SURPRISE

We talked to Macy on Father's Day and she informed us it was transfers today but she would not be getting transferred because she is in the middle of training Hermana Lira. Surprise! Her entire district's mouths dropped when they heard Macy was out of there! She didn't go far, 2 areas north of La Florida, it's called Ali Cahue serving in the Macul ward. She is happy to have her CCM district leader as her district leader again! She is looking forward to working with Hermana Inclan from San Antonio, Texas who has been in the field 6 weeks less than Macy. She is also thrilled to have her own bathroom and no bunk beds! She found out about the transfer Monday morning and was very grateful to have time to say good-bye to most of her wonderful friends:

Things are looking up

Opposition in all things, right? We wouldn’t appreciate all the good without the hard stuff to give us perspective. After 2 weeks of not much success sharing God’s love with others, HRobertson and HLira took inventory and changed a few things. After receiving counsel from Area Authority Elder DeHoyos to talk to EVERYONE , HR & HL have tweeked their contacting methods and found success. Anxious to hear how those appointments go this week. 

Highlights of the last 2 weeks:

Exchanges with Hermana Taylor and Hermana Hernandez

PDay Kabobs after some basketball

Break-the-fast Sushi bar with the Barrientos family and Elders

Despite her father's love of Sushi, HR has never tried it until now - mission miracles :)

It wasn't a generic little California roll - she ate Sashimi and said she liked it!

the inevitable slump

Macy has a new companion from Mexico, Hermana Lira.  She is a greenie and Macy is her trainer - Macy finished her training from the impeccable Hermana Z 3 days before she began training HL! Not many Hermanas in Macy's mission but she is up for the challenge and excited to learn from and with HL. Although HR and HL continue to stay busy, progress with "amigos" has taken a dive:

"Was a tougher week this week, the cold is starting, gets dark really early and everyone is sick. Nobody wants to leave their house nor open the door! It also snowed in the mountains yesterday!! but we found a few really good new people that we are going to teach this week, a lot of faith that they will be AWESOME!!!! and I know that the Lord really has people prepared for us, just need to work a little bit harder to find them in these transfers!!! But what better than a challenge!!!!"

Besides weather and people going cold, so is her apartment as there is no heat! We definitely sent her underprepared for the cold weather. She was ecstatic to attend the temple last week, her Pres is allowing missionaries to attend the temple every transfer.

Dominique is in "the gate"

Week in Pictures

Dominique baptized on Saturday, bore testimony in Fast & Testimony meeting next day

Noche de Hogar (FHE) with the "best people" 

La Florida zone

Arepas with La Florida Hermanas

Good-bye to lovely Hermana Zecharias! A great friend, trainer and comp!

Macy had not met her new companion when she and I spoke but she is sooo excited to be a trainer and very happy to stay in her area another 12 weeks.

Dani is in the "gate"!

Had a great video visit with Macy today! Dani made her first covenant on Saturday! Macy says she will never forget this day for a lot of reasons: of course the joy a missionary feels for someone they care about accepting Jesus Christ and choosing to follow Him. But the prep and pull-off of the baptism was not easy: Dani's first scheduled baptism fell through at the last hour; a couple days leading up to this second baptism she was avoiding HR & HZ but she came through; Dani has a health condition in which cold water causes her a lot of pain and she really needed a warm font which despite the best and at times contentious efforts of 2 sets of elders did not happen. 5 minutes before the baptism the Elders informed the Hermanas they just couldn't get the water warm. Fast forward to Dani being baptized, she walked into warm water! Unfortunately due to Dani's health problems it took about 20 times and 20 minutes to get her immersed and by then the water was cold but she was so happy she didn't notice! God is in the details of our lives!
The good news doesn't stop though - another baptism is scheduled this Saturday! 
On a little bummer note, while HR was trying to download pictures of this memorable week from her camera they all were deleted. 
Transfers next week, HZ goes home - she has been a great trainer and friend. Excited to see what the next week will bring.

