La Ligua semana 2‏

Well another weke here in La Ligua and everything is going great! Yesterday for Church I played the piano for sacrament meeting. It appears I may be practicing a little bit more! haha It went well, I played a lot better this time! but the hermana directing the music was fun to play with, I am pretty sure we changed time and speed in that song for every verse! haha It was great!

Then we hada fantastic lesson with a young girl, who is the daughter of a less active hermana. Her name is Anais. She is so great! and when we shared with her this last week she told us that she feels very good now about her baptism and so we are working so that she can be baptized in a couple weeekss!!!!!! WOOOOO!!!! We are also working with a few other people that have to stop smoking, but they are relly trying and seeing the improvement! I love it when they come to church and the branch member are all very friendly with them! Its awesome to see those new members making big decisions and helping those who are also new! Its so cool to see the gospel in action!!!

Oh yeah, this was the week of the 18! I feel like it was a long time ago! haha It went great! The branch activity was fun! They all did "La Cueca" and we played some games, ate lots of empanadas and meat! haha It was pretty average! haha Although it was hard to find people to share with! We did have lots of drunk people try and talk to us. We actually had one stalking us for a while, but I tihnk he forgot what he was doing. It really is sad to see how many people just drink so much and they get nothing out of it! and their families all hate it! ugh... We just pray for them!

I also did my first interchange in Cabildo this week! That was a blast! I was with Elder Reyes, and Elder from Mexico and we just went by a bunch of people and a lot of the members there are also great! The branch there is even smaller than here in la Ligua, but they are great! We have lots of work to help those who have made covenants with God but are not living them now. Its sad that people dont understand. But thats why we are helping them! =D

Last but not least. We had lunch with one family this week and after lunch we played a little jumprope with the little daughter and it was great fun! haha We shared with them the importance of helping their neighbors and just giving a good example ot everyone! How important is that? So thats what I would like to invite everyone to do this week. Look for ways to serve your neighbors and try and tell them you love them! And if that is hard, pray for the love for your neighbors, thats important as well!!!!

Well I am glad to hear that everyone loved the 18 de septiembre!!! Wear that Chilean pride!!! haha Cuidanse!!!

Elder Marvin =D

La Ligua: Semana 1‏

So I pretty much LOVE IT HERE!!!! You know how before the mission I was hoping to get out in a place where maybe by some chance someone might need help branding their cows? This would be the place! haha La Ligua is a little branch with, about 60-80 people that regularly attend, but it consists of the member from about 5 different "Pueblitos" or little towns. Its pretty much AWESOME!!!!

So enough of these paved Vina roads, I am down to walking accross fields, and taking the dirt road! haha Makes me feel right at home! haha This last sunday was a little rough, and I guess this whole week is going to be that way because of the "festivos" and well everyone and their dog will be a little affected from their parties if you know what I mean. haha its sad really. We went to visit an investigator yesterday and her husband was home. and I guess she told us that evertime he comes home all he does is drink, and she hates it. She hates everything about it. And with him not having work for the whole week, she has to deal with it for the whole week. Then the saddest part was when she said "This is the worst week of the whole year. I dread it, and I just cant do anything about it." She is doing really well to stop smoking and has gone for a few days now, maybe even a week! But she hates alcohol, and everything about it. We will be praying for her this week!

Then we visited some converts and less active families this week as well. They are all doing really well, just lack the urge to go to church. So we shared with them on how it will help them! They get to a point when they feel comfortable and then just stop, and now their lives are rough again, and they dont believe that church will help them, but they havent given it a try either! So we have been inviting lots to come to church this last week!

I also came to see how truly confused people really are! its kinda crazy! One guy we were teaching this week told us "Well the bible says that there cannot be anymore revelation." Heaven forbid... oh dear... haha So I quickly asked " What? Would you mind showing that to me?" There are so many people that have that bug in their head. Lets recap "God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever" but somehow he changes... uh... no. QUACK!!! haha So we shared scriptures from the bible showing him why and how there is still revelation, and actually a prophet that lives! It was cool, because the spirit was so strong and he was kinda not wanting to accept it, but we invited him to just pray about it. Dont listen to us crazy gringos, but listen to the spirit. He will testify of these things. I love that about the gospel. We can come and through love, show people what the truth is. Its hard to accept change, and we see it all the time! But when people pray, they cannot fight the feelings that they have! I love it!

The one fun fact for the week: Who would believe me if I told you I played the piano for a conference we had with a Seventy? Anyone? Bingo. haha Ya, the assistents knew that I can play the simplified songs, and well it wasnt anything magical, or spectacular. I made mistakes, but its kinda cool knowing I can now say I have played for a setenta! Oh, and then on sunday, my FIRST sunday, there was only 1 hour of church because there was a parade that started at 11 and then not many people showed up, and I was asked to give a talk! haha but there was a lot of noise, and so I didnt get a chance to do more than introduce myself. haha So it has been a good week! I am loving everything about La Ligua! Even down to the "Dulces" which are these manjar and bread or cookies or just the things that they make! haha I am loving it!

