Alright family, I know you're going to want to know everything that has happened in the past week so I'm going to tell you the best I can and not forget or leave anything out. First, thank you Mom and Dad for the greenie package. I loved it, and thank you for the letters also.
But, wow this place is so different from the United States! in some small ways it is the same; its weird. When I first got off the plane I could not believe that I was actually here, and there was no humidity at all but just kind of cold. There were about 12 of us going to Chile Santiago East. So we arrived and when we stepped out of the airport, there was about 6 missionaries including the APs that were there and they all ran up to us and gave us a big hug (everyone does that here by the way) and then we saw president Laycock and Sister Laycock from far away and started walking toward us and he gave us all a huge hug and his wife shook our hands. He told us that this will be a day we will always remember and to think as we drive through the city that this we be the place that we will be serving for the next twenty two months. So we got into the cars and started to drive and I was really excited at this point but also really scared about who my companion would be, we were driving in the middle of Santiago east where there where big buildings and it was a lot different than I thought it would be, when we got to the church which is right next to the temple and then they took pictures. then he talked to us for a while and it was totally awesome. he also told our group that we will be serving with him till the end which i didn't know and that Santiago Chile east was the smallest mission is the world but has millions of people. but really president and sister Laycock are the most loving people, they are so awesome and really funny. then we went into the room and said that we would meet our trainers and he said that these elders were the best, and he couldn't think of better people to be training us, so we walked in and they all stood up and president Laycock said that every night he and sister Laycock would kneel down to pray who each of us should be with.
He then started to pair us up and he called me and my companion's name we each stood up and gave each other a big hug, then we were off to our sector. I just continued asking my trainer elder Johnston so many questions, there was so much I wanted to know; by the way he is way awesome, super hard working and he totally has patience with me according to the language, he also has been out a year and this is his first time training. He is way awesome and builds me up and we both try to have fun so it's all good but it kind of stinks cause he got pneumonia last week so we didn't have many people to teach but we are building it right now. Anyways so we walked to my sector with him which is called punt alto (I'm not sure if that is how you spell it) all on the way there I looked like I was made of money compared to everyone else. lol. I had both of my luggages and everybody was looking at me weird. Now I am getting used to it, so we had to get on the metro and we went in an elevator when these two ladies told me to come on; I thought they wanted me and my companion but nope only me and so they told my companion that only I could go on there but elder Johnston said that he has to be with me always and so that was kinda weird. I don't know what they were trying to do, and it kinda freaked me out.lol. but after we got on the metro it took us 45min. to where our pensions were and we got their and the place was totally gross and apparently it was one of the best pensions out of all the ones that the missionaries stay in; it was really small too.
There was just so much happing that was just being thrown out at me and also that day I had major jet lag and super tired but I tried to push through it, I then got groceries and then went tracting which totally scared me. When we go tracting we have to stand outside and yell ¨Hola¨ so it was different and I found out the reason they do that is because everybody has a gate about 7 feet in front of their house and every fence including ours around our house are jagged and spiky so no one can get over it. so we went tracting and it went alright, I'm trying not to just sit back and let my companion do all the talking so I tried to talk but I could only say a couple words and I could not understand what they were saying at all. They talk so flipping fast and so it's going to take some time to understand them. We then visited some people and I told them that I have only been here for a day and they couldn't believe it. so they tried asking me a question and I just stood there with a retarded look on my face and had to ask my companion what they said, so it was kinda embarrassing but it's all good, so yeah I'm definitely getting used to nodding my head and saying ¨Si¨ lol.
Over the last couple days though I'm really starting to love these people it just irritates me sometimes cause I want to so badly get to know them faster. I still get to know them but only barely because of the language barrier, I am really learning a lot about the language and the people here have a lot of their own words for things that exist nowhere else.
