Dear Family,
Late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! Glad to hear everything went off with a smash there in Utah. The Christmas holiday came and went and it didn´t really feel like it was Christmas just another day in the Lords work which is better that way. On Christmas we had dinner with the members and they fed us LAMB. It was really delicious because they cooked it on a really long stick and it was really really good!! It´ll be shown in the pictures. Then they also gave us a stocking which was nice of them and desert in the afternoon on Sunday which is Kuhen. Kuhen is a German desert that's really huge here in the South of Chile because of all the German population that came here but . It was way good. I love the members here they are so nice and so funny. They really enjoy having us missionaries in the Ward and some are pretty sad to see Elder Service go home in less than a week. This past week the work was difficult to do because we had to set really set appointments and if we didn´t have them we couldn´t knock doors. We did the idea of giving little gifts to our investigators and some of the members and the faces of the investigators just lit up when we gave them the gifts. They were so happy that we thought of them. It was also fun to spend more time with Elder Patton and Elder Service. This week will be a lot like this past week but I hope we set a lot of appointments so we can be out working more than in the house doing nothing. I am praying for this week to be a good one. We are off today to go play baseball out at a members farm/field so it should be a fun day. I love you and miss you tons!!!
Love, Elder Blotter
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Elder Blotter Photos - Dec 26
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| The Elders had Christmas dinner with some members and they cooked lamb on a spit. Elder Blotter said it was really good. |
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| One of the members in Elder Blotter's Ward works for a Salmon farm and they got to sample the product. Looks pretty good. |
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| Elder Blotter and his missionary comps celebrate the holiday at a member home. |
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| Elders Blotter and Quintero with one of their investigators. He is an American who married a Chilean and plays basketball in Chile. |
Elder Blotter - Dec 20th
Dear Family,
Hey glad to hear all is well in UTAH. Gve my best wishes to Uncle Mike and his family and Geoff for his wedding. I had received an invitation from him this past week for it so it was fun to receive. I did not tell dad in his letter but we went to Volcan Osorno again. It was really fun and me, Elder Ciquero, Elder Service and another Elder, hiked almost to the top of the mountain. With the time we had we turned around and went back down but I felt like I had lost like 10 pounds hiking. So if you want to loose weight really fast wear 3 jackets and hike a mountain ha-ha. But it was a really fun time and I went sledding on my back down the Volcano with my rain jacket because water does not get through so I used it as a sled and it was really fun. My past week has been excellent with the Lords work. We have found a ton of people this past week and some great news. One of the pictures I am sending home is of the Christmas choir we had in our ward this past Sunday. We had a devotional of the Christmas story with the Primary of the ward it was so cute and the spirit was so strong in the chapel. We had an amazing turn out and I think we had more people come to the activity than church on a regular basis it was pretty funny not going to lie. They sang beautifully and we had success with the members bringing their friends and we hope to see the fruits from this activity with more investigators to teach through the New Year. The sad thing was that we had no investigators come to church but we hope to pass by this coming week to help them come to church in the following week and over come their doubts or difficulties coming to church so we will see with them. Anaís the girl we baptized left for vacation in the North to visit her grandparents but she is very happy and she will never leave the church I know that for a surety. We are working with her mom to complete the goals and arrive to baptism so we shall see. I love you and miss you tons and cannot wait to talk to you all on the 24th
Love, Elder Blotter
