January 27, 2014 (day 55)

This is what my week was like:

Lunes: After emailing we went to the church where I played basketball with some kids like usual while Elder Hormaechea taught Pedro some more tae kwon do. We then went to a family home evening which was good I guess haha. Not too exciting really.

Martes:  We walked for miles knocking doors out in the middle of nowhere haha. The very last house that we went to we found a guy who is interested in what we have to say!! Pretty great! That happens a lot to us. We go out to little towns and walk forever until the we get to the house that is the farthest away and we find someone to teach!! We made a few more visits that day, but nothing too eventful.

Miércoles:  I went to the San Francisco ward with Elder Cespedes for the day. We did a lot more walking and street contacting and we finished the day pretty tired. Oh we also woke up that morning with a cat in our house because we have two broken windows that cats and other animals like to come in through haha. pretty much every day for the rest of the week including this morning when we woke up there has been a cat in our house. Usually we have one cat who likes to spread our garbage all over the floor. But we can´t really stop them from getting in. Oh well haha.

Jueves: We had our last district meeting of this cambio. I think cambio is transfer in english but I´m not sure. But I really like my district and I hope nothing changes on Wednesday because that is when we find out if there will be changes. We find out in the morning, and if there is a change we immediately start packing and then leave. I really want to stay here! But after that we went to Quebrada Alvarado and contacted a little and found a guy who had talked to the missionaries in the past and we are teaching him again! His name is Paulo and he seems really interested in changing his life. So all our walking that day was worth it!!

Viernes: We taught a lady named Carla who told us that she knows that our church is true and wants to learn more! She is great! But she doesn´t want to go to church! As of right now she isn´t progressing, but we are hoping that we can get her to come to church this week. We will see! When we got home that night, Elder Hormaechea cut my hair and then we found a tarantula in our house and chased it around trying to catch it in a garabage can haha. We finally caught it and got it outside. I sometimes feel like we are living on Animal Planet or something.

Sábado: This was a frustrating day. We had lunch in a house far away and she didn´t have it ready when we got there, so lunch took forever, then we walked a ton to a house for an appointment and he wasn´t home, then a family that knows elder Hormaechea came and wanted to talk to him forever and then we had to go to the consultorio so I could get a rabies shot. By this time it was like 6:30 and we had really accomplished nothing in the day. Its really easy to have days like that, which is frustrating. We taught someone that night though and she accepted a baptismal date, and she said she knew she couldn´t be living with her boyfriend if she wanted to get baptized, so she had moved out the day before. We were way excited, but then she moved in with her boyfriend the next day, so she won´t be getting baptized when we hoped. But we will see if she still wants us to teach her.

Domingo: We had visited about 20 investigators and recent converts during the week and they had all promised to come to church yesterday. Guess how many came! 0 haha. I was a little sad about that. Its disappointing to not have people follow through with things. The rest of the day went  by quick. We made a visit with the elders quorum president and then had a family home evening which was good!  

Anyway, it was a long and kinda hard week! We are not having much success right now, and we really just need to work harder and plan better and we will have more success! But I´m really happy right now! I hope I don´t get transferred because I love this area! We have some big plans for this ward and I just hope I can continue to work in with my companion here! I love you!!! Thanks for everything! I hope everything at home goes well this week! Hopefully I will have a more exciting email next week!

My paper I take to the hospital to get my rabies shots - two more shots left!

A little shop in Limache that we go by every now and then

My district:
Me, Elder Hormaechea, Hermana Smith, Hermana Brox, Elder Otterson, Elder Cespedes

The Omué missionaries with our ward mission leader, Hermano Flores

We were able to confirm that Erik lives inside the borders of  La Campana National Park. Next door is a campsite. He says there are always noisy campers there.

He lives somewhere inside the black circle.

Erik - Interviews with the Mission President

President Kähnlein spent time interviewing each pair of missionaries lately. There was a photo of Erik and Elder Hormaechea with him on the mission blog: misionvinadelmar.blogspot.com

January 20, 2014 (day 48)

Hola hola from Olmué!!!

This week was a long long week, but I learned a ton and I am happier than ever!!! Here is my week:

Lunes: After emailing and buying groceries we went to the church where Elder Hormaechea taught Pedro, who just got baptized, some tae kwon do. Not sure how you spell that for sure haha. But I think they had a good time! I played basketball with five kids from the neighborhood who are not members of the church. It was fun because a couple of them spoke English. That doesn´t usually happen. It was way fun, but really really really hot, so we didn´t play for long. We went home and showered and then had a family home evening with a bunch of people. It kind of turned into a bunch of ladies gossiping and us just sitting there awkwardly, but oh well, stuff like that happens haha.

