This week I was able to testify with conviction that Satan is real and that he is trying to separate all families one by one. When the Chileans said that they don’t have time to listen to our message I looked them straight in the face and said that Satan is going to separate thier family if they didn’t have total faith in Jesus Christ and His words of hope of eternal families. Really we only need enough money for food shelter and clothes, the rest is wasted extra. If this money is keeping you from your family or the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then it is not worth it. Only through Jesus Christ our Savior can we be saved from the miserable grasp of Satan. We must have total faith in Jesus that His teachings are really true, and that He will pour out His promised blessings when we keep His commandments. This is the answer. His Love! My love for the scriptures grows everyday! This week I was watching the church video ‘his hands’,which is a short movie about the love of Christ that is easy to share with alot of people because it is 6 minutes long. There was a short clip that showed Jesus teaching the people. I was in awe at how amazing that would be to sit in on one of His lessons and teachings. I wondered what he was saying and I wondered if I was teaching the same way that Christ would if he was here. I wondered if I was knocking on the right doors or if I was saying the things he would say personally, and teaching in the manner that he would teach. I realized that I have the oppurtunity to be taught by Him the missionary of missionaries everday in personal study! How great is His Love! Are we taking advantage of this? What does he want to teach me today? The answer is the guidance of the Holy Spirit in sincere prayer and scripture study.
It was sad that Miriam that has been studying with us and praying to know if her baptism in the other church is correct in the eyes of the Lord said that she didn’t have time to meet with us this week. I hope we didn’t loose her. I had the thought to drop by and give her a treat to let her know that he love her so we’ll see how it goes!
Nelida’s mom Olga dosen’t believ in the book of Mormon and so I was prompted to share the scripture that I remembered from seminary. I feel that I was led by the spirit because I don’t remember where the scripture is now but as I testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon I was able to flip right to the scripture in the Bible that testified of the stick of Juda (the Bible) and the stick of Joseph the (Book of Mormon) would be one in my hand. I asked her if she believed that the Bible was the words of God. I asked her if she believed that Ezequiel was a prophet of God. She said yes. We taught her that yes this was prophesy from a prophet of God and that he received revelation that God would bring us scripture from Joseph’s decendants in the Americas. I love the scriptures. I know they are true, there is every proof in the world that the Book of mormon is true, but of course we told her that we could show her many more examples put that she needed to ask her Heavenly Father with faith if it was true. Nelida is preparing to be baptised this weekend. She is receiving her own testimony and she knows that we love her and are prowd of her decicion. I enjoyed sharing a message with her about conversion, covenants, and fe. She didn’t know what conversion was so we read in the tropical guide for a clear understanding and then I shared my favorite example of someone who was truely converted. My friend had a rough young life going from foster home to foster home with no family he was lost in life. He didn’t know his purpose but when he found himself in jail with a mormon he realized that there was hope and a pure love of Christ. That night he prayed to God to see if what the mormon shared was true. In his prayer he said that he really wanted to know if the mormon was right and that Jesus’s church was in the earth today, and he said that when he received an answer that he would act and give up all the bad things he did and repent. He received his answer! He could barely sleep he was filled hith the Love and light of Christ and from that day forward he was forever changed. He has served a mission and invites everyone he meets to listen to this message, he invited them to church and the activities and to listen to General Conference. He is a great example of a Disciple of Christ and someone that had a change of heart.
Wow this week we met an amazing woman! Her story is alot like my families and I feel like I am prepared to teach her for her specific conserns because I have had similar trials. We contacted her in the street and she shared that she had some kind of dream about one single sister missionary that knocked on her door twice as a joke, but we told her that missionarys are never alone. She said that it was some kind of dream on a day that she was struggling and it brought her cheer. The story is very long and I don’t have time to tell all of it but I think it’s cool that she receives dreams about visitation with missionarys that have missionary tags with the name of Jesus Christ.
This week I was able to visit a Chile hospital for the first time! I was so excited to go check it out and cheer up 3 people in my ward that were in the hospital this week. The hospital wasn’t as pretty as Mountain Vista when I worked there, but I didn’t care it was a hospital! There are not many people that like hospitals but I have never been a patient thanks to God, but for me the hospital is full of excitement...weither it is interesting patients or diseases, and there are always people that need help, happiness, and love.
With much love Hermana Wade XOXOXO
Ps. Please EVERYONE save all letters that you receive from me and that you send to me, so that I can save all these memories to look back on when I get home! Gracias! Family thank you for all of your letters and love and support!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Hello to Everyone 2
Monday we were contacting in a busy area where all the taxis pick up people and drop people off. We finished our goal of contacts for the day and jumped in taxi to leave for an appointment for FHE. There was a man that saw us and jumped in the same taxi. I was waiting for the right moment and waiting for the Spirit to direct me on how exactly how to share the gospel with this passenger of life. He had quickly paid for the trip as my companion was searching for money to pay for us. When my companion found and offered the driver our payment the driver refused and said that it was paid for. My companion reminded him that we where new passengers and hadn't paid yet then the driver and the passenger next to me said that the gentleman sitting next to me had paid for us. Then by the time that my companion and I was able to process this sweet act of service the man had told the driver to drop him off at the corner and was leaving out the door. I scrambled for a pass-along-card as he stepped out, but he didn't accept this gift as he waved his hand and shut the door. My companion and I looked back to get one last look at this saint that had done this humble act of service, and he drew a missionary tag on his chest and mouthed the words 'I'm a Mormon!' My companion and I looked at each other in amazement that there were Christ-like people out there in this corrupted world. I thanked Heavenly Father for this kind act and for his influence in the life of this man. I meditated on this for a while and knew that he had received an impression to do something good for someone else and he acted. All good comes from God, and I consider him my angel. I know that I can be an angel for someone else as I listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This is a simple story that has had an impact on my life. I'm thankful for moments.
