First week in the new sector

Sounds like things are going well in the new area, and with his new companion Elder Mills.  He is in a much more populated area, and near two different colleges. In his new apartment, he is living with another Elder who he went to school with in Pleasant Grove, Elder Mitton, and it sounds like it is one of the better apartments for a missionary.  He didn’t have much time to write today, but enjoy what he was able to share.

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Hey guys,

I am glad to hear from you guys and I am doing great. Transfers went great last week, and I am happy with were I am. I hope that everything is going well for you guys. I am glad to hear that you guys are all doing well in health and that you guys are having fun. I really am loving the mission and I am happy with what I am doing! Love each and every single one of you guys!

Well I can say it is very weird to have a companion from the States! Elder Mills is really awesome and we are getting along just fine. It’s kind of a crazy sector, and there are a ton of people in my sector and a ton of movement. It has been going great, we had a really good week and I really like it here in Concepcion. There are two colleges in our sector, and if makes me feel like I am in college (HaHa). It’s weird talking and teaching people that are the same age as you. I have been trying to learn the sector and to know all the members. It’s kind of different ward here because half of them are not even from Chile! The ward is pretty small, but we do have a ton of visitors that come to church here. My sector is in the middle of Concepcion pretty much. There are a ton of apartment buildings and stores, then there is a sector, or a little pueblo, that is in our sector and it has so many stairs that you have to climb up forever and it’s a very interesting sector.

When I changed sectors I moved into an apartment building, and we were on the 2 floor. Friday we ended up changing our house again and now we are living with the assistants and the office Elders. The house is really nice and it turns out that we are on the twelfth floor and we have an awesome view. Also, we have carpet!!! That is the best thing in the world for me. This house is the best house that I have seen in the mission and I love it so much. I am living with some good friends that I have made in the mission. I am also living with Elder Mitton from PG. I am really liking the house and it’s great. 

Well I can tell you guys when I got here in this sector, it was kind of dead, or in other words there is not that many investigators. Elder Mills and I went and worked hard and found some new people and it was awesome! If you guys can pray for family Thomas they are a family that we are teaching and they are reading the book of Mormon right now and they are liking it. They have never been invited to go to church, so we are going to do that. Also if you can pray for Alejandra and Catalina! They are new investigators that we found in the last week and they are college students and they are awesome. All we need to do this week is focus on finding and help the less actives in the ward. But if you guys can pray for our sector that would be great. Thanks!!!

Well my companion Elder Bravo ended up going home and it was the day after cambios. He found out that he was leaving Monday night and he left on Wednesday. It was really sad and I hope that he is doing okay.

Thank you so much for everything that you guys do for me and thank you for the letters. I did get my package and I will open it later. Thank you for your support and I hope that you guys have a great Thanksgiving. I love you guys and I hope that you are have a great week. Can’t wait to hear from you next week. 

Love you guys!

Elder McAlister     

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Spiritual thought time! President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, in his talk "Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth" in October 2014 General Conference said:

"Let us acknowledge that most often gaining a testimony is not a task of a minute, an hour, or a day. It is not once and done. The process of gathering spiritual light is the quest of a lifetime. Your testimony of the living Son of God and His restored Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, may not come as quickly as you desire, but I promise you this: if you do your part, it will come. And it will be glorious."

What a great quote and so important to remember.  We all learn step by step, precept upon precept.  Whether we are longtime members, or new investigators to the church.  It can be frustrating for missionaries sometimes when investigators gain testimony slowly, but that is how things work, we all learn and progress at our own speed. Sometimes we just need to be patient with ourselves and others.

Until next week be safe and enjoy these pictures from Chile, which didn’t have much in the way of descriptions….

With a family in Chiguayante.

With an investigator in Chiguayante.

With a family in Chiguayante.

With a family in Chiguayante.

The four Elders from Chiguayante.

They bought sushi!

View from the new apartment in Concepcion

Heading to Concepcion!

After four months in Chiguayante, Elder McAlister is being transferred.  I think the change will be good for him, and unlike last year he will have a little time to settle in before the Christmas season, and not be on the move a couple days before Christmas.

His new area sounds like it will be interesting, and he will be very close to the mission home.

