Christmas in Chile 2

Hola Todos!

I hope you all enjoyed a very Merry Christmas yesterday. It was a WONDERFUL Christmas here in Chile with lots of little miracles and food. :) 

This week we helped make like 2 million Christmas cookies, sang a ton of Christmas carols (even though no one does that in Chile), performed in the ward Christmas party, sang a musical number in church, had Christmas Eve with the family we baptized, and skyped our families. 

Caroling was especially special because music softens hearts. There is a sector of Mansions in our sector (and Im talking MANSIONS! THEY ARE HUGE!) right next to the Lagoon (and I mean a body of water not the amusement park). While many laughed in our faces because we wanted to sing many listened to us and thanked us and were willing to have a come back. THAT NEVER HAPPENS! Its a Christmas Miracle!

One member of the bishopric in our ward gave a talk this Sunday and explained the difference between the fans and the players of professional sports teams. For example the fan may watch football (soccer) every single day, wear clothing that represents the team, is constantly talking and searching things about said team, and goings ritually to every game. But the player is on the field playing. He must have a specific diet and physical exams. He eats, sleeps, and breaths football (soccer). We as memebers of the church cannot just be FANS but we must be PLAYERS. We are players because we have made covenants and thus we are on the field. SO LETS GO PLAY FOOTBALL!

I love you all and testify that His love is real. And we dont just feel His love but we see it. Every day if we truly look for it. 

Olay! Chao!

Hermana Kelson

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Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 
Viña del Mar, Chile

Cantan Santos Angeles

Hola Todos!

What a different and wonderful week! We left our area on Wednesday and didnt really get back until Sunday night. We were in Viña so much and actually stayed in my companions first area which was fun to get to know her converts and stuff.

The Christmas concert was amazing! On the beach. Singin Christmas Songs. In Spanish. As a misisonary. What could be better? Plus it was really fun. It has been stressful, yes. And we havent gotten home until 11:30 or later every single night so we are exhausted but it was SO fun. SOOO many people came! It was so full the last night! We are talking Les Mis on closing night at the Scera Shell status. There wasnt room for everyone. There were thousands of people. It was SO fun! And the Spirit was so strong. I loved every second of it and felt so blessed. So many people that I love from all my different wards were there. It was awesome to see some past investigators too that will soon be getting baptized! I am so happy! It filled me.

This week my studies have just been great and my companion and I have had some great discussions. One thing I have learned is about the name of Christ. In Bible times names had great significance. Just look at Saul who changed to Paul. Names are important. But a name back then meant more than just what we call someone. It means all that that person is. So Jesus Christ referes to his glory, character, attributes, all of it. As we take upon us HIs name we take on all of those things too. This week I played the piano for the primary program (SO CUTE! There are like 40 kids and even Josefa spoke!) and they almost skipped me in the sacrament because all the kids were on the stand too. I almost had a panic attack thinking I wouldnt get the sacrament. What a divine and wonderful blessing the sacrament is. I always want to take upon His name with this ordinance.

FELIZ NAVIDAD a todos! I love you all and hope you remember your Savior and why He came.

Hermana Kelson

leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

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Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 
Viña del Mar, Chile

White Christmas

Dearest Todos

This week another family entered into the waters of baptism and we got to be a part of it. Katty, Edwin, and Josefa got baptised! It was the most amazing thing! The spirit was so strong. It was so cool to see them all dressed in white and get that little glimse into eternity. My companion and I sang ¨El Bautismo¨ (the baptism about Christ´s baptism) and So many members were there to support them. They were so happy and a little nervous too. They just glowed. This is why I am here. For people like them. They are so converted and such good people. 

Apart from the baptisms we have been in Viña every single day this week at choir rehearsal because the preformance is this weekend! With an hour bus ride there and back and 3 or 4 or 5 hour rehearsals it makes our days pretty short. But the music fills our souls. And our feet. We are gettin the moves on a little bit in some of these upbeat latin christmas toons. I think there will be a recording on youtube afterward for yáll to see. We are projected to have 300 investigators asist. WHAT THE AWESOME SAUCE! Actually we had to write you all later today because of rehearsals. Its crazy. But I love that music fills my soul. I am more convinced every day that music is a cousin of the Spirit. 

I have a testimony of the Plan of Salvation. Not just that it exists but that God is helping us fulfill that plan. Its not like most of our plans that we lay them out and they never happen as planned. God´s plan is perfect. And maybe its not how WE planned but its how HE planned. 

I love you all. My white Christmas is better than yours. ;)

Hermana Leah Kelson

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Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 
Viña del Mar, Chile

Its the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Hola todos!

This email comes a day late thanks to a great Christmas activity we had yesterday! It truly is the most wonderful and BUSY time of year. For missionaries too. 

This week was pretty low key because we have gone to Viña so many times for choir practice. Almost every day except 2. And this week will be similar. so we shall see.

The members are so great here! We had a lesson with a freind of one of the members and shared the Restoration. I just love the first vision. It has changed my life.

Katty, Edwin, and Josefa will be getting baptized this Saturday! Your prayers are needed so that everything goes well! We are so excited to baptize a family! This is truly the work of God! I love being a missionary So much!

This week I have realized just how much Heavenly Father knows our individual circumstances. And so much so that He will humble us even when we dont wnat to be humbled. I realize every day just how imperfect I am. But He is perfect. And His plan is perfect. And I, an imperfect person, am part of this perfect plan. He loves you. He loves me. 

I love you all!

Hermana Kelson!

PS GO watch the Christmas Devotional!

leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

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Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 
Viña del Mar, Chile

A Sign

Hola a Todos!

This week has been crazy because we havent really been in our area with so many things coming up and meetings and everything. But it has been great still!

