December 12, 2011

So the cambio just ended. I've been on my mission for six months as of 3 days ago? I forgot about it but at the end of that day I said it and my companion was like "What!? You didn't tell me? That's a big deal!" And I said "..... Really? Because I totally forgot I'd been out that long. No Big." So yeah that was that. haha.

This last week was pretty good. Our ward baptized 3 people this weekend. And yes. Por Fin (Finally) Diego got baptized. Guess who baptized him? Me! It was pretty sweet. Just saying. :D So yeah it was pretty sweet. I almost confirmed him as well but in the end the bishop did it. Whatevs though. And then President called me yesterday and told me that I am being transferred. This time I'm really going to the farthest missionary sector in the world. I told you the arguements we've had about that before But I'm really going to the farthest place where there are missionaries working. Supposedly the sector is a test of patience. But as long as I'm cool with my new comp (which I think I will be, we've met before He's pretty chill) I think I'll be good in the middle of nowhere. They called us last week and told us about the most exciting part of their P-day. They said "I'm on top of a mountain and I just saw a goat!!" Bahaha so we'll see how it goes.

Alright so Last week I added both Mom and Dad to skype and this week I logged in to the account and neither of you were contacts, So I re-added Dad because he told me his skype name and He just logged on so I know it worked BUT about the test call I think my mamita's daughter is going to try to call you guys this week which will be interesting. I think Ethan or Devin maybe could talk to her because Brandon is at his Army Dealio. That'll be funny for you all ¿right? oh but if she calls after the 15th brandon will be back. So I'll tell them to do that one day like the weekend around 12:00 your time. and Christmas day I think we're planning on doing the call so we will call around 1 or 2 depending on if my companion wants to call first or not so I'll verify that and let you know for sure next week.

So yeah That sucks about my bank account. But whatever. It just means I can't buy anything for myself in the next few weeks, which isn't a big deal because I don't think there is anywhere to go shopping in Por Venir (my new sector) so no big. And I'll manage with a card with Brandon's name because we just go to ATM's and pull out money it's the easiest thing to do.

Besides that I don't really know what to put in this email. Oh yeah. the other day when President was here they pulled up a video of my new companion opening his mission call and I thought it'd be fun to see mine. So mom should put that in my email next week :) just for fun. But I think that's all. Now I'm going to put pictures that my companion took of the baptisms of Diego and Allan. Diego has 2 sons but the other one didn't want to be in the picture with us. But it's okay My comp took a picture of him another day haha. Everybody here are Me (obviously), My comp. Diego, his wife Monica, His 1 or 2 year old Adolfo (called Toto). Allan, and Diego's other son David

Love you all. Talk to you next week. I'm excited for my Christmas Package!!

Elder Bassett

December 5, 2011

Hola todos. I almost thought about sending you all an email in spanish. Baha. Wouldn't work for all of you. but whatever

Okay so this last week was pretty good. We baptized our 12 year old investigator and I confirmed him yesterday and gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost. Pretty cool stuff.

Besides that.... Well we finally got Diego to say he'll get baptized and he chose me to baptize him. So that's awesome. Our ward has 3 baptisms next week because we're awesome and there are 4 missionaries working in the same ward. It's pretty cool. Just saying.

Oh hey good news. We are going to be allowed to call you on christmas through skype. Therefore I need to know somebody's info to add them to my contacts or whatever. I'm working on it right now actually because they told us all to try and work it out. And I talked to our Mamita who said we could do the call at her house (If i'm still in this sector because Cambios are next week) but we wanted her to test it and see if it will work so we are going to figure that out and she can talk to Brandon or something because it'll be easiest for him to understand her haha. So that is going to be fun stuff. haha. I just sent dad a contact request thing? So he should get that soon and respond. But it is asking me for his phone number and I don't know which one to put. I'm going to sit here for a little bit and see if you send me an email with information but I can only send one email to you all and I basically told you everything exciting that is going on down in the end of the world. Oh except I have some stuff to send home like beanies that are cool. And I still don't know if my card works.... and I got sunburnt lol. 

That's really about it. If you send me your phone numbers and info for skype I will make sure I have it and am ready for Christmas. :D

Love you all. Have a great week. and thanks Britt for emailing me at 2:48 in the morning hahaha. I'm excited for the package. I hope you didn't put beef jerky in it because they fine for jerky and dried stuff like that. and the mission won't pay for it. But I didn't ask for jerky so I don't think we should be worried about that.

