Pictures of life in Chile...

Leslie, Carlos, Bexy, Herman William, Martha
Elder Huaratapayro, Elder Hjelm

Lunch with some members -yummy!

Matias and Elder Hjelm
(He is looking slim!)

Austin is eating tomato, peppers and lettuce?!
Miracles do happen!

Greetings from San Felipe

Greetings from the beautiful city of San Felipe!

It´s starting to get hot here. San Felipe, much like Wenatchee, sits in a bowl, formed by the surrounding mountains. For this reason, it gets HOT here during the summer. I´m going to leave here looking like Jonah. Our sector is still large, but I´m used to that now. My new companions are Elder Gibby, from Ogden, Utah, and Elder Williams from Rockford, Illinois. Elder Williams is being trained by Elder Gibby, and I´m helping/being trained again/learning how to train - something like that. I didn`t know that I was going to be in a trio, but that`s okay. We have lots of people to teach, and we`re running all over the place. And if we have to go to Santiago, like we had to Friday, it`s an hour and a half by bus to get there. Fun Stuff.

No package yet - I´m expecting it to arrive the day before my birthday. It usually takes about three weeks for it to get here. I honestly don`t know how we`re going to talk on Christmas - I will have to ask around. You may have to break down and get a web cam, or we could talk on the phone. I`m doing fine. I´m not sick - minus the headaches. I´m just enjoying the work.

As always,

Elder Hjelm

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