Hola familia. 

Ok we only have 45 minutes a week to write home. Its crazy but I’ll just get a typing. 

SPIRITUAL. 

WHAT A CRAZY WEEK. First I got to meet and shake hands with Elder Ballard. It was so cool. He came and gave a special conference to just our mission so we got to bus and take afield trip to Porto Vares. Amazing. He has such a crazy spirit and it totally got us pumped that night when we were teaching it was crazy. And right after the conference we went to the city square right by the 2 volcanoes. And all 60-70 of us sang hymns. It was crazy cool. 

Ok so I asked my first 3 people to be baptized- and all three said yes! And we're just making plans. And this might not seem this big but in this area it is huge. All the missionaries where shocked when they heard everyone I have asked has said yes. It’s so hard here. 

Also it’s crazy we have 90 percent inactive. Think of that number- its way too big! So we have about 500 people in our ward but only about 40 are active so we are all day with the inactives- but I love it. 

Then we got to have a special stake conference with Elder Rasband a president of the 70 and it was so good- and he spoke in English so I actually understood. It was a little gift from God because I was getting a little overwhelmed with all the Spanish then his talk was peeeeerfect and all about families and God's love and it was in English!!

Ok can we just talk about José and Guissa? Seriously they are the best. I love them so much. They are Michael and Julia Iverson. Their personalities and everything. I love it. Every time I am with them the spirit is so strong. 

And they are truly my family here. The other day was really hard- I felt like I didn’t contribute to the lessons, I had no idea what anyone was saying; I was tired and hungry and really sick. The food here has wrecked my stomach. But I am much better now we got meds and I am just being really careful with the food. But it was a rough day- and most of our appointments fell through and it was getting late and we went to visit Guissa. When I walked in I just felt love- the girls gave me kisses and Guissa gave me a big hug and got me some food and just knows me and asked how I was. We just cried together as I explained how much love there was in their home and how for me it is home. Man I love them.

Oh also there were 30 of us that bused to the conference and before we all sang hymns in the bus station at 7 am and it was so cool. I love the hymns in Spanish. 

It’s so humbling here. I wish I could explain it. But I am having such wonderful, truly life changing experience and it has only been under 2 weeks. I love it. It is sooo hard. But I love it. 

Ok this was so good and so funny. So we stopped by a less actives house and she let us in and gave us a little coca cola (best) and so we ask how we can help then she starts talking so fast and I have no idea what the heck she is saying so I just go with it and hear 2 words; hard times and how life’s hard so my then I hear her ask us to say a prayer with her. So we go to say it and before I’m like wait-so I pull out my scriptures just going with it because I super feel like she needs to hear a message- so I get D&C 121 7-9 and explain it and God's love and how we are her friends are here to help. ya know. Just a quick little thing. So then my hma says the prayer then the lady just stands up and gives us kisses and opens the door and we leave- right before this I'd felt the spirit something strong so then I got worried I said something wrong or had offended her- ha-ha because she full on just kicked us our of her house. Turn out when she was talking she was explaining how she has no time for us or a message because life is hard and dadadaddad so then I just ignore her and pull out the scriptures anyway. Hah so we were laughing about it because my comp just knew I had no idea what was going on but it turned out to actually be really good because she really did need to hear it. Ha-ha she hasn’t let us back in the house, but all in good time ha-ha

BEST

Ok so we are with another inactive and we ask to start with a hymn so we ask her to choose her favorite. When she tells me she wants the pretty song from the Titanic. So I am so confused thinking "what the heck- they have Céline Dion my heart will go on in the Spanish hymnbook?" And I am way confused but honestly loving the idea. And my comp is confused we are just looking at her when I realized she meant "Nearer my God to me" which they play at the end when the boat was a goin. So we just have a little crack up while trying not to laugh at her and keep the spirit. So funny. 

Oh my empanadas. I thought I had tried them before I got here. No. Holy cow. Seriously they are crazy. José and Guissa made then for me then just died laughing at how much I loved them. So they made more and dropped them by the house. What gems. 

Oh so we taught an investigator cute old man to pray- and he loved it. Also this man is like 80 plus years old. So cute. So we show him how to pray- hma Johnson prays. Then we have him pray and it was so cute and then he is way excited so he asks me to pray so then I pray then he loves it so much he tries to get his wife to pray who just says no because that’s enough prayers for one night ha-ha so cute. 

