She's Home!!

Sorry it's taken so long to post a final post....you've probably heard from Camille by now anyway. We happily greeted Camille at LAX on May 7, 2010. It was a thrill to see her again and have her home! Anyway, here are a few pics from her arrival at the airport--Camille with her nephews, Chandler and Preston. She hadn't seen Chandler since he was 5 months old, and Preston was born last December while she was gone. They love their Auntie Millie!
Thank you, everyone, for your prayers, support, and love while Camille served in Chile. I know she felt all of it even though she was so far away.
Camille's Mom

4.19.10

Well I don’t really know what to say. I am working hard. We are trying hard to help Rafael and Leontina realize the importance of making a baptismal covenant with the Lord. Please pray for them and pray that we will find people who will go to church this Sunday. Thanks for your prayers about finding new people to teach last past week! We found lots of people. Now we just need to find people who will really progress...I want there to be a real strong transition after I leave...

Last night we had a really cool family home evening. Claudio, a convert of ours had never participated in a family home evening so we told him to invite some friends and family for last night so we could all do it together. Anyway, when we got there he had invited a lot of family members and we had a really spiritual lesson which was way cool. We are going to go by some of them another day. I really love it when the Lord USES me. Honestly there is no better feeling....I pray that he will use me as much as He and I can for the next few weeks.

Carmen Rita was confirmed! Yay! She is doing well. Ive got lots of love for that poor little old woman : )

Can I be honest and say Im scared to go home...really nervous...don’t know why...Hmm...

Love you. Pray for me.

Camille

Letter from Camille 3-15-10

Hello,

Well I am happily still working hard in post-earthquake Chile. Actually, I hesitate to say post because the aftershocks are really strong and pretty consistent. Last Thursday morning we had one that was 7.2 or something like that. Its so crazy. Here in San Javier, things are much more stable than before. I wouldn’t say back to normal because a lot has changed, but it has all stabilized which is nice and we are able to go back and do what were always doing only different. Sometimes we don't have electricity and sometimes the earth is shaky and sometimes there are people screaming and panicking in the street....but its all going well.

Last week we were able to visit my first Sector, Consitución, which is 1.5 hrs away from here by bus. It was hit very hard by the earthquake and a huge Tsunami that destroyed half the city. It was so crazy to see the streets I walked destroyed. I was happy to know though that all the people I know and love there are doing just fine as far as being alive goes. Many have lost there homes (including 3 people I worked with and one of my best friends Kathy), but they are surviving. I was SO proud to see how well the church handled the situation. The church is so prepared! So many organizations had to wait a few days to distribute food because they didn't have any to give out right away. But the church was prepared and has been sending huge trucks every other day. And the members there are amazing. They all get to the church building at around 10 and spend all day going from place to place serving where they can and distributing food, clothes and water. The fact that the church is still standing there is a miracle as well. The tsunami hit the church hard but didn't even shake it. All the buildings surrounding it are down and they found a ton of fish in the parking lot but nothing got inside. And right away the church sent a generator so that the chapel could have electricity and running water so people can go there and bathe in the baptismal font and plug things in...its really quite a miracle.

Speaking of Constitución, one of the first men I taught in Chile, Gastón, is from Consitución and he has been coming to San Javier to come to church (for the past 2 weeks) just so that he can thank me for working with him. He is so funny and it has been so great to see him! He said that he immediately thought about what he had been taught and how much he had changed when the quake hit. I’ve talked about him a lot before...he was the one who was an alcoholic but completely changed his life around. Anyway, he said that he thinks he would have been dead if he had never changed because now he is healthy and strong and protected and was able to run ½ a mile with two children in his arms before the tsunami hit...sounds crazy I know....I can’t believe this is real life for us now...Anyway, he also said that he is really grateful that the church always talks about being prepared and about food storage because he had enough food to last him until they could go out and buy again...

Well, as you can tell I am incredibly blessed to be serving here at this time. Thanks for your concern and your prayers!

