Here in the ward, Parque Subercaseaux, as a result of so much missinaries going this transfer, we will be reduced by two missionaries, or in other words it will just be me and my companion, and the sister missionaries that are in San Miguel Ward, which are also working in the ward when they recieve a reference from a member, or we cannot get in because there is not a man older than 18 present. I have been meating the other elders investigators this week, one named Milanko who is awesome. Elder Harrison goes home before the end of the transfer, next monday. We had to move Danielas fecha, because we lack time to teach all the lessons, but it will be here soon. We are also helping her mom who has health problems and has been in the hospital awaiting a complicated surgery, the whole family is very nervous to see how everything goes, because the public hospitals here are poor quality, and a horrible waiting time. There is a ward activity comming up, a play of the parables of Jesus. The Elders Quorum is doing the good samaritan, and I will be playing the role of the priest. My companion made me arepas today for breakfast, look them up, it is some amazing colombian food, with ham and cheese in the inside, MMMMMMmmm. Elder Lopez is the best. I am excited to see how next week goes. Congrajulations Debbie and Garth. That is so cool that you got married. One more on the way, Josh and Dani. How cool all the rain you are getting. How awesome baptisms for the dead are, did you do your own names. Tell everybody I say hi, I would write more but I am out of time. take care.
Monday I was with Elder Peña knocking doors contacting, and decided to go to an old Carabinero (police) department building to give it a shot. We started at the bottom, at the first door nobody came out. We knocked one door over, and Cristofer answered, and shockingly invited us to come in right away. That was amazing in its self, something that never happens here. We got talking, and he started to tell us a little about what his work, then he told us that he believes in God, but was a little far from where he should be. His wife, Andrea has an uncle who is a member, and knew a little about our church. She had been attending an evangelical church, and also was familiar with the Jehovas Witness. We started to share about the Restoration of the Gospel, and said they would like to know if our message was true, and bring their daughter to church so she could learn more about the gospel. Cristofer finished with a prayer, at first he was reluctant, but we taught him how to pray, and gave it a shot, but said the words didn`t come out. He wasn`t afraid to pray, but said that he had been away for so long. We helped him telling him that the most important thing is that it is from the heart, like a talk with a friend, and he prayed. The spirit was so strong. He said we were welcome to come back at any time, and share more. He gave us his cel and house number. He offered us once, a small meal, for the next appointment. I don`t know if I have ever met anybody so open before. We hope they can come to church sunday. Definately Golden Investigators.
Here in the ward, Parque Subercaseaux, as a result of so much missinaries going this transfer, we will be reduced by two missionaries, or in other words it will just be me and my companion, and the sister missionaries that are in San Miguel Ward, which are also working in the ward when they recieve a reference from a member, or we cannot get in because there is not a man older than 18 present. I have been meating the other elders investigators this week, one named Milanko who is awesome. Elder Harrison goes home before the end of the transfer, next monday. We had to move Danielas fecha, because we lack time to teach all the lessons, but it will be here soon. We are also helping her mom who has health problems and has been in the hospital awaiting a complicated surgery, the whole family is very nervous to see how everything goes, because the public hospitals here are poor quality, and a horrible waiting time. There is a ward activity comming up, a play of the parables of Jesus. The Elders Quorum is doing the good samaritan, and I will be playing the role of the priest. My companion made me arepas today for breakfast, look them up, it is some amazing colombian food, with ham and cheese in the inside, MMMMMMmmm. Elder Lopez is the best. I am excited to see how next week goes. Congrajulations Debbie and Garth. That is so cool that you got married. One more on the way, Josh and Dani. How cool all the rain you are getting. How awesome baptisms for the dead are, did you do your own names. Tell everybody I say hi, I would write more but I am out of time. take care.
