WEEK 17

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

This week has been pretty sweet.  Something funny that happened this week while visiting this old lady.  She has an adopted son who has somewhat of a brain problem.  Anyway we were telling him he should try to wear church clothes to church.  Then he started to tell us what he likes and doesn't like.  He looks at my tie and was like hmm your tie I do not like your tie.  Hahaha!  He tells me he would never wear a tie like that to church.  The tie I had on was one of my sick ties.  Inside I was laughing so hard.  Then he looks at a member right next to me and said the same thing about his tie.  We then start talking about shoes.  He looks at my shoes and was like yeah your shoes so I would never wear them in church.  Maybe you had to be there but it was so funny I was dying and his mom was like agreeing with him it was the best ever! 

This swaggin lady in my ward, Hermana Fredes, is making me Amarican flag slippers.  They're super sick!  She is so nice and loves the missionaries.  I love talking with her and her fam.  Only problem is they give us a ton of bread so that kinda sucks haha. 

I was reading my scriptures and thinking about the fruits of the gospel and stuff.  I have learned you have to have patience.  I read a talk by Pres. Uchtdorf about a marshmallow.  I am like a little kid right now with a giant marshmallow in front of me.  If I can just wait and be patient and not give up soon I will have two marshmallows.  Just little impaciente Colin haha!  The marshmallows are the fruits of the gospel and to me gaining my own strong testimony.   This takes time God doesn't just give these things to us.  We must have patience and faith.  We have to trust God and his timing.  He will give us what we need when we need it.   

My way sweet scipture for the week is Moroni 8:25-26.  

 25 And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;

 26 And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.

I love the end of 26 the best cuz its true.  When we have a humble heart thats when we become converted and feel the love of God.  I know god will and can bring us back up when we fall and we can become even stronger. 

Love you and thanks for reading my letters each week.

Elder Colin Eyre

This Week From Elder Colby Eyre in Santiago Chile:

Hey guys Elder Eyre is back for yet another report on his week!  This week was a little slow but I did have a really good experience.  Elder Collins and I found this ward list of less active members.  I have mentioned before that there are around 2000 people in my ward but less than 100 show up for church each week.  So you can imagine this list is quite long.  We have a lot of work to do in this area.  We found this older lady that struggles just to walk.  She doesn't really leave her house that much and so we have been visiting her now for a couple weeks.   We have been able to teach her a few lessons.  This week when we went to her house we had prepared a lesson on trials we figured that it would be helpful because she has so many trials and she seemed a little down the last time we had been there.  After the lesson I asked her if there were any trials that she was going through right now that we could help her with or that we could talk about.  At first she was like no but we kept talking to her and she ended up telling us that she's very lonely being home alone all day alone and she isn't able to leave.  Her husband is at work all day so she said that has been hard for her.  Then she told us how thankful she is that we care about her and stop by each week to see how she is doing.  It was during our lesson to her that I realized just how much the people here in Chile need the missionaries.  I also realized how much we mean to them. That was my cool moment of the week and it gave me some great encouragement on being out here and being needed in doing the Lords work. 

This week we passed by a McDonalds on P-Day so I was like hey lets go get some McDonalds.  Boy it never tasted SO good! My other pic is of our zone leaders.

Love,

Elder Colby Eyre

WEEK 16

This Week From Elder Colby Eyre in Santiago Chile:

Hey guys this week has been pretty good.  Everyone in my zone had interviews with the President Morgan.  We had to give him a five minute lesson in Spanish.   I felt really good about mine and I even went over the 5 minutes.  I felt like I was able to get my point across and not really struggle to much with the language.  It is crazy to think how much I have grown with my knowledge of the scriptures and teaching the people in the short three months I have been in Chile.  Looking back there is no way I could have done that in English let alone Spanish without the Lord's help.  I have learned so much and am thankful for this great opportunity I have to be here in Chile.  I am learning not only about the gospel but also Spanish!  

I was a little down this week when none of our investigators came to church ... again.  Both Marcos and the Diaz family did not show up when they had said they would.  We won't give up but will just have to work harder.  

