April 18, 2016 Lirquen forever more!

and the lirquen chapel is one of the biggest buildings here, and it looks huge from this side because you can see all 3 stories!

this is a BBQ that we did last night with this great guy named Jorge Rojas who is from Argentina.

this purplish house, is where we live! haha

Hey guys! so today is transfer day, and Elder LeCheminant is headed out to Talcahuano. And me and Elder Fuentealba are staying here. So Im actually really excited that I can finally go back to being in a normal companionship. Its going to be a lot nicer than the trio I think!

anyways, its nuts that I only have 2 and a half cambios (transfers) left. So I just have to blithering make the most of them!!! haha because I think I will probably finish my mission here as well! So this week we did another "meet the mormons" movie night for a ward activity. Its seriously a super great idea, because its a super great movie. And would be a very effective way for people to get to know the church. The only problem is that the members dont participate. We announced the whole activity and were invited everyone the entire week and when we started the movie (30 min. after the designed starting time) it was us 3 misionaries, and the ward mission leader and his wife, and 3 of the youth. hahaha it was a joke. Anyways people began to come nice and slowly and at the end of the night there were 20 people. No investigators.... but it was still a fun night. Thats definiately been the biggest struggle of my mission, GETTING THE MEMBERS EXCITED AND INVOLVED.

So on sunday the entire focus basically was "missionary work." Me and Elder Fuentealba gave talks in sacrament meeting, and the 2nd counselor in the bishopric told us before hand "if you guys can get the members to come up to you and ask when they can accompany you during the week, and give you references right then and there after sacrament meeting... you did an outstanding job!" haha I feel like I gave a good talk, because I shared what John Nichols shared in a church talk a few years ago that I have always loved. That every person on average needs 7 positive interactions or "touches" with missionaries or members of the church, to be able to accept the gospel. And how its similar to a game of football. With the goal being advance 100 yards to get a touchdown. Its possible. BUT VERY RARE that one players takes it for a 100 yard run and scores. It almost always happens that all the short yard gains, put together allow the team to slowly make it to the other end and score. Or in other words.... its possible for someone to hear the gospel for the first time, and in 3 short weeks be baptized immediately. Buts its not common! So thats why every one of our positive interactions we have with people talking about the gospel, all add up over time!

I also shared a story of how I was snowboarding one time when I was like 15 years old or so, and sat next to a russian man on the ski lift ( I have no idea if ou guys remember this or not) and how for a couple weeks before this I had been praying for an opportunity to share the gospel with someone. Living in Alpine utah, I had the desires, but had no idea how to do it, or much less WHO to share it with. So I was prompted that very morning to put a pass along card in my ski jacket, and so when I was sitting next to that guy, who asked me if I was a mormon, and how many wives dad had hahahe etc. I was able to simply give him the pass a long card and invite him to see lds.org

So after the talk, this girl in the ward comes up to me and gave me 2 super great references!!! Of her aunt, and her neighbor. Now Im not saying I gave an outstanding talk or anything. But I am gratful that the spirit was able to testify to her, during the sacrament meeting and she recognized the prompting and acted on it. Now Im just hoping and praying those 2 people will receive us, and progress :) and If not..... bueno, "¡hay que puro seguir no más po!" (you just gotta keep on trying!)

enjoy your beautiful utah weather, the rain is upon us here. haha :(

con mucho amor

Elder Hartvigsen

April 11, 2016 Punta de Parra

Hey guys, so we had a super great week this week. The highlight was definiately when we taught this super great 15 year old kid named Salomon. He just recently moved here from Colombia and seems pretty interested in our church. He is friends with an inactive kid (axel) and so we visited axel and his mom, and Salomon came over. Anyways, he committed to pray and wait for an answer about April 30 to be his baptismal date. And he committed to come to church with us, and then so did Axel and his mom (those two have not been to church in more than 5 years)....

We were super excited but sort of realizing that he probably wasnt going to come. Because ALL CHILEANS say that. They always commit to things and never followthrough. I think the reason he surprised us so much when he showed up to church is because he isnt Chilean. hahaha I know it sounds terrible, but I totally think its true! He and axel were the first ones to show up at church, then us, then we opened the church and waited for everyone else to arrive. I think he really liked it as well, so thanks for your prayers this week. We have found a great pèrson! Just keep praying that he progresses! ha :)

Also I had a mini cambio on wednesday where I forgot to bring my rain gear, and luckily a member let me borrow a yellow rubber rain jacket he had ( I looked like the guy from curious george ) But I was super grateful,... even though I got absolutely SOAKED from my thighs down, haha. 

