Oct 29th

Hello Friends and Family!

 

How´s everyone doing? Well this week was a lot better than the last... Didn´t have to deal with any drunks. All around it was a good week. Glad you all thought it was funny a drunk guy tried to fight with me. Thanks guys...

 

First off HAPPY BIRTHDAY AINSLEY!!! I LOVE YOU!! Hope you have a great birthday. Tell mom and dad they need to do COMPLETOS this year for Halloween. Tell them they need normal hot dogs with palta (avocado) tomatoes, ketchup, mustard, and mayo.

 

Well it´s sad that football is over. Tell Ethan He´s gotta send some film clips to some colleges to see if anyone offers.

 

So... I had a feeling I had to pass by the family of the drunk guy... We ended up passing by the drunk guys family. They let us in... we sat down and started teaching them. Meanwhile my comp looks on the book shelf and sees something, He asks if they are members... EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, except for the drunk that kicked me was a member and baptized. We were kind of bummed that every single one of them were members and weren´t coming to church.

 

This week we had a meeting with our mission leader and off course he had more to complain about. He told us about 20 things we were doing wrong. I´ve just let it go in one ear and out the other. It´s ridiculous. We are the only Elders to Baptize in this little town in over 8 months. I´m doing the best I can working with a comp that is basically a roller coaster of emotion, stupid dog that follows us everywhere, with little support from members. He was getting mad because I guess at one point we both had our hands in our pockets. He told us we had to sit straight the whole three hours we were in church and we needed to shine our shoes. The stuff he was saying was just stupid stuff to lecture us. Luckily he wasn´t here for our baptism on Saturday. He has a son in Brazil right now and he said if he knew that his son was doing the stuff we were doing he´d smack him. He said that everyday he sends his son an email of something he has to do. SHINE YOUR SHOES, Cut your hair, stuff like that. I´m glad I have the parents I have. He is just ridiculous. . I guess the whole branch has had problems with him and his family. They are all the same. I asked the BP if we could swap him for one of the returned missionaries and he said he couldn't. I guess when they moved here he told the Stake President he had to be president because he was the only married and endowed member here. I guess that didn´t go over very well with them. I guess he has to be in some kind of Leadership position.

 

This week we had a futból activity and we played against some friends of a member. They were all 18-20 years old. It was really funny because they were all decked out in there soccer clothes and shoes and were all doing crazy tricks with the ball. My comp, a couple of members and I played against all of them. I learned I had been playing the wrong sports in high School. I should´ve played soccer. I had 3 goals and an assist. It was really funny because my comp is horrible at soccer. (funny how that happens, I always end up with the Latins that don´t like sports our like them but are horrible) It was really funny because he was on the right side of the court and I was on the left. I stole the ball from a kid and ran down the court on the left side. Last second before going out of bounds, I kick the ball to the right, Basically smacks my comps foot and goes in. Basically my goal cuz my comp didn´t really do anything but we all went crazy like it was his goal. It was really fun. I think when I´m home I´m gonna make goals out of PVC and teach the young men in the ward how to play Baby or Futsal. It is so much fun.

 

Saturday we had another baptism. We baptized a kid named David. He´s the best friend/neighbor of a member and is awesome. We purposely didn´t call him the past couple of weeks to invite him to church to see if he would come. He ended up calling us asking if we were going to church. I just hope he stays active. I´m sick of people judging our converts. Everyone keeps telling us that he doesn´t have any support from his family and that he´s gonna lose motivation to go to church. It doesn´t matter who we baptize and how awesome they are. People still complain about the converts.

 

 

I will have to send some pictures of the package she sent me. And yes she does right every week. Unlike others... She´s seen my Facebook so I have no idea... She´s in her Senior year. She´s wanting to serve a mission now though... hahah so yeah.

Well,

What a week

Hello Friends and Family!

Well this week was really all over the place. I don`t know whether to count it as a good week or a bad week. There was all sorts of stuff happening. 

First off tell Ethan he is a beast. That is so cool that he was on TV. Tell him To keep doing work and to prepare for his mission.

Well we had our baptism on Monday and Daniela was really excited. Her family was really excited also. We had the baptism so we didn`t have much time to leave and teach. Our ZL`s ended up coming to the baptism and they were really happy about the work we are doing here.

Wed we ended up having interviews with the MP. It was a completely different interview from the last time. He was really happy and had the biggest smile on his face. He was really excited about what we have been doing. He asked me how I was doing and how I was feeling about the success we have had. He said that he had given me a chance to step up and he said I took a huge step up. He said the sector was close to being completely dead and I have flipped the sector around. He was really excited for us and the success we were having. 

