3-11-13

¡Hola chiquillos!

I hope you all had a great week! This week for me went very well. On Monday, we had the setting apart and farewell of Hernan, who went to Floridianopolis, Brazil on his mission. It was fairly emotional for me because I really like Hernan and we became good friends. I'm going to keep in touch with him a little bit. My new companion, Elder Close, is doing well! He didn't know much Spanish before the mission (or at least he doesn't remember any from high school haha), so, it's been a tough climb for him. I've been trying to be very patient and helpful. It was weird to go from a companion who was my example for Spanish to a companion who doesn't know much of it. I'm trying to teach him everything right though. Towards the end of the week, we had a surprise meeting with the new missionaries and some service with made us really busy with studying and planning, but we're doing well.

"F" came to church on Sunday! We went by his house in the morning, but decided not to yell because everyone was sleeping. We saw that the gate was opened and thought that that meant that he left, because he was already on his way to church when we saw him last Sunday. Turned out that he was asleep hmmm. We called him after the Sacrament and he showed up in twenty more minutes.  :)  We had some really good lessons with him this week and he's progressing a lot. Unfortunately, he has a lot of weird ideas about doctrine. For example, he didn't want to accept Jesus Christ because he thought he was only supposed to worship "God." We corrected him on that, but he has a lot of ideas like that.

"C" went to Valparaíso this weekend, so she missed church. We were going to see her tonight, but she just called me and cancelled the visit. :( She has a baptismal date for this Sunday, but I'm worried that it's going to fall again. I'm going to have to do something crazy this week to make it all work out haha.

We have other investigators, but they're not progressing much yet. We desperately need to find more, but I've really struggled with that my whole mission. I wish I had some cool musical or artistic ability to attract people to talk to me or make them more interested.

Today, we went to a big mall in the nicer part of Santiago called Las Condes. We ate lunch in the Hard Rock Café, and an extremely nice man came up to us and gave us money to pay for our lunch (and Hard Rock Café isn't cheap). John Collins, if you ever read this, thank you! It was fun to go around the mall and feel more at home (because the nicer parts of Santiago feel more American). Elder Close's camera also broke so we tried to get it fixed. We found a Nikon store kind of near the mall, but we didn't have time to check it out.

I wish I could be there while the Mickelson family is visiting! I love being here but I don't like missing out on family. I hope they had a good stay. I really liked the video that Maddie sent this week. I love and miss you guys so much!!!! Only a little more time until we can skype again. :) Thank you for sending that package! I'm waiting very patiently for the music haha. I can't believe all the changes and things that are going on at home! I hope everything is well and happy for you guys. Everyone looks older (except for Mom), but at the same time everyone looks the same. I love you all so much! :)

Mucho Amor,

Elder Hill

2-25-13

Hey everyone!!!

So, this week has been tough in the work. On the bright side, we have some new investigators and we are constantly finding more. Elder Smith and I are quite a team when it comes to teaching and contacting. He is an amazing companion. "C" and "Y" went to the beach at the last second so they weren't here for the whole week. That was really tough. They returned on Saturday and "C" went with us to church on Sunday. We talked to her about her baptismal date (because it is for the 3rd of March!) and she said that she is still good for right now. She says that she really likes church and feels very good there. She didn't read much or meet with us at all the past week, so spiritual confirmations have been scarce. It is SO important that investigators and the missionaries stay in good contact and meet often, otherwise, spiritual answers are tough to come by. That applies to everyone; we all need to be doing our part to have the Spirit in our lives.

Big news--Elder Smith was changed this morning. And I'm staying in Los Plátanos as a trainer! I'm super excited but a little anxious too. I'll meet my companion tomorrow when they arrive. I actually just found out who it was because my name showed up next to his when I entered in my weekly indicators online. His name is Elder Close, so I'm assuming that he's a "gringo" haha. I'm not sure if I would have been happier with a gringo or a latino, but now I know who he is and I'll move forward. I'm excited. :) Please pray for me very hard this change! I'm going directly from the only companion I've had in the field (and who trained me) to training a gringo. It'll work out great and I'll learn a ton. I'm definitely capable. Elder Cadden and Elder Measom are training too. I did divisions [splits] with a brand new Elder this week and I really enjoyed it, so maybe I'm made to train. Haha.

