April 25, 2016

¡Hola mis amigitos!

This semana was really good! It may have rained again, but it was cold!

This p-day we made hamburgers, french fries, and milkshakes. It was a fantastic day. Elder Gonzalez was pretty happy too. We pretty much couldn't move after that, but it was worth it. 

Also they have empanada de pino potato chips from Lays and someone gave us some and they were really good. You guys should request that they get brought to your area. 

So we were walking down the street and we hear "¡Venga!" And we see this lady with a food cart so we vengaed and she gave us sopaipilla which is just a fried piece of dough with pumpkin in there somewhere. And it was pretty good with ketchup. 

Also this week we had stake conference and my Mission President, President Diaz, came and spoke. It was a really good talk and he said something that made me think. He said: "There is a difference between seeing the Kingdom of God and entering the Kingdom of God. Are we just looking at the Kingdom of God?" So do a self-evaluation and if you're only looking on, get active and do something to enter into the Kingdom of God. President Monson said "Your decisions determine your destiny." I know that we can all make the decision right now and make changes so that we can start entering the Kingdom of God.

Love you guys!

Elder Cheney

April 18, 2016

So, Daniel is very wet and very cold currently.  In another email to me, he asked me what WE were thinking when WE packed, as he did not pack a coat. I can tell you what  I was thinking--I asked him to pack his black coat 42 times, and he was convinced he wouldn't need it.  I guess I should have asked 43 times.  : )

 
So this week was really, really wet. It started raining Thursday and didn't stop until this morning(Monday). But luckily by Sunday we wised up and brought an umbrella with us. Unfortunately my companion doesn't have an umbrella so we shared a really small umbrella.

Also this week I hit 3 months in Chile. We didn't celebrate so if you guys want to throw a party up there to commemorate it that would be great!

The picture of me with the sign that says "Bucarest" reminded me of the name of my neighborhood "Briarcrest" so I had to take a picture with it. 

This week we had our last District Meeting of the change and I sent some pictures of my district. When we were leaving the Chapel the other missionaries had to take a bus to get back to their sectors. There is a gate around the chapel and someone had locked the gate so they needed the keys, which I had, to leave. A bus passed by and they waved it down so the bus stopped. But the gate was locked and I was using the keys a good 30 feet away to lock the Chapel. And they all start yelling because bus drivers here are not patient. I knew there wasn't enough time to run the keys over there so I looked one of the Elders in the eyes and we made a plan in .2 seconds. Following this plan I threw the keys to him. But, turns out we didn't have the same plan because all 4 of the missionaries that were at the gate turned to make sure the bus was still there the moment I threw the keys. So the keys sailed past them and through the gate onto the other side. The bus driver saw that they weren't coming so he left. It was pretty disappointing that my sweet plan didn't work out but eventually another bus came for them. 

This week what I want to share with you guys is really simple. It's what Alma said to his son Corianton: Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness." So go be happy and choose the right!

Love you guys!

Elder Cheney

April 11, 2016

¡Mis Queridos Amigos!

How is everything? This week was really good!

First, there was this kid in the street and he asked my how to say "Adios" in English. Easy enough right? I though he said "Dios" which means God. So I told him "God" and he looks at me yells "GOD!!!" and runs away. I didn't have time to fix the mistake so I hope he looks it up on Google Translate or something. 

Also the first time my English came in handy. We were in a meeting in the Chapel and the Bishop opens the door, points at me and said "I need you!" And I kinda looked around to see who he was pointing at and turns out it was me. Someone had called him and only spoke English so I talked to him and helped work the situation out. But know I can put my English in the suitcase and forget about it for the next two years. 

There is a picture of me and Elder Gonzalez with grapes. We were talking to this grandpa-ish man and he had some grapes growing and we told him that his grapes were really pretty so he got two huge bunches and gave them to us. We ate a lot of grapes this week. 

The giant sandwich looking thing is a churrasco and we got it because we painted these people's business. It was really good and I am on a mission (a different type of mission) to eat a lot more churrascos. 

Turns out there are even more cow skulls in Olmué than I thought so I took a picture with another. 

Our investigator Marta went to church yesterday!!! It was super awesome. We have another lesson with her today and hopefully we can help her more!

President Gordon B. Hinckley said "If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God... The Lord will not forsake us." I love this quote because it's so true. If we do all we can no matter how much or how little that is, the Lord will make up the rest. God doesn't do things for us, He gives us opportunities to do if for ourselves. If I pray for patience God can't force me to be patient, but He can give me opportunities to exercise my patience. Maybe instead of looking at you challenges as challenges, see them as opportunities to grow and make yourself better. Trust that God knows better, because He does. I know that when we put our trust in God in does all work out and He will not forget us. 

Love you guys and hope your week is awesome!!

Elder Cheney

 

April 4, 2016

Hey guys!!

This week was pretty good because we bought gas! No more cold showers until we run out! I almost cried the first time I took a warm shower. It's fall here and turns out it is actually starting to get cold. Looks like a long sleeve t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants might not be enough, so I think I have to look for a real jacket haha. 

We had a great experience this week. We were in the street talking about where we were going to go next and a little dog came up and peed on Elder Gonzalez's pants. It was really funny and he wasn't happy. 

