Monday, October 2, 2017

Elder HJones: First Week in Arica

I arrived in Chile last week! It's crazy that I'm already here!

Chile is definitely not Utah! EVERYTHING is different. The language, the food, the people.  And I have to pay to write you each week! When people told me the culture would shock me I didn't understand. But it did. So I am still trying to get used to everything. The language is hard but I try to talk as much as I can. Chileans speak really fast, I don't get their grammar, so I don't have much to work with.

I have only been out a week, experienced general conference, drunk guys asking for money, and being rejected.  It has been hard to get comfortable with the different things, but I feel the Savior`s hands guiding me along the way. I have literally waited for 18 years for this moment and experience, so I REALLY WANT TO WORK HARD! I have felt the Spirit and the love of my Savior every day. It is hard living in a different country and learning brand new culture, but I can do it because I know the Lord is helping me along the way.

Yesterday, we had a pretty cool experience. Both my companion and I are new to our area, so we don't know anybody. Yesterday night was pretty difficult. We couldn't find anyone. So Elder Lopez and I prayed for someone. And a little while later we knocked on a random door...and we found someone to teach!! I learned that God has people for us to teach, we just need to ask Him for them.

The 12-hour bus ride from Antofagasta to Arica was long and the bus was actually nice so I slept most of the time. My companion, Elder Lopez, is from Salvador but lives in Utah. He speaks English pretty well, so that's a bonus. He has been out 17 months so he's pretty experienced.

The people serve A LOT of food. Yesterday, we ate lunch with a member. Soup, salad, Alfredo, then dessert. And they load the plates! So I am kinda forced to eat a lot. I'll send pictures next week. But nothing here is green. I am in the driest place on earth. It rains 4mm a year. Sop dirt and sand is what I mostly see.

This gospel is so true. I get to teach it for two years to the people in Chile. It brings me so much joy to see people progess and come closer to Christ. It's awesome!

Love, Elder Jones

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