FEB 9 - FEB 15 SEMANA 95 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡BIENVENIDOS A CHILE!

Soon enough!

Amazing to think of what a matter of days is to bring.

Continuously grateful for the time this week to work in the Lord's vineyard.

Elder Beeston and I passed a wonderful week with some of the most unique circumstances and one of the most incredible mysteries of the mission. We also made it to Ñipas, a part of our sector far out.

Looking forward to the next week!

I love you, my family!

Elder Sellers :)

FEB26 - FEB 8 SEMANA 94 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS, PAN!

A very happy birthday to my brother Travis tomorrow!

¡Cumpleaños feliz!

¡Te deseamos a tí

cumpleaños, Travis

cumpleaños feliz!

From a great distance, I am and will be thinking of you. Have a wonderful day, and celebrate it with the cake! ;)

¡Que nunca falte la torta! (may the cake never be missing)

Also, a very happy Valentines Day - to all of my beloved family and to Cris! :)

And late happy birthdays to Uncle Bob, Grannie, and Katie!

Oh, what a great week has ended. Elder Beeston and I had a very spiritual fast and testimony Sunday - particularly special for being able to share my testimony in two fast and testimony meetings between Coelemu and Quirihue. In Coelemu, after his dad, Presidente Parra, parted the meeting with a testimony of his own, 11-year-old Bastian and 8-year-old (or thereabout) Marcia stood up to bear their testimonies with such conviction that tears came to my eyes. There is no other testimony more pure than that of those so young. At the same time, I was moved to think how very much my testimony has grown since the time when I, as a small boy in Primary, would share one so sure as well. An hermana reminded me that my testimony has surely grown just as much as I have - and that is true!

How grateful I am for the privilege to serve a mission and to strengthen this my testimony.

The Gospel is true, and I know it.

I love you, my family!

Mucho amor,

Elder Trent Sellers

Una Noche de Hogar (Family Hime Evening) with Hermana Mireya

JAN 26 - FEB 1 SEMANA 93 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

Like a bench without a seat:

"...we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God." (Moroni 9:6)

Like a bench without a seat, the time for rest is not yet!

Elder Beeston and I have had a wonderful week. These days saw us work with an 80-year-old sister (or thereabout) in visiting one of her friends whose boy passed away in this past month, as well as participation in the branch council.

I love the mission, and am looking forward to the following three weeks and all they are to bring!

I love you, my family!

Elder Trent Sellers

Like a bench without a seat, the time for rest is not yet!

JAN 22 - JAN 25 SEMANA 92 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

This week saw Elder Beeston and I in many places!

Elder Beeston felt much better Tuesday morning after having been sick last Monday.  Tuesday and Wednesday we spent the majority of the time between Tomé and Penco. Saturday morning Elder Beeston and I went for special training, where I saw my old companions!

It was with many blessings that we were able to greatly use the time we did have in Coelemu. We were able to go with a member to bring Hermana Mirella and Hermano Miguel, two distinct investigators, to church Sunday morning!

Elder Beeston and I are staying active and committed!

Mucho amor, mi familia,

Elder Trent Sellers :)

Elder Beeston and I made arroz con brocoli!

Met up with my Mission Training Center Companions 

 Elder Kemner and Elder Archibald.

JAN 12 - JAN 21 SEMANA 91 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡Hola, papás!

Sorry for not writing on Monday! Elder Beeston woke up very sick to his stomach during the middle of the night and we spent the entire day in the house except for a very brief trip to a small store close to the house to buy him Powerade and salted crackers. He rested the whole day on Monday, and by Tuesday morning he was feeling much better! Tuesday we spent the entire day in Tomé. We had a zone class in the morning and then in the afternoon went on divisions with the elders there because of two baptism interviews that I was to do. We only were able to do one in the end, and the hermano I interviewed has to avoid tea for another two weeks, but it went well. :) Yesterday we traveled from there to Penco for the worldwide training and got back to Coelemu at 6:00. We've spent very little time here this week!

Heading to take the bus to Trehauco now where we'll eat lunch with la familia Valenzuela and spend a portion of the afternoon working!

