Suffering and Perfection

The things we learn out here in the field are not always what we expect to learn. This week was very growing looking back. 

 I was reading something that impacted me quite hard. In this life, we try to be like Jesus; perfect. Yet no one is perfect, how can we just start being perfect, we can´t right. So then, how can we even become perfect? The answer is in Hebrew, where we learn how Jesus became perfect.

Herbrews 5:8-9

 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

The scripture says that Jesus, the Son of God learned to be obedient through all the many sufferings he went through, and through his sufferings, learned obedience. And having been obedeint, became perfect.

As missionaries we are taught that if we study everyday, spend the wholeday going and finding people to teach, teach with the Spirit, and then offer good commitments, we will have success. But if that was how it is, why doesn´t every missionary have great lessons, bring people to church, and feel the blessings of their success.

Here in Longaví, the branch is struggling, let´s be real. As missionaries, we can visit people day in and day out, but they won´t come to church, or they won´t want to do their commitments, or who knows what. It is frustrating. Sometime, it just takes away all of the animo out of you, to bike for hours just to visit one family and then for them to say, sorry we forget to tell you that we are busy, or to walk in the rain for what seems like forever just to try and visit one of the members of the branch to help strengthen them. Why can´t people just do what they know that have too. 

One day we were visiting out branch mission leader, and he shared something with us that i had never thought of before. I shared an experiece with him that we visit new converts twice a week, just to get them to come to church and they never do, and they live in the boonies! You know we have taught everything we can, they know the blessings that they can recieve, but they just refuse to grasp them, how can we get these people to come to church!?! 

His answer was simple and profound. With a few questions, and then a bittersweet response. Do we work in the rain? Of course. Have you biked out to the farthest part of the area? Sure have. You work from sunset to sunrise right? Everyday. He told that, he knows we do because he has seen us, he know our sacrifice. Then, to this moment, I have his response in my mind. 

There will come a day, it may not be for a while, but the people whom you visit, will see your sacrifices. All the days you shared with them after getting soaking wet, the times that you biked out 2 hours just to share a short 30 minute lesson, and then biked back in the other direction, the services you have offered just because there was service to be done. And when they do, their eyes will be opened. It is not the message that you carry that will convert them, it is the sacrifice you do, and they love you have for your people that will bring them to church. Jesus did not baptize more than 10 people, but because of his sacrifices and his love millons have been converted. 

Let us strive for that perfection that Jesus achieved. Again, looks like the time is out, but just remember that often times the blessings we are looking for and not we actualy recieve. And through our sufferings comes the blessings of perfection!

Love you all and wish you the best!

Elder Siaosi

Where Does Your Heart Lie?

This may have been one of the worse weeks of the mission, yet it was not. How does one keep his hope, and his joy if there is so much bad in the world? They say we have to be in the world but of the world, yet the worldly things are a big part of our lives, are they not?

This week started out great, it started raining, but that rain did not stop us from biking 35 minutes out on Monday to have a Noche de Hogar with some members. Then on Tuesday we had some clases with Elder Scholes, the capacitator of the mision. We honestly learn taeching methods that make us stronger and much better missionaries, I love them. Wednesday, we hit the biggest challenge that we can have here in Longaví to the missionary work. My bike got a flat when we were about 50 minutes out of Longasví, and when this happens we literally just have to start walking home so that we can make it before it´s too late. All the way up till then, we had alright week, nothing good, but nothing horrible. Sometimes you just start to lose, what we call here, ANIMO.

 But then, Thursday hit. I woke up in the morning, then went to the study room to heat it up so that it would be nie and warm by study time. And I walked in, and noticed that it was gone. Then I thought that is wierd, notice other things were a little off, and then I noticed that draft. The window was wide open...we had gotten broken into and robbed in the night. And they literally took as much as they could, from what they seemed as value, they left the scriptures of course. So for the rest of the morning we were with the police filing everything and getting everything straightened up. But from what we know, we are most likely never going to see our stuff again. We have a bank faulted house now, so there is nothing to worry about now, but still, sucks. That whole day really just sucked the bikes were still broken, it was raining, and we had lost all animo to work. 

In the night time, we locked up everything real nice, and then while I was reading some of the DnC I came upon this little gem. It talks a little about those who are in ther service of the Lord

 7 For thou shalt devote all thy service in Zion; and in this thou shalt have strength.

 8 Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days.

 9 And in temporal labors thou shalt not have strength, for this is not thy calling. Attend to thy calling and thou shalt have wherewith to magnify thine office.

