The first three weeks of October

October 20, 2014
Hey! This week was really good. We found some really cool new investigators. Yesterday we went to visit this guy, Cristian, that we had contacted earlier in the week and when we got there he was waiting for us! I love when that happens. We got to know him a little bit and taught him about the Book of Mormon and how he can know for himself if our message is true by reading, pondering and praying about it. He was so interested the whole time and when we finished he asked, before we could even get to it, if he could offer the prayer. We taught him how and he said a sweet little prayer and then asked us and the member we were with if each of us would offer a prayer because he said he felt so peaceful and calm. So by the end we had said 5 prayers because after we had all prayed he asked to say another! It was the coolest thing. We left his house just feeling so calm and happy. The simplest spirit had been with us and we could all feel it. The member we were with got so excited as well. He told us, "Man, if only all people you taught were just like that boy!"

Iris and Antonio went to Santiago for the weekend and Lalo was left home alone so we went and visited him on Friday and Saturday because he was pretty worried about getting lonely and not having visitors. We taught him about the priesthood and how he would be able to recieve it after his baptism. Then he began to ask about all the hermanos from the ward that he knew and if they were baptised as well and also had the priesthood and were able to baptize other people. After every name he would ask and hear our answer of, "Yes him too!" he would widen his eyes and get this real impressed look on his face. haha it was pretty funny.

Also the other day Lalo taught some sweet life lessons. He said, "The key that opens all doors in life is the respect." Also, "Respect is humility." This guy is full of solid one liners.

This week we also taught this guy who owns a sandwich shop in the centro that is the most American food I have eaten here. Pulled pork sandwiches! crazy bus! He lived in Florida for 7 yrs and Canada for a little while after that and speaks English really well. He had all these profound questions about the Law of Moses and Jesus Christ's mission and stuff but it was really throwing teaching him in English.

We also found this guy, Walter, who is paralyzed on the whole left side of his body. He told us he used to be a professional soccer player and that everything changed when he got sick and how all of the hard things that have happened to him have made him come closer to God and realize how much he needs God's help and love. It was really sad to hear his story but it also made me think about what I had read in the Book of Mormon in Helaman 12 when it talks about how God sends us trials so we can remember Him and humble ourselves before Him. I think that is pretty interesting. God knows us so well, better than we know ourselves and He knows exactly what we need to learn to grow and to stay humble and teachable. Lots of times those things end up being difficult but in the end they are for our benefit. That is the reason we are here on this earth in the first place; to learn, to change, to prepare.

Today we had lunch at the coolest restaurant in Angol, I think. I attached a picture of Hna DeGroff and I in front of these famous dolls they make in Angol called, Indio Pico. 

Thanks for everything. Love you guys a ton!

Hermana Meg Chalmers

Helaman 3:27

October 13, 2014
HELLOOOOO TEAM! This week was wild. We were traveling every day but it was a lot of fun as well. We did a "Gran Intercambio" like a big tradeoff thingy... I'm not sure what to call it but where you switch companions for a day... with the Hermanas from our two zones in Angol and in Victoria that is a little further south. It was a lot of fun. I got to work with Hermana Lozano from Mexico and we met some of the most interesting people. One guy, Oskar, recently had the last of his family members he is close to pass away and is so so sad and angry at God. He told us that the only real solution he could think of was taking his own life and we testified to him of the power of the atonement and the truth of the plan of salvation that it is so that we can find happiness and hope in this life and afterwards.. Later we found out that we had actually been teaching him inside the cantina he owns, which we thought was his house but thankfully it was mid day, we were with a member and it was empty so no problems there. hahha. Also we met the most catholic lady ever, Zunilda, who answered almost every question with "Es que... soy catolica" Welcome to Chile. Catholic city 2.0. THEN we met this lady Marisol that told us how she was ran over by a bus when she was 19 and was coming home from Concepcion for christmas break and everyone thought she would die or be in a wheel chair forever and not be able to have kids. She said she had never prayed so hard in her life or put so much faith in God to heal her and help her. She told us she had a dream that someone came and replaced her heart, kidneys and lungs and that later on the doctors were blown away by how quickly she recovered and how little they had to do to help her. She was able to have one son and the only evidence now of her accident is she has a fake eye, but that all. It was pretty cool that we were able to meet that wide of a range of people in one day. But it helped me to know and understand that the gospel really is for EVERYONE. Christ wants every single one of his brothers and sisters to follow Him and to know Him, not just those who seem more friendly or those that are easiest to talk to. I was greatful for that because sometimes when we contact I think I, without thinking, maybe don't talk to certain people based on what I see or think I know about them but doing that just doesn't make any sense at all. There is no one exempt that doesn't need the gospel of Jesus Christ and to know His true church is restored today.