And this morning we went on a super cool hike to this beach called "punta de parra" and I will send a bunch of cool pics. For the first time in my mission, I was actually TEMPTED to dive into the water. hahahaha the water was greenishly clear and gorgeous!

well we are in week 8... because this cambio has been an extra long one. I will let you know if anything happens in the transferes... have a great week! love you tons. And we will be talking on May 8th. #mothersday

con mucho amor

Elder Hartvigsen

April 4, 2016 Soaking up all 10 hours of General Conference!

Hellooo again everybody ;)

Well... I sure hope all of you were able to soak in ALL 10 hours of general conference this weekend! It was legendary :) Seriously. At about 12:55 on Saturday morning which would have been 9:55 am in Utah, I pictured you guys back home, and chuckled to myself seeing dad sitting on the coach with his iPad or notebook, and ready to rumble for conference. And trying to get cole and brit to come down from their rooms to watch because conference was just about to start. And I pictured mom in the kitchen making a fresh batch of Belgium waffles! YUMMM. I don't know if thats what really happened, just what I imagined to myself. ha. But seriously such a cool opportunity for all the members of the church in the entire world (15.5 million) to be gathered to hear the voice of the Lord through his chosen prophet and apostles.

I was on such a spiritual high, with some incredibly powerful talks, and music by the choir. And like Elder Holland put it "coming back to reality" can be tough sometimes.... "coming back from out mountain peak experiences". I really liked that. Both of my questions that I have been thinking about for a long time were answered in Conference. And just like I thought it would be, they weren't even necesarily something that someone said. But rather something that I knew I needed to change, or that I could do, based on how I felt (promptings of the spirit) when I watched the conference. 

And hey, how about those 4 new temples. cool right? Especially the 2nd one in Lima!!!! haha thats so sick!

Well our number one struggle in this entire zone of missionaries is getting people to commit and bring them to church. So please pray that we will be able to somehow through the spirit get to their hearts, so that they will understand the importance of church in preparation for baptism, and that they will have the desires to go!

I love you guys tons. And am so glad that we belong to the Lords church. And I rejoice again with Elder Stevenson.... that we will NEVER EVER again have to ask the question "Where are the keys?" Because we live during the restoration of the gospel, and the keys will never be taken again from the earth!

Remember that the greatest blessings of conference come "After the conference is over." Take advantage of the technology we have and Ensigns etc. to re-read and re-study the conference talks over and over again. They are scripture for us in our time, TODAY!

Con mucho amor

tu wachito lindo

Elder Hartvigsen ;)

Mar. 28, 2016 Pascua de la Resurreccion! (Easter Sunday)

Hey guys, so I hope you have all had a great week. Seriously this week has been super super good for us. Remember how I was sort of bummed last week for being a bit sick, and the work was just going really really slow. Well Im not sure what we did to deserve such a good week this week .... but we seriously have found so many different new people to teach. Granted not all seem like golden investigators, but there are a couple who seem promising. So we are excited for the chance to be able to work with lots of new people and see if they progress or not.

A funny story this week, is how we were knocking on doors on this certain street that Elder LeCheminant "hates" (because he has been here for 6 months and has talked to everyone on that street and really doesnt have much desire to keep knocking on those same doors hahaha. basically how I felt in Hualpén everyday) anyways... we knock on this guys door, that my comp had never talked to. And you have to realized that this house was a POOR HOUSE. Like seriously, Or at least from the outside thats how it looked. Made of 2x4s and plywood. With thin tin sheets to cover the walls and roof. Like the most basic of chilean construction that there is. Anyways the guy Reinaldo says know that he is sort of busy etc.... and Elder LeCheminant just says "can we please just share a 2 minute video with you about Easter and Christ´s resurrection?" and he was like... yeah sure really quickly, come on in. And Elder Fuentealba and I look at eachother both thinking the same thing. How are we going to show this guy the video thats on my thumbdrive when Im sure he doesnt have a computer even a half decent TV. anyays we walked in.... I immediately look on the wall to my left, and spot this BIG OLD 50 inch or so LG flat screen smart TV. hahahaha I looked back at elder Fuentealba and just had the biggest smile on my face trying not to let the guy notice. hahah and then I remembered I was in Chile. And thats how it is here... Brady knows what Im talking about. You could have the junkiest little shack as a house, and all the kids have smart phones, or tablets, and a big old smart TV. haha

And well on a sad note, I totally found out about the terrorist attack in brussels. And then a couple days later found out that Mason Wells was one of the missionaries, so that is just awful. Also a member showed me the interviews and stories online. So im sure you guys will have already sent me that stuff, but anyways thats just terrible. Keep them in your prayers!!

