HOOOOLA!!! 

Hellos to all :) This week is getting colder. Its starting to be close to autumn.  

We´ve been working really hard.  We have an investigator and he´s awesome. He´s the fiancé to a less active member who is reactivating. But he wants to be baptized. We are working really hard with him. We put a date to be baptized for the 1st of March, but then the next day he told us that he prayed and thought about it and felt like he needed to be prepared a little bit more. so we talked bout it and then taught the law of chastity and the word of wisdom and found out that he smokes. So that´s his big concern right now is that he wants to stop smoking and drinking tea so that he can be clean before and after his baptism. So he´s golden.  We are focusing a lot on him and the lessons are incredible that we have with him. They are always so spiritual and in two of the lessons we had with him this week he started to cry because he told us that we came in a time when he really needed to listen. He talks about how he feels different with us and that we bring a lot of peace when he’s listening to us. So he can recognize the spirit and we´ve helped him to recognize it as well as his answers. He knows the church is true and wants to be a member. So we´re really happy and excited for him. We just gotta put a date to be baptized and help him feel ready to do it. So please keep him in your prayers.

I read something today that was a letter to the Mission Presidents of Chile from the area presidency. They put in a letter of a mission president (that you all know, named elder Lawrence Corbridge who wrote the 4th missionary). He talked about how the missionaries should talk, think and dream of baptism. I realized that I have always thought that was my focus of wanting to baptize. But it really has not been because i haven’t focused on baptism with people in the beginning of the lesson. I have always focused on them coming to church and reading and praying before getting baptized. It’s been hard because the people don’t do their promises but it´s because they don’t understand why they would do them. If they understood baptism, then when they have a desire to be baptized they will have a desire to read and pray and go to church, etc. So I have made it my goal to really focus on that this week and for the rest of my mission and to help the people understand and want to be baptized so that they will then have the desire to read and pray and progress. 

Everything with my companion is good. We get along really well and we´re always laughing. I thought this would be a hard change but it's been great. I have learned a lot from her and I know that there is still a lot that I need to do to be better. I have grown up so much. I honestly think sooo much differently about so many things in the gospel and about life. I know that there is nothing better for a woman than to serve a mission. I now understand why it makes you a good mother as President Hinckley has said, it’s because your children will become your investigators and so you learn so many things of how to teach them and help them through their struggles. I’m so thankful for the time I have to serve a mission and for all of you that are supporting me so much. I feel the support. I know that the mission is hard, but it’s the best thing of my life thus far and the best thing for my life. I love you all so much and am always praying for each of you. 

There is always things we need to do to be better and more like our Savior. But I know that when we make the decision to be like Him, we will do the will of the Father, like the fourth missionary talks about. I love you!!

Con amor,

Hermana Tycksen

Hello family!

We have some really awesome investigators which we are pushing with to see more and teach more often but as of right now they are only able to meet once a week so there isn’t too much progress yet. The hardest thing of this area is it’s FULL of Jehovah Witnesses and Aventistas. I have been studying the bible like none other and I still don’t feel like I know it all that well. One of the members we went to see yesterday was talking to us about his mission in Concepcion Chile and how many baptisms they had. I know the mission isn’t about numbers of baptisms but they had a ton, about 8-13 baptisms every week for companionships. He said that he didn’t waste time with people. If they didn’t want to follow Christ he didn’t want to waste time with them and keep passing wishing and hoping that they would change their minds. He said that if people only want to learn from you for your knowledge or because your friends that he stopped passing because it was wasting the time of the Lord in being there if they are not progressing. I know that seems harsh but it really hit me yesterday. When I got here to this area there are investigators that have been teaching for.... months and they still are not reading or going to church or praying and it’s time to stop passing for them. I think as missionaries we get in this mode of being afraid not to have investigators. We hold onto people hoping that they will change and we keep passing to have a lesson but also because we don’t want to be out in the street all day long without once entering a house to teach. It happens. Sometimes we want that security net of an investigator to pass by when you don’t know what else to do. But I’m in a moment of my mission where I have noticed in this area more than any other that I am to the point of wanting to teach people to get baptized and not just to teach them. There is a purpose and if they are not willing to be baptized and follow Christ then I can not plead and beg them to do it. 