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It has been a beautiful, Rainy day! I love the rain, and they say we will have rain all week long. It is just a light drizzle, with a cool breeze, the perfect climate. I have seen miracles this week in the field, God has put us in the perfect place, at the right time to make a difference. First, if you remember we are preparing a 12 year old girl, Daniela, for baptism. Last Saturday her mom, Ana, went to the hospital for a surgery that she has been waiting for for about a month now. They did a few examens to prepare her for the surgery monday. We visited her in the hospital to show our support. Monday, when they started they ran into an unexpected problem, that the public hospital couldn`t handle. They were really worried, so they called us, asking if the ward could help out. We called the bishop, and he went at night to visit with the family to help out. Then yesterday his 2nd counselor went to the hospital to find out more about the situation. It was amazing that the members could react to help out, so Daniela`s family could feel their support at this difficult time. Ana has been going to church alone, with the help of the ward, but with the help the bishopbric has given when they need it is helping change their feelings towards the church. I hope everything goes well in the hospital, and Ana can get better. Please pray for them. I also hope the family will be more receptive and humbled through this experience, and start participating and going to church with Daniela. They really need the gospel to strengthen their family, because they have fallen a little into the ways of the world. There have a lot to overcome, but I have high hopes, and want the best for Daniela, who is working so hard towards baptism. Please pray for them. Yesterday durring the lesson with Daniela, the girlfriend of her cousin, Valentina, suprised us and showed a lot of interest in our message. She asked about what we do as missionaries everyday, and we started to get to know her. She told us that she had participated with an evangical church, but had fallen away a little. She asked how we knew the church was true, and we shared our personal experiences, and asked her if she would like to know more. She said she was very interested, that she had asked her preacher how to know if that church was the true church, and he said she had to pray to find the truth, the same that we teach. She prayed, and felt nothing. We shared about the restoration of the gospel, and invited her to pray to know if it was true. We invited her to read the first pamphlet to find out more, and told her we would like to talk more about it the next time. She joyfully excepted. I was so suprised, it was a miracle. Maybe she had fallen into some bad habits, like smoking and other worldly things, but you should never judge somebody without knowing thier story and giving them a chance to know the truth and change thier life. Maybe she has a long way to go, but she has the desire and I know that if she is willing to know the truth, she will see everything change. God is just that cool. Another miracle, all the appointments had fallen through monday, durring divisions with another elder, so we started knocking doors. 8 hours of knocking doors, and talking to people in the streets. We had talked to a lot of people that just weren`t interested, there are always peole like that. A small barking dog even peed on my foot through the gate when I wasn`t looking. But we found some people who were really interested in our message. One, Akilis, a Haitiano who we stopped on the street returning from work, and said he had never heard of the mormons, that never happens! He said he was living in a factory, and couldn`t invite us in, but liked the message of the restoration, and said he would like to meet up somewhere elso. We got his phone number, and I feld strongly that he would be the one we were looking for all day long. God works in misterious ways. This week we have talked to people in the streets, in elevators, and outside there houses that have been really receptive, people prepared by god. Today we went to buy mate yerba and the woman we always buy mate from started to ask about what we do as missionaries. She had seen a lot of missionaries buy mate before there. We shared a little of the gospel, and she opened up, talking about her dad that was sick in the hospital, and the faith and trust she had in God. We talked about the restoration, and the blessings and strength that she could have in her life, and she accepted the challenge to recieve the missionaries were she lives. I felt the spirit so strong, it was definately another miracle. This is the work of God, and He is at the head. It was a great week. We also went to Franklin, and ate colombian food with my companion, and bought a few things to try. It was a good Pday. I am so happy to hear from you all, I love you all. I am excited for Josh`s wedding, and Debbie`s wedding, Kris`s mission, School to start, and the success Jeremy is having on the mission. There is just so much going on. Thank you for remembering me though it all. Have a great week, Elder Chandler
Little by little God works miracles. Last week we passed by a future investigator, 15 years old who has been really receptive but we haven`t been able to get through the door and teach, for various reasons. Thursday we passed by, he called his mom, and invited us in, and we were able to teach about the restoration. Then we invited him to the youth snow camp this saturday, and he was really excited to go. We are going to go with him this thursday to mutual so he know the details of the trip. The lesson was a miracle, and he had a lot of questions for us. Lets see how it goes. Daniela came to church sunday, the first time that the members helped bring her, and is preparing for her baptism for the 15th of August. We did a service project for her family yesterday, taking apart a small room that they added on to their house, that they are going to take to their new house when they move, here soon. It was fun taking apart the roof, bieng careful not to fall. Pics on the way, I have to steal them from Elder Harrison, who is pure Trunky, counting down to when he goes home, in 2 weeks left. Today we played Zombies in the chappel for P-day, we had a good time. Congrajulations Jeremy on Dario`s Baptism, I know how you feel, so happy for Dario and the change he has gone through, the amazing journey that he is starting, and your strong desires that he endures to the end. You are changing peoples lives, and God is changing yours meanwhile. That is amazing that Kris is preparing for the mission, and that he took out his endowment. Before you know it he will be preaching the gospel, how cool! Enjoy your baptisms for the dead this weekend, it will be great! Good luck on your drivers test Amy. Good job on your sunday school class Kate. I love you all, take care, Elder Chandler.
