Count the small blessings too

Hi Everyone -

We had another busy week here.  One day this week we were about ready to end our day at 9:30pm but decided to work until the very last minute.  In that extra 45 minutes, we ended up finding 3 new investigators.  That was a very small blessing but it doesn't make sense to only count the big blessings.  

Pia, one of our investigators, has inspired her entire family of 6 to start coming back to church as she prepares to get baptized.  They are members but haven't been in a very long time. It's so cool to see them all come back to church.  Her dad wants to baptize her on the 28th.  We had some incredible lessons this week, are teaching a lot of people and had 5 investigators in church on Sunday. 

 

Pia and her family

I was really frustrated this week with something and realized getting mad wouldn't help so I tried to look for the best way to help the situation.  When I realized I was getting upset I remembered a movie I saw called "Bridge of Spy's" with Tom Hanks.  It's about a Russian spy who is an older, quiet, calm guy who actually does nothing wrong but he gets treated horribly throughout the whole movie to the point where the government is wrongfully going to put him in jail.  During the whole movie when something bad happens he keeps calm and someone always asks him, "Aren't you mad?" or "Aren’t you going to do something?" and he always responds "Would it help?"  I think that's a really important question to ask yourself before responding to something that may initially make you upset or doesn't quite go your way.  To anything really.  Good life lesson.    

Spanish class squad

We had 11 Haitians in our Spanish class.  They are super fun and we love being with them as you can see from the picture!    In all, it was a really good week. 

I am grateful for each of you and love you all,

Elder Vincent

Local soccer field

Ran into Elder's Perrett and Dawson

A Haitian Missionary

With Moise and Calist

Hey Everyone!

This was a great week.  We are working really hard and giving everything we have and it’s an amazing feeling.  I'm loving this work more and more every day.  

We are working with a lot of people right now who have a lot of potential.  Anita quit smoking and has really changed her life.  She felt the spirit so strong in our last lesson that she was in tears.  

We are teaching several other Haitians.  I love the Haitians here and am working hard to learn Creole.  Some of them have a hard time coming to church some Sundays because they do a “pololo.”  I don't know the English word for it but it's when they stand on a corner and someone hires them on the spot to do a job for a couple of hours. 

My companion, Elder Almeida from Brazil, had his birthday this week.  We planned a little surprise for him and someone bought him a Harry Potter notebook.  He almost had a heart attack he was so excited haha.  Like he was legit grabbing his heart haha!  I love that dude.

The Volcano

We were able to provide service this week by painting a house.  One of the guys painting, Tomas, serveda mission in Washington D.C.  He really loves American food and we enjoyed talking about his favorites like cheesecake and chili with cornbread.  The other service that we provide each week are Spanish/English language classes.  

Thanks for all the support.  Please pray for Anita, Calistene, Jean-Claude, Souffrant, Widmelie, Pia, Lenod and Mirella.

Love,

Elder Vincent  

"And this is the blessing which has been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hand of God to bring about this great work" Alma 26:3

After Spanish class with Jean-Claude and Souffrant

My Haitian friend that is legit Snoop Dog and makes me think of mom singing his songs hahahaha

The volano

La Cordillera

Hey Everyone!

I’ve been transferred to a new area in Chillan, Chile called La Cordillera where I am serving as a District Leader.

Elder Almeida, my new companion, has only been in the mission field for 3 months.  At times he seems uncomfortable and awkward, but he is so humble and kind and loves everyone.  He makes me laugh a ton and his Portuguese accent makes him sound Indian.  I love this guy so much.  He helps me to be more humble and loving.  He is a true disciple of Jesus Christ.  I am super grateful for him.  

On Monday we were buying food and the clerk said she wanted to know more about what we do.  Then, on Wednesday, we just happened to knock on her door.  We taught her and her daughter about Jesus Christ and they both want to get baptized.  I know Heavenly Father prepared them to meet with us.  

For the past 6 weeks my companions and I worked so hard and didn't really see the fruits of our labors.  I felt like we were "pushing the boulder."  But this week I think we've been able to help a lot of people.  In total, we had 43 lessons this week.  I'm really looking forward to my time here. 

There are so many Haitians here!  They are like the Mexicans in So. Cal.  They immigrate here to find jobs.  They don't speak the language and they have nothing.  So, I'm studying Creole everyday and it really helps.  

Watch the news for this monster volcano that is supposed to erupt here in the next few weeks. It's "level orange".  Supposedly we won't be evacuated because we are far enough away, but we will have to wear a mask.    

I hope you are all doing great and enjoying Spring.  It's already starting to get cold and rainy here.  I'm not excited for winter!

I think about you all so often.  I truly appreciate your letters and support.  Please pray for all the people here!

