Elder Eric "The Master Brownie Baker!"

¿qué tal?, ( How is Everything?)
What is up my family? How is it going? What’s new? What’s old? What would be old if it wasn’t new? What is old but you wish was new? Why did I just write 20 million questions that don’t make sense?

había 2 brownie en el horno y uno dijo al otro, ´´hace calor aquí´´ y el otro gritó ´´ ¡UN BROWNIE QUE HABLA! ´´ JHAJHA ME ROMPOCON LA RISA HAHA

(brownie in the furnace were 2 and one said to the other, ´´hace heat aquí´´ and the other shouted ´´ A BROWNIE THAT SPEAKS! ´´ )
There is my bad joke for the week I hope you enjoyed it!

I am doing quite well and another cambio has come and gone.... time is flying I must say for me at least. Got the call this morning that my companion and I are both staying...I am happy because we are now getting into the groove... Today got up to go play soccer with the jovenes ( young people) but they didn’t show so went home changed and came to centro. This week went very well with one lame thing but the rest was great fun awesome and everything in between. I am tired but full of energy today.
Tuesday had a mini cambio with my zone leader, it is hard because they come from a different sector and they don’t know our area or people. On Monday visited a less active family and got 2 new inv from that house and then later in the week visited a new convert Yvonne(20), and now we are teaching her younger sisters, Leslie(15) and Margarita(13) They are cool and it helps to have a new convert with a testimoni that is really strong in the house. They are cute too but I am in the mission and they are too young for me jaja. Anyway we picked them up for church and went with them. It was fun I promised them chocolate if they behaved and paid attention and well I had to pay up after church. Good thing I bought a chocolate bar Saturday. They have fecha for 15 of August and I am sure they will be ready. We had 2 other inv in church yesterday and one is the dad of Glenda who is going on her mission in 2 weeks. He has come the last two weeks so we are going to try and start teaching him more especially with Glenda home still. I things go well he could be baptized before she leaves, but we have a lot of work but it is possible. That would be huge for her and her family and would be so cool. It was a very good week and on Tuesday we helped Hermano Cristy that lives across the street move a counter desk thing to a location because he was building in his house for a store. So we got to help him and had to be in the back of the open truck stabilizing these things in the rain but it was fun. I didn’t have my camera but its was good story. Also we did a noche de hogar (Family Night) with Daniela, inv, at the home of la familia Cristy on Friday and I busted out the long awaited talents of Elder kuykendall.......I made a brownies from scratch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes!!!!! you heard me jaja. I sent pics. It was so good and everyone loved it. The family night went well and my brownie was the hit. I am going to make one tonight tomorrow and Thursday for FHE that we have with inv and for the birthday of Rafael, so cool right!
Today we have 2 FHE and it is my companion’s birthday and what he doesn´t know is that they are both surprise birthday parties for him!!!!!!sssshh
One is with Yvonne, Leslie and Margarita at 6 and the other with Glenda´s family it will be such a great night teaching lessons and partying it up, and then tomorrow night have another planned for him but he knows about it. Got to make a birthday a big thing in the mission especially here because the chilenos like to party and eat and the mormons here eat even more so I will have to do double exercise this week and next to not get fat. I am stoked, if you cannot tell. Wow well this week was awesome and cannot wait to make this one a great one too. I found a place to buy a chilean dicho book and I am going to buy it today so I can learn them all so cool.
I love you all so much and love hearing form you all and what is going on with you and your lives it is the highlight to my week and hope to yours too. So keep the funny stories and boring ones too, (but none are boring). I love to hear of everything with you all. I love you and hope you are good. I know the gospel is true last night I felt the spirit so strong in a lesson as I testified of the restoration of the church. It was yet another confirming witness of the truth of the things I am teaching. As we left Elder Pierce, Rafael and I all commented on how strong the spirit was in that home as we taught. God lives and loves us and for that He sent Jesucristo His only begotten son to save us from our sins and afflictions so that we could return to His presencia and live with Him and together forever. When we are humble and faithful we are blessed with the spirit of our Father that guides and teaches us, comforts and testifies of the truth of all things it leads us to do good works. The Church of Christ was restored through José Smith and today the church, its members and leaders stand as witnesses of the truth that God does love us and wants us to follow His Son whom will lead us to our Father once more, and there we can dwell for eternity. I love you all so much and hope you have a great week. Be safe in you travels and stuff you have to do. Love you all so much and send my love to all. Cuidense, les quiero y les amor con todo mi alma y fuerza, que les vaya bien y que lo pasen bien y felices.
Love Eric
PS: Send my love to the Isaacson family, Thanks
¡Vamos Chile!

