Hey there family,
Hey there, how are my beautiful family and amazing friends? You´re probably wondering why you are getting this email from me on Saturday...well, I am in my new sector in Ovejeria in the Osorno Zone, and this is the zone that all the office elders and the APs are in, so they have to change the P-day to Saturday (every Saturday) for some reason...but here I am. Don´t worry about not writing...you didn´t know. Hehehe ...but I expect the letters this next week. Hehehe.
Well, anyway...this has been the craziest week of my life...no exaggeration. I don´t know if you all have heard or not, but the entire cities of Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, and Por Venir are on strike...aka our entire Zone. What do I mean by on strike? What the deal is, is the Chilean government wants to raise their gas prices so they don´t use as much, and the Magellonicos are really angry because they use gas for everything year round...it´s kinda cold there. Anyway, so there is big drama. What do I mean by big drama? They have shut down all transportation in the city. The collectives (taxis) and other protestors are all parked on the streets in blockades every few blocks around the city. Everything is shut down, and they aren´t letting any cars go through, in, or out of the city. It´s causing serious problems for all the tourists down there, because they are coming or going from vacations, but there is no way they can leave or enter the cities. It´s just crazy. It has been a fairly calm protest. The only thing is that they would light cars or tires on fire close to the blockades just as demonstrations. So that was kind of crazy...but not that dangerous...I guess. Anyway, the strike started on Wednesday...the day of transfers.
Wednesday to Friday night we were trying to figure out how to get to the airport. Our flight out on Wednesday afternoon got canceled, so I got to work with Hermana Byam in Ovejero for one more day. That was a very strange day...we couldn´t really leave our poblacion...neighborhood, because there were protests going on blocking off the entrances. So we worked within our little Villa las Nieves. While we were doing contacts, we found a woman that had escaped from the mental health hospital and was lost in our neighborhood. She had walked all the way there, but she didn´t know where she lived or where she was going. She was really nice, but just pretty crazy in the head. Her name was Maria. I knew we had to help here because if we didn´t I knew that probably no one else would as the city was shut down...so we called the Police. The first time they hung up...on me. The second time they said they would send someone, and then they never asked for the direction...I told them, and then they confirmed that "they would let someone know"...they never came. So we walked little Maria to the hospital. There they figured out who she was and where she belonged. So then we went back to our neighborhood to work. We found a man and a woman standing outside smoking. We had contacted the man before. His name was Vladimier...yeah, he´s Russian. The woman was Chilean and they invited us in to teach. While we were in there we figured out that Vladimier is a Russian Orthodox priest or authority or something...needless to say it was the strangest lesson I have had in my mission. A Russian and Chilean and two Gringas talking about the Gospel. He was pretty crazy, too, though. I am grateful that in our church the leaders are called of God, and are not leaders only because they have been in a "special church school" for their whole lives. This man was the furthest thing from an example of Christ that I have met in my life. It was regrettable. But then Wednesday night we taught an investigator of ours named Jose. He has been investigating the Church for awhile, but has never felt the need to get baptized. We had a really great lesson with him, and we invited him to get baptized on the 29 of January. It was a very powerful lesson, and it felt good to end that crazy day on a really good note.
...and then came Thursday. So Thursday morning came, and Hermana Reyes, the owner of our house and the best member ever, took us as far as she could to the Church in her car, but there was another blockade right outside our neighborhood, so for the rest of the way we were on foot, walking with all my luggage to the church to meet up with the elders. We walked right by the protest and through the blockade with all my luggage...I took videos, I´ll have to show you when I get back. But like I said, it was a pretty calm protest...I don´t know if that is contradictory to say “a calm protest”, but let´s just say I didn´t once feel in danger during it all. Once we got to the church we had a member that took us as far as they could to the limit of this city, where there was another blockade. The entrance of the interstate where you have to go to get to the airport was also blocked off to all cars. So there we were walking down the empty interstate with our luggage. We were supposed to meet up with a member that lived on the other side of the blockade in the country that could take us the rest of the way, but when she picked us up we only got a few kilometers further before there was another blockade that we couldn´t pass. We knew that by walking the rest of the way we wouldn´t get there before the plane took off so we got permission to stay at the same member´s house that night. Bless their hearts. This family, Familia Contreras, took on 5 more kids for the day and night. They fed us and gave us beds...it helps that they have a VERY nice house to accommodate us, but I was so impressed with their willingness to help us. They were a miracle for us.
...then came Friday. We got up early in the morning and we started the 24 kilometer trek to the airport with all our luggage. Thank you for buying me luggage with wheels, Mom and Dad. :) We walked through various blockades and everything, but the interstate is right on the coast so it was a pretty walk at least. Every once in a while a local farmer would see us and take us a kilometer or two until the next blockade, but pretty much we walked the whole way. It was quite an adventure. We made it to the airport in time and we found ourselves with lots of angry tourists that had been stuck there since Wednesday. It was all a big mess, but I was grateful that we were all safe and protected. It could have been worse. The good news is in the airport I contacted 3 Japanese people, 1 Israeli, and 2 Brazilians....it was pretty neat.
I got here to Osorno late last night, very tired, but with many stories to tell. I forgot to bring my thing to send pictures, so I´ll have to send them next week. Get excited. :) I am loving this new sector. It reminds me of a little less pretty version of Ancud. I am excited. My compi is great and we are going to have a very great and successful cambio, full of miracles.