After interviews we asked the Asistontos if there was any mail... We went to the truck and we looked around for a minute and couldn`t find anything with my name on it. Then as we are getting ready to leave he yells oh wait here`s one. He threw me a little package that had my name on it. Guess what it was... The package from Kelsi the girl from Colorado. I really didn`t think she was gonna send me something. I waited until we got home to open it. When we got home, we opened it to find about 8 wrapped presents inside with a letter and a picture. Each gift had a saying on it relating to what was inside. My comp was busting up laughing... Next thing I know he`s opening the letter with the picture on it. I was really surprised... She`s really cute. She sent me a Spiderman Yo-yo (I now have a batman and a spider man yo-yo) Stride gum, a tie, Twizzlers, gummy bears, a recipe book, and beef jerky. It was really kind of cool haha. My comp has not stopped talking about it. I think he was just as excited as I was.

Well, Friday after lunch my comp ended up getting sick and no one was able to stay with my comp so we could leave and go teach. I spent all  day long in the house. I was so bored. I had studied, watched finding faith in Christ, and the restoration video a couple times, cleaned, and just sat there. I was so bored. 

Saturday we finally were able to work and it was one of the worst days in my mission. We left lunch to teach a family. Got there, taught them and then left. We were close to another INV.. so we decided to go by and visit her and her family. We were outside her fence yelling ¨Ahlo¨ when her neighbor walked outside of her gate and told us she had just left. I asked her if she knew if she went to her moms house... She said she didn`t know... All of a sudden some short, little guy, that reached to about my chest comes walking out and starts screaming and swearing in Spanish. We had started to walk away and all of a sudden he runs, almost falling over, to get right in front of me. His hands and legs were all tore up and was bleeding. He gets right into my face and starts screaming that he`s gonna kill me. He grabs my shirt and raises his fist like he´s going to punch me. Then the neighbor pushes him and he lets go. She then says that we should leave. We start to walk away and he gets back up and starts running at us. We hadn`t realized that he had gotten up and started running at us. Next thing I know I feel a foot hit my butt. He literally ¨kicked my butt...¨ It was kind of funny. but he grabs my sleeve again and gets into my face, I shove him off and then his mom comes running out of a nearby house. She tries to grab him and get him to let go of my sleeve. The whole time I`ve got my hand in a fist ready to clock him. I`m really surprised I didn`t drop him right there in the middle of the street. Then his little sister that was about my age comes running out and drills him. It kind of looked like the picture you sent me of Ethan hitting the Lone Peak Quarterback. He falls back and smacks his head on the concrete harder than I have ever seen someone hit the ground. We didn`t want to leave because we weren`t sure if he was gonna fight back with his mom and sister. She tells us she`s fine and to just go ahead and leave. We left and later found out they ended up having to call the police to come get him. It was quite the experience. My comp had basically started to run when he first got into my face. I told him thanks for backing me up after we were walking away. he just kind of laughed and said He thought I had it under control.  We passed by on Sunday night to visit the family and the neighbor was like, ¨oh I`m so glad to see that you guys are fine, I thought you guys would never come by here again.¨ I thought it was kind of funny. She said my comp looked pretty shook up. I haven`t had anything like that happen in a long time so my adrenaline was sure pumping but I wasn`t really scared because I knew he had been drinking. The neighbor and the family said that he is constantly drunk and deals with alcoholism. 

Saturday not even 5 minutes after we walk away from the little drunk dude ,that for some reason wanted to kill me, We find the neighborhood GAY. He I guess has always had a thing for the Gringos and is always saying stuff to them as they walk by. He walks up to us and asks when we are gonna come visit him and his family (his family are members) We told him we would come by another day (yes I`m sorry I lied But I`m sure God will let this one go...)He shakes my hand really creepily and we walk away. Then we decided to go visit a member because supposedly her neighbor is a member with a couple kids that aren`t baptized. There one of the little kids beat me with a stick. By the time we left the house my elbow was swollen. It was kind of funny because the broom down here is the multi tool used to sweep, clean cars, mop, and beat kids. 

