But if you buy two completos*

*References this Kid History episode (#3) about Chilean missionaries.

completo

Turns out, it´s really only two dollars because completos are a thing and actually just Chilean hot dogs! and YOU CAN HAVE ONE, TOO! Steps include boiling your hot dog, toasting the bun, putting diced tomato and mashed avocado on said hot dog and toasted bun, and topping with mayo, mustard, and ketchup. Not too bad, all said. Photo included for those who are visual learners. (booo. The computer here can´t read my images. I´ll send the photo next week. Or y'all can just look it up. Sorry. Hurray for Chilean technology!)

Here are the highlights from the week:

-BUT I had my first Completo!

-We went to Concepción, like the city part of our mission, and it´s super cool! Ya. Also the temple is almost done. Right now they have a cardboard Moroni as a place holder for the real one, which arrived in September, but is waiting in it´s coffin box until the tower part is finished.

-We stayed in the mission home Thursday night for district conference Friday. As the say here in Chile, it was super quico (pronounced qwik-o with the pinky extended like a princess).  They even had an upright piano and carpet.... which is kind of like our house right now..... People. I´m here to tell you life is different on the other side. God is good. America is free. Love it. LoooOOOVE. iiiIIIIT. (Teeth barred, fists shook). :)

- We celebrated the cumpleaños of our Hermana Chavez and had some cake stuff! pretty good! The food here is really good. Very fresh. Very a lot of it. So much. I´m going to be really fat. Because you have to eat all of it. To show your gratitude to the members. With which we eat every. single. day. So generous. I´m going to have to roll to appointments at the end of my mission.

- And the part everyone was waiting for. TAAAKE ME TO CHUURCH. it´s a song. you could look it up, but I can´t recommend it because I´m kind of a missionary right now. We did go to church with the Evangelics. How was it? In a word: Loud. Really loud. It was like a rock concert, but with more children. There was all sorts of wild demonstrations. If I had to sum up the whole experience, I would say a lot of noise because they sang songs the whole time and yelled and their live band (who wasn't actually that bad) played fast and loud and there really wasn't a lot of teaching, or learning, or worship. There was a lot of recognition and awards for the members and especially the pastors and even a song about how their church was so true and the other churches were Satan´s armies....(Alma ch 28??) Pretty wild stuff. Hermana Bazaes was very, very shocked.
I know for sure that the spirit wasn't there because it was so darn loud. While we were standing there in the noise, I had the distinct thought that if the Savior were to have walked into the room, it would have become very quiet very fast, and so what I learned was that we need quiet moments in order to feel the spirit. We need to be still and listen. Also, I´m super grateful for the truth that we have in our church. A lot of wild and confusing things happened in their service, and I´m encourage y'all to take a quiet moment and reflect on the truths of the gospel that have blessed your life.
Then call the missionaries and work with them or something, i dunno, do what you want if you live in America.

-Now that we are more familiar with what the evangelical family believes, we are excited to work with them and ask them questions that might stimulate some thought and reflection about our gospel and their own beliefs. Anyways. That was a lot of words.

Rull quick second spiritual thought: In 1 Nefi 8:5-6 I was thinking, who is this man in white that Lehi doesn´t recognize? And this is what I noticed: the man asks Lehi to follow him to the Tree of Life. Who else asks us to follow him to receive the joy of the gospel in its fullness? Definitely Christ. (See any part of the New Testament.) I dunno, but I would not be surprised if In his dream Lehi saw Christ. But what do you think? Am I accidentally blaspheming? If so, let me know before I make it worse.

Maybe you should take a break, or go outside or something, or read the letter of the Other Hermana Baer. It´s pretty good.
But don´t take just my word for it... Check it out!! (Reading Rainbow maybe?)

 --Hermana Baer

With Hermana Saunders at the Mission home in Concepción

District Conference

Take anything you want! Spare me my life!*

*References this Japanese video teaching English through exercise.

 
Subject because this week while we were contacting in the street, we were approached by a woman. She staggered up to us and in "English" asked us what time it was, who we were, and where we were from. I was halfway through a granola bar at the time of her approach, and in the middle of our "conversation" she looked down at my snack, and staggared forward with her hand outstretched and said, 'La mitad" or translated to something like "gimme the half." I was a little surprised and didn't really know what to do.... so I was like :])) Awkward double chin and I gave it to her. She ate the whole thing. We told her to have a nice day as we backed away slowly.... I was robbed of me dinner. Ah well. It was actually really funny.

