semana 4 cambio 8‏

So what a fun week! I feel like the battle is on, or at least trying to get a good day planned and for everything to go as planned would be my challenge at this point in time. I would like to help my companion so that he can feel comfortable to take the drivers wheel (literally and metaphorically: I gotta teach him how to drive stick shift in these next few weeks. The bad part is he has noo desire to drive, but his assignment says otherwise. haha). It was a good week though! 

On Sunday we talked with a jewish lady who was really nice! She had such a great look on life and wanted to really do what god expects of her. Although what was hard for me was the fact that she doesnt believe that Jesus is our savior. It caught me off guard and I knew it before hand, but the pass along card I gave her was of Jesus, and so she explained why she couldn´t accept the card, but was really nice about it. We bore testimony and she told us she was really busy, but maybe one day we could get together and share something with her. I couldnt help but think how much of her family is also jewish because she was saying how the church has always been apart of her family. It was a cool experience! Also, later that night we talked with a less active lady who even served a mission, but then came home on health problems and married a catholic boy and he doesnt want anything to do with God now, and as we were talking with her we could see her face light up remembering all the blessings that come from the gospel of Christ. She however did not think that we should come over just yet. She lives a couple towns away, but we could tell that she is scared of what her family will say. She said she was sure they would say no, but we said "We are used to that, and what is it going to hurt if we come by? Maybe he will be ready to listen to this gospel. She was convinced though. Where is the faith in this world?

Then later in the week we helped the hermanas move into their new pension and we got the contract signed and everything is nice and dandy for the missionaries there. However, closing the pension was a different story! haha We called the owner to tell them that we could give them the keys and we were expecting the "mes de garantia" or like idk what it is in english. Its like a payment to start a house, and at the end of renting it, you can get it back if the house is in good shape still. Well we told them we were expecting it back and suddenly, they needed to just change a billion things. So Elder Valladares gave me the phone (and this is my first time opening and closing a pension, but I have learned how it all works) and the man was saying how we had to pay another full months rent because they didnt know and the sisters just left a week ago, and that we would have to pay for this and that, and since they didnt have the keys that we would have to pay even more. Clearly we were working with people who had no idea what they were talking about! I simply asked "Have you even ever rented before?", a little bit strong worded, but I knew the answer, they had not. So We planned a time to get together and to bring the keys, that night. When we got there they tried to go at us again and get more money from us and we explained how they were wrong and I said "If the repairs are going to be expensive, we can leave the mes de garantia with you and we just want you to sign here saying "we are no longer liable" and they were happy with that. Man, I just could not believe someone would argue about something they didnt know a thing about! And he wasnt even the owner! Whatever, it was funny on the drive home to think about it! haha 

I also felt like I got to know President better this week. He had to come with us to sign the contract and and so we had some time to talk and I loved it! I can now say that I feel more respect for him and less fear. I know that he is guided by God, and he will bring great things for this mission! I am loving all that is happeneing and I cant believe that I am in my last 2 weeks of the office! Where has the time gone!?!? Well I hope that everyone is loving their time now that school has started back up again! I remind you all to pray for those in need, whether it be friends or family. I know that there is a pawer in prayer like none other. Practice your faith and you will see God´s hand working miracles! LOVES!!!! 

Elder Marvin

semana 3 cambio 8‏

Just another day in the office, errr week I guess. Except we had more elderes going home. We had one group that went home a few weeks early for their classes. The sad part was I know way too many of them and it was sad to see them go but good to see they served so well for these two years!

On tuesday Elder Viñas of the quorum of the Seventy was here and he met with all the zone leaders, and then we had lunch with him! haha It was pretty cool, and I heard lots of good things from the conference they had! We are definitely going to really crack down now. I think this year hasnt been going quite as planned, but it is time to get to work and just go get it done!

Wednesda, Elder Peteresen y Elder Castillo came down for their last few days in the mission. That was cool that I got to see them before they left to go home. The sad thing was the temple was closed, but on the plus side we got to say goodbye to everysingle one personally! I still feel so young in the mission, but every change more and more missionaries are going home that I know and it is just kinda crazy to see so many good Elderes go home!

Sadly this change has required a lot from us in the office, and so we have had near the same amount of time to be out in the streets and teaching. We have been working like crazy and its interesting because since I am training Elder Valladares to do everything, it goes a little bit slower, because he has to remember and learn how to do everything! We are still working hard! I cant believe we are already halfway through the change. Next thing I know I am going to be out and about and 100% focused on the work again! WOO HOO! LUNCH WITH THE MEMBERS!! WOO! haha In the meantime I will enjoy these last few weeks that I have here in the office! I love the mission! its so great!

One funny note, one elders parents came to get him and his dad actually served in the same mission (Viña) and his old mission companion came with them! And (dont get lost now) his dad´s old companions wife was talking with me and I asked about their family, and she told me their oldest child was a 19 year old girl. She then continued on and offered to introduce me to her daughter when I finish in a year!!! HAHA! It was kinda funny!

Well thats all the excitingness of this week. I love it, I love my family, I love my life! Cuidense todos!

Elder Marvin

semana 2 cambio 8‏

What a week, and thank goodness we were able to leave on SOME days! haha We had a very busy week with lots to do and not enough time to get it all done! I have learned that it takes a lot of time when teaching someone incomparison as to when I was just doing it myself!

Lucky for me, ELder Valladares is very smart and learns quickly. He says he is a little worried that he is doing the work, but nothing stays in his memory. I think he will be just fine, really he just has to learn how to follow the many binders that have the answers to everything. Once he learns how and where to find that information, it will be easy! and we are still in week 2 so all is well! So the big projects we had this week was all the reports that had to be finalized and sent to Santiago by the 10th, (credit card report, and auto report, and various reference number reports.) But we at least got everything done on time! haha Although it was calling it close on a few things!

Also on Monday we went through and threw out all the things we dont need in the office. It wasnt dirty, but President wants to start a deep clean every 6 months and so that it always looks good. And we changed the order of things! The mission nurse just got here this last tuesday as well, and she is very nice and a great person! She is still learning spanish, but all is well! In the meantime, I got to do some translating phone calls for her! haha it was fun!

Tuesday we were working on auto insurance paper from the police and right after that elder young needed me to help him on a medical run, because A-he doesnt know how to get to this pension, and B- He still hasnt learned to drive a stick shift. haha But it was fun, just a late night. We got home and in bed by abotu 12:30. At least we could make some good contacts with some students from New Jersey! haha

Wednesday we Helped an Elder get redy for his flight home and everything, and then thursday we had to make a run to Villa Alemana Oeste and then to Limache. We had to get President´s signature and send off a report by THAT NIGHT. The bad thing was one of the reports we needed all the receipts and we never got all of the receipts from President. When we had him sign a paper that says "all is well" and he told me he was SURE he gave us them, so I guess I lost them. No creo, pero bueno. It wasnt a big deal, so we got his signatures and then went to Limache. We had to leave some papers for the Hermanas there and they were very grateful! Then on the drive home we went by Peña Blanca and I loved it!

However we HAVE taught a few lessons this week. And we do our best to talk with everyone in the streets. It has been a long and hard week in the office! haha But its fun, and I love the work I have! We are also changing a pension for some missionaries and well we shall be learning together, but all should be well! Well I love you all and I hope that everything is going great back at home! Its weird to think that the school will be starting again soon! haha Oh yeah, by the way I hit my 1 YEAR IN THE MISSION!!!!! WOOOOO!!!!!! And I am still the youngest in the office. haha I love it here! Cuidanse!

Elder Marvin