Hey glad to hear all is well in UTAH. Gve my best wishes to Uncle Mike and his family and Geoff for his wedding. I had received an invitation from him this past week for it so it was fun to receive. I did not tell dad in his letter but we went to Volcan Osorno again. It was really fun and me, Elder Ciquero, Elder Service and another Elder, hiked almost to the top of the mountain. With the time we had we turned around and went back down but I felt like I had lost like 10 pounds hiking. So if you want to loose weight really fast wear 3 jackets and hike a mountain ha-ha. But it was a really fun time and I went sledding on my back down the Volcano with my rain jacket because water does not get through so I used it as a sled and it was really fun. My past week has been excellent with the Lords work. We have found a ton of people this past week and some great news. One of the pictures I am sending home is of the Christmas choir we had in our ward this past Sunday. We had a devotional of the Christmas story with the Primary of the ward it was so cute and the spirit was so strong in the chapel. We had an amazing turn out and I think we had more people come to the activity than church on a regular basis it was pretty funny not going to lie. They sang beautifully and we had success with the members bringing their friends and we hope to see the fruits from this activity with more investigators to teach through the New Year. The sad thing was that we had no investigators come to church but we hope to pass by this coming week to help them come to church in the following week and over come their doubts or difficulties coming to church so we will see with them. Anaís the girl we baptized left for vacation in the North to visit her grandparents but she is very happy and she will never leave the church I know that for a surety. We are working with her mom to complete the goals and arrive to baptism so we shall see. I love you and miss you tons and cannot wait to talk to you all on the 24th
Love, Elder Blotter
Monday, December 20, 2010
Elder Blotter photos 12-20
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| Another roof shot. The Osorno missionaries love their rooftops! |
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| This is the family of Anais, Robert's recent baptism. Rob said she is headed to northern Chile to spend some time with grandparents for the summer. |
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| Another Anais family shot |
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| A birthday party for one of the Elders. Not sure who was the lucky fellow. Rob said they smashed an egg on his head for good luck on his birthday. Apparently a Chilean custom. |
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| The Puerto Montt Ward Christmas choir. Rob said the program was wonderful and well attended by investigators. |
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| Rob and his comp went for another visit to the Volcano. Rob said they slid back down on the snow. |
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Elder Blotter - Dec 13th
Hola Famila,
Glad to hear things are going well back home and that the ward Christmas party thing went well. I remember helping out at that thing 3 years ago, if I remember right. But very sweet we’re getting newbie´s in the ward heck yeah!! I am sure the work is just going strong there in Chicago. Oh have you heard from the Tolmans or about Chris Reynolds? Just thought I’d might ask because I sent out a letter to Kevin right before I went into the MTC so I didn’t know if he got it or not. My Sunday was a good Sunday, full in the chapel despite a bit of rain but it is always great to see our ward building filled especially when its summer here and all the kids are almost out of school. A lot of them are in their last week or 2nd to last. The baptism was great and me and my companion got to help confirm her in Sacrament meeting and it was really cool because I have never helped confirm someone to be a member of the church before. The spirit was really strong with us. I would love to write Bishop Koch, I just need his address please. The baptism was a success we had a good amount of people show up and also a couple of our investigators showed up for her baptism and really enjoyed it and then we passed by and they told us they felt something special in the church so THEY FELT THE SPIRIT!!! My companion has been out almost a year and a half and then Elder Service is the Elders name ha-ha but he feels good about it and he will be celebrating the New Years on the plane ride home ha-ha!! But I feel content coming up to my year mark. I went on an intercambio with one of my zone leaders named Elder Hansen who is really awesome. He was born in Chicago and lived there until age 4 or 5 and he told me his family had lived pretty close to Wriggly Field where the Cubs play so we reminisced a little when we were on the intercambio. He told me for not even have reached a year in the mission yet that he is impressed with my teaching and the way I speak so I think I am where the Lord wants me in this moment and that I am progressing well. Well about the phone situation I need to know first what day you want to call because we get to call the 24th, 25th, or 26th and I think the 26th or 24th would be better because other missionaries have told me that in the years past the phone lines are REALLY busy on the 25th so chose one of those days and I will get you the number for the following p day before the day you guys chose. And really I don’t know what were going to do but we can work on these days or the NEW YEARS so it’ll be like the 18th of September for their day of Independence so yeah. But thank for all you do for me and the support you give me. I love you and miss you tons!!
