This week has truly been crazy, its had so many ups and downs, it's been all over the place.
So lets start with the good of this week. The main cool thing that happened this week is that we found a couple really cool families, that I have a lot of hope for. One ladys names Mariela, and she is seriously sooo nice. She was a reference from a member in Penco, so she's really good. When went and did service for her one morning too. I'm really excited for her. And another family we found, named Odila, Ranulfo, and Varinia (all super weird names), but they're also really cool, are related to members, know people who recently got baptized, etc. Basically they're in a perfect position to be taught the gospel. So I'm really excited to be working with those 2 families. What else was good? Elisa was doing excellent for her baptism on Sunday. But I'll tell you more about her in the bad news :( And we also had a ward talent show which also went really good.
So for the bad news. Basically, all the bad news is focused on Elisa. So everything was good with her throughout the week. So we couldn't meet with her on Friday, but then we went over Saturday night. Then she broke the news to us that she was having a ton of doubts now, and was super confused again. So me and Elder Strong were doing all we could, trying to help her, there was still hope that she could get baptized the next day. Then she dropped the bomb on us that she had smoked once. When she said that a part of me honestly died inside, I felt so sad for her, cuz then she for sure couldn't do it tomorrow. So we left her the invitation to pray and verify what she had felt the first time was true.
So then Sunday came around. Elisa came to church, so did Jocelyn and Monica! So that was really cool, to have 3 good people in church. Monicas doing good again, her life has kinda gotten bad, so she really needs the church in this part of her life. There's a lot of hope for her in December. Jocelyn, still doing perfect. So then after church we went back to Elisa. She said that she felt a lot better again, a lot more at peace with being baptized. She accepted being baptized this upcoming sunday, the 5th. We just gotta help her keep the commandments and she'll be good.
So then cambios...I had been throughout the week going back and forth in my mind that I was staying, then the next moment that I was going. Then after Sunday I really wanted to stay. I didnt want to leave so many things just like left undone. SO I was super nervous for the cambios. Then Monday morning comes around, and we get the call...................and I'm staying!!! I was soo happy to hear it. There are so many things I'm excited for this upcoming cambio: Elisas baptism, Miguel and Jocelyns wedding, Jocelyns baptism, it's very possible that Sandra and Monica are baptized this month, Christmas with Karinas family and Elder Strong. It's gonna be good. I'm so excited to be here.
So that's basically this week! So this week we hope to see a lot of good, and not only this week rather this whole cambio. SO heres to another fun filled 6 weeks in Lirquen. I love you all, thanks for everything! The church is true!
Elder Ryan Mayberry
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Buenas!
Hey everyone!
This week proved to be a good one for us here in Lirquen. So I'm gonna start off by rewinding a bit to last week. So I forgot to write about it, but last Sunday we had an awesome noche de hoga (family home evening) with Karinas family about the temple. It was super spiritual, and we made them a cool picture for them, with the temple, their family and stuff. It was really cool. They're such a cool family, I love them a ton. So that was last Sunday. So now for this week.
So on Tuesday we got to teach Coni and Scarlet, one was at the family home evening we did last week. Both are really cool and receptive, and want to keep listening. So we'll see what happens there. On both Wednesday and Thursday, Elder Strong had a training in the mission home, with the other new missionaries from the last 2 cambios. So he got to go there, and I was with Elder Wilhelm from Penco centro. On Wednesday we went to his sector and worked there. It was a good day. So Elder Strongs training got out at 5 o'clock. But what happened was, well seeing as how it was 7 new missionaries trying to get home alone, they got lost on the way, and they ended up getting home at about 8 oclock, haha. So that was pretty funny. Then on Thursday they went back to they're training and me and Elder Wilhelm worked here in Lirquen. That also went good, and the noobs got back here without difficulties that day.
Friday was a good day as well. We had a super busy day planned here in Lirquen, but I had to go to the Zone leaders sector on a minicambio to do some interviews. So another day out of my sector, but it went well nonetheless. I got to do one interview for the Zls, the 2nd one fell through. Saturday was pretty busy. In the morning we went and taught Karina, and there we found out that Evelyn, her mom, smokes :( But she wants to stop so were gonna help her out there. Then in the afternoon, Elisa had her baptismal interview. A brief pause to talk a little more about Elisa. So she has been progressing very well. She has not been sure on her receiving an answer that the church is true though. She has a hard time recognizing it. For example, she has felt considerably more comfortable about the religion through the past 3 weeks, and now reads and prays everyday. Another thing: she started halfway keeping the word of wisdom, not drinking tea or coffee. then she told us during the week about how she had drank a bit and smoked, but felt really bad. So then she stopped doing those things, and a day later, she found work shes been looking for for a long time. She recognizes that it could be God answering her prayers, but just isn't sure. So she had her interview; she passed, but was still not sure about doing it. Then Sunday came around.
