First Quick Message from Chile

Chile at Last!

We talked to Nate on Monday from the airport.  He sounded great and was ready to get to Chile and go to work.  This is the only thing we have heard from him today.  But at least we know he got there!

The mission home address is: 

Elder Nathan Alder

Chile Santiago North Mission

Sucursal Correo Patronato

Casilla 60

Region Metropolitana (Santiago)

Chile

Remember to use international postage!

Last Days at the MTC

Anyway it's my last couple days here in the MTC!!! Just a little bit nervios, but nothing I can't handle.

 

Ok where to start... I had to speak in sacrament meeting this week entirely in spanish, so that was way fun. Iit was a little bit intimidating, but I just got up there and read what I had copied out of Preach My Gospel, so it wasn't too bad, but they are refinishing the gym, where all the big meetings are held, so we all had to squeeze in several different rooms around 1m, and it was beyond hot, but it was still a good meeting.

 

Monday not much happened. Just a typical day of learning and teaching. I think this was the day I ripped into my investigator about drinking and getting married and being a good example for his kids, but I'm not sure, but that was a fun lesson, totally planned to teach about something else, and ended up saying a whole bunch of other stuff, it was pretty funny. BUT it worked, so he has stopped drinking, and he's getting married and he believes that the Book of Mormon is true, and he is ready for baptism!

 

Tuesday... we had another intensely hot devotional, but it was good, it was on Pioneer Day, and that was pretty much the only celebration that we got so our 24th was non existent.

 

Wednesday (I hate that word) We could have hosted, but we wanted to play soccer instead, and I wish we would have hosted, because then my companion wouldn't have gotten mad, stormed off, and ruined soccer for the day, and it was our last day to play soccer so... that was fun. Then we taught and did our basic stuff.

 

Thursday, we had to teach 3 lessons one right after the other. First, we taught TRC, and our lesson was about how we can receive revelation through the Book of Mormon, and that lesson went extremely well, totally changed the volunteer's life if you know what I mean, not really, but we did make him remember the purpose of the BOM and what it is, the reason they wrote the book.  There are several prophets who say so in the book.  It is to bring others unto Christ, I think sometimes we forget that, anyway, after that we went and were supposed to teach Felipe, but instead our teacher showed us who he really was, and shared a little bit more about his story with us, and that was way cool. I'm going to miss my teachers, they are such great people! Hermano Black, and Hermano Andersen (son, not sure)  

 

Then we taught Elmer, and said goodbye to him and stuff. At this point I am just counting down the days until I leave, and don't have to fight with certain people. haha. Well um oh I forgot to say, during a TALL (technology asisted language learning) so it's on the computer, I got on the lds website and saw the pioneer concert.  I played it in the background, and at about an hour in, suddenly their the opera singer is introducing her dancing with the stars partner!!! Let's just say I was distracted for a good 4 mins... but I got to see dancing!!! and it was a paso and I looked at the lines, and I critiqued it and pretty much I was as happy as could be!!! Let's be honest that was the highlight of my week!

 

Anyway, on Friday we had in-field training, and pretty much it was meetings all day, but it was way fun and I learned a lot! Then we went and packed up as much as we could, and then had our p-day today, (Saturday) and we did laundry and packed up the rest, and I'm over on the weight, so I'm sending stuff home, and trying to find somewhere to put all my books! That's an adventure! But I'm not the only one, so its ok. I just hope the scales that I have been using to weigh my bags is accurate!!!  Otherwise I'm in big trouble!!! Anyway I think tha'ts all for now, I'm leaving on MONDAY!!! AHHHHH!!!! First time flying!!! It will be fun!

The Better Half of this Week's Saga

Back to my week.

