October 28, 2014

Hola Everyone

Well this week went by pretty slow but it was a good week. We have been trying to focus on getting members to go out with us and we were able to do it. We were also pretty limited with time. We had to go to Santiago on Wednesday and didn't have any time to proselyte and then we had to do divisions with the other Elders that we live with because one wasn't feeling very good. But we are making progress with some people. Bernardita is doing well as well as a girl named Solange. She is the girlfriend of a member and she has been coming to church for quite some time. We were able to teach her about Priesthood Authority because she had a lot of doubts about it, but it appears that she understood. We are going to invite her to get baptized, so fingers crossed everyone! My new companion is pretty cool. He is pretty inteligent and really good with the scriptures. He is a workaholic which is exactly what I need to keep me focused. It has been a blessing so far, so hopefully he won't let me die haha. Well I love and miss you all! Have an awesome week!

With love,

Elder Jayson Welker

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October 20, 2014

Hola Everyone

This week went by pretty fast as well. We had some really good lessons. Bernardita is progressing pretty well. She couldn't come to church this week because she had some problems in her house, but she is reading the Book of Mormon, and praying. We have a lot of potential investigators, the trouble is being able to visit them; because everyone works and is free from about 7:00 pm forward but we have to visit all of the less-actives, recent converts, and investigators in that time span. Chileans make things way more difficult or exagerate a lot of things as well. Such as: I don't have time, I worked a lot, or I'm tired. They have a few priority issues but we are slowly making progress with them. We have changes tomorrow, and Elder Mendoza is leaving. I'm pretty bummed because we got along so well, but I also understand that we almost go home together so it would basically leave the sector in a whitewash. My new companion is a Peruvian (my 4th...). I don't know anything about him besides the fact that he was Elder Gillins' companion about 10 months ago. I can't believe that this is my last change...It seems so unreal. But I'm not "dead" yet so I'm going to keep working hard and help the people that need me. I love and miss you all! Have an awesome week!

With love,

Elder Jayson Welker

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October 13, 2014

Hola Everyone

This week absolutely flew by!!!!! I honestly can't believe that it is Monday again already. We had a really good week. We had 3 investigators that came to church. Bernarndita is progressing quite a bit. The one big thing holding her back is that she lives with her boyfriend (who is the father of their child). She seems to be pretty fed up with him lately so we will see what happens. We have a FHE planned with her and her sister's family tonight so hopefully we can help her clear up some doubts that she has. On Saturday, there was a multi-stake YSA activity and all of the young single adults went out with the missionaries from the 2 zones here to contact people. Our companionship alone had like 20-25 contacts in a little over an hour. It turned out to be a lot of fun. We had Zone Conference this last week and it was really good. President Warne and the Assistants really focused on using our time more efficiently. Lately we have been having better numbers as a mission so we are definitely seeing the hand of the Lord as we strive to be more efficient with our time. Well, that's about it for this week! 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

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Remember who you are and who you represent

October 6, 2014

Hola Everyone

This was one of the fastest weeks of my mission so far. Everything just flew by! I'm not sure if it was because I was so focused on General Conference and helping others go or we were just working extra hard. We had 2 investigators that went to General Conference. One, Bernardita, went to 2 sessions! She didn't really want to go but her sister and brother-in-law (members) convinced her to go. The first time she just went in street clothes but the 2nd session she went in a dress. She said that she felt like she needed to go in a dress, not because anyone forced her. The other investigator, Constanza, also went to 2 sessions but only went because her mom went. We didn't get a chance to really talk to her about it though, so hopefully we can find out what she thought about it. I really enjoyed General Conference. I'm only going to share my thoughts about a few talks that I really enjoyed. Elder Ballard: 1) Stay in the boat because the Lord will guide us right. 2) Always wear a life jacket; study the words of the apostles and prophets. 3) Hold on with both hands; avoid the distractions that surround us that tell us to "leave the boat". Elder Scott: 4 tools to help us stay active and live the gospel. 1) Prayer 2) Daily scripture study and studying the words of the modern prophets 3) Weekly family home evening 4) Regular trips to the temple. I feel like Elder Scott's talk was specifically directed at me seeing as how I will be finishing my mission soon and will be a "normal" person again. And of course, Elder Bednar's talk. I have always enjoyed his talks and this one was especially good. I'm only going to touch on one specific detail. He said that there are a lot of people who think that absolute truths don't exist. They DO exist! And we can know them through prayer and the Holy Ghost. And for those that say absolute truths don't exist obviously haven't read the Bible. It says that "every knee shall bow...and every...should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Philippians 2:10-11). There are many other absolute truths and I know of a few of them. I know that this is the same church that Christ established during his mortal ministry. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and that is was translated by Joseph Smith through the power of God. I know these things for myself because God told me so through the Holy Ghost.   That's all I have to say about this week. I love and miss you all! Have a great 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

