Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Alex's 83rd email from Chile 3/19/12

The Birthday Boy at one of his birthday celebrations.

Hola Familia,

So this was a good week. It’s weird to me to still think I am 21. More than that to think I only have 2 changes left transfers are this next week. This week was insane. So on Tuesday I had to go for a third time to do the stuff for me carnet!! Someone messed up and I had to go do it again! Then that same night I had another birthday party haha. Everyone wanted to have a birthday party or do something for me. 


I did 2 divisions this week. I went out with Elder Sosa so this week just flew by!! On Wednesday I gave an awesome class. It was on having faith to invite people to be baptized. I started out blind folding everyone walking around the chapel and eventually up onto the stage and had them fall off backwards into the arms of the other district. It was tight. Then we talked about faith and how we were called to baptize and how we need to have faith that we will be blessed with success. It was cool.

So I am kind of hoping to have changes a couple things have gone down. So I had my birthday right? Well I came home with cake and that same night it was all gone. I asked everyone in our apartment who ate it and no one fessed up. To me the cake does not matter, it’s that someone is lying to me. It’s like “come on we are all missionaries why would you lie?” now I am missing some ties and once again no one says anything. I am just done and need to get out of this pension. Luckily it’s one week.

(These are answers to some of my questions) But yes my birthday was awesome. I got a present that I just have no idea how I am going to get it home. Someone gave me a huge pot but one clay pot famous to Chile filled with cups and bowls and what not. The present you guys sent was awesome! I loved it.  It was tight to hear from some people I haven’t heard from since before the mission. Abril is doing awesome she is legit.

OK familia next week I will tell you if I have changes or not. I love you all so much and talk to you later.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt
This made me smile and a little teary :)

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Alex's 82nd email from Chile 3/12/12

Elder Leavitt & Elder Tlaptea


Hola Familia!!

Well I definitely feel loved. I have had soo many families in the ward throwing little parties for me haha. Ok but starting from the beginning, we have a new iniciative in our mission, to teach the doctrine of the family. I don’t know if I have told you but here the family is being attacked hard here. Everyone is separated illegally and just living with one another even if both people are married to other people it is not uncommon. That’s why it is also super hard to baptize families, because the parents always are co living and need to be divorced. Well we are now focusing on the families and teaching theire importance. It’s a cool iniciative.





I also had 3 meetings this week; district meeting, a special capacitation meeting, and a leadership meeting to sum it all up. I am a little wiped out from lots of classes. This week we also set a baptismal date with Abril! So we are excited and working with her now a lot. This last week there was also a crazy weird thunder storm. We didn’t get any rain. I wanted it but we saw all the lightning and thunder it was cool. It is sooo hot here.





I felt bad. I gave a baptismal interview this week and didn’t pass her. I just felt like she needed a stronger testimony the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith so I told them to focus on that and we will have another interview here in a little bit more. Then Sunday I had a little birthday party with Abril and all of her family. Today Rocio invited me over and has a surprise for me. Luis and his family have a surprise for me and tomorrow the Hermana Denisse says she has something planned for me. I feel special.

Today we played on the big field of Abrils family against La Cisterna. It was fun. I forgot my camera :( but ya.

Abril is doing awesome. When she comes to church usually just one of her sisters comes but we are trying and working on trying to get all of them. Like I told you I am having lots of birthday dinners. I won’t lie it’s been way hard to fast once a week. It’s been soo hot I need water!!! I will try and get a picture. They chill in the tops of the big trees and it’s hard to get a big picture.

Well family I love you all and I hope you have a great week and I will talk to you later.

Con Mucho amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

I am 21 thats insane!!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Alex's 81st email from Chile 3/5/12

Hola Familia!!

Buena, this week was a good one. I started out doing divisions with Elder Ciccio an Elder from Italy it was cool. Also school has started so all the uniforms are out and about and people are starting to return from vacations slowly. Along with all of that the parrots have come back singing just that time of year.

It's been a little difficult latley. We are not having much success, although we are finding people people let us in we teach them one or 2 times and they die off. Just no one is progressing. It's especially hard for me because now I have been here almost 6 months now changes are ending here in 2 weeks.

Now that I have complained a little I can be normal. The bright side is I am a Missionary, over all I am happy. I have been blessed with an awesome companion, of the bright spots in the sector; the converts I do have are active and strong. Rocio is amazing and we have found the most bomb 7 yr old in the world. Her name is Abril, she turns 8 in April and wants to be baptized so bad she is sooo tight.  We found an inactive family this past week contacting. We never knocked the house before because they live in a soccer stadium more like field. So there really is not a door. But ya we found them the parents are not members and are actually lesbians and they have 5 daughters all baptized excepts Abril. We have been working with them and they came to church Sunday. Abril loved it and everyone fell in love with her. She was telling the whole world how she is going to be getting baptized the next month and everything. She makes me happy and gives me more energy. She came at just the right time.

