Elder Kennedy serving in Santiago-West Chile : From worst to best!

Hey Family!

I am sooo glad to be here in this sector. We are doing really well here. The Lord is blessing us a lot. About four weeks ago, we found an inactive member named Juan Carlos B. He served a mission in Viña Del Mar. However, for some reasons he, his wife, and 2 kids, went inactive for a long time. Since we found him, he has attended church every week. We gave him an assignment to be the Activities Director, which has now turned into a calling. While we were at his house planning an activity we are going to do this Friday, he mentioned a few people that he wanted to be involved with organizing it. Claudio L. and Gabriel H. He brought us over to their homes, and he invited them to participate in planning the activity. They both agreed. Juan Carlos then talked to us about how he really wants to re-activate them as well because they are old friends of his. I thought it was so cool to see how much he wanted to share the gospel with his friends even after such little time of being back in the church. He told us that he really can feel the difference now that he is going back to church, and he wants his old friends to feel that same happiness.

Presidente and Hermana Barreiros came to our ward last week and spoke. Because they say that our ward had increased a ton in attendance. What a blessing. They talked to our ward about the atonement, and the importance of the sacrament. It was soo cool to have them in our ward.

Also, we just had a huge meeting as a mission, and we were discussing the fruits of the Pilot Plan, named "EL Rescate" (the rescue) and President talked about this zone (our zone). The attached foto is the first reason he gave for why we work with El Rescate.

Translation: Why do we work with "El Rescate?"

Ochagavía is no longer the worst stake in the world in terms of percentage of less active members and potencial.

I did not know that this was the worst stake in the world before President said that it was. I knew it was bad, but not that bad. But the Lord really has turned this place around.

I love being here. I am seeing so many miracles, and know the Lord is constantly blessing me.

Con Much Amor,

Elder Ian Kennedy

*Side-note: That Pathway program sounds cool. But I don't know if it's actually necessary. I live with an Elder that told me that all I have to do to go to BYU-I is go home, take the ACT and apply. He said he has a friend that did the same after his mission. He assured me that even with a low GPA in HS that it would be no problem. So it would almost be easier to go home, take the test, apply then go to school immediately instead of waiting so long.

P.S. Renee- Haha yeah I remember that painting of Clark Kelly Price of The Rescue at Sweetwater! I have that painting over my study area in my house. haha I found it in a Liahona when I was 4 months in the mission and have had it up since.