Hello everyone!
There are more and more Christmas decorations that are getting set up! We are starting to eat more pan de pascual which is a lot like hot crossed buns minus the icing and it's more of a cake th bun. We are hearing more Christmas music in the streets. And they opened up the Ferria de Navidad. Regular ferrias happen around the city every couple days. They run from 8am-2/3pm. The street turns into an outdoor market with qualquir things like fruit, fish, grain, cloths, toys, machine parts, jewelry, empanadas, sopipillas, kites, vegetables, yogurt, milk, soap, knives, anything you can imagine! It's loud, crowded, and smells fantastic. Anyways the Christmas Ferria is a ferria set up in the night that runs from 7:30pm-12am. And it sells wrapping paper, ornaments, trees, decorations, and then along with everything forementioned minus the food (except the street food like sopipillas and empanandas). To me it doesn't feel like it is Christmas at all, even with all that going on. The two biggest things I think for me are: there is zero snow, and I'm not with my family.
On Wednesday we had a fútbol night! A friend of ours came and it was super fun! I played in net and my handball goalie days came back to me and I was doing pretty good! Saved a two meter penalty shot which was pretty cool! And then I got hit right in the face by the ball. Canon of a kick. Surprisingly my nose didn't bleed. And if you know me that is quite shocking haha. Anyways that was the end of fútbol night for me.
We had a lesson with our two friends Andres and Catalina this week! They are so amazing! After the lesson we taught them how to pray and she said the most beautiful prayer. And afterwards she thanked us for taking two years of our lives to come to Chile and bring her this opportunity to learn. She told us before she met us she started seeing ads for our church on social media. Then a couple days later we knocked on her door. And she told us she felt it was a sign. And then she told Andres to share his thoughts with us. He is a more reserved fellow and didn't have a whole lot to say, but what he said touched me as well. It helped remind me why I am here in Chile right now. When I could be back in Edmonton going to university doing things for myself. But no, I'm here to help bring the people the same joy and happiness I've felt in my life that comes from God. It was a reminder I needed this week.
On Sunday we had a meeting at the stake center with all the missionaries in our zone, the ward mission leaders and my mission president. We talked about how we can improve member work with missionary work. It was very well put together. We did some role-playing which was fun.
There is another couple we found this past week. So what happened was about 3 weeks ago a random man approaches us in the street and basically tells us he was an inactive member and wanted us to pass by. So we did and we got to know him and his wife! They are a funny couple! She isn't a member but wants to know what our church is like, so we were more then happy to explain. They've come to church and she loved it, and he is starting to regain his faith and testimony which is amazing to watch.
Spiritual thought: I read a scripture in the Book of Mormon the day after our lesson with Andres and Catalina. It confirmed what I felt the night before. The scriptures is Mosiah 27:36-37. It is talking about the four sons of a king who were once very wicked but became righteous after being visited by an angel, and they went to go share the light of God. The scriptures say: "36 And thus they were instruments in the hands of God in bringing many to the knowledge of the truth, yea, to the knowledge of their Redeemer. 37 And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth." That just helped confirm to me that I'm where I'm meant to be, and why I'm here in that place.
Question of the week: What was something during your week that gave you a little boost?
I hope everyone has a fantastic week! Elder Spencer
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