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

DRUNKEN KISSES AND BICYCLE CHAINS AND OTHER MIRACLES

January 10, 2018

This week was pretty frustrating because I got sick AGAIN! Saturday I was feeling funny and then threw up and was bad about the whole day. Then Sunday, I was pretty bad, too, and Monday, I was worse, but then finally started feeling better and today, I've been good.  

Friday, our Zone had an activity with the missionaries from the Chile MTC. They bussed all the greenies down to our stake center and they paired them off with us so we could do splits. Well, it turned out that one of the young women from our ward that had recently left for her mission was there, right back in her own stake! We got to say hi to her and my companion for the split knew her because they were in the same district at the MTC. While my greenie companion and I were visiting a family in our stake, they suggested that we pass by this sister missionary's family, who aren't members, so that my companion could tell them about her (but really, it was so we could teach them!) The member called the family and they invited us over and it totally worked! 

We got to teach them a little bit and got a return visit! When we met back up with the other MTC missionaries, we told this sister missionary the news and she started crying! She told us about how her family had never been receptive to the missionaries and how this was a miracle for her because she had been praying for her family to accept the gospel. 

It was also kind of a miracle for us, too, because our plans had fallen that day and I had the thought to pass by these members to plan an FHE with them and then they were the ones to suggest we go see her family and called them. It was like a complete miracle! Since then, we've taught them again and they've all accepted baptismal invitations so it was pretty great! 

Okay,so that was the nice, heartwarming part of my letter. Here's the rest:

Yesterday,we got out of a lesson and were going to start heading down the street a ways when I hear the voice of a very drunk man yelling "Helder! Eh,Helder!" from a few yards behind me. (No one knows why people pronounce "Elder", like "Helder" but they sometimes do.) I've been in enough similar situations to know that it's time to get rolling so I'm tell my companion, "Hey, start peddling" and he's like, "Okay" and then his bike chain falls out... So, we're forced to stop and this drunk guy comes up to us and tries to hug me and give me a kiss. When I try to stop him as he goes in for the kiss he gets frustrated with me and insists I let him kiss me. After trying about 5 times, he starts to get offended and I let him kiss my cheek. It was pretty gross and then he did the same to my companion! Then he talks to us about some incoherent things for a few minutes and somewhere in all that he shakes my hand and kisses it. Then, when my comp tries to fix his chain and can't do it, the DRUNK guy goes over and does it for him in, literally, 5 seconds! It was pretty hilarious and then he says goodbye to us, hugging and kissing us on the cheek again. Just one of those things that happens every now and then in the field. 

Things have been going pretty well in the sector though. We have a couple with a baptismal date, José and Camila, and they are doing very well. They have a lot of things to overcome but every lesson, they really learn and they are coming to church and making changes. 

We have another man with a baptismal date, Juan, and he's also great! We taught him last night and he's resolved to arrive to his date. He set a date to get married with his partner (who's a less active member, actually) and is going to set goals with us to keep the Word of Wisdom. 

So, things have been good, minus my health, which has been a little lacking. But, I'm good now and I really can't complain. This work is amazing. 

Love you all. Have a great week!

-Elder Sierra

CELEBRATIONS, OLD FRIENDS AND THE WORK MOVES ON

January 3, 2018

Ok let's get down and dirty! To be honest, Christmas was cool, but not that cool. I enjoyed the season and everything for what it was. There were a lot of things that I learned during the month of December that are more important than the typical Christmas experience, but that being said, my roommates are a bit less fun in terms of wanting to do things (i.e. baking, decorating, etc.) 

The talent show was pretty fun though! Our Feliz Navidad, cumbia version, was a success! (Cumbia: An extremely popular dance rhythm from Colombia but also popular in Chile and Mexico amongst others. Often classified as salsa, played in 4/4 time with a heavy beat one and accentuated beats three and four, giving a loping rolling rhythm similar to "riding a horse".)
I thought we'd look super dumb, and I think we did, but everyone loved it, including President! I know someone has it recorded so I'll get it!

New Year's was way fun! We got permission to have dinner until 11:30pm and a family in Lo Blanco invited us. They invited quite a few missionaries and it was a fun time. I also bought an AWESOME hat; you'll see it in the pictures. We got some party poppers and had a ball!

Other good news: 

A man in my first ward, Las Americas, finally got baptized! I taught him for a little bit while I was there and then we passed him to other Elders and then I kept seeing him but left the ward. He just recently got baptized and now all his family are members! It was really cool to be able to go back to the ward, as well. I got to see Valentina Varas, the girl who we found and reactivated and who then went on a mission. She came home due to health problems. She's the one who made my tie, too!

This week we've been really trying to find new people and things have been going surprisingly well! The past week was pretty good, and then all of a sudden, we filled up our entire week with appointments by contacting and talking to people yesterday, alone! It was pretty cool and we've seen a lot of little miracles as we've been trying to lengthen our stride more and more!

Our current investigators are doing well. We have 3 with dates right now. Two of them are José and Camila, a couple that needs to get married. We're seeing how they plan on resolving that problem. They might actually separate. They're great and have come to church twice in a row and a few other times, as well. Camila especially wants to get baptized, but we're really going to have to work hard to get them ready and living all the commandments. If you could pray for them, that would be really cool! 

Anyway that's the gist of what's happening over here in Santiago. I'll send some pics and let you know how things are going next week!

-Elder Sierra


Going back to Las Americas. Some pics with my old companion and Valentina Varas, a reactivation.

New Year's dinner

TOO WEAK TO WRITE THIS WEEK!

December 27, 2017

*Elder Sierra was very ill this morning and began vomiting from 4:30am to noon. Needless to say, he wasn't up for writing a letter but did 'chat' with us online for a few minutes. Here are the highlights of that conversation (minus all the gory details of his wretched state 😖)

We had an appointment with a family on Christmas Day and it actually went great. They accepted a baptismal date and they asked if they could be in a co-living arrangement and we were like, "Nah." When we told them they had the option of living separately or marrying, Camila got kind of serious and said, "Well, I guess you'll have to just find a place to live then!" I was like Ammon over there: "Nunca he visto tanta fe! Sí, aun entre los [Chilenos]!" (translation: Never have I seen such great faith even among all the Nephites (or, in this case, Chileans) They are neat people; they just have a hard condition because Camila especially wants to quit smoking cigarettes and marijuana but everyone in their house does it, so it's hard. They have a 2-year old child together, so I doubt they do it in the house, but Camilla really wants to get married or split up.

They've accepted a baptism date for Feb. 24th. If they don't make it, they'll be way closer than they've ever been to baptism anyway.

But guys, I love you all a TON, but it's not good for me to keep writing. I need some rest 

Take Care!

Elder Sierra