Most importantly my Testimony is growing out here. It has taken a lot of blood, sweat and tears but its coming and I'm so thankful for the time I've had here.  I love the talk by President Uchtdorf this past conference. The gospel really is so simple and I'm so thankful for it in my life.  I hope everyone is doing well in the states love you all

Elder Colby Eyre

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

Had a great week!  Sunday I had the opportunity to confirm the Holy Ghost to my homie Antwon it was a great experience.  I was asked Saturday if I wanted to do it.  To be honest, I really didn't want too.  I kinda laughed and said you've gotta be kidding!  I barely know Spanish and have never done a confirmation before.  They also do it during Sacrament meeting that would be like 100+ people!  I knew if I said no I would be really sad afterwords.  So I said YES!  I was on my knees a lot Saturday night andSunday morning.   The other thing I was nervous about was his name.  Here in Chile they don't just have one or two names.  I had to practice Anthony's name over and over.  His name is Anthony Walter Carcamos Vargas I knew it would be hard to remember that when the heat was on!  Anyway it turned out to be awesome and I even got his name right.  I felt the spirit a ton and was so happy about it afterwards.   

The work on the mission is getting a little easier.  The thing that makes it hard is to stop thinking about home or what I'm gonna to do after the mission.  Haha turns out reading a whole bunch of Ensigns on temple marriage doesn't help!  My testimony is growing and it is something that is cool to watch but hard to have patience with.  

This week was zone conference with the mish president.  We freakin got Papa Johns Pizza and its the same as the USA!  I was in love and I also was with Elder Dickerson, one of my buddies in the MTC.  It was such an awesome day.

Today was also pretty cool we went to the Dunes.  It's a super pretty area and has beautiful views of the ocean.  We did a little exploring I was scared I might run into a huge spider.  It still doesn't beat being with the homies back in Utah but still super cool and I am starting to enjoy my time out here.  

I love you all including Jensen Pratt!  I had no clue you had your mission call to West Virginia.  That is so awesome.  I love you like a brotha. 

Love you guys more than you know,

Elder Colin Eyre

WEEK 15

This Week From Elder Colby Eyre in Santiago Chile:

Hey guys the work is going pretty good in Chile.  The highlight of my week was definitely getting the chance to see the Lanhams. It was so awesome to see them and talk to them.  It was also weird seeing familiar faces, I loved it!!!  I sent a picture of my lunch on Pday.  Trevor wanted to take us to a nice dinner but we ran out of time.  He insisted my comp and I have a nice lunch on P-day so thanks Trevor for the sweet sushi lunch.   

I have been a bit discouraged with our investigators.  We have been teaching the Diaz family and they want to get baptized and even set a date.  Then they don't show up for church on Sundays!   

Elder Eyre and Elder Collins with Lanhams

Yesterday we went and taught a new investigator he was very interested.  We have invited him to church as well so please pray he comes to church on Sunday.  Somehow we need to figure out how to get these people to church! Haha

All is well here.  It is just starting to warm up which seems weird that its snowing in Utah! 

I hope everyone has the best week.

Love, 

Elder Colby Eyre

 Sushi Dinner thanks to the Lanhams! 

 A view of Santiago 

Huge spider Colby found in his apartment

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

This week has been great.  I mean I saw Trevor and Tanner Lanham best surprise ever neighbors from the good ole U. S of A!!!  When I saw them I was literally speechless! Trevor left me with an awesome pep talk that got me all fired up for the mish.  I just really hope that Colby receives the same blessing I did and is able to see Trevor and Tanner.   

We also had our first baptism this week.  I wasn't actually able to perform the baptism, they prefer the ward members to do it if possible.  So my bro Anthony was baptized and it was super spiritual and super cool!  After the baptism we were watching a mormon message that I just loved.  If you can, watch it.  It's called Flecks of Gold.  It was the one about the olden times of the California Gold Rush.  Anyways this guy has a tiny gold nugget but he decides he wants more.  He sells all his stuff and heads to California.  He becomes so ticked after finding nothing and is ready to give up.  Then this old dude comes by and says you are searching the wrong way.  He shows him a rock with several flecks of gold.  The man thinks collecting the flecks is just a waste of his time.  Then the old dude opens up his pouch and it is just chuck full of beautiful flecks of gold.  This exact thing can be compared to our lives.  I have searched many times for that huge big rock of gold saying the church is true or some grand impression.  For me that was the wrong way to look.  Just like Alma taught his son Helaman, small and simple things are brought to pass.  Everyday here I am finding little particles of the gospel.  Everyday I am filling my bag.  By the end of the mish I will have a bag filled just like that old dude with no rocks! Haha  

Anthony's Baptism 

Colin's Zone

My testimony is growing on the mission and I'm so grateful for this.  I love this gospel and whats in it.  At times the mission can be hard and there have been times I've wanted to quit but my dad taught me not to give up.  I just keep filling my bag.  In times of trial I know God will lift us up.

