Off to Poland!
14 years ago
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Más fotos
Nicole's friend knows someone in the same mission as Brian, so here are some pics her friend sent her. :)
12-28-09
It was so good to talk to you all on Christmas! It did make me a little homesick, I probably sounded a little sad. But I was tired too. After I got off the phone with you, I was fine though, there is nothing like missionary work to cheer you up. Seriously.
So here is the big news! I am going to a little town called San Pablo about 3 hours away from here. It is closer to the city Osorno. But I guess the whole town is about the size of my sector now. Elder Reeder served there about a year ago and he loved it. He says that the members there are just amazing. Elder Reeder is staying here and training again. He is excited to train, and he is such a good trainer. This is his last cambio (transfer) in the mission until he goes home in February.
So my new companion (I have forgotten his name) is from Santiago, Chile. My mission president says he is amazing. I am excited, I have to get packed up tomorrow night and leave Wednesday morning.
I got pretty sick that night after talking to you. I ate all day, Christmas cookies, oily french fries and salchicha, which is a really oily hot dog. My stomach never had a chance. I was pretty sick, but now I am doing better. I have learned my lesson after being sick for two days. I am still not eating much but plain rice that my momita made for me, and soda crackers. I killed my stomach.
Until next week!!!!!!!!!!
So here is the big news! I am going to a little town called San Pablo about 3 hours away from here. It is closer to the city Osorno. But I guess the whole town is about the size of my sector now. Elder Reeder served there about a year ago and he loved it. He says that the members there are just amazing. Elder Reeder is staying here and training again. He is excited to train, and he is such a good trainer. This is his last cambio (transfer) in the mission until he goes home in February.
So my new companion (I have forgotten his name) is from Santiago, Chile. My mission president says he is amazing. I am excited, I have to get packed up tomorrow night and leave Wednesday morning.
I got pretty sick that night after talking to you. I ate all day, Christmas cookies, oily french fries and salchicha, which is a really oily hot dog. My stomach never had a chance. I was pretty sick, but now I am doing better. I have learned my lesson after being sick for two days. I am still not eating much but plain rice that my momita made for me, and soda crackers. I killed my stomach.
Until next week!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, December 25, 2009
Feliz Navidad!
We got to talk to Brian today! It was so much fun to hear him talk about his experiences in Chile. He was at his momita’s house using the phone. She said hi to us at the end (she speaks some English). She sounds like such a sweet woman. She said she just loves Brian. He has grown so much in a few short months.
Brian and his companion, Elder Reeder, eat lunch with their momita and her family every day except for Sundays. (On Sundays, they eat at other members’ houses.) They live about two blocks from their momita. He says they’re an incredible family. They have five kids, and I think they have a few teenagers who are still living at home.
His momita’s husband used to be a bishop. He used to have a job that took up a lot of his time, but then he was called to be a bishop, and he knew that he’d need to find a different job that would allow him to dedicate more time to serving the Lord. Now he’s self-employed, and he’s doing much better than before, even though he works fewer hours. He drives something similar to a taxi, only bigger, I believe.
For Christmas Eve dinner, they had salad, potatoes, and pork. He said it was delicious! Just like Scott, Brian says Chileans have a big lunch and then a small snack around 8 pm.
Bri said the Chileans all have little plastic Christmas trees that they decorate. He said they put up some lights and decorations. He and Elder Reeder went caroling with their momita last night, brought them cards, etc.
Elder Sheahan and Elder Reeder live in a small, two-story house. He says it’s one of the nicer houses in that area. They live in Valdivia, which is a few miles from the ocean.
Brian said that the LDS churches in his area are newer. They were probably built in the 90’s. They’re a little smaller, but he says they’re the nicest buildings around.
He said they have a lot of one-room grocery stores in Valdivia, in people’s homes. But they do their grocery shopping at a bigger grocery store.
Brian’s companion, Elder Reeder, is almost done with his mission. He will go home in six weeks. Brian really loves his companion.
Brian’s mission president (President Lovell) and his wife are from the south. President Lovell doesn’t have a thick southern accent, but his wife's is more noticeable. Bri said his mission president owned his own business.
There’s a lot of unemployment where Bri is. He feels like the people where he lives don’t make much time for religion—they get too caught up in the rest of their problems and don’t make time for what would help them the most in life.
He said Valdivia is gorgeous. It’s really green. The weather there changes fast. One minute, it will be pouring rain, and an hour later, there won’t be a cloud in the sky.
I asked Bri if he could see a change in himself in just a few months, and he said he feels like a different person. He’s still the same Brian we all love, but he has learned so much about what life’s really about. He said he’s learning to love working hard more than he ever has before in his life. He and his companion could take time for dinner, but he says they usually never do. They want to do all they can to serve their Heavenly Father and teach His children about the perfect plan He has created for them. Bri said he has learned so much about priorities and using your time in ways that are pleasing unto God. He said he wants to always remember to take time for quality scripture study every day. He loves studying the word of God. He said that he has learned to be more careful with his priorities, and really work hard in life and do all he can to serve His Heavenly Father.
Brian told me one of his favorite talks right now is “Consecrate Thy Performance,” by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, an apostle who passed away a few years back. Here’s a link if you’d like to check it out: “Consecrate Thy Performance.”
Feliz Navidad!
Brian and his companion, Elder Reeder, eat lunch with their momita and her family every day except for Sundays. (On Sundays, they eat at other members’ houses.) They live about two blocks from their momita. He says they’re an incredible family. They have five kids, and I think they have a few teenagers who are still living at home.
His momita’s husband used to be a bishop. He used to have a job that took up a lot of his time, but then he was called to be a bishop, and he knew that he’d need to find a different job that would allow him to dedicate more time to serving the Lord. Now he’s self-employed, and he’s doing much better than before, even though he works fewer hours. He drives something similar to a taxi, only bigger, I believe.
For Christmas Eve dinner, they had salad, potatoes, and pork. He said it was delicious! Just like Scott, Brian says Chileans have a big lunch and then a small snack around 8 pm.
Bri said the Chileans all have little plastic Christmas trees that they decorate. He said they put up some lights and decorations. He and Elder Reeder went caroling with their momita last night, brought them cards, etc.
Elder Sheahan and Elder Reeder live in a small, two-story house. He says it’s one of the nicer houses in that area. They live in Valdivia, which is a few miles from the ocean.
Brian said that the LDS churches in his area are newer. They were probably built in the 90’s. They’re a little smaller, but he says they’re the nicest buildings around.
He said they have a lot of one-room grocery stores in Valdivia, in people’s homes. But they do their grocery shopping at a bigger grocery store.
Brian’s companion, Elder Reeder, is almost done with his mission. He will go home in six weeks. Brian really loves his companion.
Brian’s mission president (President Lovell) and his wife are from the south. President Lovell doesn’t have a thick southern accent, but his wife's is more noticeable. Bri said his mission president owned his own business.
There’s a lot of unemployment where Bri is. He feels like the people where he lives don’t make much time for religion—they get too caught up in the rest of their problems and don’t make time for what would help them the most in life.
He said Valdivia is gorgeous. It’s really green. The weather there changes fast. One minute, it will be pouring rain, and an hour later, there won’t be a cloud in the sky.
I asked Bri if he could see a change in himself in just a few months, and he said he feels like a different person. He’s still the same Brian we all love, but he has learned so much about what life’s really about. He said he’s learning to love working hard more than he ever has before in his life. He and his companion could take time for dinner, but he says they usually never do. They want to do all they can to serve their Heavenly Father and teach His children about the perfect plan He has created for them. Bri said he has learned so much about priorities and using your time in ways that are pleasing unto God. He said he wants to always remember to take time for quality scripture study every day. He loves studying the word of God. He said that he has learned to be more careful with his priorities, and really work hard in life and do all he can to serve His Heavenly Father.
Brian told me one of his favorite talks right now is “Consecrate Thy Performance,” by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, an apostle who passed away a few years back. Here’s a link if you’d like to check it out: “Consecrate Thy Performance.”
Feliz Navidad!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
12-24-09
Feliz Navidad!
Hope that you are having a great Christmas Eve. I love you so much! Merry Christmas!!! Things are going great here. Elder Reeder and I are working hard and doing really well. It was great to hear from everyone. Merry Christmas!
So today is our preparation day. We are just writing emails, buying food, and then going home to take a nap. I can´t wait. Ha ha, but I am pretty tired.
I am going to make this email kind of short because I get to talk to you tomorrow. Which will be awesome!
So this week we had an intercambio, where I stayed in my sector and Elder Reeder went to work with an elder in our district who’s training. So I was able to lead the sector, and work with another new missionary. He has been in Chile for 5 weeks. It was such a cool experience, and we taught 5 lessons, and it was amazing.
The highlight of it all was teaching Luisa and her husband Carlos, who told us that they have plans to get married in March and then to get baptized the next day. They both know this is Christ’s true church, restored to the earth, and that they want to do what is right in this life. Carlos reminded us of the first day we met him, which I didn´t remember. He told us that the first time he met us was when we came over looking for Luisa, this was my first week in Chile. Carlos said that he was having a horrible day, one of the worst, because they didn´t have any money and he had just been cheated by someone he worked for. He had gotten paid that day, half of the money that had been agreed to, for a job that he had been doing for two weeks straight. He was really upset, and then to top it off his wife wasn´t home to console him when he got home. And then the Mormons knocked on the door. He says that he snapped at us because his wife wasn´t home and told us he wasn´t interested. And then he shut the door.
Later obviously we started meeting with his wife. And then three weeks ago we started meeting with him. Both have found so many answers to their problems in life in the Book of Mormon, and know it to be the word of God, as is the Bible. At first they weren’t even thinking about getting married, but now Carlos says it will be the happiest day of his life to marry the love of his life and then to get baptized alongside her. Things really are working out for them, I just hope all goes well with the paperwork for getting the house from the government. It will be approved in March, and then after that I guess that they can get married.
