June 25, 2011

Alicia and Rosa are getting baptized tomorrow. They are sisters that are both about 70 years old I think. A member talked to them in the street and invited them to hear us. They were just prepared. They stopped drinking Tea and Coffee as soon as we taught about it. They drink hot chocolate now. They want to do everything that the Savior asks us to do. They have had a big swing in their lives since they have learned about the Gospel. I sure love teaching them. OK We can have fun learning (Spanish) together and talking together Mom. I was thinking both the handkerchiefs and aprons would be good to give the Laycock’s on their anniversary, on...no other day then September 24. Cool huh? (Braden's birthday) I thought so too. Well. Really it is just hard being the middle men between President Laycock and the missionaries. We represent him too and it has been hard specifically making decisions that the missionaries don’t like. I don’t want to be vague Mom, but the best thing that you can pray for 1st, what the Spirit says and 2nd that I will be blessed with the gift of charity, the pure love of Christ. I feel like my assignment, what I feel personally, is to make Presidents job as easy as possible. If there is a question I can answer or something I can do without having to let President worry about it, I want to do it. This coming Monday, we have changes. Elder Wilkey will be leaving and we will be getting a 3rd companion. 4 weeks after that, Elder Saenz leaves and it will be me and my companion....help! I’m really excited for what I’m going to have to do. Not sure what it is yet exactly, but new things happen all the time. Elder Saenz asked me last night if I was tired, he told me after, just wait til you get the weight upon your shoulders and you are not only physically tired, but mentally. I have such great companions. I have learned and continue to learn about trust and confidence. A companion’s job is to love and support and be a blessing to his companion. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the importance of being a help to my immediate associates. I learned that with Elder Ostergar. I love that guy so much. He says hello to my family. We are going to be really busy tonight getting together the mission newspaper called Times and Seasons and getting everything ready for changes and the meeting etc...I really like doing this. Its fun. Thank you so much family for everything. I love you so much. Elder Tilley

(Rachel) …I’m learning a lot about love. Love is so so powerful. Of course, not like a young puppy love, but God´s love. I am so thankful for the power of love, it endureth forever. What if, at the last day, we stood at the judgment bar and all we had, was the love that we had acquired and our knowledge. I believe our love scale will be a very direct sign of how we acted and desired on the earth. I love talking about the Gospel now. I know it is reality … Elder Wilkey is going home on Monday and he is almost in a depression. I feel sad for him because he has to leave. If only we could be missionaries forever and be with our families . UMMM that would be good, real good. I'm praying for you … Have a wonderful week Rach and Joe and little tyke. Love Elder Tilley

June 18, 2011

We got the package and we loved it. I like the flowers and the gifts and the music. I especially like the CD from the Solomons. I got pouch this last week, so that was good. Have fun Bec. There is a really cool video on the church website about Tyler Haws who played on the BYU team. Have Bec watch it. It pumped me up. I think they celebrate fathers day. We have a short day again today, it has been really busy and I think this next week will be the busiest of all with all the changes and that so many new missionaries are coming and going.

Here are a couple of pictures that I took this morning from the pension of the office Elders. We dont live here, but it is really cool.

June 11, 2011

(Mom) …I have felt so much gratitude for the spiritual giants that I get to serve with everyday. I love the Gospel. It is the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m praying for you all. I’m so thankful for all of you. You all are my heroes. Thank you for your support and love.. I talked to an Elder this last week that hasn’t heard from his family since he has been here. It’s been 4 weeks. Please pray for me to give my whole self, to hold nothing back, to be 100% consecrated to the Lord. That I will have the strength and desire to put the will of Heavenly Father in 1st place and nothing else matters. Ill be praying for each of you and working hard for each of you so that the Lord might bless you even more. Talk to you soon. Love Elder Tilley
(Picture)--The two Sister Missionaries that are going home were "Pioneer Missionaries" that were asked to interview the first members of the church from all around Chile and to make a book about them. They were so much fun. I only was able to be around them for the last few weeks, but it was such a blessing.

Elders Wilkey, Seanz, Tilley

10:40- (Rach) …The best things in life aren’t cheap. Having a little baby, I think would be one of the best things in this life, and thus, I’m thinking one of the most costly. I know I’m not in your shoes but I know it will be worth it when you see that little tike for the first time. I’m really excited for you…I’m so thankful that I don’t have to worry about you Rach because I know Joe is there. I can’t imagine how hard it would be for me if you weren’t blessed with such a wonderful husband. Thank you Joe for everything and for being so sure and steady in the Gospel. To a little brother and little brother in law that is serving his mission in Chile, it means more than anything else. I love you both and am praying for you. Love you tons, Love Elder Tilley Joe, if you have a second, give me some advice in the assignment I’ve been blessed to have. Is there something that you would have liked to know at the beginning? Would you have done anything different? What would you have changed should you do it again? What was your most valuable lesson learned? I’d really appreciate it.
(Dad)(Dad—English translation) I like the stories of your outing. I wish I was at your presentation. I love that stuff (the White God). I have heard that there are still stories of things like that, but only found in southern Chile where the Mapuchi Indians live. I've only met a few during my mission. This work is making me strong. The first 3 were very easy weeks, the fourth week was difficult as well as this week. I feel much better now. I’m becoming a man, huh? I'm learning hard things and am more and more grateful for your example all my life in magnifying your callings. I will continue praying for you. I love you pops. Have a great week. Love you tons. Elder Tilley