Well, my fingers are tired of typing and my hour is up anyway, so I love you guys like crazy, and I´ll write to you all again next Saturday. LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Hermana Bertagnole
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Going back up north
Jan 10, 2011
Hey there familia mia:
Well, my time as a penguin is coming to a close. This Wednesday I will get on a plane and say goodbye to Punta Arenas, and then head up to Osorno to work in a sector called Ovejeria....I am in Ovejero now....que confusion! My new companion will be Hermana Baum...My companion right now is Hermana Byam....Que confusion!!!!! Hahaha. Oh well. Well, I am excited to go work in Osorno. Can´t wait. Well, I don´t have lots of time to write this week because we are doing a lot of errands today to get ready for camibos, but I´ll try and answer the questions first and then give a quick overview of the week. Mom asked which of the colorful houses is mine...lamentablemente niguno. That was just a picture of a really cool street that is in our sector. Sorry for the let down. But it is true that P. Arenas is cleaner...well parts of it at least. I think that the wind helps, but unfortunately, I am pretty sure that the wind just blows all the garbage to the ocean...the coastline around the city is pretty grungy, which is really sad, but in the campo it´s just gorgeous. The other question is what is the white machine above the vacuum for...well, that is called a...well I can´t remember right now, but it is what heats our water. It´s gas run, too. Good question.
This week we have seen great miracles. We found lots of new people to teach this week, and even a few families!!!! I am so excited. Also we have had some great success with a reference from a member. He is a young man that was agnostic, but is reading like crazy, praying every day, and attending church. The young men just took him under their wing this week, so it was really special. He was even looking up the scriptures from the talks during Sacrament meeting, and sharing his new little Book of Mormon with the member sitting next to him. I just laughed to myself. I love how the Gospel touches people and changes them. It was a beautiful Sunday. How blessed we are to be in this service and to see these miracles up close and personal.
Thank you for your letters and your love and support. I love you guys so much. I´ll write more next week and let you know how the new sector is!
I love you guys tons. I hope that you are all doing well. I pray for you always.
-Hermana Bertagnole
Hey there familia mia:
Well, my time as a penguin is coming to a close. This Wednesday I will get on a plane and say goodbye to Punta Arenas, and then head up to Osorno to work in a sector called Ovejeria....I am in Ovejero now....que confusion! My new companion will be Hermana Baum...My companion right now is Hermana Byam....Que confusion!!!!! Hahaha. Oh well. Well, I am excited to go work in Osorno. Can´t wait. Well, I don´t have lots of time to write this week because we are doing a lot of errands today to get ready for camibos, but I´ll try and answer the questions first and then give a quick overview of the week. Mom asked which of the colorful houses is mine...lamentablemente niguno. That was just a picture of a really cool street that is in our sector. Sorry for the let down. But it is true that P. Arenas is cleaner...well parts of it at least. I think that the wind helps, but unfortunately, I am pretty sure that the wind just blows all the garbage to the ocean...the coastline around the city is pretty grungy, which is really sad, but in the campo it´s just gorgeous. The other question is what is the white machine above the vacuum for...well, that is called a...well I can´t remember right now, but it is what heats our water. It´s gas run, too. Good question.
This week we have seen great miracles. We found lots of new people to teach this week, and even a few families!!!! I am so excited. Also we have had some great success with a reference from a member. He is a young man that was agnostic, but is reading like crazy, praying every day, and attending church. The young men just took him under their wing this week, so it was really special. He was even looking up the scriptures from the talks during Sacrament meeting, and sharing his new little Book of Mormon with the member sitting next to him. I just laughed to myself. I love how the Gospel touches people and changes them. It was a beautiful Sunday. How blessed we are to be in this service and to see these miracles up close and personal.
Thank you for your letters and your love and support. I love you guys so much. I´ll write more next week and let you know how the new sector is!
I love you guys tons. I hope that you are all doing well. I pray for you always.
-Hermana Bertagnole
A rainy day in Punta Arenas
Jan 3, 2011
A rainy day in Punta Arenas
Hey there family...
I just love you guys.
Things have been great this week. I am learning a ton. I am pretty sure I always say that, but it is true...I feel and think a lot different these days. What a beautiful experience the mission is.
Feliz Año Nuevo...(Mom, I got the "ñ"...but I cheated a little bit...I´m using a Spanish keyboard :) ) Everyone here says, "que sea mejor"...pretty much I hope this one´s better for you, but then some say it with almost a sad face....and it´s so funny because it almost comes across as "I just kinda feel like you had a really rough year...I hope this one´s better for you...". It´s just really kinda funny. Anyway...
Well, I am going to give you all an overview of the week...
