Week 74: I have a new bad habit apparently...

2-23-15

Hola Familia y Amigos,

So this week has been so crazy!! ¡¡LOCURA!!

So first with the title... apparently I talk in my sleep.  Before it was every once in a while and you could understand me, but now they all here me every night and it is just jiberish.  haha well that is great!  I have no idea why I am talking.  But also my dreams have been pretty weird as well these past few weeks.  Well I guess my roomies will just have to suffer for a few more weeks.  I will try to pray to overcome it. 

Also this week we have come to the end of the main part of Summer.  It has been cold these last few days.  It was so weird. One day burning and the next I was freezing. And that leads to the next crazy thing of the week.  Because of the first freezing day my comp got sick because we didn´t take a sweater out with us that day because we didn´t think it would be cold.  Well we were wrong.  She got sick with the flu and was in bed for 2 days straight.  I nursed her back to health and the priesthood blessing probably helped a lot as well.  But we also got lucky and have amazing members here that stayed with her and some came and worked with me. One was a return missionary and was so excited to be like a real missionary again. Just me and her working.  And the other was a young adult and she has a sister on a mission and so it was cool for her to feel like a missionary like her sister.  It  was all in all a great experience.  But a very exhausting one as well!

Also on Thursday I think it was, we had like 4 big fires here in Concé. The sun was RED!!  Not orange but RED!! It was so crazy and I felt like I was suffocating a little bit, but the air has cleared up since then. 

Also funny story. The other day we visited a little old  lady in the ward and she said she was so tired because she had been cleaning all day and fixing up her garden. So we told her we were going to come on Saturday and help her clean.  She said great! Well we get there and EVERYTHING WAS ALREADY CLEAN!!  We were shocked and asked what we could do and she said.  "Just sit and rest because I woke up early to clean everything so you both wouldn´t have to.  You guys work so much, so just rest."  And I was like " Hermana we are missionaries, we don´t rest."  And after talking a little bit we finally got her to let us help clean  a little more in depth in  her garden.  They just love us so much here!!

 Yep I love being a missionary!!

Pray for Javier who is going to be baptized on Saturday!  I love you guys and keep looking up!  God wants to help you in EVERYTHING!!  Also I really hope there is at least one snow storm after I get home! I miss the snow so much!!

Love you all and have a great week!!

Con amor, 

Hermana Corbett

Week 73: Javiera Was BAPTIZED!!!!!!

2-16-15

Wow I can´t believe this past week like everything has happened!!!  

I thought I would have less to say as I got to the end of my mission, but every week still throws me a surprise.  

First off that is so weird that we are moving to Utah still.  It kinda set in when I saw the pictures of the house.

Everyone in my ward now knows that I am going home real soon because when Hermana Quintana introduced herself in church she told everyone that she has less than 3 months left and still has one cambio more than me.  So yeah everyone was talking about that in Church.  

Thanks Logan, Abby, Hudson, and Amelia for the birthday package.  I needed it a lot today!!

Also Hermana Glazier has been here this past week with her parents visiting all her sectors and it was so cool to see them. It made me sad that I said no to you guys coming down to get me, but also I know that we will come back in a few years and we will be able to do so much more and have a blast!

So the rest of my birthday was great!  In the night we went over to Javieras house with her family.  They are so great and made me tacos.  I have been craving tacos.  But the tacos here, are so much better than back home, sorry mom.  I will have to make us some one night.  And talking about Javiera...

Also the baptism of Javiera was so amazing.  The most well attended baptism I have been to on the mission. And also the most spiritual baptism i have attended!  She has been preparing for so long and so that preparation and time made that day even that much more special.  I love her and her family.  And I can´t wait to see how they progress even more.  I know that they will achieve being sealed in the temple.  And also eternal life!!  Enjoy the pictures.

