Busy Week of Teaching, Council Meetings and Helping the Hermanas Feel Better

Oh man where do I begin... well first off.. Hi momma!! I am doing great. We have the baptism of Carlos coming up this weekend and the baptism of the investigator of the hermanas of Pucon also! But this last week... hmmm.. well as you know we were invited to the family Mora and the family Silva! We had a ton of food, played arco arco, and did some service also. Then over the next couple of days we had Consejo de distrito y Consejo De Lideres (translation: District Council and Leadershp Council). Haha I don’t know the proper name for them in English but it is where we go and learn how to better ourselves as missionaries. We talked a lot about changing our attitude for the better, and how we can do we that? How I believe we can do that, and what we talked about a lot, was changing our mentality and how we see things. Are we putting ourselves in the other person’s shoes? So that is a short thought that I liked. If we want to help others, we need to "put ourselves in their shoes".:)

The hermanas that are in the other part of Villarrica were really sick and couldn’t leave their apartment, so we helped them a lot during the week taking them medicine and other stuff they needed. Also we had various lessons with Carlos and he I think, is ready for baptism!!! It’s hard to teach him in the lessons sometimes because he likes to talk a lot but its ok, it helps us to know what he knows and doesn’t know.:) We found Camila again this last week. It is really hard with her because she wants to join the church but she isn’t that serious about how fast... so we are teaching her and she is still progressing well!!! Also this is Isiais' last week of treatments for his cancer then we can teach him starting this coming week! just in time for cambios... but it’s all good we will figure that out when it comes.:)

Dang that is sad about Jess's car but at least you have good ole blue to come to the rescue..;) haha but that is funny about the truck at the church. Also I loved the picture of the Broncos Crockpot that is so sick!!!! Oh man you guys are really killing it with the salsa!!! But that’s good that you are almost done!!!;) haha

That is funny you talk about how you want to have a better attitude...;) I really do believe that if we can change our mentality like I said earlier, we can change our feelings of being happy here and there to being a happy person. That is so cool that you guys all went down to the Manti temple and had the opportunity to be there with Joe!!:) Also I’m glad you all had fun at the session for the women!!:)

Wow that sounds like it was a really good session of conference!!!:) Thank you so much for your thoughts and I’m going to work on those. I definitely won’t let Satan discourage me. Because when he comes at us with bad things, we can always remind Satan of his future. Our future is eternal life if we can only persevere hasta el fin!!!:) (translation: until the end)

Love you mom and don’t worry, I’ll have a lot to talk about next week, I believe about the conference. Love you mom and have a great week and remember, it’s all about our mentality and how we look at things!!!:)

Love you forever!!:)

Shawners

Something called "pan" that they cook outside

Making empanadas!!

Feliz cumpleaños a tì!!!!!

Well hello there birthday mamma!!! Happy Birthday!!!!!! Man things are really good here in Chile.:) We are good, awesome in fact. We are working hard and seeing miracles. We had an awesome week this week and yes Carlos still is moving along great and Camila went out of town almost all last week because of Ferrial. (18 de Septiembre) I believe it is the Day of Independence for Chile, but they party all weekend until today. We had an activity at the church on Friday to celebrate Ferrial. We all ate churripan and the members danced the la cueca. La cueca is the national dance of Chile and it was so cool to watch! But also we got a new investigator and met a lot of menos activos (less actives) at the activity so it was a success!!:)

As for Isaias he is in Valdivia for one more week for his chemo therapy then he will be here, and Diego is actually a menos activo but he is doing great and we are helping to reactivate him. We are going to play ping pong in the church tomorrow with him and the ward!! As for President Isom, they are here, well in Osorno, but they are in the mission at least. We haven’t met them yet but I think we will soon.:) And lastly as for missionaries in the mission I think somewhere around 180? but honestly I have no idea. There are hermanas in the other half of Villarrica and this next cambio (transfer) we are going to receive one pair of hermanas or elders here and our sector will be cut in half, which is ok cause its huge!! Also, I am going to baptize the investigator of the hermanas of Pucon!!!:) so I am really looking forward to that!!

