CIAO!

Dearest everyone,

Can I tell you how I know that an investigator really has great potential? Every time we try to watch the Joseph Smith movie, it always has some kind of problem where we can't finish it. Then we'll try it out in the portable DVD player that we have for training, and it works just fine. It's happened EVERY SINGLE TIME with a really good investigator. But that's okay. We always find our way around it and the Spirit is still felt and strong every time.

There was a stake activity this last Saturday, and Hermana Maldonado and I played the guitar and sang "As Sisters in Zion"...we were so nervous but everyone told us that is was beautiful. I would have a video to show you, but Hermana Maldonado was so nervous that she left the camera on the seat when we went up.....but we have other videos from practicing in the house haha....maybe one day you'll see one of those.

So can I just tell you how amazing these past 18 months have been? I can't believe this is my last letter and I'll see you guys in a week. It still feels unreal. But I have really loved being a missionary. I have really seen lives changed, especially my own. My testimony of the restored gospel is stronger, and I have felt my Savior's love. It's true what they say that it's the hardest thing you'll ever do, but it really also is the most rewarding. I did feel inadequate, and I still do sometimes. I did feel discouraged, confused, tired, but you know what, if I hadn't experienced all that, I wouldn't have been able to experience all the GREAT things that happened, like feeling the Spirit, love, happiness, satisfaction after a hard days work, and so much more.

I know that this gospel is true and that God lives. I know that the most important thing we'll ever do in this life is share the gospel. I'm also forever grateful for all your support and love. I couldn't have done it without you.

So go out and share the gospel. Someone's life needs changing.

Love,

Hermana Jennifer Howell

Chile Antofagasta Mission

Feb. 2013 - Aug. 2014

Some of my favorite memories:

Coolest & Scariest Experience

HOLA.

Well, this week was pretty normal, full of sweet lessons and dogs barking at us (Hermana Maldonado screams pretty loud, just so ya´ll know), and most importantly, feeling the Spirit.

But on Saturday, it was the coolest/scariest experience.....so at lunch we ate at this family´s house and the son (who served in Columbia) told us this story where they jumped him and everything. It was seriously an intense story. Well, that night we were walking towards our investigator´s house, and we were talking about that story, when we noticed these men following us (who knows if we were just scared about the story we had heard, or if it was for real, but we were scared). We crossed the street to see if they were really following us, AND THEY CROSSED TOO. About at this moment, we're winning the gold medal in speed walking, and Hermana Maldonado says "Over here!!!" We dodge into this little store on the corner of the street with faces that I'm sure scared the guy behind the counter. He asked us if we were okay, and we told him that there were these guys following us. He went out to go "talk" to them (I don't know what he had in mind), but they had already gone. We started talking to him and getting to know him...and guess what...he's our investigator now! He's a cool guy. He's 50 years old, but looks like he's 30 (for real). He lived in New York for like 15 years and studied cullinary arts there. He had this little shop of Indie music, but it didn't go well so he came back to Antofagasta. He asked a TON of questions that are easily answered by the gospel....his name is Yoso (I don't know how to spell it) but it's Joseph in Croatian or something like that. Maybe the Lord "pushed" us into that little store! Who knows but he's awesome.

I love you all :) Keep yourself safe!

Hermana Jennifer Howell

Inactives, Investigators and Baptisms, oh my!

Hey all!

Hope all is well! This has been a really great week :)

MONDAY: Family Home Evening with one of our coolest investigators, Thomas, and his girlfriend, Dyana (who's a member). We watched that video "Together Forever" and even though it's super old, it was PERFECT to watch with them. He's gonna get baptized :)

WEDNESDAY: We visited this little old lady who's inactive. It was so sad to see her. She's got like the beginnings of Alzheimers or something like that, and she started to cry because nobody goes to visit her...it broke our heart. Hermana Maldonado started to cry. We just thought about our own mommies and how we couldn't leave them abandoned like that. GO VISIT THE ELDERLY. They just need some love.

THURSDAY: Interviews with President! It was good and both I and Hermana Maldonado seemed to pass haha ;)

FRIDAY: We decided to contact a reference from the office that we actually received forever ago, but she never answered her phone. Well, we FINALLY were able to share with her...and she's GOLDEN. She's from Colombia and lives in this TINY room with her husband and two little boys. She started to cry because she knew that during the trials in her life when she needed to get closer to God, she actually went further away. It was so sad. She's so stressed out.

SATURDAY: We invited that same investigator to a baptism in another ward. Her husband went too!!!! We arrived late to the baptism, but it was still a good experience. It was nice to get out of the house I think. After the baptism, we had a FHE with this part-member family. We watched the "Together Forever" again, and once again, it was perfect. The wife isn't a member, and she started to cry. Good thing the Spirit was with us to know what to say!

SUNDAY: The investigator family that went to the baptism also went to church yesterday (along with 3 other investigators as well)!!! Despite not having ANYTHING, they look happy. They literally have nothing, not even a little money so her husband could ride the bus to work! A sister from the ward, along with the 1st counselor and another brother from the ward went and bought groceries and gave them money. I could tell she was SO grateful to receive it. Also, after lunch, we went to another investigators house with the Garrison (the investigator from last week where we watched the Joseph Smith movie). He said he'd be baptized when he knows that this is true!!! WOOOO!!!

TODAY: We went to Mejillones with Thomas and Dyana!!! It's a nice little town, and they treated us to lunch and this really good restaurant. I don't know what type of fish I had, but it was SOOOOO good.....Red Lobster awaits!!! :)

I hope all is well with you all like it is for me here! :)

Love,

Hermana Jennifer Howell

Me & Hermana Maldonado

Mummy :}

Dogs...........:{

HOLA.

So actually, this week was HILARIOUS. Maybe not in the moment when it happened, but now that I think about it, I'm dying I'm laughing so hard.

Last week when we were coming down the mountain from a members house, it was already dark, so we were walking pretty fast, and we passed by this dog that was sleeping. I guess we scared it or something, because it started growling, then it got up and was barking at us. Hermana Maldonado was screaming "sale sale Sale SALEEEEEEEE!!!!!" And I wanted to scream "Recoil....release!" (hahahah) and we ran down the hill. The dog didn't chase after us but kept barking. As soon as we turned the corner, a less active said "HERMANAS!" and...oh how embarrassing, I totally biffed it because she scared me!