We had a really rough Monday and Tuesday this week...all our citas fell through, but we just kept on keeping on. It felt good to hold on to that faith when I felt like it kinda wanted to escape. Then on Wednesday, we had intercambios with the Hermanas in my old sector in Magallanes...It was the best day of my life pretty much. It was so surreal. I got to go back to my old sector and work with Hermana Neubert (she is the Sister that I worked with at BYU before the mission and we got our mission calls at about the same time). It was so cool to go back and see the progress some of these people are making. It was such a blessing to see. So I just loved that. I got to go back and see Blanca, Hno. Balladares and his daughter that we were teaching, Daisy, and we found a nuevo DE ORO! It was just a really good day. Then Thursday, was back to Ovejero, but not before Hermana Neubert cooked up some pancakes...I didn´t realize how much I have missed pancakes these past ten months until I smelled them. Thursday we taught a friend, Gabriel, of a member, Daniella, for the first time. He is agnostic, but he got on the church website and studied about Mormons, and he said he felt something, and it really made sense to him. He told her that he wanted to learn more, so there we were! He is just great. He´s really interested in learning. Also, Thursday, Hermana Byam and I made plans to take a church tour motorcycle trip after the mission. I think that we should get one of those side car buggy-type things to ride in, and then we can take turns driving. Tell Vic that we´re going to need to borrow his bike :) It´s going to be legit. Friday, we got to teach this man that we found the other day. A testimony that when citas fall through..."it´s like God picking up and putting you right where you need to be." On Tuesday, when all our citas fell through, we were wandering. We decided to pray and figure out where we needed to go. We did, and we were led to Pedro´s door. He came out and smiled, and we asked if he lived by himself (as we generally do to men...just so we can know if we can go in. If there isn´t a woman in the house we can´t go in without a member.)...he said with a few tears in his eyes, that he does now. He explained that his wife died almost a year ago (Jan. 11). We couldn´t go in on Tuesday because we didn´t have a member, but on Friday we got to go back and teach him. He is just so humble and grateful for the message of hope that we shared. On Tuesday we left him the Plan of Salvation pamphlet, and he read it all by the time we got there on Friday. He had some good questions and hopefully we can go back and teach him soon. He has a crazy job schedule, so pray that we can find him again. At the end of the lesson, we asked if he had any questions, and he said he did..."when are you all coming by again?" :) So great. Then on Saturday, we were walking down the street and he drove by and honked. He stopped his car right there on the street to talk to us and offer us a ride. (We couldn´t accept the ride because he was by himself again, but it´s the thought that counts! :) It was so great. I felt like he was happier. Sunday, was just a good day. I just felt a huge love for the Saints and people here in Chile. I felt so happy to serve them. My compi has been pretty sick the last few days, but she toughed it out yesterday, and I was so proud of her. I know that it would have been much more comfortable in her bed, but she worked the best she could...and it was good. I love her.
There you have it the week summary. I also wanted to tell you about some of the people we are teaching so that you can pray for them...please :)
Well, we have Bernardo and Martin (his little boy). His wife is a member, and he has been sharing with missionaries off and on for 15 years. We went and had one of our Christmas dinners at their house. He is just terrified to commit to baptism, but this week, we asked him if he would at least pray about it, and he said he would...that´s a big step, so please pray for him that he will be persevering until he receives an answer. Martin told his mom the other day, "hey tell the missionaries I want to get baptized...just tell them not to asked too many questions. " It was so cute. He´s pretty shy.
Also we are teaching Pedro...I already told you about him above. Just pray for him. I can see him being a great leader in the Church here.
Also pray for Janet...She is the daughter of a menos activo member. But we contacted her right ou side the church one day...I don´t have time to explain why she is a miracle to me, but just know that she is an answer to a prayer that we said a few minutes before the contact. She has real interest in the church, and many doubts, but she is willing to pray and study. She´s going through a break-up right now though, so it´s been hard to find her. Pray that we can find her again, please.
Also we are teaching Angel, the husband of a member, Hermana Jessica. he also has been sharing on and off with missionaries, but also is (I think) scared of making the commitment of baptism. Please pray that his mind will be prepared and his heart softened. This is a very special family. I love them.
I leave it to that right now... Oh, mom asked what "once" meant. It´s in reference to the number "11" ocho, nueve, deiz, once, doce, trece...etc. But here "once" is like their dinner. But they have desayuno, almuerzo (the biggest meal), and then once (around 5pm) and then cena (around 9 or 10pm)...once is like tea and bread and jam and cookies, or ham....it´s once, po! :) Also I sent pictures of our humble little house...:) It´s so little! But it´s great...full of love:)
Today for p-day...me and my compi got into the Sara Braun palace...it´s this museum that normally isn´t open on Mondays, but we talked the guys there into letting us take a tour today...it was the coolest. I´ll have to explain it more when I get home...but just a little highlight of today .
Well, I love you guys tons and tons. I hope you all have a great first week of 2011!
-Abrazos.
-Hermana Bertagnole
A rainy day in Punta Arenas
Hey there family...
I just love you guys.
Things have been great this week. I am learning a ton. I am pretty sure I always say that, but it is true...I feel and think a lot different these days. What a beautiful experience the mission is.
Feliz Año Nuevo...(Mom, I got the "ñ"...but I cheated a little bit...I´m using a Spanish keyboard :) ) Everyone here says, "que sea mejor"...pretty much I hope this one´s better for you, but then some say it with almost a sad face....and it´s so funny because it almost comes across as "I just kinda feel like you had a really rough year...I hope this one´s better for you...". It´s just really kinda funny. Anyway...
Well, I am going to give you all an overview of the week...
