Week 10: Adventures of the grumpy grandma who tasted so good

Allo!
I am still a bit behind, sorry about that! Hopefully you will forgive me, I am sure that is what Zach would want you to do.

As always, Elder Van Pelt is uber homesick. He says that if it wasn't for all the support he has received from friends and family and the knowledge he has of the gospel, he would be hopping on the next flight home.  As everyone knows Zach is awesome at immersing himself in the gospel, so that is what he is doing to keep his head in the game. He wants so bad for the people of Chile to have eternal families. He got a package that my mom sent him, full of lots of American treasures, so that was a pick up for him.

Zach has felt a little insufficient in his companions eyes, that he is too young to be doing this work.  He had an interview with the mission president where he addressed his feelings and president Bluth gave him some advice he really took to heart: Forget everything and what people are saying and just love. There is no defense for love. After this instance, Zach was later on splits with Elder Reynolds ,who is his zone leader and a convert to the church, where they gave a lesson on Joseph Smith. During this time it hit him that Joseph Smith was so young when he was given the task to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ. He stayed pretty quiet during the lesson, until the end when he testified that showing love makes a difference. Zach said he felt the spirit testifying through him with love, even though his Spanish is still not that great.

Elder Van Pelt and his companion this week had been having a hard time finding anyone to listen to their message. One day, after they had been knocking on doors with no success, they came upon a door which was opened up to them. They told the woman that they were missionaries and she immediately invited them in. He was so surprised to find that she was so welcoming, even feeding them before listening to their lesson. After the message he asked her why she let them in. She responded by telling them that two other elders had come by her house 3 or 4 times, to which she usually declines to hear the message. When she saw Zach and his companion, she got a distinct feeling to let them both in because she felt bad for declining to listen to the other elders. Zach was very thankful for the elders before them who planted a seed for this woman to have her heart softened enough to hear Zach's message for her.

Elder Van Pelt has heard a lot of weird things since he has been gone from home (like the missionaries work for the CIA and that the church steeples are direct antennas to communicate with America). One of the members this week told Zach about a very special fruit, a banana. She told him to rub a banana peel on his face at night to get rid of his acne, which he of course is trying. He hasn't seen a difference, but his face smells like fruity goodness now.

Now, we have seen a trend with Zach over in Chile... Grandmas really seem to not like him, or the missionaries. Good thing we get another peek into this hilarious trend! Zach and his companion were out tracting when they saw an old grandma walking across the street and seemed unhappy to see them. She was crossing the street with a stray dog slowly creeping up behind her. There are a lot of stray dogs in Chile, they usually just follow people and bark at them, but this "baby dog thing" (as Zach called it) decided to jump out from behind her and bit her leg. She immediately looked at Zach and his companion and said "that dog bit me!". Zachs companion asked if she needed help to which she looked at her leg, threw her arm in the air and sassily turned away and stomped off. Zach said that she deserved it because she needed to be humbled. Sounds like it didn't work.

Zachs message for this week is about the Book of Mormon. He wanted to testify to us that Christ lives and the Book of Mormon are words that are intended for us in this time. He said that if you ever have any doubts about your purpose here on earth, to turn to the Book of Mormon and let Christ into your life.

Until next week!
Hasta luego!

Week 9: Adventures of a world without peanut butter

Hello lovers of Elder Van Pelt!

Sorry that I have been on haitus for two weeks, I was kind of having a baby. So Zach has a new niece that he can look forward to meeting at the airport in 2 years.

Zach has had some ups and downs the last several weeks, as we would expect him to have. A common problem (or so I hear from my husband) is getting along with companions. It seems Zach has run into this as he has arrived in Chile. He has tried to keep working but finds it hard to motivate himself while also motivating his companion, but as we all know, Elder Van Pelt is very motivated and is taking things one step at a time with the focus on Christ.

This week Zach was able to do splits with Elder Chumbe, who is from Peru. He speaks no English, so Zach really had to rely on the spirit while they taught together in order to understand him.

Elder Van Pelt and his companion have been teaching a little old lady, maybe in her 70s (a little chilean grandma that doesn't hate Zach... Thats a surprise!) Anyways Zach was determined to find Miriam, they spent the day knocking on doors with not a lot of luck. When they reached Miriam's door Zach bore his testimony of God and Jesus Christ. She was about to close the door when Zach interrupted and asked if she could please spend 5 minutes of her time to talk with them. She replied that she didn't have time and to come back the next day, when they taught her an amazing lesson and set up another appointment with her. He feels good about her and feels that with persistence and love she might see the truth of what they are teaching. Zach was also able to teach a pastor this week. He didn't realize he was a pastor until he was in his house and saw items that represented his religion (pastor certificates, crosses, etc.). Elder Van Pelt immediately thought he was going to get his ear chewed off by this pastor and said a prayer to ease tension. Elder Van Pelt and his companion ended up getting another appointment with this gentleman! Wahoo!

Zach has been uber homesick lately as he has been gone 2 months, but he has coped with his emotional roller coaster with encouraging words that friends and family have given him on the way. 

The food is great in Chile, he has gained 6 pounds (which if you know Zach, is a miracle). They don't eat peanut butter or pepper. The people of Chile really mean so much to Zach he just really wants them all to know of the truth of the gospel. He is adapting to the life of a missionary, although hard, he is still getting used to the lack of sleep. He says that church there is super different. He feels the spirit greatly in sacrament and ends up losing it in priesthood meeting where all the men argue about stupid doctrinal things, how to raise kids or what food should be at the upcoming branch party.

Anyways, that is about it for Elder Van Pelt this week, but keep your kind words coming to him. He loves to hear from everyone, and remember, letters written to him are best because he can enjoy them throughout the week and not just during his short amount of time on p-day.

Hasta luego!