Catch up

Hermana Robertson and Hermana Zacharias are busy, busy, busy! They teach all day long going from appointment to appointment. They feel very blessed and love sharing the Gospel and seeing their amigos change their lives as they accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Dani (pic 1) planned to be baptized yesterday and 2 other amigos are on date to be baptized in May. Some of her favorite experiences are going to the temple with recently reactivated Maria and Miguel. Pdays usually involve finding a new mall - evidently the malls in Santiago are amazing! Most pdays she is able to chat on Google Hangouts with us, some days we get video. HR is loving her life and learning so much - so grateful for this opportunity to serve the people of Santiago.

Macy, Dani and Hermana Zacharias

Hermana Breakfast

HZ & HR

Easter Dinner - rice with chicken nuggets

Pray for Pablo, Dani, Claudia, Nicholas...

Was a superrrrr good week!! we had 5 AMIGOS COME TO CHURCH WITH US!!! everyone is progressing so well and we are so blessed to have these friends!!! Dani is doing really good, her interview is this week and should happen. Pablo....is super stressed out about his life, work , school, money and so he said he wants to kinda tell us when he can meet, but the thing is that he loves it. he told us that he loves it, he loves going to church, meeting with us all that, but he's super busy now so he will let us know. Nicolas is new!!!! he moved in with his mom this week, he's a reference, he's 13 but looks 17 lol and he's AWESOME!!! he's been going to church and meeting with missionaries for a while, he will be baptized soon. Dani is doing really good, she was sick for a little bit and kinda like bleh, but now she's not sick and she's better than before!!! she really trusts us and tells us all about her boyfriend and stuff, I love Dani!!! I love amigos my age!! Claudia is AWESOME!!!! we were going to visit with them last night, but she has to work, they have tough schedules but they invite us every Saturday for lunch and we meet Saturdays and they're going to come to conference Sunday!!!! 

The sealing was sooooo pretty!!! (peep our new dresses for it, super cheap, there's a giant sale going on at h&m, bought a dress, a skirt and three shirts....gonna go back today:)) but it was really special, super quick, quicker than i thought!!!  anyway, superrrr pretty it was and so special, they loved it!! Their daughter isn't a member but she lovesss us, they are a superrrr special family!!! we love them!! im getting fat, legit, my clothes do not want to fit. I now understand kea and kelci, and i've only been here like 2 months!!!! the people just show their love with food!!! but what can i do? so im just gonna eat and enjoy mysef with the people but do better with what i can control lol but things are good, im learning tons! its really starting to get cold, the mornig is like 5 degreees but at 11 its 100 degrees, i feel llike im in the tri cities, no joke. its the same!!! this week we have zone conference and GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! i have been hearing crazy stuff, so im superrrrr excited for that!!! will be a very fun week this week!!! Love you guys!!!
Hermana Robertson

Miquel and Maria on their sealing day

Llama?

Pray for Pablo

HOLAAAA FAM!!!!!!!!!!! 