Martes: We walked and walked and walked some more. We were trying to find some new people. Nothing much happened that day. Sometimes you just have days like that. Which is a little disappointing haha.

Miércoles:  We had interviews with President Kahnlein!!  President Kahnlein is an inspired man. My interview with him was very short, but throughout the whole thing, I felt so good! The Spirit was strong, and he just has a way of making peoploe feel good. After my interview I felt like I had 10 times more energy and I was just happy to be a missionary. Well I´m always happy to be a missionary! But especially that day. He told me to write home and say thank you for sending me to the mission. So there ya go haha. But he also apologized for the way we are living in our house right now. Which really isn´t that bad haha. Its like a half hour walk to our appointments every day, but its ok. He said sorry we don´t have hot water, but thats ok too, because at least we have water!! But ice cold showers in the morning aren´t the most fun thing in the world if ya know what I´m saying.

Jueves: We went on exchanges. Elder Otterson came to Olmué to work with me, which made me the senior companion basically. We had some great lessons that day! Elder Otterson doesn´t talk much. Really not much at all haha. But he knows spanish, he is just kinda shy I think. We talked to a drunk guy for a while, he kinda cornered us. Usually we just say sorry we don´t have time and walk away quickly, but we couldn´t. It was kinda frustrating because we are here to help people, but you really can´t do much to help a drunk person. Maybe one day if he isn´t so drunk, we can talk to him :)

Viernes:  We went to quebrada Alvarado. (Oh I just remembered something, if you want to stock me you can google paradero 38 1/2, granizo, Chile. I´m not sure what you will find on google, but that is where we live. If you find a dirt road and follow it all the way back, there are 3 houses, and ours is the middle. But we might be moving again this week, so that might not last.) But anyway, we went to quebrada Alvarado to try and find a reference that we recieved who lived at the very top of a serro at the far end of the valley. We called their neighbor and asked if they knew if anyone was home, and they said no. So we started walking in the opposite direction knocking doors. We were way thirsty, so Elder Hormaechea thought we should ask for water somewhere, which is actually a really good way to talk to people. So we knocked on a door and found the people that we wanted to talk to. We were like a mile away from their house, but I don´t think it was a coincidence that they were there!! Sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways. After that we went to a house and talked forever. I felt like we were just wasting a ton of time. I started to feel really bad because I felt lazy. But I didn´t really know what to do, because Elder Hormaechea likes to talk a lot. Which is good! He really makes friends with people quickly! But I get the feeling sometimes that we aren´t doing all we can. So when we got back home that night I tried to tell him in the best spanish I could how I felt haha. I kinda had a breakdown. haha I think most missionaries have moments like that, but I think we both learned a lot that day. We resolved to use time more wisely, but I also learned that some people have certain needs, and with this family in particular that we visited that day, they need visits. They need to talk to us. So its good that we go visit with them, just we need to make our visits shorter. Anyway, at that point in the week I was just exhausted mentally and physically. But after my chat with Elder Hormaechea I felt a lot better.

Sábado:  We walked a ton more haha. We usually walk a ton. But we were having some success and then I got bitten by a dog haha. I don´t like that dog. I had to go get rabies shots. 2 of them. And I get to go in 4 more times for more shots. Dumb dog. Haha but no worries, I'm  fine and he didn´t get me that good. There was just a little blood so I had to go for rabies shots just in case. But then we went and made some more visits and found some new investigators! So the day ended very well!!!

Domingo: After church we went to Lorena and Pedro´s house and watched the Restoration video. I love that video a ton! Its really good to see Lorena and Pedro changing their lives. They have been members of the church for a whole week and a little bit! They both have lots of struggles in their lives, but they have made the best decision possible in the middle of all of the chaos. They are working towards becoming an Eternal Family!! They have made the goal to be sealed in the Santiago Temple on the 16th of January, 2015! I love every moment we spend with them! It is so rewarding to see how happy their family can be and how happy they are right now! They really are new people from what they were just a couple weeks ago.

