Walk run walk

Hola!

This will be quick since I have lots of pictures to send home today. I have been avoiding doing that since each picture out here takes about 5 mins to load (cherish the pictures haha)

This week was one of the craziest buisest ones yet!

I am going to fit in a nap today or I know I willl just drop down dead soon!

I cant really remember what happened the whole week except that we were running around like headless chickens. We had a lot of success...but it was sure tireing. It an exhilerating way of course. 

About my leg problem real quick...

I decided maybe what I was lacking was a little faith. So I decided to work harder and do some intense stretching in the morning (haha) and its totally fine. Last tuesday morning I woke up with no pain at all and I am able to run everywhere again. Its great! Just now I can apprecaite my health all over again! Also I went and met with a traumatologist and he looked at my x rays and said my back is just very curved. So walking puts a lot of pressure on it or something...I´m not sure exactly..it was all in spanish (my medical vocab isnt that awesome yet). But he said all I needed were a few sessions of physical therapy and I would be "happy as a clam" as grandpa would say. I dont know where I am going to find a physical therpaist in this little town but it sounds like the funnest thing ever! So...good news there!!

Saturday we had two baptisms which was....well fun isnt exactly the right word. Baptisms wouldnt be baptisms without some nice crises and intense stress. 

We got to the church building to find it completely full of people. Mostly youth and some little kids. They had rap music blasting everywhere and kids just running and screaming in every direction. There was some stake youth activity or something. I dont know. All I know is that it was supposed to end at 6 because our baptism started at 6. But it didnt. Also every single person that was supposed to give a talk...or do something for the baptism just didnt show up. The families of the people who were getting baptized arrived in very bad moods and wanted the baptisms to start that instant (rap music in the background and all) or wanted to started a full heated debate with me about the bible....our lack of spanish abilities...the horribleness of America..and basically every other subject. One of our baptism personas didnt want to change into her white clothes....because she wanted to keep playing soccer outside!! Basically it was a mess. Somehow or other it all came through. (but if I look like a dragon in the picutres...you will know why).

What else...I gave a talk in church yesterday. It was a last min thing. I got to fill up 30 mins. I wasnt too excited about that. I started talking and just looked out into the audience to see a bunch of squinted eyes (signs no one was understanding anything). But as I continued talking and used more of the spirit more than my own mind...they started understanding better. 

We have been having lots of problems with our little branch. With the members, the president...and basically everything. It has not been functioning as a branch should. The members really dont like us missionaries either. (there are 6 missionaries in the branch). Every week in relief society the president gets up and threatens to take away people temple reccomends if they dont start feeding the missionaries. Its extremely awkward. 

Its also hard to bring people to church...because the members are unfriendly if not outright rude to the investigators. Its a huge problem. And we have really been trying hard to love and serve the members. To gain their confidence. To try and get them excited about missionary work. But I realized that what we really need is a huge bus to go and pick up EVERYONE for church in the morning. Becuase when it is raining...literally no one shows up. People dont pay tithing because they dont want a calling.   There are so many problems. I cant even get started on them. And it has been really frusterating to try and work in this branch and work with these people..and to try and love and be patient with them too. Because honestly me and my companion have to have a destress time after church because we get so frusterated and angry about what happens every week. Okay..I´ve ranted way too much. 

I was talking to my district leader last night about the problems we and the other missionaries were having here and he reminded me of something very important. He said..hermana this is the Lords work. And nothing is going to stop it. Of course we are going to have opposition from all sides...especially from the ones who are supposed to be helping us most. But they wont be able to stop or slow down the work either. So just keep working. Because progress will be made...even if it feels like we are only moving backwards. 

Shall we not go forth in so great a cause?

And thats true. 

Sorry this letter wasnt very inspiring or great. Better luck next week! haha

Also I received the saddest letter ever when I heard that Hermana Lees went home before I could even say goodbye to her! Then I realized I dont even have her home or email address! But if you happen to see her..take her in! Jacob you can even marry her!  