Merry Christmas!! We are actually visiting a lot of people on Christmas, we are only allowed to go to appointments that we have set up, and so far we have set up a bunch with people we have met. it will be great. We are eating dinner with our momita…well not dinner, lunch!
Love you all
Merry Christmas
Elder Brian Sheahan
Hope that you are having a great Christmas Eve. I love you so much! Merry Christmas!!! Things are going great here. Elder Reeder and I are working hard and doing really well. It was great to hear from everyone. Merry Christmas!
So today is our preparation day. We are just writing emails, buying food, and then going home to take a nap. I can´t wait. Ha ha, but I am pretty tired.
I am going to make this email kind of short because I get to talk to you tomorrow. Which will be awesome!
So this week we had an intercambio, where I stayed in my sector and Elder Reeder went to work with an elder in our district who’s training. So I was able to lead the sector, and work with another new missionary. He has been in Chile for 5 weeks. It was such a cool experience, and we taught 5 lessons, and it was amazing.
The highlight of it all was teaching Luisa and her husband Carlos, who told us that they have plans to get married in March and then to get baptized the next day. They both know this is Christ’s true church, restored to the earth, and that they want to do what is right in this life. Carlos reminded us of the first day we met him, which I didn´t remember. He told us that the first time he met us was when we came over looking for Luisa, this was my first week in Chile. Carlos said that he was having a horrible day, one of the worst, because they didn´t have any money and he had just been cheated by someone he worked for. He had gotten paid that day, half of the money that had been agreed to, for a job that he had been doing for two weeks straight. He was really upset, and then to top it off his wife wasn´t home to console him when he got home. And then the Mormons knocked on the door. He says that he snapped at us because his wife wasn´t home and told us he wasn´t interested. And then he shut the door.
Later obviously we started meeting with his wife. And then three weeks ago we started meeting with him. Both have found so many answers to their problems in life in the Book of Mormon, and know it to be the word of God, as is the Bible. At first they weren’t even thinking about getting married, but now Carlos says it will be the happiest day of his life to marry the love of his life and then to get baptized alongside her. Things really are working out for them, I just hope all goes well with the paperwork for getting the house from the government. It will be approved in March, and then after that I guess that they can get married.
Merry Christmas!! We are actually visiting a lot of people on Christmas, we are only allowed to go to appointments that we have set up, and so far we have set up a bunch with people we have met. it will be great. We are eating dinner with our momita…well not dinner, lunch!
Love you all
Merry Christmas
Elder Brian Sheahan
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Fotos de Chile (from 2nd transfer)
It rains a LOT in southern Chile.
Barbecue, Chilean style.
Not too shabby!
I believe this is at Arlette's baptism. She's the one in the white shirt.Fotos de Chile (1st transfer)
Elder Sheahan with the Chilean flag. Viva Chile!
How they heat their apartment, I believe.
On a hike through the Chilean jungle.(The rest of the pictures are from that hike.)
George of the jungle!
(The guy to the right of Brian, in the brownsweatshirt, is Elder Reeder, Brian's companion.)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Pictures from the MTC
We got a CD of pictures from Brian in the mail the other day- here are a few from the MTC (August & September '09).
Brian and his companion in the MTC, Elder Welling.
L: Brian and Elder Welling, R: Elder Mooney and Scott
Brian and Scott. Precious. :)
Brian and his companion in the MTC, Elder Welling.
L: Brian and Elder Welling, R: Elder Mooney and Scott
Brian and Scott. Precious. :)Monday, December 14, 2009
12-14-09
I am doing great. This week just flew by. Today is my preparation day, and my next p day isn´t until the 24th of December, Christmas Eve. My mission president just switched our p day to Christmas Eve (instead of next Monday), and then the 25th and 26th we can only go to appointments that we have fixed with people. We can´t knock doors those days. We are going to eat dinner with our momita or a member on Christmas. Should be good food.
Scott, you´re lucky you can play soccer on p days, but we hardly have time on p day as it is. We are going to actually take a nap today!
On Christmas, we have plans to eat with our momita. But I think we will work hard to put as many citas as we can on the 25th and the 26th. And then the rest of the time we can study or do things with members that they invite us to.
This week went really well. I am loving being a missionary so much. I feel like I am growing a ton. What a cool time in life this is. We are going to have a baptism the night of the 26th. It will be at 6 or 8. Aaron, the cousin of Arlette, wants to get baptized. He is so great.
I'll tell you more about our investigators next week. Luisa is doing great and she is thinking about getting baptized in January. She doesn´t know exactly. She has such a strong testimony of this church and the Book of Mormon. We had a really spiritual lesson with her this week. She told us about how her life has gotten so much better after she started meeting with us and learning about the church of Jesus Christ. She said that she has been so much happier. Her family is great, too, her boyfriend is starting to meet with us. Luisa also has a little four-year old, Antonia. She said that she wants to raise Antonia in the church, because she knows that is right and that is what she wants for her.
Have a great day! I’ll write you on the 24rth!
Love
Elder Brian Sheahan
Merry Christmas!!!!
Scott, you´re lucky you can play soccer on p days, but we hardly have time on p day as it is. We are going to actually take a nap today!
On Christmas, we have plans to eat with our momita. But I think we will work hard to put as many citas as we can on the 25th and the 26th. And then the rest of the time we can study or do things with members that they invite us to.
This week went really well. I am loving being a missionary so much. I feel like I am growing a ton. What a cool time in life this is. We are going to have a baptism the night of the 26th. It will be at 6 or 8. Aaron, the cousin of Arlette, wants to get baptized. He is so great.
I'll tell you more about our investigators next week. Luisa is doing great and she is thinking about getting baptized in January. She doesn´t know exactly. She has such a strong testimony of this church and the Book of Mormon. We had a really spiritual lesson with her this week. She told us about how her life has gotten so much better after she started meeting with us and learning about the church of Jesus Christ. She said that she has been so much happier. Her family is great, too, her boyfriend is starting to meet with us. Luisa also has a little four-year old, Antonia. She said that she wants to raise Antonia in the church, because she knows that is right and that is what she wants for her.
Have a great day! I’ll write you on the 24rth!
Love
Elder Brian Sheahan
Merry Christmas!!!!
Monday, December 7, 2009
12-07-09
Brian was almost done writing us an e-mail today, but something happened to the computer and he lost the whole thing. So we just got a few lines telling us what had happened and that they had an amazing week. They had to get going.
Hasta la próxima semana!
Hasta la próxima semana!
Monday, November 30, 2009
11-30-09
Here are some excerpts from Brian's e-mail this week:
I am doing very, very well. It was great to hear about Thanksgiving. My Thanksgiving was great, I actually forgot it was Thanksgiving, but I realized the day after. We just worked hard on Thursday, it was good.
Mom, in the package, can you send me a roll of black thread? I have done lots of sewing and used all of mine. I sewed up some tears near the pockets of my pants, my scripture case, and put on some buttons that fell off! Impressive, I know.
This week went by so fast. One notable event this week was that we had intercambios (in English, we say exchanges) - when we switch companions for a day. I have gone to other sectors before, three times, but this time I was in my sector with an elder (Elder Seager) from another sector. It was a cool experience. Elder Seager and I worked so hard all day and he and I taught some great lessons. I called people on the phone to see how they were doing and set up appointments. And I had never done that before. It went so well, I had to ask them to repeat things of course, but I set up three appointments that night.
And now for the comical moment of the week. Elder Reeder and I knocked on a door two days ago and a well-dressed older hispanic man answered the door. He opened the door and to our surprise said, ¨Hello, I learned English the same way that you are learning Spanish.¨ So Elder Reeder asked him if he had served a mission. He didn’t respond to this question. He proceeded to tell us that he was from Canada. We introduced ourselves in Spanish, and then went on to tell him how we were missionaries. We shared a brief testimony of Jesus Christ with him, and then we asked him if we could share more with him. And he responded something like this, ¨No. I don´t like you and your church. You two work for the CIA. And your church does too!” We thought he was joking, and we laughed. But he got mad. He was serious. He said,¨ Your church gets names and addresses for the CIA. You don´t see young men your age from Chile in the United States going door to door! (We tried to tell him that there were plenty of foreign missionaries in the States but he wouldn´t listen, he just kept going.) He was like, ¨You and your church go door to door and work for the CIA. It is people like you that made me come here and have to leave my country!¨ We told him that we were not from the CIA and really wanted to share a message with him about Jesus Christ, but he swore in English and slammed the door. It was hard not to smile when he was seriously telling us that we were from the CIA. It was so funny. We really did want to help him and share something special with him. But he was convinced we were lying to him. His English was pretty good, you could tell he hadn´t spoken it in a while, but it was still great. He sounded like someone from the US, he used words like ¨yeah man, guys, whatever.¨ I just wonder why he had to leave his country.
Luisa is doing so well. She wants to get baptized, but she has some things she has to resolve first. We are working with her, and asking her to pray about it. Please keep her in your prayers. She is such an amazing person, and she just loves the church. She knows that the Book of Mormon is true because she feels it in her heart when she reads it. She told us she has felt and found so many answers to things in life that she has been searching for, all in the Book of Mormon. She really has a true desire to get baptized, because she knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that God restored the church of Jesus Christ back to the earth through Joseph Smith.
I am doing very, very well. It was great to hear about Thanksgiving. My Thanksgiving was great, I actually forgot it was Thanksgiving, but I realized the day after. We just worked hard on Thursday, it was good.
Mom, in the package, can you send me a roll of black thread? I have done lots of sewing and used all of mine. I sewed up some tears near the pockets of my pants, my scripture case, and put on some buttons that fell off! Impressive, I know.
