JULY 29th

Dear Family how are you guys? I’m doing pretty well. Today, we had a random heat wave and everyone is outside in shorts and t shirts. It was pretty fun to play soccer in the nice weather today. I’m loving the ward that I am in. All of the members are awesome. Some of them are a little crazy, but that’s what makes them so awesome, and it always keeps things exciting.

Gabriela couldn’t come to church this week, because she is working in the free shops which only sell things Sundays in the morning during church. She’s so ready to be baptized, but she just can’t get over this work problem. Please pray for her.

This week we had a missionary come home from his mission in Brazil. He gave a great talk about completing our missions with attitude. He talked about Nephi and his brothers all were called to go back to Jerusalem to get the plates, and they all went with different attitudes. They all completed their missions in the end, but what they did and how they did their missions had a great after affect in lives. I’m working on that. They all had the same results in completing their father’s mission, but they all had different results in the way they did their missions.

We helped complete some service with the bishop this week. He’s trying to plant a garden in his back yard; whenever I’m working in a garden I often wonder why in the scriptures they use so many parables about gardens. I think you can learn great things from being a gardener.

This week I showed up at our ward night activity and the bishop was in charge of the lesson that was to be shared. Well, he called us 5 minutes before the meeting saying he wasn’t going to be able to make it. So everyone looked to me to give the message (it’s awesome being a missionary). I gave a lesson on completing our assignments like Nephi did when he was commanded to build a boat. Nephi was given an assignment and trusted in the lord even though he had no idea how to build a boat. Many of us sometimes feel very inadequate. God helps us so we can build our boats. He just asks that we do our best.

I love you guys. Thanks for all of your support. I’m trying my best to be the best missionary that I can be. Thank you for your prayers.

Love,

Elder Chase Webster

JULY 22nd

Hey Family, how’s it going? It’s been a pretty rough week here in Artigas. With the cold weather and with the investigators failing to go to church, but we are trying to remain positive. We have some really amazing investigators, but they just have been having problems getting to church. Gabriela had to work this Sunday, but she is thinking about quitting her job or just looking for new work. She is really progressing a lot. It’s just her work that is stopping her. Please pray for her that she can overcome these trials so that she can reach her goal of baptism. We brought a member over to Gabriela’s house this week and they’ve become pretty good friends already. That always helps when you have a friend.

This week we had a talent show in our ward. Me and elder Evans received permission to sing and dance. We sang, I want it that way by The Back Street Boys. It was pretty funny. Everyone had a pretty good laugh. There wasn’t much participation from the members in this talent show, but we are hopefully they’re going to see more participation the next talent show.

I’m doing pretty well. I’m just very stressed running 2 areas at the same time. Ever since I got here they have been telling us that they were going to send new elders to the Small Rama. That was 3 months ago and they still haven’t sent them.

I’m trying to stay positive about the work, but I’m still waiting for those blessings to be fulfilled that were promised in my missionary blessing. I don’t know if I just need to be more patient, or maybe Heavenly Father has already blessed me, but I just didn’t notice. Any thoughts?

My return date is the 10th of October.

Love you guys,

Elder CHASE Webster

JULY 16^th

Hey family, this was a week with some mixed emotions. I guess that’s how the mission is. Like a rollercoaster, filled with ups and downs. Recently we’ve been working with an area trying to start a branch. They’ve been having reunions there for a year now. They are thinking of closing it because they haven’t seen much progress. They just see the same people come. About 15 go every week, including us and the bishop. We are just struggling right now over there.

With the Ward things are going pretty great. Gabriela had a pretty rough week. Her parents are not showing much support. Down here they were in winter vacations and Gabriela went to her dad’s house. Her dad is the one that is not showing the support. Her dad says it’s a waste of time to go to church. Her dad wouldn’t even let us have a lesson in his house. Now that vacations are over, we could talk to her again in the house of her mom. We always love teaching her because she understands so well the doctrine and accepts the things that we are teaching. Yesterday, we taught the word of wisdom and she vowed to never drink alcohol or coffee again. Pretty awesome!

Well, with the transfers Elder Evans and I are staying together for another transfer to finish his training. It will be another transfer here in Artigas. I’m pretty excited. I just want to see Gabriela get baptized, and also find a family. I’ve been struggling in this area; I need to find one family before I go home. That’s one of my goals.

I’m learning how to be more patient as a missionary, sometimes you have to work without seeing the fruits, but Heavenly Father always keeps his promises. I love the promise that Heavenly Father gave to the sons of Mosiah at the end Alma chapter 25. It talks about God fulfilling all of His promises in every detail. Sometimes we just have wait and hope until help arrives.

I’m loving the mission. It’s hard and sometimes I don’t feel like I can go on, but I always receive the strength I need. Sometimes enduring until the end, is just trying to get through the end of the day.

Elder Evans is really progressing a lot. I love his attitude; he is always willing to try new things and his always practicing his Spanish. He has a great study ethic. This is something that I have always struggled with, but I’m working on it.