Love, Elder Blotter
Glad to hear things are going well back home and that the ward Christmas party thing went well. I remember helping out at that thing 3 years ago, if I remember right. But very sweet we’re getting newbie´s in the ward heck yeah!! I am sure the work is just going strong there in Chicago. Oh have you heard from the Tolmans or about Chris Reynolds? Just thought I’d might ask because I sent out a letter to Kevin right before I went into the MTC so I didn’t know if he got it or not. My Sunday was a good Sunday, full in the chapel despite a bit of rain but it is always great to see our ward building filled especially when its summer here and all the kids are almost out of school. A lot of them are in their last week or 2nd to last. The baptism was great and me and my companion got to help confirm her in Sacrament meeting and it was really cool because I have never helped confirm someone to be a member of the church before. The spirit was really strong with us. I would love to write Bishop Koch, I just need his address please. The baptism was a success we had a good amount of people show up and also a couple of our investigators showed up for her baptism and really enjoyed it and then we passed by and they told us they felt something special in the church so THEY FELT THE SPIRIT!!! My companion has been out almost a year and a half and then Elder Service is the Elders name ha-ha but he feels good about it and he will be celebrating the New Years on the plane ride home ha-ha!! But I feel content coming up to my year mark. I went on an intercambio with one of my zone leaders named Elder Hansen who is really awesome. He was born in Chicago and lived there until age 4 or 5 and he told me his family had lived pretty close to Wriggly Field where the Cubs play so we reminisced a little when we were on the intercambio. He told me for not even have reached a year in the mission yet that he is impressed with my teaching and the way I speak so I think I am where the Lord wants me in this moment and that I am progressing well. Well about the phone situation I need to know first what day you want to call because we get to call the 24th, 25th, or 26th and I think the 26th or 24th would be better because other missionaries have told me that in the years past the phone lines are REALLY busy on the 25th so chose one of those days and I will get you the number for the following p day before the day you guys chose. And really I don’t know what were going to do but we can work on these days or the NEW YEARS so it’ll be like the 18th of September for their day of Independence so yeah. But thank for all you do for me and the support you give me. I love you and miss you tons!!
Love, Elder Blotter
Monday, December 13, 2010
Elder Blotter Photos - Dec 13
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| Some local Puerto Montt color |
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| A recent Zone Conference group photo |
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| Baptism day for their investigator Anais |
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| Pride in a job well done |
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| Enjoying some Chilean pineapple |
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Elder Blotter - Dec 6
Hola Family,
Yes I am still here as I predicted in Puerto Mont. Same companion, same sector so I am excited to make some miracles happen here in this transfer. We are preparing to help Anaís feel totally prepared for this Wednesday for her baptism; she is so excited for it. This past week has been a good one with numbers normal. We did not reach the standard this week but we are working for it. We did reach the standard of people with a baptismal date so it is pretty sweet to say we reached the district standard. We want to reach all the standards so we are working on doing that this coming week doing everything possible. The last week of the transfer we passed the standard of some of the goals for sectors and I was really happy because it is always amazing to make the standards but also to break the standard goal cause that means that were doing something right and we are being obedient here in Puerto Montt. I am grateful for the opportunity to be with Elder Ciquero again for another transfer and learn from him and also work really hard with him here in the Lords work and to help others progress. A story from this past week happened yesterday with our ward mission leader. We were planning the baptism for Anaís and then we left from the church and ran into a man named Favito who was admiring our chapel. We asked him if he would like to go inside and he got really happy cause he did not know he could enter so we walked through the chapel showing him all the paintings and explaining them to him and then all of a sudden he asked if he could be baptized. Me and my companion looked at each other like is this guy for serious, we just found him on the street walking by ha-ha but then he was like "Yeah I have never been baptized and I’d really like to be baptized" and we were like well first you need to attend church this next Sunday and pray about our message and if you receive an answer you will be baptized the 8th of January and he accepted!!
I still don’t know if the man is just crazy or has a problem in his brain or if he was serious, but we will see tomorrow when we visit him at his home because he kept saying can you baptize me now? We were like what?? Ha-ha, but we showed him the baptismal font too and he was like; can’t you fill it up right now and baptize me right here?? It was very weird and very awesome at the same time. Just goes to show you that the Lord guides us in very different ways to find his chosen sheep for this time so we are praying for Favito that he actually really wants this and is ready to complete everything the Lord wants him to.
