BON BAGAY (HAITIAN CREOLE FOR 'GOOD STUFF')

February 7, 2018

So, things had been a little hard the past few weeks because of vacations and summer and what not. We weren't getting as much success but recently, things have been excellent, especially yesterday and the day before! We've been hitting a good balance between finding and teaching, and we've just seen lots of good investigators just kinda come out of hiding. It kinda reminded me of that verse in Helaman (or 3 Nephi) where a bunch of people get baptized and no one knows why. 

There's not too much to share about specific investigators because a lot have just kinda been frozen for the moment, but we've still been finding and teaching a lot more than usual. The others we've met recently and will see how things develop. We've only had one lesson with each of them but they've been way good. One was the brother of a really good contact and when we went back to see her, he was like, "Nah, she went to live 3 hours away with her boyfriend" and we were like, "What?!" I kinda thought he was lying (ya sometimes get lied to in the mish) but he was really receptive and we taught Lesson 1 and the Book of Mormon and he said, "I read a lot. Do you guys give that out?!" and we were like, "You bet your marbles!" We're gonna see him today! And there were 2 others just like that. AND, we found a new family, too, but it's hard because they're actually a part-member family but aren't married. We're working on that. The non member mom really wants to get baptized. 

Sunday, my comp fell off his bike, AGAIN! We were just on some little street and we passed by a couple of dogs. They did nothing to me, but randomly started chasing my comp. Since the best thing to do is stop and get off, that's what I did. My comp, who was following me from behind and was looking behind himself, because of the dogs, crashed into me, taking a hard fall. The fall made so much noise a nice neighbor heard, came outside, and had him come inside and wash off. So, the last 3 hours of the day he was super dusty and had a blood stain on his sleeve.  

He's fine now though! It was a bit gnarly but he's a trooper. He needs to wear a wrist brace and a few band-aids and it was the second time in 10 days...

Today, we had a practice for the choir number that we're singing for Elder Christofferson and the other G.A.s that'll be in our conference next Wednesday. After that, we got to watch the highlights of the Super Bowl. Pretty neat stuff! We then went to a really delicious Peruvian restaurant! I had some "Lomo Salteado". Very tasty. 

That was mostly this last week. Finally having the (college) application finished was a relief! Now, we're just going hard and having a blast! 

Have a good week everyone! 

-Elder Sierra

WRITING ESSAYS FOR COLLEGE APPLICATION DEADLINE

January 31, 2018

No letter today.  Instead, Elder Sierra had to use his time finishing his essays for his college application, due tomorrow. Be back next week!

THAT'S RIGHT, WE WENT TO A FLIPPING OSTRICH FARM!

January 24, 2018

OK, so we went to an ostrich farm this p-day! How? Why, you might ask?

Well, it all started one day while having lunch with one of the coolest families in the ward. We were about to leave and I saw this big ol' egg on a little stand and I was like a little kid. "What's dis?" and they told me, "Well it's an ostrich egg. We got it at an ostrich farm 20 min from here." And I was like, NO WAY and asked them where it was. Then a few hours later I got a text message from them saying, "Hey, if you guys want, we can drive you and 6 other missionaries out there for p-day!" So I dialed up the DL's and we went! It was one of the coolest things I've done in the mission, since there's really no touristy place to go or see in our mission! They sold a BUNCH of ostrich stuff there: purses, boots, everything! Even ostrich MEAT! 

I ended buying a painted hollowed out ostrich egg and some paste-like stuff from ostrich meat called "patè." 

So, this week was pretty cool! We got lots of stuff done in the sector and found some new, cool people! I think I already mentioned the time we taught 9 Haitians at once. Well, we went back with our Haitian member and he helped us translate and teach a ton! Only 3 of them were there this time but it was really good! 

We also had an FHE with Josè and Camila and a great young couple in our ward. They shared an awesome lesson on marriage and we played some Uno. The next day, we visited Camila (Josè hadn't gotten back from work) and she said she liked it but that Josè still really didn't want to get married. Camila talked about how she totally wants a legitimate family and is totally into the whole idea that a family in the Church offers. Right now, she's struggling with smoking, but we went over the first step in the 12 steps book. She found it super helpful and wants to keep doing it. Josè has been progressing more, too, but a lot less and has barely started paying good attention during the lessons. It's hard because Camila's ready to go 100mph and Josè is not quite there. We're praying a lot that they will come to the conclusion to get married because, without it, they really can't progress as a family. 

