Last General Conference in the Mission Field

Hey Family! Before I forget...would you mind sending me some lickerish (I forgot how to spell it I CHOOSE YOU SPELL CHECK! DONE...hehe) I am glad you liked the pictures here are some more. We went to bowl today. It was ok. It could have been more fun. This might just be my last P-day on Saturday...how strange. Woot! Go ECUADOR WARD! Its good to hear that Sam has his interview. I think he will go to a place outside the states...I am thinking...CANADA! Or somewhere like unto the first.... This mission life is great...just have to be ready for crazy stuff and food. It will be weird to not see Sam for 4 years. But he’ll do good. Silas, having trouble in English class......the good old days. I am sure we are pretty close to the same type of person. I realize now that, like you said, was the reason that we fought. We are going to have a blast when we are back together. Halloween isn’t as big here. They do, do it here. Sounds like you had a good date night...I can honestly say I haven´t had a good steak like that for such a long time. Oh well...some day. I hope you all have a good conference this coming weekend. I hope to receive lots of good help. It is my last conference in the mission field! I love you all take care! Ben  

Bowling on P-Day

Elder Barker about to juggle some bowling balls!

Bowling Fun

Elder Barker

Independence Day!

Hey family!

It’s been a long day today...we went to the church to play volleyball with the other missionaries. It was a really fun day, and for that same reason I am writing to you later than normal.

THE PICTURES ARE AWESOME! I can´t believe that Sam jumped out of a plane and he lived to tell the story. It was really fun to show Elder Barriga. It looks like you had a good time doing it. You don´t seem scared in the pictures at all...I thought you´d be crying like a baby....hmmm well done.

So...as for combios I don´t have the slightest Idea of what will happen this time around. Anything could happen. Some people already got changed up....so whatever is going to happen is already made and done. Puerto Octay is about an hour from here. It’s a small village like Lago Ranco.

Fecha is date in English...which would mean in the mission that they have a date to be baptized...but sad part is that both people won´t be getting baptized. They didn’t come to church and so...well they won´t be able to be baptized.

When I get back Silas will be 6 ft 2 and playing basketball. Sounds like he is getting up there. How tall is he? Is he still skinny?

I am sending pictures to all of you. They are from the 18th (Independence Day). I have more videos than pictures so for that reason I won´t be able to send them to you.

Things here are a bit hard going...but we just gotta keep going and trying hard. At times I think Elder Barriga wants out of this place. Poor guy...I seem to always get companions who come from Sectors that are just on fire. I bet you he feels pretty down. I also think he got on the bad side of some of the members...hopefully things will clear up.

As for myself...I feel pretty good. Stressed at times, but doing pretty good. I have these amazing wants to work out though. I want to look like a stud. So, I am trying to do the best I can to work out and well...it’s hard when you don´t have gym stuff.

Like I made mention before, the work here is doing good. I seem to do really well for the many challenges that are in the way. I think I got used to it. When you’re on the mission you become aware of the many faults you have. It becomes a challenge in and of itself. You have 2 options...kill it...or be killed by it. For me...I am struggling to kill it. When I get part of it down, it seems that I am blessed. For example, last week we showed up the entire Zone....then the beast shines it’s black fire head and the week begins to go back down. By the end of the mission I should have killed it all.

I am glad to see that you’re all doing well...and I am glad to hear Sam is almost there with his mission papers. Make sure that when Josh leaves for the MTC you take some good pictures of him or send some of the ones he takes.

I love you all so much.

Stay strong, read your scriptures everyday, and pray day and night.

Independence Day Dancing

Viva Chile!

Some of the party goers…

Fecha??

Hey family!

It’s been a really good week. We’ve had some miracles and I’ve found the best haircut place in town! Its been really cool. I am glad that you liked the pictures...I don´t have any new ones because nothing cool has happened. I will be taking some during the 18 of Sept. Its going to be really cool. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we aren’t allow to work! We will  be stuck in the house all day. Running here is pretty popular...because everyone likes to play soccer. This week we went from having very few lessons with members to...having the most in the zone (according to the Zone Leaders). We have really been putting in a lot of work. We found a new person who accepted a fecha to be baptized on the 6th of Oct.

I’ve heard that there are many things going on with Romney. Everyone here is asking about him to0. It’s so funny...it’s a great way to start a conversation with people. However, we have to be careful so that no one gets going on the political side of things.

