Hey family! How is it going? For me here in Chile things are going really good ;) and its not that cold yet so don't worry and I am preparing for the cold weather. This last week I got a new companion from Peru, he has been a member for 4 years and has been out a year this week. So I found out that I know a lot more Spanish than i thought, this week has been complete Spanish for me. Since my new comp can't speak English it takes my Spanish study to a whole new level. But I can almost understand everything said to me and I can talk and people actually understand me now. So I'm content for now! The Lord is blessing me a lot. We spent a lot of time contacting since we only had 4 investigators, now we have 11 lol my new companion is way tight. Except he locked himself out of his email account so we have to go back to the house to get the phone to call the office to try to get his account fixed so hopefully I will be able to get back on Internet. If not I love you all and be safe! I will try to email again in a few hours.

Ha so I'm back on the computer here in Hualqui. My comp is still having a hard time with his email, but I was able to get him on the phone with the old people in the office so I hope that they can help him. So this next week is going to be crazy because we have district class Tuesday, then the whole zone is going to Dechato to build homes on Wednesday. Then Thursday we have mission conferecia and then general conferencia too. So pretty much we already have alot of our time planned and then contacting and meeting with our investigators and jazz this week is just going to be crazy. Elder Garey and Godfrey are still in our house so at night I get to speak English con Elder Godfrey for about 45 min ever night. But I'm going through a weird thing were I can't speak English or espanol, and I far dang sure can't write either of them too.So it sounds to me like Jared is breaking my Honda! Stuff doesn't wear out if you treat it right. Geez, dad you were probably in the garage all day! I'm sorry that my emails have been so short but we are just so busy and its not getting any slower anytime soon. It continues to amaze me at how much you can experience in one day! And I am continually learning and becoming. I lost some of the letters I had written so I have to re-write some of them but I sent a bunch off about a week before the earth quake and then a week after it. So I hope somebody is getting my mail! lol I go to bed tired, then I wake up more tired. I swear someone is beating me in my sleep! But yet somehow when I'm out working I am fine, its so weird. So its taken a whole week to barely get to know my companion because what is usually said in one or two days took me a week! hahahahai read Cody's blog man I miss that guy. My new comp has really shown me what its all about, new convert only him and his mom/brother and the missionaries knocked their door and shared the plan of salvation. So he throws it at almost every person we contact I love it! Most missionaries are scared of teaching it. I am excited for the rest of the mission, so far some days go by so fast while others feel like two years. But this last week felt like one long day! But only one so its all good. I love you all! Talk to you next Week!!!
Love Elder Ward

Getting back to Normal!

Hola Family! How is everything back in the promise land! It's good to hear from you and thanks mom and dad for the emails they are always nice. So this week back in the Chilean jungle has been quite fast actually and I had a lot of fun. We are starting to teach a lot of our old investigators again so the work is back to normal. I will be getting a new companion tomorrow so I am very excited, he is from Peru and doesn't know English.... so I guess it's the Lords way of saying learn Spanish dummy. I'm going to miss Elder Denis, but I am way excited for change. Since the earth quake we have had a lot more attendance in church we almost have had 200. So things are looking good. Oh and Emily, horrible news, the earth broke my watch! So I'm watchless :( I have experienced two things I thought I never would in my whole life, Wednesday I was shaving and about to get in the shower... Earth quake...... Then yesterday I'm using the bathroom and.... Earth quake. For a second I thought I was going to have to run out the door with my pants down. Its already a crappy bathroom but add a earthquake and you have a death trap. We have had an interesting week here in Hualqui, me and Elder Godfrey went out to the campo way out there to invite some inactives to church we had alot of fun. Saw an Aloe Vera plant that I swear was 10 feet tall, yeah beat that Grandpa. We had berries and spoke with some crazy guys preaching the gospel with megaphones. Yes we Went and talked with them. lol I hope everything is going good back at home, and that you all show each other that you love each other. ... I am learning a lot and also learning how everything in life is just how you choose to react to it. Nothing can force you to do anything or be sad. Its the beautiful gift called agency. I made my companion slow down last night, missionaries miss one of the most beautiful experiences of life. Relaxation and allowing the lord to teach us, receiving revelation and being calm. We walked SLOW and looked at the stars. You can learn a lot from just looking up. Realizing there is a God, and wanting to know him. Reflect on your life, look at why we are here. And think of who you really are, look up at the stars and allow the Lord to teach you. It works every time. Do that, then I would like to see arguments that are good for nothing happen, they won't. Sometimes we allow things to overwhelm us to easily, and if we just stop and learned to trust God, man that would be something. I'm still working on that one. The mission continues, I am doing good and don't worry. I would love that blanket though... and more pictures in the next package..