Talk to you  next week. I'm waiting for your info. I know this is short but... that's how it is haha

Elder Bassett

November 28, 2011

Hey everybody! Thanks for all the emails this week! I think Brandon's had some Portuguese in it because I didn't understand it.

Ummm so this week nothing really new has gone down. We found some new people to teach which is good. We're working hard and stuff which is always important.

Sounds like everybody is doing really good up there in the northern hemisphere... Down here it's still cold. Oh hey thought. Last week I tried to see if my personal card had any money on it but it got denied and spit out. I don't know if they have locked it up or what But I don't really think so because it denied my comp's card too but he went to a different box and it worked. But I tried it because everybody in my zone is out of mission money (including me) So we're short on food and all that good stuff... Pfft. So yeah it is what it is, today for lunch we bought bread and spread some kind of cheese cream on it. It's not cream cheese though. Because that doesn't exist here. Haha.

So, Yes dad you got Pierson's name right (But I feel weird saying his first name. Haha.) and Pierson, My dad wanted you to know he was serious about you going to see my family some time. And, to answer all the question's at once, Yes Gracie I know where Trevor is serving he's in Concepcion, Chile. Ironic right. I'm pretty sure he recieve's these letters too but he's never sent me anything to verify that. He might say it in the letter that he said he was working on like a month and a half ago that I haven't gotten haha.... I think that was everything that I was supposed to reply too.. If I've missed any questions just let me know. I'll do what I can.

Thanks for the advice from Dad and Brandon. I'm trying to be good at everything I can. There are just some things that make me a little miffed.... Like how I lost my camera in a car last week (I believe) So everybody should pray to help me find it. Because I just need to talk to all the colectivo (taxi-ish) guys and see if they've found it and it'll come back to me. But it still is buggin me. Also, I have talked to my companion about stuff we had like 3 comp inventories last week, one because he thought we needed and 2 because he read the steps in how it should be done then 3 because it was weekly planning day when it was supposed to be done. Baha. I told him it's a good thing I have more patience than Britt because she may kill him if they ever eat in the same room.... Just saying. Britt i'm sure knows why. But. We're all good and working well together.

Oh yeah about Diego. At this point we just need to throw him in the font because he knows everything and we've just been making stuff up when we visit him but on the 25th he hung out with his friends and drank some so we're still working on him and he's still changing because he said he thought about drinking and like thought about not doing it, in his words (translated obviously :P) "I doubted doing it which I have never done before" So it was good and he's still moving forward. We are actually going to baptize another investigator this week who is 12 so we haven't had many issues with him, except figuring out how to make him understand the lessons. Pfft. He is ADHD so yeah. It took a bit. But we got him there and I guess he had some dream that included him in the chapel but I wasn't really explained the dream so I couldn't tell it to you but he had it and then afterwards knew the church was true. So it was cool. Now we're gonna work more on his dad Victor.

We have another investigating family who we have seen changes in which are good. There are four of them, Gma and Gpa are named Eloisa and Arnoldo, the mom = Claudia and her daughter is Darlyng. Pronounced darling. Eloisa and Darlyng have been the most accepting but we have gone over to their house randomly to find Claudia reading the stuff we leave behind and we FINALLY got Arnoldo to come to church but from what we understand of his speach (baha) he is commited to continue coming. Eloisa we want to baptize first and Arnoldo has never seemed to be interested in being baptized so after that we'll work on Claudia so that she can support Darlyng. Because Darlyng will get baptized as soon as she has all the lessons she accepted right away.

Ummmmmmmm what else. today for Pday we have just played Ping pong in our chapel with the other missionaries that work in our ward. It's been pretty awesome. That's what happens when we don't have money. Oh and I'm writing more letters home for people but I won't be able to send them... Again. No money. so yeah. People just have to be patient for their letters :P

I think that is all though. Love you all. Talk at'cha next week. Oh. We put up a christmas tree haha.

Elder Bassett

November 21, 2011

So another P-day. I know you all just woke up like an hour ago so ¡Good MORNING!

