Baptism

Hola Todos!

 

 Hermana Pitts, Hermana Gibson, Hermana Camargo and I

This week we had another beautiful baptism with Alejandro! WOO HOO! What a priviledge to be a part of it. Alejandro´s mom was menos activa. What a cool experience. Ale is a sweetie and it was fun to teach this hyperactive child. He was really nervous the day of the baptizm and told us he didnt want to. But in the end it all worked out. Satan hits right before the good stuff. The day of his interview he didnt show up. We called and called and his mom gave us weird excuses. I cried. I couldnt take it. But in the end, it all worked out. That is how it is with life. In the end, it all works out.

 

 I made my companion panceces for breakfast. (pancakes for chileans are basically crepes). I discovered that I LOVE to cook here on the mission and I experiment lots.

Everything thinks I will be leaving this Wednesday. I admit, it is hard to think I could leave such wonderful people. My heart is so so so full. I love these people so much.

 

 

This is  Familia Vilches. Menos activos that are like my grandparents and tell us we are angels.

This week I was reading in 2 Nephi 5 when it says that Nephi and his people lived after a manner of happiness. I was looking at all the things they did to live happily and I realized that work, the temple, prayer, reading the scriprtures, and being with our families are what truly make us happy. If you arent happy, go back to the basics. If you think you´re happy, go back to the basics. Just basically go back to the basics. I know that the primary/seminary/typical answers are the best answers. When you have a question, go back to the basics: go to church, read the scriptures, pray, go the the temple, work hard, and spend time with your family. I have never been so happy in my entire life. 

I love you all! Olay!

Hermana Leah Kelson

leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 

Viña del Mar, Chile

Interviews with Presidente

HOLA SERES QUERIDOS!

What a week! We had interviews with Presidente Diaz in the apartment so we had to clean really good but dont worry, we passed inspection. It was great. I love my mission President. But I also realize that they are humans just like you and me and get tired too. Wow. He also has days that he is discouraged or worn out. And so do the 12 apostles. Or your Bishop. Or the Stake President. Pray for your Priesthood leaders. They are human too.

 

 Trying a new fruit. I forgot what it is calle but it is like a big grape mixed with a plum. Its mas o menos. Jaja.

I have been reading in 1 Nephi this week. WE started the LDM as a mission and are all reading together with a focus on a few special topics. I have noticed this time through just how much the Book of Mormon talks about the family! The family is SO important to our HEavenly Father! I am grateful for my wonderful family.

This week we have taught Alejandro lots. He is such a little gentleman. I little gentleman with hyperactivity.  But he is great! We have taught with cookies and candy and homemade board games and are hopeful for his baptism next Sunday. Please pray for him and his family. He is SOOO CUTE! This is a drawing from Alejandro. This is my comp and I as angels. 

 

Katherine, a 17 year old girl, also came to church with us this last Sunday. She really enjoyed it and we are excited to help her feel the Spirit more in her life. 

 

 Our Investigators Rosa and Luis. THey have been married for 65 years. They made us Sopeipi this week. :)

This week we talked with Dita´s Mom Sandra and her Step dad Patricio and they gave us a lot of hope. They said that every time we feel like the mission isnt worth it we just have to remember their family. They thanked us a lot. They said that we changed their lives, and even saved their lives. They said we came in the exact moment that they needed us and that there couldnt have been a better moment. It is amazing. I have cried a lot with that family and love them as my own. What a priviledge it is to love these people! 

It was good that Sandra and Patricio shared with us because this week has also been very hard at moments. My body is tired but my Spirit is ready. Sometimes the only way that I could put my foot in front of the other was because I thought of Dita. 

 

 This made my comp and I bust a gut when we were having a bad day and had to take a picture. #trunkymissionaries

I love this gospel. I love my Heavnely Father. I LOVE the people here in Chile. I love my companion. I love love. :) And I am grateful to be a missionary. 

Congrats to all that graduate this week! Especially my model of a sister Ann!

 

Yay for 7 Months in the Mish!

Todo mi amor,

Hermana Leah Kelson


leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 

Viña del Mar, Chile

 

 

 

 This is a tree of those flowers that everyone uses at Christmas! Poinstetias or something like that. Made me think of Christmas. .:)

Like a Little Child

Hola Todos!

What a great week of learning for me! I am so blessed to be here, especially in this area. It breaks my heart to think I will likely leave next transfer (June 1st). But there is always hope that I could stay for one more! :) I honestly love it here and love the people with all my heart. 

