Week 49 - Christmas choir and carols

We walk a lot these days.  I have two pairs of shoes.  Both right shoes are coming apart.  The soles are separating.    I think I can keep them going another six months, but will probably be down to one pair in a month or two.  They don't carry my size here.  I need new shoes, but I really would like a football.

For the past two months the mission has been organizing a huge choir.  There have been a lot of issues and problems along the way.  It's tough organizing a big choir.

Elder Heremosilla and his companion, Elder Avendaño, came down from Los Vilos.  I teamed up with Elder Avendaño.  That was pretty fun.  Monday I spent the entire day in the house because Elder Avendaño was sick.  Elder Heremosilla went with Elder Palilla and I caught up on some needed sleep.

On Thursday, I had splits again. This time I was with Elder Aguillar who's new.  His companion was in the choir and they haven't had any time in their sector.  Elder Aguillar didn't know anybody and had planned to visit members.  I said no; we needed to contact.  We contacted a lot that day and found a great investigator!

Then we went to the choir on Friday because Hermano Muñoz asked if we wanted to go. We said yes!  But, we wanted to take someone that wasn't a member.  He told us he would help us find someone.  Now we have someone new to teach!

We went to the choir on the first day and there were a few rough spots.  Afterwards, we were asked if we wanted to see the Viña clock.  We said "Sure, if it's on the way."  We were told it was around the corner.  Turns out it was much further but it was pretty fun.  We got to see a lot of downtown Viña.

Sunday we went to the choir again after first caroling to families in our area.  The choir was really cool! They received an encore!  Finally we left and went home.  I didn't fall asleep until around 12:00 am so I'm pretty tired today.

Merry Christmas!!!

Elder Hammond

Week 48 - Contacting, dog bite, and fire

This week we walked quite a bit. We contacted more than a hundred people and that only counts the people who came outside their house to speak with us.  We have been searching for new people to teach.

My companion, Elder Palilla, dislikes dogs.  I am starting to feel the same way. We had been walking for three hours Friday morning when we went into a new area.  We went down this dirt road.  There was an angry dog and its fur stood up. We walked by carefully and the dog ran behind a fence.  We were happy to see it run away.  Turns out it was just waiting until our backs were turned to it.  Then it ran up and bit my leg.  If I end up with rabies you'll know why but, I think it's fine.  It just scraped the skin off and left a tiny mark.

"N" came to church this week.  His uncle is staying at his house.   It was fun talking with them.

We had a great lesson with "F".  He was excited to learn there's a living prophet on the earth today. We showed him a video.  The video talked about the Plan of Salvation.  The Spirit testified to him.  It was so cool.

There was a huge fire on a hill near me.

Week 47 - Multi-zone conference

Tuesday I had exchanges with Elder Olivero.  He is the only elder allowed to have a guitar.  He plays really well.

Thursday we went to Viña because my companion needed more dental work.  We were at the dentist for two hours.  I was so board and tired.  I almost fell asleep in the dentist office.

Friday I had exchanges with Elder Ormond.  He played defensive end in football.  He is a big guy.  He's bigger than me.  He just arrived in the mission two weeks ago.  He doesn't speak much Spanish.  It was interesting and fun.  We started the day off singing.  We were practicing for Saturday.  We also did service (digging).  We had lunch with the Munoz family.  Their son and I were in the MTC together.  He took some pictures of me that made me laugh.  I remember posing for them.

Saturday we sang.

Sunday "N" came to church.  We have been teaching him.  He's fun.  We also taught "F".  He has so many desires to learn.  He's a great investigator.

Monday was good!  We had a multi-zone conference which was why I wasn't able to write.  There were four or five zones from my mission that all met in Viña. As part of the activity we sang again.  It was fun!  I got to hang out with Elder Braithwaite.  Elder Braithwaite's a leader and often calls other Elders in his assignment.  He called Elder Eyre and I was able to talk to him.  I also spoke with him on Friday because he went to Viña for a leadership meeting.  Elder Palilla went to this too so Elder Eyre and I were able to talk for about twenty minutes.  I also saw Elder Furlanich at the activity.

Week 46 - Walking, teaching, and learning.

This week we walked quite a bit.  I've never felt so tired.  Everyone we have been teaching just seemed to disappear so we spent the week looking for new people to teach.  My contacting skills have definitely increased!  Thankfully, there is only one large hill in our sector.