Love Elder Ward

Hey family! Whats going on? That's pretty crazy that people are getting married that are Jared's age! Its good to hear that the beautiful Vegas weather is still going on, I miss Vegas so much. These last few weeks have been a tough time but the Lord has helped me alot. This last week I have been able to understand and start speaking alot, so just more time and work and the language will come. We took a trip to Concepcion today, its alot better than it was last week. Alot of building are going to have to come down and alot of stores are starting to open up. If we don't get hit by another big earth quake things should be back to normal in a month or two. I have not been taking alot of pictures, I just don't want to. I have taken some but not more than I need. And I dont need alot of pictures of this. We are back in Hualqui though, its me Elder Denis, Garey and Godfrey. We cleaned the house the first day we got back, and a day or two later we got water and power, the only thing is alot of water pipes and sewer pipes are broken, but they keep it all on anyways. So you will be walking down the street and water will be coming up out of the ground, its weird. Last night we thought for sure another quake was going to come, cause everything cut out like power and cell service all at once. But no we were good just more stupid tremors, I am so ready for the earth to stop moving lol. We have food don't worry, all the big stores are done for but all the little stores out of peoples houses around our house are still up and going. So we have had alot of bread, guacamole and aji sandwiches and don't worry they got the coke a cola going again to. WE are not in Chig anymore so we don't get to help with alot of the big service any more. Once your out in Hualqui the mission president makes us stay there. And no I didn't get to keep the jersey, some elders took them though. Anyways, I have been able to study alot and learn alot this week. Since sleeping hasn't been the easiest lol Oh and if anyone makes fun of the toilet bucket thing mom bought, don't! Its alot better than plastic bags. But we have water again so we are set! Just people are freaking out about another big earth quake that might hit especially after last night. I'm not to worried though we are in a good house, it only has a few cracks in it nothing to big. Alot of things opened today like the postal office! I sent off a few letters I hope they get there before mothers day! they should. I also went and did alot of my visa papers today, the men were mean and the women were very nice to me. It still amazes me how much bigger gringos are lol and I'm only 19. I have lost weight but not to much, I still weigh 76 kilos so I have only lost about 6 kilos (13lbs) . But for a while I was worried there. I hope all is well at home and that my bro will start to email me, I emailed him again, I miss him alot I did only get to see him for a week. I hope his friends are not making him to busy. Well I love you all and I will work hard this week, every week it gets a little better. There is a line here at the email place in Hualqui so I have to go soon. But just know I am safe and that I will have lots of stories to tell. Bye

Con amor, Elder Ward

So, if you didn't hear!

