"Pedal to the Metal" says Elder C.

Hey Pops,

Ya they loved the baptism! Karina(the mom) cried during her testimony in front of her family and her husband and that was really cool. It's cool when you get to experience convert baptisms. I really like that because the commitment they're giving is soo much more I feel. But still both very cool as you know.

I'm reading a lot of Jesus the Christ and some of it I don't understand but it goes a lot into detail about how things actually happened and more so on the things they don't talk about. Like brothers of Jesus, things about being born into the lineage of David, A LOT of things I actually didn't know. Everyday I try to read one of those bullet points in the how to win friends and influence people too and that has helped a lot. The reason why I wanted that book is because I could grow soo much with people that don't really care what they say to you. My comp is 1000x times better than the previous guy and is super fun but can be pretty arrogant and only focused on himself. But I don't care because I sincerely want to take every opportunity to grow that God gives me.

I've read all the other books that you guys gave me but I read them over and over again haha. That little blue missionary handbook has such helpful references! Whenever we'd get into arguments with evangelists or JW´s in their homes or on the streets a couple times it helps me a lot! It also talks about some cool legends in central america about a white God that came there, there are 1000´s of temples too with paintings of white and black men fighting each other( the lamanites and nephites) and people tell how they're related to the nation that destroyed the white people. Also a legend about a man named Hueman who would compile many ancient records in their time( Mormon) A lot of really cool evidences about the Book Of Mormon that I use in talks, testimony, lessons and stuff!

Love you tons dad! I'm killin' it out here and I won't stop. Pedal to the metal babe!!

Love your son,

Elder Kohler Chamberlain

Mom,

I love your screen saver:) They were an awesome family:)

I'm soo excited for your book mom! It's going to do really well! 

This week was good but just a normal week so nothing really happened.

I'm soo glad you and the fam are doing good! I heard Braden Braithwaite and his comp are struggling. His companion's father and brother died and he's been out in the field for like almost 2 and a half months...It made me think of dad's truck accident a couple weeks ago and I'm so grateful that I got to keep my father and brother. Unfortunately, he didn't . . . and I don't know why things like that happen. If you could pray for Braden's comp or tell Kelsey to write him? That would be super cool . I don't know his name. He's a latino from Mexico or somewhere.

Oh we actually have a mom and 2 sons along with a little less active girl who we're planning on baptizing on March 7th!  We'll see how it all falls together!

I love ya tonz Honey Bunzz haha! I'll talk to ya soon! 

Sorry this is a little short!  We're going bowling today and gonna get some good food!! I heard there's a place with some wings!? I doubt it's true but we'll see!

I love ya ma!

Love your son,

Elder Kohler Chamberlain

First Baptism!

Chaparro Family

Hey Mi Familia -
The baptism was super good! Ezekiel made his decision to be baptized the day he was baptized! He also decided as he was going into the baptismal font who was going to baptize him! I had just baptized his older sister so he chose my comp. We baptized 4 people and the bishop baptized the Mom. My comp got to baptize the little girl Leila too btw. But it was cool-- I have never actually gone into the water yet to baptize! We confirmed each one of them and had the bishop and other members confirm them members in front of the whole ward! I also got to give a 15 minute talk on Joseph Smith and got to talk about my experience of going to the sacred grove which was super cool. The spirit was super strong in that meeting!

Baptism Day! The dad is in the blue obviously. Sorry about the shadow in some of them mom! I baptized the oldest girl and my comp baptized the other two and the bishop on the end baptized the mom! They were all confirmed yesterday in front of the whole ward and we all participated! But we let the members do it to make better friendships with them!

Here are some photos of families from my last area (finally!)

Leon Family from last area.

German Chavez and his family from my last area!  Love this family!

The Martinez Family!!

 Me at the Dike/ Dam By Chimbas

Hey sorry I have to hurry ma cuz we have to go to the hospital to help out the sisters-- apparently something isn't good! I love you sooo and everyone sooo much!! Happy anniversary and valentines day to all!! THANKS FOR THE PICS AS ALWAYS!!

Love,
Elder Kohler Chamberlain

Baptism This Thursday!!

Mom-- just to start, there are 3 packages waiting for me in Mendoza and I'm sooo excited!  My good friend Elder Ruiz Diaz (the guy from Buenos Aires) is the new penscionista and he gets stuff like that. President gets mad when we get packages or send them but letters are fine. But we're super tight so he should get me my packages and perhaps send some letters! I just have to give them to the zone leaders every time they go up there for stuff for the zone meetings. The next mtg is tomorrow but they won't have it so I'll have to wait till the beginning of March to get them.

This week was rougher than usual so thank you for those prayers ma:) That's funny how you had that feeling. 

I've had cereal almost every breakfast and lunch haha.(we don't eat at night but sometimes we'll get a hotdog but its usually like 10:30 or 11 when we come back from walking so far)

We are trying to get Ezequiel (the boy in the Chaparro family) to get baptized with the rest of his fam too! So we are going to be teaching them everyday this week and they will literally all have the baptismal interview just hours before they're going to be baptized haha so were going to see how this will go!  We're trying to work with 2 other investigator families and about half the time they're just never home and it's a long way there. We got a less active family to church again this Sunday too! Estefenia, Nacho, and Sol. A little girl and a boy and a divorced mom. Her husband has been cheating on her and doesn't give her anything and they're pretty poor. I felt bad tho cuz we came over yesterday to get them for church and the mom was telling Nacho to drink his chocolate milk (breakfast) so we could go to church. So I was like "Nachito drink your milk!"( my comp and I call him Nachito-- it's just more funny haha) But he was saying "NO- I don't want to and was hitting me with this little bracelet thing. So of course I tried taking it and he pulled his arm back and my arm hit his milk all over him...He was NOT in his church clothes so that was good. But he started crying then literally just started laughing! ..it was kinda weird. The mom wasn't mad at us but then I started to clean it all up.   I took the cup to the sink and I'm washing it off. It slips out of my hand and falls in the sink and I'm like wow, that could've broke...but then I looked down and there was another glass broken!!...I didn't know what was happening but I felt sooooo bad!! So I went and told her(After the kids had done that for me LOL)  I told her I would pay for it but she refused of course. Anyway I just felt bad like were waking up these people to come to church and here I spill hot chocolate all over her 5 year old son and break one of her cups while trying to clean it. I was waiting for something else to happen but I just told myself that nothing more was gonna happen and thankfully nothing else did! 

