Chile Santiago East Mission

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

WEEK 9

This Week From Elder Colby Eyre in Santiago Chile:


Hey guys I hope everyone had a great week.  This week for me has been pretty good not a whole lot of lessons taught but we contacted a good amount of people this week.  I'm hoping that they can turn into investigators and my companion and I can show them some real happiness haha!

One funny thing happened yesterday we were going through our ward list and seeing if all the inactive people in our ward still lived there.   We came to an old lady and she was saying how happy she was that we were doing this and she said we looked too young to be out working.  Then she just started to touch me and tap my face.  It was really weird! Then right as we were saying goodbye she grabbed my checks and shook them.  Once Elder Collins and I got around the corner we both just busted out laughing!  Our ward has 2000 members but only 50 or so come to church every week.  The Bishop has asked us to work on getting the less actives to come back to church. That has been our main focus for now.  


I am slowly gaining a love for Chile and for the people.   You can get anyone to tell you their life story if you really try.  I am so happy when I am able to talk to people.  Even the drunk ones haha!   We do try to avoid them because they won't remember anything we said the next day. 

The spirit is so strong in lessons especially ones about family.  For me I get a little chocked up over those ones. I miss mine a lot but I know that this is where I need to be. 

I love you guys all so much and hope you have a good week.
Love, 
Elder Colby Eyre

This Week From Elder Colin Eyre in Vina del Mar Chile:


Hey Family and Friends!

This week has been pretty good.  I am not going to lie it is still super rough for me but everyday gets a little bit better.   I am thinking like 5 months into this I will be loving my time out here.  Sometimes I think my entire life I have been waiting for this moment and holy cow now I'm actually in it!  It has already been two months.  It has been a long two months but I know soon the time will be flying. Change has always been hard for me but when I get settled in I know I'll  just be walking around teaching and preaching! 

Some fun things are happening though,  this fam wants me to make some french toast for them. I have never made it before so I hope it turns out!  

Last week I was SO sick, not fun.  I talked to the mission nurse because I was not getting any better.  She told me not to eat anymore carne for a little while.  She also told me I need yogurt for the probiotics.  It has been like 5 days into it and I feel a lot better.  I  just hope I don't get sick again!! Haha  

When my companion and I are out tracting most people say no which kinda sucks.   I wish my Spanish was better.  Everyone talks SO fast and I'm trying to adjust to that.  They also use the word "po" a ton.  It  has no meaning its just something they say here in Chile haha! 

We have this one family and they a
re nutz. There is this huge lady, she has one tooth that looks like its going to fall out and moves with her tongue haha haha. Just so you know our teeth are like the most beautiful things ever, so bush them often because teeth here are nasty!

I am reading in Alma right now its really good for what I am going through.  I  learn things everyday honestly I'm way behind in my scripture knowledge but I know I'm receiving help from God.   I just love Alma 26 its so good and it's  about missionaries like Ammon.   His missionary group had so many trials like going into prison, getting stoned,  just hard core things.  Then they always get lifted up and Ammon is talking and is so filled with JOY and I know that I will be able to have that too.  That makes me super happy!!!  My favorite scripture right now is in Alma 26:22   It's about repentance, faith, prayer and good works.  I just loved reading this and knew it was just for me this week.  I just need to get lost in the work and the spirit will help me. 



I will say I have been craving some of my moms cookies! haha Well I love all you guys the mish is legit I know you have to sacrifice to serve a mission.  Someone sent me a quote, I think my grandma,  that if it wasn't hard it wouldn't be a sacrifice.   That really helped me out this week.

I love all you guys.  I'm so excited next week is General Conference.  I am excited to hear the words of our prophets, I'm hoping I can listen in English haha!

Love,
Elder Colin Eyre

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

WEEK 8

This week from Elder Colby Eyre in Santiago Chile:


Hey Guys.

This week has been pretty crazy!  I survived my first earthquake.  The earthquake was something else!  My companion and I were walking in the street when suddenly my feet started to move from underneath me.  It was the weirdest feeling. The next thing I know a lady who was obviously scared latched onto my companion, it was pretty funny!  At the time we were walking to a less active members house for a lesson.  It was fun because everyone wanted to talk to us to ask if it was the "white kids" first earthquake.  They made sure to tell us that Chile gets them all the time and that they aren't scared of them at all haha! It did make for some good conversation with everyone. 

I didn't know until this week that it was Chiles 4th of July!  It was crazy I've never eaten so much food in my life.  I seriously think I gained a solid ten pounds in one day. Another first was sewing on a button this week.  I've never done that before, Mom you would be proud!  

