I'm Pregnant with my Second Son!!!

What a humbling phone call receiving my last transfer call from the assistants letting me know I will be finishing my mission opening a sector (Going to a sector where my companion and I don`t know anyone-streets-nothing) and training a new missionary, My Mission President wrote me saying ¨Thanks so much! Training a new missionary is a great opportunity to leave your legacy in someone else, become immortal as a missionary!¨ And Elder Mangum writing me saying ¨Enjoy training dude! I am so pumped for you. You guys are going to tear it up up there. Just remember, give it everything you got, every last drop. It will all be worth it. Enjoy every day! Your hijito is lucky to have you. I love you elder.¨ Im shaking of excitement and humbled with the trust the lord and president Dalton have showed in me. Having a missionary start off on the right foot, understanding how to be a real disciple of Christ, is necessary, Their first companion and first few months is something that will change the course of their whole mission-life... The responsibility of the Papito (Dad, or first companion of a new missionary) is vital. I can`t really put into words the excitement I have to finish my last 6 weeks with my second son, Giving it every last drop like Elder Mangum counseled me. I`m focused family, Even though I received about 15 Emails all telling me how excited they are to see me cause you received my itinerary, after a quick slap in the face and the thought of the new responsibility of my Hijito (son) I wouldn't want to be anywhere else these last 6 weeks.

I will be heading back up to Arica, which is a City at the VERY top of Chile. Right below Perú, I was there about 18 months ago, when I was just a young lad in the mission. I can`t explain how excited I am to see my convert Andrés who will be going on a mission to Perú on March 10th, along with seeing members and old Investigators in my Sector of Pukarani.

 I will be staying here in Iquique until Tomorrow night at about 2 in the morning, so technically Wednesday to head down to Antofagasta to have a great meeting- Presentation with all 18 new Missionaries coming in and 18 Trainers. to find out who will be companions with who. Its an experience that you never forget, I still can remember to this day the exact conversations I had exactly a year ago when I trained for the first time. With Elder Malan. Unforgettable. I will arrive to my Sector in Arica at 6:30 in the morning on Thursday and will get right to work getting to know the area, the bishop, the members, the Investigators, and finding new Investigators, along with my new companion. 6 weeks seems like such little time to do everything I want there. I have no time to waste. LETS GET TO WORK BABYYYYY BOO! I`m gonna work my kid to death, but a good type of Death don`t worry.... 

Its never easy saying goodbye, In such a short period of 3 months I have gained so many eternal friends here in Iquique, one of the most impactful sectors of my whole mission. The Converts, the Members, the Investigator, once again, impossible for me to describe my true feelings. Goodbyes stink.... (I was gonna write suck but then I thought that wasn`t a missionary word) I love these people, I love the mission. I am leaving so many great friends, but awaiting even more in Arica.

I dry cleaned my suit for the first time since the MTC, about 21 months... hahaha I`m so funny.... 

Well on that Note I will talk to you all Next week, letting you know how the sector is in Arica, who my son is, and more miracles that are bound to happen... This upcoming transfer will teach my son and I how to really trust in the lord. 

With lots and lots of Amor

Elder Papito Paxman

Pica

Family and Friends.

 

First of all, what a great P Day today. Go look up ¨The Oasis of Pica¨ on google Images. Its about a 2 hour drive into the middle of the Desert from Iquique. Its a small... Oasis hahah gorgeous... We had a good time. There is too much to visit without a car but we were able to enjoy the calm Green town of Pica. Unforgettable memories. I want yal to go there someday, its an 8th wonder of the world.

A revelation that came to me this week was something I saw a ton, With all the investigators that just don`t see the importance of completing the committments we leave them they always come to us the next visit apologizing, and telling us why they couldn`t but really it came to me after hearing the same excuse-reason for the 4th time in the same day of why they couldnt read the Book of Mormon I came out and stopped them and explained that its not a committment with us... They shouldn't feel bad one little bit with us when they dont complete, we as well shouldnt feel bad knowing we gave them all the oppurtunities to complete. It's a committment between the investigators and the Lord. We are the tolos, I am a servant. I would like to see more people complete though...

The sector is getting better and better everyday. We had a lot of investigators but now the quality and quantity of investigators is going up, its truely a miracle. A new investigator this past week that bore his whole heart to us Alvaro (18 years old) is my life long friend and I`ve only seen him twice. Such a prepared heart wanting peace. He gave me a yellow card (cards used in soccer) signed by his favorite referee. That's friendship right there. So many other great things happening in the sector.  

If you ask me how to describe my Chilean Experience in 3 words it would be

Rice and Chicken.. Every meal... wow...

Elder Cloward (Roomate) was walking down the Street and found 2 baseball mits for 2 Mil each (about $3.50).... Oh the Miracle.... We played catch for our excersie one morning... I can`t say much more than that without getting too teary eyed.

