YOU JUST GOTTA GIVE IT ALL TO THE MISSION....WHEN YOU DO THAT,YOUR PROBLEMS KINDA GO AWAY

January 18, 2017

Dear Family,

That's pretty neat all that snow! You may not think so, but I'm suffering my second summer in a row and it's the worst!!! Today it was 92 degrees and Friday it's gonna be 97! 

So yes, I DID get transferred!!! I (nor anyone else,really) was expecting it to happen; the norm is for a greenie to stay in their first ward two changes more if they don't get changed out right after their training. Elder Scott (the one you met at Christmas) is still there and everyone thought he'd be leaving. So I left to a ward called Capitàn Avales. It's a ward of 40-50 members (like my last) and if they don't reach 80 by June they're closing down the ward's chapel and the ward will have to go to one 30 minutes away! So, the pressure IS ON!!!

My new companion also just finished his training so I'm what they call his "Greenie Breaker".  It's the elder right after the trainer that smooths out any rough edges and breaks the "Greenie" title. It's kinda of intense, 'cause... I just finished my single transfer with my own Greenie Breaker. Things are getting real here fo' sho'. His name's Elder Gates and he's a real swell guy. He's from Spanish Fork, Utah, and he's definitely one of the better-trained missionaries I've seen and I think we'll work really well together. 

As I left the ward Valentina was suppose to receive a calling but she didn't because the bishop never got around to it (we were a bit salty but I'm over it) so next week, she should and she'll be considered reactivated.

Also, Jimmy IS getting baptized still on the 22nd and I think I'll be the one to do it!!! I asked the elder of the ward he's in to mention me and ask him if he would like me to do it because he knows me the best and I found him, taught him, and invited him to be baptized. So I'm really hoping I get to. 

And yeah, that's basically the ticket; you just gotta give it all to the mish... when you do that your problems kinda go away!

I love you all and hope you're doing well!

Elder Sierra

Here are some pictures of goodbyes to members and a ward activity:

OUR SPECIALLY-ASSIGNED BISHOPRIC MEMBER IS A STRAIGHT-UP MACHINE!

January 11, 2017

Dear Family,

Imma get right into things. This week was pretty cool! 

Our specially-assigned bishopric member from another ward is a straight-up machine!!! He knows what he's doing and is SUPER helpful here! We've been teaching Jimmy and he offered his home for us to do a lesson. He invited other Haitians from his ward to help translate for him and made pizza! It was a super good lesson and Jimmy committed to be baptized! That was Sunday, and he went to church the same day. He also ended up moving to a different ward right next to us but now he lives a stone's throw away from his new chapel. We introduced him to his new missionaries and we've done a couple of divisions because one of them doesn't speak English and I wanted to make sure there would be a smooth transition. Monday, he accepted the date of January 22 to be baptized!!! We had a lesson yesterday and he told us he knows the Book of Mormon is true! Things are looking up with Jimmy; the only thing is, the American elder in his ward might be leaving next week so we'll have to see where that leaves him. He's super dope, though, so I'm not too worried. 

This new bishopric member also has a plan to make our ward have over 100 assisting members (currently at 40-50) by the end of the year. And, he's been pulling dope ideas out of nowhere so we're all pretty pumped! 

We're also going to get a reactivation this coming Sunday. Her name is Valentina and she's basically a Christmas Miracle. We never knew her, but all of the sudden, she showed up on Christmas Sunday. We started talking to her and she said she'd been baptized a couple years ago and stopped going because she was busy studying and didn't want to risk her scholarship and also, because she was a little lazy. We started passing by and teaching her and getting her ready for a calling in the ward and she hasn't missed a Sunday yet!!! She even went to our ward activity where we go and do splits with all the missionaries in the Zone to find old in-actives. She's super awesome and even made my comp and me each an amazing wool doll of ourselves!!! 

Some cool investigators have been coming out of the woodwork but it's too soon to say how cool they are. It's been a nice week all around and next week is transfers. It's all up in the air so everyone's just kinda holding their breath. I kinda really hope I'm not leaving now!!!

Oh yeah, and I love you all!!! See you next week!

 

-Elder Sierra

THIS WEEK WAS PRETTY MUCH WONDERFUL!!

January 4, 2017

Hey! 

This week was pretty much wonderful!

 

For New Year's an inactive family invited us over and it was cool cause we did't really know them, but it was a great chance to gain some trust! It was kinda nuts because he used to be a bishop but later, just stopped going! And the chapel is on the block across the street from him! However, we had a blast with him and his family.

After that, we got back to work trying to repair the damage done by the holidays. A lot of investigators are now difficult to find. However, we fasted on Sunday for our sector and the same night, we found two really cool Haitians!!! The first one's name is Jimmy and we found him looking for another Haitian who lives in the same house. One of the Haitians outside said, "Hey, are you an American? and I was like,"Yup," and he said, "I know a guy who speaks English!" So, he goes inside and out comes Jimmy. And he looks strangely happy to see me so I start talking to him and find that his English is pretty solid. 

After talking to him for about 5-10 minutes, he said that he was going to tell me the reason he came to Chile. He said that it was because he wanted to find a church to join! That's a very uncommon reason for a Haitian to come to Chile because, 99.999% of the time, it's to find a job. Basically, Jimmy's the first person to ever say otherwise (Hence the .001% missing). He proceeded to say how in Haiti, all the pastors were very aggressive and he was very confused about doctrine and was just wanting to follow Jesus so he left. Before I could really even explain who I was he asked if he could come to church and after I introduced myself, he asked me how I became a missionary and what were my duties and what I did. After explaining to that him we're just normal people that take two years out of our lives to dedicate ourselves to Christ and serving the Gospel he immediately said "Wow, can I do that too?!?"... WHAT?! Never have I contacted a person and been asked if they could serve a mission. XD So I said, "Of course, but after taking a few steps and joining the church." I taught him the Restoration in English (which felt soooo weird!!) and set up a date to come by the next day! The next day, we reviewed the Restoration and introduced them to the Book of Mormon! They were very excited and we're going to see them again today.

Actually, Jimmy doesn't speak Spanish and neither does his friend, Diesmy, really. And my comp doesn't speak English... So when we taught, I taught the majority in English and Jimmy translated to French. And if my comp wanted to say something, or I'd have him answer some questions, I would translate to him what the question was in Spanish, he'd respond, I'd translate to English and then Jimmy would translate to French.... And it WORKED!!! Like really well!!! I´'m really excited for them!

I also contacted another guy on the streets yesterday by the metro station. He was really, really interested and ALSO asked if he could go on a mission. I talked about the Plan of Salvation with him for about 5 minutes, after getting his address and number, and then, all of a sudden, he was, "OH NO THAT'S MAH BUS!!!" (well the Spanish equivalent) and then ran off chasen' his bus, barely making it. 

But, yeah, everything's pretty awesome right now and I'm just havin' a blast spreadin' that Good Word!

Have a good week everyone!

Elder Sierra