Tuesday we taught Fernando with Hermano Espinoza. It was very special because Hno. Espinoza bore his testimony of the priesthood authority from God that is on the earth today and shared the blessings that he has received and that he has been able to give.This week we have been teaching Alan (9-years-old) and Sebastian (10-years-old) about the commandments in preparation for their baptism covenant next month. We have to ask more questions to keep the attention of the little boys but they understand a lot and are willing to keep the commandments. Their mother who is less active questioned my companion and I why we would teach the law of Chastity to little boys, and we explained that it's a commandment from God for everyone and that it is good to learn the commandments at a young age. I was sad that she only said that she didn't complete this law when she had them out of wedlock, what she should have done is testified of the importance of this law and use her choice as an example to convince them that the Lords way is better. How selfish for her as a mom to not teach and testify of this law. In my life I have learned from the good and the bad of my family, those around me, and my own decisions. I hope they learn from their examples too.
Wednesday we taught Carlos Hernandez (less active) and his wife Gladis Vidal (less active), and his daughter Jenifer Martinez (recent convert age 10) about temples. He said that he didn't feel worthy to go to church because he smoked and I testified that he could change and that those feelings of not being able to repent and change came from Satan. Jesus teaches of hope and commands us to keep the commandments because he always invites us to follow in faith knowing that He has prepared a way to complete the commandments and covenants. He wants us to succeed and He wants to bless us. I know there are many blessings that await us if we just have faith and hold fast to the iron rod, step-by-step, and enduring to the end with joy.
Thursday was our Zone Conference with President Lovell and Sister Lovell and the President of Chile member of the 70, President Talmage Corbridge and his wife. It was very spiritually uplifting and recorded many thoughts and impressions. I was struggling on how to testify with conviction that the message of the Restoration is the most important message. Everyone tells me that they don't have time and that they are too busy working and doing other things that it made me want to scream out of frustration. Then others were telling me that they had prayed and received an answer that the church is not true. I feel a lot better after receiving advice from my president that I'm a new missionary and that I will learn with time, and he said that there is no way that someone could receive this answer. If you read the scriptures the gospel and the doctrine is the same that Jesus taught. My president advised me to not look at these as closed doors and to not be discouraged but to ask them questions on how they received this answer and what they asked specifically. Wow, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders after counseling with him for just a few moments. Then the other missionaries saw that I was struggling with this and they testified that the Lords Spirit would help me and my desire to share the truth with everyone here in Chile. Then that night my companion and I with two investigators attended a special conference with all the members of the stake in Punta Arenas with both presidents and their wives.
We have been teaching a special family that is ready for the gospel. The mom is Sara and her husband Gilberto, they have two daughters Coni (16-years-old) and Lorena (13-years-old). They are reading and praying and Coni has received an answer that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. Lorena doesn't believe in God and hasn't prayed in the past so we taught her how to pray and testified that if she prayed with faith that she would receive an answer too. There is something very special about this family because as soon as we enter their house the Holy Ghost immediately starts working through my companion and I. It is a very special feeling that I can't describe but I feel the difference when I leave their house, I just look at my companion in shock and say 'what just happened?'…I know it is the Spirit that is directing us so carefully and strong with this specific family. This last visit we talked about the Plan of Happiness and they were very receptive again, but I thing that the truthfulness of our message scares them a little because they said that they don't want us to pass by this week because they need some time to process and research our church because it sounds too good to be true. The mother shared that she was researching our church on the internet and we warned her to research the church website because others had bad intentions and information. I pray that she will search the good books, websites and pray with faith ready for our challenge for baptism that we plan on extending at the end of the week. Wahoo!
Friday we taught Nelidad an investigator who is dating Luis (nickname Lucho) a member in the ward. We have been teaching her and she told us that she has a desire to be baptized to become a member. Wahoo! But she said that she wants to be baptized March 11th on their 4 month anniversary as boyfriend and girlfriend. We have been very vocal about our concern of her separating her feelings for Lucho and becoming a member of the church. We taught her about the commandments and what will be required as she makes this covenant with God. As she said that the feelings were separate we told her that we would have to check with our leaders because it was coming up so quick. Our leaders said no because it was the day of companion changes and because it was in the middle of the week and that there are hazards of people being baptized during the week and going so many days with out receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. So we'll have to see what she decides.
Saturday we taught Carolina Quevado who is the family that owns the dog that we have been teaching. It has been extremely difficult to teach her because she is so nice and inviting into her house and family but she is very closed about changing her catholic faith. We have passed with members of the church that have bore testimony and everything but she always tells us that we are welcome but that she isn't going to change. So as I prayed with all my heart as we walked to her house and as we were watching the Restoration movie I was praying with all my might that she would feel the Spirit and the truthfulness of our message that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration of the only true church of Jesus Christ. Then it was a miracle to see her change as we lovingly taught her from our heart, she opened up and shared her concern. She didn't believe that she could change or be forgiven and make those steps to change into our church. We bore testimony that it was possible through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. I told her that she was fortunate to have a family that loved her so much and wanted her to be happy and I knew that they would follow her in to the church through baptism. She has two little daughters Yanela and Monserat that believe that Joseph was a prophet. I love her and her family so much and I want them to participate in the fullness of the gospel.
