Week of Christmas in a New Area

We couldn't find Kohler in this picture but he said he was there and  told us about Elder Christofferson being there.  What a wonderful experience it was for all the missionaries.

FOTOS CON ELDER CHRISTOFFERSON, ELDER WALTER F. GONZALEZ
PRESIDENTE GOATES Y CADA RESPECTIVA ESPOSA Y POR SUPUESTO LOS MISIONEROS DE TODA LA MISION ARGENTINA MENDOZA!

LLEGADA DE PRESIDENTE GOATES Y LA HERMANA GOATES.

President Goates enjoying the music of his missionaries!!

¡¡¡¡LAS ENCHILADAS MAS MEXICANAS!!!! ANDELE PUESSS...! A COMER!!  HECHAS BY  ELDER GARCIA CON AYUDA DE ALGUNOS MISIONEROS.

(My letter to Kohler before Christmas)

My sweet amazing missionary son,

You probably didn't know this, but YOU gave me the greatest gift a parent could ever ask for last week.  You told me that you hadn't received and probably won't receive all the packages I have sent you in time for Christmas---not even the one I spent a lot of $ on to have it sent Fed Ex to make sure you got it.  It broke my heart when I read that because I wanted so badly for you to have gifts from us to open on Christmas Day.  But then you wrote, "Mom, it's ok.  It's just another sacrifice on the plate of being on a mission in a foreign country . . . para el senor (for the Lord)."

Kohler, when I read that, I just wept.  I have been thinking about that statement over and over again this week.  Just a few days ago, I listened to a song on your playlist, "I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go" and the words of the third verse rang so true to my heart because I thought of you down in Argentina:

"There's surely somewhere a lowly place, in earth's harvest fields so wide

Where I may labor through life's short day, for Jesus the crucified.

But trusting my all to thy tender care, and knowing Thou lovest me.

I'll do thy will with a heart sincere, I'll be what you want me to be."

YOU ARE THAT SONG----You are doing every word of that song.  You are doing God's will with a sincere heart and you are becoming exactly what He wants you to be.  Kohler, by your faithful service to your Father in Heaven and your positive attitude when you found out you wouldn't have any gifts for Christmas---THAT in turn, became one of YOUR greatest gifts to me.  Does that make sense?  It's like it just came around full circle to me.  Maybe someday you will get those packages in the mail and until then, please know that we really tried and that we love you with all our heart!   But I can't even begin to thank you, Kohler, for your unwavering testimony and the strength you are to our family.  This truly is a Christmas gift I will remember forever.  

I can't wait to talk to you on Thursday!  Dad sent you the instructions for video chat.  I hope we can do this ok.  Hopefully you have been talking to other missionaries and have found out what works best, especially in the new area you are in.  I hope you will have an enjoyable week and feel lots of love from the members in that area.  I also hope you like your new companion.  

I love you so very much!!  Feliz Navidad Elder Chamberlain!  

Mamasita (btw, I love it when you say " love you tonz, sexy buns! "  ha ha You always make me laugh :)  

(LETTER FROM ELDER CHAMBERLAIN)

Hey sexy bunz haha;)

Mom I have sooo much to tell you when we talk this Christmas! I sent dad  a lot of stuff about the skype or oovoo that we'll do but it's gonna be hard... I have a gringo comp that's super cool but we don't know any of the members in this new area or if some of them have computers or what not and most of the cibers here don't have cameras or may not be open on christmas...

We'll be searching and I might come in tomorrow or Wednesday. Probs Wednesday cuz there's a little christmas party for all the missionaries but its split for half and half of the mission. 

Hey Mom thanks for saying that to me. It really does mean a lot. I didn't want to move before Christmas and I had a bad feeling. I guess I'll just tell you some of the things I have going on.

