Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Elder Derek Keele, May 21, 2012
Dear loving family,
This last week has been really good. The thing we need to improve at
though is helping people see the importance of going to church. I
don´t know what it was about yesterday, but the attendance yesterday
was really low.
Haha President Bruce told me that Elder Morales should not be able to
walk by the end of this transfer when he goes home. He is doing really good though. He
is still working hard and helping and teaching me a lot. We found a
lot of new people to teach last week so I am very excited for this
week.
One family we met even asked us to bless the house because the mom has
always had a bad feeling about the house. We taught a lesson and we
ended by blessing the house. Their mood seemed to change from the
beginning of the lesson to after the prayer. And I have faith that
when we go back this week they will have recognized the Spirit and the
Lord in their home. Because when we ask the Lord, He WILL answer us.
Yesterday we talked to a member whose testimony was such a strength to
me. HE studies and studies gospel books and talks and has such a
strong testimony. HE even shared a little bit with us of an amazing
talk that he said is only for those who already have firm testimonies.
It was the talk on the Atonement by Brother Skousen, the one Jordan
suggested we listen to about a year ago. The member said that the talk
has taught him so much and that it made him realize how much we really
don´t know. That talk was amazing! I am going to try and find it so my
companion can read it too.
It has been getting cold! I´m guessing about 50 degrees, and I have
been freezing! I always wear a jacket in our pension now haha. I am
going to freeze when I get back to Utah again.
The pictures are of the Mother´s Day activity in the Church. We sang a hymn.
And Hermana Alexia, Hermano Eduardo, Josue, Elder Hertler, and me.
Elder Garrido, Elder Ramos, me, Elder Morales.
Elder Ramos is from Ecuador, has a twin, and has 7 kids in his family,
all members :)
Elder Morales is from Bountiful, is really smart, and can do cool
tricks on a skateboard.
Kids, enjoy summer! And everyone else I guess haha. Keep reading and
praying always! Thank you mom for writing me every week about how
everything is at home. I love you!
Elder Derek Keele
This last week has been really good. The thing we need to improve at
though is helping people see the importance of going to church. I
don´t know what it was about yesterday, but the attendance yesterday
was really low.
Haha President Bruce told me that Elder Morales should not be able to
walk by the end of this transfer when he goes home. He is doing really good though. He
is still working hard and helping and teaching me a lot. We found a
lot of new people to teach last week so I am very excited for this
week.
One family we met even asked us to bless the house because the mom has
always had a bad feeling about the house. We taught a lesson and we
ended by blessing the house. Their mood seemed to change from the
beginning of the lesson to after the prayer. And I have faith that
when we go back this week they will have recognized the Spirit and the
Lord in their home. Because when we ask the Lord, He WILL answer us.
Yesterday we talked to a member whose testimony was such a strength to
me. HE studies and studies gospel books and talks and has such a
strong testimony. HE even shared a little bit with us of an amazing
talk that he said is only for those who already have firm testimonies.
It was the talk on the Atonement by Brother Skousen, the one Jordan
suggested we listen to about a year ago. The member said that the talk
has taught him so much and that it made him realize how much we really
don´t know. That talk was amazing! I am going to try and find it so my
companion can read it too.
It has been getting cold! I´m guessing about 50 degrees, and I have
been freezing! I always wear a jacket in our pension now haha. I am
going to freeze when I get back to Utah again.
The pictures are of the Mother´s Day activity in the Church. We sang a hymn.
And Hermana Alexia, Hermano Eduardo, Josue, Elder Hertler, and me.
Elder Garrido, Elder Ramos, me, Elder Morales.
Elder Ramos is from Ecuador, has a twin, and has 7 kids in his family,
all members :)
Elder Morales is from Bountiful, is really smart, and can do cool
tricks on a skateboard.
Kids, enjoy summer! And everyone else I guess haha. Keep reading and
praying always! Thank you mom for writing me every week about how
everything is at home. I love you!
Elder Derek Keele
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Elder Derek Keele, May 14, 2012
I loved talking to everybody yesterday! I even had a dream last night with everyone in it :D haha.
That is a really cool analogy. Thank you for sharing it. Brad
Wilcox is also Nathan Gunnell`s uncle or something like that, and he
shared many talks with John Bytheway when I went to education week at
BYU. He is a great speaker.
Yay Grandma! That is such a blessing to have everyone meet there with her.
I am so excited for tomorrow! We get to hear from President Bruce
and get more direction for our mission. I will let you know how that
goes.
Well, since we just talked a lot yesterday I don`t know much what
else to say. This week should be an exciting and good week. I hope we
can find and teach many this week.
Jordan sounds like he is doing really well. It might be a little
hard to focus for him because he is going home so soon, but I know he`ll
finish strong.
Thank you family! I love you all! Have a great week!
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Elder Derek Keele, May 7, 2012
Transfers were today, and Elder Hertler got sent to Arica to be a Zone
Leader! He was really nervous, but there is no one more fit for the job!