Okay...thats all for this week.

Have a great one!

Hermana Orchard

Lost...like always

Hola Hola Hola from a sunny cold day in Linares!

This last week has been an adventure like all weeks here in the mission. This week a little more so..

Last monday as you know I was emailing from Conce. After that we drove around with the mission nurse Hermana Balden (I have gotten to know her pretty well..she is awesome...one day I will make an email only about her). We looked for a place to get x rays at and scheduled it for the next morning. Then she said...¨where do you want to stay tonight?¨ Since the presidents house was not an option...I basically fainted and said ¨can we stay in Chillancito?¨And we did. It was a miracle. And wonderful. And better than Christmas and my birthday and all the wonderful days combined! I got to spend one more night in my home of Chillancito. In our cozy cute little apartment that overlooks the city...well more of the freeway haha. In everything that was going on I didn't sleep one min...but it was so great! It was just a nice little tender mercy that we were all able to have one more night together. 

The next morning we went and got x-rays done...then took our 4 hour bus ride back to Linares. Linares kind of feels like home now too...but Chillancito will always have the largest place in my heart. 

This week we found lots of cute paper that was hidden...and made tons of ¨baptism signs¨. Bascially its just the persons baptisms date and a scripture and some pictures and stuff. Its to remind people of their baptism that is coming up (people easily forget all the time). Its worked wonders so far! 

We have been trying to not walk as much and have been taking lots of buses. This has resulted in hours of time being lost on the buses. I will just talk about the most recent time. 

We got on a bus trying to get to our next appointment...the bus ride should have lasted 10 mins. Somehow is lasted over 2 hours. I´m still not sure what happened....but we were on the bus waiting for something to look familier. It never looked familier. After a bit we tried asking the bus driver where we were...either he was speaking german or I still havent learned spanish...either way..I didn't understand him. At about 9:00 at night we noticed we were the ONLY ones on the bus. And the bus was on a deserted road in the middle of nowhere. We pulled up to a field where there were just a bunch of empty busses and a few men smoking. We then saw a sign saying we were in Waupee. Waupee is not in our sector. It is also forbidden to missionaries (because it is so dangerous) and ESPECIALLY at night. I immediately started panicking. We were basically dead. I didn't want to call any of the elders...I knew they would kill us if they knew where we were. 

To be honest I´m not really sure what happened after that. We sat in the empty bus after the bus driver had parked and got out...just freaking out and not knowing what to do (in my defense I was on heavy pain killers and my head just has not been working the same). Eventualy the bus driver got back in...asked us where we needed to go...and drove us home. Thank goodness for nice chilean bus drivers! They really are the sweetest people I have ever met.

As far as my leg problem goes. I am going to a traumoltologist (I dont know what that is either) this week to discuss or something. I have been on lots and lots of pain killers this week...I havent felt any pain and have been able to walk freely...but yesterday decided I need my mind back from its foggy sleepy state. Today I am drug free! I feel so much happier and bright! There is slight pain in my leg but I can still walk...so for now its all good!

I was reading in Matthew this morning. I came across the story of Peter when he tried walking across the water to Jesus. He had a lot of faith to jump out of the boat-to walk on water during a storm when the waves were billowing over his head! And for a while he walked on water. He looked at Jesus and He walked towards Him. But then he got distracted. He saw the big waves surrounding him and began to fear. And in his fear he began to sink. Because fear and faith cannot occupy the same space. Fear is disabling and only ever stops our progress and causes us to sink...when wecould continue to walk on water. But Peter is smart and he calls out for help. He doesnt wait until he is under water to call out for help but right in the moment when he starts to give way to fear. And we learn in Matt 14:31 that Jesus immediately  stretched out His hand to Peter. The moment he cried for help -Christ was there. Just waiting to help him up. He wasnt far...He is never far. He is always right there waiting for us to ask for help so He can reach out His hand and help us up. 

