Yeah, about the aftershock we didn't even feel it here.(there was a large aftershock or new earthquake in Chile - but no damage anywhere and no Tsunami) I had no idea until later (our cell phone accidentally got sent to Conce so the zone leaders called the other Hermanas to make sure we were all OK). No one said anything here in Conti really. No biggie. There are almost no aftershocks now, here at least so don´t worry about it. Though you will be here for the year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami (Feb 27).
Anything cute like that would be good (I had sent Sami a list of some possible things to bring to Chile as gifts). Maybe what would be helpful for you is if I wrote the names of all my converts and a description about them so you could see if the stuff that is available would be good for them or not. I´ll work on getting you that next week.
SOunds like you are having fun with the WII. That´s so awesome that everyone pitched in to get you such a cool present. Just wait till you see how cool my present for you is.
The city with the volcano is called Pucón but it is kind of a resort place so we would probably need a reservation or something. Hna and Elder Fischbeck went there a couple of weeks ago so they might have some good tips on heading down there and where to stay and stuff. I would love to see some music stuff (probably just classical if it´s possible because I´ll still be a missionary) and some museums in Santiago and Concepción. I don´t really know what there is because they were always closed on Mondays. I also thought it would be nice to see some cool beaches (I secretly wish that Oscar could help me out with figuring out a cool accessible beach we could go to but I don´t really have any way to figure that out with him because I won´t see him till you are here. But maybe check it out on the internet. Also I have heard that there is a German town or neighborhood near Linares that might be cool to check out.
I know you are really excited to come pick me up and I am super excited too but you can´t talk to me about it so much or so often because you are making me trunky and I want to stay really focused this last part of my mission. Maybe do some research on stuff that you want to do and run it by me, but in a few weeks please.
Thanks for being awesome. Luis, Valeria, Patricia, and Luis Ignacio all got baptized on Friday and confirmed on Sunday. Cute!
love you all!
Hermana Smith
Monday, February 7, 2011
Christmas Call
I have been really bad at keeping up Sami's blog lately, but I will try and remedy that. We had a great call with Sami on Christmas day - we were allowed to use Video Skype for the first time and we also got to try out the new video conference option on Skype. There were 13 family members at our house, 4 in CA and Sami in Chile and we could all see and hear each other. We got to actually see Sami for the first time in over a year. Her nieces and nephews had fun telling and showing her what they got for Christmas. We got to 'meet' some of the girls that live with Sami & see parts of her apartment. She loved the snow people we sent her (snowmen/women with pictures of family & friends as snowman face & message on the back). She had put them all on her wall. She was enjoying the summer weather in Constitucion, which is cooler than San Carlos where she was her first summer in Chile. She is happy that she will probably be staying in Constitucion for the rest of her mission. She is still enjoying her mission and hopes to still accomplish much during her remaining 2 months in Chile. She and I talked a little about my trip to Chile in Feb to pick her up - but not too much because she wants to concentrate on missionary work and being the best missionary she can be.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Letter from Dec 20
We get to talk with SKYPE WITH VIDEO!!!!! They just told us!!!!
Everything is going really well this week. I am excited to talk to you guys on Saturday with SKYPE!!!! I don´t have much time to talk right now because I have to do so much to get ready for Christmas!!!!!! We are going to make cookies, cards, I need to make presents for the Hnas I live with, my hija, etc. Muchas cosas que hacer. Mamá, no voy a enviarte la carta que escribo a Presidente Humphrey porque no tenemos que hacerla este semana (a causo de entrevistas). I am so excited to SEE you for CHRISTMASSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! I don´t want to open my presents in front of you just in case I don´t like them. Haha. Just kidding. I actually just don´t think that I´ll be able to wait until 5pm since I already have my package. But if you want me to wait I can but only if you tell me before I leave internet today.
This past Sunday was really great. Angelo (a new convert) came back for the summer (we are sharing with his mom and his sister) so we are really excited to have his help with them. We had 3 investigators come to church for the first time Sunday. They are a cute family that is almost NEVER together. Daniel works outside of Constitución so he only comes back every 11 days for 4 days of rest, Diego is in the army so he is in Talca during the week but returns some weekends to Conti. Javier is the chiquitito de 8 años so he is just cool. There is also another daughter who is really awesome who is named Daniela but she is in Talca right now so she couldn´t come with the rest of her family. They are so awesome. I love all the people we are sharing with.
