Elder Alex Leavitt Chile Santiago West Mission

Alex's 75th email from Chile 1/23/12

2012-01-24T13:29:00.000-08:00

Remember last week when Alex talked about how hot it was and how he felt like his skin was burning off? Read what he writes below:

A chart of the UV strength we have here in Chile - may not be so hot like tempurature wise here but it literally burns your skin because we have the highest UV strength you can get. It's terrible.

Hola Familia!!!

This week was a good one! Monday night we had a noche de hogar with the familia Ruz which was awesome! Sad news on that note their niece Dalenka who had a fecha or baptismal date now doesn't have one. Her whole family turned on her, was all against it, didn't want her to listen to us, and then to add more her boyfriend said he would break up with her if she keeps listening to us. Well she still wants to listen to us and learn, but her family won't let her go to the family Ruz's house and won't let us come over. Pretty sucky. I am really sad about it because she wants to change her life and start doing everything better and move herself closer to God.

Elder Leavitt & Elder Braddy's districts at the multi-zone activity.

They are in their new district shirts.

A better look at Alex's district shirts

On Tuesday we had a few really good lessons. We met with Caroline who is soooooooo awesome! She is soo excited for her baptism and is probably our strongest investigator that we have. During our lesson there was an earthquake! The first one I have felt since being in Chile. It was pretty tight. The whole building was swinging and what not. We were on the 7th floor of an apartment building so it was cool afterwards. They looked it up and it was a 4 point something. But she is progressing just amazing and is sooo happy to be getting baptized. Her husband who has been inactive for over like 30 years is reactivating himself as well and had a couple interviews with the bishop and will baptize her!! (He's forgotten that this isn't his first earthquake because he wrote home about one when he was first out. He was at a training meeting and right when President King held up the Book of Mormon they felt the shaking :)

Today we had a multi zone activity where we played football so legit.

On Wednesday I had divisions with Elder Merchan in his sector it was so fun. I saw Stephanie from La Islita in Talagante. She was registering for college and we ran into her in the street it was sooo awesome! So we stopped and were talking with her for awhile because it's like what are the odds that she would be there when me and Merchan were on divisions because we both know her from Talagante it was soo awesome. Then later that day I saw a Hermana from La Cisterna who I had not seen in almost a year it was soo cool. What a blessing. On Thursday I came back to my sector with Elder Tignetti and we had some lessons with Juan who is progressing well for his baptism and some other investigators. Then that night we met up with Elder Braddy and his companion. Elder Braddy and I did divisions because we had a leadership meeting Friday early in the morning. So we had a good time being together Thursday night and left Friday for Maipu. The meeting was good but was just way too long. It was 7 hours!!!!! 10 to 5 just ridiculous. When we got to Republica it was already late and we decided to watch the baptism of Elder Braddy and his companion which turned out to be a good decicion because I will never forget that baptism. The guy who was getting baptized was a big dude and his tiny skinny son was baptizing him. Well on top of being like 6' 4" he was big and had knee problems where he could not bend his knees. Well needless to say his son went to dunk him and the Hermano didn't bend his knees, didn't go all the under and could stand up! His son being super skinny and small couldn't lift him so Elder Braddy jumps in the baptismal font and helps him up!! Well Braddy was already in so he helped in the baptism and the Hermano was baptized! Crazyness.

Saturday we had a cosechon in the Hermana's sector where we all go and do massive contacts. It was good. Then we had a ward noche de hogar and it was tight!! We had like 5 investigators show up and then on Sunday the same 5 came to church! It was awesome! We are having so much success in our sector right now. If everything goes well we should have 3 baptisms for the 4 of February.

At the ward noche de hagar.

Caroline is not the evangelica. In Le Legua we have not been going by with the two sectors and everything being super spread out. We are focusing alot on just the investigators that are progressing seeing that we have way too much to do. I will be honest, the work is a little more slow in the campo or country but I like the whole enviorment a whole lot more in the campo. The people are nicer. It's way more, I don't know, I just like it better. Yes, the corn has come back. Man I am sooo tired of corn haha.

Well family that was my week. I will talk to you all later.

Con mucho amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

This is how we shop in Chile.

Chugging contest with Rocio

Alex's 74th email from Chile 1/16/12

2012-01-16T11:42:00.000-08:00

Hola Familia!!!

So thought I would tell you guys that it is amazingly hot! It is terrible just how bad it is. I literally feel my flesh burning, but on the good side I am now very tan, but also on the bad side I am super white where the sun does not hit so it all equals out jaja. Well family I just wanted to say I love you guys. I don't know why I just have been thinking about you alot this week and praying for you guys. I have been reading my patriarchal blessing alot and trying to set some goals for my life. It says I need to do that more often. Well for the mission I decided to set the goal to fast at least once every week. I really want to end strong and I don't have much more time left which just blows my mind. I started last week and I can already feel the difference. I may have to continue this after the mission as well who knows we will see.

So this week was a good one. Since we have tried focusing on the members helping us we have had alot of exito (success) Our investigators are all progressing alot. Juan is super excited about the church and is super willing to listen to us and keep his commitments. His problem is that he doesn't have much work and since we have been teaching him he is finding alot more work to do which is good, but now he doesn't have much time to meet with us so hopefully we can get this all figured out. But he is good. Antonia the little girl, she will probably si o si get baptized but it is hard to teach her. She gets all shy and nervous and doesn't talk during the lessons which is difficult to know if she understands or has a question. But she will get over it. I found out that if I joke around a little more it opens her up. So we will get her progressing faster. Caroline is probably the best, she is progressing so fast. She is excited super stoked for her baptism. She wanted us to describe excactly how it will be the day of her baptism. She is super happy and excited and has a testimony which overall puts the icing on the cake. Dalenka will be the hardest but she also is progressing slowly. She has alot she needs to change in her life, is willing to do it, but doesn't want to be rushed which I understand when you are 17 yrs old. I told her we are not asking her to change her whole life in a week. That we are not going to force her to do anything and that everything is on her time and schedule (which she liked to hear). She said she likes listening to us and that she thinks we are funny :)

Elder Tognetti and I are doing great. He is legit. I told him you invited him to see dads star trek collection and he said him and dad are going to become best friends after the mission. I told him dad is kinda a nerd as well jajaja. He is tight. That is tight that the people in Malloco still remember me. He is still in Malloco now with Elder Florez my kid! I actually a little bit ago got some letters from some converts and families in Malloco. It feels so cool you know? to know that you have made some kind of positive impact in the lives of people.

(The 'he' Alex refers to is Elder Connor Wilcox. I had told Alex about an eamil I had received from his Mom a week ago. She told me that during their Christmas call her son had told her that in the area he is serving EVERYONE always talks about Elder Leavitt. The families and many of the investigators all LOVE Elder Leavitt. They say he was just the greatest missionary and that he was super funny. Alex & Connor never knew each other before the mission even though they probably only live about 10 - 15 mins. away from each other. They were in different stakes and different high schools. His Mom & I became friends on the Missionary Mom's group. We have met once.)

Those were the zone ties of and it was taken in the stake center of Republica, me and Braddy have the district leader ties haha. The pictures I took and sent last week were not from my pension but just some building in my sector. It's pretty dirty huh? My sector is the most dangerous sector in our mission and probably all of Chile. It's run down. In the summer yes everyone leaves the city and its terrible jaja but since our sector is giant I don't think we will have a problem teaching. We still have Hermanas that do our laundry and we have lunches every day without problems if not I have a couple of Hermanas here that say that I am their son and will always feed us if we need it jaja. Ya send some updated pictures that would be tight :)

Well family I just wanted to say that I am happy. The mission is amazing and it has changed my life. I have changed so much. I have such a better outlook on the stuff I want to do with my life. But the biggest change is that I feel so much closer to Our Padre Celestial. I know he loves me. I feel like I know him so much more on a personal level. I have fallen in love with the scriptures. I have never had a relationship with them like I do now and I can't believe I had missed out on this for so much of my life. We truly can understand our Father in Heaven more clearly through the scriptures. I Love this work and how I feel so much closer and feel like I understand how Jesus Christ feels for us. One can learn to love so much easier by serving and working for others and for God. I just love it here. OK guys I need to run so I will talk to you next week :) I love you and pray for you every night.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 73rd email from Chile 1/9/12

2012-01-11T15:47:00.000-08:00

Hola Familia!!!!

This week was AWESOME!!!! Last Sunday some random dude showed up to church literally looked like a bum off the street. Well with a little investigation his name is Juan, and is the brother of one of our members. So we asked if we could come visit him some time and he said sure. Well he now has a baptismal date and is so legit. He came this last Sunday as well and is progressing so fast it's awesome. Working in two sectors is crazy they are so big. We are trying to plan a ton of different divisions with members and what not so we can work both equally and not let one die, which is hard because we are having so much success in my old sector. The majority of our appointments and what not are on that side but we are working well and in fact set a fecha in the other side with the wife of an inactive member we found her name is Caroline. She came to church for the first time this Sunday and loved it! We are being super blessed cause we have set 3 baptismal dates this last week!! The other fecha is a girl named Dalenka, and is the cousin of Dary that kid we are always working with. Basically we decided to visit the members a ton and try to get their support which is necisary to have working in such a huge sector and it has payed off! We set 3 fechas last week and we are planning on setting one on Tuesday with the daughter of a lady in our ward who just never got baptized. We were looking at our wards list and just saw this girl never got baptized. How does that happen? So that will just be a baptism for us. It's crazy how much luck we are having.

Just so you know a little bit. Elder Tognetti is awesome. He is a straight up Baller. I love him. He is one of the biggest nerds I know. He is a Treky dad would love him. He has seen every Star Trek movie and almost every episode of every Star Trek. We have had some cool conversations. You should have seen his face when I told him I like Star Trek as well hahaha. I don't come off as the Star Trek type he told me haha. Elder Tognetti is the most patient and humble person I have met in my life. And I am not kidding he is amazing. He has that gift and to the extreme. He is a stud and a stand out guy. He has 8 months in the mission and is just legit. Like I said he is from Iowa.

Elder Leavitt & Elder Tognetti

On Sunday we had four investigators in the chapel which was awesome!! Elder Tognetti was so happy he said that was the most he has ever had in the chapel. He is really happy with the success we are having. We had 9 MAC!!! which was legit. That;s when a member is in your appointment with you. So when the missionaries meet with Oliver in the house that is a MAC and every missionary wants that.

It was really funny, Dary our buddy who always helps and leaves with us has an austistic brother. I love their family and when I first got there, Issac the austistic kid, did not like the missionaries. Well now we are friends well him and I at least. We always play together and we have our own hand shake as well haha. Well on Sunday this other little kid came over to play with me, i am always playing with the kids, well Issac saw this and was not happy. He came running over took my hand pulled me away and started playing with me haha. His mom loved it and was like "looks like Issac got jealous." I thought it was cool.

On Thursday President King randomly decided to come to our District meeting and sat in on my class!!! Well luckily it went super well. He actually complimented my class and the examples I used and said he loves my animo! It's like Love/energy/excitment for the work. I did a class on goal setting and being better and what not.

I did get the RS package and I have been planning on writing but I am soo swamped! I have soo many cards to write you don't even know. That joined with DL work and two sectors I am just dead everynight and want to sleep. As my white elephant gift I got a US flag haha. Hopefully you can tell that the work was way better than last weeks. I am pretty sure that this is only a temporary change. I think that next change they will bring in two other missionaries. Elder Braddy is the other District leader still! And I only have 1 new one Elder Brow from Baker California. He is legit! In our pension it's only me and Tognetti now since they took out the other sector. Hey mom can you send me a pulled pork sandwitch recipè. I have had a craving for like a sloppy joe type thing and then I remembered pulled pork sandwiches and I have an hermana here who likes to cook and wants to try something new so if you could get me a good one I could be eating good here haha.

I'm guessing this is the view from his pension (apartment)

Well Family I love you a ton and I can't wait to hear from you next week. It is insane how fast the time is going. I am really enjoying my time here and we are working hard!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 72nd email from Chile 1/2/12

2012-01-09T17:28:00.000-08:00

Elder Leavitt's District & Elder Braddy's District at the Mission Christmas Party.

I love how they all got matching ties :)

Hola familia!!!

So this week was hard. We worked really hard but we were not able to do much. Nobody wanted to meet with us haha or if they wanted to they couldn't and said come back in a month! Well what can you do right?

His Pac12 t-shirt from Alycia & Trevor.

The excitement on his face says it all.

So funny, story last Monday I lost my companion. We were in the metro luckly we were with a group. Well we were all walking and my companion didn't tell anyone he was going to put money on his card. We were all talking and just kept going, got on the train, and then I was like "wait where is my comp?" When I realized that he wasn't there the doors closed! So I got off at the next stop went with Elder Sosa back, had the others get off and search the next train for Carcamo. Well he was on the next train and we met up again it was insane.

Some candy we sent him in his Christmas package.

Well like I said this week wasn't to strong numbers wise but it was still a good week. On Thursday we said goodbye to Rocio. She is going on vacation until March. I don't know if you remember but Santiago kinda shuts down during summer everyone leaves. But ya insane, so we both said goodbye because there is a chance none of us will see each other again before she comes back sad :(

On Friday we got the call Elder Carcamo has changes and they are shutting down the sector next to me and I am getting Elder Tognetti as my companion. I have been living with him for the last 3 months so we know each other really well we are excited to be together. He is from Iowa. We are going to have alot of work on our hands our sector is giant now.

Saturday we didn't do anything special. We had to be back in the pension at the normal time. Here in Chile they do like nothing for New Year's, and they only have like one firework show in all of Santiago, and so from our apartment we could barely see them so we watched those and then went to bed. Then Sunday we did our goodbyes, well part of them, today we are doing more goodbyes for Elder Carcamo.

We haven't been able to meet with Dalenka for Christmas and New Year's :( The basketball jersey got here just in time and I was able to give it to Rocio before she left.

Alex in Rocio's basketball jersey.

Rocio in Alex's basketball jersey he had me send &

Elder Carcamo in the background with the shorts.

Hey mom, so there is an Elder Sosa in my district and he is from argentina from the ward borges. His dad is the bishop there and says he worked alot with and knows President Northcutt.

Alex told us before that you see graffiti all over the place in the city.

Well guys I reaLLY DONT HAVE MUCH TO SAY THIS WEEK I AM SURE NEXT WEEK IT WILL BE (just realized that it was in caps but to lazy to go back and fix it :) love you) more exciting since it is a new comp and sector basically. I am going to send alot of pictures though love you guys and talk to you next week.

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 71st email 12/26/11

2012-01-01T11:27:00.000-08:00

Elder Carcamo's 25th Birthday

Hola Familia!

Ok so I will mention some stuff I didn't say yesterday and that will be it. Won't be a very long letter today. On Monday like you know it was Elder Carcamos birthday. Well on Tuesday I had planned a surprise birthday party for him about a week ago so we had that it was way fun. All his favorite people in the ward were there. He was soo happy and surprised. It was cool because he was having a hard time this being his first birthday away from the family. Wednesday and Thursday I had divisions outside of my sector with Elder Enamorado and with Elder Demayer. They were cool. On Friday we had our mission Christmas party we watched the Christmas Carol that was cool. Everyone was looking at me though because I had sooo many presents and cards sent to me this year! Like I mean I had a ton sent. Mainly candy but some ties and what not. It feels good to feel like you have made an impact in other areas and people remember you.

Elder Carcamo's surprise birthday party

Saturday was when things got crazy. I have eaten soo much this weekend. Saturday I ate 3 meals one at 4ish another at 7ish and then one at 9 ish and we celebrated and opened presents with a family we are really close too. Then in the pension we celebrated latino style and we opened up our presents our families sent us at midnight. Sunday we only had sacrament meeting and we then ate lunch with our bishop and his family and from their we basically went to Rocios house to do our phone calls and then we went home. Needless to say I am tired from lack of sleep and amazing heat.

Mission Christmas Party

We haven't met with Dalenka last week hopefully tonight! The Christmas party was with everyone and it was in La Cisterna right next to Lo Ovalle. I didn't see anyone I knew though sad. Just the four of us missionaries that live together.(I asked Alex if it was just his pension that opened presents up together and when so this is his answer) Normally yes they have Christmas and New Years off from work here in Chile and Christmas is way bigger than New Years.(More answers to questions)

New matching Christmas ties

So to end this I want to do the same thing I did last year and share my testimony with you guys seeing that I don't have much to write. This work is amazing. To think the same thing I am doing here there are thousands of others around the world participating in the work of saving souls. I know this is God's Church, his Kingdom here on earth. I love being a missionary to feel like I am an instrument in the hands of God to help his children come closer to him. The thing I love most about the mission is to see the spirit move into the lives of the people, to see how people can literally change their lives from living the gospel principals. To me there is nothing more special than that. Basically to just sum things up, I know Jesus Christ is our Lord and Redeemer, through Him and his sacrifice we can all be saved, made pure and worthy to live with our Heavenly Father and families after this life. I love being a missionary. I love being a representative of my God here in Chile doing his work and spreading his happiness to everyone.

I love you guys more than you know,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 70th email from Chile 12/19/2011

2011-12-19T21:11:00.000-08:00

Alex included a fun video clip this week. Well, one of the young men he works with a lot actually sent it to me. Thanks Dari!! Look for the video at the end.

I stole this picture from Elder Mlazgar's blog.

I believe this is their zone.

Hola Familia!

I probably have not been so tired in my entire mission as I have been this last week we had such an insane week! But first off on Monday we had a sweet family home evening with a family in our ward that invited their niece to share with us. It was awesome we shared a Christmas Jesus Christ lesson all focused on the Book of Mormon. I don't know if I explained that really well but it was cool. After we played a game and what not, well their neice loved it. Her name is Dalenka and I had the same feeling I had when I first met Rocio. I really feel like this girl is going to get baptized. It wasn't any normal feeling. I don't know how to explain it but we will be seeing her today as well. Oh before I forget, today is Elder Carcamos birthday! He turned 25. I set the alarm for midnight and jumped on him :) I also set up a surprise party for him tomorrow with the Hna Denisse.

