormon. I was led to remember how I first gained a testimony as I read and prayed as a teenager. I know that this work is true and that our Heavenly Father is truly preparing many people to receive the message of the gospel. There are miracles here in Chile and in the whole world!

For my birthday on Thursday, I baked myself an awesome chocolate cake to celebrate. We also stopped by Hermana Yamilett's house because she made us roscas (little doughnuts) and hot chocolate. It was really nice! I'm sending some pictures of the cake I made, me and Hermana Yamilett, her son Enzo, my pet dog Jorge (the diseased one that always follows us around), and a few scenery shots from Diego de Almagro. I really love this little town, especially the wonderful people here who are so willing to serve and share with us!

The next pictures are pretty exciting. This morning we woke up and needed to do a few different things in our chapel before heading off to Chañaral. I opened up my office door, which was locked, and inside, everything was turned upside down! The desk was open, the drawers on desk, the DVD player gone, and the ceiling was broken up. As we explored the chapel, we found that someone had broken the bars that protect our chapel window and had come inside. They tried to find money or something. The safe under the podium was also thrown about. They entered the bishop's office through the ceiling and ended up doing some damage there. But, everything valuable was locked up inside of a huge safe with 1-foot thick cement walls, which they couldn't get into. I'm still not sure why they didn't steal the DVD player, which we found in the classroom next to the bishop's office. That was strange. After doing an inventory, we found that nothing at all was missing. We just have to repair the damage done to the chapel, mainly to the window and a bit of the ceiling. We called the police, we called the district president and the church offices in Santiago. I think everything should be alright now. I guess the robbers found out that we really don't worship huge golden statues that they could steal! ;)

I also got my flight itinerary today! Isn't that crazy? I'll be getting back to the states on October 1st after a full day and a half of travelling. That should be fun. But, that means that I gotta get working to reach my goal of 1000 baptisms in the mission! And don't worry, Elder Duerden and I are going to do it. We have had lots of success, thanks to a loving and gracious Heavenly Father, and I know that this transfer will be very fruitful.

We also saw all of the virgin dances this week. It is a special week in Chile to celebrate "La virgen María del Carmen, madre de Jesús", and there are lots of religious dances. Loud, ritual drums played loud all throughout the city as the people got together and did lots of dances. It was really neat to see, but I'm still not sure what it means. And it doesn't seem that many people here know either. But it was still neat.

My arms doing a lot better as well. I think I got bit by a "araña rincón", or a corner spider. They are the most dangerous spiders here in Chile, but they're really small. I'm lucky I got to the hospital because lots of people have lost limbs to those spider bites! After I got out of the hospital, we did a lot of cleaning in the house, and we'll probably buy some bug spray and spray everything down. That should be fun! I'll be careful to kill all the spiders I see from now on! :)

Oh yeah, on Sunday we also had the great privilege of ordaining our two recent converts to the Aaronic Priesthood. They are really happy, and they have been well trained for their new responsibilities. It was a very spiritual Sunday as we spoke in sacrament meeting (Elder Duerden, me, Hermana Dinamarca, and Elder Dinamarca) and then Priesthood and Relief Society meetings. I have a greater appreciation now for the Priesthood keys, and I know that this church is guided and directed on principles of divine revelation. It is incredible to feel the influence of the spirit and especially to see the great progress of our little branch. I feel humbled to be in the position of Branch President, serving the great people here in Diego de Almagro. It is a privilege to serve and get to know people who are so special and loving. They have had very spiritual and special experiences here with us, and I love sharing that with them! There were also many birthdays this week (Mónica Ángel, Valeria Segura, me, Elder Dinamarca), so it's also been a nice week to celebrate and enjoy time together.