Elder Acor: 4/29/24 & 5/6/24

Greater Things Prepared

4/29/24

 ¡Haupeiiiii!

What a week everybody! Time is flying by and I'm loving my time here in Villarrica! Well let's just get right into the week!

Last P-Day was a blast. We stayed here in Villarrica but the thing is we went to a little town outside of Villarrica. It's like the center for a traditional type of clothes or design called Ao Po'i. I bought lots of souvenirs and fun things so I'm very happy with that.

Tuesday we had an awesome district council where we talked about having hungry souls or being hungry to work and helps others come unto Christ. We then went and talk some families where not everyone are members so those were some fun lessons! Then we finished with a family night eating some good food.

Wednesday, let's just say my stomach decided to attack me.

Thursday I was still recuperating in the morning but by the afternoon I was ok. We did our weekly planning and then went and did our visits. We were able to talk with an active family of members. They just have stopped progressing towards the temple so we want to help them get excited so they can become an eternal family.

Friday was a little tough because we worked an area where we don't have too many friends. Always there was lots of walking and it started to heat up again. At night we were able to have a lesson with a son and a father which was fun. The kid is just a little crazy.

Saturday was my favorite day of the week by far because it was an adventure. We went to Paso Yobai again! I had a blast and this time we went and worked with the Elder's Quorum president. We were able to visit tons of people. In Paso Yobai it's a very close knit community and our Elder's Quorum president knows everyone. We were able to have great lessons with everyone! President literally told everyone we taught they need to be baptized. He was also telling us a tribe of indigenous people close to town and that we could go and teach them. So stay in touch we might be baptizing a whole tribe. While in Paso Yobai we were able to put two of our friend on baptismal date! Marcus and Neri for May 18th! They both have their girlfriends so that both have to get married but they're willing. Also if these baptisms happen we get to baptize in a river. That would be so cool. We headed back to the branch president's house and he gave us like 15 grapefruits and 20 oranges in a bag, so we're eating good. Then we headed home in a taxi to get to our branch night!

This week was a rollercoaster. We've worked with lots of different members and I've noticed something. Many members here in Villarrica are a little negative. If something goes wrong many look outward to find an excuse or blame someone. Many times that means we're the ones being blamed. Which honestly is probably the best outcome because we just brush it off. It's better us than a member that would take something very personal. On the other hand working with members in Paso Yobai they are extremely positive. These two branchs have about the same amount of people coming to church. The difference is our leaders in Paso Yobai talk about that there are greater things prepared for them. Talking with the leaders they are excited for change and growth. For example our Elder's Quorum president saying we could baptize a whole tribe. That's the attitude I want. Everywhere we went we were getting people excited to come to church, to change, to grow. Sometimes here in Villarrica I only hear the negative. As a missionary it's really sad because we only have a short time here and sometimes it's hard to make a big change. We have to help the members realize there are greater things prepared. It's something as a missionary I'm trying to put into practice. Not just here in this area but also thinking what will happen after the mission. The last thing I want is to be my best self just here in the mission. I want to take everything I've learned and done here in the mission and take it right with me home. God has greater things prepared for me. God has greater things prepared for YOU! Just keep moving forward and looking for the positive and soon you'll look back and see the mountain you've climbed and see the person God has molded you to become.

That's it for this week! Thank you all so much for reading my email! I hope you all have an amazing week and that you can find all the moments that God is preparing you!

¡Adiós!

Love, Elder Acor

God's Timing

5/6/24

¡Haupei everyone!

Well this week was a tough one. On Thursday I got hit with a sinus infection, cold, flu thing. I don't know how to describe it but it's absolutely taken me out. It hasn't been fun. I can still give a little update on the week at least.

Tuesday was a fun day! We had our district council and we talked about the importance of talking about baptism in everysingle lesson and mentioning it as much as possible as well. After that we head back to our area. It was a holiday so our councilor in the branch presidency had the day off. He's a return missionary from about ten months ago. We went and made visits with him all day. It was awesome because he has a car so we were super quick as well. After that he treated us to some pizza. It was a super solid day.

Wednesday was a good day as well. We have a friend who's name is Silvia. She really wants to get baptized but has some difficulties with being baptized. There some really difficult things she has to do first to be baptized. On Wednesday we were able to talk to her really clearly and help here build up the courage the make the changes she has too. We are hoping she can do it because here two kids have gotten baptized and she has such a strong testimony. This whole day I was being eaten alive my mosquitos. 

Thursday I woke up a little bit under the weather. We had to go on a little errand for a member in the morning. I started to feel super tired walking around. We headed to our lunch. The thing with our lunch on Thursday is it's a house with three men. They don't cook. They go and by food from a place. The thing is that they buy way to much food. Then they make us eat enough food for three people. Don't get me wrong, when you're not sick it's awesome, when you're sick it's like torture. While we were eating lunch a huge storm also rolled in and it started to downpour. They drove us home. I layed down and passed out.

Well Thursday afternoon until Sunday was just me trying to kick this sickness. It has really sucked because it's not anything obvious to fix it. I thought I had Dengue for a bit because I had some pretty awful body aches. That passed but then I was still congested without energy from Saturday ti Sunday. Sunday I was able to make it to church, but I was super tired after. I'm still very tired and not 100% but little by little I'm trying to get there. Getting sick on the mission is the worst because you just feel guilty for not working but then when you try and work your body fails you. So just trying to get my body to feel better in any way possible.

One huge miracle that I did see this week was on Saturday. At about four in the afternoon I got a call from my last area. I was a little confused. I answered the video call and it was because the Correa Caceres family got baptized! Literally the whole family! Mauricio, Nelson, Sergio, Gimena! Mirta is already a member, but her and Mauricio got married as well. It was so bitter sweet because wasn't able to be there, but I am so happy they could be baptized. Another huge miracle is that the other family we baptized showed up to the baptism to support! I was able to talk to Mirian, Adriana, and Rodney! It just shows me that we need to have just a little bit of patience sometimes. God's timing is perfect. That's a tough pill to swallow but when we can realize that life is better. I hope to start seeing those miracles here in Villarrica. We are planning on having a wedding and baptism on May 18th so pray that everything can go well with Neri's baptism. It will also be in a stream so that's going to be so cool.

Well as you can see this week wasn't easy, but as I reflected I could see see all the many blessings that I've received. That's all I have for this week! I hope you all could have any amazing week! Keep looking for all of God's many miracles!

¡Chau!

Love, Elder Acor