Santiago Sights

We love to find beautiful Santiago Sights. Many of the beauties of Santiago are hidden behind gates or in places you would never think to look. Santiago has a wonderful, rich heritage. The city of Santiago reminds me of the dear Chilean people. If you take the time to explore and get to know them, you find rich, hidden treasures of knowledge and love.

The Savior and All He Does for Us

We met together as a mission for our April Change Council/Revelatory Experience on April 4. We learned together about the sacrifices our Savior made in order to allow us the opportunity to progress spiritually in mortality.

Elder Miller helped us with an object lesson about the suffering of our Savior. While President Laycock taught us about Jesus, Elder Miller stood in front of us and held his arms straight out with an egg resting on the top of each hand. We discussed how Jesus held the entire weight of His body as He hung on the cross. We talked about all that the Savior has done and does for us.

After a short time, Elder Miller's arms were shaking and his muscles were fatigued. His body was swaying back and forth, and the weight of those small eggs was extremely heavy. We all sat together and thought about the suffering of our savior and all that He has done for us.

Joseph Smith declared that all things "which pertain to our religion are only appendages" to the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated that "Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. Our basic message is that with a complete offering of His body, His blood, and the anguish of His spirit, Christ atoned for the initial transgression of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and also for the personal sins of everyone else who would ever live in this world from Adam to the end of time...the essential message of the gospel is this from the Master's own lips: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life:no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.' Thus the Atonement of Christ, which makes that return to the Father possible, is the central fact, the crucial foundation, and the chief doctrine of the great and eternal plan of salvation, which we are called to teach...

...As missionaries we should bear frequent and powerful testimony of Christ. Doing so invites and becomes part of the divine power of testimony borne on wings of fire to the very hearts of investigators. Such a divine testimony of Christ is the rock upon which every new convert must build. Only this testimony of the atoning Anointed, Victorious One will prevail against the gates of hell" (From a talk given at the MTC in Provo, Utah June 20).

At the point of exhaustion for Elder Miller, President and I held his arms up for him. He heaved a great sigh of relief. President Laycock then asked, "What will each of us do to sustain and serve our Savior?

"Flooding the Earth With the Book of Mormon"

We continued to flood Santiago with the Book of Mormon as we asked each companionship to be more diligent in sharing and studying the Book of Mormon.

April 6 Zone Leader Council and Revelatory Experience

During our April Zone Leader Council and revelatory experience, we discussed ways to strengthen our mission. Our Zone Leaders were helpful and excited to try to take our mission to "the next level". We reminded everyone of our goal to read the Book of Mormon, and try to finish it by Easter. But, more important than just finishing the Book of Mormon by Easter, we wanted to encourage and invite our missionaries to establish a pattern of daily reading from the Book of Mormon. We know without a doubt that daily reading from the Book of Mormon brings blessings that we can not possibly even imagine. In President Ezra Taft Benson's talk titled, "Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon," President Benson states that, "The Book of Mormon is the instrument that God designed to "sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out (His) elect." (Moses 7:62). This sacred volume of scripture needs to become more central in our preaching, our teaching, and our missionary work."

This is what we are trying to do in the Chile Santiago East Mission. We know that just as Elder Bruce R. McConkie states: "The Book of Mormon reveals the mind and will and voice of God to all men" (Millenial Messiah pp. 159, 170, 179). What can be more important in these trying times? If we can know the mind, will, and voice of God, we can be saved and exalted. If we can help missionaries to establish a daily pattern of study from the Book of Mormon, we can help them to create miracles in their own lives and in the lives of those they love and serve.

We learned together, and we rededicated ourselves to the service of the Lord.

The Lord's Work in the Lord's Way

Elder Wassom served faithfully in the La Dehesa Ward,

and we love him very much!

What a blessing it was for this mother in the La Dehesa Ward who was baptized a few months ago, to have her daughter enter the waters of baptism and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost during the month of April. We are so happy for these two daughters of God. We love them very much and are so thankful for their desires to be obedient. They will bless the La Dehesa Ward in many ways.

Blessed Baptisms!

The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings great joy and happiness!

The missionaries are happy. The members are happy.

The children are happy.

The Lord is pleased, and the angels in heaven rejoice!

