July 13, 2011

Soccer, magic tricks, and disappearing aparment complexes

What a roller coaster of emotion. and so much emotion. Up and down then up and then go smashing back down again. Haha but we´re all good. Sadly this week wasn´t too exciting. I went to Lider for my first time today. it´s owned by walmart so very simular but with chilean food. Man soccer! If i´ve already said this please forgive but its crazy! I´m kinda praying that Chile would loose. I know bad right? but they are in the american cup right now and when they play (I am not exaderating) No one is in the streets! no one will answer there doors! We just keep on walking looking in windows and seeing that every single person has the exact same television screen. I don´t know what to do its crazy. But the coolest noise ever is when they score. the entire city just explodes! people scream GOAL and the barges and boats in port blow their horns. It´s so cool. The other day we were doing a family home evening with these members and an investigator family. We played these awesome intense games and when you lost you had to do a chiste. (tell a joke or sing a song) I did head shoulders knees and toes but the one that got the laughs were my magic tricks! they were a hit! You know the ones when i throw my finger up and catch it. or the one i put a finger behind a cloth and two magically apear. yup those. Chileans are crazy about weight and achne. yeah when you got a white thing on your face they will be plenty kind enough to point it out. they´re also very embarassed when they got one. they try everything they can to have smooth skin. Oh also these apartment complexes next to us got titled as unsafe to live in after the earth quake. Its crazy cause they´re disapearing! the other night we passed two guys carying a part of the roof to their houses. You also see parts of these apartments starting to apear on random houses through out the city. Two apartment buildings are totally gone and there are like five left. Its like cocroaches. haha so anyway love and miss you all so so much. The Church is true.

Elder Valdez

July 07, 2011

Different Sort of Fourth of July

Elder Valdez looks a little chilly in Chile

Singing the Star Spangled Banner

TAPS

Watching their ONE firework (a flare some ward memmber had)

A Chilean Fourth of July

Very crazy that I´m freezing while you guys are BBQing! No fair! Haha actually today is so so nice! Just got back from the beach. we had a huge independance party there. with football, ultimate frisbee and tons of food. I´ll send pics. we were singing the national anthem when this random Chliean came out of his house and played the star spangled banner for us on his trumpet. we had him come and play it one more time while we sang and those are what the pics are. When we´re turned around its because for our "firework" one of the members launched a flair. It was pretty sick and a perfect way to celebrate. So get to meet my new president tomorrow! I hear he doesn´t speak english but that´s fine cuz the language is starting to take off really quick. With understanding more I realize how I have no clue how to talk! Haha its pretty frustrating but I can see all the progress. I was giving a quick lesson after almuerzo and when i was done the lady told me (in spanish)"I would of understood your lesson better if you just gave it english" Ouch huh? I thought it was pretty funny though. Oh! the spiritual part of the week! Everyone go find the movie (something like this idk cuz it was in spanish but) Treasures in Heaven: History of John Tanner. Muy Bakan! Its nineteen minutes long and the actor for Joseph is the same actor as the one in the new Joseph Smith the Prophet. Its so good and really made me dedicate my life to the Church. Its incredible and I feel so bad I didn´t know the story before.Other part of the spiritual part. Right before President Swenson left Sister gave an excellent testimoney of life. We all chose this! I know you´ve heard this but really really think about it. Idk how it worked in heaven maybe it was an interview or something but we chose this life. You really can´t get mad at God with things go wrong cuz you said "yeah i can do that. And I´ll do it faithful and return to You." Maybe you saw like a tape of some of the trials in your life and you agreed. We all agreed we´d follow the Savior no matter what! We aren´t victims. Even those who don´t know the Gospel knew it before and agreed to the life they would be given. IDK haha maybe I´m just being weird but this has helped me so much. If it helps just one of you too then its worth sending and looking weird haha:) Oh please say the pics are working. Cuz in one when we´re mopping up the down stairs, the ELder with glasses is elder Demke. He keeps me sane and alive. I just love that guy! but anyway yeah his brother in law is Jared Hess!!!!! Serio! So last night he showed me a bunch of pictures of him chilling with JACK BLACK! no fare right!!!! So if any of ya´ll wanna meet Jack Black i found away! haha you can know anyone in the world through seven people right dad? anyway sorry this one is long its just been a great week. Love you all and Miss you all very much.

Elder Valdez