Week 49: Feliz Navidad casi WOOOHOOO

YAYAY MERRY ALMOST CHRISTMAS!

Wow seriously has this year flown by or WHAT. I remember this time last year, I was taking my final test up at college, packing up and moving out of my apartment, and driving home with my dad, freaking out because I had only 12 days to get ready for the mission. I can't believe I have almost been here in Chile for a whole entire year! oh my gosh.

Well I know I say this every week, but this week really was super great. First off, thanks for all of your birthday wishes! It was a great day, kinda a crazy one! Full of food...lots of food. my District Leader, E'Miller, made me a huge lemon pie (its a big thing here) and then hermana Rico made me a cake, oh also we ate lunch with a semi super rich family, and then later one of my favorite families called and told me they had made me a raspberry pieeee... so we had to pass by and eat that of course too. And then that night as we arrived at the casa, the other hermanas were there waiting...with ANOTHER lemon pie. Pretty sure I gained like fifty pounds in one day but its fine who cares not me. 

twas a great day, but the next one was better!

We woke up super early and hopped on a bus to ANGOL! We had an activity for Christmas there, with the WHOLE MISSION. it was so cool to see everyone there! my first district leader. E'Molina from Guatemala came up to me and said, "wow hermana poyfair, your spanish is like REALLY GOOD NOW! you can actually speak!"

miracle, right? :)

But it was awesome becausewe all put passalong cards with a cute little message inside of helium balloons, and then we marched (all 200 of us) to the town center, where we sang Christmas hymns! So many people were recording us and taking pictures, it was so special. Then, we all shouted, "Ilumina el mundo!" (light the world) and let our balloons go! So anyways, somebody, in some part of Angol, got hit in the head by my special Christmas message. Pretty cool aye? :)

The day was super great and spiritual and now I really feel like its Christmas time. At the end, President said, "oh, and we have presents for all of you guys!" We walked into a room and there against the wall were OUR CHRISTMAS PACKAGES. #blessed we all left happy happy happy. :)

On Saturday we got to help with an Open Chapel in this cute little town called Gorbea, which is just about as south as you can go in our mission! We helped do tours in this tiny little church and it was super fun. Seriously, the south of chile is SO PRETTY. 

We also were able to see lots of little miralces in our own area this week! We were able to find LOTS of new people teach, and one of our investigators, Amanda, came to church yesterday!

The closer we get to Christmas, the more excited I get to spend this time here in Llaima, with the wonderful people of Chile. I love it here SO much and I am happy as can be. I know this is where the Lord needs me. :)

have a great christmas! Love you all so much!

hermana poyfair

Week 48:Cherries and Can you believe I'm almost 20????

HIIIIII

this week was a rollercoaster but there were LOTS of ups and so we're all super happy here.

first of all, the coolest thing happened this week!

I was walking with my companion, and we passed by these two men. About 20 steps after, she looked at me and said, "I want to contact them!" I smiled and said that I did too! So we turned around and headed back. We introduced ourselves, and they began to ask questions! "Where are you guys from? Why are you here? Do you like Chile?" things like that. Then, one of these men said, "Do you guys have something I can read? I am a security guard so I have lots of time on my hands." so We handed him the pamphlet of the Restoration. He smiled and said, "yeah, but do you have something bigger? This is little!" my companion looked at me, like "should we?" I nodded, and we pulled out our Book of Mormon! We explained a little bit about the Book of Mormon, and why it was important to us. he looked me in the eyes and said, "Hermana Poyfair, do you really think this book can help me in my life?" OH. MY. GOSH. The Spirit was so strong as I stared him in his eyes and testified that the book of mormon was the most amazing and true book in the whole entire world and that YES it would help him in his life, with whatever problem he might have. I was so happy and felt so great as he promised to read it and pray. 

After, he said, "hey do you guys like Cherries?" we nodded eagerly, so he pulled out a bag of cherries and gives us like 120 cherries. I'm attaching a picture. it was super cool. there is so much fruit here in Chile right now and I am happy as can be. 

We lost contact with a lot of our investigators this week and it was a little frustrating, but everything happens for a reason! We had a conference with Mark B. Bragg this week, (from the 70) and he told us that we are here in our areas by the same revelation that the Thomas S. Monson recieved when he assigned our call, and so we should feel sure the God knows where we are, and that we're here because there are people that only we can help here.

so yeah. LLAIMA WOO!

this letter is short sorry but yeah

I hope you have a good week! I love you all so much!

ps gracias for the birthday wishes!

love hermana poyfair

Week 47:11 months and transfers and rain and investigators and all of the other good things in life

Hiii! 

