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