Hey family and Friends!!!
Due to the many requests about my knee, I just want to reassure everyone and let you all know that it is fine, and everything is back to normal. No problems whatsoever.
Well, Chile is getting COLD!!!! The Fall gave way to winter in like three days, and now this week we are excpecting our first heavy rainfall, which is supposed to last all week and turn the streets into rivers. But so far... its just been cold.
Well to be honest I dont have a whole lot of time to write, but I will put in the most important parts.
I have recently made a life changing decision that may affect the rest of my professional career. I was at Lunch with some members, and we were talking about the metro system and how it got started up and how they had to figure out a bunch of different problems and things of that nature. I was so interested in the conversation because I was trying to figure out the problems myself, and even though we never got to a solid conclusion, I realized something: I really like doing stuff like that! I enjoy learning about anatomy and how the body works, but it just isnt what I was meant to do. I was not meant to be in the medical field. So im saying goodbye to being a dentist/Orthodontist and doing.... well... Im still not exactly sure what it would be, but I have a feeling I will want to do whatever my dad did. Dad, Im not sure you realize just how big of an impact that you made on my life. You taught me how to think, and how to exercise moral responsibility in everything I do. I feel like a little kid in the winter going on a walk with his dad and trying to step in his footsteps. I know its safe, and I trust him enough to follow him wherever he goes. I feel more and more like that same relationship I have with my dad I am developing with my Heavenly Father. I know his footsteps are safe, and I am confident he will never lead me astray.
Im growing up guys! I think I really am becoming more of the man that I was supposed to become on this mission. I am learning responsibility and how to take care of myself (and yes mom, that means feeding myself). But you dont have to worry too much: Elder Wassom, someone who I am convinced was never a child, tells me everyday that although I am a twenty year old man, I have a 6 year old heart. Some things I dont think are ever going to change...
Thanks for your love and support guys! I love you!
Elder Westover
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Slow Week
Hey Everyone!
Before I start out this letter, I want to say that I am not a lazy missionary, as much as it may seem so in my last letter. I do pushups in the morning too :)
Alright, so this week has been very similar and boring in comparision to many of my other weeks in the mission. My companion, Elder Wassom, got sick. So as a result,.we have been stuck in the pension for some time. It made me realize that I HATE just sitting around. I want to be out doing something. I cant just sit around and draw or read the scriptures. I want to be out teaching the gospel to people! The good news is that Elder Wassom is getting better, so hopefully, we fill find success soon.
The other thing that happened was a bit of self evaluation. We were talking to a family at lunch, and they asked us if we had any pictures of our family. I whipped out the one small picture I carry with me everywhere I go. I showed them the picture I have shown to countless Chileans throughout the course of my wanderings throughout the Chilean jungle. The hermana looked at the picture and then looked at me and said: You dont really look like you did in this picture. You were a boy in this picture. Now you are a man. Pushing aside the fact that I have to shave every day, I felt proud knowing that I am growing in a distinctly upwards direction (speaking of growing upwards mom and dad, Im pretty sure that im 6´4" now). When we got back to the pension that night, I realized that not only have I physically aged, but I have spiritually and emotionally aged five or six years above that of the other people my age. I feel older. Not in an old man way, but in an experienced, mature way. I guess thats what the mission does.
Thanks for all of your love and support! I look foraward to hearing from you soon!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Before I start out this letter, I want to say that I am not a lazy missionary, as much as it may seem so in my last letter. I do pushups in the morning too :)
Alright, so this week has been very similar and boring in comparision to many of my other weeks in the mission. My companion, Elder Wassom, got sick. So as a result,.we have been stuck in the pension for some time. It made me realize that I HATE just sitting around. I want to be out doing something. I cant just sit around and draw or read the scriptures. I want to be out teaching the gospel to people! The good news is that Elder Wassom is getting better, so hopefully, we fill find success soon.
