July 21st, 2014. SURPRISE!!!!

Hey surprise! BAPTISM! hahahahahaha 

So I first have to say that God loves me some.  I'm back in my little shack with my same comp preaching the gospel and I never have been more happy!  I'm so glad the lord and president have the faith in me and Elder Osuna to continue the work together in the same sector and the baptisms or the fruits of the spirit keep rolling in.  This week we will have tons of stuff planned and I hope that everything works out just fine!  Oh and Elder Osuna and I created this weird food called pasuña cakes. pass-uña cakes.  

Okay another thing about getting shot at, it was not really that bad or dangerous. just a bunch of drunk hombres with guns. haha but everything worked out just fine.  So with this surprise baptism, are you ready?  It all started out with a contact with Elder Artiga and me in the street over three months ago "seriously feels like a week".  But it was a family that is less active in the church and their son has just turned eight years old and was not baptised so we have been teaching them and trying to get them reactivated in the church and it was really hard but everything has been really well and we dedicated their house and it has been super productive and the spirit has been super strong.  He is got baptised this Sunday.  He is eight so the baptism does not count for a number in the mission but all baptisms count for God right?  And so the big day arrived and we were so stoked and all of the sudden he asked me to baptise him!   So we ran home and grabbed all of our stuff and I baptised him!   The water was the coldest I have ever felt in my life, the reason is the church ran out of gas and so the water was freezing cold.  It only could be compared to when my friends and I cut this hole in the ice one night and jumped in the lake.  It was seriously the same and my lips where blue when I gave the prayer to baptise him.  What a poor kid he had to be subbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbmirged. ugh I'm sorry someone must of spilled beer on this keyboard bbecause all the keys get stuck at the bottom.  But I made sure the prayer was perfect and baptised him only once and ran and grabbed my towel.   But everything went well and I now have this bond with this family that will be with me for eternity.  What blessings!

  

Satan tries to stop this work!  This Sunday, Irma, who will be baptized this next Sunday was walking to the church for her interview and got mugged! noooooo! my poor Chilean grandma got mugged by some dude in the street and Irma stood her ground and started swinging her purse and like every other grandma in the world those things are heavy and can do some damage.  She called us and told us what happened so we ran and she said when we appeared over the hill to where she was we looked like angels coming to rescue her.  She said that she knew this church was true and that we, are her saviors in this life but the real Savior is Jesus Cristo.........the spirit was so strong and we walked to the church in tears and she had such a great interview and she passed and is so excited to be baptised! awwwwwwwwwwww!   Happiness is seriously bursting through my soul!

We also have two more baptism dates planned with young investigators, one is with Catalina, I have been teaching her for about four months as well.  Also Soledad.  Both are fourteen and 15 years of age and its so freaking cool to see the lights in there eyes.  They are both members of family's that are part members so I hope that the dads can baptize them!  How cool would that be! 

Okay so Elder Osuna and I were starving last night and out of food so I decided to try and cook something, yes that's right, cook. haha  It was difficult at first but I threw a bunch of flour in a bowl with some hot chocolate mix "for flavor" and sugar and some baby food powder.   Then I mixed it until it looked like a brownie mix and cooked them like pancakes.  They where actually really good and I think it was only because we where starving that they tasted good but Eder Osuna called them pasuña cakes. haha  I just thought you would like to now about my ability's that I am learning here on the mission. haha  Both a love for the people and cooking.  I just want to let you know that you are all examples to me.  These past few weeks have been so life changing. I use the story of my ancestor "thanks Grandma and Grandpa Passey" all the time and it changes lives.  We also have so many answers to our prayers.  Love you all!

This little guy would not stop moving around like a wild caged animal

Baptism! Jabvier Lopez

Ingrediants, oh and water

The mix

In the pan

The final product.  PAS...UNA...CAKES!