I’m praying for you guys; tell me if you guys need anything.

I tried my debit card but I don’t know if it’s just because the bank doesn’t accept my kind of card, or because I forgot my debit number. I’m pretty sure its the one I tried. I’m going to try again today at another bank, but next week I’ll let you guys know.

Thanks so much. You guys really are the best family in the world.

Love Elder Webster

JULY 8th

Hey family, how are you guys doing? I’m doing just fine here in Uruguay. Next week is transfers. I think we are expecting 50 new missionaries. I’ll be talking to you guys next Tuesday. I’m enjoying Artigas a lot. It rained a few times this week. It was super humid. I’m glad we live in St.George where it’s dry.

Gabriela is doing well. She always prays for protection for her and her family. She was actually in a car accident this last week. She said it was pretty scary for her. Everyone in her family is ok, but she said it really was an answer to her prayers. She also has been reading the Book of Mormon everyday. The only problem we have with Gabriela is that her parents don’t want to listen. We invite them, but they say they just aren’t that interested. We are working on them.

My companion is doing amazing. He came to the mission just super prepared. He was in the General Conference session where they made the new age change. He said that day changed his life. He immediately made the arrangements to serve a mission. He is part of the new wave of missionaries.

We met our new Mission President. He is awesome. Thomas Smith from California. He served his mission here about 33 years ago. He actually served in my very same area. The bishop’s wife is actually one of his converts. Pretty cool. He was super animated to be in Artigas again. He brought two kids with him, an 11 year old and a 16 year old. It’s awesome to see a family. He gave us a great talk. He talked about his conversion story. He also talked about how important it is to be a missionary right now. He said the apostles are more excited about missionary work that they can’t even sleep at night just thinking about what Heavenly Father is going to do next in this great work. He also talked about L. Tom. Perry saying; that 2013 will be a year always to be remembered in the church. Like the year 1820 when Joseph Smith had the first vision, or 1830 when the church was organized. He said 2013 will be the year looked back as the year that Heavenly Father quickened his work. It’s a very Exciting time to be a missionary. I feel pretty honored to be training one of these new generation missionaries.

The ward is doing well. Last week we organized the ward to go do visits to all of the less active members. It went pretty well, we had a great show up the next day at church. We are working a lot with our bishop right now.

Well, I’m loving the work. I feel like I need to do a lot more before I come home. Please pray for me that I can do the things that I was sent here to do.

I love you guys. I’m praying for all of you.

Love Elder Webster

JULY 1st

Hey Family. It was just another week in Uruguay. The weather is very nice, which is pretty weird since we are in July now. Last year during this time it was freezing. I’m enjoying it while I still can.  We had a baptism this last week. Richard Devargas. Richard is a very special person. He is 16 years old, but he has a few mental problems. It was a challenge teaching him the lessons, but Richard studied hard and prayed for help. Last Saturday he was baptized by our bishop.

Our bishop has been having a pretty tough time with dealing with all of the drama that goes on in our ward. I’ve learned a lot being here in this ward. I have a pretty close relation with the bishop. He’s awesome. He has a computer lab in his house. He’s a pretty smart guy, but they live a pretty humble lifestyle. Today, he came and played soccer with us and the missionaries. He’s in his 40’s but he still plays better then all of the missionaries.

This week we’ve been working with a 16 year old investigator named Gabriela. She’s been to church 2 times now. She’s awesome because she is so easy to teach. She asks questions, she studies what we teach her. She just has a hunger to learn more. We had a conference a few weeks ago about finding the people that are truly prepared to receive the gospel. They told us that these people are easy to teach, keep their commitments, and don’t postpone their baptismal dates. I’m really excited about Gabriela. She even went to a stake dance with a friend from school who is member. We are hoping that everything goes well with her.

Our soccer friend, Giraldo, also went to church this week. He is on vacation for 2 weeks, so we are going to be able to talk to him a lot more than what we are used to. He accepts everything. He reads, he listens, he does everything and he just has doubts about the law of chastity. He’s not sure if he can make that change in his life. He says no one in the world lives that law. I now realize how much of a bubble I lived in before the mission. It’s pretty crazy how far off the edge the world has gone. We are trying to work with him, please pray for him. He’s an awesome person and he needs this help.

Hey family, I love you a lot. I’m loving the mission right now. It’s hard. It’s really hard sometimes. Recently, I’ve been in a spiritual rut, but I know Heavenly Father is preparing me for something greater. I just need to understand what Heavenly Father wants me to do before I end my mission.

We played soccer today for p day. We played with the missionaries from our district, and the bishop and his son. I’m getting pretty good. But I’m still not as good as the youth here. It’s crazy how good the Uruguayans are. But it’s fun and competitive.

I don’t think I need anything for now...maybe just more peanut butter. I’ll let you guys know.

But I love you guys and I’m praying for you guys. Let me know if you need anything.

Love Elder Webster