Week 13

Hola everyone. This week was great. Me and my companion are staying in Quintero. This week, we had another awesome encounter with the Holy Ghost. Last week, I think it was Tuesday, we had our first two appointments fall through so we were feeling down. Then we felt like we should go to this one house. This lady comes out and starts talking to us. She's really harsh and starts telling us a bunch of stuff she's heard about the church. All of it wasn't true. We then started to try to clarify some of things that she had heard. Little by little the Spirit softened her heart and she invited us in cause she was curious. Anyway, we teach her the first lesson. She was really surprised at a lot of the stuff. When we finish the lesson, she told us that she had been praying to know if the church she was going to was the right one. When she found out about Joseph Smith she felt like it was an answer. She committed to get baptized in a few weeks from now. The Holy Ghost is amazing.

Anyway, that's mostly it for this week. We're teaching several other investigators that are so so close but there's something little that's holding them back from getting baptized. We're trying hard to clear up there doubts.

Thanks everyone for the prayers and stuff. I can feel everyone's love and support. I hope everyone has a great week.

Part of what he wrote to the family: This week was great. Elder Leto and I are staying in Quintero. I'm so glad cause I love it here. I'm starting to understand a lot more when Chileans talk to me. There's still some that I can't understand cause they talk so fast and slur words together but it's getting better every day. Elder Leto is awesome. I found out that he's been a missionary longer than he's been a member of the church. He was only a member for a little over a year when he left and he's been a missionary for like a year and half now. He's awesome.

I ate Gary this week (sorry Spongebob)

the four missionaries in Quintero. the other 2 are from Peru. 

Week 12 (3 months)

Hola everyone. This week was actually really great. I'm learning so much about Spanish, the gospel, my testimony, and so many other things. I think the theme this week though was the Holy Ghost. One thing I learned was the Holy Ghost knows how to speak Spanish lol. I never thought that I would recieve a prompting in Spanish. It was awesome. Also, Heavenly Father prepares investigators through the Spirit. One day we were out tracting and we start talking to a guy. He starts asking us questions about our religion and everything. One thing leads to another, we give him a book of mormon and make an appointment. The first lesson was really awesome. He read what we asked him to read and more. He knows a ton of the bible but he says some parts are confusing. When he read the chapters in the Book of Mormon he found the answers that he was wondering about. We have another appointment today. But moral of the story, he was prepared because of the Spirit. Another lesson is the Spirit really does guide us. Last we were tracting and we felt like we should go to this one house. This lady came out and she was so happy to see us she started crying. It turns out, 8 years ago she was meeting with the missionaries and after their transfer she never saw them again. Then she moved and stuff and hasn't met with missionaries since. Anyway, moral of this story, the Holy Ghost is an awesome guide. Well that's all for this week. The Holy Ghost is so awesome in so many ways. Thanks for all the emails and all the prayers. I hope everyone has a great week.

To the family: Hola familia. This week was great. We have changes this wedneday but I don't want to leave Quintero. I love it here. There's a chance we could stay but we'll find out on wednesday. Elder Leto thinks we're gonna stay. I really hope we do. Also, Chile beat Peru this week so everyone was in a good mood again. We went to Viña this morning to get Elder Leto's new name tag. The letters were fading on his other one. This week we didn't have any investigators come to church but it's alright cause we got 5 inactive members to come. There are so many inactive members here. I didn't realize how many till we had ward council. There are over 1,000 baptized members in the ward. We've never had more than 100 come to church. It's loco. Anyway we had 5 come this week so 5 closer to a thousand lol. Well that's all this week. My next email could be in a different area. I hope not but I'll go where he wants me to go. Love you guys so much. 

