March 29, 2010

This is the Venegas Diaz family and youth group from our ward.
(Preston) That is so nice what you did for dad. (Dinner “in bed” after a nap). I think if all people were like you than this world would be a lot better and people would help other people a lot more, just like the Savior did. Thanks for taking care of dad. That makes me feel good. I have been worried about him, but now I really feel better. Thanks Pres, keep up the good work. Elder Tilley

Study area . . . BEFORE and AFTER cleaning (smile)

(Re: Rachel’s wedding pictures)--Wow, its amazing how much Heavenly Father is blessing us. Those pictures are awesome. How sweet. Rach is beautiful as ever and Joe just looks like the “prandsome hince” I ever saw. Wow, I’m so happy and so excited, She is really getting married. Wow. Love you Rach and Joe. You two are awesome. I am praying for you. Thank Sister Lyman for her son from Elder Tilley. If it was anyone except Joe, I think i might have had a difficult time. It is so relieving to know that she has someone that is going to take care of her and more

I was really cold one morning, so I put on my coat (don't look at the feet).

(Jayce)- Keep working hard with the volleyball challenge. I had something I was struggling with a couple weeks ago. I realized after reading the talk about "Beware of Pride" by President Benson, I realized where the problem was. I was beginning to be prideful. I wrote my struggle down in my journal, and then studied how to fix it. I thought it interesting that it lead to the Atonement. That same day, I felt healed from that conflict and it hasn´t risen since then. I know you are not a prideful person, but the adversary is and sometimes he sneaks his little threads around us. You are right on the money with what you said. Remember that faith without works is dead. When I realized that I was having this struggle, the thought came to my mind "if the message you carry will help any person with any problem...then why not you?" I was than almost excited to use this great message to fix my own problem. I was excited to test it out to see if it was real. … I am so thankful for the gospel. I have now felt more power, actual power, in the Atonement. I am confident, with the Lord, that He can help me overcome any situation.
Well, I love you brother. I´m sure glad you are growing through your trials and having a blast too. Don´t be afraid to take any problem you have to the Lord, He can make them strengths (Ether 12:27). I´ll be praying for you this week. I know Heavenly Father is blessing you and watching over you. Make your prayers a two way conversation. There is much power there. Have an awesome week. Oh, conference is next week...take your questions and concerns to conference and be ready to be filled. Love you JAYCE. Chow, Elder Tilley

Happy Birthday MOM!

I would like to wish my mother a very special birthday this next week. I love you so much. Roses are Red, Violets are blue, moms are sweet, but you´re the best of all. Thanks mom for being the best and keeping me in your prayers. Thank you so much for your love and support and taking so much time to help me with whatever I need. I feel like a little king. Thank you Mom. I am praying for you and know that Heavenly Father is blessing you for your efforts to bless your family. Thank you for your example of righteousness. Mi mama es mi heroa. Te amo y te quiero decir Feliz Cumpeanos de tu hijo, Elder Tilley. Love you Mom. Have a great week!

Elder Stagg and I going BIG on the Cancha where we play futbol

March 22, 2010

This is the family Linay Lopez. Julio is the dad and Raqeal is the mom. Matias, the one getting baptized is 10. The little girl Fernanda is so funny. They all want to be baptized and are progressing well.
Thanks Rach, I thought about you a bunch this week getting closer. I told me companions this morning that the next time we have a change my sister will be married for three weeks. AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is so cool that you are going through the temple soon. I remember thinking that my temple recommend was probably my most prized object. I really enjoy the temple. … Thank you so much for your prayers. I sure love you and am praying for you and Joe as well.

Here are some pictures of the activity we did today. It was really fun! There were only 8 people there and we were 4 of them.

All the earthquakes were pretty scary, but it is an unreal, almost beautiful feeling. I was absolutely amazed at the power that was coming from the ground. I haven´t felt anything close to like that. People are more open because of the earthquake. President is counseling us to move to our next level personally and spiritually to be ready throughout this wonderful time that the Lord is humbling his people here in Chile.

I thought it was so cool that they had a FINDING NEMO TANK

(Jayce) We have an investigator right now named Julio. He actually found us on the street. I couldn’t believe how ready he was for the gospel the first time we entered his home. We could both feel something very special about him. I can´t help but think he will be a great leader in the church. We had his baptism for this past week. We were amazed at how well he was progressing. This last week, the adversary tightened his grip. The thought came to me, there is no way Satan is going to let such an incredible man through that easy. I have a strong testimony of that. There is no way Satan wants to let Jayce Tilley through that easy. We are very blessed to know what we know. I really have come to love the story about the iron rod. There are three different groups of people that had three different outcomes all depending about how they heeded the iron rod. Trails are going to come. Seek for help in the words of the prophets and in the scriptures. We are so blessed to have the priesthood. Two weeks ago Elder Stagg gave me a blessing because I was feeling temptations weighing down on me. That must have been a special experience.