Happy December.

Can you believe its already December? tampoco. December has ALWAYS been my favorite month of the whole year, and there's no doubt that its going to be like 50 times better in the mission.

This week was SO SO GREAT. It seriously flew by. I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day, that I wake up and go to sleep and the days just pass by in a blur. The mission is so crazy man.

First of all, transfers came! And, I will be staying here, with Hermana Alarcon, in Llaima, for another transfer. Its weird, this is my first transfer in my whole mission that I will be staying with the same companion for more than one transfer in the same area! But I am super excited, we have lots of work to do here in Llaima still, and we are excited to get to work. 

This week we had an awesome lesson with our investigator, Paula Amestica! We were planning on teaching about the Plan of Salvation, and so in the morning we practiced what we were going to teach. We both prayed first, and thought about one question that Paula might have, and how we would answer it. My question was, "what would happen if someone passes away without the opportunity to listen to the gospel?" and the other, that my companion asked, was, "My husband doesn't believe in God, whats going to happen to him?" so we practiced and felt good about our answers. And it was SO SO COOL because we got to our lesson with her, and she literally asked the EXACT SAME QUESTIONS. Like, word for word. During the lesson, we both kept looking at eachother and smiling, because the Holy Ghost is so stinking cool. Definitely helped my testimony grow, that really the gift of discernment is real!

Also this week we had a super cool lesson with Carolina, another one of our investigators. She's super sweet, and a little slower, like she doesn't understand very much. We have to explain things super clearly and slowly. Shes been catholic her whole life and she likes the Catholic Church. She told us she didn't really have desires to change. We both got real quiet, and I felt inspired to share the blessings the gospel has brought into my life, the peace and love it has brought me and the happiness that I know I wouldn't have if I didn't have the gospel in my life. She looked at me, and paused for a few minutes and said, "okay, I will come to church with you guys this week." 

Miracles, seriously.

andddddd she came to church yesterday. :')

so so so happy. 

isn't this gospel just the coolest thing in the world? I love it so much. 

also this week I completed 11 months in the mission WHAT thats so so crazy. 

but yeah thats about it! my week. Full of miracles and happiness. 

Love the mission. seriously it rocks sososo much.

have a great week! love you guys!

love katelyn err i mean Hermana Poyfair

Week 46: It's beginning to look a lot likeeeeeee SUMMER

WHATS UPPPPP

I hope you all just had a fabulous thanksgiving.

We sure did. Here in Temuco they have this cute little restaraunt that sells probably the best sushi in the world, and they sell it in whats called a "Hand Roll". Its not cut up, you just eat the whole role and I just don't know how to explain it but its super yummy and we enjoyed it. HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Lets see, funny story of the week: my companion has been having lots of feet problems, so on Saturday we were stuck in the house all day so she could rest them up. Well, we were kinda bored, so I pulled out some scissors and started cutting my hair. Not a lot, just like the ends. My companion said, "hey, let me cut your hair." I said, "have you ever cut hair before?" and she says, "of course! Don't worry!" so I informed her that my hair takes a REALLY LONG TIME TO GROW and that I REALLY LIKED HOW LONG IT WAS RIGHT NOW and that SHE ONLY NEEDED TO CUT LIKE HALF OF AN INCH OFF. Apparently in Spanish half an inch means four inches or something because my companion chopped basically all of my hair off. I cried. This was supposed to be a funny story but actually its a really sad one.

but its just hair and I'll be okay,

We had a lesson this week with one of the old investigators of the Hermanas that were here before us! This lady, named Paula, is SOOOOO great. She had so many questions and at first we had no Idea how to respond but it was so cool to watch as the Spirit took over and started teaching. It really is true, the promise that if we only open our mouths, the Spirit will give us the words that we need. It was such a powerful lesson and really Paula is just progressing so much. What a blessing. 

Also this week I went on Exchanges with Hermana Rico, from Spain! she is super great, and we only got lost in this HUGE area like 7 times. I'm still learning, hahah!

Also if you haven't seen the video "Light the World" yet, go watch it right now! its soooo beautiful, everytime we watch it i'm just left in shock. Its so cool what the church is doing this year, Lighting the whole world. THIS CHURCH IS SO COOL RIGHT.

3 things. 

1. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY CUTE LITTLE BIG BROTHER ON thursday I CANT BELIEVE HES ALREADY 15 OH MY GOSH
2. On wednesday I'm going to complete 11 months in the mission what
3. We get our transfers on saturday and I am freaking out.

thats all.

hope you all have a FAB week!

love hermana poyfair

WEEK 45: It's so hot here!

hiiiiii how's it going.

