Week 16: Member Missionary Work is important

December 12, 2016

Hey Everyone!

Sorry I wasn't able to write individually this week. For Pday we went up to a Nature Reserve called Vilches. Luckily to make up for the lack of emails, I'll be sending a lot of photos, and a picture's worth a thousand words, right?

Vilches was absolutely gorgeous. We woke up early to take the hour and a half bus ride up there. When we got there they told us the most beautiful vistas would be a two day hike, about 24 km (nearly 15 miles) to a viewpoint called Enladrillo. On the way, we saw condors, insects, beautiful views and a tarantula they call "The Little Chicken Spider." We ran basically straight up the mountain and did the two day climb in six hours because we're stubborn like that. We also met a French backpacker named Jeremy who was our buddy for a little while. It was cool to hear Spanish spoken with a French accent.

This week we've been teaching the Bolivian friend of a member family. It's really cool to see the difference it makes in the conversion process when the members are so involved.

We also found out this week that one of the only three members that accompanies us hasn't technically been a member for several years. My respect for that member has grown a lot, because they are one of the most active and helpful people in the branch in spite of their membership status. It's a great reminder to us that it doesn't matter where we are on the straight and narrow path, but what does matter is which direction we're moving on that path. The Church is true and I love you all!

Elder Olson

He said this is one of the friendly spiders in their Casa. This kind of spider eats the other spiders so they don't kill it.

Street of San Clemente

Information Center at the Nature Reserve

 

The views at the beginning of the hike

off he goes to run up the mountains

Mountain views

rest shelter

Beginning to climb to the view Enladrillado

up at the top

beautiful skyline

the views over the vista

The group of Elders at the top

Large insect

One of his companions beginning the hike

the Little Chicken Spider (tarantula)