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Hey Everyone,

Well one week has gone and a new one is here and they are passing by fast. I really can’t believe that 6 weeks has gone by and now I am starting a new transfer. I am glad to hear from you guys and I am glad that everyone is doing okay. Dad has been right at guessing every transfer that I have, but this is the first one that he has guessed wrong. Glad to hear everyone is doing okay and Brooke if you have the opportunity to go to a Thunder game, DO IT!!! That would be really fun and I hope Todd is doing well in the tests. That´s funny that Makenzie dropped in on you guys and I am glad to hear that you guys had a good time visiting her. Sounds like everyone is doing well in work and I am glad things are going better for you guys. Mom who are the janitors at Manila now? Jessica how are you and Derek doing and I hope you guys are becoming like old people (HaHa)! Sabrina seems like she has grown up a ton and I am sure that she is going to be playing volleyball forever! Next volleyball player for the "U"!! I wish I could have seen Dad and Adam practicing for their act! (HaHa) sounds pretty funny.

Well today we had cambios and it turns out that I am leaving. I am going to Concepcion. There are two colleges in my new sector, but that is what I heard. I am going to have my first companion from the states, it’s going to be weird! We played a game to find out our transfers. We played ping pong around the world with the whole entire zone, and we were wearing pajamas (HaHa). We each had three lives, and when we lost a life we were told a piece of our transfer. I won the game around the world so I found out last. I know that my new companion is going to be Elder Mills. I am excited to go work in Concepcion and I heard that it is really hot there. I also heard that we are changing house in my new sector and we will be living with the assistants and the office Elders, it’s going to be awesome. Elder Bravo is going to try to stay in the mission and he was put into a trio. So that will help the other Elders and I hope that will help Elder Bravo.  

This last week was awesome! It started off really emotionally hard and my companion was up and down. We tried to work with our investigators this week, but we couldn't find any of them. So it was kind of frustrating not having anyone to pass by for. So the whole week we spent walking and trying to find new people to teach. To be honest I felt like my legs were going to break at times, but on the other hand I am getting good exercises. We haven't been able to see the Gasparini family or Milton or Gonzalo. Now I can only wish the next elders good luck.  

This week I had a mini cambio (I don’t know how to say that in English) with Elder Skeleton. We had a really good day and a lot of fun. I was kind of nice to have the opportunity to work with someone else in the week. We kind of struggling as a zone right now, but my district is doing really well with bringing people to church with a baptismal date. But there is a lot of room in where we can progress! 

We Bought Papa Johns two times this week and it was so good. I have bought Papa Johns at least 15 times in the past 4 months. I think that our house has an addiction to pizza. And now our whole zone buys pizza thanks to us (HaHa). But it is the closest thing that you can by to having good American pizza. It is pretty expensive here, but totally worth it! I think with this cambio I won’t be eating as much pizza now! (HaHa)

We got an announcement about the day of Christmas and what’s happening that day. We will only be talking for 30-40 minutes on Skype this time, because the general authority's told us to. It will still be fun to talk to you guys and Christmas is close and it doesn't feel like that. It’s too hot to be Christmas!  But I can’t wait!

I love you guys and have a great week. I am excited to hear from you next week. I hope that all goes well and that you guys stay safe. Thank you for everything that you have done and are doing for me. It means a ton! I love you and I miss you guys!

I love the McAlister Family!!!

Elder McAlister

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Spiritual thought time! David A. Bednar, in his October 2014 General Conference talk, "The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn" he said he following on family history work, a subject I have been thinking a lot about lately"

"My beloved young brothers and sisters, family history is not simply an interesting program or activity sponsored by the Church; rather, it is a vital part of the work of salvation and exaltation. You have been prepared for this day and to build up the kingdom of God. You are here upon the earth now to assist in this glorious work."

It's actually pretty cool to think of family history, and then temple work, as another form of missionary work.  We as members really need to do family history work so our ancestors can accept the missionary work taking place in the spirit world.  I really wish I could find more time to do genealogy work.

Until next week, and from Concepcion, enjoy these last pictures from Chiguayante…

The Chiguayante district

Elder McAllister, Elder Bravo and Elder McAlister

Elder Copling and Elder McAlister

Elder McAlister and Elder Hualinga.

Elder Andrade and Elder McAlister

Elder Skelton and Elder McAlister