ONE WEEK TILL CHRISTMAS....

Hey momma how you doing????:) As for me I’m doing absolutely amazing. I am here working in the Lord’s vineyard, Christmas is next week, we are lighting the world, I get to talk to you guys in a week, what more can I ask for?:)

This last week has been really good here in Alerce. With the less active family that we found from the week before last (Alverado family), they said that one of their daughters said that she wants to get baptized. Her name is Consuelo and she is 10 years old!:) She is such an awesome girl! We are starting to teach her now and we are hoping to have them in the church this Sunday. Also we had an awesome lesson with Julieta, a newer investigator. We talked about the restoration and we read the scripture in the pamphlet about apostasy. She said "This is me! I’m looking for the Lord’s church!" So that was a really cool experience, and we showed the video of the restoration of 20 min. It was a really spiritual lesson!:) It’s amazing all of the little miracles and blessings that we see daily. I know that the Lord will use us if we are willing and worthy!!

Also that rain slide that happened in Chaiten, wasn’t actually in Chaiten. It was like 70 Km away. So no worries the elders there are doing great, we already talked to them!:) It’s funny because the elder that was just here before cambios went to Chaiten so the whole ward here was freaking out to see if he was ok!:) This ward is great!!:)

Sounds like your week was really great as well!!:) I loved all that fotos that you sent. It seemed like just another week in paradise!!:) haha. That’s sweet you got to go to the temple as well!:) And that is so true (the thought I sent about contemplating the Savior’s birth). It’s cool to think when the Lord came the first time (in his birth), it was very humble. There were all the signs of his birth, but it wasn’t a huge event. He was born in a stable with poor conditions. But when He comes again, He will come as King of all Kings in all his glory, with trumpets to announce his coming. So NO ONE can say that He is not Christ, the son of God. It is cool to think but thank you for your thought and I’ll keep that in mind this week for sure!!:) But I love you so much momma, like to infinity and beyond. Hope you have a great week! I’ll SEE you next week!:)

Love,

Elder Spencer

Us after service... hahaha

No hands selfie on the bikes!!

E. Vaughn cutting his investigators hair on intercambios

Our service at the fruteria sorting potatoes

Playing soccer on p-day

 The rest of these pictures are from the Christmas package I sent:

Our Christmas tree and presents! :)

Santa Claus is Coming to Town....

Hey momma!!:) How are you doing??:) This last week was awesome here in Alerce. We have been working a lot with the referrals that we have gotten from the members here, and we found a family of 9 this last week thanks to that!:) They are a less active family that haven’t gone to church in a long time and said that they had seen us in the street a few times and wanted to talk to us but were always busy with their work (bus drivers) so they couldn’t stop. But this week we have an appointment with them and they want to present their son in the church. Also one of their daughters isn’t baptized so we can help her with that as well! But it’s been an amazing week. Now we just have to start teaching all of these referrals and helping spread the Light of Christ!:)

Julieta is doing awesome. She is reading the Book of Mormon but she wasn’t able to come to church on Sunday because she was working. But she wants to come this weekend!:) Also Light the World is going awesome. We have been doing lots of service to help others and we have seen their happiness as well!:)

Also for the spiritual experience, when we found the family of 9, we actually went for a different referral close by... Then as we were leaving I had the thought pop into my head that we should contact the other referral. So we turned around on our bikes and that’s when we found the family Alverado of nine!!:)

That is so sweet about your week in Texas and that it snowed there for the first time in many years and it just so happened that you were there!;) Also that is sweet about the packages so thank you! And no worries I will let you know when I have them!!:) Also I love the thought ''But if not.'' It is so true. We have to have the faith to not be healed. Do we have the faith necessary in Jesus Christ? Is it as detectable as we would like it to be?? I love you so much momma!!:) I hope you have a great week!! Love you to infinity and beyond!!!

"What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract. What you imagine, you create."

Love,

Shawners

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!

