August 27, 2011

We haven’t visited Victoria this week. I called a couple nights ago and said that she couldn’t have us come over, but still said that she wanted to go to church tomorrow. She really needs the power of the Atonement to change her heart. She has suffered a lot and dwells on it. We met with that family last night because our ward mission leader invited them to a Family Night. We didn’t want to say anything to strong that would cause any offense, so we felt to teach lesson 2. We dived everyone up into 5 groups and had each group(couple) study a few scriptures and draw a picture to represent The Plan of Salvation. It was good because the members taught most of the lesson. We got humbled because we have been practicing lesson 1 a lot and at this point, we were thinking that we were pretty good teachers. We taught the whole lesson and at the end when we invited the people to be baptized, they responded "I don’t think you have to be Mormon to follow the Savior". It was just frustrating that after 45 minutes of trying to explain exactly the answer to that question, it obviously wasn’t understood. Even though we tried to teach just how we practiced (very very important and Jayce can testify why) it just didn’t happen like we hoped. . . Elder Tilley is not the teacher. The Spirit is the true teacher and if I am not humble and have not sought the Lord for help, then no way is the Spirit going to be there to soften a heart and to enter to change minds and hearts and lives. Instead of teaching lesson 1 or 2 or 3 now. I like to think and say that we are teaching Lesson Monica or lesson Fernando or Lesson Lilia and Sergio. That makes me excited just thinking about that. Because everyone is so different and have different likes, desires, reasons for inviting us...each lesson has to be their own, specifically designed for that person. That’s what I have loved so much about this last week. I love teaching by the Spirit. The feeling that you get when you know that people are feeling the Spirit and see them have life difficulties and pains just almost disappear from their eyes and countenances is the most beautiful thing that I think can be felt. I sure love teaching people. This assignment has defiantly helped me see and appreciate more preaching the gospel. This past week we have been preparing for the mission primary activity that we actually just got back from. Each of us had 5-7 minutes to teach the stake primary about being a missionary. You might guess that I chose "The Holy Ghost". I told the primary that I would tell them the secret to being a great missionary. In a very very quiet voice I said "Espiritu Santo". When I asked who heard me, no one raised their hand. I said it again. They started to get quiet and on the third time and little sweet heart in the front row got really excited and said "Espiritu Santo!". I then asked "If I’m supposed to follow the Holy Ghost then how can I do that if I can’t even see him". A little boy on the back right said "we can’t see him, but we can feel him". I had the little Elder (with his nametag that the presidency had made) come and help me. We did a little experiment with some candy, a blindfold, and "The Spirit". I first put the blindfold on the boy and asked him to try to find the candies. He walked around slow trying to remember how to get his direction right after having spun around a few times. After a few seconds, I took him and asked for another volunteer. With the candy on the table you should have seen how many hands went flying up (doctrine of the candy). Anyway, the little Sister missionary acted as the Holy Ghost and guided the boy to the candy. I testified about the Spirit and promised them that they would be lead to the people that needed them by following the holy ghost and by starting today to listen for him. I thought Mom you would like that story. I was really filled at the meeting. Little kids are just the greatest. We are planning for the 18th activity. It will be the following week that we celebrate it though. We are excited. We are starting to put together a little video to fire up the mission and thank them for all the wonderful work that they are doing.

Preston-compare PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL

(Preston) Hey big guy,
The last 3 days, Elder Whitney and I have worked out in the gym that is in the bottom of our apartment building. My arms are still really tight. It hurts to stretch them out all the way. It feels really good to exercise even though it hurts. I was thinking during lunch how funny it is that "we go to the gym to cause pain to our muscles that we know helps them to grow". We willingly do it because it makes us bigger and stronger, not to mention cool. Then I got to thinking, would I be as willing to put myself into spiritual, emotional, mental pain (meaning trials), just so that my character (spirit, mind, heart etc....who I am) gets stronger and bigger? That is really interesting. I wonder why we willingly go through physical pain but any other trials sometimes would make us think twice. It says in the scriptures that men must be proved in all things to be proved worthy to live with God. From that, I guess that lots and lots of spiritual muscles are going to have to be built. I was also thinking about how we prepare our food.
Think about all that we do to eat a meal
1. We have to think about what we want to eat (this changes of course if its after school, after a football game where you just ran in the winning touchdown, in the morning) whenever. We have to think about what we want and what we need. 2. We have to prepare the food. We take out the beans and wash them. Then cut the bread. Then open the package of noodles etc... it all takes preparation. 3. We pray for thanks and a blessing over ourselves and the food so that it will be to our benefit 4. Last and finally we grub. If physically eating, of course is necessary, it is also a reminder about how the Spirit needs nourishment, it would make sense that the same process would make a spiritual feast only that much better. Hmmm. I honestly have to say that I don’t think that I have ever sat down to study having done so much preparation. All these thoughts came from this last week that I have studied the question "Hungry?"… The lack of nourishment physically and spiritually comes down to...DEATH. Wow … Hopefully it excites you to study the scriptures. They are fun. Think of something that you would like to study. Whether it be sports or music or health or how to get better grades on your next spelling test ( I sure need to study for that one). I’m sure, absolutely sure that if you look hard, you will see the scriptures come right alive and have everything to do with an 11 or 12 year old looking for answers. Love you Big man. Have a great week. I’m praying for you. Love Elder Tilley