We then were walking to a lesson with a member. The RM that just got home. I have my little fanny pack looking bag that I use when It´s hot to put my scriptures in. Then another drunk guy in the streets walks up, puts his arm around me and asks how to say something in Spanish. I hadn`t realized it but he spilt a little beer on my bag. Luckily didn`t get my scriptures. Then we were on a corner talking to the member asking what we could have done better when a bird flies by dropping a little present on my shoulder. I was just about fed up by that time. We walked home and I had to end up cleaning everything. 

The ZL`s called last night and told me that I`m doing an awesome job here and that they got compliments from a couple people from the stake presidency. I guess I didn`t know but someone from the stake was in one of our sacrament meetings and they told the ZL`s that they couldn`t remember our names but the two short, small, really happy Elders in Coihueco are miracle workers. They called to tell me that multiple people noticed us when we went to watch conference and other people that had visited Coihueco were really impressed. I guess A lady in their ward said those to short elders in Coihueco just look so happy, They must be the worlds best missionaries. I thought it was really funny. We know that someone from the stake came yesterday, It was a good day to have him their because We had a total of 8 INV. In church. we had an attendance of 40 and 8 were INV´S.

Well this week we should have another baptism. His name is David. His mom told us the other day that she has no idea what we are teaching him or what he learns at church but he is really starting to be more obedient. She said she really likes it, she still doesn`t want anything to do with us but she`s happy about her son. 

This week we have been writing notes for INV`s and leaving them in random spots in their houses. It has been a lot of fun. We have received multiple phone calls after we leave saying they found our notes and were really happy. It has turned into a game. We try to find ways while we are teaching to hide notes in the house in random spots. It has been a lot of fun. 

I have gotten the Birthday cards from Gma and Gpa. Also the Cousins. Tell them all thanks. I am writing two letters for each set of Grandparents.

Yeah yeah yeah quit reminding me of how much time I have. goodness. It`s bad enough I get it from my comps.

The dog, is slowly starting to disappear. He still sleeps outside of our fence and he eats garbage. He attacked another dog the other day to steal a piece of bread it had in its mouth. It was really funny. My comp is even starting to get sick of him. The other day my comp (same comp that said we couldn`t drive it out to the campo and leave it there) kicked him and told him to go away. He is constantly walking in front of us. Don`t feel bad for him. He looks like a zombie dog. I think he already died it`s just reflexes that somehow keep him moving.

Well this week should be great. Miss you all and love you lots. Thanks for everything.

Con Amor,

Elder Torgersen

Thought I`d send my own thoughts and quotes...

Smile Well and often. It makes People wonder what you`re up to.

-Sachel Paige

My people must be tried in all things,... He that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom.

D&C 136:8

1 down 4 to go

Hello Friends and Family

 

Well Sorry I´m writing so late. We just sacrificed a couple hours of our P-day to have an amazing baptism. Everything went great. We´ll talk about that a little more down the page.

 

Well first off this week was great. We ended up having our mini cambio on Tuesday and I learned how my leaders are having 30 lessons every week. They enter into a house, say a prayer, invite to read the folleto we have and then set a time to come back. Tuesday we had a total of 9 lessons with 2 lessons with a less active. Wednesday We had a conference In Talca and had to take a bus 3 hours North instead of going an hour south to Conce. It was a great conference. We are now expected to memorize over 30 scriptures, word for word, so that we can teach with scriptures more clearly. It is going to be really difficult. President has also put a goal for the mission to baptize over a 140 people every month. They did the math and if every companionship who isnt a leader has one baptism, DL´s have 2, and ZL´s have 3-4, we can complete the goal for a 140 baptisms. We have hit 126 the past couple months.

 

They want us to work better in our sectors using our time more wisely, work with members and know the lessons better. It is going to be really hard. The assistontos printed out maps for us and our map was horrible. It doesn't have any street names and it is missing like four parts. We spent a little time trying to write down the street names. We still have parts of the city that aren´t on the map. We have been asked to divide our maps into four or five sectors and only work in that sector certain days of the week. It is kind of hard because our map is missing some stuff.

 

Things I have learned this week (for you Traci)

1. Assistontos are the worst brown nosers.

2. Doesn´t matter how you get the baptism, Numbers are what counts. (if I buy you a bike, will you get baptised?, How about a cake? That is a load of crap.)

3. The dog has now started to interrupt our work.

4. We have three options with our dog, Call a dog pound (doesn´t exist here), Call a member to take the dog into the campo and leave it there, or kill it.

5. DL, ZL, and president are all really excited and happy for the work we are doing here in Coihueco. We are completely destroying it down here. We had 22 lessons with 2 people progressing, Baptism today and also Saturday, with a church attendance that is slowly increasing.

