La Serena semana 4‏

Well my first month has here and come and well things are going pretty well! This week was a little bit of a "trier" (if that works...) but it ended greatly! We put the goal of contacting LOTS more people and well we are seeing the fruits! 

Also, we are starting to see the fruits of working with the members! We have lots that are willing to come out with us, and a few that are even starting to bring their friends to us to teach. There is one hermana in particular, who is a returned missionary and she is helping us a TON!!! She is sharing with EVERYONE in her college and a few of them are really interested. One, Nicole, became a new investigator for us yesterday. She really wanted to know more, and she came to church and loved it! She is WAY good and really wants to understand more of what we teach. She has an evangelical background, but she said she didnt get her fill there. So we are excited to start teaching her. We also found a lady this week who lives in the house of an old investigator. We started talking with her and she received everything quickly! It was really cool because we almost walked past her house, but we decided to stop and ask. We also havea lesson planned with her for this week. She even told us that she would like to be baptized if that would be possible! I LOVE IT!!!!!! 

Its really cool to see how some people are so prepared. We have been working for a month and its been a little slow, but things are starting to fall together now! I love working with Elder Holmes, he teaches me new things everyday and just is happy to be out here. He is really strong as well, and hasnt felt sad for himself or anything! I am really impressed with all that he does and we just havea great time together!!!

This week I have had some great studies as wellI! I was studying for a few investigators who dont really understand prayer. We tried to find some great scriptures and a few really called my attention. En Moroni 10:4 (famous), 3 Nephi 18:20 and D&C 63:7-11. Now for all of you, I hope that as you look these up, you can really think in how prayer has helped you in your life. and as well think of how prayer is not just us talking to God but He responds as well. Its so important that we always listen to see what He has for us! Also, dont forget about Easter and think of what it really means.  

Well thats all that I got for this week!" I hope that everyone is loving the easter season and your hopefully not too cold! ;) Its pretty cold down here, but then again, not really. Im just not used to it. jaja Cuidense!!! 

Con mucho caiño, Elder Marvin =D

La Serana semana 3‏

Well another week come and gone and well we are finally going to be moving! The zone leaders ar e getting the papers signed and we are going to be on our own and have space! I am so excited! jaja We should be changing right here shortly. 

So this week you could say we put a little (or a lot) of our focus into sharing with the members. We are trying to get to know them all as best as we can so that we can serve them and we can work with them to teach their family and friends. And well things are starting to turn out for us! There is a young couple who are studying and they have been sharing their testimonies and their friends said "wow, I love how I feel when you talk to me about your church" and they really want to come and learn more. So hopefully in these next few days we will be getting their info to go and teach. I hope they all live here in our area! jaja 

I had interchanges with Elder Hales, my zone leader that was here last change and he helped me to find lots of these members and we had a really good day! We talked with lots of good people and I really loved working with him! He is a great Elder and we just had a great time sharing with everyone and sharing our secrets of success. jaja 

Our investigator pool is a little dry right now, but we have one investigator whos name is "Ricardo" and he is really interested in everything and we were able to teach him 3 times this last week. We also shared with another college student who is only 22 and he is really receptive. He wants to be able to help his family the best he can; he has a 7 year old brother and he also wants to give back to his parents, so he is very mature. And he plays rugby... he`s a big kid! jaja We had a great lesson with him though, he told us that he really wanted to have the guidance he needs to make the best decisions. We had a joven who is leaving for his mission in a couple of weeks and he shared his testimony about how he felt the spirit and couldnt deny it for the first time and it was powerful. I love how the spirit can really strike home. 

I also have really liked how Elder Holmes is teaching me and I to him. We are working together really well! We havent had any problems at all! We get along great and I hope that I can just help him to get all that he needs to be the best missionary possible! Sometimes he is a little nervous and shym, but I am trying to talk less and leave him more to talk! jaja Its fun! I really like his personality and attitude. 

I was studying this week a lot from the atributes of Christ, it went really well! And I must say for all of you who have Preach my gospel, look up chapter six, think of how you can apply it to your life. and then to help, make goals that you can accomplish and better yourselves. I did it and I REALLY loved the scriptures that they share with it all. =D 

So that was my week, nothing too exciting this week, just the good ole work! Lovin it! 

Elder Marvin =D

La Serena semana 2‏

Bueno, another week has FLOWN by, and may I say that I have just a the greatest companion? Elder Holmes and I have had a great time together and its just tons of fun to be with a new missionary! But I have to remember sometimes that he really hasnt done some things before, and so I have to be way excited so that he just loves whatever it is!! But he is obedient, thats very important and helpful for me!!! jaja

So we had a nice and trying week. We still dont have many investigators, but we are working on it and everyday we are talking with more and more people! jaja One day this week while looking for investigators and a place to rent, we decided to knock one door and ask if it was open to rent. A young adult of 27 years answered the door and he said that he had just moved in there. We said darn and asked if he knew of anywhere nearby, he said no but then asked us about what church we were from. He lives just around the corner from where they are building a new stake center, so he was curious! So we started to explain and he invited us in. He explained how he was in his last years of studies and last year he was in a fatal car crash. There was 3 people in the car and he was the only one to live through it. He showed us pictures and it just surprised me that he was able to live: a head on crash with a semi. He was in recovery for a lot of time and said that he felt the pressence of his grandma when he was going through the hardest times. We explained that God had a plan and that his grandma really is closer than it may seem. We shared a little more and left a book of mormon with him, and tonight we are going to see how it went. 

