San Felipe, Week 1

Well, yesterday, we had a zone training, so today is our preparation day. Tomorrow is the 18th of September, which means barbecue, empanadas... all that kind of stuff.  The 18th is like the 4th of July, except that it lasts 3 days, the 18th, 19th, and 20th. We'll be going to the ward activity tomorrow.. it should be really fun and nice to get to know the ward members a little better.

On Thursday we had to go to a meeting in Santiago, so we woke up an hour early to take the bus at 8 to try to get to Santiago at 10.  In the end, we had to take a taxi from the bus station to the chapel and we got there about 10:05.  The meeting got over about 5:30 and we had to wait for the bus at 6:10... so we got back to San Felipe about 8:00.  It was a long, tiresome day, and I had a bad cold this week, so that was fun.

The other day we were teaching a lesson to a lady who was speaking a lot.   She mentioned something about how she felt that when she met with us something pulled a weight off of her heart and she felt better.  We explained to her that she was feeling the Spirit, which was testifying of the truth. 

Another lady had mentioned something similar. A scripture popped into my head when we were inviting her to come to church.  I shared Matthew 11:28-30 and told her that our invitation is to come unto Christ... that as she comes unto Christ through what we teach and invite her to do, He will ease the burden that she feels she's had her whole life. I t was interesting to see her reaction.  Because I followed direction from the Holy Ghost, she felt the Holy Ghost and got really quiet (she usually talks a lot... haha). 

Anyway that was my week. 

Elder Garrett

To San Felipe

Today we had changes, and I have returned to the zone of Los Andes.... I am in the barrio Almendral, which is in San Felipe. So here I will be celebrating the 18th of September... it should be awesome. I am in a trio again, with Elder De Castro (Brasil) and Elder Zuñiga (Peru)... 

I will be completing one year in Chile this week... 14 months in the mission... and I'll be celebrating my second and last 18th of September.... it should be better this year because now I understand what people are saying to me... haha. 

I don't have tons of time because we arrived a little late in San Felipe... 

It's been a long weekend, with the goodbyes, packing the suitcases, and all the traveling.... and I'm very tired. I'll miss Batuco and the great people I met and the great friends I've made, but I'm excited to work in San Felipe.

Elder Garrett

The other day we were on the bus headed out of Batuco and I saw a member we've been working with that was headed in to the doctor. She turned around and I waved to her. She later told me that in that instant something told her to look behind her, and just in that moment, I passed by in the bus and waved to her. It made her day, so that was cool.

We did two exchanges this week with our district leader. The first day I worked with him in Batuco, and the second day I went to Colina. That day it was so hot that in the night time I didn't even put on a jacket. Normally at night I've been wearing a sweater and a coat. I got to reminisce with Elder Willoughby about the MTC because he's also in that branch in Colina... so that was fun. They didn't have bikes and live about thirty minutes from their sector... it wore me out... I think riding bikes is much easier... and I've gotten used to it. 

I found out last week that an investigator from my last sector got baptized. I haven't heard yet what miracles happened, but I remember having fasted for a miracle several times for her, and I know that there is great power in fasting. 

Elder Garrett

2 Months in Batuco

This week we had interviews with President. We left for Lampa at 12:30 and got back to Batuco at about 8:00,,, so it was a long day. I was asked to teach part of district class... which I'd never done before... and then as we waited for our turn to be interviewed we went to eat fast food. We were the last ones to be interviewed because Batuco was the closest area to Lampa... our travel time was 20 minutes, while the rest had to travel about an hour to get back to their areas.

I've heard rumors that some of my friends are already getting back from their missions... that's really strange... time flies by really fast. It seems like just yesterday that I was starting college and going to their farewells, and now they're coming home... wow. On September 12, I will complete one year in Chile.

Yesterday we were going to visit a family and we came upon an open gate, which is usually locked... so we went through the gate. In the end, they weren't home, and somebody from one of the other houses locked the gate. So we were stuck and had to take a dirt road a ways until we found the road to take the long way around back to Batuco... we spent about 30 minutes on bike to get back. That was an adventure. I thought we were going to have to ride in the dark, but luckily the road was lighted. 

Antonia is progressing well and excited for her baptism. She loves coming to church and is learning fast. We are really happy with her progress. 

