Twas the Boiling Hot Day After Christmas and Elder Westover got Heat Stroke

Hey everybody! Merry Christmas! I loved being able to talk to you guys, even if it was for a short time. I hope I don't sound too weird. I've kind of lost my ability to talk fluently in English now.
I hope everybody had a great Christmas and the viajito pascuero brought you all something good. This Christmas was one that I really will never forget for the rest of my life. Even though I have passed a Christmas on the mission, this has been my first Christmas away from home.
The whole Christmas time was kind of a rush. We decided to take a Christmas picture of us four and hand out little Christmas cards to everyone in the ward. It turned out to be a lot more work that we originally anticipated, so there was a lot of lost sleep the few nights before Christmas. Christmas Eve was spent handing out the cards to everybody and trying to help out the people who wouldn't be getting a whole lot. But that night we were able to eat dinner with a family that has two sons on the mission as well, so we kind of replaced them for that night. We had a spiritual thought, sang a few songs, and then we had a huge plate of meat and potatoes that were amazing! I loved being there and being able to really enjoy Christmas as they do in Chile. We got back late to the pension, but instead of just planning and going to bed, we turned off the lights and just sat in our couches and stared at our poor dilapidated Christmas tree. We didn't have many lights, but we just sat there and talked about what we were grateful for. After that, I pulled out a few papers a printed off that Monday and took the role of dad by reading an excerpt from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. I talked about how here on the mission, mankind is our business. The dealings that we do in our careers and our personal life are but a drop in the comprehensive ocean that is our business. I'm pretty sure I butchered the line, but it had a lot of meaning to me as a missionary. I realized that everything I do I have set to turn out exactly like my dad. I realized that all my goals were set to be exactly like him. Its like a child following his father's footsteps in the snow because he knows that they are sure and wont lead him astray. I'm just trying to follow your steps, dad.
We had a great Christmas and I loved being able to be here in Chile this time to be able to celebrate it. Now we are planning the baptisms of Omar and Veronica. Veronica asked me to baptize her and for Elder Chapman to do the confirmation. I don't know what it is, but I can just tell that that family is going to be extremely strong in the church twenty years from now. I can see Omar being a general authority of some kind. He really is an example to me of a good father. We love them very much!
Javiera Maulen got baptized this week! She is a 12 year old spark plug that has such a great desire to learn. Her parents were recently inactive, but due to our insistence and charming personalities (joke), they have come back to activity in the church. It was a nice service. Elder Bowen got to do the baptism! It was sweet, he had to do the prayer about two or three times before he could pronounce it right, but it reminded me a lot of my first baptism. It was a really cool experience.
I hope that everyone is doing well and that I can answer any questions that you guys might have. If I dont answer all of them, Im sorry. So far, I haven't received any packages except from Ashlee. Good job, AJ ;D
Love you guys!
Elder Westover

Chilean Christmas

Hey guys! Merry Christmas!!!
Well, its here: the first time that I am going to away from my home for christmas!
I have been thinking for a while what this christmas is going to be like for me. Obviously it is going to be a stark contrast from the christmases that I have had at home. But I am realizing that the more and more that I am pushed and molded, I am becoming what God wants for me. I know that I say stuff like this almost every week, but its not for repetition sake: I have been gainign a stronger understanding of what thet means each time I say it. The mroe I learn and study about the gospel, the more I am amazed by it, by how expansive it is, yet how simple it can be. We are told the the gospel and every principle we teach should be able to be understood by even a five year old, which means that the gospel is for EVERYONE, not just for a few scholars who have dipped their head into books and unrighteously donned the title of authority upon their heads. One of the greatest gifts that I can give this christmas mgiht very well be myself. The more we align our will with the will of god, we understand what it means to find true happiness. We become what He wants us to be.
My companion and I have been stuck in the pension for a good part of the week when I got sick one night after eating an entire jalepeño (yeah I know mom, it was dumb). But while I was there, I thought a lot about what I was doing here and why the heck I even wanted to be out there in the hot sun (yes, its very hot out here!). I realized that I was in some small, minor way, wanting to just do what God wanted me to do. I am becoming more obedient! yes!!
Okay, to contrast the self righteousness of that paragraph, I wanted to let you guys know how Chile does Christmas down here. I dont know if I have told you about Chilean impatience, but its pretty famous down here. They want it now, and I mean right now. So... putting Christmas, presents, and a deadline to be able to open those presents, and you get this tradition. On Christmas Eve, all the families have dinner... at like 10:00 at night. We are already invited to go to one :) Then after dinner, everyone gathers around the clock, and waits until midnight. The second the clock strikes twelve, its officially Christmas, and all child squealing, wrapping tearing, fun frenzy hell breaks loose. So at around 3 in the morning, all the little chilean kids are running around with their wierd looking skateboards and their pretty pretty princess dolls in the streets, annoying all the american kids that are trying to sleep.
Its pretty interesting and Im gonna be excited to see it and to be woken up at three in the morning. there you go, mom and dad. You have your revenge.
Thank you everybody for making this christmas great for me and everybody else here in Tocornal! Elder Bowen and I wish you all a merry Christmas!!
Con Mucho Amor!
Elder Westover

New Companions and a Return to Cleanliness

Well, the time has come again for emails, and I couldn't be any happier! We had a baptism yesterday, and one of our converts baptized her. Her name is Yoselin Sepulveda. She is 21 with a bright happy personality, and, before she had a dream of an angel telling the exact date that her baby would be born, she was athiest. Since then she has turned her life around completly. She has a real spark that will be put to great use here in the ward.
In other news, we moved back to our old gas-filled pension. Luckily the gas had all left when we got back and we lived through the night. The only thing that worries me now is my new bunk-mate: Elder Burgeous (Elder Chapman's companion). He is a great guy, but at around 270 pounds, every time he turns in his bed, I pray that the frame holds. Everyone is getting along great. Elder Burgeous is a lot like me in personality and my companion, Elder Bowen, is a lot like Elder Chapman. I dont know why it is, but I feel like I am one of those japanese fighting fish; I only get along really well with people that are totally opposite to me. I dont know, I can really get along well with just about anybody. Thats definately been a blessing of the mission. A lady told me the other day that I had the gift of expressing myself. Im not exactly sure what she meant, but I feel like the Lord is definatley helping me out here. [Editor's note: Paul is still waiting for the gift of spelling] I love just talking to the people here!
Do you guys remember one of my last emails that I said I had gotten mroe organized? Well, I guess God wasnt finished with me yet, because I recieved the shock of my life when we went to go buy things at the store the other day. My companion bought almost all cleaning supplies and just a hint of food. I informed him that Chlorox did not mean milk in spanish, but he insisted that it was necessary if we were to clean up the pig sty that was our pension. When he said that I almost did a double take to make sure it wasnt my mom that had said it. By the way mom, you know you aren't allowed to bribe the mission president to give me certain companions, right? Well, however we ended up together, I feel like he is going to bring me up to a whole new level of cleanliness. Dont worry, Im sure my personality has an emergency brake somewhere around here if I start getting too organized.
I am starting to think more and more about the end of my mission. Seeing as it is only 6 months away, I feel like I should be wrapping up what I came here to do. The only problem is that I dont feel like that at all. I feel like I procrastinated a term paper again, and now I am running around like a mad man, trying to accomplish all the goals I have set for myself. I guess in a way, I have done all of them, but I dont feel like slowing down; I just started speeding up! I dont evern want to know how I am going to be at the last month-- I will be running to peoples' houses at that point. I see my new companion and I think of saying "appreciate the time you have now, it slips away so fast. Every moment is an opportunity in this short two year window to officially represent the Savior and testify of his divinity. The time we have flies on the wings of lightening, use it as wisely as you can." But usually I just say "So, what new movies are out?"
I feel like this is my chance to be able to say all the things I have learned on the mission to my new companion so he is able to enjoy a greater satisfaction on the mission. If I could boil it all down in two words, it would be "No Regret". Just as the liklyhood of getting inot a head on collision on the freeway is infinately higher if we only look through the rear view mirror, we cant look back longingly at what was, knowing that the future is just around the corner.
I am very glad that Chistmas is just right around the corner, and I am looking forward to getting your packages. I would like to congradulate Ashlee for winning the best Christmas present so far (that I know of): two big beautiful jars of peanut butter!! Thanks AJ!
Thanks for everything guys!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Gas Leak, New Pension, New Elders

Hey Everyone!
Sorry you guys didn't get an email from me last week! Things got a little insane. Allow me to elaborate.
So on Tuesday of last week we got our new companions. My new companion´s name is Elder Bowen. He is from Salt Lake City, Utah. Yup, hes from Utah alright. haha, he is actually a pretty cool guy. Elder Chapman, my old companion, stayed in the sector but he is also training a new elder called Elder Bourgeous. They are pretty hilarious together.
Anyway, we were getting them all situated, and while we were up in the bathroom, I smelled something that smelled a lot like gas. I called up Elder Chapman and he confirmed the smell. We called the pensionists and they came over. They also confirmed the smell and said that we couldn't sleep there that night. Gas had been leaking into our pension the whole day. So at around 3 a clock in the morning, we had to move all our stuff to another pension to sleep.'
Since that day we have been living in another pension. Seriously, we haven't had any time at all to do anything because we live so far away. But things have been good regardless and it has been very interesting training my kid. It seems very strange that I am getting older in the mission. I don't feel old at all. I feel really new! I don't know what happened to the time. Well, I guess that's why they say to utilize every moment that you have. I'm sorry that I didn't email last week, and this email was really short this week, but Elder Chapman is really sick, and cant really stay out for a lot of time. Next week Ill let you guys know if we are gonna be back in our old pension, and how everything is going with the training. So far its been great! Im just amazed at how much Ive improved since the beginning!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Training Cambios

Hey Everyone!