I'm just going to mention some things that you all might want to know:
They have dryers here which stink so we hang our clothes outside, everybody has a dog and there are dogs everywhere all over the streets, food is a huge thing here and lunch is huge like elder Moony said (who I met by the way) and every time I get into someone's home they always give us juice or soda, nobody drinks water here. the biggest drink here is big 2.5 liter bottle of coca cola or doctor pepper, and I don't like either of those lol and one day they gave me so much juice I felt like throwing up and you have to drink it or else they will get offended. Another thing that is weird is that everybody comes up to us and tries to speak English to us, everybody wants to know English. they all listen mostly to English music. The food is good here also. oh and this week is their big Celebration, like the fourth of July that Shanna was talking about, so it will be fun, oh and also I have to give a talk this Sunday! They told me and my companion and I just got here, so I'm kind of nervous. My zone is also way cool, all of them are awesome, and we all give each other a hug every time we see each other so yeah I'm turning into a hugging kinda guy. When people give hugs here it's a handshake, a hug, and another handshake. Its weird but cool. My ward is awesome as well as my area. My comps last companion baptized 7 people and I'm scared I can't fill his shoes because I don't know the language, but I'm going to definitely try.
I still cannot believe that I'm out here. I'm still trying to get used to everything here. I want to tell you more but I have got to go. I hope i answered most of your questions, and I hope everyone is doing great back at home and Mom where is your e-mail for today? Oh well it's all good. I wish I could of talked about the people that I taught so I will have to just tell you next week. Dad thank you for writing Elder Bednar's talk I'm going to print it off and read it. By the way I can receive dear elders here. Give my love to all the cousins and the coffman's and everyone. I love you all.
Keep the faith, choose the right!
Con Amor,
Your Elder Pedersen
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
President Laycock......
We are happy to report the safe arrival of your son to the Chile Santiago East Mission. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to work closely with him in this part of the Lord's vineyard. We are excited to share this great mission experience with you and your missionary and are confident that blessings await your entire family as a result of your consecration of time talents and resources to make this mission service possible. Please know of our sincere concern for the welfare and eternal progress for Elder Pedersen. We pledge our untiring efforts to make this experience both meaningful and successful for your missionary.
With love,
President and Sister Laycock
Attached is a letter from your missionary and a photo with us of when he arrived. Enjoy browsing our mission website by clicking on the following link:
http://www.santiagomissioneast.blogspot.com/
I'M HERE! ....I LOVE CHILE!!!! September 10, 2010
Well I made it!! I'm here! This place is so amazing, I already love it, and the mission president and his wife are the most loving people. They are really amazing!
I'm only hours away from going to preach the gospel to my Chilean brothers and sisters and I'm scared out of my mind and also very excited!!
I have met my new companion and he is a good guy, I know the President was inspired to know who I should be with.
I hope you guys are all doing amazing back home and working hard. I love you all and I truly have the best family! Thank you, Mom and Dad for teaching me the gospel from very early on until this time. I have such amazing parents, everything good in my life has been because of my parents and my Heavenly Father. I have seen the love you both have for the Savior all through my growing up years. Here on my mission I have come to love my Savior and Heavenly Father even more than I did.
I love you guys!!
Elder Pedersen
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Most Amazing Week!!! August 27, 2010
Wow, this week has been so amazing, I really don't even know where to start, but first of all I'm really glad the family is doing great and working hard.
Every week you know how I have to go to the TRC which is where you teach members of the church so you can practice teaching in Spanish?
Well this week my companion and I went there along with the rest of the district, and when we got their my teacher pulled us out and told us that the lady we were going to teach was actually going through a hard time and she was crying in the room, so my teacher told us to just forget everything we had planned, and if we had to then we could teach in English because the lady was really struggling. I was kind of scared along with my companion because we didn't know what was going to happen so we said a prayer and went in there. She was bawling so we tried to figure out what was wrong, and she was kind of embarrassed to tell us what the real problem was so only told us the basics. Then after that we went by the sprit and tried to comfort her best we could, so it was a really good experience because It taught me to teach by the spirit. She wanted a blessing so we actually gave her a blessing in the TRC, and my teacher came in and had me set the oil apart in Spanish, he guided me and then my companion gave the prayer because he has done it many times, so it was a good experience.