We had a really rough Monday and Tuesday this week...all our citas fell through, but we just kept on keeping on. It felt good to hold on to that faith when I felt like it kinda wanted to escape. Then on Wednesday, we had intercambios with the Hermanas in my old sector in Magallanes...It was the best day of my life pretty much. It was so surreal. I got to go back to my old sector and work with Hermana Neubert (she is the Sister that I worked with at BYU before the mission and we got our mission calls at about the same time). It was so cool to go back and see the progress some of these people are making. It was such a blessing to see. So I just loved that. I got to go back and see Blanca, Hno. Balladares and his daughter that we were teaching, Daisy, and we found a nuevo DE ORO! It was just a really good day. Then Thursday, was back to Ovejero, but not before Hermana Neubert cooked up some pancakes...I didn´t realize how much I have missed pancakes these past ten months until I smelled them. Thursday we taught a friend, Gabriel, of a member, Daniella, for the first time. He is agnostic, but he got on the church website and studied about Mormons, and he said he felt something, and it really made sense to him. He told her that he wanted to learn more, so there we were! He is just great. He´s really interested in learning. Also, Thursday, Hermana Byam and I made plans to take a church tour motorcycle trip after the mission. I think that we should get one of those side car buggy-type things to ride in, and then we can take turns driving. Tell Vic that we´re going to need to borrow his bike :) It´s going to be legit. Friday, we got to teach this man that we found the other day. A testimony that when citas fall through..."it´s like God picking up and putting you right where you need to be." On Tuesday, when all our citas fell through, we were wandering. We decided to pray and figure out where we needed to go. We did, and we were led to Pedro´s door. He came out and smiled, and we asked if he lived by himself (as we generally do to men...just so we can know if we can go in. If there isn´t a woman in the house we can´t go in without a member.)...he said with a few tears in his eyes, that he does now. He explained that his wife died almost a year ago (Jan. 11). We couldn´t go in on Tuesday because we didn´t have a member, but on Friday we got to go back and teach him. He is just so humble and grateful for the message of hope that we shared. On Tuesday we left him the Plan of Salvation pamphlet, and he read it all by the time we got there on Friday. He had some good questions and hopefully we can go back and teach him soon. He has a crazy job schedule, so pray that we can find him again. At the end of the lesson, we asked if he had any questions, and he said he did..."when are you all coming by again?" :) So great. Then on Saturday, we were walking down the street and he drove by and honked. He stopped his car right there on the street to talk to us and offer us a ride. (We couldn´t accept the ride because he was by himself again, but it´s the thought that counts! :) It was so great. I felt like he was happier. Sunday, was just a good day. I just felt a huge love for the Saints and people here in Chile. I felt so happy to serve them. My compi has been pretty sick the last few days, but she toughed it out yesterday, and I was so proud of her. I know that it would have been much more comfortable in her bed, but she worked the best she could...and it was good. I love her.
There you have it the week summary. I also wanted to tell you about some of the people we are teaching so that you can pray for them...please :)
Well, we have Bernardo and Martin (his little boy). His wife is a member, and he has been sharing with missionaries off and on for 15 years. We went and had one of our Christmas dinners at their house. He is just terrified to commit to baptism, but this week, we asked him if he would at least pray about it, and he said he would...that´s a big step, so please pray for him that he will be persevering until he receives an answer. Martin told his mom the other day, "hey tell the missionaries I want to get baptized...just tell them not to asked too many questions. " It was so cute. He´s pretty shy.
Also we are teaching Pedro...I already told you about him above. Just pray for him. I can see him being a great leader in the Church here.
Also pray for Janet...She is the daughter of a menos activo member. But we contacted her right ou side the church one day...I don´t have time to explain why she is a miracle to me, but just know that she is an answer to a prayer that we said a few minutes before the contact. She has real interest in the church, and many doubts, but she is willing to pray and study. She´s going through a break-up right now though, so it´s been hard to find her. Pray that we can find her again, please.
Also we are teaching Angel, the husband of a member, Hermana Jessica. he also has been sharing on and off with missionaries, but also is (I think) scared of making the commitment of baptism. Please pray that his mind will be prepared and his heart softened. This is a very special family. I love them.
I leave it to that right now... Oh, mom asked what "once" meant. It´s in reference to the number "11" ocho, nueve, deiz, once, doce, trece...etc. But here "once" is like their dinner. But they have desayuno, almuerzo (the biggest meal), and then once (around 5pm) and then cena (around 9 or 10pm)...once is like tea and bread and jam and cookies, or ham....it´s once, po! :) Also I sent pictures of our humble little house...:) It´s so little! But it´s great...full of love:)
Today for p-day...me and my compi got into the Sara Braun palace...it´s this museum that normally isn´t open on Mondays, but we talked the guys there into letting us take a tour today...it was the coolest. I´ll have to explain it more when I get home...but just a little highlight of today .
Well, I love you guys tons and tons. I hope you all have a great first week of 2011!
-Abrazos.
-Hermana Bertagnole
Monday, December 27, 2010
Ready to hit the pavement again
It was such happiness talking to you all on the phone this week. What a blessing. We had more than one member come up to us on Sunday and say that they could tell we had just talked to our families because we were still just all smiles. It was so good to hear your voices and talk with you all. I love you all so much.
I am very ready to get back to work as normal. The days during Christmas, we had a limited schedule as far as we couldn´t work after 7:30, unless it was a set appointment, and we couldn´t knock doors, or do contacts. If we didn´t have set appointments or they fell through we just had to go home. Yesterday was the only day that we had to go home early, but it was too much for me. I am going to be the most antsy returned missionary ever...just so you know. I get so stressed just sitting around. Que vergüenza...the mission has given me ADD. The one bit of news that is still kind of lame is that at the end of this week we will have New Years, so once again it might be a messed up schedule...I think maybe even more so because everyone will be drinking...so we´ll see what the plans are.
