A Humbling Week

HIJOS y TODOS! (yes, hijo = child, todos = everyone) well who woulda guessed that I'm back doing internet already!! okay, buckaroos...holy smokes!- finger chopped off? hospital gown? St. George? Spiffy soccer jerseys? Book of Mormon reading? pictures from Ecuador (that I still need to see!)? Geeee sounds like things in the family keep plowin ahead, gettin' more exciting every week! I love to hear it all. Thanks for the spirits and love! Curt- I think it's about time for another email from you! I need to hear all of the high school gossip plus the tricks and plays of the winning team! Congrats on plowin ahead...so fun, and Sr. year? double bonus. Mitch- How's the baptisms coming? How's Victor? What have you done that seems to be working with the ward? Jed- take it eaasssyyyy. Sounds really painful. If I had a way to send you a get well balloon, I'd do it. But, sounds like you're gettin taken care of. Keep being spiritual, I hear the chicks dig it. Clint & Rach- I'm determined to join in the bike brigade when I get back; you'll just have to give me months of getting into shape :) Sounds so fun though! Enjoy the springtime!! (we've got falling leaves!). Mom- ya-hooo for the best pen pal a gal could ever ask for! You little secretary you. Even though the office probably isn't the place you'd love to be, I really appreciate every hour you spend there. Thank you for always being my best girlfriend! :) Can't wait to get the package (since we live so far away from the office I haven't gotten any letters/dear elders/packages, but the word is, they were delivered to the Zone Leaders this week, so I'll be getting them tomorrow when we make the 2 hour bus ride to Talca for our weekly Zone meeting). Dad- thank ssso much for your words of wisdom and love. I'm so happy to call you my pops. THANKYOU for always being worthy to hold the priesthood in our home. Keep plowin.

Gotta love the humbling weeks that as missionaries we have the opportunity to have. :) We're still trying to find people that are ready to listen to the message of the restored gospel and follow Jesus Christ in the way that He asked. The longer I'm here, and the more that I understand what the gospel of Jesus Christ really is, the more I come to understand how much it MAKES SENSE, and how much you can FEEL that it's true. Heavenly Father is so aware of us, so incredible aware of the miracles that we need, and so incredible aware of the growth that each of His children needs to have in order to be the best person we can be; become a person like Him.

MIRACLE THIS WEEK:
We met a man (who unfortunately works here during the week, lives in Conce with his wife and daughter, and is probably switching jobs) in a contact, named Mario. He said that he'd been looking for a change in his life, and that just a week earlier he'd gone on a hike up a very tall mountain to pray to God, and to find out what he should do; he saw us as a part of the answer to some of the questions he had had. (GAH!- do these things really happen?) We shared with him a message, showed him where the church was and invited him to our English class that we have every Wednesday night. He came! and had filled out the pamphet, and looked up all the scriptures. He told us in English, "I need this book" - and pointed to the Book of Mormon; I think we put on the biggest grins ever and said GOOD! We have one for you right now! haha. Even though he's very back and forth right now with where he's living, it turns out that the bishop of his home's ward lives in Conti during the week as well, in a member's home. The next night we took him to meet him, and they formed a really strong relationship. I haven't heard if we went to church this past Sunday, but I'm pretty sure this man is someone that has been more than prepared by the Lord, and is ready to gain a testimony...and ready to accept the Book of Mormon as the word of God.

Our progressing investigator, Janett, is a mother of 5 children, and a wife to a less-active member. To put it lightly, she has had a large taste of what Satan can do to the home and the influence he can have on the individual. Her whole life she has been mistreated and, as a result, has never been taught how to be a mother, a homemaker, or how to believe that there is a way to undrown yourself. While we have established a very stable, supportive relationship with her, this week it was necessary that we clarified our purpose as missionaries, and we had several good lessons where we re-taught and clarified many of the basics of our message. As a family they attended a ward activity, where the members were quick to involve them. Slowly and surely this family is coming to realize the blessings that come by reading, praying, and striving together daily to follow Christ. It's the sweetest experience to be able to be apart of this family as they kneel in prayer together when we leave! Ah, how I love them!
I don't know if any of you have read the book The Best Worst Christmas Pagaent Ever, or the Best Worst School Year Ever...but if you have, you would know that this family is very comparable to them. haha....4 boys and one girl, and they are loud and crazy children. 2 of the children got baptized just before I got here, and they are involved in the primary and in Young Womens. Then there's probably the cutest 4 yr. old ever, and then Juanito who's constantly got out-of-control hair.
Oh family and friendly friends, I love you all so very very much. I am so grateful for this gospel, for the direction and truth that it gives us. So much peace comes from knowing that you're on the path to enjoy eternal happiness with your family, and doing what you're Heavenly Father asks of you!! It's hard to have the faith to actually DO what He asks sometimes, but it ALWAYS brings blessings.

Have a splendid week! xoxo THE CHURCH IS SO TRUE! LOOK FOR MIRACLES! THEY'RE THERE!
Hermana Child


p.s. There is an amazing 18 yr. old in the ward here named Adree; she knows English perfectly, has an incredible testimony and is just super chill and fun to be around. We love having her accompany us, and she has helped us out so much (especially when the people look at us as if we were speaking Chinese - and sometimes it probably does sound like English :) She digs us out by explaining in Spanish what we meant to say. She lives with her mom right now, but is looking to go to BYU-I....and this is where I need your help and detective skills. Turns out that she was accepted, and has her passport, but she is having trouble obtaining a VISA. The US Embassy in Santiago is telling her that she needs to have $50,000 in her bank account (enough to pay for the 4 years of studies) before she can obtain a VISA. She has a sponsor here, and she is going to work while at going to school, but it's pretty much unheard of to have that much money. There are a lot of international students at BYU, and I can't imagine that they all have that much money, in fact, it's really hard to believe. Could you maybe send this message on to Kim Green?? I'm sure Kimmy will have good connections, since she has a lot of Chilean friends. Just maybe find out if there is any way to attend BYU without having all the money right up front and in the bank account.... (and send a lot of hugs and kisses her way..love her LOTS!)...You can email me, or you can email her (ladri8@gmail.com) ¡¡MUCHAS GRACIAS!!