Another thing that happed this week is that I got my travel plans! I was freaking out; we all were. I leave on the 6th, and I have a layover in Texas for 3 hours at about 4:30, so everybody better be home when I call. I'm way excited to call.
Anyway, the most important thing that happened this week was that the gym was finished and they put the bleachers in so that we could have our devotionals, so on Tuesday when we were all sitting there here comes in Jeffrey R Holland!! I was freaking out, and everybody just stands up. I was so excited; It really was the highlight of my week. He spoke to us without any notes, just by the spirit. I couldn't believe my favorite speaker was there. His talk was amazing. When I call I will have to expound on it, but when he walked in you could just feel the spirit so strongly, and you know how Holland is, he speaks with such power. He talked about how he is afraid we will not take advantage of this time on the mission. He said we cannot waste a second, a day, an hour, nothing! This only comes once, and there's no saying only if I did this or only if I did that, he said give it all you got! he also talked about obedience which was amazing, then he said something that was awesome too, He said we have to be perfect every time we teach, we have to always be tuning ourselves! And when we teach the investigators, we have to knock their socks off! I will have to tell you more when I talk to you all on the phone. I loved it. It changed how I do everything on my mission; it was a wakeup call to me and during the meeting the sprit was definitely the teacher the whole time. I absolutely loved it.
Also this week I ran into Jordan and Payton Davis. It was so awesome to talk with Jordan, on the temple walk we talked the entire time and I took pictures except not with Payton because we couldn't find him and then he left, but I got a couple of pictures that I will probably send.
My time is almost out but wow, this week has been totally awesome. I want to be the best I can be here. I'm not going to waste any time being here; I'm taking advantage of every second. I want my mission to be a 24 month mission, not any less! No time will be wasted.
I hope you all are having a wonderful time out camping. Give my love to everyone.
By the way where are all my letters from the boys, I want to hear from them.
I love all you guys with all my heart, keep working hard and choosing the right.
Con Amor,
Your Elder Pedersen
Every week you know how I have to go to the TRC which is where you teach members of the church so you can practice teaching in Spanish?
Well this week my companion and I went there along with the rest of the district, and when we got their my teacher pulled us out and told us that the lady we were going to teach was actually going through a hard time and she was crying in the room, so my teacher told us to just forget everything we had planned, and if we had to then we could teach in English because the lady was really struggling. I was kind of scared along with my companion because we didn't know what was going to happen so we said a prayer and went in there. She was bawling so we tried to figure out what was wrong, and she was kind of embarrassed to tell us what the real problem was so only told us the basics. Then after that we went by the sprit and tried to comfort her best we could, so it was a really good experience because It taught me to teach by the spirit. She wanted a blessing so we actually gave her a blessing in the TRC, and my teacher came in and had me set the oil apart in Spanish, he guided me and then my companion gave the prayer because he has done it many times, so it was a good experience.
Another thing that happed this week is that I got my travel plans! I was freaking out; we all were. I leave on the 6th, and I have a layover in Texas for 3 hours at about 4:30, so everybody better be home when I call. I'm way excited to call.
Anyway, the most important thing that happened this week was that the gym was finished and they put the bleachers in so that we could have our devotionals, so on Tuesday when we were all sitting there here comes in Jeffrey R Holland!! I was freaking out, and everybody just stands up. I was so excited; It really was the highlight of my week. He spoke to us without any notes, just by the spirit. I couldn't believe my favorite speaker was there. His talk was amazing. When I call I will have to expound on it, but when he walked in you could just feel the spirit so strongly, and you know how Holland is, he speaks with such power. He talked about how he is afraid we will not take advantage of this time on the mission. He said we cannot waste a second, a day, an hour, nothing! This only comes once, and there's no saying only if I did this or only if I did that, he said give it all you got! he also talked about obedience which was amazing, then he said something that was awesome too, He said we have to be perfect every time we teach, we have to always be tuning ourselves! And when we teach the investigators, we have to knock their socks off! I will have to tell you more when I talk to you all on the phone. I loved it. It changed how I do everything on my mission; it was a wakeup call to me and during the meeting the sprit was definitely the teacher the whole time. I absolutely loved it.