6. Our Branch mission leader is the most grumpy guy I have ever met. He came from Santiago. The church and missionaries have been there for more that 50 years. The little branch of around 35 people isn´t going to be as strong as your Ward in Santiago. I really think I am going to talk to our President to change him. We have 2 returned missionaries that would be great.

 

During our Conference we had a missionary that was here in Coihueco, teaching us in the conference. We have heard from a lot of the members that he bought bikes, cakes, and a whole bunch of other stuff for his investigators. Obviously if you are buying stuff for them every time you visit them they will get baptised. Huge surprise here, His converts here in Coihueco... Completely inactive. They have called us multiple times to ask for money and other things. Anyway this elder was teaching us in our Conference. I found it extremely hard to listen to what he was saying. What a joke... I have learned it doesn´t matter how they get baptised or if they stay in the church, as long as you have good numbers = LEADER in the mission. I´m not gonna lie we have a lot of really good leaders but there are a lot that I have no idea why they are leaders.

 

I am just about fed up with the stupid dog, it has fleas, ticks, smells horrible and is interrupting with our contacts. Every time we contact people they are either yelling at the dog to go away or they are scared of it. When we contact houses that have dogs, they bark at it and we can´t even talk to the people. The three leaders I have had mini cambios with have told me I have to get rid of it. My comp is being a baby about having to get rid of it. We visited a family the other day and I told them I had to get rid of the dog. They told me they didn´t want to help because it is one of gods living creatures. Who cares... It´s not ours, and its messing with the lords work. Then my comp starts in on it also.

 

I told my leader today I needed a mini cambio so we could get rid of the dog. Our president let us in on a little secret and said there is a vet around the corner and if we take it in there saying ¨our dog is really old, has fleas and ticks and is suffering¨ they will put it to sleep. The thing has been following missionaries around for 5 years. I don´t know how they have done it. It is driving me insane. I might sound a little harsh but if you had a dog following you around that has fleas, ticks, and smells horrible... You would want to get rid of it also.

 

Well today went great. We got up this morning, Studied, and headed to the church. We had 11 guys at the church playing baby with us. (I bought a baby soccer ball and I´m totally going to teach our ward how to play when I get home. It is so fun.) Today I completed my goal of having a goal with my head. It was pretty dope. We seriously played for 3 hours. But our president said he was going to pass by and drop the keys off to start the font. We had called all morning, passed by his house and we couldn´t find him. Finally 2 hours before the baptism we ran to his house and luckily found his uncle there to get the keys. We ran to the church, started the font, ran to lunch and ran home to shower. We got to the church 10 minutes early to take pictures and get started. Our mission leader was there and he wasn´t too happy. The family of Daniela still wasn´t all there and so we couldn´t have started anyway. We took pictures and got started. The uncle of Daniela ended up baptising her and we were the witnesses. Our mission leader first got mad because we had our hands in our pockets, then he got mad because he claimed she wasn´t completely submerged in the water. (She was completely submerged and as she was coming out of the water her knee came out.) They ended up baptising her again but he was ticked. We have no idea why he is so bitter. We are the first missionaries here to have a baptism in over 5 months and actually have people going to church. I feel like we are working as hard as we can so I have just been letting the stupid things that he says go.

 

After the baptism, Daniela´s dad had a BBQ and we played soccer. It was the coolest baptism ever. Our leaders ended up coming down to it and they were completely stoked. We had two investigators in the baptism and we should have another baptism Saturday.

 

We have a family we are teaching that had a really close friend pass away. I guess earlier this past week an 18 year girl that was pregnant was driving into chillan and got hit head on by a truck. Her and the baby ended up dying. It was a really close friend of the family and they were all really sad. We ended up passing by them a couple days after to see how they were doing. Their neighbors were outside when we stopped by. They came out and ran back inside to get something and said they would be back. Meanwhile, they neighbor was outside telling us to pass by another day because they were too busy for us ¨mormones¨. I told they lady we really needed to talk to them and she said they were ¨too busy¨. I told her what we had to talk to them about was more important than anything they could be doing. The next thing we know they come walking out and tell us to come in. I looked at her neighbor and gave her a smug grin as I walked in the gate. I thought it was hilarious. We got into the house and read Alma 40 and about the spirit world. We talked to them about the plan of salvation and they really seemed to calm down. It was an awesome lesson. My comp bore his testimony about his dad passing away but he knows that some day he will see his dad again. We are hopefully going to pass by them today.

