March 14, 2016 Cambios!

Francke feels like it's a world away. But it's really just down by the banks. 

On Monday, we went to a family night with Family Muñoz to teach Victor about the Obra Misional. When we showed up, we opened the door to a full house of very special people. They had all come to say goodbye to me! After teaching the lesson, Hermano Marcelo showed a Mormon message video about missionaries, BUT THEN it continued a little longer into a slideshow full of pictures of me with the ward! It was all very special and I was completely surprised. I love that ward so much. They are so thoughtful.

That ward is going to the temple in Abril together and all of our 8 converts are preparing and reserving to be able to go! The temple is everything. You are so blessed to have one 20 minutes from your house. Imagine only being able to go once a year, if even that! I haven't gone for a year and 2 months, boy do I miss it. 

Go. 

Our leaders forgot about Hermana Gardner and I once again and so we were quite interestingly surprised when the mission nurse (now Hermana Arroyo) called us on Wednesday at 8 am and said, ''Hi! I need to communicate me with my new companion!'' ...oh. haha She couldn't believe the elders didn't tell us anything. So we got everything together in a jiffy of 2 hours and skedaddled to the grand change!

I am in an area called Rahue Alto. It's just across the Chaurakawin Bridge (from Francke) and up a ginormous hill. Boop. Here I am. And it's about ELEVEN TIMES BIGGER than Francke. ....but Francke is about the size of our dinner table...so perhaps that's not an adequate multiplication. This sector is very huge. It's also known for the death place of many hermanas. ...including my companion! Hermana Segura. She's from Syracuse, Utah, the oldest of 3 kids. Her dad is from Colombia.  She and I were in Punta Arenas together so it's cool to be comps now. And she is finishes in 5 weeks. She has been in this sector for 4 months and is kind of sick of it. We have about 2 progressing investigators. We had about 5 set appointments every day and every single one fell through. The people aren't really out in the streets and everyone works outside of Rahue and are pretty reserved. The members don't support the missionary work very well. So her experience here has been a lot of walking and knocking. She hasn't had a great time here and doesn't have very animated opinions about the ward. She has basically decided to hold out, no más, till she finishes. 

....little does she know that this is going to be the greatest cambio of her entire mission!!!! 

I know that the Lord is expecting a lot from this ward. I know that He knows perfectly well the circumstances and difficulties, so what better way to do his work than to rely on Him and His counsel? It's the greatest secret of the missionary work for this week because I've learned so much! 

On Wednesday, we ran into a member on the street and we got to know her a little. The she expressed her concern for her daughter that was distancing from the church very much and she and her husband didn't know what more to do to help her. I told her, ''Don't you worry! We are in this together!'' She put on a huge smile and said, ''Really?'' Then we said Of course! Then she invited us to her house! We went in, met her daughter, taught the whole family a short lesson and felt the spirit. We fell well with the daughter and the mom was beaming with smiles! At the end we asked if there is anything we could do to help them. The mom said, ''Bring your investigators to our house. We'll do a family night.''  OKAY THEN! 

Before leaving, her son came home. The sister had already mentioned that he had put in his missionary papers already! So I said, ''I heard you are preparing to serve a mission.'' ‘‘Yeah'' ''so I bet you are helping the sister missionaries a ton!'' he looked a bit surprised, then after a good second of silence he said, ''I am now! ''  Wooooo!!!! 

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we had similar experiences. The lord put more members in our path and they guided us to their house and now they are very excited to work with us! Woo! It's amazing. I don't even know why I am trying to write any of this down. It all sounds so lame written. 

Yesterday we had stake conference with all of Chile broadcast. President Nelson spoke in Spanish. 

Last night we went to the bishop’s house to get to know him. He lives there with 4 returned missionary children and another member in the ward and his wife were there. All 8 of them are converts. We shared a scripture with them, felt the spirit and we invited them to help us in the work. We said, ''Que les parece?'' BAM. They all were more than excited! Aaaaahhh!!!! 

Anyway I'm running out of time. I don't even know what I really want to say to you all. I just know that Heavenly Father is expecting a lot from my companion and me this month and the ward. I am super excited. Miracles are happening. And I can't tell you all of them obviously. 

This week to come will be FANTASTIC. 

Well, I gotta go. I love you all. Forgive the scattered email. Too much happens in a week. 

Hermana Olson