January 25, 2016 -- final post

Well, here it goes.  The last email of the mission.  That’s weird.  Really though, the mission has just been the best.  I’ve laughed so hard (for real though so hard), and cried a few times, and been frustrated with Spanish until I found out how to speak it, and felt so lucky to meet so many really truly incredible people.  It’s been the greatest thing ever, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t going to miss it.  But all good things must come to an end because there are other adventures out there.

For those of you who’ve been reading my emails every week, thanks for hanging with me, haha, even when I didn’t write a few weeks, or wrote close to nothing.  Just know that it’s been fun trying to keep you filled in on everything I’ve been doing, even if I couldn’t always remember what it was :)

You know what the coolest thing of my mission has been?  Becoming really truly converted to the gospel and learning to trust wholly and completely on the Lord.  You learn really fast in missionary work that you just can’t do it without his help.  It’s been a humbling experience that’s brought me much closer to him, and it’s helped my testimony grow light-years.  That to me is awesome! :)

A year and a half compared to a life time really isn’t anything if you think about it, but I’m 100% sure that this year and a half is going to help me for the rest of forever (bad grammar I know, sorry).

For those of you reading this who are members, let me share with you, once again, one of my favorite scriptures. It’s Alma 37:6, and it says, “Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.”  Do the small and simple things.  Read you scriptures…daily.  Say your prayers…daily.  Go to church and to the temple.  All that good stuff makes the big difference.

To those who aren’t members, I share the words of the prophet Moroni when he said, “And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.  And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”  Find out for yourselves if this is all true or not.

And to everyone, I love you guys.  You’re all great, and I’m excited to see you again :)

As a representative of Jesus Christ I leave you all with the invitation to come unto Him.  Come unto to Him with fullness of heart, in your actions, words, and thoughts.  Come unto Him, and let him make you whole.  Let him make of you the person you can never become on your own.  I love this gospel and I know it’s true.  I know that Jesus Christ really lived, suffered, died, and lives again for each and every one of us.  I testify that he is the Savior and Redeemer of the world and that he leads and guides His church today.  I love this gospel and I know it’s true.  And I share this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen .

Hermana Coombs

January 18, 2016 -- She's coming home!!

There will only be two more letters from Hannah, this being one of them. Her last letter will be next Monday. She returns home on Friday, January 29th. That next Sunday, the 31st of January, she will speaking in church, telling about some of her experiences serving in Chile. If you are interested in coming, the meeting starts at 9:00 am and is located at 1320 West Schaumburg Road, in Schaumburg. All are invited.

Here's this week's letter:

Alright ladies and gents, here come the highlights of the week, and probably a lot of random thoughts:

- My comp's head isn't feeling too much better, but she's been tired of being in the house, so we got to leave a little bit more this week.

- We had a Family Home Evening with the members who live alone, the new members in the ward, and those who are the only members in their family, in the church building on Monday.  It was way fun!  We're having another one today and we plan on playing kickball.  Woohoo!

- One day una abuelita called us to help take her to the post office and we said yes!  Turns out it was a trap!  Haha, she's a really sweet lady who just needed some company.  She didn't even have to go to the post office, but while we were out we stopped to buy her an ice cream cone.  Only afterward did she tell us she didn't know how to eat it... oops!  While she was eating it she dropped it on the floor but said, "this is too good, I'm not losing it!"  so she picked it up, wiped it off with a napkin and just kept right on eating it :)  At least she enjoyed it right? Right :)

- We were contacted by a cop from Santiago vacationing here in Purranque.  He seemed really interested in the church, but was going to Santiago again.  Good thing there are missionaries all over the place!

- La familia Gonzalez gave us completos one day for dinner.  I'm going to miss them (both the familia Gonzalez y los completos)

- Had an awesome lesson with Felicita, one of our investigators, in which she bore a really strong testimony that she knows this gospel is true, and that she's received so many blessings after meeting with the missionaries.  She wants to get baptized so bad, but her pareja (sorry I can't remember how we say that in English) doesn't want to get married yet.  But once they get married she is baptism ready!

