Week 36: Adventures of the co-inky dink

Heyo!

So Zachy Zachy...

His life is basically soccer I feel like. I mean, I know it is more than that, I know he studies gospel stuff, and walks around talking to people... But for reals, I think he is just playing soccer :)

SOCCER! See the dog on the right side? That is Sasha. She is a stray that follows Zach everywhere and is his guard dog. It is actually the cutest thing ever. She just waits outside every night for him. DARLING.

Also he has been teaching a young man named Rodrigo (when he is not playing soccer). This little guy has committed to baptism on April 11th, which Zach is pretty excited about, because that is a pretty special day in our family also. Our sister Cassie is getting sealed to her fiance and her little baby girl Tegan that day! What a cool little coincidence! So even though Zach won't be able to be with us in the temple that day, we know he will be somewhere pretty equally special, changing Rodrigo's life with the gospel.

Another investigator that Zach has is Raul who is about 45. He has been attending church sometimes, but seems to not want to commit to anything. He loves to go to activities, but wont commit to reading the scriptures or to pray, which are two pretty important aspects to gaining your own testimony of the gospel. Zach has been using this to his advantage and invites him to lots of places to help Raul open up. Just recently he invited Raul to family home evening with the re-activated Flores family. They played a game together and had a really fun time. So hopefully Raul can be blessed with the spirit and can see how important those things are to his activation.


Zachs challenge this week for everyone is to perfect our talents. He gave the example of our brother who has been working so hard with baseball. He practices everyday and juggles his tournaments with schoolwork and friends. Its kind of a rough schedule for a 13 year old. But he still continues to perfect his talents. With hard work, we can all grow our talents!

In conclusion and in Zach's own words:

"Right before Jesus Christ atoned for us in the garden of Gethsemani he asked for another way that the task at hand could be accomplished but willfully he submitted to the lords will. Right then as he began to atone for us Jesus Christ was then completely alone. This thought before haunted me to know he was completely alone. I always wondered why god left Jesus Christ completely alone. Have you ever thought about that? When Jesus Christ paid the price for every pain, emotion, sin, he did it completely alone. Not to mention his circle of close friends diminished slowly. Christ was alone. Atoned alone. That gives me pain when I think about this. The reason that he was completely alone was because as he atoned for all of our sins he had to know what it felt like to be completely and utterly alone. Cut off from the presence of his father, so that he could help us!

We are never alone! Jesus Christ was our savior and redeemer and he was completely alone. He needed to know how it felt so he could know how to help us. This thought that was conjured by the talk by Elder Holland, no one was with him (I think that's the right translation) brought new understanding to me that who ever feels down. Remember that Christ knows us perfectly. 100% perfectly.

I know that we are never alone and that Christ is here for us. Pray to god. Live the commandments, do your best and then tell me that you cant feel the presence of the lord. When we do what we are supposed to we will see changes. Huge ones!"

Hasta luego!

Week 35: Adventures of the hairy beast

Allo!

Another week, another lesson people! Zach is out doing his thing and loving it. This week he has challenged himself with a new goal, to memorize one scripture a day (hello scripture mastery purgatory). Just kidding, I will probably definitely be struck by lightening for saying that. Super props to Zach though, that is a rough (but valiant) goal. He has also been learning more and more about the atonement of Jesus Christ, and studying it more whole-heartedly. What a great goal! Zach explained that through deepening his appreciation for the atonement, he has become closer with Jesus Christ, and cant even fathom the love that he has for all of us. He offered the most perfect sacrifice, and because of that, we can live again. This sacrifice, is not only for you and me, it was for every human being ever to grace this earth. Every single one! We must all try our best, and Jesus will make up the difference with his love.

Whats new with Zachary, you may ask? Well, he is HAIRY. I already knew that. Not to disgrace this blog, or retract from spiritualness, but for the last 3 years, I have been begging Zach to let me see his butt. If you know my family, you know that this isn't an absurd request. We like to moon each other. I know, weird. Anyways, my sister Cassie let me know that she had recently seen his butt and it was covered with hair. Like abnormally covered with hair, of course he stops mooning me and I have been trying to pants him ever since. I even asked if he would show me for a last request, before he left on his mission. He refused. ANYWAYS, I guess his face has caught up with his butt, because apparently he is shaving twice a day now, which seems to be kind of annoying for a missionary. As if you don't have a busy schedule already, you have to add in another shave? It is probably a curse from Jumanji for not being nice to his sister and just showing me his hairy bum.