Also it was really sad, I had gotten close to an inactive family and they trust me alot. The other day we went by and just started crying asking me for help. Their daughter decided that she was lesbian and they just didnt know what to do. It was just so sad watching these adults crying asking me some 20 yr old kid for help. I had no idea what to do. We shared some scriptures about how God is aware of our situation and how he is always there for help, and that the best way they could help their daughter was to be good examples; start reading and praying again, going to church, and over time she will take notice and hopefully feel the need for a change as well. It's tough.

The smoke was some big fire in my sector the other week (I asked about last weeks pictures) . Dari is good just been busy lately and not able to leave with us. The contacts in La Legua is a sad story. We went by this past week to teach them and the Lady comes out and says she was talking with her pastor about us and he just blew up on her. Said she was sinning for talking to us how we don't believe in Christ and how she needs to repent for having let us into her home. It sucked. So she said she wasn't allowed to share with us anymore.

No I still have a lot of toothpaste thanks.(Another answer to a question)

Well family I am positive things will pick up here in a little bit. I am always praying for you and I will talk to you later.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alexander Leavitt

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Alex's 80th email from Chile 2/27/12

Elder Leavitt & Elder Sosa

Hola Familia!!

Hey Mom really quick, if you could do me a favor Elder Sosa wants to try and apply to BYU and wants to know what he needs to do for all of that.

This week was good. All I have to say is I am soo tired and soo hot! I started out by doing divisions with Elder Sosa where we talked alot about goals and plans in our lives and like I mentioned just earlier he really wants to study at BYU and he speaks English and understands everything super well. We had a good time on divisions. We  had another really good week we are just trying to find some people that will progress. We really don't have anyone solid at this point. We find alot of people and they meet with us and what not but just no one is really progressing.

Alex's companion Elder Tlatelpa

I did my carnet this week and it took us all day. Hey, when I was doing that I talked alot with an Elder Strong. I have talked with him before and have been in the same zone before but we talked alot today and we are both from Canada. And like from the same parts so I was going to ask you guys if you know any Strongs. The weather has been weird which means it is getting ready to go into fall but we still lack a little bit before it changes. It was cooler for like 3 days but then yesterday it was sooo hot. There is no O-Zone layer here and it littleraly hurts to be in the sun. No joke it physically hurts me to be outside you burn in minutes if you don't have sunscreen.  On Saturday we had a cosechon in my sector where all the missionaries come and do contacts for like 2 hours. I went to La Legua with Elder Adlish and we did us some contacts and we found 6 news. Also we witnessed an Evangelical baptism. They were at the public pool and were baptizing like 10 people. There was crazy music and everything it was pretty tight. I officially decided that I need to whiten my teeth when I get home. I don't know if I am just peranoid or if I really need it. The people here just in general don't take care of their teeth.



I have no idea what this smoke is from but Alex was obviously taken with it since he took three pictures.

About the carnet you do it once a year so twice in the mission. About the trees we noticed it and they were stealling the smaller palm trees jaja. I am still in the same ward in Carlos Valdovinos and I was over the two sectors 1 ward with Elder Tognetti now we are sperated again. We have already gone back to La Legua. Yes jaja Tlatelpa is an aztec name. Yes and he has aztex disendents. I don't understand all the words but I understand what they are saying and what it is talking about. The couple with the fecha is there just slow it will be a little bit before they get baptized. So big news I got both the packages this past week so thank you for that.  Elder Sosa says thanks for sending so much stuff for everyone between Christmas and now this.

I have no idea what this picture is of.

So it's weird to think about that at the end of this change I will have the time Elder You my trainer had when I had just gotten to Chile. To look back at who I was then and who I am now and how I have changed. President has said it, you guys have said it, and I can see it how the mission has changed me and my life. And for the better. I am so thankful for the decision I have made to follow the councel of the Profet and of my Parents in serving this mission. My knowledge of the Gospel has grown more than I could have imagined where now I feel truth in the words of Alma when he said the word of God spoken with authority is more powerful and convincing than the sword, and I have seen the difference and change that takes place in the hearts of those that embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am just so happy and could have never imagined what blessing I was going to recieve from being here serving in this calling. They always say that your greatest convert is yourself, I had a testimony before the mission but it has grown to the point that I know I will never abandon it.  I know so clearly and I am so sure that the this is the church of God. This is his Kingdom. I love this Gospel so much it has given me everything. In short the mission has changed my life forever. I just need to end strong and give it everything I have, the time is short that I have to work and prepare myself for the rest opf my life. Like President King said the mission is the university of life how we work here and achieve here is how we will work and what we will achieve afterwards. I am just so gratefull and so happy to be here and serve our Lord and Savior.

OK guys I love you so much and will talk to you next week.

Elder Alex Leavitt