eMail of August 30, 2010

Well another week has gone by and quickly. It is hard to fathom how quickly time is moving by. I hope that everyone is doing well and ready to start this next school year. Here in Santiago things have been going well. The ward continues to get better and the work is moving along. Two of the families we have been teaching, one a less-active family and the other investigators, have begun reading regularly the Book of Mormon and now have a lot more desire to come to Church. Another investigator is beginning to quit smoking and another is getting ready to be baptised. We also found a new family of five this last week. We had made a contact with the father about a month ago, and we finally got to teach the familiy this last week. They all listened and they seem prepared. Even better, yesterday we told the Bishop about the family and he said that he knew who they were and wanted to come with us. He went with us to the appointment last night and then we found out that they have been friends for nearly 20 years. The Lord has people prepared everywhere to receive the Gospel. Well, I want you to know that I am happy and having fun. I pray for you and hope that everything continues to go well. Have fun!

eMail of August 23, 2010

This last week was a full week. Every morning from tuesday to friday we had special on Saturday morning we listened to Elder Costa from the Presidency of the Seventy. Also on Saturday we had English Classes at 4:00 after lunch. Needless to say time went by fast. I enjoyed the meetings and learned a lot and felt a strong spirit the whole time. Elder Costa said that the Southwest area of the Church that he directs has already had 16,000 baptisms this year. We also had several great lessons this last week. Our investigator Ruby finally understood repentance and now wants even more to get baptised. Our other investigator has come to Church the last two weeks in a row. We have also had success with the English classes. So far we have had two references from it and it has only been three weeks. Also the ward is beginning to improve a lot more. More people than ever were there for sacrament this last week and they finally had their first Ward Council in nearly a year. They are making progress and I´m excited. I am looking forward to working hard and having success these next few weeks. As for whats happening in Chile, over two weeks ago 33 miners got trapped in a mine that collapsed. The air tunnel also collapsed. The situation was grim but miraculously yesterday they finished digging another tube for air, and made contact with the miners. All 33 are alive and safe. They should be down there another 2 months but it is a miracle. Also the nation tends to give God the credit, which I am grateful for. The economy has gotten stronger here too. Even with the earthquake the economy has grown 6.5%. This is a blessed nation. I feel that things are going to get better. Well, I love you all and hope that you are safe and protected. Have fun, be smart!

eMail of August 16, 2010

I´m sorry to hear that Bill passed away. It must be hard on the family. I am glad to hear though that everyone is doing well. That is incredible that Marc has a week left. It´s hard for me to fathom. Time is dissolving away like cotton candy. As for everything that has happened this last week, I will start with Tuesday. On Tuesday we started a set of leadership training as missionaries. Our mission president is giving us a set of 8 lectures, one a day for two weeks Tuesday through Friday. We still have a week left, but this first week went well. The First Presidency wants us to focus on those 8 specific things so that the missionaries will better understand and know their purpose. I greatly enjoyed them and learned a lot. We as a mission are unique in the world as we can do the lectures with the Mission President. No other mission can as they are too spread out. The Mision Presidents are teaching zone leaders and sometimes district leaders and no one else. Also we had the opportunity to find several news this last week. One came to Church too. He smokes but we should be able to overcome that problem as he gains a true testimony of the gospel. There are several other investigators that seem rather promising as well. On Saturday we taught a class of English for the second week in a row and it went well. We have had an investigator family come the last two weeks and several others, and afterward we played soccer for a bit. It has been fun and we have already had success. I can see that there are several people who´s hearts are opening more and more. I have also had a fun time with my companion. With all that this week went by fast. I can hardly believe how fast time is going. Well, I love you all and am grateful for you prayers and support. I hope that everything continues to go well and that you are protected. Have fun, be safe!

eMail of August 9, 2010

This last week went well for my companion and I.  We had a lot of fun and got some good done.  Ruby has been reading and praying and now said that she wants to get baptised.  She just wants to wait a bit more time.  We also were led directly to several people that are interested in the gospel, at least to know what it is.  For example Saturday my comp felt like we should knock a specific street.  The next day, yesterday, we knocked the street and began teaching a lady who then accepted a return appointment for next week.  We also contacted another lady that seems interested as well.  It feels good to be able to receive revelation and have success.  We also felt the need to use the Book of Mormon a lot more while teaching.  We set up a plan to teach the first half of the first lesson using 1 Nephi 1.  It teaches perfectly prophets, dispensations and apostasy.  We are trying to set up the rest of the lessons with different chapters of the Book of Mormon.  Yesterday we had a Stake Conference where they called a new Stake President.  The old one had been there for nearly 9 years.  Elder Corbridge of the First Quorum of the Seventy was there and I enjoyed his talk.  Our Mission President was there too.  We are making steady progress and I am grateful to be here.  I am hoping that everything continues to go well.  As for the rest of everything, if we do a Weight reunion next year we would need to do it before Marc goes on his mission.  You did tell me that Rob had his baby.  I would like pictures if you could send them.  There are several cousins I don´t think I´ve ever seen that I would like to see.  How many are there now?  Well, I love you all and pray that everything continues to go well.
--
Elder David Skiles

Email of August 2, 2010

I hope you get back safely and everything goes well.  In my world things are going well and we have had more success.  We are steadily increasing our teaching pool and futures pool.  The Lord has people prepared everywhere one goes, that is for sure.  Some of the other investigators are beginning to dry out but we are trying to keep moving.  Probably the most spiritual experience this last week was last night.  We went to dedicate the home of an excommunicated member of the ward who we have been working with and the Spirit was strong.  We began talking about a lot of things and we helped him with a few things.  While talking I began to think about all of my experiences especially during the mission and I learned some important things.  I´ve learned a lot about people and how to help them, and a lot about the gospel.  I was thinking about everything and could see how my faith has changed.  There have been times where I have felt an absolute confidence in the Lord and have been able to work miracles that way.  I have seen how my testimony has grown.  I wouldn´t say that its gotten strong during the mission, just more active.  Yes it is stronger, but I didn´t gain my testimony here.  I´ve also learned more fully the principle of obedience and how it works.  I want to share a quote that my mission President just gave to me.  It´s from President Hinckley about the Gospel of Jesus Christ:
1. Faith is the power.
2. Obedience is the price.
3. Love is the motive.
4. The Spirit is the key.
5. Christ is the reason.
I like the quote and it explains very good principles.
As for another cool experience, my companion is from Woodscross Utah, right next to North Salt Lake.  We went to a less-active families house and began talking with them, and the sister got a call from her sister that also lives in Salt Lake, North Salt Lake to be exact.  They started talking a bit and began talking about her nephew that has been on a mission for about a year now.  Turns out that they went to the same high school and graduated together.  They know each other and everything.  Small world, no?  Well, I love you all and pray that you are all happy and safe.

--
Elder David Skiles