July 14th, 2014

To answer all the questions.....no I have not been transferred.  Not yet, we get a call Wednesday morning tosee if we go or not then we pack and we are in a new area by the night!  Crazy huh, well i sure hope I don't get transferred!  True, i know every street, food stand and dog in the street that there is but we are so close to tons of success and I don't want to be the missionary that does all the work but then gets shipped out at the last second and misses all the fruits of my labor!  But I have come to realize that its not our fruits or our success but the Lords and really I am his servant.  If he wants be to move and start teaching and preaching then I am going to go with one purpose, do what Jesus would do.  And that's to start off with love for one another and to use the spirit and find the ones who are ready for this gospel.  And to be honest I have had some cool story's and some straight up disappointments.  I have cried by laughing and cried by sorrow.  There really is a time for everything and I love the fact that I am learning how to serve others not just me, and it all started roughly four months ago.....loco huh?

Okay where to start, lets start with the bad and then go to the good?  Well first of allI think that as members of the church we should really learn how to be an example of Christ and to be like him. its really hard to do that obviously but still its possible, even for my ward.  We had two investigators show up to church today and one is a girl who does not believe in god and the other is this young lady who is really strong in another church and the whole "go to a different church thing" is a little bit different for her and literally it was a pretty big sacrifice for her Her parents were mad but she said that God wants us to always look for answers so why not try a church? okay So they where sitting at church and Elder Osuna and I left to help with the sacrament and then when we returned everything went fine until this guy stood up and I swear he was like a crazy preacher on television.  He starts off by thanking everyone for being here and then says in his talk he is going to tell why every other church in the world was wrong, the smile just instantly vanishes from my face because I swear he looked directly into the eyes of our investigators, he really went to town for about half an hour and bashed every church and pointed to all these crazy scriptures in the old testament and I thought for sure we lost our chances with these investigators, he was literally a hell, fire, and damnation kinda guy and if my eyebrows where not already white they would be burned clean off.  I was like, will someone please get him off the stand.  I kept looking and our investigators faces slowly started to turn hard into stone, they left shortly after the first hour and said they will call us when we can visit again, huh, thanks ward.  But what is a positive thing is he was trying to help them realize that this is Gods only chosen church, but we can all learn to take  a step back and think about each others feeling we would all get along.  So that is the first story

Second story is that I really am lactose intolerant.  I can not drink anymore milk unless I want to die.  I ove this powdered milk we can buy with all these vitamins in it and I think it has some supplement for babies but its perfect for the missionary to drink for breakfast and I drank tons of it and felt so sick and my stomach just started to freak out on me.  I wont go into detail but lets just say no more milk for me. 

Also not totally sure but I think we were getting shot at.  I know that there were dudes with guns in the Tomas at night and we were walking and heard a bunch of laughter and gun shots real close.  We took off and ran for Catalina's house.   Now, don't freak but I did hear the gunshots and yes they were close but they were only shooting them up into the air so no worries haha.  But yes I do live in the hood haha or at least a place that is a little bit different then home.

This week I have gained a huge testimony of the gift of tongues.  We were teaching a young girl named Catalina that wants to get baptised but her mom is a little bit concerned about it and her father is a less active member and his goal is to go through the temple and be sealed for time and all eternity, what a beautiful thing that is!  its so perfect but Catalina asked me to give her a blessing.  What a opportunity I but was so nervous and then I just felt at peace.  I paused and spoke.  It did not feel like Spanish and at first I was worried that it was English but I gave a blessing and I promise that it was only through the Lord that it was possible.  We were all crying in the end and I know that the lord will bless us if we use our faith in him and always press on with faith.  I know tons of stuff right now are hard for me but that is okay because everything will be okay.   If  I get transferred I will work even harder then this sector, always improve and always try to follow Christ.  To all of the people who say this country is in South America, Therfore its hot, lied.   It is so cold at night and I sleep with literally three sweaters and coats and the roof started to leak again!  What a bummer.  But I  have never been this happy, ever.  I love you tons!

Finally got my Easter Package!

