AWKWARD MOMENTS

Here are some excerpts from today's email:

"Calling (Skyping) home was good!  I wish we had more time though.   I miss the McMullan humor and all your voices!" 

"AWKWARD MOMENTS this week:   My comp asked a lady how many months she had being pregnant......she wasn't exactly pregnant.  AWKWARD

Then, we had people answering the door naked....... AWKWARD

My Comp told someone that they'll be able to lose weight in the Millennium as a solution....  AWKWARD!"

"Today we made a cake/ banana bread/carrot cake and frosting thing.   I got the recipe from Hermana Garrison.  (The senior couple here) It turned out AMAZING!!"

"Someone asked us to give water to their chickens everyday while they are gone....Day 1 :   1 DEAD Chicken"

"Also this week,  because people think it’s HYSTERICAL here to YELL words in English. (I swear the word "Hello" for me…, I just completely ignore it now.) But they yelled “goodbye” to us, so  of course me being me, (I often, finish  phrases and words with a song)   I finished that with  "Goodbye world Goodbye!" Then I started to sing the whole song from what I could remember.  Dad would be proud!"

"Someone invited us over for January 1st, to kill a pig.... don’t know how that’s going to go but eh, it’ll be interesting. Farm life…, how I love you! "  

"We got talking to an Evangelical pastor. That was interesting. My comp started to get pretty heated.  It turned into a “proving the Bible in my way,” sort of thing.  I kid you not…, 2 hours with this guy!  He contradicted himself so many times. The Evangelicals (or at least this guy) all have different ideas from what it sounds like.  So many divisions under the same roof."

"2 of the funniest members here.  (That's olive oil, not wine)" 

There was a RS activity representing America

The "Super gift"from Mamita and Papito

"Mamita and Papito"

Christmas dinner!  (They celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve)

Sad/dead chicken 

Delicious banana bread/cake/carrot cake/ frosting thing he made.   

Weirdo

Yum? I have no clue???

 

Christmas Skype/ Testimony in Espanol

We had an AWESOME 40 min conversation with Elder McMullan yesterday!  It made my day..., rather my year! (At least since Mother's day)  It's comforting to know that this is the last Christmas without him with us!   I asked him to bear his testimony in Spanish since I love to hear that Gringo of ours talk like a foreigner!  I could understand a few things (VERY few) but for the most part, I haven't a clue what he said.  It was BEAUTIFUL none-the-less!!!

Here is Elder McMullan bearing his testimony in Chilean Spanish :)  :

Impresionante Español!

Pierce didn't have much to say today, since we will be talking to him THURSDAY!!  2 more days!!!

Here are a few excerpts from today's email:

"We had the Christmas conference yesterday which was really good."

"Apparently, Elder P lost his identity this past week. We went to go find an old investigator and a lady answered the door.  We started talking to her and she was like "Where are you guys from?" She looked at me and was like, "Well you’re gringo, and you?” (pointing to my comp) But before he could answer she was like "you’re Mexican or something ?" (note EVERYONE CALLS HIM MEXICAN) He said “no.” Then she was like, "But you do have Latin roots, right?" Looking confused, he said, "yea I'm from Peru." And then the best…she says, "Then why do you speak Spanish so bad?" I was like in my mind "WHAT!?" He was stunned too, like "what do you mean?" She then went on a rant about how he's lost his identity, how he needs to keep his roots, and how I, the gringo, speak better than him in Spanish...... Hmmmm. People tell me a lot that I don’t have a gringo accent at all.  That was funny, didn't know what to say. He doesn't even speak bad, at least, I don’t think!  He did forget a word though while we were talking, but it was funny. So that happened. "

"The whole branch on Sunday, went to the Santa Isabel, (super market) the police station, and the plaza and sang Christmas songs and handed out those “He is the Gift” cards and stuff.  It was really cool." 

"I'm turning into a Latino!"

Another great week for Elder McMullan.  He's seen a lot of miracles happen there in that beautiful little town, in a short amount of time.

