Insights, dreams and back to the desert!

We FINALLY heard from Pierce today!  He emailed much earlier than he usually does.  I think he must have felt my angst.   We didn't hear from him last week.  He explained a bit in today's email why he wasn't able to write.

 His comp now was JUST companions with Pierce's former companion.  (from a while ago....,the one and only companion that Pierce had difficulties with.)  I think it's been refreshing for him to learn that it wasn't his fault. (I will spare you the details)  Regardless of what Pierce has said, I know he's beat himself up about what he could have done differently. Anyway, he's learned that there wasn't much he could have done differently.  He was just as challenging with the other Elder. These insights are an answer to my prayers for sure!

Here are some excerpts and pics from today's email:

"Last week we ran out of time. Sorry we got stranded.  Basically the bus didn't come until 7 and they told us 5.  It wasted a lot of time."

"The new area reminds me of those fake neighborhoods they built to test nuclear bombs, because all the houses are the exact same.  The members here are cool.  Yesterday was a weird/sad day.  We helped a mom move out.  Basically  marriage problems."

"It’s definitely more challenging here in Chile because I don’t have the same personality in Spanish.   Well I do, but it’s not the same at all. If I could be in English, I would love it more. Heck, Campbell (The Australian guy in his last area)  went from “God is there maybe?” to Agnostic, to “I want to read your Book!"  All in about 30 minutes!  SO MUCH EASIER.  I can’t make a person interested in Spanish like I can in English. It’s just different for me." 

"I can’t even tell you how many dreams I've had about being home and giving my homecoming talk. So many. I'm excited to share the gospel, especially back home where I can explain things better and connect easier!  But I’m happy to be here for a little bit more.  I really want these people  to care, but so many people just don’t. And it…well, sucks. It just sucks."

"Another thing about being "real." One of the things I don’t like is that it’s sometimes like high school here, I swear.  Only you can’t leave at 2:15 back to reality. There are some here that are looking to back stab those around them in order to get up that “ladder.”  One day the person is watching movies at a member’s house and the next day they tell on someone for waking up 10 minutes late.  It shouldn't be like that. You’re supposed to be good, for the sake of being good, not for gain.  Not to destroy people. I've seen it a lot."

Elder McMullan made an appearance at Christian and Megan's wedding! 

Elder McMullan's "Zone" in Antofagasta

Elder McMullan's district in Antofagasta

Families (and Comp) in Antofagasta

Elders Golpe and McMullan with Campbell.  

Off To a New Adventure.................

We finally heard from Pierce today.  He was Transferred.

Here are some excerpts from today's email:

"I got transferred yesterday!  That’s why I didn't write. I was on a bus for 8  hours.  I’m in Copiapo now.  It’s the place where those miners got trapped a few years ago.   I'm with Elder Ruano from Guatemala.  Elder Ruano and I got here the same day.  I really didn’t want to leave Antofagasta. I was really excited about being there. Everything was finally starting to happen. Campbell, the Australian guy even came to church.  He didn’t understand anything but I translated and he really really REALLY liked it.  He planned on staying ALL 3 HOURS."

"But, it's all good!   I'm here now.  We live with 2 other Elders.  There is an  Elder Contreras from Colombia and his "kid" Elder Coca, from Provo, but he’s Latin."

" It’s hot here, so much hotter than Antofagasta!   That’s what happens when the ocean is far away.  I had forgotten."

"Oh my, there’s so much stuff about aliens here,  it’s not even funny.  The people are  really superstitious. I’m pretty to close to Vallenar here, and in between Vallenar and here…,  there’s some legend about a guy who had a farm or something and aliens visited him and threatened his life.  They stole all the copper from his land and then one day he had enough and went to go find and kill them in the night.  So the story goes that  he went out to his fields (of dirt I imagine) and he saw someone.  When he went to shoot them,  it looked like him.  A clone.  They cloned him. He later woke up and all his house and stuff was gone.  Then people say you can see cities down below while in a plane, but when you’re on the ground there’s nothing.  So crazy."

The Elders with Campbell (from Austrailia)  

Muy Pequena nota!

This week we didn't hear much from Elder McMullan.  Not much of a shocker.  I wonder sometimes if I should bother with this blog.  :(

Here is what he had to say this week:

"One of our investigators, the Colombian lady, moved to another city. But eh, it happens."

"There is this one lady here who always has gringos in her house.  They teach English at the school.  There is this one guy from Australia.  He’s pretty cool.   I talked to him for awhile.  He wants help with Spanish and the hermana he lives with, can’t really understand his English because of the Australian accent.  Maybe we can teach him.  He was asking questions and stuff.  And even after he leaves,  he lives in Zac's mission."

ONE YEAR MARK!!!! Investigators and Pics of the New Area

We've been out of town all week on vacation, so I'm finally updating the blog.......

Can you believe it's Elder McMullan's ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY/!!!  Yep, he entered the Mexico MTC on July 30, 2013!!!

Pierce sounded good last week, although he was a bit jealous of us being on vacation without him.  He told us very little about a couple of investigators he's working with.  It's not easy trying to pry info out of him.

Here are a few excerpts from last weeks email:  

"Wow road trips without me of course! haha  That place looks SWEET!" 

"The people I told you about last week, who smoked in front of us, are interested in hearing more about the gospel. "  

"Our sector is ok though.  We are also teaching this Colombian lady who’s doing well.  She is reading the Book of Mormon, so that’s always good.  As far as finding people, a lot of people tell us to come over and so we do and then they aren't there.  Oh well, we don’t give up, we continue to try to find them."

"As far as shoes go, they are good enough, haha"

"Elder Osorio is still working with the Claudio/Karen family in Vallenar.  They are doing really good." 