Things, in general, have been going up, which is cool. The mission is really happy because there's been a steady growth recently. 

Oh yeah, also, 3 people I found and taught in my last ward, Lo Blanco, are getting baptized! I'm pretty dang happy about that! One, I might actually baptize. We'll see, though! 

In other news, the mission is doing a choir for Elder Christofferson and they asked me to sing in it. He's coming down here the 14 of February and another mission will be coming to see him as well. 

But that's about it, get ready for some sick Avestruz photos! 

Elder Sierra

January 17, 2018

6 MORE MONTHS?!?

This week, we went the Temple! We had to get up way early to get to our 9:00 am session on time, but the metros were all full so we ended up not getting there in time! We just went to the 10:00 session. We also went to Carl's Jr! It's a lot different from the ones in the States, though. It's actually really nice and fancy and kinda expensive, but after so long, you'll do just about anything for a good milkshake! 

Things have been going pretty dang well. We've been having relative success more and more, lately, and have been finding lots of people to teach! We've actually had this entire week filled with appointments and almost all of them are with members accompanying us. Actually, yesterday, we found TEN new investigators, which is pretty uncommon, but 9 of them were all at once in a Haitian home! 

Basically, Haitian immigrants in Chile often live together in big homes, each with their own room. So in a really big house you'll see about 15-30 renting out there and in some cases, many more. The other day, we set an appointment with a Haitian, named Eddy, and when we went by yesterday he invited us in and sat us down in their patio where there were 8 other Haitians just looking at us and smiling. We thought we were just going to teach the one and then we realized we had a lot more of an audience! In that moment I kinda felt like standing on top of my chair and yelling loudly with the Book of Mormon raised above my head, like the paintings we see, but I refrained. 

We actually had a great lesson with all of them paying attention and trying to understand (some of them didn't speak Spanish very well) and I threw in some random phrases in Creole, especially at the beginning, and they were all super astonished by it! Anyway, we asked who would like pamphlets in French and they were all about it and they want us to come back on Saturday. We happen to have a really cool Haitian member who said he'd help us out. We're gonna have to see how this plays out! 

We also had a neat experience one day when we stopped by a member's home. They're actually Venezuelans and they're really cool and faithful members. Anyway, we were asking about some reference and asking for help with some investigators and then they said, "Hey, Elders, did you have dinner yet?" and we were, like, "Nah, but don't worry, we'll eat at home," and they insisted saying, "No, we want to feed you guys. We actually have very little food, but what little we have we want to give to you guys, like the Prophet Isaiah!" We told them, "Ummm, but... we have food!" and they were like, "we don't care." So, they cooked us up some delicious Venezuelan food and they actually did have enough for themselves, even though they said it like that. However, it was still really cool to see their faith. They're an amazing family and the best part is their last name is Sierra, too! 

Those were some of the big stories for this week. We've been having lots of good experiences with our investigators, especially José and Camila. They're very focused on getting baptized; they just have a lot to overcome. But, they're quite committed and they're trying to better their circumstances so they can get married. 

We're also teaching a new investigator that we set a baptismal date with but she's a bit more timid. Her name is Fransisca and she's 13. She's living with her grandmother and a member in our ward has been her friend for a while. We're trying to get her ready for the 24th of February. 

Anyway, that was pretty much our week! Here's some photos! 

-Elder Sierra

Our district went to the temple today! 

We gutted and froze a pineapple to make mate! 

My DL got a hold of my personally-made, quasi voodoo doll and did this 

THE MAIL ONLY TAKES A MONTH OR SO...
Letter Handwritten on December 9, 2017

Merry Christmas!

In spite of this hot and uninspiring Christmas season in Santiago, I thought it fit to write a letter! It's been a little while, huh? I actually wrote one 4 months ago and gave it to my trainer to take home with him to give you guys but he somehow never got it.I left it in his stuff but he said it wasn't there. Meh.

