Happy Holidays!

I am doing great. This past week we have been walking in the hot summer sun most of the time. Yesterday, Monday, we had activity at the mission home for Christmas; all we did was take a tour of the house because it is being converted into a MTC.  We also watched a few of the new bible videos the church has.  We had lunch with two zones.  I got to visit with my old MTC companion. The week really was quick, as normal. Nearing Christmas we see a few lights here and there and plenty of trees. Everyone is all in a buzz for the holidays and when we went to the center of Santiago for a p-day everyone was Christmas shopping. In our sector there is a Christmas Feria in Cortijo.  That’s where they sell random stuff for gifts. That’s really the highlights of anything new.  I am loving the mission though.  We work very hard but it is so much fun doing it.  I get along really well with my companion, Elder Gomez, and we chat and laugh whenever we are just in the street knocking.  We have an investigator named Cruz who is excited to go to church and knows the church is true.  Another is a father, Sergio.  He isn’t a member but his daughter is and he is bound determined to get baptized. Also a young man named Ivan, who we get along with because we all like being nerds.  I also have finished the Book of Mormon for the first time in Spanish and have started on D&C and find it so enlightening.  It’s just awesome! I know this Church is true and we have the knowledge of the fullness of the gospel.  Happy Holidays!!

Hot, sick and loving it!

Well this week was a busy one and a hard one, but I still loved it all.  Monday we just hung out and tried a bunch of times to get money.  It’s hard right now because the only supply of money we have is from tellers (ATMs) around town and there is only one in my sector.  After we found it out of money, we had to leave our sector and look for other machines.  All the other ones close by didn’t have any money either—due to every one pulling out money for the holidays.  We then ventured to a mall a ways off and again found none.  We got home tired and hungry, but thankfully the owners of the home we live in gave us a lunch. The week has been very hot; yesterday was the hottest and the day we were out the most.  We knocked an entire street and nobody let us in until literally the last one.  I learned the lesson of sacrifice there. (Even still I look white as a gringo here.)  Thursday my companion got sick and threw up.  A member gave us an ounce (?).  We had to do everything to tell her we can’t eat ounce and had to take it home.  When we ate it my comp got sick and threw up, then Saturday I got sick (a delay or something) and the same thing happened me.  Sunday was Stake conference and it was fun, we had an investigator come and she loved it all. There were great messages.  It is still awesome that I can talk and understand Spanish like I do. Also there was a choir with a few members from my ward which was very good sounding for just 15 people or so.  I just love the work and thank my heavenly father for all the strength he gives me; I say this just so you know I am growing in every way.

Enjoying Conchali

I am in Conchali, a part of the Greater Santiago area.  My companion is Elder Gomez from Argentina.  He is a great worker and we get along great; he even lets me lead, which I enjoy very much.  This past week we have work very hard in the hot sun, but, I have loved every minute of it!  We laugh and talk in the street and enjoy teaching.  It is hard and tiring but it is great and fun.  We have 10 people this past week who have interest in the Church.  We talked with a few young adult age people on the street and they said over and over that they want to come to Church.  I know the Lord blesses us if we show Him that we are will to work.  I did get to see an investigator from my old sector get baptized.  It was wonderful to see that family again.  The young lady who was baptized even talked about turning in her papers to serve a mission as soon as she can.

We have found a guardian, a dog that started following us one day.  We ended up buying some food for the dog and filled a bottle with water for it.  We named it Korihor.  It chases of other dogs.

We were talking to this lady at her door and the day was hot and I was tired and little cranky—and the lady made me more cranky.  She was calling us a cult and other dumb stuff.  So I looked at the lady and said the Catholic church is false and you need to read the Bible, chao and we left.  My companion just laughed as we walked away.

The Zone played soccer on p-day.  I got to see my MTC companion.  We caught up and he told me he hopes we can be companions again—which made me feel good.

