The one with cambios and zero water

Hola Hola everybody! I hope everyone has been well and happy. This past week down here in Chile has been crazy full of stuff. The week went by fast but a lot has happened and changed in just a few days. It's crazy, lets get started...

SO first off my companion Elder Jacobsen got transfered so we had to go around so he could say goodbyes to everyone from the ward and stuff, it was sad to see him leave but i know he'll be awesome in his new sector. But anyways my new companion is Elder Carrizo from Uruguay. Super dope guy ive only known him for about a day but i think we'll get along just fine. Back to speaking pure spanish for me hahaha. no biggie. 

so another thing that happened this week is that apparently in Chile there has been some problems with water maintenance or something so the city decided to shut off the water for 2 whole days. we didnt know it was gunna be 2 whole days either but we got a call sunday morning that they were gunna turn off the water so we jumped in the shower, filled up as many things with water that we could find in the apartment and even then it wasnt enough. man you never realize how much it would suck to not have water until you dont have it. id rather not get into the dirty details. but best part is that its back on finally and we are clean, hydrated, and happy once again hahaha. what an experience. 

basically thats whats been going on down here, obviously theres always more but if any of you are truly interested, shoot me an email and then ill fill ya in with whatever im missing.

I love you all and i send you my best once again from Santiago, Chile.

Elder Carlos Cabrera

facts of the week:

1. it takes over 2 gallons of water to get a toilet to flush manually...so much for staying hydrated

2. the smartest thing to do in my water situation would be to fill the washer with water...if only i had a washer

3. When you take away water from a whole city of Chileans, they will refuse to talk about Jesus Christ...how unfortunate

The week with my now legal companion and a baptism

Hola Hola everybody!!! Man this week went by fast i cant believe im writing all ya'll again so soon. Things fly when youre busy. This week was full of fun and good times and even a beautiful baptism as well! Im doing good down here just teaching and taking care of what ive been called to do. Now into a little more detail...

SO this week we had to spend a solid amount of time outside the sector because my comp has come to the end of his temporary visa that he got when he got to Chile so we had to go make sure he's here legally so we got a bunch of paper work done and soon he'll get his sweet Chilean citizenship that i have that i showed you all maybe a week or so ago. SO that was fun especially since i didnt have to do anything i just had to be there and hang out with other missioanry buddies of mine that were doin the same stuff. We waited in some long lines but hey i didnt mind at all. and we took some cool pics as well.

But the best part of this week was that one of our investigators Sofia Kayiza (17) got baptized this past sunday. shes the first member in her family and she has such a strong testimony of the truthfulness of this gospel and this church. She cried the moment she emerged from the water and it truly touched my heart and seeing how happy she was and even hiow happy all her friends and family that were there really showed me the importance of what i do. I work as a tool in the Lord's hands to bring happiness to His children. Nothing more special or more important i could be doing right now in my life. 

So that was my week in a nutshell and it was a good one, one for the books. Thank you for all your love and support always, i can feel it. I love you all and i hope you all have a great week. 

Love, Elder Carlos Cabrera

facts of the week:

1. Nobody here knows how to use google to answers all their random questions, when someone asks a question and they dont know the answer, they just remain satisfied not knowing the answer....use that thing you have in your hand for some good!!! it kills me

2. Chileans feel the need to label everything that is high in suger with a very obvious high in sugar sticker..."oh really this huge soda and candy bar has sugar in it, i had no idea"

3. Since Chileans are all like 5'7'' or shorter they dont feel the need to trim the trees to accomodate someone a bit taller, as if thats not even a possibility to be taller than that

the week where your companion is your valentine

Hola Hola como estan todos??? I hope you all had a greatttttt week and im reporting to you live once again from Santiago. This past week has definitely been a memorable week and not for anything ridiculously awesome or weird, just the lessons and experiences that ive been apart of this week. Without getting into any details, this week my companion have been involved in a lot of probelms and issues that others have been suffering from.

To get more into it you have to understand as a missionary you leqave behind all your personal issues and challenges and you take on the burdens of the hardships of others. And sometimes its a heavy load to bear but it needs to be done. Ive grown to love so many people in my sector where im serving and when they are happy, im happy, but when theyre hurting...so am I. I want to make a few observations about some lessons that ive learned this week. 

An investigator asked me if God created the bad in the world, and if so why. My answer: no He didnt create the bad, man does. From our own ignorance and mortal imperfection we create the bad in the world and because God loves us so much, He allows us to endure and perservere through them, and through the hardships is when we grow and learn the most.

Another lesson to be learned was the Atonement of Jesus Christ, when He took on the sins and afflictions of the world for each and every one of us, is infinite and we can always use it to change and become better. Whatever challenge or temptation we're facing, He can help us overcome it. The sickness might be different for each of us, but the remedy is always the same. 

How we choose to live our life here on earth will determine our eternal potential. and the decisions we make all depend on our eternal perspective. So if some of you ask yourself like I often ask myself, How can i achieve eternal happiness and how can i become a better person? The way to answer your question is by asking yourself two more questions: Where are you? And where do you wish to get? 

Im sorry that this email is e bit deeper than usual but its been a deep, meditative week for me and i wanted to share this with all of you. I love you all very much and im doing good down here. Stand by we will be baptizing a girl named Sofia Kayiza this coming sunday and she is more than ready and excited to take a step closer to following Jesus Christ. 

With much love, Elder Carlos Cabrera

facts about Chile:

1. Valentines day barely exists down here and ive come to realize that Americans will find any excuse to celebrate something, that's fine by me haha

2. Chileans hate to eat foreign food, quite unfortunate since half the country are foreigners cooking foreign food. 

3. When someone is of a different country in blood and lineage but born in Chile, they are considered Chileans, not like in the states where we focus on the part of us that isnt considered American 

the one where im legal now

Hola Hola Everybody!!!! How is everybody i hope all is good back up north! Everythings been just swell down here in beautiful Santiago. We've just been working and trying to change lives. The heat hasnt been too bad either, its came down a bit in temperature and im eternally grateful for it, but not as grateful as my basically albino companion Elder Jacobsen still bathing in sunscreen though, poor kid. 

But seriously all has been well this week i recieved my CARNET which is basically looks like a drivers license that just means that im here legally and all that jazz. Its exciting, im basically Chilean, shhhhh dont tell President Trump. Ive heard so many random stuff going on but i dont know what stuff is true, i just hope all is well and i return home to a country i recognize haha. thats all ill say about that. 

This week has been jam packed with lessons and family home evenings and service projects and the days are flying by when youre so busy. Im teaching a lot and its so cool ive never been able to answer EVERY question that somebody has asked me. I thank Heavenly Father for blessing me with the Spirit to be able to answer and the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it is such a simple yet vital process in which we can return to live with our Father in Heaven, His son Jesus Christ, and our families forever. I know this Gospel is true i know that families can be eternal and i cant wait to share that with every person that is willing to listen.

I love you all and i send my love and my prayers always with you and your families. 

Love, Elder Carlos Cabrera

Facts about Chile:

1. You cant walk more than 13 steps without finding a cigarrette butt near your foot, its been highly tested

2. Every Chilean hates Donald Trump and loves to bring it up in conversation with Gringos

3. Whenever you tell a Chilean youre from California they automatically sing "Hotel California" or "California Love", try it i dare you