Novermber 4

Whew! Good week. We found some new investigators. Put down some baptism dates and had a party for Halloween! Now on actual Halloween (or night of witches) we decided to fast… we didn’t realize that until after. lol. No we didn’t have any candy to eat anyway. So now I can answer your questions as to what they do on Halloween. They do leave the house and go trick or treating but not very many and everyone knows it’s very American. I think the missionaries brought it down a while back. And that's about it. We saw the kids in their costumes trick or treating. Not many people let us in..haha. They have like Halloween things to buy in the stores but it's not a huge thing. And a lot of people don't celebrate it because they are Christian. so... naturally since we aren't we had a great party at the church. Many people think it’s kind of a dark holiday plus it's also kind of like their memorial day so they all go to the cemetery (not however like day of the dead). One of the Hermanas found some costumes so we were all princesses. I was Fiona from Shrek. That was fun and then we played a good round of musical chairs and pop the balloon and wrap the mummy.

 The letter from the boys was great! It made me laugh. Especially brock's giggle. I miss your little giggle brock! LOL! I’m giggling just thinking about it and the word giggle. Giggle.

I wear boots all winter. That’s why it’s just becoming a problem this whole shoe thing... the boots lasted until just in time and I plan on taking them to a little shoe fixer down the street so they’re ready for next winter. hehe. Whoever thought I'd take my payless boots to a zapatia.

 LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!! Enjoy the holiday season!

Hermana VandeMerwe

October 28

Well this week has been… really just kind of interestingly hard. Our zone was just hurt like no other. I think it’s because president told us if we met our baptism goal this month he would take us to Villarica. But instead my comp and I were in the house all week. Except when we went all the way to Temuco for the doctor and shots for tonsillitis. Then my zone leader came down with something the other day and was inside too and then my district leader was chopping wood and got a metal piece in his eye and we’ve just been praying and fasting all week so that he doesn’t lose his vision. He’s already had one surgery and he’ll have another the next week in Santiago.

I guess we’re not going to Villarica.

But HEY! I got the package! It came just in time. Brockton you are just a life saver! I made some squishys for us to play with while we just talked for 5 days straight. She couldn’t sleep much and didn’t have much to do so now she knows everything about me and all of you too! lol. I did get to clean the fridge.. That’s always an adventure. Also I gave some to the elders because I knew he was just inside with his comp too. And I gave them some army men so they could make an attack plan for our zone. We’ll see what they came up with.

The letters were the best part. I’m so glad that none of you have changed much! I got some good laughs and smiles from all of your notes and from the photos. Brock looking like a real stud becoming a teacher. I’ll be showing that to everyone now when I talk about the priesthood. I found a good place for it in my scriptures. Also where is my family reunion shirt!

Well that’s all for now! I love you all so much! I know this church is true and that God loves all of you super much!! I hope you find someone to share the gospel with this week and that you pray for the same! DON’T go changing now.

LOVE;

Hermana VandeMerwe

October 21

Good morning starshine! Transfers were today but we have no changes. I’m still with Hermana Horan in Pitrufquen. Wahoo! Another 6 weeks here and I was thinking I’s likely I’ll be here for Christmas as well but you never know. Transfers are so funny. They´re like the closest thing we have to a soap opera for missionaries.

This week my comp was sick so we had some time in the house. It’s kind of a bummer but I enjoyed my time getting caught up in the Book of Mormon. I´ve been really lucky not to get sick at all.

Lol. I just looked over at the wall of the internet cafe that we’re in and there’s one of our pass along cards. Those things are seriously everywhere. Even the members have them hanging up in their houses.

We had a brother and sister come to church this week. They are hilarious. We pretty much just invite them to things and they always say yes. It’s like they just already know they have to do it but to be honest we’ve never even had a full first lesson with them because he’s usually solo so we just invite him to family home evenings and stuff.  He’s like 21 and his sister is 19. We found some other new people this week so I hope they progress!

I’m not sure when we’re moving. The house is ready. The mission is a bit slower. So we’lll see. I’m thinking this week if all goes as planned. That will be nice because I’m starting to go crazy. We just have piles of things because there’s no other place to put them and the other two sisters are still living out of their suitcases.

We did some more shopping for skirts and clothes today. My comp got a skirt but I didn’t find anything. It’s kind of expensive- we just have to take turns lucking out at the ropa americana' -- American clothes. It’s like the DI. Probably where the DI sends all of their clothes actually. haha.

Oh also today we ran into Elder Morley at the food court of the mall so we had lunch with them. That was fun. Talked about how we had Spanish class together in the 7th grade and even when to Spanish festival together. Now look at us! lol.

Love you all so much!

Hermana VandeMerwe

October 14

Hello Family! Thanks so much for the pictures!!! I set some your way as well. Brockton freaks me out a little bit. He’s like spitting image of dad. I never realized before.

This week we had interviews with our president. That was fine. lol. It was good. He’s a very insightful person. Very very. He just needs to see you and knows exactly what you need and what is going on. If you're happy or sad if you like your companion if you’re having success. So it was good. And yes I’m doing great. I know you were wondering.