So our pench (apartment) it's just me and Elder Barton( from Kaysville Utah) who's super cool but our pench is pretty bad and I'm going to tell you about it later haha--

The good things are that the people here are super nice and receptive to us...the other elders here both left and had no investigators and nothing before us so we had to wash the area, but we found a grandma, mom and her son who has other children of baptizing age and they all came to church with us THE FIRST INVITATION!! Ma we are hoping to baptize a lot here! We have sooo many Abs which are abri la bocas and I forgot  how to say that in English....open the mouth/ contacting ok haha and a lot of people want us to come over...sooo I'm super excited for that. But hey I actually have to go now I'll talk to you later!! I'm doing super good here and I'M learning a lot ma!

Love you sooo much-- I'll talk to ya soon!!!

Elder Kohler Chamberlain:)

First Transfer Right Before Christmas

Hey Mom!

So Oriana's baptism didnt' go through because she needs 3 asistencias/ times going to church and the mom was mad because we have a super good relationship with her. But now I found out I'm leaving my area and going to San Juan which is extremely hot especially now that we're in the middle of summer...haha but ya now I can't go and baptize Oriana in the font and I have to tell her mom that today! So ya she's probs gonna have a tantrum that 2 new and random missionaries are going to baptize her daughter...if you see this please pray that she'll be calm. I've had to calm her down many times and when I do this either later today or tomorrow it will be hard for her cuz she's close with us.

So ya my new comp is Elder Barton. My first gringo!! I already know him cuz he works in the offices and we are going to have sooo much fun!! The only thing is I'm going to a new area so I won't know anybody there for Christmas. But I heard the 2 other things. They don't make a lot of food over there cuz it's pretty poor too but the people are super nice! I'm going to say goodbye to some members of my ward tomorrow. I leave for my new area with Elder Barton this Wednesday morning at like 11 or something from the offices.

So Elder O. is gone too.....MY Fave Christmas present!! Haha--- nahh I learned a  ton from him but it's better that we go our separate ways now. He'll be in his house by wednesday with about 20 or so other elders and sisters.

I'm sooo glad you liked the pictures!! I'm going to try and buy a cheap camera today so I can send more in the future!

I got The Romney's letter and Brother Mask's letter and I loved them both!! Tell the Romneys I wish Camry good luck and that I miss my trek ma( Sister Romney) haha! She's soo cool. If you see Bro. Mask, tell him that I'm for the Team River and he'll know what I'm talking about haha:) Its not a for sure thing but I'm thinking about doing it haha:) ( Futbol )

Hey ma so I got a letter from your package that you sent... It was a letter from Fed Ex saying its in Buenos Aires but they can't send it to me and we think it's an excuse soo they can steal whatever was in there....I'm soooo sad..... was there like sentimental stuff in there...?? plzz  tell me what was in there cuz actually I didn't know but President Goates said to not ask anybody to send packages cuz they won't get here... neither can I send them...Idk I guess that's just another sacrifice on the plate from being in a foreign country? It's whatevs... Para el senor:)

But ya I'll let you know how my new pension (apartment) is and how San Juan is! My apartment is actually pretty nice I heard so we'll see. Although I did hear that some of the areas are soo hot that they give you air conditioning!!!! Soooo that will be cool if I have AC!!

Hey I have to figure out the details again for skyping/calling etc.  Since I'm going to be in a new area for Christmas, maybe I'll be able to skype on Christmas Day now!

I love you sooooo much Ma. You're literally the best, most awesome woman I could have for a mom:)

Love, your son

Elder Kohler Chamberlain

Early Christmas for Mom and Dad!

(After 3 months of NO pictures, it was like an early 

Christmas present to get 6 photos from Elder C. !!)

Dad, that is soo awesome what you and mom did at the Nativity Festival in Merced!! I'm soo proud of you guys!! And the fact that grandma and grandpa were in charge of the whole thing makes me even more proud!! I come from a VERY high class and awesome hardworking family!!

Oriana is the little girl on the left.  She is the one who will be baptized next week!

We had an awesome week dad! Lots of teaching and yesterday was the best! It was a struggle but it was soo awesome!! We're getting a little girl named Oriana ready to be baptized this next weekend and I'm probably gonna do it! This whole family is ready--- it's just the dad! I had a good serious talk with him just us with my comp listening in for a while and bore my testimony hardcore to him. He says he's tried to have a testimony before but didn't get one. I don't think he really tried. I told him that it can take a lifetime to gain a testimony of all the little small things in the Book of Mormon. Dad, this family is soo close to having the blessings of what we have! There's only children in the family and the parents so they can basically be sealed in the temple after they're baptized! (with one year membership too ya -but still it's close!)

