Week 26 - 25% Complete?? Say What??!?

written: 6/28/2021

Week 26

Insanely busy week with lots of good things happening here in Chiloé!!

First, I am definitely learning a thing or two about juggling responsibilities, especially with the state of the english classes here, but thanks to some great elders and collaboration. We are definitely on the right track in regards to how to best run things for the mission and get as many people signed up to learn english! I also had the opportunity to do my first baptismal interview for the other elders in my district! It was a really cool and awesome experience to have the interview and to see how much progress their amigo had made in just one month! She had such a strong testimony, believed everything and was more than prepared to be baptized! Her baptism went smoothly on Saturday and I am glad I got to play the smallest role in helping get that done and helping another child get back to Heavenly Father! 

Elder Baum and I are hitting the area hard and doing everything we can to find new people, have our amigos progress, and to just fill our time as much as possible. We are seeing a ton of progression from an amigo who was a reference from the mission. Last Monday night we were texting him, and at this point we had only had a lesson or two with him, and he told us that he wanted us to message his girlfriend and teach her about God. We gladly accepted, and we had 4 lessons with her this last week!! We haven't even asked for a reference and here we are now with two amigos progressing and we are working diligently with them and hope to see them continue to progress this next week! 

It is crazy to think that on Wednesday I will hit the 6 month mark in the mission. It is crazy to think that a year ago it wasn't even in my plans anymore to serve a mission but now I am 25% of the way through a mission and I am very thankful it is a part of my life now. Although this has definitely been some of the hardest times of my life, I am thankful for the bumps and the tough times. There have definitely been some times where I didn't even know if I would be here at this point, but I am so thankful I have continued to press forward and put my faith in Christ. I have learned so many things and have grown a lot and I have met some amazing missionaries, amazing members, and amazing people in general here in Chile. Although I don't know much of Chile, I am thankful I am here in the south of the world sharing the gospel with everyone here! Here's to 18 more months.

Love, Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: Elder Baum and me enjoying that good food!; My favorite snack here; and my morning view.

Week 25 - Transfers, Vaccines, Leadership

written: 6/21/2021

Week 25

Busy week with lots of new changes and surprises!

First, transfers! Elder Baum arrived on Wednesday and we got right to work! We have the same time in the mission but he has experience as a trainer and I have been with two native companions, helping us further our Spanish for sure. We have been very busy with Elder Baum meeting all the members and catching up on the area, but we are excited for this week and this transfer!

Next.... I was vaccinated this week! Crazy to think I received the covid vaccine in the south of the world on an island, but #missionlife! There was no line and not much talking done when I received the vaccination and I ended up receiving the CanSino vaccine which only requires one dose. I was completely dead the first night and the next morning that I received the vaccine but I am doing great right now and I am all good. Because I received the vaccine, in two weeks I will receive a pass that will basically allow me to move freely outside and enter into stores and supermarkets without a permit! I am excited that I received the vaccine and hopefully Castro will leave quarantine soon (which is the rumor) things are definitely looking up! 

To add to my busy week, I was recently assigned District leader and I am officially in charge of English for the mission now! This week has been filled with meetings, forms, phone calls, and adjustments but I think once I get adjusted, things will calm down and I can get into a groove. It is crazy to think all of this has happened before I hit my 6 month mark, but it has definitely made the mission more exciting and surprising! We still haven't received new missionaries from the United States in months and we don't know when we will, but we are still receiving some Chilean missionaries and hopefully things with Covid can calm down so we can receive some new missionaries! 

Lastly, I wanted to share a quick spiritual thought that really stuck out to me this week. In Come Follow Me this Sunday we talked about D&C 64, and the verses that stood out most were verses 33 and 34. In these verses, it discusses "be not weary in well-doing" . Basically don't be lazy in doing good and sacrificing for others, and why should we do this? "Ye are laying the foundation of a great work" and to remember that "out of small things proceedeth that which is great" We must be happy when we accomplish the small things in life but we also must never forget to do the small things in life because they are so important. Lastly, in verse 34, the Lord requires a "heart and a willing mind" and if we have this heart and a willing mind we will be blessed and "eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days". I loved really studying these verses and applying them to my mission and I hope you can apply it in your lives as well! 

Love, Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: Elder Baum and me; Getting my Covid vaccination; Not sure what the "peace" sign means in Chile, but everyone's doing it!; and a nearby Catholic church

Week 24 - Chile Chiloé Mission

written: 6/14/2021

Week 24

This week flew by in a blur! This week was Elder Saavedra's last week of the mission and his preparations along with lessons and mission meetings was pretty much our week! It was also the last week for one of my best friends I've made on the mission, Elder Bennett. Elder Bennett and I had been together in the same district the entire time I've been here in Chiloe, all the way back since February! Crazy how time can fly. 

Speaking of being here in Chiloe since February, we had a meeting to announce transfers and drum roll.... I'm staying in Gamboa in Chiloe for a minimum of 6 more weeks! My new companion, Elder Baum, will be here Wednesday and he was in my same group that arrived in Chile in February, so we both started the MTC together. I'm definitely happy about it as I love this place but it's crazy that I'll have been here for 6 months soon! They might as well rename my mission the Chile Chiloe Mission. 

We had an awesome Mission Advice this week in which President Meek laid out a new "pillar" in the mission centered around the gift of the Holy Ghost. I am really excited for the opportunity I am going to have to share with all the people I am teaching about this amazing gift and how they can receive it in their lives! 

We were so busy this week, and most of it was indoors, I didn't take any new pictures. However, I am including two pics of me chopping wood from a few weeks ago when we were doing service. Never really saw myself as a lumberjack, but here I am, living the dream.

Love. Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: Using an ax for the first time!; and Elder Steele the lumberjack

Week 23 - The Scriptures are the Best!

written: 6/7/2021

Week 23

This was a pretty slow week, but that's just part of the mission and it definitely motivates me to want to have a much better week! I may sound like a broken record, but wow am I surprised how it just keeps getting colder and colder. Now, living in Utah I have definitely experienced cold and snow and colder temperatures. However, with little heating here and insulation, I have definitely never been colder inside a home than now, and this is just the beginning! Thankfully we get nice and toasty with our little heaters, but R.I.P our electricity bill!

We were unable to have a lot of lessons this week due to a number of different circumstances and difficulties scheduling conflicts with our friends in teaching, but it just makes having a lesson that much better and more meaningful. Here in Chile, almost everyone we talk to knows about the bible and is at least familiar with the bible, and this week we continued our studies in the bible with a friend. Before the mission, I never really read a lot in the Bible and focused on the Book of Mormon, but this week especially I chose to add the New Testament to my daily studies and wow! I loved reading the New Testament and especially reading more about Jesus Christ. I am definitely hooked and it is going to be something I study and learn so much more about. I want to understand the Bible so I can help these people here in Chile understand and be able to link the Bible and the Book of Mormon more effectively! 

Just wanted to end saying I love the scriptures and it is always something I enjoy doing, studying and making time for. I know the scriptures are true! I love them! 

Love, Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: Elder Saavedra, me, Elder Bennett, and Elder Pilpe; Elder Saavedra and me; Me and the breathtaking scenery; Obligatory Name Tag pic (Elder Saavedra finishes up his mission this week!); Me and Elder Saavedra; Elder Bennett and me (Elder Bennett also finishes his mission this week!); Elder Bennett and me; and Such a beautiful place to be serving