Also so the new news is that we have another investigator named Javier (The Irony) he is about 35 years old. And he is from Santiago and was going to church their with his friends for a year, but could not get baptized because he was attending a ward where he didn´t live.  But he moved here a few months ago, but never went to church because he was afraid to just show up.  Well we found him and are teaching him and he will be baptized the 28th of February.  He is such a boss and actually just called us a few minutes ago to see if we could visit him tonight before he heads out of town for work.  He also went to Javiera´s Baptism and Church in our ward on Sunday! He is so amazing!!

Well her are a few pictures as well! I love you all!

Oh and I got to see Madison again!! She came and visited me in my sector.  Don´t know how we pulled that one off...haha 

Con Amor,

Hermana Corbett

Week 72: Last Transfer has started with a bang!!

2 - 9-15

Hola Familia y Amigos,

Thanks everyone for all the Birthday letters and wishes!!  I have not gotten anything through snail mail yet, but that makes me that much more excited that I have letters on the way.  

So today is cambios as well and we were kinda shocked.  I will be staying in Collao and Hermana Lorea is heading to Chillan after only one cambio here with me crazy huh? I will be with Hermana Quintana, with whom I lived in Bulnes for 3 months.  She is from Peru and is the one that lives in one of the wards in which Carson served.  Crazy to be ending my mission with her. It should be fun! I am just excited that I do not have to pack on my birthday!

So to start off my birthday has been amazing.  Not to hate, but birthdays on the mission are way more boss than in College!! But I got super lucky to have my birthday specifically today.  Because with all the cambios and my house being the house that is closest to the Conce.  All the hermanas that go home stay with us the night before, so we are going to be sleeping 11 in our tiny little 2 and half bedroom apt.  But I am so stoked!! Also last night Hermana Ayuso and Glazier stayed with us and so that was fun and we were all in bed just talking after lights out at 11:30 and then we hear screaming at midnight from the front room (where Hermana Ayuso and Glazier were sleeping) and they run in and scream "Help us there is something in the kitchen" everyone gets out of bed and runs out there and they are ready with cameras and cake and signs and they start singing.  It was a great way to start the day.

Then one of the members here, Valentina took us to the desembocadura (where the river BioBio meets the ocean) and we explored and took a million pictures.  It was really fun, and then we went to the mission office where I saw hermana Baturité again and then we went to lunch at an expensive American restaurant and they bought me ice cream!  And about 15 minutes ago the senior missionaries in the office called me and sang happy birthday.  And then tonight with 11 in the house we are going to have a big party!!  It should be so fun!!!

Okay about the spiritual side of things.  Javiera is going to be baptized this Thursday and she is so excited!  Please pray for her!!!  Also we are working so much with the members and it has been great to see even the active members progress!!  I love this work and I am so excited to be a missionary at this very moment and to be able to learn to work with the members and help them even more in this great work and I am even more excited that I will get to be a missionary my whole life!! Missionary work is the most satisfying work you could ever participate in and also a work that is never ending! What more could I ask for!! 

I love you all! Have a great week!!

-Hermana Corbett

Oh and happy birthday Brother and Sister Goodfellow!

Week 71: The members love us!!

2-2-15

Hola Familia y Amigos,

So not much new has happened.  We have just been working really hard and trying to stay focused.  I will be honest it was really hard to focus at the beginning of the mission but now at the end it is hard just the same, especially with my brain that loves to plan for the future.  But my companion and the Lord have been blessing me and helping me to stay focused. 

Also we have been doing a new thing in the mission in reporting numbers. We got rid of like all of the numbers we report and only report a few things but the main thing we report is called the vision.  Which is 7 points total, one point a day.  We receive a point for that day if we have 3 things.  Lesson with investigator with member present, lesson with recent convert or less active with member present, and a lesson to active member.   So as you can see that each of the three things a member has  to be there.  So we work full on only with the members.  I has really changed a lot how we plan and really help the ward.  It is so awesome and it was so cool yesterday in church because we had at least 3 of the members come up to us to ask when they can go out and visit with us!!  And we asked around and have at least 7 members planned to come out with until Friday. So we feel like we really have the members confidence.  And it has also been cool to see the difference it has made by visiting them and focusing on their needs as a family.  Camila Puchi one of the Young adults told us last night that she was shocked, but also grateful that we stopped by here house the other night to help them and share with them!! 

