7/24/17

I don´t have any time today, but we had a pretty normal week and we are hoping to have a very good one this week!  We are very busy every single day, but even if I feel bad or tired, I always feel good because we are doing the Lords work and always helping others. I love you guys all so much and thanks for all the support you give me.  Keep praying for my investigators please it really does help a lot.  Take care and I will talk to you next week.

Love,

        Elder Hirschi

Answers:

1. Have you felt pretty safe there in Mejillones?

 Yep, it´s pretty calm and there are not that many people here.  You almost never hear of people hurting anyone or doing crime.

2. How did interviews go with the president?

 They went well thanks.

3. Do you feel like you know the language well enough to understand pretty much everyone now?

 Sometimes I struggle with some things, but usually I can understand everything.

4. Do you use the little photo album we sent with you sometimes?  Have you gotten any postcards so you can show people places where we live?

 Yeah, usually just when the new missionaries get here.

5. Do they have any city parks there?  Where do you play soccer at? 

 We do, but they are all for little kids.  Also we play soccer behind the church or in Antofagasta

6. Does it feel like winter there

 Yes, but also during the day it still is really hot.  Just at night it gets really cold.

7. How are your shoes and clothes holding up?  Is there anything you need?

 no, but that´s ok, because the other pair is still ok for now.  No I think I should be good.

Love you guys sorry no pictures today!

7/17/17

Hola Familia

I had a really good week this week.  We had two investigators that went to church that never had before.  We brought 2 kids to church for the first time in almost 2 months, and they really enjoyed it.  They actually are progressing really well, and we are planning on baptizing them next week.  

Other than that we are working really hard with less active people to bring them back to Church.  We actually found Ramon, that has helped us a lot.  He is a less active member that really gets along with Elder Burnthorn, so he likes to go with us and teach the people.  We hope we can get him to come back to church, and grow his testimony again.  

Love,

        Elder Hirschi

Answers:

1. How are things going with your new companion there in Mejillones?

 They are going well, we are working really hard!

2.  Have you met any new fun people lately?

 Ramon is a really cool member that has been helping us.

3. Have you been to any zone conferences or seen the mission president lately?

 No but we did have interviews the other day

4.  Do you still play soccer a lot on p-days?

 We did a lot more in Copiapo, and a lot less here in Mejillones

5. Do you ever get a chance to play the piano there?

 Yep I actually play a lot here.

6.  What is something you have learned from your new companion?

 I learned how to love the people a lot more, and he also is teaching me how to draw when we have a little bit of time haha.

7. Have you been on any exchanges lately?  What is your ward mission leader like?

 We usually have attacks in the morning which means that we do exchanges quite a bit, because we switch sectors.  We also do not have a ward mission leader.

Sorry no pictures!

7/10/2017

Yep my new companion and I are working well together.  Don´t get me wrong I really miss Elder Castañeda, but Elder Burnthorn is also a cool companion.  He gets along really well with everyone and is very polite.  Also the people say that he speaks Spanish very very well, so that helps a lot.  He has been about 20 months on the mission, and we are still working hard here in Mejillones.  

I got bit by a dog this week...  it was a Yorky haha.  This really small dog just ran out of the house that we were knocking and immediately bit my leg.  Luckily it was really small and didn´t really do much, but it still kind of hurt.  I was actually pretty scared, because even though I was almost 100% sure it was a clean dog, Elder Burnthorn said that most the missionaries that get bit have to go to the hospital and get shots!  So I finally called the Hermana Ferriera (President´s wife), and she told me everything was going to be ok and that I just had to wash it off with water and alcohol.  It actually already healed in like 3 days and I have been completely normal, but hey I can tell everyone I got bit by a dog on my mission haha.  

We found a really cool kid this week. His name is Matius.  He is a really awesome kid and his mom is actually an inactive member.  He accepted baptism and actually asked us when is the quickest time that he can get baptized.  We told him he has to do some things first, but then he can get baptized very quickly.  

Answers: 

1. How have you been feeling lately?

 I feel a lot better. I just still have a cough and my nose is runny a little.  

2. How is you new companion? What does he like to do? What is his first name?

 Elder Burnthorn is very cool. He is from Texas and loves to draw (he is actually teaching me how to draw as well).  His first name is Jacob haha just like Elder Castañeda.  

3. Do the missionaries ever do silly pranks on each other?  

 Haha we did a lot more Pranks last transfer than we do now.  For example, we would throw cold water at people after they finished showering.  Lots of others but I probably shouldn´t say.

4. Do they have any unusual games they like to play that we don’t have here?  Do they have any kendamas there?

They don´t really have any that we don´t have, but there are lots and lots of spinners.  Also I haven´t seen anyone with a kendama, but hey I have one haha!  Elder Carter (my trainer), gave me one. He also finished his mission last Monday .  That´s ok though, maybe you´ll see him in Utah.

5. Do the members there help you with referrals sometimes?

 Yeah actually Shessy, the one we baptized, has helped us out a lot with that.  The others too sometimes.