If anyone needs help on getting legal here in Chile, Elder Paxman knows the whole process of making it happen... So many hours spent in the government building. It's a fun service really, I like it...

It really has been a blessing having my bestfriend here in the mission with me... Especially cause he lives only 20 minutes away I`m able to see and talk with him oft... Shoutout to my Boy Elder Sargent.

Here in Iquique in the middle of the summer you see a whole ton of tourists... The cool thing is lots of Gringos (White Homies) are here on vacations... Something that I have came to realice while talking to them in English is that a mission in the states and a mission in South America would be compleeeetly different.... I have never been rejected so hard in my life tan with these Gringos hahaha so direct when talking about Religión... Respect to the Missionaries in the states. But its still fun talking to them and asking where they are from. Like I have said before Iquique is like a mini Miami.... You find everything.... I love it.   

Preach my Gospel along with the Scriptures have been my focus in my personal and companionship study these past few weeks. I`m getting better... I`m learing... I`m changing I hope... I love that fact of being able to change through these inspired books. Dilligence is a necessity.

I feel like I say the same things week after week, I hope you aren`t bored of my emails yet. 

 

 

Cerro De Dragon

Como están Familia y mis Amigos,

Great week. The Iquique, Lynch is booming. So many investigators who are really just being dropped from the Heavens prepared. A few of them went to church without us even knowing them. Miracles happening of getting calls from random people telling us they want us to tech English to their whole family, and turns out they are more receptive to the Gospel than to the small English class I gave. Now they only want to hear the lessons from us hahah. Really we are just seeing blessings here. I don`t think I have prayed so hard in my life for prepared people... The majority of the people we find need to get married so at this point in my mission, as my President told me in our interview on Friday, "Just because you won`t see these people get baptized doesn`t mean they aren`t your Eternal Friends, Up until the last name and address you write down, the very last day of your mission, those people will come up to you in the Celestial Kingdom and thank you Elder Paxman, for helping them". President Dalton has his way of always saying the exact things I need to hear. The interview was needed and we talked about a lot of other things to keep me motivated and I`m good now... working, finding those Eternal Friends. Writing down names and addresses. But like I was saying.. My prayers are being answered. I have so much faith and trust in the Lord. It's incredible what he knows I need each point in my life. I am so weak, it's so hard for me to accept why I am the way I am, but I know the Lord has it that way for a reason. It's not meant to be easy. And trust me it's still not easy. All this time in the mission, and I still have not overcame some of my biggest weaknesses, the most important weaknesses, The most Notable from the people around me; but Like Elder Palomino told me the other day, the atonement is meant for situations like that. I`m learning more and more, sometimes the same things over and over about the atonement daily. The flesh is weak. I`m imperfect but I know the Lord has me the way I am for a reason. I`m very content with the fight I'm on, That daily grind like Elder Sargent always says #ShoutoutMonday I don`t know if that Paragraph made any sense but ya.. it's how I feel. I am forever greatful for my weaknesses the Lord has gave me to overcome. I am forever greatful for this mission, the only way I could have come to know of these weaknesses.

The investigators who are progressing most are The Familia Cáceres, Marraige We hope is on the way, Alejandro (Brazilian) he is going to Bolivia but will return soon, Carlos (He randomly showed up to church with his daughter yesterday and he is very receptive, looking for a change in his life), Sandy (Complicated Situation), Maria (Finally we made a leap with her, We talked about the Family History and baptisms for the dead, eyes and hearts where opened in that lesson. So amazing the spirit felt talking about how her son who recently passed away how she can see him again. I see a great future with her), La Familia Paucar (English Class Miracle)... hahah I just realized that everyone on that list except for the Familia Càceres are from another country other than Chile hahaha thats how the Misión Chile Antofagasta is... We teach sooooo many foreigners hahah, I love Bolivians and Peruvians but of course Chileans also :) Success is happening here in Iquique. We are working so hard. Keeping the vision in mind. 

After writing my email last week, I got stuck reflecting on 2014, my only full year in the mission... How grateful I will forever be for what I learned, experienced, saw, lived, etc.. in 2014. My Companions in 2014, Elders Mangum, Malan, Choque, Antonio, Mendez, Cómena, and Contreras. The Families I met, Eternal Friends I made... It's impossible for someone to put into words. I just want yal to know, I will never forget most likely the most important full year of my life. 

I would like to wish a very happy birthday to my lovely sister Ciera Lancaster, and my homie brother Zack Markel. !Cumpleaños Feliz (FELIZ FELIZ) Te Deseamos a Ti (A TI A TI) Cumpleaños Ciera y Zack, Que los cumplas Feliz. The Chilean birthday song. Eat extra Cake for me. Love you both (Someone show this to Zack, I know he doesn`t read my Emails haha.) How old is he? 16? 