On sunday our only investigator in church was Elisa. A side note, Elder Strong and I sang a special number in sacrament (I even sang a it alone, can you believe it?) and we gave talks. Well, I didn't give mine, because we ran out of time. But then after, we went to Elisas house. She then told us that Saturday after the interview, a little bit later in the day, she felt a very strong feeling in her heart and in her mind, and she knew she had to be baptized, and she told us she decided she is going to do it this Sunday the 28th!! I was sooo happy when I heard her say that, and Elder strong was smiling so big when she did. It's so amazing hearing that someones prayer was answered. So were very excited for that.
Today has been a relaxing day. In the morning we went and played some futbol, and were just taking the day off here in Lirquen. Now this upcoming week are changes, and I have no idea if I'm staying or going. Well see what happens. I kind of feel like my time is winding down here in Lirquen, but we'll see next week. Thanks for everything, I love the work, the church is obviously true. I'll talk to you next week!
Elder Ryan Mayberry
This week proved to be a good one for us here in Lirquen. So I'm gonna start off by rewinding a bit to last week. So I forgot to write about it, but last Sunday we had an awesome noche de hoga (family home evening) with Karinas family about the temple. It was super spiritual, and we made them a cool picture for them, with the temple, their family and stuff. It was really cool. They're such a cool family, I love them a ton. So that was last Sunday. So now for this week.
So on Tuesday we got to teach Coni and Scarlet, one was at the family home evening we did last week. Both are really cool and receptive, and want to keep listening. So we'll see what happens there. On both Wednesday and Thursday, Elder Strong had a training in the mission home, with the other new missionaries from the last 2 cambios. So he got to go there, and I was with Elder Wilhelm from Penco centro. On Wednesday we went to his sector and worked there. It was a good day. So Elder Strongs training got out at 5 o'clock. But what happened was, well seeing as how it was 7 new missionaries trying to get home alone, they got lost on the way, and they ended up getting home at about 8 oclock, haha. So that was pretty funny. Then on Thursday they went back to they're training and me and Elder Wilhelm worked here in Lirquen. That also went good, and the noobs got back here without difficulties that day.
Friday was a good day as well. We had a super busy day planned here in Lirquen, but I had to go to the Zone leaders sector on a minicambio to do some interviews. So another day out of my sector, but it went well nonetheless. I got to do one interview for the Zls, the 2nd one fell through. Saturday was pretty busy. In the morning we went and taught Karina, and there we found out that Evelyn, her mom, smokes :( But she wants to stop so were gonna help her out there. Then in the afternoon, Elisa had her baptismal interview. A brief pause to talk a little more about Elisa. So she has been progressing very well. She has not been sure on her receiving an answer that the church is true though. She has a hard time recognizing it. For example, she has felt considerably more comfortable about the religion through the past 3 weeks, and now reads and prays everyday. Another thing: she started halfway keeping the word of wisdom, not drinking tea or coffee. then she told us during the week about how she had drank a bit and smoked, but felt really bad. So then she stopped doing those things, and a day later, she found work shes been looking for for a long time. She recognizes that it could be God answering her prayers, but just isn't sure. So she had her interview; she passed, but was still not sure about doing it. Then Sunday came around.
On sunday our only investigator in church was Elisa. A side note, Elder Strong and I sang a special number in sacrament (I even sang a it alone, can you believe it?) and we gave talks. Well, I didn't give mine, because we ran out of time. But then after, we went to Elisas house. She then told us that Saturday after the interview, a little bit later in the day, she felt a very strong feeling in her heart and in her mind, and she knew she had to be baptized, and she told us she decided she is going to do it this Sunday the 28th!! I was sooo happy when I heard her say that, and Elder strong was smiling so big when she did. It's so amazing hearing that someones prayer was answered. So were very excited for that.
Today has been a relaxing day. In the morning we went and played some futbol, and were just taking the day off here in Lirquen. Now this upcoming week are changes, and I have no idea if I'm staying or going. Well see what happens. I kind of feel like my time is winding down here in Lirquen, but we'll see next week. Thanks for everything, I love the work, the church is obviously true. I'll talk to you next week!
