Aimee sent
pictures of her journal for her letter home this week in hopes of saving computer time while providing extra details.
17 de Junio
Yesterday we helped Daniela find a shark costume from a
member in the branch for her son. A blessing for sure because now Daniela is
going to come to church to thank Hermana Ermita! The gospel is wonderful! We
had divisions with Hermna Janczak and she is so wonderful and has the biggest
heart and everyone just loves her!
But I am learning so much and Hermana Betancur is the
most amazing trainer because of MANY reasons, but especially because she
believes in me. She is constantly helping me feel like I CAN be the missionary
God wants me to be. She always says, “usted es ton capa” and “usted es mi
entrenadora.” I know it’s not true, but it makes me happy that she doesn’t
treat me like the new missionary that needs to follow. She makes me feel like a
leader and I am so grateful for her! She makes me feel smart in things outside
of lessons (like my can opener ideas, and the cheese grater strainer). I hope
that if I am ever a trainer, I can make my companion feel this special, loved,
and important.
21 de Junio
Yesterday we went to the beach in Pichilemu. The Zone
Leaders were super organized and we had a bus that followed us around so we
were able to get to and from different places easily and quickly. It was so fun
playing ultimate Frisbee on the black sand and eating cumpletos and meat at a member’s
house. It was so fun getting closer with the zone. It’s amazing though after a
long day of playing and being in “normal” clothes, it always is such an amazing
feeling putting on my dress at 6 PM and heading out the work again. I love how
special it is to be completely focused 24/7 100% of the time on helping others
feel the Spirit and gain a personal desire to come unto Christ.
Today we had a lesson with Carmen, a less active. She’s
really sick but loves when we visit and teach. She loves to learn and
has forgotten a lot about the gospel. As we taught her about the Plan of
Salvation, she got so excited to live with God again. It was so special helping
her remember her baptism day and reminding her that she can feel that same
spirit and cleanliness every Sunday as she renews her baptismal covenants
through the sacrament.
At lunch, Hermana Mariaelena was so sweet and made us
porotos. (This is some type of bean dish according to Google.) After we shared a spiritual thought, she started listing off names of
people that need help. It’s amazing when people feel the Spirit and the Love of
Christ, they have an increased desire to share it and spread this love to
everyone.
After lunch we went and sang to the elderly bed-ridden
couple that Lastenia works for like we do every Tuesday. Ah, I love how quickly
the Spirit comes through singing hymns!
Then we had Hermana Fabiola (Relief Society President)
come to our lesson with Daniela. And wow it was the most amazing experience! We
started talking about the Plan of Salvation and Daniela didn’t really want to
open up in front of the RS President, but after talking about our purpose in
life and Hermana Fabiola sharing her personal experience with her family and
the Plan of Salvation, Daniela finally broke through and we found her need. She
just cried to us and told us about how she is basically raising her 2 kids on
her own. Her “husband” doesn’t help at all. She cried and said how she’s always
exhausted and her 6 year old and 2 year old are disobedient and it’s so hard.
They don’t have any money and I lost it when I watched those poor kids eat
their 2 crackers each saving the CRUMBS and basically licking the table to get
as much food as possible. I wanted to give them all that I have, but then I
realized that is exactly what I was here to do. I was holding the Book of
Mormon. I was holding the very thing that is going to bring joy to their family
and change their lives. I am praying so much for this family, and I can’t wait
to help her recognize the Lord in her life and how she can overcome every
trial. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s perfect.
Then we were supposed to have FHE with the Leiva family,
but they changed plans to next week, so we were able to visit Javiera instead.
Ah, I ADORE Javiera! She is a 16 year old less active, and Ally Forshee’s twin!
She was so worried because she has a test tomorrow and doesn’t understand her
study guide. I’m dying because it wasn’t English, or math… it was CHEMISTRY! I
ran away from chemistry ½ way across the world, but here I am in Chile
converting grams into moles, and balancing chemical equations. It made it
difficult that it was all in Spanish, BUT I learned that the words in chemistry
are useless because all I did was plug numbers into the formulas and BOOM. All
those years of hating chemistry paid off tonight! It’s like “you can run, but you
can’t hide!” But really, I’m so grateful for this opportunity to serve and
prove I am grateful for the knowledge I have been given. Yay for spreading
love!
