These steps are making my thighs HUGE!

A centipede we found while doing a service project at the bishop's house

The Bishop's sister who reminds me of the old woman on Brother
Bear who talks to spirits!

The Bishop's house is like George of the Jungle

January 19, 2015, "What manner of teachers ought we to be?"

Hey guys! another week wow!  They are actually starting to go by pretty fast now! I cant believe we are more than half way done with January... 

but really nothing happened this week, so I will just talk to you guys next monday, yeah?

hahah just kidding ;) 

Things are great here! My companion and I are getting along, and we are starting to slowly see more success in the sector. Little by little, for example we have been able to get more peoples address and phone numbers and set appointments for future days (thats about as far as our success goes here so far)  but its all good. We are working super hard, and its been WRETCHEDLY HOT this week! Every day I bring a little hand towel in my back pack, because I have to keep pulling it out to wipe the sweat off my face and neck! And my shirt collar is already brown after 1 day of using the shirt. but its all good! 

I read all the Ensigns here, because I have like half an hour to an hour of time in between exercise and study in the morning, and after planning at night... so I usually spend that time reading the Ensign. There was a talk I think in the December 2014 (if I'm not mistaken) that was called "What manner of Teachers ought we to be" It was super cool! Given by the Sunday  school general presidency. It talked all about the way the savior taught, and how we should emulate all of his traits, especially in teaching the gospel! Something that really stood out to me was how he would perceive the thoughts of the people! I know that this is done through spiritual gifts, because Ammon was able to do the same with King Lamoni. But what I loved was that it said, Jesus Christ ALWAYS uses questions to teach. He would ask what Preach My Gospel calls "Inspired questions" to then be able to discern the thoughts of the people. Yes Christ already knows everything and doesn't have to ask any questions, but I believe he taught in this way, to give US an example! I used to think that to be able to discern the thoughts of the people, it would just come as pure instantaneous knowledge. (I think It can happen this way also, but its more rare) We need to be actively in tune with the spirit, to ask the Inspired questions, that are going to help us to know exactly what we need to say! I don`t know if that makes much sense, but I was really impressed with what I learned :) 

I am going to spend a lot more time studying (NOT JUST READING) about the Savior. I am making it a goal to deeply internalize his perfect example. There is a scripture in Doctrine and Covenants that talks about the people (us) receiving their first lessons about the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the premortal life, and were being prepared to come to the earth and teach this to the people that don't have this in their lives already! We are all here for a purpose. We have been given the Gospel of Jesus Christ, with the burden of expectation, that we will share it with anyone and everyone we can, for our whole lives! Its a big responsibility! But with the scriptures as our textbook, and Christ as our teacher we can all become better missionaries! :)

Umm... something funny yesterday that happened was the Bishop came up to me just before sacrament meeting and handed me a letter, It was in English and he asked me If I would read it and translate it, because he figured it was important but he couldn't read it... so I put it in my pocket, and went into the meeting. My companion and I passed the sacrament like normal (because there is only really 2 active young men in the ward 1 is 18 years old and blesses the sacrament with his dad every week, and the other is 16 but is super sick and cant pass the sacrament) anyways... after the meeting I opened the letter. To my surprise I found that It was supposedly "revelation given by Christ to Warren Jeffs" the prophet of the Federalist Latter Day Saint Church....  its was complete garbage! I only read a little bit of it, because I didn't know what it was... but it was funny that this letter was sent to I don't know if all the bishops or whoever got it, but it was complete rubbish! I told the bishop that he didn't need me to translate it, it was of no value. But later I thought it was kind of funny... that I passed the sacrament with  pure Anti-Mormon literature in my pocket! oops! 

Well, hope you guys have a great week! 

Chao, Love

Elder Hartvigsen 

January 12, 2015, hardships

Buenos dìas queridos amigos y familia.

