I'll let the pictures do the talking

July 29,2013

Well, mostly the pictures say it all, but Wilson didn't get baptized last Saturday, or Franco. Just Kayla! Which is still awesome! That little girl is so cute. But Wilson had the baptismal interview, and things came up that he needs to work out before he gets baptized. Pray for him!

But not much else happened! We had a ward activity oh yeah...did I tell you it was cambio time again? Both me and Hermana LeFevre are staying in Arica! I'm so happy. I love my comp and this sector :) But I'll let the pictures do the talking :)   Enjoy!

Love ya!

Hermana Howell

P-Day at Playa Corazones, Hearts Beach

CHUNGARA!!!!!!!!!!! Coolest place ever...literally it was freezing!

 And that armadillo was in the little restaurant we ate in Putre, the little town down the road :)

The cutest puppy in the world :)

A bike with my home town on it! haha

Awesome week! Except for......

July 22, 2013

Wow! What a week! Last Monday, we went to Playas Corazones, and it was the coolest, prettiest thing ever! I will send pictures next week because this computer does not have somewhere to download them, and I do not have much time. But anyway, the waves were HUGE and there were all these caves and really cool places to go exploring! I wish you all could have seen it. So sweet!

So guess what. You know a few weeks back how I told you I have had problems with bed bugs? Turns out that was not the problem. I had lice. LICE. I cannot believe I went for 11 WEEKS and did not know! We were visiting an investigator, and they were talking about lice, I do not remember why, but I mentioned that my head had itched a lot these past couple months. She went and got this really fine-toothed comb and went through my hair...and sure enough! Lice. Ew I could not believe it. I wanted to cry. She combed all she could out of my hair and killed them, and without even telling me, put this cream in my hair that smelled like a mix between sun screen and limes. It was weird. She told me I had to sleep with it in and wash it out in the morning, and they should all be dead. How embarrassing. We had intercambios that night with the sister leader trainers, and Hermana Osorio was pro at lice treatments. She sat there and picked out hair by hair all the eggs. Okay, not all of them because that is impossible, but she got SO many out! Do not worry, I bought some shampoo, and slowly but surely, I am being cured. Gahhh I still cannot believe it. But it all comes with the mission I guess! Hahaha, I will look back on this later and laugh...I hope.

So I guess while I was Hermana Osorio for the intercambio, Wilson (our investigator that was to be baptized last Saturday), called Hermana LeFevre and said he needed to talk to us. Great. He told her that he had been studying all that we gave him, and he really realized what kind of committment baptism is, and it is not something to be treated lightly. He decided he was not ready to be baptized last Saturday, but he will be ready this Saturday! We are also working with his friend, Franco, to be baptized this Saturday. Also, did I ever tell you about Kayla? She is an investigator we have been working with FOREVER, and she is 12 years old. Last Saturday, her mom FINALLY gave permission for her to be baptized! So she is this Saturday too! And today, our zone leaders told us that the Elders Quorum President's son still has not been batpized, so we are going to get him baptized this Saturday. Sooooo you know what that means? If all goes well, we will have 4 baptisms this Saturday! And Hermana Garcia and Miner have a baptism as well, so our ward should be getting 5 batpisms this Saturday. That is so nuts! I am so excited!!!!!!!!!

(And I have no idea why it changed to italics. Oh well.)

Hahahahahaha funnniest thing. We got permission and went to the pharmacy on Friday to buy my shampoo. We walked in, and the security guard comes up to us and tries to practice his English with us. First he says, "What is your problem?" So I tell him "Piojos" which is lice. He tells me where I have to go and everything is normal...then he keeps trying to practice.

"You can go to cine? Movies?"

"No, somos misioneras. Estamos aquí para predicar el evangelio." (We are missionaries. We are here to preach the gospel.)

"You are pretty. Very nice. Very beautiful."

"O...k....thanks."

"You living...live...life in Chile?"

"Um....what?"

"Vivir conmigo." (Live with me.)

"Oh. No."

After that my number had been called and I went and bought my shampoo.While we were waiting to pay, he comes up and says "I like you." and walks away. Hermana LeFevre and I were dying of laughter. He told us his name is Ignacio and he is 23 years old. Oh buddy. Thanks but no thanks. As we were walking out, we gave him a pass-along card. He immediately puts it in his pocket without looking and this is what happened:

"Your number?"

"Sí, puede llamar el numero atrás y recibir un vídeo sobre como hallar la fe en Jesucristo." (You can call the number on the back and recieve a video about finding faith in Jesus Christ.)

"I like you."

"Ok. Chau." (I have no idea how to spell that. Chao. Chau. Chow? hahaha)

That was so funny. Great times on the mission, let me tell you.

Oh Saturday, all of our appointments fell through, and we were trying to figure out who to visit. Hermana LeFevre said that Hermana Carranza (the sister she worked with during the intercambio) gave her some addresses for less-actives. We tried all of them and no one answered the door. Then the very last one, Carolina, let us in. It was the perfect timing. She told us how she had been feeling she needed to go back to church, but she felt really alone. We are going to visit her so much now! What a miracle it is to be a missionary.

