I cannot write the 100th of the things that happened this week. I know with out one single doubt that God is a God of miracles because this week I saw a miracle that I have never before with my own eyes. In reality, there are 3 miracles.

First off, we knew at the beginning of the week that we were going to have 2 baptisms with the Valenzuela Fuentes family, so we were preparing to go grab baptismal clothes in Republica (central Santiago)  for the two on our preparation day. Before we get out, Elder Allen has this unmistakable feeling that we needed to get THREE baptismal clothes. As we thought about it, we only had one investigator who fulfilled the requirements for baptism other than Carlos y Daniel, but she had repeatedly said she didn’t want to be baptized yet. We had fasted to have 3 baptisms that month, and it seemed like God was beginning to answer our prayers. We went to Republica, but they didn’t have any. We reserved 3 baptismal clothes, and then left. 

The investigator who was to be our next miracle is named Stephanie. We talked to her that day, and she told us that she would not be baptized. Then our friend Danny who was accompanying us (he was baptized 6 months ago) told the story of his conversion. The missionaries had come to his house and told him that they had faith that Danny could resolve all his issues and be baptized that very weekend. And he did, even though he didn’t believe at first. It was a powerful testimony. Then I looked at Stephanie and told her "Do you believe in Miracles?" She said that if by miracle we meant that she be baptized that weekend, she didn’t. I looked at her, smiled , and said "But we do. And we have the faith that it will happen". We left, praying hard that God would help us.

2 days later, we returned. We passed through the baptismal interview questions with her, and as we finished she said, "Well, I guess that I need to get baptized." We told her that she would need an interview, and she said: Can it be tomorrow? We then told her: That  means you would have to be baptized this weekend. She just looked at us and said: Yeah. I know!.

She then went to the bishop’s office to have and interview, and we were a little confused. She came out and told us: I’ve talked with the bishop, and we´ve set plans that once I get baptized, I’m gonna serve a mission at 19.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA??????????????

We were dumbstruck. She had decided to go on a mission BEFORE getting baptized. She went to her interview, and passed with flying colors.

The only other thing that worried us was the testimony of Daniela Fuentes. She had said that she had still not received and answer to her prayers. We went the next day to see how she was doing and she told us: I had a dream last night. I know that this is true. I know that I need to get baptized.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA??????????????

Dumbstruck round 2! God had literally done everything. He prepared the way, and we happily went along! 

Then came the biggest wave of opposition that I have ever seen in my life. The Interview for Stephanie started 2 hours late. Her parents began to act up against her. Daniela and Carlos arrived late for an essential teaching appointment. The day of the baptism my knee started acting up, I felt exhausted, and we had to fill up the baptismal font without any help. The baptismal font overflowed and we had to clean up for 2 hours. The Font had to be emptied, and we had 1 hour and 30 minutes to fill it up again. We had to fill it with cold water, and the impression came to me to use the church’s garden hose to fill it faster.

and God came through.

I am happy to say that Stephanie, Carlos, and Daniela were all baptized on the 25th of July, 2015. All were sooooo happy, and all were spiritually edified. Daniela gave a powerful testimony, and we went to bed the happiest we had ever been in our entire lives. 

God is a God of miracles. Trust it him, and he will always come through. Love you all!!

Elder Pomar :)

Sorry for not having pictures!! The computers in this cyber cafe don’t read my camera :(

God is a God of miracles. I wish I could tell all of them!!! My computer crashed for a bit so it cut down my time :(

But to think positively, I am happy to say that we are going to have 2 baptisms this Saturday!!!! They are such a miracle. I promise I´ve never seen anyone more prepared than Carlos and Daniela. The cool thing with them is that when they get sealed, I´ll be still in the mission, so I’ll get to go!!!

