May 12, 2014

Hola Everyone

This week was pretty good. I got to my new sector safe and sound. My sector is called Villa el Sol and it is probably 3x bigger than my last sector haha. So hopefully that means that we can find some more people to teach. My companion is Elder Arriola, from Guatemala. He has one change less than Ramirez, so I'm his "greeny-breaker". We were supposed to baptize a kid named Cristopher this last weekend but President Warne said no because he would be the only member in his family and wouldn't have much support at home. We explained that to him and to his mom, and she agreed to start listening to us. We had interviews with President Warne on Thursday. I love that man with all of my heart! He is so awesome and I feel a special connection with him even though I don't even know him all that well. I want to wish all of you moms who are reading this a happy-late Mother's Day. You are all very special. I love and miss you all so much! Have an awesome week this coming week!

With love,

Elder Jayson Welker

Remember who you are and the family name you bear

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Remember who you are and who you represent

May 19, 2014

Hola Everyone

This week was pretty interesting. We really struggled most of the week with finding people. We were in the street looking for less-active or in-active members almost all day long every day. I'm pretty used to it by now but my companion, who only has 3 1/2 months, got super down and upset. I explained to him that just because we have faith, hope, etc., that doesn't mean that everything is going to be a walk in the park. He calmed down a little bit and just stuck it trough. And on Saturday we found a family of 5 that is absolutely awesome! They are the neighboors of a few less-active members that we are working with and they gave us them as a reference. It was such a testimony builder for me to know that no matter how hard or difficult things get, the Lord will always bless us in His way, and His time. That was basically everything that happened to us this week. Pretty typical week here in Chile but a very special week for me because it was one that has impacted me and strengthened my testimony. I love and miss you all! Have an awesome week!

With love,

Elder Jayson Welker

Remember who you are and the family name you bear

Return with Honor

Remember who you are and who you represent

May 5, 2014

Hola Everyone

This week was a pretty good week. We were able to recuperate 2 of our baptismal dates with Roberto and Francisco. They went to church again this week so they only need one more in order to get baptized. So hopefully in 2 weeks they will be able to do that. It started raining on Thursday and didn't stop until early Saturday morning. We got absolutely drenched! We found out changes on Saturday night and I will be leaving. I'm going to Rancagua so I will finally be in the "city of the mission" (Chile Rancagua Mission). I'm super excited about it because 4 changes was a long time to be in this sector. I loved the sector, the members, and my companion, but at the same time almost 6 months in a small area was rough. So like I said I am super excited but at the same time I'm kinda sad. I was able to get to know the members really well and so it has made it kinda tough to say goodbye. There are lots of people who I care about that are in this sector (investigators, members, and less-actives). I always remember my Dad telling me that I would learn to love a people, but I never really understood what that really meant. I still don't understand it very well but I know that it is 100% true. I have learned to love the Chilean people with all of their little quirks. I'm sad to be leaving Elder Ramirez too but I have tried to be the best companion that I could be, to show him how we should work. I hope that he is a better missionary than I am (which won't take much haha jk) but seriously though, I really do hope so. The last 17 months have gone by so quickly and I can't imagine how fast the little time that I have left will pass me by. I just hope that I can be a useful tool in the hands of the Lord in bringing people to Christ. I love and miss you all! Have an awesome week!

With love,

Elder Jayson Welker

Remember who you are and the family name you bear

Return with Honor

Remember who you are and who you represent

p.s. here are pictures of: the soccer prodigy family, a soccer field under water, and Chery, Roberto and Francisco

April 28, 2014

Hola Everyone

Well this week was a little disappointing. We had 4 baptismal dates and 3 of them fell this week because they didn't go to church (they have to go to church 3 times before they can get baptized). Roberto found work recently (he hadn't had any for about 3 months) so he worked on Sunday and we haven't even seen him in over a week. Francisco was supposedly pretty sick with lots of phlegm in his chest/throat so he didn't go either. We are hoping to put a different date with them this week. We have a FHE with Roberto, Francisco, and Chery tonight so hopefully that goes well. We couldn't meet with Pablo either because he was working and couldn't set apart any time to meet with us. We have really suffered lately because we have been in the street most of the day, almost everyday. But I know that everything will work out eventually. We just have to keep working hard and have faith and patience that the Lord will keep His promises. I love and miss you all! Have an awesome week!

With love,

Elder Jayson Welker

Remember who you are and the family name you bear

Return with Honor

Remember who you are and who you represent

April 7, 2014

Hola Everyone

Well this weekend was unbelievable!! I absolutely loved General Conference! There were so many good talks and I felt like a lot of them were directed to me. I really enjoyed Pres. Eyring's talk on Saturday morning. I thought that it was interesting when he said that our eternal happiness depends on our future posterity and that we have to leave a good legacy for them so they can continue firm in the gospel. Another that I really enjoyed was by Elder Hales, Obedience. We have to be careful who we follow. Sometimes the decision isn't so black and white and we need to take the necessary steps to be able to make a correct decision. We need to always think of what the Lord wants us to do, and if we are obedient we will receive blessings (D&C 130:20-21). And finally, Elder Bednar's talk. Wow. I thought it was superb. I thought his analogy of "yoking ourselves to Christ" through sacred covenants, that are essential to receiving ALL the blessings of the Atonement, was very good. He used a lot of stuff from a BYU talk that he gave back in 2001 called "In the Strength of the Lord" (I'm going to attach it). Our investigator Mario came to Priesthood Session which really surprised me because it almost seemed like he had lost interest. He said he enjoyed it though so we'll "follow-up" on that this week. We put a baptismal date with Roberto and Francisco (husband and son of a less-active that we're teaching) for the 10th of May. They didn't come to Conference which worried me because they promised they were going to go. But we will also follow up on that. I know that this IS the Church of Jesus Christ. No doubt in my mind. I love and miss you all! Have an awesome week!

With love,

Elder Jayson Welker

Remember who you are and the family name you bear

Return with Honor

Remember who you are and who you represent