August 27, 2012

Well I had an awesome week!

Well I went on cambios earlier este semana with Elder Goycochea from Peru. It was fun stuff, but rained the whole day and was freezing! The mountains got some nice snow though, and the air was a little clearer. Its been warming up ever since. I'll be going on changes the rest of this change, Im excited! We had a mini mtc saturday, with the youth of the stake.  Although a little crazy and disorganized , the end result was really good. the youth got to go on splits with us and teach and contact for a little over 2 hours, to experience a bit of the work. They all had great experiences, and realized how easy it is to share the gospel, and I truly think are excited about missionary work, now and in the future. Its funny, I keep wanting to write spanish words. 

Well today is P-day, and we played futbol for the first time here!!! We always want to, but with our schedules and conflicting opinions its hard to make it happen. It was good stuff, we played with 5 other Elders here. Its futsal too, everything is here. No grass, no sir. 

This past week we did a mountain of contacting! The mission average this past week was 55 contacts. The standard of excellence is 140. We hit 151, without actually changing a whole lot, just our attitude. Im excited to see the fruits of that. 

Its still hard to get people to keep commitments, ha obviously! But nonetheless, our citas always seem to fall through! But we´ve got Claudia, Juanito, Marco, and Teresa really progressing! Teresa didn´t attend church this past sunday, as the sunday before, but the three before that she did. This sunday she worked until 8 in the morning, slept till 10, and then took her sick mom lunch after. What do you do, or how do we help that situation??? People seriously sacrifice so much here. Always. But we meet with her tomorrow I believe. 

Juanito! Juanito is Evangelico, but his family is actually about half members, although inactive. We had an Awesome experience with him. Our 4 of the above people really know the BOM is true, and this is God's church. We just need to help them make that covenant with God about their feelings. Yesterday we taught Jaunito and he actually just came right out and said, "Here comes that feeling." about the spirit. And the mom bore a really powerful testimony of the LDM too. We set him a fecha for the 6th of october. 

Sounds like your all doing really well. Its super weird to think that you have school going on right now.

Thanks so much for all the letters, about the newletter tambien. Lots to read, but good stuff. 

And thanks for Eric's letter!

Got to Go, Love ya all, How´s school?!

Elder Spencer Tasso

PS.  Random but touching, we were teaching the family Garrido, the grandma is catholic and I sneezed once but kept teaching. Well she left and brought me back a little pack of vanilla scented tissues. Absolutely an angel, that whole family. A little experience obvisouly, but very touching. 

Also there are dogs here everywhere. Its hilarious! MIKE DAVIS! If you read this, remember spanish how we talked about a dog party? Welcome to Chile, thats how it is. Except the dogs here are all really gross and dirty. 

August 20, 2012

Fam! How are all of ya! Terrific, Im sending pics!

Well, I had a terrific week! The language really is coming, who would have thought eh? Of course I still have my setbacks and such, but I´m improving rather quickly, or so I´ve been told. But cmon, what else are they going to tell you!! Well this week was an adventure!

Random Culture/Chile stuff first-

Bueno, everything here runs on gas, like propane tanks. Our Calofont, which is our shower heater has had some problems and has been taking forever to light the past week, but eventually always lit. But these past 2 days, nada! But we´re getting fixed today, and at least it wasn't summer, because it´s not like I get sweaty here anyway. But awesome. Also, it seems that the amount of lint here is crazy! Lots of it. It´s been rainy the past 4-5 days, with little bits of sun in between. A couple days ago it was really clear for a bit actually, after lots of rain. It was super pretty because everything was clean, and you could see all the mtns. all snowy and awesome. Its been chilly but it´s warming up slowly. Im also getting a hair cut today, yay!

Food-

The food here is freakin awesome. Our past 3-4 almuerzos have been soooo good. One day we ate lentals actually, with bread of course, and then fruit and cream desert. Lentals eh? what es this! We ate this meal with a member the other day.  Salad first.  The salad here is usually with avocado, celery, something like lettuce, tomato, onion, and olive-- all put together or usually divided up in different bowls, with a lemonish dressing.  Pretty great.  Then we had soup.  Soup is soup, and its delicious.  Then we had the main course, Lasagna!  Very awesome.  Then we had a dessert, a little bit like        tres leches.  All of this is with bread and salsa.  And always juice, or coca cola, never water.

We ate this yesterday, sooooooooo good.  Soup first, pretty similar to french onion.  Then the main course of a whole potato, with super delicious onions all over, and a big piece of really good meat.  Super delicious. With salad(like above) in between, and arroz(rice).  Then we had a cake type desert that was also super delicious.  The bottom line is that the food is super good.  But of course then again, we are missionaries, so we always eat really well.  We are kind of spoiled in that sense.

Our investigators! And guess what? We had 6 investigators at the capilla yesterday! Thats a miracle right there. 

Dad, I'm going to start trying this, although I don't know if I'm just going to jump into it. But we are supposed to invite from the 1st lesson, which we only do 30 percent of the time for various factors. But we actually talked about something like this, a little bit this morning. We need to let people know that our goal is to help them make that first covenant with the Lord. I will tell you how it goes over the next couple weeks. 

