Baptism

Wow... One of the greatest weeks in my mission... I say that about every week but this one was great! The weekend turned out amazing, On Friday we had a little activity in the church called stop light. If you were single you had to wear a red shirt, dating a yellow shirt, and married a green shirt. There was a lesson behind it all, which I don`t remember but it went really well. A ton of people came and enjoyed themselves. I wore a green tie... I'm Married to the Lord:)! (Jk I wore a red.. I am ashamed)

Saturday was the day of the baptism and it went amazing. Bastian and Gustavo are the most prepared people ever... I felt like I did nothing to help with their conversion. But everything went amazing. In that moment after the baptism both of them were hugging and bawling with their family members it hit me that this really isn`t about me. It's all for them. I was so privileged to be a part of this amazing experience with these 2 amazing future leaders in the church. In my baptismal interview with Gustavo, which is still my favorite part of being District Leader, he opened up to me and told me about the times he knew the Spirit was telling him this is the truth and how he is very excited to prepare for a mission 1 year from now.... What an amazing guy! Almost all the Family members of them aren`t members of the Church and it was amazing to see that Cultrual hall full of non members crying after the baptism because of the greatest decision Bastian and Gustavo will ever make in their life. I love the Mission for these experiences. I love standing in that font. There is nothing greater than saving souls!

Yesterday in church the confirmation of the Holy Ghost went perfect and both of them also received the Priesthood. It was my first time ever giving someone the Priesthood. Gustavo asked me to do it for him and then he also participated in the ordinance for his younger cousin receiving the Priesthood!!! What studs.... Nothing more to be said....

Our Papito, the husband of our Mamita, has been inactive in the church for about 15 years.... Yesterday he came..... Mamita and her 4 daughters were smiling ear to ear just soooo content. It kills them so much that they can`t go to the temple. It's the biggest goal in the family and after 15 years they took a small step toward it. A member from Copiapò has helped Papito with enough faith to come back. Just shows no matter how hard the missionaries try... members are always better. Save a life. Go talk to an inactive this week.. 54 people came to church yesterday. One of the greatest Sundays in my mission. Just with all the little miracles that occurred. I love this Gospel. I have come to love Tierra Amarilla with all my heart... That sounds really cheesy but I don`t want to leave.... I love these people so much... I never thought I would get to this point but I love the mission and this sector so much.

I ate pigs face yesterday... It was really quite tasty until they told me It was a pigs face... Then It didn't fall too well with me hahaha Funny missionary experience haha. My shoes broke... And my other pair of shoes have a hole in the bottom of them hahah I have a goal that I will make it all 2 years with my shoes.... Pray for my shoes please... They need the help.. and no I'm not going to buy new ones.... Its a goal, and I will complete it...:)

The district meeting last Tuesday went great. We talked about baptism... Those meetings go the best the least I talk. Our missionaries here in Tierra Amarilla and Paipote have the vision. Saving souls babyyyyy! I was able to go on an intercambio with my Zone Leader this past week. He is going home in 3 weeks. I was picking his mind of how to be a true leader. I look up to him sooo much, Elder McCusker is my role model here in the Mission. It was a great time to work and see how he teaches. I'm stoked for my cousin Spencer for his mission call to Ciudad de mexico... #ProudCousin. #MasChilenoQueLosPorotos 

Love you all. I'm happy don`t worry about me. 

Elder Paxman

Feliz Dia De Pascua

First of all a few new rules have come to pass in the mission. Most I don´t have a problem with but a few I gotta fix. 1st of all we aren´t allowed to burn our clothing for celebration of a certain time in the mission... hahaha Exactly RIGHT after my year mark hah I feel bad because everyone in my zone knew about it and it just is to take care of the name of the church if random people see missionaries burning their clothing. They get freaked out. So Ciera or anyone, do you mind taking off my picture on my blog-facebook wherever it is.. I didn´t know at this time haha. The second is we aren´t allowed to ¨chat¨ on emails. Some missionaries are planning with their parents when they are on internet since we have unlimited time to talk with them, It's just distracting. I don´t have a big problem with that just sometimes with mom. But from now on only 1 message to the individual person. So ya. Gotta be obedient:)

I received the Package from Ciera. I now have my Asea and also some candy that I haven´t seen in a year. I'm saving the candy for a special time when I need it. You never know. Thanks Dad for the package! I re sent my package with some Chilean knick knacks for the family hopefully this time it gets to you! 48 dollars to send something is too much this might be the only time I send a package hahah I'm a poor missionary. 