This week went by so fast. One notable event this week was that we had intercambios (in English, we say exchanges) - when we switch companions for a day. I have gone to other sectors before, three times, but this time I was in my sector with an elder (Elder Seager) from another sector. It was a cool experience. Elder Seager and I worked so hard all day and he and I taught some great lessons. I called people on the phone to see how they were doing and set up appointments. And I had never done that before. It went so well, I had to ask them to repeat things of course, but I set up three appointments that night.
And now for the comical moment of the week. Elder Reeder and I knocked on a door two days ago and a well-dressed older hispanic man answered the door. He opened the door and to our surprise said, ¨Hello, I learned English the same way that you are learning Spanish.¨ So Elder Reeder asked him if he had served a mission. He didn’t respond to this question. He proceeded to tell us that he was from Canada. We introduced ourselves in Spanish, and then went on to tell him how we were missionaries. We shared a brief testimony of Jesus Christ with him, and then we asked him if we could share more with him. And he responded something like this, ¨No. I don´t like you and your church. You two work for the CIA. And your church does too!” We thought he was joking, and we laughed. But he got mad. He was serious. He said,¨ Your church gets names and addresses for the CIA. You don´t see young men your age from Chile in the United States going door to door! (We tried to tell him that there were plenty of foreign missionaries in the States but he wouldn´t listen, he just kept going.) He was like, ¨You and your church go door to door and work for the CIA. It is people like you that made me come here and have to leave my country!¨ We told him that we were not from the CIA and really wanted to share a message with him about Jesus Christ, but he swore in English and slammed the door. It was hard not to smile when he was seriously telling us that we were from the CIA. It was so funny. We really did want to help him and share something special with him. But he was convinced we were lying to him. His English was pretty good, you could tell he hadn´t spoken it in a while, but it was still great. He sounded like someone from the US, he used words like ¨yeah man, guys, whatever.¨ I just wonder why he had to leave his country.
Luisa is doing so well. She wants to get baptized, but she has some things she has to resolve first. We are working with her, and asking her to pray about it. Please keep her in your prayers. She is such an amazing person, and she just loves the church. She knows that the Book of Mormon is true because she feels it in her heart when she reads it. She told us she has felt and found so many answers to things in life that she has been searching for, all in the Book of Mormon. She really has a true desire to get baptized, because she knows that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that God restored the church of Jesus Christ back to the earth through Joseph Smith.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
11-23-09
My first “cambio” or transfer is over now. It feels so good to have one under my belt. Here in the mission you serve in periods of time called transfers. In Spanish they call it a “cambio.” But you serve with a companion for six weeks in a place, and at the end of six weeks you or your companion might get switched to another city/town. I am staying here in Valdivia for my second cambio with Elder Reeder, which is great- we get along really well.
About being homesick, sure I get a little homesick when I think about all of you, my family, and how much I love you. I usually only feel homesick if I am writing a letter and listening to some soft music. So I stopped listening to music when I write letters home - I mean like pen and paper letters. But overall, when I think about being homesick, I just think about how much I am learning as a missionary and how much missionaries are needed in this world. I think about how happy this church of Jesus Christ has made me, and how others need this in their lives.
This week was the baptism of Arlette Bustos Delgado. She is a 14 year-old girl that we have been teaching. She knew that this church was true right away. She has a really strong testimony that this church is the restored church of Jesus Christ, the very same church He established when He lived on the earth. Her baptism was beautiful. And about thirty seconds before it started, I found out that I was leading the service. The member of the bishopric that was supposed to do it couldn´t make it to the baptism. It went well, and I only said one phrase that made the people laugh. I said thank you for coming, only I didn´t say it correctly. It was such a beautiful baptism. It was beautiful to see Arlette take this step in life that Jesus Christ wants all of us to take. Baptism is so wonderful, because through baptism we receive a remission of our sins. After baptism, we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us make the best decisions and receive Heavenly Father’s guidance in our lives.
Sorry, I don´t have too much time today. But things are going so wonderful. I really feel so blessed to be a missionary.
Scott, I like your tie too. I wear it a lot and think of you always when I wear it. I won´t ever trade it.
Well everyone, hope that you have a great and happy Thanksgiving.
About being homesick, sure I get a little homesick when I think about all of you, my family, and how much I love you. I usually only feel homesick if I am writing a letter and listening to some soft music. So I stopped listening to music when I write letters home - I mean like pen and paper letters. But overall, when I think about being homesick, I just think about how much I am learning as a missionary and how much missionaries are needed in this world. I think about how happy this church of Jesus Christ has made me, and how others need this in their lives.
This week was the baptism of Arlette Bustos Delgado. She is a 14 year-old girl that we have been teaching. She knew that this church was true right away. She has a really strong testimony that this church is the restored church of Jesus Christ, the very same church He established when He lived on the earth. Her baptism was beautiful. And about thirty seconds before it started, I found out that I was leading the service. The member of the bishopric that was supposed to do it couldn´t make it to the baptism. It went well, and I only said one phrase that made the people laugh. I said thank you for coming, only I didn´t say it correctly. It was such a beautiful baptism. It was beautiful to see Arlette take this step in life that Jesus Christ wants all of us to take. Baptism is so wonderful, because through baptism we receive a remission of our sins. After baptism, we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us make the best decisions and receive Heavenly Father’s guidance in our lives.
Sorry, I don´t have too much time today. But things are going so wonderful. I really feel so blessed to be a missionary.
Scott, I like your tie too. I wear it a lot and think of you always when I wear it. I won´t ever trade it.
Well everyone, hope that you have a great and happy Thanksgiving.
Friday, November 20, 2009
11-16-09
We’ve had an awesome week. Arlete’s baptism is this Saturday. She is a 14-year old girl that we have been teaching. She is sooo great, and has a strong testimony that this is Christ’s true church. She shares her testimony with her friends and tells them how she knows this church is true.
I have some sad news about Bastian. He was the kid that we taught last week who wanted to get baptized. We went to teach him this last Monday, and I guess he moved. He is living somewhere else- we saw him later this week. The sad thing is that his mom, who he's living with now, won´t let him get baptized. He just told us when he saw us that maybe later, but not now. We kinda got the feeling that he just doesn´t want to go through all the trouble with his family, because they don´t approve. Now that he is living somewhere else we won´t be able to talk with him much. He won´t come back here to see his grandpa very often. It’s sad- he really felt something special when we first taught him. But hopefully he will run into some missionaries where he’s living now. Plus his best friend is a member of the church.
Oh so guess what, last Monday night we did splits with two members in the ward. (Elder Reeder went with someone to one appointment, and I went with someone else to another appointment.) I went with a man by the name of Victor Pena. My companion and I went with literally the two fastest-speaking guys in the ward (congregation). But the cool thing was that at the lesson, when the people couldn´t understand something I said, Victor did, and then he would teach them about it, or ask the question I had been trying to ask. It was sooo cool, because I could understand him pretty well that night, and he understood me when the other people couldn´t. He received help from Heavenly Father to understand my Spanish. In reality, he shouldn´t have been able to understand some of the things I was trying to say, and then he would ask me if this was what I was trying to say, and it was, every time. It was too cool. Things are getting better and better with Spanish. I am liking it- now I can understand and speak well enough for me and another person to be able to talk normally.
Sorry I don´t have time to write much more, but I want to tell you this now because I can. Earlier, it would have made you worry, Mom. When I got here, my very first week, I started getting these little red bumps all over my body. They itched. And I was finding fleas on me, so I was a little scared. I didn´t know if they were all flea bites. But as time went on, most of the red bumps got bigger and didn´t look like flea bites anymore. I just had a rash. We talked to a doctor. I don´t know why I got it, or what it came from. It was kinda like the chicken pox. But it’s going away and it’s almost gone now. It just itched a bit, not too bad. But I decided to tell you now because I am fine and it wasn´t bad at all. I didn´t want to worry you before. But I am still getting flea bites, which I guess I’m getting used to. They aren´t bad. But for a time there when I first was getting the rash I would imagine fleas on me, and start to freak myself out! Haha. It wan´t bad though, the rash was really just like having red bumps that itched a bit. I am in really good health and feeling really great.
Luisa came to church this week! And also a church activity! Things are going well with her and Arlete, but they are about the only two that will keep their commitments. Scott, we have the same problem here- a lot of people won´t read the Book of Mormon or pray and ask God if it’s true. It’s sad, because I know what I have received in my life, and they can receive it too, if they will just put forth some effort to ask God if it’s really true. But we are trying our hardest and working hard.
I have some sad news about Bastian. He was the kid that we taught last week who wanted to get baptized. We went to teach him this last Monday, and I guess he moved. He is living somewhere else- we saw him later this week. The sad thing is that his mom, who he's living with now, won´t let him get baptized. He just told us when he saw us that maybe later, but not now. We kinda got the feeling that he just doesn´t want to go through all the trouble with his family, because they don´t approve. Now that he is living somewhere else we won´t be able to talk with him much. He won´t come back here to see his grandpa very often. It’s sad- he really felt something special when we first taught him. But hopefully he will run into some missionaries where he’s living now. Plus his best friend is a member of the church.
Oh so guess what, last Monday night we did splits with two members in the ward. (Elder Reeder went with someone to one appointment, and I went with someone else to another appointment.) I went with a man by the name of Victor Pena. My companion and I went with literally the two fastest-speaking guys in the ward (congregation). But the cool thing was that at the lesson, when the people couldn´t understand something I said, Victor did, and then he would teach them about it, or ask the question I had been trying to ask. It was sooo cool, because I could understand him pretty well that night, and he understood me when the other people couldn´t. He received help from Heavenly Father to understand my Spanish. In reality, he shouldn´t have been able to understand some of the things I was trying to say, and then he would ask me if this was what I was trying to say, and it was, every time. It was too cool. Things are getting better and better with Spanish. I am liking it- now I can understand and speak well enough for me and another person to be able to talk normally.