Elder Palilla has bad teeth.  He has had several cavities while on his mission. We went to the dentist on Thursday and again on Saturday, but he was in pain for much of the time. We ran around getting pain medications and things to ease his discomfort.

Spring in Chile

Thanksgiving day I made a turkey sandwich!

We met a man named "F".  He's a good investigator and is asking all the right questions.  He wants to learn and said he'll read and pray.

"E" was baptized this week.

I am studying Spanish each night for thirty minutes.  Elder Palilla is really helping me.  We work well together.  I know a lot of random words and understand spoken Spanish well.  He is able to speak better.  We both have things to teach and learn from the each other.

Week 45 - My new companion.

This week was pretty interesting.   We had transfers and Elder Furlanich was sent to a new area.  I was hoping we would have some more time together but he was transferred to Forrestal in Viña.   We went together to Viña where I met my new companion, Elder Palilla. Elder Palilla is from California and is a district leader.  He hasn't been in the mission field as long but speaks better Spanish.

Elder Furlanich and Elder Hammond

I also heard that my former companion, Elder Eyre, was made a district leader in Salamanca.  That makes me really happy!

We haven't really taught anybody new this week and I don't have much to report on.  I received updates on a few of my former investigators and new members.  I am really happy to hear "O" is doing excellent!!!  "R" is doing well too. 

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Week 44 - Weakness and frustration

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.   Ether 12:27

-=-

Many I interact with don't like talking to me because they are impatient with my Spanish.

I was pretty frustrated yesterday.  I played the piano in church.  I was asked to play a hymn I'd never heard or played before.  It was super hard when I got into it.  In the middle, they stopped everything, changed the hymn, and updated the hymn number on the wall.  The new hymn wasn't a problem.  The piano has a broken c note on the left hand.  It plays super loud when you barely touch it but I try not to let it bother me.

-=-

 We don't have many we are teaching.

We did find a new person named "C".  We contacted her son in the street one day and when we came back, met her.  She looked super skeptical when she opened the door but soon changed as we talked to her about her son.  She has been studying with the Jehovah Witnesses but listened to us.   She said she would read the Book of Mormon and pray for understanding.

It is Spring in our area and there's a lot of things blooming.   My allergies are coming back.   Ugh!

Transfers are coming this week.  I'm pretty nervous about them.  I could easily receive a new companion.  

Week 43 - A good week!

This week was pretty good.  There were definitely quite a few miracles.

Saturday "C" was baptized.  The entire zone came to support her since not to many people from our ward came.  It was scheduled at 3:00 which isn't the best time.  The people here have their largest meal just before and usually rest between 1:00 and 3:00.

She was baptized twice because the first time the baptizer didn't do it correctly.  They and the people watching thought all went well and started to leave.  Elder Furlanich and I had to drag everyone back in.  But, it was okay.  She is baptized and I'm so happy for her!!!

She's a great convert.  She's brought her little sister to church three times.   Her aunt is the Primary President and lives on the same plot of land so she'll always have help getting to church if needed.

My zone completed our goal for ten baptisms so we get to watch a Disney movie, Finding Dory.  I hope we'll also have pizza for breakfast.

Also, I'm personally going to be so grateful when the election in the US is over because everybody tells me their opinion.  My companion seems to enjoy it.  He is one of the people that can say the sky is yellow and after verbally sparing with him you'll be convinced it is yellow too.  It's pretty fun to see him talk with others about it.  I'm just tired and get impatient now.

Monday was so fun.  We played soccer on a synthetic turf.   The field was bare and this time played with many good players.  Normally we play with all the kids in the area.  But, Monday we played real soccer.  The players were all grown ups and young men.  I loved it.  There were good passes and I was able to score a few times.  They say I'm good for a gringo.  That made me feel good.

Tuesday I was on exchanges.  I went with Elder Olivera.  He is the missionary that has permission to have a guitar.  He speaks English which helps me.  We get along great.

Sunday, I played the piano and the bishop asked me to teach some members to play for the ward.  I also taught Gospel Principals.  One of the Sisters in the ward has a son that was with me in the MTC. She, the ward mission leader, and a recent convert all attended.  I thought it went well.

I found a new pastry shop to spend what little money I have.  They have a Berliner which is a cream filled doughnut that is huge.  It is heavenly!

Week 42 - Alzheimer's and termites

I don't have a way to listen to voice messages here.  It's pretty sad  because people keep sending me voice recordings and videos.

