September 2, 2013

Dios Haga Milagros

Familia!

  

So guess what my email is titled Dios Haga Milagros because we had so many miracles this week.  Well first off at church there were 120 people!!! The chapel was packed! I was so happy and family A came to church and we had had a lesson with them Saturday night where L explained that maybe she would share her testimony but both her and F shared their testimonies...it was so amazing! The work is really growing and we had so many less actives and K the woman with the 20 day old baby attended and stayed all 3 hours I was impressed! We hope to put a baptism date with her this week.

But the best news of the week is that the family that has been fellowshipping S.   The dad shared his testimony yesterday and explained that S told him one night that he wanted to be a member of the church and the dad said good you just have to talk to your mom and S said but he always was a little nervous to talk to his mom about it, but Hermano told him to share a scripture with her and after that she gave permission for him to be baptized.....YES so we are going to start the lessons this week and a baptism date! We stopped by the house of S yesterday and talked with his mom outside and she explained how he has changed and everything and how he asks to have a blessing before they eat and everything...The Lord really works miracles and as long as members, us as missionaries all work together we will have diligence and keep the commandments we will have success. 

But yesterday was probably one of the biggest highlights of my mission, it was so amazing and great to be in a chapel chalk full of members and investigators. Oh also as of yesterday the branch has as goal to read the Book of Mormon in 6 months..So that will be good to have something to do with members and help them grow spiritually. 

This week I studied the Plan of Salvation in depth and we really are so blessed to have a plan and direction for us. I know that our Heavenly Father loves us and that we all have the opportunity to return to him. I love you all so much and I hope you all are doing well and continue to endure to the end.

So next week I am pretty sure it´s Monday we have conference so you probably won´t hear from me until Tuesday. I love you all very much thanks for your prayers and support! I know the Church is true and that our Heavenly Father has prepared a plan for us to follow and an example this example is Jesus Christ, remember to read your scriptures, ponder them and say your prayers oh and go to church these are the best ways we can receive the strength to accomplish all that we need. Family thanks for who you are and for our amazing examples! 

hasta proximo semena!

Hermana Morgan Anderson

September 10, 2013

Familia!

So I am sad that I have to be sending disappointing information but E is having some sort of family problems so he wasn't able to attend church this week and wasn't able to receive the lessons this week, of course we are super sad, but we know we can still pray and I know the Lord has things in his hands and all will work out for the better. 

K has a lot of things we can help her with, she said she didn't{t feel ready for this...so we just expressed we are here to be her guides and it is all step by step so we hope we can help her continue progressing

So conference was yesterday and it was AMAZING!!! We talked about our theme as a mission to convert families and the importance to help people stay firm in the Gospel. It was so inspiring; the President talked about how our first question should be asking people is about their families. It really was so great because Life Eternal is true happiness and we can only receive life eternal with a family. 

Also talked about working 50/50 with the leaders and families of the ward to find the families, missionary work is really is for everyone in the church. I read the talk from Pres Eyring from priesthood session titled we are one this morning..It is so amazing and just shows how much the lord works through members and missionaries and this is how the work of the Lord is done. I of course am learning this as a missionary as well in how to work with the leaders and motivate the members. 

Secondly Hermana Kahnlein shared the story of the elephant who of course didn't have strength at the beginning of his training to do much and so as he grew he had the thought that he couldn't ever do things. She also talked about talents and how we all have a talents where we are a 5 and others that are like 3 but we can work on them and we do have the strength to do what we have been called to do. I don't know if that makes sense or not but it was great. I felt that I can work with the leaders and that I have the training to help them understand their roles and help the Church grow here in Limari

Lastly the assistants talked about how we should work with the image of a temple being built in our zones. I loved this image because as we all know I love temples and being on the mission makes me appreciate even more and I understand even more the covenants we make with our Heavenly Father when we enter the temple...I know that the north of Chile can have a temple. I may not be here to see it happen, but I know with our faith and hard work in converting families it will happen one day!!!

At the end of the conference we had the opportunity to do some tracting for an hour before our bus left for Ovalle, It was so beautiful because it was close to the ocean. We contacted a family that had the best view in the whole wide world and we talked about creations and how families can be together forever.  They were super great but didn't want to accept missionaries at this time. 

Well that's my week for you. Oh one less active and her husband who are not members came to church on Sunday. I was so happy when she told us Saturday night that she would come so we passed by Sunday morning and she answered the door in her Sunday clothes and said her husband was going to take her.  We asked if he was going to sit with her and she said maybe...and so during sacrament when they both walked in I was so happy. I really hope we can start teaching him soon. He works a lot but I know she has a testimony that just needs some watering and we can baptize her family. 

