Rats and Transfers

Hey Everyone!

I hope you are all healthy and well.  

Last Sunday I was woken by a huge rat in our apartment which explains what had been getting in our food and made everyone in the apartment SUPER sick for 5 days.  I didn't feel good enough to write last week, but I'm feeling better now. It's good to be back out in the sun and air and working.  Nothing better than the work of saving souls.  

On Thursday, I got to work with Elder Romero from Bolivia.  I love working with him.  He is really dedicated and humble and is having an amazing mission so far.  Even though he only has 6 months I learn from him.  I also got to work with Elder Salles from Brasil.  I have lived with him since his first day and in the last 4 months I have seen him grow so much.  He has confidence and initiative.  

On Saturday, I got to be a firefighter (part 2).  In the afternoon we were contacting close to this park we always go to and a little ways off a line of smoke caught my eye.  There had been a fire there the day before in the trees so when I saw smoke we went over and found that the fire had started again.  So we went into a store and used some buckets of water to put out the fire with like 4 other guys that were nearby.  

But the best part of the day was the YSA activity.  We played ping-pong and ordered Sushi and it was a big hit.  Salomon, Rodney and Gabriel were all there and are almost ready to be baptized.  

I found out Sunday night that I'm getting transferred back to the first area I was in when I arrived in Chile: Los Volcanes, Chillan.  Same house and everything.    

This last transfer in Cruz del Sur, Talcahuano, has been a crazy one - we helped 3 people enter the waters of baptism, Matias and Tony received the priesthood and Rosio went to the temple.  We also went to the temple, almost died from a rat virus, had an amazing Christmas and fought another fire.  And everyday my testimony has been strengthened and I have grown closer to the Savior.  What a blessing it is to serve a mission.  

Thanks for all your love and support and letters.  

Con Amor,

Elder Vincent

Chile is incredible!

Hey Everyone, 

I hope you're enjoying your New Year and sticking to your resolutions!  I read a little from my journal from this time last year and it's crazy how much I've changed.  2018 has been a huge blessing for me.  One whole year to have focused solely on serving the Lord and becoming closer to Him.  I couldn't be more grateful for this year.  

We are teaching a guy named Solomon who is awesome.  He has a girlfriend that just returned from a mission.  We're also teaching Lily and Rodney who both have baptism dates  this month.  

About 5 times on my mission I have been in a situation where I have suggested something to  someone who then does the exact opposite, or just does not listen to my advice at all.  In my disappointment and frustration, I can't help but think that Heavenly Father not infrequently feels the exact same way about me.  

Not the best job on pictures this week, but how incredible is Chile?…my home. 

I love you all,

Elder Vincent