Sunday was special because I brought my notepad and wrote all my thoughts and things I learned down to remember for later. I'm gaining a testimony of this everyday it is not easy but it is worth it! This day we also taught Mariana the woman that was baptized into the Evangelical church as she was investigating ours. She attended church with us last week and said her experience wasn't the church that he taught her about because the members were irreverent during the sacrament. Wow, this broke my heart to hear that the irreverence of the members was prohibiting her feeling peace during the Holy Sacrament. My companion and I are going to share our concern and disappointment with the ward leaders at our next meeting.There has been a lot of rain and wind. The wind is crazy! I love my companion Hermana Aguilar! I love life! I love being a missionary!
With love
Hermana Krista Wade
Tuesday we taught Fernando with Hermano Espinoza. It was very special because Hno. Espinoza bore his testimony of the priesthood authority from God that is on the earth today and shared the blessings that he has received and that he has been able to give.This week we have been teaching Alan (9-years-old) and Sebastian (10-years-old) about the commandments in preparation for their baptism covenant next month. We have to ask more questions to keep the attention of the little boys but they understand a lot and are willing to keep the commandments. Their mother who is less active questioned my companion and I why we would teach the law of Chastity to little boys, and we explained that it's a commandment from God for everyone and that it is good to learn the commandments at a young age. I was sad that she only said that she didn't complete this law when she had them out of wedlock, what she should have done is testified of the importance of this law and use her choice as an example to convince them that the Lords way is better. How selfish for her as a mom to not teach and testify of this law. In my life I have learned from the good and the bad of my family, those around me, and my own decisions. I hope they learn from their examples too.
Wednesday we taught Carlos Hernandez (less active) and his wife Gladis Vidal (less active), and his daughter Jenifer Martinez (recent convert age 10) about temples. He said that he didn't feel worthy to go to church because he smoked and I testified that he could change and that those feelings of not being able to repent and change came from Satan. Jesus teaches of hope and commands us to keep the commandments because he always invites us to follow in faith knowing that He has prepared a way to complete the commandments and covenants. He wants us to succeed and He wants to bless us. I know there are many blessings that await us if we just have faith and hold fast to the iron rod, step-by-step, and enduring to the end with joy.
Thursday was our Zone Conference with President Lovell and Sister Lovell and the President of Chile member of the 70, President Talmage Corbridge and his wife. It was very spiritually uplifting and recorded many thoughts and impressions. I was struggling on how to testify with conviction that the message of the Restoration is the most important message. Everyone tells me that they don't have time and that they are too busy working and doing other things that it made me want to scream out of frustration. Then others were telling me that they had prayed and received an answer that the church is not true. I feel a lot better after receiving advice from my president that I'm a new missionary and that I will learn with time, and he said that there is no way that someone could receive this answer. If you read the scriptures the gospel and the doctrine is the same that Jesus taught. My president advised me to not look at these as closed doors and to not be discouraged but to ask them questions on how they received this answer and what they asked specifically. Wow, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders after counseling with him for just a few moments. Then the other missionaries saw that I was struggling with this and they testified that the Lords Spirit would help me and my desire to share the truth with everyone here in Chile. Then that night my companion and I with two investigators attended a special conference with all the members of the stake in Punta Arenas with both presidents and their wives.
We have been teaching a special family that is ready for the gospel. The mom is Sara and her husband Gilberto, they have two daughters Coni (16-years-old) and Lorena (13-years-old). They are reading and praying and Coni has received an answer that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that the Book of Mormon is true. Lorena doesn't believe in God and hasn't prayed in the past so we taught her how to pray and testified that if she prayed with faith that she would receive an answer too. There is something very special about this family because as soon as we enter their house the Holy Ghost immediately starts working through my companion and I. It is a very special feeling that I can't describe but I feel the difference when I leave their house, I just look at my companion in shock and say 'what just happened?'…I know it is the Spirit that is directing us so carefully and strong with this specific family. This last visit we talked about the Plan of Happiness and they were very receptive again, but I thing that the truthfulness of our message scares them a little because they said that they don't want us to pass by this week because they need some time to process and research our church because it sounds too good to be true. The mother shared that she was researching our church on the internet and we warned her to research the church website because others had bad intentions and information. I pray that she will search the good books, websites and pray with faith ready for our challenge for baptism that we plan on extending at the end of the week. Wahoo!
Friday we taught Nelidad an investigator who is dating Luis (nickname Lucho) a member in the ward. We have been teaching her and she told us that she has a desire to be baptized to become a member. Wahoo! But she said that she wants to be baptized March 11th on their 4 month anniversary as boyfriend and girlfriend. We have been very vocal about our concern of her separating her feelings for Lucho and becoming a member of the church. We taught her about the commandments and what will be required as she makes this covenant with God. As she said that the feelings were separate we told her that we would have to check with our leaders because it was coming up so quick. Our leaders said no because it was the day of companion changes and because it was in the middle of the week and that there are hazards of people being baptized during the week and going so many days with out receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. So we'll have to see what she decides.
Saturday we taught Carolina Quevado who is the family that owns the dog that we have been teaching. It has been extremely difficult to teach her because she is so nice and inviting into her house and family but she is very closed about changing her catholic faith. We have passed with members of the church that have bore testimony and everything but she always tells us that we are welcome but that she isn't going to change. So as I prayed with all my heart as we walked to her house and as we were watching the Restoration movie I was praying with all my might that she would feel the Spirit and the truthfulness of our message that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration of the only true church of Jesus Christ. Then it was a miracle to see her change as we lovingly taught her from our heart, she opened up and shared her concern. She didn't believe that she could change or be forgiven and make those steps to change into our church. We bore testimony that it was possible through faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. I told her that she was fortunate to have a family that loved her so much and wanted her to be happy and I knew that they would follow her in to the church through baptism. She has two little daughters Yanela and Monserat that believe that Joseph was a prophet. I love her and her family so much and I want them to participate in the fullness of the gospel.
