Rain rain, vayase, venga cuando......pues, no se.

Daniela received the Holy Ghost yesterday! But her mom, Jimena, informed us that she, personally, decided not to get baptized...we need to investigate more and help her gain her own testimony of the Church. We planned to have a new-member lesson with Francisco this Thursday in Cancino's house, and guess who also happened to be there? Daniela! She and Titi Cancino were practicing learning scripture mastery, so they both joined us and we had a large-group-family-plus-two-new-members lesson about enduring to the end and serving in the Church. The joy I felt as we all laughed and shared filled my heart with warmth. We talked about Francisco's experiences with sharing the gospel (Out of the blue he asked his co-workers "Do you beleive in God?" and started a gospel discussion) and Daniela's personal choice to stop swearing although all her friends were doing so. What changes the gospel can make in one's life! 

Diego, a 22 year old inactive 7th Day Adventist, accepted our invitation to eat Once at the Gomez's house. At first he wasn't home at the right time, but we prayed and waited and prayed and prayed, and after the trial of our faith he arrived and eagerly came with us. The Lord hears and answers prayers! He had many questions about our beliefs, and it was a bit overwhelming, but we have faith that tonight in our second lesson he will be able to feel the Spirit testify to him of the truthfulness of the message. And then, one day, he will become a missionary, too.:)

This week has reminded me of Pres. Eyring's April 2012 conference address, where he quoted President Kimball, saying, “There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, ‘Give me this mountain,’ give me these challenges."

I know the Lord hears even our unspoken prayers, because He is giving me the mountains I had only thought about asking for...situations that I only thought I'd have to face in MTC practices: Investigators deciding not to get baptized, others who ask us more questions than we have the language skills to answer, constantly-ill less-active members, recent converts often outside of Santiago, rainy days that yeild zero new investigators, and a bit of friction in our companionship...

Although I know this all sounds like normal missionary life and the Lord has a solution for each difficulty, the patience He is requiring of me is proving to be a great mountain to climb. So it's tough...Yet I have not lost the ability to see good, to see miracles, and to see the divinity of the work. I know He keeps His promises, I know it will all be worth it, and I know that the adversary is no match for the Christ. I've been humbled, taught, and blessed this beyond words this week--and even as I've written this letter.

P.S. We had transfers today, but I'm staying in Ñuñoa 1, finishing up the training of Hermana Hunter.:) I'm glad, because I love this ward and all the people in it. 

Today Hna. Johansson, who's been living with us for the past two months, went home home. It's weird to think that her mission has ended, but I still have a year left:) I'm grateful for the time Heavenly Father has given me, because not only does it take a lot of practice and learning to become a good missionary, but we also have to be patient as the people make big changes in their lives in order to accept the gospel. I often want to teach everything at once so that our investigators can be Mormons in one week! But it's not that easy. (They have to come to church at least 3 sundays before baptism, for example, and even then they don't come three in a row...) I have to have a lot of patience and faith! 

Read Alma 19:23. I know your prayers are keeping me safe, sound, and happy. Thanks:) 

Also, thanks for inviting the missionaries over for dinner! I love eating with the members, and I am so so grateful for all they do for us. Be friends with the missionaries, they need it:)

Love,

Hermana Sharp

Go, Agosto, Go!

I am constantly reminded that God is a god of miracles. This week we met or surpassed many of our goals. Daniela was baptized! She's 15 and reminds me of Lexie (my sister). We found 5 new investigators, a major improvement from the last few weeks. Javier, a less-active member, came back to church. And thanks to Hna. Hunter's inspiration we finally contacted all of our referrals--one of which was absolutely golden, as we say in the mision. We are excited to teach him, Diego, in a family home evening setting tonight with the members that live on his street.He's 22, just finishing vet school and was baptized in the 7th Day Adventist church, but has been inactive for many years. He wants to be close to God again, and we were so excited to testify to him that he can through the Book of Mormon.

 

I love fast Sunday, because the hand of the Lord is made very apparent and our prayers are answered in the best way imaginable.

 

With Daniela, her mom and sister, we watched President Monson's announcement of the age change for missionaries so that they could know who the prophet is. At the end of the video, I was able to bear my testimony that I know that he is the prophet called of God today. Before, I had faith that I was sent here to Chile by inspiration because special people were waiting for me here. In the moment that I testified, I knew Daniela, Jimena, and Valentina were these special people. I'm, here for a reason, at this time, in this area, and I have no doubt that revelation from God is real.

