Two Posts - Feb. 8th and Feb. 15th 2016

Elder Ruiz Diaz and me

My District in San Luis

Feb. 8

Hey Family and friends,

So Elder Bennett is gone and I'm with Elder Johnston until my new comp Elder Escobar (from here) comes. I don't know him but it should be good! I just hope he's a good worker that's all haha. 

But this week was kind of sad and frustrating because Franco decided that he didn't want to get baptized. He's afraid of the water and was too tired to come to the baptismal interview. The mom was saying that it's his choice and that if he wants to sleep in or is afraid of the water its his choice. So we kind of see now that the problem is with the mom for not helping and teaching her child to get baptized and so we dropped a little cane on her BUT with love so its all good:) If children aren't baptized by the age of 8/aren't taught the principles of the gospel the sins of the children will fall over the heads of the parents and soo it's sad but the Lord himself has said it. We have to teach it how it is.

But we're going to try a little bit more and see how we can help them. Maicol was really sad that Elder Bennett left and we put another baptismal date for him to get baptized on the 27th of this month. So please help and pray that he'll be ready and stop smoking and understand enough to make the choice to be baptized that day that would be awesome thanks!!

Anyway, those are some bad and good things that happened this week! Much love to you all!

Elder Chamberlain

Feb. 15, 2016

Hey family and friends!

So Valentine's Day in Argentina?  Haha they say its the day of the lovers but nothing happens. Nobody gives anybody anything or does anything. I think its more of an American thing to be honest.  Wow Dad---that's way cool what you read in sunday school. I'm gonna read that! I've been reading a lot in the bible lately in my studies. I'm trying to read from 1 Samuel to the end of Kings. There's some cool stuff in there about how blessed those people are.

So Elder Bennett is gone and he'll be one of my fav comps in the mission for sure. A wayy good guy and a super hard worker until the very end. Truly a good example to me and many others.

Now I'm with a way cool elder from Mexico named Elder Escobar! We get along wayy good and we're working a lot! We're really just trying to find news (new investigators) because Franco left the other day for Chile and so did several others soo haha we just lost our prime people for a couple weeks. But it's ok --we need to find more news and we should always be doing it.

Other than that I made my comp already some of my famous honey bbq wings (I'm like known for that now in the mission here ahaha) My comp loved them and next Sunday he said he's gonna make me some tacos so I'm wayy happy to get some mexican food! yeesssssss.

But ya it was a good week with a lot of clapping/knocking doors etc and getting to know each other.   My relationship with President Goates is pretty good. I don't know how he is compared with other mission presidents but he seems more on the strict side as I've said before but he's an amazing man and I have learned a TON from him. He's very close to the Lord. I always respect the decisions that he makes because he knows best even if I thought different. 

Special shout out to Sister Schmidt for being an amazing woman and for her example to endure through trials! Cancer's got nothing on you Sister Schmidt!  You can do this! My comp and I will be praying for you:)

Much love to all of you---Ciao!!

Elder Chamberlain

This is Marcelo Riveros.  He helps the missionaries a lot.  Also this is Elder Bennett--- a way cool missionary from Tucson

Goodbye to the people of San Raphael

Jacqueline and Oscar Gatica

We made honey bbq wings for the Gatica family.  They loved them!

Hey Everybody,

So this week we said goodbye to A LOT of people that I've come soooo close with!  I'm going to San Luis Ampia with a porteño from Buenos Aires. It should be really cool!  Last week I didn't know I was going for sure but I planned on it because it was really likely that I was going to and if I didn't do it I wouldn't have had time to say goodbye to anybody. It would be like I just disappeared (which happened for several missionaries that were unexpectedly leaving) As I was saying goodbye to a ton of people this week  it was pretty hard. I didn't cry in front of any of them!! But some of the hermanas almost made me ha. I know I'll see them again when I come back with you guys:)  I was able to leave my testimony for a lot of them and with some I was able to share a favorite scripture of mine which is in Helaman 5:12. It's the one about the rock of Christ and if we build on it we won't fall. And I was able to share it with a lot of less actives and ONE family that we were able to bring back! The Aguilera family! They're officially coming back to church and it makes me soo happy! :) 

We had stake conference this last Sunday and the stake president talked a little about the member attendance. There are 5000 members in San Raphael and we have the biggest zone in the mission. We only have 600 that are active.  It was a surprising statistic but it's all good! The stake and apparently the Church is focusing a lot on increasing the priesthood and the leaders are encouraging us to work more with men that can prepare to have the holy priesthood.

Oh my gosh-- I'm so sorry about those people that died in Gilbert and in Europe...I heard something from an old lady about a lot of people died in a concert in Germany haha but ok...soo there were hundreds that died and in France...ya it's been a sad week.

