Sorry in advance for the short email. 

THE SANCHEZ FAMILY IS GETTING BAPTIZED TODAY!!!! Its gonna be such a great day. We have a ton of things to do so that everything goes well. I´ve been learning a lot with my new companion. Its funny how God puts us with the people we need to stretch us and help us grow. You just gotta be happy while ya do it! 

I’m doing great in Chile, enjoying all the "flaites" and empanadas. I cant imagine that one day I´m gonna have to leave. Lets pray that It comes slowly! 

Love,

Elder Pomar

You´re gonna have to forgive me for the short email today.  Wow, I looked at the calendar the other day and I have less than 5 months left!  It’s so crazy that it’s almost over.  That's why I gotta give it my all now!  I can't be like the San Jose Sharks and chump the game in the last 30 seconds of the 3rd period, am I right? 

The Sanchez family are the greatest.  Raul, the dad, is a machine.  He´s getting baptized next week, hopefully along with his daughter.  God has wrought so strongly within him.  The guy took the Book of Mormon on vacaciones and read up until 1 Nephi 10!  He is just such a genuine guy that´s gonna help the ward a lot.

We also have a 10 year old girl named Constanza whose getting baptized next Saturday as well.  Its miraculous how everything happened.  Her mother, Elizabeth, was a member as a child, but for reasons of study and work, went less active.  When she invited Constanza to be baptized at age 8, she didn't want to.  Two weeks ago we knocked her door without knowing anything and now Elizabeth is really excited to get back to church and she´s taking her 3 kids with her!  It just brings me so much joy seeing others change.

Well to finish, here´s a spiritual thought.  We have to give our all to God

"for I, the Lord, require the hearts of the children of men."  Doctrine & Covenants 64:22

What are you holding back?  Give it up to God and He will give you His all in return.

Love,

Elder Pomar

  Well, looks like God really wants me to learn Portuguese. He´s put me with another Brazilian hahaha!!! That’s 3 Brazilian companions in a row. After I leave the office, I will have spent 9 straight months with Brazilians. Below is a photo with the 3!

It was sad to see Elder Martins go, but it’s been great with my new companion. He´s a real fireball. Elder Serrano is from Río de Janeiro and he´s got a strong personality (like me). It’s been fun. We have to collaborate a lot to put our two ideas together, but I´ve never seen so much personal progress in me as a missionary, and we are seeing a lot of success. 

I´ve been really stressed in the office this week. One day 4 big challenges came out of nowhere and I had to go flying out of the office to all parts of Santiago. We thought that a few missionaries that arrived on Tuesday had not received an entry stamp in their passport. I felt like I was going to explode! But the funniest thing was that when I got to the airport (cause that’s where the officials said I had to go), We realized after the airport official examined the passports that the stamps were there. Only that they were sooooooooooooooooooooo faint that it was almost impossible to recognize. The whole office got a big laugh out of it. I did too! I need to follow my own advice and not get so stressed. Everything will work out!

And when I got to the sector to invite people to baptism, oh it just brought me back to life! Its so weird how preaching the gospel will literally take away fatigue, stress, and anguish. As it reads in Alma:

 "And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of  Christ." - Alma 31:38

Look for that joy of Christ in your everyday life. It will bless you forever.

Love you all!

Elder Pomar

PS: IM A GRANDPA IN THE MISSION!!!!!!!!!! ELDER FERREIRA´S TRAINING A GREENIE FROM INDIANA!!! WOOOOHOOOO!!! :D