Feliz Navidad y Año Nuevo!

Hey Hey, second week here in Chile and loving it. Enjoy the life in Quillon (the really hot ¨Valle de Sol¨) So I have been seeing some pretty funny stories. First two people in my mission that some people might recognize. Is Elder Paulson and also an Elder Clawson. Elder Paulson is the brother of a Chase (Chico) Paulson who was on the BYU lacrosse team, and Elder Clawson lived in Laguna, and was good friends with the Berthas and many more persons! It is a small world huh!

So Christmas here was strange, mainly because it was hot and not too many people had decorations up, but it was great nonetheless. The Latinos celebrate Navidad on Noche Buena, which is just Christmas Eve, but they have the big dinner and open presents on Christmas Eve and on Christmas day everybody sleeps in and takes the day to rest. Also was able to Skype the family on Christmas day so that was a real pleasure! Later on Christmas day, the whole zone met together and had a devotional and just spent the day having a swell time with each other. Well when the day was finished, all the buses that would have taken us back to Quillan were not on work because of the Holiday and so we got to stay with our Zone Leaders, in their mansion I swear haha! The whole day was great, and though it didn`t not feel like a normal Christmas, I still loved it greatly. From what my companions here tell me, is that the new year is even more of an experience than Christmas. Everyone is giving and sharing and fiesta-ing to celebrate the new year. The new day!

The week was normal, nothing to crazy, no baptisms, noting out of the ordninary. But I did realize, in a lesson with a recently converted member. Is that everyday is a miracle. It is a miracle that the sun comes up every morning, it is a miracle that we have the knowledge of the doctrine, and it is a miracle that I am able to understand Spanish! I am so very grateful for everything, thank you all for you love for me. My companion everyday tells me that our exito (success) is almost on the same line as our obedience to the rules and laws wich we have been given as a missionary. A funny thing my companion says all the time is that God does not give us rules so that we have to follow or be punished, God is a loving father. He gives us rules so that he may bless us when we love him enough to follow his commanments!

I love you all at home and wish the best for everyone! Hope you had a merry Chistmas, and I hope you all have a Happy New Year! Enjoy the lives you have, for you never know how long you have!

Con Amor,

Elder Siaosi!

VIVA IN CHILE

Buenos Dias, everybody. Por Fin made it to CHILE, and the first thing I ought to say, it is soooooo Hot here haha! Unlike the Estados Unidos, it is Summer here in Chile and I got send to the mission zone of Chillian, in the Quillion District and it is no where near the coast. But on the bright side, I am in good grazing land I there is tons and tons of fruit, some fruit I have never seen before! My trainer only speaks Spaniosh so you already know that strugglwe, but at least I shall learn Spanish fast. His name is Elder Miranda and he is de Peru. Also in our casa we have,  which is just like a small dorm, there is Elder Mills, from Utah, and his companion is Elder Rojas, whom is from Argentine, and he only speaks spanish as well. We are able to ride bikes here, and I am sio glad I brought a backpack as well, we just carry those around with us all day. Also, unlike the United States, people here love, and I mean love to talk to other people, once you start talking to and old person they go on for days!! The people are very nice, and with almost every visit they give us some kind of drink, sometimes I have no clue what they are, but usuallly they give is soda, with some kind of fruit to eat, and then we talk about almost everything. I always get asked questions like how old am I, they think I am like 30 or something. But just imagine the fastest rapper ever, so youy fast have trouble understanding what he is saying, but then having him rap in spanish, that is how the people here talk haha! but all is well.

Thank you so much for the package Mother, I am so happy to have presents to open this Christmas, even though it feels like the dead of summer, oh wait it is! Also love the Christmas decorations, it is odd seeing al the decorations up, it being super hot and all. Oh which reminds me, the sun comes up here at like 5, and doesnt get dark until like 11!, we are out contacting untill 11 sometimes, it is crazy! Also everyting here is a rush, we correr everywhere, mas rapido all the time cada dia! At this rate the time in the mission will be over sooner than I know it. I am so grateful to be here, the vistas are so beautiful, I can see the andes mountinas with snow on them and there is green everywhere. Most of the houses are not build too well, but they are all mostly well kempt and look well. I am grateful that the people here are so nice and warm it would be a much harder time if everyone was bitter, but here everyone also is chiste (joking around) and they laugh a lot! Going to miss being with the family and friends this Christmas, but I am happy to be somewhere where the people are loving and giving all uear round!

Nothing too special happened this week, just a lots of meetings and contactos, and making sure recent converts and menos activos feel needed and are nourished! Church was interesting! The singing, sweet mercy it is so bad haha! But the talks were great, we had the niños have their navidad presentations, and class was alright, I understood little of it ahha! Hopefully by the end of a month being here (mission President said usually it takes us gringos 3 months) I will understand what the people are saying. One funny example. Usually when you first contact someones house (everyone has gates so you say ¨Alo¨at the gate)  and they open their door you say Hola Como Esta, stuff like that and then you ask them if you can meet them, aka shake their hands by saying Podemes Saludarle, well this one time I said Puede Ayudarme, and this means Can you help me? For the rest of the day my trianer could not stop laughing. Other than that, I have been meeting members, ward and stake leaders. Oh there is one ward here in Quillion made up of 60 active members. And Contactos para dias!