We had so much FUN!

I´m trying to give it my all. Sometimes I just fall though. What I am so thankful for is the discipline that Heavenly Father helped me develop while in grade school and high school. It’s not always easy going to bed by 11 30 or waking up at 7 30 and doing exercises for 30 minutes when its cold and you are laying on your back thinking about how nice some more sleep would be...its hard. I am learning those are all my own desires, but I am not here for my own desires, I am here to do the desire of the Lord. I’m still growing and striving to apply the Atonement. Please keep praying for me. I need all the help I can get and even more so, the investigators we are teaching, specifically the one mentioned above. Thanks for being the man. Here is the letter I sent to President and Hermana Laycock today. I thought you might have fun reading some Spanish. Keep being the man and fortifying your testimony. When we build on a firm foundation we cannot fall. Love you, Elder Tilley

We had a good time at the parrot show too

Adolfo is so awesome. He went with us this last week to knock a few doors and teach some lessons. He got into the 4th door we knocked and taught lesson one to a 25 year old man. Aldolfo bore his testimony and told us that it felt good and that he wanted to serve a mission. Awesome.
I love you and am praying for you. Please continue to do so especially for our investigators. Many are preparing to be baptized. I love you so much and am so thankful to be part of our family. Love you, Elder Tilley

March 15, 2010

Adolfo and Christian were both baptized yesterday in our ward. Christian was taught by Elder Turner and Elder Costner. The baptism was great. Juan Chacana baptized him. Juan served in California about five years ago just after he was baptized. He is a great strong member like many here. He loves speaking English with us gringos. I fasted yesterday for the gift of tongues. I felt that I needed to put a great effort into speaking the language more. (it is sometimes really easy to speak to my gringo companions in our native language). I read my blessing to be set apart. It said that I would receive the gift of tongues through my faith in Jesus Christ and by work. That was a great blessing. Please continue to pray for me. I need strength and power against the adversary.
Jimena and Karla (the one that treats us like her kids) is having a hard time. She hasn´t come to church yet and Karla talked to a friend online that talked her out of a baptismal date. I can sure see how that could be hard. I love them like a missionary and want them so bad to come to the peace and consistency of life that we are privileged to live here in the gospel.
Julio and Raqeal are doing so well. Julio and his son have a date for this upcoming week. Julio is the one that found us. The spirit is so strong in their home. I have learned so much from their testimonies. They are really teaching me through their examples of willingness and an absolute craving and desire to find as much as they can about the gospel. What a special family. The mom hasn´t been able to make it to church as many times due to a job, but we are working with her too. She is great.
Miriam, Felipe, Alvero and Benja just got back from vacations. Heavenly Father has opened their hearts more through this blessing of this earthquacke. The family here in the Cyber have their date for the 28th of this month. We have a family night with them tonight. They are doing well and the members have been great fellowshipping and helping us to teach. I´m learning slowly how to teach and have found that there is much power in testimony. I felt the spirit so strong as I testified about the love that Heavenly Father has for one of our investigators, as I thought about the experience that I had had that very day.
I think i say this every time but there is nothing better than being a missionary. I love it out here. It´s hard. I think I have only experienced a fraction of how hard it will be at times in the next couple years, but nonetheless, I love it. Thank you for the pictures and the notes. I loved them.
(Dad) I love you and am praying for you. … I read a part of a poem that Coach Salt sent to me about leadership. It helped me so much. ( I had previously been thinking about if I could keep going if my emotions weren´t pushing me the right way) The quote said "rely on the rock of discipline, not on the sand of emotion". That helped me out a lot knowing that my emotions are going to change, but I always have the discipline to fall back on when I don´t want to do something. I love you.
Mom, I’m praying for you. I’m sure you are going around like a race horse with all the projects that you are doing. Elder Bednar taught us about the power that the prophets received in the book of Mormon through their faith in the Savior. You have a lot of faith and probably so much extra strength that it’s hard to sleep at night (smiley).
Pres, keep being obedient and have fun this vacation. love you bro.
Jayce bro,I´m a bit hesitant to say that those other earthquakes were fun, but now that we are kind of used to them, they are not as bad. The aftershocks here haven´t been as bad as the first and they are a lot less scary in the day. My companion took a video of one happening. You can really only see our books on the table swaying back and forth. Little ones have been happening pretty frequently. It´s incredible to feel the power under your feet.
I´m glad you’re having fun playing some ball. I hope all is going well with VBALL. Bummer that the championship didn’t turn out how you wanted it. I think we got 2nd place in that tournament the last 3 years in a row. It´s awesome to hear you are having fun. I sure enjoy reading your funny stories while everyone looks at me like I’m crazy laughing to my computer screen. I’m praying for you bro. Keep being the man. (Here is a summary of an) experience I had this week about applying the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Heavenly Father has taught me some great lessons this past week. I was having some pride that I was trying to get over. It was weighing down on me. The thought came into my mind to fix the problem with the gospel. (We preach that the gospel of Jesus Christ will help anyone regardless of their struggles) It hit me hard that this means me too. I put it to the test and studied about pride and its antidote, humility. Gratefully the spirit guided my study and I was able to find what I needed and I felt satisfied. That same day in the sector, on 3 different occasions, the Lord blessed me to overcome that struggle. It was so real. I think that was the most real blessing I have seen through applying the gospel. I am so thankful for this experience that has blessed my testimony to grow and has helped me to feel the love that my Father in Heaven has for me.
That was such a testimony to me. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is real. Through the power of the Atonement we can be blessed with power to break the bands that tie us down like Nephi and Alma and Amulek. Keep up the awesome work. Keep being a great example to our family and friends. I read a passage from Proverbs today that I believe Paul wrote. He said that he had learned to find joy in whatever state he was in. I´m going to try to develop that. What a blessing. I love you brother. You are the man!!!! I’m PRAYING for you.