So, if you didn't hear.. i was sleeping just minding my own business when a freaking 8.8 earthquake hit my little Chilean house. The aftershocks are just winding down and its been over a week. CRAZY! First thank you all for caring and praying for me, surprisingly I didn't do to much praying myself besides the normal. I feel bad for that, but I'm sure the lord understands. So within the next few days we should be able to make it back to Hualqui we just have to get the whole food thing situated. I have experienced alot of things that I never thought I would experience, but I am I grateful for all the things that I have been able to learn this last week. I can say I learned more this last week than my entire life. Alot of it was taking the time to reflect and ponder, the Lord will just open your hard head and teach you if you allow it and are patient. We had a meeting in the chapel in Teirra Bella, yes the one that we put up chairs and tables against widows and doors and found weapons in order to defend our lives lol.. but it was only scary for about 3 days its fine now, just the long process of recovery. Anyways we had a meeting where the Area Presidency and our Mission President and their wives came to visit us. Probably the most spiritual and amazing meeting I ever had. These people were sent from God to speak to us, the 12 missionaries in Chiguaynte. I am extremely grateful to have had those men and women visit us. Even though I was wearing my red volleyball shoes and hadn't showered.. ooops . I love all of you so much, I don't think I can express it through a stupid email but its all I got. Just know how fragile life is and how nothing we are without the Lord and the plan of salvation. Take time to think and ponder, and especially show others that you love them. Yesterday was a fun day! we finally had a big meal at a members home and afterwards I got on their roof and spent about 40 minutes fixing it. It was difficult but worth it. Also we went to a school that was being guarded by the military to help unload food from the Church, man that was fun the Church is amazing. We had about 120 people helping and we made a line and passed either bags or boxes person to person. And it rained almost the whole time. It was so fun, but after 3 hours I got really tired. But the Lord provides us strength its amazing. Well I love you all and I am out of time we have to go back to the school to unload more food. Remember how important it is to rely on our Heavenly Father he provides all.

Love Elder Matthew James Ward

What a Rude Awaking!

As you all know Elder Ward's area of Chile was included in the 8.8 earthquake that struck Chile early Saturday morning Feb. 28th he was only 15 miles from Concepcion. Today we were finally able to talk with him, the Elder's borrowed a members cell phone, and through Elder Rawe's family we were able to set up times for each family of the 12 Elders staying at the Chapel to be able to received calls. I hurried and added international calling to my phone, we were the last to be set up, and the only time available was during my lunch time and prep period. WOW imagine that ! I came home, David met me there and he decided we needed to get as close to a cell tower that we could, so we did. I dialed the number expecting to get a busy signal, or an unable to complete message, it went through the very first time, it was wonderful to hear his voice.

Matthew said he woke up and the house was shaking and twisting, the first one lasted about a minute, then another one came, then another one. He said he was sure they were going to die. Things were flying off the walls, the refridgerator fell over and broke, things thrown around. By the third wave he said they were off their bed, because you could see the cement ceiling moving above them. He said you couldn't scream or pee your pants you were that scared, his words were "the earth is powerful". He and the Elders all went outside. (Their batteries in the flashlights were dead!) They stayed outside the rest of the night, he said it continued trembling and shaking. The next day they started to Chiguayante, no one would give them a ride, so they started to hike the 7 miles, then they decided no way, so they stuck out their thumbs and hitchhiked. They stayed the 2nd night in Chiguayante along with everyone else who slept outside, with only the clothes on their backs. He said it was quite cold. The next day a member realized that they were missionaries and showed them where the chapel was. He said he was so thankful to see the Chapel, he used to make fun of the Churches in Chile because they have bars and gates, but he said he is so thankful for them now and that they build them to US standards. The church also has an alarm system in place. In that picture that was sent to us we don't realize that those 12 smiling Elder's have in their hands things that they could use to protect themselves and the Church house. The third day was the worst, a meat truck was stopped in front of the church house by a mob, the driver pulled out and the truck was mobbed for what it carried. He said he was very glad to see the military roll into town. His mission president, President Chavez has been by to see them twice, at first they were told not to wear their tags, but on the second visit he told them they could put them back on. President Chavez told them to stay put, so what does Matthew and the Elders from Hualqui do, they find bikes and ride the seven miles to their apartment. They went to get clean clothes, toothbrushes, journals and scriptures, and look for any food that is left in their apartment. He said that Hualqui was hit very hard, that 3 out of the 4 power generators by their apartments are lying on the ground. They have 1 good meal a day that is 1/3 of the size they usually have. The sun stays up til 9:30 at night, and they are in lockdown for 18 hours a day. They have been filling 5 gallon water buckets for people at a well. He says it is back breaking, heavy work, and yet a man came up to him to give him a piece of gum. No food has come into town yet. They are sleeping on the pads from the pews. They have good water filtration bottles, Pres. Chavez gave them out about two weeks ago at the Zone conference and they did an emergency assessment also. They have decided as a group that they aren't going to tell their families everything, because they don't want to worry us. He wanted to know how we were all doing at home. He said that they are still having alot of aftershocks, he said they are pretty much continuous.