Me and my comp, Elder Osuna

July 7th, 2014. The Power of Fasting

This week has been life changing.  Every missionary says they learn tons of things in their transfers but one huge thing and the goal is to better yourself as a missionary and as a person and when you end your mission.  To be as good as you can possibly be.  This transfer I learned so much about diligence.  It's so important for us to have and I have such a strong testimony of diligence and persevering to the end.  And I promise that when we do this and use these things in our life that God will push us because God is known to always try his disciples with hard things.  Try to find one person in the scriptures that did not have to overcome trials and draw nearer to God and just when we are on the verge of our limit we push just a Little bit more and then we receive the fruits of all these blessings, for example, attributes of Jesus Christ and whatever we need to become better.

As it is said in the subject of this email I have a new found testimony of the power of fasting.  Like any other youth before the mission fasting meant not eating waffles or pancakes before church and hearing my stomach rumble all day and have only one thought in my mind, when is my next meal?  But all of that has changed I still fast the same but what has changed is the desire for a answer to my questions and revelation to my prayers.  I testify that only when we fast with one specific purpose in mind with true intent to receive a answer then by the power of god we will receive an answer.  God blesses his children.  The story that goes along with this is one day we were trying to think of ways to find and teach people who are ready to be baptised and have success in the mission. As we where thinking we received a random phone call and it broke the heavy silence because for about five minutes my comp and I were both super silent without one thought in our heads for ideas that we had not already tried.  The phone went on speaker and the zone leaders said we need to fast, we asked why and they shortly responded, you want baptisms right? and then hung up the phone.  What a great blessing it is to be surrounded by such great individuals that are so close to the spirit.  We immediately started to fast and to concentrate on one thing, to find those who are ready to receive the Gospel.   Okay are you ready for the blessings?  We have four, four good individuals who have baptism dates....... that is more in one week then we have had in this transfer. Never before have I seen such animation form these investigators.  

One was the first one to church and wanted to take a tour of the building and asked where she could buy white clothes appropriate for baptism and if its okay if she paints her nails whiten  Her name is Irma, and she is a angel.  She is 72 but she acts like she is 40 and she has the best food in the world!  Chilean of course haha.  She is so awesome!  Her son is also an investigator and he has a date planned out too but he is one week behind her because she went to church this week and he had to work.  Irma is one of those lady's who will work and make friends really fast.  She only planned to stay for the first hour but liked it so much she stayed all three hours and even after to help plan a activity for the relief society.  I had people ask if she was a member who just moved here because she is acting like she owns the place haha  But what is the best part is she has a huge desire to learn, we call it hungry.  She is hungry to learn about the Gospel.  Also she loves  She threw her coffee away and uses ecco or posem for the Mormons in Chile haha and she is striving to be a better person.  Gold right?  One answer to my fast.

The other two are younger.  They are Natalie and Yanexia. they are 20 and 21.  Natalie is from a less active family that has not visited the church in ages.  They are a little bit more difficult but they are gold also.  They are cousins and are learning together and are going to be baptized together they say.  We where talking a little bit about baptism and they asked "so we need the power of god right?" we answered yes, that it was super important or its not valid.  Then they asked "do you guys have this power?" and we said that we are worthy bearers of this power and they got huge smiles on there faces and said good because we want to be baptized!  They have tons of questions so I hope that they continue to progress in the Gospel.  They are for the 27 of July also.

