June 30th

Hola Familia- yes just as was explained in your emails, it was a tough weekend for Chile. They came extremely close, millimeters away from scoring. I might be converted as a Futbol fan hahaha. It was intense,, but both teams played really well. 

It's been a pretty good week. After a long time of searching, a few of our contacts have become new investigators. We are teaching a gal named F_____. A single mother with a little boy who is super adorable. She lives with both parents, M___ and V_____ who were also two contacts that we made and all of them are receptive, asi que estamos enseñando una familia entera! The dad works in the minery so he is working more often that is at home. But all of them are receptive :) And such a sweet family. We also contacted their neighbors. A few houses down we contacted another gal, Y_____ who is 21, a few week ago who has two little boys and lives with her husband and grandma. We were finally able to teach her and her grandma this week. It turns out her grandma is a member of the church and after the passing of her husband and moving, she hasn't assisted in over fifteen years. But Y___ P_____ is very interested in learning about the church through her grandmother. She is also going through a lot of changes right now- Counseling and such. After studying and working for the past couple of years they recently found that she has cancer and so she has had to go through drastic changes within the last few months. It was a super emotional lesson that we had with her. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. 

 

To answer k´s question yes we have a cell phone but we are only able to call.. 

 

Elder B, FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS A TI! A Ti! A Ti! espero que te hayas tenido un buen cumpleaños. Que bacán que cumples un día antes de tu compañero! Me gustan las fotos de ti y el Elder Jonston- Que rica la torta! Suena que tienes una misión "internacional" con los miembros de países diferentes. Te gusta la comida italiana también, ya? No es real que ya tienes 20 años, en serio. Continúes trabajando arduamente Elder B! 

 

(Happy Birthday to you! A Ti! A Ti! I hope you had a good birthday. That bacán you meet a day before your partner! I like the pictures of you and the Elder Johnston-That rich cake! Sounds like you have an "international" mission with members from different countries. I like Italian food too, ya? It is real that you already have 20 years, seriously. Elder B keep working hard!)

 

 

Yes I will miss the fourth again this year.. Thanks dad for keeping traditions alive. If you go ahead and put a little Palta on the hot dog with some tomato, mayonesa and ketsup, you´ve made yourself a completo. and I will probably be eating that this week. They love their completos in Chile!!! hahaha. 

 

Hope all is well and that everyone has a great week! love you so much.

June 23rd

hey, Chile Lost today so I´m not really up for writing anything.......... 

No just kidding,... actually one of the hermanas I live with hit her head pretty hard on a cupboard and had to leave to go get stitches. a lot of blood, so we are writing late. Ironic because she is the mission nurse. 

In short, it was a pretty good week. We met an ex-monk, and got to teach her. It was a little difficult because she really doesnt want us to come back, but a pretty cool experience none-the-less.

And of course the World Cup. Yes, crazy because Chile beat Spain, world champs the last world cup. Holland was tough to beat though. 

Hope all are doing well. Happy Anniversary Dad and K!

 

 

John 21:17

_---Special Father´s Day email for Dad-----_Heyy!!! Special father´s day shout out to my favorite dad ;)) I LOVE that you are wearing the shirt. hahaha how awesome!! Well, you are absolutely right with the World Cup.. We had a conference the first day Chile played Australia and If i am not mistaken, Chile ganó 3-1 over Austrailia. 

 

Personally, the basketball statistics are a little more interesting for me. My comp is de argentina like I told you before, and she is just dying not being able to watch the World Cup this year. You should have seen the Metro station on friday. We were coming back from a zone conference. Mind you it is freezing cold, So I had my big jacket on and us missionaries are trying to get on the Metro and I´m trying not to lose my comp. I felt like one of those angelic expeciences happened to me where I could hardly breath with all of the people and my things and my coat, and right as the door was closing and I was on the other end of the metro door away from hermana Veron, I heard someone behind me yell "Como China!!" and I was pushed from behind with a BUNCH of Chilenos leaving work to watch the World Cup. But we were able to get back safely. 

 

JSYK I did send you a fathers day card and it is on its way if it hasnt gotten to you yet! I believe it might take a little while. because I only sent it last week. This father´s I worked hard for you, I thought a lot about you, and was able to see here that they celebrate Father´s day just like we do. 

