Apologies for taking so long to post this. Ben also sent a post last week, but it is very long and needs to be transcribed.
Ben was transferred to a new area, which was not unexpected since he was finished training the new missionary and he had been in that area for over six months. In addition Ben is now a zone leader. (The mission is divided into several regional zones each headed by a pair of zone leaders who are responsible for training and general welfare of the missionaries among other things. Each zone is further divided into districts.)
From his email:
Referring to the Tioga soccer team: It looks like this will be the year for a winning season.
I am glad that Liz and Luke and
Gabe are doing alright. I am out of time again. It goes by so fast
writing home.
I
was very humbled yesterday. In addition to leaving an area that I fell
in love with, I lost my journal. Hopefully I left it in the office and
not on the bus. There's more of a chance of it finding its way back that
way. It made me realize that I don't have a single possession more
valuable than my journal. The records of my time serving the Lord and
the people here and learning and growing as a person are absolutely
priceless. It has motivated me though. The experience reminded me of my
absolute dependence in the Lord. Unfortunately it sometimes takes
something tragic to realize that. It also reminded me that I must take
advantage of every moment here. The memories and growth will last
forever, even without my journal. Although painful, losing my journal
has made me a better disciple of Christ.
I
left El Pino in good shape. There is still a lot of work to do and
there are many less actives with potential as well as a few good
investigators. I don't know a whole lot about Los Nogales yet, so I am
sure I will have more to say next week.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Sept. 11
Sept. 11 is the anniversary of the 1973 coup in Chile that put Pinochet in power. Because that is another opportunity for some to commit mayhem, missionaries have to remain in their apartments Wednesday evening and Thursday all day. They are supposed to deep clean their apartments, but how long can that take with 4 guys? They are planning to barbeque some meat, and Ben is planning to write.
Another week in El Pino. The sector is progressing well. It was a weird week. We had an enormous number of plans fall. Maybe more than I have ever seen in my mission, or maybe I am just forgetting about my first two whitewashes already. Almost appearing to make up for the fallen plans, members seemed to just fall into our lap to do divisions with us. In all of my time here, I have never had so many divisions. Also, our brother who was baptized last week received the priesthood on Sunday and he and the recent convert of Elder White and Elder Escobar, have both done divisions with us. They also both have home teaching assignments.
As for service, we only ended up teaching the English class and pushing a few cars with dead batteries. Its too bad that as it gets warmer we won't have that service opportunity so much.
Another week in El Pino. The sector is progressing well. It was a weird week. We had an enormous number of plans fall. Maybe more than I have ever seen in my mission, or maybe I am just forgetting about my first two whitewashes already. Almost appearing to make up for the fallen plans, members seemed to just fall into our lap to do divisions with us. In all of my time here, I have never had so many divisions. Also, our brother who was baptized last week received the priesthood on Sunday and he and the recent convert of Elder White and Elder Escobar, have both done divisions with us. They also both have home teaching assignments.
As for service, we only ended up teaching the English class and pushing a few cars with dead batteries. Its too bad that as it gets warmer we won't have that service opportunity so much.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Two Weeks In One
Our apologies we didn't get Ben's stuff posted last week. This week we're posting both weeks, starting with last week:
This week, in an effort to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ, I spent a lot of my personal study focused on humility. I started with President Benson's talk "Beware of Pride." I wrote down a list of attributes of pride and the corresponding attributes of humility. Pride is certainly a very misunderstood thing. I never realized how often I sinned before I read that talk for the first time 10 months ago. I am trying to apply your model to become consecrated to humility. I am beginning with learning about humility, then I will practice it, and later I hope to become a truly humble person.
We had a great week in El Pino. The family we have been working with will be baptized on Saturday at 6:00. Their third daughter will turn 8 in October and her father will be able to baptize her. I am so grateful to have been able to see the miracle of their progression. We also had an especially beautiful experience on Sunday. When I arrived to El Pino, we taught a family and I was able to see the entire family return to Church after 10 years of inactivity. They attended three times as a family. Unfortunately, something happened shortly after and not long ago, the husband and wife separated. They haven't gone to Church in three or four months now and we haven't been able to teach them until Saturday. We brought one of his old friends with us and just let them talk. We didn't have to say much, but by the end of a very heart-felt discussion between the two, he promised to return to Church.