THEEENNN, this last Tuesday, we went and tried to visit that less active who lives on that corner. Well, she wasn't home, so we decided to head up the hill to visit more people. Well, we totally forgot that dog lives there...so we turned the corner, and there it was lying on the sidewalk. As soon as it saw us, it started growling. We crossed the street to maybe walk up the other side and not bother it...but it got up and started crossing the street too!!! But the owner called him over and said that we could pass by because he had his dog. PHEW. So we passed and we were actually up the hill pretty far, WAY pass the house, you couldn't even see it anymore, when all of sudden I hear a barking, and I turned and the dog is CHARGING toward us. Okay, at about this moment we know we're going to die. So I practically fall to the ground picking up as many rocks as I find to chuck at the dog to scare it away, and I hear it coming closer and closer. Hermana Maldonado has already run further up the street screaming "SOMEBODY HELP US PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!" I'm all like,"Hermana help me get more rocks!!!!!" But she's already hyperventilating. I get up off the ground and I start booking it as I'm chucking rocks at this dang dog coming to eat us alive. I honestly don't remember what happened next because of all the adrenaline and my life passing before my eyes all going on in my head, but I just remember running down one street and the dog wasn't there anymore. There were some guys fixing their car and some ladies that live in the street that were laughing their heads off. I was angry at the moment and just wanted to yell at them"Ok, let us get eaten alive. And I'm here trying to save your soul!!!!" But now that I think about it...it probably was pretty hilarious to see...

And about every day all week, there have been dogs that HATE us! I don't know what's changed, but we walk with boulders in our pockets. Haha, WHAT AN ADVENTURE.

Well, Wednesday we had the FHE with Elder Gimenez and his family with Carla and her family. OF COURSE it was a good lesson. Something Elder Gimenez said I liked a lot. He said "Si el Señor lo pide, es porque se puede."  "If the Lord asks, it's because it can be done." We talked about prayer and always studying the scriptures. Then afterwards, we told our story of the devil dog, and everyone was laughing so hard with tears in their eyes. Good night :)

Yesterday was a wonderful day as well. An investigator came to church...it was his first time. He always denied the invitation to go to church. Hermana Maldonado and I gave talks yesterday in Sacrament Meeting, and in the middle of my talk, I looked up, and there he was with his wife and kids. I was so happy and surprised, I couldn't remember what I was going to say...awkward silence...but it was awesome. Later that night, we went to their house with the Garrisons and we watched the Joseph Smith movie. That movie is so awesome, and the Garrisons have this special spirit, I don't know what it is, but whenever we take them with us to lessons, something clicks with the investigators, and they start progressing more! They're our secret weapon. Haha no, but it was perfect. Our investigator really seems to be making some changes now :)

I'm glad to hear everyone's surviving :) Thank you for your prayers, love, and support! I pray for you guys every day. Love you all :)

Love,

Hermana Jennifer Howell

Family Home Evening!

Hey all!

This week was pretty normal, but also super :) On Wednesday, Hermana Tuft and Hermana Albornoz stayed with us because they had to come to Antofagasta to got to the dentist (Hermana Albornoz's molar fell out...lack of calcium. DON'T FORGET TO DRINK YOUR OVALTINE!). But it was nice to see them again. Hadn't seen them for a while! :)

That Wednesday night, we had had a FHE planned with an investigator and a family in the ward. Well, last minute, the family cancelled on us, and we were calling like crazy every family in the ward to see if they could have us for a last-minute FHE. NOBODY could do it, except one sister. She literally saved our lives. And it was perfect! She's now the official friend of our investigator :)

Yesterday was awesome! First off, the Gimenez family invited us to eat at their house. We shared a scripture, and I was so nervous to be teaching a member of the 70...haha but it was great. We planned a FHE with him and his family this Wednesday with Carla and her family (the lady who was baptized this past Saturday).

Last night we had a FHE that was the best one so far in my mission. The Garrisons went (the senior couple), the previous bishop and his family, the president of the Relief Society and Elders Quorum (they're married) and we went to the house of a sister who's recently activating herself from a HARD life she's had. It was spiritual. We talked about eternal families. Each couple shared their stories of how they met, and really what's it's been like the married life. Then Elder Garrison promised the sister that one day her day will come where she'll find a husband that God has prepared for her. It was a good lesson.

Well, today, a dream came true. HOT WINGS. I about died. They were SOOOOOOO good.

Well, that's about it for this week! Love you all :)

Hermana Howell

The Work is Great!

I know I say this about every week....but this was the best week ever!!! I don't know, but somehow it gets better every week :)

On Tuesday we went to this house for a FHE. The couple aren't married (but they don't live together! WOO!) and the man isn't a member. The woman was inactive for YEARS, and get this...HE activated HER, and he's not even a member. We listened to their story....wow. We all ended up crying. It was so perfect in that little house. He's definitely ready to be baptized, the only thing is that he lives in the other sector....oh well, doesn't matter. All he wants is the best for his 3 little girls. He works 7 days and rests 7 days, and he says in those 7 days he's working, he misses his family too much. He needs to know if they can be closer and be an eternal family! PERFECT. The Spirit was so strong. They are my favorite family :)

We also have a new investigator (referral from two different members). She as well is looking for the true church. She's been studying the Bible for 6 months. She didn't believe in God before, and she still hasn't shared with us her experience that made her believe that God existed, but now she's looking. And we're there to answer her questions. She asked if there was like after death, and we said YES! and that families can be together forever. She perked up when we said that. She's a great investigator.

On Friday, we went to the house of a less-active (that we didn't know he was a less-active before we went). We taught them the first lesson, him and his wife. He cried 2 times during the lesson, and went to the baptism we had this week! One sister from the ward recognized him. She came up to us all excited and said "We were baptized the same day 40 years ago!!!!!!!" and she went and was their friend.

Carla's baptism was perfect. The Spirit was the strongest I've ever felt in a baptism. One couple from the ward sang and that was when the Spirit just hit everyone like a ton of bricks. Afterwards Carls bore her testimony, and you just KNEW that the Spirit was with us. It was perfect!

