Week 29

Hey everyone. We had a good week this week. Transfers were Wednesday. I got moved to a new area. I'm now in the Valparaíso West Zone. Our sector is called Levarte. It's so much different than my last area. It's pure hills and stairs all day long. We're definitely losing weight here. The area that we're in now used to be 3 areas but they took all the missionaries out, combined the 3 areas, and put me and my companion in. So we're both new and we have no idea where anybody lives here or the street names or anything. The past few days we've just been walking around all day trying to get to know the area and get used to the hills. My new companion is Elder Wilcox. He's from Lehi so that's cool. 

It's been really hard so far cause we don't know anything about the sector. It's been kinda nice though cause all the members feel really bad for us. Two gringos in a huge new sector. We've had a lot of help from them so that's been nice.

There's a few investigators here getting ready for baptism but we've only been able to find one of them so far. We're still trying to find the others' houses lol but we're doing good though. We've been able to see the Lord's hand in these past few days so that's cool. I know I'm gonna love it here though. In general, the people are more humble here. 

I love being a missionary and sharing this gospel with everyone. Thanks for all the prayers and support. I hope everyone has a great week.

To the family: The views here are incredible and the hills are so steep. There's a saying within the missionaries that the hills in Valpo are so steep that your tie touches the ground when you walk up them. It's fairly accurate. My new comp is Elder Wilcox from Lehi. He's got 6 months left. He's really awesome. We're gonna have a really good time. He's way chill and hard worker. I'll have more stuff next week cause we haven't really taught a whole lot so far. Next week will be better. Love you guys

This is our house. We live on the second floor. All the members call it the barbie house

this hill is really mild compared to some others

Week 28

*Elder Dickerson typed out an email but accidentally deleted it and didn't have time to write another one so all we got was pictures 

Week 27

Hola everone. This was an awesome week. Elder Texeira from the seventy came and had a conference with the mission. It was so awesome. He was pure power, pure Holy Ghost. He told a lot of awesome stories from when he was mission president in Brazil. It was exactly what I needed too. His wife was awesome too. They opened up for questions too and it was awesome. They really got everyone pumped up. Something that I got out of it was that we can make a difference. One missionary can change everything. We can be a part of someone's plan of salvation. It was really an awesome conference. I have a new vision now of who I want to be and what I want to do in the mission. 

Also our mission president shared with us his conversion story and it was so powerful. I know he is a man of God and he was called to be my president. He is a great example to me of pure love. His love is really contageous and makes me want to be better.

Overall this was a great week. And it came at just the right time. I invite all of you to share the gospel in whatever you can. There's is absolutely nothing you can lose when you spread this message. Absolutely nothing. I'm so grateful for this gospel and the blesssing and knowledge it brings.

On a lighter note. This guy came up to us the other day and told us he received revelation from God for President Obama. He had to tell us cause we're American and speak English. There was 4 things he received but he couldn't remember all of them. So if someone could hook me up with Barack's number that would be cool so I could relay the revelations for our friend.

Some pictures people in his ward posted

Week 26

Hey everyone! We had a great week this week. Maria and Victoria got baptized yesterday and it was awesome. Both of them were really emotional and stuff. Maria is Constanza's mom (Constanza got baptized in December) so Constanza was really excited for her. And all of Victoria's family is members but went inactive when she was younger. Now her family is coming to church and stuff too. So it's been awesome to see the changes in both their families. 

In other news, one of our investigators is a fisherman. Their main catch this time of year is squid. He brought some home the other day and we tried it. It was actually really good. I'm not gonna lie. I didn't think when I got my call to Chile that I would try squid. I guess a lot of the squid imported in Asia is from Chile. 

 

The language is super good now. Right now I'm just trying to polish it up so I sound like a Chileno and not like a Gringo. But that's mostly it for this week. I love being a missionary so much. There's no where else I'd rather be. Thanks for all the prayers and support. I hope everyone has a great week.

