I am happy doing God's work!!

Hermana Webb, you have been called to serve in Santiago, California, to labor amongst the rich in English and Spanish.

7/21/14
I wrote the subject like that because I feel like I am in California!  It is the same!  We work in a really rich sector with lots of brand new houses.  And, we need some of both languages. 

How are you all!? I am doing great!! I love reading about all of your lives ... you are all doing so well! 

So first of all, my new sector... I love it here!  I really do.  But to be perfectly honest I still really miss my old sector.  It is hard to watch them grow from afar.  But I have seen my other companion a lot so she has told me all about what is going on.  My sector has lots of fun problems.  President told me from the beginning that he was sending us as clean up control.  I did not know how bad it was. We basically are white washing because they did not leave many investigators behind.  But the good news is, the sector is full of miracles just waiting to happen.  We basically just contacted all day!  We walked and walked and walked!  It was a long week but me and my companion are good for doing clean up committee.  But we are very tired.  The miracle is it seems as though everyone accepts us!  We probably have about 20 addresses from one week!  That is a lot, if you are wondering!  Everyone says we can come back another day.  But lets see what happens now that it is going to be another day.  Let`s see if they let us back in.  :-) 

The sector is full of miracles. We have had a ton of people say to us that they don`t know why they are listening to us because they never do listen to the missionaries.  So, we know God`s hand is in it we are just need energy to keep contacting ... because we're tired!  

My companion is great!!  She is from Guatemala like I wrote last time.  She has a little less than a year and we do great together.  She is happy and loves the work.  I decided that every companion that I have ever had usually teaches me an attribute that I need to learn.  She is teaching me faith!  Her faith is so strong and I love it!  She suffers from migrains and she got a blessing and it was so sweet to hear her afterwards testify of how she felt.  She told me that the moment the mans hands were close to her head her pain went flying away.  She is a great support to me and we are going to get some good things done!  I think she is going to be one of those life long friends. 

The miracle of the week that was the most fun was with a new family. They are the M_ family.  There are two sons and the mom who live in our sector.  The mom and dad are separated but sort of not, too.  Not sure I completely get it.  The dad came over to visit his family and just in this moment we were there.  The dad came and said hi and then went back to the other room to rest. Then suddenly he came back out and started talking to us. I did not know what was going on. I assumed that maybe the mom and dad were both active members and still married.  So we started the lesson with the video "thanks to him." (You should all watch it, it is amazing!!!) It brought the spirit.  So I asked the question what you do to be closer to the Savior?  The mom and son said that they wanted to read the sciprtures better.  And the dad said "I want to replace the bad with good and maybe drink less."  So that was my clue that maybe it was not what I thought.  So I started asking questions and I learned that the mom and dad are not together anymore.  I also learned that the dad does not have a religion and that he had never listened to the missionaries before.  He started to explain that he did not know why but he just decided to come out and listen that day even though he had never done it before.  So we started talking.  And the son started in and gave palo after palo.  To give a 'palo' in spanish is like to hit someone but it is a metaphor it is like to tell them to stop being dumb.  The son started in saying things like, "Dad I love you so much and I know you have almost everything but you are missing God in your life!"  "How would you feel if my friend asked me about you and I said uh... I know he lives and stuff but yeah sometimes I talk to him... that is what you are doing to God!!!"  "You are always saying what I need to do because you want the best for me. But now it is my turn!"  "This is the best for you and I want you to have it!" (referring to the gospel)  It was so cool! I was so happy!  I did not even know this family but I was totally crying by the end with the mom.  Then my comp was like 'I want to show a video.'  I was thinking no! ... let the son keep talking, but the movie was perfect!!!!  It is on LDS.org it is about a father.  You all have to see it because it is perfect!!!   Anyways, at the end of the lesson, I said 'do you think that was just chance that you are here the same time as us?'  And he said "no."  And then I said 'do you feel something right now because I have never seen a son testify with so much power!?'  He told me that he did and he agreed to take the lessons!  Now every time the dad comes to visit, the missionaries are going to come to visit too!!!;)  J__M__ is awesome!!!  He is like twenty but can't serve a mission because of some sort of disability.  It is not mental - it is physical.  Which is a bummer, because that man teaches with power.  The other bummer is they just found a tumor in his brain.  I HATE CANCER!!!!!!  Why does it always take the best ones!!?!?  I don`t know what they are going to do to get rid of it, but I am worried for their family. 

