Just a quick one

I´ve got very few minutes but I´ll give a short run down on this week.

Last Monday there was a fire in our apartment building. We live on the 10th floor and it was on the 5th but below us. Luckily no one was in the house but that made it a little complicated to put out. By the time it was finally put out, by the neighbors and other people near by, just about everything was destroyed which is so sad. The firefighters got there but a little, or I guess too, late because with all the fire houses that we had lowered down from all of our floors they basically were able to put it out. The family is okay, a little shaken, but okay and living with the grandma until they can get everything figured out so keep them in your prayers!

Last week was a very slow and long week but there were positive things that happened too! One of the good things was that we found a family from Africa! They are from Kenya. They are sooo welcoming, so loving and so humble. Their fifteen year-old daughter got here about two months ago and is learning spanish. The parents have been here for about eight years and speak spanish very well. But I taught the lesson in English so that the daughter could understand. They offered us food the very instant they invited us in. I have never been invited into a house so quickly in my mission. We had a wonderful lesson and were able to give them a Book of Mormon in spanish. We were also able to help them download the Gospel Library app on their phones so that they could read it in one of the many languages they speak. Thank goodness for technology and a big thumbs up for that amazing application that I hope everyone is using DAILY!:)

I had an idea to make a ton of cookies and going around and giving them to the members and people that always give us food or do things for us so that we could thank them and ask if they knew anyone that we could visit or help out. The cookies which were oatmeal raisin (my favorites) and oatmeal chocolate chip turned out incredible but the idea flopped. It didn´t go as well as I had hoped. We didn´t get any references or names of people to visit. But that´s okay. It was worth a shot. I guess not everyone is as alive in the work as I would have hoped.

I pray for you all and hope that you have a fabulous week!

Over and out,

Elder Gunnell

Piano

First things first, I played the piano yesterday in Sacrament Meeting. For the first time in my life. Haha it went.. Well to be honest it was kind of a disaster haha but I think it was better than nothing! I mean I kind of figured I wasn`t going to play perfectly or anything and I was okay with that! Next time I play, which I think will be in two weeks, I am hoping that it goes a little bit better:) It is way different playing the piano alone and with the accompanement of people. So props to all those who can do it well! I definitely don`t have that talent! Well at least not yet, maybe one day I can develope it... We`ll see! But it was an adventure and it was something I had never done before so I feel good about it!

This week was a really successful week until Sunday. We found quite a few new people to teach which hadn`t happened in this sector for a long long time. The bummer of the week is that we were going to bring two families with us to church. One of the children of one of the families was sick so they decided not to go (the are from Haiti and are sooooooo cooooooool. I wish I could be Haitian.). They other family had some serious problems with the dad at like 3 in the morning... Which was really sad to be honest... The poor kids. We will go see how they are doing later this week and I hope that nothing worse has happened. I guess it`s not right to say that the week was a bad week just because it went bad on Sunday. In reality it was a good week. We could help a lot of people, get to know new people, and do service! I love doing service.

All in all I am doing well!

I would like to share something from a letter from a former companion of mine.

¨I really like this concept: I like to think of learning as a tool box. When we're born our tool box is empty; not a single tool in there. As we grow our parents work their very hardest to start putting together our tool box. They give us a screw driver here and a hammer there. They teach us to talk. That's a very useful tool because it allows us to ask for things we don't have or communicate to others that we're in a dangerous situation and that we need help. They teach us to use the potty which allows us to not be societal outcasts. Etc. Etc. In this point in our lives we should expand our tool kits to do valuable things. Knowing how to work with computers is valuable to a company. Knowing how to get people to buy things is valuable to a company. Knowing how to drive and successfully bring pizza to someone's door is seven-dollars-and-twenty-five-cents-per-hour-plus-tips valuable to Pizza Hut. [Our grand responsibility and great purpose is] to pack as many skills, talents, abilities, and knowledge into [our] toolbox[es] as possible. Think of this: The Lord has the complete tool kit. He knows how to do everything, and He probably uses His whole tool kit to bring to pass His plan. This life is a time to make our tool boxes look like His so that we can use our tool boxes like He uses His. And He gives us trials and weaknesses so that we can add even more tools to the box. He does it because He loves us!¨

So there is some of the profound doctrine of a good friend of mine and just a little something to think about! 

