JAN 20 - JAN 26 SEMANA 40 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL CONCEPCION, CHILE

This week we wore ourselves well out, but not too bad!

Elder Ramirez and I worked up and down the streets of the pueblo, from 7 Norte to 6 or thereabout Sur, road bikes to Los Cristales, and a bus to la Quinta.

Those things are all normal parts to the week, but más encima on Friday night we ran a Scout-influenced game night (complete with Robar El Tocino - Steal the Bacon!) and on Saturday we made and poured concrete, helped a lady move, and put together a despedida (farewell) for one of the young men, Alvaro, who is leaving on his mission to Perú Trujillo today!

Today, for P-Day, we took a trip with the zone to la Precordillera (the foothills of Los Andes)! It was impressive and beautiful. I stepped foot in a cool, crystal-clear river, and after we hiked up an incredibly steep hill to see a view of the foothills and mountain range out in the distance. I know, these last few P-Days have been pretty great! haha. The only thing is that it leaves us with a little less time, and makes it hard to send fotos! I have to wait until we're able to go to the capilla to send them, and that yet might be next week!

Tonight, we have a Noche de Hogar planned with the first counselor of the rama, and we have to get going to fetch our bikes!

¡Allí voy!

Les amo, mucho, mi familia. ¡Un FELIZ CUMPLE sea dado a mi prima querida Katie esta semana! ¡Te amo, cuz!

Amor de su misionero,

Elder Trent Sellers

P.S. There are two weeks left to the cambio, and then I am really not sure what is going to happen! With three cambios here, and given the situation, anything is possible!

JAN 13 - JAN 19 SEMANA 39 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL CONCEPCION, CHILE

Never in my life have I planned so precisely each day!

We do so much, and the challenge is describing it!

This week was highlighted by a Conferencia de Zona. The conference was held closer in Linares, this time, and we learned a lot about the importance of working with the members of the Church. We also got to finally watch the featured film, Meet the Mormons, o Conozca a los Mormones en español! That was a real treat haha. It helps illustrate the normal and oftentimes inspiring lives of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the happiness that a knowledge of the Gospel brings us. I say that because the values of truth, happiness, and family really matter to me, and it has shaped me into who I am.

On Sunday, I was able to speak about that when I gave a discurso about families and the Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening). It's because of you, family, that I have become who I've become to be. Thank you, momma and my dad, for teaching me righteous and Godly values and for raising me while being examples of those values.

So today, we went to las termas de Quinamávida, and the place was beautiful! We went with the son of our Branch President, Benja, and got to tour around the resort, see the pools, and hike up to have a lunch on the hillside that we packed with us.

I took a ton of pictures, and I'm going to send a few, along with others since Año Nuevo, next week. ;)

Right now, I have to run to change and go out to work!

¡Les amo, mi familia querida!

¡Que tengan una semana buenísima!

su Elder Trent Sellers

JAN 6 - JAN 12 SEMANA 38 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL CONCEPCION, CHILE

¡Buena semana, mi familia, y ¡felices 10 meses de la misión!

Wow! It amazes me that 10 months have already passed by in the mission. I don't like to do much counting, but I am grateful for every moment and treasure every moment that I might have here. I sure do miss you, family, but know that everything is well and that the mission is the most incredible experience of my life. I've done some pretty awesome things, too, but the mission is incredible.

Y ¡que locas las semanas! Elder Ramirez and I have been busy in Longavi, with much to do and many people to see and visit. It's amazing how many people we meet, how many we really get to know, and where we go to find them. This week we took several bus rides into the sector, one the very same trip of 45 minutes, out towards the mountains. 

Last Monday we took a trip to el río Longavi, during el día de preparación, as you saw from the pictures Teory posted, and it was a blast! We went out exploring, up, down, and across the river, and were able to wade in a bit and enjoy the cool, agua Chilena! The campo of Chile is beautiful, and it is an awesome blessing of the mission to enjoy it, while we serve as missionaries.

This día de preparación, we're shopping and emailing here in Linares, returning to Longavi, and then going out to the campo later in the evening to celebrate Elder Flores' birthday with la familia Cárcamo! Elder Flores is one of my great friends from the mission, músico like I am, and he goes home this cambio! 

Speaking of birthdays, I quickly wanted to wish a FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS to Grannie, today, and Uncle Bob this week! ¡Que disfruten sus días, y las tortas! ¡Les quiero, mucho!

Of course, I love you all very much, and hope everyone has a great coming week. Right now, off to finishing emailing and preparing for this next week!

Les amo, mi familia,

su Elder Trent Sellers

TACO DINNER (YUM, YUM)

P-DAY  (PREPARATION DAY) OUTING

DEC 29 - JAN 5 SEMANA 37 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL CONCEPCION, CHILE

¡Llegamos al año nuevo!

¡BIENVENIDO, 2015!

Wow, what a year, 2014. I spent the majority of it serving a mission in a foreign country, and what a blessing that has been. Being in Chile and helping the people here come unto the Savior and receive peace and happiness in their lives makes for a great year.

It's also really fun, and the Chilenos have taught me so much! That includes Español, and oh am I excited to be able to speak it, better and better every day.

This week was a great first week of a new year.

We passed New Year's Eve having dinner with Teory, her son Marcos, and Hermana Carmen, and got back to the house at 11:00PM, waiting for the new year. At midnight, we launched confetti in the house and made a lot of noice with party favors haha, and reflected on the past year.

New Year's Day and the following day, I went to Linares for a mini cambio while my companion, Elder Ramirez, went off to Concepción for leadership training. He is a newly-called district leader, and him and Elder Flores, both here in Longavi, make for the two district leaders in the entire Zona Linares.

It's been fun getting to know my companion this week. He is a real outgoing missionary, and I've come to realize that we both are really ambitious. It's funny, he likes practicing his English and I like practicing my Español, so many times we end up speaking between the two languages and answering each others questions or comments in the other's language haha. 

I'm looking forward to the cambio ahead. It's not going to be easy, but I'm sure I'm going to learn a lot and I hope that includes making comida Méxicana!

Love you, my family! Gosh, such crazy news from home! I hope everything is well.

Que estos cambios que vengan sean para su provecho. ;)

Mucho amor, y feliz año 2015,

su Élder Trent Sellers

P-Day

P-Day