This week I had an interview with the mission president. He talked about points that he had spoken to the whole mission and asked me if I had any questions.  It went fine.

I was able to play the piano this week.  I played for church.  The chorister wanted me to transpose down the music which I was able to do.  I have a lot of members ask me to teach them to play.

We have been teaching an older lady this week.  I'm pretty sure she has Alzheimer's because we always ask who she wants to the pray and she always says me!  She says I never do it even though I've said it every time.  I'm the lucky one to be chosen!

We taught a man that lives next to the church.  He complains that the runoff from the church is making his yard wet and attracting termites.  He also said he finds basketballs on his roof from the basketball court.  At the end of his complaints I agreed with him the building wasn't perfect, but bore my testimony that the teachings of Jesus Christ are true.  The Spirit testified of what I was saying and his countenance completely changed.  We are going back Saturday to teach a lesson.

We taught "C' this week.   She's almost done with the lessons and her uncle is coming to church!  The bishop gave permission for her to be baptized so the baptism is this week!

We need new people to teach.  We attract a lot of people through ping pong, but it is hard to convert that to gospel discussions.  Our zone has done well though.  Recently, we've had nine enter into the Lord's church.

I had exchanges with Elder Hunsaker which was interesting. We contacted an entire street that was very long.  It was pretty interesting because Elder Hunsaker doesn't know to much Spanish but he has a higher voice than mine.  I've noticed this helps people understand.  I feel people don't understand me because my voice is so low.  Having an American accent doesn't help either.   Most contacts try to talk to the Elder that speaks Spanish the best. The people understood him and complained about my Spanish so they gravitated to Elder Hunsaker.  They would tell him they didn't understand me but he didn't understand them.  He would turn to me and I would translate the conversation for him.  Hahahahahah!

Week 41 - Teaching and Singing

This week was better!  We taught a lot this week.

We've been teaching an older lady for a while named "A".  She was on date for baptism but we had to cancel it because she didn't come to church.   She's good and solid but doesn't always remember important things.  She's pretty funny because she's really dramatic too.  We taught her the plan of salvation and that families can be together forever.  She was like "NO WAY!"  It was super funny.

We taught a young girl name "E".  I feel really sorry for her.   Her mom is inactive but a member. This girl is only 9 years old.  They say they see spirits.  While we were teaching, we asked "E" how she felt when she prayed.  She told us it scared her.  I honestly felt like crying.  This girl has so many things going on in her life.  It's scary.

We taught "C".  She changed her baptism date to the fifth because it's her grandmothers birthday.  She wants to remember the day, so we are excited for the fifth.

Pingpong night

We went to a baptism for a young convert in Santa Julia and the assistants showed up.  They said I should try out for the Christmas choir.  It's really big here.  Thousands of people go.  It's a huge production the church puts on.   They kept telling me I should go and tryout.  I thought why not.   I went and sang in front of so many people.  My mission president was video taping me, all the assistants, and the office staff there.  A lot of sisters and elders tried out.   I think I sang pretty good to be honest.  It was interesting.  We'll see if I am selected...

And that's the highlights of my week.

Week 40 - From Spanish to Spiders

This week was pretty rough.  I had a lot of people tell me I didn't know Spanish, but that's okay.

I had an exchange with Elder Olivera.  He's really cool.  It was hard for a lot of reasons but by the end of the night was way fun.  He's the only elder that's been given permission to have a guitar.  He can play everything to Mozart to Ed Sheeran.   He sings really well.  He's from Brazil but barely has an accent.

Last Monday we played soccer for p-day and I played super well.  All of the players asked what sport I played before my mission.  I told them I was a swimmer.   They told me I was swimming up and down the field.  I made some points with those playing that day.

Elder Furlanich and I get along well.  He's a really cool and funny guy.  He's good with little kids. His skills come in handy when there are screaming kids.  We fit well together.

I hope we will have a baptism next week with "C".  She is super cool.  We don't have to do much with her which is great!  Often, with others there's much work needed first.  She just wants to be a member of the church.  She's not getting baptized for us.  She's getting baptized because of her desire to be a member of the Lord's church.   We don't have her mom's written permission yet so it might not happen, but my new area is doing really well.  There are a lots of baptisms this week!  It's so exciting.

The video above is of a big spider in Chile.  It lives in a hole and jumps out to catch insects when the web around the hole is disturbed.

