Week 59: Adventures of the hot Tuesday

I feel like I am not able to talk in english anymore. When I write letters I feel like they sound great and awesome and I try my best to spell and write gramatically correct but I am sure that some of you have to read my letters twice just to know exactly what im saying:) Thanks for you patience.

We are working super hard and seeing a lot of miracles. We have found many new methods to teach and have found many new people to teach. We are currently set to baptize prebisto, who went to church and has been a miracle from god. Also our little javiera who is 14 years of age who is super excited to go to church and get baptized. When I teach her I feel like she is my little sister. Shes the nicest little girl. Keep them in your prayers so we can get them baptized.

Chewed Ears:

Me and my companion were tracting houses at about 3:30 on a hot tuesday. It was one of the first days were we just wore sweeters to work. We were tracting and happen to knock on a door with two old grandmas. Oh no not this again. They invited us in and we sat down. We were on a coach and one old grandma was in her seat and her daughter who was 65 or so was in her wheel chair. They were very kind and gave us a drink of water, but when they started talking they attacked us with there giber gaber and started talking about things that didnt make to much sense. They started telling us all about their life story.

Soon after they went off talking they split like torpedos and just imagine this my companion was on the left side talking with the old grandma on the chair about all her wonderful child hood storys and I was being talked to by the lady across from me in her wheel chair. They both were talking and at some points they seemed to higher there tone so they could speak over the other one.

Now you know why I named this one chewed ears. We came out of that house with 30 minutes waisted without teaching them one thing because they didnt want to listen. Urrr!

Old Ladys Again:

It seemed I had a lot of experieces with the old ladys this week. We were walking down the street at about 12:30 and were headed to a place we had not been to before to tract. On the road we ran into another old lady who was super funny at first and I was excited to write down her direction and visit her.

But while we talked to her a little bit more she started saying things like "ooh your eyes are beautiful" Thats not a big deal coming from an old lady and its better coming from her then little girls who laugh and giggle as we pass by. My companion and I get that every day, little girls giggling and what not because we are greengos.

But anyways this old lady then started saying some other flirting sentences to me. We then quickly told her good bye after writting her direction down. But right then and there she said to me with a firm voice. " Give me a kiss!" She followed this statement by puckering her lips and moving closely into me. I took a step back and offered an extended arm. That was a scarry moment. I have never almost been kissed by an old lady before.

Yeah have your laughs about elder van pelt having all of these old lady stories. I feel like when I get done with my mission Ill have loads of funny old grandma stories!

Zone Conferance:

Being the district leader now I have the privilage in teaching our district every week and helping them through there needs. This week though we had a zone conferance where our whole zone met together and we talk about the goals, visions and plans that president has recieved from the lord to guide our mission.

I was asked to talk about prayer and may I just say that it was a very exciting moment to stand infront of the whole zone and help the missionarys. I felt the holy ghost guide my words as I presented the lesson I had prepared for, for a few days. I taught with such power and authority from the holy ghost that everyone was taking notes and very atentive to what I was saying. I felt the holy ghost bare witness to everyone in that room that what I prayed, prepared and thought about for days was true. They all commited to better there prayers with god and to be exactly obedient.

The Miracle Of Prebisto:

Friday night it was late and we hadnt had any appointmentes because they fell. My companion and I went to a dark and secluded area where we offered a prayer to ask who we needed to visit. After offering the prayer my companion told me " We need to visit Prebisto" I agreed and we went on over to his house.

Right when we got there he was just about to close the gate and lock up for the night but said, " Hey guys come on in" We went on in and offered to help him with his reading in the book of mormon.

In his small house with one light shining not to bright we read together the experience of our savior visitring the Americas. When we finished this chapter he looked at me and said. " That just answered all of my doubts and I know its true." We then told him schocked " Will you be baptized on the 26th of september?" He accepted and went to church this week excited and ready to take the step of baptism.

I came out of that lesson learning many wonderful experiences of listening to the holy ghost and representing the lord in all times.

In Conclusion:

I know that im a representative of christ and that through his example I can be more like him and help others find their light that they are missing. This is a beautiful and amazing work that I am apart of and am blessed to be here representing on my Name tage: My family, The Church and The Savior.

Love,

Elder Van Pelt

Pictures: 1. Family home evening with javiera ( She is in the owl sweeter)

2. Eating at KFC with a member named Jaime. He is awesome!:)

Week 58: Adventures of Chilean sausage and the card shark

Dear Family,

You all are my family and should all be addressed by family, because we all are sons and daughters of god and apart of gods family. Love you all and hope you all are safe. I am doing well. As far as health and life goes I am a happy camper. I have been really trying to gain more love for everyone here in chile. Love is something that I cant seem to understand but as I draw closer to jesus christ who is my perfect example I seem to develop this love. Jesus christ really is our savior and through who we may become perfected and develop those attributes that may be rough around the edges.


The Work:

Brothers and Sisters this is a great opportunity to let you all know that javiera will be baptized on the 19th of sept. She is really progressing and has made the decision to be baptized this day. YEAH!!!:) We have a family home evening this Tuesday and we will be playing pit ( The card game you sent me) and making some brownies! We are really getting the members involved here. The members have been leaving with us and we have seen a lot of success with our investigators!:) We are hoping to get a few baptism squeezed into this month.

P-Day:

Today we played soccer at the church and made what is called choripan. Its an amazing sausage here in chile in a small dinner roll. MMM soo good. We will spend the rest of our day relaxing and getting ready for this week.