On Tuesday we worked like Pack mules. We had an awesome day. Me and Elder Carcamo work super well together. We really don't have a ton in common but we both work very well and like my blessing says that when I focus on the work the differences and faults of my compañero will be less noticible and really now I have gained an amazing friend that I will keep for the rest of my life.

On Thursday we had a capacitacion especial and interviews with President King. He has been so impressed with our numbers and asked how or what we have been doing to have so much success. He said I have grown a ton and have matured a ton since being on the mission. I would like to say I am the same. I just know when things are appropriate and when they are not hahaha but he said he is happy with what I have done and the example I have set for my district.

On Friday we spent the whole day doing the carnet stuff of Elder Carcamo ( basically his chilean ID). But it was cool I got to chill with Elder Champion. Don't know if you guys remember who he is but it was cool to see him. On Saturday we had a choir practise. We are singing on Friday at our mission Christmas activity, and at night we had a talent show Christmas dinner thing with our ward. The missionaries planned everything. Well it was awesome! We have had tons of people tell us that it was the best activity that this ward has had.

And today like I said it is Carcamo's birthday and I planned a pizza party for him with our zone it was fun.

I have not gotten that package yet or the one with rocios jersey. I don't know what the date was with the last blog. I am sorry it has been awhile. They have about the same time off like 2 or 3 months. My neck is fine now. It finally popped yesterday and now I am doing great! Maria is doing awesome. She is reading the Book of Mormon. She will take longer but when she gets baptized she will be solid! I asked Elder Carcamo and Alex Jafek is in a good mission but its north and he is from the south. We are having Christmas Eve with the familia Ruz. The Hermana LOVES me. She says I am her favorite child hahaha. She is awesome. Sunday we have like 1 hour to an hour and a half. And mom don't be worried I have bought your nativity like 6 months ago :) If I see a cool small one I will get you 2 but the one I got was expensive haha no se preocupe I am on top of things :)

Well family thats all I got for you, I love you soo much and I cannot wait to see you on Sunday. I am getting soo excited. Elder Carcamo is excited to meet you guys as well entonces nos vemos and I love you all so much!!

Con Mucho amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

A young man from the ward who works with the missionaries a lot sent this video today. This is what he wrote:

"this is dari he always leaves with us so we made a handshake :)"

Alex's 69th email from Chile 12/12/2011

2011-12-12T22:46:00.000-08:00

I think this may be one of the streets that Alex refers to in his email.

Hola Familia!!

This week was a good one. Starting with the biggest news of all on Tuesday Rocio was Baptized!!! I am So happy and excited for her. It was such a good day, her whole family came and it was awesome after everything she went to go share her testimony and she just said she didn't have words to describe her feelings and started crying and then went down and hugged her mom such an amazing experience. Afterwards we had a little food and get together after at her house. This week I did divisions with Elder Merchan and with him in my sector we set 2 more baptismal dates!! So now we have 4 investigators with baptismal dates!! I am so happy that after we have worked so hard everything is finally starting to pay out for us. We had some good numbers again this week and I am soo tired.

Elder Carcamo, Rocio & Elder Leavitt

Rocio & her family with Elder Carcamo & Elder Leavitt

My neck is killing me! The last three days my neck has just been killing and today I can barley turn my head it hurts so bad. We will see if it improves. If not I will have to go to medico cause I can't work like this.

We have this one investigator I am particularly excited about. The first time we met with her she said make sure this lesson is good because it's the one we will have together. Well needless to say we have had more than one with her :) She has specifically told me she feels like I was sent to her personally from God to share this message with her. She is a hardcore devoted evangelica. Like she does everything for her church and was so set on it she only was going to give us one chance to teach her. Well she has started reading the Book of Mormon and says it seems so familiar to her as if she has been doing it for her whole life. She has progressed sooo much! And I am getting so excited. If she gets baptized she will make a huge difference her in chile. So we will see!

Alex painting for the service project.

On Saturday there was a huge service project for the stake to paint a few streets where there was still earthquake damage. It was way fun I had a great time.

Elder Leavitt & Elder Mlazgar

Yes Mom my missionary stocking is hanging up in our apartment and it is stuffed with candy from a package Kira sent me :) No they have the same Christmas songs here and in English too haha. The only difference here is that christmas Eve is bigger because they have a party all Christmas even and way late into the morning where they party, open all the presents at like midnight, and then sleep all christmas day! haha I don't remember what the typical Christmas dinner is I actually want to say it is turkey. Thanksgiving nothing special happened only that I called my district in the morning to wish them all a happy thanksgiving. Mom I did not get a buzz cut haha it may only be the picture just look at the pictures I am sending you now it normal. Oh hey tell Alycia I am getting her letters weekly now haha and say thanks and I am writing her back. I just have been so tired and swamped I am behind in writing :(

Guys I know this letter is super short but please forgive me. I really do not feel good right now. My neck is killing me and its hard to focus. I will make up for it in pictures I am planning on sending alot. Just know I love you all. I am working hard and I will talk to you all in like 13 days or so on skype :)

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Leavitt

Alex sent us this fun video of him and Elder Carcamo playing with a traditional Chilean toy. Here's a description of it:

El Trompo (Top)

The traditional Chilean top is made of wood and has a metal prong sticking out of the end. String or twine is coiled around the top. Kids will play with their tops in the streets. Some games include trying to keep the top spinning in a defined circle. Others launch their tops and try to knock competitor's tops out of the circle.

Alex's 68th email 12/5/11

2011-12-05T19:26:00.000-08:00

So Alex sent some pictures a few weeks ago after I had already done his post. He didn't include any this week so I'm including some you haven't seen as well as a video that Elder Mlazgar sent his Mom. There is a fun video at the end that Elder Mlazgar's Mom shared with me.

Elder Mlazgar & Alex at a zone P-day picnic.

Hola Familia!!!

I love this work especially when we are working good we had monster numbers this week. We had a grand total of 28 lessons! and we found 17 new investigators and had 198 contacts. All of them above the standard of excellence we have as missionaries and finally our work has payed off and we set 2 new baptismal dates with a couple that live in La Legua!! It was an awesome week but I am soo tired.

We had a hiccup with Rocios baptism. She was not baptized this weekened. Her dad is a cop and he said she could not get baptized if he was not there and he could not be there Saturday so it was postponed for this tomorrow so say a prayer please that all goes well.

Elder Carcamo, Luis & Alex

Part of our monster week goes to the young men of this ward. We have two young men who always leave with us. They are so tight and they will be amazing missionaries one day. We do divisions with them 1 or 2 times a week. I think I will try to make my kids leave with the missionaries one day. I know I did it a little but I should have done it more. This week we had a mission wide fast on Thursday. We fasted because our mission is at the point to take off and Friday we had zone council meetings to see how we can do better as zones and help the mission reach its potential (remembering we are the lowest baptizing mission in South America). It was a good meeting. Saturday Elder Carcamo and I left in the morning to do some contacts. I don't know if I have ever told you about Elder --- before. He is famous in the mission and even more in La Legua. It's thanks to him La Legua is so dead to the missionary work and why they normally hate us. Long story short lets just say Elder --- has 2 kids in La Legua. Well I met the first family that knows him! They were like "Wow! we have not seen missionaries this deep into La Legua since Elder --- 10 years ago!!" So crazy. Well we have an appointment with that family tomorrow lets see how it goes. Well it was that same morning we set our fechas bautismales with Macarena and Antonio. It was actually my first appointment with them. Well we taught them the most important thing which is eternal life, the holy ghost and baptism and then right there first lesson invitated them to be baptized January 14th! So lets pray that they progress and reach their date! I am so excited! President commented about how impressed and shocked he was with our numbers. We have been putting out the best numbers this sector has ever had. We have been working soooo hard!!!!!!!

Alex at the zone activity for their p-day.

Also I got your advent calanders. My district says thanks and Elder Mlazgar says you can be his second mom jajaja. And yes I did also get your halloween one, maybe your thanksgiving one as well.

My ward has normally between 70 and 80 people in assistence but have 600 members so not very active. We are always finding inactives in the streets and what not. My district is good I just have those two missionaries who are not working which is hard because there isn't much I can do. They should work because they want to because if it isn't voluntary you are not gonna have the spirit with you. Like it says in Corinthians "God loves the happy giver¨." YES I FINISHED THE BIBLE IN SPANISH!!!!!!!! I am soo happy and the coolest part I understood basically everything. Revelations everything it was so easy to understand. I am so stoked and I have a seen so many blessings and it has been such a great tool for me as a missionary to have done it.

Ok well that's all I got for you guys this week. Oh Hey christmas is coming up I was thinking we can do our call Christmas day at like 8 my time here in Chile is that ok? ok we'll talk to you next week!

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 67th email from Chile 11/28/11

2011-11-30T09:36:00.000-08:00

Santa looks the same in Chile.

Alex, Elder Mlazgar, Elder Braddy, Elder Carcamo & Elder Sousa

Hola Familia!

This was a good week. Although we didn't have 258 contacts again we still had a decent week. We were just wiped from the other week and now we both are pumped and ready to go for this week. Just a cool little thing, the hottest pepper here in Chile is called the pucha madre and I ate it this last week it was pretty hot but I held my composure way better than everybody else even the latins. I was proud of myself. Hey mom, I was just walking one day in the street and started think about the Turnwall's. How are they doing? I don't know, could you go visit Hermana Turnwall this week? If you do how is Nate doing?

This week we taught Rocio a ton and I came to a conclusion. Mom, she reminds me a ton of you. Obviously I didn't know you when you were 16 but I would say you were probably alot like Rocio. She is awesome and maybe something that helps is that she plays on a all guys basketball team, but its more than that. She has such a strong testimony and has been waiting for the gospel in her life. This week we were preparing her for her baptismal interview and we told her she can't have her belly ring and so she took it out and gave it to us haha. (hey did you get the pictures I sent last week I was having problems sending them. There was a picture of Rocio and me) Well part of the deal is I told her if she gave us her belly ring I would give her something of mine and I know that you probably sent me my package mom but if you could could you send me another basketball practise jersey. I have at least 3 or 4 hopefully but I think she would love it seeing that she plays basketball. Well she had her baptismal interview this Sunday and passed! My zoneleader who did the interview told me that she was the most prepared investigator he has met and that the interview was awesome and Rocio asked me to baptize her!!! I am soo pumped! She is so tight has such a strong testimony and just ready for her baptism. I told her she needs to find Alan and get married jaja My two golden baptisms married that would be tight.

Alex & Rocio

During this week random story we saw a dead guy. He jumped from a 5 story building and we happened to just walk by right after it happened so that was weird. But also this week I had to give my first chewing out as district leader. So that wasn't fun for me but it had to be done.

The district t-shirts he talked about last week.

I think this group is pretty serious about their ball skills. What do you think?

For me it's not weird having a hot Christmas. I have never really had a cold one in my life so I don't know it's normal. We have lost contact with Giovanni :( We have met with like 2 or 3 of our new contacts from last week. Rocio is getting baptized this Saturday and I am pumped! at 1 o clock. No there are no weird bugs here only in the campo but even then not alot there really is nothing here. Elder Braddy yes is still the district leader. Also remember Elder Merchan from Spain, when I was in La Islita? He is the new zone leader here! So we are pumped. I am reading the Bible in Spanish and I only have like 60 pages left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will try and finish it this week. I have not gotten any packeges yet :( hopefully this week.

So I have officially decided that if someone is worthy, giving a blessing is one of the coolest and most spiritual experiences and things you can do. I absolutly love it. I gave a blessing this week to a lady in our ward who had surgery and it was awesome. To just feel like you really are standing in for Jesus Christ, because if he were here he would be doing the same excact thing, healing and blessing the people. To be a vessel of Gods love here on earth is just something I have grown to love and appreciate alot. To literally feel like you are doing his work, the things he would do, trying to help all of his children here on earth work, learn, and progress towards their celstial home where God is waiting for them. I love this work and I am so happy to be here. To be doing the same things Christ would do. Everyone says in the church they want to become like Chirst. Well I think the fastest path to do that is the missionary work. It is something so special and if someone feels they are needing to align their lifes road a little closer to the one Christ gave us as an example, they need to just share the gospel and show the love God has for all of his children here in this world. I am so happy to be a missionary and participate in the Most Important Thing that is happening on the face of this planet which is sharing the plan that God has prepared for all of us to come back and return with him in celestial glory. To reign with him as the Princes and Princesses we are to the most High King, our Heavenly Father. I love you all and pray for you everyday. I miss you, Love you, and will talk to you next week.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alexander Thomas Leavitt

Alex's 66th email from Chile 11/21/11

2011-11-21T11:36:00.000-08:00

The Republica Zone with President King.

Hola Familia!!!

This week was rediculous! La Rocio is doing awesome!!! On Monday she called us and asked us to come over. So we rushed all our stuff to end p-day we got over there and were wondering what happened. Well turns out she couldn't meet with us on Tuesday because she was having the young woman over to her house and wanted to have her lesson with us on Monday! what 16 yr old does that? We met with her like 4 or 5 times this week. She is progresing sooo much!! She came to church and loved every second of it. I am so stoked about her. Her family also just loves us we were walking in the street during the week and a car pulls over and it was Rocio's mom. She was like "hey you guys should come over later tonight" so we were like "sure we will see what we can do." An appointment fell threw and we went over had completos and shared a lesson with Rocio. It is so nice when you have the support of the family.

Well me and Elder Carcamo have broken a record here in Republica. I want to know if there is one for the mission but this last week we did 2 58 contacts! and found 14 news! HOW LEGIT IS THAT??? but I will be completly honest, by Sunday night I was just dead tired. We worked so hard this last week I am so dead. We set some high goals this week and went and got them. It was awesome but seriously I am so tired. We went on divisions alot with the youth in our ward. I left with Dary he is tight. We have a sweet handshake I will have take a video and send it to you guys.

So this last week obviously like I said we did a ton of contacts but we contacted alot in La Legua this week and while we were there we were hearing some gun shots and what not it was pretty crazy. Also we found this family where the grandpa is dying. They let us in so we could give him a blessing. Turns out he listened and was very active in the church and with the missionaries 10 yrs ago. Well he got cancer and the whole family was like "wow you guys showed up at the excact time, the perfect time." The doctors said he will go at anytime and really we were there the last time he was concious and he started crying when we walked in the room. It was such a neat and spiritual experience. Last thing I heard him say was that he was at peace it was way neat. So cool to actually feel like you are tools in Gods hands to help his children be happy and feel his presence. His family was like "wow we haven't even gotten people from our church here and you guys just showed up." so sick!

So the change ended and our new change has begun. Elder Carcamo and I are going to be together for another change. I am so pumped! In fact from my entire district not a single one of us has changes!! Our district name is los encapuchados! Those are the students that fight against the cops here haha. and we made district shirts!!! They are pretty legit. Elder Mlazgar is pretty happy so am I haha. We are going to take the trash out on this next change. Changes are excactly this Tuesday but they tell us on Saturday before so you have Sunday and Monday to do goodbyes.

The email that was sent with these pictures read:

"Enjoy these photos and remember to always raise the banner of freedom - The Book of Mormon"

Dad's last blog was a repeat he sent the graduations again and then when Sarah came home for like a week or something. In the Bible I am now like halfway through 2nd Corinthians

OK family that was my week a ton of work and lots of success I am dead tired but here comes another change hagamos lo!
lets do it!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Leavitt

Alex's 65th email from Chile 11/14/11

2011-11-17T22:19:00.000-08:00

Elder Sosa & Alex in the remains of a car they found.

He said it was burned during the student riots in Chile.

Hola Familia!!

So another great week! So I know God has listened to my prayers! Because I knew Rocio had great potential. She finally came back from vacation and we had an awesome lesson with her. It was cool her mom told us that she really likes me and Elder Carcamo compared to the other missionaries that come by. But After an awesome lesson Rocio accepted a baptismal date!! We went by two times this last week 1st time we set a fecha with her for the 3rd of December and second time we had another awesome lesson. I love Elder Carcamo he is an amazing missionary who is very inspired and has the spirit always with him. He was talking with Rocio and her mom about different gifts God gives us and then stops and says "just look at Elder Leavitt, One thing I have learned most from him to to be happy. I have never seen a happier person in my life and I know that is a gift God has given him, and another is he has a gift to work with the youth and get them inspired and work in the gospel." Elder Carcamo is very humble and patient some of the reasons I love him.

On Wednesday we had President King acompany us for our district meeting. I had to give the Proposal in the meeting and after shared my testimony that is we always remember our purpose as missionaries we will be happy. I have just been happy if you guys couldn't tell and after President thanked me for my testimony and that he loved it. Funny story, in pouch I got a letter from some random girl alyssa gray I think. Apparently she found my blog and decided to write me. Well I wrote back lets see what happens. (Hey mom before I forget Elder Carcamo wants a picture of the San Diego temple so if you could get him a cool one and send it some time that would be tight.) He saw all my pictures and loves the San Diego temple now. Also if you can email Hermana Dorius & Brother Dorius asked me how Brother Riley is doing, the organist player, I told him he moved from the ward a long time ago to like Montana if I remember correctly. I said you know more than I do.

On Friday we had our greenie meeting and it was awesome although the worst timing. I don't know why it was like this, but it started at 1 in the afternoon and ended at like 6:30. I didn't get back to our sector until 7:30 and then there was no work because Chile was playing against Uraguay at 8! So Friday we really did not do anything! lame.

On Sunday morning we went over to Rocio's and made her some breakfast as she got ready and then we went to church! So I was pumped she finally went. She is really starting to do the stuff right. Her mom really likes us haha so it's good she is on our side.

People are not yet leaving. That all starts up the end of January and Febuary when school ends. In the Bible I am almost done with Romans! That's what's up I only have 200 more pages to read!!! Other investigators we don't have many progressing so we are focusing on trying to find more people to teach. I was on a rock at a pond at Parque O´Higgins the whole zone was there and it was cool. In the summer is when all the corn comes out and strawberries and melons. Man we eat so much corn in the summer! This change has gone by soo fast! It's the last week of the change already!!! Elder Mlazgar asked President King if he can stay another change. He doesn't want to leave the district haha. I don't want him to go either.

