December 22nd

Familia

Wow, I am very excited for Karen`s employee.. I think that is wonderful!! What a great time to share this time of the year. 

So, this is my last family letter.. I feel like it would be a lot better in person and not written. I am not very good at writing, but it is such a blessing that ya'll have been able to read the "blogs" to let others know the life of a missionary. 

This week we were able to go to the temple as a group of us missionaries that are leaving. Maybe you don't know, but I had asked Grandma and Grandpa Paredes  to send me names to be able to do in the temple. I was able to go through for my aunt Juana de Dios Sepulveda Sotomayor. It was a blessing to be able to go through for one of my own family names and to do it in "her" temple. The temple has such a special place in my heart and I am excited to come back home to go through the Phoenix temple.

We also had our baptism yesterday!! M____ M____. A little difficult through it all. The Bishop who was supposed to baptize her got there a little late. but such a wonderful experience through it all.- there it is. A baptism :)

 

I want to leave it all with my testimony knowing that this time is a time to think about our Savior Jesus Christ. He is the reason that we celebrate this time of the year. A scripture that our President mentioned is in 1Nephi 11:16. To think that Christ came down to be born of humble circumstances in His reign is unimaginable. There is no way we will ever understand or know what He had to experience to be born and live as man would live. He did it willingly and we must also do the will of God with a willing heart just as Christ did. I am so blessed to have been among the people of Chile for a time. I will never forget all of the small experience that made up all of my 18 months. What a blessing to come as a representante de Jesucristo. I know that Christ Lives and that His Atonemente and Resurrection is the reason we celebrate His birth. 

 

 

I cant wait to talk to Alex and to see the rest of you real soon. Love you and thank you for it all

FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Sister Jasmine Berthelson

Chile Santiago East Mission

December 15th

There isnt a whole lot to write this week. Thank you dad for finding me a place to live!! looks like everything will be ready when i get back . I am glad that you were able to take Cambria and Hunter to the temple :) they look so cute! 

k.- i am all up for activities.. sure go ahead with the singles activity lol 

i wont be bringing really any clothes home 

wow cant believe martha bale and brian nally are leaving!!!  they are heading on to do great things!!!! 

M_____ is preparing for this upcoming week to be baptized!! please pray a lot!
sorry there is no substance to this email. I love you and hope you are all doing well. 

I will be sending you a longer christmas email next week.. love you!!!

DyC 50:26-29

Familia- 
It was so cool to get to talk to y'all on Christmas!! I hope it was enjoyable for everyone. It was pretty hot here, and we had a lot of ice cream that day... We did a lot to lead up to Christmas this week. We were giving out the rest of our cookies, we did some caroling in the plaza in our sector, we had lessons with our investigators about the Spirit of Christmas. Over all it was a good week. They don´t celebrate Christmas like they do in the states. And it definitely didn´t feel like Christmas- it passed pretty quickly actually. But we had a fun Christmas morning, the four of us in our pension. I told them about dad, and how he has to shower, get ready, eat his bowl of cereal before we can open presents. And about Karen`s delicious Christmas breakfast creations... haha. It was fun though. We opened presents that we bought for each other and I made pancakes and eggs for everyone. After, we caroled for the man who works outside of our apartment building and went to the Lopez´s house to eat lunch and talk to our families. But we worked like normal on Christmas after I finished talking with you guys. 

It was Hermana Salazar`s birthday on Friday. We had planned to go to the Temple with a couple of other Hermanas, but it ended up taking a lot longer to get to the temple than planned. The horario de la Navidad with all of the micros set us back, and we ended up getting there a lot later than planned, and so it was just Hermana Salazar and I who did a session...... In general, it was just wonderful to go back to the temple. I will get to go once more next year, and then at the end of my mission. 

That day I had called up a less-active family (familia A_____) to see if we could have a surprise "Once" for Hermana Salazar. They decorated their backyard with balloons and we had a Pan de Pascua cake with other snacks which was kind of cool under their tree decorated with Christmas lights. Hermana Ekins, Perez, and I made a piñata for Hermana Salazar and I made a pretty sweet ice cream cake. 