On that note...

The Church is true! Keep up the writing. He loves the letters, packages, and is so thankful for all of the support he has received from family, friends and ward mates.

Hasta la vista baby!

Week 34: Adventures of a mended marriage and a beautiful life

Alo friends and family!

Another week has come and gone, I am amazed that 8 months have passed already since our weepy morning of dropping Zachary off at the airport for this incredible Chilean adventure. I have seen so much change in this young man, and because of his change, has made me a better person. I find myself loving more, being kinder, and trying to find missionary opportunities. Working in the emergency room, I see a lot of people who have lost their path here on earth. I have found that this causes most of my anger for humanity, because they lie, cheat, and will do anything to get what they want... Drugs. I have found that because of Zach, and his INCREDIBLE example, that I have absolutely taken a look at my life and how I treat other people and am trying to change for the better. Seeing Zachs endless love for these people in Chile, who have lost their way, is so amazing. I pray that everyone reading this can also do the same. Take Zachs advice, take my advice... Remember that everyone here, on this rock floating in space called Earth, are our brothers and our sisters. We are more fortunate to have the truth and the gospel. We are more fortunate that most of us are free from addictions. We are fortunate to be here on this earth, with our entire lives and eternities ahead of us with our families. Lets take advantage of this! We are here on this earth to help everyone! Not just people we see fit to enjoy the gospel blessings... Everybody! It is so hard to look past peoples exteriors, lies and hardships... But we must do, what we were put here to do; teach and love. I know I have become a better person, just in the last little bit, by following Zachs example. Why would we not want other people, people who we genuinely loved and talked to in the pre-existence, to have what we have?

Anyways, I will get to Zachs letter, just thought I would share a little bit of my experiences with you, in hopes you may follow in the same footsteps. Well, Elder Van Pelt's transfer came and went. The verdict is... Drum roll, please... He will be in the same area for another 6 weeks with Elder Castro. Zach will actually finish out Elder Castros mission, so that will be kind of cool. Zach explained that although the last 6 weeks were really hard, it also was the best learning experience. He testified that God gives us these experiences, fit perfectly for us, to help us improve, progress, and to be more fully be prepared. God has a plan. Zach knows that he is a part of that plan, and we all are also part of that plan, no matter what happens, we are a part of this marvelous work! The plan would not work, without each and every one of us members.

Alright, so does everyone remember Francisco? He is the man that Zach helped with marriage advise? They were sealed in the temple, but his wife moved out and they had been seperated since December. Well, this week marked 4 weeks straight, that he had come to church. His wife has moved back into their house, and they are happy as can be. What an amazing thing, that Zach was an instrument in keeping this beautiful family together. (Also, I cannot get over that little girl! Hello, LOOK AT THOSE CHEEKS! I want to nibble them! Creepy.) Such a happy story, compared to all of the sad things that have been happening here in the U.S.A.
Anyways, keep up the prayers! They are obviously going to a good cause :) Zach loves you. God loves you. You are worth having love.

Hasta luego!

Week 33: Adventures of the furry stow away

Hi guys! I have had a super busy week, sorry I am just getting this out there... I decided to post Zachs letter word for word this week, because I love/miss him and sometimes we just want to hear it in their own words (at least I do). Anyways, remember that Zach loves hearing from you all. He loves receiving your letters and hearing about back home, so keep it up. Until next week, HASTA LUEGO!



Alo! ¿Como Esta? Everything is killer here. I have seen so many changes in who I am lately. This last transfer flew by. Can you believe that next week is transfers? I wonder if Ill stay in my sector where I am or leave. I wonder who my new companion will be.

This last transfer I have learned so much about myself and who I react to things and what I want. For example before my mission my parents would take us out to dinner and they would ask, "What would you like to eat?" we would respond by saying "I dont know." I now have learned through this last transfer that my opinion is very important and crucial in a good relationship. I prayed to my heavenly father to help me love better and to help me with what I needed for the next 6 weeks. In this letter Ill explain my experience.

