Elder Seanz cooking Mexican food

The first time I have had Mexican food in a long time. Elder Saenz is a really good cook. I love being with them. It is really fun.

(Rachel) I’m glad you are well and you are being taken care of. Its really exciting to know your little guy is coming soon. wow! I can’t believe my little Rachy is growing up, ha ha, no just kidding. I’m going to need some growing up lessons from you here soon though. I’m trying to do my best. I love Heavenly Father so much and I know that He loves me and trusts me. I want to do my best for Him. I can’t wait to be able to meet Him face to face and thank Him for the incredible life that He has given me and all the blessings, opportunities, people in my life that He has blessed me with. It is a day worth waiting for and worth living for. I’ll keep working hard so the Lord will bless you even more than He has. Thank you Rach, I love you and am praying for you and Joe. Tell him to keep it up and Bound . Ha Ha. NVP o sea....nos vemos pronto....see you soon. Elder Tilley

(Dad) In the last two days, I’ve been with missionaries that have had to communicate with their families because of life threatening family struggles. This last one today just sunk me. I don’t know if I am strong enough to be able to endure something like that. I love the missionaries so much. In just these last weeks, my love for each of them has grown. I’m a peer among them, but yet I feel an elderly brother love for them. Our schedule isn’t really set. We are on call all the time. I was able to talk with a missionary on the phone this last week about the struggles they were having with their companion. I was so grateful for the wonderful trials that Heavenly Father has given me in my mission to be able to help others in similar situations. It hurts me when the people I love hurt. Elder Saenz is a great example of leadership. He is very bold. I know I need to develop a more sure form of leading. (Making choices by the Spirit and pursuing those choices with sureness-not wishy washy). I loved so much the mission experience that you included with such detail to Becca. I didn’t know back then how great that was. I would love to hear more stories like that. Thank you for teaching me and loving me. I’m so grateful for the blessing to be an Elder. I love it more than anything. I’m praying for you Dad. Jayce will be in my prayers. I know I don’t need to worry for him, but I will anyways. I hurt when others hurt. If you could include in your prayers that I may be calm during this summer because of where Jayce is and what he is doing, that would be great. I need to focus more and consecrate more than ever before. I love you Dad. Love Elder Tilley

1:49 (Josh)
Hey Brother. I cried and prayed for you this week. I know Heavenly Father loves you so much. I can just feel it. You and Jalin are the greatest people and I hope that I can be just like you. I love being a missionary. I think that is probably the most repeated phrase in all my letters. I never realized what the Lord had in store and still realizing more. I’m going to be needing your help and advice …Thanks for being my heroes, Love Elder Tilley

I thought you might like Mom that I fixed my suit coat buttons today that have been falling apart since the first months in my mission.

(Mom) When we have changes, the assistants announce them all. It was a change, announced as everyone else’s. When they called me, the assistants beckoned me up and sat me down on the bench next to them and President in the chapel. They handed me the paper with all the changes on it and said "You do this zone". I got up a little nervous and looked out into all the missionaries and made a face that made everyone laugh. After the conference, President said "Welcome aboard, we are really excited to work with you". Landon, who is Presidents son, is leaving this week for his mission. He has spent a lot of time with him this week. We haven’t seen him really at all. We had one meeting on Monday morning and received some instructions for the mission that we had to do. The majority of our days are spent in service to the missionaries. …we are still normal missionaries…have some investigators and quite a few recent converts. Mission work is great here in this ward. President Corbridge and Amado from the Seventy are in this ward and lots of other great people. The members give us references and we show up at their house, teach their friends the Gospel and they get baptized. We are teaching two elderly ladies, about 70 that want to be baptized. They are in a bordering ward, but their friend is in ours, so we have been teaching them. We are going to get them settled in with their ward though this week. We defiantly haven’t taught as much, but when we teach, I love it. It feels like we are on the district videos when we teach. I love it. I don’t know if it is natural to feel bad for not teaching so much and tracting so much. Josh told me that it would come. I need to be more in tune with the Spirit. It’s interesting that I have been feeling further away from the Spirit, from the Lord than usual. We have been so busy, I really haven’t gotten a good study in for a while. We get home super late and are pretty stinkin’ tired. I’m just kind of rambling. I love trials like this, because it stretches me. I love thinking about personal growth. It has become a new personal favorite topic. Heavenly Father really wants me to become like He is, like the Savior is. When I feel myself going that way, it feels me with excitement. I love the Gospel and how it changes the very nature of a person. I love love love love love being a missionary. It is the greatest thing on earth.I don’t know if it has happened to you yet, but I think it has happened to me. We’ve taken quite a few people to the airport and we have received their "arrived home OK letters" and I am not looking forward at all to being released as a full time missionary. I love serving the Lord. I can’t wait for you to be missionaries and for Jayce. Wow. …I thought a lot about our family yesterday as I had the opportunity to experience one of the more special moments of my mission with one of the missionaries. This missionary had a close family member pass away while in the MTC. Yesterday, he invited us to watch with him the funeral procession that his family had recorded. I was surprised that he invited us to watch with him. It was really hard for me to watch his face as he watched the procession. I cried lots and felt much for him. …he testified about the truthfulness of eternal families. I was amazed at this boy… I am praying that you are all well. I love you so much, Love, Elder Tilley