The other thing that happened was a bit of self evaluation. We were talking to a family at lunch, and they asked us if we had any pictures of our family. I whipped out the one small picture I carry with me everywhere I go. I showed them the picture I have shown to countless Chileans throughout the course of my wanderings throughout the Chilean jungle. The hermana looked at the picture and then looked at me and said: You dont really look like you did in this picture. You were a boy in this picture. Now you are a man. Pushing aside the fact that I have to shave every day, I felt proud knowing that I am growing in a distinctly upwards direction (speaking of growing upwards mom and dad, Im pretty sure that im 6´4" now). When we got back to the pension that night, I realized that not only have I physically aged, but I have spiritually and emotionally aged five or six years above that of the other people my age. I feel older. Not in an old man way, but in an experienced, mature way. I guess thats what the mission does.
Thanks for all of your love and support! I look foraward to hearing from you soon!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Monday, April 12, 2010
Service Project!!
Hey Family and Friends!
How is everyone doing? Things in La Trinidad are great! I love this sector and my companion is great! The only problem I still have is getting up in the morning. I swear, I was never meant to be a morning person. I get up, but that doesnt mean that I am firing on all cylinders. Mostly its very quiet in the mornings. Elder Wassom sits in the clothes room and listens to EFY music. Elder Bullough transferrs over to a spare bed in the living room and falls asleep there. Elder Johnson usually just sits on one of our crappy sofas and stares into nothingness. And I shuffle out of bed and put on my blue sweater and my incredibly comfortable sweats (Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!) and half heartedly pour out a bowl of chocapic, which is the coca pebbles of the states. I get out my box of milk (Yes, milk comes in boxes here, and if you dont drink it within three days, it goes bad), and eat like a cow chewing on its cud. But thats not what happened on Saturday. No, on saturday, something completely different happened.
We had a service project very early in the morning. We didnt know what we were going to be doing, all we knew was that we got out of our study times. Sweet! Anyway, so we get driven down to this building pretty far out of our sector, and are greeted by 15 feet high fences with barbed wire coiling around the top. The gates slowly open like a creepy old mansion, and we go in. Immediatly after we get out of the cars we are greeted by the boss of whoever runs the place. She tells us that we shouldnt touch anyone here, and to just keep walking if they try and talk to us. She starts to lead us through the complex of plain looking buildings and barred windows. Then someone came up to me and said hello. Thats when I realized: We were in a mental institute. All the people had mental problems and walked around with a dazed look on their face. I laughed to myself, wishing I had brought a pink tutu and had just watched Ace Ventura, but then I realized that I was a missionary and that would be undignified. bummer....
We finally got to our service project behind another set of scary looking fances and locks, a building. A very burnt building. I guess last week the whole area went up in flames, so our job was to clean it up. That meant Tearing down the rest of the roof, hauling out burnt couches and beds, sifting through the rubble, and carrying out the rest of the dead bodies. haha! No, Im just kidding, there weren´t any dead bodies. But there was a lot of crap. It was very impressionable. It made me realize how destructive fires can be. Nothing was left untouched by the flames, however, there was still enough that was recognizable that trying to imagine what it was like being in the fire sent shivers down your spine.
The work was hard, but it was so much fun! What more can a boy want than a hammer and an order to go around breaking stuff? Im not sure I have any moral or any anology to the mission, but it sure was fun! I will try to get pictures from some of the other elders as soon as I can. I forgot to bring mine. I wont ever forget some of the stuff I saw there, and I feel proud knowing I helped by doing my part.
I love you guys so much! Take care!