Elders Helping One Another

Elders Kirk, Nieves, Stoller making happy plans and having lunch! Our missionaries are happy and healthy. We love them all.

Pocuro Ward Cultural Hall

April Nunoa Stake Youth Fireside

We had the opportunity to attend and participate in many youth firesides during April. It was a privilege for us to be with the youth of the Church. They are wonderful people with hopes and dreams of bright futures. We know that as they stay active in their wards and stakes and as they obey the laws and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they will find true joy and be able to do all that is required of them to be able to gain Eternal Life. We love them, and we are so thankful for faithful missionaries who work diligently to teach them the Gospel and to be good examples to them. Our missionaries are constantly taking young men on divisions to allow them the opportunity to teach and testify and feel the fruits of the Spirit. We love our missionaries. What a blessing they are to the youth of Santiago.

Regional Youth Firesides

We enjoyed the opportunity to meet with youth groups during April. The youth of the Church in Santiago are strong and devoted. They have the desire to live the Gospel and be obedient. We love them. We are trying to remind the Young Men of the need to serve missions, and we want them all to feel an urgency to become faithful servants of our Father in Heaven at all times and in all places. The young people of the Church are always warm and loving.

Regional Youth Firesides

During the month of April, we enjoyed meeting with youth from all over Santiago. We visited with these smart, beautiful young people during Sunday evening firesides about the importance of eternal marriage and learning to make and keep covenants. We had time to answer questions and did our best to help them understand the importance of Temple attendance and becoming worthy companions to their future spouses. We discussed "The Family A Proclamation to the World." These youth are a bright light for the future of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was a privilege for us to be among them and to learn with them. Four of our Missionaries attended and helped answer questions. The missionaries are excellent examples of leaving the world behind and going out into the world to teach and preach the true and living Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are making a difference in the lives of so many young people. We are eternally grateful for their selfless service.

Elder Prera

President Laycock, Elder Prera April, 2011 Santiago Airport

Elder Prera returned home during the month of April, 2011. Our hearts will always hold a special place for dear Elder Prera. We love him, and will miss him.

We Said Good-bye to Six Fantastic Missionaries on Monday, April 4 2011

Sister Sain, Sister Blackham, Sister Laycock, President Laycock, Elder Matthews, Elder Ogrins, Elder Adams, Elder Bryner, Santiago Airport April 4, 2011.

We love each one of these fine missionaries!

Saying good-bye is always painful,

but we look forward with great anticipation

to see what wonderful blessings

await these dear Sisters.

Elder Ogrins says farewell to Santiago!

On Monday, April 4 we said good-bye to six fantastic missionaries. We will miss these missionaries, but their legacy of testimony and teaching will live forever in the Chile, Santiago East Mission. Each one of these missionaries gave his or her heart to the Savior's work. They shared all that they have and all that they are with the dear Chilean people. They learned to do the Lord's work in the Lord's way, and we will love them forever!

"Nuevitos" Arrive on Tuesday April 5, 2011

On Tuesday April 5, 2011 we met five wonderful new Chile Santiago East Missionaries at the Santiago Airport. We were so thankful for their safe arrival and for the feeling of love and excitement that they brought with them. We also met three wonderful Latin American Missionaries who arrived from the Chile CCM. We love every one of them already.

We ate pizza together, and President Laycock interviewed each of them. They are ready and excited to share the Gospel. We look forward to seeing them succeed.

They met their companions, and set off to teach and preach the Gospel together.

Five North American Missionaries arrived on Tuesday April 5, 2011.

What a marvelous blessing!

Three Latin American Missionaries arrived on Tuesday April 5, 2011.

What a special gift!

Landon Opened His Mission Call on Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Our son, Landon received his Mission Call on Monday March 20, 2011!

We gathered our family together from all over the world, and through the miracles of technology we prayed together and opened his call on Tuesday evening connected by telephones and computers. He will leave on July 28, 2011 for the Argentina Missionary Training Center.

Landon will serve in the Uruguay, Montevideo West Mission.

We are thankful that he will be able to perfect his Spanish skills and serve our Father in Heaven by serving the people of Uruguay. We know that he will be able to bring many souls unto Christ. He is "muy animado."