How Beautiful is Santiago?

How beautiful is this picture. I liked it. That big cloud that we are looking down on is actually the famous smog of Santiago. Wow! Jessica had her one year mark in April . I started in that ward remember? I saw her this last Sunday at the good bye night at the temple grounds for the missionaries that were leaving. She told me to tell you hello. She really adores you. I believe she is going to wait for her husband (to go to the temple). From what I have heard, she has been going through a hard time. She is so faithful and determined. . . . Changes went well. These last two weeks have been non-stop craziness. I’m really learning a lot more about managing stress through good planning . . . no one new came to the office this change. That means there is double the work for us. . . These last two weeks it has been difficult to get out into the sector. We really try to get at least one lesson in every day. I really love being with people when we are teaching them the Gospel. I love teaching the truth. It just lifts my spirits. Most of the finding is done by the members. They are really great. I have never received so many references my whole mission. We are currently working with Victoria, who we are planning to help her to be baptized in 3 weeks. I felt so bad last night when we left her house because (she is blind) and had us turn off all the lights before she left because she doesn’t know which are off and which are on. Can you imagine living all by yourself, and being blind on top of that? She really likes it when we come over because the words we say "just fill her spirit". We are going to take her the Book of Mormon CDs so she can listen to them. I think I’ll give her those primary children’s CDs too. We are also trying to work with a little family. We taught them this last week and really got humbled. I wrote in my journal after....Elder Tilley, the only true teacher is the Spirit. We have been practicing a lot these last weeks and supposedly have gotten pretty good. haha. The Spirit will accompany the humble seeker.

(Bec). . . One of the things that I don’t like the most is when someone I love is struggling. I know that trials are good because they help us grow, but that is something that I had to find out on my mission. . . a new way to look at it. Instead of worrying about being perfect to not have to suffer any more than is needed, I have felt and decided to get really good at repenting . . . Only through the Atonement, which is unlocked through repentance, is that possible. I have found that I’m able to relax much more. I feel much more happy and much more real. I don’t know why I felt to share that with you, but it has been something that has really helped me recently. I sure love having the Spirit with me. I feel like I’m me when it is with me really strong. When its not...watch out for Grumpy Bear.. . . keep working hard on the things that matter. I guess it is like the Gospel. Focusing on the most important things is the only way to truly get good. Focus on the things that are really going to help you get to the next level. If the left hand isn’t there like it should....get it there by doing game situation drills with the left that will directly go into your game situation. Only practice will get you to be as good as you can be. (I’m going back to my wish mode) I wish I would have thought about basketball much more intelligently. I wish I would have analyzed my own game and took responsibility for getting better in the things that I felt I needed an idea. Put your game down on paper, your strengths and weaknesses, your tendencies, your likes and dislikes....and make a plan to develop in the area that you want to improve or that your coach says you need to improve, cause she is probably right, and become the best athlete this state has ever seen.