Sunday was special because I brought my notepad and wrote all my thoughts and things I learned down to remember for later. I'm gaining a testimony of this everyday it is not easy but it is worth it! This day we also taught Mariana the woman that was baptized into the Evangelical church as she was investigating ours. She attended church with us last week and said her experience wasn't the church that he taught her about because the members were irreverent during the sacrament. Wow, this broke my heart to hear that the irreverence of the members was prohibiting her feeling peace during the Holy Sacrament. My companion and I are going to share our concern and disappointment with the ward leaders at our next meeting.There has been a lot of rain and wind. The wind is crazy! I love my companion Hermana Aguilar! I love life! I love being a missionary!
With love
Hermana Krista Wade
Monday, February 16, 2009
Another great week in Chile!
Tuesday was my first time visiting Mariana, an investigator that my companion taught with her previous companion. She was so happy to see us and tell us her baptism story, but the sad thing is that it was a baptism into the Evangelical church. I guess they were really good at teaching the need for baptism, but I guess that Mariana did not understand the importance of the priesthood authority from God and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church that holds this power. We bore testimony and asked her to pray and to read about baptism authority for her to ask God if her baptism is correct in the eyes of the Lord. It is sad because she was telling us how good she felt because it was a spur of the moment decision baptism with a family member and she liked how it was in a river. She is reading and praying a lot and we'll see how it goes but at least her heart is open from what I can see because she had no problem coming to sacrament with us.
We also did service for the Espinoza family. It was really fun because I love cleaning out garages and houses. We cleaned it out for their daughter to live in with her daughter. The transformation of the cleanliness was night and day. The mother was so surprised at my strength in carrying the heavy objects. They couldn't stop laughing because I could lift the fireplace/stove with ease and her husband was out of breath. I told them that I couldn't move it with out him and that I had a lot of practice in my family because I didn't have any older brothers to do the hard stuff around the house. I'm so thankful for my strength and health! It's not common for women.
Wednesday we had 3 new investigators; Sebastian 13, his sister Bania 14, and their cousin Kristina 15. Sebastian was very funny but asked a lot of great questions that I think will help him convert. Bania was receptive and open and will be baptized when she prays and feels that the things we share are true. Kristina is less interested but I know that it will change with the example of her cousins.
The members are great and they all make me feel very welcome on a personal level. I don't know if it is just because I'm a gringo or what, but I enjoy it. They invite us to eat with them and so my companion and I have been taking advantage of this time to train every member to share their testimony of the gospel to everyone they meet. This is good because the members don't share their beliefs. The practice is giving them the confidence and shows them how easy it can be when it is natural and form the heart.
Feliz Dia de los Enamorados! Feliz Dia del Amistad! Happy Valentines Day! I wouldn’t have remembered this holiday if it wasn't for a member. In the mission it is just another day because we always share our love through our Christ-like charity and service and word. I was feeling down this day because I was tired of hearing lame excuses from people everyday saying how they worked and didn't have time for our message or to read or to attend the church with us. It was a blessing to see my District leader call my companion and I for a special practice. I noticed that it was more of a problem here but I didn't voice this frustration so I know that he has following the spirit even though both of us didn't know that I needed this at that moment. Now I'm going to share scriptures of blessings and testify to the convincing of men with the power of God that I hold as a missionary.
This Sunday was very special I felt the spirit so strong. I think it is because I wrote down my spiritual promptings. If I felt this good writing the spiritual promptings that I received at church, I wonder how great the prophets felt writing in the scriptures.
GUESS WHAT my Zone did today for Preparation Day?! We Saw PENGUINS!!!!! AAaa! It was sooo cool! It was a fun trip and we took a lot of pictures! Ha when you see the pictures you will notice that I'm not wearing a coat, this is because I was sitting on the heater all the way there and it wasn't that cold. But I have experienced the rain in Punta Arenas and the wind. I love the rain still; it is the Wind that is crazy!!! I could jump and it would move me. It pushes me along as I walk. The wind is so strong, but it doesn't stop the work!! I just laugh as I walk because it isn't like Arizona and its all part of the mission experience. I use the weather to the advantage of the work and I find ways to serve and help people carry things into their house and others invite us in because it's cold and windy. Hermana Espinoza even gave me mitts for my cold hands and she said that she had never given any gift to a missionary before so I should feel privileged. I did.
With a lot of love,
Hermana Wade
Sorry you won't get personal letters as much as I'd like because I don't have much time. I'll reply, it will just take some time. I love hearing updates and I try to write as much detail as I can in the emails. I don’t like that it takes so long, but that is how it is so I'll write little notes and bigger personal notes latter.
Everybody-- Please set a goal to go on splits with the missionaries in your stake. And report your experience with me. This is something that I ask all the members to do, and now I'm asking my family: D
this is all for now that I can remember! CHOW!!
Tuesday was my first time visiting Mariana, an investigator that my companion taught with her previous companion. She was so happy to see us and tell us her baptism story, but the sad thing is that it was a baptism into the Evangelical church. I guess they were really good at teaching the need for baptism, but I guess that Mariana did not understand the importance of the priesthood authority from God and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church that holds this power. We bore testimony and asked her to pray and to read about baptism authority for her to ask God if her baptism is correct in the eyes of the Lord. It is sad because she was telling us how good she felt because it was a spur of the moment decision baptism with a family member and she liked how it was in a river. She is reading and praying a lot and we'll see how it goes but at least her heart is open from what I can see because she had no problem coming to sacrament with us.