Also yesterday, Iris, Lalo and Antonio all came to church! Dang one of the best Sundays in my whole mission. A member went and picked them up in his car and brought Lalo's walker that he uses to get around now since he is still pretty weak from his operations. It was the sweetest thing ever seeing him slowly make his way to the classes. In Gospel Principles he was making little comments, because we had a lesson on sharing and developing our talents, on how he was very good at playing the guitar and other instruments and he would love to please us with a song or two when he was a little stronger and healthier. I love that guy!

Now we are in Concepcion but we are taking a bus home today.

I was thinking the other day specifically about you guys, my family, that are so willing to support me and Cam and make it so easy for us to focus in the mission and enjoy it 100%. It is a huge blessing that not everyone has. Thanks for everything! I love you guys a ton!!

Hermana Megan Chalmers

Helaman 3:35 (one of my favs)

                                              Lalo (Gerardo) - my favorite guy in all of Southern Chile

pic of the intercambio I did with Hna Lozano from Mexico

October 6, 2014
HEY. I am so sun burned right now. My skin hasn't felt the heat in so long and today our zone went to Las Canteras. It was so awesome, but I am a tomato now. But it's okay, it was worth it.

Anyway, this week just flew by with Conference and everything. I hope you guys were able to catch all the sessions. So cool. We had to watch it all in Spanish but it was especially cool when some of the members of the 70 spoke in Spanish! I loved Elder Bednar's talk. Killed it. Also Dallin H. Oaks' talk and when he talked about remembering the Golden Rule. I thought of you, mom and how you always told us that and that little kids' song that sings about it.

It was pretty wild though. This young woman in our ward ran away from home with her boyfriend last week and still hasn't been found. It's all over the news and stuff so our ward has been all over the place. Also our bishop's wife had her baby but there were complications with the birth and they had to do an emergency c section and then drive her baby right up to the Concepcion hospital. We were talking to an hermana during lunch and she was saying how she just couldn't understand how terrible things like that could happen to good people and how she thought that the trials that the members in our ward were facing were so that the members can become more unified and more like a family. I was thinking about that and how it is interesting how the Lord has to send us trials many times to teach us things and to humble us. There are so many instances in the scrips where the people are compelled to be humble or they are humbled through their faithfulness and diligence. 

This past week was a little tough at points. There were moments where it felt like the entire city of Angol hated missionaries, and Hna DeGroff and I realized it was our choice on whether those things were going to make us feel discouraged and frustrated or drive us to work harder and do better. THEN WE SEE MIRACLES. It was pretty cool. Even though things are tough sometimes with the ward and with work there are still lots of blessings and happy moments every day. 

There is a little old man, Lalo that lives with some investigators, Iris and Antonio and when we went and visited them yesterday, Lalo was sittiing up to the kitchen table with the biggest pair of tiger paw slippers I have ever seen just peeling some peas. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. We had bought him some chocolate since he had just come out of the hospital and he goes CRAZY for treats and when we handed it so him his eyes got all huge, he kissed the chocolate bar and looked up at me and said, "You are a queen!" Hahaha.

I am going to try and send some pics of Las Canteras today. CHILE IS BEAUTIFUL! I was so happy to be able to go see some of the natural parts of Angol today. so great.