Keep getting pumped up for general conference, and remember to watch it with QUESTIONS IN MIND. I am doing the same thing, and I have the certainty that throught the spirit (not necessarily something that someone says) our questions will be answered. I know that this church is true. That Christ directs his church, and I also know that we are getting closer and closer to the second coming every single day. So thats why general conference gets sicker and sicker every 6 months! hahaha The prophet is inspired. Keep reading the scriptures daily too!!

Love you tons!

Elder Hartvigsen

Mar. 21, 2016 La Semana Santa, passover week, people eat seafood instead of meat.Thi

Elder Melo from Brazil!

This big ole completo for only 2$.  That ok with me:)

I'm in a sweater because winter is coming!

Hey guys! well its weird that this week is going to be easter and its not even April yet. haha well... what are we gonna do about it? So here in Chile there is a catholic tradition that apparently you are not supposed to eat meat during "la Semana santa" (the passover week) and so everyone eats seafood to replace their meat for those days.... haha its just another foolish tradition  pushed upon everyone here. luckily we aren't allowed to eat seafood here!! :) even though thats the only thing that people sell and eat in the center of town. eeewh it smells awful :/

I hope you have all seen the new church video "halleluja" its super great. Its powerful, and I love the part about the people showing picture of their loved ones that have died and stuff, and how "through adam all men die... but in christ all shall be made alive."

Grandma annette wrote me this week, which was really sweet of her and I responded with a thought from the scriptures that I had been reading this week. Helaman 14:14-17 talks about the importance of the resurrection. Well basically physical death is a NECCESARY STEP in life right. Its necessary that we die, because thats the only way to be able to be resurrected. And the resurrection is what brings us back to the presence of God, and allows us Eternal life. Its definiately worth studying (those verses, along with any other scripture related to the resurrection :) haha its super cool)

So this week, not gonna lie has been pretty hard. A long and not super great week, because I have been sick with a cold and a fever and have really just struggled with desires to work and everything. Because of my lack in physical strength and also the work is going incredibly slow here. Our ward mission leader isnt really doing much, and its hard to keep the members kicked into motion, and missionary work without the help of the members is 100% useless. So its been rough, and I get along pretty well with my comps, but just kind of different now that I have a companion that takes charge and wants to lead everything, and its just a whole difference type of experience than what I was used to the past few months.... anyways I dont want to complain or anything, but just letting you guys know how I feel. You cant always have amazing weeks right? 

But we did have stake conference and it was super cool how at the end of the saturday session the Stake President got all serious in his talk, and sort of emotional, and through his priesthood authority invoked a blessing upon all of us there in that session (there were very few people) and he blessed us that we (more specifically the members there) would be able to be a "light among their peers" and be an example to everyone. And that they would be blessed because everyone of them left something behind in order to come to that session that night, and that that act would not be forgotten in heaven, because WE ARE ALWAYS blessed when we put god first!

thats so true. I love you guys, have a great week. keep studying the scriptures, and know that trials are for our benefit...., even though we can almost NEVER see the benefit in the moment. it takes time to see :)

Elder ckelly hartsfinger

March 14, 2016 A Stake Conference for just Chile with Pres. Nelson

The empanadas Pablito taught us to make

Our district

Cooking in Pablitos kitchen in an old house he was born in 60 years ago

Cooking in a mud oven

Making Brazo de Reina a dessert with caramel sauce

Hey guys!!

So, first off thanks a ton for the birthday package mom. I loved the BYU shirts, and the candy :) I gave everyone in my district a Jolly Rancher sucker after district class and they loved them. Because half the district is from South America and has never seen those things before, so well done! ha Also I have a bunch of stories from this week.

1. While contacting in the streets, one of my companions goes up to this guy sitting down listening to a little handset radio and starts talking to him. And one of the first things my comp says in the contact is "Hey do you have any questions about religion in general for us?" (which by the way is a ROOKIE move. hahaha because first he probably is going to either ask a stupid question, or not know what to say and just end the contact haha) anyways the guy says "yeah I do have a question for you kiddos... what type of rooster was it that crowed after Peter denied Christ?" and we were all just busting up inside. I was like "uhh... an african rooster with green feathers???" haha. and he told us that in aramaic or somethig rooster actually means trumpet, and so it wasnt a rooster that crowed but rather the trumped that sounded in the night. We hear such crazy things talking to everyone all day in the street. haha