Anyway, the mission is definitely not easy, which I learned this week. Not easy at all. But it is SO worth it! I love being here and I know that families can be forever and that Jesus Christ knows us personally and can help us through any tough moments we have in this life! 

Thanks for everything! I love you!!!!!

January 13, 2014 (Day 41)

Well this week was great!!!!!! As of right now our landlord has asked us not to shower because the well is running out of water. He keeps telling us that we just need to pray for water haha. Oh well, when we do get to shower it is freezing cold anyway, so its just as good not to shower. But I think most of the spiders are gone in the house. We still find them daily, but not the really poisonous ones usually. We found a scorpion a couple days ago, but we sprayed bug killer stuff under the doors and it was almost dead after crossing through that stuff. Kinda fun haha. But anyway here is what I did during the week.

Lunes:  We went to Limache to buy some stuff. I need a shoulder bag, but my personal debit card doesn´t work here so I can´t buy anything until we figure something else out. But anyway, we had a ton of stuff to do and we were running around everywhere. P-days aren´t relaxing at all for us haha. We finished the day with a family home evening which was good, but then we had to walk home in the dark which is like a 40 minute walk haha. Usually we get free taxi rides at night from Pedro, who just got baptized. But that night we didn´t see him.

Martes:  We made lots of visits to people, but didn´t really accomplish much, which is frustrating. A lot of people we visit just like to chat and it is hard to get away. One lady we visit just talks and talks for like an our and a half before we can say anything. I think that we had lunch with her that day, but I don't remember for sure.

Miércoles:  We had zone conference in the morning which was great! We talked about how in the mission, life isn{t supposed to be easy. It is necessary that we have tough times, and that we feel rejection sometimes. We listened to a talk by Elder Holland, which was directed to missionaries, and it was so powerful!! He said that The mission isn't easy. Saving souls isn´t easy. When we think we have hard times, we need to remember that the greatest missionary of all time, Jesus Christ, did not have it easy. He said that he believes that each and every missionary should, at some point in the mission, walk at least a small portion of the path that Christ did as he was going from Gethsemany to Calvary. Obviously when we have moments of suffering they are nothing compared to what He suffered. But I can testify that He knows how we feel in those tough moments. He has been there for us. I know that is true because I have felt His comfort at times out in the mission. Don´t worry though, I´m not suffering much. I mostly think about Erin being sick or about Spencer with his tough times. But Christ knows us personally and can help us through every moment if we just let Him. Anyway, that was pretty much my Wednesday.

Jueves: It was a really hot long day haha. It feels so hot during the day here, even though I don´t think it is probably really that hot. We walked a ton and didn´t find many people, but we talked to some recent converts about missionary work and how they can help us. I told them about how I have a friend who got baptized right before I left and how happy it made me to see her make that decision. When I was talking to them I felt so so happy. I can{t really describe it, but there are moments in the mission when I feel the Spirit sooo strongly, and I can literally feel the love of our Heavenly Father. Every day we meet new people and I can honestly say that I love them. I love them because we are all children of the same Father in Heaven. Thats my favorite part about the mission. Sharing with others the love that our Father in Heaven has for His children.

Viernes:  We went to the church and cleaned a little for the baptism the next day and then we went to a little town called Quebrada Alvarado where we tried to find new people to teach. It was way hot, but enjoyable because we talked to a lot of people and found some people who might be interested. Its just hard to get out there because it is so far away. But we were making contacts and then the Sister Missionaries called us and we had to meet them at the church really soon, so we had to run like half a mile and catch a taxi and we barely made it in time, which was good haha. But that was pretty much Friday.

Sábado:  I baptized Pedro and Elder Hormaechea baptized Lorena!!! It was so amazing! There was no hot water, so it was freezing, but oh well. It didn{t matter haha. The 4 missionaries in the ward sang a primary song. Haha I am so bad at singing. But people said it was good. They were just being nice I guess.

Domingo: I had to play the piano in church which went pretty badly haha. But then I got to confirm Pedro as a member of the church. It was the first blessing I have ever given. And it was in Spanish haha. But I got up there and just tried to follow the Spirit. The words just came to my mouth. I literally had no clue what to say beforehand and then I just started talking. I have to always try to be humble. When I{m not, I can´t speak in spanish, and I have no clue what to say. But when I realize that I have been blessed with the gift of tongues, I can speak pretty much fluently.

So ya, that was my week!! Life is great! I love every day! Some days are much better than others, but I am serving my Heavenly Father,´and I wouldn´t trade this for anything! 

