Happy Thanksgiving

11/24/2007

Mom, thank you so much for sending the picture to the people in punta arenas, they loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it. Thank you. I appreciate all of your help and everything you have done for me. It is great having such a support at home, a slowwwwww support but slow and steady. I really do appreciate it and there are words to describe. There are missionaries on the mission that their families don’t even write them, let alone do things for them like you do for me. And I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee my shoes!

The cake looks great, they have some patience for that. Good work. Sounds like you guys had a great thanksgiving. I actually did too. Mom, thanks for the trip stuff. I am sorry about the wedding thing. I would still like to be in Santiago for a little bit because I still want to be able to see her and visit her. Because if we don{t stop by for more than that I won{t be able to see her at all. Just let me know the dates. Alejandra was asking me the dates so she can arrange things and get off work to be able to be with me. I know you have a ton going on.

Mickey Mouse Club House Cake and Birthday Girl and Gang

So I will tell you about my thanksgiving. It was actually the best thanksgiving of mfe mission, of the two. Ten of us missionaries went over to the Allen’s, and she made a ham with honey and syrup, it was soooooooooo good, and home made stuffing, unlike papa’s. we had apple and pumpkin pie and a chocolate éclair dessert. It was sooooooooo good. We had so much fun. Half of us were gringos. We talked about what we all do for thanksgiving and as we talked we realized how much we have forgotten about home. Nobody remember about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, I didn’t until after a long time, I remember you always watch it. So it was a great day. We ate good gringo food, it was a great day. We ate it for lunch though and then we went to work as usual. Because they don’t celebrate it here.

So it seems as if granny is doing better. Did she say anything about the letter I sent her last week? I wrote her a long one.

I have had some interesting experiences this week. I have always wanted to have dreams like the people here have. They all have them, and I neverrrrrrr dream anything. So I asked the lord to give me dreams and reveal things to me. Well since then I haven’t been able to sleep. I haven’t slept all week, so my bright idea wasn’t so bright after all. I did have a very interesting dream about an inactive that I really don{t even know. It is amazing how strong feelings can be in even a dream. It is incredible. I felt things soooooooo strongly and intensely that I wanted to call her right then and tell her, I tried to tell her last night what happened and what I felt but she was sleeping and so next week we will be able to. But it is amazing how the lord reveals to us who really are his chosen ones.

We have a new bishop in the ward, he is great. Our other bishop is moving to argenitna. We are doing great with the members. The elders weren’t here because they had messed up and had problems with the members. So we have had to work on getting their trust again and they are a lot of fun now and helping us a lot more. We are really progressing, littleeeeeeeeeeeeee by little but progress is progress. It is fun to work with the members and get to know them.

We also had an experience where we got invited over and there were three ladies that were going to have their little bible study meeting thing. And we got there and they were in charge and it was sooooooooo weirddddddd not being in charge and directing the lesson. I am soooooooooooooooo use to being the one who does all that, starts the lessons, the prayers, the song, the scriptures, closing everything and they did it all. They wanted us all to take turns praying, which is fine but out of the normal lds tradition. But it was soooooooo interesting. When they were praying I felt something cold inside, an emptiness. Then when my comp started to pray it was amazing how my body was filled with a warmth and a comfort and it stayed as I prayed and then when the other lady started it left again and the coldness came back. We talked about it afterwards. And it is weird because they pray from their heart as well but we realized the difference is that we have the gift of the holy ghost and they don{t. it would be interesting to know if they felt the difference as strongly as we did or if we are just that much more sensitive to the spirit. My comp says that I am very very sensitive to the spirit and very in tune. Which makes me laugh because I beg to differ I struggle soooooooo much knowing if it is the spirit or what we should do. And she pointed out some examples and helped me see that she was right and that I do it with out even noticing or realizing that I am doing it that is how sensitive I am to it, I just follow it because I know it is right. Comps are great to help you learn and see what is going on.

We had an awesome lesson to the other day with an hermano that went to visit a family with us. It was great. We still aren’t having any baptisms but I am beginning to see that maybe not many people have been baptized with me but I have been able to see how the lord really really has used me to help other people in their times of need. And that it what it is about, opening the door to show them that we have the true church, the holy ghost, and can receive the revelation personal from god that we need to be able to get through this life. It is amazing.

So our mamita here is the sister of my mamita from Puerto varas and they are amazinggggggggggggg. They are the best two in the whole mission. We will have to come back and visit them both. She went to her sisters in Puerto varas they other day and talked all about me. They are awesome, even the elders, well I know the elder that is there, he has been there forever. I loved Puerto varas and everything about it.