Buena familia I love you guys so much and I can't wait to talk to you next week!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

P.S. One car we found burned after a student riot, this is Elder Sosa Elder Mlazgar's companion

The rest of the car pictures Alex sent.

Chilean Empanadas - A Delicious Food Tradition

2011-11-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

Don’t leave Chile without eating a classic Chilean empanada. While empanadas in some form are found all over Latin America, Chile offers up its own variety. An empanada is a type of turnover where a thin pastry shell is stuffed with a filling and then cooked before serving. Chilean empanadas typically come in two popular variations: oven-baked meat-filled empanadas and cheese filled, fried empanadas.

Empanadas de Horno

As you walk through a local feria market or see a vendor on the street, you’ll hear cries of “empanadas de horno“. These are oven-baked empanadas. A traditional empanada de horno is also called an empanada de pino.

These empanadas are filled with a meat mixture consisting primarily of ground beef, onions, raisins, a slice of hard boiled egg, a whole olive, and seasonings. The pastry shell is sealed up and baked in the oven.

Recipes vary so don’t be surprised if you taste a something different in your empanada. Empanadas de pino are typically large enough to constitute a meal even though they often are served only as appetizers.

The first time I ate an empanada de pino I bit down on the whole olive (pit included) and nearly broke my tooth! Use caution when eating fresh empanadas as they will be really hot inside.

Cheese Empanadas

Cheese empanadas are simply cheese inside a pastry shell and then fried. These are so easy, you can make your own cheese empanadas. Since these are fried, you get a different texture and flavor. Cheese empanadas are also typically smaller than their meat-filled cousins. So you’ll be tempted to eat several at one time.

Variations
As you travel around the country, you’ll find different variations of the empanada. Look for seafood empanadas or whole wheat empanadas in more trendy restaurants.

Alex's 64th email from Chile 11/7/11

2011-11-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

I'm sure Alex was excited to see this sign!!

Hola Familia!!!!!!

This week was fantastic. Also I have officially decided also that this week has gone by too fast and that the mission is going by to fast. So much has happened this week I don't know where to start. Elder Carcamo and I are working super hard. But it is getting sooo hot here now. The other day it was 32 degrees C I was dying. But ok lets see, So Elder Mlazgar and I went on divisions last week ya, well we were walking and this Hawk was just eating this pidgeon in the middle of the road. I was just watching this happen when we were stepping down from the side walk and stepped in a hole and rolled my ankle!!! I fell right there in the middle of the street pretty embarresing haha. But the hawk was tight. My ankle hurt for like 2 days and now its fine. Also I had TACO BELL the other day!!! I had a crunch wrap supreme. I have missed sour creme so much. It doesn't exsist here and at taco bell was the first time I have had it since I got here to Chile.

Elder Leavitt & Elder Mlazgar

We had a special divosional this week with Elder Snow from the presidency of the 70. It was pretty cool. The whole mission went so I got to see some people I have missed. I also got to take a picture with my 3 kids of the mission. At the divocional they talked a ton about have the spirit and teaching by the spirit. It was tight. I translated the whole thing into English for the senior couples!!!

Elder Leavitt & his three sons:

Elder Florez, Elder Carcamo & Elder Garcia

Also during the week we had a capacitacion especial from president King and it was really good. He taught about working more effectively and focused alot on planning well. During district meeting I got a ton of letters from La Islita from lots of different families saying how much they miss me and how I left a hole in the branch it was cool. (Speaking of which mom there is a Camila who is sad because she has not yet been accepted on facebook)

I don't like La U I like Colo colo but this graffiti is sick

there is alot of graffiti like this in Chile

On Saturday after the divocional Luis was baptized!!! It was awesome!! Adolfo a guy in our ward (Just a quick side note it takes me sooo long to write these letters because I keep throwing in spanish words and have to correct myself ugh!!!!) baptized Luis. His family came who are hard core Catholics. They are not super happy but support his decision to be baptized. But it was awesome. The spirit was super strong and I gave a talk. Sunday he was confirmed and his family came again. His sister was crying so we may need to look into that one haha. We had 5 investigatores come to church this week!!! Which is a lot compared to the fact it was the first time we had some come since I have been here!!! But 2 of them are going to get baptized. They are Colombians but need to get married lame, but they have the desire and shared some awesome testimonies on Sunday!! Soo excited.

Elder Carcamo, Luis & Alex

Giovanni we didn't visit this last week because of all the meetings we had. We will hunt him down this week. In the bible I am about half way through John. Rocio has been on vacaciones and will get home this Tuesday and we are already planning on going to visit her that same day. We have this kid come out to work with us alot. His name is Dari pronounced daddy and he is so tight. He shared his testimony on Sunday just saying how much he loves leaving with us and shared his testimony about the missionary work. This kid you would never have expected this from him but since I got here we have been forcing him to leave with us and now he calls us to see when he can leave. Awesome. I have not gotten any box packages yet. I have gotten a few big envelope ones.

Elder Leavitt & Elder Braddy

MTC buddies on the metro heading to a training meeting.

I just want to end saying how happy I am. We were in the street and I just said to Elder Carcamo and Dari I am so happy right now I don't know why. But really I know it's because I am here in the mission doing the most important thing I could be doing with my life. I get so many comments about how can I always be smiling and laughing. I know I have always gotten comments like that throughout my life but right now I know a hundred percent why I am so happy. To see your impact in peoples lives, watching them accept this gospel, and later be filled with more light and knowledge and change their lives brings me so much happiness. To know I have helped just a little bit in the work of God. I am just soo happy to be here and I feel like I am losing time to do everything I need to do. Well I love you guys so much and I am so happy to hear how blessed and happy everyone is.

Alex on the metro

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

P.S. I wanted to tell you guys this, I am not chueco or crooked it's what they say here for a disobedient missionary. But just soo you know and can get to know what type of music I will listen to when I get home, I love Don Omar especially dutty love and hold ya. Look them up it is tight! And if you are wondering I have heard them in houses of investigators and in the street and have asked people what songs they are. Love you and enjoy!

I decided to look the guy up and here is one of the songs Alex was talking about:

Alex's 63rd email from Chile 10/31/11

2011-11-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

There is a very cool video and sweet story at the end of this email. It's a link - Enjoy!!!

The Anniversary Logo

Alex & Elder Mlazgar

Hola Familia!!!

This was an awesome week. Elder Carcamo & I are tearing it up. Love this Kid. I like how I called him a kid when he is 24 haha. S this week we were blessed with a visit from Elder Zebaillos and it was sick. They talked about how we need to maximize our time as missionaries cause it is short. How we need to have fun and be happy on our missions or what is the point. It was overall a very cool meeting. He also said something very cool, he was at one point talking about the importance of latin missionaries to learn english and the importance for gringos to not forget their spanish. Well he then said that any person that can speak spanish and english can communicate with 80% of the church members and if you can add portugese 90% (ben) crazy eh? I thought that was really cool. When we were at this meeting I found the missionaries from Lo Ovalle, do not remember their names, but I asked them about Alan and it sounds like he is doing awesome. I love that Kid. He is soo awesome and faithful it is ridiculous.

Republica Zone

with Elder Zeballos of the Quorom of the Seventy & President & Herman King

*Alex is dead center in the third row next to the missionary with the red tie

This week I have done 2 divisions with elders and on divisions now with Elder Mlazgar. I love divisions but hate them at the same time. Love them because I get to know more people and missionaries better, but hate them because to really see how the missionary works and give them pointers and advice, I need to go to their sectors and see them work with their investigators ( my opinion) but I hate leaving my sector. I know it's probably bad to feel this way. I don't want other missionaries teaching my investigators. I just don't want something bad to happen which is terrible to think but its like "I am teaching them. I know them. I know how to teach them. I know I work hard in my sector and if anyone is going to mess it up I want to do it." I don't know, those are just my feelings about leaving my sector. I just don't like leaving my work in the hands of other people.

President & Hermana King at the rehearsal for the 50th Anniversary Celebration

Speaking of my sector, last week a guy was gunned down in my sector. The thing that freaked me out was that we were actually outside working at the time crazyness. This sector is so much different from my other ones. Last week this random girl came up to me and my companion and says to me "hey I wanted to say hi to you" So I shook her hand and she was like "no, here in Chile we kiss." I told her we could not kiss as missionaries and she just says "no, kiss me." I said I couldn't and she said "lame" and walked away! I was just like "did that just happen?" This sector is sooo flaite!! I am in the hood. This weekend Colo-Colo and La U played - big time rivals. After the game people were fighting in the street haha. Some old guy was like "hey elders don't take the metro it's too dangerous right now." I thanked him and told him we were not planning on taking the metro that day.

Elder Leavitt, Elder Adair & Elder Braddy

MTC buddies happy to see each other at the rehearsal.

Elder Crowley with the 'peace' sign.

He is our daughter's brother-in-law. He's in the mission that borders Alex's. Small world eh?

On Sunday I did my first baptismal interview as a district leader and guess what? she didn't pass!! So I am not starting off with a good track record. This lady is super repentant, but we have rules, and when it is a certain situation we just have them have another interview with President King. Same day Luis passed his baptismal interview and he is getting baptized this Saturday!!! I am so excited!

Some of the 3000 youth participating in the celebration

The protests have been non-stop since 6 months ago. It started because the students want free studies and the protests are always going on. Halloween we have the same work schedule.

Elder Mlazgar took this picture and his Mom shared it with me.

Our numbers were not as good as last week mainly because about half of our plans fell threw but it was still a good week. We found 5 new and one of them is soo legit. His name is Giovanni. He is like 21 and lives in La Legua. I asked him why he wanted to listen to us and he said because he use to have a friend that is a member and always wanted to know what he believed. I later said "everyone of us has problems and challenges in life and that our message can help us get over them (something like that)" He said "good" because he had a painful experience happen about a year ago and is still trying to get over it. Turns out he had his baby die a year ago so I asked him if he wanted to know where his kid is. He said "yes" and we shared Moroni 8 and talked about the plan of salvation. It was soooo AWESOME!!! The spirit was so strong and it was just awesome.

The district is awesome. We formed a team and played soccer against my ward today. In the New Testament I am in Juan haha John something I don't remember excactly. Ummm I would like to know excactly how everyone is doing. Say "hi" to Frank for me. Tell him we need to play ping pong because I think I can beat him now haha.

I love that the missionaries are participating in this part of the program. I don't even think it's when they sang.

Ok guys, I sent pictures. Hopefully you get everything cause the internet sucks today. I love you all soo much and I will talk to you next week.

LOVE O CON MUCHO AMOR

Elder Alex Leavitt

Here's the link to the video and neat story:

http://lds.org/church/news/chile-celebrates-50-years-of-missionary-work?lang=eng

Halloween in Chile

2011-10-27T07:29:00.000-07:00

Now that Alex is in the city I think he might see stores like this.

Halloween in Chile is a great example of globalization and Chilean’s local adaptation of another country’s tradition.

While Halloween is October 31st in Chile, that day wasn’t always celebrated as such.

In fact, November 1st is All Saints Day and is a national holiday in Chile where people will visit cemetaries to honor their deceased ancestors.

In 2008, the Chilean government, recognizing that All Saints Day was a Catholic holiday, established October 31st as “Day of the Evangelical and Protestant Churches” for those of Protestant and Evangelical faiths.

Despite the days around Halloween being set apart for religious holidays, Chileans have slowly adopted the Halloween practices typical of celebrations in the United States.

Large global companies and their pervasive marketing have accelerated the imagery and traditions of a Gringo Halloween in Chile. This includes large displays and decorations at retail stores across the country.

Today many Chileans go Trick-or-Treating in their neighborhoods just like their North American counterparts.

Chileans will dress up in costumes and go door to door proclaiming dulce o trucowith the hopes of getting some candy for their neighbors.

So if you are in Chile on Halloween, don’t be surprised to see little ghosts and goblins wandering the streets.

Alex's 62 email from Chile 10/24/11

2011-10-24T12:17:00.000-07:00

Elder Mlazgar & Elder Leavitt

Alex forgot his camera this week but Kim Mlazgar sent some pictures and I have a video from a different mission blog I will include.

Hola Familia!!!

I had a CRAZY WEEK!!! To start it out you know how I have seen my fair share of public urinating? Well I think I just topped it all off. I now have seen everything. The other day this girl was peeing by a tree. I say girl but it was like a 15 or 16 year old girl peeing!

So on Tuesday Elder Mlazgar and I went on divisions and it was awesome. I am pretty upset cause I forgot my cámara and I was going to send pictures to you guys. But it was way fun we did alot of contacts talked alot and had some good appointments. The kid is a stud. While we were on divisions a guy almost robbed me!! This dude just comes up behind me, puts his arms around me and starts feeling my leg. He askes me if I had a phone I told him "no", then a grabs me wrist and looks at my watch and asked me what type of watch was it. I told him I bought it here in Chile for a mil which is almost nothing and then he just leaves. Elder Mlazgar lucked out cause he had his phone and a nice watch on and he didn't even touch him.

Camilo, Elder Leavitt & Sebastian

(this was posted on his facebook by a member in Chile. I'm assuming from their t-shirts this was taken at the 50th Anniversary Celebration)

OH! we saw all the carabineros (police) just lined up with protests shields and everything ready to fight the students it was awesome!!! So I told you all that I have La Legua which is the most dangerous part of Santiago right? Well Elder Carcamo and I have started to go in and contact it up. I just felt like we should so thats what's up. We found a couple inactive members who have been inactive for like 15 yrs and we found a couple of new investigators in there. It's so insane it's like walking into a different world. There is a huge wall that just seperates it from the rest of the city so you have to walk in just super obvious haha

I can't remember where I got this picture from. But this is at the 50th Anniversary Celebration with some of the youth he knows. I'm sure this is after when they all stormed the field. He is holding one of the props from one of the dances.

This week was just amazing. We tore it up we had overall the best numbers for this week in our district. We found 8 news in total we had 26 lessons in total and the standard of excellence for the mission is 20 in total. And best of all we set a baptismal date!!!! His name is Luis and he is super legit. We were with him yesterday and visiting with his family. His mom was like "he is only baptizing himself in your church because he likes you guys and the members." Luis turns to his mom and says, "No mom, I am baptizing myself for their doctrine, it's the closest doctrine to what Christ taught that's why I am getting baptized." It was way awesome!!! Basically in Spanish we are "sacando la mugre!" it's a little vulgar but it explains it all :) Elder Carcamo is just awesome. I love this guy we get along soo well. On Friday I had my first leadership meeting. We met up in Maipu and had a meeting with all the zone leaders district leaders and president. Remember Elder Braddy? He is from the MTC. We are district leaders together in Republica!!! How sick is that!! So we went together.

Me and Elder Carcamo have been contacting the heck out of this sector and one time we were knocking doors and this lady had a dog and it got out during the contact and just leaps at me, I kicked that thing so hard in the face! The lady then takes her dog and went inside haha she was not happy with me haha. But hey, I was not about to get bit by her dumb dog haha. On Sunday I went on divisions with the our zone leader and it was legit. We tore it up in my sector at the end we did the whole how did it go thing and his first comment was how impressed he was with my work ethic and how quick I win the confidence of the members and investigators :)

I live in an appartment of 4. My comp and I, Elder Enamorado and Elder Tognetti.The zone was La Cisterna in the ward or sector of Lo Ovalle. I am now in the zone of Republica but in the ward or sector of Carlos Valdivinos. It is actually the last sector of our mission! I am the farthest away from the coast in my mission. Ya we are still working with some of the news we found last week. I am thinking we can set another baptismal date with this girl we are teaching named Rocio so say a prayer for her this week. This week was good. We had 80 people at church this ward has 500 inactives!!!! insane!!! I am in Republica Zone and we do a lot of zone activities. Today we went bowling!!! It was sick I bowled a 148. I was very proud of myself. They don't have different accents or dialects the only thing that changes is that in different parts they use diffferent saying and different words thats about it, or at least what I have seen.

Well guys I am working like crazy and with Elder Carcamo we work super well together and get work done. I am way tired though UGH! I just pass out at nights. well I love you all a ton talk to you later!!!

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Alex Leavitt

Here's the video link hope it works. If you look at the bottom row/first row of missionaries and count about 6 in from the end towards the middle and then go up about 6 rows you will see a missionary in a bright orange tie. That is Alex. You can see him from .02 - .15 on the video. At about .14 a missionary walks into the row in front of me and stands in front of him the rest of the time. At least we can see him that little bit. I swear I can hear him singing!!!! :) (This was obviously a practice and not the real event)

50 Year Celebration Singing Missionaries from Mary Ann Essig on Vimeo.

Alex's 61st email from Chile 10/17/11

2011-10-17T16:25:00.000-07:00

Can you spot Alex?

He's about 4 rows up, bright orange tie, turned sideways talking to the Elder next to him. There is a sister with blonde long hair in front of him.

Hola Familia!!!

Wow, where do I begin? Well Monday I finished saying goodbye to my branch. I am not gonna lie. I have never felt so loved by a group of people in my life other than my family. Everyone was crying when I said goodbye. On Tuesday as I was waiting for the bus I got a phone call from President King. He was like "hey I forgot to call you last night but I would like you to be District Leader in your new sector". So now I am district leader crazy eh?

I am now in Republica, in Carlos Valdivinos. My apartment building is on the street Mozart and it's like 200 something. I will try to get a better and more precise direccion for you if you can't find it. My companion is Elder Carcamo he is from Peru and is a greenie. My last 3 companions have been greenies. I have 6 months of training! His original trainer was Elder Sellers my old companion but he finished the mission last change. Small world. Elder Carcamo is awesome and is a super obedient and hard worker. Now all I am trying to do is teach him to have fun at the same time :) haha My sector is relativly big but I am now in one of the, if not most dangerous sectors in our whole mission. As soon as I heard I had La Legua I was like "I was wondering when that part of my setting apart will kick in when I feel like I need to get out of an area and protective angels and what not". La Legua is the most dangerous part of Santiago. The police don't even go in there. But I told Elder Carcamo I feel like we should go in so this week we are going to go hit up La Legua. No missionaries have gone in there for a long time and it takes up about a 3rd of our sector.