Elder Ryan Mayberry
Monday, November 15, 2010
Mediocre week.
Well, as you can read the title, the week we had was just ahi no mas. So let me run down the events for the week.
So on Monday after doing internet we went and had lunch, and went to a restaurant named Mamut, the closest thing to an American restaurant there is. And there I got...chicken fingers with ranch, haha. 1st time in 15 months having chicken strips, delicious. Then Pday ended and we had a family home evening with a member, and there were 7 new people there! So that was really good for us to get some new people. Then Miguel Carrillo called us and we talked to him for a bit. So that was Monday. Then after that the week was just pretty average. We've been teaching our investigators, and each is progressing, kind of. For example Elisa has committed to keeping the work of wisdom and has stopped drinking tea. So that was really good, I feel like she is our best hope for November. We also taught the sister of Moises, so that was good. Miguel and Jocelyn are still doing amazing. Paula Canales hadn't talked to her husband but said she would when we taught her again last week, and Monica said she was gonna try to do the stuff she needs to do, but slowly.
The roughest part of this week was that on Sunday we had 0 people in church. That's always hard while being a missionary, cuz then the whole time in church your just feeling down. But I still have a lot of hope for what's to come. I learned a cool little lesson about counting my blessings on Sunday, so that helped boost my animo.
So that was basically all that happened this week. I'm pretty sure this upcoming week will be better. Sorry this weeks email is so short, next week I'll try to make a better email. Thanks for everything, the church is true, and until next week, chaíto!
Elder Ryan Mayberry
So on Monday after doing internet we went and had lunch, and went to a restaurant named Mamut, the closest thing to an American restaurant there is. And there I got...chicken fingers with ranch, haha. 1st time in 15 months having chicken strips, delicious. Then Pday ended and we had a family home evening with a member, and there were 7 new people there! So that was really good for us to get some new people. Then Miguel Carrillo called us and we talked to him for a bit. So that was Monday. Then after that the week was just pretty average. We've been teaching our investigators, and each is progressing, kind of. For example Elisa has committed to keeping the work of wisdom and has stopped drinking tea. So that was really good, I feel like she is our best hope for November. We also taught the sister of Moises, so that was good. Miguel and Jocelyn are still doing amazing. Paula Canales hadn't talked to her husband but said she would when we taught her again last week, and Monica said she was gonna try to do the stuff she needs to do, but slowly.
The roughest part of this week was that on Sunday we had 0 people in church. That's always hard while being a missionary, cuz then the whole time in church your just feeling down. But I still have a lot of hope for what's to come. I learned a cool little lesson about counting my blessings on Sunday, so that helped boost my animo.
So that was basically all that happened this week. I'm pretty sure this upcoming week will be better. Sorry this weeks email is so short, next week I'll try to make a better email. Thanks for everything, the church is true, and until next week, chaíto!
Elder Ryan Mayberry
Monday, November 8, 2010
Enchiladas, Capacitations and not your average size bugs!
Well this week was a pretty cool one, we've seen some good things happening here in Lirquen. So on Wednesday I had a leadership training meeting in the mission home. So I dropped off Elder Strong in Penco with the elders there and went with the zone leaders to the mission home. There the President and the assistants talked to us, and I really enjoyed the conference. It really helped boost my animo (?) and keep me ready to work. Not to mention we also ate chicken enchiladas (1st time in 15 months) and some amazing ranch dressing. It truly was delicious.
So then we were ready to get working really hard throughout the rest of the week. In doing so we saw good progress with Paula Canales, who is going to talk to her husband frankly about her getting baptized, but didn't come to church, Elisa; who is now feeling less confused about everything, and has now agreed to keep the word of wisdom, but also didn't come to church, Moises; we've got to talk to his mom, but he does want to get baptized, and he came to church, and Jocelyn; who is still as good as ever and her and Miguel came to church again. Monica unfortunately had to stay at work all weekend. So that's basically what happened this week in terms of progress of the investigators, each one we have has a distinct problem, but none of them are impossible. And we found a cool lady-Sandra, who came to church last week. She is the wife of a member, and knows a whole lot of the church and wants to be baptized, but works every Sunday. So we'll see what happens there as well.
So lets see if anything funny happened this week. Well, today on the bus to "Conce" we were sitting in back and a guy 2 feet away from me threw up all over the bus. That was pretty....gross. Luckily we were basically in "Conce" when it happened. Another funny thing. So it was like Thursday morning and I was in the kitchen, and all of a sudden I hear a scream and elder Strong saying Elder Mayberry get in here! My parental instincts told me elder Strong had been gravely injured. So I ran in there and he was like "there's a huge bug in here!" So we checked it out, caught it, froze it and added it to the collection. Now the bug really was huge, I'll send the picture, just imagine it flying around our house. I don't know how it got in either. But a funny story.
So we this upcoming week are going to work on finding more new people, we've been kind of slacking in that aspect. But we will this week. I can't believe how fast this time is going by, we're already on the 4th week of the cambio, and I turned 15 months old. Ok, so now were gonna go eat at a restaurant called Mamut. I hear its the closest thing to an American restaurant, so I think I'm gonna enjoy it (it has free refils, that's unheard of in Chile). Hope you all have great weeks, I know I will!
Elder Ryan Mayberry
The pictures:
1)¡Oh, Lirquen!
2)The bug
3)Again
4) I wouldn't wanna be anywhere else.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Halloween!
Hello all.
This week was pretty decent here in Lirquén. So not too much exciting happened apart from the normal missionary stuff. One day I had to do a baptism interview, another day another one, and on Saturday we started up an English class, which was pretty good, we had a lot of people go. And on Thursday we had special conference with Elder Zeballos of the Area Presidency, which was also good. I love hearing from general authorities. He talked mostly about diligence. And on Friday morning we had to go to Concepcion to do my 2nd visa. And the other day was Halloween, which still isn't too big here. Barely saw any trick or treaters. Now, apart from these things, not too much happened. We're still working with the same people.
Karina got confirmed this week! I did the confirmation, and her whole family was at the church to support her. That made us really happy. I love that family a whole lot, and I really hope to see the day when they get to go to the temple. Elisa is still doing the same, struggling to get a testimony, struggling with confusion. Yesterday we went and taught her with Miguel Carrillo, (whose not even a member), which went good. But she's pretty much the same, she did come to church though for the 3rd week in a row. Monica was good, but she had to go out of town for the weekend :( Moises too:( Jocelyn and Miguel are also doing well, they both came to church again.
So right now, our focus is keep working with the people we got, but also focus a lot on getting new people this week, because the last couple weeks we havent been able to find many new people. So we'll see how that goes this week. Oh, and today we had a zone activity and made some choripan (sausage) and played some...you guessed it, futbol. Well I'm very sorry for how lousy this weeks email is, I'll try to write some stuff down this week as a reference to try to spice up these emails. Even though the emails may be boring, I am not bored here. I love it, and am so happy to be serving the Lord right now. The church is true! Have a great week.
Elder Ryan Mayberry
This week was pretty decent here in Lirquén. So not too much exciting happened apart from the normal missionary stuff. One day I had to do a baptism interview, another day another one, and on Saturday we started up an English class, which was pretty good, we had a lot of people go. And on Thursday we had special conference with Elder Zeballos of the Area Presidency, which was also good. I love hearing from general authorities. He talked mostly about diligence. And on Friday morning we had to go to Concepcion to do my 2nd visa. And the other day was Halloween, which still isn't too big here. Barely saw any trick or treaters. Now, apart from these things, not too much happened. We're still working with the same people.
Karina got confirmed this week! I did the confirmation, and her whole family was at the church to support her. That made us really happy. I love that family a whole lot, and I really hope to see the day when they get to go to the temple. Elisa is still doing the same, struggling to get a testimony, struggling with confusion. Yesterday we went and taught her with Miguel Carrillo, (whose not even a member), which went good. But she's pretty much the same, she did come to church though for the 3rd week in a row. Monica was good, but she had to go out of town for the weekend :( Moises too:( Jocelyn and Miguel are also doing well, they both came to church again.
So right now, our focus is keep working with the people we got, but also focus a lot on getting new people this week, because the last couple weeks we havent been able to find many new people. So we'll see how that goes this week. Oh, and today we had a zone activity and made some choripan (sausage) and played some...you guessed it, futbol. Well I'm very sorry for how lousy this weeks email is, I'll try to write some stuff down this week as a reference to try to spice up these emails. Even though the emails may be boring, I am not bored here. I love it, and am so happy to be serving the Lord right now. The church is true! Have a great week.
Elder Ryan Mayberry
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