Adventures in Chile: February 2010

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

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