And then His question to Peter..it must have been so piercing in that moment...¨oh thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?¨ Why do we ever doubt? We have seen so many miracles in our lives. Our lives are patterns of us falling...and Christ helping us up again. We know He is always there to help us. That the plan for our lives is perfect..made by a perfectly wise, infinite and all loving Heavenly Father who only wants us to return home again. Why do we wver doubt when life gets hard-when waves come? Why do we ever let fear take over and start to sink us?  We know its part of our story..part of our pattern. We know we only have these waves to help us..to shape and mold us into the people God knows we can be. 

We never need to walk in darkness. We can always walk in light. There is a plan for our life. And it is infinitely perfect. And every wave and trial is perfectly designed to our weakness- to strengthen and help us. We just need to have faith. To keep our eyes on Christ- on our eternal goals. Not let fear sink us...and call for help to the one who is ever willing and ever ready and ever able to grab our hand, pull us up and point us in the way towards home. 

Hermana Orchard

Me with Hermana Martinex right before she got emergency transferred out...lots of tears

My old and current companion (mother, grandmother and daughter haha 

Different...

Hola!!

Im emailing under very different circumstances today.

Right now I am in the presidents office using his computer. Its actually not even p day anymore but I have been super busy today and didnt get the chance to email earlier. And the president is nice haha

Basically to make a long story short....

Last week my leg started hurting really bad. Its a pain that starts in my lower back and goes almost to my feet...on the back part of my leg. It got so bad that the last 4 days I couldnt walk at all....or hardly sit up in bed. Today we had to take a bus 4 hours to Concepcion and have been at the doctors most of the day. The doctor thinks its something in my spine and I have to get xrays tomorrow. So we are just going to stay here for the night *hopefully in chillancito...that would be beyond amazing* and get those done tomorrow. 

Im not dying or anything...but obviously if I cant walk...I cant work and I cant be a missionary. 

Going home is the last thing in the world I want to do. I cant even begin to explain how devastated that would make me. 

So  all of your prayers would be very much appreciated.

In other news....we had another emergency transfer in our house.

We lived with another hermana who I love dearly. She has had a hard life...basically she made a bad choice about a boyfriend who was really abusive and what not and is still suffering the effects of that. Its sad there are such mean people in the world. But this last week I was able to talk a lot with her and I tried my best to help her. But I can solve everything...and saturday we had a surprise visit from President who told her to pack up...in 15 mins...and she was gone. That was hard. But I know she is getting the help she needs now...I just have to miss her now, She was my favorite little chilean. Probably the funniest person ever. But she promised to come visit California one day so its all good. 

Other than that...I dont have time for much else. Linares is great. My companion is doing great. She is growing up! We have the baptisms of Julia and little Rapheal this saturday! 

Oh...today after the doctor I really wanted to see Hermana De Leon and Tejerina while we were here in conce. They are both going home fairly soon and I knew this could be my last chance. We arent allowed to call each other so I just walked to  the office in faith that they would be there at that time...and they were!! It was so great to see them! Poor hermana Tejerina was crying and we were able to finalize her plans to the states....well kind of haha. It was just a nice tender mercy to see them at such a hard time. They let me know that I would not be going home and if I had to get a wheelchiar they would be willing to push me around in that for my last 10 months haha

Okay. I think I need to turn the computer back over ha

I will plan on calling around 6 sunday...6 my time. If you could get the skype all set up and just email me like you did last time that would be great!!

Love you all!

Hermana Orchard

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

Transfers, training and tears

Oh my.

I dont know where to start. This week has for sure been the toughest yet. 

But first...Emily did WHAT??? 

I mean I guess its not that surprising..but a helicopter too??? I dont know if I want to laugh or cry at that....

