Week 46

Hey everyone! We had a great week this week. Probably the biggest news right now is that Chile won La Copa América last night. Which is great cause everyone is in a good mood and really happy. Which hopefully means they'll be willing to listen to the missionaries. That's what we're hoping for. USA got 4th place so that's not too bad considering that the only thing everyone plays is soccer in South America. I'm proud. 'MERICA. Also, we had a great week being missionaries. We started teaching a guy that has met with the missionaries for 20 and he's starting to progress. Also, if Marcelo gets his dad's signature, he's gonna get baptized this Sunday so that's really awesome. He goes to church, mutual, and seminary now so we're really proud of him. 

Overall, I can't believe how fast time is flying by. It's been 11 months already and it feels like I just got here. I love this gospel so much and my love for it grows every day. It's hard to comprehend how loving and how merciful our Heavenly Father is. We can never earn or deserve His love but we can try to do our best by doing what he asks and by keeping the commandments. "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

I'm so thankful for all you guys and all your support. I hope you guys have a great week.

 Chilean Spirit

Elder Beard trying Elder D's grilled cheese

even though we lost, Elder Johnson and I showed our 'Merican pride

Week 45

Hey everyone. We had a great week this week. Time is flying by and I'm loving every minute. Elder Beard and I are having a great time and we're working really hard. We have a couple investigators that are progressing and could be getting baptized in the next few weeks.

I'm learning so much every day. Each day I understand a little bit more about how much our Heavenly Father loves us and how this church is true. I can't deny it. I know it and I love it. I hope everyone has a great week.

When you work really hard all day and you sleep in whatever position

Week 44

Hey everyone! We had a great week this week. We had like 3 conferences of different types. One with our Zone, one with President and one was a broadcast from Elder Bednar. They were all really awesome and I learned a ton. There's a new program that the church has started where they like turn the chapels into visitor's centers with tours and stuff. Our mission is starting in a few areas to see how it works and then spread to the whole mission. It looks really cool.

We also were able to participate in the baptism of Valentina. She's been waiting for a while for her mom to give her permission and her mom finally said yes. It was such a cool experience. Her uncle Luis, who got baptized a few months ago, was able to baptize her. It was really spiritual for the whole family.

We have a couple more people that are progressing really well. They should be getting ready to be baptized soon. Hopefully within the next few weeks. Elder Beard and I are having a really great time. We work really well together. This week we're gonna try to find some more people.

It's so crazy how every day something happens that makes my testimony stronger. This is 100% the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There's no way that a human could've created this and it would've helped as many as it as helped and continues to help. I'm so grateful for the gospel in my life and the opportunity to share it. I hope everyone has a great week.

Valentina with her grandma and her mom and Luis (her uncle)

They wanted a book of mormon so bad lol

Elder Wilcox

Week 43

Hey everyone! We had transfers this week but me and Elder Beard stayed so that's cool. We're really glad we stayed cause we were having a lot of fun and success. We had kind of a slow week but this week is already looking better. We did celebrate Elder Beard's birthday so that was fun. The big 19! Way to go Elder Beard. We also had our zone activity. We went to the dunes. It was actually really fun. I don't have a whole lot of time this week cause we went to the dunes but we're doing great here. If everything goes as planned, we'll have a baptism on Sunday. So that's pretty awesome. Thanks everyone for all the prayers and support. I hope everyone has a great week.

HBD Elder Beard

What the flip were the missionaries doin' at the dunes?

when you wanna do graffiti but the spirit guides you

me and one of our zone leaders rockin some wildlife ties

we found a mushroom growing in the window sill lol

Lol

Week 42

Hey everyone! We had a great week this week. We saw a lot of miracles. The other day we were contacting like all day and we weren't having any luck. There was a few minutes left till we had to go home so we decided to do one more house. Nobody came out and we were just about to leave but then this lady pulled up and we told her that we were missionaries and everything. It turns out that her dad died last week and she said she had been hoping that someone would come and help her get closer to God. She asked us "Who sent you guys? How did you guys know to come here?" It was really really cool. Then we have another investigator who was gonna get baptized but her mom told her no. We'd been praying so that her mom would soften her heart to let her get baptized. Yesterday when we got to church, Valentina (our investigator) was there and she came up to us and asked us when she could get baptized. Her mom gave her permission. We were super happy. So next weekend she's gonna get baptized.

This Wednesday we have transfers so we'll see what happens. We really want to stay cause we're having a really great time. 

The mission is so great and this gospel so amazing. It's so cool to think that God has given us literally everything we need to be truly happy. He's aware of us and He loves us. Thanks for all the prayers and support. I hope everyone has a great week. 

We made a "Mormon Box" and gave it to our doorman lol

Week 41

Hey everyone! We had a good week this week. We've been busy trying to find to more investigators to teach cause all the investigators are getting baptized lol. Which that's not a bad thing but now we need some more. We've seen a lot of tender mercies this week. One day we were contacting all day and nobody wanted anything. All day long. All day. It was almost time to go home and we decided to do one more house. We thought, "What's one more rejection?" This guy came out with his wife and they were super nice and actually interested. We taught a little bit about The Book of Mormon on the spot and we gave them one. It was cool to see how the Lord works with tender mercies. We almost went home really bummed but that one contact made up for all the rejections. We have a couple investigators who could get baptized this week if their parents give them permission. We're gonna pray and hope they let them get baptized. 

I love this work, I love this church, I love this gospel. This is true happiness. There's nothing better than helping God build His kingdom. Thanks for all the prayers and support. I hope everyone has a great week.

 This guy in the ward has a Book of Mormon from 1957. Pretty cool.

a guy in the ward has a Nazi knife from WWll

"Libro de Mormón" and "El Libro de Mormón" I think you know which one is the real one

this guys geneology. 3,800 names and counting. grandpa would be proud

Week 40

Hey everyone. We had a great week this week. Probably the coolest thing was that we had two baptisms this week. Leonel and Alejandra got baptized after four years of investigating and 35 missionaries. They finally got married last week and got baptized yesterday. It was a really cool experience. They're really happy now and have plans to get sealed next year. It's been so cool to see the Lord's hand in the work. 

Also this week, the ward had a talent show on Friday. Me, Elder Beard, and two returned missionaries from the ward did a little skit. It was super funny. Everyone loved it.

Also, the Zone Leaders surprised us this morning with a visit. While we were out exercising, they snuck in the apartment and made breakfast for us and stuff and then they tried to scare us. It was super funny.

That's pretty much it. I love being a missionary and I love this gospel. There's nothing better than doing what God wants and enjoying the blessings that come from obedience. I hope everyone has a great week.