Can you believe how technical we are getting? Every companionship with their own DVD player. That’s what I’m talking about. The mission program is better than it’s ever been and getting even better… Thank you Dad for the encouragement and advice. I’m working hard. I think the real sign of being trunky is not caring that you actually are. It hurts to see it. I sure love being a missionary. I’m excited to be with the family, but I am not excited to not wear a name tag symbolizing my divine calling as a Representative of Jesus Christ, the Savior of every person . . . I sure love the Gospel, the Savior and Heavenly Father. Love you Dad. I’m working hard and praying for you. This week will be made good by both of us. Love you!

August 20, 2011 - snowed in Santiago. Crazy huh?

I took this picture from outside our window. It is the morning after it snowed in the city. The mountains usually have white caps, but they were just covered that next morning. It was so beautiful.

I want you to know how much your letters and love have helped me so much during my whole mission. It is one of the highlights of the week. I sure hope that the letters that I send home are as beneficial to you as yours are to me. I want to be a better brother and friend, son, etc...People (specific ones) have helped make the most influence on me during these years. They mean so much to me (President and some companions). Because I have felt how much their influence has helped me, I want to be that to each of you because it means a world. I am so thankful for each of you. I think I have a wonder family. One that you would imagine in a perfect family movie. Of course I know its not like that, but close. . . Hey, this week it snowed in Santiago. Crazy huh? I guess it happens more often than Gilbert, but only about every 3-5 years. It was really cool . . . We cleaned our house this morning again. Its good to be clean. Thanks for everything family. I sure love and love you. Love Elder Tilley

August 13, 2011

(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.

Lunch with Leaving Missionaries and the Laycock's

. . . We also had a wonderful lunch yesterday for those that are leaving. Sister and President Laycock shared some really special things with us. I really love them and they love us so much. That is kind of the theme of their service. LOVE. Love is really great because it makes every word that comes out of their mouth have special meaning to their audience. Sister Laycock has told us many times recently that "She didn’t know that Heavenly Father could allow her to love us like her own children; like we had been raised in their house and all. While I have been here they have been my physical parents since mine have been away. I love them tons.

Jayce, I love you! I have been praying for that day to come quickly for you. Today is your last Saturday. I remember my last Saturday selling. I remember sitting for a little breather and cliff bar and realizing how happy I was and what I was doing. I want to stay “all here” on my mission until the last minute. I’m going to need your help because I’m so excited to be able to be with you again and the family. Keep pumping me up to work my hardest for the Lord. To sacrifice my thoughts of home in Love for Heavenly Father and for the Savior. Pump hard Jayce. Be the best. . . Elder Tilley