Sorry I don´t have time to write much more, but I want to tell you this now because I can. Earlier, it would have made you worry, Mom. When I got here, my very first week, I started getting these little red bumps all over my body. They itched. And I was finding fleas on me, so I was a little scared. I didn´t know if they were all flea bites. But as time went on, most of the red bumps got bigger and didn´t look like flea bites anymore. I just had a rash. We talked to a doctor. I don´t know why I got it, or what it came from. It was kinda like the chicken pox. But it’s going away and it’s almost gone now. It just itched a bit, not too bad. But I decided to tell you now because I am fine and it wasn´t bad at all. I didn´t want to worry you before. But I am still getting flea bites, which I guess I’m getting used to. They aren´t bad. But for a time there when I first was getting the rash I would imagine fleas on me, and start to freak myself out! Haha. It wan´t bad though, the rash was really just like having red bumps that itched a bit. I am in really good health and feeling really great.
Luisa came to church this week! And also a church activity! Things are going well with her and Arlete, but they are about the only two that will keep their commitments. Scott, we have the same problem here- a lot of people won´t read the Book of Mormon or pray and ask God if it’s true. It’s sad, because I know what I have received in my life, and they can receive it too, if they will just put forth some effort to ask God if it’s really true. But we are trying our hardest and working hard.
Monday, November 9, 2009
11-09-09
I am doing really well- it has been a great week! Lots happened this week but here are the highlights. Oh and I better correct myself, because I said before that Chileans only worked 6 hours a day, but that is wrong, actually only a few do that I think. The rest work more like 8 or 10.
So guess what. I gave a priesthood blessing in Spanish last Sunday. It went well, I felt really good afterwards, even though the Spanish wasn´t 100 percent correct. It was cool, just to a lady in our ward (church congregation) who is having health problems.
This week one time my companion, Elder Reeder, and I were talking to this guy in the street and then all of a sudden bird poop landed on us, and there wasn´t a bird in sight. The birds fly so high here, it was a lucky shot. It only got a little on me, but more on my companion, not any on the man we were talking to. Ha ha. But my rain gear has come to be so useful the past few weeks. It has rained a lot. And it is not supposed to be raining now, because it is almost summer, but it’s still raining a lot and thankfully my rain gear is the best stuff. I need it! I don’t get wet when I wear it.
Spanish is going well. I am understanding more. Actually on Saturday I talked to this guy about the Book of Mormon for a long time and answered all his questions about it. It was cool because I didn´t have to look to my companion because I didn’t understand something. Also last night we had had a hard day, it was raining all day, and cold, and we hadn´t gotten in to teach many people. All of our lessons had fallen through and so we said a prayer to find someone to teach, because we had been walking for hours and not taught anyone. And not 5 minutes later we taught this lady a great lesson. It was so cool, and it just goes to show that Heavenly Father really helps us when we pray and that this really is His work.
This week, things went well with our investigators. We taught this 19 year-old kid named Bastian and then we challenged him to baptism and he said yes. He is a great kid and really understood, and the best part is that his best friend is a member of the church. So hopefully all goes well there.
We had 8 people coming to church this week, and on Friday or Saturday, they all said that they were coming, but then no one came. We went around to get them and they either weren´t home, were sick, or had gone out of town. So next week hopefully they’ll come.
Leo and Susan were going to come, but then Susan left town and Leo said he would come and meet us at church, but didn´t. They are doing well though. We are going to have a great lesson with them tonight or tomorrow.
Arlete is a 14 year-old girl that the missionaries found a little before I got here, and she is getting baptized in a few weeks. She just needs one or two more lessons. She is amazing, we just need to help her family, who are members but don’t come to church.
We are teaching this guy named Luiz, who is around 40, and has a son and a wife, but he’s the only one in his family who listens to the lessons. We had an amazing lesson with him this week. He is reading the Book of Mormon and is in 2 Nephi right now. We just had the coolest lesson with him. We prepared the best outline for it, but at the lesson, we had a strong feeling that God wanted us to teach it differently- it went so well. He needs to come to church.
We are teaching another lady named Luisa and she is doing really well, she is really prepared to hear this message. She feels the Book of Mormon is true and that our message is true too, and so she just needs to come to church and gain a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and the restoration of Christ’s true church.
We are working hard- it isn´t always easy with the rain and the cold, but things are going really well.
I am getting up early and studying Spanish a little each day, because we never have time to study the language. We only get a half hour for language study, but our momita is usually a little late with lunch. Our language study is right after lunch, so I have to study in the morning and then learn throughout the day. I am working hard on Spanish. I even study vocabulary in the shower.
Next week remind me to tell you about the lesson we teach to people when we start teaching them. It is great, our Area Presidency came up with it- it’s a great lesson that helps people understand why the restoration of Christ’s church is important for them.
So guess what. I gave a priesthood blessing in Spanish last Sunday. It went well, I felt really good afterwards, even though the Spanish wasn´t 100 percent correct. It was cool, just to a lady in our ward (church congregation) who is having health problems.
This week one time my companion, Elder Reeder, and I were talking to this guy in the street and then all of a sudden bird poop landed on us, and there wasn´t a bird in sight. The birds fly so high here, it was a lucky shot. It only got a little on me, but more on my companion, not any on the man we were talking to. Ha ha. But my rain gear has come to be so useful the past few weeks. It has rained a lot. And it is not supposed to be raining now, because it is almost summer, but it’s still raining a lot and thankfully my rain gear is the best stuff. I need it! I don’t get wet when I wear it.
Spanish is going well. I am understanding more. Actually on Saturday I talked to this guy about the Book of Mormon for a long time and answered all his questions about it. It was cool because I didn´t have to look to my companion because I didn’t understand something. Also last night we had had a hard day, it was raining all day, and cold, and we hadn´t gotten in to teach many people. All of our lessons had fallen through and so we said a prayer to find someone to teach, because we had been walking for hours and not taught anyone. And not 5 minutes later we taught this lady a great lesson. It was so cool, and it just goes to show that Heavenly Father really helps us when we pray and that this really is His work.
This week, things went well with our investigators. We taught this 19 year-old kid named Bastian and then we challenged him to baptism and he said yes. He is a great kid and really understood, and the best part is that his best friend is a member of the church. So hopefully all goes well there.
We had 8 people coming to church this week, and on Friday or Saturday, they all said that they were coming, but then no one came. We went around to get them and they either weren´t home, were sick, or had gone out of town. So next week hopefully they’ll come.
Leo and Susan were going to come, but then Susan left town and Leo said he would come and meet us at church, but didn´t. They are doing well though. We are going to have a great lesson with them tonight or tomorrow.
Arlete is a 14 year-old girl that the missionaries found a little before I got here, and she is getting baptized in a few weeks. She just needs one or two more lessons. She is amazing, we just need to help her family, who are members but don’t come to church.
We are teaching this guy named Luiz, who is around 40, and has a son and a wife, but he’s the only one in his family who listens to the lessons. We had an amazing lesson with him this week. He is reading the Book of Mormon and is in 2 Nephi right now. We just had the coolest lesson with him. We prepared the best outline for it, but at the lesson, we had a strong feeling that God wanted us to teach it differently- it went so well. He needs to come to church.
We are teaching another lady named Luisa and she is doing really well, she is really prepared to hear this message. She feels the Book of Mormon is true and that our message is true too, and so she just needs to come to church and gain a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith, and the restoration of Christ’s true church.
We are working hard- it isn´t always easy with the rain and the cold, but things are going really well.
I am getting up early and studying Spanish a little each day, because we never have time to study the language. We only get a half hour for language study, but our momita is usually a little late with lunch. Our language study is right after lunch, so I have to study in the morning and then learn throughout the day. I am working hard on Spanish. I even study vocabulary in the shower.
Next week remind me to tell you about the lesson we teach to people when we start teaching them. It is great, our Area Presidency came up with it- it’s a great lesson that helps people understand why the restoration of Christ’s church is important for them.
Monday, November 2, 2009
11-02-09
So last Monday, I conquered the bathroom and now it is so clean and nice. It is enjoyable!!! Ha.
We taught some really cool people this week. We taught a lady named Luisa and it went so well. We will meet with her again tomorrow I think. It was just a really cool lesson, because at the end she just told us about how she was Catholic and then Evangelical and how they just weren´t right. She is reading the Book of Mormon now. We are also teaching a couple with a young baby, Leo and Susan. We met them two weeks ago. This week we had a really cool lesson with them. We watched The Restoration DVD, about 20 minutes, and then read in the Book of Mormon. At the end, Susan said that they would read it and pray and ask God if the Book of Mormon is true. When she said the prayer at the end, she included that question. They were going to come to church, but they slept in and so they will come next week. They are awesome people. We have been teaching some other really cool people this week.
I am learning more and more each day. I still have so much to learn, but I am working hard each day.
A little bit more about my area. We live north of Osorno in a city called Valdivia. About 130,000 people live here. It is a decent-sized city. Our area is not in the central part of the city, but is more on the outside. We are along a river, and I guess that this used to be a town that the Spanish had control of. There is part of an old Spanish fort here that they would use to defend the city from pirates, I guess. The people here are pretty relaxed. They don´t work a ton ton. But they work I think like 6 hours a day. Most people are pretty accustomed to the life they have and aren´t looking to change, it is hard for them. Some people are soo nice and others aren´t. It is sad, you see all sorts of people. The drunks make me sad, it is so sad to see them- what a miserable life. My area is just streets of small houses. There are small little stores everywhere, a lot just in the side of a house, small little food stores. There are dogs everywhere here. I haven´t had a problem with them yet. But they bark too much. The people here are religious. Mostly Evangelical or Catholic, all of them. Some go to church and some don´t, just like in the States. But most people aren´t too eager to talk to missionaries. They are funny, but I am doing my best to learn to love them. We are trying to work more with the members here. We have 4 people or so that go out with us every week, but we want to work more with the other members. There are about 40 people that come to my ward (congregation) on a good full day, but I guess there are 5 stakes here in Valdivia, which is a lot. My ward is just smaller, I think. There are some incredible members here.