September 29, 2014

Hola Everyone

Well this week just absolutely flew by! I really don't know how it is Monday again and time to write all of you. Things were pretty good this week. We were able to talk to Alexis. He was just kind of depressed. I'm not really sure why because a professional soccer team that is pretty good down here just signed him to their farm team (20U). But he didn't show up to church and we haven't had any contact with him since Friday. But hopefully we can teach him and he will be excited to go to General Confrence. Speaking of General Conference, I'm SOOOOOOOO EXCITED for it!!! I'm beyond ready to hear the Prophet and the 12 Apostles speak and give us the direction that we need for the next 6 months. It has been way too long since April. I have been trying to prepare myself for the last week or so and I will continue to do so, so that I will be able to receive the direction and the answers that I need. I invite all of you to do the same as well. I can't really think of anything else because I'm so focused on General Conference. I'm looking forward to be able to share with you my thoughts and feelings on the talks next week. I love and miss you all! Have an absolutely awesome week!

With love,

Elder Jayson Welker

Remember who you are and the family name you bear

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September 22, 2014

Hola Everyone

Well this week was a little bit rougher than what I had hoped it would be. I thought because of the city we would be able to talk to more people and such, but I was wrong. It was basically the same as the year before in Licantén. Most people besides the members of the church were drinking so it wasn't worth much to go talk to them. My birthday was a pretty normal day in the mission, almost all day in the street haha. But it didn't bother me that much. Well we were supposed to baptize Alexis yesterday but he didn't show up to his baptismal interview or church so obviously he didn't get baptized. We're not really sure what happened because the day of the ward activity he seemed fine. He seemed to really enjoy himself but the next day he completely ignored us and wouldn't answer his phone. We just have to keep working with him and find out what happened. Like I said, this week was kinda rough. We didn't have too many lessons because people left to go visit family, touristic sites, etc. But yesterday during planning we set goals to contact the references we have received and to let our faith show through our work. We're going to work and pray extra hard this week and leave the rest to the Lord.

With love,

Elder Jayson Welker

Remember who you are and the family name you bear

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September 15, 2014

Hola Everyone

This last week was really enjoyable. I'm with Elder Mendoza (Mexico). We arrived at the mission home the same time I did. So I'm pretty sure that President won't let us die together. We were supposed to baptize a young man this last weekend but his mom had to work so he didn't want to do it. So he will be getting baptized this weekend. This week we will be celebrating the independence of Chile from Spain on the 18th. I'm excited for this week because most people don't have to work so it should be a great opportunity to find more people to teach. A lot of people drink a ton during this week but there are also a lot of people who don't. I'll be sure to send you pictures of the ward activity this week. Something really gratifying happened to me this week. I was able to see Carlos, Rosi, Miguel, Sebastian, Vaitiary, and Martina this week! They were the family that we found when I was with Elder Ramirez about 8 months ago. I was so overwhelmed to see them and see the small changes that they have made. I don't remember if I told you guys or not but Rosi got baptized about 8 weeks ago; Elder Mendoza actually baptized her. When I saw Rosi on Saturday at a stake activity, I just wanted to cry. I could see the difference in her countenance. I could see the happiness that she now has. I could see the difference that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has made in her life. It was such a special moment for me and it just strengthened my testimony of this great work that we are involved in. I may not have been able to attend her baptism or been the one to bapitze her, but that doesn't matter to me; being able to see her and know that she is firm in the gospel is more than enough for me. I know that this is the work of God and that this is the church of Jesus Christ. The gospel is for everyone and can change the life of every single person for the better. 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