Carlsbad 4th Ward or Parque Subercaseaux - June 20, 2018

Buen Dia Chiquillos!! 

We had changes and it was a super big bummer summer to leave Portezuelo but I am absolutely loving Parque Subercaseaux!! AHHHH!!! It is pretty much a replica of Carlsbad 4th ward. The bishopric is hilariously identical to the bishopric in C4, the moms are super natural and all the young women are super cute and fun ;) Im not just trying to win brownie points back home. Its totally true! But im super happy here in this ward, I instantly felt right at homeand super welcomed when i got here. Keep killing it out there C4.

I am training a little lola from Argentina! Her accent is a little hard to understand. She always sounds like she is shushhhhhing me if you get what i mean but she also speaks perfect english so i pretty much hit the jack pot. It is like having a human dictionary with me everywhere i go. But seriously, she is the absolute best. I have never cliqued so well with any of my companions like i have with her. We make contacting and getting rejected fun and we are always looking for a haitian to start a rap battle with. But we have to stop doing that because one haitian (who looked exactly like lil wayne) took it the wrong way and he asked me if we could go salsa dancing sometime. 

We are in a white wash which means we are pretty much starting from ground zero! We have been contacting everyday to find new people and we finally had our first miracle! We were originally looking for an other person in this house but a grouchy old lady came out trying to scare us off. We began to joke with her and play games with the cards we were passing out and she totally let her guard down with us. Apparently she had experience with the missionaries and she almost got baptized but then the missionaries just dropped off the face of the earth basically. She was a fiesty one so we had to trick her into letting us come back and visit her. We did a couple bets and my comp and i ended up winning two visits back with her! We are super stoked to see what happens with her!

I hope you all are doing super well and i hope you all know how much God truly loves and cares about you! He is so mindful of you and knows what is best for ya. Seek out his guidance and trust in the plan that He has for you!

Ps. People here eat chicken feet. (Pic down below)

Con mucho cariño, Hermana Pulsi (chileans still cant pronounce my name)

From President Gwilliam

“Have you received his image in your countenance” …what, how and then what?

This powerful question put forth by the prophet Alma, stirs a remarkable mental picture that I have, up until recently, taken purely as a metaphor…to be added to a list of those that I couldn’t quite understand.  

It is found in verse 14 of Alma, Chapter 5, which is the first part of a number of incredible teachings of pure doctrine that the High Priest set out to “deliver to the people in their cities and villages throughout the land”.  Remember Alma and others are quoted in the Book of Mormon as saying that the only sure way of changing the direction of people’s lives was to teach the “Doctrines of Christ”.  We share this assignment, with exactly the same objective.

Our Mission study topic this change cycle will be these profound teachings with a focus on the question Alma raises regarding our countenances.  Let’s see if collectively we can come to understand what he is trying to say.  Are we to look like Christ?  Is there a way to actually receive this gift? How will we recognize it when it happens and then, what should we do to retain the gift? 

This will mean a very detailed and diligent study of this Chapter as well as a search of related scriptures with topics such as: Likeness, Change of Heart, Faithfulness, Works, Covenants and Consecration.  As we do this as part of our daily studies and planning, focused on the needs of our investigators, I believe it will broaden our thoughts and enlighten our work.

Let me start with some yes or no questions that Alma raises in order to get the attention of those he was teaching.

§ Have you spiritually been born of God?

§ Have you experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

§ Do you exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?

§ Do you look forward with an eye of faith to stand before Him in confidence?

§ Do you walk, keeping yourself blameless before God?

§ Do you realize that regardless of the answers to these questions, at this time, you are always able to repent (change) and start to say yes?

Wonderful family of this Great Mission…let’s learn together and lift each other up.  As we do this, not only will our outlook on the experiences of each day change, but indeed we will draw ever closer to the blessings He is determined to pour out upon us.

This we promise and truly see taking place every day.

Abrazos Fuertes de Amistad y Apoyo,

President and Sister Gwilliam