Elder Westover
How is everyone doing? Things in La Trinidad are great! I love this sector and my companion is great! The only problem I still have is getting up in the morning. I swear, I was never meant to be a morning person. I get up, but that doesnt mean that I am firing on all cylinders. Mostly its very quiet in the mornings. Elder Wassom sits in the clothes room and listens to EFY music. Elder Bullough transferrs over to a spare bed in the living room and falls asleep there. Elder Johnson usually just sits on one of our crappy sofas and stares into nothingness. And I shuffle out of bed and put on my blue sweater and my incredibly comfortable sweats (Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!) and half heartedly pour out a bowl of chocapic, which is the coca pebbles of the states. I get out my box of milk (Yes, milk comes in boxes here, and if you dont drink it within three days, it goes bad), and eat like a cow chewing on its cud. But thats not what happened on Saturday. No, on saturday, something completely different happened.
We had a service project very early in the morning. We didnt know what we were going to be doing, all we knew was that we got out of our study times. Sweet! Anyway, so we get driven down to this building pretty far out of our sector, and are greeted by 15 feet high fences with barbed wire coiling around the top. The gates slowly open like a creepy old mansion, and we go in. Immediatly after we get out of the cars we are greeted by the boss of whoever runs the place. She tells us that we shouldnt touch anyone here, and to just keep walking if they try and talk to us. She starts to lead us through the complex of plain looking buildings and barred windows. Then someone came up to me and said hello. Thats when I realized: We were in a mental institute. All the people had mental problems and walked around with a dazed look on their face. I laughed to myself, wishing I had brought a pink tutu and had just watched Ace Ventura, but then I realized that I was a missionary and that would be undignified. bummer....
We finally got to our service project behind another set of scary looking fances and locks, a building. A very burnt building. I guess last week the whole area went up in flames, so our job was to clean it up. That meant Tearing down the rest of the roof, hauling out burnt couches and beds, sifting through the rubble, and carrying out the rest of the dead bodies. haha! No, Im just kidding, there weren´t any dead bodies. But there was a lot of crap. It was very impressionable. It made me realize how destructive fires can be. Nothing was left untouched by the flames, however, there was still enough that was recognizable that trying to imagine what it was like being in the fire sent shivers down your spine.
The work was hard, but it was so much fun! What more can a boy want than a hammer and an order to go around breaking stuff? Im not sure I have any moral or any anology to the mission, but it sure was fun! I will try to get pictures from some of the other elders as soon as I can. I forgot to bring mine. I wont ever forget some of the stuff I saw there, and I feel proud knowing I helped by doing my part.
I love you guys so much! Take care!
Elder Westover
Monday, April 5, 2010
Easter Bunny
April 5, 2010
Hey Family!!!
So Chile is great!! It always is after such a great session of general conference! It meant so much to me, what all of the apostles said. I was privilaged enough to hear it in english, while our investigators got stuck with the translators. Bummer. I was so energized after that that I felt like I was floating on air and that nothing mattered. And then came the crushing reality of missionary work. I am here to testify that missionary work is the most emotionally and spiritually draining thing that you will ever do in your life. But I am also here to say that it is probably the most worthwhile thing I have ever done as well. I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. Without it I would be nowhere. I know that I have been sent here for a reason and that everything that we go through is for our good. We are only challenged up to what we are able, so be confident in knowing that we will be able to overcome all the challenges that we will face in this life!
I felt pretty homesick though at the same time. I kept listening to all the talks about families and how they can be strengthened. I thought about my Mom in a lot of the talks, and felt grateful that she brought me up in righteousness. Ive seen too many families whose mother´s feel that the right thing to do is let their children think for themselves, when really they are just letting them spiritually drown. Yeah thats kind of harsh, but I have seen the damage that one weak link can cost, and the generations that have been affected. So to my mom: Thank you for making me do the things that I didnt want to do. I love you for it, and I will never forget the beautiful and humble example you are to me, even now.
Well, yeah Im a momma´s boy. Alright, I better get going. Thanks for everything that you have done for me and for the package, mom! I loved the peeps and got sick of em after the 15th one!
Con Mucho Amor,
Elder Westover
PS- yeah, mom i did draw that picture of Christ. I gave it to my convert. The one attached to the email is also mine. Thanks for letting me doodle in church!
