Talchuano

Hey Everyone,

I’ve been transferred to Talcahuano and called to serve as Zone Leader.  Talcahuano is a city on the coast of Chile (several hours from the mountain area where I’ve been serving).  My new companion will be Elder Lord from Utah, my first American companion!

Plaza De Armas for the Haitians 

I’ve had mixed feelings about this transfer.  Elder Gomez expressed a lot of concerns to me earlier in the week about how he would do if I happened to get transferred.  I seriously considered asking President Catala to reconsider and let me stay with Elder Gomez a little longer.  I also hate to leave Chillan (La Cordillera) right now with all our recent converts and investigators as well as so many other people that I’ve come to love.  However, I received good counsel that I needed to go where I’ve been asked to go and that is what I am going to do.

Knowing transfers were coming this week we worked hard to finish strong here in La Cordillera.  We worked with Super 8, Ivonne, Egidio, Sofia, and lots of others.  Earlier in the week we had been disappointed to learn that Ivonne no longer wanted to continue with us.  When we got a chance to meet with her, she explained that it was because of some concerns she had about things that had happened to her in the past.  We talked a lot with her about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ can and will help us with life’s struggles and pain.  The visit finished with her changing her mind and saying "Sigamos Adelante!" (let's keep going).  I was so happy to hear her say that. 

Hidden lagoon

On Tuesday, we planned on having lunch with a family that lives on the way to Coiheu in the middle of nowhere.  We had to take a bus to get there.  I wasn't really paying attention and we got off the bus way too early and found ourselves in the middle of nowhere.  There was just one road with large fields on both sides that went as far as the volcano in the distance.  We had to walk 35 minutes to get to Coiheu.  I loved every second though - it was incredible to see the volcano so close as well as a hidden lagoon and so much nature.  I was super stoked to see such a beautiful part of this country.  

Wednesday was a grind!  We worked super hard all day.  The coolest/craziest part of the day was when we went to a house of Haitians.  There are often up to 10 or so Haitians living in one small house because they can't afford their own place.  This group of Haitians never paid their electricity bill so there was no light in the home.  I did 3 interviews sitting on a hard, cold floor in the middle of a pitch black room with someone I could see only if I held my flip phone right up to their face.  It was worth it though because 2 of the guys are going to get baptized next week!  

Thursday we had a great activity at church called La Gran Fiesta de Chocolate!!  It was a huge success.  The best part, and what gives me so much joy, is that 4 of my converts were there participating and thriving with their new church "family".  What incredible joy and happiness comes from this work and from living this gospel.  (D&C 18:14-16).  

I'm leaving La Cordillera with 4 people getting baptized next week.  I will really miss all the people here but am looking forward to the opportunity to serve in Talcahuano.   

Thank you SO MUCH for all your love and support while I serve here in Chile.

Elder Vincent

Brisas Del Volcan

I bought socks!!

Saying goodbye to Elder Sharp from Hawaii

Good things happening

Hola Amigos!  

This was another great week here in Cordillera.  We found lots of new people to work with and our converts are doing great.  

Brisas Del Volcan

We took a long trek to Brisas Del Volcan, a new, untouched part of our sector.  It's in the middle of nowhere.  Straight walking forever in grass fields without seeing anything then all of a sudden a bunch of poor, run-down houses.  The people there are isolated from the world.  They apparently had never seen missionaries before and were staring at us in the streets.  We got there and started to talk to everyone.  A lot of kids came up to us in the streets.  I can't wait to go back.  I felt a little like the missionary from the movie "The Other Side of Heaven" when he went to the outer islands as the first missionary.  

We had lots of lessons this week but the best one was with Egodio at Anita's house.  As we were teaching him, Anita (our recent convert) jumped in to help and cried as she shared her testimony with him.  

We had zone conference again this week. I arrived early to set up chairs and when I squatted down to lift them my pants ripped in my nicest suit.  Luckily I had time to run home and change.  The conference was really good as usual.  

We met with and taught Ivonne, the blind lady that we met last week (3 times in one day).  She wants to get baptized August 18th.  Huge miracle meeting her.  

I was frustrated this week with some in our district not doing all they should be doing.  But I kept thinking about something Dad told me back in January that, without a doubt, Heavenly Father probably not infrequently feels the very same way about me.  

We had 3 new people in church on Sunday; Rodrigo, Super 8, and Figgins.  Super 8 and Figgins are getting baptized August 18th along with Ivonne.   

