Accepting the Will Of The Father... and Feliz Ano

Hola quirida familia,

This week was a trying week. I am not going to lie. It was a really great week too, but there was a lot of trials of my faith. The other day I was studying and I just read a lot of scriptures about accepting the will of the Father and that with that He will be able to work miracles. It was a big eye opener. :)

This week was super fast as well. On Monday we had trouble with our money funds and so we didn`t buy anything at Lider. Oh fyi, Lider here is Walmart in the states. We just wrote President and our families and then went home. We then did proselyting and one of the families in the ward knew that we didn`t have much money and so they did an amazing thing for us. They took us home and we didn't have any idea what they were going to do next. They went to the super market and bought us groceries. It was amazing. Heavenly Father was and is always looking out for us. I thought a lot about my Mom in this moment and how she would do the same for the missionaries. I remember one thing she told me kind of like this, I don't remember word for word. But she is willing to love the missionaries and help the missionaries not only because she wants to, but because too she worries about her children when they are on their missions and the people in the ward feeding us, and helping and caring for us. Mom, you are awesome and are always in my thoughts.

Our año nuevo was fantasticly fun missionary style. We had a rule that we needed to return to the house by 8 and so we did that, and planned and did the usual, but then after we danced. Hermana Buiza and I, and the other hermanas in the pension, hermana Martinez and Hermana Mittlesteadt. Hermana Mittlesteadt is of Idaho and so she, and I showed the others a country dance, the cotton eyed joe line dance. It was super fun. Then Hermana Buiza and Martinez showed some latina dances. We then ate icecream and cheesecake. It was fun! I have two minutes now! :(

But the thing is this:

Having an ability serves as nothing if the missionary does not use it. The great men have only readched the summeit by the strength that come from facing adversity!

I love you,

HErmana Durfee

Feliz Ano Nuevo

Hey Family, friends, dogs, horses, and rocks,

Big kids, fluffy kids, kids that climb on rocks... guess the movie! Ahaha.

This week has been a crazy one! It was Christmas time and so that means that things are crazy. I had the opportunity to talk to my family for a little while! And let me tell you that was awesome and a miracle in itself. They are pretty awesome if I do say so myself. :)

On the 24th it was a day that I will never forget because well a lot of things happened. Here in Chile they celebrate Christmas at twelve at night just so you know. But, yeah so we had our usual routine in the morning of waking up and exercising and then getting ready for the day and then studying. We then studied and then we went to our district meeting. And I have the best district leader in the world. He is so kind and so caring. Elder Hurtado is his name. He received a bunch of candy and brought it to the meeting in his stocking and shared it with us. :) We then had our zone meeting and one of our zone leaders, Elder Cummings shared an experience about faith. And let me tell you that is one of my goals this year is to have more faith. :) After district meeting we went to our lunch appointment with la flia Correa and they gave us gifts! Tan tierna este familia! And then after we went to an inactives house and shared a message with them about the condescension of Christ. And then after I told my family before that we were going to talk on the 24th at 5 my time. And so we went to the Plaza here in Maipu because we usually have to pay to use the internet here, and so that is what my plan was. I was just gonna google plus chat with my family in the internet area. But, the enemy is very astute. I forgot my password to my gmail and it asked me for cellphone number, and let me tell you, I don't have a personal cell as a missionary. :/ So, we were in a little bit of a pickle. And to top it all off we didn't have a lot of money. So, I quickly ( I will admit, I kind of paniced) wrote as many people in my family to tell them that I would not be talking to them that day, but the next day. So, we left the internet area, Hermana Buiza y yo, and began making our way home. We decided to take bus because it was less money. But we ended up taking the wrong bus and so we were super far away from home. We got off again and took it back and made it in time for our dinner appointment, because Presidente let us take dinner with a family 24. But, yeah, oh and then after arriving at the family's house. We arrived around like 7:30. We thought we were okay because we had permission to arrive at our house a little later, at 10. So, we were calm for a while but then 8:30 passes and still no cena, at 9 we finally ate and had to eat fast... And then the hermano told us that he could take us home so we were like okay yah, works out perfectly. But turns out he didn't have his license andwas beginning to learn to drive recien. But yeah, that was my Christmas. We came home and stayed up till twelve to open presents, and I would just like to thank my family for their package and for their love! That is one of our experiences that we had. I have a few more, but I don't have time to tell you!

I love you all very much,
Con mucho amor,

Hermana Durfee

Mosiah 26 yo creo, es tan buena!