Maria and Victoria 

Hermano Bascope

Victoria's family

Maria

Victoria

The shirt I got him when I was in DC

Week 25

Hola everyone.

This was a really great week. On Wednesday we had transfers. But Elder Hansen and I stayed in Quintero. So that's pretty sweet. I'm glad I stayed though. I love it here and the work is actually starting to pick up a lot. It's so crazy how the Lord can prepare people. We haven't really changed anything but a lot of people are more willing to listen and keep the commitments. We had six people come to church yesterday and we two baptisms coming up and couple more people that we're going to commit to baptism. It's been proof that the Lord prepares people in their own time and in their own way. 

It's still really hot. It's like middle of the summer now so I don't think it should get hotter. We're lucky though cause we're right on the ocean and we have wind so that helps a ton. 

6 months is coming up soon but it doesn't feel like it. Time is flying by and it feels so weird. The weeks are feeling like days now. It's crazy.

I love being a missionary. I love learning more about this gospel. I love teaching this gospel. I love serving the Lord. This is the true church. No doubt about it. Thanks everyone for all the prayers and support. I love all you guys.

Also I forgot to mention, I had my first kiss this week. This drunk guy came up and gave me a hug and a huge kiss on the neck lol. It was too silly. I love Chile

Master chef

A guy found a Hope of America shirt at a thrift store

Week 24

Hey everyone. We had a great week this week. Luis got baptized yesterday. It was one of the most spiritual experiences so far. When we first started teaching him, he didn't really show much interest but with time and a ton of help from the ward, he totally changed. He would volunteer to say the prayers in the lessons and he would ask us to make appointments to teach him. He really is an awesome kid. He even told us he's gonna prepare for a mission. I'm glad I was able to see the gospel change him.

Anyway, last week I forgot to mention that we watched The Cokeville Miracle as a zone. I definitely recommend it if you haven't seen it. And if you have seen it, good job lol. It's an awesome movie. It definitely proves the power of prayer. There's never a bad time to say a prayer.

Also, last week, we say this guy about to get attacked by a dog and no joke the guy does a flying round house kick to the face. It was so legit. The dog ran off and the guy kept walking like it was no big deal. Chuck Norris would have been so proud.

Well that's mostly it for the week. I love being a missionary. Thanks for all the prayers and support. 

To the family: Hey guys. This week was really great. The baptism really was so special. Luis is a great kid and we've become really good friends. He's so much happier and you can see the light in his eyes now. It's been awesome to see his change.

Errbody 

pastel de choclo

Me and my boy Manuel lol

Churrascos 

Week 23

This week was really good but it was kinda slow at the same time. A lot of people went out of town for new year and the people that didn't had people in town for the holidays. But we were able to teach Luis a few times. He's getting baptized this Sunday. It's cool to see the changes in him. At first, he didn't really have any interest but now in the lessons he asks us if he can say the prayer. And he talked to his parents on his own to ask for permission to be baptized. So if everything goes as planned this Sunday he'll be baptized. I'm excited for him.

Also my companion had a really clumsy week lol. We ate lunch at the Bishop's house on Wednesday. We were helping getting everything ready but his wife didn't have a clean towel to dry them so my companion went outside to air dry them. When he was swinging them around, he accidently hit them together and completely shattered them. It was so funny. Then as we were finishing eating, he decided to juggle the lemons that they had on the table. He tried juggling behind his back and it slipped out of his hands and flew right into the tomato salad with all the juice and oil and stuff. It splashed all over the Bishop lol. Poor Elder Hansen lol. It was so funny though.

I love being a missionary and sharing this message with everyone. There's nothing else I'd rather be doing right now. Thanks for all the prayers and support. I hope everyone has a great week.

To the the family: Hey guys. This week was great. This change has gone by so fast. Transfers are next week. I hope I stay though. We're having a great time here. I love you guys so much and don't forget how important it is to apply all the principles of the gospel in our lives everyday

New Year's Eve dinner

The dogs that live outside the other elders apartment