ELDER NELSON!

It was pretty awesome to have Elder Nelson and Elder Viñas here with us yesterday. We each got to go up and shake their hands. We got to hear each of them and their wives speak. I wrote down a bunch of notes from all of them. 

Elder B, Elder A and I

Elder Viñas basically talked about the importance of baptism, retention, and reactivation and I am going to try to focus a lot more on reactivation in my mission. Hermana Nelson talked a lot about our premortal life and what we would have been like before, which was very special to think about. Just looking into the heavens for 5 minutes would give us a greater knowledge of any subject than if we studied it for all our life. Than Elder Nelson talked started by saying something that has now become my favorite quote. "Begin with the end in mind." And i love how he later used that to explain a story of a friend who later became a member. He said he saw his friend and thought of how good he would look in baptismal clothing, but even better in temple clothing. That is the goal for everyone. It was very special at the end when he said, "I as an apostle, invoke a blessing upon you now," and blessed us with many things among devotion and being a true disciple of Christ.

He taught us of how awesome the Spanish scriptures are and the guide for scripture study  which the English scriptures don't have. He taught us of ten doctrines and the greatest was what he said of Jesus Christ and how much there is to study about him. The whole experience was cool and i am pumped to study everything he shared.

Today we went to piedra roja because it is just a chill place to be. They have a dunkin donuts, starbucks, papa johns, sushi restaurants, and a whole bunch of other stuff there by the lake. It was nice and relaxing to be there with a donut from the outside porch deal they had their. And we visited another place after where we could buy a bunch of gringo candy and drinks! i totally forgot how could butter fingers were after one year! Love you guys, Talks to you later! bye:) sorry I wasn't able to reply to all the emails. 

  fish from my favorite place called Piedra Roja.  It reminds me of home.

Another Apostle came to visit

Last week we had a visit from Elder Viñas of the seventy. I really dont know how our mission has so many visits from apostles. But it was awesome. We had a mission conference with him, and then he came to give a devotional in our district. I was pretty pumped. I talked with him one on one after about some of the questions i had and he was pretty cool to help out. 

Of the many things he said there was some things i really liked. He said, "under the influence of the spirit you cannot offend others nor be offended." roughly what he said in spanish. And he explained that anything you talk or converse about will never be offensive as long as the spirit is there. And i loved that a lot because before we should make decisions in our life we need the spirit to guide us. And many other things about repentance and what had happened to some of his misisonaries while he was serving as a mission president before. So it helped out to hear those things from him.

This week the rain will be here until the weekend. So that means washing all of my muddy clothes after haha. Oh and our laundry got so heavy in the rain while it was supposed to be drying that it broke the pole that holds up our clothes. Its all good here, everything is normal. Love you guys and hope your doing good. We are all getting hyped up for the 18th of se`ptember which is the day of independence here but is one of the biggest celebrations that happens! BYE!

View of the rain from the bus

The snow doe!!

Posing with some guys board.  Cant
wait to come back after my mission.

Went to Portillo, Andes Mountain between Chile and Argentina.  Crossed into Argentina for a bit. Another elder andI  we were looking at the map of which route we "would take" if we could ski.  haha. A few more years.

This week the two quotes that i have thought a lot about are not from the scriptures but really mean a lot to me. One is from Mumford and sons in a song that says, "keep my eyes to serve, my hands to learn." And it helps me to think of my service as a missionary. My eyes to serve as i should always be looking for those who are in need in any kind of way, and that i may learn from the lord in using my hands as instruments to preach the gospel. It has many meanings the way you look at it, but always makes me think of what i am doing with my service to the lord. And the other is from a different song that says, "If you're lost and alone, or you're sinking like a stone, carry on. May your past be the sound of your feet upon the ground. Carry on." This one means a bit more of whatever may be happening, just keep going. Move forward no matter what. 

 Grandpa look what i found  -  Kids, Kites, siesta

I am having a good time in my mission and these activities lately help a lot. Our district is probably the closest in the mission. A few nights back we all got together in our house because with all the changes . We all talked about what we needed to and it was good to have a little devotional/ meeting thing. 

Dont worry about me, this is my service to the lord, not to any other person. We've had lots of exchanges for the day in our district to help us all stay energized. All is well for me as usual. - Love you Bye:)

Early in the morning waiting for a taxi

 Crossed into Arentina for a bit - dreaming

Me, snowman & Elder B  -  Portillo

 

Portillo, Andes Mountain between Chile & Argentina  -  My trainer Elder D

Pday up the mountain  -  Some famous dog hotel

Bus ride.  Long day

What a great week!!! Climbed Mt Santiago

Zone Leader & old comp back for a day.  Watched 17 miracles & ate popcorn. pday/siesta

It was awesome this week to see our recent convert M receive the priesthood and share the sacrament. He had a smile on his face and kept looking at me, he bought a gray suit and brown shoes like mine:) And we brought many less actives to church, especially the young men, we ended up with a ton on sunday!

I have been doing pretty good with all that has happened. One thing that really got to me was a death we had in our branch. It was the grandmother of the family who we brought to the temple last week. It came unexpected, on day she was fine with us, and the next day she was in the hospital. One of the last things she said was take care of my missionaries. She was like a mother to me and always gave us so much. We are passing by the family often to visit, and are helping the best we can. We are still trying to keep the members active and energized! But as missionaries we have to always been an example to everyone and i am trying my best to keep showing them the good things in life.

The 4 of us play the best futbol.  we dominated & wore same jaeserys.
played with zone & members.

I love my life and everything i have, i am doing great right now:) very happy and losing myself in what i do:) Thanks for all your support with everything, im moving on to bigger and better things!

Cleaned up after falling down Mt. santiago

Oh and in the picture i am pretty beat up after getting back and changing my clothes. We got to the top of the mountain and i started to run down and biffed it, haha so my jaw is all jacked up and i have a bunch of bruises on myslef, and one of my veins even popped haha but its all good. But, "im on top of the world eh," no matter what has happened:)