Rejoice!

Played tennis in the street with an investigator before the lesson, using a construction barrier as the net :) We had a ward Christmas Party and two of our investigators came! Fruit cake is really popular here during the holiday seasons. They love it, haha. We also have been given a lot of sweets so we pass them out while contacting. Hermana Wurdel and I spoke in Sacrament Meeting on Christmas Eve. Soledad, one of our investigators, told us after that she knows without a doubt that everything is true and hugged us with happy tears. Our mamita Hermana Marcela made a huge Christmas Eve dinner for our district. President Diaz gave us permission to stay out as long as wished. We opened gifts at midnight, a tradition in Chile, and played games. The Viejito Pascuero (Santa Claus) visited us = a cat got in our house and ate Hermana Wurdel´s Christmas cookies :) I love being able to testify to God´s children of His love for them, that He sent His Son, and that we can return to live with Him again. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me. Because of Him, we can be pure even as He is pure when we stand before our Maker. "Now have we not reason to rejoice? My joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my Godñ for He has power, all wisdom, and all understanding He comprehendeth all things, and He is a merciful being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on His name. Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of God." Alma 26:35-36
Love, Hermana Jerman

Christmas Eve dinner

Christmas Call

Here is our family picture for Christmas 2017!

We got to Skype with Alicia on Christmas Day at 12:00 noon.  We were a bit slow to have the right account up, then suddenly we could see and hear her.  Her hands flew to her face with tears of joy.

Overwhelming emotions

Zac showed her our new snow.
She is in summer there.

Tears on her check for most of the call.

She couldn't hear us so Jason connected with his Ipad.  Next time we will put her on the big screen so hopefully we can all hear her better.  

She cried when she saw a new family member. 

She has been so brave for 5 months.

5 months exactly.  July 25th - December 25th.

She said she couldn't wait to be together again as a forever family.  

We love you!  Families Forever!

                It went so quickly, but she looked so good and so cute.  
                      What a cutie, Bye Sweetie, Stay Strong!

Chilean Christmas

Decked the halls this week by hanging up posters around town for the Christmas concert put on by the church in Viña :) We got to go to it with a convert and her family. Had a Christmas zone conference. We played water balloon volleyball and presented Christmas+missionary-themed skits. Had a Light the World presentation in our chapel with our zone. We memorized parts and had stations in different rooms. We brought people from off the streets and members brought non-member friends. The Spirit was so special as we spoke of Christ and his perfect love. ¡Feliz Navidad! May the holiday be full of the light of the Savior who was born and who lives today.

Love, Hermana Jerman

Zone Conference

Christmas Critters and Holiday Hearts

I`m feeling so grateful to be bringing the light of Christ to my Chilean brothers and sisters. Hermana Wurdel made me Crepioca from Brazil and we ate it by our Christmas tree all lit up :)  

​W​e speak spanish mixed with portugese, haha. One day we locked our keys inside the house so I climbed through the window. Had exchanges with Hermana Ramos and Hermana Marcela, our mamita, invited us for breakfast. We ate hamburgers with hot cocoa, haha :) Her dogs like jumping on us but stopped once Hermana Ramos hit them with the Book of Mormon. We sang a Christmas hymn at the doorstep as a tactic to get contacts :) We like singing the Spanish Christmas hymns in our lessons.

Taught Alexander and Maria about the Law of Chastity and temple sealing. They are living together with their two kiddos but agreed to get married so they can have an eternal family! "And if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God." D&C 14:7

Love, Hermana Jerman

Our mamita surprised us with a Christmas tree in our house.

American Fork 9th Ward Christmas party

We were all surprised to walk into our ward Christmas party and see all 7 of our ward missionaries!

Corey, Hurst, Price, Jerman, Norton, Lester, and Marshall

The Sisters

South American missionaries

So fun to give her hugs

And bring her home!

Light the World

The last day before Hna. Tabaque left we set a baptismal date with Cristina and she came to church yesterday! Wednesday we had transfers. I stayed at the house of a member until I traveled to the stake center in Viña. Had a meeting for the trainers and then received the new missionaries. My companion is Hermana Wurdel from Brazil. She is super loving and we`re having a good time learning Spanish together :) I know the Lord is aware of all of us. He changes us when we turn to Him and put our trust in Him. He is the Light, filling us with His peace and love. 
Love Hermana Jerman

Farewell to Hermana Tabaque

Hermana Wurdel's first week in Chile!

 Mom’s note -  We have been sending her weekly handwritten letters through the pouch mail system and she has been there 12 weeks and had not received any.  Today she sent very happy news.

"Oh, I love the temple! Yup, it`s funny seeing Christmas decorations in the heat of the day, haha.

I got your package! Put up some decorations and loved the tasty dried apples. I`m saving the presents until Christmas :) Got letters too! One from september and a couple from October! I love you! Christmas kisses and hugs."