A weird week

Well this week was just, well, I don’t know, weird.  Work was slow so that part isn’t too exciting. We talked with two very odd people this past week.  One is a man who is an evangelist and he loves the missionaries.  He talks a ton and says weird doctrine; like our body is the church and if we love God then we don’t need to be a part of a church. But, he’s a good guy and very kind to us.  Another person is an older lady; well really old.  She told us that she receives healing powers from the sun and believes it is God giving it to her.  Sadly she used this so called power to heal someone, and I honestly felt she possessed the poor person with a demon, but honestly things like that are common here....but life here is fun.  The house we live in is a little shack that likes to keep in the humidity and make it super hot at night and a home for the cockroaches, which we hunt with a hammer and a makeshift flamethrower.  One day I had an exchange with a kid from California, who is Latino through is parents.  He knows Spanish.  We got along very well and mostly talked the day away since no one would talk with us.  Also, people have been asking a lot about Obama and Romney and really all I can say is I have no idea, I don’t watch the news.  Oh well I guess.  Scripture study is always my favorite and I just love reading and learning.  I have food, a home and a proposito (sorry I don’t remember the word in English) which is just to share and I do that with the spirit and scriptures.  I’m happy, just trying to be obedient and work.

Transfers and Elder Bednar

Transfers have hit and I am in a new sector with a new companion named Elder Arriagada, a Chilean.  He seems like a good Elder and has 16 months in the mission.  The sector is called Cunchali, and it's right next to Renca.  I am really sad to leave my old sector; there were some real good people there.  We taught some good lessons there and have investigators who will be baptized for sure.  Elder Bednar visited Chile.  We met in a building next to the Temple.  Our mission and another mission met with him at the same time.  It was amazing!  He had us ask questions and make comments.  I even got to say something, and I talked right at him and he looked at me!  It’s so amazing to meet an Apostle of God and learn from him. I just can’t describe it, it was just wonderful.
 I am doing fine and just working and enjoying all the learning and experiences.  Thank you all for your prayers. con cariño
-Elder Shelley

Conference weekend

Well this week has of course been another blur and some days as I go to bed I think, did I not just get up? We have plenty of lessons, this week we had 22 not counting with menos activo. We have 3 with a date, but two live in another ward, but either way it’s great to get people to baptism. I just work and learn.

 I am getting a good hold of the language and understanding the Chileans, it’s just when they get excited (or really mad) that they just fly and I can not understand a thing.  Well summer has hit, but this week has been cold and cloudy. It even rained a lot this weekend. There are mountains close, but there is always smog so it’s hard, but there is a bridge that we cross to get on the other side of the highway, and there they are big and snowcapped. We are in a valley, a lot like Utah, but deeper and more hills, at least where I have been. Cerro Renca is the dominate hill right next to us with a cross at the top. Renca is a smaller town; I was told it used to be an old farming community back in the day. We will walk most of the time unless we have something far away; we take the bus, or micro as it’s called, if we need to. Our sector is long and skinny. The streets may be paved, but there are plenty of missing parts. They are a hard working people and care about family. I love them.  My companion and I are just two good friends sharing the gospel. He will have me help with English sometimes, but president has asked me to talk as much Spanish, so it’s Spanish basically 24/7.

We watched General Conference in Spanish at the stake center, so that was fun trying to understand everything, but I got most of it. It is really not the same though, listening to other voices for the speakers. I was a little sad, though, only about 20 people came Saturday, and most were missionaries in our stake. Sunday was better; at least we almost filled the chapel. We had a few investigators come, but only for the Sunday morning session. I was edified though, it is not anything like crying my eyes out, but a simple truth, to go and do my duty and go forward with faith. The announcement of the new missionary age minimum was great to hear, I hope many will answer this great call to serve. It is a wonderful experience. I can’t think of any better experience I could be having right now.