Super duper week!!!! I'll start Wednesday, Wednesday was interviews and me and hna Z were at like 6 but we didn't end up interviewing until like 7 and me 730 and he was like whoa, i have tons of missionaries left, we need to go faster, so mine was probs 5 minutes but i like that!!!!! but anyway he told me that there are 13 hermanas coming this transfer and 11 the next so i should prepare to be a trainer!!!!! he didn't say like for sure I will be, but the chances are high!!! Then after, me and HZ were talking about it and he told her to prepare me for training in 6 weeks!!!!!! WOO HOO! actually super excited but i need to finish mine first, lol. then OH MY GOODNESS BEST NEWS!!!! so Maria and Miguel (who we went and did baptisms with, ya) anyway they are going through the temple the 27 and getting sealed and like obvi we wanted to go, so we called pres probs like 2 weeks ago and he said he'd think about it bc usually missionaries can only go with their converts but in our interview he had 3 super strong impressions that we should be there!!!! WE GET TO GO!!! MY FIRST LIVE SEALING AND A FULL DAY IN THE TEMPLE!!!! WOOOOHOOOO SOOOO EXCITED!!! anyway theres that!!!! Then one of these days we had a lesson with Claudi and so we planned to watch Joseph Smith movie, and we were there and probs 10 minutes in when her boyfriend came in and started asking questions, so we paused the movie and talked to both of them, and they said okay come back tomorrow and we can all watch the movie, so we planned to go back saturday at like 330. Then they called us probs like an hour later and were like "hey why dont you guys join us for lunch and then we watch the movie" UM, OKAY YA WE CAN DO THAT!!!! so we went saturday and it was superrrrr awesome, they loved the movie!!!! this movie is soooo awesome btw, people loveeee it and it tells the story of Jospeh Smith super well and shows what he went through and I super love it!!!! we have probs shown it like 4 times (again tonight to Pablo) but holy smoke, My testimony of JS has seriously grown so much and like I am trying to read all I can about him now bc SUPER COOOL!!! but anyway that was super awesome, they're a super sweet fam!! they couldnt go to church this Sunday but they said theyll go next week, ojala!!!! we have a lesson with them tonight!!! Pablo!!!!!! Pablo is now out of his funk, and one morning we had a lesson with him, and he was at school before then traveled an hour and a half to have the lesson and then returned to school!!!! WOOHOO PABLO!!! and he came to church on his own! he's doing awesome! he has his baptism interview this week, LOTS OF PRAYERS FOR PABLO!!!! I ate half an avocado this week, super super gross. Grandpa would be so proud of me, I don't leave a single thing on my plate!!!!! its starting to cool down now, but it feels superrrr good! Things are going really well!!!!!! crazy that my first transfer is almost done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! loco! But super good!!!! Love you all!!! have an awesome week!!!

Hermana Robertson

I was able to talk to Macy also and so I will add a few things: 

- The movie she is talking about is: Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration

- Evidently the #MeToo movement hasn't made it to Chile yet because HR & HZ receive numerous catcalls a day which makes them uncomfortable but not nervous.

- They were given a 72 hour kit and receive training weekly on what to do in case of an earthquake.:)

- Loretto doesn't seem to be progressing, they are agonizing over whether they should keep teaching her but Danny continues to progress

- Strangely, the ward she serves in has not had a bishop since she's been there (5+ weeks) so no ward council, no correlating, no planning activities. However HR & HZ are still very busy and are meeting with 2 or 3 new people this week!

"Rico food" - that is a hamburger on the "best bread ever' and cheese melted on French fries, with a little Coke. Macy says she's gaining weight.

"the district"

Patricia (takes good care of the missionaries), HR & HZ

New things

Another great week for Macy! They continue to teach all the same people (Loretto & Danny, Patricia, Claudia & Tommy, Pablo) and 2 new gentlemen - both Patricio's! One Patricio went to church with Macy and HZ Sunday, the other Patricio had met with the Hermanas before and reached out to Macy and HZ! As Macy continues to get used to the language she says discussions have been more filled with the Spirit and the promise in the scriptures that the Spirit will give you the very words to say is real! Hermana Zecarais is a great friend and companion and they have a lot of fun together.
A meeting at the mission office included delicious empanadas and a visit to McDonalds afterwards - Macy wouldn't touch McDonalds before her mission but a little piece of America now I guess. For pday her district went bowling and then to Burger King - which she also disliked before her mission. She also went to la ferreria (SP?) which is like a Farmer's Market and bought a fanny pack (another thing she wouldn't go near before her mission) because the big old messenger bag I talked her into buying is too much most days. 

I won't be posting every week from now on, we'll just see how it goes.

Couple they were able to go to the temple with last week

Lovely Chileans

Another opportunity to video chat, well she had video - I did not, but it was great. I took lots of notes...