Love you guys!

p.s

Our mission president wanted to make sure you guys know that THIS is the best address to use to send mail-

Mision Chile Concepcion Sur

Castellon 1063 Casilla 3560

Concepcion Bio Bio

Chile 

(and to send it with regular mail NOT UPS or something or it will get held up in customs. that is all)

Miracles and Dieciocho

HELLOOOOO.                                                                                         Sept. 29, 2014

Monday comes pretty fast. They recently played Barbie Girl in this Cyber. Hahah. Anyway, this week Hermana DeGroff and I starting this thing where at the end of every day we decide what the miracle of the day was. We started it when one day we were talking in the street towards the end of the night, it had been a little bit of a tough day and we were talking about how even though things are tough Heavenly Father ALWAYS blesses us and is mindful of our situations and we really can witness miracles every day if we pay attention and are grateful. It's been fun. Some of the miracles from this past week (BIG and small)-

- We contacted a guy, Andres, that was working on the parking tickets out by our apartment and we gave him a Book of Mormon and explained to him a little of what it was about and how it could bless his life and told him we would pass by a little later on because he had to work at that same spot until 6pm. So we passed by a little while later since it was the day of cambios and we had to run back and forth between the bus terminal and our house and he had read to 1 Nephi 8! It was the coolest thing because as we were nearing him Hna DeGroff said, "I hope Andres is reading his Book of Mormon." and then as we got closer we could see him sitting on the curb reading. WAHOOO! We were so pumped. Miracle 1

- We taught Iris and Antonio the Plan of Salvation and they payed atention through the whole lesson. Iris didn't get up to do something at all! This was cool because Iris is easily distracted and is always trying to give us food or do something when really we just want to teach her. A member that is their friend, Cristian, helped us out a ton and we were able to have a great lesson and have the Spirit really strong. MIRACLE 2.0

-After leadership council in Concepcion on Friday we ate lunch all together and for our dessert we had CINNAMON CARROT CAKE: the most American thing I have eaten my whole mission I think. Wow I was so happy

- Sunday it didn't rain and it had been rainy rainy all week which was awesome because almost all the members walk to church so it made it a lot easier for the members and investigators to come on time without problems. 

- Also something funny that happened this week, we knocked this door and a girl Valeska, who is about 22 and her great grandma let us in. The grandma is like 86 yrs old and slightly crazy so she was cracking us up. There was a big Minnie Mouse balloon in their living room and as we were teaching them the grandma yelled, "It's going to fall!" and Valeska had to explain to her that it was a balloon inflated with helium and then she starting talking about how beatiful it was and that they needed to buy more monkey like that. It was so funny. She would randomly start telling us about her garden every couple minutes so it was a little tough to stay on topic but it was sure a show.  Valeska had a little daughter, Julietta, that reminds me a ton of Coco! She's so cute! I gave her a little Jesus Christ pass along card and then she kept wanting more every minute or so, so by the time we left she had like 10 cards.

I love you guys! You should look out for the miracles every day and it will surprise you to see really how blessed we are and how mindful of us Heavenly Father is.

Also I can't believe it is already time for General Conference again! CRAZY BUS

HASTA LUEGO

Hermana Meg Chalmers

Hna DeGroff and me

HELLOOOOOOOOO!                                                                                                              Sept. 29, 2014

This week has been great. Iris, Antonio and Francisca, a family we are teaching came to church on Sunday and loved it! The primary teachers didn't show up on time so Hermana Soria and I ended up singing songs and playing games for the first hour with the 3 primary kids, 2 that are investigators. Haha it was actually a lot of fun. Hermana Soria went home this morning so we said a lot of goodbyes yesterday at church and such. 

But I am just so pumped about Iris and her family. They are so, so awesome and prepared. We taught them about keeping the Sabbath day holy and Iris told us that she had heard them talking about that subject in the gospel principles class the Sunday before and had already decided before our lesson that she felt like it was about time she started making changes to what she does on Sundays and that she was fully committed to keep the Sabbath day holy. They have three rooms in their house that they rent out to people. One of them just got filled by a 78 year old man, Lalo, that just got out of the hospital and has no family. He is super sick and was a heavy drinker before he got sick. Now Iris takes care of him and she is just the most caring person ever. We stopped by their house on Thursday to drop off something and she was in the middle of trading her mattress out so Lalo could use it because he had peed his bed and they had moved him to another bunk bed they had in the house but the bed frame was crooked so he kept falling out. So she gave him her bed and we helped her move it because she can't do much heavy lifting. She didn't even think twice about it. Some man she hardly knows and she is willing to do anything for him. She is just the sweetest woman I have ever met. 