This week we had an activity with the branch. Hermana Horan and I did some minute to win it games and we played do you love your neighbor. Sav you have great ideas. We’re always saying how activities in the US aren’t {t like this at all. We don’t just get together and play games but we always have so much fun and the people love it. I’ pretty sure they do Halloween the same way. It’s a very American holiday so I think they do it the same just not to the extreme.

We also found some new investigators this week. One of them is this old man whose 81 but he’s so spry and amazing and I’m determined to baptize him. So we’ll be looking out for him. The problem is soon he leaves for 10 days to go take care of his brother. I’m telling you, he is sweet. So full of the spirit already just because of his love and the service that he gives and the good he sees in everyone.

Today we went bowling and I looked for new shoes. All my shoes are goners. I’m not sure if I should have you send some to me or not cause I look around but it’s hard to find some that are comfy and won’t fall apart. I found some sketchers but they were a size to big so I didn’t think it was worth it to buy them but maybe you could go find some ugly sister mish shoes I don’t really care what they look like they just need to last longer than a week. And I figure it’s better to buy some good shoes than $10 shoes every week. lol. I did buy some shoes and they literally lasted one week. my oh my. I’ll look again next week if we have time to come to Temuco (the nearest big city) but we probably won’t.

My companion is AMAZING! I love her so super much but she’s most likely leaving next week. But we often talk about Disneyland. It comes up about once a day. Usually with the weather or time of day. ¨this is perfect Disneyland weather-ya until the sun goes down and then it gets “chile” And you won´t believe this but she has had the strawberry bisque that I always talk about! Because she went on the same cruise! CRAZY

There are two other missionaries in the house. One speaks English really well and the other understands a little and can say some but really no. So we talk Spanish when we’re with them but when it´s just us we speak English. But we always pray in Spanish. Our church building is an actual building and super nice. It depends on how much priesthood we have to make it turn into a ward. We don’t have much. our elders quorum president is like 85 and his councilors are the elders....

I love and miss you all!

Hermana VandeMerwe

October 7

I Love conference! I think I actually go through a depression when it´s over. It´s like better than Christmas and it´s a great jump start for missionaries to be able to invite people to come listen to a prophet this very weekend. You know just mix it up a little. There was a lot to get out of this conference but I personally learned a lot about following the spirit through humility and knowledge and of course obedience. There is nothing that a missionary could need more than the promptings and love of the spirit.

We listened to conference in Spanish. They sometimes have it in English I think but they had a hard time getting the satellite for Spanish so I don’t think they cared about English at that point. It’s alright though. I think the only voice I missed the most was elder Holland of course. Also we didn’t get to watch the women’s conference because they couldn’t {t get the satellite in time. sad.

Conference was super awesome. It’s funny cause when we watch it at home I feel like I’m in the conference center like they’re all so close but this time I felt so super far away. It was weird seeing motab and feeling like I had to stretch my ears to hear them.  I did loved singing called to serve picturing everyone in the world singing it at the same time in their own language including my family dressed in their Sunday best at home.

I hope you all listen to the prophet and continue to help the missionaries in a bigger way than ever. This work is seriously impossible to do by ourselves and the only time I have ever said ¨wow, this is hard¨ is when I didn’t have the help of the ward. The church is designed to help the individual person because God loves us all individually. I know more than ever how important visiting teaching and home teaching are. The best way to help the missionaries is with the work. I would give up lunch every day of the week if you would just go do your visits. I´m excited to hear about your missionary experiences! Just think Tate could baptize them all before he even leaves for the mish! And don’t wait until Christmas! People need the gospel now! Also we totally stayed for the priesthood session. What? It was perfect for missionaries in every which way and I learned more about how to teach during that than in any of the other sessions. I’m excited to study deep into the articles of faith. I hope you are too!

So the place that I’m in now isn’t dangerous at all. It’s a cute town surrounded by fields and I still love it and we can take out the camera. Ha-ha. A lady in the ward does our laundry and we still and always will have 4 sisters now here in Pitrufquen. The work is growing! The other two are from Mexico and Paraguay. Hermana Orosco y Hermana Leon. It’s getting warmer but just kind of sporadic- I never know what I should wear. But I have broken into my spring apparel for 2 of the days. I don’t think I’m going to like the heat as a missionary to be honest. Being outside in that is not fun. I’d rather just buddle up.

So... big news!! We bought a house! YUP! Okay we found another house because ours is too small... I feel funny saying that. We’re not very humble I guess. But the new house is great! It’s huge! And super cute. It looks just like a cabin. I’ll take pictures of the inside when we move in in about 10 days.

Love you all so much! For real!

Hermana VandeMerwe

September 30

Wahoo! We had our baptism and confirmation this week! I love this family. Super awesome. We are going to work with him so he can get the priesthood soon and then become branch president and then his kids will grow up and go on missions and he’s going to be mission president and it’s just going to be great!!!

