Talent Show

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been a successful one. Hermana Sousa and I have been working hard, walking, teaching, and dedicating all this time that is not taken up in meetings to finding people in search of the gospel, and there have been small miracles and big miracles every day. Some of the best is when you don't expect it, like when we were with a family, and the mother received news that the car they needed for work finally turned on after two years of not working. It was the best when she told us that things just started to go right after we started to visit her. 

We have also have had the miracles of finding people at the right times and to be able to console people just when they need it. Our investigadors, Jose and Juanita are passing a trial right now. Juanita has found a tumor in her stomach that causes her a lot of pain. They are going to the doctor and come to every activity that they can come to, but others Juanita can't come. We are praying for them. When we talked with Jose last time, he told us that they need our help and to keep coming. They are a great family and I really hope everything can turn out for the best. 

We had a fantastic Talent Show this past Saturday. A lot of people showed up and we got to see talents from telling jokes, dancing the cueca (traditional dance here in Chile), people singing, and seeing the Primary dance the Zumba. Jose and Juanita came and they enjoyed the talents they got to see. As missionaries, we acted out a show about spirits finding each other in this world, which a lot of people liked, and we also sang some hymns. All the members who came loved it. I don't have my camera but once I get the opportunity I will send the pictures I have. 

Have a good week!

Chris

Hola!

This week has been a less busy week, but still busy otherwise. Besides visiting sister missionaries and intercambios like usual, we had Concillio de Liderazgo (Leader Council in English I think?) which we talked about the visit from Elder Rasband and how we can still learn a lot from what he and the other leaders taught us, which is very true. I can really testify by meeting sister missionaries every week how important it is to study and apply what we learn to our lives, and not just from General Conference, but from church and daily scripture study. If we don't apply anything, you can't progress. Which is why I love the gospel of Jesus Christ because it isn't just once we learn it but we are constantly renewing our faith, repenting, taking the sacrament, listening to the spirit and enduring to the end. Its really something that helps anybody in any circumstance. 

Like Jose y Juanita. We have been meeting with them and Jose is always looking to better his life and not fall into his old habits of doing drugs. He tells us of his struggle, and I know every time we talk that he has managed to get out of his drug habits through his study of Christ. And he tells us thanks when we visit him as well. He's just awesome and I love to see the small changes he makes. 

Speaking of changes, we have a new ward mission leader. For those who don't know, he is a member who helps us and is in charge of the missionaries in the ward. We didn't have one for a month, but then Hno Catalan was called as a ward mission leader. He is a good friend of ours and my companion actually predicted he would be called as a ward mission leader. He didn't want it, but he came out of an interview with the bishop avoiding our smiles. But he's great and has been very motivated to help and to guide us as missionaries in the ward. 

There is also another member in the ward who likes us to visit her, and calls us practically every day. But she's used to us telling her that we sometimes have days we are too busy. We call her Abuelita (grandmother). But she also has given me a new name, and I realized it this past Sunday in church. She would look at me and say "Chris, Chris!" I had no idea who she was talking to until I realized she was talking to me. I tried telling her my name was Reed. She said, "Chris?" I said, "No, REED." She replied, "Chris." To make it easier, I said, "Yes." I have no idea why she hears Chris, but if that is easier for her to say, she can call me Chris instead of Reed. I've never been called Chris before, and there is always a first time for everything. 

Have a great week!

Hermana Chris

Miracles

Hermana B. Silva from Brazil and I. She's from my zone and she's awesome.