Another cool experience is we were teaching this lady who was sitting in this recliner in the street.  It looked like dads lazy boy and we stopped and knelt down and had a conversation with her and my comp kept getting frustrated because she said that she did not understand the plan of God.  And kneeling in the clay, dirt road in Chile I started to think what would Jesus Christ do?  Then I remembered the harlot and when Jesus drew in the sand. now, I'm not saying that this lady is a harlot but she was kinda scetch and thankfully she put out her cigarette.  I picked up this stick and drew a sun.  Then I drew a circle about a foot away.  I asked her if she wanted to understand what we were teaching and of course she said yes. So I said okay the sun represents God and his glory, the circle is us on the earth and I drew a straight line with a gap in the middle and it connected to the sun and the circle.  I paused and let the spirit come because it was hard to say what I wanted to say super simply and also said a prayer that this would work.  I said that we are on this circle trying to find God, he has a plan for us.  I pointed to the line and said that this is the plan.  It's a connection to God and us if we follow it we will always end up in the presence of God.  She then asked what I was praying she would ask "well why is there a gap in the plan?" and I smiled and said, that gap is filled only when we make a covenant or promise with God, one is baptism and I filled the line in completely and said once we accept baptism we will be able to make it to the presence of god, she was quiet for a minute and then looked at my comp and laughed and said "why did you not do that in the first place!" haha.  I have such a strong testimony of the power of the spirit and this priesthood and it will always help us, only if we are worthy to hold it.  I promise that it will always be there.

This is my testimony that I believe without a doubt if I did not fast we would not of had this great of a week I'm so glad for my bishop that he has taught me to always follow God and to be open minded.  How blessed I am!  I pray for you all everyday and I hope you guys love your lives!  My family has a photo and a saying on our fridge that says, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!  Live the life you imagined" that is the key.  Always be willing to dream and then go make it possible.

**The photos are not loading, I will send them next week.

June 30th, 2014: A week in the best two years of my life!

First of all I'm so sorry for getting you all discouraged and thank you guys for your prayers and for your positive words they boosted me up a ton.  This week was way better and I promise that I have felt the spirit so strong that it is so crazy!  I'm glad that its warm where you guys are because I am literally freezing but thank goodness I can layer up.  I have had so many spiritual experiences this week and I cant wait to tell you all about things.  Ready? Vamos!

This week was seriously so spiritual! my first experience I would like to share with you is that I received this huge answer from God.  And who would of thought it was not by some angel but it was through the word of God in the scriptures.  So last week was really hard for me right?  Well me and my comp talked it over and we decided we where not giving up just yet so we decided to walk faster study harder and focus on the attributes of Christ.   For me I had trouble with finding and receiving revelation for what to teach these investigators so I went into our room and offered up a prayer that I myself had no idea I could give.  It really was the pleading of my soul and as I was reading in the scriptures I came across one that changed my life...it is probably the scripture that I will have at my funeral and it is the best. It's in Moroni 7: 45- 47.

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

 46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

When I read verse forty seven the words, "charity is the pure love of Christ" I felt this surge of power come over me, not a forceful surge but a slow warm love and I could not help but to start crying.  The words were and still seem bigger than the other words in the Book of Mormon.  literally to me they seem like they were doubled in size.   But its so true,  charity is the pure love of Christ.  Never before have I felt such a sensation and such a verification that this work, this church is true.  I have devoted these two years of my life to charity and to this church but most of all we are hear to teach and preach.  Most of all I want you guys to know that I will always try to have this charity and love that Christ had for the people he taught.  After all we are all sons and daughters, brothers and sister so why not try to get along and help each other?  True I was one who did not follow this that much before my mission and if I offended any of you I beg you to at least accept my apology.  This was my first experience.


Another little experience is that this brother, Hermano Demayo gave me this jacket so I could look like Jeff Gordan.  haha  Yes its true it was hard to understand but once I understood I could not help but feel such a sweet sincere love for my investigators and especially for this 90 year old man who was once a sailor who cussed drank and could fight with the rest of them but now is a soft sincere man who has been changed by the love of Christ.  And yes, he sings like a sailor, loud and annoying but its better then mine so I just join in and somehow the spirit always comes.

