Andes are falling

I have so many things to write this week but I just need to start with a fact. 

I am so HAPPY! I have never been this happy...and its hard to imagine I could ever be happier! There is nothing better than missionary work. Nothing nothing! It is the best thing in the world! And Chile is the best place in the world. I am convinced of that. It is a fact. Especially here in Linares. This little town huddled up next to the Andes Mountains...always in a cloud of smoke...is home to the humblest, sweetest most giving people. Its heaven here. I never want to leave. 

This whole week was just so amazing! As is every week. Everything is always just getting better and better. Deeper and more wonderful. 

Last monday night we had kind of a scary thing happen. I write it in faith that mom wont get scared. 

We were walking home from our last lesson. We live outside of our sector actually and have to walk about a half hour down long super dark streets with basically no people to get home. As we were walking a car pulled up next to us (always unusual to see cars here). And it was a really nice red jeep. A man inside asked us if we were going home and offered to give us a ride. He was about 30 years old and looked like he was up to no good. Obviously we said no and kept walking. I knew something was off...we always get yelled at and people are constantly taking pictures and following us....but this was different. We started walking fast and crossed the street to go where cars couldnt fit. After awhile we noticed that someone was following us. I freaked out a bit a there was absoulutly no where to go! There were no people on the street and I was just at a loss as to what to do. Something inside told me the man following us wasnt the average drunk...and we started to run. Ahead in the street I saw one single light. We ran inside and discovered it was a little bakery. We felt at least a little safer in there and I quickly called the elders. They ran to us and were there in about 15 mins. Meanwhile I kept buying little pies and cakes to calm myself down. The man passed in front of the store about 5 times...but never came in. It looked like he couldnt even see us inside...even though I felt like we were in a fish bowl. 

The elders arrived and walked us home. The whole thing was pretty scary even though nothing actually happened. Now we take taxis home every night but we wont be able to keep that up for long. 

Anyways, the next day during the day we walked back down the street we ran down and looked all over for the bakery that basically saved our lives. We couldnt find it anywhere. 

My little daughter is growing up so fast! Just last night she was teaching a lesson...in spanish...in her sleep! I think I am working her too hard. But we are having so much fun! And somehow together us gringas are able to communicate with these people. People can understand our spanish..well most of the time haha. I actually get asked all the time if I am chilean. I guess my fattened face and use of the word "po" is enough to claim me as chilean! 

We had so many miracles this week. I cant write them all so I will just pick one. We contacted this lady at the park and she invited us in. She had the cutest little children ever! She gave us glasses of this rice drink and we sang I´m a Child of God for her. To which she cried and cried to. She said she had been abused her whole life and has never felt loved. It led to a wonderful lesson and she committed to baptism immediately. She calls us her little angelitas that are here to "give her light". 

We had to go all the way to concepcion wednesday because my little hija has weird bug bites. Turns out its not actually scabies (yaya! I didnt give my companion a parasite!) but we still had to go 8 hours in bus to the city. We drove right by Chillancito and it took every ounce of control to not jump out of the bus. I felt like I had arrived at home. Even though I prayed a lot...my old companion did not happen to be walking down the street as we passed by. Oh well. I will see her soon I am sure. 

We had a conference in Chillan friday. I was able to see my original mother again and introduce her to her grandchild. I also saw some mtc friends and we talked about how weird it is that we are already 7 months into our missions! How crazy is that? I still feel brand new! 

But I love it all so much. I already am starting to freak out when I realize how short I have left...I never want to go home. This is my home!!

But...Happy Birthday to Dear Elizabeth Billings and Summer Schmoekel..today I believe? They probably dont read my letters..in which case someone call them for me and tell them happy birthday!

Also...Congrats to Truman Florence for his mission Call to Santa Cruz Bolivia!! That is where my old companion and friend is from!! It sounds like the best place ever! With lots of lots of parties! He will have very pretty spanish when he comes back. Good luck with the food there though...

haha But Bolivians are my favorite!! I am so happy for him! If there is any people sweeter than chileans...its probably bolivians! Wow! He is going to have a great mission!! 

Okay...thats all for now.

Have a great week and try and be a little sweeter to your neighbors!

Hermana Orchard

P.S...its fall here right now and so beautiful!! All the leaves are orange and red and we just run through them all day. Also hello to tea parties every night! I think I have a little addiction to tea...never thought that would happen.

I love Fall!!

I gave my companion a parasite...and other confessions

Greetings America!

I greet you all with "mucho mas animo" as we call it. 

This week was wonderful!

But first I need to describe my new home a bit better. I cant remember what I said during the last email.

