Pictures from Sister Taggert

 

 

I just got these pictures from Sister Taggert.  She is the daughter of a member of our stake presidency.  She has been serving in Nate's mission for about 16 months now.  In fact, she and Nate are serving in the same stake and zone right now so they see each other often.

Nate says, "When it rains, it pours!" But Mom likes "My Nate is Back!"

This week's blog post needs to be titled, ´´When it rains, it pours!´´ and here's why!

This week we had rain almost everyday, now it never actually poured, but there were some big puddles, and everything got muddy, but the real reason for the title, is because this week it rained everyday, and the Lord poured out a lot of blessings.

So after the companion drama at the end of last week, I decided that I didn't care if my companion hated me or not.  I was going to do what I know I should do, and that has helped, but the thing that helped the most was the birthday party we went to. There is this family that I absolutely love, they are nice, the mom of the family totally understands me like as a person, and they are just great to be around, and apparently one of them is our investigator! Haha who knew! Communication between companions come on!!! Besides that, it was fun, we laughed, and talked and things were great, it finally felt like something normal, and for the first time, I didn't feel homesick. Well it just gets better from here.

So the entire first 2 weeks that I was here, to be honest, I didn't feel like a missionary, and I didn't feel like I was feeling the spirit the way I should be, but this week, I finally felt like I had the spirit, and that I was a missionary. So we contacted this lady that was actually on her way to her church, her name is Carmen and she said that we could come over and talk with her. So we went over to her house the first day, and we got talking and she said she didn't get why there were so many different religions that fight over doctrine. I'm thinking, I totally know the answer to that!!!! Wooo she totally is going to learn something our next lesson!! So we talked a little more, and set up another appointment with her. Well the morning of our lesson with her, all of our studies were directed to how to explain the apostasy to her, so she will know why there are so many churches.  When we went to teach her we talked a little, and then we started to teach. First thing she says is that she was taught by some elders 2 years ago, and she got to the point of baptism and then her husband didn't want anything thing more to do with it so they stopped, and that she didn't believe in José Smith. Well good thing we studied the apostasy huh! 2 birds with one study! Talk about revelation or something.  So we went on teaching and we were good. We taught the apostasy amazingly, I taught about José Smith and the First Vision, and then we tied that in with the apostasy, and then we got to the Book of Mormon. She had no more questions about José Smith, (because there was no way she could deny it) so she did the one thing she could do. She knew that everything we were teaching her was true, and she even knew that the Book of Mormon must be scripture, but the one thing she could do to deny everything was not take the Book of Mormon to read. Without that she could deny everything again, even when she knew it was true. so we have a return appointment with her later this week.

Next, the plan of salvation lesson with Juan Carlos, and Marina. I learned a very valuable lesson during this, I'm just sad that I had to learn it this way. Our plan was to teach them the plan of salvation and to set them with a baptism date.  Well we taught them the lesson and everything was going good, and then at the end I bore testimony, and the spirit was strong and the thought came to my mind, invite them to be baptised. Well I didn't, and just like that 2 seconds later we got off subject, and the spirit was gone. My companion tried the best he could to bring the spirit back, and we invited them and ya it was a crappy answer, and then we just got more and more distracted and there was no way we were going to get them with a date. Lesson that I learned, when the spirit tells me to do something do it right away, and don't doubt my Spanish, the spirit knows how to talk to people.

Then on Wednesday we had a class with the mission president, and it was way good. We learned how to better invite people to be baptised, and how to invite them to come to chuch with more power. (if only we had known that yesterday...) but it was amazing and we learned alot.

My Spanish is coming along really well. I can understand most conversations now if I listen from the beginning and know what we are talking about, if not, then I usually just zone out and have no clue what is going on. but it's coming along.  Most of my apartment has been sick... ugh no fun, but we have pulled out of it quickly.

I finished one meal the other day, turned over my chicken bone to see if there was meat on the other side, and that's when I noticed I had the spine, and the lungs, and some other organs... so I slowly turned the bones back over. Haha. Yesterday we had beets, but when I ate them I didn't know they were beets, it was that night when I went to the bathroom and it was red that I realized that it was beets. Haha!