Today was the coolest ever. We went to Chungara this huge volcano, it was awesome!!! We had a guide who is a member I guess, I did not feel sick or anything. It is about 15,000 feet above sea level, so not much oxygen. People vomit, pass out, and everything. So I was really nervous for that, but nothing happened! I didn't feel a thing. I have no idea why. I mean, I felt a lot more tired and had to walk a lot slower, but I did not feel nausea or dizzyness or anything. Like I said, I will send pics next week! 

Well, that was an awesome week! I hope it will be just as awesome this week! 

Love you!

Hermana Howell

HIS will

July 15, 2013

Hey there!

Oh boy, what a week. I don't remember if I told you, but we had a FHE at the bishop's home last Monday with Paulina and Edgar. It went super well. You could tell the bishop and his wife were really following the Spirit, because they told them that Paulina couldn't progress until they got married, and the time they're using to wait is just wasted time. It was really direct, but done with love and the Spirit that it went really well. We went to visit Paulina and Edgar on Wednesday, and I gotta tell you, they're the best! We were telling them that transfers are in 2 weeks, and it's possible that we could be leaving and different missionaries will be coming. They were sad and said they hope we don't change, but then Edgar said "But if you do get transferred, you don't have to worry about us, because we're always going to remember the Hermana's that found us and brought us back to our Father in Heaven. We'll never ever forget you. You saved us." It was really Spiritual. We just feel so connected to them. They seem so much older than they really are. They're both 23, but they just act so mature. Paulina is ready to be baptized, but they aren't getting married until December because they want all their family to be there...so that's a bummer. But we've pushed and pushed and they know what they have to do now. We're just praying for a miracle that maybe somehow it'll work out that they can get married and have her baptized before we get changed. Hermana LeFevre and I emailed President Dalton saying that if it be God's will, we'd like to stay another cambio...he said that's probably okay! :) Yay!!!

So the two baptisms we have this Saturday...one of them, Franco, isn't gonna happen. I don't think he realized that it's not just something the cool kids do...it's a covenant with God. So he isn't going to be baptized this Saturday. But his friend Wilson...oh he's golden! Last night we watched the Joseph Smith movie with him, and after it ended he said "That's a really good movie. What's it called? I'm going to buy it!" It was funny because you don't just hear investigators say that about the Joseph Smith movie. But he said that since he's been taking the discussions, he's a completely different person. He's happier and wants to help his family and he just sees the difference in his life already. It's so great to see the change in him. At first he was just like any other 18 year old kid, and now, he's ready to change his life. So this Saturday is the day! I'm so excited and happy for him.

Well, that's it for this week! 

Hermana Howell

Random picture having a breakfast burrito, which never happens!

Another week flies by...

July 8, 2013

Hello hello!

I can't believe another week has gone by. This mission thing just keeps getting faster and faster. I almost have 5 months. ¡Pucha!

I have the best story to tell you all. So a few weeks ago, Hermana LeFevre and I were knocking on doors, and this lady answers the door. She says she's busy and says to come back another day (just like everyone else says), but she looked a little promising, so we tried again the next week. A man answered the door and she was right behind them and said they were leaving, but to come back again. This time we set up an appointment with them for last Tuesday. So we went on Tuesday, and let me tell you, I found my person. You know, that person you just KNOW you were meant to find. It's her. She is that golden investigator every missionary wants. We taught the Restoration and she completely understood everything. The man she lives with is actually a less-active, but he wants to come back to the church. The only problem is they aren't married! So they need to get married for her to get baptized. But she was saying how he says things about the church and she's always wanted to know more. We went back again on Thursday with our District Leader and his companion to teach the Plan of Salvation, and that was even better than the first lesson! She said it all just made sense and that somehow, she's known it all her life, but she doesn't know from where. She says when we come there's a feeling she can't describe, and when we leave, so does the feeling. Her boyfriend is really growing in his testimony, too. He helps us explain things when we can't think of the words, and I can tell he's really loving to see his girlfriend's testimony grow with his. Yesterday they came to church, and it was the best feeling in the world. When we picked them up, she came out in her skirt that she had made the day before and she was so beautiful and excited. Her name is Paulina and his name is Edgar. Edgar had on his slacks and button up shirt...oh, they were perfect. Hermana LeFevre and I wanted to cry because it was so perfect. They just looked so happy. They hit it off with the bishop, and we're actually going to have a Family Home Evening in the bishop's home this evening with Paulina and Edgar.  After church they went in and talked with the bishop forever! But I doubt it was anything bad because Paulina and Edgar and the bishop came out smiling so big! Just writing this makes me cry it's so perfect. Oh, the second time we went to visit, we asked her if she started the Book of Mormon and if she had prayed. She said she hadn't started the book, and she felt so bad and she said, "I promise I'll start tonight! I'm sorry I was lazy! I promise!" It was so cute, and Edgar was saying. "Yeah, we're going to put it right on top on the dresser so we'll see it and start reading because I know it's important to read every day." Tonight, I think we're going to talk about temples :) They have plans to get married, but we haven´t talked about it more than just asking if they have plans. Hopefully tonight when we talk about temples and eternal marriages, they'll set a date! I can just see them going through the temple. She's ready. He's ready. After they get married, its possible Edgar could baptize her. That would be perfect. I just love them so much! I love being a missionary!