Man there's way too many dogs here too. I was in a members house too this week and they have a german shepherd and it literally bit my hand. "Bit" doesn't sound bad but it hurt for sure haha. He was all barking and I don't know why but I thought I could get his trust.  So, I took a piece of bread from off the table and tried to give it to him, and then literally, he just bites my hand. He doesnt even go for the bread just bites my hand. Freakin dog I was about to hit that mug! LOL I'm obviously good but ya ... didn't like it. 

Dad, I'm in such good shape! Burpees and I've actually been using a pull up bar too! It's one of the ones where you twist into the wall but it can be scary cuz sometimes I've fallen so I've always got my feet pointed at the ground. I look weird when I do it but I'm not falling like that ever again haha.

Some members of our ward and some less-actives.

Some very humble members of our ward having an Asado!

ASADO!

Hey I'm going to use my comps camera and I'm in another area right now in a members house so it's a different computer! I don't have my camera but I have my comps so we're gonna see!!

Love you all and I'll tell you when I get the packages!! I got several letters from you guys! One with some awesome drawings!! Love you guys!!!

Elder Kohler Chamberlain

Thanksgiving

Hey Mom-

Happy Thanksgiving!  That's soo cool about Maya saying that about me and Kelsey filming all of that! And the words from Uncle Scott-- that's sooo cool:) Hey so this week I'm going to find a place that has international phones and computers too to try out both. I won't be able to do it on Christmas because that is what I have been told but maybe if were stuck in a members house I could do it then I heard? Well see.  We just aren't supposed to be outside on Christmas--too dangerous.

Man for Thanksgiving I actually found 2 apple cider bottles! It was rough cuz it's all vino(wine) But ya I had that for thanksgiving...then the next day I had a lomo which is basically a giant steak, egg  pizza...its weird but is actually pretty good haha. Then  I had 2 huge asados later in the weekend sooo that was worth it haha! I missed you guys sooo much but I'm soo glad you guys are being blessed from it. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven and I'm all about that for sure!

So this week we've been teaching a lot and helped our Bishop build his house as usual for a service activity that we do a a lot. We're preparing Oriana Irusta to be baptized on the 13th of December so that will be cool! Her mom is an ex missionary too and is inactive so we're going to try to bring her back! Other than that just a lot of teaching and helping a poor old lady Elena,with her son. They have this super bad relationship because of money. The boy lent her 70,000 pesos(like 5-6 Gs in US$) and she can't pay him back and now her son is struggling and doesn't have a job. Elena is so sad but doesn't know what to do. I'm glad to know that when dealing with money issues like that you should never do it with family or close friends really because if something happened it could destroy the relationship. I'm really starting to learn that now.

Mom I'm eating a lot here but I'm working out a ton every day. I weigh about 160 but feel super good. My comp and I are getting along soooo well too!  The family's prayers are literally working and helping me a lot! Thank you sooo much!! President talked with my comp on the phone and the zone leaders met with all of us and talked with us. We're now doing random service opportunities for each other and were both feeling the spirit more stronger! Plus he's finally maturing in A LOT of the little things he would do. He's grown a lot ma so thxxxxx soooo much to you and everyone!:)

Hey mom and dad --- I love ya tonsss!!:) La futura es muy muy brillante y no necesitamos a preocupar sobre cualquiercosa!! Cuando tenemos el imagene in nuestros mentes vamos a attractar esa persona in nuestras vidas. Esa es fe! Ora para mas fe porque cuando tenemos mas fe tenemos mas consuejo!! FE=Accion! Fe sin obras es muerte tonce orar y servir in su llamamiento! YO oro para usted todo al tiempo ma! Eres la mejor!! Nuestra familia y yo podemos hacer esto!! Te Amo ma!!

Elder Kohler Chamberlain:)

PS: I hope you can translate that all correctly and if it's all correct too! haha!  love ya