Lots of opportunities to teach and set baptism dates:

Patricia was a referral, they had an awesome lesson with her last week (Macy was able to participate a lot - the language just keeps getting better for her) and even set a date with her in April, but she was feeling a bit anxious and has backed of a little

Pablo is getting close, the more they visit him the more excited he gets. They had a lesson with him on the temple grounds last week and he really felt the Spirit while having a lesson about the Tree of Life, 1 Nephi 8

Claudia & Tommy Macy and HZ found this mother and 4 year old son through contacting - what we know to be knocking on doors, in Macy's area they call through the gates of the home and wait for a response.  They contacted them last week and they came to church Sunday! Claudia is very excited about the Gospel but lives with a boyfriend so Macy and HZ hope to be planning a wedding soon.

Loretto and Danny (mother, daughter): they continue to progress and want to be baptized but are having some commitment issues.  They live with Loretto's brother who does not like the church and won't let the missionaries come over when he is there. 

Lucia an older, single sister who they contacted last week and she came to church with Macy and HZ Sunday!

Macy and HZ also work with 3 recently reactivated people quite a bit:

An older couple who were inspired to come back through family history work, Macy and HZ get to go to the temple with them tonight to do baptisms.

Hermana Lafferette who is super awesome - feeds Macy & HZ, invites investigators into her home, goes out with the missionaries, etc.
She made the first empanadas Macy has eaten on her mission. Melanie has made us empanadas and hers were amazing, sounds like Hermana Lafferette's were a bit different. Every culture makes their own version I guess.

There are a pair of Elders serving in the same ward as Macy and they are teaching 3 or 4 people and have a baptism coming up on March 16. Macy has been told this much teaching is very unusual in her mission - she is feeling very blessed.

Macy is doing great - she says the people are soooo nice. She is still trying to adjust to a big meal in the middle of the day and then not eating until 9:30 at night. She mostly walks and rides the metro (underground train that is "much nicer than the one in DC"). Again, she apologizes for not writing to all the lovely people who email her, she thanks you for your letters!

Empanada

For pday they were able to visit a different area and they stopped at this 

"very fancy mall"

Hablar live!

The technology stars lined up today and we were able to video chat with Macy. It was great to hear about her adventures live, I think the only drawback is I don't have a record of her life through her emails.  I mentioned this to her and Macy said "You can just summarize it, right?" Of course I can.

Hermana Zacarais (HZ) and Macy continue to teach Loretto and Danny. Danny misses most of the discussions because of school but she went to church Sunday. They are also teaching 3 other people whose names I can't remember (I will take better notes now that I know I get to summarize) which is amazing.  The ward is awesome and very helpful in supporting investigators and the missionaries.  HZ and Macy have also been meeting with a recently reactivated couple in their later years who are working towards being sealed in the temple. They are looking forward to performing baptisms in the temple soon with the couple.
Macy is healthy, hot (it's summer there - trying not to be jealous), happy and just a little homesick. She ate eggs, fish and a "mountain of a million vegetables" this week -  things she despises but other than that the food is amazing.  She thanks everyone who emails her and apologizes for not being able to respond to all of them.  

