July 20, 2015 letter

Hola, Bounjourno!

Well first off two shout outs! First Happy Birthday Ashley! Love you! and Exito to my Brother Jake! Proud of you Good luck!

Well another one bites the dust..

But this week was good!
Lots of Work and lots of Changes in the weather from hot to cold and everyday is the same but it's been really good!

Mirza and Claudio Father will be getting married tomorrow, and so she should be baptized this Sunday. We will need lots of Prayers that everything goes well and that she doesn't start smoking again! ha Its been a battle with this family, but I'll never forget them the Familia Rodriguez have been a blessing and a challenge for me since day one. But it only goes as testimony that this is where I am supposed to be!

I don't got a lot to say this week maybe its from the depression of getting older this coming week.... 😕 But either way I'm getting better with my Spanish and starting to play around with other languages. My comp and I are doing great learning lots and taking out the trash we practically are running 24/7 to get it all done.

Any ways just another reminder  something that I liked a lot yesterday in Elders Quorum so I searched it in English, so I could share it with you from the teachings of Ezra Taft Benson.

No nation ever rises above its homes. This Church will never rise above its homes. We are no better as a people than are our firesides, our homes. … The good home is the rock foundation, the cornerstone of civilization. It must be preserved. It must be strengthened.

And I would add that one day our homes will become heaven, so remember what we do it vital. I love you all and hope that you all have lots of success this week!
I love the mission
Elder Biesinger

Elder Alvarez baked a cake

James being James....

Happy Birthday to Ashley!

Happy 13th Ashley!

July 13, 2015

Bueno ¡¿Que tal?! 

Espero que todos estén muy bien y con arto éxito en todo lo que hacen.

Para mi this week was really good. It was another cold week but we found 7 new people to teach, which is a pretty good number. I would talk about all of them but there isn't time. So, I'll just say this MEMBERS are the best when they share the Gospel with their neighbors. ha Also, that as a missionary, never be afraid to ask people about their family and invite them to come share. 

One of the new people Found us.. Ha 10 year old Sebstian, one day came running screaming Tios tios Misioneros Misioneros

(Chilean Children say Tio or uncle as a for of respect ) But, he ran up with a bunch of friends and said I want to inscribe me.. haha I was a little surprised and said in English classes? But no he wanted to be baptised. (Maybe I already told this story) It happened a few weeks ago but we never found him until this week. Well, his mom is a less active baptized 5 years ago, she stopped going because she couldn't stop the tea or the coffee and felt bad. Now she is pregnant with her boyfriend. They don't really want to come to church yet but, Javier the boyfriend brought Seba to church and came to pick him up. Seba was great  he opened the door for everyone participated in everything and constantly told us he wants to be baptised and how he can be a missionary. It was a great uplifting happy thing. Hopefully we can work it out that he can be baptised he will need support. 

Also the fast worked again it rained all day on Sunday... ha 

We had conference with President Diaz and his Wife on Friday, it was very very nice. A different style than we were used to.  More interactive, and more like an institute class. He is a very great man, and his Wife is very great as well. My interview was very short, but he amidst the things we talked about, he said that it might be cool if I wanted to learn another language, like Portuguese.. so i might try that out or maybe another language if anyone wants to throw ideas... hahaha it will be hard but they say every language you learn is not only easier the third and the fourth but helps you understand the others more. So, We will see.  It was cool he told me I could do it if I wanted. 

I'm loving the mission and I'm doing well I love Chile and the Gospel.

Elder Biesinger

Ready for rain

July 6, 2015 letter

Wow What A SLOW week! hahah

But, for real. This week had to have been the slowest week of my life.. Monday went well, other than the fact that my cold got worse. But then Monday, Elder Alvarez fell sick with the Flu... It was a long three days in the house.. He had it pretty bad, we had lots of communication with the misión nurse. He was in bed basically the whole time. The Problem is that I couldn't sleep. It's hard for me to sleep more than 8 hours, so I was to anxious and had to much energy to just lay in bed.  So, I cooked, cleaned, did exercises, studied, and if you ask Elder Alvarez "made noise" haha

But finally on Friday, we were healthier and able to leave the house. It was a fast week after that, like normal. Friday, we had an activity of desserts with the Ward and investigators. I made Brownies and everyone loved them. Then Saturday we had the Special Conference; two Seventies, both Chileans, came.  Elder Zaballos, that spoke in conference, and will now be working in Salt lake in the misión office.  The other a new 70, Elder Guiffra. It was a really good Conference. The new stake was created, and the leaders were called.  It's really cool being here for so long, I know practically the whole Stake, so It was enjoyable.