May 28, 2011

At the airport, Hermana Matos went back home too.

Pres, Its good to hear from you little brother. It seems like your schedule is pretty full. That’s good preparation for your mission. Do your best in everything. If you do your best now then you will also do your best later too. Sometimes missionaries don’t know how to work hard, because they didn’t work hard when they were little. Work hard in everything. Physical, Mental, Social, and Spiritual. Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. I know you are praying for me and I am working hard for you too. The Lord will bless you Pres. Thank you again for writing me. It means a lot to a missionary, especially when the missionary has an awesome little brother like you. Love you tons Pres. Keep praying for me and I will for you too. Love Elder Tilley

May 21, 2011

The picture of my hand and watch is day number one with the new assignment. Pretty early huh?
This is how I felt about it.

(Bec) My first day driving, there were 4 different times lives were in danger or bottomed the van out on a huge bump. One, we were on the freeway and there were two exits. I had to take one and the van wanted to take both...lets just say that angels were there. I know that Heavenly Father protects His missionaries. I feel so safe with a plaque on. It’s like body armor. I’m glad you had a fun week. I love you tons Bec. Love Elder Tilley

(Mom) I’m now in the area El Golf. Its in the north of the mission in the comuna Las Condes. I can’t believe what I have been seeing this last week. Going from where I have been to this is like what Aladin said............A Whole new world…lots and lots of money.

(Bec) Happy Birthday , happy birthady, happy happy birthday to you..............clap.clap Happy Birthday, happy birthady, happy happy birthday to you . I love you Becs. Have a wonderful Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(This message was full of "clip art" that wouldn't tranfer to the blog).
Whether it is or . Even if the likes blue. Just remember how it feels when it
and you’ll be up in the . I hope this was a little special. I’m sure you’ll have so much fun in the . Make sure to take lots of so I can be included. Love you again.
PS. dont forget to save me some ... Elder Tilley

This is with a family of recent converts from a part member family. We did lots with them and they helped me feel very welcome in Javiera Carrera.
The boy in the blue shirt is also a recent convert and their family is now reactive. They were the other family that made us feel very welcome.
We have been teaching Gabriel for most of the change. He works in a little Almacen were he sells all kinds of fruit. We talked to him outside one day and a member happened to be in his store at the same time. I think he would have rejected the invitation to hear more, but the member brought it home with her testimony. He is progressing slowly, but surely.

May 16, 2011

Me and Elder Hasler and Elder Wilkey. Elder Hasler is getting on his plane. We three were like brothers. They have helped me so much.
May 16, 2011
(Mom) Im not sure how much time I have today Mom. I’m going to start writing on Saturdays if that is OK. I got changed. It was crazy receiving the phone call. We kind of knew that Elder Ostergar was going to leave because he has been there for 7 months already. It was a little surprising that I was going too. They took us both out of the sector. My new companions are Elder Seanz and Elder Wilkey. Do you recognize those names? I got called to be the assistant and am with them both learning. I’m not sure what to expect, but I think things are going to change really fast for me. We have to leave here soon. We have to take those that are going home to the airport. I’m not sure if I remember how to drive. Wow!
I love you all so much. Thank you for everything. Talk to you soon. Love Elder Tilley

May 9, 2011

Fabian was baptized. His mom Francisca still wants to and will as soon as possible. Her husband doesnt want to get married so she can’t be baptized.

