WRITE TO ME!!!!! emily.bourne@myldsmail.net

8.8!

Thanks for the concern and calls to my mom and all that jazz.  The earthquake was one of the biggest in history and the only places south of Santiago that didn´t feel anything was Punta Arenas and Collaque.  Osorno and most of our misión had earthquakes too.  But everything is really well and calm down here…its just that it seems EVERYONE has family in Santiago that they can't comunícate with.  I have friends serving in Concepción and Santiago so we were worried.  President came down a day before the earthquake to Punta Arenas for conference and is stuck here because there are no flights so we went to see the penguins today, but he assured us that every missionary and misión president in Chile is accounted for and well.  Most of the chapels up there weren´t even damaged.  It really is a huge miracle.

Oh yeah, funny story...Two days ago, the wind started.  I´ve heard tale about the wind down here and didn´t understand what ¨wind¨meant until two days ago.  We were running to get to an appointment and I got involuntarily blown all the way across the street.  (NOT an exageration).  Winter will be an adventure!!! :)

  I am at the very bottom of the earth here in Punta Arenas and I must admit that when I read that the gospel will be preached to ¨all the ends of the earth¨, my heart does swell with happiness knowing that I am here, in one of the corners of the earth.  The wonderful thing is, however, is that the location of my service in no way impacts the value of these sons and daughters of God.  On a daily basis, I see that lonely woman who just needs someone to invite her over to talk...I´m friends with the lady in the ward who secretly does good even though nobody will ever thank her...I visit the man whose wife is in the hospital and he doesn´t know what to do...I see the less active just searching for where she went wrong in her life...I see the bishop, stressed as ever just trying to keep all the glass balls juggling with only a little support from the ward members because they just don´t understand exactly how much he does...I see people who don´t understand that they have a loving Heavenly Father who will just give them everything if they come to Him...I see the lonely kid who just wants to fit in...I see people not do good just because it´s easier.  

All of these people...I know them from down here and I know them from up there in Salt Lake.  There is absolutely no difference in the problems we face, the sorrows we see, the pain we feel.  Right next door is someone whose heart is crying out in pain and I think sometimes we feel we need an exotic or special or ¨higher¨calling to help someone in need.  It´s like when the Lord told Naaman to wash in the river and it was such an ordinary thing to do, he was insulted because nothing more was required of him.  Wasn´t he ¨special¨or better in some other way? I know the answer is no.  Every single person is a son or daughter of God with infinite value and potential and who are we to decide who should be served? I think when it comes down to it...we serve because we love.  Not because someone will notice...not because it´s convenient...not because its our calling.  We serve because we love.  When we really love, we serve...that´s what Christ did and I hope I can work my whole life in developing that attribute.  I think it´s the hardest thing in the world to develop and I am a thousand miles away from having it, but that´s what I´m working for. 

 

CHILEAN EARTHQUAKE...

We have heard from Emily and she is fine.  She is one thousand miles away from the epicenter, and though they are watching for Tsunami's she is safe and sends her love.

MY NEW E-MAIL!!

MY E MAIL HAS CHANGED! PLEASE MAKE NOTE...THE OTHER ONE WON'T WORK ANY MORE! KEEP THOSE LETTERS COMIN' FOLKS!!!

emily.bourne@myldsmail.net

LOVIN' IT AT THE END OF THE EARTH!

Family and Friends,

Well, just another absolutely wonderful week down here at the bottom of the earth. First of all....CONGRATS TO BOUCHDIAL! Im still sitting here just kind of laughing to myself. You are a fabulous couple and Im sorry I can't come to the wedding...but you guys will be incredible! BUND, I just love you. Way to go!

Okay, so Punta Arenas is basically the promised land. The ward is ginormous, loves us, loves the work, and thanks to them, we had 24 lessons with members this week. WE are meeting families and having miracles happen every single day. I can't even tell you how many times this week weve been led by the hand of God to the right person at the right time in the right Spirit.

Also, ELDER SCOTT is coming to visit us in March. The Bishop announced it on Sunday and we are just DYING! Theres only like 14 missionaries down here so Im thinking of asking Elder Scott to come teach with us...he can share Ephesians 2:20 and bear his testimony about why its important to have apostles...:) But seriously, people...its all we can think about..were dying of anticipation!

