Monday, June 24, 2013

One week with Elder McCaskill



     Elder Suarez's bus took off at 7...but it really left at 8:15ish we are so on time here in Chile. Then we waited in the bus terminal until about 10:00 when Elder Castillo took off to Antofagasta, because we couldn't leave him there alone. 
     During that wait time there were several missionaries coming and going along with different members and investigators to say good-bye and there was one member who was there that stopped me suddenly and said, "You were in Pozo Almonte!" and I look at her and said, "Why do you know that?" and she informes me that I taught her once there with Elder Hewstone and then a flood of memories came rushing back to me. I remembered who she was. So that was a fun connection to the past we made and it was also nice because she told me that my Spanish had improved much since my time in Pozo, (Thank goodness, over a year of being here in Chile) (There is a picture of me and her. 
      Elder McCaskill arrived the following morning at 6:40 and it was the first time I've seen him since the Noobies conference that we had at the first of our mission. After being in the MTC together it has been a long time without seeing eachother, and now we are companions. 
     On Wednesday morning we did service and painted a room and they are a part member family and part of the members are inactive so we painted "GO" in comand form and then painted a church on the wall. It's a beautiful work of art I shall include the picture. And of Elder McCaskill painting.
 The last picture is of Elder McCaskill, Elder Rattaletslkj.... (not sure how to spell it) and I who we are all 6' 3"ish so we tower over most everyone here in Chile. 
 Elder McCaskill speaks wonderful Spanish and corrects me often and also as we speak in English in the apartment I realize at times how bad my English has become, and makes me wonder if my emails are understandable. 
 Sunday night that Zone conference of the World is amazing we all watched here as a mission, in our respect stakes, and the Lord is hasting the work. 
 So I hope all is well. 
Have a Wonderful day- because you can choose to
     Elder James O. Gillespie

Wishing will not make it so. The Lord expects our thinking. He expects our action. He expects our labors. He expects our testimonies. He expects our devotion.
President Thomas S. Monson
 


Monday, June 17, 2013

Transfers



Sorry don't have much time. Elder Suarez is taking off to Arica a little later. 
 Jocelyn Lissette Olivares Molina was baptized this weekend. 
 There is a picture of the shirts we made for the mission. 
 And the first real piano that works that I have seen in Chile
 Have a wonderful day
     Elder Gillespie


Monday, June 10, 2013

Wow the week went very fast



I imagine part of it being that everything was run one day. P-Day was Tuesday, District Meeting Wednesday, and then things were normal it was just a little strange. However, we had a wonderful day at church yesterday, Jocelyn Olivares came, and as well several less active people we have been working with. Jocelyn will be baptized this upcoming Saturday and she has been inviting everyone all around, which is good, I imagine it will be the biggest baptism we will have besides the White Night in Calama. We are working with another Yoselin and Fransico (less active) so we are hoping to have another baptism shortly but first we need to plan a wedding. We are going tonight hopefully we can put a marriage date with them. They just had their first child about 3 weeks ago. 
 Happy Father's day coming up. 
 Saturday we had a bqq for lunch to celebrate the birthday of a Carlos Jorquera, who gives up Lunch during the week (our Papito) he is such a great guy. (The same family were I used Skype) 
 Today we played Frisbee a little bit as a Zone. So fun. I miss playing in the grass. 
 Have a Wonderful day- because you can choose to
     Elder James O. Gillespie

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Adios a Presidente



Well, I should start by apologizing for my silence yesterday. President and Sister Bruce came for a Zone Conference so the south part of the mission changed our Preparation day for today. Yesterday, Sister Bruce told us a story of obedience and told us that we must be obedient to the new President as they come in. President Bruce presented President Dalton and Sister Dalton in a slide show and then talked about the Doctrine of Christ some. Took pictures with all the missionaries, hugs, tears, despididas (not sure how to say that in English) and also lots of fun to see so many missionaries again. I took more pictures this time. Which some shall be included.
     Anyways the last week, our ward just like Nathaniel's ward had a temple trip and arrived to give wonderful testimonies of the temple. For a couple people it was the first time, it was fun to talk to them about their experiences and how they felt. 
     Sunday afternoon we had lunch with the Campos Family it was very enjoyable as afterwords we sat around the table and enjoyed a conversation about various subjects. They are a very good family and they are a pillar of strength here in Chile. 
 So keep going strong, Enjoy Summer back home, it's getting cold here and all the students are going strong here in school. 
 Have a Wonderful day- because you can choose to
     Elder James O. Gillespie
 Pictures: One of the zone with President
Two: Me and President
Three: Me and Six of my 12 companions I have had, the others 3 of which have already finished their missions. Elder Jensen, Elder Parker, Elder Marroquin, Elder Suarez, Elder myself, Elder Gonzalez and Elder Marin
Four: is four of the eight that started in the MTC together. Elder Hamblin, Elder Mikesell, Elder myself, and Elder Parker.