Sunday, September 8, 2013

A Little Faith and a Lot of Miracles- Email 8/19/13

I wish i could just describe all this week enough but i wont be able to do it justice. 

First off we had a baptism! Nicole got baptized on saturday. We asked her on..saturday. 4 hours before the baptism. Haha we FINALLY found her after 2 weeks and we went by again on saturday morning with a member and it was SO amazing. like i really haven't seen faith like that in so long. But it was really cool because we just started talking to her about how these trials are hard for her and she said "before i met missionaries, i would have doubted god and said he has abandoned me. But i can understand now that believing in all this helps me understand that these are just trials that i can overcome." haha umm...okay! Yeah thats more faith than i have. Her grandpa is super mal en el hospital and she has been going there every day. in and out of a coma, one day better and the next day worse. But saturday we went by and i shared about the holy ghost and the role that it plays in comforting us. We told her that the lord really loved her....and that he loved her so much that he wanted to give her even MORE of his spirit, but he couldn't do it unless she took that step thats baptism. She looked down for a second, then looked up with a big smile, and said "What do i need to bring?" We were like...what? because we had told her that the other branch, tolhuaca where the other hermanas are, were having another miracle baptism that night at 8, and we thought she meant to COME. but she said "What do i need to bring? a towel? I'm getting baptized. Im tired of waiting." Haha well OKAy i guess we will take that. So we got a service together and watched this amazing faith take place and get baptized. It was so special. I really feel like that kind of faith is what the lord needs to always have miracles take place. ANd by the way, her grandpa got out of the hospital sunday after her confirmation.

Thats just one. Bruno and Kathy are more than ready. They were finally able to go to church this weekend because his mom stayed with the sick little babies, and they also got MARRIED. haha like WHAT is going on?? why do these people just want to be so faithful? it seems like that was forever ago but that was only last tuesday. It was a super simple ceremony inside of the civil center because they don't have a ton of money, but we took some great photos that we are going to give to them along with a photo of the santiago temple for their house. Anyway, they´re married and getting baptized this saturday. They are so funny. he is such a goofball and is always making random comments that we are just like "Bruno were you paying attention?" and he is like "yeah I'm not going to lie, i don't know what you jus said" and kathy just laughs at him and tells him to pay attention. Haha but they are so amazing and their daughters are everything to them. Like when we ask why they want to do this, its just because they want an eternal family. the only reason. So well....i guess thats amazing. The branch loves them.

Familia Sanchez. Doing even more amazing. The daughters love church, hermana Lourdes is WAY better than i thought. In the beginning she was so incredulous and didn't quite want to believe it all, and now everything has changed. She is so excited. The daughters are adorable and the branch loves the fact that this FAMILY is coming to church. The best part is that our own converts are the ones that are helping them so much. Like Carolina who got baptized a MONTH ago is the one who is taking the daughters in and taking care of them, and making sure they stay all the classes. Ramiro (who was actually de elder girsberger but got baptized two months ago) is helping out Bernardo. Everything is just going well. I seriously love that family so so so much. We are going again tonight and we are going to see how everything is going. But i really feel good about them: Bernardo came to church again in his white shirt and tie, and it just makes me thrilled. All the members talk to them and are so great. I think that really is the success to a branch....the missionaries can do whatever but these people come and sometimes no one talks to them, but this branch here just takes them COMPLETELY under their wing, calls them for us, invites them to FHE without telling us....like its such a blessing. So keep praying for familia Sanchez :) they're my golden ones.

Marcelo, Andrea, Marcelo and Matias. Marcelo is actually Ramiro´s boss (they are both in the army and Marcelo is 4th in command in all of the south or something crazy like that. like super high up there). Marcelo is a stud though. We haven't even like TAUGHT them anything and he has already read over half the principles de evangelio book, which is basics of the gospel? Something like that. He volunteered to take care of ALL the games and activities for the huge september 18th party we are planning as a branch. Haha i don't know whats going on but he has already gone to church 3 times, he brought his girlfriend (they live together and we will have to get them married but they are so grossly in love its disgusting. always holding hands. or maybe I'm just a weird missionary and any contact seems gross) to church and she loved it. Marcelo the 14 year old who is my little brother went to seminary every day this week. Haha I just love victoria so much. I love you all.

Last story...Alfonso CHIFFERLY. You know those stories that missionaries tell ALWAYS after they get home? like the classic funny stories? thats Alfonso chifferly. i wont tell this one til i get back, but i really cannot believe this man. He is 87, has said "I'm smarter than the doctors" about 100 times to us, sells herbal medication out of his house, and is just a riot. I love him so much. I think we will probably drop him because even though he accepted a fecha he kind of went back on it. We told him to pray about church and he said that he saw the risen savior in his house, in person, but that the fact that he was IN the house means that he has no need to go to church. So close chifferly, so close. Best part his? He kicked us out of his house 2 days earlier because my companion was really really rude and then when we went back he didn't remember we had passed by. Like the movie groundhog day. Hahaha i cant wait to describe this man to you...

Well, thats all i have time for. I love you all so much. Thanks for your prayers, your thoughts. I really REALLY love the mission and even though its flying by, I'm enjoying every minute. Thanks for all your support!

Les quiero mucho
Elder Tengberg


i would send photos but it appears that my new memory card has a virus on it too, so ill have to find a way around it next week. freaking chilean cyber cafes.

No comments:

Post a Comment