The National Anthem And Flag Of Chile
Click For Chile Map Click For South America Map I served my mission in the Chile, Santiago South Mission from January 1988 to July of 1989. I had a great time in the missionary training center and after spending 2 months there I thought, "WOW, I'm bi-lingual!" It wasn't until I got off the plane and realized just how little I knew and felt very inadequate about being in Chile. I continued to feel that way until I met my first companion and trainer, Hermana Pereira. She was very patient with my spanish and loved the gospel and loved being a missionary. I was so grateful for her. She helped me gain a love for Chile. Three weeks into my mission, my sweet chilean companion discovered she needed to have surgery on her knee. President Jerald L. Taylor, my mission president and his wife drove the 3 hours from Santiago to pick her up. I thought they would take me too, seeing how I was such a "Greenie". He told me I was needed in Llo-Lleo ( our area ) and that I couldn't leave and I was to find some stake missionaries to help me tract. I asked him to please, please take me, I was to afraid to stay by myself, I did not yet speak the language. He assured me I would be Okay. Sobbing, I watched them drive off. I went back into the house I was living in and went into my room, closed the door and knelt by my bed and cried heavily to the Lord telling him I wanted to go home and I did not want to be a missionary any more. As I was kneeling by my bed sobbing I felt arms wrap around me and begin to gently rock me back and forth. I knew I was being held by a spiritual being. I must of fallen asleep within minutes because the woman of the house knocked on the door and woke me up while I was on my knees. I woke up jumped up, sat on the bed and told her to come in. She walked in and said, "I brought you some goat milk to help you feel better."
I will never forget that sentence. It was a miracle. I UNDERSTOOD and what was even a greater miracle was I talked back in perfect spanish. She stayed in my room for about 30 minutes and we talked the whole time. She left and I got back on my knees and thanked my Heavenly Father for giving me that great experience. I could hardly fall asleep that night from amazement. The next morning I woke up and immediately realized the gift was gone. At first I was sad, but I quickly got on my knees to ask for strength to be able to do the task that lie ahead. I knew I had angels all about me and they would lift me up and help me endure. I found a stake missionary and it was frustrating to them and me that I could not communicate well, but in 3 days time I had a new senior companion and feeling very grateful for the growth I had received from those 3 days.
Hermana Sanchez ( my new companion ) and I got along great and for the first time of my mission I felt like I could enjoy my mission. I began to speak better and better each day. Llo-Lleo is a beach town so I got to enjoy the sounds of the waves. We worked very hard. My first baptism was the woman we lived with, Nora, she saw the miracle that took place and wanted to know more about what we were about.
I was then transferred to Buin, a little town about 1 hour south of Santiago. I think this was the time a polishing for me. During my two months there with Hermana Torrealba I became fluent in spanish and not only became comfortable with teaching, but grew to love teaching. This companion loveds to work, she taught me that we were to eat, breathe, and sleep mission. When we had our companionship prayers at night, I always feel asleep on my knees while she prayed.
After 2 months there I was transferred and became senior companion to my first American companion, Hermana Dunlap. We became great friends and loved working together.
After I left there I was transferred further south of Santiago. The majority of my mission I had ice cold showers, ate cow tongue, stomach, and chicken feet, and yet I have never been more grateful for any other experience I have ever had, the kind that only a mission can bring. I was blessed with wonderful companions throughout my mission. Hermana Rich in El Bosque, we worked so hard and I had never had more fun with any other person. Hermana Scharine in Donihue. When we arrived we were told by the branch president to go home, he didn't want us there. We ended up having some of the best experiences of my mission. Hermanas Uriquiola and Gibby in Peumo Lindo. I cherish the friendships that I made in the mission field. I am told that one shouldn't say, "My mission was the greatest time of my life". I feel it was for me. I feel if it was not for my mission my life might of gone in the not so quite a straight and narrow way. It led me to the greatest man of my life who I later married and to our children. BACK