Hi Guys,

 

My week was kind of good and kind of bad.  

I'm not really sure what to say.  Elder Perrett and I were having a good day of work and we were walking on the train tracks by the ocean to our next lesson and we saw 2 men rob and beat an older lady.  It really messed Elder Perrett and me up.  I am just mad that two people would do that and I'm mad at myself for not running over to help her.  But, it wouldn't have been safe for us.  It was a horrible situation and a horrible thing to see.  

We kind of walked around aimlessly the rest of the day and didn't accomplish anything.  We were hoping the following day would be better because it was zone conference and we were looking forward to learning from Pres Catala.  

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Zone conference was good and I learned a lot from President and Hermana Catala.  His talk focused on us changing our mentality and spending our time on people that have problems and want our help.  It was super cool. 

We had been working with one of our investigators, Carlos, everyday.  He was excited to be baptized on Saturday until his nephew talked him out of it.  It totally killed our drive but we just ignored it and worked crazy hard.  We are working with some more Haitians and lots of other people.  We found a couple cool kids on the soccer field (cement field) who then met us at church on Sunday.  Obviously, the Carlos situation was disappointing but we did a really good job of getting over it by working harder.  Great life lesson, haha. 

In church I presented an idea I had to the members to have them think of one person they know that would have a happier life by having the Gospel.  So, this week we will visit those people with the member who wrote the name down.  Should be a solid week of work. 

For Family Home Evening this week we watched the Tree of Life cartoon with 13 investigators.  The cartoon was the same we used to watch as kids at home.  I was surprised at how much I remembered and how powerful it is to me at 19 years old.  The Tree of Life message is one of my favorites and I really felt the Spirit.  

Working this hard makes me so exhausted but it makes the time go by way faster and I'm enjoying it a lot more.  

I love you all,

Elder Vincent

Sling shots to help with the wild dogs

Awesome Week!

Hi Guys,

This week was awesome!  I have a new companion so now I'm working with Elder Kayden Perrett from Alberta, Canada.  We also got to move houses to a place that actually has hot water!  Super excited about that. 

Elder Perrett and I have worked super hard every single day since we’ve been together.  And we’ve had a ton of fun while doing it.  So far this week has been the best week of my mission.  We had 27 lessons with 10 investigators and worked on a fun service project.  Plus it's starting to get hot now so it's a perfect time to be right near the beach.  

A couple of highlights for this week were:
1) We made an oven out of bricks and mud for a member who regularly goes out with us to teach.  It's so sick.  And that's where he makes all his food.
2) Our investigator, Carlos, accepted our invitation to be baptized the 23rd of this month.  I can't wait. 

One day this past week we were walking along and this dog ran at us and started barking like it was going to attack us.  We picked up rocks to defend ourselves so it got a little scared and wouldn't come within 10 feet of us.  So Elder Perrett and I started hitting whips and cranking it and dancing like idiots and the dog was going crazy - it wanted to kill us but every time it got a little close we would hold up a rock to throw and it would back up!  So I guess I’ve at least figured out how to deal with the wild dog problem for now.

I had to speak in church on Sunday and I asked Elder Perrett if I should make a certain joke in my talk and he said it wasn't funny but that Chileans would think it is funny.  So I made this joke in my talk and the congregation was absolutely silent.  I saw Elder Perrett's face in the back of the chapel crying from laughter.  It made me start to laugh because I got absolutely zero reaction.  Guess I still need to work on my sense of humor in Spanish.  
Overall things are awesome here.  I really do love this work and I love the Chilean people too.  Can't complain (especially since we get hot water this week)!  I couldn't be happier working here and being in the service of our Heavenly Father. 

I love you all!  Have a great week!

Elder Vincent

Hi Guys!!

I’m in Valle Hermoso, Penco!  Right on the beach.

It reminds me a lot of the Palisades, straight from the beach to the mountains.  But we walk so many cerros (hills) all day so it’s a little more tiring.  My companion is from Guatemala so no English.  He has 3 months left on the mission and is definitely ready to go home, haha.  He has pretty much tapped out and doesn’t want to follow any rules.  It sucks.  I’m here to work and not mess around and when he screws around time goes by so much slower.  So yeah, it was overall a slower week.  But I think we will work something out this week.  

Elder Miller

One cool thing from this week is that my new zone leader is Elder Josh Miller from Aliso Viejo!  He knows Garret and a bunch of my friends down there.  I did 2 splits with him this week and they were super fun.

Hope you guys are all killing it back at home!  You are all in my thoughts and prayers.  Keep working hard, being happy, and remember who it all comes from.

Con amor,

Elder Vincent

Local school kids doing a presentation on America

Elder Perrett and Pablito

Pablito, a member that likes to join us to teach

My bud, Pablito

TRANSFERS!

This morning we got our new transfer and I'm moving to Valle Hermoso, Penco!  Right on the beach!  My new comp is Elder Reyes from Guatemala.  

Lesson with the Haitians

This week was pretty good, it FLEW by!  We only got 3 days of rain this week which was nice.  The weather is slowly getting better. 

We had a big joint lesson with 8 Haitianos this week.  We taught a ton of different things then had cake after.  In total we had 8 Haitians, 7 members, and 4 missionaries in the lesson.  I'm attaching a picture of us at the church. 

Berno, one of the Haitians, told us about his experience when the crazy big earthquake hit Haiti.  He was in his two story house on the first floor and when he felt the shaking he ran outside.  Within 10 seconds the house collapsed on itself and all of his family on the second story fell and died.  Also his friend was digging a well to try and find water and it collapsed in and his friend died.  It was crazy to hear him tell it.  Very humbling.  

Me and Berno

Thursday the Chilean national team played Paraguay.  We had permission to watch the game and not work because not one person would be outside or answer the door.  But on our way to watch the game this kid stopped us in the street to ask us who we were and wanted to know more about the church.  He's about 17 and his name is Ricardo.  He is a pretty cool kid and already lives the commandments because he's a very dedicated basketball player so he spends all his time in school or training.  We ended up talking to him and never watched the game.  All good though. 

Overall things are super good here, can't complain!  I hope all is well back at home.  I'm praying for all of you.  I want to finish this by inviting ALL of you to read "Our Search For Happiness" by M. Russell Ballard.  It's a quick read and it will change your life, I promise.  I'm so thankful for this gospel.  I have found true happiness because of it.  I hope you all can find the same.  Thanks for the unending love and support.  It means the world to me.  I love you all so much.  Have a great week!

"Un testimonio no siempre llega en un gran momento; normalmente, llega en muchos momentos pequenos y tranquilos, cuando el Espiritu Santo nos susurra que esas cosas son verdaderas."

Elder Vincent

(see the wild dog in the soccer picture?  A dog charged me but I threw a rock before it could bite me.  I feel like it's going to happen one day, haha.  I hope not because if it breaks skin you have to get 5 rabies shots)

wild horses