Love,

Elder Vincent

Harvard

BELLA

Last week in Valle Hermoso (again!)

Hey Guys,

Nothing too crazy happening right now!  Just working hard.  It's been challenging but I know good things are coming.  

This past week we worked really hard but didn't really see any results.  But I have a lot of faith that the Lord has a purpose for all of this.  I heard a story once of this farmer who was doing pretty well for himself.  God told him to stop farming even though he was having success and told him to spend the farming season pushing a massive boulder.  So, for the rest of the season he spent all day, every day, pushing the boulder and it wouldn't budge.  He wanted to give up, but his love for the Lord motivated him to push on.  At the end of the season, the man took a step back to see that the rock hadn't moved an inch.  Discouraged and thinking he had failed, the man complained to the Lord asking why he had commanded him to stop his work as a farmer and push a rock that never moved.  The Lord explained that it was far from failure.  Because of the man's obedience to God by pushing the rock all day, his muscles were strengthened and he now would be an even more successful farmer.

Girls night with Stephania and Soriadine

We are still teaching Soriadine from Haiti.  I really like teaching the Haitians and my Creole is getting pretty good!  We are also teaching a couple of families and some other great Chileans.  

   

Tomorrow I'm getting transferred back to my first area, Chillan, closer to the mountains.  My new companion, Elder Almeida, is from Brazil and just finished his training.  I’m excited for this new opportunity.

I hope you all had a chance to watch General Conference.  It was awesome.  Really edifying and really spiritual.  

Please send prayers this way.  I love you all,

Elder Vincent

Me speaking creole. I tried to speak in English for a sec but couldn't really do it haha.  I tried to say check my Creole but half came out in Spanish!

Back in Valle Hermoso

Lesson with Braeder and Junior

Hey Guys -

I'm short on time but wanted to send a quick update.  I received an emergency transfer last week and I'm back in Valle Hermoso with Elder Espiritu.  I'll be here until the end of the transfer (1 more week) and then we will see where I go.  But for now, I'm just working hard to find people to teach.

from,

Elder Vincent

Fresia's baptism

Berto and Leyto

Hey Friends, 

We had another good week.  We are working with 6 investigators now and working really hard to find more people to work with.  Leyto, Berto and Fresia made lots of progress.  We gave  Berto and Leyto a copy of the Book of Mormon in their native language, Creole.  They were so excited that Leyto opened it and immediately started reading it out loud - during the lesson haha.  The rest of the lesson he was hugging it the whole time.  It was super cool to see.  Leyto and Berto both want to get baptized on March 24th.  Fresia also committed this week to be baptized. 

A drunk guy photo bombing Leyto and Berto

Leyto and Berto are so funny, they remind me of Matt and me.  They are always walking around and laughing and joking and doing dumb things that they get in trouble for!  For example, Leyto called a member a REALLY bad name thinking it was a slang term for friend like "homie" or "bro".  But, the members of the ward all love him and thought it was funny!  

We had a zone conference in Tierra Bella and I learned a ton.  President Catala talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon and how much we can learn if we study it.  

We are making heavier weights this week by pouring cement into buckets with a bar in the middle.  A little different than working out at home!  Overall, all is well here and I want you all to know how much I appreciate your support.  It really helps.  

Love,

Elder Vincent

BYU graffiti?!

A dope wall that Benson and I found but couldn't beat the camera timer!

Found a gringo named John Morrison living here!

Elder Maldonado

Evangelico army outside of our apartment

visit with Elder Bragg

Pablo came to Chiguayante one day to work

Hey Everyone!  

I hope you all had a great week!  We've been busy here.   I had a nice surprise when Pablito came all the way from Valle Hermoso to Tierra Bella to work with us for the day.  It was really nice to see him.  

with Berto (green) and Leyto (white) before church

Three of our investigators, Leyto, Berto and Fresia came to church on Sunday and really liked it.  One of them has a very sad past and shared with us why he spent time in jail.  He is working hard to turn his life around.  We are also working with a new investigator, Yaritza, and hoping to find more people to work with.  

One of the highlights of this week was a Mission Conference with Elder Mark Bragg (of the 70) who is from Los Angeles and a friend of our family.  President Catala told me in advance that I would have an interview with him after the conference.  It was a great meeting and I especially enjoyed meeting with Elder Bragg.  It was a crazy deep interview and I wrote notes on everything he said when I got home.  

I love you all very much and really appreciate your letters, emails, packages, and prayers.  

with love,

Elder Vincent

Chorillana one of my favorite Chilean foods - fries, chicken, steak, fried egg, grilled onions, cheese, and hot dog meat

Late for the Mission Conference because we took the wrong bus!