March 28, 2011

March 28
(Jayce) You’re so awesome Jayce. I miss playing volleyball. It was so fun. I’m glad you are throwing down. That is so cool that you won the ball. Send me a picture. I’ll be praying for you. Play smart and play fun. Talent can be talent but smart is unreachable. You can quote me on that if you want . . . totally kidding. Whenever I play again, I’m going to focus more on the smarts. We get to watch conference at the stake center in a room with English. I love hearing their voices. It’s sad to think that many of the people can’t recognize the voices or have even heard them. It’s always translated. …Do you remember how I talked about Elder Corbridge’s example of the living water? I’ve been looking for experiences everyday that I really feel that I have taken the water. It has been a wonderful experience. Your mission will be something special. It’s not a cake walk, that is for sure. You’ll understand soon. I’m glad you are doing sales. It will try you. On those super hard days...remember that you are suffering those in preparation for your mission. I was just thinking yesterday that I was so thankful that I had done something so good for me before my mission. I’m super excited for you to be there and learn. There will be tons that you don’t realize you are learning. I’m still seeing it. I love you Jayce. Have an awesome week. I’ll be praying for you. Please do the same for me. Specifically that I’ll have the energy mentally and spiritually to talk to 10 new people every day. Its’ not easy but it is possible and it’s worth it. Thanks. Elder Tilley
(Dad) I’m really excited for conference this next weekend. I have some thoughts about what I need to look for. Mostly about these next six months and being able to learn and experience all that Heavenly Father wants me to. I love the lessons I am learning. I feel so much more different. Not different, just more me. Thank you for the letter. Please keep us in your prayers, that we will have the spiritual and mental strength to work work work. I love you tons Dad. I was thinking about you a lot this morning. Thanks for everything. Love Elder Tilley
(Mom) Changes are next week, on Conference Sunday Night. Oh wow. I have a deep desire to be able to be with them (Venegas) in the temple. That would be incredible. Thilo got a job this last week. It was incredible because we were in the house when he got the phone call. we celebrated. It was incredible to see the temporal blessings happen right in his life. They just need to go get a marriage date and get hitched. Thilo said he wanted to surprise her. They are doing so well. Luis had a cigarette this last week, but he is on track to be baptized at 9:30 am conference Sunday morning. We haven’t been able to find Hernan or Luis and Betsabeth, but we did talk to her brother named Cesar that lives somewhere else. He might be who we were looking for. Jorge and Celinda weren’t there yesterday either. Patricia has finally started reading the Book of Mormon.
(Rach) Wow…I’m glad you get to go to conference. I’ll be looking for you on the screen. Jump and wave or something if you think the camera is on you. I hope you have a wonderful time. We have been reaching our goals for how many we are finding, but we didn’t do as well this last week on contacting. I want to finish this week strong and get in a good habit especially with changes coming up this next week. I don’t know if I’ll go or stay, but I’m pretty sure, from hints of President Laycock to Elder Bourgeous that I will be leaving him at least. Thanks for the mail Rach. I love you tons. I sure hope your keeping a look out for future friends... Have a great week and have fun¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ TAlk to you after conference. Let me know what you liked most. Love you Elder Tilley