Well, another week has past and changes came again. I really didn't want to leave. I have a lot of people that are really progressing well here, and I didn't want to lose them. But changes came as they always do; just when you least want them to come.

Elder Chapman and I anxiously waited by the phone to hear what our changes would be. After about fifteen minutes of sweating bullets, someone from the office called us.

“Elder Chapman, Elder Westover,” said Elder Mexfield, the finance guy.

“I have your changes right here, are you ready?” Ready was a very pliable word at the moment, seeing as that was all we were waiting for, but at the same time, I didnt want to hear what was going to happen.

“Elder Westover and Elder Chapman, you both are staying in Tocornal.” A wave of relief washed over both of our faces.

“But,” he said, “you both need to come to the change meeting”

As it turns out, I am assigned to stay in the sector, but I am going to be training a newbie. I would have gone into more detail here, but Microsoft Word deleted my letter, so I am just going to cut with please pray for me. Thanks for all that you guys do!

Con Amor,

Elder Westover

Organizing Chaos

Hey guys!
Well, its nice to hear stories about how cold it is in California and in Utah, because here it is blistering hot! The other day the tempurature rose to about 90 degrees, which for those of you who live in Utah doesnt sound like much, but when you live in a city that lies right underneath one of the largest holes in the ozone and has one of the highest UV ray penetration in the world, it makes everything seem like an oven. The best part is tracting in it. We basically run from tree to tree, trying to find shade wherever we can. Its quite a challenge at times, but Im gonna come back from my mission nice and tan... well, at least I´ll have a super nice looking farmer´s tan.
Things here in Tocornal have not slowed down, and it seems like people just keep showing up, asking us to change their lives around. The only problem is that there are a lot of them. I mean, a LOT. We are teaching about twenty some odd people that are progressing, ten that regularly go to the chapel, and about five with batismimal dates. It´s every missionarys’ dream. But it has shown to be a challenge as well. God is always testing us, at times in ways we dont understand at first. He is poking, prodding. But more than anything, he is molding. Sometimes we dont like it and dont want to be molded that way, so we dont let him. We are molded however we allow ourselves to be. The big question pressing on my mind is this: Who is molding me? God? Or do I allow my circumstanes and external factors shape me haphazardly into some random figure that I dont even recognize?
Right now, God is poking me with his big celestial stick. We have way too much to do, so we need to manage our time and prioritize everything so that everyone stays happy and growing. God is trying to make me more organized. I know that after reading that sentence, both my mom and dad will kneel down in prayer tonight and thank the Lord for finally answering their prayers. Honestly though, I found out that when it is something that is really important to me, I’m pretty darn good at it. We have about five whiteboards listing all of our investigators, what their problems are, and a calander with times that are the most likely for them to be home. I write everything down now in my planner. I discovered that my thoughts were like balloons; I could only hold so many before a few of them floated away. So I write everything down, nail down the balloons, so I can hold more in my hand. We are really good at getting things done, and the pensionists, the people that com check our apartments, said that our apartment was one of the cleanest ones they have ever seen. Okay, mom and dad, before you break out in dance, I need to say that I am still the same kid who left on the mission in the sense that I am still super forgetful and my thoughts are still usually up in the clouds. One hermana in our ward called me a “cabeza de pollo” (chicken head) yesterday for leaving my hymnbook at her house. And it is still hard for me to focus on one thing at a time without jumping to another. Elder Chapman calls it my “leaving the station” look. I realized that I need to do something that I really love to be able to organize myself. Its a curse, but I just have to get over it. Elder Chapman though told me that I should really get into law, of all things. He says that I like to argue too much. His dad is a personal injury attorney who basically sues the companies that my dad works for. So there you go dad; another career path. Tell me what to do. Elder Chapman says that if I get into something like personal injury law, it wont be as much paper work, and I also get to help out people that have gotten hurt in accidents. The only thing is that eventually I would probably have to sue Wellpoint or something, so Im still in the air. But Im basically trusting 100 percent in what you tell me to do as my career path (patriarchal blessing).
Im sorry this email was more on the drier side this week. We have a lot of people progressing that I wanted to talk about (Omar and Veronica, Maria Jose, etc, etc), but I kind of went off on the organization thing for a little too long. Next week will be more entertaining, I promise.
Thanks for everything guys, I love you!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

PS- mom, para que sepa, I have lost weight on the mission, but I am still a 16 collar because they need to be long enough. And also, I would like peanut butter. Lots and lots of peanut butter. Thats my mission here in Chile besides converting people, sensationalizing peanut butter to the masses. Thanks, I’ll be looking forward to the Thanksgiving package, thanks!

Coming to Church

In the line of work, there are a few things that are especially challenging.
1) your girlfriend dumping you
2) getting up in the morning and exercising when it's really cold
and the hardest of all....
3) getting stubborn investigators to go to church

Yesterday was a challenge of the third. In this sector, there are a lot of investigators that go to church, but the ones that don't regularly go are more of a problem. Omar and Veronica are some of those people. Omar works with a member, which is how he started investigating the church. Veronica, his wife, has some family members that are all Mormon. They like what we have to say, but it is very hard for them to come to church. We halfheartedly called them yesterday to see if they were going to come. They didn't answer. 20 minutes before church, a member calls us and tells us to get ready, Omar and Veronica were coming to church. We were basically in a panic. When they came, we try to accommodate them as much as possible. The hours went by pretty smoothly (it was fast and testimony meeting), and at the end of all the hours, both Elder Chapman and I were exhausted. But its what happened AFTER church that made us realize what had just happened.
We got back together with them to have 11 (like dinner). There they told us why they had come to church that day. That week, Veronica had a dream about us. we were telling her that she needed to come to church with us. She thought it was strange and so she told Omar about it. He said that if he cant work on Sunday (he sells stuff in the flea market on Sundays), then they will go to church. Saturday was one of the hottest days yet here in Chile. Omar was sure it was going to be a great day tomorrow. Saturday cam and went, and when Sunday came, clouds started to loom over the horizon. It wasn't raining however, so Omar got his stuff, and went out to work. Just as he got his stuff set up... BOOM! lightening and rain began pounding the little metropolis of Santiago. For whatever cosmic reason made it happen, Omar and Veronica came to church... and they are going to go next week as well because their daughters loved it so much. Omar related to us that he felt a strange sensation which sounds exactly like what the Holy Ghost is. Im pretty sure that's what it was.
Everything is great! I love this sector, my comp and I are great, and I am happy to just be a missionary.
Thanks for everything guys, I love you all!
Con amor,
Elder Westover

PS- mom, if you could, please send as much peanut butter as you can. There is none here, and the other jar is completely gone... I accidentally brought it to church one time...

Cambios

Hey Everybody!
I wanted to thank everybody for all that you have done for me and for your constant support. I think I am kind of hitting that point where I don't worry about how many emails I am getting or who is or is not writing me. I am just happy where I am and I don't want to change for the world.
Its very odd how that works. I am coming to a point on the mission where I am officially in the swing of things, I can go and say pretty much whatever I want, and people for the most part understand me. I am in that dead space of time between being out in the mission and getting everything ready to come back home. That sounds so weird and remote to me now, thinking of going home. It seems like a very abstract concept to me right now; everyone has just been petrified in space and time for me, even though I know that its not true. I know that when I come back, everything will have changed.
That's a common thread in the mission. There was an investigator names Jackeline who really didn't have any hopes of progressing. her husband drank too much and occasionally came back home and beat her. She couldn't progress in that kind of environment until things got set in order or something happened. The other day, I felt we needed to go visit her. She answered the door immediately. It turned out that her husband left their family the day before with no money at all. She is now one of our star investigators.
I shortened that story a bit because I'm honestly not sure if I've shared it before or not. It just thrills me how many changes take place in such a short period of time. I'm so thankful for where I am and who I have become because of it. Thank you everybody for everything. I love you guys!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Cooldown