The Work:

Sandra is an investagator that we have been working with for about 3 weeks. She is great and wants to change her old life of drugs and alchol. Weve taught her and she has made a dramatic change as she is coming unto christ throuhg prayer and scripture study but there was one thing she lacked. Church attendance. Sadly for the past three weeks we have tried to get her to go to church but she never excepted so we tried a new tactic. We held a family home evening where I made french toast and had a spiritual lesson where we all bore our testimonies. In the lesson we had a member. For the future if someone is having a hard time with there investagator to go church have a little family home evening and butter the investagator up and then bring some friendship into the factor with a steller member that can help the person attend. Sandra ended up going to church and loved it! She loved it!

Last P-Day we had a big BBQ. There was meat and chicken with some amazing chileno sausages that you stick into a dinner roll put some ketchup, mayo and hot sauce and there you have an amazing yummy delicasy of chile.


Palo Town:

Palo means basicaly a very direct cunstructive critisism an any situation that you need to improve in. Well this last week I learned some amazing principles. I recieved 3 palos this last week that changed my perspective for the future. One was from our zone leader Elder Lopez when he said this in our zone meeting: "How can we expect to teach about the atonement if we arent experincing it in our lives?" For me this was great and exsactly what I needed to hear! I love hearing more and more about the atonement. Ive grown closer to christ more in the mission then I ever have in my entire life. But he gave us a challenge with a few talks to read and invited us to experience the atonement more in our lives. So I will extend the same question to you all, but differently. "How can we expect blessings from the lord if we arent experincing the infinit atonement in our live?" I challenge you all to look up the word atonement in your bible dictionary and spend a good portion of your week studying the scriptures found there.

I recieved another palo as a member told me to always teach simply and with the holy ghost. We were at his house. He is a recently returned missionary and my companion had shared a very hard to understand scripture that I didnt even understand. I didnt know what to say when my companion wanted to share something so I did what I do best. I opend my heart and expresed my love for them. When he had the returned missionary had told us this palo I took it to heart and re dedicated my self to teach simply, understandable and with the holy ghost!

If you would like to hear the other palo that I recieved that topped these both just send me a letter for next week and Ill send it to you because I am running out of time to write and still have some more things to write about.

Stow Away:

Here is a funny story. We were walking in a big field of dirt and garbage. A lot of animals like going out to the fields because chilens just through there trash out in the open fields. Its really discusting actually. While we were walking through this open field I saw in the corner of my eye a small kitten. He was next to a bag of potato chips. I went over to him and picked him up. I soon found out that I had a perfect spot for him on my bag. So I put him there and walked the open field with him on my bag. There is a photo of my below with this cute little fur ball.

Homework:

I have some more homework for all of you who want to improve and become closer to christ and to be a better person... please read 3 nephi 12. I read this last week and learned so much. If you read this chapter and ask god to help you improve your life for the better, you will learn what you need to do!


In Conclusion:

Ive never been so happy in my life. I talk with random chilenos every day asking them to learn about the restauration. Learn about the blessing god has for them. This last week I learned a lot about relationships. My companion and I havent been getting a long to well. For some reason we just cant figure out what is missing in our companionship. I figured out through the difficult circumstances of this week that satan tries to destroy us when he knows our potential. We have a lot of potential and I find that when I try harder to make things better he tries even more! Remember this. Fight and pray for the strength to be better in any relationship. I learned more about what I want in life and what I want in my future in this last transfer then I ever have.

3 Nephi 9:22



Love you all

Elder Van Pelt

Week 32: Adventures of a beautiful day for a special baptism

Alo friends and family of our dearest Elder Van Pelt!

Well, what a beautiful week for a very special baptism of Felipe (Pepe). Zach had the incredible joy of watching this cute 15 year old get baptized this week. He said that when Pepe came out of the water, he had a rush of emotions come over him, as this kid became a member of the church that he so wanted to be a part of. During this time, Felipes mom, Rose, had seemed worried for her son, however after he was baptized, Rose came up to Zach and gave him a giant hug. She told him thank you for helping her son and was in tears. What an amazing experience for a young 18 year old missionary. I can't imagine all of the great insight Zach is getting in Chile, and the love that is building for those people as he brings them back into the fold of the gospel.

This is a really short post this week, because this letter was short, but it was so full of a beautiful experience. Thanks Elder Van Pelt for sharing these with us!

Hasta luego!