Sean McAlister Called to Serve: Isau's Baptism

Here is this week’s update from Elder McAlister, and sounds like they have a lot of work to do there in Chiguayante. They did have a baptism for Isau, which is great to hear, and the first one for Elder Letelier (funny story in Sean’s email)

I does sound like its cold where he is now that they are in the middle of winter down there.

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Hey Everyone,

How’s everyone doing? I really hope that you guys had a good week. I miss you, and hope that everything is going well! When will dad be having his surgery on his knee? That is really crazy that Brooke and Todd will be moving to Oklahoma for just a while! When will you guys be moving there? I hope that Todd will do well and I hope that you guys will like Oklahoma. That is really weird to hear that you guys will be moving out! But good luck! Sounds like Jessica had a really relaxed week, and are you still working at the same place? Derek bueno suerte con la universidad de U.V.U. It sounds like Sabrina was having a party this week! Mom good luck with Sabrina and Emma Hartley. I really miss all of you and just hanging out with you guys!!!

This last week we ended up baptizing Isau which was awesome. He didn't really have any facial expressions but he was happy. My companion baptized him and I did the conformation. It was my first time doing it, but it went really well. Now he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ!!! We did have a funny story with the baptism! There is a plug in the baptismal font and I pulled out about 10 minutes before the baptism service! I knew that the water wouldn't leave because you need to push a button to have the water leave. But this is the first baptism for my companion and he doesn't have that much time. His first thought is that all the water is going to leave from the font and so he went running and jumped in the water with his clothes on! I ended up telling him when he put it back in and all he did was just laugh!!!

Other than the baptism we had, we didn't really have much success this week. We are really short on investigators and I’m hoping to turn it around like I did in Hualpencillo. We are teaching Ricardo and he is doing really well, but the problem is that he needs to get married. Other than him, we don’t have anyone else that is really progressing. The Ward is really good and they are ready to work and help us out here. Bishop kind of went crazy on them and told them they need to work more and they are really showing obedience. I really do like the area. It’s a prettier area than Hualpencillo. There are less drugs and it’s pretty rich here. We are close to a mountain and a really big river and it’s pretty cool but it gets pretty cooled at times.

Well lately it has been raining really hard down here and we heard that it will be raining all week which should be really fun. Also there is so much wind here. Something that is cool is we are really close to the river of Bio-Bio and it gets so cold at night.

I hope you have a great week and I pray for you guys all the time. I hope that you’re okay and I love you a lot! Have a good fun week and I can’t wait to hear from you guys next week!

Take care and be safe!

Love you guys!!! You guys are the best family in the world!

Elder McAlister

Answers for Mom:

Papa Johns is the same here as it is in the United States but there isn’t that many and the pizza is a lot smaller than in the United States. Elder McAllister is from American Fork, Utah and he lives really close. The weather is the same, a little more cold here and a lot more wind!

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This week’s spiritual thought I shared with Sean comes from President Henry B. Eyring in his April 2014 Conference talk "A Priceless Heritage of Hope". He said:

"God has sent mortal servants who can, by the Holy Ghost, help us recognize what He would have us do and what He forbids. God makes it attractive to choose the right by letting us feel the effects of our choices. If we choose the right, we will find happiness—in time. If we choose evil, there comes sorrow and regret—in time. Those effects are sure. Yet they are often delayed for a purpose. If the blessings were immediate, choosing the right would not build faith. And since sorrow is also sometimes greatly delayed, it takes faith to feel the need to seek forgiveness for sin early rather than after we feel its sorrowful and painful effects."

I found this quote to be very interesting. Heavenly Father has provided "mortal servants", they being Prophets, Apostles, Stake Presidents, Bishops, Priesthood leaders, teachers, parents, family and friends that can all help us, along with the great gift of the Holy Ghost. We will find happiness if we choose the right, and sorrow if we choose to do wrong. The happiness and sorrow may not be immediate, but we know it will happen, and need to have the faith to live accordingly.

That wraps up this week’s post, so have a great week and enjoy a few pictures Sean sent today…