Great to see the storage container emptied from the chapel! Haha we're about back in!

Love you, my parents! Glad you enjoyed the pictures! :) I'll write more on Monday! President gave us permission to write for a brief time today! :)

Mucho amor de su misionero,

Elder Trent Sellers

JAN 5 - JAN 11 SEMANA 90 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

Heavenly Father has called me to spend my days in Coelemu!

After hearing of cambios during a phone call in a slightly cramped position on a bus towards Quirihue early this morning, we learned that all four of us elders in the district will be staying!

I am grateful for that blessing, and am so excited for the coming weeks here in this faithful branch!

This week saw every day occupied, between a special clase de zona, two mini cambios, la Conferencia para los nuevos misioneros en Concepción, el día de limpieza, and a very special branch activity that saw la rama Coelemu play fútbol and share lunch with la rama de Coihueco!

What an inmense outpouring of love, arranged by one of the less-active members, Pablo Vega, whose family we are teaching!

I love you, my family!

¡Buena semana!

Mucho amor de su misionero,

Elder Trent Sellers

Branch Activity

Branch Activity

Elder Kalasic and me!

Special branch activity that saw la rama Coelemu play fútbol and share lunch with la rama de Coihueco!

Today Elder Baldwin, Elder Kalasic, Elder Beeston, and I took a trip to Cobquecura!

We walked along the beach between la lobería and la iglesia de piedra!

On December 29th we celebrated Elder Beeston's birthday in the home of Hermano Pablo Vega and his soon-to-be wife Barbara, a less-active from Coihueco whose family we are teaching!

 Elder Beeston turned 20 the following day!

The branch of Coihueco rented a bus to play against Coelemu!

Here we go!

This is going to be hard to believe! In a dual-branch activity, the branch of Coelemu came together with the branch of Coihueco for a series of games of soccer and a lunch shared in the chapel!

A different perspective - from where we Skyped!

DEC 29 - JAN 4 SEMANA 89 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

I cannot begin to imagine what this year has in store.

It was well-welcomed here!

Elder Beeston and I attended the early hours of a ward New Years activity in la cocinería de la familia Cuadra. We enjoyed a dinner there at the table with la familia Cuadra, and left before the party started. We welcomed to New Year laying in our beds and listening to the party outside!

Very much looking forward to the New Year! I have a number of goals to write down...

HAPPY NEW YEAR, my family!

Mom and dad, have a wonderful time with Aunt Susie, Katie, and Dave!

I love you all!

Mucho amor,

Elder Trent Sellers

Happy New Year!

Almost all of my companions that are yet in the mission! Here, Elder Fonseca is missing!

(de la Conferencia de Navidad)

¡Compañeros! 

Elder Beeston, Elder Fonseca, Elder Sellers, Elder Fuentealba, Elder Hartvigsen

(de la Conferencia de Navidad)

Thank you, momma and my dad, for EVERYTHING that came in these huge packages! I've been doing what I can to share the blessings. :)

DEC 22 - DEC 28 SEMANA 88 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡La pasamos bien la Navidad!

It was a wonderful Christmas in Chile!

Elder Beeston and I enjoyed Skyping from a nook between small shops outside of where a member family sells completos. We stayed in Coelemu for all of Christmas day and left notes with many of the members and nonmembers we so frequently visit!

José was baptized! (picture included)

¡Les amo!

Elder Trent Sellers :)

Jose's baptism 12/26/15

Home made chocolate chip cookies all the way from Orlando, FL!

DEC 15 - DEC 21 SEMANA 87 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡Jo jo jo! (Ho ho ho!)

¡Viene la Navidad!

There is so much to tell that the time today won't permit. That's ok, though, because there will be a lot to explain to my family Christmas morning!

Elder Beeston and I spent a very special time last night caroling with four of the jóvenes (youth) of Coelemu. We visited a part-member family, la familia Bakit, and a less-active sister, Hermana Maria Troncoso, that is bound to her sofá for her health.

