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