Thank you for all you are doing for me! It means more than you know.

Have a wonderful week!

Over and out, 

Elder Gunnell

You´ll never guess what I got myself in too...‏

So with Sister Christensen gone we had no one in the church to play the piano. Me, not knowing that there really is someone who can play the piano but comes every other week for some reason, decided (me being the go-getter that I am) that I was going to play the piano in church. Funny joke right? When was the last time I touched a piano? Years and years ago? Well long story short, next week I have been assigned to play the piano in Sacrament meeting. Someone tell Ressa Budge for me that I am grateful for everything that she taught me and that I am trying to remember everything I can, but I really don´t remember much. Also say lots of prayers.:)

It was a slowww week. And real hot. Many of our investiagators have hit the road for summer vacation and we are no longer teaching a majority of them so last week was a week of finding. We talked to a whole lot of people and hopefully this up-coming week we can see some fruits! 

My last cooking experience was quite a disaster. I was going to make a cookie dough brownie for our District Class. In the process of making the brownie, I accidentally put in a little too much baking powder and while it was cooking in the oven it kinda of turned into a volcano and got allllll over the oven and started a little mini fire in the oven which I quickly turned out as the smoke filled our little apartment. We scared a couple of the neighbors in the process haha. 

I think that is it for today! Sorry for the short letter this week and for not replying to many of the letters you all sent me. Next week I will do better! Have a wonderful week! 

Much love,

Elder Gunnell

The smog here in Santiago is gross sometimes. 

  A pretty sunset but not like Cache Valley.

#longday

From the mom

Bayler didn't have time to write this week but with his permission I'm taking part of his letter to me and putting it on here.  

I think all of your wonderful and faithful prayers were answered:) I didn´t get transfered. I didn´t get a new companion. I´m just where I need to be with who I need to be with. I don´t know why and maybe I won´t for awhile but I know what I need to do. I have the wonderful opportunity to help change his life. I can be a companion that he never forgets. I´ve been very cold with him because I expect more from a 24 year old man but it isn´t my place to judge just to help. I´m going to love him. If I don´t do anything in this area I am going to love and help my good ´ol comp. Thank you for your prayers:) don´t stop praying!

I love that talk by Maynes. About a month and a half ago I decided that I was going to start listening to at least one talk from conference every morning. So when I go to shave I bring my little speaking into the bathroom and put on a talk (ive just gone in order of the sessions, never skipping a talk) and as I shave, shower, get dressed and make breakfast I listen to and focus on the talk. Later when I am finished I start my personal study and go back through it in the Liahona to find the parts I liked and read the scriptures that called my attention. It has been one of the best habits I think I have started on the mission. More than once it has been an answer to me or to someone who asked me for help. For example a new sister missionary (she´s been here for 5 months, she is from cali) is going to be training this transfer and had told me how worried and nervous and scared she was. That very morning I had listened and studied the talk by President Erying from the priesthood session and told her to read and study it. It was exactly what she needed. Amazing how God does that isn´t it?

Saying goodbye to 2015‏

Wow wasn´t this one heck of a year. I´m so grateful for this year that I have had here in Chile! It has gone by so very quickly but I have loved it.

Today all I really want to say is how much I love the mish. Has it been hard? Yes. Absolutely. Of course. With out a doubt. But it truly is something so beautiful. So amazing. I can´t help but be grateful for everything that has happened here. I have learned and grown so much. This Gospel is so perfect. It´s wonderful and Heavenly Father really just wants the best for us. He wants to help us along the way and he wants us to know he is here to love and care for us. I love this Gospel and everything that we learn in this Church. I know the scriptures are true and by constantly studying them I have realized that Heavenly Father does talk to us, if we let him. I know that by going to Church and being there physically and mentally has helped me receive personal revelation and progress spiriturally. 

I wish I could express myself better in words but it is so hard for me haha but I just want you to know that I love this Church and I know that Christ is the head, that He leads and guides his Prophet and Apostles and that they are inspired to give us the messages that they give us. It´s just too perfect. I love it.