So the first day as companions wasn't too bad, but he was upset about things, and I had no clue how to help him, I still don't, but we went along and did stuff as normal. When Monday came around the fighting really started. When we fight it isn't anything big, because I usually just stop talking because he always has to be right, so if I don't say anything to him when we fight then he has nothing to argue about. Anyway our lessons on Monday and Tuesday were horrible because we wouldn't plan anything together, which really put me in a funk and I just felt lost. But then on Tuesday, I went and sang in the choir with someone else in my district, and for the devotional we performed ¨This is the Christ¨ , an absolutely beautiful song.  I love it so much, but during our rehearsal before we perform it, the camera people do a practice show where they pick where they are going to film at what parts, and we aren't supposed to look at the screen because then it looks bad. Well after we finished with the practice other people from my zone come up and told me that they zoom in right on my face, so that is the only thing showing, and that it's up there for a good long time. They also told me what part of the song that it was at, and it just so happened to be the climax and my favorite part of the song, so I'm practically smiling and juiced up on the spirit when I sing that part, but during the performance I could see out of the corner of my eye that it was zoomed up on me, and I knew that I was singing my heart out. After the devotional, my entire district came up and were telling me all about it, even my Branch President said that I looked good. So that was the turn around of my week. From there it only got better.

 On Wednesday our district got to be the new missionary hosts, like the ones that picked me up on the curb when I got there, ya we got to do that, it was actually really fun even though it was really hot. We went throughout the day, and I knew we had to teach that night, so after dinner I asked my companion what we were going to teach, and he listed the 3 things and went and laid down on the floor and fell asleep. Me being in no mood to fight just let him, and I planned the lesson all by myself. I found scriptures, and figured out the words that I didn't know how to say. When we got in to teach we started off like normal and then we prayed and I said this is what we are going to teach about, and then looked at my companion, he looked at the ground for a while and then just looked at me, and that was my cue to start, so I taught the entire lesson, he had no clue where I was, or what I was saying.  I was able to use the scriptures I found to answer the questions my investigator had, and for me it was a really good lesson. Once we finished my companion said to me "your really getting good at this".  I thought to myself "no I was prepared" and went on my way. That night I had a good talking session with Elder Fernandez, and Elder Florence, and found out what I needed to do to make the rest of my stay here good for me. Elder Florence pulled out the scripture that I shared with him when he needed help, and he gave it to me. (Mosiah 4:9 Answers all uncertain questions!) So I then went and prayed and said, "Heavenly Father, I need help, I can't do this on my own, I'm trusting you and I'm going to plan lessons with or without my companion, and I know that you will help me with the rest." After that I got up, hit my head on the bunk above me (Heavenly Father reminding me I should have done what I just did a lot earlier) and went to bed.

 Thursday we had TRC and we had to teach that night as well. In TRC we had to teach a member volunteer about prayer, and so I got a bunch of scriptures during my personal study and I thought about what I was going to say, and then in the study time before we taught TRC I asked my companion what he wanted to do and he said we were teaching about prayer, and that was it.  So I then planned our lesson for when we were going to teach that night. We went to TRC, we had a rough start, and then the spirit kicked in and I was able to ask a question, the right question. The volunteer answered and I said to myself, "this is the scripture I want to share with him".  I looked down and my list of scriptures found it, and then had him read it.  He read through it, and got very quiet at the end. We sat there for a min, and then I asked him what he liked about that scripture, (Alma 37:36-37) he said that he liked the part that said "Counsel with the lord in all thy doings and he will direct thee to do good." That was exactly what I was going to say. Then the thoughts just started coming, "share this scripture, ask what he thinks about this." I said everthing to the best of my horrible spanish ability, and when we finished and got our review back, he said that we brought back memories of his mission, and that in a way we retaught him about being a missionary and how it is still important. Talk about awesome! We then had study time after dinner, where usually we prepare for our lesson to teach that night, but we got our FLIGHT PLANS!!! so of course we each read over them and didn't really get any studying done at all. (good thing I planned my lesson earlier right?  Revelation? I would like to think so). Class started, we went to teach, and I started to follow up on the commitments we had given our investigator. He said that he had been reading in the Book of Mormon, so I followed up a little with that, and then I asked if he had talked to his wife about getting married, (we had taught about the word of wisdom 2 lessons before this, and the law of chastity the time before that which includes being married to your wife, go figure) He said that they had talked about it and that he and his wife really weren't in love anymore.  She didn't like it when he drank and they were going to split up after their kids moved out anyway. That's when I started to lay into him. (Good thing I had planned to teach about the Atonement huh? well that went out the window for this lesson).  I related everything back to his kids, and how he needs to be a good example for them. How he needs to stop drinking to be an example, how he wants to set an example for his kids about being married, and then I asked him how he showed his love to his wife when they were first together, and challenged him to try and do the same thing now. He said he would, and I promised him that the Lord would help him and his wife reobtain their love for each other. Moral of this story is, I had planned a lesson, and when I got in there to teach, I knew that it needed to go a different direction, and that because I was prepared for something else, the spirit told me what I needed to say and how to say it.   I learned that if I prepare myself the Lord with bless me with what to say if things don't go as I plan.