Well I'm really getting more comfortable. With the language, the people, the culture, but most of all myself. That really is the big one. Ive got a terrific companion, and were actually doing pretty well, but obviously still have a lot to work on. This week we did a lot of contacting, 80 contacts, which was awesome. But we also had a lot of citas fall through which was lame. It was partially just an irregular 2-3 days, but here there still is a culture of I'm busy, come back later, of inconsistency. If we're straight up and more serious with people, this should cleanse our pool, I suppose. So that was a little lame. We still had some really good lessons though, and I'm getting more bold, more comfortable. Awesome. 

Teresa- Teresa is our best investigator right now. She knows the church is true. She's 49 years old, and had a date for the 2nd but that will get pushed back for various reasons. But she's super awesome, super nice, knows the church is true, and really just needs to kick her boyfriend out now, ha. Actually, him and her family have been giving her a hard time about the church, actually he kind of still is, BUT, yesterday we went over to her house, and taught her two kids and her, 33 and 26, who were contributing to this, and they loved us! Were going to keep teaching them, but only sundays, becuase they don't live with her. 

Patricio- Patricio is something like 66ish, and in a wheel chair because he doesn't have a leg. But he's a baller and knows the church is true, loves us a lot, and especially loves the church. He can't see super well, as in can't read the text in his regular size LDM, and so we got him a big triple. Its funny because now, he carries around with him everywhere. Hes getting baptized and stuff, but the thing is he is moving is more or less 2 weeks, so were not going to baptize him here, but in his new ward. Also we only visit him outside of church oneish time a week, but friday when we did, he told us that he just felt that we were coming over that day to teach him. Cool Stuff. 

Claudia- Also awesome and progressing, but slow because its hard to find times when we can teach her, with a guy. Everyone here works a lot. I've also learned that for everyone here, they make true sacrifices. Like in Utah to not go to church, for a lot of people the excuse is i don't want to. Here it's well, I have work to feed my family... Something real. But she's awesome and we teach her wednesday. We are also working with some cool people. Wendy and her fam- gonzalo, javiera, and Nelson. Antonio and Catalina and their fam. Also Juanito and Nicholas, among others. 

Actually, we also just dropped 4 people. Which is good, especially from your advice dad. They definitely weren't there. Were trying to work the male youth in the ward here, theres only 3, and one is inactive, and one is partially. Jeremy and Rodolfo, pray for them. 

We've got other people were working with, but these are our most progressing as of now! Keep you updated! Love you all lots! Tell me about life, and ask me questions! 

Have you guys had any funny dreams lately? Awesome! Camping and stuff! Chile actually, (the mtns.) just got lots of snow, and I heard the skiing was awesome. 

We've got some amazing families in our area, who really help us. The familia Garrido, Bara, Roco, Rex, Poblette, and more! 

Everyone here is super awesome, Chile's sweet, the church really is true. The mission is hard, but really really good. And always getting better! I'm also amazed how much more I get out of my scripture study now. I remember I used to read, and learn nothing. I didnt read with real intent of course. I read becuase the prophet, you all, the bishop, etc. had said too. The BOM is true. 

Love you all! The best of luck! Random questions for next week?

Elder Spencer Tasso

ps. it was funny, last week I spent 20 mill on food at the grocery store here, Lider. Which is a lot. Therefore, I still have loads of food and am not buying anything this week. 

 pps. I really like Spanish. French, next probably. with a close second of Italian, Japanese, and Mandarin. 

 

August 14, 2012

How is Everyone!!

Thanks for the pictures! They're pretty great, and I apologize once again for the punctuaction, the keyboards are different. I don't care. 

There's so much to say I dont know where to start! Today we went to the zoo actually, took forever to be honest because we rode a train and took the metro south a little bit. But it was really cool! I want to send you all pictures of everything here, I actually havent taken a lot here, but took a lot at the zoo today, but I have a lot of the mtc too. BUT, this card reader doesn't seem to work on this computer. We just go to random computer labs in the city, internet cafes, and use the alotted computers there. Some are good, others, not so much. Its funny because seriously 80% of the people around me are on facebook. Facebook. The bane of the world, ha not really, but funny stuff. Usually Monday is our p-day, but we switched this week to go to the zoo. Pretty ballin, it was fun though. 

This week was an adventure! Still very much adjusting to everything here, but making progress, definitely. Thanks a bunch for the letter Pops, and Tyler, keep sending good advice. Your the best! Where to start. Language- first off, still coming. I actually feel like I haven't made loads of progress speaking, but some still. Its interesting, I really think there was a lot of culture shock when I first arrived, still some. Although I dont think that I like to admit it, but I think it presented itself in the form of a lack of confidence and uncomfortability. I can understand better than I could 2 weeks ago, and I improve every day, but still, its slow. It is frustrating but, I just need to appropriate more and better study time to the language because when I do, I feel more confident. We do a lot of contacting here, and Im decent at that now. I cant always understand people but I usually know what to say. I'll say si and nod and my comp will say somehting and then I will too. I understand 90% of what he says, but much less of them. Its good though. 

