No Quaking in Rio Bueno

So just to clear up everyone's worries right away, the earthquake from Santiago didn't reach our mission. We're all fine, there was a tsunami warning and some of the missionaries that have áreas on the coast had to evacuate but nothing ended up happening.  Thanks everyone for your concern, it means a lot.

This has been a really great week. General Conference on the mission is seriously the best.  It's so cool that even down here in Rio Bueno Chile I can be watching the same exact thing as all of my family and friends throughout the world.  The technology that allows this is truly a blessing from God and I'm so grateful for it.  I had a lot of questions answered this conference and I'm really excited to go forward in the Lord's work here in Chile.  These are a few of the themes that stuck out to me.

1. Discipleship and fulfilling our duties.  We have all made covenants and committed that we are going to follow the Lord and obey his commandments and the words of the prophets. We do have responsibilities as members of the church.  A lot of times we have the tendency to just go through life doing the bare mínimum of what is expected of us.  We ALL need to participate in the work of salvation by sharing the góspel and helping others.

2. Love and Gratitude.  I noticed that a lot of talks focused on our love for and how we treat others both strangers and family members.  Elder Scott's talk was one of my favorites specifically as a missionary because I realized that we can't help others if they don't feel our love for them.  A lot of times missionaries can get wrapped up in becoming baptizing machines and people feel like we are only there to baptize them for ourselves, not to help them with sincere love.  As we all go about sharing the góspel, we need to feel Christ's love for others.

As far as the work goes here we continue to find, teach and prepare people to make the commitment to follow our Lord Jesús Christ through baptism.  The biggest highlight from the week was a lesson that we had last night with Hernan.  He said that he is committed to be baptized, they just need to decide as a couple whether to get married or be separated.  My favorite part was when their nine year old daughter perked up and asked what we were talking about, the mom said "whether your dad and I are going to get married or if Dad's going to leave the house," the daughter says "I like the marriage one better" it made us all laugh haha, but he should be baptized by the end of the month.

That reminds me, Elder York got transferred to this zone this transfer and was able to give me an update on Ariel and Leslie.  He said they were making plans and committed to getting married and then baptized when he left so hopefully soon they will do that. Woohoo!

That's it for this week. Thanks everyone for your love and support, I really appreciate it.  Hope you all have a fantastic week.

Love, Elder Dower

Questions this week.
1. Have you heard about the earthquakes?  I looked it up and you are more than 1000 miles away.
yea we Heard but nothing happened here
2. Are people talking about it there?  Maybe opening people's minds and hearts?
I haven't really seen any affects, was it really big? I don't know much about it.
3. How are things going with Elder Walker?  Are you getting along ok?
We're doing really great, He has a year and like 2 months, we get along really well, , he actually went to school with Jessica at mountain view, I forgot to mention that.

4. Are you still talking and serving everyone you come in contact with?

. Yes, it's been harder this week with general conference but yes.

5. How are the people you have been meeting with progressing?
hernan is doing really great, should be baptized this month
6. Did anyone watch conference with you or members?
 yes, Hernan came and Miguel a 15 year old kid we're teaching
7. How is the weather?
its starting to be colder and more rainy, i have to wear sweaters more now


Thats all the questions I have for now.  After conference, there was a special about David Archeleta's mission.  They showed him walking and riding buses in Chile.  All I could think of is that is what Cameron is doing.
That special of David Archuleta sounds about right, we walk and ride buses a lot haha.