My District is AWESOME. I have such a cool district. I am the oldest by far. I am the only one who has more than a year. I didn't know any of them before either. Mom I think I am famous in the mission because of you. Our mission is super young and at changes I kept having people saying "Hey! you are Elder Leavitt! I read you blog before the mission!" I guess they got their call, searched the mission via google, and the first thing that pops up is my blog. It's funny you looked up Santiago norte and look for pictures and all my pictures come up. By in my district I have 5 missionaries to take care of, my comp, Elder Tognetti 5 months from Iowa, Elder Enemorado 6 months from Honduras, Elder Mlazgar 8 months from Mesa Arizona, and Elder Sosa 5 months from Argentina. My District is hilarious and I am so happy I have them as my district.

Alex & Elder Mlazgar from his district.

They are about 4 rows up, standing up, and have their hands over their eyes to shade from the sun. They are both looking at something.

My sector super flaite though. We have a bunch of apartment building that are deemed unlivable from the earthquakes so the goverment built little earthquake communities outside of the buildings. Funny thing is the people just use the houses and their apartment to. I always feel weird when I walk into a building when it has a huge sign that says unlivable. Also I got to see a protest! Here in Chile the last few months the students have been protesting a ton where they fight with the police. They want free or cheaper studies or something. One time I got a little bit of tear gas haha it was cool though.

The stadium where the Cultural Celebration took place.

Can you see the Andes mountains with snow on them in the background?

Friday we basically spent all day at the practice for the huge activity on Saturday. Only the city sectors got to go to the practice but the whole mission got to go Saturday. The activity was amazing!! It started out with 3 speakers they didn't talk very long only like 20 mins or soo but Elder Cordbridge talked again. The dancers were amazing the skit was amazing. The soloist was one of my missionaries ward mission leader haha he is just good. I heard the two missionaries were missionaries from the north mission we were in their mission but they were gringos I know that. What white flags are you talking about? I know when Chileans dance cueca they twirl white hankerchiefs you talking about those? When we were singing and right after yes, former mission presidents and some of the earlier missionaries went up onto stage. All of our mission went, the east mission, north mission, some of Rancagua and Vina del Mar went too. There were no genral authorities. I knew alot of the youth who were in it. I didn't see Alan though. I saw Derrick (his sisters brother-in-law from a different mission in Chile)and I saw Jaromy Holland too (a young man from our Stake who is in yet another mission in Chile). Crazyness he is still a greenie. He just got here how lucky is that?

One of the traditional dances from one of the countries.

It was awesome after the activity ended all the missionaries stormed the field with all the youth. I saw families from Malloco, Lo Ovalle, and basically my whole ward from Talagante came and hunted me down. They were all soo happy to see me. It was sooo amazing the whole thing. Only downside was our seats. I couldn't see anything on the projectors or screens so we did miss alot and I couldn't see the stage very well either. But it was amazing. I hope they sell copies I have no idea.

My ward is kinda of an older ward. There are not many youth. My sector has once again 0 progressing investigators so it's to contacting once again but this last week we found 4 new investigators. Doing tons of contacts. It's not as dead as Islita was but it's there. We will just work hard once again. Not anything new for me now haha but now President threw in some other factors, dead sector, training, and district leader. Let's see how it goes. Pray for me I need it. But now I am trying even harder to be more obedient and more diligent. One I need the blessings in such a dangerous sector, but I need to be an example. But I have faith everything will be ok :) I love you all. It's just insane how fast the mission goes. I need to get a move on or it will end before I am ready. Love you all soo much. Miss you guys I am praying for you all.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alexander Thomas Leavitt

P.S. Alex didn't send any pictures this week. The pictures I have I took off of the Chile Santiago North Mission Blog that is kept up by the Mission President's wife. I was thrilled to see Alex in so many of the pictures. I also want to include what she wrote on the blog. She wrote:

"We had a wonderful opportunity to participate in a celebration of 50 years of the mission in Chile. Last Saturday. we started off with a fireside with the Area Presidency, along with a wonderful youth choir. Last night was the cultural celebration and story through dance , music and dramatizations. There were over 3000 youth that participated in the event. Many have practiced every Saturday for the last 3 months. They showed us dances from several Latin America Countries. It was a wonderful evening ending with the introduction of the missionaries who had served in Chile, those who are now serving, and the future generation of missionaries in Chile. Missionaries from the Chile Santiago North, East, West Missions and some from the Rancagua Mission participated. They sang “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” to the audience. It was quite a site to see over 500 missionaries singing! Hopefully, in 50 years, many of our missionaries can participate in a similar event. As you look through the pictures take a good look at the beautiful Andes Mountains in the background. Our mission includes the stadium we are in and into the Andes Mountains.

One of the sweet experiences is the number of missionaries who had brothers or sisters or cousins serving in a nearby mission. They had a chance to get together with each other during the practice and evening event."

We had the opportunity to watch it and it was pretty amazing. We also got to see Alex singing in the choir. It made my day!

The missionaries singing "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go"

I LOVE this picture of all the missionaries

holding up Books of Mormon.

Alex's 60th email from Chile 10/10/11

2011-10-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

This sunset is so beautiful!!

Hola Familia!!!

This week was just fantastic. On Tuesday we had interviews with President King which were awesome. In my interview he talked a ton about how I have progressed as a missionary and what not, basically told me right then and there that I have changes, and then once again talked about my natural skill and ability to work with the youth of the church. He told me I need to keep focusing on that skill and build it up and it will be a blessing for me and for the church in the fufture crazy eh?

This was the week of noche de hogar. Basically every family in my ward wanted to have a noche de hogar with us. Honestly I think we had like one everyday of the week. Although I honestly can say this was the hardest sector for me it has been the hardest one to say goodbye to. And if you have not caught on yet Yes, I have changes. More than anything I will just miss the families here they are all so amazing. I have gotten super close to like 4 or 5 families in the ward that basically are calling me like everyday of the week cause they want us to come over and visit them. One of them is the family Gomez who took us to the mine and we reactivated them. The dad Miguel yesterday as I said goodbye to them took me aside and told me I was the best missionary that has every knocked on his door. I know it's not true but it meant a ton to me. I love that guy, we have worked super hard together. It's just I have not gotten so close to a branch or ward as I have this one. But like another family said it just means that in another place more families are waiting for me and its true God needs me in another place. I am going to finish my goodbyes tonight.

On Saturday we had the divosional for the 50 years of the Chilean missions it was pretty sick. Crazy that you guys got to see it. It is this Saturday where we are having the party. And All the missionaries get to go!!! How sick is that?! In fact our mission is going to sing "I'll Go Where You Ask Me To Go." But it should be awesome and if you can watch it look for me. I am going to wear my shiny orange or salmon tie that I wore for my farewell talk.

Basically this has been a week of thinking and pondering on the time I have had here in La Islita. And I am happy with the work I have done. And that is the best thing I can do no regrets rights? I have accepted the fact that I am a reactivating missionary not a baptizing which is just as important. But as of right now I am just praying for a legit compañion.

Isn't this sunset AMAZING?!!! You can see the vineyards.

I don't know where I am being transferred yet. I will find out tomorrow. As of right now, all I know is that I am being transferred. President could call and change that but lets hope not haha. I will be able to say goodbye to everyone I want to. They changed the transfer system up. Now we find out Saturday and have Sunday and Monday to do goodbyes. Before they called Sunday at night and we only had Mondays. Jose and his mom didn't come to church Sunday for their interviews sucky. So the minimun their baptisms will be put on hold for another week. Umm Christmas wise I have no idea what I would want. Just be sure to put in a good amount of candy :)

Ok family I love you all and will talk to you next week.

the pictures are of me and Elder Chase chillin on divisions, and then me in my sector in La Islita with a sick sunset.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex & Elder Chase.

This must be at Elder Chase's place because Alex's room has

pink cinder block walls an no carpet on the floor.

I had an email from Sis. King this week. I will include a paragraph from that email and three sweet pictures she shared with me :)

"We just had interviews with Elder Leavitt this last week you should hear him speak Spanish he was even interpreting for me. He is so much fun and always so happy he gets along with everyone, we all love Elder Leavitt. He showed me his nephews so cute so proud."

President & Hermana King

Alex with his nephews
So for family home evening Kira & Justin traced Landon & Evan's bodies so that Alex could see how much they've grown. The boys colored them :) Kira wasn't too thrilled that Evan insisted on having a gun in his hand and Justin was more than happy to oblige.

Sis. King labeled this "Group Hug"

Chilean Completo – The Ultimate Hot Dog

2011-10-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

Once you eat a Chilean completo, you’ll find it difficult to eat a regular, boring hot dog again.

The completo literally translates to “complete” and is everything the name describes.

While there are variations of completos, the basic version consists of:

1. A large hot dog roll, about twice as thick and long as the whimpy store-bought hot dog buns I ate as a kid.

2. A typical hot dog, usually cooked in boiling water.

3. Diced tomatoes spread across the hot dog.

4. A generous helping of smashed avocado (palta).

5. Too much mayonaise to resonably fit on the roll.

Completos can also sport some sauerkraut or chucrut.

Regardless of the topping, the completo will be the messiest thing you eat all week. The toppings outweigh the hot dog by a significant margin and almost overpower the roll which holds it all together.

I purchased my first completo from a street vendor and ate it outside trying to stand such that the mayo and avocado which oozed out with every bite would drip on the street and not my clothes or shoes.

Ask the locals near where you live or are staying where to get the best completo. They may just point you to a street vendor with a small kiosk. You’ll find yourself trying to wrestle with something that seems too large and messy to reasonably eat, yet is indescribably delicious. That is the Chilean completo. Enjoy!

Alex's 59th email from Chile 10/3/11

2011-10-04T07:40:00.000-07:00

Alex at the mine. Look at the clothes in the background. Does someone live at this abandoned mine?

*Just a note; Alex sent another little email saying their mission address changed again. That's the third time since he's been out. I updated it here on the blog so if you are mailing anything please take note.

Hola Familia,

This week was amazing!!!!!! This week was just fantastic. I don't even know where to begin. On Tuesday we had an awesome lesson with Rapheal. He is just progressing so much. Hhe is reading the Book of Mormon asking good questions and praying. He is just a champ and I am soo happy for that family. Our days are just soo full now. Everyone wants us to come over to their place. Especially now because everyone knows that changes are close and that I have a 99% chance to have changes. We litterally just have everyone calling us to see if we can come by.

Alex inside the mine.

This last week though, one of the highlights was that we now have 2 investigators with a baptismal date!!! How awesome is that? There are a mom and son whose dad is a a less active member we have been working with!! Their dates are for the 16th of October so I am really happy and excited for them.

On Thursday we had a meeting with President King where we learned about how we need to better focus on the spirit of the story of Joseph Smith and how we need to better relate his story to the feeling and situacion of the people here in Chile. It was a rather neat class and I enjoyed it alot.

Some pretty flowers growing randomly at the mine site.

Have I mentioned just how tired I am. I am physically drained everynight. I use to to be able to come home and chat with the other Elders but now all I want to do is go to bed as early as possible. I am just soo tired.

We also got permission to go to the fondas or the fair! It was cool but I am telling you there are rides there that are deffinantly not legal in the States. I felt like I was going to die on some of them. Hopefully I can send you some pictures next week.

In front of the opening to the mine.

But conference was amazing. We saw all of the sessions including the preisthood session. We all went to the stake center in Talagante. All the gringos watched it in English in our gringo room :) Conference was amazing. One I liked how they talked a ton about missionaries and missionary work :) and two it was just all around amazing and all the talks were great There really is no point in me writing what I liked about conference because I don't have time but I will leave it at that I loved it.

Elder Merchan loved the basketball jersey. As far as I know with Carolina everything is working out with her work. She just moved out of her old place and I think is working on moving over to her new one and rafeal is doing awesome. Yes, we can go to the temple with the families that are getting sealed but I will never have the chance. I have never baptized an entire family :( With Miguel we are talking about them getting sealed and they are working on it they are doing awesome also. I sang with Elder Chase and Hermana Chelson and we sang in Spanish.

The thing that hit me most at conference is how we need to always be worthy. In everything we do being an example to the unbelievers. Elder Holland talked in the priesthood sessions about how the missionaries need to be worthy because we cannot be hypocrites teaching people to repent and follow the commandments when we are not. I don't know I just found it one of the main themes in this conference and it hit me pretty hard how we need to always be watching ourselves and make sure we are giving our best effort always.

Well family I love you all and I will talk to you all next week.

Love,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 58th email from Chile 9/26/11

2011-09-26T21:29:00.000-07:00

Be on the look out for a lot of pictures at the end of the email. I'm not even putting them all in. I'll save some for days when he doesn't send any.

A sign at the mine where the Elders went for p-day

Hola Familia!!

So although dieciocho is gone here in La Islita it is still in full drive. Every night this week our branch has been practising their cueca for the huge district activity that was on the 24th. So Elder Garcia and I a couple times dropped by and made our presence known and to see how it was.

The mine on Monday was awesome. I was so happy we went. It is hard sometimes to go out and see historical places in Chile as missionaries and we would have never known this mine was there if we didn't have members who loved us and invited us to go. Chile is the number one exporter of copper and although this was a copper mine back when it was in full bloom Chile is just known for its mines and I think I heard it has one of the worlds largest mines. So all in all it was a neat experience to go and see it. We played in the ruins of the mine and actually went crawling through some of the tunnels they had there it was way neat. I am really glad the family Gomez invited us.

Alex with the Gomez family

This last week we had a sweet zone conference. We had classes on becoming better teachers and what not but guess what? I sang a special musical number in a trio! That was the first time I have every done anything like that and I won't lie I was scared out of my mind but it went awesome and we had lots of compliments. But now I can say I have done some type of musical performance & where you could actually hear me. More than just in a choir type situation. At the conference we received a new mission rule. When we finish the mission we can no longer go visit our converts before we leave. :( Mom I also got your package this last week! Thanks for the chanter grandpa it is frickin difficult.

Talagante Zone Conference

This last week we got a call from Carolina the mom of our three recent converts and she was bawling asking us to come over. Turns out she is losing her flower store and was asking us what to do. So first thing that came to my mind was fasting. We taught an awesome lesson about the power of prayer and fast shared our testimonies and it looks like things are going to be turning out good. She may actually have a better offer and things awesome huh?

Friday we had our last greenie meeting in Maipu it was cool. We had a sweet powerpoint presentation about the family of President King. It was over all an awesome meeting. Also friday night we went to the baptism of Stephanie she basically thinks I am awesomeand invited me to go so I spoke at her baptism and then Sunday I got to take part in her confirmation :) .Saturday we had the huge District activity. We went to a camping ground and the whole stake was there. I won the sack race this year instead of second place like last year and our branch won basically all of the competicions! I lost my voice from yelling so much but it was way cool. Crazy story, so you know how they say serving a mission is saving souls. Well at this activity I saved a life! This lady started choking and everyone was just staring at her so I run over bust out the hiemlich maneuver and she coughed out a fatty chunk of bread and just starts bawling cause she was scared. She did thank me afterwards. So after 15 months in the mission I gave a lady my first hug but it was worth it. Afterwards the lights went out all over chile for about two hours so we ended our day early about 8 because we have rules where if something like that happens we go to the house. So basically we just went to the house and by the time the lights came back it was after 10 so it was a short work day.

Elder Leavitt & Stephanie

Sunday was awesome because like I said I got to be in the circle for Stephanie's confirmation and then Miguel the dad of the family who took us to the mine asked me to be in the circle when he recieved the priesthood. We have worked with this family sooo long to get them reactivated and I love them so much. They always want us to come over and we got them talking about be sealed :)

In the Bible I am now in Mathew 5. Oh that's right I finished the OLD TESTIMENT!!!! I am so pumped and so happy. I have learned so much and i have found it soo useful for me here in the mission. Most members in the church have not read the bible, only the Book of Mormon and that is awesome but we forget that the Bible also is scripture and when we talk with our friends normally it is only the Bible they know. I have been able to connect and use the bible so much more and more sufficently. I have found the blessings of reading it really helping me become a better teacher.

Rafeal is doing awesome. He is praying and reading all on his own. He asked US how he can start paying tithing. He was like "hey it's in the scriptures I should probably start doing it". He is awesome. That family is soo much happier now. I haven't seen them any closer :) Elder Garcia is doing great he really doesn't want me to get changed haha and he says "Hi" back.

Well family I love you all so much enjoy the many pictures I am sending and I will talk to you next week.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Mote con huessilo. The drink I didn't like and now I do :)

This is to show you how all the houses have Chilean flags and I mean every single one!

Me flying a kite.

These are the ruins of the mine and me on top.

Elder Leavitt & Elder Garcia

2011-09-23T07:34:00.000-07:00

Alex in front of the sign that is no longer there. He sent this picture to us while he was in the MTC

(Missionary Training Center)

So the other night I had a dream that Alex came home. We were all so happy. He was happy and there were just a lot of smiles and hugs. I don't know why I had that dream. Maybe because Fred and I were talking about his mission the night before and I went to bed with it on my mind. Who knows? All I know is that it was the first time I have dreamed about him coming home since he left. I did notice on Sunday in our ward bulletin that he is the next boy to come home even though it's not until June. That was a little freaky when I realized that. The next morning I woke up to an email from my Missionary Mom's group I belong to and this video was attached. I watched it twice and bawled. I'm starting to tear up just writing about it. Why would I watch it twice right? I couldn't help myself.

As much as it's been easier to have Alex gone than it was Brandon & Ben, two years is still a long time and just recently I've been really missing him. Maybe that's another reason why I had that dream. It's been easier with Alex gone on his mission because technology has improved so much. He will send home pictures in his emails almost weekly. With my other boys we had to wait for months for pictures to come in the mail. It's great to be able to see him consistently. Salt Lake now allows skype for Christmas and Mother's Day calls. It is so wonderful to be able to not only talk to your son but actually see him where you can interact with him. It's also amazing to meet his companions that you will most likely never meet. We've also enjoyed meeting some of the members. We truly are blessed with the advancement of technology, but even with all of that you still miss your boy here and there.