Yes I believe that we are going to watch conference in the church but once again I’m not completely sure.:) haha but yes we are going to watch it. I hope I can in English but I think it’s only going to be in Spanish, but it’s all good I can understand mostly.:) Thank you for the points of advice and I am going to do that!!:) Honestly it is so crazy September has passed so fast so far. It’s unreal!!

For my spiritual thought this week I want to talk about a talk that was given on Sunday on prayer. Prayer is so important and is one of the first things we teach in our lessons. God is our loving Heavenly Father and because he loves us, we have prayers to communicate and talk with him. I think it’s funny that we have a commandment to pray often. Because we receive so many blessings and also comfort and knowledge also when we pray to our Heavenly Father. So my challenge for you this week is to pray not only in the morning and night but say little prayers during the day to thank him and also to ask for guidance. I know if we listen, God will answer our prayers.:)

Wow that is awesome about the party for Mel. I bet it was awesome and I bet she loved the tickets!!! Oh man I love salsa and I wish I would have been there to help but I’m glad you girls got it all done!!:) And no I don’t mind the extra salsa;) haha. That is so cool that you guys got to go up the canyon and thank you so much, I loved the fotos!!:)

Thank you mom for everything and I love you more!!:) Hope you have an awesome birthday. I’ll try and send you pics later because this computer can’t..:/ but thank you so much for the scripture and I have actually been focusing on this. I can testify that the Lord will help you and bless you if you open your mouth for the Lord’s cause.:) Love you and talk to you next week!!:)

Love you momma!!

Shawners

What? It's been a week already???

Yeah it was really sad to hear about President Obeso and his wife and Hermana Stone!! But I know that it is better for them and I hope they both can get better quickly! That is so cool that you all fasted for President and you for Hermana Stone! I know the Lord will help them both and hopefully Hna Stone will be back out in no time!

Dang honestly this last week was so fast I can’t even remember all that happened... But we had 3 lessons with Carlos!!!!! AND HE CAME TO CHURCH!!! It was so cool cause we called him and went to his house Sunday and he didn’t answer... then right when church started he walked in!!! Also we had a lesson with Camila. She is progressing just a little slow; but it’s all good, she is doing so awesome!! Also we had a lesson with Isaias who is 84. He was an old investigator and now we have him with fecha (date) for baptism as well!! And we had a menos activo (less active) named Diego Soto (Age 15) show up to church too. It was sweet cause we found him last week and he hasn’t been to church in like 7 years just because his family moved around a lot!! Also as far as the Spanish, I’m not worried:). This was week was full of miracles for me including the gift of tongues because I trusted in the Lord as best I could!! The Spirit was strong with this past week!!;) I can’t really think of one specific example but in our lessons I’m not scared at all cause what I need to say just pops into my head; and also the same with scriptures and thoughts I need to share. Then I see how they help Carlos for instance. His whole attitude has seemed to change, it’s awesome.

Oh man the weather is like Utah here in spring… hot one day, freezing the next, then rain for a few days then repeat...:) haha but its good and yes the umbrella works great and I’m loving it so thank you!!:) Dang that’s too bad about BYU, but at least it was a good game!!:) AND HECK YEAH GOOOO BRONCOS!!!!! I am so pumped!!! haha it’s because I’m on the mission!!;) haha naw but that is so sweet!! And thank you so much for the pictures I loved them!!:)

Wow that’s crazy about the new ward but I am glad that you are liking it so far!!:) A good attitude is key to everything!!! And thank you for the scripture "I will return and report";) (I told him to go read D&C 15, verse 6 especially!) But for my thought this week it is in John 16. It is about the mission of the Holy Ghost. Jesus is talking to his disciples and telling them he is going to die but he still needs to tell them things so he wants them to listen to the spirit. There is so many things that the spirit does and this chapter covers it all pretty well I think.:) So if you have time read it!!:)

Love you momma and thank you for everything you do!! Hope you have a great week and continue your hard work in all you do!!:)

Love, Shawners

One Crazy Week That Started Out Like Normal...