Tonight I'm making french toast with a family how cool is that!  Life is good here.   A big shout out to the fam for sending me christmas stuff now I have a christmas tree for my presents and I can measure my food better with my new measuring cups! Haha 

Love you all, 

Elder Colin Eyre

WEEK 14

This Week From Elder Colby Eyre in Santiago Chile:

Hey guys this week was good except for Halloween.  Halloween was a little hard seeing all the little kids and their costumes made me miss the family and then on top of that both our appointments fell through so I was a little down.  It is all good now!  

An update on the Diaz family:  We have been teaching them but we told them how important it was for them to come to church.  They promised they would be there no matter what.  Then they were a no show.   The went to the beach for the weekend.  So please send prayers our way to those we teach!

My comp, Elder Collins shared a great talk with me this week by Brad Wilcox called His Grace is Sufficient.  It is awesome I could listen to it a million times over and still learn stuff.   It is about the atonement and at the end it talks about God's grace being sufficient.  It is enough.  It is all we need.  He says don't quit and to keep trying.  He says to seek Christ and as we do we will feel his enabling power.  

Last P-day we went bowling is was really fun Haha!  Shout out to my friends back home Ashley, Max, Anthony, Kellbell and Jensen for getting his call to West Virginia thats way cool! I would say Chan Man also but he's only a few hours away from me in Chile haha!

Love you all so much have a great week.

Elder Colby Eyre

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

Holyyy smokes this week has been crazy!   My comp Elder Diaz plays a version of the guitar a charango.  Our mission president wants him to play for the missionary Christmas program.  So we got called to go to the mission home which is super rare.  Anyways I got to go along on Wednesday because thats what companions do!  We were about to leave when Hermana Diaz invited us to have empanadas with her entire family which included our mission president!   There were parents, grandparents, kids and grandkids.  When we were getting ready to leave my comp says hey can we leave your family with a message.  Of course they said yes!  Then Elder Diaz  looks at me to share the message.  I was like shoot..... so I go get my scriptures and I was in a room all by myself just looking through them thinking what the heck am I going to share.  I was so nervous to give a message to my mission pres. and his whole fam!  I say a little prayer and choose a scripture in 1 Nephi Chapter 15.  It is all about prayer and having faith.  I was SO scared but I did it and in Spanish!  Then they invited us back for lunch today so we had lunch with them today!  It was so awesome just us and the mission president and his family.  It was also really fun because the kids speak a little bit of English so they kept wanting to speak to me in English.   It was such a great experience that doesn't normally happen and a great way to invite the spirit in.  The entire family was just SO nice to us.  

I got my iPod this week which was the best thing of my life!  Never thought I would say that since it is full of Mormon messages, scriptures and MoTab so shout out to Mike for hookin me up fat!   I also got permission to share Mormon Messages with my iPod so thats sick! 

This week has been great I learned so much.  It is still hard to learn so much religion, a language and be in a foreign country all at the same time.  It is coming along  I know that the Lord helps us so much with everything that we do and when we pray we receive the Spirit and God only wants to help us we just have to search for it!

Love you all, 

Elder Colin Eyre

WEEK 13

This Week From Elder Colby Eyre in Santiago Chile:

Hey guys!

This week has been a little slow with the lessons.  We have done lots and lots of walking. The weather is starting to warm  up so being outside is super nice!

On Monday we got to have a big Family Home Evening with three other member families.  We were able to share with them the importance of sharing the gospel with others.  It was a super lesson and a shout out to my homie Anthony!  I mentioned him in the lesson and just shared a little about Colin and I sharing the gospel with our Bro Antwan. I loved sharing that!

