Hello San Felipe!

Greetings from.....

LOS ANDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That´s right, Elder Hjelm has been transferred to the country, where it is much, much hotter. and on top of all that, I´m in a trio. It´s like they took all of the things that I didn`t want to do, threw it in a box, and sent it with me to the city of San Felipe (I didn´t want to change in the first place, go to los andes, or be in a trio.) But that´s okay, because I´m not in charge.

We had the wonderful opportunity on Saturday to listen to Elder Bednar. It was awesome. The only problem was that he was so busy, that we couldn´t shake hands or greet him. But don´t worry - I took notes.

Sounds like fun stuff is happening in Lakewood, with a new stake presidency and all. You have to tell me if Rick and Lynda started their mission papers sunday night, or if they are waiting. We need more missionaries! And they would be great!

We had two baptisms yesterday, but I forgot my camera in the house. They will come next week. The past three days have been wild, but fun. You should have seen the house last night when I was packing - you know how I pack. I literally brought all of my things into the living room of our apartment and then started to pack. It was fun.

Con cariño,

Elder Hjelm

PS: Only two months until a phone/skype call..... and only two weeks until I turn 20!

Yea! More pictures!

Austin is eating avocados and tomatoes?  Miracles do happen!

Doesn't he look awesome!?  He says he's lost about 20 pounds from all the walking.

Almost to the 6 month mark - the bump!

Hello,

That was a fast week. It didn´t really feel like it during the week, but it sure feels like it now. In fact, the past six months have gone by extremely fast. That´s right, Thursday, October 18th, I will have completed a full six months in the mission. Wow. That´s crazy.

Anyway, Everything here is good. We had to change a few baptisms, but we have two set for this week. Carlos is married to Marta, a less active member. And we did some digging, and it turns out that Marta´s daughter Bexy isn´t in the church records. So we have two baptisms for this sunday. Oh, and this week is changes, so next week I might be writing from somewhere else.

I am recieving the letters from uncle mark. I miss you all.

Adios,

Elder Hjelm

Yea! Pictures!

Fiesta!

 These pictures are from the house in
Gambino. 

His bunk is the top one - and look, it's made!

 This contraption is called a triciculo.
He looks happy :)

 Elder Hjelm and Elder Chung

Elder Hjelm and Elder Metcalf

 

Elder Hjelm and Elder Riches - he makes Austin look small!

 

Baptism of John Briones

He found something to remind him of home!

Kitchen in Gambino

The Munoz Family

Austin calls this a large, chilean Jack! 

Somewhere in Santiago

He claims this means the members love the elders.  We're not sure!

Short but sweet!

Dear Hjelm Family,

I don´t have much time, so I´ll make this quick. Everything is fine. We have three baptisms planned for the next two weeks, elder bednar is coming in a week and a half, and everything is good. General Conference was great, and all is well. More next week.

Love,

Elder Hjelm

Work, work, work and a baptism!

What a week!

We started off with Tuesday, which was the annual celebration of chilean independence. On this day, everyone parties, and almost everyone does one of the following three things: Goes to the beach, goes out into the country, or partakes of alcoholic beverages. Basically, there was nobody here. Our numbers were way down this past week. We spent the day with members, and had an asado - a chilean barbecue. Yeah. Wednesday, we had my first baptism - I don´t really even know guy, but, of course, my companion tells me three hours before the service starts that I´m going to be baptizing him, so that was fun. Thursday I gave my companion excedrine for his headache, and he felt rather weak and woozy afterwards, because of the caffiene. friday, I was sick again, but still went and worked, and my companion was walking like he was part the indianapolis 500. Ugggggh. saturday we had a zone activity, where I couldn´t eat anything or participate because I was sick. Then we went and painted a house, and then we went and worked. Sunday we confirmed our investigator, John briones, a member of the church. we helped out in the primary, and had a family home evening with another investigator. today, a haircut. this week has gone by so fast.

Please give my condolences to the tomlinsons. Please keep me informed about my seahawks (pictures would be nice), and tell me all about the mariners.

Cordially,

Elder Hjelm

Independence Day in Chile

Greetings from Chile!

The entire country is preparing a party for me tomorrow, to celebrate my five months in the mission! Okay, it´s actually el 18 de septiembre - Independence Day in Chile. everybody´s going to be celebrating, and we as missionaries can visit with members, work, and participate in the activities of the ward and stake. the only problem is that our ward actiivity is next saturday. but I hear that everyone gives you an empanada or something when you knock their door.

My sector is huge. It´s like three times the size of my last sector. we´ve been walking a lot, which is evidenced by the blisters on my feet. My new companion is cool - he really knows how to develop a relationship with the investigators. We have a baptism on wednesday, and another planned for sunday. Oh, our investigator in gambino was baptized on saturday.

The water problems are fixed in the apartment. Now the owner is going to put in tile and fix a wall. Now if he could only fix the shower - it sucks!

Everything else is good here, and it sounds like everything is good there, too. Keep me in your prayers - you´re always in mine.

Ciao,

Elder Hjelm