I LOVE MI FAMILY!

(Dad) Wahooooooo! You are doing the temple job! That is so great. It is wonderful to know that the Lord trusts you building His House. Wow. I absolutely love reading your letters. I get so much from them… This change we are working chapter 9"How to find people". My companion asked me to use the sales stuff I know to get us into doors and talk to people on the street. The quote that you sent and the one in PMG about not putting your own talents, experience, and abilities above the Lord´s really help me to keep that experience in perspective. It’s so good to hear that Jayce is doing well. He´s got to keep being dominant and it starts in your mind. … Thank you for the spiritual boost. I really love reading your letters… Thank you for being the best dad ever. I love you so much and thank you for staying strong even through this hard time. I have learned much from your experience. I love you and am praying for you. Have a good week Paps. … Te quiero papi. Chow, Elder Tilley

It's getting cold . . . below 40 in the evenings

(Jayce)- That’s what I’m talking about. Way to play ball. I laughed when you said "I felt cool". Keep being awesome. That is such an awesome experience. That is something that you can tell people on your mission one day. The Gospel has to do with real people that receive real blessings in real life, just like that. I’m glad you like your coach. If he is as disciplined as it sounds, you are going to be good. Keep being awesome and let that confidence fly. Heavenly Father will help you. Turn your life to him and he will direct your paths. Also know that faith without works in dead. Faith, without hard workouts, is dead. You’re an awesome brother. I’m so glad you are living a wonderful life that is going to bless many. I’m really excited for you. I love you Brother. Pray for our investigators, specifically the family Colonia Adrean. …I love you Jayce!!! Keep it up. Your Brother, Elder Tilley

How's my Spanish you ask????

Ximena at her house

Bec-This is Ximena at her house. She gave me a really nice note yesterday that said that she thinks of me as "hijo de corazon" child of her heart.
Becs, just keep being a great example. Always speak dignified and live what you know is right and others will see your example. Ammon became the friends of the servants and the king and then many many many were converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I remember one time on a tournament; I talked to (a friend) in our apartment. It was probably one of the hardest things I had to decide to do. Recently, he told me that at that time he was wondering if God really existed and what he should be doing. We never know what a compliment, smile, pat on the back, kind and loving word can do for our friends. Keep being the example and your will be given the opportunity to cut the arms off and save the servants. I love you Becs. Keep up the hard work and stay humble. Only with Heavenly Father can you reach where He wants you to be and where you want to be. I love you Bec. Type at you later. Elder Tilley

Missionaries Having Fun!

Elder Tilley learned to do this when we were living in an apartment while we built our house. If anyone knows how to rotate it . . . I'd LOVE a lesson. (mom) …Our apartment closed this last week, so we had to move to a different apartment about 10 minute further out of our sector. It is a little bigger but a lot colder because it doesn’t have any carpet. We got everything moved in an afternoon and just finished unpacking yesterday morning. No kidding, two hours after finishing unpacking, we got a call from a lady in our sector that wants to rent her house to us. We went there that same day with the Elders in charge of the pesions. Their first words were, "Sketchy". It is pretty run down on the outside, but it is actually pretty nice on the inside. It is in a set of apartments. I didn´t feel good about it at first. We were instructed to pray about it and let them know that night. As I prayed, many thoughts just came to my mind like "You have asked for one, now I’m giving one to you". President Laycock approved it, so we have been trying to get a hold of her today to ask her when we can move in… I’m not needing anything right now except for some prayers for some investigators. We found a family! two weeks ago and they came to church yesterday. They stayed for all the classes and even for the baptism of Constanza Leyton. We love them so much. The only problem that we have seen so far is that they aren´t married. Out of nowhere this past week, they asked us how weddings are in our church… They are very clean people. Their kids are so wonderful. …We have a family night with them tonight and are excited. Ariana, the 9 year old girl came and sat by me during the baptism and we sang the songs together. I couldn´t help but just have such hope and love for her and for her family. I think this is what Golden Investigators are. … I found a lot of joy in bearing testimony of the Savior this past Tuesday. After reading Elder Mickelson´s letter and praying, I was pumped to go share with people on the streets. We talked to 6 or 7 people as we walked down the street and related the gospel to the world cup and whatever we could. We have learned that All Things bear testimony of Christ. I expressed to two young adults that when Chile wins we feel good, but when we loose, we feel bad. there is also a game that is being played inside of us. When we win, we feel happy...when we lose, we feel sad. We teach how we can win through Jesus Christ…. I can hear the radio playing in the background, The Chile vs. Brazil game is just about to start. Its´ pretty crazy down here. I love you family and am praying for you. Have fun this last week of ball! I love you all and think of you often. Gracias por todo apoya. Les quiero mucho!!!