The other day we miraculously found another investigator. As we were walking to an appointment, we made a mistake in which street we went on, and as I was getting ready to go back, a memory came to my mind of my last companion saying "we made a mistake, and it has to be for a reason". I felt the spirit strongly tell me that I had to find someone on that street, but I didn’t know where to start. The first door we knocked out came a young father named Julio. He let us in, and near the end of the lesson he said, I feel something really weird. It’s a mix of peace, and tranquility. So I read him Galatians 5 22 (fruits of the spirit) and I testified that the Holy Ghost was speaking to him. I asked him why he let us in the house, and he said that he wanted to know if it was true what we said.

I love the mission! Thanks for all the support back home. I love you all!

Elder Pomar

Hey Hey Hey!!! Here we are again. This week has been filled with excitement!

First off its been raining! Woo!! We´ve been in drought, so it’s been good. The smog has cleared a little, and I discovered that we have a few hills near us that I had never seen before haha!!

First Miracle:

My good friend Lee Mackay served in my stake 20 years ago, and most of his converts are in a ward called Rinconada. It just so happened that I had divisions in that ward (which was really divinely planned, because they aren´t in my district and it just so happened that our companions had to go to a reunion together). It just so happens that one of my friends converts was working in the street market that day, so I went to pay him a visit. He has been less active for 5 years. As I talked to him, he began to tell me his story, and in remembering his baptism, the spirit was really strong. I took him by the shoulder, looked him in the eye, and said: "How would elder MacKay feel knowing that his convert is less active?" and the spirit basically hit him over the head. He began to reflect deeply. I am happy to say that Alberto went to church yesterday for the first time in a long time. God knows why I moved to thousand oaks so I could meet my friend brother Mackay and help remind his convert of his duty

Running out of time, but to make the long story short, we have 3 baptismal dates for the 25th and 5 investigators went to church!!!! We´re going to (if all goes well) baptize Carlos, his wife Daniela, Selva, and her son Alvaro. We´re soooo excited! I know that it’s the hand of the Lord. I’ve never seen so many miracles in my life, and I’m not even telling half of what happened this week. I love missionary work! God tries us so we can be stronger, and then he gives blessings so great that there isn’t room to receive it. Love you all!!

Elder Pomar

Catch you next week!!!!

Hey Everyone!

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 100 YEARS CHILE WON THE COPA AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Obviously I couldn’t watch the game, but I definitely heard the celebrations. Fireworks, Honking horns, waving banners, chants of "Chi Chi Chi Le Le Le" among other things happened for a good 2 hours. We had to be in the house at 5pm to avoid the madness. I’m happy for my Chilean people! 

We´ve seen a lot of miracles, and a lot of changes this week. President Barreiros has seen that we´ve been working a lot with less active members, which is great. The only problem is that the First Presidency sent him a letter saying that we as missionaries cannot be "home teachers," so now we have to get the ward energized to do their own visits!! Wooo!!! That will be really fun haha! Now we can only visit less active members where there is potential for a baptism. It’s a big change, but you just have to trust and go onward!

I guess the most frustrating thing is the agency of people. We had one lesson with an old investigator who began to bash the book of Mormon, and we had a lesson so filled with the spirit that I felt as if it was smacking Fernando and Pablo. We testified and taught and confounded false doctrine, and when the spirit was at its highest point, they both said: But I’ve already made my decision. I wont ask God. Your religion is not for me. I normally would have gotten mad, but I knew in my heart that we had done all we could. They felt the spirit testify, and they know it. They just wouldn’t accept it. Hopefully down the line they will soften their hearts

We´ve been walking and walking and walking, and a lot of the times the people just we´re leaving the door. I realized one thing: The Lord only works with us according to our faith. I´ve become so focused on the works of faith, that I had forgotten the most basic component: Believing. As I have chosen to believe that people will be in their homes, that our appointments will be their waiting for us, a new light and energy has come in to my mission. Never for get to believe that with God, everything is possible

And we found our miracle!!! The Valenzuela Fuentes family who we had found last week told us yesterday that they feel that this is the true church and have accepted baptismal dates for the 25 of June! God always blesses those who patiently wait for him.

Sorry that there aren’t photos. This computer doesn’t upload them.

Thanks for everything, and have a great week!!

Love,

Elder Pomar :)