Things are going well down here, It's raining again. This is like the 3rd time this week I think? But it's cool I like the rain down here. Nothing extremely exciting happened this week. Well actually something did we had an activity last friday with the mission president! It was cool because it was like the 3rd time I've seen him... Not including when we met at the MTC haha so yeah, it was cool. We had an interview and it was pretty chill he asked how I was doing and stuff and then was like "Have you had any crab yet? I love crab" And I was like :O I thought we weren't supposed to have crab and stuff but he basically gave me permission to have crab and sea food and stuff as long as it's for sure from an approved place because for people who don't eat sea-food there are a lot of different types here and they try it and get sick but... I don't think I'll have that issue. Because we all know I love sea food [baha, almost said see food ;)]

Me and my comp are doing well. It helps growing up in our family and learning things like patience. He is a little immature sometimes but so be it. I can't complain too much. Kus i'm not supposed to. BUT ya know. I'll leave it there.

Anyways. that was about as cool as it got. Nobody got baptized. we're working on that. But the other day we were talking with Diego and he said " I think about it every day and I want to get baptized and I know I need to. And I really don't know why I haven't done it yet or what is stopping me" So we're all like JUST DO IT but only in our heads... I'm pretty sure his wife is on our side also. Baha.

Oh yeah I totally forgot this week was thanksgiving. You all kept talking about it and I was like "That should be coming up soon....." Yeah. Time flies right? But check it out I'll only miss one more Thanksgiving after this week haha. :P

Everything is going well for me, I'm healthy and stuff. I think i'll have enough food this month :/ haha so we should be good. If not, I'll fast a lot. There's nothing wrong with that though!

I'm adding photos of A really ugly dog that looks like chewbacca and a picture of me with Patrick Star (from spongebob) but he's a special Patrick... You'll see why!

anyways. I think that's really all... Oh mom. I like Crunchy Peanut Butter. :D

Love you all. Talk to you next week!

Elder Bassett

November 14, 2011

So this is another week gone by! crazy stuff time keeps flying. Thanks for the emails, sounds like some good stuff going on with everybody, Sounds like there are very few reasons to go to california anymore haha geez! But life moves on eh? I'm glad Kinleigh has so much fun with herself in mirrors and stuff that sounds like a riot. There's a little baby girl in this ward and she reminds me of Kinleigh sometimes, mostly because I met her when she had about 2 months and I left when Kinleigh was about the same age. so yeah I know this little girl more than Kinleigh, that's kinda sad. Oh well as long as she recognizes me when I come home all will be well.

All is well here in Punta Arenas. Working hard all the time and trying to find some good people to teach and learning to teach them better. I've finished Alma in the Book of Mormon in Spanish and in the English one I'm in Alma 26 about. I read a lot faster in English than Spanish but I'll probably finish both of them before Christmas. I also started reading the Bible and Jesus the Christ, of which I have like 50 pages remaining. That book is awesome and gives "palos" (which means sticks but the phrase "to give sticks" in spanish means.... something.... I don't know but it makes sense okay... But no I didn't make it up) anyways it gives a bunch of facts that people don't know that I can use in conversation to prove stuff against Jehovah's witnesses, catholics, and other people if I want. It's basically awesome.

My mission president wrote me an email last week and said I've progressed a lot. What do you guys think? Because I dunno. Food for thought.

Ummmmm oh yeah I actually am going to see President this week. That's cool I forgot about that for a second. Spanish is still doing good. For language study we're supposed to learn more about grammar and stuff or memorize scriptures so we can speak better... I just read the dictionary... Baha. Later in life I've decided I'm going to get Book of Mormons in different languages to read them because Basically if you read all the way through a Book of Mormon in a different language I've heard that you will be able to speak that language. So that's what I'm going to do. Later. Because right now I can only get more in spanish and maybe english but we tried to do that once and I think we still haven't recieved it... Pfft

So yeah. I'm good. Happy. Healthy. Working hard, losing weight. Actually I think I lost a bunch and now am stuck at about 165 ish? the scale is in Kilos so I'm at 82 kilos if the scale is correct. I don't know if people have tried to add me on facebook Britt but if you told me they have and said some names I could tell you whether or not I know them and if you should add them or not. Just thought about it because a good friend I met here went home a week and a half ago so he may have added me. Anyways.

We have found a few good people to teach, a family of 4 (except their dad works on boats or something so he's gone for 15 days and home for 4 which sucks) but the mom and 2 sons are way good and Her and the older son accepted a baptism like right off the bat basically, she did but we had to explain to him about being baptized as a baby versus how Jesus did it, after which he was like "yeah I'll do it, if my dad is okay with it." and we're going to talk to them all today including their dad so I'm hoping he's as cool as the rest of his family. we'll see. All of the good stuff happens right after I write you guys and then I forget them haha. But I'm keeping my journal so I've got the good stuff written down.

