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

#Valpoforlife

Hola Todos!

Gracias for all of your emails. I love hearing about your lives. It is so fun!! Thank you!

THIS WEEK I COMPLETED 6 MONTHS. Its not even real. I feel like I still dont know anything.

This week was cambios and I am STAYING IN VALPO! This means that I will be in this ward for 6 months by the time this cambio is over. That is a 3rd of my mission! And I couldnt be happier. I know there are things I still have to do here before I leave. I have seen the ward grow so much and it is such a blessing. I LOVE it here and thinking of leaving makes me cry. I love these people with all my heart. My companion is still my companion. Poor thing. I am learning so much from her. She is my shining example. 

This week was hard. And good. There were a few days that I fell asleep crying. There were a few days I fell asleep laughing. My body is definitely beginning to feel the mission. There were a few nights this week when I got back to the apartment so tired that I couldnt even keep my eyes open for planning and planned with my eyes closed. My companion and I are trying to enjoy this time though. It rained more and also was hot a little bit. The weather is crazy and kind of reminds me of Utah right now. 

This week we had the Show de Talentos! Or talent show, in the ward. :) It was super fun and LOTS of people came despite the fact that it was raining. That in and of itself is a miracle. I played the piano while one of the elders sang and it was good to be accompanying again.

We found 7 nuevos this week, 2 of which are references. That is awesome. I wish every member knew what it means to recieve references. I challenge you all to read Every Member a Missionary by Craig Christiansen. BOOM! Miracles happen.

Dita still is unsure about baptism. We have testified a lot but it is hard when she is still unsure. When we asked her if she had prayed to know if she needed to get baptised right now she told us she hadnt because she was too scared to. I know that she knows she needs to get baptized. She didnt come to church because she was really sick so the Bishop and another brother went to give her a blessing. Hoping for the best. 

I love this gospel. I love the mission. I am learning to be a better me. I love these people SO much. The church is true. If you dont know it, go pray about it.

 

Jjajaja This is me trying to take a selfie with a dog.

Also, 
This is my new favorite thing. I think it is called a hot water bottle in English. I am not sure. But it is cold here at night.

Love you all!

Hermana Leah Kelson

leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 

Viña del Mar, Chile

Its Raining, Its Pouring

Hola Todos!

What a week! It rained a ton and we have been a little wet. The bad thing about rain is that no one comes to church and sometimes people dont answer their doors because it is rainy. The good thing about rain is that sometimes people feel bad for you as you are knocking doors and let you in. Hahaha! We look like Teletubbies in our rain ponchos. I actually love the rain. 

Dita (daughter of Patricio) has been reading the Book of Mormon and feels like she has recieved an answer from Heaven but has fears of being baptized if she is just going to fall afterward. We are trying to help her with that. We also taught Cristobal a 15 year old that doesnt live with his family and his mom past away a few years ago. He reads every thing that we leave him and seems interested. We found a new investigator, Kata, a 14 knocking doors in the rain. She accepted a baptismal date for the 15 of May. WOOT! Miracles are real, yáll. Alejandro is still smoking and it is hard for him to stop. We will probably have to drop him .That is the hard part about missionary work. 

I have discovered something this week. It is not enough just to plan if we do not DO. Sometimes we sit around and plan and plan and plan but if we would jsut get on our feet and DO stuff then things actually get done. Sometimes instead of arguing about the problem we just need to be the one to fix it. Being a doer and not just a planner is an eternal perspective. 

 My two favorite Chilean foods combined. Empenadas and pastel de chocolo. This is Hermana Carreño. She reminds me of Grandma Larsen. She made this beautiful creation.

Haha. Also, I taught Hermana Camargo to say ¨Stinkin¨ instead of ¨Freaking¨because I said it sounded nicer. (She only knows a few English words). At one moment as we were knocking doors in the rain and no one would let us in she turned to me and said ¨Stinkin persons¨. I laughed super hard. I love her!

The church is so true. I know it! I am so grateful for this chance to serve. I love it more and more each day.

All my amor!

Hermana Leah Kelson

leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 

Viña del Mar, Chile

Taking My Own Advice on Happiness

Dearest People of my homeland and anyone else who happens upon this,

How I love you all. Really truly. I love you all. Thank you for the part you all have in my life.

 

This is from the birthday party we had as a zone today for our district leader. Have I mentioned that Elder Quinton Dickerson is in my district and is the companion of my district leader. I see him at least once a week and we talk to him every night when the district leader calls. It is crazy that 2 OHS tigers end up in the same city in Chile. CRAZY!

This week was full of a lot of tears: because of the good, the bad, the ugly, and the many many miracles.

This week we had intercambios. The hermana leaders are great and suggested that my companion and I have interviews with the Zone leaders this week. Let me just say that sometimes we dont know we are unhappy until someone tells us so. :) Haha. I have been trying so hard these last 3 weeks to convince myself that I was happy. But each day it got harder and harder to be happy and I was more and more irritated with life, my companion, the work, investigatores, members. I got more and more depressed and wasnt laughing, wasnt smiling, and was just plain sad. My poor companion. I have just been super stressed as a trainer I think.

 

Anyway, this interview was exactly what I needed. The Elders told me they noticed I havent been happy. I started bawling quite unattractively and said they were right and asked what I needed to do to change. Haha. #hermanas. They helped calm my fears and told me I was doing enough. They shared personal experiences and helped me know I am not alone. I realized just how unfun I have been with my companion. POBRECITA. Thus, I have tried harder to be a happy missionary. And it has worked. :) You know how I always said, ¨Happiness is a choice. We have to choose to be happy!¨Yeah, I am trying to take my own advice. :)

 

 

 

This week Patricio came to church with Sandra and their daughter Dita. They all stayed for all of the meeting despite the fact that it was Patricio´s birthday! In the Gospel Principles class at the end he made a comment and told the class that we, Sister Camargo and I, had knocked on their door at just the right moment and that he has found a happiness that he had been craving. He was crying as he said this. It was one of the sweetest moments I have ever experienced. I have never felt something so fulfilling as missionary work. I am a literal instrument in His hands. After church there was a baptism of a few of the Elders in our ward and stake. We asked them if they wanted to stay. Dita really wanted to so they did! Dita told us this week that she really wants to know that the church is true and that she feels really comfortable there. She wants to be baptized when she knows it is true! MIRACLES!

This week I was also reading in Mormón 9. There it says that God is a God of miracles. I prayed that morning for miracles and then worked to see them. There were many miracles. Many many miracles that day. We found 3 new investigators and taught many lessons. I testify that God is a God of miracles. If we ask in Faith (faith meaning that we believe He will and then ACT to see those miracles) that He answers our prayers and miracles happen. 

I love you all. Miracles are real. I see them every single day. I love the mission. I really truly do. There is no other place I would rather be. 

 

A tarantula we found. We took this picture from VERY far away and with zoom.

 

 

Hermana Leah Kelson


leah.kjeldsen@myldsmail.net

Hermana Leah Kelson

4 Norte 1112 Casilla 631 


 I broke through my first pair of shoes! #missionarycheckpoints