 

We were able to teach a family yesterday. Four Generations- We visited a less active couple who were there with their sons and daughters, grandchildren, and a great grandchild. How cool, huh?? And we taught about the importance of being sealed as a family. As a bonus, the temple missionaries went with us (Elder and Hermana Rasmussen are from Virginia). All were members but one son-in-law who is married to their daughter who is also less active. Right before we were about to leave, they both told us that they would like for the missionaries to come by and teach them more. Their daughter wants to start coming to church again.

:)

I was also able to finish my goal of reading the Four Gospels to learn more about Christ and His life. I teared up a little bit thinking back to last year when Alex gave the talk by Elder Holland- "The First and Great Commandment". And before Christ ascended

back into heaven, he asked his disciples, His true followers, to be Fishers of Men and to Preach His Gospel. I am more than grateful to be doing this full-time right now. And as Karen is now doing it with family history work, and Alex and Dad. We are here to share this joy with others. Les amo muchisimo. Cuidense esta semana :)

 

 

bunch of photos. Me in the pouring rain, with a member`s rabbits. us on divisions with Hermana Wright (WOOHOO) and a few others. :)

June 9th

Hola!

Short and sweet this week- Not a lot going on around here, and I feel horrible because although I remembered all of the parts to send pictures this time, I forgot about charging my camera batteries. So hopefully by next week you will receive pictures. I did receive a package with small toys for little A____ & A_____- Thank you K!! and Dad. I think the blessing is that I continue to receieve things from my parents AND my brother because I received a letter from Elder Berthelson this week :) ........

 

The most freezing week ever with all of the rain here. Freezing Freezing Freezing. With rain- you would think that the 32 deg weather would hit,or 0 celcius but it continued to rain all weekend long. I have been using 2 pairs of leggings, two jackets, hat, mittens scarves,... I thought I could tough it out with the boots, but I think I am going to buy some new ones. The heels of my shoose have worn down from so much walking. I am walking and standing with a backward slant now, so I am thinking of buying some before preperation day is over. 

 

We were able to bring one of our investigators to Church which is always a struggle in Chile, especially with the rain this weekend. Her name is M____ M____, she is really receptive and we were also able to meet her husband. We hope to continue teaching the both of them because she really liked coming to church with us. 

As for my studies, I have been reading and am now finishing the 4 Gospels along with reading Jesus the Christ. 

It really is deep to understand the life of Christ and a blessing to maybe know a little bit more of Christ as a person. That as John explains- He grew Grace for Grace. Also, June is Caridad y Amor. looking for ways to have more charity and love

Espero que todo este bien esta semana. Hay mucho para hacer todavía. Muchas almas para salvar. Compartan el Evangelio con todos, porque, como les sepan, lo trae esperanza y felicidad :)

Con mucho amor, Hermana B 

June 2nd

Hola todos. 

Glad to hear that everyone is doing well! I was super excited to hear that Alex was able to have a conference with Elder Holland, was able to baptize J__ M___ , and met A___ M____! The news about Karen and Dad and Portland. I really liked the photos, although it looks like you guys went to San Diego, not Portland with Dad and all of his Chargers get-up. And a lot of commotion in the ward. More good news than anything. Shoot! A lot of marriage announcements. 

As for me- YES the weather is super cold right now. We have had quite a week of walking in the cold. We are trying to find new investigators, and the weather just doesn´t help... A few weeks ago we were door-to-door contacting and met a woman named M__ E___ M____ who had told us that she was very busy, and would attend to us when she had time. Most öf the time this means they don´t want to hear from us and kindly shut the door. But we gave her an image of Christ and left it at that. The other night we went to her door and as we were calling out to see if anybody was home and she appeared from around the street corner. She let us in and explained to us how much it meant to her that we had given her an image of Christ. How she really needed it at that moment and that she is struggling to support her family as a single mother with her two sons attending a university. And how she is really busy with her career and at the same time very lonely. We explained to her the importance of the love that our Heavenly Father has for us and the need to have Him in our lives. We are going to continue to teach her this week. 

 

We were also able to have a family home evening with the Bishop and his family on Monday. It was pretty crazy with him and his four sons. We also had a Convert and her family with us. It was supposed to be a NDH to get to know Bishop Pardos, and his wife and family, but it was pretty chaotic. We didn´t really get to talk much with the Bishop.

 

We were able to go out with Hermana Wright on Wednesday . I mentioned that you guys were planning on going to Portland. She and my Mission President are from Oregon. She told me that the water was contaminated, but obviously I wasnt able to tell you in time. I hope you didnt drink the ocean water lol. 