I'm grateful that this is as close to danger as the Lord has let us come here in Curanilahue.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support.
Slowly, but surely the work here is pressing forward, and progress is being made. Like, this week, I told a joke and somebody got it. Hurray for miracles. :)

But really, we are meeting people who are being prepared by the Lord. One sweet old woman in particular comes to mind. We were contacting (or maybe just regular type lost) in a street yesterday, when we felt impressed to talk to this little Abuelita. We greeted her, and she asked if we were on our way to an appointment or if we could come to her house and visit with her! So we did. At her home, she told us she had been taking the discussions from some other missionaries and attending church, but they had stopped coming, and she could no longer walk the distance to church, and was there someone who could help her attend? She also said she wanted to be baptized. (!!!) Miracles I guess.

Now for the other highlight of the week.
Yesterday, we contacted a house, and to our surprise we were invited in by the woman. We spoke with her, her husband and his mother, who are all supes Evangelical. They were surprised to learn that we believe in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. We talked more about religion and families, and, turns out, the Evangelics don't believe in Eternal Families - very sad, lonely doctrine if you ask me. Anyways, at the end of the discussion, we asked if we could come back and talk more. They were very hesitant, until Hermana Bazaes asked about when they attend their service. I'm not really sure what happened, but turns out I guess we're going to their Church with them next Sunday night and now we have more appointments with them. So.... There is also that.

Yah.

Ah, in case you were wondering, we have lunch with members Everyday. The menu (usually) follows this format:
1. a salad and maybe some soup depending on the weather with some juice
2. A main course, almost always with potatoes and rice and assorted meats.
3. a dessert - usually flan or jello or a little bit of cake.

Overall the food is super great. It's very fresh and really not that strange......... so far.

Thanks for everyone's support, prayers, and faith.
We'll see you all real soon! :)
-Hermana Baer

here is a photo of Curanilahue. This is one of the many big hills here. I'm working on more...

You're die :)

Subject is what Hna Bazaes always says to me when I speak in English like a Native kind of like: chu know it, wjhat I say?

WOOT 2 months down, only 16 to go.

Hey. This week guess what we did? Ya. We contacted a ful. All day ereday.

We're working with our investigator, Juan, but it´s rough I tells ya. Everyone knows that he´s taking the lessons for his polola, (girlfriend) who is super amazing and super strong in her testimony of the Gospel, and we don't know really how to help him understand the importance of keeping commitments and having his own desire to actively participate in the Gospel. But that's the agency, I suppose. We have faith that we will find people who are ready and waiting to receive the good news of the Gospel.

Highlight from the week. When I was feeling discouraged becuse we didn't have anyone to teach, I prayed that we might have the opportunity to find someone who needed our help, someone we could serve and maybe share with. That same day, we came across Emma, a super sweet Abuelita who we offered to help with some household chores. She was really glad to let us help her and also, I think, have someone to talk to about her family, which is really struggling. We shared with her 3 Nephi 17:7 about Christ healing people, and especially healing our hearts, and offered to come by and talk and help another day. She wasn't too sure, and I'm not sure we'll see her again, but I really needed that opportunity to serve and feel like we were at least helping someone. Yeah so turns out, I guess prayers are answered or whatever. God lives, peeps.

Hey, quick question for y'all. I was thinking about Jesus Christ as the Perfect Missionary, and wondered, why didn't Christ ever Baptise anyone? I think it's because it was the responsiblity of John the Baptist, but also, I think that Christ was the perfect example of selfless service. Numbers during missionary work are important, but more important is the desire of the missionaries to serve and invite people through their words and example. But what do you think?

Until Next time.

Photos? Maybe...

Chile from the Air

The View of Curanilahue from my window

yah, I'll try to take a photo of Curanilahue, but we will see what happens... it's a wee bit peligroso to carry a camera if ya know what i mean.

I'm gonna need a sign that you're understanding me

I've got the swirly eyes from Fantastic Mr. Fox here, and I make the arm signal.

Hey. Things are really different here. Like. Woah. Also. I don't understand anything. woohoo!

Because this area is huge and there is only one sort of investigator, we spend most of the day contacting on the street. Curanilahue is a MASSIVE little town. It's very densely populated and surrounded by little mountain forests. The people here don't have much, so I'm very humbled by how generous the members here are.

