Well here it is, the long awaited letter! It’s been quite
the week to say the least! I’m sure you are all excited to see what has gone on
here in the blessed land of San Carlos!
Well! We left
Tuesday morning from the mansion of the mission. It was raining, a little
surprise! So We threw the luggage under the bus in the terminal and headed out
for Chillan. It was a 2 hour ride in bus. No prob. So we get to the terminal in
Chillan and we wait a few minutes for Elder Turner to arrive from Parral. Then
Elder Benitez my comp, Elder Cruz and Elder Turner all head out. We had to walk
to another corner for about 10 minutes and I had my luggage and bags strung
around my neck and my backpack so we were loaded to the gills. Then we waited
for the bus to come to head out to San Carlos. I was expecting a little bus
like usual, but to my surprise the Mystery Machine showed up! Not quite but it
was a little van bus with about 15 seats and of course....... all filled up!
But we were stoked to this great start to our new sector, another new
adventure. So we pilled in our 4 luggage bags, and our backpacks, and bags on
the little thing. And we headed out for a 40 minute ride into the farmland of
Chillan. It is pretty out here. A lot of little houses with big property and
cows and horses. So we get off and drop off the bags in the house and we head
out to lunch. After lunch we got taken home in a car luckily because it started
pouring! So I unpacked a little. And then we headed out rubber boots and all!
It was a good day. We were walking down the street and I saw a door out of the
corner of my eye and knocked on it and they let us in. It was a mom and her
son. Monica and Danny. They accepted baptismal dates! So it was a great start
to the day. And we spent the rest of the day looking for people because they
had nobody to work with here. Just a bunch of people that weren’t progressing.
So at the end of the night I was wasted and wet to the gills. It was freezing
cold too, but satisfied with the work that the Lord had helped us do. We planned
and I prepared a little bit for the District Class. Next morning I prepared a
little bit for the class and then we left for Chillan again. Another 40 minute ride
and still raining. And cold. But the class went good. We talked about the
importance of teaching toward commitment. So we all left happy! Then I had a
mini exchange with Elder White. We went to their sector Antarctica Chilena. I
had to do a baptismal interview with one of their investigators. We taught a
couple of lessons and did some good contacts. We had a lesson at night with a
couple and we brought some members a newer couple. We had a good lesson we put
baptismal dates with them and invited them to church. The husband was pretty
sick. He works a bunch and has two little girls. And as we got up to leave I
asked if he would like a blessing. And we gave a blessing, and the Spirit was
way strong as we left. We taught a couple more lessons that day. So that was
Wednesday. And I had been sick all day because the weather is way different than
Concepcion. It is wet and cold so it got the best of me. I had no energy at
all, but kept it together.
Then Thursday we went
out after studies in the dark because the power was cut and no heater! haha So
that was pretty classic. We did some contacts then took a taxi to Centro to
switch back. Elder Benitez and I took a bus back to San Carlos. And we went to
lunch. We got off the bus and we walked about 15 minutes out to a sister’s house
out in the outskirts of town, it was way cool. We had fried chicken and rice.
And we taught one of her neighbors Ismael while we ate and we gave him a Book
of Mormon so that was great! And then us 4 walked back to the house and got
ready to work. I was still a little under the weather the whole day. But we got
some great work in for sure. We found a bunch of new people and we taught some
great lessons so we were way happy. We did a lot of contacts and taught a lot
of lessons. Luckily the sun was out in full force. We found an older lady and
taught about the Restoration her name is Marta. And we found a couple of other
people.
Friday we had some
planning to do for church so that was great. Then we went out to work for a bit
then to lunch so it was good. Friday we were also busy like usual. We got a lot
of contacts in and some good news. We walked to a new little part of town and
the 1st door we knocked on we got in and it was late at night. So we taught
them the restored gospel and put them with baptismal dates! So the Lord was definitely
with us throughout this whole week. Then as we were walking home I saw a fence
open and we walked in and knocked on the door. And a little kid opened it and
we looked in and there was a mom at the table eating once ( own-say) the
Chilean dinner and at first she said they were busy and they were talking but I
felt the urge to offer a prayer and I did and she let us in. She told us that
they were talking about a problem, in the family. Her parents and sister were
there. And her kids were playing on the floor. I shared my testimony of what
the Gospel had done for me in my life, and I gave the prayer. As we stood up
her sister at the table looked over and said, I knew you guys would come in
thanks for sharing a prayer with us so we gave them a pamphlet and left. The
Spirit was so strong in that house. I hope we will be able to find that lady
one day. They live out in the farmlands so hopefully one day we pass by her sister’s
house she is there. So that was a little miracle that the Lord gave us. We
ended the night planning so it was good.
Saturday we played
some soccer in the morning with some less actives and investigators. Then took
a shower and went to lunch. After lunch we walked back with our clothes that
had been washed. And then we went to work. We taught Danny about church and he
said he would come. Then we went to Daniela and we were teaching her for a bit
with the Second Counselor of the Bishopric who she lives with. Brother Claudino
is his name. And as we were about to share a scripture about how God wants us
to get married her boyfriend walked in. And we had a good lesson about the
importance of getting married to be able to be baptized. The Spirit guided that
lesson no doubt I don’t remember half of what I said or Elder Benitez. But it
was good. I offered to pay for their tickets on the bus to go to the Registro
Civil to go sign the documents to get married. But we are gonna see. They didn’t
come to church. And at the end of the night we taught the grandchildren of a
recent convert grandma. It was a little bit of a battle to put them with
baptismal dates. The grandma thinks they need to be more prepared but they
already go to church every Sunday and know everything. But we got them with
baptismal dates so that was great. Then we went home and planned after a quick
stop at the local completo stand!
Sunday I finished
writing my talk. I had to give a talk on the Atonement. We left early to go and
look for some investigators for church. One of the investigators Marcela said
she would come. We taught her with a member the day before about marriage also.
A lot of people here don’t want to get married or don’t think it’s necessary.
But Marcela wants to get married and be baptized but her boyfriend doesn’t want
to. So we went to go and get her but she wasn’t there because her boyfriend
came home drunk so she didn’t want to go. And we went to get Danny because he
said he would come but wasn’t home he had left so we went to go look for him on
the way to church we saw him with his brothers selling fruit and vegetables in
their tricycle like Nacho Libre. And we urged him to come but didn’t. But church
was great I was able to present myself and give my talk. The 2 grandchildren
came to church so that was great. The classes went well. And then after we had
lunch with the Bishop. He is a young bishop. He served his mission in Santiago
Chile about 10 years ago so he’s fresh! And we had a good day working. We found
Hector a guy who had shared a little bit before with missionaries. He has a
brain tumor and after talking at the door for a minute he let us in and we
taught him the restored gospel, and put him with a baptismal date and he said
he would come to church next week, so that was sweet. Then we went home and did
some weekly planning and I had to call in numbers.
So it was a great
week. This is the promised land! San Carlos. The missionaries before us I guess
weren’t the most obedient missionaries as it is a sector far away from anything
so you can get away with a lot of stuff. So with some diligence and obedience
and desires we were able to work some miracles and see some great progress in
the Lords work. I know the Lord watched over us all week and helped us get
things going. There is a lot of things to do here, so I am way excited to see
what San Carlos has in store this week. My testimony grew so much of the power
of the Spirit. It does everything as long as you let it. So thanks for your
prayers. This week I go down to Concepcion for a Leaders Council for the month
so I’m excited for that!
Have a great week
everyone! Thanks for everything,
Elder Johnson
No comments:
Post a Comment