Hey everybody!
Well, things have finally begun to slow down here in Tocornal. But does that mean that we dont have any plans? Heck, no! We are still working with about five people who really want to get baptized, but are not able to for bad circumstances. The real one hope we have right now is Sophie, a painfully shy girl who is part of a less active family. When we got there, the family readily accepted us, and things have only gotten better from there. now Sophie has a fecha, and she is more than ready to get baptized. I only had one question: Why hasnt she gotten baptized before? It was a fairly simple question, and the fact that many other elders have passed by this house, presumably to get sophie baptized made me wonder why it had taken so long. were they on vacation? Was sophie a drug addict (she is 9)? What could be the problem that happened there?
What I found out surprised me. We talked with the mother, and in a nutshell she told us that she had not felt comfortable with any of the other set of elders that had come through. We had something that she liked about us, we were different (in a good way, of course). I think that I am beginning to realize why I am the way I am. I know that I can get into houses that other elders cannot. I also recognize my weaknesses and admit that there are houses that I cannot get into that other elders can. It is all a matter of who is where at what time, an even better incentive to just do your best, and let God work out all the details.
Mom, In Preach My Gospel, chapter 6 is just riddled with things that will help you out. I know it has helped me for sure! Also, if you could get a smaller size of journal, that would be awesome; mine is just way too big.
Also, I would like to give a hats off to Alyssa for turning 18 yesterday. Holy cow, lyssa, you´re legal now!!! I need to buy myself a shotgun before I get home: there have been a lot of elders that have asked about you. Let me know how things go with the ACT and the SAT. They are evil. Just take them and never look back.
Thanks everybody, Hopefully we will have more fun things to talk about next week! Take care!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

The Testimony of Rosemary Eshneverger Salas

Hey everybody!!!

I'm glad everyone heard about the miners. Everyone was pegged to the TV the whole day! They showed intensive footage about the miners living conditions, what they had to go through, and an in depth look at their personal lives. It was quite amazing. Many called it a miracle, and a lot of people believe that it was a gift from God that they all survived. Some people said that they survived off of luck. That God, if he was a loving God, wouldn't have put them there in the first place.
To pick that argument apart, we have to look and see what it means to be called a miracle. What is a miracle? and what is the difference between a miracle and extreme luck? Is there a distinction there? A miracle, according to an atheist man I talked to, is something that cannot be explained by science, but that it happens anyway. He relied quickly by saying that everything can be explained by science anyway, so miracles therefore do not exist. I believed him. I think that if we look closely enough at anything, it can be explained by science and written off as another triumph of science over religion.
However, the miracles do not exist there. The miracle was not Christ healing the blind, or the sick, or raising the dead. The miracle was the people themselves. In Ether 12: 7-8, it reads: "For it was by faith that Christ showed himself unto our fathers, after he had risen from the dead; and he showed not himself unto them until after they had faith in him; wherefore, it must needs be that some had faith in him, for he showed himself not unto the world. But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen." What Christ did was extraordinary, but what the real miracle was was the faith that he had; the faith of the blind, the deaf, and the dumb. In verse 12 of the same chapter, it says: "For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith."
Therefore, a miracle has to be something else. The difference between a miracle and luck is a decision that we all have to make; a decision requiring faith. It is this faith that changes an extremely lucky situation into a miraculous one. Once we make that leap, we begin to see with new eyes. In 2 Corinthians 5:7, it says: "For we walk by faith, not by sight." We begin to see miracles occur in our every day lives. They happen all the time, every day; we just have to be looking for them.
One of these miracles on Sunday. The Salas Family was baptized. I was given the honor to be able to baptize Rosemary, a very special girl of 22 years old. But the miracle wasnt the baptism, it wasnt the circumstances that the family had to overcome to get there, it wasnt Rosemary´s one night in the hospital having cancer, and then leaving the next day after having a priesthood blessing without a trace of cancerous cells. The miracle was the family themselves. Rosemary asked to give her testimony after the service. What she said was the most spiritual experience I have ever had in my life. I have only cried a handful of times because of feeling the spirit (Im just not really one of those people), but while she was up there, telling us how grateful she was that we came into her life, I bawled. She said how she was sick. Really sick. By the time we got to her house, she had not gotten out of her bed for over four months. She didnt want to eat, she didnt want to go outside, she didnt want to live anymore. She told us that she asked for God to answer her; to prove that he loved her. When we came she began to change; subtly at first, but after a month, she had transformed into someone much more. She thanked us for being an answer to her supplications, and told us that now her joy was full. I honestly cant express the profundity of her testimony, but when she finished, everyone was crying. Everyone.
I feel so honored to have been to be part of that miracle. I know it was a miracle, because nothing but the power of God could have wrought that kind of change in a person. I love what I am doing and I know that we are all part of the miracle. Open your eyes. Don't wait for the miracles, be the miracle. Thank you for all your love and concern! Go Chile!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Mitchel and Denisse

The rose buds in our patio started to bloom the other day.

Yesterday I was present for one of the most powerful Sundays of my life. It was a fast and testimony meeting and of course, the familia Salas came, looking so eager and willing to learn more about the gospel. Today was a special day for us. We had two baptisms planned for today. Today was also special for a reason that I wish I had known before, which was that it was the day that the hour changed forward. Luckily, we were awake when we received the call asking where the missionaries had run off to.
We got to sacrament meeting about 10 minutes late and immediately went to go fill up the baptismal font. Ive gotten used to these rushed days, but its always hectic and a little nerve wracking when you have a baptism, let alone two. But for some reason I wasn't that nervous. I want sure what it was, but I felt a calm sensation as I came into the chapel. I felt a strong spirit even before anyone said anything. Maybe I was just excited that there were ten investigators that had showed up to church, so I kind of just brushed it off.
As the meeting progressed, the spirit grew stronger. All of the testimonies that were borne (it being fast and testimony meeting) were very powerful, and even one of them; Ernesto, a less active member who turned his life around after being hospitalized a few weeks ago, especially impressed me and made my eyes water. I felt the power of change that comes through the gospel. I felt it not as a concept, not a hope of a better tomorrow, but as a tangible, real presence. I really didn't know what was going on during sacrament, but I knew I was not the only one because when I looked over at Elder Chapman, I could tell he was being affected the same way that I was.
After church we had the baptisms of Mitchel Sepulveda (16) and Denisse Campos (8). They had both come a long way, especially Mitchel. When I saw their baptisms (their relatives did the ordinance), I was able to catch a glimpse of their changes from the beginning of the time when we began teaching them. When Denisse went into the water, I thought of her family. How her mother, although supportive, was not the greatest role model. When Denisse left the water, she left everything with her. The horrible living conditions, her mothers infidelity, the police escort from her daughter, everything. When Mitchel was baptized, the force of the spirit struck me like a Mac truck on a highway. Mitchel was baptized by immersion, and when he came out of the water, he left behind the drugs, his girlfriend, the tattoos, everything. He changed from what was, to what could be. That's what the gospel does. Right there, that moment. That's the power of the Atonement. That's the power that we have.
After the baptisms, I felt so grateful just to be able to be here, to be able to be a part of their lives, I really couldn't say anything to them but "Thank You". As we were waiting for them to get changed, one of the hermanos pulled me aside and asked to talk with us. "Thank you, Elders," he told us. "Thank you for what you have done for this ward." He went on to explain why he had pulled us aside. [Paul recounts a very sacred experience that he prefers to keep somewhat private at this time.]
I knew I had a testimony of the gospel before. But now I can not doubt it. This is the truth, and we have God on our left hand, and on our right. He is always with us, and he always wants us to follow him, even unto the waters of baptism.

I really like that those roses are finally starting to bloom.

Thank you guys for all of your love and support. I feel honored to be here and serve these people.
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