Speechless

Well honestly I have no idea what to write this week, Chile is Chile and I am learning Spanish.  We teach and walk and talk to people.  Nothing exciting has really happened this week with me; it was a little bit of a blur really.  We had a birthday party at a member’s house that has become like a second family for me and my companion.  They love to hear about our lives and our countries.  So sorry if it’s short, just write any question down and ask me when I get back :)

Doing well and National Day

Well this week has been a party week for the people I am serving and they know how to party.  There are amosads everyday at every house, the parks are always full of people playing soccer and bolantin.  It’s a festive country and I love it.  There is a dance that some how you know or learn called the Cueca and it is really cool.  I would say look it up in YouTube or something.  I am doing well, I love the mission and all the experiences I have.  I honestly think that I have learned a million times more things here than if I would have if I stayed home.  The mission is preparing me and the Lord helps me through trials, but I want them, they make me learn and grow and the more I do that, the more I can do to help and serve others.  So I am having a fun time and don’t worry the Spanish is coming fine, even to the point that I dream a few times in Spanish.  It becomes a part of how I speak, instead of thinking for 10 seconds then talking.  Thanks to all who read my blog and all your support I definitely need it and very much appreciate it. -Elder Shelley

Continued work with Elder Villagran from Guatemala in Renca

Well ok this week has been crazy, I got sick and that put me out for a day.  We had a very bad companion who has now left.  We have lots of visits to make out of our sector for our chuaco elder. This may be a short blog, because not much happened and I don’t want to write sad stuff.  We have had a baptism.  He is a 12 year old named Isaac; he has a strong relationship with God and believes in the church firmly.  He talks of serving a mission, and his baptism has been a catalyst.  We have a friend of his taking lessons named Katy, the sister of his friend.  We have had changes and are now entering a new 6 weeks.  I and my companion, Elder Villagran from Guatemala, are excited and ready to keep working hard.  I am doing great and love how I can actually speak another language and learn so much about our Lord’s church and the truthfulness of it—there just isn’t anyway that it is not true. Thank you all who read and your support, the blogs are short, but they hold a testimony that this work is true and the Lord is watching over us and helping us. Love you all.

-Elder Shelley

A trio of Elders and eating horse.

Well this week I found out I ate horse and a member peed his pants laughing at our skit in the noche de talentos (talent night).  We have found 4 new people to teach, 3 families:   Javier, Carlos, and Patricia; the other is a cousin named Esteban.  All are around 10 to 14.  We taught in the patio, because the parents where busy.  During the lesson I knew they felt the spirit and they knew it also.  We asked if they would want to be baptized when they know if the Libro de Mormon is true, and they said yes!  Also this week we had another elder join us making us a trio.  His name is Elder Ruis and he is from Peru.  I also had a pack of dogs beg attention from only me and follow us around.  Here in Renca everyone is very poor and we meet lots of interesting people.  One time we meet some good kids and Elder Villagran accepted a smoke from them; "accidentally" dropping it.  We meet very humble people here in the slumish suburbs.  One family is just really nice and loves having us over and share about Christ.  The mission is the best and I have never been happier.

New sector in Renca

This week I had a transfer and am now in Renca with a new companion.  I’m now with Elder Villagran a Guatemalan.  He is very friendly and just a great missionary.  We get along fine; he also loves learning English.  We live in an apartment with two other missionaries, one from Ecuador the other from Midway, Utah.  The one from Ecuador is a convert of about a year, he was a Jehovah Witness and took the lessons in secret and was baptized in secret as well; and it’s a great story.  We live in a more impoverish part of Santiago, but I really find it better because in my old sector we had both rich and poor and both where very distinct.  The more impoverish were a lot more receptive to us and our message.  I meet the members of the ward in my new sector yesterday at church.  We also have a baptism coming up.  I get to confirm and will need to practice the words for that.  Speaking of language it is coming great and I’m told that I don’t have a gringo accent anymore.  That’s really great.  Thanks everyone for your support!