Week 39 - Transferred

This week week has been hard.  I felt like I was starting the mission all over again.   I've been transferred to Las Maravillas (the sunflowers) Achupalles and have Elder Furlanich as my companion.  He's our district leader.

I said goodbye to many in Salamanca.  We went to "O's" family and I cried a good bit but I was pretty good until we began leaving.  The whole time "O's" wife wouldn't come into the room.  We were wondering why she wouldn't come in and say goodbye.  Finally she walks into the room balling and I just had to leave because it made me cry too.

An investigator's cat had kittens

Then I said goodbye to "R".  She told me she would always remember me and that I was like a angel to her.  She tells me she is heartbroken I was leaving and it was tough.

Then I left Salamanca which was pretty hard.  It was really hard to say goodbye to Elder Eyre.  He is a good friend.  He is just like some of my close friends back home.

My new companion is pretty cool.  He was born in Argentina.  He has a super hard Argentinian accent which is difficult for me to understand.  He pronounces the L's and Y's way different.   Although he is a little hard to understand in Spanish he also lived in Canada and Utah for most of his life.  He knows English perfectly and can really help me.

I've felt pretty bad this week because everyone seems to be advancing much faster with their Spanish. I was with Elder Hunsaker on splits.  He is new and being trained.  His Spanish is already close to mine. There is a sister that has been out half as much time and she definitely knows more.  It makes me feel bad at times.  But I know we are given weaknesses to humble us and strengthen our faith. (See Ether 12:27 or  It isn't a Sin to be Weak)

A view from Gómez Carreño while on splits

I happened to go to the only other place in the mission that has four missionaries living in the same apartment so that is pretty cool.

We have a investigator that's come to church three times now and has a baptismal date for the 22nd! We have had some other good people we are teaching and that's my week.

Week 38 - Conferences and Transfers

This week I had zone conference.  It's a big thing in the mission.  The mission president speaks to all the missionaries.  He gives us direction and guidance and it is so cool.  In this conference he talked about the apostasy.  Conference was really good.  It was really interesting to see and listen as a missionary.  All the talks taught gospel principles. We often teach the same principles in our missionary lessons.  It was fun to hear others teach the principles we do everyday.

Afterwards we played pingpong during a break.  The mission president came in and trounced every missionary in the room.  He walked out like nothing happened.  He beat me 5 to 1.

I played volley ball last p-day and I'm about to play it again.  I'm pretty excited.

General Conference was really good and fun to watch.  I watched it in English. It was nice to have a time were it was okay to speak and listen to things in English.  It's not against the rules to speak in English, but when you are in another culture that speaks a different language it's better to immerse yourself in it as much as possible.  It was nice to have a reason not to do everything in Spanish.

We also taught "C" and "R" a couple of times.  "R's" sister has started to join our lessons and I hope she can start progressing.  She said she would like to get baptized but she's also kind of a tease so well have to see how that works out.

At the end of one night we had no one else to teach.  The thought came to both of us that we should visit "F" and "A".  ("A" is a member and has a friend "F" that we taught once.)  We went and he was there in the house.  Usually, he's never there.  It was awesome to receive revelation like that.

We didn't really teach many other people this week.  We've been having a hard time finding people.  I hope this week is just an anomaly.

Transfers are Tuesday.  The last transfer cycle I thought I would be leaving.  I hope when I am transferred all is well in this area.  I've packed my bags again in case I'm transferred this time.  I've only been in this area and think I'll be transferred soon, but we'll see.

Week 37 - The ups and downs of missionary work

This week was interesting. 

Monday we played lots of games and it was way fun for p-day.

Tuesday I was with Elder Burton.  We went to Los Vilos to get him and I had to sit on the stairs of a double decker bus.  That wasn't fun. Then we came back and taught a lot of people.  It was such a super good day.  We had a super good district meeting where we talked about consecrating our time. It was just awesome.

Thursday we had exchanges again.  I went to Illapel and I liked it quite a bit.  In the morning we had to walk a long way to the branch president's house.  We walked passed lots of green areas and I loved just seeing an area with grass and trees.

We came back and did a service project Saturday for an old folks club. 

Sunday we had church and the branch president taught the Sunday school class.  We've had a man that interrupts us a lot when we teach but this time he didn't say anything.

We taught "S" and invited him to go to church.  His mom yelled at us that we were pressuring him.  Then "E" called and said that we can't go to her house anymore and "C" said we can't go to her house anymore either.  So it been a week of ups and downs.