Last monday was normal. Except the whole day I had the strongest impressions that I needed to buy warmer clothes...and print pictures...and write my converts and roommates letters. But I ignored all of the thoughts because I knew I had two more weeks to do all of that. But I just couldnt shake a feeling of...not sure..sentiment..or something all day.

Tuesday we went to zone class like normal. 

Right before the opening prayer we got a phone call from president. We ran out of the room to answer it. 

Hermana De Leon answered. She looked really scared...and then kept grabbing my hand and looked like she was crying. I was sure someone in her family had died. I was preparing mysef for that when she got off the phone. Then with big tears she shocked me and said "we have a emergency transfer...you are leaving"

I felt like someone had just slapped my face and thrown me off a building. And immediately I was crying. And dear Hermana De Leon was crying. And we were sobbing and hugging and sobbing and hysterical. We both knew we were going to be seperated in two weeks...but two weeks and one day is very different! All I knew at this point is that I was going to a place called Linares and I was going to be senior companion. 

We walked back into zone class looking like we had just got back from a funeral. We suffered through the class...quietly crying as all the elders stared weirdly. Then I had to get up at the end and announce what had happened and say bye. I couldnt look at Hermana Tejerinas face at all. I just cried. And looked at all these missionaries who have become my family...and cried and cried and cried. 

Then we went to lunch where I had to tell my favorite member family that I was leaving and I cried and cried and cried.

Then we all packed up my stuff the whole day while I cried and cried and cried. I only had two hours to say good bye to everyone...so I could only pick my favorite 4 families. Which was good because I am sure you can guess what I did the whole time....yes I just cried and cried and cried.

At night we tried to have a last little party in our apartment..we bought completos and french fries but I felt too sick and sad to eat. We had a little speech time and my heart broke as I watched my companions cry. And we all just badically cried for the whole time. No one slept at all

Thats pretty much all I need to say. There were lots of tears. I´ll come back to this part later. 

We went to the bus station super early the next morning. We had last goodbye hugs and I bordered the bus. Sure that my heart had broken for good. Knowing that since I was going to a place so far away...and my companions have such a short time left on their missions and live in such obscure countries....the chances of us seeing each other again on this earth are very slim. And that is the saddest thought ever!!!

I had a 5 hour bus ride as I was taken out far far away. Basically to the middle of nowhere. A little town called Linares. Right on the edge of the Andes. It feels almost like another world here.

My new companions picked me up at the train station. And we walked with all my stuff to a little old yellow house. 

Have I mentioned yet who my copçmpanion is? A gringa...american. And I am training her! She is brand new. And cant speak spanish. 

I think the president is crazy. Having me train already. I barely just finished my training. My daughter looked a little scared when she realized her madre had almost the same time in the mission as she had! 

I was very scared at first to train. To not have a translator with me all the time. Every morning for two hours she just looks at me with wide eyes and expects me to train or teach her or something. And somehow...I realize that I actually have a lot to say. 

We have had some lessons where people say they cant understand either of us. And where I really cant understand them either. But overall it hasnt been a total train wreck. 

I think the hardest part is that I feel like I need to be perfect. I need to be the perfect example and teach her perfectly or I am failing and will ruin her mission. But I know thats not really how it is. I just need to work on being patient and forgiving with myself right now. 

Also being patient with my daughter.

Because it requires a lot of patience. I dont think any experience has been quite so frusterating in my life. I dont really know how to explain it. Maybe my thoughts will be clearer next week.

But trying to figure out where everything is...who we need to teach..what to teach...and trying to do everyone by myself is hard. Im not really enjoying it too much. But i know it will get better. 

So I am in a branch here. And the members really dont like us missionaries very much. But the people in general and very nice. They are much more receptive than in Chillancito and I have lots of hope for this place. 

We found a beautfiul family with three cute little boys to teach this week. We taught them the plan of salvation and I think it was the first time I really understood it. 