Miracles in La Florida

This area is full of miracles, amazing thing happened. So we had a reference for this girl named Daniela and shes 18, and lives with her mom who was in an accident and can't walk, so Daniela is always taking care of her. Anyway we went by on Sunday to talk to Daniela but her mom wanted to hear, so we went inside and oh man, her mom's brother, mom and dad all died a while back but she told us about this dream she had of all of them in pure white and OKAY THIS IS AMAZING!!! So we talked a little about eternal families and then told her we'd come back tomorrow and teach her God's plan, so yesterday we went back (Danny wasn't there though, she was at school) so we just talked to the mom and wow. She is so ready!! We set a date for March 30!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Her name is Loretto btw. She said she wants Danny to be baptized because she loves the message so much!! we are going back tomorrow!! so thats super super awesome!!! also i taught a lot of the lesson which i'm super happy about too, and hna Z told me i did a really good job. But yesterday I saw hna Ybarra and she told me she never talked or did much in lessons and I was like hmm, but happy bc hna Z also told me the first girl she trained, didn't talk in lessons for a long time and I am talking in every lesson and contacting!! So i'm extremly grateful that hna Z is so helpful in the lessons and lets me teach what I can bc I couldn't imagine feeling the way i do for these people if i just sat back and listened!!! But im super happy about that and the progress! Chileans speak insanely fast but everyday i understand more and more! Also they all tell me i speak good spanish so thats good to hear and they can all understand me. Basically things are going really well!!! we are meeting amazing people and members and I am very blessed here!! also I haven't eaten anything I haven't loved yet which is a HUGE miracle!!! the other Hermanas in my apt are american and Columbian so its nice to have someone who speaks english to help out sometimes. and yes apt building is big, apt is actually not bad at all, pretty nice, just i sleep on the top bunk and there are no bars on the side so we hope i dont roll off hahahaha, havent yet, but I sleep soooooo good!! I have been quite tired. Like, I'm going day by day but I can't say i'm not excited for the time when i'm totally adjusted to this all!!! Eating is rough, bc we have lunch at 1:30 and they don't eat dinner here so then i wait until like 9 or 10 to eat again and usually just like a sandwich so basically i'm always hungry lol but  I know i'll get used to that too and today we going to the store and i finally have my money so i'll get some good stuff! But food here is good, we've had chicken and potatoes, really good rice, hamburgers and pasta!! So i'm content with that!!! Anyway things are good!! i'm good!! Hope all is well!!!  Have a good week!!! Love you all tons!!

Hermana Robertson 

Macy and Hermana Zacarais

Temple for Pday!

Go, go, go in Chile

Hola familia!! 

I have made it to Chile!! and wow! I loveeeee it so much! its super pretty and really big, like really really! The flight was BOMB!!! somehow a few of us scored business class!!! so basically i was living the life in first class!! that was no problem, i just didnt sleep much. So yesterday we got in at a little after 5am and then we waited probs an hour for people to pick us up lol but no problems with customs or anything!! then we went to mission office, had breakfast and interviews with pres, who btw IS AWESOME!!! he sent pics last night of us, ya they're cool. we took those pics at the mission home later. After interviews we went back to mission home and they let us take a nap haha bc we all were dead tired!! so we took a nap then they fed us a bomb lunch!! then we had a little meeting about the mission then went back to the mission home and met our companions!! me companera name is hermana Zacarias!! shes from argentina, speaks zero english and is 25!! I feel so young, like a child actually. this is her last 12 weeks also. But holy smoke im gonnna be fluent in no time!!!! its actually not so hard to communicate except for the fact she has the argentine accent that is a bit hard to understand sometimes but its not bad! today we had a meeting with pres again by the temple, and its teeny tiny!! reminds me of colmbia river a lot actully! then they fed us pizza (also they don't feed us dinner here, lunch is the meal then when we get home we eat something) which is okay with me! then me and the comp went to the mall, didn't get anything but clothes here are veryyyyy cute!! and much more modest! oh yes and last night was awesome!! we went contacting and i was able to at least say my testimony everytime!! a few times i started the contact and that was awesome!!! my comp says my spanish is really good! but one lady we found let us in her house!!! her name is Caridad and her brother just died and she's super sad and looking for a chucrch. Tonight we are gonna teach her about plan of salvation! Woohoo!!! Her esposo Jorge is col too and totally with her!!! My area is called La Florida. and my piso is not bad actually, we live with two other hermanas and one speaks english so that's nice and we have our own bathroom! livin large in Chile!!!! very excited to be here, i think i was a teeny overwhelmed last night bc holy smoke. but i feel a lot better today!!! Im excited to keep learning!! Also i shook Quentin L Cook's hand!!! he gave an awesome talk on how we need to have energy and go go go!!! so thats what im gonna do!! Go Go Go!!  Hope eveyrone is doing well!!! Love you all so much!!!

Hermana Robertson 

President & Sister Brotherson

Newest missionaries in Chile, Santiago East with Pres & Sis. Brotherson