Well not much new to report since I talked to you all last. After I talked to you, we went and taught an investigator of ours. His name is Angel. He is the husband of a member in our ward. They are such a sweet family. They are quiet, but so kind. I just love them. He told us that he couldn´t come to Church the next day because his family was coming into town, but we prayed for him to come anyway, and all of a sudden, Sunday morning came and there he was with his family!!! It was such a blessing for us. We are trying to work on having more faith, and that was definitely a faith building experience. He is struggling accepting the idea of baptism...please pray for him so that he can be at ease and understand why it´s so important.
What else is new.....a ver....Oh I loved the Christmas pictures that you all sent. One thing that called my attention was Scott´s beard...? A donde!? (Dad, translate for him please.) When did he start growing a beard? Girls don´t like facial hair. He he he he .... just playing big bro :) I love you, you know that. The babies look so grown up and cute. I love that they still make the same faces in pictures though. Yay!
Oh, I got a phone call this morning from the Zone Leaders and they said that I am going to have an intercambio with the Hermanas in Magallanes, so that means that I get to go back and work in my old sector for one more day!!!!! Yay! They told me to make some miracles happen....( I know I´m not the one in charge of that, though....) I am excited to go back and check it out for the day, and work with Hermana Neubert there. She´s just great. I ´ll let you know how it goes. I know it´s going to be the best day ever!
Well, like I said, this week I am trying to work on having more faith. I know that if I had more faith I would have the eyes to see more miracles. I know that that promise works for everyone. I feel that in the mission sometimes rejections happen so often, or so many people don´t progress, or people fall through so often, that it becomes so easy to just have a fault of faith. I don´t want that to happen to me. I just need to not stress about it all so much, and just trust that the Lord has a plan and that He is leading us to those that need it most. Those who are prepared. I was talking to my compi about it the other day and she said that her worst nightmare is becoming an old grumpy missionary. It´s so true!!! I have seen it many times, where by the end of the mission, some missionaries are comfortable with themselves, and impatient with others, and so pessimistic that it can kill the ever so fragile element of faith that is left in them. I realized that during these crucial months of my mission I am deciding whether I become a missionary like that or not. Every day is important, and every decision will show if I am choosing to have faith or if I am choosing not to. Faith is a choice. We chose to have it and be happy and be like Christ, or we chose not to have it, and be sad. Faith is everything on the mission, and I want more of it. In myself and in others.
Me and my comp had a great Christmas... we pulled the mattresses off the beds and we put them around our humble little Christmas tree and we slept on the floor for the night. It was cute and fun. I love my little Canadian. And don't worry, she did get to talk to her family just fine...it all worked out great. Thanks so much for your help!
Thank you for everything you do for me. Thank you for making the sacrifices that you make for me and my mission. To give me the opportunities that I have been given. I can´t tell you how happy I am...it´s pure happiness. Not the kind of happiness that comes from good grades, or a cute boyfriend, or fancy clothes and nice hair....it´s so very much more than that. This happiness is just peace. It´s so full. I love what I am doing and I feel so very blessed and special to be doing it. Thank you for making it possible for me.
I love you all tons and tons. (It was hard to hang up the phone...ps. :) LOVE YOU.
-Hermana Bertagnole
I am very ready to get back to work as normal. The days during Christmas, we had a limited schedule as far as we couldn´t work after 7:30, unless it was a set appointment, and we couldn´t knock doors, or do contacts. If we didn´t have set appointments or they fell through we just had to go home. Yesterday was the only day that we had to go home early, but it was too much for me. I am going to be the most antsy returned missionary ever...just so you know. I get so stressed just sitting around. Que vergüenza...the mission has given me ADD. The one bit of news that is still kind of lame is that at the end of this week we will have New Years, so once again it might be a messed up schedule...I think maybe even more so because everyone will be drinking...so we´ll see what the plans are.
Well not much new to report since I talked to you all last. After I talked to you, we went and taught an investigator of ours. His name is Angel. He is the husband of a member in our ward. They are such a sweet family. They are quiet, but so kind. I just love them. He told us that he couldn´t come to Church the next day because his family was coming into town, but we prayed for him to come anyway, and all of a sudden, Sunday morning came and there he was with his family!!! It was such a blessing for us. We are trying to work on having more faith, and that was definitely a faith building experience. He is struggling accepting the idea of baptism...please pray for him so that he can be at ease and understand why it´s so important.
What else is new.....a ver....Oh I loved the Christmas pictures that you all sent. One thing that called my attention was Scott´s beard...? A donde!? (Dad, translate for him please.) When did he start growing a beard? Girls don´t like facial hair. He he he he .... just playing big bro :) I love you, you know that. The babies look so grown up and cute. I love that they still make the same faces in pictures though. Yay!
Oh, I got a phone call this morning from the Zone Leaders and they said that I am going to have an intercambio with the Hermanas in Magallanes, so that means that I get to go back and work in my old sector for one more day!!!!! Yay! They told me to make some miracles happen....( I know I´m not the one in charge of that, though....) I am excited to go back and check it out for the day, and work with Hermana Neubert there. She´s just great. I ´ll let you know how it goes. I know it´s going to be the best day ever!
