I am so sorry, but I can’t write anything today... I went to the dentist. This will be the worst email ever, but I have to tell you your prayers are working for Claudia. Thank you SO mucho. I love you all. I think about you always. It is raining, and its not stopping but that’s ok :) I don’t need a jacket, but either pair of the pants would be awesome. You decide. I trust you.
Love your son...
Elder Nathan Pitcher.
June 14, 2010
Hello Gringos
(that is what everyone says to us in the streets here)
I love grandpa Stu. Goodness I do, and I miss him. We went to a home center place today and it reminded so much of Home Depot... because of the colors. It was almost a mix between Home Depot and Griggs (yes... the famous Griggs). Because of that I was just thinking about gramps. I went and bought another rain jacket. The one I have now is a good jacket, but let me tell you... I bought it because it wasn’t the most expensive of them all -- I wish I would have bought the most expensive now! It works OK, it is water proof and stuff, but the hood is really bad. And that stinks because no one likes a water head when it rains. Yesterday it rained and the hood was just giving me problems, big time, so what did I do? I went to the store and bought one of those heavy duty jackets... you know - The Deadliest Catch style - or, McKinnis orchard style... no, I didn’t buy the yellow color, but its one of those that goes almost to my knees... so, walking around in that and big rubber boots (McKinnis orchard style) I only have a small portion exposed to the water, that would be the leg area... The rain is starting, and I don’t think it is going to stop anytime soon. But that’s OK. I really like the rain. It gets me excited. Plus, if it is raining really hard and hitting the ground and making a lot of noise that means I can sing songs out loud and no one will hear me. However... rain and cold are difficult together.
Oh... they called for transfers today... I’m staying, however, Elder Findlay is leaving, I really, really, really like Elder Findlay (he’s from Seattle) Plus, I have gotten really used to his feet because the position of the beds put his feet about 6 inches from my face. So who is coming? Elder Bird. Who is Elder Bird? The tallest missionary in the mission...probably 6’ 6”ish... so we will see what happens :) Elder Findlay and a missionary from my neighboring sector are going to Chillán. Elder Cutler (from the sector next to me) is going to Coyquen... he will be a companion with Elder Higham... What a good guy Elder Higham.
So... yesterday Camila and Daniela got baptized (two sisters) that are pretty awesome... they are just Mormon girls... We taught them for about 7 or 8 weeks... it was a good service... they had a lot of their family there (none are members) I baptized Camila and it was funny, she got really, really nervous right before entering the pila bautismal and when we were standing there in the water before the baptism she was very, very nervous. She did great though... Hna Solange was right there to help her when she got out... Solange is awesome. Daniela did great too. They then invited us to eat lunch with them and all their family. We figured we would go because it would be the only time we could see all their extended family together. We canceled the lunch we were going to have and we went with them. It was a good lunch. They have a great family. I wish they would listen to us.
Jose Luis and his family.................................. They are so scared - they are just confused. The problem is the kids I think. Claudia is 15 and José Luis 24. The parents are so worried. The kids are so confused. Claudia just doesn’t believe that so many people could be wrong in other churches. She doesn’t believe that there is only one church of God. That is actually a big problem down here. That and also people just don’t want to admit some times that there was something more for them. Like, it takes humility to say, "Wow, I need to change my church because I need to be in the church of Jesus Christ." Matilde is ready. Not because she understands, but because she has felt the spirit and that is enough for her. The dad wants to understand more. I think so he can explain it and prove it to people. We are walking a fine line right now. We could fall off either side of the sword. We just have to keep helping them feel the spirit. The problem is Claudia says she already got an answer to her prayer that said she is fine where she is. Keep praying lots.
We have a TON of investigators that are just starting right now. Lots and lost of potential. I’m excited for this next cambio. I am very grateful to not have changed, and I love this work.
Elder Pitcher
PS - I love you all... see ya in 11 months (wow... only 11 months... scary!!!)
