#temuca

Merry Christmas!

It was so great to see you all on Skype. You are all my favorite people in this whole world. Sorry that I got a bit emotional when I read Connor's letter for me through the computer camera. That was so sweet. It makes me so happy. 

  This week we got sick from this tortilla thing that wasn't what you'd think of when I say tortilla. It was more like beans and bread mixed into a concoction that was very interesting, but left us with food poisoning. It only lasted for a day though and we still worked that day. I've learned a lot from Hermana Tyler about never giving up and always being ready to go work. 

  I never thought about how crazy it is that there are 89,000 missionaries serving full time for the church without pay until now, especially because a lot of them are ages 18 though 23. It is a miracle that we can accomplish this work and that people join the church. It is also a miracle that we can even move to a different country and learn a foreign language. I have a strong testimony of how effective members need to be in this work. As I've said before, I expect you all to invite others to come unto Christ as I do every day. Invite others to meet with the missionaries. You can do it. It is important that people understand that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth in its fullness and that with the Priesthood authority of that gospel people can have a remission of their sins and be saved. You can tell them something along those lines. 

  Backstreet Boys

This week we were in our house and we started to hear backstreet boys or "nsync" jamming across the street and in a very strong Spanish accent a man singing "TELL ME WHYYYYYYYYY..."  I can't remember the rest of the lyrics but it killed me; definitely the highlight of my week. 

  Almuerzos

Not gonna lie, I'm struggling with the fact that their lunches are their biggest meal here, and I mean huge. Plus if you ask for less they do not accept it and still give you a bunch. I think that they think that we are starving to death here. But quite the opposite actually. I love learning about the culture.  One day I will be used to the big lunches. I love how kind the members are giving us food. 

  The thing that makes me the most happy here in the mission field is when I testify of the Savior. Usually when we are proselyting is when I am the happiest because that is the reason I am here and usually that is the time when I do not think of home a lot. 

  Atheist

There is a man here who lived in Littleton, Colorado who is a Chilean and was an English teacher in London. He speaks better than I speak English. We visited him this week and he explained to us that he is a very strong Atheist and he believes that Man created God and that God did not create man. He told us to read a book about Atheism. I was very impressed by my companion. She was so loving to him and explained that we aren't trying to force him to believe in God, but if he would just listen to our message he would feel something.  She said to him that he is loved, she didn't say by God but just that he was loved. He accepted and we are visiting him today. We decided we will teach in Spanish because it is his native tongue and what we are called to teach in. Pray for him please. When we were walking away he yelled to us,  "Pray for me".... very interesting. 

  MY weekly challenge

I challenge you all to have family home evening tonight and to read together Alma 30 in the Book of Mormon. If you are reading this and don't have a Book of Mormon, go to LDS.org and search Alma 30 and you can read it. This chapter is all about atheism and how everything denotes there is a God. 

  I know that who Heavenly Father calls he qualifies for the work. 

This week I have learned a lot about how I have been prepared to be a missionary. I am so happy to be here. I will not lie,  I question why I am here every day but then shortly after I remember that it isn't about me.