La Familia Salas

Now I know what the mission is like.
After about a year and four months of being in the mission, Ive finally figured out what my purpose is as a missionary. The amazing talks in conference were only a reinforcement for what I have discovered. It is something really amazing and something that I will never forget for the entirety of my life.
To preface this email, I want to take a bit from the book Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. A lot of times nowadays people are looking to learn as much as they can as fast as they can. In the channels of the brain, instead of deepening the channels of the brain, we are turning them into floodplains and causing an overflow of information. What is called for in a situation like this is some channel deepening. Not so much trying to dig as many shallow channels as possible, but fortifying the old ones that we have. That is really what missionary work has been like. Its not that I have learned so many new things that I have never known about the gospel or that I haven't heard the stories of the missionaries in the field, but the things that I have already learned have been fortified and strengthened in many ways that I had not even imagined. I am so grateful for those experiences that have been ingrained in the channels of my mind and my testimony. This is one of those experiences.
Maria Salas is a hard working mother of 40 years who has been working late nights bagging groceries to help out pay the bills. Her husband had fallen into a depression of alcohol and cigarettes to help ease the pain of the child that he had with another woman before his present marriage and had accidentally smothered it during the night and killed it. He usually came back home late in a drunken stupor. He works as a chauffeur in a restaurant very far away from their house (this is a google map of their apartment block)
About six months ago, her daughter, Rosemary, became very sick and depressed. She didn't want to eat. She didn't want to get up from her bed. She thought about suicide for a long long time. What was the point anyway? Her mother felt bad for her, but had to keep working to support them. Then, suddenly, a miracle happened. Maria fell. She broke her hip and was given a medical leave for the amount of time needed for her recuperation. Fall after fall, maria began to think in a different light. They were barely hanging on, and she and her daughter were both very sick and shattered (3 Nephi 9: 13). They didn't know what to do and had no where to go. finally, Maria said a prayer to her God that he would show them what they needed to do. She was desperate and tearfully sought the healing power that she heard was within the infinite mercy of Christ. About two weeks later, two 19 year old boys in white shirts and ties came to her doorstep. I was one of those boys.
The teaching went amazingly. They accepted baptismal dates immediately and knew almost intuitively about the importance of baptism. Eventually, we found out the issues and worked very hard to resolve them. However, I knew that nothing goes perfect in the missionary work. It didn't.
Saturday night we received a call from a neighbor of the family, who incidentally is a member of the church. She told us that Rosemary went in to get some tests done. The doctors told her that she had cancer.
Many times, we don't know why things happen the way that they do, or why we are in the places where we are when they happen. I feel so privileged to have gotten to know that family and to be able to teach the plan of salvation, knowing that death is not the end of everything, but simply a step into a new beginning. I am so grateful for the hope and love the gospel brings into the lives of the people who understand and hold on to it. As far as the condition of rosemary, we don't know much more. Only that the doctors need to do more tests. I hope everything comes out okay. It was in that moment when I found out that she had cancer that I realized that I loved that family with a love that can only be comparable to the love of a mother or father to their children. I love that family and hope that they can grab onto the iron rod and never let go.
I haven't really learned anything new on the mission, but I´ve discovered the true importance of the things I´ve always known.
Thanks for everything guys, les amo!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

God's Will and Lame Dogs

Even the best laid plans of mice and men go awry.
Sometimes even when you try your hardest, the lord has something else prepared for you. You aren't really sure what it is, but you just keep on trying. That is the important part. That, and trying not to confuse our will with Gods will. Sometimes we think that they are synonymous, but they aren't. This week has been filled with the will of God, and learning to bend to his will. As we learn more about him and our situation in this tiny moment we have in life, we understand more fully what it means to be happy and how to become submissive to the Lord.
I think the best example of that was today, as we left out of our pension to come to the internet café, we fed the dog sitting on our patio. That dog really is a mystery, and it wholly typifies the top line of my email.
The other day, Elder Chapman and I were coming back from zone class, and as we were getting near to our pension, we heard yelping. We turned the corner to see a dog, who had obviously just been hit by a car, but the car had obviously not bothered to stop and help it. So we were stuck there with a screaming dog and no idea of what to do. I was about to just go back in the house, what was I going to do? I cant help it. Right as I was about to go back in, a scripture came to my mind: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." So, being the good Christian I am, I went back and helped the poor guy out. I just sat there. But I thought it was better than not doing anything.
Eventually we decided it would be better if we just put it out of its misery. So we gave him a bunch of pain killing drugs, thinking it would kill him painlessly. The next day when we woke up, we found he was doing better than ever. Much to our dismay, slowly and surely, he began to recover. We didn't want him to suffer, and we had realized that he was paralyzed from the waist down, so there would be no way that he would ever walk again.
Now we are stuck with a medium sized, paralegic dog in our porch, all because of our efforts. Even the best laid plans of mice and men... Sometimes I just don't know. Haha!
Well, I don't really have a whole lot of time left, but I hope everyone is doing alright.
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Fruits of a Tiny Seed

Hey Everyone!!
Well its officially pen dexter short sleeve shirt weather again, and I couldn't be happier! I love walking around Chile with an old 70s tie I bought in the flea market, a short sleeve white shirt, with a fat pen sticking out of my front pocket. I really enjoy not having to try and impress girls anymore. haha! speaking of which, Elder Chapman and I had a singular experience the other day that makes me really love being on the mission.
We have a family in the ward that is the BEST!! Se llama the family Bravo (sorry, my English is horrible). The hermana is always giving us references and telling us for people that we need to go by. The other day she told us about a family that is right by her house. She said that one day she saw a light on in that house, and she felt like she needed to go over. She went, without question, and knocked the door (what an awesome missionary!). She started talking to the wife and ended up there for almost an hour. She said a prayer with her and began about how she has two friends that would love to talk to her about Jesus Christ (seriously, this doesn't happen in real life). She accepted and we went to her house the next day.
It turns out that the mom broke her hip and cant walk, except on crutches. She feels grateful for what happened though, because now she has a leave of work and can look after her 22 year old daughter, Rosemary, who has Diabetes type I, and has been caught in a depressive spin cycle that almost incapacitated her. She weighs just over 100 pounds and is as pale as a ghost. She barely eats and sleeps almost all day. When we entered into the house we realized that we were exactly where the Lord wanted us to be, because almost immediately, she asked us if we could give her daughter a health blessing. After the blessing, Rosemary looked brighter... or it could have just been the lighting. We began to teach them about Christ, and about the importance he played in our lives. Then, out of nowhere, the mother looked over at her daughter and looked at us strangely. As a missionary, you notice things like this and immediately ask a question. My question was simple. "Have you been looking for us?" She looked at us misty eyed and responded: "I think so." She explained how she had been looking for something in her life, and how she had been praying for someone to help her daughter. She also mentioned how the other day she talked with Rosemary about getting baptized and how she realized that that was something that they needed to do. We asked them if they would like that cleansing power that comes from the atonement. They agreed and we set a baptismal date for the 10th.
After the lesson, we asked if rosemary would say the prayer. She reluctantly agreed, but said one of the most heartfelt and sincere prayers that I have ever heard. She asked for the strength to accept her condition, and allow her alcoholic father to accept us and to allow his heart to be softened so they could go to church that Sunday. After she was done, I felt so strongly that this was one of the families that I had been chosen to find.
The prayer must have worked, because they went to church yesterday! I am so glad to be a missionary and for all the wonderful experiences I get to have. I feel incredibly blessed and feel that it is a little unfair that at the point where you most want to be on your mission, you realize that it is slipping away only too fast.
Love you all!
Elder Westover
PS- The cookies you see are something Elder Chapman and I invented to get a menos activo family to church. I know it looks that good. It tasted even better! That was about nine people that came because of cookies that I made. sniff, sniff, I feel so proud... haha!!

Fabian Alexis Riquelme Gajardo

Hey everyone!
Things in Tocornal have been moving pretty fast. It has been a lot of getting to know you's and getting things going with some of the members. From what I've seen, its one of the best functioning wards in all of my mission. It also has the highest assistance, with 134 people who came the week before. We are also trying out new ways of finding people, because for me, knocking is really boring, inefficient, and depressing. Instead, we are flying kites, drawing, and playing ping pong! It really is fun to be a missionary, you just have to know how to do it!
Yesterday we had a baptism (Wow!). A 21 year old named Fabian got in the water yesterday. He really is just a big ball of candy. He is really quiet, but you can tell he is always thinking about something. The other day was exceptionally impressing. We were talking about baptism with his mom, who is opposed to him getting baptized (surprise surprise). We tried to talk to her to show her that what he was doing was really important. Fabian stayed quiet, just waiting to see what would happen. "He doesn't know enough about what you Mormons preach to be baptized," she indignantly said. Then something miraculous happened. "But I know its true," he said timidly. She began again: "But you haven't even read that book th-" "I don't need to read all of it to know that's its true!" Fabian yelled. "It says it right in here that baptism is a commandment, so I'm going to do it!" Everyone was silent for a moment. "But that's their book," She said. "where does it say it in the bible?" "It doesn't matter!" said Fabian, saying more than I have ever heard him say ever. "You just don't get it! Its the same thing! I'm going to get baptized!". Fabians mother sat pallidly in her seat, stirring through what to say. after a few seconds of the most tense silence I have ever lived through, she got up and fumed out of the room, mumbling as she went. Fabian really was ready to get baptized.
Baptisms are a strange thing. I never feel the spirit when I expect. When we got down in the water and I said the prayer, all I was thinking about was how cold the water was, how his last name was pronounced, and how some other Elder should have been here. The ceremony was nice, and everything went smoothly. But oddly enough, I hadn't really felt the spirit too strong. I figured it was just because we had only been with him for about a week. Then, at the end of the ceremony, they asked Fabian to go up and bear his testimony. As I said, Fabian is a really quiet kid. He got up to the pulpit and just stared out, mumbling about something. I don't remember what he said, but what I do remember was much more important. As a missionary, I realized that we were given certain gifts of discernment. One of them is being able to tell peoples countenance. As Fabian got up to bear his testimony, I could tell so clearly that I was staring at someone completely clean. His face shone so bright up at the pulpit, I knew that I was looking at someone without one shred of sin or stain.
I love the power of the Atonement and the things it enables us to do. I know God loves us and wants us to be happy. This is his church and we are his hands.
Con amor,
Elder Westover