March 25, 2011

(Jayce) You’re so awesome Jayce. I miss playing volleyball. It was so fun. I’m glad you are throwing down. That is so cool that you won the ball. Send me a picture. I’ll be praying for you. Play smart and play fun. Talent can be talent but smart is unreachable. You can quote me on that if you want . . . totally kidding. Whenever I play again, I’m going to focus more on the smarts. We get to watch conference at the stake center in a room with English. I love hearing their voices. It’s sad to think that many of the people can’t recognize the voices or have even heard them. It’s always translated. …Do you remember how I talked about Elder Corbridge’s example of the living water? I’ve been looking for experiences everyday that I really feel that I have taken the water. It has been a wonderful experience. Your mission will be something special. It’s not a cake walk, that is for sure. You’ll understand soon. I’m glad you are doing sales. It will try you. On those super hard days...remember that you are suffering those in preparation for your mission. I was just thinking yesterday that I was so thankful that I had done something so good for me before my mission. I’m super excited for you to be there and learn. There will be tons that you don’t realize you are learning. I’m still seeing it. I love you Jayce. Have an awesome week. I’ll be praying for you. Please do the same for me. Specifically that I’ll have the energy mentally and spiritually to talk to 10 new people every day. Its’ not easy but it is possible and it’s worth it. Thanks. Elder Tilley
(Dad) I’m really excited for conference this next weekend. I have some thoughts about what I need to look for. Mostly about these next six months and being able to learn and experience all that Heavenly Father wants me to. I love the lessons I am learning. I feel so much more different. Not different, just more me. Thank you for the letter. Please keep us in your prayers, that we will have the spiritual and mental strength to work work work. I love you tons Dad. I was thinking about you a lot this morning. Thanks for everything. Love Elder Tilley
(Mom) Changes are next week, on Conference Sunday Night. Oh wow. I have a deep desire to be able to be with them (Venegas) in the temple. That would be incredible. Thilo got a job this last week. It was incredible because we were in the house when he got the phone call. we celebrated. It was incredible to see the temporal blessings happen right in his life. They just need to go get a marriage date and get hitched. Thilo said he wanted to surprise her. They are doing so well. Luis had a cigarette this last week, but he is on track to be baptized at 9:30 am conference Sunday morning. We haven’t been able to find Hernan or Luis and Betsabeth, but we did talk to her brother named Cesar that lives somewhere else. He might be who we were looking for. Jorge and Celinda weren’t there yesterday either. Patricia has finally started reading the Book of Mormon.
(Rach) Wow…I’m glad you get to go to conference. I’ll be looking for you on the screen. Jump and wave or something if you think the camera is on you. I hope you have a wonderful time. We have been reaching our goals for how many we are finding, but we didn’t do as well this last week on contacting. I want to finish this week strong and get in a good habit especially with changes coming up this next week. I don’t know if I’ll go or stay, but I’m pretty sure, from hints of President Laycock to Elder Bourgeous that I will be leaving him at least. Thanks for the mail Rach. I love you tons. I sure hope your keeping a look out for future friends... Have a great week and have fun¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ TAlk to you after conference. Let me know what you liked most. Love you Elder Tilley

March 21, 2011

March 21, 2011
1:51 (Dad) I can’t wait to strap on some boots and work with you and Josh and Jayce and have a blast. I hope I don’t regret those words...(smile). Woodbadge sounds like something that I would like. I have no idea exactly what it is, but learning how to help people and woods sounds like a vacation and a half. …Thank you for the scriptures. We just met a man that has nothing...but nothing. He made me feel so sad knowing that he hadn’t eaten in the last 2 days. It hurt so bad because he is not a lazy guy, it seemed like he was actually a very successful man, but lost his job and hasn’t been able to work for a few months. He just called us right now and said he needs our help. We are going to pass by in about an hour or so. It hurts me so bad. We taught him … last week…His name is Hernan. Please pray for him. I can’t stand to think that he doesn’t have food and I am living like a king. Thank you Dad. I love you and am so excited for conference. When I was praying last night. I, for a few seconds thought I was you. I just felt much more grown up and responsible, like a Dad or something. I can only imagine what it feels like, but Im sure it’s great and am sure grateful to have you as my example. Thanks again Dad. I LOVE reading your letters. Talk to you next week. Love Elder Tilley
(Bec) Nice Bec, Nice. Thanks for writing me. I have been awesome this week. I can’t wait to give you a big kiss on the cheek....what? I thought you would say that. Everyone does it here. Why not? He he he. It sounds like you had a really really fun week. I know you are going to have such an awesome life. Keep being Becs Tilley…Wow, you are getting old. I remember one of the biggest life changers for me was in a movie theater and the movie wasn’t that good. That’s why I tried to not watch PG 13 through the rest of high school. I’m so excited for you Bec. The gospel is so awesome. It is incredible. We had stake conference this last week and it was the most incredible anything I think I have ever been at. I felt so so so happy. Joy, I would say. It was incredible to be with these faithful saints of Chile. It was so impressive to see the young men and young women in the choir singing armies of Helaman. You are one of those. A soldier of Helaman. Do all you can to keep the Spirit Bec. I am learning so much more about it. It is the power of God. How great is that. The actual power of God. Do you realize how many people would want that only if they understood? I’m striving to be more bold and more loving to share this message. Thanks for writing bec. I love you. Love Elder Tilley
(mom)… Its great being a missionary. Have you been praying for the family of Marlene and Thilo? A great thing happened this last week. One of her uncles got taken to prison for beating his wife. The next day, we got a call that he was released and in their house. They asked us to come over and talk to him. We had a great lesson and gave him a blessing. The next day we met his wife and taught them too. I thought, "wow, the Lord is really opening up this family". Thank you. Please keep praying for them and Hernan…Did you hear that Roberto Venegas Diaz has a baptismal date for the 10th of April? I almost started crying when I heard. I am so excited for them…I haven’t developed my cooking skills too well, so i decided to start with some cinnamon rolls. The last one is how much Elder Bouregous liked it. They were really good. Don’t ask me how I made the cream to go on top...........ok I’ll tell you. Mix a pinch of honey, vanilla, vanilla milk, regular milk, lots of sugar and a bit of flour and oil to make it more creamy and....it was OK. Tune in next time with Chef Tilley on Chile 109.8. Love you. Chao Mom.