The other is that we are now teaching a investigator who is younger.  Her name is Natalie and she is about twenty years old.  Her family were members but are long since inactive and they loved the missionaries and they accepted us with open arms.  We are having family home evenings and I am making s'mores for them tonight after the lesson so lets pray two things go well, the lesson and that I can find Graham crackers.  She is really receptive and thinks its only right that the people in the Americas had conversations with the Savior as well as in Jerusalem.  It is such a blessing.  But also she has this cousin who is seriously hard core angelic and she likes to just go to town and preach.  But for some reason her heart has been softened and she listens and likes our lessons and my comp bore his testimony and I did as well and she started crying and asking why she felt like this.  I answered with a laugh,  It's the spirit and don't worry I'm getting used to crying to. haha.  Its so great to see the power of the Lord spill through my lips and bear testimony of the true word of God.  I hope that they progress and that they will come to church.

So this transfer has been super fast and I only have about a week and a half left in the transfer! What!  Time flys when you are so absorbed in this work.  We are trying so hard and have investigators who are ready for baptism just they need to preserve to the end!  We have two that have huge trials going on right now.  One is Catalina who has been taking the lessons since my second week in the field and the other is Christian. Their trials are about the same.  The dad of Catalina is a member and wants her to take the lessons but the mom will not let her.  So right now they are praying to see whats up.  ugh.........she has so much potential its so sad to see her not able to take some lessons.  The other is Christian who has a grandma that was a member but she has had some bad experiences with some members and every time we see if Christian is home she will answer and lie to us and say he is gone and make us leave when really he is in the house.  It's so horrible to see her and to be honest it's hard to have love for her but hey Christ loved all right?

We are working with Osvaldo who was excommunicated.  He loves the church and reads the scriptures everyday.  But something happened where he was excommunicated and a ton of members fell away because they had so much love for him.  He was their bishop.......and when he fell away others where excommunicated and I heard that over half the ward left in protest and they had to even close down a church.  So it was some serious stuff that went down.  But he is doing well and we watched a Mormon message and we all cried...why am i turning into my dad?  It's Karma haha

I love you all and want you to know this church is true.  That God has not closed up heaven. You can and you will receive a answer to your prayers.  Follow Jesus Christ and he has a plan for us.  It's not hard, true some parts are harder then others but I promise it will all work out in the end.  I pray for you simper (always) .  Gracias por todos (Thank  you for everything). 
P.S.   Yes there were riots in the streets and I saw people burning stuff and crying in the streets.  This old lady was sitting in the street crying and all these kids where crying.  It was more sad.  For these people football is the way they express themselves and how Chile shows their pride.  It's like getting slapped for them.  But what can you do.  I now don't like Brazil haha.  Oh and I had this completo that was as long as my arm..........as my bro Nate would say, thats one craaaazzzzy good tortilla, or completo in this case!

Craaazzzzyyy good Completo!

P-day food.  It's about six dollars...so kinda expensive.  Also Kit Kats are way expensive.

Hey mom and others, guess what!  I'm now 159 pounds. remember I started at 184...........crazy.  The Lord really does bless me in every way. haha.  I look like a clown in my jeans.  I need suspenders.  

June 23rd, 2014

Hey guys guess what? I have almost been out for five months! haha that is so crazy and it feels just like a week. EFY felt longer then the time in the mission. This week has been really interesting with tons of new stuff and happiness and more hardships.  And I heard that they are doing this crazy thing in the mountains of Heber so to all my people that live close to there I hope they really focus of patience.  Sounds like a blast.

     

