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.