Monday, December 28, 2015

December 28, 2015

FELIZ NAVIDAD!!

I have eaten so much food this week, I don't even think it's humanly possible, but it was a really fun week igual!  Christmas was a little wierd because it's warm here, but it was still way cool. The 24th we were invited to the house of the Gonzalez Familia (they are so cool).  We laughed so hard, and then I got to skype with the family, which was so fun but so hard.  English is a real struggle sometimes.  Haha, and then we had a really nice dinner with them :)  They make me so happy, and they adopted us as their children... haha we even took a family photo with them after church on Sunday.

Then on the 25th we had a gringo Christmas with Hno Vladimir y Hna Jeannete (our papitos).  We ate cinnamon rolls and opened presents and everything, haha,  they are so gringo for being Chilean :)  

Then later in the afternoon una abuelita who lives alone invited us over for a Christmas lunch.  She's a sweetheart :)

And this week we've been talking with EVERYONE we can, haha, but it's been fun.  We even found a new family who is super interested in learning more, and they even acepted a baptismal date, so we'll just have to see what happens :)

I love you all mucho and I hope you have a fun and safe New Year!

Stay sweet,
Hermana Coombs



Monday, December 21, 2015

December 21, 2015

FELIZ NAVIDAD!

I hope you've all been enjoying the Christmas season and the special time that it is.  It's the most wonderful time of the year.  

Purranque it awesome!  I love it here!  The members are super cool and they've really made me feel like part of the family.  We have some awesome investigators, and there are two Elders in the Branch, which makes the work even more fun.  It's a pretty small, quiet town, and it isn't a tourist attraction like my other sectors, but it's an awesome area.

It was quite the surprise when I met Hna Schroeder because she told me I was going to finish her training as a new missionary, and nobody told me before I met her!  But she's awesome.  She's obedient, she works hard, and has a strong desire to serve the Lord.  Lots of good things are going to happen this cambio.

Haha, a funny story real quick.  Well actually it isn't too funny, but I want to share it anyway.  The missionaries who finished the mission last week had some REALLY bad luck.  The day they had their flights scheduled, the airlines went on strike, so they couldn't go home.  After a few days the mission sent them all to Santiago by bus, and I think that now they are finally home.  What a crazy going home story.  But in the end it all worked out ok. 

Love you all lots.  Enjoy your Christmas!

Love,

Hermana Coombs




Monday, November 23, 2015

November 23, 2015

Not too much new information this week.  Sorry.  Yanira y Danilo are progressing really well and are even sharing the gospel with their friends.  THEY ARE THE BEST!

Hna Barrios and I keep going to her physical therapy sessions, but we still don't have permission to leave the house very much.  We're working hard with what we can and the Lord is putting some incredibly prepared people in our path.  We're super excited with the progress we're seeing.  Even though it's been hard for us both to not work full power we know that the Lord has his purposes in all things.  

I hope you all have an awesome Thanksgiving and that you remember all the blessings that you have in your life.  I have way too many to mention them all.

You guys are the best!  Hope that this week all your wildest dreams come true.

Keep on keeping on,
Hermana Coombs 

Monday, November 16, 2015

November 16, 2015

Hi guys!

How's it going?  Everything is just swell here in Frutillar.  A week full of miracles and funny things that are probably only funny to my companion and I, haha.

On Friday we got the all clear from the physical therapist to start walking and working normally and we were so excited that we started working normally.  Hna Barrios thought she was invincible, haha, until we got home in the night, and her ankle started to hurt a lot.  We learned from our mistake, and now we walk a little calmer :)  haha, but she said it's starting to hurt less and that she can move it more too.  Good news all around!  

This week we found some really awesome people to teach!  We've visited a young family 3-4 times in the last 2 or 3 weeks, and they are really interested in learning more.  They are named Yanira, Danilo, y Maite (4) and Yanira told us that she's religious, but she doesn't go to church or anything like that.  We talked a little bit more and shared a scripture with her and she said, "I feel like if you're here it's because my family is missing something.  I'd love if you could keep coming."  When we taught them about a week later we asked them if they were able to pray about what we'd shared and she said she knew it was true, everything we shared :)  We left them with a Book of Mormon, and then a few citas fell through because they had a lot of things going on, and the uncle of Danilo passed away.  But when they saw us in the street they literally ran to catch up with us and say they were sorry for the dropped citas and ask us if we could visit them.  Haha we said "YES!" all excited because That. Never. Happens.  When we vitisted them again they said they each indivitually had a moment when they'd felt like reading the Book of Mormon, so they opened it up, and read a scripture, and it was exactly what they needed.  The Book of Mormon is true people.  I know it!  They both said they couldn't explain exactly how they felt, but it was a good feeling that made them feel a little more peace (aka the Holy Ghost).  They are seriously so awesome!  And that's just a short story of a spiritual experience we had this week.  

