February 25, 2011

Ahora para todos:

So I am now in Villarrica and it is GORGEOUS! We´re right on the coast. Last Thursday we did out lesson plans on the beach. It´s the furthest sector north, so it´s really really REALLY hot, which makes the pulgas (fleas) come out in full force, but I´m surviving. I´ll try to send pictures. My new companion is Hermana Kelley. She is from Alabama and she´s AMAZING. She´s finishing her mission in May so I´ll be her last companion. Did I mention she´s amazing? I love her a ton, she´s really funny and a great missionary. The house is... bigger. Let´s just leave it at that. This cambio they joined our sector with a sector that belonged to Elders last cambio, but they took them out and doubled the size of our sector. It´s gigantic, and it´s strange because we have a lot of investigators now that we´ve never met, but I´m excited for the challenge, I think we´re up to it. The branch president asked us to think of some activities we could do that are focused on encouraging people to read the Book of Mormon, so if anyone has any ideas... please let me know. Villarrica is right under an active volcano, it´s cool because sometimes at night you can see the lava sparkling in the sky. They say we´ll get a lot of earthquakes here, but I´ve only felt one this week and it was pretty small. One of the things that amazes me about this branch is that they have so many jovenes that are so excited about missionary work, even though their families are completely inactive, they love to help us and are preparing to serve their own missions. It´s aweseome! I have learned so much about what it means to really give everything in the service of the Lord. I think from being a missionary, I´ve learned a lot about how I should be as a member.  The miracle of a mission is far more than the baptisms. There´s a lot of work to be done! Speaking of baptisms, I was pretty bummed at the end of last cambio because Fernando had been traveling so his baptism kept getting pushed back, but he came back RIGHT before I had to leave. When we asked him if he had any concerns about his baptism he said "Just one... where can I buy white pants?" He is so prepared. Elizabeth and la Familia Sandoval also said that they really felt like the message we had brought them changed the way they look at their relationship with God, and this guy Juan Carlos told us that he really feels like we helped him to find a faith that he never had before. I might not be there for their baptisms, but I will never forget the influence that Heavenly Father has allowed me to take part in in their lives. It´s hard leaving a sector and all the people that you love there, but I know that I´ll grow into that here too, and I can´t wait. Hermana Nakayama was transferred in to Osorno, so I know that they´re in good hands. I´m going to go ahead and finish this up so I can have time to send pictures, but I want to say thanks so much for all of your letters and support, it really helps!

Love,

Jamie