We also did service for the Espinoza family. It was really fun because I love cleaning out garages and houses. We cleaned it out for their daughter to live in with her daughter. The transformation of the cleanliness was night and day. The mother was so surprised at my strength in carrying the heavy objects. They couldn't stop laughing because I could lift the fireplace/stove with ease and her husband was out of breath. I told them that I couldn't move it with out him and that I had a lot of practice in my family because I didn't have any older brothers to do the hard stuff around the house. I'm so thankful for my strength and health! It's not common for women.
Wednesday we had 3 new investigators; Sebastian 13, his sister Bania 14, and their cousin Kristina 15. Sebastian was very funny but asked a lot of great questions that I think will help him convert. Bania was receptive and open and will be baptized when she prays and feels that the things we share are true. Kristina is less interested but I know that it will change with the example of her cousins.
The members are great and they all make me feel very welcome on a personal level. I don't know if it is just because I'm a gringo or what, but I enjoy it. They invite us to eat with them and so my companion and I have been taking advantage of this time to train every member to share their testimony of the gospel to everyone they meet. This is good because the members don't share their beliefs. The practice is giving them the confidence and shows them how easy it can be when it is natural and form the heart.
Feliz Dia de los Enamorados! Feliz Dia del Amistad! Happy Valentines Day! I wouldn’t have remembered this holiday if it wasn't for a member. In the mission it is just another day because we always share our love through our Christ-like charity and service and word. I was feeling down this day because I was tired of hearing lame excuses from people everyday saying how they worked and didn't have time for our message or to read or to attend the church with us. It was a blessing to see my District leader call my companion and I for a special practice. I noticed that it was more of a problem here but I didn't voice this frustration so I know that he has following the spirit even though both of us didn't know that I needed this at that moment. Now I'm going to share scriptures of blessings and testify to the convincing of men with the power of God that I hold as a missionary.
This Sunday was very special I felt the spirit so strong. I think it is because I wrote down my spiritual promptings. If I felt this good writing the spiritual promptings that I received at church, I wonder how great the prophets felt writing in the scriptures.
GUESS WHAT my Zone did today for Preparation Day?! We Saw PENGUINS!!!!! AAaa! It was sooo cool! It was a fun trip and we took a lot of pictures! Ha when you see the pictures you will notice that I'm not wearing a coat, this is because I was sitting on the heater all the way there and it wasn't that cold. But I have experienced the rain in Punta Arenas and the wind. I love the rain still; it is the Wind that is crazy!!! I could jump and it would move me. It pushes me along as I walk. The wind is so strong, but it doesn't stop the work!! I just laugh as I walk because it isn't like Arizona and its all part of the mission experience. I use the weather to the advantage of the work and I find ways to serve and help people carry things into their house and others invite us in because it's cold and windy. Hermana Espinoza even gave me mitts for my cold hands and she said that she had never given any gift to a missionary before so I should feel privileged. I did.
With a lot of love,
Hermana Wade
Sorry you won't get personal letters as much as I'd like because I don't have much time. I'll reply, it will just take some time. I love hearing updates and I try to write as much detail as I can in the emails. I don’t like that it takes so long, but that is how it is so I'll write little notes and bigger personal notes latter.
Everybody-- Please set a goal to go on splits with the missionaries in your stake. And report your experience with me. This is something that I ask all the members to do, and now I'm asking my family: D
this is all for now that I can remember! CHOW!!
Monday, February 9, 2009
PUNTA ARENAS 2
Hola family
The beginning of this week was hard because my companion and I were both sick. She received a priesthood blessing by Hermano Salvador Reyes; the member that shares the back of his house with the missionaries. Then my companion was able to help me get better when I was sick. I appreciate her so much!
Tuesday I taught the importance of records in the weekly meeting with my district. Just like all the prophets, the angels, and my ancestors wrote the important spiritual experiences so will I. This is becoming more and more important to me everyday as I enjoy reading the scriptures and as I write in my agenda and the mission binder.
I really appreciate the Reyes family, because it is there goal to help me speak really good Spanish. The natural communication is very helpful. It’s great for the both of us because they practice speaking English to me and I reply in Spanish. It was really fun to learn that Hno Reyes is an Agriculturist, and BYU hired him to work in Utah for 2 months because he specialized in llamas! His spouse Hna Solis showed me pictures of her dream trip to Utah to see the Salt Lake Temple for her friends wedding and she also went to Idaho and Wyoming. It was fun to see her excitement and to think of my memories visiting the same places that she did. It was a fond bonding moment.
Then Sunday with the Guzman family we ate yummy pizza made in her home bakery. They are helping me with the Castellano (Chilean words) too by letting me write all the words I don’t know in my little notebook that I carry with me everywhere. I’m learning the language as fast as I can and I appreciate the compliments from everyone I meet that says I speak very well for 8 weeks in Chile. This family also gave me a special welcome to Punta Arenas by singing 7 Chilean songs. They have beautiful voices and it was fun to see there love and talents that they shared. My mamita´s family is helping me too. She printed me off a dictionary of Chilean words, haha she is so funny, but very sweet and thoughtful.
