Shutting Down Chile

The entire city is closed down due to the game yesterday [Chile vs Argentina in Copa America] so I am writing really fast in the chapel. That’s what its like in Latin America. Soccer and some random Catholic guy who died a long time ago is enough to shut down an entire country. It also was really windy last night, like you-have-never-experienced-anything-like-this wind. I was honestly nervous for the house but I guess Chileans are used to it and build their houses accordingly. I literally got knocked over twice as I walked around the house to tie down our smoke stack.

Mom it is interesting that you could feel your dad in the temple. Whenever I feel an ancestor near it’s usually Grandpa Bert. I have never really said anything about it before but he is by far the one I feel the most.

We had a baptism this week and it was so beautiful. I won’t be able to send pictures until next week.

I love you so much.

Elder Rich

Better and Better Each Day

We are going to have another baptism this week and I am really excited. I am fine and really happy. I am starting to feel a little tired. I love being a missionary and I love serving, but I feel like I have been in this process of being a missionary or at least trying to be one an eternity. I would be coming home this week if I hadn’t needed to return home. I think my spirit is just worn a little thin - haha. I think more than anything I am just becoming better and better each day, and the enemy doesn’t like it.

I feel his temptations so much more vividly than before, and I am CONSTANTLY tired. Mentally, emotionally, physically, and sometimes even spiritually. However, when I LOOK FOR IT, I am comforted and strengthened by the Spirit. I love what C.S. Lewis has to say about time. The only periods of time that matter are the present and eternity. The past is of little use to the devil because it is frozen in time and he can’t change it. He can make us reflect and regret but that is about it. He uses the future to mess with us, and cause us worry, despair, fear, and even sometimes, false hope. If we are incapacitated or affected by these fears, he is winning.

I love you so much.

Elder Rich

P.S. Also I think I come home in early February....really not sure???

Indoor Success

This week was really boring to be honest but we saw MIRACLES. My foot was still bugging me so my Zone Leaders condemned me to the house for most of the week. It was a good opportunity to get to know Elder Amaya better and do some Deep study of the scriptures. We called and set appointments and left the house but didn't do much street contacting due to the fact that nobody is ever in the street. Too windy and cold.

We have been working with a few people and out of nowhere a young man named Pablo began to progress a lot. We finished teaching him all he needed to be taught and he decided to go ahead and get baptized as soon as possible. So we are going to be having a baptismal service this Saturday. I AM SO EXCITED. It's been a while since we have had success and all of the sudden with Pablo and another investigator named Joan who is also progressing, we almost have too much to handle. It is going to be Elder Amaya's first baptism here in the mission and I am happy for him too. Pablo's wife is a member and his brother-in-law is flying in to baptize him so that will be cool too.

The cold honestly isn't that bad. The missionaries made it seem like I was going to die here but I have been fine. We have met lots of cool people and there are actually a lot of people here from Colombia and Peru, so we don't talk with just Chileans. We knock lots of doors but here instead of ringing a door bell you just scream hello at the house until someone comes out. So I frequently have sore knuckles and a hoarse voice.

I love the people of Chile. They are small, grumpy, and very lazy and I don't know what they speak but it isn't Spanish, but I love them. I feel I am growing and helping further the work of the Lord.

Elder Rich

Faith in Every Footstep

So Elder Herrera received a surprise Tuesday night. We never received a transfer so we just assumed we were both staying here in Fitz Roy. We were doing service when we received a text telling us that he had a transfer the next morning and had to pack. There had been some confusion and he wasn’t on the original transfer paper, but he still had one.

So Wednesday I received a new companion named Elder Amaya. He is from Colombia and is so awesome. He just finished his training and just like with Elder Herrera, I am Elder Amaya´s ¨Mom¨ (second companion). His father is a professional clown/ comedic magician and Elder Amaya inherited all of that. We have already seen miracles as well as trials.

Wednesday I was with Elder Herrera, Elder Cabrera, and Elder Woolley (The two Elders from Porvenir) and we all ate lunch with one of our members. When we finished I stood up and almost fell back down because my foot hurt so bad. I thought I could just walk it off, but by the time I went to go get Elder Amaya I wanted to puke.

I visited a member who is a foot doctor and he told me I broke something in my heel from all the stress of walking and that I had to just be a man until it could heal. The next three days were terrible, but it has gotten much better and almost doesn’t hurt at all. So no worries.

The work is progressing and we are happy. I love you all.

Elder Rich

Elder Rich, Elder Amaya, and the sisters in the internet cafe where they write letters on P-Day.

The Spirit speaks in divers ways.