We also had the most creative contacts this past week. The first were a bunch of kids who hit Hna Melton and I with water balloons right on the butt. I went back to congratulate them but the guilty ones ran away so we talked to their family. The other one was a wrong number from Curico who was visiting his aunt in Conti so we asked if we could pass by and share something and turns out that she shared with missionaries when she was about 12 and her parents got baptized but none of her siblings did. She is really great and really needs the gospel so I´m really excited to share with her more. Well, I need to go no so I´ll talk to you on Saturday at 5pm on Skype with videoI don´t actually know how it works but Hno Rodrigo will help me figure it out. If any of the plans change I will let you know.
LOVE YOU ALL
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
love,
Hna Smith
Everything is going really well this week. I am excited to talk to you guys on Saturday with SKYPE!!!! I don´t have much time to talk right now because I have to do so much to get ready for Christmas!!!!!! We are going to make cookies, cards, I need to make presents for the Hnas I live with, my hija, etc. Muchas cosas que hacer. Mamá, no voy a enviarte la carta que escribo a Presidente Humphrey porque no tenemos que hacerla este semana (a causo de entrevistas). I am so excited to SEE you for CHRISTMASSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! I don´t want to open my presents in front of you just in case I don´t like them. Haha. Just kidding. I actually just don´t think that I´ll be able to wait until 5pm since I already have my package. But if you want me to wait I can but only if you tell me before I leave internet today.
This past Sunday was really great. Angelo (a new convert) came back for the summer (we are sharing with his mom and his sister) so we are really excited to have his help with them. We had 3 investigators come to church for the first time Sunday. They are a cute family that is almost NEVER together. Daniel works outside of Constitución so he only comes back every 11 days for 4 days of rest, Diego is in the army so he is in Talca during the week but returns some weekends to Conti. Javier is the chiquitito de 8 años so he is just cool. There is also another daughter who is really awesome who is named Daniela but she is in Talca right now so she couldn´t come with the rest of her family. They are so awesome. I love all the people we are sharing with.
We also had the most creative contacts this past week. The first were a bunch of kids who hit Hna Melton and I with water balloons right on the butt. I went back to congratulate them but the guilty ones ran away so we talked to their family. The other one was a wrong number from Curico who was visiting his aunt in Conti so we asked if we could pass by and share something and turns out that she shared with missionaries when she was about 12 and her parents got baptized but none of her siblings did. She is really great and really needs the gospel so I´m really excited to share with her more. Well, I need to go no so I´ll talk to you on Saturday at 5pm on Skype with videoI don´t actually know how it works but Hno Rodrigo will help me figure it out. If any of the plans change I will let you know.
LOVE YOU ALL
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
love,
Hna Smith
Pictures from Dec 13
Here are some pictures from the baptism in the river that Sami mentions in her email (previous post)
On the way to the Baptism
Sister Missionaries with Maria
Sami and Maria
And pictures of the ward Christmas Tree
A Birthday card for Jesus
Letter from Dec 13
This will be extremely short because Hna Melton and I are here in San Javier to say bye to Hna Leggettt before she leaves (next Monday is her last Pday). On Sunday one of the investigators I started teaching with Hna Enders got bapized! Maria from the campo. She got baptized in the river by her house and the baptism was really beautiful. She was so happy. I´m really glad I was able to be there to see it.
President Humphrey said we can use Skype for the phone call but I don´t know how to do that. I´m guessing that I would need a computer but I don´t know if anything would be open on Christmas day. Probably not. I can probably figure out where I can use one (we still don`t have a chapel right now) but I don`t know how to do skype so if you explain it to me I could do it. I think we could do it at 5pm my time. I´m not 100% sure because Christmas has been changed to our Pday. I´ll let you know next week.
Haven´t gotten any package yet but I have hope for this Thursday (interviews).
Love you all!
Sami
President Humphrey said we can use Skype for the phone call but I don´t know how to do that. I´m guessing that I would need a computer but I don´t know if anything would be open on Christmas day. Probably not. I can probably figure out where I can use one (we still don`t have a chapel right now) but I don`t know how to do skype so if you explain it to me I could do it. I think we could do it at 5pm my time. I´m not 100% sure because Christmas has been changed to our Pday. I´ll let you know next week.
