Week 46 Easter Island!

Hey there everyone!

I received about a billion emails today, so I just wanted to tell you all, that if you don't get a reply, it is because I ran out of time. Not because I don't love you. (Well.....Just Kidding)

This week was rather good to be honest. Haha, Hna Challco and I had our moments. She likes to do her study at 8 in the morning instead of 9, so I have an hour to myself to shower and all that. It is nice. But turns out she still times me and analysis how I use my time. Haha, she told me that I wasn't allowed to eat and study. I had a half hour to get ready completely and a half hour to eat...... I think it is funny now. But at 11 at night I was pretty annoyed. I still eat when I am studying. I just like doing that. She´ll understand with time and other companions. She is still a newbie. Haha.

I also got a haircut this week. And never tell someone you barely know that you want it a little shorter.... Because it will become MUCH shorter. The last time my hair was this short was like senior year of high school. I like it though.

Also, got hit in the eye by gifts from a teeny bird perched from above. Unfortunately I was so concerned with getting it  off of my face that I did not take a picture to send to all of you for your enjoyment. 

We taught many lessons this week and we were able to set a couple baptismal goals with dates attached! So we were pretty happy. The dramatic thing that happened this week was that we have an investigator who is the mother of a recent convert. The mom had a date for baptism, which fell through this week because she didn't come to  church, because of some drama with her daughter. 

But after all that drama, this week has been really great and pretty calm. We are reactivating a  few families, and teaching even more. I love this work. I know that I would never be where I am spiritually and emotionally without being a missionary. I have heard many times that the mission is the training that you need for the rest of your life. And I truly believe that. 

I love you all. I know that this work is  true! LES AMO! Dios les bendiga.

Hna Randall

PS- Easter Island is not a part  of my mission. But we do have one of the heads replicated here. So we visited that this morning. :)

Week 45 Baptism Days are the Best Days

Hello Friends and Family Alike!

Hope this email finds you well and in a good state of mind. I hope you all know that I miss you and I appreciate all of the emails that I receive every week. I feel very loved and supported. Thank you for all of that and the prayers that are send my way. I can feel them strengthening me every day.

This week was a great week. My companion and I are getting along great, and she is opening up a lot. We still have things to work on. But they are more detailed missionary things like timing. Less personal things. So I'm happy with that. 

We had a beautiful baptism on Saturday. Norma was baptized! She is 26 years old and from Bolivia. Her parents are active members there and she wanted to learn more about the church to follow their example. She started coming to  church by herself, and made the decision to be baptized by herself. She is very prepared. It was a beautiful little service, and the feeling of love that was there was amazing. I love being a part of this work and helping those who are searching for something more, to find it. I am so grateful that families are forever!

 Also, I promise that everyone was happy this day, even if my companion and Norma are not smiling. They are not smiley people. 

We also had our last interviews with our Mission President before he finished his mission the first week in July. So that was fun. I received some advice to  help relieve the back pain that I have been experiencing again . (Prayers in this area would be very welcome.) And basically we had a great week! 

I love the mission. I love all of you. I love my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ.  I dont imagine, I cant imagine. What my life would be, not only right now, but after, without my mission. I know that I am learning and growing here in ways that are not only  blessing me and my family right now. But that will continue to help me to grow and bless my family and me for the rest of my life. Not to  mention the temporal and eternal consequences that my mission is having on the lives of the people I have come to love in Chile. I just want to end this email ssaying, who ever you are. Whatever yor situation. If you are thinking about a mission. Do it. Go for it. You will NEVER EVER regret it. 

I love you all, I know that this church is true. I testify of that every day, in every way. 

¡Ser mormón, ser feliz!

Hermana Randall

Week 44 Winter is Coming......

Hello rabid readers, and fans of all ages. Welcome to another week of emails! I think we are on week 44 or something like that.... So that is terrifying and we are not going to think about it.

This week has been a lot of things. And most of all the things were ups! The main down was that I got sick. Sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, headache, all the fun stuff. I bought some medicine, ignored well meaning advice from members and I am getting better. (When I say ignored, I ignored things like ¨Here is a tomato. Heat it up in the  microwave, and use saran wrap to paste it to your neck while you sleep. Its really messy, but it wont stain.¨ I kindly accepted the tomato, and I ate it with a salad instead.) 