When Satan Fights We Must Fight Back:

Recently pitrufquen has gone through a few blows to the face due to infidelity in the familys. There has been two familys effected by the temptations and whisperings of the devil. I sat in a small two storie house and watched a wife cry on the couch for the dificult situation she has encounterd with her husband.

I pondered and meditated on how ten years of marriage was just gone away and all of their goals and life ambitions were just swept. He left his wife and a small 6 year old girl behind.

Just so you know she is doing better but for about 6 months they were inactive and werent doing the small things such as reading the scriptures and praying and going to church. Satan finally got ahold of this family. Do the simple things and they will build our concrete foundation for the lord jesus christ who is our rock.

This experience made me think about my future and what I want to do and who I want to have at the center of my life.


In Conclusion:

I know that Jesus Christ is our savior and that we must be reading, praying and going to church every week. On top of that we must strive every day to obey the commandments of the lord. If we dont we are as the dust in the wind. Satan is trying to destroy familys and we need to protect our familys now and until the end of time. I know who I am. A son of god. I know who you are, and we must stand together and rally up our forces like moroni did with the title of liberty. Because every day things will get worse and it will be harder and harder to protect our familys in the world of free agency, where more people are turning to the strength of man then trusting in our savior. Trust in him and we will not fall.


Love,

Elder Van Pelt

Week 57: Adventures of another Texas roundup

This week was incredible and I am so blessed to be a missionary here in chile. It breaks my heart to think that I will be ending my mission in less then 10 months. I have buckled down and have been working extra hard.

My companion and I have a baptism coming up with an investigator named Prebisto who is complete gold! He is just awesome! He has had problems with alchol but is working hard to give it up. He lives with his dad who is sick and cant do anything. The gospel has given him friends, love and hope. He has already began reading the book of mormon and has gone to church twice. We are very blessed. I know that it was because of hard work and being obedient that we are blessed with this amazing man to teach and help.


Texas Adventures Again! :

Well transfers are today and there are a few changes. I stay with my companion to finish up his training which is a blessing to do so. Elder Clark is a great guy and we have been seeing a lot of success.

Late last night I got a call from the assitants and they told me that I would be District Leader this transfer. Training and being District Leader. This is an incredible opportunity for me to serve others. I love helping people and am excited to be able to help other missionarys.!:) Wish me luck, hopefully I dont loose more hair or get any more grey hairs.

Also we live with the zone leaders and one is leaving and guess who is coming.... Hes from Texas! Elder GIBSON! We are starting up the Texas adventure again. He was my companion in lagunillas and now will be my zone leader. I love that guy. WOOH Texas. Shout out to sister Peterson who is in Houston Texas right now. Texas is the place to be.


Tender Miracle:

So we lost contact with sonia our deaf investigator. Well actually we got booted off her front door step. The mom who lives there absoluetly hates us. We passed by 3 times and everytime we passed by the mom said get out of here but in very mean wording.

Well we were in the street yesterday at about 9:00pm when we found sonia with her 2 little girls and she was super excited to see us. She told us "how come you havent passed by?" We responded very curiously " Your mom wont let us come by" She then said I want you to come by. We will see her wednesday at noon. Pray for us. She is an amazing lady and I cant wait to teach her again.


Conclusion:

Well I know that this week was a great one, thats because we are living exactly obedient. We are recieving many blessings from god. I sometimes wonder how special I am to have such amazing blessings such as... Teaching the restored gospel, training, being here in chile, serving as a messenger of jesus christ etc. I have so many blessings. I love this great work and I dont want it to ever end. I want to stay here forever! It truely breaks my heart to think of ending my mission.

I know that this is gods work and that if we are obedient and ready to work he will bless us. I am weak and have many defaults and problems, but hey I know that god is with me, that angels are with me and that although Im not perfect I can do this beautiful work. Anyone who is wanting to or thinking about serving a mission must make the decision to serve. It is the best thing you will ever do.

I can say with a certainty that I have a realtionship with my father in heaven and that I know that others can also.



Love you all so much,


Elder Van Pelt


Photos of prebisto and also angel and mercedez. The daughter of angel is planning on baptism very soon.

Week 56: Adventures of the ultimate testimony

Zach is really having a lot of success in Chile right now, it seems like he is getting baptismal commitments left and right! I don't know if it is his studly looks, or if he really does speak Spanish THAT GOOD. Though the letter was pretty short this week, he was able to testify of the Holy Ghost and the part that he has played in Zach's mission. The miracles that happen, could not exist without him.

Week 55: Adventures of sweet hermana Sonia

Alo!

Well, Zach was able to baptize sweet Hermana Luz, if you don't remember her you can click HERE. She started attending church again and loved it. She has become so happy, and has been accepted into the family ward where she feels accepted. Thank you all for praying for her!

Zach's testimony of the Book of Mormon:

"When we taught today there was one moment when everything went quiet and I looked in the eyes of those we were teaching and I bore a testimony coming from my heart, that the Book of Mormon, which I had in my hands was true. I have proclaimed that phrase many times in my mission and still a sweet spirit fills my heart and lets me know that what I am saying is true. I thank God for being with me, by sending his sweet testifying spirit into my life. I know that the Holy Ghost is the teacher and I am an instrument for God in this work. I know that I am a representative of Christ."

As Zach and his companion were tracting this week, they happened upon a little 8 year old girl and her mom, who accepted their offer to be taught a lesson. The mother is deaf, so they tried to teach her, to the best of their ability and with the help of her daughter translating, she accepted baptism. Well the next time they showed up at their door, you better believe they were prepared. They brought big poster boards with bright words and pictures. That day, they taught the restoration without a single spoken word.

Tis all for this week, so HASTA LUEGO!