There's some pictures of these banana cheese things that Elder Gonzalez made. They are like normal bananas but pretty big and he put them in the oven and then put cheese on them. They were pretty good, but we were also pretty hungry so who knows. 

We watched the General Conference in Spanish because apparently I'm in Chile so they do things here in Spanish. It wasn't too bad but I did get a headache haha. The conference was really good this week. One of my favorite parts was when someone quoted Elder Holland. He said "You can have what you want or you can have something better." I love this because all the frustration, unhappiness, and regret that we feel comes from not following the Lord. When we try to go our own way and think that we know better we end up discontent. The Lord's way is always better and I know if we follow Him that we will be happy. 

That's all folks! Hope you guys are doing well, and I'm praying for you!

Love,

Elder Cheney

 

 

March 28, 2016

Here are a couple of comments from another email before we get to the one he sent for everybody.  I had asked Daniel if he was able to focus more on the Savior and less on candy and Easter eggs:
Turns out we still focus on eggs, a couple members gave us chocolate eggs, and a less active made us these carrot things with chocolate in them, I'll send a picture later. Oh wow I really wish I could eat some Ham and cheesy potatoes right now.

Wow, that's crazy about Heather,(a dear friend who is battling cancer) tell them I'm praying for them. I can't even imagine that. The scripture I'm going to share with you guys today is Alma 7:11-13. And I'll talk more about that in the main email, but it is a blessing to know that we always have someone to confide in that knows exactly what we're feeling, and He knows how to comfort us. 

And I'll send some pictures of food.

Also we were teaching one of our investigators and she can't get baptized because she's not married and she doesn't want to get married because she thinks marriage is pretty much slavery. And it made me pretty sad so thanks to you and Dad for not making marriage look like slavery.  So glad our marriage doesn't look like slavery ! : )

Here is the main email:

Hola everybody!!

This week was really great, especially with Easter!

To start off this week for some reason the water didn't work on Tuesday morning. But there is always an upside. The upside was we didn't have cold showers. The downside is we didn't have showers.

Turns out there are more cow skulls lying around in the street than you think, so I'm pictured with another one. This time I was brave enough to pick it up. 

This week Chile played Argentina in soccer. About an hour until the game we developed some sort of disease that made no one want to talk to us. Seriously, if we tried to talk to anyone they would say "the game!" and run to their house. We didn't have too much success haha. 

For Easter the Ward Mission Leader gave us some chocolate eggs and a less active gave us this foam carrot filled with candy, so it was pretty awesome. 

If you guys could keep praying for Marta that would be great because she is having troubles going to church, something always happens and she's not able to go. Also pray for my Spanish. 

This week we have been talking to a lot of people about the Atonement of Jesus Christ (because of Easter). A scripture that I love is Alma 7:12. Scriptures are more powerful when you read the out loud so I want you to read this out loud:

"And He will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people;  and he will take upon him (Your Name)'s infirmities (pains, trials, afflictions)  so that his bowels will be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor (Your Name), according to the infirmities (pains, trials, afflictions) of (Your Name)."

I know that Jesus Christ suffered for each one of us. He suffered so that He can help us. He knows your trials, challenges, and pains perfectly. He knows you perfectly. I know that if we accept Him and His Atonement we can receive help and strength to bear our trials. Put your trust in Him and He will help you.

Bueno, hope you guys are all doing well, I'm praying for you!

Love,

Elder Cheney

March 21, 2016

So this week wasn´t anything too exciting, but there's some good stories all the same.

First, there is a picture of my hand with cuts on it. There is a reason. Our can opener is not very effective and as a result if you want to open a can you have to suffer a little. But there is always tuna inside to reward you. There's probably a life lesson in there somewhere. 

Next, our zone leaders made these scones things with manjar on them. The actual scones were pretty burnt, but they were covered in manjar, which is pretty much carmel, and powdered sugar so they were pretty good. There is a picture with the chef, Elder Benitez from Paraguay.

Then there is a picture of me with a giant cactus. It does not have any significance, it's just a really tall cactus.

Finally we had a really good luch with the familia Severino, which is pictured. They made us these little pizza things that were super good and of course like a pound of rice and some chicken. It was a pretty great day. During this lunch there was some bread, but it was on the other side of Elder Gonzalez. So I had to get him to pass it to me. But I tried to be real smooth and point to it with my eyes. He thought I was pointing to his salad, so he started eating a little faster. So I pointed again. He ate a little faster. And I did that like three times until he was inhaling the salad and I had to ask him with words to pass the bread. 

Actually, not finally, we have an investigator named Marta that is really great. She has desires to follow Jesus so if you guys could pray for her that would be awesome! And pray for us to find new people to teach!

This week we have new cards that we are passing out for Easter and the Semana Santa. They have a picture of Jesus and a link to a video. The video is only 2 minutes long and its super awesome, everyone should go watch it right now with your family. If you want to watch it in Spanish go to siguelo.mormon.org or in English it's something like followhim.mormon.org but my Mom can fix that. (That is actually the right website!) But go watch it!!! 

Other than that hope you guys are all well and everything is good!

Love, 

Elder Cheney