Well I love you all and hope that you have a great week!!

We will see next Monday what my last transfer brings!!  

Con amor,

Hermana Corbett

Pictures:

1. Mini cambio of the week!! (Oh and because of this mini cambio I did not get to see Madison.  She was in Concepcion for that day and was heading to the bus terminal in my sector and they were going to let her see me, but I was with one of our hermanas in another sector on the other side of Conce.  It was so sad but we got to talk for like 5 minutes on the phone at least!)

2. Dessert in Chile.  That was the medium piece...

3. In the process of making my goodbye photo. Do you like?

Week 70: Oh my gosh I have hit the 70s

1-26-15

Hola Familia y Amigos,

So this week has been really a rollercoaster!!! Big ups and big downs!  But patience and loving it through it all!!  So we have not seen Pablo again since he is still working out of town, but keep praying for him.  

But a amazing experience happened.  The Riquelme family that I told you all about last week, well the daugher, JAviera who is 17 years old wants to be baptized!! She is going to be baptized on the 5 of February!! We are so excited!!!  She is so amazing. We always visit the family and I know her pretty well, but before this last Monday we had never had a one on one with her,  But when we passed by on Monday the family forgot we had an appt and she was the only one home, so we got to know her better and she then told us that she wants to be baptized!! I was so cool!! She is so prepared and is going to help strengthen her mom and family as well!!

Also I had my sweet sixteen yesterday.  Hermana Lorea and Lance threw H. Razeira and me a breakfast party with pancakes and peanut butter! The best!!

We also had a fun activity in the morning in the back hills of our house!!  We played soccer ( how uncommon) and a water balloon fight! It was fun because it is so hot, but there is a lot of wind here, so never too bad.  I know you are all suffering much more than me!! I am enjoying this heat and the nice tan I get every day!!  

 Oh and I would love a few last letters before I come home, especially for my birthday...

Love you all and enjoy the pictures.  One of the pictures was when Elder Wolfe broke a water balloon on all of us!!  

-Hermana Corbett

Week 69: Pablo is a boss!!

1-19-15

Familia,

So we have not been able to see Pablo this week because he has been working out of town, and this week he gets back on Thursday so we will visit him on Friday hopefully.  Please pray for him! BUT Pablo has been keeping busy and has found back to his first ancestor who came to Chile and has been reading at least a little bit everyday in the Book of Mormon. He is a boss!! 

Also a family that is in the ward that have been waiting a whole year to get married (weird Chilean laws) so that the mom, Lieslie, can get baptized and the dad, Auturo, can be worthy again will be reaching that one year mark next month. So we are working a lot with them.  They were really strong until this last month and Satan has been attacking in whichever direction so they stopped coming to church for a month, but we had a really amazing lesson this past week with on of the members and they came to church yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It teared up a little bit when the came in.  Their family has so much potential, and Satan knows that so if you could pray for them as well.  Riquelme Yañez Family.  Also I just want to bear testimony that if is was not for that member in that lesson bearing testimony of everything we were teaching, they would not have come to church and would not have been blessed because of it!  Members are the key to this work!! You work with your missionaries in your ward. See what you can do to help the ward together.

So I had my last zone conference this week and it was so weird.  We meet up as a Zone first then headed to the other church building together and I was talking with some of the other hermanas just happy as can be going to ´just another zone conference´ when Hermana Howe points out that it is my last one and I  have to give my farewell testimony.  I just starred at her trying to comprehend what she said.  Yeah I didn´t really realize how old I was in the mission until that day. That was really hard also to be giving my final testimony when I still have over two months left.  TIME FLIES!!!!

So just a funny moment of the week. We were walking down the street the other day and we came across this...  My first thought was "Is that really a dog!?!"  And as we get closer and take a few pictures and it still has not moved an inch I was sure that is was a stuffed animal. But it looks so real...

