APR 21- APR 27 SEMANA 53 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL CONCEPCION, CHILE

¡Hola, mi familia, y buenos amigos!

¡MUCHÍSIMAS GRACIAS por desearme un feliz cumpleaños, a todos de ustedes!

It was an incredible second birthday in Chile! And to think I was here celebrating a year ago!

I had a wonderful day Sunday here in Coihueco. After church, seemingly the entire branch of Coihueco sang me "feliz cumpleaños," and wished me a great day. I felt so loved. It's amazing how I myself have come to love so many here. After planning, Elder Hartvigsen and I worked up until a Noche de Hogar (Family Home Evening) that two of the families, las familias Garrido Galleguillos y Moya Días, put together. One of the daughters, Lea, gave a short lesson, and then all surprised me with a number of baked queques and an official birthday cake that came with an honorary TORTAZO (cake in the face, and my second one now haha)! We had an incredibly fun time in the evening, and we went home happy! And with los conchos (left-overs)!

It was a great end to a busy week, when in itself we had worked hard. Elder Hartvigsen and I had the opportunity to visit a nursing home this week in Coihueco, called Corazón de Maria, and had a fun time visiting with a less-active member who is so funny. I just found it such an incredible experience, entering into an elderly people home in Chile! We also felt the effects of the volcanic eruption, and had ash falling one of the days this week. I have a few good photos of that! It covered our one bike, and also my white shirts that I had hanging outside! Had to put those in the wash again!

No obstante, ¡todo bien!

Thank you, my family and friends, for making the weekend even more special. It's a great start to this next one, and to this next twentieth year, and I hope you each have a great week.

I love you all! 

Les amo,

Elder Trent Sellers

APR 14 - APR 20 SEMANA 52 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL CONCEPCION, CHILE

¡Buen día, familia! 

¡Feliz semana nueva!

It has been an incredible past week in the mission. Elder Hartvigsen and I have already become good friends, and we have literally done so much in less than seven days. If you ask Elder Hartvigsen, he'll say it's felt like three weeks! 

We introduced him to the members throughout the week, and even made a pancake breakfast for the three Seminary students early Thursday morning! We went out with the members every day during the week, and had the most successful week of missionary work that I have had in the mission. A family of five came to church on Sunday, and brought their friend as well. Sara is the mom, and she has four kids, Claudia, Javier, Cesar, and Geraldin. Ignacio is the friend. There are incredibly nice, and a very prepared family. The testimonies of the Gospel which they have are amazing. The missionaries taught them before, but they have yet to be baptized.

On Saturday morning, we had the incredible priviledge of attending a broadcast of a conference with Elder Dallin H. Oaks as a mission. We connected by video with a few other missions here in Chile, and witnessed a living Apostle speak to us as missionaries. He emphasized conversion by the Spirit, and church attendance on Sunday. The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will be putting a greater emphasis on Sunday church attendance and the Sacrament more than ever this coming year.

I'm very grateful for that experience, and for all of the amazing opportunities that we have had in less than seven days. There is a lot to do in the missionary fun, and we are going to get to it in these days to come. This is going to be a good week, and it will mark quite a number of years this next Sunday. ;)

Love you, my family. Que estén bien, aún bendecidos esta semana.

Mucho amor,

Elder Trent Sellers

APR 7 - APR 13 SEMANA 51 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL CONCEPCION, CHILE

¡Buenas tardes, familia!

These last few days have been some of the most interesting of the mission.

My companion, Elder Moore, is being sent home today, honorably, for a problem that he has dealt with for the length of the mission. This morning the assistants came to pick him up, and with them brought my new companion Elder Hartvigsen. Elder Hartvigsen is from Alpine, Utah, has about seven months in the mission, and is my uncle (the last son of my grandpa in the mission). I am very excited to get to know him and continue the work Elder Moore and I have started. I will miss Elder Moore greatly, and wish him the very best. He has been an incredible companion, and these last few weeks with him have been the most humbling of the mission.

This cambio was preceded by a period of days in Concepción. Elder Moore and I spent three nights in the mission home with President and Sister Arrington, while we worked in the sector Pedro de Valdivia with the elders there and evaluated the situation. It was a very interesting experience, and a great one to come to understand all that President and Sister Arrington do for us missionaries here. Their schedule is incredible, and I admire them a whole lot.

After the cambio this morning, the assistents brought Elder Hartvigsen and I to Chillan to participate in an asado (barbeque) that we had between the three zones in Chillan. It was delicious, and a great start to a very sudden cambio! Elder Hartvigsen and I have already done a small tour of Chillan, and are finishing writing to making it back to Coihueco soon. I will be senior companion for the first time in the mission, and am very humbled by that. There is a lot to do this week, and it will be an incredibly new experience. Tomorrow we have a Conferencia de Zona (hopefully the package will arrive, momma!), and this Saturday we have a special conference/broadcast with Elder Oaks who will be speaking from Santiago.

A special thank you to Sister Stokes, Grannie and Papa, and Aunt Dee for the financial help this week. Thank you, very, very much. I will use it wisely! 

I love you, my family. Thank you for all of your support and love which I feel even here. I love you!

Mucho amor de un misionero en Coihueco, Chile,

Elder Trent Sellers

P.S. Mother's Day is coming soon! Getting Skype plans together! :)

MAR 31 - APR 6 SEMANA 50 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL CONCEPCION, CHILE

FELIZ PASCUA, familia! 

o sea, HAPPY EASTER!

I hope you had a wonderful and inspiring Easter weekend. So it was here! Elder Moore, our companions, and I spent much of it in Chillan, watching the broadcast of General Conference in the centro de estaca. We listened to the messages delivered by general authorities centered on the Atonement of the Savior, and the family. We brought snacks, namely, M&Ms, other chocolates, oatmeal cookies, and apple juice, and took notes during every session of Conference. In between sessions, we went out and contacted in the streets, directing many towards the Easter message and the Because He Lives video. 

While I found many inspired messages during the Conference, I love the reminder of Elder Holland. The Savior extends to us a hand of unfailing, brotherly love that saves us from an eternal fall. As he said, we celebrate Easter as a reminder of His incredible and eternal sacrifice, that makes for us possible the overcoming of every fall we might have.

I love the Savior, and I am grateful for that sacrifice and the opportunity to remind others of that comforting reality each day.

The work in Coihueco is missionary fun, and Elder Moore and I are doing well. We have been working the hardest that we have ever had in the mission.

Love you, my family. I need to take better notes so I can remind myself of the other things I wanted to say haha. Pictures will come when I can fix the virus problems and find a safe place to send them!

Mucho amor de su misionero,

Elder Trent Sellers