We also set two dates this last week for baptisms on the 20th with Wilson who's 18 and his friend Franco, who's 20...so we don't need signatures from parents! That's one of the hardest thing with putting dates with minors...parents. But last night we taught Wilson and Franco and it was really good. They're getting ready to be baptized!!!! The Lord has blessed us so much this transfer. I have seen so many little miracles, and I have to say again that being a missionary is the best thing in the world.

We met President Dalton on Saturday. He's really nervous, which is completely understandable. His wife is about as fluent in Spanish as I am, so that's nice too. President Dalton is the man. His voice is so firm and deep and just...powerful. I feel like everything he says is inspired...and it just might be! It was so cute, right before our little conference started, President and Hermana Dalton were sitting up front and President Dalton looked like he was going to pass out, and Hermana Dalton whispered to him, "Its fine. It's gonna be okay. It doesn't have to be perfect." It just showed me how humble this man is and that he's called of God and wants to do the best job he can. I know he'll be great!

I was having my first interview with him, and he had asked where I'm from, and I had mentioned that originally I'm from Southern Cal and we got to talking and he wasn't making the connection, so after I said that Dad was from Rancho Cucamonga, and said that he grew up in Ontario I said ¨Yeah, your dad is actually our accountant." And he looked at my name tag and was like "OOOOHHH, HOWELL!!! Your grandpa had a machine shop or something? I remember him showing us around...ok, wow, small world!" Haha, but he's such a great man. I'm excited.

Well, that's about it for this week! I love being here and teaching these people. It's such a blessing in my life. Tell Sarah to start preparing now! Because it's hard, really hard, but the best thing in this world.

Love,

Hermana Howell

We are on fire!

July 1, 2013

Hi there!!

Wow. I really love working with Hermana Lefevre. We worked so hard this week! We had the highest numbers in our zone I think. I don't know for sure yet, but we worked our little legs off. We found 6 new investigators, brought 5 to church, and taught 29 lessons. One short of our goal haha, our goal was 30. But man I really love this companionship. We laugh all the time and work like crazy.

Monday we taught one of our investigators, Kote. We usually teach English right before the spiritual lesson with Daniel. He's one of the ward missionaries here who got off his mission about 2 months ago. He served in New York and his English is crazy good. He doesn't even have an accent and sometimes he forgets words in Spanish! So he comes with us to help teach English. After that lesson we were walking wondering who we should visit and this kid walked by us, and Daniel quickly says "Go talk to him." And without a second thought, I said "Ok." and walked right up to him and started talking. His name is Sebastian and he's 16 years old. Turns out he was taking lessons from the missionaries a while back, but once they got transferred, the missionaries didn't come back. So we have a lesson with him today! Let´s hope it goes well!

We challenged 3 people to baptism this week. The problem is that all of them will need signatures from parents...and none of the parents want to give permission. So that was a big reason we were working hard this week. These girls are ready! But their parents don't understand or something. But we're hoping maybe next week..or even this week we can get them into the waters of baptism and confirm them members! President Bruce had set the goal a while back to have 630 baptisms by the date 6/30 but about my first month here in Chile, he raised the goal to 670. Last Saturday was the last chance we had to meet that goal. Another reason we worked so hard. We couldn´t baptize but this morning we found out that we met it! 680 baptisms approx!!!!! Can you believe it! We're number one in South America! Do you know what the top baptizing mission in the world is? But it's so cool that President Bruce can go home with meeting EVERY SINGLE GOAL he ever set for his mission, including 670 baptisms in 6 months. But President Dalton is officially here! I'm not sure when I'll actually get to meet him.

So we did service this last Thursday for one of the families we're trying to baptize, and they live out in the country. We had to clean out some horse stalls. Don't worry, there hasn't been horses there for a while. They were full of junk...and the biggest spiders I've ever seen! And the spiders that were there are more dangerous than brown recluses and black widows. Needless to say I was pretty scared. But our zone leaders came to help..who were just as girly about spiders as we were hahaha not really, but it was soooo nasty. I hope they get baptized soon!

So Kayla, one of our investigators that we challenged last week, she's like a little missionary! She brought 2 of her friends to a baptism on Saturday, as well as church yesterday along with one of their brothers! It's so awesome to see how much she's progressing and how much she understands.

Other than that...working hard and sleeping like a baby every night haha. I miss you all but I'm loving it out here. My spanish is better than ever. I would say I'm on the verge of being fluent, but I still have a lot to learn! Thanks for all you do, and remember...God is your Father.

Love,

Hermana Howell

My new Comp!

June 24, 2013

Hola!

Ok, my week. First of all, I totally forgot to tell you last week that we found out Jocelyn got baptized! Remember her? From Copiapó! I couldn't believe it! And apparently her family is attending church too! I wanted to cry because I was so happy, also sad because I wasn't there to see it :( But that's so awesome!

Well, Hermana Lefevre arrived, and it's been super! I love having a gringa compañera! We've had such great lessons and she has this spirit about her. I love working with her. And she's so happy all the time! I love it! We found this new investigator who is so completely in love with her husband, and it's so cute! We taught her about the plan of salvation, so let's hope she progresses!

