Week 69: Adventures of goodbyes

Dear Family,

This week was crazy! Just to let you know we have our transfers tomorrow morning at 9 am. I recieved a call from president last night and he said " Elder Van Pelt how are you doing?" I told him I was fine. He responded to me and said he had been praying alot recently to know who would be the new zone leaders for this transfer and told me he recieved revelation and a strong impresion that I needed to serve as his new zone leader. I was shocked! I was not expecting that kind of call. Butterflys shot through my body as I accepted the call to serve as zone leader. I will be in the zone of Los Angeles Sur..... San Martin. My new companion will be Elder Peck. He also is from Texas. Ive heard some great things from him. I will also be going to the most hot part of our zone so wish me luck with the heat. While you guys are cold and freezing, I will become darker then dark!


Texans Gone:

We sent Elder Gibson on the bus yesterday at 5 pm to start his journey back on home. I was super sad and very happy for him. It was a bitter sweet kind of experience. While his bus pulled off I cried. I cant help but cry when I say good bye to those I love. Elder Gibson was a great example and Im going to miss him. By the way mom and dad he will be going on over to utah and I told him that you guys would take him out for lunch. Would that be alright? His name is Jacob Gibson for his face book so you guys can chat and see if he wants to go out to lunch. If you take him out you will not regret it. He is the funniest kid ever!


Pitrufquen City:

Im going to miss Pitrufquen alot! We said good bye to most of the members and are going to visit the rest tonight to take some photos. The hardest thing about the mission for me is saying goodbye. Even with an eternal perspective in thought....that I will see the people I love again after this life, will still make me cry. I think its just built in me that im a sensitive guy and that when I say good bye I have to show it by my emotions.

I love this work though so much. I dont ever want to end my mission. I want to stay here in chile. I have fallen in love with teaching the gospel to those who dont know the truth. I have been changed in so many forms and have learned so many incredible life decisions and experiences in such a short amount of time. I am forever grateful for my savior jesus christ and the blessings that I get for serving as one of his representatives.


In Conclusion:

I know this is gods work. I know without a doubt that the book of mormon is the word of god and that as we study the book of mormon we will begin to see the truth and learn of gods commandments. Although we are all so imperfect we can truly be clean of sin and be made perfect as we take steps on the perfect plan of god. Although we are not perfect yet, every day we can take steps as we obey the commandments and stand up for what is right. We are in a war. A war that has been going on since before this earth. This battle must be fought by charity,hope and faith. We are the army of god, his first string warriors. We are here on the earth to prove ourselves worthy and qualify ourselves for the kingdom of god.

I know each of us are children of god with talents to bless and strengthen us and others. May god be with you all. Love you so much and hope to hear from you all real soon.



Elder Van Pelt