Also this week we were able to get the Diaz family to recommit to baptism which is great.  I just need everyone to pray that they come out to church this week!

 

The church is true!  I know that pretty much everyone that will read this letter is Mormon but you guys can all share the gospel and change the life of someone by sharing it with them.  You are all so great and I love all of you have the best week ever.

Love, Elder Colby Eyre

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

Hey Family and Friends!

This week was pretty good I still have some hard moments.  I know that with time I will have an even greater love for the gospel and realize that it really does change peoples lives.  Now that is a super cool thing to be apart of I just gotta have patience haha! 

Two days ago we were walking in the streets looking for contacts.  This lady walks past us so we tried some contacting with her.  She tells us that she doesn't want to be Mormon because we believe more in José Smith than Jesu Christo.  We thought that was pretty funny and then she started to tell us that the Word of Wisdom is dumb because god smoked and drank haha!  I  was like holyyyy smokes what bible are you reading!  She said she reads from the Catholic Bible.  We did clarify that God didn't drink and smoke and then we left her alone.  It was super funny!

This week we also did service for some members that needed help weeding.  I was excited, thought it would be just like home when one of the ward members was like hey watch out sometimes there are huge tarantulas  in the weeds!  I was like NUTZ!  Then he said they mostly stay in their holes until it gets hot which is like in December and January.  I was still just dying every time I pulled a weed! 

Anyways on a spiritual note I was reading 3 Nephi 15: 9 "Behold, I am the law and the light.  Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life."  I know that we will have hard days but if we endure the hard times well and endure to the end all will be well!  This gospel is legit and I'm thankful I have the opportunity to share it.  The members here are SO good to me and I'm blessed.

Love Elder Colin Eyre

WEEK 12

This Week From Elder Colby Eyre in Santiago Chile:

Well this week has been pretty good!   My companion and I taught a lesson yesterday about forgiveness.   I will finally admit that my mom was right when she said just forgive your brother and you'll be a lot happier haha!  I know that forgiveness is hard to give to other people sometimes but if we truly forgive a person we will be a lot happier.  Hey and that is what Heavenly Father would do anyway.

This past week we had a boat load of rain.  On one particular day it was just raining SO hard and all our plans fell through wouldn't you know it!  That seems to happen quite a bit.  Anyway we had no where to go and no one was on the streets to contact.  Everyone was inside like you normally would be in a rain storm!  We had no place to take cover so I just walked over to this house and called and called for them to come out.  Finally someone actually came out!  This guy came  to the door and was pretty cool.  He looked like a pretty sharp guy.  We asked him if we could share a message with him.  He said we only had five min!  Elder Collins and I went in and went to work and taught the first lesson.  Then he actually talked to us after the lesson and we stayed for about  45 min.  It was super cool when he said we could come back on Sunday.  I know that the spirit led me to that house.  It was such a great experience.  Pray it all goes well next Sunday!  
I love you guys all so much back home and hope you have the very best week.

Love Elder Colby Eyre

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

Hey so this week was better tons of things are happening.  Not going to lie, sometimes I'm still in the bathroom crying and wondering what the flight will be like on the way home haha!   Every week here gets better but it's still hard.

 

Elder Diaz and I were at this Grandpas house.  He speaks a little english and he is less active.  He invited us into his house and its actually pretty decent.  He is so kind and just wants to show us everything it was super funny.  He had this  huge garden with potatoes and all sorts of fruit in it.  It was super cool.  I told him my Grandpa and my Grandad are just like him with all the fruits and veggies haha!   He loved that and he loved showing me all his cool stuff.  Then we go back into his house and he gave us some fruit with cream.  This is like a classic dessert here and its pretty good.  Then he makes us some bread that is super good and then gives us some fruit thing to take home haha.  I love this guy he is legit.  I am finding out many people around here have worked on cruise ships.  That is why many know just a little bit of English.  This Grandpa was a chef on a cruise ship so his food is pretty good!  He also showed me a picture of his daughter and it looked like she was in St. George.  I asked him where the picture was taken and it was in St. George!   He has family there and his wife has lived there for the past six months. The families around here give us so much and they are all so nice.  Many times I feel so bad because I know they don't have a lot of money but they are always so happy to feed us.