Doris and her Recommend

Doris (another of our recent converts) got her Temple recommend this week.  There is no better feeling that seeing someone progress like that.  Feelings:  Alma 26:3.

I pray for all of you at home and hope that you are all doing well.  Thank you for your letters and love.

Elder Vincent

  

Haitian lady we saw on the street... zoom in to see what she is reading lol

Eating good!

Promptings, miracles and baptism

Hey Everyone -

I hope you all had a great week.  Things are good here, even in the negative winter temperatures!  We had a nice surprise visit from President Catala who came to fix our hot water.  Three different plumbers couldn't do it, but he was able to do it.  We hadn't had a hot shower for weeks so we were so happy. 

We were able to offer service this week by chopping wood for a family.  It was freezing outside but we made it fun!  

To find people to teach, my companion and I try to talk to everyone we see in the streets.  One day we were walking along looking for people and there wasn't anybody in front of us. 

Eventually, some guy started to walk behind us.  Normally it's super weird to turn around and talk to someone walking right behind you but I felt a voice screaming at me to turn around and start talking to him.  So I stopped walking, turned around and started to talk.  The guy bumped right into me because I stopped out of no where, and before he knew it I had already started to talk.  I asked if we could go by his house and share more and he said "yeah, but I really want to go to church where there are meetings."   He invited himself to church.  I think that's only happened one other time on my mission (with Doris).  So that was cool to so strongly feel a spiritual prompting, follow it, and see the results right away.  

The following day we set up a table outside the church because it's on a super busy street in between a bus terminal and a hospital so there are always people.  We talked to every person that walked by.  One lady named Ivonne said she wanted to get baptized the way Christ did but then said she didn't want to talk to us and left.  About an hour later we were leaving to go to lunch and we passed by each other again, said hi, but she still didn't want to talk to us.  About 6:00 p.m. that evening we were on the other side of town and ran into her for the 3rd time that day.  She told us she thought it was a sign and asked us to visit her next week.  We are excited to teach her about the gospel.  

The highlight of this past week was Anita's baptism.  The day before she called us saying she was super sick and couldn't be baptized.  We went to her house and gave her a blessing.  She called an hour later and said she was 100% better as if she had never gotten sick.  Immediate miracle.  Everything went really well for her baptism and she was really happy.  

I hope you are all well.  Thank you for your letters.  I wish I had more time to write each of you.  

Con Amor,

Elder Vincent 

My wolf tie!

Fadile's birthday 

Benjamin and Flo got baptized!

Familia y Amigos,

Another great week here in Cordillera!  We were really blessed this week to see the results of our hard work.  On Saturday, we baptized Benjamin and Florencia!  Two "escogidos" that we found a few weeks ago.  But, on Sunday we were really able to see the fruits of our labors as Benja and Flo came to church with the rest of their family (6 in total) as well seeing the Zapata family (Mireya, Doris, Anita, etc) and Fadiles who got baptized last week and is now preparing for the Temple!  It is amazing to not only see the Lord's hand in their lives and their willingness to follow Him, but the blessings they have received.  The Gospel unites families forever!!  I know that is true and I am beyond grateful that I can help others come to know this truth also.  

Breakfast burritos

Please pray for Anita as she prepares for baptism on the 21st of this month! 

Still tons of rain here and the biggest hail I've ever seen.  

Con amor,

Elder Vincent

Some cows at a local park

Fadiles

Hi Everyone!

Things are going well here.  The update for this week is that Fadiles got baptized, there's been tons of rain and I got a new companion.  

The highlight was Fadiles’ baptism.  I am so happy for her and was honored she asked me to baptize her. 

It was sad saying goodbye to Elder Almeida.  He has been an incredible companion and friend.  My new companion, Elder Gomez, is from Uruguay.  He's an interesting guy.  He's very loud and talks a ton but has good intentions!  He eats chips and cookies all day long so I'm going to try to help him eat a little healthier and exercise.

One day last week I was having a hard day and read this quote from Elder Dawson's quote book: "You must have long range goals to keep you from getting frustrated by short range failures." -Charles C. Noble.  I also was trying to keep in mind my Grandpa's email about the importance of having a positive attitude.  Good advice.  

Overall, things are really good here.  We are still teaching lots of English classes to the Chileans and Spanish classes to the Haitians.  I love this area, the ward and these people.  I'm grateful to be a missionary.  

Thanks for your emails/letters,

con amor,

Elder Vincent

Elder Morris and I trying to get home when there's no public transportation