This week we helped a new covert put up a Christmas tree. She was jewish before she was a member and didnt know anything about Christ or Christmas a year ago. It was fun. Her mom isnt a member and the other day went to drink some alcohol. Gloria, the new covert, goes ¨Mom, you know that isnt good for you.¨ Her mom says she knows but she needs a sign from God to tell her not to to be able to stop. And just then the alcohol caught fire and exploded the whole oven. If thats not a sign I dont know what is. :)

This week we taught Edwin, Katty, and Josefa (and the younger siblings) again. They are the FAMILY that we will be baptizing in December. They are so amazing. We shared about tithing. I realized just how grateful I am for parents that have taught me to pay my tithing. I testify that tithing brings the blessings of heaven. Always. At the end Edwin prayed and he prayed that when they get baptized that they can continue to be faithful members for eternity. :)

Something I learned from my studies this morning is that a synonymy for the atonement is joy. As we use the atonement we are joyous. 

Oh! And to answer your questions. The Chileans dont even know what Thanksgiving is. It was a normal day. And Hermana Stauffer and I celebrated by eating cereal at night. Haha. The mission life. 

My companion and I came up with a new idea to help the ward. It has to do with the churches program of light the world.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJmAV0gTp_Q.
We have the 25 days of Christmas that go along with the videos. We have challenges each day like sharing the videos on facebook, giving away a book of mormon, or having FHE with a nonmember. There is a point system and everything. The members are so excited and so are we! 

I love you all dearly!

hermana kelson

leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

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Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 
Viña del Mar, Chile

 

Preview YouTube video LIGHTtheWORLD — Follow the example of Jesus Christ. Share His light and serve as He served.

There She Goes... There She Goes Again

Hola todos!

What a crazy week! A ton has happened! First of all, I have been transferred! I only had 1 transfer in my last area but it was still hard to leave. How is it that people can steal your heart with only 6 weeks together! Including companions. But I know that change can be a good thing. Actually this change is EXACTLY what I needed to give me the boost that I needed.

I am now in VALPARIASO again! I am so excited! I have been called as a sister training leader and am in the same apartment that I did exchanges in my first 6 months of the mission. It is crazy. I finally saw the ocean again after like 6 months and I realized I missed it! This ward is great and HUGE. It is like a USA ward but Chilean. :) 

My companion is Hermana Stauffer. She is from Conneticut and my first gringa (nonlatina) since my trainer. She went to BYU before the mish and now we are together! She has 10 months in the mission and we get along really well. Shes super fun and a great missionary. Her parents are actually mission presidents in Peru right now.

We had Consejo de Lideres this week that is like a meeting for all the zone leaders, hermana leaders, and the office. My whole MTC group was there. We took pics and remanissed a bit. 

We had another capilla abierta! So great! And Christmas Choir practice. I just feel like I have been in a bus all week to have to travel to Viña but its been good. 

I have learned a lot about obedience this week. Obedience gives us power over Satan. Obedience gives us hope and motivation. Obedience isnt just for missionaries with mission rules but for all of Gods children. Obedience to the commandments, leaders called by God, and the promptings of the Spirit. 

I love you all dearly! 

Hermana Kelson

leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

WRITE LEAH!

Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 
Viña del Mar, Chile

17 Miracles

Hola Todos!

Capilla Abierta with the zone.

 

 Exercise in Belloto.

 

What a week! Hard moments and good ones. We have literally seen SO many miracles. More than 17 but I dont have time to tell you all of them so a few will have to be sufficient. HECK! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! But its hard. But great.

First of all we did a lot of service again this week. We are trying to find new investigators so serving is what we do. We are called to serve, afterall. One of these service occasions we helped a 13 year old with math hw and english hw. Afterward I asked to share a scripture that helped me when I was preparing for big tests. We talked with her and her mom about prayer and it was super powerful. WHAT A MIRACLE!

Secondly Ignacio is doing great! After church last Sunday he told us he was going to dress more formally the next time. He showed up the next Sunday in a full on suit with his shoes nicely shined. He asks lots of great deep questions. This week we put a baptismal date with him for the 3rd of Diciembre. He has doubted Jose Smith before but when I asked him this week if he knew that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God he says, ¨Yes¨! AAH! I asked how he knew and he said he couldnt explain it, he just knew. That is the Spirit working in people.

We also taught a family this week the Restoration. SO POWERFUL! I love Joseph Smith!

 

 

Visitas with the Young Women! We love them!

 

 

 

We were in intercambios this week and I stayed in Castillo Blanco with Hermana Sterling! She is awesome. At the end of the night we had like 15 minutes before it was time to go in so we started contacting. Hermana Sterling offers a pass along card to this 19 year old named Javiera. We laugh and chat for a minute and then tell her that we talk about a plan of happiness. She begins to cry. We explain the Book of MOrmon. I have never met someone so eager to pray. We are so excited for her!

 

Smile! God loves you! This was on every bus seat!

 

 

 

And finally we had a Capilla Abierta. It is like a church tour but Temple Square Style. We start with a voice over with a Christus and talk about the Restoration and everything. They see the baptismal faunt and talk with members. It is the coolest experience. The sisters do the tour. I LOVED IT! The Spirit was SO strong as we testified of Joseph Smith and the Restoration. I am SO grateful for Joseph Smith and for the Restoration of the Gospel. This truly is God´s church. 

Love you all. SO MUCH! 

Hermana Kelson

 

PS Chileans know more about US politics than I do. I have heard nothing but ¨Donald Frump¨all week. Haha.






My Districts attempt at the fish face.

 

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Eating Rabbit for the first time :)

 

Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 
Viña del Mar, Chile