Yesterday we had 9 people at church...that's a lot! 3 investigators, 5 less actives and 1 recent convert. It's Hermana Lefevre I tell ya. Everyone just wants to be with her! She's awesome. Today we played on the beach again. I love living here. I love the mission. I love Chile. I love you all!!!

Until next week,

Hermana Howell

Elder Church made me into a mermaid...Mermana Howell...hahhahahaha

Me and Hermana Lefevre from UTAH...haha

Me, Elder Hamblin, Elder Hughes, and....yup! Elder Church playing in the sand!

Now I´m an octopus...and a dog digging a huge hole next to me :)

Busy week!

June 17, 2013

Hello hello hello!!!

Wow. What a week. Monday was Monday. After pday ended at 6 we taught a few lessons. Normal stuff. Tuesday is District Meeting day, and we had the Best District Awards! I got best latina accent because on time our District leader called and Hermana Albornoz couldn't answer the phone so I did, and he thought he was talking to a latina!!! whoot whoot. That's what I'm talking about!

Wednesday we had intercambios with the sister leader trainers, so I went to go work in Simon Bolivar with Hermana Gorge. Wow. We know how to work with each other because we were just on the same page or something! We challenged someone to be baptized on the 29th of this month. It was so spiritual. We prayed with him right then and there to know if he should be baptized. He was crying and then his best friend shared his testimony, and boy, it was a golden lesson, let me tell ya. Now they just need permission from the parents!

Thursday (June 13) was my 4 month anniversary. Awwww. Haha, but really, before I know it, I'll be here 6! It's so crazy. Thursday is weekly planning, which always takes a few hours, and afterwards we took a zone picture, which never works out perfectly. We took a pic because guess what this week was...LAST WEEK OF TRANSFERS....

Friday was clean the pension day because of transfers. Not that our pension was disgusting, but always the weekend before transfers, we have to deep clean the place. That took all morning, but afterwards, the day went normal with lessons and what not.

Saturday was SERVICIO! We've been helping this recent convert finish her house, and I think last Saturday was the last Saturday! She just has to unpack and organize. Wow. That took a long time, but it was nice to help her out. Later that night, we visited Grace and her husband Jose, and Jose said the closing prayer. That's actually a really big deal. He's only said one other prayer with missionaries, so we've made a big step with him!

Yesterday was when we found out about transfers...who stays and goes. I'm staying in Arica! YAY! I was hoping I wasn't going to leave.  Hermana Albornoz is going down to Antofagasta, and she's companions with Hermana Severtson! My MTC COMP!! Funny how she's with someone else with the same time in the mission field haha. But now I'll be with Hermana Lefevre, who is a gringa! So I'm excited, but also worried for my Spanish. It's grown a lot this last transfer, so let's hope I keep it up! Hermana Lefevre only has 4 more weeks in the field than I do haha. Newbs. And Lefevre was Severtson's comp in Antofagasta! We just switched! Oh, I guess the original plan was I was supposed to go to Antofagasta and Albornoz stay another cambio here in Arica, but they switched that at the last minute. Who knows why! Oh, and Hermana García is staying too with Hermana Miner. 3 gringas in the pension! Hermana García's english is gonna take off! HAHA

But that's the big news this week. I've already had 5 comps in the mish and Lefevre will be my 6th. Can you believe that? Crazy huh. But it´s good to have variety. Oh, and Elder Church is transferred here to Arica! HURRICANE REPRESENT! haha

Good luck with everything back home! 

Love,

Hermana Howell

Hermana Miner from Utah!

Hermana Albornoz from Argentina!

Hermana Vega from Perú!

Elder Hotvedt from Utah! (And random man playing the piano)

Hermana Delgada from Perú!

The Best District Awards!

Bye President Bruce, hello fleas & earthquakes :/

Well, we finally got in touch with Marta and she was confirmed Sunday! ¡Por fin! Such a relief.

So we had our last conference with President Bruce on Friday. It was so sad. I've never seen so many Elders cry. I think it is one of the worst things that could happen to a missionary. We all took pictures and then had to say goodbye. The last words President Bruce said to me were "Ok my little girl, you're a great missionary. Keep it up while I'm gone." President Dalton has some big shoes to fill.... But I'm sure he will be great. Oh, as we were leaving the conference, there was a man in the street dancing...he had been drinking and he was shaking his hips. It was so funny!

Hahahahahahahaha que vergüenza....I have had problems with fleas. I haven't looked for dryer sheets because we don't have a dryer (dryer sheets work to keep the fleas away)...plus, we have someone do our laundry for us. And no one has dryers. So they might not have dryer sheets here. But that would be cool if you send those too!

We found a new investigator this week. She seems promising. She's a doctor, so it'll be hard to get her to church because she works so much, but we're praying hard!

We've had a couple little earthquakes here, which I hate, but it's really good at the same time, because if there's a bunch of little ones, then there's no big ones! I'd rather the earth move a little at a time then all at once...and they say Northern Chile is due for a whopper...NOOOOOOOOOOOO. Let's just hope the little ones keep on coming.

Well, love you all!

Until next week,

Hermana Howell

My zone with the President and his wife. 

Me, President Bruce, and Hermana Bruce for the last time :(

"Churrasco pobre"....so huge!

