Hello dearest everyone, 

These past fourish weeks that I have been in Alerce, it has been a bit difficult to find people to teach, and we have been constantly searching for those that Heavenly Father has already prepared to receive the Gospel at this time.  Well after a particularly rainy day, which we had spent outside the whole entire time, knocking doors, trying to talk to people in the streets in the moments when the rain would let up a little, and looking for addresses, I came home soaked, defeated and wondering what in the world I was doing wrong.  I had been asking in every single prayer that I had since getting here, that Heavenly Father would help us find the people that He had prepared.  The next day was Saturday, which is when we start our fast for Fast Sunday.  After lunch on Saturday, we say our prayer and then don`t eat until lunch the next day on Sunday.  Well my companion and I decided that we needed to fast to find the people that God was preparing, and I asked her if we could specifically fast to find a family.  Well we began our fast, and Saturday we found a 19-year old girl, who, after we had taught her the Restoration and asked her if she would be baptized if she knew these things were true, said that of course she would, and accepted a baptismal date and our invitation to come to church right away, and then said that she had been waiting to hear something like this for some time.  We couldn`t believe Heavenly Father had answered our prayers so rapidly.  Well the next day, Sunday, we visited a family that we had visited once before after we had found an old teaching record of their family from three years ago.  A member had accompanied us, despite the torrential rainstorm, and we had one of the most incredible lessons I`ve taught in my mission.  At the end of the lesson, after we had also explained the Restoration, we invited them to be baptized and the mother immediately said that she wanted to know if these things were true and that she wanted to be baptized if she did. The father then said that he thought that it was finally time for their family (they have three kids, one 17 years old, the others 8 and 2) and then they both accepted baptismal dates, as a goal to meet if they truly felt that what we had taught them was true, if they truly felt that this was the Church of Jesus Christ here on earth.  When my companion and I left the lesson, we maintained our calm until after we had dropped the member off (who was almost excited as us about the family), and then we started jumping up and down in the rain and hugged each other.  I still cannot believe the rapidity with which Heavenly Father answered our fast, and I cannot begin to describe the testimony of the fast that I have gained on my mission.  If we fast with faith, then expect the Lord`s will, we will never be dissapointed.  The Gospel and Restored Church of Jesus Christ is the most incredible part of our life and every day I learn more and am more and more convinced of the divinity of our Father in Heaven and His Son, and their love for us.

In case I had forgotten to mention, it rains AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT here.  The pictures that are attached are of a road where we used to walk to get home, which is currently now a river.  The rain comes from all directions: from above, below, right, left, front, back.  From everywhere.  Luckily, I found rain boots that someone had left in the house, and although they are just a TAD bit large, I tied plastic bags around my feet, so it all works out very nicely and my feet don`t get too drenched.  This week, everyone was telling us that Volcan Calbuco (the volcano that is just behind the poblacion where we live, has been erupting puffs of smoke and there have been several earthquakes this past week.  They think it`s possible that it might erupt and that they might have to evacuate everyone from Alerce.  My sister, Myriam, will be happy to hear this, as she has always imagined me on my mission, escaping from an erupting volcano as I ride to safety on my llama.  

Oh and also on the fifth I`ll complete one year in the mission.  Downright scary.  And on the sixth 21 years of life.  Feel free to send chocolate. 

I love you all!!!