March 14, 2011

1:03 (Jayce)Singles Ward? What are you talking about singles ward. I’m going to be with you and the kids. I call moms lap. Holy Cow. Jayce. That thought has not once in my whole mission crossed my mind. It kind of makes me scared, but I guess I got to grow up sometime… Keep having fun in volleyball. Its the last high school sport you will play in your whole entire life… I took the pictures of the sky this morning out our window. The blue card that says BIP is the way we get around Santiago. When you get on a bus or the metro, you have to hold this card up to a little yellow plastic monitor and it says "BIP". I doesn’t really say it, it just makes the sound BEEP. Then you are good to go…We are working hard, talking to 10 new people every day and having faith in the Lord…I renewed my temple recommend today with President Laycock. It is so refreshing being able to say yes with a clear conscious that I am worthy to enter into the Temple. Do everything Jayce be worthy in heart, mind and actions to enter he sacred House of the Lord. Pray for my companion too. He is kind of new and a little home sick. Love you Brother, Elder Tilley
1:19 (mom) Luis is doing so awesome. He is so humble and simple. He makes me smile. He has been living the Word of Wisdom…Marlene and Thilo are doing well. I feel that they have stopped depending on us and have now stared depending on the Lord. They have a little trial to face with their marriage…I feel comfortable that they will choose the right way. The Lord is blessing them and us. Nataly didnt come, nor Patricia. Patricia is trying to get a new house to, which will be really good for her. She got robbed in the street this last week and was really shaken up when we talked with her. Hopefully she opens her eyes a litle bit more. We feel good about Luis and Betsabeth, we have talked to her and the mom, carmen, a few times, but it is hard to find Luis. We invited them to take some time this week reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. Last week, we talked to a Lady that asked us if we could come give an "orientation" to her son that is varying from the family path. She, Celinda, let us know she is Catholic and has her way, but she isn’t sure about her son Jorge (16yrs old). We were able to teach them just yesterday. We got to know him and he feels really comfortable with us now. We taught about The Book of Mormon and they were both eyes and ears. They said they would read Alma 36 and pray about it. It felt really good. This is going to be one of those miracle stories (like Jimena Ezpinoza) from Las Nieves, remember her and how set she was on her religion? They are really good hearted special people that need the truth and need to know that they know the truth. …Please pray for my companion. He is in lots of pain during the day because of all the walking we do and the surgery he just had on his knee. He is feeling homesick too. Please keep him and President in your prayers. They are so awesome. Mostly, I’m just grateful to be able to know them both…I’m excited for the Savior to come. It is fun to be a missionary and preach peace and love. People have emergency kits ready to head out in case of an earthquake, after the one in Japan. Pray for them. I am too. Thank you for everything…Love you so so so much, Love Elder Tilley

