12/26/2016
Feliz Navidad

Feliz Navidad mi familia!!  I hope you were all good girls and boys this year!  I know I wasn`t, because all I got was coal haha.  No but really I got the best present of all this year, I got to call home and see how my family was doing!  It was super cool, and they all are doing really well.  I just wanted to say thanks to them, and it was good to see them again.  I got a little teary eyed after, but don´t tell anyone I said that haha.  

This week has been a bit of a roller coaster, I think God likes to test us sometimes to humble us.  Because one day we would have lots of people listening and accepting the gospel and the next everyone would fall through, and less people would listen to us.  Like for example we invited about 9 or 10 investagators to church, and they all accepted.  Then on Sunday we had 0 investagators show up.  It was kind of a bummer, but hey it´s about to get better, because we`re just on the low part of the rollercoaster, but it´s going to go up soon.  

For Christmas we didn´t proselyte, the other missionaries said that no one listens on Christmas, because they´re all really busy with their families.  Although we did play lots of uno and studied a lot in the appartment.  We also went to the Familia Campos (the Field´s Family) to see how their Chirstmas went, but we went later because we didn´t want to disturb their family things.  They had an awesome day and their whole family was there, and Hermana Campos (Sister Fields) gave us all presents too.  They were all ties and mine was a green slim one that´s awesome.

I´m doing great though Spanish is slowly getting better and better, but it´s still difficult especially because there is 4 Americanos in my apartment so we talk a lot of English.  Other than that I´m doing really well!  I still feel like I am improving though and I can usually say what I need to for an investigator to understand me. 

I love you all. I hope you guys had a great Christmas this year!  I wish you all the best, Nos Vemos!

Love,

       Elder Hirschi

Answers:

 What are your plans for Christmas?  Do you have any members that want to invite you guys over?  Do you have your Christmas music to listen to?

1. We got to call home and play Uno most of the day haha.  Also we went to the Familia Campos to celebrate a little, because we didn`t want to interrupt their Christmas celebration too much.  Yeah we listened to lots of Christmas music it was super bacan!

How your companion feeling this week?  How are you feeling?  I hope you didn’t catch anything.

2. We are both feeling pretty good!  No one is sick anymore and we´ve been working hard now.

 Does your ward have a Christmas program on Sunday in church?

3.  We had a normal church day on Sunday except that it was just the one hour.

 What has been your favorite thing about the holidays there in Chile?

4. The people were just so kind on the holiday and I also liked that I got to call home.

 Have you been to eat at any members houses lately or on splits with them? 

5. We eat at the members houses most of the week, and I did go on one split were it was just me teaching a family night lesson without Elder Carter.  That was pretty scary, but the Familia Campos were there and they helped me a lot. It was really cool.

How are your investigators doing?

6. Investigators were doing well, I hope that things start to improve, we didn`t really get any baptisms even though we had a lot planned.  Lots of things fell through and we are hoping to change that.

 Do people go caroling there?  Is there a rest home in your area?

7. There was some people caroling but not many.  I´m not sure if there is a rest home or not.  

Pictures: 

The first one at the top is Steven a cool new convert that helps us out a lot!  He is only 13 and he is the only member in his family. )

Some pictures from the CCM (MTC) in Mexico

12/19/2016

Mi familia!! It´s Christmas time and I have a sunburn haha!!  It just feels so different here, but the people are really kind and there´s just so much Christmas spirit.  We have been teaching a lot about Christ´s life during this time of year and we got to watch the light the world video.  It´s where Christ does a whole bunch of service and it shows some other people (from our time) doing similar acts of service.  It´s very spiritual and if you haven´t seen it I would invite you to watch it, you can find it on the Mormon.org website or on Youtube.  

The bishop asked me to give a talk this Sunday about faith in Christ.  I´m pretty sure it was lousy, but hey I don´t even know what I was saying so I might have just had the best talk in the world who knows.  No but really the ward is super cool, so I´m sure none of them cared how bad it was.   We also had a Christmas devotional that same day that was spiritual.  We invited tons of our investigators and lots of them showed up I was so happy!  

We have some new investigators that are super cool, like Franco and Alexander/Diana.  All of them have set a date to be baptized but they are a little hesitant because they don´t know if it´s the right choice.  I really hope that they can feel the spirit like I did and know that this is the true gospel and they are sons and daughters of God.  You can just tell the people here are ready and want to feel the joy that the gospel brings to them!  I just wish I could give them all that happiness!

On a less awesome note, my trainer Elder Carter got sick this week.  It was kind of a downer.  He threw up a few times and I felt bad cause I couldn´t really do anything to help him.  He kept feeling sick so he asked if I could give him a blessing.  It was my first one, and even though I don´t really remember what I said and it was short, I felt really good after.  Now I can testify that the priesthood is real, and God can work miracles through us, because Elder Carter is doing much better!  He still has an upset stomach at times, but he hasn´t thrown up since.

