Testify of the Book of Mormon!

Sector- Lampa, Santiago
Companero- Elder Gonzalez
Carta- #88

Thats soooo crazy you got the flight information!!! whattttt hahaha its getting soo close!

We had two baptisms this week!!!! it was amazinggg!!! I'm sending pics right now!! I hope it works!! but the baptisms were amazing and super spiritual!!

Benjamin and his family were superrr happy because he was the only one not baptized in their family and they're working towards and eternal family so that is their next goal!! And the other is named Alicia and she was just super excited alll week for her baptism and she's just super humble it surprises me! on Sunday she paid her tithing even though she makes 30 dollars a week and was just super happy to pay her tithing. It's amazing to see people who have that kind of faith even though they don't have hardly anything. It's amazing to see that in the people here in Chile!! 

 
My companion goes home this week and we have transfers this week, I'm nervous for whats going to happen but I hope they don't change me!!! We're gonna have another baptism this week, a woman named Nancy is going to get baptized and her story is pretty amazing also. She had been sharing with the missionaries for a lonnnggg time and never ever accepted a baptismal date. But once she actually had a sincere desire she asked if the Book of Mormon is true and she felt that it was. That is what changed her. Once she was able to actually read it and feel the spirit she was able to feel what we were teaching was true. And that is how it is for all of us. I feel like once I finished reading the Book of Mormon for the first time, was when I was really converted and could become a powerful teacher and be able to testify of the things we teach. It's amazing. And I love the Book of Mormon now. I know that when I get back I will read it everyday and it will be a great blessing always!!!

We´ve seen so many miracles of conversion and it strengthens my testimony every time. The lord has blessed us soooo much and I'm soo grateful for that. I know it because we have been diligent and worked with all our hearts. 

Alicia and Benjamin!

 

More pictrures from the Baptism!

Familia Soto!

Theyre the bestttt hahah

Thats her boyfriend and we're working with him now so that he gets baptized also.

Family I love you so much!!!!

Tell Chelsea congradulations!!!!!! haha and tell Chandler I say hi.

Hey! I asked Ian if he wanted to room with me also!!! He said he's going to BYU-Idaho so that will be cool.

Be Committed!

Sector- Lampa, Santiago
Companero- Elder Gonzalez
Carta- #87

Thanks for the amazing email!!! It's amazing what we can do when we put our mind to it, and we're truly committed to doing it. I think that once I really liked the mission and committed to it, was when I really was converted and started having success. And from that point its just been a blessing and not a sacrifice to be on the mission. I've always thought it would be a sacrifice, but now I see it as the biggest blessing in the world to be able to gain the testimony I now have. And to be able to help others have that as well. That's the best part!! the scripture I always think of when I think about my mission is Alma 29: 9-10. It explains what the joy of the mission is. And also all of chapter 26 in Alma is pretty amazing and explains pretty well the joy of the mission. It's amazing how much joy the gospel brings us and blessings. And it's amazing the love that God has for us. I don't see these two years as a sacrifice.  I give to god, hoping that it will please Him, I know it will please Him to see someone trying to do the best they can, I see it as a blessing to be able to serve and knowing that I don't even have the smallest part of the blessings I will receive for the mission.

 
We have 2 baptisms this week!!!! WHATTTT the miracles that are happening here in Lampa are amazinggg!!! haha we have the baptism of Benjamin, the son of a less active that we´ve been teaching that now is active and her whole family is coming from super far away for her baptism. The other baptism is Alicia and she's an older lady that we´ve been teaching that is just super receptive and loves the church and has soooo much faith! She makes 30 dollars a week, and she was soooo excited to pay her tithing when we taught her about the blessing it is to do it. It's amazing how she can do that with an income of 30 dollars a month, and she hardly has money to buy food. She's super humble and it's an amazing experience to see how humble some people are. We found another family this week that have a baptimsal date, and they're superrrr good!!! there's just miracles all around. If theres one thing I can learn from the mission is that when we have faith we can do whatever God wants. And God always wants us to be successful. I know that will help me for the rest of my life!!!

Me with Nancy shes getting baptized may 30th!!! so excited!!!

Eduardo De La Jara, he's a sculptor and he makes bulls haha he just got baptized last week

Batpism of Eduardo De La Jara! hes super cool and he has goals to get sealed with his gf whos member!! Siicck!

I love you Guys!!!
I hope you have a great week!!!

I only have 12 more weeks left don't worry I'll be there soon!!!

Love,
Elder Nate Dirkmaat

Be Strong in the Face of Temptation

Sector- Lampa, Santiago
Companero- Elder Gonzalez
Carta- #86

Hey family,

Well this week was pretty sweettt!! the bestt part was that we had 8 investigators in church!!! That was AMAZINGG!!! and they're progressing sooo well! It's amazing how much success we're having, I feel sooo blessed in this sector. My companion is going home this change but he's super focused and he works super hard so it's a blessing to be with him also. We're super good friends and we're always just joking all day it's cool haha. He said he's gonna study in BYU because he speaks english.

We're going to have a baptism this week of a guy named Eduardo. He's like 36 years old, and he's had a ton of problems to be able to get to his baptism, with the word of wisdom, and with the law of chastity, but he has been able to finally leave those things behind, and be determined to follow God. It's been amazing to teach him, because I've learned how I can be stronger in the face of temptation, and how to help others overcome that temptation. And to trust in God. It's been a long time since he's been with the missionaries, but we're grateful that we're finally able to see his baptism. He has a girlfriend that's member and they have plans to be sealed. That is really how he overcame the temptations and all his problems, because we told him to always remember which way he faces. And the way he faces, is being able to spend all eternity with his future wife. And as he looked to his sealing always, he put goals, and he was able to be stronger because he thought of the blessing to be sealed with his girlfriend in the temple. It's amazing how when we take that step of faith and put goals and we pray to be able to complete the goals, God always comes through and is able to bless us.

We're also teaching a family that has been less active for a long time, and really has passed through sooo many difficulties in life, and on our first day here we were both new here in lampa. And we were outside with our suticases, and Judith comes up to us and asks us to visit her. So we went that night, and we were able to become friends with her and all her family. And ever since then, we always go by, and they go to church every single Sunday. Her daughter is starting to go to mutual, and Seminary and everything. And the best part is that were going to baptize her son!! he's preparing for his baptism and he's suppperrr excited! Its been amazing to be able to teach her and her family, because I've really been able to see how they've been blessed through going to church and keeping the commandments. She prayed and prayed for help, and God sent us and I feel sooo blessed to be able to be an instrument in the hands of God and help people like her and her Family to be able to come unto him, and receive blessings that will last for eternity. We're helping her boyfriend to be able to come to church, but its a little difficult, but I know he will someday, because I know he knows the things we teach are true. 

That's a little bit about the families were teaching! and i'ts so amazing to be able to help these people and see the blessings of God. I LOVE IT!

I Love you family!!! IM sooo excited to talk to you guys on sunday!! At 4:30 my time!!!!
On Google Hangout!!! Its gonna be siiick!!!

Love you guys,
Love.
Elder Nate Dirkmaat!