Elder Ciquero and I are preparing Anaís for her baptism this Wednesday and she is really excited as we are for her. She is so smart and just loves the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her mother is not a member but supports her in her decision. We went by there home yesterday and shared a lesson on the scriptures on how we need to read them everyday. I could just see the light of Christ in Anaís that she Is the example of that household for her and her mother. I hope her mother Paula will open her heart unto the father and really ask in sincerity if these things are true and will change her life not just for her daughter or members but for her and her Savior Jesus Christ to work together to become an Eternal family with her daughter. But that is one of the great miracles I received this week from the Lord, thank you for all the things you do for me and the blessings I have received here in the mission.
I love you and miss you tons and hope you have a great new week with lots of work and blessings.
P.S. The picture of grass was when me and my companion went to go do service for a member in our ward and she doesn’t have a lawn mower and actually lawn mowers are very rare to find here. They actually used large scissors but she didn’t have any so me and my companion cut all that grass BY HAND WITH KNIVES so it took a while but it was fun.
Oh yeah, to explain the pictures; one is of me doing the thumb to go to Chilóe, Another we slept on the roof last night so that was fun, Another picture is of the fake tree we are borrowing from our mamita that I put pass along cards on, and then also a picture with me and Elder Welling who was one of my companions back in Valdivía where now he’s a Zone leader and he’s heading down to Punta Areña. So yeah that should be all the photos LOVE YA!!!
Yes I am still here as I predicted in Puerto Mont. Same companion, same sector so I am excited to make some miracles happen here in this transfer. We are preparing to help Anaís feel totally prepared for this Wednesday for her baptism; she is so excited for it. This past week has been a good one with numbers normal. We did not reach the standard this week but we are working for it. We did reach the standard of people with a baptismal date so it is pretty sweet to say we reached the district standard. We want to reach all the standards so we are working on doing that this coming week doing everything possible. The last week of the transfer we passed the standard of some of the goals for sectors and I was really happy because it is always amazing to make the standards but also to break the standard goal cause that means that were doing something right and we are being obedient here in Puerto Montt. I am grateful for the opportunity to be with Elder Ciquero again for another transfer and learn from him and also work really hard with him here in the Lords work and to help others progress. A story from this past week happened yesterday with our ward mission leader. We were planning the baptism for Anaís and then we left from the church and ran into a man named Favito who was admiring our chapel. We asked him if he would like to go inside and he got really happy cause he did not know he could enter so we walked through the chapel showing him all the paintings and explaining them to him and then all of a sudden he asked if he could be baptized. Me and my companion looked at each other like is this guy for serious, we just found him on the street walking by ha-ha but then he was like "Yeah I have never been baptized and I’d really like to be baptized" and we were like well first you need to attend church this next Sunday and pray about our message and if you receive an answer you will be baptized the 8th of January and he accepted!!
I still don’t know if the man is just crazy or has a problem in his brain or if he was serious, but we will see tomorrow when we visit him at his home because he kept saying can you baptize me now? We were like what?? Ha-ha, but we showed him the baptismal font too and he was like; can’t you fill it up right now and baptize me right here?? It was very weird and very awesome at the same time. Just goes to show you that the Lord guides us in very different ways to find his chosen sheep for this time so we are praying for Favito that he actually really wants this and is ready to complete everything the Lord wants him to.
Elder Ciquero and I are preparing Anaís for her baptism this Wednesday and she is really excited as we are for her. She is so smart and just loves the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Her mother is not a member but supports her in her decision. We went by there home yesterday and shared a lesson on the scriptures on how we need to read them everyday. I could just see the light of Christ in Anaís that she Is the example of that household for her and her mother. I hope her mother Paula will open her heart unto the father and really ask in sincerity if these things are true and will change her life not just for her daughter or members but for her and her Savior Jesus Christ to work together to become an Eternal family with her daughter. But that is one of the great miracles I received this week from the Lord, thank you for all the things you do for me and the blessings I have received here in the mission.
I love you and miss you tons and hope you have a great new week with lots of work and blessings.
P.S. The picture of grass was when me and my companion went to go do service for a member in our ward and she doesn’t have a lawn mower and actually lawn mowers are very rare to find here. They actually used large scissors but she didn’t have any so me and my companion cut all that grass BY HAND WITH KNIVES so it took a while but it was fun.
