Adios Chile! It's Been A Great Two Years

Well, this will be my final email to you and the last email that I will send out. Looking back, it’s been very neat to see my mission unfold as I have visited with old members in my older areas that I served in. It has been such a ride and the time of my life! I truly feel that my mission and areas I served in were inspired by my Heavenly Father. I have nothing but spiritual experiences and the best of memories in seeing people change their lives and truly come unto Christ by learning and following him. The experiences of my mission have left lasting marks that I will always remember and cherish for the rest of my life! Seeing people change their lives brings a gratifying feeling to my heart. 

Being here for two years has really allowed me to develop a genuine love for this country and the people within it!! The culture and people are wonderful, and I can’t thank them enough for what they have done!

Growing up, I often thought that missionary work was peculiar. They dress a little weird. Are always wearing ties and shirts with name tags. People here think we are the CIA and out to arrest them at times. Some would think that it is weird and even a waste of time that I give two years at this age to leave my home and preach The Gospel and dedicate my life to that. 

Well, I can tell you with all my heart that it has been one of the greatest joys that I will carry with me for my entire life and I have seen the blessings from doing so. In my short life and time here in the mission, I have come to a further love and testimony of my Savior and Redeemer. I have given much thought and ponder to life’s purpose and what truly brings everlasting happiness even after this life and I am left with the conclusion that it comes through him. His love and mercy are extended to all of God’s children through his sacrifice and eternal price he paid in giving his life. He paid a price so that our sins can be erased, that we commit in our lives, through repentance; he allows for sinners to be born again and make everlasting covenants and will continue to fortify us as we continue to perfect ourselves as we part from this life.

I have a firm belief that he is real and has saving power that I have seen personally as well as in other people. He is the Christ! The son of the living god and by following him through change and action we show our true love to God.

Christ lives, and He is the founder of this church. Through modern day revelation, God continues talking to us through prophets and apostles guiding us! 

There are so many things I have come to know, but I simply want to testify that God lives and that I know that this is the truth. Jesus is the Christ and Redeemer and I know that with all of my heart. I will leave it at that because I know pictures say it better than words. Here's to two of the greatest years of my life in Chile!

Thanks and love you all.

True Change Comes From the Heart

Goals on Goals

This was a great week. I am happy and filled with joy looking back on it and seeing the great things that happened and being able to enjoy the opportunity to share the Gospel and to see good progression with investigators.

First, I wanted to start with this Sunday. Edna Bernard was confirmed, and she is a member of the Church now!!! So exciting to see and to have helped in that.

Following that, we went back to the old sector of my companion Elder Lazarte for a baptism. He baptized a 12 year old kid that loves him. It was cool to see that and to see his joy.

Sunday night, we had a lesson with the Moran family and the bishop and his mom accompanied us. It went very well and we talked wedding plans and they are all excited to become a part of the church and to get baptized! It was a really spiritual lesson and everyone left uplifted, edified and filled with the spirit. I enjoyed this visit especially because we were there with members who helped and the lessons are always better with members!

On Monday, we had a great lesson with Flavia and Jose! The grandparents of a recent convert. They had a sad family conflict and long story short they were left a little devastated and sad for what happened to them. As we got to their house, we talked to them and gave them our advice as they told us the story and we had a great talk and we were able to give them some motivation and scriptures to help them with their problems and difficulties that they are going through right now. We shared the story of Nephi answering the call of his father and of God for every trial that came his way and his willingness to obey and serve his God (1 Nephi 3:7) and then we shared Joshua 1: 9 and talked about handling trials with confidence in God. They felt comforted from our message.

At the end of that lesson, Flavia said something cool to us. The first lesson we had with her she said that she loved our church but that she would never get baptized. Fast forward 5 lessons and this past lesson she said she wants to be baptized but would have to quit smoking! As she said that to us, I remembered that first comment and I realized that in each lesson after the first, her comments towards baptism or becoming a member of the church progressed each time we came until finally she couldn’t help but want the blessing of that in her life!! It’s always amazing to witness that progression and to see people’s desire to change over such a short period of time.

I feel that the same has happened to me even as a missionary. With more time learning and studying the Gospel, my desires and testimony have grown so much and I know that it will continue to grow throughout my life and with the experiences I will have.