This Christmas year I hope you guys will think about Jesus a lot and his sacrifice.  Because he gave us the greatest gift anyone has ever given, which is the Atonement.  He gave his life and took away all our sins, and he served others with such love. I strive everyday to be more and more like him.  I hope all of you will follow Christ's example especially this Christmas season and serve others and give to those in need.  I can promise you that you will receive blessings from God.  I love you all and I hope you have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Love,

       Elder Hirschi

Answers:

Did you have a ward Christmas party there in Chile? 

1. We had a Christmas Devotional thing, but not a Christmas party.  I don´t know if we have a party or not.  

Have you seen any other Christmas packages yet or postcards/letters? It finally said on the tracking that your package had departed Santiago but it didn’t say it has arrived to the mission home yet in Antofagasta.  You may just get your other package after Christmas. 

2. The other Elders have got some Christmas things, but I think mine has had the most stuff in it haha.

How are your investigators doing?

3. Our investigators are doing well, most of them are progressing greatly, we have had a few set backs but nothing too bad.

Do they have many other drinks there that are not carbonated?

4. Most everyone drinks soda here, there´s almost no other drinks at all!  They have a lot of durazno (peach) juice, but other than that mostly just soda.  In fact they even like their water carbonated, and you have to specifically ask for water without carbonation other wise they will give you the carbonated one haha.  I found that out the hard way and I drink a little bit of it, but it was just so gross to me.

Do you guys have any plans for Christmas besides church?  Is skyping at 4:30 your time ok?  How much time do they give you to skype?

5. We are going to chruch and we are going to skype, but other than that I think it´s mostly just a normal day.  I can skype at 4:30 or 5:00 which ever is better, and we have 45 minutes to skype. 

Do you have enough socks and things that you need?  Is there enough money on the card they give you for what you need?

6. I think I have everything I need, I would like to get my card soon, just in case I run out of money, but I should be good other than that.  I have lots of money on the card, but they give us money every month so it just feels like I have to be a little more safe with how I spend my money until then.

How are you getting along with the language?  Are you liking the ward and people?

7. Language is rough, especially because they speak so fast, and with Elder Carter being sick it´s been hard to get in language study.  Although I feel like I am still progressing well.  The ward is fantastic and I love the ward mission leader and the bishop they are amazing people.

12/13/2016
Mission Christmas party

¡Hola Familia!  ¿Como están?  I am doing great right now. I don`t have a lot of time to write so I hope I can finish all I want to say really fast.  I am in Copiapo Chile, which is a fairly big city for Chile, and it is in the southern part of northern Chile haha.  It`s a little harder for me to navigate it, but Elder Carter knows it like the back of his hand!  I`m pretty sure I said already, but Elder Carter is my trainer.

We had a fantastic P-day today, and we got to play soccer for most the day, it was very bacan.  Bacan is the Chilean word for cool, and I really like it because it sounds like bacon a little bit haha.  We bought some stuff for the week and we are going to do laundry after we write our emails.  I took a few pictures before I got to the mission, but I forgot to take some since I`ve been in Copiapo!  So I will get some more today if I have time.

We had a family night last night with the Campos family, and it was really cool, we even played Catch Phrase which is the game where you have to describe the word without saying it.  It was in Spanish though, so it was basically impossible for me haha.  I`ve been really exhausted this week because we had so much work to do, and trying to understand so much Spanish is really difficult.  Although I think I will be able to understand the language better soon, because the missionaries who have been here for only 3 months can understand pretty well.  

There was also something funny that happened.  Elder Carter and I were with the other two Elders in our room, Elder Saarelainen and Elder Court.  We were just walking down the street when some guy pulled up in his car and started pointing and shouting Assassins, Assassins!!!  Then he just drove away.  Also he said something about Fidel Castro which if you want to look it up he was like one of Chile`s Presidents or something and something happened to him, but I don`t know what haha.  I just thought it was super funny, because we were just chillin´ walking in the street and he just drove up and started yelling really loud haha.  Some people`s children...

Elder Saarelainen is from St George too. He went to Desert Hills, but I didn`t know him before the mission.  He is a cool guy and is super funny.  Elder Court is also really cool and helps me out a lot.  They are both super tall though, I feel pretty short when I am with them haha.  

Anyways we progressed one of our investigators a lot, her name is Hermana Ines and she went to church with us and now she is going to get baptized and married in the Church in about 2 weeks!  

I know I say it a lot, love you guys so much!

