Week 82 - God's Got Us

written: 7/25/2022

Week 82

This week went by in hyper speed! As I was thinking about what I wanted to say in the email and I was going over the week it feels like some of the things happened so long ago but in general the week was in hyper speed. Honestly this transfer has gone by in hyper speed, likely because my companion is on the countdown to go home and now only has 2 weeks left until he goes home. Crazy. 

The big highlight was an exchange where I got to go to Fresia, an area I got to go to a month or two ago! This time I was with Elder Morris from Montana. Man is that guy an absolute party!! We had the chance to talk a lot about how we've improved over the mission and some of the things we've noticed. We came to the conclusion it all has got to do with just having the time of your life, being yourself and working super hard and remembering your purpose. Most people think you have to be completely different than who you are, or be a robot, but we've both seen that the best times are when we are ourself but obviously our minds and habits have been influenced by Jesus now. We were also able to go see Papito, the member who makes food for them and we had the chance to talk a lot and receive advice during lunch and at the end of the day as we drank mate. He literally moved to Fresia a few years ago to serve  knowing it was a tiny little branch and he was and still is willing to always do God's will. He's a great example to me. He calls us his sons "mis hijos" and he loves when missionaries stay in contact with him on Facebook. Apparently I'm talked about even though I've only gone to Fresia twice because we communicate over Facebook and he always wants to know how the work is going in my sector. 

Throughout the week we were able to spend time with members and have a great time building our relationship with them. We even got invited to a little barbecue on Saturday! It has been a little slow recently with the work but we have been able to strengthen a lot of the members even when the finding and teaching is a little hard. Speaking of finding and teaching, sadly many of our friends decided to not continue with the lessons. One of them was someone with a baptismal date who sent us a WhatsApp saying she didn't want to continue and that we came to her house too often and she didn't have time and ended up blocking us. 2 hours later one of our most progressing friends in Llanquihue also sent us a WhatsApp saying he won't have time for us. It was a little tough not going to lie, but I have to apply what I've been preaching, I can't get too down. I have to have faith that things will work out and that all of this is part of God's plan. There were still small little positive moments including Cesar receiving the priesthood yesterday!! In a few weeks he is going to be able to baptize his son Benjamin!! 

Lastly, a scripture that really caught my attention this week and made it on my quote window is definitely a well known scripture but oh well "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Matthew 6:33-34. God's got us!

Love,

Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: Lunch with Papito; Elder Morris, Papito, and Me; Elder Morris and Me; Front side of our "Elder Energy" shirts; Back side of the "Elder Energy" shirts

 

Week 81 - Cesar's Big Day!

written: 7/18/2022

Week 81

For those that saw my new profile picture, this week was all about channeling #ElderEnergy and just enjoying the work to the fullest!

The best news was the baptism of Cesar!!! Finally after 3 years of waiting in limbo and crazy work schedules he was able to be baptized. We actually weren't able to have a lot of communication with him during the week so we were super thankful we had gone over everything on Sunday. We were super nervous in the chapel as we waited for him to arrive with his family and then right on time at 10am he arrived! 0 problems with the baptism and 0 problems with the confirmation the next day!! He already had his interview for the priesthood and will receive it next week to be able to baptize his son! Their whole family is super excited. It was also awesome to be able to contact the missionary that first taught him 3 years ago and share the news with her and she was so happy! 

This week I was also able to participate in exchanges with the Zone Leaders in Alerce, an area I've heard about for my entire mission but have never been so that was a fun experience!

Our district council this week was focused on finding joy in the work, I shared a similar council last transfer but felt it was important to share it again. It was more focused on the spiritual side and we all left edified! We played a little 3 v 3 basketball to enjoy the great weather and then went to go enjoy our usual district lunch, hamburgers! We're up to 4 different hamburger places that we've tried as a district... good times. 

Just want to end with a scripture that stood out to me this week and made it up on my window of quotes, "Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain" (Moroni 7:37). I want to have faith sufficient enough to see miracles and I know it requires effort! 

Love, Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: Baptism day; P-Day with the District; Trying yet another burger place with the District peeps; Mmmm! Ice cream for the win; Taking pictures with dogs as we play District Bingo

Week 80 - Good Vibes Only!

written: 7/11/2022

Week 80

A busy and exciting week! We got the chance to meet a lot of cool new people and see some awesome things happen! 

This week we had our first zone conference with our new President, President Gervic! He is really awesome and I'm excited to keep learning from him. He is young and seems like he knows how to have fun but also when to be serious. He had some great ideas and his family is awesome as well. We were originally supposed to have the zone conference this upcoming week but due to the crazy weather and snow in Coyhaique, they changed it. It would be cool to be in Coyhaique to see the snow and experience that, but I'm definitely glad that I got out of there when I did because bad weather as a missionary is not a good combination. 

We were finally able to have a video call with Cesar, who I think I've mentioned before. He was in teaching before the pandemic. Around 2 weeks ago we talked to him about baptism and he said he's still ready and he wants to be baptized. However, we lost communication with him and we couldn't get ahold of him, as he is always working. But this past week we had the video call and he said he's ready for his baptism and we set all the dates we need (lessons, interview, baptism and confirmation). He is going to be baptized this Saturday! We were able to have a lesson with him on Sunday after he attended church in person for the first time since I've been here! He knew everything and had 0 problems with anything we taught and he was a pro going over the interview as well! They're super excited as a family because his wife has been a member for years now and now in a few weeks Cesar will also baptize his 8 year old son and they already have plans to go to the temple in one year!! The entire branch is so excited as well because they've been waiting for this baptism for years! 

