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.