Monday, June 1, 2009

Querido familia,
> I really cant believe that May is over and we are headed into June. The only thing about june is I feel like we are headed straight into November. Actually, Friday we had a conference with President May and his wife and half of our mission in Quilicura and for lunch Hna May had a Thanksgiving dinner made for us. She too feels like it is November and so we ate turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. It was almost like the real thing, but a Chilean style.
> Well, we are still working with Daniel. We actually couldnt find him all week long because he works and studies at night and sleeps in the morning. But he showed up to stake conference yesterday and he was wearing a suit coat, white shirt, and tie. He couldnt find his suit pants and was wearing jeans and felt so embarassed. But it was so good to see him there and he got there by himself. That is always the best sign right there. The only thing is he still doesnt have the personal bubble and was always touching my arm or sholder when he talked to me. He told us that he wants to be a missionary someday and is really excited about the church. We are planning on a baptismal service for him the 14th of June. We just need to work around his schedule and teach him all the lessons before then.
> This past week we have been trying to work a lot more with the members and getting references from them because we have been trying to find people by knocking doors and no one answers there door when it is cold outside. Yesterday we knocked from 6 until 10 and only had about 10 people answer their doors. Chileans are really supersticious about getting colds and dont risk anything, such as breathing in cold air.
> Yesterday we went to visit one of the older sisters who has medical problems that hinders her assistance in church and my eyes were really opened by her atitude. She lives with her son who is 21 and is a little Bob Marley. He smokes marajuana all the time and has his buddys over to drink, but is good to his mom. She is a returned missionary, but went inactive for who knows how many years and returned to the church in February. Yesterday when we were talking to her she just kept telling us over and over again how blessed she was because she has the gospel in her life. She had so many different reasons to complain to us, but she was just so happy that she had returned to the church and that she is preparing to enter the temple and the Lord hears everyone of her prayers. I just looked at her and was blessed to hear her bear her testimony. I know that I look at the bad things in life and dwell on them more than the good sometimes and when I do that, my life is a lot harder than it should be. Our atitude and thoughts really hinder how our life turns out. We need to focus on the good things, the blessings that we have and have confidence that the Lord is always there listening to every word we offer in prayer. He knows us so well and wants more than anything our happiness. We are the ones that make life hard and miserable. I just want to testify to all of you that the atonement of Jesus Christ is real and the only way that we have hope and mercy in our lives. Stay close to the Lord through prayer and study the scriptures daily. Then can we have the strength to press forward through our trials, no matter how big or small.
> I love you all and I love this gospel. I have been so blessed to be here and hope that I can help as many of my brothers and sisters come unto Christ.
> Love,
> Kate