..but then we call it and then we get the right end of the dog.  Don´t ask me what this dog was doing out side his apt. A few thoughts, Time Out? Air drying? Using the bathroom? Tanning? I don´t know but we were dying laughing

Week 68: Pablo...Family History finally worked!!

1-12-15

Hola Familia y Amigos,

So this week we have stopped visiting a lot of our investigators. Like you said Dad it is just really sad when they don`t accept to live the basic principles of the gospel.  Something so easy as prayer and will help them so much and they just dont have the faith to do it.  We also have found quite a few people again this week, but still none of them are actually willing to change...accept Pablo. 

Pablo was a guy that we talked to in the street about 1 month ago.  And I don`t really remember why we talked about family history specifically with him, especially because in this time we were talking with everyone about He is the gift.  Also we have never had a contact that really was interested when we talk about family history so it was really random (Or better it was probably the spirit)  Well we got his number and then it took us like 2 weeks to find someone in the ward that could help him more with his family history.  We got contact with him again last week and had an appt. this last wednesday.  I didn`t get to go because I was on divisions in one the Hermanas Sectors.  But Hna. Lorea said that he had already made himself an account and started his tree on family search.org and that he has been looking for a while to find out who he really is and why he is here.  He is hoping that in finding more about is ancestors he will recieve these answers and he is open to learning more about the church.  I have not seen him since that day one month ago, but I can just feel that he has so much potencial and  I am so excited to see him grow in the truth!!

I just feel so blessed to be here where it is warm.  Everyone always talks here about how hot it is and then I think you do not know hot or humidity.  I am so blessed!

I love you all and I know the gospel is true and by living the spimple pricilpes of the gospel your faith will grow and God will help you to reach your potencial that you cannot even imagine now.  

Have a great week!! 

Con amor,

Hermana Corbett

1.Our view at 9:30 at night!!! Yeah I love living at the end of the world in summer.  

2. Me with Hermana Baturitè

3. Me, mi hija, mi nieta!!

Week 67: So Many Investigators!!

1-5-15

Hola Familia y Amigos,

So it is the same old same old...which means there are like a billion things that happened this last week that I don´t even know what to write! 

So first we have like 20 investigators right now that we have found over the past few weeks.  The problem is that they are all receptive but just are not progressing.  So we will be weeding them out this week, which is so hard, because I just love them all and I want them all to progress, but it is just not a good use of our time to keep teaching those that are not progressing.

Other than that Hermana Lorea and I have been doing great together.  I love being with a latina!

Also Hermana Baturite is back here in Chile for a month and I will get to see her tomorrow!!  I am pretty excited!!  

I know this is short, but know that I am working hard, doing well, and I hope you all have a great week. Sorry I didn´t have time to take pictures this week!

Love,

Hermana Corbett

Week 66: Cambios! Pumped for the new cambio

12-29-14

Hola Familia y Amigos,

So just talked to you, so not much to say. Heidi I never got the video in Dropbox, so I don´t know what happened.

So we have cambios tomorrow and we are getting changed. I am staying here in Collao and an Argentinean Hermana Lorea is coming to be with me. Hermana Glazier is going to one of the outer sectors to finish a training.  She is so pumped to be a mother in law. She never got to train and this is her last cambio.  I am excited for her. Also Hermana Howe my daughter is training so I am going to be a grandma.  I am so excited!! So excited for her!  She is freaking out though! hahait is so funny. She will do great though! 

Happy Birthday Mary Blodgett!!!  

Happy Anniversary Leisha and Carson!!

Oh and this year I decided I wanted to work specifically on attribute of Christ that I want to strengthen in me. We have been inviting some of the members to do that same as well and I am inviting each one of you to do the same.  If you don´t know where to start look in Preach my Gospel Chapter 6.  It helps a lot to first off know the amazing attributes of Christ and then how to apply them to your life.  I am excited to do it this year!  Have a happy near year!!!

