3rd Week in Chile!! The Epic Dragon Tales Continue........

Phew!  I got the go ahead for the blog.  (I like to at least pretend that Elder McMullan had a say.......JUST KIDDING)  Pierce just doesn't want to have to post anything.

This week Elder McMullan spoke about the ward.    He wrote: "The ward isn’t doing too great, so we try to work with the members, but only a few families care, and give us references. Most people ask for blessings.  We do those a lot during the week. In a couple hours we are going to a reference's house.  His whole family has been interested in the church and took the discussions before, but weren't baptized.  I guess we'll find out why. Most everyone here is, or has been, an Evangelical at some point, but they don't know anything about the scriptures. 
  The members here are usually "convive", which means living together but not married. Our mission president told us our calling in The Chile Antofagasta mission is to" Teach and Marry!" Kind of funny, because I know I never really heard about that happening in the states. The church feel here, definitely seems from a different planet. But I have to remember that they've never seen an American church and that all the leaders in the Church are going in blind, except with manuals. Those who are trying are great. 2 guys put in their mission papers the other day so that'll be good."  

 Pierce also shared this:   "I really hate not being able to connect with people, because I know what they're saying and stuff, but I can't respond and help them out.  We met with "____ (the Dragon guy) yesterday. and we were talking about the creation and he agreed with everything, but said the Dragon created God, so we wanted him to find the scripture and show us. He looked like he was about to say something, then looked at the couch next to him, (the EMPTY couch) and acted like he was listening to someone, and then he said a couple things to the empty space, then looked at me and my companion with this weird face, and said "¿Por que?", which means why. So I thought he was going to attack us right then, but he didn't.  He kept talking and we proved him wrong, so he said he doesn't believe it anymore....., but he'll bring it up again I'm sure. The Epic Dragon Tales continue.....

They had a Zone Conference this past weekend, and President D came and did interviews with all the Elders.  Pierce shared with him his anxieties with the language.  The President assured him how well he was doing and to not over-think things!  He told him without a doubt, he'll get it!!  

In another letter to Tim, he said "I'm still the only person who never has gotten sick from the food, and I eat the sketchiest stuff on purpose, just to show them I won't get sick. The food here is good so far, no blood sausage yet, but apparently I will run into it."  Yum?

Overall, Pierce sounds great.  He is loving everything Chile has to offer!  The people, the culture, the scenery, the food, his great companion and other Elder's, the members who want to feed them ALL the time and the most of all.., MISSIONARY WORK!!!  

                                     I suppose they CAN "Eat Fresh" from time to time......

                                                  Another one bites the dust.....

                                     Cute "Rocky", the dog that follows them everywhere.  

                             And to think, in the states, people complain about "roof rats."  

                                        Someone painted this cool mural  on the side of their house.  

                                        Funny translation...(and Pierce thinks his Spanish needs help?)                                                                        

                                              

                                                                    " El Murro"

                             Elder McMullan standing in front of  "El Murro" statue of Christ.

                                                         A fisherman in the bay of Arica.

                                          Elder McMullan with Arica in the background

                                   " Milo", where the missionaries like to get "ripped off."

Pierce wrote us yesterday and sent a TON of pictures!

He is really enjoying his time thus far in Chile.  His companion is Elder Moris.  He is a native of Chile, but speaks fluent English.  They seem to be getting along really well.  Pierce said the second he stepped foot there, they went to work!

He shares a house with his current Companion, and Elder Silvester from San Antonion and Elder Redd from Az!

This week was A HUGE holiday in Chile!  It's a week-long (or as long as they can string it out...) celebration!  It is their 4th of July of sorts, celebration.  There were a lot of people out of town for the holiday, so that was bad for the work.

Pierce has mentioned that the kids there love him and always want to touch his hair and skin.  (Maybe they think he will give them good luck?)  He also mentioned that the drunk people in the streets, somehow always know how to speak English, and always want to talk to him.  I suppose that's a plus?

They are currently in a ward with over 300 members, but only 50 are active.  SO, they are of course always at a member's home trying to re-activate.  (I think his sweet lily-white skin and hair might help with that)  He mentioned that they do have a few investigators right now.  One is a girl who they committed to baptism, so when she gets over her nerves, she wants to be baptized.  Another investigator is a great older man that the Elders have been teaching for some time.  This is what Pierce had to say:

 "  “One funny story this week was with Mario.   (or the best convert ever in the history of planet Earth.)  He knows his stuff about the gospel.  Elder Redd actually interviewed him for baptism, but ever since then, Mario has been getting a little weird. We meet with him almost every day because he's an older guy, and forgets what day it is.  He never goes to church anymore either, which is sad. Last time we went over there, we were talking about God and he told us that God isn't the most powerful, and that the Dragon is.  I almost started to laugh because then all 3 of us were in an argument on whether or not there is a "Dragon."  He was yelling and mad and said the Dragon created us, the sky,earth and stars..., everything!  He said we represented the horses, (I don't know what that meant) but he ended his argument with "El Dragon es mejor a Dios" or the Drtagon is above or better than God basically.  So we moved on with the lesson. Crazy.”

“ I'm starting to understand why the Elders get so frustrated.  Our ward is not very committed.  The poor relief society president went to Mass instead of church on Sunday,  because nobody came to comfort her when her sister died this week, and the bishop doesn't really care.  Our ward mission leader only comes half of the time."   

He asked me to send him the Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.  Everyone found out that he used to be a cook at a nice restaurant, so they all think he has some mad cooking skills!  He is going to be teaching the Elder's Quorum how to make the cookies.  How awesome is that?!! 

Here are a few pictures he sent this week.  He sent a TON!!  

There is a lot of graffiti  

This is basically how it looks everywhere.  

They played with some dogs at the beach.  This one looks well fed!

Lunch one day.  They have someone that feeds them everyday at lunch.  The people there don't eat dinner, since they each such HUGE lunches!  (I can see why)

Celebrating the holiday at the Stake Center

This is a super Common occurrence.  Gives a whole new meaning to "watch dog," eh??

                                         I suppose this is an "unlucky" cave to venture into?

This last pday, they did cave exploring at the beach.  

Pierce had just been slammed by a giant wave.  (He swears he didn't pee himself)  

Sorry Elder McMullan...., you're getting a BLOG!

I asked Pierce before he left, if he wanted me to keep everyone updated.  He said "YES!"  I asked him if he would like to do a blog.   He said "NO."   Perhaps he thought he would have to be the one updating the blog...?  Oh well, sorry Elder McMullan..., you're getting your very own blog!

This is of course, easier and less intrusive than posting on Facebook.  I'm sure all my non LDS friends are a little tired of getting those billions of pics from Chile and a proud Mom moment every week.  Maybe not?  At least now, they will have the option!  I will only post a link on FB from now on.  You're welcome!  :)