HAPPY LABOR DAY MOMMA!!! Haha I honestly didn’t even realize it was labor day, that is crazy because I feel like I’ve been out here for such a short amount of time (I mean which I have been but it feels shorter). But I mean I’m coming up on 5 months in the mission. Like what the heck, I still can’t speak Spanish very well.. haha. But I’m loving it and like you said, I’m definitely losing myself in the Lord’s work!! As for D&C, yeah section 4 is what our purpose as missionary’s is, and I just love all the knowledge that is added with D&C. It’s some crazy stuff. About the pictures, I’m sorry I’ll try to send some this week. I need to get some more pictures of Pucon. I’ve been here for 3 months and haven’t gone on one sight-seeing trip!! We are definitely going next week I believe :). We can go anywhere in the zone for p-days as long as its within our p-day but we just are always doing stuff. This week we helped the Hermanas of Pucon move into their new house so that was fun :).

It’s crazy that I’ve only been with my companion for 2 weeks cause it feels like I’ve known him for longer!! Haha. And it’s crazy to only speak Spanish but I’m getting used to it and starting to like it more and more. I just want to be able to say all that I feel!! We usually only talk in Spanish but sometimes he will ask me how to say things in Spanish or I’ll try to describe to him something I want to say in Spanish... so it’s lots of fun. It’s kinda like a game sometimes :). Also the thing I admire the most about my companion is the way he can instantly meet someone and relate to them and be friends with them so fast, it’s awesome. That’s how I want to be. I know it’s a little easier when he already is Latino but that is how I want to be. I want to be really good at relating to everyone I talk to :).

The week started out like normal. We taught Camila and she is still progressing well and then we played ping pong on Tuesday with our Branch. Then...ok this is where everything went crazy this last week. We were supposed to have our Zone Conference with President Obeso this last week on Thursday... but it got canceled so we did our district meeting on Thursday. Then the zone leaders called us that night and told us we needed to go to Valdivia on Saturday for the Zone Conference. But no buses left early enough on Saturday so we had to leave Friday night and it killed all of our citas and plans we had... But on the good side, we stayed with Elder Thomas in Valdivia on Friday!!!:) Then on Saturday everything was just like normal. We had a great conference, then President Obeso said that he is leaving the mission on Sept 16!!!!!!! He has cancer and so he needs to leave to get it all fixed and healed. Also Hermana Stone is going home too because her knee is really bad so she is going back to the US to have it looked at. So it was a sad way to end a zone conference but it’s ok. I know it’s all for the best in the end! I hope that Hermana Stone is ok though. She was having a rough time and I hope she can get her knee fixed fast! Lastly yesterday in church our old investigator Carlos called us and was like sorry I’ve been super crazy with work but I want to be baptized!!! So we met with him last night and put him with a fecha (date)!! And now we are meeting with him again on Wednesday so we will see how that goes :).

That’s right mom you represent!! (I had to go buy a BYU shirt to wear to work because my work is filled with a lot of Ute fans….) That’s gonna be a crazy game (this Saturday is the BYU vs. Utah game). You have to let me know what happens with the game!! But that is good that BYU won their season opener and I hope it continues!!:) Also yes I got the package at the zone conference and everyone was freaking out… like dang whose is this?!?! Thank you so much for the package and all the food. I love it!!:) And I loved the ties, they are both sick! For real, thanks for all you do, you are awesome!!!

It sounds like it has been a great week with the family and that is so cool for Olivia and Jex!!  Thank you so much for the pictures of the family and you guys!!:) And thank you for that thought about losing yourself in the work and you shall find yourself and be strengthened. It is so true. It is like my mission scripture Mosiah 2:18; when we are serving others we are serving God, but the important part is our attitude. We can only truly lose ourselves in the service of others if we really love to do it :). SO that is my message -- LOVE WHAT YOU DO. If you have a good attitude, it can make all the difference in the world :). Love you mom and that’s it for this week!!

Love you momma!!!

Shawners

Thanks for the dope package! 

Hello, it's us!!

Pucon

Campo

Zone Conference