Pati and Tony get baptized and married!

Hola Amigos!

18 de Septiembre is Chile's National Independence Day.  The official celebrations lasts 3 days but most people party all week.  So, getting work done was impossible.  On the 18th we were told that we shouldn't knock on doors but that we shouldn’t just stay home either.  So we spent the day visiting members and eating empanadas!  I tried to make the day fun by wearing my Alexis Sanchez soccer jersey over my shirt and tie!  

The wedding

On Friday, I did an exchange with Elder Salles from Brazil.  It was only his second day in the mission and he speaks only Portuguese.  He was super funny and even though I didn't understand him we got along really well.  But since everyone was "tired" from the celebrations on the 18th we only had 2 lessons.  

The highlight of the week was the wedding of Pati and Tony.  My companion and I got to go to the registro civil to translate the wedding ceremony but it turned out that the official just read a long thing and all they had to do was say "Si"!  Sonia and Juanita were there too and afterwards we went to Sonia's house to celebrate.  The next day Pati and Tony got baptized. 

The service went really well.  Lots of ward members came to support them.  They were so happy - it was great! 

We also had a zone conference this week where I learned tons from President Catala.  The next six weeks are going to be awesome with the Temple open house and then the dedication.  We will all be focused on President Nelson coming for the dedication.  

I hope you all have a great week!  I love you all,

Elder Vincent 

Registro's office with Pati and Tony

18 de Septiembre

Zone Conference

Biggest W of the mission thanks to mom

Centinela

Buenas,

Lots of setbacks for us this week.  With only one week left before the opening on the Temple the opposition has never been stronger.  This week we lost both Diego and Cony, who were preparing for their baptisms this month.  But I hate to focus on negatives so here is a positive for the week:  On Saturday we had an invasion in Centinela.  The missionaries there did a really good job of getting the ward excited and it turned into a huge event.  Each missionary in the zone was able to work with a member to find new people.  From 11:30 - 1:30 we found 44 people for the missionaries to teach.  When we got back to the church at 1:30 the ward made a huge lunch for all of us.  Not only was it a big success for the missionaries and a fun activity for the members, but now the members are animated to work more with the missionaries and this will have a long term effect in Centinela.

Great lunch orta vez in the garage

Not much else to say about this week.  But this next week is going to be incredible with the opening of the Temple on Saturday!! 

With love,

Elder Vincent

D&C 121: 7-8 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;  And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

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Santos Templos de Sion

Familia y Amigos,

We had another positive week here.  Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were filled with intercambios here in the zone.  We had some sick missionaries in the zone this week so our numbers were a little low but nothing we can do about it now - just gotta keep working.  

Saturday we went to the Temple!!  It was incredible to see it for the first time since November now that it is finished.  Elder Lord and I sang Santos Templos de Sion and presented the Temple to all the people in the gardens in front of the Temple. It was an amazing experience and the spirit was strong.  I can't wait to go inside.

No baptisms this week but we are preparing Diego, Ruben, Cory, Pati and Tony for their baptisms this month. Especially Pati y Tony who are getting married on the 20th and baptized on the 21st!  They are from Haiti and have asked me to go to the registro civil with them to translate their wedding ceremony.  Please keep them in your prayers as they continue progressing!

Thank you for all the constant love and support.  I love you all!

Elder Vincent

Making Progress in Cruz del Sur

 Hi Everyone,

Another amazing week here in Cruz del Sur.  We are continuing to see countless blessings but here are a few quick highlights:

1) Tuesday we had a huge parillada for lunch (see photo) and I did an intercambio with Elder Lapaz from Japan.

2) Wednesday had an intercambio with Elder Martin.  We took a beating from the rain but we still had a good day of work.  Nicolas, who we baptized last week, came out to work with us.  

3) Thursday another intercambio with Elder Ashton who has 2 months in the mission.  He's a super hard worker and obedient and he's progressing a ton.  

4) Friday we finished our fast as a zone and right away we found a golden family of 5.  Muy escogida.  Also had a great Noche de Hogar with a family that invited 14 neighbors/friends.  

5) Saturday we had an "invasion" and found 40 people for las hermanas to teach. We had a stake activity with over 300 people where we watched each ward present a 10-minute Disney musical and related it to the Temple (Lion King, Pocahontas, Frozen, Moana, Tarzan and Coco).  It was a huge success.  Finished the day in the church BAPTIZING RICARDO!!!

Helping another family be united and prepare for the Temple.

6) Had a nation-wide conference broadcast from Salt Lake City instead of regular church meetings.  Elders Dallin H. Oaks and D. Todd Cristofferson spoke to the entire country of Chile about the new temple in Concepcion!! Amazing way to end the week.  

It is incredible to see the Lord's hand in our work and to know that He is by our side every step of the way.  I'm grateful for every second I've had here in Chile.  

With love,

Elder Vincent

4 Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.

5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

(Helaman 10:4-5)

One of my roommates, Elder Lapaz, from Japan

Obedience and Hard Work

Hola Everyone!

Another incredible week here in Cruz del Sur filled with miracles and blessings.  To start, we baptized Florencia and Nicolas on Saturday!  Two different families and situations but both are more united now thanks to the Gospel.  

One of the ideas we have applied in the zone is something I call Invasions, where we send the whole zone to one area and everyone spends the morning contacting like crazy to help out one specific pair of missionaries that is struggling.  So on Saturday the zone spent 2-3 hours "invading" a sector called Las Solinas and in all we found 42 people for the missionaries to teach.  Huge success.  Last success from Saturday is the zone baptized 5 people!!  The zone only baptized 3 people in the last six week transfer period.  

This week as a zone we made improvements in every goal and key indicator and we now have 10 more people with baptism dates.  So we are just looking for more "escogidos" to baptize and prepare for the Temple which opens in 4 WEEKS!!!!  

We are working harder than ever and seeing the results thanks to our obedience with exactness.  Couldn't be happier here.  Please pray for the zone Talcahuano Norte! 

Con mucho amor,

Elder Vincent

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated - and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.  

D & C 130: 21-22