He will help tons up there! I am staying here in Alto Hospicio and am
finishing off a missionary. My new companion will be Elder Morales from
Salt Lake, who is Mexican. For some reason, President Bruce made a bunch
of us new guys senior companions. Elder Howard, who was in the MTC with
me, is also going to be companions with a last transfer missionary and
is going to be the senior companion. I`m guessing just because we know
this sector, and possibly to train in the near future. President Bruce
told me in my interview that we are consistently having 20 or so new
missionaries come in every transfer, and only about 6 leaving each time.
So he is opening more sectors and putting 2 companionships in the same
branch. I am really excited about this because it is like all of
Antofogasta is getting a boost. (Perhaps preparing for a temple ;D) So I
am nervous because I`m going to be in charge of an experienced
missionary that may want to take it easy for his last 6 weeks here. But
I`m not going to let him ;) We`re going to get to work!
President Bruce is awesome! He gave me good counsel in my interview and is just a great leader for all of the missionaries. I am so grateful to be here in this mission and to have such great leaders.
That is so exciting to hear about Steph! Way to go sister! Yes, I got letters from Rilee and Janelle. :D Tell them they rock and sorry that it takes so long to respond. I`m a slacker sometimes.
Last week for P-Day we played soccer in a stadium with about 25 missionaries! It was sweet, and we were super sore afterwards, but it was worth the pain. I even scored once! Haha and Elder Hertler scored about 12 times.
Love, Elder Derek Keele
President Bruce is awesome! He gave me good counsel in my interview and is just a great leader for all of the missionaries. I am so grateful to be here in this mission and to have such great leaders.
That is so exciting to hear about Steph! Way to go sister! Yes, I got letters from Rilee and Janelle. :D Tell them they rock and sorry that it takes so long to respond. I`m a slacker sometimes.
Last week for P-Day we played soccer in a stadium with about 25 missionaries! It was sweet, and we were super sore afterwards, but it was worth the pain. I even scored once! Haha and Elder Hertler scored about 12 times.
Love, Elder Derek Keele
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Elder Derek Keele, Apr. 23, 2012
This week has been really good! Elder Hertler found out he has tendonitis in his left knee, so we had a lot of resting time. But he is an animal and still worked every day.
Alejandro got baptized last week by his son, Victor. Their family continues to be happier and I know it is because of the gospel. Yesterday after church Elder Hertler challenged one of our investigators to be baptized this Saturday and he accepted! He is a 17 year old boy and really mature for his age. His girlfriend is a less active member so this will really help both of them out. We have our interviews with President Bruce tomorrow! This will be my first one! And I will definitely ask him about Mrs. Brereton.
I have been reading ´Our Heritage´ this week and it is amazing to learn about the history of the church and all of the Prophets. We met a couple this week that hasn´t been to church in a while. They are both 80 years old. We talked with them and they told us a couple of miracles that happened to them. They have been members for 30 years and back then the members, about 20, used to meet in their house. Their testimonies are still as strong as ever, but they just haven´t been coming to church because they´ve been sick. I don´t know what it is, but I feel like they are the first people like them that I have met here in Chile. They reminded me of the pioneers, that were few but who had complete testimonies and knew that this gospel is true. After reading about the pioneers and then meeting them here in Antofagasta Chile, I just know that the gospel is the same all over the world. It was good to meet people so strong in the gospel.
Well now that my companion has a knee brace, we are allowed to work harder. And I´m sure he will heal fast. We only have two more weeks in this transfer! I hope I stay here in Alto Hospicio. I will send that package soon I hope haha. Its hard to find time to do it haha. I love you all! Read and pray always! Love, Elder Derek Keele
Alejandro got baptized last week by his son, Victor. Their family continues to be happier and I know it is because of the gospel. Yesterday after church Elder Hertler challenged one of our investigators to be baptized this Saturday and he accepted! He is a 17 year old boy and really mature for his age. His girlfriend is a less active member so this will really help both of them out. We have our interviews with President Bruce tomorrow! This will be my first one! And I will definitely ask him about Mrs. Brereton.
I have been reading ´Our Heritage´ this week and it is amazing to learn about the history of the church and all of the Prophets. We met a couple this week that hasn´t been to church in a while. They are both 80 years old. We talked with them and they told us a couple of miracles that happened to them. They have been members for 30 years and back then the members, about 20, used to meet in their house. Their testimonies are still as strong as ever, but they just haven´t been coming to church because they´ve been sick. I don´t know what it is, but I feel like they are the first people like them that I have met here in Chile. They reminded me of the pioneers, that were few but who had complete testimonies and knew that this gospel is true. After reading about the pioneers and then meeting them here in Antofagasta Chile, I just know that the gospel is the same all over the world. It was good to meet people so strong in the gospel.
Well now that my companion has a knee brace, we are allowed to work harder. And I´m sure he will heal fast. We only have two more weeks in this transfer! I hope I stay here in Alto Hospicio. I will send that package soon I hope haha. Its hard to find time to do it haha. I love you all! Read and pray always! Love, Elder Derek Keele
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