I have always had a hard time with goodbyes. Especially this week having to say goodbye to my companions who have meant so much to me and who have changed me so much. I was trying to get hermana Tejerina to promise to visit me in the states last min before I left. The thought of not being able to see her again was just too much. And she said something very enlightening..."hermana...how many more years are you going to live?

"probably like 70 at the most right?...yes...well than this is just goodbye for 70 years. Because after that we will both be dead and can be next door neighbors in heaven...forever...and we will never have to say goodbye again."

Goodbyes are really hard. Every time we moved houses and had to leave everyone behind it was hard. When I left for college that was hard. Leaving everyone to come on my mission was hard. But here...the goodbyes just seem more permanent. Because they are. But then I remembered what I am here for. To teach people....that because Christ died for us...we can be with our families and our friends and all the people we love...for eternity. And we will never have to say good bye again. Everything here is just temporary and is just a teeny tiny moment in the eternities. We have forever with all these people that we love so much. 

And we have them forever because we have a Savior who lived and died for us. And how wonderful is that! And how grateful I am for Him! And how happy I will be when I can walk into heaven and again see convert Maria who always held my hand so tightly during church..who was so scared to get baptized because she didnt feel perfect...who always prays for me and my health. And Carolina...who taught me how to make lemon pie and always gave me gloves to wear because I always forgot mine. And Willfredo...who was the entertainment of my life. And Hector...who spoke english in the funniest way and made so many long days delightfully fun..and gave me chocolate manjar eggs when he knew I was leaving. And Hermana Gonzalez..who opened her heart and home so instantly and made me feel like I had a family here in Chile. And my sweet hermana De Leon...who scared me so much at first but has alwasy been the perfect example of obedience, humility and diligence. Who sang in english just to make me laugh...who would rap as I jumped along the street..who took care of me every time I was sick...who shared her boyfriends love letters with me so I could practice reading spanish....who made me tortillas and ahi and who was always extremely patient. And Hermana Tejerina...who taught me how to really love people. Who inspired me to be the best missionary possible and to love my scriptures. And who made weird soups for me that I now am weirdly addicted to. Who stayed up with me when I was sad or stressed and always told me the truth about my face growing larger. 

Yes...it will be a good day. There really arent any endings in eternity...just bright beginnings! 

And I am excited to be here...to meet new people who I know I will love.  And to have the opportunity to progress through training. 

Dont take our plan of Salvation for granted! It is the greatest blessing we could ever have...and one I dont think we will ever comprehend. 

Hermana Orchard

Tsunamis, parasites and LU!

Oh my stars!

This week has been an adventure!

I´m not sure where to start...so I will start with what went down Tuesday night. 

We were all sitting in the church building (well us four missionaries and our ward mission leader) and we were having correlacion. We were talking about our investigators and what not when someone ran into the room screaming about a tsunami...earthquake...8.2..bla bla bla.

Well it wasnt really bla bla bla....I heard the word tsunami and suddenly my lifetime of nightmares ran into my head and I was in total panic mode. 

All I was able to translate into my head (which was filled with images from Day after tomorrow and basically no logic or anything else) was thatv we had to go back to our house...Right away! 

We ran. I screamed the whole way. Acting like a missionary was not exactly in my head during these moments. It was a long 10 min run in which we learned from random passerbys that there had been a huge earthqauke somewhere in chile...and we had huge tsunamis and possible earthqaukes heading towards us...they were planned to hit at 11:00. So we had 30 mins to bunker down in our apt. 

I knew we were far enough away from the ocean that the chances of the tsunami hitting us were small....but we changed into our pjs quickly and sat between our beds covered in pillows....anxiously waiting for the first set of temblors. And we waited. And waited. 

Got some chocolate out. Waited some more. 

The hardest part was just having no idea what was going on. We couldnt look on the internet or the news...or radio..nothing!

Finally we fell asleep and if there was an earthquake during the night it wasnt strong enough to wake me up. 

