Week 90 - Viva Chile!!

written: 9/19/2022

Week 90

A week full of celebration that ended with some wonderful news! We had the zoom call of transfers last night and I'll be staying in Frutillar with Elder Mortensen! However, we won't have Llanquihue anymore and we will be able to focus 100% on Frutillar! In the zone, only one missionary is leaving, I'm going to miss my friend Elder Quezada. I'm super excited to be staying and I know there's much left to accomplish here.

This week was jam packed! Tuesday we were in Fresia, a small town, to do a "blitz" or "invasion" where we just knock doors in a sector that isn't ours to try and help the companionship that works there. Afterwards, we did exchanges and I got to spend the day with Elder Morris and of course we also got to see Papito, I've mentioned him a few times. Always a good time to see him. It is refreshing to leave your sector and to be able to see things from a different perspective but a day or two is enough, I was glad to get back to Frutillar.

The best thing about Chilean independence, El 18 de septiembre, is that it isn't just celebrated on that day. At least for us, the celebrations started on Friday, and are actually still continuing today on Monday. The whole weekend we were able to enjoy lots of typical Chilean food and many empanadas. Our branch activity on Friday in Frutillar was the best activity I've had on the mission! There were 100+ people and many people that were not members of our church and we were able to meet a lot of people! A lot of them seemed very interested in learning more about our church and one of the people that attended the activity ended up coming to church on Sunday! We had Llanquihue's activity on Saturday and we were able to enjoy a ton of typical Chilean games and also a few games I had played before. Musical chairs was very fun and I ended up winning even though a member tried the old trick or trying to swipe the chair from under me when it was the final 2. All good, we laughed it out and I gave him a hug. Another awesome thing was the ability to finally be having these activities after the pandemic. They haven't been able to celebrate like this since 2019. A big blessing!

Lastly, we are super excited for this upcoming Saturday, as our friend Alonso is getting baptized! He is one smart kid! He has progressed a ton and as a result of him wanting to be baptized his whole family is coming back to church. His grandma has been the only active member in the family for years and we've seen her strong testimony but you could tell it was hard being the only member and now her daughter and grandkids are coming to church and she has been very happy!! Great things are happening and there are many more to come! 

Love, Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: Elder Pastene returned to Chile; Our new friend, Daniel; Salchipapa with Elder Morris; Papito!; Lunch "Post-Blitz" in Fresia; The tradition of Mango Loco continues; and Tug of War.