(Dad) I’ll tell you how this last week went to get a sneak peak. Monday- change meeting 8-12 … then… helped Elders that would be leaving that night to get their bags weighed in right and to pack them into the truck. We left straight from there to the airport about 40 minutes away. We helped the Elders go and check their bags in and get their flight tickets. Then we saw them walk through the door of doom from whence no Elder has ever returned :) That is always really sad, especially when you can tell that the Elder or Sister loved their mission...loved the Lord really. Then President Laycock told us to go home early and get some rest. He did that, because the next morning at 2:30am Mr. Alarm clock woke us up and told us we had to shower. After getting ready, we picked up the Sister missionary that had her flight that morning. We dropped her off at the airport and sent her through the door. Then, we went back out to our truck where our pillows and blankets had been anxiously waiting for their owners to take a 3 hour airport nap. At 7:50 we got up and waited for the new missionaries that would arrive from the states. There were only 5 coming this time. Funny enough, when I was walking down the stairs toward the arrival gate, a man walking up the stairs caught my attention. I’m not sure how still, but I knew he was from Arizona. I don’t know if it was the shade of tan skin or clothing style or what....but anyway as we past him....he said "Good to see you Elders". You don’t hear that hardly ever in a good accent. After waiting for a while, we went back to check their flight and the same man was standing behind us. I turned around and asked him where he was from....I was pleased at my guess and very surprised to find out that this man is from none other than Thatcher, Arizona. Stephen.....not sure. He just laughed out loud. He didn’t recognize me but he said that he knew a seminary teacher named Brother Palmer. He said he liked to play basketball out there. I’m sure Josh played with him. …We went from there to the New Missionary Capacitation with President (he was at the airport too, he always picks up the Elders and also sees them off at the airport, something that no other Mission President does as far I know from around here) He is something special. After finishing that, at 4 or five, we picked up two twin brother Missionaries that met here to see each other and fly home together (one from our mission and the other from the south…Orsorno Mission). We went back to the airport and did the same thing and hit the bed as soon as we could. Wednesday was less crazy. We had a lesson with a family where we were humbled in the evening. Thursday, we had another airport trip with triplet brothers who were doing the same thing and another set of twins. We had an appointment cancel on us in the evening and we did some touch up plans here at the office. Friday, we went to the Temple with the Elders that are leaving this next week early to start studies on time and did the "Santiago Day" with President. He takes all the missionaries that leave on a little tour of Santiago. We go to 4 of the most famous places here in Chile. We go to Santa Lucia, San Cristobal, Plaza de Armas, el mercado central and Los Dominicos. . . . That lasted till 7 in the evening which I will tell you more about because the lunch and lessons learned from the Laycocks were incredible. Then we went to a lesson with Victoria in the evening (the elderly lady that is blind). Today, preparation day (not P-Day anymore), we got up and did our wash, cleaned our house (I’ve gained a new love for clean living places) and went and played basketball with some kids at the court right next to the temple and church office building. Then we took showers and came down here to eat (Papa Johns-BBQ chicken) pizza that was great. Now I’m here. Tomorrow, President asked us to go with two great great Elders who are finishing their missions to a baptism in a different sector so they can enjoy seeing an old investigator baptism. Then, we are coming back here for the "see you later night" for the missionaries that are leaving in the temple grounds. Wow, I just got tired writing that. That was my week. It is the most crazy week of the change ... next week, we are going to be working on a plan of how to be able to get the mission excited about practicing teaching the mission lessons. President has felt that that is the direction we need to go. We are also going to be planning for the activity that we will have to celebrate the 18th of September. We are going to be able to do a little more work in the sector though, which will be great. Oh, we have another airport trip on Wednesday for the 5 that go home. Every day is different. It is going so fast. I am so grateful for this opportunity. I’m learning so much. I have felt that it will be much more like "after mission life" and I need to learn how to find happiness and joy in this kind of life style. I know that I need to be studying much more than I am. I haven’t gotten a good study session in for a while. President told us this last week that scripture searching is a requisite for the leaders of the church.
President asked "when will we know if someone’s mission is a success?" he answered, in 20 years. Who will they be? What kind of life will they have? What will be important to them? Will they be successful and Constant Temple attenders? As I got thinking about that, my love and respect for you Dad jumped up a lot. From how you are now and the answer to all those questions tells me that you were an incredible missionary. I would have liked to be your companion. It was a really special moment of appreciation from me to my Dad. Thanks Dad for being a wonderful missionary. I had some pain this last week from the choices of some Elders. I am hurt because I know what this miracle has done for me…I love you Dad a lot. We are going to have fun. I’m going to need your help to keep all “my all” here in Chile. I’m just so excited to be with the family again and share and get to know everyone better and live much more happily. I hope that helped you see into my current life a little bit. I consider myself most blessed by being able to have the opportunities that I am having and being able to have so many of them with President and Sister Laycock. I love your letters Dad. Thank you for taking so much time to write me and share what is happening. I love you. Love Elder Tilley

. . . I sure feel the love of our family. I know of Elders that are going through harder things than I can imagine. I respect them so much. I’m going to actually call them today to make sure that they are well.

. . . Yesterday, Sister Laycock said that she felt especially that these two principles needed to be followed by the group of missionaries that are leaving (she included my name in these too).
1. Keep your covenants and you will find joy and happiness
2. Your eternal companion will not be found in an unholy place. She just simply won’t be there. Once you find her, don’t wait.
The spirit was very strong through the whole meeting. It really hit me.

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.

We just came back from lunch with President Laycock. That is how I want to be.

Elder Tilley didn't send any pictures for 2 months (smile), so I had to get some off the mission blog . . . This is one I found... President Laycock and the Assistants to the President enjoy "planning" meetings at special places in Santiago. Elders Tilley and Whitney are an important blessing to our mission. They work so hard and serve so many.