Now for the big news, WE HAVE 5 BAPTISMS THIS SUNDAY! WOOOOO!!!!!! This Sunday we are baptizing familia Quispe. They are a great family, and they are ready and excited to be baptized. Now we´ll see if I'm big enough to actually baptize any of them. But I'm excited none the less.


I talked this Sunday. Well bore my testimony, but it was still fun. Then today (Monday) we had a sports day with everybody and it was way fun as well!!!



Well love you all and miss you tons!!!

Good and Bad Week

Last week started out tough, I didn't write down things that happened like I did last week, so this letter might not seem as exciting. Anyway... my companion this entire week only wanted to talk about girls, and World of Warcraft. Ok I can do that for only so long, but he is obsessed with the pictures of Kynaston I have... it's ridiculous, I literally have hid them, and he is mad at me for it, but oh well, sucks to be him, because he is ruining it for me.

Anyway, the week was tough, my companion has been in this area for like 6 months now so he is ready for a new area, and pretty much there are moments when he is just trying to pass time. He is a really good elder, and knows how to work hard, but it;s hard sometimes. Also he says stuff that I don't think is appropriate, but it doesn't bother him at all, and if I say anything about it, he says, ¨we're guys we are supposed to be that way¨ and I'm thinking to myself. NO! Just because you are like that doesn't mean that everyone in the world is like that, and you are only saying that as an excuse to be messy! So that was upsetting me, he wasn't helping me learn either.  When we would do companionship study he would say teach this lesson in Spanish to me, and then as I'm trying to figure out what to say, he completely ignores me and does other stuff while I have no clue what I am doing. Then when I would ask ¨how do you say this, or what does that mean, he acts all annoyed, and then I feel even worse and don't want to ask him anything¨.  Well we had a tough week with contacts and stuff and he would say, ¨ok this contact is yours, I'm not going to help you.¨ Once again I'm thinking, ¨what the freak! I can get to a point, and then I have no clue what they are saying, how am I supposed to do this without help?¨ Ya so pretty much the week went on like this the entire time, and the entire time I'm getting more and more upset, and more and more homesick.  

Then we had the intercambio, which I think translates to interchange, where I got sent to work with some other missionaries for a day, and I stayed over at their place while they sent someone to be with my companion. Now this is where things got fun. The companionship that I got put into was a trio, with an elder from Ogden, and an elder from Mexico. Well half way through the night, the oldest elder from Ogden was like I'm going to go with this member and contact this inactive guy, so you and the elder from Mexico go and contact. Well that was just great except I don't know Spanish and he doesn't know English... but we did it anyway and it was actually not that bad. I would start some, and then when it got to the point I had no clue what was going on the other elder would take over. Haha the best part of this is when we met this guy who was drinking that was Chilean, but spoke some English. So he would say stuff in Spanish, and then look at me and say it in English. but I understood most of the Spanish. So then he wouldn't know the word in English and ask my Mexican companion what the word was and he would have no idea what the word was, but I would know what he said in Spanish and say the English word, when I did that the guy nearly had a heart attack, he was all like ah you can understand me! And then some girl, I guess a friend of his came up, and she was completely wasted! She was practically falling over, and I had no clue what she was saying so we quickly said we had to go and got out of there. After everything we got the elder from Ogden, Elder Poole,  me,  and Elder Lara (the Mexican elder) and we all went back to their apartment. That's when we started planning and stuff, and Elder Poole asked me how we did it with my real companion, and I told him exactly how it was to me, we wrote names down and then that was it.  Then the questions continued, and I continued to answer them about companionship study and all types of stuff, and that's when Elder Poole said that he would talk to my companion about it. Haha ya that's kind of a problem... Elder Ariz is a great companion, but if you say anything about him to any other person, then you are a backstabber and have no loyalty... well you see where this is going. When we got switched back nothing was said, and I just did my best to struggle through and to make it to Sunday when Elder Ariz and Elder Bell would go to their meeting. Well they went and when they came back Elder Ariz was not happy with me. So we talked, and he straight up told me that I wasn't loyal and all this stuff and that I had been talking bad about him and he has all these problems and yada yada yada. Well I finally lost it and just started crying. I was beyond breaking and so I told him everything and he still thinks that he has more problems, and my only problem is having to learn a language, (don't worry it's not like that's hard or anything) but in the end we worked most of our problems out. He still said he doesn't trust me, and to be honest I really don't care. Ugh for some reason the Lord is really trying to build up my patience... who knows what for, but keep praying for me and I´ll do likewise. It's not all bad here don't think I'm a downer from all the bad stuff in my letters. Love you and miss you all tons!!!