This week President Díaz came to the misión, and President Kahnlein left. On Saturday, I was able to meet President Diaz a little, he is a very loving man. He played professional Soccer here in the U de Chile. He was never a misiónary and is a convert. He worked for the Church as the Director of Institute, and something here in Chile. So Far, I like him A Lot. This Friday, we will have Zone conference, and Interviews with just our Zone. So I'm excited to get to know him more.

This week, as I said the Fasting started for rain. When we left the Conference on Sunday it was Raining. God answers prayers of faith, and especially when we fast. We are very grateful for the rain, even though it's cold for being a missionary. It's fun to walk in the rain. Only problem is, that I have bought and ate more Halls Cough drops than in my whole life. I'm going to ask for a plaque that says Elder Halls and start to do Commercials for them on the side.. ha its terrible.

Also as many already Know CHILE WON LA COPA AMERICA!!!!! ¡¡¡¡¡¡C H E CHI CHI CHI LE LE LE CHI CHI CHI LE LE LE VIVA CHILE!!! Ha no it was really cool, even though it kills the missionary work it was a cool and unbelievable crazy thing. They Played on Saturday, Chile vs Argentina a classic rivalry. The game was at 5 so Elder Zaballos changed the sesión of leaders from 4 to 3 o'clock, so that it wouldn't interfere. Every Chilean watched. They even had a special room for The two 70s President Diaz and their wives to watch. The game was supposed to end at 7 before the adult sesión, but it went long, going into penales (penalties) We started at 7 anyway, and there was lots of people. A long while after you started to hear the noise outside, and it was obvious who won... Ha when we left the church it was Wildly insane. There were fires lit in the Street, and everyone was running around with flags, driving victory laps with everyone out the windows, with flags and blow horns throwing stuff and screaming. We were on the far side of the city from where my apartment is on the top of the hill. We were waiting 40 minutes for a buss or a taxi to take us, with all the craziness around people yelling and screaming leaving their cars in the middle of the Street to come and tell us that Chile won. ha A little annoying but oh well. After 40 minutes, I had had it and I walked into the Street and stopped a taxi that only took us half way, but I knew that it would be more calm and easier to find a bus for the rest of the trip. We were 4 elders. After an hour and a twenty minutes we make the trip that the next morning took 30 minutes.. ha Oh well, it was a cool experience.I love Chile and I love the misión!

Love you all and miss you too!

Elder Biesinger

It's Cold!

Elder HALLS...haha

I'm a Chef  "Casuela a traditional Chilean Soup"

Elder Alvarez enjoying the soup.

Change of Mission President

June 30, 2015 Letter

Hey everybody! 

Well there is going to be lots of Changes this week! On Wednesday President Kahnlein and his family will return to Argentina and President Diaz and his Wife will take over. Its going to be weird. Presidnet Kahnlein was the only one who had been in the mission before when I got here that is still here now, that I met. Also he has been my Mission President for more than Two years so it's going to be cool, and a good chance to have President Diaz!

Also this week the 70s will be coming and a Special Conference will be held to organize the Stake here! It going to be really cool! 

Other than that its been another great week, we had plenty of Challenges with to many people to interested in Futbol, but also we were able to find a few people and keep teaching the others. We found a man Named Jimmy ha yeah his Name is Jimmy its pretty cool. He is 28, he has two little Girls and his "Girlfriend", I'm pretty sure they are not married. We have not been able to teach them together yet. But anyways we have taught Jimmy three times this week he is a good guy with a lot of desire to change and be a better example for his daughters. He works in the Port and Andrea, the Girlfriend teaches in a catholic school. Neither one of them are active catholics. He was a reference from his neighbor the primary President. ha

It was a good week! But I have heard a few things about what is happening up north so I would like to share 1 Nephi 22:10 All the families of the earth will be blessed. Because the lord already has shown his arm. We need to take the strength of his arm now. It is vital that we keep our own families strong and the Families of those around us. Maybe we can't control the law or even the things that happen around us but we can fortify our base and we can strengthen our brothers around us. Home teaching, Visiting Teaching, Missionary Work, Fasting, Praying it is all what is needed in these times let your light so shine that they may see your good works and Glorify your father in Heaven. Don't be tainted don't lower your standards to avoid situations. If it needs be I will be like Abenidi But I Much prefer the outcome that was said of Captain Moroni. "There was never seen such preparation for war in all the time from when Lehi left Jerusalem" Lets be ready because the time is already here. 

