April 13th

Family,

Wow! Yo realice que mi espanol no esta bien, por nada... jaja. Por los menos mi nuevo companero me ha ayudado muchismo con el idioma. Por que el es de Chile, el habla muy rapido y es muy dificil para entenderle, pero todavia estoy bendicido a tener un companero que esta dispuesto a ayudarme con esto. Ahora yo se lo que Jazzy hablaba cuando ella nos decia como dificil a entender los Chileanos por la primera parte de su mision.   

 

(I realize that my Spanish is not good for anything ... haha. At least my new companion has helped me a ton with the language. For that is Chile , speaking very fast and is very difficult to understand , but I'm still be blessing to have a partner who is willing to help me with this . Now I know what she was saying Jazzy when we spoke as difficult to understand Chileanos by the first part of his mission .)

The phrase "running towards the blasts" is certainly taking effect for me at this point on the mission... I have so much to do in so little time, its crazy. We are in charge of the Franklin 1 English Ward and the Spanish Group that was formed about a year ago. The Group is barely staying afloat with only 6-8 active members that actively attend weekly. The goal is to increase the attendance with active priesthood holders and families attending and to work with the members of the English Ward to get them involved in missionary work. We already have a ton of work to do with both. So we are pretty much working back and forth in two separate fields of the work. I definitely have experience in both English and Spanish wards, but the real challenge is finally here... I feel like everything I've worked towards and learned is being put to the test all at once for the last couple months of the mission.

My new companion is awesome! His name is Elder Villar del estado Vitacura en Santiago, Chile este! (the same mission as Jazzy). Jazz did you know anyone with the last name Villar-Barrios??? Anyways he is way cool. Of course he is a soccer player and he came right from high school to come out here to serve a mission. He is super nice and humble too. He also lived in Provo for a few years so he is pretty much fluent in English as well, but is still helping me with my Spanish.

Elder Villar found out a few days before coming out to the field that his dad was called as an area 70 of Chile during this past General Conference. I thought that was pretty amazing that he was able to find that out. Jazzy, you gotta let me know if you know him at all. Sounds like my companion would've lived in the same area of Santiago that you served in! 

I will definitely send some pictures soon. We are going to play soccer or something for our p-day, its his first one so we'll have a good time of course:)

......

 

Keep up the good work! Les quiero mucho!   

     

Elder Berthelson

BostonStrong

August 25th

Family,

I am doing well as always:) I am blessed to be kept safe as well. Dad- I heard about the earthquake that happened in Northern Cal. That's crazy! Be safe on your travels. I can say the same for myself as well. 

Last week Monday for our P-Day, after playing beach volleyball down in Bridgeport, my companion and I got into a minor car accident coming back from the beach. I was asleep in the passenger's seat so I didn't really see everything, but we are O.K. nonetheless. Because of the damage that was done to the car (we were hit in bumper to bumper traffic) Elder Ripplinger and I had to ride bikes for the majority of the week. Basically I've been riding bikes for my ENTIRE MISSION, they just can't take me off those things haha. Heavenly Father just wants me to stay fit I guess:) But because we didn't have a car, we were able to pick up a new investigator on the street, T___ R_____, who was thoroughly interested in hearing our message. We ended up teaching him our purpose as missionaries and we have a return appointment with him tomorrow; along with another investigator, M_____, that we were able to shortly meet yesterday. We are blessed to- First, have safety in our travels. And second, to be given opportunities to share the gospel, even in the most inconvenient situations that were presented to us. Last Friday, we ended up getting a replacement car because of the amount of area that we cover and the other responsibilities that we have. So we will not have any further problems when it comes to our efforts in the Lord's work. Plus I'll be the one driving from now on.

I was able to do the Confirmation for L____ yesterday. It is always a joy being able to exercise my Priesthood Responsibilities and to receive promptings from the spirit that are strong. This week as well, I was able to study a lot about faith and how our firm belief in Christ will determine the outcome of any given situation that we are faced with... along with answering, of what I believe, the commonly asked question that people have asked us as missionaries is, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" That question relates back to Faith. How it is essential that we are tested and tried in this life in order for spiritual growth to occur and to prove if we will remain faithful unto Him till the end. (Ether 12:27)  

MARTHA BALE IS GOING TO AFRICA!!!!!!!!!! I am still shocked even typing this right now!!! And she will be speaking Portuguese!!! :):):) Tell her I said: Parabéns. Você será um missionário incrível!!! (Congrats. You will be an amazing missionary!!) I'm so excited for her as well as for those that are leaving or about to leave soon for their missions. What an amazing experience they will have. 

Karen- Thanks for the pics. All your family seem like their doing great! I thought maybe there was a chance that you were able to hit up Lake Powell as well while you were on your trip lol:) That's great how you were able to be with your family up in CO. Let me know anything I can do to help out with family names as well. FYI pants are great, thank you. And if you could send some music on CD that would be great too!

Dad- Great times and Great memories my man, you know it!! Some places here in CT actually remind me of a little bit like Oakland... Oh sweet seats by the way for the A's game! Glad you were able to enjoy your birthday:) (Don't let me be the one holding you back from the Bay area man. Make sure to go to a Giants game for the next time)

      

​Jazzy- Consejo por la semana- Remember the Acronym: B.O.B.O.D.I. (hint: ​B= Bizness:) hahahaha creed. Te quiero J!

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Thank you guys for all your love and support. It sounds like everyone is happy and doing well. Keep working hard.   

​Les Quiero Mucho!!​

Elder BerthelsonBostonStrong