Also this past week was DIECIOCHO! Chilean Independance Day. The biggest celebrated holiday in Chile. We didn't work on Thursday, the 18th. We woke up and went on a hike into the mountains and I bought a kite and was super excited to use it but turned out that that day there was 0 wind. Like the only day the whole year where it isn't windy! Haha. We brought a blanket and our scrips and did some studying out in the hills then for lunch we went to a recent convert's house, Beatriz and Aida and ate A TON. They eat empanadas, anticucho (shish kabaob) and sopaipillas (fried bread?) and BBQ meat like its going out of style for 18. Aida and Bea were really excited to show us what 18 is all about so they gave us SO MUCH FOOD and we couldn't refuse any of it. It was really fun though.

The people here are just so giving and it is so awesome to see that. People who really do show charity towards others and do it without thinking twice even when they have so little. In Moroni 7 when it talks about charity towards the end of the chapter I like where it says charity never faileth and those that are found with it will be blessed. The people I have met here are so charitable and loving and you can see how blessed they are. They are happy and they have love for their families even if they don't have all the things of the world. 

I love you guys!

Love always,

Hna Chalms

 Antonio, in his DIECIOCHO huaso outfit eating a pjarito and looking like a G.

 Hna DeGroff and me

anticucho

 cutie pies

 The DIECIOCHO spread

                       Me, in a food coma, when we got to our house with a sopaipilla on my face... I ate it.

mid-September

Week 5 with Hermana De Groff                                                                    Sept. 15, 2014

This week was awesome. I was able to be in our area with Hermana DeGroff almost the whole week so that was a huge blessing. We found some really awesome new people that we are super excited about. One of them is a family, the mom, Iris, and the two kids, Antonio who is 11 and Francesca who is 18. They are a reference from a member who is their neighbor. He went and picked them up yesterday to come to church and as we were waiting for them at the front door we saw them walking up looking all fresh and ready to go. Iris had her side bag with her Bible and her Book of Mormon and a couple snacks because she was a little worried about being able to make it all 3 hours. Haha. It was so great though. Antonio is the smartest little guy ever. He was asking us all these questions about Jose Smith and the Priesthood when we taught the Restoration. Wahoo!

We also found this other guy, Rodrigo, who is just one of the most interesting people I have ever met. He was going to church and meeting with missionaries for like a year in 2010 but never got baptized. He told us he has read all the the BOM like 3 times because he had a lot of free time when he was in jail for a year and a half! He really threw us for a loop on that one. He is just the most calm guy. Anyway, Hermana Soria had to go up to Concepcion for a day and so on Thursday I was in a trio with Hna DeGroff and Hna Crandall (the daughter of Hna Soria) and we went to visit Rodrigo for the 2nd time. He told us that he has never prayed since 2008 and never will ever since what he did.... Well he ended up telling us that he went to jail because he stabbed a guy and the guy died. WHAT! Keep in mind my companions didn't know what he was saying so they were responding like it was no biggie. Hahah. Craziest thing. But it is really sad, Rodrigo's situation. He doesn't believe God can forgive him and that he can pray to Him even because he said he can't believe that an innocent, perfect man would have to suffer for the mistakes that he had made and that he needs to suffer them himself. We bore our testimonies of the power of the atonement and that Christ willingly suffered for us and the price has already been paid. Our responsibility now is to repent and to follow Him. I just hope Rodrigo can pray so he can feel at least some comfort and know that he still is a son of God even after the mistakes he made. 

We also did some service at an old folks home for national service day and I FINALLY got to wear one of those Mormon Helping Hands yellow vests!! Yahoo! I was really impressed by a recent convert, Guillermo (he got baptized last month), who had one of his legs amputated from the knee down about a year ago. He came to the service activity! It was the coolest thing. It made me think about the times when I feel like I have some sort of excuse to not do something or think something is too hard, when Hno Guillermo, who is missing a leg and walks with crutches, still comes to a stake service activity and helps out in every way he can. He is the most faithful member and I look up to him a lot for doing all in his power to serve and that he doesn't let his trials limit him or determine his happiness or success.  