Friday night we supported the Primary attending their Christmas presentation, and then were asked to sing with them for an encoure Saturday evening at the branch Christmas dinner!

Elder Beeston and I have spent a very productive P-Day around Coelemu, and are making the preparations to leave for Tomé in another hour to be closer to Conce where we will attend the mission Christmas conference in Hualpen (my previous stake)!

I love you, my family!

¡Hasta viernes!

Mucho amor navideño de su misionero,

Elder Trent Sellers

Merry Christmas from me and Elder Beeston!

Went caroling with these 4 youth of the Coelemu Branch.

DEC 8 - DEC 14 SEMANA 86 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

Jamás había trabajado así como en esta semana.

Suffice it to say that never have I worked as in this past week!

Elder Beeston and I have been blessed to an unprecedented scale in Coelemu. We were able to work with the members in truly inspired situations throughout the week, including visiting a part-member family with Presidente Parra that is in a similar situation to that in which he was three years ago. We found 12 new investigators, willing to listen to us again. Thursday through Sunday, we shared between 5 and 6 lessons each of those days.

We have invited all to remember why we need a Savior in this time of Christmas.

On Sunday, José came to church! Elder Beeston and I, before Sacrament meeting, taught the young men and then the Primary! haha. I gave a talk during the Sacrament meeting about being a witness of the Savior. We traveled to Quirihue in the afternoon and went with Relief Society representatives from the stake to do a visit between the block of meetings.

We spent Sunday night in Tomé, and this morning took a hike to a tunnel along the coast!

Much to show, but shall words suffice!

I love you, my family!

Mucho amor,

Elder Trent Sellers :)

DEC 1 - DEC 7 SEMANA 85 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡Elder Beeston sobrevivió su primera semana!

We two have come to walk these streets and enter into houses to a degree that neither of us had expected.

Elder Beeston and I were blessed to have the support from the members from our very first day. After having left our suitcases in the house and changed pants, we went out to work. We worked with the members every day except Sunday in our first week here. Hermano Jorge Silva took us to know many of the members Tuesday night, and he was followed by Freddy, Fernando, and Hermano Valenzuela as they also accompanied us the rest of the week.

We, Sunday, were blessed to see two investigators who we had found during the week in church (Jóse, más Cecilia)! 44 attended in Sacrament meeting. Before the third hour Sacrament meeting, Elder Beeston and I taught the class for the young men and subsequently the Sunday school for all of the youth. We bore our testimonies in the fast and testimony meeting. A bus ride in the afternoon took us to Quirihue, where Presidente Parra had asked us to preside for his absence for meetings with the stake president. I directed the fast and testimony meeting between the 14 of us in Quirihue, and Elder Beeston and I taught the adult Sunday school after and the combined Priesthood meeting later.

We have stayed attent to the Lord's service, and I am grateful for His trust. Elder Beeston has looked for eagerly to el día de preparación, and it's been well-earned! We just returned from gathering pine cones with the jóvenes and going on a short paseo with la familia Parra to el río Itata.

I love you, my family!

You are in my prayers. :)

Mucho amor de su élder,

Elder Trent Sellers

NOV 24- NOV 30 SEMANA 84 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡Feliz día de acción de gracias, familia!

¡Celebramos con pai!

This week will not be forgotten as one of the busiest and most rewarding of the mission.

After Thanksgiving celebrated with pie, us elders and the hermanas (Hermana Monroy and Hermana Black) from Coelemu came together on Black Friday to teach all about their family history! We put together our efforts and talents to make a booth where we invited any of those in the street in Coelemu to learn about their ancestors and how they can become eternal families. It was special, and incredible to see every elder and hermana talking to everyone.

Saturday morning, we finished packing lunches for the youth of Quirihue and Coelemu, and Elder Fonseca and I ran to gather young men. After enjoying pancakes with manjar, Presidente Parra took us to the base of cerro Coiquen where we climbed to the top! We saw from ocean to mountain! It was a long hike that took more than 6 hours in total!

CAMBIOS!

