4/16/2018

Looks like I´m not going to be able to write much today!  I love you tons and miss you, and I am doing suppppperr well.  Thanks for all the birthday wishes and everything that you all do for me!

We will have transfers this next Monday so I might not write on Monday if I am being transferred!   ​​But  I will write more when I have time. I´m sorry!  It looks like we will have a baptism this week though so pray for Kimberlin!  Thanks tons. I love you guys take care!

Love,

Elder Hirschi

This is an old photo of when I was with Elder Retuta and Saarelainen in Copiapo! 

4/9/2018
Happy Birthday Elder Hirschi

Oh man I can´t believe I´m getting so old!  20 years, and it looks like I´m not a kid anymore .   However, I wanted to send thanks to everyone for sending me messages for my birthday, wow I had like 10,000 emails when I got on haha.  Thanks tons for all the love and support that you guys have given me in the mission.  Really I don´t think I would have been able to do so well without the cheering and messages that I receive from all of you (Especially my mom).  I love you guys tons.

I had an awesome birthday actually it was just like 2 hours ago that I was with the family of one of my converts. Her name is Julisa.  They have a sister named Sofia that also had her birthday so they invited me and we had a double birthday!!!  It was super cool, they gave me a cake and sang to me.  Then they gave me a watch and a cologne that was super nice.  It was an awesome birthday.  

Sorry I really don´t have a lot of time because I have to respond to all the people that wrote me but.  We also moved apartment recently so I will try to send some pictures of them right now, but I have very little time to write because we have to go back to the apartment in like 20 minutes!  Anyways thanks for everything. I love you guys tons and I miss all of you and pray for all of you every night.  I hope you are all doing well and I will see you all soon enough.  

Love,

Elder Hirschi

Answers:

1. What is your new apartment like?

 It´s a lot better than the other one, it´s bigger cleaner, and it smells better haha.  I will send some pictures that I took of it, if I can!

2. What are your mammita and pappita like?

 They are like the nicest people ever!  It´s almost like having a mom and dad that worry about you here in the mission.  For example Papito had to work all night like until like 8:00 in the morning but he still was willing to drive us 30 minutes up to Alto Hospicio for the conference that we had with President

Pictures:

Pictures of my Birthday and Juslia and her family, and pictures of our new apartment!  Also one of my old companion Elder Retuta and I because I saw him in the conference that we had with Presdient!

​

4/2/2018
HAPPY EASTER :)

Oh man today I felt like I was back at home with mom and dad buying suits and other stuff like that.  We went up to Alto Hospicio (the city above Iquique), and we bought a lot of cheap shirts and even one pair of pants for me.  It was really funny because mamita is just like mom. She likes to look at everything and say, "would this work... hmmm or maybe this..." haha.  It just made me laugh to think of when I was with mom, I love you tons mom.   

Happy Easter everyone!  Bunnies+chocolate  = Happy Children haha.  We had a really good Easter Sunday. We got to watch conference!  It was amazing to sustain our prophet and all of the talks that were given.  It`s crazy that they are going to change the visiting and home teaching, but even though some may have their doubts, I know that it was inspired by God and that President Nelson is the prophet and president of the church today.  I know that if we all work hard together we can help all those who have gone astray and keep those that are still in the fold.  So lets do ministry unto the sick and the weary so that they might feel the love of God.

I also really enjoyed the talk of Dieter F Uchtdorf, and about the most important moment in this world.  I loved the quote: 

"The most important day in the history of mankind was the day when Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God, won the victory over death and sin for all of God`s children.  And the Most important day in our life and mine is the day when we learn to 'bhold the man;' when we see Him for who He truly is; when we partake with all our heart and mind of His atoning power; when with renewed enthusiasm and strength we commit to follow Him.  May that be a day that recurs over and over and over again throughout our live. - Dieter F Uchtdorf

It was a great talk that brought a lot of joy to me and helped me truly understand how to begin to Behold the Man.  We need to truly understand Jesus if we want to be like him, even though it may seem like we already do. We must think about everything in the way he thinks and love others in the way he would.  Like the other talk said, if Jesus came to our Sacrament Meeting what would he do?  If we can think in the way Jesus thought and be completely submissive to our great loving father in heaven, we will begin, to truly Behold the Man.