Oh then there is a favorite family in our ward. Family Zapata. So we had dinner with them and they are seriously the best. But we had hotdogs- cumplentos) which are a really really big deal here) and it seriously was like having hotdogs with the simpkins clan. Ha-ha so I cut my bun the wrong way which I didn’t know was a thing. Then they took it from me and just threw it away and gave me a new one cut the right way. Then I put the avocado on before the tomatoes- not good. Hah I loved it-. It was just like being home again. 

 

I still don’t have fleas! Hooray! 

Oh this week I was mistaken for being Chilean a couple times- I get comments like "öooh what a tall chileano." hahahaha then they find out immma gringo and I love their faces every time. 

Also everyone here thinks my name is so funny. Every time I explain hma. Ball is Hermana pelota they die laughing. They love it. 

Oh this was funny- so we sang in the choir for the special conference. Which was way pretty and cool. But I was so tired because a lot of it was in Spanish and it was so hard to understand so I had just a little moment of the head nods and I guess for just a minute I fell asleep- I had a big head nod forward and wake up and look up to see a whole family just laughing and pointing at the gringa asleep on the stand. Ha-ha luckily they are members and know its my first week, it was so funny. 

Oh then I also get 100 mentions about my tan and red face. Like one lady came over and just stared putting ice cold cans of soda on my face to cool me down when really I was fine. Ahah

Oh hah momma you’re going to die. So I was on a little dirt road in the middle of nowhere Chile. We were just walking and laughing and I got scared by what I thought was a rabid dog- but turned out to be a fire hydrant and it scared me so bad. Then we got laughing so hard it was just bad and it was one for the funniest things ever. 

Oh this was a rookie mistake. So I promise I don’t sleep all day- hah just these couple of times. So it is so hard in our lessons because the houses are so hot they keep the window blinds shut and they don’t turn on the lights because it cost money and makes it more hot- so we teach in semi darkness all day. Then not understanding a solid chunk of info- and just being so tired is hard. But I accidentally nodded off again in one of our lesson and I get caught right they are just laughing so hard and I am so embarrassed so I pull the ultimate gringa ¨oh perdon, me es muy emberasado. ¨Which of course means oh sorry I am very pregnant." Ha-ha it just made it so much worst yet so funny. 

Then today was the best. So some members took us to the beach and it was so beautiful it was a much-needed break from the city and I loved every minute. They spoiled us so much with fancy treats and it was amazing to take my shoes off in the sand. Breathe in the fresh salty air and seriously just think. Best. 

Its crazy here, and I am dead tired. But I love it and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love working with the inactives and re seeing their lives change and they come back. It’s the best. 

I love you so much. Your in 100000 of my prayers everyday and I just loooove you.

Xoxoxo viva la Chile xxoxo    Hma ball. 

Viva la Chile

President and Sister Rappeleye

Hola. My p day is on Saturday!

Man Chile is crazy but I love it. Don’t have much time because we had choir practice- for 2 hours- crazy with al these breathing technique and sounds and practice making shapes and sounds with your mouth and just funny stuff- but they are having a special conference tomorrow we get to sing in so that is cool-

Ok spiritual. 

Man it was so good to talk to you guys in the airport- just to hear your voices and your advice. Dad you’re blessing was inspired- it was so crazy and scary and loud and very overwhelming but then you said the prayer and it was beautiful. I had peace and wasn’t so scared and now I am doing really well. It’s hard. I still don’t understand and it is so hard but it is so good. 

Oh when we pulled into Osorno I had my iPod on shuffle and it had been playing some efy stuff and right before we landed the byu men chorus came on with "I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord" and I just had a little bit of a magic moment. I’m here! I am a missionary and I am exactly where the lord wants me to be. 

Ok I have to tell you about this couple- we have taught a lot of people the last couple of days. But José and Guissa- it’s amazing how much love I already have for them. I don’t know how to explain it but I feel I am here at this time for them. - My companion even said so. But our lesson with them was beautiful. 2 hours in their humble home just testifying and I actually spoke and understood Spanish. It was amazing. Guissa is inactive and we are working with her and her boyfriend has a baptism date- but they are going to get married then them and their 2 kids will be the best family ever. 