I hope that you are all doing very well! As for me, we are going to try and activate some kids and play some futbol, so take care! I love you all!

Elder Marvin

semana 1 cambio 9‏

Hola a todos... Yes, I know. A little early to be writing the blog. However, I am NO LONGER IN THE OFFICE!!!! Not that I didnt love it but I am TOTALLY STOKED TO BE BACK OUT!!! WOOOO!!!! haha and well now I have p-day on MONDAY!!! So to all of you that love me and would like to write, I will be replying on Monday's again, (and the occasional tuesday, like hoy), just so that you know mom, and Alena. (jeje)

So Sunday was my last time in the viña (shoot, english keyboard....im missing keys. curse copy and paste) and it was great. The bishop had us, Elder Dipaz and I (he was also leaving the office) give our last testimonies and it was great! I love the ward so dmuch and it was great to see so much gratitude from so many members! I realized how many of them that I love and after 6 months it was sad to say goodbye. I do love the ward SO MUCH!!!! But it was great to be working with all of them for this time that I was given! After church I went to lunch with the familia Unda. We had a good lunch, talked about the mission, and then, you know what? They said they used to live in rancagua. Hey Nate Tanner, they remember you, do you remember David Unda and the JAS from barrio Recreo? They said I had a good cousin. IT was sweet! So it looks like you did a good job! =D Then we said goodbye and went to visit some people. We even taught a less active girl, but I think that she will start getting more active now! She knows the chruch is true, and now she is going to help her parents accept it as well! Then I (by the way I was with Elder young and Elder Dipaz,) got back with Elder Valladares and Elder Farnsworth and we went and visited la familia Mancilla. they are so great! We helped them with the santa cena cause they were both sick today, and then just shared a quick thought. I love them SO MUCH!!! It was nice to say goodbye one last time though.

Then Monday, I had to get all my stuff packed, and I woke up bright and early to help the elderes coming from the north get in fine. and well it as a run run run kind of morning, but all went well! Then we had our reunion de los cambios and Presidente Kahnlein went through and I was ALMOST THE LAST ONE TO KNOW but it was what I thought it was, I was reassigned to be with Elder Cannell en La Ligua!!!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!! So we got everything together, made sure that i left Elder Valladares with everything that he needed and then we rolled off with my bumblebee bags! haha We got on a bus, not just a micro, but we still had to pay for our own, and its not the cheepest. And then it was 2 and 1/2 hours to the north and the interior. We got there, I didnt really want to unpack and so we got into studies. By the way, I have to finish training Elder Cannell, so he is now my step son!!! WOOO!!! He is a great kid and I am so excited to be working with him!!!! And he has a great attitude, that makes a HUGE difference! So we still have lots of studies to do, so we did that, went over the carpeta (area book) and then at night we went out! We went by the ward mission leader and his family and they are SO GOOD!!!! We will definitely be working with them a ton! and then we went by a couple investigators and let me just say the people are different here, but way more open and calm. Not so much of the running city life! I love it! haha so we had a great time and we contacted some great people as well! Elder Cannell speaks good spanish as well, so thats not even a worry for me. He is still learning, but is so good! Then we got back, did some planning, and then I got a phone call from my new zone leaders.

They asked me "Hey, so you are the new district leader, right?" Huh?!? I didnt remember hearing anything like that, they must be mistaken... then they said "uh.... ok we will see you later than.." hahaha But then this morning I got a phone call again from them and they said "The Lord has called and wants you to be a district leader! WOOOO!!!!" haha So now I am finishing up training and I am the district leader! WOOOOO!!!! So I gave a call to my district and we got some information. I am over us, 2 elderes, and 2 sisters. I am pretty excited, but I still have LOTS to learn. Then we did our studies and cleaned up some at the pension. I found a cool 2 year calendar in the process especially for missionaries. and I roasted my speakers. haha so I will be looking for some new ones!!! haha Other than that, oh, the reason I am using an english keyboard is because there is a couple serving here as missionaries especialized in the branch here (oh, btw, about 75 people come to church here.) and they let us use their computers I guess! So Thats sweet!!! Although, as financiero, I learned we also spend A LOT in travels here! haha thats alright! I am so excited for the work and the baptisms!

Another random thought, the bowens are friends with an elderly couple from Nyssa. The Mclaughlin's. haha they are from Vancouver washington, and well, small world! haha

Well thats about all the excitement from these last few days! I hope all is well at home! I  love you all!