R____, our investigator is progressing. We had a lesson on the Plan of Salvation with her, and we could feel the Spirit so strongly. You could see her eyes light up  when we were explaining that we were created before this life and that this earthly existence is not the end. Unfortunately, she has had, and is having a lot of family problems, but it was a blessing to be able to teach her about the Plan of Salvation. She gets so excited when we come to visit. She is progressing slowly, but I am grateful for that because I feel like with the questions she has and her understanding, we learn together. She has been able to go to a few of the ward activities and is getting to know a lot of the members. Stay postponed with baptismal date-

There have also been other miracles that we have seen this week with visiting families, getting into homes that we couldn`t get in before, contacting, etc. It`s hard work, especially with the heat, but fun none-the-less. 

I don`t know if I have ever told you about our Bishop, Bishop Llancoñanco. He is like Michael Scott.. anyways, we had our third hour, fifth Sunday yesterday. He had everyone gather into the cultural hall and we watched a Mormon Messages. I was thinking a lot about my papi yesterday with one of them. The one about our Earthly Father and our Heavenly Father. I also was studying in DyC. A lot about the Priesthood. I was pondering on just how special it is that Alex and my Dad have the Priesthood Power. In vs 26 it explains that this power is ordained of God. And not to be looked upon as a power to Rise above, but to fall below and to buoy up and serve others. I know that we are human, and we all have sins, but it is pretty cool to know that worthy Priesthood holders have the ability to do ALL things in the name of Christ according to their faith and worthiness. I would always hope that the Priesthood holders I know have a life reflected on Christ even for those small moments where God will provide Earthly miracles on account of the worthiness of the Priesthood holder. I hope that Karen will find the video and that you guys can watch it. 

Editor's Note - see below for this quick Mormon Message or you can click here:

I don`t know if it is possible to burn a disc of mensajes mormones (mormon messages, spanish?) thought of that after i called  you. I don`t know if there are really any new years traditions here, but we did see some fireworks the other night. USA has a pretty big influence in Chile, I am guessing we will have fireworks for new years. Cool for Tyler Mander and way awesome for Kennedy! She is going to be an incredible missionary.  

Grateful for you guys and your goals, no not finished w LDM yet, but I am going verse for verse with my Journal of it so it will hopefullly be finished  by next year. And thank you K! I am excited to see the glue-ins. Hermana Salazr is going to love them too.. 

Keep workin hard Elder B! I put together a very small package for you. I will let you know when I send It.

Have a good week and Happy 2014!

Con amor,

Alma 7:10-12

Hola Familia!!! 

A couple more days until I get to talk to ya'll! I am so excited, We had a great activity the other day- We went to give treats and to share a Christmas message with a few of the less active members of our ward. It was really sweet and humbling to hear the testimonies of the ward members. So here is a picture of a few of us after the activity. 

La Navidad es un buen tiempo para recordar nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Él nos ama y su expiación es el centro de este Plan de Facilidad. Él sufrió para que podamos volver a vivir con nuestro Padre Celestial. Jesucristo vive y su nacimiento puede traer paz y gozo a todos que creen en su gloria y misericordia.

Les quierooooo y Feliz Navidad!

 

(Christmas is a good time to remember our Lord Jesus Christ. He loves us and His Atonement is the center of this Plan. He suffered so that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ lives and his birth can bring peace and joy to all who believe in His glory and mercy.

I love you and Merry Christmas!)

Alma 7:10-12

2Nefi 31:20, 21

Hola familia!

We had a pretty full week with Zone Conferences, Cambios (changes), Christmas Devotionals, Re-Elections, etc etc. I will let you know that we did not have cambios. I am still serving in El Parque and I am with Hermana Salazar. 