 

Not much else this Monday. Les amo mucho. Yo veo las bendiciones, aún pequeños, cada día. Estoy agradecida ser misionera acá en Chile.

1 Nephi 16:18 and 23

Hey K, Dad, and Alex--------

We had a better week this week, It is SUPER cold. But I am staying warm, no worries. We were able to have a few good lessons as well as some new investigators. The picture is included of our investigator, Nacho. Like I explained in my email from last week. The good news is that he is progressing a little bit every time we teach. He has more and more questions and me teaching him English has been a good way to "open the door". Before it was hard for him to talk, but now he´s talking and he´s talking in English hahaha. 

 

I sent a picture a few weeks ago of our MA, Hermano C _____.. He is CRAZY. He´s like a member of the Hampton family, hahah. He has now been coming to church regularly. And we have been visiting him and his wife more. We are trying to help him with a few minor problems, but he told us he wanted to enter the temple and that that was his new goal. We had a ward conference last week and the stake president talked a lot about the Temple. I think that really woke him up :) BUT I am super excited for him. Taking advantage of his idea, I shared with him how there is no better goal than to enter the temple and that we would be there to help both him AND his wife go through together. 

What more.... We´ve had a few Noches de Hogar, I´m still teaching English, we might have a baptism this Sunday. The daughter of one of the converts of our ward. Still working hard... We are going to have a family home evening with the Bishop tonight. Trying to get to know him. He is crazy.. I came up with the idea, we´ll see how it goes. 

 

Other than that, I am glad to see you enjoyed Memorial day! I was thinking just the other day trying to remember what day it fell on. Looks like grandma and grandpa had a fun time and Lauren looks so beautiful and ready to leave! I'm excited for her!! ....... Faltan las fotos de ustedes dos. -- karen and dad. I'm sure you will take lots when you go to portland. Dad, I don't understand when you say your life is pretty "aburrido" when you and karen are national travelers, and hosts for the other crazys that come and visit. 

 

I'm not sure if I have shared this with you before, but I love these two verses in 1Nephi 16. This is the part where he and his family are in the wilderness. His bow breaks. Here, Nephi has a Problem. In vs 23, He finds a solution. Not only that, but he asks his father where he can go to find food. If we ever feel like we have trials or problems, We can use our knowledge and resources to find a solution, and we can ask our Heavenly Father what we should do next. I have lived with this knowledge over the last few weeks because these weeks haven´t been easy for me, but I do know what when we identify our problems, we´ve got half of the solution. So, I´ve just got to work with what I´ve got and ask the Lord what I should do next. 

 

Alex I pray for you and the people you are working with everyday. You left almost a year a go. A year goes fast and I know you are putting everything forward, I am so proud of you. 

 

I did get everything in the lucky charm box! thank you!!! and I also received a BEAUTIFUL necklace with a note that said it was Dad´s idea... ;) thank you dad and K because it got to me and I wear it everyday. I love you and hope you are well and hope you enjoy your upcoming plans. 

 

-- pic of me and Nacho and one of me, Hna Veron, and Hna Tax in our apartment eating pancakes!

 

 

Sister Jasmine Berthelson

Chile Santiago East Mission

May 19th

Woah, i had no idea that grandma and grandpa came to visit. Nor the Rackham's. I bet its been a fun-filled few days with lots of laughs. And lots of Solitaire. And with the hot weather, I can believe that grandma is out by the pool everyday. 

To make a long week short, we have just been having lessons with people, contact, walk, walk in the cold. There isn't a whole lot of excitement here. Not much sizzle right now. We eat a lot here. I am up to my throat in a soupy-dish here called Casuela. It is a soup with big pieces of meat, and a ton of Vegetables. Pretty bland, but it is a typical dish in Chile. hahah the member LOVE to feed us Casuela. 

As far as people that we are teaching, there aren´t too many. We had a family home evening with the ward on Tuesday to get ready for our Ward conference. We watched the Because of Him Video that Karen was talking about a few months ago. It was very much improved by us because the members that had assignments didn't fulfill, but it worked out in the end. 

We are teaching a kid named N___.......

Other than that there are a lot of people with problems. And not much else because they don't want to listen to our solution. And we keep visiting them. Haven't lost hope! They will accept the gospel someday :)

Please pray for me and my companion. Not much else is happening we will see this week though. 

Elder B- yo follo portuguese :) naaaa keep working hard! proud of you!

I did get my lucky charms package!!! I love lucky charms thank you!!! 

Beware of the rattlesnakes! 

mucho cariño