A Golden Contact and Family

Dear Familia,

This past week we had the chance to have Elder Viñas (a General Authority in the 70 for South America) come talk to our mission. He talked a lot about the Priesthood and how important this AMAZING power and authority is. He talked a lot with us about how we need to have more worthy priesthood holders here in Chile if the church is going to continue growing at this rate. It is starting to become a real problem for the church here, which means it has now become a big focus in the mission. After the conference, Hna. Lopez and I put our little brains together and came up with a plan to work with the priesthood here in Olmue...the priesthood that we have, the less actives, and how to find more. Of course we included the Lord in on our plans and asked him for help in every step. Well, no sooner had we left our house the very next day when we found ourselves finding soooo many future priesthood holders. Ha it seemed that every door we knocked the dad answered. We were able to bare our testimony of the Book of Mormon and put a set time when we could pass by and visit him and his family. We're really excited to see what happens with these future investigators and to help bless their family with the power of the priesthood.

However, the biggest blessing with our future priesthood holders is Felipe! Felipe is the husband of a less active named Karina. Karina has been a member for her whole life, but when she went off to college she separated herself from the church, got married to Felipe, and has lived her life with gospel principles, but without the blessings that come from obeying the commandments and fulfilling her part with the promises she made with Heavenly Father. Karina came to church last Sunday because she is 6 months pregnant with her first little wee one and really wants to help her daughter have good moral values and she really wants the best for her family. She asked if we could pass by and visit her and her husband on Saturday (they work in Santiago during the week and are only home on the weekends). We were MORE than happy to pass by, and when we paid them a visit it was one of the most powerful "first lessons" I've ever had. I felt like I was on the District (for those of you who are ex missionaries you'll know what I'm talking about). Felipe is SOO ready for the gospel! The whole time we talked with him I was trying to keep my jaw off the floor from the answers he had for the reasons he wants to listen to us, the goals he has for his family, what he wants to provide for his daughter that's on the way. And my jaw did in fact hit the floor when I explained to him that by listening to our message he will learn more about how to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and desire to be baptized in His church, in order to continue progressing in this life and go to the temple with his family (he already knows what the temple is and has visited it in Santiago a couple times with his wife). He told us that the temple is his goal and he's really willing to learn and do anything that's necessary to make it there!!!!!!!! In the words of the little dragon from Mulan, “DID I HEAR SOMEONE ASK FOR A MIRACLE!!!!!!!”  Oh my goodness I didn't think people like that existed!!! Needless to say we are SO excited to work with him!

I'm here to tell you folks that God hears and answers our prayers, and that He, more than anyone, wants his gospel to progress! Please keep Felipe and Karina in your prayers. It'll be hard to have constant contact with them because they live in Santiago during the week, but they've promised to read (the BOM) and pray together as a couple every night!

XOXO-Hna. McKenna

Fun Fact:

THE WINTER PACKAGE FINALLY CAME! THANKS SO MUCH!

Here the people cut ice cream with a knife...I really don't think anyone has scooped me out a dish of ice cream!

Our bathroom has been mal-functioning for the entire week...needless to say things have been very interesting and smelly!

Hna. Lopez wants to learn "Called to Serve" in English and we have been singing it every morning for the past month and a half!!!!

Today we had a district activity...for this reason the e-mail time was split in two, and our district leader from Brazil had us try a Brazilean dish with an avocado drink. It's avocado, sugar, and milk, and I LOVED it! Give it a try if you want to switch things up!

Karina and Felipe are proud recipients of a Libro de Mormón with the testimony and photo of the Wankiers! They were really touched by the message and are excited to read it :)

 The due date for Karina's baby is Dec. 12…my birthday!!! 

 P.S. Thank you so much for sending the sweater!!!

 Yes, I’m still an STL, but at the meeting we had for the month of Sep. only the winter package was there.