Well we just finished our multi zone dodgeball tournament this morning, which was pretty fun!! Its super hot here still, and actually been a really nice summer so far! Whats the weather like for you guys? umm.... so as far as the missionary work here in this sector, if I havent already mentioned it... its super hard! (sorry if I already said all this) With all the huge hills, and having to travel by bus pretty far to one part its really hard to bring members with us to the lessons. (We are supposed to bring members with us everyday if possible). Plus all the members here are OLD! Its a super old ward, and also we have had no success as far as people to teach. Because we have taught some people but it just never ends up working. Every one of our investigators kind of just ends up "dying" like they dont really progress. Its sad to see them missing out on the incredible blessings that the gospel of Christ has to offer.

 I am prepared that even if we try our very best in this sector, and are 100 percent obedient and everything... we may not have 1 baptism, or reactivate 1 less active, or see any "success" and I'm ok with that, because people have their agency, and us as missionaries can only do so much!

Also its difficult because I felt like I "knew the scriptures" so well before my mission. I could easily pull out a scripture to share with someone who had a question, or concern, or anything... but now I don't know why its so difficult to do that in Spanish! mostly because when I flip open to find a scripture where I kind of know where it is... its super difficult to scan and find the verse. Also because my english scriptures are so decking marked... but Im starting from scratch in blithering castellano (spanish) haha.... But nah its all good!

Hope you guys have a good week, and just know that I know that the  mission is the "university for the rest of my life!" despite all the hardships... its crucially important (the whole package: the hard, and the harder) to learn and grow, and become the person Heavenly Father wants me to become!

I love you all!

peace out from south america

Elder Hartvigsen <3

Jan 5, 2015 A new Companion, Elder Cruz from Spain

Elder Cruz

DAD... you will appreciate this! there were like 5 or 6 dogs just sitting here perched on this sidewalk this morning, in front this meat market. They look like Skye, just sitting there with ninja like focus hoping someone gives them some meat!  I was laughing and had to take a picture :)

Hey guys! Well Its 2015 already... thats kind of cool! Although it feels no different of course. Well its been a little difficult this week, to train my new companion on the area. Like, I have to explain all the progress about the Investigators, members, less actives etc. Its a little overwhelming also... because Elder Catròn was so independent, and really didn't spend time to make sure I understood everything that happened. Also, the first day of the week, was SUPER RAINY and it everything is harder when its wet outside! ... But Elder Cruz is COMPLETELY different than Elder Catròn. Which is good, and also not good... because I am just not used to it!

Elder Cruz has this Spanish accent that I am so not used to! haha its funny... he is from "Barthelona" not Barcelona :) I think we need a little time to work out the wrinkles, and get to know each other. He also doesn't speak english at all... and its good for me to practice, but frustrating at times when I have a hard time trying to explain things, and I don't understand a lot of things he says! But hey, its all part of the mission experience right?? :)

We got to see fireworks from our apartment on New years eve, and that was fun! I will send pics... And also funny story: We had Octopus empanadas a couple of days ago! Yeah... that makes it sound way worse than they were, haha here is the story. We had lunch with this lady, (one of the rules in the mission is that we cannot eat seafood. fish is okay.... but any other seafood we cant eat!) After the main course of lunch, she brings out the empanadas, and we didnt know what were in them... and just starting eating them. And realized they were strait seafood! They had chopped up octopus, crab, and onions all cooked together, they were actually pretty good! but... we all kind of looked at eachother and realized we should probably just eat them, rather than tell her we cant eat this lunch she prepared for us! Also because she didnt know we were having lunch at her house until late the night before I called her just to make sure (which we usually dont even do) and she didnt know... so I already felt bad that she had such short notice, haha so we were not about to deny her octopus empanadas :)

But this week actually went by pretty quick, and we are trying to work hard with the members now... because they say thats the key to missionary work. But this ward is just super hard because its pure old people! Hardly any younger people. There is 2 young men, and 3 young women in the ward... its a really difficult sector (physically, and with the members and everything) But hopefully my sectors after this will be a little bit easier! but yeah, hope you guys enjoyed christmas break... and fight through this next semester :)

Love you guys!