Love,

       Elder Hirschi

Answers:

  Did you put up any Christmas decorations yet?  How do you like your apartment?  How do you like the city you are in?

1. Yeah I put up the Christmas tree and lots of other people put up lights and stuff, but we don`t have too many Christmas decorations in our apartment. Haha the apartment is cool, but it`s pretty small, and super messy. We cleaned it a little today, but it`s still pretty cramped.  The City is pretty cool, all the people are pretty nice, but there are some strange and drunk people. 

What is your companion like?  What is his first name? Where is he from?  What does he like to do?

2. My trainer is really cool, he is from northern Utah and he is super funny.  He helps me a lot and he told me that my Spanish is actually pretty good for beginner missionaries.  His first name is Scott and he really likes soccer!

Did you find your music player?  Do they have other music players in the apartment? Did you find the Christmas music?

3. I found my music player, and we listen to music all the time with it! yeah actually I didn´t even get mine out yet we only listen to Elder Courts for now, but it`s cool, because he has some cool talks from Elder Holland!

What is your ward like?  How is the ward mission leader?

4.  The ward is super friendly and nice, they want to help you all the time with whatever you need.  The ward mission leader is the coolest guy of all. He helps a lot and is really funny.  He even speaks English pretty well!

Do the members feed you much?

5. The members feed us every Thursday till Sunday and the meals have been pretty good so far.

Where do you email at?  Do you email from members’ homes?

6. We email at a place called a cyber which is like a place that just has computers for people to use, and then you pay for it.  No we don`t email from members houses, but we will be skyping from a members house or at the Church.

  Do they have any different kinds of decorations for Christmas there?  Do many people put lights on their homes or Christmas decorations?

7.  It`s pretty similar to the United States, but it`s different, because they have a lot less.  They still have some lights and all the stores do too, but it`s just a lot less than normal.

Cool things:

1. We got to watch Madagascar for our Christmas Devotional!!! I don`t know why, but it was cool.

2. The walking lights here are cool, because it shows a guy that is actually moving it´s super cool.

3. It rained on my first night even though everyone said there wouldn`t be any rain at all!  It actually wasn`t a good thing though, because the buildings are not built for tough weather and there can be many land slides.

4. They listen to lots of songs that are in English like just today I got to hear Michael Bubble sing All I Want For Christmas Is You

12/8/2016
Made it to Chile!



Hola Familia!!  Soy en Chile (I`m in Chile)!  It´s very cool. I have an awesome entranador, his name is Elder Carter.  Elder Carter is awesome!  We have two other people in our apartment, Elder Court who is awesome too, and Elder Saarajaleinen who is also from St Geroge.  They are great guys and they have been helping me a lot to learn the language and to figure out how to teach the people.  

I got called to the Copiapo area, which is a fairly big city with lots of people to baptize.  It`s been quite the adjustment, we had an 8 hour flight to Santiago Chile and then about a 2 hour flight to Antofagasta!  Then after two days in Antofagasta we had about another 8 hours on a bus, so I`ve been very tired.  The people here are really cool. I already got to meet two of the investigators who are being baptized soon.

P-day is next Tuesday because we have a zone conference, so I will be sure to write to you guys then.  After that it should be each Monday that we have our P-days!  There is a new rule, where I only have an hour to write every P-day from now on, and I`m not supposed to respond to any E-mails that are sent on that day.  So my E-mails might be a little shorter and quicker, but I wanted to say thanks for all the messages and things everyone has sent.  It really means a lot to me, and I hope you are all doing well!

I love you all and I wanted to say thanks for supporting me on my mission.  It has been very difficult but also very fun and I`ve already learned so much.   I hope to learn a lot more and maybe by the end I can say a few words in Spanish haha.  

  Love,

         Elder Hirschi

Answers:

I forgot to ask if they delivered you some money at the MTC

1. I got the money at the MTC and they actually just paid for our bags, but thank you for the money it was useful.  

How did everything go withe the flight and getting there?

2. I found everything fine, and everything went pretty smoothly.

Did you meet the mission president?

3. Yeah I stayed at the Mission home for a day and a half, before I got my trainer and we left for Copiapo.  So I got to see the mission president. He is a really nice guy.

 Did you get a new companion?  How is your apartment?

4. Yep my new companion is Elder Carter, he is my papita (daddy), and he is really cool.  Our apartment is only American`s though so it`s gonna be a little harder to learn Spanish.

How is your apartment?

5. The apartment is pretty cool, it`s kind of small like the CCM (Spanish MTC), but the beds are much better than the CCM.  

 How is the food?

6. The food is different and the same. They have lots of similar foods like pizza and chicken and other things.  They also have things like complatos and empanadas.  