The day we dropped Alex off. There were large crowds of families waiting to get their picture by this sign.

We have had three completely different experiences dropping our boys off at the MTC. Brandon's was different because the MTC was under renovations, Ben's was the norm until the norm changed (I really need to write down the differences in another post). The experience we had with Alex is the one they show in the video. This is now the norm for dropping missionary's off. They have you drive up and they direct you to a sign and a spot on the curb. You say your good bye at the curb and then your missionary walks away with another missionary who guides him to where he needs to go. I actually prefer this way to the old way. They allow you as much time as you want to say goodbye. You aren't competing with all the other weeping, wailing, laughing and talking of a room full of people. It's more intimate and private and I really liked having that time just to ourselves.

Us girls hugging Alex good bye. It really didn't hit me until we were on the freeway leaving Provo. You can see the missionary helping Alex patiently waiting in the background with Alex's silver/gray luggage.

This video made me sad that we never took a video of Brandon or Ben and that we never took one of Alex when we dropped him off. When Brandon & Ben came home we were all just so excited that we were lucky we remembered to even take pictures! The thing I don't like about taking a video at certain events is that I feel like I miss out on the moment. I think I will be happy just to get pictures of Alex unless we can talk someone else into taking a video for us. For now, I can enjoy this video and know that that I have experienced this twice before with my boys and I look forward to that sweet reunion again with my Alex. We are so proud of him and the service he is rendering. We are proud of the man that he has become. We are stronger in our faith because of his service and example to us. Alex I love you more than words can express!!!

Love your Mum xxxxooo

Alex & President Rees. President Rees set him apart to be a missionary the night before he was to enter the MTC. President Rees was his Stake President while he was a student at the University of Utah. He is also a former mission president.

All of our family who were able to attend the setting apart. We wish Ben & Kira could have been there but it's hard when everyone gets married and moves away.

Lunch at the Brick Oven before entering the MTC.

Alex & his MTC district all pointing to where they will be serving.

Alex's 57th email from Chile 9/19/11

2011-09-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

Alex climbing at Santa Lucia

Hola Familia!!!

So this week was way fun. Although in most areas the missionary work was dead. As you all know, well maybe not, but yesterday was Dieciocho September 18th Chile's Independance Day, and here in Chile they celebrate it for like a week straight. This is the time of year of Asados, drunken encounters, people having kite battles and the sound of cueca all around you. The cueca is the national dance of Chile. Well needless to say not many people wanted to talk to us this week and probably this next week either. But ya overall it was still fun this week.

On Tuesday I had divisions with Elder Chase a greenie from Georgia who is awesome. I love that guy. I would love to be comps with him in the future. We had an awesome day. I was in their sector and we tore it up. The best part was that we got into a ladies house taught the first lesson and the spirit was so strong we set a baptismal date on the very first appointment and she wants to be baptized how cool is that? We decided that Elder Chase and I are the same person but from different coasts. On Wednesday we went back to our companions and I was back in La Islita.

Alex at Santa Lucia

This past week our ward has been practising the cueca everyday for our huge activity on the 24th. I am excited for that. I have learned the cueca basically so thats cool but I am terrible at it so don't ever ask me to do it for you guys. Thursday we had division within our branch. OH! about the divisions i went on with Elder Chase. Elder Garcia and Elder Grow thought it would be funny to go by the members houses and tell them I had changes and didn't have time to come by. Well about 5 different families cried when they heard I had changes. Carolina the mom of Mark and Sebastian had to CALL me and hear my voice to believe them and feel better that I wasn't gone. At least I know I am loved here.

On Friday was when all the huge festivities started. Right outside of our house our little neiborhood had a huge block party. Us four missionaries made our presence but couldn't stay long due to bedtime rules and what not. But it was way fun. That party didn't end until 5 in the morning, I know because the music was blasting!!! Saturday we had a sweet Asado with a family in our ward. Hey Mom question, I have another Utah T-shirt that is black and has the U and everything right? I love that shirt and I have one here in the mission but I am going to give it away here in this sector. I just want to know I have another one waiting for me in the house. I am giving it to this girl who in return is giving me all of her piercings and a tie and the promise to never buy peircings again. Her parents are so happy with me to get her to do this. She has taken all her peircing out and I think now finally the holes all closed. Sunday was the 18th, after church we had an asado for lunch, after we were invited to eat Empanadas, with another family we ate completos, and ended our day with an asado with Carolina and them. I am still full. Today we were celebrating another day off here in Chile with the family Gomez and are going to a mine. I am pumped haha. (I thought you'd enjoy the comment Fred made when he read about the mine, "I hope they don't have a cave and trap him down there for three months.")

A statue in Santiago?

In the Bible I am close to ending Habakuk. I am so close to finishing the bible its crazy. Mote con Huesillo is the drink I didn't like. I am actually starting to like it now weird. I guess it all depends on how old the peach is. I actually have fotos of the drink but I forgot my cable and can't attach fotos so next week. Jose has disappeared. I am really sad about that. Rafeal is doing great!! I am so excited about him. Transfers are the 11th of Octubre. To email I think if I remember correctly we have like an hour and 10 or 15 minutes. My shoes are in excellent condition I have taken very good care of my shoes. Something I find very cool is during the month of September litterally every house in Chile has the Chilean flag waving it is really neat and real cool.

So I was sitting on the bus and I realized that I have been here in Chile to see the plants green, give fruit, turn color,die, and now everything is blooming again. How crazy is that. I was like "wow I have been here awhile," then thought about it and at the end of this change I would have spent a fourth of my mission in La Islita! Crazy! Well hopefully this next week we can teach a little more. It is insane to me how a country just shuts down like this haha. I love you and will talk to you next week.

Love,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Got your email mom just in time :)

Alex's 56th email from Chile 9/13/11

2011-09-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

I have a surprise at the end of the blog :)

Alex & his dog Shadow. He's going to really miss her when he gets transferred. I'm pretty sure he's not supposed to have a dog in his room.....oh well

Hola Familia!!

So this week was a good week, first off Mom thanks for all of your post cards haha, and I have yet to get your package but we will see if it comes tomorrow. It has actually been pretty hot lately. It is crazy to me just how quickly the climate changes here. This week we did a good amount of contacting because we have been lacking in people to teach. It went pretty well and we had 5 news this week. The biggest problem is the 18th of September. It was like this last year and it really looks like it is going to happen again. For the last half of September the missionary work dies. Basically half of our contacts answers are like this, “ I would love to listen to you guys but wait until after the 18th to come by to our house: or something close to it. We get so many 18th excuses it is ridiculous. (This is Chile’s Independence Day)

The most frustrating thing about this week was that Jose couldn’t meet with us once this week. So we postponed his baptismal date because we couldn’t teach him the last few lessons he needed. But to make things better we met with Rafael taught him the first lesson and it was awesome. He accepted everything understood everything and seem pretty genuine the whole time. I am really excited about it.

Alex climbing on Pday (preparation day)

Working with Elder Garcia is always funny and interesting. He just says some of the most ridiculous stuff sometimes during contacts lessons ect. We just have a good time together. I have looked back on companionship history and I have in the long run been very lucky.

So basically I decided I am the worst emailer in the world. I forget so much stuff and I feel my emails suck haha but yes there is a huge 50th anniversary party here in Chile coming up soon. Apparently general authorities and everyone is coming. We don’t know yet if us missionaries are actually gonna be able to go or not. I sure as heck hope so. Jose is excellent. The Dad just needs to get his work schedule worked out so he doesn’t work on Sundays.

Elders sitting on a cannon on Pday

Well guys I Love you all so much. It’s great to hear how everyone is doing and that all is good. Till next week

Con Amor,

Elder Leavitt

P.S. Hey mom I am getting to the point where I need to start keeping an eye out for gifts. I have basically an idea what I want for all the guys and you. But I have no idea what to get the girls. Can you ask all the girls if they want Clothes, Jewelry, or Bags and other stuff. Elder Garcia is excellent I love the guy. Slowly but surely he is starting to remember stuff and can say more and more in contacts and lessons. So this Sunday is the 18th and it is crazy to think it was a year ago I was at this date with Elder You. The time has flown by. In the Bible I am in Joel chapter 1! I am pretty excited for to finish the old testament here in a little. It is amazing how much I have learned and how many cool scriptures I know now.

It is so fun to not only see Alex but to hear him :) Even though he may have an accent there are some things that will never change. This is their Pday at Santa Lucia.

Alex's 55th email from Chile 9/5/11

2011-09-13T00:06:00.000-07:00

Kites for sale

Hola Family!!!

Well winter is finally over and spring is kicking in full force. And now once again the skies are filled with the Chilean square kites and the Chilean flags are everywhere. Now I don't know if I have told you about these kites before but they are pretty cool. One you don't fly them normally at least how I was taught as a little kid. It's constant pulling down reeling out reeling in and it's hard. I can't do it. But it's awesome. They are all over the place and the kids here battle their kites. They try to wrap their kite around the lines of other people and burn the string so their kite falls to the ground. For me this is the best part. There is always a group of little kids waiting like vultures for downed kites. Once they see the kite get cut they are sprinting chasing it down and steal the kite from the owner. So basically you do not want to loose so your kite doesn't get jacked. The best part of spring is though it is no longer cold. I now leave during the day in my short sleeve working on my farmers tan.

Kite fighting field

Well this week nothing really new or exciting happened, just the good ole missionary work. Which I am completely ok with. We taught some good lessons, had an awesome lesson with Jose our investigator with a baptismal date for the 17th of September. He is progressing a lot and I am excited for him to get baptized. So is his dad, who is an inactive member we have been working with as well.

I don't want to sound cocky or anything but it makes me feel loved, but everyone in our branch wants to have lunch with Elder Gracia and I. It's nothing special and is probably bad but it makes me feel cool and loved. Elder Garcia is progressing a lot. I am proud of him we just always need to go over the lessons and do lots of practices so he can get down the principals. Man I feel like not much happened this week and that I don't have much to write. Probably the most exciting thing that happened this week was that MArk, Sebastian and Marion were confirmed this week and the Confirmations went great! Elder Garcia messed up the wording the first time but it all worked out in the end. It was awesome and I am so excited for that family.

On Saturday we did another cosechon or as Mom calls it blitz but in the sector of the Hermanas. I was with Elder Chase again and we did really good. We entered a house, a gave a house blessing, and set an appointment for the hermanas to go by. I think it's cool how we do that here. Elder Merchans Greenie is from Colombia. Unfortunately he told me straight up he hates gringos and never wants a gringo companion. But at least now he is scared of me because of something that happened. So I am going to tell you.

So 3 days ago at like 2 in the morning the alarm of Elder Gueto went off. It was beeping for like 5 minutes until one of the two Elder Merchan and Elder Gueto turned it off. But I was already awake and not a happy camper for getting woken up at 2 in the morning, but I didn't say anything. The NEXT day the same alarm went off at 7 in the morning a half hour before we need to get up. It was beeping and beeping and nobody was getting up to turn it off. I was soo mad so I counted in my head till ten then got out of bed. The other two missionaries sleep in another room. I slammed open the door, turned on the lights, found the dumb clock, turned it off, threw to the floor and slmmed the door behind me and went to my bed. Unfortunately when you get woken up its almost impossible to fall back asleep. Later when we were all up I went over to Elder Gueto and said the next time your clock goes off before 7:30 I am going to throw it against the wall and you won't have a clock anymore. He has been very respectful since that day. Now everyone in the pension loves talking about that story because no one has ever seen me mad before haha.

Yes, I do my internet everyweek in an internet cafe, here called cibers. The girls in the foto last week is the youth in our branch. We don't have a single young man in our branch all girls. The baptismal date of Jose is for the 17th of September. Oh Something cool, we are now going to teach Rafeal the dad of Mark and Sebastian. Hopefully we can complete that family!!!

Well guys thats all I can think of for you. Hopefully it is sufficient. I love you all soo much and will talk to you next week!!

Con Mucho Amor,
Elder Alex Leavitt

A little side note about the kite flying/fighting that Alex talks about:

El Volantín (Kite)

Kite flying is a favorite pastime in Chile. Chileans like to make their own kites from balsa wood and tissue paper. These are then attached to large spools of rope as seen in the picture. One competition that people play with kites is to try and cut down another's kite. This is done by flying your kite such that your string wraps around that of another and cuts their line. Real competitors often coat their string in glass to increase their chances of earning a victory known as a commission.

Alex's 54th email from Chile 8/29/11

2011-08-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

The picture says it all!!!

Hola Familia!!!!

This week was awesome. Me and Elder Garcia work a lot. Carolina and her kids who were baptized were out of town so they didn't get confirmed, but hey they asked me to do the confirmations this Sunday! So it will be my first time in my whole mission to do one.

Elder Garcia, Alex, Elder Merchan & Elder Hall

I guess if you were paying attention I just gave it away that I don't have changes. So that means that I am going to finish training Elder Garcia for another change and then leave. But I kinda knew already that I wasn't going to have changes. President King told me once that he wanted me to finish Training earlier in the change at one of our meetings. But Elder Hall has changes so our pension is sad because we all got along crazily. I will miss him but the pension is going to receive another greenie, Elder Merchan is going to train. So basically I had to call my whole branch to tell them I didn't have changes, no one wanted me to leave. Some were actually crying at the thought that I might leave.

Alex the new tennis wonder!

Man I am blanking on what to write I am so tired haha. We were up late last night helping Elder Hall, and we just got done playing tennis. Hey by the way i should have played tennis in highschool by the way I am not too bad. It's way freaking fun I didn't loose once today, just way fun.

So yesterday I had a really cool experience. We were with a family that we have reactivated so they always want us to come over and feed us. They love us. But the Mom asked me if I could give her a blessing of health. Of course I said yes. So I was giving her the blessing and I just felt like it wasn't because she was sick and that the blessing was for another reason and she just wasn't telling me. Well I started talking a ton about the Holy Ghost and how if we live worthily it can help us be stronger and over come obstacles and challenges in our lives and stuff like that. Well turns out I was right because at the end of the blessing she was bawling and turns out her and the Husband had had a huge fight earlier that morning. So I don't know, it's just cool to feel inspired and what not. Its not something you feel everyday you know, just shows the power of blessings.

Elder Leavitt, Elder Garcia & young women from the branch?

So as you know already I don't have changes, Elder Garcia is progressing. He is just learning, we will get there. We have another kid of a less active family we are teaching and actually has a baptismal date!!! so here in this change we should have another baptism so we are excited about that. It was freezing this week as usual, it actually rained the last two days and hailed a little yesterday. Today though the sun appears to be out so that is good haha. In the bible I am in Ezequiel 5 I think but I finished Jeremiah!! woop!

Well family I love you all and hope you are doing all good. I will see if I can send an email with some pictures to you guys. CHAU!!!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 53rd email from Chile 8/22/11

2011-08-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

Elder Garcia, Elder Alex & Elder Hall

Hola Familia!!!

This week was a good one! Except for the crazy amount of rain we had this past week things have been awesome. Basically we have been preparing everything for the baptisms this week. But I will start at the begining of the week

This last week I don't know what I ate but Thursday I was basically living in the bathroom. But now I am all good. This last week it was soo cold it actually snowed in Santiago!!!! First time since like 2001 or something like that it was a big deal but I was cold. Also Thursday we had another meeting with President King. It was all about teaching the Doctrine of Christ and tying it all in with the Most Important Thing (Eternal Life) it was cool.

So every week on Saturday all the missionaries go to a sector in our zone and work for a couple hours. Now this week it was our turn. And we need maps and names from the branch to give to them and usually. We didn't get the maps but we basically just did some quick planning between us missionaries and it turned out good in the end.

Sunday was the big day. Sunday Mark, Sebastian, and Marion and all of their families came to church. After we had a quick lunch because the baptism was at 3:30 and because we have our meetings in a little house we go to the Isla de Maipu for our baptisms. We get there, change, meet the parents of Carolina and her siblings, we took pictures, had some talks on baptism and the holy ghost, the primary sang I Am A Child of God, and than we had the baptismal service. Marion was baptized first by Elder Merchan. Then I baptized Mark, and then Elder Garcia baptized Sebastian. Pobrecito Elder Garcia was so nervouse to baptize he forgot the words and had to do it again. But over all it was an awesome baptism I loved it and everyone else did too. There were actually a ton of people there as well members and non members it was real neat. Then after we had some refreshments. After the baptism Carolina invited us to come over for an Asado and I am never one to turn down some churripan and ribs so us four went there to finish off our day it was awesome.

Sebastian, Mark, Marion & Elder Leavitt

(These are Alex's answers to my questions) Elder Merchan is in the middle mom. He is obviously the one from Spain come on haha. The other on is Elder Hall. I told Merchan you said you are going to send a package with his jersey he is all excited. In the bible I am in like Jeremiah 27 or something like that. I doubt Juan died from old age. He was only like 60 something but he was a raging alcoholic before he was converted. Like you would find him in the streets passed out and was actually hospitalized a couple of times for it. But he was always sick because he just destroyed his body. Sad eh?

Well guys I love you all estoy feliz to hear that you are all doing good. We find out who has changes this Sunday so lets see what happens. I already have like 5 months here in this sector but whatever happens happens. I will do whatever God wants from me. Stay safe I love you.

Con Mucho Amor y Cariño,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex & his dog Shadow. I think he will be sad and really miss him if he gets transferred.

Alex's 52nd email from Chile 8/15/11

2011-08-16T14:46:00.000-07:00

Alex, Elder Hall, & Elder Merchans

Hla Familia!

This week was great! We played alot of soccer today. I really do love soccer. But ya this last week though really was fantastic. On tuesday President King and the assistents came to our district meeting. Funny story, all of the companionships brought something to eat afterwards like juice chips cookies whatever ya? and during the meetings someone came into the chapel and stole all of the food we had bought!!! I was not happy but I was like whatever. After Elder Hall and I had division and it was fun to work in my old sector and visit some families there in La Islita 2. Also during the week we had recieved a reference about an inactive guy whos wife and son are not baptized. So we went by and taught them and now his son has a baptismal date!! and the mom said she is willing be be baptized but more down the line of teaching and everything she will commit. So basically we are going to be having 2 more baptisms on top of what we already have planned so we are really excited about that.