When we stepped into the restaurant, he was so happy to see “his friend” Javier who was the waiter of our table. He greeted him with a hug, like they were best friends. It left me wanting to know if he knew him before or if it was the first time meeting him. I know that that man felt loved and happy as he attended us. President took time to answer any question that we had and shared many wonderful stories of his personal life. His life is meant to bless others. He shares himself to help others, more personal and direct, to help me. After he shared his stories, he wanted to know about us. He asked us one by one to share something. It was really casual, very friendly. Every person shared and he listened with interest and added love to each of the stories. After the lunch, which wasn’t cheap, the waiter Javier asked him if he would like to give a tip. He said “O, por su puesto, 10 por ciento, como siempre” with an attitude like he was confused Javier had asked the question, but on purpose to help him feel his anxious love and appreciation. We got a picture with the food that we had had and of course wanted Javier to be in the picture. When we left, President thanked Javier with a hug and peeked under the counter to tell all the cooks thank you for the wonderful food like always. When we walked back out to the car, he hugged the rugged looking man that was working as a “car watcher”. He asked him about his family before we went away. When he closed the door, he told us that all the people that we had talked to today have had missionary visits. “I’m still working with them”, he said “but they are still my friends”. He told us about his favorite family Christmas tradition on the first Monday of December when they would choose a family and get them something. They borrow cars, wear masks so that no one would be able to catch them and leave all these things without the family knowing and no one would ever tell. It is top secret. They go listen to the Tabernacle Choir sing Christmas music in the Conference Center. That starts out the wonderful Christmas spirit. They tell Christmas stories as a family as well. He said one of the best talents is to be able to tell a story well. He is a really good one. He said telling stories starts from the scriptures. If you can tell stories from the scriptures well, you can tell any story. When we got back to the office, he dropped us off, but wanted to share one more thing with us. He said nothing is more important to him then his family. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and then all the rest shall be added”. I’ve always liked that scripture, but became much more deeply upon hearing this story. He said he was in very important meeting, being the number two representing his firm. His boss and mentor (something Workman) I believe, stopped the meeting where they were and said “I am not able to speak to you right now, I have an unbreakable commitment. May we continue in 30 minutes? President said that the sky must have been falling to have stopped a meeting like that. When they got out to the car, his boss told him “I need to help my son with his math assignment, in thirty minutes I’ll be back to continue. “I am not able right now, I have an unbreakable commitment”. “First, seek ye for the Kingdom of God and then shall all the rest be added unto you”. He thanked us again for the wonderful lunch and got out of the car to hug each one of us before he left. He didn’t just do it because he understands what love is and the positive affect it has on every living being upon the face of the earth. The most influential power is the power of love. I’ve become more than ever in my life because of a LOVING example. Not just an example, not just a teacher, but an instructor spiritually, emotionally, socially and mentally. Love is the key.

August 6, 2011

(Jayce) Keep pumpin’ brother. My last few weeks (with Moxie) were the hardest because I started to get "trunky". I thought about how good it would be to be home... when does this day end... and dwelt on some of those. That was hard. I will tell you that it is much much easier to work hard and not let those thoughts play for very long. Let them give you excitement, but don’t entertain them to much that they make you homesick. Work harder, its easier. Love you Jayce. I’ve been thinking about you and praying for you. Have a wonderful wonderful week and Ill be excited to here from you next week too. Love you tons. Over and Out....Shooter, 1 down. Love you

Our new investigator is Victoria. It was a miracle. She was a reference from other missionaries. I called her on the phone and she told us to come as soon as possible. She had just had surgery on her eye. We took the elevator the 15th floor and stepped to apartment 152. We knocked and the maid let us in. She took us to a large room with red and gold rugs, beautiful furniture, golden curtains that looked over Santiago, with antique cabinets, paintings etc...It felt like we were in an incredible room on the ship Titanic. I don’t know why, but we all thought that. A few minutes later, this old lady with a patch over one eye came walking out, escorted by a member from a different ward that had happened to visit her for the first time that very same day (miracle in itself). She sat down and we introduced ourselves. She was very very down to earth and really funny. She has been trying to get contact with us for 1 year. We taught her about the Savior and the Atonement and the Gift of the Spirit which will comfort her and bring her peace. That is what she explained that she wanted. She accepted the challenge to be baptized in three weeks and we are really excited for her. She is named Victoria.

Well, good news. Thilo and Marlene, instead of waiting after the baby to be married then baptized, they are just going to do it in August. I think it should be in the next few weeks. They had invited President to come over 6 months ago and I hope I will be able to accompany :).

Me and Elder Whitney

San Cristobal-St. Mary Statue

"Dearelder.com" about Rachel becoming a MOM!

Here is a journal entry (and experience) with President Laycock from a couple weeks ago.

I LOVE PACKAGES

There is my buddy Elder Ostergar.

It's COLD in Santiago!