To my loving family... This week we had a great stake activity about family history work. This Thursday was Family History Discovery Day. It was all really welly organized, and we had a great turnout. There were many classes all day long to help people start, or continue with thier family history. We also had an amazing Zone Conference monday. I would like to share a little from the zone conference. President Cook talked about the sacrament. Have you noticed how much the apostles are talking about the sacrament lately, especially in General Conference? Sunday is turning into just another day, for the world, even a day when all the big events and sports and concerts are held. I thought I understood the sacrament pretty well, but president helped me see it in another way. What are most of the religions thinking about when they take the sacrament? Do we as members have a better understanding of the sacrament? When Jesus instituted the sacrament with his disciples in Jeruselem he asked them to ``remember this hour that I was with you``, but we know he said that thanks to the joseph smith translation. Other churches focus and ponder about the crucifixion durring the sacrament, but Jesus asks us to remember the time he was with his disciples, when he washed thier feet showing love and service. He also asks us to remember his whole life, the example he gave and the doctrine he taught, the service that he gave. We should remember more that just a dead Chirst on the cross and a bleeding in Getsemane, but a living Christ, that he can be part of our lives and as we apply his doctrine we can become like him: clean, pure, and spiritually born again and renewed. President also talked about the doctrine of Grace and Works, a very misunderstood doctrine for our christian friends. It has been a topic of heated debate between churches, Are we saved be works, by keeping the commandments and living the gospel, or are we saved be grace, divine help to reach the eternal life. The catholic church believes in salvation through works, even paying to recieve forgiveness from sin, and evangelical churches lean towards salvation through grace alone. In our sacrament prayers there is the key. We believe in Works and Grace. The bread prayer symbolizes works. It tells us we need to 1- take upon us the name of Crist 2- always remember him, and 3- keep his commandments. This is what we have to do to recieve salvation. The water prayer holds no personal commitment, just remember him and we will have his spirit to be with us always. It is obviously talking about grace, that we can be saved be grace but only after all that we can do.