¡Nos cambiaron! I will be going to Coelemu! I can't begin to explain how surprising this cambio is. Elder Fonseca is leaving to Penco, and I will be opening a sector for elders in Coelemu, training a new elder as the hermanas are leaving!

Tomorrow I will learn who the boy is!

I am grateful for so much, and for the new opportunities that Heavenly Father has entrusted in me.

I love you, my family!

Mucho amor de su misionero,

Elder Trent Sellers :)

Have to fly to Quirihue!

Made it to the top of Cerro Coiquen

Elder Fonseca, Elder Baldwin, Elder Nelson, Elder Sellers

Cerro (Hill) Coiquen in the background

Hiking up Cerro (Hill) Coiquen 

Teaching all about family history! (in Coelemu)

Our Thanksgiving pie!

NOV 17- NOV 23 SEMANA 83 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡Feliz día de acción de gracias, familia!

Eso quiere decir...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

There is so much for which to give thanks. Although Thanksgiving is not so celebrated here in Chile, I will be reflecting this week for all that my Heavenly Father has given me.

To begin, though, I give thanks for my family. I wouldn't be who I am, neither be where I am, if it were not for my family. I have had such incredible examples to follow.

Quirihue is progressing! Another successful Sunday with 24 present - and more Quirihuanos than even the previous week!

Elder Fonseca and I attended the first hour of weeks in the main rama of Coelemu Sunday morning, traveling 45 minutes there and beginning to work with the young men. We have a hike planned this weekend to climb the cerro Coiquen!

It may not be Thanksgiving in Chile, but we will yet celebrate!

¡Les amo! :)

Elder Trent Sellers

NOV 10- NOV 16 SEMANA 82 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

Never one is far from seeing miracles!

This was a week to be remembered in the progression of Quirihue!

In two different occasions in the past week, we elders had met with our branch president, Presidente Parra, and separately with Hermano Marcelo Arevena of the stake High Council, to discuss the future of Quirihue and possible changes to be made in Sunday meetings. A decision was concluded to increase the hours of meetings from two to the inspired three, and to hold the Sacrament meeting as the first hour. For the last number of weeks, meetings in Quirihue were held from 3:00 until 5:00 in our home, the Sacrament meeting being the second hour after a general class the first hour.

The change was anxiously considered by some, especially in regards to the attendance of the hermanos of Quirihue in the first hour of the block, but, come Sunday, what a miracle!

There were 27 in attendance in the Sacrament meeting, 14 hermanos coming from Quirihue itself! A number absent would have only added to the strength of the greatly improved attendance. Classes were organized and every organization, for the first time in months, met in its own due class.

Presidente Parra pulled me aside, and has asked me to serve as Young Men's President in both Quirihue and the main branch Coelemu! There is a possibility that we might travel on Sundays.

Hermana Humilde was also in attendance during the second hour during a Gospel Principles class that Elder Fonseca and I taught.

Blessings we saw, indeed!

Today we come from a morning spent on the black-sand beaches of Cobquecura! That was an adventure only to be later described by pictures!

I love you, my family, and pray that you might have a wonderful coming week! I pray for each of you every day, and I love you between this distance.

Have a fun week, my parents, and love you, Bread!

Mucho amor,

Elder Trent Sellers

Our replica of the Concepción temple!

Spectacular views!

¡Quirihue!

Elder Baldwin

Elder Nelson

Elder Fonseca

Elder Sellers

NOV 3- NOV 9 SEMANA 81 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

Hello, my family!

¡Buenas tardes, pues!

I am writing from Tomé, after having spent the morning and early afternoon as a zone at the beach! (Mr. Bean voice)

After having a traditional breakfast of breakfast burritos and watching Meet the Mormons, we took colectivos to Dichato to a beautiful and secluded beach. We enjoyed the warm day and had a Concepción temple-building contest in the sand!

This week has been one in which Elder Fonseca and I have seen the Lord bless us in our circumstances. Quirihue is an active town with limited resources in terms of the members. Although we found it a challenge to work with the members this week, Heavenly Father blessed us by guiding us to a number of homes at the end of the week where we were able to share. Friday, we entered into four homes that we had never previously entered, and between Friday and Sunday found two very receptive older sisters who came to accept baptism.