First Week in Chile

The plane ride was good, long, but it was good. The food wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.  I did have to check my carry on, but that really wasn't a big deal, and it didn't cost me anything. When we got to Chile, we got off the plane, went and paid the money to enter the country, and then went to immigration. I got up to the desk, and she started speaking in spanish. I was done for... then she started asking all these questions, and asking why I was there, and I said I was a missonary, and all the stuff that I was supposed to say. After 5 mins of me staring at her and handing her paper after paper, she finally called someone else over, and they said something, and then she stamped my passport. As I stood there waiting for the others to get through, that's when the fun really started. The lady came back to me and asked for the flight itinerary again, and then they shoved all of the missionaries in a corner for an hour and a half while they did who knows what. They would come and go, and come and go, and then finally they just said ok your good to go. It was a pain in the butt, but at least we were let in.

After that we met the mission president and his wife, loaded our stuff up, and went to the mission home. It's really pretty there, but it's not even in our mission bounderies so. side note, the drivers here are crazy! I'm supprised I haven't seen an accident yet, because they drive so fast and so crazy. That includes Sister Essig, the mission mom. After we got to the mission home, we took some pictures, ate some breakfast, and had interviews, where the mission president told me I was going to have a native companion that spoke english.  He asked if I was ok with that, and I said yes (I should have said no... but oh well) we then took a nap, and had a meeting where we met our new companions. My companion's name is Elder Ariz, he is from southern Chile somewhere, and he is crazy, I´ll talk more about him later. we then grabbed our stuff, and went to the subway, or metro whatever you call it. After a couple stops there, we got off, and got in a taxi and it took us to our apartment. Now let me tell you, an airplane ride, subway, taxi, immigration at the airport, that is way to much for one day. But the day wasn't even over. We dropped my stuff off, and went to work. First thing I noticed were the dogs. They are everywhere! I have seen several dead ones, I have seen them fight, they are just everywhere! None of them have attacked me yet, so that's good, but some have been close. The first day we went and taught a guy part of the first lesson, and I had no clue what was going on. After that we went to another investigator's house, her name is Dannise, and first things she did was laugh about my name. Because my name is Elder Alder they sound almost the same, and everybody thinks that is hilarious... it's kinda annoying not going to lie, but there's nothing I can do so oh well. After meeting some more people, it was finally time for bed, and I pulled out the sleeping bag. Best decision ever! that thing is so warm, that is all I sleep in! Definitely glad we got that thing.

Wednesday
Woke up got ready, and went to zone meetings because my companion is the zone leader. They were long, and I had no clue what was being said, so I just sat there and tried to understand as much as I could.  I was able to get the basics of it, but it's way hard. After the meetings, we went to lunch at a members house. I thought I was going to die. You don't have to worry about me ever going hungry while I'm in this sector, you only have to worry about how much weight I'm going to gain while I'm here. The food here tastes fantastic, but there is just so much of it that by the end I am doing everything I can not to throw up.  The problem is, the people here are very poor. I'm in the suburbs of the city, so it's very getto looking. So when they bring you food you have to eat it or you offend them. Pretty much everyday is like Thanksgiving. It's horrible, I am literally sick everyday after. So because of the food, we have a bathroom time after luch for the 4 of us in our apartment to go to the bathroom. I'm glad for that time everyday. After we go to teach people.  I met a man with no voice. No voice, with spanish ya I have no clue what he is saying ever.  We had another lesson with Dannise, and we read in the Book of Mormon with her, and then I gave my testimony of it in spanish, and that's when I realized that I can invite the spirit with the little spanish that I know. Testifying of truths is powerful. Now this helped me a lot, because I was homesick, and I have been homesick quite a bit while being here, but that's normal... so oh well. While walking to different appointments, there was a man with a megaphone walking down the street yelling stuff, no clue what he was saying, but I hear him quite a bit, also there are like street venders, just a whole street of street venders. It's crazy.

