ONE YEAR MARK!

Hey Everyone - 

I can't believe an entire year has passed by.  This has been the most trying, toughest year of my life.   I am so grateful for every second I have had here and wouldn't trade it for anything.  

This was a good week overall.  We had a zone conference with the Catala's.  They are a huge blessing to me and I have learned so much from them.  

The church does not use tithing money to pay for cleaning people so the local people clean the church buildings.  One morning this week, we spent the whole morning until lunch cleaning the church.  We had a little accident while cleaning, haha.  Elder Morris and I found a floor polisher that you see in the movies so we had to take it for a spin in the cultural hall.  For some reason it was crazy powerful and really hard to control. 

Awesome ward activity (with polished floor!)

We had to legit use all our strength to control it.  So it was my turn to use it and I twisted the handle to turn it on and the polisher went out of control and slammed me into the door and the door broke hahaha.  We went to the hardware store and bought gorilla glue and clamps.  Long story short... we fixed it and everything is fine (including me!).  

Rober and James are getting baptized this week.  They are so happy. 

I hope you all have a great week.

With love,

Elder Vincent

Reply Si if you want one!

Hurting for others

Spanish Class

Hey Everyone! 

Another solid week of work.   One miracle we saw happened as we were heading over to the church for Spanish class.  Some guy in the street called us over to his little shop and gave us two plastic bags of bread and said "I know you have people that need it."  So, at the end of class we opened up the bags and offered it to everyone.  All of the Haitians started humbly and gratefully grabbing the bread and shoving it into their pockets.  It was difficult to see how important little rolls of bread were to them.  It made me think of how many times I have left food on my plate and not even thought twice about it.  

Another thing that stuck with me was a conversation I had this week with someone about how hot it is in the summer and how cold it is in the winter.  She said something like "the heat is bothersome, but the cold makes you suffer.  Not suffer from the actual cold, but suffer from seeing all the people without homes or tiny huts who don't have warm clothes.  It hurts."

I'm so grateful that here in Chile I've been able to recognize ALL of my blessings and how lucky I am.  I don't think I would recognize or appreciate these blessings if I hadn't actually lived here.   

We are now in the middle of Winter here.  Some days are freezing and it rains constantly.  Thank you, Natalee, for sending me "Hot Hands" to put in my boots.  It's so nice that my feet stay warm when we are working outside for most of the day on such cold days.  

All my love,

Elder Vincent

Daily calendar 

View from my apartment

Our District

Gift from a member

Doris Gets Baptized!

Doris got baptized

Hey Everyone!

Another amazing week filled with blessings.  We continue to work hard every day and it feels good.  

The biggest highlight of this week was that Doris got baptized.  It was an amazing service and you could feel the spirit so strong.  I was so happy for her.  She had lots of support from her family.  Little by little they are starting to come to church and feeling the Savior's love for them.  Afterwards, Doris made us legit American burgers!  Doris is a huge blessing in my life.  I am so grateful for her faith and courage and everything she has taught me.  

Working with a member

It's truly a blessing to be a missionary.  I love these people and every opportunity I have to serve them.  Although there are challenges every day and it is hard at times, I couldn't be more grateful to be here and to work in this part of the Lord's vineyard.  

Thanks for your letters and support. 

With love,

Elder Vincent

D&C 64: 33-34  Wherefore, be not weary in well doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work.  And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.  Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.  

Elder Dawson and I freezing!

Morning studies

Someone just left their goat here!

Making Progress in La Cordillera

Hey Everyone,

Another positive week here in La Cordillera.  It was a pretty normal week so there's not much to say.  Two highlights from this week are:

1.  I did a baptism interview in 100% Creole for the first time.
2. We had 6 more investigators in church!  

All of our investigators are taking big steps towards baptism.  It's amazing to see the actions they take because of their faith and the immediate blessings they receive (even before baptism).  So right now we are doing all we can to help these people progress as  well as finding new people to serve.  

James 4:8   Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  

with love,

Elder Vincent

Building A Sure Foundation

Hola Amigos y Familia,

This was a crazy week filled with last minute companion changes, rainstorms, sleeping in wet clothes and miracles.  We have a really strong teaching pool right now and are looking forward to seeing "the fruits of our labor" in the next few weeks.  We have 4 people with baptism dates and more that we are working with.  

We were teaching Doris and she said she was prompted to change some habits in her life just before we met her.  She now knows why.  This was a huge blessing for me and helped me remember how important this work is.  My only feelings right now are gratitude for the opportunity to serve.  

Sorry this is so short as I haven’t had tons of time this week but we are happy to finally get through this crazy cold, wet week and to keep moving the work forward.  

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil sends forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down into the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."  

(Helaman 5:12)

All my love,

Elder Vincent

P.S.  I found Dino Nuggets at the store so that just changed the rest of my mission!

 

Tomas, who served in Washington DC, made insanely good raspberry cheesecake 

The Volcano

Feeling Blessed

Happy Mother’s Day ladies!

We had a really successful week here and have a lot of momentum going into this coming week.  

Mirella got baptized on Saturday!  It was a beautiful program.  Afterwards, Mirella and Anita were both so happy that they were sobbing.  I'm so happy for Mirella.  She no doubt is someone that Heavenly Father had waiting for us to find.  

We had 8 investigators at church again today, and 5 asked if they could set a date for baptism.  After church we had a barbecue at Miriam’s house which was nice.  For BBQ's here, they sometimes just use a wheelbarrow filled with charcoal.  Then they take a pannel of rod iron fence and put it on top of the wheelbarrow for a grill.  It actually works great!  

One cool thing that happened this week is that I taught an entire lesson in Creole for the first time.  It wasn't that good but it was 100% Creole.

I video chatted with my family on Sunday for Mother's Day.  I am so lucky to have such a great, loving, united family.  They are such a huge motivation to me.

Overall, everything is really good right now and I can't complain.  I'm so happy with the work we are doing, the efforts we are making and the results we are seeing.  We have been very blessed.   

I love you all and am grateful for your support. 

Con amor,

Elder Vincent

View from our apartment

video chatting with my family on Mother's Day

More Ups and Downs

Hi Everyone,

We had another rough week with a lot of ups and downs.  Lenod, who was going to get baptized this week, changed his mind at the last second.  Widmelie had wanted to get baptized before she moved to Santiago this coming Tuesday but there were complications and she wasn't able to do it.  So those were two big disappointments but we kept working and working and we ended up having 8 investigators in church on Sunday.  So we have a good new group of people to work with to help bring unto Christ.  

We also had a zone conference this week and it was so nice to see friends.  I learned a ton from President Catala who is incredible.  

Overall, it was another roller coaster week.  But we are continuing to work at a steady pace trusting that the Lord has a plan for all of these people.  

My scripture for the week is D&C 24:8: "Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but, endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even until the end of thy days." 

Thanks for your continued support. 

Con Amor,  
Elder Vincent

Got a couple of packages from home 

Always happy to be with Elder Perrett