EARTHQUAKE!!! On saturday we felt a strong trembling for about a minute. It was the strongest I have felt, and thought that maybe the ceiling was going to fall in on us. We were in the church when it happened. And it made it even crazier because it was during the viewing for a funeral. Everyone thought the casket was going to fall over. It also was raining a lot durring the weekend. On sunday we only had the sacrament meeting, a small funeral, and then everyone else went to the cemetary, and we went to lunch. The rest of the week was pretty good, especially that we have bikes now. We have bicicles! Only one other companionship in the mission has bicicles, and we recieved ours last week. We share the bicicles amongst the four of us at the house. Unfortunately Elder Acevedo was playing on one bike too hard and broke the pedal, so technically we don´t have have them right now, and sent it to a shop to fix it. Still, it´s super great to have bikes, and not use so much money in bus fees. We found a new investigator and taught our first lesson with her yesterday. She is reading the pamphlets that we leave and excited to learn. We taught the plan of salvation yesterday and she said she learned a lot and had a lot of questions. We are excited to keep teaching her. Everything else is just about the same. Today we went to a museum, which was fun. Now that we have changed Pday to wednesday we can go to museums. Pics are on the way, but I don´t have time this week. We should be going to the temple too soon, I can´t wait. We have a good week comming up, with a lot of lessons all ready scheduled. It´s good to hear from you all, I love you. Elder Chandler
Saturday we had our Capilla Abierta, and the whole ward pitched in to make it a success. Me and my companion taught about baptism, showing them the baptismal faunt behind us, and letting them fill out a form to ask for a visit from the missionaries. All of the branches of the ward: Primary, Young Mens, Young Womens, Elders Quorum, Relief Society, and the High Priests all showed a little about what they do. We also had the missionaries from the zone helping out, and leaving to invite people in the streets. The members also invited people to come. Not all of them came, but we were able to find a few inactives and investigators to visit. It was a fun activity too.
The gringos in San Bernardo had an extra meeting yesterday, where we learned that we are going to help in a highschool teaching English. That should be fun. We are helping out as a service to the community, but I hope that we can find some references too. Me and my companion went to a leadership training because he is a new district leader, and we both learned a lot of new things. We learned how to give correction in a way that will help them, and show love. We also talked about the new vision for the mission durring this next year. There is a new mission statement for the Mission Santiago Sur- ´´We are consecrated missionaries whose lives and work are centered in the Doctrine of Christ.´´ The whole purpose it to be consecrated missionaries, that put all their heart, might, mind, and soul in the work. I am ready to make the changes necessary to consecrate my life to the Lord. I want to give this my all, and bring happiness into the lives of others. So here I am, in Quimey, trying to be exactly obedient and summisive to the Lord, and loving every bit of it. The ward remains strong, and with the help of the ward we are trying to fix the problems that our investigators are having. As a missionary one tries to do their best, despite weakness and the problems in the lives of those you´re teaching, but through it all changes a lot as they become closer to God. I still feel like I have a long way to go, but that I am moving forward, and becoming more like Christ. I love you all, and the hard work you all are doing. Jeremy in Argentina, sacando la mugre, and you all working so hard at home, supporting two missionaries in the field. I wish you the best, Love Elder Chandler Sometimes I forget to tell you all thanks. I would not be the person I am now without my family. You guys are everything for me. Especially Mom and Dad, because it can be difficult to raise a family strong in the gospel. It is difficult. I know what I know about God because you taught me from a young age. You were always there for me, not pushing me too hard, but there. And you put God first in the family, to attend church, hold family home evening, family scripture study, and family prayer. It was difficult to do, but we kept fighting, and I have many good memories as a result. The priesthood became something very important in my life, and a goal to always live up to my duty. And because of you all and your examples, I am serving a mission now to fulfill my promise with the lord. I am following in the Lords way.And I have the joy to bring the gospel into other families, which in turn fixes families and relieves the pain of their trials. I am bringing families together, through Jesus Christ. I know from personal experience that the gospel changes the family, and brings them together in unity. It may not take away trials and burdens, but it can lighten the load. And with time everything will work out. Thank you for all you have done, and all the support you give me and love you show.
I am a little anoyed by this keyboard, and it is a little harder to type. I am sending photos of San Cristobal, where we went for P-day. It`s a hill in Santiago with a virgin at the top. As you can see, it is very beautiful natural escape, and there is an amazing view of the city at the top. We took a little train to the top, and took a lot of sweek pics. There is also a zoo, but we were short on time and skipped that part, maybe next time. The week was a little bit of a challenge, but despite the apointments falling through, we gave it our all and did a lot of contacting. The important thing is that we gave it our all, and arrived tired at the house every night, with the satisfaction that we did our best. Tomorrow I`ll be cooking mexican tacos for a lesson, which will be fun. Friday we have a lesson in the church to prepare Martina for her baptism, which will be amazing, and then Saturday is the baptism. We are working hard to prepare her, and the date is aproaching quickly. Again, I love you all, and hope everything goes well, and changes for the better. Hang in there. Life is a roller coaster, and can be a little crazy at times. Elder Chandler |