(that is what everyone says to us in the streets here)
I love grandpa Stu. Goodness I do, and I miss him. We went to a home center place today and it reminded so much of Home Depot... because of the colors. It was almost a mix between Home Depot and Griggs (yes... the famous Griggs). Because of that I was just thinking about gramps. I went and bought another rain jacket. The one I have now is a good jacket, but let me tell you... I bought it because it wasn’t the most expensive of them all -- I wish I would have bought the most expensive now! It works OK, it is water proof and stuff, but the hood is really bad. And that stinks because no one likes a water head when it rains. Yesterday it rained and the hood was just giving me problems, big time, so what did I do? I went to the store and bought one of those heavy duty jackets... you know - The Deadliest Catch style - or, McKinnis orchard style... no, I didn’t buy the yellow color, but its one of those that goes almost to my knees... so, walking around in that and big rubber boots (McKinnis orchard style) I only have a small portion exposed to the water, that would be the leg area... The rain is starting, and I don’t think it is going to stop anytime soon. But that’s OK. I really like the rain. It gets me excited. Plus, if it is raining really hard and hitting the ground and making a lot of noise that means I can sing songs out loud and no one will hear me. However... rain and cold are difficult together.
Oh... they called for transfers today... I’m staying, however, Elder Findlay is leaving, I really, really, really like Elder Findlay (he’s from Seattle) Plus, I have gotten really used to his feet because the position of the beds put his feet about 6 inches from my face. So who is coming? Elder Bird. Who is Elder Bird? The tallest missionary in the mission...probably 6’ 6”ish... so we will see what happens :) Elder Findlay and a missionary from my neighboring sector are going to Chillán. Elder Cutler (from the sector next to me) is going to Coyquen... he will be a companion with Elder Higham... What a good guy Elder Higham.
So... yesterday Camila and Daniela got baptized (two sisters) that are pretty awesome... they are just Mormon girls... We taught them for about 7 or 8 weeks... it was a good service... they had a lot of their family there (none are members) I baptized Camila and it was funny, she got really, really nervous right before entering the pila bautismal and when we were standing there in the water before the baptism she was very, very nervous. She did great though... Hna Solange was right there to help her when she got out... Solange is awesome. Daniela did great too. They then invited us to eat lunch with them and all their family. We figured we would go because it would be the only time we could see all their extended family together. We canceled the lunch we were going to have and we went with them. It was a good lunch. They have a great family. I wish they would listen to us.
Jose Luis and his family.................................. They are so scared - they are just confused. The problem is the kids I think. Claudia is 15 and José Luis 24. The parents are so worried. The kids are so confused. Claudia just doesn’t believe that so many people could be wrong in other churches. She doesn’t believe that there is only one church of God. That is actually a big problem down here. That and also people just don’t want to admit some times that there was something more for them. Like, it takes humility to say, "Wow, I need to change my church because I need to be in the church of Jesus Christ." Matilde is ready. Not because she understands, but because she has felt the spirit and that is enough for her. The dad wants to understand more. I think so he can explain it and prove it to people. We are walking a fine line right now. We could fall off either side of the sword. We just have to keep helping them feel the spirit. The problem is Claudia says she already got an answer to her prayer that said she is fine where she is. Keep praying lots.
We have a TON of investigators that are just starting right now. Lots and lost of potential. I’m excited for this next cambio. I am very grateful to not have changed, and I love this work.
Elder Pitcher
PS - I love you all... see ya in 11 months (wow... only 11 months... scary!!!)
June 7, 2010
Mom... I love you so much. So much. wow.
Everyone sounds to be doing great. I'm sorry to hear that you couldn't go to the activity with Chyrl and the family. I love that Aunty C - always doing things like that, I think its so awesome. I'm still using the laundry bag she gave me when I started at BYU. I love her. I'm glad Aussy and Ryan went to the priest camp. I always loved those.