Elder Viana and I lost an investigators blender when we moved their house.  I'll need to pay for it...

Salamanca is mostly a mining town.  I met one of the Chilean miners that was trapped under ground for 69 days.  See chilean-miners-rescue

Week 36 - Zone party

Today for p-day we had a zone party.  We played card games and soccer.  It was really good, but we missed our bus, so I have some time to write.

Week 35 - The Cueca.

This week was pretty good. I had exchanges with Elder Lopez.  I wasn't sure what to expect and worried it might not be fun. Elder Lopez is quiet spoken.  He is latino and I still fear going out with other latinos because of my language skills.  Often I have to explain things more than once and I have to figure out their words. But it was a really good day!  Elder Lopez is so cool. We started our day by eating in the house as somebody brought food over in tupperware. We played chess while we ate.

We sometimes run into sad situations.  We taught two kids and learned their mom sells cocaine. We also taught a schizophrenic.

The exchange was very interesting and I loved it.   It was fun serving in another area.  We found and taught a new family.  The mother's name is "C" and she has an 11-year old daughter.  They came to church!

We also taught "S" and he is doing okay.  We still hope his parents will permit him to be baptized.

"J" didn't go to church for the third time.  This concerns us.  She was locked in once, but it still worries us that she hasn't come.

"O" is doing good.  He is excited to get the priesthood and be sealed in the temple.

"R" goes to church every other week.  His daughter is about to go on a mission and has been pretty emotional.

There was a church party for the Fiestas Patrias.  This celebrates the beginning of Chilean independence in 1810.  It occurred on September 18th.  It's like a second Christmas here.  Many celebrate for a full week.  We saw people dance the national dance and ate lots of meat.  It was pretty cool.

A typical hat and outfit worn for the National Chilean Cueca dance.

Yesterday we had to go inside by 8:00 pm.  The mission president felt we shouldn't be out at night on the 11th.  This is because it is a bad day for "gringos".  The previous government did something bad on this day.  It was a dictatorship and lots of people were killed and tortured.  On the 11th people chant and riot in front of police from what I understand.   We went inside an hour and half early, played chess, and ate fried Oreos.

Week 34 - Teaching in Salamanca

We taught "S" a bit and then helped his parents on the house they are building.  After, we asked them if "S" could be baptized.  They said no.  They don't want to take him to church and the father doesn't think he understands the gospel. "S"'s grandma is still coming to church!  She told us she would like "S" to be baptized.  

We started teaching a women name "C" and her son "Rc" who was eight years-old when she went inactive. They both came to church yesterday and everything is looking really good for them. 

"B" didn't come to one of our appointments because he had a soccer game that he wanted to go to.  We'll see how it goes with him.  He might just like to play ping pong.

I finally got the package you sent and I love it.  The food was awesome and is almost gone.  The war heads are amazing.  Watching a Chilean who doesn't normally eat sour things eat one is hilarious!

Week 33 - Ping pong in Salamanca

I’m still in Salamanca and I’m still with Elder Eyre!  I wasn’t transferred like I thought I would. Most everyone else was transferred.  I love the members and my converts here.   Things are starting to pick up for us, so I’m okay with it.  I had packed all my bags thinking I would be transferred, but I’m staying. I’m the oldest missionary in my zone now.

Elder Braitwait stayed in the district.  He is training an elder from Mexico.  I find it hard to understand him because he doesn’t speak the Chilean Spanish that I speak.  My district leader and his companion left from Illapel.   This made me really sad because I like them a lot!   The mission white washed most of our sector.  They have a lot of recent converts and investigators.   I’m worried the new elders won’t keep up with them because a lot of them are youth and were friends with the previous elders.  The new elders seem to be really serious and that often doesn’t mix very well with the youth.  We’ll see.   I like them though!   Elder Lopez is my district leader.  He is from Mexico and is really soft spoken, kind, and charitable to others.   I see and hear him and think of our former stake president, Robert Weiler.

We are teaching a boy named "S"  He is 10 years old.  He wants to be baptized so bad, but his parents won’t let him.  They are both members, but inactive.  We are really trying to reactivate them.  They all know the importance of being baptized, but don’t want him baptized at this time.  We are still teaching them though.  His grandmother came to church for the first time in three years!

Today we had a lesson with "B".  He is on date to be baptized.  He likes to play ping-pong.  We have been playing quite of a bit of ping pong lately because we found out if you play ping pong before a lesson, the appointment doesn’t fall through.  We asked him to invite his friends for a tournament. Ten friends showed up!  We had fun playing and taught them all.