22 de Junio
Today was wonderful! We had Zone Conference. I learned so
much! I love our Zone Leaders! I learned about the importance of helping
investigators understand the reason behind the commitments. No one is going to
change unless there is a purpose and goal or reward behind the hard work.
At lunch we were talking with Hermana Rosano about the
callings we have all had in the past. When it was my turn, I had to think for a
second how to say “Waffle Committee” in Spanish. But when I did, everyone
BUSTED UP! We were laughing so hard it hurt! Then the whole rest of the
lunch, no one could take me seriously, so now my secret is out. By the time we
have next transfers, I will be known as Hermana Waffles because I know Elder
Geurts and Elder Mesias are going to spread this, but it’s okay because I’m here
to make people laugh, right? To be honest, I never expected this news to travel
½ way around the world, but here we are in Chile, almost a year later laughing
about my calling in my BYU ward. Gotta love Provo right? J
Also, today we had a lesson with Normita (the less-active
member who doesn’t like my Spanish). We were singing a hymn and when we
finished she looked at me so humbly and asked me so nicely, “Would you sing
alone? Your voice is like angels and I would love to hear an angel sing my
favorite hymn.” God is so perfect because He answered my prayers. I didn’t ask
for perfect Spanish with Normita, but I was praying to somehow bring the Spirit
and help Normita in some way even though she doesn’t like when I mispronounce
words. God gave me singing, and now I want to just sing all of the lessons! Is
that allowed…? J
Also, Hermana Abejandra was sick and needed a visitor. We
visited her and I was able to help her daughter with English again! I’m so
grateful for these opportunities to serve. It’s so sweet to be the girls people
call when they need help. I hope I can always be there for people when they
need someone to call.
Speaking of English, I said the prayer at the end of Zone
Conference in English and woah it was so hard. I had to think so hard about the
complete sentence. Is that bad, because it was kind of embarrassing that I was
struggling to pray, but luckily only 50% of the zone understood where I messed
up. J
24 de Junio
Yesterday was so amazing! So because President and
Hermana Warne go home on Tuesday, they invited each zone one at a time to the
mission home to have a special conference and say bye. Wow! I learned so much
and my desire to just go out and help people got so much stronger and deeper.
My favorite quote from this conference was, “Would Jesus Christ be pleased with
my effort in declaring repentance?” Wow, I have so much to learn and so many
things to improve. I thought about Jesus Christ suffering, bleeding, and
feeling agonizing pain that was killing him so we don’t have to suffer the pain
of our sins. Because of Him, we don’t have to suffer, so why do we wait to use
this gift? Why do we hesitate to repent and ask for forgiveness? Why do we not
use the gift of repentance that our Savior Jesus Christ gave us and paid for
with His life?
Why would I let a single child of God go another minute
of suffering when I can help them learn how to repent and use the Atonement and
find real joy in their lives? Wow, why am I shy to declare repentance? I
have so much to learn and so many people all around me to help.
Also at the conference, they put me in charge of arranging
a musical number. Since it was for President, everyone wanted to participate.
We put together the EFY medley and Wow I LOVE it in Spanish! It is so powerful
no matter what language. And, the part where we say “and we will be the Lord’s
missionaries to bring the world His truth,” we changed it to “and we are
the Lord’s missionaries to bring CHILE His truth.” It works in Spanish. J When we sang it, WOW,
I’ve never seen President cry- until that moment. It was so special and the day
was full of tears and learning and more tears. Poor Hermana Betancur is having
a hard time accepting the fact that it’s time for this change. I know there’s a
reason that I’m her companion right now, so I’m going to do my best to help
her!