All this is why I love being a missionary. I have a front-row seat to the greatest miracles in the world! I see people's lives be changed and blessed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. There really is no other feeling like it. I'm gonna miss this.

Con amor,

Hermana Jennifer Howell

¡¡¡¡CHI-CHI-CHI, LE-LE-LE, VIVA CHILE!!!!

So this week was a pretty good one. First things first...there were two games this week for Chile. The first one they won and the one today they lost. GAHHHHHHHH. But President gave us permission to watch the game today (with conditions of course), and it was sad because we lost. Not ONE goal. LAME. Ah well, at least Chile still doesn't go home. People told me yesterday that the States tied with Portugal. Apparently it was a surprise for all. Hahah. These Chileans are sure passionate about their futbol.

This week we recieved 4 references!! 2 from a sister who's inactive, another one from that man that stopped us in the street last week, and get this...one sister from the ward gave us this referral that is her friend in the salon. Afterwards, we went to a baptism in the other ward and a sister from that ward gave us the SAME referral...sooo, she's pretty much gold. We're gonna stop by her house tomorrow! WOOO HOOOOOOOO

Our investigator who got married last week, Carla, had her interview. OF COURSE she passed. So her baptism is this Saturday at noon! Woooo I'm so excited for her. She is very ready. We finished up the lessons the other day, and she shared her testimony...the Spirit was so strong. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY.

Friday we had zone conference! It was a really good conference. We did this one activity with the Book of Mormon where they pulled questions out of a box and we had to find scriptures only from the Book of Mormon to answer them. Some of them were easy, and others we had to look a little harder to find, but it was cool because it showed us just how many answers we really CAN answer with the Book of Mormon.

Funny quote of the week: "Our country isn't that big, but we expand like ants." It was so funny because Hermana Maldonado was talking about how if you look at events that have happened in history of the world, there's ALWAYS a Chilean somewhere in there. Hahaha.

Well, that's about it for this week! Hope all is well!

Hermana Jennifer Howell

 ¡¡¡¡CHI-CHI-CHI, LE-LE-LE, VIVA CHILE!!!!

Two Weddings and the World Cup

Hey all!

This week was perfect. There were two weddings in the ward (one being our investigator). It was so wonderful to see her get married and work on aligning her life with the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This week we had a new investigator, and we put a baptismal date with him in the first lesson. He's prepared. He stopped us in the street and asked if we could help him answer his questions. Then, the next day, another man stopped us in the street and said we wanted to meet with us and that him and his wife and son will be waiting to recieve us. I can now see that God really does people in our paths and that THEY find US sometimes.

So, it's the World Cup (????) for soccer (I don't remember if that's what it's called in English...it's the MUNDIAL in Spanish...bueno. that.), and Chile is NUTS for soccer. So whenever Chile plays, the streets are crazy! It's kinda fun to hear everyone screaming and cheering on their country. GO CHILE. Oh, and go America...haha

So these next few weeks we're gonna have a couple baptisms! The ward is growing and getting excited to help us out! I love this work! :)

¡CUÍDENSE!

Alms for the Poor

So, I tell you about this great week? Yeah, so we were able to meet with our investigator, Karla, you know, the one who's gonna get married and then baptized? Well, this week we taught her the Law of Chastity, Word of Wisdom, and Tithinng and Fast offerings...she took it so well. She was all like "I guess I gotta quit drinking tea. Oh well. Fun while it lasted." hahah, but she is perfect! We just can't wait! The days don't pass fast enough!!

Yesterday, we went with this couple in the ward (the husband is Elders Quorum Pres and she's Relief Society Pres) and with another brother from the ward, and we went out and gave food to the homeless. It was so fun and awesome to meet and talk with people and hear their stories. A lot of them were surprised to see us because people don't just give them food....and hope for a better life! One lady started crying, and another young man was really touched and almost cried. I really liked it.

There's not much to report this week, but I just wanna say that serving a mission is the best!!!! I hope you're all having a great a time as I am!

Love,

Hermana Jennifer Howell

Referrals! Woo hoo!

So let me tell you about this week.

You know those bags they gave the whole mission to use instead of backpacks? Mine already broke. Good luck to those missionaries who just started their missions. Mine lasted 3 weeks. Good thing Hermana Garcia left another bag in the house, so I'm using that one.

This week, we received about a million referrals! Okay, I wish, but more like 5 or 6, and that's a lot! The ward here in Antofa is really getting motivated about missionary work! Our prayers are being answered. And we finally have a ward mission leader! He just returned from his mission in Brazil. Literally JUST returned, on Wednesday. Hahaha he still speaks weird. I'm now able to hear different accents. It's fun!

This last Saturday, the ward had a baptism of an 8 year old boy, and we found out his dad isn't a member. There's a lot of sisters here in the ward where the husband isnt a member, so we've been working a lot with those families! A few of them have great potential!

So all day yesterday and today I was sick. Yesterday I woke up with an upset stomach and this morning I had chest pains, but not like heartburn. But it was like a burning in my lungs. My whole body hurt and I had like no strength. I asked my district leader and his companion to give me a blessing, and afterwards, I immediately felt better. Now, I feel fine. Just hungry cuz I haven't eaten much of anything for the past two days! The priesthood really is the power of God! Woo hooo! :)

Hasta luego,

Hna. Jennifer Howell

Praise the Man

Hey everyone!!!

This was probably one of the best weeks EVER. I met MI HIJA! Woooooohooooooo. She is AWESOME. She's from Santiago and she hilarious. Everything she says is hilarious, and I really don't know why. Her name is Hermana Maldonado and we're basically the same person. Get this. She was obsessed with the Jonas Brothers. I FOUND MY LATIN TWIN. Haha, nah, but she has the strongest testimony! Everytime she shares it, the world shakes. (Literally, we're in Chile.) No haha, but it's powerful. We get along so well. She makes training easy. Okay, I've never done it before, but everyone says it's stressful. Maybe it will be down the line, but for now, she's making my job easy! :)

So yesterday we went and visited a members who's daughter isn't a member. The dad won't give her permission to get baptized (she's 16). It was the most powerful lesson I've been in. The daughter has always gone to church with her mom (the member obv) since she was little, and she's pretty much a member, just without baptism. Well we asked her if she needed anything or had any questions. She started crying and said that she just didn't know if everything she has ever been sure of was true anymore. Hermana Maldonado was inspired to tell her story about how SHE knew that all the things her parents had taught were the truth. Then we shared about Joseph Smith. If Joseph Smith didn't have questions, we wouldn't be in her house testifying of this great cause. I felt so much love for that little girl! We definitely felt the Spirit testify.

