Christmas!!

Hey Everyone!! This has been a crazy week for sure but it was full of blessings. It was so nice to Skype home and talk to everyone again! It felt so fast but it was super cool to see everyone and hear how they were doing! And sorry that it was so late!

This week we has been hard to meet with our investigators because of all the fiestas and holidays but it has been such a blessing when we can meet with them. This week we met with Mariella and Miguel, and their son Shamuel who are from Venezuela and they are probably the nicest people ever. Miguel used to be a barber in Venezuela and he gave us some great haircuts one day during mediodia for a Christmas presents. We have also been teaching them English which has been really cool because then we can teach them English for service, and answer their questions about the gospel at the same time. Haha like one day baptism came up, and Mariella mentioned that she had heard it was pretty expensive to get baptized in our church, because you have to buy a cadaver to get baptized. Haha I guess she had found something on the internet about the"Mormons" but it was cool to answer her questions and testify about baptism to them. 

We also got to go up to the pueblos in the mountains to visit a new investigator named MariaJesus and she is super excited to hear our message! We don't know if she is in our area or not right now but we have our fingers crossed. 

Christmas was really fun too! It is a totally different experience having Christmas in the mission field because it was so quiet and there was just nothing going on. Which was kind of a shock to me, but it was a great experience because it really helped me focus on the true meaning of Christmas and think of what my Savior has done for me. Then Sunday was a cool experience. There was a total of 6 members at church this week including us because everyone is gone for the fiestas. So my companion and I got to give talks during Sacrament meeting and the President talked. then we taught the second hour of church, and after we taught, we ended church early because the person teaching the third hour was gone. Haha my companion and I were joking around that we could double the amount members in this ward in no time! 

I am so glad I get to be a missionary and to share my testimony of Jesus Christ with everyone. Alright, till next week! Hast Luegiño! 

-Elder Chandler

Merry Christmas from Villagarcia!

Hey everyone!! Wow, I sure have a lot to write. So this past week has been Super busy. On Tuesday we left the CCM to the mission home where
we got some training, and then we headed to the stakecenter by the
Temple to get our Areas and new companions. There I found out my new
companion is Elder Barlow (from Chicago), and that we were going to
open an area up North called Villagarcia de Arousa. Villagarcia is a
city about 6 hours by train to the North of Madrid above Portugal
along the coast. It is green and beautiful up here. It was actually
pretty funny when we got here because a lot of the people here
actually speak a different dialect called "Galethian" up here which is
a mix between Spanish and Portuguese. Haha so when I got here I felt
like that Elder in the Best Two Years "Uh, Elder, what language are
they speakin? Cause they didnt teach me that in the MTC..." But I
found out most of them understand, and can speak Spanish also so I
feel alright haha. 

 The church is really small up here but we are super optimistic about
building the church up here. Our branch Presidents name is President
Themis and he has been super helpful. Saturday we had a Christmas
party with the branch and then on Sunday we had 15 people at which is
really awesome. We meet in a room in the bottom of a hotel we rent out
on Sundays. We have some of the strongest members here. 

 My Spanish is getting progressively better and I am understanding more
and more of what the people are saying here which is awesome because
they speak SUPER fast. My comp was sick the first few days, but now we
are hard at work. And we have a lot of work to do! I love his work and
I love these Spanish people! I know this church is true! I love you
all so much! 

Feliz Navidad! 

-Elder Chandler

Elder Chandler has arrived!!

Dear Chandler Family, 

 We had the great pleasure of welcoming your son to the Spain Madrid Mission. We spent the day together at the mission home where he received training and orientation on his missionary assignment. We thoroughly enjoyed our time together and felt a wonderful spirit present. We appreciate all that you have done to prepare your son to serve the Lord and for the sacrifice you are making in giving him to the Lord for a time.  

 Elder Chandler has been assigned to labor in Villagarcia, with Elder Barlow. 

 We thought you might enjoy these pictures that we took in the backyard during our lunch break.

May the Lord bless you and your family in all of your endeavors. 

 Sincerely,

President and Hermana Pack 

Leaving CCM

Hey Mom! sorry, I only get a couple minutes to E-mail today, but I am
doing great! I head out for the field tomorrow morning and we will
find out when we get to the mission home where in Spain we are
serving. I can't wait! oh did I send you the wrong pictures?? I take a
picture of all the cousins E-mails in case I have a few minutes in the
week to read them because I don't have time to read them during e-mail
time.  I'm not sure when I can write next but I love
you! Tell everyone I said hi!

Week 5!

Fotos Parque 28 Nov 2015

From one of Mason's teachers :)

CHALLENGES will come to you,

but as you TRUST in God,

they will strengthen your FAITH

Elder Andersen

 Ustedes tendrán DIFICULTADES, 

pero al CONFIAR en Dios, 

éstas fortalecerán su FE.

Elder Andersen

Dec. 3, 2015

Week 5! or 6…hah i am not sure

Wow, time has been flying by! The days are slow, but the weeks go by so fast! just one more week and then I will be out in the field! it is so crazy to think that I already have over a month under my belt! We have seen a lot of Native missionaries come and go because they only stay in the MTC for 2 weeks and it has been fun practicing our Spanish with them. But Besides that, not a ton has happened this week. We have had some struggles as a district and this week has been the toughest by far, but i thank Heavenly Father for every one of those days because I give my problems up to him and really feel his presence. and Im not even out in the field yet! Haha I am so excited to go into the field and serve! We have about a week left and then we are out. Sunday we get to meet with our Mission President and then we head out on Tuesday. Proselyting in the park was great this week. One of the teachers said he got some pictures of me so ill see if I can find them and send them to you. I love teaching people about the gospel even when they dont except it or try to convince us what we are teaching is wrong. I feel the power of what we teach no matter what we teach.  I love you guys so much! And Thanks mom for the Pictures! Have a great week!

-Elder Chandler

 True Happiness is found in serving others

Hey Dad! All is going great here! things are really getting boring here in the MTC but I am learning a ton. I thought that High School was bas, but we study here like ALL day. But its good, i know i need it. But wait, they were selling stuff for that much? thats crazy. I get homesick when I hear about home sometimes but I know this is where im supposed to be! Talk to you later.

Hey Mom!! thank you so much for your letters and for the pictures. I cant tell you how much they mean to me. I still haven’t gotten the letter you sent but hopefully before we leave and I get a new address! That is so good to hear that the boys are doing well, and that heavenly Father has been blessing us so much! I know that as I serve he will take care of my family at home. I am so excited to hear that Justin is heading out! Where is he going? He and Lindeon were awesome kids and good friends. I cant wait to Skype home too. It will be so nice to see everyone again. We head out of the MTC DEc 8th and i am way excited! sorry, I dont have much time, but i love you SO much! tell the little guys I said hi!

-Love Elder Chandler