Did they tell you when p-day is?

7. Yep P-day is usually on Monday.

Awesome it sounds like everyone is doing great! les amo!!

P.S. sorry if I miss spelled anything, these computers are in Spanish so everything has an orange sqwiggle under it haha!  Also once again I forgot my camera so sorry for the lack of pictures I only have 1.  Good thing the mission president's wife took a bunch.

11/30/2016
One week left

Hola mis amigos y familia!  ¿Como estan?  Only one week left and I´m going to Antofagasta Chile.  I can´t wait it's going to be amazing and I´m really excited to teach some real investigators even if my Spanish could be a little bit better haha.  I know that the spirit will help me and that if I serve obediently and with love, the Lord will do the rest.  My testimony has grown so strong since I've been out here, stronger than it ever has.  Last night we had a great devotional with one of the seventy and everyone in our district shared their testimonies after and I could just really feel the spirit so strong.  I just wish that the spirit would never go away and we could always feel this feeling of happiness and comfort.

    I have been really working hard this week on being diligent because I read Doctrine and Covenants 4:3 which reads, "Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day." Also I've been trying to serve people more because of another scripture that says, "when you are in the service of your fellow men you are only in the service of your God."  I can't remember exactly which scripture it is, but  I will serve the people with all my heart, might, mind and strength not only because I will stand blameless before God, but because I want to help them learn of this amazing gospel.  I hope that all of you will join with me and try to serve others more, especially during the holiday season. 

Which reminds me I hope you had a great thanks giving, I know that our district had an amazing one.  I won't be here for Christmas, but they already set up the lights and the nativity so it looks amazing. I'll have to take some pictures today to show you guys.  I know my Christmas will be awesome, and I hope you guys have a great Christmas too.   it's just weird, because I keep thinking of the song: I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, and then I think about where I'm going to be during Christmas.

    I have been blessed with an amazing family and friends and I'm aware of how amazing you all are in my life.  The great examples and the love and support that we all have for each other.  I guess it takes going away from you're family to realize how amazing they actually are in your life, so I just really wanted to express my gratitude for all of you and everything you have done for me.  It makes you realize how important this gospel is that we have, and how amazing it is that I get to go and share this profound message of joy and happiness to others who may not be as happy as they could.  I'm just so blessed to have all of you and I just wanted everyone of you to know that!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

  Love,

          Elder Hirschi

Answers:

 Any luck with your debit card?  Did you ask anyone about it?

1. I didn't get my debit card back, and from what I've heard they just destroy the ones that get stuck, but I'm going to try and ask the people when they come.  I've asked a lot of people, but the ATM people still haven't come so I'm going to see if I can catch them when they do.

Do you feel like you know the language well enough to head to Chile?

2. Haha nope!  I do know that if I try my best the Lord will help me with the rest.  Also I can usually say enough to get by here, but from what I've heard from everyone, the people from Chile speak waaaaay faster and more difficult than the people here.  Although I think the best way for me to learn will be just trying to speak as much as I can so I'm as ready as I think I should be!

What have been your favorite foods there at the MTC?  

3. Favorite foods huh... I think I like pizza Tuesday's the most, but sometimes they have some pretty good chicken and stuff.  I really like the desserts they have some cool different ice cream and brownies it pretty good.

Have they started preparing you for how you need to pack and what papers you will need for Chile?

4. Yeah we had the orientation video thing, and they told us this week we need to weigh our bags.  They told us what we need and gave us our passports and the cards we will use for our money.  The only worry I have is that I don't know if I have enough money to pay for my bags (which they said I am supposed to pay for and they will pay me back), so I'm going to ask someone today what I need to do.  

  What things will you miss the most about the MTC?

5. Definitely my district and my teachers I really like all the people that I have met here.  They have very strong testimonies and they've been an amazing example to me. 

Are all the missionaries excited to be heading to their missions soon?  How does your companion feel about it?  Will you trade ties with your district when you go?

6. Yeah we are all sick and tired of the CCM it feels like a quote, "spiritual prison." Also you're in the same classroom for what feels like a day and a half.  We all will miss each other, but we are all ready to head out and teach real investigators. My companion is just as ready as me, he keeps saying I will say, "Oh man I really wish I had Elder Butcher back, he was the best companion ever!"  There has been some tie trading, but I haven't traded any of mine yet, I'm going to see if I can trade with Elder Butcher before I go.

 Are there any senior couples there with you going to Antofagasta?

7. ... I have no idea. I haven't even seen a senior couple except the presidents and when we went to the temple (although those might have just been members going to the temple)

I used the Hershey's milk things to do this haha

P.S. sorry about the lack of pictures, but I don´t have my camera with me, and I only uploaded this one earlier haha