DWELL with SHELL: Rio Bueno

I am in Rio Bueno it is a pretty big city and sector because it has two parts. one part is for the elders and one is for the sisters. whenever we want to enter into the sector of the other we have to call and ask for permission and if it is not given you cant enter the sector needless to say sometimes the elders like to be stinkers and not let us in. I am by a really big river! its a gorgeous torqouise color and the water flows really fast. in the morning you can see the steam of it in huge clouds. We havent gone in a while to where it is so we will try and i will send some pictures. Here in chile all the people have fenced in yards and houses. its not quite a 3rd world country but it is close especially the area here in the south there is a lot of poverty so everyone has gates and the doors to enter the house dont have handles like at home. you put your key in the door unlock it then put your weight in the door to open it. When we want to knock a door we have to hit a rock or our pens on the fence and yell HHHHALLLLOOOOO and the persons then come to the door or window it makes it so fun sometimes i like to sing. almost everyone has a dog in the yard that barks and barks at us. i have never wanted to kick a dog more in my life. my house that i am in right now is so tiny in the bedroom i am about as tall as it so that goes to tell you something.

where Madi lives

inside Madi's house

okay as far as investigados we dont have a whole lot right now because we had one but it turns out that she is a less active member which go figure. here in chile almost everyone is a less active member that has gone to church in years after moving or missionarys leaving it is so sad. Her name is Adriana she is so nice and realy wants to come back to church and have her 2 sons baptised because she know sit will only help them in there life. we talked to the 10 yr old son Miguel Angel about baptism he is super inteligent and says he wants to pray first and the 8 yr old son alex really loves the idea about baptism. she also has a 6 yr old grandson matius! he is the sweetest thing and loves us he always wants us to come by so we will work more with them.

next we have gladys. she came to church not this last sunday but the sunday before but didnt take the sacrament and is now bad again, she doesnt want to get out of bed so i was very direct with her about her daughter that she can not have her daughter for eternity without her will to get better and do the things necesary. she got dressed and got out of bed and these last days has been doing really well so we are hoping to see a permenant change in her. she is really like a mom to me here and my heart aches for her. she has suffered for almost 2 years with depression over the loss of her daughter and feeling guilty for not helping her. my wonderful mother shelley sent me a article from the ensign a few months ago tht helped me but i really didnt need it, however when i met gladys i knew why my mom had a feeling to send it to me. she has read it and now understands more that the savior is here for us.

your love and letters help push this work along too! i hope you all know that when we follow spiritual promptings we help others and can change there lifes while changing ours i know this is true because i hav eseen it more than every here in my mission. alot of people in my sector suffer from depression and other mental illnesses. we are working so hard with them to recieve the light of christ and understand more their convenant of baptism to have the light always with them the holy ghost. know how much i love you and the savior loves you. the preisthood is here to help us and guide us. we are never alone in this life only if we choose to be. You have your ward to be there for you too! a scripture really helped me this week D&C 121: 7-9.

I want to encourage all of you to help those in your ward who are struggling and need help. help give them meals and things because things are not always has they seem people who may seem weathly are struggling finanacially but worse spiritually. i have learned here that time has no importance when its someone else is struggling and needs my help. our savior helped everyone it didnt matter the circumstances so ponder that this week i love you so much xoxo

i will try to send more information about other less actives and investigators next week (: