Not Thanksgiving

Hi everyone.  How is it going? Good job at the race! I feel like you guys look way different, what with all of the surgeries and diets, I don't think I'm going to be able to recognize any of you people in 2 years.  I love hearing from all of you, Mom, Dad, Whitney, Mckenzie, Jessica, Grandma, and Tom.  It really is a big boost to hear from all of you.  Sorry I can never really write all of you back in a timely manner, but ill try harder.

So this week was something else.  Tons of work. TONS.  I am exhausted.  but I'll try and write a worth while letter.  We started the week by receiving news that last week was not Thanksgiving.  Its OK though.  We bought another pizza and celebrated again.  So I had two thanksgivings this year.  HA.  

On Sunday we decided we were going to work.  The mindset in the mission is that Sun. is a day to talk to all of the members.  But we decided it would be better if we knocked doors.  Good decision.  The second door we knocked that day the man invited us in immediately.  We met his family, 4 year old son and his wife, and we talked to them for about 30 min about all sorts of stuff.  Then we taught the Restoration. That never happens! no one ever invites us in.  Then we asked them if they would be baptized if they found that what we taught them was true.  They accepted!  again, that never happens.  We have an appointment with them again on Sunday.  

Mon. was an average day.  But Tuesday was extraordinary.  We taught a daughter of a recent convert that Elder Warren had taught a few times before.  Her name is Silvina.  Then we went to the home of a family that Elder Warren had contacted the week before I got here and they let us in and we taught the whole first lesson with them. They also committed to be baptized.  I can still hardly believe it.  Ovejeria has been struggling for the past little while but now it is in full swing.  I am seriously pumped to be here! 

Yesterday was not so productive.  We woke up and while Elder Warren was in the shower the pipes below the kitchen sink blew.  There was a huge flood in our kitchen and we spent most of the day cleaning and drying things.  We did make it out in the end of the day and we went to an investigator named Constanza.  She is 17 years old and her mom owns a little store right next to the church.  We teach them a lot and I think that they are really progressing.  In the end of the day we bought some Pan con Chicharon.  Basically what it is is a cinnamon role, but instead of the cinnamon and raisins, it is made with Pig Fat.  Real healthy. lots of Protein.  

I am staying healthy though.  Not so much by choice but that doesn't really matter.  Our sector is divided into two areas, Ovejeria alto, and ovejeria bajo.  Alto is on a big plateau and there are some crazy stairs and hills to get there. and we have to climb them at least 4 times a day.  And this morning we, for morning exercise time, decided to run them.  Lots of fun.  But its good for me.  

Well I got to go now. My Pday plans for today.  Sleep.  Going to be awesome. Next week I'm going to try and send some pics of our tree. Oh and i made some sock reindeer out of an old sock and a broken umbrella.  I´ll try and send a picture of that as well. 

Love,

Elder Chicharon Borup

Ovejería

Hi! hows it going? I just got the package you sent me! It is sitting right next to me but I am going to try and restrain myself until i get home.  Dad why are you in Chicago?

Well transfers happened.  I took a two hour bus ride on wed. and it was awful.  I hate bus rides.  The scenery was amazing but i couldn't look out the window because i was on the verge of throwing up the whole time...  I made it though.  I did throw up a little.  But Dad, we need to make the motorcycle trip happen.  The road was epic.

I got into the bus station at around 12 and then we went to the apartment.  Its nice.  a little dirty, but it does have a Christmas tree.  The one big problem is that there is no hot water.  Showers are the worst.  I try to shower in about 2 min. We don't do our laundry in a bucket.  The members take turns washing them for us.  We do have a mamita. She is really nice.  We go to her house and pick up the food, because her husband is a truck driver, and is hardly ever home.

My companion is awesome.  He is from American Fork.  Really nice guy, really hard worker.  Like El Estanque this sector has been "dead" for the past couple of months, but we are definitely going to change that.  

Well i am in Osorno.  Every one says Osorno is super ugly but really its not too bad.  I like it a lot.  I am loving the new ward.  Still haven't met everyone but they all seem really nice.  The past few days have been a blur.  completely forgot about Thanksgiving, we celebrated last night though with a pizza.  We have been working like crazy people.  Contacting every one we see.  I am starting to learn how to contact.  It's sad but me and elder Randall hardly ever did street contacts.  Now that is all we have been doing.  People are a lot more receptive here.  It is really nice.  

Something that I am trying out this week is giving treats to dogs.  When we are doing contacts sometimes there are dogs barking at us, and it is distracting, so i thought it would be a good idea to throw them something to eat to keep them quiet.  We´ll see how it works.  

