I'M AN AUNT!

FAMILY

HOLY SHRAPNEL THAT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BABY IVE EVER SEEN. I can´t stop crying just looking at her. Mikey, I can´t believe you´re a dad. Ash, you´re going to be Amazing. Haven is beautiful and such a lovely little spirit. I can´t wait to meet her. What a joyous thing to happen in the family.!! Wow...words can´t express it. I love you all so much and am so happy to have a niece! wow...

This week was absolutely lovely. The picture in the flowers is the happiest district on earth frolicking in Llanqihue (yang-ki-way). We spent a beautiful last day of summer there and it hasn´t stopped raining since.

 The second picture is easily the BEST. VICKY GOT BAPTIZED! She is such a strong young women. Against basically everything, she gained a testimony and is now going on to the University in Puerto Monte and I know she´ll be a strength to the church the rest of her life. She is solid. Her baptism was just overflowing with tranquil happiness and the Spirit. wow...it´s amazing how much you can love someone...

As you all know, we celebrated Groundhog Day on Feb 2. Mom informed me she was staying at a B and B where the owner was named Phil and I loved it! (ps parents you have two awesome letters in the mail!) As you probably know, Groundhog Day was Feb 2...this week and I couldn´t help but think of the Parable of the Groundhog. In the movie, Phil wakes up and every single day is Feb 2, Groundhog day. It is the same day after day after day and after a while, he can´t take it any more. He tries every manner of ridding himself of this curse including trying to run away or kill himself...at one point he decided to just enjoy his time and do whatever he wanted (like eating too much, drinking and smoking) because there were literally no consequences. But finally, he realizes that this time he had that maybe felt monotanous or the same day after day was actually a gift in which he could develop his talents, improve himself, and help those around him.

I almost laughed to myself when, on Feb 2, I studied Alma 29. We were talking in the companionship about verses 4 and 5...that the real desires of our hearts will be ours because we will act according to the real desires of our hearts. Then we started talking about how we have this special time in our lives (only a year and a half) in which we have to basically BE Phil and live day after day doing the same things and sometimes it seems like nothing ever changes...but those incremental acts of service and small steps we take towards becoming more like the Savior will be for the benefit of our lives and the lives around us. 
Every day we have on earth is like this. We wake up, we eat, we do the things we need to do, and then we go to sleep. But in reality, it´s what we decide to DO with the day that defines us. Phil tried all three ways of handling his situation. He tried to escape, he wallowed and didn´t progress, and then he put in his greatest efforts and eventually changed into an amazing person. 

We all are basically Phil...waking up in Punxatawny, Penn. (Osorno in our case) every day and we have the choice. What kind of day will this be? What kind of servant or person or friend or parent will I be? Will I escape my responsibilities, or just not complete them, or will I search for what I CAN do and what I CAN improve today and will I DO IT? It is a choice today and every day for the rest of our lives. THAT is what perservering to the end means. That we desire eternal life with all of our hearts and then act accordingly.

I love what I learn each week here...I desire so much to please Heavenly Father and help his children. I can´t even express the absolute joy that I feel all the time here. I hope that frolicking picture demonstrates a little portion of it. 

Oh yeah, a little funny Chilean thing. I´ve named it ¨the chilean monologue¨. Chileans are super happy, super talkative people which can be a blessing and a curse. And we, as missionaries, are in the business of talking. So usually, when we ask a question, the Chileans answer, but then a story about their grandma or dog or neighbor instantly comes to there mind and there starts a string of stories that can not be stopped. I try to tackfully bring the one-sided conversation back to the Savior, but sometimes to no avail. They can talk and talk and talk and talk...it´s hilarious. My record is about 35-37 minutes. 

Well, family and friends... I love you like always. Go out with the missionaries in your ward and feel the joy of sharing your testimony. Go read your scriptures, pray with those you love, go to the temple with a question, enjoy your new baby (or grandbaby) and then smile and know that Heavenly Father loves you and that everything good in your lives (which is a lot!) came because of the atonement of Jesus Christ. Keep the important things important and don´t worry about the tiny, lame things. LOVE YOU ALL!
HNA BOURNE