Week 7
¿Quién es la nueva gringa?
Hola todo!
I hope you've had a GREAT week. I know I have! A little update for you all... I'M IN CHILE!!! 
Literally sooooooo much has happened since last Thursday, so we'll just jump right in!
Scripture of the week "And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations." Alma 24:14 
Here's my week! It's pretty long but all of it is just so precious to me! 
~ Lots of little hilarious moments lately. 
Here's just a couple from today:
Here's just a couple from today:*Played heads up in class - One turn, the word was crab (cangrejo), but Elder Orton thought it was the word for Kangaroo (canguro), so he started hopping across the classroom and it had us WEAK 
*Hna Dominique was showing us how to flip a coin but she accidentally did it too high and it got sucked into the air conditioner
*Hna Ollis’ pen exploded while she was journaling and it got ink ALLLL over her bed and the wall. And it stained her arms and hands too
~ Tonight was SOOOOOO SPECIAL!!!!
The CCM held a Christmas devotional! All of the mission presidents in the nearby Peru missions were there, along with some non-members who the Peru missionaries invited! There were a lot of people haha. We got to sing a bunch of Christmas carols and hymns, have hot chocolate, and talk to eeeeveryone! It was so fun!!
A couple hours before the devotional, Presidente Chacón (The MTC president) pulled me aside and told me that he wanted me to say the opening prayer! In Spanish too haha. Afterwards, Elder Roman (A member of the 70 that spoke at the devotional) told me that Presidente Chacón said he is really proud of me and the missionary I am becoming. 
There were also a bunch of little kids who asked to take a picture with me haha! It was a really tender moment, and a really good night. 
Sábado - ¡Nadie más puede hacerlo!
~ DOMINATED the elders in volleyball this morning (my YSA branch from back home will never believe me but it's true)
~ We had a really good conversation in class today! I know that there are a lot of people in the world who could've been a missionary in Chile. There's a lot of people who can speak better Spanish than me, and it would've been a lot easier for me to serve in the States. But I feel, and am sure, that I have experiences, trials, talents, and gifts that the people in Chile need. They need my testimony. And that is why I have been called to serve in the Chile Rancagua Mission. Because no one else can do it - the Lord needs me!
Domingo - Love your sacrifices
~ Really really good testimony meeting today. The Spirit is so abundant and rich!
~ I can just feel the Lord comforting me and strengthening me so much as I prepare to go to the field. I am just so sure that I'm stepping into the most joy-filled chapter of my life and I am so excited to serve the Lord and His children!
Lunes - Thank goodness it's true!
~ Today we taught a pretty good lesson, and I really think me & my comps are getting better at teaching in unity!
~ Stayed up reallyyy late trying to pack everything. It took three Hermanas sitting on my suitcases to be able to zip them shut
Martes - Por otros y por Cristo
~ Really really really good last MTC devotional!! I got to sing in a choir and we had another member of the 70 come to speak. I am just so filled with the Spirit 
Something that stuck out to me: I am not serving a mission for me - I'm serving for others and for Christ! That's when a mission is most powerful. When we do it not to receive the blessings, but simply for others and for our Savior. <3
~ Left the CCM at 8:30 to head to the airport! I'm gonna miss it, but I know Chile is waiting for me!
Miércoles - Uncomfortably comforted
~ Longggg overnight travel. We took a red eye and landed in Chile at 6:30am!
~ Interviews with President Crump
~ Went contacting with the Hermana Capas (Sister APs)! They let me take the lead, it was really fun! We found this one really cool girl who had been to church before and asked us for a copy of the Book of Mormon. Miracles are everywhere!
~ Met MY TRAINER!!!
The LOVELY Hermana Bryner
Hermana Bryner is from Utah and is just so so nice. Our sector (area) is called La Florida - it's honestly SOOOO good. Everyone is jealous that I get to serve here haha. It's in the southernmost zone in the mission and it's the HOTTEST sector too. But it's so awesome! Our apartment is super nice too - I have my own bathroom and everything!
~ I was the ONLY Hermana in the new group of missionaries, so somehow the whole mission already knows about me. A lot of them found out that I was just baptized too, so it's been really fun to talk to everyone and share my story haha 
Jueves - Gran día para ser una misionera!
~ Crazy awesome first day in the field!!!!!
