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

Hola Familia!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alexander Leavitt

Alex's 77th email from Chile 2/6/12

Alex writes "Elder Tognetti and I got bored so we decorated"

Hola Familia!!

This week was awesome! This week I had 2 days of straight divisions. First one was with Elder Demeyer and we tore it up. We had a ton of good lessons and over all it was good. Then I went on divisions with Elder Brow and we had an awesome time jaja, We have a good amount of investigators and there are alot that are progressing. With Elder Brow we set a baptismal date with Domingo the grandpa that we found last week. He is cool and super good, but I know it will take alot for him to reach his baptismal prayer. We need to be sure to just stay on top of him. He is just really lonely. Hopefully he can fully understand the importance of our message and its importance in his life.

Some awesome graffiti I like

During the week we were planning the baptism with Caroline and everything was going good and then she asked "who is going to confirm me?" I said "probably the bishop or is there someone in specific you want?" And she said "I want you to do it Elder Leavitt", now that was such a huge surprise for me. Like I know Elder Tognetti has known her longer and everything and she has some good friends in the ward and likes the bishop and everything. But I gladly accepted and I know it made her happy to see how excited I was. It was really cool. Saturday was perfect. It was one of the best baptisms I have had. We planned soo much so it would be perfect and it was. Her husband baptized her, Elder Tognetti gave a good talk about the Holy Ghost, and the spirit was sooo strong during the whole thing.

Elder Tognetti, Caroline, Marcos & Elder Leavitt

On Sunday she was confirmed a member of the church and I did it. It was soo cool. Doing that ordinance one can feel the Spirit just enter the room and in that moment so strongly. I love giving Blessings and doing things like that. It is just so strong the church is soooo TRUE!

A beautiful couple!

I am sorry this is going to be such a short letter but my head is killing me. You guys know I get migraines sometimes. I feel one coming on. I am sorry forgive me. I love you all so much I am still happy :) I love being a missionary. I hate thinking about how much time I have left. I still have soo much I can do here. I can honestly say that my time here has changed my life and has set me on a better path. I have so many goals and now know that I need to work a little harder to reach them but that I do have the potencial to do anything I want in life and that I will be the best at whatever I choose. We all have that potencial because we are sons and daughters of the most high God and King and that makes us Princes and Princesses we have the right to everything. So we can do everything we want and Be anything that we desire. I have never been so focused in my life. I just love this work and the things I am learning.

People here give us just way too much food! 

(That is quite the piece of watermelon)

Like I said I love you all so much and I will talk to you next week.

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Alex Leavitt

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

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 64th email from Chile 11/7/11

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

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

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

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

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

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.