I hope all is well and that you're all enjoying that heat! SUMMAH TIME uughhhhh ;)

Much love!

Hermana Jennifer Howell

Conference with Elder and Sister Spannaus

MI HIJA!

I Love this song about Joseph Smith

A Great & Wonderful Week!

Wow, what a great and wonderful week. We have a new Relief Society president (who actually served in this mission!). She realizes the importance of members in missonary work, because she went out with us this week to visit a bunch of part-member families. Yesterday, we had a Family Home Evening with her and her husband at a family's home who's wife is inactive and the father isn't a member. It went really well. We are wanting to put a baptismal date with him very soon and help make them an eternal family! I'm so excited to see what these next few months bring.

Funny story of the week: So our water ran out and we had to go buy a new one. It's those big huge gallon jugs that you have to turn upside down right? Well, it was so hilarous, we bought it and were trying to put it in the dispenser....just goes to show that we need to do some push-ups...we could NOT do it! It was so hilarious, and laughing our heads off while trying to lift it did not help. Took away all the little strength we had! Well, we also dropped it and water went EVERYWHERE...oh man. What an adventure. We finally got it in the dispenser. Whew. Hahahahaha!

We had a Seventy come visit us this week! Elder Alin Spannaus. It was a REALLY good conference. Practically the best one I've been to! He talked about the elements that make up everything we should do, and of course LOVE was in the middle of it all. If we don't have love for the people, the work, the Lord, then why are we here? Then what are we doing? It was awesome!

So transfers are here! Hermana Rojas will be leaving me and going to Arica! And I'll be staying here training! Wooo, I'm excited, and a little nervous, but I'm happy that the Lord has trusted me to teach one of His new missionaries.

I hope all is well! I love you all so much! :)

Hermana Jennifer Howell

Awesome Members

Hey everyone!

This week was pretty cool. Being able to see you guys was great! Hallejuah for Skype! Everyone is so big! (As in older hahaha)

This week we went over to an investigators house and watched the Joseph Smith movie! That movie is magic. She really felt the Spirit, as did the rest of us, and she KNEW Joseph Smith was a prophet. Awesome! I love that movie! Watch it again if you haven't lately!

We had a lot of members go with us to lessons, and one was particularly good. We took a sister from the ward to meet a referral that the office passed us. Everything went great in the lesson, and after we left, the sister said that she felt a huge need to help the investigator. She said that she wants to plan a family home evening and invite her and help her come to church. It was awesome to see the enthusiasm build in that member!

I hope all is well! Love you all!

¡Cuídense!

Hna. Howell

Finding Members

Hey all!

Well this week went well. We really needed to find more investigators, because we don't have much. We decided to clean up a bit the ward member list. A lot of people don't live in our ward anymore, but haven't transferred their records, so we have like 1200 names haha. Well, only about 160, so we figured we would go around and knock on doors to find out who still lives where. We were looking for someone, and this girl answered the door and immediately as I saw her face, I felt something special. She let us in and she immediately told us her name, that she's not a member, and that she wants to get baptized. SURPRISE. She is living with the less active, but she said that they are gonna get married. FINGERS CROSSED. She said she was looking and looking and everyone told her to just ask God. So she did, and that night she said she dreamed the temple. ANSWER. So she woke up with this huge desire to be baptized and go to church. Wow, what a blessing it was to find her. The problem is that her whole family is Evangelico (I have no idea what that is in English...) and she's afraid of how her dad is going to react. So that's the tricky part! But so cool to find her!

So this week since Friday, we haven't had water in our house. Apparently the bill wasn't paid. It's been an adventure with having to shower in the Hermana's house in the other sector every morning, and planning perfectly to go to the bathroom in houses hahahaha. But we talked with Elder Adams and asked why....well, he's got it all fixed so we should have water tonight. WOOO. (Ps...Elder Adams went to Desert Hills, and his brother is a senior. Don't know his name hahah, but yeah, maybe Sarah knows him!) Fun fact.

So we helped a sister with stuff for her baby shower. Here they really go out with their baby showers. Maybe I didn't realize it before, and it's the same in the States, but I don't think so. I mean ALL OUT. It's nuts how much they do and make for a baby shower! But it was fun :)

We watched the CES Broadcast, and it was pretty cool if I do say so myself. I liked it a lot. Did you guys watch it?

Well, I love you all!!!! Tell me what's up :)

Hna. Howell

Every Member a Missionary!

Hey everyone!

What an amazing week! The members are really getting crazy about this missionary buisness! We have received more referrals than I ever have in my whole mission, and yesterday, the members went out to visit and strenthen the inactives, and came back with more referrals!!!! I am so grateful that they are here and ready to help and support us :)

We have a great new investigator! Her mom is inactive, but she's always wondered what it is we believe. We taught her the Restoration and then yesterday she came to church! She is progressing nicely. I am loving it here!!!!! I feel so happy :)

So we had two baptisms this week in the ward! They were so great and spiritual and wonderful and awesome and all of the above. These people really are happy, and when they're happy, I'm happy!

I love you all.

Hna. Jennifer Howell

Because of Him

¡Buenas tardes a todos!