Week 11

Hola everyone. This week was great. Time is starting to go by a lot faster now that I'm understanding more and help more with the lessons and stuff. I've got a long way to go with Spanish but I can see the improvement every day. This truly is the Lord's work and we cannot do it without him. A quote I heard in the MTC was."There's no growth in your comfort zone and no comfort in your growth zone" I can honestly say that I haven't been in my comfort zone at all since I got here. But it's not a bad thing cause there's been a lot of growth. Not just with the language. Spiritually, physically (we walk up and down hills all day), mentally. Being a missionary is so different than I imagined. But I love it. I can see my faith growing everyday and I love it. It's hard to describe how thankful I am for this gospel in my life. After seeing so many people without it, I can't imagine my life without this gospel. 

Anyway, we have several investigators right now that are so so close but they have a little doubt or not quite ready. We're praying for them and working hard to help them with their doubts. Well that's mostly it for this week. Being a missionary is so hard but it's so worth it. 

To the family: Hey family. This week was great. I miss you guys a ton but it's getting easier to not be homesick cause I'm starting to enjoy it here a lot. And I got all your letters. I read them on the bus home from Viña. And I didn't even cry so that's good. A few weeks ago I would've bawled but I'm now

Well, Chile had a game this week. They beat Brazil 2-0 (sorry Kyle lol) It was so weird. During the game, the streets were empty. We saw like 3 cars and 2 people. Even the dogs were watching the game lol. We couldn't watch the game but we knew when Chile scored that's for sure. We figured they won. The next day everyone was in a good mood. I think they have another game this week. I hope they win cause I don't wanna know what it's like when they lose lol. 

Also we had to postpone the baptism. She's having a couple doubts but it's alright. I think she'll get baptized. Also we had a family home evening and I taught them how to play ring ring who's got the ring? They loved it

Anyway, that's all for now. Love you guys so much. Have an awesome week. 

Then we got an email from his companion Elder Leto: hello!! I am elder leto is compennion to your children.I not speak much english.,

I am thenk you for raising in the gospel your baby haha..

he is very good is exelent,going to  grow much in your mission,

he show me photos yours family very beutifull,you are great family

I protecting you baby ., you is  dont need to worry!!

thenk for all!!!

Elder Leto He argentino humble haha :)

Week 10

Hola everyone. This week was actually really great. Last week after I emailed we had a lesson with one of our investigators who was waiting for her answer. We had a sweet lesson planned but the Spirit took us another way. She told us that after the first time we taught her about Joseph Smith, she had nightmares for a couple days. Then she decided to pray before she went to bed and she stopped having the nightmares. Then she asked us if the nightmares were normal to have. We decided to show her the part in The Restoration video when Joseph prays and Satan tries to stop him from praying. After she watched it she started crying and told us that was her answer. She´s getting baptized this Sunday. I'm so excited for her. It's cool cause we went to her house a few more times this past week to finish the lessons and check in and make sure she's doing alright. I can already see a change in her. She's happier and she's not even baptized yet. It's crazy what the Spirit can do. 

Conference was awesome. I got to watch like half of them in English. It's funny cause conference is like Christmas for missionaries. It was so good though. I think sometimes I took for granted how incredible it is to have a living prophet and living apostles that receive revelation from Heavenly Father for us. It's really like Heavenly Father is speaking to us. 

Anyway, Spanish is coming along. I can literally see the improvement every day. It's awesome. The food is amazing, the people are amazing, and being a missionary is amazing. I love it. Thanks for all the prayers. I can truly feel them. I hope everyone has a great week

To the family: Hola Familia. Everything is going great this week. Time is starting to go by a lot faster now that I can understand a little bit of what everyone is saying. Sometimes there's people that I have no idea what they're saying but in general I can get the basic jist of what they're trying to say. Speaking is getting a little better too. It's still harder than listening but it's coming along. It's funny cause they want the Latino missionaries to learn English too so I help my companion learn English. Except I'm teaching him Utahn instead of English. He says Utahn is easier lol. But everything is great. I made a guy laugh the other day too so that's pretty sweet. And it wasn't in English. He laughed in Spanish. That's probably the primary acomplishment for the week. Anyway, I love you all so so so much. Thanks for all the prayers. And thanks for all the updates. Love you all and have a great week.

Him and his companion 

Elder dickerson specialty 

His companion has cars sheets

Ocean view from a member's house