Baptism!

So first of all before I forget like I have been for the past few weeks. Yes, I finally got the package (like 3 weeks ago). Thank you all for everything! Unfortunately, I can't make the cake right now. In my last pension we didn't have a good oven. Well in this pension our oven is more like a blowtorch. So ya, once the pensionero brings us a new cocina [stove]... I have to wait....

 

BAUTISMO!!! Yes, the baptism happened yesterday! WOOT! We had to run to get everything ready because our mission leader forgot to put the program together, but in the end everything was awesome. A lot of member support which was awesome! Haha she said that whenever she goes underwater she gets this weird sensation which she can't describe. Haha so because of that when my comp lifted her back up she was gasping and then tripped or something and almost fell back under. Don't worry, nothing happened and she didn't get a second baptism.

That's the highlight of the week. Oh and every companionship in the district baptized this month so the next week we get to have a District Activity! My first activity in the mission. We will be going to the zoo next week (unless plans change). YAY!

 

So ya, basically everything that happened this week had something to do with the baptism and getting it ready so there aren't really and stories. We cleaned the font, had the ZLs call a million times trying to get us to change the baptism to Saturday so that she could be confirmed the next day, ran around the chapel looking for people to participate in the program, and then had the baptism! So ya, that was this week.

 

Love ya all!

Elder Groneman

New Area: La Serena

So yes, I did get transferred. I was on the bus because I went up north to the 4th region (Chile is divided into 12 regions north to south with Santiago being its own little region so 13 in total - Misión Viña del Mar is the 4th and 5th regions). After a 7ish hour bus ride of scripture study, practices, sleeping and talking, we arrived in La Serena at 1am. My sector is the 3rd most north in the entire mission. The Hermanas literally share a border with Antofagasta and have found those Elders in their sector a few times because the limit isn't completely clear. I can now see the ocean every day because my sector is on the crest of the hill, so half of the sector is hill and the other half is flat.

 

My new comp is Elder M** from Lima, Peru. He's great. He has a strong testimony. Especially for only being a member for 9ish months before starting the mission. We already have a baptism planned for this Sunday (assuming that she passes the interview) and 2 more investigatores with baptismal dates. On Sunday I performed my first confirmation on a kid that was baptized 3 weeks ago but then left on vacation before he could be confirmed. That was a little bit nerve racking. Don't know why but it was...

 

That's about all that happened this week. Even though changes are only on Wednesday it feels like they are the entire week. I am now trying to learn all of the street names in my sector and learn it by sight as well. Trying to remember all of the members and who is a leader. Meeting all of our investigators and less-actives. Basically a lot of work to do. It's not hard, just takes some time.

 

So ya, that's my life right now - or at least what's different

Love you all

Elder Groneman

Headed for La Serena

Elder Groneman & Elder M**

Transfers this week

Yay for another 6 hour day-trip to Viña! This time it was for my tramites [processing]. I'm finally going to be legal! Yes, right now I'm in a country illegally. Well, not completely illegally. I have a visa  but not my passport so if they ask to see my visa I'm done for. Lets hope that doesn't happen!

So yes, Mecham is correct. This week is tranfers. And I get to find out if I stay or if I go. Yes, it is possible that I stay for another change. I have heard many stories of missionaries that have stayed in their first area for 7-9 months. Anything is possible in this mission. Oh, so we finally know who our new Pres is going to be. Supposedly we're not supposed to know yet but everyone does. His name is Raul Diaz. He's from Santiago but if I remember right he lives in Concepción right now. I've heard that he's really humble and LOVES CocaCola so the rule impeding us from drinking it will probably be lifted and then we will be drinking it in every lunch...yay.

 Happy Story of the Week!

We found a family to teach that is basically gold! They're antiguos [older people] and they were taught the majority of the lessons but don't remember a lot BUT during the first lesson the dad basically helped us explaining tithing to his wife. He already has a testimony, we just need to reaffirm it and then convert his wife. Their family actually almost got baptized before but the missionaries that taught them forgot to tell them about the baptismal date of their son until 2 days before. Ya, they weren't happy with that so they stopped taking the lessons....Until we found them! They are awesome.

So ya. You are all just going to have to wait to find out if I get transferred or not. Oh the agony of waiting ;) Patience is a virtue, develop it ;) 

 

All is well but unfortunately with the trip to Viña I don't have much time so until next week!

Elder Groneman

 

Elder P**, President Kahnlein, Elder Groneman

 

The Grand Search continues...

To clarify something quick - "the Flea in the ear" means that we never stopped bugging her. We were always calling her, reminding her to go to church. And when we were in the lessons, we would remind her again and again and again to go to church and to not smoke. Well, in the end it worked and she is as happy as can be. So "pulga en la oreja" means that we were annoyances.

Now on to more spiritual matters.....

In the very first verse of King Benjamin we find the purpose of general conference. 

Mosiah 2:9

"...for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view."

So according to our old friend (both in age and familiarity) we know that the reason we have GC is so that we can listen and then open our minds, hearts, and eyes so that we can Hear the whisperings of the Spirit, Understand those whisperings, and then See the purposes of God. So....do we have to wait another 2ish months in order to have that blessing in our lives? I hope your answer is no because if not, you are terribly mistaken. We have access to GC talks 24/7 (unless the internet has randomly died and all of the Ensigns/Liahonas have been burned) so the opportunity to have our ears, hearts, and minds opened is always available to us. Take advantage of it NOW so that God can start working miracles in your life TODAY.

As for the work, basically everything is the same. A few of our investigators have returned and are progressing slowly but surely. The Grand Search for the people who are ready to hear the gospel continues.....and it won't stop until God says it does. So I guess we gotta keep on working and searching.....and of course walking ;)

Love ya all. My advice for this week is a quote from Mom. "Don't Be Stupid"

Elder Groneman

My comp and I got to ride in the back of the 2nd counselor´s truck because "there was no room for [us] in the in(side)" ;) Don't worry Mom, we were safe. We didn't get into a car accident that time. It was fun though!