Happy Turkey Day

Hello from Arica Chile,

I'm doing alright. Hangin in there. The days get hotter and hotter here in Chile. I would imagine it's like 150 degrees or something but I could be wrong. They use Celsius degrees so who knows... Chile... I get made fun of about 5 times a day of how little I eat... It's not my problem I have a small stomach... Chileans. The strike for the trash just ended.... Literally 3 weeks of Chilean trash in the streets was not a very fun site to see... Chile... When people don't get what they want they go on strikes...

I explained what a ¨Feria¨ is a while ago, but I feel like It deserves another explanation, A Feria is like a GIANT garage sale but it goes down the streets and people bring tents and line them up for about 2 miles down the street and sell the most random stuff ever. You can find whatever you need in a Feria. That is how 50% of Chileans make a living. They buy giant portions of stuff from the United States at a really cheap price and then sell them... Anyway the other day we walked by the Feria and I saw jerseys, all kinds, baseball, basketball, football. and there were about 50 HIGH QUALITY jerseys that would sell for about 75-100 bucks in the States and they were selling them for 3 Mil, about 6 dollars..... That's Chile for ya... So obvi I bought a Dallas Cowboys, Marion Barber Jersey worth about 100 bucks for only 6 dollars.... Pure Gold... I was happy. But it's gigantic but I don't care. It's still cool...

We met this really nice drug dealer the other day. He wants to listen to us... He sells Cocaine.... haha funny guy. All the little kids here call the Missionaries Tio, as of right now you all can call me Tio Paxman or Tio Pacman cause none of the Chileans can pronounce my name correct. Tio means Uncle by the way... Spanish....

Yesterday we were touching doors and we were able to enter and found a family of new investigators. It's very difficult to find- teach a whole family so we were super happy. The mom was very very receptive and the kids as well. I love families who will do anything to help the missionaries. Dirt poor families who give us a drink of juice even though it's the last pack of juice in the house... I love the mission and the people here. 

Pretty slow week with our investigators. Our 3 Fechas are having a little problem with their divorce from her previous marraige and might have to go to trial which will delay the baptism for about 6 months... Very sad news but I had a feeling of peace after going to the Lord about the situation. All will work out with them :)

Other than that nothing much happening. Chileans don't celebrate Thanksgiving so it will be a normal Thursday here in Chile for me. I´ll be thinking of you all this week, especially my Aunt Cherie. We find out our Cambios this Saturday.... I got to see my best friend, Elder Sargent the other day. He's a stud... I'm lucky to have him here with me. 

Love you all, Have a very Happy Thanksgiving :) I have a front row seat to the greatest miracle of all, the affect of Christ's atonement on individuals and their families. Nothing like the mission. Love you.

Elder Paxman