 

Yes I got an email the other week from Grandma and Grandpa. I will write them back ASAP. I really don't have much time.

 

Yes, mom we have lots of other investigators.

 

My comp was a little down after our lesson with the family that their friend died. He was really depressed after that. He is a little different. The other day my DL dropped the hammer on him for going to bed early and he said he wasn´t in the mission to be pushed around by other missionaries. It kind of reminded me of Nefi and his brothers finding the truth to be hard. He said he wasn´t going to listen to anyone but president. It has kind of made me mad.

 

Next transfer is November 12. I really hope I get to stay here. We are about to explode with baptisms.

No email from Keaton yet. I haven´t gotten any from Easton or Melissa... You gotta get on them for that. Haha

I have no idea as far as Christmas. I was given a calendar today and it had all the way until the end of my mission to the month. That kind of scared me. 

 

Well we also have interviews this week so We are going to be seing Pres and the asistontos again. Whoo hoo. Well thank you for the love and support love you all.

 

Con Amor,

Elder Torgersen

I LOVE CONFERENCE!!!

Hello Friends and Family!

Well, what a week. I always love the week of conference. This week had
been a little slow for us as far as teaching. We ended up doing a lot
of contacts out in the rain. We were able to find a couple new
families.

Monday after I had written you guys my comp wouldn`t talk to me. I
have no idea what I did or said but he just wouldn`t talk to me. Then
all of a sudden, Tuesday we wake up and he`s acting like nothing
happened...? I really think he`s bipolar. He`s all over the place as
far as emotions. It is really kind of difficult to work with him. I
had decided this week that I`m not gonna let his emotions and attitude
affect our work. I have decided that It is really hard to look and act
happy all the time. But if people see us and we are moping around it`s
gonna make us look by. Like I`ve always heard, fake it till you make
it. Even if its a slight fake happy. I`m going to be happy. Then...
Elder Uchtdorf basically summed it up for me... I`m not gonna have any
regrets on the mission and I`m going to be happy all the time. Like he
said ¨We determine our happiness.¨ I`m also gonna make sure that we
stop to help people with whatever thing even if we have a lesson.

This week end we had to take the 45 minute bus ride into Chillan to
the stake center. There, all of the missionaries and all of the wards
met to watch all of the sessions of Conference. We had a separate room
where it was being played in English. About 7 of us elders and 2
sister missionaries where in watching it in English. We all just about
freaked out when he announced the age being 18. We pretty much knew it
was coming because here in Chile you can leave when you are 18. We all
about died when he said that he was changing the age of the sister
missionaries also. I thought that was crazy. I really think it is a
great idea. We did get to watch a little of the press conference. We
all thought it was really cool. I think it will be great. I really
think it will increase the number of missionaries to serve. Let me
tell you I was on the edge of crying this whole conference. The Talks
were amazing and there was lots of really cool news.

Well, I`m not going to say what I think about what Ethan should do. But
I am going to say... Either way it is now, He`s going to need a lot
more preparation. It doesn`t matter if he leaves right away or waits
but He`s going to need some serious Preparation. I feel like I could
have prepared better for my mission. I would have at least read PMG a
couple times more. Now it is going to require a lot more preparation
from the young men and especially the young women. I feel like it was
a really good move to lower they age for the young women. That way
they can still serve and get home and get married. Only a year and a
half for girls 19 years old is perfect.

We did end up getting two people to the conference. We, along with the
ZL`s were the only missionaries to have people in church this weekend.
It was really awesome. We were the farthest sector away and we were
one of the only ones to have people there.

We ended up coming back to Coihueco to watch the priesthood session
here in our capilla. How do you say capilla in English... Uhhhh I`m
forgetting English. It ended up being a bad Idea. The Internet here
was really slow and we could either hear the talks but not see them or
we could see them and not hear them. We ended up not hearing almost
half of it and we had to watch it in the presidents office. We had 11
people crammed into a little room. It was quite funny.

I was really hoping that the talks would be online today to print
off but they are only ready to download. Guess ill have to wait till
next week.

Tell Ethan his picture was sick. That`s so awesome that the lady got
the picture perfectly. That is so cool. I wish someone was following
me with a camera so they could record or take pictures of cool stuff
I`m doing. I guess I`ll have to do it myself. I did get a free suit
the other week. Our branch pres found a bag of suits, ties, and pants
in the church and he gave me a grey suit with pin stripes. It is
pretty dope. I got it dry cleaned for free too.