We had a three service activities this week. We participated in the event for children in San Bernardo, did service in the Bishop's Storehouse and continued with our English class. Attendance rose 500 percent in the class - we increased from 1 student to 5."
And this week:
My way of doing district meetings has changed a little bit over time. At first, I would stand up front with the whiteboard and give a lesson. There were pros and cons of that. Everyone paid attention and everyone behaved really well, in fact a lot of the district took notes, but nobody participated very much. I also felt as though I was elevating myself above the district and did not feel comfortable. Now, I sit down in front of the district and we discuss things. We have been spending district meeting talking about the vision. Yesterday, we discussed knowing. I really enjoyed it because everyone participated a lot, and I learned a lot more. Less people take notes and they're a little more rowdy sometimes, but I think that directing district meeting in this way has made be a better disciple of Christ. I learn more and I feel less prideful. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to learn so much from being a district leader.
We are continuing with the English class as a weekly service opportunity.
I'll
get pictures to you next week.
(We had heard there was an earthquake he hadn't told us about): The earthquake was exciting. It was during the baptismal interview! The mom said it was the Spirit. Have a great week!
This week, in an effort to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ, I spent a lot of my personal study focused on humility. I started with President Benson's talk "Beware of Pride." I wrote down a list of attributes of pride and the corresponding attributes of humility. Pride is certainly a very misunderstood thing. I never realized how often I sinned before I read that talk for the first time 10 months ago. I am trying to apply your model to become consecrated to humility. I am beginning with learning about humility, then I will practice it, and later I hope to become a truly humble person.
We had a great week in El Pino. The family we have been working with will be baptized on Saturday at 6:00. Their third daughter will turn 8 in October and her father will be able to baptize her. I am so grateful to have been able to see the miracle of their progression. We also had an especially beautiful experience on Sunday. When I arrived to El Pino, we taught a family and I was able to see the entire family return to Church after 10 years of inactivity. They attended three times as a family. Unfortunately, something happened shortly after and not long ago, the husband and wife separated. They haven't gone to Church in three or four months now and we haven't been able to teach them until Saturday. We brought one of his old friends with us and just let them talk. We didn't have to say much, but by the end of a very heart-felt discussion between the two, he promised to return to Church.
We had a three service activities this week. We participated in the event for children in San Bernardo, did service in the Bishop's Storehouse and continued with our English class. Attendance rose 500 percent in the class - we increased from 1 student to 5."
And this week:
Congrats about soccer (Tioga won 2-1) and I am glad Luke and
Liz are doing well.
My way of doing district meetings has changed a little bit over time. At first, I would stand up front with the whiteboard and give a lesson. There were pros and cons of that. Everyone paid attention and everyone behaved really well, in fact a lot of the district took notes, but nobody participated very much. I also felt as though I was elevating myself above the district and did not feel comfortable. Now, I sit down in front of the district and we discuss things. We have been spending district meeting talking about the vision. Yesterday, we discussed knowing. I really enjoyed it because everyone participated a lot, and I learned a lot more. Less people take notes and they're a little more rowdy sometimes, but I think that directing district meeting in this way has made be a better disciple of Christ. I learn more and I feel less prideful. Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to learn so much from being a district leader.
As far as actual progress goes in
the sector, we finally were able to baptize the family. It was
a beautiful baptism and the other elders in the ward had a baptism the same
day. The father of the family has already been interviewed to receive
the priesthood and we are working on getting the family assignments or
callings and getting them to the temple to do baptisms for the dead in a
couple weeks. It has been a great privilege to see the progression of
the family from the very first lesson. I feel so blessed. They are a
wonderful family and will be a great strength to the ward.
We are continuing with the English class as a weekly service opportunity.
(We had heard there was an earthquake he hadn't told us about): The earthquake was exciting. It was during the baptismal interview! The mom said it was the Spirit. Have a great week!
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