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY

I feel better than I ever have in my life. I have strength in my body and mind. I feel the Spirit with me constantly. I love being here in Chile and more so, I love being a missionary.

San Jose de Maipo

We went to San Jose de Maipo today and it was beautiful. I am sitting on a bolder at the base of a bridge. The bridge is built of 2 by 3 foot cube rocks. It rises straight up into the air supporting an old rickety steal track. Behind me a beautiful stream is rolling over bolders making a calm peaceful splash. Just behind the rocks, green trees grow together at the base of the Andes Mountains that roll through the sky. I feel so peaceful.

The Lord is working miracles here

The Lord is working miracles here in Las Nieves. There is an excitement in the ward about missionary work. We are trying to involved the members in teaching. I am finding how much more effective this is. . . . we had a lesson today…I did my best to explain that we as missionaries are only guides to help you, but everything we invite you to do is personal between them and Heavenly Father. All the blessings awaiting us are only dependent upon you personally.
We are so excited for La Familia Venegans Dias. Venessa’s mom, Jessica and two sisters Jasmin y Katy have a baptismal date for the 28th of this month. Jasmin was upset with Elder Costner and I because anytime the missionaries come its to teach Vanessa. I want you to teach me. We got so excited. What a wonderful thing to be upset about!!!

Small and Simple Things-Be Strong-Do IT!

Tonight we stopped by a recent convert and her mom came to the door saying that Caroline ha gone. The mom showed no interest last change as Elder ValVerde and I taught Carolina. Elder Stagg gave her a pass along card and said all could be healed through Christ (speaking of the hellish life her daughter is living). WE told her we were going to come teach her and she agreed almost happily that we offered. I never knew what will happen if I am close to the Spirit. A simple invitation. Through small and simple things, are great things brought to pass. Just be strong and DO IT! I just read Alma 7 about the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ; repent and be baptized so my garments will be spotless as we sit down with those that have gone before. What a blessing it is to be raised by a loving Heavenly Father. I can’t express the gratitude I feel to my Father in Heaven for this wonderful and marvelous opportunity He has given me. … Sometimes I just feel like I am in the temple, but still walking the streets of this rated R world. Maybe this is how Lehi felt. His mind was caught up in the things of God that he didn’t see the river of filthy water. Thank you all so much. I love hearing and laughing here in the cyber about all that is going on. I sure love you guys. Thank you for being the best family ever. Love Elder Tilley

To Becca-Basketball season is finally here!

Becs,
¿Como esta? That sounds great that basketball season is finally here huh? How exciting!!! Any scriptures or anything huh? Well, what helps me is to try to remember how blessed I am and I am so glad with what and who Heavenly Father has blessed me with, people like you and Pres, mom, dad, Jayce, Rach, Joe, Josh, Jay and Jay. We are so blessed. Sometimes it is hard to love others that are different from us. Thankfully I have had two companions that are both super easy to love. In Moroni 7:45-48 it talks about charity, the pure love of Christ. In verse 48 it talks about how we get that charity. What do you think it says? I hope this helps. I know that I have done what it says to love the people here in Chile and I do love them. One more thing that comes to mind. Elder Bednar gave a talk yesterday in stake conference that was broadcast. He talked about a bunch of examples about stories that the people prayed for strength to overcome their trials not for an angel to come to deliver them from their trials. The point was that Heavenly Father will give us the strength to overcome our trials. Some examples are Nephi breaking the bands when he was tied up and also Alma and Amulek when they were tied up. Also there was a group of people in Mosiah 24 I believe that Heavenly Father gave them strength to bare the burdens easily. All were given strength to overcome. This is good because it helps us build our faith too. I hope all is going well. Thank you for thinking and praying for me. I am praying for you too and Heavenly Father is helping you become the best Rebecca Tilley ever. Love you BECS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chow, Your favorite oldest brother (not including Josh). Elder Tilley

ALL IS WELL!-There is a picture of the sun with debris and dust kicked up from the earth quake.