Keep doing the small things and looking for the small miracles everday.  Keep your head up and focus on the things that really matter.  Trust in your Heavenly Father because He knows YOU and He loves YOU.

I love you all muchísimo!

Keep on keeping on,
Hermana Coombs

WooHoo!! Christmas!!

Monday, November 9, 2015

November 9, 2015

SUPRISE!  I'm still with Hna Barrios :D

Haha, after she said goodbye to almost all the members in the branch we got a call saying that our cambios were changed, and that we were going to be staying together for a while longer :)  We were both so happy!

As for this week it's been pretty interesting.  We went to the hospital again so they could examine her foot again, it was hurting a lot, and they said it was severe, but she had to keep walking a little or she could loose all mobility in her foot forever... forever... forever (imagine the kid from the sandlot saying that).  They said she has to go to the kinesiologo for at least a month, and I even though I feel really bad for her, it'll be pretty cool to watch and learn a bit too.  With the complications with the foot of Hermana Barrios we've mostly been in the house, but we leave for appointments that we have (it helps keep us from dying of cabin fever, haha).  

We had a really awesome lesson this week with Mónica, one of our investigators, and she told us how she grew to have a testimony of prayer, and that now she wants to pray.  AND she asked us to leaver her something to read in the Book of Mormon.  She is awesome.  Her daughter is la Pauli who just finished her mission papers.  I'm guessing South Korea, hahaha no probably Argentina.  But we're happy that Mónica is progressing.

This week I FINALLY saw Meet the Mormons!  It was so good! I loved it so much :) If you haven't seen it you should see it because I say so, haha but really it's awesome.

Here's a scripture from my studies this week, 2 Nefi 2:6-8
"Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.
Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.
Wherefore, how great the importance to make this things known unto the inhabitants of the earth..."

I know Christ lives, and that it is through him that we can find a lasting peace.  

Mucho love a todos.

Con amor,
Hermana Coombs

Monday, November 2, 2015

November 2, 2015

Hola!

I might have missed some details last week, so here's the second attempt.  Basically we had to change houses because there were some problems with a neighbor, and the owners were going to ask us to give them the house for the summer so they could rent it to tourists.  But the good news is that mi compañera and I are really happy in our new house.  The neighbor even brought us homemade bread one day :)  

This week I almost died of diabetes because we thought it would be a good idea to have an activity of desserts.  But then everyone decided we should try them all to vote for the best ones.  It's a miracle I'm here and not in a diabetic coma, haha 

Oh boy, the elders just called to tell us our cambios.  Moment of suspense.  I'll stay here and Hna Braithwaite (obviously a gringa) will be my new compañera.  Hna Barrios will be headed to Los Lagos.  Not really sure how she's going to get there though because this week she sprained her ankle pretty bad and we've been banished to the house with orders to rest her foot.  

But other than that not too much has happened this week.  I'm sure you know already, but the apostle Elder Andersen gave us the challange to read the Book of Mormon before the General Conference in April.  As we read the Book or Mormon with the desire to help our faith it will happen.  The faith grows through our accions.  And as Elder Andersen said, "Faith will not grow by chance, but by choice."

Read the Book of Mormon!  It's the bee's knees. :)  Have an awesome week!

Stay sweet,

Hermana Coombs

I looked out the window and what did I see, a great big horse in front of me.  Haha, our view while eating breakfast

With the gigantes in Puerto Montt

In Frutillar Bajo

In Frutillar Bajo

Our activity of desserts

Monday, October 26, 2015

October 26, 2015

HOLA!! ¿Qué tal?

