6 Weeks in San Juan . . . already!

Mom-- this week was so awesome! We've found several new families that we are going to teach and one that we found on wednesday and taught, and they came to church and we have a baptismal service for 4 of them feburary 14th! The Vera family is avoiding us so we might have to drop them. We were going to have their baptism yesterday but we couldn't cuz they're not progressing. We also had a super serious conversation with a strong man that's in no church but knows the bible very well. His wife and sister were members but they said they left the church cuz they read the bible...? So we taught them and we talked A LOT about polygamy, baptisms for the dead, infant baptism, and other things but mainly those. He's super respectful and we were able to answer all thanks to the holy ghost cuz they were pretty hard to answer. He'll be baptized for sure and be one of those super strong members again and bring back his family too were hoping!

Ya I don't know exactly what I felt that night but I had never in my life felt something like that before. My comp actually had been taunting and saying dumb things about the adversary and we were talking about the sons of perdition and saying how many there could be if they all got up on missionaries and the number was pretty big haha. But it gave me a testimony that because there's an adversary(devil) then there is a God. Because with one thing there's always something contradictory I've learned. Like if we know happiness then we know misery. If we know pain it's because we've felt good health and we know what it's like!

Thanks for sharing that experience you guys had in the temple and in the spanish session haha! That must have been pretty cool! Ya it was kinda hard realizing what could've happened. I can't imagine what dad felt when that happened to him on his mission when Grandpa Chamberlain died--- and I admire him so much for FINISHING too...wow.

We worked hard this week and had good success from the Lord. We were super tired this week and we slept for a little bit a couple days cuz now we stay out till 10:30 at night cuz there are a lot of people out at night more than the day. We were at someone's house till 12 two days this week and I didn't get into bed till about 1:30-2 with traveling/walking back and showering etc. Haha but it was a really good week!

Yes I am reading 2 pages a day of Jesus the Christ and sometimes more! I think I'm on page 26 or something right now! I read a lot of other things like those other books that HELP SO MUCH with those super hard questions thank you soooo much!! I can win any bible battle I have now ahaha!

I love you tons ma! I'm doing good because my family and I are receiving blessings that are too much!( like my family not being killed in a car wreck) That's pretty worth anything that I go through here I'd say!

Our transfer ends this week and I can't believe I've been in this area for 6 weeks already! That was fast! Love you all!!

Love your son and yes you said that right when you said "Te amo mi ijo misionero!" haha

Tu hijo,

Elder Kohler Chamberlain

Dad - 

Wow what a story. That's crazy that all of that happened just soo fast! I worked extra hard this week and we had a family come to church this week! We're going to work with her and her family! She's just scared of being rejected by her hardcore evangelical parents and catholic husband so we're going to work hard and I know God is preparing their hearts to hear the gospel!

Let this event from you almost dying put things more enforced into perspective than they already were dad.:)

Hey tell me about the work? Are you doing the car giveaway? Tell me what you're thoughts and plans are for this quarter? In my free time I just keep getting what I feel and think to be would be very good business ideas. I feel very confident and happy about them. Which by the way I have something to tell to Spencer about his flip books!

I love you sooo much dad I hope all is well!! Thanks for being who you are in my life.:)

Love your son,

Elder Kohler Chamberlain

Tom and Spencer's Truck Accident

This letter is in response to Elder Chamberlain finding about Tom and Spencer's truck accident.  We sent him a few photos and it hit him really hard that a miracle had occurred:

Tom took this photo of the truck that morning as they were loading up from the campout.  He thought the truck looked so good against the sunrise sky that he thought of taking a picture of it.  Tom really loved that truck!  Who would have known a few hours later it would look like this?

Dear Family -

I don't really know what to say right now. It's kinda hard for me to understand, Let alone talk. I'm the one that's shocked right now.

If only you could see me right now--I'm just tearing up at this little old computer not really knowing what to say...I don't know if I can write any other emails so I'm just going to write this one. I'm going to write dad one too and one for Spence.

The fact that they're not paralyzed, physically limited for life, scarred for life or anything and the fact that in one of the pics dad looks like he's freaking laughing and smiling along with Spencer--- I'm honestly really grateful that you guys all said that it's because of ME being out here but receiving a blessing like that for you guys from my missionary work...I just don't know if that's really from me. That's something soo incredible and I feel like I'm not even worthy to receive a blessing like that. The blessing is just soo big in itself. I mean, ya I'd like to think it's from me but I'd feel bad I just...I don't know. 

You know the mission isn't easy and I don't think it will ever get easier. As missionaries we're told to never talk about these things but obviously being out here it's hard and you guys don't see and hear a lot of the things I do and go through. And I'm not alone--- I talk with friends serving and I see   lot of other challenges for other missionaries. Sometimes I wonder in all honesty, " Man...what would I do if that happened to me and I knew there wasn't one thing I could do about it?"  I just have to keep doing the same thing I already do everyday.