Hermana G

Letter from Camille: 3-8-10

Hey guys,

SO sorry I don't have time to write. We chose to spend our free day serving in Constitucion. It is UNREAL down here. It is so amazing to be here and so surreal at the same time. Honestly last week was so hard. My heart broke more and more every day but my faith did not. The Lord has blessed us and now I am working hard to focus more on His work. I have a ton of crazy stories and wish I had time to share them with you all...We have food and water and electricity btw...we are just trying to help those who don't have homes and who have lost their will to keep going.

SO...remind me next week to write about the most tender moment ever as I dressed and cleaned an old lady named Carmen Rita, Claudio's baptism, this trip to Consti, and church on Sunday. We had a record of people there...it was a huge blessing.

Please pray that I will stay focused and be able to work harder on what REALLY matters. It's so distracting right now...

I love you so much. Please do your food storage. Especially for water. Water is so dang precious....

Camille

PS fyi the quakes keep on coming...


A note from Camille's mom: Mark your calendars! Camille will be speaking in Sacrament Meeting at Upland on Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 12:30pm. She will also be speaking in the Pacific Palisades ward on another date. I will post the date when I get it.

Pictrues of the church building...scroll down for Camille's letter

Things are shaking up down here...

Hello Everyone,

So on Saturday morning between 3 and 4 am we were awoken

by a big shake…Since I am from Southern California I am used to

earthquakes but this was different than anything else that I had ever

felt. Not only because of the magnitude but also because of how LONG it lasted…it just went on and on and on...it was crazy...There are 4 of us missionaries living together and we all got up and sat together and prayed silently until it ended. I think in the end it only lasted about 5 minutes or so but those 5 minutes were like the longest of my life. I know I have had earthquake drills since I was like 5 in elementary school but for the life of me I could not remember what the heck I was supposed to be doing. I think that when I was little they said doorway but I think they changed that...Anyway so we just sat there and waited for it to end. Afterward we went outside and saw all of the neighbors out there talking. Everyone seemed to be ok and none of the houses were knocked down on our street. After a little bit we went back inside and tried to go back to sleep. That was a little hard though because of all of the aftershocks. The aftershocks were a lot more strong than any of the other earthquakes that I had ever felt in my life in the States. Actually they are still continuing, though every day they are less and less. I think the craziest thing is getting to the point where the earth shaking doesn’t even phase you any more. If we are in the middle of a conversation with someone and we feel an earthquake, we don’t even say anything any more cause we are all just so used to it. We are just quiet for a second and then we continue talking.

Anyway, so on Saturday morning we got up early and took a jog around the city to assess the damage. It was very sad to see...honestly it looked like a war zone or something. Most of the homes are fine because they are newer, but it was sad to see what the center of the town looked like. So many houses were down. All of the older homes are made out of adobe which is really just mud and straw... Many of the houses that were still standing are still unusable because they have huge cracks and are in very bad condition. Our humble little church meeting house falls into that category. In fact we had a church service outside in the backyard of it. It was actually very beautiful.

I think the craziest thing about all of this has been the aftermath. Power lines and water lines were down until last night. Cell phones are just barely starting to work again. The major highways are unusable which means that big trucks cannot get in to supply the grocery stores. And without food, water, and electricity, our little town freaked out. Yesterday was the worst. There were lines to get into the grocery store and once inside everything was mostly gone. There was no flour and in order to buy some you had to wait in another long line in another store. There were also really really long lines to buy gas and to fill up jugs with water. Every once in a while government trucks were going by to supply us. Since the other missionaries and I were out all day trying to help people and trying to calm their nerves, we weren’t home to get water. But the neighbors shared with us. And on Saturday night we went out and bought 2 huge watermelons to quench our thirst. On Sunday a neighbor who had an above ground pool shared a bucket of water with us which we each used to wash our selves up with. Then we boiled it and used it to wash the dishes. Then we poured it into the toilet tank so that we could flush the toilet...ya. Luckily water came back on last night so this morning I was able to take a shower for the first time in days...after days of heat and service it was much needed.

