Coquimbo Letter #7

Date: December 27, 2010
Area: Coquimbo, Chile
Companion: Elder Haney
 

Caleb’s Coquimbo #7
December 27, 2010

¡Hola!

First off, I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas! I spent Chirstmas Eve at Alexis´ house, and had dinner and we watched Mr. Kruger´s Christmas then were able to stay later because they open presents at midnight. Alexis (the first counselor who speaks English) got the elders towels with Chile stuff on it. Then we spent the night at the Zone Leader´s sleeping on the floor, I didn´t sleep very well ha! Then we went over to the branch president´s house at helped him set up a pool, then watched the kids play their xbox with Kinect (awesome!) and then had grilled meat and chicken for lunch with delicious ice cream. Then played LDS Monopoly and talked with the family! It was a nice Christmas!

On Wednesday, we had the Christmas conference of the Northern zones. It went from 8:30 to 6:00, but was really fun! We had a lesson on Joseph Smith, practices, a Christmas musical program, then watched the movie The Nativity, which was really cool and really spiritual, especially for a non-lds made movie.

Yesterday we had two really great lessons. One was with a man, about 18 years old, named Ignacio. We knocked his door about a week ago and he accepted a Book of Mormon. Then when we came back a few days later, we seemed really distraught about not reading, so we read with him. The next lesson he read and liked what he read! Then yesterday we watched the Restoration, and he had tears in his eyes afterwards. He believes that what he saw is true and will continue to read and pray. Afterwards, Elder Haney and I were talking about it and decided the next lesson, based on if he reads and prays, we´re going to set a baptismal date. I could still feel the Spirit strongly even after the lesson

Then the other lesson was to a member´s husband. We were talking with her about her husband and what impedes him from joining the church, then we were like, hey is he here? Go get him! Then she came back with a picture of them in front of the temple, and I got hit with an impression of "Next time they go there, they will be in white and going inside". Then as we were talking to him, we found out that he even went to church when he was away for work! His doubts were on Joseph Smith. So we were able to comfort his doubts more and committed him to read and to really sincerely pray about it and to know if he was a true prophet of God. Then we set a date for him to get baptized! And I believe that if he does what we ask him to do and we do all that we can, he will get baptized and they will go to the temple. The Spirit was extremely strongly felt by everyone in the lesson, which made it a great lesson.

Our next lesson with the great couple Tomas and Nevenka will be about the need for them to get married so that she can get baptized and they can got through the temple. They came to church yesterday and still have a strong desire to participate in the church, they just need to take out a date to get married! Their only doubt is last time they were going to, they got in a lot of arguments, but when we bring a younger member family, that doubt will go away and their faith will increase!

I love this work and I have truly begun to see miracles everyday in the lives of those who we teach. This gospel is a gospel of happiness and living it to the fullest, I am able to testify of that happiness and share it with the people of Chile. This transfer will be different than the last, of that I know, because we saw what we could have done better, and now we have begun to see the miracles of the work.

I hope all is well in the US and each one of you is able to find an opportunity to serve someone in need!

Con Mucho Amor
-Elder Whittle