Valdivia -- Week 8

This week was a good week.  Our investigator, Francisca, committed to a firm baptismal date.  I think that inspired questions played a key role in our lesson with her.

Something that I've been focusing on, learning about, and trying to apply for the last four months is asking good, inspired questions.  People learn better through answering questions than listening, and as teachers of the Gospel, it's our responsibility to be the most effective teachers that we can be.  So I've been listening to the types of questions that our people ask, and rating their effectiveness, and generally trying to learn about how to ask good questions.  And the more I learn about asking good questions, the more I realize just how terrible all of my questions are.

Something I love about this ward is all of the young adults that we have that are just golden.  They accompany us to all of our appointments, they friendship all of the people we bring the church, they bring their own friends to church, and they are just super fired up about the Gospel.  Also, many of them are or were university students, and returned missionaries.  We do awesome Family Home Evenings together, and it is generally just SO MUCH FUN.  I never imagined that being a missionary could be so much fun.  Actually, I used to wonder if we were allowed to have this much fun being a missionary.

I think that if you can make work or school or sharing the Gospel or whatever it is that you do into FUN, then you have figured out the key to being happy and successful.  Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Life is to be enjoyed, not endured”.  The trick is to remember that fun is the means to an end, and not an end of itself.

-Elder Crotzer

Valdivia -- Week 7

This week, there are transfers.  My companion is going to Osorno, where he will spend his last six weeks.  My new companion is named Elder Keetch, and he is gringo.

Today for P-day, we went to lunch with some member friends, as a farewell to my companion.

Afterwards, we enjoyed a siesta at a lily park.  Almost the beach.

In three weeks, we are going to give the priesthood-bakery class as a ward activity again.  I'm excited to give it a second shot, because there were a few wrinkles the last time.

Not that much else to report.  We are really trying to find more people to teach right now.  Lots of stopping people in the street, and a few awkward conversations sprinkled in there.

--Elder Crotzer

Valdivia -- Exchanges to Corral

This week we did exchanges in Corral.  Exchanges are when my companion and I split up and work with other elders in their sector.  I'm not really sure if I'm qualified to supervise the work of another missionary, but exchanges usually go well.  At the very least, Corral is absolutely gorgeous.

It is getting really hot in Chile.  It's a little odd to experience Christmas and New Year's at 80-90 degree temperatures.

We have a fantastic investigator, and she is progressing really well, but we have struggled to follow-up on all of our other contacts.  It's a little frustrating when people say they will be somewhere at sometime, and then they're not.  Repeatedly.

We had a good Christmas dinner with the family of our ward mission leader, Jared.

-Elder Crotzer