Speaking of baptisms Mark, Sebastian, and Marion are getting baptized this Sunday!!! We are stoked! I am going to baptize Mark, Elder Garcia Sebastian, and Elder Merchan Marion. I am really excited. It was Elder Merchans birthday yesterday so Carolina and all of them threw a party and we had an awesome Asado!!! I love Churripan. Hey Mom, speaking of Elder Merchans birthday his parents sent him some Barcelona Jerseys and he gave me one. It is awesome and I told him I would give him one of my basketball practise jerseys so in my next package you send off can you put one of those in there?? thank you!

On friday we had our greenie meeting. I understood alot more of it than my last one haha but it was cool. It was all classes I have already had and we watched the Holland talk again which was cool. The lunch was the best part. Hermana King made taco salad!!! Some sad news though, I was talking with Elder Diaz my companion when I was in Lo Ovalle, he told me that Juan our convert passed away not too long ago!! CRazyness I don't know why everyone is dying.

But overall I am happy. We are making progress in the sector. We are helping German start his mission papers. He told us last week he wants to go he is 25 and a stud. You might remember him from my last call home. Elder Garcia is progressing along and life is just great. The weeks pass by way too fast.

Mark, Sebastian, and Marion are doing awesome and excited for the baptism. Jessica is slow, she is just lazy and doesn't want to complete with her commitments. When it rains hard the streets do flood and its annoying. Our dogs name is Sombra (Shadow). Ok so to explain the jersey, there are 3 main soccer teams in Chile. I am Colo-Colo and their rival is La U or the U and they use the same U of Utah. Now their colors are blue red and white. The jersey I have is a La U jersey but a practise jersey as you can see it is red black and white like Utah so I bought it haha. In the bible I finished Isaiah and I am in Jeremiah 10 or something like that. Sunday night we had another meeting with Pres King making 3 times the last week I saw him but it was with all the leadership and missionaries in Talagante talking about the missionary work in the wards. It was cool.

Well family thats all I got for you all and hope you are all doing great!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 51st email from Chile 8/8/11

2011-08-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

This is my dog he follows me everywhere, to our appointments and waits for me outside of houses.

Alex actually put some comments with his pictures this week!!

Querido Famila,

This week was a good one. It's the weirdest feeling how fast the weeks go by now. I honestly feel like I was writing you guys two days ago and now I am searching my mind to think of things to write because it is all now starting to blur together but I will give it my best shot.

This last week while playing soccer I got kicked in the face. It hurt so bad and actually broke skin but for the most part it is all healed up so no worries. We started teaching a lady named Jessica. It will take alot of work but I think she will progress. Her husband is an inactive member so it will be a good support for her if we can reactivate him (which is not usually the easiest thing). So I have come to realize that from all of my wards I probably have the confidence of the members here more than any other ward. Just from how much I have been working with in- actives and members trying to help this ward get picked up. Just a little side thought. Tuesday I had divisions with my district leader this week. It was good had alot of visits which was awesome.

Also I was kicked in the face playing soccer. You can't see it too well but hurt a lot.

and a sweet walking shot of me and Elder Garcia on the way back from church.

Elder Garcia and I have been dedicating a lot of our time to teaching Mark, Sabastian and Marion because this Sunday they have their baptismal interviews. So we need to make sure they know everything and understand everything they need to be able to pass their interviews. I am most worried about Sabastian because he has a learning disability so we have to repeat ourselves and focus a lot on him so he can understand everything. But I am confident they will all pass.

I am super pumped because I finally got my scripture covers. Mom those are the ones you said I need to get when that one elder returned from his mission and you saw.

So basically I decided the thing that God wants me to learn most on the mission is pacience. I think every task, challenge or hard time I have had on the mission has been pacience based.

On Saturday we had a sweet missionary activity again. For the next couple weeks every Saturday all the missionaries are going to go to a sector in our zone and just do massive work for like 3 hours. So this week we were in the Isla de Maipu working. I was on divisions with Elder Chase a greenie from Georgia. It was way fun and I liked it alot. Our last contact that we did said "You guys are my Brothers and I love you, so let me buy you food," and he bought both of us each 2 churrascos italianos and pop. It was awesome!!!

Camilo and Hugo didn't get baptized here. At least I know Camilo is searching for the church where the military has based him and I am positive he will get baptized. Hugo I don't know if he will. Our attendance dropped this last week but I believe it had to do with the rain we had. It rained hard this last week. Apparently there are alot of black latinos in Panama and Columbia. I have seen some super black. More black than Elder Garcia from Colombia. In the bible I only need to read like 10 or 15 more chapters before I finish Isaiah and move into Jeremiah. This week I am excited because we have a greenie meeting so we get to go to Maipu and have a meeting with Presidente King and with all the other greenies and trainers. About sending me things I really can't think of anything that I NEED so I don't know. I am pretty low maintenence :)

Ok familia I love you all and hope you are all doing amazing.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 50th email from Chile 8/1/11

2011-08-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

Hola Familia!!!!

This week was a good week for us here in la Islita!! We have had some good miracles happen for us. Mainly I am just happy because finally things are starting to turn around here. We have had two straight weeks with at least 60 people attend sacrament meeting. We had 4 investigators at church this week. The ward is finally starting to work with us, we recieved a bomb refferal last week and I am sure this family will be baptized. On saturday we had a sweet talent show with our ward. It was cool. At times it was a little unorganized but it was fun, everyone had a good time and I was just happy we are starting to have activities to invite people to. I was the ending act and I sang a song of a famous Chilean artist. his name is Americo and everyone thought it was the funniest thing ever and they all told me I did an excellent job. I was very pleased with my performance. I was just pumped I was able to sing a song memorized in Spanish.

Also this week us as a zone we had a sweet activity. The missionaries from the MTC here in Chile came to Talagante and we all went on divisions with them and worked for an afternoon doing visits and contacts. I was with a kid from Nicaragua named Elder Sanchez. It was cool working with these elders. None are coming to our mission but I thought it was an awesome activity.

Elder Garcia has definatly broken out of his shell. He is talking a lot more with the other Elders and with the investigators that he is used to. When we are in contacting situations or in teaching situations he still kinda freezes up and I do most of the talking but that just comes with time and study of the lessons and the scriptures. We have mainly been visiting Mark Sabastian and Marion our investigators that are going to be baptized here in a little. We have been doing lots of contacts I am trying to put Elder Garcia in situations where he is forced to talk because thats the fastest way he is going to learn. When we were waiting for our greenies I will be honest we just ate a lot and had fun conversations with the Elders we dont get to see a lot. In the bible I am in Isaiah 20 something.

Bueno I dont have much time and the fricking internet here is terrible so I got to go and I will talk to you all next week.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Leavitt

I don't know what song Alex sang in the talent show but I thought I would 'Youtube' the artist so you could get an idea of what he sounds like. I picked this one for the 'suave' picture. I can totally see Alex acting all suave :)

Alex's 49th email from Chile 7/25/11

2011-07-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

Elder Florez & Alex

Hola Familia!!!

Hey guys so this week was an exciting one first off on Monday with Elder Florez we did all of his goodbyes. He was sad but you could tell he was excited La Islita is the only sector he knows. It was Tuesday that was tough. Elder Florez is now in Ochogavia a part of Santiago. When it was time to say goodbye he started crying a little bit I love that kid he is an amazing person. I will probably stay in touch and be friends with him for the rest of my life He is awesome and I am going to miss him a ton. I had my trainers meeting, basically we learned some stuff we need to do teach them the normal things we do as missionaries and what not. But guess what! Besides Elder Florez every ex companion I have had in that is still in the mission is training!! I got to see elder Diaz, Elder Madsen, Elder Nielson, I was like hmmm basically this means I am an awesome companion haha just kidding but it was cool to chill with them all for awhile.

After the announcment of changes all the trainers went to the temple. It was awesome! I had not done a session for basically a year I was scared I wasnt going to understand anything in Spanish but it was cool cause I understood everything perfectly. It was an amazing experience and I am excited to do it again in Spanish. When I get back from the mission I think we should have a Leavitt brothers temple session in Spanish. President King told us to be back in Maipu to get our greenies by 4:30 but things happened and they didnt show up until 8! Basically that killed any plans I had made for us in Talagante because it is like an hour or so bus ride to our sector. But! I now have my first born of the mission Elder Garcia!!!! He is from Panama! He is pretty legit and I am excited. He is a little on the quiet side but we will see if that's only because it's his first week. He is the first kid in his family to serve a mission and has a ton of questions. His Spanish is so formal. It makes me realize how bad Chileans are at speaking Spanish. Sometimes he doesn't understand me because there are so many Chilean words and sayings. So even though I have a Latin I feel like I am still teaching him how to speak Spanish but Chilean Spanish.

Alex & Elder Garcia

Our first day together was awesome we went out did some contacts and we found two new investigators our first day! They are awesome, Margarita and her daughter Natalia. the mom Margarita when we ended talking to them told us she feels like God sent us to come find them. I am so pumped to start teaching them. We also ended the day teaching the family I found in my old sector with Elder Madsen and then they moved over and we gave them a baptismal date!!! So now we have 3 investigators with fechas!!!! I am so excited, finally things are turning around here in la Islita!

Just to add to how happy I am about la Islita not being dead. On Sunday we had 6 investigators come to church, and had a church attendance of 60! The most I had seen before was 45. I am just happy right now to see things turning around. It always sucks to be in a dead sector but to see things starting to change is awesome.

So I recieved something cool and a little interesting today in my email. Every week we write President King an email and everyweek we get one back. Usually it is something generic like thanks for all the work keep it up or you are progressing which is good, but this week I got probably the longest email from President in all of my mission. here it is

President King, Alex, Elder Garcia & Hermana King

Elder Leavitt

I am so emotionly moved to hear about the love you and Elder Flores shared. That is awesome. I know he will go forward with that in his heart also.

I hope you and Elder Garcia can develop a similar relationship. I see in you a unique ability to work with the youth of the Church. The Lord has blessed you with that gift. Take advantage of it. You will probably be a mission president some day.

Make every minute count. Good luck with those baptisms and the marriage.

D&C 112:7 Therefore, gird up thy loins for the work. Let thy feet be shod also, for thou art chosen, and thy path lieth among the mountains, and among many nations.
8 And by thy word many high ones shall be brought low, and by thy word many low ones shall be exalted.
9 Thy voice shall be a rebuke unto the transgressor; and at thy rebuke let the tongue of the slanderer cease its perverseness.
10 Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.

Love,
Pres. King

I won't lie I am kinda scared about the part about being a mission President. I know it is not set in stone or anything but I had honestly never even had that cross my mind and it kinda took me off guard. But whatever.

Well family that was my week I love you all. I pray for you guys all the time. I love you and wish me luck with this next week!!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 48th email from Chile 7/18/11

2011-07-18T20:35:00.000-07:00

Hola Familia!

So I have some crazy news for you all. Last night we got the calls about who had changes. Elder Florez will be leaving me. I am going to miss him a ton. Out of all of my companions I feel like we got along the best and had more unity in our companionship. We had comments from our leaders about our companionship unity and how strong it was. But the craziest part was that I had a personal call from President King and I am going to be training this change!! I am excited but pretty nervous at the same time. Some cool things are that I get to go through the Temple and do a session in Spanish for the first time!! I am Pretty stoked. I also need to be in Maipu early tomorrow for some meeting for trainers.

This week we had a another meeting with other zones and with President King. We played jepeordy and it was my zone Talagante versus two other zones and we dominated! Elder Florez got our zone the most points thats whats up! At that meeting mom you will be excited I met that Elder Wilcox from San Diego. He seems pretty tight and I am sure I will see more of him throughout the mission. I went on Divisions with Elder Adlish he is pretty cool a newer missionary from Nevada. It is so weird to call other missionaries newer and what not I am becoming one of the older ones and I still feel like I have been here for such a small amount of time. Its insane! So guess what? La Islita 1 now has two baptismal dates!! Mark and Sebastian have baptismal dates for the 20th of Agosto (I tried writing it in English but i just couldn't figure it out). They are awesome, their mom really only needs her husband to file the divorce papers and then we can baptize her boyfriend and complete the family!!!! I am pumped.

Teaching this week was awesome a little slower cause Chile played twice week. But it was awesome we are working with an inactive family the Familia Gomez. They love Elder Florez and I. During our last appointment with them the hermano prayed that Elder Florez wouldn't have changes. They are awesome and have come to church the last few weeks! And the Dad has plans so he can get the Melchizedek Priesthood and so they can go to the temple and be sealed! Like I said Chile played twice this week. They won against Peru and lost to Venazuela in the quarter finals. There was no work after that loss. We did go to one lesson but the dad was all drunk and depressed so not very effective. This country just shuts down on game days. Tennis was awesome and we played again today. We play with us four in the pension and played companionship doubles. Elder Florez and I just dominate the other two. Then we ended up playing a little bit of singles and I am the king of our pension. I beat everyone. Tennis is actually really fun. In the bible I am in Ecclesiastes something I don't really remember what chapter but ya I really enjoyed Proverbs all it really does is talk about gaining more knowledge and wisdom and what not, pretty cool. This week it rained a ton. It was clear today which was cool cause we were able to go out and play. It should start warming up like the end of Agosto so we still have a bit of winter left.

Buena familia, I love you all, and hey Mom if you can write this down or something or just tell Kira I would Love to go to one of those SMA camps with them when I get back. Ok guys wish me luck with my greenie and I will send you pictures and what not next week of us two.

Chau!!!!

Love,

Elder Alexander Thomas Leavitt

Alex's 47th email from Chile 7/11/11

2011-07-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

Hola Familia!!!

This week just flew by for me and Elder Florez. So lets start at the beginning. First off Mom happy birthday!!!!!! I just want you to know I love you and that I had your birthday written down in things to say before I read your email and you talked about it. So I hope it was amazing. On Tuesday Chile dominated Mexico so I am happy to say that to Ben and Brandon. Justin, Argentina is terrible this year. I don't know why but they are just getting dominated in the Copa America. So I am proud to say to those of us who served Latin missions in our family my country is the best! haha So to answer your question mom, Chile right now is in first place in their group they play Peru tomorrow who are in second. So if they win they will stay number 1 and have a number 1 seed in the playoffs. If not they will land number 2 and have a number 2 seed. I am stoked!

On Wednesday we had a sweet zone conference with President King. It was all focused on MIT the Most Important Thing. Our mission has focused alot on that. That all of our lessons and teachings should in the end come back around and be focused on the most important thing, which is the eternal Life, and the holy ghost. That all of the doctrine of Christ, his atonement for us, this Gospel, we have all of this so that one day we can all participate in the Eternal Life, live with God, Jesus Christ and our families forever. So it was cool.

This week we had another sweet Miracle Earthquake. Hey Mom do you remember that awesome family we found after the mothers day call? Well they moved into this new community last week! More awesome, right next door to our new ones from the other week who want to be baptized and they are actually related! So now we just teach them all together!! It's so cool! On Thursday or Friday, now I can't remember, but Mahonry called me like you already know. It was so cool to hear from him. At first he called me and obviously I didn't know who it was cause it was just some random number. We were talking in Spanish and I was like "who am i talking to to?" Mahonry said "how do you not know who you are talking to?" I said "cause the number doesn't have a name." Then in English Mahonry was like "come on dude its me!" It was so cool to talk to him for just a little bit. Cool to talk to him in Spanish a little bit too.

This week we taught a few of our news (I keep correcting this and putting 'new ones' in but thought I'd leave this one here & the rest in the text for you to see how he writes) from last week. We found 7 more news this week. In the Bible I finally finished Psalms and I am in proverbs. No Mom I am fine with warmth. I have enough sweaters and what not thanks. During the games and everything Chile shuts down. It's insane. There is really no point being out in the streets cause you are not going to get into any house whatsoever. Especially because Chile is playing super good this year. Something cool I found out. There are a ton of Subsole plants here. You know how the majority of bananas in the states are subsole? I am willing to bet they are from Chile. That and whatever grapes you got. Also funny story this past week . The Jehovah Witnesses knocked our door. You should have seen their faces when 4 missionaries came out and started talking to them. We had a sweet conversation for a good 10 to 15 minutes until they felt like we were actually doing the preaching instead of them. But it was super legit.

Well family I love you all. hope you are doing awesome and being safe. Talk to you next week. I am off to go learn how to play tennis! Chau!!

Love,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 46th email from Chile 7/4/11

2011-07-04T13:21:00.000-07:00

Alex & Elder Florez

Hola familia!!!

This week was awesome. In case you guys didn't know every mission has a standard of excellence. Ours is like to have a baptism every month, 20 combined lessons every week, and a 140 contacts every week, and to find 8 new investigators every week. Well my story is about the 140 contacts. I have never ever even come close to have 140 contacts in a week in my mission. Well this week one of our companionship goals Elder Florez and I set was to meet that standard of excellence. All of this was sparked by an email from President King I got last Monday that said he was happy with my progress and such but I need to become a master of contacts. To reach that you would have to do at least 20 contacts everyday. Only problem is to do that is takes a long time to do and gets in the way of appointments. Well, loong story short we finished the week with 142 contacts, found 9 new investigators and a ton of in-actives that have just moved into our sector. It has been an amazing week.

I have told you once they have built a new community in my sector with a 1200 new houses. Well I am pretty sure every catholic in Chile has moved into this new area. How we know is that one, every house that is Catholic there is a fatty sticker of Christ that says the Lord has entered into my house. Basically saying it has been blessed by a Catholic priest. Literally every other house has one of these stickers. But that didn't influence anything we still offered house blessings and contacted them as usual. Only sad thing is most of the time they don't even listen to us they say they are Catholic and go back inside. Generally the Evangelicos listen more.

