It was exciting and sad to pack my bags and realize my
mission is over. Hno. Munoz took us (the Elders, and Hna Bramwell and I) to the
mission office. It was fun to see everyone there and the excitement everyone
had.
We had our closing interviews. I don’t really remember too
much of what Pres. Essig said, but he told me to keep up the good habits I
learned on the mission. Surprisingly he didn’t tell me I had to go home and get
married, I guess he just figured that is implied haha.
Then we went to the mission home and had a lunch and a
testimony meeting. It’s amazing the power a room full of missionaries can hold.
Then I went out to meet mom and dad. It seemed so surreal to see them in person
and give them hugs. Of course mom was crying but it was pretty awesome.
They told me they had gotten lost in Santiago for 5 hours
trying to find their hotel/apt. But they managed to get to church on Sunday to
visit Los Mares and San Francisco.
So we went back to the apt and hung out. Dad and mom wanted
me to write the people I wanted to visit to make sure they were going to be
around so I tried working a tablet for the first time in my life and I hated it
because I didn’t know what I was doing and it felt so weird to be on Facebook and
everything.
But we started visiting people, everyone wanted to feed us
meals and pop. Every house we went to mom said, “I can’t do it anymore!” and me
and dad just laughed and said, “Well, you have to.” Haha oh the joys. We got to
see quite a few people. Everyone seemed happy to see us and they kept telling
me I have to come back.
So we hung out in
Santiago. Went to Los Buenos Muchachos with the family Ñancupil. It was awesome
to have the bbq there and see all the awesome dances from around Chile. Everyone
went out to dance except for me jaja. We
toured around Santiago, went downtown to the markets and Plaza de Armas, went
up San Cristobal, and Santa Lucia.
Then we went to our condo in Con Con. It was kind of chilly
but it was fun to see a different part of the country. We were right on the
beach and drove down to Viña del Mar and Valparaiso. They were really pretty. I
loved Valparaiso because of the streets and the feel of everything. Viña was a
little more ritzy but we walked on the sand (which felt sooo amazing after all
that time) and ate churillanos for the fist time (famous in Viña, it’s French
fries with cheese, hot dog, sausage, beef and onions.) It was then time to come
back and get ready to go home. The family Ñancupil and Clarita Marin and her
family came to the airport to see us off. It was so awesome.! Hno Ñancupil got
pulled over and they wanted to arrest him because he didn’t have the
registration for the car, it was in his brief case, so Jorge had to take a taxi
real fast and bring it (stupid Chilean cops) and Hna Clarita bought me a book
of Chilean slang there at the airport and they sent us home with gifts and
hugs. I couldn’t help but cry as I said good bye to them. I hope that one day I
will be able to see them again.
 |
| Valparaiso |
 |
| Santiago Temple |
 |
| Dinner with Ñanupil family |
 |
| Hasta la vista amigos |
Thinking back as my experience as a missionary, it really was the time I have been happiest in my life. Realizing all the miracles the Lord works everyday, it’s amazing. This really is the work of the Lord. A year and a half earlier I never could have imagine what was going to happen. I fell in love with the people of Chile, their culture, their wit and the members are so firm. The retention rate is horrible and a lot of my converts and less actives I taught are already starting to fall away but I continue to pray for them and hope that they will once again fill the happiness that the gospel brings. But there are also the firm ones. Glorian Seguel is now working in the Young Womens, Maria Villavicencio is sewing the baptism clothes for the ward, the family Marin who was inactive is still going to church and I know the Lord will watch over and keep them. These people have changed my life. The Lord has blessed me so much to be able to server here. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity and now, solo hay que perseverar hasta el fin. Hasta ver!