My companion walks so fast. This is definitely a walking mission, and oh man do we walk. My legs are always burning, and my companion really doesn't care. We are lucky, and have hot showers in my area, but Thursday it never got hot, so I never got in, me and the shower have a love/hate relationship. What else, my companion took me shopping without telling me what was going on, so I bought conditioner instead of shampoo.  We buy boxes of milk here, and EVERYTHING IS IN SPANISH so it's a good thing my companion wouldn't tell me what anything said! But back to other stuff. Most of the people's houses here are tiny. Take our living room, just the living room, and put everything in it, and you know how small their houses are. It's cold here, so I am always wearing my thermals, and a coat, and even then I am still cold so that's fun, but I'm bundling up so it's not so bad anymore. We had lunch one day with a man named Hugo, ya that was fun, but they made the best chocolate desert thing that I had ever had. Our companionship studies include me practicing saying stuff to him while he doesn't pay attention to me, so that is difficult because I don't know if what I'm saying is right or not. One day we went back to teach the investigator that we taught part of the first lesson to, and he decided that he didn't want to hear anymore, and then taught me how to swear because I was new here and had no clue what was going on.

I have gotten sick, and felt like I was going to throw up at any second, so that was fun, but my companion let me go back to sleep, and that helped, the problem was the day I felt the worst, was that day that we got the most food. There are 3 things that I am afraid of:   3. getting mugged, 2. getting attacked by a dog, and 1. when people go into the kitchen, cause I know they are bringing out food. The members like to drink this stuff called ecco, which tastes and smells like coffee, but it isn't, and ya that was nasty! And they like to give us coke, good thing I love coke! ugh...

We stopped by the church at what I think  was mutual, and they were playing ping pong in the cultural hall, and one kid was dressed like someone from Grease, with his hair slicked back and everything. We were stopped by some crazy guy on a bike, some random lady came into the church after it was over, singled in on me and started blabbing away, nobody had any clue what she was saying, and then she just turned and left. Ya haha crazy people are fun.

Chuch was interesting, nobody played the piano, so we sang it acapella, the testimonies here are short and to the point, so that was nice, nobody was up there for more than 5 mins. and WE HAD A BAPTISM!!! My first week in and I already have a baptism under my belt. Not like I really did anything.

Now for my companion. He is a great elder, but he never tells me what is going on, so I just sit there and look stupid, he doesn't like to plan so I just follow him around not knowing what is going on. He talks in spanish really fast to me, and then when I don't understand he switches right to English, so I don't get the chance to figure it out. He has been in this area for like 5 transfers, so he thinks he has done everything and knocked every door, so most of the time we are at members houses talking to them, and once again I have no clue what is being said. The house is incredibly dirty, and he says that's just the way it is. He is the exact opposite of me in every way, he is a lot like Jason in the things he likes, computer games, and Anime, so it has been really hard, and like I said before, I've gotten really homesick, All I do in lessons is say, ¨I know what my companion has said is true, and it has blessed my life,¨ and if I can figure out what is going on then I say a little more than that, but not much else.

Everyday I go through feelings of ¨Its not that bad here, I´ll stay¨ to ¨I'm ready to go home, and I'm going to call and tell the mission president I'm ready to go.¨ But then we have a good lesson, and then more I have no clue what is going on, and it is hard, it really is hard on me physically and emotionally, but it has only been the first week, so this is expected, or that's what everyone keeps telling me. In 5 more weeks there will be another transfer and I will then have to lead my new trainer around, because my trainer will be moved out, looking forward to that! But it's not that bad here, the people are really nice, and the other elders that we live with are nice so they help take some of the crazy feelings away. But ya that's been my week so far. Oh we taught Dannise last night, and she told us that she was done with our visits. She said that she knew the Book of Mormon was true, and everything was right, but she didn't want it anymore. So that was hard on my companion and me. It's been tough, but it's been fun and exciting and crazy all at the same time. Keep me in your prayers!

Have people send everything to this address by US Postal service only.

Mision Chile Santiago Norte
Sucursal Correo Patronato
Casilla #60
Recoleta, Santiago
Chile

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!