From all of those contacts and just working super hard this week with Elder Florez I think we have brought a little more life into our sector. We have more people to teach, actually have some investigators that are progressing, and I am starting to enjoy my time here in La Islita a little more. Elder Florez told me that this has been his favorite week while he has been in the mission. He has given me a ton of compliments this week. Biggest one when we were in the house the other day he said "Elder Leavitt I know you are only my second companion, but I think you are going to be my favorite companion of the mission." It was awesome. I am going to miss him. I am close to a hundred percent positive he will have changes in a couple weeks.

Here in South America the Copa America has started up. During game hours the work basically just stops. Especially tonight because Chile plays against Mexico at 8. We will see. I have a sweet little card that has all the times of all the games where I can fill in the scores of all the games. People are surprised when they find out how much I do like soccer. Last week we had a Family home evening with a family and I learned how to make Chilean tortilla! Basically bread without levantura (risening). I don't know what it is in English anymore sorry. Also it has gotten so cold here! I leave and at the nights I am honestly wearing like 5 layers of clothing.

Alex & Elder Florez making 'Pan'

Yes Mom I totally remember singing "I'm Glad To Be An American". I love that song and today I was actually singing that song all day. That song still makes me a little teary eyed when I sing it, love that song. Today for the 4th of July we had a bbq hamburgers and hotdogs and played basketball. I played basketball and my toe is fine so I think I am completely healed now. so I will be playing soccer again which makes me happy.

Alex all bundled up.

The new family is doing great they are awesome. We found a ton of people this week and some of them are super legit. We will see which ones progress though. Camilo and Hugo haven't been in town for the last 2 weeks. They have been visiting the south to say goodbye to some family before Camilo heads off into the military. He should get baptized here soon. The District and zone are good its a fun zone. I haven't gotten anything form the Kooymans and know you hadn't said anything about that yet. About food we just realized that the house where are chapel is has an avocado tree out back so us four missionaries took a ton of avocados haha. In the bible I am at Psalms like 80 something like 1000 pages in. I need like 500 more to finish the old testament. I am stoked.

Well this week has been an excellent one for me. I feel really good about the work I have been doing. Although at times it isn't the coolest thing to be sent to areas that doesn't have much to work with it can be one of the most rewarding feelings to see things just turn around. I can feel this area starting to pick up this last week we have more ¨Miracle Earthquakes¨ And I am just so grateful to my Father in Heaven for always guiding his missionaries and always being there for me in my mission. Helping me when I am getting down to pick up my excitement again and get back to work. This year has gone by so fast and I know its because I have just been working. This sector so far has been the hardest for me by far but I have learned the most here about patience, diligence, obedience, working hard and just pushing forward until you can see those blessings from God that come to those who are doing all they can. I love the mission. Well guys I will talk to you all next week.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alexander Thomas Leavitt

Alex's 45th email from Chile 6/27/11

2011-07-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

Alex in La Islita

Hola Familia!

So this week was an excellent week. So I have come to realize the majority of my mission has come to involve working in dead sectors and working with in-actives so they will come back to church. Well this sector is nothing different. We have a new community in our sector that opened up about a month ago. Well we have been doing a lot of contacting in this new sector and we have found at least 4 different families of in-actives in there so far. We have appointments with them for this week.

As you guys know Elder Florez doesn't have much time in the mission and we talk a lot obviously and I could tell he was down and a little. Sad about not having much success in this sector and in his mission thus far. I like making dumb analogies and metaphors and I told him "Elder Florez, don't worry, miracles are like earthquakes. The longer you go without one the bigger the next one is." I was quite proud of that one. I think it is awesome and i will probably use it again at some point.

We had an awesome miracle this week. Our earthquake hit while doing contacts. We knocked a house and a lady comes out. We start contacting her when she cuts me off and says "Elder I have been a member of the church for over 10 years now." Turns out she has been inactive for a little bit now. She wants to come back to church and has 2 kids 10 and 9 and they want to be baptized! She also has like a (boyfriend husband) type person. They have been together for 5 years and have a baby together. He also wants to be baptized but they need to get a divorce and get married. But we basically have two baptisms that will be coming up in the next month or so! How awesome is that! Elder Florez is super happy and excited again.

Oh I got your package this week it was awesome! (I'm seriously in shock at how fast he got that. I really don't know how that happened.) Thanks for the gloves definitely needed. Thank grandma for me for the chocolate that did not last long. The Utah pillow case is sooo legit and I love the shirt Sarah thank you :)

So this Sunday we were walking to church and the grass had a ton of frost on it and Elder Florez started flippin out he has never seen anything like that in his life and all the puddles from the recent rain were frozen. He was having so much fun playing with the ice and the deeper puddles breaking through the ice to get to the water. It was like watching a little kid. I thought it was super funny. Also the other day funny story. I was on the mitgro (bus) and the mitgro stops and a frickin dog gets on alone without any person or anything stays on for a couple stops and then gets off by itself. It was so funny. I was quite impressed that he knew where he was going.

My toe is fine it doesn't hurt to work anymore and I haven't been playing soccer which makes me sad but its all good. I gave you my cell number to give to Mahonry. Tell that fool to come see me. (A dear friend of ours will be in Chile on business in Santiago. If Alex were still serving there he would definitely take Alex & Elder Florez out for lunch. It will be about an hour for him to get where Alex is and he may be pressed for time so it may not happen. We are crossing our fingers it does :)

La Islita 1 is going fine just tough work but we are making good of it. That branch is slowly progressing. We have some good electric heaters in the pension. We just stay upstairs and only go down stairs for necesary trips (food). I know nobody is working today and school is out today. I didn't know why though maybe it's that. I have eaten alot of fish on the mission and I love it. I am in Job in the Bible if you wanted to know - like 800 some odd pages.

Well that is crazy Sarah has started college. I cannot wrap my head around it. She will do awesome. I love you guys and I will talk to you next week.

Love,

Elder Alex Leavitt

P.S. One of Alex's friends commented on his post a couple of weeks ago. She said there is a really famous Chilean folk song about Lonquen (Alex mentions tracting there and has a picture of himself in front of a road sign with the name. I posted it in his blog June 18th. She said it's very sad but beautiful. It is called "El Lazo" by Victor Jara. She sent us the Youtube link. Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Vixw-_Mlt8

Alex's 44th email 6/20/11

2011-06-20T20:20:00.000-07:00

Make sure you scroll down to the bottom so that you can see a very interesting picture that was included in an extra little email Alex sent.

Hola Familia!!

Well winter has definitely kicked in here in Chile. There is snow on the mountains and it has rained the last 3 days. I gave in and bought myself some super dumb looking ear warmers that all the missionaries have here. I think they look ridiculous but they really work, so ya I swallowed my pride and now I am enjoying nice warm ears. This week was good but slow in terms of the work. But before I get into that I wanted to say HAPPY FATHERS DAY DAD!! I didn't want to forget.

Tuesday we had our district meeting. Like usual we went out to work and taught an English lesson. I have a group of people here who want my help with English. Also my companion Elder Florez our first day together told me he wants to learn english. So I told him if he does what I say he will learn English and he understands everything now. In comp study I make him do it in English. All the prayers he does them in English and Tuesday night I told him I had a surprise for him the next day that had to do with english. The next day we had interviews with President King. I went first cause I am senior companion. We had an awesome interview. We talked about faith and how to work with the leadership of our branch. We ended our interview and before we left I asked President if he could do me a favor and ask Elder Florez to give the prayer in English. I explained how I had been teaching him and how he is a stud in English now and only needs to get over his fear of sounding dumb. So we leave, Florez goes in and I am sitting outside when I hear "Fricking Elder Leavitt!!" I started laughing so hard. After Elder Florez tells me that President was super happy he was learning English said his prayer was so good that his next interview they have will be in English! I was so stoked for him.

So I finished a year this past week. Crazyness and it made me think alot of what President King said that the mission is the University of Life. Here we see the lives of all different types of families and people. We are constantly everyday interacting with hundreds of people. Here in the mission we see and learn what type of people we want to become. What attributes of and the best of people we want to adapt into our future lives in our future character. I was like "hey that's so true." I have seen and learned so much. I have talked to the bum on the street to the man with a fatty mansion. This past year has been amazing and I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I got Elder Yous wedding invite on Tuesday. He got married on the 18th how crazy is that?? This week we didn't have too many lessons but we have started really hard trying to get our leaders to work with us. We met with our Branch President like 3 times this last week to get some ideas on how we could get the members and everyone more involved. Elder Florez got sick with the flu so we didn't leave for like 2 days but he is good now and we are ready to work this next week.

With this new change we got some more greenies in the mission and on the list I saw a name that looked familiar. There is a Elder Wilcox. Didn't you say you knew him? The Volcano didn't affect La Islita at all. I heard the majority of the ash and what not went into Argentine. I am no longer on bikes. My sector is tiny now, well not tiny tiny, I woud say it's a little bigger than Lo Ovalle. Ya I am positive I can be at the baptism of Camilo and Hugo and I still get to see everyone at church so its not too bad. Just sucky I can't visit and teach them anymore. The district has 6 missionaries and 2 hermanas the zone has 14 in total. Our zone is legit. Today I was named king of the zone in ping pong. I destroyed everyone. To go to a meeting it takes about a half hour to go to Talagante. Fathers Day was normalish with the exception of them saying anything at church but everyone had parties and what not. The mission now has a new mailing address so you guys can know and if you could tell other people it is:

Mision Chile Santiago Oeste

Casilla 149, av. pajaritos 1229

Maipu, Chile

Well guys I love you all and hope you are all doing awesome and I will talk to you next week.

con mucho amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

so I had to send you this picture. My entire mission I have had missionaries telling me dad looks like Elder Cook. Elder Merchan took this foto I guess when I wasn't there and sent it to me today in an email. I guess its true jajaja. So I had to send it to you guys. I think it's hilarious.

Elder Cook & Fred

Alex's 43rd email from Chile 6/13/11

2011-06-18T09:51:00.000-07:00

Alex sent a lot of pictures this week but he never labels them so I have to guess where they are. I know that some of them are in his old sector La Islita 2 but some could be from his new sector La Islita 1.

Hola Famila!

So this week I had probably one of the hardest mission moments since being here. So on Monday I learned we were receiving two missionaries and there was going to be a white wash in one of the sectors. Well I technically have a new sector and had changes. With Elder Madsen I was in La Islita 2 now I am officially in La Islita 1 with Elder Florez. The hardest part of this for me was that I will no longer be teaching Camilo and Hugo. Also it was just after we had revived that sector it was dead before with no one to teach. We had built up the teaching pool and had worked so hard in it. And now I am in another dead sector all over again. We have zero progressing investigators and are starting all over again. I was feeling really overwhelmed a little upset and confused to why I would be changed out of that sector soo quickly right after we were getting things going again. I know it was dumb to feel like that. But I don't know, I have not been in a single sector yet where when I got there they had more than 1 or 2 progressing investigators. I hear all these other people going to places where they get there they have all this stuff already or get there and have baptisms right away. That definitely has not been my mission thus far.

I love this picture of Alex. It shows his area and even though it's hard to see him riding his bike I think it's a great typical missionary picture.

So I was just feeling a little stressed with everything so I just went into the other room and just started praying. It was the only thing that came into my mind of what I should do. I just told God that i am putting this up to him and I will do whatever he asks me to do as long as he helps Elder Florez and I have some success here in La Islita 1. I know he put me here for a reason and I just need to find it. Then I remembered a scripture I had read the week before and reread it and it just hit me like a ton of bricks.

2And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

3And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.

(Deuteronomy 8: 2&3)

Contemplating

I know I am here to show God that I am willing to do what he asks, to show my obedience and love for him. We don't always know why things happen and it really is not important to ever know why things happen as long as we stay true and faithful and obedient to what is asked of us. After I prayed and read that scripture I felt so good. It doesn't even matter what happens now because I know that President King is inspired and that God wants me here. So I will just keep smiling and working and hopefully I can do some good and leave this sector in a better state than I found it.

I think that this is La Islita where both sets of missionaries live. If I'm right this is Alex's new sector.

So I am good excellent actually :) We now live with Elder Hall from Idaho. He is in the same group as Elder Madsen and Elder Merchan from Spain. They are both legit. Elder Merchan really likes me haha. I think it bugs Elder Florez a little.

Alex's area is so rural that it's confusing to me when I see him in pictures on roads like this or by road signs. It does look like he has mastered the art of bike riding again - with the exception of the broken toe accident.

Actually this looks like the same road he's riding on above and even though it's not as rural as most it does look a little more rural than I thought. Notice the snow covered Andes in the background. That's why I posted this picture.

So this week I went two days on divisions with Elder Merchan to teach him his sector so at least I got to say goodbye and let people know I was being changed to the other sector and I took lots of pictures.

These pictures really show his rural area and the agriculture that goes on there - the vineyards.

Haha, we were doing contacts out in Lonquien and we found some guy that sells grass and he was all excited to tell me it was from the States (no one has grass here except super rich people). So I went over, stood on the grass and was like "so technically I am standing on US soil" and he told me I was. I was pretty stoked.

Alex in front of the sign of the town where he stood on U.S. soil. Can I just say that when Fred & I both first read that he had found 'some guy that sells grass' our first thought was not 'sod'!

Also something funny. I don't know if you guys remember but I am flaite here (gangster) thanks to Camilo and Hugo. I can talk flaite now. Also all of the flaites are our friends now so we can be walking and hear "HOLA PICHOKO!!!" which is just like "whats up buddy!" and I know it is one of our flaite friends haha. So we yell back something flaite. I personally think its awesome haha but ya good stuff.

I believe this is Alex with Elder Florez, Camilo, Hugo & someone else. Could their hand signals be 'flaite' signs?

I got your package thank you. My toe is killing me today. We hiked a mountain as a zone. Camilo and Hugo came with us it was awesome! In the bible I am now in 1 Samuel about 460 pages or something like that. I am loving reading the bible I am finding so many cool scriptures and stories I never knew. Well family I got to go. I love you all pray for you ever day. I love the mission and still super excited to be here.

Elder Florez & Alex on their hike.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 42nd email from Chile 6/6/11

2011-06-08T07:01:00.000-07:00

Hola Familia!!!

So this week was a good one. First off it is definitely winter now. it has been soo flippen cold! And yesterday it rained like crazy! Yesterday we were riding our bikes in just pouring rain it was so legit. The streets were rivers and at times even when we were on bikes the water was up to our feet. It was insane. I got soaked but loved it haha. I have always loved the rain for some reason. Elder Florez and I have been working like crazy this past week working both sectors. But our biggest and happiest news is that now both Camilo and Hugo have baptismal dates!!

It was awesome when Camilo received his. Hugo was not their and so the very next appointment we had we were talking with Camilo about his baptismal date and then Hugo interrupts and was like "hey! what about me? I want to be baptized too." It was awesome! So now Hugo and Camilo have baptismal dates for the 25th of June. Camilo and Hugo are amazing. Camilo has such a desire to get baptized and is always super excited and animated during our lessons. Hugo is opposite, he is super timid and does not have so much self confidence like Camilo but he gets it. He understands everything. We ask him questions and he gives us the perfect answer. Both of them came to church this last and the members were so surprised to see investigators in the chapel. Iit was kinda funny to see their faces. The first thing the branch president did was he stood up and over the pulpit welcomed them haha. First time I had ever seen that during a sacrament meeting. But they are so legit and accecepting every commitment we give them. We have an appointment with them tonight. Funny little side story, Camilo and Hugo are super flaite (gangster) and I am learning how to speak flaite like crazy. It's awesome haha. It's like seriously another language. If I didn't have them teaching me I would never have known what they were trying to say. It's pretty awesome. It's like "hey if I am the king of the flaites I have to know how to talk like them right?"

My toe is still crazy swollen but getting better. I whacked it super hard yesterday on accident so today it is killing me but it is getting better. I am totally fine with working because I have my bike and there is zero pressure put on my toe when I am biking. Such a blessing.

So crazy news, President King sent me an email saying that Elder florez & I are going to be together this next change and there is going to be a white wash in one of the La Islita sectors with two new missionaries. I am praying we don't lose Camilo and Hugo. I would be soo sad. Ugh! but we will see what happens. God knows right.

The Bible reading is coming along great. There are so many crazy stories I had never even heard of in there. I am in Numbers 26 as of right now. Over 200 pages or so. If you ever need to have an animal sacrifice done I am your man. I am now a master hahaha.

The sunset pictures were taken from a hill in my original sector. It's super far and we biked all the way out there. It was beautiful and no it was not in the same part as the daylight ones. My sector is huge! With Elder florez those tree pictures and others were taken at Santa Lucia again. We went as a zone.

Mom I also bought you a sweet nativity I found I just hope I can keep it safe for this next year. But I saw it and I had not seen too many nativities so I bought it cause it was awesome.

I got Kira's package last week and I sent her a letter today :) but say thanks for to her for me.

But ya that has been my week it has been crazy. I love you all and I will talk to you next week. :)

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 41st email 5/30/11

2011-05-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

I am bias but I think he's a pretty good looking missionary :)

Hola Family!!

So craziness has struck again. I truly believe Satan is trying his hardest to stop the progress here in La Islita. On Friday night I received word the my big toe is broken. Yes I have broken my frickin toe and I am extremely upset about it. On Thursday around like 7ish we were stopping and while the bike was still moving I started getting off my bike and fricking kicked a rock perfectly and now have a fracture in my right toe. So ya Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I haven't been able to do anything. Luckily I am in a bike sector so it puts like zero stress on my toe what a blessing right? Starting today I am going back to work full time. I took the weekend to let my foot rest and maybe it could build up the strength it needs. It's just crazy bad luck on my part eh?

Here is Alex's unbroken toe.

He took a picture of each toe to show us the difference.

Alex's broken toe. Wow! What a difference.

But despite all the craziness we have some awesome news! Camillo now has a baptismal date! This kid is amazing and has been progressing like crazy and has the desire for this gospel. So ya he has a baptismal date and really wants to be baptized before he has to report back to service he is in the military and has been on leave. We are going to try and stop by his place tonight unfortunately my whole toe situation has been the work on hold for a couple days ugh!