We were talking about keeping Sunday holy and it turned into her not feeling worthy to take the sacrament so I just asked her about priesthood and blessings and talking to the bishop and I testified and mom and dad it was in that moment I realized why I am a missionary and why I am here and the power Heavenly father has trusted me with. The spirit was so strong. It was literally tangible. 

We all just broke down and cried together and it was the most beautiful experience of the week. 

Oh then in all our other lessons I have pretty much only been able to bare testimony but I love it and I love the spirit. Because it is the only time I really talk in the lesson people listen and it has been so powerful every time- again I am just so grateful for the spirit heavenly father allows me and has entrusted me with. 

NOPE. 

Fleas and dogs. Eww. No. 

My comp has tendinitis. Which is hard because we can only go out a little bit. Obviously it is not her fault. I feel bad because her foot hurts. But I just want to get to work. But we are just working on my Spanish so it is good. Just keep her foot in your prayers. Ahh

Ok I was told how there is so much food. I have yet to see it. Oh my, I am starving- I’ve yet to be full since we got here. And the food we do eat is not healthy at all. We are going to get groceries so I should be able to get some good stuff.

But there is bread at every meal. Then a mix of rice, wheat and potatoes. My stomach has been wrecked. Oh man. But I am feeling much better. 

I love you. I will try to take more pictures and think of better stories to tell. Next week. 

BEST.

José and guissa. Seriously the best.

We have a little mommacita who cooks us lunch everyday. She is darling and reminds me of grandma. I love her and the food isn’t too bad- I like it. 

Oh I am in the warmest part of the mission. And it is summer right now so it is soooo hot. I love it and I hate it. Its up to 85-90 degrees and there is no air conditioning and we walk everywhere and its long walks. Holy it is hot and a lot of the time people have their stoves on cooking or for laundry and stuff so even more hot. But it’s the best.

However we just got all our issued rain stuff so I know the wonderful sun won’t be here for long. 

It was so hot yesterday I just studied next to the window trying to get some air. It is soooo hot.

I love the people. They are so good and kind. But it is definitely humbling. 

Like one of my favorite poeple-chris is 20 (this is her niece and boyfriends fireman hat in picture) and a newer convert but is going inactive- they live in a trailer house and her dad just had his leg cut off because of diabetes and she just has a rough life. She did grad high school and the church is a way for her to make something of her life she is just struggling. It’s hard but again I love it here. I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

My companion. - Best. She is from Alpine, Utah. We went to Lone Peak together but didn’t know each other she was a senior when I was a sophmore. But we know all the same people. So good. And she is such a gem I got really really lucky.

CHILE. 

Oh man I love it here. It’s hot and dirty and sometimes smells and the food is pretty much not good. But I love it. It’s beautiful and peaceful when you are outside of the city. Hah the city is wack, but I love it. 

There are dog’s everywhere- so many dogs and so many fleas! But best, I haven’t got flees yet- I know they will come but for now I am good. 

Our house is awesome. It is really nice for the area. Really, really nice. And I feel safe- sure we have mold in the bathroom and cracks in the ceiling and its hot and you have to be careful on the stairs not to step on the top stair or you fall through and there are drunks that live down the street) mom don’t stress. They are totally harmless and we just lock the door when we are home. = But it really is a nice place to live. I love it.  (This picture is our house)

Oh we went to a young women activity. 2 young women in the ward. 2 somewhat actives and 1 invest) who is going places. Best. But we had homemade pizza. So good. And it was fun to talk to the girls. 

Then this was funny- we stopped by a family of inactive and taught because a lesson fell through- turns out they are active. Ahha a way good surprise. 

I thought this was a Nepohite CTR thing when I first saw it. Hah silly Mormon girl. Its the drunk soccer team logo and they are crazy always yelling about it and stuff and always drunk. ha-ha but I like the idea of it being Nephite.   It’s just an adventure! And the best of adventures. 

I love you - I got to run. We’ve got work to do and Spanish to be learned. 

xoxoxo. Doubt not, fear not. 

Hma ball. 

P.s. VIVA LA CHILE 

P.s.s to my letter. The people here have really fair skin. I am darker and tanner than a good amount. People think I am from Argentina until I start talking. Then they realize I am a strait up gringa. I love it. 

P.s.s.s