Chao
Elder Hartvigsen

December 29, 2014 Transfer day! A new companion for me.

Dec. 22, 2014 Feliz Navidadeery!

Hey guys!! So some things that happened last week are as follow: ... first off, last monday felt awfully weird shopping in the electronics department. Because my companion had to buy a laptop for college because he goes home next week. And its crazy all the electronic stuff (laptops, tablets, etc.) are WAYYYY cheaper here than in the US, and apparently in Argentina too! And I did finally end up buying some pants that fit me mom... and I didn't realize it, but I bought 2 pairs of dry clean only pants...  what a burden!  so who knows how thats gonna work, I just gotta freaking lose weight ;)

Yesterday at church, there is this really cute 12 year old boy with down syndrome in the ward named Alisandro. He got to pass the sacrament the first time with the help of my companion. Of course his mom and sister were crying because they were really happy for him to have the opportunity to do it! And while passing he kept looking back at his mom with the biggest smile you can imagine... and giving her thumbs up every couple of minutes! :)  it was so sweet! Also my comp and I went to the hospital to give our Bishop the sacrament. He has like a rock in his intestine or something...  thats what everyone has explained to me, I really don't know but he is actually pretty sick. So we went to visit him, and this is like the 4th time we have been to this hospital either giving blessings to people, or administering the sacrament. Of course I love being able to go serve people there... but not gonna lie, the hospital here creeps me out! Its definitely not like one in the US, there are 8 people to each room, and every so often this lady comes into the room with a cart and like gives shots to everyone, and changes their little IV bags, and I don't know why... it just kind of creeps me out being there.  maybe because it brings my memories back to all my awful procedures this past summer :/

And something funny was yesterday hitchiking back from an appointment... My companion always sticks his thumb out to catch a ride from people, its nice because we don't have to wait for the bus or pay either...  but it works!! But yesterday this one pretty small car stopped to pick us up, and there were already 2 rather large individuals in the back seat and I was thinking to myself there is no way we are fitting back there! haha but low and behold, all 4 of us SQUEEZED in! I ended up with half my bum on my companions lap, and the other half on this strange, very large, old mans lap! And with my head crammed up against the roof of the car. hahah I couldnt help but just chuckle to myself this whole event that was transpiring :)

We had a Christmas program this week, where us 4 missionaries sang 2 primary songs, and My comp played the guitar, Elder Ospina the Ukulele, and Elder Jensen the piano... and I sang! haha not kidding! Elder Ospina and I sang, (I still don't know how they got me to do it) no it wasn't too bad actually... we just didn't have microphones and no one could really hear us, but it was a good activity there were quite a few non members there too :)

Dad... you asked me a while back "What missionary work smells like"?  well let me tell you, If you`re in Tumbes... it can only smell like a couple things. Seaweed, fish, or crab. haha literally everyone has huge tarps of seaweed laying out in the street! I think they are drying it to use later, and it just reeks! I do not like the smell of sea food of any kind! Also we taught one lesson to a couple ladies who were working to crack crab legs and pull the meat out for their restaurant. They had little hammers smashing the crabs, and removing the meat while we talked. Every so often I would get a squirt of crab juice in my eye, or on my shirt! hahaha

And now something cool I learned from the scriptures :)

I encourage EVERYONE to read in Preach My Gospel page 105 the box that gives all the scriptures that the Book of Mormon prophets give their reasons for writing their records. Seriously its so interesting!!! Nephi talks about how he doesn't really know why he was commanded to keep this record, he just obeys! And Mormon, Alma, and Nephi all talk about how its being written "For a Wise purpose in the Lord" and its so cool to think about the Lord preparing all these people so many years ago to keep this record all for the purpose that it could benefit those of future generations and give convinving evidence of the Savior Jesus Christ! Seriously guys these passages are worth studying! I testify of the Book of Mormon as well. It truly is the word of God! I hope we are not taking for granted this incredible gift that our father in Heaven has given us!