This week we started to teach a boy named Alejandro. He is 9 years old. His mom and older brother are less active members and we have visited a few times but started to teach Alejandro this week. And he is SO excited! The first lesson we invited him to be baptized and he asked ¨How long do I have to hold my breath?¨He was a little scared about that. But on our second lesson he had been praying and was excited to see us. His mom wasnt home so we taught him and his 2 younger cousins outside. It reminded me of the many piano lessons I have taught and it made me miss it a lot. We taught the Great Apostasy, Profets, and Baptism using candy. The 3 were VERY attentive. Haha. And Alejandro understood it all perfectly! And accepted the invitation to be baptized the 29th of this Month. Please pray for him! We fasted ferventely that he would come to church and we did all we could to get him there. Luckily we motivated his mom to come with him to church this Sunday and it was great. I LOVE FASTING! IT BRINGS MIRACLES! I had to sit somewhere else during sacrament meeting because I play the piano but my companion told me that Alejandro drew us (my comp and I) with wings of angels. I cried a little.

Also, Dita got confirmed and is doing great! I love her lots! She wrote me a note that said the gospel was the best things that has happened in her life. I feel so priviledged to know her.

We had exchanges this week and I went to Placilla with Hermana León de México. She finishes her mission this transfer. She is wonderful and helped me learn a lot. Also, we were on bikes for all of that exchange because she is in a biking area. My bum hurt. I feel ya all you biking missionaries!

I want to testify that Heavenly Father loves us perfectly and completely . He cries with us when we cry and rejoices when we rejoice. I also testify that fasting brings miracles. And the biggest miracle of all is the miracle within ourselves. Every times I fast my desires are a little bit purer and a little bit more in line with what Heavenly Father wants. If you want to change your attitude or change the way you view life, FAST. Fasting has changed my life. I wish we could do it everyday. (but also not really because I really like Chilean food.)

PS When we were teaching Alejandro and his cousins I had to keep myself from laughing when one of his cousins says,¨Guess what? I was born the exact day of my birthday!¨ Jajaja. My companion and I had to control ourselves. I love kids! That is why we must become like little children: teachable, humble, and excited!

I love you all! Thank you for your prayers! You are all wonderful! OLAY!

Hermana Leah Kelson


leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 

Viña del Mar, Chile

Baptismal Whites

Hello All

We had the biggest miracles of my entire life this week! DITA GOT BAPTIZED! I have never felt so blessed and loved by Heavenly Father. And you know what? It isnt my baptizm. It is His. HIs hand was in every single step and I was only the instrument. Sometimes I feel like a really crappy toy drum. Haha. But He has helped my weakness and helped me become a instrument that He uses still. I am so grateful.

We went to teach Dita Thursday and I asked her about baptizm. She told me that she wanted to talk to us in private. I freaked out and thought, ¨oh now, she is going to tell us she doesnt want to get baptized.¨ But you know what? She told us she wanted to get baptized this Sunday! So we had 3 days to throw together the baptizm with the help of the ward and finish teaching all the lessons. Simonne, a member, was a huge influence in it all. She brought Dita to institute and that helped Dita change even more. There is so much pòwer in members.

The baptizm was beautiful and I have never felt so happy! There are miracles!

Mothers day was wonderful. Skyping the family was incredible and I am so happy they are well. We delivered mother´s day treats and contacted with these treats. Basically if you want people to listen just give them food. :)

I know that this is HIS work and He does it in HIS way. We are just the instruments. And I am so blessed to be one. Even if I am a crappy toy drum sometimes. Haha.

 

I got a haircut! Not this much... but almost!

Shout out to my best friend Navyrae who got her mission call to Arkansas! SO HAPPY!

All my love and prayers

Hermana Leah Kelson


leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 

Viña del Mar, Chile

How Great Shall Be Your Joy

Hola Todos!

DITA HAS A BAPTISMAL DATE!! This week we passed for Dita´s house and she answered the door. She was sick this last Sunday and the Bishop and another hermano went to give her a blessing. Her spiritual experience with that helped her have the courage to pray about baptism. She got an immediate answer as she opened the Book of Mormon. She told us she got an answer and gave us the scripture to look up. She didnt tell us what the answer was. Haha. We were so excited that we ran to the corner and looked it up. 3 Nefi 27: 16. We were so excited we started jumping up and down and screaming. I have never felt so happy in my entire life. She still is scared a little about baptism but we put the fecha for the 15th of May. Please pray for her. This is Noche de Hogar con familia Opaza and Dita and her fam.

Last pday we had sushi and took pics with a preparing missionary. Thus the Facebook blast. :) I officially love sushi. We also ate Porotos! YUMMY!

This past Saturday we only had 2 citas planned and one fell through. We had the whole night open. WE contacted and knocked doors and used the ward list to try to find Menos Activos but nothing was working. It was a very long day. The final hour we decided to pass for one of the contacts we had and we ended up teaching Jackaline and her daughter Dafne the Restoration and it was wonderful. I know that miracles happen in the last hour if we are diligent.

I testify that the process of perfection is possible through the atonement. I testify that hard times come with good times too.

I love you all! Olay!

Hermana Leah Kelson

leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 

Viña del Mar, Chile