Time flies!

Wow, the time is starting to fly. Can you believe it's been almost 4 months since I left home? 4 MONTHS. Before I know it, it's gonna be 6 months, then 1 year, then I'm home! Wow, this is nuts.

This morning we went paintballing for zone activity! Actually, it was all three zones in Arica, so there were a lot of missionaries. It was so fun. Scary, but fun. I only got hit twice, both in the leg. We took a big group picture.

Oh Mom, I wanted to thank you for all the packages you send me! I realize they're a lot of money, but you're so awesome. Thanks again. I did get the other package on Thursday, and I was the popular kid in town with all those sweets!

Well, the girl who got baptized a couple weeks ago, Marta, hasn't shown up to church the past two Sundays, so she's not confirmed yet. This happened to the other Hermana's just before. It's so frustrating. Hopefully we get her to church next week!  Say a prayer!!

Love you all.

Hermana Howell

Part of Arica...my sector (if you look really hard) is on the left next to the ocean with a bunch of apartment buildings

El morro de Arica...the Christus statue

Quick trip to Antofagasta

Hi, hi, hi!

I loved the trip to Antofagasta. After the conference, I got to work with Hermana Severtson (my MTC comp) again! Yay! I was pretty nervous since our spanish is so-so, but we found 3 new investigators and taught the restoration all by ourselves! hahah it was pretty awesome. The Spirit was helping us no doubt. I'm liking Arica just fine! It's treating me good. 

Sorry not much to write today. You know the drill here haha. And that's how it is!

Love you all!

Hermana Howell

At the beach!

Crazy few weeks

Hola!

So I know it has been a while since anything new has been posted, well you can blame that on my mom, she probably gets busy or forgets.  Here a few snippets of the past few weeks...........

Wanna hear a super hilarious story? I got locked in the bathroom. HAHAHAHAHA yep, it finally happened to me. So here's what happened: Somehow, the doorknob broke, and the knobs turn, but the inside doesn't, so we have to be careful shutting the door. Well, one morning I totally forgot and shut the door all the way, and I was locked in forever. Hermana García couldn't get the door open, so she called one of the members, to come help. We tried and tried, I took the  hinges off, but I was stuck forever. I couldn't understand what they were trying to tell me, it was in Spanish you know. We were passing stuff through the window, but nothing would work. Eventually I asked Hermana to pass me my scriptures, because this was gonna take a while. She called our Zone Leaders, but they didn't answer. Then she called our District Leader, but he didn't answer, so then she called some other Elders in our zone, but they aren't allowed to leave their sector without permission. Oh boy. Finally, FOUR Elder's showed up after twenty billion phone calls for directions and permission and whatnot, and they busted down the door, and I was free!!! I think I know what I'm going to be famous for throughout my mission.....hahaha

We had a really good lesson with Jocelyn's mom. We're having a breakthrough, I tell ya! Pray hard!  Love ya!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I totally forgot to write last week about this, and I have no idea why because it's kind of a big deal, but guess who had to talk in sacrament meeting last week...yep. Hermana García. She had to do it in spanish, too! Well, that's easy for her. Ok, I had to talk too. Yep, that was fun. Let's  just say my talk was short and sweet and to the point, just like my ¨farewell¨ talk. Oh just so you know, my talk was in Spanish...I think. I really don't know because I don´t speak spanish. hahahhaha

It's getting a lot colder, but the blankets here are made of fire, because I wake up every morning drenched in sweat and no blankets in sight. So I'm good. 

Ok, so I still don't know exactly when I'll be calling on Sunday because guess what...I'M GOING TO ARICA!!!!!!!!!! The other end of the mission...at the very tipy top of Chile. We have a 20 hour bus ride tonight. FUN. Get this. Both me and Hermana García are transferring there, and we're even living in the same pension, we just aren't going to be companions anymore. Crazy huh!!! I'm so excited, because it´s a lot warmer there! I LOVE THE HEAT! And Hermana Smith (remember one of my comps from the MTC) is in Arica with Hermana García's companion from before me. This is getting crazy. It's so exciting. Oh, and there's going to be Elders here in Copayapu, my sector, which is a HUGE deal, because there hasn't been Elders here for pretty much forever. There was a time where no missionaries were in this sector, and then it's been sisters ever since. The ward is torn because they love sisters, but oh well! hahah it's exciting, transfers.

That´s the big stuff going on. Oh, Hermana García got a phone call from Pres. Bruce on Friday. Her dad is in a coma, really sick and it doesn't look good. So on top of everything, saying goodbye to the ward and investigators here, she has her family to worry about. The mission is a crazy time!

We´ll probably get to write one more time this week to make certain the time for Skypage on Mother's Day!  Love ya!

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I forgot to tell you things about our trip to Arica, so when me and Hermana García were getting on the bus in Copiapó to come here to Arica, they couldn't fit some of our bags. I had two of mine and Hermana García had only one. So my big bag with all my clothes stayed in Copiapó for the rest of the week!  Do you know how hard it is to only have one skirt for the whole week? No. you don't. It's gross. haha And no one is my size here, so it was hard. But we finally got our bags! Whew!