FEAST upon the words of Christ! For they truly will tell you ALL THINGS that you should do! I absolutely love the Book of Mormon! And I am studying all the conference talks which are so incredible! STUDY THOSE TOO!!!!

The wisdom and knowledge we attain here in earth is really only one of the few things we take with us into the next life! Dont miss out on opportunities to learn from the scriptures :) Love you guys! have a great week!

yrreM samtsirhC :)

Elder Hartvigsen

Dec. 15 I don't think I will be having a white Christmas

Hey guys!! How goes it? ;) Things are good here. The weather is great, and If I`m lucky... I might even be sunburned this Christmas :)  Its fun to have 2 summers in a row, and weird at the same time to see Christmas decorations when its blazing hot out. We had to go get my visa taken care of this morning, because the police have been hunting me down for the last 2 months... because I don't want to be an illegal alien here... but now I`m finally LEGAL! So I can relax a little bit :) 

 I hope you guys had a good week! Mom... since you said I usually say "nothing new happened this week", I have begun writing down little things during the week that I think are funny or that I think you guys would want to here... and so here are those from this past week :)

t

Yeah, remember the Woman we are teaching with 4 (3 or 4 year old) girls at the house... (2 of her daughers, and 2 of her nieces) yeah... they are still CRAZY during the lessons.  They take our agendas every time, and draw all over them, and we kind of just let it happen to try to keep them quite and have a LITTLE bit of the spirit here... also they have this dog named Pancho. Poor little thing...  because there is this one little girl that is so naughty, that literally abuses Pancho :(  This little girl grabs pancho by the tail and pulls him around the floor, while he is kind of nipping at her. And she backs him into the corner and kicks him too! its bewildering!!! 

Oh, and its super common for the houses to be blasting music too! Some people can't afford a TV... but they always have MASSIVE speakers, and they blare music! But one house we talked by was playing Rascall Flatts...  which is super uncommon to here country music here. Oh, my heart ached for some good country music though! Rascall Flatts "What hurts the most" just made me think of Me, Mitch, and Trev, jamming out to country tunes :) ahh... good times!

For those of you that are unfamiliar with Public Transportation in South America... let me try to paint you a picture of what the city buses are like. Every time I ride in them, I feel like I am in Harry Potter 3 in that magical double decker bus, that the crazy old guy drives at night through the muggle streets. He is traveling basically at "Light Speed" while the people are all just calm sleeping on the bus, and stuff and he zooms in and out of lanes, and around cars, pedestrians, and other obstacles in the road. And constantly slamming on the brakes to stop and pick people up, and usually doesn't even fully stop for people to get off. Its not uncommon for him, to just keep rolling slowly and you just kind of jump out at your stop!  seriously, its a fun experience :)

I think here in Chile, you get to just choose whatever number you want your house to be too... seriously, NONE of the house numbers make sense. You will be walking down a street that the numbers are like 56, 58, and then jump to 263, 265, and then back to the 100`s or something.  They never make sense. I just laugh most of the time, but we can never find what number the house is we are looking for.... and I think people give us fake numbers a lot of the time too. They don't want to say no to you, so they just give you a fake number. Its a problem here...

And last but not least, remember Hermana Berta (the lady who gives us MOUNTAINS of food)??? yeah, she is really sweet and all... and reminds me of Grandma Jessie actually. 1 because she looks a lot like her, and 2 because whenever we go to visit her and her less active family... we walk in and sit down, and then she leaves the room without saying anything... and comes back with Juice and cookies, or soda and crackers, she is like Grandma always having sweets around the house, and INSISTS on us eating them :)  well those are some thoughts from this week, Hope you guys enjoy your last week of school before the break! Everyone here has finished up school, and is on summer break!

Love you guys!

Elder Hartvigsen :)