Week 56 - Always on the Grind

written: 1/24/2022

Week 56

This week we got to meet some really cool people and have a super good week!

First, the cool people. Every time we are in the center of town, we pass by a man selling rocks and we always say hi to him and he always has the best energy! We finally had some time to see if he wanted to sit down and have a conversation with us, as he had talked to missionaries before, or at least always waved to them and he knew who they were. We sat down and talked to him about the Book of Mormon and the Restoration and he seemed really intrigued. The best way to describe him is a peaceful free spirit kind of guy. He told us that he is an Israelite with Hebrewic traditions, but he is open to learning about us! He invited us to his house the next day and we got to learn more about his beliefs and he is super fun to talk to. He even came to church yesterday and for both hours! He participated in Elders Quorum more than any of the members there! Another cool person was a lady that is blind! We are working in physical area books from a few years ago, calling all of the old friends in teaching. She seemed super excited and then told us that she was blind, but to come over anyways and we'd chat! She has only been blind for the last 10ish years and she has overcome a ton of challenges and she is a super great example for us! 

We had a super cool family home evening after p day where we got to make sushi with an awesome family. First time making sushi and it turned out tasting pretty good if I can say so myself. For those that don't know, Chileans like putting chicken in their sushi, along with avocado, cream cheese, and of course rice. We ended up having the breading of the sushi be corn flakes to give it the crunchy taste. You might notice in the pictures that it looks like the lights are off. Well, it's actually because we lost power! But, we kept working and ended up making 130 pieces for all 7 of us, and we almost finished all of them. Highly recommend it. 

Last P-day also included a trip to a museum, Museo Regioanl de Aysén. I am not a big museum guy, but it was cool to see a lot of artifacts. My favorite was the dinosaur, Chilesaurus.

We got to meet some people in the park this week! One of them, we actually passed by them on our way to talk to someone else, but their reaction to talking to us made us turn back. They were just super positive and asked us how our day was and after talking to them for 30 seconds, they told us they had a lot of contact with the missionaries in the past and in Puerto Montt where they are from and they said they are open to talking to missionaries again! Score! We also had our fair share of interactions with the drunks of the plaza, always enjoyable talking with them and trying to get away from them. Pretty sure two of them wanted to fight us, as he showed us his bloody knuckles and how he likes to fight, but I wasn't scared because Elder Petty is my companion and I know he would never lose. 

Ready to get back on the grind, but you know me, I am always on the grind #TheSecret

Love, Elder Steele

pictures include: Museo Regioanl de Aysén. My favorite was the dinosaur, Chilesaurus; Just chillin' in the park with Elder Petty and Moisés; Sushi prep; The piglet was supposed to be a pig for the family to eat,

but now they have to "grow" him

Week 55 - Service Galore!

written: 1/18/2022

Week 55

A week filled with service and an awesome weekend! During the week we had a ton of service opportunities to help out with whatever was needed! We helped fix a fence, built a small staircase, helped in a garage, and much more. It's been much needed for me as I really hoped to gain a stronger testimony of service being out on a mission and I really think I'm learning that lesson, especially the last few weeks. Now, I think it'd be a lot more difficult if I didn't have Elder Petty as my companion, as he knows just about everything about how to fix anything and he is super good with his hands. Basically I'm that little helper trying to learn and absorb and just try and contribute. But shout out Elder Petty!

Funny/Tender moment was one morning we had a service project planned in the morning but we wanted to go exercise with a member beforehand. We arrived at the small soccer field and as we walked in, we saw the member holding a little puppy. He said that she was abandoned, cold, and hungry, and he didn't want her to stay that way, so his wife came and got the dog! They debated on keeping it, but up until today, they still have her! They decided to name her Honey and she really is super sweet. Now, when she grows over time, will she stay that way? Probably not. But for now, she is an awesome little puppy and it definitely was fun exercising and chasing her around the soccer field.

This weekend was rather exciting as we had a branch activity on Saturday. The sad part was... No one knew about it, not even us, until Thursday night. Only a handful of people showed up, so Elder Petty told me let's go run and try and invite as many people as we can. We ended up getting to a house with a newly married couple and their small son. They said they'd love to come and they attended! They told us as we were eating at the activity that we had arrived at the perfect moment, as they hadn't eaten much all day and were super bored and really needed a pick me up! Not only that, but the next day we decided to stop by their house to see how they were doing and they were in need of some service. We got the chance to help them with things around their house and give them a few things to sell! They had hired a guy and a small truck to help them as well, and he offered us a ride home. As we drove home he told us he was baptized in our church and has been less active for over 15 years! But he was super open to talk to us and he could see we transmit peace and calmness to everyone!