6. Are there any older couple missionaries there?

There might be, but I don´t know who they are.

7. Do you guys ever clean out the apartment there?  

A: Pretty much every Monday we have to clean the apartment haha, because it gets dirty really fast.  

Picture:

This is me with Elder Burnthorn

6/26/2017

Hello Family!  

This week has been really great. We had lots of success.  We actually had 1 baptism this week and his name is Felix!  He is Shessi´s son, and he is a really cool 10 year old kid that I got to baptize.  It was my first time in warm water which was nice haha, but when we got in the water he was really scared.  We had to go in farther so that he could get baptized, but he was too scared to go in deeper.  When we got in deeper he asked nervously, "Do you got me Elder Hirschi, do you got me?"  I told him I got you and I won´t let anything happen to you, I promise.  Immediately he was more comfortable and got in and the whole baptism went well.  Then after he was talking to his Dad and Mom and he said, "I was scared at first but I felt a lot better when Elder Hirschi said that he wasn´t going to let anything happen to me."  "I knew he wasn´t lying because a disciple of Christ wouldn´t ever lie."  I just thought that was so cool, that he had so much faith, and I know that he is going to be an amazing member of the Church.  

We also are working with his dad so that he can possibly get baptized too!  His name is Luis and I hope that all of you can pray for him, because he has some problems with the word of wisdom.  But we put a goal that he can stop, and I know that if we all have faith and pray for him, then he can stop.

The other Elders had 3 other baptisms this week and one of them was an older man who couldn´t walk named Pedro.  They had to baptize him with two people one holding his arms and the other holding his legs.  They baptized him after me, but I actually stayed behind so I could watch it. It was really cool to see them baptize someone like that.

We got to watch Moana with everyone in the zone, because everyone had a baptism this transfer.  It was actually a pretty good movie, I really liked how it was centered around the culture of Hawaii.  We also played some Futbol (soccer), and ate Subway yep they have Subway here (It´s actually really cheap).  Then we went to a cyber to write our families.  

It´s kind of weird because when I was looking at my emails, I looked for one from Justice and I didn´t find it.  Then I remembered he got home, but it was just really weird because I´m so used to seeing his email haha.  Anyways I wanted to congratulate him on a mission well served, and for being an amazing example for me.  It´s hard to think that it´s been 2 years since we last saw each other!  Only another 1 and a half more to go haha!  Anyways I love you all and hope that you are all having fun at home!

Con Amor,

      Elder Hirschi

P.S.

Congratulations Aunt Charlene and Uncle Willy (Watch me uncle willy watccchh me!)  I wish you guys the best!

Answers:

1.Did you find your wallet yet?

 I wish haha.  No I tried for so long, but I am almost 100% sure I left it on the bus, and it´s not in the lost and found so...  I will have to ask for a new debit card some other time!  Sorry mom.

2. Are you still learning a lot with the language?  Do they ask you to speak in church very much?

 I am still learning. I just need to be less lazy and study more!  I only had to speak in Church 1 time in Mejillones and 1 time in Copiapo.

3.  Have you met any new fun people lately?  How are your investigators?

We have found some new people that are really cool.  We found a 19 year old girl that is 3 months pregnant that is really receptive.  Her name is Sarie, and she is really cool.  Everyone else is doing good too.

4. Do you still have your camera and have been taking some fun pictures lately?

You know me, I´m not the best for taking pictures, but hey I will try to take more.  Maybe that can be my goal this transfer.

5.What are some things that you like about teaching the gospel?

I like when the people let us in their houses.   I like helping others receive the blessings of the gospel.

6. Have you been writing in your journal still?  Do you read your patriarchal blessing sometimes

Sorry I will have to work on both of those!  

Scripture: Ether 12:4 (God is our Anchor)

6/19/2017

Hey, I don´t have tons of time, but I thought I would just let you guys know I am doing great!  I wanted to say Happy Fathers Day to everyone. I hope you had a good day!  All the people here just had BBQ´s outside and watched the Soccer Game of Chile haha!  Chile won too!  Anyways I love you all, stay safe!

Love,

       Elder Hirschi

Answers:

1. When are your next transfers?

 July 3rd we will be having transfers, but I don´t know what will be happening yet.

2.  Have you ate any new foods lately or had anything really good foods lately there?

Not really, we had some food that is called Pastel de Papas (potatoe pie), that was really good!

3. Do you ever listen to the mp3 songs we sent or use the cd player?

 The mp3 songs not that much, but most of them are Christmas songs haha.  The CD player I use a lot, to listen to talks and music from my flash drive.  

4.How is the ward doing there?  How is the ward mission leader?  Have you met any new fun people lately?

We are doing good!  Growing fast and trying to keep everyone active.  The ward mission leader still hasn´t been to church since I got here, but the President of the Branch might call a new one.

5.Do they have Father’s day there in Chile?  If so, do they do anything different than here for it?

 Everyone celebrates Father´s day and Mother´s day, but one Father´s day, everyone and I mean EVERYONE was outside with a grill cooking chicken haha.  It was actually  pretty cool, because someone invited us to talk with them and gave us some chicken to eat.