We had a zone meeting this week too. We met and talked about success stories, doctrine, etc, and basically got us all pumped up to share the gospel and baptize. It was pretty cool because we were also able to do companion exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders in Calama, so I was able to learn even more from even more sisters. And my companion as well. It was good for her, because before I could sense that she was annoyed with me, but that she wasnt saying anything. Even though I asked. After the exchange, she had enough courage, or was annoyed enough to tell me everything about me that annoyed her. Which although bugged me a little bit. I realized that everything that she was telling me  was just a difference in style of doing things more than anything else. So I told her I was sorry, explained that although I had 10 months in the mission, I am not perfect. (One of the things was that I wasnt helping her to find directions and plan at night. I had to explain that she was leading the sector for a reason. Because she knows the streets and the people, and that she couldnt expect me to know them after a week.) We had a good little talk and I was just praying to know what to say to her. And I ended up saying very little. Basically what I did was sit and listen. And then we both cried together. And every day since then has been great. When she is annoyed or doesnt understand. She tells me now, and we talk about it. If I dont teach her anything else, I will feel good knowing that I am helping to teach her to  communicate.

We also have an investigator named Norma. She is progressing amazingly and is planning on being baptized this Saturday! We had a lesson with her this week and we were nervous because she still hadnt recived her answer to know if these things were true. But then this day, she told us that during General Confrence she had recived her answer. She began to cry and tell us that she knew that it was all true. We all cried together. And I recived another witness that these things are true. I know they are.

We have other people with baptismal dates as well, and we are constantly finding new people and helping them to also prepare for the first covenant of  baptism. 

I love being a missionary. Meeting new people. Working with people who become my best friends, and teaching people that families are eternal. God loves us. 

He loves each and every single one of you. Keep smiling. And keep your chin up. Families are eternal. They can be sealed together in the temple of the Lord, and after death reaches us, it will have no hold. Christ rose from the dead so that one day we might also rise. I celebrate and preach of a LIVING, TRIUMPHANT, Christ. He loves you. He supports you. Just turn to him. Call to him, and he will be there.

Love you all, Dios les bendiga,

Hermana Randall

Week 43 TOCOPILLA!

Hey there world! Its good to talk to you again. I feel like the last Pday didnt count because I was on a bus all day. So its nice to relax a little bit here.

First of all, here I am in Tocopilla! It is right here on the ocean and it is gorgeous. It is also dirty and humid, but somehow I can live with that, BECAUSE THERE IS OCEAN!!!!!!

 The  sector that I am in has houses right up on the beach. Not even kidding. My second day  here I felt so free to just walk along and proseltye  on the seashore. Ahhhhh, life is good. I love the ocean. 

We have a rather giant sector, and the downtown with all of the stores and everything is a part of our sector. There are a ton of people, and a bunch of things to look at. I need about 8 more sets of eyes.

The Area Book here, that has all the records of the people that we are teaching, is GIANT. There are a billion people here who are listening to the missionaries. When we plan we literally could  fill  every single space with an investigator.  It is a dramatic change from  being in El Salvador for 6 months. I miss El Salvador a little it is true. But what is more true is that I love Tocopilla!

My companion Hna Challco is a little interesting. She has about 3 months in the mission. She is 22 years old, from Peru, the only member in her family , and she never smiles..... Like seriously. She is a very serious person. She has her moments. But every single photo that I have of her is  of her looking super serious. She is actually a fun person. But we are working on unlocking that.  We get along pretty well   The only thing that really gets me is the smiling thing... I dont understand how someone doesn't smile......  EVER. Well not ever. Just rarely. Haha. We are getting alone just fine. But prayers are always welcome.

I hope that all of you had the chance to watch General Conference this week. I had to watch  it in  Spanish. Although I understood it all (GO ME) I am currently downloading it all so that I can listen to it in English and get even more out of it. I love listening to the prophets seers and revelators that we are blessed to have in our church. I know as they know that this is the true church of Christ and that He is at the head.

Things really are good here in Chile. I am offcially into the double digits with the months that I have in the mission. And I am old. I am working hard every day, and the random cramps and muscle pain are proof of that haha. Hopefully I have more stories to tell next week. I just have no desire to write today for some reason. This keyboard is really crappy and the space bar sticks. But as for one story. We were doing our weekly planning and a Jehovahs witness came a knockin, I got a  picture of him through the peephole,  he proselyted to us for a sec, gave us a pamphlet and we gave  him a card too. Then we politely told him that we believed something different than what he was explaining (some tangent about Jesus being the son of Jehovah.....) And he left. He was certainly one of the nicest Jehovahs witness I have met. Haha.

