¡Hola familia, amigos, y otros Èlderes y Hermanas!
How are you all this fine, fine day? I absolutely loved getting your letters and emails. They are the absolute best! I'm so happy to hear of all of your fantastic experiences, and your incredible thoughts and stories. They make me happy, incredibly happy! I wish I could write out an incredibly lengthy response to each and every single one of you. You're all the best, and you're continuing to get better every day. Way to go, you fantastic people! Keep doing what you're doing, and miracles will be not only happening, but a regular occurence for you. I've seen it here in my life, and in the lives of those around me. I know that to be true!
And for those of you who are currently feeling the pangs of remorse for not sending me any word about your continued life on earth, no worries! I find that turning to the Scriptures is the method to find true relief and happiness from moments like these. I recommend Alma 60:6. (Just kidding. Enjoy the laugh. I love you guys!)
This week was a bit of a downer here in Chillàn. The lack of success was kind of disappointing, and we were able to clearly see what we could have done better during our weekly planning on Sunday. But, we've had several experiences that have turned that all around and given us a re-energized state. We are absolutely thrilled to be here and get to work now. More on that later, after the specific responses.
Elder Elggren: Don't get frustrated! I completely understand the disappointment that comes with a dried up period. The word you picked for it, dreary, is an excellent descriptor. But I know that we, especially as missionaries, get these challenging times for a reason. My trainer was telling me just the other day that we get time and time again with disappointment for three reasons.
First, that we can learn from it, grow from the experience and see what we can change or do to make sure that it doesn't happen again.
Second, it is to test our obedience. We have many options during these hard times, but continued effort and obedience during the most strenous of circumstances is what brings the really good miracles, for us and for the people we teach.
Finally, we are able to better appreciate the good times. Can't know good without knowing what bad is. You can't appreciate the quality of a good investigator and the need to work hard with them unless you have experienced that dreary time of non progressors or countless slammed doors. Just keep working hard, keep climbing that mountain! Great things are coming to you, I can tell! Remember that life is 10% what happens to us, 90% how we react to it! You're the best, brother. Looking forward to your next email!
David! Oh, brother, it was good to hear from you! Your own missionary experiences and the life lessons you've taught me (No matter how unwillingly recieved on my part!) have been a super-blessing out here in Chile. Not to mention the humor I've been able to gain from your stories. Other Elders have certainly enjoyed them as well! By the way, being a missionary is awesome, and I'm pretty sure being a dad is lots of hard work. I'd rather not switch places with you. I can't wait to see Donovin (Vinny!) after my mission, when he'll be so much older. Keep being such an awesome older brother, David!
The word we use for ghetto is flaite, and a pretty could portion of my area is pretty poor. The beauty of this area is streets of really nice (By Chilean standards) houses right next to streets that are really, really poor. There is one street, ironically named Pasaje Shangri La, which is hilariously slummish. The people are still ridiculously nice, even in these poorer areas. The worst thing that's happened to me so far is some Jovens trying to teach us cuss words in Spanish and English. Things are very chill here, almost too much, in fact!
The people are incredibly crazy about soccer. Futbol is a lifestyle here. Every Church is even equipped with a small Bebe court out back. Every family has a ball, and the biggest family divisions I've seen thus far are which Chilean futbol team to support. Nublense is actually situated in Chillàn, so I've been slowly converted to the Rojos Diablos. The Chilean vs Venuzuela (I think.) decision game for the world cup was this week. Life essentially stopped during game time. Lessons were impossible. Every single tv and radio and laptop computer was set to that game. Cars honked in the streets after the three Chilean goals. And by the way, futbol commentators are as stereotypically true as possible. It is amazing!
I am trying to embrace the culture. I am certainly becoming crazy about soccer.
The Spanish I'm going to be speaking is very, very different than the Spanish you learned in Philly. Or the Spanish taught and spoken in Mexico. I would be happy to teach you all about Chileno Spanish when I get back though! Thanks so much for everything, bro! Keep being such a good example for me and Donovin! You're the best!
Elder Layton: That picture is super great. Thanks a ton for it. And this is, in fact, the best mission in the whole wide world. ¡Le amo!