For Halloween here, some kids dress up. Most kids will go out and go door to door for candy. At night when were came back in, there were kids knocking on our gate, but we couldn´t give them anything because if we did, more and more would come. They saw our lights on! I guess the kids just go out and play and go door to door for candy, but we didn´t see too many people outside. Hope you all had a fun Halloween and that everything went well.
We taught some really cool people this week. We taught a lady named Luisa and it went so well. We will meet with her again tomorrow I think. It was just a really cool lesson, because at the end she just told us about how she was Catholic and then Evangelical and how they just weren´t right. She is reading the Book of Mormon now. We are also teaching a couple with a young baby, Leo and Susan. We met them two weeks ago. This week we had a really cool lesson with them. We watched The Restoration DVD, about 20 minutes, and then read in the Book of Mormon. At the end, Susan said that they would read it and pray and ask God if the Book of Mormon is true. When she said the prayer at the end, she included that question. They were going to come to church, but they slept in and so they will come next week. They are awesome people. We have been teaching some other really cool people this week.
I am learning more and more each day. I still have so much to learn, but I am working hard each day.
A little bit more about my area. We live north of Osorno in a city called Valdivia. About 130,000 people live here. It is a decent-sized city. Our area is not in the central part of the city, but is more on the outside. We are along a river, and I guess that this used to be a town that the Spanish had control of. There is part of an old Spanish fort here that they would use to defend the city from pirates, I guess. The people here are pretty relaxed. They don´t work a ton ton. But they work I think like 6 hours a day. Most people are pretty accustomed to the life they have and aren´t looking to change, it is hard for them. Some people are soo nice and others aren´t. It is sad, you see all sorts of people. The drunks make me sad, it is so sad to see them- what a miserable life. My area is just streets of small houses. There are small little stores everywhere, a lot just in the side of a house, small little food stores. There are dogs everywhere here. I haven´t had a problem with them yet. But they bark too much. The people here are religious. Mostly Evangelical or Catholic, all of them. Some go to church and some don´t, just like in the States. But most people aren´t too eager to talk to missionaries. They are funny, but I am doing my best to learn to love them. We are trying to work more with the members here. We have 4 people or so that go out with us every week, but we want to work more with the other members. There are about 40 people that come to my ward (congregation) on a good full day, but I guess there are 5 stakes here in Valdivia, which is a lot. My ward is just smaller, I think. There are some incredible members here.
For Halloween here, some kids dress up. Most kids will go out and go door to door for candy. At night when were came back in, there were kids knocking on our gate, but we couldn´t give them anything because if we did, more and more would come. They saw our lights on! I guess the kids just go out and play and go door to door for candy, but we didn´t see too many people outside. Hope you all had a fun Halloween and that everything went well.
Monday, October 26, 2009
10-26-09
It has been a really great week. Man, there is so much to say. The week went by so fast. I, too, am understanding more and more each day, which is great. Heavenly Father is really helping me. We had a Family Home Evening* last night for an hour and I just listened to it and I was able to understand a lot, so my comprehension is improving. My head literally hurt after listening to an hour of the fastest talking I have ever heard, but I am starting to understand more so that I can understand their stories. I understood the lesson really well- the brother who taught pronounces his words a little better than most. It is amazing that the Lord has helped me learn to understand so much Spanish in 11 weeks. But really, they speak soooo fast here. It is insane.
We are finding more people to teach, but sadly still a lot of people aren´t at the appointments we set with them, even when we leave a reminder for them. But I am so happy still, even when it happens, because this is the happiest work, and truly, sharing this happiness with others makes me happy. That is why I am here. But last week after I wrote you, we found some great people to teach, so Heavenly Father is definitely helping us.
We taught a really cool lady yesterday and we are going back next week to teach her family. We have lots of people that we are teaching but not many that are progressing right now.
My companion, Elder Reeder, and I are getting along so well, I love him. It is so great to have him as my trainer, I am learning so much from him.
We are always so busy on preparation day. Last week the kitchen was cleaned, the refrigerator, the microwave, and all. And today it is the bathroom that I want to clean. We were living with a lot of these little beatle bugs- they were everywhere. But I started sweeping them out the door this week and now we only see them every once in a while, and we sweep them out. There were quite a few before, they are harmless and just walk around the floor, but I won´t have that in my house! So the house is going to be completely clean after today, we are just going to buy food and then pay a bill after this and then go home.
Things are just going really well, and I am learning so much.
(*Family Home Evening is something we usually do on Monday nights. It’s a night we reserve for our families, to strengthen family relationships and create memories. We usually share a spiritual thought/lesson, play a game or some other fun activity, and have a treat.)
We are finding more people to teach, but sadly still a lot of people aren´t at the appointments we set with them, even when we leave a reminder for them. But I am so happy still, even when it happens, because this is the happiest work, and truly, sharing this happiness with others makes me happy. That is why I am here. But last week after I wrote you, we found some great people to teach, so Heavenly Father is definitely helping us.
We taught a really cool lady yesterday and we are going back next week to teach her family. We have lots of people that we are teaching but not many that are progressing right now.
My companion, Elder Reeder, and I are getting along so well, I love him. It is so great to have him as my trainer, I am learning so much from him.
We are always so busy on preparation day. Last week the kitchen was cleaned, the refrigerator, the microwave, and all. And today it is the bathroom that I want to clean. We were living with a lot of these little beatle bugs- they were everywhere. But I started sweeping them out the door this week and now we only see them every once in a while, and we sweep them out. There were quite a few before, they are harmless and just walk around the floor, but I won´t have that in my house! So the house is going to be completely clean after today, we are just going to buy food and then pay a bill after this and then go home.
Things are just going really well, and I am learning so much.
(*Family Home Evening is something we usually do on Monday nights. It’s a night we reserve for our families, to strengthen family relationships and create memories. We usually share a spiritual thought/lesson, play a game or some other fun activity, and have a treat.)
The Atonement of Jesus Christ
The message in this video is one that Brian and Scott share every day with those they meet, that Jesus Christ can help us with anything and everything.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The Best Way to Write Brian in Chile
Sorry this has taken so long. But here's the best way for you to write Brian in Chile.
1. Go to dearelder.com.
2. Where it says "Select Mission," go to Chile Osorno.
3. Click on "Write a Letter."
4. Enter your name and address, address it to Elder Brian Sheahan, then enter your e-mail address.
5. Write your letter and click "Send Letter."
6. You don't have to pay anything (you are not required to make a donation to the website). If you can, we'd definitely encourage you to do so at some point. I don't know who does it, but someone (probably lots of people) donates their time to printing out these letters each day. So at some point, if you are able, make a donation equal to the postage you would have paid.
If you ever have problems with your internet/computer crashing, it may be wise to write your letter in a word document (save it as you go along), and then paste it in afterward. You shouldn't have any problems, but that way you won't have to rewrite everything if something happens.
This is sent through the "pouch system." I don't know everything about it, but the letter is actually sent from Salt Lake City, along with lots of other letters to missionaries in the same area. Our church created this system because sometimes the mail in South America is unreliable, and things have gotten lost in the past. This ensures that your letter gets to Brian. (If you ever want to send a real letter or a package- which is really expensive to send, btw, leave a comment on this blog with your e-mail and I'll get you that address.)
Brian may get your letter anytime from one week to a month after you send it. It just depends when you send it, when the letter actually gets to Chile, and when he is able to get his mail from the mission office. Know that he appreciates your love and support very much. I know he would love to reply to everyone quickly, but remember that he's really, really busy.
Have a fabulous day! Happy writing!
1. Go to dearelder.com.
2. Where it says "Select Mission," go to Chile Osorno.
3. Click on "Write a Letter."
4. Enter your name and address, address it to Elder Brian Sheahan, then enter your e-mail address.
5. Write your letter and click "Send Letter."
6. You don't have to pay anything (you are not required to make a donation to the website). If you can, we'd definitely encourage you to do so at some point. I don't know who does it, but someone (probably lots of people) donates their time to printing out these letters each day. So at some point, if you are able, make a donation equal to the postage you would have paid.
If you ever have problems with your internet/computer crashing, it may be wise to write your letter in a word document (save it as you go along), and then paste it in afterward. You shouldn't have any problems, but that way you won't have to rewrite everything if something happens.
This is sent through the "pouch system." I don't know everything about it, but the letter is actually sent from Salt Lake City, along with lots of other letters to missionaries in the same area. Our church created this system because sometimes the mail in South America is unreliable, and things have gotten lost in the past. This ensures that your letter gets to Brian. (If you ever want to send a real letter or a package- which is really expensive to send, btw, leave a comment on this blog with your e-mail and I'll get you that address.)
Brian may get your letter anytime from one week to a month after you send it. It just depends when you send it, when the letter actually gets to Chile, and when he is able to get his mail from the mission office. Know that he appreciates your love and support very much. I know he would love to reply to everyone quickly, but remember that he's really, really busy.
Have a fabulous day! Happy writing!
10-19-09
Sorry I didn´t write too much last Preparation Day, we were in such a hurry, but we did get to do something super cool. We hiked through the forest above our city to see a waterfall! It was like nothing I´ve ever done before, I wish I could send you pictures. But it was like hiking through a rain forest, so cool, with members of the church, they used machetes.
This week has gone really well, my Preparation Day is Monday. We had Zone Conference last week, which was cool. President Lovell brings our mail with him to Zone Conference (which is every 6 weeks).