On a serious note, I'm slowly finding so much happiness in the gospel and especially with The Book of Mormon.  Studying it has somehow become one of my favorite parts of the day.  I LOVE to read it and I love building my knowledge on it.  I know that the church is true because it is, haha!  Hope everyone has a great week.



Peace, 
Elder Colby Eyre

This week from Elder Colin Eyre in Chile Vina del Mar:


Holy smokes this week has been crazy!   So many things happened like I felt my first earthquake that was kinda scary.  I really wasn't too worried because at the time it happened I was at the old bishop's house in the ward I am serving in.  He speaks a little bit of English so that was very helpful.   I love him a ton.  He told me, " I might be old but I'm a real cool guy."  haha so funny. The members of the ward are really nice.  It is still extremely hard though because my Spanish still stinks. For example the people here are super nice but when you're teaching a family and a little girl is talking to you in Spanish (really fast) and you have no clue what she is saying it can be hard!  She was the cutest little girl and I knew she was trying to tell me all about her doll.  I wanted so badly to talk to her about that doll but all I could say to her was,"Sí Sí!"  It was pretty funny.

This week I also got really sick haha. September 18th is like our 4th of July.  There was a ton of food and something I ate got me sick.  Let's just say several times I have found myself running for the nearest bathroom!!  I havent felt the same since but other than that all is well.





I definately  pray A LOT.  Things are still really hard and I know it will just take time getting used to all this new mission stuff. My companion, Elder Diaz,  is good but sometimes I get frustrated because I just cant express myself.  I don't want to get mad at him so instead I go into deep prayer!  hahah I am going to keep pushing through this hard time in my life there is not a reason to quit when my bro is doing the same thing as me.  One funny thing is they play a lot of American music over here.  I just love that little piece of home.  When I hear it I just start  bumping and moving haha!  

I really am trying my best but this is a huge change for me.  I went from the best years of my life to the biggest challenge of my life.  I know it will help me and those I teach for eternity.   I will be able to help others and thats awesome!  I just keep trying and I hope it gets better soon.

Thanks for all the prayers I love them and I need them.

I  love everyone so much.

Love,  
Elder Colin Eyre

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

WEEK 7

This week from Elder Colby Eyre in Santiago:

Hey guys Elder Eyre is back!  

The first few days after leaving the Chile MTC we stayed in the mission home.  I love my mission president.  He and his wife are from California.  As soon as I got there I was able to meet with him.  He asked me all about my family, which I loved talking about.  I feel like I can tell him anything he is awesome.  I also told him my twin brother is serving in Viña del Mar and asked if maybe we could be companions on our last transfer.  He said that would be really cool.  I don't know if that will really happen but he said when it gets closer he will call Colin's mission president, that made me really pumped!





My companion Elder Collins is from San Diego, California.  The crazy thing is he is also a twin, his twin is serving in Ecuador so thats pretty cool.  He has only been out for 5 months so I guess we're both a little new at this. All is good I'm learning a lot and the people down here are really nice. If you try, almost anyone will tell you their life story. It's funny because I can usually break the ice with people but once they start talking (in Spanish) about their life I totally lose concentration because I can't understand them.   It's fine my Spanish is getting better everyday and I have faith eventually I will be able to speak clearly. 


One cool experience this week was getting to take part in my first blessing.  I only got to do the anointing for the blessing.   My companion gave the blessing but it was pretty cool. I'm in more of a humble area of Chile but that makes me really happy because thats what I was hoping for.  A  few nights ago an old drunk guy came up to us and took my hand then touched it with his head.  I have no clue why but it was good because we got his address and now we can go to visit him.  I know he was drunk and all but he said we could come by and visit so it was worth the weird moment!  

Everything is good here in Chile.  I am so happy to be out of the MTC. I love all of you have a good week.
Love, 
Elder Colby Eyre


This week from Elder Colin Eyre in Vina del Mar:


This week has been crazy.  I got a companion that speaks NO ENGLISH his name is Elder Diaz and he is from Argentina.   It is okay I just keep hitting the language hard and I am starting to speak a lot more Spanish.  I also will say that I  am nowhere near fluent.  






 I arrived in Viña del Mar on Tuesday night. We spent two days with the mission president and then we left for our areas.  I am just ten minutes away from Viña del Mar but I learned our mission can go as far north seven hours drive time.  The area I am in is super poor which is hard to get used to.  It also has lots of hills.  I feel like I am hiking up Suncrest a few times a day!  I think I walk at least ten miles a day.  My knee, surprisingly has not gotten swollen and is holding up so that is great.  My area is much bigger than I originally thought.  I sure hope I am able to see Chandler soon.  