On the 10th I completed one year in the mission so the Hermanas in the house bought a lemon pie and surprised me and wrote me some nice notes. Haha. It was really nice of them. I'll send some pics

This Thursday is Chilean Independance Day so our P Day will be on that day. All the country is pumped on eating empanadas and dancing the cueca. CHI CHI CHI LE LE LE VIVA CHILE

Its FINALLY getting warm over here! Wahooo. I went my first day without a jacket yesterday and it was pure heaven. Pretty soon I won't need to wear tights!

I love you guys! I hope St. George isn't completely under water by the time I get there. 

Love always,

Hermana Chalmers

Alma 38:2 

Some hermanas and ward members

Hermana DeGroff with her sopapilla

Stake Service Activity

Sept. 8, 2014
Hey fam! You guys are just having a straight party 24/7. I am currently in this cyber and they are playing, Hey Ya, super loud "SHAKE IT SHAKE IT" and I am picturing Courts doing a crazy little dance. hahah. 

We are in Concepcion today because we had to come up for Return and Report with our companions to see how their training is going and that we aren't beating them or anything. Haha, it was good stuff. 

This past week was a little tough with moving into our new apartment and we had a couple problems with the water heater so we lost a lot of time fixing that but I am SO happy we are finally into this new apartment and all is ready to go! It is right in the middle of our sector and we live on the 3rd floor so no more jumping around doing insanity in the morning... Haha. We are going to have to stick to running now. 

We have been focusing on finding new investigators this week and we saw a lot of miracles! One morning we had to run to go make copies of the keys to our apartment and this guy who was working parking cars yelled "hola hermanas!" I assumed he was a member so I asked him what ward he was from and then as he started to talk to us we realized he isn't a member. He told us how he used to play soccer at the chapel when he was a kid and that so many hard things have happened in his life and that he knows he needs something to help him overcome his problems. He said he has just recently stopped drinking and he wanted to stop smoking but it was so hard. The gospel can help to solve ALL of our problems! All of them! It is the answer to all of our questions and it is the only way we can really truly be happy.  We also went and visited this reference from some Elders in another area. Her name is Sofia and she just moved here from Concepcion and was so excited when we gave her a Book of Mormon. She told us how she feels like in her life she is missing a boyfriend/husband that she can trust and that really loves her. Haha. We are going to try and hook her up with some solid member and SEAL THEM IN THE TEMPLE, YO.

My companion and I did some exchanges one day this week, too. When they came home that night, Hna Degroff was telling me about how they found this really awesome guy, Hugo, but how the whole lesson she thought his name was jugo (juice in Spanish) and was calling him Jugo. Hahah. Also a while back an area seventy, Elder Zeballos, came to talk to us. When we came home to the house after his training and prayed, she prayed and thanked Heavenly Father for the training we had received from Elder Cebollas (onion in spanish). We all started cracking up mid prayer. hahah. She is so awesome, though. Something Hna Degroff has taught me is to have a good attitude even when things are hard and frustrating. She is always really positive and doesn't fear the unknown and I look up to her a lot for that.

Oh my goodness, now they are playing Brittney Spears in this cyber. GOSH. OOPS I DID IT AGAIN.

I love you guys and am grateful for you and your support and love!

I LOVE THE MISSION. I still can't believe that I am here and how quickly time is passing and how happy I am doing something I never imagined I would be doing at this time in my life. 

DyC 123:17 (my fave!)

Love always,

Megs

​Today at Return and Report with our hijas

Krishna, the daughter of a recent convert, walked home from church yesterday with us. She is the cutest!

A Fun and Busy Week!

Hey guys!                                                                                                Sept. 1, 2014

This week was all over the place. It flew by so quickly and now the weeks are just starting to blend together. Some cool things that have happened:

- Hermana Soria and I did some trade offs in Victoria about 2 hours South of Angol and when I was sitting on the floor studying, a mouse ran into my skirt. That was nice.

- Hermana Degroff and I contacted a Chilean mime. White face paint and all!

- This week we are moving into our new apartment! Finally!! 

- Our house was robbed Thursday night and thankfully they didn't take anything of mine, but they took something from all the other Hermanas in the house. Money. Camera. Jewelry.

