Chile is treating me very well. I won´t lie, I went through a bit of culture shock for that first week. It was difficult to understand people, but I am understanding more and more each day. One weird thing here is the dogs. There are hundreds of dogs in the street. I´m talking mangy mutts. Sickly little creatures. I feel bad for them, because it is freezing at night, and they have no where to go. But yeah, be grateful for all you have in the USA because here, more likely than not, it doesn´t exist. Like heaters for example. I have not been in a single building except the chapel that has its own heating system. Everyone has their own propane heaters, and that is how they heat their houses.
Water heaters also don´t exist. We have these things called calafons, or something like that. It is this heater outside our hose that uses propane to dominate the water and make it hot. Ours works really well, but when I had to do an interchange last week, their heater was SOOOOO cold! Our apartment is mas o menos. Our beds aren't that nice, but I get better sleep here than I have ever gotten! It is because we work hard, all day, everyday. Rain or shine, we are out in the streets.
Its funny too because pretty much every time someone sees us, they make fun of us and call us gringos. They also love to talk about how Los Estados Unidos lost in the World Cup. Guess what? So did Chile!!!! haha. But they funny thing is, they go crazy to have American clothes, drive American cars, and live American lives. I hear more music from the States here than Latin music. Stuff like Micheal Jackson, The Eagles, Phil Collins. They go crazy for it!
This week, we got a new investigator! Her name is Marisol and she is going to be baptized the 15th of August. Well, we hope so. In order to be baptized in this mission, an investigator has to attend church 3 times. She wasn't able to make it yesterday. But, we still have time, and we are hoping it will all work out. You would be surprised how many people here were members. Her husband was baptized years back. But, like many people, he is inactive. At the beginning of the lesson, he wanted nothing to do with the lesson at all. But we taught with power and love, and more and more, he became part of the lesson. At the end of the lesson, he offered the closing prayer! So sweet to see a family progress a little in the gospel.
This week I also had phase 1 of training. It was really cool. We went to the President's house, which is so sweet by the way, and talked about some things that we need to do. The major thing I got out of it, was that we need to work to help others to have their own testimony so that when we leave the area or mission, they will stay in the Church. I think we can all work on strengthening our testimonies.
Have I told you about Victor and Leenor? They are so awesome. They are recent converts and are basically like our grandparents here. Every time we go over, they give us something to eat or drink. They bought us like these thermal type pants. They are really uncomfortable, but it was way nice of them to think of us. People don't have very much here. It is really different, so much different, than Utah. I am so grateful for all I have, and all that you have.
I am doing well, and working hard. The time is already starting to fly by. I love you all. Work hard, and choose the right.
Monday, July 19, 2010
So, I have been in Chile for about a week. It is SO hard to understand
the Chileans. They speak so so so fast, and speak Chilean as opposed
to Spanish. They laugh sometimes when I can´t understand. They kinda
slur all their words together. Its hard, but everyday I am
understanding more and more.
My area is Renca. GoogleEarth it! There is a hill called Cerro Renca
that has this huge cross on it, and its right by our apartments. Its
freezing every morning, but around 12 its alright. The Chileans stay
out super late, so in our mission, we go to bed at 11:30 and wake up
at 6:30. The food is alright. Sometimes, I am praying the whole time
while we are eating that I willl be able to finish without throwing up
haha. But for the most part, íts pretty good. In Chile, they eat a
decent breakfast, and a huge lunch at around 2. After that, they
usually don´t eat until about 8 or 9 or 10. Then they have once, or
eleven. My trainer told me that the word they used to use had eleven
letters, and that's why its called that... But I don´t know. Anyway, we
don´t eat dinner. Ever. After 2, that is all the food, minus the
snacks that the members give us.
My trainer is Elder Kouts. He is from Arizona, and he is awesome. He
has been here for 3 changes, or maybe 5. Either way, he has been here
forever. He knows everyone. But we get along well, and I´m learning a
ton.
The work. This past week, we "knocked" on a million doors, and not a
single person let us in. Everyone had a fence here. Everyone. And
usually a huge dog. But the fences are like 8 feet tall, and the
usually have some sort of thing to prevent people from climbing over
it, like glass shards or razor wire. Some of the houses have
doorbells, but the ones that don´t, we just yell, "Halo" which sounds
more like ALOOOOOO. Its pretty funny. But yeah nobody let us in.
We are teaching a man named miguel, who is from Argentina. He thinks
he was baptized but not confirmed. We are waiting to find out what is
going on there. We are also teaching a family with Ginnete and Victor.
Victor served a mission, but they aren´t married. That happens a ton
here. A lot of people live together their entire lives, but never get
married. Anyway, we are teaching them, and hopefully they will get
married and we can press forward. We also taught a lesson to Yimena.