Well I love you all and I hope that you have  a great week! Dios les bendiga!

Hermana Randall

Week 42 Transfers!

Hey Everybody!

So today is transfers..... And I am headed..... TO TOCAPILLA. It is more North and has the ocean. That is literally all that I know about it. My new companion is going to be Hna Challco. She just barely finished her training. So Im going to be the Senior Companion. This is going to be super fun. 

So because today is transfers, I have about 15 minutes to write everyone. I apologize if I cannot email you a personal email today if you sent me one. But know that I read all of them and I love all of you. 

We had a good week in El Salvador. We taught a LOT of lessons and had our Companion Exchanges. I was able to see that in a few areas I had grown complacent with my teaching, and I have implemented some things that have helped me to be a better missionary. It really hit me this week that the different videos that we have as missionaries are all wonderful tools. But that they do not replace teaching the main 3 lessons. They are tools. They are not the lessons. Sometimes it is easier to say to someone, ¨Oh, we have a video, can we watch it?¨  And then count them as a new investigator. But that isnt what our purpose here. We are hear to Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts. It was a great experience to have right before I leave to a new sector with a new companion.

Saying goodbye was a lot easier than I thought that it would be. I took that to be a sign that I am headed right where I need to go. I will miss El Salvador very much. I am truly gratful that I had the opportunity to serve there for as long as I did. I will miss the people, and my investigators. But I know that I have spent my time there. And now I am needed in another place. I have learned all I can from El Salvador. And now Im off to learn even more!

Well Ive got to go! My bus for Tocapilla leaves at 12:15 here, and I still havent had breakfast! I love you all! HAPPY EASTER! 

I just want to leave you all with my testimony that I know that this church is true. That our loving Heavenly Father sent us here, and he also sends us the tools that we need to return to live with him again. I know that we have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, who guides the church today through revelation. I know that the proper authority to perform saving ordinances has been restored. And I know that the evidence of all of this is the Book of Mormon. If you have any doubts about these things. I invite you to read the Book of Mormon. Even if it is just a little bit. And then pray to know if these things are true. Im not just sending this invitation to non-members. But to my friends and family who are members. We all need our own testimonies. We cannot live on borrowed light. I love you all. I know that these things are true, and that only through our risen lord and savior, Jesus Christ, we can find Salvation.

Have a great Conference Weekend everyone! LOVE YOU!

Hna Randall

Week 41 St. Patricks Day. A Green Mean, Preaching Machine.

First, the title is misleading. St. Patrick´s day does not exist here. I wore green anyways though. And we taught a TON of lessons this week!

We has a Zone Meeting on Tuesday, where among other less interesting things, we discussed how we can set daily and weekly goals with faith. And Hna D´Angelo and I really thought long and hard about that. And we both realized that lately we had been setting goals according to what WE thought WE could accomplish.... And that is not what missionary work is. So now we are trying harder, praying more specifically, and LISTENING HARDER. The goals that we have set this week have seemed almost unrealistic at times, but we both felt that they were correct. And you know what? Not only did we meet the goals. Once or twice we passed them. I have seen so many small miracles this week. I realized that I hard started to depend on my own strength here. Not a ton. But more than I should have been. I had a good wake up this week. And putting the faith to work has really only increased the faith that I have. I really have a testimony of goal setting. Of seeing what we can do as missionaries. Seeing that number. And then saying a prayer and asking God what he KNOWS we will accomplish today. Following what we can do we will teach one lesson with a member a day maybe. Maybe two other lessons. Maybe one new investigator. Very average. This week we were blessed to have 3 lessons with a member, 9 others, and 5 new investigators. For El Salvador, this is a week of miracles.

Sadly this week we also experienced a death in the Branch. One of our Sisters passed away suddenly this week because of a heart attack. Hermana Seline. She  has two children 13 and 16, and the whole branch is in shock. But one thing that has been amazing to see, is how the knowledge that we have of the Plan of Salvation brings us peace. We are sad. We miss her. But we are not destroyed. We know we will see her again. There is an incredible peace in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This week has been a week of faith, and of peace. During this time of Easter and remembering the Resurrection. Moments like this are even more poignant. (Here´s hoping I spelled that right... English is hard guys.)

