Aug 8, 2016 The Light at the end of the Tunnel! (last letter from Chile)

p.s. these pics are of us painting at a members house, a lunch that a sister put the American flag on my chair because it was my last lunch there haha, also the last one on the right is of 2 sisters (the one in the orange is named Julia and is an active member and we eat lunch at her house every friday, the one in the pink is named Bernarda and is an inactive member who I hardly know, she is just super friendly and found out that I was going home this week, and wanted to give me a little party/dinner. So we ate dinner there and she bought a cake and everything, and even bought me this plastic motorcycle clock thing as a git haha :) sweet right?)

this is with the hermana Maria Cortez. Also me saying goodbye to a good friend Elder Abreu from Brazil. (we lived in Hualpen together for 6 months) also me in front of the Chile Concepcion temple. sweet right?? I mean I guess its sort of in the construction phase.... haha

Hey guys! So basically Im pretty trunky... because I am at President Catalas house right now, I have just finished my last interview with him, and I am with Elder Hepworth just writting now because at 6pm we have our last supper (final dinner with those that go home) and then I am going to sleep the night in Concepcion with the Elderes here, and then I have to go back to my sector and work for 2 more days!!! AHH hahaha. But its gonna be a good experience. We have got some good plans for tue. and wed. (a little bit of both saying good bye to members and FHE with investigators)

I dont have much to say, I am gonna send a couple fun pictures that we took this week... but other than that Im just super pumped to go pick you guys up at the airport and let our vacation BEGIN. I have been talking to Hermana Catala about places to eat and see in Buenos Aires so mom a couple suggestions would be to go to La Costanera and 2 restaurants are 1)"siga la vaca" that is apparently an all you can eat buffet of Argentina meat that sounds delicious. and the other one is "la bisteca" so you could look those up if you want and have them on the itinerary :)

Umm.... our most recent convert Ana Bravo was confirmed yesterday, and it was a great sacrament meeting. I bore my testimony (but definiately DIDNT say goodbye to everyone in the ward NOR give a "thank-a-mony") because you know how much I think a testimony meeting should always be about testimonies. But The bishop and one sister did say thanks to me in their testimonies and thanked me for all I had done.... so I guess I did feel good inside about that ;) hahaha

Well... stay strong. Read the scriptures daily if you want the Lords help daily in your life. And see you in a couple short days!

Love Elder Hartvigsen

Aug 1, 2016 Cloud 9

Hey guys. Wow.... so this week has been excellent!! I dont even really know where to begin haha. So I will start off with this. We FINALLY got a baptism here!!! The first one in a year in Lirquén. (I will attach photos) Her name is Ana Bravo. And I first just have to say that I recognize that I didnt do much in her conversion process... The Lord knows who he wants in his Church, and prepares them. We are just here to find them at the right point in their journey and teach them a little and help them feel the spirit to make the correct decision. She has participated in the church for many years, and was right about to get baptized like 7 years ago. But something happened and she didnt end up doing it. She sort of then just distanced herself because she just didnt feel ready. But I met her like 2 months ago at a ward activity where after she told me "I want to get baptized. Im sure about it now." And it took us a couple weeks to finally have our first lesson with her, but we did and she is obviously a reference from a member. She is best friends with this one family who have helped nourish the seed while she hasnt been attending church or anything.

Long story short, she had a baptismal date for august 6th and everything was going ood. but then last thursday our ward mission leader asked if we could possibly move up the baptism so that her husband could be there. Because he works in the south of chile and wasnt going to be there on the 6th. We decided to ask President Catalas permission and he said there was no problem (because she went to church for the 3rd time yesterday and got baptized immediately after the meeting). Also the rule is you have to be living all the commandment for at least 2 weeks before. But she drank tea a week and a half ago... but we hadnt even taught her the word of wisdom yet because it was all sort of a rushed process but president said its fine because she didnt know. But she accepted it immediately when we taught it to her. So in her baptism her husband and son were both there (along with like 20 other family members) but they both work in the south. And the son was so happy for his mom because he investigated the church for a whole year in Penco but never got baptized. He even went to institute for a whole semester. But said that when he is in lirquen he wants to go to church with his mom. Then her granddaughter tells her after the service that she would like to be a member of our church. haha so we scheduled a FHE with her on friday :)

I also directed the baptismal service, it was pretty cool. The first time Ive done something like that. And there was some technical issues with the restoration video we showed so I had to stall... I just taught the first lesson basically from God is our loving heavenly father up until the apostasy and said this video will clarify what happend after that then... haha it was funny. Also the guy baptizing her started doing the prayer with his left arm to the square (I was a witness so I was right next to the font and had to stop him and have him turn around to do it with his right arm) hahaha

Anyways we are seeing pure miracles in my sector. Im so greatful that the Lord is blessing me to see some results of our labors before I head home. We have had so many lessons with members present as well with is a huge blessing. Like it says it Doctrine and Covenants 59:21 nothing offends God more, than those that 1 dont keep his commandments and 2 dont confess his hand in all things.

Never forget where the blessing in our life really come from.

Love you guys tons! See you in 10 short days :)

(by the way I just feel like I am on cloud 9 this week... haha thats why I wrote that)

Love Elder Hartvigsen