Picture: Me with the Dadiva Card

2. Thanks for all the gifts for me and everyone mom.. and the whole family!!

3. President Arrington playing Dodge ball!  He really is the best Mission President EVER!!! 

Con Amor,

Hermana Corbett

Week 65: I will be seeing you soon!!!

12-22-14

Hola Familia,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I hope all is well! I will here all about it on Thursday at 7:30 my time.  Dad told me to practice my English and it is so true!!!  My English is so bad now!! haha This will be fun!!  

So I had one of the new hermanas for a day when she had her conference here in Concepcion.  Hermana Evenson is from Utah, but was adopted from Ukraine when she was 12.  SO COOL RIGHT?!?!  She was awesome to be with for the day and to learn a lot from her.  

I also ran into a member, Victoria, that was my favorite member from my first sector.  When I saw here I could not help but run and then we hugged and both started crying! I had missed her a lot!!

And then we had a barbeque as a zone today and then went and sang Christmas hymns at a hospital.  It was so great!! I love spreading the Christmas Spirit! I am so proud of you for sharing the Dadiva with so many people!! keep it up!!

Con amor,

Hermana Corbett

Week 6?: Always so much to do!

12-15-14

Hola Familia,

So this week has been a pretty great one, but also a little bit frustrating.  

Not a single one of our investigators or people that we committed to come to church came this past week and the past 3 weeks.  We feel like we are working harder each week and helping our people even more and I can see the spirit grow in them and then they just shatter my heart and don´t come to church.  It has just been a little frustrating this week between the balance of their agency and my work as a missionary.  I am just trying to learn more pacience with them and myself. 

I will be able to video chat on Christmas for 40 minutes and I have to options that work best for me.   at noonish? or at 7:30ish pm.  The only thing I really have that day is a Chirstmas activity from 4-7 and lunch at 1:30.  So if you guys could all discuss and then write me next week that would be great!!

It has been great to share "He is the Gift" video still with literally everyone we talk to.  So far now I have watched it over 20 times!!! And yeah mom you are right it never gets old. 

We are also doing a sketch/ song for the christmas conference as a zone and it is the 12 days of Christmas, but the twelve most common excuses we recieve from people in the street.  It is so funny!! I will get it on video and show you later.  

And this was the only kinda worth it picture of the week.  This is a normal picture of what we look like and feel like after the whole day. haha enjoy

I love you all and have an amazing week!!

Week 63: It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

12-8-14

Hola Familia y Amigos,

So the trees here in Chile have all been put up this week and a few house lights are starting to come out.  It is so fun! I love Christmas!!  But the good thing is that it doesn´t make me miss home at all because it is like 85 degrees out.  I have been starting to get a really good tan!!  Bonus!(As mom always says)  So not much new this week!  I am studying in 3 Nephi 11-18 this week and it has been so cool to learn about directly from the Savior.  He is such an amazing teacher, I wish I could teach even somewhat as good as him.  I feel like after a year here in the mission I have progressed like a mountain load but I still feel like I have another mountain to climb before ending the mission.   Working on it everyday and the Saviors teachings are the only way to go.  

So I will describe the rest of the week in Pictures.  

I know you love pictures as much as like receiving them.  

1. When we bought Papa Johns Pizza last P-day.  We walked a good 12 blocks outside of Concepcion to buy that.  But so worth it in the end.

2. Our desk.  I spy with my little eye a picture of someone cute. Can you find it?  I showed my comp. H. Glazier that picture of Hud and she loved it so much that she put it on her side of the desk to look at all week.  haha 

3. One of the Young Women came out with us all last night.  It is 9:20 when I took that picture.  Yeah it is still light out at 9:30 here and in the morning it the sun comes out at like 6:30.  I love summmmmmeeeeerrrrr!! 

4. This picture look familiar?  No it is not the one from the Christmas card last year.  It was taken today, but yes in the exact same place.  haha  I went to Ramuntcho beach again!  It was really fun! We played volleyball, and I got a really cool silhouette picture and we made a dog into a dolphin.  It was a great P-Day.

Love you all!  Have a great week!!!

-Hermana Corbett