Anyway.  That is all!  I love you all so much!!  I know this church is true!!  I am happy doing God`s work!  He is good at leading us and we are having lots of success.  Pray for us because we really need it.  We need some investigators!  I love you all! 

Hermana Webb 

Mision Chile Santiago Este
Cristobal Colon 6824
Las Condes
Santiago, Region Metropolitana
Chile
51

It is either true, or it is not.

Best wishes to Sister Paolantonio!!

After a year in Apoquindo, hellooooooo from La Reina!!

 .... I did have changes.  I am in La Reina.  It is the sector right next to my old one.  ;)  I am happy where I am.  My new companion is Hermana Zelaya from Guatemala.  She is ADORABLE!!  I knew her before and I am super excited to be her companion.  She is a recent convert.  She came on the mission after being a member for just a year!!  She is amazing!  She has beautiful stories and she loves to work and she hates getting places late, so this should be really fun!!

Being in another sector is exciting and really, really hard. I had to leave my home, Apoquindo. I am going to miss that place!!  I found out changes on Friday but I knew that I was going so I started saying good bye all week. It has not really hit me yet that I really am leaving.  The hardest part was definitely C_ and his family, Y_, and of course P_ and her family.  Wow! I am blessed! I don`t really know what to do now to be perfectly honest.  I now understand why people are afraid to go home.  It was hard to come here and figure out who I was as a missionary.  I knew who I was as a daughter a sister, a student, a girlfriend, a friend, a teacher, a Mormon, but I did not know who I was as a missionary.  But everything changed when I came here.  Now I don`t know how I will be all of those things when I go home.  I don`t know how to be any of those things in Utah. 

I know that sounds weird but there are some things that happen here that just make it so you are never ever the same. 

Here is my example of this week.  Ever since the beginning when I got here, E_ quietly listened, but does not really say anything.  At first I was afraid of him because I never knew what was going on in his head and when he did actually say something, he has such a deep voice, and talks so fast that I did not undersatnd it anyway. But then he slowly started progressing.  He started going to church every Sunday, he started reading the Book of Mormon, and he started asking more questions.  He has really changed!!  Slowly, E_ quietly started progressing more than the rest of his family. Things started to change!! Now E_ is spectacular!!!  I love that man so much and he has changed completely!! He got the priesthood this week and the bishop called in all of this family (which includes us obviously) and gave him a beautiful blessing.  He blessed E_, and blessed his family through E_.  It was really beautiful!!!  E_ had everything, except one thing.  He had never prayed with us.  Finally, last night I said to him: "E_, considering that you are a baptized member of the church, and you just received the priesthood, and it is only us here with you on my last day, will you please give the closing prayer?"  A big simile filled his face and he said, "Si!"  We all broke into a big YAY!!!!  Then he gave this beautiful prayer that I will never forget. It was short and simple but it was one of the most sincere prayers that I have ever heard!!  How am I supposed to be normal after that!?  I don`t know how to have a normal life and be a normal person!!  It is funny because I love baptisms, I love seeing people take big steps but there is something about getting someone to pray that has not prayed in a while. That changes everything!! 

We also did an AWESOME FHE the other night with Y_!!  She is adorable! I am going to really miss her too. We talked about how God helped King Lamoni change even though his family at the beginning did not want much to do with him.  It was a really beautiful FHE and I hope she keeps progressing.  She said she was going to go to church at the end of this month, because she does not have to work.  I hope she does.  She continues saying that she does not want to pray because she knows that if she prays God will tell her that this church is true and then she will have to change her life and she is afraid.  I don`t blame her ... it is a big step and I am glad that she feels it so strong. 

The rest of this week was saying good bye and the usual inviting people to church. I feel really good about this sector and I know my companion is going to watch it and take good care of it. I am going to miss all of the people there so much!! 