Dad... guess what the guy right next to me is playing... Call of Duty :) He is on the Harbor map
Ok... so its hard to believe that another week has come and gone. Time flies, but at the same time it seems like last week was so long ago. This week we had 7 investigators in the church. Jose Luis and his family were there. They are doing well. Yesterday in the Gospel Principles class we taught chapter 16. It was cool because it even touched on the work and ordinances for the dead that they did in that time. He is having such a hard time accepting anything more then the Bible. Soon, he will realize that our church is not based on a book... it is based on revelation. As soon as he understands and accepts that, it will be great. However, yesterday he understood the Apostasy a little better and said, "Wow, so what happened to the millions of people that lived in that apostasy... they wont be saved?" We said, "Another day we will talk more about this.." They will be Temple Hounds after they are baptized. :) :) :)
This Sunday we should baptize two teenage girls. Oh I love them. Camilia is 14 and Daniela 15. I like to ask people to write me a letter about why they want to get baptized, before they get baptized. They did that and wow, I loved what they wrote. They truly just want to do what God wants them to do. Their mom also wants to get baptized, but she doesn't know how she can do it - because of her husband and her mom. We will see what happens. They need prayers.
We have a lot of other investigators... a lot. I hope I don't get transferred next week, but who knows what will happen. Yina (Gina) is a girl that we are working with, she is 26 and she has a 5 year old girl. She lives with her parents (everyone lives with their parents here) her dad was baptized a long time ago but doesn't go now, but I know he has a desire to change. He is out of the house 9 days and in 5 days. A lot of people have to work like that here in Chile. But Yina is awesome. She says the churches just make her mad, but she is working and progressing with us. She is different. She has like 5 rings in her face, but she is so awesome. She has just become so confused with the world, but I see what kind of heart and mind she has. I hope we can help her.
And we have a lot more investigators to, I could talk for a long time about all of them. The thing is, there is so much stuff for them to learn... too much stuff for them to learn... and because of that, they just need to feel the spirit. We can't teach them everything they need to know, but the spirit can do the work. The spirit can change them. When we try and depend on our own skills, we fail, and will fail every time....The spirit is something we always need. I remember in a General Conference not too long ago someone said that 'it is hard to obtain and maintain the spirit, also that it is hard to receive personal revelation. If it was easy, we would become weak.' I thought about that yesterday in church. It was a pretty noisy sacrament meeting, but a sister got up and shared her testimony, because of that, I wanted to get up to share mine. So I did. I could feel the spirit. I could honestly feel that burning inside my chest. After I got back down and began listening again, I listened more attentively, and the burning was even stronger. The testimonies were awesome, and the spirit was strong. I then looked at the people that were surrounding me... some of them looked like they didn't even want to be there. I thought this meeting was incredible, and others thought it was boring. I could feel the spirit so strong, I didn't want to be in a different place. And people in the same meeting looked so bored. I thought about the spirit as Fire. How fire burns things. A fire can not burn something that has already been burned. If someone feels the spirit, and feels that burning sensation, it is a great feeling, however IT WILL BURN OUT. To feel that burning again, you will have to work even harder, be even better. It can only burn if it reaches a new level. We know that the spirit purifies us... how can it purify something that it already purified? Impossible! If we want to to purify us more, we have to be even better.
I know its something very simple. Something that you already know. But it just kind of hit me yesterday. I feel like I understand a little better why it is so important to always have the spirit. Why, if we have the spirit, we will have Eternal Life. Its because we will be progressing, Always moving to the next level. We need to have the spirit, because that means we are progressing, if we are doing that, we have done all we can do. If we have done all we can do, The Lord will say, 'OK... thanks for trying your best... let me make up the rest'
I love you guys lots... lots lots lots.
Elder Pitcher
May 24, 2010
Hello friends, family and anyone else
Another week has come and gone. Time here is very weird. I have said that many times, and I'm sure I’ll say it till I get home. It truly flies by, but it seems like I have been in Tomé for a long time. I received a letter from Patricio a couple days ago. Oh how I love him and his family. He informed me that he is the 1st counselor in the stake young men’s presidency (don’t know if you already knew that) and also that Marjori is pregnant. I know I already told you that, but I just had to tell you again. I love that family so much. I love everyone from Chillan, but I also love Tomé. The members are incredible. There are also great people.