That is all the big news for the week. Pray for "C" and for Elder Close and for me! This is going to be an interesting week!

I love you all so much and I'll let you know how things are going next Monday!

Les quiero muchísimo,

Elder Hill

2-11-13

¡Hola!

The new sister missionaries arrived this week, our sector split, and now we miss having the whole sector to work with haha. We're doing alright, but now we aren't running from appointment to appointment and we are often left with just contacting people in the streets, which so far hasn't produced many results. Nearly all the people we talk to are "set in their ways" when it comes to religion. If I could point out a scripture in the Bible that says the Mormons are the true church, they still wouldn't accept it... A lot of people express that it is ridiculous that there are so many churches, but when we try to explain why that is and how the original church of Christ is on the earth today, they don't understand and still think of the Latter-day Saints as any other of the many churches. It honestly is like Joseph Smith's Palmyra here, and unfortunately, most people aren't interested in finding out what is the truth. We keep trying though!

The city of Santiago cut a lot of people's water this weekend, which caused many to not come to church, including "Y"... We made the bad call of not going to pick them up because we thought that they would be okay (I've learned my lesson now to never assume that). She and her whole family apparently slept in. We went by that afternoon to see them. We're going to make sure she goes this next Sunday. We actually set baptismal dates with the mom and a sister for the 3rd of March, which Elder Smith and I were very excited for. Yesterday, the mom said she doesn't want to continue with the lessons. She really surprised me with that. She didn't bring up a valid reason why she wanted to stop, but she did say that she would like to tell us about it privately. So, I don't know what's up, but we're going to figure it out. Her sister is so on track for baptism. She's really cool and good about everything. I'm grateful for that.

We had another woman tell us that we are "cold" people (which was her way of saying no to listening to us), even though she said that we are "really good people" and "definitely sent by God." I don't know why they say that haha. It's their choice to think that though; it's too bad that false observations like that are going to keep them from the restored gospel. It makes me really sad when people are held from the truth because of silly excuses, but that's just how it is.

We had some good lessons this week, but we want a lot more. It's hard when you can't find anyone to teach, but I'm trying my best. We have some new plans we're going to try out.

  

Wow, a lot has been going on at home this week. That's great about Corinne's mission call! A girl in my ward also opened hers this week and was called to Brazil. I don't remember the name of her mission either haha.

  

I am healthy and my apartment is clean. ;) No worries!

I have to go now. I love you all so much!!!

Con amor,

Elder Hill

2-4-13

"Y's" Baptism!

Sector Slam

Superstars of the Santiago East Mission

Just so you know.....I'm still in Los Plátanos! This change is only three weeks though so it will go by fast. We have two new sister missionaries in the ward, although we haven't met them yet. Elder Smith knows about one of them (she's from southern Chile and is supposedly amazing) and her companion is fresh out of the Santiago MTC. I'm excited to work with them. Other big news, "B" got confirmed and "Y" got baptized yesterday! She gave me the honors of baptizing her. She was a little bit of a miracle because our appointments fell everyday of last week until Thursday. We told her that if she wants to get baptized that Sunday, she has to meet with us on Friday and Saturday also, and she did! She said she was very happy to be baptized, and her mom also says she has a lot of interest in the Church and really enjoys listening to us. She said she felt uncomfortable in the Gospel Principles class, but other than that it went well. I was originally going to confirm "B,"but Elder Smith and I barely missed the beginning of Sacrament meeting because we helped "Y's"family get to church and the bishopric already confirmed "B" but he said it was all good so I'm happy that it was a good experience for him.

We also had a huge sector slam with the missionaries from the Santiago MTC in my sector. I felt a little bit like one of the bosses haha. I met a man who works in the MTC who served with Sam Woodruff! His name was Oscar Cedros (or something close to that). You have to love the small Mormon world. :) The new sister missionary was in the sector slam, so I'll figure out which one it was this week haha.