What does the sacrament mean to you? Is is a treasured moment of pondering and self analysis? Is it a time to recommit yourself to improve durring the next week? Do you keep the sabath day holy? There is no rule book to what you can and can`t do sunday, god gives us the right to judge. Do what you do sunday show God that you honor His special day? I know that keeping the sabath day holy is an important commandment that comes with great blessings. It has been a good week, a hard week, contacting and finding some new investigators. We do have a baptism comming up, but we haven`t put the date yet. Daniela is preparing to be baptized, even though it hasn't been all that easy. We plan on putting a baptism date today. Wish us luck. I am happy to hear about the success Jeremy is having. Sounds like you found a good one, Platinum eh. You are doing great things in that little ward. It was great that you recieved rain. Yes!!! Springs reserve sounds sick. I love you all. Have a happy Pioneer day. P.S. I guess you could probably replace the word ``works`` with ``justice``, it might make a little more sense. P.S. The power of the priesthood to heal the sick has been restored to the earth. When I was in the hospital with Elder Lopez, we met a member who had been inactive, and had started comming back to church. He said he had fallen away after everyone else in his family stopped going to church. He comited to having made a few mistakes, but due to some difficult trials, had experienced a change of heart. He had surgury, because he had a brain tumor, and had to stay in the hospital various weeks. He had a huge dent in his head, but his faith was stronger than ever. He was going go church before his accident, even though his wife didn`t go with him. He shared with us his strong testimony of modern prophets and apostles, when he had the opportunity to listen to president Eyring speak, but due to the bus taking too long to pass bye, he had to walk, and arrived late. But, he had the unique experience to shake his hand two times durring meeting, and shared about the power that he could feel through Gods apostle on the earth. His bishop had visited him while he was in the hospital also. We went upstairs to his bedroom, and gave him a priesthood blessing. I have always loved giving blessings, feeling the power of God move through me, just a servant of God. I am greatful for the trust God has in man, that he allows them to work miracles even as Christ did. I am greatful for my priesthood and my duty to live worthy of it so I can always help those in need. I have had the opportunity to give my companion blessings while he has been sick, it is amazing, they are unforgettable experiences. We also got a reference to visit a young man 21 years old in the hospital in our sector. Was with his dad, and looked bad but his dad didn`t want to tell us what had occurred. But we gave him a blessing, and I know his dad will now forget that experience. We were able to share a little about the plan of salvation and the love of god for his children. We gave him a pamphlet, and invited him to read it. Who knows, it could be a seed we planted in his heart, and someday in the future he might get baptized. Anything can happen. Do not under appreciate the power of the priesthood on the earth that you have access to, every one of His children. I love you, Have a nice week
Sunday we got rain, strong and all day long. In the morning we woke up without power in our appartment, but it was lightly raining outside. Throughout the day it picked up, and came with a little wind also. Thank you all for your prayers, I hope it will keep raining. The last few days have been significantly colder, like always after the rain, it feels like we are finally in winter. And there is snow on the mountaintops!! :) My companion is still sick. We were outside last tuesday and wednesday, he said he felt a lot better, and wanted to work. Thursday he was feeling a little bad at night, so we went home a little early, about an hour, and then friday he woke up really bad. He said he didn`t sleep at all last night, and he started coughing a lot, really grose like. We ended up going to the hospital in taxi, and I spent 5 hours waiting while Elder Lopez did some health tests. He was given more pills, and told to rest. I have been going out and teaching when I can, leaving with the other elders to visit the people we had set appointments for. It was a little borring, being in the house so much, wanting to do missionary work but not bieng able to. Then monday I left with Elder Whitmore on divisions and we saw a miracle, it was quarter to 10, about time to go back, and we had been knocking doors all day long. I decided to pass by a future investigator we had talked to a while ago named Jonah. To my great suprise his girlfriend answered the door and said to Jonah, ´´look, your friend are here´´ and let us in. That never happens here. We started talking with them, and were able to share a short message about the book of mormon, and an introduction to the restoration with the little time we had. They told us they were going to read the pamphlet, and that we could come back to share more. It was a last minute, unexpected miracle. When we first talked to Jonah, he was really stubborn, saying he had read the book of mormon when he was young, and searching for religion but he didn`t believe in God now, and religion was not for him. Something changed between now and then, and I know it was a sign from God that we found Jonah, and I needed to keep trying, despite the hardship I had encountered. I know that God is in charge here, and he has everything under control. Today was the first day we are going to leave and work together since friday. I have faith that all will work out. I love you all, thank you for everthing, and I mean EVERYTHING. We are going into another transfer and I have high hopes, and trust in God. I can`t believe the minion movie wasn`t all it was cracked up to be, it was on my movie list. I will have to see how Jurrasic World is. Keep enjoying yourselves as a family, the springs reserve will be fun. And I can`t wait to hear about Josh`s wedding next month. How fun! Good luck Jeremy on the mission, sounds like you are teaching some really great people, and a baptism is comming! Take care, Elder Chandler
Is there a better way to celebrate the 4th of July and Chili´s triumphant victory over Argentina? It was an emotional battle from the begginning of the month until the last game, but in the end there can only be one winner. Argentina fought hard, and everyone was holding their breath until the last minute. It came down to the very last minute, even passing overtime, but when we saw the ball fly into the goal, we all went crazy, it was time to celebrate. We flew out of our seats and started shouting and jumping up at down, victory was ours!! Then the beautiful shower of fireworks kept us in joyfull awe. I knew that you guys were watching fireworks at home, and we were watching them here. I am so greatfull president allowed us to watch the game. It was the perfect year to win, when I am here to celebrate. Happy 4th of July to all, and Jeremy, no hard feelings.