She is a college student, and is super busy. We taught her lesson 1,
and she told us we could possibly come back in one week! One week is a
lot of time for Satan to play with people. But I´m keeping my fingers
crossed.
Our zone is pretty cool. Our district is sweet too! Elder Simmons is
our district leader, and he is in his last change. That means he has
like 5 weeks left! so crazy! But he played lacrosse in high school,
and he is going to play for Texas A&M after the mission. He has two
lacrosse sticks and during our zone activity, we played around for a
little bit! We also played soccer. Here, there is no grass anywhere.
Well, not enough for a soccer field. So we play in these things called
babies. They are like baby sized soccer fields. Its way fun.
Today, I was reading in Alma 26. My goal for my mission is to be able
to say everything that Ammon could say after their mission. I love my
scripture study. Unfortunately, one of the rules of our mission is
that during personal study, we can only study El Libro de Mormon, and
Predicad mi Evangelio. 30 minutes each one. Its a little frustrating,
because I wanted to read a little in the bible, and finish the New
Testament. But, a rule is a rule, and I am doing my best to be 100
percent obedient. The one good thing for this is that during our free
time, which we pretty much never have, we can read whatever we would
like. As long as it is approved for missionaries. So, Slowly I will
finish that and Jesus the Christ.
I want you to know that I´m doing the most important thing of my life right now. I
am bringing people to Christ and there is nothing more important.
the Chileans. They speak so so so fast, and speak Chilean as opposed
to Spanish. They laugh sometimes when I can´t understand. They kinda
slur all their words together. Its hard, but everyday I am
understanding more and more.
My area is Renca. GoogleEarth it! There is a hill called Cerro Renca
that has this huge cross on it, and its right by our apartments. Its
freezing every morning, but around 12 its alright. The Chileans stay
out super late, so in our mission, we go to bed at 11:30 and wake up
at 6:30. The food is alright. Sometimes, I am praying the whole time
while we are eating that I willl be able to finish without throwing up
haha. But for the most part, íts pretty good. In Chile, they eat a
decent breakfast, and a huge lunch at around 2. After that, they
usually don´t eat until about 8 or 9 or 10. Then they have once, or
eleven. My trainer told me that the word they used to use had eleven
letters, and that's why its called that... But I don´t know. Anyway, we
don´t eat dinner. Ever. After 2, that is all the food, minus the
snacks that the members give us.
My trainer is Elder Kouts. He is from Arizona, and he is awesome. He
has been here for 3 changes, or maybe 5. Either way, he has been here
forever. He knows everyone. But we get along well, and I´m learning a
ton.
The work. This past week, we "knocked" on a million doors, and not a
single person let us in. Everyone had a fence here. Everyone. And
usually a huge dog. But the fences are like 8 feet tall, and the
usually have some sort of thing to prevent people from climbing over
it, like glass shards or razor wire. Some of the houses have
doorbells, but the ones that don´t, we just yell, "Halo" which sounds
more like ALOOOOOO. Its pretty funny. But yeah nobody let us in.
We are teaching a man named miguel, who is from Argentina. He thinks
he was baptized but not confirmed. We are waiting to find out what is
going on there. We are also teaching a family with Ginnete and Victor.
Victor served a mission, but they aren´t married. That happens a ton
here. A lot of people live together their entire lives, but never get
married. Anyway, we are teaching them, and hopefully they will get
married and we can press forward. We also taught a lesson to Yimena.
She is a college student, and is super busy. We taught her lesson 1,
and she told us we could possibly come back in one week! One week is a
lot of time for Satan to play with people. But I´m keeping my fingers
crossed.
Our zone is pretty cool. Our district is sweet too! Elder Simmons is
our district leader, and he is in his last change. That means he has
like 5 weeks left! so crazy! But he played lacrosse in high school,
and he is going to play for Texas A&M after the mission. He has two
lacrosse sticks and during our zone activity, we played around for a
little bit! We also played soccer. Here, there is no grass anywhere.
Well, not enough for a soccer field. So we play in these things called
babies. They are like baby sized soccer fields. Its way fun.
Today, I was reading in Alma 26. My goal for my mission is to be able
to say everything that Ammon could say after their mission. I love my
scripture study. Unfortunately, one of the rules of our mission is
that during personal study, we can only study El Libro de Mormon, and
Predicad mi Evangelio. 30 minutes each one. Its a little frustrating,
because I wanted to read a little in the bible, and finish the New
Testament. But, a rule is a rule, and I am doing my best to be 100
percent obedient. The one good thing for this is that during our free
time, which we pretty much never have, we can read whatever we would
like. As long as it is approved for missionaries. So, Slowly I will
finish that and Jesus the Christ.
I want you to know that I´m doing the most important thing of my life right now. I
am bringing people to Christ and there is nothing more important.
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