Looting hasn’t really been a big problem here but I hear it is a problem in other parts of Chile. Even so, we have a curfew here...everyone has to be in by 9.

It is so crazy to be out of contact with anyone. Honestly still it is hard to communicate with other missionaries and I haven’t talked to anyone in Constitución or Concepción. I’m sure that you all know way more than I do. It’s actually really funny that the church sent out a message saying we were all accounted for when they hadn’t even been able to communicate with us yet...THAT is faith and revelation...Anyway, it’s a little complicated right now because we don’t have much communication with others and we aren’t really sure what we should be doing right now. But we are serving and working hard.

Through all of this we are all ok here. Honestly, I am mostly just concerned for Constitucion and Concepción. But mostly Constitución...that beautiful little city that I served in for 9 months has been halfway washed away. I know of 2 families that I worked with so far who don’t have homes. That is so hard for me to hear. I love that town and spent such beautiful moments there. I am very grateful though that I think everyone that I know there is ok (from what I hear). Actually the other day I was walking down the street and this girl called us over to her. She is a member of the church from Santiago who was visiting Constitución because she has family there. She was hitchhiking her way back home and had to pas by our city of San Javier to do so. Anyway, she called us over to her to tell us from what she knew that everyone there was ok. It actually turned out to be a little miracle for us because she happens to be the niece of Gastón Velóz...don’t remember if you all remember him but he was like the first man I shared with who had problems with alcoholism. Anyway, she told me that their family was alright : )...

Well I just want to say that through all of this I am perfectly fine. Things are returning back to normal slowly and I am hoping to find more opportunities to serve those around me. It’s crazy how hard so many people are taking it here in comparison with how we are taking it. People ask us if we are scared for our lives or if we are scared because we didn’t have much food or water for a few days but the truth is we just aren’t! I have felt so much at peace as far as my own health and safety are concerned. With every after shock the people here are more and more scared but honestly they haven’t phased me at all. Mostly because I have faith that the Lord will protect me. I am 100% sure that I will be ok physically. But also because even if I weren’t so sure about that, I honestly don’t fear death. Honestly when the actual quake was happening, for a half second the thought of death crossed my mind. And I wasn’t scared. I was peaceful really. Not that I wanted it to happen by any means...but I just know that there is more life after death that is even better than this one and that just makes it all so much easier to take. We are all in God’s hands and I know he takes care of us...

Thanks to everyone for the prayers and concerns I love you all tons!

Hermana Camille Gamboa

PS I am attaching pictures. Most of them are of San Javier in general and there are 2 of our church building. Crazy because even though the face of this wall fell completely, the part with the painting of Christ remained...Also there is a pic of our humble little church service. As you will be able to see, all the necessary parts are there...: )

The photos are above this letter.

March 1, 2010 Camille called!

We actually heard from Camille today! She sounded very upbeat positive. She said that her apartment building did not receive any damage although many buildings around her did, but she and her companion are still able to live in it. They have no electricity or water, but there are trucks that come around on the streets and pass out water to everyone. The grocery store has long, long lines, but she was able to go and purchase some food. The little building where they meet for church suffered a lot of damage and is no longer usable, but she said that they still use it as a reunion spot for the members and investigators. They stand outside of it to meet and talk.
Since there is no power, she has no way of knowing what is going on. She had lots of questions for us...how bad was it? How many people died? Her biggest concern is the city of Constitucion, where she spent the first nine months of her mission and grew very close to the people there. Since it is a coastal city, it was hit very hard. She had heard that it was "completely under water," and wanted to know more about it. We told her we would try to get more info for her. She described her area as looking like "a war zone."
Camille said that she will try to call back again sometime in the next few days, so we are looking forward to that. Thank you all for your love, concern, and prayers.