My poor hermanas that live on the beach had to evacuate their house in the middle of the night in the cold and climb up a hill. haha hmmm

Other exciting things that happened this week....oh yes. I found out I have little bugs living under my skin eating me from the inside. 

Yes. I have received (or at least discovered..who knows how many I have) my first parasite. You know all that talking I have been doing about my endless bug bites...well.

For the last month it has gotten so much worse. I will wake up covered in blood in my bed. And then I will have itching attacks randomly. Where my body feels like it is literally on fire and I am almost in tears because my body just itches so much! I used to have these in the night and would scracth so much in my sleep that I would wake up with huge bruises. So we started tying my hands together in my sleep so I wouldnt be able to itch. Just like they do to babies! 

I wont go into all the details...like how during the day I can feel little something crawling around on my skin...yet I would get so confused because I saw that there was nothing there. But then there would be huge bite marks....ohh so horrible

Anyways...went to the doctor finally about it and came to find out that I have scabies. I didnt know what that was but it sounded really awful. Who knows where I got it from. I kiss every person in my path and sit in some terribly dirty places. In case you dont know..scabies is a parasite of little bugs that burrow under your skin and live there...and bite you. And lay eggs under your skin until you have about a whole village of little bugs...living under your skin. I know, I know. I will stop. It is disgusting and there is probably nothing worse in the world. 

Its also super contagious so the doctor had to come to our house and give us all a strong medicine to take. All the bugs inside me are supposedly dead. But I need to take the meds again in two weeks to kill the eggs they have left. 

Am I giving too much detail?

Its okay if no one ever wants to touch me again. 

But Im just very grateful I dont have to wake up in blood anymore or feel little things running all over me todo el rato. 

Anyways! 

Conference was wonderful, wasnt it? I chose to watch it all in spanish. It just made me appreciate all the english hymns so much more! I could not get over how white everyone looked! Wow everyone looked so pale! I was looking at the choir and was just amazed at the whiteness of skin! 

I could talk about each talk...but will refrain. I know you all were righteous and watched it too. 

Today we visited the University of Concepcion. It is supposedly one of the most beautiful campuses in the world....and I would have to agree. It was breathtaking. It was also super clean and I had a hard time realizing that I was still in Chile. 

I went on a cooking spree this week and smoethered my companions with pancakes pretty much every morning. 

Last week I read an awesome talk by Monson called something about seeing the potential or importance in others. Its oct 2012 if you wantr to look it up. But it talks about our responsibility to have the ability to see others as they could be. Everyone has so much potential. We cant even begin to imagine the potential we have...and the potential everyone has. I mean...each person here has the potential to create worlds! Just think of what people could become if we gave them the opportunity. If we had a little bit more faith in people...and give them a little bit more of a chance. We all know that if you want someone to be nice and honest and good..you have to believe they are that way..and treat them as if they were already that way. Sometimes that is very hard to do...but this week I really tried to do that. To really see others as God sees them...and see their potential. And I think its changing my mission..and my life. 

Its getting me to go talk to the people who normally only whistle at us and swear..and getting me to go to areas that before I was pretty afraid of. And the results have been interesting...if nothing short of miraculous. 

I think if I could learn one thing from my mission...and life..it would be the ability to see others as Christ sees them. And that includes myself too. If we all believed in our OWN potential a bit more..just think of what we could accomplish!

We were not meant to just be weak humans here. We have great things to accomplish! 

I also thought this week...

Did I give up my life for 18 months to come here and just do small things....or to do GREAT things? 

I need to remember that more often. And we all do. 

Lets use our "4 mins" more wisely!

Love you all! 

Have a great week! 

Is it Easter this week? I dont even know

Hermana Orchard

We found a chinese restaurant last week...it just tasted like chilean food though haha but it was fun

Pancakes I made

Everywhere you go are just random piles of trash

Willfredo...my favorite man in the world