Here are some excerpts from today's email:

"This week I went to Baquedano for an intercambio (exchanges) and it was cool seeing old friends and stuff.  Claudio and Karen weren't home though which stunk, but eh.  I did email them though, so we are in contact." (his investigators from Vallenar)

"The day I went to Baquedano, Karen (an investigator) told Elder P that she prayed about the Book of Mormon and got her answer that it was true.  He then asked if she would get baptized.  She said NO. Ehhhhhh!  Then they went to knock on a door because he said the Christmas tree was cool.  They were going to give them the "He is the gift" video, and they lady was like "Your church is true".....¿¿¿¿¿¡¡¡¡¡QUÉ!!!!!!?????   That NEVER HAS HAPPENED.  So now we have another new investigator.  Man,  the ward is  praying for us and we are finding a lot of people!  5 just this week."

"Another day this week, we went to get on  a micro,  (a bus thing) and they refused to let us on..... then another one wouldn’t let us off at our stop.  While I was paying him he went like 2 miles past our destination.  Then  he told me, “hey at least you Mormons like to walk!” and started to laugh.  My comp got really mad and depressed the rest of the day. I don’t know, but I don’t get mad when people do that stuff.  We had to walk for a while to get back but it really doesn't bother me.  Just like yesterday,  we went to EVERY investigators house with a member to pick them up for Church and THEY ALL SAID NO.  We tried everything but we couldn't get them to come to church.  I tried is how I think. My comp always gets mad though."

"I've been reading/listening to the Book of  Mormon in Portuguese.  It’s really easy actually to understand." 

"I’m turning into a Latino, because man, am I forgetting English!  Someone asked me to translate something, and like I couldn't think of it. But eh.  My comp is driving me crazy.  I’m just trying to stay sane.  Oh and my camera died, so I'm getting a new one from Santiago I think." 

Yep, this is an old pic, but I miss seeing him!

"Vi una columna de luz..."

This was another great week for Pierce.  Not that it was easier, but I continue to see SO MUCH growth in him!  For one, he is exercising a lot more faith.  He had some incredible experiences this week.  My heart is so full, reading about them.  Through the tough times, the rejections, the disappointments and the sadness of the people, he is being comforted by his Heavenly Father.  He makes his presence known to Pierce at all times.  There have been multiple confirmations made known to Elder McMullan, that what he is doing/preaching there is indeed, HIS work!  It's real and it's important work! Pierce is so blessed to have the opportunity to continue to be an instrument in His hands for the next 7 months.

Some excerpts from today's email:

"We have an "atheist" investigator and he prayed for us.  Honestly, he’s the best Christian I've met in a long time haha. He’s read the Bible and believes it’s good.  We just need to make him realize that he IS a believer in God. "

"Also this week, I made a promise, A PROMISE to a less active, that he would catch enough fish on Saturday that he would have enough money for the week  and not have to work on Sunday, so he could go to church.  He DIDN’T go to church, but we found him in the street and he said,  "You were right Elder!  I didn’t need to work on Sunday!  I caught more fish than I have in a LONG time on Saturday!" HHMMMM… WHY DIDNT YOU COME TO CHURCH THEN? sigh...."

"Also this week, I saw a 6 year old girl cleaning up the beer cans and vodka bottles from her parents who were partying the night before.   (They were incapacitated outside.)  I’ll say the same thing, Thank you for being good parents!   NOBODY should be exposed to that so young."

"This past week we were practicing teaching the lessons. (We practice sometimes)  We usually skip the first vision lesson if we are just practicing,  but my comp  wanted me to say it, so I started,  "Vi una columna de luz..." ("I saw a pillar of light")  and LITERALLY, as soon as I said it, the clouds opened up right then and light shoned down directly on us!  That’s like the 2nd time that’s happened to me, here on the mission."

  

"OH MY GAD.... lessons at church.  Our ward mission leader always tells the most horrible cheesy jokes.  He can’t be serious. EVER.  He’s awesome though.  He was teaching a lesson in church about the 12 tribes of Israel, and he got to "Gad" and was like "With reason, the people in the US always say Oh my Gad! They’re probably from the tribe of Gad" *facepalm* uhhhhh"

"Crazy thing happened this week.  We have an  investigator,  that when you call him, while waiting for him to answer, the song “Back in black” from ACDC plays. We called him and somehow that song passed to our phone...... and we can’t get it off either! My comp is freaking out more than ever.  So that happened…, whatever don’t know how it happened??