Hola!
This week was pretty great. First things first, we had some investigadors come to church! Their churchs are Jose and Juanita. Juanita is about 77 and Jose is her son who is 51 who lives with her and helps her out. Jose has had problems with drugs and was clean for two years before he fell again. He knows a lot about the gospel and likes to talk to us. Juanita helps him out but suffers a lot because of his past addictions. But they finally came to church, and it was fast and testimony meeting. After the first two testimonies, Jose got up and went to the pulpit. He started out saying, "Hi, my name is Jose. I am Evangelico Protestante (Protestant) and I believe a lot in Jesus Christ." He then continued to tell about the problems he suffered from, but how he was grateful that the missionaries passed by his house and how we help him and talk to him about Christ. It was a really great testimony. When he sat down, his mom asked him why he bore his testimony and he told her the Spirit came over him. She was so happy and at the end she said it was a big and good step for them.
We also had another miracle. One of our recent converts recently received the Melchizedek Priesthood and is doing well. His whole family was baptized before I came to the area and the first Sunday I was here his dad blessed the sacrament. This past week we met with a member who was really sick so we called the elders to give her a blessing. Because there wasn't a man in the house they came with Matias, our recent convert. It was his first blessing and the Spirit was there so strong. The member felt it too, and was really grateful for us for passing by and helping her out.
Also, we had a great privilege this week to have a special devotional from an apostle, Elder Rasband. But not just him, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, Elder Craig. C. Christensen and his wife, and a Seventy, Elder Jose A Teixeira and his wife. Elder Rasband's wife didn't end up traveling with him this trip. Elder Christensen actually served in our mission, so he was really excited to tell us some of the history of what happened before we came. He's pretty awesome. But it was the best to be able to listen to an apostle speak to us, and only to our mission as well. He invited the missionaries from the MTC at the last minute, so they were there for the last bit of it.
He also shook hands with everybody there, which was a lot of missionaries (I have never seen the whole mission together before). He told us about the great calling we have to preach repentance by the Holy Ghost, and to baptize converts. He is a really inspired man and I know he is an apostle of the Lord. I feel so grateful for the chance that we had to meet with him and the other leaders that were with him. It just confirms to me that this is the Lord's church that is restored again on the earth. I know He lives and He guides this church through revelation.
I love this gospel and I love serving the Lord in the mission! I know it's true and I can literally see the changes the gospel has made in the lives of the converts here, and how it improves the lives of others.

Hna. Reed

An awesome sunset against the mountains.

Earthquake!

Hello!
I am writing from the ruins of a broken down house with a phone that only has one bar of a signal...just kidding. I'm all right and writing in an internet cafe. We had an earthquake this week, and it was pretty awesome. There are always earthquakes that happen that we don't feel, but we got to feel this one. Apparently it was a 6.4. I was in intercambios that day, so I was with another missionary in a house with one of their investigators. We had just finished praying and were ready to go when the house started to shake, small at first but then stronger. We walked out of the house while it was still shaking, and the other missionary freaked out and thought that she was going to die. But we were all right. Chile is well prepared and all that happened is that it shook the ground a lot. But I hope that investigator got an answer to her prayer.
Trinidad is going great. We are working with a couple of investigators to help them out. We had stake conference recently, and a seventy and our mission president and his wife came to give talks. They were really good. Some of the members gave their testimonies, and it's great to see how the Lord works in their lives and helps them become happier.
The weather is really hot, for those of you who have been asking. We are putting a lot of sunblock on, drinking a lot of water, and I have a nice tan-line on my feet from my shoes. People say later on in the summer the winds stop, which I am not looking forward to because the winds make the day so much better. For now, we are just planning citas in the hottest parts of the day.
I also have heard a lot about the elections from the people in Chile. I hope you all make the right decision and choose a good person who can lead the nation in peace. And just remember whatever you decide makes a ripple effect not just in the United States, but in other places, such as Chile. For those who are still unsure and those who are sure (everyone), you should read Alma 46 and pay attention to verse 12.
I am really grateful for this gospel, and I am really grateful that I have made the decision to come and serve a mission. I can see the small and significant differences it makes in people's lives, and also how it helps me out in my life. I find whenever times get tough that God is there for me, telling me through the scriptures and everyday experiences what I need to hear and to know. I know this gospel is true, and if I could I would tell everybody in Chile. For now, I'll stick to Chile Santiago Este.
Thanks for all the support. 

Hna. Reed

My companion (Hna Sousa) and I with Noelia.

Halloween

Hola!
It sounds like everyone had a fun Halloween this past week. We didn't get to have any lessons yesterday, but some people knocked on our door for candy when we were planning. Sadly we didn't buy any candy in preparation, so to make up for it we gave them a card with a picture of Jesus knocking on a door. The kids whom we gave them to were pretty excited about it. We got to see a couple Darth Vaders, Batmans, and Spidermans walking around in the street.
I am also still a sister training leader, but now I am in charge of two zones instead of one. This past Monday, when we had Capacitacion de Zona, I wemt tp Vicuna Mackenna while Hermana Sousa stayed in Javiera Carrera. It was weird helping out the other missionaries without my companion, but it worked out all right.
Though I don't know my area too well yet, I am now pretty familiar with the boundaries. I am also getting to know the members better and a couple have come out with us for some lessons. We also got to meet some new investigators, which was awesome! Also ran out of time, but have a good week!

Hermana Reed