Elder Whitney, Tilley, ValVerde, Maxfield

Many people say that Elder Whitney and I look like brothers. I started to realize that he kind of really looks like Josh.
We still haven´t found a place to live yet. I think we are going to be moving in with four other Elders that live in another sector until we find a place. The thing is that our sector is pretty dangerous and we are white and appear to be rich. I wouldn´t feel comfortable living in the majority of our sector. We might just have to keep camping on the outskirts till we get something safe…. Last week we found 11 new investigators and this week we found 10. The weeks before that was around 1. Thank you so much for praying for us. We found a family from Peru this last week that we are really excited about. A whole family!!! We have been praying for them in every prayer. We had a baptismal date for the 4th, but they weren´t able to make it to church yesterday so we are going to have to push it off I believe. Their names are Juan, the dad, Yeseña, the mom, Juan, son, Carlos, son, and Ariana daughter. They are ages 14,11, and 9. I love listening to the little ones talk, because it is so much easier to understand. Chilenos speak really slurred. People from Peru speak very very clear…. Please tell me if I should just focus on writing experiences that we had during the week or just taking pictures of my journal or whatever is best. I want to help people mostly. I remember feeling so excited to read letters from Josh and see pictures. I was really pumped up to do what was right knowing that my brother was out there teaching people about the gospel. I want the letters I send home to be a blessing. Let me know how I can improve them.

Elder Mooney and Tilley (both from Gilbert Arizona)

Rach and Joe … From conference there was one phrase that really stuck to me and I am trying to figure out how to apply it more fully. One of the General Authorities said "Happiness, Peace and Joy do not depend on circumstance...but upon faith in Jesus Christ". I don´t know how to apply it when you are working in a secretaries office and am working on it here. When you figure it out, please let me know. I’m sure the way to do it is the same in an office or serving in the field. I sat next to Elder Mooney today in a cafeteria and we talked about Arizona. I didn´t know him before, but he said that he knew who you were. I sent mom a picture of us. I have been praying for you a lot this last week. I hope all is going well. …I love you so much Rach. I am excited to get to know Joe better….tell him thank you for taking care of my sister. Love you two! Have a great great week. Love Elder Tilley

If you know Elder Tilley . . . you KNOW he LOVES sunrises and sunsets!!! (This is a sunrise)

I sure love President and Hermana Laycock. They are so inspired. We will have the opportunity again this change to go to the Temple. I hope this will be a once a change program. I loved going last time. I got the package. I’m wearing the warm tootsie socks right now, and I’ll have to say my tootsies are pretty warm. Thank you…. The cliff bar, I am saving for safe keeping. That made me happy. Thank you for the snacks and the frequency. Getting packages from my family kind of feels like I picked up an extra med kit on the Nintendo games.

Ximena Catalan was baptized!

Our ward is doing well and investigators too. Ximena Catalan was baptized yesterday. That felt so good for us and for her. There were many people there to support her. We sang "I’ll go where you want me to go". Constanza Layton has a date for the 27th of this month. She is 10 and has a really difficult time understanding what we are teaching. We are trying to get members over to her house for support and who can speak better Spanish. She needs prayers to be able to understand and we to be able to teach simply simply simply. This past week, we found more investigators. We have been struggling with that the last couple weeks. This next change we are focusing on Chapter 9. "How to Find People". We went to the change conference this morning to hear President for fun and see what is all going on. Elder Maxfield and I will be in El Valle for at least 6 more weeks. I believe that Elder Valverde is our district leader!!

Elder Maxfield and I at the Metro

We found a house this last week, but are still not sure. I think we have to be out by the end of this week or the beginning of next. We still aren’t sure what to do, but are glad to be missionaries anyway. Elder Renshaw leaves today, so we got a new assistant. I really looked up to Elder Renshaw even though I didn’t know him well. I am also really excited for the new one, Elder Livingston, He was in our zone this last change. Elder Maxfield and I are focusing on lessons with members, finding news, and having them assist on Sunday. Pray for our efforts here. We need extra excitement and faith to apply what we learn from Chapter 9. It’s not easy to just talk to anyone and everyone on the street, but I did find that I am much more happy when I do it. Please pray for Elder Maxfield. He has had it rough his mission with companions and with people. He is willing to change, but is not sure what to do. Don’t worry, everything is usual, but some blessings from Heaven would help him much. This last change has stretched me so much. I feel like I’m changing. I have really tried to focus on helping him this change, and in so doing, I have become more myself than ever before. Elder Holland said in his talk "the divine companionship" that "if you haven’t learned that helping someone else is more important than focusing on your own success, than please start learning that lesson now. You will understand the Atonement and many other lessons that have come down to us through the generations. It’s more or less like that.