2. So Monday night after a family home evening we were coming back to the house and at 10 pm we were finishing our contacts, and this mini van stops on the street and this man jumps out of the car with a US soccer hat, and a BYU shirt and starts talking to us in english, and then his whole family got out of the car. and turns out it was a family from St. George who the dad had served in Lirquén 30 years ago, and the daughter just finished her mission in Viña Del Mar in January. and they were visiting their missions. It was super fun to talk to them, and it really cheered up our whole night. And their 2 little brothers reminded me exactly of cole and brit. they had BYU shirts, and nike elite socks, and retro flat billed hats and everything. haha it got me super excited to tour around here with you guys in august. The mom took a photo and I gave her your name and number mom. so if she hasn't called you yet, she will. she wants to give you ideas for when you come down here,  :) also they gave us a bunch of cookies (nutterbutters, oreos, chips ahoy etc.) super fun!!

3.We had a super special Stake Conference yesterday, that was transmitted from SLC and it went to all the stakes in Chile. And President Russel M. Nelson directed it, and him, and Elder Soares, and Dean M. Davies all spoke and they all spoke in Spanish! Which the members all loved, and I thought it was super cool as well. the theme was KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS. the same as pres. monsons talk, but directed to the saints in chile. which lets be honest a lot of members pick and choose which commandments to keep. like they drink de-caf coffee thinkings its okay because the caffeine is the reason why we don't drink it (which is not true) or buying bread on Sundays etc....

4. A super fun activity we did in the morning with the zone is where we went to the house of this member in the ward of the zone leaders in Penco and he taught us how to make empanadas and this dessert "brazo de reina" or "queens arm" which is just loaded with manjar (carmal dressing) and sugar etc. ha I will send pics, because the coolest part is how we cooked them. In a mud oven :)

P.S. the internet in concepcion wast working and so we are currently writting from Elder Fuentealbas grandparents hosue :) and we ate lunch here as well. haha :)

love you guys tons!!!

Elder Hartvigsen

March 7, 2016 The Bible and Book of Mormon support each other!

Trying to find people to teach!

Returning from lunch through the forest

Finding this "Mapuche" (the native Chilean Indians) family from our ward collecting pine cones

  Pine cones to use in their home made of brick and mud oven to made home made bread :)

other cool facts I leraned this week. We found this returned missionary (inactive) that HARVY UNGA baptized! 

and you know the kid from the movie 2 brothers, and all of the episodes on the mormon channel about him? yeah he was in Lirquén when the huge earthquake of 2010 hit Talcahuano!!

Hey guys,

so... things are going well here in Lirquén. We don't have any investigators really, but we are working on that. We are planning an activity to go to the plaza one day with a table, and a bunch of Books of Mormon and cool pass along cards that I made that how how the Book of Mormon and the Bible support each other, and how the B.O.M. clarifies a lot of things that are just lightly mentioned in the bible. Hopefully the activity turns out successful.

Oh Brady, something super cool is that this week I met an elder in my mission that is from Lima, Peru. Actually one of the wards you served in. His name is Ricardo Sialer and he is from the ward "Bolognesi in the stake "Chorrillos" and is the nephew of your ward mission leader Percy Sanchez. and is a part of the family Lomas-Mermutt. And turns out (mom and dad) that, that is actually the very same ward that we went to church when we picked Brady up in Lima. How cool right?? And Elder Sialer, told me that he remembers seeing me when we went to his ward. haha how crazy right, now we are in the same mission. I think he didnt' know Brady super well. He said he only left like once to accompany him or his companion I don't remember, but recognized me, and my last name obviously! 

   

... some cool things about my sector, every Thursday we eat in this restaurant called "El Rincon Marino" because the Bishop is the owner. And so we eat there for free, instead of eating at his house during the week. I am going to for sure take you guys there when you come yeah? Also the Bishop speaks english, because he served his mission in Arizona. And he has literally 5 brothers in the ward, and they  all have callings like the ward mission leader, the high priest group leader etc. ha they are a super strong family and are great. Literally all of Lirquén are family. Everyone married someone from their same ward, and they all just live their whole lives here so everyone is related. Its a great ward.

Also Get pumped for General Conference coming up!! Such a great experience. 2 different people while we were contacting them said, "no thanks I dont want to listen, I already have my religion.... but you know what, I LOVE your tabernacle choir you guys have, they are increible" and we were like "oh we know they are amazing... you know what on April 2, and 3 there is going to be a Mo Tab concert in Penco (the stake center) its going to be live transmitted from the united states. You guys gotta come!" I think we are going to have some visitors for general conference  :) haha

Thanks for the birthday packaeg mom. I havn't opened it yet, but it got here today. Love you guys tons!!

Elder Hartvigsen

pic "trying to find people to teach"