Earthquake Update

Just a little note from Camille's mom--we have not heard from Camille or her mission president directly, but one of her former companion's mother called to let us know that she called the mission president in Concepcion, and all missionaries are safe and accounted for. Hopefully we will hear from Camille directly on her p-day, which is Monday. Thank you, everyone, for your prayers and reassuring words. We didn't sleep much last night, but now it looks like Camille is safe. As soon as we hear from her, we will post!
Camille is currently in a city called San Javier, so if you hear anything about that city in particular, that may pertain to her.
We are praying for Camille and all the people of Chile, and we have faith that the Lord will bless them at this difficult time.

A letter from Camille 2-15-10

Hello Family,

SO I made it to San Javier. Saying goodbye was really hard

to do. I love love loved my converts in Santa Sabina. It was

really cute cause the 4 bachelors I baptized (ages 20 to 41) got

together and made me a movie...so cute! They are all friends

now. I was sad to say bye to Hna Hardy too...she was perfect...

Ok so San Javier is the exact opposite of Santa Sabina. A huge

sector with a little branch of 40 people who attend (out of 400

total) a little house turned into a church building...there is lots to

be done. I prayed all week the week before I came that the Lord

would help me to love the sector and the people right away, but

the first day I got there when my companion was explaining to

me what the sector was like, I couldn’t help but miss Consti

(because I am so close but so far away) and Santa Sabina

(becuase the ward is huge and strong). Its just that we had no

investigators (the other 2 sisters took them all) and it is just so

sad to see how poorly the branch is doing.

Ok so in Thursday morning we had a meeting with our

AMAZING ward mission leader who used to be the branch

president for 40 years. He is the only active returned

missionary in the city. I asked him about the branch and he

expressed how his dream before he dies is that there is a

strong ward here with a chapel. Later we had lunch that day

with a cute couple who expressed the same thing. So hearing

them got my heart involved and I have to say that I think I

am working harder and with more heart than I ever have in

my entire mission. This sector needs us and I am happy to

serve. We have done lots of less active visits and are talking

to EVERYONE in the streets inviting them ALL to be

baptized right then and there...I know sounds crazy right.

I feel like Alma or something. I have to say that I have

never been more physically exhausted. It is kinda desert-ish

here so it is really hot. And we walk probably about 8 miles

on average a day QUICKLY cause we are always in a hurry.

And since there are so few active members, they don’t give

us as many lunches. (But don’t worry I am eating). I have

never been so tired. Honestly every day is like an internal

battle. My spirit wants to give everything I have but my

body is weak and adjusting. My feet are killing me these

days since my shoes are practically unusable. But I

promised the Lord I would give it all I’ve got. I came

across a scripture the other day that made me feel good

about the way I am working:

“Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives

in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness,

wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from

heaven” (D&C 123:13)

I think the most exhausting part of it all is that I realized

when I got here that what this branch needs most is ánimo

(I dont remember that word sorry), they need their spirits

lifted and need faith. So in every visit we do with the

members (active, less active, inactive) I put on my game

face and charisma it up...honestly thats what they need. I

go in their all smiley and super confident and loving and

joke around with them and tell them that the ward WILL

grow and that I want to help. I know it sounds really

Obama-ish but it’s had an effect already. The members

already have confidence with me (in my last sector it took

like 3 months maybe) and already have their spirits lifted.

We had 52 people at church on Sunday which is more than

they've had in a long time. Obviously, I know that that’s not

all me but I am greatful that the Lord is using my as an

instrument in his hands. I bore my testimony on Sunday and

told them all I believed in miracles and that I was willing to

work for a miracle. One sister told me that she had been

praying that something would change in the branch and she

feels like the fact that we got there was what she was praying for.