It's Beginning To Look Like Christmas... Does Rain Count?

Hey 'yall,

This week has been such a great one! I have been learning everyday how to apply more and more the atonement in my life. It is amazing how we are able to unite the birth of the Savior with His atonement. I am so thankful for the atonement in my life and for the opportunity I have to make mistakes. It is hard to make mistakes and be wrong, but that is what the atonement is for. I am learning to recognize my faults and then try everyday to be better. I mean what else can I do. This is why I am here on the earth to be wrong and to make mistakes.

So, one thing that I have been learning from Hermana Buiza is to have more fun in the mission. My brother Jeffrey told us, my sister Sharlee and I that if we are not having fun in the mission we are doing something wrong. Don't quote me on that because I don't remember the exact words. But, I have been having a lot of fun with Hermana Buiza. And we have been having a lot of success here in the feild. She is pretty much amazing and I hope that I will be able to treasure up all that she has been teaching me!!! :) She is super buena!

Some things that have happened this week are last Monday we had a Noche de hogar con una familia and they are super great! They told us that our zona was needed for a service project on Saturday and Hermana Buiza and I said that we would talk to them and verify with the family if we were able to do it. We were able to do it. Oh, and before I start telling yall about the service. We had such a great family home evening. We showed a mormon message se llama mi nueva vida. Es super buena. And then we played some games and had once (onsay). It is kind of like dinner but not. I forget if I have told you all about once. In Chile there is breakfast, lunch (which is the main meal), once, and cena. They have four times of day to eat. haha. We then left and did proselitismo for the time we had left before we had to return to la pension.

Then on Wednesday we had a miracle, un milagro!! :) We were reveiwing la restauracion con una de nuestras investigadores. And Hermana Buiza challenged her to be baptized and I set the date! We have a baptizm for 27 de Diciembre!! AND se llama Ricy Nataly, and she came to church yesterday! She is nineteen and is super buena!! I love her very much! I am so excited! I just need to rely on the Spirit for her! :)

On Saturday we had our service project and let me tell you, I am so happy to be from Missouri, to be a part of a family that has taught me to work and to not be afraid of dirt and what not, because that was what our service was all about! I will send pictures next week. But yeah, I felt a little like I was back on the farm working in the yard. :) Oh I have made a new discovery of myself, I am a country girl. :) Lol. But yeah, here are some of the miracles that have happened this week!

Here is a spiritual thought, you are going to have to look it up if you want to know what it is about.

Alma 36:5-24

I will explain a little. This is when Alma the younger is remembering his conversion and the pain that he went through. The very hard pain that he went through, but then after all the pain that he went through, the joy was just as great, even more. It is super awesome!

I love this story!

Anyway, I hope you all have a fantastic, miracle veiwing week!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Durfee

Wonders of wonders, miracles of miracles

Hey 'yall,

This week has been such a great one! I have been learning everyday how to apply more and more the atonement in my life. It is amazing how we are able to unite the birth of the Savior with His atonement. I am so thankful for the atonement in my life and for the opportunity I have to make mistakes. It is hard to make mistakes and be wrong, but that is what the atonement is for. I am learning to recognize my faults and then try everyday to be better. I mean what else can I do. This is why I am here on the earth to be wrong and to make mistakes.

So, one thing that I have been learning from Hermana Buiza is to have more fun in the mission. My brother Jeffrey told us, my sister Sharlee and I that if we are not having fun in the mission we are doing something wrong. Don't quote me on that because I don't remember the exact words. But, I have been having a lot of fun with Hermana Buiza. And we have been having a lot of success here in the feild. She is pretty much amazing and I hope that I will be able to treasure up all that she has been teaching me!!! :) She is super buena!

Some things that have happened this week are last Monday we had a Noche de hogar con una familia and they are super great! They told us that our zona was needed for a service project on Saturday and Hermana Buiza and I said that we would talk to them and verify with the family if we were able to do it. We were able to do it. Oh, and before I start telling yall about the service. We had such a great family home evening. We showed a mormon message se llama mi nueva vida. Es super buena. And then we played some games and had once (onsay). It is kind of like dinner but not. I forget if I have told you all about once. In Chile there is breakfast, lunch (which is the main meal), once, and cena. They have four times of day to eat. haha. We then left and did proselitismo for the time we had left before we had to return to la pension.

