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)