Optimism

Hey everyone!
Well, changes came and changes went. Every six weeks there is a chance that an elder will get kicked out of his sector and put into a new one. For instance, this morning when I woke up, I didn't realize that I would be sleeping in a different house that night. Four and a half months I was in Los Canteros, a very nice quiet sector. I am now writing from a sector called El Torcornal, a sector very far south of the mission. Its almost at the end. My new companion is a 6 foot 5 story giant called Elder Chapman. He seems really cool and I have a feeling that we are going to get along really well. I am excited for this new change but nervous at the same time. I was so comfortable in my old sector; why'd they have to take me out of it? I guess that's the way it is sometimes in the mission and in life. We don't choose the cards we are dealt with, we just choose how to play em. I want to be able to take the best out of every experience this change and see the good in everything. Although I have long been known as a cynic and pessimist in a former life, I realized that those thoughts only offer comfort when we fall; it never encourages us to get back up again and keep running. Pessimism and doubt are one of the most powerful tools that Satan has, and he is using it now more than ever.
I hope that one day the world will be able to see that there is beauty everywhere, even among the suffering and the pain. To say that god cannot dwell in the poor and the oppressed and help them lift up their hearts is to limit His power. I know that He can do anything. But just because he doesn't, doesn't mean he cant. There is a purpose to everything we do, I feel. Although this new sector might be strange and scary, and I may feel uncomfortable at first with the members or the people we are teaching, I have decided to simply put myself at the mercy of the lord, and let him take care of the rest.
Thanks for all that you guys do for me, I love you and Ill see you all in 10 months!
From the missionary whose clothes are slowly deteriorating into a scrap of rags,
Elder Westover

Los Mineros

Well another week has past in Chile, and although everything appears the same. But at the same time, everything has changed.
Im not sure if you have heard about the mine collapse in Antofogasta in Chile, but there were 33 miners that were trapped hundreds of feet under the earth. After a week past, most people gave up hope. It was plastered all over the news, but no one had much hope of them ever coming out alive. A priest had arrived to console the families of the miners to let them know that their loved ones are in a better place. Then, on the 17th day, a camera came down a small hole hundreds and hundreds of feet. The camera finally entered into a small opening. I was with a family watching the live feed when a light appeared on the screen. We werent sure what it was, but out of the corner of the screen, a face appeared of a man, obviously starved, but alive.
Who says miracles dont exist anymore? I would say that they exist now more than ever. Chile really needs it. It really is a miracle that everyone is alive. They are receiving food and lots of other cool stuff, so they will be fine.
Also, on another totally unrelated note, our zone had the opportunity to compete in a singing competition, and they made ME sing! I sung Hallelujah, from Shrek, and it was terrible. haha, no I had fun with it, and I am going to try and send it to you guys as soon as I can!
Sorry this is short, im trying to figure some stuff out with general conference talks. Love you guys! I always love hearing from you!
Love you mucho (good job Grandpa, your spanish skills are impeccable)
Elder Westover

PS- This is a picture of my comp that I did because we had a picture frame, but no picture, so I made one :)

Impensable

Hey All!!!
Well things here in Santiago are heatin up! this week Ive taken off my sweater and was almost forced to pull out my short sleeve shirts! I dont know dad, that whole Global Warming thing is making more sense the hotter it gets, haha! Speaking of which, I have decided to dedicate this email to my awesome dad, who is turning 35 this friday. Dad, I dont know why it took me so long to realize what an awesome parent you are. I think it has kind of been an Adam and Eve necessity sort of thing. Just like it was necessary for Adam and Eve to fall to recognize how good they had it in the Garden of Eden, I had to come all the way to Chile to realize what a great father I had. So happy birthday dad, I hope all your wildest dreams come true and you get my present to "That Special Someone". :)
Anyway, things in the mission are coming along great. Franchesco came to church all by himself on Sunday, and Im pretty sure that he will be the first to get baptized, even though when we first started out, he didnt believe in God or anything. Now he tells us that he knows that baptism is important but he feels that he needs to be more prepared. It almost amazes me the changes that some people make for something that they feel is true. Im also amazed at the lives that the gospel touches. Sometimes its those that we least expect that are ready to hear the gospel. Thats why its so important to give EVERYONE an opportunity to hear the gospel, no matter who they are. Sometimes we are afraid to talk to people because we dont know what to say or we are afraid of being embarassed, but when we really understand what we are doing, it seems silly. When God asks us: "I sent you in the path of that man that needed the gospel, and you didnt do anything, why?" We must respond with "I was embarassed, I didnt know what to say."
I learned a lot of things on my mission, and I know that although I am still the same kid I was when I left, I grew up. I know that we have a crucial role in this life and we each have a divine destiny to complete. I hope that we can all find the opportunities to find that one person who is waiting for us. One of the hardest things is accepting the will of God, but learning to just slide and know that he will take care of us is all the comfort I need to keep going and preach the gospel to all those who will listen to me. I know that He will catch me if I fall, because he knows that I have confidence that He is there for me.
Thanks for everything, guys!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Getting Over Being Sick

Hey Family and Friends!
Well its been a week since I emailed you guys, owing to a nasty sickness I got and a cough that Im still trying to get rid of. But the good news is that I'm back and going out knocking down those doors, letting people know that the church has been restored!
Things have been going really well recently in the work. We have a family that's progressing really well called the Familia Manquez. They consist of a less active Mom who just wants the best for her two children, Franchesco (20) and Karina (12). They are great and accepted to be baptized the other day, but the problem is that their grandma died the other day and they have been a little preoccupied with that. Hopefully that will give them a better perspective on things and they will be able to see the importance of what we are doing.
Other than that, things are going really well. We are having a ball with the hermanas in our sector (shown in the photo above), and really are enjoying being where we are. The zone we are in is very cool and we are content with the progress we are seeing. I really want to go on about other little details about the week, but unfortunately the time at the internet cafés always seem to cut very short after I'm done reading your emails. Thank you so much for that courage and support! I need it! I can really say that I have gained a testimony of a lot of things, and some of which are different than I thought. For instance, I now have a firm and rock solid testimony in the importance of mothers in our lives. I have seen their importance and why they are there. Next week I will have to share more of my testimony on that, but right now my companion is pulling my leg out the door, so I better get going. Thanks for everything guys! You are always a great help to me in the work! 10 more wonderful months left! Agghh!!! Time is going by way too fast!!!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Why God Doesn't Bet

Hey family and Friends! How are things in the warmer portion of the hemisphere?
First I wanted to thank Andi and Gloria for the letters. Gloria, gracias por lo que hizo por mi familia, lo sé que a veces son porfiados, y Jeffrey.. bueno, yo creo que ya sabe. Ojalá que nos veamos un tiempo en el futuro. And Andi, thanks for staying crazy :)
Grandma and Grandpa, you said: "We love you--> te queremos"

We don't ever plan how we are going to live our lives. We think we do. Every day Elder Mondalgo and I make plans, and I don't think there has been one day were everything happened how it was supposed to. We are at the mercy of the dice that are thrown every day at our feet. We simply respond to what is around us. That is really the secret to happiness. Letting go of the imaginary control we think we have, accepting the will of the Lord, and being content with it. Learning to let go and move on.
Changes were this past week and we really didnt want to go. We have just been starting to find people and we really love the hermanas in the ward with us. They really made the sector fun. The zone also was very cool and we were all really close. I admit I really didnt want to leave Los Cantaros. Yet so many elders were leaving and leaving a lot of sectors empty. We are prime targets to leave as well because there are four of us in one area. We were dreading it.
Things were going great with a new family the Monquez family. We found them knocking doors one day. We had been knocking for hours and were about to go to another family because it was so cold out that we thought that we were going to get sick. Then out of nowhere we knock a door and a twenty something punk kid walks out. "Oh great," I thought. I immediatly ate my words when we invites us in and have some coffee (NOT what you guys are thinking about). We got to meet the rest of the family soon thereafter. The mother turned out to be a member and is awesome! She has the twenty year old son Franchesco and the eleven year old daughter Karina. They are a family of gold and went with us to church last sunday. They really have potential.
Thats what I was thinking about when I was looking at the cell phone display screen flashing "Office calling..." I slowly picked up the phone and awaited the voice on the other end. Some of the longest pauses come at times of great anticipation. As elder Mondalgo and I sat there waiting for the Office elder to give us the news, it felt like I spent more time waiting for changes than I did being in it.
"Elders, we just want you to know that these changes are inspired by dios. Thats why we the president decided that both of you should stay in your sector for another change."
We dont really know what is going to happen, what God has in store for us, as much as we think we do. For whatever reason I am still here, I am happy for it. And I am going to find out why.
Thanks for everything that you guys do for me. I look forward to reading the events of the week every monday. Love you guys!
Elder Westover