We have this family that we are teaching, they´re Jews and they are sooo awesome. They are not married, just living together and have a kid. But the dad is looking for the way to Christ, we are not pushing him yet because he´s still opening up a bit but the mom is right there. I know that they have an answer but they just have not recognized it yet. They have not come to church yet but we will keep passing for them and I´ll let you know what happens. Ah, its just that there are a few people that are ready to be baptized but it’s problems that make it so they can’t yet. 

This week there was an experience really, really hard that happened to me. We were contacting and we started talking to this guy who started to talk about how religion ruins people and how the people who are in religions are like the worst people in the world. Ya so right there I was wanting to leave but he kept talking and accusing us of not knowing things and would not let us say a word. He then started talking about how Christ was a terrible person. My heart was pounding out of my chest as I testified that Christ lives and that only through Him can we be saved, the man then got upset and started talking again and I cut him off to say bye and we left. We walked 2 steps and I started to cry, my whole body was shaking. It’s not that I was angry, I was hurt that someone could hate my Savior so much that they think He is a horrible person. It pained me to see someone deny the spirit of the truth they know. I think that’s also why parents suffer when their kids do things they should not. It’s because the parents know what they are doing and how great is the sin they are committing but can’t do anything for them, but pray. And that’s what I did. To be able to keep working I prayed for that man that one day he would have the chance to hear the gospel and that he can have a change of heart. 

Yesterday was a special broadcast for only Chile from some of the 70 and Elder Cook. It was about hastening the work and it was amazing. They also talked about the law of chastity. Something one of the 70 said was that in this life we have the power to create. God has given us the power to create life. So the reason we keep the law of chastity? Because we are learning to be obedient. God will give to those who live in the highest part of the celestial kingdom to be able to have children and create worlds. If we are not obedient and don’t learn to use the power of God correctly in this life, how can God TRUST us to use His power correctly?? HE CANT!! I have never heard someone say the law of chastity in that way, of looking at it for the eternities. We always talk about it for just this life, but I know what he said is true. Sometimes the truth cuts and it hurts but I know that if we don’t learn obedience in this life, what privileges will God trust us with? None. Trust is everything. I have finally learned that. If you don’t have the trust of your parents how can you expect to go do things when they don’t trust you? With God and each of us His children, if we don’t keep His commandments He can’t trust us with privileges He wants to give us. I never want to be in a situation where I feel like God does not trust me. I invite you all to ask yourself that question. Does God trust me? Am I being obedient by making good decisions? Is there something I’m doing to make it so God does not trust me? I know that we are all imperfect. I know that I’m not perfect and there are soooooo many things I need to do to better myself but I know that the commandments are there to protect us and so that God can freely bless us with all that He desires. We´re not perfect but if we never do self evaluations, we will never progress and change the things we are doIng wrong. 

I love you all my dear family. I want to be an eternal family but to make that happen everyone needs to put in their part and do their effort. I love you and pray for you each everyday. I testify that this is the Church of Jesus Christ. He lives and is at the head of His church. He guides us today through President Thomas S. Monson, who was called to be a prophet of God. I know the power of the Book of Mormon and what it does to peoples lives when they read it and study it. It’s changed my life personally. I’m a better person each day because of the things I learn in the Book of Mormon and when I try to apply it to my life. I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Con amor,

Hermana Tycksen

PS. Guess who I found this weekend?? Hermana Castleton!!! 

This week we had some awesome experiences.  Here in La Serena there are a lot of people from different countries (USA, Brazil, etc). Well, we were looking for people to pass for and my companion said that in one of the streets we were at lived a family from the US and that they speak English. So we decided to go by for them and the mom came to the door, she didn't speak much Spanish and invited us in and then I started to talk to her in English. She started to freak out a bit and started asking where I'm from.  They are a family from Alaska living in Chile for the work of her husband. Her parents were there as well just visiting for a few weeks. But we decided to teach them because she and her parents are members. So we started to talk to them, well I started to teach them because my companion doesn't understand or speak anything of English. We were talking and one of the little girls came over (12 years old) and she started listening and I was thinking she was a member. Well it was literally the hardest lesson I have ever given because I was struggling for the words in English, I can't speak anymore in English. Anyway, I started to teach them about the temple and as I was teaching the spirit completely took over and I started talking and saying things (like topics) that to me didn't really make sense of why I was putting them together but I just kept talking and at one point started talking about the temple and a family eternal, the grandmother started to cry. The spirit took over me as well and I began to cry and testify to them of why I'm here in Chile preaching the gospel. We gave them a pass along card of the temple so that they can remember it, and the 12 year old started to ask questions because she was really interested. She then told us that she wants to come to church with us.  Amazing!!

