The Gospel Blesses Families

Hola - 

Another week down in Chillan, Chile.  I've spent the last 4 weeks without a dedicated companion and have been moving around from place to place with a number of other missionary companionships.  It hasn't been my favorite thing but at least I'm working which is what I want to be doing.  Last week I got to work with the Elders in Volcanes and had the extra benefit of being able to see some of the converts I worked with previously as well as the Orellana Family who I love.  We also visited a family where the mom was the only member and the son was having some difficulties with his family, and in life more generally, and asked us to work with him.  Since then, he's been much better with his family and really supportive of his mother going to church.  The gospel really can unite families.  On the walk back home through the giant fields in the sunset I meditated on what just happened and felt incredibly grateful in my own life to have a family united in the gospel.  

We had a great zone conference last week.  President Catala went deep into the Plan of Salvation and how important it is for us to study our scriptures.  He talked about the importance of diligence and obedience in learning and gaining knowledge.  The most diligent or obedient person ever, with the most knowledge, was Christ.  And because of his knowledge the veil was very thin for him.  John 17:5 shows that he was able to remember his glory from before he came to earth. 

We got to watch General Conference this past week in English.  This time I tried to write down promptings and feelings, more than just important phrases, as I listened to the messages and I think it helped me learn a lot more.  I hope this will help me apply what I learned from these inspired messages in my own life.  General Conference.  
My favorite talks were by 

Pres Nelson - about doing better

Craven - careful versus casual

Renlund - about blessings

Wada - words of Christ

Holland - The Lamb of God

Eyring - a home with the spirit dwells 

 

Next week I will get my final companion of my mission and will end my mission here in Chillan.  Please pray for Gordy and Ignacio who are both planning on getting baptized in 2 weeks.  

Please know that I truly appreciate all the love and support from so many of you back there at home during these past two years.  I feel so blessed to have had so many friends and loved ones who have been praying for and supporting me along the way.

Love,

Elder Vincent

Always grateful for lunch

John 5:17

Friends - 

Elder Vincent asked me to email you all with a quick update because he forgot to bring his weekly letter to the cyber cafe.

Two weeks ago he was assigned a brand new missionary as his companion.  Unfortunately, there were some complications and the companion had to return home.  The next new set of missionaries won't arrive for another 4 weeks so this past week, and for the next 4 weeks, Elder Vincent will join other companionship's as a trio.  He will basically be in a different neighborhood every day. 

I asked him if he was liked working this way and this was his reply:

I've learned from the experience. It doesn't matter where I serve, or in what assignment I serve, as much as how I serve.  John 5:17.  I hop around from area to area and am still working crazy hard and feel like I'm being helpful.

Hopefully we will hear more from him next week.  

He returns May 22 and will give his homecoming talk in church on June 9th, 9:30 - 10:30 am.    62 days left to serve in Concepcion!!

You can email him some encouragement to finish strong at derek.vincent@myldsmail.net

With love,

Gina

John 5:17

Tanto Tiempo!

Hola Amigos!  

Another good week here in Chile.  

I had a couple exchanges with Elder Portz and Elder Ponijaleki from Brasil.  Elder Poni is new and we had a lot to work on.  

On Friday we baptized Antonela and Barbara!  The service went really well and both families were happy.  After they were both baptized they jumped back in the water and started swimming haha!  We brought Constanza who liked the baptism a lot and set a date of March 2 to get baptized.  She's golden.  Acinto is getting baptized on the 23rd.  

The other great thing that happened this week was during our futbol activity.  This kid came in and was like "Elder Vincent!! Tanto tiempo!!"  I recognized him a little but couldn't remember much.  He told me that he would come out to work with us a lot when I was here the first time.  He said he loved it but after I left the missionaries never passed by and he became less active.  And he told me he's never been more grateful for a missionary.  It was crazy - I had no idea that I had any impact on him.  Maybe he is one of the reasons I'm back here.  

I hope you are all well.  Thanks for your letters and emails.  I love hearing from you. 

With love,

Elder Vincent

Transfer back to Chillan

Hola everyone - 

After the LONG bus ride back to Chillan, we had lunch and went right to work.  It was sick to be back in the same place I was 19 months ago as a new missionary.  I will probably end my mission here too.  

My companion, Elder McChesney, and I joked about being companions back in the training center. We build off each others energy and are working really well together.   We play futbol and capture the flag with the kids we are teaching.  Oh I forgot to mention one of the best parts of being back in Chillan - it's like 90 degrees every day.  I love it.  But, the bad part of the high heat is that there's no one in the streets and everyone is too hot to answer the door.  It's a little tougher but we're still able to meet all of our goals.  

We had a activity at church - a water balloon toss.  Elder McChesney and I won lol.  Then we let everyone go crazy with the 600 remaining  balloons we filled up.  It was so sick haha.  

Saturday was like most Saturdays - we contact the people that committed to come to church to remind them about it.  We also spend time meeting new people.  Saturday I also got offered crack but I said no.  

On Sunday, I presented myself in sacrament meeting and lots of people recognized me (which surprised me because I was only here for 6 weeks).  We currently have 3 people with a baptism date - Antonela, Barbara, and Acinto.  After church we were invited to the house of a man who served as a missionary in Oakland.  We all got along really well and they made us tacos and brownies with ice cream.  Amazing way to end the week!

Sorry I don't have any pictures.  We are only allowed to leave the house with our scriptures in this area because it's not safe.  

I love you all,

Elder Vincent