Then on Wednesday we had a miracle, un milagro!! :) We were reveiwing la restauracion con una de nuestras investigadores. And Hermana Buiza challenged her to be baptized and I set the date! We have a baptizm for 27 de Diciembre!! AND se llama Ricy Nataly, and she came to church yesterday! She is nineteen and is super buena!! I love her very much! I am so excited! I just need to rely on the Spirit for her! :)

On Saturday we had our service project and let me tell you, I am so happy to be from Missouri, to be a part of a family that has taught me to work and to not be afraid of dirt and what not, because that was what our service was all about! I will send pictures next week. But yeah, I felt a little like I was back on the farm working in the yard. :) Oh I have made a new discovery of myself, I am a country girl. :) Lol. But yeah, here are some of the miracles that have happened this week!

Here is a spiritual thought, you are going to have to look it up if you want to know what it is about.

Alma 36:5-24

I will explain a little. This is when Alma the younger is remembering his conversion and the pain that he went through. The very hard pain that he went through, but then after all the pain that he went through, the joy was just as great, even more. It is super awesome!

I love this story!

Anyway, I hope you all have a fantastic, miracle veiwing week!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Durfee

Yo Tengo una nueva companera

¡Hola gente! So, this week has been a great week! I had the flu at the beginning of the week, but that's okay! No importa! :) The work is the work, and let me tell you it is a great work! We visited Maria Cruz and her brother on Monday. She is an inactive and has a problem with the word of wisdom, but let me tell you something I beleive in miracles. So, if she has a true sincere desire to quit smoking she will be able to do it. Tuesday, was a fantastic day. We had a meeting as a mission, and Presidente Barreiros introduced the video He is the Gift. IF you have not seen this video you need to, go to this link christmas.mormon.org and you will be able to veiw this video. Or you can go on youtube and look it up se llama He is the Gift. It is super, super bueno! We taught Roxana and her sons on Tuesday too. It was a great day!! Then on Wednesday we had aa great day as well. We had our district meeting which went well and also had our zone meeting which went well too! I really think the second best thing about the mission besides teaching are the meetings. They are super great! I am also so thankful for the opportunity to walk in the heat too, because this is how Christ feels sometimes too. So, now I am going to go off on a tangent. The missionaries need members to work with them, and so I have a question for all of you How are you able to work with the missionaries? that is my question. Really, I am serious about this. We live in the last days and the work is hastening so find a way to work with the missionaries in your home ward! :) On Thursday we had a fantastic day too! We planned for the week and then went to almuerzo with la flia Diestra. They are tan buena!! I love them so much. And then we had some lessons! We taught Angela. She is an antiguo investigadora, but she still has interest in the church and so right now we are teaching her! I love her! :) And then we taught one of our menos activas, about the ten commandments. It was a great lesson! :) Then on Friday we cleaned in the morning because this last week was the week before transfers. So, we cleaned super hard. and then went to almuerzo with la flia Alvarez. They are awesome! This family is the family of my mission leader. He is super, super, super, BUENO!! We taught some lessons and had a great day!! :) Then on Saturday it RAINED!!!!! WHOOO HOOOOO! I loved it so much! Hermana Flores did not like it that much because when it is raining the people are not as receptive, but I was so thankful, because Chile is a desert, and so there is no rain during the summer, but it rained on Saturday! What a great day it was, and all the people were in their houses so we contacted the snails! :) Jaja! We had a lesson with Nataly. She is a great investigator! She really has interest in the church! :) Then Saturday night we found out who was being transferred and found that Hermana Flores ws being transferred. It was super nerve wracking because on Tuesday, Presidente told us that we were going to have a lot of white washes. A white wash is when both the missionaries in the area have transfers, and let me tell you a lot of missionaries are doing white washes now. I have a new companion. Her name is Hermana Buiza. She is from Peru. She is super loving and kind. I hope that we will be able to work hard together and be a positive tool in our sector de los Heroes. On Sunday, we went to a lot of members houses for Hermana Flores to say goodbye. Oh and I contacted someone in english. He is from Australia, so it was super cool I was speaking all kinds of spanglish when I was contacting him, and he tried to talk to Hermana Flores, but she was like no entiendo ingles. Jaja. It was funny, and super cool! But yeah! This was my week! It was a fantastic week! I love you all! Matthew 18. and remember to look up He is the Gift! What will be your gift to the Lord this Christmas? Con amor, ciao, Hermana Durfee

Estoy Agredecida para el Sacerdocio (I'm grateful for the Priesthood)

Hola Familia,

So, I just want to say that this time is really fast. Today my sister Sharlee is coming home from her mission! How crazy is that?! The time is really fast! And this is my last week of training! Saturday is cambios! Wow! We will see what happens! 