This past week has been super rough.  We have just been preaching and teaching in shacks all day.  This is just 
something I have to get used too.  Then the language,  WOW  its rough!  I  already got some kid to say yes to baptism his name is Anthony,  just like my best bro back home, haha first thing I told him was one of my best friends name is Anthony!    People have American names here but when they say the name in Spanish it sounds nothing like the American way.   We went on splits with the Zone Leaders and I was in a place called Concon it is a pretty rich area like America.  We ate lunch in a super nice apartment so that was cool.  Now my apartment, not so cool, its  kinda crappy but its okay.  It does have a real sick view of Viña del Mar! 


The food is good, its chicken and rice. They eat like 70 percent of their food during lunch which is a change haha!  The people are so nice here every time you go into a members house they give you bread and lemonade.  Its actually pretty good!  

Yesterday was definatly the hardest day.  I spoke in church to just  introduce myself.  That wasn't bad at all but then I  just got time to think about everything I am going through and I just suffered, like tons.  I began pleading for help and then I realized the mission is not for me to feel tons of happiness but for others to feel happiness.  I came to the conclusion that I just need to keep pushing through and when I see other people have tons of happiness I will receive it too!  That will be a great day! 

The nights here are super cold I am going to go get a sweater and a rain coat.  We are  supposed to be in the rainy season but I guess they're in a drought so I haven't  seen any rain yet.   I sure don't want to get caught in a storm without   a coat!  

Well I gotta go, I love everyone and thanks for the prayers they really help me.  I know that I am being tried so my testimony can grow.   I know the Lord will help me at the perfect time, which is when I'm  wanting to go home hahaha.   Está bien!
Love you guys,

Elder Eyre


Wednesday, September 9, 2015

WEEK 5

This week from Elder Colby Eyre in the Santiago Chile MTC:


     Hey guys this week has been pretty good. It's had ups and downs but mostly ups which I'm grateful for.  I miss all you guys and love you all so much.

     So on Sundays all the missionaries need to come prepared with a a five minute talk (yes in Spanish) you can get called on to give it at anytime.  Well, sure enough I got called on to give a talk. Sunday in front of the entire MTC. That was pretty crazy and it was in Spanish so I don't know if I made much sense. I got a good laugh from everyone a few times and I loved that.  That was definitely the highlight of the week for sure.

     It is really awesome feeling the spirit so strong but at the same time it is also a lot of really hard work. I go out to my mission next week so I am really pumped about that. Everyone says its way better in the field so I am really looking forward to that.  I love all you.  Have a good week!

Love,

Elder Eyre


 Elder Zach Rusick from Colby's Aunt and Uncle's ward from Irvine, California 


This week from Elder Colin in the Mexico City MTC:


     This week has been crazy it's my last week in the CCM which is the best news of my life!!!! The experiences I have had here are very good and my faith has been tried only so that I can gain a greater testimony of this gospel! I am coming to understand it doesn't come all at once and it will get better and better over time. (2 Nephi 28:30)!

   
     I got a hair cut this week and now I look like a mole rat just like my Bro, Colby! I guess what comes around goes around. Its all good I'm just going to have to walk this one off! When you get a hair cut they don't even ask you want you want. Then suddenly all these razors are all over my head and now my hair looks exactly like Colby's haha but I know it will grow back. Then after the traumatic cut they make you clean up the hair! I had a ton of hair!!!


   
   
     
   This week Elder Christopherson came and spoke to us. I was really close to him it was kind of surreal. He gave a great talk.  The spirit was SO strong.  Then on Sunday this guys gave a talk and at first I was like man this isn't going to be good.   It ended up being the best talk I have heard in all of my time in the MTC.   He shared strong powerful stories and then joked around and it kept me wide awake, which is rare! He also shared a video on learning a new language and it was really cool it talked about these guys learning Turkish and how they worked so hard and were able to teach the language and open up a new area! I know if I try with all my heart to do what I can to learn the language and be the best I can as a missionary I will be able to teach with the power of God. I will be able to have a successful mission. That is what this guy taught me.  He also served his mission in Chile. I talked to him after he was super cool and just young and full of energy. He grew up in Orem, Utah!



     Well, the next time I write will be from Chile, Vina del Mar! The mexico MTC was a good experience but I can't wait to change peoples lives in Chile!

Love you all,

Elder Eyre