Two other cool stories of finding new people. One is Karina. We had 30 minutes before lunch and we decided to go out and knock some doors. We knocked around 4 or 5 doors and then we got to her house and she opened the door 2 seconds after we knocked. We introduced ourselves and asked if she had time for a message. She let us in and we taught her and her 9 year old daughter. They have talked to Jehovah Witnesses and also attended our church one time years ago but they haven't gone to a church in a while. We taught about the doctrine of Christ and we explained how she could choose to be baptized this time after having faith and choosing her own church and she said yes, and she accepted a baptismal date! Later we found out that her partner doesn't like churches so that might make it difficult but nevertheless a spiritual lesson! The other is Aguy, a Haitian! We had a small time a the end of Saturday for Facebook finding and I saw a post from Aguy which was a Haitian preacher and it made me remember that we had talked and he had interest. I saw our conversation and saw he hadn't responded in a month so I decided to just call him randomly, something I've never done. He answered and I asked him if we could come see him tomorrow and he said no problem, and sent us his address. We went last night and he told us he's talked to missionaries before the pandemic and he showed a facebook story of a missionary that served here. We had a great lesson and he reminds me so much of Evens, our friend from Portal Del Mar. He has a lot of questions and loves the Bible but his questions come from a place of wanting the truth and not of contention! 

I have been focusing over the last months of having joy in the work, something I known I've mentioned. I have been seeing the positive effects it also has on the district that I'm in and how they're also having joy in the work and how happy we all are and the successes we are seeing. Doing good things and being happy is the best. Good vibes only! 

Love, Elder Collin Steele 

pictures include: 1st Zone Conference with President and Sister Gervic

Welcome Home, President and Hermana Meek!

Special Edition 7/10/2022

President and Hermana Meek reported on their 3 year mission to the Chile Osorno Mission on Sunday, July 10, 2022 in Morgan, Utah. Elder Collin Steele was blessed to serve with them for 18 months, and will continue to serve until December 2022. 

Elder Steele's parents were able to attend the Sacrament Meeting to listen to their testimonies and love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Afterwards, there was an Open House at the Meek home in Morgan, Utah, where Chris and Petrina were able to visit with several of Elder Steele's companions as well as hug and visit with President and Hermana Meek. 

pictures include: Thank you, President and Hermana Meek! Chris Steele, Robert Meek, Lynnette Meek, and Petrina Steele; Meeting Elder Petty and his parents - Kelli & William Petty, Holden Petty, Chris & Petrina Steele; Holden Petty and Petrina Steele; Petrina Steele and Elder Pastene; Elder Pastene wearing the tie Elder Steele gave him; Elder Pastene and Chris Steele; Chris Steele, Holden Petty, and Elder Warner; Ally Weight and Petrina Steele

Week 79 - 18 Months

written: 7/4/2022

Week 79

A rainy and cold week here in Frutillar! It was still a party and I completed 18 months this past week! There were definitely some days that were better than others but in the end I was happy with how it turned out! 

There was an awesome experience that happened this week! We had a lesson scheduled with someone named Patricia. We had taught her one time in 3 weeks about prayer and how to pray. We kept trying to teach her but she always said she was busy. We decided to ask a member to take us down to Frutillar Bajo, the very nice part of Frutillar. We drove around with only her name and the information that she owned a restaurant because she never confirmed the lesson. We went store to store asking if anyone knew a restaurant owned by Patricia and someone suggested a restaurant and as we were on the way there she responded and confirmed that it was her restaurant. Once we were there I bought a piece of kuchen, basically pie, and we began teaching her. We had the intention of getting to know her and share something edifying. By the time the lesson had ended she had a baptismal date and I had apparently talked for a very long time. It didn't feel like that but I testified to her that it was the Spirit that was talking and I was just the messenger. It was a super edifying experience! 

We also had the chance to meet a lady from Venezuela and her young daughter who was looking for a church to attend. We taught her and invited her to church and Sunday morning came and she texted at 10am (church starts at 10) asking if someone could come pick her up. We were attending church in our other branch so we quickly sent a message in the group chat of the other branch and by 1020 the secretary had texted us saying he went to pick her up! A member texted us after Sunday school saying it was perfect that this week they taught with Come follow me and she had brought her Bible and felt comfortable. The member gave her a Book of Mormon and became her friend. We are excited for her progress. 

As we were weekly planning we received a random phone call and their number wasn't saved. We answered and they wanted help with English. I was able to help them and as we finished they both said they were members but inactive and one of them has a 9 or 10 year old daughter that isn't baptized but has heard the missionary discussions. We have a lesson with them this upcoming week!

Quick funny note, after 18 months I finally taught a lesson/member visit in English! We went to visit a family and the wife is from the US and their daughter and grandkids were visiting. It was definitely interesting but fun! She also made homemade cinnamon rolls so you know I enjoyed that! 

Even with all the bad weather, long days of just calling people with no answer, I was still able to see good things happen! I love focusing on faith and I'm going to continue to make it a focus for the rest of my mission! I love Helaman 12:1 "The Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him" I have that written on a sticky note on my window where I study! 

Love, Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: P-Day fun with the District: Me, Elder Morris, Hermana Glenn, Hermana Nalwalker, Elder Jara, and Elder Quezada; Theater Tour in Frutillar; King for the day; Mmmm... Homemade cinnamon rolls!