How nice to hear about the great weather up there. The weather isn't too bad here in the city, but it really does cool down at night...like a lot!!! But it's fun to wrap ourselves in blankets and read the scriptures :)

To be honest, I kind of forgot it was Easter until the senior missionary couple that shares the sector with us came up and said "Happy Easter!" and I was like, "Oh yeah! Today's Easter! Whoa..." But it was a good Sunday :) The lesson in Gospel Principles was the best! They talked about the priesthood, and Elder Garrison shared a really powerful story about when they gave a blessing to his neighbor. The Spirit was definitely felt. He told about his neighbors that had 7 children, and felt like they needed to add one more to the bunch, but the mother had a really bad heart condition. She was already pregnant with the 8th child and were told that because of her heart condition, she wouldn't live. Nobody ever lived. So they prayed and fasted and talked to leaders of the Church, and they told her it was okay to have an abortion because her life was at risk, but they prayed and fasted even more and felt they needed to continue. So the husband asked Elder Garrison if he could give his wife a blessing, because he was afraid that if he gave the blessing, he would say what HE wanted to happen, not what God wanted. So Elder Garrison gave the blessing, and in the blessing he said that she would have good health throughout the pregnancy and that she would live long enough to get to know her baby, and for the baby to get to know her. Well, they went through with it and everything, and the baby and the mom both lived and the baby was super healthy, normal. The mother lived 7 months to get to know her child, and then passed away. And they named the baby Faith. But because of the priesthood and the blessing, and the faith of everyone, she was able to give birth (the only case in history to live through giving birth) and live 7 more months. It was powerful. How blessed we are to have worthy men posess the power of God and be able to preach, heal, and serve with that power. Do you realize that without the priesthood, we wouldn't be able to progress in the plan of salvation? We wouldn't be able to be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, make and keep sacred covenants in the temple, like the sealing of families, and of course the work for the dead. The priesthood is essential!

This week, we lost two investigators. Both of them want nothing to do with us anymore. But we didn't hear it directly from them. Someone else told us what they had supposedly told them. We don't know what happened with either of them, but oh well. That's all part of missionary work. People have their free agency, we can't force them to listen to us. But I sure hope that one day they might see missionaries again and feel something special and want to talk to them again.

So Antofagasta is gigantic, right? Well, I'm new here, and Hermana Rojas is kind of too. She's been here already two transfers, but since it's HUGE, she still doesn't know a whole lot about the city. Well, the other day we wanted to go back home from the mission office, and we got on the bus that we THOUGHT headed by the house...wrong. We ended up heading for the other side of the city!!! Pucha....it was hilarious, we were laughing our heads off, but also a little worried of how we were gonna get back to our side of Antofa. We recognized the chapel where the zone leaders go, so we got off there and took the bus that we KNEW for SURE headed our way. Oh boy, that was a nice little adventure.

On Friday, it was the birthday of an inactive, and his wife (also inactive) invited us over for lunch. They are really nice less-actives who rent out bedrooms to foreign students. They invited like, EVERYONE. We met one girl that's living with them right now from Lithuania (I don't remember, is that how it's spelled in English?) and another girl who used to live with them from Belgium. We had a really great conversation! They asked us questions about the church and everything. And I felt sooooo much love for them, especially the girl from Belgium. I wanted so bad for her to feel that there IS a God, who is her Father, and that He loves her SO much. It was a really good talk!

The zone leaders had a baptism on Saturday, and we took our investigator, Karla (who still talks to us!), to go see what a baptism is like. The lady being baptized was the sweetest lady ever. She's a little old lady, maybe late 70s, who is just so beautiful. As soon as we walked into the chapel, we could immediately feel the Spirit so strongly. The little old lady had the biggest smile on her face. It was a really beautiful service. They showed videos about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and it was just so wonderful and beautiful, I couldn't help but cry a little and just smile. This is the true gospel of Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ suffered and gave His life, then was resurrected all for US. So we can overcome spiritual and physical death as well. He loves us, DE VERDAD. And I felt so much love for Him, for what He did for me.

Because of Him, we will live too... http://easter.mormon.org/

Con todo mi corazón,

Hermana Jennifer Howell

What's Happening to Chile?!

¡Hola!

Well, this week I started work here in Antofagasta! The sector is gigantic, probably bigger than Taltal...It's huge. But there are really good people here. We met with the "friend" of one of the members (probably her boyfriend) and we talked and taught, and if everything goes well, he's getting baptized on June 14th! Woohoo!!! But really, as far as the work goes, not much else different going on! The members here are great and ready to give references!

Mainly, I'm just gonna talk about the crazy stuff happening in Chile. Well, you all have heard about the earthquake that happened a couple weeks back up in Iquique and Arica. There are still aftershocks happening, but nothing too terrible. But this week, maybe you haven't heard, but there's a huge fire burning up Valparaìso! That's just a little bit further south than our mission. There have been (from what I've heard) like about 500 houses burned. Poor people!!! Poor Chile!!! What is happening??!! Please keep Chile in your prayers!

Here are the pictures from the tsunami alert in the middle of the night...and the craziness happening in Chile.

Keep safe!!!

Love,

Hermana Howell

Earthquake in the North

Hanging at a safe zone till the tsunami alerts are lifted

Catastrophe in Valparaiso

After the Quake

Wow wow wow, this week needs to be taken one day at a time.

MONDAY: So last P-day was super relaxing, but right after lunch, I felt really sick. Remember when I had to take Prilosec before the mission? Well, I have to take it again. But since I've been taking it, I've been feeling better.

TUESDAY: So we had to travel to Copiapó for visa work for Hermana Carranza. They told us that we were gonna leave around 8, but then called again and said that we were leaving at 6. All was good, we left and got to Copiapó without any problems. When we hopped in the taxi to go the sister's house that we were gonna stay with in Copiapó, we heard stuff on the radio talking about a TERREMOTO (remember the Spanish lesson??? A terremoto is any earthquake above 6 on the Richter scale) and tsunami warnings. We asked what was going on, and the taxi driver told us that there was a terremoto in Iquique and Arica, 8.5. Then Elder Peralta (District Leader) called us and told us that Taltal also had tsunami warnings and that they were trying to find a place to stay, but not to worry (thanks). We were pretty worried, but the office Elders were calling everyone to see where we were.....

WEDNESDAY: Well, everything went okay in the morning for Hermana Carranza's visa. We walked around Copiapó a bit, and then went to the bus station to wait for our bus that supposedly left at 3:15 (left at 4 just FYI). Every tv and radio in Chile had news about the terremoto in Iquique. We had called the Elder's in the morning to see if Taltal was all good to come home too (would we have a house when we got back?!?! haha), and they said everything was fine. So we finally got on the bus and all was good for the rest of the night. We got home around 9 and everything was calm...

