Week 65 1/2

Hi again,

I know it has literally been 4 days since I wrote, but I actually won’t be able to write next week because of el dieciocho.  BUT, in case you were wondering I’ve been great, hahahha.

No but I can’t believe that Kevin is leaving the CCM already....or that you read the Book of Mormon in Spanish all of the way!!!  WHAT!!  Legend.

Well...I mean I don’t really have much to write because not much has happened.  Oh hahha. I forgot to tell you I chipped my tooth on a fork like 2 weeks ago (I can already tell this email is going to be super random). This Sunday we find out if we have cambios or not, so next week when I write I may be in another sector--or maybe not. 

I completed 15 months yesterday and that was crazy.  I only have the time of Kevin´s training left.   What in the world??

Well...Today we are going to have an activity to celebrate el 18 and we are going to dance la cueca (well like a choreographed dance that’s not actually the cueca but has the steps cause we are missionaries) But we are excited. I also have learned how to make lots of Chilean food these past two weeks so that’s been good haha.

Lately we have done lots of good contacts and we are excited to be able to start teaching them.  Thanks for your prayers!!  Ok hahhahah I literally have nothing to write about so I will just share something that I learned in my personal study!

In John 15: 13-16 it says

13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

As I was reading that the other day its really hit me.  Christ calls us His friends.  He died for us, His friends.  He has chosen us, not the other way around.  So what makes us Christ’s friends?  I was thinking about what makes someone my friend.  Why are some people acquaintances and other people my friends?  The people that are my real friends love me and I love them.  We have similar interests and goals.  We serve each other and spend time together.  So what makes us Christ’s friend?  We love Him and He loves us.  We serve Him, spend time with Him, and we have similar characteristics (we are trying to be like him) and goals.  We defend Him.  So Christ chooses us to be His friends when we are trying to be like Him and doing what He teaches and commands us to do. 

We are His friends, we are on His team, we work for the same goal.  He also died for His FRIENDS.  He died for everyone, hoping that they would choose to live righteously so that they could be called His friends, but His atoning sacrifice only can work when we do what He asks us.  Which is have faith, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end.  Continually working towards becoming more like Him.  If we do those things, we are His friends, and His sacrifice then saves us.  So He died for us, His friends. 

I don’t know if that makes sense. Hahah, I feel like I can explain things in English anymore, but I’m sure you get the gist of it. 

So, I invite you guys to do something to be better friends with Christ.  Try to develop one of His attributes, repent, and spend time with Him by reading the scriptures, praying, going to church, and going to the temple to work at the goals you both have.  Love you all!! Have a great week!!

--Hermana West

Week 65

Heyyy fam!!

First of all...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN AND KYLE!!!  I LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH!!!

This week was great!!  We had lots to do!

Zone conference was on Friday and that went well.  The zone leaders talked about how consecration is giving who we are, not just our time and money.  They talked about how God called us here because of who we are and what experiences we´ve had.  It’s great to give time to the lord and knock doors sure, but it’s a better use of time to use your talents and find ways to help people. Right after that we had to travel to Aysen for a baptism, but we had like 15 minutes waiting for the bus.  We walked to the plaza and saw a group of like 30 guys rapping/having a rap battle.  I immediately remembered in college we would do "rap battles" in our apartment (Adria and Lizzy and my friends) that were just super stupid but we had fun.  Anyway, I thought about how the zone leaders talked about giving of your experiences and I decided to go challenge one of them to a rap battle!  What better use of 15 minutes than testifying to 30 or more people about Jesus Christ? hahahah so I did it!!  It was suppperrrr funny and I definitely lost, but we all had fun and I was able to share our message with all of them.  hahahahah still can’t believe I did that.  Actually, apparently I'm on Facebook!  Some members from the chapel in the other sector were showing the Elders a video that there is of me.  Hahah, so even more people can see my message! Hahah, but it was super funny.

We are in a finding period right now.  Looking for more people to teach and doing lots of contacts.  Please pray that we will be able to find the people that the Lord has prepared!!

Also this next week it will be fiestas because of the 18 de Septiembre, so we will see how it works with emailing and stuff....don't be worried if I don't email on Monday please(:  LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!  Have a great week and keep reading the Book of Mormon every day and learning to receive personal revelation!

--Hermana West

Week 64

Hello!

This week has been good.  Some random things...

1-we started going to the gym!  We got permission from president to wake up a little earlier and we go take a exercise class with all the hermanas.  I have never felt better in the mission.  My mind and heart have been way more receptive to the Spirit and I have been learning a lot better and easier!  (we have always exercised btw but now we have permission to do it for an hour instead of 30 minutes and we have the gym now and it makes a huge difference!) It’s been great therapy for my knee that has been starting to have a few problems.

2-We made Haitian food with John Miracle this week with all the other missionaries.

3-As weird as it sounds we knocked doors in the pouring rain for 4 hours and nobody let us in, but it FELT SO GOOD!!!  I mean its sad nobody let us in, but it felt good. hahah I love the mission!

Anyway, it’s been a great week and I keep learning a TON!!  Honestly, we need to study the scriptures EVERY day.  There are sooo many things we can learn from them and so many blessings we can receive!!  This week I have learned once again that you can serve wherever you are.  Most importantly, those in your home.  I love this quote from conference, “What good does it do to save the world if we neglect the needs of those closest to us and those whom we love the most? How much value is there in fixing the world if the people around us are falling apart and we don’t notice? Heavenly Father may have placed those who need us closest to us, knowing that we are best suited to meet their needs.”

Keep loving and keep serving each other!! I love you all so much!!! You’re always in my prayers!!!

--Hermana West