I am literally DYING of heat in this little internet cafe.

I just don't even understand the weather here in Chile like seriously. 

its like 90 degrees here today. wooooooo.

this week was a gooooood one. I liked it alot. First of all, we had a conference with our President and 3 other zones here in Temuco! It was a huge conference and it was so cool to see the other missionaries. The conference was super great, they talked a lot about Referrals and how important they are and how people are seeing a lot of success from Referrals from other missionaries. Well, after the conference, three different missionaries ran up to me and said, "hermana poyfair, we have a referral for you guys!" We super excited, but here's the cool part: it was the SAME PERSON! They all contacted the same person, Barbara! We were super confused and excited and just a whole lot of emotions. Well, on Saturday we had an appointment with her and her mom. And seriouslyy, this family is GOLDEN. Barbara is 15 years old and told us, "I want to be a part of your church, what do I need to do?" It took us a couple of minutes to pick our jaws up from off the floor.... hahaha! Her mom is super interested too, with lots of questions. they weren't able to come to church yesterday, but promised that next week and the week after and the week after they'll be there. It was such a miracle and I was seriously so shocked. THIS CHURCH IS TRUE

Lets see, this morning we played Quidditch as a zone ahahaha. it was so fun but soooo hot outside and we're all fried. #gringos

Its so weird because its getting close to Christmas so everyone is putting up their Christmas decorations and its soooo weird because ITS LIKE 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE! where's my snow... I seriously don't feel like its November. Weird. 

Shoot this letters kinda lame but i'll send lots of pictures.

One thing that I heard in Church yesterday that really called my attention was that Satan really knows the power of a strong family, and that he is seriously doing everything in his power right now to attack the families right. We've been able to see that alot here in Temuco, in Llaima, there have been lots of divorces and separations and its soooo sad. But, God also knows the power of a strong family and thats why the church is putting such a focus on the Family and the home. With prayer, book of mormon studies, and Family Home Evening, Satan doesn't even stand a chance.

thats all.

have a great week! love you guys.

hermana poyfair

Week 44: #Earthquake #butnotreally

hiiiiiii guys.

this week I survived my first (and hopefully last) earthquake here in Chile. It was funny, because Monday night as I was sleeping, I suddenly woke up because I thought my companion was moving a LOT. I said, "hermana, are you okay?" she didn't answer but kept moving and I was so tired that I just turned over and fell asleep again. Well, the next morning our President called us all to see if we were okay, he informed us that there had been an earthquake in Concepcion, but it was a little one, like a 5.0, and that there wasn't any damage. I was laughing so hard. I was the only person in the casa that felt it, so really it was like nothing. But hey, pretty cool aye?

Presidente came to pick up Hermana Loor Tuesday night and to drop of my new companion, Hermana Alarcon. Hermana Loor and I basically cried all day. In the mission, your first trainer is called your Mama (for the hermanas) and your second is called your Papa. Hermana Loor only had one trainer, but she told me that she really felt like I was her Papa and that she really felt a love for Missionary Work now, and that she would forever be grateful. We cried and cried. But, we know that she needed to head home and get her knee working again so that she could come back stronger than ever. 

My new companion is Hermana Alarcon, from Chile! She is from the North of Chile, and she has been out for about 8 months in the mission. She is really great and we are working super hard. 

We had a conference of Hermana this last week with a couple of zones, and I got to see hermana nelson for the first time in about 7 months. It was a happy reunion. 

Also one day this week we were contacting like ALL DAY. And it seemed like we had been outside the whole day, seriously. We didn't enter into a single house. At about 9 o'clock, my companion looked at me and said, "this sucks, we don't have a single investigator for today." I said, "hey, we still have half an hour, where's your faith?" and I am not even kidding you, the VERY NEXT HOUSE WE KNOCKED OPENED THE DOOR AND LET US IN. What a miracle, seriously. We found this cute little family, and Dad and his two daughters. We sang them "Families can be together forever" and taught them about the Plan of Salvation. We have another appointment scheduled with them this week, so we will see what happens. But it was a super cool experience, that God really does answer our prayers and sometimes just likes to test our faith and patience, right?

also this week, We got to help at this Festival here in Temuco, Called the Fiesta of the Nations. They had a booth set up for the United States, so all of the Gringos in Temuco got to volunteer at the booth and answer questions about the states. It was super cool, but I am pretty sure I got asked the question, "and how do you feel about your new president?" more than 100 times. #trump

this chileans are super interested in our new president, probably more than I am. hahaha.

butttttt yeah thats basically all that happened this week! It was a good one. I like it here a lot in Llaima, Temuco. I still get lost a LOT, but God's helping me and I know we are going to see miralces here. yaya!

have a GREAT WEEK! LOVE YOU ALL

HERMANA POYFAIR  

Week 43: EARTHQUAKE?

hi family!

just wanted you guys to know that I am safe and sound, there was an Earthquake in Concepcion this morning but we barely felt it here in Temuco. I was sleeping, but it woke me up and I thought it was just my companion moving a lot in her bed. haha! but we are all good, just so you know!

love you all! talk to you on monday!

