Week 54: Evelyn's Baptism! ...And The Blessings keep on Coming!

Hola Familia!!

We had an amazing week!! Evelyn got baptized and her husband Ivan baptized her!! It was one of the sweetest days of my whole mission! Ivan was so so nervous and messed up a few times on the words, but after he baptized her they gave each other the biggest hug and were just glowing. Felipe, their son, said his mom looked like a princess in her white dress and the spirit was so strong. So many members came to support her and it was just such a happy day. They said in one year they want to go to the temple and be sealed together!! I am just so grateful for the opportunity I've had to teach them and be part of Evelyn's conversion. I love that family so much!!

I sent Hermana Ellis off for home today! It was really sad! We cried a lot last night. She is literally my best friend and I know this companionship was only the beginning of our friendship. I know God put us together for a reason! I'm gonna miss her like crazy but it was the most fun I think I've ever had on the mission. haha.

Another companionship of hermanas is coming to our zone leader's sector and they have nowhere to stay so they will be staying with us until they find another apartment. I don't know how that's gonna work cuz our apartment is TINY!! It is seriously so small, but it will be fun because guess who is coming?! HERMANA DEL VALLE!! Yes, she is actually coming to Quilpue and she is gonna stay with us and I am so so so excited, I can't contain it! I love her so so much and I can't wait to see her again! 

My new companion's name is Hermana Varela and I love the heck out of her too! She was in my zone in Villa Alemana and I am so excited to be her companion. She is from Columbia and works really hard and is one of the happiest, most positive people I've ever met! The Lord is blessing me so much with such wonderful companions!! But seriously, I have met some of my best friends here in Chile and I'm so excited to keep working. 

Love you guys and hope you have the best week ever! I'm praying for all of you. We need to find more people to teach so please pray for us!! 

Les quiero

Hermana Snyder

The most delicious waffles that Ivan made for us

Who knew "The Shire" was in our area? Do you think Bilbo Baggin's might want a visit from the missionaries?

Week 53: Buenas Nachos! haha!

Hola Familia!!

Not much happened this week but we are really excited for Evelyns baptism! She called us last night and told us "Hermanas, encontré un vestido por mi bautismo! Y me queda bien!!" in English (Sisters, I found a dress for my baptism and it fits great!) She is so dang excited. She said she and her husband have been practicing haha😂 It will be Hermana Ellis' last weekend before she leaves. I'm so sad to see her go! I know Quilpué will not be the same without her! 

Today for p-day we went to the sand dunes in ConCon. It was so fun! We played capture the flag with another zone that showed up and took some more pictures. I tried to recreate some of the ones I took there like 6 months ago haha. After, we went to papa johns and we are having a little party tonight after district meeting for Hermana Ellis and our zone leader who are both going home. 

The other day the zone leaders told us we have to remember to have fun and not be so stressed on the mission. Hermana Ellis and I looked at each other and we were both thinking that sometimes we have TOO MUCH fun haha. You've got to enjoy the journey right? Life is much more enjoyable and so is the mission when you just learn to laugh and have fun! 

I hope you guys are all good! Que tengan una buen semana!! Les quiero!

Hermana Snyder

p.s. Every night our District Leader as a joke says, "Buenas Nachos!" to us and it has become a saying in our district now. Anyway, he had shirts made for all of us. haha! Hermana Ellis and I designed the logo and if you look real close there are little nacho chips all around it. haha! 

Week 52: Uno Año!!!

Antonella's Baptism

Hola Familia!!

ITS BEEN ONE YEAR!

I can't believe that I've been out one year! Some days I can't believe how fast the time has gone and other days I feel like I've been here in Chile my whole life haha. The mission is just a roller coaster with its ups and downs every day. In the words of mom, it has been a year with a lot of laughter, a lot of tears, and a lot of love. I have met so many amazing people and faced so many challenges. I have faced the hardest moments of my life here but also experienced the pure happiness that the gospel brings. Every day my testimony grows of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know he is my Savior and that this is his church. I know I am his representative and I am here to teach his gospel to the people of Chile (whether they want to listen or not haha) But I wouldn't trade this experience for the world. It has definitely been the hardest year of my life but also the most worth it! I have grown more in this one year than I had all the other 19 years.  All I can say is that this gospel is true and it changes lives. It has changed mine and I will forever be grateful for that.

Antonella got baptized and it was one of the sweetest days of my mission. Her mom got up and bore her testimony in sacrament meeting before the baptism and said that God sent two angelitas to her house (us) and that her family has grown so much closer since we started teaching them the gospel. They had been inactive for a long time but when Antonella saw her cousin get baptized she made the decision all by herself to follow Jesus Christ as well. Because of her decision the whole family has come back to church and will forever be blessed from this gospel. Antonella was soooooo excited to be baptized and looked like a little angel in her white dress! Ahhh I just love this little sassy 9 year old with all my heart haha. She makes me laugh every time I talk to her and it was a blessing being able to teach her and her family. 

We are still looking for more people to teach. We have been a little low on lessons and people to teach but the people we do have are amazing! Evelyn is still getting baptized and is so determined. Keep praying for her! 

I love you guys and hope you have a great week!! 

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Snyder

With the other sisters in our district. We went out for empañadas.

Pancakes! As you can see, the mission hasn't improved my cooking skills. haha