Okay, funny happenings this week..I haven't written any for a little while. First, Katie, a Chilean girl walked past me and was wearing Pink Sugar. I caught a whif and almost followed this girl out of the store because she smelled just like you. Brought back good memories of me sneaking into your room to steal your perfume.

Second, We were walking and hitting doors (we call it touching doors in Spanish) when all of a sudden, we came upon this Asian man hula hooping in front of his house all alone. To stop from just bursting into laughter, I began to contact him and talk about how God has a wonderful plan for him and his family. He didnt understand too well and we somehow communicated for about five minutes...all the while hula-hooping. He didnt stop the entire time. James and Noah, youll never guess where he's from...

Third, I think the rat in our roof finally died.  It's been quiet....

Fourth, Dad, we sang your song about the lights along the shore in church. It caught me by surprise and Ill be honest, I shed a tear or two for you. Its the first time Ive really missed anyone (but don't worry, it was for like 6 seconds).

Chileanism- The broom is the only tool that the Chileans need to survive. They use it to do everything but sweep the floor. They rake with it, they clean their cars with it, they clean the walls of their house with it, they chase dogs away with it, if they forget their keys--they use it to open the door, they clean gutters,use it to hold up trees, to reach high places, to dust and clean their roofs....It really is the tool of the gods!

But seriously people, Punta Arenas is like Im in America...except I have to wear like five pairs of woolen tights and at least three shirts, a sweater, a jacket, a scarf, and a rain coat. ...We looked at our shadows lumbering down our street the other day and a certain Hagrid came to our minds...expeliarmus! I think some people have this image of me riding my llama up the side of this jungley mountain to reach the hovel at the top where the natives in loincloths are waiting to receive the gospel. I feel like I'm in Holladay sometimes here...The church here is exceedingly strong and the members are warm and friendly. The people, in general, are very kind and invite us in out of the cold, but don't want to talk about the gospel. But we are meeting a lot of great families and young people interested.

Thats about all I got. Shout outs to Noah (we got penguins, not flamingos..but it made me laugh), Tiffany (I love you tiff, thanks for being incredible...tell ramrod hi!) , Sierra (bomb.com), the family, and everyone else. Thank you for letters and love and support! The letters will be pretty scarce from down here, but if you write me emails, Ill try to get back as soon as I can! Bund, I love you! Send me the wedding invite!!!!

The work is going forth surely as ever and I couldnt be happier. This is the best place to be in the entire world.

Pictures. The skies here are ENORMOUS and really unique.

 The trees are all bent from all the wind!

ps- oh yeah! My comp Hermana McClellan (who is basically Marianne Carter...the voice, the laugh...the hilariously...everything), told me that Punta Arenas is where they discovered the skeleton of the first Miladon (aka...giant sloth). I need to know if this is true. someone get back to me!
Hna Bourne

Family!
Wow, Elder Scott here in Punta Arenas. AND we have zone conference the week and I get my interview with President. Could I BE more blessed? NO!

Logistics. The houses here are really rich...we have natural gas heating and hot water. Our sector is ginormous and we have to take colectivos everywhere. Dad, look up Torres del Paine. Schedule a little time there...its like 3 hours away from where I am and we wont get to see it until you come.
Love yoU! Sophie, I love you and know you are going to do a great job in singing on your birthday! I can't believe you are going to be a decade old! I love you. James, breathe....but congrats. Love you! I bet Sam is great! Mikey and Ashley...Im so sad I cant be there for the blessing but Im sure it will just be one, big, happy day with everyone that they'll all remember...the more I'm down here, the more I realize how blessed I am to have a big, happy family...keep it that way.

Katie, I'm praying for you. I know you are experiencing great things...remember that yes, you are growing and changing inwardly...and that is exactly what Heavenly Father wants for you...but remember to look outward. There are people who miss their families, there are people that feel excluded...there are people that feel alone and lost out there. Reach out...do things in secret...it's the only way. It's like how Christ said that if we loose ourselves, we'll find ourselves. To solve our problems...we need to be so focused on others that we don't even realize that God is changing and shaping US in the process. You are just fabulous and I got you a pair of sweet earings that you'll love.
Mom, thanks for the email. You are incredible. Keep on keeping on.. It feels like I was at home yesterday. One transfer here is 6 weeks. I have at least 3 transfers (or cambios) which means 18 weeks... I'm here for the dead of winter with 80-100mph winds (not kph)!! I hope I don{t get blown away!
I'm not getting huge or breaking out in leprosy or loosing my teeth like the average chilean...Im taking care of myself...all my clothes still fit. I love you all. We have this year (literally...tomorrow, I only have a year left...boo!) to improve ourselves and change and grow closer. Everyone, study your scriptures every day. pray EVERY DAY. Go to church and serve the people there. Keep doing it. Love you all!
Em

SHIPPED OFF TO ANTARCTICA!!