We are working really hard to get the people to change their lives here, it can be hard to find the chosen people, but I know that God will help and guide me to accomplish the tasks that he commands, if I am obedient.  

Other than that I am doing really well and I miss you all tons.  I hope and pray that you all are doing well.  I will keep praying so that you stay safe. Take care and always remember to read the Book of Mormon.

Love,

Elder Hirschi

Scripture:

John 13:34 - A new commandment that I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Answers:

1.  Did you have a favorite general conference talk? 

Haha yep I really liked the one from Uchtdorf, I also liked Hollands, but Uchtdorf was really cool, when he said the Jews saw Christ with their eyes, but they did not behold him.

2.  Did you do anything for Easter or April Fool's?

 I ate some Chocolate and we got to see the conference talks! 

3.  What do you think about the new changes that were announced at conference?

 I think it is going to be scary at first, but after awhile it will really help in the perfectionism of the Saints, like President Nelson says.  Many of the apostles declared that this will bring forth many miracles, so we have the promise of each of them, we just need to put our faith in them.  

Pictures: 

I found this photo of Iquique on the computer and I like it so here it is, the rest are of the trip I took with papito and mamita today

3/26/2018
Familia


Hello everyone!  We had a great week this week. We got 10 investigators to come to church and 1 other that is only 7 years old so we are going to have to wait another  year haha.  Anyways it was a really good week. We have finally found new people that are progressing and that actually want to hear a message of God. I hope that we can help them come to  repentance and be baptized.  

It looks like lots of my converts are going to Bolivia, Abril, Juan de Dios, Paola, Jhanette,  etc.  So I hope you will pray for them that they can be faithful and keep going to church or find the missionaries in Boliva.  

I am learning a lot with my hijito. We are working hard together and we are finding lots of new people.  We found someone named Dylan. His mom is a member but she has been inactive for a long time, so I hope we can reactivate her and help him get baptized.  He came to church and told me that he liked it.  I need to call him today so that we can pass by!

Also we are moving houses soon!!!  The other day we were told that we need to find a new apartment to live because we wanted to move for along time (like since I very first got here haha).  Finally they gave us the go ahead, and we had 10 days to find an apartment. We found one and we are going to move YAY!  I think it will be better because now we will live in our sector and we wont have to take taxis everyday.  I hope we can move within the next few days and start to live there.  

Anyways I love you all tons. I hope you are all doing amazing, and that you have a great week.  I miss you guys tons,  take care!

Love,

Elder Hirschi

 Answers:

1. Have you played much soccer or any sports lately or still go running?

 I was really sick for awhile but I got better and I am running again, but before I stopped for awhile. We did play soccer like 2 weeks ago, but I was sick so I didn´t  play :(

2. Do you teach classes a bit on Sundays?

 We only have to teach if the teacher isn´t there, although yesterday I did have to teach with Elder Ramones, but I really liked the class because it was about Baptism haha.

3. Do you think they will celebrate Easter there?

 Yes they do. They call it Pascua, and they have a lot of  chocolate eggs in the stores. 

3/19/2018
Just Another Week

This week was pretty normal. We just worked hard and found lots of people to teach.  We have been working really hard and we found a couple. They are soo cool.  Their names are Juan Jose and Ericka and they are super nice.  Juan Jose told me he wants to change his life and live all the commandments of God.  They even went to church last Sunday and they are doing really well.  The only problem is that they aren´t married, but they have a goal to get married by the end of May.  So even though I probably won´t be here, I think that they will get married and be baptized, and that is going to be the first couple that I actually help them decide to get married.  

Because there were transfers, I got to see 2 Elders from the past, Elder Retuta my companion after my trainer in Copiapo, and Elder McKinlay my district leader from Mejillones.  It was awesome to get to see them again. I really wish I would have had more time to talk to them.  That´s ok. I´m sure I will get to see them sometime again.  