This week we had an activity with the Branch, una Noche de Talentos, or a talent show, and it turned out really well!  Lots of people invited their friends and lots of people participated.  Mi compañera and I sang a song and played the guitar, some people danced, sang songs (someone even sang in English!), and two kids from the primary told jokes. haha, it was awesome!  And to finish the activity with a bang there were free completos (think Chicago dog but Chileno)

This week we also finished changing houses, so that's some good news.  Who knew two people could have so many things??  Not me.  But now I know it.  

The weather here is getting better.  Still the occasional day of rain, but not too many now.  We're working hard to find new people who want to listen to the gospel, and the members are helping a ton.  And more good news, tomorrow we get to see Presidente Obeso and his wife, so that'll be pretty awesome.  They're so funny :)

This week I'm meditating/memorizing Moroni 7:45 and I wanted to share it with you all: 
And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Have an awesome week!

Con amor,
Hermana Coombs


Monday, October 19, 2015

October 19, 2015

WOOOHOOOO!  We've been looking for a new house for a few weeks (because we need to move), and we found the perfect house.  Perfect, really.  BUT other people were interested too, and the owners said they might rent it to whoever commited first.  We would have been more than happy to commit then and there, but we needed approval from Presidente Obeso, who just so happened to be in Uruguay this past week for a conference. URUGUAY.  So that really complicated things.  But wait, there's more good news, the owners called us today and said they still hadn't rented it and they wanted to know if we were still interested.  In my head I yelled "SÍ" really happily, but out loud I said "sí" all calm cool and collected but still really happy, haha.  So moral of this story, we're finally going to be able to change houses this week :D 

Other than that we've had some really awesome lessons this week, and a member even brought a friend to church!  YES.

Have an awesome week and enjoy the little things!

Stay sweet,
Hermana Coombs

 
Volcan Osorno

Me with a big tree

Monday, October 12, 2015

October 12, 2015

Ok, well I said I'd have more to write this week, but the truth is that not too much happened this week.  We had una Noche de Hogar with the branch, which was a ton of fun :) My companion got sick, again, so we were stuck in the house a few days.  But the good news is that the weather was nice this week for a few days :)

OH! actually I have a story from last week. Hahaha.  It's time for me to start my second visa so I can stay here in Chile.  Hna Barrios and I went like good obedient children to el Registro Civil to start get mi papel de antecedentes, which is basically a paper that says all the crimes I've committed in Chile, because I've committed so many crimes, haha (don't worry Mom there are only two or three, haha just kidding).  But anyway we got to the doors and what did we find? A huge sign that says they're on strike indefinitely.  Bad news bears.  But the good news is that having a Chilean companion is really useful. She said they had to help me because it was an emergency.  So after knocking the door a few times she said to the door that we only wanted to ask a question, and BOOM!  Miraculously someone came out to help us :) haha, but they didn't help too much because, as the woman said, "we're on strike and we aren't helping anyone."  But they did give me a code that I could use to print off my paper in an internet cafe.  Still being good obedient children we went to the internet cafe to print of the paper, which required quite a bit of work, got to the point where we could pay, and the website only accepted Chilean credit cards. NOOOOOOO.  Luckily I have mi CuentaRUT, it's kind of like a debit card for Chileans, but it doesn't have any money on it.  We had to go the the bank, wait in line, put some money on the card, go back to the internet place and try again..... but it didn't work.  Back to the bank, another line, back to the internet place, we tried again, but it still didn't work.  Oops.  The secretary of the mission (he's in charge of all this visa stuff) told us he talked with a few people and they said we could start my visa without the paper for now, so we went on an adventure to Osorno and I signed some papers (I felt super important). But it was super short the process in Osorno.  They said they'll eventually need the paper with my crimes, but who knows when that will be.  I guess the point of this story is that it's really hard for me to stay legal here in Chile hahaha.  Oh well, fingers crossed it all gets worked out.

I love you all lots and hope you have an awesome week!

Keep on keeping on,
Hermana Coombs


Oh yeah, other thing we did this week: we helped a less active round up her pollitos, baby chickens.  We looked pretty funny running around in front of her house trying to catch them haha

Con un pollito!

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

October 5, 2015

Hola familia y amigos!

Sorry I don't have a lot of time today, but I hope you all got a chance to watch the General Conference because it's the best.

Read and reread the talks!

I love you all!

Con cariño,
Hermana Coombs

Monday, September 28, 2015

September 28, 2015

Gloria got baptized!  She radiated happiness :)  She has a huge fear of being submerged in water and said that she was so happy that day that it didn't even bother her.  She's taught me so much about loving the people and serving them without expecting anything in return.  Her happiness is contagious and she'll be able to help lots of people see the joy that comes from this gospel.  And one of the coolest parts is that her brother who lives in Chiloe didn't think he was going to be able to make it to the baptism, but he did everything he had to do lickety-split and caught a 7 hour bus to make it JUST in time for her baptism.  He literally ran to the church with two minutes to spare.  It was an awesome surprise! :D

Other than that it's been a pretty chill week.  It'll be a letter short and sweet this week. We keep working hard, and learning lots. 

If you get the chance you should all watch what's called "General Conference" this weekend. We'll have the chance to listen to the Prophet and the Apostles. Wooohooo!  Take questions in mind and I promise you'll get answers; it's the best!

Keep on keeping on,
Hermana Coombs








Monday, September 21, 2015

September 21, 2015

Hahaha, so our week started out interesting when we had to run to the house of a member for our exercises to get our clean laundry because we literally had 0 clothes for the day and she wasn't going to be home later in the day.  But the good news is that we had our clothes in time :)

As for the earthquake, we didn't feel it at all here in the south, and the family of Hermana Barrios is fine.  Sorry that once again I don't have any cool stories to share.

We had a really fun week full of fiestas for the 18 de septiembre.  In our District meeting we played with an emboque (I'm an expert, ask my companion), and we laughed a lot.

The 18 de septiembre was full of empanadas and happiness because empanadas = happiness :) haha

The 19th we went with our investigador Gloria to an activity in Fresia for the fiestas patrias, and more importantly for her baptismal interview! WOOHOO! Now we've offically scheduled her baptism for the 25th at 6:00, and she is so happy.  We've seen her progress a ton in these past few weeks :)  In the activity I dressed in a vestido de china, a typical dress to dance la cueca, which is a typical dance in Chile. I guess you could say I'm very Chilean now, not counting my blonde hair or my gringa face, but they're only minor details haha :) More empanadas, I learned to use el trompo, and I made a friend with una niña from the branch in Fresia.

And last but not least we found out cambios, and we're both staying here in Frutillar :D

Hope you all enjoy your week!

Stay sweet,

Hermana Coombs



Volcán Osorno from Frutillar

With the district

With the gang in Fresia


With a friend I made in Fresia

In un "vestido de china" so i could dance la cueca, the typical dance of the Chileans for the 18 de Septiembre


Otra foto con mi amigita


Chickens in a tree.  They partied hard this 18 de septiembre

Monday, September 14, 2015

September 14, 2015

Hey guys :) So, to give you a quick run down of the week, I think I love the month of September.  The chileans are all preparing for their independance day the 18th, so almost every house has a flag put up every day, the people are giving us lots of food that is typical here for the 18th.  Basically lots of alfajores, empanadas, and happiness :)  

Our investigator Gloria is really excited to invite her family to her baptism and to keep learning more, but her daughter has been in the hospital in Puerto Montt this week, and Gloria is taking care of her daughter, so we haven’t been able to meet up with her as much as we’ve liked to.  It’s been really hard for her with her daughter in the hospital, but she’s keeping up a positive attitude.

This week the members really raised the bar and helped out a TON with missionary work.  They invited their friends to meet with us, invited investigators to their house for family home evenings, they went with us to visit investigators, less actives, and knocked a few doors with us.  It’s really amazing what can happen with missionary work when the members participate actively. 

Haha, you’ll probably laugh, but in the mornings when I eat breakfast I’m trying to learn some Portugues, so I listen to church movies in Portugues, haha :)  It’s pretty cool, but I think I’ll have to practice a lot more before anything comes of it.

I’m sure other things have happened, but my memory is failing me. Oops. ¿Qué vamos a hacer?

Keep being the best!  Celebrate the 18 de Septiembre :)

Con amor,

Hermana Coombs


Do you think they can see my name tag?

With a baby cow . . . , moooo!



The Zone

Walking the "tracks"



Where I live

Monday, September 7, 2015

September 7, 2015

¿Qué tal familia y amigos?