We had a special conference just for the people in Chile as Stakes were we had special message from Henry B. Eyring. He talked about how our faith comes after we act, and that when we seek for the Kingdom of God first all other things will work out. I love how he gave Joseph Smith as an example of seeking for the Kingdom of God first. He didn’t ask for wealth, health, or lives of his family, he was more interested for His salvation and the salvation of everyone. His desire, study, and prayer changed the world. Chile is a very special place where there has been prophesy that the gospel will be central in the lives of many families.
I found out that Hermana Aguilar's first companion and trainer was Hermana Kendra Tropple my friend from Arizona! Crazy! The Mormon world is so small but that is because we are working together in the work of the Lord.
Last night Hermana Aguilar shared a scripture with me that I didn’t know I needed till after. I was sharing with her my feelings of being overwhelmed with the tasks that I need to complete to be an effective missionary so she shared these scriptures with me; D&C 10: 4-5, Mosiah 4:27, Isaiah 28:9-11...I know that she is an instrument in the hand of the Lord. It was a spiritual experience and I felt through the Holy Ghost that the Lord was pleased with my work and that He was going to help me accomplish my righteous desires.
This experience gave me great peace because we have been teaching Fernando a man that is familiar with the bible and other religious books. All of this literature has confused him so he has a lot of questions so my companion and I have a lot of correcting to do. He said that he doesn’t receive revelation when he talks to us, so we are praying for special guidance from the Spirit on what to teach him. He has dreams or visions and wondered if we believed in them, we said yes, read the tropical guide together and shared scriptures. I haven’t heard of too many people outside of the prophets having visions, and I haven’t had one personally so I’ll have to study it more. I know I can’t interpret his dreams so I just shared with him what I did know. I told him that he can receive personal revelation and that I knew that those who have callings over us especially the Prophet receives revelation for us daily. And that if his dreams were telling him to do good things they were of God and if they were bad they were of the Devil, and that is what I know of dreams and visions in a nut shell.
This week will be even better with a clean and more organized house. I can focus on our goals and our goals for the investigators, members, and contacts. Whahoo! Another wonderful and fruitful week here I come!
I love you!!! Hermana Wade :D
PS. Please contact Tony Piña and let his family view my blog and see the areas that I’m serving in.
PS. Contact Kendra give her my blog too and tell her about my companion that she trained. And tell her that Hna. Aguilar says Hola! My companion says that she is married now! Crazy fast! Oh and tell her I found some of her letters when I was cleaning out a box in my house, and that I’ll send them in my next box home : D Oh and my companion just showed me all of their photos together as companions. How cute.
The beginning of this week was hard because my companion and I were both sick. She received a priesthood blessing by Hermano Salvador Reyes; the member that shares the back of his house with the missionaries. Then my companion was able to help me get better when I was sick. I appreciate her so much!
Tuesday I taught the importance of records in the weekly meeting with my district. Just like all the prophets, the angels, and my ancestors wrote the important spiritual experiences so will I. This is becoming more and more important to me everyday as I enjoy reading the scriptures and as I write in my agenda and the mission binder.
I really appreciate the Reyes family, because it is there goal to help me speak really good Spanish. The natural communication is very helpful. It’s great for the both of us because they practice speaking English to me and I reply in Spanish. It was really fun to learn that Hno Reyes is an Agriculturist, and BYU hired him to work in Utah for 2 months because he specialized in llamas! His spouse Hna Solis showed me pictures of her dream trip to Utah to see the Salt Lake Temple for her friends wedding and she also went to Idaho and Wyoming. It was fun to see her excitement and to think of my memories visiting the same places that she did. It was a fond bonding moment.
Then Sunday with the Guzman family we ate yummy pizza made in her home bakery. They are helping me with the Castellano (Chilean words) too by letting me write all the words I don’t know in my little notebook that I carry with me everywhere. I’m learning the language as fast as I can and I appreciate the compliments from everyone I meet that says I speak very well for 8 weeks in Chile. This family also gave me a special welcome to Punta Arenas by singing 7 Chilean songs. They have beautiful voices and it was fun to see there love and talents that they shared. My mamita´s family is helping me too. She printed me off a dictionary of Chilean words, haha she is so funny, but very sweet and thoughtful.
We had a special conference just for the people in Chile as Stakes were we had special message from Henry B. Eyring. He talked about how our faith comes after we act, and that when we seek for the Kingdom of God first all other things will work out. I love how he gave Joseph Smith as an example of seeking for the Kingdom of God first. He didn’t ask for wealth, health, or lives of his family, he was more interested for His salvation and the salvation of everyone. His desire, study, and prayer changed the world. Chile is a very special place where there has been prophesy that the gospel will be central in the lives of many families.
I found out that Hermana Aguilar's first companion and trainer was Hermana Kendra Tropple my friend from Arizona! Crazy! The Mormon world is so small but that is because we are working together in the work of the Lord.
Last night Hermana Aguilar shared a scripture with me that I didn’t know I needed till after. I was sharing with her my feelings of being overwhelmed with the tasks that I need to complete to be an effective missionary so she shared these scriptures with me; D&C 10: 4-5, Mosiah 4:27, Isaiah 28:9-11...I know that she is an instrument in the hand of the Lord. It was a spiritual experience and I felt through the Holy Ghost that the Lord was pleased with my work and that He was going to help me accomplish my righteous desires.
This experience gave me great peace because we have been teaching Fernando a man that is familiar with the bible and other religious books. All of this literature has confused him so he has a lot of questions so my companion and I have a lot of correcting to do. He said that he doesn’t receive revelation when he talks to us, so we are praying for special guidance from the Spirit on what to teach him. He has dreams or visions and wondered if we believed in them, we said yes, read the tropical guide together and shared scriptures. I haven’t heard of too many people outside of the prophets having visions, and I haven’t had one personally so I’ll have to study it more. I know I can’t interpret his dreams so I just shared with him what I did know. I told him that he can receive personal revelation and that I knew that those who have callings over us especially the Prophet receives revelation for us daily. And that if his dreams were telling him to do good things they were of God and if they were bad they were of the Devil, and that is what I know of dreams and visions in a nut shell.