Oh yeah, to explain the pictures; one is of me doing the thumb to go to Chilóe, Another we slept on the roof last night so that was fun, Another picture is of the fake tree we are borrowing from our mamita that I put pass along cards on, and then also a picture with me and Elder Welling who was one of my companions back in Valdivía where now he’s a Zone leader and he’s heading down to Punta Areña. So yeah that should be all the photos LOVE YA!!!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Elder Blotter Pics for Dec 6
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| The Missionary Christmas tree with pass-along cards for ornaments |
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| More hitchhiking silliness |
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| Rob said the Elders decided to have a sleep out on their roof. He said it was great. Missionaries have fun doing the most simple things. You would never know they are heading into Summer judging by their apparel and sleeping gear |
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| Robert with Elder Welling who was his 2nd comp in Valdiva. He is now a Zone Leader in Puenta Arenas way down south. They looked like they could be brothers. Elder Welling is one of a set of triplets who are all serving missions in Chile albeit in different missions |
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Elder Blotter - November 29
Hola Familia,
Glad to hear all is well at home and just feeling the Christmas spirit. The people here have put a couple of lights up but there are not too many people with lights out. I am sure more will start to come out but here in Chile. School is starting to let out so the streets will be filled with teenagers and everything very soon so it will just be a little worse with contacting cause there will not be too many adults out and a lot of people traveling to Santiago and people from Santiago to here so there will be many tourists. I am sure the work will just keep moving forward. I don’t know if we will be having a conference soon but I know we have interviews next transfer since transfers are this Wednesday and we find out tomorrow if I am staying here or my companion is leaving or not. So will see what happens. I am well this past week, working really hard and finding many people to teach and putting many appointments in areas where we do not really knock because they are really far away areas. But it is good to see that people are interested in our message. Right now we are preparing a girl to be baptized the 8th of December named Anaís who is just great. She is 13 and has a desire to be baptized. Were working with her mom on being baptized too but she says she just has not totally felt the need yet but we challenged her to pray and we hope she keeps the commitments. We have an appointment with her on Thursday and hope all goes well. We have others with dates too but there not really progressing because there not coming to church and some are off working all the week so it is tough but were moving forward and doing all we can. I do not really know what to say cause this week has just flown by its crazy. But I just hope for the best that the lord will guide me in this next week if I am to stay here in Puerto Montt or leave to another area and serve him there. I sent a picture of what I had for thanksgiving so happy late thanksgiving!! I love you and miss you tons!! Thanks for everything.
Love, Elder Blotter
Glad to hear all is well at home and just feeling the Christmas spirit. The people here have put a couple of lights up but there are not too many people with lights out. I am sure more will start to come out but here in Chile. School is starting to let out so the streets will be filled with teenagers and everything very soon so it will just be a little worse with contacting cause there will not be too many adults out and a lot of people traveling to Santiago and people from Santiago to here so there will be many tourists. I am sure the work will just keep moving forward. I don’t know if we will be having a conference soon but I know we have interviews next transfer since transfers are this Wednesday and we find out tomorrow if I am staying here or my companion is leaving or not. So will see what happens. I am well this past week, working really hard and finding many people to teach and putting many appointments in areas where we do not really knock because they are really far away areas. But it is good to see that people are interested in our message. Right now we are preparing a girl to be baptized the 8th of December named Anaís who is just great. She is 13 and has a desire to be baptized. Were working with her mom on being baptized too but she says she just has not totally felt the need yet but we challenged her to pray and we hope she keeps the commitments. We have an appointment with her on Thursday and hope all goes well. We have others with dates too but there not really progressing because there not coming to church and some are off working all the week so it is tough but were moving forward and doing all we can. I do not really know what to say cause this week has just flown by its crazy. But I just hope for the best that the lord will guide me in this next week if I am to stay here in Puerto Montt or leave to another area and serve him there. I sent a picture of what I had for thanksgiving so happy late thanksgiving!! I love you and miss you tons!! Thanks for everything.
Love, Elder Blotter
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