The Vasquez family's faith has grown so much in the two months that we've been with them and I am very proud of the faith they've grown and nurtured. We have seen changes in every one of them. I think Javiera and Jessy jump out of bed faster on Sunday for church than they do during the week for school. Sometimes I'm not sure if people can see the difference the gospel makes in their lives but as a missionary I can see it, and I've seen it in my own life, and I hope I can help them to see it, too. To see that they are making the best decisions of their lives. 

Thanks for everything!

Elder Garrett

Blessings

When we got to church yesterday, we found out we were going to speak... I mean, the week before, the old Branch President asked us to speak, but since no one else really said anything about it, we thought maybe we were off the hook... in the end, we had to ride back to the house to fetch our talks... and my back tire was flat...

This was the first talk I've given in Chile, so I was a little nervous. I have no idea what language spewed out of my mouth for the first two minutes, or if anyone understood me... but I got the nerves under control and started speaking like a normal person (almost) and I think it turned out alright... I'm sure it would've been worse in English... so I'm counting my blessings!

Today we're headed to Santiago to buy some more ties.... there's not a whole lot to do on preparation day in Batuco... email and naptime. We have to travel in bus for about 45 minutes to get there and then take the subway, but it's nice to get out and see something different for a change... even though I've already seen it before... haha.

They say it looks like I've lost a little weight, but I don't weigh myself because I don't want to get my hopes up just to find I still weigh the same. Or maybe it's just because I don't have a scale.

On Saturday night we had a cool experience. We finished a lesson with a family and the daughter said the closing prayer. She broke in tears... and the whole family started crying. When she finished, we just kind of all sat in silence. They told us to come back on Sunday, and they all told us they had felt pèace and warmth in their hearts. The father said he'd never felt like that before. We helped them to recognize that it was the Holy Ghost. They said they felt like during that prayer God was very close to them... and that he expected them to follow Him. 

 

Surprises

This week we were asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting. So we prepared our talks on Saturday. When we got to church, the Branch President told us we weren't actually going to speak... maybe next week. As it turns out, the District Presidency came to reorganize the Branch Presidency. So they spoke. They also surprised us by assigning six families from Valle Grande to our branch, where before they went to Lampa. 

The new Branch President is President Christensen, from Arizona. We are teaching his niece, who is now living with them, and it looks like we will be preparing a baptismal service in a few weeks. One of the cool things that happened is that he only called one counselor... he didn't feel like he should call another yet. Today he recieved the surprise that six more families would be part of the branch. 

We are now starting to see the fruits of our efforts, which is exciting. I've been in Batuco for 2 months now. (Time flies fast) One of the most rewarding parts of the work is being able to see the progress and the changes in peoples lives.  To feel like you were an instrument in the Lord's hands to help someone. 

Where did July go?

It's hard to believe that it's already August. July flew by way too fast. Before we know it, John will be in the MTC. 

One of the greatest things about the mission is that you can make really great friends. The hard part is that at some point there is always change. I'm not sure I'm quite used to that yet. Some changes are harder than others. 

So Elder Flores is already home, already chatting with our investigators and the members on Facebook with his cellphone. My new companion is Elder Riera, from Ecuador. He has 9 months in the mission. 

I've been a little bit sick this week but I think I'm already starting to feel better. It doesn't help that it's very cold right now. I mean, ahorita it's pretty hot, because the sun's out, but in a couple of hours it's going to cool down and by 6:30 when the sun goes down it gets freezing cold. Sometimes I wear thermals, a sweater, and two coats. haha. And I'm sleeping at night with 5 blankets. 

Yesterday, Maxi (15 yrs old) who was baptized two weeks ago, was confirmed a member, shared his testimony, and received the Aaronic Priesthood. In his testimony, he said "I know that the steps that I'm taking are right."

I also shared my testimony yesterday. Sometimes people think that the life of a missionary is easy, or always full of happiness.... Wouldn't it be great if life were like that?  But we wouldn't grow, and we wouldn't have to learn to trust in the Lord. I know that Jesus Christ, our Savior, lives. He suffered for our sins, pains, and afflictions, so He knows how to help and comfort us in hard times, when no one else can. I have felt Him carry me through all of my trials. 

Have a great week!

Elder Garrett