Hey I haven't gotten any packages here at all. Maybe theres that one that that sister brought here but I won't know until the next zone meeting and were probs not gonna go to the offices when we go to mendoza. Tomorrow is when well have the meeting with all the mission and some Seventies over this area and right after the meeting we're all leaving to our new areas with our new comps...it's gonna be pretty crazy with 250 missionaries and those that are leaving with their suitcases and everything haha.  

So, to answer your question, Mom - we don't have a relief society president BUT we have a girl that teaches the gospel doctrine classes and the bishop's wife helps too and I think she has multiple callings. We don't get a whole lot from the ward but there's some hermanas that help us with clothes and giving us lunch!!  We have really good lunches here!

I'm trying my best out here and only care what the Lord wants me to do. I trust him more than anybody and have learned in some of the most fearful time in my mission here to trust Him. All he wants us to do is try our best and leave it in his hands.

Hey I have to go but I love you all so much. Have an awesome week:)

Love your son,

Elder  Chamberlain

Halloween Day P-Day Activities

Old Divorce Laws Still Prohibit Some Baptisms

Elder Houghton and Elder Chamberlain

Hey Everybody!

So this week was sad but still happy. Sad because we found out that those that had filed divorces using the old system would have to continue using that old system and those that hadn't made a file for a divorce could use the new system and have the divorce papers done within a couple months...It was kinda sad because it literally means that the Peña family can't use this new system at all and that they will have to continue waiting for years to get baptized..Also this is sad but still ok! The family that found us and wanted to be baptized live in the other elders area..Soo we had to give them over to them haha. They were super cool but we can't baptize them in our ward. I'm just glad they're all getting baptized ---that's what matters no?

Also we were able to make good progress with a lot of our investigators! The appt with Andrea and Tomas was awesome! We taught them and I got to teach them how to make some honey bbq wings after!  It was a lot of fun!  Also we got to teach Veronica and she's doing good! Later in the week we found her walking out of a small store and she had just gotten some injections. I didn't know why she was there and not in bed because she was suuupppperrr out of it. Ahaha like she was just mumbling in spanish and trying to say my name. Kower...Kowver. A lot of people when they ask for my real name struggle pronouncing it haha.

That's a quick view of what we did and what happened this week. Thank you for all of your prayers for my safety and well being too--- those are always nice ha! Much love to everyone have a great week!

Elder Chamberlain


(letter to his Dad)

Hey Popz!

Ya going up to the San Juan islands would be super cool. You know more than anything when I get back I'd love to go up to Lake Tahoe with all of you guys. That'd be really cool for me.

Ya this week was a good one! Our investigators are progressing! It's just if I leave at the end of this transfer in 3 weeks I won't be able to baptize them and someone will literally come in and baptize them. That's happened in all of my areas. But its whatever as long as they're baptized is what I try to say. Which it's true --I want them to be baptized more than me just wanting to baptize them.

Haha ya the other week I gave a family of 6 all blessings! Some for comfort and others health. I get to do that a lot. The other week for a couple of hermanas too. Sometimes more than I should because it seems that whenever someone is just sick they call the elders.. not even like any members that we do have in the ward but its just elders all the time! 

Yesterday I got to play piano as always, give a 20 minute talk on the family, lead in the classes and teach the young mens class haha. We get to do a lot which is cool cuz we learn a lot but the goal is to get the wards self sufficient.  We try to teach and we end up doing a lot anyway. 

Hey dad much love. You're an awesome example --thank you for always leading me in the right direction. Before I get off the computer,  I talked about you in my talk and how you(and mom) always helped the family do our prayers, read scriptures, and do the things that the Lord has asked us to do. Thanks for always doing those things with us.

Love your son,

Elder Chamberlain

4th of July Fun!

Hey Ma!

Yes I officially have one year in the mission and it’s crazy!!

I hope you got some pics on the 4th of July! They were taken when we were eating wings.  We also had a lemon pie that Elder Muhlstein made! Two hungry little kids came in and were just staring at the food so we shared with them.  I felt super good sharing with them and making that sacrifice because it is beyond my favorite food...annnd I’m in Argentina haha so it’s not easy to find good food like that!

Wow Cancun!  I’m soo glad you guys had fun! I can imagine ya the drinking and all.. I heard at those mayan tours Mom that you can get mormon led tours that relate to symbols and things in the Book of Mormon. Apparently there’s a place where the tree of life is engraved! I don’t know if you heard about that but there’s a missionary from here and he told me there are a lot of members there and he has family members that do those tours! Most of the tour guides are members and Keaton told me that  cuz his comp is from there!  Tell me if you heard anything about that. That would be cool!

We made the best BBQ wings for the 4th of July!

 I heard about President Packer dying.  It’s really sad but also happy because he lived a great life.  Also it is super sad that the United States has completely legalized gay marriage. The church has issued an official statement to be read in all meetings very soon and we’ve actually already read it. We are NOT of the world. The laws of man surely do not change the laws of God. People here think that God is man and woman because He had His son Jesus Christ and all of us without a woman. The scriptures do not mention a heavenly Mother at all, only that God would not command us to do something if He were not to keep it himself. Man is not created with man but with a woman. It is not of God. People need to read in Genesis how God created the woman for the man and commanded them to replenish and multiply the earth. For this reason woman was created. Not 2 men.

