Dearest Family,

Hey, I'm glad that I could talk to you guys on Saturday. It was good to hear from you guys. Yeah I heard that a lot of missions could use skype but our mission prez said that we couldnt. Maybe for mothers day, we'll see. But it was good anyways. It seems as if everyone had a good Christmas. I did enjoy my last one here in the mission field. They really are special. We went out to work on Christmas Day and even though no one was home and a lot of plans failed, we could feel the Spirit knowing that we are away from home sacrificing time to be able to help these people.

This week went a little bit like that. We had rough times because nobody was home and we couldn't teach our investigators because they were busy with family. But we did have some good lessons yesterday. Yesterday we had a lesson with Meriam, who is the wife of a member. She's been feeling a little bit discouraged because her dad was giving her a lot of trouble for listening to the missionaries. Her dad is a die hard catholic. We taught her last night according to how she was feeling and she said, "Man, how come I always feel so good when you guys are here. I always feel pumped to keep going." We talked to her about the Spirit and she is now excited to come to church and get baptized in January. We've had some miracles happen with her because she is a heavy smoker. She told us she wants to quit but its been hard. Then in her work, they're putting in effect a new rule so that no one can smoke during their work or breaks. So she basically has to stop smoking. We're excited for her!

Man really I'm just real happy to be here on the mission right now. I'm realizing how much I've changed and grown. Now I'm reflecting on 2010 and I realize that its been the best year of my life so far. I've learned more of how much I depend on my Savior Jesus Christ. He is our support, our redeemer, our all. I love this gospel and I'm excited for another almost full year of preaching the gospel to the people here in Chile. I also promise that you guys will have some neat missionary opportunities this year. ¡Que las reconozcan! =)

Oh so this year like last year we were able to go have dinner Christmas Eve until 12:00 because thats how Chileans celebrate christmas. They have a huge dinner late at night then all the kids leave the house while Santa comes and brings them gifts. It kind of makes me think of how the people that loves us most and gives us most go unrecognized a lot of times when really they are our own parents. So thanks for everything! But I got to make the salad thats in that picture for the dinner. They had received a package of craisins from another sister missionary that served there, because craisins don't exist in Chile and man that was good. It makes me miss your famous salads mother haha. But the food was amazing. Our stake president here is fantastic.

Well I hope you guys have a great new year! Buy a lot of fireworks!!! Ojalá que puedan fijar metas por el año que sigue para que progresen más. Saludos a todos. Con amor, Chao,

Elder Webb

ps
The pictures are a little bit of everything. I'll send you guys some more from the mission activity next week.

Dearest Family,

¡Feliz Navidad! Man its already Christmas. That's nuts. It seems like yesterday that I was having my first Christmas in the mission field. But its alright, all the time in between has been well spent. That reminds me, I have a little update about the calls on Christmas. So it turns out that the Americans arent allowed to call their family. President says that our families need to call us. They said if it doesn't work then we can use our calling card as a backup plan. So I'll give you guys the number of the house we'll be out. Its a landline so it should be a lot cheaper. Just find something cheap to use because I only have 40 mins to talk and thats it. I'm not exactly sure about the country code and everything but I believe the number is like this, the country code is in parenthesis. (056) 027736730. Try calling me at 3:00pm Chilean time or 11:00 in AZ. If it doesnt work then I'll call you guys but make the attempt.

Well so we didn´t get transfered here. I'm still with Elder Clanton living with the zone leaders Elder Petersen and Elder Francia. Its been awesome here with the zone leaders. We've been learning a lot and we do a lot of fun stuff with our ward Lo Prado. This week was pretty good. Rodrigo has kinda flaked a tad but we still feel like he should progress. A young teenager called Ian came to church with us and liked it a lot. He's planning on getting baptized here in the beginning of January. He's the best man, because he has a ton of friends and is really popular and so he keeps inviting all his friends to listen in the lessons and come to church. We have plans to play soccer with him and his friends and the missionaries of the zone this week. As a zone we always play soccer once a week and I've gotten surprisingly better. We also got some referals from members that look really promising. One is called Eduardo and is really old, like 85 or something like that but he just about got baptized about 2 years ago and says that nows his time. We're pretty excited for him. The real challenge we've had here is getting people to come to church but now we're having more success with that and so we expect to see more progress in our investigators. We've had some real neat lessons recently teaching people not lessons... meaning, focusing on their needs and teaching what best will help them. I can feel the spirit working a lot more through me as we teach focusing on our investigators as children of our Heavenly Father who they are. I've learned to love a lot more the Chilean people. Everyone is so different but they all have the same need, come to know and feel the love of Jesus Christ in their lives. I've been grateful to be here on the mish learning more and more about my Savior, especially now during Christmas time.

Well I still haven't gotten that package but I bet I'll get it this wednesday in Zone class. I hope you guys get your stuff before christmas! We've been toastin down here in the South American summer. Its weird decorating a christmas tree with snowflakes and stuff when you're sweating off your head in your house. There is absolutley NO airconditioning here. The only places are in the church and supermarkets. We just have fans but it works pretty good. It cools off really fast at night and its actually a bit chilly in the morning.