Below is my little invitation for this week! It´s just a short video that I really like.

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/new-years-look-not-behind-thee

Have a great week and a safe Happy New Years!

Elder Gunnell

 12 days of Christmas and my christmas presents

 I made a cheesecake and it's the best thing I've had in 16 months

 The rich part of Santiago

 Christmas Caroling

 Waiting for the family to skype

 Santiago North Mission

 District Christmas party

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!

It was a hot week but all is well! Thank you to those of you who sent me Christmas packages and letters:) I appreciate them!!

I just have a quick little Christmas message to share with all today. Since there is only a month of Christmas I gotta take advantage of the time that I am allowed to talk about this marvelous holiday!! It`s a little something that President Uchtdorf shared last year. It reads, 

¨Think of the simple yet dignified way our Heavenly Father chose to honor the birth of His Son. On that holy night, angels appeared not to the rich but to shepherds. The Christ child was born not in a mansion but in a manger. He was wrapped not in silk but in swaddling clothes.

 The simplicity of that first Christmas foreshadowed the life of the Savior. Though He had created the earth, walked in realms of majesty and glory, and stood at the right hand of the Father, He came to earth as a helpless child. His life was a model of modest nobility, and He walked among the poor, the sick, the downcast, and the heavy laden.

 Though He was a king, He cared neither for the honors nor the riches of men. His life, His words, and His daily activities were monuments of simple yet profound dignity.

 Jesus the Christ, who knew perfectly how to give, set for us the pattern for giving. To those whose hearts are heavy with loneliness and sorrow, He brings compassion and comfort. To those whose bodies and minds are afflicted with illness and suffering, He brings love and healing. To those whose souls are burdened with sin, He offers hope, forgiveness, and redemption.

 If the Savior were among us today, we would find Him where He always was—ministering to the meek, the downcast, the humble, the distressed, and the poor in spirit. During this Christmas season and always, may we give to Him by loving as He loves. May we remember the humble dignity of His birth, gifts, and life. And may we, through simple acts of kindness, charity, and compassion, fill the world with the light of His love and healing power.¨

I love the part that talks about him being a king but not caring for the honors or riches of men. Imagine if we all served so humbly, how would the world be?

Also I love the part that says where Christ would be if he were here today. I don`t doubt one bit that he would be doing the same thing he did before. He wouldn`t be living a comfortable life somewhere beautiful. He would be living his life to lift others up.

I hope this Christmas is the best one yet and I hope that we look for people to lift up. I hope that we can share and show our love towards them. 

I just love Christmas so much and want everyone to have an incredible Chrismas! Haha

Love always,Elder Gunnell

Starting to get realllll warm

Well it the last time I wrote was last Wednesday so there hasn´t been a lot of time since then but things are going well here! We are, without a doubt, going in to summer because it is getting hot. I can´t believe we are already ending 2015!!!!!!!!! Did it just fly by? I feel like it did. Please enjoy the snow for me!

I would just like to share a small excerpt from a talk by Elder Holland that I really like, it says,

¨Surely there is no more powerful missionary message we can send to this world than the example of a loving and happy Latter-day Saint life. The manner and bearing, the smile and kindness of a faithful member of the Church brings a warmth and an outreach which no missionary tract or videotape can convey. People do not join the Church because of what they know. They join because of what they feel, what they see and want spiritually. Our spirit of testimony and happiness in that regard will come through to others if we let it. As the Lord said to Alma and the sons of Mosiah, “Go forth … that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.´¨

All I really want is for us to live good, clean lives. It speaks so much louder than words. Once a wise missionary told me, ¨Preach. Then, if there is time, speak.¨ He then explained that it means we preach by our actions and our words. We preach and teach way before we actually get to know people. Smile. Be happy. It´s contagious and in time we will even convince ourselves that we are happy.

I love this work and our dear Father in Heaven. Keep on keeping on!

Elder Gunnell

Made some new friends

 I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE CLIMBED!!!!!!:):):)

I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE CLIMBED!!!!!!:):):)