Hey Family!!!
So Chile is great!! It always is after such a great session of general conference! It meant so much to me, what all of the apostles said. I was privilaged enough to hear it in english, while our investigators got stuck with the translators. Bummer. I was so energized after that that I felt like I was floating on air and that nothing mattered. And then came the crushing reality of missionary work. I am here to testify that missionary work is the most emotionally and spiritually draining thing that you will ever do in your life. But I am also here to say that it is probably the most worthwhile thing I have ever done as well. I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. Without it I would be nowhere. I know that I have been sent here for a reason and that everything that we go through is for our good. We are only challenged up to what we are able, so be confident in knowing that we will be able to overcome all the challenges that we will face in this life!
I felt pretty homesick though at the same time. I kept listening to all the talks about families and how they can be strengthened. I thought about my Mom in a lot of the talks, and felt grateful that she brought me up in righteousness. Ive seen too many families whose mother´s feel that the right thing to do is let their children think for themselves, when really they are just letting them spiritually drown. Yeah thats kind of harsh, but I have seen the damage that one weak link can cost, and the generations that have been affected. So to my mom: Thank you for making me do the things that I didnt want to do. I love you for it, and I will never forget the beautiful and humble example you are to me, even now.
Well, yeah Im a momma´s boy. Alright, I better get going. Thanks for everything that you have done for me and for the package, mom! I loved the peeps and got sick of em after the 15th one!
Con Mucho Amor,
Elder Westover
PS- yeah, mom i did draw that picture of Christ. I gave it to my convert. The one attached to the email is also mine. Thanks for letting me doodle in church!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Baptism of Camila Isabel Gonzalez Ramirez
Hey Family and Friends!!!
Well, if you havent guessed yet, we had a baptism the other day!!! Camila Isabel Gonzalez Ramirez. She is the 19 year old with a huge crush on me. Well, lets just put her in the single adult program and let that take care of itself. She is really a great girl and I can definately see her getting married in the temple someday. The Baptism was exceptionally special. The funny thing was, right after I baptized her, I didnt really feel much. Mostly just "Oh its really cold! I cant see, Im wet, blah blah blah.." But afterwards throughout the program I had some of the strongest spiritual witnesses that what was going on, the step that this daughter of God was taking was the right way to go. I had a smile on my face for the rest of the baptismal service. It was truly a special event that I am never going to forget.
Of course, there are always kinks in the program. The font didnt start filling with water until 1 and a half before the baptism, there was a kid that threw push pins in the font, I didnt have a change of shirt, etc, etc. There was about a million things that went wrong that day. But once the program started, none of that mattered. Everything went falwlessly. Expecially the baptism. I am so grateful for this amazing work that is being done. That baptism was just one more testimony affirming that I am where I need to be and that these people are in desperate need of a savior in their lives. The earthquake has not made the people more humble or more teachable, contrary to what a lot of people might have thought. But it realigned my thought and what I viewed as important. These people need this saving ordinance. They just dont know it, and we have to be the ones to tell them of how it is necessary for their salvation. I am grateful everyday for the sacrifices I am making for these people, and the sacrifice that the Lord made for me so that I could be here.
I love you all and you are always in my prayers!
Elder Westover
Monday, March 22, 2010
Lots of Things in a Very Short Week
March 22, 2010
Hey Everyone!
This email is going to be a bit short, but Hopefully I can fit in everything as quickly as possible. Okay, here we go!
Last monday I got my hair cut by a drunk lady. She cut my ear and now my hair looks weird. Oh well, Im not trying to impress anyone. Or am I? Which brings me to point number 2:
I found out that our best investigator who is going to get baptized this next sunday likes me. More than she should. Her mom slipped me a not the other day basically saying that she really really likes me. Oh boy. Yeah, Its hard to be as dashingly handsome as I am, even with the drunk haricut. I might just have to gain a bunch of wieght to turn her off me and towards some RM. Which brings us to number 3!