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| Friends reunited! |
 |
| Meeting my new nephew William and enjoying these crazy kids |
 |
| A happy welcome home! |
Areas:
Villa Primavera Recoleta 6 weeks
Los Mares Pudahuel 9 months
San Francisco Pudahuel 6 months
Lampa Lampa
(Colina) 6 weeks
Baptisms:
Baptism Date Birthday/Age
Carolina Arellano Nov. 28 2010 Dec 17 (10 yrs old)
Guillermo Dec. 26,2010 Boyfriend
of Camila Valenzuela
Maria Villavicencio Jan 11, 2011 1/12/45
Clara Marín April 24, 2011 May
20, 1967
Diego Hernandez May 15, 2011 Aug, 30, 1999
Belmar
Jose Arevena June 19, 2011 May
16, 1957
Jorge Urrea June 26, 2011 Jan
29, 2002
Glorian Seguel July 31, 2011 Sept 17
Paz Leyton Aug 28, 2011 March
19
Claudia Diaz Dec 11, 2011 June
28, 1977
Matias Remirez Jan 1, 2012 May 4, 2000
Companions:
Sarah Buckner West Jordan, UT 3 months (6 wks Villa Primaera, 6 wks in
Los
Mares)
Ashley Dymock Paradise, UT 3 months in Los
Mares
Maria Player Nibly, UT 3
months in Los Mares, 6 weeks in San Francisco
(trio with Bramwell)
Madeline Eborn Heber City, UT 3 months (Trained in Los Mares and San Francisco
1)
Alexandrea Lewisville, ID 6
months (4 ½ months San Francisco, 6 (Lexie)Bramwell wks Lampa)
Wendy Elizabeth Santa Ana, 3 weeks as trio with Bramwell in Lampa
Escobar Orantes El Salvador
People I love:
Villa Primavera
Carolina Arellano
Resplendor 3745
Baptism of less active family
Guillermo
Mauricio, Isabel, Camila, Ayleen Valenzuela
Jose Maria Caro 3005
Torre F #409
(boyfriend of Camila
Valenzuela
taught him but got baptized a week
after we got transferred)
Cecilia Torres
Corner of Jose Maria Caro Diagnal
Bus driver, fed us lunch a lot
Andrea Carter
Nueva la Obra (yellow house)
Recent convert, fed us, split with us
Los Mares
Maria Villavicencio Calderon
Juan Guzman 325
(Baptism)
Familia Aros (Zamora)
Eduardo, Rossana, Franco, Andrea, Connie
Pje Venezuela 7417
Store, fed us, awesome, called 1st Christmas
Bishop Miguel Avilez
Monica, Eli, Diego, Barbara (granddaughter)
Av Pajaritos 6575
Valle Verde
Bishop and RS pres
Elder Barros
Yolonda, Roldolfo, Juan Carlos, Estefani
Pje Hualas 0178 Valle Verde
Area 70 and Gospel Principals teacher
Ervin Carcamo Alvarado
Lilian, Sebastian, Sofi, Consuelo
Pje, Ingeniero Pierre Lehman 7856
Fed us, fun kids
Alfredo Cardenas
Tatiana, Andres, Franco, Javiera
Pje Las Hualas 0200 Valle Verde
RS and YM
Victor Corro Zamora
Pje Arco Iris 284
Recent Convert, old, walked to church
Fernando Garcia
Claudia, Ignacio (Nacho)
Pje Colombia 419
Semi-Inactive, cute chubby kid
Eugenio Lovera, Rita Olguin
Francisco
Laguna Sur 7051
Bishopric, RS Pres, 1st Christmas
Jorge Ñancupil
Alejandra Calderon, Jorge, Jose
Los Cernicalos 511
Mission leader, did everything, laundry
Angelina Yañez Osses
Leslie, Fernanda,
Maite
Los Carpinteros 7145
Lunch every Tues, laundry
Hilda Diaz Gajardo
Mosia, Elizabeth
Curacautin 7009
RS Presidency
Juan Carlos Roman
Alicia, Eva, Leo, Cata, Antonia
Poesia 7353 and
Reina Sofia 265
Awesome, Seminary teacher, fed us, “Ni un brillo”
Andrea Gallardo
Pracila, Natalia
Villa Militar Block C #104
Neptuno 97 con Pajaritos
Inactive, presented daughters
Catalina Diaz Cifuentes
Moved to Maipu
RM de Argentina
Cristian Aceituno y Catuska
La Travesia L31
Bishopric, works at airport
Enrique Cardenas (German)
Lago Peñuelas 099 Valle Verde
“Raquete Camote”, LOVED missionaries
Evelyn Reyes
Pje Pajaritos 49 (con Lago O’Higgins)
Primary music
Orfilia Cerón
Leo, Danny, Carolina, Grandma Carmen, creepy dad
Pje Lejania 7361
Fed us, visited mom (convert)
Claudio Marín
Margot (Giddy), Claudio, Natali, Francisco, Matias, Isadora
Bienvenido 7007
Les active
David y Andrea (Pavez) Gonzalaz
Diagnal Tiniente Cruz 557 #308
Awesome, fed us, she finally got pregnant
Clara Marin Barrera
Valentina
Travesia 6988 F44 (Condominios Los Torres)
Baptism, Husband lives in Valle Verde
Luis Urrea (b-day Sept 10, 1973)
Alma Carter(b-day Jan 3, 1972), Jorge (b-day Jan 26, 2002)
Buen Vivir E #102 (Travesia con Las Torres)
Less active, lived in Mexico, baptized son, threw me b day
party
Glorian Seguel
Humberto, Paz, Constanza Leyton
Villa MIlitar A #102 Valle Verde (Neptuno con Pajaritos)
Baptisms
Diego Hernandez Bermar
Curacoutin 7088 (frente de la plaza)
Lived with LuLu Reyes
Roldolfo, Esteban, America, Evelyn
Amazing lady always sharing the gospel, happy with lots of
trials
Jose Arevena (May 16, 1957) y Ximena (Sept 16, 1956)
Alsino Sur 87A
Batpism, crazy cat lady
Edwardo Cuevas
Maria, Valentina, Valeria
Travesia 6988 N #11
Alexis Lucero
Jaqueline, Estefanye, Matias, Alexis
Rariruca 234
Fed us, good people
Juan Pablo Nuñez Varas
Marta Brunette 7185
Ward secretary, single, family inactive
Julia Toro Nuñez
Camilo, Christopher
Los Nudos 6995
Fed us, went with us to Jose y Ximenas
Victor Varas
Claudia, Marvin, Natalie, Jared
La Mampara 286
Used to be bishop
Hernan Rojas, Ana, Benjamin (grandson)
Las Taguas 494
Cute old people, we worked as park keeper
Barbara Hernandez y bebe Felipe
Condominios Las Torres 0 #44
Was baptize Sept 25, 2011 after I left
Gave her my blowdryer
Cecilia Ñunez (32+-)
Condominios Las Torres L #4_
Activiating her
San Francisco
Jaime Robles
Yamile, Maykool, Felipe
Cerro Calan 9522
Bishopric, laundry, did everything, fed us a ton!