Well i got to go.  I love you guys.

Love,

Elder Steamer Borup

Transfers

How is everyone doing?  I am still doing great.  This wasn't a very successful week.  Still struggling with finding people to teach.  But The good news is that the language is finally starting to come along!.

Well transfers are wed. and i am leaving El Estanque.  It still doesn't feel real.  I cant believe i am already done with my training and now i am leaving my first sector.  But I'm going to the Osorno stake and the ward is called Ovejería.  My new companions name is Elder Warren.  He is the district leader i think.  But that's all i know about him.  Oh and he is from Utah.  I was kind of hopping to get a Latino companion but its nice to have someone who understands both languages.  

About the package.  I forgot to write you last week about it.  It is from me.  But its for Christmas.  I didn't think it would get there that quick. So keep it closed and then open it when we get to chat on Christmas.  That's coming up quick isn't it.  That is what is going to be nice with going to Osorno, being so close to the mission office i am going to get mail a lot quicker, and i am hopping that we will do something with President for Christmas and thanksgiving. So don't be afraid to write me.  I enjoy letters.  I sent 3 today. Jessica your about to get two. thank you for writing me.  

But the language is definitely improving.  I am really starting to like the Chilean accent.  i learned that if i  drop all of my s´s then people understand me better.  And just throw a Po on the end of a sentence and instantly you are speaking Chilean.  Its awesome. 

Well I'll be writting you from Osorno next week.  Love all of you guys a ton. 

Love,

             Your Favorite Son/Brother

Disco

Hi everyone.  How are you all doing.  I am doing good.  Mom.  i hope your nose turns out.  I wish i could eat some scones.  They have something similar that is keeping me from getting too home sick. Sopaipias, pretty much scones, just a little thicker.  This week we did a lot of stuff.

Knocking doors is the worst.  I don't like doing it.  About 90% of the population of Chile(it seems like) are devout evangelicals.  And they are taught by there preachers to hate us.  Not joking.  They call us wolves in sheep clothing.  It has actually gotten me a little discourages this week.  

But anyways on a brighter note we had some of the best food ever this week.  We went to this Chilean bbq.  It is called a disco, and what they do is put a circular tray above a bed of coals and then cook some steak, then they throw some chicken on, and they they throw some sausages on, and then they throw some hot dogs, and then to top it off, they throw a million clams and oysters on top of that.  It is incredible.  It is the best BBQ that i have every eaten. 

This week our ward mission leader broke his back. His family is also having some hard times so we spent a lot of time over there this week.  helping them with stuff around the house.  

Well i guess we didn't do that much stuff this week, but next week will be better.  It is going to be the last week of my training. i think next week ill be telling you about transfers for the first time.  Well i love you guys a ton.

Elder Steamboat

This Week Service

Hi.  How is every body doing?  Good job with the running every one. I just took my BMI at a grocery store.  Turns out I'm not doing to bad.  I am only 14% fat!  So that's good.  I am only carrying 10 kilos of fat with me where ever i go.  I was really worried, because we eat ridiculously well here.  Its awesome.  The other day for lunch we had two huge stakes and a huge pile of mashed potatoes.  It is amazing. How was Halloween for everyone?  me and my companion celebrated with a tiny little great value cheese cake.  It was alright.  I was expecting more. It is weird to think that it even was Halloween.  But really it was good to hear from you.  I love reading about whats going on back home.  i didn't get a letter from dad though.  I am calling you out.

Well this week was really good.  It was mostly centered around service.  We did a ton of service this week.  On Wednesday we went out of our sector to help a family in another ward clean their backyard.  It was way fun.  They had a huge pile of boards and house building material that they wanted broken into pieces that would fit in their fireplace.  My job was breaking the pieces.  I love breaking stuff.  We had an ax.  But that was too slow, so what we did was lean the boards up on the chopping stump and then throw a gigantic 40 lb. log at them.  It was super fun.  And a good work out.  My arms are still a little sore. 

We also cut a ton of wood for a little old lady, named Hna. Nancy Ponce who is less active.  It was way fun.... Until her yappy little dog bit my leg. It still hurts.  But we finished all of the wood and then this Sunday the lady came.  Service is the best.  It always works.  

I don't know if i told you already but we also have been working on another less active lady, named Hermana Eduvina, fence.  we started it about two weeks ago and we still aren't done.  It has taken forever.  But we finally finished.  It looks incredible by the way.  She also made it to church this week.

  

Well I think that is all from me.  I want you guys to go out and serve.  It is way fun and you will feel great afterwards.  Love all you guys.

Chau chau po,

Elder Borup