We were also able to see our convert José pass the Sacrament for the first time, and give a talk in Sacrament meeting about prayer.

This is basically what happened this week. Ending on a story though. We had a lesson yesterday with a family of investigators. Ingrid y Claudio. They are very Catholic. Even though ALL OF THEIR EXTENDED FAMILY ARE MEMBERS. When I say all, I literally mean all. And they are just okay living their lives the way that they are. they are happy and content and don't want to change. Missionaries have been sharing with them for the better part of forever. But yesterday something may have changed. 

We were at a loss of what to teach them, until we started thinking about the upcoming conference. And then thinking about the conference that we just had in October. At this time I invite you all to watch the talk, or read it, ¨What Lack I Yet?¨ From Elder Lawrence of the 70. We shared this talk. And we discussed how we can all continue to progress. After sharing stories and experiences, we challenged all of them to pray and ask for one thing that they can work on. And Ingrid said, ¨I will ask. I do not like to ask. That is why I recite my prayers. That is why I haven't asked about your church. Because I am afraid someone will answer.¨ She knows. She knows. SHE KNOWS. So we are working with them at the moment as well (shout out to Hermana Eliza Handley!) 

We also hiked on of the larger hills here in El Salvador this morning and got some really cool pictures.

But that really was the week. So challenge for all of your. Read the talk. Talk to your Heavenly Father and look for one thing that you can improve. You will receive specific answers to specific questions. I love you all, and I hope to see you all constantly improving. 

Love you,

Hermana Randall

PS. Transfers are next Monday. And its almost a sure thing that I'm headed somewhere else. I've been here for a long time. So I may not write next Monday. But instead on Tuesday or something. We´ll see! Wish me luck!

-- 

Week 40 The Unsinkable Hermana Randall

First of all. Ten points to whoever gets the movie reference in the title of my email.

Second, Hello everyone! Officially another week has gone by and I have the pleasure of once again using technology and talking to my friends and family. 

Hope this email finds you all well and good. Things here this week were pretty uneventful.... With the exception of a Strike where they halted all traffic and we were stuck in a bus for 2 hours..... 

Assuming you would all like to hear the story I will proceed to tell you. 

We had a Zone Conference planned with our Mission President on Tuesday, so we caught our bus at 8:00AM and an hour later normally we arrive at the halfpoint mark. A little town (bigger than El Salvador), called Diego de Almagro. But our ride was slightly different because when we were about 10 minutes out of Diego traffic stopped in both directions and we were in a huge line of buses and work trucks from the mine. 

So turns out that a couple different companies fired a whole bunch of people or cut their pay or something like that. So in order to attract attention to their Strike, these people began burning tires and all sorts of things in the road. And the side roads as well. They had blocked all entry or exit to Diego. So we sat on the bus and waited for people to make a bunch of calls. We waited. And waited. And waited. And by this time all of the people that were on the bus with us, got off and walked to Diego. Which we couldnt do without permission from the Mission President. And he was traveling and didnt have cell service for a little while. 

When he finally called us we told him the situation and he said some of the scariest words I have ever heard from a leader....  Hermana. Do what you think is best. 

So after praying out the options, we walked about 30 minutes into town, managed to find the Plaza, hire a taxi (super expensive) to Chañaral, and make it to the Zone Conference only an hour late. President was very pleased. 

So that was my super adventure for the week. Other than that not much happened. We found a couple new investigators this week that have a lot of potential and we are really excited for the progress that El Salvador is making. 

Yesterday there was a specail conference broadcast from Salt Lake city for all of Chile, and we were privlegded to hear fromPresident Russell M. Nelson. And he spoke Spanish! It was really cool! All the members were so excited that he chose to speak in Spanish. You could tell that he hadnt used it in a while, but he spoke very well, and he had a beautiful message about following the commandements and doing all of the small and simple things that really build a home and a testimony.

I hope to find that you are all well at home. I miss you all, but in reality I have no idea how much I miss you. Im too busy to miss you all as much as I thought that I would. Haha!

I love you all, thak you for all of your thoughts and prayers, you are all constantly in mine! Congradulations to the friends who got engaged this week, and the families that continue to grow and change in my absence. LOVE YOU!

Hermana Randall