3 Marzo 2014 - Hermanas to the rescue!!!

Hermanas are wonderful! There should be more Hermanas in the mission field. People literally respond differently to us! (Aside from the flaytes (pronounced fly-tays) who whistle and call at us, and the drunks who once upon a time fell in love with a sister missionary) It's amazing the difference!!! We talked with one reference this week who one sister in our ward aparently has been sending missionaries to every couple months. And finally she told us yesterday that she doesn't want to change religions. She likes being catholic. She respects us but we disagree on a couple main points. And as Hermanas we were able to talk to her and warm her up to us.

This week we also committed an investigator of the Elders to baptism and his wife who has been listening to the Elders when they come. We get into more houses and we talk, listen, and respond differently.

We also get to eat at more sisters' houses becuase the elders can't be there without another hermano there. So on to the food saga this week! We had a delicious meal this week with Abuelita Ferreira. It was basically a zucchinni cut open and filled with rice and carne (and cheese if you like that stuff). IT WAS AMAZING!!! I also made cookies this week for a menos activa and her kids. They're great!

And thought of the week- God asks us to push with all our might, not move the mountain. That's his job.

Haz lo justo,

Hna. Jennings

24 Feb. 2014 - and also the last week

So this week was pretty good. We're finally getting stuff organized, getting to know the members, the sector, how things work here. It's a lot of work. And missions are too. I would like to add my voice to the voice of all those who came before me and say that this is not a vacation. This is a fulltime job. Monday to Sunday. Wake up, study and prepare, work, strengthen the members, work, study, work, and go to sleep. The same pattern every day. It's hard. But taking it one day at a time is the only way to do it. 

This week I had "chinese" and "indian-like" food! The chinese food consisted of rice with beef and overcooked bean sprouts. The indian food was chicken and rice made with curry powder. Great!! I was so excited!!! Food is often on my mind. Food is delicious. And I only want stuff that isn't chilean. EXCEPT pastel de zapallo italiano. It's like a cassarole ish thing of zucchinni deliciousness! We had it last week. I'm hooked on it! And we're having it again this friday!!!

This week we had a mini cambio. I went with Hermana Call to her sector (Collao). It was great! One of the less actives in her sector was ordained as a priest yesterday! WOOHOO!!! Jason, he's awesome.

I also realized this week that when working towards a goal, the numbers aren't important. Only the effort you put in is important. The numbers are indicators of where your effort is going and if you're getting results from the effort.

These last two weeks we had 2 close encounters with a drunk. The story we were told of this drunk is that he was enamored/in love with a sister missionary and then she left and he got drunk and stays that way. So we were warned. Then last last week we had a close encounter. Him yelling after us "helderes helderes" So we booked it to the closest member's house. Then this last week there he was again. So we once again booked it faster to the closest member's house. Moral of the story, don't drink. It's bad for you and then people just want to run away.

Blessings don't come until after the trial of your faith. BTW for all of you wondering if that is really true. It is. Some days you don't want to work. Some weeks feel like nothing is happening. But in reality the times of struggle make blessings that much more worth it. Like yesterday. I didn't want to go work, because I wanted to take a break on Sunday, but we went out. And as soon as I start sharing my testimony I am happy! And then at the end of the night we visited a reference with a member and BOOM 2 new investigators.

I would also like to stress at this moment in time the importance of working as a member without the missionary badge. The BEST investigators come through members. So if there is a non member or less active be their friend 1st to be their friend and 2nd introduce them to the missionaries and support them in whatever choice they make. Yesterday in church, Elder Ferreira of the seventy (who is in my ward) chastized the members for not working enough with the missionaries. The work of the Lord is progressing quickly!!! He needs an army!!! It's like in the end of Alma. All the wars. This is that war! We need support from the inside out. Without shedding of blood, only defend and add to our defenses. Constantly reinforcing. ALWAYS relying on God. Because He is our strength and guide. He has a plan much greater than we have for ourselves. Sometimes it hurts. Those war chapters say that not one of the 2000 stripling warriors died in some, BUT they were all wounded. Meaning that this is going to take effort.

Fight the fight that was started in the premortal existence. It is worth it! First save your soul, then help others. One by one. I have heard so frequently that this is a battle. And it is. And we know who will be the victor! So why not join His team.