THURSDAY: When we went to bed Wednesday night, exactly at midnight, I woke up because I thought I heard a cat walking around on the roof. And the neighbors were making all kinds of noises. Then WHOOOOOOOOOOA....Tsunami warning. Oh you have no idea how fast we left our house. That cat? No, that was an earthquake. Another terremoto in Iquique, 8.2. How I didn't feel it, who knows, but as soon as that siren went off, we booked it out of our house. The Elder's called us to go to their house, and once we got there, we headed on over to a member's house. My heart was beating so fast. These Chilean's are just so calm...they are used to that kind of thing. Well I wasn't. But we couldn't stay with that member because their house isn't above the linea de seguridad (what would that be in English??), so we headed on over to the Relief Society President's house, and stayed there for the night. Well, we couldn't really sleep. Elder Peralta was saying how good it was that we headed to Copiapó the day before, because they were literally running around stressed out looking for a member to stay with. And it really was a blessing, how God took care of us. How we were gonna leave at 8 (when the terremoto happened), but that changed to 6. And how I barely got out of Iquique before all this happened...oh boy I am blessed. God knows that I'd probably not be able to handle too much of that. Hermana Quispe said that some buildings in our sector are practically on the ground, a lot of people are camping up on the mountains. Poor Iquique.

FRIDAY: Friday was a lot more calm. We painted a house that morning, had English Class, Seminary, and Mutual that night. But during mutual, they called for transfers. Hermana Carranza and I were so sure that we were both staying...no. Guess what. I'm getting transferred out of Taltal :( :( :( I really do not wanna leave. 6 weeks in one sector is NOT enough. But I'm finally heading to Antofagasta. Get this, I'm gonna be with my "sister". Her trainer is Hermana García as well! And Hermana García is headed to Iquique, but they took all the sister missionaries out of Iquique for like 2 weeks, so I'll be with my mamá and sister for two weeks! Hahaha crazy. I am excited to go to Antofagasta, but I really am having a hard time leaving Taltal. It really is the best place to be in the whole mission. Elder Peralta and Elder Preston even get to stay, and they've already been here 3 and 2 cambios! Sad, but I gotta trust that the Lord needs me in Antofa now. Again, we had to sleep in the members house until President says its okay to go back home....so we all headed there again.

SATURDAY: General Conference!!!!! Wooo, love it. I noticed that there was a lot of talking about faith and defending your beliefs. I was able to watch in English :) Yay. Saturday was super calm as well, but we still had to sleep in the members house...

SUNDAY: The Elders called in the morning telling us that now we can go back home and sleep in our own beds. Yay!!! General Conference was also good, obviously, but I had to watch it in Spanish. Don't know why, but that's how it was. It's just not the same, but still learned a lot.

TODAY: Well, finished packing today. I really don't know what I'm gonna do when I go home. Ugh. I hate packing. I leave Taltal around 3:30 today, so I should be getting to Antofagasta around 7. 

That was my super exciting week. Who knew that I would be part of a huge earthquake.....and tsunami. I'm still a little nervous everytime something moves, but Taltal (and supposedly Antofagasta) is pure rock, so you feel the earthquake, but not much damage happens. But be sure to pray for the people of Iquique and Arica especially, they had the worst part of it. I hope all is well over there! Keep safe :)

Love,

Hermana Howell

Taltal

So happy!!

¡Hola a mi familia y mis amigos!

The weeks just keep getting better and better. I'm sitting here in the internet café feeling so good, haha, and I really don't even know why! I just feel so happy. This past week was such a good week full of WORK, which always makes us happy. Hermana Carranza goes home in 7 weeks, so she just wants to work work work, and I love it. This past week we put a date for baptism with one of our investigators, Leo. He's a teenager who maybe has made a few wrong turns in his life, but wants to change so much. We're gonna try to prepare him for baptism on April 19th. Our last lesson with him, we taught him about the law of chastity, and he took it really well. He said it made sense to wait until marriage. Still, he says it's gonna be hard, but you can just see it in his eyes that he wants to do all he can to turn his life around. That's what I love about being a missionary...seeing that desire in the eyes of so many people, and seeing God change their lives, if they let Him.

We had splits with the sister leader trainers on Wednesday, and I got to work with Hermana Cluff from Mesa, AZ. She was so fun to work with. We went to the plaza here in Tal Tal and sang hymns. There was this man sitting all by himself listening to us sing, so we went over and talked to him, and shared a little bit about our purpose in life and how God loves him. He doesn't really live in Tal Tal, so I don't know what happened to him afterwards, but I know he felt at least a little bit of the Spirit.

Today, Hermana Carranza and I went to what's called La Puntilla, and it's this beach about 3 km out of Tal Tal (We walked of course. Missionaries.), and the water there is GREEN. But that pretty ocean green, and you can see right through the water. We sat there and enjoyed the creations of God. Woooo :)

Mom, I won´t be hearing for about another transfer...I lack about 4 1/2 months, and they start talking about all that stuff about 3 months left. So yeah, I'll be letting you know as soon as I know...BUT GAHHHHHHHH....4 AND A HALF MONTHS. THIS IS LOCO. I love the mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope all is well en casa. I miss you all, and I hope that you all are studying your scriptures every night!!! They are the key to finding answers to the questions of the soul.

Love,

Hermana Howell

Of Things That Matter Most

Hello everybody!!!

What a crazy week! It was so good to go to Copiapó this week, after almost a year leaving that town. After the conference, we went and visited a couple members! It was so nice to see them and talk a little bit :) 

We did splits with the sisters of the Relief Society yesterday, and that was nice to get to know a little bit more the sisters here in Taltal :)

When we did the splits yesterday, I heard about the terremoto in Iquique (and Arica). I was so worried for Hermana Quispe and all the members I JUST left 3 weeks ago! It was the weirdest feeling I had. I had never felt like that before, that feeling of "I could have been there. I was JUST there!!" I called one of the Elder's in the office to see if what the knew. They said that everyone was still up on high ground waiting for the tsunami, but that all the missionaries were safe. But wow. I was so grateful to Heavenly Father that He moved me out of there just in time.