How was Green Lantern? I know dad didn't like it but what about the rest of the family? Did anybody go see capitan america? I'm not really worried about it or anything because I know when I get home I can watch them with their sequels so no big haha but it's fun to be in the loop. I feel secluded from everything else in the world so ya know. Oh yeah, A few video games came out recently too, those you aren't allowed to tell me about (Ethan and Devin and Matt. Because they're probably the only ones who care :P) so don't mention the new assassin's creed or halo or Gears of War or anything!  Geez.

Sooo I think that's it. There are some letters in the mail home to some friends. We've had like 3 holidays on mondays so the mail place has been closed but I got stuff sent still.

I hope all is well with those who I don't know about. I'm gonna go play soccer with my zone now.

Talk to you all next week!

Love - Elder Bassett

November 7, 2011

Hey Fam! (and everybody else who reads these emails!)

So this week nothing super exciting happened, I got my new comp, we taught some people, had a barbecue as a zone, people left, and we did an activity at the cemetary with the youth in one of the wards here. That was pretty cool because I sang most of the time, yeah... Bassett thing right? always gotta show off the singing voice. Did I tell you we sang at the baptisms last week too? Yeah me and one of the sister missionaries did a duet haha. Anyways though, enough showing off.

Sounds like things are going pretty well back home, I hope that you are all happy and healthy, because that's what is really important. We don't have too many super commited investigators but Diego decided that he really needs to get baptized and he just needs to stop being stubborn about it. So he said "whats the last saturday this month?" and I said "the 26th" and he laughed because I answered right off the bat and said "he's got them memorized" But then said that we could do his baptism that weekend. I would have tried to get it sooner but they are celebrating their son's birthday the week before so he's not gonna replace that, but oh well. His kids are hilarious. I am going to have to get a picture of them actually. I have pictures of Sebastian and his family so I'll get those sent home. Oh yeah, The picture I'm sending in this email is the sun almost setting. I didn't zoom in at all so the sun is all the way to the left in the photo but when I got here it was setting all the way to the right. If not farther to the right than is shown. crazy stuff right!?

The second picture i'm sending is what I took about a minute after I woke up. The sun is already up and shining over the roof next door to us.... Yeah... That's all I have to say about that.

Everybody here says that it's warm... I told them it's probably the same tempurature in utah that it is here and it's winter in utah. Baha.

I don't know if there's anything else to say. My new comp does stuff differently than I do.... Obviously. Because every missionary is different. But he is the new district leader here too and has 7 months in the field. I think i'm doomed/destined to be a district leader at some point if this keeps going with DL's as my companions. :/ about that. Oh well though I know that whatever I need to do I can do. And i'm just going to have to get used to my new comp.. Because as of yet i'm not used to how he does things. and so inevitebly some things don't suit well with me. but you all know how I deal with things so I'm just gonna suck it up and try to follow the spirit in dealing with his quirks and the things that don't go well together. Because that's all you can do sometimes. I'm sure he is my companion so that I can learn something from him. I just don't know what it's going to be. We'll see.

That's all though family. Talk to you next week. Love you all!

Elder Bassett

October 31, 2011

Morning! Hey all. How's it all going? Happy Halloween!

I hope you are all doing well, I know it's early for you all but it's 11:15 here so.... It's not my fault :P

This last week was pretty intense. We were called and told I'd change companions and my companion went to Osorno to a Zone leaders conference with the one zone leader while I stayed with the other zone leader who wanted to stay here because he's finishing his mission tomorrow, so he's not really a zone leader anymore. So yeah I stayed with him and it was cool he's super funny. I'm sending a picture home of him with the family of the stake president. I took this picture because his son looks a lot like Johnny (my cousin) and his daughter looks like Selena Gomez haha so yeah I thought it was funny and got the same picture with Elder Pierson's camera and theirs so it's not like I just asked them for a picture with my camera. Anyways.

Oh yeah. Nothing big.... but... Sebastian got baptized!! Yeah it was sweet. I don't have any pictures though I was super busy the whole time trying to figure out the schedule and doing the prelude music (which they replaced soon after I started playing it was retarded but whatever) and then I was one of the witnesses for all 9 of the baptisms we did (for the whole stake, it was pretty sweet) so I'm pretty bummed about that but they didn't even get any pictures for their family either his wife just said "we'll just keep it in our minds and hearts" and I said "you're dumb..." .... but not out loud promise. Anyways!

