El Rescate

HEY!

El plan piloto that we have in the mission is working well. We are starting to see a lot of changes and this is only the beginning of the time period. 

To help us be able to do the work that is required of us, the mission has made booklets called "El Rescate" (the rescue). It contains a lot of things that are very useful to help us work with the members in this pilot plan. The Bishop, the President of the Elders Quorum and the Quorum lider de los Sumo Sacerdotes, and the Ward Misión lider have also been given the same book. It explains exactly what each one of them need to do as leaders to help the work progress here under the plan. It also contains the ward lists but broken into parts that make it easier for us to focus on the priorities of the plan. The lists are: Endowed members, Elders, High Priests, future Elders, members who have not served missions that are at the age to do so, late ordenaciones, and some others. It is a very useful tool we have to really establish the church here in Chile. 

I really feel that this pilot plan is exactly what this mission, and Chile needs to grow and fulfill the prophetic promise of Elder Jeffery R. Holland; "That Chile will be so strong in the church that it will become a beacon of righteousness to the the world." That is my vision for Chile too. But to make that happen, we need to strengthen the church here.

In my ward here, we have a total of 986 members according to the ward lists. But unfortunately we have an average of 60 that attend. That means there are more than 900 people that have made covenants with the Lord who are members of His fold, that have lost their way. I know that in order to truly edify the church here in Chile, we must lift these people, help them, so that they return to Christ and receive all the blessings that come from His gospel. This is the way we will edify His kingdom on the earth.

I know that this mission was chosen for this plan and I know that it isn't by coincidence that I have been called to this mission to work in this plan. I know that God has put me in this mission, at this time, with this plan for a purpose. 

I love this mission. I love Chile and all the people in it. I love my Savior and I know that His gospel is here on Earth in its fullness. We are in the last days. The Lord is hastening His work in preparation for His coming. We must prepare ourselves too. I invite all to read The book of Mormon to know the truth of these things for yourselves. 

In the name of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Elder Kennedy

 Translation: "We strive everyday to bring the B.O.M to the limit" mas o menos.

The baptism of Santiago y Luisa. They are so awesome. They are axiously waiting 1 year to be able to get sealed in the temple.

La Obra Progresa

We really are in the Lord's work. What I have noticed on my mission is that success in this work doesn't come from the missionary, it really is the Lord the gives us the success. 

My companion and I had been looking everywhere to find new people to teach. We had been contacting houses, people in the streets, speaking with everyone and doing everything we were supposed to. After doing so for a while, we began to think, "Why aren't we finding anyone?" "Where are the fruits of our labor?" We went and prayed asked for guidance, and kept going. A couple hours later we were thirsty and went to buy a drink. When all the sudden a woman came up to us and started talking to us. It turns out she is a less active who recently moved to the ward, she said when she saw us exhausted she felt compelled to talk to us. She invited us to her house where we met her family of 6 (her husband and 4 children) all inactive except the youngest who is 6. We invited them to come to church and they all agreed. The husband (Miguel) told us that he had been feeling for a while that they had to go back to church but hadn't voiced it. All 6 came to church and said they loved it. 

What I learned from this is, that the Lord sees our efforts in his work, and will ALWAYS bless us if we do His will. More often than not it isn't in the form we think it will come, like finding "golden" families to baptize. Instead it might come in the form of reactivating a family that is prepared to come back. 

The Lord knows much better than we do. 

Along with that family we had a total of 14 less actives attending church, (including the Sister's sector) With a total attendance of 81. Which is a lot higher than our average attendence of about 60 people. I am so grateful for this mission. I truly am learning a lot. I have never struggled so hard, and been so happy about it. I have never been so blessed in any other time of my life.

My companion and I are also very exited for our investigators Santiago and Luisa who are going to be baptized this Saturday. They are an elderly couple, (Santiago is 86 and Luisa 77) who are prepared to make their first covenant with our Heavenly Father, and be born again at their age! They are already looking forward to a year from now when they will be sealed, and make their marriage an eternal marriage. 

I have never been so happy. I love the mission. It is really hard at times, but every struggle has a blessing attached. 

Con Mucho Amor,

Elder Ian Kennedy

From Chile with love

We are working hard here in Los Libertadores. We have the list of the Endowed members. We looking for them, and thinking of assignments to give them. We had success with one: Cristobol Albornoz. He returned from his mission a little over a year ago and went inactive about two months after coming home. We found him, started bringing him to church and we got the bishopric to help us give him an assignment. He is now the Second Consejero in Young Men. We have also been inviting him to go out and do visits with us. 

We are looking for more. Especially those who have received their endowment because these are people that have a lot of knowledge of the gospel and have made very sacred covenants with God. We have also been able to motivate the leaders of the ward to have ward council more than once a month. We now have it once a week. This is very good because we now have more verification and the work progresses a lot faster. It's crazy how much work there is to do down here. It's kind of of nice though, because it keeps us busy. I know that this ward has a lot of pontential for growth. I think that this pilot plan is exactly what Los Libertadores needs to grow. This week we had 57 people that attended church. We are already at ten more  people than when I got here. I believe that with this pilot plan we will easily be able to raise the attendance by 20% and more even. This ward about to see a lot of change. 

Funny/Crazy story of the week. Walking down the street in our sector a couple of days ago we saw a guy get hit by a car. The crazy part is he didn't get hurt. He walked across the street when he shouldn't have and a car just took him out. But this guy rolled over the hood of the car and landed on his feet, and kept walking on. The car stopped, and every asked him if was ok he said "Yea, I'm fine." and just kept walking his course. What a boss! The things you see here are pretty crazy sometimes. 

Anyway I love you all. 

Elder Kennedy

(The pictures of the parade-ish thing is of Cuasimodo ... it's the day after Easter, when all the people go out with the Catholic Priests to bless the sick and give them mass and stuff. The people of the town ride out with them on horses and bikes and stuff. It is tradition to do this, to ensure that the Priests do not rob the houses they go to, because they used to do that like a hundred years ago.)

 Maté with Elder Larson and mini ties... we wore sweaters that day so we tied mini ties.

 Family Moreira

 Despedida left to right. Hermana Mena, Hermana Farner, Katy, Hermana Silva, hermano Godoy, Elder Larson, yo... featuring my Maté in the middle.

 Yes, MATÉ jaja

 My companion Elder Lizárraga 

Kennedy Street

We took these when we Skype'd Elder Kennedy on Saturday May 10th. He was able to Skype us the day before Mothers Day.