But anyways

So Linares is a sleeply little town right on the edge of the Andes. The people here are really humble and sweet. Very friendly. I feel safer here and more at home. We live in a cute old yellow house. It is actually one of the biggest houses I have seen in Chile. Its size isnt really a blessing thought because it is absolutly freezing! The first week I was just purple and cold all the time. There is no such thing as heaters here...or walls that keep out cold..or carpet or anything like that. And I was just cold cold cold everywhere that I went. But we bought a little space heater thing...I also bought a caliente cama...a pad that heats up that I put under my sheets (greatest invention ever) and some fluffly chilean stockings. And I´m not as cold anymore. Im ready for winter and to see some snow capped Andes! 

We have been working a lot with the endless inactives that live here. I call them gold mines. We go in...activate the parents (some times the grandparents) and then baptize the children. There is a ton of work to do here in Linares. Its so exciting!! 

I have learned that being a missionary you just do whatever anyone tells you...no matter what.

Last tuesday we got a call from someone...that said something something about someone died..come to the church and meet with president of the branch. Okay...so we skipped on over to the church building and were greeted by about 200 people for a huge funeral. The president asked me to play the piano for the music. I would have liked a bit more time to prepare to play in front of 200 people but whatever. Then he got up and announced that I would also being singing a solo. So I got up and sang a solo to a hymn that I hardly knew. Then he let me know that it was time for my talk...my talk?? What?! So I got up and gave a nice 20 min talk about who knows what..not sure if anyone had any idea what I was saying. Emergency talks in english are fine...but in spanish. Nada que ver!! 

And I did all of that while there was a dead corpse right in front of me. You know how I cant handle dead bodies. It was a miracle I lived through it!

We are teaching a little orphan boy named Erwen. He lives in an orphanage and loves church so much. I started to try and teach him about God but he is having a hard time believing. He says that God loves everyone else in the world except him. That God has forgotten about him and doesnt like him. I have made it my sole purpose here to show him God´s love for him!

We are teaching a lady named Silvana. She has tons and tons of questions of "where does it say that in the bible". Its hard to teach her and I always doubt my bible knowledge...yet somehow I remember where everything is in the bible. And it also encourages me to know my bible a bit better! 

We found a inactive family of 13 people that hadnt come to church in years and years. Sunday they all came. I almost cried. They filled up half the chapel! We also found an  old stake patriarch and his family of returned missionaries that are all inactive of about 10 years. They all came to church yesterday too!! It was an Easter miracle! 

We started teaching this lady who has sever severe depression problems. Her whole house is dark and we just enter and feel darkness. But the moment we start teaching we are filled with light! The house is filled with light. She is filled with light. And I have to realize once again...that we are just carriers of light here!  The gospel is actually LIGHT! And how wonderful it is that we can be FILLED with this light and fill others too!! 

This weekend we had mini missionarys come stay with us. We did divisions with them and I got to walk around with a little 16 year old. At first I was excited but she was a little on the annoying side and I was about ready to throw her in (not in front haha) of a bus! But then we contacted this one house....and a possesed lady answered. I wont go into details but it was not a pleasant experience. My poor little mini missionary was in complete tears after. I didnt think she would want to finish her mission....but after a long talk about the power of God versus the power of satan...she was ready to go and spread some light! And she behaved much better. Three days later she was almost a completely different person. It was a miracle! 

One morning I took all the mini missionaries and my daughter to the plaza. I gave them each a book of mormon and some pamplets and had them go to town contacting. They were so scared. But I told them if I could do it in spanish...they could do it too! Talking to people and sharing the gospel is infectious! It was a fun activity! One you should all go do every weekend! 

Other things that happened...

oh we got in a taxi crash!

The branch president came into relief society and told everyone if they didnt feed the missionaries lunch he was going to take away their temple reccommend (we have been having problems with the members wanting to feed us)

People tell me all the time that I look and sound chilean. People immediately assume that I am chilean and think my companion is from Germany. 

We drink endless tea here 

We walk hours and hours every day. This sector is HUGE!

We have lots of funny stories about misunderstanding the language. Two new gringas together gaurentees that.

I love it here and more than ever love being a missionary!!

I love training too. Its super fun!

Oh I forgot to mention...I might have given my companion scabies. She has lots of bites on her. We are going into the city wednesday to find out what it is. I think its just fleas. Ojala!! She will hate me if I gave her scabies! (That thing is the worse!) I took another dose of that strong medicine last night just to make sure they are all dead.

Much more to say but I have some emails to catch up on! 

Love you all!! Have a great week!!

Hermana Orchard