Today we took a 2 hour nap for P Day. This past week wiped me out... Those are the best feelings when you come home literally dead from walking, talking, teaching, feeling the spirit, knowing you gave it your all that day. Nothing better. I was fasting and praying this past week for something... I didn´t know what just for something to happen here in the Sector in Tierra Amarilla. We were low on people progressing towards baptism. My fast and prayers and yours as well were answered. There is a family of 2 kids who have been coming to the church for 2 years but their parents haven´t let them get baptized. We gave up on them about 4 months ago because of their past and the Dad wouldn´t talk to us. Long story short, the other Elders have been working with their cousin, Gustavo who has 22 years and is best friends with our Mamitas Daughters. He is such a great guy and is more than prepared to get baptized. I wish I could explain it better but ya he is amazing, anyway now that Bastian and Alesandra´s Dad is seeing their older cousin preparing to get baptized this Saturday the Dad gave Bastian permission!!!!!!!! Alesandra hasn´t come to church for the past Month so the Dad told her when she shows that she can come to church she can get baptized. We have a Fecha for her on the 3rd or the 10th of May. Pure blessings. Answer to my prayer. I would have never thought Bastian and Alesandra would get baptized while I was here. Bastian and I have become good friends this past week. Such a funny kid he really likes MMA Fighting so we have fun talking about that. He likes playing wrestling games on the XBox. He is a cool kid. He asked for me to baptize him so him and his older cousin Gustavo (The Chilean Hulk) are getting baptized this Saturday together. I still can´t get over the blessing the Lord gave us. Thanks to the great example of his older cousin it made it possible. I love Saving Souls!

Jenny Smith is still progressing well. We had to move her baptismal Fecha for the 17th of May. She went on vacation this weekend so wasn´t able to come to church but it's okay. Her best friend Alleen and the Mom of Alleen are also helping so much. We devoted ourselves this week to lessons with members. We were able to have the most I have had in my whole mission of 10 lessons with investigators with a member present. That's the way to work more efficiently and I can already see a difference here in our sector. We're gonna look to beat that 10 this week with 11. We had interviews with our President of the Mission this past week. President Dalton is the best. I look up to him so much. 

We went to Nantoco for my converts birthday party. She invited us to eat lunch with her family. We are working with her 2 younger siblings to get them baptized. They are a very very poor family and the lunch was such a humbling experience. You could tell they went all out to make the lunch a great experience. Just looking at it it would have been a normal lunch that we eat. But the family showed so much love and gave us all they had. They have a very humble house in the middle of nowhere. I felt very grateful after the great lunch. 

The branch has energy to work and grow. The members are leaving with us, 49 people showed up to church the other day. All is good. A drunk dude kissed my hand and then rubbed my hand on his head. Just the normal daily drunk people experiences. He didn´t kiss my companions hand. He wanted me :) All is good. Happy Easter.

Mom you´re the best. I love you.

The packages and letters we received

The famous "couch dog"

Street in my area

The dog that always follows us around

Recent converts - Ximena and Alleen. Amazing family here.

All my Jerseys I have accumulated in my mission (I'm obsessed with Soccer Jerseys)

Po

Hello Family and Friends po.

Things are moving along here in Tierra Amarilla po. I'm still running off my General Conference high and hope it lasts till next October. I'm trying my best as a Papito and District Leader to show the best example possible to the other Missionaries. The mission isn´t easy but like Elder Holland said, We don´t have an easy God. Looking forward this will all be worth it. I'm alright po. 

The Sector is doing just fine. Jenny Smith wasn´t able to make it to church and none of the other 20 people we Invited haha but hey, we always have next week. The Stake President came to Sacrament Meeting yesterday and announced that he is thinking of closing Tierra Amarilla and combining it with Paipote (the city next to us). He tried getting the members excited for this change that might occur so that.... well it doesn't occur. We can´t do this alone as missionaries. The assistance isn´t getting any better so obviously we have to do something different as a branch. I'm trying my hardest as a missionary here to get the members excited to leave with us to re activate some of the members who need help. I don´t feel like I'm failing just at times feel lost when I see the same things happening week after week. Closing down a branch is probably the worst thing that could happen. So I'm excited for the challenge :) lets go babyyyyy. We had some really spiritual lessons this week with some of our inactives and investigators. Just trying daily to help them realize the importance of the things we do, and how it will help them in their life po. 

My Comp has been sick this weekend so we spent a little time in the pension and I'm ready to get back to work. We walked around the other day with plans A, B, C,D, and E falling hahah I'm a professional walker hahah 3 and half hours of walking does the body good. One of the best feelings in the world is coming home after a long day knowing you gave it your all and knowing we get to do it again the next day. There is nothing like a mission po! 

There were a few more earthquakes here in Tierra Amarilla. Nothing too big, I was doing exercise in the morning when I felt the big one. It was fun po. 

Like I have said before, One of the greatest things as District Leader to have the opportunity to do is interviews for the baptismal candidates before their baptism to see if they are ready. I was able to do 2 of them this week. One of them is Jonathan, He has 22 years and is from Columbia. He has been trying to take out a date to get married to his partner for the past 3 months but the Chilean government says they can´t get married cause they are illegal... But they aren´t illegal so its been a whole mess but FINALLY they took out a date for the 9th of May to get married. He is the most humble, intelligent investigator I have had the privilege to talk to. He has read the Book Of Mormon, Duties of Priesthood Holders, Gospels Principals, and Doctrine and Covenants. He is sooo prepared and I wish I could express some of the things he told me... It was just one of the greatest experiences I have had here. So awesome that all he wants in his life is to be a worthy Priesthood holder. He gets it.... I love seeing people like that. Sorry that probably made no sense.. It was just a great experience po. 

I'm happy. Happy late Birthday Dave. So excited for Chance getting his call to the Dominican Republic and Braxton to Colombia. I have awesome friends. Po.I am officially a Soccer Nerd.. I love Soccer... I don´t understand myself at times. 

Elder Paxman Po