Christmas is just not as cool here, like, in any measurable way. They do try, though; I guess it's just harder here, I suppose. Their ignorance of all American desserts (i.e., all cookies and fudge) sure make it tough. Nevertheless, they do try to consecrate Christmas as a time of giving and service which is cool. I was thinking the other day and I realized that Christmas is more effective at softening hearts than most religions...

But, okay, enough about that. Things here have been pretty swell. I've still been an bit stressed/anxious lately because me comp's going home and is on a downward spiral in focus, but nine more days! Next will be a brand new missionary and Imma work him so hard!

After this Christmas season I'm hoping we can get in that gosh darn font! There's a lot of people I feel would be baptized if they would just have time! In one case, it's less active parents that have a busy schedule so we can't visit their daughter! When stuff like this happens I get pretty frustrated and once, even threw my phone at my closet! (It's okay, though, 'cause our phones are indestructible and I had wanted to throw my phone for a while!) I was really mad because, literally, the only obstacle for some of these people was their work/schooling and it's silly to not be saved in the kingdom of God because you had to work 45 hours a week and just didn't have time!

One day, I was listening to a talk on the DVD player and it was on patience and it talked about how, when we don't have patience, we grow the desire to remove people's agency and are arguing with the Lord's timetable because we want things in our time and how all that's Satan's plan. So, after being compared to Satan, I quickly learned more patience! (heh) I also learned about hope, which is a principle of attitude! Even if we have a great degree of faith to do good works and repent we'll find ourselves despairing if we don't trust that good things will come simply because God is good and is for us.

There's been a surprising amount of food donations to my comp and I, me and my comp! (#Istillgotit #speakerofEnglish) One family, that makes for some tough investigators, sure knows how to spoil us! The dad is starting up his own distributorship for almacenes [little corner grocery stores] and works for Marichan (a ramen noodle company). One time, he hooked us up with about 4 kilos of rice, a half-liter of oil and a bunch of pasta. Another time, he gave us 12 Cup O Noodles. It was sick! Then, yesterday, this random woman, who we'd known for about 2 minutes, gave us a kilo of Swordfish, and it was all fillets! We echared [spanglish for 'threw'] some Spike on that bad boy and baked it that very night. I even had some today for breakfast.

I got a new Mate cup, too! This one's much better. It's metal, but with a leather cover. So now, I have a 'guest cup' that I can use to get people hooked on Mate. Side note: I still don't know if Dad was kidding or not when he said he had to go into a 12-step program over Mate. [Yes, Dad was teasing him 😂😂😂]

One time, we were contacting and there was this fairly nice guy we were talking to but the conversation went randomly blasphemous/apostate. He said, "If I was you guys' parents, I wouldn't let you do this whole mission thing," and we were like, "Nah, but it's for a good reason." But then he said, "But I ain't gonna let my kids go to a foreign country and not see them for 2 years! I'm the patriarch of the home. It's me first, then God." He actually said that. I was thinking afterward, "Good thing that guy isn't my dad." 

I'm so grateful I have parents who are faithful and sincere in their dealings with God. I guess growing up in the Church, I had taken that for granted. Most people here put more thought into what school they'll enroll their kids into than what they believe concerning God, what church to join, or if it even makes a difference to them.

Breaking News: I just smelled my blankets and they smell like swordfish...What have I done?

So here in Nocedal, I'll be spending some 3 months more and then I'll have only 3 transfers left! So, I probably only have one more area. The idea of the mission ending is  just too crazy. I don't think I'm ready yet. Hopefully, I'll be ready in 7 1/2 more months.

I really like the mission. There's really nothing like it in the world, ever! I know it seems like I'm often hard on the Chileans, but I've grown to love them a lot. I mean, the Lord said some pretty harsh things about the Jews, but he also loved them a lot!...It's kinda like that!...sorta... Nah, but these poor goobers need the Gospel pretty darn bad so in that sense, it's kinda not hard to feel compelled to love and help them. And I realize how badly I need the Gospel so that helps!

I think that's about all for this terribly unorganized and off-track letter! I hope you guys know how much I love you all. I'm always praying for you and I know that the Lord can and will take care of you all better than I could if I were home. Merry Christmas and Happy 2018

Elder Benjamin Sierra