Week 73
My first email from my new area, Frutillar! It isn't necessarily the country, but it definitely has those vibes. It is super flat and rains a lot more than it did in Coyhaique, but it is about the same as when I served in Puerto Montt last year. We live in a triangular house on top of a hill and it is made up of wood and gives off cabin vibes. It is FREEZING but we are trying to fix that situation so I don't freeze to death.
It was super sad saying goodbye to everyone in Coyhaique, but I was definitely blessed to have been given a few days to be able to say my goodbyes and they announced the transfers early. A few highlights included going to see a few places with Moises and Karen and Honey, saying goodbye to my primo Jorge, and having a massive goodbye lunch with hamburgers, onion rings done in an airfryer and chocolate mini donuts with white chocolate. I'll never forget all of those people and they will always be in my heart and I can't wait for when I can one day return back to Coyhaique!
After a shuttle to the airport, a 45 min flight, a shuttle to a bus station, a bus to Puerto Varas and a taxi to Frutillar, I was finally in my area. Tiring for sure! The last few days I have just been trying my best to get to know the sector, the members, the people we are teaching and it definitely looks like it will require a lot of work, but I am excited. This area seems to be a "tough" area, with some trouble finding and baptizing. I am super motivated to give it my all and just do all that I can. We had an activity on Saturday with the elders quorum and there and on Sunday, I took every opportunity to talk with the members and ask them questions and tell them my desires to work hard, work with the members and form a genuine relationship, and baptize. I am thankful I am in a branch again because it allows me to work even closer with the members!! I am looking forward to this transfer and I have lots of goals and high expectations for myself!
Lastly, something really cool happened this weekend! We were having a regular morning with studies and I saw in the mission group chat that the missionaries in Portal Del Mar were having a baptism and then I realized it said "Inan Gabriel" and after some digging I found it was the same Inan that I had taught with Elder Pillpe and Elder Vilcherres! It was just so awesome to finally see him get baptized and decide for himself, as when we first met him he was a timid 9 year old that was just listening because his dad wanted him to. It was an awesome way to begin our Saturday and it made me super happy!
I am doing really well here in Chile and I am just trying to give it my all. I am trying to soak up every day because to me time is flying by way faster than it has in the past and I want to do all that I can and have 0 regrets!
Love, Elder Collin Steele
pictures include: Elders Quorum in Frutillar; Later, Dude! Elder Levar and Me; Moises, Me, Elder Levar, and Karen; and Moises and Me
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