Love Elder Marchant

January 6, 2014 (day 34)

Hola Hola!!!!!!!

This week has been great!! We have a house with lights and water at least. Well most of the time there is water haha. But ya. Anyway, here is my week.

Lunes:  We moved a bunch of our stuff to the new house out in the country and then had a few hours for some lessons and such. But nothing too special happened. It just made it difficult to not have a table or anything.

Martes:  We went to the new house and started cleaning a little haha. We had tons of spiders in the house. Like hundreds, which includes lots of Rincon Spiders which are apparently way poisonous and also some tarantulas in the house haha. But after that we went to an area we aren´t too familiar with and started knocking doors. Well we don´t really knock here. You yell haha. "Aaalloooo!!" But we found some people who wanted to talk. Actually everybody here likes to talk, and sometimes they waste our time, but oh well. At least people are friendly. But then we went to a members house for New Years Eve and they were having a big party, but we had to leave a little before 11, and that's pretty much when it started, but oh well haha. 

Miércoles:  We had a district meeting and then we hurried home to change because we went to help Pedro and Lorena work on their house. They are building right now and don´t have a bathroom or anything. It was pretty fun! We stacked rocks for the foundation in the bathroom and then put the tub in, surrounded by rocks so it won´t rock, and then they are just going to put some boards over the rocks to finish. Its kinda eye opening to see how even the middle class live in such a humble way. Our house at home is very very nice compared to most houses here. 

Jueves:  We moved out of our old house and into the new one! We have water and light and everything is good. We went and taught Pedro and Lorena and they are both almost ready for baptism! We also taught Marcel, but she has problems with her boyfriend and we´re not sure if she will end up getting baptized or not. Its really hard to see stuff like that happen. 

Viernes:  We had exchanges with the Elders in the San Francisco ward which was fun haha. I went with Elder Otterson and he doesn´t speak a ton of spanish and we are both pretty new so it was interesting. But We prayed to be able to understand and teach. We were really blessed because we taught 4 lessons together that night and they went really well!! I have learned that if I rely on the Lord, I can speak pretty much fluently. But if I start thinking that I'm doing good, and I get a little prideful, it all goes away and I don´t get a word haha. So I guess I need to be humble. 

Sábado:  We had a long hot day in the sun with not much success and then we only had 20 minutes to get back to the house at night and it was like a mile and a half away and we couldn´t get a taxi, so we ran haha. We made it on time though!!!

Domingo:  We had 5 investigators come to church which was great! Thats actually a lot. Pedro and Lorena had their baptismal interviews and they are ready for this Saturday!! Haha something funny. We woke up in the morning to find a cow in our yard eating the roses off our rose bushes. We really live in the country. Our yard is connected to two other yards and in between the three yards we have cats and chickens and ducks and occasionally cows. We had a chicken in our house today and we chased it around forever to try and get it out haha. It was a lot of fun. We also have bats in the attic and lots  and lots of spiders. Oh and we don´t have water right now. Not sure why, but we don´t. But oh well. I´m loving life!!!!! 

Chau!!!!!

Do we need to worry about bats,  spiders and no water?  Haha no to the bats, we are working on spiders, and we will have water soon I´m sure. Haha no worries. I just didn´t shower a couple days this week :) today included. haha

I'll bet your run on Saturday felt good, but too bad it wasn't in running shoes :)   Haha it did feel good to run!!  And we taught one lesson this week that I will tell you about now. I was with Elder Otterson and we were walking down the street and decided to stop in and talk to a guy who has been reading the Book of Mormon and really likes it, but isn´t interested in going to church. He hadn´t had any lessons yet, so we decided to talk to him and see what he thought about the church and everything. He had a lot of thoughts and questions about religion in general and it was really cool because the first lesson answers literally EVERY single one of the questions that he had. Like why there are so many churches that interpret the bible differently and stuff like that. I pretty much taught the lesson, and I could just see with every point in the lesson, his face lit up when we had the answers to his questions!!! That has really been the best lesson I have taught. I love the first lesson because it is so different from other religions. That the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored!!! I love it!

Oh and I felt my first earthquake the other day. There have been like 4 since I got here.  And ya earthquakes are really common here. We have a volcano really close which causes them.

It looks like a few generations choosing the right!

Erik's first family he has taught

Chicken for dinner? or for a pet?