6.  Do you have ward activities sometimes?  What about birthday parties for people there, have you been to any?

We have lots of ward activities, but we don´t go to all of them, just the ones that are for our investigators.  I have not been to a birthday party, at least I don´t think... but I have given gifts to some kids that had their birthdays. 

7. What is a typical p-day like for you?

 We basically just sleep all day haha.  No we go out and play soccer and then we buy our stuff for the week and write.  Sometimes we think of something cool to do, like when we went bowling in Antofagasta the other day.

6/12/2017

¡Hola Familia! How are you guys doing?  I am doing great here in Chile!

This week was really cool, our convert Shessi bore her testimony of the Church and it was really powerful.  She said after her baptism she posted a picture of her baptism and said I finally did it I got baptised.  Then people began to comment and asked which church?  Then she explained how she had been listening to the missionaries and got baptized.  Everyone began to post negative comments about the Morman church and she began to cry.  She prayed and asked why, what did she do wrong... Then she felt a gentle hand touch her shoulder, and she looked back but no one was there.  She said she never had an experiance like that and she knows that God is watching over her.  

 I don`t have a lot of time, but I just wanted to let you know how much I love you guys!  I am doing really well here in Mejillones!  The weather is cold now, but I bought a really cheap jacket thing that works really well.  

P.S. I have a question, are the spinner toy things popular in the USA as well?  Because they are a really big new thing here in Chile!  Anyways talk to you next week CHAU!

Love,

     Elder Hirschi

Answers:

1. Have you made it over to see the ocean yet?  If you go sometime you should take a picture and send us.

 I have been, I might try to send you a picture of us skipping rocks from P-Day if I have time!

2. Did you get a package recently with shaving cream in it?  Is there anything else you might need?

HAHA actaully yes, it was pretty funny too.  Because I ran out of shaving cream right when I got to Mejillones, and I had kept taking some from one of the Elders.  It`s kind of a joke we had going for a while, then finally last week I decided I would just go buy my own after all this time taking from him.  So I bought a really big one that would last a while.  Then within a few days I got the package from home that had shaving cream in it haha.

3. What kinds of automobiles have you seen there most? Trucks, SUVs, cars?

Lots of cars, but lots of people just take buses around the city.

4. Do most people there have cell phones and or internet service?

Almost everyone has a cell phone, with internet service.  Lots of people play Clash Royale (Tell Slade haha)

5. We just took a trip to Salt Lake and saw several huge flags flying by the freeway.  Do they fly the Chile flag there much? 

Yeah they have lots of Chilean flags, and they have a reallllly big one in Antofagasta.

6. How many days of the week do you eat in members homes and do your investigators ever feed you?

We pretty much eat all the time in the members homes, the investigators never feed us, but they give us food while we are teaching sometimes.

7.How are your investigators doing?   How are the missionaries in your apartment with you doing? 

We had a struggle with the investigators this week, but don`t worry there is always next week!  Also the other Elders are doing really well

!

6/5/2017
Hello Family!

Hello Family!  We had lots of miracles happen this week!  The fruits of our labors some might say, because we worked hard!! All day in the heat and all night in the cold.  Luckily we found lots of people to teach this week.  We also have been teaching someone named Sonia and her daughter Zoe!  They went to church this week and...

We had a baptism last Saturday!  Our investigator Shessy, that was progressing really well accepted baptism for that week.  She was really nervous that she was going to get cold, and we told her that we had just fixed the heater.  When we filled up the fount, the water was freezing haha, when she got there she was nervous.  Although she was determined to continue and we went on with the baptism.  She got baptized by my companion and she told us after she felt a really warm feeling inside.  I know she is going to be a firm member, and we are going to keep teaching her and her family and see if we help them become members too!  

I am doing really well and we are recieving lots of blessings from God!  I invite you guys to keep praying for my inestigators!  Thanks for all the love and support that you guys give me!  I love and miss you all a lot!  Until next week take care!

Love,

      Elder Hirschi

Scripture: Moroni 10:32

Answers:

1.  Have you had any zone conferences lately?

A: We have zone conferences once a transer, so about a week ago.

2.Do you guys ever teach English classes there?  Do people ask you if you can teach them English?

No we haven´t taught English yet, but lots of people do ask to learn English.

3. What is shopping like there?  Do you get groceries once per week or more often?

Shopping is like normal. They even have a place called Lider in Antofagasta which is the Chilean Walmart.  We usually go shopping like once a week.

4. What are the yards like there?  Do they have desert landscapes?  Does anyone have a garden?

Mostly it´s all concrete or dirt, but there are some places that have gardens

5.    Do they have any parks there?  If so, have you been to any?

They do have parks we pass by them all the time, but usually we don´t go to them.

6.What is something you have learned to do on your mission that you didn’t do before and you are glad you have learned?

Clean my room haha!  No I learned a lot about helping others and looking for ways to do service.

7. Have you played many games of soccer lately or met any new friends lately?

We played futbol last Monday, and we have found lots of new investigators. :)