Tell Grandma and Grandpa Kratchen they cant close the Restaurant until
I get home and can eat my last Pork sandwich and a couple rack of
ribs. Tell them if they close it they have to give me their boat to
make up for the sadness I'm gonna have because I can`t eat pork
sandwiches and ribs.

I am planning on using my football this week. I taught a couple kids
in the street how to throw a football. They had bought a piece of crap
rubber football in Chillan that probably cost a ton and were in the
street playing with it. I walked up, and their mom said something with
¨Mormones¨ and walked inside. Next thing I know the dad is outside
with the wife. I taught them how to throw it, threw it around with
them a couple times and then left. The dad was behind us and I could
hear him say, ¨oh, he`s only teaching them how to throw it.¨ It was
really kind of funny. But that lead on to our idea of having an
activity to teach how to play football. I really hope some people show
up.

I found out I can buy pepper here but it is really lame. I have been
using it like crazy this week. Chilean spices  and cooking methods
include, Sal, Oregano, aceite, y limon. I`m just about sick of eating
spaghetti, lentils, and pure con pollo. I could really use a
cheeseburger or even just a taco. But seriously like 5 bags of seeds
would be great. I need something to munch on. Everything cheap here is
really greasy and fattening.

Well not much else is happening. I have a mini cambio with My district
leader, who`s comp is the ZL. They are teaching close to 30 lessons a
week. I`m hoping he can teach me their secret. We also have A
conference this wed. Well Thank you all for everything. I love you all
and miss you tons.

Elder Torgersen

Hello Friends and Family!

 

Well this week has been the best week we have had here in Coihueco. We have a total of 12 people that accepted a baptismal date and 11 news. We also had the most lessons this week. 

 

Monday, we had a family night with a family of a returned missionary that has kind of fallen off the wagon for awhile. He has asked us to help him and his wife and his little daughter get to church and later to the temple. We are helping them prepare to go to the temple. There is only one couple here in Coihueco that is endowed. It is really sad. We are trying to get that number to two.

 

This last week we had a stake conference and our mission pres came. He and his wife spoke. We also heard from Elder Alliuad or something like that. He´s a member of the 70 from Argentina. He had a great talk and basically dropped the hammer on people that leave the church because someone ¨offends¨ them. He said that no one can offend us. We decide to let them offend us. He had a great talk.

 

After the conference I guess president talked to our Zone leaders about the zone. He told our ZL´s that he was really happy and content with the work we were getting done here. He said it´s the best numbers he´s seen in coihueco. My zone leader and I were talking and wondering why he put two of the crappiest elders in one of the smaller cities? Then it made sense... Worthless elders+branch that is dead=no damage done. The elder is now in his house and we are fixing what he ruined. I guess my Zone leader was in a sector the same missionary had been in and he said the attendance tanked! It is really sad how one dumb elder can do so much damage. But the good news is... President is happy with whats happening here.

 

I´m still feeling a little alone. Even though we are having success I´m finding it really hard to have fun and to be happy. My comp is really starting to bring me down. I don´t know what I did but this last week he just hasn't talked to me. I try to talk to him to find out whats going on and he´s just completely closed. We get home and plan and then he goes directly to bed. Today we had a Zone activity and we missed it because he wouldn´t get out of bed. The Zone, along with the other zone and some members bought a pig, killed it, cooked it and then ate it. While it was being cooked they played soccer. I have been stuck in the house for the last 3 weeks of P-day because he doesn't want to leave the house. He told me we were basically sinning because we were murdering the ¨innocent¨ pig. It was really weird. I was really excited to eat a pig and play soccer and he goes all little girl on me. I´m finding it extremely hard to find common ground with him and i´m getting sick of missing out on stuff because he doesn´t want to do it. 