Becs, you sneeky young woman you. I thought that was really cool that you helped fix everything after you pranked. It sounded like camp was really fun. I had no idea that Dad kissed mom on the stage last year. I think I would have been embarrassed too. It’s a blessing that we have two parents that love each other and love us. We are really really blessed. There aren´t many that have it as good as us. Good job with the b ball. Keep up the hard work and smart work. Always be striving to keep the spirit with you; it will teach you "all things" that ye should do. All things Bec. I sure love you and know you are doing awesome. More importantly than basketball and most importantly, keep striving to develop your testimony. Keep praying and reading, working and loving. The adversary is real and we need to have our spiritual game face on when he challenges us. I sure love you Becs. Keep being a great example to all those girls. You are a very special. Love you, Elder Tilley

Basketball and Ping Pong Missionaries

(Pres) We had a zone activity this morning and were able to play some basketball and some ping pong. The scriptures are really powerful aren´t they. One night a couple months ago, I was really scarred too. I talked to President about it and he told me when you feel scarred read the scriptures. I did and it works. Anytime I am scarred I think about the words the Savior said "Blessed are the meek, etc... its the sermon on the mount … That is a really neat experience. From little experiences like this, our testimony of the Book of Mormon grows into a rock. I love you brother. Is the family still having gospel donut moments? I am praying for you. Please pray for Ximena. Her baptism is this next week. She didn´t come to church this last Sunday though. We are praying for her too. We set some high goals for this next week.The scriptures are really powerful aren´t they. One night a couple months ago, I was really scarred too. I talked to President about it and he told me when you feel scarred read the scriptures. I did and it works. Anytime I am scarred I think about the words the Savior said "Blessed are the meek, etc... its the sermon on the mount … That is a really neat experience. From little experiences like this, our testimony of the Book of Mormon grows into a rock. I love you brother. Is the family still having gospel donut moments? I am praying for you. Please pray for Ximena. Her baptism is this next week. She didn´t come to church this last Sunday though. We are praying for her too. We set some high goals for this next week. We want to find 10 new investigators and have 8 lessons with members and have 5 people in Sacrament meeting for next Sunday. Pray for us. I sure miss you buddy. Love Elder Tilley I sure miss you buddy. Love Elder Tilley

Elder Bollough (our district leader) and Elder Valverde

(Mom)My health is doing well. There have been a lot people get sick with the weather like it is. It´s really cold at night and in the morning, but warmer during the afternoon. … Well, Gladys doesn´t want to be baptized. She is having a hard time with her husband and just doesn´t want to be baptized right now. Ximena Catalan has her fecha for this next Sunday. We are excited for that. Please pray for her. I feel like everything will go through well, but I still don´t feel like I totally understand her needs. She will need lots of help. …. Felipe, Tamara and Claudia had a bad experience this last week and they are very hesitant to let us back in. We have though made huge progress with a less active family here that we really love and are really excited about. There are a couple families in are ward that are less active. We have felt that if these families would come back to the gospel, the missionary work would be exponentially increased. We had a beautiful lesson with one of them Saturday night. The spirit was so strong and we just had love pour over us for them. …We are so blessed to live in the United States in our home. I haven´t seen anything like where we live.

Elder Maxfield

. I sure hope all is going well. I have learned an interesting lesson this past couple weeks. Even though they have been really hard, I have made a conscious effort to help Elder Maxfield. With my mind always on him, I didn´t have time to think about myself. I have had really peaceful, full of learning weeks. … I believe this is what Lehi experienced as he followed the man in the white robe. I wondered why he would be lead into darkness if he was following the Savior. The wording in the scripture is very interesting. Lehi says that he beheld himself in the dark and dreary mist. He must have taken his eyes off the Savior. When we begin to worry about ourselves, life seems to be really hard. That’s when we go to our knees in prayer, just like Lehi and his vision was opened. I’m praying for the family. Please keep the investigators in your prayers and the ward "El Valle". We have a ward FHE this Friday night at 8. Thank you for all you do for me. …We are still looking for a house. Thank you for being so good everyone. It is such a blessing and well all see it more and more as we keep going through life. I love you all. Love Elder Tilley