Warm Days, Cooooooold Nights!

Dear Family,
First off KASEY IS SO MY DOG AND YAL KNOW THAT IS THE TRUTH! Good now that that is clear I can return to my normal cool self , just kidding. How are you all doing? Long time? One week right? Long time the older you get haha no just kidding, Man did this week fly by last night I couldn’t believe it was Sunday but así es (thus it is). It good to hear that my puppy is sill a puppy even though she is getting older. I think 2 yrs back she was that little curious fuzz-ball that showed up to the house and the good caring Eric took care of her. I still remember that sad look that said “where are the puppies? This place sucks.!” but now she is the happiest pup in the world anyway enough of that, How is everyone doing looks busy up there!
This week was alright actually kind of depressing but it is behind me and a new week has begun. We had a special fireside with Pres. on Wed night and we tried to bring our investigators but they all had so may excuses........its cold, its late, don’t have money to pay collectivo even though we were going to pay for it....but oh well it was good to spend the night with Pres and the Hermana and see the other missionaries in Talca. Thursday we had nterviews AND IT WAS A LITTLE WEIRD having an interview in english but nice. He is super pumped up to be here and it is good to feel the vibe off him. He has just jumped head first into the work. I got some great ideas for investigators and my sector and I know we will turn it around. It just comes with time and faith....my hands are frozen typing in this cyber so I am going so slow I have been here almost an hour and have written nothing.
We have had some weird weather on Thursday was 73 degrees during the day but then at about 7 pm it just plunged to freezing cold, crazy man. We were out doing contacts the other night and there was a pretty big earthquake but I only noticed it because I could hear the houses shaking and making noise. I am so far behind on my journal about a week or more because at night I am just tired and just crash and in the morning tired still. But today I will get caught up. I finally got letters off to Sean Ronan and Heidi. I need to write Nick and Donny but just don’t have the time so I might try and send a note so you all can forward it.
About my package I know I wanted something but forgot so give me one week more please! It was a holiday weekend here to celebrate some saint so naturally the church was empty and at the last minute I had to teach the lesson for the converts and investigator class and it was about fasting. I did horrible but oh well it got done. None of our investigators went to church but I am hoping our chapel gets finished really soon because the other church is far and there is no transport for our area there so it is hard for people to attend.
I am doing well but my hands and feet are always frozen.....but hats life. Sorry for the short letter but this week wasn’t too exciting, but then there are just weeks like that go by to fast to remember what went on. I hope you all have a great week and are doing well. I am good still pumped full of energy but just cold and tired. I plan to take a nap today after my favorite lunch from the nagocio across the street. So good papas fritas y 2 barrus lucos´´grilled beef with melted cheese avocado and all between chilean bread so good´´
I love you all so much Iknow that our Heavenly Father does too. I got to see a miracle last night Daniela my investigator; her daughter was sick, and we gave her a blessing. She had a fever and was crying and at the end she didn’t have a fever and was back to her playing self....He is a God of miracles we just need to recognize them. I love you all so much take care and read them sciptures. I cannot go a morning without reading it is my morning Dr Pepper it gets me going. I love you all so much and think about yall all the time. Love you.