Elder Marvin

Còmo estàn?

Well there she went, my last week in the office! WOOO!!! haha I have loved EVERY second of it, and i am excited to be 100% focused in helping my brothers and sisters come unto christ once again! YAY! This last week has been a great one as well! 

We got to know two new investigators and we have visited them every day this week!!! They are a niece and aunt who we got the reference from and they are fantastic. Eliana the older one was sharing with the missionaries in the states but then she came back to chile and she is ready to be baptized! Its so awesome! And now her niece is also excited about total and they are both working to be baptized in the next two weeks! Eliana, the aunt, was sharing for 8 months in the states and she knows everything! Its awesome! and Carmen, the niece, is learning everything so quickly! They are great! We also got ANOTHER reference from a girl who is here studying. She lives with some companions from the university, but she is the only member! its been great though because she is super strong and invites a ton of friends to listen! This is the second good reference from her. and so we went and shared with Pablo, and he had tons of questions and was super happy when we left him a book of mormon to be his! He told us that he would read it and we were stoked! He is also willing to go to church, and with Letisia, he will have the friend that he needs as well! Its great! Converts who already had friends in the church always stay SO much stronger! I love it! 

Then we had consejo friday and Presidente told me "I am sure that you already know that you are leaving the office, right?" and I said yes, and then he just asked if I would give my testimony in the beginning of consejo. It was nice to be there and listen for a little bit and be apart of it! Who knows where I will be off to next!? 

I am excited and anxious to know where I will be going, and with who I will be. Will I have another assignment or just be working hard? Presidente almost told me where I was going, but he decided not to. I really didnt think that he would start and then just leave me out in the dry! I guess I will find out with everyone else! But I should have p-day again on tuesday! haha WHOO!!! So I wil at least let everyone know how that went! haha 

Oh, and I found a little bit of heaven. You will have to see the fotos to understand that one! Loves to everyone! Chao Chao! 

Elder Marvin =D

semana 5 cambio 8‏

What a fantastic week! Wasn´t it, wasn´t!?!?

So this week was a week of AWESOMENESS!!!! We had tons to do in the office and with the new opened pension we had to get that all ready. And with it being the last week of Agosto, we had reports to get ready and we had to prepare for rent. The good part is I have had a lot of time to clean around the office and do other little projects for other people. For example, Hermana Hugie, the new nurse here in the mission, she has me go through and check her spanish on her papers and occasionally translate for phone calls. I like doing things like that, but i am getting excited to be back out and help tons of people come unto christ!

Last sunday we had a lesson with a couple new investigators, Sandra y Ester. They are a mother and daughter who are great! The mom says she has always felt like something was missing, and she wants to serve a mission. We talked with her for the first time at the noche de Talentos that we had a few weeks ago, and when we shared with her it went great! her daughter is in her last year of studying to become a lawyer and she is super smart! When we share with them they understand everything and just have the BEST questions. For example in our first lesson, they asked why God lets bad things happen and how he can let people do bad things. They just receive it all! And we came back on tuesday and shared again and they had read what we left them and understood EVERYTHING!!!! It was awesome! The spirit gets strong when we go there, and the member that has gone with us does a great job as well. He is a returned missionary and he was unable to serve his whole mission, but is very willing to help now! Its great!

We also have been working so that Elder Valladares knows what are the important things to finish in a day and the things that can wait for the next day. Presidente Kähnlein said that he wants us to really try to get out in the streets more, so we are trying to get it all working for that! It has been hard though, because there is lots to do, but we hope to be able to do better!

Then last night we also went and we have been visiting a little elderly lady who has been struggling because she lives alone, but we have done some service and its great to get some time with her! She is a blast and a good little lady! Then we decided to go after some members that are on the lists from the church that I have never met and the first house we went to was AWESOME!!!!! We were welcomed into the house and there was a mother and her 14 year old son. We just shared a minute because then they had to go to a meeting. But we asked to end with a prayer and we asked the son and he asked us how to do it. So we said, sorry, we thought you were a member, but HE IS NOT!!!! So we taught him how, and he prayed for us. Then we invited him to church with his mother that I have NEVER met! it was great! Then we set up to come and visit them on sunday as well! The son was SO GREAT!!!! I am way excited for them! It was a GREAT day!

Lastly we did another service of taking a table from the 2nd story of a house, over and off the roof, adn then put it in the downstair because the stairs were WAY too small to take it there! But it was fun and afterwards we talked with the hermana (she is so great!) and we talked about who in her neighborhood could use the gospel and it was great! So clearly it was a great semana and with a very fun letter from my mom and a whole lot of teasy from the gang here! ;) hehe Love it! haha

Well I love you all and I hope that everyone is looking and praying for missionary opportunities!!! Loves a todos!!!!


Elder Marvin =D