Also this week I ran into Jordan and Payton Davis. It was so awesome to talk with Jordan, on the temple walk we talked the entire time and I took pictures except not with Payton because we couldn't find him and then he left, but I got a couple of pictures that I will probably send.
My time is almost out but wow, this week has been totally awesome. I want to be the best I can be here. I'm not going to waste any time being here; I'm taking advantage of every second. I want my mission to be a 24 month mission, not any less! No time will be wasted.
I hope you all are having a wonderful time out camping. Give my love to everyone.
By the way where are all my letters from the boys, I want to hear from them.
I love all you guys with all my heart, keep working hard and choosing the right.
Con Amor,
Your Elder Pedersen
Friday, August 20, 2010
Crazy!!! August 20, 2010
Hi my family! This week has been really crazy; there is a lot that I have been doing. I cannot believe that Steven is going to Spain! I'm so excited for him; I know he will be an amazing missionary. I have been praying for him, I feel bad that his family is struggling with the decision he has made. yeah I saw Jordan! it was way cool to see him here, I was only able to talk to him for like a minute but it was way cool to see him, he is liking his first couple days, and yeah I know I need to get pictures with all the missionaries from back home but its hard finding everyone and taking a picture, and it's going to be hard to find Jordon too because he is English speaking but I will definitely do it before I leave. The person I see the most here is Jordon Harmon, its good talking to him about everything.
To answer your question, everybody in my district is going to Chile but only 4 out of the seven are going to my mission including my companion. The Spanish is kinda difficult some days, this last week has been hard on me because we are learning new grammar and new words everyday and sometimes its hard not to get frustrated. I have to just keep in mind that the lord wants me to succeed in this language; if he wants me to struggle then I'm going to struggle. I have noticed though that I need to be obedient 100% or else the lord will not help me, I have also really learned to teach by the spirit and do everything through the spirit, when I'm teaching a lesson by the spirit, it goes so much smoother. I am also learning each day how the scriptures apply to everything in life and there are answers to every problem or question.
I'm so excited to leave and go to Chile, it will definitely be hard when going down there because people in Chile speak super fast, so I'm trying to take advantage of this time that I have here.
I wish I had more time to tell you more. It stinks cuz writing the family is one of the highlights of my week, but its okay cause I will get to talk to everyone on the phone when I fly out to Chile!
I love everyone! I'm glad everyone is doing great. Give my love to the rest of the family.
Thank you mom for the quote, it was perfect for me this week.
Keep the faith.
Con Amor,
Your Elder Pedersen
To answer your question, everybody in my district is going to Chile but only 4 out of the seven are going to my mission including my companion. The Spanish is kinda difficult some days, this last week has been hard on me because we are learning new grammar and new words everyday and sometimes its hard not to get frustrated. I have to just keep in mind that the lord wants me to succeed in this language; if he wants me to struggle then I'm going to struggle. I have noticed though that I need to be obedient 100% or else the lord will not help me, I have also really learned to teach by the spirit and do everything through the spirit, when I'm teaching a lesson by the spirit, it goes so much smoother. I am also learning each day how the scriptures apply to everything in life and there are answers to every problem or question.
I'm so excited to leave and go to Chile, it will definitely be hard when going down there because people in Chile speak super fast, so I'm trying to take advantage of this time that I have here.
I wish I had more time to tell you more. It stinks cuz writing the family is one of the highlights of my week, but its okay cause I will get to talk to everyone on the phone when I fly out to Chile!