Also,I went back to VIña on thursday for a District leader training. It was actually one of the most spiritual meetings that I have had in a long time. We had a member from the viña ward share his conversion story and it was powerful. He reminded us that when we share our testimonies we shouldnt be afraid rather we need to be so sincere so that everyone can feel that we truly know that this is the true gospel. I loved it. We also talked about how we can help all our investigators and our district members and their investigators to the MAX. I loved the spirit there and it inspired me to go out and work. I wish we had more meetings like THAT! jaja There in simply NOTHING that beats a spiritual meeting that excites you for the work!!! 

So I put the goal to make everyday a spiritual experience. It is NOT easy, it requires lots of organization, but it makes the world of a difference. I actually would like to invite you all to do the same. Be organized and when you do your estudies, think and pray about what you should study, and go do it. Expect God to answer your questions, and be faithful. Take time throughout the day to listen for his answers as well, and I promise you will find your days to be more spiritually guided. This week I read 2 scriptures that I wanted to share and I hope you can see the connection between the two. The first in Moroni 10:22 and the second in Alma 41:10. Now its your turn! 

So I hope that I can hear some of youir spiritual experiences as well! I would love to hear them! An invitation Presidente Kähnlein gave to La Serena in our stake conference, that EVERY MEMBER should always have a Book of Mormon with them where ever they go. So I extend that to you. Ask your bishop for a copy and take it with you everywhere. Put one in your car, in your backpack, and missionary experiences will find you!!! 

I love you all! Chile is the best! period. Les quiero!! 

Elder Marvin

La Serena semana 1

They did it. They finally did it. They kicked me up north. Thats right. I am now in the stake farthest north in our mission.... WOOO HOOO!!!!!! Other than the lat night bus that I didnt sleep on, it was great! I have been hoping that I would get to know the north a little while I was here in la Misión! and better yet, I filled my dream of going to the north with my "hijo" and we are opening the area we are in.

Some of you who know missionary work may be thinking "oh, thats kinda hard." You are absolutely correct, but its so awesome that we both just dont know anything about the area, and we are learning everday! Its a ton of fun!!! 

So a little about the week. Monday we visited and I said "chao" to some of the awesome people of La Ligua. I also got a phone call that reassured me that I was leaving La Ligua. Sad but true. and then tuesday was a regular day of work as well! So we did LOTS more visits and said goodbye to lots of people that I love so very much!!! La Ligua is by far the best branch in the WHOLE mission. Then, well lets just say I didnt have time to pack my bags until wednesday morning. I woke up and get it all ready, then we had brunch with Brian one last time. After all he has done for mei t was great to share one last time. He is a great joven!!! Then we had to run, and we got my suitcases that were STUFFED down to the bus terminal. We got on the same bus as the Cabildo Elderes. and well we had to kinda play tetris with the suitcases to get them to fit because they didnt have a place under the bus for them. Then only to make things a LITTLE more fun, the hermanas from troncal in Quillota also got on the same bus to viña, so we shuffled things around and then got everyone on. We made it to viña and all the way to the office before I had the devastating moment that no missionary wants... I broke my first suitcase wheel!!! NO!!!!!! I was sad, but thats life, just had to semi drag it along. It has 4 wheel,s but the one that died was a necessary one. but I will work to fix it. Switch around a couple of them. 

Then we had our capacitation for all the trainers, and well it started late.  and then they went over everything quickly, and told us to go wait for the changes meeting. I saw Elder Luna, my old zone leader and he said he knew where I was going, so I thought I was going to his zone, in Belloto. I was convinced! So we went in and sat down. Elder Rhoton and I sat together just nervous and way excited to see our newbies!!! Then finally Presidente Kähnlein came in and in a line he was followed by 17 hermanas and 15 Elderes. IT WAS A HUGE GROUP OF NEW MISSIONARIES!!! Way cool though. SO we listened to a thought by hermana Kähnlein and the news all sang a song. Then the changes came. Did I mention that I was nervous? and for some reason they always seem to save me for last! As the different zones had their changes announced, I sat anxious. Elder Rhoton got called and he is training a latino! So that will be great for him!!! and The belloto zone came and left!!! slightly confused I sat waiting until the last zone, La Serena. Then came my turn, Presidente Kähnlein announced Elder Holmes and said I was going to be his trainer! I was way stoked!!! In fact, I didnt hear where we were going!! jaja But we were good to go and excited!!! 

We had to wait until 930 before they brought us to the bus terminal and our bus left a little after 1130 from Viña. Sadly, I did NOT sleep very well, but I was excited!!! and we got to La Serena the next morning a little after 6am. Then we took our bags to our house. and right as we got there, ANOTHER WHEEL DIED!!! AHH!!!! but on the other suitcase. So I got some repairs to do. No worries mom, I have at least 6 weeks to try and fix everything!!! ;) jeje 

Then these last few days have been fun just trying to find some members and talkingwith lots of people in the streets! We are starting from scratch, so theres only one direction to go, right? 

So thats been my crazy life in a nut shell! I hope everyone is excited to hear about fun stories!!! As well as the power of the spirit here. The new ward is great and I can tell we are just going to have tons of success here!!! 

Well I hope that everyone is doing well, and if things are rough, turn to the scriptures, and read alma 56. God is with those who need him most, dont forget it!!! 

I love you all!!! Keep strong and remember that true happiness strarts with the basics!!! Chao!!! 

Elder Marvin