First of all I hope your anniversary is amazing and you guys had a happy 30th anniversary!:) All is great here in the mission. I’m as happy as ever and it's been an awesome time here!!:) I love my companion Elder Longo. It’s amazing how well we get along. I’m teaching him English and he’s teaching me a little of Portuguese as well!!:) Also yeah... about the umbrella... I was just walking with it and it was kinda like a cool cane. But obviously I didn’t use it to put weight on it, I just walked with it in my hand. But I like tripped when I was walking and put a little bit of pressure on it and it just snapped... haha but it’s chill. It’s been super sunny here this last week. The Lord has been blessing us with some amazing weather lately!:)

This last week was really great! We found 2 families that we are starting to teach now. One of them was a reference from a member here in the ward. It is her brother and he just had a baby and wants to present him in the church and bless him. So it will be awesome to keep working with them and get them to come to church again!:) Also him and his wife and other child aren’t baptized. So we can help them to feel the light of Christ again and hopefully help them to be baptized as a family!:) With the other family, we were walking this last week, just walking to the house, and then I felt I should knock on this random house. A lady came out and only she was there with her daughter. We talked about Christ and prophets with her for just a bit and we are going back this next week to share when the husband is there!:) All is going great here. I love Christmas time and Jesus Christ!:) Isaiah 9:6!:)

But I’m glad that your last week was really good!:) I loved the photos that you sent to me from your and dad’s dinner and walk in temple square. It looks like so much fun!!:) That looks really cool the German Christmas Village that you went and visited in SLC!:) But also I absolutely loved your thought that you shared (from Elder W. Craig Zwick’s talk "Lord, Wilt Thou Cause That My Eyes May Be Opened"). It’s so true. The world would be such a better place if we could look at others through the eyes of Jesus Christ!:) but we have to do what we can for us first to start changing the world!:)

I love you to infinity and beyond momma!:!) Thank you so much for all that you do!!:) Also have fun in the snow and stay safe and love this season of Christmas!!:)

LOVE YOU MOMMA!

Shawners

Sweet view of the volcanos in Alerce!

Our house in Alerce

Service helping Hermana Claudia

We put all the stuff in this room (in the pic above too).

On the bus to Puerto Varas

Churrichanga

In the process of churrichanga

With the crew in Alerce

The Week of Cambios Again?? Wait What?

Hey momma, how are you doing??:) As for me I’m doing really great!!:) So this last Tuesday we had our zone conference for Christmas and introduced our idea to iluminar el mundo (Light the World) and it was really great. The spirit was so strong during the conference and everyone is super excited to do it!!:) Then after we went and taught Juan our recent convert and he is doing good. His mom isn’t a member so we are working with her to get her married and baptized as well!!:)

On Wednesday we went and visited a less active older lady named Marta and her grandson Matias. It was a great visit. We talked about Jesus Christ and how he is always with us and knows how we feel in every affliction and test that we have here on the earth. Then we visited with Carmen an old investigator and she really wants to be baptized but her catholic mom won’t let her be... but we are working with her!!;) Then on Thursday, we had a noche de hogar (family home evening) but at the last second it got canceled; but we still went to visit the member whose house it should have been in, and it was so good. She gave us lots of referrals so we have more to work with now. It was a really great night and visit!!:)

Friday we did a service project in Fresia with the elders there for a member. We had to hand till some land there, man it was a crazy project!!:) haha. On Saturday we played football in the morning and then a member Hermano Wilson Bello came and helped us cut our grass at our house (sorry I’ll have to send a pic of that next week... ) In the afternoon we went and visited a new investigator named Hermana Julieta and she is so receptive and loves to hear of Christ!:) Then on Sunday a new investigator, who just moved into our sector, came to church with her husband and they are waiting to get married this next month then we can baptize them as well. Her name is Amparo and she is from Colombia originally!!:) 

Today we went to Puerto Varas to the church there and played football and volleyball and then wrote to all the missionaries who are leaving our zone!!! In all it was a great crazy week. We saw many miracles and I’m sure this week will be great as well!!:) LOVE you to infinity and beyond momma!!:) Hope you have a great week!!:)

Shawners:)

HAPPPPPPPY THANKSGIVING!!!:)

Hey momma!!:) well yes I know it’s not quite Thanksgiving but I figured that I would tell you a little early!!:) haha. They don’t really celebrate here but I might try to do something here with my comp but we will see what happens!:) But oh man this last week was insane here in Alerce so I can’t remember what happened Monday night... but on Tuesday we had to go to Puerto Montt to pick up pedidos for the zona and get my carnet so I can be legal!:) Then after that we went out to go and visit some new referrals that we have and some future investigators that we have!:) Then on Wednesday we had to go to the church to help set up for a choir that came the next day so we were there helping to clean the church and set up chairs!:)