Comments from MOM and DAD.
It was very hard to be upbeat, and listen, because no matter what, he will always be our youngest son. Yes a very capable strong young man, whose testimony of the gospel has always awed me, but he is still my baby. When he talked with his dad they discussed how this is like a continuous 50 mile hike but much more dangerous and less food, some will want to go home, some want to quit and some want to complain. Matthew has never been a quitter, he didn't want to talk more about his circumstances but he wanted to know what we were doing. His father reminded him to follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. It has been a very long week, we are so thankful for modern communication, that we were able to get a picture and a call within five days. As the days go by it will be better when email service is stable so that we can know how their circumstances are. We are thankful for all of the prayers that have been said on his behalf and ask that they continue, we know that prayers have been answered

Hey mom,dad and family! Hey don't worry its not that cold yet, take your time.. even though I would really like that blanket! lol I got the package on Thursday at the mission conference. Thank you so much I had to carry the dang thing through Chile and hold it on a bus with 40 other little Chileans all the way back to Hualqui! Yes I was standing and yes I was in a suit! lol But it was worth it, I fell in love with the Oreos and have a plan on how to make them last! My body didn't know what to do with real good food. lol Pop tarts oh my goodness! I was so excited and I loved the letters and the pictures the most. No i don't need my inhaler, I don't do anything besides walk... and walk and walk and then talk and talk and talk... I'm fine, but man do my teeth feel good with the new heads for my toothbrush. Every house we are in has the Olympics on it makes me want to watch so bad.. and it also reminds me of when Uncle Alan was over and we were were watching the Olympics and it was the same night Jared wrecked the Honda!! haha..Guess what I ride the train all the time yo!! and sometimes I even get to climb up on top of them.. lol So this last week I understood a little more but still not to much lol.. rolling the r´s I think that itself is going to take 2 years! lol jkjk Karen and German are progressing still I gave them my Gospel Principles book and they read it all in one night. Its just amazing to see how much Satan works on our investigators we have to work really hard and we have to basically protect them. I feel pretty weird right now because the Chilean man next to me is giving me a death stare. phew.. he stopped. Its just amazing me how fast its going, I dont even know Spanish that well and its going so fast.. It just is sad that by the time i\I know Spanish, i will be transferred from Hualqui.. oh well I am learning alot and starting to really feel satisfied with the work I am doing. The days that you feel like you could do more just make me so sad, because we could of.. I will work harder on learning the language, I just feel so much better the days that I open my mouth and try to speak as much as I can. Some times its very hard to be motivated and to try my hardest, but I receive alot of help from our Heavenly Father and I have learned the worth and power of prayer. Don't worry I'm not down and sad... that's not me.. Just letting you know being in a crazy country with everyone speaking Spanish isn't always a walk in the park. I'm learning how to be very strong, by being founded on what I know and love. Its just crazy how through prayer and the comfort of the holy ghost I'm never scared, just ready to work. Well I love you all and keep having fun! I should get letters off soon! I have a few hours left of pday going to get my hair cut and study!!

