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
|