Haven´t gotten any package yet but I have hope for this Thursday (interviews).
Love you all!
Sami
Monday, December 6, 2010
letter from Dec 6
Estoy bien. Tampoco puedo creer que ya estamos en diciembre. Navidad está acercándose tan rapidamente casi no sé que hacer. Empezé a hacer regalos hoy día pero aun con el tiempo que me queda, no creo que terminaré todos en tiempo. No voy a enviarles un paquete (por si acaso, si quería saberlo). Estoy pensando en estudiar algo con español después pero veamos que pase. No quiero perder que he aprendido porque es bastante. :) And..... English. Time is going by so fast.
Hermana Melton and I joined a gym across the street from our apartments! I need to lose 12 pounds before I come home. That is 1 pound a week. AHHHHHH!!!!! What the freak!!!! i DON´T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO BE A MISSIONARY AND LOSE WEIGHT
I didn´t actually want to put that all in caps but I accidentally pushed something on the keyboard. Not as intense as I made it look. Sooo. Zone conference is this week and I am really excited. Excited to get my packages. Excited to see my hija. Excited to see other missionaries. Excited to be spiritually recharged. Apparently this very well may be my last conference (according to the new every 12 weeks system) which means I will be giving my going away testimony. WTF. I can´t bear my testimony about going awya. Or maybe it´s my last testimony because I´m not supposed to bear my testimony after this one. Missionary work will be so hard no. Just kidding. jajajaja (that is castellano for hahahaha) Weird though.
The family that Hermana Enders and I found came to church on Sunday! At least 4 out of 5. One of the daughters (who studies in Talca) was really tired so she stayed home. And our other investigator from the country who finally came to church a few 2 Sundays ago is getting baptized this coming Sunday. I´m not going to lie. It´s kind of hard for me to be in the same sector but have to leave all my investigators and see myself replaced by another Hermana (luckily I love Hermana Hardy´s guts, otherwise this probably wouldn´t work out well). I´ve noticed myself being pretty negative sometimes and I don´t like it so I am trying to be more positive and look at all the good things instead of noticing all of the bad. I´m not happy when I do that and then I bring other people down and then I feel bad for being such a downer and then it´s awkward at parties afterwards and...oh. Not relevant. Anyways, I saw my hija today when she came with Hermana Leggett to say goodbye to her converts before she goes. I love them both. They are so cute. Hermana Robertson and I are coming back to go backpacking in Chile. Love her. Already am planning it in my head...
So I am really excited to be working with Hermana Melton with all of our investigators and to be able to find new people to teach and work really hard until my time is out. I can´t believe that I have so little time left. Just have to make the most of it I guess. I love you guys tons and I am excited to work my but off for three months and then see you all. I talk about how awesome you are all the time. Mom, every day I find someone else who wants to meet you. We are going to be very busy here in Chile. :) Oh, and Hermana Hardy wants to know more of your story after your conversion. I told her all about your conversion but then I realized that I didn´t really know what happened after very well either.... Time will tell/you will tell me with time. :) Too many smiley faces. Bleh.
LOVE,
HERMANA SMITH
Hermana Melton and I joined a gym across the street from our apartments! I need to lose 12 pounds before I come home. That is 1 pound a week. AHHHHHH!!!!! What the freak!!!! i DON´T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO BE A MISSIONARY AND LOSE WEIGHT
I didn´t actually want to put that all in caps but I accidentally pushed something on the keyboard. Not as intense as I made it look. Sooo. Zone conference is this week and I am really excited. Excited to get my packages. Excited to see my hija. Excited to see other missionaries. Excited to be spiritually recharged. Apparently this very well may be my last conference (according to the new every 12 weeks system) which means I will be giving my going away testimony. WTF. I can´t bear my testimony about going awya. Or maybe it´s my last testimony because I´m not supposed to bear my testimony after this one. Missionary work will be so hard no. Just kidding. jajajaja (that is castellano for hahahaha) Weird though.