That's about it really nothing very exciting happened this week.... But hey i'm done with my second transfer! That's insane.. Time flies when you're having fun eh! so I'll see you all in about a year and a half.... Wow. yeah I'm gonna look through my camera for more pictures to send now. I'm going to send them starting from last going to first so Dad can save them and I can delete them. Alli estamos. (said "A-yee-eh-tah-mo")

So i'll work on that and talk at'chy'all next week.... I love how I never use full words.

Love you all!

Elder Bassett

October 24, 2011

So my second cambio is almost over now, I'm in the last week which is crazy because that means I have spent more time with my companion than I have spent with anybody else.... like ever. Including my companion in the MTC. Which has taken it's tole... There is nothing wrong with my companion but he lives in a different way than I do, and after 11 weeks together, I have noticed differences that just are weird and get on my nerves... But whatever, the joys of living 24-7 with another person right? The weather has changed from cold, rainy, and dark to being cold, light, and windy.... That's about all of the change we will get. Well actually it will still be brighter but regardless. I am going to have to get a picture of the sun one of these days because yesterday we left the house at 9 to call people to come to church and the sun was really high in the sky, so the sunrise photo I sent a few weeks ago I took at 10 that day so if I wanted to get a sunrise picture these days I would have to wake up probably around 5:30.. Because my companion woke up the other day around 6 and told me (after we had both woken up later) that there was already sunlight coming through the window at that point in time... :O insanity.

Well Diego decided he's not ready yet to take the step towards baptism but he is still progressing, learning, he just says that he wants to know more so that he knows what not to do because if he makes a commitment he wants to know what it entails and how he can keep to it. He's really good but I think he is trying to learn too much. But then again he had a beer the other night and said "I know the word of wisdom says not to do it but I was with my friends and I didn't feel bad about drinking it so I have to change that" so that is him for now. Sebastian though flew through his interview and is definitely being baptized. But he may have had more preparation that Diego didn't, I dunno. But whatever. The service is for the stake of Punta Arenas and we are going to have 9 baptisms that day. Wasn't what we wanted necessarily but it's better than... less.

Glad to hear everything is going well with work and birthdays and cars and stuff. I hope Britt's back stops hurting soon because that's not cool that it still is bugging her. And it's good to hear Kinleigh already wants to say the prayers haha! The daughter of our Mamita does that too, she actually starts to cry if they don't let her say the prayer... Pretty funny haha. ummm... I think I thought of something else. But I forgot. Oh hey I think I remembered! Well I just thought about the haunted train thing and yeah I hope that's going well even though only Ethan and Devin are doing it haha! I hope you all find something fun to do on halloween anyways... We here are gonna have a "Pijamada" i.e. sleepover. Baha. We're awesome ;)

Okay so I always knew I was a slacker but I've realized that I should have known a lot sooner the importance of the principles the Gospel teaches in our lives. Preach My Gospel talks about things that help us even more than just teaching other people. Like about how the only way to have a Really happy home is to grow it around the principles taught by Christ, and how "heaven is the continuation of the ideal home" so we should remember that. Reading the scriptures everyday makes me want to continue to read them more. I wish I had more time to read them (which is saying something because we have extra study times being the new guy haha).

Umm so I don't really know what happened this week, we taught a few lessons, and talked to a lot of people on the street. Most of the people on the street usually just say "I'm in a hurry can't talk bye!" so it's sometimes pretty lame but once in a while you get the good one and it's sweet. I just would like the ratio to be better haha.

This week I had a couple of days where I just didn't have a good attitude, and it bugged me that I didn't have a good attitude so that just made it worse, but you know me so you know that I didn't say anything or show it. Just got to work. But I would LOVE it if I didn't have a bad attitude about the work or anything... I know there are those days but I don't want to have any of them. If I could always want to do as much as I could and actually get up and do it, that would be excellent. But ya can't have everything you want right? So I do what I can and forget about what I can't change.

I think that's kind of all I have to say... SO talk to you all next week! Oh and I've written letters to send home... But haven't had the time to send them yet so I apologize! BUT I'm going past the post office today and definitely sending them. Because I have 3 to send. and like 3 more to write :/ haha but yeah. That's all!

Love you all. Talk to you next week!

Elder Bassett