There is so much to talk about. My companion and I are getting along well, he’s cool. My Spanish is coming along, but it is still pretty tough. I am being patient- the people here talk soooo fast. It is crazy, but I can already understand much more than last week, the Lord is teaching me and helping me, and I really have felt His help here. The cool thing is that I have had experiences like Scott, like when teaching, where God really helps me speak much better Spanish than I know, and the people understand perfectly a story I tell or something, but then later after the lesson my Spanish goes back to where it was, not as good! But I have definitely felt help from Heavenly Father here. Like at Zone Conference, President Lovell taught in Spanish for over 2 hours and I understood 90 percent of it, I was able to learn all that he wanted to teach, because of help from Heavenly Father. Other times I don´t understand much, the people speak sooo fast here. But I am being patient and doing really well. It is really cool to be on a mission, an awesome experience.
A lot of the people here don´t really want to talk to us. Some people listen but they don´t keep their commitments (like being at the appointment they said they would be at), which is difficult. But I know that the Lord prepares people everywhere, and there are people here that we will meet who really are searching for the truth. I wish that I could write so much, but you can be happy knowing that I am keeping a great journal, and that you can read everything when I get back.
My momita is great, and her family is so nice. We are going to buy fresh made empanadas from her today! They are good. It hasn´t rained too much here so far. It is summer here, but the mornings still have been really cold! Very cold. But I am sleeping really well and doing great. My companion and I are working really hard and we are going to find someone amazing this week to teach about the restoration of the church of Jesus Christ. I am learning so much about missionary work here, and my testimony is as strong as ever, I just love this church and the happiness it brings me to know that it is true.
I am trying to think of some cool stories to tell you. We are going to clean the apartment today, because it is dirty and I am buying cleaning stuff. There was a baptism this week and two people were baptized.
One funny story is that when I got here I heard people call me a gringo, and I thought that meant a new missionary, because we call new missionaries greenies in the States. So I introduced myself like two times in the first couple days here as, I am gringo. What the word actually means is white man, or white boy. So I found that out and that is funny, I was saying, I am white man. But I only did it twice.
This week has gone really well, my Preparation Day is Monday. We had Zone Conference last week, which was cool. President Lovell brings our mail with him to Zone Conference (which is every 6 weeks).
There is so much to talk about. My companion and I are getting along well, he’s cool. My Spanish is coming along, but it is still pretty tough. I am being patient- the people here talk soooo fast. It is crazy, but I can already understand much more than last week, the Lord is teaching me and helping me, and I really have felt His help here. The cool thing is that I have had experiences like Scott, like when teaching, where God really helps me speak much better Spanish than I know, and the people understand perfectly a story I tell or something, but then later after the lesson my Spanish goes back to where it was, not as good! But I have definitely felt help from Heavenly Father here. Like at Zone Conference, President Lovell taught in Spanish for over 2 hours and I understood 90 percent of it, I was able to learn all that he wanted to teach, because of help from Heavenly Father. Other times I don´t understand much, the people speak sooo fast here. But I am being patient and doing really well. It is really cool to be on a mission, an awesome experience.
A lot of the people here don´t really want to talk to us. Some people listen but they don´t keep their commitments (like being at the appointment they said they would be at), which is difficult. But I know that the Lord prepares people everywhere, and there are people here that we will meet who really are searching for the truth. I wish that I could write so much, but you can be happy knowing that I am keeping a great journal, and that you can read everything when I get back.
My momita is great, and her family is so nice. We are going to buy fresh made empanadas from her today! They are good. It hasn´t rained too much here so far. It is summer here, but the mornings still have been really cold! Very cold. But I am sleeping really well and doing great. My companion and I are working really hard and we are going to find someone amazing this week to teach about the restoration of the church of Jesus Christ. I am learning so much about missionary work here, and my testimony is as strong as ever, I just love this church and the happiness it brings me to know that it is true.
I am trying to think of some cool stories to tell you. We are going to clean the apartment today, because it is dirty and I am buying cleaning stuff. There was a baptism this week and two people were baptized.
One funny story is that when I got here I heard people call me a gringo, and I thought that meant a new missionary, because we call new missionaries greenies in the States. So I introduced myself like two times in the first couple days here as, I am gringo. What the word actually means is white man, or white boy. So I found that out and that is funny, I was saying, I am white man. But I only did it twice.
Pictures from the MTC
Scott sent pictures this week, but I don't think Brian is able to send pictures (at least through e-mail). So here are a couple Scott sent of the two of them.
Friday, October 16, 2009
10-12-09
Hola! ¿Como estan? I hope that all of you are doing really well. I am doing well, and now I´ll let you know how the last week has been. It has been good, hard, but good. The trip was so long, and by the time we got to Osorno I was so tired. The mission president and his wife are so nice and it was good to meet them. The first night we did a lot of orientation stuff and then we stayed the night in a hotel.
My first area is called Calle Calle, which means street street. I am in a town called Valdivia. My companion´s name is Elder Bryan Reeder, and he is from Mesa Arizona. He is soo cool and a great trainer. I am learning a lot from him. So this first week has been hard just because I can´t understand the people here. But it is getting easier. They just speak so fast, and I guess the speak the fastest Spanish in the world here, and they don´t pronounce very much, so it is really hard to understand, but mostly just because I am not used to it. But it is getting easier. We have a momita, who makes us lunch everyday and she and her family are members of the church, she also does our laundry and the church pays her for this. They are so nice. The food here is good, the bread is good, and we have eaten soup and pasta and meat this week.
So I have a cool story from the first week, from the first day. It is hard to understand people, but my first night we were tracting and I wanted to try to listen to what Heavenly Father wanted me to do. And then I just saw this guy and I felt like we should talk to him, and there were plenty of other people around. But we talked to him and it went well and he wanted to come to church with us this week, which sadly he didn´t, but a lot of people missed church because the time changed that night. But we are going to talk to him today, and hopefully it goes well. It just shows me that God really does direct us. I have had a lot of good experiences this week along with the hard ones. Some people are nice here and some are not just like in other parts of the world. But we found a family and taught them a good lesson the other day and we are going to see them again soon.
But I guess I don´t have much time today so I will write more details next week, but I am doing really well, I am learning and learning. I really like testifying of the restoration of the church of Jesus Christ.
I am sad that I don´t have much time today, we are busy but I love you so much and am so thankful for you.
Love, Elder Brian Sheahan
My first area is called Calle Calle, which means street street. I am in a town called Valdivia. My companion´s name is Elder Bryan Reeder, and he is from Mesa Arizona. He is soo cool and a great trainer. I am learning a lot from him. So this first week has been hard just because I can´t understand the people here. But it is getting easier. They just speak so fast, and I guess the speak the fastest Spanish in the world here, and they don´t pronounce very much, so it is really hard to understand, but mostly just because I am not used to it. But it is getting easier. We have a momita, who makes us lunch everyday and she and her family are members of the church, she also does our laundry and the church pays her for this. They are so nice. The food here is good, the bread is good, and we have eaten soup and pasta and meat this week.
So I have a cool story from the first week, from the first day. It is hard to understand people, but my first night we were tracting and I wanted to try to listen to what Heavenly Father wanted me to do. And then I just saw this guy and I felt like we should talk to him, and there were plenty of other people around. But we talked to him and it went well and he wanted to come to church with us this week, which sadly he didn´t, but a lot of people missed church because the time changed that night. But we are going to talk to him today, and hopefully it goes well. It just shows me that God really does direct us. I have had a lot of good experiences this week along with the hard ones. Some people are nice here and some are not just like in other parts of the world. But we found a family and taught them a good lesson the other day and we are going to see them again soon.
But I guess I don´t have much time today so I will write more details next week, but I am doing really well, I am learning and learning. I really like testifying of the restoration of the church of Jesus Christ.
I am sad that I don´t have much time today, we are busy but I love you so much and am so thankful for you.
Love, Elder Brian Sheahan
10-08-09
We got an e-mail today from Brian's mission president, Presidente Kenneth D. Lovell, telling us that Brian arrived safely in Chile. He is serving with Elder Reeder (from Mesa, AZ) in the Calle Calle Ward in Valdivia (about an hour north and west of Osorno).
Friday, October 2, 2009
Writing Brian in Chile
I will try to post info on writing Brian in Chile next week. Have a great one! :)
09-29-09
I am doing great. Today is my last preparation day at the MTC. This time has really just flown by and I feel like I really just got here, but I have learned so much and loved it here a lot. So this week we got our flight plans, and I had a little scare. Dad, I thought that I was going to come to Florida in a month and see you. I'll explain. We got our flight plans and it said that we were going to Chile and then in November that we were taking a flight back to Miami Florida. I was really confused. Everyone in my district had this ticket back to Florida and I didn't know why. No one did. I started worrying. I was thinking, what if they needed Spanish-speaking missionaries in Florida and so they transferred us there. We couldn't figure out why we would be flying back to the US a month after we got to Chile. But then some members of my district went and asked the travel office and it turns out that it was all okay. To go to Chile we need this extra ticket. Because we don't need visas to fly to Chile, but if we are in Chile for longer than three months then we do. And so since we are staying for longer and don't have our visas yet, we have to have proof that we have a ticket out of the country within three months if we aren't able to get our visas. They just cancel the ticket once we get our visas. I was pretty scared, I guess they call it a ghost ticket or something like that. But anyways this week has been really great.
I fly out from the Salt Lake City airport on Oct 5 to Los Angeles. We go from LA to Santiago, Chile. We get to Santiago the next morning. Then we wait for a few hours and leave the Santiago airport and fly to Osorno, Chile. So the whole trip takes around 30 hours is what I have heard. I am on a different flight than Scott, I think he flies from SLC to Texas or Florida and then to Chile. But we should be in the Santiago airport waiting for him when he gets in. He gets in to Santiago while I am waiting to fly to Osorno.