It is true once you get lost in the work, mission work is fun. There is always so much to do, sometimes the days go by so fast...ps the time changed here this week so we lost an hour of sleep...haha Hna. Gonzalez thinks it's the end of the world, but she will be fine. 

And mom don't you worry about the cold it's nice and hot here now, it's cold one day and hot the next hot meaning at least like 90 and we aren't even in summer yet...good thing I probably won't be here in the summer. 

I really send my love to everyone and the excitement to share your beliefs with everyone!!!! If not with words with your examples on fb and blogs. You know what the prophets say. Love you all so much!

The church is so true; I know families can be together forever. It is all thanks to the priesthood and the restoration of the gospel! I know the Lord blesses us when we obey his commandments and he always provides a way to accomplish them. Just think I am here in Chile after years of thinking of going on a mission and here I am. I know it's not a commandment for girls but it was a commandment for me. He provided the way and timing for me to be here in Chile and I know I am super blessed to be here and serving the Lord. Love you all!!

les quiero mucho!

Hermana Morgan Anderson

Miracles

September 16, 2013

Buenos Dias,

Sounds like this week at home was a good one. The topics in church and the life of teenagers sound like an adventure. 

So guess what?! We had a lesson with E yesterday and we started out by asking him to tell us his story of sharing a scripture with his mom and everything and he quoted DYC 85:10 to us before we even started teaching him....wow he is so prepared I just hope we can continue to have a good relationship with his mom and the family that is fellowshipping him is AMAZING...obviously because he had already read D&C so we talked about prophets and Joseph Smith yesterday and the guide they can be to us and taught the restoration. Anyway the point of this wonderful story and miracle is that we have a baptism date for the 28th of September!!! We marked the story of Nephi and the boat for him to read this week because he feels solo in this decision...well when he is with his family. 

A less-active and her husband attended yesterday! Yay he says he likes it and his going to dance on the 20th because as you should now the 18th is day of independence in Chile...so yes the streets are covered with flags and everyone decorates their cars dancing music...it's quite the party...oh and food. So the branch is having an all day party on the 20th we as missionaries can visit for 2 hours. So we will see what it will bring. Anyway back to our investigator, we passed by their house yesterday and talked with him and invited him to be baptized and he said he didn't feel ready we expressed that we were there to be guides...but still he is hesitant...but the change from the first time we met him to now is AMAZING. I know the Lord  works miracles when all of us work together.

The other Hermanas found a less active that lives in our area now and has a 9 year son who she wants to be baptized.  We taught him on Thursday. He is timid, but hopefully he will warm up to us. It was sad because we were talking to the mom and she has been living with the dad of her son for 11 years but is scared of marriage because the marriage of her parents didn't work out Thankfully we had a member with us who's parents had divorced a year ago and was hard on her but she still has faith in eternal marriage we left  her with the family a proclamation to the world.  Mom I thought of you and wanted to know your thoughts of marriage or how the divorce of your parents shaped our ideas on marriage or how you learned to have faith in a successful marriage.  The more I read the proclamation I know that if we center our marriage and lives on Jesus Christ we will have success and we won't need to be sacred of the future. 

We have another investigator named C she lives with her mom and dad and sister but basically lives solo because they are never there.  She was going to come to church yesterday. We don't know what happened but she didn't show up and her phone was off all day yesterday, so we are going to pass by today and see how she is. 

Unfortunately we haven't been able to find K in her house this week, we will keep you updated on her. 

I gave a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday based on the talk we are one by President Eyring...he gave a story of his time he served in New Mexico and was called to be a missionary for the district but didn't think he was going to be there long...but by a miracle he was called to stay there and with the help of members had lessons with families in the nights and weekends. He said that after 5 years of serving they were a stake and now there is a temple there. I related this to the branch we are in now and that we can grow because we all one in purpose (Moses 3:9)..And I also shared 1Nephi 3:7 because I know the Lord prepares a way and we are all just instruments in his hands and if we all do our part as members and missioners the work of the lord will progress. I know this is the Lord's work and we all have a work to do a marvelous work. 

I have a lot I learned this week and in my studies today I read in 1 Nephi 13:37 I love it because if we all do our part in spreading the gospel or edifying Zion in our families, neighbors, wards whatever it be we will be blessed with the sprit to do the work and this is enduring to the end. Love you all!!!!!

Hermana Morgan Anderson

Chile Linda

NOTE - I am trying to get this blog updated.  It may take awhile and the posts will be a little out of order.  I will put a date on each one and hope it makes sense.