The family that Hermana Enders and I found came to church on Sunday! At least 4 out of 5. One of the daughters (who studies in Talca) was really tired so she stayed home. And our other investigator from the country who finally came to church a few 2 Sundays ago is getting baptized this coming Sunday. I´m not going to lie. It´s kind of hard for me to be in the same sector but have to leave all my investigators and see myself replaced by another Hermana (luckily I love Hermana Hardy´s guts, otherwise this probably wouldn´t work out well). I´ve noticed myself being pretty negative sometimes and I don´t like it so I am trying to be more positive and look at all the good things instead of noticing all of the bad. I´m not happy when I do that and then I bring other people down and then I feel bad for being such a downer and then it´s awkward at parties afterwards and...oh. Not relevant. Anyways, I saw my hija today when she came with Hermana Leggett to say goodbye to her converts before she goes. I love them both. They are so cute. Hermana Robertson and I are coming back to go backpacking in Chile. Love her. Already am planning it in my head...
So I am really excited to be working with Hermana Melton with all of our investigators and to be able to find new people to teach and work really hard until my time is out. I can´t believe that I have so little time left. Just have to make the most of it I guess. I love you guys tons and I am excited to work my but off for three months and then see you all. I talk about how awesome you are all the time. Mom, every day I find someone else who wants to meet you. We are going to be very busy here in Chile. :) Oh, and Hermana Hardy wants to know more of your story after your conversion. I told her all about your conversion but then I realized that I didn´t really know what happened after very well either.... Time will tell/you will tell me with time. :) Too many smiley faces. Bleh.
LOVE,
HERMANA SMITH
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
letter and pictures from Nov 28
(I sent Sami a list of 25 things that I am grateful for, so she decided to reciprocate)
A ver, intentaré a hacer una lista de las cosas por las cuales estoy agradecida.
1. My mother who is my # 1 fan
2. The informative articles Dad sends me every week without fail
3. The fact that my sister´s boyfriend´s name sounds like a dessert
4. Being in another country
5. Learning a new language and culture
6. A companion who puts up with me (most of the time)
7. A hija after the manner of my own heart
8. The chance to know amazing people who are so cool and so strong in their faith
9. The ability to create things
10. Listening to music or even just the waves of the ocean
11. Mondays because I get to hear from my family!
12. A fleece blanket to keep me warm always
13. The Gospel in my life
14. The privilege of teaching other people about the Gospel
15. Lifelong friends I´ve made in such a short time
16. My killer family which is the definition of legit
17. Cheap fruit in Chile
18. My baby sister who I´ve never met but who I hear so much about
19. My adorable nieces and nephews
20. Family Game Night
21. Christmas in Chile TWICE
22. The opportunity to get a good education
23. I was really hoping Thanksgiving was on the 23rd (I am thankful for Converse)
24. Technology so that far away isn´t that far after all
25. A healthy body and mind
Is it sad that that took me a lot longer than I thought it would? Yep. That´s sad. Mom, I´m really excited to hear your Spanish en la carne. We haven´t had any snow here. Actually I don´t think it ever snows here... The weather keeps warming up. Love it. I am trying to give away all my winter stuff to a good home. I don´t really have much left now. I figure it will be a lot easier for me to get the winter stuff I need when I get back than for other Hermanas to wait to get good stuff from their parents. My personal attempt at charity. Haha. Just kidding.
So I´ve gotten in to making crafts. So far I´ve made a couple of headbands and a little flower hair clip. I´m pretty in to it. With all my spare time, you know. That last part was a joke. So... I bet you want to know about cambios......
(this is where her email ended - luckily she sent a follow up)
Here are cambios. I will just tell you for all of the Hermanas so you don´t have to worry about finding out about all your conocidos.