We had a completo eating competition the other day with the hermanas in out sector. We lost. I ate 5, as well as another hermana. Wow. She eats a lot. which goes nicely into number 4!
People call me batman now. I dont know why, but Im kind of just that goofy kid in the pension that makes everyone laugh. Dont worry Im not letting it take away from my calling or anything like that, but the other elders in my pension do get quite a kick out of the voice.
Number 5! People are saying that there is going to be another earthquake by us. Is there any truth to this or not. I dont really have a whole lot of time to figure it out, so I was hoping one of you guys could shed some light on this.
I love you guys so much! The work is really progressing and we are seeing some great progress in the members and the investigators! I love this ward, I love my comp! I love Chile! What more could a twenty year old kid ask for?
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Hey Everyone!
This email is going to be a bit short, but Hopefully I can fit in everything as quickly as possible. Okay, here we go!
Last monday I got my hair cut by a drunk lady. She cut my ear and now my hair looks weird. Oh well, Im not trying to impress anyone. Or am I? Which brings me to point number 2:
I found out that our best investigator who is going to get baptized this next sunday likes me. More than she should. Her mom slipped me a not the other day basically saying that she really really likes me. Oh boy. Yeah, Its hard to be as dashingly handsome as I am, even with the drunk haricut. I might just have to gain a bunch of wieght to turn her off me and towards some RM. Which brings us to number 3!
We had a completo eating competition the other day with the hermanas in out sector. We lost. I ate 5, as well as another hermana. Wow. She eats a lot. which goes nicely into number 4!
People call me batman now. I dont know why, but Im kind of just that goofy kid in the pension that makes everyone laugh. Dont worry Im not letting it take away from my calling or anything like that, but the other elders in my pension do get quite a kick out of the voice.
Number 5! People are saying that there is going to be another earthquake by us. Is there any truth to this or not. I dont really have a whole lot of time to figure it out, so I was hoping one of you guys could shed some light on this.
I love you guys so much! The work is really progressing and we are seeing some great progress in the members and the investigators! I love this ward, I love my comp! I love Chile! What more could a twenty year old kid ask for?
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
Monday, March 15, 2010
Just Another Manic Monday
March 15, 2010
Hey Everybody!
I was really excited to read all your emails today! I havent gotten a lot of mail this change, and its driving me crazy! (hint hint) Alright, before I launch into the aftershocks and earthquake stuff, I got a request from alyssa to help her out in the Cuban Missle Crisis debate. Ashlee, if you´re reading this: ha ha! We won!
Alright Alyssa, I dont really remember a whole lot from the debate (exact point and all), I just remember drawing fidel castro and JFK while my partner wrote the power point on her laptop (sorry). However, I might remember enough to help out a little bit. First of all, the bay of pigs is irrelavent to the situation at hand. That operation failed not because of JFK lack of judgement, but the CIA´s failure to orchestrate a tactical and power attack on Cuban soil. Regardless, every president can lack in one area and do really well in another. Washington lost again and again until he suprised the British troops at Deleware. Second, when they try to discredit JFK personally, like say that Maralin Monroe and him had an affair (who would say that?! :) ), you can argue that a president can make be an amazing leader and make great executive decisions. His personal affairs dont really hold a lot of sway. You can use Bill Clinton as an example; that will really get those liberal hippies on your side. Other than that, I dont remember exact details. Sorry. Just remember that as long as you argue right, you are never wrong.
Alright, now back to the mission. I have heard "Terremotto" about 5000 times since it happened. Honestly, I wasnt thinking that I was going to die, or that I needed to shout out some death bed repentance. I just thought of my family and friends, and what an awesome story this was going to make. I guess I should have had more deep, last moment thoughts, but really, those are only planned out. When things like that happen, you dont really know that your going to die, so you think what is going to happen afterwards. It wierd, but I guess thats what happens.