September 23, 2013

Buenas Dias Familia

Well Family as you know this week was 18 de Septiembre in Chile which means that everyone was eating meat and more meat and lots of people were out of town.  So as far as contacting went it was a slow week, but we did have the most lessons with members we have ever had..so that was def a blessing. Hermana Gonzalez had too much meat on Thursday and so as we were laying in bed about an hour after we had turned out the lights she woke me up and said her stomach hurt and she had desires to throw up so I was like go to the bathroom so she went. I kept thinking that she would just throw up a little and be fine...but as I heard more and more I made the conclusion that I should probably get up and help her....she of course was fine after the throwing up..but yea it was a fun night...we concluded that it was because of all the meat.  

We had the celebration of 18 with the branch on Friday, where we had lunch and watched some dancing.  One of our investigators was going to dance but that day his sister called him and they had a family get together so we missed that. But it was fun to spend some time with the branch. I made the no bake cookies the night before and took them to the party and they were a huge hit they always are everyone says I have to teach them how to make them. 

E is doing great, I gave him one the CTR rings that mom sent me and some little post-its to mark his scriptures..he was super excited and loved the CTR or I should say HLJ ring. We are planning the baptism for Sunday, we are still working on the trust of his mom, and we have transfers this week..which we find out tomorrow...ah nervous! But yea whatever happens E is super prepared and even if he can´t be baptized this Sunday I know he has a testimony and will be able to be baptized some day! 

We taught an investigator the importance of prayer and our relation with God and his wife who is less active helped him give the closing prayer...it was so great! 

Oh so I forgot to tell you guys that like 3 weeks ago or so the water from the tap went bad and we couldn´t drink from it because it had crossed lines with the sewer water...tons of people were sick from the water..but it seems to be okay now but that was an exciting time. 

Mom thanks for your thoughts on marriage, yes we had given her the proclamation and she and her partner had read it together..we weren´t able to see them this week, but I hope we can help them with their faith in Christ. I am learning so much in how to teach less with no we can´t do that or do this or but more with things we can do...it´s definitely a hard thing to learn. 

That´s too bad that BYU lost...sounds like a fun long nighter...ah and I can´t believe Faith is 18 what is happening to the world...no but wow her birthday celebration sounds great...tell her happy birthday for me via fb or something. 

Dad the meeting with the area sounds amazing! I loved the scriptures and the discussion ideas. I am definitely going to have to study those scriptures,but it is so true that this work grows more when we work with the members and we all work together. 

Yesterday in church we had three great talks one on missionary work and the others on the law of chastity and Elder Watmala...I don't know how to write his name but he is a counselor to Pres Kahnlien. 

Well that's my week for you all. Thanks for your prayers and support. I know this Church is true and that we have a Savior who is the way and light for all of us! K love you lots!!!

Thanks for everything. Les amo mucho!!

Hermana Morgan Anderson

La Corvi

Familia

Bueno, so as you see from my title I was transferred to the Corvi (Hermana Hermansen ended here with an Hermana who went home early because she had a tumor), I am with Hermana Rodriguez, from Mexico, Mexico City. She is a convert of 5 years and amazing. She is super chill so although opening an area is a little nerve racking because we don´t know much about the area, things are calm and we are learning a lot. The ward is small we had about 20 people in the ward or that attended, oh and did I mention I lead the music but did a horrible job...oops oh well when I introduced myself I made it clear just in case they had not noticed that music is not one of my biggest talents.

So yes it was hard to leave Ovalle after so much time, but I have peace that everything will be okay and yes E was baptized on Sunday so yay!!! He is so great and knows so much for a 12 year old. I told you I gave him a CTR ring and things to mark his scriptures and he was so happy and when we passed by for him on Monday to give him Echo (because he didn´t have any in his house only cafe) he was wearing his CTR ring and was with a friend and he was such a great missionary to his friend inviting him to mutual and his baptism. 

Well so yes the Corvi is close to Viña. We are actually in Viña right now because Hermana Rodriguez needs to pick up her new card. The bus ride from the north to Viña is 6 hours then from Viña to Quillota on a bus...ugh to say the least I was a bit sick...but thankful I did not throw up. Oh and our district meetings we have to take a bus for 1 1-2 hours. 

We are still trying to find people...we placed a book of Mormon with R who is interested so we are going to keep working with him. We found a family who had missionaries living with them like 20 yrs ago but of the family that is still there are not members so we are working with them. R, a girlfriend of the son, said she saw the peace and everything in us and wants to be baptized so we have to help them get married first. But that´s all for now...oh the Corvi the area is much bigger than Limari

Sadly we haven't seen the RS broadcast, but I think we will be able to on Saturday. At least I know they were broadcasting it in Ovalle on Saturday. But it sounds super amazing...so if not I will have to wait until the Liahona comes out.

Sounds like everyone is having a great time and doing well.  Okay well I love you all lots! Thanks for your prayers and support. Pray that we can find the people and know this ward better. Love you!!

Hermana Morgan Anderson