Am I in Chile?

So I´m in sector Simon Bolivar 4....even though I´m partly NOT in the sector. This week I started with all the intercambios (exchanges because she's a STL) I have to do...I was only able to do one this week. But I have to do 2 or 3 every week. Its going to be exhausting, but oh well. I am learning LOTS! 

My companions are great. Its different cause we all already know how to do the work, so we just DO it. What IS hard, is that we´ve all been in charge before and we have to work together to combine "how we do things" cause its different..but things have been going well. Its not easy. The first day was hard...I was criticizing everything in my head....then I realized that I needed to FOCUS on others, to forget myself, and my pride. ...and I´ve been great ever since. It’s not a game, its not a competition....THIS IS HIS WORK, and if we dont work together we´re not going to be able to do it well. So yea! ....I have put on my glasses that only let me see things with a positive attitude, and look at things more like the eyes of Christ and its been great. Im HAPPY actually! 

What is hard...is not knowing the ward, the people, the sector......the NORMAL stuff for all the other missionaries...but for me no haha. Its been a while, but I know that I need to learn LOTS. Its a process. 

Something about this sector: ITS EASY. Honestly the work here comes EASY. I feel like I worked my BUTT off in Quilicura and it was hard. I can see now that it is NOT an easy sector...but I know that I was able to be an instrument in the Lords hands to bring about GREAT things. 

But here. ...anyone can do this work. The people here WANT to hear us and we dont have to CONVINCE them. I work hard, AND can see the success in outstanding ways. ...but I know that ANYONE could do this work. Anyone could do what we do. All we do is open our mouths and invite. ...But as for numbers, I´ve never seen some of these numbers..as in quantity. Its freaky cause Im struggling to remember some of the INVESTIGATORS. Theres sooo many. But its great. we NEVER dont have anything to do...and when plans fall, we whip out a ton of contacts. AND I LOVE IT. 

But this sector is pretty.....ghetto. Not gonna lie. We barely teach chileanos. Almost everyone here is from Peru or Columbia. ...NO JOKE. I literally feel like Im in ANOTHER country. 

...And sometimes I cant even BELIEVE the conditions that they live in. The majority of the people live in rooms. Like theres a community shower, and patio or whatever and theres this run down area where they´ve put up boards and stuffed in a bed and a tv or something....its crazy!! ...some are better than others, but Its just crazy to see. We are teaching more people from peru and columbia than from chile....actually we only have about 5 investigators, MAXIMO, from Chile. 

This one house, theres like 80 columbians that live there. And there are some GREAT investigators....(actually this is the case in lots of situations) but there are also some other people that live there. ...

Lets just say there is LOTS of drug trafficking. Ive never been around so much marajuanna in my whole life. We dont teach the people that are walking about doing it, but to get to our awesome investigators.....we have to be in there room. And everyone around them is involved....how hard.

But its seriously a different culture here with all the people we meet. Its CRAZY...you honestly have to see it to get it. I really cant explain it.  

Also, during changes (long story short) we left the office and I was missing my small duffle. I didnt know if someone had robbed me or someone had made a mistake...but it sucked cause along with all the music, creams, jewelry ....that bag had ALL MY GARMENTS. But I felt calm that everything would be okay...like for reals. I wasnt stressed at ALL....and I realized that its just stuff. It wasnt important, and it was cool to really LEARN that. well anyways on Friday we went to the temple to buy more garments. GUESS WHO I RAN INTO! Bishop Budini from Quilicura! I couldnt believe it. I felt like God really blessed me...just something small, but he knew I needed to see someone FAMILIAR and feel that everything is okay! ...and thats what happened! And another Elder in my mission, whos one of my buddies, he went there to! It was awesome. 

OH! And the greatest part, 2 hours later, my bag was found. (An Elder had it)

We went to a funeral veiwing of a less active family. The ward did a devotional for something...the culture is WAY different for how they do funerals here. But while sitting there I realized how blessed I was to KNOW that I WILL see and BE with my family forever. ...and how sad I was for the people there who didnt know it. ...but it made me want to share the gospel with even MORE people to make sure that they never felt so sad.

Yesterday I was EXHAUSTED. I dont know why, but I really was dying. But I was also determined to keep working and not let the Sunday Sleep get me....We tried contacting some references and it didnt work. We'd passed our contact goals by a TON for the week and I was praying for energy...then I prayed that God would help us TEACH someone. As soon as I asked, I had the thought to talk to people by their door...we entered into a house looking for a reference (you enter into a house but it doesnt mean anything cause you have to find the ROOM where the person lives...) But anyways, we got into the house and the first contact we did...N*. Hes great!! We extended a baptism invitation, and he accepted. His family in another part of chile and peru are members....And his wife has a tumor. I felt so blessed to be a part of it. And I also realized even MORE the importance of prayer. God answered me IMMEDIATELY. I know that he was just waiting to give us one more blessing. 

And lastly, our progressing investigator, Hermana I*. We stopped to help her pull her shopping cart home. She works in the feria... or the little flea market where they sell stuff. The cart was heavy, but her burden was heavier. She doesnt know how to read...her kids make her sad....and lots of things. 

we taught the lesson and we also invited her to church. She works sundays...but after promising blessings, she decided to give up working on Sundays and put God first...and she did it. She came to church yesterday! Ive NEVER seen someone do that in all of my mission...what great faith!. 

But yea. Thats my week. Its been great, Im happy and Im working hard. Im learning a TON too. ...I am so greatful to our all powerful God and his infinite love. We are SO BLESSED! 

Love, 

Hermana Alex Johnson