Since my first harrowing experience, There have been quite a few aftershocks and some new earthquakes in the north and south. Those ones are fun though! Its like being on a roller coaster or something. The only scary ones are at night, like yesterday when I woke up at like 4 in the morning, with all the windows shaking. I kind of started to get that pit in my stomach, but it was over soon enough. Those are the only times when I am scared of them. I think people really overreact about the earthquake. What really is doing the damage is what happens after the earthquake. There are still parts of the country that dont have water, they are living on the streets, and there is something like 3500 people who dont have a place in the hospital that need it. That is really what the problem is right now. It sucks. But chile is really bonding together on this, and I think that soon it will be back to normal soon.
I have loved to see the people come together and strengthen each other, even if they still are just as hard to teach, if not even more, because now everyone is scared of going outside to church because the earthquake will get them. haha!!
I hope everyone is doing well! I look forward to hearing from you guys soon! If you have any other questions about the earthquake or anything like that, just ask me. Im pretty used to answering questions like that now. Love you guys!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
PS- dad, these pictures are for you. Enjoy!
Hey Everybody!
I was really excited to read all your emails today! I havent gotten a lot of mail this change, and its driving me crazy! (hint hint) Alright, before I launch into the aftershocks and earthquake stuff, I got a request from alyssa to help her out in the Cuban Missle Crisis debate. Ashlee, if you´re reading this: ha ha! We won!
Alright Alyssa, I dont really remember a whole lot from the debate (exact point and all), I just remember drawing fidel castro and JFK while my partner wrote the power point on her laptop (sorry). However, I might remember enough to help out a little bit. First of all, the bay of pigs is irrelavent to the situation at hand. That operation failed not because of JFK lack of judgement, but the CIA´s failure to orchestrate a tactical and power attack on Cuban soil. Regardless, every president can lack in one area and do really well in another. Washington lost again and again until he suprised the British troops at Deleware. Second, when they try to discredit JFK personally, like say that Maralin Monroe and him had an affair (who would say that?! :) ), you can argue that a president can make be an amazing leader and make great executive decisions. His personal affairs dont really hold a lot of sway. You can use Bill Clinton as an example; that will really get those liberal hippies on your side. Other than that, I dont remember exact details. Sorry. Just remember that as long as you argue right, you are never wrong.
Alright, now back to the mission. I have heard "Terremotto" about 5000 times since it happened. Honestly, I wasnt thinking that I was going to die, or that I needed to shout out some death bed repentance. I just thought of my family and friends, and what an awesome story this was going to make. I guess I should have had more deep, last moment thoughts, but really, those are only planned out. When things like that happen, you dont really know that your going to die, so you think what is going to happen afterwards. It wierd, but I guess thats what happens.
Since my first harrowing experience, There have been quite a few aftershocks and some new earthquakes in the north and south. Those ones are fun though! Its like being on a roller coaster or something. The only scary ones are at night, like yesterday when I woke up at like 4 in the morning, with all the windows shaking. I kind of started to get that pit in my stomach, but it was over soon enough. Those are the only times when I am scared of them. I think people really overreact about the earthquake. What really is doing the damage is what happens after the earthquake. There are still parts of the country that dont have water, they are living on the streets, and there is something like 3500 people who dont have a place in the hospital that need it. That is really what the problem is right now. It sucks. But chile is really bonding together on this, and I think that soon it will be back to normal soon.
I have loved to see the people come together and strengthen each other, even if they still are just as hard to teach, if not even more, because now everyone is scared of going outside to church because the earthquake will get them. haha!!
I hope everyone is doing well! I look forward to hearing from you guys soon! If you have any other questions about the earthquake or anything like that, just ask me. Im pretty used to answering questions like that now. Love you guys!
Con Amor,
Elder Westover
PS- dad, these pictures are for you. Enjoy!
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