Also the area presidency has sent a letter to all the wards here that there will be a fast that Chile receives water. Its a rough drought. Anyways I thought that was cool. 

Anyways love you all and I miss you too! 

Chou 

Elder Biesinger

Happy Birthday Elder Alvarez

June 22, 2015 letter

Hola 

¡Vamos una semana mas que rápido que pasa el tiempo!

So this week was good a little challenging with all that's going on, and a few compromises that were not completed. (people didn't come to church that we were waiting for) Sometimes it makes me really anxious but I need to learn more patients so that's my goal of the week I have noticed that lately I've had kinda a short fuse and that doesn't help to much so that's gotta go this week too. ha. 

Anyways.. the week went well! 

The Daughter of the Family Serain was baptized, they are the Family of recent converts that moved here from Peru and then found Elder Gomez and I. The daughter turned 8 and wanted to be baptised we helped the Dad a little it was his first experience, and also we are trying to teach his parents and brother who are not members. That would be really cool.

Also we went to a part of our area where we had never been before a really steep part of the hill that is kinda far away to look for some people that we had on our list. It was quite the morning. It is fascinating to me the creativity of home building.. ha Any ways as we were walking there was a crazy guy that started screaming 5 to 0. 5 to 0 Chile beat Bolivia 5 to 0. I looked at him and said "oh ya que Bacan" (how cool) Vamos Chile! and he stopped with a really disappointed look on his face and said wait you're not Bolivian? ha we had a good laugh. Maybe you don't understand but I don't really look Bolivian at all. so The dude had to have been a little drugged. Anyways there are always things that happen everyday that make me laugh but I think that was the best one of the week. 

My invitation for this letter is that everyone reads the following Scriptures!

1. Helaman 13:38

2. Mormon 2:13

Think about it if you are looking for happiness in things of the world you will only end up miserable. The Lord will only let  your happiness last so long and then just like the Nephites you and your happiness will be destroyed hundreds of thousands at a time. Now everyone should read Alma 36:18 

The first thing that Alma says is as my mind caught hold of this thought. In Spanish it says as I focused in this thought. 

Our thoughts will guide us even when we don't realize it. If we can focus our thoughts in the things that are really important we will end up where we really want to be. But if we let out thoughts wander to the gutter or to forbidden or even grey paths we will have the same future as the first two scriptures. 

Love you all! I really love the mission and Chile! 

Les echo de menos pero estoy feliz y disfruto cada dia de la mision. Es la mejor cosa que puedo hacer! 

Chou!

Elder Biesinger

Baptism of  Nayeli Serain Cami

June 15, 2015 letter

Wahoo ¡Copa América!  Just Kidding haha no we don't watch any of it, but its hard not to know the score when Chile is playing because every time they score a goal everyone screams and shouts and honks their horns. It makes being in the Street pretty entertaining. ha

If you don't know what Copa America is ask someone that is into soccer. ha This year Chile is hosting and its EVERYWHERE. But Still the work goes on!

So this was the last week of this Change, we will have changes this week but hopefully we don't have any changes! HA do you understand? Anyways we were able to find a few new people this week in the search for the chosen people! We found Juan Cerda using the area book of old investigators, he runs a small auto repair from his house. The missionaries found him a year ago when there were sisters in that part and someone stole their stuff, he saw the guy and went and brought their stuff back to them he is a good guy hopefully he comes to church. Carolina, my Comp Elder Alvarez found with Elder Osuna from Mexico in an interchange with the ZL. (Zone Leaders) The next day my comp and I went to teach her and invite her to the Activity we were having in the Church. She came and then on Sunday she came as well, and she will also be going to mutual this week with the Young women.  She is 13 years old, and was baptized a few weeks ago in the catholic church, but now if all goes well she is going to be baptized in a few weeks.  I mention her baptism, because she is very awake spiritually it's cool so see that she wants to have knowledge of these things at such a young age, and she even brings her three year old sister with her (scarlet). We will see how it goes with them this week!