Last thing, today I am in Chepica with Hermana Saunders
in divisions and this less active asked me what country I am from… and then
when I told her USA, she didn’t believe me! BEST DAY EVER! I think I’m becoming
Chilean and I think I love that.
25 de Junio
Today was so wonderful! Wow, I learned so much! It’s
Hermana Janczak’s birthday so me and Hermana Saunders decorated her room and
made cupcakes. Then after singing and taking pictures, we came back to Santa
Cruz. We had a quick appointment with a lady we contacted last week and were
able to teach her and her family a little about the Plan of Salvation! They
were way interested because apparently his dad recently died and their
sister-in-law is about to have a baby. Ah I’m so excited to help them find joy
through the Gospel of Jesus Christ! This family of investigators is an answer
to our prayers!
Also, during classes de Ingles, I had a doctrine question
and I asked Elder Mesias and Woah, he is incredibly smart. It blew my mind.
Hermana Betancur and I were asking him questions for like 30 minutes, and then
I realized my questions were leading to more concepts I wanted to learn so I
stopped Elder Mesias and asked him to teach me how I can learn instead of just
asking Elder Mesias all of my questions. So then for another 30 minutes, he
taught me how to study and how to receive answers and how to know the mysteries
of God. The things he taught me have completely changed the way I am going to
study. It was so inspiring and I can’t wait for personal study so I can
organize myself and start really feasting on the words of Christ and deepening
my understanding of the Gospel!
27 di Junio
Yesterday was so great! DANIELA and LASTENIA came to
church!!! Wow miracles! Ah, it was so special seeing two daughters of God walk
into their father’s house. The power of the Holy Ghost is undeniable. Wow I
just have so much love for them it’s impossible to write.
Then we had lunch with Alicia and Jose, which is always
so great. They are like our parents in Santa Cruz. Also I experimented with a
dessert and IT OWRKED and I’m pumped because now I iknow how to make this yummy
cheap chocolate dessert in like 5 minutes! The mission J
After lunch we went to Hermana Andrea’s house to help fix
her table. Then the Elders surprised her and walked in with a brand new table
and she was so happy. It was the greatest thing.
We went next door and got to watch the Elders give the
sacrament to a lady who is sick and I promise, it gets me every time. The
sacrament is so sacred and so personal and I just LOVE watching the Elders use
their priesthood to bless people’s lives. Ah it’s so wonderful!
We had to enter into our houses early for the last time
because it is the last partido of the championship: Chile vs. Argentina. And we
were getting ready for bed and BOOM the outside world went crazy! We looked out
our window and everyone was outside of their houses yelling and dancing and
laughing and chanting in the streets. You could hear yelling from all
directions and this is a “small calm” town. I can’t imagine what Santiago or
Rancagua must have been like. We didn’t need to see the game to know Chile won!
As we were lying in bed at 11:00, there was no chance of falling asleep because
of all of the yelling. I think I heard in my dreams, “chi-chi-chi-le-le-le,
VIVA CHILE!”
Today everything is closed, so we all played dodgeball in
the church cultural hall. Luckily Lider is open so we got our groceries, but
the server is closed so we are going to write our families tomorrow.
We had family night with the familia Leiva. It was so
sweet when Jose was talking about his son who is on a mission in Guatemala
(Bryan). Jose has been a member for 30 years, and a bishop, but has been
inactive for like 10 years. But he promised his son the day he left to
Guatemala that he wouldn’t let his wife go to church alone (since only Bryan
and his mom would go to church). Now he has gone to church for 2 months
straight ever since Bryan left. It’s amazing the blessings of missionary work.
But today he got really choked up talking about his son giving a priesthood
blessing to a boy and the boy was healed. Wow I love being on the family side
of missionaries as a missionary because the power of missionary work has such a
deeper meaning. Wow what a special night. Also, they got on the waffle subject
again and next Monday I’m in charge of dessert. I’m seriously debating buying a
waffle iron and carrying it around for the next 15 months…J
My wall. Just want to point out that Lindsay is
in 90% of them and they are basically all of you guys because you guys make me
so happy!
No comments:
Post a Comment