Constitución
I am going with Hermana Melton to be in her sector with her investigators and am leaving the people I was teaching
Hermana Hardy is coming to be companions with Hermana Enders
San Javier (the same as it was)
Leggett y Robertson
McCombs y Jarrett (will become a trio when Hna Leggett leaves in 3 weeks)
Linares
Knapp (Training)
Cortes y Da Luz
San Carlos
Tzorin (Training)
Rockwood (Training in Trio) y Barretto
Santa Sabina (the same as it was)
Meikle y Whipple
Connley y Soderquist
I am sending some pictures too but I don´t have time to explain them all right now so have fun with that. You can guess what you think the story behind each picture is if you want... So I am really excited to work with Hna Melton and the investigators from the other sector, I actually know a lot of them already. I am also super excited for Hna Hardy to come here. She is awesome. She´s media hippy like I am. :)
We have a couple of really good investigators who have come to church and have a baptismal date so I am really excited that I can still be here to help out if Hermana Enders and Hermana Hardy need it with them. AND I will be able to be there for their baptism! And we found an amazing family that I already love and the other Hermanas are going to have such an awesome time teaching them. I feel really good about this cambio. Which also means that I am spending Christmas in Conti and dying here (dying means ending your mission - she is assuming that they won't move her for just one cambio - but one never knows). Oh Yeah. Well, eso es todo por ahora. Les amo muchísimo!
con cariño,
Hermana Smith
A ver, intentaré a hacer una lista de las cosas por las cuales estoy agradecida.
1. My mother who is my # 1 fan
2. The informative articles Dad sends me every week without fail
3. The fact that my sister´s boyfriend´s name sounds like a dessert
4. Being in another country
5. Learning a new language and culture
6. A companion who puts up with me (most of the time)
7. A hija after the manner of my own heart
8. The chance to know amazing people who are so cool and so strong in their faith
9. The ability to create things
10. Listening to music or even just the waves of the ocean
11. Mondays because I get to hear from my family!
12. A fleece blanket to keep me warm always
13. The Gospel in my life
14. The privilege of teaching other people about the Gospel
15. Lifelong friends I´ve made in such a short time
16. My killer family which is the definition of legit
17. Cheap fruit in Chile
18. My baby sister who I´ve never met but who I hear so much about
19. My adorable nieces and nephews
20. Family Game Night
21. Christmas in Chile TWICE
22. The opportunity to get a good education
23. I was really hoping Thanksgiving was on the 23rd (I am thankful for Converse)
24. Technology so that far away isn´t that far after all
25. A healthy body and mind
Is it sad that that took me a lot longer than I thought it would? Yep. That´s sad. Mom, I´m really excited to hear your Spanish en la carne. We haven´t had any snow here. Actually I don´t think it ever snows here... The weather keeps warming up. Love it. I am trying to give away all my winter stuff to a good home. I don´t really have much left now. I figure it will be a lot easier for me to get the winter stuff I need when I get back than for other Hermanas to wait to get good stuff from their parents. My personal attempt at charity. Haha. Just kidding.
So I´ve gotten in to making crafts. So far I´ve made a couple of headbands and a little flower hair clip. I´m pretty in to it. With all my spare time, you know. That last part was a joke. So... I bet you want to know about cambios......
(this is where her email ended - luckily she sent a follow up)
Here are cambios. I will just tell you for all of the Hermanas so you don´t have to worry about finding out about all your conocidos.
Constitución
I am going with Hermana Melton to be in her sector with her investigators and am leaving the people I was teaching
Hermana Hardy is coming to be companions with Hermana Enders
San Javier (the same as it was)
Leggett y Robertson
McCombs y Jarrett (will become a trio when Hna Leggett leaves in 3 weeks)
Linares
Knapp (Training)
Cortes y Da Luz
San Carlos
Tzorin (Training)
Rockwood (Training in Trio) y Barretto
Santa Sabina (the same as it was)
Meikle y Whipple
Connley y Soderquist
I am sending some pictures too but I don´t have time to explain them all right now so have fun with that. You can guess what you think the story behind each picture is if you want... So I am really excited to work with Hna Melton and the investigators from the other sector, I actually know a lot of them already. I am also super excited for Hna Hardy to come here. She is awesome. She´s media hippy like I am. :)
We have a couple of really good investigators who have come to church and have a baptismal date so I am really excited that I can still be here to help out if Hermana Enders and Hermana Hardy need it with them. AND I will be able to be there for their baptism! And we found an amazing family that I already love and the other Hermanas are going to have such an awesome time teaching them. I feel really good about this cambio. Which also means that I am spending Christmas in Conti and dying here (dying means ending your mission - she is assuming that they won't move her for just one cambio - but one never knows). Oh Yeah. Well, eso es todo por ahora. Les amo muchísimo!
con cariño,
Hermana Smith
Hermanas Smith and Enders
Hermanas Smith and Melton
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