Haz lo justo,

Hna. Jennings

10 Febrero 2014

This week was a lot better than the last. We met more goals. We sort of have investigators. No one is progressing. Lots of old ladies let us in that just want to talk to someone. 

I found the apostrophe key!!!!!

This week I had my first cup of Ecco. We had "la once" (which is dinner but small. Because here lunch is big and dinner is small) with some members and I tried Ecco. It's basically coffee but made from wheat and doesn't have caffeine so it's like Mormon Coffee. I did NOT like it. AT ALL. But I did enjoy eating the bread (which they make with lard) with avacado on it!

Other foods of the week: chicken, noodles, rice, noodles, rice, chicken, pork, beef, rice, mashed potatoes. I still have a hard time eating the chicken with bones. And the pork was gross. AND (drumroll please because this was actually good) Pastel de Zapallo Italiano. OH WOW!!!! Fantastic!!! I want to learn how to make it. It was that delicious. Hna. Aguero said it was the best she's had her whole mission which is a bad sign for me. I'm going to be disappointed later.

Story time!!!!

1. Todos somos pecadores. We are all sinners. - Quote from a contact.

2. A "snake" told me that I could be a model. 

3. I overheard someone talking "look! A gringa" I'm a novelty. Then the other day a drunk guy was yelling at me "hey gringa hey gringa"

Opening a sector is hard. We have zero progressing investigators, but we contact more than anyone else. 195 contacts the week before last and 171 this last week. But I have my 2 favorite scriptures to help. John 16:33and Proverbs 3:5-6 They absolutely help me every day.

Until next week,

Hna. Jennings

New Happenings

Hola amigos! I finally get a pday! I didn`t get to email last week because field pday was different than mtc pday.... Sad day. so news from Chile.

So this week was hectic. My compañera is Hermana Aguero with the dots above the u so that it makes a gwua sound. She is from Lima, Peru and has been out for almost 14 months. We`re opening a sector, Villa Nonguen. It`s small / big. Our apartment is a 30 minute walk from the chapel.... yup it`s fun but we also take the Micro/bus sometimes. which is a ton of money! about 1 american dollar each ride. It`s okay for long trips but short ones it seems pointless.I want american food. I wasn`t prepared well to eat chicken with the bones mom. Start Haley, Eliza, and Noele now. Yup it`s pretty different. But I`m in the "city" a rural ish suburb. We live in a new apartment with 2 other sisters in our district. It`s nice. We have a kitchen and washer so we can do clothes any day of the week. Woohoo.

Monica and I are in the same zone! We`ve had a bit of time to catch up and talk. It`s nice. Today we hiked an hour to go to a beach as a zone. I know that the Lord looks out for us because I really need Monica right now.

Oh I also met another sister jennings at the MTC. She was visiting the temple with some of their investigators. From Georgia. So maybe we`re related who knows! 

I miss my bed, pillow, I even slightly miss the snow. Um, why does everyone ask about your family? I feel like this is the time right now that I want to forget how fantastic they are so I can focus, but since when did that work? I definitely miss english. the other 2 hermanas I live with are American so I can speak to them in English and they can translate for me if I can`t figure out how to say something. I want to break down a lot, but I don't because I just have to work. Yup. We don`t really have any investigators because the sister missionaries are new in this ward. Everyone is so excited to have sister missionaries. They haven`t had sister missionaries for at least 10 years. I forgot to bring a computer cord for my camera. So no pictures this week. Monica says there is a Nikon store in the mall but we have to get permission to go there. She needs a new cord too. She lost hers. This internet cafe is hilarious. almost every computer is occupied  by a missionary. 

Opening a district is hard. But being rejected is easier in spanish than english! It`s not so personal. And 1/3 of the time I don`t know what they`re saying. Sunday I played piano in Sacrament meeting. The pianist went on vacation without telling anyone and so I went up and played. Yup. And then me and my comp got asked to prepare a musical number. Yup. That`s right! Already.

I really am grateful for the Gospel. We meet people everyday that I think could feel so much better if they had the Gospel. It`s amazing. I`m grateful to my family for being so awesome and supportive. I wouldn`t be able to do this without them. Nor my Savior. You definitely grow closer to the Savior on the mission. Heavenly Father always hears you. Always. Period. End of discussion. Some days are better than others, but in the end, everyday you can turn to the Lord and he will help you in the way that he sees best.