Anyway if anybody asks you about why does the church not support gay rights tell them that...

I love you soo much Ma!! You’re the best!!

Love your son and best friend,

Elder Chamberlain

Hey Dad!

Hey I loved your letter last week! I’m so sorry I didn’t respond. I had a pretty crazy week.

.

This week was good! We had an investigator come to church! Her name is Lumilla and her parents are really abusive is what we’ve heard from a ward family that brought her to church. She’s about 10 or so? Anyway we’re going to see what we can do and help her out the best we can. Hopefully we can help her parents to not do whatever they’re doing because abusive can be several things as I’ve seen here in the mish before.

I’ve received several letters from you while at work dad! Thank you sooo much! You have grown soo much. I can hear it as you type. You just get it. You’re sooo hungry for success and it will only keep coming:)

I love you soo much dad thank you for everything!

Love your son,

Elder Chamberlain

This isn't my book but look what our schedule was like on the 4th of July!  President let us have the afternoon off :)

Elder Chamberlain in San Raphael

June 8, 2015

Hey Mom!

Wow that's awesome about Dayton's placque being next to mine and your fun trip with dad!  I hope you guys had fun!:)

That's going to be exciting when you guys go to Nauvoo!  Mom, I can't tell you how many times I can say that I've been to the place where Joseph Smith saw God and his son Jesus Christ. It has literally helped my testimony soooo much! It's awesome to be able to say I've gone there!

Mom, I love my area but even more my comp and my pench! I don't have to use buckets anymore to shower after like 4 months or so ahaha! 

I love the members here but there were only about 26 members there and that was including us...haha but a lot more were gone than usual so it's ok! We're gonna fill it!

Hey I have to go and I don't have much time today to write, but everything is good! I'll send pics of my new pench which it's soo nice and I'm soo grateful! As well as my comp and what not!:)

Miss and love ya ma!!

Love,

Elder Chamberlain

June 15, 2015

Dear Dad,

That's soo cool about the experiences Mom and the kids had there in Nauvoo! I wouldn't doubt it was life changing. My testimony of Joseph Smith has grown so much along with the Book of Mormon!

Love the pics---- that was really cool to see that door (the one where the bullet was where Hyrum Smith was killed)  I've shown that movie or the shortened version to investigators and members a lot for family nights and other events.

Wow so ya-- Jake and Trevin are back!?  That's soo crazy! I remember writing Trevin when he just had a year in the mission when I was in the MTC! That is sooo crazy how fast that went! Wow ya Jake's mission is a lot different than mine. He's dealt with some pretty hardened people up there.

That's cool how Trevin talked about that. When people receive that seed to grow it will dry up if not nourished. It's sad for a lot of people to watch it. Us missionaries are just to provide the water and sunlight through Jesus Christ and then they have to use it for their own good.

Wow So I love my comp!  He's sooo awesome! Dad so ya yesterday was my official day for going home in one year but WE MADE FREAKIN HONEY BBQ WINGS!!!! I CAN'T TELL YOUUUU HOWWW GOOOD THEY WEREEE!!!

They weren't Buffalo Wild Wings and to be honest I can't even remember what they taste like but THEY WERE SOO GOOD! WE LEARNED HOW TO MAKE THEM AND THEY WERE SURPRISINGLY SOOOO GOOD!! Just no ranch dressing....BUT I WAS SOO GRATEFUL!!!

I will send you all pics of what we did to fry them and sauce them up ahaha.

Ya so basically I love my comp but we had an ok week. One family dropped us after the previous missionaries had been teaching them for 5 months cuz they're family convinced the Dad (who was the one with a testimony and praying and growing) that they're already Catholics and they shouldn't change. So the Dad told us that he wasn't going to work with us anymore...it was sad but its their choice.

It's pretty cold here right now and we don't have to move apartments from that guy that threatened to hurt us because apparently our renter person, Duena, she's very respected in our neighborhood and she told this guy to stop because now they're having to move and they were really good to me! So he came and apologized to us and told us we can walk on that street whenever we want. So were going to tell President that we're all good but he has the final word.

Our bishop is cool and I'm playing piano now and going to learn new hymns too. I'm playing for a choir in our ward conference "Count your many blessings" so that will be fun! I also played for our zone conference which it's only our zone that meets cuz its the biggest in the mission with 34 people. Hermana Goates (President's wife) said I play really well so that made me feel pretty good.

Anyway all is well with the work and we found several people this week that we're going to try and teach this week. One was a guy who was really receptive in the street and we're going to teach him and his family this week!

Much love Dad I miss you tonzz!! Cuidate che;)

Te agradezco papa gracias por ser un gran ejemplo para mi:)

Elder K Chamberlain