The week started out crappy and only got better, as my Branch President constantly reminds me, It always gets worse before it gets better, and it did get better. I only have 10 more days here, I know that I am supposed to learn something from having a difficult companion, and that the Lord will bless me for doing what I am supposed to. Maybe that is what I was supposed to learn, put your trust in the Lord and he will help you (Mosiah 4:9 Always and forever)

 I love you all and I miss you so much, but I'm not coming home until they make me!

 

Week of Big Changes

Hola Familia y Amigos!

Well this week has been crazy so we are just going to get straight down to it!

 First with the good news, I GOT MY FLIGHT PLANS!!! I am officially almost out of this place!!! We leave July 30, and our flight is at 12:50 PM. We will fly to Atlanta, GA and get there around 6:40 PM their time.  After our 4 hour layover we will board a plane at 10:35 PM and fly straight into Santiago arriving around 8:10 AM  and I being the one that has never flown before have been chosen to be the travel leader... or my name was the first one out of our group. (I like the chosen one better, it makes me feel special!) Umm ya thats it, time is quickly running out and I can't wait to get out of here.  I love it here, but because of recent events it has not been quite as enjoyable.

Now for those recent events:

Here is how my week has gone thus far, Friday after emailing, we went and helped clean the Provo temple.  We got to carry like a 100 foot piece of carpet up 3 flights of stairs that really just are way to close, but it was really fun.  Then we got to clean some of the sealing rooms, and we were pretty much threatened not to touch stuff.  It was way funny.  Then we wiped down chairs because they had to wait for the carpets to dry before we could do anything else.  Anyways after that is when the fun stuff started.

All the while this was going on my best friend in the district was having a lot of interviews and such. Assuming the worst, but not saying anything we continued with our day. When we got to dinner he and his companion came in late, and I could tell that he had been crying, but I didn't want to say anything so I decided that I would do everything in my power to make him laugh. Oh did I make him laugh. We got to class and nothing was said about it, but I knew that something was up. That night I went to his room to talk to him and his bags were packed up and I knew that my earlier assuptions had been right. I gave him a hug and said that everything was going to be alright, and that we would still stay in contact, and that he would be back here and out with us in Chile before he knew it, and I know he will. He had to be at the travel office at 6 in the morning, so me and Elder Fernandez got up and helped take his stuff over so we could say goodbye. Just like that my best friend was gone... I respect him so much more for his desicion, and I know that he did the right thing, nobody has the right to judge and so I didn't. So that's how this week started out, it only got better from there.

The problem with him leaving was that he was one of the Zone Leaders. If he wasn't then it would have been easy to know which one in the trio would leave, but because he was a ZL it easily could have been any of us. My companions and I went all day talking about it and going throughout our day knowing that on Sunday we wouldn't be a trio anymore. That night some other complicated and crazy stuff happened that I can't really write about, and so we were even more confused and more stressed out. The next morning me, Elder Fernandez, and Elder Wilson all got up, and got ready. Someone needed to go to breakfast with Elder Florence (The other Zone Leader) so Elder Wilson went mainly because he wanted to be companions with him. Elder Fernandez and I got to the class room and the Branch President showed up and asked to speak with Elder Fernandez, my worst fear, and the reason I had been stressing out had come true. Elder Fernandez was the only thing that prevented me and Elder Wilson from fighting all day, and now he is gone. After he talks with Elder Fernandez, the Branch President called me in and said that I could have easily been the ZL, but he felt like Elder Fernandez needed the experience. He then told me that I would only have 2 weeks with Elder Wilson and that he knew I could push through.

