Conferences

  This week we had Stake conference so half of Arica came together in the same chapel great to see some other familiar faces from Alborada in stake conference. 

   We also had a Zone conference which the zones Alto Hospicio and Iquique came up and had that all together. We had four of us from our group from the MTC together which I believe is the biggest group of us together since the newbie conference my second transfer. A lot of the conference focused on planning and becoming better at it, which the thoughts of planning have defiantly circled around in my head a lot, so it was a confirming experience that we need to improve there, and this story. Thursday in the evening we planned and we made different goals of how many New investigators we would find after the Zone Conference and before our first appointment at 5:00, and we decide three people. After the conference we go back to the pension and change and head back out. We make one street contact, knock two doors that don't answer and the third door we knock we talk with Geraldine and she lets us in and we ask for everyone in the house which is a told of three, and then two of them came to church (Geraldine got sick) planning works.  She really enjoyed the conference as well, which focused a lot on family unity and unity in the church. 

   Green Story: We taught a family who works/lives in a hotel and as we walked out of the hotel I realized how green it was- like there was grass everywhere I felt like I stepped out of the North of Chile for a while. 

 Sorry it's short I need to learn how to write more and better.

 Have a Wonderful day- Because you can choose to

     Elder James O. Gillespie

Elder Gillespie - August 20, 2012

  We had a fantastic week this week! I loved the experiences we had. We all as a zone worked super hard and we have completed all of our goals for the week as well, and today we played basketball again as a zone. 

    I had the chance to leave on a division with a member of the ward to do his home teaching and I learned again the importance of home teaching and the difference it makes in peoples lives. The program comes from God that we may speak of the welfare of our souls, cry with those who cry and that we may teach and understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together. 

     Sunday we had 4 investigators in Church, and Sara Yanpara came solo and had no association with the church before yesterday. Jessica, who doesn't live in our sector however she has a few friends in our ward and they invited her. Gustavo Tapia who has 12 years and has a very special gift of feeling the Spirit. Camila who we visited her mom Humbertina who hasn't come to church in years however now is coming and now we work with Camila to get her baptized. After Sacrament meeting Sergio Arroyo baptized his daughter, Sara Arroyo, everyone could feel strongly of the Spirit. I challenged right then and there Jessica to get baptized, in the evening we challenged Camila as well- 

    We are growing together and learning to do what is right quicker. 

 Be obedient- it's easier

 Have a Wonderful day- because you can choose to

     Elder James O. Gillespie

Elder Gillespie

This week definitely felt very long, and I am happy that Elder Marroquín speaks Spanish because there would be so much I would miss that he informs me after what has happened; however as well I´m grateful that I am lost in the sea of Spanish words because I believe if I understood everything that the people told us it would impact my mood incredibly as well. It opens up your eyes a lot more and realize more the blessing you have presently in your life, and learn that really your life is not that bad. 

 Pres. Bruce every month presents a new vision, a new focus and motivation, this month the vision is the Olympics and we are to become as Olympians the best of the best. (Kind of like March Madness, but different) Also meaning that there is competition. So it is every Zone against every Zone. In Preach My Gospel Chapter 8 it talks of key indicators that the Mission President will set and expect us to keep our focus there. We have different keys indicators and different levels, and the top level is called Misioneros Celestiales and our Zone and the other Zone in Arica reached this level, now we just got to keep going.  We are going to win. 

 This week the ward missionary program and us put together an activity in the chapel of Karaoke and I sang, Just the way you are, which I found out the notes are outside my range, and Barbara Ana from The Beach Boys and had a lot more success with that. 

 Many of the Gringos got together today and played basketball and it was a blast. It took me several games to 7 to find my game again. We have a lot of people in our Zone who played basketball in High School and some in College. It´s impressive. 

  Have a Wonderful day- because you can choose to

     Elder James O. Gillespie

 Elder Ryan Van Pelt is in my Zone, and Elder Colten Henrie which makes 3 of us that I know of from Timpanogos High School. Just a fun fact. 

9 months and 20 years old...Weird

Today as a preparation zone activity we played soccer (fairly common) however we played on a full size turf field (not so common). We played Zone Los Olivos contra Zone Costanera, generally when I play soccer here I prefer to play defense because it doesn´t really matter which way you kick it as long as you kick away from the goal however; today I felt more bold or had more desire to score so I played forward and I scored my first goal =) Elder Relei, who has been a role model of a missionary for me, this is his last transfer =(, anyways, had the ball coming up the right side of the field, and I coming up the right cut in towards the goal pointing up towards the goal. Elder Relei boots it up right to where I´m headed and I jump and chest bump the ball into the goal over the goal. I was very content with it. 

So that´s a fun little story

Story two: This morning it was reported by Elder Marroquín, (my companion more about him shortly) that I was talking in my sleep. I inquire of him if I spoke in Spanish or in English and I am proud to report that I spoke in Spanish. 

Elder Marroquin from Guatemala, studying to become a doctor and has 6 months here in Chile. I met him before in Alto Hospicio where it he had his first transfer however he spend the rest of his time in Copiapo. Hard worker and we speak Spanish which I believe has already excelled my Spanish back up, (note the story above) because I lost quite a bit of it with Elder Jensen, (speak your language) The bad thing is I forget that he has only been here for a few days and so he doesn´t know everyone yet, but that´s okay. 

I´m twenty now, had a cake smashed in my face which brought back a flood of memories. For those of you involved in these memories, thank you. 

Hit nine months in the mission field at the same time. It just keeps going faster and faster.

It´s been rather cloudy weather we Elder Marroquín has only had one sunny day, it even sprinkled today which was nice and rather odd. 

Love it here. 

Have a Wonderful day- because you can choose to

     Elder James O. Gillespie

 

Elder Gillespie

Misión Chile Antofagasta

Casilla de Correo 70
Antofagasta, Chile