This week has been a little crazy.  Lots of missionary meetings.  On Tuesday Pres. Obeso and his wife and the Zone Leaders took a trip to our house to inspect how clean it was (it's ok mom, we passed with flying colors, haha) and so we could have interviews with Presidente.  They decided to stop by every house in the mission to make sure we don't die of dust or mold or something like that.  Props to them, because the mission is pretty big.  They've had a few pretty crazy weeks.  Then on Wednesday we had a Zone meeting, and it's always fun to see all the other missionaries. Then on Thursday we had a district meet, and those are always super fun.  Elder Montiel (our district leader) put me in charge of actividades de ánimo for each meeting.  Basically I think of a game that has literaly nothing to do with nothing so we can have 5 min to think about nothing and laugh at ourselves.  Not really sure if that's the real purpose but that's usually what ends up happening, haha :)

We've also started a new program with the Rama to have Family Home Evenings with the members, where they invite a friend or another family of members so that we can all be strengthened spiritually and have a good time.  It's been super fun and the members have reacted really well to the idea :)

We keep working hard and we're seeing some people who really want to learn more and progress, so that's pretty cool.  Other than that things are pretty much the same here.  Living the mission life :)  Oh! But we did have a whole week without rain. THAT was cool :)

As for some words of inspiration, "Don't worry, be happy."

Con cariño,
Hermana Coombs

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

August 31, 2015

Oops, I ran out of time, but here are a few things that happened this week:
- it rained.... a lot :)
- Had intercambios with Hna Oross.  She is the bee's knees
- We work hard and play hard.

The mission is the best and I love you all tons!

Que estén bien!

Stay sweet,
Hermana Coombs

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

August 24, 2015

Hola a todos :)

My memory of this past week is kind of a hazzy fog, partially because I can't remember too many details, and partially because with all the houses using their wood and fuego there is a lot of smoke.  But it's all good, because I just remembered a few details :)

- The members helped us out a lot this week visiting lots of people and sharing the gospel.  It's awesome to see their enthusiasm!
- Our investigator Carolain said "I'd love to!" when we asked her if she would like to be baptized :)  She's super awesome and she's already reading a ton in the Book of Mormón. Woohoo!
- My companion got sick this week while adjusting to the weather.  Pres. Obeso told her "I was waiting for any one of the new missionaries to get sick... all exept a Chilena!" and she responded "But my Chile has sun."  Haha, but she's all better now
- Had an AMAZING Stake Conference, with lots of awesome talks.  I particularly like the ones that talked about the importance of Members and Missionaries working together.  M&Ms are going to be the new favorite candy in our Stake (... get it? M&M... members and missionaries... or miembros y misioneros en español)
- After the Stake Conference session Saturday night we needed a member to help us get back to Frutillar from Puerto Montt because the buses were a little sketchy, so we went with the Stake President and his wife because they live in Frutillar. They stopped so we could all eat a hamburger, and 5 min later Presidente Obeso and Hermana Obeso showed up at the fast food place because Presidente Obeso was hungry.  Wow. that was a lot more explication than I thought it would be, but basically we ate hamburgers with Pres. Obeso, Hna. Obeso, the stake President and his wife.  It was cool.

All in all a pretty good week :)  Love you all tons!  Keep being the best and keep on keeping on

Con amor,
Hermana Coombs

Monday, August 17, 2015

August 17, 2015

Well to start out Hna Barrios is from Viña del Mar Chile, specifically Con-Con, and she's 23 and super excited to be in the mission :)  She got baptized 2 years ago and her testimony is incredible.  Wow. For real.  We're working super hard and learning a ton too :)

This week we talked with lots and lots and lots of people, and found a lady who is awesome!  She listened to missionaries before, but stopped because some people told her we don't believe in Christ.  When we met her we watched "Gracias a que Él Vive" ("Because He Lives" in English.... I think), and it was really powerful.  The spirit filled the room with a peace that I can't really describe, but she felt it and we felt it, and she's really excited to start listening to the missionaries again.

Oh, and this week is the week of companions past, haha.  When I went to the mission home to pick up Hna Barrios Hna Calderas was there to pick up her new companion too, and it was so awesome to see her again :D just as loca as always, haha.  Then later that day all the missionaries who were finishing the mission were meeting up close to the mission home, and I got to see Hermana Bretón again :D it made my heart happy to see them both again

And, a scripture for the week:
John 8:12
"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Love you guys!

Keep on keeping on,
Hermana Coombs





Helping out an abuelito in the street with his sack of wood, haha