March 7, 2011

March 7, 2011
(Josh) Thanks for writing Josh. My favorite part is that these last 6 months coming up are going to fly by, just love the people and the missionaries. Thank you so much. I’m trying and working harder now than ever before. Our mission is focused this month in finding news and the Book of Mormon. We are trying to find more effective ways to separate the wheat from the tares. It talks in D and C 4 about thrusting your sickle...most effective tool....(Book of Mormon + Spirit). We are finding lots of news, which is fun. We are talking to lots of people and really trying to find those who will hear my voice and follow. I honestly really do love being a missionary. I know I’ll probably love it even more when I’m gone, but I do love being here. Do you have any criticisms for me? Are my letters OK? Are they helpful to the family? Should I write more about .....? I’m praying that the Lord will make with me what He will. I’m trying to fight hard the negativism and laziness. We have felt much better about the quantity of work we are doing. Please keep pumping me up and praying that Lord will be able to teach me the lessons that He wants. I love you tons Josh and am excited to see how much the Lord has blessed you even since I’ve been gone. Love JJ and B also.
12:24 (Jayce) Jayce, that was an awesome letter to read about you and Dallin and the Spirit. You are so awesome. I am so proud of you and pumped for you. Thanks for being yourself. You are a giant. Keep that V-ball team together. It teaches you a lot. It will help you on your mission pull your companion, district, zone and mission into a centered effort to work miracles for the Lord. Have tons of fun in volleyball. I remember how much fun that was. I looked forward to it a lot. Thanks for everything brother. I’m praying for you too. Thank you for praying for the Spirit in the lessons. The Spirit is the one that converts, not the missionaries. Have a great week. All the kids here just started going back to school this last week. Interesting huh? Chao, Love Elder Tilley
(mom)… Another Package!!? I feel like a king. I still loving the cliff bars in this last package, oils are pretty good i think. i loved the music that I got. It was great. … Luis stopped smoking altogether! We just need to keep teaching him very simply because he learns very simply…. Thilo and Marlene are awesome. We were going to set a date this last week, but ended up helping them understand better marriage and invited them to talk about it. They said they wanted to get married, so we were really excited. We teach them tomorrow. We are going to talk about a date. They have been getting a lot of heat from their next door neighbors, family members. Please pray that they will have the inner strength to keep going and do the right thing. Maybe you could write a little note to her about Grandpa and how you are praying for him and putting your trust in God. I’ll translate it for her. She is worried because her family is rejecting the message. Patricia and Nataly didn’t come to church. I was feeling to teach to Patricia the Sabbath Day and keeping it holy. We are just going to keep passing by Nataly for a bit. We haven’t been able to make contact with her this past few days though. We hope she is OK: We found some news this last week. I love love love finding and teaching families. Mom, Dad that are married and kids! It’s my favorite I think. We found Luis and Betsabeth who weren’t there actually for the first appointment, but we feel good about them. We have taught Armando who is 27 or so. He didn’t come to church, but he understood and felt the spirit. Also Rodrigo, Magali, Franko and Benjamin are a family when the little boy yelled oye and we went to their house. We haven’t been able to teach them tons, but we should this week. Also Mariam, Estefania and Camila are a family that we have talked to on their porch. They had a really good feeling about them. Thank you for all your support and for caring so much about them. I love you so much and am so grateful for all of you. The weeks are flying. We have a goal for April of a mission, 74 baptisms. We are trusting in the Lord and working hard… I’m loving the Book of Mormon more and more. Thank you for teaching us to read....I’m loving it now. Roberto (Jessica’s husband), I’ve heard he is going slowly but surely. I’m excited for them. They are coming up: Jessica, Jazmin and Katy at the end of this month. Venessa was a couple of weeks ago.