Its relatively cold here, but Ive acclamated a little. Tyler you're super right! And to apply this to a weather context, in the mtc when it was super hot, I wanted the cold. Now that its cold a lot, I want the heat. I can work on loving the things I can't change. But Im prettty consistently happy and confident here. And Dad, like you said it's only bettter from here. The moon boots and ninja suit? Always! Super glad I have those for the winter months! It does get really hot! 

People! The real reason anything is good! In the ward, we've got some awesome people. The familias poblette, garrido, barra, roco, rybok, and obispo are all super ballin. Those are most of the really strong families in our ward, and we eat with them frequently. Food story! Yesterday, eating with the family Barra, we had spaghetti and meat sauce. Well it was grand, its polite to eat everything and eat a lot here for lunch, we both made the mistake of accepting seconds. The firsts were massive, the seconds were almost as massive. It was terrifying- I almost threw up. And with bread and salad. The salads here are lemony with tomato, super green small lettuce, and avocado or some mix of the three. And always soda, usually coca cola, which is bad. I like water, but it's all good. Food. Lots of mariqueate bread, pretty delicious. Other than that, soups, rice and other stuff. Good stuff, usually pretty different.  We've got some awesome investigators, Teresa has a date for the 2nd, and is pretty strong. Keep you updated. Also claudia, who've I worked with since day one for the 22nd of sept. And 2 others, and soon to be more. It's pretty grand. 

I dont know what else to say, dont have a lot of time. Its a little rainy, not too bad. September is better, the next month is pretty warm and then woosh, loads of heat. Dogs everywhere here, except they're all strays and dirty. But literally everywhere. 

Thanks mom! Kids! You're all crazy cats! Happy b-day Steve!

Hasta next week! Sorry for the lack of time!

Elder Spencer Tasso

August 6, 2012 Chile!

First off, this keyboards a little different than the ones in the States, so pardon my lack of clarity. Also I would send pics, but I didn´t know we were going to do email, therefore I didn´´t bring my pics. Next time.

Fam! How´s it going!!!!!! Awesome!!! Glad you´re all having fun in the outdoors! But ya, I can attest, sounds like a little TOO much vacation, especially with work and such. It was good to talk to you again, although little weird and I apologize for any miscomunication, via the calling cards. those things are a joke!

This week has been super sick! We don´t have cars, we walk but it´s pretty great here. Dad, we ride the metro every now and again ya, but only for meetings or special circumstances.

Well sweet! Chile is definitely awesome. I´m learning a lot- every day- and i´m really progressing with the work. Glad you got my pic. Yep my trainer is Elder Jones, from California, he´s terrific, I´m really grateful for him, but at the same time feel bad because I´m seemingly inadequete in a lot of areas. He will study at Stanford after the mission, maybe video, not sure. He likes lifting weights and preaching the gospel! And is very good at spanish, and like any and every trainer, patient. I´ve kind of feel like a puppy infant child here.  But I´ve had 5 days here now, and I´m doing more and more every single day. 

Tyler, Dad, I think you´re right. I partially have been just putting in the time here. Partiallly of course it is really hard to carry on a conversation here because I can´t really understand what they say all that well. It depends, but I generally glean anywhere from 5-30 porciento of the convesation. I can keep up with short small talk much better than with actual full blown conversations, but It´s all coming. There are def valid factos for me not being as capable as I will be 3-6-9 months down the road, but I can still be as effective via the Lord. Anyways, your right. I´ll try this visualization-optimization more, because your right, there is no reason that every single one of our investigators cannot get baptized, and there is no reason why I should hold myself back and help them via my optimism and faith. They all have their problems and doubts, (a doubt with almost everyone here, is that they´re lazy or busy, or it´s just not important for them to come to church, to do the things they actually need to do), but they´re all progressing and are ready enough to let us in, therefore if we do all we can do and help them, they all can be baptized. 

Dad feel free to tell me that story again, and what golden questions are, because I forgot it. Go figure, after all those years, ha. 

Chile! My area is pretty ghetto, dirty, poor, and vandalized but amazing. The people here are super amazing and happy. The ward is all super nice and honestly like the people anywhere- caring, kind, and friendly, so don´t worry I´m in good hands. There´s one sister who we´ve visited her family a lot already, (they´re part memebers) who reminds me of Grandma Debbie, in the sense that she´s super animated and funny and nice and excited. Only of course Chilean. Spanish-Castillan, is coming, it really is. I´m already considerably more comfortable in the language than wednesday. And the work as well. The field is really different, there´s no way they can really prepare you for this, but sooo much better. Harder too, definitely but a lot better. I´ve had a lot of moments where we´re talking to people, or teaching in a home, and honestly I can´t really understand them, but I just feel really happy, because I know that I´m where I should be, helping people, and I´m grateful for all these amazing people. I´ve had some pretty awkward moments at the door, at the gate, talking to people, but I figure I should get them out now. 

I have a testimony of this gospel, I know it´s true. The book of mormon is the word of God. 

Cya later!

Elder Spencer Tasso