We had two girls pass interviews yesterday, but we aren’t sure when they will be getting baptized because they are a little bit afraid. We have been teaching them and their mom. They are all worried because the dad used to go to a different church and the grandma (who lives with them) goes to a different church. The grandma has given them so many problems. The girls are very ready. They have come to church lots of times and they go to seminary almost every day. The mom has only come to church once. The girls are named Camilia and Daniela, the mom Janet.
Jose Luis and his family are doing well. They came to church yesterday. They were there early. We know they are very punctual, so last week we told them to get there at 10:20 because people just don’t show up to church on time here. Plus, in Tomé, Sacrament meeting is at the end, so lots of people don’t show up right at 10. Anyway, they were there at 10:00 yesterday with about 10 members, but igual, it was fine. The principles of gospel class was taught by me yesterday. The teacher got there and told me she didn’t prepare it. That was ok because it was about organization of the priesthood and I gladly taught it. Jose Luis is blown away every time he learns more about the church. Matilde is ready to get baptized because she has read the Book of Mormon a lot. Claudia is awesome, but has her doubts because she hasn’t been reading always. The Book of Mormon is incredible. I affirm what Joseph Smith said, that a man will get closer to God by living by its principles than any other book, (I have no clue if that’s what it says in English, sorry) Through the Book of Mormon, anyone can gain a testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Atonement is everything. I love learning more and more about it everyday. As a mission, we have a huge focus in it. I love trying to help people understand it better, and learning more about it even as we teach them. I don’t understand how He did it. I just know He did.
He gives us a chance to overcome sin. He gives us a chance to turn our weaknesses into strengths. He gives us a chance to perfect ourselves. I love the invitation Moroni gives us at the end of the Book of Mormon - the invitation to leave all sin and worldliness to follow Christ. Let us do that. We have been baptized for the remission of sins, and now we have the blessing to participate in the Sacrament every week. The plan that our Father has for us is so simple. He sent His Son. The Son did His part. He has marked The Way. Now we have the choice to follow it - or to go some other way. That is what is so hard to help people understand. There is only one way. We can’t blaze our own trail to Salvation and Exaltation. We have to follow the trail that Christ has marked. To do that, we have to be humble. That is something that we have been trying to help the people realize right now. We owe everything to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and we can’t do things in the way we want to. We have to follow the standards He has set, and it is incredible how simple it is. It is not always easy, but it is simple, and that’s what makes it incredible. I heard the quote that the gospel is simply beautiful, and beautifully simple. That’s how it is. I love you guys so much and I thank you for the example you have been, are, and will be. I pray that we accept the invitation of Moroni. I hope we truly evade all sin. I hope we participate in the Sacrament every week, where we can renew sacred covenants and promises.
We were able to find some new people this week. We were knocking some doors when we entered into one. The 27-year-old girl told us she didn’t believe in God. Her mom told us her husband was baptized Mormon. As we began teaching, the girl began telling us how she does believe in God, but that churches just make her mad. We hope to be able to help her (and her mom and sister). She is named Gina.
Jennifer is a young mom - probably 25, with a couple of little kids. We taught her and it was good. She actually came to church for a little bit, but she had to leave early. I hope we can help her too. It is amazing what happens when people feel the spirit. Jennifer knows she is in sin, and she wants to leave it. She is living with a man that is married to someone else, but she says she is trying to fix it.
I love you all. The weather is good. It’s getting cold. Today we went to Punta de Parra again. That was cool. We did a BBQ on the beach. I had a long talk with Elder Jaar. I love him. I don’t know why, but I love him.
