August 16

This past week was the four month mark! Through the week I see the date at the top of my planner and every time I think ¨Is it really already (date)?¨ It is so crazy. But I know every week I probably say how fast the mission goes by. Oh well, I guess thats just a different way of saying ¨its flying by!¨

I love the Chileno culture. Some of it has taken some getting used to but it isnt so drastically different from the States. Here are a few things that I like and think are funny...

One is that when having a meal and there is a salad, they just put it in the middle of the table and everyone pokes in the same bowl with their forks to eat the salad. I was a litte wierded out the first time I saw that but now I think its so much easier! Also, the salads are mixed with a whole lot of salt and lemon juice. They never really have dressing unless the family is a little American.

Another one is that a lot of Chilenos sort of have a hard time with small talk. For example here is a conversation that happens a lot...

Hola.... Hola
Como esta?..... Bien, usted? (How are you?... Good, you?)
Como le va?..... Bien, Gracias. (How is it going?.... Good thanks.)
Como le ha ido? .....Todo Bien. Gracias. (How has it been going? ...All is good. Thanks.)

I love it! Its pretty much asking ¨how are you doing?¨ three times! But again, I love the Chileno culture so I dont think its wierd and I enjoy it.

The work is going great. Im still sort of learning the life of a missionary a little bit. One morning this week I woke up and told my companion that we were going to work extra hard that day becuase I promised Heavenly Father in my prayer that morning that we were going to do our part to find a person who has been prepared. I just knew that there was someone waiting to hear and that day was going to be the day. But, we didnt find any new people to teach that day as we did contacts and I was so wiped out that night that I went straight to bed after planning. Later in the week we went at our normal pace and we found four new people to teach! I was a little confused as to why we found the four new people when we werent going as hard as the other day but Ive been thinking about it a lot. What I have always known but have just now actually realized is that the Lord doesnt expect us to go all out all day, every day. He expects us to work hard but to not go faster than we can handle. So, Ive learned that I just need to keep working, keep focused, keep obedient, and the Lord will trust us with the people he has prepared!

My planner is filling up with Spanish words that I hear throughout the day and when I get home I look them up and incorperate them into my conversations and lessons. We have been talking a lot in Spanish so Im pretty used to it and I can converse but I just need more vocabulary and to talk quicker! I have a lot of improvement to do and I love learning the Spanish language.

Well, I love yall a whole lot! A little spiritual thought I have for yall is something that hit me hard the other day. I read atleast a chapter of the New Testament everyday when I wake up and I was reading in Mark. I was able to gain a stronger understanding and testimony of how amazing it is that Our Savior, Jesus Christ, overcame both spiritual and physical death. When the angel says ¨He is not here.. He is risen!¨ It really impacted me of the significance that the Atonement (suffering, death, and ressurection of Christ) was. We can never really fully understand in this life the significance of what Christ did for us but what we can do is try to understand it a little bit better every day. I love my Savior so much and I know that he provided us a way to live in eternal joy and happiness. We just need to do our part!

Again, Love yall! Chao!

Elder Gregory