Santiago at night

(Mom) … I think Jayce and I are connected on some kind of magical emotional cycle...If it’s so, I think he has had a really hard week. It is so great how trials push us so much. Elder Zeballos of the 1st quorum of the seventy came to a conference this last week. I was asked to introduce him and his wife. It was really fun to have the privilege to do that. I was also asked to sing a song in one of them, because no one else volunteered. I get so nervous to do things like that, but it is so good for me to break out of my shell. I quickly called up an Elder and pretty much begged him to sing with me so it wasn’t a total solo. He was really excited. We sang Come Thou Fount in Spanish. We both sang some of it solo and the rest harmony. It was so much fun. I honestly did enjoy it. I had had a rough week and the compliments that we received really helped me feel good. I’m really grateful for all of them that did that because it really felt nice... Thank you so much Mom for everything. I wouldn’t be able to do this without your support. You are one of the biggest blessings of my life. I really mean that. Thank you for always being there. Make sure to help Jayce feel how I have felt, like the most special kid on the planet earth. It has helped me so so much and know he needs that, as well as Bec and Pres. I love you all so much. The Lord is taking care of me. If you would like to pray for something specific this week, it would be that I would be able to do all I do with LOVE. I love you all and am so thankful to be part of our awesome family. Love Elder Tilley

June 4, 2011

(Mom)…President told us this last week that all the pain, inconvenience, suffering...will be counted for your joy when you walk under the DEPARTURE sign, so it will be good for me to suffer a bit. I know Heavenly Father is taking care of my family. I feel like I know Him better than ever and know that He loves me.. It is really fun to say that, because I really do feel it.
…Because it has been hard to find a scheduled time to study this last week and my prayers have been less frequent than I should, I felt a bit more distanced from Him and much much much more susceptible to temptation. I remember thinking about the missionaries that get home say they can feel something leave when they get released. I know that especially without the help and power that prayer and scripture study bring, that empty feeling will be much worse. The Gospel is my favorite thing. I love to think about potential, agency and desires. I feel good. I hope all is well at home. I just read through the letter Mom. I loved it. I’m so thankful that Jayce is doing well. I love him so much. He is such a champ. It’s been rough to write in my journal, but I’m going to get a plan and do it. After reading your quote, I think I’m going to start writing (journal) entries entitled, “HIS HAND” ... the last week Elder Ostergar and I were together, we focused on an attribute for the week and wrote about it every day. Each day, we were able to write something down. It was one of my favorite weeks in my mission. He was actually really sick this last week. It is a blessing to have this assignment because we were able to drive to his sector and see him and drop him off some gifts. I love that guy so much. He was such a blessing to me. I was so thankful that you got to meet him and he you on Skype. I sure hope I can keep in close contact with him.

Pirque, Chile

Today for P day, we went down to a place called Pirque. . . it was such a beautiful place. It was like driving up to the cabin kind of. Little streets. Lots of green. Pretty Chile. It was so great. Some of the most beautiful sights that I’ve seen here. I’m sure having a great time and am sure glad the Lord protects His missionaries. It has been a struggle getting back into driving, especially in a big city. I'm feeling more relaxed and so grateful for the protection that we have received. Thank you for being so great family. I was so anxious to get to the office to see how everyone was. We are a blessed people. I love Heavenly Father. I’m praying for you.
Love Elder Tilley

Elder Seanz "kissing a pig"--not really

06 (Dad) …. I think about you more and more now wondering about how you did this or how you did that or how you talked to this person about this subject. Elder Saenz is a lot like you. He is the go-getter-do-er. I’m learning so much from both he and Elder Wilkey. I’m so thankful that Heavenly Father has blessed me so much. I’m more tired than ever, the days are going by faster than ever, I think less about myself, I’m learning to lead out boldly and know I will be stretched so much more. I love the thought of becoming. I feel that I can do anything that the Lord wants me to do through dedicated work and faith. President Laycock told us a quote this last week that I thought you would really like. He says "Losers and followers make lists of excuses and dwell on them. Winners and Leaders make lists of solutions and implement them" -Larry Laycock. He is so inspiring. When he talks to us about our potential as leaders, I just want to get up and shout and clap my hands and go out to win a war. I sure hope we will be able to be with him and Sister Laycock in the future and so you can get to meet them.