I love everyone! I'm glad everyone is doing great. Give my love to the rest of the family.
Thank you mom for the quote, it was perfect for me this week.
Keep the faith.
Con Amor,
Your Elder Pedersen
Monday, August 9, 2010
Fifth Week!!! All Spanish 8-6-10
Hey family! btw how come no one wrote me? Not even mom or dad. What's with that? It's okay I understand, it's all good, but I want letters from the family cause writing the family and getting letters is the highlight of my day, especially when they come from the family.
Did you guys go on the trip to the coast this week? How was the time in Utah? Kenny still needs to tell me how his efy experience went.
How are things going at home?
Well it's been a great week for me, my companion and I have really started to get along really well, are relationship is growing a lot, especially over this past week.
Oh also we have turned everything into Spanish, all classes and reading is all Spanish now! It's crazy but it really pushes me to learn new words, my companion is really good at Spanish because he took 5 years, so he is helping me if I don't understand something so it's good. He and I both attempted to teach the first lesson the other day. it was hard cause I want to speak faster, but it just takes some time to be able to do that, but the second time we taught it went really good and I relied on the sprit to get the words out that I wanted to say, so I'm practicing as much as I can because on Monday we actually go in and teach the whole lesson to someone we don't know at all, so it's kind of scary. I have learned this week that the scriptures can apply to anyone's life. I am coming to love the book of Mormon more and more every day, and I'm learning things that I have never known before. The book of Mormon is truly a miracle. This gospel is a miracle! Everything about it is!
We haven't had a general authority speak to us yet but I think we will now because usually sometime before general conference is when we will get to hear from them, but it's still cool though because the speakers that we have had are former quorum of the seventy and there is a lot that I learn from them every time i hear them speak to us, and they always speak on obedience, and talk about how we have to be obedient or the lord will not help us in this work and it's so true that the lord cannot bless us if we aren't obedient. I see some elders here that don't follow the rules but no matter what they do I'm trying to obey everything so I will have the lord on my side.
Another thing that happened this week is that one guy from are district is leaving because he can't get the language, so it's kind of sad and now we only have 7 in our district now! That's a way small district.
I'm so busy each week with all the Spanish I have to memorize and learning how to teach the lessons and much more, I'm tired all the time too but I love it. And everything is going great. I love you all, thank you for your prayers and support.
Give the family my love. Keep the faith
- con Amor
Your Elder Pedersen
Did you guys go on the trip to the coast this week? How was the time in Utah? Kenny still needs to tell me how his efy experience went.
How are things going at home?
Well it's been a great week for me, my companion and I have really started to get along really well, are relationship is growing a lot, especially over this past week.
Oh also we have turned everything into Spanish, all classes and reading is all Spanish now! It's crazy but it really pushes me to learn new words, my companion is really good at Spanish because he took 5 years, so he is helping me if I don't understand something so it's good. He and I both attempted to teach the first lesson the other day. it was hard cause I want to speak faster, but it just takes some time to be able to do that, but the second time we taught it went really good and I relied on the sprit to get the words out that I wanted to say, so I'm practicing as much as I can because on Monday we actually go in and teach the whole lesson to someone we don't know at all, so it's kind of scary. I have learned this week that the scriptures can apply to anyone's life. I am coming to love the book of Mormon more and more every day, and I'm learning things that I have never known before. The book of Mormon is truly a miracle. This gospel is a miracle! Everything about it is!
We haven't had a general authority speak to us yet but I think we will now because usually sometime before general conference is when we will get to hear from them, but it's still cool though because the speakers that we have had are former quorum of the seventy and there is a lot that I learn from them every time i hear them speak to us, and they always speak on obedience, and talk about how we have to be obedient or the lord will not help us in this work and it's so true that the lord cannot bless us if we aren't obedient. I see some elders here that don't follow the rules but no matter what they do I'm trying to obey everything so I will have the lord on my side.