Week 32 - Eternal marriage

So many people live together outside of marriage.  This is a stumbling block for many in accepting the gospel.  We teach that marriage is ordained of God.  God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. See The Family: A proclamation to the world.  We claim marriage can be eternal when performed by those authorized by the Lord and that our family relationships can continue beyond the grave.  There are so many blessings we receive when we follow the Lord's commandments.

We invited a contact to church this week.   We also invited another sister from the branch.  When they got there we found both were cousins!

Two recent converts I taught accepted callings in the church.  Our church has no paid ministry so teaching and church operation fall to the members.  One is a secretary working with the young women's organization.  The other is a secretary for the elder's quorum.  It is awesome seeing them progress and become involved!

Saturday we were given permission to play basketball in the Illapel community basketball championship.  This was setup by the elders there.   They asked for more players and we accepted. We played in the communal stadium.  There were five teams of five.  I played with Elder Frampton who's going to walk onto the BYU basketball team next week.  I also played with another athletic elder, Elder Miller, who will be playing BYU football.  They dominated.  Our team was rounded out with an investigator, another Chilean and myself.   Our team ended up winning!

After, we went to dinner and then played another basketball game.  This time with people we were teaching.   It was a fun game.  We let them win and then taught a lesson.

Transfers happen this week.  I may be moved to another location.  Other than the first few weeks learning some Spanish in Santiago, I've just served in Salamanca.  I feel like I might be transferred. The people of Salamanca are wonderful.  If I go, I'll miss those I'm teaching and helping. But, I'd also like to see other parts of Chile and look forward to new challenges.  I really like my companion Elder Eyre.  Either way I'll be happy and sad.  It will be interesting to see what happens.

I'm currently studying the New Testament.

Week 31 - Investigator to member!

This week investigator "J" became a new member!!!  She chose to be baptized!  We had eight elders come to her baptism.   She requested that all of us dress in white.  Normally, just the person baptizing will dress in white, but all eight of us came dressed in white.

This meant we had eight elders in our house afterwards.  It was fun.  Mattresses were piled on the floor.  The next day, they were supposed to get going by 6:00, but the time changed here by an hour.   I woke up and it was already 7:00.  The other elders were a little freaked out at first, but got to where they needed to be.

On Sunday, we called "J" before church, but she didn't answer.  We stopped by twenty minutes later and she had just woken up.  She quickly got ready and arrived just before church started.  I laid my hands on her head and by the authority of the priesthood she was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  See Acts 19:1-7.  I am happy for her.

Fried sushi is soooo good!

We taught "R" this week.  One day we noticed he was really fidgety.  When we asked why, he asked if we believed in dreams.  We said yes.  He told us that he saw us in a dream.  He said he knew we were "angels" sent to improve his life.   He told us he would do as we asked and has been reading and praying.   He came to "J's" baptism.

We've been teaching "M".  She cuts the missionaries' hair in Salamanca.  She knows all the missionaries.  She is willing to listen and reads.  She came to "J's" baptism too.

Today is a holiday in Chile.  It is called the Feast of the Assumtion.  I wasn't sure I would get an opportunity to write.

For p-day, we played basketball in Illapel with a ton of youth.  They started playing English music.  It felt like home but was weird now that I am a missionary.

Week 30 - Hedgehogs to picarones

This week we played a game called the Olympics of Illapel.   Our zone set a goal of getting 1000 points this week.  Every time we invite someone to be baptized we earn 1 point.  Every time someone accepts we earn 10 points.  We are not competing against each other but working together to reach our goal.  We are inviting everyone.   I was on Intercambios with Elder Hermosilla and he would shout out to those on the street.  He asked if they wanted to be baptized.  We left every day with a bag of pamphlets.   We ask people if they would like a gift and give them the Gospel of Jesus Christ pamphlet.  We teach them that Jesus gave us the example of being baptized and ask if they would like to be baptized just like Him.  Many were baptized by sprinkling water.  We explain that we believe it is important to be baptized like Jesus but many were baptized by sprinkling water and they just say no.

One of my investigators hedgehogs had babies.  They aren't very soft.  They stab you when they get scarred.  It is kind of like having a prickly hamster.

