Hiking in Rio Bueno

¨I invite you to treasure up in your minds continually the words of life. Treasuring up suggests to me focusing and working, exploring and absorbing, pondering and praying, applying and learning, valuing and appreciating, and enjoying and relishing. ¨- Elder Bednar

I love being a missionary! Truly treasuring, exploring, absorbing and enjoying every day!

Ok, today we so sweet- this whole week was actually pretty sweet. Today we got permission for the first time to do an activity with the Elders and we went hiking. For real! It was soooo fun and so good to get out in the fresh air in tennis shoes and jeans and pouring rain. Such a fun, fun, crazy wet day!

Then, we have so many investigators progressing.  F and H are killing it. We were not going to be able to pass by the other day, and then we felt like we should pass. So we tried- but H wasn’t home- so we were walking away and found her in the street- long story short, we finally did find them- then we taught them and it was crazy perfect. We taught about faith and F explained that because he couldn’t find work in Rio Bueno, at the end of this week he was going to have to leave to Vina del Mar- buuuumer. But we asked them if they have been praying and she has, but he hasn’t. So I got a little real with him and explained the power and true importance of prayer. Then gave them Ether 12 to read with the compromise to pray juntos (together). He ended up saying the closing prayer and it was so sweet. Well, the next day we stop by and ask where F was... turns out they read the scripture together, and then prayed. Then that morning he heard on the radio a job opening, they hired him on the spot and he started working!

Prayer is real! Heavenly Father loves us sooo much- all we have to do is ask!

Then, we have been teaching the Golden pretty much Mormon evangelicals- A and L. The lesson about the restoration was gold. They explained how everything we explained seems true- how they feel good about the message and how they especially like that José Smith read the bible and decided to ask God- because that’s what they do every day! Killer family. Also, I love how every single prayer we have with them is so sweet and every single prayer is kneeling. There is not only power in prayer- but also power in a humble prayer.

Also, I cannot even explain all the miracles with C and A and their 2 sons. They are progressing so much. They have come to church two times, they love it, they feel comfortable, are praying and the branch is so good. Only thing is, we still have to get them married! But it’s all good.

Then A and H are also killing it. They are so happy. They also came to church the last two weeks and they participated (along with C and A) in our branch activity. Not much to explain about them because they are dreams and so the best.

Last week I when on splits with a less active and this week we had a lesson with her and when we showed up she had spent the afternoon cooking my favorite treat- a raspberry cuhan. Which is a lot of work and really sweet. How she knew it was my favorite then she offered a prayer and explained how she hopes that even though we are far from our families we have family here and that she hopes we will always feel at home in her house. Simple service and a lot of love goes a long way.

Also, this week Hna L finished one year in the mission- that day we ended up having to bus an hour away to a pharmacy in the city and it was soo fun. I love Osorno (my first sector) and it was good to be back- but it was crazy. I had forgotten how small Rio Bueno is and how calm and great it is! And in Rio Bueno they don’t sale ice cream so we stopped by the beeeeeest ice cream shop in Sur de Chile and oh boy- it was a happy day.

Then there is a photo of us with a little boy. He was recently baptized and after we had a lesson with his family we played soccer with him and his sister to the end of the street. Love.

Also I got mail! Mom, I am not sure if I told you- but I got your birthday box (I hid it under my bed so don’t worry!) then this week I got two boxes from grandma simpkins. I opened one and hid the other under the bed! It was full of geeeeeeeems. Literally, the best surprise (and the yummiest) then I got a letter from gma simpkins about my great, great gggg gma. How craaazy cool! Crazy experiences and its crazy to hear her experiences from the Willy handcart company. Send more little gems when you find them.

Also, I have what the Elders call my ¨Chilean boyfriend¨ haha. Stories to come. But he is a guy who contacted us and we quickly gave him over to the Elders because he is a bit flirty. But here’s the thing- he is actually progressing a lot and so great. But he just doesn’t understand the whole sister missionary thing and keeps trying to get me to go on a date with him. Ha-ha it’s so funny.

Also, we gave service this week- we thought it was going to be a lot smaller but it turned into 4 hours of painting and a lot of pain, ahha my whole body is dead sore but dad you would be so proud- honestly I rocked it. Just going to be real. I mean hooking a paintbrush to a broom and all this crazy stuff. Hah "Lyle Balled" it for sure.

 

Before

After

Then, oh boy, let me just tell you about our branch activity. It rocked. It was a night of the potato and a talent show. Everyone brought different food with potato and then we ate all of it- delicious (yes momma I was responsible- I’m doing real god with the food. Almost completely totally off bread. yay Chilean stomach allergies.) But then, for the talent show we were all trying to come up with something I could do for a talent. Hahah- it was hard. I'm not the most talented person. I mean I can hook a kayak up to a jeep solo real good, but that doesn’t really count.

But I remembered the "cup song" from girl’s camp. So we taught two of the Young women how to do the little cup flip (the same as the girl in pitch perfect- Meg knows which one) it was sweet. Then we sang "I am a child of God) in Spanish and part in English. The video is too long but I will send it in the mail.

Also, we have more than 75 people at the activity! (What?  This is Chile!) And 9 of them were are investigators! This is huuuuge- a record for this branch and the first time in my mission I have had more than one investigator at an activity. Best! We almost didn't know what to do with them all!

It was a crazy good week- a lot of work and a lot of smiles. I love you! Keep on ¨treasuring the words of life CONTINUALY"  like every day! Because, this, this is joy!

xoxox hiking hiking hiking xooxxo

Hna Ball