So much for short emails Karalee. Haha! And congrats to Devin Fuller!!!! RUSSIA!!!!!!!!!

Cioa... how do you spell that in spanish? haha!

Hna. Jennings

On Tue, Jan 21, 2014 at 10:59 AM, Natalie Anne Jennings<natalie.jennings@myldsmail.net>wrote:

Pues estoy en Chile.

1. I have a placa!!!!! I´m a missionary.

2. It´s summer

3. It´s gorgeous like Santa Barbara gorgeous

4. The Gospel of Christ is true.

5. Drivers in Chile are crazy!!! The ride from the airport was.... wow!

The CCM here is great. It's warm outside, but too cold inside with the Air Conditioning. Oh this week was great!!! and bad... let´s just say lots of tears have been shed between me and Hermana Hurtado. We miss our families. And for me spanish is still hard. But it´s getting better. I can´t write and listen at the same time.

Yesterday my district saw me at a very crazy and high energy. So me! Pretty much. My district helps me understand spanish. It´s great! They slow down for me and repeat 2-7 times and change words, but it´s coming. 

Learning the Gospel in spanish is the hardest part. I have EVERTHING in english and spanish. Today I need to go buy scriptures in spanish. 

Oh I´m so excited to write today!!!! You can hear everyone typing away to try and type to everyone as fast as possible.

My compañera es Hna. Hurtado. Ella es de Chile. And I don´t have any pictures because I forgot to bring my camera to the computer lab. I am in an AMAZING district. District 1. And it´s a Latino district. Yup that´s right. I´m Latina.... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I´m the furthest thing from white as possible. They all speak SUPER slow for me. Closer to about 80 beats per minute for you music people. It´s awesome. Son de Las Vegas, Colombia, Chile, y Mexico.

Even though things are hard, I can fee the Spirit every day. There are times that it´s harder because of what´s going on around me but I can feel the spirit. I love you all. I love this Gospel. And I´m excited to learn the Gospel better each day. And I have a year and a half to do that. I´m going to make a TON of mistakes, but I will know my Saviour. My 1st favorite scripture is John 16:33 and my 2nd favorite which is now my theme is Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understandings." It´s true. Do it.

Hna. Jennings

Hola!!!! From chile!!!!!

Pues estoy en Chile.

1. I have a placa!!!!! I´m a missionary.

2. It´s summer

3. It´s gorgeous like Santa Barbara gorgeous

4. The Gospel of Christ is true.

5. Drivers in Chile are crazy!!! The ride from the airport was.... wow!

The CCM here is great. It's warm outside, but too cold inside with the Air Conditioning. Oh this week was great!!! and bad... let´s just say lots of tears have been shed between me and Hermana Hurtado. We miss our families. And for me spanish is still hard. But it´s getting better. I can´t write and listen at the same time.

Yesterday my district saw me at a very crazy and high energy. So me! Pretty much. My district helps me understand spanish. It´s great! They slow down for me and repeat 2-7 times and change words, but it´s coming. 

Learning the Gospel in spanish is the hardest part. I have EVERTHING in english and spanish. Today I need to go buy scriptures in spanish. 

Oh I´m so excited to write today!!!! You can hear everyone typing away to try and type to everyone as fast as possible.

My compañera es Hna. Hurtado. Ella es de Chile. And I don´t have any pictures because I forgot to bring my camera to the computer lab. I am in an AMAZING district. District 1. And it´s a Latino district. Yup that´s right. I´m Latina.... HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I´m the furthest thing from white as possible. They all speak SUPER slow for me. Closer to about 80 beats per minute for you music people. It´s awesome. Son de Las Vegas, Colombia, Chile, y Mexico.

Even though things are hard, I can fee the Spirit every day. There are times that it´s harder because of what´s going on around me but I can feel the spirit. I love you all. I love this Gospel. And I´m excited to learn the Gospel better each day. And I have a year and a half to do that. I´m going to make a TON of mistakes, but I will know my Saviour. My 1st favorite scripture is John 16:33 and my 2nd favorite which is now my theme is Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thine own understandings." It´s true. Do it.

Hna. Jennings