Okay so first lets talk about this whole life as a missionary.  I love it and I know that these times are super hard and they seriously tear me down physically and mentally but I promise that it is all worth it.  I really have never been this happy before.  I feel at peace and I love this country and this people.   They are crazy and have a different culture but that's fine iI can adapt and I hope in a year or so that people start saying I'm a true blooded Chilean.  This week has been really different.  So we received the stand.  I have a foto of it too.  But this stand is super different in the whole "missionary" thing. So instead of teaching we go out and pitch this stand with everyday questions for example "how can i be a better person" or "what is the purpose of life" or "how can I build a family that is strong and united."  it is pretty cool and i feel like I'm back at Days trying to sell all that frozen yogurt juicer haha  It is seriously not what I thought a mission would be like.  But its only for a week.  And then we go back to normal.  I guess it works if the first presidency say its a good idea so why not have faith in it right?  So we do it for two hours in the morning and return to the house and study and then we go to lunch and then we have the stand for another two hours.  It is really "great" haha and all I feel is like some kind of street vendor but I try to memorize scriptures and use my time to the best of my abilities and I can feel the blessings of the Lord.  There are all these little fairs that are in the streets right next to this huge water tower and it seriously is mass chaos.  Its so nuts haha.  So we had a idea why not try the stand right there?  We had a good hour and a half with no person coming to talk to us but finally this one older man came up to us in dirty clothes and tear filled eyes and said he believes we can live with our loved ones after this life. he started to cry and said his family is really messed up and his wife just passed away and it was so sad to this this man who has a loved one leave this world and not have such a sure foundation of the gospel.  I'm so glad for my parents and there examples because I have such a strong testimony of this gospel.  We shared with him the plan of salvation and he asked for a pamphlet and said he would read it and call us if he wants to know more.  I pray he does. I know that this is the medicine of the soul so why not take it right?

The Stand

The other crazy thing that happened was we have this family that's taking the lessons but they are typical Chileans, they drink smoke and go crazy for futbol.  So we where going to teach them and heard this music blasting from our house and we thought it must be some party and as we where walking we kept getting closer and closer to the music and it was seriously so loud and we just see our investigators going nuts and it was so sad.  We talked to them for a bit and one of the members friends literally stumbled out of his house and came to talk to me and so we had two different conversations at once:  One was with Elder Osuna and Esteban "the real investigator" and then it was me verses the drunk.  This was when I has to use all my patience.  He was throwing his finger into my chest and telling me that God has not loved me.....ever.  He keep telling me that Christ did not die for me and the Mormons because we do not have souls and I about lost it. This old man is about six inches taller then me and he seriously was talking to me like this?  How dare he say such awful things about the church?  All i could do was stand there and try not to start yelling at him in English.  He knew it was making me mad because he was smiling and tempting me.  Ugh. if I learned one thing its patience in this mission.

Sorry for such the short letter.  I love you guys so much and I think you guys should read Ether 1,2,3. it is so good!  It shows that everybody needs to repent.  I love you all and I'm striving to be better and the work is still going on and I will always work then when I get home I will sleep for three days straight.  Thanks for your prayers and love.  

So I dont know if you can see it but our house started to leak.  Ya its horrible and our house is falling apart so i'm glad that I only sleep there.

My Comp.  When we returned and saw the leaks for the first time.........priceless

Favorite candy! bon o bon.  It's like a Reeses but not as good, thefore its not called a Reeses

Look at this happy kid.  This is powdered milk that has tons of vitamins and it's for kids.....Im still a kid right? I pour a bunch into a cup with water and stir in around until lumpy and then drink it.  It helps me I hope.

Vina Del Mar Mission

June 16th, 2014

This week has been really hard.  We have had success and we try to have lessons but its way hard because we have a ton of investigators who are not progressing.  But guess what!  All is well and I have a comp who is simply amazing.  We are both learning and growing together and I feel like we are drawing closer spiritually and emotionally.  Man and I also got my first package. haha  It was like Christmas.  So really this week has been a little bit of a roller coaster and its been spent in tears and laughter.  Aye aye aye....its the life right?  Oh and I got visited by a general authority.