 

I have to go switch laundry and my companion doesn't want to come back to finish emails, so I will finish later.

 

 

Groundhog Day

Now for my week, nothing much happened.  We got a new district leader, and new zone leaders from our district.  I'm still learning Spanish, and it's coming along fairly well.  I'm able to struggle through what I want to say, but I can almost say anything I want in a round about way, so that's good.  This week for service I got to clean toilets.  That was fun.  That's pretty much the most exciting thing that happened this week.  It's sad I know.  It's pretty much like the movie GroundHog Day here.  What I'm exited for is next week!!! We get our FLIGHT PLANS!!!! We will get them either next Thursday or Friday!  Pretty much I love it here, but I can't wait to get out of here! We have 2 weeks and like 2 days left here, goodness it has gone by fast!

Tell people to keep writing me, especially before I leave the MTC.

Testimony Building Week

 

On Sunday, we had an amazing fireside, if you didn't know, last Wednesday was the anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, and so we had this guy come and tell the story from the perspective of Willard Richards. It was amazingly powerful, and probably the best fireside that we have had here so far. My testimony grew so much from that day, so I have pretty much been spiritually on fire. Then on Tuesday, we had a former member of the 70 come and talk to us.  He had been a member for like 36 years or somthing so you probably know him, Kikuchi or something like that.  Anyway, he gave an amazing talk as well about obedience and about how we need to have our own sacred groves to go to so we can communicate with God and feel of the immense love that he has for each and every one of us, and that we need to always have a positive outlook for everything, even when a dog is after us, or we get a door slammed in our face. He also told us the most important thing we need to bring home from our mission is (and I think it applies to everyone) an understanding and relationship with Jesucristo and his Expiacion (Atonement).  If we can understand the importance and the power of the atonement in our lives, then we will be blessed.

 

On the 4th of July, we had another special fireside, and it was alright I guess, kinda boring, but overall good. We did get to sing Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree, that was fun with 2500 other missionaries.  Then they gave us ice cream, and said that we had to watch the fireworks, and that we couldn't go back to our residence until they were over. So we were up until 11:30 by the time everthing was done, so it made waking up so much fun.  The fireworks were really boring! When we are stuck in an entirely treed off area, the best we could do was find a gap and hope that we could see them.  A lot of people got homesick because they knew that their families were close watching the fireworks, but I didn't mind to much, I know why I am here and missing the Stadium of Fire isn't going to change that, but I'm happy you had a good time, and I do miss you.

 

Yesterday, we went to teach our investigator, and found a note on the door from his wife saying that he had been out all night drinking and that she had no clue where he was. Even though it's not a real investigator, it still was disappointing, and gave us a taste of reality.

 

Still not getting along very well with one of my companions, being in a trio is very difficult, because when you aren't all on the same page, and you have no clue what the other one just said it makes teaching very fun. It's been better though, but still it's difficult.

 

Haha I know how to fix all the computer problems that the teacher has with the computer, it's pretty funny. One of them said he just wants me around all the time so I can fix them. But I love my teachers and still love it here.  It was weird having 3 extra hours to do stuff today because the temple is closed, but we get to clean it next week so that should be fun! 

 

Other than that nothing else really happened. Oh you can tell Amy Adkins that everyone in my district is practically in love with her because of the graduation announcement you sent me.   Half the time that's all they want to talk to me about, so it's funny. But ya that's pretty much it. I love getting letters from people so keep telling them to write me!  Oh tell people that I love getting pictures! and that it makes my day when I get them!