The best news I have for this week is that we have a new investigator named R___. We met her taking a picture of her Christmas decorations outside her house. She put up a life-size Santa climbing to the rooftop. Pretty cool, we contacted her and taught her then and there. She is so sweet and full of energy

We were also able to attend the Christmas Devotional at the Temple, and yes, Elder Archuletta was there. It was really cool and we were able to go with our other R____, our investigator. She loved it! They had a few singers perform and Elder Zeballos (who came in Sept) was able to give a short talk. You can watch the devotional from last year on Youtube (k and dad) they had a few of the same singers and songs. 

(Editor's note - I posted this as a separate post in her blog)

I was really grateful to get both of your emails this week. Congratulations to Shelby! She is glowing in the pictures you took. Congratulations to Devin as well! Very exciting. And I am sorry to hear about Gordon Meier. I know he was a good family friend. Keep up the missionary work, .....! I'm glad you are helping him out a bit and will get to take him to the temple! and dad, put up the Christmas lights, por favor. 

 

I am hoping that Hermana Salazar gets to email you this week, I asked her to email something for you guys! We also are continuing the tradition of making cookies for others. Members and investigators. It was Hermana Salazar´s first time making cookies! I told her that we hardly ever go without cookies or treats at our house. We are planning to make small plates for our members and investigators because right now they need a lot of love. 

I have not received anything yet. The last thing i received were the conference quotes and the letter from sister Moser. I love her so much! Please tell her thank you and that I love her. It was perfect and was just what i needed that day. Tell Reta Rae thank you for the scarf as well, it is so pretty! I cant remember if I told you I received it but I received that and the photos a few weeks ago.

 

I love these scriptures. 

2 Nephi 31:20, 21 

I have been studying a lot about being steadfast in moving forward. And moving forward in hope and love. I believe this was a mutual theme about ten years ago. More than anything, the word steadfast. How important it is to keep our mind steadfast and to not falter. If we do what this scripture says, we will in fact have Eternal life. 

I love you and hope that you are all doing well these weeks leading up to Christmas. I am so grateful for you guys, your service and your Christ-like examples. 

The photos are of me, Hermana Salazar and R____ waiting for the Christmas devotional, David Archuleta, the 4 of us with a tree in our apartment building, and Eduardo, my 12 year old friend in the neighborhood. (I think of Nacho Libre every time i see him)

 

Turtle de E___ and E____.. in other pic. E___, E____, and her mom M____ on couch. M next to Hermana Salazar, cookies and the devotional

 

 

December 9th

Hola Familia

There really wasn´t much going on this week. That´s a horrible way to start an email, I know. It has been a little difficult this week on account of lessons, our ward, ect. But dong the work of the Lord Right? We had a few pretty good contacts! Our investigator, R____ is progressing. We are still hoping for a date that we can put for her baptism. She still feels like she is not ready which is difficult. We are really doing all that we can with her. She works too, and it is hard to get a hold of her.

......

I am glad that you were able to attend the temple so much this year, K! That and all of the missionaries and I hope I will get to go at the end of this month, a few days after Christmas. I am also glad to hear that Elder B is not hurt, maybe his bike, but not the Elder haha. I got to scan over your email, Al. I apologize for not writing very much this week. I do want you to know that I love you and this is a wonderful time of the year. It is a special time to remember our Savior and everything that he means to us. He loves us so much and knows us inside and out. 

Being on a mission helps me better understand who the Savior is every day and how the Atonement works. I am truely, truely grateful for the Atonement, and that our Heavenly Father loved us so much to send His only Begotten Son to pay a price that He knew we couldn´t pay ourselves. I don´t think we will ever truely understand His love for us while we are here on this Earth, but I pray I can take every challenge as an opportunity to understand the Atonement and my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

I have been blessed to have been here in Chile sharing this message of love with my brothers and sisters here. Hope all is well this week! I love you so much. 

By the way, this is a photo from a few weeks ago. M____, G_____, and their family with a member, D____. (far left)