Okay first off this week it rained again of course and and I feel so wet and never comfortable  But this weekend we got some sunshine and I realized two things, I'm seriously so white and second I love the sun......don't worry mom I wear sunscreen. haha  This week has been non stop World Cup.  Its so crazy and everybody down here are fans.  Football is life and trust me its a live or die life style.  I think Chile played Australia and it seriously went down.  It was hard because we had some really good appointments for that day and they all called us and cancelled and said that this day was more important than the Gospel.  Oh how wrong they are.  This gospel is everything.  It is hard for them to open their eyes and see but as far as they are concerned this is war. Chile is at war with everybody in the world right now.  I will never forget this experience though.  We were walking down the street and we could here the game from literally every house and see families watching the game but they would not look at us or answer the door.  It was super hard and there are so many chances to teach but they will not listen.  And seriously not a single soul was in the street.  So I'm walking down this dark muddy street and all of the sudden I just heard this crazy word. GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!   And literally this roar of voices filled the air an it felt like static electricity.  It was seriously so freaking crazy and people in one minute were running around and going so freaking crazy I was scarred for my life.  People were waving flags and had fires in the streets and it was like we lived in this crazy jungle. haha  It was every man for themselves.  We were nervous because after the game we seriously thought some riots where going to go down.  But all is well.  The lord protects his missionaries.  It was also so Cold!

Whoever taught the Chileans how to build a houses they need to go back to school because this is simply ridiculous haha  We have some flooding going on but now our roof is leaking in three parts and it is seriously so cold.  But guess what?  It reminds me of our blessings back in the united states.  Oh random note sorry mom for my horrible spelling but this keyboard has beer on it or something because it is so sticky and the letters or keys are stuck.  But anyway this house that we live in is so nuts and to be honest I'm ready for a new one.  People are dead serious when they say that the mission is the hardest thing they have ever done.  It really pushes me to my physical and more importantly spiritual limits.  My whole life has one purpose right now.  Teach and help the people in need and it really kills me when I show up to lessons and the people are drunk or if they slam the door in my face and it is so hard to have a positive attitude especially love for the person.  But hey, I had a talk with my comp because I felt that maybe I was not good enough or that I'm not trying and giving my all.  It is seriously so hard.  I try and try and I hope that I'm making a difference here and I give my whole life to these people and they wont even show up to church.  I just feel so sad and down and that its my fault.  I need to be a better teacher and I'm working on it.  I love my companion so much and he is a super stud.  What a great influence he is on me. 

  

Okaaaaaaaay!  so I got my package today!  WOW thanks mom for the oreos I was so hungry for normal food that my comp and I , "who i introduced to kitkats an oreos in the same day" ate every single oreo and I thought my blood sugar just spiked and was close to having a heart attack.  The worst was that we did not have milk!  Ugh what a downer.  And those oils smell kinda gross but I promise to use them.  You have my word. we also got to have a reunion with all the missionaries and I got to see Elder Artiga haha  He does not like his comp too much but what can you do.  

I love you guys and prayed about you a ton.  In these last days its super important to have family.  One of my cousins that I have not seen in awhile is my cuz Jordan.  Man shout out to you!   You are a missionary in the making and I would gladly serve with you.  Be an example to your family and I promise through your prayers you will have a stronger relationship with God and with your fam.  Your family is the best, and Becca and Trevor you have a great family.  Don't sweat the small stuff its phases and I've had  tons haha.  

We met and had a great talk with Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the presidency of the 70.  It was super spiritual and we sang together and he had a seriously strong testimony.  Thank you guys forever.  I'm always striving to do whats right and trust me I'm not perfect,  far from it.   When we but our faith in the lord and use his atonement everything is possible. 

 First Fathers day! I'm old

First Package!

Oils for the fleas

June 9th, 2014

Well my first six weeks have gone by super fast and now here i am with a new companion!  It was so sad to see Elder Artiga go and we had a little cry session and one last foto shoot before he left.  It was so hard to see him leave but now he is a district leader.  We have had a ton of success here in my area this week but it was all because of our faith and obedience in the commandments.  Especially the rules of the mission and I already have stories of my new comp