I am getting along better with my companion.  Sometimes it is hard but for the most part he is super good to me and teaches me so much.  I wish I had the scripture knowledge that he has.  Elder Diaz has only been a member for four years!  I am like WOW  I definitely didn't pay enough attention during church and seminary!  My spanish is getting better with each week.  It is usually during serious times when I am put on the spot that I struggle the most with the language.  

 

One thing that was pretty cool for me this week was realizing that my heart is changing and I really need this right now.  I remember back to my first day in Viña.  It is pretty crazy their lunch is the biggest meal of the day.  They eat a lot at lunch and then not much the rest of the day.  I remember being at this ladys house and it was a cement shack.  I remember just thinking what the heck am I doing here.  I was SO homesick and this house just seemed disgusting to me.  I was miserable and I hated everything about that lunch.  So now almost six weeks later we return to this house for lunch!   It took me a few minutes to realize this is where I ate lunch that first day in the field.  The weirdest thing happened.   I honestly didn't think the house was crappy at all.  The house was actually kinda nice and the food was super good!  At that moment I realized that I'm slowly changing.  I'm not as judgmental.  These people don't have the money to give us food but they still make it happen.  I am so grateful for them and the sacrifice they make for the missionaries.  When you see how little they have it is hard for me not to feel really bad for them.  Anyways I just thought that was cool for me! 

I really hope I see my bro Chan Salad this week.  My companion could be changing.  They say you typically serve in this area for six months and Elder Diaz has been here for six months.  I also can't believe I have served for three months!  

Love you all and have a great week.  Thanks for everything.

Love, Elder Colin Eyre

WEEK 11

This Week From Elder Colby Eyre in Santiago Chile:

Hey whats up everyone!

No need to answer that but man this week was actually pretty good. The missionary work is a little slow in my ward because we work so much with less actives.  Then on Friday night we got three people to commit to baptism.  It was so cool I loved it and it was in Spanish haha!  I don't know if what I said made sense but the word,  "si" came out of their mouths so I'm counting it. 

This morning my comp and I studied trials for a lesson tonight.  He shared with me a really cool scripture that I loved.  Its in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 its awesome and comforting for any trial anyone is going though.  I know that everyone has trials in their lives but God is always there to help us.  It may be hard sometimes and we may feel alone but that is never true our Heavenly Father is always watching over us and is by our side. 

Well I hope you guys all have the best week ever. 

Love Elder Colby Eyre

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

Hello family and friends,

This week had it's ups and it's downs.  The ward is the best here I love them so much.  There are times when it is so hard to teach people and I like really want to quit but no rest for the missionaries haha!   This week a family made hamburgers for us.  Actually they were not that good but I love the family a ton so it didn't really matter.  That was super nice and actually the fries and bread were pretty good!  

I want you to know we are all so blessed back at home.  I was at the old bishop's house.  He speaks a little bit of English so I just love that.   His house has termites and they have just rallied his bathroom.  I asked him about it and why his bathroom was like that.   He said it was the termites but they don't have the money to fix it.  That just killed me and I felt so bad.  The amazing thing is he is so happy and positive I just love him. 

I found out that I will most likely be in my area for about 6 months so thats pretty cool because I like my area.   I think I'm going to get a new comp because my comp, Elder Diaz has been here for 6 months already.  One really cool thing is we have a baptismal date set for October 18th.  I sent a picture of us with Anthony in my last letter.  Anthony is just thirteen but super cool.  I think he loves us a little too much!  How neat is that, his name is Anthony the same as one of my best bros back home.  Shout out to my Bro Anthony love ya tons!  I hope everything follows through and he keeps the commandants.     

 

This week I was reading in Alma where they talk about the 2000 Nephites.   That really helped me this week because when they left their homes they were the same as me.  They never had gone into battle or left their homes.  But when they left, they left with faith and because of this they were protected.  I know they had hard times just like I have had hard times.  The Nephites kept going and charging forward and in the end they were delivered and none of them died.  I  know I can do the same thing.  There have been many times I want to quit but I say I know I can do this.  I just have to be like the Nephites and keep pushing forward.  Things can be hard but nothing can be too hard with God in our lives. I love you all!

Elder Colin Eyre