Well, I want to write more, but I am running out of time.
Elder Welling and I had a great experience at the TEC this week. We have been teaching there in Spanish for the last two weeks and this week we taught a lady in Spanish. We taught her about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our simple Spanish. But the cool thing was that we really felt the love of God during the lesson. It felt great and she was touched by the message. Our Spanish was simple, but good enough, good enough to have the spirit of God there and that is what teaches the heart what truth is. It was a great experience. We still have a ton of Spanish to learn and more to learn about being missionaries, but Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are with us and that is what we need. It was soo cool.
I am excited to be going to Chile! So excited and nervous at the same time. I hear that they speak very, very, very fast there.
I fly out from the Salt Lake City airport on Oct 5 to Los Angeles. We go from LA to Santiago, Chile. We get to Santiago the next morning. Then we wait for a few hours and leave the Santiago airport and fly to Osorno, Chile. So the whole trip takes around 30 hours is what I have heard. I am on a different flight than Scott, I think he flies from SLC to Texas or Florida and then to Chile. But we should be in the Santiago airport waiting for him when he gets in. He gets in to Santiago while I am waiting to fly to Osorno.
Well, I want to write more, but I am running out of time.
Elder Welling and I had a great experience at the TEC this week. We have been teaching there in Spanish for the last two weeks and this week we taught a lady in Spanish. We taught her about the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our simple Spanish. But the cool thing was that we really felt the love of God during the lesson. It felt great and she was touched by the message. Our Spanish was simple, but good enough, good enough to have the spirit of God there and that is what teaches the heart what truth is. It was a great experience. We still have a ton of Spanish to learn and more to learn about being missionaries, but Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are with us and that is what we need. It was soo cool.
I am excited to be going to Chile! So excited and nervous at the same time. I hear that they speak very, very, very fast there.
09-22-09
A couple of excerpts from last week's e-mail:
This week has gone awesome for me. I can't believe that in two weeks I will be in Chile! I have been going to choir, and so hopefully for General Conference they will send a missionary choir! But if not that is okay, I am getting really excited for General Conference (when we get to hear from the prophet, Thomas S. Monson, the twelve apostles, and other leaders of our church). Yeah, Elder Holland (one of the twelve apostles) came last week. It was so cool! I loved it. He is such a great speaker. When he was speaking, I could really feel God’s love. I just loved hearing about his mission from him and how it meant everything to him. I just want to make mine mean everything to me. I am loving it so much so far. Spanish is still coming well, we have learned all of the tenses now and we are working on teaching the second lesson this week! It is a lot of stuff to know. But it is coming.
It isn't really like school here, because I love all of the things that I am learning, where at school that isn't always the case.
Tenga un buen dia!
This week has gone awesome for me. I can't believe that in two weeks I will be in Chile! I have been going to choir, and so hopefully for General Conference they will send a missionary choir! But if not that is okay, I am getting really excited for General Conference (when we get to hear from the prophet, Thomas S. Monson, the twelve apostles, and other leaders of our church). Yeah, Elder Holland (one of the twelve apostles) came last week. It was so cool! I loved it. He is such a great speaker. When he was speaking, I could really feel God’s love. I just loved hearing about his mission from him and how it meant everything to him. I just want to make mine mean everything to me. I am loving it so much so far. Spanish is still coming well, we have learned all of the tenses now and we are working on teaching the second lesson this week! It is a lot of stuff to know. But it is coming.
It isn't really like school here, because I love all of the things that I am learning, where at school that isn't always the case.
Tenga un buen dia!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Writing Brian
FYI: Brian will leave the MTC on October 5th (two weeks from tomorrow), probably pretty early. So you have about two weeks left to write him in the MTC. The last day he could get your mail there will probably be Saturday, October 3rd. I'll give you his new address in Chile when I get it.
Have a happy day!
~Whitney
Have a happy day!
~Whitney
09-15-09
Hello!! How are you all doing? It is so good to get you letters. I love hearing from you. I am doing really really really well. Today is going great. I just got my haircut, again. This is my third haircut since being here. Ha ha. I can get it cut as much as I want because they want the missionaries to look good and it is free here at the MTC for me. I like it! So the last week has gone so well. My district is now only speaking Spanish during day all day because this is how we can learn more Spanish and it is going well. I feel like I am learning a lot. Elder Welling and I are teaching again in Spanish tomorrow at the TRC. That is fun, we also get to pretend to go to a store and have someone help us with that stuff and talk to a family in Spanish. So what my district was doing was keeping track of who spoke the most English during the day and then having that person wear a really ugly tie the next day. It was a hideous tie, but no one wore it because we found that it caused bad feelings in our district to be so picky about when people said one word of English. We stopped that and now are just speaking Spanish because we know it will help and that the Lord wants us to.
So this last week went really well. I had a hard day on Sunday, I was just feeling down for no reason, but then things picked up. Heavenly Father answered my prayers. I had a great interview with my Branch President, and then the fireside that night was really good, and then I got to watch The Testaments. It has been a while since I have seen it, and I know they have changed it a little from the version I have seen before because in this version it shows many scenes from the Finding Faith in Christ video, which I don't think it did before. But I just really felt Heavenly Father's love so powerfully at the end of that movie when Christ comes and visits the people in the Americas. It is so beautiful to see. I just loved it. I am so positively sure that The Book of Mormon is true. I know it with all of my heart. I know that this church is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. It just brings me so much happiness to know these things. They are so true, and to just feel the love of my Heavenly Father here at the MTC, it is great. I am so happy that I can go and share this message with the people of the Earth and that I have a testimony of it. I am so happy because of this church and all that Heavenly Father has given me. It amazes me. I am just so happy to be sharing this message, that I can help bring people to the true church of Jesus Christ, so that they can have the blessings of the atonement in their life. I don't know what I would do without the atonement in my life.
Well everything at the MTC is going great for me. I can't believe that I will be in Chile three weeks from today. I leave three weeks from yesterday! I hope that my trainer is really good. I am just loving being on a mission.
Love,
Elder Brian Sheahan
So this last week went really well. I had a hard day on Sunday, I was just feeling down for no reason, but then things picked up. Heavenly Father answered my prayers. I had a great interview with my Branch President, and then the fireside that night was really good, and then I got to watch The Testaments. It has been a while since I have seen it, and I know they have changed it a little from the version I have seen before because in this version it shows many scenes from the Finding Faith in Christ video, which I don't think it did before. But I just really felt Heavenly Father's love so powerfully at the end of that movie when Christ comes and visits the people in the Americas. It is so beautiful to see. I just loved it. I am so positively sure that The Book of Mormon is true. I know it with all of my heart. I know that this church is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. It just brings me so much happiness to know these things. They are so true, and to just feel the love of my Heavenly Father here at the MTC, it is great. I am so happy that I can go and share this message with the people of the Earth and that I have a testimony of it. I am so happy because of this church and all that Heavenly Father has given me. It amazes me. I am just so happy to be sharing this message, that I can help bring people to the true church of Jesus Christ, so that they can have the blessings of the atonement in their life. I don't know what I would do without the atonement in my life.
Well everything at the MTC is going great for me. I can't believe that I will be in Chile three weeks from today. I leave three weeks from yesterday! I hope that my trainer is really good. I am just loving being on a mission.
Love,
Elder Brian Sheahan
Friday, September 11, 2009
1 in 8 Million
Hey! I found a link to this really cool series from the New York Times called 1 in 8 million. They did this little photo blog on a Mormon missionary from China who is serving her mission in Chinatown, NYC. I thought you'd enjoy it; although she is in a different location/culture than Brian and Scott will be, her experiences will give you a glimpse into Brian and Scott's experiences as they are on their missions. Enjoy! 1 in 8 Million
09-08-09
I am doing wonderful. I can't believe it but I am past the halfway mark of being here at the MTC. I leave for Chile in less than 4 weeks!!! It is pretty crazy. This last week has been great. So we teach a lesson in Spanish tomorrow for the first time. I am excited. Elder Welling and I have taught a few lessons in Spanish so far and we think it will go pretty well, I mean it will be very simple.
So last week I had an amazing experience teaching a lesson. We met the guy we were going to teach. We got to know him, and then we just started teaching- it was amazing, one of the best experiences that I have had here at the MTC, but I really felt God's love during the lesson. It was so strong. I will never forget how it felt, I loved it.
Things are going really well here. I like all of the elders in my class a lot. Scott and I talked for a bit on Sunday night. He is doing really well and learning a lot.
I am doing really well, and I hope that all of you are too!
So last week I had an amazing experience teaching a lesson. We met the guy we were going to teach. We got to know him, and then we just started teaching- it was amazing, one of the best experiences that I have had here at the MTC, but I really felt God's love during the lesson. It was so strong. I will never forget how it felt, I loved it.
Things are going really well here. I like all of the elders in my class a lot. Scott and I talked for a bit on Sunday night. He is doing really well and learning a lot.
