LETTER #19 . . . new comp and new investigators!!

Hello friends and family! 

Miss u tons!!! This week i got a new companion and we started working super hard from the very first minute together! His name is Elder Arnett and he is from Arizona. i think it's kinda weird to be able to have normal conversation with someone throughout the day in my native language. I hope i'm not forgetting how to talk to people haha.

This week we found and taught 11 new investigators in 3 days which are crazy numbers in Gamboa!! I think a couple of these people have totally been prepared for us and will get baptized! I have learned this week that if you want success that you have to face twice as much rejection. This week more than any other time in my mission i have seen so many doors slammed but also we met so many people ready for our message! Lesson= work hard + face rejection= success!!!

One day i was getting kinda sad thinking about my family and friends and snow and Christmas season and as i had these thoughts we got talking to a member on the phone that invited us to help their kids set up their Christmas tree and eat pie with them. It ended up being the first Christmasy thing i have done and one of the happiest moments of my mission so far! There is beauty in plainness and sometimes you just have to look a little harder to find it!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!! Although for you all that think it would be nice to be in a really warm nice place right now, just know that EVERYONE in Chile dreams of a Christmas with snow. They always talk about the the Christmas movies and how the snow is "magic".

Anyways i am praying for y'all!!! Remember the true meaning of Christmas!!! Be grateful for everything you have!!! 

Love, 

Elder Townsend 

Excerpts from Family Letter . . . 

Family- 

Firstly Mom, I want to say thank you for being the most loyal and consistent supporter throughout these months!!! I am more grateful for you than i think you know!! LOVE YOU!! Thanks for updating me on the fam!

It has been super good with the new comp and we have been working super hard which is super cool and we are already seeing the results of our hard work! We are trying our best to find people prepared for us to teach! It has not been too hard to show him the sector and people but it is a little different. We get along good and it's nice to be able to talk to someone! He does not like writing so sorry if the letters become weaksauce but i will try my best!

PLAN FOR CHRISTMAS - we will be calling on Christmas or Christmas Eve (probably Christmas day) i think they are just leaving it up to us to figure it out which is kinda hard! I don't know what times we will be calling or anything but if i can i will let you know as soon as possible! Christmas day we will probably just be serving as it is a super cool opportunity to find people! I don't think we have a zone conference and truly they don't tell us really what to do! I don't think we have much time to talk on Christmas.. like less than an hour and i don't know how flexible that rule is but we shall see!!!! 

I have seen the mission president 4 or 5 times at conferences and had 3 interviews with him! Once a cambio he goes to every zone in the mission which means a couple plane and boat rides every month in a half. I have not seen Jacy since my first day in the mission but other missionaries have told me she says hello haha!

How is the transition going to work in our ward in January? Will it change a lot of things?

I have been doing super good with wearing my retainer and my teeth are back to normal i think! It is kinda hard to talk with a retainer! Why didn't i get a permanent retainer on top?

Whats the student gov like this year? I miss that and i miss the friends i made while doing it!! 

Sorry I have so many questions!!!! HOW ARE SARAH AND BRADY DOING WITH WORK AND 3 babies!! Tell them i dont expect them to write me because they have so much going on but that i love them!

No sign of Christmas package but i am not worried if it gets here on Christmas or not, honest!!! But thanks tons for sending something!!!

LOVE YOU ALL TONS!!! Pray and read scriptures for me!!!! Watch light the world video for family night tonight!!! Happy holidays!!!! Make a snowball for me and throw it at dad!