One, Humilde, who committed herself to church, walked into Sacrament meeting as a sudden surpise to all after Elder Fonseca and I had both spoken in the meeting. It was an incredible blessing! During the Sacrament meeting, I was able to share an impromptu talk, and felt inspired to speak of my young men's experience and two special leaders, Brother Gardner and Brother Moss. I am forever grateful for those two amazing men, and the lasting impressions that they have made in me.

I can only hope that one day I might be able to make an impression to the effect that they have made in me.

Les amo, familia, y ¡les deseo una buena semana!

Mucho amor de su misionero,

Elder Trent Sellers

OCT 27- NOV 2 SEMANA 80 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡Me siento parte de Quirihue!

In two weeks, I have become pretty well accustomed to Quirihue!

Elder Fonseca and I are doing all that we can to strengthen the testimonies of the few members that are here, and reaching out to all those that have yet to come to know the Gospel.

There is much to do in Quirihue, and I am thankful to be able to use much of what I have learned in the mission in this special place.

Elder Fonseca, Elder Baldwin, Elder Nelson, and I had a fun Halloween. Although we didn't have an activity here in Quirihue, Elder Fonseca and I made papelitos (little papers) where we wrote a small Happy Halloween message and attached dulces (sweets) and delivered them to the members! It was great to see their faces at the site of the small gesture and sweets! haha.

I hope you, my family, had a wonderful holiday weekend as well. Such traditions, new and old!

Mucho amor,

Elder Trent Sellers :)

Este es delicioso

¡La familia Garrido Galleguillos nos visitó!

¡Fue tan genial y super generoso de ellos! ;)

¡GRACIAS, FAMILIA GARRIDO GALLEGUILLOS!

Mucho amor,

Elder Sellers

OCT 20- OCT 26 SEMANA 79 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡Saludos de Quirihue!

When I presented myself during a quaint Sacrament meeting in our home yesterday, I had to say that I felt as if I had known all those present, the rest of the 23 of us, for quite some time! Elder Fonseca and I spent an exciting week visiting all those of the Quirihue group and, come Sunday, I truly did know almost everyone!

This is going to be an incredible time to work in this part of the Lord's vineyard. There is so much to be done in Quirihue, and so much that is eagerly anticipated amongst the strong few that are pioneers. 

There is much to tell, but suffice it to say that this town is big enough for the two of us! It is much bigger than I had thought, spacier and more modern that Longavi and Coihueco but yet a pueblo.

I love you, my family, and wish you an exciting week from the country! 

Amor de su huaso,

Elder Trent Sellers :)

Primera palada! (First shovelful) Anticipating the Concepcion Temple Ground Breaking!

El bautismo de Fernanda!

OCT 13- OCT 19 SEMANA 78 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡Hola, familia, y chao, Hualpen!

I'm leaving!

Today, after finding out cambios by playing rock-paper-scissors and popping balloons, I learned that I will be saying goodbye to Hualpen!

After 18 weeks in Hualpen, the Lord is calling me again to the country!

Tomorrow, I will be leaving for Quirihue, the humblest pueblo of the mission. Two hours outside of Tomé, where our zone is centered and where district classes are held, Quirihue is one of the most isolated towns of the entire mission. The unit itself is neither ward nor branch, rather a "group" organized as an addition to an existing branch in Colemu. The branch president comes to Quirihue for the Sacrament meeting held in our house!

I'll be living with three other elders whom I know well, my companion being Elder Fonseca! Elder Fonseca was Elder Fuentealba's companion in el CCM! He is from California, and has three months in the sector. We two will be living with Elder Baldwin and Elder Nelson, and all considered I will be the "old man" of the house!

This past weekend we enjoyed the groundbreaking of the Concepción temple! We attended the broadcast in our centro de estaca, and Elder Fuentealba had the opportunity to witness it alongside his grandma! The service was special, and it was neat to see our mission president seated behind those speaking! haha. 