Some Pictures

I am a Chileno

This week has been long, I got sick.  I also had to wait a few hours in lines for a card that says I am a Chileno and nobody is really listening to us.  We did service on a farm in the middle of nowhere.  We dug holes in the very wet mud.  We have found a for sure baptism.  Francisco is his name and he wants to be baptized; but first he wants to know for himself if the Church is true, not because his family is all members.  The week has been full of thinking and recovering.  I still love the work and will try to remember more to write next week, because I just can’t remember anything right now....

New companion and baptisms

We had transfer and I am staying.  My new companion is Elder Robustelli, he is from Argentina and knows no English....so I hope we can communicate well enough.  Also, I have to lead the sector for a bit.  I’m excited, but just worried about understanding each other and all that.   There is a lot of change for me right now but I know it will all help me grow.  We had two baptisms yesterday and it was awesome.  I felt the spirit so strong; there are really no words to describe what I felt but pure joy and happiness.  Natali and

Fransisca, are the two young mothers we have been helping getting to baptism. The mission is just wonderful; the happy times go by to fast.  Thanks for all the emails and letters, I love you all.

Another short note

Well this week has been fun; we meet some deaf people and are learning sign language from them and the spirit is definitely helping us.  We have two baptisms that will we be this next Sunday and I am so excited for them and can’t wait.  The weeks here pass by so fast I feel like I just had a p-day.  I love it here and just find joy out of trials and all that I am learning.  Thanks for all you all do for me and read what I write.  This mission is just great and sharing the gospel is even better.

I gave my first talk

Well umm this week has been really chill and mellow.  My Espanola grows little by little and I love learning and plan to be a Chilean in two years.  Time flies by as we teach people.  We have two very likely baptisms coming up.  My companion is still Elder Metcalf and we have become great friends and I love working with him.  The best story I have is I gave a talk in church Sunday.  Everyone loved it and actually understood me.  It is funny people will be so happy when I actually talk.  So yeah go find out what a pan amosado is and make one they are really, really good!

Doing great

Well it’s been a while and plenty has happened, my gift of tongues comes little by little, but I go with faith and have had the Lord fill my mouth.  I have found obedience is everything, and know that people think following rules is boring but I have found the most joy and love working.  In contrast to what I thought was joy this is a lot better.  God just gives us rules to make us happy.  I am doing great and have 6 people with a baptismal date and have some wonderful families who are just great.  One doesn’t wait for us to ask to pray and in fact they asked first, and give very heartfelt prayers.  Also I have learned a lot in growing up.  Here in the mission you have to take care of yourself and I have develop skills for cooking, and just plain living. entonces eso yo soy animado para trabajar y amo la mision es super pulento! Chaio

1st baptism

This past week we had a baptism!  Her name is Ingrid.  Her baptism was delayed some but eventually did get baptized.  Hopefully her husband Oswaldo will be next.  The difference when someone is baptized is amazing; they look and act so much happier. That’s why I am here.  For my Spanish, I got to see the progress I have made.  I went to a meeting with all the new missionaries—those who came with me—and they kept saying my Spanish was really great.  They were just amazed at the difference.  I understood our Mission President when he spoke to us, so I know I have a grip on Spanish; next will be Chilean.  A funny experience was last night when a drunk man had us come to his house.  We got there and his lady explained that he wanted to stop drinking.  As Elder Metcalf and she talked, Sergio wanted to show me his pictures "mira mira!" (look, look) he would say and tell about the person in the picture, he was just super funny and friendly.  That’s what Chile is like.

Happy all the time

I am doing great; the joy I feel here is amazing.  I just feel happy all
the time.  We have a couple of families that are awesome, and I hope
they are baptized.  I have felt the spirit so strong; one time in the home of the Duran Guzman family, I just gave my testimony.  I felt so
warm and about cried and could tell they felt the spirit. And I did it
all in almost fluent Spanish; I didn’t think just spoke.  Everything is
great, we are at centro today for p-day and are going to get me some
ties and take a few pictures of the Andes.
 I had my first empanada and they are sooo good here, I love the food
they have here.  The people here are good at using very little; all
have the handyman do it yourself attitude that I really have come to
admire.  We meet a man who had a head, but he goes to work all the same.  At home all
he has is himself and a few tapes to listen to.  I actually gave him a
blessing, not of health, but just did my best to help his spirit.  We
stopped by again to just tell him he’s a great person and we care about
him.  People here are very strong in faith, but they don’t act on it
enough.  I just love the people all the same, but I really need to
work on showing it.  Lessons are going great, my Spanish improves little and I
am doing fine.