Love Eric

A Week of Ups & Downs, Hot & Cold

Querida Familia,
How are we doing this fine week of summer, for you, and winter, for me? Hot? Cold?(Lisa lol jk) fuzzy?(Kasey) awesome? (Me lol I crack myself up you know haha) I hope the ac is keeping things cool. It has been a strange winter here not a lot of rain but I have a feeling it will open up and pour on us in the coming weeks knock on wood....but ´´lo que hay´´, it is what it is. The juices are flowing and the birds ain’t chirping haha. no okay I will take the energy level down....and don’t be thinking I am trunky now because I am not.....you just got to enjoy and go with the flow. I love Chile, I love being here, I love hitting the cold floor in the morning and bundling up for studies,,,,,,,that’s why I am here to love it all, to take it all in....woooohoooo. It has been nice during the day but very cold and windy at night but you all know me and I love the cold better than 90 degrees.

The cool thing is that the members live across the street from us, F. Cristy opened up a little restaurant and have completos, churrascos, papas fritas, sopaipillas....so good so the last 5 min of the night we swing by to get a little something to eat but not me....well the other night I got a completo it was so good. But, I have got to watch the weight. My goal is to get down to 75 or 77 kg. I am at about 80 or 83 now so with more exercise and better snack habits I will get it. I think that big weight loss was all I needed to get me focused. I feel really good though we played 2 hrs of futbol this morning on a turf field so nice, I want turf in my backyard! It was so fun we played with the other zone here in Talca and I tell you I got tired but being 30 kg lighter felt good. I almost got a sweet header in but arrived just a half second later and hit the outside but it was sick. It is chilly now and i am in shorts and a sweatshirt but typing fast helps.
We had a good week best one since I arrived here. We taught a lot with members this week even though it poured Tuesday a Hermana came out with us for 4 hrs and then hooked up with Rafael, he is preparing to go on a mission and was baptized last year, He is awesome. He came out with us to finish the night. Didn’t find any new people to teach this week. But I talked to my District Leader and came to an understanding with him. My companion was upset .....he thought I just didn´t care because I was joking and having a good time at night instead of being a little more sad or down about the numbers and stuff during the week. I just explained to him that is my way of blowing off steam and I have tried the self pity thing and it sucks and I would rather blow steam off this way got all the frustration out and all is well. We have just got to communicate better. But all is well this happens when times are tough tempers flare just got to be quick to put it out embers and all.
I am doing well good on animo and my spirits are high. We finally got some church videos...the Young Men went to the temple so I sent money to get some videos for me....Testamentos, como hallar fe en cristo, la restauracion, y legado. So I am happy. A girl in my ward Glenda Michael Skinner Barabolí got her endowments, she is going to Peru on her mission in a month, and I found out at the visit with her family that we are birthday buddies...cool huh the only thing is she is a year older, she thought I was 23.....haha she was sad to find out she was older haha....oh well she was born in 89, Cool We are going to hook up Rafael and her once they are back from the mission, they are so cute together....rafael should leave while I am still here or at least have his call. He goes to medico this week and then just needs to two final interviews and is ready.

How are Nick, Matt and Ryan doing? Have you all heard from Donny or Nick Gall? I have letters started but cannot find time to finish it has been a long time and hope they are good. If you talk to them tell them all hi.
About the package let me think this week and I will give you a list of a couple things next Monday ok? I think I might have lost my razor charger but I am going to call Chillan to see, I am shaving the long way again but don’t worry I know I either have it here or its in Chillan. I love you all so much and am so happy to here of all the great news from you all about T2’s job and Ally’s apt. and just the usual stuff, It helps me focus on why I am really here and makes me want to work harder so you all can receive blessings. I love you all so much I know the church is true and that there is a Profeta today who receives
revelaion de dios. les amo mucho y les quiero mucho tambien, espero que estén felices y se encuentren seguros y sanos. confien en el senor y él nos guiará. I read D & C 79 about Carter mission call and when I put my name in those verses I felt the spirit testify to me that I am called to be here in this moment and even though there are tests He is always with us and will always be our Guide and Protector. We are all called to be here in the earth at this time and thought the afflictions and rocks strike us hard we are called and privaledged to be here now in these days to build up zone and lift those who cannot walk and nourish those who need nourishing, we are children of a loving Heavenly Father who is calling us home but not calling us to come home alone but to bring our brothers and sisters with us. It isn’t hard through kind acts good attitude and following promptings of the spirit we will win. We will go home to Him and live in happiness and peace for eternity. I love you and miss you a lot, take care and keep going we will never make it if we sit down and give up we need to keep going. love you so much.
Love Eric

¡VAMOS CHILE!