Not too long ago my comp and I were having a slow day and the thought came to my head of...is all of this worth it...?  Like is it really all worth it from what I give to people and what they give me?  I feel like I'm constantly putting something else more on this giant plate of sacrifice and I wonder when it will be full enough to not have to put anymore on.  But then I think of the Savior and I know it will never be full enough.

I didn't think much in this. It was just when I was working out early one morning. But the reason I say all of this is because I have received my answer to a prayer that I didn't even say. I had never asked God if I would receive sufficient blessings for this mission and the things I give. So I would just go on with the usual daily grind of talking to people that knew just about everything on religion. But coming into this little ciber cafe, I know what I'm getting--or more so what I got. I got to keep my father and Spencer in my lives, and GOOD and Healthy and PERFECT as they already were (Spencer you're a stud giving a freakin' thumbs up after something like that what the heck bro?!...Dad too man!!) 

So, I know what I'm going to be doing for the rest of today and my blessings for this mission. I would say my blessings have already been used up for serving in my eyes after something like this. 

This email is more or less intended for all just cause I don't know if I can write all of this again to each of you. 

I just want to tell you all now that...I know the things we believe in are true. I know that God is watching Every SIngle Thing in the moments they are happening.  I don't know why God saved Dad and Spence from this, But if I could try to even begin to put my shoes in his I would have to say it's because they have more things to do for their growth. Perhaps not so much their growth but the growth of others.  If I had to think of something it would be along those lines.

I'M BEYOND GRATEFUL that Dad and Spencer are alive and not mentally limited/paralyzed/one of the many things that was very weird to NOT have happened.  I think anyone that would hear this story would say it was a miracle.  I love you guys so much.  Yes I love my stud Spence and I love my Dad. I'm grateful to say I'm not fatherless or without a brother. You two are some tough people. Spencer I hope you can hear me when I say that! God had to try EXTREMELY hard to not only keep you two from dying, but also to keep you perfectly the way you were before. I cannot nor could not keep myself from saying that this would only mean that God does not just have big things more for you to do, but that they are uniqe in purpose and can only be done by you two. Now is the time to simply praise and thank God, and find out what it is He wants us to do. Spencer I will write another email to you on mom's email but I would openly invite you so the fam can help you out to prepare to receive your Patriarchal Blessing. I have read mine here in Argentina many times and it's not that long, but I have found many new meanings to personal problems and questions that I have had. 

I'm glad you're alive and you're all back to normal. But please take this and ask yourselves why this would happen. Take the time to think about WHY God wants you here. Some of the general and more easily perceived answers you may be thinking of like Spencer serving a mission and Dad as well, our future families etc. are true I wouldn't doubt it. But God has seen every perception possible, and I wouldn't doubt He wants you to see some of these things and possibly others in a different light. I feel the spirit very strongly right now and would strongly invite you to do these things. Pray and Ponder while reading the Scriptures. I love you all so much and I can't wait to email you guys again next week. Stay strong and as Kelsey says and said to me...God is good....remember that....haha until next week fam!!:)

Love your son and brother,

Elder Kohler Chamberlain

2015 First Letter

Mom-- I'M sooo happy I got to talk to you guys! I'm glad you like my video too haha! I wasn't sure exactly what to say but it's just what came to my head haha.

That's cool that Amber and them are doing good and having fun! I'm glad Amber has a boyfriend.

I didn't know the book Jesus the Christ was written in the temple? I should read it! I will totally read it with you! Let's just make it a habit to read like at least 2 pages a day. Something small and simple. I always do that for everything so I can create consistency because I've learned more than ever if you want something, it doesn't matter literally how much of it you do really, you NEED to be consistent. Let's do it!

I'm glad Grandpa is feeling better! I had fasted for the longest time ever yesterday and put grandpa along with many other people and things in my prayers.

We were going to have 9 people go to church with us from 3 different houses that we had to walk to. All very far apart. NONE of them came...yeeeeaaaaa!!  Haha its all good tho. We'll for sure get them next week! We just have to push 3 baptism dates from the 17th of january to the 24th now. 

Tell Spencer that's exactly how it is. He just has to do it. Nobody likes it but when you do it you're beating all of the people that aren't doing that so you're above the crowd and more unique! He'll become successful that way I know it. I'm soo proud of that guy.

Mom actually could you tell Spencer to write me? I'll just tell you sometimes at night or after studying for a little bit my mind will receive ideas for the future I want to create. I'm very focused on missionary work but it's more of a little hobby I have on the mission in my free time haha! I feel as if they're blessings from working hard and these ideas I have just make a  lot of sense. I like them a lot and I have a lot of faith in them. I'm soo soo grateful for the confidence and faith I actually have and I know they're blessings from my Heavenly Father. I know I will achieve the success I want here in the mission and for my future. I Just know I will, I can literally feel it. 

I need to try and send pictures but I haven't here yet in this ciber! I'm just always busy writing but maybe some weeks I'll write a lot less and just send pictures. Tell me what you guys want!:)

Te amo muchissimo ma, Espero que tengas un buena semana!  Chao!( People say chao all the time but it's an Italian thing soo it would make sense haha)

Elder Kohler Chamberlain