I have come to realize that my district leader Elder Pari really likes me. It was kinda embarrassing but in our district meeting he was talking about us handling rejection and what not and then he said to finish if we all had the attitude and enthusiasm as Elder Leavitt we would all improve our sectors. I was like cool but I wish he didn't say that to everybody. Speaking of which I have to give the class tomorrow in our district meeting on the same topic that dad gave his talk revelation through prayer haha. On Friday we had the sickest capacitacion with President King. All about making sure we are converted to the Lord and the gospel before we convert others and we watched the latest MTC talk Elder Holland gave and it was soo legit I can't even describe it. I wish you guys could watch it somehow but I know they don't release those talks. It was fantastic.

I and I am sure all the other Elders are holding up fine. It was a tough blow to all of us to lose our brother but if we really let it effect us too hard it's like what are we here for? To testify to these people that we know exactly where he is and what he is doing this instant. He is doing the exact same thing now that he was the day he died; preaching the Plan of Salvation to the children of God. What an amazing knowledge we have as members of the gospel. To answer your second question we haven't even really had the opportunity to dive into the depth of our sector yet with this whole toe thing - how annoying. Elder Florez is a champ handling this whole week the way he has. He has a lot of energy as a greenie should have and just wants to help people. He now has about 3 months in the mission and yes this is his first sector. Training him hasn't been too hard he already knows a lot of the mission and how things work and what not.

Elder Florez & Elder Leavitt obviously not out in the pueblos.

I have finished the Book of Mormon again in Spanish this past week that is cool for me. I had a dream the other day that I committed a guy to read the Book of Mormon on the terms that I read the bible. I woke up and had the strangest feeling that I should read the bible from front to cover to tell all those Evangelicos and Testigos de Jehova that yes indeed I have read the bible all the way through we get asked that a lot. Well I have finished Genesis and am about 25 chapters deep into Exodus. I am pretty excited about it for some reason. It's been fun. Also mom I am going to need another journal sent to me here soon. Thought I would give you a heads up and also I lost my gloves. I am really upset about those they were fantastic!

Elder Leavitt & Elder Florez.

I wish Alex would tell us where these places are.

Well family I feel like I haven't written a lot. Please forgive me. I have just been traveling a lot and chilling in our pension not doing much because of my toe. This next week there will be no more worries :) I love you all and will talk to you next week!

Love,

Elder Alexander Thomas Leavitt

Sis. King sent me an email about Alex and his toe. I wanted to share it:

I was with Elder Leavitt this past week on his way to have his broken toe looked at. He is a good sport and won't let it stop him from working. We love Elder broken toe we had a good laugh he will be OK just a little sore but always a big smile. Thank you for a wonderful son who loves being a missionary.

Alex's 40th email 5/23/11

2011-05-23T17:26:00.000-07:00

This email has some shocking news in it. Elder Madsen was emergency transferred to fill a spot in another area. You can read why below. Alex is sad that they haven't had more time together. They got along so well and were working together so well. As you know, Alex referred to him as a 'work horse' last week. Maybe at some point they can become companions again and finish what they had just started. Alex is extremely sad about the reason Elder Madsen was needed elsewhere. He neglected to tell us the name of the of missionary and his family but we will pray for their family nonetheless and Heavenly Father will know who they are. We will also pray for that young man's companion and all the other missionaries that knew him and may be affected by his passing.

This is a picture of Alex & Elder Madsen. I can tell Elder Madsen has a great sense of humor :)

Hola Familia!!

CRAZiNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I cannot even wait to tell you what has happened. So like 2 days ago on Saturday a missionary while running in the morning had trouble breathing, collapsed and died! Elder Madsen has been emergency transferred out of La Islita to fill his spot. They also emergency transferred another Elder From our apartment combining the two La Islita sectors into one huge Sector! I will be here with Elder Florez a greenie from Columbia to work the new La Islita sector. We only found out last night too. It has been crazy getting everything figured out. Technically I am a step dad now in the mission too haha. It's just sad and crazy to think about cause I knew the Elder that died too. I was in Malloco when he was a greenie in another part of Peñaflor. My prayers go out to his family it's just insane to think about.

But it's sad cause Elder Madsen and I have been making so much progress here in La Islita. Camillo is progressing like crazy. He has kept with every commitment we have given him. He is reading and understanding everything and has so much excitement and enthusiasm to learn it is just refreshing. Laura is praying about a baptismal date. Hopefully she will receive an answer but it is just going to be so much harder now cause we are basically 2 missionaries working and covering two big sectors. I am going to be soo tired! But Elder Florez is legit and we will do work!

Camillo and Laura are doing awesome. We have not been able to meet with Raul and Vivianna lately. That makes me sad. The new bike is not new. It's some other used one. I would say it is about the same quality lame. Some other cool stuff that have happened, I finished the Book of Mormon again this past week in Spanish. That made me happy. I gave a talk in church on tithing, a flippin dog ate my helmet so I need to get a new one. We gave a ton of blessings this past week to people. It was way neat. I had the worst migraine yesterday and it is still killing me today ugh! I am learning flaite from Camillo and them haha and I am teaching them English. They are so legit.

Sorry my letter is so short. It has been hectic dealing with everything that's been happening and I don't have much internet time today. I love you all and I am praying for you. Congrats on all the graduations!!

Con mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

Alex's 39th email 5/16/11

2011-05-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Elder Leavitt & Elder Madsen

Alex writes "I told you I am in wine country here in La Islita. Well here is a batch of grapes out of the wine barrels"

Hola Familia!!!!

First off I am way tired. We have been working like crazy trying to get this place going but it is way difficult. I will be honest this place is about ten times as dead as Lo Ovalle was but we are working hard so it will just take a little bit of time. I probably have done more contacting in the 3 weeks I have been here than in all my other sectors combined it's insane and I know that is why I have been so tired.

Alex mentioned in his Mother's Day call that their area is surrounded by a mountain. I'm assuming this is it.

So guess what? There is now a new rule that we are no longer allowed to go to the temple as a mission. It made me sad. We are allowed to go for converts going for the first time and when we leave the mission. We also learned that Elder Madsen and I are getting new bikes tomorrow. Just in time too! My seat on my bike just broke off haha. I got a new helmet too and it is crazy. I swear the thing is military grade haha.

Bye, bye bike! He sure sounds excited about getting a new one.

Tuesday I went on divisions with a greenie named Elder Britt. The kid is legit haha. We had a fun time. I have never been with someone though who didn't really know Spanish so it was weird at first having to really talk the whole time but I made him talk alot though cause I know it is good for him and he thanked me actually cause I guess his comp really doesn't give him time to talk. But it was awesome we taught alot of lessons in his sector.

OH!!! awesome story!! so I told you already we get attacked alot while riding bikes. Well I have always tried kicking them but for the most part they stay just out of kicking range so I have never hit one. But like it's scary when they attack cause if you are not careful you will crash, they run in front of your bike and all around you and so ya. But when I was on division a group of dogs came running at us. It was beautiful, this dog comes running up on my right side and leaped at me to bite me. I stared it down the whole way winded up and let my foot go and nailed it in the face! It was soo legit!! Made my day haha.

We have been doing a ton of contacts like I said and have found 5 news this week. We are pretty happy. I have high hopes for 2 of them. This older guy named Raul who loved having us over and actually invited us to a asado, and Camillo who is 20 and in the military. Camillo is soo cool and so fun to talk to. He is funny and likes to goof around but when we start teaching or start talking about the gospel he gets way serious and into it. He is golden I can feel it. I have a very good feeling about him, also Laura. We feel like we are going to invite them to baptism in the next one or two appointments. We feel like they are ready so keep them in your prayers. They have been progressing a lot I am excited about them.

Asado is a term used both for a range of barbecue techniques and the social event of having or attending a barbecue in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and southern Brazil. In these countries asado is also the standard word for barbecue. This a picture of the asado that Raul invited the Elders to.

We have a cita with Vivianna tonight I am excited for that. Elder Madsen is a stud. I love that kid. I hope I get to be with him another change. We have a great time and the kid is a workhorse. The branch is tiny. I told you how we have 4 Elders in our one branch. So I thought it would be good to count how many members live in our sector. So we can see how we are doing with our own personal sector attendance. We can't do anything to help the other sector but we can help ours you know. So I decided to count our own personal attendance as well. Well out of 57 members who attended this last Sunday 13 live in our sector crazy! Part of the reason our sector is slow is that we have very little member support. Saturday we went to the feria. Basically where they close down a street and sell goods. We set up a table had pictures of Christ, pamphlets, pass along cards, had a free sign, and the four of us sang hymns. Then we would do a little contacting and sing some more. It was fun and we usually give away almost all of the stuff it was cool. Also we went exploring and found some huge mansions. We contacted some and this white guy walks out! Turns out this dude is from New Castle England and has been living in Talagante for the past 20 years! insane. It was cool and surprisingly difficult to contact in English.

Alex in his area. You can see an orchard at the base of the mountain.

Well family I love you a ton I am out of time and will talk to you next week!!

Love,

Elder Leavitt

Mother's Day Phone Call 5/8/11

2011-05-15T02:43:00.000-07:00

We love this smile and are so glad we got to see it during our Skype session.

We had a wonderful talk with Alex for about an hour on Mother's Day. The pictures we took this time are not nearly as clear as they were at Christmas but they are still fun to have. The first thing his sisters noticed is that he has lost weight - enough that we could notice. He told us it's okay because he has a 6 pack :) He also told us that there are missionaries who have gained 20-30 kilos because of all the bread and the way they eat in Chile. Alex LOVES the bread & the food!! I asked him if they celebrate Mother's Day in Chile and they do. He said they don't really do anything different than what we do here. He and Elder Madsen were invited to a Mother's Day Barbeque and it was really good.

Alex was quite excited to show us his Llama tie and talk about all of us other Llama clothing he has acquired. He talked with quite an accent this time and there were several times where he did not know the English word for something and would ask his companion. If his companion didn't know or didn't hear him he would just try to explain it as best he could. It really was fun to not only hear him speak in Spanish again but especially fun to hear his Spanish accent while speaking English. He also told us that he dreams in Spanish and that his companions tell him he "sleep talks" in Spanish.

Elder Madsen & Elder Leavitt

Alex's new companion is Elder Madsen from Le Grande, Oregon. We were able to talk to him for a few minutes and that was fun. He seems like a wonderful young man and I know that Alex really likes him. He told us that his Mom had found my mission blog before he entered the MTC and has been following it. Isn't it fun that she's been following it and now our boys are companions? I think it's pretty neat :) His Mom and I are now facebook friends as well. Alex also told us of another missionary who came in not that long ago that he met who told him that he had followed the blog as well.

Alex with some members from the branch. It's their laptop the Elders used to make their calls.

Fred mentioned that our first phone call with Alex at Christmas he had just been transferred 4 days before that and now this call he had just been transferred for just a little over a week. It was great to find out more about his area. Alex kept telling us over and over how large their area (sector) is. He said that they could ride a bus for 45 mins. and still not leave the area. The area is a little warmer than when he was in Santiago. His area is surrounded by a big hill/mountain. He says it's an interesting area because they work mostly in little pueblos out in the country and there is mostly shacks and then you'll randomly run across a mansion. It's a center for grapes and everything smells like wine. He said that they have spending a lot of time exploring the sector as they do their work because there are no maps of the area so they are learning as they go and trying to make their own maps. Alex told us they don't live in their sector (which I already said is out in the pueblos). They get to ride bikes because their area is so remote and so large. He said that the pedal on his bike had fallen off at least 5 times since he's been there but he's grateful to have the bike. He said that dogs try to attack them while they are riding. He tries to kick them but they always jump back just in time. Alex told us that they have a 30 minute bus ride to go get groceries. They are not in a ward but are in a branch. There are 4 Elders assigned to the branch. The Church rents a house for the branch to meet in. There are 45 members in the branch. Alex says that the people in the area are pretty friendly.

Do you remember that I had mentioned that in Alex's other areas he had people tell him he looked like Ken the Barbie? Well in this area they think he looks like him also ha!ha! You know, we never thought that while he was growing up but we've now all decided we can see it :) In this area they also think he looks like Matt Damon. We have actually heard that one before. I guess some also think he looks like Jim Carrey but I don't see that one. I guess the members love to have him say a quote from Don Quixote (La Libre) that his sidekick Sancho says "No time to lose!" Every time he says it they laugh and laugh.

Alex laughing and rubbing his eyes after Alexis has his say "No time to lose!" They were all laughing so hard. We didn't really get it.

Alex told us a funny story about an investigator that they are no longer teaching. We took some funny pictures of him telling us in a very animated way. The story is too long to write but the basics of the story are that he was sick, prayed to be healed and Jesus came to him with a bowl of onions and told him to eat the onions and how he can now eat onions anytime of the day and that Jesus healed him with the onions.

Alex relating the onion story.

Alex told us that in Chile they have a bunch of random ideas (superstitions) that are interesting. The one he shared with us apparently isn't native to Chile but is something that other Latino countries believe also. Ben was telling us they were the same in Mexico. The one he told us about was the "crooked mouth" superstition. He was telling us that there are times that they will knock on a door and the person will come to the door with their mouth covered and will tell them they can't come out. They think if they drink something hot and then come out in the cold their mouth will become crooked. Alex said they will tell story after story about different people they know that this has happened to.

Alex showing us how they come to the door covering their mouths

so that the cold air doesn't get in.

Alex demonstrating a crooked mouth.

Alex asked us if we could send him some teeth whitening products because the mate & ecco wheat drink they drink are staining his teeth. He also told us that he is excited because it's becoming empanada season again and he loves eating them. He also loves a bread called amasado and he wants to learn how to make both. He has told us several times how good the bread is and while he was talking to us Alexis brought him some amasado.

Alex and amasado. He loves it!

Ben & Alex have always called Alycia "Sisha" and Alex was telling Alycia that "Sisha" is a word in Chile that means grape juice that is almost alcohol but not. I'm not sure how it's spelled but he said it's pronounced the same.

Some other random comments from the phone call:

*He told us he was the reigning chess champion in Lo Ovalle (his last area).

*His mission is the lowest baptizing mission in South America.

*He put the notes I sent him from his setting apart in his study journal and refers to them often. He said other missionaries have really liked that idea.

*One of the kids was eating a string cheese and Alex asked if that's what they were eating and that he missed eating that. He said that cheese is very expensive in Chile.

*He really hopes to get some Chilean Lapis their national stone. He saw it in the Temple and he just loves it.

*He was laughing as he told us that he saw a guy riding a bike with a rooster on the handlebars. I asked him if he got a picture but he said he didn't and that he doesn't just carry his camera around getting random pictures because it would get stolen.

*Throughout the conversation the three men there with them kept commenting on how beautiful Alex's sisters were. At the end when just Kira was still on one of them thought she looked like a Latin actress.

*Alexis then told us what a great missionary Alex is. He said he was a "10".

Alexis telling us Alex is great a missionary.

Alex's 38th email from Chile 5/9/11

2011-05-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

This picture of Alex was taken during our skype conversation. I don't know why it's not as clear as the ones we took during our Christmas talk with him.

Hola familia!!!

Hmmm, I will be honest I feel like I told you guys everything yesterday hopefully you won't be disappointed with this email. First off it was amazing to talk to you all yesterday. But basically we have just been working hard here in La Islita. We just keep doing contacts and trying to build that teaching pool. The mission did some statistical thing awhile back and showed that in our mission you need to find 30 new investigators to have one baptism. As of right now our teaching pool is small but we have found a good number of contacts here in La Islita. Cool story, actually after we hung up last night we went right to work. We taught some recent converts and then went to an appointment with some investigators we have but it fell through. They told us we they were busy so we went to go to someone elses house. When Elder Madsen and I felt like we should go knock on a house we contacted a while back that was pretty receptive and said we could come by in another moment. So we knocked it out. They come, there was a man there, and we went in. It is a Mom Vivianna and here daughter Marian. They are awesome. I asked them straight up why they let us in their house and what do they want from us and why were we there. Vivianna told us that she was just tired with some stuff in her life and wants to put herself and have a better relationship with Jesus Christ. We had an amazing appointment with her and we feel like they will have baptismal dates here in a little bit so we found 2 new solid new investigators after I called home.

Elder Leavitt & Elder Madsen

Something I have started doing at nights is since I am out in the campo you can see the stars like crazy. I have gotten a map of some common constellations in the southern hemisphere cause we know they are all different, but now I can find the southern cross easily and am trying to figure out some other ones. I thought dad would think that is cool.

To answer your questions: Two of the guys were brothers; Fabion and Alexis and their cousin German. The district leaders live a 30 min bus ride from us in Talagante and I actually have divisions with them tomorrow. But ya I feel like I don't have much to tell you guys because of the Skype call but I love you and I am still just super excited to be here in Chile right now. I know I have not had crazy statistical success as a missionary but I am happy and proud of what I have done thus far. I have no regrets in regards of what I could have done. I feel like I have been guided to those families and people I have met throughout my time here in Chile up to now and have been able to watch and witness some amazing miracles. It is still crazy to just look at how much I actually have done and how much I have progressed in the amount of time I have. When we have what is most important always in our minds and hearts we will never deviate from the path the Lord has set for us. We will never fall into stupid temptation and we will become and do what God expects from us. I try sharing that principal with all the members in my ward and branches. I ask them what is the one thing you want most for yourself. The majority of the answers has to do with Eternal life and living with our families forever. That is exactly it and if we can remember that what we do in this life will have an effect on that opportunity to live with our families forever we will never mess up. And that is why I am here. I am here so people can remember what is most important because truthfully that is what is most important for me. I want to live with you guys forever, to be able to help others have what I have to have this same joy and happiness within the Gospel of Christ. It was cool, we were teaching this to a family in our branch and just before I had shown them the pictures of my family I have and he stopped me and said "from what you just said and from the pictures you have I can tell just how much this means to you and I want that same thing for me and my family." It was cool to watch it click in his head.

Well guys I love you a ton it really was great to talk to you. Mom I hope you enjoyed your mothers day. Hopefully you guys don't think I am getting to skinny haha. OK till next week!

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alexander Thomas Leavitt