Santiago East, Chile Mission

Santiago East, Chile Mission
January 16,2013

Week #13 Photos

Meg decided to be Sister Resendiz for a day

Sister Hermana's Sector

Happy Birthday Chanler!!!

Getting Chile (Literally) Week #13

Well, Hola Everyone!!!

¿hum let's see what did we have happen this week? This week was all over the place, it went by so fast yet so slow... time is so weird here in the mission. But let's see… me and hna val had the craziest day jueves, she had to go and get her visa. Well let's just say it was living hell for her they wouldn't accepted her visa because she is Peruvian ( chileans hate peruvians…) so sad… so we had to go back and forth from the office of the mission to visa place then back again to the office then back again to the visa place then back again to the office. In the end, we ended up working everything out, but it was crazy... hna vale didn't really like it but I found it so fun and adventurous - new places to see and the craziness, believe it or not I needed that day!!! haha but ya, en la fin, we ended up talking 18 different metros and were gone from 5am to 5pm! So fun and I'm glad we worked everything out for her. Mum, I finally realized why I'm here in Chile!! Every time I visit a new place I feel like I'm in so many different parts of the world! New Zealand, Europe, Spain, Mexico - this place has everything and it is a huge city, and it is craziness which is good for me too! jaja but ya oh I met the Elder named Elder Gowdy and he is really good friends with the Mckeons, so tell them I say hi back!!! and I got their message from them and thank you!  jaja   Ok so Geradro, Geardo actually was the same investigator that was drinking that one day but we went and visited him jueves after our crazy day and had an amazing lesson, before our lesson though hna vale was like, if you feel the need to invite him to be baptized, do it but if you don't, do not do it. I asked how, but what if I don't know?? We need some kind of signal so you can tell me when to ask, and she said no, no you´ll be fine and if you don't feel it and I do, ill ask… so as you can imagine the whole lesson I'm thinking in my head ...ok now?... no... ok now?... aww now? ok now?… and I can't really understand everything he is saying because he is super flaite (ghetto) and doesn't have teeth..but then all of a sudden in the lesson I understood what was going on and he said "yo quiero Un corazon limpio" (I want a clean heart) and in that moment I felt my heart burn so strong and I knew I needed to invited him!  I looked over at hna vale and she slowly noded her head up and down, and I turned and looked him straight in the eyes and said Gerado "seguiara el ejemplo de jesucristo....a ser bautizado.." and him looked back and me and shook his head.... yes!! My mouth dropped like a cartoon character I wasn't expecting yes so quickly! And after that I couldn't understand him much again but I was so so happy! I cant even explain it! So we have our first bautizmo for the 19 de mayo but it might have to be pushed back later because he didn't come to church Sunday but I know, I know in time he really will get baptized it's just going to take a lot of pacients and time and teaching him like a little niƱo because he is completely changing his life from a life of drugs and drinking to nothing so it will definitely be a process but I know things will work out and if they don't, I just feel happy we were able to help him and his family in a time when they really needed it. Oh we are actually going to go bless their house tomorrow and bless their down syndrome boy who is very difficult for the family, so wish us luck and prayers are always needed!! jaja But ya, this week was really good and time is flying by so fast I cannot believe it will be Mayo and in 3 days and Chan is going to be 17 and Wow!!! things are going by fast!! well I love you all so so much and you all are always always in my prayers!
con todo mi amor,
your lil missionary

The Sisters Are Coming!!

Meghan's District Sisters

Week I Dunno Which Week It Is ( #12)

Well hola everyone,

So first off to answer you questions mum, my next change will be I think the 2nd week in mayo, oh which reminds me we found a members house we can use to talk to you guys on mum´s day!! The second Sunday of mayo right? Let me know what time works best for you i´m thinking about 6 or 7 Chilean time. So I'm so stoked to talk to you guys you have no idea. And as for the packages haven't gotten anything yet. But I'm so glad to here you guys got you postcards and letters and stuff, I was a little scared they weren't gonna make it. And no were not getting a 3 comp yet will see. Things are so crazy in the mission right now who knows what's next. Ss for the weather it as actually been really nice it's a lot like Utah, warm then cold then warm then cold... bipolar. But ya so glad to here everyone is doing well and just living up these last couple of weeks until schools out right! ahh that will be so nice and kyn graduate how weird... I feel like I just graduated. haha. And tell everyone hi for me tomorrow at grandpas birthday party! Sure wish I could be their… but you know I'm kinda all the way in Chilean right now so maybe just send some pictures or something. haha .