- We have been working hard with Suyay and her family and it has been full of its ups and downs. It has been hard for them not to get discouraged with the situation they are in. Their dad told them he doesn't want to see anymore Mormons in his house anymore when he is around, which is on the weekends. That really has been tough for Suyays mom, Elvira. But yesterday we had a family home evening with them with some members and other recent converts and it was really great. We talked about the story of Lot's Wife and not looking back but having faith that the future will be better than the past. Mom, it reminded me of one time when you showed a video in young womens' about that once in a lesson. Well, we showed that video. too. I really love that story and the talk that goes along with it by Elder Holland. It talks about how as we have confidence in the future and what we can accomplish, we strengthen our faith and that having a clear vision of just exactly what it is that we want to achieve in our future makes it so much easier to press forward. We invited everyone to make goals for where and who they wanted to be in 5 years and we also did it with them. It is so awesome how the gospel can really transform us and help us to be so much better than we could otherwise. It gives us so much more direction and purpose and for that I am grateful. I am grateful to have confidence in the future and to be content with the present and not let the past hold me back or impede me from progressing. Also I am grateful for you guys, for my family! It is eternal and something that I have come to appreciate so much more. In my mission I have seen people who don't have that blessing and how much more difficult their life is. Also, I have been able to witness people who come to understand that there really is a possibility to live as an eternal family and it is so awesome how that knowledge and understanding can change someone so much. 

- Today we went to Las Canteras, this nature place close to Angol with the 6 Hermanas in our zone. The whole zone was going to go but then it rained so everyone else wimped out, but not us!! We went and had a taxi take us there and the guy driving, Humberto, was super cool and we all became friends and he showed us around Las Canteras and even hopped out of the car to take some pics with us. It was so great, haha. 

I love you guys!

Hna Chalms

Las Canteras

Humberto, our taxi driver and me

me and Hna De Groff

CHI CHI CHI LE LE LE VIVA CHILE!

Crazy Bus Week!                                                                                                             August 25, 2014
This week has been the fastest week of my mission. I am so tired and overwhelmed but at the same time so happy and excited to be here and to be a missionary. Right now I am in Concepcion because we had the leadership council (my first one!) and it was really great. The Spirit was so strong and hearing all the missionaries and President share and all of us talking about how we can improve in the mission gets me so pumped! We talked a lot about the studies and their importance and I was thinking about how that is someting that will apply for the rest of my life. Effective study of the scriptures gives us strong roots and strength and a lot of times when we were looking at problems in the mission the solution rooted back to effective studies and starting out the day by feeling the Spirit and receiving revelation. It's something I want to be able to do forever., not just read the scriptures but study them!

Hermana Soria and I had our first exchange with some hermanas in a little town about 2 hours away from Angol in the next zone over. It was a lot of fun and just really crazy. All the time it's just traveling and running from place to place and having to plan ahead and make sure our companions are okay with just them two working together. It has helped me to learn to be grateful for the time I have in my area or in another area and how I need to take advantage of all the time I have wherever I am, to be where I am 100%. If I am able to be the whole day in my sector we have to make sure we do everything we can because maybe I won't be able to be there for the next day or two. I don't know. Sorry, I am rambling a bit here. Time is just flying and it is because I am working harder than I ever have in my mission.

The other day I was pretty overwhelmed and feeling a tiny bit discouraged like I just wasn't cut out for any of the things I was doing but today in the council the Spirit comforted me and helped me to know that it is true what Mom told me, "whom the Lord calls, He qualifies." President read us Ether 12:27 to end and even though I have read that verse a bunch of times it was exactly what I needed to hear. If I give all I have and turn my heart and will to the Lord, He will make me strong and make me an instrument in His hands to help others. 

I love you guys a ton!

Love always,

Hna Megs

me and my hija and hna soria and her hija

Angol

HEY FAM!                                                                                                                                                              August 18, 2014

I am so happy! My companion Hermana Kylee De Groff is so awesome. It is crazy to see how prepared this group of missionaries is that came to the mission. It makes me happy to know that the mission is in good hands in the future and with the passing of time the missionaries become more and more prepared to serve and work. She is from Mesa Arizona and is 19. It has been so great to work with her and see her diligence and positive attitude even though I know it's hard. She just goes up and talks to people and teaches in lessons and it is so sincere, all of it. I am learning a lot from her. It also makes me think a lot about my training and the things I learned and experienced and how they are helping me now in my mission. Training has shown me even more the importance of obedience in all aspects. The example of our obedience teaches our companions. 