In the end, a pretty great week in Coyhaique and I'm looking forward to what we can do this next week! 

Love, Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: Me and Elder Petty at La cascada de la virgin; There is beauty all around; Oh no! A flat tire... Never fear, Elder Petty is here!; This dog may have a future playing goalie; Cute puppy; Creative way to stay warm?

Creative way to stay warm?

Week 54 - Trust the Process... AGAIN and AGAIN!

written: 1/10/2022

Week 54

Up and down week, but hey, every week can't be perfect right?

This week we had to get the covid booster shot and it absolutely destroyed me, but thankfully only for one day and then I was back to normal. This week I also had to get some tests done because I've been pretty fatigued recently and still waiting on the results, but praying and hoping for the best.

Now that the bad news is done, let's be positive! We found a super cool new friend to teach a few weeks ago and had the opportunity to teach him for the first time this past week. We had really good conversations and he shared a really cool experience in which he told us that he had a spiritual prompting when he was having a tough few days and then in his room he saw the Book of Mormon and pamphlet we had given him and he wants to keep learning with us!

We worked a lot with a less active member this week and he is the BEST! He is a pretty reserved person, but when he loves you, he loves you a ton and opens up! We realized when we talked about and did things he really enjoyed doing, he opened up (wow, some secret code!!) but sometimes the best things are really the simplest ideas like showing genuine interest in people and gaining trust. We had the chance to work in his garage this week and we jammed out to his favorite, Taylor Swift. Who knew service could be so fun! We are seeing his true personality and we know he would help a ton of people if he reactivated.

Looking back on this week I really had to go back to my old reliable phrase, trust the process. Even with the setbacks, we could still find the positives and have a good week! Always remember to trust the process!! 

Love, Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: Learning a new skill while serving; Welding is more than just a torch!; Who are those masked men??; Covid Booster Time

Week 53 - Feliz Año Nuevo

written: 1/3/2022

Week 53

A very very very busy week with plane rides, new years eve, new years, and many member visits!! Definitely not complaining though, there were some pretty awesome things we got to do.

Tuesday and Wednesday we flew to Osorno for a leaders training. It continues to be a little weird to continue flying and being on a plane during my mission, but it's always fun to travel and even better with my comp, we always make it enjoyable. We got the chance to talk to a group of Americans who were traveling to Coyhaique. They ended up being from Harvard MBA school and by the end of the conversation my brain hurt because they were speaking this very proper and formal English and my brain hasn't heard that in forever, but all good as we were able to talk about why we're serving missions and now they know a little about us. The training was pretty good and we were able to learn some good things to apply to our area in the mission.

The rest of the week we really focused on getting to know the members and the less actives here in Coyhaique. We knew it was vital to build trust and a relationship with a good group of families. With that relationship we will help them stay active, demonstrate love, be able to get references and have more willing members to help us in lessons. We had the chance to have not one, but many big meals with members. Their idea of a big get together typically involves a mix of hot dog, chicken, meat, sausage all cooked together over a wood fire. Always hits the spot. We also had the chance to learn how to make ties and the same member is going to teach us how to make sushi, big score. The members here are awesome, and the less actives are just as nice and willing to let us in their homes. We definitely have our work cut our for us but we're excited to keep working with them and to try and grow the branch to its full potential. We are moving up phases so that will help as we can have more people in the church and less restrictions. 

Something I wanted to share at the end was something that really caught my eye in my studies. I'm going to share it in English as most people that read my emails don't speak Spanish. 

Alma 26: 1-12

"But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

These 2 verses really stuck out to me as it makes me think a lot about pride and how we must be humble and know that the things we do are because God allows them to happen and without Him, we are nothing. We should always have our focus on Him and we will see the blessings of being humble. 

Love,

Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: Elder Petty and I at the Leaders Training; Good food made by Good people; Making matching ties! I can actually sew!; Enjoying more good food with more good people; Elder Petty turned his Birthday Cake into my One Year on the Mish Cake; Sushi to celebrate 1 year! (Shout out to Aunt Lena for paying for it!); One Year = Burn a Shirt Tradition; and My homie and me doing service