Mom: It was wonderful getting your weekly letter. It is always an exquisite joy for me! It's funny that you have been getting rain, as the first few rainstorms I've been getting in Chile happened this week. The sky was pretty gray, but since the temperature was a bit warmer, there is no way I was complaining. I've consistently warn just a shirt and tie outside for a while now, though I still will bring my super thick coat for nightime visits, because I'm a baby when it comes to the cold. In other words, I like being at a nice and cozy body temperature, and Steven's coat has done wonders for me thus far.
It sure is great when we see family we haven't seen in a while. This week at Church, we finally managed to convince an investigator to go. She showed up, and by pure, pure cicrumstance (And the Lord's hand in all things, mind you), her nephew was there. The two had been estranged for some time now, and were finally able to get back together under the roof of the Chapel. It was beautiful to see them reunite and sit together during classes. The Gospel really does bring families together!
How is that Matthew, Andrew, and Owen? They look like they're as big as those adults in the background. Whatever Kyla has been feeding those kids, I would certainly like some. As an idea for something to do with them, play soccer. That always works with the kids here!
My buddy Zach is going to Iowa! That is so, so exciting! I can't wait to hear all the incredible experiences he will have there. His comments about the Lord hastening His work are certainly the truth. The Gospel is spreading fast, and the work is like a wild fire down here in Chile! It was cool that you got to see him open it. He probably had a ton of family and friends there! He's a pretty popular guy. You should ask him if there are any movies set in Des Moines, haha.
I'm doing my best to keep track of things down here! I don't get to my journal as often as I like, as there is always something else to do around here. But I am getting better at time management, learning from the example set by my awesome companion and the other Elders here. With the new schedule that we're on, hopefully I'll be able to find the time to catch up on everything! Our investigators are doing good. We have two solid progressing investigators, and we have a solid pool of news and a large number of futures in the area. The two progressing investigators both have fechas before the end of the month. I haven't been able to attend any convert baptisms yet (Not for a few more weeks anyway!), but there was a member baptism this Sunday. It was a very Spiritual experience, and I certainly loved it. The Ward here went full out in unity and love. It was a solid event with lots and lots of people in attendence.
You asked about the candy. Funny story, but after I found out that Chilean supermarkets have German gummies and chocolates readily available, I had to be restrained by the other Elders from using all of my funds on the sweets. Not very much American candy is solidly available, but chocolate is plentiful and Chilean sweets (Mostly cookies from here and Argentina) aren't bad to munch on. Toblerone is pretty huge here, by the way. My MP3 player has been working fine, though the battery is pretty weak. It lasts about an hour of solid playing before dying.The speaker is the best! It never gives out, and sounds great still. I love it. I can't really imagine much that I would want. Maybe a small American flag or clothing item with flag on it when the World Cup comes around. Ties of all colors are missionary favorites. That and the canker sore removers I mentioned in the other email. My clothes are all lasting, and I really have no complaints about what I have. Gifts and surprises are always super welcome though!
Dad: Thank you so much for your letters. I was delighted to be able to pick up four of them during a conference this week. They are inspiring! I wish I could say a million things about them, but please just know that they are warmly recieved and studied. I ponder each one individually, and love the messages in them. Thank you so much for these letters. They are the best!
Only time for one Spiritual experience this week. I will repent next week.
As I said earlier, we were kind of burned out during our planning for the upcoming week. Our numbers had been disappointing, and we knew that we had to fix things. Suddenly, Elder Jory began talking about our Zone's goal of eight baptisms, and how we as a companionship had a goal for two for the month of September. As we talked, a spiritual prompting touched us. The absolutely crazy idea to not only achieve our goal, but TRIPLE it by the end of the month infused our hearts with a crazy kind of energy. We wrote sticky notes saying six and placed them all over the apartment. We knew that our goal was absolutely unlikely, but we have one thing on our side. Faith.
We have faith that if we work hard, stay focused, and do every single thing that we can, the Spirit will touch lives and change hearts. Heavenly Father will place people into our paths and bless our words with power. We will reach this goal. We will get this miracle.
Thank you all for your loving words and kind thoughts! I can't wait to share more with you in the future. May God bless you all in your daily lives, and I know that you will have incredible blessings.
With love, Elder Richardson
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