One of my converts who hadn´t been going to church in awhile came again, and even brought her cousin Hector with her.  That was a miracle and I know now that we are going to be able to teach him and help her build her testimony again.  I love all of the blessings the Lord gives to me. Sometimes it may be hard to see them especially when we are passing difficult times.  He is always with us and he wants to bless us, we just have to be patient.  

From,

Elder Hirschi 

Answers: 

1.  Have you been to the mission home to pick up your birthday package yet?

 No, but the zone leaders will be going this week

2.  Do they celebrate St Patrick's day or any holidays in March there?

 Haha I didn´t even remember that it was St Patrick's day.  I don´t think that they celebrate it here.

3.  How are your investigators doing?

 How are my investigators doing? They are doing well, we have two little girls that  are 9 and 11 and they both want to get baptized but their parents say they are too young.

3/12/2018
Transfers!

We got transfers this week!  It has been fun to be with my hijito (son) and all, but we got the transfers and it looks like I am going to... (drum roll please)...  I am going to STAY in Iquique.  It looks like God needs me to keep taking care of Iquique with my hijito.

I got sick the other day and I had a pretty high fever and I was really tired.  So I asked Elder Llamas to give me a blessing and I got better in just a few hours after.  It´s awesome how strong the power of the Lord is. I encourage all of you that are passing through a difficult moment to ask for a blessing from a Priesthood holder.  It will be worth it I promise. The Lord always blesses those who ask with faith.

Anyways I don´t have a lot of time, but I just wanted to let you all know that I am doing well.  I hope you all are doing well too I miss you tons!

From,

Elder Hirschi

Inspirational Quote: The other day an Elder wrote me and said this phrase that I liked: "Faith exists as a direct result of righteous action, while fear is the lack of faith, which leads to despair."

Answers: 

1.  Any new changes with transfers?

 Nope the 4 of us are staying!

2.  How has the weather been lately? 

 It´s still hot but it is starting to get cold in the mornings.  

3.  Are the kids in school there right now or out for break?

 They just started classes like 2 weeks ago.

Pictures: 

This was our lunch today, Elder Ramones cooked it.

3/5/2018
Man My English Sucks haha

The other day I ran into a guy from India, but he spoke better English than Spanish haha.  So we started teaching him and I started to teach in English so he could understand better haha that was a mistake.  Wow I couldn`t remember almost anything. I think we left him more confused than when we found him haha.  That's ok, he actually believes in Budaism so I don't know if he wants us to come back.  

Anyways I am doing good with my son or Hijito in Spanish.  We have been working hard again like always and we have been talking to everyone in the street.  This week an Elder from the city above Iquique came down and had an intercambio (Like a transfer but just for a day I don`t know what it is someone help me out haha), and he taught me how to contact better.  Man you guys aren't going to believe me if I tell you, but we found 31 new people to teach that day.  Oh man it was crazy how many people there were, I got home and went to bed altido (it means like... right then).  

We had a Stake Confrence this week so President came to talk and he gave a strong talk about the Book of Mormon and that we all need to be reading it.  Then the wife of the stake president talked about how miracles haven`t stopped. It was really powerful and I wanted to share the scripture with you all. 

Anyway I love you all and I hope you are all doing well. Take care.

Love,

Elder Hirschi

Scripture: Mormon 9:15 ( And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles.)  

Answers: 

1.  Have you been to see the mission President recently?

 Today actually I talked to the President. His Birthday is the 15th so we sang to him and had a little cupcake haha they made a joke about how he didn't give us enough money to buy a cake haha.  

2.  How do you think transfers will go next week?

 Wow I have had a lot of time here in Iquique. I love my new companion, but I really miss Elder Taylor too.  I think I will be leaving this next week, but I hope I can stay one transfer more to help Elder Llamas with the sector.

3. Have you read your patriarchal blessing lately? 

 No I haven`t actually, thank you for reminding me. I will do it right when I get back to the apartment!

Pictures: 

Today was the party for President