We started teaching "R".  He goes to our English class.   He was super excited to get an English Book of Mormon.  He told us he doesn’t belong to any religion because there always seems to be something wrong.  He talked about some of the crazy things he has seen.  We asked him to read the Book of Mormon but told him to not take our word for it but to pray about it and find out for himself if it was true.  He said he would definitely do it!

"J" didn’t get baptized last week but we are working with her.  She is ready to be baptized and is pretty excited.  She is strong in the gospel and wants to go to the temple.  It is really hard for people to go to the temple here because it is so far away.  She is super excited for a friend that is going to the temple soon.  Her friend is leaving on a mission.

On Thursday we ate lunch really early.  Lunch is dinner here.  We ate at a sister’s house that lives in a distant town called El Tebal.  We left and started walking to the bus stop at 12:00.  There is only one bus that leaves at 1:30 and we needed it to get home.   Long story short, we missed our bus and started the really long walk home.  We eventually received a ride.   A member called to check on us and found we were walking.  

On Saturday, a sister gave us picarones (a type of doughnut made with squash and sweet potato). They are really good.

Week 29 - A week in the mission.

Tonight I'm going to a members home to teach a family home evening lesson.  Their two sons don't want to participate but I made a deal with them.  I'm going to make pizza.  They said if I make pizza, they will listen!

One of the sisters in the branch is upset with us.  Mission rules only allow us to go inside with a person of the opposite gender if there are three of our gender present.  Since we go out as two, we need a third person present to go inside.  She fixed lunch for us and her son was present, but halfway through he decided to leave.  When he left, we had to go outside.  This upset her.

Our newest member received the priesthood!  We are fasting with another investigator who is close to baptism.  We hope she will choose to be baptized soon!

We've started teaching a man who has gone to church twice!  He is older, and many of the older people here need glasses.  Unfortunately, most don't have glasses.  They struggle or are unable to read.  I'm not sure if he will be able to study on his own.

We started teaching a family.  We taught about the restoration.  The mother read something about another church on the internet and blamed it on us.  I don't know if we will be going back.

Today for our p-day we are going to Illapel as a group we call a zone.  Several missionaries make up a zone.  We are going to grill and have an olympics.  I don't know what games we will be playing, but it should be fun.

We found a Chinese restaurant in Salamanca.  We are super excited.  It looks super sketchy but we are way excited!!!

Week 28 - Scared for a moment!

I'm so happy!  Everything went well with "O" and he was baptized this week!  Attendance in our little branch went up to a whopping 76 people!  This almost doubles the normal turnout.

Today for our p-day we are going to have a ping-pong competition and watch a movie.   I think the movie will be the Cokeville Miracle   President Diaz has allowed the mission to watch it.

One night this week, my companion, Elder Eyre, went to put some clothes on the drying rack.  He didn't turn on the lights and in the dark, it looked like the glass door was open.  It wasn't!  He ran right into it and shattered it.   I went right over and he was just standing still.  I went up the stairs and told the other elders sharing our apartment we needed to go to the hospital.  It scared them for a moment.  Elder Eyre is OK.  He had a super small cut on his head and a few small cuts on his hand. We didn't need to go to the hospital and he is OK.

Week 27 - I love my new companion!

I love my new companion!!!  Elder Colin Eyre is from Draper Utah and has been serving for year in the mission.  He played lacrosse in high school.  Neither of us are super strong in Spanish so its pretty interesting.  Sometimes he'll ask me what a word is.  His grammar and pronunciation are a a lot better than mine.  But we are both earning.  Its' nice having a companion who struggles a little like me. And because we struggle, we always have language study.  Elder Viana and I almost never had language study.  Elder Viana spoke fluently and I miss his perfect pronunciation.  I can feel my accent starting to get worse.

Our investigator wasn't baptized last week.  He'll probably be baptized this week!

We have another investigator who is progressing and is always asking questions. She reads sometimes and marks her scriptures.  It's pretty awesome.

Its getting pretty cold here (season are opposite in the southern hemisphere).  A pair of thermal leggings would be good if you send me a package sometime soon.

Today for our p-day we're probably going to go up another mountain.

Week 26 - Transfers approaching.

For the 4th of July we had a zone meeting.   For part of this, we celebrated Independence Day with the US. We grilled and sang English hymns.  We played games.  It was really fun!

I think my investigator might get baptized this week!  It will be wonderful to see him baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.

Elder Viana and Elder Hammond

Transfers are this week.  This has been my only area so far and Elder Viana has been here even longer than I.   I think we may be split up and receive new companions.

He'll listen to me!