This week will be even better with a clean and more organized house. I can focus on our goals and our goals for the investigators, members, and contacts. Whahoo! Another wonderful and fruitful week here I come!
I love you!!! Hermana Wade :D
PS. Please contact Tony Piña and let his family view my blog and see the areas that I’m serving in.
PS. Contact Kendra give her my blog too and tell her about my companion that she trained. And tell her that Hna. Aguilar says Hola! My companion says that she is married now! Crazy fast! Oh and tell her I found some of her letters when I was cleaning out a box in my house, and that I’ll send them in my next box home : D Oh and my companion just showed me all of their photos together as companions. How cute.
Monday, February 2, 2009
PUNTA ARENAS OVEJERO
FAMILY
Whahooo!!! What a great week! I said good-bye to all of my friends in Alerce on Tuesday. We took pictures and got addresses for after the mission. I love them all so much and I feel good about the work I’ve done in Alerce. My companion gave me my last advice and I wrote them down so that I could remember them 1) always be ready 2) always look at my agenda and search for the addresses 3) always seek to attain the good attributes of those around me 4) serve everyone around me including my companion 5) have enthusiasm everyday 6) don’t critique others 7) read the Book of Mormon everyday
The flight to Punta Arenas was great! My temporary companion was Hna. Alvarez. She is such a sweetheart we had a great time taking pictures with the 3 elders that flew with us acting like we were on a roller coaster but with out the screaming hehe hahaha ; ) After we dropped off 3 Elders in Coyaique, Hermana Alvarez and I enjoyed sharing the gospel with a married man with a little family. It’s little moments like this that I treasure where the seed has been planted and I hope it grows.
When I landed I felt this overwhelming peace knowing that this is the place that Heavenly Father wanted me to serve right now because he was the only person that I talked to about my desire to serve here in Punta Arenas because my companion always talked about how much she learned, and how much she loved the people and the food.
When we were driving to meet up with my new companion, I noticed right away that all the trees were horizontal as I was soaking up the new territory. I thought this was very strange and I realized what I was getting myself into....a lot of wind! The trees grew at a slant because of the force of the wind....its crazy!
My new companion is AMAZING, Wonderful, everything I could ever ask for. I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!!! She is a super missionary and I feel very loved around her. We contact everyone we see whether they are in our path across the main streets, arriving home, working in there garden, peeking through their window from across the street! We even go door to door!! Ok I have to tell my favorite stories!
The man that was peeking at us through the window was golden! He was alone, so we ended up teaching the first lesson about God, Jesus, prophets, priesthood, and families. I could feel the Holy Ghost prompt us on what to share and we ended up asking him to pray about the things we shared and when he received a answer to his prayers to follow his feelings and the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized in His church, and he agreed, I can’t wait to teach him again with his family.
Then when we were going door to door my companion got bit by a big dog on her finger! The family that owned this dog immediately took us in and cleaned the wounds and gave us strawberry milk (Mmmm). I was amazed how their little family of four went to work fixing my companions finger and making us feel welcomed into there home. This family felt so bad because an 11 year old boy had died from a dog bit last year (I’m not sure if it was because there dog) and she started crying. So we comforted her and told her everything was going to be ok. She sat us down and made us dinner and then I told her that we were missionaries and that we were here to share a message about Jesus and how her family could be eternal. She said she shared with missionaries before and she wasn’t interested because she was catholic, but she wanted us to come by the next day to see how Hna. Aguilar's finger was doing. We taught her lesson 2 about the Plan of Happiness the next day we gave her a Book of Mormon but she was only interested in being our friends, I have hope that because she has accepted us, she will accept our Master Jesus Christ also.
I love seeing how the Lord always blesses us with the Golden new investigators at the end of the day when we have had a long day at work. We contacted a man that had a beautiful view of the sea and we taught him on his field because he was alone also. He had many great questions and was very intelligent and receptive. My companion and I gave him a Book of Mormon and pamphlet to schedule another appointment with a member of the ward.
I’m serving ocean side in a ward called Ovejero. I Love this name because it translates to sheep! In the Bible Jesus asks Simon Peter, ‘do you love me?’, Simon says, ‘Lord thou knowest that I love Thee’, and Jesus says, ‘Feed My Sheep!’ I love it I feel like the disciples in the olden days, and I feel like Jesus leaving the 99 to find the 1 that is lost! It is a powerful feeling. I don’t feel alone, as I walk I feel like Jesus, his disciples, and all his faithful servants are with me. I’m a simple instrument in the hands of the Lord, but I’m helping great things come to pass!
I bore my testimony in my ward to start off on a good note so that all the members would know that I was here to work for the Lord and to help them bring their friends and family into the fold of the Shepherd. I told them of my goal to open a temple somewhere in the Osorno Chile mission, and I knew that if we all did our part and followed the commandments with exactness, this great blessing would come to pass! I told them that I love the temple and those covenants are so important, but that I was there primarily to help neighbors make their first covenant of baptism. The ward was very nice and welcoming. My companion has great confidence in me and makes me feel important and of worth by letting me share my feelings and thoughts in all meetings with the bishopric. We are working on putting a music festival together and we are working on getting more references.