Another thing that happened this week is that one guy from are district is leaving because he can't get the language, so it's kind of sad and now we only have 7 in our district now! That's a way small district.
I'm so busy each week with all the Spanish I have to memorize and learning how to teach the lessons and much more, I'm tired all the time too but I love it. And everything is going great. I love you all, thank you for your prayers and support.
Give the family my love. Keep the faith
- con Amor
Your Elder Pedersen
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Almost 4 weeks: July 30, 2010
The garden is also huge! Way bigger than it was when I left. And yeah I got your letter thank you. It helped a lot. I always get something that I need from your letters, so thank you. That's cool that Jordan and Steven are coming over. I can't wait to here where he gets sent to. I'm way excited for him! The mtc is definitely going a lot better. especially because 4 people left to Guatemala and now it's a lot better, and yes we do climb the walls, it pretty fun.lol I'm having fun here. It seems like time is going by way fast. It's already my fourth week basically. I'm counting down to when I get to go to Chile, and even though I like it here I want to get out to where the real work is. The language is going a little better, I was confused with some of it but now I'm getting better and starting to understand it a bit more. Basically it will just take time to just say what I want to say in Spanish. I just have to work really hard at it. I'm kind of bummed that there is no choir here. I wanted to be in it but oh well.
I'm learning so much being here and each day, I'm becoming a better teacher. And I'm starting to love teaching. But I know that I will only be speaking in English for about another week and then I teach in Spanish. This is our last week that we will be speaking in English and that scares me, so I hope I will be able to do it, cause me and my companion are teaching for 35 min. so its kinda crazy. Oh and I saw Jordan Harmon and Sean Russell. They love it here and Sean is speaking Spanish with his companion all the time. So when I talked to him, he was just talking to me in Spanish about how his week was going. So it was kinda cool. I see Jordan Harmon all the time because his class is in the same building. So it's way cool.
I can't believe mom is only 1 hour away and I can't see her and Kenny is about a block away! (Tell Kenny to write to me about his experience) I can even here the efy kids screaming every day, so they are pretty close, but even though I can't see them, it gives me comfort to know they are right there.
Everyday I'm here I learn a lot, in meetings, devotionals, or just on my own. I love this gospel and I am coming to love and know my savior better more and more each day. I can't wait to share it with those in Chile.
Thank you so much for your love, support and faith in me. Thank you also for your prayers I know you are with me every step of the way and I can feel your prayers.
Oh and today I get to go to the temple for my first time being here! So I'm way excited. It's going to be awesome.
I love you all so much. Give my love to everyone.
Your Elder Pedersen
I'm learning so much being here and each day, I'm becoming a better teacher. And I'm starting to love teaching. But I know that I will only be speaking in English for about another week and then I teach in Spanish. This is our last week that we will be speaking in English and that scares me, so I hope I will be able to do it, cause me and my companion are teaching for 35 min. so its kinda crazy. Oh and I saw Jordan Harmon and Sean Russell. They love it here and Sean is speaking Spanish with his companion all the time. So when I talked to him, he was just talking to me in Spanish about how his week was going. So it was kinda cool. I see Jordan Harmon all the time because his class is in the same building. So it's way cool.
I can't believe mom is only 1 hour away and I can't see her and Kenny is about a block away! (Tell Kenny to write to me about his experience) I can even here the efy kids screaming every day, so they are pretty close, but even though I can't see them, it gives me comfort to know they are right there.
Everyday I'm here I learn a lot, in meetings, devotionals, or just on my own. I love this gospel and I am coming to love and know my savior better more and more each day. I can't wait to share it with those in Chile.
Thank you so much for your love, support and faith in me. Thank you also for your prayers I know you are with me every step of the way and I can feel your prayers.
Oh and today I get to go to the temple for my first time being here! So I'm way excited. It's going to be awesome.
I love you all so much. Give my love to everyone.
Your Elder Pedersen
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