Oh, and there is an Elder Mckonkie in my zone. And yes, he's related to you know who. He looks just like him!

Oh, Hermana García's dad passed away. But she is really calm about it because she knows of the plan of salvation. This church is true.

We have a baptism on Saturday (May 18), I'll let you know how it goes, hopefully with pictures!  Till next week!  Love ya!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

So the baptism went great! I forgot to bring the cord again, so hopefully I'll remember next week and pictures will come!!!

So something funny happened! President Bruce and every missionary from Iquique north to Arica had a conference Thursday. It was so cool. They fed us tacos for lunch. Then during the night, I was sick! So was Hermana García. The other two Hermanas weren't. The next morning, turns out almost half the mission got sick from those tacos! I wasn't super sick, and I was super grateful because we heard that some missionaries were throwing up a ton down south. But all is good now! So no need to worry! ;)

Not much else is going on but normal missionary work. Oh, last monday night, Hermana Albornoz went down to Antofagasta for the newbie conference, and I have that sometime this week, so that is what is going on with my week yay!

Welp, I gotta go love you all!

Hermana Howell

Me and Hermana Garcia in town.

Ugliest dog I have ever seen!

Having an iced cream break :)

Investigators :)

April 22, 2013

How's it goin? Not much new to report. Well, I guess there is every week haha, but it´s generally the same idea!

We found an investigator who speaks English! She's from Hungary but her husband works here, so that's why she's here! As soon as she opened the door, she said ¨No hablo español.¨ And I said "Do you speak English?" She said yes, and it went on from there. We taught her and her husband the Restoration, but it was hard for them to understand the priesthood authority part. She´s Roman Catholic and he's Orthodox...it was hard, and I don´t think they still fully understand it, but we're going to work more with them obviously so they can understand!!!!

On the other hand, we found Aldo, who said he believed that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Hermana García invited him to pray to confirm that testimony, and he said, "Ok, but I already believe it."  And we invited him to church, but he didn't come. WHYYYYYYYYY??? But hopefully he was telling the truth hahah.

You know how they say you have a twin somewhere in the world. I think they're all in Chile. I've found a ton that look like people I know, just the Chilean version haha, it's creepy!

Jocelyn (we found out how she really spells her name hahahahhaha)...I don't know what's going on. We talked to her about baptism, and we haven't seen her for 4 days. One reason is her family, but I don't think she has a testimony of Joseph Smith. Our next lesson, if we can ever find her again, will definitely be about him and prophets and general. Wish us luck!

On the other hand, Matías (have I mentioned him before?) wants to get baptized this Saturday. The only problem is that he's 12, so we need guardian permission, and we can never find his grandma to talk to her and I think she's mad that Matías wants to be baptized. We´re praying really hard!

Well, that's it for this week! 

Hermana Howell

This is part of the missionaries from my zone on P-Day

Whoa, where'd the day go?

April 16, 2013

Hi!

Thought I'd share a typical day with you:

WORK.

Whoa, where'd the day go??

Haha, ok really, this is what it is:

7 AM - Wake up....(enduring to the end right there.)

7-7:30 AM - Exercise (Yeah right...more like stretching)

7:30-8 AM - Get ready, shower

8-8:30 AM - Breakfast!

8:30-9:30 AM - Personal Study

9:30-10:30 AM - Companionship Study

10:30-11:30 AM - Training

11:30-1:30 PM - WORK

1:30-2:30 PM - Lunch

2:30-3 PM - Personal Study

3-3:30 PM - Language Study

3:30-10 PM - WORK

10-10:30 PM - Daily Planning

10:30-11 PM - Get ready for bed, write in journals

11 PM - Lights out (favorite time of day!)

Its pretty full, but the day goes by really fast...sometimes it's really slow during that 7 hour shift when no one will let you in and your appointments fall through, but really, it's still fast when you think about it.

Spanish is coming along, like always. I am slowly getting better, but the worst is at lessons when I have no idea what is being said, so I can't really teach according to their needs...it's really frustrating. And then they ask me questions, and there will be like one word I don't know, so they explain and explain and I finally understand, but by the time that happens, I have forgotten the question, so I just have a word, and I'm sitting there trying to remember the question, and I can't for the life of me, and I'm sitting there looking so dumb and they give up and go back to their conversation. So rough. But at least I'm a good listener.....I say my testimony and the prayer, and we leave. So hard, but Hermana García and I practice every day so I can contribute more...FAITH!

So the people here wear a lot of t-shirts with english writing on them...and I doubt they know what it says, because one guy around 30 or so was wearing one that said ¨World's Greatest Grandma¨ I laughed so hard when I saw that, and Hermana García asked, but I couldn't explain it because I was laughing so hard, and because Hermana García speaks spanish. Oh well. haha

One night, when we were walking back to our pension, I heard the scariest noise of my life. You know on I am Legend how those zombie human creature bald things scream? That's exactly what I heard, and I was like "Oh my gosh, I'm gonna die." and I practically dragged Hermana. García back home. blllleeeeghhhhh

One day when were were knocking on doors, a lady answered and of course said "I'm too busy, another day, yeah?" and then she told us to wait, and she came back with this HUGE plate of donuts she just pulled out of the oven, and gave us each one...oh boy they were good. Haha, we'll be going back to her house soon ;)