CHILE WON THE AMERICAN CUP!!!! CHILE WON THE AMERICAN CUP!!! The Chileans went crazy celebrating too. To watch the game we had to get a ride home, and on the way home with our ward mission leader we saw the chileans fill Gran Avenida, and we heard that in Plaza Italia (were everybody in Santiago goes to celebrate after the games) ,it was insane. Earlier that day we went to a baptism of the other elders in the ward, Elder Harrison and Whitmore. It was an investigator who got baptized without her husband because her husband (brother Amigo) hasn´t been able to overcome his addiction to alcohol. They will continue helping him and hope he gets baptized in the near future. Here is the bad news now, my comp is still battling with sickness, and we went to the doctor friday and they told him he has pneumonia, that he has to take antibiotics for 6 days and he cannot leave very much. That means we have been at home a bit this week, and doing divisions with the other elders when they can to keep teaching people. it has been hard for Elder Lopez, he hasn´t been able to sleep because he has been coughing all night long. And the cold air makes it worse. We fasted for rain sunday, and it rained!!!, but light rain and only for about an hour. Today a few drops fell from the sky, but we still need a lot more rain, Please pray for rain here in Chile. We are hoping it will start raining, the city polution will go down, and Elder Lopez will get better. It also has been a hard week because some of our progressing investigators have told us they don´t want us to pass by anymore, or have just been really occupied. One investigator that has been ignoring our calls and also when we knock on the door told us over the phone that her father thinks we are investigating her, and she doesn´t want problems with her family. I don´t know if I should believe it or not. But, the work goes on, no matter what the trial may be. I like Alma 32:38 that says if we neglect to nurture our seed, the strong sun will burn it, and it will dry, because it doesn´t have root. The strong sun, of strong trials, can not weaken our faith, or stop the work of God from progressing. We must always feed our faith. This friday we will watch the funeral of Elder Boyd K Packer. We have lost another good one. Today we had breakfast as a zone (pancakes, eggs) then played soccer. It was a blast. President also came out with a new rule, we can´t use a bag now, we have to carry the scriptures and pamphlets in the hand. Supossedly a few missionaries were robbed, and that is the reason for the new rule. I hope this letter finds you all doing well. I love you all. I hope you have a good week. Would you look at that! What have we got here... is this really happening... here comes the moment of truth. Chile is in the Copa America finals!!!!!! We beat Peru, and Uruguay, and now there is only country between us and victory... Argentina. Did you here that Jeremy, Argentina will go home with an L this saturday, and Chile will go in the history books as the first time they have ever one the Copa America. And could there be a better day than the 4th of July, celebrating American independance and Chilean victory. Asado Time!!!!! Saturday is going to be crazy, the Chileans go crazy when their is a Chile game on: shouting, honking their car horns, and throwing a party all night long that can you imagine the championship. It´s going to be HUGE! Make sure to remember that when you are eating your hamburgers and hot dogs and watching fireworks. I am sure grandpa will fire his own, you guys are gonna have a blast.