SENTZONE PIC FROM SNOW AND ZONE PIC FROM CHILLAN AT THE WATERFALL WITH A COOL OVER LOOK OF CHILLAN

The 4th of July, Funfetti Cake, and a day in the Snow of the Andes Mountains

Goooooood afternoon boyz and girlz,
Well how is my crazy.....awesome family doing? How did your 4th celebrations go? I hope they went just awesome, I had a good one too....it started with singing the National Anthem to some members in the church and then a special dinner from la Familia Cristy and remember that awesome Funfetti cake mix and frosting you sent me?....well we baked that and frosted it up and it was the best thing I have had in a year! The family loved it and wanted more to be sent. I told them they would have to wait till Christmas haha but they are willing to do it. It was so much fun. It was a rainy day but got out to work and my comp and I both had killing headaches but pushed through.
It was another hard week out for us and again my weekly report to the District Leaders didn’t really reflect what we had accomplished. What I have learned is that numbers don’t show how hard you are working and that you cannot judge just off that right? Had a mini cambio with my district leader but I went to his sector with his comp...anyway it went good.
On Thursday we had a last minute conference here in Talca to meet President and Hermana Humphrey. They are really nice and cool. I like them a lot and he said that we will have zone conference every 12 wks and interviews too, the First Presidency wants the mission pres. and wife work more hands on in the field with the missionaries teaching and really being part of the work...I like it I would love the chance to work side by side Pres. Humphrey. I immediately won his heart saying I was from CA, since he is from the Sacramento area. haha I am just cool like that. I like him and I got my Dear Elder package. I love beef jerky and those cookies are so good.
I got a letter from Heidi this week and I feel so bad because she is waiting one from me. I have like 7 pages written and in the envelope ready to go but don’t know where mail office is here in Talca....have to find it. I also got a letter from Elder Oliver San Martin, he was from my ward in Chillan. I always asked him to come out with us to help him prepare for his mission. He wrote me a letter thanking me for the help and encouragement, and experiences I shared with him. He told me I was right about the strong spirit that is felt, he should be in the his first sector in Antafogasta by now....I think he is a cool guy and snowboards so we are going to plan a trip so I can come and board the white dusted mountains of Chile. These letters gave me a mid week boost I needed.
Speaking of white dusted mountains...........
Today we had a zone activity and we went to a place called......Vilches, it is about a 1 1\2 hour trip from Talca so at 7:30 this morning met up in centro and got in the car, chauffeur thing, and went off. It was all rainy and so I thought it would stink but it was fun. We have to hike like an hour to get to the snow but it was so nice. I was trying to find something to snowboard with but no luck, my feet and legs were cold and my shoes and jeans were soaked but I got to see and be in snow and that is so good with me. I am the king of snowball fights. Had a good time but I am dead tired from hiking so many photos and will send another email with more of them. There wasn’t a bunch of snow but it was fun. It was cloudy but when the clouds moved out for a bit the towering Andes mountains towered over head it was amazing to see that and once in the lifetime thing I wish I had a super amazing wide lens slow shutter camera to really show the beauty and how big the peaks are. It was long and tiring but fun. I enjoyed myself of course. I hope you all love the Photos from, the trip and from 4th.
Thank you so much for everything that you do for me and for the letters and words of comfort and everything. I love you all so much and miss you all a bunch but time is flying so fast I cannot believe this cambio is almost half over......wow. I love you and think about you all the time. Take care and keep going I love you so much. Never be happy where you are, keep pushing forward and never give up because our Heavenly Father is waiting for us at the end.........and He is with us the whole trip. I love you all so much and send my greetings and love to all so much. Talk to you later.
Love Eric
Vamos USA.........oh by the way I think either Germany or Holland will win mundial