The people here in Chile LOVE to ask me if I know anyone famous...hahah I don't know why, but since I´m from the United States, I gotta know someone, right? Especially when I say I was born in California..that gets them going. haha But I tell them that David Archuleta is a famous singer, and he´s a missionary here in Chile, and they can't believe it. They don't know who he is here, but they go and look him up on YouTube while we're talking, and they believe me that he's famous, but they can't believe someone famous can be Mormon and on a mission in their country...fun stuff haha

The other night as we were leaving a teaching appointment, we passed a couple with a stroller on the street, and they stopped us and asked us if we were part of a religion! They said they've always wanted to know about the Mormon church. We gave them a Book of Mormon and invited them to church. They didn't come BUT we're going to visit them and see if they've read some and whatnot...They're names are David and Marcia! I hope all goes well!

So every Saturday and Sunday we eat with members (technically every day because a lady in the ward makes us lunch) and this weekend we ate at a member's restaurant down town...they have the nicest restaurant here! It would even be considered really nice back home...except the prices are wayyyyyy cheap. They're nicest plate is like 12 bucks...I told Hermana García that at Milt's, our nicest plate cost around $60 (which is about $30 here) and she about had a heart attack haha.

So the custom here when people greet is to kiss them on the cheek. Obviously we can't do that with men...well one investigator that came to church, Alberto, (I'm guessing he's about 16..we haven´t asked him yet), he was leaning in to kiss me on the cheek, and I had to stop him and explain why we couldn't...so awkward. hahah But at least he won't try again!

Oh! One night, we were walking to visit someone, and I felt like we had to visit the Pastén family instead, so we went there, visited, shared a scripture and what not, and left. I had no idea why I felt like we had to because everything seemed fine...and I couldn't understand what they were saying...haha, but afterward Hermana García said that they were having a bad time and were thinking about us and thinking about calling us to come over, and we showed up! Cool huh!!! I hope everything got better :)

Here are a few pictures of me & my companion Hermana Garcia being ourselves!

Have a great week!

Hermana Howell

¨¿Me entiende?¨

April 1, 2013

HELLLOOOOOOOOOO!

Oh boy, it's been crazy. I have so much to tell you!!! 

So here in Copiapó (my area being Copayapu), I'm blonde. We all know I'm not, but they call every white person blonde. And I'm not kidding, one day three families in a row we visited, they call me Hermana Barbie, because I´m tall, white,¨blonde¨ and skinny. I tower over these people which is so weird for me since back home, I'm usually one of the shortest! So they call me Hermana Barbie, or Hermana Blanquita. I think you can figure that one out. Hahah, it's fun. The people look at me like they've never seen a white person before...which I suppose they haven't, but there's been white missionaries here before! Haha, who knows, but I'm a wonder here...and on top of that, I can't speak Spanish, so I'm suuuuper chueco (weird). It's fun.

The Chileno people here ALWAYS say ¨¿Me entiende?¨ (¨Do you understand me?¨) Always, always, always they say that. At first I thought it was just because I don't speak Spanish, but they say it all the time...even when they aren't talking to me! In church, everyone who stood at the pulpit said it at least a billion times (which, by the way, I had no idea what was going. I caught the words ¨diezmo¨ which is tithing, and ¨sacerdocio¨ which is priesthood). And even when they are talking to me, and they ask if I understand, they don't wait for me to say ¨NO I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING!¨ because they speak so fast here. Chilenos are the fastest Spanish speakers ever. If you can understand them, you can understand anyone. How fast they speak is the least of my worries. They also slur and drop endings and S's all the time. ALL THE TIME. It might take me a while...hahah but that's to be expected.

Since the last time I wrote, we found 4 new investigators!!! Super cool. And one of them even came to church. Her name is Yoseline (Jocelyn), and she's 19 years old. She is soooo sweet and is really curious and respectful about the gospel. Her dad even said it was okay for her to be baptized. The other three are going nicely. One man, Jaime (pronounced Hi-may) has muchas preguntas. Muchas muchas preguntas. I have no idea what they are....hahaha but I know he has questions. We were teaching him the second lesson, the Plan of Salvation, and Hermana Garcia was listing the ¨steps¨ we need to recieve salvation (faith, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end). However, right when she said ¨faith in Jesus Christ¨ I really felt like I had to stop her. I did and I asked ¨¿Tiene fe en Jesucristo?" He paused and answered some long thing that I didn't understand, but what I got out of it was no. He's unsure about everything. So we need to go back to step one and help him develop that faith.

I haven't gotten sick yet!!! I´m super surprised. You know on that movie ¨The Errand of Angels¨ where they HAD to eat all the food? No leftovers? Well, that rule is true. We have to eat everything that is served us, or the people get super offended. They are really poor here in Chile, but they serve us all they have because they love us and want to serve us, so they give us a TON of food. It was hard the very first day to eat everything, but it hasn't been a problem since, because we don't have dinner here! Nope! We don't have it scheduled into our day, because no one here in Chile actually has dinner. They have like a midnight snack called once (own-say...which actually means 11), but that's it. So I'm always hungry. I also have no choice but to eat what they serve us whether it's washed with the water here or not. The juice made with tap water? Have to drink it unless I wanna offend someone. I was really scared at first, but Heavenly Father helped me out. Like I said, I haven't gotten sick yet. That's not to say I won't, but let's hope I never do!