 

Tuesday night we already had 5 lessons and 2 less active. We were on a ball. We were rolling in and out of lessons like crazy. We had 30 minutes left in the day and it was 9:30. We didn´t have anything else to do but contacts. We contact a few houses and then we contact a house that the house is set back kind of far from the fence. A guy walked out and asked what we wanted in a really snappy voice. We told him our names and said we were from the church. He then asked why we were out preaching at this hour of night and said that people are busy, as he is turning to walk inside. I don´t know what happened but before I could think it came out of my mouth. It could have been for the good and it could have been for the bad... ¨And what could you be possibly doing right now to be so busy? Watching TV?¨ He turns back around and walks to the gate. He then starts yelling at me ¨Blah blah blah No I´m with my family!¨ It came so quick to my mind I didn´t even have to think...¨Great, we love to teach families. We would love to come in and teach your family right now! We know out message is more important than anything you could be doing with your family!¨ He yelled some more, I said thanks, and walked away. He yelled something more as we were walking away but I couldn´t hear him. I was kind of stunned after all of that happened. I kind of feel bad for going off on the guy but I´m so sick of getting treated like crap just because we are missionaries. I realized that Christ would have probably handled it a little more calmly but then again, like dad said,Christ was humble and calm but he wasn´t a wuss with people and let them walk all over him. He corrected them in a firm but kind and loving way. I´m so sick of getting stepped on like a floor mat just because we are missionaries. People have no respect for us when they see the name tags. People don´t even say hi to us in the streets. I ¨forgot¨ my name tag one day while using a sweater and in the street and I kid you not about 15 people more than normal said Hello. I don´t understand it. We offer to help, we are nice, we say hello to everyone and they still treat us like garbage. Ok, I´m done with the complaining. 

 

I did get two more packages this last week. I got the back pack, sunflower seeds, socks and other stuff. Thanks for the confetti! It was everywhere. I opened one of the packages at a members house before lunch and the confetti went everywhere. Surprisingly she was really happy to see it. She said a handful of the confetti here cost about $5. I told her she could have it all. We emptied out everything into a bowl. She and her kids were really happy!

 

Only one problem... I asked for a smaller backpack. The other backpack is just as big maybe even bigger.

We got into a lesson the other day and taught some crazy old lady that is part of some Evangelical church. She told us that there never was an Apostasy and the church continued through the spirit. And that if we talk about the bible or of Christ we are prophets. So i guess me and my comp are prophets. This lady was completely nuts. Honestly... I don´t like teaching older people. Sounds kind of harsh but i´m sure most of them have had their chances to listen to us and the missionaries. Most of the older people here are completely lost or completely out of it. It is really sad but most of them have no idea what we are talking about when we teach them. My comps always get mad because we never try and ¨teach¨ them. You can usually tell in the contact if they are crazy or not. I usually give them a pass along and say thanks. The other day we had a lady kiss the picture of Christ we gave here like 5 times and try to tell us a story of her cat or something strange like that. 

 

Friday and Saturday we had 2 activities. Friday we played baby soccer in the basketball court behind the church and Saturday we had a movie night. We actually had quite a few people there. We had a less active lady yell and me and my comp because here kid didn´t get home on time... Don´t know why it was our fault the kid didn´t listen. He´s 12... He knows when he´s supposed to be home. This was the same lady that said she was going to help us on Sunday for the conference... What she said to us went in one ear and out the other. As you can probably tell I haven´t had the most patience this week. 

 

The other day we were talking to an investigator outside of her house and her neighbors came walking out and were sitting just inside their gate. Next thing I know I hear whistles and ¨Esta Bueno, Mira este russio Que Bonito¨ I look up and the mom and two daughters were out sitting there looking at me. Our Investigator tells them we can´t date, tells them to shut up and go inside. It was hilarious. They of course didn´t listen but I thought it was funny and really gross.

 

We have talked to the parents of Daniela, and they are really excited for the baptism. (it is so cool that we were the first elders to get into the house and talk to the parents and then get her with a baptism date) She is completely stoked. She already made invitations. It is weird to think that she is a year younger than Baileigh. She seems so much older than Baileigh. The kids down here grow up a lot quicker than they do in the states. It was really weird to think she´s a year younger than Baileigh. Pray for her and her family. The dad is really excited he wants to do a BBQ after her baptism and play soccer. Good thing its on a P-day, it might be a full party! 

 

Well I´ve got another cambio here with my comp. Hoping we will be able to find some common ground and have some success. Well not much else. I love you guys and miss you tons. 

 

Elder Torgersen

September 24, 2012

¡Hola Amigos y Familia!

Muchas Gracias por todo esta semana. Muchas gracias por los regalos y cartas.

Well my birthday was actually pretty fun. I did end up getting one package. It had a bunch of Avengers stuff in it. with two ties. I called the office this last week and they said I had gotten two more, they just weren`t sure where they went. I ended up having to call a bunch of people to find out where they were. They ended up being in the house of my old Zone leaders house. I will get them tomorrow. 