That's great that Garrisonville got two more missionaries! Congratulate Elder De Haan for me please; I'm really happy for him.

I've been thinking a lot about all my friends who are serving missions. I have had the hardest time finding time to write letters but I feel really bad that I haven't been able to really write anyone.

I got a letter from Aunt Amy and Amy Sumner this week! It was great to hear from the Amys in my life haha. Thank you so much! I enjoyed hearing how things are. I always keep you guys in my prayers!

I'm so happy to hear what's happening at home. I send my love to all of you guys. Oh Moes Mondays....how I miss them.  I really liked the photos and videos this week. Brilliant job recording Kurt and Cameron in seminary Maddie haha.

To answer your question, Dad, I can pull my own weight on the Spanish now. I obviously don't know a ton of words and I don't sound like a native (yet haha), but I can understand Chileans and survive perfectly fine. I guess I haven't mentioned Spanish because it isn't something that is bothering me anymore. I want to speak way better and way faster still, but I can talk to people and teach them fine, and I'm sure it'll continue to get better with time and having Latin companions. Hopefully I'm average or above average with gringo missionaries! I've successfully integrated myself into Chile haha.

Mom, thank you for your email. I miss you! There was a woman who made us a really nice meal this week and she was talking about how she is always amazed with the moms who let their children leave for missions. She took care of us that night like a mom would and I felt very loved, almost like you were taking care of me. :)

A man from Utah named Nahimu came down for the weekend to participate in his convert's baby blessing. He took us out to lunch today before he left for his flight and we had a very good conversation. If you ever find and read my emails, Nahimu, thanks for the good time! I saw more of Santiago today than I have in a while and it was a really good day. You also shared some really good advice with Elder Smith and I that I will always remember.

I got your package for me this past week! The cookies worked out perfectly. They were soooo good haha. I still have five more so don't worry that I ate everything at once. ;) Thank you for everything you sent me! I loved getting more ties!

I love you all and miss you so much! Being with Nahimu helped me look at things a little more beyond the mission, and I want to be sure that I do things right, be smart, and trust the Lord. I pray that we all can do that. I can't to hear from you next week!

All my love,
Elder Hill

1-28-13

Elder Hill, "B," and Elder Smith

Futbol

P-day Fun

Hey everyone!

Guess what happened yesterday? "B" got baptized! It turned out to be a great baptismal service, and he stayed for all the classes for the first time yesterday (he always said that he would start staying for all the meetings once he was baptized). He is very happy. The bishop called him to be a ward missionary, which is a great calling for him and I'm excited to do things with him outside of the usual visits that we have. I am so happy right now. :) Even if I don't know all the reasons why the Lord sent me to Los Plátanos, I know for sure that one of the reasons was for "B."

We've found a couple new investigators, one probably having a lot of potential (she's the mom of "Y"). I invited her to listen to us teach "Y" so that she at least knows what "Y" is learning. She heard part of the Plan of Salvation, so she agreed to listen in our next visit. She participated in lesson three--the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and said that she liked it a lot. I invited her to come to church with everyone, and she accepted. She should hopefully come this-coming Sunday if she doesn't have anything schedule-wise to impede her.

Something random that happened this week was that we were outside a house on Saturday, planning on making the appointment that we had. Then, Elder Smith and I hear a man behind us speaking to us in English. I usually don't speak English to people in Chile because nearly nobody speaks English that well. Plus, having a formal conversation in English feels unnatural. For some reason, I answered in English, and then the guy began to explain that he's from Los Angeles. I realized that he actually knew Spanish because he had an LA accent (also because he started swearing like an American, which, by the way, made me happy--if you know what I mean--to hear someone swearing English words with a non-Spanish accent haha, I hear too many Chileans shouting swear words at us), and he said that he was studying here but that he got caught up in drugs and said he really needed help and figured that he should ask the Elders that he always sees. He doesn't live in my sector, so I got his number and sent it as a reference. I hope that he gets the help he needs; he seemed really humble. Just an experience that doesn't happen too often.