Today we visited the Famous Cerro de Dragon (Dragon Hill) here in Iquique. We had a fun time with a few recent converts and other missionaries... A giant hill full of sand overlooking all of Iquique. We had a great time, My Camera Fell in the Sand haha oops... It wont turn on haha Silly Elder Paxman, I used my Fanny Pack all day, haha I`m funny. After we ate at the Agro (Giant Garage sale, Food, Cualquier Cosa Allí, Demasiado difícil a explicarlo en Ingles) we also went to this theater that we have passed by everyday not knowing that it existed... Such a cool old theater, it made me think of Phantom of the Opera. I love getting to know the cool places in this amazing country of Chile. Chi Chi Chi Le Le Le Viva Chile! (Fotos Included)

Elder Paxman

 

 

2015 Como un Chileno Po

Hola Familia, What a great way to start off the New Years. Bring it on 2015.

A few of my goals 2015

1. Baptize a certain number of Eternal Friends. between the Lord and I

2. Get Married

3. Finish my mission, worthy, Giving it all til the last. 

4. 3.5 GPA at my semester at The University Of Utah

5. Many Many more that have to do with Missionary work.... ETC.... 

Goals.... Metas..... They are necessary.... But something we (Elder Paxman) lack is putting them in a place we will see Daily.... a dedication - Dilligence to complete them. a purpose... Why do I want these things?¿? What will I Personaly Benefit from completing these goals?¿? Goals are the Desires of our Heart... Take it, Ponder on it, and act on it... Hace Lo (Chilean jaja)

To start off, I got a different New Years perspective here in the great city of Iquique.We had a very strong statement to be in our pension early... especially because we live in the center of Iquique... (More Danger than in other parts) But it was fun walking around wishing everyone a happy New Year. Not too many people that wanted to let us in, but I don`t blame them... I bought a nice Chinese dinner for us 4 Elders and we had a good talk in our pension while the mayham was going on outside, above us, next to us, all over jajaj. Here in Iquique there is a Beach that is Famous in the world (That's what they tell me... I`m not sure if its true) Where they have a huge firework show... We live Mas o Menos pretty close to the beach... Lets just say trying to sleep during New Years Night is pretty impossible... So we hugged one another when the clock struck 12 and even surprised the other Elders with some silly string... They didn`t like that all too much jajaj They`ll get over it soon.... I hope.... nah Jk good memorable night.. But the good thing about being a missionary is that breaks don`t exist so we were up and at it at 7:30 the next day and in the street at 10:00.. For some reason there happened to be hundreds of people that decided the street was a good place to sleep... I`m not completely sure why;) jajaja So many hammered bumms the next day... so sad, but a little funny at the same time. I´m so happy with living the Word Of Wisdom. The 1st of January along with this whole past week was a little slow with everyone enjoying being with the family and not taking too much importance in the religious side of things jajaj. But all is gooood. 

Mario, our recent convert, his dad passed away 2 days ago... I gave him a blessing 3 days ago... It wasn`t anything unexpected... The Family is sad. I stepped foot the first time in a Catholic Church today to give my sorrows to the family. Very sad, literally 7 Hours before the Dad passed away we said a prayer with the family and taught about baptisms for the dead. Mario is now very excited to get baptized for his Dad... The mom is sensitive now to the lessons... It's interesting how the Lord works... The Dad is the reason we found Mario in the first place... God has a plan of why things happen... It's interesting to have a front row seat of this plan... To see it in a perspective no one else can... I love my Job for that reason. 

The Familia Cáceres came to church again... So much Progress. A complete family. 

I went through my 5th pair of Shoes yesterday. I`m left with one.. I`ll be alright. I walk too much I guess... 

We had the Leadership Council This week... Most probably my last one. It went great, So great to see the Leaders of the Mission... I will Forever be Greatful for the Friendships I have gained with these Elders. The Meeting was good, other than the Practice on the LDM, but ehhh. You live and learn jaja. Too much good Info to explain it all. 

This past week we had to wake up 3 times at 5 in the morning to help the zone out with some Legal stuff... To be honest, I love it. I have so many good memories with these early morning trips, talking to the Bolivians and Peruvians in the line. I love being a missionary even if sometimes it's hard for me to show it at times... I´m a lame companion at times I know... Another goal of mine, to get better at... Hahah Silly Elder Paxman. I had an amazing Intercambio with an Elder Rundall from Somewhere in the North of Utah... Such a humble, Teachable Elder. Best Intercambio in a long time... We found a family of 5. Great Elder, Great Friend. 

Other Than that... I`m doing my best... I wanna see more baptisms. This week was the first week where we implemented only reporting 2 numbers baptisms and The Assistance in Church... 0 and 95... Time to get that number through the roof.

Un Abrazo 

Elder Mason. C. Paxman Senior