Keeper and Milagro

This week was very slow.  I moved into a new house that is very cold—always—but we have found a few ways to make it warmer by plugging holes with blankets and things.  I have found a little talent for fútbol in the field of a goalie.  Today we have a zone activity and the Latins said I did pretty good, and made some good saves.  Well my investigators took a dive these past couple weeks by not reading and the like, but we had a milagro (miracle) this Sunday. One is getting baptized next Saturday! and the only thing that was in her way was her husband.  He had threatened her if she kept doing the Mormon thing he would hurt their child, but now he will be taking the lessons!  This work is true and I see the Lord in it all because it is truly his work. I love Chile and love making mistakes in the language.

I love it out here.

Hola

This week has been crazy.  We have 14 investigators and we visit a lot of people as well.  There really is not a whole lot of walking.  I like teaching even though I hardly say anything; but I can talk to someone now and ask if we can share with them for 5 minutes. The other day we knocked on a house and the man came out looking really mad.  He said Elder meant teacher and that teachers are perfect.  I tried talking to him and I am pretty sure he wanted to hit me.  Its great when some people say, “Oh, we’re Christian or Catholic or something and then say we believe in Christ.  I say that’s awesome so do I.”  We have a baptism next Saturday and the woman is super excited.  She is just getting hit with every trial and even had a scary dream about a man in black chasing her.  I know that this is the real church and someone does not want her to be baptized.  I know that I am not perfect but was set apart to go and preach the gospel as a representative of JesuCristo. I love it out here—maybe not all the time—but it’s the best place to be.

Pictures

New friends, people and dogs

Well this week has been full, we teach a lot and visit lots of in-active members, so my feet are just fine.  I always meet new friends whether they are people or dogs—mostly dogs.  Today I helped members with a service project.  I dug holes for a fence and even got to weld.  It was out in the middle of nowhere.  The lunch was good with a lot of meat that was really good. I’ll wake up to a little frost on the window and will slide into my hoody and hat, that I have acquired from the feria.  I am adjusting alright but the stress is there, which leaves during the night, because apparently I talk in my sleep a lot.  I find an interesting spirit here, even though it’s the same probably just a different culture.  I have hard times and great times but always remember the great times, even if it’s just the feelings.  I love serving and working because it brings happiness. This is why I am here to share that with others.  Elder Shelley

I have arrived! Culture shock!

Well, my first week here and it’s been a culture shock.  I saw a man chase someone with a machete and there is a dog per person. I love it though.  It is the best thing I have done in my life; coming on a mission. I struggle with the language, but the people are super patient and friendly. We have a baptism date with an investigator and hope he keeps it. My companion is great at teaching and a great teacher for me.  He is already my friend and I learn a lot from him.  His name is Elder Metcalf and he is from Utah as well as me. I work all day and easily fall asleep at night, we teach a lot and my input grows little by little. I live in the slums—really; every house is little and has a high fence with spikes at the top, no lawns, no trees, just little plants maybe. It gets cold and foggy, but it is winter.  I will see what it’s like in the summer time. Basically I love being on a mission even though it is super hard and frustrating at times. A lot happens each day.  See you next week.
Elder Shelley

Anxious for Chile

Well another week already has come and gone soon  will be out in the sun in chile. I learn then teach and learn some more. my zone is great we all geta long just fine. my spanish is coming little by little but I am nowhere close to good. I think the best thing here is the people, again I know, but I have made graet frinds and love beingaround good people all the time. Nothing to exciting this week I am just waiting to go now really, so see ya next week I am actuallyoutta time.