Please please pray for me. Pray that I will have energy and

that my feet won’t limit me. Pray that we will know how to use

our time wisely. Pray that we will know who to talk to and

what to say to find people who will agree to be baptized and

becaome strong members of the church. Pray that I will know

which investigators I should drop and which I should work

with. I need prayers now more than ever.

I am sad I only have 3 months here. I am thinking of asking

for an extension. What do you all think of the idea?

Love you all a ton!

Camille

A Letter Not From Camille

We received the following email this past weekend:


Dear Brother and Sister Gamboa:

Well is hard for me to write in english but i'll doing my
best to you understand me ok?


My name is Guillermo Andres Rodriguez Cid.
i from chile concepcion and i live in Santa Sabina's
Ward when your dougther serve her mission now.
I'm just want to thank you for send your dougther
to the mission she is doing a incredible work and i've
seen a great miracles the she did in this part of the earth.

I just want to tell you this because is very important for
me the you know this, my ward is very strong now
because her very hard work here and i think that's all.


With so much love your Latin Brother in this part of
the earth,
Guillermo Rodriguez

Ps: i hope the you can understand me and know what
i try to tell you

A note from 2-1-10

We got to go to the campo last week twice, once on
P-day with the zone and once with the ward, so these
are pics of them. I hope you enjoy the strawberry
picking pics...I was really a natural...guess it's
in my blood...jkjk
Also sending a pic of our amazing new convert,
Marco, that we always rave about, right out of the
water...Hermana Hardy and I love love love him!

Pics: 2-1-10

More pics, 2-1-10

Letter from Camille: 1-25-10

Editor's note: It was a tough week! Please remember
Camille in your prayers.

Dear Family,
...this was the hardest week of my mission. I am hot
and all we do is walk. We need prayers and I
need to focus. Sorry to complain. My converts and
some less actives we activated
are doing well. I am blessed every day and I love
Hermana Hardy.
Love you all.
Me

Letter from Camille: 1-11-10

Hello!
  I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the
wonderful wonderful birthday package!! I couldn't have
asked for ANYTHING BETTER....I loved loved loved reading
all of the letters. I got the package on the 7th and just
barely finished reading them all today (the 11th). You
guys rock (especially you, Mom, I'm sureyou did the work
oh and thanks to Hayley too cause I know you helped a lot).
I can't believe how many people you got to write me! Mom,
did you bribe them or something?
  So Mom, just wanted to publicly wish YOU a happy
birthday! I hope you have a wonderful wonderful day on
the 13th and that you love turning 35...: )...
  My birthday ended up being a very special day. My
compañera, Hna Hardy made me a wonderful breakfast
and she got some people we are visiting with to write
me some really sweet notes. And then that night we went
over to Leonardo and Ingrid's and they sang to me and
we ate cake! It was sweet and I got some really
sweet and thought out gifts. It was awesome.
   Just want to say once again how grateful I am
to have the wonderful family and friend support
system that I do. Not only because of the way
amazing package I got but also because there are
soo many people in the world who don't have that.
We have been working with this one lady and her
daughters who have to hide the knives in their
house before her drunk boyfriend comes home
every night! I can't imagine how that would be
and I am grateful to live in the states where
we have clinics and support groups for that
kind of stuff.
 Anyway, thanks again for all of the love and
support! See you all in 4 months!
          With Love,
              Hermana Gamboa

A note from Camille's mom: Thank you again to all
of Camille's friends, relatives, and the
Palisades Ward for their wonderful support for
Camille. What a wonderful birthday treat for her!
And yes, I am turning 35! ;)

Happy Birthday Camille!!!

January 6, 1986 was one of the happiest days ever in the Gamboa home as we welcomed our beautiful little daughter, Camille, to our family. Since Camille's not here to celebrate her birthday, here are a few pics to help us celebrate anyway! I'm sure she's having her own celebration as she serves the Lord and the people of Chile.
P.S. Thank you to everyone who sent a note or message for Camille. She is going to be so surprised! Thank you for all of your prayers and support!

More pics...

We love Camille!!