It has been a stressful/exciting/great week but I am happy and I am really excited for this coming cambio even though there are lot of things about it that make me nervous and make me wonder how I will be able to do this but it will all be alright I know.

Also, we met a guy named, Fuad (FWAD) this past week in a contact and I thought you guys would like that name, especially Dad. Hahah.

I was thinking about what Dad said about having the conversion experience and thinking about how awesome it is to see others change their lives for something that we love and to be a part of it. You grow closer to God and to them and feel a love that is filling, if that makes sense. I want you guys to be able to feel that as well! 

I am so happy here in the mission and I am grateful that the Lord has called me in my weaknesses to serve Him even when I didn't think I would be able to. I doubted myself but I realize now that we must trust ourselves in the Lord's hands. He will makes us enough and He will help us to fulfill our duties and callings and all will be okay. 

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Chalmers

Alma 41:15

My camera broke so I haven't really been able to take pictures.... DANGIT

Cartas y Fotos de Agosto 4 & 11, 2014

Hey guys,                                                                                                                          August 11, 2014

TRANSFERS! I am staying here in Angol and I am training! We are going to Concepcion Wednesday morning to pick up our companions. Also I've been called as an Hermana Líder Capacitadora (Sister Trainer Leader) with Hermana Soria who will also be training. Definitely was not expecting that! As a Capacitadora I do inter cambios with the Hermanas in our zone and the zone just north of us and helping them out with their investigators and such. This really is an opportunity to be humbled and to learn. I still don't quite understand how Heavenly Father thinks I wil be able to do this but I know that if it is what I am called to do that I will be able to and be happy so it will be great! I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed and nervous but excited. Pray for me! My companion and I were talking about transfers this morning as we packed her suitcases and how every change and opportunity that comes at us in the mission is an opportunity to learn and is exactly what we were called to do. The Lord will never give us a trial, a change, a companion, an area, a calling, whatever it may be, that we can't handle. He calls us so He can help us and we can know Him and become more like Christ. I know that I have been called in my weaknesses and that it is a chance for me to continue learning and inviting others to come unto Christ.

Also, this past week two investigators of the other Hermanas were baptized. One, Aida, has been coming to church for a couple months but always refused to be baptized and she finally decided to do it! Her daughter, Beatriz was baptized in March and they wanted it to be a surprise for her so we helped the hermanas by distracting her all day and she didn't know until we were sitting in the chapel and her mom walked in dressed in her white baptism dress. It was so sweet. Beatriz just started crying and laughing. Also that day, Guillermo was baptized. He is missing one leg that he had to get amputated at the knee a while back. They had three hermanos in the font to help him be baptized and it was a really special moment. There are people like Guillermo who are faced with trials so big and they still choose to follow Christ. It reminds me that my trials aren't really even trials and made me think about how blessed I am and also about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ applies to every single person and every single situation out there. 

Also, does Guillem speak Spanish? Tell him I say hello, welcome to the fam and I hope he is doing great and loves St. George! 

Alma 38:5   
Love,
Hna C

Mi Distrito

I love Angol!

Who knew I could play basketball....!?

Aida at her baptsim

                               





                                                                                                                                         August 4, 2014
Hey! I don't have much time today because I am with an Hermana in one of her old areas because she is going home this Monday. Her companion can't walk right now so I am with her in a place called Pitrufquen, its about 40 minutes South of Temuco. 

