We killed last week, we were able to find so many new people to teach through contacting, I don´t really know why but the lord is blessing us a lot as are striving so much to find new people to teach. I would just like to mention one of these families. Jimi and Gina Dymijour and their two daughters Loruchama and Angie are a new family we found from Haiti. Remember the earthquake they had in Haiti in 2010, it destroyed a lot of buildings and roads, and impacted a lot of families a lot. Many left the country, some the United States and other countries. Jimi came to Chile, alone and without knowing spanish. He said when he first arrived he didn´t understand anybody. Crazy huh, the gringo missionaries know how that feels like. But he was able to find work through another Hatian, and rent a one room apartment. He worked to gather together money and learned spanish, and was able to pay for his wife and daughter to come to chile. They are a really cool family, speak French as their native language but also speak a little English. Now they have 4 years in Chile. Loruchama, which is a biblical name, is 7 years old, and Angie 2 years old. We were able to share the Restoration with them, and Jimi was really excited to learn more and ask God if this is his Church. They are really receptive. I really do love black people, they are amazing, not to be racist at all. We will see how they progress as time goes on. We will be going back for our second lesson Sunday. It´s funny when they speak English, They have the coolest black accent. P.S. not only is it hard for the Haitians here for the language, but they say the Chilieans are a little racist, which makes it harder to find a house and job. We are trying to help them out, because they are looking for a place to move. Hopefully they stay in our sector. I love you guys, I am tring to work as hard as I can and it is really paying off, sacrifice brings blessings and pushes me to work even harder. Today we went to San Cristobal, a famous hill with a virgin at the top, we had fun and it was a good p-day. I love you, Justin Chandler.
What a great week. This week I have been able to get to know my companion a lot better, and we have recieved many blessings, a lot of new investigators to teach. Elder Esteves is a great missionary, and a hard worker. I am loved this last week, we have gotten to know a lot of really good people, that have really been prepared to hear our message. I have really seen miracles this week. I had little hope for Sarah Rifflo when we first talked to her and she didn´t seem that interested, but we took an appointment with her and when we came back, and she let us in I got to know another Sarah, one who was really curious about our message and our church, and what we do as missionaries. We also found someone who lived in Florida for about a year for work, and also is really interested in the message we share.I will keep you updated as they progress. We have a talent show the 27th of march in the ward, but we don´t know yet what we will be doing, but will have to think of something here soon. We also did contacts in Mall Plaza Sur Saturday, we had a stand with billboards about 3 simple ways to have a happier family, and were able to recieve about 7 references for our ward. Today we played soccer and thompson ball with the zone and had a barbeque with churipanes and hamburgers. I am excited to see how the rest of the week goes. Oh, and we also ran into El Mago the other day, how cool.
Monday in the morning we went on divisions with Leando, to go contacting or knocking doors. We had had a little success, but just appointments to return another day. Then as we turned on Almirante Riveros in front of a Santa Isabel, we ran into a big suprise. Leandro´s mom comes running towards us to tell us that a football player for the national team was filming a commercial in the Santa Isabel, and was also taking pictures with those who wanted to take pictures with him. The blessings of leaving on divisions to go contacting before lunch, eh. Leandros mom published the pics on facebook, and a famous blogger thought the story was really interesting, and wanted to write an article about it. Now we are famous amongst the members here. I also got him to sign a pamphlet of the plan of salvation, who knows, maybe someday it will be worth some money. come check out my article http://www.elfaromormon.org/el-mago-se-saca-fotos-con-misioneros-mormones/.
I am so excited to write this week, especially because I couldn´t last week. Last week was the last Pday for Elder Klappenbach, so we went to say good bye to his old wards, well really just one ward Esperanza. We started off early eating breakfast with a family, then left quickly to get to the temple to do a session with the zone, but arrived 10 minutes late, so they said we could do initiatory meanwhile. We had an hour, and we thought it wouldn´t take very long, but they didn´t have many workers in the temple so they had to work in the session too, and it took way to long to do the initiatories, and in the end we didn´t make the next session. We decided to do more names while we waited for the next hour, but also ended too late and we decided to leave. Even though we didn´t do a session, It was great to do initiatories. Then we ate with a family from Esperanza, and visited one more family, then we had to hurry home to go to an appointment. We tried again the next day, and I started writing, but the internet cut and we had to return home. But it has been a really good pair of weeks. The 28th we had the baptisms of Nataly and her daughter Joice. At last they were ready to be baptized, and I felt so happy that they had made it. I think the happiest moments on the mission is when there is a baptism, you feel the spirit so strongly and you feel so relieved that they could make this important promise with God, and wish that they can stay strong and endure to the end. You really come to love the people you teach. Brother Barriga did the baptisms and the confirmations on Sunday. Brother Barriga has been the best friendshiper for them, to be there for them and make them feel loved at church. It has been hard, Nataly´s mom is evangelist and stubborn and unexcepting, but went to the baptism to support her daughter and grandaughter. She was a little angry when we told her she couldn´t film it, but in the end the baptism was an unforgetable experience. Pics are on the way. Now we are waiting for Cesar´s (Joice´s cousin) cast to come off so he can get baptized too. They we are already planning to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead with them. I can´t wait. Today we had transfers, my new companion is Elder Esteves from Trujillo Peru. He is a really fun elder who puts his whole heart in the work and I know that we are going to be good friends. We started the mission in the same ward, so I already know him pretty well. Elder Hermosilla also came to the ward with Elder Peck, he lives about an hour and a half from where we are now, super close, too close. We were in the CCM together. I know this will be a good transfer, my last one in Quimey, I have been here for 9 months, which seems like forever. Today we played soccer with another zone, I haven´t played in sooo long. It was a good Pday. We also found a Haiti chick which came from a reference. She has only been in chile for 3 years, and said she needs help to find a new place to live. Evidently where they are living now is pretty small, and they are living pretty poor. We said we would like to help her and share a message too. We will see how it goes. Maybe she can teach us French too. A new family came to the ward, there are a lot of new houses bieng built so more people are moving in. He served here a few years ago, and seems really cool. He is willing to work with is, so we will leave on divisions this week. I am so happy for Jeremy´s Baptism, and Joshes Marriage, you need to convince him to wait for me or set up a skype. At least send me pics, I don´t even know what she looks like. I love you all, and with you a very good week, Elder Chandler
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