The Man with the Razor

Hey Everybody!
Thanks for all your support this week! Its been a challenge, but I think in the end it will all pay off!
Mom, I know exactly how those missionaries feel. We had a great investigator in El Parque that went loved hearing us and was so ready to get baptized, but her machoistic husband didnt want any part of it, and it began causing a real problem in their relationship. As much as we wanted to keep coming over and teaching her, we couldnt risk the fragilility of their marriage and so we stopped teaching her. Sometimes the Lord puts us in a position to open doors, even though we may not be there to see them walk through it. But yeah it was really hard, Im not gonna lie.
Today I wanted to share an experience I had yesterday that made a big impression on me. We had a sector slam in El Castillo yesterday. El Castillo is an area in our zone and a sector slam is where all the missionaries go and are set loose in one area, for those who didnt know.. So anyway, we got sent to this area. It is known to be one of the poorer areas in the mission. I didnt know how poor it was because any time I went on divisions there for a day, it was light out.
Growing up in church, every little boy has the misconception that they will go to some unknown country, hacking away jungle brush, strangling snakes with your bare hands, and baptizing people by the thousands. When I first got into the mission, I embarassedly had that vision. I know now differently. However, going into Castillo was one of those experiences that makes you feel like one of "those" missionaries. Everyone was outside. All the kids were playing soccer with a worn down ball, yelling things at us. People congregated around firepits that they lit out in the dirt streets. Okay, technically they are paved, but I dont think anyone from municipal has been over for more than a century. The houses are built by the residents, I suppose. All of the houses look different, because they are all made of an assortment of materials. There are about five billion churches, and all of them have been converted into night clubs, if they only played songs saying how awesome Jesus was. They really dont understand what the spirit is. But thats a different email. Why I am describing this is because while we were there we met the man with the razor. He stopped us in the streets, calling to us in English. This was not uncommon. Almost everyone tried to talk to us in English. But this man was different. He began asking us questions ABOUT english, not just yelling curses. "How do you pronounce apple?" He would ask. We patiently explained the basic principles of English and tried to find out what he really was looking for. But there was one thing that really struck me. At the end of our strange conversation in the streets of El Castillo, he asked us how to say God Bless You. "G- God?" he said in a slow stammering tone, as if he didnt even know what the word was. I honestly dont know what it was in that moment that srtuck me, but somehow the way he said it reminded me of how many people dont even know wbout God or about his plan for us. I guess it helped to strengthen my determination to spread the word God to all those "men with razors". I know that god blesses everyone of us, no matter how badly we abuse the privilage of this life. He is always ready to accept a sincere prayer for repentance and a broken heart. Things are not always as simple as "sorry" or "Ill try not to do it again", but the answer is always the same.
Thanks for everything guys! Mom, dont worry, ill find some wool socks here.
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Spiritual Accidents

Hey everybody!
I hope everyone is doing well and warm, unlike the poor kid in Chile who is still suffering from the cold. But things are still looking up. We have been having success in some suprising ways this week. We havent been having the numbers we´ve wanted, but the Lord has been blessing us in unexpected ways.
The other night, Elder Mondalgo and I were at the door of a house when the phone rang. It was the zone leader. He wanted to know the full name of one of people we baptized. I told it to him and hung up the phone. Then I stared at it for a long long time. Its funny really, the way God works. Im not sure if he just lets things happen or if he just guides us ever so slightly in the right direction sometimes. Regardless of the reasons, I ended up calling one of the less actives that we were working with. To this day, if you ask me why I did it, I would not be able to tell you. It might have been the Holy Ghost telling me what to do, or it could be just me running through my normal rounds. Whatever the reason, I called her. She said we could come over later that night.
When we came by later that night, we found the house oddly quiet. This fact is significant, since the house is normally occupied by her four screaming daughters all under the age of thirteen. I feel bad for her sometimes. You can see the battle worn house; marker on the walls of a pretty flower, makeup smeared on the ground and the table, and the TV was always on some loud annoying program. Yet for some reason it was quiet. Only the soft sounds of classical music filled the room. When I walked in, I almost raced back out, afraid I had accidently walked into the wrong house. But the melodeous singing in the next room reassured me that we were in the right place. Susan Ramirez, a single 35 year old mom of four bounced into the room, humming some made up song. Susan was a very outgoing person and is always floating around like nothing is wrong. But having taught her a few times, I know it is only a façade she has created for her children. On the inside she is tormented every day by the dreaded prospect of raising her family by herself. She doesnt ever show it, but she is hurting. She reminds me of the movie "Its a Beautiful Life" how the father never wants to show his son whats really going on. We chatted for a little bit about what was going on with work, Mundial, etc, etc. She had apparently put her kids to bed early. We had prepared to watch one of those little cartoon videos of the book of mormon; it was the only thing that kept the four girls tranquilized with entertainment for a half hour. Being well equipt missionaries and always prepared, we decided to share one of the mormon messages, a new favorite tool of mine. Before we watched it, she turned to me and asked: "Whats the point of going to the temple?" I looked at her with a stunned gaze. She wasnt super active anymore, but she grew up in the church and knew why it was important to go to the temple. "Its the castle where princes and princesses become kings and queens forever," was my simple explination. Then all of the sudden, our purpose for being at her house became clear. "I just dont see any point of going to the temple if I dont even have a family." She responded quietly. "Oh," I accidently said out loud.
We watched Motherhood, as well another one by Elder Holland. By the end of both of the videos, neither of which we planned on watching, Susan Ramirez took off her mask and began crying. Some of the things were very spiritual and powerful, but very sacred and special. I dont think I will ever forget what I learned at that house. I can say that I walked away with an immesly great respect for mothers and understanding some reasons why women and men were created the way they were. I want to thank my mom for what she has given for me and I wanted to say mom, thank you for everything you are.
I dont know why I felt prompted to call Susan, nor do I claim to know how things worked out the way they do. It could be inspired, or it could just be what happened that day. Whatever the case may be, all I know is that we need to just do what we are expected to do, and the Lord will take care of the rest.
Take Care family!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Dia de Independencia!

Well Im glad to hear that veryone had a good time at Zions and the 4th was good. Mom, I got your package, and I am loving it!! I know it takes so long to get anything here and its kind of a pain a lot of times, but Im glad that you guys keep sending them.
I dont have a whole lot of time today, but I wanted to relate a story about Patricio, the man who changed his life around for the church. The other day he broke my heart. We went by and he was drunk and cigarettes littered his house like crumpled up pieces of paper. It almost made me cry listening to his half drunk slurs and mispronounced words.
Leaving his house made me sick, knowing that I had let him go, slowly slipping ever farther away from what is the everlasting gospel. I know now a little bit more how Heaveny Father feels when we slip up or make a mistake. He is not angry, he is not ready to lift up his sword of justice and gleefully smite us down. I realized what he will be doing as the evil are swept into an everlasting pit of sorrow and dispair: crying. He doesnt want to be just, but he has to. For us to be saved, his plan has to be just. I know that my experiences here are making me understanding just a little bit more how God feels towards his children. I was given the privilage of being at the confirmation of Luis and Cesar, the 70 and 19 year old. As one is failing, two are coming into the fold. Being at their confirmation reminded me of being at a baby shower or something. It was the beginning of two new lives. Two lives that will journey through this life and try as hard as they can to obey their father. I wanted to just hold them there and not let them go, knowing what could happen to them. That I think would be another thing I imagine God felt as he sent us here.
I am appreciating the love of god more and more each day and understanding just a little bit more what it means to be a child of God.
I love you All!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover (the kid who celebrated the fouth of July in Chile)

Times and Memories

Hey Everyone!
It seems like everyone is enjoying the summer break while I am freezing my little hiney off here in Chile. Alright, its not that bad, but its still really cold and hard to type. The mountains are constantly covered by snow, but it will refuse to snow down here. Just frost up in the morning and then poof! just cold. But thats okay. Around october november Ill get my revenge. Haha!
Im glad to hear that everyone is doing well and I was happy to hear from everyone this time! I love all you guys! I wanted to dedicate this email to the duality, or the effects that the mission creates on a missionary. Seeing things now, Im not surprised that a lot of missionaries come back really weird. I feel like I am being split in two. As I am out longer in the mission, I have a growing affection for the people hear. Thats kind of hard when you have all your family and loved ones back in the States. But as you go on, you get so you learn to love both. Right now we are teaching a seventy year old man named Luis (actually, he already got baptized). At first he had a hard time accepting baptism. "Im an old man! Im not sinning anymore; I dont need a baptism!" I tried to explain to him that although we may not be staining an old shirt, it still may be a good idea to wash it before you go to a nice dinner or party. We all need the love of Christ in our lives, no matter how old we may be. After he got baptized, I asked him if he could come to another baptism that we were going to have the next week. He said yes, without hesitation. "Of course I will see another lost sheep be brought back into the fold!" Even though he was seventy, I still felt like a proud parent at that moment. I realized the love you can have for some of these people, and the affinity you create with the country, even though at times it is difficult.
Also, since I past the year mark, I feel like everything is going downhill now, in the sense of time. Its slipping out of my hands so fast I dont know what to do with it. But at the same time, Im not really sure what my life was like before the mission either. as of right now, this is all I know. My life before is a distant abstraction that I hold on a golden pedestal, even though some of my memories are failing me. I dont know if Ive been here for a day or a year. Thats the other strange thing. I dreamed I was a butterfly, but when I woke up, I wasnt sure if I was a human dreaming I was a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming I was a human. The Fluidity of reality on the mission scares me at times, but I know that if I just hold on tight and enjoy the ride, everything will work out how its supposed to.
Thanks everyone for everything! I Love you all!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