But, ya, as for my week, it was all over the place to be honest so of course me and hna val were just so stoked to teach Geardo, right!  So we had our first lesson with him on martes (tuesday) and it started out super good everything was going so well then all of a sudden the mom starts like cleaning in between our lesson and the brother comes out, he has downs syndrome and just is the cutest thing in the world and me and him were just giggling at each other the whole time, he is so adorable, but then some freaking construction worker decides he's gonna carve into the cement at 9 at night, which I thought was so weird, so ya we couldn't hear anything Geardo was saying and the spirit se ciao, first thing I thought was freaking Satanas!! but he then invited us into the back room good thing we had a member with us, but I was so sad, he lived in this tiny room and the toilet was in the garage. But anyway he took us back their, oh ya, and there was nudies all over the wall, I could help but snicker a little bit at this, but I then invited him to pray he said ya of course so we all got down on our knees to pray... we sat there for 5 minutes in silence when I finally looked up to see what was going on, and he was just sitting there eyes closed and so we then sat there for another 10 mins, then I think at about 15 he finally stood up.  I looked up at him and there were tears in his eyes he had said a silent pray. Kinda awkward but so amazing at the same time. He then asked, "Can I come to church?" We said yes of course!! And set another appointment for Thursday. We then returned Thursday and he wasn't their but his mom and sister were, the sister walked into the house and grabbed the book of mormon and started to hand it back to me, I said, "No, no that book is for you to keep!"  She then looked at me and said "really?? Of course" I said. The mum then kissed me and said thank you so much. We then asked if we could teach them too and they said yes, this next thursday. So that was pretty rad.  Then we decided to pass by Sabado just to see how they are doing and all and we came to find out Geardo was drunk, doing drugs and the Testigos are now teaching him as well... well talk about a stab in the chest. hna val was so so upset.  For some reason I seemed to be fine. I was trying to think why, and I then explained to hna val. that we couldn't´t have expected this perfect investigator, especially him, it's going to be a process and we are gonna have to work with him. I really think that he will get baptized though because I dunno, I just have such a strong feeling about it and it's going to take time, it's not gonna be easy. But I'm up for the challenge!! And with Heavenly Father with us I know it is possible. As for Benita, we finally taught her this week and well she is a little nuts she believes in everything... monks, Buda, we gave her el libro de mormon and immediately she believe us, its funny because everything we´ve been learning as missionaries is how to help them believe in God, Christ the Holy Ghost and stuff… but they never told us what to do when they believe in everything... I think were gonna teach about the apostasy this next lesson that should be good. haha but ya she´s kinda crazy but I love her. So I guess the one thing I´ve learned this week is pacients and perseverance and love.

Well, there is my story for the week, so glad to hear all is well, you are always in my prayers

Con todo me amor,
your lil missionary
MEGHAN ALWAYS LOVES THE KIDS!!

MEGHAN'S DISTRICT

JUAN...COULDN'T QUITE GET AWAY FROM THE ARM!! WHOOPS

Week #11 The Mountains are Huge in Chile!

Hola hola everyone,

Well, this week has been super, well, all over the place. Last week was really hard for me. I had been giving it my all and just felt like nothing was happening and our week was super super boring and nobody around, and just bla. So, I was pretty upset on Monday. But that was when I decided I needed to turn to the Lord.  I fell (literally) to the floor and just begged my Heavenly Father to help us find an investigator, to help us see miracles in Los Platanos and much more. After I prayed I felt a little better, but then just went on with our day like always.  Well, the next day I saw a miracle.  Me and my hna decided to visit this house that we had visited for the 3rd time, and the lady was always to busy to listen to us, but I felt one more time wouldn´t hurt. But this time, we decide to ask specifically for Benita... she came to the door and we said, our thing, that we were missionaries for the ya ya ya.  And she looked at us and said, can you guys come by tomorrow and give me and my daughter a blessing of salud. (blessing for the sick.)  We said,  "Of course of course!!"  We were super excited and right after we called the elders and they were more than willing to help! So the next day comes around and we knocked her door. No body knew who this Benita person was, and we were all super confused, but we just waited there for a couple of minutes and finally a boy came out and we followed him back through like 3 different houses. Benita's house was clear in the back behind all these other houses.  I would have never known someone was living back there (the fact that we found her was a blessing in itself) but yah, so we started talking and she is so fantastic catholic. And she has a lot of faith in God.  We talked a bit about the POS and she was so stoked about it.  Then we gave her and her daughter a blessing.  The spirit was amazing and after, she asked if she could come to church.  My heart dropped! We explained that it was conference weekend and talked about visiting her this Wednesday!!  Ahhh so incredible!!  My testimony of prayer just has grown so so much! I know Heavenly Father listens to our prayers and is just waiting for the right time to answer them. If we would have found Benita before, I never would have had the experience of praying and have been able to draw closer to my Heavenly Father. My faith has grown so much and I know God has a plan for each of us. It was a really cool experience for me. So fingers crossed this week for Benita, and much prayer.

We also visited Juan this week, and, well he is never sober, but he is my favorite person ever.  Hna Val. said she loves how big my heart is because every other comp she has had would never take the time to talk to Juan and say he is a waist of time. He may not ever progress, but he is our amigo and i just see his face light up every time he sees us, and that is worth it to me. But, crazy story for today, another one of Juan's friends died the other night so that's 2 now... so sad, a big slab of metal fell on his head and killed him.  Terrible.. Juan was pretty crushed about it, but he seems to always have a smile on his face.

oh and we taught family Diaz again, the girl who is prego. and it was interesting... I blurted out in my testimony something really really blunt and my comp. said it scared her, and we didn't know what to do for a minute.  Then it ended up being a really good thing... we gained the family's trust.  It was scary because it could have gone really bad or really good.  Thank goodness it went good!