 

To practice her language skills, Hna. Hunter has been teaching the lessons to less-active members and recent converts. In fact, Guillermo was reluctant to meet with us after his baptism (I think he felt he knew the doctrine too well to have it repeated. As missionaries we need to teach even after baptism). Finally we asked him to listen to Hna. Hunter practice teaching the lessons, and he was happy to help.  So with a bit of sneakiness we are finally reveiwing the lessons.:)

 

"Life is hard, but living the gospel is easy."

-Hna. Sharp

 

P.S. Visiting and Home Teaching are extremely important callings. Be sure to fullfill yours this month:) Love you all!

Cumpleanos feliz

Hnas. Johansson and Chaves made a rice-crispie cake for my birthday, threw balloons at me, and wrote "Happy Birthday!" on the windows of our apartment. We also had a ward talent show on Friday, and the ward sang the song to me and to the Bishop. I love all the members in my ward:)

We hoped for, prayed for, worked for, and SAW more miracles this week. Daniela, 15 yrs old, announced before our lesson even started that she is no longer going to work on Sundays because she finally decided to be baptized. The young women in our ward have befriended her so well, and she even performed with them in the talent show!

During the New Missionary Training we had on Thursday, I felt the joy promised in D&C 18:15-16 as I celebrated Francisco's baptism with Hna. Camargo (got to see her at the meeting). Then, "while we were yet in the Spirit" (because we had learned about the importance of talking to everyone) we taught 3 lessons on the street as we made our way home. We strive to talk to as many people as we can, and we've seen results. At first, many of the contacted people lived outside of our area, but after the trial of our faith, we've begun to find people who live here. Victor told us we could visit him the very evening we met him, and 3 hours later was impressed that we actually came back. He was absolutely fascinated by the Book of Mormon, and I expect him to be baptized soon. (Unfortunately, he was only here to visit his sister...we passed on the reference, a little disappointed.) Last week a man began talking to us on the street, but he was in a hurry so he said he'd call us. I wasn't expecting him to actually call. But he did! He asked us to come teach him at his work--first time that's ever happened in my mission! We went, and he beleives a lot of the same things we do, but can't accept that Joseph Smith was a prophet. We left him with the BoM, and if he reads and prays about it, I know he'll accept the prophet. Another day, we had planned to visit an old investigator, and I had a feeling he wouldn't be home but that there would be someone in the street we would need to talk to. We went, and found Nelson, right where I thought he might be, and we talked for quite a while about the prophets, the BoM, and he said, "Maybe you'll see me in your church sooner than later.":) 

With my added responsibilities as trainer, I feel myself becoming more invested in the work as well. I'm truly happy to serve the Lord with all my might, mind, and strength. Sometimes it's tough, but life outside of the mission is tough, too. Only here, the happy times are happier and I never lose the inner peace that comes from knowing that I'm doing what the Lord wants me to do. 

The ward members are willing to help us, we just need to find more people to teach. We're working on asking referrals from everyone. Our first English class resulted in 2 potential investigators, and the ward activity brought 15! Our progressing investigators are few, but we pray daily that the Lord will prepare our new and potential investigators to hear the message.

In Faith,

Hna. Sharp

Mindee's Address to mail stuff and letters

To mail letters:

Sister Mindee Sharp
Chile Santiago East Mission
Pedro de Valdivia 1423
Providencia
29 Santiago
Region Metropolitana (Santiago)


To mail packages:

Sister Mindee Sharp
Chile Santiago East Mission
Pedro de Vadivia 1423,
Providencia
29 Santiago, Region Metropolitana
CHILE



She would love letters and emails, no matter how long or short.

Many Miracles

Hna. Hunter's faith has been working miracles here in Ñuñoa 1! She extended the baptismal invitation to Francisco so that we could set another baptismal date. The Spirit was so sweet in that moment, and he accepted to be baptized this Saturday, the 20th. Also, Hna. Hunter made a connection with a less-active man, Javier, whom we had not been able to contact until this week. We taught him about the Restoration, and we were able to trade off teaching much smoother than in previous lessons. There was a notable difference in the Spirit when compared to lessons where I had dominated too much in the teaching aspect. I trust in Hna. Hunter's teaching skills, and she is gaining confidence as we practice in our studies and on the street. (My Spanish has gone down in quality a bit because now I speak English probably too much with her...we're working on speaking more.)