(Mom) I’m super excited to be able to see my blog and for sure I’ll cry every time. I’m still writing my speech book…My first talk was about the priesthood. Presidente showed me his and how he only writes 7 points per talk. People only can retain 7 points, he said. He actually showed me his talk on the doctrine of 7. Its everywhere in the scriptures. Make sure to not get discouraged speaking Spanish. Keep working on it and making it fun. Even if you get laughed at. We will have fun talking and learning together!

(Josh)…I love being a missionary so much. I feel so much more responsible. When I need a kick in the pants, Heavenly Father does it for me. Any decision I make, the consequences fall directly on my shoulders. I feel good... Thank for your support and total awesomeness. I love you and your family tons. Have a great week. Love Elder Tilley
1:49- Love you Everyone. It was great Yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait to be with you. Love you tons. Elder Tilley. Happy Mother’s Day Mom. I love you more than anything and am so thankful for all the letters, all the pictures, packages and especially love that keep me going. Thank you. Love your son, Elder Tilley

Elder Ostergar and Elder Tilley

My and one of my best friends, Elder Ostergar. We were sure he was leaving and had to take a good bye picture.
(Dad) 1:22-Dad,
… I’m excited to be able to talk to you and be with you on Sunday. This will be the last time. Wow, how time flies... I know in conference they talked alot about getting married. There seemed to be a feeling that you can just go pick a good one and make it work. Something still in me would really really like an angel, like Jalin or Rach or Bec. Of course I don’t want to sound selfish, but that would be really nice. I’m doing really great Dad. I wonder sometimes how you were on your mission. I don’t remember tons about it, but just that we had seen some of those pictures on the wall when we were little. That would be really fun to have a missionary family night and show things and share experiences. I’m sure glad that mom is keeping a blog. She is just awesome isn’t she? Elder Wilkey told me over the phone yesterday that he walks around with the bookmark "how to know the Spirit" that mom sent us. He said he wants to find someone like Sister Tilley. I agreed with him. I love you tons Dad. I’m so thankful for your example. I’ve been reading a bit and thinking about captain Moroni and about leadership. I was realizing that all the leaders that I know, have this quality, I can’t really put words to it, but it’s like the quality "leadership". I think it has something to do with confidence. I’m going to continue studying and learning from my leaders, like I was admonished in my blessing before I came out. Thank you for everything Dad. Talk to you soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love Elder Tilley

May 2, 2011

In my last pension in Javiera Carrera, we made a family shelf on the second to last day. It was fun to have it. It made it feel a lot more like home.
May 2, 2011
Thilo and Marlene have to wait about 6 months before they can be married. Yea, we are going to skype you from a house in the ward (for Mother’s Day).

(Jayce) 1:21-Thank you so much for still praying for me. That really means a lot to me and you'll know what I mean here soon. You are doing awesome it sounds like with volleyball. Enjoy it brother. This morning, I realized how much I took for granted my strong and healthy body…Being a missionary is really great Jayce. I’m seeing the Gospel as more and more awesome all the time. I love the subject of "becoming", and that is exactly what the Gospel does to a person. Helps them become, but not just become someone better....but to become like our Heavenly Father. I feel His love more and more for me and for all people. It is so sad to see in the streets religious people just yelling about Jesus, almost causing a fear of God. It feels so dark just to walk by them…There is no way possible Jayce to learn at home or anywhere else what you are going to learn on your mission. It is the "university for life" as President Laycock calls it. I’m really excited to talk to you. I’m kind of nervous to see you all though. … The time is going to go by so quick, especially for me. Love you Elder Tilley. Thank you for everything.