So the walls here are so thin, that it sounds like a window is always open. Usually there is a window always open, but for instance, in our apartment, at night, when obviously everything is shut and locked, I can still here clearly what's going on outside. I definitely took for granted EVERYTHING back home. We have no air conditioning or heating in any building. I'm fine because I have three blankets, and sometimes I actually sweat at night, but when I get out of bed, it's so cold and the floor is freezing! It's getting into their winter here, so it gets really cool at night. The days are still hot as ever though, but you know me! I love the heat! But one morning, I woke up around 5:45 because the stray dogs outside were having a party or something. Every single dog in the world was barking. It was like in 101 Dalmations where one would bark and then another and then another...gah it was so loud and annoying! I couldn´t get back to sleep until the alarm went off (naturally). And I definitley took for granted hot showers...or showers with pressure...gah, I hate showering. I mean, I like to feel nice and clean...but the process is brutal. But that's life in Chile, and it's really humbling. To see people living in shacks and yet they are so happy...it makes me really grateful for what I have back home.

So you know how General Conference is this weekend? I was going to cry because it would be in Spanish, and I wouldn't be able to hear the prophet's voice (something I've never had to be sad about before)...but then I find that they broadcast it in English here! For all the gringo missionaries! Yay! I'm happy again...haha.

Well, that's all for now!  Adios!

Hermana Howell

I'm in Chile!

March 26, 2013

Hey! I´m in Chile!!! 

The whole trip took about 2 days...ick. I am in a city called copayapo (I think that´s how it´s spelled....i don´t know haha). It´s about 8 hours south of Antofagasta. Once I arrived in Antofagasta, I had about an hour or two to meet and eat with the president, and I was off on a bus south. We arrived about 1 in the morning. It´s sooooo....weird. My companion, Hermana Garcia, is from Mexico, and guess what...yep, she doesn´t speak a word of english. It´s hard to communicate. Really hard. I feel like crying all the time because it´s so frustrating. I can speak very little with her because I know so little and she speaks so fast! I can tell she´s trying to slow down, but I´m still lost. Good thing she´s so sweet and patient. She trying to learn english, so what she does know she tries to say...but trust me, like the only words she knows is ¨whats up¨ and ¨cookies¨.  We went grocery shopping today, and that was scary! GROCERY SHOPPING...SCARY. Who would´ve thought, the simplest thing in the world. I had no idea what the prices meant or what the products even said. I recognized brands, but I couldn´t tell between shampoos and lotions...so that was fun. There are so many stray dogs here, it´s ridiculous. I´m pretty sure there was a dead one on the sidewalk last night. I couldn´t tell, but I thought it was dead. No one cares! The dogs just roam the streets eating whatever, but I expected that. I´ve only seen one or two dogs that actually belong to someone. 

It´s so hot here, I love it! But it´s so embarrassing to be the whitest person in town. I´ve already had 2 people comment on how white and skinny I am. hahaha hopefully the sun fixes my whiteness!!! The food is really sketchy because of the water they use with it. This town has the worst water (so I´ve heard) so I have to be careful, but they also said I have to get used to it somehow since that´s what they cook the food in...so I´ll be sick for a little bit. I´m not sick yet (knock on wood), but hopefully WHEN I do get sick, it´s not too bad and not too long. 

There´s so much I want to tell you! I don´t even remember everything! Oh, we visited a man named Gilberto, and he was the nicest man ever! He was so forgiving with my Spanish. He just laughed and my companion explained. It was difficult to contribute when I had no idea what they were talking about, but I just bore my testimony about the scriptures, and that seemed to be enough. Tonight we´re meeting with a familia...I hope I catch some words that fly around the room. I´m sure they talk about how gringa I am and how they could say so many things to me and all I would do is smile...hahaha.  

Anyway, the plane ride here was pretty nice. We had all three meals on the plane ride to Santiago (that´s how long it was). We had a layover in Lima, Peru, so that was cool, but I was in the very middle of the plane, I didn´t have a window seat, so I didn´t see much of Peru.  The stop was about 30 minutes. We stopped in Peru and people got off and more got on. We never got off. Oh, they love their Christina Aguliera and Avril Lavigne here!!! Hahaha that made me laugh. Most of the music 
I´ve heard is Christina, and SOOOOO many people have asked me if I like Avril Lavigne and that I even look like her.  That was something I never heard before.  My zone is great. Of course there are missionaries there who also speak English, which is muy bien! There are about 10 (??) in our zone, and only about 4 are latinos, so yeah. Anyway, I don´t have much time. I´m sure I´ll have much more to say next time! 

I expected this first transfer to be really hard. I´m already frustrated and scared, but don´t worry, I know the Lord will help me. I always have to remind myself that He will never forsake me. The people here are so nice. And guess what, it´s already a little hard to remember English! not totally, hahahahah oh boy its a long time before I´m fluent, but some of these words were hard to remember. Ok, I have to go now! 


Hermana Howell

This is the day I arrived in Antofagasta