Well, like I said, this week I am trying to work on having more faith. I know that if I had more faith I would have the eyes to see more miracles. I know that that promise works for everyone. I feel that in the mission sometimes rejections happen so often, or so many people don´t progress, or people fall through so often, that it becomes so easy to just have a fault of faith. I don´t want that to happen to me. I just need to not stress about it all so much, and just trust that the Lord has a plan and that He is leading us to those that need it most. Those who are prepared. I was talking to my compi about it the other day and she said that her worst nightmare is becoming an old grumpy missionary. It´s so true!!! I have seen it many times, where by the end of the mission, some missionaries are comfortable with themselves, and impatient with others, and so pessimistic that it can kill the ever so fragile element of faith that is left in them. I realized that during these crucial months of my mission I am deciding whether I become a missionary like that or not. Every day is important, and every decision will show if I am choosing to have faith or if I am choosing not to. Faith is a choice. We chose to have it and be happy and be like Christ, or we chose not to have it, and be sad. Faith is everything on the mission, and I want more of it. In myself and in others.
Me and my comp had a great Christmas... we pulled the mattresses off the beds and we put them around our humble little Christmas tree and we slept on the floor for the night. It was cute and fun. I love my little Canadian. And don't worry, she did get to talk to her family just fine...it all worked out great. Thanks so much for your help!
Thank you for everything you do for me. Thank you for making the sacrifices that you make for me and my mission. To give me the opportunities that I have been given. I can´t tell you how happy I am...it´s pure happiness. Not the kind of happiness that comes from good grades, or a cute boyfriend, or fancy clothes and nice hair....it´s so very much more than that. This happiness is just peace. It´s so full. I love what I am doing and I feel so very blessed and special to be doing it. Thank you for making it possible for me.
I love you all tons and tons. (It was hard to hang up the phone...ps. :) LOVE YOU.
-Hermana Bertagnole
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Hey there family!
I can´t believe that it is almost Christmas! Less than a week and I´ll be talking to you all on the phone! Cannot wait. I hope that you are all happy and together in these beautiful days of the season. I miss you guys, but I am so happy to be here doing what I am doing. These are once in a lifetime moments, and I am just trying really hard to soak it all in. It´s all coming and going so fast, that I am frantically trying to capture all that I can. I guess that is the way it is in life. I have seen it time and time again, but especially in the mission. Just love every second of every day. The hard ones are the ones that help us grow, but thankfully they aren´t the ones we remember most. I love how Heavenly Father helps us remember all the beauty.
I have been thinking a lot this week about why we celebrate Christmas... we went to the store last week and there was so much madness going on about the shopping and the presents and the candy... and I just got such a sick feeling inside. I am grateful for the opportunity to have a very simple Christmas. It’s so much better this way. It allows us to think about Christ, and what He has done for us. I can´t help but think that while we´re standing in huge lines at stores buying gifts that we can´t afford for people that will love us whether we give gifts or not...I can´t help but think that we lose track somewhere in there about why we even have Christmas. Is Christ pleased with how we chose to celebrate His sacred birth? Don´t go crazy with it. It should be peaceful, not a bit stressful. We can´t forget why we celebrate this sacred time of year. I am so grateful to celebrate by sharing this Gospel. It is so beautiful. The work is a little bit harder during this time of year because everyone is in vacations, or in the mall shopping, or with visits....there are so many distractions that no one really seems to have much time to talk about the Savior, whose name we celebrate, but I know that we are going to see miracles this next week. I know that If we help people understand the importance of this message, I know that hearts will be touched and lives will begin to change...I know mine has.
I am grateful to all those who support me so willingly. I thank you with all my heart. I love you all. I am grateful for your letters, and your love, and prayers. I hope that you all have a very merry Christmas. I hope that you all remember your Savior who was born into this world to make it possible for us, unworthy as we are, to return and live with our Heavenly Father again. I hope that you all recognize, and feel His love for you. I hope you all apply what He teaches us in your lives. If you do you will be happy. If you don´t you will not. It´s very simple. We complicate it all sometimes, but it´s not complicated at all. It is beautiful simplicity.
Well I am going to keep this short, because I am going to talk to you all soon!!!! Yeah! But I´m sending pictures. Love you guys more than you´ll ever know. Seriously though...I know it sounds cliche, but it´s true. :) SMILE AND LAUGH LOTS TOGETHER THIS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HUGE, HUGE HUG FOR EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love you with all that I have.
-Hermanita Bertagnole
I can´t believe that it is almost Christmas! Less than a week and I´ll be talking to you all on the phone! Cannot wait. I hope that you are all happy and together in these beautiful days of the season. I miss you guys, but I am so happy to be here doing what I am doing. These are once in a lifetime moments, and I am just trying really hard to soak it all in. It´s all coming and going so fast, that I am frantically trying to capture all that I can. I guess that is the way it is in life. I have seen it time and time again, but especially in the mission. Just love every second of every day. The hard ones are the ones that help us grow, but thankfully they aren´t the ones we remember most. I love how Heavenly Father helps us remember all the beauty.
I have been thinking a lot this week about why we celebrate Christmas... we went to the store last week and there was so much madness going on about the shopping and the presents and the candy... and I just got such a sick feeling inside. I am grateful for the opportunity to have a very simple Christmas. It’s so much better this way. It allows us to think about Christ, and what He has done for us. I can´t help but think that while we´re standing in huge lines at stores buying gifts that we can´t afford for people that will love us whether we give gifts or not...I can´t help but think that we lose track somewhere in there about why we even have Christmas. Is Christ pleased with how we chose to celebrate His sacred birth? Don´t go crazy with it. It should be peaceful, not a bit stressful. We can´t forget why we celebrate this sacred time of year. I am so grateful to celebrate by sharing this Gospel. It is so beautiful. The work is a little bit harder during this time of year because everyone is in vacations, or in the mall shopping, or with visits....there are so many distractions that no one really seems to have much time to talk about the Savior, whose name we celebrate, but I know that we are going to see miracles this next week. I know that If we help people understand the importance of this message, I know that hearts will be touched and lives will begin to change...I know mine has.