So I don’t think I told you but I am working with plan Alma now that I’m in a branch with 6 missionaries. So we are working with less actives and recent converts. The thing is they just made changes to the plans and so now we can also work with investigators if we find them. And the other people can work with the inactives if they find them. The thing is, it’s a great great great plan that would work super well but I think there’s just too much pride. Before others would turn in complete families to us and we would give them our investigators but now they only give us the less actives it’s just a race to find the family home first. But moral of the story is I do a lot of work with inactives and the conversos, but I like it a lot because I’m excited to help lots of people work toward the priesthood and the temple. We always focus on the men. Men men men because we need priesthood to get a temple here so we contact all the men ever but the problem is they never make it to that point. Just baptism. So anyways. The work is progressing

I’m so glad Tate is doing so well in his concerts and dances. I want to see some pictures!

I haven’t heard about the ski resorts but I know there are some. Some people took little trips to the ¨snow¨¨ also I didn’t know we had a rugby team here. No one talks about it. I didn’t know dad played rugby in college.... but I kind of remember saying that the last time I found out. My memory is as bad as moms sometimes. LOL. I’m just kidding mom. I´m just walking in your every footstep and I like it.

Thanks for cleaning the church! That is such a big help! I wish we had people to clean our chapel! Really bad actually. I almost just started crying because of how great that would be if a family came to the church to clean. lol!

Love you all to the moon and back!

Hermana VandeMerwe

September 23

WOW! I have so much to tell you and so little time! Thanks for all of your letters this week! It was fun to hear from everyone. Okay so I guess I’ll start from the beginning. 

First I took a 5 hour bus ride to Temuco. It was horrible. I was sick the whole time. i took Dramamine but I guess I just don{t react to that any more. golly. So I mainly slept or tried to. When I arrived I met my new companion, hermana Horan. She’s super awesome and laughs all the time so she’s super fun to be around and we get along just great. We took a 40 min bus ride to Picrtufquen and here I am! It’s so darling. Every house is like one of those houses that people are always looking to take pictures in front of, like rustic and colorful. I love it love it love! Our house is laughable not as colorful but still cute. We walk down like this hallway thing to go to some backyard and then up the stairs. The other sisters hate it but I think it{s fun. It’s like a treehouse. (kind of-really it’s just upstairs but whatever) plus it comes complete with a dog and a baby. We have some gym thing downstairs. Looks a little deserted but I hear there are people that use it.  And we just got 2 new sisters for this area so they just squeezed them in with us. Our bunk beds have about 18 inches in between them. lol. But it’s a lot of fun. We workout and dance in our 1 foot space each in the morning. 

Our sector is really big but it covers one branch. It has about the same assistance that our ward in la marina covered. But we’ve just got to get the priesthood!! We have 6 missionaries. 4 hermanas and 2 elders. I love everyone in the ward so far. There are a few leaving on missions soon so that’s really fun. Our yw president is 19, her mom is the RS president and the primary president is also the seminary teacher. There’s lots of multiple calling people. 

Whew okay so now for the 18th!!! Super fun we spent the day with our adorable family.... wait for it... our investigator.. that is.... GETTING BAPTISED on Saturday!!!!!! His wife got baptized a few months back and he just needed a little more time but we’ve got him now! They’re super adorable. Young and have a little 2 year old. They are super great with the missionaries and already act like members making sure we have food and everything. So we went to the parade I told you about. Really it was just all of the school kids walking in a line in their uniforms. They didn’t look very happy about it. Followed by a few fireman and a line of taxis. We ate lots of empanadas which I really don’t think are that good at all but oh well. And then went to the rodeo! The rodeo was fun! It was just like ours except that at the end of the catch the pig game they said “and now your dad can come over and get it” they just threw it in a bag and that was the prize. They did it again with the moms. “You’ll have dinner tomorrow!!!” lol. Just throw the pig in a bag and there you go. We didn’t work that night but instead went inside early to do lesson plans. 

The next day was crazy. Everything. EVERYTHING was closed and there wasn’t a soul on the street. We didn’t really get in any houses. But we visited a converso reciente who gave us a ton of Chilean food. Like more empanadas, shishkabobs, and mote with huesos. This was right after our lunch that we made ourselves... it wasn’t very good we were scraping for things in the house but somehow managed to eat a ton. Later that day we saw our Family Fray in the street and they gave us a sandwich. Then we went to a FHE where we ate more empanadas and more cookie things which also aren’t very good.... 

The next day we spent the entire day at the church for the 18th activity there. Super fun! I learned the cueca which is super fun to do. We had a competition. I think I would’ve won but they didn’t want a gringa to show them up so... 

We also played lots of games like the jump sack game (I totally won) and relays then did lots of karaoke and more dancing in the night. They somehow turned on cotton eye joe and were just amazed at the 3 gringos (me, hermana horan, elder ricks) that just started doing it. They loved it. lol. Ate some more empanadas and lunch and that was that.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hermana VandeMerwe