Later Saturday evening, Fernanda was baptized! A great number of her family attended, and Hermano Saez, her grandpa, baptized her. The water was too warm at first for Hermano Saez but, after breaking out the fireman's hose to cool it down, the two descended into the water and Fernanda was baptized. :) Sunday morning, Elder Fuentealba and I participated as her grandpa confirmed her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. A very spiritual weekend ended well!

Today, we are running about after having gone to centro and later played a team of carabineros (Chilean police) in basketball in our stake center!

There is much to pack, and many to visit, and so we are running!

I love you, my family, and pray that you might have a most wonderful week!

Mucho amor,

Elder Trent Sellers :)

I leave tomorrow for my new assignment in Quirihue, Chile which is about 50 miles north of Concepcion.  

Population only 12,562!

OCT 6- OCT 12 SEMANA 77 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

Feliz día de la raza!

O sea... HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY!

In Chile, today is yet a holiday!

After spending a morning walking through centro, we have found that the majority of all businesses are closed, and few people are in the streets!

Even so, the missionary fun doesn't stop! We have yet much planned ahead for this week, and much to do preparing for the weekend.

This past week, Elder Fuentealba and I were blessed to find a number of very interested, investigating couples and their families! Upon arriving here to Hualpen nearly fourth months ago, the work was very different. Elder Holt and I did all that we could to go out and come to know a very unknown ward. Since then, we have been blessed to find and teach so many different families, and Elder Fuentealba and I are blessed to be teaching many that are progressing in returning to church and a number that are coming to know it and the message of the Gospel for the first time. Cambios are in another week and regardless of a change, I will be blessed to have done all that I could here in Hualpen.

This week we're are anxiously preparing for a very spiritual weekend. Saturday morning, the Concepción temple will see its groundbreaking. We will see the proceedings by a broadcast at our stake center in Villa Acero. The members of Concepción have waited so long, and this day will be one to always stay in the hearts of those here. Saturday evening, seeing that all goes well with an interview still to be done, Fernanda, the 10-year-old daughter of a less-active member, Hermana Lorena, is to be baptized! We will do all that we can to see that it is a spiritual day!

May we see those blessings later this week, and may you have a wonderful week of blessings as well, my family!

I love each of you, and think of you and all that you are sure to be doing while I am here in the Lord's work.

Mucho amor,

Elder Trent Sellers :)

SEP 29- OCT 5 SEMANA 76 EN EL CAMPO MISIONAL

¡¿Escucharon?!

It was a tremendous blessing to listen once again to a prophet's voice! The 185th Semi-Annual General Conference was well-attended, even thousands of miles away in the southern, American continent in Chile. Elder Fuentealba and I did what we could to invite all those we are currently teaching to attend and listen to President Monson and the Twelve Apostles. We made small invitations towards the end of the week to give to a number of the recent converts and less-actives we're visiting, and gave the invitation to a number of unknown people we came across in the streets. Fernanda, a 10-year-old daughter of a less-active Hermana Lorena who we're teaching, attended Sunday morning with her mom and her grandparents. Her grandpa, who is from another ward in the stake, will baptize her in two weeks on the day of the groundbreaking of the Concepción Temple. It was a blessing to see her there, along with other less-active members who attended! Hermano David and his family watched from the home of his cousin.

Elder Fuentealba and I finished our missionary fun listening to the inspired words of all those who spoke. I was uplifted by every message, but especially found inspiration in the talks of President Uchtdorf, Elder Hales, Elder Holland, President Eyring, and President Monson. I took notes of every speaker in every session. My general conference notes will be greatly treasured from the mission. We watched the conference in our stake center in Villa Acero.

After such a conference, I am ready for another week of hard missionary fun in this, the Lord's work. I love you, my family, and wish you a wonderful week. If you weren't able to listen to the Conference, may I suggest looking for it on lds.org.

A special FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS from this past week to my buddy Aaron! ;) The Jake to my Elwood!

Mucho amor de su misionero en Chile,

Elder Sellers

Aaron at Trent's baptism. Feliz cumpleanos Aaron!