Today, we played futbol [soccer] as a zone and that was a lot of fun.

It sounds like life is crazy like usual for you guys. I'm happy to hear that Kurt is home from the hospital and that he is already trying to get back in the routine of things. Everyone else sounds like their doing fine too. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you guys all the way from Chile.

I'm grateful for the gospel. I'm constantly amazed at just how powerful it is and what it does for us. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he paid the most incredible price for us, but that we are worth it to Him. I want to make sure I do all that I can to make myself worth it. God is there and He listens to us and is involved in our lives. I feel His reservoir of strength giving me the ability to always work harder and dare to do the difficult and even the seemingly impossible. Thank you for all your support too, guys. Your prayers are definitely working. The letters and messages that I receive from you are also so appreciated.  :)

This is the last week of this change, so we'll see if it's time for me to go somewhere else! The next change is only three weeks though due to the new missionaries from the age change.

Wish Blake and Kylie the best for me before they leave!

We are having all the missionaries in the MTC here in Santiago come to Elder Smith's and my sector to do some heavy duty contacting this Saturday, so I'll give you a report on how that goes by next Monday.

That's all for this week on my end of the world. Stay safe in the snow and ice! I love you so much!!!

Con amor,
Elder Hill

NEW MAILING ADDRESS!

Everyone please note Seth's new mailing address.  He did not transfer areas...the mission office simply relocated.

Elder Seth Hill
Chile Santiago East Mission
Cristobal Colón 6824
Las Condes, Casilla 27.144
Santiago, Región Metropolitana
CHILE

1-21-13

Hola hola!

This week has been a very busy, productive, and happy week. We did a lot of service and also found a new investigator this week. We took "A" to the temple this week [see the photos above] and it went amazing for all of us. The sister missionaries gave us a tour and we all felt the Spirit in abundance. Last night, we also took him to a fireside with President Wright and a lot of investigators, recent converts, and less-actives. It was a very spiritual experience for everyone, especially "A."

Something interesting that happened to me this week was that a woman we contacted told us that we were cold people and lacked God's authority. We were having a very cordial conversation and then she just came out and said that. I don't consider myself a cold person so I brushed that off with a laugh, but it bothered me when she said I didn't have God's authority. She said it I think because we don't yell or get overly animated when we teach, which I think was what she expected. I tried to kindly, but firmly, defend that remark, because it really bothered me on a personal level, but she didn't care for what we said. I left that conversation with her determined to make sure that I act in a way that gives my priesthood true authority and gives me power as a person.

"P" has plateaued this past week because she dropped her baptismal date. She actually disappeared yesterday after we tried to get her up for church (we banged pots and pans even) and no one heard from her for awhile. Elder Smith and I are going to call her tonight after her work to figure out what's going on. I think she just felt under too much pressure, but we'll evaluate everything a fix it quickly.

I also talked to a Cuban who was very intriguing. He's atheist due to him being raised in Cuba, but he was very respectful and he took the challenge that we gave him to read the Book of Mormon. We're going by on Sunday, and we'll see if it made an impact on him. The Book of Mormon is powerful, so I'm expecting him to be impacted by it.

I also gave a talk on Sunday. I based it on 1 Nephi 3:7.

I don't have much time to write this week because I got behind on time. We hung out with some of the other missionaries today and ordered Pizza Hut and stuff. It was fun. :)

I want to make a shout out to the Rasmussen's (thank you for your Christmas card!), Emily Sizemore (I LOVED your letter, Emily. I'll try to write back as soon as I can!), the Prices (thank you for everything you sent me! I enjoyed getting the pictures a ton), and Uncle Tyler (thank you for writing me and sharing your experiences. I definitely expect to hear the rest of the story). I love you all so much!

I hope you all have an amazing week and continue strong and happy in the courses of your lives. God is mindful of all of us, and only wants us to obey Him because that is the only way to true happiness. I know He lives and that His full gospel is taught only in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What an amazing church and gospel it is.

I love you all and miss you incredibly! I pray for you always.

Mucho cari y amor,

Elder Hill