Chaó
Elder Pitcher
Another week has come and gone. Time here is very weird. I have said that many times, and I'm sure I’ll say it till I get home. It truly flies by, but it seems like I have been in Tomé for a long time. I received a letter from Patricio a couple days ago. Oh how I love him and his family. He informed me that he is the 1st counselor in the stake young men’s presidency (don’t know if you already knew that) and also that Marjori is pregnant. I know I already told you that, but I just had to tell you again. I love that family so much. I love everyone from Chillan, but I also love Tomé. The members are incredible. There are also great people.
We had two girls pass interviews yesterday, but we aren’t sure when they will be getting baptized because they are a little bit afraid. We have been teaching them and their mom. They are all worried because the dad used to go to a different church and the grandma (who lives with them) goes to a different church. The grandma has given them so many problems. The girls are very ready. They have come to church lots of times and they go to seminary almost every day. The mom has only come to church once. The girls are named Camilia and Daniela, the mom Janet.
Jose Luis and his family are doing well. They came to church yesterday. They were there early. We know they are very punctual, so last week we told them to get there at 10:20 because people just don’t show up to church on time here. Plus, in Tomé, Sacrament meeting is at the end, so lots of people don’t show up right at 10. Anyway, they were there at 10:00 yesterday with about 10 members, but igual, it was fine. The principles of gospel class was taught by me yesterday. The teacher got there and told me she didn’t prepare it. That was ok because it was about organization of the priesthood and I gladly taught it. Jose Luis is blown away every time he learns more about the church. Matilde is ready to get baptized because she has read the Book of Mormon a lot. Claudia is awesome, but has her doubts because she hasn’t been reading always. The Book of Mormon is incredible. I affirm what Joseph Smith said, that a man will get closer to God by living by its principles than any other book, (I have no clue if that’s what it says in English, sorry) Through the Book of Mormon, anyone can gain a testimony of Jesus Christ.
The Atonement is everything. I love learning more and more about it everyday. As a mission, we have a huge focus in it. I love trying to help people understand it better, and learning more about it even as we teach them. I don’t understand how He did it. I just know He did.
He gives us a chance to overcome sin. He gives us a chance to turn our weaknesses into strengths. He gives us a chance to perfect ourselves. I love the invitation Moroni gives us at the end of the Book of Mormon - the invitation to leave all sin and worldliness to follow Christ. Let us do that. We have been baptized for the remission of sins, and now we have the blessing to participate in the Sacrament every week. The plan that our Father has for us is so simple. He sent His Son. The Son did His part. He has marked The Way. Now we have the choice to follow it - or to go some other way. That is what is so hard to help people understand. There is only one way. We can’t blaze our own trail to Salvation and Exaltation. We have to follow the trail that Christ has marked. To do that, we have to be humble. That is something that we have been trying to help the people realize right now. We owe everything to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and we can’t do things in the way we want to. We have to follow the standards He has set, and it is incredible how simple it is. It is not always easy, but it is simple, and that’s what makes it incredible. I heard the quote that the gospel is simply beautiful, and beautifully simple. That’s how it is. I love you guys so much and I thank you for the example you have been, are, and will be. I pray that we accept the invitation of Moroni. I hope we truly evade all sin. I hope we participate in the Sacrament every week, where we can renew sacred covenants and promises.
We were able to find some new people this week. We were knocking some doors when we entered into one. The 27-year-old girl told us she didn’t believe in God. Her mom told us her husband was baptized Mormon. As we began teaching, the girl began telling us how she does believe in God, but that churches just make her mad. We hope to be able to help her (and her mom and sister). She is named Gina.
Jennifer is a young mom - probably 25, with a couple of little kids. We taught her and it was good. She actually came to church for a little bit, but she had to leave early. I hope we can help her too. It is amazing what happens when people feel the spirit. Jennifer knows she is in sin, and she wants to leave it. She is living with a man that is married to someone else, but she says she is trying to fix it.
I love you all. The weather is good. It’s getting cold. Today we went to Punta de Parra again. That was cool. We did a BBQ on the beach. I had a long talk with Elder Jaar. I love him. I don’t know why, but I love him.
Chaó
Elder Pitcher
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