 We had an activity in our branch and played a bunch of random chilean games. We ate a ton of meat and a lot of empanadas. It was so good. At our activity we ended up having 5 investigators and 2 less actives. It was really cool. We have been really blessed this week. Also the bishop from Los volcanes and his wife and little baby came to visit at the activity. I guess his wife is from here. Also another couple from Los Volcanes came to visit me at the activity. It was really cool being able to see them. Bishop Orellana (richy) says he missed me so he had to come visit. 

I had a mini cambio this last week with one of My Zone leaders. His name is Elder Bracken. His dad was the one that wrote the book I told you guys to go buy. He is an amazing missionary. We ended up teaching 6 lessons with 3 less active lessons in one day. It was crazy!

During our mini cambio we decided to visit a girl that her parents haven't given her permission to be baptized. We went to talk to her right after lunch and she said her parents would be home later in the night. We went through the day teaching and at 9:20, with 40 minutes left in the day, we decided to go by her house. We knocked on her door and her dad answered. He is a really big round guy with fingers that remind me of hot dogs. He is pretty big. We talked to him for a little and after he invited us inside. We started talking about how awesome his daughter is and how she really wants to get baptized. We convinced the dad and were waiting to convince the mom. All of a sudden the dad pulls out a bottle and asks us if we want jugo or juice. We didn`t want to offend him so we of course say yes. He gets us two shot glasses and fills them up with this ¨Juice¨. He tells us to drink it and I look at my ZL and he smells it and says ¨I think its alcohol.¨ We ask him if it is and he says no. We ask his wife and she says No. We ask the daughter and she also says No. We thought for sure it wasn`t. We took a sip and it tasted like juice but just a little different. We ended up drinking almost half of it and decided to put it back on the table. We later found out it was ¨Chicha¨ It is grape juice that they drink but within a few days it starts to turn to alcohol. It wasn`t straight alcohol but it was definitely starting to turn into it. THE GOODNEWS IS... We convinced her mom and she now has a fecha for October 15. Yes it is a monday... We let them choose they day. We now have to figure out how to do a baptism on a monday. We figured drinking a shot was worth getting her with a baptismal date. 

This week we had a total of 10 people with baptismal dates. But, 5 fell because they didn`t go to church. It was the best week we have had here so far. 

We were sitting in lunch on Friday and the hermana told us she had been sharing her testimony with her neighbor that just moved in. She said that here neighbor is really interested in the church and wanted to get to know it. We asked her neighbor if we could pass by after lunch and she told us yes. She has a son that is 11 that ended up coming to the activity. They were really excited and wanted to come to church. Only problem was we had a conference in Chillan. 45 minutes away. She said she would go if the hermana went. The hermana was basically crying when she heard what had happened. She told us she was going to do whatever she could to wake up early and get to the conference...BLAH BLAH BLAH. We passed by her house Sunday in the morning and her mom said she was working. Her son ended up walking out and told us that his mom was sleeping and didn`t want to wake up. I am just about fed up with lazy Chileans saying they will do something and then never do it. Especially when it has to do with salvation or the lords work. 

We visited a family this week and found out they were the first family to open this sector as a branch. The son was the Ex president and is now completely inactive. She has three sons that were all born into the church and only one served a mission. She is completely heartbroken and has no idea what to do. It really made me start to think... I really hope that I have made you guys proud with what I have done and with what I`m doing. She was really sad with what had happened with her sons. She felt like she had failed as a mother. We had passed by her earlier in the week and I ended up getting a feeling to ask her if she needed anything like a blessing she then told us yes and we gave her a blessing. A couple days later I passed by with our branch pres and she said that she was really wanting a blessing and when we gave her the blessing she felt like a huge rock was lifted off her back. It was really cool that god uses us to help other people.

I have felt a little alone this week. My comp gets really quiet and depressed and just gets into a mood and doesn`t want to do anything. He doesn`t want to talk about whats happening either. It is really hard trying to carry a Branch that is about to fall apart, trying to be a good senior comp, and trying to get people into the waters of baptism and then deal with a comp that always is talking about it old comp or isn`t talking at all. 

Tell Bailiegh not to worry. She lost from a girl that was 4 grades ahead of her. That`s pretty awesome she is playing against such older girls. Tell Ethan he needs to man up and quite being such a baby. Why didn`t anyone pay for me to take girls out? If someone was willing to pay for a lunch with a girl for me I`d have it done in a heartbeat. Tell him to man up and do it already. 

Well not much else this week. Love you all and miss you tons.