~ District council & mission zoom devotional in the morning
~ Lotssss of member visits - the mission is really focusing on member work right now which is super cool!
~ Taught my first lesson!! It was with a mom of two little boys, and she's on date for baptism! One of her boys just turned eight, so we're hoping we'll be able to help him work towards baptism too!
~ Sooooo much walking. I have blisters on my feet already haha. Super sleepy today too. But this is honestly SOOOOOO FUNNN and I wouldn't want to be doing anything else in the whole world!
~ Found 2 super cool people this afternoon! And as a district we doubled our goal! 
Viernes - Entrusted to declare the word
~ Lots of lessons today. I’m actually really proud of myself and how I've been able to just jump right in! My trainer keeps saying that she doesn't even need to train me haha. But she's so awesome and I genuinely am learning SOOOO much from her
~ I feel so so so much love for the people here in Chile. They are genuinely so amazing and the people we're teaching are so ready to hear the gospel
~ WE HAVE THE BEST MEMBERS EVER!!!
~ People keep saying that my Spanish is really good haha! It's still so hard to understand people, but it's getting better each day!
~ The Spirit is so tenderly sweet here in the mission field.
Sábado - Catholicism & feet
~ Had my FIRST COMPLETO today!! It was SOOOOOO good 
~ The blisters on the bottom of my feet are KILLING me but hey the work goes on! (Mom - don't worry I'm taking care of myself )
(Mom - don't worry I'm taking care of myself ) ~ We took a couple ubers (because of my feet ) and we got to have an awesome conversation with our driver. He's really receptive to the Spirit and is super interested in coming to church tomorrow!
) and we got to have an awesome conversation with our driver. He's really receptive to the Spirit and is super interested in coming to church tomorrow! ~ EVERYONE here is catholic. They're pretty set in their ways but it's cool to talk to people who are open to sharing and listening
~ The work here is so different from Virginia. But I love it and it's exactly where I need to be. And our mission is SOOOOOO HYPE right now - I absolutely love the mission culture! It reminds me of my Mighty VRM!
Domingo - Never again, Uber.
~ Introduced myself & bore my testimony in church!!
~ Lunch with Bishop (he's actually awesome and gave us some pretty cool references)
~ We took an Uber again (because my feet hate me) and our Uber driver LITERALLY CRASHED THE CAR. She drove right over the median and there was like a ditch in it and her tire got stuck. Luckily some people came to help us haha.
She drove right over the median and there was like a ditch in it and her tire got stuck. Luckily some people came to help us haha. We were going to use it as an opportunity to teach, but while we were talking the people helping us pulled out a pack of cigarettes and they all started smoking, then made fun of us because we don't drink alcohol 
So we just left and went on our merry way
So we just left and went on our merry way ~ We were feeling a little discouraged this evening because we had been working so hard and nobodyyy was wanting to listen to us. But we had so so so much faith. We said a really fervent prayer and God gave us a MIRACLE - we ended up finding 3 more people that hour!
~ One of our less active families asked us to come over to teach their son, who is preparing for baptism! It was so fun and the Spirit was so strong in their house!
Spiritual Thought Yesterday in church, a JAS (young adult) gave a REALLY good talk about what qualifies us to do the Lord's work. It felt like he was talking directly to me. I testify that God does not need perfect, or anywhere near it, to perform miracles in our lives. He does not need abundant knowledge or a cracked Spanish ability or an extrovert to do His work. He can do GREAT things, amazing things, incredible, eternally significant things with ANYONE who has a willing heart. That is His only requirement. You don't have to have it all together or be someone you're not for God to use you. You can be exactly who you are, weaknesses and all, and God will work MIRACLES with that, just as long as you have a willing heart.
So that's my invitation for you all! This week, say a prayer and express your willingness to God. Willingness to work, to try, to overcome, to love, maybe even a willingness to believe. And I promise that God will work MIRACLES with that heartfelt prayer.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
Well that's all for this week folks! Thank you all so much for your kind messages and prayers! I would love to hear from each of you - please reach out and tell me how you are!
And I know a lot of you might have questions about what exactly I'm doing here as a missionary in Chile, so don't be afraid to reach out with any questions you have too!
I love each of you with my whole heart. Have a GREAT week, and I'll talk to you next Monday! Jesus loves you!
LAM,
Hna Geary 
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