Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Week 64 - Conference with Elder Nelson


November 17, 2014


Hey guys it's been a really interesting week.  We really haven't had too much time to work because we've just been getting ready for the branch conference and as secretaries that meant that we did practically everything but we still had a blast. 

Monday we stayed in Fresia, which meant getting the tithing in and cleaning the house.  Afterwards we went out and taught Claudia which was pretty awesome because after we talked about the scripture we had left her and invited her to be baptized, we forgot to give her another chapter to read. Luckily she stopped us before we got to the door to ask us for another one, it was awesome! 

Tuesday we didn't really do much.  We spent most of the morning trying to fix the internet in the chapel and packing our bags, because the zone leaders called to tell me that we wouldn't be having district meetings but that Elder Thomas and I would be going back to do splits with the Presidente Ibañez elders! So at 4 we left for Puerto Montt and got to the chapel at about 7-8ish and from there went out to visit my converts and investigators.  Unfortunately, Jonathan was in Santiago but luckily I found Marcelo and was able to talk to J. It was really sad to see J. The missionaries had dropped him in the 3 weeks I had been gone so he hadn't read, prayed, and worse was doing drugs again.  I gave some palos and tried to get him back on his feet but still it was really discouraging to see someone with such a strong testimony fall that hard. Afterwards we went to the house and Carlitos who had gotten his endowments showed up at the house at about 10 to visit.  He's doing great and is really excited to go out on his mission.

Wednesday was the conference with Elder Nelson. We woke up at 4 am and got to the bus station at about 5:30. I ended up sleeping the first 10 minutes and then my comp decided to give his seat to a drunk... it was an interesting lesson, he tried to convince me he was an angel and then told me he was going to hell. He eventually got off just before Osorno, and I just died laughing! Teaching a drunk with 80 other missionaries was just not the kind of experience I thought I would get on the mission. As for the conference it was absolutely amazing. First, Elder Viña and his wife spoke and then Elder Nelson's wife spoke, it was a really amazing lesson about Schindler's list and how we should never need to tell ourselves I could have helped one more if I had used my time wisely. Elder Nelson was actually a lot funnier than I ever could of thought (which was great after the Schindler's list lesson) and after a few laughs, he then flooded the room with the Spirit and testified of the importance of following up with our converts and never leaving them. In the end he decided to give an apostolic blessing to all of our familiy members. 

Afterwards I visited with the Biggs for quite a while and asked Elder Barney about Punta Arenas. Jimmy and Macarena got baptized and Elder Biggs finally ended up losing his tooth from the rock he found in his burrito from way back when. We came home and went out with Presidente Paillan to invite menos activos to the branch conference.


Thursday we had weekly planning, went to lunch and then washed and peeled potatoes for the branch dinner on Friday.  Thursday we also had an amazing lesson with Claudia and then set up for the "fashion show" for the relief society.

Friday was all spent prepping for the dinner and inviting people to the dinner. It was great, we just had way too much food for 10 people.


Sunday was amazing. Elder Wilhelm of the 70 decided to randomly pop in and preside and Presidente Obeso thought that he was one of the members and was just joking with him...funny stuff! In all seriousness, the talks were absolutely amazing and it was great to hear Elder Wilhelm talk about when he came down to open Fresia as a branch as one of the counselors of the Osorno mission, and how excited he was to see us growing and the vision he had of what we would become.

Well guys, a lot is going on I just have way too little time to write it all down. I love you all, have a great week!


Elder Washburn

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