Nada mucho except I miss all y'all. Hope you are all well and remember that no matter what we recieve this Christmas, we can all wake up this Christmas and be grateful for the gift of the Atonement! I am going to miss you but I would have it no other way than to spend this Christmas serving the people in whom I am have called to. Till next semana, Adios. Cuidense!

Con Amor, 

Elder Siaosi

Pictures of the Laguna, my companero, and the Chile serving missionaries from the  CCM

Jacob has arrived in Concepcion, Chile!

we received this brief but informative email:

Looks like I made it!

Elder Siaosi

Feliz cumpleaños!

Happy Birthday Mother! Had time to spare so thought I would send you some pictures! Love you and wish you well!

Con Amor,

Elder Siaosi

Last Week in the CCM

Hey Yáll, only three more days until i head out for Chile! I am so stoked to head in to the field but I have my worries. But doesn´t everyone, going to a strange place with strange people in a strange land. One of the best parts about my district is that most of he people I love are going to the same Mission. 

Thank you so much for the package! it was the best thing that happened here yet! Almost as fun as when one of the hermana´s in my district accidentally swung a tennis racket into my head and cut right above my eye. The doctor said i would need stitches but i did not want janky stitches here in mexico so the just bandaged it up and now it is as good as new! All healed up and everything!

So the most glorious even that happen this last week, due to the needs of refurbishing the dorms they moved all the Elders into ¨casa´s¨and they only have ice cold water for showers, which is no bueno! I also have two more roommates, who are both fast spanish speakers from the US. They are so annoying at night they never go to bed!  However the interesting thing about having met these two new missionaries are that I have found out about the underground tie trades, and those are quite intesting. I have been trading a tie I found under my casa bed all the way into a sweet red tie that I can wear for Christmas in Chile!

Speaking of Christmas we were able to watch the Christmas Devotional, and it was sooooo gran! we need to remember that Christmas is not about present, or even about giving gifts to others. It is all a remembrance of the greatest gift the human race has ever received, that of the gift to return to Heavenly Father and live joyfully all our lives after we die. Are these things not ¨Good tidings of great joy?¨ How will we spend our Christmas? Thinking about what kinds of items we may receive this year, or what how great it will be after we finally have the rush of the holiday season. Or shall we give service to those others around us. I will miss the times of Christmas Eve with the Wardles, or the overwhelming burst of happiness from the babies after they open every present. I would love those moments when we would open a present, and love it so much that we would not want to open anything else. Why can´t we feel like that every Christmas morning, just from remembering the greatest gift of all. As the scriptures define Christ, why can we not be filled after having received the Prince of Peace. for peace comes to all those who desire of it. How sweet the sound is, such amazing grace and love. Why can we not always feel full from the Spirit of thanksgiving and desire for Christ.

This past SUNDAY may have been one of the most spiritual expereices yet. I gave a full 10 minute talk (i guess we were not supposed to speak more than 5 minutes) but it was all in Spanish and I only needed a few notes! The closing speaker of that day was one of the Preisdency of our ward and he talked about one of his step fathers passing, and after having servied for the church for more than 45 years spoke his last words, which were these ¨enjoy the faith, for it shall carry you far.¨ To makes things better President Holland spoke on never losing faith, his literal words were, for all those who have served full time missions and fall away from the church, Ï hope I would find you in a dark alley!¨ He spoke with power, that after having served a mission there is not a day he doesn´t look back and graciously thanked God for the change in his heart he recieved to the Lord. To end the night we watched the Restoration and it was just as good as the rest of the day, a few quotes I jotted down that I would love to share follow:

• From Joseph to his Father-¨you have watched us all our lives, now let us watch you¨as he lay sick in bed dying¨. Thank you Dad for love you have given me throughout all the times. Some days have been rough, and some have been blessed, but through all the days you have always loved me. 

• Emma Smith-¨Have you ever thought God asks to much of us?                               Joseph-         ¨I do not allow myself¨

• Joseph- The Lord brings us down to build us up.¨

In my district many people have been through thick and thin. Brothers and fathers have left the church and tear at the family, Fathers have passed away, disease has broken families, and death humbles all. But what we all have in common is a knowledge that our purpose is jsut and what we have to pass along is of love and Christ. Compassion is a strong bond, that creates relationships that hold forever. And these empathetic cords can only be formed through trials themselves. Experiences that have changed all our lives in differing ways, are what keep our grip so strong onto the iron rod. How can we not have Hope for our work, and for the future. One of my new favorite quotes come from the wonderful prophet, Gordon B Hinkley: No greater joy comes from being the answer to someone else´s prayer.¨ I am so grateful to do the work and cannot wait to enter the field through all its thorns and thistles!

Love you alls!

Elder Siaosi

Es la temporada de navidad

Querido mi familia y amigos!