I am doing really well, and I hope that all of you are too!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
09-01-09
I am still doing really really well. I love it here. So last Tuesday night, guess who came to speak at the MTC? Elder Richard G. Scott (one of the 12 apostles). It was a great meeting. He told many stories of how God had saved his life and helped him. They were great. He had one story about how he was driving one time up on a narrow mountain road in Europe (near Albania or that area, I can't remember) , and then when he was approaching a sharp turn all of a sudden he thought that if his wife was with him she would tell him to honk the horn before the turn. He let the horn honk for a while and kept driving around the corner, and right around the corner was a truck that stopped and thankfully he didn't run into. This was a cool story and he told us many others like it. At the end of his time, he bore his testimony of Christ. And he said that he knows Christ lives because he knows Christ. He said this twice. It was really a powerful testimony. I definitely could feel that he is an apostle of Jesus Christ. That he truly is a representative of Him. During the time while he was speaking he gave us two apostolic blessings. 1. The gift of tongues for those learning a language. 2. A blessing of saftey. That as we used proper judgment and were worthy that we would be protected on our missions. - Mom, remember that! So the rest of the week has gone really well. I did my laundry today and then we get to go to the temple. The Spanish version of the King James Bible from our church with the footnotes in it is available now, so I am going to go buy one. I can't believe that in 5 weeks I am going to be going to Chile! It is crazy! The time is just flying. We start teaching in Spanish next week at the TRC, and that will be exciting and makes me a little nervous. I am getting pretty good at understanding Spanish and know a lot of times what people are talking about. My speaking is coming along too, and I think that I will be able to give a simple lesson. I know that Heavenly Father is helping me, I feel it everyday. I am just so thankful to have the opportunity to be a missionary. What a blessing it is. The message that I get to share makes me so happy too, and that it changes people's lives and makes them have true meaning in life - to know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church of God that has been restored to the earth and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I am so happy that I can share this with people and help them come closer to Jesus Christ. I know that this church is true with all my heart and I am so thankful to know that. It the best part of my life.
I am still playing basketball and four square now. It is fun. I would go play soccer, but I never really have gym time during the times that people play soccer. Mine are more in the morning and at night, and people usually play during the afternoon, plus people in my zone don't go and play. I will play in Chile! I hope I am allowed to!
I am still playing basketball and four square now. It is fun. I would go play soccer, but I never really have gym time during the times that people play soccer. Mine are more in the morning and at night, and people usually play during the afternoon, plus people in my zone don't go and play. I will play in Chile! I hope I am allowed to!
08-25-09
I am doing great. I have had a great week, it is hard to believe that I have already been here for three weeks! The time is flying by. The Spanish is still coming along. I have learned a lot in the last week. My teachers are great. Today I got to go to the temple, and that was great. On Sunday we got to participate in the Oquirrh Mountain Utah Temple Dedication, it is near Salt Lake. That was a great experience. It was in the gym building, where we have the devotionals and firesides. President Monson, President Erying, and Russel M. Ballard were the last three speakers. It was nice to see the Elders keeping quiet in the 45 minutes we had to sit waiting before the temple dedication started. It was dead silent, which is a nice change because before the firesides and devotional it can get pretty loud in there. If we didn't sing hymns for the last 15 minutes before firesides started then it would not be as spiritual of an experience. That Sunday night we had a devotional from the main director at the MTC. I forget what his title is, but he runs the food and basically all the parts of the MTC. He gave a great devotional. He produced all of the Mormon commercials like "Family - Don't You Think its About Time." He showed us a lot of the commercials that had run over the years and they all tied together. It was really great. The message was to not give up when you are feeling down, but to listen to the part of you on the inside that says "keep going." Christ tells us to keep going. Tonight we get to have another fireside. We haven't had any apostles yet, just members of the Seventy, church leaders in different departments, and other MTC people. They have all been amazing though.
Thank you all for writing to me. I love hearing from you.
Thank you all for writing to me. I love hearing from you.
08-18-09
Here are some excerpts from Bri's second e-mail. Sorry for the delay!
The second week at the MTC flew by. I can't believe that I have been here for two weeks already! The dearelder.com letters are working great and I get them really soon after you send them, within a day if it is during M-Th.
Scott and I have seen each other a few times. We sit together at devotionals and see each other around. Our classrooms are pretty close to one another and then we live in the same building. Right before we go to bed sometimes we go and visit one another with our companions.
My companion is a triplet, but not identical triplets. They all have blond hair but look pretty different. His brothers are really nice though.
My Spanish is still coming along. I like it, learning a language is fun. I still have a lot to learn though. I have gotten impatient with how much there is to learn sometimes, but now I have realized that the language will come in time and that the Lord is helping me out. I am working my hardest though.
We have a fireside tonight and hopefully an apostle will come. I guess one hasn't come in 7 weeks so they are thinking we will get one sometime while I am here. I guess in the beginning of the summer they had apostles speak all the time!
My companion, Elder Welling, and I are still getting along great. We work really hard together and are learning a lot. Teaching is going well, practicing teaching is fun. We have to teach in Spanish in 4 weeks I think!
The food here is so good. I play basketball everyday at the gym. There are weights and a track to run on, but basketball is so fun and I am getting much better than I used to be. I love it, it is definitely my 2nd favorite sport.
Sundays are one of my favorite days. The meetings are all so spiritual, and the fireside that night is always amazing. I would write more about it if I had more time.
The second week at the MTC flew by. I can't believe that I have been here for two weeks already! The dearelder.com letters are working great and I get them really soon after you send them, within a day if it is during M-Th.
Scott and I have seen each other a few times. We sit together at devotionals and see each other around. Our classrooms are pretty close to one another and then we live in the same building. Right before we go to bed sometimes we go and visit one another with our companions.
My companion is a triplet, but not identical triplets. They all have blond hair but look pretty different. His brothers are really nice though.
My Spanish is still coming along. I like it, learning a language is fun. I still have a lot to learn though. I have gotten impatient with how much there is to learn sometimes, but now I have realized that the language will come in time and that the Lord is helping me out. I am working my hardest though.
We have a fireside tonight and hopefully an apostle will come. I guess one hasn't come in 7 weeks so they are thinking we will get one sometime while I am here. I guess in the beginning of the summer they had apostles speak all the time!
My companion, Elder Welling, and I are still getting along great. We work really hard together and are learning a lot. Teaching is going well, practicing teaching is fun. We have to teach in Spanish in 4 weeks I think!
The food here is so good. I play basketball everyday at the gym. There are weights and a track to run on, but basketball is so fun and I am getting much better than I used to be. I love it, it is definitely my 2nd favorite sport.
Sundays are one of my favorite days. The meetings are all so spiritual, and the fireside that night is always amazing. I would write more about it if I had more time.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
08-11-09
Brian will leave the MTC on October 5th. Until then, he would love to hear from you. You can write him two ways:
1. dearelder.com (If you write him before 12 pm MST, he will get your letter that very day. If you write him after that time, he will get your letter the next day. It's efficient and FREE!) Where it says "select mission," select Provo MTC, and then click on Write a Letter. Enter your information. Brian's info is:
Elder Brian Sheahan
Box # 206
Mission: Chile Osorno
Estimated departure date: October 5.
Put in your e-mail address, and write your letter in the space provided. It's pretty self-explanatory.
2. Snail mail. See the side of this blog for his current address.
Here's an excerpt from his e-mail:
My companion's name is Elder Welling. He is a great person and we get along great. We are great friends. He is from Portland, Oregon. So it is hard to remember everything that I have done in the last 6 days. The first days went pretty slow. I was a little homesick, but after two days I was doing great. Scott is in the same building as me and his classroom is pretty close to mine, so I see him every 1-2 days. He comes and visits me at my room sometimes really quickly. It is hard not having him around, I miss being twins together. My district is really cool. All of the Elders are really hard working and obedient. They are all becoming great friends and examples to me. All of them except me and one more have had at least 2 years of Spanish before. I am picking it up pretty quick, but there is so much to learn. So much, but while I have been here I have realized that the Lord wants me to learn Spanish and he will help me. He is the one who called me to Chile. My companion is a triplet. And both of his brothers are going to Chile too. One is in Scott's mission, so maybe they will be companions. So I have learned how to pray in spanish, and bear my testimony, and use present tense verbs. Also a lot of vocab. I am looking forward to the time that I can speak it well.
Check back next week for more!
1. dearelder.com (If you write him before 12 pm MST, he will get your letter that very day. If you write him after that time, he will get your letter the next day. It's efficient and FREE!) Where it says "select mission," select Provo MTC, and then click on Write a Letter. Enter your information. Brian's info is:
Elder Brian Sheahan
Box # 206
Mission: Chile Osorno
Estimated departure date: October 5.
Put in your e-mail address, and write your letter in the space provided. It's pretty self-explanatory.
2. Snail mail. See the side of this blog for his current address.
Here's an excerpt from his e-mail:
My companion's name is Elder Welling. He is a great person and we get along great. We are great friends. He is from Portland, Oregon. So it is hard to remember everything that I have done in the last 6 days. The first days went pretty slow. I was a little homesick, but after two days I was doing great. Scott is in the same building as me and his classroom is pretty close to mine, so I see him every 1-2 days. He comes and visits me at my room sometimes really quickly. It is hard not having him around, I miss being twins together. My district is really cool. All of the Elders are really hard working and obedient. They are all becoming great friends and examples to me. All of them except me and one more have had at least 2 years of Spanish before. I am picking it up pretty quick, but there is so much to learn. So much, but while I have been here I have realized that the Lord wants me to learn Spanish and he will help me. He is the one who called me to Chile. My companion is a triplet. And both of his brothers are going to Chile too. One is in Scott's mission, so maybe they will be companions. So I have learned how to pray in spanish, and bear my testimony, and use present tense verbs. Also a lot of vocab. I am looking forward to the time that I can speak it well.
Check back next week for more!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
07-29-09
Hello everyone. This is going to be my blog for the next two years while I am in the Osorno Chile Mission. I will be in the very southern third of Chile on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I leave a week from today for the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT. While I am gone I am going to send updates on how I am doing and experiences I am having to my sister Whitney and she is going to post them here. I am so excited to go to Chile, to learn Spanish, and to have an awesome mission. I will be in the MTC for 9 weeks and then it is off to Chile. I will be teaching people who want to learn more about my church the message it has for the world and helping people make changes in their lives to help them grow closer to their Heavenly Father. Missionaries also do service work whenever they can. It is going to be an awesome experience! Hasta luego, mis amigos!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