Sunday was the mission aniversary conference. We all got together to have our own Copa America, a battle between the zones to find out who has the most knowlege of the scriptures and preach my gospel. The counselor of the misson spoke, Sister Cook, and President Cook. A recent convert talked too, and Brother Quiros, someone from my last ward, Quimey. He has a missionary here in the mission before it was restored. When I was in Quimey he was inactive, never went to the church. The other missionaries were visting him, without much success. I was happy to hear that he was going to church regularly with his family. It is amazing how people can change over time. On friday we had the ward talent show. There was a good ward turnout, and a lot of funny acts. We did a funny dance and finished it off with the Harlem Shake. It was halarious, and everyone loved it. It still hasn´t rained yet, and the city is full of polution. The Area Presidency asked everybody to fast this sunday for the rain, Oh let it rain please! We also were able to teach a great future investigator, and he is really receptive. He asked us when we were going to invite him to go to church with us. He is happy to expirement and see if our church is the one, and thankfully thats all that is requiered. We are looking forward to another great week. Thank you for writing me, I hope you have a happy Fourth of July. I will be celebrating here too. I love you all, I hope you liked the pics this time. Elder Chandler P.S. Chile is gonna win Saturday, I can´t wait. Hello beloved family. Santiago has some crazy bad polution, this morning when I woke up I couldn`t see the mountains the smog was so bad. I will send a pic so you can see just how bad it was. We are in a horribe droubt here, it should have rained more that a month ago. With rain it would clear the skies, taking away the horrible polution. We are prohibited to go running outside in the morning. We are in a health emergancy, and as a result only certain cars can leave each day, depending on the licence plate, to keep down the polution. Everybody is getting sick as a result of the bad air, incuding my companion. Pray for rain, please. But pray that it rains in the night so we don`t have to be out in it. Suposedly there is a chemical they can shoot out of a plane to stimulate the rain, and that`s what they are going to do, I don`t understand that part very well, but thats what everybody is saying. This week is going to be different. Today we have pday from 4-10:30, usually 10:30-6:30, which means we were working all morning, which for us meant knocking doors. The bonus is that we get to watch the game tonight, Chile against Uruguay. This sunday we have a special conference for the 2 year anniversary of the mission, and next pday we will have a mission wide pday activity, still a suprise what we will be doing. This sunday we have ward conference, and friday a ward talent show, but I will not divulge the secret of what we will be doing. It should be a blast. I love the bealer pics you all sent me, it looks like you had fun. Everybody looks so much different, incredible how much somebody can change over 2 years. Good luck Amy on your drivers test. I love you all. Thanks for writing me.
This week has been a good week of contacts. Two days we had to go home earlier, 830, because Chile was playing. We beat ecuador but Monday tied Mexico 3-3. We have to beat Bolivia Wednesday, and we can move on the the next round. So these are the highlights of the week, Saturday we had a great lesson with Elena, who we hadn`t been able to get in contact with for a while. She had some doubts about Joseph Smith, why we focus so much on him, and if we worship him. They were common doubts, and we taught a little of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ to help her understand really who Joseph Smith was, the prophet of the restoration. Then we invited her to go to church to find out more about the church, AND SHE WENT. She arrived a little late, but in time for sacrament meeting at 11, which is our last hour. It was so great that she went for her first time. I am excited for our next lesson saturday. We got to know Jona yesterday while we were contacting. He was inside reparing his bike, wearing a Linsanity t-shirt. He doesn`t believe in God, because he has never seen any sign that has showed him that there is a God. We tried to help him understand that the world around us is a sign that their is a God, and that he can know there is a god through the Book of Mormon, and Prayer. He still was not convinced, but likes to learn now things, and seems open to a second visit, another time when we can give a lesson with his Girlfriend. This week has also been a service week. We helped sister Vergara paint, because her daughter recently went to the mission and she wants to move to a department in the center of Santiago. She is doing a few last minute touch ups to the house so she can sell it. Today we helped sister Reyes preparing garbage bag packs to sell, and for P day, we went to Estacion Central, and bought a 40 Kilo Fardo, large bag, of ties, between 8 missionaries. Thats A TON OF TIES. We started choosing one by one our favorites, until all the good ones were gone, and then everyone went for the rest they wanted. After everyone chose the ones they wanted, there was still a ton left over, a few in bad condition that went in the trash, and a few to gift away. Now I have about 60 ties more for 5 dollars. Thats like 10 cents a tie. I love you all, thanks for writing me, I can`t wait to hear more next week. Elder Chandler.
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