ONE YEAR

I have been out on the mission for ONE WHOLE YEAR.... It seems like Ive only been out a few days, but at the same time, I dont realy remember much of what life was like outside of the mission. Its the change I think. If you stay in one place for long enough, each day feels the same and it seems shorter. But if you are constantly changing, it seems longer I have a feeling. I dont really know, to be honest. Im just glad to be out here.
Things are pretty great now. We are headed in midway through the Mundial (World Cup), and Chile is doing pretty well. But for everyone in the States who dont really care about Soccer, the States are doing alright. They tied both their games, but dont really have any hopes of progressing. I discovered that knowing what is going on in the World Cup actually helps us in the work? What a better way to make friends than to talk about the World Cup. On an unrelated note to my father: Dad, if the Lakers beat the Celtics on the seventh game of the finals, let me know. As much as I am focused in the work right now, I would like to know if Kobe is going to get his fifth ring or not. And let me know if Bret Farve decides to play again, something I heard from someone in my zone. But thats besides the point.
To be honest, it doesnt feel like any time has actually past until you look behind you and se how much ground you´ve convered. I looked back the other day and realized how much I have grown up. No one recognizes me anymore from that family photo we took when I was 18 (I think). I also realized that my personality has been maturing as well, understanding what is really important in life and what needs to get done and when. I attribute all of these changes to the mission, and the person it has made me. I realize that it is important to stop and look. Just appreciate the moment we have to be alive. Life moves pretty fast. If you dont stop once and a while, you could miss it.
I thank you all for all of the blessings I have receiving for being on this mission. I love you all.
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

PS- This is Luis. He is a stud. He is going to baptize his wife someday.

Changes again!

Hey Everyone!
I first wasnted to say happy Birthday to Grandpa! I remembered the other day that on the 14th is Flag Day. And that is also Grandpa´s birthday!! Happy birthday big guy! You are gonna live forever, I just know it. As long as you keep sending those emails, I will be a happy missionary. Seriously, I am going to have to award grandma and grandpa the most consistent letter writers award. Congrats guys, and thank you! Also, I would like to thank my aunt, Tracy, for being such a great support and for always being there for me! Thanks trac! :)
Well, this week was changes week, and my Spanish compadre left me here in Los Cantaros with my new companion: Elder Mondalgo. As you may have guessed, he is not a gringo. He is from Lima, Peru. As far as I can tell, he is a super cool guy! He only has one more change than I do, so Im pretty sure next time Im going to be senior companion. Hopefully by then Ill have a better grasp on the language, the lessons, and what the heck is going on.
I learned a lot from Elder Martin, and I know he will be missed in this ward. He was a great example to me and he taught me many things in the short time he was here. But I know that these things happen for a reason, and although that reason may be somewhat unknown to me and everyone else, there is one person we can always trust. Remember to always pray for help and for trust. This world is tough, and we cant do it alone. We need to trust that the Lord will pull us though all of our trials and that the next day will be better than the one before.
I know this email is a bit short, but we are kind of running short on time today, as usual. I hope everyone is doing okay. Im not sure when fathers day is, but Dad, happy fathers day! Thaks for being my dad and for loving me through everything, the good and the bad. Im so grateful for everyone of you guys, and I hope that everything goes well for everyone.
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Mi Compenero Bakan!

Hey Everyone!
Today I wanted to share the true story of my companion, Elder Martin. He is the Spañard who I live with. He has a great conversion story and it is one that I wish he would share more often with our investigators. But I want to be able to remember it, so I will write it in this email.
Elder Martin was nine years old when he discovered the church. The missionaries were knocking his street and he didnt know who they were. He ran and sked his mom what two white kids were doing in Spain. His mother just shrugged and sadi she had no idea who they were. When they got to their door, Elder Martin´s mom abruptly rejected them. They left, but Rafael (Elder Martin) looked curiously out the window as they walked onward.
Weeks later, Rafael was tying his soccer shoes, getting ready to play another game. He liked it now. In fact, he loved it. Its almost hard to imagine back to the time when he was introduced to the game. When he was seven years old, there were tryouts for a junior little league. Rafael wasnt too interested; Soccer wasnt too interesting, just kicking a dumb ball around. But his father, eyes glistening with the vicariousness that all fathers get during sports tryouts, decided otherwise. "You are going to play Soccer," He said gruffly. "But I dont want to!" defied Rafael. His father, not to be talked back to, grabbed him by his hair, and dragged him to the soccer field to sign him up. Through the years, Rafael has grown to love the game, despite his brutal introduction to it. As he got ready to go out onto the field, the two missionaries came up to him again, this time with a different approach. "Hey, do you want to play soccer with us?" Rafael thought for a second. "Sure!"
They played all day and when the missionaries had to leave, they exchanged numbers. They began teaching Rafael in the spare room of the house becasue his mom and dad didnt want to listen to them. He went to church, the only one in Sevia, every week without fail. One time when it was raining, his father detested his plead to go to church, saying that he would get sick. Instead of obeying his paternal father, he obeyed his Heavenly Father and while his father wasnt looking, stiffed the pesos he needed for the metro ride to the church ten miles away. It was raining hard, but it didnt matter. That day, he was committed to be baptized at the beginning of February. He was so happy that the rain felt like drops of sunshine pouring onto his face. When he got home, his father was waiting for him. He hit the poor boy until he saw blood. He did not want a disobedient son.
Despite the obstacles and trials that Rafeal had to overcome to come to Christ, good always finds a way. On February ninth, Rafael Martin was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was happy. His Father was also happy. The one in heaven, watching. The only people in attendance were the missionaries, the bishop, and a couple members in the ward that he knew: Less than ten, including himself. His Mother told him that she was busy. He didnt even ask his father.
I dont know the whole story of how Elder Martin got to be Elder Martin. He overcame challenges that I will never face and became a valient servent of the Lord. I know that he endured many more encounters with his abusive father that to this day does not support him being a member of the church. He refused to spend even one cent towards his mission fund. But somehow the good finds a way through. A week before he left on his mission, Elder Martin had his first baprism; his mother. She is now first counselor in the Primary and loves sending her missionary letters.
I dont know everything about the story, but the important thing is the name he now bears. I am so grateful for this church and the changes it makes in peoples lives. Im thankful for you all and all the blessings I have recieved from being out here in chile.
I love you guys!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Baptisms and Beer Cans

May 31, 2010

Hey Everybody!
Its your favorite Elder again, all the way from Santiago Chile! The mountains are now permanently sprinkled with a powdered sugar coating of snow, and its turned into scarf season. Its kind of weird; I´ve never worn a scarf before the mission, but now I´m wearing them all the time. I think that with my glasses and my sharp lookin suit gives me that suave rich boy look. Its pretty fun to slick back my hair and pretend Im like Richie Rich or something. But now that is hard, since I just got a haircut from one of my companions. It actually looks suprisingly good! News for Alyssa: I finally got that letter from your friend in Seminary. Tell him thanks, it felt good to get a letter. And News for Dad: I wore my Wolf shirt today. ;)
In other news, Patricio got baptized on Saturday. It was an amazing experience, like all baptisms. He had so many problems and has changed so much its simply amazing. He went from an out of work bum alcoholic to a boss of the gaurds at some company who doesnt smoke, drink, nothing. Its been the greatest affirmation of the "Change of heart" that it talks about in Mosiah 5. I have been blessed to see how the Gospel is not something stagnant, not solomente words on a page, but real tangible evidences of Gods love for his children. I think that missionary work really is the best way for the gospel to come alive in peoples lives. If someone has doubts about the gospel, do missionary work. They will gain a testimony of the truth of all things real quick. I am a solemn witness of the truthfulness of the gospel, of the power it holds, which is more powerful than the bottem of a beer can, more potent than a life of fast cars and one night stands, more lasting than the earth and sky (sorry Kansas, but its true). Everything in the gospel has a purpose, and Patricio has been a witness of it.
We were enfronted with problems. That is one thing that no one sees about baptisms. The fact that any of them happen is really a miracle because there is always something that goes wrong. For us, the bishop wasnt convinced that Patricio has changed his ways, and said the baptism was too soon. Eventually, everything worked out and we had it, but there are always problems. The miracle is greater than the problem.
Things with me and Elder Martin are great. He really has quite an amazing story, and one I would like to write down when I have more time, but he has made me appreciate the ease that I got on my mission and the great support my parents have been through all of this. I love you guys so much and hope all is well. Mom, I need pens! Thats about it!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