The Book of Mormon is true

Well this week was a fun week, everyday we learn and teach. I actually teach real people in Spanish!  I’m not so much as nervous now, but anxious when I do teach.  While I write I wonder who reads this, and who knows really, but I thank you for reading anyways.  The days here feel almost short to me, at the end of the day I want to do more.  I enjoy teaching more than...well anything!  There is personal study for me and I am proud to say I have read the Book of Mormon and know for a fact that it is true.  I receive revelation all the time and realize there is a lot to learn and never enough time to do so.  I love this gospel and everything the church brings.

If you don’t know, my companion's name is Elder Hart; he is a good person.  He is very dedicated in the work and keeps me in line.  We teach rather well together and work off each other well also, but we still need to get a long a little better. My President says this is marriage prep, so it appears men really aren’t as good and mature as women.

I love it here.  I love the work.  Everyone is a good person and wants to be here.  I work all day and sleep all night.  See ya'll next week

Another great week in the MTC

This week has been great.  It has been the same most everyday, I learn Spanish, better ways to teach and become closer to the spirit each time I fall on my face. We wake up, walk to class eat, class, teach, eat, learn and walk some more.  I feel the spirit with me all the time and know I couldn’t do what I have been doing without it. To scare everyone, in Chile (where I am going) it’s the poorest place in the country and so slightly dangerous. 14 year old kids have guns to "protect" their territory so I might experience that.  I am told to have some cash so when if I get mugged I have something for them. But I know I will be protected and just fine because I have the Lord on my side.  With the strength of our Lord we can do all things. Thank you all for your support and prayers I know I am doing the Lord’s work.  Chao Elder Erik Shelley

3 weeks into the journey

Hello everyone,

I've gone 3 weeks into my journey and I have learned a lot.  Each day is starting to feel the same as we teach and learn.  My language grows little everyday, while my spiritual progress has skyrocketed.  I draw closer and closer to my Heavenly Father everyday and my testimony grows so much.  The second day here we taught an "investigator" in Spanish!  I hardly said anything, but now when I teach I can usually get my point across. My companion is a high school jock.  He is also from Utah and we get along great, we learn together and teach together. I would have to say one thing I struggle with is waking up, everyday at 6:30! but I am getting used to it.  I have learned that everything I need will come in time and I just have to be diligent.  I also have learned that learning Spanish has affected my spelling in English. I am finding that the language is a very personal language and I like it more then English! Lots happens everyday, I'm not sure what to write, but I know who reads this cares for me and know I feel your prayers helping me along with the spirit. Thanks you all and I'll make sure not to wait 3 weeks before my next blog entry.

2 days in

Hola Familiares y amigos,

It is going well and I'm learning a lot; though it is all hard to keep up with.  Yesterday I taught a lesson in Spanish, which did not go so well because I hardly know any at all.  I feel like I want to go home at times but then I think why I'm here or just forget about it because I get to work.  Adjusting to waking up at 6:30 am is proving difficult for me, I'm tired until our gym break, and then I wake up. My companion is great, he is a really good kid, but I'm still shy and need to talk more.  Everyone in my room is an athlete and I'm the nerd, but we get along. The work is hard and the days so far are long, but I have grown so much in these past few days.  Everyone in my district is great people and I really respect them. My p-day is on Fridays, sometime in the morning. So much change in just a couple of days I don’t know what to say. I'm trying to develop good study habits and read my scriptures everyday. I have honestly not prayed as much and as hard ever in my life. But I know the Lord is helping me and He is the only reason I lasted as long as I have. I think the spirit I feel from my companion and district, the teachers, my family and the Holy Ghost are what keep me going.  My testimony grows stronger each minute. The lesson I taught was really humbling, by showing me I have lots to learn. The other elders in my building may be the same age but they are much older in the spirit and help us greenies out a lot.  In our building it is a tradition to give everyone a hug before bed which really brings us together.