Bueno.  My new comp is from Mexico.  This is the first blessing of my life because I pray every day to learn more of the language and when its only Spanish twenty four hours a day it helps!  His name is Elder OSUNA and I know it is hard to pronounce so hear it is "oh sue na".  He is this stud that seriously works so hard.  I have this testimony of following the rules of the mission right but my comp is way obedient which is way cool.  He has this stop watch and when the mission handbook says we have one hour for personal study for Elder Osuna it is literally one hour. haha  I have so much love for him already and we really get along.  He loves movies and English and he is always asking questions in English.  I love it.  He seriously looks like a James Bond.  No joke. But we have received so many blessings already and since transfers "last Wednesday"  We have five new investigators and all of them but one has accepted baptism.  This week we have worked with a chip on our shoulder for some reasons that I will tell you later and I love our attitude for the work.  It is so nice to work way hard.  Elder Artiga was a great example and taught me so many things and the Lord will always send new companions to help us grow and be better.  I always felt that we could of done more in our area but we worked hard and had a peace attitude.  Elder Osuna and I are all amped up and ready to rock and roll and no one can tell us differently.

We are literally two young kids against the world with the help our our Lord and our Savior.  I like our odds.  His birthday is March 19 so I am a week older then him and guess what..... we have the same time in the mission.  Ya crazy huh, we have served in the mission for exactly the same time and we are way young.  For missionaries that are serving in their native language they serve for two weeks in the MTC.   For missionaries in different languages they study in the MTC for six.  Osuna was in the MTC two weeks before me and left the day I showed up at the MTC!  We have been serving about the same time and he is finishing my "in the field" training.  It is so crazy and everybody says its way weird and strange and its weird also that he came to me.  So I am the senior companion in the area and he follows me around everywhere because I have a little bit of a knowledge of my area!  Thank goodness Elder Artiga had me memorize the names of the streets!  We are pretty much co companions and we have the same goals and desires for the work.  A fire in the belly so to speak.  We are always on the go looking and searching for the people who can be changed by this gospel.  He is a convert and has seriously one year in the church right now and what a testimony.  We are changing lives so fast and I feel a different energy.  Okay and here is the other thing....are you ready for this, he is also the DISTRICT LEADER!!!!!!! how crazy.  So he has three months in the mission and he is a district leader too and he is training me.  Not really in the lessons but in the language.  How crazy and he has only served for three months.  My time.  People hear about our attitude and people think and say we will burn out soon and slow down and its just because we are young but I promise that is a straight up lie.  I have this deep desire for the work and I have not felt it this strong before my mission.  I'm ready to rock and role and we seriously fight for the right to preach.  I pray everyday and thank my God for this opportunity to learn from one of the best missionarys in the field!

This week we seriously stood in the rain for a whole week.  It rained and rained and not a Utah rain mind you but a South American rain and it was nuts and I always feel wet and cold.  We went to work.  The first thing we did was save our stuff from the flood in our house. What was the first thing i saved?  My superman shirt and my chapstick, then my scriptures and so on.  But it was good and todo vein.  It was only an inch and a half of water and it drained out on its own.  The first family we taught was Familia Gonzalez.  This family is so nice and they have the love of God in them.  They are a family who loves to listen to our message and we shared an great message and they accepted the invitation for baptism so I hope and pray they carry on and learn more.  This Wednesday is the goal for the date so please, pray for them to feel this message, especially Victor.  Then we taught Jorge.  In the night it gets super foggy and we were walking down this muddy street and all of the sudden I felt this prompting to call out to this house.  I can not describe it but it was just a instinct and we called out and this man came running out and rushed to us saying he had questions about Joseph Smith.  We were astonished! We taught him and he wants to get baptised as well!  He has a date for the 28 de Junio and I hope and pray that he continues to progress.  His wife is a not a good example and he has a little smoking problem but we can handle that.   We also got a reference from a little kid named Cristian.  This kid is a stud.  One of the boys in our ward has been inviting him to church and we can teach him the lessons!  These are the souls who are ready for the gospel as of right now in Quilpue Chile.......crazy

   

I  want you guys to know that my testimony has grown so much in the past few months.  I have grown so much and I have a testimony of the gift of tongues.  I don't know how but people say I'm fluent when i teach these investigators.  It is so crazy I love you all.

Same tie day for me and Elder Artiga

My New Comp, Elder Osuna

Rain, Rain and more Rain!