I can´t believe Sam went out  to skydive...that’s so crazy. I am sure he didn’t die because no one called me. I would never do that. It is freak´n nuts. Oh well....I will just stick to my wood chopping here in Chile. Sounds like things are going well for the exams he has to do. He is almost there...I can´t wait to find out where my little brother is going. Maybe he will be a duplicate of Dad and go to Italy. I met someone from there today. She was a working at the hair cutting place. She says she’s more Chilean now then Italian. Sounds like everyone is getting ready to go. They are all starting their trips and I am finishing mine. Its so strange... But its pretty sweet. 

Its been a really good week this week. We have had fun doing lots of walking around and teaching with people. Only 2 more weeks till cambios or so. It will be really weird to see what happens. I am hoping that they open up Port Octay as a sector and I want to go there. It would be so cool!

I am learning lots of lessons from the Lord. He is forming me up, molding me around, and hopefully I am do it with Humbleness. I want to be completely different at the end of this mission. Its a good experience.

I love you all,

Until next week

Chou!

Planting Seeds

Hey Family!

Glad to hear that all is going well for all of you. I am adding pictures now so you can all get a look at my current life. Its been a pretty slow P day...kinda nice to have one of those...We were playing with Mito the cat at the house and I am sending pictures of it to you. I am glad to hear everyone is feeling up a bit more. President Rappleye tells us that as Leaders we can´t be discouraged. We must have faith and let the others see that. If Brock dies during the end of the world in the MTC then he will get to see Moroni. There is a story that the mountains next to the MTC in Provo are the mountains where Moroni will come to blow his Trumpet

That would be so sick if Silas went there! I heard there in Germany they have some pretty sick places to see and visit. Silas is a lot like me...I have A TON of dreams about doing stuff...then like a week later it happens. It happens soooo much! Sometimes it sucks.

Things have gotten really quite "full of experience" (also known as hard). The other day an Area Seventy came and well...he talked about a lot of stuff we need to do in our sector. After the Conference...he pulled us aside to talk for a bit. We talked about the sector and the problems we have. I told him of my frustration that I wanted to see more people being baptized. He looked me straight in the face and said, "Your probably a sower of seeds, and  ¿QUE LE IMPORTA (What does it matter to you)? You’ve got to learn to be humble here in the mission." It hit hard...he then told me a few things that fit right in with my Patriarchal Blessing. I found President after and I said...those Seventy guys know their stuff. He laughed at me...

The new sister in my District went to BYU Idaho. She’s really cool and very sweet.

I love you...you all mean so much to me. I will always try to honor the family name and make us known as good, strong Saints of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Take care,

Love Ben

 

Me and Elder Galarza

Elder Barriga and Me

Playing with Mito the kitty

I am learning a lot about how to run a ward

Hey family!!

It’s awesome to hear that Brock is going to Florida! He is going to die of the heat there! He won´t have to worry about the snow for 2 whole years. However, there is a sad part...the END OF THE WORLD WILL BE HAPPENING WHILE HE IS IN THE MTC! Hahaha...

The mission work is going well here. The entire ward (not the entire ward but just about all of it) has gone into apostasy! Members are drinking tea and coffee...not keeping the Sabbath day, and all other types of sin! They are falling away and WE have to fix them all! The bishop, Elder Barriga, and myself are going to give talks next Sunday, what I like to call, THE ATTACK! Each one of us has a topic of which we will be talking about. I have been given the Word of Wisdom. We are starting weekly meetings with the head leaders of the ward. (This should of been happening before). I am learning a lot about how to run a ward. It seems like no one here is verifying anything. I can´t believe they want to be called Latter-day and yet act as children of the devil! Haha, very strong words. Sorry....I am not really actually mad nor stressed. I feel as calm as a summer’s morning. (Name that quote...it might not be exactly like that though). As for the work...it’s slowing down. What’s happening is that my companion has gotten a bit lazy and not too obedient. I, however, am talking with him about it and we are working on the stuff that needs to be fixed. I am trying to live healthier. I run for 15 minutes everyday. We go out of the house and ran. He doesn´t cook anything good. Haha

I am learning a lot about the spirit...and I am trying to change and be a better leader. It’s really cool because I am learning a lot about verification. It seems that if you don´t breathe down people’s necks they don´t do anything of their own free will.

We don´t have any funny stories this week...maybe next week. Elder Barriga reminded me that I forgot my camera. Sorry...Elder Burge fail.

I love you all....keep doing the basics and keep the Sabbath day. We have to progress so we can get to the Holy Kingdom of God. I really desire that.

With Love

Ben