Love kate

Week 43: Definitely NOT the bees knees...

this week was a sad one...

first of all, last monday, I took my companion to a Doctor's office because she was literally leaning on me to walk. After taking a bunch of X-rays, informed us that there was a possibilty of the need of surgery. 

WHAT.

He told us that she need to rest for a week and that she needed to see a specialist. We were super nervous, but on thursday we went and saw a specialist. He told us that her knee was fine, that one bone was rubbing against the other bone and that with a couple of months of Physical therapy, she should be just fine. That night we called the Presidente to tell him the good news! We were so happy, that starting today we could start working and everything would all be good.

well... last night at about 10:45 we recieved a call from our dear sweet president letting us know that it would be better if Hermana Loor headed home to get all this treatment done. We sat and cried and cried, we've only been companions for like a week and a half but she is seriously one of the greatest missionaries I have ever met and I am really sad, but we know everything happens for a reason and that God is happy with all the work she has done here in Llaima!

She heads out on Wednesday and I will recieve a new companion. I have no Idea who it is and I am super terrified, because I have only been here in Llaima for a week and a half, and we had to spend one week in the casa resting. I have to direct the area now and I don't even know it haha. But the Lord put me here for a reason and I know he trusts me. Scary though right??

There's not a whole lot more to report... We just spent the whole week inside, studying and watching movies of the church and talking. I was able to go on a few exchanges and I got lost everytime, but its cool. I'll get it eventually.

This week we have a conference with four other zones here in the southern part of the mission, and its going to be great because I will FINALLY SEE HERMANA NELSON FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SIX MONTHS!

party. 

but yeah, next weeks letter will be better, pinky promise. its going to be a week of miracles, I can feel it.

I love you all so much!

have the greatest week everrrrrr.

love kate 

Week 42: Not a big Halloween fan anyway...

HOLLAAAAA

feliz halloween! In Chile, Halloween is a holiday but actually its more of just an excuse to take the day off. Almost nothing is open, just a creepy old internet cafe. Hahaha!

So anyways, Temuco is AWESOME. Oh my gosh its so so pretty. It reminds me a lot of California! Its like this huge city with lots of Palm Trees and lots of big tall buildings. I like it a lot! Its super pretty. Its a WHOLE LOT bigger than Los Angeles, but smaller than Concepcion. I like it, I think I'll stay here for awhile.

My companion is the CUTEST. Her name is Hermana Loor, and she's from Ecuador! As I got off the bus she ran up to me and said, "don't worry, I speak English." anddddd its true. She does. She speaks English PERFECTLY. Like probably better than I speak English. I told her that she needs to help me with my Spanish, to correct me every time I make a mistake so that it can get better, and well shoot I guess I make a lot of mistakesbut its okay because my spanish is getting better and better. Yay for Latinas! 

Our area is huge huge huge and sooooooooooo rich. Its kinda intimidating. The houses are like mansions and these families have like three cars each. Its a little different than Los Angeles, and it makes it hard to contact people and to schedule appointments because EVERYONE WORKS. But its fine, I really like it here and I know there are miracles just waiting for us.

This week we had a funny contact in the street! We walked up to this man and said, "hi we're missionaries! can we give you a photo of Jesus?" and he said "well, it depends, let me see it..." uhhh... So we hand him this card of when Jesus came to the Americas, and he says,"look I'm not going to accept this because Jesus was NOT BLONDE." and then stormed off... we laughed for a good half hour. how do you know Jesus wasn't blonde? funny people.

I don't have a lot to write today... this week was a little slow. But, this weeks going to be better. I feel it.

my poor companion has had some really bad knee problems these past couple of days! We are going to see a doctor today so hopefully everything will work out but I'm a little nervous..

buttttt thats about all I got. Hope you all enjoy your halloween! 

love you!

love hermana kate 

Week 41: Just call me one-transfer Kate!