Just as Y_ is always saying if this is true, things have to change, I keep thinking and learning about how deep this all is.  It is either true or it is not.  Our family is either forever or it is not.  (I couldn't bear the hurtful doubt that I wouldn't see my sister again.)  The mission is either the most noble thing I have ever done or it is an embarrassment, and a waste of my time.  I learn more and more every day that this is a big message and a big commitment.  They are really big questions with really big answers.  I know deep down it is all true ... but I understand the thoughts of doubt and the fear of commitment people experience.  So, I keep studying.  I keep doing the work He asks me to do and I keep seeing the miracles. God is always ready to respond, and will answer my needs.  I think the key is to keep searching in faith for truth.   Mom always says that we are how she continues to feel the love of God and find answers to her heartaches and prayers even when it does not seem like we did anything.  But now I understand.  God often answers our prayers through another (as the prophet has told us.)  God is real through you guys!  God is real through the people in Apoquindo.  I don`t understand how it all works but it makes me feel sure!  I know God lives because of the way I feel about you people, and the people in Apoquindo ... It is just so real and so beautiful that I know it had to come from something (Someone) much greater.  And, that loving God has promised that I get to be with you guys FOREVER!!!  So, I keep moving forward because I really like loving and being loved ... FOREVER!!  I love you all alot!!!  I testify of our Savior, the source of all love ... and he is real, because I feel his love!! 

Hermana Webb

Mision Chile Santiago Este
Cristobal Colon 6824
Las Condes
Santiago, Region Metropolitana
Chile
51

In Hands that I trust so much more than my own ...

07-07-14 
How are you all!?!? I love you all so much!!

This had to be one of the best weeks of my entire life!! Let´s just start and end with all of the good stuff becuase there is a lot!!

On Tuesday night we passed by quick to see if there was something else E_and P_ needed for the big day and right when we walked in, I thought E_ was finishing a big glass of wine!!!!  I almost died. I felt like all of the blood went to my stomach and I did not even want to walk.  As we were talking I said to V_, "I don´t know how to tell you this but your dad is not going to get baptized.  She seemd surprised and said "but why!?" I told her that he had to live the Word of Wisdom.  Then she told us "Hermanas! Do you really think he would give up this chance he has to get baptized!?"  "He is drinking soda pop!"  "He only wants to get baptized!!"  It was such a relief!! He too, promised me it was pop .... glad I was wrong.

SO! Wednesday was just plain beautiful!! We got up early in the morning and went straight to P_´s house! E_ had finally asked for her hand in marriage on Monday, so they had these beautiful golden rings that had the name of the other engraven inside!  They are so cute!!  So on Wednesday we just helped everyone!  I did hair and my comp did makeup!  They all looked so beautiful!!  Then we all squished into the back of this van. It was even more fun because both of their families came to see the wedding. Everyone had squeezed into the apartment the night before.  It was pretty funny seeing everyone try to squeeze into a van.  We all went to the rejistro civil and waited there and I could not have been happier.  President Wright even brought Hermana Maciel to the wedding!!  It was so fun all together ... all of the people that I love!  I could not stop hugging people and giving men handshakes. :-)  The judge was super corney but it was good.  He talked about all of the life they were going to have together, and I could not help but whisper in J_´s ear every other second that it was not just this life, it was going to be forever!! That is pretty cool! That is what I want as missionary!  I love it when people get baptized and stuff, but when it includes their family, it just makes it that much better!  It was fun to talk with the whole family after at the lunch. Their family is all made up of active members menos activos and people who don´t want anything to do with us.  But we all got along really well.  After lunch we tried to be good missionaries and we went teaching for a couple of hours, only to go back to the church that night for E_´s baptism.  This part so was beautiful!!  E_ had a smilie from ear to ear the whole day!!!  He was so excited.  He was loving every second.  His baptism was great!!  Tons of the ward went and even better, all of his family went.  They are awesome!  V_ gave the talk on the first principles of the Gospel and she did great!!!  Then to end, R_ sang the first verse of I am a Child of God and we finished with him!! What a sweet day!! 