Yesterday in sacrament was great. The youth all went to EFY and the Bishop asked them to talk in sacrament and bear their testimonies with the congregation. So they all started to bear their testimonies and the spirit was soooo strong. they were all so full of the spirit. I know that EFY was made to help strengthen the youth because I lived it but also because I have seen it in so many lives of the people here as they have come home after and have a light that just glows from them. It's incredible. Really when we put all we can into the gospel we can have that glow, its not just for moments or years (missionaries) but for all of us and we can all have it. 

Well family that's all I have for this week. It's been a pretty amazing week. The time just keeps going by sooo fast. my little Sami Sam is turning 3 this week, it's valentines day, I finish 13 months and it's the anniversary of my wonderful parents :) I hope you all enjoy this week and are able to feel of my love that I have for each one of you. Thank you for your examples and for your support in everything. I love you all so much and I'm so grateful to be a missionary. I love my life here in Chile serving the Lord. There is nothing better to be doing. I have so many wonderful memories and friends that will be with me for eternity. I love you all!! Until next week!

Con amor,

Hermana Tycksen :)

On Wednesday as you know we had cambios..... :( yes i left Quillota my beloved home. Hermana Huamán is training a newbie from Santiago so that is nice for her even though she really didn't want to train while she is dying (finishing her mission). But she will be great and do great things there. So where have I been sent to?? Drum Roll Please...... LA SERENA!!!! Woot woot!!!! Ya I know that doesn't mean anything to you guys but... look it up on google photos because it's amazingly beautiful.  I thought I would be in flat ground here but there are flat areas and areas with hills. The area that we have is HUGE.  I could be here like 9 months and still not have knocked everything. It's massive. Our area is also split into 2 because we have 2 other sister missionaries that are in our ward.  So our area consists of the ocean all the way up into the hills which is a good......hour or so walking from the ocean to the hills.

My companion is Hermana Sarria. She's from Columbia and 21 years old.  She doesn't talk much but she is fun. Our house is terrible. the worst house of all throughout my whole mission.  We shower everyday with freezing cold water, have an ant infestation in our beds, clothes, food, bathroom, everything you can imagine. My companion thinks I'm nuts because I bought a spray to kill them and I have been going crazy every time I see a bunch of them I go get the spray and kill them all. The spout of the shower head comes out in a little stream of water and the rest of it is mist. Hahaha just try imagining washing your body as well as your hair in mist. It does not work too well plus it's cold water so your freezing as you stay in there for a good hour to clean yourself. This is going to be an experience of my mission I'm never going to forget and probably never going to want to live again.

I feel soo blessed to be here in this area and I have been hoping my whole mission to come to La Serena. I love my mission so much and I'm so blessed to be here serving the Lord. I didn't realize how much I have grown as a missionary in these last few changes than I have right now because of not being with Hermana Huaman. I love her so much and I'm so thankful for her and her example for me. It was a really hard goodbye because that was the last time we will be able to see each other before she leaves to go home to Peru.  I realized that she really is my best friend and that I'm so thankful for her love and support of me. It's been really hard to be away from her, but I know that I'm in this area for a reason and I know that I will continue to grow soo much in this area and with my companion.

I love you all so much and I'm so thankful to have such an amazing family that supports me in all that I do. I know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can change and we can become and do better in our lives. Through the Atonement of Christ I have been able to make these changes and I have been able to grow through the process. It's been soooo hard but it's been so worth it. I don't feel like I am the same person and I am sure you will all realize it when I come home. Keep staying strong in the gospel. A scripture I found the other day talks about God gives us trials so that we learn patience and Faith -Mosiah 24. God wants us to change and become more like HIM. He is perfect and He knows what and who we can become.  I love this gospel and I love this work of salvation. There is nothing better or more joyous in this life than to find your brothers and sisters and help them to find Christ. I love you! Have a great week.