This week I am finishing up 3 Nephi to be able to finish the Book of Mormon for the second time this year by the end of June. I love the Book of Mormon. There are so many keys to like hidden inside. In 3 Nephi 1: 23 - 25 you can find the key to world peace. If everyone received a remission of their sins and was then instructed to leave the false teachings and convert themselves more fully the world would be a lot more peaceful and happy place. I know that takes a lot of work and that a lot of people have to humble themselves to be able to do it, but it should start with us. Christ didn't come to pay for the sins of a select few that were able to find their own way to the  truth. No he came to teach the Gospel and die for "all those who would receive it" how can they receive it if we are not like Nephi in the scripture and we don't make things happen. In 3rd Nephi the Nephi that is spoken about there is underrated a lot of the time he raised his brother from the dead. He was able to do these things because he lived in perfect righteousness. I hope that we can all learn a little from 3 Nephi. Not only does Christ himself come and Teach but in Chapters 1-10 there are plenty of Examples for us to have a happier life.

Have a great week! And Happy Early Fathers Day to everyone!

Elder Biesinger

James District

Levarte Missionaries

James and Elder Alvarez

June 8, 2015 letter

Wow what a week it has been! So To start off...

In Helaman 13:4 when it says that Samuel went and he got on top of the wall because they wouldn't let him in the city. They really summed up that story. The amount of challenges that he had to go through to be able to get on the wall, I doubt it was that simple, these walls were made to keep people out.. So a lot of the time in the scriptures in life and in my letters you don't know the amount of challenges that someone has to go through to be able to complete the task. This week I'm going to do it a little different and explain how we had to climb the wall.

So Edgardo and Maria were all set to be baptized on Saturday June 6th on Wednesday we were going to have their interviews, so we were getting their papers ready to be inscribed. As I was looking for the names of their daughters who are members, I could not find them for the last name of Guzman; it was very frustrating. So, I decided to look for them in another list that goes by direction. I found their direction but there was another name. It was the name of Maria but with another last name... I then went back to the other list, looked for the last name of Soto and found Maria, and her two daughters. Maria was married before, so her last name had been Soto. The surprise was that Maria was baptised in 1989.. She had forgotten.. So long story shorter, She no longer needed to be baptized. Edgardo passed his interview with flying colors. Now for Saturday, the day of the baptism. In order for the fount to be ready, we normally have to get there three hours early and start filling it. There is a rule that while it is filling we have to stay with it so we were studying. The baptism was scheduled at 5 o'clock. at 4:15 Edgardo and his family and a few members showed up everything was practically ready except the Fount, it was no where near ready. We started to get a little nervous that it wouldn't be ready at 5. We couldn't just hurry and fill it with cold water because Edgardo wouldn't be able to take it, and then we were afraid he would get more sick. So At 5 the water was only at the half way point.... So we started filling it with a bucket. oh what joy.. After 20 trips with a bucket from the kitchen sink the water was a little above the knees. but we couldn't wait any more. My Comp with the help of Angels I'm sure was able to baptize him on the first try. It was a great experience. Everything was going so wrong, and so out of order before the baptism, but at the moment that he left the water there was a great peace and calm. Edgardo was singing and whistling as he changed his clothes and the family was crying what a blessing. 

He asked me to confirm him and it was a cool opportunity. The first time I have done it. It was special. It was a great week filled with challenges. 

We have found a few more people this week using the list of members, and if all goes well this week we should be able to have more baptismal dates! :) we found a kid named Karim last night he is 15 and doesn't believe in God. He is very smart but has a little depression, his mom is inactive, we gave him a book and I'm hoping to see a lot of progress in him as well as Camila a reference from some sister missionaries she is 17 and doesn't know what way she should go in life I'm really excited for these two as well as a few others. we will see what happens. 

Love you Guys!!!

Baptism of Edgardo

Elder Hansen, first "gingo I've been with in months"

Aconcagua