Hardly have any time this week, so much to do in so little time! Elder Mackliet is heading on out, and incoming to be my companion is Elder Herrera, got bumped up to be companero mayor, which just means that I am Senior Companion now. Elder Herrera is Mexicano so we should have a lot of fun right! Also we had a Baptism this week, it was amazing. The Hermana Isabel has been investigating for about 3 months now and it was a pleasure to see her enter into the waters! Hope everything is great back at home, it is starting to heat up a little here, but I´m still praying for the cold! With lots of love being sent from down here in humble Longaví, I miss you all!

-Elder Siaosi

A few sweet fotos of the River, the Baptism of Maria Isabel Urtubia Perez, and a few mates from the Zone Linares!

Can You Stand Success?

Dear Family and friends,

This week I want to share a message concerning Success. In the mission, it is fairly easy to see the success in a sector, they are baptizing many, have many people come to church, and seem to always be bringing the numbers. Yet, when it comes to the numbers, a sector may be doing great, but the companionship may be suffering greatly, though a lack of obedience, or good attitude, or who knows what. Sometimes we get too caught up in the numbers that we forget what the numbers stand for. And sometimes we neglect things that are not rendered, or that do not come up as numbers, or things that cannot be seen through pen and paper. After being in Longaví you start to realize what the Branch really needs, and many times, more numbers is what comes to mind. We need more members, need more lessons, need more baptisms. Yet is that the only success that we need. You know I am big fan as of late, about the home being the first thing that needs to be fixed before we can go out to bring in more.

In a talk by C. BROOKLYN DERR in FEB. 1978, states ¨We all want success—but what kind? And what are the price-tags?¨ In her talk, it talks about what we stand for when it comes to our success. Are we searching in the right places, and are we willing to sacrifice the right things to earn what we desire.

One thing that I have learned here, is the importance of the members. We have been visiting, throwing activities, trying everything to make members who are strong, in the gospel, in the family, and in their lives! It is sad to see some of the problems that exist here in the members, I figure they exist in every part of the world. We need to fix them all! One at a time if we must. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve, here in Chile Concepcion, the best mission on the Earth, no doubt.

Be strong and of good cheer. Read your scriptures. Don´t get sick.

Sending much love from Zion,

Elder Siaosi

 Zone Conference

¡Que Rico!

Out of all the weeks that I have been on the mission, this has probably been one of the most normal. Honestly all I can remember doing is waking up working, and going back to sleep!

HOWEVER, one thing that we did have this week, was the Conferencias de Zonas, which we have every 3 months or so. And first of all, thank you everyone that sent me nifty things, just a list of my thanks: Father, Big Joe, Hermana Mary from the office!, Andrew Bertha, Mother, Aunty Jenn, JAAASON, Sydney, Sandy Bertha, Megan Bertha, I know I am forgetting some names, I have not even opened tham alll up yet! Oh Curtis and Corrine!!!

Well one thing that we learned this conference:

HOW TO BE CREATIVE

President Utchdorf cited

 “Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty. 

“The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come.” 

As members, and missionaries our goal is to create: ideas, games, lessons, food, trinkets, anything right. As missionaries we need to find create ideas on how to reach out, because lets be real we can contact peoples doors trying to sell them something, or we can through a great activity in the church for everyone to realize that our church is not as odd as people think!

Oh and if any of you have any creative ideas shoot them my way ahaha, we can always use more sweet ideas!

Well do not have much time, I swear the time passes by too fast haha. 

Les Amo! Les Extraño! You all know!

Elder Siaosi

An Imperative Duty

In the life of a missionary, you are able to feel closest to the Lord, because on a smaller level you are representing the Lord in all you do, and giving 100 percent of you life to the Lord. And in so, we are able to feel the same pains that the Lord feels. In the moment in time right now, I would travel for hours just to have to opportunity to help someone find their way into the church. I would teach the gospel for hours to aid the sheep to come back into the fold. I would fast, work, pray for days just to get that one family, that one soul to church. And you know what, that is what I have been trying to do. Me and my companion travel so far and yet we feel like we are not recieving the fruits. I guess that is how we feel in life sometimes right, we work so hard, but where are the fruits! We know that the adversary is always trying to not only bring down our faith but also our hope.

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to attend a reunion for the preisthood that really opened our eyes. It started with this quote!

Harold B. Lee said “The most important of the Lord’s work you will ever  do will be within the walls of your own homes.¨

As members we are someties more worried about the people that we can help come into the church, more than about actually helping the members that are already in the church!! We need to help out the members that are in church!

Well I need to get off how the time flies! Oh by the way, I got called to be the Clerk of the Branch.

Well so long family and friends!!!

Elder Siaosi