But overall we had a really good time in church and we saw the Chaparro family there with all 3 of her kids which made us really happy! The 15 year old daughter Rosa wants me to baptize her so I'm super excited! The mom is going to have the bishop baptize her and maybe I can baptize the other kids? We'll see. Please pray for the Chaparro family to endure till this Thursday! And then forever after!

Anyway that's a story I had this week. Everything else is good really and the mission is just being the mission and I'm grateful for all of it. I will pray for Sister Schmidt and for her to recover. That's really sad. I know if she has faith that she'll come out. Something I've heard from a missionary is that people in those types of situations can really come closer to God. But what was more interesting( And kinda different) Is that he said they should pray to see if it's their time to leave this life and if there's anything that Heavenly Father would like for them to do before they leave. It's kinda a scary thought but if we know it's God's will I guess it's better? I don't know-- I wouldn't want to receive an answer if I was going to die but that's something I heard and I thought it was interesting. Tell her she's awesome and that she can do it! She has a missionary in Mendoza Argentina praying for her!:)

Hailey looks sooo good! I'm soo proud of that little girl! She's too funny ahaha. Spencer is just a giant and I don't know what he's going to look like when I get back. I wouldn't doubt if he's that much better at piano now to be honest.

I love you mom!! I hope all is well with you, your book, calling and everything!

Hey we're coming back later today to finish our emails so I'll write dad and them!

PS: Hey can you tell Brother Mask that I want to write him?? He never answered me-- I want to tell him about certain things going on here! I know he can relate to since he served in Argentina. I would REALLY appreciate that. I look up to him soo much and he's helped me with a lot of things in my life. Anyway thanks ma love ya!

7 months and Going Strong!

Hey Everyone -

I know 7 months-- it's crazy! Really it's my 5th transfer so it's 7 and a half because there each 6 weeks long yaa!

Everything is super good up here it's just always soo hot. I literally take a shower then shower in my garments and go to bed like that with nothing cuz it's so hot. Which by the way, that temperature you saw is in Mendoza where it's nicer. I'm in the hottest zone in the whole mission during the hottest time of the year called San Juan. It's pretty poor with just a bunch of dirt streets and at nights there's always a million people out just toping on their mate (pronounced mah-tay) tea...They say they are busy when we try to talk to them so it's super annoying but it's whatever.

I'm actually in Mendoza right now and I spent the night with all the elders and the APs in the office pench (apartment). It's super nice and they have AIR CONDITIONING!! Wow that was the first time since the mtc I felt AC. Ya that was super nice to have!  (didn't realize that LOL) But my comp is having an interview with President for something he feels like he needs to clear up. Sooo to be honest I'm a little nervous for him and don't know what to expect. He's actually talking with him right now and I'm in the secretarios office writing:)

Hey, in that picture you sent, Spencer standing next to dad is sooooo huge!! Is he taller than Kelsey?? If so he's probably taller than me which is toooo weird! Hailey looks bigger too! I don't understand it! That needs to happen more at the end of my mission cuz now they're going to grow even more!! It's just too weird for me!

That's super cool that dad and the priests got to go up there and ski! That sounds like a lot of fun right now.

Hailey is a boss at the piano ma--- and she always was so I wouldn't doubt it that she could do that! She's always been able to play super good songs and play them for people when she was like 4 or 5 years old!

I hope Grandpa is doing better. I have been praying for him to recover. I hope everything with Grandma is doing good too. Hey how is Grandma Chamberlain doing with her calling too? I always pray for you and her in your callings because you guys are in positions to really help and change a lot of people for the better.

The Chaparro family came again! It's soo far to go to church also from their house! We didn't get back to the pench until after midnight the other night and had to wake up at 6 to go get them again!( Just for the discipline) We were at their house doing a family night this last Saturday and we always play this game I learned from my other comp. We take our ties off and one tie is the dog and the other a raton/rat. Every person has to tie the rat tie twice around their neck and the dog tie all just one time. The point is when the dog tie catches the rat tie that person is out. They had the whole family there with a cousin that also went to church so were going to try and teach that family too! We will get that whole family baptized and the dad too. It's going to happen. The mom, Karina, was talking with the bishop and us.  She was crying saying I've never seen my kids this happy and me as well. They have so many good friends here and they're always soo excited when the missionaries come over. This was super cool for me cuz this one kid I always thought he thought he was too cool for us but he's really starting to open up now and be more accepting even tho he's just 13 years old. He's a solid kid.

That's our main family. Other than that we visit and bring other less actives and other investigators and we spend a lot of time just talking in the streets.

Everything is good here and I can't believe in just 3 more transfers I'll be at a year...I'll still feel somewhat new. When you look back it was fast but when you look forward it's harder. Just look back and see how much you've done and feel good about it rather than look ahead and think-- oh wow look at all I have to do. That's really helped me.

Well, love ya ma!  I hope all is good with you dad and the fam!!

LOVE,

Elder Kohler Chamberlain

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