Week 63 - La Serena

I got to say goodbye to many in Las Maravillas which was nice.  I really miss Elder Palilla.

Goodbye Viña

I traveled to my new area from Viña.  I went up with an assistant and two sister missionaries.  It rained the whole time.  I couldn't see out the front window.  All those cool pictures I had hoped to take didn't happen.  The bus ride was fun though.  Elder Diaz, the assistant, and now my new zone leader told a lot of stories.

Upon arrival, I met my new companion, Elder Yaress.  He is from Argentina.  We are in a house by ourselves.  We don't share it with another set of missionaries.

The first day, the one investigator Elder Yaress has been working with we had to drop.  Hopefully, it won't be for long.  We spent most of my first week going by inactive members of the congregation.  I really want to get out and contact.  In Las Maravillas, I was inviting at least five people a day to be baptized.  I've only invited two this week.  It has honestly made me feel sad.  I hope I can bring in some new energy and help the zone.

I am only speaking Spanish so hopefully that continues to improve!

I haven't noticed as many dogs in this area.  My new area is greener.  I'm in the city, just on the other side of the river from the city center.  In my district is another elder I know from Salamanca, Elder Navaroo.

Week 62 - Transferred

I'm being transferred to La Serena.  I don't know who my companion will be.  I've already got a ticket to La Serena.  I'm going up with an assistant who will be my next zone leader.  The bus ride will take about 8 hours.  I start the trek at 8:30 am on Wednesday.  The ride should be cool.  I have a seat on the front row of the top of a double decker so I'll get to see all around.  I'll probably have some nice pictures if the assistant lets me take them.  Some times they can be picky about that kind of thing.  I'm excited to go north and see more of Chile.  From Vina del Mar to La Serena is about 300 miles.  The bus also takes a 1.5 hour detour along the route.  It will be a long ride.

I'm not sure what my assignment will be.  I haven't been told yet.

This week "F" wasn't baptized.  Unfortunately, as we were getting ready to go to his interview his mom decided not to sign and give her permission.  His dad wanted to talk to him too.  I'm worried.   His dad didn't look very happy to see us.  I hope everything is okay at home.

We passed by and were able to talk to "G" again.  He seems better and is going to let people teach him again.

The ward seemed sad that I was leaving.  I will miss them.  There are so many nice people that help and support us!

The Castillo family gave me a cake yesterday.  I probably haven't said much about them but they are a wonderful family.

I am going to miss the Muñoz family.  Their son was in the mission training center with me.  He sent pictures of us together to his parents.  I gave them some money to buy me an Everton jersey before I leave.  It's really expensive because they don't make fake ones in my size.  It will be really nice.

My dad and I will both miss the Canales family.  They have had me over many times.  My dad will miss the pictures they post on my Facebook page.  (See their cute future missionary posted on March 12th!)

It's going to take longer for packages to get to me -- even longer than when I was in Salamanca.  This is because I'll be in the furthest zone from the mission office.

There are missionaries who have finished their mission and will be returning home this week.  In the mission we refer to this as "dying".  We took the funny picture above to remember him by.

Week 61 - Fire and smoke

I did a ton of paper work today.  I ran around Viña getting it done.  On the fun side, I did most of it with Elder Eyre and Elder Cheney.  I also got to talk to Elder Braithwait.

This week has been rough. We had four investigators with baptismal dates cancel on us.  Not only that, but they have chosen to leave us.  We only have one person progressing and that is "F".  But it is okay because he has been the one progressing. He's gone to church three times now and has a baptismal date for Saturday!!!  He is seeking an answer first,  but I'm sure he'll receive one.

This week there was giant fire over in Viña.  We didn't have water one night.  It was pretty cool to watch them fight it.  We could see planes and a helicopter dropping water. We could also see the fire.

We did service on Friday.  My hands were left in blisters.  We dug holes for a house.  We did this with a hollow metal tube that you stab into the ground and pull up.  Then someone has to pull out the dirt.  I also learned about how things are done in Chile.  The man that we did the service for has been living in a tent for three weeks.  In Chile, when you don't have a lot of money you just go to the edge of the city and construct a home there.   In Chile, it literally goes from nothing to the city in a snap of a finger.  They don't have suburbs like in the States.  It's rural or urban.  There's no middle ground.  The poor just go to the edge of the city and build a house.  These are illegal settlements, but they will build in groups and the city doesn't usually stop them.  There's no water or electricity but somehow they manage to get water. It's bad because the homes catch on fire and then there's no water to fight it and it becomes a big fire.

Week 60 - North American Football

This week was pretty good.  I went to Gomez Carreño for exchanges.  We walked a lot but and ended doing a lot of random service.  It was really cool.  We watched Ephraim's Rescue at the end of the day.

The next day one of the assistants came to our sector with a zone leader and visited with "F" while Elder Polo and I contacted.  Our investigator set a date for baptism!!!  He also came to church this week!!!  We had invited eight who said they were coming, but only he came.

Today I played North American football with eight elders.  It was so much fun and interesting.  I had a lot of people who ended up playing close coverage on me.  It probably didn't make any sense but they thought I was a big guy that knew how to catch the ball.  They definitely made sure I didn't have many chances to catch the ball.