Que es la mejor época del año no es así, un tiempo de regocijo y recordar a Cristo! As soon as we hit December the whole CCM has been moving in Noche Buenos, also known as Pointsettas! And they are absolutely everywhere! It reminds me of home at Poinsetta Park! Christmas music is everywhere, and ever hymn we ever sing is a Christmas song (except for called to serve, which we sing daily). It is so great! I have the date that I am flying to Chile! It is Monday the 16 of December and I fly out at 7:25 in the noche. the times seems to go by fast but day to day is still taking forever, maybe it is the interesting foods for meals or the daily struggle to learn Spanish that makes the days all blend into one giant day!  Oh another fun fact, I am actually not serving the full two years. Everyone that is going to a BYU school is returning on october 20 (or at least that is the day it says we are to be released) so that we can return in time for school registration. 

Over the past week I have been able to be privileged to hear many great talks for the general authorities. Starting on Thanksgiving day we were privileged to hear from Russel M Nelson. He spoke of growing up to be men through the wisdom of the Lord. The first step to growing up is you have realize that you must decrease yourself to increase others. Pride is the childish of all traits in oneself. Many times of pride are bad, like in oneself, and in your past choices. But not all pride is bad, pride in your family name, and towards your ancestors is a good type of pride, family moving all the way back to having pride in your God. Once you begin to decrease yourself and stop trying to teach the gospel from the knowledge you know and let God administer what is needed to be taught through you.

Which leads into another talk given by our CCM President, President Carl Pratt. He spoke on the gift of the Holy Ghost. Everyone has the ability to feel the spirit of the Lord, and we have the ability to invite the spirit for others. And once anyone receives the Holy Ghost they accept the admonition to continuously invite and re invite the spirit into our lives.

And on this last Tuesday, due to the giant snow storm in Provo, gotta love that Utah weather. So we had an old broadcast from President Bednar and he spoke of becoming a Preach My Gospel missionary. In other words we must change ourselves to be the example of Jesus Christ that we want to teach others about. Bednar also taught us that we must treasure the doctrine we teach and have because how can we ourselves come unto Christ is we do not have our own knowledge of how precious his words are. Once we have converted ourselves, through the gran teacher, the Holy Ghost missionaries will be able to teach all things. Again Elder Bednar also told us we had to decrease ourselves to increase ourselves. As Elder Bednar concluded his talk he told us this ¨You can do this,¨the Savior has done more, and he knows that we are able to do all things. All of the Apostles pray for not only the missionaries but all the members daily. Every part of the growth and sustainability of the church is through the members and missionaries.

I listened to a great talk one day while on my free time. It is a talk by Jefferey R. Holland called Broken Things to Mend. it speaks of all the hardships and though who are poor in spirit, to have more expereinces with Christ and to not be afraid of what is to come, but to have a Hope for what we know will be our day of great Joy where all of our hardships will be made light. Much thanks to a quote from Sister Bertha, 

“When life is hard, remember - we are not the first to ask, 'Is there no other way?” 

― Jeffrey R. Holland

The times here are great and the learning is wonderful. I know it will not be as simple out in the field but I´m grateful for the gracious walls of the CCM, it is a sweet escape from the outside world. It is amazing how gracious the people of Mexico are and the whole latin culture in general. Everyone loves everyone. The work is joyious. One thing I am trying to memorize before the field is the Christmas story of the sheppards, or as I like to call it Linus´s story.

Lucus 2:8-14

 8 Y había pastores en la misma región, que velaban y guardaban las vigilias de la noche sobre sus rebaños.

 9 Y he aquí, se les presentó un ángel del Señor, y la gloria del Señor los rodeó de resplandor; y tuvieron gran temor.

 10 Pero el ángel les dijo: No temáis, porque he aquí os doy nuevas de gran gozo, que serán para todo el pueblo:

 11 que os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un aSalvador, que es CRISTO el Señor.

 12 Y esto os servirá de aseñal: Hallaréis al niño envuelto en pañales, acostado en un pesebre.

 13 Y repentinamente apareció con el ángel una multitud de las huestes celestiales, que alababan a Dios y decían:

  14 ¡Gloria a Dios en las alturas, y en la tierra apaz, buena voluntad para con los hombres!

I love everyone and miss everyone! In closing I would like to talk about something I came to realize when I was reading about the miracle of Peter walking out to Jesus on the water. Peter having had faith in the Lord at Jesus’ invitation, Peter “walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” (Matt. 14:29.) Yet his faith failed due to the hard and great winds of the sea, and the Lord reached to rescue the Peter. ¨One sees a powerful spirit with seeds of perfect faith taking its first weak steps. Before criticizing Peter for his incomplete faith, perhaps we should take a few steps on water¨(DR. RICHARD LLOYD ANDERSON) We just have to have enough faith to make it in this life, so that Jesus can catch us and bring us to safety. I can´t wait to return home and tell of all the great stories I shall make!

Elder Siaosi

So the following pictures are of: one of our district leaders (who is on the lds.org  website as a model) he is on the right row, 4 down, me in front of the muscle man, and and me in front of a manger.