Hola Familia!
¡FELIZ NAVIDAD Y AÑO NUEVO!
To start off, I’ll tell you about what happened Christmas Eve. We
were invited to have dinner with the family Veloso. They are amazing! Both
parents returned missionaries and it was pure laughs and fun that night. We had
to be in the house at 11 and at 12 midnight, with the tradition, we opened our
gifts.
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Zone activity. Singing Christmas songs in
the plaza on Christmas eve
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The next morning (Christmas) at 11 we had church. There were
about 15 people that showed up of our ward of 120...
We were listening to the first speaker when we felt a truck pass
by and the building began to shake a little. But then it began to shake more
and more. The fans on the ceiling were swaying every which way and I got really
motion sick.
Afterwards a few people began to freak out and our Bishop went
to the microphone and said that we need not fear because the chapel is the
safest building to be in in Puerto Montt right now. It was a big testimony to
all of us that yes, the chapels and houses of the Lord are the safest places to
be. I’m so grateful for the protection of the Lord in His houses.
The Bishop resumed the meeting and just as the speaker began
where she left off in her talk, everyone’s phones started beeping. The Chilean
National Warning System was telling everyone they had to get to higher ground
immediately in case the earthquake prompted a tsunami…
We went back to our flat to get our emergency gear and then went
to a member’s house up on the hill until the tsunami warning lifted.
Then I was able to Skype you!
El 28 we had cambios. I’m still in Puerto Montt with the loca
colombiana (Hermana Cordoba :) I’m going to kill her. (Mission slang for I’m going
to be her last compañera). It will be fun and I know I’m going to learn a lot
if this cambio is anything like last cambio.
On New Year’s Eve, the family Veloso called us in the morning to
invite us for dinner again. It’s a Chilean tradition to cenar (dine) or have a
big dinner for the holidays.
For Navidad (Christmas), it’s traditional to have chicken with
potato salad and for dessert peaches with cream.
For New Year’s it’s tradition to have lamb with boiled potatoes
and ice cream for dessert. I’ve never eaten so much lamb! And it is a meat really
heavy and really fatty. There is a special way to cook it so it’s more dry so
you don’t eat a lot of grease and it’s cooking it outside on a stick, like a
bbq. Luckily I didn’t get sick but my comp did. It was really greasy and heavy
for the stomach.
We had to be in the house at 10. We planned and then we made an
año viejo (old year). It’s a tradition in Colombia. They make a life size doll
out of old clothes and put powder inside it to make little explosions. At midnight they
burn their año viejo.
We were going to burn ours on the roof at midnight instead
of in the street because we live right next to a dead weed field and that would
be bad to set the field on fire... (cough DAD). But then my voice of reason
(hna Cordoba) told me that we shouldn’t burn it...
At midnight they shot fireworks from the ocean but we
weren’t able to see a lot. We climbed out the 2nd story window and were able to
see a little bit over the roofs of the buildings.
A tradition they have here is that on midnight, you leave
your house and walk around the block with your suitcase and that means that
during the year your will have the chance to travel. They also wear yellow
underwear to represent more money in the year and eat lentils which represent
enough food for the year.
New Year’s day was hard emotionally, physically and spiritually.
It rained about the whole day. No one wanted to let us in because they were
celebrating with their family. Hna Cordoba wanted to be in her home because in
Colombia there are tons of people out and everyone is happy celebrating and
loud. Chileans are a little more cold, pass more time in their house and are
very quiet.
I wanted to be in my bed crying and with you guys. But before
you get more depressed, I want to tell you about an experience that I had this
week.
We contacted an older lady on the street and began talking to
her. After about 5 minutes she began crying and said that her husband had left
her and 2 of her kids have died and of her other 2 kids, one spouse just
recently died and the other one has cancer. We gave her some words of alivio (relief)
and comfort and set up a time to meet with her.
Later in the week we passed by and she shared with us that she
doesn’t believe in life after death nor in the resurreccion. that when we die,
that ends all. How terribly sad!! I almost started crying just listening to
her. We taught her the plan of salvation and I had the opportunity to testify
to her that there is a life after death and thanks to Jesus Christ, we will all
be resurrected and if we are faithful have the opportunity to live with our
families forever. I felt the spirit testify of my words and felt so much peace
and hope and comfort for what I know.
After wards my comp asked her how do you feel? She told us with
a new light in her eyes that she feels hope. And for the first time in a very
long time peace. I know that my Savior lives. I know that Russell is good,
happy and working with Grandpa Hess in the Spirit World. No, it doesn’t make
his absence easy, but it does make it bearable. I am so grateful for the gospel
in the my life and the hope and peace that it brings to me.
I love my Savior and I know that He descended below all so that
He can know perfectly how to succor us and give us the help and strength that
we need.
This year I chose a scripture to be my theme for the year, like
what the youth have. My scripture theme for this year is Doctrine and Covenants
82:19. “Buscando cada cual el bienestar de su projimo y haciendo todas las
cosas con la mira puesta unicamente en la gloria de Dios.” (“Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.") Is this how you look on the glory of God? What is your
scripture theme for this year?
I love you guys so much and am so grateful that we were able to
talk this navidad! Keep being good. Keep being honest, loving, forgiving,
understanding, longsuffering, and patient. I know that this is God’s church and
that He loves all His children. I love you and this Gospel.
The mission is the
best choice ever!!
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foto of all the hna
leaders and zone leaders in the mission menos those from punta arenas and
coiyllaque because they were skyping in
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