I am grateful to all those who support me so willingly. I thank you with all my heart. I love you all. I am grateful for your letters, and your love, and prayers. I hope that you all have a very merry Christmas. I hope that you all remember your Savior who was born into this world to make it possible for us, unworthy as we are, to return and live with our Heavenly Father again. I hope that you all recognize, and feel His love for you. I hope you all apply what He teaches us in your lives. If you do you will be happy. If you don´t you will not. It´s very simple. We complicate it all sometimes, but it´s not complicated at all. It is beautiful simplicity.
Well I am going to keep this short, because I am going to talk to you all soon!!!! Yeah! But I´m sending pictures. Love you guys more than you´ll ever know. Seriously though...I know it sounds cliche, but it´s true. :) SMILE AND LAUGH LOTS TOGETHER THIS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I HUGE, HUGE HUG FOR EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love you with all that I have.
-Hermanita Bertagnole
Monday, December 13, 2010
Another beautiful week in the mission
Hello there family.
Thank you for the updates, letters, pictures, and videos. They were beautiful. I am glad to hear that Kirk´s funeral went well, (that sounds weird to say, but you know what I mean). I am glad it was a blessed experience, however difficult it may be.
Well, this week was beautiful...not so much weather wise, but it was a beautiful week full of great learning experiences, as usual. I have cried many tears this week. Tears of gratitude more than anything else. Gratitude that I don´t have to be perfect. Gratitude that Jesus Christ takes all that I have and purifies it. He takes our imperfect efforts, struggles, and weaknesses, and in return He us back sanctified, perfected, and pure miracles. I am so grateful for the lessons that I have been learning the last few weeks. It has had a lot to do with a change of mind and attitude, but I can feel myself changing and becoming a little better every day. I am so grateful that that is possible through the Atonement. How blessed we are to know about it and know how to apply it in our lives.
This week we took kind of a blow with some of our investigators. Many are leaving on summer vacations for a couple of months. But with that being said, we are starting to work with a lot of part member families, with is very promising. We had 4 people in the Church this week and all of them were from part member families; 3 husbands of the 3 of the Hermanas, and one of their sons. (I don´t know if that make sense). It was a testimony of the importance of working and focusing more on the family. We are still searching hard for the families that are being prepared to hear this beautiful message.
Ok. Can I just say that I am loving the heck out of my companion? This little Canadian is the best thing since sliced bread. Hermana Byam and I have been talking a lot lately about what we want for this cambio and for our missions in general. We have some great dreams, and visions. We have had some very special moments together, and I know that we support each other well. I feel like we are very compatible. When I´m down, she picks me up, and vice-versa. We work really well and hard together. It´s so great. The Spirit is strong with her. She´s way special. I have been blessed with such great companions in the mission! How did I get so lucky!
Anyway, I´m going to spend more time sending pictures this week, than writing a whole lot. The pictures always do it better justice.
But please know that I LOVE YOU! Thank you for all that you do and have done for me. Thank you a million times over....and I love you a billion times over. I hope that you all are getting as excited for Christmas as I am! I´ll miss you all, but I know that this will be a Christmas that I will remember for my whole life. And don´t worry we have lots of invitations (even from the members in my old ward in Magallanes , such great members.) , so we are well taken care of, so no need to worry about a lonely missionary. :) As for the phone call, we are receiving more details and instructions tomorrow, but I think that we can call the 24, 25, or 26 of December. What would be better for you? I know that we can talk for an hour, and I am pretty sure that we can just go to the house of the members that live in front of us. We´ll double check with all the rules and I´ll send you the details next Monday. CAN¨T WAIT!
LOVE YOU. (Big hugs and kisses)
-Hermana Ricitos de Oro (Goldilocks)....that´s what they finally started calling me in this ward...it´s hilarious because in every ward they have a new nickname for me because they can´t say my name. :) I think this is my fave so far. It´s better than Berta. jajajaja
Thank you for the updates, letters, pictures, and videos. They were beautiful. I am glad to hear that Kirk´s funeral went well, (that sounds weird to say, but you know what I mean). I am glad it was a blessed experience, however difficult it may be.
Well, this week was beautiful...not so much weather wise, but it was a beautiful week full of great learning experiences, as usual. I have cried many tears this week. Tears of gratitude more than anything else. Gratitude that I don´t have to be perfect. Gratitude that Jesus Christ takes all that I have and purifies it. He takes our imperfect efforts, struggles, and weaknesses, and in return He us back sanctified, perfected, and pure miracles. I am so grateful for the lessons that I have been learning the last few weeks. It has had a lot to do with a change of mind and attitude, but I can feel myself changing and becoming a little better every day. I am so grateful that that is possible through the Atonement. How blessed we are to know about it and know how to apply it in our lives.