Love Elder Matthew James Ward

Hola Familia, I don't have alot of time to email today because I have alot to do here in Conce, I'm sending some letters and I have to go to the mission office, my visa papers are back and that means alot of running around the city to finish up my visa. The good news is here in Concepcion we have really good computers so I can type really fast! lol I hope all is well and that you help each other out. So Jared is working, driving the Honda and has a sweet phone! that's cool, I hope he is taking care of that car, I drove it for 2 years not one scratch! Cleaned it twice a month to! This last week here in Hualqui has gone by really fast and I have had alot of crazy experiences. We got prayed for and I think cursed by a crazy Evangelical lady and her daughters, she used to be a member. Member for 14 years lol she wouldn't deny the Book of Mormon though, but she hated the church it was really scary. That's one of the many creepy and crazy experiences I have already had here in Chile lol I'm sure Jared can tell you guys plenty. So our investigators are doing really well German is in Mosiah! We gave him a Book of Mormon 3 weeks ago! lol we are having alot of success and I'm starting to teach alot now to. The language really came this week, I have no doubt that in two more months I will be fine. We had dinner at Hermano Sotos house, the guy that looks like Kayman, it was so fun! He kept telling us jokes in English and quoting movies like Anchorman lol.... Me and my companion are doing really well, we have made alot of changes and made alot of goals. I made an chart to check off the days that he wakes up on time lol or works out... One of these weeks that we have more time, I will have to write a longer email, or I will just send a few hand written personal letters soon too... I thought I knew the power of the Book of Mormon because of my own experiences with it, but just this last month here in Chile I have learned so much more, because every time I read I have had new experiences and relating it to myself and my investigators the Lord just downpours knowledge lol.. So the pictures, food here in Chile is cheaper bigger and in weird baggies lol so I now have a kilo of yogurt for breakfast or before bed! yes!!! So good yes that's almost 2 pounds, wait maybe it is more I don't know! I thought they were kidding in school when they say only America uses feet and pounds and jazz.. Nope I should of paid attention! lol And Dad you should just build a sweet greenhouse!? I'm using my credit card to day to by a jacket just to let you know!! Well I love you all and I will write more when I'm not so crazy busy!!!!

P.S.
So that other picture of the couch, yes i carried it upstairs and yes itsmy study chair, i call it the chair of revelations!! And no its not the chair of dreams....

Picture of the Cemetary that they have to walk through to get to their apartment.

How he buys his yogurt!


This the chair he calls the Chair of Revelations

Another Baptism

No editing-just like it was sent!

Hola familia! so this computer officially is horrible lol so mom and dad sorry no long personal letterslol ...anyways its transfers today, and imgoingto be stayinghere for a good 4 or5 months and i amcool with that buti did learn that the spanish is horrible here..butimlearning, heavenly father is helpingme. Dont worry dad im still loving themission, we are teaching and baptizing and havingfun.. imstilla 19 ayearold boy lol just one the lord iscontuinally humblingevery day we hadawardactivity and i akinda seperatedtotheother side of the room away frommy comp so hewouldnt translate, i had everyonelaughingin about aaaaaaatwo minutes lol but wewere comunicating baby!! lol So a we have been painting alot,a well twicethis week aoncefor service and againinour house.becauseeitscrap and i wantto fix itup so thenext poor missionary who arrives atthat hous hisfirstday isnt scaredto take a shower lol...ya i spenta day in thecity, and theshoweris only atmy shoulderlol thatwasa very interestings shower!! WE also baptized max this week,i couldntbaptize him because i cantrollmy r's...o well.. so i cant wait for the beautiful package to arrive! but i would havetosay i do wish ithad blanket.. cause itsstartingto get freazing atnight check outthe pictureslol itrained the whole day, i didntthink itwaspossible to rain so hard. I was looking forrainbows cause i was worried god was flooding the earth again, we had to stay insidefor halftheday but awestillwentout inthe night andgot drenched baby... plus weare only allowed to wear jackets not sweatersandthey haveto havea zipper down the middle. so i might needmoney soonto by one nextmondaythereexpensive...sorry..... oh my goodnessthe food, itsall acorn right now becausethey are havinga aacorn festival, they have huge speakerswith music, they have dances and have tonsof shops up, most ofleatherand jewlery its way cool. i will probably starta jewlery collectionto take homeformy sisters. mom sorry, youll haveto editthis or leave it, its kindafunny. but im at the edgeof town in hualqui lol the cmomp hashalf the buttonslol..and nospace bar. and yes impayingforit... tellmy brother jared to tellsomeof my old friendswriteme man i wantsomeletters lol.. But mom dadim learningalotand will write you next week on a better computer in concepcion im taking a trip to the city nextpday aandi willgetmy visa!! welli loveyou all somuch!!!!