HIIIIIII

whats up everyone

first things first, we got our TRANSFERS on Saturday! and you'll never believe it, but I am getting transfered! I am heading down south, to the city of TEMUCO! I've never been to Temuco but I have heard its a city bigger than Los Angeles and smaller than Concepcion. I'm super excited, I am going to be companions with Hermana Loor from Ecuador! She just finished her training so its going to be fun. Hermana Freitas is being transfered too! She is going to serve in Avenida Alemania, my first area. Transfers are crazy but I am excited to finally see another part of the mission! Wooooo. Temuco here I comeeeee.

This week was so so so crazy. So much happened! First of all, We had an open house this Saturday at the church! It was a big deal, all of the organizations set up these stands, there were refreshments and banners and it was a HUGE SUCCESS! We had about 100 people (members, less actives, and non members) come through the doors! We were so suprised because they have done this huge open house in lots of different wards here in Chile, and they haven't had too much success. But, ours was definitely a success. As the Sister Missionaries, our job was to bring the people into the Sacrement room, and give them a brief overview. Then, we walked with them around the Cultural Hall and taught about the Restoration and the Plan of Salvation. I was super nervous at first, because some of the groups had like 20 people! But, it was actually super cool. My spanish was okay and I was able to teach and testify and the people understood. What a cool experience!

The next day was Sunday, and the missionaries got to do a special sacrament meeting. We took a vote to see who had to speak, and OF COURSE I got voted to do so. I had been having an emotional day, because transfers are HARD and its super sad to say goodbye to everyone, and so as I was finishing my talk, I said, "well, I feel like I just got here (because I did) and I'm super sad that now I have to say goodbye" And as I looked out into the audience, I saw this cute 9 year old girl who's been a member for about 6 months. She's the cutest and follows us around everywhere and is always hugging us and she's just a doll. Anyways, I make eye contact with this cute little girl, and she bursts into tears. Which makes me start crying. So I'm up on the stand, crying, and then I can't remember any spanish, so I say "Thank you, Amen" hahahhaa it was so embarassing. So I sit down and Catalina comes running up and sits by my side and she wouldn't stop sobbing and it was just the most tender and sad moment of my whole entire mission.

but its okay, because once we finish writing we are going to eat lunch with them. :)

I'm actually super sad to be leaving San Martin! I have only been here for about a month and a half, but I think its my favorite ward so far and its been hard to say goodbye to all the members. Thats whats lame about the mission, once you get comfortable, TRANSFERS.

but, I know that Temuco is EXACTLY where I am needed and that there are lots of new adventures waiting for me there. its going to be so exciting.

 

I love it here SO MUCH. The mission is the greatest thing in the world and I can't believe that I have already been out for 10 months. AHH!

peroooooo espero que todo esta bien y tendran una buena semana.

con amor,

hermana poyfair 

ps this morning we went bowling and I won

Week 40: Cleanliness is next to... well you know..

hi friends!

what a week.

okay so lets see.

So last monday after pday we went to visit the mom of this missionary that left last week. She was SO sweet, and is missing her son ALOT! We made pancakes and she cried and told us stories about her son and it made me so sad. But the pancakes were yummy and it was a real good time. We told her that we could be her daughters while her son is gone. 

This next Saturday we are going to be doing a open house in our Chapel! We had a ward activity this last week to clean that whole church, and 10 people showed up, and six of us were missionaries. hahah. We cleaned about 300 chairs and were there for about 6 hours. it was crazy but they look great and the church is going to look beautifulllll

After we finished cleaning, we had a lesson with an investigator that we found about 2 weeks ago. Her name is Diana and she is AWESOME! at first, our lesson was awkward. like, we were fighting to find the words and weren't sure what to teach her. I was praying SO HARD for the Spirit. It was so cool to watch the lesson change, as the spirit started to guide us. We talked about the Holy Ghost and how we as members of the church came to know it was true. We were all crying as she said to us, "i'm going to pray, and I think I am going to find the answer I am looking for." THIS CHURCH IS TRUE

We have also been teaching English here in this ward! Our first two weeks, we had about 2 people show up. But, on Saturday, there were 11 people in this class! Thats a lot. English is a complicated language and i am glad I am learning spanish and not english. 

Yesterday we had lunch with this family that lives out in the countryside. They are like super super rich. They have a pool and a MANSION seriously. this lady is the sister of one of my favorite ladies in my old ward, and they suprised me yesterday! They were all there, waiting for us. It was so fun. We ate and then made bread and cake and talked and enjoyed the RAIN.

I dont feel like its ever going to stop raining here.

oh! and today we had a zone activity. it was called "Christmas in October". We made gingerbread houses and had a white elephant gift exchange and It made me SO STINKING EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS.

two more months!

hope you all had just a great week.

I love you! 

love hermana poyfair