Well, another week down. And I thought they were blurring together before! It's very hard to distinguish what happened this week from what happened the week before, or even the week before that! I got really excited to tell you guys about Humberstone, when I remembered I already did... jaja. If I ever repeat myself or my stories, lo siento (I'm sorry)!! But I will try to make this email exciting.
It was another average week in Pozo and Pica. Elder McKinlay and I are now more in lessons than we are outside contacting, which is so awesome I cannot tell you guys. Contacting, while great, gets kind of boring. Not gonna lie. I love being in a lesson, a cita, that we fijamos antes (we fixed before). Oh my gosh... I forgot how to say that word... it's happening to me... jaja. My conversations with Elder McKinlay are a really bad mixture of English and Spanish... and Spanglish. I'm not sure anybody would be able to follow our conversations unless they also were missionaries struggling with a new language while maintaining the other! But we have forgotten certain english words and just use the spanish as a substitute. I will admit, we're not speaking as much spanish as we should. But we are both relatively new gringos, and doing that is very hard. I know I could if I tried... but I don't want to jaja! But looking back, it's biting me in the butt because my progression with the language is basically at a standstill. Con esperanza (with hope) I'll receive a Latino companion again! I kinda got ripped out of my last one.
While we were in Pica, we finally found this guy that we've been passing for almost every time we're there! His name is Sebastian, and he's been listening off and on to the missionaries for several months. We talked to him and everything, and the lesson turned to baptism. We asked him what that word, that action, meant to him. He didn't really know, and he told us that. So we explained what it was to him, what it meant, the promises involved, and the change it means. He became super interesado, and began asking more questions, and basically just asked us,"How do I get baptized?" Jaja, those are the magic words! We asked if that's something he wants, and he said yes. He wants a change in his life. He's been going to church, and actually, while he was in Peru, he went to a temple marriage! Wut-wut!! Jaja, he's perfect! We set up a date for the ninth, and invited him to conference, which he also seemed very interested in. This was important, because he needs an assistance (we think he means attendance) at church with us to be baptized by us. It's difficult with him, though, because he is traveling so often. He has been gone the last month or so, that's why we haven't found him. So now we are just praying to keep him here for a little jaja!
Several others have their dates too! Turns out, Tanya, our most solid investigator, is solid because... she's already a member! jaja We were walking together, going to watch the Partido (soccer game) of Chile vs Venzuela (don't worry. If we watch with an investigator, it's allowed), she comes in close and whispers that she has a confession. She tells us she was baptized when she was 14 years old in Bolivia! Jaja, that was a shock. But it started the long arduous search, the next few days, of her records there in Bolivia, but we found them. She's officially a member. However, her son, Carlos, is not! So we are talking with the dad to get permission, and he has a fecha for the 9th as well. Marisol, the older investigator we have, once again did not go to church. Which stinks, but not our fault. We were in Alto Hospicio watching conference. The members, I think, forgot about her. We had them all set up to go and get her, but she told us that no one passed for her! AAAAAHHH that was so frustrating! We trusted the members a ton with that, and they didn't do it! But oh well, she as a good sport, and said 'It's ok. As long as I get baptized eventually'. I love her. She's great.
Conference was fantastic!!! So great! I realized that conference weekend is the biggest holiday for missionaries! There is a 'Gringo Room' in every zone, where all the gringos can watch in English. Ours was in Alto Hospicio. So Saturday morning we made the drive over. Before heading in, we went by a grocery store, and bought a ridiculous amount of junk food! Imagine what you buy for the family, times it by two, and that was just for me! I was so happy! Jaja don't get the wrong idea. I never buy this much junk food! Most weeks, I don't buy it at all! But that's just what you do for the gringo room! And it was fantastic. We watched conference there in English, then slept there as well to watch it again Sunday. The talks were really fantastic! The best I've heard! (Then again, I am a missionary. This is the most I've ever actually paid attention... sorry mom) I was awake the whole time, too! Jejejeje. I was especially touched by Elder Holland's talk. Maybe it's because I was in choir my whole High School, but it was fun to follow, and easy to apply! While I was taking notes, I also added my own things to the analogy! But I loved it! We need to stay in the choir! Mr. Schreiber told us that even though we can't really pick out a single voice while singing, if one voice messes up, it's super obvious! And all the voices together are what makes it fantastic! We are all in Gods choir, and he is the conductor. Not many people realize how much work the conductor does with the choir to make it sound good. Countless days of fine tuning every aspect of the choir are put in! God is fine tuning us to fit the goal he has for us! We must stay in the choir! Even sometimes when our part doesn't seem that important, or we don't have a 'solo', we are needed in the choir. I don't know, I just loved listening to that one. The other talks were fantastic as well! I realized something. The gospel is universally applicable! You can take one story, one lesson, and apply it to almost any question, any doubt, and aspect of your life! I was talking with Elder McKinlay afterwards, and we got completely different things out of the same talks! For example, I forget which talk, but it was good for both of us, but for different reasons. For me, he talked more about the Holy Ghost, how to listen and respond, while to Elder McKinlay, it talked more about the topic of obedience. The gospel goes to every aspect of life. That's why when we go into conference with a question, it will be answered! That's why the gospel is so beautiful!
After conference, we had a branch baptism in Pozo of a little niño called Josè. It was such an awesome service! He asked Elder McKinlay to baptize him, which he did. His mom gave the talk on repentance, and by the end, she was crying. I didn't realize it until he stood up to go to the font, but Josè was crying as well! He obviously felt the spirit in this special moment of his life! It was especially great because they were a less active family who are actually just reactivating themselves! The brother now has the priesthood, and Jose got baptized! It is such an amazing family, and very strong. It was a good service.
But that's my week. I see that I have more emails from my family members! Jajaja wut wut!! I'm excited to read them! I'm glad you got my letters! I think I sent them around 4 or 5 weeks ago. I'm still not exactly sure how long mail takes. I look forward to your pàckage! ;) I love you all! Stay good! Try to be happy even though your favorite person is far away in Chile! ;)
Les amo a todos!
Elder Schmid
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