"Our apartment doesn't really have any windows, but from the back you can see into other people’s houses. So that’s interesting.  If you step right outside our apartment and look right, you’ll see the ocean."

"This is right outside our apartment.  That's the ocean out there."

"We hiked a mountain today.  This is Antofagasta behind us."

All of Antofagasta

Nothing but desert for miles

Package from Chile!

Last week we got a package from Chile!  We were so excited!  Pierce didn't tell us he was sending one, so it was a surprise.  So sweet of him!  He sent us an ENORMOUS Chile Flag,  (Not quite sure what to do with it?) A football jersey for Jackson, a cool shirt for Matthew, a hat and a bunch of toys for Aiden, a beautiful Copper Chilean plate,  (Aiden is holding) Chilean coins, a book for Tim and the sweetest Wedding gift for his cousin who's getting married next month.  It's so hard to have Elder McMullan so far away..., especially since he does NOT give us much detail in his weekly emails.  Then he does things like this and I'm reminded of what a considerate and loving young man he is!  It makes me proud to be his Momma :)

It was good to hear from Elder McMullan this week.  (It's always good!)   He sent some goofy pictures, so it was good to see him having some fun too.  He and the other Elders went to a member's house last night to help.   They are moving to the States this week, so they were helping them pack.  (at least it seemed that way??)  Anyway, they had a good time trying on some crazy outfits.  (2  pictured below)

He likes his companion and he also gets along really well with the other 2 Elders they live with.  He said he gets the opportunity to talk to a TON of people everyday.  Even though very few end up wanting to hear more about the gospel.  He seems to have a great time getting to know everyone in his area.  

Here are a couple of excerpts:  

"We were able to find a couple of new people to teach this week, so that's good!'  

"Mom, you know how you went with the missionaries to teach that lady, and she watched cartoons the whole time or something??  I think I can top that.  Well, last week we found these 2 people interested in hearing about the gospel.  They told us to come over so we could teach them.  Basically while we were talking, they lit up a blunt and started smoking it.  You’d be surprised how common that is here."

Love from Chile!  

Silly Elder McMullan and Rogers

Elder Stokes and Elder McMullan.  ????  

Gnomes?

Elder McMullan's 2nd week in a new area!  (3rd area in all)  He went from a tiny little town to a big city.  He said it feels strange being in a big city again.  He seemed a little stressed today.  He said that their numbers were  bad this week.  They were able to meet and teach some inactive families, but spent so much time looking for new investigators, that they ended up not accomplishing much.  (As far as numbers go)   It has to
be hard at times for these missionaries, feeling like their hard work isn't being accounted for?

Here are a few excerpts from today's email:  

"It’s nice here. I don’t really have any pictures still. Really need to get on that. But no I haven’t cooked anything lately really.  The Relief Society president asked me to make cookies for an activity. Don’t know when, but that should be cool.  Yes we have a mamita here."

"I’m still doing the challenge Elder Spannaus gave us in May.  He challenged us to read the book of Mormon before September 1^st ,  marking all the things that talk about Jesus Christ, the Atonement and the doctrine of the church.  He promised us with a greater testimony of the BOM and of Jesus Christ.  I’m almost done with Alma."

"The bishop here is really awesome and the leaders too."

"The people here believe in Gnomes, like garden gnomes.  Except, that they’re evil and hurt people!  People have legitimate fears of them and say they get attacked.  They practically cry if you say the word. Just one of those Chilean things."

1st Week in Antofagasta

I didn't do a blog post last week.  Elder McMullan was getting his bearings down.  He was getting acquainted with the area, his new Comp and the other 2 Elders he lives with.  His new Companion is Elder Golpe from Argentina.  He lives with Elder Stokes from California and Elder Rogers from Arizona.

He had quite the "welcoming" from some "ladies" in the sector.  Let's just say they weren't shy.  Way more aggressive than any before.  

Here's some excerpts form last weeks email:  

"That’s awesome that Dad finished 25^th in the world.  Who won? Musical Island boys I imagine?  I can only Imagine Aiden during a concert or show or whatever it’s called.  Sitting through people singing for that long. Sounds like you had fun there, how is it? (Vegas)  Pretty vulgar and dirty I imagine?"

"Antofagasta is huge. I feel so weird here.  Elder Rogers (one of the other Elders that lives with Pierce) actually lives like 2 minutes away from Tyler. They go to the same church building and everything, but not the same ward.   Elder Rogers and Stokes are awesome.  We have a lot in common.  Elder Golpe is cool too though, pretty relaxed for an Argentinean.  One of the first things he told me was "I know I'm from Argentina, but I'm not a stereotype like the rest." 

"This area is known as “Ghetto” because everyone is "flaite."  My sector is mostly those type of people. So yesterday…, oh my.  These 5 women, probably like 20-30 in age…..,we stopped because we were waiting for a lady to get home.  There were people playing soccer, so we were watching while waiting. It was in a really "flaite" (ghetto) area. These people were all drinking and smoking and stuff and talking to me because of my hair and stuff.   Then these girls started talking to me.    We told them what we do and stuff as missionaries. They asked if we drink or smoke.  We said no. Then one was like "But you can have sex right?"  I was a little startled and said no. Then she was like "hard to get?  Look I love your eyes and you’re so different than anyone I've seen…., just give me 20 minutes." (she was being completely serious)   Then the other one said something like, "Don’t you think a baby would be beautiful with my skin tone and your eyes?" I was just so confused/ taken back. Then someone asked me "how much?" Then we left!  They weren't even drinking or anything. CRAZY.  So that happened."

"Our sector is cool and most of those women don’t live nearby which is good. The members here are awesome too.  We had over 100 people in church! I've never seen that here in any of my other areas.  Ever."