Conference this weekend was, ahh the best!!  Mum, I listened to every talk and didn't even fall asleep!!! haha And we got to watch it in English which was incredible. I never realized how everything the prophet teaches in conference is what we as missionaries are teaching everyday. It reminded me of a quote in a talk I heard in the MTC that said, as a missionary you will never be as close to being like the quorum of the 12 as you are now.  Pretty incredible!  I'm no apostle, but I'm trying my hardest be the best I can be.  It's so incredible to hear and see all the missionaries around the world.  It seriously is so so incredibly inspirational!!! I cant believe it!! There is no other place I would rather be right now. It was cool also when we were watching conference to think of all the people around the world: my family, my friends on missions, and everyone all watching the messages of the Prophets all at the same time.  Incredible!!!  It's crazy our mission is so blowing up right now. We are receiving 15 new sisters tomorrow, some of the Hnas are training two at a time in new sectors that are just being opened. (I don't know how because apparently Santiago Chile is the smallest mission in the world) but by July, we will have equal hnas to elders. I have no words for this... crazy crazy.

Well I love you guys all so much, I hope you have a great week and know I am always praying for you!

Con mucho amor,
Your lil missionary

Week #10 Getting cold here in Chile!

Hola familia,
How is it going over there in good old America? It's starting to get cold here, it is suppose to rain this weekend so that will be fun! As for this week, it was a bit difficult...this week was semana santa, which means week of holy, so everyone was down in the playa (beach) or with the familias.  So when we knocked doors they were all busy... so lots of walking, knocking and contacting this week! kinda glad its over. I feel like I am doing all that I possibly can to be obedient, studying, practicing the language and walking and working to find people, and nothing is happening.  Nothing! We can't find one person to teach.  My faith is definitely being testing right now, and my strength. I know I can push through this...I tell myself it's like the story of Nephi and Lehi and their travels through the wilderness and coming to the promise land.  At the time it was so so hard for them and even at one time Lehi doubted, but with faith in God they were able to make it to the promise land.  This has also made me think that God knows the bigger picture of things and we need to put all our faith in him, and trust he will lead us the right way!  I am so grateful for your support though... I couldn't do it without you! and please don't stop writing what you guys are up to cause believe or not, I love reading all the things you guys are doing.


As for the family, please tell everyone I love them and miss them all so much!!  I am praying for her every night for everyone!! its one of my favorite things to do!! haha!!  we actually have changes this week so with all the new hermanas, I most likely will have a new companion. No se! But we´ll see. I'm also so stoked for conference and we get to watch it in English yahoo! (never thought i would be so excited for conference before!! haha) As for people we taught this week it was super difficult because our sector is so small, but we ended up teaching a menos activo family... their daughter is prego and only 18.  It has been really hard on the family!  So we had them bear their testimonies and read scriptures and it ended up being a very bonita lesson.  The next day, we found out that she was in the hospital for her baby.  She´s really sick and will probably have the baby in a week or so... its only been 5 months... ahhh i´m scared for her. such a chickit ta wawa (baby).  As for Carmen, it's still been a process.  She wont invite us into her house - she loves us but I think she is scared.  And Elsa is still nuts as ever.  We had a really awkward lunch with her family this week. Yeah, and funny story, one of the Elders in our ward baptized one of their investigators Saturday.   When they did the confirmation this Sunday, the new Elder was asked to do the confirmation, and he doesn't know Spanish very well yet, so he was super nervous.  When he was giving the blessing, he was shaking uncontrollably... the bishop was about ready to catch him in case he fell, I was peeking and I was dying.  But it was also really cool because even though he was shaking and so so embarrassed, the girl's head was completely still the whole time and the spirit was there. So in the en, it was all really, really good!  But ya! That was my week, nothing too special!

So glad to hear you guys had so fun in St. George and all the other places you went.  Sounds like everyone had a good time.  Mum, I cant believe you forgot Easter for chan poor thing... you only have one child to take care of now! haha but no worries. I'm so glad you saluted the place where we broke down.  That is still one of my favorite memories and I was so drugged up because of my broken foot, and couldn´t stop laughing... good times. How was driving the razr the whole time and not having to switch off with me or Kyn?  I'm gonna have to fight you for it when I get home!! haha but you, mark that down as somewhere to go when I get home cause it sounds like it was really beautiful and fun!  I´ve been keeping ideas of places to visit for when grandma and gramps come down.  haha, It's fun!  Heard about dads bomb too... typical Dad, I love it, keep the stories coming pops! oh and tell Kelsey and Brayden the little buts they need to write me.  Well ya!  that's it for now!

Ciao,
con mucho amor, your lil missionary