This week we took kind of a blow with some of our investigators. Many are leaving on summer vacations for a couple of months. But with that being said, we are starting to work with a lot of part member families, with is very promising. We had 4 people in the Church this week and all of them were from part member families; 3 husbands of the 3 of the Hermanas, and one of their sons. (I don´t know if that make sense). It was a testimony of the importance of working and focusing more on the family. We are still searching hard for the families that are being prepared to hear this beautiful message.
Ok. Can I just say that I am loving the heck out of my companion? This little Canadian is the best thing since sliced bread. Hermana Byam and I have been talking a lot lately about what we want for this cambio and for our missions in general. We have some great dreams, and visions. We have had some very special moments together, and I know that we support each other well. I feel like we are very compatible. When I´m down, she picks me up, and vice-versa. We work really well and hard together. It´s so great. The Spirit is strong with her. She´s way special. I have been blessed with such great companions in the mission! How did I get so lucky!
Anyway, I´m going to spend more time sending pictures this week, than writing a whole lot. The pictures always do it better justice.
But please know that I LOVE YOU! Thank you for all that you do and have done for me. Thank you a million times over....and I love you a billion times over. I hope that you all are getting as excited for Christmas as I am! I´ll miss you all, but I know that this will be a Christmas that I will remember for my whole life. And don´t worry we have lots of invitations (even from the members in my old ward in Magallanes , such great members.) , so we are well taken care of, so no need to worry about a lonely missionary. :) As for the phone call, we are receiving more details and instructions tomorrow, but I think that we can call the 24, 25, or 26 of December. What would be better for you? I know that we can talk for an hour, and I am pretty sure that we can just go to the house of the members that live in front of us. We´ll double check with all the rules and I´ll send you the details next Monday. CAN¨T WAIT!
LOVE YOU. (Big hugs and kisses)
-Hermana Ricitos de Oro (Goldilocks)....that´s what they finally started calling me in this ward...it´s hilarious because in every ward they have a new nickname for me because they can´t say my name. :) I think this is my fave so far. It´s better than Berta. jajajaja
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Beautiful Mission
Hey there family,
Well, here I am. I officially have more of the mission behind me than ahead of me. Strange. I don´t feel like it. I still feel the same, but if I think about it, it blows my mind how fast time flies. Life is too short. Live it the best you can.
Well, I don´t have tons of time to write this week, but I want you to know that I am so incredibly happy. My new companion is just incredible. We work really well together. We both just have so much desire to grow and progress in the mission so that we can be better instruments in the hands of the Lord. We are working really hard together, and we are loving every second. Some of the highlights this week- we are working in a new sector that the missionaries haven´t worked in a long time called Rio Seco. It is a GOLD mine. Almost every door we know they will let us in. Seriously. They are a humble fishing community outside of the city, and there is just a strong spirit there. I love working there. We only get to go a few times a week though because it´s a 20 minute bus ride out of the city, but we see miracles there. I love it. (Sent a picture...the one with the ocean.)
Also we put up our Christmas tree yesterday. Amazing. Also, the ward here is crazy strong. Like a hundred people. Nuts. I almost feel bad being there! :) They are great though, and there is still a lot of work to do there. So I am just so happy. I got dad´s "bishop" letter this week. You´re just one inspired man, dad. I loved it. I read it lots. Thank you. I am a lucky daughter. What else, what else...oh if you can´t tell from the pictures, my new sector is like the Leawood of Punta Arenas. There are lots of really wealthy people here. It´s great though. Sometimes it´s really hard to find anyone home because they are always at work, but we are working really hard to get member referrals. Anyway, that´s all I have time for.
I´ll try and get all the Christmas call stuff worked out, too. Can´t wait to talk with you all! LOVE YOU ALL TONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your letters and pictures and video. LOVED THEM!
All the love I have to give,
-Hermana Bertagnole
Well, here I am. I officially have more of the mission behind me than ahead of me. Strange. I don´t feel like it. I still feel the same, but if I think about it, it blows my mind how fast time flies. Life is too short. Live it the best you can.
Well, I don´t have tons of time to write this week, but I want you to know that I am so incredibly happy. My new companion is just incredible. We work really well together. We both just have so much desire to grow and progress in the mission so that we can be better instruments in the hands of the Lord. We are working really hard together, and we are loving every second. Some of the highlights this week- we are working in a new sector that the missionaries haven´t worked in a long time called Rio Seco. It is a GOLD mine. Almost every door we know they will let us in. Seriously. They are a humble fishing community outside of the city, and there is just a strong spirit there. I love working there. We only get to go a few times a week though because it´s a 20 minute bus ride out of the city, but we see miracles there. I love it. (Sent a picture...the one with the ocean.)
Also we put up our Christmas tree yesterday. Amazing. Also, the ward here is crazy strong. Like a hundred people. Nuts. I almost feel bad being there! :) They are great though, and there is still a lot of work to do there. So I am just so happy. I got dad´s "bishop" letter this week. You´re just one inspired man, dad. I loved it. I read it lots. Thank you. I am a lucky daughter. What else, what else...oh if you can´t tell from the pictures, my new sector is like the Leawood of Punta Arenas. There are lots of really wealthy people here. It´s great though. Sometimes it´s really hard to find anyone home because they are always at work, but we are working really hard to get member referrals. Anyway, that´s all I have time for.
I´ll try and get all the Christmas call stuff worked out, too. Can´t wait to talk with you all! LOVE YOU ALL TONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for your letters and pictures and video. LOVED THEM!
All the love I have to give,
-Hermana Bertagnole
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