21st Birthday

Hola everyone!

I hope you all had a great Thankgiving.  THANK YOU all for emailing me on my birthday.  It was so nice to hear from people I love at home.   

I actually had forgotten that it was my birthday until my companion reminded me.  The family that invited us to lunch made pasta, ribs, and a massive cake.  Later that night the Barriga family had a surprise birthday party.  Sister Barriga (my Chilean mother) made us 3 pizzas and a huge cake with my name haha.  I love them so much.  Then, Brother Barriga drove us to Angel's house where I thought we were going to have a lesson.  But no.  Mi familia Venezuelana had another surprise - arepas, empanadas, and another cake.  After celebrating we went back to our house where both Brother Giovany and Brother Valdebanito were waiting outside of our house, one with a pizza and the other with a bag of candy.  President and Sister Catala called and sang HBD to me in English, Spanish, and Chinese haha.  It was really nice to feel the love from everyone today.  Oh, and on Sunday, Seba and Karen make a cake and ice cream!  So, lots of desserts this week!

This week I also had a few intercambios with some great Elders - Elder Rocha (Brasil), Elder Toledo (Ecuador), and Elders Macdonald and Theobald (US).  I always learn so much from them.  

President and Sister Catala presented a lesson on the temple to Juan, Katarin, and Sebastian.  We met in the gardens at the temple.  I love the temple.  There is an unmistakeable spirit the moment you step on the grounds which is gone the second you leave.  

We also had a great zone conference with President Catala.  It was about teaching with the Spirit and how to recognize that.  

We had some really spiritual lessons with Rocio and she is really excited to be baptized.  Please pray for her as well as Carlos, Jesus, Angel, Krishna, Simonei, Mariana, and Fabiola.  

I tried to get in a nap on P-day but it's impossible to sleep when I live with an Argentine and 2 Brazilians who are constantly screaming haha!

I love you all,

Elder Vincent

Concepcion Temple Dedication

Hey Everyone - 

Some members contacted me to tell me about the fires back home.  I hope everyone is safe.  I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to write the past couple of weeks.  Things are great, but very busy.

The prophet came to dedicate the Concepcion temple which was probably the best experience of my mission.  We are super blessed to finally, after so much work, have a temple in Concepcion, Chile!  I can't wait to go there with my converts and friends here that I love so much. 

On the Sunday after the dedication, out of nowhere there were like 200 people in church.  There was no event or anything, everyone just happened to show up.  It was the most spiritual sacrament meeting because everyone shared their experiences in the temple.  Stories from when the members had to go out into the streets to sell what they had to buy a bus ticket to get to the temple, to stories about special experiences inside the temple.  It was amazing.  

Elder Gomez

I have a new companion, Elder Gomez, from Buenos Aires, Argentina.  The day he arrived we attended a mission conference where the missionaries brought flags from the countries we are from and stood to sing "Called To Serve".  Very spiritual experience.  

We are teaching Angel, Carlos, Lily, Juan, Ana, Jesus and Rosio.  They are all super solid and Carlos is like my little brother!  Rosio is getting baptized Dec 1st.  

After church this week we had lunch with the Torrealba family who has 5 kids under 10 years old (food flying everywhere)!  Overall things are good, I'm learning patience, and I'm really happy.

With love,

Elder Vincent

Matthew 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  

  

My MTC group

Brother Barriga

A friendly spider at the bottom of the cereal box

Beware

After 11.5 hours of interviews

Chilean Street Dog

CHILEAN STREET DOG: 1    - ELDER VINCENT: 0

Hola,

I don't have much time but life has never been better.  We continue to work hard and have been very blessed.  

A few highlights from this week are:

1) 2 great intercambios with Elder Apancio (Spain) and Macdonald (USA).  Got to learn a ton from them.

2) We were walking in the street and a dog came at us barking.  My companion took off his backpack to use it as a shield and I told him not to worry and that it wouldn't actually bite and I kept walking.  Five seconds later it bit me super hard in the back of the leg.  First I made sure that the dog had run away, then made sure my Lululemon pants were ok, then checked my leg to see how bad the bite was.  There was barely any blood so I'm fine.  My leg is kind of sore but I'm totally fine.  Gotta love these Chilean street dogs.  

3) Record number of people in church this Sunday as a zone.  Everyone is ready to hear/see/meet the Prophet next week at the Temple dedication!!!  

Life is awesome.  We have people progressing and we are seeing countless miracles.  Thank you for the love and support  And shout out to my amazing, beautiful mother who turned 25 this week!  I love you mama!  

Elder Vincent

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.  (3 Nephi 13:33)

pics of this amazing country