Here are some highlights from this week:

1. One time we were mistaken for beggars. A very sweet and confused old lady tried to give us some money. Of course we declined, and instead offered to give her the message of the gospel.

2. I dunno about the Evangelicals where you live, but here they are on the prowl for Mormons to fight with. They do love their Bible. Most of the population here is Evangelic. It's a real treat for us.

3. We had intercambios or splits for greenies like me, and I worked with H. Rocha the Brazilian. She's super fabulous and I really love to spend time with her and learned an awful lot in the brief 3 hours we had together.

4. Hey more contacting. We love knockin' doors.

5. Return and report with all the new missionaries in the mission office. I got to see Hermana Ellis and it was really nice to see a familiar face. I hope she's doing well because she deserves it!

Uhkay.. Sorry there are no pics again.... I make a promise to send photos next week.

Mom: Evangelicals? I pictured mostly Catholics. Not so much Cattolica? What do you do on P-days? Can you share just a little more about your apartment, your food, and stuff.  

Noelle: We live right across from the Bombadores like the fire department and they have the most wonderful siren they love to use at random hours of the day and night. Imagine the blitz sirens for bomb raids. Right outside our window. We are grateful for their service at all hours.
I have only met one Catholic to date. Everyone else is evangelical. REALLY EVANGELICAL. 
P'days we write and buy what we need for the week then.... H. Bazaes sleeps then we contact. I don't know what other people do, but I'm sure there will be a day when we can do something fun.
We really have to run. I miss y’all tons.

Curanilahue

Natural pool of Curanilahue

Fake it till ya break it

¡Hola Todo!

We are safe and arrived in Chile last Tuesday.
 I{m so sorry for all the mistakes I{m gonna make, but this keyboard is more foreign to me than the moon. Sorry again. Imma do my most best.

Hey, guess what? It's a bit chilly in Chile. Whoda thunk... It's just now spring here, so it rains a lot and hasn't yet been above 60 F. :) But no worries. It could be worse. I've heard it's snowing in Utah. 

OKAY SO...we left the CCM Monday at 4:30 PM, took an all-night flight to Santiago, then from there flew an hour to Concepción. We were greeted by several missionaries and the president. We then traveled to the mission home - which is basically an enormous and beautiful hotel close to the temple. We had lunch, and wrote home - as you probably know - then traveled to the mission office to receive areas and companions.

Chile looks like a mashup of many different places - it's got the planning/structure of a South American country, superimposed over the coastline of the American northwest, with the slightest flavor of European in the buildings, you have imagined Chile.

The Language is....... not really Spanish. In Mexico I could understand or at least follow reasonably well, but here it's altogether different. THIS IS NOT THE LANGUAGE I LEARNED IN THE MTC. But it's okay. I'm guessing it's like the American equivalent of a strong Boston or Deep Southern accent - which would be confusing to learn. And it is. It kinda sounds Italian to me, but hey, who knows. Check it out.

ANYWHOO....we got to the mission office and got new comps and areas. Herman Ellis and I said goodbye, then we all rushed to catch our buses. Right now I'm working with Hna Bazaes, H, Chavez, y H Rocha (of Bolivia and Brazil, respectively) in the Area of CURANILAHUE (Coor an ill law way :) This area is HUGE. Also, It's a white wash, so we all kind of get a new beginning here. We spend most of the day contacting because...... there aren't any new investigators. Good news! There are a buttload of menos activos. Bad news: no one knows where they live. :) What a treat. We are really getting to know the area.

Hna Bazaes is la Mejor - the best! She's from Santiago, and so is teaching me how to speak like a native. And she even speaks a little English! Yay! She'll probably be studying Law at BYU in about 6 months, so, watch for that.

Conference was great. I even got my own private viewing in English - all the rest of the RAMA /branch sat in the chapel and I sat in the Overflow with my own TV and headphones and waved at everyone else. So fun. What an experience.

Even though I never really know what's going on or what anyone is saying, I'm glad to know that I don't need to worry too much because I am exactly where I need to be. Anyone who is serving or working for the Lord can also be comfortably clueless. No worries.

OKAY I GOT NO TIME AND I CAN'T WRITE WELL ON THIS

Ciao!

Photos: I dunno the order but here:
- CHILE from the air
- View from our window
- Temple??
[Mom's note: we only got the temple photo in her email. Hope to receive and add the others soon.]