The temple was AWESOME this week. Wow its so beautiful inside. They have something called Lapiz Lazuli, its a rare blue stone that only exists in Chile. I sent you a bit mother so I'm sure you'll like it. Wish everyone a Merry Christmas from Elder Webb. I love you guys!! I'll be talkin to you on Saturday. Chao,

Elder Webb

Que siempre sean las luces para todos los que les rodean y puedan alzar la luz del nacimiento de Cristo a todos sus vecinos.

PS.. no mother the roof isn't actually that low, it kinda looks like it in the foto. But yes our place is really small haha

Monday, December 13, 2010

Dearest Family,

Thanks for the letter Dad. Its good to hear a little bit about how things are at home. I'm glad that you guys are surviving there. The ASU institute is bacan (chilean for awesome or cool). I'm pretty excited to go there. Sounds like the family is doing good.

This week was actually a really good week. We found 7 new investigators that all have a date for their baptism. We talked with Rodrigo and he is an awesome investigator! He wants to get baptized January 2nd. We also have a lot of other posibilities and we just need to help them get to church. We had a really good contact with someone called Elizabeth in the street. We were finishing off the night going towards the house and we stopped to talk to somebody who looked like she was in a hurry with her kid to get home. We started talking and she seemed mildly interested and so we talked to see when we could visit her. She said that Sunday afternoons are a little tough because she always goes to the cemetary to visit her son that died. She was young too, probably like 32. We started talking about her son and how she can be with him again. She started getting emocional and was crying a lot. We promised her the blessings that come with the plan of Salvation. She said thats the only thing she wants, to see her son again. It was pretty cool how the Spirit led us through to find what she needed most. She told us to come by on Wednesday so this Wednesday we're excited to talk with her. We progressing a lot in Lo Prado. We still need to be able to work with the members more which has been tough but we're helping them out a lot. My comp has come a long way. He's getting more confidence with the language and during the lessons likes to share more. Its been a great transfer to the progress of my comp and my own personal progress. If I've learned anything is that I always have more to learn and I'm starting to measure my personal progress compared to my eternal goal. Its really easy, just compare your life with the life of Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and changes us everyday as we are put in the refiners fire.

Well this week is the last week of this transfer. We have changes of the 20th but I doubt we'll have changes here. The rules with the phone call are the same. I can only talk for 40 mins and I'll be calling you guys. I bought a phone card for 1000 pesos or about 2 bucks which gives me 50 mins so that should work like last time. I'm not exactly sure when I'll call you guys but I think it'll be in the morning on Saturday Christmas day. Probably about noon or 1 Chilean time... or about 8 or 9 down there. I'll update you guys next week. But I do need something. I need the phone number of the house. You know, the magic jack number so I can talk to all you guys. I forgot your phone numbers so if you could send them again that would be great!

Well I love you guys and I hope that you enjoy this last week before christmas. Don't be lazy and put up the christmas lights! Les amo mucho y espero que tengan una buena semana pensando en lo más importante, Jesucristo =). Chao,

Elder Webb

Enjoy the pics!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Querido Familia,

Hey guys hows it going?! Thanks for the letter mother dearest. It always brightens my day to hear from you guys. So today I sent off a package to you guys. It has some nice stuff for everyone and I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what belongs to whom. I managed to smuggle some treats in there because last time they didn't let me send some but I got some hidden in there. Enjoy! You guys can't open it until Christmas if you happen to get it before.

Well so the only question I got this week is are there roaches in our house? No mom don't worry. I actually havent seen a roach here in Chile. Theres really not a bug problem. But there is a dog and cat problem. Luckily we haven't had anymore cat brake-ins, we've outsmarted them for once haha.

Well we're still working here. We actually had a pretty good week. We found a family of 4 that could easily start progressing. And we started teaching the rest of a part member family and they committed to being baptized already. They are amazing. We had a great lesson yesterday. Its been different this transfer because my comp has been able to talk very well but now I've been giving him a lot more time to teach and he's doing well. He's a great Elder. A bit lazy by nature I think because he's from the deep south but ya know, the mission will change that. We're having a lot of cool experiences. For example, the other day we ran out plans because our plan A, B, C, and D failed and so we contemplated for a minute trying to see if something comes to our mind by the Spirit. We decided to go visit a random future intestigator, some contact we had done like a week ago. We went over to her house and knocked and waited for about 2 mins. She never came out but as we were waiting, some guy comes walking by on his way to work. He stopped and said if he could ask a question. He asked us how he could come to our church. So we said well, you just need to walk. Then he told us to come by and visit him because he's really interested. We have a lesson with him tonight and so pray that that goes well. His name is Rodrigo.

Well I'm learning heaps and heaps everyday. Thanks for the opportunity to serve here in Chile. I know its been a sacrifice for the family but I can see all the blessings here and I'm sure you guys can too. I love my Savior Jesus Christ and for the perfect example he gave us. Que podamos recordar su vida en este tiempo tan importante. Jesucristo dio todo para que PODAMOS ganar todo. Fíjense en ese ejemplo. Les AMO. I love you guys! Chao,

Elder Webb

ps fotos. The National flag of Chile. The US gave this as a present to Chile for their Bicentennial this year. It weighs over 400 pounds


Other random views from the top of Cerro Santa Lucia.