Other less-active members are also making progress. Nora is finally stopping smoking and is excited to pay tithing when she receives her paycheck this week. Andrea, who came to church last week, exstatically served us lunch this week, and is begining to read the Book of Mormon again.

Daniela (15 yrs, investigator) attended the Stake Youth Camp this week. She says that as soon as she pays off the debt she acquired by purchasing a Justin Bieber concert ticket, then she will stop working on Sundays and come to church. :)

Spoke with an atheist man in the street. In the past, once someone told me they didn't beleive in God I didn't know what to say. But this time I felt the Spirit giving me confidence to keep talking even after he said he didn't want a pass-along card. I tried to follow Aaron's example (Alma 22) and asked him why he didn't believe, how he thought all the wonderful things around us had been created, and bore my testimony that God really is our Heavenly Father. That I believe that the world isn't just an accident of evolution. And that we have a greater purpose here on earth. I don't know what will come of this conversation, but I do hope my words will echo in his ears until he realizes that there is a God who loves His children. 

I would like to testify that Heavenly Father answers our prayers, no matter how small. All of our plans fell through on Friday night, and it was cold and we needed a bathroom quite badly. We passed a member's house, but no one was home. Continued a bit, sat on a bench to pray and ask for comfort. We also asked that we might be able to find a bathroom...The situation was desperate! We made an unsure plan, stood, and then Hna. Hunter said "Let's return to the Reyes family," the house where no one was home. Ok, so we went in faith. And what do you know, Carla opened the door and cheerfully received us. Her bright attitude lifted us up and she gladly let us use the bathroom!:) A simple miracle, but I do beleive that it only came to pass because we had prayed and asked. Pedid, y recibireis. Llamad, y se os abrira. 

We've been trying harder to make sure our lessons aren't longer than 45 minutes (to be obedient to the mission rules--it's hard because there is so much to teach and people like to talk!), but it has resulted in the ability to have more lessons at the end of the day. However, we need to find more investigators who will actually progress towards baptism. This week our goal is to continue searching for the Lord's prepared children. One tactic we are trying is drawing the plan of salvation by bus stops. People rubber-neck a bit as they drive past, but two gringas walking the street in long dresses calls attention anyway. So why not teach at the same time?:)

I have made so many friends among the ward members, the other missionaries, and the people in my area that I never feel alone. I love the people, and often forget that my hair isn't black and my eyes aren't brown. 

With Renewed Faith,

Hermana Sharp

The favorite spread here is "Manjar". I realized you can make it by doing the following--Boil a can of condensed milk for 45 minutes. Then flip it over (so the top is now on the bottom) and boil for another 45 minutes. Let it cool a bit, and you have Manjar! It's delicious on toast, cookies, apples, or just about anything. Have it for a family home evening treat! 

Hola!

Hola a todos! 

My new companion (my "daughter," as you say, although she is three months older than me) is Hermana Hunter from Boise, Idaho, fresh from the Chile MTC. I consider it a sacred responsibility to not only teach her the ropes of the mission field, but to really fortify her Spanish as well. I knew all those Spanish classes I took would be worth it one day:) And I know that the gift of tongues makes it possible for me to talk with and teach my Chilean brothers and sisters. This week I've noticed a miraculous increase in my ability to understand the language (partly because I'm paying more attention since I don't have Hna. Camargo to explain what someone said, but mostly because the Lord is qualifying whom He has called.) Hna. Hunter boldly approaches every and any person on the street, and then all I have to do is open my mouth and the Spirit helps me preach, bear testimony, and invite others to hear more. It's not easy to begin a conversation, but once the ice is broken--literally, porque es invierno aquì--the fact that we are all spirit brothers and sisters can't be denied. 

Training has presented me with the opportunity to increase in charity, faith, obedience, and diligence. Hna. Hunter reminds me to pray, to love, and to remain humble. 