A big happy birthday to Mikey this week! 26...you old dad!

The subject line of mom´s last email intrigued me. ¨WHERE ARE YOU!?¨ Very good question, mom. The answer (along with all the other answers to life) can be found in the scriptures. Everyone turn with me to 3 Nephi 27:20. Therein lies the answer. Another clue…my bishop takes groups of rich tourists to Antarctica daily. Dudes, look as far south as you can go and just laugh. I´m in Punta Arenas…declaring repentence to all the ends of the earth. It is the most special place on earth..I can´t even describe it. I took a two hour bus ride and a two hour flight to get down here.

It looks a little bit like Utah, but there´s the ocean in our backyard. It´s really dry and I thought I had experienced what it really meant to be cold until I got here. THe wind is exceedingly incredible. In the main plaza are ropes set up so people can hold onto them while walking, the wind is that bad. It´s like we´re in a movie..there´s an eerie silence settled over all of Punta Arenas and it´s like I¨m not really here. There´s a hole in the ozone layer and we´re going to see the penguins next week.

Oh yeah, Punta arenas is known as the place where you fall down all the time. I fell down for the second time on my mission as I was walking out of church this Sunday....that´s one way to make a good impression on your ward (it was the sprawling type of fall)...bless my heart
My area is called Ovejero. My last area was Ovejeria. Oveja in Spanish means sheep. I LOVE this theme. We feel like we head out every day to search for those sheep that have wandered away or are lost. I´m here at least until june or july...so until then, you´ll know where I am. I´m with Hermana McClellan from California...my first gringa. At first, I was a little nervous to be with someone who speaks English and has the same culture and all that jazz, but she´s absolutely fabulous and these next two cambios will be just wonderful! We have a fountain of wonderful investigators and ward members and my sector is like as big as Holladay (gigantic in mission terms). I feel like I´m living in America. THe standard of living down here is unusually high. We always have hot water and light and heat in the house!

Something special happened. When we got to the church after flying in, a huge, new Elder ran out to greet us. I looked at his name and low and behold it was Elder LeBaron. BLob, this is a sign that you must write me a letter. Im with your second cousin from Arizon..what more do you want?! AND he totally looks like you...its creepy

Family, I love you all. I´m so happy to hear about the births, the dating, the experiences...all of it. Enjoy every day of your life. Love and serve people every day of your life. Read the Book of MOrmon every day of your life and pray sincerely every day of your life.
To everyone else, the same. Letters will be far and few between the next 5 months (i AM at the bottom of the earth) but I still would love to receive emails from you guys) THanks Brookie and Tiff- I love you both.
Have a great week!
Hna Bourne

Mom and Dad,
You all sound so great! Can you believe I´m here?! I just died laughing. President is so funny. He was dropping us of in Ovejeria in his car before we even knew about transfers and I was talking about how much I loved Ovejeria and as I was getting out of the car, he says, Hermana Bourne...pack your bags...20 kilos.¨ Then he drove away. He just left me on the corner laughing and knowing that I´d come down here because we can only bring 20 kilos worth of stuff down here. I knew dad would just love telling people where his daughter is... Let Bette and BUbba know I love them and thank them for their email. They are such great grandparents!
I don´t know. 

Me and the fattest baby in the world....

Juanito and David- my two little cuties whose mom drinks heavily.... They're getting baptized next month in Osorno!

Not much to report this week because I´m still getting used to my surroundings. I feel like I¨m going to hit my stride in this area. Please just pray for me and keep the good emails and encouragement coming. I love you both so much and hope you´re all well. Freak, I only have a year left...I can´t believe it...it´s nothing. Send James my congrats! Katie my love and SOphie a huge hug and a kiss from me. Oh yeah, I´m not allowed to watch videos, so as tempting as it was to open it....I deleted it. Pictures will be just awesome! I love you all!
Dad, I might start to spend a little money down here because I´m with a gringa and not embarrased to spend a little AND I need to buy warm stuff...I´m going to be a popsicle down here. Love you and thanks for everything!

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