- We found a cool new investigator named Lucy!  She really likes what she's learning

- We had an awesome lesson with Manuel, a guy who's visiting from Puerto Montt, and la Hna Sonia went with us.  Members, you guys really don't know how much you can help with your simple powerful testimonies.  He's going to keep listening to the missionaries in Puerto Montt

- Hno Moll, he's a little abuelito member here, ate lunch in a member's house with us and the members this week, and HE IS SO FUNNY.  We laughed so hard.  They asked him to say the blessing on the food and he just said, "they always ask on the youngest to say the prayer."  And then he said so many other funny things during lunch. haha, sorry if you don't think it's as funny as I did.

- Our house has slugs and Hna Schroeder is terrified of them.  She found one of their happy trails in her bed yesterday and I don't think she's ever going to be able to sleep ever again

- And the coolest thing of all.... Mary y Patricio said they want to get baptized on Feb 20th :D  They've been meeting with the missionaries for almost a year and they finally feel like they're ready for baptism.  It was an amazing lesson, completely guided by the spirit.  It was cool.

Don't forget that sometimes things happen a whole lot differently than what we would like, but we just need to roll with the punches, put our trust in the Lord, and look for the blessings that are all around us.  I found a cool scripture today in my studies from when the prophet Mormon is talking to his son Moroni about all the bad things and the destruction of his people (a whole civilization) and he said, "My son, be faithful in Christ, and may not the things which I have written grieve thee... but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death... and his mercy and longsuffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever."

Basically if things aren't going your way just remember to let Christ lift you up, that his grace and mercy can help you out in whatever situation you find yourself.  There will be difficulties in life of every kind, but there are good things to come.  Just keep chugging along with your confidence placed in him.

Oh, and just to let you all know, my companion is so funny.  We get along so well and we just laugh so hard all the time.  She's great  and as she always says..."that's all autobots, let's roll out!"

Love you guys!

Keep on keeping on,

Hermana Coombs

January 11, 2016

How's it going!!

This week I was studying an awesome talk about Faith.  Check it out!

https://speeches.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Cook_Gene_1981_11.pdf

We almost killed a missionary in a visual lesson activity gone wrong with the Zone.  It was tug of war, with an Hermana in a chair between the ropes.  She did a back flip and almost died, but thank goodness someone had ninja-like reflexes and saved her life. That would have been really awkward explaining to Pres. Obeso what happened if she'd gotten hurt. Haha, maybe I shouldn't laugh, but she gave us permission, so it's ok. 

Other than that, we keep on keeping on, finding people and teaching the gospel.  The gospel is amazing people.  It's helped me out so much in my life.

Keeping it short and sweet this week, but I love you guys! Have an awesome week!

Stay sweet,

Hermana Coombs

La cascada!

the stick thingy was for swatting away killer flies.  and good news, I didn't die :)

January 4, 2016

Hey guys!

HAPPY NEW YEAR :)  2016.  That's cool stuff.

Anyway, my companion has been sick this week with some head stuff, but we're getting it all worked out.  The good news is that I got to study a ton this week.  I read a lot of things by the Prophet and Apostles, and one talk I really liked was "On Being Genuine" by Elder Deiter F. Uchtdorf.  He said:

"With patience and persistence, even the smallest act of discipleship or the tiniest ember of belief can become a blazing bonfire of a consecrated life. In fact, that’s how most bonfires begin—as a simple spark.
So if you feel small and weak, please simply come unto Christ, who makes weak things strong. The weakest among us, through God’s grace, can become spiritually strong.
The Church is not an automobile showroom—a place to put ourselves on display so that others can admire our spirituality, capacity, or prosperity. It is more like a service center, where vehicles in need of repair come for maintenance and rehabilitation.
And are we not, all of us, in need of repair, maintenance, and rehabilitation?
We come to church not to hide our problems but to heal them."

It's an awesome talk.  Look it up if you can.

one time this week we did service.  It was legit.  I felt like Spiderman because we were on top of a roof.  I almost fell off once, haha JUST KIDDING MOM. But don't worry it was completly safe, and fun.

Love you all tons and hope your week is full of faith, trust, and pixie dust!

Love,

Hermana Coombs

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

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

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 

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!!

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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