Fast Sundays are my favorite day of the month. Francisco made it to church (in a suit, even!) and he's excited to start preparing names to take to the temple a week or two after his baptism. His enthusiasm for family history work is inspiring, and it strengthens my testimony that we are responsible for the salvation of our kindred dead. I know the temple is the house of the Lord, and I miss being able to go every week. "You are never far from home as long as you can see the temple." I've hung up five more pictures in the temple in our apartment:) 

Guillermo also blessed the sacrament, and I teared up seeing the fruits of our labors--his spiritual progression--and my heart was full as I considered the truthfulness of this Church. 

Jimena also came to church, along with Andrea, a less-active member who we encountered by miracle. Her address was incorrect in the  ward list, and for that everyone had forgotten about her. But this is how we found her...We felt prompted to surprise-visit Jimena on Friday. We talked outside, and a neighbor passed and said, "I've been waiting for you, missionaries!" Huh??? Jimena told us he is a member so we knocked on his apartment door. He and his wife immediately invited us in for cake! The Moras have two houses and technically are part of the ward near the coast, so we had no idea they lived here, too. But Brother Mora immediately started talking about how he shares the gospel with his neighbors (including Jimena!) and he took us to Andrea. All she needed was an invitation to come back to church! And look what happened, she came back to the fold:) 

Miracles are happening in Ñuñoa (thanks to Hna. Hunter, I know). What miracles can you see in your daily lives? With whom have you shared the gospel? 

Always Learning, 

Hermana Sharp

P.S. Fun fact: There are three members in the ward that share my birthday, including the Bishop, and it just so happens that we are going to have a ward activity that day, the 26th:) Feliz Cumpleaños! 

I'm Senior Companion

To: WAYNE L SHARP

First thing's first; I'm staying here in Ñuñoa, but Hna. Camargo is leaving:(  And I'm going to train a new missionary!!! Wow, I have only been here 3.5 months. But the Lord and President Wright trust me enough to carry the load of this sector AND teach another sister how to work in the mission field. Now I just have to trust that I have learned enough to be able to handle the responsibility. Deep breath... We've heard that 14 American sisters and only 4 Latina sisters are coming...so tomorrow I'll find out if my "daughter" speaks Spanish or not. Please pray that Heavenly Father will bless us with the gift of tongues! 

Second; Once again Francisco's baptism didn't happen. He had to work this Sunday and he found out Saturday night. :( Basically, the entire ward is waiting on the Sunday in which he will finally be free from the police station so that he can be freed from his sins and be baptized!

Third: A miracle happened Wednesday night; After 20 rough days of not seeing Jimena and her daughters, I felt like I should call her and see if we could have a lesson sometime this week. She answered and said she could meet with us "tonight"! But we had Ward Counsel, and any other day this week was busy for her. Chuta...Ok... Ten minutes later, we got a call saying that Ward Counsel had been cancelled. So what do we do now? Call Jimena back, call Hno. Taiba to see if we can teach in his house, and BOOM! We were able to fill our evening with a worthwhile lesson that resulted in a new baptismal date for Jimena, Daniela, and Valentina. Everything happens for a reason. :) 

Fourth and Fifth: As circumstances would have it, we ended up seeing the 1st counselor of the bishopric every day this week: He invited us to take part in FHE to teach his children how to prepare for their missions, we returned the keys to the church on Tuesday, had a lesson with Jimena and her daughters in his house Wednesday, lunch with his family Thursday, and Friday he was in the church when we had Francisco's baptismal interview there, so I think he was less than amused when we showed up Saturday morning to help clean the chapel. 

Bishop Rodriguez and the rest of the ward counsel have taken to heart the worldwide leadership training. We visited Bishop this Saturday just so Hna. Camargo could say goodbye, but he started talking about our Progress Report and made plans of how he is going to ensure that our investigators have friends in the ward, baptismal clothing when the day comes that Francisco doesn't have to work, and how we're going to involve the new ward missionaries. Sunday in Ward Counsel he was informed and ready to enlist the help of the members. The Relief Society Pres. offered her house for a lesson with Jimena, and the High Priests are assigning a brother to help Guillermo prepare names for baptisms in the temple.
This ward is becoming more and more devoted to missionary work each week!
Members are the key to real growth in the Church. 

Open your doors to the missionaries and their investigators! 

Love,

Hermana Sharp:) 

P.S. Happy July, enjoy the crazy-warm summer.