Off to see some Country

11/17/2007

We are going on a trip today with the Allen’s. we are going to a place called las aguas calientes. It should be fun. I will write in the afternoon when we get back. I broke my camera. I think it still works but the pictures part doesn’t work, I don’t remember what it is called in English, it shows the break, I am sure you can get it fixed, I will probably just wait to get home to fix it.

Mom, what are the plans for Chile. hna agurto emailed me and said that the temple is going to be closed when they have it planned to get married so they are getting married the 25th or something like that. she asked if we could change our plans but i am sure that costs an arm and a leg. it sucks because that is why we are doing it all. but i don’t know. if not, oh well. we can only do what we can do. thanks for everything. i will write later. tell dad to write, he is getting lazy writing me these days.

Well, okay, this week was interesting. I will fill you all in a bit on the week.

Well, about granny that was a shocker. It was hard for me to take, not going to lie. It hit me hard. But I am doing better now. There is nothing I can do but pray for her. That is life. I feel really bad for her and only pray that she will last at least two more months. I will probably be home January 18th, so two more months and we are good to go and the time flies by. So keep her strong.

Today we went with hna and elder Allen to a place call pehyue and it was gorgeous, it was fun to. I will send pictures but I don’t have any and I don’t know why my camera isn’t´ working I am going to pray a lot and play with it a bit and then see what to do. Then, if not, go to a place next week and see what they can do for me.

Dad, I was thinking about it the other day. Thank you for going on a mission, for setting that example.

I saw hna iribarra the other day at the conference. She was my first newbie. It was fun to see her and chat with her for a bit. It is so difficult being with the newbies. It is really hard, I would just rather be with a normal companion. But I haven’t had a whole lot of normal transfers on the mission.

Happy thanksgiving to all.

Happy birthday Paige.

I am not going to write much this week so I can write granny.

I am doing fine, we are doing fine. In a couple months I can tell you about a miracle that happened yesterday. Pretty much we saved a man’s live, he told us everything and was ready to rent a hotel room and drink and take pills until he killed himself. We are going by today so to see how he is doing today. I had noooooooooo clue what to say or do but just knew I had to talk to him. I am so glad the spirit prompted me so strongly and that I followed it and didn’t worry about what to say because in the end the spirit told me and things turned out well. We have to get him to stop drinking and face life. It was veeryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy interesting experience….only on the mission. I love the gift of the holy ghost. Maybe I haven’t had a whole baptisms on the mission but time after time I have seen how the lord has used us to help someone right at the right moment. How amazing is that. Only the true church of Jesus Christ can do that because it is the only one that can receive revelation. What a blessing we have.

Thanks for everything you do. Appreciate it.

With hna agurto´s wedding. I don’t´ know if we can be in Santiago the 25th for her wedding at 6pm or not. it is kind of irritating that just now she is telling them and that is why we are coming back in the first place. But patience, it is for a reason, everything happens for a reason.

I got the shoes, thanks soooooooooo much. They look soooooooooooooooooo different. I will take a picture and then throw the others away, they are embarrassing.

Me Social? I think So!

11/10/2007

It is so funny. I always said before the mission that I was going to go on the mission to learn to be social on the mission and it is amazing how it has worked, we talk with anyoneeeeeeeee in the street, it is amazing. I just walk up to people and start up a conversation with anyone. It is amazing how the people really get interested when we show them that we are interested too. I have learned to be social, so don’t worry. It is been really fun getting to know people and seeing how strong people can be and all they have to go through. Well, there are a lot of bad examples to that you learn what not to do.

This week has been good and it has been interesting too. My comp is still missing home a ton. She cries every other day. That is really hard for me and her too because I just don’t know what to do and she thinks I am really hard and mean I am sure because I tell her she has to get over it and forget about her family and her house and get lost in the work and the people here, easier said than done right. So that is the life. But little by little. She Is just fine other than that. She doesn’t need a trainer she knows all she needs to do, she just has to get in and do it.

I don’t really have that much to share this week. I translated last week and it really went well. It was fun talking to them. In the adult session of stake conference the hna, the counselor’s wife gave a talk and I had to translate it as it went. It was very interesting because right there on the spot she would say one sentence, I had to memorize it and say the exact thing in Spanish, after translating it from English to Spanish of course. I know the lord helped me a lot. It was a really good experience. The people congratulated me afterwards for how well I did. They said that lots of gringos never really to speak Spanish well and it is true. I have been very blessed with Spanish and I know. I know I speak with an accent but it was nice how they all complimented me. I really feel like the lord has just given me the biggest blessing ever being able to understand and speak Spanish.