Josie's weekly email(:

So this week has been a great one! Let me just clear something out of the way, I have the flu. I am not exactly sure what kind of flu I have, but I have thrown up and my body is achey. So, this leads me to the title. I received a blessing this morning and I could feel the power of the preisthood come into my body. I am so thankful for those young men, my zone leaders being worthy to come to my house and give me a blessing. I still feel yucky, but better. 

Anyway, so that is enough of that. On Monday, last week we slept a lot. I slept for like two hours which is really rich for missionaries because we don't take naps throughout the week. We were able to teach Maria Cruz on Monday and it went really well! We showed the video Having faith in Christ and let me tell you I just love that movie so much!! Something that my sister told me just barely in an email that I received is that the Savior is always there when we need Him, and when times are tough. His hand is always on our shoulder saying to us that we can do it. We are able to do this. Which leads me to something else, a couple weeks ago Elder Neilson came and spoke to Oeste and Sur misiones de Chile and his wife, Hermana Neilson said something that is quite amazing and I think about a lot these days. Our premortal selves knew that this life here on earth would be hard and we were like yeah, bring on the heat and everythng. And then we went through the veil and forgot what our premortal selves were like. She then told us if we could just see ourselves in the life before this for ten minutes we would remember that when times are tough that we are able to do anything. And then she said that if we wanted to, we could begin praying to see ourselves before this life. And let me tell you I have not begun to do this, but I really do want to. So yeah! :) 

On Monday we were able to find Rosa and set a date for baptism with her and she accepted! Her name is Rosa Basquez and let me tell you the challenge with her is finding her because she works a lot. And doesn't have a phone... so yeah, we hope to be able to find her again! 

So, yeah that is some of the stuff that I have learned this week! Oh this weekend we had la conferencia de estaca and let me tell you it went really well! I really enjoyed it! I received a lot of revelation for our investigadores and for myself! Presidente y Hermana Barreiros were there too! I love them so much! They had such great things to say too! One thing that Hermana Barreiros shared with us is that every member is a missionary and that we need to be friends with everyone! :) It was super great! I love Presidente y Hermana Barreiros!! 

I love you all very much! Have a fantastic week!!

Hermana Durfee

Change, It Can Happen

I think if I were to sum up what I learned on my mission is that people can change. Their very nature. I've changed. I'm still dorky Charlee Durfee but I know the past Charlee Durfee would look at where I am now and wish and want it. Its happened and its never going to stop. HOWEVER, we can't change by ourselves. The reason we can change (aka repent and be forgiven) is only through our Savior Jesus Christ. Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve it. I've seen others feel the same way too. I know there are those who still feel this way. But that is just a bunch of nonsense. No matter what we may have done or who we might have been in the past, it can be washed clean and forgotten because the suffering of our Redeemer. Not only have I seen it myself but in all of those I've taught here on the mission.

It doesn't end there, the change isn't immediate. Its always going to require work. But He's not going to leave us alone. I can tell all of you, that this wonderful gospel, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on this earth that has the proper authority to baptize, perform miracles, give blessings, and perform those sacred ordinances like sealing families for eternity. That through this power and the gospel in its fullness we can unlock that changing power.

I seriously cant wait for making more mistakes (because its going to happen, I know, I'm not perfect, weird right?) to continue to progress, to grow, to be happy, to cry, to be scared, to be strong... Its going to be a wonderful ride, a crazy one, but a wonderful one none the less. And of course it isn't going to be easy. Life is hard, we all know this. We all have loads to carry, but we don't have to do it alone. My favorite scripture is Mosiah 24: 14-16.
"14. And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease,and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying:Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."
To have the burdens on our shoulders eased, we must do what Alma and his brethren did, that is submit cheerfully and with patience to ALL the will of the Lord. He knows better then I do, then we ALL do. I learned that last night while having dinner with my wonderful cousin Lindsey. I want to do a lot of things and I was getting overwhelmed. I had the feeling to tell her what had been on my mind and she said what I needed to hear even though I didn't want to hear it. Since I read that scripture I liked to think that I was putting the Lord's will over mine but I guess I had forgotten for a little bit.

Its definitely a humbling experience, warning: some pride might have to be swallowed. Its worth it! The change and the blessings afterwards, maybe not right after but they do come, are incredible! I love you all thanks for what you have done for me, supporting me, encouraging me, making me laugh, being there if I needed you.

I do have one more time to e-mail but I thought I would make this one the last big one. This is my testimony that I say in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Hermana Charlene Durfee