This past week has been one of the best and most stressful/full of emotions week of my mission. But al final, Suyay was baptised! It was so so great. There were a lot of ups and downs leading up to her baptism on Saturday. When we went and met with her Tuesday, she told us that she has slipped up and drank some alcohol the night before when she went out with her friends. She had wanted to go out with them to sort of "test" her conversion and see if she could resist the temptation and to prove she had really changed. Oh gosh. She told us that the moment she took a drink of the beer she felt terrible and went home right away and prayed a lot because she felt so bad. She said that night she decided she would never drink alcohol again in her life. We were really happy she was able to have that experience to help her learn but also nervous that it would impede her from getting baptized on the day she was so excited for, but it turned out to all be okay. She was really excited and calm the whole week even though she kept telling us she couldn't believe what she was doing and that no one would ever believe that she was getting baptized. That the "old Suyay" would make fun of people like her. So we went and visited her on Friday the night before her baptism and it was evident that Satan had been working hard on her. She was freaking out a little bit and doubting a lot of things that she knew and felt. She told us she felt lost and empty and was scared to take a step of faith when she wasn't 100% sure about everything and didn't have as strong a testimony as others. It is crazy to witness how Satan really attacks those who he knows have a bright future and will do so much good like Suyay. She told us she didn't know what would happen the next day at her baptism and that she needed to think and calm down a bit. We left the lesson and said a prayer for her. That night my companion and I were talking about Suyay and what we were going to do and then she called us! She said, "Hermanas, I made a decision and I don't know if you are going to like it.... Naahh...5pm tomorrow sounds great. I'm doing it!" Oh man we were so happy for her! 

Her baptism was so sweet and spiritual. I don't have a whole lot of time left but it was such a special experience. I know that God loves every single one of us and that He is worried about us. Suyay helped me better understand repentance and the power it has in our lives and the example we set for others and we try our best to do all that is in our reach to become more like Christ. Sometimes we don't have a perfect knowledge but that's okay. We are here to learn everyday and all that we are asked to do is our best. To keep trying even if we make a mistake. There is always something more we can do to improve and seeing Suyay do her best to change showed me that anybody can change and that this gospel is for every single one of us. The atonement applies to everyone and it is so beautiful to see it take place in other people.

I love you guys!

HNA CHALMS

        SUYAY'S BAPTISM!

     Scenes from Angol

Hna Rosdahl and I

Hi

                                                                                                                                              July 28, 2014
Hey guys, sounds like a fun and exciting week with the Greens. It is so weird to hear about the cabin because I don't really know what it is like up there. 

This week has gone by so fast. I can't believe it is already Monday. Time goes faster and faster with each week and it freaks me out a little bit! 

This past Saturday Suyay had her baptismal interview and she passed! Also this past week we have being working with our ward mission leader to get this ward more involved and excited about missionary work. Our Ward mission leader, Cristofer, served his mission in Lima Peru about a year ago and helps a lot. It amazes me how much better missionary work is when it is done correctly, with the members. Things go so much smoother and it is a lot more fun as well. The other day we had a family home evening with a recent convert and an hermana in the ward on food storage and all that stuff and I felt bad because our mission has a rule that everyone needs to have an emergency backpack ready at all times in case of a tsunami or earthquake and I definitely don't have one but today my companion and I have been going around collecting stuff for ours, especially since that tsunami scare a couple months ago in Arauco. 

Yesterday we found an inactive members while looking for someone else. His name is Hugo and he said he is one of the pioneer members from Angol and used to be the branch presidente when Angol was a branch. He had all kinds of deep doctrine knowledge. He told us about the signs of the coming of Christ, the 3 different kinds of ministering angels and what happens in a celestial appearance all in like 20 minutes, but it was pretty sad because he doesn't come to church anymore because people made fun of him and got freaked out when he would teach at church about things like that and he got offended and stopped going. He told us that he sees members that got baptized at the same time as him but don't know anything about the wild deep doctrine that he knows and says they haven't progressed at all and aren't receiving revelation but the sad part is that he himself is the one that isn't going to church and they are. We had to be pretty hard with him because you could see that he was judging all of the people that hurt him and forgetting to worry about himself and what he needs to do to progess and repent. It's interesting. Afterwards I was thinking about how in the scriptures it says over and over to preach faith and repentance, the doctrine of Christ. With reason. Those are simple things that we can study forever and it is what we need and what helps us to strengthen our testimonies and progress more than anything else.

Pray for Suyay (SOOO-YAI) this week!

I love you guys! Thanks for the emails and keeping me updated on your lives.
Love,

Hermana Chalms 

A sleeping rat on the roof of our old house.
Hna Rosdahl threw a rock at it and it ran right inside the ceiling of our house.

Angol