Another week happier!

Woah, I can't believe we are about to start week four of this change. It feels like just yesterday I started training Elder Peel. We are working super hard here in San Antonio. We are still trying to find some new investigators because we need more people to teach. We are seeing results, but very few. 

We need to excite our ward a little more about the work, because contacting just isn't giving out the same results as references from the ward. It sounds like Eric is having great success in his sector. Im stoked for him! 

Elder Peel is getting way better and Spanish. I love being his trainer. But at the same time I have learned so much training him, that i'm pretty sure he is the one training me. Ha, just to describe the power in my greeny, on his first day here in San Antonio, we went to do some contacts. I asked him "Where do you think would be a good spot to contact?" He directed us to these apartments and knocked his first door here. The guy answered it, Elder Peel said "Hola," the guy stepped to the side and gestured for us to come in. haha his name is Daniel and he is one of our strongest investigators right now! Haah PURO PODER EN MI GREENY. Anyway I love you all. Write you next week.

Love,

Elder Kennedy

The power of a Greenie companion

Hey!

Training is a ton of fun. My son Elder Peel is a Champion. He doesn't quite understand Spanish yet jaja but he's getting there. It's really different being the only one who understands what people are saying in a lesson or talking in the street. But Elder Peel is a hard worker and he is learning super fast. He isn't afraid to speak the little bit of spanish he knows. That helps him get better at speaking way faster. 

He has a ton of greenie power too. With him, we have put 4 fechas de bautismo. BOSS!!! One of our new investigators with fecha, Luis, came to church! We were super exited. He is a 20 year old guy, not working, not studying, and tried to go into music but failed. He is looking for direction in his life. He started reading the BoM from cover to cover and is super interested in the church. Im loving it here in San Antonio. And we are working super hard here. 

On a side note CHILE MADE WORLDS!!!! jaja so did USA (like always) jaja. Awesome. Anyway thanks for everything. Love you.

Elder Ian Kennedy

Pictures 9 months in

 Elder Lythgoe and me jaja

 First day with Elder Peel

 Elder Peel and myself with Presidente Barreiros and his wife

 San Antonio port

 Completos first one for Elder Peel

 Pan con papas. Only found here in san Antonio

 Pan con papas

 Cristo Vive 

  The view over llo lleo the city next to San Antonio

  We hiked a huge hill and did personal study by this Statue

 Another "view" picture

 Elder Peel y yo

  Elder Lopez the other zone leader.... we live with

 Elder Peel, yo, Elder lopez

Elder Lythgoe and Elder Lopez. The two Zone Leaders and our two roommates.

Love my Greenie!

Hey,

Im still here working in San Antonio. Im super happy to be here and to be training. My new companion is Elder Peel from Leyton Utah. So yes, he is a gringo. He speaks very little Spanish, but he's improving super fast. Im trying to help him learn the important verbs, and Im trying to help him memorize 10 new vocab words a day. His spanish is going to improve super fast. The thing that his hardest for him is understanding what other people are saying. But I feel as he learns the words he'll get that under control right away. 

I love being a trainer, but at the same time I still feel like a greenie in my mission. Time is flying by so fast. It feels like I was just in La Cisterna with my trainer Elder Burk. CRAZY! We have been working hard and learning a lot too. I got to go to the temple last Tuesday. That was sweet. Lot's of Revelation and help from the Lord was received that day. I love it here in the mission. Im grateful for all the blessings Im receiving for it. I know that this is the place I need to be. 

Love you all!

Im going to be a trainer!!!!

Hey All, 

Conference was awesome! We watched all sessions in the Gringo room haha. Pure English haha. Im glad all of you had the opportunity to watch Conference as well. Also it was the last week of the change. They made two new zones in the mission, which brings our zone total back to 12. 

This is where all went crazy. I thought for sure I was going to leave San Antonio, because I have been here for four and a half months and my comp has been here less time than me. But on friday I was surprised to see that my comp was going to leave and not me. I thought it was weird, but I was stoked because I love it here on the coast. 

BUT the craziest part is- right after the final session of Conference the asistentes called me. I was extremely humbled to learn that I am training. Yep. Im going to be a father (mission term for a trainer). Don't know who i'm gonna train yet, but I will find out tomorrow. Part of me is a little nervous because I feel too young, and unprepared to be a "father." But I know it was the Lord's decision. If he thinks I can to it, that's good enough for me. 

By the way. I did get the package from Aunt Jeanine. Thank you so much for that. It arrived just in time for Conference so we were able to enjoy good American candy for conference in the gringo room. Thank you all for everything. 

Love,

Elder Ian Kennedy

*P.S. The mission office wants all of us missionaries to send this out to our families and friends:

Elders and Sisters of the Chile Santiago West Mission,

We are writing to inform you that all packages that are sent from the United States to Chile MUST be sent by the United States Postal Service (USPS).   We have had a number of packages that have been detained and witheld from us by the Chilean government because they have been sent by other shipping companies.  If a package is shipped by FedEx or UPS it will most likely never arrive, and if it does, you will have to pay hundreds of dollars to the Chilean government to recieve it. 

The only way to make sure that you will receive any kind of package is if it is is sent through the USPS, Flat Rate Mail, and declares the contents as "Missionary Supplies" or "Church Supplies".  Please tell your parents not to write Cheerios, Spagetti, or Lolly Pops, or whatever else is in the package.  Just write....Church Supplies.  That is the cheapest, safest, and best way to receive a package from your parents, grandparents, friends, etc.  Please do not send a package any other way, it will probably never get here. 

Also, the only address that people should use to send packages is...

Elder or Sister _______

Misión Chile Santiago Oeste

Casilla de Correos 149

Pajaritos 1921

Maipú, Chile

Do not send packages to the mission office, most likely something will happen and it wont arrive, send it to the address above. 

We love you and want you to get your packages.  Please follow these guidelines and WRITE YOUR PARENTS with this information, especially heading into Christmas season.