Thursday was just as sweet!!! We anxiously woke up and tried to get some work done and then went to B_ house because we drove to the temple with them.  They were all so nervous.  One of the sweetest things about C_ is when he got so excited when he found out that he can be baptized for his dad.  His dad killed himself and there are a lot of churches that say that that person is lost.  I love the message of hope the gospel brings!!!  So he got his dad´s name ready and his daughter got her grandma´s name ready (C_'s mom also died when he was really young.)  And then M_ brought her grandmas name. V_ and J_ also went to the temple!!  It was absolutely amazing!!  I was dying!!  The spirit was so strong.  You just can´t talk the temple up too much!  They were all really excited to go and they all loved it!!  Afterwards I gave them the test and they understood it all!  I had taken almost all of them earlier to the temple grounds to show them the outside and the first part of the inside and told each one of them that they could not go any futher.  Can I tell you how fun it was to welcome them in!?!?!  It just does not get any better than that, I am telling you!  I much perfer this!  I love to know when people really have changed their lives!  It really happened with them.  I am so proud and so happy!

Friday was still great because we had an activity with all of the moms and daughters. They showed a slide show and half of the slides were these girls that I have sooooo come to just adore!  P_ and her two daughters went, L_ and her daughter went, and M_ and her daughter went (with C_!  I don´t know why he came but I thought it was cute that he did!  He was helping with everything and cleaned the entire chapel afterwards!!)  I just really love these families!!  What a blessing!  

Saturday we had an awesome lesson with Y_.  She is the one who always went to the hospital with us (by the way I_ left that hospital ... we don´t know what happened to him, and have no way to contact him. BUMMER!) We went to an awesome members house and she is finally going to start progressing again! She is planning on going to church not this week but the next. She is funny she keeps telling us that she is afraid to pray to God because she knows the answer is going to be that yes, the church is true and she is going to have to change her life, which won´t be easy!  But she is awesome and God will help her do it!!!  We are going to a FHE with her and her son this next week to see if we can get him interested because I think she will feel bettrer if she has the support of her little family. 

Sunday was awesome!! This member in our ward (who I LOVE!!) came to me and gave me this present in the milddle of the meeting and then got up and testified of all I had done for her and her family (awkward but I love her...)  Then she told the whole ward that I am leaving.  It was funny because everyone came running after the meething ¿se va? I had to explain a lot of times that I still had a week to go but it was hard to get out of the building afterwards. 

Now I am here writing you!!  Good week, right!?!?  I am so happy!!  I am also so sick!!  I went home from church early ... I had like three mom´s calling me making sure I was doing better.  I love Apoquindo!!  M_ basically obligated me to stay inside the rest of the day.  We had an appointment with her and she called and said ..."even if you do feel better you are just going to feel worse if you leave so you should stay home."  I told her my mom would be grateful for what she did! 

Okay, so I continue to learn how personally God knows each of us.  Because it is time for me to leave Apoquindo, I started to worry about what would happen to all of these people I love so much who I want to have the peace of the Gospel stay with them.  So, that night I prayed to God a lot and I just asked Him to help them. After I finished my prayer, I layed down to just go to sleep. Suddenly this huge comforting feeling came over me!  God whispered that I did not have to worry because "they are in My hands just like you are!"  It was so comforting.  I thought about all that God has done for me and all of the faith I have that He will do for me, and I was overcome! I feel good going on to another sector and leaving all of these people in hands that I trust so much more than my own!! God is so good!  He knows my fears, and my hopes!  He really does love us!  I love that! 

I love you all so much!!  I hope your life feels as happy as mine! God is good! His way is a lot better than our own way! 

Love 

Hermana Webb

Mision Chile Santiago Este
Cristobal Colon 6824
Las Condes
Santiago, Region Metropolitana
Chile
51

satan is fighting so hard, but God is fighting harder.

Cute missionary companions/roommates enjoying a little Chile love!