You know, after having a day like hits I realized, that the things that were lost, were of great value, many things we will never be able to buy back, but we still had everything that we needed to get to work. So that weekend, we got the bikes fixed and headed out into the wild, and in two days we found 14 nwe people to teach, brought members and did service for a less active member, in a part family that has been of out the church for 11 years, planned to have a baptism in two weeks, and much more! 

3 Nefi 13:21 says ¨For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.¨

What do we treasure, is it the things of the world, or the things not of this world. Because where your treasure is, that is where your heart is. 

Everyone, love what you have, beacuse when it is gone you will notice it. Love your family, the time you have in this life, the gospel. If you are not, change right now. Do not put your hearts somewhere where it can easily be taken.

I am so grateful for my calling, for my family and friends, and for the Church. This is where my treasure lies. I hope to have something a little more upbeat for the next day! Miss all of you and hope the best. 

From the little town of Longaví,

Elder Jacob Siaosi

Quick Update

Hey yáll,

We had a great week here in Longaví. Keeping things interesting here, giving out free folletos in the ferria, vising people that live in the middle of nowhere, and get soaking wet with all the rain! Today we hit the cambios, and lucky for me, everything is staying the same. Same place, and same companion. We are just going to keep rocking it up here! The World Cup is finally over, and hopefully we will start having some stubility in all our days. Many people here choose to watch the games more than eating. It is ingrained here! To keep it short and sweet, the week flew by so fast I do not even really know what to say! So I shall just say, love you all. I miss home, and my family, but I try to forget how much I miss them, so I can remember how much I love it here! Hope all is well at home!

From your favorite Elder,

Jacob Siaosi

So first of all, my companion and I were in the store looking for food to get, and we came across these, for a mil each, less than 2 dollars. We bought them all. They are a little part of America for us gringos here in Chile! The next is of an average night here in Longaví as the days get more humid. The last in the ferria day photo, the ferria is basically the farmers market with everything you could imagine! Even missionaries are there.

After Much Tribulation

I have been reading Doctrine and Convenants the past few weeks to read them all over again an I came across something that I found very inspired, and Ihave felt that understanding this promise will help better all of our lives It reads:

“For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that keepeth my commandments, whether in life or in death; and he that is faithful in tribulation, the reward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

“Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall … follow after much tribulation.

“For after much tribulation come the blessings”

As we pass through this mortal probation, we accumulate many experiences. It is in these experiences that we are often beset with problems, challenges, adversities, afflictions, trials, and tribulations. In the mission field it is fair to see all these treasures. This Sunday in Longaví we had we a fast and sacrament meeting in which almos everyone bore about obedience. One Elder said something that hit hard. He said ¨As missionaries we work. From before sunrise, to after sunset we are working. We bike miles, walk even farther, just so that we can share a 25 minute lesson, and then we bike for another 3 hours in the opposite direction so that we can give another 25 minute lesson. Brothers and Sister it is freezing at night. My companion has been sick for the last two weeks, this Elder broke his foot and he still makes the 6 miles walking to your house. How many of us point out all the unfortunate things in out lives. I know more than half of the members in this branch do not read their scirptures and pray everyday. Because if they were, then they would be in church every week. There are many members who are not here today becase it is to far, to cold, to what. Brothers and Sister, from the afflictions come the blessings. If you think that Jesus wanted to carry that cross on his back after he already suffered for all of our sins, you are wrong. Elder Holland testified: Salvacion was never an easy thing. Every member of this church should have the faith to read and pray to the Lord everyday. ¨ And then he testified. It was a great testimony.

I would like to share something. This week we were venturingto new places, and found an area where they had never met missionaries. Out of the 11 houses we contacted, 10 let us in. And the one house that did not gave us just cooked bread so that we woul not be cold and hungry in the night. Sometimes I think that the mission is difficult, but then I get reminded that I am in he best mission on the earth. How does one just become so humble and giving. It is glorious. If you want to find the people that have not been corruped by the world, just travel to the country folk. There are not a more loving type of people!

Just want to send another thank home, I could send them everyweek and i would not be sending enough. Thank you for all that I hve become, for the mold, I am starting to simmer down. So cool to see more friends leaving for their missions, and seeing the ones return home just makes me realize how soon I will be coming home too.

 Sending much love from the other side of Heaven,

Elder Siaosi

Thank to my Aunt Jane and Uncle Robert for sending me the sweet ties, the other missionaries are so jealous! And from the sweet servicio of repairing a ladies roof!