Today my companion and I deep cleaned our house, Krista style! It’s a good way to start off new with a bang! I love cleaning, it’s therapy! I love seeing how dirty it was at first and seeing the difference and progress afterwards. We gutted out all the cupboards, organized the shelves, cleaned the fridge, and threw out 6 loads of garbage! My companion and I are so happy and love our new little house. All I have to do know is put up a bunch of pictures of Jesus and then I’ll be finished, because a clean organized house is a House of God.
Love your daughter, Hermana Wade
Ps. It was so funny, last night my companion and I couldn’t fall asleep because of the mate! I love it!
Whahooo!!! What a great week! I said good-bye to all of my friends in Alerce on Tuesday. We took pictures and got addresses for after the mission. I love them all so much and I feel good about the work I’ve done in Alerce. My companion gave me my last advice and I wrote them down so that I could remember them 1) always be ready 2) always look at my agenda and search for the addresses 3) always seek to attain the good attributes of those around me 4) serve everyone around me including my companion 5) have enthusiasm everyday 6) don’t critique others 7) read the Book of Mormon everyday
The flight to Punta Arenas was great! My temporary companion was Hna. Alvarez. She is such a sweetheart we had a great time taking pictures with the 3 elders that flew with us acting like we were on a roller coaster but with out the screaming hehe hahaha ; ) After we dropped off 3 Elders in Coyaique, Hermana Alvarez and I enjoyed sharing the gospel with a married man with a little family. It’s little moments like this that I treasure where the seed has been planted and I hope it grows.
When I landed I felt this overwhelming peace knowing that this is the place that Heavenly Father wanted me to serve right now because he was the only person that I talked to about my desire to serve here in Punta Arenas because my companion always talked about how much she learned, and how much she loved the people and the food.
When we were driving to meet up with my new companion, I noticed right away that all the trees were horizontal as I was soaking up the new territory. I thought this was very strange and I realized what I was getting myself into....a lot of wind! The trees grew at a slant because of the force of the wind....its crazy!
My new companion is AMAZING, Wonderful, everything I could ever ask for. I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!!! She is a super missionary and I feel very loved around her. We contact everyone we see whether they are in our path across the main streets, arriving home, working in there garden, peeking through their window from across the street! We even go door to door!! Ok I have to tell my favorite stories!
The man that was peeking at us through the window was golden! He was alone, so we ended up teaching the first lesson about God, Jesus, prophets, priesthood, and families. I could feel the Holy Ghost prompt us on what to share and we ended up asking him to pray about the things we shared and when he received a answer to his prayers to follow his feelings and the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized in His church, and he agreed, I can’t wait to teach him again with his family.
Then when we were going door to door my companion got bit by a big dog on her finger! The family that owned this dog immediately took us in and cleaned the wounds and gave us strawberry milk (Mmmm). I was amazed how their little family of four went to work fixing my companions finger and making us feel welcomed into there home. This family felt so bad because an 11 year old boy had died from a dog bit last year (I’m not sure if it was because there dog) and she started crying. So we comforted her and told her everything was going to be ok. She sat us down and made us dinner and then I told her that we were missionaries and that we were here to share a message about Jesus and how her family could be eternal. She said she shared with missionaries before and she wasn’t interested because she was catholic, but she wanted us to come by the next day to see how Hna. Aguilar's finger was doing. We taught her lesson 2 about the Plan of Happiness the next day we gave her a Book of Mormon but she was only interested in being our friends, I have hope that because she has accepted us, she will accept our Master Jesus Christ also.
I love seeing how the Lord always blesses us with the Golden new investigators at the end of the day when we have had a long day at work. We contacted a man that had a beautiful view of the sea and we taught him on his field because he was alone also. He had many great questions and was very intelligent and receptive. My companion and I gave him a Book of Mormon and pamphlet to schedule another appointment with a member of the ward.
I’m serving ocean side in a ward called Ovejero. I Love this name because it translates to sheep! In the Bible Jesus asks Simon Peter, ‘do you love me?’, Simon says, ‘Lord thou knowest that I love Thee’, and Jesus says, ‘Feed My Sheep!’ I love it I feel like the disciples in the olden days, and I feel like Jesus leaving the 99 to find the 1 that is lost! It is a powerful feeling. I don’t feel alone, as I walk I feel like Jesus, his disciples, and all his faithful servants are with me. I’m a simple instrument in the hands of the Lord, but I’m helping great things come to pass!
I bore my testimony in my ward to start off on a good note so that all the members would know that I was here to work for the Lord and to help them bring their friends and family into the fold of the Shepherd. I told them of my goal to open a temple somewhere in the Osorno Chile mission, and I knew that if we all did our part and followed the commandments with exactness, this great blessing would come to pass! I told them that I love the temple and those covenants are so important, but that I was there primarily to help neighbors make their first covenant of baptism. The ward was very nice and welcoming. My companion has great confidence in me and makes me feel important and of worth by letting me share my feelings and thoughts in all meetings with the bishopric. We are working on putting a music festival together and we are working on getting more references.
Today my companion and I deep cleaned our house, Krista style! It’s a good way to start off new with a bang! I love cleaning, it’s therapy! I love seeing how dirty it was at first and seeing the difference and progress afterwards. We gutted out all the cupboards, organized the shelves, cleaned the fridge, and threw out 6 loads of garbage! My companion and I are so happy and love our new little house. All I have to do know is put up a bunch of pictures of Jesus and then I’ll be finished, because a clean organized house is a House of God.
Love your daughter, Hermana Wade
Ps. It was so funny, last night my companion and I couldn’t fall asleep because of the mate! I love it!
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