Week 67

Hola papá,

I always imagine your's and mom's emails like Nephi's plates. Mom gives me a basic run down, not too much detail, but you have the more detailed one. Basically you tell me almost every detail that doesn't matter. But I actually love it. It gives me a clear picture in my head haha of what y'all are doing. 

Didn't get an email from mom, so I take it this is the weekly fam email! I never really followed football, but congrats eagles, I guess! And the Super Blue Blood Moon... that sounds intense! I was very definitely... doing something at that time, but not watching that! Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait another 152 years. No bigee.

This week was pretty normal. We are getting into the new swing of this new cambio. I can tell it will be a good cambio! For one thing, we are accelerating well with some of our investigators! Those people who showed up to church last week came again this week! And we met the family. Millaray and Camilo are siblings, jóvenes, with 16 and 13 repectively. We went to their house to teach them and met their mom, who is a member! She hasn't been to church in 11 years. But she still believes everything the church says! She's only forgotten a little. But we were teaching them a lot this week with various members. They are a really good family! Camilo wants to get baptized, and we are preparing for the 10th, which, coincidentally, is his birthday! Haha! It's like a little gift from God! ''Here, I got you a full forgiveness of every single sin you've ever commited in your whole life, and a future with me in my kingdom with your family forever... hope you like it!'' Should be awesome. We were also teaching a lot to Javiera, another jovencita. She is also progressing well, and lives currently with the stake president... so she comes to church. But she lives actually in Antofagasta, and it seems like she is going back this week. What luck, huh? But, I'm sure once there, she will get baptized! WOOT! 

We had a lot of activities in the ward this week. On Wednesday, we went and helped with the mutual, which was a shared mutual. We went because if we didn't, Camilo and Millaray wouldn't. So we went, and introduced them to the leaders and the jóvenes there, and basically tried to avoid them so she can become better friends with them instead of us! And it worked! Now all the members in those groups have an interest in them and their progression. It's awesome! Now we just need to have that with all our investigators! The activity was basically just to get to know everyone better, and we all presented ourselves in a group. Then they watched Jumanji, the new one with Dwayne Johnson and Jack Black. It was cool. We tried to avoid the movie... most of the time! We also had a Ward Night in church on Thursday. We invited all of our investigators! It was to be at 8:00! At 8.00, we and all of our investigators were there! 8:15, the person in charge shows up, and then people slowly start trickling in, and at 9, we decide to start. 9:15, everyone starts showing up! WHAT?! I still don't understand... that is literally everywhere, here! Until even our zone leaders have the punctuality of a hungover man in the morning! I don't know... it's frustrating. but it was a good activity. Then on Saturday, the primary had an activity, and they watched Coco. Oh man... that's a good movie. I don't know if it's just because I'm so movie deprived, but I loved Coco!! I loved it! Then we, the missionaries, talked a little about families, and how God's plan is to make them eternal. I loved the activity, honestly. It was awesome. Bravo to the primary! 

In church we had six investigators come! It was awesome! Javiera, Millaray, Camilo, Yvania, Daniel, and Maria! It was really relieving, especially becasue this Sunday was so great! Here in Copiapo this week, they are hosting the PFJ, which is the EFY here in Chile. It's going on all this week. And Sunday, all the counselors decided to come to our ward. It was basically just a bunch of YSA sisters, and they all bore their testimony, and it was excellent! And the spirit was felt. And our investigators were there feeling it too! Which is awesome. We gon' baptize them! WOOT.

But that's pretty much it... don't know what more to say haha. But thanks for the email! Hope you all have a great week! I bear (bare?) testimony that this is the church of Christ here on the earth, the only church with the power and authority from God to create eternal families. I know this because God has told it to me. He has also given to me to know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that Joseph Smith was a prophet and restored the church! This week I saw more of that, especially focusing on families. I know that I can be with my family forever. As I was focusing on that this week, I realized that's one of the biggest reasons I'm here. The families here do not have that same happiness I do, because they do not know what I know! And how shall they know? I will tell them! That is my mission! And I am so grateful to be able to do that! 

Les amo a todos!

Elder Schmid