The night of the earthquake was really scary. I jumped down to the bottom bunk with Elder Stagg when the rattling shook me awake. We held down tight to the mattress as the noise and shaking grew. I was really scarred when it grew to a max. I honestly felt safe being a missionary, but I was still scared, scared. I could not believe how powerful that really was. I felt totally at the will of the earth. How mighty and powerful is our God. Honestly after getting settled down, I realized how absolutely beautiful that was. It was honestly absolutely incredible to feel that.
(email between Preston and Elder Tilley)
Preston (10): I woke upon Saturday and G-pa called and said that there was an earthquake in Chile when you left you said you wanted something like that so I thought you were jumping on your bed saying this is awesome .MY basketball team is still undefeated going into the tournament. I want to know more about the earthquake. Be helpful to the people teach lot of fun. Love, Preston.
Elder Tilley: Thanks for the letter pres. . . . Honestly man, I was pretty stinkin scared. Yea i was on the bed, but i wasn´t jumping up and down, the earthquake was jumping me up and down. Love you brother. Good luck with school and all, that was fun to talk to you. I´ll pray for you.

Elder Tilley called this morning (Monday March 1)

Well, that was pretty fun talking to you. It´s pretty incredible that we can talk to each other on the other side of the world. …I was thinking earlier today about how the people in the Book of Mormon contacted their families after the earth quake and natural disasters and such. Some of those stories became a lot more live to me after living through that. I had just read the story about Alma and Amulek in the prison. They were stripped, tied up and beaten by each person. They rose and stood on their feet and cried to the Lord for strength. They broke the bands and the earth shook and the prison came down. Wow, those are such faithful men.

Elder Tilley said he got permission for a “short call to your family” to let them know everything is fine. It was so fun to talk to him. Some of the family wasn't here, so we recorded most of our conversation. He sounds AWESOME!!! He is so happy and excited about life. He sent some pictures (some didn’t come through) and he sent a copy of his journal. He sounded GREAT!!!! We feel so blessed to know all is well!
Here are some quotes from our recorded call:

"What is going on?"

We get shaken, rattled up and I’m just like “what is going on”? and I told Elder Stagg (I’m on the top bunk) and he yelled, “get down here” and I realized what was going on and the shaking started to grow and we were both just hanging on to the bottom bunk and it was just going crazy and the sound was incredible. We were laying face down, and just like gripping the mattress, I had my left elbow to the top over Elder Stagg, like he was my mom and had my right one pulling down to the bunk and whole bed is just shaking like crazy and glass is breaking in the house and the windows are rattling and I’m getting scared just talking about it again. (laughing).

I wasn't jumping on the bed; the bed was jumping me

Everything here is built really well in Puente Alto so there’s not a lot of house damage (I’ll send some pictures). A piece of our cement wall fell down, but nothing really bad here . . .
Preston said: I thought you were jumping on the bed saying, “this is awesome”. Braden said: Remember how I always wished something like this would happen? I changed my mind . . . that was enough to scare a life off of you. We have no idea how long it was; it was just like a blur to me. It was scary. After it had ended we all got up and people were out in the streets. We talked to some neighbors, some church members came at 4:00am to make sure we were okay; they are really, really nice people. Ambulances and lots of fires; it was kind of scary but thankfully theirs is nothing that happened here as far as serious damage.
I love my companion to death; he’s the man.

Gas tank shooting out propane

Where we live there hasn’t been electricity, so our fridges are gone, we can’t buy food, can’t wash our clothes, no lights (Mom: “what are you going to eat?”). Elder Tilley: (with a little laugh): “that’s what we are wondering too”. Mom: you already ate your 36 hour kit? Elder Tilley: well, all I had was some dried cookies in there (more laughing). We are eating lunch with Vanessa’s family today . . . yes there is water . . . our water is heated by gas; which is a scary story. Our gas tank had fallen over and was shooting out propane, but we eventually got that taken care of.
Saturday was a service day, we went to try to do service, but not many people needed it . . . I think it would be way fun to get transported to Concepcion down there to do a little work.
Adolpho is getting baptized on the 14th; I’m so excited for him; he’s awesome!
This last change has been really good for me; I feel like I’m in the groove, in the motion.