La Mudanza de Mr. Bean

Hello Everybody!!!
I wanted to let everyone know that I am recieving your emails. Aunt Polly, I love your little notes. Granma and Grandpa, Im always glad to hear how you two are doing, how the weather is down there, and how Jeter is taking over your guys´s lives. Have you guys thought about downsizing still? Im twenty years old, and I am having a hard time climbing up and down stairs with my knee. Mom and Dad, I love your emails as always and hearing how I am your favorite missionary. Ashlee, keep em coming! (fingers crossed) I always love hearing about BYU. And Alyssa and Andi, I really appreciate you guys taking time once and a while to write me. You are very thoughtful and awesome sisters. By the way, Andi... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Holy cow, 14??? My goodness, you guys are getting old. I cant really send you a whole lot, but Ill write you a letter today and tell you something that will make you feel good. I show my little photo of my family to a LOT of people here, and they love seeing all the gringos. One thing that I have gotten a LOT is people will ask me: "Which one is the older sister?" When I point you out, they just give me a disbelieving look. They all think you look like a 17 year old. Dad, buy a shotgun; or a BB gun at the least. (Alyssa, dont feel bad. I have had people tell me that you are an actress and they ask me what movie you've been in. That really happened!). And if I am not mistaken, I think Granpma's birthday is coming up. Grandma, I want to buy you a new moo moo (or however you spell that), there are a bunch of people here that wear them here, so I will keep my eyes peeled! Happy Birthday to you both! I feel sad to be away from you guys, but glad that I can be here to help people have the same happiness that I have. I kind of feel sometimes that this mission is kind of a time out to my real life. "Time out, this gospel is totally sweet! I gotte leave my family for a little bit so some other people can have the opportunity to be as happy as I am and be togeher forever." When I think about it like that, it makes not going on a mission very selfish to an extent. There are people waiting specifically for me to teach them the gospel, and if I dont want to come to their house, how am I going to feel in the next life when they come up to me and ask: "Where the heck were you?!" Being on a mission is such a great opportunity and one I am glad I did not miss.
Out in the field, things have been getting cold. Like really cold. Elder Bean (or elder Martin; I cann him Elder Bean sometimes because he looks EXACTLY like Mr. Bean. That, and he's technically European) and I moved our pensions not too long ago, so now its just us in a huge apartment. We havent figured out what to do with all the space yet, but there have been some pretty halarious mishaps. We tried to haul a closet from our old pension to the new one, which isnt too far away, and it ended up breaking apart in the middle of the street; clothes, books, everything going everywhere. Another thing is we have no shower curtains, which doesnt seem like a big deal until after you get out of the shower and see a giant puddle of water on the ground. Also, we didnt have gas for a while, which does sound like a big deal, and yes it was. But even when we got one, we were missing a hose to connect it to the house. So 26 dollars (13 mil pesos) and a super expensive taxi ride later, we had gas. There are still a lot of things that we need to fix, but I am happy for different reasons.
We have been having some great success in our sector. We are teaching a guy who just got out of prison, but he is so interested in the gospel, and we are going to ask him to be baptized on our next visit. Also, Patricio, one of our other investigators, is going to get baptized next week. He has changed from a depressed alcoholic chain smoker who cant stay away from the women to an upstanding wonderful man. He has been the poster boy of change and the reality of the change that the Lord can make in the lives of those who are willing to accept him.
Things are going great, and I am loving every moment. Look for the miracles. They are everywhere; we just have to be looking for them!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Soccer and Taxi

Hey Everybody!
Well Im pretty wiped right now because we jsut walked back from playing soccer at the stake center. We were going to take a taxi back, but no one would pick us up because one of the Elders was wearing a Mexico jersey; the team that just beat Chile the day before. Yeah, it stunk and it was kind of funny. But thats Chile and pretty much every other country outside of the United States. They live breathe and speak nothing but soccer.
Things in Los Canteros have been coming along great. I really like some of the people that we are teaching and Elder Martin is an awesome companion! He talks sooo fast! and he uses vosotros occasionally, which is always funny. He´s from Sevia, the south of Spain. Lots of beach and heat and nude beaches, apparently. He is very happy right now that Barcelona won out of all the teams of Spain. There is only one problem right now... I really miss all the people in Trinidad. I now know what you are talking about mom and dad about loving these people. I didnt think that I would, but I have grown very close to a lot of these people, and I loved that ward in Trinidad. Not to say that it is our recent convert that makes me miss the ward. Trust me, that is not it at all. The people were just all really great and I enjoyed being there every Sunday. I am so glad to have been able to serve these people.
But things in Los Castanos seem pretty good too. Although it is pretty small (we sit in plastic chairs for sacreament instead of pews becuase the ward is afraid that they would get stolen), they are some really nice people. My Spanish is getting a lot better, and I can basically say anything I want. I started having dreams in Spanish now, becuase that is pretty much all I hear all day, so my brain is started to just get used to it.
I hope things are going good back home! Love you guys! Remember to keep the commandments and always brush your teeth!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover

Short Time Email

paul.westover@myldsmail.net

Thats my new Email! I was having problems before, but now we are in business. So change your emails to go to this address above.

Well, I had the wonderful opportunity to talk to my parents yesterday. It made me incredibly trunkie, so to speak, and I realized again just how awesome my parents are. They really are the coolest parents in the world. My dad´s gonna be on a TV show. What about your dad. haha! Good luck with that, by the way, dad.
Things are really interesting here in Los Cantaros. Today I had to take Elder Aguirre (not my companion), down to the Mission Offic to get checked out. Hes thrown up everything he´s eaten for the past week. Its pretty bad. I spent pretty much the entire day with him, throwing up and feeling like crap. It was kind of bad. After being around sick people for enough time, you yourself dont feel very good.
I have been doing really well apart from that. I have been improving in my Spanish, being in a pension with pure latinos (well, my companion is a Spaniard). I hope that by the end of the change I will be able to speak like a true spaniard!
Sorry that this email is getting kind of long, but things were kind of crazy and I have zero time to do anything. Alright, Love you guys!
Elder Westover

La Voluntad de Dios

Everything works out how its supposed to.
This last week has been the last week of the change, and so naturally all of us were nervous as to how it was going to work out. I really like being with Elder Wassom and Elder Johnson and Elder Bullough. They are all really good guys and I like em a lot. We really have a good time together. Sometimes it almost reminds me of the best two years and just how the dynamics work out in the pension. We are from different areas, all gringo, and we really get along well together. But every good thing has to come to an end.
"I think you´re going to Nuñoa, Elder Bullough," I told him. "And I think Im going to go somewhere in Puento Alto with a latino." That was my predicion. I thought that Elder Wassom was going to stay with some gringo, and Elder Johnson was going to get a latino for a companion. Its funny how things turn out the way they do, and how the Lord works. I felt so strongly that I was leaving, and that what I had to do in this sector was already done; I was ready to move onto the next challenge. Thats why I was so surprised when we got the call about the changes Sunday night and was informed that I would be staying.
"What?!!" exclaimed Elder Wassom. "I can´t believe it!" The fact that I was staying wasnt really what Elder Wassom was suprised about. It was what I had in my hand that made him suprised that I was staying.
Alright, to explain this, I need to remind everyone about Camila. Camila is our recent convert who had the hots for me a while back. Earlier that night, we came over to her house to say our potential goodbyes. As we were leaving, she gave Elder Wassom and I notes with our names on it. When we got back to the pension before the assistant called with our change results, we opened up the notes and began reading. My expression changed from sadness that I might not see our awesome convert again, to pride for who she is becoming, to worry about what she was writing, to nostalgia of seventh grade notes in lockers with little hearts on them. Im not going to say what it said, but after reading it, I realized that if the spirit was telling the president anything, I would leave. It was very mushy and kind of scary. So that was what I was holding in my hands the moment we got the call.
Even though I was staying, I felt like I should have been leaving. The next day, I took the letter to the change meeting where missionaries hear where they are being sent to and who their new companion is going to be. After the meeting (Elder Bullough did not go to Nuñoa, but Elder JOhnson did get a latino companion) I went up the president and explained my situation. He read the letter and nodded his head. "Well elder," he said. "You just gotta stop being so good looking!"
As of right now, I am writing this letter from an internet cafe in Puente Alto in the south of our mission with Elder Martin, my new companion. He is from the south of Spain and is a super cool guy. I knew I was going to get there. I just didnt know how.
Everything works out how its supposed to.
Love you all!
Elder Westover