On Thursday we had our zone conference to talk about the Christmas Initiative which is the same as last year: ILUMINA el MUNDO!:) (Light the World). It is going to be an amazing time and we are planning an activity to do with the zone to share this initiative with everyone here in our zone!!:) Then we had the choir that came and it was so amazing. They are a group from Puerto Montt and they sang really good. One of our new investigators Julieta came and really liked the activity as well!!:) Then on Friday we went and did service for a grandma here. We went out and made a garden and planted for her!!:) Then in the night we had an activity with desserts. And I just made some brownies with my comp and we won best texture and best dessert!!:) so it was pretty cool!!!! haha, especially because I didn’t think the brownies turned out that good that night but everyone loved them!:)

On Saturday it was pure rain!!! It was so cold and a little wet... (if you can imagine that...) haha but then we were doing contacts and tried to visit with Julieta but she wasn’t there, but it’s all chill!!:) Then we went to our recent convert Juan and taught him a lesson so it was a great night!!:) Oh then on Sunday it was the primary program and the little kids were so cute!!!!:) It was so cool to see them talk and share! Also a drunk guy came in and sat by me for a min then asked me for some bread then just got up and walked out!!:) HAHA it was a little funny!:)

YEAH!!! I’ll be there for Braken’s wedding!!:) haha I don’t know if they planned that for me but it’s good timing!!:) haha. Woah sounds like some crazy weather and a good week!!:) I love your thought momma! That is so true we need to make sure that we are walking in Christ’s direction. Even if we feel like we are sinking like in the foto we have on the wall, we can reach out and He will help us keep walking along on our path!!:) Thank you so much momma for the email and all you’re doing. Also I’m glad to hear that Jess and dad are doing better. Tell them both hi and I love them!!:) but love you to eternity and beyond momma!!:) Can’t wait to hear back. Have such a great week!:) 

Love you!!

Shawners

We made pan and homemade mayo!!!

Setting up for the choir

Playing with Geraldo

The choir!! :)

Service project doing the garden!! :)

Que Loco la Semana!!

Hey there momma how are you doing this marvelous Monday??:) As for me I am doing pretty fantastic!!:) haha and this last week was pretty great. We had some nice weather this last week with not so much rain!!:) I’m glad that you got my reference to invasion!!:) and this last week was even more so... haha. We had the dispedida of Elder Amaya and then cambios Wednesday. Then we had to go look at some things for our house on Thursday. Then on Friday a baptism of a member’s child. On Saturday a youth activity and a capilla abierta (open house). Then on Sunday the normal church and meetings!:) It was fun and way crazy..

Also me and my new comp Elder Longo are doing very good together. He is a super chill guy, we work super great together!!:) so I’m excited to continue to work with him and just keep moving the work along!:) Also no we haven’t started the English classes yet. This last week was super crazy and this week will be too!!:) but that’s alright I love it!:) I’m glad that you are liking my ward because I am loving them as well!!:) They are so great and it’s been pretty insane because it’s been like I am in a white wash!!:) a white wash is when two missionaries enter into a new area for the first time without knowing the sector:)

Well I’m glad to hear that your work trip to Austin went well!!:) and I’m glad that you could do all the other stuff you needed to as well!:) That’s too bad that dad has been sick, but I hope that he gets better soon and tell him to be safer!!! haha but I loved the fotos you sent of the t-shirts!!:) So thank you for that and oh well maybe if anyone wants to send a quick letter or you want to send an old conference talk or maybe your favorite?:) but other than that no I’m good but yeah I’ll just be waiting for the package.:)

Also I really loved this talk from Elder Holland that is so true and it’s so amazing the things that happen when we trust in the Lord and follow his ways!!:) It’s so amazing that he gives us these commandments but he always gives us the way and the strength to complete them if we are willing to try our best!!:)

Love you to infinity and beyond momma!!:) I hope that you can have an amazing week and let me know when you send the stuff out!!:) I’ll do work here and you stay safe and do work there!!:) love you momma!!!😄💪

love

Shawners!!!

1- Chad sent me a little package with Elder Goddard!!!:)

2 & 3- baptism of the member’s child Maxy!!:) (my comp has the tan jacket)

4-Youth activity I got to go out with this stud Nicholas!:)

5- my comp and Elder Merchen in the baptism font in the capilla abierta!!:)

Rest of the photos are from our p-day adventures today with my mamita and papito from Ancud!!! I love them!