Claudio Rojas
Carolina, Jose, Carolina
Rio Trancura 9741 #53
RS, washed our clothes
Roberto Briones y Vicki
Cerro San Luis Sur 9545
Fed us
Luis Cabrera
Anita Salazar, Almendra
Rio Clarillo 9736
RS Pres, has since separated and moved
Luis Naranjo
Roxana (recent convert), Camilo, Fernanada (recent convert)
Cerro Paine 927
Luis never got baptized, went to church for 1 ½ yrs. Dj.
They are moving
Raul Urra
Fabiana, Benjamin
Guzman Riesco 885 A #31
Bishop, fed us
Alejandro Peña
Silvia, Valentina, Agustina
Rio Trancura 9677
Fed us, accompanied us, made cakes
Carolina Pedreros
Michael, Aaron
Bravo Luco 1396A
Awesome! Has since moved to Quilicura
Cristian Moreno
Veronica, Alan, Evelyn
St. Marta 9579 (at the end on the right)
Accompanied us
Paula Troncoso
Matias, lider misional, Agustin (rambunctious kid)
Jazmin 1304
RS
Broulio Hernandez (inactive)
Sandra Velasquez (investigator), Fernanda
Rio Trancura 9743 Casa 085
2nd Christmas, fed us, skyped Bramwells funeral
Maria Uribe
Katherine, Pedro
Cerro Tololo 1229
Inactive, made brownies
Claudia Diaz (June 28, 1977)
Manuel Alvarez Ramirez (Dec 24, 1961), Barbara (Dec 4,
1994), Coni (Oct 23, 2001), Martin was born just before I finished mission
Jose M Carrera Parcela #45, Noviciado
Baptism, Barbara baptized after I left. Only country baptism
Inez Contrerez (Sept 13, 1953)
Matias Ramirez (March 4, 2000), Ingrid (March 26, 1983),
Victor (drunk)
Patricio Edwards 1323
Matias baptism, mom not member, grandma active
Yris Villarroel y Ariel Concha
Bravo Luco 1082
Fed us, crochet white booties, accompanied
Camilo Soto, Edwardo y Nayareth
Patricio Edwards 1257
Camilo drunk, kids liked church, hung with Matias
Cecilia Rojas, Danae, y Fernanada
San Ignacio 1157
I taught Fernanada piano
Cynthia
Baptized in Lo Prado lives down town, accompanied us,
married Sebastian Rodriguez
David y Iris Valdes
Tranque 1105
Accompany, eat
Familia Jara
Deyanira Fuentes
St Victoria 1365 (with the doves)
Fed us, super nice
Marcos Valdes
Angelica, Gabriel, Jose
Olmue 1271
Victor y Luci, Milagros (down syndrome)
St Emilia 1335
Peruvian, fed, he’s not a member
Ivon, Solange, Franco, Nacho, Angel
Serrano 964 (con Tiniente Cobo)
Inactive
Reinaldo Rojas Meriños
Maria, Jecelyn, Margerie, Wilson
La Campana 1178
We taught grandma and got baptized, Wilson mission
Hugo Rodriguez
Margarita, Sabastien, Matias, Franchesca,
Thomas
Lo Espejo 916
Fed us, made skirts and dresses
Susan y Mitchel Montano
Javiera, Antonela
Cerro Calan 9532
Inactive, YW
Bernardo Calderon y Elizabeth
Ande 9402 (004)
Lived in Panama for long time, son serving in Pocatello
mission
Lampa
Familia Caceres
Raul, Melody, whole fam
Lo Castro Parcel 15-B Sitio 1
Lunch every Sunday, accompanied, farewell party and gifts
Diego Muñoz
Food man, took us to Santiago when finished, fed us
