Hey.

Things are going alright.  

There are sisters in the ward now.  Now we're 4 elders and 2 sisters all sharing this little ward.  The area isn't very big and it's got a good amount of "red zones" (off limits - too dangerous).

My comp is pretty reserved and doesn't talk much.  I basically take the lead in everything.  But it's okay because, at this point, I have enough basic knowledge of how to be a missionary, ha!

Sorry not too much time.  I was too worried about the pics.  Later

Elder Chase

We finally get to see how Elder Chase is living.  Here are some pictures of his house in Cuidad Modelo:

Hey!

Here with my new comp Elder T..  Hes' from Veracruz, Mexico.  He has about 6 months in the mish.  He's pretty quiet, which is the opposite of Elder C.

We found a pretty legit family that we helped to move and now we are teaching them.  They came to church on Sunday and we are gonna try to get them to commit to baptism tonight.  Wish us luck, haha.

Mostly we're trying to get the ward to do things like family nights where they invite us and their friends over to their house and we all get to know each other and then we play some games and do some magic tricks to try to get them to laugh a bit.  Then we have a spiritual thought and usually a video.

Pero sí vamos adelante aquí .  Hemos encontrado algunas personas buenas y estamos trabajando para que se bauticen.  Nos vemos.

Élder Chase

Another week here in (Ciudad Modelo) model city.  We recieved the transfer info yesterday. Elder C. is leaving for Jamundi, a city about 30 mins outside of Cali.  The only thing I know about my new comp is his name is Elder T., he's from Mexico and I think he's got a little less time in the mission than I do.  

They're  also sending two sister missionaries to the ward.

We're really having a hard time getting people to come to church. The whole world here is asleep on Sundays until like 11:00.  The only investigator we have is a 9 year old kid named Andrés.  He wants to get baptized, but his mom thinks its too fast.  She's never been able to come to the church because she works and we're trying to get here to let him be baptized.

Just trying to stay obedient. The mission is having a real problem with disobedience right now.  Some pretty crazy stuff has happened, even up to the office.  But I'm just trying to work hard and stay busy.  Because when you do that, there's really no time to be disobedient.

This Wednesday I should meet my comp.  I'm just trying to help spark some activity in the missionary work here. It hasn't been easy, but were trying.  

Realmente no ha sido muy fácil en estosdías pero nos estamos esforsando por ayudar a la gente aquí.  Sigamos adelante

Elder Chase

Hey

We played a lot of fútbol today.  I'm proud to say I've gotten a lot better since the beginning of my mission.  I'm pretty sore though.

The work is going pretty slow.  We're really trying to get the members involved, but this ward has always had a tradition of not being super involved in the work. The converts they have had recently are almost all inactive.  Were just trying to do everything we can.   This is the last week before transfers.  I don't think I'm going anywhere, but they might send two more missionaries to the ward because there are a lot of new missionaries showing up in the mission.  If that happens, I probably won't be with Elder C. anymore.  I might not even stay in the same area even though I'll be in the same ward.

Pero todo bien vamos adelante, Esperamos poder ver los frutos de todo nuestro trabajo aquí pero de todas maneras eso no es  la cosa más importante.  Nos vemos en 14

Hey,

First off, Happy Birthday Mom!

Another week here in ciudad modelo.  Things are slow but were doing everything we can.

I was gonna bring the talk, but I don't have enough cash on me to scan and send it right now.  Sorry.

It was a tough week.  We really tried with the people we have to get them to come to church, but even though everything seemed perfect, when Sunday came, things fell apart and the people couldn't go.  At least we've been able to help reactivate some who have been less active in the church. 

10 months in the mish...yeah.

Anyways, just trying to help the people here anyway I can.  Including my companion, who's having a hard time.  

La misión es la mejor. 

Later/love,

Elder Chase  

Hey

So last week was pretty legit. Elder Bednar spoke to the mission. It was way legit. I learned a lot of stuff. He reminded us that we are never the teachers. The Spirit is always the teacher. He also talked about how when you ask questions, you never want to play "guess whats in my head." Basically, any question that already has a specific answer isn't a good question. He also taught a good exercise to help if you want to learn more about something or really move something from your head to your heart. You should take a paperback copy of the Book of Mormon and read it cover to cover marking and writing in the margin every time it covers a specific topic like the atonement, repentance, forgiveness etc. He said if you do that, by the end of your life you should have a bookshelf full of Book of Mormons. He said you can do it on the same topic more than once, but do it without reading your notes from the first time. When you finish, you can write about what you learned in a one page summary inside the front cover of the book. On the spine of the book, you write the subject, Atonement 1, atonement 2, forgiveness 1, etc. He also said he never lets anyone read his, because that defeats the purpose of helping people learn for themselves. Every time his kids ask to read them he says "no," they have to do it. And they asked, "what about when you die?" and he was like"I will burn them all before I die (joke)" haha. But his testimony at the end, dang son! it was pretty legit! Look for his talk called "Learning and Faith" in like 2006 or something like that. That's basically what he taught us. At the end, I got to shake his hand. It was sick!

Elder C. and I are doing well. I found out that part of my assignment here is to set a good example for my companion. We're trying to do everything we can to turn things around. We've found a few good investigators.

El sábado pasado fue chévere es probable que yo jamás tenga una oportunidad así. Vamos adelante como siempre. Nos vemos en catorce.

Élder Chase

Elder Chumacero

Elder W. and Elder D.

A parade outside of their apartment - at 8:00AM!

Hey!

Another week here in Ciudad Modelo. Sorry I haven't really had a whole lot of time to take pictures. I didn't bring my camera this time but I'll send some next week.

We had two investigators come to church last week. They are Caterine and Maria F. or "Mafer." They have been to Buenaventura a bunch and their mom is from there, which is pretty sweet. I've been meeting a bunch of people who are from there.

Elder D. and I were asked to give talks last Sunday on missionary work. The ward mission leader here is the bishop's son, who just got back from his mission in Peru about two months ago. He told me to "light into" the ward a little bit, but with love. Next week I'll bring the talk and scan it and send it. I basically told them that fear comes from Satan and that the only way we can get rid of it (fear) and share the gospel is by replacing it with love as seen in Moroni 8:16 - "Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having ^aauthority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for ^bperfect ^clove ^dcasteth out all fear."

We're really just trying to help the ward here. I've never been a big fan of knocking on doors. Not just because it's boring and has a low chance of success, but I know if I was at home and two people wanted to bother me, I'd be annoyed...haha. We're really trying to work with the members here and get their trust.

I know the letters haven't been very detailed. I'll try to work on that. It's hard when you only get an hour to read and respond.

Pero todavía vamos adelante. Me he dado cuenta de que los miembros realmente determinan como va la obra en cualquier area. Entonces, sigan adelante con la obra. Nos vemos

Elder Chase