Seminary has been going great. The teens will be teens, but they're good kids. I really like this little branch :)

Hope all is well!

Hermana Howell

Me and Hermana Carranza

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Hey everyone!

As far as the earthquakes go, we haven't felt anything at all, except for this morning there was a tiny short one. I didn't even feel it, I heard it. Weird huh haha, it sounded like there was a car accident outside or something, but I saw the lights moving, so it was an earthquake, but not much else than that.

This was a week of miracles. As a district, we fasted for the extra help from heaven :) And we definitely saw results. We had a car wash on Friday, and an inactive couple drove by and had their car washed. We asked them where they lived, and so we passed by on Saturday. They have a daughter named Javiera, who is the sweetest girl ever. She's not a member, but we invited them all to church, and Javiera went! We also had 6 other people who are investigating come to church. We had 52 people in church! This branch really is growing. And teaching seminary to the youth is super fun. I'm learning so much about the Book of Mormon that I just didn't see before. It's pretty awesome. We also had a Movie Night Friday night, and one of the Elder's investigators came!

So apparantly my email from last week didn't send or something, from my point of view it looks like it didn't send. But pretty much not much happened. I got to visit some people from Copiapó, and that was the best :) They were all pretty surprised that I could speak Spanish now haha. But also President Dalton said he doesn't want us knocking on doors anymore! Yay hahaha, nah, but he really wants us to work with the members to find more people.

Well, I just wanted to say that life is good. We are so blessed to live in a world that has so many beautiful things, like the ocean, mountains, lions, tigers, bears (oh my), horses, puppies, flowers, rivers, colors, strawberries, bikes, cars, music, guitars, pianos, temples, dresses, suites, friends, families, swing sets, slides, three-legged races, bubbles, rain (except in the Chile Antofagasta Mission), clouds, sun, moon, stars, popsicles, pools, umbrellas, cows (moo), smiles, cameras, movies, stuffed animals, drums, fun, love, happiness...and everything else. Oh, can't forget hot wings and hot cheetos haha. But life really is wonderful. And to know that God loves us and we're his children just makes life even more colorful. There are things that seem to dim that light sometimes, but we gotta keep it mind that Jesus Christ suffered for our sins, died for us, and was resurrected so that we can enjoy that happiness that lasts forever. There are two videos that help me understand that even more. They're my favorite :)

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-01-002-earthly-father-heavenly-father?category=mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2013&lang=eng

http://youtu.be/l70e1TfN34w

I know that God has a plan for us. That He loves us and has not forgotten us. I know that He is there listening when we pray...if we're unsure, all we have to do is ask.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-06-002-origin?category=mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2013&lang=eng

With all my love,

Hermana Howell

Loving Taltal!

So I'm loving Taltal. It's s super small town where everyone knows everyone, kind of like Hurricane, but even smaller than that. It's super quiet and lovely. The people here are so excited to finally have sister missionaries!! The branch is full of really great people who want to do what's right. And since it's a tiny branch where this Sunday 45 people went to church, the missionaries have a lot of callings! We've been called to help with visiting teachers, Young Women, and of course, teach seminary. GAH. TEACH SEMINARY. I'm so excited as well as challenged. It's gonna be hard, but we're gonna learn so much!!!

So I'm writing super late today because we've been traveling all day!!! Ok, not all day, but let me tell you what happened. So we've got a conference tomorrow morning in COPIAPÓ...WHOOOOO!!!! I'm so excited to be back in Copiapó after almost a year! So our bus left Taltal at 3:30, but there was no internet in the whole town all day (hahaha oh tiny towns) so we couldn't write! But we're here in Copiapó! :) All is well.

Hermana Carranza is the bomb. We have so much fun together. Honestly, I thought having a companion who's 32 years old would be boring or even hard to get along, but she is hilarious and super smart, and we get along great! It doesn't even seem like she's 11 years older than me.

All my missionary girlfriends are great from what I hear! Tayler is freezing up there in Indiana, along with Tomi and Megyn! Hahah but I'm sure they manage. Chiedu is loving it down in the Phillies, getting eaten alive of course hahaha. Sandra of course is eating it up in Brazil! I love being a missionary, and I'm sure that can understand that.

I hope all is well at home! I love you all so much!

Hermana 

PS - I'm gonna stay with Hermana Tuft while i'm here in COPIAPÓ! yay! :)

Taltal

I am so happy. This week was the best/most interesting week of my mission ever. Hermana Carranzea is a super hard worker, and really hilarious. All we could do is laugh about all the crazy things that happened to us this week.

So we finally arrived Tuesday night to this cute little house in the very corner of Taltal. But at night we didn't see it for how it really was. It really is a nice place, but UNBELIEVABLEY dirty. Disgusting. Remember all those commercials about scrubbing bubbles or some cleaning product and we always say "Nobody's house is THAT dirty." No guys, there are people's houses that are THAT dirty. COCHINOS. And you wouldn't believe how many spiders are in our house. We've killed about 5 a day or something like that. GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. But don't worry. This morning we bought like a million dollars worth of cleaning stuff and started with the kitchen, the worst part. You'd think the bathroom would be the worst, but it really wasn't that bad, so that got cleaned up pretty quick. Oh, but the kitchen....ewewwwwwwww I have no idea what they did in that kitchen, what they made that blew up all over the walls and down the side of the stove and inside the cupboards and bothered not to clean up, but it was bad. And we still haven't finished. BUT we cleaned up a ton this morning, and it's seriously a different place. We just need to finish up with the stove and under the sink. But now I understand the importance of doing your chores every week! You cannot let it get that way! But we're good to go now :)

On Wednesday, we had mutual, and since we're serving a tiny branch where only like 35 people go to church every week, we have a lot to do in the branch, like presidency of Young Women, Relief Society, and Seminary teacher. Well, the mutual was pretty sweet! About half the branch is the youth, so a lot were there. They're all converts, and super nice! I already love it here.