How are you all this week!?  I am so good!!  I love to see how good God is to us!! I wish I could explain to you guys how happy I was last week.  Sometimes I am a little ridiculous!  It is pretty funny how over exaggerated I get.  But I just really, really love all of you and it is really fun to see how much God is in our lives.  I know I always say it but I continue to be amazed at how God makes me better through His Beloved Son and you guys. It is a really cool process and I really like being a part of it.  Especially when that process includes getting extra family members to love.  I like how God works.  He is good to us!!

(Extra family members) Carlie's nephews Alden and Evan to love!

This week was a great week.  I don´t really have anything new to report there is just a lot of work to do for G__ family. They are so wonderful. They make me so happy! E_ got home this last Friday.  We are kind of running around like crazy to get everything ready for this week.  E_ is so ready to be baptized on Wednesday and satan is fighting so hard but God is fighting harder.  Their family has progressed a lot.  We went to presidents house with E_ and P_ and President asked him if he was willing to give up tea.  I love E_ so much!  He is so quiet.  It is hard to know what he is thinking.  But when he talks I love it!  When president asked him if he was willing to live the law of the word of wisdom he looked at president like he was asking him if he had two eyes ... and said "yeah I can drink milk!!"  It was so obvious to him.  Why would he ever drink tea if that meant danger to his eternal family!? ...  that is just silly!  He is so quiet but he makes me so happy!!!  It is really cool to see how his wife helps him and how he helps his wife!

I have been thinking a lot about the Atonement this week, and about God´s promise to make weak things become strong unto us. He is so good!!  I really believe that.  I have extended that understanding to families too. I love reading Ether 12 and instead of reading the word men putting in the wold couples, or families.  Look at the hope!  God will not only make me personally better, but if I go with my family to Him, he will also make weak things become strong unto us.  What a beautiful blessing.  There is this quote in a stress book we have that says that we as missionaries get front row seats to the effects of the Atonement ... and it is true! 

As for other fun news everyone is ready to go to the temple this week!  I love being a missionary in the same sector all of the time!! On Thursday I will go to the temple to be with V_, M_, J_, C_, M_, and A_ all in the temple at the same time!!!  R_ is not big enough to go still, and E_ will be in the north, but that means every single one of my converts that could will be in the temple at the same time!  That is pretty cool!!!  I am pretty blessed!!!  C_ is going to do the work for his daddy and A_ is going to do the work for his mommy. M_ is going to do the work for her grandma!!  Miracles are real!!  What a blessing! 

R_ came to church this week!!  V_ went to his house and kicked him out of bed.  I was not there becuase we were in division but my comp said that she finally just said, "look, R_  I am tired of this!  Why did you get baptized if you are not willing to complete the covenants you made.  Get out of bed and come to church!!!" I love V_!  She is going to be a great missionary!  Her cousin also came to church.  He is another little boy who is great without much family support.  His family are work-aholics, and so they do not really support him.  The last time that he had a date to get baptized the mom suddenly decided that she wanted to baptize him in the Catholic Church.  But, he really likes going to church so I am not sure what to do.  He is really great though!  He loves going to church.  He is always ready when we pass by to go; he is reading the Book of Mormon, and he loves the FHE that we do at P_´s he will just have to wait a little to actually get baptized.  The other night we played mom´s game and another game we made up.  It was so fun.  We ended the night all singing together.  I love to sing!!  The Spirit comes running!!!! 

This week was kind of a crazy week with ups and downs of missionary life and dealing with all of the emotions that come with it, but I've sort of worked out a new theme ... just keep dancing.  I dance all over the place, so it works for me.  God has blessed me with a feeling that I don't necessarily need to change, but I feel motivated to dance all of the way home.  God is so good to me.  He is willing to wait for me, willing to listen to me, willing to accept when I am a little clumsy, and that he accepts me as His servant, even when I doubt myself.  I feel sure that Christ and his Atonement are real!  I feel sure that if we just ask in prayer with faith, God will answer!  I love being a missionary!  I love helping people come to Christ because in the end they just help me!!!  I love you all ... this gospel is true! Have a great week!

Hermana Carlie Webb

Misión Chile Santiago Este
Cristobal Colón 6824
Las Condes
Santiago, Región Metropolitana
Chile
51