5/27/2010- luxury of fast food!

Hey, Im doing good. Things are fine with my companion. He is super obedient and it has helped us a lot, but the problem we have is lack of unity and friendship. We just work together. but actually this week it has gotten alot better. We are really turning around how we are working with the members and everything. and YES i got the package, and it is awesome! thank you. the candy, random toys, and the ties were sweet. ties really are a treasure in the mission. im wearing one of the ones you sent right now. the photos were way awesome, looked like you guys had it way good. thank you for printing those talks too. it really was awesome. this week, we had an awesome zone conference, the last one with president resek before his good bye conference. crazy. we watch a movie called "the butterfly circus" its amazing (amazing-from the point of view of a missionary), you can find it on youtube. its a little bizaare but it teaches a lot of really good principles.

i also got to see elder abbot for the first time since we got here, it was soo cool. we got to catch up a bit on everything that has happened in our time here. he is doing really good. Also this week i got to go to santiago because i need to get registered to get my carnett. it was crazy, the metro is so packed downtown that you have to squeeze you way onto the train and the doors barely close behind you, i was going to take a picture but i couldnt move, ha, nuts. we got to pass by the temple, and we ate at burger king, ohh the luxury of fast food. ha. we werent able to finish because the international police was closed, so we have to go back another day. it reminded me alot of new york, a lot of the buildiings and architecture is old school and really neat.

We have been slowly finding more people. We are teaching this catholic lady right now who is way cool. Her name is Sara and she is around 40 years old. She really likes reading the book of mormon. one thing i have learned from elder hernandez is how to really focus on the spirit in every moment throughout the day. focus on our thoughts and what we think we should do whether it is or isnt written in our planner, and its been amazing. we keep finding oppurtunities to teach and find people. it has been getting quite cold, the humidity is what sucks. you can be wearing lots of warm clothes but the cold still penetrates, we have been enjoying a little rain now and then. oh lake powell, i dont even want to talk about that. that is so sick uncle john bought a camaro, he cant go too long without having some new kind of powertoy. but crap, running out of time, its been a good week, in both parts of the world it seems. I love you all, stay well and pray always, love
EldeR

May 10, 2010

Hey, yeah that was pretty sweet yesterday. I knew it was going to be so fast and there were so many things i wanted to tell you but i just couldnt think straight, it was alot to take in. I am so happy that grammy got baptized, its fine you didnt tell me before, but crap, that was a lot for one moment. I cant believe how fast she progressed, but the whole deal is amazing. I cant believe that i will be going to the temple with her when i get back, NUTS! ha. it has definantly been a gnarly weekend for you guys. that will be awesome to have a copy of your talks. yeah my companion is a good guy. Its been a stressful week though becuase its my first time really having to lead the sector and my comp is not a very confident, jump to it guy, so ive been forced to do a lot, but its exactly what i need. here are some pictures of the baptism. Once again with freezing water and hectic preparation. But it always ends amazing.. I dont know if i told you, but rodolfo is going to be confirmed next sunday, recieve the priesthood, and later in the month he will go with the young men to do baptisms for the dead. So awesome. All of this within 2 months. Miracles everywhere. Enjoy!

5/4//2010

Hello! im doing great. we just got back from hiking the huge hill next to san bernardo, its called Cerro Chena, it was way awesome to get up there and a different view point. another interesting week.yesterday, we went back to el sembrador to see Cristopher and Alvaro get baptized, and when we got there i found out i was baptizing alvaro, nobody told me. so i had no extra clothes, but luckily they had an extra pair of paints. But the whole experience was amazing. Me and Elder Canaan sang a song together with the guitar and the spirit was so strong. The water in the font was freezing cause the gas wasnt working and it was like 40 degrees outside, ha. but it was awesome. my first time baptizing. the work here is still coming along slowly, and the cold is making things more dificult because everyone goes to bed early and they usually dont like to share outside there house. but we are still working hard, we have been organizing some big changes with working with the members with the bishop.

i have been learning a ton. we are still working with rodolfo and he is set to get baptized on the 9th, which is mothers day by the way, we will have to figure out how we will do that. but thats way cool you are working a lot more with family history, thats something i wish i did before the mission, i dont think i have ever done it once. you are so lucky you get to hear from president eyring, he is the man. thats good the missionaries are doing well and that grammy is still going. she just needs to be continually sorrounded by these things so she can get more comfortable. As for me and my teaching, its going well, i can understand 99% of what everyone says, i can say basically what i want, but speaking is still coming along. i can speak fine teaching the gospel, but when it goes to other topics i have a harder time. we have had much teaching experiences lately because we are not really teaching, contacts, and more contacts, visiting members and less actives. as for the package, im excited, surprise me, remember its getting cold here, ha. but pictures are always awesome, seriously the best part. and tell nic that i did get his emails and he must not of got my letter, but im sending him one next week. im glad you answered jordans questions, i really wanted to , i love questions, but i got her letter the day her project was due, so it was kind of late, but im still going through them when i have time. im glad mandy had a good birthday, im sure you guys went all out. its good to hear everyone is doing awesome. thanks for the heads up on the lineage, people are always asking where my name comes from. keep up on the good work.

we are having a great time out here. Seek for the spirit in all that you do, it sanctifies us and edifies us. I have been learning a lot about striving for the spirit lately in all things, you can have it all the time if you want it, it comes by reverence, love and respect, and it does not always depend on your environment, remember that even in the loud hectic world we live in, you can always have the spirit if you are focused. I love you all, keep it real and keep having fun.