We had a talent show on Thursday, and immediately asked me to do something. So I sang a song haha. I think I like serving in a tiny branch a lot more!!! The people here are hilarious and warm and happy. Taltal is a great place :)

Yesterday, we passed by a less-active who's husband isn't a member. Apparently he hasn't allowed missionaries in his home...ever. Only one year ago (well, and his companion because he had to) but as long as he's home, missionaries can't enter. Well he let us in. The very first thing he said (literally the FIRST thing) was that he would like it if his kids served missions, and that it'd probably be better to have both parents in the church. The only bummer is that he works for like 2 months at a time, depends sometimes, and he left today. But you can count on us getting over there as soon as he gets home! He said he notices that we're the first sister missionaries in Taltal, and he thinks it's a good thing that we're here to help unite the branch and help a lot more people than the Elders could. Wow.

So, as you can see, I'm loving Taltal. We still get lost sometimes, but it really is a tiny town, so we can't be lost for long! 

Love you all!

Hermana Howell

More of my adventure.....(February '14)

In my last post I mentioned that I was afraid of dying young and my mom said to me "your fear comes mostly from missing out on things you want to do more than dying itself"...that was it, the fear of dying thing...not that I doubted in the plan of salvation, just the fear of not being able to live my life, go home, study, get married, make babies, stuff like that. But this last Wednesday we had interviews, and I talked to president about it. He had something super interesting to say. He said that throughout his life, when he sees that someone is about to pass away, they seem peaceful, like..."Yeah, I lived a good, full life" or along the lines that they're happy with God's will or I don't know, something like that. But what he saw in me was completely opposite  and he told me that God knows that he, President Dalton, couldn't handle a missionary dying on his watch, and then he looked me dead in the eyes and promised me that I would finish my mission, come home to you all, get married, have kids, and be a grandma. I felt completely calm after that. Cool experience.

Not much happened this week. Just the same ol' same ol'. I hope all is well in casa, and remember, the will of God is always what's better for us, even if we don't understand it. Don't doubt. Doubting? So ask.

Hermana Howell

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Hey everyone :)

Well, this week was kind of a bummer and slow. Not much happened when it comes to progressing investigators. We had to cut almost all of the people we were teaching for one reason or another. We didn't find anyone new either. Oh well, have to start over that's all.

This morning we went to Humberstone, a ghost town more inland. It was so sweet to see the whole town all old and what not. Aside from the millions of houses, they had a theatre, hospital (creepy), grocery store, school, church, hotel, dance hall, pool, EVERYTHING. It was creepy and old, like Grafton, but HUGE. I took TONS of pictures, but I'm only sending the coolest ones. And everything there was original! All the same stuff has been there since it's been abandoned. SWEET, cool place to take pics :)

Sorry this email is so short, but really, nothing happened this week. This week will be better :) 

Love,

Hermana Howell

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Hey y'all!

Well, we officially have no one to work with. This last week, our final hopes of progressing investigators went down the drain. We visited that family I told you about that we met in the Registro Civil...yeah well they told us that we're always welcome in their house, but they'd rather not continute with the lessons. They said they don't see themselves in church or really doing anything we believe in....NOOOOOOOOO they were so perfect too. So then we really had ZERO investigators. Boy this sector is tough. But we did have a lesson with an investigator yesterday that we kinda left alone for awhile...I hope and pray she feels the Spirit, and that we're teaching with it too! We have transfers this next week...and the rumor is I'm staying. You really never know, it could just be a rumor to get me stressed, but hey, if I gotta stay another transfer, there's something I gotta do here that I still haven't done yet.

Well, I completed a year this last week. Weird. Never thought this day would come haha. Thursday was like, oh yeah, a year ago I went to the MTC....cool. Not much different. But my lovely missionary friends here did give me a cake and sang to me! Well, another Elder "completed" his two years, so that sang to him too. He's ending his mission this...Saturday??? CRAZZZZYYYY. But really, I can't believe how fast the time has flown. We gotta enjoy every minute we're given, because we can't get them back.

Wow, look at those blessings of tithing and having a missionary. God really does help out in every facet of life. 

Lots of love!

Hermana Howell

Happy one year to me! (and two for Elder Oliva)

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Cambios!

Well, would you look at that. Another transfer went by, and I've only got 4 to go. FOUR. The time passes by way too fast. I guess by now that you can see that I'm writing Tuesday morning because, yes, I got transferred. FINALLY GOT OUT OF IQUIQUE. Man I was there forever. It was a good forever, but still, I was relieved to hear that I was leaving. And technically, I'm STILL not in my sector, and probably won't be until tomorrow morning....

I've been transferred to Taltal. It's this super tiny town on the coast, and me and my new companion, Hermana Carranza from Argentina, we're the first sister missionaries EVER, in the history of that town, to serve there. GAHHH. I've never opened a sector before, but it should be really good. I'm so excited. And I met Hermana Carranza while serving in Arica. She leaves in 2 transfers, and she's so awesome. I'm really excited to work with her.

So Hermana Pack (a sister who was in the MTC with me) and I left Iquique about 10 in the morning yesterday. She's going to El Salvador, another teeny tiny town about two hours from Taltal. (Sidenote, me and Hna. Pack went to Copiapò together too when we first got to Chile. It was like good ol' times!) So we got on the bus and headed down south. We stopped like 4 different times, and FINALLY got to Chañaral about 9:30 last night (almost 12 hours!). Well, we stayed the night here in Chañaral (Hna. LeFevre's here!!!! Yay!!) and our bus to Taltal was at 6:45 this morning. So we woke up early and everything, and got to the bus station RIGHT at 6:45, and the bus had already left. Great. The next bus for Taltal leaves at 6 in the afternoon, but there's only one seat open. We're gonna go in the afternoon and see maybe if someone misses the bus, but if not, we gotta wait til TOMORROW morning! Oh, what an adventure. SOOO I might be in Taltal by tonight, but hopefully for sure by tomorrow! Chañaral is also about 2 hours away. The crazy part is that we're all part of the same zone! Because we're all these tiny towns in the middle of nowhere, so every week we have to travel to Chañaral to have district meeting. That should be fun :) But really, I'm super excited. This was the change I needed I think. Hermana Quispe is staying in Iquique training! I hope all goes well with that!

Well, that's pretty much what happened this week! I hope all is well at home. I love you all!!!

Hermana Howell

me saying goodbye to the first counselor and his wife in Iquique

saying goodbye to my good missionary friends of Barrio Renacimiento, Iquique