Con Amor, Elder Ward

Photo's

They decided to paint their apartment so it would look nicer, also he says when he showers it hits his shoulders and he has to duck down to get under the spray. It rains there alot and it is getting colder.

Jessica's Baptism

Yes I can cook Chilean style yo! Man I love weird food now, I can eat so much too. There is no gag reflex now, shoot I can eat anything man.

Im Still living here in Hualqui...

So Hualqui this last week... I don't really know what to say. Besides....BAPTISM! lol Jessica got baptized this week and yes they are happy. They are not smiling because Jessica has braces. It was an amazing experience to see her get baptized and just feel the joy. It just flowed through my veins as a I watched Felipe baptize her. Man it was awesome.. So I did have a few tough days, but no bad days, Blair sent me a card from the metro in NEW YORK that says optimism on it... With that, memory of family and friends, and help from my heavenly father.. There is nothing stopping us! lol Me and Elder Godfrey went out a whole day together, Elder Godfrey has been here the same time as I have been lol.. Lets just say I learned alot, I mean alot of Spanish this week. We taught 2 lessons that day and did contacts the rest of the day, but man it was fun. I am currently stressing my studies on faith, its amazing how much you can learn on faith. The talk dad gave me helped my studies alot. I am working really hard to change, not who I am like my personality. But change how much I rely on my heavenly father and recognize him in my life. If you do that man days are just so much better.... So I taught zone class... lets say interesting, you have all these missionaries who have been out a year or longer then you have me .. lol teaching, weird but I taught about desire and working with the members it was a way fun class. I used Elder Dickey and Toland as examples lol... Man Elders in our ward are going to get so so so spoiled by Br. Gamble, but hey they deserve it, if not the lord wouldn't have them there. How are the strangers in Arizona? Why don't they email me, I'll email them next week.. This package better have pics of my family and my friends, like Blair, Cody, Landon, Jade you know just my good friends and my dog too! lol Geez dogs here are sick I don't even dare touch them. So next Sunday we should baptize Max! I'm so excited... And I am just trying to keep it so positive and fun at our house it makes everything just fun and go great. Mom there is a new myldsmail! made by.... GOOGLE yeah the Church is tight and now we have sweet emails.. oh the scary guy who looks like Kayman, totally now scary he was playing a joke on the Elders he is way cool, he brought a pen that shocks you to church and was getting every one, he reminds me of Br. Prince kinda. Well ya he does. Well family and friends I'm learning alot, and I love you all so much! PS please send me the email addresses of ... EMILY JESSICA KAYMAN... sweet thanks mucho... lol

ELDER MATTHEW JAMES WARD

Dad! this week was alot better, i had my interview with President Chaves, he is so cool man. Yes i did the whole thing in spanish... He taught me how to motivate my comp and how to gently push him into a great missionary. I dont know where the temple is going to be but the members talk about it all the time. And Everyone has a pic on their wall about the Santiago temple. I stole some money out of my account to pay for some scripture covers in the next few weeks, their legit dad. Leather! This week i really really learned what a good optimistic attitude, good study of the gospel and constantly having a prayer in my heart just makes days so easy and so fun. Well i love you dad, keep being the power house man you are!
Your son, ElderWard

MOM!!! well hey i love you mom, your cookin is just dang amazing.... I really dont use all these bad words, only in my emails so you can have fun editing and spell checking them. The geneology sounds legit mom! i definitly will do some of it with you when i get home. And ya i taught my zone it was fun!I love you mom thanks for all you do!

Your bigger son, Elder Matthew Ward