Well, that is too bad with granny. I know the lord completes with his promises. I feel that if she doesn’t´ give the coffee up the lord won’t be able to help her with her problems, and I know that it is said to say but I feel like if she doesn’t´ give it up she might not be there when I get home. it is interesting because I was thinking about it this last week and I really was hoping that granny would be around when I get home and I thought, oh she is fine, two more months and that is it. but now, two months is a long time if she is really going through all that. It stinks but her eternal salvation depends on the cup of coffee because more than anything it is the principle of obedience. I know she can do it.

In all life is going good. i got my hair cut today. It is still cold. The work is getting a little bit better, we are with some good people, it is just hard for them to make commitments and get the to church and really say they are going to do when they have said they are going to do. but that is how life is. it is hard for people to really trust in the lord. so, if you all want, don’t send me anything for Christmas, just wait to give it to me when I get home. nana and papa didn’t write this week, what’s up. Well, I got to go. keep us in your prayers. as the time draws close, and having a comp that is trunky things get harder and harder. But more than ever I am committed to be obedient and do what I am supposed to do. it is amazing how your view changes on the mission. I saw hna johnson, the general authorities, and her it was amazing I really saw a successful women, a women with power. a mother of 9, strong testimony and has the power of god which is the strongest power of all. the women in business really aren’t successful. their happiness is momentary. but people like hna johnson, really are successful and powerful, their happiness is forever and will only grow and grow. people think i am over the top sometimes with the rules but if i don’t do what the lord wants i feel bad and know i am letting him down. i want to do everything i can to show him i really love him and appreciate when he has done for me and for the atonement.

send my regards to Tara for her baby shower. thanks for everything you guys do and your sacrifices for me. it means a lot, until next week. take care, pray, read your scriptures! don’t get lost in the world, in the things that really aren’t that important.

mom, if something happens to granny in this next little while you can call the mission directly. elder hart right now is the secretary and you can call him, the cell number is 91624916 or you can call before hna faulkner. but don’t hesitate and they can communicate to me directly. prayers.

dad, send whatever you want and i will translate if i can.

Not Missing Home! NOT!

11/4/2007

Well, hello to all! I hope that everyone has had a great week. I have had a good week so far. I have been dyinggggggggggggg to know what has happened with alejandra. She had her disciplinary council and now they just have to send it all the the first presidency and wiat for their response!! That is sooooooooooooooo awesome! I am wayyyyyy pumped for that! I can’t wait.

Yeah, here for Halloween, they have only been celebrating for a few years like we do. They have the day of the dead people. Nov first they all go o the cemetery and put down flowers and all for their dead family or loved ones. So it is not real huge trick or treating but it is going and they say they just copy us all the time. Such is life.

Mom, look into it they have something in frutillar called the semanas musciales, the musical weeks, where they have shows and stuff the whole time, from Jan 27th to Feb. 5th, if we want something else to do. We should go check out the glaciers. Or there is a place al little ways from pto varas, on the other side of the lake llanquihue that is called pellehuey, something like that. I have heard it is gorgeous and you can only get there by boat. Alejandra would know about it. Just ideas.

Yeah, so this weekend we have stake conference and the general authorities that are coming is one of the counselors in the area presidency here in Chile. So he is coming with his wife and they have been here just a few months I think, I am not sure, they just recently changed the presidency. They are from the states. And the stake president asked me if I could go today and tomorrow to translate for the hermana johnson. That is just fine but then I thought, wait, that means she will probably give her talk in English and on the spot I will have to translate so the congregation can understand her. Today is okay for the rs but tomorrow for the general meeting. Well, prayers will be great so I don’t get nervous and choke up in front of sooooooo many people and that I can have the words I need to translate. It is an honor too really.

So we got a reference yesterday from the elders, for an older couple, viejitos and said they were great and always home. Well the elders gave us the pres´s address and I kind of knew but didn’t click. So we went and it was hilarious because it was pouring raining and we went all the way over, to knock on the pres´s door and right now his entire family is here in Chile because their daughter is getting married in the Santiago temple so they had all their grandkids and kids and in laws there, they looked sooooooooooo happy. It was so funny.

My companion is having a reallllllllllllly hard time missing her family. She is very very very very very homesick. I don’t know how to help her because I have never been homesick, sorry I have never really missed you guys that much. All she thinks about is home and three or four times a day thinks how she wants to go home. She is great though but she cries soooooooooooooo much. I am not used to the criers either. She has never been away from home, never had cleaned a bathroom before, never done anythinggggggg before, her mom always did everything. Ay ay aya. She is amazed at how self sufficient and independent I am. It is better that way. So that is the struggle we are having. But other than that things are going great. It has rained a lottttt. It is never nice here in this country, at least in the south.

Are you guys making me another video? Or at least a slide show with pictures?

(This last sentence cracks me up. She's doesn't miss home at all.)